A MAN with psychiatric problems rang police from a call box saying he was going to shoot himself on the instruction of his "angel".

Police officers, unaware if the hand gun John Patrick Hughes was carrying was real, found him parked near the phone box in Tow Law, County Durham.

Officers followed Hughes' VW Polo, eventually heading up the A68 and westwards on a trans-Pennine route.

Durham Crown Court heard that five police vehicles, including one carrying an armed response unit, followed Hughes, into Cumbria.

The pursuit ended after more than four hours when Hughes drove into a dead end on the outskirts of Carlisle.

An imitation pistol, capable of firing only ball-bearings, was recovered from the car.

Christopher Dorman O'Gowan, prosecuting, said when interviewed, Hughes told police the "angel" told him to buy the gun and a knife, before phoning police.

Ron Mitchell, mitigating, said Hughes had a history of psychiatric problems.

Hughes, formerly of Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, admitted affray and carrying an offensive weapon.

Judge Richard Lowden imposed an 18-month community rehabilitation order.

He ordered that Hughes, who had spent four-and-a-half-months in custody since the incident, receive regular psychiatric treatment at the Memorial Hospital, in Darlington.