A COUNCILLOR has criticised "mindless vandals" whose socalled horseplay has led to animals regularly straying through a village.

Coun Brian Myers, who represents the Willington ward on Durham County Council, has received complaints from residents of Hunwick about horses running loose.

As long ago as 2002, local MP Hilary Armstrong held a meeting on the subject with councils and police.

In the past few weeks, the horses have caused damage to the village, frightened walkers and kept people awake at night.

Coun Myers has looked into the complaints along with Hunwick ward councillor Ken Bowser.

He said the county council regularly repaired gates and fences to contain the horses, but they were being vandalised.

"It's extremely disappointing for the county council to be paying out all this money to mend fences when mindless vandals are just wrecking it all," he said.

"People are suffering as a consequence and it's a waste of taxpayers' money."

Villagers hope that something can still be done.

Father Stewart Irwin, vicar of St Paul's Church, said: "We've always had these horses, but in the last couple of weeks it has escalated.

"They are all over - on the cricket pitch, the railway line, the football field, the school, churning them all up.

"It Is intimidating. I was walking along the line and about eight or nine of them were coming the other way at some speed. When they run, they run, and I had to get out of the way."

Sue Smith, headteacher of Hunwick Primary School, said: "They are plodding the field and eating our new plants.

"One day, they came right up against the windows and we had to close the blinds," she said.

"Children living up here are used to seeing farm animals, but maybe not at such close quarters.

They were more excited than scared, but it did cause some disruption."