A WOMAN with arthritis today slammed yobs who went on a wrecking spree smashing the windows of caravans causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Heartbroken Denise Hughes said the destruction meant ruined holidays for lots of pensioners who stored their caravans at the site.

And she called on police and Pendle Council to catch the vandals who put through the windows on the caravan storage site in Halifax Road, Brierfield before she caught them.

However, the council said tenants would have to pay more rent for increased security.

Mrs Hughes, 55, of Burnley, who walks with the help of a walking stick, has stored her caravan on the site for three years.

She said she left the site at about 10.30pm on Wednesday and returned at 2.30pm the next day to discover the destruction.

"There are about ten caravans which have had their windows put through. It is pretty widespread and the damage runs into thousands.

"There is one which has not got a window in and has had its lights smashed. It will obviously have to be written off.

"A lot of the people who own the caravans are elderly and have put a lot of money in. To see other people's holidays ruined is heartbreaking," she said.

Mrs Hughes, whose mobile accommodation escaped vandals, said caravans could cost up to £20,000 to buy.

She added she paid over £100 a year to Pendle Council to store her caravan at the site.

Last year Mrs Hughes said she had to shell out £120 to replace a small window on her caravan which was smashed.

And Mrs Hughes wanted to know what the police and council were going to do to protect the property of the 50 plus caravan owners.

A council spokeswoman said the authority was aware of the problem and told tenants to check their caravans as soon as possible.

She said: "Sadly, we don't have the money for any additional security measures at the site, without charging our tenants more rent.

"The reasonable rent we charge reflects the level of security on the site, and we do draw tenants' attention to this before they sign up for a plot.

"We been working closely with the police to try and catch the vandals."

A police spokeswoman added: "Officers have visited the scene. Investigations are still ongoing with the obvious aim of catching those responsible."