FIVE years ago this week, a hoax brought a town to a standstill when armed police were called for what they believed was a major incident.

Children were kept in school, businesses were told to lock their doors and traffic was diverted as police cordoned off the centre of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, as rumours circulated that a man had been seen wielding a gun.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy said: "This was a very alarming incident for members of the public and we would like to thank the communities of Knaresborough for their patience and cooperation while the police dealt with it.”

A man faced legal fees in excess of £68,000 after his dog was found to have bitten a postman.

Paul Race, of Fishburn, County Durham, denied his beloved dog Rocky attacked postman Robert Townsend while he was making deliveries in April 2008.

In March 2011, Simpson Millar Solicitors, the firm representing Mr Townsend, offered Mr Race the chance to settle for compensation of £2,000 and costs of £4,061 - a figure the firm said was far less than the actual costs incurred.

However, disputes over differing accounts as to what took place when the postman was bitten, resulted in the case going before Middlesbrough County Court.

The judge ruled in Mr Townsend's favour and he was awarded £1,500 compensation, which Mr Race paid. He was then alarmed when he was presented with a bill of costs totalling £68,532.

He said the fees were outrageous, and added: "This highlights everything that is wrong with the no-win, no-fee system."

Meanwhile, a teenager could not believe her luck when she won a competition for her favourite band to perform in her family’s pub.

Katie Bell, 14, got to meet up-and-coming boyband Mr Meanor when she won an online competition on the band’s Twitter.

Katie said: "They sounded really good up close and live, and were all nice, genuine lads."