KNIFE wielding yobs who slash tyres and vandalise cars are causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

Worried residents in Ireland Street say they have had their car tyres slashed, paintwork damaged, and windows smashed with bricks.

One householder said: 'I got up for work the other week and opened the curtains and saw glass all over the floor of one of the neighbour's cars.

'I have had mine done recently and I reckon it's costing a lot of motorists a packet to get all the repairs done.

'A neighbour of mine had all his tyres slashed, scratches down the side of the vehicle and then the windows put through.

'I don't know what is happening, but I'm certainly not parking my vehicle outside my house any more.'

The tyre slashings occurred only weeks after a major knife amnesty across the borough.

The resident added: 'Even though there has been a big clampdown in knives in Widnes there are still cocky thugs who are going round with knives in their pockets.

'They have not slashed the tyres in our road with lollypops!'

A total of 371 knives were dumped in bins by in Widnes and Runcorn last month and although the amnesty has ended, police officers are urging anybody with offensive weapons to hand them over.

An enforcement period across the constabulary has been launched and will last for the rest of the year - the aim of which is to confiscate weapons and arrest offenders.

Witnesses should contact Crime-stoppers 0800 555 111.