Dozens of cars were vandalised during an overnight crime spree.

Residents in Great Bardfield, Bridge End and Finchingfield woke up on Thursday morning to find their cars had been splattered with paint.

A number of those targeted took to social media to share photos of their damaged cars, with some saying they heard shouting just after midnight.

Mrs Carolynne Ruffle, of Bendlowes Road, woke up to find her Mini had yellow paint across the windscreen, nearside wing mirror and window.

She said: “It was when I went out this morning to head out to work. I spotted paint all over the windscreen and down one side.

“While I was looking in shock someone said there were several others and I saw at least five cars, but I believe there were a lot more.

“When I first saw it, it was quite shocking and upsetting.

“I thought I would not be able to drive as it was over the windscreen, it’s just a pain and disappointing that people think it’s funny.”

Initially Mrs Ruffle believed the paint would damage her car, but found the paint was still wet and was the consistency of poster paint.

Those who reported the incident on social media said paint was all over the roadside of the vehicles, leading Mrs Ruffle to believe it could have been done by someone driving past.

She said: “It could be people following the football, but I would guess they were driving past.

“It must have taken me about 20 minutes to clean it and I was an hour late for work because I was on the police website reporting it.

“I wanted to check my neighbours knew, I was concerned if they didn’t wash it off it would damage the cars.

“We are lucky here in that we don’t see lots of crime, but we hardly see any police either.”