NEALE Cooper is the manager guilty of throwing the towel in. Hartlepool United's animated boss was sent to the stands on Saturday, attracting the ire of referee Lee Mason. So he was forced to look on from afar as Adam Boyd clinched away win number eight
IF Mick McCarthy isn't a card player then he should be, because every time he shuffles his Sunderland pack at the moment he seems to come up trumps. The Black Cats boss handed Darren Byfield his first Sunderland start at Reading on Saturday after watching
For the women involved, the miners' strike brought an enduring sense of self-worth and community spirit. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. HEATHER Wood stood in the doorway, surveying the faces around the table. She had missed the first part of the
ALAN SHEARER betrayed his fear that Newcastle's Anfield jinx could put the kibosh on their Champions League ambitions. Shearer ensured the Magpies maintained their push for a top-four Premiership finish with a double strike in Saturday night's vital 3
ACTIVITIES in and around the garden centres are just starting to warm up for the year. The first of the small, easy to grow, plug plants for the hanging baskets and annual borders are already filling up the stages. The summer bulbs, onions and seed potatoes
THE Sterling Consortium will today issue a statement about its planned take-over of Darlington Football Club. Administrators revealed on Friday that they had exchanged contracts with the finance group for the sale of the business and assets of the Quakers
AN ENTIRE village was sealed off on Wednesday as police thwarted a plot by dealers to invade County Durham with crack cocaine. At dawn, officers formed a ring of blue steel around the tiny community of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street. Then at 6.30am
AN ENTIRE village was sealed off on Wednesday as police thwarted a plot by dealers to invade County Durham with crack cocaine. At dawn, officers formed a ring of blue steel around the tiny community of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street. Then at 6.30am
Colin Fry is happy to be a medium. He sees it as a gift and a way of helping others, and he's long since learned to live with the sceptics, he tells Steve Pratt. PSYCHIC medium Colin Fry pays no attention to those who are sceptical about his line of work
A MAJOR fundraising group that aims to support good causes across north Durham has been launched. Derwentside Rotary Club, which began meeting last October, has received approval to join the ranks of Rotary International. It aims to bring together people
THE queues had started forming inside the shopping centre a good two hours before the arrival of its famous visitor. Dozens and dozens of excited children chattered excitedly, many of them clutching copies of their favourite author's book. In the battle
Tow Law gave themselves some breathing space near the bottom of the First Division when they came from behind to beat Jarrow Roofing 4-2 at Ironworks Road on Saturday. Lawyers trailed 2-1 at half time, but then showed their fighting spirit under caretaker
The Man Who Ate His Archbishop's Liver? (C4) Noah's Ark (BBC1) WHO thinks of these catchpenny tabloid titles designed to attract an audience to a serious documentary that otherwise they'd probably not bother to watch? The question mark at the end of The
TONY BLAIR stepped up the pressure on solicitors who plundered compensation for sick and crippled ex-miners, by insisting the money must be paid back. The Prime Minister threw his weight behind an investigation into firms that have been accused of fleecing
WEEKLY advice sessions in villages are coming to an end because the funding has run out. For three years Durham Citizens' Advice Bureau has been running outreach sessions in halls and community centres in villages such as Bearpark, Brandon, Kelloe, Quarrington
The Man Who Ate His Archbishop's Liver? (C4): Noah's Ark (BBC1); WHO thinks of these catchpenny tabloid titles designed to attract an audience to a serious documentary that otherwise they'd probably not bother to watch? The question mark at the end of
A REDCAR pensioner won silver and bronze in the World Veteran's Championship in Stuttgart, Germany. Last week, Jim Caddy, who has a treadmill in his sheltered accommodation at the Sir William Turner Almshouses in Kirkleatham, won silver in the 1,500m
