ACTION needs to be taken to stop vandals ruining Canvey’s historic Dutch Cottage Museum, councillors have claimed.

In the latest attack the iconic building was daubed with graffiti on three of its walls, and yobs also pelted it with plums from a nearby tree.

It is the second incident in four months. Now councillors claim something needs to be done to preserve the building, which dates back to 1618.

Canvey councillor Dave Blackwell has suggested fencing off a footpath along the front of the cottage, to make it more difficult for vandals to access it.

He said: “If that footpath was closed off, they would have to walk along the road and go nowhere near the Dutch Cottage.

“It’s such a shame because we haven’t got much heritage on Canvey.

“It’s really depressing to see it in such a terrible state, especially given the care people have taken to restore it.”

The latest attack took place three weekends ago.

In June, thugs ripped tiles from the roof, broke wooden panels from a boarded-up window and tore up geraniums from surrounding flower beds.

The Dutch Cottage Museum, with its famous, conical thatched roof, was restored in 1952 and is now looked after by the Benfleet and District Historical Society on behalf of Castle Point Council.

Ray Howard, Castle Point councillor for waste, is furious the building continues to be targeted by vandals.

He said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. It’s our heritage. Thousands of people come to visit it every year.

“Volunteers give their time up to look after it and this is how they’re repaid.

“These people need to be named and shamed and their parents should be made to pay for the damage that has been done.”

It is hoped the museum can be cleaned up by criminals on the Community Payback scheme, who are currently working to refurbish an old people’s home on the island.