It's the scared witless project
Dec 12 2006 By Chloe Griffiths, The Journal
The mystery of an abandoned campsite in a remote North-East forest was finally solved yesterday - when the sheepish owners admitted they simply ditched their belongings - after getting scared.
A huge search of the densely-wooded Simonside Hills in Northumberland, was carried out after the deserted tent and camping equipment was discovered last Wednesday.
They feared the occupants had fallen foul of the weather or rugged terrain near Rothbury. A concentrated sweep of the area was carried out by 15 searchers and three tracker dogs, while an extra 40 volunteers remained on standby.
But their worst fears proved unfounded yesterday when the embarrassed owners came forward and confessed that they had simply fled the site.
The two men, one from North Tyneside and another from the Newcastle area, contacted police after seeing reports of the massive search operation.
They confessed that they had run away from their campsite after they were scared by a noise.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We have now been able to establish the camping gear belonged to two men who had become scared by a noise while they were camping.
"They drove off, abandoning the gear."
The mortified pair, one of whom was in his 30s, were too embarrassed to be named yesterday.
But they have now been reunited with their equipment, which was dismantled by the Forestry Commission last week and put it into storage.
The blue four-man shelter was discovered at least two miles from a road by a Forestry Commission worker.
It was stocked full of frozen food from Tesco.
There was also a camp bed, stove and kettle, as well as a barbecue - which was still warm.
