DANGEROUS chemicals stolen from a school could have been missing since July.

Police issued a warning yesterday to thieves that the chemicals, stolen from St Robert of Newminster Secondary School, in Washington, Wearside, will give caustic burns if exposed to skin. The theft was discovered when the school reopened this week. The missing chemicals are in liquid and solid form, and are contained in glass bottles and boxes. Anyone with any information should contact Washington CID on 0191 454-7555.

MISSING GIRL: Fears are growing for the safety of a 13-year-old girl who has been missing since the weekend. Danielle Elliott has not been seen since she left the family home in the Fenham area of Newcastle at 1pm on Saturday. She is described as 5ft 3in, of slim build and long dark hair with blonde streaks. She was wearing a pink top and blue jeans. Anyone with information should contact police 0191 221-8311.

BLOOM AWARD: Residents are celebrating winning a second award in a month for their village. Whitburn, in South Tyneside, was runner-up in the Best Urban Community Category at the national Britain in Bloom finals. Earlier this month, the village won the Northumbria in Bloom contest and was awarded the competition's Tom Ridley Trophy for the second year running.

FOOTPATHS OPEN: The last three public footpaths in the UK closed by foot-and-mouth disease reopen on Monday. The opening of the paths, at Falstone in the Northumberland National Park, comes one year on from the last reported cases of the virus in the North-East.

MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE: Epilepsy Action is appealing for walkers to take part in the Ben Nevis Challenge this weekend. The charity raised £25,000 last year and is hoping for a record number of entrants this time. Anyone interested should contact Ian Turnpenny on 0113 210-8800.

MATHS CHALLENGE: Children, teachers and parents are preparing to take part in a mathematics fundraising challenge for the NSPCC. Number Day is being held in December and will involve youngsters taking part in a host of maths-related games to raise money. Schools will be sent packs to help them raise as much money as possible through various events.

CRAFT WORK: North-East craftsmen and women are to be represented at a festival of more than 100 crafts people from France, Poland and Hungary at the weekend. The delegation, travelling to Amiens in France, includes a goldsmith, ceramists, wood turners and a photographer, who will be travelling with Eurocrafts Northumbria.