SO many election boards and posters have been stolen or vandalised in the Newton Abbot constituency in the past week that the Liberal Democrats fear it is a coordinated move.

Every night since the general election campaign rolled into action, some 18 boards and posters supporting Richard Younger-Ross have been attacked or gone missing, in one instance fencing being damaged, while several others have suffered petty vandalism.

The Conservatives have had five instances.

Mr Younger-Ross said if it happened on one site you would be unhappy. 'When it happens at ten post sites in a two-hour period on one evening, that is not random vandalism.

'In elections you always get damage to a few posters, but what is different here is that over a period of four nights there seems to have been a coordinated attack on Lib Dem boards. Boards and posts were stolen and taken off in a vehicle,' he said.

Lib Dem agent Tom Bush said that on Sunday night alone, ten sets of boards were stolen all around the district.

'We considered this is a serious matter as it has damaged private property and has caused fear to some. That is why for the first time in living memory in this area, we have reported these incidents to the police,' said Mr Bush.

The attacks have occurred in Bishopsteignton, Dawlish, Ipplepen, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth.

In Ashburton Road, Newton Abbot, three middle-aged men, who drove off in a white van, were seen tearing down one of the Lib Dem signs and damaging a fence in the process.

A sign was also attacked beyond repair in nearby Wain Lane and on that occasion two men were seen in a white van.

On the A381 at Ipplepen during the weekend, three Lib Dem diamond shape superboards were taken down and smashed up with sledgehammers.

To foil any similar attacks off the A380 in Kingskerswell, the superboards have been attached to trees in gardens instead of to wooden frames.

The Tories put up a large poster board supporting candidate Anne Marie Morris outside the B&Q store, Newton Abbot, on Friday. By Saturday morning it was damaged. It was repaired but on Sunday morning it was found to be kicked right through and it was removed.

A couple of signs were kicked down in Ipplepen, one was stolen in Denbury, and spray paint covered two in Kingskerswell.

Ms Morris's agent, Neil Wilson, said he was aware it had been happening to other parties as well.

'I give a 100 per cent guarantee none of our activists are involved in this stupid behaviour. It is vandalism, trespass and theft, and I would encourage all parties to ensure none of their activists are involved,' he said.

Teignbridge Police Commander, Supt Jim Meakin, said they had had incidents reported of signs being moved and disrupted.

'We have had some minimal damage and one believed to have been stolen and we are going through the process of seeking advice to see if any criminal offence has been committed.

'The damaged posters have been different colours.

'This is not new. I have been in the police service 28 years and it has happened at each general election in that time,' said Supt Meakin.

He added that they were collating all the information. It had been happening all over Devon, but while treating the matters seriously, they were taking a sensible approach.

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