POLICE are to hold a public meeting next week after hooded vandals went on the rampage in York.

Officers are urging residents to come forward with more information about the night of mayhem in which up to 90 cars were damaged in Clifton.

They believe someone in the community must know who committed the crime but they may be afraid to come forward because of fear of reprisal.

Dozens of residents in Burton Stone Lane, Cromer Street, Glencoe Street, Pembroke Street and Shipton Street woke last Monday to find their cars damaged by yobs who slashed tyres, knocked off wing mirrors and smashed windows.

A public meeting will be held at St Luke's Church in Burton Stone Lane on Tuesday, starting at 7pm.

Representatives from Neighbourhood Pride and youth services have been invited to attend along with local police officers and residents.

The Press told last week how David Scott and Ken King, Labour councillors for Clifton, had called for an urgent public meeting between Clifton residents, police and council officers to tackle the problem.

Inspector Richard Crinnion said: "We just can't believe that nobody has seen this group, considering the number of cars they have damaged and the length of time it would have taken.

"We are urging residents to come forward because we believe the answer is within the community.

"There are a lot of suspicions going around, but that doesn't give us enough to act upon.

"We know there may well be fear of reprisal, but we need someone to come forward and say they saw who slashed the tyres, or they know someone else who did."

Up to 90 vehicles were targeted as vandals wrought havoc, slashing tyres, smashing windows and knocking off wing mirrors. It was the culmination of three days of frenzied car crime in the area, which one resident described as the worst in 35 years.

Some motorists had new tyres slashed, less than a day after replacing others that had also been punctured.

North Yorkshire Police set up a mobile station in Burton Stone Lane to deal with the flood of incidents, and set up a dedicated phone line for crime victims.

Anyone with information is urged to phone 0845 60 60 247.