Two teenagers have been given strict curfews by police after continuous and 'distressing' levels of anti-social behaviour.

The 14-year-old and 16-year-old boys were both arrested on Sunday following a suspected arson at an allotment.

Both were released under investigation while further inquiries are made, and were given orders to be at home between the hours of 7pm and 7am until April.

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Police will carry out random checks to ensure that the curfews are adhered to, and have the power to arrest the boys if they are not.

Sergeant Mark Mallatratt, of Durham City Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “The two youths in question have caused a considerable level of damage to property and distress to the community on a number of occasions in recent weeks.

“Neither the police nor the public will tolerate this sort of behaviour, and we will continue to use all of the policing powers at our disposal – including prosecution, civil injunctions and eviction – to prevent it from continuing.

“I’d like to remind people that starting fires on public land, in wooded areas and damaging property is both illegal and dangerous and urge anybody who sees it happening to report it to police.”