Archive
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Employment figures offer no comfort to manufacturing
THE number of people out of work and claiming benefit fell to its lowest level for 28 years last month, the latest figures have revealed. The claimant count fell by 6,900 during last month to 930,800, its lowest level since September 1975. But despite
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City hopes Carroll link will prove draw
AUTHOR Lewis Carroll's strong links with the North will be highlighted when tourist chiefs from across the country make a visit to the area this weekend. Ripon, in North Yorkshire, one of the country's smallest cities, will unveil its Ripon in Wonderland
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Last Night's TV: Turning people on to titilation TV
Whatever Turns You On (five): NEVER underestimate the pulling power of body odours was one message I took away from writer and broadcaster David Aaronovitch's new series about sexual desire and behaviour around the world. The Spanish prefer bottoms. The
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Turning people on to titilation TV
Whatever Turns You On (five): NEVER underestimate the pulling power of body odours was one message I took away from writer and broadcaster David Aaronovitch's new series about sexual desire and behaviour around the world. The Spanish prefer bottoms. The
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MP urges move to city
DURHAM'S MP is urging that the historic city be considered as a location if thousands of civil servants are moved from the South-East. Gerry Steinberg says that Durham has much to commend it and already has a track record of hosting civil service activities
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Quicker track repairs made possible by Komatsu
EUROPE'S leading excavator manufacturer is hoping to dramatically speed up the rebuilding of the country's rail network. Komatsu UK, of Birtley, near Gateshead, has launched a modified version of its PC128US crawler excavator for use in railway maintenance
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Grandmother's pleas to leave 'terror street' are turned down
A 79-YEAR-OLD grandmother has told of her misery at being unable to leave a street terrorised by hooligans. The mother-of-eight, who was too frightened to give her name, has had her application to Stockton Borough Council to leave Derby Close, in Thornaby
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Team set for clean sweep
A CAMPAIGN to clean up the streets of Darlington has been given a further boost by the appointment of new specialists. The two-man Street Care team, working with a specially equipped vehicle, is the latest addition to the borough council's environmental
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Easterby ready to take Ayr by storm
GIVEN that Tim Easterby's horses are in such fine fettle at present, he could well be the trainer to follow at Ayr's three-day Western Meeting. Easterby is sending quite a sizeable raiding party north of the border including Artie (2.45) and Style Dancer
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Collingwood and Pratt stay calm in the storm
THE sublime weather at Riverside yesterday provided the perfect incentive for lengthening the cricket season. Unfortunately the standard of play did not. At least not until Paul Collingwood and Gary Pratt ended a period of mayhem which had seen 13 wickets
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Easterby ready to take Ayr by storm
GIVEN that Tim Easterby's horses are in such fine fettle at present, he could well be the trainer to follow at Ayr's three-day Western Meeting. Easterby is sending quite a sizeable raiding party north of the border including Artie (2.45) and Style Dancer
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Shame of churchyard site prompts villagers into action
A CHURCHYARD that became a wilderness has been tidied up thanks to a group of men. The six were fed up with the overgrown state of the grounds of the former St Paul's Church, in Quarrington Hill, County Durham, which was demolished a decade ago. With
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Reynolds: I'll visit critics at home
DARLINGTON Football Club chairman George Reynolds banned a group of fans from his stadium yesterday and issued a warning to critics. "Let no one be in any doubt that detractors can expect confrontation, either at the ground or home," he said in a statement
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TV review
Whatever Turns You On (five) NEVER underestimate the pulling power of body odours was one message I took away from writer and broadcaster David Aaronovitch's new series about sexual desire and behaviour around the world. The Spanish prefer bottoms. The
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Letters
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT LAST week, in the House of Lords, Lord Rooker, representing the Prime Minister, announced that the cost of establishing a Regional Assembly in the North-East would be about £30m. This would include the cost of local government reviews
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50 years in step
A FORMER mayor and mayoress of Darlington celebrated 50 years of marriage this weekend. Joe Anderson, 74, and wife Margaret, 76, met in the early Fifties when they were both working in London. They married there in 1953 but returned to their North-East
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Derelict land nominated in hunt for country's eyesores
