A VULNERABLE man and his elderly father are being picked on by cruel yobs who have pelted their Alresford home with bottles, beer cans and eggs.

The 34-year-old, who suffers from mental health problems, said a hole had even been blasted in a downstairs window with an airgun.

And the man, who asked not to be named, said his elderly, disabled neighbour who also lives near Stratton Bates recreation ground in Grange Road had suffered similar abuse.

He said: “They target the most vulnerable members of society. It ranges from verbal abuse to beer cans, eggs and dogs mess thrown at your house. I have also been assaulted - punched in the back.

“We can be sat perfectly quiet at home and suddenly all hell breaks out with people banging on the door or throwing things at the house and our evening is ruined.

“I just want it all to stop.”

Police have confirmed another repeat victim was a 100-year-old man whose window was broken on four separate occasions after it was shot with an airgun.

Police sergeant Mark Lamper, of Winchester rural north safer neighbourhoods team, said the children's play area in a square was surrounded on all four sides by homes.

Problems have included youngsters in parked cars late at night, playing loud music, drinking alcohol and shouting.

Sgt Lamper said police were mounting more high visibility patrols with officers encouraged to get out on the beat. He said: “We are doing as much as we can at the moment. It is an issue for local residents there but it is not a no-go area. It is a small rural community and kids come into the park sometimes and cause a nuisance.

“It is being taken seriously and we will take robust action if necessary because it is about quality of life for these people.”

He added: “It has not been a major problem throughout the summer but there have been a few incidents.”

Police held a beat surgery last June with locals, Winchester City Council anti-social behaviour officers and town councillors in a bid to tackle the problem.

Since then police have visited the homes of children involved to alert parents and sent letters to car owners warning them their vehicles could be seized for anti-social behaviour, such as wheel spinning. Police also have the power to seize alcohol and ban trouble makers from an area for upto 48 hours.

New Alresford town councillor Natalie Carpenter said; “Alresford is generally a low crime area. There was a rash of incidents of anti-social behaviour.”

But Cllr Carpenter said there had been fewer incidents since police mounted more patrols of the park and took other action.

Local crime statistics show there were 21 reported incidents of anti-social behaviour and seven of criminal damage or arson last June within one mile of Alresford.