FIVE years ago this week, days of torrential rain caused a devastating landslip, leaving a 150-year-old row of cottages overlooking Whitby Harbour teetering on the edge of a 30ft drop.

The five houses in Whitby, North Yorkshire had to be demolished after gardens and patios behind Aelfleda Terrace, in Whitby, were swept away down the steep slope.

Resident Jude Knight said: "I'm just devastated, I've lost everything. I've lost 26 years of my life, that's how long I've had this property."

The downpours left homes flooded, trains delayed and roads closed.

Loftus in east Cleveland, were cut off and the main street of nearby Carlin How was left underwater.

In Darlington, the River Skerne rose to dangerous levels, and police shut John Street, near High Northgate, when water threatened to come over the bridge.

Also that week, a campaign for an inquiry into police conduct during the 1980s Miners Strike was backed by North-East MPs that week.

A coalition of union leaders, campaigners and lawyers set out to erase the criminal records of the estimated 7,000 men detained and "falsely charged" during the bitter unrest of 1984-85.

Dave Hopper, general secretary of the Durham Miners' Association, said: "It was a long time ago, but there is still a lot of bitterness about what the police got away with and the way they were used as an arm of the state. They were prepared to send people who were innocent to jail for long sentences."

Meanwhile, a group of postmen sported moustaches to raise money for Movember.

Five members of staff at the Royal Mail delivery office in Darlington took part in the national fundraising campaign to raise money and awareness for men’s health.

Manager Paul Bowman said: "Our people at the St Cuthbert's Way delivery office in Darlington planned various fundraising events, including growing a moustache."

The campaign encourages men to donate their sponsorship money to prostate and testicular cancer charities.

That week's wet conditions, however, did not deter cyclists at Sedgefield’s Hardwick Park, where the Ferryhill Wheelers Cycling Club hosted round four of the North-East Cyclo Cross League.

Ian Dunn, race organiser for Ferryhill Wheelers, said it had been a good day's racing despite the weather.

He said: "Conditions were difficult. The course drains reasonably well for a grassy field, but with the amount of rain in the ground, it cut up quite a bit."