FIVE years ago this week, hapless thieves who drilled through 7-ft gates, picked a lock and removed a double-glazed window to steal a nursery’s safe escaped with just 60p the owner had revealed.

Laura Leigh Wayman, managing director of Child’s Play Private Nursery, based at the Ferryhill Hub, in County Durham, was shocked to discover it had been targeted.

READ MORE: 60 year-old knocked off bike and suffers head injury by car that failed to stop

The then 27-year-old, who set up the business in 2012, described how the thieves used a drill to gain entry to the nursery’s garden before ripping off a UPVC window and drilling through its lock into the main building.

The robbers then ransacked the nursery office, making off with the electronic, and rather heavy, safe.

But Miss Wayman said she had had the last laugh during the incident.

“All of that hard work for 60p is a bit much,” she said at the time.

“We were expecting the place to be trashed but they have not touched any of the other rooms.”

She added: “More fool them because I have never left money in the safe overnight. The maximum it’s ever had is £5 so it’s their loss and more hard work for them."

READ MORE: Top 10 things to do in North Yorkshire according to TripAdvisor - been to any?

Also that week, the remains of Scottish soldiers discovered in a centuries-old mass grave in Durham were to be reburied in the city once research on their bones has been completed, it had been revealed.

The 17th century soldiers captured at the Battle of Dunbar, Scotland, were found on the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site in November 2013.

Durham University announced that the soldiers would be laid to rest at the Elvet Hill Road Cemetery in Durham - close to where their remains were originally found.

They would also be permanently commemorated with a plaque near to the site where they were discovered, which was to be made from stone cut in Dunbar.

The decision followed extensive consultation with a range of interested parties about what should have happened next to the remains in terms of further research, reburial and commemoration.

Meanwhile, talented pooches enjoyed Olympic themed games to raise funds for retired police dogs and a young man battling a rare form of cancer.

READ MORE: WEATHER: Region set to be treated to higher temperatures over the next two days

K9 Pursuits in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was looking for fun activities to keep its doggy day care guests entertained, and staff had pulled out all the stops for their Rio celebration.

From hurdles and diving; to a gymnastics inspired floor routine – the sporting hounds had been running, jumping and dancing their way to the winners’ podium.

Donations were also being collected for Paws Up, the Durham Retired Police Dog Benevolent Fund, and a crowdfunding campaign set up for Matthew Hadden from Dalton-on-Tees, near Darlington.

In February 2015, Mr Hadden was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and after months of aggressive chemotherapy, his left leg was amputated below the knee.

He said: “I come here when I’m well enough to get my dog fix."

READ MORE: Rare motorbike stolen from address in Harrogate after multiple incidents

-------

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054