Get that beach body with our Slimming World supplement!

Has the arrival of lighter nights got you thinking about becoming lighter too? With Summer just around the corner, it's time to let us help you get closer to that beach body with 18 exclusive recipes from Slimming World.

With these recipes you won't have to go hungry, feel deprived or get bored of eating the same things day after day. Packed with a variety of quick and easy everyday meals and desserts, there's something for everyone!

Who knew starting your morning with a full English breakfast, lunching on a tuna jacket potato, eating fish and chips or an Italian aubergine bake and finishing off with Baileys cheesecake could help you with your Springtime shape up?

If you want to get involved pick up the Slimming World pullout of exclusive recipes in The Gazette Monday 13 April .

What have you got to lose?

Israeli forces detain 8 Palestinians across West Bank

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained eight Palestinian youths from across the West Bank overnight Monday, locals and Israel’s army said.

Three were detained from Silat al-Harithiya and Anin villages in northwestern Jenin, one from Farkha town in northwestern Ramallah, one from Azzun village in southeastern Qalqiliya, and three from Husan town in western Bethlehem.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed all eight arrests, and said they were over “involvement in terror and violent riots.”

All detainees were transferred to Israeli intelligence for interrogation.

Witnesses also said that clashes erupted between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers when several Israeli military vehicles raided the Salfit City in the northern West Bank.

Israeli forces are said to have fired tear-gas canisters and stun grenades at the youths.

Israeli forces routinely arrest Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, usually on the pretext of security questioning.

Around 40 percent of the male Palestinian population has been detained by Israeli forces, according to prisoner rights group Addameer.

There were over 6,000 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails as of April 1, 2015, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.

Match report: Newcastle 0 Boro U21s 1

Boro Under-21s took a huge step towards title glory after Emmanuel Ledesma's free-kick secured a 1-0 win at arch-rivals Newcastle.

The Argentinian struck a wonderful 25-yard free-kick on five minutes to extend Boro's lead at the top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division to five points.

Boro fielded a strong line-up which included first-team duo Yanic Wildschut and Emmanuel Ledesma, but Paul Jenkins was forced into changes at the back with captain Jonny Burn and right-back Andre Bennett missing.

That meant a start for Under-18s star Dael Fry, while Robbie Tinkler returned from suspension to bolster the midfield ranks.

Boro started on the front foot with Wildschut showing a glimpse of his pace down the left flank, while immediately at the other end Adam Armstrong looked to beat the offside trap - but the linesman's flag denied him.

Ledesma then fired an early warning over the top, but on five minutes the Argentine was at his very best to hand Boro an early lead.

After Ryan Brobbel was tripped outside the box, Ledesma curled a wonderful 25-yard free-kick over the wall and beyond the Newcastle keeper as the visitors made a dream start on Tyneside.

On 13 minutes Boro came close to adding a second when Lewis Maloney's smart free-kick found Brobbel at the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide of the target.

Then from the resulting corner the Magpies cleared their lines but the second phase saw Fry react quickest, but his header crept over the bar.

Newcastle hit back and tried to get first-team winger Gabriel Obertan into the game, but it was Boro who boasted the bigger attacking threat, with Harry Chapman a constant outlet on the right.

On 22 minutes the hosts created their first opening when Adam Laidler surged down the left wing and crossed for Armstrong, but the youngster's audacious back-heel was straight at Connor Ripley.

And the Boro stopper was called into action again shortly after, but lively winger Callum Roberts' effort was well held.

Newcastle continued to put Boro under severe pressure as the half progressed, and Laidler's cross found Armstrong again on the half hour mark - but his header was deflected onto the roof of the net.

Boro were happy to concede plenty of the ball to their North-east rivals, but looked a threat on the counter attack with Chapman almost racing on to Ledesma's raking pass, but Laidler got back to thwart the danger.

Moments before the break, Newcastle poured forward again with Dan Barlaser trying his luck from distance, but it was another simple save for Ripley in the Boro goal.

© CameraSport

At the break Boro made their first substitution with Wildschut replaced by Tom McAloon, perhaps with the Dutchman in Aitor Karanka's first-team plans for the visit of Rotherham on Saturday.

Two minutes into the second half, Newcastle came within inches of an equaliser as Roberts found space on the penalty spot, but his low shot was superbly pushed around the post by Ripley.

On 52 minutes the hosts came close again, with Roberts sliding the ball to Armstrong - but the forward dragged his shot wide of the target with only Ripley to beat.

Then seconds later Roberts weaved his way through the Boro defence, but his blistering drive looped just over the top.

But at the other end Ledesma almost produced another moment of magic for Boro, racing on to Brobbel's pass but his cheeky 25-yard chip ended on the roof of the net, with keeper Freddie Woodman beaten.

Newcastle were reduced to 10 men on 58 minutes when defender Macauley Gillesphey received a second yellow card by referee Graeme Fyvie for a crunching tackle on Chapman.

The numerical advantage settled Boro, and Ledesma almost doubled the visitors' advantage when he went through on goal, but shot wide under pressure from 20 yards.

Then Ledesma turned provider on 64 minutes, looping a ball over the Newcastle defence for Chapman but the winger sent his shot harmlessly wide.

Templers flared on 73 minutes when Newcastle substitute Alex Gilliead scrapped with Tinkler off the ball, with the Magpies' man shown a yellow card for his role in the stoppage.

Already on a booking, Tinkler was withdrawn shortly after as Boro looked to defend their slender advantage.

And despite being put under a sustained spell of pressure late on, Boro held on to complete a league double over their North-east rivals.

Boro: Ripley, Weledji, Jackson, Fry, Kitching, Tinkler (Wheatley 77), Maloney, Chapman, Brobbel, Wildschut (McAloon 46), Ledesma (Fewster 90). Subs not used: Fryer, Cooke.

Ahmedabad’s open toilet shame: 70,000 people in Gujarat’s business capital still defecate in the open

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has set herself an agenda that every home must get a toilet, and even wants the Election Commission to ensure that every candidate follows the same to contest polls, but a recent survey by NGOs revealed that as many as 70,000 people in the state’s commercial capital Ahmedabad defecate in the open.

