A FAMILY returned from a day out to find intruders had completely trashed their home.

Burglars broke into the house in Coxhoe, near Durham, and ransacked the house, throwing paint on the walls, pouring shampoo and cleaning products on the furniture and even putting bleach into the kettle.

Detective constable Nigel Dowd, of Durham Police, said: “In 20 years of policing I have never seen anything like this”.

The married couple, who have asked not to be identified, live in the house in Petterson Dale with their three young children.

On Tuesday, they left the house for the day and when the husband returned at 2pm he found that someone had forced their way in through a rear door and completely vandalised the family home.

The intruders had thrown paint on numerous surfaces throughout the house, poured shampoo and cleaning products over the walls and furniture and had also ransacked their way through cupboards and drawers.

Neat bleach was left inside the kettle, which could have proved extremely dangerous to anyone using it to make a hot drink.

The couple said; "We just do not understand why anyone would go to such lengths to vandalise our family home. How do you begin to explain this to our children?"

Det Con Dowd added: “The interior has been completely vandalised.

“At this stage we have no clear motive and would urge anyone in the area of Petterson Dale, who might have seen or heard anything suspicious on Tuesday to contact us.”

  • Anyone with information is asked to ring Durham Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.