FURIOUS residents woke yesterday to find tyres on more than 20 cars had been slashed in a “mindless” overnight wrecking spree in Bradford.

People living in four streets on the edge of the city centre made the upsetting discovery outside their homes.

The vandalism happened to vehicles parked on Little Horton Lane, Melbourne Terrace, Ann Place and Elizabeth Street.

Hussain Khan, 33, of Ann Place, said: “It is mindless vandalism. I am disgusted and I feel let down – both by the police and society in general.

“What was the purpose of this? It is just absolutely pointless.”

He added: “People have not been able to get to work. A barber with his own shop was not able to get to work, so he has lost custom.

“Some people have not been able to get their children to school. One woman came out of her house and realised she had to go and get the bus to get her kids to school.”

Mr Khan also had a message for the people responsible, as he said: “You have ruined a lot of lives today – and for what? It has disrupted lots of people’s lives and will cost them money.

“It is terrible, mindless.

“We hear a lot of things said by councillors, but can we actually move forward and get some police patrols? Maybe a camera?”

Fellow resident Mohammed Ibrar’s car was one of those targeted. The 32-year-old said: “To find out others were targeted as well makes me really angry.

“This has affected a lot of people. It is really bad.

“Fixing a tyre might cost only £20 but it has knocked me back. It knocked my day and knocked my confidence. Next time they might smash a window.”

He added: “It is an area that has been neglected and crime is on the rise - but nothing ever gets done.

“I am hoping someone might have seen something. We really do need someone to help us - maybe police or the Council to put a camera up.

“There are pensioners on that street that have been affected as well. There are vulnerable people.

“It was a really sad thing to do.”

A 31-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said: “It is ridiculous.

“I am really annoyed. We had an appointment at the doctor to go to, but we had to pay for a taxi to get there.”

She said she refused to let her children play out in the area because she said it was unsafe.

“There are lots of people drinking in the streets,” she said. “We don’t let the kids play out. We want more police or Council wardens. No-one is speaking up for us.”

Adalat Khan said he had just put three new tyres onto his car, two of which were slashed.

“I think they have just walked along the path and done everyone’s side tyres as they went along.

“It is going to cost me more money to get it sorted out. I am unemployed at the moment and I have kids.”

He said he had lived in the area all his life and that, apart from a problem with car thefts many years ago, they had not seen something like this happen before.

Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) said he was liaising with police in an effort to get more officers patrolling the area to ease residents’ concerns.

“I am liaising with police to have some sort of presence to reassure residents,” he said.

On the incident, he added: “It is a despicable act. It has been done on a massive scale and I can’t really understand why it has been done.

“Rightly so, residents are concerned that their vehicles have been targeted in such a way.

“I am liaising with police at the moment and hopefully we can get some evidence as to who is responsible and they can be brought to justice for their actions.

“It is terrible to wake up to that - it is just not on.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the attacks were believed to have happened between midnight and 1am.

"We are aware of the incidents and they being investigated by police," he said.

"Local officers are committed to responding to all reports of anti-social behaviour and we encourage anyone who has any concerns to call us.

"In the meantime, officers will be increasing patrols in the area."

Anyone with any information on the incident can contact Bradford West neighbourhood policing team on 101.