FESTIVE goodwill was in short supply when Christmas Day callers paid a visit to a house in a County Durham village.

Durham Crown Court was told that Michael Edward Maxwell, Mark Thomas Gaskell, David Cummings and David Parker knocked at premises in Trimdon Station, on the evening of December 25, last year.

They demanded to see someone they believed was at the house, in Wood View, but were refused entry by a householder.

In response, he was punched in the face and dragged outside, where he was beaten by the gang including one wielding a metal bar.

The 28-year-old victim was also kicked and punched, suffering a broken jaw in two places.

A window at the house was put out in the disturbance.

The case was listed for trial yesterday but, following discussions between their legal representatives, various guilty pleas were made.

Cummings, 18, admitted causing grievous bodily harm, having denied the more serious charge of wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He also admitted resisting a female police officer in the execution of her duty.

Gaskell, 22, and 21-year-old Maxwell admitted causing an affray, while Parker, 17, admitted using threatening words and behaviour.

Sentence was adjourned after their barristers asked for reports to be prepared by the Probation Service.

Judge Richard Lowden agreed and bailed Maxwell, of Millbank Chapel Terrace, Station Town, Cummings, of Wood View, and Parker, of Station Road East, both Trimdon Station, to return for sentence on November 18.

Gaskell, of Wilkinson Road, Horden, was remanded in custody, also to be sentenced on the same day.