The owner of a repeatedly-vandalised vehicle has called for CCTV to be installed in the car park behind his home.

Simon Lockyer said his car's petrol tank was punctured and fuel stolen in the latest bout of vandalism behind his home in Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford.

He said another Ford Escort belonging to his wife was stolen and burned out in May, 2006, after she parked it behind their flat above the Top Shops in the centre of the estate.

To add to the handyman's woes, his four children regularly have to walk past teenagers smoking cannabis on the stairwell of their flat.

Mr Lockyer said Oxford City Council had decided not to install CCTV because it would be too expensive.

Mr Lockyer, 31, said: "It has just been a nightmare. Cars are being vandalised, broken into and petrol has been taken out of the cars.

"We keep hearing noises and shouting and we keep looking out the window every time we hear noise."

Mr Lockyer said his Y-registered Vauxhall Zafira was one of three to have its petrol tank punctured last month.

The city council tenant said: "We had nearly a full tank. We went down in the morning to take one of the kids to football training and it was raining and there was a rainbow effect on the water.

"We could see it and tracked it back to the car. I started the car up and realised the petrol light was flashing.

"That's when I looked underneath the car and saw a great big hole. I was so angry.

"People are going round nicking it because the cost is so high."

Mr Lockyer said his car had also been scratched since he moved into the flat in 2006 and his neighbours' cars had also been vand- alised.

He added: "Some nights we have men and kids going into the stairwell.

"When we go down there in the morning or come back at night, it just stinks of where they have been smoking drugs."

After the petrol was stolen, Mr Lockyer approached local businesses and the council about his idea of getting CCTV installed to overlook the car park.

He said: "The shops agree and they are willing to put something towards it, but the council are saying no."

A city council spokeman declined to comment.