Residents on a Brighton estate who say their lives are being blighted by vandalism are campaigning for CCTV and better lighting.

Householders in Whitehawk Close will present open letters of complaint to Des Turner MP tomorrow calling for a halt to vandals who have repeatedly attacked their homes and cars for more than two years.

Barry Harvey, who lives in the road, said: "This has been going on for years and we are having to pay out to get our motors repaired every few weeks.

"It has escalated recently. Every night we have to get up when we hear a noise - we are like unpaid security guards.

"If something isn't done soon to put a stop to it one of us is going to get seriously hurt or end up hurting someone else."

One couple have had their car broken into nine times with damage ranging from scratches on the paintwork, smashed windows, damage with hammers and pickaxes to slashed tyres.

Last month the Argus reported an attack on the car of pensioner Ronald Mitten, of Whitehawk Close, which had a disabled sticker clearly displayed.

It was the third time his car had been vandalised since Christmas and the attack left the 70-year-old pensioner housebound.

Mr Harvey said he and his neighbours could no longer rely on the police to protect them and their property from teenage vandals.

The residents want to see a CCTV camera installed in their cul-de-sac, improved and brighter street lighting and want housing services at Brighton and Hove Council to investigate their plight.

They also want to see an alleyway connecting the Close to Manor Hill closed off so teenagers cannot creep in and out under the cover of darkness.

One resident described the passageway as "a back route for the mindless vandals to escape down into the valley of Whitehawk itself."