Petty thief Alan Morris got the shock of his life when he went to collect his swag - and was confronted by a team of armed police officers guarding the Royal Train.

For the unsuspecting criminal dumped his booty only yards from the carriages being used by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during their Golden Jubilee tour of the North-East.

The Royal Train - guarded by crack police marksmen - halted in Darlington on Tuesday evening.

So when an object was dropped over a wall near to the train, officers - fearing it might be a bomb - approached with caution.

When it turned out to be nothing more than a CCTV camera stolen from a nearby B&Q store in North Road, officers reported the find and went about their business.

But an hour later, they spotted a figure emerge from a nearby hedge, and watched as the man groped around in the grass for the stolen camera.

After a few minutes of fruitless searching the thief gave up - but turned to find the officers aiming their weapons at him. Morris was duly arrested and taken to Darlington Police station.

A spokesman for Durham Police said last night: "His reaction when he was confronted by a team of armed police officers is probably not suitable for print, but he was shocked to say the least.

"He was still a bit confused by the whole affair when he got to the police station, and told officers, 'This is a bit over the top for bloody thieving, isn't it?'

"I don't think he was aware that they were guarding the Royal Train, and he had to be told by officers."

Morris, 35, of Tweed Place, Darlington, admitted theft when he appeared before Sedgefield magistrates. He is due to be sentenced on May 28.