A man was shocked to discover his wife's car tyres stabbed 13 times in what he describes as an "almost ritual" attack.

Mike Jones, who lives near Rottingdean, said one of the tyres was stabbed 13 times with a blade long enough to pierce the inner tube.

He said: "There were 13 equally spaced cuts on the side wall. Each cut was five centimetres long extending towards the hub.

"Alarmingly, when changing the wheel I discovered the cuts were also present in exactly the same places on the inner wall of the tyre.

"The only way this could have occurred is if the blade was long enough comfortably to pass through the entire width of the tyre.

"In my opinion we must be considering a blade of at least 25cm, or 10in, long."

Mr Jones said his wife had parked her car in Whiteway Lane in Rottingdean on Friday between 3pm and 5pm while she went shopping.

She came back to find the tyre slashed, although there was no other damage.

Mr Jones said: "It would have taken a fair amount of strength to do that and would also require a very strong rigid blade such as a bayonet or machete."

He was also concerned because the lane where the car was vandalised was an access way for the village's community centre and a school.

Mr Jones criticised the police for not doing more after he reported it.

He said: "It would appear someone is prepared to use an extremely large-bladed knife of some description, in broad daylight, to inflict almost ritual damage.

"The police should feel concerned but there has been no request to see the tyre. I was almost reluctant to say anything but there is someone out there with a very large knife."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said a crime report of the incident had been made and officers had considered sending for a forensic vehicle examiner.

She said: "We don't normally send someone when the damage is on the outside of the car because anyone could have touched the tyre. We can't get any useful forensic evidence from it.

"But if there is another incident in that area or a witness comes forward then we will take it further. If anyone saw anyone hanging around, they should contact us."

Anyone with information or who has suffered a similar attack should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.