A PIECE of derelict land in the region has been nominated as one of the most wasted spaces in the country. Earlier this week, BBC Radio 4 and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) launched a nationwide campaign to find the country's
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Majestic Martyn leads the run riot
Australian Damien Martyn, who only two weeks ago broke his nose while batting, returned for Yorkshire yesterday to thrash the fastest first-class century of the season on his way to a record-breaking innings of 238 against Gloucestershire at Headingley
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I'll confront you at home - Reynolds
DARLINGTON Football Club chairman George Reynolds banned a group of fans from his new stadium yesterday and issued a stark warning to his critics. "Let no one be in any doubt that detractors can expect confrontation either at the ground or home," he said
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Forget style, the joke's on us now
USUALLY, I just throw on jeans and a T-shirt, brush my hair and teeth and I'm off, without a thought. But yesterday I spent most of the morning examining myself from all angles in the bedroom mirror. Is my hair better like this? Or this? Should I wear
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A vote for proper reform
ACCORDING to its latest accounts, the Royal Mail is losing almost £2m a day. The need for reform is self-evident. Without change, the business will sink into oblivion. Both managers and postal workers accept the need for modernisation. It is regrettable
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Success as colony fights back from eggs theft
THE fightback from near-disaster by one of Britain's most endangered seabirds has been a success. A little tern colony at Crimdon, on the Durham coast, was nearly wiped out in 1999 when an illegal egg collector stole almost every egg. This year it has
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Gala hosts annual show
TOWERING leeks and giant parsnips were some of the home-grown talent on show at the Gala Theatre. Durham's Annual Horticultural and Craft Show took centre stage at the city's theatre last Friday and Saturday, when growers displayed their finest vegetables
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John North: A night on the tiles
APPROPRIATELY in a town hall committee room, where words frequently are bandied about, Darlington Scrabble Club marked its tenth anniversary on Tuesday with a showdown between me and the mayor. A night on the tiles, as it were. Though a motorway engineer
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Problems mount as Thornton ban bites
SUNDERLAND are facing a looming midfield crisis after Sean Thornton's sending-off in the 3-1 thumping at Stoke. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international received a second yellow card when he committed another foul on former Middlesbrough loanee
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Special unit reduces estate disturbances
A POLICE initiative to slash rates of anti-social behaviour in Darlington has managed to reduce complaints from residents of one estate in two months. The anti-social behaviour unit in Darlington was set up by police after a successful bid for Government
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School signs up to recycling scheme
AYCLIFFE Village Primary School is the first in Sedgefield borough to take part in a new recycling scheme. Pupils have taken part in several recycling projects in recent years, including collecting white paper for the Butterwick Hospice, and are proud
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£30,000 play area proposed
YOUNGSTERS under four are to get a £30,000 play area. Councillors welcomed the news that SureStart Shildon and Newton Aycliffe would be providing funding for the play area in Hackworth Park, Shildon. At a meeting of Shildon Town Council, councillors agreed
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Country park visit planned
MEMBERS of the National Gardens Scheme will be visiting Hardwick Country Park, near Sedgefield, on Saturday. The members will be given a talk in the morning by representatives of Durham County Council in Sedgefield Parish Hall, followed by an afternoon
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Sports coaching on offer for families
A FREE sports coaching course for children and parents is being held jointly by Bishop Auckland College and Wear Valley Sport Action Zone. The sessions are open to children in school years one to 11, and involve a range of physical activities to develop
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It Asda be the latest in cheeky calendars
SUPERMARKET workers are baring all in a calendar to raise money for charity. The men and women from Asda have posed behind strategically-placed melons, beer and Christmas gifts for the calendar, which is launched today. In a project that mirrors the infamous
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Three-tier drive to clean up village of crime and graffiti
POLICE, fire brigade and customs officials are blitzing an east Durham village in an attempt to clean up its streets. The week-long operation, began in the village of Horden, Peterlee, on Monday, with the aim of cleaning up the area in every sense. Police
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Last chance to have say on housing plan
A TOWN'S council tenants and leaseholders have until the end of this week to give their views on their authority's £232m improvement plan for council housing. All of Gateshead Borough Council's 26,442 tenants and leaseholders recently received a questionnaire
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People in wheelchairs learn groovy moves
