AS the week draws to a close, we've rounded up the five most popular stories on the Hexham Courant website this week.

1. Prime Minister visits Hexham General Hospital

THE Prime Minister visited Hexham as £284m investment is announced for the NHS.

Boris Johnson was at Hexham General Hospital as technology to modernise diagnostics and help tackle patient waiting lists is to be rolled out over the next year.

The funding will allow hospital labs to share patient results, tests, and scans more quickly between different hospitals and doctors.

2. Teenager found guilty of raping 15-year-old girl

A 17-YEAR-OLD has been found guilty of rape.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raped a 15-year-old girl in Hexham in July 2020.

He had denied the offence, but was found guilty on Wednesday (November 3) following a two-day trial at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court last week.

He has been remanded on conditional bail until he is due to appear at magistrates' court on December 9.

3. See inside: The £1.5 million 6-bedroom house with swimming pool

A DETACHED, six-bedroom house complete with a swimming pool is on the market.

Yoton, The Stanners, Corbridge has been listed for sale by Finest Properties for offers over £1.5 million.

The listing states the property is situated in 'generous gardens and grounds amongst beautiful rural surroundings to offer tranquility and privacy, whilst simultaneously providing convenient access to village amenities'.

4. Egger Hexham’s longest serving employee retires

AFTER 46 years of service, Egger's account coordinator has announced her retirement from the wood-based materials manufacturer she joined in 1975.

Alison Bird, of Corbridge, started her career with Weyroc as an office junior, and became an Egger employee nine years later when the company took over the site in 1984. Her last day with the company is Friday, November 12 - over 16,000 days since she started.

5. Men's formal wear store is expanding on the back of its successful opening

A Men's formal wear store in Hexham is already expanding after being open for two months.

The store has started working with Mark Darcy and Guide London, stocking their products.

S&S Attire has also expanded to selling men's casual wear and women's blazers, this is on the back of the continuing success the store has had since opening earlier in the year.