Children as young as nine have admitted their part in a summer wrecking spree which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in the centre of a former pit community.

Two nine-year-old boys and two 13-year-old girls have been interviewed by detectives about five separate attacks on Willington's library, health centre and doctors' surgery.

The boys are too young to be prosecuted and police are waiting for a decision on the fate of the girls.

Officers say the four are part of a group of about 16 youngsters who hang around the town centre area.

The age of the culprits has shocked residents and traders who are calling for a CCTV cameras to be installed.

Brian Myers, the town's representative on Durham County Council, is meeting Crook police boss Inspector George Ledger and the area's MP Hilary Armstrong on November 1 to discuss the vandalism problem.

He said: "We have difficulties with a number of youngsters who are targeting public buildings. The school has had problems over the summer as well.

"We try to instil a sense of responsibility into our children but it is very disheartening when they don't respond. We need the support of parents who don't seem to know where their children are.

"This affects the whole community. There won't be any investment on the library until the vandalism stops and is difficult to get doctors to come here when they see boarded up windows at the surgery.

"There were 18 new windows put in at the health centre one night and they were all out again by the next day.

"We have to find some way of stopping this happening for the sake of the rest of the Willington residents."

A spokesperson for the surgery said staff cars had been vandalised in the car park and slates had been ripped from the roof.

She said: "We are very disappointed, particularly as some of the children are so young. The building is here for the patients and the whole Willington community." .