DURHAM County councillors were due this Thursday to approve proposals for a new style council providing all local services. If the North-East gets a regional assembly one tier of the county's local government - either the county or the seven districts
Cheltenham will have a new look for the 2004 Festival with the announcement yesterday that new stands in both the Tattersalls and Courage enclosures will be ready for the March 16 start to the meeting. The Tattersalls Arena is on course to be finished
In the days before there were villages, towns or cities, people lived in small agricultural communities. Farms came long before towns and indeed when the monks carrying St Cuthbert's coffin settled at Durham in 995 AD there was no established town or
SCHOOLS across North Yorkshire are being given funds to make their signs clearer. All 390 schools will receive between £100 and £400 to re-site internal signs or buy new ones. Up to £50,000 is being released for the improvement project by the county council's
BOTANIST David Bellamy launched a series of walks across the region's farmland which will give visitors an insight into how farmers are helping to preserve its landscape and wildlife. Six new routes, some over land previously closed to the public, have
DARLINGTON Mowden Park will be showing a strong Newcastle Falcons influence when they open their season with a Powergen Cup tie at home to Kendal on Saturday. The link between the clubs has been strengthened during the summer, with Mowden using former
GLEN, a registered 2-year-old dog handled by R H Hughes of Welshpool, Wales, achieved the top price at the autumn sale of working dogs at Skipton auction mart last Friday. Failing to find a buyer in the auction ring, Glen later sold privately to a local
Langbaurgh League: It is extremely tight at the top of the table with Broughton and Kirby and Kirby Sigston equal on points and with East Harlsey and Maltby still in the race. Broughton and Kirby had 50 runs in hand of East Harlsey who are now third from
KILLER Albert Dryden is making another move towards freedom, 12 years after he gunned down a council officer in a planning row. Derwentside District Council planning officer Harry Collinson was shot at point blank range when council officers moved in
PLANS to import a ghost fleet of vessels from the US will be blocked if the North-East company responsible fails to convince coastguards there will be no environmental fallout. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said strict tests must be met before
REDCAR Coastguards battled in vain to save the life of a swimmer at the weekend. Ferdinand Rwe from Kln, a German national on holiday with his wife in the area, was swimming in the sea at Sandsend, near Whitby, on Saturday when he got into difficulty
A HOSPITAL doctor on a parachuting holiday hurled himself out of a plane in a vain attempt to help a North-East student plummeting to her death. Hospital registrar Dr Joshua Burrill was on the same aircraft as student Sue Westwood in Soulac-Sur-Mer, France
A DOG was so absorbed in his chase for a ball that he swam a quarter-of-a-mile out to sea - unaware of attempts to save him. Toby, an 11-year-old labrador, was at Redcar with owners Mark Reece and Louise Craggs, from Darlington, when the wind sent his
THE NORMANDY Veterans' Pilgrimage Club is staging a fundraising Forties' charity night next month. Members raise money to assist Second World War veterans to visit the Normandy landing beaches for the annual D-Day commemorations on June 6. But they are
PHASE one of the Hutton Inquiry is over. It is time to assess the damage to the Government so far - and to consider who needs to be called back for further questioning. That the Government has been damaged is beyond doubt. The Prime Minister played his
You may think nothing of them as you dash them out, but emails can come back to haunt you. Nick Morrison asks: when emails are concerned, is there such a thing as privacy? WHEN Trevor Luxton wanted to boast of his sexual exploits, he was clearly looking
A college lecturer was placed on the sex offenders' register last night after more than 1,500 pornographic images of children were found on his computer. Iasao Yasahura, a 42-year-old from Japan, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing after officers discovered
Rohm and Haas GOC Hetton Youth League: The season started at the weekend with just five clubs in membership. Before the amalgamation of the two leagues in 2001 at one time the Hetton Youth League boasted 16 clubs and the demise of Saturday youth football
NEW craft workshops created as part of Durham City's £30m Millennium City development will be officially opened next Friday. The ceremony at the Fowlers Yard complex will be performed by the city's Liberal Democrat Mayor Ray Gibbon and North-East Labour
ONE of the region's leading churchmen is backing an appeal to bring hope to heart patients. The Bishop of Newcastle, The Right Reverend Martin Wharton, has agreed to become a patron of the Artificial Heart Fund (AHF) charity. The charity is appealing
THE Kwik Save store in Consett was the first business to win a certificate for keeping the streets tidy. The Consett North Partnership set up the Keep Consett Clean scheme to tackle litter problem. Member Mary Westgarth worked with Derwentside District
Crook League: Crook Belle Vue, First Division leaders and Championship favourites, lost their penultimate match at Crook Coach and Horses A when they went down in the deciding doubles but still hold a four points lead over Crook Royal Sun, who also lost
Water users face a possible 37 per cent rise in their bills for water supplies and sewerage. Northumbrian Water has announced it is asking the regulator Ofwat to approve an inflation-busting increase that it says will take the average household bill from
COMMUNITY groups across the county are celebrating a cash windfall of more than £125,000 for several projects that will help people of all ages and abilities. Twenty-four groups across Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Harrogate and York
GREEN-FINGERED clients and staff at a day centre are celebrating after winning a gardening award. The Greenways Court day centre, in Leadgate, Consett, won the County Durham Care in Bloom competition. They impressed the judges with a floral display of
Durham Alliance: Belford House top of the league with two consecutive wins. A 1-0 success on Wednesday against Seaham Town Community a d a 3-1 win at home to Shildon Railway to go a point above Hartlepool Town having played a game more. Belford went 1
