THE housing market in the North-East is overshadowing the South-East, according to a report by Bradford and Bingley Estate Agents.

North house prices rose by 12 per cent in the first half of the year, compared with two per cent in the South. The average home in the North now costs £144,898, just below the national figure of £147,197.

WALL FALL: A 50-year-old man was taken to hospital on Saturday after falling off a wall and knocking himself out during a night out. Brian Gibson, of Darlington, left the Lounge nightspot at about 1.20am and fell 10ft backwards from a nearby wall he was sitting on. Inspector Bill Bentham, of Darlington police, said: "He has a three or four-inch cut on the left side of his face, but he has really been very fortunate because he fell a long way."

CHILD CALL: Children who want to talk to someone in confidence can telephone Child Call, based in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough. The service offers a friendly helpline. Children and young people are able to find out more about the organisation, ask questions and decide if they want to continue to the call. The service is available from 7pm to 10pm on weekdays, and 4pm to 10pm at weekends. The freephone number is 0800 774466.

ROAD CLOSED: The northbound carriageway of the A1 was closed for two hours yesterday following an accident. The incident, which involved one vehicle, took place at the Boroughbridge junction, North Yorkshire, at 8.10am. It was initially believed the motorist involved was seriously hurt. He was taken to hospital, where he was kept overnight for observation, and his condition was described as reasonable.

CONMEN STRIKE: Three conmen tricked their way into an elderly woman's home in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and then ransacked her bedroom. The men claimed to be removing a fallen tree and asked her to turn the water off. Two of them then stayed with her while the third ransacked the bedroom.

AWARDS WIN: More than 350 youngsters from 130 schools across the North-East and North Yorkshire were presented with awards for good citizenship at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. The winners were nominated by their schools as part of the club's Shining Through scheme.

UNIT REUNION: The Light Dragoons, formerly the 15/19th Hussars and the 13/18th Hussars, are having a reunion night at the Companions club in Waddington Street, Durham, on Friday, August 8. Former and serving members are invited.

TRUST GARDEN: The National Trust will open the gardens of its Yorkshire headquarters, Goddards, in Tadcaster Road, York, to the public on Sunday, August 3, from 2pm to 5pm. Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for children aged five to 16.

FREE WATER: Occupational therapist Diane Hancock has won five years' free water supply for her family's home in Brandon, near Durham, in a competition run by Northumbrian Water.