POLICE were called to school playing fields after treasure hunters arrived armed with picks and shovels.

The unwelcome pitch invasion was inspired by a competition run by radio station Galaxy 105-106, called The Game, in which listeners are given clues as to where £25,000 worth of Krug bullion is buried.

Last night, Nick Grieveson, deputy headteacher of King James 1 Community College, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, branded Galaxy as irresponsible by encouraging listeners to dig up private land.

"We still have people arriving at the school intent on digging up the field. The issue is still not resolved with Galaxy, but we have asked them to make people aware of the fact that the money is not here," he said.

Only last week, the station admitted it had acted "stupidly" after it sent marketing manager Andy Saxton to bury the gold at Sedgefield Racecourse, County Durham.

A groundsman inspecting the track after dark came across Mr Saxton and ordered him to fill in the hole.

Police were called to the community college on Tuesday night after a caretaker spotted people entering the grounds with picks and shovels at about 6pm. Several had already started digging by the time he reached them.

The treasure hunters arrived after the station broadcast clues including "south of the laurel and in the ground...".

There was also a mention of "an A road with a '6' in it runs within 100 yards".

Mr Grieveson said: "Several of our playing fields have been damaged so that we cannot take the students out on them.

"I don't know why people thought it was here, because the clues are very vague.

"Perhaps it is because of the fact we have a Laurel building."

PC Michael Hynes, of Bishop Auckland Police, said: "Nobody has been charged, but they have been suitably warned regarding the implications of criminal damage.

"I have spoken to the radio station and they have promised to re-emphasise that people should ask permission before they dig up private property."

Mr Saxton said: "We have spoken to the school this morning and we have also talked to the police.

"We have agreed with the police to emphasise that we do not condone criminal damage."

He added: "I can also say that the gold is not buried in Bishop Auckland."