A NEW football tournament attracted hundreds of enthusiastic youngsters and raised £450 for a youth education project. More than 40 youth teams took part in the very first five and seven-a-side competition at Bishop Auckland College on Saturday. The event
A SENIOR North Yorkshire police officer who has spearheaded a string of emergency operations is to take a top job with a neighbouring force. Chief Supt Gary Barnett has been appointed assistant chief constable of County Durham in succession to Ron Hogg
A BRIDGE made famous in the hit TV show Auf Wiedersehen Pet is getting a £500,000 facelift by a team of abseiling decorators. Millions of people broke television viewing records when they tuned in to the last series of the show, which followed the escapades
THE Mayor of Colburn has resigned following a bitter row over his backing of plans for a waste station in the town. Coun Peter Wood told a special meeting of town council members that his position as mayor had become untenable. He alleged that some signatures
Northallerton's Becky Rennison, 14, pipped friend and rival Kathryn Wardle to the Youth B class title in the final round of the ACU national ladies trials championship at Tavistock in Devon. But Doncaster's Donna Fox clinched the adult title from Richmond
Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club has had a successful Under-16 Girls team for the last two years and this season they were crowned North-East Champions and North of England Challenge Champions. The Under-16 team is for girls aged 12-16 years but some
IT sounds like science fiction, but brain specialists at a North-East hospital can now "operate" without having to open up your head. Until very recently, the only way to treat a variety of dangerous blood vessel conditions in the brain was to cut through
AN informal area for youngsters needed a clean-up after it was attacked days before its official opening. The 'pocket park' in Co-operative Terrace, New Brancepeth, was created by teenage members of the New Brancepeth Youth Group with support from youth
Sweet Medicine (ITV1), Seven Wonders Of The Industrial World (BBC2): Those suffering depression from the axing of Peak Practice will find a perfect substitute in Sweet Medicine, which is also about a medical practice in Derbyshire. Only the names have
THE National Pig Association has urged trading standards officers to take a more aggressive stance on misleading food labels. In a leaflet entitled How to Buy British Pork, launched on Monday, the NPA highlighted the ways in which manufacturers and retailers
BADLY behaved children are said to be endangering the lives of others at a swimming pool and making them afraid to use it. The difficult youngsters, mainly boys between 11 and 14, ignore pool staff and intimidate other swimmers at Guisborough pool. Parents
PARENTS and children will be vying for the chance to take over hose reels at Darlington Fire and Rescue's open day later this month. The bi-annual event is being held on Saturday, September 20, when, apart from the opportunity to squirt water, there will
INDIAN police came to Cleveland this week to share ideas and innovations with their colleagues in England. Supt Gupreet Singh-Toor, of the Punjab, spent time with ethnic minority liaison officer Brian Lindsay and community safety inspector Eric Robinson
PEOPLE planning on taking a holiday abroad can visit a new travel clinic at a Middlesbrough hospital. Would-be holidaymakers and business travellers can call at the one-stop travel clinic at James Cook University Hospital for the latest advice and information
COUNCILLORS in Darlington face being checked by the criminal records bureau under proposals. Social Services at Darlington Borough Council had run checks on elected members who visited council homes with children and vulnerable adults, but now it looks
THE Hogwarts Express steam train used in the Harry Potter films has been forced off the rails after vandals spraypinted it green and silver. The graffiti artists were yesterday branded "mindless morons" for the thousands of pounds worth of damage they
A mayor cancelled his annual ball at a hotel because his council was prosecuting it for having a dirty kitchen, Teesside Crown Court was told yesterday. It should have been the third time the mayor of Redcar held the charity ball at the town's Regency
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 124 breeding & store cattle, 757 store lambs. Lim cows & calf: £710, £670 P Dowson; £540 C Bell. Blue-grey cow & calf £560 C Bell; Lim hfr & calf £900 ER Thompson; AA hfr & calf £640 ER Thompson. Feeding
The classic trait of bullies is that they will target those they perceive as weaker than themselves, ganging up against a minority. Criminals - generally bullies by a different name - will often target the elderly or the guillible but they blight the
PROTESTORS battling against a waste handling plant near their homes have called a meeting to express their views. The campaigners have called their own meeting on Tuesday because they claim Teesdale District Council has stalled attempts for a public debate
A SALTBURN chef, Shaun Omara, who has closed his bistro, Omara's, in Station Street has been urged to contact both Redcar and Cleveland Council and the valuation office to see if they can help over his shock business rates tax bill. Coun Glyn Nightingale
FOR the first time in almost 150 years, Russian hands have held one of the drums of the Borodino Regiment, captured by the Green Howards after the battle of the Alma. Maj Alexander Gusev, from St Petersburg, was a guest of the Green Howards Regimental
I have just got back from a pilgrimage to the Assisi of Francis and Clare and the Rome of Peter and Paul. One highlight was celebrating Mass at the tomb of Saint Peter. It was very moving to be so closely in touch with a close friend of Jesus. Another
CHILDREN are being offered the chance to take a look at life 2,000 years ago. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's countryside section and museum service are teaming up with Tees Archaeology for a look at life during the Iron Age, on a site at Foxrush
A NORTH Yorkshire breeder paid the highest price at a Carlisle sale of pedigree Charolais cows and heifers which saw JSR Farms of Pocklington, near York, sell a major portion of their Givendale herd. Dick Garner and Son of Kirkby Fleetham paid 6,500gns
A SENSORY garden was opened in Victorian style on Saturday at a nursing home by Redcar MP Vera Baird. The Hillview Nursing Home in Eston celebrated the opening of the garden, designed to stimulate the senses, with a Victorian-themed party which included
