The Journal

Woman's Horror As Gunmen Open Fire in Kitchen ; Police Launch Hunt After Victim Injured

AWOMAN last night told of the moment two gunmen burst into her bungalow in a quiet North East neighbourhood and shot her friend. Police have launched a search for the gunmen, who were last night still at large.

Top Tory Says Cutbacks Needed

Why We Want to Stay in Helmand ; Afghanistan

The Organiser of a Charity Bike Ride

Mick Gives Himself Out After 59 Years ; Honour for Umpire As He Steps Down

ASTALWART of cricket has declared the end of an innings running to nearly six decades. The contribution of 73-year-old Mick McLean to his beloved sport was recognised last week when he was awarded a NatWest OSCA certificate to mark his outstanding service.

Work Starts On Metro Station Plan Final Phase

WORK on the final phase of a pounds 7m modernisation project at Sunderland Metro station will start today. Nexus is investing in the Network Rail-owned station as the major operator using it.

Mine Tragedy to Be Marked by New Book

A NEW book is to mark a tragic episode in North East history. The Montagu View pit in Scotswood, Newcastle flooded in 1925, killing 38 miners and devastating the community.

This Man Thinks the North East Relies Far Too Heavily On the Public Sector. If He's Right a Lot of Jobs Could Go ; Senior Tory in Warning Over Nation's Debts

THE North East's public sector employing thousands of people faces being cut under a Tory Government. Influential shadow cabinet member Chris Grayling stressed the need to "rein back" the public sector to deal with the country's huge debts. He said the region was too dependent on the public sector and accused the Labour Government of being to blame for any cuts by failing to build private businesses.

Job Centre Staff Under Attack

CREDIT crunch frustration has sparked a dramatic rise in assaults on job centre staff. An increase in the number of people out of work has been blamed for contributing to violent attacks rising by almost a third since 2006.

Starting of a War ; North Today: Talk

EVENTS leading up to the start of the Second World War will be the subject a talk in Durham. The Clayport Library will host military history expert Freddie Frost on Thursday, September 3. Mr Frost will discuss the alleged causes and incidents that resulted in the outbreak of war as well as the immediate consequences and events of 1939 and 1940.

Save Your Cash ; North Today: Event

Go On the Run ; North Today: Appeal

Cliff Fall Injuries ; North Today: Rescue

A WOMAN was seriously injured yesterday when she fell from cliffs in South Shields. Coastguard, ambulance and a helicopter from RAF Boulmer were all involved in the rescue.

Chancellor Says We Are On Road to Recovery

ALASTAIR Darling has promised the Government will "spend whatever it can" as he predicts the UK is on track to move out of recession by the end of the year. The Chancellor stuck by his forecasts for economic recovery at "the turn of the year" as he pledged to keep spending to see the UK out of recession. Mr Darling said he was confident of a return to growth and a sustainable recovery, despite ongoing risks to the global economy. His predictions come as almost two thirds of Britons say they b...

Ex-Students See Their Loans Start to Tumble - Without Them Having to Get Out of Bed

AROUND 390,000 graduates with outstanding student loans will see their interest rates turn negative today in a move which will reduce debts over time even without repayments. The UK's current period of Retail Prices Index (RPI) deflation will see the interest rate payable on student loans taken out before 1998 plunge to minus 0.4% - the first time the interest rate has turned negative since the Government-subsidised loan service was launched. The Student Loans Company resets the interest rate...

Bomb Kills Two ; Britain Today: Afghanistan

TWO soldiers were killed yesterday in an explosion while on foot patrol in Helmand, Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. The deaths of the men from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, took to 210 the total number of United Kingdom's service personnel killed in Afghanistan since operations began there in 2001.

Youth Protest ; Britain Today: Unemployment

Bulbs Are Out ; Britain Today: Climate Change

SALES of 100w incandescent lightbulbs in Britain are being phased out from today as part of a European Union drive to curb climate change and save on energy bills. EU countries will start the mandatory phase-out of 100W and frosted incandescent lightbulbs in favour of Compact Fluorescent Lamps which started in 2007.

Hilary Hailed ; Britain Today: Sailing

Libya Links Murder Bid to Fletcher Case ; Assassination Claim Made by Mi5's Shayler

LIBYA is demanding that Britain provide details of its alleged involvement in a plot to kill the country's leader, Colonel Gaddafi, in return for co-operation over the murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher, it was revealed yesterday. A senior Libyan minister said discussions between the two countries over the two cases were proceeding "in parallel" and his government was "waiting for some information" from Britain about the attempt on the colonel's life.