FIVE years ago, this week, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her first child, Prince George of Cambridge.

The baby weighed 8lb 6oz and was delivered at St Mary's Hospital, in London.

A spokesman for the Royal family said: "The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news."

The Prince of Wales said that he was "enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time."

Members of the public celebrated as crowds gathered outside the hospital and the palace.

In a brief statement the Duke of Cambridge said: "We could not be happier."

In the North-East, divers recovered the bodies of two missing girls from the River Wear.

The youngsters disappeared in the fast-flowing water at Fatfield, Washington, prompting a major search.

More than 100 emergency service personnel, including police officers, maritime search units, ambulances, fire crews and dog units were involved in the hunt for the teenagers.

The girls, named as Chloe Fowler and Tonibeth Purvis, were playing in the river on one of the hottest days of the year.

Dzens of people gathered at the scene of the search, near the Biddick Inn pub, where the river is about 50 yards wide.

Northumbria Police Superintendent Alan Veitch said a group of children had gone into the river, but it remained unclear if they had been paddling or swimming.

Meanwhile, The Northern Echo backed a high-profile campaign to tackle payday lenders by offering free advertising to every credit union in the North-East.

The campaign was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby who was calling for measures to be introduced to tackle the problem.

David Coates, managing director of Newsquest North East, publisher of The Northern Echo, said: "We want to do what we can to help people in our communities.

"We believe credit unions are a force for good and helping them to promote themselves is something we can do which will be of practical benefit."

Council leader Bill Dixon supported the decision. He said: "Payday lending is disastrous – people are getting into financial messes that they have no chance of getting out of.

"Anything The Northern Echo or anyone else can do to promote sensible forms of lending such as credit unions we welcome with open arms, and would encourage anyone in debt to go to their local credit union.”