A FATHER has spoken out after vandals set fire to his car, yards from where his young son was sleeping.

Michael Peart says yobs have subjected his family to two years of abuse and torment.

The trouble came to a head when his car's back window was smashed and a burning item thrown onto the back seat.

Mr Peart said: "We feel under threat. It has got worse and worse. This was a targeted attack."

The car, a Vauxhall Astra which Mr Peart and his partner, Angela Oliver, used for Angel's - their eco-friendly cleaning business - is a write-off.

More worryingly, the attack happened while the car was parked close to the bedroom of their two-year-old son, Joshua. His brothers Sean, 13, and Daniel, ten, were also in the house.

Mr Peart, of Redwood, Esh Winning, County Durham, said: "If it was a random attack it wouldn't be as frightening, but I don't think it was.

"Going out of the house at any time now, you feel scared.

"You don't know who you are going to bump into.

"It started with bullying. Then we started getting mud thrown at our house. The drainpipe would get knocked to the floor.

"It was quieter over the summer, but as soon as the weather turned it started again.

"We don't know who's done this to us."

The family slept through the incident, in the early hours of Wednesday, September 5, only learning of their narrow escape later that morning.

They now want Durham City Council to move them to another council house.

A spokesman for the council said it would react to any complaint received.

Durham Police confirmed they are investigating.

A spokesman said: "Inquiries are ongoing, but at this stage there have been no arrests."

Police are appealing for anyone with information to call them on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.