Northumberland communities - Prudhoe

Arrest made in connection with Prudhoe theft

2009-11-10T14:38:28Z

Hands manacled behind him, a suspect is led away today - one of several arrested in dawn raids.

More than 100 police officers staged a series of raids on suspected members of an organised crime gang believed to be behind ram raids on ATM hole in the wall cash machines.

One of the robberies they are suspected of having committed was at a Spar store in Bedlington in June.

They are also to be questioned about a theft of a tractor worth several thousands of pounds from Prudhoe.

The joint operation by officers from Northumbria and Durham Forces centred on addresses in Durham.

They included three houses in Witton Park, one in Escomb, one in West Auckland and one in Tindale Crescent, all Bishop Auckland.

Deputy Chief Constable Mike Barton of the Durham Force described the gang members as "the carrion crows of society feeding off the scraps of decent people".

At a house in Saxon Green, Escomb officers used battering rams to smash down the doors of other properties while sniffer dogs were used to search for drugs.

The gang's method was to steal JCBs and to use them to smash into ATM machines.

At Bedlington in June thieves made off with more than £24,000 in cash and cigarettes after breaking into the Spar shop on Station Road.

Caught on camera they searched for cash and tobacco before eventually escaping with their haul.

Insp Martin Peace of Bishop Auckland Police said five men between 27 and 32 had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

The man, 29, arrested at the house in Escomb has also been arrested on suspicion of the theft of a tractor from Prudhoe.

He described the dawn raids as a success adding: "There are two more men we are seeking but we are confident we will track them down."

Insp Peace said the raids followed months of intelligence gathering by detectives from both the Northumbria and Durham Forces.

Deputy Chief Constable Barton said: "This is an organised crime gang and we are determined to stamp out organised crime in the North East.

"Front line officers as well as detectives are targeting these criminals.

"If they so much as illegal park in a disabled parking bay we will have them."

Share your Northumbrian dialect words

2009-11-10T11:33:49Z

Deek at these kenspeckle words and see if you can save 'the venerable grandmother' of the English language.

What some people call the 'purest form' of English, the Northumbrian dialect, has been eroded over time and no-one knows how much Northumbrians and Geordies still have their own way of speaking.

Words like yari, jugal and skumfish used to be heard regularly but the Northumbrian Language Society is desperate to get a snapshot of the state of the region's dialect and see which Northumbrian words are still in use.

The call comes after Collins English Dictionary asked people to look at three Northumbrian words and let them know, via Twitter, if they are used. If not, they will write the obituary for the dead words.

But if they are still in common use, the words will be reinstated into the Collins Corpus database and could even be included in future dictionaries.

The Northumbrian Language Society chose the three words for Collins to take to the public but they have many other words and want to take the opportunity to learn more about the health of Northumberland's dialect.

Kim Bibby-Wilson from the Northumbrian Language Society said: "It matters. If we all spoke hybrid American English, it would be a very boring world.

"As far as the Collins project is concerned, it's good - it's going to get a high profile and remind people of these words. When you speak about dialect people are fascinated.

"But the more life goes on, the less people hear the speech patterns. It's whether they are speaking these words or not. From anecdotal evidence we're losing words because they're not relevant anymore."

Unlike Scottish dialect, Northumbrian words do not get full recognition, meaning there is no European funding for researching and promoting the dialect, as well as projects to record people still speaking in the tongue.

Northumbrian only holds observer status under the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages.

Kim said: "We would love to have the funding. We should be looking at how the Scots dictionary is constructed.

"Northumbrian dialect is the venerable grandmother of English, not a poor cousin. It has always been isolated, by the North Sea, the Pennines, Cheviots and moors, and it is a purer form of English. It has been reserved here for longer because the Vikings and Normans didn't have a great deal of interplay with the locals.

"It's very important, because the language that's spoken in a particular area tells you so much, just like castles do and cathedrals and football teams. You wouldn't knock down Bamburgh Castle because it's no longer used for defence."

Many of the words used in Northumberland are from the Angles, while certain areas also picked up gypsy words because of nearby camps.

