Shops in Headington, Oxford, are being targeted by vandals so often traders have stopped calling the police.

Shopkeepers have instead become resigned to making constant repairs to smashed windows and doors.

David Lee, of Lee and Lindars estate agents, by a damaged window

The number of incidents has risen in the last few months.

The latest attacks occurred last weekend when at least three businesses in Windmill Road suffered damage.

Clovers general store's door was left dented and damaged.

The Co-op and estate agents Lee and Lindars both had windows smashed.

The attacks happened around 11pm on Friday. John Hudson, who owns Clovers, said attacks were becoming more frequent, but people were unlikely to call police.

He said: "Most businesses here have been attacked. You come to expect it.

"I didn't call the police because I know they would say there's no fingerprint evidence and they couldn't do anything.

"Headington in general has had lots of these incidents in the last few weeks.

"Nearly everyone seems to have suffered. I think it's the drinking culture in the area that's to blame. But we also have a problem with youths."

Mr Hudson said many businesses refused to put security shutters up because they would deter shoppers.

Headington Business Association chairman Michael Ponting said he did not believe there was enough evidence to blame any particular group of people for the attacks, but agreed the increasing number of incidents was a concern.

Mr Ponting urged businesses in the area to alert police. He said: "If they're not told about incidents, they can't do anything."

Headington area beat officer PC Danny Hughes said police regularly carried out high visibility, high profile policing in Headington, especially on Friday and Saturday nights between 7pm and 2am.

He said: "This is the first serious incident of this nature in Headington since August, and could be down to the fact that this was the first weekend off the team have had since the summer."

A drinking ban on the streets of Headington could be on the cards as part of the plan to cut crime.

Pc Hughes said: "I'm in the process of highlighting 'problematic' areas where people are known to drink in public, and we're hoping to get a banning order similar to the city centre order to help curb street drinking in Headington."