A gang of masked men failed in their bid to ram-raid an off-licence.

The men, wearing ski masks and balaclavas, drove a white car into the back wall and door of Bargain Booze, in Yarm Road, Darlington, at 10.20pm on Wednesday. A small amount of damage was caused to the shop but nothing was stolen. anyone with information is asked to call police on (01325) 467681.

IDEA 'FLAWED': Plans to extend the number of affordable houses built in York have been branded as unrealistic and flawed by local developer Matthew Laverack. He claimed a proposal to make the majority of developments in the city include 50 per cent affordable housing would actually reduce the amount of social housing locally by making schemes unviable for builders.

RAPE CHARGE: A man has appeared in court facing two charges of rape. James Flaherty, 29, is also accused of criminal damage, all said to have happened on March 12. No plea was taken during a short hearing at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday and Flaherty, of Hexham Avenue, Hebburn, South Tyneside, was remanded in custody until May 27.

COURT PLEA: Andrew Coombs, 17, of Tuson Walk, Hartlepool, pleaded not guilty yesterday at Teesside Crown Court to the manslaughter of 16-year-old Andrew James, who was found lying in Abigail Walk, Hartlepool, and died in hospital 24 hours later on December 22, last year. He was released on bail with conditions.

PESTICIDE DANGER: Police are warning the public to be on the look out for 10kg boxes of Temik - an agricultural insecticide - that were stolen from a farmer's field in Wistow, near Selby, North Yorkshire, on Thursday. They warned it could cause serious health problems. Anyone with information is asked to call Selby police, on (01757) 702596.

MURDER INQUIRY: Police have won more time to question a man in connection with the death of Hashi Dualeh, 63, who was found dead in a house in Beach Road, South Shields. Yesterday, South Tyneside magistrates granted detectives an extension to continue holding a 21-year-old man arrested for questioning. The order will run until 7pm tonight.

ECSTASY BOY: Quick-thinking by teenagers who called an ambulance after their friend took an overdose of Ecstasy may have saved his life. The 15-year-old boy was found collapsed in the Oxclose area of Washington, Wearside. He was discharged from Sunderland Royal Hospital on Thursday night.

CROCUS WALK: A crocus walk will take place at Castle Howard, near Malton, tomorrow, as part of a series of fundraising walks in aid of the national Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity. Norwich Union, in York, has pledged to match the total money raised by walkers up to £100,000.

SAITLY SERVICE: A special service celebrating the life of St Cuthbert, whose remains are entombed in Durham Cathedral, will be taken by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull, today. The St Cuthbertside Eucharist takes the place of the usual Holy Communion at Durham Cathedral, at 11am, two days after St Cuthbert's Day.