Police chiefs face the threat of legal action after delays in making a £4,000 payout to a man sprayed with CS gas.

David Steele was awarded the compensation, plus damages, from Northumbria Police in a court case against the force four months ago. But delays prompted the father-of-three to issue legal proceedings against police officials in a bid to recover the cash.

Mr Steele said: "I'm really disgusted over it. We were going to use that money for a family holiday."

The jobless 33-year-old said his vision had been impaired and he has been left with permanent migraines following the incident, at Claxheugh Rocks, on the banks of the River Wear, in South Hylton, near Sunderland, on July 4, 1999.

Mr Steele, of Forest Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, had visited the beauty spot with his wife Jann, two friends and children Carly, now 18, Lauren, 12, and Kyle, nine.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how police, who saw him packing up a trails bike, which he had taken on the trip, approached and started questioning him.

After Mr Steele used foul language towards an officer, he was sprayed in the face with the gas and arrested.

The three police officers involved claimed Mr Steele was about to headbutt one of them when he was sprayed, but a jury found that the police were wrong to use CS gas.

Northumbria Police said the payout had been delayed because force solicitors had not received details of the case's costs.

The family's solicitor, Richard Hardy, said: "They have received an offer of costs, but we have had no bid from the police. It has been four months since the judgement and I have written twice asking for the cheque. I have now been instructed to take enforcement proceedings."