A family say they are living through a hellish nightmare since dozens of obscene letters dropped through letter boxes in Harwell.

The married couple, who have two children, said they had no idea why they appear to have been singled out "by someone with a sick mind" as the target for pornographic letters.

Stunned and shocked villagers, along with police, are now rallying to support the family.

Alan Walker, vice-chairman of the parish council said:"I am shocked by the letters and hope police catch whoever is responsible."

And local county councillor Colin Lamont expressed sympathy to the family and to everyone who had been disgusted on receiving a letter through the post.

Police at Didcot, who are doing forensic tests, have repeated an appeal for information.

All the letters were written - anonymously - and addressed on a computer. They were handled through the Royal Mail sorting office in Oxford.

Police began fielding complaints when letters were delivered throughout the village on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pc Paul Langford described their "sexually explicit" contents - together with reproduced photographs - as pornographic.

"They are disgusting and offensive," he said, "and caused distress to many people who received them, particularly elderly people who have been handing them in at Didcot police station."

The family, who were the target of the poison pen author, said in a statement to the Oxford Mail: "The sordid letters that have been circulated within our village amount to nothing less than a savage attack on both our family and many of our friends and neighbours.

"We have been deeply distressed by these recent events."

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