A GROWING vandalism problem on the streets of a Suffolk town will be discussed at a public meeting.Scores of residents awoke over the weekend to find “mindless” vehicle damage after a spate of crimes, leaving many elderly residents fearing for their safety.

A GROWING vandalism problem on the streets of a Suffolk town will be discussed at a public meeting.

Scores of residents awoke over the weekend to find “mindless” vehicle damage after a spate of crimes, leaving many elderly residents fearing for their safety.

Now urgent calls for action have led to the public meeting, which will be organised by Sudbury Town Council and attended by South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo.

Pensioner Graham Reavell, a victim of the weekend's crimes which cost car owners thousands of pounds, said: “We need to keep putting on the pressure as this problem has to stop.

“But this meeting will only be a success if we get the answers we want. I am very worried about what is going to happen at weekends at the moment and residents are very apathetic about the whole situation.”

The meeting was called after 16 cars were targeted in Beaconsfield Road, The Croft, Mountbatten Close, Queens Road, Hitchcock Place, New Queens Road, Gainsborough Road, Springfield Road, Uplands Road and Talbot Road.

Sudbury Inspector Tristan Pepper said he sympathised with residents and revealed patrols in the area had been stepped up.

He added: “We can't promise police offices on every corner but we are setting up various initiatives to deal with criminal damage.

“There are issues with yobbish behaviour but we must try and keep it in perspective. It is currently a terrible situation but we have to hope this is just a flash in the pan and will go away. Criminal damage is definitely a priority, probably our top priority at the moment.”

Although a date for the meeting is yet to be set, it is expected to be held within two weeks.

Speaking last night, Mr Yeo told the EADT: “I have every sympathy with the residents who have been directly affected and who have gone through such anxiety.

“This issue needs to be treated very seriously indeed and I will be talking to the police to ensure they are taking it equally seriously.”