THIS week, 15 years ago, a schoolboy’s holiday ended in surprise when he was flown to the wrong airport.

Billy Brown, 12, from Malton, North Yorkshire, thought he was disembarking at Leeds-Bradford airport but instead ended up at Teesside.

His mother, Claire Marshall, and eight-month-old sister, Amelia, were waiting at Leeds-Bradford and had to make a dash by car after he had been put on the wrong flight.

Mrs Marshall said: "There was a tannoy announcement asking me to go to the information desk, where they told me he was in Teesside. Thank God it was only Teesside and not any further."

After she collected her son, Mrs Marshall had to drive back to Leeds-Bradford to collect his luggage which had been put on the right plane.

Also that week, fans were disappointed when they were refused the chance to see the England football squad train in Hurworth.

Hundreds had turned up at Middlesbrough Football Club's Rockcliffe Park training complex to catch a glimpse of the team’s rare visit to the North-East but security officials were posted to make sure locals did not come too close.

Mike Dolby had brought his six-year-old son from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, to see the training session.

He said: "As far as I'm concerned, it comes with the job. They get paid enough. What harm to come over and give the kids a wave?"

Jonathan Roache, 15, a pupil at Hurworth Comprehensive school said: "This is the most exciting thing that's happened in the village and you'd think we'd at least be able to get a bit closer."

And North-East actor Jamie Bell was due to hit the big screen again three years after his success in Billy Elliot.

The 17-year-old, from Billingham, Teesside, was awaiting the release of a film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby, where he played Smike.

Jamie and his mother, Eileen, travelled to New York last year to promote the film, which was released in the US to qualify for the Oscar nominations.

He said; "The most important thing is to have people who can advise me on what to do. Having them is a lifeline to make sure you don't go down the wrong road."