THERE is so much we take for granted in life. For example, if we - or our loved ones - needed blood, we would expect it to be provided. It would never occur to us that there might not be any available. But what if the 1.7 million regular blood donors
THE National Trust's Roseberry Topping property is to welcome its latest recruits - six llamas. The llamas, traditionally found on the slopes of the Andes, in South America, will be carrying stone up Little Roseberry for dry stone walls and fencing materials
A REGISTERED childminder is about to experience her first taste of fame, as she appears in a series of television advertisements. Sue Norton, 35, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, was chosen to star in a series of advertisements to promote the work of childminders
SIXTY thousand letters are to be delivered to patients in Darlington outlining an out-of-hours medical service being pioneered in the town. The system will come into effect on Thursday, April 1, and will change the way that urgent medical cover is provided
LANDOWNERS are being urged to make sure ramblers have access to rights of way. Durham County Council has written to landowners across the county to remind them of their obligations under the Rights of Way Act 1990. The council is asking landowners to
STUDENT mechanics have been putting their skills to good use by helping to restore a classic car. The 1936 Hillman Minx was a rusty shell and boxes of bits when it was discovered in a barn in Teesdale by Bishop Auckland automotive parts dealer Derek Ward
BARRIERS are to be erected to prevent off-road bikers from using a public footpath. Derwentside District Council has voted to put up the gates on the link between Eggleston Drive, in Templetown, and Buddle Street, in Delves Lane, near Consett. It means
An Easter treasure hunt will be among the highlights at a spring fair at St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham, on Sunday, April 4, from 2pm to 4.30pm. Attractions will also include a children's fancy dress competition, a painted egg contest, Easter crafts an
A PRIZE draw could be introduced to encourage council tenants to pay their rent on time. Derwentside District Council is considering setting up a scheme to reward what it described as "loyal and responsible tenants". Figures taken on February 1 by the
Visitors enjoyed an open day at a North Yorkshire nature reserve despite wet weather. The Swale and Ure Washlands Project held an open day at Marfield nature reserve, in Masham, on Saturday. Staff and volunteers for the project were on hand at the 38-
PERSISTENT fine dodgers in North Yorkshire could face arrest as a crackdown gets under way in the county today. North Yorkshire Magistrates' Court Committee (MCC) is taking part in a drive to recover unpaid fines. The crackdown is part of the government's
AN old allotment site is to be turned into a village's peaceful green haven. The group of 20 overgrown former allotment plots have blighted an area of Bowburn, near Durham, in recent years. But following a fundraising drive spearheaded by Cassop-cum-Quarrington
PLANS to help the region's budding Billy Elliots fulfil their dancing potential will be unveiled tomorrow. A Government scheme to offer grants in music and dance for exceptionally talented youngsters will be announced by Schools Minister David Miliband
EDUCATION I VIEW with extreme sadness the news of the so-called proposed closure of the Northern School for the Deaf. It inevitably means that the decision has already been made to close the school. In Middlesbrough, the closure of the Beverley School
Richard Guest, very much a trainer going places and fresh from his first Cheltenham Festival success in his new role, can be on the mark at Wetherby today with Bernardon in the Iain Longman Handicap Hurdle over two miles. Although the eight-year-old was
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour says that his team's next three games are vital after they lost 3-2 home to league leaders Hyde on Saturday. The game was switched from Shildon late on Friday afternoon because part of Shildon's ground was declared
A TALK about underwear will be the highlight of an NSPCC fundraising lunch on Teesside. Clergyman's wife and mother-of-seven Rosemary Hawthorne has written a book about the history of knickers which has proved so popular it is in its eighth print run.
