RESIDENTS in Hutton are being plagued by speeding youths firing paintball and ball bearing guns at passers-by. A cottage was recently covered in paint after a car full of youngsters targeted the property with a paintball gun. One pedestrian was hit on the

RESIDENTS in Hutton are being plagued by speeding youths firing paintball and ball bearing guns at passers-by.A cottage was recently covered in paint after a car full of youngsters targeted the property with a paintball gun.One pedestrian was hit on the leg with a pellet from a ball bearing gun fired from a speeding car and a group of teenagers frightened motorists by overtaking traffic and speeding through the centre of the village.Parish councillor John Coote said: "We have had a few incidents over a 10 day period. It isn't happening all the time but there are sporadic incidents which are disturbing, annoying and upsetting people."We also have a lot of cars screaming through the village around pub closing times but usually there are no witnesses."Last year Hutton had similar problems with speeding and a firework was put in the village post box, which caused damage when it exploded.The village has a Speedwatch group but volunteers are not allowed to work after dark, which is when most of the offences occur.Mr Coote said: "It does really concern residents, they are not happy about the disturbances. But there's not a lot we can do. There's a possibility that if there was a patrol car parked just off the main road the police would witness it and be able to do something about it. But the incidents are so sporadic that the police do not have the resources to be able to do that."Parish councillors are planning to discuss ways to deal with the problems at their next meeting on October 2.