LOOKING back to this week, ten years ago - from Monday, May 9 to Saturday, May 14 - to when Darlington was hit with two suspicious deaths.

A woman was fighting for her life after being stabbed in her home – only hours before a man's body was discovered at a nearby house, on May 11, 2012.

Police believed the man's death may have been be linked to the attack on the woman, who was in a critical condition in hospital after undergoing surgery.

The 34-year-old woman was found in Holmwood Grove, in the Harrowgate Hill area of Darlington, at about 5am. Horrified neighbours called police after being woken by screams.

The victim, who is believed to be Polish, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital where she underwent life-saving surgery. Detective Inspector Kevin Weir said he believed the victim knew her attacker, adding: "We are continuing inquiries to ascertain what has happened."

He said a man's body was found about a mile away in Skerries Walk, near Darlington Golf Course, three hours after the woman was taken to hospital.

Days later, on Monday, May 14, 2012, the identity of the man found dead remained a mystery.

Police believed the man's death was linked to the attack on the 34-year-old woman, who remained in hospital in a critical condition. However, three days after the incident in Darlington, they were unable to establish his name or even his nationality.

On the North York Moors, a golden age of travel was revisited when a steam train service is laid on for the diamond jubilee.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway was to put on a regular steam train service between the tourist destinations of Pickering and Whitby.

General manager Philip Benham said the Diamond Jubilee Steam Festival would be the most frequent steam service for more than 50 years between Whitby and Pickering.

Finally, a once iconic building and a major centre of the international chemical industry looked certain to be finally demolished after a legal hearing, in May 2012.

Billingham House, the former headquarters of ICI in Billingham, near Stockton, had been derelict for several years.

Stockton Borough Council tried to have the huge 1960s structure destroyed, but owners Bizzy B Management resisted, arguing the building could be put back to use.

Bizzy B sought a judicial review on the grounds that destroying the property was an abuse of human rights.

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