Family's despair as slasher strikes again; More tyres wrecked as vandals go on the rampage again.

Byline: By BEN GRIFFIN and JEANETTE SCOTT

TYRE slashers have struck again in Coventry wreaking havoc in three more streets last night.

The slashers have heaped misery on people just three days before Christmas by going on the rampage in Stoke Heath and Chapelfields.

Police said more than 50 people had their vehicles targeted in Maudslay Road, Chapelfields and Whoberley Avenue, Whoberley, and another 30 were hit in North Street, Stoke Heath last night.

Officers set up a temporary base at an old people's home in Chapelfields to take reports from victims, and a van load of officers were sent to North Street in Stoke Heath.

The attacks come in the wake of similar slashings in Wyken and Stoke Heath at the end of November and in the same area a week later.

Police have had reports of more than 330 slashings, but say more than 400 people could have fallen victim as some may not have reported it.

North Street residents were fuming this morning after being targeted for the second time in a month.

One family will have to find more than pounds 1,000 to replace the eight tyres slashed on four vehicles.

Marie Laythorpe's husband Paul, dad Bob and brother Mark all woke up to find their cars damaged.

Marie, a 26-year-old teacher at Woodway Park school said: "Just a few days before Christmas - it's disgusting. There is such a sense of anger about this again. We just don't understand it."

Her father, Bob Szyndler, 53, had both his taxi and his driving tuition car damaged.

He said: "This is yet another days work for me. It's just a tyre war."

The family are now thinking about paying thousands of pounds to create a gated driveway on their North Street property.

Another resident, Gary O'Donnell, 35, who works at Coventry Pressworks, said: "I'm the only one earning in our house because my wife was made redundant. Luckily we had all the Christmas presents before this. It's just disgusting."

Frederic Sage, 31, woke to find his charity worker partner's car targeted.

The tyres on Anne Farrow's Volvo were also slashed last month.

Mr Sage said: "It's just a real shame especially around Christmas. We're convinced there's a reason behind all this."

Sgt Lee Burns, of Little Park Street Police, said police received reports about the slashings just after midnight.

They flooded the area with officers but were unable to find the culprits.

CCTV footage taken in the streets targeted was today being analysed.

There will be extra patrols tonight and for the coming nights to stop similar attacks.

CAPTION(S):

D23646_13. D23646_10. D23646_12. D23646_12. 'TYRE WAR': Bob Szyndler (above) surveys the damage to his car and (right, from top) other victims of the attacks include Bob's daughter Marie Laythorpe Gary O'Donnell, and Frederic Sage. Pictures: JAMES BALFOUR