A GANG of catapult vandals is being blamed for a string of attacks on property in Queenborough on Sheppey. The five-strong gang aged between 12 and 15 struck at homes in Edward Road at about 8.30pm last night.

One of the residents, Raymond Sindrey, said the vandals:

* Shattered two windows in his car

* Broke his next-door neighbour's kitchen window

* Smashed the rear window of another neighbour's camper van.

The attacks come after police pledged to step up patrols in Queenborough which is suffering a spate of hooliganism and vandalism. The heightened police presence comes after Queenborough Mayor Cllr Mick Constable called for action against bored and despondent teenagers roaming the streets.

Mr Sindrey said he had suffered from a spate of incidents at his home over the last few years, including a broken glass pane in his front door.

Windows of the neighbouring Queenborough Primary School, separated from his home by a public footpath leading to King George V Playing Field, had also been targeted by the youths.

Mr Sindrey added: "I've also had windows broken in two glasshouses, house bricks have been thrown into the garden and a traffic bollard has been thrown over the fence.

"I'm a carer for my mother, who is 74, and you can imagine the effect it is all having on her."

He said that after last night's attack a policeman called at his home and later spoke to the parents of some of the suspects. "That's about as effective as a chocolate teapot," he said.

But there was a possibility, he said, that a police spy camera could be set up near his home in a bid to provide evidence of the vandals' identity.