THIS week, 15 years ago, North-East musician Mark Knopfler pulled out of a charity concert after being involved in a motorcycle crash.

The Dire Straits frontman broke six ribs and his collarbone when his Honda motorcycle collided with a Fiat Punto in London on his way to rehearsals.

A spokeswoman for St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster, said Knopfler was brought into the accident and emergency department at 11.33am and left the hospital at 6pm.

His agent said: ''Unfortunately, this means he will not be able to perform at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust with Eric Clapton.”

Also that week, a business trip to Japan resulted in a North-East man seeing his father's grave for the first time.

Mark Francis, 41, of Middlesbrough, visited Japan to oversee the development of a steel plant.

He knew his father, David Francis, was buried there after suffering a heart attack near his ship in the Port of Hirohata in October 1967.

Mr Francis, who was six when his father died, visited the grave. He said: "It was very emotional because the only memories I have of my father are just a couple of flashes in my mind because I was so young.

"It was nice to be able to close a chapter in our life because no-one had been out there."

And a caring schoolgirl was awarded for the lengths she went to raise money for charity.

Charlotte Purdham, ten, of Bishop Auckland was the youngest of 35 children to receive a Shrievalty Award at a ceremony at Durham Castle.

While attending St Anne's Primary School, she was involved in many charity events, including a sponsored swim for Children in Need.

Out of school, she raised £175 for the Butterwick Hospice through a sponsored bike ride and walk. At Christmas, she collected neighbours' cards and telephone directories to be recycled, which also raised money for the charity.

Her mother, Deborah Dickinson said: "I am very proud of her, it was a wonderful occasion. Charlotte always thinks of others first and automatically wants to help when she can."