VANDALS are being urged to give themselves up for their own good after they coated themselves in potentially lethal asbestos dust while on a wrecking spree.

Police want the youngsters who broke into nine condemned houses to come forward to have themselves checked.

Chief Inspector Peter McPhillips, of Cleveland Police, said: "Our prime concern is for the health and safety of those responsible."

A 24-hour helpline for the vandals or relatives to ring has been set up, while health experts urge them to bag the clothes they were wearing for collection.

The partitioned walls and roofs of nine houses in Burnmoor Close, Redcar, east Cleveland, were damaged by youths at the weekend, releasing a quantity of asbestos dust.

Dr Michael Grandey, from the Health Protection Agency, said the risk of harm from such a level of asbestos exposure was minimal. However, he said: "As a precaution, we would advise those who came into direct contact with asbestos to shower with soap and water. Clothing which has come into contact with asbestos should be properly disposed of so that fibres are not spread."

Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust said there should be no ill-effects, but that if people have any health concerns, they should call a doctor.

Coast and Country Housing, which manages the building, has set up a helpline -(01642) 836046 -to offer advice to those responsible as a precaution. The organisation is urging the trespassers to come forward.

Coast and Country chief executive Iain Sim said: "Although we deplore the calculated and deliberate trespass on to our secure site, we are concerned for the health and well-being of the trespassers.

"The site does contain asbestos that in its undisturbed state does not a pose a danger.

"However, in vandalising and damaging insulation materials, the trespassers have potentially exposed themselves to asbestos."

The houses were set aside for demolition because they were deemed inadequate for modern needs. Contractors were due to start work this week