"RAMPAGING" youths in hoodies have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in a 30-minute spree of vandalism.

Car wing mirrors and windscreen wipers were ripped from vehicles and shop windows were smashed by a gang of around 20 yobs down Shear Brow through Limbrick and into Blackburn town centre.

The group's passage of destruction took place on Tuesday at around 9pm and police estimate that around £200 to £300 worth of damage was done to each of the cars.

Residents said that around 30 to 40 vehicles were targeted and a chapatti shop at Limbrick had its window smashed. The shop's owner also had wing mirrors ripped from his car.

Witnesses told police officers that they saw mainly white youths aged between 16 and 18 wearing hoodies run from the top to bottom of Shear Brow targeting cars and then running off.

And some of the same gang were seen by the chapatti shop owner heading to the town centre via Barbara Castle Way.

One resident had both his car's wing mirrors ripped off.

"I saw the group of youths on both sides of the road charging off and saw the damage that had been done to all the cars.

"It all happened in about 30 seconds but they then continued down the road and I cannot believe just how many people have been affected.

"They must have hit the cars with something really hard and with force to be able to knock the mirrors off at the brackets."

Another resident, Aiyoob Patel, added: "They started outside St Mary's College and went right down to Limbrick and into the town."

Inspector Claire Holbrook from Blackburn police said: "Somebody within the community will know which thoughtless youths are responsible."

l Anyone with information about this incident should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212.