AN ANIMAL care lecturer from Oxford believes she is being targeted by animal rights protesters - after her car was vandalised three times in the past month.

Laura Chalmers - who works at Abingdon and Witney College - and her partner Lou Wareham have been upset by the car attacks outside Ms Chalmers's home in Harefields, Cutteslowe.

Miss Chalmers's Renault has been scratched and had a wing mirror kicked off.

Miss Wareham - a trainee nurse who lives in London - has had an electric wing mirror smashed off her Daewoo Matiz, a door scratched and two tyres slashed. The incidents took place on October 15, October 22 and November 5.

Miss Chalmers thinks the vandalism could be linked to a talk she organised at the college about animal rights last year.

A number of buildings and people linked to Oxford University's controversial £18m animal research laboratory have been targeted by animal rights campaigners in the past.

Miss Chalmers said: "I'm getting worried about these attacks as they're getting worse.

"It feels like it's personal. Some other cars in the street have been vandalised too but they are usually ones that look similar to mine or are the same colour or make."

She added: "My partner will need part of her car resprayed and the panel redone as it was bent when they scratched it.

"The tyres will probably cost about £200 to replace."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said they do not believe animal rights activists are to blame for the attacks but are appealing for witnesses to help find the culprits.

But she added: "If anyone has got any information we would be keen to hear from them.

"We don't have any witnesses so have no line of inquiry for this case.

"It is unfortunate they have had their cars vandalised more than once. Any help neighbours or members of the public can give us will be gratefully received."

Anyone with information should call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.