A REGISTERED childminder is about to experience her first taste of fame, as she appears in a series of television advertisements. Sue Norton, 35, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, was chosen to star in a series of advertisements to promote the work of childminders
WORK has begun on a project to give a paddling pool and play area in Hartlepool a new lease of life. The Block Sands paddling pool on the Headland, will be resurfaced and stepping stones laid across the pool in place of a small concrete bridge, which
A CAMPAIGN to promote alternatives to car travel has been launched by a council and supermarket. Hartlepool Borough Council has contributed £5,500 from its Local Transport Plan budget to fund a purpose-built secure bicycle store at the town's Asda store
AN initiative to encourage youngsters in Stockton to begin reading has been launched. A fortnightly storytime event will take place on Saturdays at the town's central library, where staff will read stories to the youngsters with colouring sessions to
SURGEONS decided not to take any chances with Caroline Cleaver's unborn baby. "They were concerned about foetal distress, his heart rate was dropping and they decided to operate," said Mrs Cleaver, who lives in Stockton. After an emergency Caesarean section
PROTESTORS were horrified after learning that part of a park is being transferred to a housing developer. Residents in Aynsley Terrace, Consett, are fighting to reclaim an area of park sold to Strathmore Homes, that they claim was historically part of
MARGARET Avery is an unlikely maverick. She's neatly dressed and petite, with short blonde hair and an elfin face which belies her 60 years. She's also a retired psychology lecturer, guaranteeing her a respected place in society. But Margaret is a lesbian
A CHIMNEY sweep and fairy godmother brought good luck to two of the region's newest mothers yesterday. Angela and Dean Buick, from Durham costume character company, The Enchantment Factory, called at the maternity ward in Durham's University Hospital
STUDENTS of all ages now have proof that they have been on a journey of discovery. Those attending sessions on board the Discovery Bus have been given a certificate after they have completed an Introduction to IT course. North Yorkshire County Council's
IT is incredible to believe that the professionalism of Middlesbrough's Mark Schwarzer is such that, after his own personal wonder show, he was left discussing the one that got away. Victory was secured with the help of a series of fantastic saves, yet
FEW sides would complain about going home from Belle Vue with a draw, but the point gained by Darlington was about as welcome as a surprise appearance by former chairman George Reynolds. There was a time when 87 per-cent of fans were behind Reynolds and
A restaurant with two sites in the North-East has joined the growing number of buildings to ban smoking. Oldfields, in Claypath, Dur-ham, and in Jesmond, Newcastle, has imposed the ban for a two-month trial period. Customers are also being asked to vote
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to two separate road accidents which left two people dead. Simon Smith, 22, from the Helmsley area of North Yorkshire, was killed in the early hours of yesterday in a crash at Nawton, on the A170 Helmsley to Kirkbymoorside
EVERY day, hospitals in the North-East and North Yorkshire need at least 400 units of blood. From hip replacements to emergency surgery, every major operation carried out requires plentiful supplies of blood. Apart from surgery, blood is also needed to
A THEATRICAL family are still on a high from getting film star treatment in France after winning a competition. Derek Smith and sons Jamie, 12, and Luke, ten, of Chester-le-Street, were greeted at Disneyland Paris like Hollywood legends. The amateur dramatics
A TEENAGER has become the first driver to have his car seized in a police crackdown on boy racers. Police say they saw the un-named 19-year-old, from Esh Winning, performing handbrake turns in the car park of the Arnison Centre at Pity Me, on Tuesday
A SKINNINGROVE man, who has been using driftwood to heat his home, is the first person in the area to receive a Euro-funded heating system. Heart patient Trevor Sainsbury, 59, now has gas-fired central heating paid for by the EC after assessors decided
WINGER Andy Micklewright scored five first half tries as Middlesbrough stepped up their promotion bid in North Two East. They won their rearranged game at home to Northern 59-19 to move back above Morpeth into second place with two games left. Victory
A CHESTER-le-Street actor is taking to the stage with a Tyneside group performing a musical favourite. Michael Green, of High Rickleton, will be playing Sir Edward Ramsay in Newcastle West End Operatic Society's production of The King and I at Newcastle's
THE traditional link between patients and their local GP will be broken next month when a new way of dealing with out-of-hours medical problems is introduced. Historically, GPs have always been responsible for their patients for 24 hours a day. But from
