AN observant woman who helped police catch a getaway driver involved in a raid where valuable shotguns were stolen, was commended by a judge yesterday.

Judge Peter Armstrong rewarded the woman with £250 from public funds at Teesside Crown Court.

The judge heard the case of burglar Edward O'Neill on Monday but yesterday said he wished to reward quick-thinking Margaret Hughes.

The court heard how O'Neill had been involved with two others in the daylight raid on East Hall, a country manor house at Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire, in February last year.

Six shotguns worth £18,000 were taken in the raid and only one was recovered.

O'Neill, 26, of Hylsdon Drive Shildon, County Durham, admitted a charge of burglary and was jailed for four years.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, told the court that, before the burglary, Ms Hughes had spotted the three men in the village, and noted one was using a walkie-talkie.

The trio asked her for directions to East Hall and, suspicious, she took down the car registration number and called the police.

Thanks to her quick-thinking, officers were able to trace the car and its owner, O'Neill.

Judge Armstrong said Ms Hughes had acted above and beyond the call of civic duty, and should be rewarded.