COUNCILLORS have hatched a plan to curb youths bombarding houses with eggs – by stopping them from buying them in the first place.

Attacks on homes in Covingham and Liden have spiked in recent weeks, prompting ward councillors to raise a motion at Thurday night’s full council meeting in a bid to limit the gangs’ supplies.

Coun Dale Heenan has proposed the motion, seconded by Coun Richard Hurley (both Con, Covingham and Nythe) following complaints from residents that they are being targeted by the vandals.

They are seeking to establish a scoring scheme for responsible retailers and will also ask the council to look into other possible prevention measures.

Coun Heenan said: “To have four reports of this in the space of a weekend is unusual.

“It’s mindless behaviour. I honestly have no idea why somebody might find it fun to throw an egg at someone’s house.

“We want to find out how we can encourage shops to work with us and perhaps set up a reputable trader scheme to encourage responsible behaviour.

“While sales are not restricted, a group of youths buying eggs and flour should set alarm bells ringing. Could a scheme like scores on the doors or challenge 21 be set up?

“We don’t have all the answers and we would like the council to look to work with the police and the Community Safety Partnership to find ways to reduce the opportunity for anti-social or nuisance behaviour.

“At the moment, as it is not a criminal charge, police and the council can only act after it has happened.

“We are saying prevention is better than the cure.”

Coun Hurley, whose neighbour has been targeted by a group of vandals and whose own home inadvertently caught a stray egg, said: “They have targeted his house and they have even hit the back of my conservatory – it’s such a nuisance.

“We have spoken to the local police officer and encouraged him to report it so it can be logged but he is frustrated nothing is happening.

“It seems like it is the same people and I don’t know why they do it. It’s not just limited to Halloween and Easter.

“Hopefully we can get the retailers on side and get them to follow guidelines to stick to all year round.”