East Hull residents have been plagued by a series of crimes in recent months.

People living in Marfleet Lane and Holderness Road with homes backing onto a tenfoot have endured arsons, burglaries and vandalism.

Police are now urging them to sign up for a gating system to secure the tenfoot and make it harder for criminals to operate.

Vanda and David Hatton, of Marfleet Lane, were the latest victims of yobbish behaviour.

They were left devastated after intruders killed more than 80 fish in their pond by poisoning them and hitting them with bricks.

Mr Hatton, 49, said: "I had bricks at the side of the pond because I had been planning to build a coal bunker.

"They used them to throw at the fish.

"Some of the fish were still trying to move when I found them the next morning.

"Liquid had been put in the pool at the deep end, because all the fish had gone towards the shallow end.

"I could see the discolouration on the top."

Mr Hatton said most of the fish had been presents.

He said: "Some were for our wedding anniversary and others for Vanda's birthday.

"We could recognise their individual markings."

The offenders also destroyed the filtering system, ripping the roof off the pump house at the back of the pond.

There were no witnesses to the incident, which is thought to have happened late at night on Sunday, July 5.

Mr Hatton said residents on both streets were sick of being targeted.

He said: "People have been in and out of the gardens.

"We have had garages set on fire and many things have been stolen.

"One neighbour left his trailer in the tenfoot for one night and it was burnt down."

The Hattons have signed up for the gating system and think CCTV and increased police patrolling would also be beneficial.

PCSO Ryan Dillon, of the East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the spate of crime had been happening for a few months.

He said: "Obviously, the neighbourhood policing teams are aware and have increased high visibility patrols.

"The problem we are facing is that we have had no witnesses and no forensic evidence and these incidents are happening in the early hours of the morning."

PCSO Dillon said the majority of residents were already on board for the proposed gating system, which would mean residents being given keys to access a gate into the tenfoot.

Anyone wanting to sign up for the gating system can call Hull City Council on (01482) 300300.

Anyone with information about the incident on Marfleet Lane on Sunday, July 5 can call Humberside Police on 0845 6060222, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.