A MAN is hoping to turn his passion for military vehicles into a corporate leisure business.

Bill Bates has applied for planning permission to convert eight acres of land at his home, Handley Cross, near Yarm, into an off-road driving and shooting centre.

Mr Bates has collected ten army surplus and prototype vehicles over the last seven years and hit on the idea of creating a centre for corporate team building events.

His collection includes armoured personnel carriers, a missile launcher, a tank and a bulldozer. All are de-activated or replicas and are not capable of firing ammunition.

He said: "I'm always being asked to provide vehicles for shows and charitable events, which I do, and it seemed a good idea to try to make a business out of it. There is a lot of interest in corporate team building and there is nothing like this in the area."

Mr Bates' other hobby is shooting, and he plans to incorporate this into the business.

He is a registered instructor for all kinds of firearms and plans to offer training in rifle shooting and clay pigeon shooting.

Should permission be granted by Stockton Borough Council, Mr Bates expects to create six full-time and six part-time jobs.

Yarm Town Council has expressed some concerns about the proposals.

Chairman Philip Addison told the D&S Times: "We are worried about the extra traffic it could generate. Handley Cross is at the top of Leven Bank and is on a bend, so it could cause problems.

"There is also the noise to consider and we are concerned that Mr Bates says he intends to operate the business 365 days a year."

'Banana' phone stolen in house raid

POLICE are seeking information about a high-value burglary in Stokesley at the weekend.

The theft of expensive audio equipment and a phone took place between 4pm and 4.30 on Sunday at a house in Springfield.

They stole electrical items, including a Bang and Olufsen television and a Bang and Olufsen cordless, banana-shaped phone in gold and yellow, worth hundreds of pounds. In all, the haul was worth about £5,000. The thieves are thought to have reversed a large white van on to the driveway.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01609 783131.

Goodbye Teesside

TEESSIDE Airport is going to start the summer under the new name of Durham and Tees Valley. John Waiting, business services manager, said: "A date has still to be decided for the changeover, but it will certainly be by the end of this month."