TYRES were slashed on hire vans amid residents' anger at seeing 20 parked in one street.

The number of large vehicles, owned by Enterprise and Thrifty car rental, has been growing steadily in Carden Hill, Brighton, over the past few years.

Last week the row spilled over into vandalism after tyres on several of the vans were stabbed in what appears to be a revenge attack on the companies.

Residents have been growing increasingly angry over the lack of spaces and apparent danger posed by vans filling both sides of the road.

Ward councillor Lee Wares raised concerns with the companies but, on meeting representatives, learnt that tyres on most of the vehicles had been slashed.

Cllr Wares said: "As much as the parking of these vehicles is annoying, there is no justification for such criminal damage.

"We will of course continue to try and encourage the operators to be more considerate to our community but we will equally assist in finding the culprits of these crimes that we in no way condone."

He said it is was "reluctantly accepted" that the law as it stands means the vans are parked legitimately.

Sussex Police is aware of the tyre damage and is investigating.

Resident Lena Vacher, who lives in Carden Hill, first noticed the hire vans parking on the road in 2013.

She told The Argus: "It gets to a point where somebody's going to do something. But then there's taking it too far.

"If you're going to run a business you've got to have space for your vehicles."

Mrs Vacher said she complained to Thrifty when it started but was told the company did not have space for its vans. When she told the council, officials said there was nothing they could do.

Her husband, Dominic Vacher, added that the number of vans had escalated over recent weeks.

Another resident, 86, who did not want to be named, said: "It's a bit of a liberty - it means they don't have to pay for a yard.

"I do find it a bit annoying."

Neither Enterprise nor Thrifty had responded to request for a comment at the time of going to press.