TWO teenagers who threw mud at a passing police van have been given the opportunity to ‘clean up’ their act.

The 16-year-olds, who wore balaclavas and scarpered after launching the projectiles, were arrested in Peterlee on Sunday night.

They spent Thursday afternoon washing police vehicles.

Inspector Emma Kay said: “The consequences of throwing things at moving vehicles can be far more serious than these two realise, which I’m sure they’ve had time to consider while washing the cars.

“This is an opportunity not only for the two young offenders to take ownership of their actions, but also for our officers to engage with them and steer them in a more productive direction.

“The parents have been very supportive.

“They even supplied toothbrushes to make sure every detail comes out gleaming.”