A COUPLE targeted by hoaxers who have left them dealing with unwanted taxis, takeaways and workmen today said "enough is enough" after their cars were vandalised too.

Lesley and Malcolm Randerson, of Ormerod Street, Accrington, who were bombarded by taxis, takeaways and telephone calls last Wednesday, today branded the culprits childish cowards.

Last week the hoaxer even summoned the fire brigade and arranged for gas officials to visit their home.

Then, when they woke on Tuesday morning, they discovered brown paint had been poured over their white Seat Ibiza and metallic pale blue Jaguar during the night.

Mrs Randerson, 47, said: "The cars were parked further up from our house and were quite a distance apart so this was obviously a personal attack on us. At first, with the taxis, it was funny because we just thought there had been a mistake.

"Then it got annoying. But now it is starting to get expensive too. We cleaned the cars up ourselves because it would have cost about £1,000 to get a professional to do it and if we claim on insurance we would have lost our no claims bonus.

"What they are doing is childish and cowardly but it's getting ridiculous now and we want them to stop."

In last week's hoaxes, an unordered taxi arrived at the house at 7pm and was quickly followed by another nine, the fire brigade, two Indian meals, two telephone calls to confirm the order of more Indian food, four 'silent' telephone calls, a visit by the gas board to investigate a "leak" and a man calling to see about a reported cockroach problem.

Mrs Randerson said: "I had never answered the door and the phone as many times in my life.

"We think we know who is responsible for all of this and our solicitor has been informed. This has got to stop."

A police spokesperson confirmed that an incident involving brown paint and a vehicle had been reported in Ormerod Street and that they were investigating the complaints.