TWO youths have been charged in connection with the death of a 16-year-old boy who died of stab wounds at the weekend.

Police said a 15-year-old boy had been charged with the murder of Jonathan Thompson of Gillies Street, Byker, Newcastle. A 17-year-old has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and affray. They will both appear before Gosforth magistrates today. Jonathan was found outside his rear door at 9pm on Saturday and was taken to the Newcastle General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

CENTRE OPENING: A medical school will be officially opened in York next week. The Hull-York Medical School (HYMS) building, a result of a partnership between the two cities' universities, opened its doors yesterday for its first medical students. Designed by architects Farrell and Clark, work began on the building, at the University of York's campus, last year. It was finished to coincide with the arrival of the university's first medical students.

FAME GAME: Fame Academy contestant Alistair Griffin, from Castleton, North Yorkshire, was given the public vote of confidence on Saturday to stay in the reality TV show. Despite his performance of a Madness hit being criticised by the judges, the public voted for the singer-songwriter to stay in. He is down to the last five contestants.

ROAD ACCIDENT: A pensioner was taken to hospital with head injuries after a road accident yesterday. The 75-year-old woman was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, by paramedics after she was knocked down by a vehicle outside Direct Carpets, in Front Street, Trimdon Colliery, County Durham, shortly before 9.30am.

SUSPECTED OVERDOSE: Police have appealed for information following the death of a 24-year-old man from a suspected drugs overdose in Washington at the weekend. The man was found in Waterloo Walk and was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

MAN DIES: A man died yesterday in an accident involving two lorries on the A1(M) in North Yorkshire. The accident, at Allerton Park where the A59 crosses the A1(M), happened at about 1.30pm and brought chaos to the southbound carriageway. Diversions were set up.

DIALECTS TALK: Author David Simpson will give a talk on Durham dialects and place names at the monthly meeting of the Weardale Society, in the Methodist schoolroom, Stanhope, County Durham, on Thursday at 7.30pm. Members of the public are welcome.

YOUTH CHARGED: A 17-year-old boy has been charged with assault after a 14-year-old boy was admitted to Sunderland Royal Hospital suffering from burns to his torso at the weekend. The alleged attacker will appear before Sunderland magistrates tomorrow.