THIEVES drained 100 litres of diesel oil from a lorry while the driver slept in the cab after parking for the night in a layby on the A66 road west of Bowes, County Durham.

A police spokesman in Barnard Castle said yesterday: "It must have been a shock for the driver when he tried to set off in the morning and found his tank empty. We have had other incidents of thieves targeting lorries on this stretch of road, and would like all drivers to know that they have to be extra vigilant."

WEARING RED: The British Heart Foundation is appealing for people to wear red on Friday, June 13 to support children with serious heart problems. Anyone who wears red is asked to donate £1 on the day to help babies born with heart defects. British Heart Foundation pin badges will also be on sale in charity shops for £1. Anyone who wants to take part in the Wear Red Day is asked to contact (0800) 0930401 for a free fundraising pack.

CHARGES DENIED: A man arrested as part of Operation Ore, the trans-Atlantic investigation into Internet child pornography, denied five charges when he appeared before magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, yesterday. Jaynus Luke Suttill, 30, of Forest Lane, Harrogate, was remanded on bail until July 22 when he is expected to be sent for trial at Leeds Crown Court. Each charge claims that Suttill made an indecent photograph of a child at Harrogate between July 7, 1999 and July 13, 2002.

PAINTING INSPIRATION: A painting by Scarborough-born Frederic, Lord Leighton, the 19th Century president of the Royal Academy, is to be auctioned next week. The work is an 1880s painting of a young woman, Helen Pullan, who was said to have inspired a poem by Robert Browning. It is expected to fetch between £60,000 and £80,000 at Sothebys, in London.

HELPING RESCUERS: Swaledale Fell Rescue is appealing to outdoor enthusiasts to donate spare clothes which can be loaned or given to people it rescues. Items include thermal tops, warm trousers, fleeces, hats, gloves, socks and waterproof and windproof jackets. Items must be in reasonable repair and clean. Anyone able to help is asked to contact Alison Adams or Paul Brooks on (01833) 621469 or the rescue team's headquarters in Hipswell Road West, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

GUN DEATH: A former miner from east Durham was found dead at his home in Gray Square, Wingate near Peterlee, after shooting himself, an inquest heard yesterday at County Hall, Durham. William Stones, 60, had worked as a miner but was unable to return to his job after suffering a broken neck in a car accident many years ago. On January 15 he killed himself with a shotgun.

HAY FIRE: Firefighters spent 11 hours from 8.30pm on Monday tackling a blaze in a field near the Oddfellows pub, in Haswell, east Durham. It involved about 15 tonnes of bailed hay.