CONCERNED councillors are questioning policing levels in North Somerset after officers failed to attend an incident of criminal damage in Nailsea. The fears were raised after vandals went on the rampage and wrecked 20 trees along Queens Road in a vandal a

CONCERNED councillors are questioning policing levels in North Somerset after officers failed to attend an incident of criminal damage in Nailsea.The fears were raised after vandals went on the rampage and wrecked 20 trees along Queens Road in a vandal attack during the early hours of October 4.Police were called by a member of the public, but they said they could not attend immediately as they were dealing with an incident where a woman had woken to find an intruder in her home in Clevedon.As a result, the culprits escaped and have yet to be caught.The fact that officers did not attend the incident - despite being alerted by a member of the public - has angered local councillors who are now questioning how many officers are on duty in the area during the early hours.Nailsea Councillor Rod Lees said: "Clearly, if there is an incident in another area where an intruder is in a property then I can understand that would take priority. But surely there is more than one officer or team on for the whole area on a night?"The incident happened at around 3am and I understand that Nailsea Police Station operates 24 hours a day."Surely there was someone there who could have responded to the call as it was only a quarter of a mile away."If an officer had gone out immediately, there is a good chance they could have caught the culprit."To hear they could not attend is not very reassuring for the public."Councillor Lees said he would be raising the matter with his colleagues on Nailsea Town Council before talking to the local police.Nailsea Police Community Sergeant Sarah Treweek said "Unfortunately all our units were committed elsewhere on the district when this matter was first reported. "Having said that it does appear that there was a breakdown in communication and the log was closed off without a unit being sent to this incident once they became available."This is regrettable and is being investigated. "I would like to stress that this offence is being treated very seriously and enquiries are ongoing and every effort will be made to arrest and deal with the offenders.