CAR owners in a Teesdale village have been warned to be on their guard after three cars were broken into at the weekend.

The cars were all parked in the Main Road and Eden Crest area of Gainford, near Barnard Castle and all of them had their doors bent back - allowing thieves to slide their hands in to unlock the car.

A Peugeot 306 and a Vauxhall Astra were targeted overnight between Friday and Saturday, with the radios removed from both cars.

An unlocked Volkswagen Polo also had its radio removed overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Acting Sergeant Dan Reed, from Barnard Castle Police, said: "People should remove all valuables from their cars when they lock them and where that isnt possible they should try and hide them.

"If your radio has a fascia which can be removed then it should be and cars should be locked at all times.

"People need to be vigilant and make sure they report anything to us as soon as they see it."

Anyone with any information about the thefts in Gainford should call Barnard Castle Police on 0345-6060-365. Emergencies should be reported using 999.