FORMING a community police force is one suggestion which has been put forward to tackle the problem of vandalism in Purton.

In recent weeks more than a dozen cars have been attacked.

And the parish council has reported smashed bus shelters and arson attacks at the public toilets and recycling centre.

The matter was high on the agenda at the annual parish meeting, which drew over 100 residents to the village hall.

One man, who has had his car vandalised, called for action to stop "wanton vandalism".

And he said: "I've reported it to the police and I've heard nothing all we've had is do you want counselling? Our cars are being wrecked and there's no police. There's people talking about getting their own security." Another concerned resident, George Hawkesworth, said: "This is a very serious problem we have maybe we should consider community policing with a body of volunteers.

"On a rota basis people could go around the village and keep an eye on what's happening."

Terry Smith recently had £110 worth of damage done to his car when it was parked in the High Street.

He said: "It's really annoying when you've got to pay out all this money. It's been quiet around here for the last few years but it just seems to have got bad recently."

Parish council chairman Richard Pagett said a public meeting may now be called with the police to discuss the problem.

He said: "Policing coverage has been a concern for some time. We do suffer from a considerable turnover of policing and that doesn't help. Community policing is one option we will contact the police to see how that sort of thing works, what's needed and probably have an open meeting to explore possibilities."

The parish council keeps a record of reports of criminal damage.

In February alone there were the following incidents involving public property:

Picnic table at the village centre destroyed.

Systematic vandalism to toilets over a period of two weeks.

Two fires lit against the door of the public toilets.

Paper recycling bin destroyed by fire.

Fencing ripped up at the village centre.

Village hall window smashed.

Signs in the village centre uprooted.

Purton police inspector Craig Hill said: "Cricklade police sector has some of the lowest levels of crime in the country. For vehicle crime we had 45 offences in the 12 months up to December compared with 65 the year before.

"Across the whole of North Wiltshire there are problems with criminal damage. It's anti-social behaviour associated with youngsters being allowed to roam the streets. I suspect this is the case in Purton."

He said he will be investigating why no police officer was available to attend the village meeting.