YOBS went on a rampage during the festive period leaving a trail of destruction across the town.

The bus shelter in Warmingham Lane was smashed to pieces, fence panels in Sutton Lane and Lawrence Avenue were kicked in, the protective swan fencing in Booth Lane was ripped up, a For Sale sign in Leadsmithy Street was pulled down, a meter box outside the Accord Clinic in Hightown was trashed and graffiti has been daubed all over the newly painted walls of the bus shelter in Booth Lane.

Janet Chisholm, chairman of Middlewich Clean Team, said: “The vast majority of people who live and work in this town are decent law abiding individuals who are appaled by the actions of a few silly people who find it fun to destroy things that our town can be rightly proud of.

“The bus stop in Warmingham Lane has been vandalised and the bus stop by the park in Booth Lane is very badly graffitied.

“There are people who live in this area who have to put up with this sort of unacceptable behaviour – it is their street – but it is our town, it belongs to each and every one of us.

“Who has the right to make life uncomfortable for other people?”

It is thought that the majority of the damage was carried out on New Year’s Eve and at the weekend, which echoes the damage caused last year when the £10,500 bus shelter was smashed up.

Alexandra Road resident Valerie Edmonds added: “Mindless vandals have started the New Year well in Middlewich.

“The bus shelter has been deliberately targeted once again – don’t they think of the people who appreciate the bus shelter while they are waiting for the bus?”

Acting town clerk Stephen Dent said he had to call police three times to report criminal damage. He is now urging residents to report any incidents to the police.

“A lot of these things are happening and people aren’t reporting it, so the police aren’t aware of the true extent of what is going on,” he said.

Lindisfarne Close resident Alan Langley said the town was strewn with broken glass.

He said: “I went down Southway on Boxing Day and there was broken bottles and glass everywhere where people had just thrown them. It just spoils it for everyone else.”

Janet now wants everyone to take responsibility for the town.

She added: “My wish for the New Year is that more people become involved with looking after our town.

“It only has to be in a small way – don’t walk past on the other side but become involved with our town.

“Make a positive difference in 2009 and join us on the clean team or Community Pride Group.”

Anyone with information about the criminal damage should call Middlewich CAT team on 0845 4586382.