A BOOKSELLER is offering a reward in the hope of catching vandals who smashed his shop window.

The side window at Curlews bookshop, in Barnard Castle Market Place, was smashed between 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday, May 5.

Although it was only a small window, shop owner Maurice Abrahams said cleaning up and repairing the damage cost him a lot of time and effort. He has put up a small reward for information leading to the conviction of the vandals.

He said: "Fortunately, nothing was stolen, but this is just another example of the hooligans that are about the place.

"It was a very thick window, about an inch thick, and was about 130 years old and must have required a considerable effort to smash."

PC Victoria Barnett, of Barnard Castle police, said: "It's possible that somebody might have heard something or seen something."

Anyone with any information can call 0845 606 0365.