FIVE years ago this week, a rural community rallied together to help a family who lost everything to a farmhouse fire.

Seven-year-old Thomas Riggs spotted smoke billowing from his home at Spanham Farm in Teesdale. He alerted his mother, Susan Riggs, who called the fire brigade as flames engulfed their home.

An appeal for donations was launched across social media with Barnard Castle businesses Zara Countrywear and Picture This acting as collection points.

Mr and Mrs Rigg said they were "quite overwhelmed" by the response to their plight.

Donna Dobson, owner of Zara Countrywear, said she could see the fire from her home in Marwood.

She added: "It was just absolutely devastating sat in my own home looking at a friend's that was on fire. They do so much for everybody else and then this happens to them.”

Also that week, a man relived the fight to save a fellow kayaker's life when his boat became trapped underwater.

James Pullen, of Darlington, told an inquest how he and fellow kayaker John Wootton battled for half-an-hour to free Matthew Baird-Parker after his boat became lodged under a tree in Arkle Beck, near Reeth.

It took fire officers another three-quarters-of-an-hour to free the kayak with Mr Baird-Parker still trapped inside. He was later pronounced dead at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Mr Pullen dedicated a route of Arkle Beck, which he wrote for the UK Rivers Guidebook, to Mr Baird-Parker saying he would not have wanted the accident to put off others.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere of Spennymoor reached feverpitch as its football team prepared to play in the FA Carlsberg Vase final at Wembley Stadium.

More than 5,000 fans followed Spennymoor Town FC south to London to see them play.

Club captain Daniel "Bobby" Moore, sadly sidelined by a broken ankle, said:

"Most of us have hardly been home in a month with all the games and the build-up to the final, but it is a once in a lifetime occasion for most of us, so the lads are soaking it up and will do all they can to win."

And it was announced that singer Jessie J would perform at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground in a star-studded summer concert.

She joined line-up for Summer Nights Live, alongside Five, Blue and reformed girl group Atomic Kitten.

Durham County Cricket Club chief executive David Harker said: "Securing these great acts is fantastic news for the cricket ground as it builds on its growing reputation as a prestigious open-air concert venue.”