POLICE in Darwen are to step up patrols in the town centre after a bus stop was wrecked by vandals.

Officers say a gang of youths, dressed in black, smashed a number of panels on the Cemetery Road bus shelter, at Darwen Circus, in the early hours of Monday.

Police officers have now appealed for witnesses to help them catch the culprits. Sergeant Mark Thackery-Scott, of Darwen police, said: "The offenders have been captured on CCTV and we will be making inquiries in the area. This used to be an area where we had a lot of problems and large numbers of youths congregating. We do still get some youths down there but not on the scale we used to get.

"In that way it has quietened off but from time to time we do get damage caused when large numbers congregate. The area is monitored by CCTV and we are aware of it and will be making more patrols in that area."

To help call Sgt Thackery-Scott on 01254 353844.