A young man awoke on Sunday morning to find that his ute, which he had parked in Bagnoo Pl, near Bellangry Park, had been covered in spray paint.

The man’s father, David Hore, said the car had been his son’s “pride and joy”.

“He’s worked hard to buy his ute and get his wheels and stereo,” Mr Hore said.

“Now they reckon it will be another $5000 to fix it.

“I think it was drunken fun. They targeted his car for sure. It’s just pure vandalism, I believe.”

Mr Hore described whoever was behind the attack as “animals”, and said similar incidents appeared to be on the rise in Port Macquarie and Wauchope.

He had an idea who was responsible for the ute attack, he added, but they denied any involvement.

“And ... the police can’t do anything about it.

“They are pretty thin on the ground,” Mr Hore said.

Inspector Paul Fuller of the Port Macquarie police said the graffit attack was under investigation.

He urged anyone with information to contact police on 6583 0199.