They live in what should be a quiet backwater but say they are plagued by youngsters racing their cars and scooters until the early hours of the morning and causing damage to their cars and property.

"The only time you ever see a policeman round here is on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. What's the good of that," complained one resident, who did not want to be identified. "We need them on the streets when it's all kicking off," he added.

Other residents maintained there is no point in reporting incidents to the police as nothing ever gets done and nothing ever changes - such as seeing more officers out and about when there is trouble.

But now, following the latest incident in which paint stripper was poured over two cars parked overnight on the road, a resident has written to the Humberside Police's chief constable Tim Hollis demanding action, only to be told a report in reply to her concerns would take
about a month to prepare.

She is Denise Goodwin, whose son Ryan's car was one of the two attacked by vandals when it was left overnight outside their home on Epworth's Battle Green.

Ryan, 22, is currently sitting his finals for an MSc in Forensic Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and his parents dare not tell him what has happened to his beloved T
registration MG.

"He worked all the hours he could in a supermarket to buy that car but could only afford third-party insurance. These mindless vandals have caused a £1,000's worth of damage so it might have to be scrapped. I'm angry, very angry and the police seem to do nothing," said Mrs Goodwin, a local authority lawyer working for Doncaster Council.

The other car damaged with paint stripper, a Fiat Pinto, belongs to neighbour Chris Dyer, who is nurse in charge at Scunthorpe's Lindsey Lodge Hospice. Damage to her vehicle has been estimated at about £750.

"Over the last few years the village has become more like a battleground with gangs of youths marauding the streets until all hours of the day and night causing havoc, criminal damage and distress to law abiding citizens," said Mrs Dyer.

A spokeswoman for Humberside Police, regretting the incidents of anti-social behaviour, said that a trawl through their records returned only one incident being reported to them since January. She urged that anyone suffering from such behaviour, vandalism or damage to property should report it immediately on 0845 60 60 222.

* What do you think about the level of policing in the Isle? Let us know by e-mailing your letters to editorial@epworthtoday.co.uk or in writing to The Epworth Bells and Crowle Advertiser, 13 Market Place, Epworth, Doncaster DN9 1EU.