A TEENAGE legal secretary has won an out-of-court settlement against a North-East law firm. Lindsey Gooda, 19, received the undisclosed sum after claiming sexual harassment and constructive dismissal against her employers Tilly Bailey and Irvine, of Hartlepool.

Miss Gooda, who was 16 at the time of the allegations, said she spurned sexual advances and was forced out of her £7,000-a-year job as a result.The company paid her compensation before the case, listed for July 18 this year, came to court. No one from Tilly Bailey and Irvine would comment on the case last night.

INQUEST OPENED: An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday into the death of a pensioner in hospital. Charles Heathcote, 84, of Warwick Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, was admitted to Middlesbrough General Hospital on July 21. He was transferred to the James Cook University Hospital, where he died on July 27. His neighbour, Debbie Wood, 41, gave evidence of identification to Teesside Coroner's Court.

MOTORCYCLE DONATION: The Yorkshire Dragoon Rain Dancers Motorcycle Club has presented £3,444.90 to the Butterwick Children's Hospice. The money was raised from a non-stop motorbike ride from Lands End to John O'Groats. The challenge saw one rider driving a Honda 90 dressed as the Queen on the weekend of her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

VAN OVERTURNS: Two men were taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, yesterday following an accident in which the van they were travelling in on the Sadberge to Sedgefield back road, in County Durham, overturned. They escaped with minor injuries, but were also left suffering from shock.