EIGHTEEN cars had their tyres slashed when vandals went on a wrecking spree in a Hampshire town.

Motorists are left with hefty repairs bills after the cars had their tyres punctured along Cavendish Close off Woodley Lane in Romsey.

Many vehicles had two or three tyres damaged while others only a single tyre but for many the cost to repairing the damage will be more than £100.

Some residents said it was not the first time they had been targeted by vandals.

Sharon Blackett has been living in Cavendish Close for six years but this was the first time she had tyres slashed.

Two were damaged on her Vauxhall Corsa but although it is the first time it has happened to her, she has heard reports of similar incidents three times in the last three years.

“It’s still £90 I could do with not having to pay out. For some unknown reason they just seem to pick this road,” she said.

Resident Robert Smith is facing a £400 bill to replace two slashed tyres on his BMW 318 convertible.

“It’s just so annoying. I might just have to take it off the road. It beggars belief. It’s just after Christmas, I don’t need it right now,” he said.

Another victim of the tyre slasher who did not want to be named, said: “My fiance’s van had three tyres slashed and when I spoke to my sister who visited us last night, she told me this morning that all four tyres on her black Ford Ka had been slashed.

“I am absolutely gobsmacked that she got home in one piece. She said the car was noisy when she drove back home to Southampton but didn’t discover the flat tyres until this morning. My sister could have crashed her car and I dread to think what might have happened to her.”

Police are now hunting the vandals who went on the rampage on Monday night.

Officers carried out a leaflet drop in an attempt to trace the vehicle owners and advise drivers to keep a close eye on parked cars and check tyres for defects before setting off on journeys.

Police have also stepped up patrols in the area in attempt to find out who was responsible for the damage which was carried out between 8.45pm and 9.30pm.

Officers confirmed some kind of “sharp instrument” was used to carry out the attacks.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Claire Held at Romsey police station on 101.