TWO of the North East's top photographers have released their own movie in a bid to pass on their expertise. Northern Echo photographer and radio broadcaster Brian Clough and boss of the Northpoint Multimedia company, Dave Foster teamed up to make a 45
SEVENTEEN jobs have been created following the opening of a £1.5m store. Four adjoining empty retail units have been merged as part of the programme to house fashion retailer H&M at the Wellington Square Shopping Centre, Stockton. The new jobs range
A BENCH and plaque has been unveiled to honour the memory of a mayor who never was. The tribute to the life of Coun Harvey Smith was conducted near the Newton Hall Community Centre, in Newton Hall, Durham. It was presided over by Mayor Coun Ray Gibbon
AN EDUCATION specialist will help adults in the region struggling with basic literacy and maths to combat their fears. Jeanette Trafford has been signed up as a North-East skills for life "learning champion" to lead a campaign to improve standards of
POLICE are warning people to be aware of blue tablets circulating in east Cleveland which can cause fits similar to epileptic seizures. The small, round tablets, which have no markings, are believed to be from the Far East. A spokesperson for Cleveland
MICK McCarthy and Darren Byfield were last night united in their defence of Jeff Whitley as the Sunderland scrapper faced up to a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Whitley was sent off again in the latter stages of Sunderland's 2-0 win over Reading on Saturday
CONSTRUCTION of Ushaw College began in 1804 on land belonging to the Smythes, of Esh village, a Catholic family who had owned much land in the neighbourhood since the reign of Henry VIII. They took part in the Catholic rebellion called the Rising of the
POLICE hunting thieves plundering North-East bank accounts have announced a breakthrough. Detectives say account holders have lost money to a fake cash machine scam, with the latest in Redcar, Hartlepool and Darlington. Cleveland Police claimed 'a major
THE last sad remnants of a once popular holiday destination will soon be swept away in the first step towards restoring a coastal resort to its former glory. The renaissance of Crimdon is to begin with a £700,000 investment programme aimed at breathing
FEARS that a village could lose its convenience store have caused concern. The North-Eastern Co-op moved to reassure residents of Kimblesworth, near Durham, that there are no plans for immediate closure. Managers will keep the store open until the end
Bishop Auckland boys are on the verge of glory after overcoming Liverpool in the semi-final of the Under-15s English Schools Trophy. In atrocious conditions in the North-West on Saturday, a goal 16 minutes from time by Seb Coady sealed the tie for the
STARS of the future are to take part in a talent contest and North-East people are being urged to support them. Festival4stars is gearing up for the Yorkshire regional final, on March 30, with Michael Bradley and Lauren Ridley, both from Stockton, among
CAMPAIGNERS travelled to the European Parliament in Brussels to demand safer chemicals in everyday products. Chris Gooding, 67, from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, and Allwyn Nichol, 65, from Newcastle, were among a British delegation that included members
IT MIGHT not have been pretty but it was well worth missing the first half at Twickenham on Saturday to witness the gripping drama at Blackwell Meadows. The upshot was that there will definitely be more Darlington derbies in National Three North next
I GOT a haircut last week and boy, don't I know it. I had grown tired of the same old look, so I walked in to an ultra cool stylist called 'Enry 'Iggins, to get me something a little more spring 2004. I told Solange, my trendy French stylist, that I had
DRUG barons should be forced to pay for a cure for addicts, says the chairman of a North-East police authority. Police can seize dealers' cars, jewellery and homes under powers granted to them by the Government. Cleveland Police last year seized almost
GARETH SOUTHGATE is convinced his form for Middlesbrough has been good enough to warrant a place in England's European Championships squad. The reliable centre-back's chances of making the trip to Portugal this summer were boosted last week with the confirmation
I LOVE my mornings. I consider myself very lucky that, after a short drive into work, I will spend the next half an hour just wandering around in the countryside and getting paid for it. I usually do this on my own, which is wonderful, as I can sneak
HOUSEHOLDERS are being put on their guard against a man offering to carry out work on their water systems. Stockton Borough Council's trading standards and licensing service has joined forces with Northumbrian Water to warn residents in Stockton. The
The funeral of a fruit and veg trader who became known as the ''Metric Martyr'' after he was convicted of selling bananas in pounds and ounces was being held today. Greengrocer Steven Thoburn died from a suspected heart attack at his home in Sunderland
A mother who almost died during the birth of her baby today backs an appeal by The Northern Echo to help avert a crisis at the region's blood banks. Caroline Cleaver, 29, from Stockton, is joining the campaign as the National Blood Service (NBS) launches
