A MANHUNT has been launched by police after a man was caught on CCTV slashing car tyres.

Residents living on The Deane, in the Beardwood are of Blackburn, have released CCTV footage of a man deliberately slashing their car tyres with a knife.

The latest incident caught on film happened shortly before 3am on Wednesday.

The clip shows a man in a hoodie use a knife with a seven or eight inch blade approaching a silver Peugeot 306 parked on a driveway in The Deane.

He uses the blade to puncture both drivers’ side tyres within three or four seconds before running away.

It is the second time the same vehicle has been targeted in three months, police said.

Two tyres were also slashed in a similar attack in the early hours of December 2.

The victim, a 51-year-old resident, said he had no idea why he was being targeted but said there had also been incidents of a similar nature four or five years ago.

He said: “It’s incredibly frustrating for this to happen for the second time.

“It’s also costing me hundreds of pounds.

“There was a spate of tyre slashings on The Deane a few years ago, where I was targeted, my next door neighbour had four tyres slashed, another neighbour had two cars done and police told me there were others.

“I’m not saying that was the same person but it’s a big coincidence.

“I’ve been asked by the police whether anyone could have a grudge against me, my wife or children but I genuinely can’t think why our vehicle would be targeted in this way.

“There’s also the added worry that there’s someone walking around the area during the night carrying a large knife.”

A police spokesman said they were investigating more than one incident of tyres being slashed on the Deane.

He said: “If anyone recognises the man or has any information about these crimes we would urge them to contact police on 101 quoting log ED1703626."