WHEELCHAIR users have been showing off their moves at dance classes. The sessions, held in Sunderland, were organised as part of the Bite Size Intros campaign, which is offering adults across Tyne and Wear a range of free two-hour taster sessions designed
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News in brief: Learn about rare birds
YOUNGSTERS can learn all about the endangered African Lesser Flamingo in a weekend of activities at Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Children can make their own flamingo and take part in games and quizzes. Those not able to visit the centre this
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Residents to pool ideas for creating town square
PLANS to hold a competition to create a town square for the Headland area of Hartlepool are gathering pace. The aim is to find an urban design expert to revitalise the area at the front of the Borough Buildings - between Middlegate, the promenade, St
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Play area swings into action
YOUNGSTERS are benefiting from a major investment in their local play area. The Riverside play facility in Norton, near Malton, has undergone a £24,000 facelift with new equipment and safety surfacing. The park has new swings and an activity fort, while
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Traders face more road work disruption
TRADERS who lost customers and suffered road disruption for 16 weeks because of gas maintenance work are preparing for another nine weeks of misery. The Harrogate shop owners fear the latest work will affect pre-Christmas trade into November and December
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Study pressures Blair to scrap cash formula
TONY Blair is facing renewed pressure to scrap the spending formula which gives London and Scotland far more money than the North-East. A new study handed to the Government has concluded that the controversial Barnett Formula "bears no relation to needs
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Charity shop manager rises to sales challenge
A FOLDING caravan that was put up for auction in Darlington has been sold for £600. The vehicle was donated to Oxfam shop manager Marion Cowper after she issued a challenge to people to give her unusual items to sell. The money raised from the sale of
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Students being targeted for cash thefts - police
STUDENTS in Darlington are being targeted by thieves who approach them for cash. Four incidents where two men have stolen money from youngsters have been reported. Detectives believe more thefts have taken place and are appealing to victims to contact
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Misadventure death verdict
A MAN drank himself to death, an inquest heard yesterday. Mark Alderson, 39, was found in his flat in Victoria Road, Darlington. A post-mortem examination showed that he had choked on his vomit. He had 304 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of
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News in brief: Early advice on fireworks
PEOPLE planning fireworks parties are being offered early advice this year by Darlington Borough Council. Its public protection team has produced a leaflet which provides help on ensuring fireworks and bonfire parties do not disturb others. The council
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Rats force family to flee home
A FAMILY of four have moved into a caravan because their home has become infested with rats. Linda Bonarius, 37, and partner Joe Slater, 56, fled their home, in Sunnydale, Shildon, last Friday night after a babysitter looking after their two sons saw
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Deadly cocktail
A CORONER condemned the Army yesterday for allowing a lethal mixture of alcohol and firearms at a party which ended with two soldiers shot dead. Corporal John Gregory, 30, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, fired up to ten rounds into Sergeant Robert Busuttil
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Street Care team set for action
A CAMPAIGN to clean-up Darlington has been given a boost by the appointment of two specialists. The Street Care team, working with a specially equipped vehicle, is the latest weapon in the borough council's environmental drive. Funding for the team has
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Campaign to keep shop staff safe
STORES and shoppers are being urged to back a campaign to win more protection for shopworkers. Members of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers were in Middlesbrough town centre yesterday and collected signatures for one of 100 petitions
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Objectors fear flats will be 'drug haven'
RESIDENTS' concerns about a controversial development are to be heard at a site visit. Objectors believe a development of 22 two-storey self-contained flats at Wheatlands Farm Cottages, Redcar Road in Redcar, may become a haven for drug and crime abuse
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Town's traders urged to back marketing drive
BISHOP Auckland traders are being urged to support a big marketing drive designed to encourage shoppers back into the town centre. An advertising strategy will be presented to business people on Monday at a meeting called by the town's MP, Derek Foster
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Schoolchildren create paper ships for exhibition launch
YOUNGSTERS have been helping to put the finishing touches to an exhibition at the Arc in Stockton. The Parkfield Players, from Bowesfield Primary and St Cuthbert's Schools, in Stockton, made origami boats to display in the exhibition about shipbuilding