A review meeting at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) chaired by Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra along with the NGOs found that the city needed 80,000 toilets to stop open defecation.

At the meeting, a joint report by the World Health Organisation and Unicef was also cited which said a whopping 597 million people in India defecate in the open

The Ahmedabad civic body claims that open defecation sites in the city have come down from 400 in the year 2010 to around 80 during 2013, but local NGO Manav Garima asserts that the number is around 300, including in the so-called upmarket west-side areas like Thaltej, Ghatlodia, Wadaj, Kali and Vejalpur, as well as the eastern region.

The key reason for an increase in open defecation, say municipal corporation officials, is the construction of pay-and-use toilets by the civic body.

“These toilets are accessible from around 7 am. Most slum-dwellers leave for work by that time,” a municipal officer said.

And then, slum-dwellers have large families who cannot afford pay-and-use toilets, “which are generally supposed to be for public places and not daily use,” he added.

“Paid toilets cost Rs 3 for each person and for an average slum family of 10 people, this could work out to around Rs 30 every morning, which would not be affordable,” the officer added.

At the AMC review meeting, the NGOs suggested that the municipal corporation needed to construct at least 25,000 free of cost community toilets to make Ahmedabad defecation-free.

The chief minister would have to sanction a budget for this to achieve her goal.

Huddersfield player but a Boro fan, Jonathan Hogg wants to see his hometown club win promotion

Middlesbrough-born and a former player at Watford, Jonathan Hogg will have watched the Easter Monday clash between the promotion chasing sides with particular interest.

But there was no doubting who the all-action 26-year-old wanted to come out on top.

He might never have made a senior appearance for his hometown club, but Hogg, now a regular for Huddersfield Town, would love to see Boro back in the big time.

“Boro are my hometown club, I supported them as a boy and I had six years there as a kid, they were brilliant to me,” he said.

“They have the stadium, the training ground and the support for be a decent Premier League club, and they should be up there.”

Jonathan Hogg in action for Huddersfield at the Riverside earlier this season

Although he didn’t quite make the grade at Boro after working his way through the Academy, Hogg moved on to Aston Villa where he made his debut against Manchester United, one of seven appearances in the 2010/11 season.

A host of loan spells followed before the no-nonsense engine room enforcer established himself in the Championship, first with Watford before moving to Huddersfield in a £400,000 move at the start of last season.

Despite the summer acquisitions of Conor Coady and Jacob Butterfield, Hogg is still a key member of Chris Powell’s Huddersfield side although he missed the 2-1 home win over Ipswich Town on Easter Monday through injury.

And although Boro have stuttered in two crucial away games at Bournemouth and Watford, Hogg still believes the club he supports will be right in the mix come the end of the season.

“Losing at Bournemouth was a setback for them,” he said.

“But there are still plenty of points to play for and it will be very tight at the top.”

'Tracie was going to hold a charity night for the RVI. When she died we decided to organise it ourselves'

When baby Darcie Frost faced life-saving brain surgery her family had no idea of the heartache which lay ahead.

For just weeks later as the one-year-old was still recovering from the touch-and-go surgery her mother Tracie tragically died suddenly aged just 35 leaving her family devastated.

Now Darcie’s brave fight for life has inspired her cousins Ashleigh and Tyler Jones to raise money for the unit that cared for her - organising a charity night originally being planned by Tracie before her tragic death.

Tracie’s mum, Dawn 57, described how in the first few weeks of this year, her family’s lives were turned upside down.

Dawn, of Easby Grove, Thornaby, said: “Before Christmas, Darcie contracted pneumonia and she had seemed quiet but we had no idea about her problems until this year.

“Then on January 8, at about 5am. I had fed her and she started shaking.

“I thought she was having a fit so I called the ambulance.

“She started to throw up as well and when the paramedics came they rushed her straight to North Tees Hospital.

“She was still fitting at North Tees.”

A brain scan revealed that little Darcie had suffered a stroke. The decision was taken to get her to the RVI in Newcastle urgently.

“We got blue lighted to the RVI,” said Dawn, “When we got there, the surgeon told us that either they operate or she was going to die from a massive stroke.”

It had been discovered that Darcie had six fistulas on her brain which had caused her stroke.

“In one half of her brain the blood vessels hadn’t formed properly,” said Dawn.

“We were up there four weeks. They carried out the first operation on the Friday.

“She was in theatre for hours. When the surgeon came out he said that it had been touch and go.

“Darcie had another stroke in hospital. I just stayed there. I didn’t leave her bedside for a month - I wouldn’t leave.”

Darcie underwent a second operation when Tracie died unexpectedly.

“Tracie had problems but they still don’t know what she died of,” said Dawn who lives with her partner Terry Turner, 57.

“It’s amazing how well Darcie is doing. The staff on the ward couldn’t believe how chirpy she was.

“Even the surgeon came in to visit her. He told her, ‘Now you behave yourself you little madam’.”

Having already had two operations on her brain, Darcie will require further surgery to treat the remaining fistulas.

Before her death, Tracie had been planning a charity night for The Children’s Paediatric Neurology Ward at the RVI.

Now Darcie’s cousins Ashleigh and Tyler Jones from Kasbian Close, Thornaby, are carrying on from where Tracie left off.

Ashleigh, 21, said: “It’s to raise money for the ward to buy toys and things for the children in there.

“Considering she’s had two strokes and brain surgery, she’s a happy little girl.

Tyler, 18, said: “Tracie was going to hold a charity night for the RVI.

“When she died we decided to organise it ourselves.

“Darcie’s beautiful - she’s perfect.”

The charity night takes place at Thornaby Sports and Leisure Club on April 10 from 7pm-late.

The night will feature a rock band, DJ, dancers, gymnasts, tombola, raffle, games and more.

For tickets, £4. Call Ashleigh on 07824098429.

Easter holidays + Spring cleans = Big traffic queues and temporary closure of tip

Big queues built up on the approaches to Teesside’s main waste recycling centre today - prompting a temporary closure as traffic stacked back as far as the A19.

Householders took advantage of good weather as they headed in their hundreds to the SITA UK community recycling centre.

