A spate of offences by drunken yobs on Sheringham carnival night has been condemned by a local police chief.Fifteen incidents of criminal damage, several of them involving broken windows, happened late on the night, to a mixture of cars, shops and houses.

A spate of offences by drunken yobs on Sheringham carnival night has been condemned by a local police chief.

Fifteen incidents of criminal damage, several of them involving broken windows, happened late on the night, to a mixture of cars, shops and houses.

Chief Insp Steve Jones, who is in charge of policing Sheringham and Cromer, said two people had been arrested for four offences, but the rest were undetected.

There had been two bad years at Sheringham carnival in recent summers, while at Cromer this year there was just one arrest.

Chief Insp Jones said it was a shame the action of a few drunken yobs was spoiling all the good work of the carnival in bringing benefit to thousands of other people.

The victims of the crimes were left with damage they had to pay for and increased insurance premiums through no fault of their own.

“If these offenders are seeking to get a buzz, why don't they go bungee jumping?” he asked.

Extra policing would have to be drafted in next year to cope, at extra cost, added Chief Insp Jones.

The warning, in the aftermath of the carnival season, comes as the Cromer Safer Neighbourhood team set its new policing priorities, which include: tackling antisocial behaviour from drivers travelling between Cromer and Sheringham and gathering in the car parks; the misuse of pedestrianised areas in Cromer and congestion caused in the same town by vehicles unloading on streets at busy times.

Anyone with information about the Sheringham carnival damage should contact the local police on 0845 456 4567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.