David Bowie died five years ago this week after an 18 month battle with cancer

The singer died surrounded by his loved ones, a statement on his Facebook page said.

It read at the time: “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer.

The Northern Echo’s report on the death of David Bowie

“While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”

His son, film director Duncan Jones, tweeted: “Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all.”

Bowie released his latest album, Blackstar, just three days ago, and his ex-wife, Angie Bowie, is currently a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.

The 69-year-old’s death was confirmed by his agent, Steve Martin.

Bowie made a surprise comeback in 2013 when he suddenly released a new single on his 66th birthday with an album out just weeks later, his first for 10 years.

The star made a habit of confounding the critics - killing off his most famous creation, Ziggy Stardust, at the height of his fame - and reinventing himself in roles including glam rocker, soul singer and hippie songwriter.

Also that week, a vast array of artefacts unearthed by archaeologists had the power to re-write the history books as experts had been able to place Romans in North Yorkshire ten years earlier than originally believed.

ROMAN: Dr Elizabeth Foulds with a Roman mortarium bowl

Archaeologists working on the A1 Leeming to Barton project found more than 177,000 artefacts and studied more than 50 tonnes of sediment samples, yielding rare and impressive finds that provided clues about the lives of those who lived there – but there were still mysteries to be explained.

Much of the work focused on sites along the Great North Road – the ancient road which ran adjacent to the current A1 and has been a major route since Roman times.

The Northern Echo’s report on the Roman findings

Archaeologist Dr Steve Sherlock said at the time that the finds across three main sites – Scotch Corner, Catterick Village and a Roman cemetery near Catterick called Bainesse – brought some startling revelations about the people who lived there, when the people lived there and the extent of their trade networks.

He said: “This project has been very exciting and now we are coming to a close with the digging we are now concentrating on analysing all of the artefacts.”

Meanwhile, dozens of protesters took to the streets to campaign against Government plans to scrap NHS Bursary for student nurses and midwives.

NHS: Protesters took to the streets of Middlesbrough Picture: TOM BANKS

There were marches through Middlesbrough and Newcastle on organised by student nurses and midwives who claim scrapping the bursary would mean future nurses would start their working life with up to £60,000 of debt.

However, the Government had defended the plan arguing that using conventional student loans of the type taken by non-healthcare students would make it easier for more nurses to be trained more quickly.

The Northern Echo’s report on the nurse protest

The plan to scrap bursaries was announced by Chancellor George Osborne.