A MAN whose Christmas was ruined when a brick was thrown through his conservatory was "fuming" when police did not come to investigate.

David Hutchinson, of Spring Court, Darlington, heard a bang from his back garden at about 10pm on Christmas Day.

He thought it was neighbours coming home - but when he went outside in the morning, he found his conservatory door smashed.

Three bricks had been thrown from over Mr Hutchinson's fence. His five children, aged 11 weeks to 13, sleep in rooms next to the conservatory.

Mr Hutchinson reported the vandalism the next morning to Cockerton police station.

He said: "When someone phoned me back later on, I told them I wanted someone to come round to investigate. They said they wanted to take details on the phone.

"I put the phone down because I was fuming. I was so angry."

Police officers came to his house later that day.

Mr Hutchinson's house has been subject to similar attacks in the past.

He added: "Whoever threw the bricks are cowards.

"They have completely ruined our Christmas."

Inspector Tony Avery, of Darlington police, said: "In normal practice, if people insist they want to see a police officer, they see a police officer. Either I or a sergeant will speak to Mr Hutchinson personally."

Inspector Alan Watson, of Darlington police, said officers would have been sent out if the vandalism had been reported immediately.

He said: "We have to attend if someone is assaulted or if a burglary is ongoing. If we get five jobs that are ongoing with two police officers on we have to go to what we can.

"It works most of the time."