Tyre slash shock

Residents said as many as 16 cars in Park Lane and The Green had had their tyres slashed with what was thought to have been a Phillips screwdriver.

Some cars had just one tyre punctured, but others had the entire set ruined.

Jo Bishop, of Park Lane, had replaced the tyres on her car only last week.

She told the Herald: "It's a bit of a nightmare. It was a shock because we did not expect it. Then we realised it was all down the street and on The Green.

"It was Sunday and people had plans, but there were tow trucks all over the place.

"Park Lane has always been just a nice, sleepy road. There's a nice community feel about it, but, two weeks ago, two cars were burnt out in one of the driveways here and now this happens."

Jo's mother, Pat, said some of the cars had been attacked in people's driveways. "It's just mindless vandalism," she claimed.

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, had one tyre slashed, which cost him 100. He said he thought it was just a puncture, until he walked down the road with his dog.

"There were people out there with wheel brackets. Everyone said if we all reported it to the police, it would push the crime figures up and they might do something."

He added cars were often vandalised in Park Lane and called for CCTV to be installed.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said they had had reports of seven cars with their tyres slashed in Park Lane on Saturday night and Sunday evening.

Tyres were also slashed on a car in Farm Way, Southwick, on Monday night.