Vandals caused damage costing thousands of pounds when they smashed up 60 cars in West Sussex.

Tyres were slashed, bodywork scratched and dented and windows broken during the night-time spree in Littlehampton.

The vehicles were mostly parked in the street, although a caravan on a driveway was also damaged.

A Rover car in Merton Drive had the word "scum" scratched on the boot and the roof of a convertible saloon parked in Gladonian Road was slashed. Cars in Beaconsfield Road, Stanley Road, Kent Road, Arundel Road, Sussex Street, Gloucester Road and Mantling Road were also damaged.

Police have offered a £500 reward to help catch the culprits, who struck late on Monday and early on Tuesday.

Lee Cooke, 22, found three tyres slashed on his Peugeot, as well as three on his mother's car and three on his sister's car. He said: "I just hope those responsible are caught and dealt with severely by the courts."

Derek Royston, 64, found two tyres had been slashed on his Mercedes and there were scratches on the paintwork. The word "smart" was gouged into his wife's Smart car.

Police want to trace several youths including a man in a light-coloured top and baseball cap and a male aged about 18 in a white top.