Yobs left a trail of destruction as they targeted the homes of the elderly in a festive rampage of "mindless vandalism".

The thugs toppled walls, pillars and fences, many belonging to pensioners.

The attacks happened over three consecutive nights - Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and December 27 - in Freshfields Close and Freshfields Road, Lancing.

A total of 11 structures were damaged and will cost thousands of pounds to put right.

Ranging from small walls, to panelled fences, the trail of destruction wound its way through the two roads.

Brian Burt, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the area, said the damage was the latest in a spate suffered by the estate's residents, many of whom are elderly, over the last couple of years.

Just two weeks ago one elderly woman had her window shot with an air rifle and had to pay for it to be replaced.

Mr Burt, 74, said it was bad enough that the walls were targeted on Christmas day but that the repeat attacks on Boxing Day and the following day where the vandals tried to knock Neighbourhood Watch signs off lamp posts, just made matters worse.

He said: "There is a group of youths that goes around here and does damage to the area.

"They have been causing trouble for a long time but they are hard to identify because they wear hooded tops and we can't see their faces.

"The police know of them and know what happens but we don't seem to get any satisfaction.

"It has got worse as the nights have become longer."

Mr Burt criticised the parish, district and county councils for not heeding residents' complaints in the past about vandalism and said the police could do more to deter yobs from the streets.

He said: "I feel frustrated and upset by what has happened.

"We have pleaded to the councils to close an alleyway linking the roads which allows these youths easy access to the estate.

"It's hard to criticise the police when they are working to Government-imposed targets but I feel they could do more.

"We need a meeting with the councils so that they can see how this is affecting the people that live here.

"We know what the problems are, now we need solutions."

Freshfields Drive resident Ken Buckland, 75, had his 20ft wall kicked in over the Christmas period and now faces a hefty bill to replace it.

He said: "I've lived here for almost 20 years and it's only fairly recently that the trouble has started.

"They ought to bring back the birch, that would stop them."

He said that residents now planned to write to their MP Tim Loughton to ask for his support to their campaign to close the alleyway and secure their estate.

Anyone with information on the vandalism should call PC Laura Slinden on 0845 60 70 999, quoting crime reference 798/27, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.