SHOPKEEPERS and business owners in Bishop Auckland's high street face repair bills totalling several thousand pounds following a spate of vandalism over the weekend.

Several premises in the town's Newgate Street had windows smashed during Friday night.

Weekend workers and shoppers who visited the town were shocked by the damage, and yesterday some of the windows were still awaiting repairs.

Those targeted included the Sue Ryder Shop, recruitment agency Workwise Personnel Ltd, discount furniture store Kut-Price Decorating, The Copper Kettle caf, Clinton Cards and Auckland Financial Management.

All are within a few hundred yards of each other in the town's main street, which is also home to several pubs and is a regular haunt for bored youths late at night.

John Boustead, director of Auckland Financial Management, said that vandalism to their premises, situated in Newgate Street since 1999, had become increasingly regular.

He said: "It happens on a weekend - it is a Friday and Saturday night thing, Friday mainly.

"It's not just the windows. We have had five window breakages in the last 18 months, but also the handle has been broken off the door. It is an ongoing expense."

He estimated that his company has spent about £2,000 in the last year on repairs and, as a result, he plans to alter the height of the windows to make them harder for vandals to damage.

However, although it is not the first time that the financial advisor has been targeted, the scale of the damage to other premises nearby is a concern for police.

Bishop Auckland Town Centre manager Derek Toon was also appalled by the damage.

He said: "I think it's quite disgusting and upsetting that this should happen.

"We are trying to market the town and it doesn't help when, on a Saturday morning, people see that several windows have been put out."

The area is covered by security cameras and police investigators are waiting to see if any of the vandals were caught on tape.

Police appealed for any witnesses or people with information to contact them on 0845 60 60 365.

* An 18-year-old man from the Bishop Auckland area was arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries in connection with the incidents.