For instance, 'gadgy', now used to mean a man, was originally used to refer to non-gypsies, while charver, now a derogatory term, used to mean friend.

Which of the words below do you still use? Do you know of any other current Northumbrian dialect words?

Click on the link on the right to share them

SPREADING THE WORD

THE THREE WORDS COLLINS ARE RESEARCHING ARE

Shawm - to warm yourself

Hippletyclinch - walk with a limp

Bari - beautiful/handsome

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM NORTHUMBERLAND

Deek - to look at

Yari - egg

Jugal - dog

Mort - wife

Netty - toilet

Oxter - armpit

Kenspeckle - distinctive

Skumfish - tired

Spelk - splinter

Gully - sharp knife for meat/general purpose

Puzzly-os - noughts and crosses

Lowp - to jump

Kist - strong box

WELL-KNOWN REGIONAL TERMS

Gadgy - non-gypsy man

Charver - friend

Gan - go

Lang - long

Canny - good

Hoy - throw

Ahad/ahaad - caught fire

Stotty - round bread

NEW ONES

Windy-pick - pneumatic drill

Starry head - Phillips screwdriver

Prudhoe and Wylam blood donor sessions

2009-11-10T00:00:44Z

Wylam Institute & Community Centre, Church Road, NE41 8AP
Friday 27 Nov 2009, 14:30 to 19:00
Monday 29 Mar 2010, 14:30 to 19:00

Prudhoe West First School, West Road, NE42 6HR
Tuesday 22 Dec 2009, 14:30 to 19:00

West Wylam Community Centre, Broomhouse Road, NE42 5EH
Monday 15 Feb 2010, 14:30 to 19:00

For more information on local sessions or to book an appointment go to www.blood.co.uk.

Fox Racing to help Prudhoe host BMX events

2009-11-09T13:41:16Z

One of the world's largest sports merchandise companies will help a town host future BMX events for young people.

Riding High, an event held recently at Highfield Park, Prudhoe, Northumberland, was hailed a huge success.

Fox Racing, which produces clothing and accessories for all kinds of cycling, will assist with the planning of council-run competitions at Highfield Park.

The development comes after a "dirt jump" contest there proved popular.

The project to build the BMX track cost £9,900 and was completed earlier this year.

View pictures from the Dirt Jump day held in September »

Wylam pupils' film nominated for top awards

2009-11-09T11:54:50Z

Young movie-makers from the Tyne Valley are celebrating after learning their work has been shortlisted for top awards at an international film festival.

Talented six and seven-year-olds from Wylam First School have created a film called The Hungry Robot (click on the link below to watch).

The film has been nominated for "Best Emerging Talent" and "Audience Award" at Fresh-Flix - the title of the young people's section of the Encounters Film Festival, which is being staged in Bristol from November 17 to 21.

Wylam First pupil Anna May Slowie, six, who helped to make The Hungry Robot, said: "I was the policewoman in it. I had to chase the robot and catch him. I have a copy of the film and we have seen it a thousand times."

Classmate Jake Anderson, seven, added: "It was really fun. We had to learn about the camera. I enjoyed chasing the robot and it was fun learning about the camera."

To find out more about Encounters Film Festival, log on to www.encounters-festival.org.uk

Two other sets of young film-makers in the region are also celebrating nominations at the same awards. Young people at Washington's Art Centre have made a film called Alice; and students from Beacon Hill Sixth Form in North Shields have produced The Middle of Nowhere.

Beacon Hill pupils have an extra reason to celebrate after veteran film critic Barry Norman praised their work.

Watch Wylam First School's films »

Mother of three dies on the street in Prudhoe

2009-11-09T08:49:57Z

Neighbours have spoken of their sadness after a woman died in a Prudhoe street on a freezing cold night.

The 40-year-old mother of three, who has not been named, was found on Carnaby Close, slumped on the ground late on Friday night.

A passer-by found her and called an ambulance. The crew tended to her and took her to Hexham General Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

It is believed the woman had earlier attended a charity event in the Northumberland town where she complained of feeling ill before heading to her home.

