Boys smash buses' windows at county cricket ground

The boys attacked 17 vehicles in a car park at the home of Hampshire Cricket

Five boys have smashed almost all of the windows on 13 buses as well as damaging four other vehicles at a county cricket ground, police have said.

The youths, who are thought to be aged between 12 and 16, broke into the Utilita Bowl in West End, Hampshire, on 14 November.

They set off fire extinguishers inside the vehicles and an ice cream hut, detectives said.

Police have appealed for sightings of the boys, who climbed a fence around the ground at 17:30 GMT and left the area at about 19:00.

The group stole items from the hut and then went to a car park where they attacked the buses, a minibus, two traffic management vehicles and a van.

Insp Alex Lockyer said: "We want to reassure you that this matter is being taken very seriously, and a thorough investigation is underway to identify those involved.

"We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, or witnessed the boys prior to entering, or after exiting the scene.

"We are also urging parents to consider whether their child may have been involved and where they were at the time of the incident."

The culprits are all described as white and slim and may have returned home with grass on their clothing, police said.

Nearly all of the bus windows and doors were smashed, police said