SECURITY is being reinforced at a Darlington sports complex after a spate of vandalism and theft.

Users say that facilities at the £1.8m Eastbourne Sports Complex are being damaged, equipment stolen and set alight, cars are being damaged by footballers and lockers broken into.

Runners say they are regularly harassed by youths on motorbikes and that sports fields are littered with dog excrement.

Security cameras were installed at the site, which is next to Eastbourne School, recently, but Robin Rutherford, chairman of Darlington Harriers, said they did little to deter offenders.

He said: "The sad part is that most of the vandalism occurs in term time from the pupils at the school.

"The site is open, with no security until you enter the doors of the complex. It needs an attended gate day and evenings."

Karen Pemberton, acting head at Eastbourne Comprehensive School backed the call for extra security.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council, which runs the complex, said: "We strongly resist the comment that the site is falling into wrack and ruin.

"We have just opened an international standard bowls facility there and there are plans for future extension and we are simply not prepared to let it fall into wrack and ruin.

"We have a review into the security taking place at the moment, but in the meantime the staff are working incredibly hard and interim measures are in place, with staff patrolling the site throughout the day."