Police say they are not ruling out suspicious circumstances. However, they believe there were no visible marks on her body. The put up a forensic tent over the scene and cordoned off the road.

Elaine Young, 46, a mother-of-one, whose house overlooks the spot where the body was found, said: "I saw the ambulance and police when I was shutting my blinds last night.

"The police came and asked me questions later but I didn't see them take the woman. It is so sad that a young woman has died outside my home.

"You don't expect things like this to happen on your doorstep."

A mother-of-two, who didn't want to be named, said: "When I got home at 11pm the paramedics were doing CPR on the body on the edge of the road.

"Someone was lying on the ground. I'll be keeping my little ones inside today - I don't want to explain to them why a police car is outside."

Valerie Gray, 62, a retired recruitment consultant, said: "Not knowing the circumstances is most worrying.

"I saw the ambulance and police cars when I went to bed at 11.35pm and looked out of my window.

"It was a shock when the CID knocked at my door. I didn't sleep very well after that."

A mother of one, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I heard the ambulance arrive and looked out of my house to see what was going on and could see the police taping off the area around where she was found on the grassed area nearby.

"There were about seven police cars and they taped off my street and two nearby roads. Around 3am the police knocked on my door and said there had been a serious incident and were wanting to know if I had seen anything.

"But the first I knew something was happening was when the ambulance arrived. It such a tragic thing to have happened. I feel sorry for her family and especially her children."

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "We received a report from the ambulance service than an unconscious 40-year-old woman was found in Carnaby Close in Prudhoe at 11.15pm.

The female was taken to Hexham General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police have made door to door enquiries to try and piece together what happened."

Stephenson's cottage reproduced in miniature

2009-11-05T14:50:02Z

Sculptor Phoebe Harvey Lee brought the North East's proud industrial heritage to life with a special unveiling of her latest piece, featuring the birthplace of the great railway engineer George Stephenson.

The limited-edition sculpture created for Lilliput Lane features Stephenson's modest 18th Century whitewashed stone cottage on the old Wylam Waggonway in the Tyne Valley, plus a replica of his 1825 steam engine Locomotion.

South Shields-born Phoebe, whose locally inspired pieces in the past have included sculptures of St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Durham Cathedral and Cragside House near Rothbury, officially launched her new sculpture at the Collectables store in the Metrocentre, where dedicated collectors gathered to have pieces personally signed by her.

She created her new limited-edition piece, called Stephenson's Cottage and The Locomotion, exclusively for Collectables stores in the North East and it retails at £39.95.

Sean Nee, Collectables store manager, said: "Collecting is as strong as it has ever been, and we have many dedicated collectors who came to the event to meet Phoebe and have their pieces signed.

"It means a lot to serious collectors to meet the person who has created so many wonderful local pieces."

Gymnast takes on 100 mile ride for Tynedale club

2009-11-05T14:28:57Z

A ten-year-old Northumberland gymnast has shown her stamina after cycling 100 miles in just over two days to raise money for her club.

Kate Rogers, from Newton, near Corbridge, took on the coast to coast route after finding out her gymnastics club needed money for new equipment.

Her little legs lasted the distance and she did the 100 miles in two and a half days and two overnight stops at Gilsland and at home in Newton.

Incredibly she even found time and the energy to stop in Prudhoe WestWorld to attend her gymnastics class on the way.

She said: "It was good weather and easier than I expected. Climbing the big hill out of Greenhead was the worst moment.

"Once I got past Vindolanda it was all downhill, following the Tyne to the coast."

The idea came after her cousin completed the ride, and when she heard her club, Tynedale Gymnastics Club, needed to raise funds she thought it would be a good way to do it. She managed the ride in style and did not need the three days she had allowed for.

The Mowden Hall School pupil's efforts raised £600 for the club to buy necessary equipment such as mats, beams and vaults for their two gyms, in Prudhoe WestWorld and in the Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham.

Dad Paul, who accompanied her on the ride, said: "I knew I could do it but I wasn't sure if she could. But she also found time to go to her gym club because she was still full of energy.

