A mother and her young children have been forced to flee their new home after being repeatedly targeted by vandals.

Liz Evans, her 10-month-old son Ryan and seven-year-old daughter Shawni, only moved into the council property in Baxandall Street, West Bowling, Bradford a month ago.

In the space of ten days, rocks have been hurled through their windows six times. The side of the house caught fire when rubbish was piled up and set alight.

The 27-year-old mother-of-two was driven to sleeping with a drill and craft knife next to her pillow for fear the culprits would "break in and come after the children".

She keeps buckets of water in the living room in case of a fire and has covered the few windows left intact with sticky tape to stop them smashing.

She said: "I'm worried someone will set the house on fire and we'll all be trapped. We're sleeping at my mum's house at the moment, but I come back now and again to pick things up.

"The police say there is nothing more they can do without witnesses and the council say they can't move me because I've only been here three weeks."

Liz believes her family has been targeted by Asian youths.

"I think it's racially motivated," she said. "They are trying to drive me out of the area because I'm white. Things were okay for the first week. Then a rock came through the window while we were decorating. Glass was flying everywhere, it cut my arm and I even swallowed a few pieces."

An Odsal Police spokesman confirmed officers were investigating several incidents of damage and one arson but said at this stage there was nothing to suggest the incidents had been racially motivated.

"As yet there have been no witnesses, but we will do all we can to catch those responsible. We intend to increase patrols to deter this kind of anti-social behaviour," said the spokesman.

Housing director Geraldine Howley said the Council is working to get a new three-bedroom house ready for the family.

Anyone with information call 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.