But the volume of traffic meant standing traffic regularly snaked back along the A1046 Haverton Hill Road.

And when the lunchtime levels reached their peak, operators SITA briefly closed the site due to tailbacks causing congestion as far back as the A19, and on other routes in the area.

The site closed at 1.05pm, reopening 35 minutes later.

But it didn’t take long for levels to stack up again and by about 3pm, the queues were again heading back towards the A19.

People waiting in the queues reportedly faced waiting times of 30 minutes “plus” as cars and vans unloaded their household rubbish and garden waste into the SITA skips.

The waste recycling centre at Haverton Hill is for the exclusive use of Stockton and Middlesbrough residents and for household waste only.

Able to handle anything from garden waste, timber and metal to TVs, tyres and fridges, it recently reverted to its summer opening times - 8am-7pm.

A statement on Stockton Council’s website says: “The site is a popular venue for recycling items not collected from the kerbside, so please be aware that at peak times you may have a short wait as many other like-minded residents use the facility to recycle unwanted things.”

But today, it seems the number of people heading its way, combined with other traffic, caused unusually severe congestion.

No-one from SITA UK was available for comment.

Show Home: Take a look round new six-home Ormesby development - Sponsored

Two new show homes have opened their doors to Teesside home-buyers - and here's a peep inside the properties.

Lyndhurst Gardens on Ormesby Bank, Middlesbrough, features six homes.

They boast plenty of family space with features including fitted kitchens, en suites and bi fold doors opening out onto the gardens.

Developer Mandale Homes has recently unveiled the show homes at the site - the three-bedroomed Delphinium and the four-bed Dahlia which also boasts a large living room with bi-fold doors leading to the rear garden.

Prices start from £219,950 and go up to £279,950 and home-buyers can get help to move in the shape of schemes including Help to Buy and part exchange.

Mandale Homes are offering great deals on the Lyndhurst Gardens homes.

Buyers can save up to £12,000 though the Mandale Mover scheme.

This offer includes carpet, integrated appliances fitted to the kitchen, stamp duty and legal fees paid and moving costs covered.

Estate agency fees will also be covered - or the developer will give buyers a £5,000 deposit contribution if they don’t have a house to sell.

The show homes opening times are Friday to Monday, 10.30am to 5.30pm (4.30pm on a Sunday).

For more information, click here.

Click HERE for a virtual tour of The Delphinium or HERE for a tour of The Dahlia.

See more of the Gazette's Property content HERE

Drivers warned about overnight road closures on A19 southbound

Drivers are being warned about overnight road closures on the A19 - starting from next weekend.

The resurfacing work will take place on the southbound carriageway in Middlesbrough.

Closures will be required to resurface just under five miles between the A174 Parkway and A67 Crathorne junctions.

Work will take place from Sunday through to Friday, April 24 - from 8pm to 6am each day.

Diversion routes will be in place during the closures and a day-time 50mph speed limit will be in operation.

The diversion routes have been planned to coordinate with the ongoing work taking place on the A19/A174 Parkway.

Drivers are asked to follow the diversion routes and not their satellite navigation systems when driving through the roadworks.

Hooded mugger tries to snatch bag outside upmarket restaurant, caught by off-duty police officer dining inside

A mugger was chased and caught by an off-duty police officer after he tried to wrench a handbag from a woman’s grasp outside an upmarket restaurant.

The woman was waiting for her family outside 12 Harland Place, Norton, when a hooded stranger started tugging her bag, making a “determined effort” to steal it.

“So determined that she was dragged into the road,” prosecutor David Crook told Teesside Crown Court today.

“She held on to it. Her daughter also became involved.”

Bungling would-be robber Richard Alan Huitson, 32, released his grip and ran off on Harland Place, Norton.

“Fortunately one of the diners at the restaurant was an off-duty police officer,” added Mr Crook.

“He came out and gave chase, and detained the defendant close by.”

The woman later said she was badly shocked by the mugging, which happened at about 6pm on March 4.

She was fearful as she walked back to her car that night.

Huitson, of Vulcan Way, Thornaby, claimed someone else suggested the attack - and he got the wrong person.

“There was to be someone outside the restaurant with a substantial amount of money,” added Mr Crook.

“That’s why he’d gone there. He believed there to be about £1,000. He’s picked on the wrong victim.”

Just five days earlier the courts gave him a chance in a community order with supervision and drug rehabilitation for benefit fraud.

He admitted attempted robbery, with a long criminal record stretching back to 1999.

Andrew Turton, defending, said Huitson acted out of desperation while addicted to heroin and it was an isolated, badly planned crime.

He said: “He didn’t apparently get the right anticipated victim and got away without money at all.”

Mr Turton added Huitson made a full confession and showed genuine remorse and “victim empathy”.

In custody for the first time, he became clear of drugs, was on the road to recovery and wanted to return to his partner and their two children.

The judge, Recorder Bryan Cox QC, told Huitson: “It seems to me that there must be an immediate custodial sentence.”

He jailed Huitson for a year.

Spot the slip-ups: The verdict on the run-in for the sides in the Championship's top six

From fearing the twists and turns of the Championship, Boro would now welcome one or two more from now until the end of the season.

I'm sure it won't disappoint. After all, top spot has changed hands 23 times so far already in this crazy - even by Championship standards - campaign.

Like every side challenging for promotion, Boro have had their chance to tighten a grip on top spot.

But, like every side, they've let it slip.

Now, with just five games of the season to play, Boro find themselves in need of favours elsewhere in the hope Bournemouth and Watford slip up.

Boro need to leapfrog in-form Norwich as well, although instead of relying on results elsewhere they'll have the opportunity to do that when they visit Carrow Road for a testing Friday night fixture next week.

Spotting the slip-ups is no simple task in the most unpredictable of divisions, but here are the fixtures facing the top six and the crucial stand-out games that could determine their finishing position:

Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe

Remaining fixtures: Brighton (a), Reading (a), Sheffield Wednesday (h), Bolton (h), Charlton (a).

There's no getting away from the fact that Bournemouth have got a 'gentle' run-in but will they be able to string five wins together to finish the campaign?

