A MOTHER who overturned an 800-year-old law to get justice for her murdered daughter, was honoured for her outstanding bravery, 15-years-ago this week.

Ann Ming was voted one of Britain's Bravest Women by Best magazine for her campaign to get justice for her daughter, Julie Hogg, who was killed in 1989.

Mrs Ming found her daughter's mutilated body hidden under the bath at her Billingham home.

Labourer Billy Dunlop was arrested and charged with Julie's murder but he was acquitted after a jury twice failed to reach a verdict.

He later confessed to the killing while in jail for an unrelated offence, but the double jeopardy rule, stating no one can be tried twice for the same crime, meant he could not be punished for Julie's murder.

Mrs Ming and her husband, Charlie campaigned to get the law changed, backed by The Northern Echo, and in 2006, Dunlop was finally jailed for life for murder.

Speaking about her bravery award, Mrs Ming, who also received an MBE in 2007, said: "I am not brave - I just did what any mother would do in those circumstances."

Also that week, police demonstrated the intensive security measures which are to be installed at Durham Tees Valley Airport (then Teesside Airport) in the wake of international terrorist attacks.

High-visibility patrols were carried out, with specially-trained dogs also being sent on to aircraft to check for explosives.

Airport commercial manager Richard Whitehouse said: "The safety and security of the airport's passengers, staff and partner organisations is of paramount importance to us."

Nationally, a jobless busker won the record deal of a lifetime when he entered TV talent show Fame Academy.

David Sneddon won a £1m recording contract after beating off tough competition from 22-year-old Northern Ireland graduate Sinead Quinn and 24-year-old north London bank worker Lemar Obika.