A PASSENGER jet was lucky to avoid disaster when a laser device was targeted at the pilot as he approached Durham Tees Valley Airport. The KLM flight from Amsterdam was three and a half miles fromthe airport when the green light was shone at the cockpit.

By Graeme Hetherington A NORTH-EAST couple are facing the prospect of being extradited to the US charged with supplying banned drug-making chemicals over the internet.Brian Howes and Kerry Ann Shanks could be jailed for 20 years if they are convicted of selling two chemicals used in the production of the Class A drug methamphetamine, known as crystal meth.Mr Howes, 44, and Ms Shanks, 30, who were married earlier this week, were told at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that their case would now be decided by Scottish ministers within two months.The couple ran Lab Chemicals International from Bo'ness, in West Lothian, supplying 40 chemicals around the world.They were arrested by Central Scotland Police in January last year, following an investigation by the US Drug Enforcement Agency and officers from Cleveland Police.Officers raided their storage warehouse in Grangemouth, along with their home in Bridgeness Road, a funeral parlour and a motor museum in the town, in January last year.They spent

A NEW campaign has been launched to help keep children safe from harm when surfing the internet. The Promoting Internet Safety campaign has been launched by the South Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) across Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.

By Graeme Hetherington OPPOSITION is growing to p

By Chris Brayshay PETROL stations have signed up