Hooded vandals have been caught on CCTV breaking into an Orpington garage, before damaging £1m worth of vehicles.

The culprits keyed around 20 cars - including four Range Rovers, six Mercedes and a Porsche - at Automotive Repair Systems in Shire Line, shortly after 11.30pm on Saturday, September 26.

A sharp object, believed to be a screwdriver, was used to score £40,000 worth of damage into the motors’ paintwork.

Police are investigating the vandalism and appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Andy Patterson, 41, who is managing director at the specialist car repair centre, said he suspects a rival business could be responsible.

He told News Shopper: "That’s our gut feeling.

"We have got no idea who did it but because our business has gone from strength to strength, we have disgruntled a couple of competitors in our industry.

"We have picked up a couple of large contracts that naturally, we have put somebody else out of.

"If it is a competitor, it’s very sad of the individual that they can’t retain their professionalism and have to resort to vandalism."

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Automotive Repair Systems in Shire Lane, Orpington

Mr Patterson, who set up the business in 1997, said 24 hour onsite security staff had been employed since the break-in alongside upgraded CCTV and floodlighting.

He described using a sharp object to scratch the vehicles as "a quiet way to cause a maximum amount of damage".

Mr Patterson said: "All of the staff have been brilliant and raised their game to get all of the vehicles repaired by the end of this week."

Police ask anyone who has any information to call Bromley CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously quoting reference number 3318775/15.