MINDLESS yobs damaged properties and vehicles in a spate of mischief night attacks.

Police dealt with 48 separate incidents in Widnes and 29 in Runcorn.

Vandals hurled bricks at cars, set fire to wheelie bins and threw fireworks in the street.

Extra patrols are being deployed across Halton to tackle anti-social behaviour over Halloween and the run up to bonfire night.

Additional officers will continue to patrol on these areas affected throughout this week and into the weekend.

Chief Inspector Simon Parsonage said: “Damaging property and vehicles is simply unacceptable behaviour and extremely distressing to the victims.

“Furthermore, it has much wider implications for the local community.

“We are committed to doing all that we can to tackle this bad behaviour. “Despite our best efforts there is still a minority of people who are intent on causing mindless vandalism and disrupting others.”

In one incident a police car out on patrol on Arley Drive in Widnes had its windows smashed whilst parked up.

The damage meant that the car had to be towed away to be repaired – taking an emergency response vehicle off the road for the rest of the night.

Chief Inspector Parsonage added: “The extensive damage to just one of our police cars has an impact.

"Not only did this incident result in one less police car on the streets, but it also meant that two officers were tied up dealing with the criminal damage when they could have been responding to real emergencies.

“I would urge anyone with any information in relation to any of the incidents that took place last night to contact Cheshire Police on 101 so that the people responsible for these mindless acts can be brought to justice.”

Anyone with information should call Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.