MISCHIEF Night turned sour in Huddersfield last night as police were bombarded with dozens of calls for help.
Cars were badly damaged by paintstripper, arsonists attacked a community centre and youths were seen firing rockets at one another across a street during a hectic night for officers.
Cars were targeted by vandals armed with paintstripper on Somerset Road, Almondbury, and Lowerhouses Lane, Lowerhouses.
Cars were badly scratched in Almondbury and Moldgreen.
Fireworks were set off under several cars across Huddersfield.
Youths fired rockets at one another across Nether Crescent in Rawthorpe.
Eggs and flour were thrown at homes across the area.
Sgt Tim O'Sullivan, of Huddersfield police, said: "This was just wanton damage and often aimed at the elderly, causing them unnecessary distress.
"These children must have grandparents and we would urge them to think how distressed their own relatives would be if this happened to them."
Arsonists tried to set fire to Thornton Lodge Community Centre on Crosland Road at 8pm.
White spirit was thrown over plywood covering a broken window and set alight.
A man living nearby spotted the fire and quickly doused it with a bucket of water.
But smoke had seeped into the building and a big fan was used to blow the smoke out.
A window was smashed in an office at Birkby Junior School an hour later.
Fireworks were thrown inside and exploded, leaving scorch marks all around the room.
Fortunately they did not set the office on fire.
A community bonfire was set alight a day early on Walpole Road, Crosland Moor, at 6.30pm.
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