YOU are putting lives at risk.That was the message from motorists after vandals went on a wrecking spree slashing car tyres in Ipswich.Families woke up to a nightmare on Saturday morning after thugs targeted a string of vehicles causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

YOU are putting lives at risk.

That was the message from motorists after vandals went on a wrecking spree slashing car tyres in Ipswich.

Families woke up to a nightmare on Saturday morning after thugs targeted a string of vehicles causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Areas hit included Windsor Road, Hampton Road, Richmond Road, Lambeth Close, All Saints Road, Brokes Hall Road, Riverside Road and Bramford Lane.

One resident estimated that sixty to seventy cars had been damaged.

In Gymnasium Street, car doors were kicked in and car windows were smashed on the same night.

Louise Mowson, of Hampton Road, found her car had been tampered with after a near miss on a dual carriageway.

"Whoever did this is thoughtless," she said. "They think they are having harmless fun, but they are not. They're putting lives at risk."

The 25-year-old was picking up her partner from work at 6.30am Saturday when she nearly lost control of the car after her tyre deflated.

"I was driving round a corner and the car just went," she explained. "I swerved and nearly went straight into the barrier.

"I didn't know what the problem was at the time and found I had a flat tyre. It

wasn't until I got home and saw all the other tyres that I realised how it happened.

"It is just a shame these people haven't got anything better to do with their time."

Grandmother Jan Denney found two tyres slashed on her Jeep costing £300 to replace.

It left her partner – a self-employed builder – without transport and forced to change his work schedule because they can't replace the tyres until Wednesday.

"I am not happy," said the 48-year-old, also of Hampton Road.

"There were about 16 vehicles targeted in this road. They think it is funny. But they must be pretty sick. They could have caused an accident."

A police spokesman confirmed that 19 tyres had been reported as damaged between Friday evening and the early hours of Saturday morning.

She urged people to report such criminal damage so the offenders can be prosecuted in due course.

A second police spokesman said: "This is an entirely pointless act of vandalism.

"Considerable inconvenience is caused and anger generated. Those responsible for this really do need to be caught quickly."

Anyone who knows the identity of the person, or persons concerned, or who saw anything suspicious are asked to contact Ipswich Police on 01473 383100.