Police today pledged to step up security in Bingley after a spate of vandalism.

Furious traders have called on officers for their support after seven shop windows along Main Street were smashed in one weekend alone.

Robert Hind-Smith, who runs Panther Amusements in Main Street, said shopkeepers were at their wit's end.

"Every business along this stretch of Main Street has had its window smashed this year," he said.

"It's just become unbearable and traders are fed up of replacing their glass. Some of us are leaving the windows boarded up."

Mr Hind-Smith also owns the empty shop next door to the amusement arcade but said he prefers to keep it boarded up for fear of it being smashed.

"Weekend nights are especially bad and if there were more police out and about it would be a deterrent," he said.

Among those targeted was the window of Firebond insurance brokers.

Steve Sheffield, who runs the office and lives in the flat above, said he was considering moving the business, partly because of the increased vandalism along Main Street.

"I've been here since last May but in all that time I've not slept a night in my bed because of the noise from the street after the pubs' chucking-out time," he said.

And Nick Jones, manager of Travel Options, said he was writing a letter to the police on behalf of the traders, outlining their concerns.

"Our shop has been targeted but we can't put up shutters as our window is the biggest advertising asset we've got," he said.

Inspector David Drucquer, of Shipley police, said he was out in the town over the weekend with a team of officers.

"We have had a resurgence of criminal damage to shop windows along Main Street," he said.

"The presence of officers on the streets does deter criminals and we will continue to do that as Bingley is becoming a very popular place for evening entertainment."

One man has been charged with two incidents of criminal damage in Bingley and another man has been cautioned.