Mark Rowe enjoys a stroll along the Durham shore

Lucy Grewcock hits the forest for mud and mayhem on two wheels

A baby girl was born on a London commuter train less than an hour after her mother was sent home from hospital, relatives claimed last night.

Workers who clean trains which travel between Wales and England are to stage a 24-hour strike on the day of a crucial rugby game between the two countries.

A “complete loss” of signalling on part of South West Trains' London service caused severe disruption for late-night travellers.

A week after the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery Bruce Reynolds died aged 81 the BBC has announced it is to dramatise the notorious heist.

Taste the best produce from a given area and mingle with the locals in some of Britain’s prettiest, historic market towns

Documents reveal some visitors at Elm Guest House went on to commit series of child sex offences

Welcome to the idiotic new world of the US government budget "sequester". Under this latest self-inflicted wound to fiscal governance – for which both Republicans and Barack Obama share responsibility – $85bn (£56bn) of government spending cuts are starting to kick in, with consequences that are impossible to predict, but certain to be harmful.

The Torrington family – Charlotte, her grown-up children Emerald and Clovis, small daughter Smudge, and one-armed second husband Edward Swift – live in a grand, crumbling country residence which they can't afford to keep up.

Ultimate European rail journeys

I agree about the Glacier Express journey – beautiful. In spring, you go past houses covered in snow; in summer, Alpine meadows and flowers; while autumn brings the different tree colours. If you can afford it, travel first class. A totally different experience!

Jeanne

A tour led by the capital's street children shows Harriet O'Brien a different side of the city

Wake up – it's Mother's Day on Sunday 10 March but you still have time to get a thoughtful gift at good value (just don't tell mum you got a deal on it!). For starters, many of the candles offered at Parable Designs are on offer at up to 47 per cent off while its Rapeseed Candles (pictured above) are available with free delivery for Mother's Day. The candles' unique designs are taken from vintage wallpaper printing rollers from the 19th century. Find out more at www.parabledesigns.co.uk

Every city in the world is commissioning architects to design iconic architecture – a production line of ever flashier-looking objects of grim bread-and-circuses banality. Why does it takes a tramp-like Catalonian vegetarian, and a young Italian with Mussolini on his mind to remind us that architecture – really engrossing architecture – is worthy of cult worship.