TEN years ago, this week, an outbreak of bluetongue disease was branded as “devastating news” for farmers.

It was believed the virus came from a batch of legally imported animals from a restricted zone in Germany.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the virus had been detected in 18 cattle on a farm near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, during routine veterinary checks.

Country Land and Business Association's (CLA) regional director Dorothy Fairburn said: "This will be a blow to the whole industry.

"I would urge farmers to contact the National Farmers' Union and the CLA for further information. It won't have the same sort of serious effects as foot-and-mouth, but it couldn't have come at a worse time of year for the sales of sheep and store cattle.

“There are no cases of it being transferred to humans, but the illness can be fatal for cows and sheep.”

Also, that week, following Kevin Keegan’s resignation as Newcastle United Manager, speculation flew around Tyneside that Keegan might return to St James' Park.

The former manager met with club owner Mike Ashley in London to "resolve several issues".

A host of bookmakers suspended betting on the 57-year-old's return after sources close to the club confirmed a meeting had taken place.

The details and the results of the meeting were unclear, with some suggesting it could have been to discuss a compensation payment following his departure, with lawyers in attendance.

Meanwhile, a pensioner was desperate to trace a woman who saved his life after he collapsed in a bus station.

James Sproat, 75, had been buying groceries and blacked out while waiting for a bus home.

The retired widower wanted to track the woman down to thank her for her help.

He said: "If she hadn't called the ambulance, I might not have been here.

"I would like to find out who she is. She could be a schoolgirl sitting in a class, or a student or maybe a nurse.

"You hear so much about kids vandalising, urinating and smashing places up.

"I wonder how many adults walked past me, thinking I'd had too much to drink. She was my good Samaritan. "