DARWEN has fallen victim to vandals once again -- and this time the culprits have caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage.

Cars and buildings across the town were targeted in this latest round of vandalism. In all, there were 10 cases of criminal damage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with total damage valued at about £3,000.

In the most serious case, £1,000-worth of damage was caused to a blue E-registration Ford Escort in Blackburn Road, by people who kicked dents on the bodywork and ripped off the wing mirror.

Police said in this offence, between 11pm and 11.30pm on Friday, two witnesses saw the culprits run off. They were two white males aged about 15 wearing baseball caps. Other cases included:

Four tyres slashed on a car at Noble Street

Three tyres slashed and bodywork scratched on a car in Radford Street

Two windows smashed by a brick at Sudell Primary School, Ellison Fold Terrace

Two windows smashed at Bolton Road United Reformed Church on Saturday afternoon

A man in his late 20s punched a window through at the Millstone pub, The Circus, on Saturday.

Two canteen windows were smashed at the Royal Mail Delivery Office, The Circus

A rear storeroom window was smashed by a stone at Darwen Health Centre, Union Street

Patio doors of a house on Burns Walk were smashed after a glass bottle was thrown at them

A gate was broken at a house on Lynwood Avenue

Inspector Tracie O'Gara of Darwen Police said: "We are trying to combat the problem."

Just after the turn of the year the town was hit by a spate of criminal damage incidents, particularly to cars and recently, a number of small hammers were stolen from Darwen Coach Services.

Although there is no sign of them being used on these occasions, police said they have been used in the past.

Police appealed for the witnesses to the offence on Blackburn Road to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Darwen Police on 01254 701777.