Two brothers appeared in court yesterday jointly charged with murder.

David Worton, 41, of St Mary's Close, Stockton, and John Alexander Worton, 42, of De Brus House, Thornaby, appeared before Teesside Crown Court charged with the murder of father-of-seven Mark Anthony Richardson. The two men spoke only to confirm their names. The brothers were remanded in custody and will appear before the court on June 28 for a plea and directions hearing.

MAN remanded: A man appeared in court yesterday charged with the attempted murder of his half-brother. Craig Hart, 28, of Woodcock Close, Bankfields, Eston, spoke only to confirm his name at the hearing. He is charged with the attempted murder of David Hart on April 26 this year. Craig Hart was remanded in custody until June 14 when a plea and directions hearing will be held.

Robber foiled: An 82-year-old woman thwarted a robber who forced his way into her home in Jesmond Dene, Newcastle, at 5.15pm on Friday. Police said the robber, who had fled empty handed, was in his 40s, 5ft 7in and of heavy build. The victim hurt her wrist during the ordeal.

PAPER DUE: A long-awaited White Paper on Regional Governance, which campaigners hope will pave the way for devolution for the North-East, will be published next Thursday. The White Paper will be introduced on to the floor of the House by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. Prime Minister Tony Blair has put his personal stamp on the paper by writing the foreword.

Celebrity auction: Auction house Bonhams is joining forces with the National Trust to hold an antiques valuation day in Fountains Hall, Fountains Abbey on May 14. The experts present will include Eric Knowle, famous for his appearances on TV shows such as Antiques Roadshow. They will be valuing everything from ceramics to jewellery, pictures to clocks, furniture to works of art, between 11am to 3pm.

JOURNAL LAUNCH: St John's College, Durham City, will launch the Borderlands journal, part of a project to bring Christian theology into lectures, publications and research, on Monday, May 20, at 1pm. The project began in February with an open lecture by the climatologist and former head of the Meteorological Office, Sir John Houghton.

OFFICER'S PASSING: The first Chief Fire Officer of Tyne and Wear Metropolitan fire Brigade, Pat Watters, died on Monday evening, in the week he would have turned 80. He held the post from 1974 to 1978, when he retired after 30 years' service. During that time, he served as president of the Institution of Fire Engineers On retirement, he took up the post of Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland.

TEACHER TALK: Communications company BT, learn.co.uk and the Teaching Awards Trust have formed an online partnership for teachers and lecturers to share thoughts, problems and solutions. The website is www.talking teaching.co.uk

DRAW winner: The weekly winner of a lottery draw has won £200. Every week, 11 tickets are drawn from the Great North Air Ambulance Service lottery. This week's main winner is the holder of ticket 10036, bought in South Shields. The ten £10 winners hold tickets 09179, 11163, 08394, 08090, 08147, 13965, 09515, 08014, 10083, and 08665. To join the lottery, or help the appeal, telephone or fax (01668) 213824.