RAMPAGING yobs overturned a car - and then took photographs of it with their mobile phones.

Around 30 youths laughed and joked as they wrecked the car which was parked in Taunton Close, Bolton.

It is a sickening variation of the 'happy slapping' craze in which youths attack their victims and take pictures on their mobile phones.

The car was a lifeline for Jimmy Roberts, aged 62, who suffers from thrombosis and has trouble walking.

Mr Roberts said: "I'd happily give them a slap."

His wife Anne, aged 57, added: "The car has been destroyed. Without it, we can't go anywhere."

Police are now hunting the vandals and urging anyone with information to come forward.

Earlier in the evening of the incident, a group of up to 150 youths were seen congregating in Morrison's car park off Chorley New Road.

They dispersed into smaller groups and the couple believe one of the gangs was responsible for the attack on their car.

Mr Roberts was at home on Friday evening when he heard banging outside at around 7.45pm and assumed someone was messing about with the bins outside his first floor flat.

His wife, who was visiting a neighbour, also heard the noise but thought nothing of it.

But when Mr Roberts looked out of his lounge window minutes later, he was astonished to see his car on its roof, surrounded by laughing yobs who were taking photographs with their mobile phones.

He was too scared to go outside to confront them and immediately called the police.

The car was taken away by a salvage company and it has been written off.

Mr and Mrs Roberts - who only moved into their flat four months ago - are now waiting for their insurance company to pay out, which could take weeks.

Mr Roberts said: "They were so hyped up and in a frenzy. You could tell they had been drinking. I didn't dare go out to them because I didn't know what they would. You could see their adrenalin was flowing."

Mrs Roberts added: "I'm so angry and upset. Have they nothing else better to do? We use the car for everything - shopping, visiting family and my 88-year-old mother.

"We are the youngest residents here - our neighbours must have been absolutely petrified to see a rampaging group of this size."

Insp Maria Donaldson from Bolton Police said: "This is an isolated incident. We have never had anything like this reported before but obviously we are concerned when a group of youths can effect a community in this way.

"I wll be speaking to the community beat manager about the situation. There had been problems previously about youths congregating on Morrison's but we believed it had diminished.

"We are carrying out a joint operation with trading standards in relation to sale of alcohol and we will be concentrating on out of town pubs, off-licences and supermarkets."

Anyone with information should call Bolton Police on 0161 856 5593.