They picked up 15 points out of 15 during a stunning December so they're certainly capable of doing exactly that.

With Reading dreaming of their big day out at Wembley, you'd fancy the Cherries to do a job there but Brighton next time out is a testing-looking trip with the Seagulls still in need of points.

Charlton isn't the easiest place to go on the final day either.

Verdict: Two potential banana skins in what is an otherwise inviting run-in.

Norwich

Norwich City manager Alex Neil

Remaining fixtures: Bolton (a), Leeds (a), Boro (h), Rotherham (a), Fulham (h).

They may well only have to play one team from the top half of the Championship but Norwich's run-in is no stroll in the park.

Bolton will be buoyed by their win at Cardiff yesterday while Leeds are always capable of pulling a result from nowhere - although the off the pitch activity over the past week won't help.

That game against Boro looks like it could well be the decider but Rotherham and Fulham could be still scrapping for their lives in the last fortnight of the season. That said, Norwich should have enough to finish with six points.

Verdict: Not as easy as it appears at first glance, there's a narrative in Norwich's last three games and the next two are tough.

Watford

Watford manager Slavisa Jokanovic

Remaining fixtures: Millwall (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Birmingham (h), Brighton (a), Sheffield Wednesday (h).

Happy at home, trip-ups on the road. You'd fancy Watford to get maximum points from their remaining two games at Vicarage Road but they will have to hurdle a couple of tricky obstacles on their travels.

Nottingham Forest can beat anyone on their day and the visit to the City Ground is undoubtedly Watford's biggest test.

Slavisa Jokanovic will play it down at hope of easing pressure but he'll be delighted with the run-in facing the Hornets.

Verdict: Boro will be hoping Dougie Freedman pulls another result out of the bag for Forest. Millwall are at that desperate stage of needing results, Brighton will be tough.

Boro

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka (front) and Watford manager Slavisa Jokanovic

Remaining fixtures: Rotherham (h), Wolves (h), Norwich (a), Fulham (a), Brighton (h).

Nine points required at home and a win at Fulham. Anything less and, in all likelihood, Boro's season will continue throughout May.

And then there's that trip to Norwich. It's a testing flurry of fixtures facing Boro but form at the Riverside suggests they're capable of stringing together two wins at home to bounce back from the deflating defeat at Watford.

Six points out of six on Saturday and Tuesday and there's every chance Boro will be back in the top two.

Verdict: No room for error. Defeats at Bournemouth and Watford have put pressure on Boro but the top two is by no means beyond them. A repeat of the Derby display at Norwich - a team who Boro dismantled earlier in the season - would put them in pole position.

Derby

Steve McClaren

Remaining fixtures: Brentford (h), Blackpool (h), Huddersfield (a), Millwall (a), Reading (h).

The Rams stopped the rot at Wigan but have they left themselves too much to do?

Steve McClaren will know his side have to win all five of their remaining fixtures if they're to somehow force their way back into the top two.

But with Chris Martin back in action and back among the goals, McClaren will look at the remaining fixtures with confidence as Derby look to at least secure a play-off spot.

Saturday's game against Brentford is huge for both sides and Blackpool is a gimme; the boss, squad and fans will look at the remaining fixtures with an air of regret that they've lost touch with the top four.

Verdict: Too little too late for the top two, regardless of how kind the run-in is. The Rams could well build momentum though and will be a force in the play-offs.

Wolves

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett

Remaining fixtures: Birmingham (a), Boro (a), Ipswich (h), Wigan (a), Millwall (h).

After four wins on the bounce, can Wolves do the unthinkable and gatecrash the promotion party?

Like Derby, Kenny Jackett's side have probably given themselves just too much to do. Four points in five games is a big gap to bridge and Wolves don't have the easiest of run-ins.

Wigan and Millwall could well be down by the time the last fortnight of the season comes around so it's the next three games that will determine whether Wolves finish a superb season in the top six.

Verdict: Anything can happen in a derby game, as we're often reminded, so Birmingham away could throw up a surprise. The trip to Boro and the home game against Ipswich will really put their play-off credentials to the test.

Glynn Porteous: How many of our landmarks can you spot in artist's work?

This month marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of Middlesbrough artist Glynn Porteous.

If you've ever wondered who did those paintings which are on the shutters in the cut-through by the Dundas Arcade, then he's your man.

Likewise if you've ever taken a look at the mural depicting Teesside and North Yorkshire in the A66 underpass near Wilson Street.

Born on April, 24 1935, Glynn discovered his interest in art while a pupil at Marton Grove School.

After being encouraged to develop his talent at Middlesbrough College of Art he proceeded to win a place at the Slade School of Art in London.

After a spell of national service - in which he was involved in the Suez Campaign - he took up that place in 1957, going on to work in commercial art and design at a Chester-based studio before returning to Middlesbrough.

It was then that he was appointed as artist / model maker for the Department of Engineering at the County Borough of Teesside - which went on to become the County of Cleveland.

Glynn stayed there for 19 years, continuing to use his technical skill, keen eye and imagination to continue painting in his spare time.

After retirement, he and wife Rene opened Porteous Galerie in Linthorpe Road, selling materials and art books while he continued to take commissions - such as the replica Locomotion I for Stockton Council.

"He used to say that he was a hack artist," said Rene.

"I don't think he meant it in a bad way, he just did everything because he had to make money.

"He would say 'Yes' before he knew if he could do something - and then he just did it."

Rene Porteous with late husband Glynn's last piece of work

In 1979 Glynn staged a one-man exhibition at Middlesbrough's Municipal Art Gallery, leading to more local shows before his final exhibition at Kirkleatham Hall Museum in 2001.

His 1954 painting The Scullery Sink was donated to the Municipal Art Gallery and later became part of the permanent collection at mima.

It depicts the scullery at the artist's family home in Acton Street and can be seen on the regular open days at the gallery.

Rene Porteous presenting the Acton Street sketch to mima's Kate Brindley. Right is Glynn Porteous in the studio

Glynn's work shows great wit and a huge knowledge of art history - taking off many of history's most famous artists.

He was also inspired by the people and places he saw around him in Middlesbrough - with many local places featuring in his work.

