THIS week, 15 years ago, former Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn gave activists a huge boost just before the House of Commons vote by backing a complete workplace smoking ban.

As the politician who set up a national network of smoking cessation officers, which helped thousands of smokers to quit the habit, there was always additional pressure on Mr Milburn to back a total ban.

Figures showed that between April and September 2005, NHS stop-smoking services in the North-East helped nearly 10,000 to quit.

The Northern Echo: Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) face to face with Alan Milburn at the North East Economic Forum Meeting Picture: JOHN GILES / PAPrime Minister Tony Blair (left) face to face with Alan Milburn at the North East Economic Forum Meeting Picture: JOHN GILES / PA

But the former Cabinet minister, who was then a backbench MP, did not rush into making a decision.

He invited constituents to let him know their views, and for weeks was inundated with hundreds of letters, e-mails and faxes.

Mr Milburn's revelation coincided with a last-minute appeal to the region's MPs by the Fresh Campaign for a Smoke Free North-East.

To coincide with Valentine's Day, Fresh asked MPs to "have a heart" and back a total ban.

Meanwhile, a couple who had been together for more than 70 years were crowned the most romantic in a North-East town.

Leslie and Gladys Radforth, of Darlington, met at a boxing match and courted for three years before they married on August 1, 1936.

The Northern Echo: Leslie and Gladys Radforth were crowned the most romantic couple in Darlington Picture: CHRIS BOOTHLeslie and Gladys Radforth were crowned the most romantic couple in Darlington Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

To mark Valentine’s Day, the couple and Mrs Radforth’s sister and brother-in-law, Rhoda and Bill Spratt, were treated to dinner at their local pub - the Tawny Owl, in Neasham Road.

The pub had held a competition to find the most romantic couple in the town.

Meanwhile, murder squad detectives were hunting the killer of a 42-year-old mother-of-five.

Audrey Badger’s body was found at her home in Thornaby, Teesside, when a friend returned from a night out.

The Northern Echo: Scenes-of-crime officers arrive at the house where Audrey Badger's body was found Picture: TERRY BLACKBURNScenes-of-crime officers arrive at the house where Audrey Badger's body was found Picture: TERRY BLACKBURN

Police said the victim had been subjected to a violent attack and believe she knew her killer.

A team of 45 officers worked on the investigation with uniformed police carrying out door-to-door inquiries, and crime scene investigators carried out a forensic examination of Ms Badger’s home, in Stirling Way.