DEFIANT traders at the Bridgwater Indoor Market in Eastover today vowed not to be beaten by the “moron” who daubed tar over signs advertising their businesses.

Traders were horrified to arrive for work on Monday to find the substance splashed all over eight signs displayed outside the market.

The victims included 78-year-old Alloray Crookston, known as Pip, who only opened her St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice charity shop a few weeks ago.

The attack happened in the week her husband David died five years ago, prompting her to support the hospice.

She told the Mercury: “When I saw what had been done I went to pieces. I was crying me eyes out.”

Pip said the support of her fellow traders had seen her through the ordeal.

She added: “There’s no way we are going to let this person get to us. What goes around comes around.”

Lorraine Pitt, owner of the Baby Days shop which has been in the market for six months, said: “It’s really frustrating when you are trying to build a business and you get morons doing this.

“Luckily I’ve got some regular customers who come back to my shop but this puts off new people from coming in.”

Pearl Johnson, who manages the shopping centre jointly with her sister Wendy Sapsford, said the signs had cost each trader £25, but she said they would be replaced.

“We’re very annoyed about this. It’s just mindless vandalism,” Pearl added.

Wendy told the Mercury she believed the vandal might have been somebody who had been asked to leave the centre because of their behaviour.

Anyone with information should phone Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.