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News in brief: Learn about rare birds
YOUNGSTERS can learn all about the endangered African Lesser Flamingo in a weekend of activities at Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Children can make their own flamingo and take part in games and quizzes. Those not able to visit the centre this
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News in brief: Learn about rare birds
YOUNGSTERS can learn all about the endangered African Lesser Flamingo in a weekend of activities at Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Children can make their own flamingo and take part in games and quizzes. Those not able to visit the centre this
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Gallery filled with Dredd for new exhibition
HE has been a comic book favourite for decades and the subject of a Hollywood blockbuster, and now he has become a museum piece. The Mercer Art Gallery, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is about to welcome visitors to the year 2125AD and the world of Judge
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Protests as bid to attract public sector jobs blocked
CALLS are being made to scrap a rule which could stop Government departments from relocating to some North-East towns and cities. A shortlist of sites outside London and the South-East where departments may be moved is being examined by Sir Michael Lyons
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Collingwood and Pratt stay calm in the storm
THE sublime weather at Riverside yesterday provided the perfect incentive for lengthening the cricket season. Unfortunately the standard of play did not. At least not until Paul Collingwood and Gary Pratt ended a period of mayhem which had seen 13 wickets
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Library wins national award after opening
THE best library to open in the country last year was in the North-East, experts have agreed. Durham's Clayport Library replaced the city's South Street premises when it was opened by the Queen, in May last year. The multi-million pound Clayport development
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Closure-list school shines
A SMALL Durham infant school that could be closed in a £300m education shake-up is 'outstanding,' inspectors say. St Oswald's Church of England Infant and Nursery School is one of 23 schools that Durham County Council could shut in a drive to reduce surplus
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Concern voiced over school road
COUNCILLORS have called on traffic officers to take a close look at congestion around a school on Darlington Road, in Richmond. There are already plans in the pipeline to change the bus parking arrangements in the area, although not everyone has welcomed
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Styropack makes £200,000 investment
STYROPACK UK has spent £200,000 on refurbishing and upgrading its Durham plant. Thanks to the funding, the leading moulder of expanded polystyrene packaging will be able to improve its services to customers in the region, which include Samsung, Philips
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Police promise bikers action
THERE have been more calls for action over motorcyclists roaring through the tranquil Dales countryside. North Yorkshire County Council's Richmondshire area committee said it acknowledged that not every biker rode like a maniac. However, members said
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Change opens way for £30m homes project
A TOTAL of £30m is to be spent on 4,600 homes during the next five years. Scarborough council, which also covers Whitby, Filey and more than 100 villages, is in the final stages of negotiations to sell its housing stock to Yorkshire Coast Homes, a newly
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... another annoys the locals
PLANS to turn a country pub into two homes, and build another two in its grounds, have sparked protest. The Stonehouse Inn, at Thruscross, in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, near Pateley Bridge, has been a famous watering hole for generations
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Bumper year for show
THOUSANDS of people turned out to one of the region's oldest agricultural shows making it the 'best ever.' Organisers of Stanhope Show were blessed with excellent weather causing crowds to come from all over the region to enjoy the host of attractions
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Youth worker wants lots on the menu
THE new co-ordinator of Ferryhill's youth caf is looking forward to working with the town's young people. Julia Rowcroft is enthusiastic about her new role at the e.caf and is full of ideas about how to develop it. The e.caf provides a drop-in base on
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'Autistic children ill-treated by carer'
A SENIOR carer cruelly dealt with autistic children at a residential unit, a court heard. Laurence Donkin was seen by junior colleagues meting out "inappropriate" punishment to young autism sufferers in incidents spanning a dozen years at a residential
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Region's truancy rate among lowest in UK
TRUANCY rates in the North-East and North Yorkshire are among the lowest in the country, it was revealed yesterday. This year's provisional figures, released by the Department for Education and Skills, showed a slight fall in truancy on last year and
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Force's oldest PC says farewell
