AN ELDERLY woman died in hospital two days after missing her footing and falling downstairs, an inquest heard yesterday.

Handrails were fitted to the stairs in Willow Road, Darlington, where Evelyn Yates, 92, lived with her daughter, Alwyn Asbury. But Darlington and South Durham coroner Colin Penna said Mrs Yates had probably been tired on the night she fell, which was Easter Monday. She died from a head injury last Wednesday in Darlington Memorial Hospital, the hearing in Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court was told. Mr Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death.

CHILD RAPE: A man who raped a six-year-old girl was jailed for ten years yesterday. John Burke, 35, of Halton Court, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, denied two charges of rape and four further specimen charges of rape at an earlier trial at Teesside Crown Court and was found guilty of all counts.

STOLEN GOODS: Police are trying to trace the owners of thousands of pounds worth of property recovered in an operation. More than 100 car radio/CD players were recovered from an address in Scotswood, Newcastle, along with mobile telephones, cameras and jewellery worth a total of £17,000. People should contact Sergeant Kevin Benson at Newcastle West, on 0191-214 6555, extension 62368/62326.

BODY NAMED: A man found hanging in a wooded area of Ferryhill Station, County Durham, at the weekend, has been named as Barry Stevenson. The body of the 27-year-old, from High Street, Ferryhill Station, was found by a woman walking her dog on Saturday morning. An inquest is due to be opened at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court on Friday.

NEW FACES: Superinten-dent Graham Stafford is taking over at Gateshead East area command where he is being joined by Detective Chief Inspector Winton Keenan. Supt Stafford is replacing Superintendent Chris Symonds who has been appointed Chief Superintendent of Northumbria Police's criminal justice department.

FOSTERING EVENT: A free and informal information evening about fostering will be held in the Gateshead Civic Centre at 7pm on Thursday. It is the latest in a series of events to get people involved in the adoption or long-term fostering. For further information contact 0191-433 8333.

MAN STABBED: A 28-year-old man was stabbed in the shoulder when he intervened in a disturbance near Grey's nightclub, in Grey Street, Newcastle, at 2am on Sunday. He was treated in hospital for his injuries. His attacker was 35, 5ft 9-10in, with short mousy hair and of medium build. He was wearing a purple shirt.

MONSTER BURNS: An inflatable Frankenstein's Monster used to promote Reg Vardy cars at Blands Corner, Darlington, went up in flames at the weekend. Firefighters were called to the blaze late on Friday evening which started due to an electrical fault.

CAR CRIME: Police are investigating a number of incidents of criminal damage and break-ins on cars in the West End of Hurworth, near Darlington, during the weekend. There were a number of car crimes reported on Friday and Saturday.

COMPUTER STOLEN: Burglars broke into the offices of textiles firm Du Pont, Whessoe Road, Darlington, on Sunday night and stole a computer. It is the second time the business has been broken into in recent months.