From our archives:

85 years ago

Fire had broken out in one of the upper rooms of the National Glass Works, York, shortly after eleven o’clock.

The fire had started in what was known as the tumbler etching and Government stamping department, where a good deal of inflammable material had been stored.

The building to which the fire was confined was in Fishergate, and was quickly surrounded by hundreds of people on the scene.

Clouds of smoke pervaded the street when the roof collapsed, followed by a momentary shower of sparks which thrilled the onlookers.

Meanwhile work was proceeding as usual in the productive departments of the works, as the damage had been confined to a large number of cardboard cartons and a portion of the stock tumblers.

50 years ago

A parcel left by a customer at the Ousebridge Inn, York, was handed to the police when it was found to contain part of a human skull.

The skull wrapped in newspapers, had been left, on a bar stool.

“We were surprised when we found it was a skull inside the parcel,” said landlord Mr Frank Hill.

Another customer took it outside and gave it to a policeman.

According to Chief Inspector John Canning investigating the discovery, the skull was ancient, and there was no cause for alarm.

A rash of yellow lines spreading along the pavements of York City was described as “a shocking sight” by Ald William Bridge, chairman of the council’s Streets and Buildings Committee.

“They are a real eyesore, and I am very sorry to see them in York,” he declared. “But the council has to comply with the law - we haven’t got any choice in the matter.”

20 years ago

Three girls were injured, one seriously when a 20ft high speaker tower toppled over at a pop concert in Leeds starring Peter Andre.

One 14 year old girl was being treated for head injuries in the intensive care unit at Leeds general Infirmary.

Another was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

The world of children’s TV was reeling after the sudden departure of the actor who played Tinky Winky in the cult children’s series Teletubbies.

Dave Thompson, the tall purple member of the toast and custard-munching quartet, claimed he had been sacked from the show because its makers were at odds with his “interpretation” of the role.