"It's very good going - she's as fit as a flea and got stamina and determination. A lot of kids could do it but they'd lose interest."

Kate, who also takes part in Tynedale's gymnastics exchange with Mitry Mory in France, rode from Bowness-on-Solway to Tynemouth along the Hadrian Cycleway.

Club coach Gayle Crowell said: "This is a wonderful achievement by Kate.

"We are very grateful to her - all of our gymnasts will benefit from the new state-of-the-art equipment."

Now that Kate has got the cycling bug, she wants to attempt the 200-mile ride from Edinburgh to Tynemouth next year.

Kate Rogers presents her cheque to Tynedale Gymnastics Club

Meanwhile, she might have met some other keen fundraisers on the coast to coast route, as a group of pupils took on the challenge to raise money for the Calvert Trust in Kielder.

Ten lads from Newcastle School for Boys arrived at Calvert Trust Kielder after doing the ride in two days.

They visited the centre in Kielder Water and Forest Park before beginning to collect sponsorship to raise their target of £2,000. Supporting them in their trip were local companies Back Consulting Limited, Apex Radios and Purple Mountain.

Ubaydullah Iqbal, Dan Cupit, bottom: Mat Butler, Hazel Munro, Gordon Orr" src="http://prudhoe.journallive.co.uk/news/calvertrustride.jpg" width="200" height="170" class="mt-image-left" style="float: left; margin: 0 20px 20px 0;" />The money will go towards the work of Calvert Trust Kielder which enable people with disabilities to achieve their potential through outdoor activities.

Hazel Munro, a fundraiser at Calvert Trust Kielder said: "We are thrilled the school has committed themselves to supporting us and we are impressed with the nature of the challenge they have taken on."

Charles Drax, a teacher at Newcastle School for Boys said: "Visiting the trust meant that the boys could see how the money raised from the challenge will help lots of people less fortunate than themselves to do things they never dreamt possible. "

Pictured: Lads from Newcastle School for Boys who cycled the coast to coast route to raise money for Calvert Trust Kielder. Left to right: top: Charles Drax, Karen Smith, Lewis Mackie, Peter Cockerill (CE Calvert Trust Kielder), Henry Percy-Raine, Ubaydullah Iqbal, Dan Cupit, bottom: Mat Butler, Hazel Munro, Gordon Orr

Northumberland day care centres axed

2009-11-05T10:38:52Z

Controversial plans to axe seven cherished day centres in Northumberland were rubber-stamped last night.

Northumberland County Council voted to close the facilities used as meeting places by elderly and disabled people at Amble, Blyth, Bedlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Ponteland and Prudhoe.

In a named poll at its meeting at Morpeth's County Hall, the council voted 46 to 11 in favour of proposals to close its centres, which are used by around 300 people every week.

The authority says the facilities are under-used and it is closing them to cut costs and is instead to offer users and the many others who need assistance personalised budgets to spend on their preferred method of care.

It says anyone who wants to continue receiving traditional, building-based day care will be able to do so via other providers - voluntary and independent agencies.

The council has came up with a range of alternative provision in each of the affected areas. Hundreds of people had signed petitions calling for the seven centres to be saved, claiming they offer elderly users a vital chance to meet friends and give relatives an important break from looking after them.

The meeting was attended by a band of centre users, carers and union leaders who vented their anger at councillors after the vote was taken. Thomas Mosey, 80, of Newcastle Road, Newsham, Blyth, has used the town's Lyndon House site for around five years, having previously been moved out of its Tynedale House by the council.

He branded the decision "disgusting", "absolute shameless" and "shocking". The council had been due to take a decision on the centres at its meeting in September, but opted to defer after Conservative and Labour opposition councillors joined forces in a bid to drum up interest from potential providers in running the sites in Amble, Bedlington and Blyth.

But last night, the Labour group hit out at the Tories for now backing the closures and for tabling an amendment with the Lib Dems which it claimed showed little change to the proposals put forward in September.

Labour members asked why the council could not offer a mix of centres and alternative care. They also accused the Lib Dems of using the personalised budgets as "a smokescreen" which allows them to axe day centres.

