TWO military fanatics were jailed last night after turning their home into a bomb factory packed with an arsenal of weapons and explosives.

John Lambert, 55, a former member of the Coldstream Guards, collected weapons and explosives as part of his weird fixation, Teesside Crown Court was told.

He lived a quiet life at Kexwith Moor Close, on the Firthmoor Estate, Darlington, with Raymond Fothergill, 67, where their neighbours were completely unaware of the cache of weapons and explosives inside.

The court heard that although some of the 151 items found in the house last September were de-activated, many were in working order.

The hoard included Sten sub-machine guns, Enfield rifles, grenades, pistols, CS spray, detonators, ammunition and explosives.

Judge Michael Taylor told the court: "It is not right to deal with this case as a couple of eccentrics with a hobby.

"This case cannot be overlooked, because the house you occupied was searched, starting on September 24 last year, and was found to be a veritable arsenal and manufacturing plant for weapons and ammunition - it was an explosives factory."

He added that the explosives found inside were capable of maiming and killing and posed a considerable danger to other people living on the estate.

Police raided the house after receiving information from an investigation by Derbyshire Police.

Judge Taylor sentenced Lambert to six years in prison, due to his expertise in putting together the weapons and the fact he knew the danger they posed.

In sentencing Fothergill to two years, Judge Taylor acknowledged his poor health, the fact he had played a lesser part in the weapons haul and posed no specific danger to the public.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Macdonald, of Darlington police, said Fothergill and Lambert never intended to supply weapons.