A VANDALISM spree saw thousands of pounds worth of damage caused to cars – and now CCTV images have been offered to police in the hope of identifying the culprits.

Vehicles were targeted by the yobs who gouged through the paintwork on vehicles parked in Wrigley Road, Haydock a short distance south of Church Road.

One angry resident said: “We’ve been told repairs to the vehicles will cost £700 per panel and at least six cars were damaged. They used a hard metal object and got through to the bare metal. One of those damaged belongs to my 17 year-old son, he’s been saving for that car since he was 12 – he’s devastated.”

Locals told the Star over the past 12 months they have been plaqued by a gang in their late teens or early 20s who hang around the area at all hours of day and night.

“They are intimidating and off their heads on something.

I’m concerned about the possibility of vulnerable people being targeted,” said one man who urged people to be vigilant and report any antisocial behaviour to police.

“I am not saying the police are not doing their job, their resources are stretched, but we are getting up a petition to present to police in the hope of meeting a senior officer and getting this problem ironed out.

“We want a police presence to get across the message that they are being watched.”

A spokesman for Merseyside police told the Star: “We have had a number of reports of damage being caused to vehicles in Wrigley Road.

Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should ring us on 101.”