A PENSIONER’S home has been vandalised after he showed his support for the proposed Tesco supermarket on Portland.

Victor Styles, 77, put Tesco carrier bags in the windows of his Easton Square flat to demonstrate his backing for the bid.

He was stunned when he found vandals had daubed thick black paint on his property’s windows in retaliation.

Community leaders and parties for and against the scheme have condemned the act and urged Portland residents to stay calm.

Tesco’s controversial plan for a store at the Bottomcombe Masonry Works site has divided opinion.

Mr Styles – who says the new supermarket would be ‘ideal’ – put the bags up to show support.

“There are lots of posters against the plan so I thought I’d put up the bags,” he said.

“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion aren’t they?

“I’d like a Tesco. I have to go to Weymouth to buy food because the alternatives are too expensive.”

Shocked Mr Styles was unaware of the vandalism until someone alerted him early yesterday.

He said: “In a way I’m glad because this shows exactly what these people are like.

“My landlord’s behind me and he’s told me to keep the bags in the windows.”

Landlord Nigel McColm, 63, said: “I feel so sorry for this poor old man.

“It’s a disgusting way to treat a 77-year-old living on his own, who has never hurt a fly.

“These are sick bullying tactics from arrogant, nasty people trying to get their own way.”

Mr McColm has offered a £200 reward for information leading to the culprits’ conviction.

“Victor was pretty upset when he told me,” he said. “He feels the supermarket would be useful, so why shouldn’t he support it?”

Mayor of Portland Sandy West was ‘stunned’ by the incident and appealed for calm.

She said: “This is shocking and totally the wrong way to go about things. Whoever has done this should be ashamed.

“I feel I must apologise to Mr Styles that there are such appalling people on Portland that would do this.”

Keep Easton Alive, the group protesting against the Tesco supermarket, condemned the act.

Co-ordinator Tamara De Bardi said: “We’re appalled to see someone’s taken matters into their own hands and done this.

“I can assure Mr Styles it was nothing to do with us. We’re as opposed as anyone to this.

“We’ve never done anything aggressive and we intend to stick to that. Hopefully this was an isolated incident.”

Rachel Barton, of the Portland Community Partnership, also urged residents to stay calm.

She added: “For someone to do this, especially to an elderly resident, is very sad. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable.”

The vandalism took place between 10pm on Thursday and 8.30am on Friday.

PC Louise Gill, of Weymouth police, said: “I’d like to hear from anyone who has any information that will identify those responsible for this totally unnecessary and mindless vandalism.”

Witnesses should contact police on 01305 222222.