IN case you haven't noticed, our children are getting too fat. So fat that they are running the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes at ever earlier ages. It's partly because they are couch potatoes. And partly because they eat too much of the wrong
A DISUSED smithy is being brought back to life by two farmers' sons. Rob Walton and Jonathan Robson set up their own company - Rokeby Forge - in April. They are working from Rob's parents' Cockleberry Farm at Brignall, but hope to be in their own premises
IN case you haven't noticed, our children are getting too fat. So fat that they are running the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes at ever earlier ages. It's partly because they are couch potatoes. And partly because they eat too much of the wrong
A NORTH-East Thai restaurant is celebrating after becoming one of only 15 across the country to scoop an award. The Numjai, in the Milburngate Centre, Durham, is the only restaurant in the region to get a Q Mark Award. The awards were made by Thailand's
Oxbridge Darlington and District League: Middleton St George are in a strong position to clinch the championship of Division A as they won for the 18th time in 19 games. Their latest success came against Ingleton who they dismissed for just 49 in 20 overs
Bass North Cleveland League: Loftus have won the championships of both the first and second divisions. The first team completed a successful season defeating Ormesby Hall to make it 16 wins in 18 games. They have drawn one and lost just one and with 413
KART racing driver David Hodgson, from Yarm, made the long journey to Northern Ireland last weekend to compete in the penultimate round of the British Junior Kart Racing Championships. He was up against tough opposition from all over the UK and Ireland
SO much for friendlies. Willington Under-15s' final pre-season fixture was played out in the most unpleasant of atmospheres last Sunday. A derby against St Mary's, from Bishop Auckland, ought to have brought our preparations for the forthcoming Premier
THE future has suddenly become crystal clear for a North-East woman with a varied career. Mother of two Helen Waine, a former office worker, nurse, farmer, care home worker and veterinary nurse, is the new owner of Castle Crystals, in Barnard Castle.
Bream showed in decent numbers for the 38 competitors who turned out to fish the Thornaby Town Council Annual Show Open on Saturday. Staged on the Lower Tees downstream of Bassleton Wood it was left to Diawa Cleveland youngster Rob Morgan to show the
Darlington Mowden Park: THE Under-18 Colts start their season on Sunday afternoon, entertaining Eggremont at Yiewsley Drive. The game will prove to be difficult for Mowden Park as last year's Cumbrian County Champions have an established and skillfull
ROBERT and Elaine Butterfield from Bentham, near Lancaster, won this year's Yorkshire Holstein Club herd competition with their Ingleview Herd. The Butterfields then represented Yorkshire in the North of England premier herd competition and won that,
THE new Kirkby group of Riding for the Disabled hopes to have raised £500 in sponsorship for its first-ever ride on the August bank holiday weekend. The money will go to buy equipment for disabled riders. There were about 20 entries, some using the eight
ARMED police laid siege to a house for more than four hours, before bursting through the door - and finding a dog. The operation was mounted after claims that a gunman had made threats to kill a villager during a dispute. Durham police's tactical firearms
THE North-East has received more than £1million in lottery cash to help build new nurseries, including two in the Chester-le-Street area. The New Opportunities Fund money was officially announced on Wednesday and has been awarded to projects that involve
Darlington Harriers: Ten Harriers took part in the Harrogate 10km in August and continued to pick up a selection of prizes. From a field of 770 first home for the Harriers against strong opposition was Martin Grainger in ninth place in a fast time of
HAWES. - Sat. Annual sale of terminal sire rams. Fwd: 49 rams. Lambs. - Suff to £200 L Yewdall, York, av £165; Texel to £130 FC&M Walker, Burnsall, av £115; Beltex to £120 K&R Buckle, Kirkby Stephen, av £110. Shlg. - Suff to £140 B Reeves, Settle
POLICE raids targeting suspected drug suppliers on Teesside have resulted in more arrests. Twelve arrests were made within minutes of the launch of a new phase of Operation Warrior across Stockton on Thursday, but that figure has now risen to 23, of whom
THE boss of Northern Foods resigned yesterday in the wake of a profits warning. Chief executive Jo Stewart, who has worked for the company for 15 years, was leaving amid concern the firm was "not operating to its full potential". Group pre-tax profits
Bishop Auckland have lifted the Team of the Month award for August - but they might not win it again in September. Bishops won three of their four league games in the month and drew the other, as well as thrashing Flixton 8-0 in the FA Cup, to give them
THINGS are looking good at Eidos, the software company responsible for bringing pneumatic cybersleuth Lara Croft to computer screens worldwide. The Tomb Raider character was the driving force behind better-than-expected annual profits for Eidos. There
Roseberry Group North East Durham League: East Rainton are in a strong position to retain the championship of Division One after they defeated Wearmouth and second top Newton Aycliffe had their game against Plawsworth timed out. East Rainton though made
A PROJECT aiming to use sport to keep young people on the right track is up and running. Consett Juniors, which has hundreds of budding footballers aged eight to 18 on its books, has merged with Consett YMCA Juniors FC. The partnership will also involve
FORMULA ONE: 2003. Publisher: SCEE. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99: ONLY last month I was criticising Electronic Arts for not using the latest teams/drivers data in its latest F1 title. At the time, I didn't realise that EA couldn't have used Alonso et al
Sweet Medicine (ITV1) Seven Wonders Of The Industrial World (BBC2) THOSE suffering depression from the axing of Peak Practice will find a perfect substitute in Sweet Medicine, which is also about a medical practice in Derbyshire. Only the names have been
A TOWN'S Mayor and Mayoress were among the first to give a live interview when Durham Local Radio (DLR) took to the airwaves this week. The station which broadcasts on 107 FM is taking part in its second month-long-trial and was soon back in the swing
South Cleveland Garages Teesside League: Division One, BEADS FC 3 v 1 SMG Redstripes. BEADS took a tenth-minute lead against visitors SMG Redstripes through George Pain. Lee Bowes then doubled his team's score to 2-0. Pain was sent off in the second half
