FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - An itinerant vendor of ice-cream was occupying a stand in Darlington market square when he was assailed by a number of rowdies who pelted him with fish heads from the adjoining fish market. The Italian retaliated by rushing amongst the crowd and striking out indiscriminately with his ice-cream ladle, hitting a youth who had played no part in the attack. The Italian was arrested whilst the mob set his ice-cream cart afloat in the Skerne, much to the delight of the crowd who thronged St Cuthbert's bridge and cheered every movement.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - A three-storey furniture warehouse, originally the Darlington and Stockton Times printing works, in Printing House Square, Darlington, was virtually gutted by fire. As a precautionary measure the audience of 1,000 from the neighbouring Arcade Cinema was evacuated. Everyone left quietly and were soon watching an even more spectacular drama than the one on the screen.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - Marske bellringers offered the faulty clapper from one of the newly installed bells in St Mark's Church to the BBC TV programme That's Life, as the Heap of the Week. The Esther Rantzen show filmed the efforts of the leader of the ringers to dispose of the clapper, which was hurled into the sea under the guidance of the Northern Counties hammer throwing champion.