Manchester 'For A Tenner'

Noah Johnston, 4, from Dundonald is pictured with his cousin Max Weiniger, 7, celebrating bmibaby flights from Belfast to Manchester - a city famous for its football and unique landmarks like Old Trafford - at a guaranteed fare of £10 one way including all taxes. This fare is valid for travel between 15 February until 27 March and applies to flights departing from Belfast International to Manchester and from Manchester Airport to Belfast.

Fog Halts Flights

Flights going into and out of George Best Belfast City Airport have been indefinitely delayed because of fog. Forecasters say the fog is due to lift later on Thursday morning, but travellers are advised to contact their relevant airline. One flight from Cork has been diverted to Belfast International Airport. All the departures from the airport are listed as delayed this morning.

Rape Accused Remanded

Banbridge Magistrates' Court has remanded a Lithuanian man charged with raping a woman. He faced five charges in total including aiding and abetting rape in an alleged incident which took place in Rathfriland on 7 May last year. He is also accused of false imprisonment of a female, burglary and theft of three mobile phones and a laptop and the theft of £320 cash from the injured party. A detective sergeant from the Rape Crime Unit said he could connect the accused to the charges before the court. He was remanded in custody to appear by video link on Thursday 18 February.

Larne Line Dualling Opposed

Opposition is growing to the plans for a by-pass road around Ballynure in Co Antrim as part of the proposed A8 dualling project. Those against the scheme have aired their concerns with local Green Party representatives, the Antrim Greens, at a meeting in late January. Those objecting to the new road plan fear that it will harm established businesses within the village, take vital sections of land away from farmers and have a detrimental impact on the local environment. Land owners and residents have already voiced their concerns to Roads Service officials, claiming that the current level of traffic on the A8 doesn't justify the building of a new dual carriageway, particularly as there are already 'crawler lanes' in place either side of Ballynure.

Carrick Advertiser Folds

An era in publishing ends this month as the Carrickfergus Advertiser will merge with the Guardian in Carrickfergus to "bring together the strength of both titles", according to the pubishers who said the improved newspaper, printed by the award winning printers Interpress, will combine the strong advertising content of the Guardian from throughout Co Antrim with the unrivalled local news and sport coverage from the Carrickfergus Advertiser.

Armagh Restoration Underway

Lottery funding is helping to pay for important building restoration being carried out in Armagh. Undertaken by Harry Elliott Construction, and by the architects firm of Leighton Johnston Associates, it is part of a restoration project at 5 Vicars' Hill. The project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the NI Tourist Board, includes the preservation and restoration of one of Armagh's 18th century buildings. The second part of the project will be the interpretation and display of items from the Library's collections. Owned by Armagh Public Library, 5 Vicars' Hill is a Grade A listed building which was completed in 1772 as part of Archbishop Robinson's plans for the City of Armagh.

Race Off

The Tandragee 100 has been dropped from the road racing calendar after a recent meeting of North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club, despite it being regarded as the biggest sporting event of the year in terms of spectators. Thousands of fans fill every vantage point around the course annually and only last year, the Tandragee 100 celebrated its 50th anniversary. This will be only the third time that the event has been cancelled.

(BMcC/GK)