DETECTIVES hunting the hoax caller who sparked the mass evacuation of a North-East football stadium last night issued a description of a man they want to question.

The friendly match between Darlington and Middlesbrough, at the Quakers' Williamson Motors Stadium on Saturday, was abandoned at half-time because of the security alert.

Police received a call from a man suggesting there was a bomb inside the stadium during the testimonial match for long-serving former Darlington defender Craig Liddle.

Thousands of supporters, as well as players and officials, left the stadium, causing traffic chaos on the A66. A search of the arena failed to find a device.

Last night, police said they had completed a detailed examination of the area surrounding a phone box in McMullen Road, Darlington, where the call, made at 3.37pm, was traced.

They revealed that they want to talk to a man in his 30s, who was in the area at the time. He is about 5ft 5in, fat, and was naked from the waist up, with a blue Fred Perry top tied around his midriff.

Police also called for anyone who used the phone box after 3pm to come forward.

Acting Detective Sergeant Bridie Kinnane said: "Additionally, there were people driving through the area and others on foot.

"We would like to hear from anyone who can offer descriptions of anyone in the vicinity of the telephone box at the relevant times."

Darlington Football Club chairman Stewart Davies branded the hoax "a wicked and dangerous crime" and announced that the club was now introducing a random bag search policy for supporters.

"We will do so in a way that causes as little disruption as possible and will act with discretion and politeness to those whose bags end up being searched," he said.

Meanwhile, the Quakers have announced that tonight's pre-season friendly against Bradford City, at 7.30pm at the Williamson Motors Stadium, will have free admission.

Mr Davies said: "At the end of the game, we will have a voluntary collection for the Mayor of London's Bombing Relief charitable fund, for the victims of the July 7 attacks."

The club has received several letters praising its actions, and those of the emergency services, on Saturday.

Quakers boss David Hodgson said Liddle had not lost out financially as a result of the bomb scare, as all revenue had been collected before the incident.