TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to the bravery and dedication of Britain's police officers at the unveiling of a permanent memorial to a popular Northumberland village bobby who was killed in the line of duty.

Film producer and director Michael Winner said the ultimate sacrifice made by PC Joe Carroll two years ago symbolised the heroism of thousands of officers who daily face the risk of being killed or injured while patrolling the streets.

SHOULD a former Dr Barnardo boy, Chris McDonnell, triumph in either of two PGA championships sandwiched together later this month and win his first professional title, it will be a triumph over a once troubled family background.

Much of his amateur career - from the ages of 15 to 21 - was played out to the backdrop of a family life so discordant the former Prudhoe High School boy might have had ended up fending for himself.

Happily, Barnardo's picked up the pieces and found him a home in Prudhoe with a couple who were to take on the role of surrogate parents, Stuart and Rona Miles.