Apology after Angel of the North used for advert

A SUPERMARKET issued an unreserved apology for using a North-East landmark as an advertising hoarding, in May 2014.

A giant image of a baguette was projected onto the wings of the Angel of the North in Gateshead, along with the Morrisons supermarket logo.

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The stunt was blasted by the council, who said it had not been approached in advance, and was received with weary resignation by the giant sculpture's creator, Antony Gormley.

He said: "I'd rather the Angel is not used for such purposes, but it's out there."

The artwork, which was visible from the A1 and was passed by thousands of motorists a day, was completed in 1998, and is owned by Gateshead Council.

A council spokesman said it did not approve any lighting of the structure and had not given permission for the advert.

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A piece of a Second World War bomber shot down over Germany was to return to the region in May 2014, nearly 70 years after the plane took off from a North East airfield on its fatal mission.

The Lancaster bomber left RAF Middleton St George, now Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington, on the evening of February 20, 1945, never to return.

It was shot down over Dortmund, killing two of the seven-man crew. Those who survived were captured and spent the next two months as prisoners of war.

Among them was flight engineer Stan Instone, who was flying his final mission with 419 Squadron. Aged 89 in May 2014, he was one of only two of the seven still alive.

Mr Instone was presented with a piece of the wreckage from his Lancaster when he travelled to Germany to visit the crash site.

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Finally, the Durham Locomotive Preservation Group decided to rename the brake van it uses at Locomotion, in Shildon, County Durham, after the museum's visitor services assistant.

The brake van, now called Angela, was one of two used on the tourist trips that run up and down the museum's track.

Dave Foxton, chairman of the preservation group, said: "We have an engine called Norwood. So it seemed only right to name the brake van. We held a vote and were all in favour of naming it after Angela. She does so much for the museum, it was the perfect choice."