The Journal

Protesters Brand Letters an Insult

Cartoonist Tells of Turkey Capers ; Artist

Coastal Footpaths Will Be Opened

If These Plans Go Ahead Our Children Will Be Condemned to Second Rate Services ; Senior Doctor's Unprecedented Attack On New Hospital Plans

ONE of Britain's leading experts on childhood medicine has launched a scathing attack on plans to build a specialist emergency hospital in the North East. The pounds 200m plan would see all serious emergency care cases from North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hos-pitalsent to a new purpose-built centre. But Prof Sir Alan Craft, former president of Royal College of Paediatrics, said the proposals for restructuring children's services in the region was concerning.

Inside Today

Artist Was Locked in Cell with Murderers ; Cartoonist Tells of His Turkey Ordeal

AN artist who was cleared of mocking the Prime Minister of Turkey by portraying him as a dog has told of being locked in a cell with murderers, having a police gun fired at him during a midnight pursuit, and telling fortunes on the streets of Istanbul to make ends meet. The revelation unfolded yesterday when Michael Dickinson, 59, gave a talk at Durham's Shakespeare Hall, having fled Turkey last month.

Swine Flu Cases Are Not Escalating

THE number of swine flu cases in the North East appears to have plateaud, according to health experts. The number of anti-virals authorised to those living in the North East by the National Pandemic Flu Service in the last week has been 7,523.

Pervert Jailed for Inciting Child Abuse

A WEBCAM paedophile who incited another pervert to sexually abuse a vulnerable young girl thousands of miles away was finally trapped by a two-year Transatlantic police investigation. Married Ronald MacRae was arrested in June last year after he was linked by US detectives to the horrific exploitation of a nine-year- old girl by her grandfather.

Policemen Killed in Eta Bomb Explosion ; Flight Delays for North Holidaymakers

HOLIDAYMAKERS were hit with delays yesterday following a terrorist attack in Majorca - the second attack blamed on Basque separatist group Eta in two days. Flights which were due to be returning to Newcastle International were grounded after Spanish police shut down the holiday island after a car bomb exploded in the Palmanova beach resort.

Scheme Nullified ; Britain Today: Transport

Tories Spend Big ; Britain Today: Politics

Foreigners Ban ; Britain Today: Health

Profits Up - but Bills May Not Fall ; Britain Today: Energy

Leading Doctor Sees Red Over Plan ; but Criticism Is Refuted by Nhs Trust

ONE of the country's leading experts on childhood medicine has launched a scathing attack on plans to build a specialist emergency hospital in the North East. In the pounds 200m proposals, health chiefs want to transfer all serious emergency care cases from North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hospitals to a new purpose-built centre near Moor Farm roundabout, Annitsford, Cramlington.

Great North Unit Will Be a First for North East

THE Great North Children's Hospital will bring together all children's services under one roof. Costing pounds 100m, the 245-bed complex based at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary will be one of 14 children's hospitals in the country.

15 Years for Killer ; Britain Today: Court

Biggs Appeal ; Britain Today: Crime

Id Cards Flag Row ; Britain Today: Politics

War On Drugs 'Not Winnable'

THE war on drugs is not winnable in the near future, a survey of police and other law enforcement agents claims. Nine out of 10 of those questioned in the study by the independent UK Drug Policy Commission said it was "unlikely" UK drugs markets would be eradicated in the near future.

Brave Debbie Hails Her 'Right to Live' ; Ms Sufferer Ecstatic at Court Ruling

MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy last night hailed an 'incredible start' after winning a famous victory in her legal battle to be told what would happen to her husband if he helped her travel abroad to end her life. The Law Lords yesterday unanimously backed Ms Purdy's call for a policy statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the circumstances in which a person such as her husband, Cuban violinist Omar Puente, might face prosecution for helping a loved one end their life...