PARK North was hit by yet more vandalism when sections of a security fence in Cavendish Square were ripped down late at night.

Frightened residents called the police when they heard a group of people throwing around parts of the steel wire fence on Friday night.

Tim McAuliffe, 57, from Thistle Construction, had to pick up the pieces for the third time in a week.

He said: "When I got here there were fence panels everywhere, and smashed bottles all over the floor.

"They have twisted several of the fence joints so I don't know if we can put them all up again."

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I called the police just before midnight because they were making a real racket.

"It keeps people up on the estate and I don't know why they can't find somewhere else to go."

The vandals are targeting the fence that covers the perimeter of Cavendish Square.

Sylvia West, 72, said the absence of large scale building work was antagonising the intruders.

The Shaftesbury Avenue resident said: "As far as I know it is young people who go in there, but they are doing it to play football.

"I'm not young, but it seems to me that it's human nature for young men to want to kick a ball around.

"It's a large open space and there aren't any activity areas nearby, so what do you expect them to do?"

Will Ponting, 16, was waiting for a bus near to the broken glass and damaged fence.

He wants the council to develop a sports area at nearby Buckhurst Park.

Will said: "I used to do similar things to the people that broke in, but now I don't see the point of it.

"But there's nothing to do at night so I think they should build a sports area.

"If you give people something constructive they won't be so bored and the problems will be fewer."

For one shopper, who does not want to be named, said that the lack of facilities was no real excuse.

She said: "It is making life really unpleasant for traders here because there's always fences lying around and fragments of glass.

"This keeps happening and it doesn't make you enthusiastic about the redevelopment of Cavendish Square if the vandals are going to carry on."