Oxford's top policeman hit out at malicious yobs who made Halloween night less of a treat after a score of problems in the city.

Pumpkins were thrown through windows, car tyres slashed, at least one car overturned and rubbish set alight in Barton, Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill and Temple Cowley on Tuesday.

Police chief Jim Trotman said newer Halloween traditions, such as trick or treating from America, were attracting a "more malicious element" looking for an excuse to cause mayhem.

There were 20 reports of vandalism or antisocial behaviour and although it was a 20 per cent drop on last year, Mr Trotman said activities such as trick or treating can cause fear and distress, especially among the elderly and vulnerable.

He said: "I'm pleased this year there were less incidents and crimes attributable to Halloween, but nonetheless there were still victims of crime.

"Halloween presents a big challenge for the city. While many of the traditional, and arguably not so traditional, activities such as trick or treating are seen as enjoyable, for many they can cause fear and distress.

"In the States trick or treating is peacefully carried out with parents and young children. Here it seems we are seeing more rowdy, older groups of people going out trick or treating.

"Inevitably there are more malicious elements to it.

"In the run-up to Halloween we worked hard in areas where there have been problems before where, for example, the throwing of eggs and flour at properties has been an issue.

"Officers asked youths to think about what it might be like to be on the receiving end of such behaviour."

Police officers, police community support officers and street and park wardens were on patrol to help prevent and deter Halloween pranksters.

Ten of Tuesday's crimes are being linked to trick or treating. They include damage to cars and homes, bricks, stones, eggs and pumpkins being thrown and door locks being glued.

In Rose Hill, resident Susan Smith, of Williamson Way, said there was Halloween mayhem - and not enough police officers to deal with it.

Her car was overturned by a gang of youths, which she said was the latest in a series of incidents.

She said: "The policeman who turned up said he was the only officer for the whole of Rose Hill and Littlemore and he was chasing his tail.

"He said my car wasn't the only car that was overturned, he said five or six had been done."

Area Inspector Phil Standish said: "We are aware of and are tackling issues of antisocial behaviour in Rose Hill. Halloween is an aggravating factor, but this is an on-going problem and not something which can be solved overnight."

Yobs pulp pumpkin

Two children who spent hours carving a Halloween pumpkin their grandparents had grown from seed were devastated to find vandals had kicked it to a pulp.

Seven-year-old Sophie Barr, and her brother Joshua, three, from Caversfield near Bicester, had been looking forward to Halloween for months.

They had spent hours helping their parents carve and decorate the pumpkin, filling it with tiny candles.

And during the evening they handed out hundreds of sweets to dozens of children knocking on their door in Wilson Way.

But when they woke up yesterday morning, they found vandals had smashed the pumpkin to a pulp on their doorstep.

Mum Judy said: "They were so upset. To make it extra special my parents lovingly plant and nurture a pumpkin plant every year.

"This year our pumpkin weighed more than 22lb and the children were extremely proud of it."