POLICE are appealing to the young vandals who have targeted two town centre schools during the summer holiday to stop.

Officers in Newton Aycliffe are urging the youths thought to be responsible for smashing windows at Byerley Park Primary and St Francis' Junior schools not to strike again.

About seven windows were smashed at Byerley Park in Greenfield Way. They were subsequently boarded up but then the boards ripped down.

Nine windows were smashed at St Francis' Junior School, in Scholars Path last Sunday night, by someone possibly using a golf club.

Teenagers are thought to be responsible for the vandalism at Byerley Park, but children younger then ten may have been involved in the damage at St Francis. All the incidents happened during the early evening.

Acting Sergeant David McKenna of Newton Aycliffe police,said: "The sad thing is that the people responsible for these incidents may have attended the school, have brothers or sisters there or at least know a pupil.

"And it is their parents who ultimately pick up the bill for repairing public property through their council taxes.

"I would urge these youngsters to just stop and think about what they've done, and to think if they are they really getting that much enjoyment out of it and do they realise how much inconvenience and expense they've caused?"

Police are appealing to anyone with information about either of the incidents to contact officers by calling 0845 606 0365.