Looking back to the week beginning June 24, five years ago, when a heartbroken family said goodbye to an inspiration teen.

The family of an inspirational teenager paid their own tribute to their “amazing young man” who “lit up the whole world”, following his death in June 2017.

Kieran Maxwell, from Heighington, near Darlington, “gained his wings” in the early hours of the morning on Friday, June 23, 2017, his mother Nicola revealed, after losing a near seven-year battle with cancer.

The 18-year-old lost his left leg after being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma – a rare form of bone cancer – in October 2010.

After twice beating the disease, a chest X-ray during a routine check-up in October 2016 brought the devastating confirmation that the cancer had returned – this time spreading around his heart and lungs.

Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo, Kieran’s family said they were “numb with grief” following the death of their “inspirational” son. “Kieran didn’t light up the room, he lit up the whole world."

A school head was accused of “body shaming” after suggesting to children in an assembly that girls above a dress size 10 should not wear short, tight skirts.

Anne Malcolm said she was trying to get the message across to pupils not to wear Lycra tube skirts to school as they weren’t part of the uniform.

However she caused anger amongst parents and pupils when she said: “I am not a size eight to ten, I wouldn’t wear one.”

Mrs Malcolm, who says she is a size 16, argued that her comments have been misunderstood.

But pupils at Manor Community Academy in Hartlepool say her comments reinforced negative stereotypes about young women and are demanding an apology.

One 13-year-old girl in year eight said: “I’m not a skinny girl but I think I should still be able to wear a pencil skirt if I want to.

“The principal wasn’t thinking about how she might make girls feel when she said that, it wasn’t the right message.”

Residents were advised to stay indoors and roads closed as numerous teams of firefighters tackled a major fire involving a mountain of around 100 cars, on June 23, 2017.

As a blaze swept through the scrapyard in Lingey Close, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, concerns grew for those living nearby due to large amounts of smoke billowing from the premises.

Five fire appliances were sent to battle the blaze, which broke out shortly before 2pm.

Firefighters took more than an hour to bring the fire under control.

The North East Ambulance Service also attended the scene, but no one was believed to have been hurt.

County Durham and Darlington Fire Rescue Service said they had received a large number of calls from the public alerting them to the fire.

Station and community safety manager Andrew Allison said:

“We were alerted to the fire at about 1.55pm by numerous callers.

“When we arrived at the auto dismantling yard we found a mountain of about 100 cars, piled on top of each other on fire.

“We worked with Durham Police to set up road closures.

“The ambulance was also in attendance, but as far as we know there were no injuries. It took us about an hour to bring the fire under control.

“We aren’t sure how the fire started – it’s too early to say as we haven’t had time to investigate or speak to the owner yet.”

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