BROKEN glass littered an Ipswich street today after vandals struck at two shops in the same road, forcing one of them to close all day.Two fire crews were sent to a wheelie bin that was in flames at the back of the St Elizabeth Hospice charity shop in Upper Orwell Street.

BROKEN glass littered an Ipswich street today after vandals struck at two shops in the same road, forcing one of them to close all day.

Two fire crews were sent to a wheelie bin that was in flames at the back of the St Elizabeth Hospice charity shop in Upper Orwell Street. The blaze reduced the bin to melted plastic. A scorched door and burnt books were evidence of the fire.

Firefighters broke down the door as it was feared the fire may spread to neighbouring shops. The fire was reported at 11.54pm yesterday.

In the same street the main window of Ipswich Record and Tape Exchange was smashed although nothing was stolen.

Adam Charles, 46, owner of the second hand music shop, was not only facing a bill up to £500 to replace the broken glass also expected to lose out on a busy day's trade. He had closed the shop as the extensive damage posed a threat to customers.

He said: "Friday is a busy day as we are approaching the weekend and lots of parents come in with their children. I am already turning lots of people away and we have only been open for a few minutes."

"It looks like the window was broken with a hammer as there is no evidence of anything being thrown through it. The cases in the window are all empty anyway so there was nothing worth taking.

We have been for 18 years and nothing like this has happened before."

He expected to stay closed all day as the glaziers would have to repair it from the inside after moving his stock out of the way.

The police were informed.