A FORMER mayor who chased two youths who had just smashed his car window says he thinks that yob culture has taken hold.

David Cox almost caught the youths in the act when he and his partner Jenny heard a loud bang behind his back garden on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Mr Cox, 60, of Wootton Bassett Road, was an independent candidate standing for Central Swindon at last week's borough council elections.

Before travelling to the Oasis leisure centre to wait for the results to come in, the rear window of Jenny's white Mazda window was smashed.

He said: "I'm very angry this has happened. I don't know if this was a political act or not, but even if it wasn't it's stupid and pointless.

"We must do more to send a message out to these kids that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable.

"We are quiet people who are peaceful and enjoy our garden.

"We have done nothing to provoke this."

It is not known what the two teenage assailants used to break the window as no brick or heavy object was found by the car.

The louts were spotted riding away on mountain bikes. Mr Cox chased them on his bike around the area, but although he asked many walkers if they had spotted the pair, he was unable to track them down.

Mr Cox, who was mayor of Swindon between 2001 and 2002, said: "The area around the back of my house has turned into a dumping ground and a nearby wall is covered in graffiti.

"We now have a yob culture and if they think they can get away with it they will."

Police are looking for two youths, who are about 15. One wore a dark maroon coloured top.

Anyone with information about the incident can call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.