They included Redcar Beach, the Bottle of Notes, McDonald's in Linthorpe Road and many more.

Happy Hour in the Cleveland Snug

In his work, Happy Hour In The Cleveland Snug features the Cleveland pub in Linthorpe Village features.

Elsewhere, Glynn's distinct humour and love of his fellow Teessiders can also be seen in his picture The Artist Is Accused Of Spying For The DHSS.

"When he was working on the subway he would have his lunch and used to go to the Bridge Inn," says Rene, who still lives in the couple's terrace home in Linthorpe.

"After he retired he would go into town to get some ideas for his paintings and he knew there were some characters in the Bridge.

"So he went to the pub and got his drink and said to some of those who were in there 'Would you mind awfully if I took pictures of you because I'm an artist and trying to get ideas of paintings'."

The Artist Is Accused Of Spying For The DHSS

"They were very obliging and he took his pictures then he noticed that they were looking at him in a funny way.

"They said they wanted the film out of his camera as he was too smart to be an artist - you work for the DHS!"

Glynn's technical ability and knowledge of art history meant that he was able to transpose the works of some of the world's greatest artists into a Teesside setting - often in works in which he featured himself.

"People weren't going to come and sit and pose for him and they were never going to be quite right, so he used himself," says Renee.

One such example was Travelling Companions, which takes off artist Augustus Egg's painting of two Victorian ladies in the first-class carriage of a train and brings it up-to date with two Teessiders on the Middlesbrough to Saltburn line.

glynnporteous.co.uk

Travelling Companions

As mentioned earlier, reproductions of the artist's work which can be viewed on the shutters in the cut linking Linthorpe Road to the Dundas Arcade.

But for an example of his original work, head across to the underpass below the A66 which links Wilson Street to Marsh Road.

There, a 16-panel piece of work depicting scenes from rural North Yorkshire and industrial Teesside can be viewed.

It was completed by Glynn, who died 12 years ago, in 1987 following an epic four-year project - during which he went for his lunches at the Bridge.

VIEW GALLERY

Unfortunately, it more recently made the news when the artist's widow Rene Porteous described her distress that the work had been vandalised.

It has since been repaired by Middlesbrough Council - for which Mrs Porteous was extremely grateful.

Councillor Tracy Harvey, the authority’s Executive member for environment, said at the time: “Glynn Porteous is one of the most talented artists this area has produced and the council is proud to have his work displayed in public places."

You can find out more about the life and work of Glynn Porteous here.

How many hours would you have to spend painting the Riverside to earn a free Boro season card?

How would you fancy spending 53 hours painting a stadium to earn a ticket to every match of the following season?

Well, that's what these supporters did back in 1983 in order to get a pass to Boro's former home at Ayresome Park.

They gave up 210 minutes of their time for each 90 minutes of football they would see.

And, as you can see from our picture, they looked pretty pleased with the result.

Here's how the Gazette covered it at the time:

Sixteen volunteer painters at Ayresome Park have free tickets for all Boro’s home Second Division fixtures next season.

It’s taken them more than 53 hours to earn the right, with each two-and-a-half-hour session worth a free standing place in the Holgate end for their efforts.

Ayresome Park

The total volunteer force of more than 70 have almost completed an Ayresome facelift.

Commercial manager Duncan Gibson said: “We’ve had an excellent response, absolutely first class.

“I’m sure many more would have qualified for those tickets, too, if other commitments, like holidays, hadn’t stopped them.”

The scheme has also allowed volunteers to exchange two standing tickets for one seat - and many have taken advantage of this.

Wonder how many hours a fan would have to put in to win a place at the Riverside for next season?

Boro painters earn free season tickets in 1983

Poignant images captured by four men suffering with prostate cancer go on display

VIEW GALLERY

A picture can tell a thousand words - and in the case of four men suffering with prostate cancer, they can say a lot more.

Four Teessiders have captured a range of powerful and poignant images as part of a pilot photography project at the Trinity Holistic Centre at James Cook University Hospital.

Their work has gained the seal of approval from renowned landscape photographer Joe Cornish as it goes on display at the centre.

The four men - Brian Addison, Gerry Armstrong, John Dilworth and Rick Reed - are all at different stages of treatment for prostate cancer, and attended the eight-week photography workshop to learn a new skill.

But while they were there, they found that being able to share their experiences of the disease with other men has helped them cope.

Rick, 61, was diagnosed with prostate cancer eight years ago - and was told then he may only have three to five years left to live.

Seeing his work in an exhibition for the first time, the grandad and dad-of-four from Guisborough said: “It is a bit awe-inspiring to be stood here and see our work.

“I think we all had an interest in photography, but the group turned into something else while we were there.

“I have been suffering for eight years, and I am still fighting it. Being with the other lads, and starting to talk to them about how you feel, becomes a strange sort of enlightenment.”

Brian, 56, a father and retired bricklayer from Redcar, who was diagnosed five years ago, said: “When you get diagnosed, it is a hard place to be. It can be a sad place to be, you are alone.

“But here, you can talk to each other because you are all going through the same thing. People say they understand, but people don’t realise how good it is to have someone to speak to who knows what you’re going through.”

Gerry Armstrong, 68, from Billingham, agrees: “It is good to be together with men and express these feelings. It doesn’t happen straight away, but you can capture your feelings in a photograph. It can be difficult to talk to your family and those closest to you.”

John Dilworth received his diagnosis when he went to the doctors last year with a sore toe ahead of a driving holiday to France.

“I didn’t want that to ruin my holiday, but when I went to the doctors he said I hadn’t had a blood test for five years so I took one,” said John, 64, a dad of two and grandad of four from Nunthorpe.

“I actually had no symptoms, but I had a biopsy after my blood test and it confirmed I had prostate cancer.

“It was a tough time - you start to re-evaluate things - it can take a long time for family, friends and work colleagues to understand the impact.

“But I had surgery in September. I feel fine.

“The photography sessions helped us in so many ways. It gave us an outlet, and we all took something different from it. It meant you were never on your own.”

“It’s also important to remember that some of those who started the course couldn’t complete it.”

