The Journal

North sets an electric pace in race for new jobs

PLANS to install hundreds of electric car charging points across the North East won massive backing yesterday when supermarkets and shopping centres were named as locations for 'fill-up' stations. Collaborations with Tesco, British Gas, Capital Shopping Centres, CE Electric UK and the AA were announced as the move towards mass production of electric cars in the region gathered pace.

HEY, AREN'T WE COOL?

HEY, AREN'T WE COOL? BLOWING HOT AND COLD The forecasters might have been raving about heatwaves, but the North East missed out yesterday. It was warmer than it looked on a foggy but humid Longsands - but nothing like as hot as London. Full story: Page 8 Advice and Enrolment Evening 4:30pm - 7:00pm Wednesday 1 July 2009 Come along to Parsons Building, Rye Hill Campus, Scotswood Road, Newcastle, NE4 7SA Visit www. newcastlecollege.

INSIDE TODAY

A healthy bottom line ; Bosses strip for charity calendar

WHEN the original Calendar Girls threw off their Women's Institute image of jam and Jerusalem along with their clothes, they created a new fundraising trend. Now, a new North East charity is seeking five female entrepreneurs to pose for its own "2010 Peeled & Revealed" calendar.

PC died after returning to job he loved ; Neil Gartland battled injury to serve public

THE off-duty police officer killed in a horrific A19 pile-up had only been back in the front-line role he loved for a fortnight after recovering from a serious injury. Neil Gartland, 38, was killed in a series of collisions involving 31 vehicles in thick fog on the A19 in County Durham late on Friday night.

Man admits killing student in underpass brawl

A MAN yesterday admitted the manslaughter of a fellow student during a city centre brawl. Sion Hardy, 24, was beaten to death during a fight between a group of students in an underpass in Liverpool in the early hours of November 15 2007.

Pensioner cut free ; INCIDENT: NORTH TODAY

A PENSIONER who was trapped in her car was cut free after a two- car crash. Firefighters removed the roof of a car to rescue the injured driver from her Renault Clio after the crash on Whickham Bank, in Whickham, Gateshead, on Sunday night.

honour ; KARATE: NORTH TODAY

Pollution fine ; COURT: NORTH TODAY

A PROPERTY company was fined pounds 7,500 yesterday for polluting a County Durham stream. At North Durham Magistrates' Court Gladman Developments Limited pleaded guilty to polluting Rowletch Burn at Birtley, near Chester- le-Street, in March last year.

Man assaulted ; POLICE: NORTH TODAY

POLICE are hunting two attackers who left another man with facial injuries. The assault happened at an address in Winskell Road, South Shields, at around 12.30am on Sunday.

Rival eyes takeover of main line rail operator ; Warning over jobs as bid is rebuffed

THE future of East Coast rail services was last night thrown into chaos as a takeover battle and wider transport spending cuts loomed. Union chiefs warned of job losses and service cuts as it emerged First Group wants to take over its rival National Express, which has hit trouble after overbidding to run trains on the East Coast Main Line.

Industry leader may leave National Express standing on the platform

BRITAIN'S biggest transport company First Group yesterday declared there was "significant industrial and commercial logic" in taking over National Express. National Express said it did not consider it appropriate to enter talks "at present" and it was focused on measures to strengthen the group.

Flu victim dies ; PUBLIC HEALTH: BRITAIN TODAY

Fines doubled ; MOTORING: BRITAIN TODAY

MOTORISTS caught not wearing a seatbelt now face an on-the-spot fine of pounds 60, after the penalty was doubled yesterday. Fixed penalties for illegal number plates, including those with non-standard fonts and spacing, also doubled to pounds 60.

Premier sets his sights on election ; Brown unveils new plans for 'entitlements'

GORDON Brown fought to re-launch his beleaguered premiership yesterday with a package of measures to boost housebuilding, crack down on young benefits claimants who refuse work or training and improve access to public services. But his draft legislative programme for the next parliamentary session was swiftly dismissed by the opposition parties as a rehash of old announcements by a Government running out of time and money.

Tory leader hits out at 'dishonesty'

DAVID Cameron launched a stinging attack on Gordon Brown yesterday, saying there was a "thread of dishonesty" running through his premiership. He described the Labour's cuts".

Race threat ; BIGOTRY: BRITAIN TODAY

IVF desperation ; MOTHERHOOD: BRITAIN TODAY

OLDER women denied the chance of motherhood in the United Kingdom are flocking abroad for IVF treatment they cannot get at home, it was revealed in London yesterday. Hundreds of British women may be travelling to clinics in countries such as Spain and the Czech Republic each month, the Eshre Task Force study suggested.

Tax 'disgrace' ; DISABILITY: BRITAIN TODAY

Thief stole to pay off her debts

A WOMAN loaded a supermarket trolley with goods and attempted to leave without paying. Joanne Brockbanks went into Asda at the MetroCentre in Gateshead without any money and filled a shopping trolley with pounds 540 worth of goods.