Twelve cars had their tyres slashed while parked overnight in a village, with the total damage estimated at nearly £1,000.

Most of the vehicles had one tyre each cut by penknives during the vandalism at Butterknowle near Barnard Castle, but two tyres were damaged on some of them.

Sergeant Grant McTaggart of Barnard Castle Police said yesterday that after several days of investigation four teenagers were arrested. Two were released without charge but the other two were bailed and are still assisting the police in their inquiries.