A DAD has told of the dramatic moment a gang of men armed with baseball bats and metal poles - and possibly a gun - smashed up his car and two other vehicles.

Chris Hanson's Audi A4 was parked at the Co-op, in Chapel Street, Queensbury, when a group of "12 to 15 turned up and caused havoc".

A silver Volkswagen Golf and a red and black Hyosung motorbike were also badly-damaged by the gang. Some witnesses reported that one of the gang had a gun.

Local councillors described the attack, which happened at about 7pm on Thursday, as "worrying, alarming and shocking".

Police initially described the incident as a clash between two groups of men, a suggestion which was rubbished by Mr Hanson.

The 21-year-old groundsman, who lives in the village, said: "I had gone up for food with some of my mates and a car of 12 to 15 Asian men turned up and caused havoc. Every window of my Audi A4 was smashed, they smashed my bonnet and boot. They smashed my mate's windscreen and bonnet, and tried to smash his windows too. They hit the side of the motorbike with a steel pole.

"It happened at about 7pm, and it was still light outside. I've got my two-year-old son at the moment and I could have had him in the car."

He added: "They turned up, chased us, and my mate saw one of them had a gun. Every one that I saw had a weapon. They hit the car with heavy objects, and they all had their hoods up."

Mr Hanson's mum, Tracey, said: "It can't be portrayed as a clash between two groups because they just turned up."

Mr Hanson said: "A load of them jumped out giving grief then came back in cars and gave us a chase so we ran. Then I heard the distinctive pop-pop-pop of windows being smashed. I tried to go back but one of my mates stopped me. Before we knew it they were gone.

"I had my wallet and phone on the driver's seat but they left them behind and when I got back they were just on the seat covered in glass. They just caused damage and left.

"Police have been very good, they had armed response out, with dogs. We think the police know who they are and where to find them."

He added: "They caused over £2,000 worth of damage. I rang my insurance up and they said they would just write it off, but there's no way they're writing it off. I'm having to foot the bill myself, and I've only had the car three months.

"I'm self employed so I am out of work for over a week."

Councillor Michael Walls, (Con, Queensbury) said: "How on earth can someone do that and disappear before the police got there? It just goes to show we do need a police presence in Queensbury."

He added: "It is certainly alarming and undesirable. If anyone had been in the vicinity or had tried to do anything, I have no doubt they would have been on the end of the baseball bats.

"It is quite shocking that something like that can happen in the early evening. And it is quite worrying that such acts of violence and blatant disregard for the law should happen in Queensbury."

Cllr Paul Cromie (Ind, Queensbury) said: "It is scary this sort of thing is happening in the village, especially with alleged gangs of youths coming to the village for whatever reason.

"It is not the sort of thing we want in Queensbury. We could do without that. And we definitely don't want gangs coming up from wherever they came from.

"It is very worrying that gangs of youths are attacking property in Queensbury for whatever reason."

Shannon McGillickuddy, works in Orchid Beauty Nail Salon opposite the Co-op where it happened: "At 6pm I saw a group of lads around the cars looking suspicious, but I didn't see them causing any damage."

A police spokesman said there was nothing yet to substantiate claims that one of the attackers had a gun, but added that enquiries were ongoing.

Police said they were called at 7.10pm to reports of vehicles being damaged. Officers were also yesterday in the process of getting CCTV footage from nearby cameras.

The suspects, believed to be aged between their late teens and late 20s, are said to have fled the scene in two cars, a black Skoda Fabia and a black Volkswagen Golf, said police.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information can contact police on 101.