A TEENAGE boy has been charged with manslaughter after another youngster was shot with an air gun.

Matthew Sheffield, 14, from Eaglescliffe, died following an incident in the town in April. Two juveniles were initially arrested and, following a police investigation and on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, a 14-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter and bailed to appear at Teesside Youth Court.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said yesterday: "This has been a tragic and traumatic incident for all concerned."

MP tragedy: The teenage son of Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary David Heathcoat-Amory has killed himself. Matthew Heathcoat-Amory, 19, the second son of the Tory MP, is believed to have shot himself at the family home in Perthshire. He was due to go to Newcastle University this autumn.

rays of hope: Nearly 160 people at bases on the Antarctic coast will see the sun rise this weekend - for the first time since it set for the polar winter on March 18. From Monday, their winter isolation amid the ice, blizzards and gales will end, New Zealand engineering manager Jonathon Leitch said from Scott Base.

mobile danger: Hands-free mobile phones do not appreciably reduce driver distraction, according to a study by University of Utah researchers. They concluded distractions are caused by concentration on the conversation, rather than dialling or holding phones.

tesco weddings: Tesco is to help hard-up, lovestruck couples by entering the weddings market. For the first time, shoppers at the stores will be able to redeem their loyalty card points for an exotic dream wedding in the Caribbean or Australia.

turning on: Two premiership football clubs will be hoping to strike the right note this season by launching their own dedicated radio stations.

Chelsea and Southampton football clubs will be broadcasting music, entertainment news, player interviews and football commentaries to their fans 24-hours a day.

baby's agony: A father who left his baby son locked inside a scorching hot car for more than an hour was sentenced to 200 hours community service yesterday by Great Yarmouth magistrates in Norfolk.