POLICE have slammed hooligans on a Darwen estate following thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars.

Residents in Ash Grove say youths deliberately broke wing mirrors, jumped on their vehicles and even rode their bikes across the roofs.

In the latest incident, at 12.10am on Friday, a car belonging to Reg Simpson was smashed and the youths were caught on his CCTV camera, installed in a bid to end the destruction. Police are studying the video to see if they can identify the culprits.

A police spokesman said: "That estate is the worst in Darwen for juvenile nuisance. They have rung us quite a few times about incidents relating to cars.

"The Youth Works project has moved up near there now and we are hoping that will keep these youths busy and off the streets.

"Ash Grove is a busy juvenile nuisance area, although the reported damage is average in comparison with other streets on that estate. The damage seems to be caused by the older age group going. As the weather gets better, the trouble increases."

Mr Simpson said: "We have had problems with vandalism for about 10 years but it's steadily getting worse and it's costing us thousands. One car was written off because the door and panels had been kicked and beaten in so hard.

"We are repeatedly having mirrors broken and scratches on mine and my son's car. Last week they got on the roof of my car and jumped up and down smashing the sunroof.

"It's just gone too far. They know there's a camera filming them but it doesn't stop them."

Next-door neighbour Alex Croxon, whose car has also been damaged on several occasions, added: "I have only been living here less than a year and the wing mirrors have been damaged three times."