THE oldest police constable in Durham Constabulary retired this week. At 59-years-old PC Tony Burn was the oldest serving PC in the county when he retired from Spennymoor police station on Monday. PC Burn left his farming family roots, in Crook, when
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18/09/03
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: LAST week, in the House of Lords, Lord Rooker, representing the Prime Minister, announced that the cost of establishing a Regional Assembly in the North-East would be about £30m. This would include the cost of local government reviews
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Bold blend of fire and ice catches Mayor's eye for charity emblem
A STRIKING blend of fire and ice will be the motif for a civic charity event this year, thanks to the winning design of a Darlington student. Darlington Mayor Councillor Ron Lewis chose from more than 30 designs by students at Darlington College of Technology
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A mystery to tax Morse
V IS for VODKA. Maybe even VANISHING VODKA. We went on holiday and left the boys at home. Well, we like to live dangerously. More than that, Senior Son had a birthday while we were away. Party on. The first time we ever left the boys totally on their
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Backing for mobile deal
NORTHERN Venture Managers has backed a £400,000 deal to help a company drive down mobile phone costs for business customers. Balfour Corporate Finance secured the money from GSM Central Limited, a Thames Valley entrepreneurial project in the telecoms
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'No regrets' for Zenden over Boro switch
DUTCH star Bolo Zenden refuses to admit to any pangs of regret after swapping Champions League adventures with Chelsea for a potential relegation dogfight at Middlesbrough. Zenden, who joined Boro on a season-long loan almost three weeks ago, makes his
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Council says no to pay
TOWN councillors have declared that they will not be taking payments for their duties. Members of Shildon Town Council have agreed that they will not be looking for cash to attend meetings and other duties despite voting at a previous meeting to join
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Sacked shipyard workers to get jobs back after meeting
A PEACE deal has been struck which will prevent a repeat of wildcat strikes at two shipyards. Almost 100 workers at shipyards on the River Tyne who were sacked in a dispute over pay have been reinstated after a meeting with union leaders yesterday. The
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Warning issued on interest rate rise
THE Bank of England sent out its strongest message to date that interest rates could soon rise amid concerns over household debt. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee voiced concerns at its last monthly meeting that consumer growth was unsustainable.
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Doug goes online with pet service
AN unemployed man who spent the past three years collating details on hundreds of creatures great and small has re-launched his career with an online information service. Doug Bell, 34, has set up www.fauna.org.uk from his home in South Hetton, County
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New Business 'Roller Coaster ride' documentary
A 55 minute film documenting the roller coaster ride of 12 would-be entrepreneurs as they follow their dream of starting a business has been premiered. 'Enterprise Island - the documentary' hit the big screen for the very first time at a private showing
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Nurses will prescribe drugs to beat sex disease
NURSES in the region are to be allowed to prescribe drugs in a bid to stem a sex disease epidemic. Concerns are growing at the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in the North-East through unprotected sex. There is a particular worry about chlamydia
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Drug firm adopts diet idea
DOCTORS' orders issued in the North-East to help mentally ill patients lose weight are being adopted nationally. Psychiatrists Dr Helen Oatway, Dr Angus Bell and Dr Marion Michie, from Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, discovered that patients
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Inquiry into A66 upgrade closes
A SEVEN-day public inquiry into the multi-million pound upgrading of one of England's most dangerous roads ended yesterday. The decision over the proposed development of much of the notorious A66 across the Pennines to dual carriageway will be made by
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CBI's 2003 Growing Business Awards
Entrepreneurs and successful companies are being invited to send in their entries to the CBI's 2003 Growing Business Awards. Organised annually in partnership with Real Business magazine, the Awards are in their fifth year and have become a spotlight
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Pedigrees show their style
ALMOST 10,000 pedigree dogs descended on Darlington at the weekend for the country's second largest dog show. All shapes and sizes of dog, from Dobermanns to dachshunds, competed for the honours in a wealth of categories at the Darlington Championship
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Pearson's ban opens door for rivals
Darlington manager Mick Tait will be without midfielder Gary Pearson for a further three games following his sending off at York City on Tuesday night, writes Lee Hall. The 26-year-old was shown a straight red card for his two-footed tackle on City's