The workshops, funded by Prostate Cancer UK, aimed to provide emotional support for prostate cancer patients working with tutor John Kerr and qualified counsellor Margaret Booth.

John Kerr said: “The subject matter was incredibly emotive and we were not really sure what response we would get.

“We needn’t have worried, and the group quickly became its own support network while producing some thought provoking and technically excellent photographs and narrative.”

Pictures of local landscapes, family members and subjects close to the heart of the photographers were teamed at the exhibition with powerful words from each, explaining how the photograph expresses thier feelings about how they are coping with cancer.

Now that the course has ended, all four still meet weekly to take photographs and continue to provide support.

Your Club Submit 2 Success/Urban Gurillaz BJJ

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Club name:  Submit 2 Success/Urban Gurillaz BJJ

Address:  Victoria Park Community Hall, Peel Street, Thornaby

Tell us about your club:  Submit 2 Success is a non profit healthy lifestyle and fitness social project using the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and No Gi Submission Grappling as means of delivery. The concept comes from Brazilian social programmes endorsed by LUTA which aim to reduce crime, substance misuse, anti social behaviour and negative choices in the favelas. I thought if it works in Brazil, it can work here in UK. We aim to promote health and fitness, confidence and instill what is known as “the bjj lifestyle” to the young people we work with. Our target age range is 13-19s which is completely free thanks to our funders at public health, Thornaby Town Council and Thirteen Group, we also have Urban Gurillaz which is our early intervention project for six to 12-year-olds. S2S is linked in part to that of the bigger Team Platinum Middlesbrough BJJ which is our parent club.

How often does the club meet?  Team Platinum meets weekly and at various locations across Middlesbrough and Thornaby, we all chip in and do our bit in various areas of the club. S2S however is for 13-19s. Kids Monday - 5.15-6.15pm Kids Thornaby VPCH (Victoria Park Community Hall) Martin Ashton Purple Belt, 6.15-7.45pm Adults Thornaby VPCH Martin Ashton Purple Belt; Wednesday Submit 2 Success NO GI 13-19s Only - 5.30-6.30pm Thornaby VPCH - Ralph Presgrave Purple Belt, 6:30-8:30pm Adults BJJ Thornaby (VPCH)Will Smith Brown Belt; Thursday - 6-7.45pm NO GI Middlesbrough Fight Academy- Linthorpe- Jamie Taylor - Purple Belt; Friday - 5.15-6.15pm Urban Gurillaz Kids BJJ Team 6-12s Thornaby (VPCH) Ralph, 6.30-7.45pm Submit 2 Success Project GI Thornaby (VPCH) 13-19s only Ralph; Saturday noon-1.30pm No Gi Middlesbrough Fight Academy; Sunday - noon-2pm Middlesbrough Fight Academy Linthorpe- Middlesbrough Jamie Taylor Purple Belt.

No. of people in club:  Exceeding 100 over various team sites and projects.

When did the club start?  Submit 2 Success and Urban Gurillaz started in 2009 when Ralph Presgrave was working for Stockton Borough Council as a youth worker and developed it as a seven week pilot after it had finished Ralph saw potential and took voluntary redundancy and set it up as a voluntary community organisation, we have had many funders over the past five years including Thirteen Group, Sported, Comnunity Development Fund and most recently Elected Members Fund which Cllr Walmsley has worked with them on which has allowed us to develop the Wednesday NoGi Programme which is startied this month.

What are the club’s key achievements or have you or your members won any awards?  Collectively Team Platinum have won numerous British titles, bronze, silver and gold medals from competitions up and down the country, some of Jamie and Marty’s guys travelled to Portugal for European Championships last month, Sub15 Lightweight Blue Belt Championship belt holder, Stockton Borough Council’s nominated Club of the Year 2012 two of Martin’s Children’s Team Alex Williams and Max Ashton flew out to California for the Kids Pan IBJJF Jiu-jitsu Championship to compete at the world championships. Alex won the gold medal in the junior category and Max won the bronze medal in the teenager category.

Any other information you want to include?  We are just a group of really good friends who have trained together a lot, we welcome anyone to train with us. We all train at each other’s sessions and train across each others gyms, we are always looking for new members to join the teams and projects. For those to take part in Submit 2 Success it requires a quick referral form to be completed along with health and lifestyle questionnaire and meet participants’ parents before they commence.

Contact name and number:  Ralph Presgrave 07581 513841, Jamie Taylor 07800 771568, Martin Ashton 07540 850265.

The 2015 Pensions Revolution - Sponsored

The new tax year is upon us and, with it, the much vaunted and eagerly anticipated new Pension Flexibility Rules which become effective from 6 April.

The new rules apply only to defined contribution (money purchase) schemes, including personal pension schemes.

The most heavily publicised of the changes is the facility to draw income from a pension fund at whatever rate you choose until the fund has been exhausted. The idea is that we will all be free from the need to purchase an annuity and will be able to deal with our pension funds as we see fit.

There are, however, several things to bear in mind:-

• Apart from the tax-free lump sum, pension benefits are assessable to Income Tax and will, therefore, it will make sense to limit the rate at which income is withdrawn in order to avoid paying tax at the higher rate.

• Ideally, a pension plan should provide an income that lasts as long as you do. If the fund is depleted too quickly, you may run out of money. Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

• An annuity, although much maligned in the press, can guarantee an income for life and will remain an appropriate choice, if only as part of the over-all retirement strategy, for some individuals.

The pension contributions annual allowance will remain at £40,000 for 2015/16 except for individuals who have drawn income under the new flexible pension benefit rules for whom contributions to defined contribution schemes, including personal pension plans, will be restricted to £10,000.

The new tax year will see a significant improvement to the treatment of pension funds on death, including the potential to pass them down several generations. Where the pension scheme member dies under age 75 the pension funds will generally be available free of tax to their chosen beneficiaries, whether taken from crystallised or uncrystallised funds and as a lump sum or as income.

Where death occurs after the attainment of age 75 income drawn from the pension fund will be taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal tax rate and any lump sums taken will be taxed at 45%. The intention is that the rate will change from 45% to the recipient’s marginal rate from tax year 2016/17.