RURAL transport in Britain needs a kick start, according to a report this week. Rural Transport Futures, published jointly by Transport 2000, the Countryside Agency and Citizens' Advice, has concluded that too often the system is not working and is letting
COUNCILLORS have expressed dismay at plans to close two post offices in Darlington. Faverdale Post Office, in Sandriggs, and North End Post Office, in North Road, are likely to close before the end of the year under national restructuring plans. Residents
OH to be at Ganton for this weekend's Walker Cup. Ten miles south-west of Scarborough, it's considered the finest inland golf course in Britain and has bunkers so deep there are ladders to clamber out of them. Great Britain and Ireland have won the trophy
GRASS track racer Kevin Bowes has stormed to success with the help of solid support from North Yorkshire engineering and design firm Malton Laser. The 35-year-old technician from Brompton on Swale, near Richmond, scooped the class 3 and championship races
AN important part of the region's railway heritage could be jeopardised if land is sold to a property developer. The Grade II*-listed Stephenson Engine Works, in South Street, behind Newcastle Central Station, was part of a factory complex that produced
IT is a rare York meeting which does not have an Easterby winner and Wednesday's opening race saw Mick Easterby duly land the spoils with the favourite, Sporting Gesture. He won by a length and a half under a driving Kieren Fallon ride, beating nephew
NEWCASTLE striker Shola Ameobi is desperate to erase the memory of a painful week by helping the England Under-21 side move closer to their European Championship goal. In the absence of Craig Bellamy, Ameobi was given his chance by Magpies boss Sir Bobby
Worthington Durham County CIU: Summer League, Leeholme B, bottom of the Third Division, made only their second win of the season but in doing so seriously upset the promotion chances of their hosts at neighbouring Coundon. Coundon, who were confidently
IF there's one thing I never expected to see in Coronation Street (ITV1), it was the sight of Jack and Vera Duckworth stoned out of their heads. Adultery, bent coppers, betrayal, witness protection families, date rape and Betty's hotpot, I can take. But
Slazenger Harrogate and District League: Kate Collins has a double reason to celebrate this season. Not only did her Academy A team win promotion to Division One but Collins posted an unbeaten record. She played 23 rubbers in her eight matches, remaining
Collecting an award for his superb performance in Willington Under-15s' Bob Pendlebury Cup semi-final was the last the last thing on Lee Tinkler's mind when he was bowled out for a duck with the first ball of the game. But Lee more than made up for that
THIRSK Auction Mart is to submit a detailed plan for a new site on the edge of the market town. Following 12 months of negotiation and planning, the mart is to lodge a plan with Hambleton District Council next week to move to a site off the A19 bypass
FORMULA ONE: 2003. Publisher: SCEE. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99: ONLY last month I was criticising Electronic Arts for not using the latest teams/drivers data in its latest F1 title. At the time, I didn't realise that EA couldn't have used Alonso et al
Central Ladies League: Durham City clinched the League Championship after they whitewashed the visiting Brandon with just one match left in the programme. This took them seven points clear of last season's champions, Vane Tempest, who assured themselves
A SHOPKEEPER has been fined £1,000 for stocking out-of-date yoghurts. Businessman Mohammed Razaq was fined when the £1 pound pack of yoghurts were found on the shelves of his shop, 12 days past their labelled use-by date. At Gosforth Magistrates' Court
VISITORS to the Bowes Museum are enjoying the Tim Rice collection of paintings which is on display until January, but there are several other exhibitions well worth a look. * The Art of Marquetry: Paintings in Wood, which runs until September 28, was
BADLY behaved youngsters are putting lives at risk at a North-East swimming pool, according to staff. The youngsters, aged between 11 and 14, are mainly boys who ignore staff and intimidate other users at the pool in Guisborough. Parents said they have
BIG-HEARTED grandmother Jennifer Chaplin's dedication to helping others has been rewarded by her local commnunity. The caring 51-year-old won the Ryedale Housing Association Good Citizen Award for entertaining local children, helping her neighbours and
The region has a new superhospital and some of the equipment is mind-boggling. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson takes a look. IT sounds like science fiction, but brain specialists at a North-East hospital can now "operate" without having to open up your
PEOPLE are being urged to watch the coast for porpoises, dolphins and whales after three porpoises were spotted at the mouth of the Tees in a Seawatch event held during the Bank Holiday weekend. The Harbour Porpoises were seen off Hartlepool Harbour as
WHEN metalworker Stephen John Couture crashed his Peugeot into another car and then drove off, he left behind one incriminating piece of evidence, a court heard yesterday - his number plate. Stephanie Brown, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates the
PLANS to spend £800,000 on revamping roundabouts on East Cleveland's main roads to improve Teesside's image are soon to be considered by councillors. The 'entrance features' on four roundabouts on the A66 between Old Station Road and Teesport will include
A VILLAGE play area has swung into action. The recreation ground in West Avenue, Chester Moor, was opened by the leader of Chester-le-Street District Council, Coun Linda Ebbatson. The opening follows the adoption of a play strategy by the authority. The
A GROUP which helps fund repairs to ancient churches is urging cyclists to take part in a sponsored bike ride to raise cash. Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust said its annual sponsored ride, next Saturday, is its main source of income and raises several
PROPOSALS to re-locate Northallerton's auction mart to land off Thirsk Road, on the town's southern boundary, were rightly rejected last week. It was a simple decision for the district council. The site is open countryside outside the area previously
ROYAL and Sun Alliance (RSA) is slashing 1,000 jobs in the UK, despite recording a 17 per cent rise in first-half operating profits. The troubled insurer is pursuing a relentless cost-cutting drive that has already taken its toll on 1,200 staff made redundant