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Platt splat
Nurse Martin Platt will be asking if there's a doctor in the house after fists fly in Coronation Street (ITV1) when his secret affair with schoolgirl Katy Harris is finally revealed. He and Katy, who's young enough to be his daughter (and knowing the
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MP leads drive to woo shoppers
BISHOP Auckland traders are being urged to support a major marketing drive steering shoppers back into its retail heart. A new advertising strategy will be laid out before business bosses on Monday, at a meeting called by the town's MP Derek Foster. Outline
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RSPCA seizes 244 dogs - from one house
THE biggest ever seizure of animals from a single house has been made by the RSPCA - 244 dogs and a menagerie of other animals. A team of officers from the charity used a dozen vans to remove the pets from the small detached house. About 50 of the animals
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Pool heading for dizzy heights
HARTLEPOOL United's record-breakers are setting new standards by the game. Last week's 8-1 win over Grimsby was Pool's biggest triumph since 1959 and Tuesday's win at Stockport lifted Neale Cooper's side to second in the Division Two table - a position
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Notes From Planet Zog: A mystery to tax Morse
V IS for VODKA. Maybe even VANISHING VODKA. We went on holiday and left the boys at home. Well, we like to live dangerously. More than that, Senior Son had a birthday while we were away. Party on. The first time we ever left the boys totally on their
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Drink and guns warning
A CORONER condemned the Army yesterday for allowing a lethal mixture of alcohol and firearms at a party which ended with two soldiers shot dead. Corporal John Gregory, 30, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, fired up to ten rounds into Sergeant Robert Busuttil
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Quicker track repairs made possible by Komatsu
EUROPE'S leading excavator manufacturer is hoping to dramatically speed up the rebuilding of the country's rail network. Komatsu UK, of Birtley, near Gateshead, has launched a modified version of its PC128US crawler excavator for use in railway maintenance
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Charity signs football club to help provide strips for African children
OLD shirts, shorts and socks are needed to provide a lifeline to impoverished areas of football-mad Africa. Teams in the North-East are being asked to donate disused strips to assist the Tackle Africa charity. Twenty volunteers will travel to Africa in
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New library voted the best in the UK
CLAYPORT in Durham was this week named as the best new library in the British Isles. The library, part of the Millennium City project off Claypath, replaced the former South Street premises when officially opened by the Queen in May last year. A multi-million
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Football stars help youngsters to mind their language
DESPITE years of being taught foreign languages in schools, most Britons still think the best way to communicate with our European neighbours is by speaking at them slowly and loudly in English. Today, North-East pupils will be saying "bonjour" to two
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Growers in fine form
The Darlington Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society held its annual early show at the Dolphin Centre on Saturday. The society's top growers mixed with members of the public to show their flowers and highlight their long horticultural tradition in the town
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Talks on future of surgery
THE proposed closure of a village surgery and the transfer of 1,000 patients will be discussed at a public meeting. In July, the Medical Group wrote to patients in Lanchester, near Durham, warning that the village's Westlands surgery could close because
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Costly run challenge
A WEAR Valley athlete has an extra incentive to finish this Sunday's Great North run in double quick time. Former paramedic Andrew Charles, from Witton Park, who will be celebrating his 51st birthday on the day, hopes to run the 13 miles in half the time
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Freemasons aid charity
A NEWTON Aycliffe charity which helps disadvantaged people in the Sedgefield and Darlington boroughs is to benefit from a Freemasons donation. John Painter, Robbie Davison and Tony Brewster presented £2,000 to the Pioneering Care Partnership's Michael
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Free advice for the elderly
ELDERLY people are being offered free advice on issues ranging from benefits to health at monthly information sessions at Spennymoor Library. Age Concern will be holding the sessions, for pensioners or their carers, on the last Wednesday of each month
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Police appeal to find woman
POLICE are concerned for the welfare of a woman who went missing last weekend. Christine Elizabeth Allen, 35, who is thought to be suffering from depression, left her home in Thoresby Road, Acomb, York, last Saturday and has not been seen since, but she
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Singers aim for record
SUPERMARKET staff are hoping to break the world record for the biggest sing-a-long today. Asda workers are warming up their vocal chords in preparation to sing along to Louise's Tickled Pink song, Don't Give Up, which is to raise money for Breast Cancer
