POLICE are appealing for witnesses after thieves smashed car windows to steal handbags.

Two cars parked in the Riverside car park, in Chester-le-Street, were broken into on Saturday between 2pm and 3pm.

Rear windows were smashed on a silver BMW and a silver Citroen C2, and a handbag was taken from each.

PC Matt Bartsch said one of the bags was a very distinctive large, sandy-coloured bag with the image of an owl on the side. The other was a River Island brand bag with a long strap designed to be worn across the body.

Police believe the suspects ran from the car park about 30 metres across a road to a bus stop, where they flagged down a silver-coloured Citroen Picasso to escape.

PC Bartsch said: "The Riverside area was very busy on Saturday afternoon.

"There were lots of people around and we would ask anyone who spotted two men carrying handbags, or witnessed any suspicious activity around cars parked there, to contact police."

A man and a woman, both aged in their 30s, from the Sunderland area, have been arrested in connection with the incident and bailed pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to ring Durham Constabulary can be contacted via the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.