POLICE are hunting a gang of teenage vandals whose paint spraying desecrated one of south Durham's finest churches.

Police community support officers were planning extra patrols last night at 13th Century St Andrew's, in South Church, Bishop Auckland, which has become a regular meeting place for under-age drinkers and drug users.

Officers were called in twice last week when yellow paint was sprayed on the church building and its walls and paths.

A police officer also saw a youngster trying to start a fire in the churchyard where many of the gravestones have been flattened or broken.

Floodlights around the building have been smashed and a cenotaph remembering Bishop Auckland's war dead is chipped and scarred where it has been used to remove bottle tops.

Canon Neville Vine regularly finds empty wine bottles and evidence of drug taking around the building, which was built by Augustine monks 800 years ago.

He said: "St Andrew's is very special. It is one of the finest churches in the region and it is very sad that this is happening."

Nigel Rowley, secretary of the South Church Residents' Association, said: "At least 90 per cent of the trouble is caused by under-age drinkers.

"We are sick of this. It is a beautiful church but it is being spoiled by wanton vandalism.

"We would like to work with these youngsters and would like to hear their views on how we can give them something to do.

"I suspect that most of their parents don't know what they are up to, so perhaps parents should ask their children where they are at night."

PC Jonny Smails, of Bishop Auckland police, said offenders could be charged with criminal damage if caught.

He said: "We will be paying the church as much attention as we can and trying to get some names.

"We want to catch the people who are responsible and I hope that anyone who knows who they are will tell us."

Contact Bishop Auckland police on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.