FIVE years ago this week, a coroner called for a "root and branch" review of British gun licensing after describing the deaths of three women shot dead in County Durham as "avoidable".

An inquest heard that Durham Police missed repeated opportunities to disarm Michael Atherton, who murdered three members of his family before turning the gun on himself.

The 42-year-old taxi driver killed his partner, Susan McGoldrick, 47, her sister, Alison Turnbull, 44, and Ms Turnbull's daughter, Tanya, 24, in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, on New Year's Day 2012.

The hearing was told that despite having a history of domestic abuse and threats to self-harm, Atherton legally owned six weapons, including three shotguns.

Coroner Andrew Tweddle said: "In my opinion, these deaths were avoidable.

"On a balance of probabilities, the four deceased would not have died when they did in the manner in which they did had there been robust, clear and accountable procedures in place."

The coroner accepted that no one in the Firearms Licensing Unit was guilty of acting in bad faith, but said "the system in place at that time was not fit for purpose so that the decision-making process was flawed".

Reaching a verdict that the women were unlawfully killed and that Atherton killed himself, Mr Tweddle said it was fortuitous there had not been more incidents like it.

In North Yorkshire, the family of four-year-old Fraja Simpson were overwhelmed at the scores of people who pledged to raise £500,000 towards her life-saving cancer treatment.

Fraja had been treated for MCYN amplified neuroblastoma in isolation at Leeds General Infirmary.

Her chances of avoiding a relapse rose if she flew to the US 100 days after healthy stem cells were reintroduced into her bone marrow, and only had five months to raise the money.

Mrs Simpson, of Gatenby, near Bedale, said: "We showed her the pictures of her in The Northern Echo and she smiled and was delighted when we said so many people are wishing her well."

Fraja was later given the all-clear and the family now live in Australia.

In County Durham, traffic was brought to a halt and the church was overflowing at the Requiem Mass of Father John Caden.

Among those in the congregation were former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.

Fr Caden had baptised all four of their children in Mr Blair’s days as Sedgefield's MP.

"He was the heart and soul of this community, " said Mrs Blair. "He had an understanding heart and a very wise head."

Fr Caden, 89, was laid to rest in Sedgefield cemetery next to his mother.

A 16-year-old student from east Durham penned a heartfelt letter to Education Secretary Michael Gove, who had claimed he could "smell the sense of defeatism" in North-East schools.

In his letter, Paul Willis, from Peterlee, said he found Mr Gove's comments an insult to teachers, students and parents in the area.

Paul added: "I would appreciate an apology from Mr Gove and I think he should come to our school and see what is really happening in east Durham."

And the Darlington-based care home provider at the centre of an abuse scandal went into administration.

Castlebeck Care Limited, which looked after adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems, had been formed 25 years earlier by nurses from Aycliffe Hospital.

In 2012, 11 members of staff at Winterbourne View, in Hambrook, South Gloucestershire, were sentenced for their roles in the "gross breach of trust and power" against those in their care.