A MAN has been found guilty of making several hoax bomb phone calls which led to the centre of a North Yorkshire town being locked down by armed police.

Shamsul Islam was found guilty on three counts of communicating a bomb hoax, at York Crown Court.

The court was told Islam made made two 999 calls to police and one to the Crimestoppers line falsely claiming Islamic fundamentalists linked to the July 7 London bombings were using Paragon Pizza in Knaresborough High Street to build a bomb.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Islam, who also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, made the hoax calls in an act of revenge on the takeaway's staff.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on December 9.