Parents dropping off and picking up their children at a Saffron Walden primary school have been the victims of a series of vandalism incidents carried out in daylight hours.

Cars have been keyed, tyres stabbed with nails and verbal abuse has been reported outside RA Butler Academy on South Road and on adjacent streets, in at least four separate incidents.

Two reports of vandalism took place on October 22 at 8.30am and 3.25pm on South Road and Longhedges, a cul-de-sac just off Station Road near the school entrance.

One of the victims, mother-of-two Olivia Glasson, parked her car, a Citroën C4, at 3.25pm, to pick up her two children from the school.

“I was parked legally in Longhedges,” said the Pleasant Valley resident. “I know some parents will park on double yellow lines, but I am very careful. I went to pick up my children and returned at 3.45pm – just 20 minutes later.

“It was my son who noticed the scratches. He said: ‘What happened to our car, mummy?’

“The scratches ran all along the car on the road side – so it doesn’t look like an accident. I get on very well with the residents there, so I don’t know who it could have been.

“My son finds it quite traumatic – he keeps asking who did it and why. It’s just not a nice feeling, and it’s not fair to us,” said Olivia, 34, who said she is unable to afford the £400 repair cost.

Last Thursday at 9.15am, £1,000 damaged was caused to a Nissan Qashqai when it was scratched after being parked in the same cul-de-sac.

The following morning, Friday, November 14, also on Longhedges, Claire Moir found a screw in her tyre, after picking up her sick daughter from school.

There have also been reports of parents receiving verbal abuse when dropping off and picking up their children.

Councillor Alastair Walters, cabinet member for community safety on the district council, said: ”It’s a most unpleasant act of vandalism, and most distrubing for those who own the cars. It is quite extraordinary that this should take place during the week when it is daylight.

“I am sure that the police are doing their best to identify the culprits,” he added.

A spokesman for R.A. Butler Academy said the school was unable to comment on the reported incidents.

If you have any information regarding these crimes, contact Saffron Walden Police station on 101, or contact Crimstoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.