A COUPLE who believe they were mistakenly targeted by a gang, have made a desperate plea for the vandals not to return "as they have got the wrong house".

Rita Parry, 68 and Steve Carleton, 63, say £4,000 of damage was caused after the windows of their Friesland Close home and the car windows were smashed.

Police are investigating the incident, which has dumbfounded the couple and made them fear the offenders may return.

The retired couple, who have decided to go public in an attempt to prevent a repeat, say they were woken up in the early hours by the sound of glass being smashed earlier this month, before the vandals escaped.

The rear five windows of the property and on the back door were smashed, as well as the windows of their two cars.

"Our neighbours' CCTV caught three of them who carried out the damage - it was definitely a planned attack," Mrs Parry said.

"They tried to smash the patio door in. They didn't get in, nothing was taken.

"They are sending a message to someone - but it is obviously not us. It is a case of mistaken identity.

"They need to realise that they have got the wrong people, they have got the wrong house. We feel vulnerable as they could come back."

Police say CCTV footage from houses in the area show a silver vehicle similar to a Citroen Zsara, drive into the cul-de-sac and shortly after three people can be seen walking towards the couple's property. The three are later seen to run from the property in the direction of Drovers Way.

The police add two further vehicles of interest are a silver Honda Civic and a silver Kia Ceed.

Mrs Parry said there is no description of the men due to the dark pictures on the CCTV, and said they were the only ones targeted in the close, which is near to Tudor Grange Academy.

Mr Carleton added the windows have been boarded up, but it will be another week before a glazier can come out and replace the windows, adding to the couple's frustration.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said patrols have been stepped up in the area to reassure neighbours who called police during the incident, which happened at 2.30am on Saturday, March 17.

Police are appealing to anyone who saw the vehicles in the area at the time, or anyone who has any further CCTV.

PC Mandi Gregg said: "The couple were understandably very upset by the incident which appeared to be well orchestrated.

"They have no idea why anyone would target them. I would suggest this was a case of mistaken identity."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting 101s 170318.