Police communications staff were put under extreme pressure

The hot weather combined with football fever to make the weekend one of the busiest on record for Durham Police.

Custody cells were full to capacity and force chiefs had to request help from Cleveland Police, although the extra officers were not used.

Offences included public disorder, criminal damage and domestic incidents.

The request for extra officers from the Cleveland force was made after reports of a potentially large disturbance in Darlington town centre, but Durham Police dealt with the incident without needing assistance.

Supt Barry Knevitt said: "The sheer volume of calls placed huge strain on police resources well into the early hours of Sunday morning.

"All the staff in our two communications centres and the officers at the sharp end worked extremely hard throughout the weekend under extreme pressure.