The Journal

The Bike Ride That Requires Nerves of Steel

Lifeguard Dies On Charity Swim ; Father-of-Two Helped in 500 Sea Rescues

ALIFEGUARD who helped in more than 500 sea rescues died yesterday while taking part in a charity swim. Will Hogg, chairman of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, got into trouble in the North Sea opposite the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth yesterday afternoon. The 59-year-old father-of-two was taking part in a four-mile charity swim from St Mary's Lighthouse to the Tynemouth Pier lighthouse, along with 20 other lifeguards.

Memorial to a Bloody Battle

Party Tribute to Murdered Student ; Crime

Criminal Gangs Targeting Farms

Gates Open On History ; Memorial Is Forged to a Bloody Battle

BLACKSMITH Stephen Mather has forged a memorial to one of the North East's bloodiest battles. Steel gates which incorporate images from the Battle of Flodden in 1513 will be installed at the site where the English army camped before and after their victory over the Scots.

Lotto

Having a Ball ; North Today: Charity

Boat Rescued ; North Today: Lifeboat

A FISHING boat in danger of being grounded off the Northumberland coast was rescued by lifeboat crews. Humber coastguard picked up a distress call at around 5.30pm on Tuesday from the two-man crew of Five Star, which had suffered gearbox failure near the Swedman rocks at the Farne Islands.

Rape Inquiry ; North Today: Police

A RAPE investigation has been launched after a teenager was attacked in an alleyway. Police received reports the 17-year-old girl had been assaulted in Drury Lane, off Newcastle's Cloth Market, between 11pm and 11.50pm.

Headmaster 'Would Not Put Our School at Risk'

A GOVERNOR at a North East school which has employed a teacher who was at the centre of a porn scandal last night backed its headteacher. Darren Adamson has been given a job at Berwick High School in Northumberland, despite having been sacked from a previous job after admitting accessing porn on school computers and phoning sex lines from work.

Friends Plan Party Tribute to Joseph ; Murdered Student Was Loved by Many

TRIBUTES have been paid to murdered student Joseph Cook. The 20-year-old, of Fenham, Newcastle, was found dead in his student house in Leeds on Monday.

Beach Party ; North Today: Community

Revamp Launched ; North Today: Travel

WORK is under way on the final phase of the pounds 7m revamp of Sunderland railway station. Workers are on site to transform the platforms, waiting areas and lighting systems at the station.

Charity Swim Turns to Tragedy ; Efforts to Save Lifeguard, 59, Are in Vain Adam Jupp and Sam Wood

FRIENDS and colleagues of a lifeguard who died while taking part in a charity swim yesterday paid trbute to him. Will Hogg, chairman of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB), got into trouble in the North Sea opposite the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth yesterday afternoon. Last night friends and colleagues paid tribute to a "special guy" who was a pillar of the North East lifesaving community.

Exhibition to Help Get City of Culture Bid Backing

RESIDENTS across County Durham are being urged to back Durham's City of Culture bid in a new exhibition. The official logo and branding to be used in the drive to bring the new government prize to the North East will visit seven towns between now and October. Visitors to the exhibition, which also shows how the bid will look, will be able to pledge their support on specially designed postcards.

Second Man Is Arrested in Shooting Probe

A SECOND man has been arrested as police continue to investigate the shooting of a businessman in Ponteland in the early hours of Monday. The 31 year old, who was taken into custody by officers yesterday, is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit assault. The victim, Amjed Malik, is still recovering in hospital under armed guard, after he was wounded in the leg when two masked raiders stormed into a bungalow on Middle Drive, on the Darras Hall estate.

Snp Beaten in Vote On Lockerbie Row ; Decision to Free Bomber Criticised

THE Scottish Government was defeated last night in a Holyrood vote on the Lockerbie affair. Opposition parties defeated the SNP in a series of votes on the decision by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to free Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from prison on compassionate grounds. In the final vote, the Government was defeated by 73 votes to 50, with one abstention.

Deal Denied by Brown Americans Vent Fury

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown yesterday insisted there had been "no double-dealing" by UK ministers over the release of the Lockerbie bomber. His comments came as Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed Libya was told earlier this year that the Prime Minister did not want to see Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi die in a Scottish jail.

Cv Advert Works ; Britain Today: Plinth