YOBS caused thousands of pounds of damage to cars parked near Winchester Cathedral in an incident which police have described as "mindless".

They want to hear from anyone who saw what went on in Little Minster Street and Symonds' Street on the night of Thursday in last week when vandals gouged deep marks in the bodywork of five vehicles.

"It's just mindless vandalism, which doesn't achieve anything," said PC Steve Way, from North Walls police station.

"This will cost a lot of money on drivers' insurance. One car alone will cost £500 to repair. I'm inclined to say it was drunken yobs on their way home," he added.

PC Way last summer dealt with an incident in which more than 70 cars were damaged in the Symonds' Street, College Walk, Wharf Hill area of the city.

Christchurch Road had been a "hotspot" but now streets near the cathedral were targeted, he said.

"There were no witnesses or CCTV and the cars were parked in a partly-lit street. There aren't many houses or people nearby," he said.

"The question is how far out of the city centre do you go with cameras?"