JOE Porter got the habit for giving blood nearly half a century ago. As a young trainee military policeman doing National Service he remembers being "volunteered" for a blood donor session back in 1960. "There was no tea and biscuits and a sit down afterwards
A 19th Century law is being invoked in a row about flowers on a 1,000-year-old village green. Officials say they have received complaints about villagers cultivating plants near their homes on the edge of the green at Norton, near Stockton. Stockton Borough
A VILLAGE was sealed off on Wednesday as police thwarted a plot by dealers to invade County Durham with crack cocaine. At dawn, officers formed a ring of blue steel around Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street. Then at 6.30am, teams forced entry into a
EDUCATION: I VIEW with extreme sadness the news of the so-called proposed closure of the Northern School for the Deaf. It inevitably means that the decision has already been made to close the school. In Middlesbrough, the closure of the Beverley School
MORE than 14,000 homes were without power after severe gales brought down electricity cables throughout the region. About 14,800 homes, stretching from Berwick to York, suffered power cuts for anything between an hour to three hours after the cables,
New statistics from the 2001 census show that Teesdale has the fewest openly gay cohabiting couples in England and Wales. Sarah Foster meets a lesbian who lives there regardless of her isolation. ARGARET Avery is an unlikely maverick. She's neatly dressed
WHEN five-year-old Benjamin Halliday came home from school with head lice, his parents were delighted. Such unwelcome visitors do not usually provoke broad smiles from parents. But the moment was seen by his mother, Helen, and father, Gary, as proof that
TWO of the North East's top photographers have released their own movie in a bid to pass on their expertise. Northern Echo photographer and radio broadcaster Brian Clough and boss of the Northpoint Multimedia company, Dave Foster teamed up to make a 45
PUPILS from the region's schools are being transported back to the Forties to relive the experiences of wartime evacuees. Children from Consett Junior School, dressed as children escaping the Blitz, were taken by bus to Darlington Railway Museum, in Darlington
CAPTAIN and manager were united on Saturday, as both Neale Cooper and Ritchie Humphreys sent out the same message to Adam Boyd: Keep up the good work. Boyd came in from the cold for his first start of the season for his hometown club and his double secured
POLICE are appealing for information about a burglary at a Bishop Auckland home, and for help to trace property stolen during the theft. A Sony 28in wide-screen television set and a number of compact discs, from the house in Archer Avenue, on the Woodhouse
GOVERNMENT Chief Whip MP Hilary Armstrong visited her former village to open a children's play area. The North-West Durham MP launched the outdoor activities area in Howden-le-Wear Primary School, near Crook, on Friday. Pupils were delighted with their
A TEAM of paramedics could be put on 24-hour standby in Spennymoor if the ambulance service is allowed to move into the town's fire station. The North East Ambulance Service hopes to use the fire station, in St Andrew's Lane, to improve emergency call
A COMMUNITY braved the bleak weather by turning out in force to start transforming a derelict strip of land into a sports pitch. Families living in North Bitchburn, near Crook, cleared rubbish and overgrown weeds from a field next to the village cricket
COUNCIL chiefs are likely to approve a detailed plan to enhance the quality of life for young children and their families in the Darlington area. Under Government regulations, local authorities are obliged to draw up proposals to ensure every parent has
CHILDREN at a youth club received a visit from Darlington Football Club manager David Hodgson after raising £100 for the club. The Red Hall Youth Centre, in Darlington, which provides out-of-school activities for five to 13-year-olds from the Red Hall
A YOUTH orchestra performed its first concert yesterday. The inaugural performance by the Darlington and Dales Youth Orchestra took place at St Cuthbert's Church, in Darlington town centre. It followed a successful spring term that saw 25 youngsters from
VILLAGERS gathered to boost their campaign for funding to build a play park for their community. More than 200 residents in the parish of Esh, near Durham, held a celebration event to highlight the work of the Put the Park into Langley Park campaign.
MORE than 300 young singers and musicians got together to stage a concert of world music. The performance, in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, was the first of a series of events to mark the end of Forging the Future, an arts project in north Durham
a bumper package of activities has been put together for young people over the Easter holidays. Consett YMCA has organised several day trips for more than 400 young people aged eight to 25. Activities will include climbing, canoeing, and river walks.
