POLICE are appealing for help to track down vandals who damaged headstones in a series of attacks on a West Cornforth churchyard.

In the past two weeks, more than a dozen crosses and headstones have been pushed over in the St Trinity Church graveyard, destroying some and badly damaging others.

PC Tom Hardwick believes youngsters from the village might be responsible for the damage.

He has leafleted the council and private homes around the the churchyard, appealing for information to help to identify the culprits.

It is thought that damage has been caused during the twilight hours on weekday evenings or at weekends.

PC Hardwick said that although some of the headstones were nearly a century old, there were strong community ties within West Cornforth.

He said: "Just about every family in West Cornforth will have a relative in that churchyard. It is that type of village.

"There is certainly no obvious reason for the attacks. They appear to be acts of pure, mindless vandalism, and I believe youngsters from the village are responsible

"I have pushed leaflets through the doors of the homes around the village green in the hope that someone has seen something that will lead us to those responsible."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Spennymoor Police Station on (01388) 814411.