VANDALS have been warned they face a brush with the law if they target a new housing estate in the heart of Burnley.

Neighbours in Mary Towneley Fold have become fed up with the number of youths clambering over their back fences, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Now neighbourhood police have stepped in to coat a number of fences with anti-vandal paint, which leaves a sticky residue on any hands and clothing it comes into contact with.

Homes across the estate, on the edge of Brunshaw and backing on to Towneley Golf Club, were only constructed recently and are also a favourite target of burglars and car thieves.

The problems were raised at a police community action meeting and taken up by Brunshaw’s beat bobbies.

Residents’ spokeswoman Wendy Schofield said: “We are extremely grateful to the local police community support officers for their help and feel much more reassured that we will not have this problem again.

“We were getting fed up with the antics of a few youths and hopefully this will stop it.

“I helped the officers paint the fences and can tell you that I would not like to get any of this stuff on my clothes.”

PCSO Chris Jackson said: "Thankfully crime is extremely low across Burnley but we know that this kind of lower level anti-social behaviour is a real concern for residents so we take it very seriously.

“In this case, we think the anti-vandal paint will help but we will be keeping an eye on the area all the same.”