WING mirrors are being ripped off cars and windows smashed by vandals targeting cinema-goers parking in Farrier Street.

Disgruntled driver Zoe White claimed scores of motorists were coming back to their vehicles late at night to find they had been attacked.

Although she has so far escaped the crime spree, she is warning other drivers to be on their guard.

"There have been several instances, over the past few months, of vehicles having their windows smashed and, or, their wing mirrors ripped off," she said. "While I've been fortunate, others haven't.

"People need to be aware of the possibility of their vehicles being damaged if they choose to leave them in Farrier Street.

"Because of parking charges being enforced 24-hours-a-day, it's convenient to park there - especially for people visiting the Odeon cinema.

"It's used by a large number of motorists."

Miss White, of Church Lane, Pinvin, near Pershore, said she had written to the city council complaining about evening and Sunday parking charges in the city centre.

Paul Kyte, assistant engineer for the council, said a letter had been sent back to her explaining the policy.

"We can't cover every site in the city with CCTV," he said.

"It's motorists who've got to think about not only locking valuables away, but at night, parking in a well-lit and busy part of town."

He said CCTV coverage was being expanded all the time, funded by cash poured into ticket machines in the city's car parks.

"Price increases in the past have repaid the capital cost of some of the cameras and continue to pay for surveillance and maintenance," he said.

Geoff Bailey, CCTV project manager for the council, said an extra 33 cameras were to be installed across the city.

One would be in Cheshire Cheese Entry, he said, near to Farrier Street.

"What view we get on Farrier Street, though, depends on where the camera is situated. The vandalism in Cheshire Cheese Entry is our priority," he said.

City centre beat manager Danian Lowe said police had received five reports of vandalism in Farrier Street over the past 10 days.

"Last Friday, someone ripped a number plate off a car," he revealed. "Before that, on Saturday, October 20, four cars were damaged by a group of youths who were drunk and walking along the road kicking cars.

He said the number of car thefts in the road had dropped since the police station moved to Castle Street, but promised to keep an eye on the area.