A further improvement will be the widening of the category of individuals who can receive a pension from a deceased person’s income drawdown pension plan to include non-dependants.

Until the end of the current tax year, only a dependent beneficiary has had the option to use their share of the deceased’s pension plan to provide income.

The term dependant includes legally married spouse or civil partner (but not an unmarried partner), children aged less than 23, children aged over 23 who are dependent due to disability or any other person who was financially dependent on or interdependent with the member due to disability.

From 6th April 2015, a deceased person’s pension fund will be able to be used to provide a pension for a dependant or a “nominee”.

A nominee is any person nominated by the member or nominated by the scheme administrator although a nomination by the administrator over a dependant or over an individual or charity nominated by the member.

The new rules also introduce the category of “successor” of the member.

A successor is someone nominated by a dependant of the member, by a nominee of the member, by a successor of the member or by the scheme administrator. As with nominees, a successor nominated by the scheme administrator will not take precedence over a successor nominated by the current beneficiary.

Where no nomination is made, the scheme administrator will distribute the pension benefits as it sees fit.

One aspect of the nomination of dependants, nominees and successors which requires care is its treatment for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes. Nominations under the current rules are not binding on the scheme administrator which means that they do not form part of the nominator’s estate for IHT purposes. However, it appears that the new rules may remove the scheme administrator’s discretion, potentially leading to an IHT assessment on the benefits. Further clarification is needed on this point but a way around the issue may be for the individual to complete an Expression of Wish form which is not binding and preserves the discretion of the scheme administrator.

The rules governing pension benefits and contributions are particularly complicated and are an area in which professional advice is essential.

For expert advice on the new pension rules call Mercury Wealth Management Ltd to arrange an appointment.

Tel: 01642 670307

http://bit.ly/1GkPtGw

Match preview: Newcastle v Boro U21s

Boro Under-21s can inflict further derby pain on Newcastle this evening as the North-east rivals lock horns at St James’ Park.

Paul Jenkins’ side are currently top of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division, two points clear of Derby County with five games remaining.

The first of those are on Tyneside this evening against Peter Beardsley’s Magpies, who still have an outside chance of promotion and the title themselves.

But after Boro edged October’s reverse fixture 2-1, the Tyneside outfit are nine points off the pace, albeit with a game in hand.

Doug Moody Photography

Boro Under-21 winger Junior Mondal leads his side's charge against Stoke City

The Geordies are still reeling from Sunday’s derby day defeat to Sunderland - and Boro's young guns can heap further misery on the club with a victory tonight.

In contrast, Boro maintained their title charge with a 2-0 win over Stoke at Rockliffe Park 11 days ago, and Jenkins is keen for his youngsters to just take on game at a time.

“The most important thing is the players continue to develop and do things in the right manner,” Jenkins said.

"If we continue to win football matches then the end product will be there for all to see at the end of the season.

Paul Jenkins

“So far we’ve got into two cup finals, we’re in a healthy position in the league with five games to go, and the players must continue to show that work ethic.

“Everything is in our own hands, and if we continue to win matches then the end reward will be there for us.”

Emmanuel Ledesma and Yanic Wildschut could feature for Boro at St James’ Park, after both failed to feature for the first-team over the Easter weekend.

Meanwhile Newcastle have included first-team winger Gabriel Obertan in their squad for tonight's match.

Anthony Vickers: 'It's time for red hot passion, not white flags - we need to be totally united behind the team

Watford's gone now.

We lost. It hurt . It was a kick in the teeth. It raised dark fears and doubts. But its gone.

There's no time for divisive recriminations just to release our own angst. There's no benefit in squabbling and point-scoring among ourselves. That's what the summer's for.

Now it is time to channel the anger. Focus that pain. Project the frustration. Move on. We've got Rotherham next. A massive game. They are all massive now.

But we have a struggling side at home next and we need to make them feel the backlash and catapult ourselves straight back into the battle.

Boro have the next two games at home while the top three have two aways.

There are no guarantees in this league - for our rivals as much as ourselves - but we have to make that count.

We have a great record at home. We have one defeat since August - a freak - and we've dented all the teams around us at the Riverside. This is where promotion will be won or lost.

Middlesbrough's Patrick Bamford celebrates his opener against Wigan

Two victories now will almost certainly put us back in the automatic spots.

It is moment of opportunity in what can still be an historic season.

It's exciting. It's tense. It's emotionally taxing. But it's what we wanted, to be in there fighting for the big prize at the business end. And our destiny in in our own hands.

Now is the moment. Supporters have to get behind the team - and not wielding knives - to create the kind of inspirational noise and colour we have heard at Derby , Bournemouth and Watford.

Middlesbrough fans celebrate the win over Wigan at the Riverside

We need to be right up for the next two games and totally united behind the team. We need to have belief and bottle.

There's no mileage in being sat in stony silence as if you have been personally insulted by the failure to run away with the league.

"Daddy, what did you in the War?" "I sat and scowled son, and I really let them know about it on Twitter".

You can't "win" by being right all along that "they would let us down."

We can only all win if Boro go up and this is still a glorious chance to achieve that.

Promotion is still within grasp. Yes it will be difficult but look at the table - it's there for the taking.

Five wins will get Boro promoted. Four wins would probably do it. It's time for red hot passion not white flags.

COME ON BORO!

Islam fastest-growing major faith in coming decades

NEW YORK: Over the next four decades, Islam is expected to grow faster than any other major religion worldwide, with the Muslim population nearly matching Christians in both number and share of the global population, according to projections released on Thursday.

Christians will remain the largest religious group, increasing to 2.92 billion adherents by 2050 if current demographic trends continue. But Muslims will reach 2.76 billion, making each faith group about 30 percent of the world population, analysts from the Pew Research Center said.

The projections in the report, “The Future of World Religions,” are based on birth and death rates, immigration patterns and rates of religious conversions, among other information found in censuses, demographic surveys and additional reports that asked people to identify what faith they follow.

Much of the growth of both Christianity and Islam will occur in Africa. But Muslims will also grow to make up 10 percent of Europe’s population and will outnumber Jews in the US by mid-century.

