VANDALS ripped out 30 car aerials in two streets, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

The aerials were snapped off in what police suspect was a 'drink-fuelled rampage', which happened two nights running.

Vehicles were targeted in Byron Road and Skipton Road, near Colne Cricket Club, around midnight on Friday and 2am on Sunday.

After conducting door-to-door inquiries, police suspect a gang of youths are to blame.

Officers have been into local schools to try and establish what happened. And they said they would not stop until they find the culprits.

Officers have examined the area and found evidence of youths drinking around the cricket club.

Inspector Ian Cooper said: "We received a significant number of calls saying that aerials had been stolen over the weekend.

"We conducted door-to-door inquiries and put letters though the doors of people's houses who had aerials missing from their cars.

"A number of people we spoke to reported hearing gangs of youths acting rowdy on Friday and Saturday evenings, going into the early hours of the morning.

"We have studied CCTV footage from the cricket club and would like to speak to those youths who had been drinking in the club grounds. We are not sure that these are the people responsible, but would be keen to speak to them to see if they have seen anything.

"It is still not known exactly how many aerials have been taken, but we know at least 30 have been reported.

"Officers have also gone into local schools to try and ascertain what happened. We will not stop until we find those responsible."

A police spokesperson added: "It looks as though they have been on a drink-fuelled rampage, probably seeing it as just a practical joke.

"The aerials may have been thrown in a back yard, or layby, and been thought nothing of."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01282 472485, or Crimestoppers anony-mously on 0800 555 111.