TEN years ago, this week the long-awaited scheme to upgrade the A1 in North Yorkshire was given the go-ahead.

The project to upgrade the 24 miles-stretch would make it possible to drive from Newcastle to the M25 along an unbroken motorway.

Plans for the road from Dishforth to Barton were announced and cancelled before ministers restored it to the national road building programme.

Then-Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said the scheme would reduce congestion, improve journey times and cut accidents.

She said: "The A1 is a vital route for the North-East.

"The improvement I'm announcing will provide drivers with a seamless motorway link all the way from Newcastle to London.

"This scheme will relieve congestion, reduce accidents, improve accessibility and make journey times more predictable and reliable – providing a boost for the region's economy as well as benefitting local residents."

The final section of the completed motorway is set to open this spring after years of delays.

Meanwhile football legend David Beckham earned his 100th England cap against France in Paris.

He said: ''I'm very honoured, straight from when I started playing for England I never dreamed I'd get 100 caps, and hopefully beyond.

''To be up there with Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Billy Wright and Peter Shilton, I'm honoured to be in that company.''

A teenager from Guisborough reached the finals of the Miss England contest. Seventeen-year-old Zena Thirlwall was studying A-levels at the time and was already an established Taekwondo instructor.

She said: "When my dad told me about the competition and asked if I wanted to join I said yes, so long as it would not interfere with my studies.

"My dad was always on the computer writing emails to companies and individuals he finds on the internet asking them to vote for me. My fingers were crossed."

And a pay row flared after it was revealed that a record number of North-East council bosses were earning more than £100,000 a year.

At a time when pensioners and families were facing inflation-busting council tax rises, 37 council officers were being paid £4.3m between them, an average of £116,000 each.

Many were also given an above-inflation pay rise.

The salaries were condemned by the TaxPayers' Alliance, which called for a curb on pay.

But the Local Government Association said officials were responsible for budgets running into tens of millions of pounds and attractive salaries were the only way of attracting the best candidates.

The three top earners in the region at the time were chief executives Ged Fitzgerald, of Sunderland City Council, John Marsden, of North Yorkshire County Council, and Ada Burns, of Darlington Borough Council. In 2006-7, they earned £174,156, £163,545 and £152,177 respectively.