HOPES of a breakthrough in the week-long hunt for Raoul Moat were raised when police yesterday revealed they had found a number of clues left by the fugitive.

Seven days after his rampage started with the shooting of Chris Brown and Samantha Stobbart, detectives revealed they had found three mobile phones used by Moat.

They also released pictures of his secluded woodland lair, where the 37-yearold former doorman hid from his pursuers, and revealed that another two people had been arrested on suspicion of assisting him.

The first handset was found in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, early on Saturday, where Mr Brown was shot dead and Miss Stobbart was wounded.

A second phone, used to make the two 999 calls to police before and after PC David Rathband was shot early on Sunday, was also recovered, although police would not say from where or when.

The third was discovered on Thursday by a member of the public who was walking on open land around Rothbury.

Police said it had not been used since the recovery of the two alleged hostages, Karl Ness and Bill for manhunt could be millions TAXPAYERS face a bill for millions of pounds over the manhunt.

Hundreds of police officers from 15 forces, many of them specialist marksmen and sniffer dog handlers, were involved.

Most of the cost will be borne by Northumbria Police, although the force should be able to recoup some of the money from the Home Office.

No figures are available yet, but the vast scale of the seven-day manhunt means the bill is likely to be significantly higher than the £3.2m spent on the 24-day search for Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, who had been hidden in a plot by her mother to make money.

It has been estimated that ten per cent of all the available armed police in the UK were involved in the search.

Fourteen forces assisted – Cleveland, Greater Manchester, the Metropolitan Police, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Humberside, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Merseyside.

The Met sent about 40 specialist firearms officers and the PSNI provided 20 armoured cars.

Under Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines on mutual aid, the forces will probably be able to claim their costs from Northumbria Police.

Qhuram Awan, on Tuesday.

The pair have since appeared in court, charged with conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a firearm with intent.

Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Adamson, who led the search, said the phones had given them valuable information and several leads.

Meanwhile, pictures were released of the camping equipment found at Moat’s woodland hideout on land at Wagtail Farm, on the outskirts of Rothbury.

Det Chief Supt Adamson, said: “We believe this camping equipment was left behind by Mr Moat and others just before the arrests of Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan.”

Police also confirmed a man and a woman were arrested on Thursday afternoon in Blyth, Northumberland, on suspicion of helping an offender. The pair were helping police with inquiries yesterday.

Meanwhile, two men arrested in the Rothbury area at teatime on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting an offender were released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Dozens of armed police yesterday searched Cragside House, a Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Rothbury, while a helicopter hovered overhead.

The National Trustowned Tudor-style property is set in a 400-hectare estate, including dense woodland and gardens.

Police were yesterday aided by an RAF Tornado with imaging equipment.

The electro-optical and infrared long-range photography equipment was capable of detecting and identifying small targets from long range and high altitudes by day or night.

The optical sensors gather high-resolution images in great detail and use infrared frequencies to reveal objects from their thermal signatures.

In Afghanistan, the equipment is routinely used on reconnaissance missions against the Taliban, including the detection of potential sites for deadly improvised explosive devices.

While the searches continued, armed police watched over children as they played in their schoolyard after concerned parents called for better protection.

Two officers armed with machine guns were posted outside Dr Tomlinson Middle School, in Rothbury.

The school lies only a few hundred metres from Wagtail Farm, where Moat was believed to have camped.

Ruth Hamilton, who arrived to collect her two daughters yesterday afternoon, said the armed officers meant her children realised something “very serious was going on”.

However, she said: “I think it is a lot better that they are here than not.

“I think the police are doing a wonderful job in difficult circumstances – there is a mixture of feelings but, on the whole, I think people really feel protected.”

Grandparent Bill Snowdon said: “The little one was a little bit nervous at first, but I think he’s got used to it now.”

Parent Stuart Brimble said: “I feel reassured by their presence – I think this is the right thing to do.”

Officers were stationed at all schools in Rothbury at the request of parents who attended a packed public meeting on Thursday night.

Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim visited Rothbury yesterday to talk to her officers and further reassure residents.

During the visit, her officers showed off goodwill cards and drawings received by local children.

They included get-well messages for PC David Rathband, 42, who was shot and injured on Sunday.

Neighbourhood Inspector Sue Peart said: “This is a really close-knit, resilient community. With your help, we will get them through this.”

She then read one of the cards, which said: “To everyone that is trying to get this nutter off the streets, we would like to say thank you very much for putting your lives in danger to save ours. We hope that you will catch him.”

Police later issued an apology after the message went out live on television news.

Bill for manhunt could be millions

TAXPAYERS face a bill for millions of pounds over the manhunt.

Hundreds of police officers from 15 forces, many of them specialist marksmen and sniffer dog handlers, were involved.

Most of the cost will be borne by Northumbria Police, although the force should be able to recoup some of the money from the Home Office.

No figures are available yet, but the vast scale of the seven-day manhunt means the bill is likely to be significantly higher than the £3.2m spent on the 24-day search for Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, who had been hidden in a plot by her mother to make money.

It has been estimated that ten per cent of all the available armed police in the UK were involved in the search.

Fourteen forces assisted – Cleveland, Greater Manchester, the Metropolitan Police, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Humberside, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Merseyside.

The Met sent about 40 specialist firearms officers and the PSNI provided 20 armoured cars.

Under Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines on mutual aid, the forces will probably be able to claim their costs from Northumbria Police.