An alarming rise in vandalism on a residential street has prompted the police and council to begin a two-month trial which will see a street’s lights kept on all night to act as a deterrent.

Residents of Denmark Road, in Beccles, have fallen victim to a spate of car vandalism over the past year as their vehicles are repeatedly targeted.

Waking up to slashed tyres and scratched paintwork has become an all too common reality for those living in the road.

The majority of street lights across Suffolk are turned off between midnight and 5.30am; however an exception is being made in Denmark Road after officers from the Beccles and Bungay Safer Neighbourhood Team made a request to the county council for the lights to be kept on all night.

Taxi driver Maria Glassock has had both her personal and professional vehicles vandalised.

She said: “Two of my tyres were slashed and my car was keyed.

“In the last year loads of it has been happening.

“We live in a fairly low crime area but the crimes committed are petty so there isn’t a deterrent.

“It’s really annoying knowing someone is out there laughing about it.

“As a single parent £132 to replace two tyres is a lot of money.”

Ms Glassock added: “I think turning the lights on makes it less likely they will get away with it.

“It’s a good idea in general – if you walk down the street alone in the dark, man or woman, you feel on edge.”

Some residents have even installed CCTV in a bid to protect their property.

A police spokesman said: “We hope this will help deter further offences from occurring in the short term, whilst we continue our enquiries to identify who is responsible for these crimes.”

Town councillor and Suffolk county councillor for Beccles Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw highlighted the need for residents to report crime.

She said: “The police assign resources on a evidence based system therefore it is important to report any crimes so we can get the resources we need.”

Anyone with information about the offences should call the Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.