Three adults and one youth have been arrested and charged following a series of police raids across the region.

Police in North Yorkshire and County Durham have worked together after a spate of High Street break-ins in five towns.

The spate of break-ins began in the early hours of last Wednesday, when a number of premises were targeted in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Martin's the newsagent was worst hit, with the offenders breaking in through the shop front and taking thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes.

Six people were caught on CCTV cameras running away from the High Street and police believed them to be the same people who were later spotted committing four similar crimes in Stokesley.

"The sort of crimes they were committing were break-ins at shops and attempted till grabs. In a number of the cases they managed to leave with something," said Detective Constable Gary Ient, from North Yorkshire.

"We managed to get CCTV footage of the car these people were using in Stokesley and it was connected with some further crimes which took place in Barnard Castle, Gainford, and Sedgefield later that night."

Four people from the Hartlepool area were arrested and interviewed over the weekend in connection with the crimes.

"They were charged with a number of offences in the Durham police area and we have asked for matters in North Yorkshire to be taken into consideration," added DC Ient.

They will be appearing in court at Newton Aycliffe this week.