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Charity auction to strike a chord with listeners
RADIO listeners have the chance to snap up a bargain and help one of Durham's most popular charities. On Saturday, Durham Local Radio (DLR), which is on a month-long trial broadcast on 107 MHz FM, is holding a charity auction for St Cuthbert's Hospice
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it's a £5m antiques collector's paradise
AN estimated £5m worth of antiques went on show in Harrogate yesterday when the 55th annual Northern Antiques Fair opened at the town's Great Yorkshire Showground. Exhibitors from all over the country attend every year, attracting crowds which are expected
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Hotel to be demolished
PLANS to bulldoze the Regency Hotel in Redcar and build residential apartments in its place are to go ahead. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council approved the scheme at a meeting yesterday, after changes they had requested had been made to the application
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Milestone passenger wins flights
A MIDDLESBROUGH expatriate has had the luck of the Irish. Robert Simpson became the 400,000th passenger to fly on Ryanair's Teesside to Dublin service and was presented with free tickets for two return flights and a bottle of champagne. Robert and his
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Recycling scheme expands
GARDEN waste and cardboard have been added to the items that can be collected for recycling from homes in parts of Richmondshire. Richmond, Scotton and Catterick Village are piloting the scheme, which aims to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill
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Soap Watch: Platt splat
Nurse Martin Platt will be asking if there's a doctor in the house after fists fly in Coronation Street (ITV1) when his secret affair with schoolgirl Katy Harris is finally revealed. He and Katy, who's young enough to be his daughter (and knowing the
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Charity shop manager rises to sales challenge
A FOLDING caravan that was put up for auction in Darlington has been sold for £600. The vehicle was donated to Oxfam shop manager Marion Cowper after she issued a challenge to people to give her unusual items to sell. The money raised from the sale of
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School's garden area unveiled
A GARDEN and nature trail has been opened at Dodmire Infant School, in Darlington. Doddy's Secret Garden and Toadstool Park, named after the school's globe-trotting teddy bear mascot, was opened by Darlington Borough Council's deputy director of education
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Rugby club supports charity
MOWDEN Park Rugby Club in Darlington has announced it is to adopt the town's St Teresa's Hospice as its charity for the 2003-2004 season. Players, coaches and support staff at the club will be arranging fundraising events throughout the year, and supplying
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MP to hold surgery in DIY store
DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn will be fixing constituents' problems in a do-it-yourself store today. The Labour MP has chosen a conservatory inside B&Q at Morton Park, Darlington, for his surgery session. From noon to 1pm he will be answering residents
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News in brief: Musical tribute to explorer
Actors Jeremy Swift and Mary Roscoe will join local diva Suzannah Clarke, Opera Nova and the Northern Sinfonia for a musical tribute to explorer Captain James Cook, next month. Organisers Middlesbrough Council promise a Last Night of the Proms programme
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£2,000 gift for children's hospice
The Butterwick Hospice in Stockton has thanked the John Clarke Cancer Treatment Fund for its donation of £2,000. Managers at the hospice have also asked companies to contact them to set up a recycling account for fax and print cartridges to raise cash
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Football and song aids links
A MUTUAL love of football and a good sing-song is helping Geordies forge cultural links with Estonia. A group of 17 young people from across Newcastle have returned from a week-long visit to Polva, as part of a Newcastle City Council project. The youngsters
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Community support officers are sought
POLICE in County Durham have launched a drive to recruit police community support officers (PCSO). The officers, who tackle quality of life offences such as dog fouling, anti-social behaviour and drunkenness, have been operating in Darlington for six
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Sweethearts' diamond day
WARTIME sweethearts who fell in love at a wedding are celebrating their diamond anniversary today. Molly and Arthur Wells, both 83, who live at Kemplah House, a sheltered housing scheme in Guisborough, were married on September 18, 1943. Mr Wells, also
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Store at community's heart is to close with loss of jobs
A CONVENIENCE store that has served a Teesside community for decades is to close in the face of competition from a supermarket. Spar shop, on Durham Lane, in Eaglescliffe, is to stop trading next month leaving 11 members of staff out of work. The announcement
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Passengers offered a taste of religious blessing
