The family behind a Folly Market firm believe their lives could have been put in danger by a mystery slasher who targeted at least two cars on a Petersfield lane.

Gerard Clarke was taking his daughter to nursery last Friday when one of his tyres blew out on the B2070 in Rake.

It was later discovered the tyre had been knifed while parked on Bowen Lane with another vehicle owned by a Folly Market trader also being targeted.

The damaged car safely made it to the roadside but the Clarke family are angry as the repairs cost £300 and could have caused a “really serious accident”.

“It could have been really dangerous,” said Gerard, adding: “My dad came to the rescue and picked our daughter up but I had to wait for emergency recovery.

“The slits in the tyre weren’t obvious, as only the top end of the knife had gone in, but still.”

While around 10 cars were parked on Bowen Lane at the time, the police have only found one connected report with a vehicle on ‘Folly Lane’ being targeted between 8.50am and 3.45pm. CCTV footage from the time is being checked but the motive is unclear.