Spray-can yobs' trail of destruction

Four streets were targeted by spray can-wielding yobs who daubed property with graffiti and damaged parked cars.

People living in Viaduct Road, Kingsbury Road, Rose Hill Terrace and Baker Street, Brighton, woke up to find the trail of destruction.

Windows and front doors were "tagged" by the vandals, who also climbed scaffolding to spray the first floor of a terraced property in Kingsbury Road.

They threw masonry through the rear window of a car and jumped up and down on the roof of another.

The Mitre Tavern pub was among the businesses hit. And the vandals daubed "punk rock" on a pedestrian crossing in Viaduct Road using red and green paint.

Peter Croft, 36, of Kingsbury Road, said: "When they applied for city status, we didn't think that city was Beirut. It is going really downhill around here."

He urged Brighton and Hove Council and the police to consider putting up street cameras to deter the vandals.

Donald and Josephine Miles spent several hours cleaning graffiti from their garage doors in Kingsbury Road.

He said he was annoyed by the damage but attacks on cars and property in the area were common.

Glenn Lewery, 46, of Viaduct Road, said it would cost more than £100 to replace the smashed rear window of his Ford Sierra.

Jenny and Jim Paterson run the Snak Attack cafe in Baker Street, which was daubed with graffiti.

She said six shops had recently closed down in the street and the area was becoming run-down.

She said: "I am really upset about it. The police are not doing enough for us as far as I am concerned. Everybody is struggling to make a living and this street is going to die if something isn't done soon."

A Brighton police spokeswoman said: "This is the worst example of graffiti we have seen in Brighton.

"It's appalling. We will be paying extra attention to this area with high-profile marked cars and plain clothes patrols.

"We are appealing for members of the public who saw anything to contact us."