FIVE-YEARS-AGO this week, consumers were left shocked when traces of horse DNA were discovered in burger products.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) tested products from the Dalepak Hambleton plant in Northallerton and two other facilities in Ireland and found that of 27 products tested, ten contained horse DNA and in one Tesco Everyday Value product, horsemeat accounted for about 29 per cent of the meat content relative to beef.

The products investigated were on sale at Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores.

Tesco spokesman Tim Smith said: "The safety and quality of our food is of the highest importance to Tesco. We will not tolerate any compromise in the quality of the food we sell.”

The findings sparked a major investigation into food traceability across Europe.

In other news, tributes were paid to Captain Pete Barnes, who died in a helicopter crash in central London.

He was piloting an eight-seater Agusta 109 helicopter when it hit a crane during bad weather.

The 50-year-old experienced pilot worked for flight company Rotormotion, but spent several years working for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA), and three years giving traffic updates from the air for Metro Radio.

Kevin Hodgson, who worked with Capt Barnes at GNAAS, said: "He was as good a guy as you can imagine, a very dear friend and one of the best pilots I've ever had the pleasure of flying with.”

A former Paralympian visited a Middlesbrough school to inspire youngsters to participate in sport.

Lee Fawcett, who competed for Britain in wheelchair basketball, visited Oakfields School in Acklam, Middlesbrough, to run sessions for able-bodied and disabled youngsters.

Mr Fawcett, player and head coach at Newcastle Eagles Wheelchair Basketball Team, started classes for the Titans Junior Team and ran sessions for adults to try to encourage people to play sport.

Staff member Meriem Lairini said the initial response had been overwhelming from children and others interested in wheelchair basketball.

And 8,000 volunteers, dubbed Le Tour Makers, signed up to support Yorkshire's role in the 2014 Tour de France.

People crowded outside Leeds Town Hall for the announcement that Yorkshire would be included in the world famous cycle race.

Dee Marshall, of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "We have only just opened the application. We were expecting to get a few hundred, but we are already at nearly 8,000.

"We are expecting them to highlight the great warm Yorkshire welcome that we are renowned for.”