POLICE are just "well-paid baby sitters" in villages around Darlington at weekends.

This was the picture painted to members of Hurworth Parish Council this week.

PC Karl Lowe said officers often spent Friday and Saturday nights "chasing around after kids to stop them causing annoyance."

And although he said the problem - especially in Middleton St George - was not as bad as people feared, he reported a worsening situation at Hurworth over the past month.

As well as a nasty assault at The Grange community centre, there had also been five incidents of youths causing nuisance at the venue.

In November he told the council there had been no crimes in the parish and two incidents of nuisance.

"I am afraid the new figures do not make good reading," he said at Tuesday's meeting.

There had been 12 incidents - six crimes and six cases of nuisance. The crimes included a shed break-in and damage to a car.

Councillors were also dismayed to hear PC Lowe is leaving the beat to take up a post at Durham Constabulary HQ.

A colleague will now be doing the job on his own, covering other villages such as Middleton St George.

"It is a huge area," said PC Lowe. "There are now about 5,000 people in Middleton St George. But this was always a beat for one person and that is what you are back to, yet the population is growing."

Coun Meg Naylor said: "Crime here might not seem much to Darlington, but to us it is a lot. We live here and we want to be safe."

"I agree," said PC Lowe. "Unfortunately, it always boils down to money and staffing levels. It is not ideal but that's the way it is."

Referring to recent reports of youths causing trouble in Middleton St George, he said: "Sometimes it is horrendous but it's not always like that.

"But on many Friday and Saturday evenings we are fairly well-paid baby sitters.