Pensioner died 'after incident'

AN 89-year-old woman died following an incident at a Redcar nursing home, Middlesbrough Coroner's Court has heard. Widow Mary Jackson, a retired occupational nurse, died at St David's Nursing Home, Lord Street, on December 22. Her daughter-in-law, Shirley Smith Jackson, 65, of Windy Hill Lane, Marske, gave evidence of identification at the opening of an inquest into her death. The inquest was adjourned to a later date.

VENUE CHANGE: Starting on Thursday, Middlesbrough councillors Tom Mawston and Dorothy Davison will hold their 6pm to 7pm Thursday ward surgery meetings in St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Gypsy Lane, Marton, instead of Cypress Road Community Centre. The surgery held on the first Saturday of the month between 11am and noon will remain at Marton Library.

Inquest adjourned: An inquest was opened and adjourned into the death of a 67-year-old man at a nursing home in Saltburn. Karoly Ivanics died at Seaview Nursing Home, Marine Parade, on Christmas Eve. His daughter, Karen Matthews, 40, a student, gave identification evidence at Middlesbrough Coroner's Court.

GAS FIRE: Firefighters used buckets of water to extinguish flames at a house in Lindisfarne Road, Priestfields, Middlesbrough, on Thursday. The blaze began in a gas fire and caused slight smoke damage to the living room.

Flat plans: Plans to turn a two-storey house in the east Cleveland village of Carlin How into flats look set to be refused. The house, in Brotton Road, is in the middle of a family area and there are concerns that the comings and goings of the occupants would cause a nuisance, particularly to sleeping children.

Busy day: While many people on Teesside headed to the sales, the Warner Village Cinema at Hartlepool Marina had its busiest Thursday, selling a record number of tickets. The success of Lord of The Rings, along with Harry Potter, and some other great releases, made it a day to remember.

Marching orders: Ian Thompson, 29, from Stockton, was one of 200 officer cadets chosen for the Sovereign's passing out parade before Princess Anne, at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He has been in the Army for five years and has served around the world including in Kosovo.

HOUSE FIRE: Vandals set fire to a chair after breaking into a boarded-up house in Victoria Street, South Bank, Middlesbrough, at 1.33am yesterday. Two fire engines from Grangetown attended the blaze, which caused slight smoke damage.