VANDALS who attacked traffic lights in an East Dorset town are putting lives at risk, it is claimed.

Fourteen sets of lights in Wimborne town centre have been put out of action in the last two weeks. Bulbs have been removed and wiring torn out.

Now, traffic control officials and police chiefs are working together in a bid to catch the culprits.

Wimborne Police Inspector Angie Downer said: "This is a very dangerous and foolhardy practice. My main appeal to local residents in the area is if they see anyone tampering with the lights to ring the police immediately.

"In addition, we want descriptions of these people and any directions in which they may be seen to go."

Mayor Cllr Anthony Oliver hit out at the troublemakers.

"This could cost lives and must be stopped," he told the Daily Echo.

"Plus there are cost implications as it is the council tax payers who will suffer. There is also the time taken up for the engineers who have to come out to repair the lights."

In the first incident on October 30, lights at several junctions on Leigh Road and King Street were targeted.

On Saturday night, vandals struck again in Leigh Road as well as Poole Road, Park Lane and East Street. And on Monday night the lights in West Borough, St Margaret's Hill and Stone Lane were damaged.

County council spokeswoman Kerry Sandrey said: "We have a monitoring computer system so know immediately which lights are not working. We have asked the police to step up their patrols in the town centre area."

Meanwhile, vandals also left a trail of damage in Crown Mead on Saturday night.

Plants and bulbs were ripped from planters and lights by WH Smith were also damaged.