Police in north east England say they will continue to sift through evidence in the hunt for the perpetrators of unsolved sex crimes.

Northumbria Police are investigating unsolved rapes and sexual assaults that were committed as far back as the mid-1980s.

Operation Phoenix is using DNA profiles which were not available at the time of the offences.

The project was due to run for six months but it was announced on Tuesday the project has been extended until early next year.

This operation is a painstaking process

Detective Inspector Peter Farrell

Since the operation started in February, a specialist team of detectives has been sifting through hundreds of items recovered from the crimes.

They have already matched the DNA evidence from crimes with 11 men known to the police.

Detective Inspector Peter Farrell said: "These hits show the success of Operation Phoenix and give us the opportunity to carry out further inquiries into offences from several years ago.

"But this does not necessarily mean that investigations will be re-opened.

"We gave a commitment at the outset that, as far as possible, we would respect victims' wishes before a decision is made on whether or not an offence will be re-investigated.

"We're now going through this process with a number of victims, using specially-trained officers who are offering advice, counselling and guidance.

"We are also liaising closely with the Crown Prosecution Service."