RESIDENTS' hopes of urgent flood defences have suffered a setback after thugs vandalised diggers brought in for the work.

The communities of West Auckland and South Church fought hard to get emergency defences built along the River Gaunless.

Work was due to start yesterday, building barriers at Toadpool, West Auckland.

When workers arrived, they found their JCBs had been smashed overnight.

Wear Valley councillor for St Helen Auckland, Sonny Douthwaite, described it as a "despicable act".

He said: "I was really, really heartbroken to hear the news this morning.

"Here we are, working very hard to try and do something positive for the community, and somebody puts the anchors on it."

Windows were smashed, two vehicle batteries were taken, and diesel was drained from the vehicles.

Anne Reynolds, who owns the land at Toadpool on which the Environment Agency contractors are working said: "One machine was stuck in the middle of a gully they had dug out, because the battery had been stolen.

"The battery leads had been flung in the river, so they had to fish them out.

"God knows when this bank is going to be put up."

The flood bank is being raised by about one metre at Toadpool, River Walk and The Nursery, in West Auckland, to protect homes.

Many people have lived in constant fear of being flooded, since a deluge in the summer caused the River Gaunless to flow into homes.

Last month, the river burst its banks again, threatening homes.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it had hoped to have the flood defences completed by the end of next week, but it might now take longer.

He said: "Time is of the essence at this time of year when there's heavy rainfall, so the Environment Agency has been working flat out to get this work completed.

"It was more than an act of vandalism - we're trying to do something directly for the people of West Auckland."

The clay banks are a temporary measure to protect homes until permanent flood defences are in place.