Two men have appeared in court charged with assaulting a Darlington man as he slept.

Ian David Hudson, 30, of Minors Crescent, and Michael Atkinson, 19, of Brinkburn Road, both Darlington, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court jointly charged with aggravated burglary.

They are alleged to have attacked Kevin Puttuck, 42, at his house in Greenbank Road during the early hours of Thursday morning.

Mr Puttuck was sleeping beside his girlfriend when the attack took place and was left with severe head injuries Yesterday, he was said to be in a critical condition at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Magistrates committed the case to Teesside Crown Court at 10am on Monday, October 17.

No application was made for bail and both men were remanded in custody.