India is expected to retain a Hindu majority, but the country will surpass Indonesia as the nation with the world’s largest Muslim population. As a group, Muslims are younger and have more children than members of other faiths, driving their global growth, researchers said.

The report is the latest to measure how Christianity in developing countries is far outpacing the growth of the faith in the West. By 2050, 4 in 10 Christians are expected to be located in Africa. And Christians will no longer be a majority in the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

Within the US, the share of Christians is expected to decrease from more than three-quarters to two-thirds.

The number of Buddhists will remain about the same, but because of overall global population growth, will comprise a smaller share of the world’s population. Hindus will grow to reach 1.4 billion people. Worldwide, the number of Jews is expected to grow by about 16 percent to 16.1 million.

Woman flees home after pervert neighbour who exposed himself to her every day for nine years allowed to return

A farmer is fleeing her home after a pervert neighbour who exposed himself to her almost every day for nine years won the right to live next door again.

Former police constable Mandy Dunford, 54, was driven to despair by Kenneth Ward, 67, who followed her around her smallholding dressed only in socks and boots for up to eight hours a day.

His brother also left piles of maggot-infested animal carcasses outside her home.

Ward would stand on “sentry duty” dressed in army fatigues and shouldering a rifle outside her window for hours on end.

Ms Dunford refused to be driven out of her property and filmed him as he tried to make her quit the modest nine acre farm where she keeps livestock.

She and her pal Wendy Coulthard, 54, another retired cop, trapped Ward using a hidden camera which showed him repeating his weird ritual every day.

During one of the coldest winters on record, he stood half naked in deep snow at his ramshackle property less than 200 yards from her home.

Cops finally raided Ward’s dilapidated home, in Chop Gate near Stokesley.

As the eccentric military expert - who ran a museum from his home - was arrested a cache of bombs and live ammo was discovered, including a loaded Luger pistol under his pillow and an aircraft cockpit with functioning loaded guns.

RAF bomb squad officers were brought in to carry out controlled explosions.

Ward was jailed for five years at Teesside Crown Court in 2011, and Ms Dunford thought the ordeal, which lasted nine years and began in 2002, was finally over.

KTD Media

Mandy Dunford

But now she has discovered he is free to return to his home - which shares a lane with her own farm - after his restraining order was changed.

In desperation she is preparing to leave the smallholding - after ploughing her savings into it - and will move into a semi-derelict home at a secret moorland location rather than face him again.

Ms Dunford said: “I feel yet again that the offender has been given more rights than the victim.

“My punishment for his crimes has been far worse than anything he has ever faced - I’m losing my home so that he can return to his.”

She added: “It was my dream to have my own smallholding when I left the force and the farm was perfect, I expected to live here for the rest of my life with my animals around me.”

At first Ward and brother Brian were friendly towards her. But a new gate seemed to ‘enrage’ them.

“Brian was a pest controller and he started dumping animal carcasses outside my house,” she recalled. “They were crawling with maggots and I had to bag them and carry them up onto the moor to dump them in a remote place.

“Sometimes by the time I’d got back down again there would be another pile in place of the first one.

“After Brian’s death, Kenneth started exposing himself to me in 2002 and would peer in through my windows with his wild staring eyes.

“He’d run around the house at night shouting and tapping on the windows. When I was working during the day he’d come right up to me and follow me around wearing nothing but boots and socks.

“Sometimes he’d climb a ladder and expose himself over the wall of his cottage.

“He used to stand to watch me with his pants down and shirt pulled up. He’d stand there for hours and hours every day, terrorising me.”

She went four times to Stokesley police station but it only resulted in warnings for Ward, which, she claims, only made his behaviour worse.

KTD Media

The home at Chopgate, near Stokesley

She and Mrs Coulthard rigged up hidden cameras around the farm, taking the footage they collected over the course of months to North Yorkshire police.

Ward was arrested and jailed after admitting 11 counts of exposure, three charges of possessing a prohibited firearm and seven other firearms offences.

At the hearing in December 2011 a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made which prevented Ward from coming within 200 metres of his victim.

As his cottage is only 176 metres from her home it meant he would never be able to return.

However in a hearing held since the sentencing, that order was varied and a new boundary was drawn up that would allow Ward to approach her farm from all sides right up to its boundary.

She said: “It means he can follow me around with only the width of a wire fence between us. When I heard the order had been changed I was horrified and I knew my only option was to pack up and leave.

“I will be forced to abandon my home and my life just so that he can return home, I can’t see the justice in that and I want to know why the rights of a man who tortured me for so long are more important than mine.”

Five North Yorkshire police officers who failed to respond effectively to her original reports were criticised in an internal disciplinary enquiry which concluded they failed to meet “appropriate” investigation standards.

The report said: “It must serve as a reminder to North Yorkshire Police to periodically review how officers carry out their investigations and how North Yorkshire Police expects managers to supervise their staff.”

Two men rescued after building home-made boat for £9

Two men built a boat costing less than £10 and ended up experiencing a Bank Holiday DIY disaster with a difference - after taking to sea in the home-made boat.

The duo constructed the Heath Robinson-style rowing boat out of scrap plywood, insulation boards and wire coat-hangers.

But the stunt went wrong after their oars broke and they were forced to call lifeguards as they drifted 200 metres (656 ft) off Jaywick, Essex, yesterday.

The men, both in their 20s, told rescuers they had spent just £9 on silicone adhesive to hold the boat together.

Joff Strutt, of the Clacton RNLI, said: "A lot of people may have been working on their homes over Easter - but this was a rather hasty DIY project which nearly landed them in trouble.

"They had been out fishing the previous day and decided to give it another go on Monday.

"At the end of the day's fishing, they found themselves too far out at sea. Their oars weren't strong enough and they weren't wearing lifejackets.

"Fortunately nobody was hurt and they've learned a lesson."

The pair called Thames Coastguard on a mobile phone at about 2.20pm as they were trying to make it back to Jaywick's Martello Beach Holiday Park.

Families were out enjoying the pleasant Bank Holiday weather at the time.

"You can't stop people making their own boats but they need to make sure they know what they're doing and, if you're going to sea, make sure you're wearing a lifejacket," Mr Strutt said.

The boat was later destroyed with the men's permission.