PEOPLE are being urged to report suspicious activities around schools, in an attempt to stem the rise of school holiday vandalism.

In one night last week Whitworth Special School, in Spennymoor, was broken into and a video recorder stolen. Damage was also caused to the nearby Middlestone Moor Junior School.

In an attempt to crack down on vandalism, police are asking people to be vigilant.

A spokesman for Newton Aycliffe police said: "During the school holidays, occasionally it is the case that children go back to school more than during term time - and it's not to do maths.

"We would request that anybody who sees any children acting suspiciously within school grounds to inform us.

"If they are playing football it is not such an issue.

"But occasionally during the holidays, you do get one or two incidents where burglaries or damage does occur."