EARLY morning Metro passengers will get a tasty treat today, when church volunteers hand out free breakfast bags. Commuters using Byker and Longbenton Metro stations in Newcastle will be met by members of the nearby Heaton Baptist Church. The breakfast
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A new village is born
A new village was born today, breathing life back into a former pit site in one of the most deprived areas of the country. The remnants of the Vane Tempest Colliery, on the outskirts of Seaham, in east Durham, have been swept away and replaced with the
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Star line-up for literature festival
SOME of the literary world's brightest stars will be making their way to Durham for its annual literature festival. A whole range of book readings, workshops and performances are lined up for the five week event. It began on Sunday with a storytelling
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The remedy that time forgot
It's long been an old wives' tale, but now there's scientific evidence that sage can help improve memory. Nick Morrison speaks to a researcher looking to the past for inspiration - and asks what medicines could be hidden inside other herbs. "SOME of my
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Irish President builds bridges
THE President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, praised the efforts of the public sector and business community to work together to tackle urban decay. Speaking at a breakfast meeting, Ms McAleese drew parallels between the work of Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative
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Grassroots: Yarm and Eaglescliffe
BYGONE BIKES: This weekend's cycling event provides a chance to see rare examples of the bicycle builders art, with bikes, trikes and penny farthings. As part of the museum's golden anniversary celebrations, the event runs from 10am to 4.30pm. GIRL TALK
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Event aims to keep young drivers on safe route
A ROAD safety event could help to steer young people towards the straight and narrow in their motoring lives. Durham Police is playing host to about 400 would-be motorists in the eight-day Wise Drive - Drive for Life initiative, at the force's headquarters
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Grassroots: Derwentside
Steam thrills: Trains will take part in a branch line day for steam fans and photographers between 11am and 4.54pm on Monday, September 29 on the Tanfield Railway. Wild times: Marty Wilde and the Wild Cats will play at the Empire Theatre at 7.30pm, on
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Fundraising force to the rescue
Fundraisers were out in force on Saturday to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance. Darlington Rotary Club organised a charity fun day at Hummersknott School in aid of the air ambulance's Flight for Life appeal. An emergency call meant that the
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Day for ladies to expand skills
A day dedicated to bringing together women from west Middlesbrough is being launched. Ladies' Day aims to equip woman of all ages with a range of skills and experiences. The weekly sessions are being organised by West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust's
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News in brief: Musical tribute to explorer
Actors Jeremy Swift and Mary Roscoe will join local diva Suzannah Clarke, Opera Nova and the Northern Sinfonia for a musical tribute to explorer Captain James Cook, next month. Organisers Middlesbrough Council promise a Last Night of the Proms programme
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News in brief: Early advice on fireworks
PEOPLE planning fireworks parties are being offered early advice this year by Darlington Borough Council. Its public protection team has produced a leaflet which provides help on ensuring fireworks and bonfire parties do not disturb others. The council
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One pub plan hits trouble...
HIGHWAY chiefs have recommended refusal of a scheme to increase accommodation at a landmark public house. Vimac Leisure Ltd applied to build two detached log cabins at the Crab and Lobster in Asenby, near Thirsk. But planning chiefs at Harrogate Borough
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Ship's crew prepares for civic event
THE captain and some of the crew from a Royal Navy frigate will strengthen their link with a North Yorkshire market town next week. HMS Richmond is berthed at Portsmouth after her latest tour of duty, which took her to the Gulf. Commander Wayne Keble
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News in brief: Award beckons for radio team
A radio station for service families is in line for an award for its Easter programming. The Jerusalem Radio Award, sponsored by one of the Sainsbury family trusts, recognises content on Good Friday, which highlights the meaning of the day. Garrison Radio
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Campaign to keep shop staff safe
STORES and shoppers are being urged to back a campaign to win more protection for shopworkers. Members of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers were in Middlesbrough town centre yesterday and collected signatures for one of 100 petitions
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News in brief: Learn about rare birds
YOUNGSTERS can learn all about the endangered African Lesser Flamingo in a weekend of activities at Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Children can make their own flamingo and take part in games and quizzes. Those not able to visit the centre this