Coun Deirdre Campbell said: "The public are not silly. Personalised budgets weren't an excuse to close the homes.

"I just can not believe you are back in here today and you are still intent on taking away a brilliant service that is used by the elderly.

"I would say to people - do not get old the Lib Dems will crucify you.

"I think you have declared war on the elderly. The one thing you have not got to do in Northumberland is get old."

The Lib Dems had called on the council to make the decision to end uncertainty for centre users.

Coun Simon Reed said: "We have to modernise and transform our service. We have to give people more choice."

His party also stated that no centres will be closed until alternate provision has been arranged for users.

Prudhoe firm looks to expand after factory move

2009-11-03T09:15:31Z

An industrial tubing business has overcome a number of problems, including a colony of greater crested newts, and has moved into a new £3.5m factory as it looks to triple its turnover from £10m to around £30m.

Northumberland-based Salem Tube International has recently seen the completion of a new 70,000sq ft factory near its old site in Prudhoe and expects its sales to rocket as a result of the increased production space.

Nigel Allan, Operations Manager of Salem Tube International of Prudhoe

The firm said that the new site, which is part of a wider £4m investment into the business, would allow it to increase its 30-strong workforce to 50 over the next two years to help it deal with increasing demand from overseas markets.

As well as looking to expand its operations into countries in South America, including Brazil, Argentina and Chile, the firm also expects to receive £5m worth of business from the UK Government's nuclear power programme.

The firm, which was founded in 1992 and works predominantly within the petrochemical industry, produces and packs a large variety of prefabricated industrial tubes, including heat exchanger tubes and 'U' bent tubes.

Although the firm expects its investment to pay dividends, it did say that it had been adversely affected by the steep decline in commodity prices, with nickel, one of its main raw materials, dropping from $52,300 per tonne to around $16,000 per tonne over the last two years.

Howard Ions, managing director of Salem Tube, said: "We haven't had it all our own way of late, especially in terms of the prices of certain metals.

"However, we are certainly defying the general recession as our products remain fairly niche and are sold within a market that it still growing in many areas, especially overseas, which makes up for 70% of our sales.

"We now see South America as an exciting growth area and are now able to meet growing demand for our products with the help of the new facility."

The firm, which can count BP and Shell among its customers, said it would be retaining its old 15,000sq ft facility in Prudhoe and that it was looking to rent it out before deciding whether it would form part of its future expansion plans.

Mr Ions had planned to move into the new purpose-built facility last year after receiving planning permission in 2005, but saw his plans scuppered by a colony of greater crested newts.

Construction firm Whelan, which built the new site, was given the task of relocating the newts to a nature reserve without infringing upon their natural hibernation period.

Mr Ions said: "Those newts were an absolute nightmare. We believe that they were dumped their as they are usually found in the South East and North West of the country.

"After lengthy negotiations we were able to rehome them and begin building the new facility.

"We are now finally able to move on to our next stage of growth and, although we are held to ransom somewhat by the commodity markets, we should be able to hit our financial targets and create the jobs we need."

Prudhoe importer secures new contract

2009-11-03T09:11:33Z

An importer of Chinese engineering components expects its revenues to jump by half after landing a five-year contract with engineering giant Caterpillar.

And Global Manufacturing Supplies Ltd (GMS Ltd) of Prudhoe has also secured a £150,000 investment to expand as it builds its £6m turnover.

The 11-year-old firm won the investment from NEL Fund Managers to help it gear up for the additional stock and logistical requirements that come with the Caterpillar contract.

Managing director Owen Ingram said: "China's manufacturing reputation has improved significantly over the last few years, and is now recognised as a cost-effective, reliable manufacturer of quality engineering products.

"Our team has gone to great lengths to find the very best of these manufacturers, auditing more than 800 companies in the last five years to identify those with which we wish to do business, and which we know provide the quality of service and product that our clients expect.

"Marrying the work we have put in to build up our Chinese networks to the cost and efficiency benefits that working with them offers our European customer base creates a powerful commercial offering, and adding the Caterpillar name to an already impressive client base demonstrates the services we offer.

