A TAXIDERMIST who knocked the stuffing out of a gang of burglars has been hailed a hero by a judge.

Eric Morton's courage in trying to stop the men, even though he was outnumbered, was praised by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court, who awarded him £500 from public funds.

The court was told that Mr Morton armed himself with a heavy branch and clubbed one of the men, Terence Clegg, over the head in self-defence.

But Mr Morton said: "I might have been a hero if I had stopped the men, but they turned on me and got away."

The court heard that after the force of the blow knocked Clegg to the ground, an accomplice struck Mr Morton, enabling all three to escape to a waiting car.

Mr Morton, who works at the Hancock Museum, Newcastle, was watching television with his wife, Lynn, when he discovered three thieves prowling their home in Burnopfield.

The men grabbed belongings, including a camera and a gold watch before running off. But Mr Morton pursued the raiders into a churchyard near his home - even though he was pelted with stones.

There was a struggle and it was then he armed himself with a fallen branch and fought back.

Cocaine addict Clegg, 47, of Kinross Drive, Newcastle, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting the burglary, together with two other house raids and a handling charge.