TWO men who broke into a roadside cafe for a midnight snack sparked a six hour police siege - because they fancied a slice of quiche, a court heard.

Barry Kirsopp, 21, and Dean Thompson, 20, held officers at bay until dawn when their late-night feast at Scremerston, near Berwick, Northumberland, was disturbed.

The peckish pair triggered a major stand-off with police - involving 15 patrol cars and 30 officers - who surrounded Cafe@Marshalls when they refused to leave quietly and Kirsopp threatened officers with knives and a broomstick.

Police officers and negotiators, who were waiting outside with tasers, spent six hours attempting to talk them out.

They were jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after each pleaded guilty to two offences of burglary and affray.

Ian O'Rourke, defending, said the only explanation they offered for the break-in when they finally surrendered was they "fancied a piece of quiche."

He said: "That remark was picked up by the media and this case attracted a lot of publicity. They have had the mickey taken out of them.

"Of course the offence was aggravated by the fact that both of them took drink and drugs on that night."

Kirsopp, of no fixed abode, was in breach of a suspended sentence for a previous offence of burglary.

Recorder Paul Camp told Kirsopp: "You made a spear out of a broomstick and held out from 12.30am to 6.30am in the morning.

"I think the picture that emerges is someone who without drink is a hard working, reasonable man.

"The combination of drink and drugs turns you into a very different person."

Recorder Camp told Thompson: "Although you did not arm yourself, you are jointly responsible."

Recorder Camp sentenced Kirsopp to 26 weeks in prison followed by a further 40 weeks for breaching his suspended sentence.

Thompson, of Adams Drive, Spittal, Berwick-upon-Tweed, was sentenced to 22 months in prison.