NEWLY-appointed community support officers have gone on patrol to back up beat bobbies across a police division. The first five police community support officers have taken to the streets of Durham and Chester-le-Street, carrying out high visibility patrols
Stepy's Coaches Durham Sunday League: Last Sunday all teams were on Cup Duty in the KJM Embroidery League Cup first round. As per usual there were some shocks with Houghton Glendale from the Premier League sensationally beaten 3-2 by Second Division Houghton
A DEATH crash motorist was spared jail yesterday after a court heard his driving could have been affected by Diazepam - a prescription drug. But George Harvey's sentence was criticised by one of the survivors of the crash. Teesside Crown Court heard that
THE first leader of Teesdale District Council has tendered his resignation after only three months in the post - but did he jump or was he pushed? Coun Phil Hughes' election to the role in May was controversial, with Independent members of the authority
CONTROVERSY surrounding a bid to turn a barn in upper Wensleydale into a home for a local family looks set to continue. The latest application for Cams Houses, near Hawes, is recommended for refusal when the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority planning
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren was last night relieved to learn that full-back Stuart Parnaby will only be out for three months after suffering cruciate ligament damage in last Saturday's home defeat by Leeds. Initial fears that the England Under-21
A GOVERNMENT Minister who dropped a clanger by referring to Harrogate as a seaside resort has accepted an invite to visit the landlocked spa town. Education Minister Charles Clarke made his Harrogate-by-the-sea blunder in July during a Commons exchange
The funeral of Warrant Officer Colin Wall, who was assassinated in Iraq a fortnight ago will be held next week. Liz Lamb speaks to his parents about their loss. Flowers, sympathy cards and letters of remembrance adorn the living room of Joan and Barry
MANTILLA (5.00) makes plenty of appeal in the Northern Echo Conditional Jockey's Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield this afternoon. Despite the fact only five runners turn out for our sponsored race, it is quite a competitive affair and Mantilla will have
NATIONAL Milk Records celebrates 60 years of milk recording this year - and a County Durham farming family has been a member since it began. The Crozier family from Elwick has records dating back to the 1943 start. Charles Cecil Crozier, who died only
THE £20m King's Academy will open its doors on Monday. The school, which replaces Brackenhoe and Coulby Newham schools, will cater for 1,250 students, including special needs students. However, a decision is yet to be made on the fate of 17 children who
The long running comparisons between the Albany Northern League and the UniBond League First Division were being drawn again in midweek after the FA Cup replays. Two Northern League First Division sides have beaten teams from the UniBond First Division
PLANS to overhaul local government have sparked a scramble as local authorities vie to protect their interests. The Government is proposing to set up a regional assembly in the North-East and, if approved, there will be a huge shake-up in local government
SHABBY railings around Richmond's Green Howards war memorial have been repaired and repainted thanks to good will on the part of the army and councillors. The local Royal British Legion branch had been approached by residents concerned about the poor
POLICE have urged Darlington football fans going to tomorrow's match at the Reynolds Arena to take extra care when crossing the A66 near the ground. Although parking is available at the ground, many drivers are choosing to leave their vehicles in a nearby
Imagine the scene. A player is substituted and as he reaches the tunnel he tells his manager, in very colourful language, that the manager has no idea, does not know what he is doing and could not organise a 'booze up' in a brewery. He also adds that
A RESTAURANT boss was furious when a group of diners settled their bill - with 18,000 pennies. The police became embroiled in the row between Vincenzo Arceri and a firm that had an office party at his Italian restaurant, Emilios, in Durham City. The recruitment
PLANS to extend Durham City's boundaries as far as Ferryhill if unitary local government is introduced have won councillors' backing. The Liberal Democrat-controlled city council's cabinet has approved proposals for a greater Durham that will be submitted
OH to be at Ganton for this weekend's Walker Cup. Ten miles south-west of Scarborough, it's considered the finest inland golf course in Britain and has bunkers so deep there are ladders to clamber out of them. Great Britain and Ireland have won the trophy
IT may be very early in the season to talk about relegation six-pointers, but Darlington manager Mick Tait knows his side desperately needs a victory over managerless Carlisle United at the Reynolds Arena tomorrow. Quakers' miserable start to the season
BUILDING has started on a £941,000 family centre. The Government-funded Sure Start building, in Clifford Road, Stanley, aims to give pre-school children and their parents a lift. It is the latest move in the regeneration of the heart of the former mining
ONE of the delights of travelling to Europe when the crops have ripened is the taste of freshly gathered fruit. Sun-filled grapes, plums, apples, pears, oranges and peaches - and others - which are eaten directly from the tree, or even purchased in local
A FAMILY has called for changes in power regulations after their gas supplier left them without a constant supply of gas for more than a week. Anthony Hughes said he, his wife Diane, and children Michael and Hayley have been living off microwave meals
A DOG which was found neglected and abandoned is to complete a remarkable transformation by competing in a national show. Foxy Lady will take part in this year's RSPCA Dog of the Year final to find the best rescue dog in the country. The saluki cross-breed
AN East Cleveland Rotary Club received a visit from its national president because of its impressive activities and fellowship. Brian Stoyell, national president of all 1,800 Rotary Clubs in Britain and Ireland, visited the Rotary Club of Guisborough
Emergency Services League: Frankland were big winners this week, with a surprising eight-goal victory over Sedgefield. The opposition had plenty of players, but had no answer to a second half onslaught. Frankland had scored twice in the first half, but
