A supermarket in Bishop's Cleeve has become a haven for yobs who vandalise, steal and shout racist abuse.

Robert White, who works at Lidl in Church Road, said in the past six months the store has been targeted by hooligans who break in and leave behind a trail of destruction.

"In six months it has been broken into four times. The last time was about a month ago when they smashed the glass to get in and nicked lots of alcohol," he said.

"It's mainly vodka and red bull that is stolen.

"They even used our trollies to take their stolen goods out of the shop.

"It looks like it is kids trying to get in through the roof."

Mr White said he had also witnessed yobs racially abusing the security guard.

"Luckily there was an off-duty police officer in the store who called her colleagues down and they were caught.

"It is vandalism and kids causing trouble but it seems to have got a lot worse recently."

Police confirmed they arrested a 17-year-old youth for the racial abuse but he was not charged.

A 16-year-old was also arrested for stealing a bottle of vodka and they were given a warning.

The problem has now been made a priority for the Tewkesbury Safer Community Team, which covers Bishop's Cleeve.

A spokesman said it was taking measures to curb anti-social behaviour involving unruly youths causing problems at the site during the evening.

"Regular police patrols have been set up in the area together with close liaison with the store regarding anti-social problems occurring in and around the store," he said.

"Consideration will be taken to install CCTV at this location to monitor any potential problems enabling positive action to be swiftly taken."

At the beginning of December a pensioner was robbed by a man in the Lidl car park.

The 77-year-old woman was injured when she fell to the ground.

A man approached her from behind and grabbed her handbag from her trolley.

Peter Badham, a parish councillor and member of the Bishop's Cleeve chamber of commerce, said the building has been at the site for more than 10 years but problems had only occurred recently.

He said the issue had also been raised at the parish council and the chamber had discussed the CCTV idea.

"I think problems occur because Lidl is just a bit off of Church Road and not as well lit," he said.

"It would be great to have CCTV but the problem is having the system monitored.

"If we could get involved with some agency to support us that would be fantastic."

A spokesman for Lidl's head office said the level of break-ins had been exaggerated but did not wish to comment further.