VANDALS who daubed paint over the windows of a Ferndown charity shop have been branded “mindless idiots” by residents.

The offenders threw a thick brown substance, thought to be wood stain, over the Trussell Trust shops in Pennys Walk.

Paint could also be seen on a roller door at the entrance of the Tesco superstore and on paving outside the shop.

Ferndown resident Mary Tester said: “I think it’s awful.

“I imagine when they open the front door, there’ll be paint inside too.

“One silly person can cause such a lot of trouble.”

A passer-by, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I think it’s [wood paint] Ronseal - there was an offer on at Tesco.

“The person who has done this is just a mindless idiot.

“It’s very rare for something like this to happen in Ferndown. It’s a nice place to live.”