A VILLAGE was in mourning last night after an elderly couple died in a house fire believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette. The fire brigade was alerted by neighbours who noticed smoke coming from the house in Palm Terrace, Craghead, near
County Super League: Ithe only match played, Shildon B raced into a big lead over the visiting Tow Law in the first half. Only Lee Cullinan managed to win a point for the Lawyers as the home side shot ahead with wins from Nigel Hall, Ian Sanderson, Dominic
As schools return for the start of another academic year, teachers will be on the look-out for children with learning problems in their classes. Nick Foley discovers how they can tell if a child is dyslexic and asks what causes it. IT WASN'T so long ago
THIRSK rider Carole Dennis captured the final of the Derby House intermediate owner/rider series on Goulton Storm. The pair came out on top from 21 starters in a fiercely-fought section at Henbury Hall in Cheshire. "The cross-country course was much more
PROTESTORS gathered outside a court in London this week as a former senior Iranian diplomat living in Durham City appeared in extradition proceedings. Hade Soleimanpour, 47, of Kepier Court, formerly Iran's ambassador to Argentina, is accused of involvement
BEFORE long, one of our high street banks could find itself at the wrong end of a sex discrimination case. Look in your handbag. Do you always carry your passport or, if you drive, your driving licence? More importantly, can you produce a gas or electricity
A MAN indecently assaulted a boy he befriended through a mutual interest in angling, a court heard. Trevor Maule, a former special police constable, was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years after Durham Crown Court heard how he "groomed" the 14-year-old
PEOPLE with disabilities are being invited to take part in a sponsored bike ride to raise money for the Butterwick Children's Hospice. Special bikes and trikes will be provided be Gateway Wheelers but anyone with people-powered transport, including wheelchairs
WATER SUPPLIES: I am disgusted to hear that water companies are applying for permission to increase their bills above inflation. Are the proposed price increases justified to meet environment legislation or are they a stealth tax to pay for hidden Government
TOUGH new Government legislation is threatening the future of a Northumberland mart and the livelihood of farmers. For many years, the Thursday sale at Acklington mart has tied in with other marts in the area to ensure consistent supplies for buyers and
A PIERCEBRIDGE man is taking the battle to get rid of his village's dual persona to the highest in the land. Brian Jefferson wants land on the North Yorkshire side of the River Tees alongside the George Hotel to be reinstated as Cliffe. Otherwise, he
A CONTROVERSIAL Yarm nightspot will reopen tonight after a £2m refurbishment. The New Cross Keys in the High Street closed three months ago for the refurbishment. As well as the bar and restaurant downstairs, it now has a club upstairs, including a new
He toured the world and made friends with the rulers of Europe - but Polish dwarf Joseph Boruwlaski made his home in Durham. In the first part of a two-part story, David Simpson look back on the life of the city's smallest celebrity. JOSEPH BORUWLASKI
PLANS to overhaul local government have sparked a scramble as councils vie to protect their interests. The Government is proposing to set up a North-East assembly. If this is approved, there will be a huge shake-up in local government. The two-tier system
Darlington Croft achieved notable victory in the Over-40s League on Saturday when their threadbare team beat last season's Premier Division runners-up Killingworth Arms. Newly-promoted Croft are expecting a tough first season in the top flight but holidays
Axa Insurance take on the Royal Oak and Axa took an early lead with Chris Baines catching the Oak defence sleeping. Oak hit back when Neil Jollie opened his account for the day when he latched on to a Stu Broughton flick and Broughton was again the provider
BUDDING rugby players have met two of the sport's stars. Newcastle Falcons club captain Mark Andrews and England international Garath Archer have launched the second phase of a major development at Consett Rugby Club. The Zurich Premiership club's captain
A HUSBAND was ordered by magistrates to stay away from his estranged wife yesterday after he admitted harassing her over an eight-month period. David Hope, 33, of Spring Hill, Darlington, was violent towards wife Sharon throughout their five-year marriage
SEDGEFIELD Borough Council Mayor George Gray teed off yesterday for one of his biggest fundraising events of the year. Coun Gray showed off his golfing skills as he started the mayor's Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Sedgefield's Knotty Hill Golf Complex
BUS company Arriva is searching for teams of undercover bus inspectors in Darlington to put its vehicles to the test, in return for free bus travel. The company, which operates routes in the town, is appointing the bus inspectors as part of its campaign
DEVELOPERS want to kick-start a new shopping complex on a Darlington estate by putting in two takeaways. But people on the High Grange estate in Faverdale say the food outlets will lead to fumes and rubbish, exacerbate the problem of youths congregating
THEATRE groups from Scarborough and Merseyside are new entrants to Sedgefield's annual drama festival later this month. Now in its 28th year, the five-day festival of one-act plays opens in Sedgefield Parish Hall on Tuesday, September 23. First on stage
A HOTEL opened its doors to 200 extra guests to support patients at The Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland. Angela Thomas, manager of the Manor House Hotel, in West Auckland, organised a charity fun day last month which raised £610. She presented a
The classic trait of bullies is that they will target those they perceive as weaker than themselves, ganging up against a minority. Criminals - generally bullies by a different name - will often target the elderly or the guillible but they blight the
SO much for friendlies. Willington Under-15s' final pre-season fixture was played out in the most unpleasant of atmospheres last Sunday. A derby against St Mary's, from Bishop Auckland, ought to have brought our preparations for the forthcoming Premier
The group which operates the Arriva Trains Northern franchise as well as bus services across the country, said it would continue to focus on organic growth, targeted acquisitions and share buy-backs. Reporting figures for the six months to June 30, Arriva
