POLICE have named the driver who died in an accident at a crossroads on the A66 on Thursday night.

Nicola Dawson-Smith, 33, of Swalegate, Richmond, North Yorkshire, was at the wheel of a red Honda Accord Coupe involved in a collision with a lorry at the Melsonby crossroads, two miles west of Scotch Corner, on a stretch of road dubbed the worst in Britain. The lorry driver, from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, suffered minor injuries. The collision occurred at about 5.50pm. Witnesses are asked to contact PC Alan Lovett on (01609) 789326.

MAN IDENTIFIED: The body of a man found on Scarborough's North Bay beach has been identified as that of Vincent Barger, 39, of the town's Cromwell Terrace. Three bird watchers discovered Mr Barger's body close to the water's edge at Jackson's Bay, Scalby Mill, on May 17. North Yorkshire East Coroner Michael Oakley has opened and adjourned the inquest.

MAN ARRESTED: A 37-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of making threats to kill. Armed police raided a house in Poplar Street, South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, after another man from the South Moor area complained he had been threatened by a man with a gun.

PENSIONER CHARGED: A pensioner appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with indecently assaulting a three-year-old girl. Lawrence Derek Chapman, 69, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, is accused of assaulting the child in St Teresa's Hospice charity shop, in Skinnergate, on Thursday morning. He was bailed at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court to appear before magistrates in Darlington on Tuesday, June 10.

BRIDGE UPGRADE: The swing bridge which links the east and west sides of Whitby across the harbour is undergoing a £400,000 renovation. Work has included divers laying power cables in the seabed. New hydraulic piping and wiring is being installed in the bridge mechanism.

CAMERAS ROLLING: Children's television programme Blue Peter was in Darlington yesterday to film scenes for a show. The programme has been following the progress of the famous locomotive of the same name, which arrived in the town last month.

RACE FOR LIFE: We would like to point out that the telephone number for women wanting to enter this year's Race for Life is 08705 134 314 and not as previously reported. The Darlington race will take place on Sunday, July 13, at South Park