June
Tony Blair storms to victory in the General Election; William Hague steps down as Tory party leader; the final metal rolls from the Lackenby coil plate mill and revellers gather to celebrate the summer solstice.
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Foot-and-mouth back on the march
Farmers and hoteliers in the Cleveland Hills wait in fear as foot-and-mouth disease goes back on the march.
Brothers Bobby and Ronnie Waugh, the Northumberland farmers accused of starting the foot-and-mouth epidemic, are to face six charges brought by trading standards officers.
The battle to close the controversial 240-acre Inkerman foot-and-mouth burial site at Tow Law, County Durham, goes to Brussels.
Up to 75 per cent of footpaths in the Northumberland National Park, closed to visitors to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, are given the all-clear to re-open. Some local farmers say the action is too premature.
A mass screening programme is set up for foot-and-mouth slaughter workers after three soldiers involved in the cull are diagnosed with the rare disease Q Fever.
Preparations are under way to bring more than 3,000 tonnes of ash from a Northumberland carcass pyre to Teesside for storage.
Human remains are found near the spot where Donald Campbell's Bluebird was raised to the surface of Coniston Water.
Blair storms to victory: Hague quits
Tony Blair returns to power with an historic second landslide in the General Election. William Hague resigns as leader of the Conservatives following his party's disastrous showing.
New figures on domestic accidents show that 37 people were injured by tea cosies last year.
People living in Warbler Close, Ingleby Barwick, watch in amazement as an underground electrical fault causes an eruption under the pavement near their homes.
Crumbling parts of Newcastle's proud heritage are being brought back to life. The city's historic Grainger Town is being rebuilt.
Bitter pill as Glaxo axes 400 jobs
The North-East economy is dealt another savage blow when GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announces it is planning to axe 400 jobs at its Barnard Castle plant.
Darlington councillors approve plans to develop a 115-acre site at Faverdale - the biggest single site development in the history of the town.
A safety investigation is underway at Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, after a rollercoaster accident leaves a woman fighting for her life.
Steel closure marks end of an era
The final metal rolls from the production line at Lackenby coil plate mill signalling the end of Teesside's 160-year-old integrated steel-making industry.
Solstice dawns over Stonehenge
Druids, New Agers and revellers gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to celebrate the arrival of the summer solstice.
Bullet arrives at a snail's pace
The Bullet, one of the world's fastest trains, pulls into York at a snail's pace on the back of a low-loader.
The BBC is axes its World Service short wave radio broadcasts.
Blinking Eye Bridge fully opened
The spectacular Millennium Bridge across the River Tyne opens fully for the first time.
Good weather averts chemical disaster
Firefighters are put on standby to evacuate people from their homes following an incident with a chemical lorry on the Washington Highway.
Sanyo microwave factories at Newton Aycliffe and Thornaby are threatened with closure with the loss of almost 300 jobs.
Copyright (c) 2000-2001 Sue Kelly