The owners of a cafe have been left devastated after an arson attack - just weeks after a break-in at their site.
A bus at Bill Quay Cafe, based on Bill Quay Farm, in Gateshead, was set alight in the early hours of Tuesday.
The yellow vehicle, which was in the car park, was being converted into an ice cream parlour for visitors.
However, the bus was destroyed, with the damage and loss running into "a few thousand pounds".
The incident came just weeks after a break-in at the cafe in May, when offenders made off with the till and safe, and left the site trashed.
Manager Sarah Gauthier, 36, said: "On Tuesday morning, I got messages saying what had happened and we arrived to find the bus had been burnt out.
"We were going to turn it into an ice cream parlour for parties and were going to get it kitted out.
"It's really heartbreaking this has happened. It's devastating. We put so much hard work into it.
"Around a month ago, we had a break-in. They took the till, the safe and other things and trashed the place. It just feels like it's one thing after another."
After the earlier break-in, a Gofund me page was started to help the cafe and the fundraising is continuing after the arson attack.
Sarah said: "I want to thank people in the community for their support. I've had so many messages from people and I know a fundraising page was also started. I can't thank everyone enough for their help."
Northumbria Police is investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information to come forward.
A spokesperson said: "Police received a report of suspicious noises at Bill Quay Farm on Tuesday, June 1.
"At around 1am officers attended the scene on Hainingwood Terrace where a bus had been set on fire. The fire service extinguished the blaze and an investigation has been launched.
"Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via the Northumbria Police website on the "Tell Us Something" page or contact 101 quoting reference 50 01/06/21."
Anyone wishing to make a donation to help the cafe can do so here.
