BOOK lovers queued in the region yesterday to get their hands on a signed copy of one of this year's literary sensations.

Reverend Graham Taylor, the vicar of Cloughton, near Scarborough, visited Ottakar's bookshop, in Darlington, to sign copies of his bestseller, Shadowmancer. The children's tale of 18th Century sorcery is at number one in the paperback bestsellers list. A spokeswoman for Ottakar's said: "It was a very successful day. The queues were horrendous, so many people turned up. A lot of interest has been generated in Graham's book and we sold lots of copies."

BODY RECOVERED: Police searching for missing reveller Stephen Feather yesterday recovered a body from the River Ouse, in York. The body was pulled from the river in the Clifton area of the city, not far from where a man was seen falling into the water on Friday night. Mr Feather, a 35-year-old from Pocklington, has not been seen since he left friends in a city pub on Friday night, saying he was going to catch a bus home. The body has still to be identified, and the local coroner has been informed.

CAR SMASH: A teenage girl is seriously ill in hospital after the car she was travelling in hit a lamppost. The accident happened shortly before 1.15am yesterday in Quarry Lane, Cleadon Park, South Tyneside. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which hit a garden wall, careered into the lamppost, then rolled over, landing on its roof. The 16-year-old girl, a passenger in the car, was trapped. Firefighters cut away a door to reach her and she was taken to hospital by ambulance. Three other teenagers escaped with minor injuries.

EXTRA DATES: More dates have been added to a series of workshops for childminders. The free workshops, operated by Sure Start, are open to registered minders or childcare centre staff. A workshop is taking place at Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington, on Saturday, September 6. Extra dates will take place at the Swallow Hotel, Stockton, on September 6 and 24, October 1, 8 and 18, at varying times. To enrol, call 0800 294 2904 or go to www.surestart.gov.uk/ support4business

STAFF SUSPENDED: Two senior members of staff at a leisure centre have been suspended and are facing an investigation, it emerged yesterday. The two men, who work at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, will be the subject of an internal inquiry. Darlington Borough Council, which runs the centre, yesterday said it would not make any further comment on the allegations.

MAN FOUND: Mark Bowden, 35, who went missing after leaving the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, on Saturday, has been found safe and well.