A Darlington man says his garden is being used as a dumping ground for stolen bags and purses.

Paul Stainthorp has criticised police for not doing enough to catch the people responsible.

Since he moved into Geneva Road, Darlington, at Christmas, 15 stolen bags and purses have been thrown into his garden, he says.

Although the bags have been emptied of possessions, Mr Stainthorp says the bags often still contain personal information.

He said it is frequently him, and not the police, who contacted the owners to tell them their property has been found.

Mr Stainthorp, 46, said: "There is no sense of urgency when I contact the police to tell them there is a bag or purse in my garden.

"I once spotted two youths rooting through a bag, but it was only after I threatened to make a complaint that the police came to see me to get a description."

Mr Stainthorp says his garden faces on to a road which leads into Darlington's Firth Moor estate, and he believes youths from the estate are responsible for the thefts.

"They are using my garden as a dumping ground, but the police just don't seem to care," he said.

"The bags contain property which may be very valuable to the owners, and I don't see why it should be me who has to pick them up and get in touch with those people who have had them stolen."

Detective Sergeant Alec Francis, of Darlington police, said they responded to all information received, but it was prioritised according to other events at the time.

"If property is found, we have to establish whether it is stolen or not and then we can start running tests on it," he said.

l Police are still appealing for information about two purse snatches in Darlington town centre last Thursday.

One happened in Gladstone Street and the other occurred in the Horsemarket

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on (01325) 467681, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.