RADIO adverts are backing up a police campaign urging young people: "Don't Damage Your Future".

The adverts take to the airwaves this week as the latest feature of Operation Dillon, aimed at combating criminal damage across County Durham and Darlington.

There have been regular visits to schools by youth issues officers and thousands of posters have been distributed to libraries, community centres and educational premises.

A new set of radio messages yesterday started going out at regular intervals daily, on regional station Galaxy, and they will continue until early next month.

The script points out that what appears to be a minor crime can lead to an arrest, a DNA sample being taken and potential further police action for the perpetrator.

Its message is that "future hopes and ambitions can be ruined by a moment's madness".

Listeners may recognise the voice used in the broadcasts as the ex-Byker Grove star, Chester-le-Street-born actor Andrew Hayden Smith.

Funding for the campaign has been provided by the crime and disorder reduction partnerships across Derwentside, Durham, Chester-le-Street and Easington.

Area neighbourhood policing manager Chief Inspector John Bell said the slots on Galaxy were part of a lengthy campaign to win hearts and minds.

"There is no quick fix to the problem of criminal damage, we have always taken a long-term view," said Chief Insp Bell.

"A main part of our approach is to make young people aware of the harm done by their actions, not just to themselves, but their community.

"The new radio adverts get the point across in a forceful and imaginative way."

Criminal damage accounts for a third of all offences in the force area, and 40 per cent of all undetected crime.

Most acts of vandalism are carried out by young people aged 11 to 19.

The peak for this nuisance behaviour is in late October and early November.