A PENSIONER is urging police to put a stop to harassment which she says she has suffered for eight years.

Joyce McGurk has lived at her Bedale Avenue home in Billingham for 30 years with her daughter, Carol, but says that over the past eight years, she has become the target for vandals.

During that time, her caravan has been targeted on 23 occasions, with windows smashed, curtains and cushions set alight and eggs thrown into it. She also saidher dog has been tied up and hit with a crowbar.

In the latest incidents, which took place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Mrs McGurk said she woke to find 12 mice in her house at 1am on Thursday.

Her caravan windows were also smashed again with what she believes was a drainpipe taken from a nearby property. She also found an empty vodka bottle by the caravan.

Mrs McGurk said that after each incident, she has seen a man and woman drive off in a white van.

She said: "This is harassment and stress. It has been going on for eight years now and it is upsetting.

"I think they think they can get away with it because we are women. I have no idea why it is happening.

"I would like to see something done about it, and hopefully the police be able to put a stop to it."

A police spokeswoman said: "Police did receive a report of some vandalism at this address and did attend and take details. We would like to assure Mrs McGurk that it will be investigated fully."