FIVE years ago this week, Durham County Cricket Club was getting ready to host its first Ashes test.

Durham County Council's Labour leader Simon Henig said Chester-le-Street was buzzing with excitement as the international sporting spotlight shone on the town.

"The region has never hosted an Ashes Test before, so it is history in the making," he said.

"It is more than just the benefit over the next few days; it is about people seeing what a fantastic cricket ground it is, what a fantastic place it is and maybe coming back later.”

There was more excitement that week as the most technologically advanced passenger aircraft paid a flying visit to the North-East.

British Airways' first Boeing 787 touched down at Newcastle International Airport as part of preparations to introduce it to long-haul flights.

Captain Mitch Preston, who helped fly the aircraft to Newcastle, said: "I am impossibly excited about this airplane. I love it.

"I have been working on this programme for over six years now, so for me to finally have my hands on the aircraft is tremendously exciting.

"It's like having a brand new toy, but also professionally it is a greatly satisfying moment to reach a milestone in bringing it to Newcastle."

Also that week, liver specialists from Teesside to Tyneside signed an open letter criticising the government’s decision to not introduce a minimum alcohol price.

The consultants expressed their disappointment, saying the North-East was particularly at risk because it had the highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions and the number of North-East hospital admissions for under 30s with alcohol-related liver disease soared by 400 per cent between 2003 and 2012.

In the letter, it said: "This is a disease that, even as recently as a decade ago, was something we would rarely see in anyone under 50.”

Meanwhile, a group of friends set off on an unusual fundraising adventure.

Gary Hunter, from Thirlby, near Thirsk, decided to buy and tax an old car for under £400 and drive it to John O’Groats, Scotland, with three of his friends to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Along the way the group took part in a variety of challenge events, such as the Glenurquahart Highland Games Glen Challenge, near Loch Ness, all while wearing kilts.

Mr Hunter said: "I turned 50 this year and thought that I would really like to do something different.

"We decided to raise money for Macmillan – all four of us have had people in our lives who have needed Macmillan Cancer Support.”