A MAN who lost three members of his family in a shooting on New Year’s Day is taking part in the Great North Run to promote a campaign for tougher gun control laws.

Bob Hardman’s sisters, Alison Turnbull, 44, and Susan McGoldrick, 47, were shot dead by 42-year-old Michael Atherton in Horden, near Peterlee , on January 1 after a night out.

Atherton, Ms Mc- Goldrick’s partner, also killed Mr Hardman’s niece Tanya Turnbull, 24, before shooting himself.

Mr Hardman said he wanted to take part in the run to “put some good back” into his life.

He said the online petition had about 10,000 signatures but needed ten times more to attract the attention of the Government.

The petition calls for different police forces to work together more closely when granting firearms licences.

It also says there should be closer co-operation between the police and health authorities to prevent people with a history of mental illness accessing guns.

After the shootings it emerged that Atherton had his weapons removed by Durham Police after concerns were raised over alleged threats he had made to harm himself on September 10, 2008.

Atherton, who was described as “agitated” at the time, was arrested for a breach of the peace.

The weapons were removed from his house as a precaution, but he applied to get them back and they were returned to him on November 18, 2008.

Durham Police has said the decision to return the weapons followed national procedure.

Mr Hardman said: “I would hate to think we didn’t do anything and this happened again.

“It’s just like there’s a big chunk of your life missing. You’re helpless.

There’s nothing you can do. It’s just awful.

“You just try to put some good back in life so that’s why I do things like the Great North Run.”

Mr Hardman, from Blackhall, said he was also running the half-marathon to raise money for Hartlepool Hospice, hoping to raise about £10,000.

A TV presenter is doing the Great
North Run in aid of a Teesdale
animal sanctuary.
Philippa Tomson is a
patron of the Ark on the Edge
sanctuary, near Woodland.
 

Ms Tomson, former news
presenter at ITV Tyne Tees and
Borders, now a presenter on Sky
News, will also be raising funds
for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.
 

Pat Kingsnorth, manager of the
charity said: “I was chuffed to bits
when Pip agreed to run for Ark on
the Edge.

"We really could not
believe it when she agreed to be
our patron, and we are absolutely
delighted that yet again she is
taking time out of her busy
schedule to help us.
“Times have been hard over the
past year or so and we really need
as much help as we can get.

"We
feel very honoured to have Pip as
our patron.”
Sponsors can go to virginmoney
giving.com/team/piptomson