FURIOUS motorists were left counting the cost after vandals rampaged through Downton, Woodfalls and Hale at the weekend, smashing scores of car windows and leaving roads littered with broken glass.

The trail of destruction stretched from the Headlands on the A338 at Downton along the Borough and High Street, halfway down Moot Lane, up Lode Hill, and along the Ridge as far as the Hale triangle.

Police later confirmed that cars and property in Woodgreen and Fording-bridge had also been hit.

Estimates put the figure as high as 97 cars with one or more windows or windscreens shattered by some kind of weapon.

The White Horse Inn, in the centre of Downton, had what appeared to be bullet holes through ten of its ground-floor windows and landlord Paul Whitburn believes that the pub's Labrador, Monty, also fell victim to a ricochet when an unexplained graze appeared on the dog's back.

The wrecking spree is thought to have started in the early hours of Sunday. Heavy rain and thunder meant that few people heard anything, although some reported hearing what might have been gunshots.

Simon Tiller, whose car was hit in Moot Lane, said he "heard whip-cracks like an air rifle" during the course of the night.

Neighbour Ron Graves, who had two windows of his Ford Mondeo shattered, said someone he knew out walking his dog at 2pm had seen youths with BB guns, which fire ball bearings.

Further down the lane, George Mussellwhite, whose Skoda lost its rear passenger window, said his wife heard banging after midnight but thought nothing of it.

"I'm absolutely disgusted - something needs to be done about it," he said. "There's a lot of glass about - it's a nightmare."

At the White Horse, landlord Paul Whitburn said windows at the front and side of the building had been hit.

He said: "This is not just high spirits - this is a deliberately drawn-out campaign of mindless vandalism for no apparent gain."

He estimated that damage to the pub alone was more than £1,000, adding: "There has been a call for CCTV in the village and I would support it without a shadow of a doubt."

Salisbury MP Robert Key said he would be putting the spate of vandalism in Downton at the top of the agenda when he held discussions with acting police chief superintendent Simon King.

"It is completely unacceptable," he said. "In spite of stretched resources of the police, the Downton community has the right to expect this to be dealt with as a matter of urgency."

My Key said that he, too, would urge south Wiltshire councillors to consider CCTV in rural areas.

"They will have my support in asking for extra money from the Government," he said.

Three teenagers were arrested on Sunday morning and later released on bail in connection with damage caused to in excess of 50 vehicles and a vehicle containing a BB gun and ammunition had been seized.

PC Jem Horner, of Alderbury police station, appealed for witnesses to come forward with information by calling 0845 408 7000.