VANDALS have been making homeowners lives a misery by knocking down garden walls. Police are now investigating the rise in criminal damage after being made aware of more than 26 cases of walls being damaged in the Bedwell and Monkswood area of Stevenage

VANDALS have been making homeowners' lives a misery by knocking down garden walls.

Police are now investigating the rise in criminal damage after being made aware of more than 26 cases of walls being damaged in the Bedwell and Monkswood area of Stevenage.

But there has been an increase in criminal damage across Stevenage. Lily Aspland of Basils Road in the Old Town is one resident who has had her wall was kicked down.

She said: "It happened during the night. I guess it was caused by youngsters on their way back from a night out. It is concerning as they left all the bricks all over the pavement. People could have easily fallen over them."

A police spokesman said: "We are aware of the increase and we are looking at ways of tackling the problem."

Residents are asked to keep details of where and when criminal damage takes place.