A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with the death of a horse and trap driver killed in a dual carriageway crash.

Wayne Walker, 33, of Springwell, Tyne and Wear, died and his horse had to be destroyed after a collision with a Honda Accord on the A182 at Washington, Wearside, in April.

David Graham, 26, of no fixed address, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving with no insurance. No plea was taken and he was remanded in custody to appear before the court again next month.

ASBESTOS MYSTERY: A former steel worker and labourer died from a condition commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, an inquest heard yesterday. Pensioner Alan Coverdale, of Newcomen Green, Middlesbrough, suffered from diffuse pleural fibrosis and emphysema - often linked with asbestos - but when questioned previously he could not remember any contact with asbestos. A post-mortem examination could not find any asbestos fibres in his lungs. Deputy Teesside coroner Gordon Hetherington said: "We probably will never know what caused it."

CHARITY DRIVE: The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is launching a recruitment drive for volunteers across the North-East. People are needed to organise fundraising events in the region. Anyone interested is asked to contact community appeals manager Barbara Cranston on (01661) 881442.

TOWER TALK: Darlington Market Square's clock tower will be the centre of attention in a programme on BBC Four. Restoration Secrets, which will be aired on Tuesday, September 2, at 10pm, focuses on buildings of architectural and visual interest with a colourful past.

SCRABBLE PARTY: Darlington Scrabble Club is celebrating its tenth birthday on Sunday, September 14. Past and present members will meet in Darlington town hall at 6.15pm for an event which includes a scrabble challenge between Mayor Ron Lewis and The Northern Echo's Mike Amos.

HOUSING CHANCE: An old hotel has been transformed into homes to help residents get on the property ladder in York, where soaring prices have made life hard for first time buyers. The Imperial Hotel site, in Clifton, has been turned into two-bedroom flats but only half are being sold, with the remaining half being owned by the landlord, the Tees Valley Housing Group.

CLOGGED COUNTRYSIDE: Cars clogging the country lanes of North Yorkshire are taking the pleasure out of trips in the countryside, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England. County chairman Jasper Gibbons said: "The majority of the county is made up of country lanes and we don't have many trunk roads." The groups wants certain routes to be designated as quiet lanes.

CARTOON TIME: Cartoonist Paul Slattery, who is in the Guinness Book of World Records for his 60ft caricature of Newcastle United footballer Alan Shearer, has become artist in residence in The Gate complex, in Newcastle. He will draw free caricatures of visitors on Wednesdays, 1pm to 4pm, and on Saturdays, from 6pm to 9pm.

GIRL HOME: Chantelle White, 12, who went missing from her home in Whiteleas Way, South Shields, on Monday night, has been found safe and well.