YOUNG vandals who ignored police warnings and committed a series of crimes during the half-term holiday have been warned: "We will catch you."

Teenagers have been blamed for a series of incidents throughout the town despite a police appeal for them to behave.

But today police said the initiative had led to a number of culprits being caught and said the others would be tracked down if they continued.

Eight offences of damage over the weekend and other incidents at the start of the half-term break are all being linked to youngsters.

Det Sgt Neil Hunter of Darwen CID said: "I think these offences are caused by youths because there has been no attempt to steal property. In some cases items have been clearly on show and they have not been taken."

Four cars, a number of doorbells, a fence and the windows of a school were damaged over the weekend. Vandals damaged St Peter's Primary School, and a bus was stopped and searched by police after reports of a youth carrying a gun.

A fence on Hazel Avenue was also damaged, causing £30 worth of damage and a window was smashed at Lower Darwen Primary School.

Police said an initiative held just before the half term break aimed at 11 to 16-year-olds had been quite successful.

Officers visited every primary and secondary school in the town and warned pupils about their social responsibilities.

Det Sgt Hunter said: "In all we have managed to solve 33 offences as a direct result of information received from this initiative.

"This is pleasing but we know the problem still goes on."

No figures have yet been collected for the total number of youth nuisance reports so a comparison cannot be made between this year and last year.