A VIGILANTE vandal has taken rogue parking problems into their own hands.

Residents at properties in Townhead are repeatedly finding their cars keyed, tyres slashed and petrol caps stolen.

And locals believe the carnage is being carried out by a resident out for revenge.

As Townhead is so close to Glasgow City Centre, shoppers, workers and students abuse the free residents-only parking.

Despite measures to deter this, non-residents continue to take up parking spaces, to the frustration of drivers who live in the flats.

Locals at Grafton Place are spending hundreds of pounds to repair the damage, which is usually accompanied by a sticker telling drivers not to park there.

Some car owners have had their vehicles targeted several times.

Robert Gray says the trouble began in February and since then he has had his tyres slashed, his car has been keyed, his petrol cap was ripped off and stickers have been stuck on his vehicle.

His car has been keyed six times - and this week was keyed for the third time in two months.

He has spend hundreds of pounds repairing the damage - despite the fact he is a local resident.

Mr Gray said: "I work away a few days a week so my car is not always parked outside. I think that whoever is doing this might think I am not a resident when I am.

"We're almost certain the culprit is a local resident but my neighbours and I are at our wits end with it.

"I've lived in Townhead for 14 years and the parking has always been a problem but this started up in February and it's getting out of hand.

"Whoever is doing this doesn't know who the cars are owned by. My neighbour has had her tyres slashed three times."

The flats are factored by Glasgow Housing Association, which said it is trying to find a solution to the problem.

GHA North East Area Director Andy Ashcroft said: “City centre workers and students are unfortunately ignoring the sign and the bollards and using spaces meant for residents.

“We realise it’s frustrating for tenants and we’re now looking at additional measures including parking permits, replacement bollards or a new security barrier on the car park.

“We’re writing to tenants, owners and the community council this week to get their views on these options to stop this happening.”

But Mr Gray is not hopeful of a swift resolution until the culprit is found.

He said: "I've repeatedly contacted GHA. The housing officer took weeks to put a letter out last time and it has not made any difference.

"The new campus for the City of Glasgow College is really close by here too and we're worried when that opens the problem will get even worse.

"We feel GHA is palming us off. The whole thing is infuriating."