The Journal

House Prices Pleas Rejected

A call for help with the North's booming property market, which is shutting young professionals out of new homes, was flatly rejected by the Government last night. House prices in the North have soared to more than four times the average salary - making it impossible for many first-time buyers to get on to the property ladder.

Slippery Bottom Rung On the Property Ladder

The research carried out by salary database PayFinder.com found that house prices are now more than four times average earnings for first-time buyers across the country. In the North the average house price is pounds 83,500 but the average salary is pounds 20,318.

Bikers Mourn Special Friend

A good Samaritan who opened his home to care for a paralysed sports star has been killed in a car crash. When Argentinian speedway rider Carlos Villar was left in a wheelchair after a horrific accident racing for the Berwick Bandits last year, kind-hearted supporter George Bebbington took him under his wing.

Blair Acts to Ease Migration Anxiety

Tony Blair is fighting to prevent the immigration row spiralling out of control amid new allegations of manipulation. Downing Street said he would launch a "cross-government assault" at a summit tomorrow to tackle abuses.

Hewitt Warns of Cabinet Fight Over Id Cards

Tony Blair has been warned that he faces a Cabinet battle if he tries to rush through plans for compulsory identity cards. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said there must be clear evidence that making ID cards mandatory would produce "additional benefits" if the scheme was to go ahead.

Beckham Denies Loos Relationship

England football captain David Beckham last night dismissed reports he had an affair with his personal assistant, insisting the claims were "ludicrous". A Sunday newspaper reported alleged intimate details of a relationship between him and 26-year-old Rebecca Loos.

Police Silent Over Theft

Police in Wales have refused to discuss reports that almost three tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which could be used to make bombs, is unaccounted for after being stolen from a farm. Gwent Police refused to confirm whether six 1,000lb sacks were reported stolen from a barn near Abergavenny, South Wales, on November 24 last year.

Bowmen Hit Mark with Castle Display

Bodkins and fletchings were flying at a Northumberland fortress yesterday as a company of archers brought the deadly art of the longbow back to life at the weekend. While Alnwick Castle has played host to such legends as Robin Hood - in the guise of Hollywood star Kevin Costner - yesterday was the turn of expert shooters from local club Linton Longbows to test how true their aim was.

Lethal Weapon

At its core, though, the longbow remains a formidable weapon. During the 100 Years War, most notably at Agincourt in 1415, the longbow became legendary when the 5,000 archers of Henry V's army destroyed a French army almost seven times larger .

Shooting: One Held

A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder and firearms offences following a shooting in Rye Hill, Newcastle on March 29. Joseph Montgomery has been remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on April 7.

Journal's Prize Ram Proves He's Seriously Good at His Job

Dreva, the star prize in The Journal's Win a Ram competition, has proved himself a major asset to his new owners. Winners Marion and David Hope won the Blue Faced Leicester in September and hoped he would help restock fields left bare by foot- and-mouth - and he's clearly given it his best shot.

A Hole Lot of Bother

An investigation has been launched at one of the region's top universities after "peep" holes were found drilled in student shower cubicles. Undergraduates at Durham University complained after discovering holes in nine unisex cubicles in a recently refurbished accommodation block.

Parents Get a Break in Holiday Dilemma

Parents are being encouraged to keep children in school during term-time by a pioneering scheme offering discounts on getaways during the official holidays. Sunderland-based Hays Travel has teamed up the city's local education authority to offer 10pc discounts and an average savings of around pounds 180 on trips during school holidays.

Mum Held in Custody

A mother has appeared before magistrates charged with kidnapping her daughters from their foster mother. Shanaz Hafeez, of Egerton Street, Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody by Teesside Magistrates Court to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday.

More Parents Succumb to Bargains

Schools currently have the discretion to authorise absence for up to 10 school days a year and tend to agree leave for children whose parents can't get any other time off. Most teachers try to discourage holidays during term-time, but often have no choice but to approve the holidays as large amounts of unauthorised absence would be criticised in annual league tables.

Why Immigration Will Be Good for Us

As Labour and the Conservatives battle to show themselves as the toughest on immigration, research by one North-East academic today reveals that an influx of skilled workers could actually benefit the British economy. Graeme Whitfield reports. Even before it claimed the scalp of Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes last week, immigration was a thorny issue for politicians.

Screen Break

Almost 900 young people will get the opportunity to make digital short films about subjects as diverse as Cornish pasty warfare and a medieval witch thanks to Lottery funding of over pounds 280,000 through the UK Film Council's First Light scheme. The money has been awarded to projects in areas including Newcastle, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Belfast and Sheffield.

Black Cats Faithful Share the Despair

Nails were bitten to the quick... there was hope but finally there was only despair as Sunderland's FA Cup dream ended yesterday. Perhaps the only silver lining for Wearside was for the publicans - at least those with satellite TV - who did a roaring trade.

Man, 39, Dead in Stream

A man found dead in shallow water on the outskirts of Durham at the weekend has been identified as Edwin Cotton. Mr Cotton, 39, was found in Stockley Beck in Brancepeth village on Saturday morning, four days after he had left his home, telling his parents he was going for a walk.

Poems

The Journal is running a series of poems about the countryside to help raise money to support rural communities affected by foot-and- mouth. All the poems are taken from the anthology The Listening Earth: Poems from the Countryside 1400-2000.