Walls were knocked over and signs set on fire on Friday night as four vandals rampaged through Norbiton and New Malden.

A resident in Kenley Road in Norbiton was woken up at about 4am on Saturday by a group of four men pushing over a pile of bricks in his driveway and throwing sandbags on his car. He waited until they had left before jumping in his car and following at a safe distance.

He watched as the group continued down Kenley Road, setting fire to a for sale sign they had uprooted and thrown into a hedge.

They then turned into Clarence Avenue, New Malden, where they kicked over bins and pulled stones out of walls.

An intruder alarm was then set off at Coombe Girls' School and the men were seen running away from the school building.

Deputy headteacher at Coombe Girls' School, Sue Warne said: "The alarm went off and our caretaker turned out and got the police. A window was broken but nothing was taken. I suppose they were not breaking in, just chucking something."

From Clarence Avenue, the gang turned right into Woodside Road, and continued round into Coombe Road where CCTV cameras caught them snapping a 20ft fibreglass flag pole outside Travis Perkins building merchants.

DS Simon Harding from Kingston Police said: "We have so far discovered 24 separate offences of criminal damage. We want anyone who lives in that area who noticed damage to their property on Saturday to get in touch."

Contact DS Simon Harding on 020 8247 4945.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and have been bailed to return to Kingston Police Station in May.