RESIDENTS of Trelawney Road in Tavistock have been left counting the cost after their vehicles were trashed by drunken revellers.

One occupant's car had to be written off when more than £2,000 worth of damage was caused by people jumping on the roof and the bonnet on Friday night and there were numerous other reports of damage to vehicles and general anti-social behaviour.

The damage is believed to have been caused by some people leaving a summer solstice event at the town's rugby club over the weekend. A club spokesman expressed regret about what happened and said organisers had advised those attending the event to respect people's property.

A team of police officers were deployed to patrol in Trelawney Road over Friday and Saturday night but were called away to an incident in Hatherleigh just before the main trouble started.

Resident Kate Blamey said: 'There are always problems in Trelawney Road when there's an event at the rugby club because it is the only way in and out.

'My car was a write off and myself and the other residents have been left picking up the bill for what was a fundraising event for the rugby club. I have emailed the club but it has not even had the courtesy to reply. It takes no responsibility for the damage that was done on that night.'

Jane Savage, who also lives along Trelawney Road, said she heard someone bragging about jumping on car bonnets on Friday night from inside her property: 'One of the lads sounded very drunk, then I heard this awful noise. I shouted out of the window that the police were on their way, but looking at the damage to my neighbour's car next morning, it was awful.

'All the neighbours are fuming about this. I've lost several wing mirrors — I've had a great gouge in my car which cost me £240 excess on my insurance and obviously the premium goes up when that happens.

'We are not blaming the rugby players themselves, it's the people that go to events up there. We have just had enough.'

Another householder, who did not wish to be named, said her six-year-old daughter and her teenage son had been awake from 12.45am to 3.30am both Friday and Saturday nights because of the noise of the abusive and intimidating behaviour outside.

She said the police had been excellent but she had been very disappointed by the response from the rugby club.

Sgt Dave Anning said a team of four officers were put in place just to patrol Trelawney Road because of the history of damaged cars following rugby club events.

'They were there until 12.38am on Saturday morning when they were called away to an incident of violent disorder in Hatherleigh. 'Within half an hour of us leaving, someone jumped on this car. The next night officers spent the evening there from 8pm until the last person was seen going home.'

He said it was not the responsibility of the rugby club to supervise people once they had left the premises. He said letters had gone out to residents and the police were working with the club and residents to make sure there was not a repeat of the incident.

Secretary of Tavistock Rugby Club Jeff Lawson said he was very sorry about what happened on Friday night but the club had done everything it could to try and make sure the event ran smoothly, from employing extra security staff, issuing people with ID wristbands, not allowing any under 18s in the premises and restricting numbers.

He said: 'We have two events a year which the public are invited to. All the other events are for members only and there is never any trouble

'We advise people who come here to respect our neighbours and our property but once they leave here the police have told us it is no longer our responsibility what they do.'

Mr Lawson said the club had considered laying on some transport to take people home after the event and would be asking West Devon Borough Council if it would allow Trelawney Road residents to park their cars in the Bedford Car Park overnight during the solstice.