A GANG of "immature" vandals have been damaging cars and garages in Gorse Hill.

Over three nights, graffiti and pictures have been spray-painted across garage doors and cars in the neighbourhood.

Gorse Hill community beat manager PC Stephen Yeates said the worst of the damage was visible in Argyle Street and Tydeman Street.

"Over three nights there has been a massive spate of graffiti," he said.

"The graffiti has mainly been in black paint, sprayed from aerosols.

"Quite a lot of the graffiti includes sexual references and genitals being drawn.

"A lot of what they have been writing is very infantile and the culprits seem to have a fascination with male genitals.

"There were also a lot of names used and the initials PAG came up a lot.

"This has all happened over three nights and we have had lots of reports from residents in the area."

He added: "All of the incidents seem to be happening overnight. We have been speaking to shops that sell aerosol paint, to find out where these people are buying it from.

"Because all of the graffiti appeared to be the same colour, it initially looked like it was kids who have got hold of one can of paint.

"But judging by the sheer amount it looks like they have got through a few by now.

"Graffiti may seem like a minor crime but it causes a lot of distress to the people whose homes and garages have been targeted.

"This graffiti was particularly immature in nature, but the damage caused to a car that has been spray- painted can run into hundreds of pounds."

PC Yeates said: "There were quite a lot of names linked with this graffiti and we want to identify whoever is responsible. Graffiti isn't clever and you will be caught. Whoever is responsible should hand themselves in, otherwise the full force of the law will be thrown at them and make their lives unbearable."

Paint sprayed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights included crude drawings, the names Roddy, Danni and Chezza and the initials PAG.

Among the graffiti were slogans reading: "S J+A.G"

"Chezza + Danni"

and "Danni 2k8".

PC Yeates has urged anyone who knows who the names relate to or the people responsible for the damage to contact the police on 0845 408 7000 or the Advertiser's graffiti hotline on 01793 501880.