STUNNED homeowners in a street wrecked by a pair of teenage vandals have been handed a bill by Wirral Council for the clean-up.

Invoices have been sent to nine homes in Hillcroft Road, Poulton, the residents of which lived through a night of hell on April 15 after the youths climbed onto a roof - and then spent five hours pelting police and cars with slates they'd ripped up, as the force helicopter hovered overhead.

The damage caused was estimated to be around £100,000 yet when the pair were locked up earlier this month they laughed throughout the hearing. Neither can be named.

Now the residents say they feel further insulted by the council's decision to charge them for clearing up the debris-strewn road.

The council's director of technical services Dave Green has written to each saying: "I confirm that unfortunately the owners of the properties involved are liable for the costs incurred."

He advises the householders to contact their insurance companies, then adds: "We have decided to split the cost between the owners of all the properties involved in the incident.

"In view of this you will receive an invoice shortly for the sum of £117.33."

Anyone who has trouble paying the fee in full has the option of paying in installments - with interest added - or he will "register a charge against the property until such time as you are in a position to pay", Mr Green adds.

But a furious Alan Ireland, 70, whose roof was damaged during the rampage, told the Globe: “We shouldn’t have to pay this bill and are not going to pay this. It’s not our fault and yet we’re being made to pay for criminal damage.

“We were shocked when the letter dropped through the door telling us that we were going to be charged for the cost of repair.

"There was no suggestion that we would be charged when a council inspector came round to look at the damage.”

His wife Joan, 67, said: “We’re being penalised for something which somebody else has done.

"We’ve lived here for 32 years and never seen anything like this around here.”

Debbie Williams, a mother of one who has had to have the front of her roof and guttering repaired as a result, said: “We’ve all agreed as a consensus that we are not going to pay this bill.

"I can understand if they were charging us for not maintaining our property, but this has been caused by criminal damage.

“We’ve already all had to pay the excess on our own insurance claims and now the council are charging us further for the repairs. It’s just adding insult to injury.”

Leah Fraser, prospective Conservative MP for Wallasey, said: "Does this Council have no shame or sense of justice?

"The residents of Hillcroft Road, let's not forget, are the victims in this case.

"On the one hand, we have the fantastic support of the Anti Social Behaviour Team undertaking a sponsored walk in aid of the victims of this incident and, now, on the other, we have invoices and threatening letters being issued to the victims.

"So much for the Government saying they will make those responsible for crimes repay their victims. Under this council it is once again the law-abiding majority who are expected to pay up."

The youths, aged 15 and 16, were charged with criminal damage, endangering life and separate offences of burglary and assault.

A judge sentenced the younger boy to 22 months in detention and training, likely to result in 11 months custody with good behaviour. The older boy got 18-months.

A council spokeswoman said: "Following the incident on Hillcroft Road, on April 16 the council responded to an emergency situation which required the area to be cleaned up, made safe and secure for residents.

"It is standard practice in all cases that the council recovers the costs incurred for these operations.

"The council is in contact with the house owners and in the first instance suggests residents contact their insurers.

"Any householders experiencing difficulties are encouraged to contact the council to resolve difficulties."