POLICE are hunting a gang of teenage vandals whose paint spraying desecrated St Andrew's Church, in South Church, Bishop Auckland.

Police community support officers were planning extra patrols last night at the church, which has become a regular meeting place for under-age drinkers and drug users. Officers were called in twice last week when paint was sprayed on the church building and paths.

Floodlights around the building have been smashed and a cenotaph remembering Bishop Auckland's war dead is chipped and scarred where it has been used to remove bottle tops.