A SOLDIER from County Durham appeared in court yesterday accused of shooting a schoolgirl in the face with an airgun.

John Alan Wood is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a 14-year-old girl in Middlestone Moor, near Spennymoor, last Saturday night. The teenager was hit in the cheek with a pellet, which doctors at Middlesbrough General Hospital have so far been unable to remove. Mr Wood, of Lyne Road, Middlestone Moor, appeared before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe. The case was adjourned until November 22 and he was granted unconditional bail.

ROBBER FOILED: A robber brandishing a hammer fled empty-handed from a Jet petrol station in Boldon Lane, South Shields, South Tyneside when a woman assistant refused to hand over money. A police spokesman said the man entered the filling station kiosk at about 8pm on Thursday. He is described as in his early 20s, about 6ft, and of slim build. He was wearing a zip-up beige fleece top, dark trousers and a black mask.

VICTIM NAMED: The driver who was killed when his van was in collision with a car on the A1 at Kirkby Fleetham, North Yorkshire, early on Thursday was yesterday named as Richard Ian Smith, 40, who lived in the village.

FOUNTAIN THEFT: A landmark Victorian fountain has been stolen from outside a hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The ornate fountain, said to be worth £10,000, was taken from the gardens of the Duchy Nuffield Hospital in Queen's Road, off Cold Bath Road. The 100-year-old 10ft high fountain is decorated with serpents and cherubs.

HALLOWEEN ALE: As part of Wetherspoons' Halloween Beer Festival, Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool has produced an ale called Cauldron. It will be available in all Wetherspoons outlets today and tomorrow.

MUSICAL MAGIC: Traditional English music is coming to Darlington Arts Centre on Friday, December 6. Several performers will be at the centre as part of the Folkworks national tour. The event starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £10, concessions £8, and are available from the box office on (01325) 486555.

NEW ROLE: Keir Brown has been appointed sustainable development fund officer for the North York Moors National Park. He will be in charge of a grant scheme supporting projects, private, public or voluntary, which bring social, environmental and economic benefits to the area.

COLD COMFORT: Householders are being warned to be wary of con- men when buying solid fuel. Durham County Council's consumer services department has received complaints and detected a number of solid fuel traders supplying short weight fuel. Anyone who believes they have received a short weight delivery can contact consumer services on 0191-383 3589.

EURO TALK: Dr Gordon Adam, Euro MP for the North-East, will be speaking at a meeting of the Sedgefield Agricultural Group at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Monday, at 7.30pm. He will be discussing issues facing the region's farmers.