Angry residents have voiced their disgust after six street lights were smashed along a main road in Romsey.

Shards of glass were spotted at the weekend, spanning from "The Co-operative Food to Montfort College" in Botley Road, according to a resident.

It is believed the damage may have been caused by vandals brandishing an air weapon or a catapult.

One resident from Romsey, who did not wish to be named, said: "We were coming back up Botley Road just before four in the afternoon and I just noticed there was quite a lot of glass on the side of the road by the kerb.

"Someone had been up to no good and when I drove further up the road I saw three or four damaged street lights in quick succession.

"I thought it was too much of a coincidence and someone must have smashed them. It is quite a popular spot for people to walk their dogs and it would be dangerous for them."

He added: "There is no way someone could have smashed them by accident as the street lights are about 18ft high, so you would have had to have an accurate shot with a brick or use a catapult.

"It is very difficult to police and it is something you cannot stop really."

Cllr Alan Dowden, who represents Valley Park on the borough council, said: "I think it is diabolical because the council are in real financial difficulty and the last thing they want is to spend huge sums of money to replace the lights.

"It is just mindless stupidity and I suppose it was more likely to be an individual walking with a catapult, because if it was a group they would have attracted more attention."

Cllr Mark Cooper, who represents Romsey Tadburn on the borough council, said: "It is an act of vandalism and I trust the county council to replace the units as quickly as possible, because a lot of pedestrians use that area.

"I have been a councillor for 33 years and I have never heard of anything like this happening before.They could have been broken with an airgun possibly."

A spokesperson from Hampshire County Council said: "We are aware of this issue and will ensure these streetlights are repaired as soon as possible.

"Residents can report faulty streetlights directly to us at: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/streetlight.”

Hampshire police were contacted for comment.

The smashed street lights were spotted on Sunday, October 13.