"We are very much a North East company, and the future expansion that we have planned will be based around the knowledge and expertise of the team we have built up, and which we plan to continue building here.

GMS was founded by Mr Ingram in the spare bedroom of his Prudhoe home and has grown to now employs 22 people, which he hopes will increase to around 30.

It has built up a network of more than 60 fully-audited Chinese manufacturing companies from which it sources a wide range of components and services and its client base also includes other blue chip engineering companies, such as JCB and Britax PMG.

It won the investment from Evolve Finance, the debt and mezzanine finance division of regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers.

Evolve senior investment executive Simon Johnson said: "GMS has used the engineering expertise of its senior team to take advantage of a significant commercial opportunity, and the progress that the company has made in just a decade is highly impressive."

Pictured: Simon Johnson, left, and Owen Ingram of GMS Ltd

Bus collector's 50th birthday treat

2009-11-02T16:04:00Z

IT was a transport of delight for Robert Forsythe when he celebrated his 50th birthday at the weekend.

Over the years Robert and wife Fiona collected more than 125,000 items on rail, air, bus and coach and water transport, including timetables, brochures, booklets, hand bills, and other paper ephemera. The collection was acquired earlier this year by the National Railway Museum in York.

So naturally it was a bit of a busman's birthday bash on Saturday for Robert and Fiona, who live in Prudhoe, Northumberland.

They hired a Leyland Titan 1952 double decker bus for a day-long tour of the North Pennines.

A total of 57 invited guests piled on to the bus, with Robert and Fiona's daughter Clare, aged nine, on duty in original bus conductress's cap and ticket machine.

The bus set off from Newcastle Central Station for Stanhope in Weardale and then on to Killhope and Alston. At Alston, guests switched from bus to rail for a ride on the South Tynedale steam railway.

Then it was back on the double decker to Stocksfield Institute in Northumberland for a traditional North Pennines tea, laid on by the ladies of the Snods Edge Church Hall Sunday Afternoon Teas group. The day also raised funds for Tiny Lives, the Newcastle charity for premature births and Sarnelli House orphanage in Thailand, which Robert and Fiona's neighbour supports. The Snods Edge ladies donated their proceeds to Tynedale Hospice.

Robert chose the North Pennines because it has a special place in his memories as a regular destination when he joined an industrial archaeology society while studying at Durham University.

The double decker was hired from Alnwick's Dreadnought Coaches.

Set up as a family-run enterprise by Claire Gilroy, the company now operates the largest fleet of vintage buses in the North East.

The Leyland Titan 1952 double decker bus was virtually identical to the vehicles used by the Weardale Motors company, and turned heads as it drove through the area and parked in Stanhope Market Place for an hour.

Another stop was at Killhope Cross where a reading was held of a WH Auden poem which describes the location.

Robert said yesterday: "The bus crew took us successfully over some of the most challenging roads in England. The sun shone and Weardale put on its autumn best.
"It was a fabulous day and everyone enjoyed it."

Robert, a former museum curator, now works freelance in the cultural sector, as does Fiona who was previously head of library services at Newcastle College.

Prudhoe Town boys hit for six

2009-10-28T14:21:05Z

Prudhoe Town were hit for six when they visited Leam Rangers in the Durham County Lomax Training Services Youth League, but at the halfway stage there was little between the sides.

James Fenwick bagged a brace of goals and Mark Burns also struck, but Prudhoe retaliated and when they twice penetrated the Leam Rangers defence, just one goal divided the pair at the halfway stage.

Leam Rangers, though, had the better of the second period and romped to a 6-2 victory.
Man of the match Fenwick took his total to four goals, and Burns again found the net.

More local football stories from around the region »

Prudhoe man travels back to town he helped free from Nazis

2009-10-26T16:41:34Z

The brave story of war hero Harry Fraser has been passed down through generations. And when he went back to the Dutch town he helped liberate 65 years ago he was treated like royalty.

Now he's back on home soil clutching a photo album and a video of his trip as well as an extra medal presented to him on behalf of the people of Helmond.

