Section 59 warning signs have been erected selected areas to notify potential offenders of the new powers and combat the antisocial behaviour which is often linked to them.

A POLICE operation to crackdown on rural crime such as poaching and trespassing will see police use new tools against crooks.

Investigations are currently taking place to establish how the fire was started and who caused it. However, the regional fire service is treating the incident as suspicious.

The incident happened on the A1(M) just before 7am on Wednesday (April 6).

Two fire crews were dispatched to the scene at Wingate, east Durham, where they used a sling to prevent him becoming more submerged, before pulling him out using straps and an animal harness.

Last night (March 30), police officers in Crook were alerted to an incident that saw extensive damage to a bus stop that included smashed windows and debris strewn across the scene.

It happened on Thursday, March 24 on the A689 on the way to Eastgate at around 1.15pm.

Officers pursued the suspicious vehicle which failed to stop in Wolsingham Market Place as the driver sped through Frosterley at 65mph at around 9pm.

Officers are advising people to keep their tanks out of sight and install security measures such as CCTV, padlocks and lighting to deter opportunistic thieves who have been targeting stores of heating oil.

Officers from the Cleveland & Durham Specialist Operations Motorcycle Unit spotted the occupants of a transit van acting suspiciously in Wheatley Hill.

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for rural communities, highways and community safety, said: “We are committed to working with our partners and residents to make sure our communities feel safe and supported.

Officer from the Crook policing unit have taken to social media to share pictures of a motorcyclist that was seen riding dangerously around Glenholme Park.

It follows the latest example of an apparent deliberate torching of a bin, in a more rural location than usual, near the Durham/Northumberland county boundary.

The patrols in Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street came as a Dispersal Order was put in place by the Chester-le-Street Police neighbourhood inspector on Thursday night.

The outline plan for up to 46 houses was proposed for land west of Briardene, Cadger Bank, Lanchester, near the Roman fort and settlement Longovicium.