A MYSTERIOUS vandal who has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to parked cars is making life a misery for Addingham people.

Residents of Victoria Terrace say their cars are being deliberately scratched after dark, when they park on a nearby street - and cars belonging to family and visitors are also being targeted.

They have already reported the attacks to the police, and are now planning to go to local councillors for help and advice. Victoria Terrace residents, who have no space on parking on their own street, say most of the attacks have happened on Old Station Way, although some say there have been other attacks around the village.

Jane Payling, of Victoria Terrace, believes a vandal or group of vandals is scratching the sides of cars with keys, leaving owners with repair bills running into thousands of pounds.

She said: "It's been going on around 18 months. There's been a lot of damage and a lot of people have found other places to park, but difficult in the village.

"My neighbour had borrowed her father's car, and parked it on the Old Station Way, and it was all scratched along the sides."

She said her husband's new Honda car was scratched on the first night it was parked in the village, and her own car has been scratched a number of times.

Mrs Payling says residents have reported vandalism to the police more than once.

Sgt Esther Hobbs, of Ilkley Police, said police were not aware of a recurring problem with car vandalism in Addingham and urged victims to report all incidents.

She said current crime recording guidelines encourage victims to report all crimes, in order to give police a truer picture of crime levels and trends.

l Sgt Hobbs advised anyone with information on the crimes, and anyone wanting to report car vandalism, to call Ilkley Police on (01943) 601060.