FIVE years ago this week Andy Murray withstood the pressure of history and the prowess of world number one Novak Djokovic to be crowned Wimbledon champion amid unforgettable scenes on Centre Court.

The 26-year-old from Dunblane ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles winner at the All England Club with a 6-4 7-5 6-4 triumph.

Murray raised his fists in celebration before embracing Djokovic then sinking to his knees with his forehead on the grass.

The Centre Court crowd and the thousands of people watching outside on the big screen had given him tremendous vocal support, and he high-fived fans in the front row before climbing up to his box.

There he embraced coach Ivan Lendl, his support team and girlfriend Kim Sears.

Murray initially forgot his mum, Judy, who was sitting in the row behind, but went back to celebrate with her.

Returning to the court to lift the trophy, Murray's face was a mixture of elation, exhaustion and disbelief.

His emotions were a total contrast to the year before, when he had sobbed through his post match speech after losing the final to Roger Federer.

That match proved a turning point, with the Scot going on to win Olympic gold by beating Federer on the same court four weeks later and then winning his first grand slam title at the US Open.

Murray said: "Winning Wimbledon, I still can't believe it. I can't get my head around that."

Also that week, The Northern Echo launched a campaign to strengthen the laws around sentences for sex offenders.

In other news, an 1,800-year-old carved sandstone head was unearthed in an ancient rubbish dump.

The artefact was found by Durham archaeology student Alex Kirton at a site at Binchester Roman Fort, Bishop Auckland, and was likened to the Celtic deity Antenociticus.

Mr Kirton, 19, from Hertfordshire, said: "As an archaeology student, this is one of the best things and most exciting things that could have happened.

"It was an incredible thing to find in a lump of soil in the middle of nowhere – I have never found anything as remotely exciting as this."

A mother-of-seven gave birth to her third lay-by baby on her way to hospital.

Farmer Amanda Owen, of Ravenseat, at the top of Swaledale, was told she was not allowed to have home births because of her fast labours and living so far away from medical help. Instead, she had to call an ambulance rather than set off for the hospital herself.

This time, the Yorkshire Dales shepherdess only managed to make it three miles to a lay-by at Keld before the ambulance had to pull over.

"I got away with it again – the baby is healthy, " she said.

"But there will be women who won't make it and won't be so lucky.”

And a study found that every council in the North-East was in danger of going bust.

The region's town halls will be hit the hardest by the latest Government cuts, the survey found, facing the biggest funding black holes.

The worst-hit authority will have funding for only 69 per cent of its expected spending, by 2020, and even the best placed will have only 77 per cent.

There will be cash for few services other than essential social care and rubbish collection if the cuts continue, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

It said closures of services such as libraries, road maintenance, school support schemes and youth clubs are nearly inevitable.