VANDALS caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when they punctured tyres on at least 15 vehicles.

The culprits, believed to be young teenagers, left of a trail of destruction after stabbing and slashing tyres, and in some cases keying bodywork, of vehicles parked on several roads in Astley Bridge, Eagley and Bromley Cross overnight between Sunday and Monday.

Norman Vickers, aged 53, of Almond Street, Astley Bridge, said: "I got up at 8am and a neighbour said: 'Have you seen your car?'

"My wife's car had one tyre done, I had two.

"There was a pregnant lady just down the road who had all four tyres done.

"We realised when everybody else was coming out that their tyres had been done.

"It was the whole street. They all had one or two tyres damaged. All were stabbed."

Mr Vickers said he was angry and replacing the tyres had cost him £385.

Besides Almond Street, the vandals targeted cars in nearby Nell Street, Holland Street, Newnham Street, Seymour Road, and Primrose Street, all in Astley Bridge.

They damaged vehicles in Sweetloves Lane, Sharples, and Playfair Street, Hough Lane, Darwen Road and some of the back roads beside St Andrew's Church in Bromley Cross.

One Darwen Road victim, who did not wish to be named, said: "About six or seven cars were damaged.

"There were people trying to jack up their cars and people with recovery vehicles.

"It's more extensive than everybody realised.

"It's inconvenient but what worries me more is that it is dangerous because if your tyre is only partially punctured and you drive off, you could have an accident."

She said it was also concerning to think of youngsters wandering the streets with a knife.

Police said 15 incidents of damage to motor vehicle involving tyres being slashed had been reported since Saturday.

Sergeant Mike Sharples said: "There are obvious links with the reported damages and we have increased patrols in the area.

"We take the matter seriously and will make every effort to locate the person responsible.

"We have ongoing inquires with possible suspects. I would ask anybody with information to ring 101."