A Northumberland man whose skull was removed after an accident more than half a century ago has amazed doctors by growing a new one.

Gordon Moore, 72, of Hexham, had worn a metal plate to protect his brain since he was involved in a car crash in the 1950s. But when surgeons removed the titanium plate to treat an infection, they were astonished to find he had grown a new skull underneath. The whole smashed front section of Gordon's skull, from his eye to his ear, backwards to the top of his head, has regenerated.

Mr Moore, a great-grandfather, was expecting to wait months for a replacement plate. Now, he no longer needs one and is enjoying a new lease of life. He said: "I was amazed when they told me and obviously very pleased at the same time. They took the infected plate out and found I had grown a completely new skull underneath, so they just stitched me up. Although they say bone does grow through time, it's never half a skull like this. My new skull is the exact same shape as the metal plate."

Last year, doctors discovered Gordon's metal plate was poking out of the top of his head. When skin grafts failed to cover up the open wound, neuro-surgeons decided to remove the plate. And when they got him on the operating table in August, they made the amazing discovery. Newcastle Hospitals consultant neurologist Param Bhattahiri said: "We had no idea what we were going to find underneath, but I didn't expect to find a new skull."

What was he expecting? Answers below please!

It wasn't so much that Gordon had grown a new skull...

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