The Journal

Taxpayers' Pounds 305m Bill for Delays by Defra

Over pounds 300m in taxpayers cash is being "set aside" by the Government ( to pay a fine it faces for its failure to hand out subsidies to farmers on time. The pounds 305m ( enough to wipe out the North-East's National Health Service deficit six times over ( could simply disappear into the European Union coffers.

Jacko Turns to Islam

Bbc Strike Called Off

Feud Delays Funeral

Prisoner Found Dead

Look-Young Oaps

Custody Battle Delayed

Pensioner Stabbed

Ostrich Terrorises Town

Letter Bombs Charges

Jan's Restorations

Moments in history captured on cameras more than a century ago have been brought back to life by a man with a passion for art. Jan Radwanski, of Ponteland, North-umberand, is to display 15 beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian-era pictures of Newcastle at the Art Works Galleries in the city next month.

Photos Mission Is Almost an Addiction

Father-of-two Jan Radwanski is a man with a mission. He said: "I use a professional scanner to copy the detail in the pictures then I use a complicated digital editing package to begin restoring them.

Road Bosses Urged to Explain 'Blocks'

Road bosses will face demands next month to meet councillors to explain their blocks on business and housing projects in the North- East. Newcastle City Council's Liberal Democrat leader John Shipley announced he plans to ask the Highways Agency to appear before scrutiny committees at the civic centre.

Youngsters' Subway Mural Inspired by Olympics

A group of youngsters have come up with a bright idea to transform a subway in their village. Young people from the County Durham Youth Engagement Service have created a colourful mural using graffiti art on the underpass, in Pelton, near Chester-le-Street.

Garden Hopping Children at the Root of Village Mystery

Police are confident they have got to the root of a mystery which was worrying village gardeners. Now officers have warned the culprits they intend to nip their "garden hopping" activities in the bud.

Stab Man in Hospital

A man is being treated in hospital after being stabbed yesterday. The 42-year-old victim was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital following the attack on Bethford Gardens in Sunderland, in the early hours. A 35-year-old man was later arrested and was being questioned yesterday.

Miliband Under Pressure

Environment Secretary David Miliband has come under pressure from MPs over his department's performance. Financial mismanagement has been blamed for a pounds 200m deficit in the annual Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs budget in a new report by the select committee that examines its work.

Pounds 305m 'Bill' for Defra's Delays

Taxpayers could face a pounds 305m fine from Brussels because of the Government's failure to hand out subsidies to farmers on time. The huge sum is being set aside to cover any eventual penalty caused by delays in giving out European Union (EU) farm payments by June last year..

There Could Be Further Cuts

North-East MPs last night warned any fine over the Government's blunders over farm subsidies could lead to funding cuts in key areas. Hexham MP Peter Atkinson said that a "chill wind" could hit organisations dependent on funding from Defra ( which is responsible for paying European farm payments.

Wedding Dance Hit

A couple who swapped the traditional first wedding dance for the Dirty Dancing routine are a surprise hit on the internet. Julia Boggio, 32, persuaded fianc James Derbyshire, 33, to spend six months taking secret lessons to perfect their big day dance. Now the video of their routine has become a huge success on the video sharing site YouTube. The couple posted the dance, performed in the 1987 movie by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, online for relatives in the US. But it has had over 108,00...