Now, after a spate of vandalism, officers are considering installing a CCTV camera system.

Police are investigating a number of malicious incidents which have included spreading dog excrement on doorsteps, puncturing car tyres and knocking on doors late at night. Many of the incidents have taken place while victims attended functions at the community hall.

Although only a small number of people, in the Ellenabeich area of the island, are believed to have been targeted, the spite behind the crimes has prompted one resident to consider leaving.

Now, in a letter to 500 or 600 residents of the Argyll island, Seil and Easdale Community Council has appealed for help in catching the vandals, claiming locals were reluctant to come forward with information.

Seumas Anderson, community council chairman, revealed plans to install security cameras as a deterrent.

He said: "One victim is threatening to leave the village because of the vandalism."

He said the victims did not want to be named and added: "It is petty vandalism, it is not a widespread thing at all, that we know of, but we are considering the idea of installing a CCTV camera to act as a deterrent.

"If people have a problem we would ask them to tell the police, because the police can't do anything about it if they don't know about it."

The letter told residents: "Incidents of vandalism have occurred over the past few months and involved the spreading of dog excrement on doorsteps and other places, knocking on doors late at night and puncturing car tyres.

"Because people living in a tight-knit, friendly community are reluctant to report things to the police, this has gone unchecked and is causing a lot of distress.

"By going public we hope to raise awareness and ask people not to ignore such behaviour. It would appear the perpetrators are not always children or teenagers, and incidents tend to happen when social functions are taking place in the local hall."

PC Kevin Moffat, community policeman for the Seil area, which was once home to Frances Shand Kydd, the late mother of Princess Diana, confirmed he was in discussions with locals about the CCTV system

"It's normally a very law-abiding area," he said. "I need more people to tell me what is going on. I am looking into it, I require corroborative evidence.

"I am in discussion with various groups down there about the possible installation of CCTV cameras. Obviously, there are human rights issues about where the CCTV cameras are going to be. The community is looking into it and I am advising them," PC Moffat said.