A teenager has been charged with criminal damage after a series of new-build homes were left with gaping holes as they were ploughed into by a JCB digger.

Durham Police confirmed a 16-year-old had been apprehended while the force tracked down a ‘stolen’ dump truck in Darlington on Friday.

A statement from the force said the boy ‘was arrested and later charged with criminal damage, driving without a licence, no insurance and two counts of aggravated vehicle taking’.

The suspect has now been taken into custody and will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today.

It comes after newly constructed council housing in the town was left looking like a demolition site after it was driven into on Sunday evening, leaving seven properties seriously damaged.

Officers were called to the estate on Hurworth Moor, just of Neasham Road, at 8.50pm on Sunday (April 27) ‘following reports that a male was driving a JCB into unoccupied houses’.

Durham Police added: ‘On arrival at the scene, officers found seven houses had been damaged, along with the JCB.

‘An investigation was launched and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.’

Newly constructed council housing in the town was left looking like a demolition site after it was driven into on Sunday evening, leaving seven properties seriously damaged

Footage which circulated online showed the damage left behind, with bricks collapsing after being rammed into with a digger

Officers were called to the estate on Hurworth Moor, just of Neasham Road, at 8.50pm on Sunday (April 27)

Behind the houses, which are still closed off for construction, are rows of houses on the estate which are already occupied with families

Darlington Borough Council said they could not comment on the details of the incident as it is the subject of a police investigation.

However, Cllr Matthew Roche, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and housing, said: ‘The Neasham Road site is part of our ambitious programme to build hundreds of much-needed social homes and it’s disappointing, to say the least, that this has happened.

‘The council is working closely with Police as they investigate. We would urge anyone with any information to pass it on to the Police.’

It comes as the finished project will consist of 150 homes, some of which are already completed and inhabited by families, while others are nearing completion. However, the recent incident, which has prompted a police investigation, could disrupt this timeline.