RESIDENTS fear the elderly will suffer after losing a fight to keep payphone kiosks open in East Cleveland. BT has now closed 12 phone boxes in the Redcar and Cleveland area and dozens more across Teesside. The company says the phones cannot be subsidised
TEARAWAYS on motorbikes are being targeted by police, determined to put a brake on their manic riding. Worried that some enthusiasts who ride both motorcycles and quad bikes are becoming a danger to children and adults using the countryside, police will
AN initiative to raise awareness of help and support available to job hunters has been held in Hartlepool. The event took place at the Abbey Street Project, on the Headland, and was organised by Hartlepool Borough Council's Hartlepool Working Solutions
YOUTHS hurling eggs and tomatoes are making residents' lives a misery, an authority has been told. People living in the area of Keswick Grove and Trimdon Avenue, Acklam, Middlesbrough are being plagued by youths who gather around the footpath linking
SIGNS are causing continuing concern to a civic watchdog. Harrogate Civic Society's campaign to curb internally illuminated shopfront signs, large hoardings and other intrusive advertisements is achieving some notable victories. The society, which scrutinised
IF Mick McCarthy isn't a card player then he should be, because every time he shuffles his Sunderland pack at the moment he seems to come up trumps. The Black Cats boss handed Darren Byfield his first Sunderland start at Reading on Saturday after watching
IT is no secret that Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer haven't quite seen eye to eye lately. A relationship seemingly akin to father and son when Robson took charge of Newcastle four-and-a-half years ago appeared more like Steptoe and Son last month.
The success of a North-East town in reducing heart disease deaths is being copied all over the country. Premature deaths from heart disease have plummeted in Darlington, leading to the so-called "Darlington" model of running heart services being adopted
PROTESTORS are planning to blockade part of a city centre next weekend. On Saturday, campaigners from Durham Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) will block off part of the city's Market Place with a cardboard wall, forcing shoppers to pass through checkpoints
SWALEDALE will be tapping its feet to three evenings of jazz next month. The fourth Swaledale Jazz Weekend takes place at The Buck Hotel between Friday, April 2, and Sunday, April 4. Bands booked for this year include T J Johnson's Bourbon Kick, The Rae
DARLINGTON striker Barry Conlon believes the reaction of his teammates after Saturday's draw at Third Division leaders Doncaster Rovers epitomises the standards which have been set under David Hodgson. Only Yeovil and Lincoln have left Belle Vue with
DUTCH police sergeant Leen Dekker has had a taste of life in an English force. Sgt Dekker, who works in Rotterdam, was among more than 50 people to attend an International Police Association (IPA) conference at the Kings Head Hotel, Darlington, on Saturday
Birtley Town regained the lead of the Wearside League after an exciting 3-3 draw at Gateshead Reserves, who came from behind three times to equalise. The visitors took an early lead through Jason Jones who headed home from a corner. George Wetherley equalised
DREAMS of restoring part of the region's railway heritage by reopening a rural line have moved a step closer to reality thanks to a £1m grant. Plans to reopen the redundant Weardale railway line, in County Durham, have been backed by the Heritage Lottery
WALKERS braved gales and torrential rain to make a symbolic pilgrimage in honour of a North-East saint. About 50 people took part in a walk from Chester-le-Street to Durham, to mark St Cuthbert's Day on Saturday, the 1,317th anniversary of the death of
IT MIGHT not have been pretty but it was well worth missing the first half at Twickenham on Saturday to witness the gripping drama at Blackwell Meadows. The upshot was that there will definitely be more Darlington derbies in National Three North next
MORE than 300 young singers and musicians got together to stage a concert of world music. The performance, in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, was the first of a series of events to mark the end of Forging the Future, an arts project in north Durham
MORE than 300 children from six primary schools will be raising their voices in a musical celebration this Friday. The pupils, from schools in Derwentside and Chester-le-Street, are performing a concert of world music to mark the end of a major arts initiative
THOUSANDS of North-East pensioners will be left out in the cold this Easter due to a drastic rise in their energy bills, it has been claimed. Energy company Powergen is increasing the cost of its Staywarm service, which offers the over-60s unlimited energy
ROYAL MAIL bosses were last night under increasing pressure to end a growing crisis that has blighted mail deliveries. Postmen and women were seen on the streets of Darlington yesterday, desperately trying to help clear a backlog of mail that should have
A THREATENED music festival could still go ahead this year, thanks to a task force set up to save the event. The Stanley Blues Festival was in danger of folding after Derwentside District Council withdrew its funding and administrative support. But a
