POLICE are hunting vandals who went on a wrecking spree in a churchyard at the centre of a long-term restoration project.

Damage put at £2,000 was done in the Victorian extension to the churchyard at St Giles' Church, Gilesgate, Durham City, resting place of some prominent local families.

Seventeen memorials were attacked, including one of a Durham Light Infantryman killed in the First World War. Some were as recent as the 1950s.

Headstones were pushed over, some broke as they fell and crosses were smashed.

The attack happened between 3 and 7pm on Wednesday and police are seeking witnesses.

Parishioner and local history author Michael Richardson has held exhibitions of old photographs to raise £1,000 for grave restoration.

He said: "It is terrible. It has taken us ten years to raise that amount. We have been working to repair headstones and tidy the churchyard.

"Within an hour or two, almost all the work we have done has been undone. I can't understand why anyone would stoop so low to damage a headstone. You can't get any lower than that.

"They have just rampaged through the place and pushed various headstones over.''

Mr Richardson, a former parochial church council member, is compiling a list of the damaged graves.

"Any readers who have relatives in the churchyard should call and see if the graves have been damaged.

"We as a church will have to look at ways of raising funds to repair some of the damaged memorials.''

PC Liam Walker, of Durham City Police, said: "There is absolutely no explanation as to why the headstones and crosses that have been pushed over or smashed have been targeted.

"It appears to have been done at random throughout the churchyard. It is a mindless attack that will cause distress to relatives.

"Quite a deal of strength would have been needed to push some of the headstones over. It appears that some broke where they fell awkwardly.''

Police are leafleting neighbouring homes to see if anybody saw anything. Anyone with information should call PC Walker on 0191-386 4222