Local News

A flat in Middlesbrough was destroyed in a major fire yesterday evening;

A campaign raising awareness of reducing risks of cancer will join in with the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ today;

...and a pensioner in Guisborough has claimed that he almost ran over a ghost in his car.

A flat in Middlesbrough was destroyed in a major fire yesterday evening.

Five fire appliances from Middlesbrough, Grangetown and Stockton rushed to the scene on Borough Road, in central Middlesbrough, at around quarter past six last night, and were there for nearly two hours.

A neighbouring flat was also badly damaged by smoke, while a hallway and stairs were completely wrecked by fire.

However nobody was seriously injured.

The road reopened at around 8pm, and just a police cordon remained in place around the house.

Borough Road was closed off from Abingdon Road while crews dealt with the fire.

A campaign raising awareness of reducing risks of cancer will join in with the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ today.

A host of activities will take place at The Live Well Centre in the Dundas Arcade in Middlesbrough as part of the event between 9.30am-3pm.

As well as coffee and cakes, members of the public can take part in a Row the Tees challenge, a guided walk, children’s activities and a tour of The Live Well Centre gym.

Additionally there will be cervical screening appointments available on the day, healthy heart checks, stop smoking service, Macmillan Family History Service and general information on screening and reducing the risk of cancer.

There will also be live music from Recovery Connections.

A pensioner in Guisborough has claimed that he almost ran over a ghost in his car.

Brian Smith slammed on the brakes after spotting what he thought was a man with a walking stick crossing a road near Rectory Lane. 

However, nobody was there.

Brian later told his son about what happened, who in turn posted on Facebook for an explanation.

Dozens of notifications later, and locals came up with an interesting theory - about a man called Wilf, apparently killed on the same road more than 40 years ago.

Locals claim that Wilf was hit and killed by a car in the early 70s - with the final road crossing supposedly happening near to Brian’s encounter.