Twenty SUVs graffitied in environmental protest

Stencilled slogans were spray-painted on the cars

An environmental protest group has claimed responsibility for spray-painting 20 SUV cars in an Edinburgh street.

Residents in Moray Place woke up on Monday to "Ban SUVs?' and "These cars kill kids" daubed across their vehicles.

Police Scotland said it had received several reports of cars being vandalised in the city centre street.

The Tyre Extinguishers said it had targeted the cars because they "poison our planet".

A 43-year-old woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told BBC Scotland News her 17-year-old Range Rover has been permanently damaged.

"These guys are not activists, this is vandalism. They are vandalising people's property. They don't know why I have this vehicle.

"It's not a new vehicle, it's not flashy, it's worth pennies and is old."

Her husband noticed the paint on their car bonnet as he was dropping their children off at school because frost had been covering it.

"He was absolutely mortified. He felt that we had been targeted and that it's telling a story that's not accurate," she said.

Residents woke up on Monday morning to find their cars covered in paint

The mother-of-two said she needed the car to take a therapy dog - a large ex-racing greyhound - around hospitals, and for her husband and son, who are both 6ft4ins.

The yoga teacher said she only fills her car up with fuel once every six weeks and does not fly in planes.

"I'm mostly vegetarian, I recycle and haven't been home to see my family in California for eight years, I do loads of things for the environment," she said.

"It is more important to keep your car, science proves, and drive it into the ground for the environment than it is to consume."

The paint has left permanent outlines on car bonnets, despite efforts to remove it

She said they were a one-car-family and did not drive long distances.

They have tried to remove the paint, but the outline of the stencilled slogans are still visible on the bonnet.

She said they were applying to their insurance company to cover the cost of repair.

Earlier this year dozens of cars in the same area had their tyres deflated by The Tyre Extinguishers, a group which says it wants to "make it impossible to own an SUV in the world's urban areas".

Moray Place is in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town

The same group claimed responsibility for the latest attack in a social media post.

It said: "Edinburgh TX out again on a frosty night! SUVs decorated with climate and SUV crash victims.

"The people who drive these Chelsea tractors have assumed it as their right to dominate our streets and poison our planet."

Ch Insp Mark Hamilton, of Police Scotland, said: "We have received several reports of cars being vandalised in Moray Place, Edinburgh.

"Inquiries are ongoing and we would encourage members of the public to call us immediately if they see anyone acting suspiciously close to parked vehicles."