RESIDENTS who woke up to find their street had been ransacked have warned the vandals 'we won't stand for it.'

Bank Street, Darwen, came to life at 5.45am yesterday after a resident going to work discovered the damage to cars and houses.

Doors had been drawn on with black marker pen and splashed with paint and nail varnish and some had food thrown at them. Chalk asterisks had been etched on to the walls. Residents said a car was covered in food and sand and another had a the name Emily sprayed on to it in gold paint.

Some of the residents said children had caused trouble and made their lives hell during the past two months -- one family does not want to leave their house after their back yard was broken into two days ago.

But the trouble yesterday morning has made the residents vow that they will not allow the vandals to terrorise their neighbourhood.

"I just want people to know we are not standing for it," said resident Miss Neelam Nisar who had her house and car vandalised. "It is making life hell. We have lived in the street for 15 years. They are coming and making trouble and swearing and trying to break into the yards. Doors have graffiti on them and cars have been damaged with a name painted on.

"We have had the police down and they said they will investigate."

Another resident, Mrs Rosa Russo, awoke to find someone had sprayed a name in gold paint on to her Vauxhall Astra. "My husband told me when he was going to work. I saw it covered in dirt and paint. I took photos of it for the police. I've never had any problems likes this before. I was absolutely furious

Detective Sergeant Ian Critchley of Darwen CID said: "Our inquiries are continuing."