A DORCHESTER doctor claimed that his car was ravaged' by disgruntled residents after he parked it in a quiet street near Dorset County Hospital.

Dr Tim Hinks, who generally commutes to Dorchester from his home in Southampton by train but sometimes drives, said that his car had been damaged twice after parking in Louise Road.

On the first occasion he said a note had been left on the windscreen and a large scratch made down the side.

On the more recent occasion the distinctive salmon pink Nissan Micra, which belongs to his wife Naomi, had been gouged five times.

He said: "I was appalled to find my car ravaged on a quiet residential street. But this appears not to have been a random act of vandalism by a bored youth.

"A week previously having parked in the same road I found a rude note on my windscreen and noted a scratch the length of the car.

"My wife was upset, so I resolved to avoid the spot in question, but we took it no further."

But Dr Hinks, who is working at the hospital for a year, said that after missing his train into the county town on another day he was forced to drive to Dorchester.

He said because it was a wet day the car park was already full when he arrived at work so he decided to go back to Louise Road.

"But imagine my horror to find that evening that the car had been gouged in five places along the side in a fit of malicious pique.

"A passer-by suggested this was a disgruntled resident objecting to increased parking in their street.

"The matter has been passed on to the police, who were most sympathetic and will be reviewing the situation."

Insp Les Fry, of Dorchester Police, said unsociable behaviour including vandalism would not be tolerated and urged anyone with information to contact police.

Fed-up residents of Louise Road recently handed a petition to Dorchester Town Council calling for the Victoria Park residents' parking scheme, which they initially declined to join, to be extended to include them.