A COMMUNITY has been besieged after pranksters decided to egg them almost every day for a month.

Residents living in the Hythe area of Colchester, near Tesco, are fed up with gangs targeting them on a regular basis.

The Quays accommodation for Essex University students has also been victim of the relentless attacks.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It has happened nearly every day.

“I had just stopped to adjust my bag when an egg hit my bike.

“I want them dealt with and if anyone else has had it done to them, call the police.”

He said the attackers shouted abuse but fled in a car after he got his phone out to report it to police.

Another resident said she has not seen the culprits but she has been out in the morning to find eggs on the floor.

She said: “The Hythe is getting worse. I have anxiety so this kind of behaviour makes it worse.

“I thought it was a nice place to raise my children but the more I see, the more I question my decisions.

“I first noticed maybe last Wednesday, It is horrible as my two-year-old was dodging eggs.

“If I was to slip it could cause problems. A one night thing could be taken as them being bored having a bit of fun, but now it’s going beyond a joke.”

Mike Lilley (Lab), who is ward councillor for the area and is also Colchester councillor responsible for public safety, said it was a childish act.

He said: “It has been known over the years this has happened, the only thing we can do is try and get the registration numbers of the vehicles.

“There are no police around so we won’t be able to stop it, but we can just ask people to be vigilant.

“It’s not funny and it’s not clever, it’s not good enough.”

Fellow ward councillor Lee Scordis (Lab) has also raised concerns about pranksters vandalising the area with graffiti.

He said every time Colchester Council washes away what he describes as “mindless scrawls” they keep coming back.

A spokesman from Essex Police said: “We were called to reports a man had eggs thrown at him in Haven Road, Colchester, at about 1am on Wednesday. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Essex University has had no reports of incidents of the egg attacks.

Staff said it is possible students have reported cases directly to the police and added they are not aware of any cases themselves.