Vandals who wreck luxury cars have caused damage costing thousands of pounds in Brighton.

More than 50 vehicles have had their front and rear windscreens smashed in a single week.

The vandals are singling out BMWs, Mercedes Benzes, Volvos and other prestige models during the daytime attacks in the suburbs of Patcham, Westdene and Surrenden.

In September, 65 vehicles were vandalised. Another 40 have been targeted so far this month.

Police believe the attacks are being carried out by someone with either a grudge against residents of Brighton's middle-class suburbs or "a perverted sense of fun".

Sergeant Steve French said: "While these are relatively minor crimes in isolation, we are seeing them on such a scale that this has become a major quality-of-life issue."

Derek Pines, 50, from Westdene, said he discovered the rear window of his Daihatsu Charade had been smashed.

He said: "I think it's absolutely diabolical. The car was all locked up but when we got up on Monday we saw the window had been smashed.

"It's all gone through the insurance and has cost me £40 to repair, which is a bill I'd rather not have had to pay."

Builder Martin Keats, 47, of Carden Hill, left his Mazda pick-up truck outside his home and both the front and rear windscreens were smashed.

He said: "I think it's terrible if we're living in an age where people see this as fun. It's just mindless vandalism and it has meant I haven't been able to work for two days."

Sgt French said: "This is a worrying trend and something which we want to see stopped. They are not taking anything from the vehicles. It's sheer vandalism and it's mostly against prestige cars."

He appealed for anyone with information to contact him on 0845 6070999.