The Journal

Soup and Water Diet Starved This Mum to Death ; Parents' Pleas to Eat More Were Ignored

AYOUNG mother who lived on a diet of soup and water effectively starved herself to death, an inquest was told yesterday. It heard how talented musician Helen Anderson existed on the diet for several months, losing almost six stones in weight, despite her parents pleading with her to eat more. The 26-year-old's body was so starved of sugar it began to eat into its own reserve of fat. This caused a metabolic chemical reaction called ketoacidosis and it is that which killed her.

New Electric Car Is Unveiled

Caroline has a Colourful Career ; Living

'Newcastle Bank' Set for Business

Inside Today

Club Mourns the Loss of a Much-Loved Friend

TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-respected businessman who died playing the sport he loved. Golf fanatic John Henderson suffered a heart attack while playing a round with friends at the club he had belonged to for more than 40 years.

Wedding Is Only the First Challenge ; Couple Pay a Loving Tribute to Grandfather

THEY say marriage is hard work. But for these newlyweds it's the honeymoon that is an ordeal. Darryl and Louise Priestley ruled out a romantic trip to Paris, or a few days lazing on a sun-kissed beach.

Housing Schemes Are Set to Be Revived Across North East

RECESSION-HIT housing schemes across the North East are to be rescued as part of a pounds 1bn Government building project. Up to 1,721 new homes could be revived, including Alnwick housing plans mothballed due to the economic downturn. But critics have warned the money to fund the scheme may come alongside yet another raid on much needed regional development agency budgets. Ministers will make more than pounds 82m available to councils, housing associations and a handful of developers, with u...

'Reckless' Behaviour Put Colleges at Risk

THE future of a Government scheme to rebuild England's colleges has been left hanging in the balance by the "reckless" behaviour of the agency in charge, MPs said yesterday. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was berated for building up expectations that it could not meet, and for its "serious failures" in managing the programme.

Council Will Lend Cash to Save High Street Jobs ; Plans Made for 'Bank of Newcastle'

CITY leaders are to set up their own bank after growing fed up with the Government's failure to force high street lenders to do more to help small businesses. The Newcastle jobs rescue package was dreamt up by council spending bosses after seeing the return on their multi-million pound bank investments dwindle due to historically-low interest rates.

Farmers' Market ; North Today: Strawberries

Oz Auditions ; North Today: Munchkins Sought

CHILDREN are being sought to play the role of Munchkins in Ponteland Repertory Society's production of the Wizard of Oz, which starts in the Memorial Hall on November 23. Youngsters need to be able to sing and dance, and be 4ft 8ins tall or under. Informal workshops/auditions will be held in the Memorial Hall at 2.30pm on Sunday August 23.

Green Message ; North Today: Recycling

Police Campaign ; North Today: Crime

Second Meeting ; North Today: Closure Plans

Chancellor Tells Banks How Low They Should Go

ALISTAIR Darling demanded businesses be given the lowest possible interest rates on borrowing last night after holding talks with bank chiefs. The Chancellor warned the Government would be scrutinising lenders to ensure they did not charge any more than was "absolutely necessary".

'Exclusive Talks' Taking Place, Insist Stagecoach

Gay Pcs' Baby Joy ; Britain Today: Social

Tom's Thumbs Up ; Britain Today: Olympics

Gordon Brown Declares End to Bloodiest of Operations As Another Two Families Learn Tragic News ; Prime Minister Speaks of His Pride at Troops

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown yesterday hailed the success of a fiercely-fought offensive against the Taliban as it emerged another two British soldiers had died in Afghanistan. Eleven UK servicemen were killed driving insurgents out of a former stronghold in Helmand Province during Operation Panther's Claw.