Sunday Sun

Star Cover ; Pounds 22,800 Vauxhall Insignia

I WAS very impressed recently when I drove the new Vauxhall Insignia 2.0-litre petrol turbo estate, but more recently, I got hold of the 1.6 turbo SRi hatch from the middle of the range and it is just as good in almost every way. The 1.6 engine is superb, producing marvellous acceleration from almost any speed with a lovely sweet soundtrack that left me wanting more and more.

Review

Citroen C3 Picasso SOME people carriers disappoint by their lack of performance or handling, but Citroen's latest is a quick and agile family mover. The C3 Picasso is a spacious, light and airy smaller MPV with very easy fold seats and a good boot.

Used Car ; Mini One From Pounds 4300

THE BMW MINI seems to be able to do nothing wrong. It has taken the world by storm ever since it first appeared and has won accolades for the factory near Oxford where it's built. All three versions - One, Cooper and Cooper S - are stylish to look at or to live with, huge fun and sharp and focused to drive.

Top West End Theatre Breaks

Departing by coach from Newcastle & Middlesbrough or by rail from Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Newcastle or Sunderland Choose from our fabulous selection of top West End shows including Billy Elliot, Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Grease, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Priscilla, Oliver!, Phantom of the Opera, Sister Act, Calendar Girls, We Will Rock You & Wicked

Car Horror Driver Lost Job On Day He Died ; Last Journey Home From Work Ends in Tragedy

A TEENAGE driver was killed when his car left the road and hit a tree as he made his way home from work on his last day after being laid off. It would have been the final time he had to make the journey. His cousin, who was travelling in the car behind, was the first at the scene of the accident.

Get Out and Garden Get [ ... ]

Owen: Toon Critics [ ... ]

Tragedy Recorded

A MAN whose former girlfriend was killed in the July terrorist attacks in London will release a film about the tragedy on the fourth anniversary of her death. Benedetta Ciaccia, 30, was one of 52 people killed in the attacks.

Horsing Around

TWO Tyneside equestrian enthusiasts will represent their country at a little known sport. Junior Horseball players Harriet Moiser, 14, with her pony Holly, and 15-year-old Hayley Ogle riding Leo, will compete alongside six others from the UK at the Junior Horseball European Cup in France this month. The sport, a horse-backed cross between rugby and basketball, is gaining popularity.

Brown's Ally Stands Down ; Henderson Won't Fight Next Election

NORTH MP and Labour former minister Doug Henderson is to quit the Commons at the next General Election, he announced publicly yesterday. Mr Henderson, 60, a Europe and Defence minister in Tony Blair's administration, said he believed it was time for "a younger person with more energy and vitality" to fight the Newcastle North seat. Mr Henderson, who has represented the seat since 1987, is a close ally of Gordon Brown and said he had informed the Prime Minister last summer of his intention to ...

Ross Reigns Supreme

ROSS "The Real Deal" Pearson has spoken for the first time since storming to victory in The Ultimate Fighter lightweight champ categor y. Sunderland's cage terrier now joins the world's top Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters. Ross, who lives in Sunderland with his girlfriend Jenny Gibson, 21, said: "It is a surreal experience to have won the show. It's a dream come true to be honest and the adrenaline is still pumping.

Mr Justice - Pages 28 [ ... ]

Rusty Nails Role As Model Mutt

k PEDIGREE pooch Rusty is swapping dog walks for the catwalk after becoming the first animal to be signed to a top North model agency.

Lottery Results

LOTTERY RESULTS BONUS BALL THERE were no lucky winners in last night's main Lotto draw.

Told to Leave

NIGHTMARE neighbour Tara Campbell, right, fled her Tyneside home after being booted out by a judge. The mum-of-three made life hell for her neighbours with loud love- making sessions, pounding music and verbal abuse.

Hell of Noisy Neighbours ; Nearly Two Complaints Every Hour

THE MISERY noisy neighbours heap on North families is today laid bare in shocking new statistics. The Sunday Sun can reveal that nearly 16,000 people across the North contacted councils concerning rowdy homeowners in the last year.

50p Homes in Huge Increase

FAMILIES who bought homes for 50p 10 years ago in a riot-torn area of Newcastle are selling them for pounds 145,000 now. The first of the 50p homeowners to move from Hampstead Road, North Benwell, made the handsome profit after discovering the value of his property had increased by 29 million per cent since the council sold the houses in 1999.

Thrill Seekers Still at Risk

THRILL SEEKERS are continuing to risk their lives leaping into the sea along the North East coast. This picture shows men and teenagers in action as they leap from the pier at Cullercoats, North Tyneside. Safety chiefs today renewed warnings as more hot weather heads our way.

Mandate

In Court for Making Love Too Loudly

FOR couple Steve and Caroline Cartwright, it was their steamy sex sessions that drove their neighbours bonkers. And for more than two months the pair have been separated after Caroline was banged up in a bail hostel for allegedly breaching her ASBO stopping her noisy romps between the sheets.