About £4,000 worth of jewellery has been stolen in a raid on a County Durham home. Thieves escaped with the haul, including gold and silver watches, after breaking in through the back door of the house in Dale Road, Chilton.

Detective Constable Dave Robinson said it was the latest in a series of house burglaries in the community and warned people to be vigilant. The raid occurred between 1.35pm and 4.35pm on Monday. Anyone with information is asked to contact Newton Aycliffe police on (01325) 314401, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

case adjourned: A deaf man has been charged with causing the death of two women after taking a vehicle without consent. Stephen Dack, 51, of Exeter Street, Newcastle, also faced charges at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday of driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance. Farmer's wife Irene Stephenson, 57, and Sarah Thompson, 88, died when they were in collision with a car in December. The case against Mr Dack was adjourned until July 1.

INQUIRY CONTINUES: Darlington police were yesterday continuing an inquiry into claims that a 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by two men in a late-night attack. She told detectives that she was subjected to the assault at about 10pm on Wednesday, June 11, near the junction of Northgate and Corporation Road.

OPEN VERDICT: Teesside coroner Michael Sheffield recorded an open verdict into the death of a woman who died of liver failure. Mother of young twins, Tina Cockerill, 34, of Seymour Hill, Loftus, east Cleveland, is thought to have taken an excessive dose of painkillers a few days before she died. A post-mortem examinaion revealed that as well as an enlarged liver, her kidneys were also damaged and her blood was unable to clot.

HERITAGE WEEKEND: Shoppers will be able to learn about the work carried out by English Heritage when the organisation holds two days of activities and information at the MetroCentre this weekend. The event will include medieval jousting, an archaeological dig and Roman hat making.

MORE DUSTING: Due to a big demand for tickets for a rerun of the comedy Dirty Dusting, at the Customs House, South Shields, South Tyneside, in August, two further dates have been added. The extra shows will be on September 1 and 2. Tickets are available from the box office on 0191-454 1234.

School hailed: The Department for Education and Skills has invited one of the region's schools to a celebration of top performers. Headteacher Eamonn Farrar, of Hurworth Comprehensive School, near Darlington, is representing the school today at a meeting of secondary schools with high standards, in London.

CHARITY RECITAL: The Apollo Male Voice Choir is giving a concert to raise funds for the Transplant Sports Association of Great Britain at Middlesbrough Theatre, Middlesbrough, at 7.30pm on September 26. For information, contact (01642) 320461 or 07958 743312.