TWO men went on a £5m wrecking spree, setting fire to lorry depots and leaving the vehicles as burnt-out wrecks, a court was told yesterday.

Thomas Mackell, 55, is accused of targeting vehicles at eight companies, including one where a driver was asleep in his cab. His nephew, John Loxley, 33, is accused of setting fire to one.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the men, both from St John's Court, Newcastle, caused £4m to £5m of damage between 1999 and 2002.

At two Newcastle City Council depots, £1.5m of stock and lorries were destroyed.

The jury was told Mr Mackell would visit the depots, which included sites in Sunderland, Birtley, Heaton, Dudley, Camperdown and Jarrow, during the day and remove bolts from security gates in many cases.

The court was told that he would then return in the early hours and sneak in, smash lorry windows, spray petrol from a bottle and then set fire to them with matches.

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said DNA tests on matches that had failed to ignite were "full profiles" of Mr Mackell -meaning there was a one in a billion chance it did not belong to him.

Mr Loxley denies one count of arson.

Mr Mackell denies seven counts of arson and one of attempted arson.

The trial continues.