FURIOUS residents are demanding extra police patrols in Waterside villages after drink-fuelled vandals went on a bank holiday rampage.
Wreckers caused thousands of pounds of damage by smashing telephone kiosks, traffic lights and shop windows in Blackfield and Holbury.
They also entered the grounds of Gang Warily sports centre and destroyed the few remaining trees that had survived a previous spate of hooliganism.
Other targets included Hardley School in Long Lane, Holbury, where intruders poured paint on the tennis courts.
The incident comes just weeks after hooligans got into the school and switched on the taps, causing a flood that brought down ceilings and ruined carpets.
Most of the damage done at the weekend is thought to have been committed by gangs of youths walking home from local pubs.
Now residents are demanding more police patrols and the introduction of hi-tech security cameras similar to those that are already operating in other parts of the district.
Campaigners include Philip Pearce-Smith, former chairman of the local parish council.
He said: "A telephone kiosk in Long Lane was completely trashed. A kiosk in Rollestone Road was subjected to similar treatment, and traffic lights at Rollestone Road had their lenses broken - possibly by someone with an airgun.
"Vandalism seems to be on the increase, but the lack of police means there isn't anyone around to stop it.
"The police should mount more patrols at night, when some of the people walking home from pubs seem determined to destroy everything in sight."
Blackfield trader Roger Randall described the vandalism as "horrendous".
He said: "A telephone kiosk has been done four times in the past week. Police drive around during the day - but all the vandalism is done at night." Mr Randall backed calls for CCTV to be provided in the parish. "Other places in the district have cameras, why can't we?" he said.
New Forest Council wants to extend the CCTV system, but claims it cannot install more cameras unless the government comes up with the cash.
Inspector Phil Winchester of Hythe police was unavailable to comment on calls for extra patrols. However, New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis said police in the district had made "considerable progress" towards putting bobbies back on the beat.
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