TWO teenagers who stashed weapons and live ammunition during an operation to combat IRA activity have been jailed.

Sean Robert Paul Naylor, of Morecambe, and Steven Coyle, of Heysham, were each sentenced to four months detention for concealing a cache of weapons and ammunition.

The 17-year-olds pleaded guilty at a hearing on December 16 to the offence which occurred between August 8 and 16 last year. Their convictions are the first under the Terrorism Act in a youth court in the UK.

Lancaster Youth Court heard how Naylor's father, Robert Naylor, 49, of Westminster Road, Morecambe, was charged under the Terrorism Act with possessing firearms and money for terrorist purposes.

He had been arrested along with Benjamin Wilson, 35, of Carlton Street, Morecambe, and James Patrick Moloney, 44, of Bradford.

Sally Walsh, prosecuting, said Sean Naylor, knowing his father had been arrested, went to his caravan on Regent Caravan Park to 'get rid' of the weapons and ammunition because he knew the police would look there.

She told the court on Tuesday he had no idea why his father had been arrested but knew the goods could land him in more trouble.

Mrs Walsh said Sean Naylor took two flare pistols, a gun stock, hundreds of rounds of live ammunition and three gun barrels to Coyle's home in two rucksacks.

They first hid them in a trailer, then in a bedroom cupboard.

Later, the pair cycled to Heysham Dock where they disposed of the goods in two separate 'hides' in wasteland, where they used to go riding on their bikes as kids.

A tip-off to Crimestoppers detailed the location of the hides - one buried and one stashed behind bushes - later found by police.

Alan Reece, mitigating for Sean Naylor, said the Lancaster and Morecambe College student was not 'criminally minded' but he had acted out of respect for his family.

"He has taken responsibility for his actions but he did it to protect his family.

"He has never been and never will be involved in terrorism.

"He has no family in Ireland and has never been there. He is not unintelligent but has no idea about Irish history," he said.

Mr Reece stressed the importance of the case and said: "The impact of this is massive even without any sentence. These boys will carry the tag of having committed Terrorism Act offences wherever they go."

Jonathan Jackson, for Coyle, said his client was of previous good character, shy and kind and did what he did as a 'spontaneous act' to help a friend.

"Terrorism in the charge makes the act sound serious but what they did was not," he adds.

Magistrates said a custodial sentence was the only option for the pair.

"We feel the right thing to do would have been to walk away and do nothing but you did not," said the chairman of the bench.

She said had the pair not pleaded guilty the sentence would have been longer.

Mrs Walsh outlined how Moloney arrived from Dublin by ferry and was instantly under police surveillance as part of an operation into dissident Republican activity in Limerick.

She said it is alleged that he went to Link Van Hire, in Morecambe, where he met Wilson. They were arrested after scores of officers raided the premises and unearthed firearms.

Robert Naylor, a father of seven, was later arrested with £4,000 in cash.

Magistrates banned the publication of the teenagers' addresses.

Robert Naylor, Wilson and Maloney are all in custody and due to appear before the Old Bailey on February 5.