A MAN will appear in court today charged with the murder of a father who died just yards from a police station.

John Barry Durham, of Major Street, Darlington, was charged last night following two days of questioning by police.

The 33-year-old, a store worker at the Hereema shipyard in Hartlepool, will appear before Sedgefield magistrates this morning.

John Robertson, the married father of a 12-year-old girl, was discovered bleeding to death in the middle of West Auckland Road, Darlington, on Saturday at 7am by a passer-by. He had been stabbed in the neck.

Last night, police said they believed they had found the murder weapon just off the A1M near Sedgefield. It has been sent for forensic tests.

Mr Robertson, described yesterday as "a gentleman", set off from his Brinkburn Road home at 6.40am to walk his bull terrier dog.

Police said he was dropping off a video at the Blockbuster Video shop when the attack happened.

A passer-by alerted a police officer who was making her way back to the station. She attempted to resuscitate Mr Robertson before the ambulance arrived.

Friends and relatives have left flowers on the roadside where Mr Robertson lost his life, just yards from Cockerton police station.

Police officers said at the weekend that one line of inquiry they were pursuing was tensions between two rival gangs, one believed to be a small group of the travelling community, and the other a gang of townspeople, known as "townies".

Another incident in August, in which police were involved in a four-hour stand-off outside a property following reports of gunshots, is also being investigated as a possible link to the alleged murder.

Shortly after the armed siege, Darlington was awash with rumours that rival gangs were planning a confrontation in the town on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Mr Robertson's family were too upset to talk about the incident last night.

However, a member of Darlington's travelling community, who did not want to be named, said yesterday: "This was nothing to do with the travelling community. The only connection John Robertson had with travellers was that he was best friends with one.

"He was a respectable person and he was very well respected in the travelling community. The death of this man is a tragedy because he was a gentleman."

Mr Robertson is believed to have been a doorman at a town centre pub.

Police called for calm at the weekend, saying feelings would be running high after the alleged murder.

Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, of Darlington police, said people should not be afraid to go about their normal business.

He said: "Darlington is a safe place to live. We have 20 hours crime-free in the town centre every day.

"I admit there has been a slight rise in violent crime in the area.

"However, I am satisfied that we have the policing in place to ensure that safety in Darlington is as it should be."

Police have set up an incident room with 40 officers and are still appealing for more witnesses to come forward following the incident.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111.