POLICE in Winchester have issued a warning to vandals in the city after a second spate of late-night car damage in under a month.

Almost 30 cars were scratched while parked on three city streets between July 1 and July 4.

The attacks come just four weeks after vandals targeted 70 cars during another spree on the other side of the town.

Now police say they will clamp down hard on any more 'mindless criminal damage', and are asking local residents to keep their eyes open for the vandals.

They are also promising to put more measures in place to catch those responsible.

The latest incidents saw cars damaged along Clifton Road, Chaundler Road and Stockbridge Road, with officers saying those responsible used no discrimination in which vehicles they attacked.

Insp Steve France-Sargeant, said: "We will not tolerate this mindless criminal damage in Winchester.

"Additional measures will be taken by police to help bring an end to these instances including placing more officers on the streets at key times and more intelligence gathering.

"We will also be making full use of our specially equipped Community Safety Vehicle, which is fitted with the latest camera technology to act as a deterrent to those intent on committing crime and disorder.

"We are determined to catch those responsible and they should be aware of that."

Insp France-Sargeant also appealed to the local community.

He said: "I am sure there are people out there who know who is responsible for this damage and I urge them to come forward.

"We want to make it clear that we will continue to do everything we can to identify them through robust and targeted policing.

"But we still need support from members of the community who could provide us with information."

Local residents welcomed the move.

Margaret Low, 68, from Chaundler Road in Weeke said: "It's disgusting and thoughtless. It sometimes feels like no street is safe to park on anymore and it makes you wonder whether CCTV might be the solution if it were installed everywhere."

Another angry resident, Jane Morris, 28, nursery nurse also from Chaundler Road and who suffered damage in the last attack, added "It needs to stop before it gets out of control.

"My car was one of those done in a month ago and I'm still paying for the repair work now, because if you claim on insurance, your bill just rockets.

"I think they either need to get more police patrols out on the streets, or put up more CCTV cameras, but these people can't be allowed to get away with it."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Winchester Crimedesk on 0845 045 4545.