YOUNG vandals have been slashing precious sandbags in a flood-ravaged village.

The borough council is warning of legal action if the culprits are caught.

The new threat emerged in Skinningrove as Cleveland breathed a sigh of relief at the past couple of days' respite from the storms.

Residents have been urged to help stamp out the vandalism which is putting flood defences at risk. They have been told that sandbags have been slashed and youngsters have been using the barrier as a climbing frame.

Coun Dave McLuckie, Redcar and Cleveland's lead councillor for community safety, said: "This is very hard to comprehend. In times like these the community must work together.

"These incidents must stop and if we find evidence we will prosecute those concerned."

An extra 100 one-ton bags have now been ordered for the village, with plans to extend the existing sandbag barrier.

"The vandalism could have disastrous results, increasing the risk of more flooding," said Coun McLuckie.

"It is difficult to believe that any youngster would be foolhardy enough to mess around on top of sandbags. It is not an adventure playground - it has been built to save lives."

It was only last Thursday, just hours before the first severe flood, that the council condemned youths who kicked 150 sandbags into the beck.

Exhausted communities and emergency services got a chance to gather their thoughts as the rain eased from midweek.

But horrendous problems remain, and even on Wednesday Stockton council staff were out in force to keep significant flooding at bay.

Since the deluge began late last week, towns have been on flood alert, roads disrupted, schools and day centres closed and thousands of sandbags brought in to try to keep the rising waters at bay.

In Skinningrove, hundreds of people were forced out of their homes to the safety of rescue centres.

Many homes have only just been cleaned up after flash floods devastated the village in July.

The council said a flood defence wall would not now be moved until work started on more permanent work on Skinningrove Beck.

The council is considering five options to boost flood defences in the village and assessing how to improve conditions at 20 other trouble spots.

The Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Rev Robert Ladds, toured the area this week, accompanied by local councillors. He met residents and saw some of the worst-hit sites.

Ward Coun Steve Kay said: "The Bishop talked with people and saw the damage for himself. His visit really lifted morale."

The rest centre at Rosecroft School in Loftus was closed on Wednesday as residents returned to Skinningrove.

The council has started the clean-up in the village and will re-house 13 families on the Westfield estate in Loftus.

An assessment of council properties was due to be ready by today. Schools were open as normal yesterday.

l See page 3 for our floods round up in words and pictures.

l North Yorkshire police have taken out an order to stop a convoy of fuel protestors entering York on their way to London