A gangs of youths has been plaguing motorists at a cinema complex, launching logs and branches at passing cars and causing widespread damage.

Hayley Whitham had been out for a birthday meal with her uncle at Woodside Leisure Park on Saturday evening. As she was driving to leave the car park, she had to drive around some debris on the ground before hearing an “almighty smash” on the roof of her car.

At first she assumed the overhanging tree was rotten and falling apart but then she saw a car pulled over just ahead with a woman on the phone.

After speaking to the woman’s husband she discovered that a group of yobs had been tearing branches from the trees and throwing them at passing cars.

As the two stood there speaking, Hayley saw more cars being hit so she called the police and moved her car to stop others driving the same way.

The windscreen of one car was smashed by a flying log.

“The security guard came over and explained it had been going on for a few weeks,” she said.

“He said that every time he has gone over to them, they would throw logs at him. So he just stayed away.”

Hertfordshire Constabulary said they have received several reports of criminal damage at the leisure centre since the start of January, all of them involving bits of wood being chucked at cars.

On Saturday, police arrived at the scene at around 9.30pm and spoke to witnesses. Their enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information on any of the reports of criminal damage at the leisure park is asked to contact Hertfordshire Constabulary on the non-emergency 101 number.