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Shotgun found near terrorist jail
Three boys have found a gun hidden near a jail housing some of the UK's most dangerous terrorist inmates.
They discovered the sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in undergrowth about 300m (1,000ft) from Durham's Frankland Prison, near the remand centre.
Police said there was no evidence the weapon was linked to the prison, but investigators are keeping an open mind.
Forensic tests will now be carried out to establish whether the gun has been used in a crime, said the Durham force.
The discovery was made in woodland between Finchale Avenue and Beech Close on Thursday afternoon, when the boys were building a tree house.
The shotgun, together with ammunition and two balaclavas, was in a bloodstained holdall.
Treena Stewart, one of the youngsters' mothers, said: "They were playing in the woods, making a den. They found a bag, had a look inside and to their surprise there was a shotgun.
"They came running in to tell me and obviously I thought they were exaggerating, but when I looked inside there it was, with balaclavas and ammunition.
"We're very proud of the boys because obviously a gun is very exciting to them, but they had the sense not to touch it.
"It's the first time anything like this has ever happened and I hope it's the last time."
Armed police sealed off the scene and a detailed search was carried out by officers with police dogs, though nothing further was found.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said the investigation was a matter for police as the weapon was found outside the jail grounds.
Several hundred residents live in the village of Brasside, close to the high-security facility.
Among the prison's inmates are terrorists Hussain Osman and Dhiren Barot, both serving life sentences for Al-Qaida plots to attack UK targets, including London's transport network.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/6950798.stm
Three boys have found a gun hidden near a jail housing some of the UK's most dangerous terrorist inmates.
They discovered the sawn-off shotgun and cartridges in undergrowth about 300m (1,000ft) from Durham's Frankland Prison, near the remand centre.
Police said there was no evidence the weapon was linked to the prison, but investigators are keeping an open mind.
Forensic tests will now be carried out to establish whether the gun has been used in a crime, said the Durham force.
The discovery was made in woodland between Finchale Avenue and Beech Close on Thursday afternoon, when the boys were building a tree house.
The shotgun, together with ammunition and two balaclavas, was in a bloodstained holdall.
Treena Stewart, one of the youngsters' mothers, said: "They were playing in the woods, making a den. They found a bag, had a look inside and to their surprise there was a shotgun.
"They came running in to tell me and obviously I thought they were exaggerating, but when I looked inside there it was, with balaclavas and ammunition.
"We're very proud of the boys because obviously a gun is very exciting to them, but they had the sense not to touch it.
"It's the first time anything like this has ever happened and I hope it's the last time."
Armed police sealed off the scene and a detailed search was carried out by officers with police dogs, though nothing further was found.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said the investigation was a matter for police as the weapon was found outside the jail grounds.
Several hundred residents live in the village of Brasside, close to the high-security facility.
Among the prison's inmates are terrorists Hussain Osman and Dhiren Barot, both serving life sentences for Al-Qaida plots to attack UK targets, including London's transport network.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/6950798.stm