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT markets have generally maintained their strength but keep having a correction depending on political and weather input. Some estimates are now increasing production in some countries but world supply will still be
INSURANCE workers in Darlington are pulling out all the stops to help an organisation for disabled people. Staff from AXA Insurance spent Wednesday redecorating the office of Darlington Association on Disability (Dad), in Horsemarket. The previous day
THIS is a story of the good, the bad and the ugly in the district known as Redcar and Cleveland. During its relatively brief existence, O'Mara's bistro was always one of Spectator's favourite stopping places when he felt in need of a coffee and a toasted
AN MP and county council representatives face a grilling at a public meeting next Friday when parents confront them about school transport. At Danby Group Parish Council on Wednesday, it was claimed that although Lawrie Quinn MP was supportive of Castleton
Stokesley SC are still out in front following eight games after hitting Annfield Plain with a 7-0 defeat on Wednesday. The result was effectively settled by the half-way stage when Stokesley led by four goals and there was no respite for the Plain in
BOTANIST David Bellamy launched a series of walks across the region's farmland which will give visitors an insight into how farmers are helping to preserve its landscape and wildlife. Six new routes, some over land previously closed to the public, have
Prices on the high street rose by about half the overall rate of inflation last month as retailers shielded customers from higher costs. According to the British Retail Consortium's closely watched shop price index, goods in the high street cost 0.61
THE BSJA Area 12A recently joined forces with Stockton Borough Council to produce the biggest show jumping competition in the North-East at Preston Park, Stockton. The Mary Reveley Racing Club 138cm second round produced a five-pony jump-off over Walter
Stanley Sunday League: Grange Villa WMC finally got their season underway and they did so with a comfortable 3-0 win over Felling Mulberry with a couple of the goals netted by Barry Ward and the other from Ian Pinchen. South Moor Sports were at home to
In the days before there were villages, towns or cities, people lived in small agricultural communities. Farms came long before towns and indeed when the monks carrying St Cuthbert's coffin settled at Durham in 995 AD there was no established town or
CHILDREN could soon be learning African drumming and samba music thanks to a scheme aimed at supporting the development of life skills. A £650,000 nationwide scheme will help an estimated 5,000 primary school children, especially those from disadvantaged
Sir, - We are in the middle of a boundary committee review of the local government structures across County Durham. This has been brought about by the Government deciding there is sufficient interest in the North-East to hold a referendum on a regional
DEVELOPMENTS which could considerably extend the use of British wool in carpets were presented to the UK carpet industry this week by the British Wool Marketing Board. New technology, which can lighten naturally dark fibres; new British wool blends, and
Boddy Printers: Sunday League Redcar Glazing fought out a 5-5 draw with Priestfields. Ricky Doolan put Priestfields ahead only for Redcar Glazing to hit back with two quick goals. Priestfields levelled just on half-time through Nathan Thompson. Redcar
With a total of 190 drivers set to do battle this weekend, Croft Circuit near Darlington is sure to be one busy place when the Darlington and District Motor Club host their annual race meeting around the 2.127 mile track. With packed grids being the order
Sir, - Much is being made of the spending power brought into Leyburn by the Dales Festival of Food and Drink. Is this fact or fiction?. A significant number of exhibitors were not from the Dales, and all exhibitors were selling premium products at premium
KILLER Albert Dryden is making another move towards freedom, 12 years after he gunned down a council officer in a planning row. Derwentside District Council planning officer Harry Collinson was shot at point blank range when council officers moved in
The Darlington 21st Allstars Under-15 Colts are pictured outside the Abbey National on High Row, Darlington, who are their new shirt sponsors. Back row, centre, team manager George Bates is presented with a cheque from Mike Sowerby, branch manager of
A COUPLE who complained about a bar of Dairy Milk in the late 1950s yesterday took up the offer a guided tour of the Cadbury's factory - 44 years after they were first offered it. Arthur and Sheila Carr, from Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham
ELISE Ballantyne's karate skills have earned her a black belt at the age of only nine. Elise, from Long Newton, started to learn karate when she was just five and has since risen through the ranks to become a black belt. Her proud father, Tom Ballantyne
A NORTH-East police chief has told drug barons in the region to expect a knock on their doors. The warning came as officers, including armed response teams, swooped on 32 homes across Stockton, Eagescliffe, Ingleby Barwick and Darlington yesterday and
THE chilly, final week prevented August from being another record-breaking month for average temperatures, but it was still warm, especially by day, maintaining the mild sequence of months since January. The mean day-time temperature for the first ten
THE sound of wedding bells could be heard in Soapland soon - as the happy couples beat each other around the head with them. In Coronation Street (ITV1), Mick the bent copper is down on one knee, a position which ensures he can't follow his usual practice
A RESTAURANT boss was furious when a group of diners settled their bill - with 18,000 pennies. The police became embroiled in the row between Vincenzo Arceri and a firm that had an office party at his Italian restaurant, Emilios, in Durham City. The recruitment
FORMULA ONE: 2003. Publisher: SCEE. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99 ONLY last month I was criticising Electronic Arts for not using the latest teams/drivers data in its latest F1 title. At the time, I didn't realise that EA couldn't have used Alonso et al
TWO post office branches in Darlington have been lined up for closure as part of a restructuring programme. Post Office Ltd says the proposed closure of North End post office in North Road and the Faverdale branch in Sandriggs is intended to safeguard
