EXTRA security has been demanded for a vandal-plagued £1.8m sports complex in Darlington.

A catalogue of damage, theft, fires and anti-social behaviour is said to be making facilities rapidly deteriorate at Eastbourne Sports Complex - opened amid great fanfare in March 1999 at Eastbourne School.

Runners claim they are regularly harassed by youths on motorbikes who tear around the track and that sports fields are awash with dog dirt.

Athletic and gym equipment is said to have been damaged, stolen and set alight, cars to have been damaged by footballs and lockers broken into belonging to outside clubs.

Security cameras do little to deter offenders and, though the area is fenced, an unlocked gate provides open access to the site day and night.

Robin Rutherford, chairman of Darlington Harriers who use the club's facilities every week, said the complex was literally being torn apart.

At Wednesday night's meeting of Darlington Sports Forum he said: "The site is deteriorating rapidly. Vandalism has put our activities back and the new security cameras do not deter anyone.

"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.

"The teachers at Eastbourne are brilliant, but I think they are doing the job with one hand tied behind their backs."

Liz Blaylock, of Darlington Gym Club, which also uses the facilities each week, added: "One of our lockers has been broken into again and this week the vault has had a piece of leather ripped out of it."

Mike Crawshaw, from the Dolphin Centre management team which looks after the complex, said he was aware of the ongoing problems.

He said: "Operational staff have reported an improvement at the site. However, I am aware there is a long way to go and that there is an education responsibility as well."

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

She said: "In every school there is an element of bad behaviour which is difficult for anyone to control. But if culprits are identified, parents are billed for damage, and if the damage is criminal the police are always called.

"A site security survey has been undertaken this week and a report is expected next week with new security evident from September.

"I would definitely support the use of an attended gate. However, at this stage I have no idea what the extra measures will be."