VANDALS have left a trail of damage after slashing the tyres of 12 vehicles.

Some had only one tyre slashed while others had all four ripped as they were parked in the streets of Crook and Willington.

Police believe the attacks happened on Monday, between 9pm and midnight. The first attack happened in Gladstone Street, Crook, where two tyres of a white van were slashed.

The vandals then made their way along the A689 through Wheatbottom and Helmington Row and on to Willington where several cars in West Road were damaged.

The trail of destruction ended in Railway Terrace, Willington, where a Mitsubishi Shogun was vandalised - costing the owner more than £1,000 to repair.

A total of 12 cars were reported damaged, but police fear other incidents may have gone unreported.

Sergeant Adam Howell, of Crook police station, said: "This sort of vandalism causes a great deal of distress to the vehicle owners. We have had similar attacks in the area before, but nothing as bad as 12 linked cases.

"We are appealing for anyone to come forward who knows anything about these attacks."

Melanie Wilks, 23, who lives in Gladstone Street, Crook, where the first incident occurred, said: "It's really disgusting what the vandals do these days.

"They're just damaging things for the sake of it and they obviously don't realise just how expensive it costs to replace slashed tyres.

"It must be awful for the people it happened to because they have to get to work. I park my car in front of my house because there is nowhere else to park it nearby."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said it was not the first time people living in the street had suffered car vandalism.

She said: "A friend of mine who parked outside my house got both of her side mirrors ripped out about a month ago and it cost about £200 to get them fixed, then the same thing happened again a few weeks after."

Anyone with information is asked to call Bishop Auckland police on 0845-60-60-365.