EIGHTEEN police officers are investigating a riot at a County Durham young offenders institute.

The riot at HMYOI Deerbolt, in Startforth, near Barnard Castle, last month left the inside of a prison chapel in ruins.

SAS-style stun grenades were used to end the riot, in which the prison chaplain and one prison officer suffered slight injuries.

Six inmates from the Manchester area were involved in the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Ted Edgar, the crime manager for south Durham, said 18 police officers from across the force area were investigating the incident.

It would have impacted heavily on police resources in the dale if only Teesdale police investigated it, he said.

DCI Edgar said: "There's still a number of enquiries ongoing with regards to that. There are now six people in prisons around the country who will be interviewed in the near future."