VANDALS have damaged up to 11 vehicles in a car park over the last six weeks.

In the latest act, thieves smashed the side window of a Volkswagen Passat left at the car park in Old Street, Upton, and stole a laptop and other items from inside.

Locals are now calling for CCTV cameras to be installed in the town council-owned car park.

Town councillor Betty Williams said: "The car park is there for the people and this stupidity will stop them using it.

"For five weeks there have been windows damaged. I would think within the last five weeks over ten incidents have happened.

"People have covered up their smashed windows with black bags. I think it's necessary for CCTV to be installed there." She said Upton Blues Festival temporarily stopped the vandalism spree by stationing a security guard at the car park.

Cllr Williams added that people have now stopped using the car park and instead leave their vehicles in the street.

The councillor, who visits the car park every day, said there were only six vehicles at the site on Thursday morning.

She added that Upton Town Council had reported the vandalism to the police.

PC Kevin Johns, of Upton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "There has been a number of cars broken into, we are actively trying to find out who is committing these crimes. "We are trying many avenues, we are looking at things like CCTV. Measures are in place to actively find those responsible.

"If anyone can offer us information about who is doing it please let us know." PC Johns said up to 11 vehicles had been damaged in the car park over the last six weeks.

Last weekend, thieves broke into a Volkswagen Passat in the car park and stole a petrol can, laptop and windscreen wash. Anyone with information can ring 101 quoting incident number 0193s of July 28.