A FORMER Langcliffe resident said he was dismayed to have both his and his friends’ cars vandalised leaving them with a £2,000 repair bill when they visited the village recently to enjoy a walk.

Andrew Butt, who was born in Langcliffe and who enjoyed many happy times there, had visited the village on October 9 with his wife and friends John and Sandra Dixon to enjoy an autumnal walk, if a little soggy underfoot, from Locks Bridge to Stainforth Foss.

“We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves until returning to our cars two, maybe three hours later at around 2.30pm to find that they had been vandalised by some kind person scratching deep grooves down the sides.

“The cost of repairs is to be just under £1,000 for each car,” said Mr Butt, who now lives in Hetton.

He said his and his friends’ cars were parked near the bottom of the lane leading to Locks Bridge where it widens out. He added that there were two residents’ cars also parked there and they were not touched.

He added that there is no restriction on parking in this area and that they were not breaking any rules or causing any obstruction.

He continued: “We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and feels they have any information which could help the police to please contact PC David Burgess at Settle Police Station.

“I feel this very acutely as I was born at spent my early years in Langcliffe less than a mile from where this incident took place.

“I have visited on many occasions throughout the years with nothing but happy memories.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said anyone who may have seen the damage occur or who may have information is asked to contact them on 101 with incident number 12200177529.