Street lights have been smashed with rocks as vandals strike again in a suburb plagued by anti-social behaviour, sparking fears "the catapult kids are back”.

A walker says she has had to carry her dog down part of Trinity Road in Kennington, Ashford, as the pavement is littered with glass from the broken lamps.

In total, four street lights have been damaged along the road, between the junctions of Guernsey Way and Jersey Close.

It comes as Stagecoach previously suspended services to the Kennington area in a bid to keep its drivers and passengers safe after rocks were thrown at bus windows.

But now residents fear the small shards of glass from the street lights could be a hazard to pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists.

Lynn McAuley has taken to picking her pet up when walking on the pavements in Trinity Road.

“You have to think twice when walking down here,” she told KentOnline.

“I have to pick my dog up when there’s glass. I’m lucky she’s small.

“My husband has been egged before along this road - you never know what’s being thrown.”

She says bus stops along the road have also been targeted several times before.

“It’s quite bad at the moment," she said.

“Bus stops get smashed a lot here - it’s awful.

“It could be the same group of people who have thrown stones at the buses, but I’m not sure.”

Wendy Rudge, also from Kennington, says the vandalism creates problems for residents.

She said: “The bus services in Trinity Road were cut by the bus company.

“All this causes inconvenience to local people.

“Someone has to clear up the mess and replace all the vandalised lights and bus shelters – all of which we, the general public, will all have to pay for at some point.

“It’s sad that there are local parents not aware that their children are out causing considerable damage to street lights, bus shelters and bus windows in Trinity Road.”

“Pure vandalism. So sad to see the destruction of our facilities...”

Other residents have raised their concerns on Facebook, with one suggesting “the catapult kids are back” – referencing previous issues in Ashford surrounding slingshots.

The borough was named the "catapult crime capital of Kent" in 2019, with more incidents than any other district

A petition was even launched last year by an Ashford resident to make it illegal to carry them.

Reacting to the latest damage, one resident said: “Pure vandalism. So sad to see the destruction of our facilities.”

Peter New, a Kent Police Volunteer and Community Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, says police and councillors have attempted to combat the anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the area.

“Recently the police mounted a considerable operation of public engagement, highly visible policing and covert operational work,” he said.

“It is very disappointing to have reports that further criminal damage has been carried out since that work.”

Mr New said he wants to appeal on several fronts to help reduce the likelihood of incidents like this from happening again.

He said: “Firstly for residents to report each and every incident as and when they occur. Not posting on Facebook but calling the police and that may well be 999 if a crime is in progress. Also, providing CCTV and camera doorbell footage when available.

“Secondly, the people carrying out these crimes are known to some in the community and that information needs to come to the police.

“Third, and this is the very disappointing point, some families know their children/youths are carrying out these incidents and their silence is deafening and the non action only allows the behaviour to continue.”

In December, after one bus was damaged after having a rock thrown at one of its windows, Stagecoach bosses made the decision to stop running the B line after 5pm to ensure their drivers and passengers were safe.

A Kent County Council spokesman confirmed repairs will be made to the broken light.

A spokesperson for Ashford Borough Council said: "We work together with our partners in the Community Safety Partnership to reduce crime and share information to take co-ordinated action against anti-social behaviour.

"Various multi-agency initiatives and operations are undertaken throughout the year to tackle problem areas within the borough."