A CONCERNED resident has hit out at vandals after a number of cars were left damaged while parked in a village.

Residents in Copford have raised the issue of persistent vandalism in both London Road and School Road.

They allege a number of cars, parked within walking distance of Marks Tey station, have been keyed and a cooking oil-like substance was poured over windscreens.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “My car was initially keyed about six weeks ago when it was parked in London Road.

“It was parked on the main stretch of road, just before School Lane.

“The damaged consisted of a continuous [key] line down most of the side of the car.”

Last week he also noticed an oily substance on his car windscreen a couple of weeks later.

He said: “Upon noticing it last week, two other gentleman returned to their cars and I discussed my situation with them to initially warn them.

“I discovered one of them had cooking oil poured on his windscreen recently as well.

“The second gentleman had his car keyed as well.

“I hasten to add all three cars were parked legally on the side of the road.”

The resident, who said he planned to report the incidents to police, says some commuters who had parked in the area had received verbal abuse despite parking legally.

“The gentleman who experienced the cooking oil incident said he had been shouted at by a blonde haired lady, in her early 40s, early in the morning when his car was parked - legally, again, of course.”

He has not contacted the police yet, but is planning to do so this week as he has been out of the county.

Commuters have been calling for more spaces at Marks Tey station amid a parking crisis.

Greater Anglia applied to Colchester Council to demolish old railway units at Marks Tey station car park and create 195 new spaces.

But councillor deferred a decision earlier this year because they were deemed too confusing.