Police are trying to identify the body of a man found in the River Tyne, near the Redheugh Bridge, last Wednesday.

There were no suspicious circumstances. He was 20 to 30 years old, slim, with short brown hair, clean shaven and had rotten teeth. The little finger on his left hand was shorter by 2cm. He was wearing a dark sweatshirt with a greyhound motif, dark trousers and a red T-shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call 0191-454 7555 ext 64345.

RAPE CHARGE: A man has made his first appearance at crown court charged with raping a ten-year-old boy. Jamie Ian Jewitt, 25, spoke only to confirm his name at the short hearing at Newcastle Crown Court. The case was adjourned until September 23 when Jewitt, of Jarrow, will enter a plea to the rape charge.

SPY BASE MEETING: A pressure group set up to monitor activity at a US listening base has called a public meeting later this week. The Menwith Hill Forum will consider new developments in the debate over America's so-called "Son of Stars Wars" missile defence network, environmental issues and fears over radiation emitted by the radomes on the site on the moors above Harrogate, North Yorkshire. All are welcome at the Friend's Meeting House on Queen Parade, Harrogate, from 7pm on Friday.

APPEAL RENEWED: Detective Superintendent Karnail Dulku, the man leading the hunt to find the killer of 31-year-old Middlesbrough drug addict Darren Manders, last night appealed for the public's help. He said there had been "a slight slow down" in information coming in. Anyone who can help is asked to ring the incident room in confidence on (01642) 303188 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

sword incident: A 23-year-old man from the Houghton-le-Spring area will appear before the town's magistrates today following an incident involving a Samurai sword in nearby Fencehouses on Sunday. He has been charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon, false imprisonment, attempted kidnapping and possession of a controlled drug. A second man was last night being questioned by police about the incident.

FAILED TO APPEAR: A North-East teenager accused of stabbing a man failed to appear in court yesterday . Stuart Banks, 18, from Darlington but of no fixed abode, was due to appear at Doncaster Crown Court, where the attack is alleged to have taken place. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

LOYALTY REWARDED: More than 2,000 people have already subscribed to a reward card launched by Middlesbrough's Cleveland Shopping Centre in May. The card entitles shoppers who spend more than £10 in the Cleveland Shopping Centre to enter a monthly prize draw to win shopping vouchers totalling £500. Centre manager, David Ward, said: "The reward card scheme has been a huge success."

WOMAN FOUND: A search for a missing Middlesbrough prostitute has been called off after she was discovered safe and well and working in Newcastle. Concerned police showed town centre traders her photograph and notified support agencies she had vanished from her usual area but she was later found.

NEWE ROLE: Annie Mauger, head of libraries and heritage in York, has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Yorkshire Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.