PARENTS are being urged to look out for a back-to-school stationary set, costing £1, that contains a razor-sharp craft knife. Seven-year-old Daniel Parkinson needed four stitches to a cut finger after using the set his mother, Andrea, bought him in a
GRAEME Bridge was handed an unwanted 23rd birthday present yesterday when he recorded the most expensive analysis in Durham's first-class history. The left-arm spinner did at least take three wickets while conceding 180 runs as Northamptonshire built
CATERHAM Academy driver Bill Addison, from Yarm, recorded his best result of the season last weekend with a superb second place at Silverstone in round five of the eight-round series. Remarkably, it was only his second-ever circuit race as most of the
Owners and trainers have targeted a race at Sedgefield today to protest against cuts in prize money introduced this week. The LJJ Contractors Novices' Hurdle, worth £3,400 in added prize money, attracted 49 entries at £10 a time, but only one horse was
POLICE in County Durham are breaking technological boundaries by swapping their radios for a digital system. The force has switched to a new £3.36m digital radio network. Police will now carry hand-held radios which weigh less than 200 grams, or 8oz,
A HIGHLY-skilled soldier who shot dead a North-East Army corporal in Northern Ireland is appealing against his prison sentence. Corporal Anthony Green, of Stanley, County Durham, was an Army chef with the Royal Logistic Corps at Shackleton barracks, Ballykelly
KILLER Albert Dryden is making another move towards freedom, 12 years after he gunned down a council officer in a planning row. Derwentside District Council planning officer Harry Collinson was shot at point blank range when council officers moved in
HEARTBROKEN Gemma Fawcett has issued a plea for egg donors after she was left unable to have a baby because she had her menopause at the age of 19. Ms Fawcett, a civil servant, and her fiance, John Armstrong, a butcher and baker, met five years ago when
A SMALL North Yorkshire auction mart has entered the busiest period of the year with renewed vigour. Masham Farmers' Mart was taken over by Craven Cattle Marts of Skipton in April last year and Coverdale farmer David Findlay, one of two CCM Masham fieldsmen
The group which operates the Arriva Trains Northern franchise as well as bus services across the country, said it would continue to focus on organic growth, targeted acquisitions and share buy-backs. Reporting figures for the six months to June 30, Arriva
THE Bank of England maintained the cost of borrowing at 3.5 per cent for the second consecutive month yesterday, after recent data showed signs of a recovery in the UK's economy. In a widely-expected decision, the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC
A NEW Code of Good Shooting Practice covers the conduct of guns, land management and delivery of wider conservation benefits, as well as healthy food. Sue Harrison, the Country Land and Business Association's North-West deputy regional director, said:
POLICE are investigating a fatal road accident on Redcar Road near Dunsdale, just after midnight yesterday morning. An ambulance crew attended following a report that a man was lying in the road. On arrival, two motorists had stopped at the scene and
A YOUNG hair stylist at a Guisborough salon is looking for models willing to have their hair restyled for the regional finals of a competition. Laura Marsh, 19, has been chosen from thousands of young hair stylists to compete in the regional finals of
TAKING a dip into the world of the local regimental museum has become easier for the people of Richmond. The Green Howards Museum has exhibits on display in a Flying Showcase at the town's swimming pool throughout September. A wide selection of exhibits
PATIENTS are being encouraged to take steps towards healthier lifestyles with a walking initiative. Step-O-Meters have been presented to a group of patients from GP practices in Chester-le-Street and Derwentside in a bid to help them improve their health
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl managed to beat off a pervert who indecently assaulted her in broad daylight. The teenager was on her way to school when the man approached her in the underpass between Stockton's Dovecot and Dixon Streets. He made an indecent remark
ESH Parish Council has been rewarded for its efforts in looking after local footpaths over the past decade. It was one of 80 parish councils and community groups to be recognised at a ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of Durham County Council's Parish
A TEENAGER who made a hoax call claiming a bomb was on a Channel Tunnel train has avoided a jail sentence. Maria Davies, 18, from County Durham, was put on probation and fined £118 after she admitted ringing a public phone box at the tunnel twice within
A TEENAGER died after the car he was travelling in collided with a lamppost. Lee Taylor, 19, of Conyers Avenue, Chester-le-Street, was a front seat passenger in a Rover car which hit a lamp-post on the A195 Northumberland Way and Inkerman Road roundabout
PLANS for a new North-East children's hospice received a cash boost yesterday. More than £900 towards the proposed Grace Hospice, in Sunderland, was presented by the organisers of the Easington Village Millennium Club. Senior retired police officers who
ROAD safety officers have been stationed outside a North-East school this week asking to parents not to drop their children off by car. The first week of the new academic year saw the launch of an initiative in Gateshead to encourage parents to leave
A ROYAL charity has played Cupid to a couple of firm friends. Love blossomed for Michael Ramsay, 29 and Ruth Hindmarsh, 27, after they met through the Prince's Trust. The charity helps young people to start businesses. It backed Mr Ramsay when he started
Sir, - Rob Kennedy (D&S, Aug 29) appears to regard the terms "British, Christian, and Ethics" as an adequate definition of his beliefs. He cites the separation of Church and State in the USA and suggests: "it may explain why American children carry
Longhorn Hardware Darlington and District League: DGSOB 3 v 3 Shuttle and Loom. Despite Old Boys being three goals up at half time it was Shuttle who had dominated only to be denied by some excellent saves by veteran keeper Steve Chandler. Old Boys goals
ASSURANCES were given this week that Guisborough maternity unit, which closed owing to a shortage of midwives last November, will open as soon as possible. Outgoing chief executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, Bill Murray, told the annual meeting
