VANDALS poured black bitumen paint over 25 parked cars in a late night wrecking spree.

Cars parked in six residential roads around Morris Green Lane, Daubhill, were targeted, leaving their owners with large repair bills.

Much of the damage appeared to be on the driver's side of the vehicles. The tarry substance was splashed over doors, wings, windows and bonnets. There was also a trail of paint on the pavements and roads of Partington Street, Ellesmere Road, Maldwyn Avenue and Grendon Street where the cars were vandalised.

Victim Vera Ramsden, aged 58, of Maldwyn Avenue, said: "I was in shock when I saw the damage. I've tried to clean it off but it's a struggle. I'm going to have to make an insurance claim."

Her red T-reg Hyundai Accent Coupe had bitumen on its windows and driver's door. On nearby Grendan Street, a 52-reg silver blue Peugeot 206 had paint splattered on the bonnet, wing and door.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by the vandals. It is believed the attacks took place between 10pm on Sunday and 2am on Monday morning.

Joseph Crossley, of Grendan Street, had his Y-reg silver Citroen Picasso daubed. He said: "I'm really angry that somebody could do something like this. There are people on the estate who are on holiday at the moment -- what a thing to see when they return."

Det Con Barry Coombs of Bolton Police, said: "We want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious that night.

"There seems to be no pattern to the attacks or motive. It appears to be just mindless vandalism.

"The cars do not seem to have been dented. We do not know whether the paint will come off or not. It seems to have been thrown over different parts of the cars, but it is a massive amount of damage."