FIVE police officers seemed "concerned" for the welfare of Christopher Alder when paramedics were called to the police station to try to revive him, a court heard.

Teeside Crown Court was told ambulance officers were called to the station after Mr Alder, whose sister Janet lives in Manchester Road, Burnley, collapsed and stopped breathing while in police custody.

The paramedics struggled for more than 30 minutes to revive Mr Alder and throughout their efforts the police officers behaved "perfectly properly", the jury were told.

Christopher Alder was taken into police custody on April 1, 1998, following a fracas which left him dazed, confused and aggressive.

Five Humberside Police officers - Constables Nigel Thomas Dawson, 39, Neil Blakey, 42, Mark Ellerington, 36, and Matthew Barr, 38, and custody Sergeant John Dunn, 40 - deny the manslaughter of Mr Alder.

They all also deny a charge of misconduct in a public office. Earlier Teeside Crown Court heard medics were unable to treat Mr Alder, who was taken to hospital following a fight in Hull city centre, because he was aggressive and uncooperative, a court heard.

Staff said they had feared for their own safety after Mr Alder started spitting blood and throwing hospital equipment across the room.

Mr Alder was later arrested for a breach of the peace but fell unconscious and died in a police cell -- allegedly watched by the five police officers.

Mr James Curtis QC, prosecuting said that after he was arrested the officers owed Mr Alder a duty of care to "protect his health and his welfare".

He added: "That duty varied from defendant to defendant, according to the role and function of each police officer undertaking each task.

"Each officer was in breach of that duty."

(Proceeding)