Sunday Sun

Cover Star

By PETER HAYWARD SUZUKI will focus on its expertise in low- emission small cars at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show and will showcase the latest Alto, Splash and Swift. But of just as much interest will be the revised 2010 SX4, the company's excellent smaller SUV crossover.

Peugeot 308 Pounds 20,400 ; Review

TOP of a wide range of engines in Peugeot's 308 is the THP, which has yet another version of the excellent 1.6 turbo engine used in the Mini Cooper S. But Peugeot have not gone for the out-and-out hot hatch, creating instead a family car with all the 308's strengths, plus added pzazz. Peak power of 175bhp is not huge by today's standards, but it's enough for plenty of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Audi A3 Pounds 17,500 ; Review

ALONG with all the other car makers, Audi is having to come up with yet further reductions in emissions and improvements in economy. So enter its version of the latest 1.6 TDI diesel, which boasts the same power as the 1.9 it replaces, while at the same time- reducing emissions to 109g/km and improving economy to an amazing 68mpg. Now that's what I call an economy car!

Used Car ; Daihatsu Charade From Pounds 1450

DAIHATSU have always been good at small cars and the last model to carry the Charade name reverted to these roots. The very first Charade was a little 1.0-litre three or five-door hatch with a three-cylinder power unit, which showed many others in the 1980s just how good a small engine could be.

Used Car ; Seat Altea 1.8 From Pounds 5400

SEAT'S Altea mdi-MPV is available both in normal five-seat and longer wheelbase seven-seat models and it looks great in either size. The extra length of the XL seven-seater adds symmetry to what is already a looker, making it a little like an estate car.

North Towns Rocked by Double Shootings

TWO North towns were caught up in terrifying shootouts yesterday that led to injuries and two arrests. Police believe both incidents were linked and are this morning searching for others involved in the violence.

We're 90 Today [ ... ]

We're 90 today! today!

Yanks Close in On Yanks [ ... ]

Diary of a War Hero ; Treasured Memoirs Are Returned to Prisoner of War's Daughter ... 63 Years Later

THE treasured diary of a Second World War hero has been returned across the Atlantic to his daughter ... 63 years later. Private George Gidney served in North Africa and Italy before he was trapped in a prisoner of war camp on the border of Germany and Poland. He had kept a detailed diary, filled with drawings of his family, cartoons, quotes from Winston Churchill and even a list of all the men who were executed following the "Great Escape" from Sagen Luft VIIIB, with a memoriam to them.

Simon King, of Prudhoe, Northumberland[ ... ]

SIMON KING, of Prudhoe, Northumberland, is known for being one half of televisions Hairy Bikers. When not off travelling the globe in search of new cuisine he likes nothing better than spending a Sunday reading the paper. He said: "I love the Sunday Sun. It's a cracking little read which concentrates on local issues. It's just nice to sit down on a Sunday and see what's happening in the region.

Oasis Ponder Their Future Without Noel

OASIS are expected to decide in the next few days whether to continue without Noel Gallagher, the band's spokeswoman said last night. But the future of the rock group looked bleak after a wall of silence followed the songwriter's announcement that he was quitting.

North Cop On Afghan Drug Trail ; Detective Assigned to War-Torn Country

A TOP cop from the North is leading the war against drug pedlars in war-torn Afghanistan by burning millions of pounds of narcotics. David Wright, of Durham, oversees efforts to catch the criminals in Helmand province who provide around 60pc of the world's opiates like heroin and cocaine.

Face of Ugly Violence Soccer ; Thug Gets Three- Year Ban

TOURING the country in search of a ruck, he brought shame on the beautiful game. Soccer yob James Young was so proud of his hooligan credentials, he even had them tattooed on his leg.

County Durham Based Author [ ... ]

Swoop On Thugs

POLICE have staged a wave of raids on the homes of suspects linked to a planned dust-up between rival hooligan firms. Trouble flared at Newcastle Central Station when a train-full of Sunderland fans arrived home from a pre-season friendly in Edinburgh.

Disorder On Rise

FIGURES reveal there has been a rise in footballrelated disorder over the last year. There were 79 arrests at Newcastle home games last season, compared with 38 the year before, with 78 away from home, which was up from 49 in 2007/08. In 2005/06, there were just 26 arrests at St James's Park and 30 at away grounds.

Rachael Coates, 16, Kenton, [ ... ]

United in Grief ; Plea for Tougher Sentences

HUNDREDS of protesters were yesterday united in grief as they marched through the streets of a North city. Led by John Johnson, whose son Kevin was killed outside his Pennywell home, the Fight For Justice march through Sunderland continues the campaigners' fight to put an end to softer sentences for killers.

Trail of Disasters for Wedding Couple

A COUPLE'S wedding day almost turned to disaster following a string of bad luck. Kenneth Porter and Karen Cauwood were left shocked as the hotel booked for their reception was put into administration, a shop supplying bridesmaid dresses went bust and the airline taking them on honeymoon collapsed.

Soldier Slams Low Payouts