VANDALS who slashed more than 30 tyres in two days may have been carrying out a copycat crime.

Residents of Church Road, Tovil, near Maidstone, are facing a bill of more than £2,000.

Victims believe the spree may have been inspired by Dorset man Ashley Carpenter who was jailed for slashing 1,728 car tyres in a bizarre hate campaign against motorists.

Carpenter claimed his campaign was motivated by the inconsiderate attitudes of drivers who repeatedly splashed him while he rode his bike.

In Tovil, Church Road residents woke on April 18 to find the tyres of 15 cars in shreds.

One victim, whose three cars were among those attacked, said: "I'm absolutely appalled. They even attacked the car on our drive. These people do not realise what heartache they cause and the cost involved."

Another victim, who has suffered six slashed tyres in four separate attacks, said: "When the police came round they said they thought it was something to do with that cyclist on the television who was jailed for slashing all those tyres. I'm certain it must be something to do with that."

But the damage did not stop there. Early on Tuesday morning, a further seven cars were targeted in an identical fashion.

Police have described the similarity between the incidents in Tovil and those in Dorset as "odd" and have not ruled that the spree is a copycat.

A Kent police spokesman said: "This damage has caused inconvenience and expense to the people affected and if damage to a tyre goes unnoticed it could even cause a serious accident.

"Whoever is responsible may wish to note that the tyre slasher in Bournemouth was jailed for 16 months."