RESIDENTS on a Thurrock housing estate were shocked to wake up this morning and find the tyres on a number of cars parked outside owners' houses had been slashed.

A number of men walked through Hawkins Drive in Chafford Hundred, randomly slashing and stabbing car tyres before leaving the estate and moving towards the nearby Harvester.

The incident has been captured by CCTV on some residents' houses. It happened at 2.20am.

11 cars were targeted, some had more than one wheel slashed.

Poloce are currently investigating and have appealed for help from the public. In a statement to Thurrock Nub News officers said: "We received a call from a member of the public shortly after 7am on Monday, 24 April reporting criminal damage in the area.

"The caller reported finding several cars had their tyres slashed in the road overnight. We are investigating and if you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

"You can let us know by submitting a report on our website where you can use our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm

"Visit https://www.essex.police.uk/digital101to find out more about our website reporting services. Alternatively, you can call us on 101.

"If you would like to make an anonymous report, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on Twitter at @CrimestoppersUK, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

"Please quote incident number 0154 of 24 April."