POLICE are making sure they regularly check a village's collection of tree houses after reports they have become drinking haunts for youths.

Last Friday, police patrolling in Middleton St George, near Darlington, found six teenagers drinking in one of the tree houses near the village's water park.

Beat officer Boyd Rowe told a meeting of Middleton St George Parish Council on Monday: "They were mainly older kids, but a couple were underage.

"Every Friday there is alcohol seized from youths in the area, particularly at the water park."

Councillors also heard that a 15-year-old from the Firthmoor area of Darlington was arrested for breaking 14 windows in Middleton St George's community centre.

In the past month there have been ten reports of youths causing annoyance in the village.

Other crimes in the area included one house burglary, two shed burglaries and a garage break-in at Teesside International Airport, three thefts of motor vehicles and six thefts from cars, three cases of vehicle interference and one of vehicle damage.

There was also suspected arson reported, after a caravan in Middleton Lane was set alight.