VANDALISM in Horwich has reached an all time high, with bus shelters, telephone boxes and street signs being wrecked on a daily basis, council chiefs have revealed.

The vandals are plaguing the Chorley Old Road and Chorley New Road areas mainly targeting the glass screens in bus shelters and telephone kiosks.

And today town councillors reinforced the pleas of police chiefs urging people to report incidents as they happen in a bid to crackdown on the problem.

Horwich ward councillor Barbara Ronson has condemned the wreckers who are believed to be local teenagers.

She said: "Not only does this mindless vandalism cost money to replace the glass time and time again, it also is not fair on the commuters who arrive every morning and are forced to wade through piles of shattered glass on the ground."

Residents have also reported that on an increasing basis the vandals are targeting street signs uprooting many and with others changing the direction they are pointing.

Numerous street signs including Darley Street, Essex Street, Hope Street North and Fearnhead Avenue have been painted over with spray paint or had the letters scratched off.

Mrs Ronson said: "I imagine this started out as a silly prank, but it's gone beyond a joke now.

"It isn't just children causing the damage and I'd urge people to be extra vigilant and report any vandalism they see. We need to highlight the problems and make sure parents know what their children are doing and that adults start to set an example."

A police spokesman said only eight vandalism related incidents have been reported in Horwich so far this year. He said one person has been convicted but added that the police are aware the many more are never reported .

The spokesman added: "We would appeal to members of the public to provide us with information about any incidents immediately, that way we are able to get out there and tackle the problem as soon as it happens."

Incidents can be reported to Horwich police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on free phone 0800 555 111.