A MAN has appeared before magistrates in Newcastle accused of trying to abduct a four-year-old boy in the city's Exhibition Park, on Wednesday afternoon.

Kevin McMullen, 49, of Derwentwater Road, Gateshead, was charged with detaining a child under 16, and remanded in custody until August 29. Police last night continued to appeal for twitnesses to the alleged incident to come forward. Anyone with information should contact Newcastle Central CID, on 0191-214 6555.

MISSING GIRL: Fears are growing for the safety of a 13-year-old girl, who has been missing from her North-East home for more than a week. Catherine Hall, of Heaton, Newcastle, has not been seen since August 15. She is known to frequent the Old Eldon Square area of the city and has a lot of friends in the Goth community. It is believed she might be in Middlesbrough. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact police on 0191-214 6555.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Unicorn Centre, a riding centre for the disabled, at Stainton Way, Hemlington, near Middlesbrough, is hosting a talk on Winter Feeding by Kirsty Hellowell, a nutritional sales advisor with Dodson & Horrell. Tickets for the event, on Tuesday, September 17, starting at 7.30pm, cost £2.50/£2 concessions, with a complimentary tea or coffee. All profits will go towards the centre's funds. For tickets, contact the centre on (01642) 576222.

TRAFFICALERT: Travelling Sunderland football fans are being warned to leave in plenty of time for the club's upcoming away fixture at Elland Road, Leeds, on August 28. Roadworks are in place on the M621 between junctions seven and four, leading into Leeds. Police are advising this could mean long delays and said motorists should allow ample time to get to the ground before kick-off.

GUNS SEIZED: A haul of guns, drugs and cash was seized when police raided a North-East house. Three firearms were recovered from an address in Deckham, Gateshead, along with a large amount of cash, plus heroin and cannabis. A man and a woman were arrested in connection with the raid, then released on police bail, pending further inquiries.

BOOKIE ROBBED: Machete-wielding raiders forced two terrified women to hand over cash in a robbery at the Done bookmakers, in High Street, Wallsend, Newcastle, on Thursday. The two men threatened the women before climbing over the counter to steal cash. They escaped on foot. No one was injured in the raid. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Wallsend CID on 0191-214 6555.

THAT'S REFRESHING: Pop trio Lemonescent - three Scottish girls infamous for their short tartan skirts - have been booked to appear with North-East radio station tfm at Tall Trees, in Yarm, near Stockton, on Thursday. The performance is part of a summer tour which has seen the band perform in front of a total of 1.2 million people. The band will be singing debut single Beautiful and October release Swing My Hips.

DRUGS SEIZED: Drugs with an estimated street value of £10,000 were recovered in a police raid on Wednesday. Officers found a kilogram of what was thought to be amphetamine at a house in Penshaw Street East, Newcastle. A 26-year-old woman was arrested at the scene.