A FURIOUS York mother has hit out at tyre-slashing vandals who she claims could have killed her daughter.

Lynn Audin, of St Stephen's Road, Acomb, said her 24-year-old daughter could have died after her car tyre blew out as she was driving to work at 60mph on the A64.

They later discovered that the tyre had been damaged by mindless yobs while it was parked outside their home the night before.

The vandals had been on a crime spree, slashing tyres on a number of cars in the St Stephen's Road and Thoresby Road areas last Monday night.

Mrs Audin said: "One of the cars targeted belongs to my daughter.

"I would like to ask if they would still be laughing up their sleeves if she had not been able to control her car when the tyre blew up at 60mph on the A64.

"If it had been a little later than 7am and the traffic had been heavier, and there had been a car behind her in the offside lane, which she had to swerve into to gain control, she would no doubt be dead now.

"Whatever they had used to slash the tyres had only gone part-way through, causing a build up of pressure until she hit the dual carriageway at speed.

"She was terrified - she was still shaking up until lunchtime. I just don't think people think about what they are doing or what the consequences of their actions are.

"Luckily, it only cost her a new tyre and a morning's wages, but she could so easily have lost her life. The next time they think it would be funny to do something like this they should think again, because if someone dies due to their actions, they could face going to prison for manslaughter."

Mrs Audin said the tyres of at least ten cars in the area had been slashed on the same night.

They had not realised why her daughter's tyre had blown out until neighbours told them their cars had all been targeted.

Collision investigation consultant and former traffic policeman Mick Natt said: "If somebody has partially cut through the tyre they are a lunatic.

"It would have been a very quick deflation but without seeing the tyre, it's difficult to comment."

He issued the following advice to motorists if they experience a tyre blowing out while driving at speed:

* Take your foot off the accelerator* Don't brake - just let the car decelerate. If you don't brake it won't start to spin round - but of course the first instinct is for people to hit the brake* Keep your hands on the steering wheel* Don't swerve.

A York Police spokeswoman said at least six residents in the area had reported damage to their cars that night and urged anyone who had not reported the damage to come forward.

She said: "If anyone has heard anything or seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area, then we want to hear from them."

Anyone with information should contact York Police on 0845 60 60 247.