VANDALS have targeted car owners in a village near Crook.

About 25 vehicles in North Bitchburn, were damaged.

Cars were badly scratched, tyres were punctured and several thousand of pounds of damage was caused.

With only one closed circuit television camera in the village, it is feared that the culprit may not be caught, but one resident has offered a reward for the capture of the serial vandal.

Alan Corner discovered that his car, which he bought recently, had been damaged when he went to leave for work at about 8.30am on Wednesday.

He said: "There were about 20, 25 cars and I saw that every one was damaged.

"Whoever had done this had gone along vandalising all of them, as they are obviously all parked close together.

"There's about half a mile of cars along the road.

"People have lived here for 30 years and nothing like this has ever happened before. It's absolutely disgusting."

Mr Corner is offering a £250 reward for any information that leads to the capture of the vandal or vandals.

Anybody with information about the incident is asked to call Bishop Auckland police on 0845 606 0365.