Police, passengers and a drivers’ union condemned the “irresponsible” actions of three youths who jumped onto the back of a moving bus as rush hour approached, in February 2019.

Believed to be in their teens, the three were seen clinging onto the back panel of an Arriva North East bus which was pulling away in Darlington’s town centre on Monday, February 11, 2019.

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Chief Inspector Sue Robinson of Durham Police said: “This is an incredibly irresponsible thing to do – the roads are not a playground.”

A passenger onboard the bus said: “People found it hilarious but it isn’t funny it could have had a more serious outcome – all it takes is for someone to get hurt and that is the last thing we need.”

The passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said the youths travelled a short distance before running off, adding: “Teenagers on bikes followed the bus round and continued to chase the bus as it was leaving town.”

The incident, near the B&M store on Tubwell Row, was filmed and showed another bus following closely behind.

Priceless archaeological treasures and natural habitat were being destroyed by arsonists on an ancient hill fort, a campaign group warned following a large blaze on Friday, February 15, 2019.

The Eston Hills area had been plagued by vandals and arsonists, but incidents dropped the previous year due to a joint effort between the police, fire brigade, Redcar and Cleveland Council and the Friends of Eston Hills Group on a task force.

The Ice and Fire project, which was digging up treasures dating back to Neolithic times – just after the Ice Age – on the historically precious site, had also been running education programmes to teach children how important the are is.

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But a large fire broke out on the hills at about 11pm on the Friday. Locals reported groups of youths drinking in the area.

Spencer Carter, one of the archaeologists who runs the Ice and Fire project, along with Adam Mead, said there was 10,000 years of history on the site, with finds including tools, evidence of the first farmers, and nomadic groups from after the Ice Age.

He said the fires were devastating and risked damaging ancient treasures as well as a natural habitat around the wetland known as Carr Ponds.

A family had lucky escape after fire ripped through their home in Catterick Garrison, in February 2019.

The blaze broke out at the house on Byng Road on the corner of Linton Rise at around 6.30am on February 11, and led to the closure of the road from the White Shops to Hipswell Dip.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service sent four appliances from Colburn, Richmond, Leyburn and Bedale to deal with the blaze.

A woman and her two children had already escaped from the building and were taken to hospital for treatment to smoke inhalation.

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Next door neighbour, 59-year-old Kev Jones, whose conservatory and roof were damaged by the fire, said he was woken up by banging, but it wasn’t until a friend from across the road knocked on his door that he realised what was happening.

He said: “I heard some banging from next door about sixish which woke me up.

“Then my friend across the road came banging on the door saying ‘get out the house next door is on fire’."