THESE are some of the weapons officers unearthed in a house on a North-East council estate.

The guns were among a haul of ammunition, explosives, chemicals and weapon parts found in the house in Kexwith Moor Close, Darlington.

Yesterday, John Lambert, 54, and 66-year-old Raymond Fothergill, who lived at the house, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, charged with a string of firearms offences.

Mr Lambert was charged with manufacturing two Sten sub-machine guns, designed or adapted so that two or more bullets could be discharged without repeatedly pressing the trigger.

He was also accused of manufacturing a shotgun and possession of two Enfield rifles, together with powder, percussion caps and musket balls, and possession of a quantity of ammunition.

Mr Fothergill faced three counts of possessing firearms and one of possessing ammunition.

No pleas were entered and Sedgefield magistrates declined jurisdiction over the case.

No application for bail was made and the pair were remanded in custody to reappear before the court on October 3, with a provisional committal date of November 7.

While the men were appearing in court, specialist officers from Darlington police continued their finger-tip search of the house.

The house is being dismantled, with floorboards being lifted and the attic searched, by the officers before it is returned to Darlington Borough Council.

A police spokesman said: "When the house is returned to the local authority, we have to be sure it is completely safe so everything slightly suspicious is being moved out and examined by specialists."

A huge cache of weapon parts has already been recovered and three controlled explosions have been carried out on substances and a live detonator found in the house.