THIS week, 15 years ago, a North-East student scoped £163,191 after placing a £4 bet at his local bookies.

Mature student, Norman Evans, 46, won the cash after finding six winners on selected televised races.

He said: "I'm not a big gambling man and never bet more than a fiver, so investing £4 was quite a big wager for me. I've been working part-time just to put food on the table."

Norman, of Norton, Teesside, won on the Tote's big Saturday bet, the Scoop Six. The wager gives gamblers the chance to win a national kitty – in this case £163,191 – if they pick six winners from races selected all over the UK.

Also, that week, community members celebrated restoration of the village’s cenotaph.

Residents aged 16 to 60 in Witton Gilbert, near Durham decided to restore the monument themselves, fearing it would deteriorate further if they waited and went through the proper council channels.

Witton Gilbert and District Working Men's Club committee, the parish council and individuals gave money, while several companies donated the materials needed.

Villagers spent weeks restoring the cenotaph, adding a chain around it, replacing broken paving slabs and planting flowers around the base.

Club steward John Wilson said: "People of all ages have mucked in and done a marvellous job."

Meanwhile, a former pit village was undergoing the final phase of a £100,000 transformation scheme.

Improvements began on Cockfield, in Teesdale, the year prior and were due to be complete during the Easter break.

Work on the area was funded by English Heritage, the County Council, the Local Transport Plan and Teesdale District Council.

During the renovation, tarmac and concrete paving was removed from the village centre and replaced with traditional stone paving and granite set parking bays.

Durham County Councillor for Evenwood, John Priestley, said the first stage of the village's facelift, £52,000 of improvements to paving, grass verges and street furniture on Front Street by the County Council and English Heritage, went extremely well.

He added: "The work already completed is wonderful and very much appreciated by the people of Cockfield. I'm sure the next stage will be equally as well received. It will provide easier access around the village, particularly for people with pushchairs, the elderly and disabled."