FIVE years ago this week, Margaret Thatcher died of a stroke aged 87.

National and international leaders voiced their tributes, former Prime Minister David Cameron praised her as “a great leader and a great Briton” and The Queen was said to be saddened by the news.

US President Barack Obama said Lady Thatcher – Britain's first female prime minister – had been a ''true friend'' to the US.

However, Durham Miners' Association voted to mark her funeral with a party at Easington Colliery Working Men's Club, in east Durham.

Chris Kitchen, general secretary of the NUM, said she was "vindictive", adding: "I'll not be shedding a tear at her demise."

Impromptu parties celebrating Lady Thatcher's death also took place the night she died in cities including Bristol, London and Glasgow.

Baroness Thatcher was given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours at St Paul's Cathedral nine days later.

The Northern Echo published a 20-page supplement looking back on her life and career, and focusing on how she divided opinion.

Also that week, Newcastle city centre saw the worst rioting in decades as Newcastle lost 3-0 to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby.

Newcastle fans poured out of St James’ Park and threw bricks, rocks and firecrackers at the police, one even attempting to punch a police horse.

Ranks of officers were needed to protect Sunderland fans outside Central Station as they tried to make their way home from the game.

Police said four officers were injured outside the station, with one taken to hospital.

A shocked shopper added: "It was terrifying and complete chaos. The Newcastle fans were chucking flares, bits of pavement, rocks, anything they could get their hands on.”

Meanwhile, a student prepared to backpack 200 miles in 12 days for a charity that combats poverty abroad.

Helen Wakefield, 20, from Great Ayton, tackled the Coast to Coast route from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay, in North Yorkshire.

Camping along the route and carrying all her equipment, the Cambridge University student raised money for Voluntary Service Overseas and did 12 weeks' work abroad with the organisation the following summer.

And more than 64,000 mourners joined a Facebook page in tribute to a family of five who died in a car accident.

The Cockburns were involved in an accident with a light goods vehicle on the A18 at Laceby, in north-east Lincolnshire on their way from Chester-Le-Street.

Two members of the family were taken to hospital in Grimsby but died a short time later. The other three members died at the scene.

The Facebook page attracted tributes from across the region and farther afield.

Alison O'Neill, from Belfast, said: "To lose one member of your family is heartbreaking, but to lose five is soul-destroying, so devastating."

Dozens of floral tributes were also left on the doorstep of the family home.