"I was treated like royalty when I went back," said Harry, 88, of Prudhoe. "They came to pick me up from the hotel in an armoured car and formed a procession through the streets to celebrate the day I helped liberate the town."

Harry was a sergeant in the Inns of Court Regiment 11th Armoured Division, working as a reconnaissance officer through enemy-occupied territory.

He was given the perilous task of driving ahead of the troops to assess whether the coast was clear for the soldiers to advance.

He risked his life as he dodged bullets and bombs and saw many of his comrades killed in front of him.

But it was Harry who was the first to walk into the town of Helmond on September 25, 1944, to give residents back their freedom.

Harry, of The Manors, Adderlane Road, Prudhoe, said: "I was in the reconnaissance which scouted ahead to see if there was any enemies. I was one of the first to walk into Helmond, which had been taken over by the Germans, and there wasn't a person out on the streets.

"Then they saw the white stars on the sides of the vehicles and realised we were British. They all came running out and four policemen picked me up and put me on to their shoulders.

"We couldn't stay long because we had work to do but that town never forgot my name."

Leo Van Aerle was only four weeks old when Harry helped liberate his home town and he organised the celebrations for Harry to return, this time with his wife Dorothy, 85, and daughter Carol Davison, 60, of Crawcrook, Gateshead.

"They put signs up in the shop windows saying 'Welcome again Harry and the other men who restored our freedom'."

Harry's trip to Holland was made possible after securing help from the National Lottery's Heroes Return scheme.

Daughter Carol said: "On that day I was very proud of my dad."

Prudhoe mountain biker is riding high

2009-10-21T13:02:27Z

A Northumberland female mountain biker has recorded a third-place finish in national competition - in her first full season.

Angela Coates has been mountain biking for only two years, but that has not stopped the 25-year-old from Prudhoe achieving great things in a sport which is dominated my male competitors.

Earlier this month the Geordie biker finished second in Rheola in South Wales to end the racing season in third place in the National Points Series (NPS) - an unbelievable achievement at such an early stage in her career.

The successful racer accepts it is an unusual sport for females to be associated with, but that does not prevent her from gaining the utmost enjoyment from competing.

She said: "I would say what motivates me is the speed, adrenaline and the need to go faster and to better myself every time.

"When you are going down super, steep gnarly tracks, the likes of Llangollen, it is so scary - but it also feels so good and is so much fun at the same time."

Coates was immediately hooked to the sport after she was a spectator at a race in Scotland in which her brother was competing.

She only attended the race to take photographs for her photography college course - but the high speeds and adrenaline rushes were too much for her not to have a go herself the following day.

Since then, Coates has never looked back.

After receiving a racing bike as a birthday gift from her brother she began to enter competitive races, finishing third in her first race at Hamsterly Forest.

More success was to follow as a number of impressive finishes resulted in her winning a sponsorship deal after an ambassador from Fox Racing spotted her talent.

She said: "The races are expensive with an NPS costing £65 to enter, and then there are petrol, food, accommodation and sometimes mechanicals and repair costs on top of that.

"Fox provide me with race kit, body armour, helmets, goggles and footwear.

"Without most of that you are not allowed to race, so it is really great to have support from them." Throughout the recent campaign Coates competed in two racing series - the Scottish Downhill Association (SDA) Series followed by the NPS.

In the first, she also recorded third place overall, an achievement she was pleased with but one she is eager to better.

Coates added: "I was really happy with that finish considering it was my first year racing the series, but I do plan to step it up next year. I want to be on the top spot."

Coates wanted to start seriously competing a year prior to her success, but early in the campaign she suffered a broken wrist while racing in Wales which brought a premature end to her debut season.

One year later, however, she finds herself ranked top senior female in the UK.

Now she is looking to the future and, after such an impressive first full campaign, is eager to improve further by racing on a bigger stage.

She said: "My aspirations for next year are to be able to compete in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William in Scotland.

"I also hope to compete in the Maxis Cup in Portugal, as well as again be competing in the SDA and NPS series."