New security cameras were installed in an Oxford carpark only a few days too late for one motorist.

Vandals caused £2,500 of damage to Jason Priest's new car when they struck in the city's Worcester Street car park.

Jason Priest

The locksmith left his Chrysler PT Cruiser while he attended his brother Andy's stag party in Chicago Rock Cafe on Sunday night.

When he returned he discovered swirls and crosses had been scratched into the paintwork of every panel of his £16,000 car.

Mr Priest, who owns Executive Security in Iffley Road, is due to drive the groom and his page boys to his wedding at Lains Barn, Wantage, this Saturday (June 23).

His insurance company will cover the repair costs, bar the £350 excess, but the Chrysler must be completely re-sprayed and will not be finished before the wedding.

The owners of Chicago Rock, Luminar Leisure, is part-funding the running costs of the new cameras being installed in Worcester Street and Park End Street.

This week £60,000 of security cameras were installed to monitor the car park.

Mr Priest, of Chalcroft Close, Ducklington, near Witney, said: "I'm gutted. I normally park at Westgate, but someone suggested Worcester Street was safer because it is in the open.

"There was no security. It's left me wondering why we pay for these car parks."

City car parks manager Graham Smith said it was up to the city council to decide how income from fines was spent, but there were no plans to introduce security staff.

He said: "Reports of cars being 'keyed' are not common.

"As we have customer care officers at the Westgate, it is probably slightly safer there, but no car park is totally safe."

Oxford City Centre manager Marcus Lapthorn said the new cameras, provided by the Home Office, would be live by the end of the week.

He said: "When we first put CCTV in Oxford in 1999, we identified hot-spots, but did not have enough money at the time.

"Now we have money from the Home Office, we can do something.

"It does not help this man, but we are acting now."

Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police will jointly manage the new cameras but have appealed to local businesses to help them meet running costs.