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

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

The court was told Mr Morton, who works at Hancock Museum, in Newcastle, was watching television with his wife, Lynn, when he discovered three thieves prowling their house in Burnopfield, County Durham.

The men grabbed property, including a camera and a gold watch before running off.

But Mr Morton pursued the raiders into a dark churchyard near his home - even though he was pelted with stones at one point.

Then there was a struggle and he armed himself with a fallen branch and struck Clegg, knocking him to the ground.

Cocaine addict Clegg, 47, of Kinross Drive, Newcastle, was arrested five days after the break-in.

He was jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting the burglary, together with two other house raids and a handling charge.