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Wearside stories you might have missed this week

Durham University Mark Gatiss dressed in gold and red robes addresses students graduating from Durham University at a ceremony at Durham Cathedral. Durham University
Mark Gatiss, from Sedgefield, County Durham, was awarded an honorary doctorate

Two care home residents died after a car crashed into the building following a police chase and award-winning actors received honorary doctorates.

Here are some Wearside stories you might have missed this week.

Two women die after car crashes into care home

A large hole at the bottom left of a brick and white stone building next to a window. Bricks and debris from the wall are scattered all around and in the bushes and grass in front of the building.
A car hit Highcliffe Care Home in Sunderland following a police chase

Two residents of a Sunderland care home, a woman in her 80s and another in her 90s, died the day after a car crashed into their building.

A BMW, which had been reported stolen, smashed into Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack following a police chase.

Sculptor's legal bid against New Zealand artist

Ray Lonsdale/BBC Two photos side by side. The first shows Ray Lonsdale, wearing a blue cap, a grey shirt and pink shorts, holding a cream coloured dog underneath his artwork, The Big Dance, which is of two hands joined together and with fingers pointing either direction. The second, which is an image on a mobile phone, shows Togetherness by James Wright. The statue is of two clasped hands with a finger pointing and is also made from corten steel. It is displayed in a park and there are trees behind it.Ray Lonsdale/BBC
Ray Lonsdale, pictured next to The Big Dance, in Gretna Green, believes his work has been replicated by James Wright in his piece Togetherness, which is on display in New Zealand

Sculptor Ray Lonsdale, from South Hetton, County Durham, who claimed his work was stolen by New Zealand sculptor James Wright, raised thousands of pounds ahead of a legal challenge to "protect his livelihood".

Mr Wright told the BBC his artwork was independently researched and there had been "no copyright infringement".

'Post Office IT scandal destroyed my health'

PA Media Teju Adedayo hugs Betty Brown. Ms Adedayo has dark hair styled in braids and is wearing a blue top. Ms Brown has grey hair and is wearing a white jacket.PA Media
Betty Brown (right) joined other former sub-postmasters in London, including Teju Adedayo, for the release of the report

Betty Brown, 92, from County Durham, said the Post Office's Horizon IT scandal "destroyed" her health.

She is thought to be the oldest victim of scandal.

  • Ms Brown shared her story as the first of the official inquiry report was published, read it here

Actors Gatiss and McKee honoured

Durham University Gina McKee dressed in red and gold robes awaits to receive her honorary degree at Durham Cathedral during the University of Durham graduation ceremony.Durham University
Actress Gina McKee receiving her honorary doctorate at Durham Cathedral

Two award-winning actors Mark Gatiss, from Sedgefield, and Gina McKee, from Peterlee, received honorary doctorates from Durham University.

Thousands of students from the university are graduating at Durham Cathedral this month.

Fortune-telling die among castle's quirky finds

Durham University/The Auckland Project A palm holding a small black jet die. It has yellow symbols on it.Durham University/The Auckland Project
When rubbed, jet produces sparks and gives off static which would have appeared magical

A medieval toilet and a jet die used to predict the future were some of the findings uncovered by archaeologists at Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland.

More than seven years of excavations at the site ended this summer.

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