TEN years ago, this week, it was revealed missing schoolgirl, Shannon Matthews, was drugged and restrained as part of a staged kidnap plot.

A jury was told that nine-year-old Shannon was kept locked in a flat for 24 days by Michael Donovan - the uncle of her mother’s former partner Craig Meehan.

Prosecutors at Leeds Crown Court said Mr Donovan drugged Shannon with Temazepam and travel sickness tablets and gave her a list of "rules" which stated:

You must not go near the windows;

You must not make any noise and bang your feet;

You must not do anything without me being there;

Keep the TV volume low.

He along with her mother Karen Matthews both denied kidnapping Shannon and perverting the course of justice, but received a jail sentence of eight years.

Also that week, experts predicted nearly a quarter of a million jobs could be lost by 2010 across the region.

The news highlighted the full scale of the economic crises and opinion was divided whether the North-East could get through the recession in good shape.

One regional economic leader warned the North-East would be hard hit because some workers had "a motivation problem".

Ken Jarrold CBE, chairman of the County Durham Economic Partnership, said the region had a "real issue about attitudes and aspirations".

Meanwhile, a dramatic rescue mission took place which saw a family of three and their two dogs airlifted to safety after becoming trapped by the tide.

Humber Coastguard received a 999 call from a man who said his partner and their 11-month-old child, as well as their dogs, had been cut off by the tide while out for a walk.

The incident in Seaham, County Durham, prompted a major rescue operation, calling out the Seaham Coastguard rescue team and requesting the launch of the Sunderland RNLI D-class and Atlantic 85 lifeboats.

Lifeboat crews tried to rescue the family and their dogs but were forced to call off their efforts because high waves were making conditions unsafe.

Sunderland Coastguard Rescue team was also called out and members were lowered down the cliffs on ropes.

The sea began to cover the family's feet - and the rescue helicopter from Scotland was still ten minutes away.

As the aircraft neared, coastguards managed to haul the woman up the cliff and the man and the baby were then winched out of the cove by the helicopter.