A FAMILY who had the words 'Kirby Crew, Ewood' scratched down the side of their car have blasted police for their "lack of enthusiasm" in trying to catch the culprits.

Eileen Bentley's son's dark blue Ford Escort had the words scratched into its paintwork while it was outside a friend's house in Bright Street, Darwen, between 9pm on Saturday and 2am on Sunday.

The graffiti damaged almost the whole passenger side of the car, which the family believe will cost hundreds of pounds to respray.

And as her 22-year-old son has only got third-party insurance he will have to settle the bill personally.

Mrs Bentley, of Manor Road, Darwen, today said the police were not going to take the matter further despite there being a Kirby Road close to the scene of the incident, in Ewood.

Speaking from their family home, she pledged to investigate the crime herself, and said: "I do realise that the police are under immense pressure and this is a minor crime to them.

"However there is a road in Ewood called Kirby Road. I suppose it doesn't take enormous investigative powers to create some sort of link there."

Inspector Nick William-Jones, of Blackburn police, defended officers' response to the incident and said: "We accept what the lady is saying and the words did read 'Kirby Crew, Ewood.'

"However, without any witness sightings or CCTV footage it is very difficult to take the matter forward.

"It is distressing to have property damaged in this way but the words 'Kirby Crew, Ewood' on their own are not enough to take this investigation much further forward.

'In absence of any witnesses and as an isolated incident it would be very difficult.

"However, If anyone has seen anyone behaving suspiciously next to the vehicles on Bright Street, any further information would be gratefully received by Darwen police, who will follow-up any leads provided."

Mrs Bentley added: "We told the police this and all they said was did we know who the Kirby Crew were?

"Of course we don't, so that was that.

"I am thinking of posting letters through each door in Kirby Road to see if anyone will give me any further information given the lack of enthusiasm shown by the police.

"I am not really expecting to get very far but I think that it is better than doing nothing.

"Maybe this crew is some type of gang that have vandalised other people's cars in the area too."

Anyone with information can contact Darwen police on 01254 701777 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.