Trendy area rocked by crimewave

..and some fed-up residents say they'll turn vigilante to beat louts

- ETHAN DAVIES, HAKIM HAFAZALLA

SCROLLING through the 'Ancoats Neighbourhood Watch' Facebook group makes for grim viewing.

Every day, new photos are posted of smashed-up cars. Some motorists have been burgled, while others have seen thugs stamp on their windscreens, damaging their pride and joy.

It's left residents 's****ing' themselves, with some even suggesting a vigilante effort to curb the crime. However, police officers insist their hard work over the last month has seen the number of break-ins decrease.

In recent years, Ancoats has been lauded as one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods. However, over the last 18 months, tensions over parking and car crime have risen, with the number of social media reports of break-ins intensifying since Christmas.