A DALE'S crime-free spell ended over the Bank Holiday weekend with a spate of vandalism and the theft of two motorbikes.

The Northern Echo reported last week how police in Teesdale, in County Durham, dealt with only one crime in a seven-day period - and that was a failed garden shed burglary.

But over the weekend, police said vandals used a sharp instrument to damage seven cars parked in Wilson Street, Galgate and Bridge End, in Barnard Castle.

Then, two trials motorcycles, worth a total of £5,000, were stolen from a garage at Mickleton, near Barnard Castle. One was a red Honda, registration F784 FUA, and the other a Gas-Gas, with no registration number.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Barnard Castle police on (01833) 637328.