A TEACHER appeared in court yesterday accused of nine counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

Andrew Guffick, 33, whose address was given in court as Commercial Street, Ferryhill Station, County Durham, faces allegations which date between February 1 and February 21. Appearing at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday, Mr Guffick was bailed to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 16.

SHOW CRAFTS: Entries are invited for the arts and crafts categories in the Orange Peterlee Show, which will be staged on the weekend of August 31-September 1, at Helford Road Sports Ground, Peterlee, east Durham. Sections featured include decoupage, jewellery, greetings cards, knitting, woodcraft, Indonesian crafts, sketch drawings, fabric crafts, glassware and aromatherapy. Further details are available from Debra Coates, at Peterlee Town and Tourist Information Centre, on 0191-586 4450.

PLAN WITHDRAWN: Plans by Bassam Mekkaoui to re-open the former Kirklevington Country Club, Thirsk Road, Kirklevington, near Yarm, Teesside, have been withdrawn. Instead, Stockton Borough Council has granted planning permission for 18 two-bedroomed apartments and 22 cottages on the site.

BABY ASSAULTED: A man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm after a 12-week-old baby was taken to hospital with brain injuries. The 30-year-old, from the Tyneside area, will appear before Gateshead magistrates on August 30.

METRO TALKS: Control room staff working on the Tyne and Wear Metro system yesterday rejected a fresh pay offer from bosses Nexus, sparking fresh fears of a six-day strike on the network. Talks are ongoing in a bid to prevent the action.

CHILDREN HURT: Two boys were injured in separate road accidents yesterday. A six-year-old was knocked down by a taxi in West Denton, Newcastle, just before noon. He was treated for abdominal and arm injuries at Newcastle General Hospital. A 14-year-old was treated for shoulder injuries at Tyneside District Hospital after being knocked down by a car in Hebburn, South Tyneside, at 3pm.

VICE CHARGES: Thomas McGirr, 49, of Billingham, and Sally Ingleby, 28, of Middlesbrough, who respectively face charges of soliciting and loitering, will appear before Teesside magistrates this morning.

INQUEST OPENs: An inquest will be opened today in Gateshead into the death of George Dixon, 20, of Oakfield Terrace, Pelaw, when his car plunged into the River Tyne, on August 7.