PEOPLE living in two Newport streets aw-oke to find debris strewn across the road after a vandalism spree.

Yesterday morning residents in Greenmeadow Road and Pontfaen Road found brick walls demolished and a large antique granite plant pot embedded in a car windscreen.

Householders say one of the walls is the property of a man who is currently ill in hospital.

The car with the shattered windscreen is owned by Richard Dark, 42, who was visiting Greenmeadow Road. He said: "At least my car can be fixed, that broken pot had sentimental value.

"But I've been inconvenienced by taking time off work to wait for my car to be recovered."

The owner of the 120-year-old plant pot, which has been passed down through generations, is devastated.

The widow, who did not want to be identified, said: "I don't feel safe anymore.

"My husband just died and that pot belonged to his grandmother." Locals say anti-social activity has plagued them for 15 years, but has escalated in the last five years with gangs of youngsters causing trouble and drinking in nearby Fosse Road.

In recent months, residents say, youths have run across bungalow roofs, broken into cars, stolen gravel from drives to pelt house windows, and left used condoms in public areas.

Vernon Griffiths, 65, who has lived in Pontfaen Road for 35 years, said: "This was a nice cosy little area until the kids from Moorland Park started roaming the area, but it is just a small minority causing trouble."

David Burton, 52, another resident of Pontfaen Road, has seen three repaired walls kicked down recently.

He said: "We want the police to do something about the gangs, like putting cameras up." Police said they are seeking a man aged between 30 and 40 seen walking through the Maindee area at 12.15am on Thursday morning for questioning over the damaged car.

A police spokesman said patrols have been stepped up in recent months. He added: "Positive action has been taken in Pontfaen for some months. There have been some arrests in the area recently.

"We will continue to work with the partnership to tackle any problems that arise." Ward councillor, Alan Morris added: "We will do all that we can to give the support people need and deserve. What the people of Pontfaen are going through is intolerable."