Archive
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Donations help Hope to surgery fund target
A NORTH-EAST youngster is to get a pioneering operation to rebuild her swollen face. An appeal launched by the family of five-year-old Hope Elliott, of Sunderland, has reached its £35,000 target in a matter of weeks. Hope, who goes to Oxclose Primary
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Extra defences hope for villagers
EMERGENCY flood banks may be erected to protect Bishop Auckland from being deluged again. Homes in South Church and West Auckland narrowly escaped being flooded for a second time this year when the River Gaunless broke its banks. To prevent another threat
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Balloons protest
RESIDENTS launched 3,000 balloons at the weekend in protest at plans to dump poisonous waste at a tip near their homes. They fear the proposals for Houghton Quarry, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, could pollute water supplies locally and in County Durham
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Ruth in the driving seat
RUTH Wake is all smiles after winning a new car, courtesy of The Northern Echo. Mrs Wake, who lives in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, successfully identified 13 celebrity mouths to win the final prize in The Northern Echo Great Ford Ka Giveaway competition
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Aimee's mum gets hope from Cherie
THE mother of a sick child, who is campaigning to save a threatened research unit, says she is encouraged by a letter of support from Cherie Blair. Aimee Barber, 12, of Trimdon Village, County Durham, suffers from the incurable condition Ehlers-Danlos
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Lollipop shortage licked
ROAD safety experts believe a problem of recruiting sufficient lollipop crossing patrols, has been licked. Schools, parents and parish councillors were concerned about youngsters' safety at Eaglescliffe and Yarm, where several sites were not manned for
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Firms told to look at e-trading
A MAJOR e-business conference at Sunderland's Stadium of Light next week will help businesses access new technology to improve their profitability. EBGB, The Electronic Business Global Business event is set for November 22 and will raise awareness of
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BT restructure rolls out with Swiss telecom sale
BRITISH Telecom has followed last week's announcement of plans to restructure, by revealing it is to sell its 34 per cent stake in Swiss telecoms consortium Sunrise for £460m. But the sale, announced ahead of the planned auction of third generation mobile
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Pupils book in for fun at school's double celebration
YOUNGSTERS at a Teesside school celebrated the opening of two libraries last week with a literacy day. The libraries are in the junior and senior departments of Teesside High School, in Eaglescliffe. Both cost almost £30,000, which was raised by the school's
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It's decision day for GCSE student
A NORTH-EAST student will find out today whether he has been crowned GCSE Student of the Year at an awards ceremony in London. Dominic Charles Morgan, a pupil at High Tunstall Comprehensive, in Hartlepool, has already been honoured in the social sciences
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Mourners see funny side of hearse hitch
MOURNERS at a funeral ended up in tears of laughter when the hearse broke down and the coffin had to be taken to the crematorium in the back of a car. About 50 mourners gathered to give former businessman Bill Fairs a good send off after he died from
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Still his angel after 60 years
REMEMBRANCE Day has always featured largely in the 60-year marriage of a former soldier and his Aycliffe Angel bride. Even when they celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary this weekend, Percy and Emma Readshaw have made time for their usual major
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Fond farewell to brave Ted
TED, a German Shepherd who became a charity champion when he was pensioned off by the police, has died. His owner, retired farmer Frank Lucas, has buried 12-year-old Ted in the field where he spent most of the last years of his life on the fells above
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Community's tribute to soldiers
A SMALL North-East community yesterday gathered together to remember seven local men who gave their lives in defence of their country. The names of seven men from Winston, in Teesdale, who were killed during the Second World War, have been listed on a
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Residents lose fight to stop homes
RESIDENTS have lost their fight against plans for a housing estate. Sunderland City Council has given Persimmon Homes North-East planning permission to build 143 homes at High Dubmire, between Fencehouses and Chilton Moor. People in the area objected
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Anger as fire crews lose rank badges
FIREFIGHTERS have reacted angrily after learning they are to be stripped of badges of rank. Officers have been told that the uniform epaulettes are to be banned because they are too "militaristic". The Northumbria Fire Service is the first in the country
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Turning a page in history
A NEW chapter has been reached in the display in the North-East of the Lindisfarne Gospels. The beautifully decorated pages that introduce St Mark's Gospel were revealed at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle on Saturday. The Gospels - designated a national
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Now old soldiers face a war to halt vandals
DEATH and infirmity are thinning their ranks. There are fewer regimental standards on parade than in previous years, while a more faltering gait has replaced the sure, confident marching steps of youth. But they were there yesterday at scores of war memorials
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Sailor's key role after hurricane
A NORTH-EAST sailor has been playing a key role coordinating disaster relief in the aftermath of a hurricane. Consett serviceman Mark Lavery, 22, and the crew of destroyer HMS Cardiff were near the Caribbean when Hurricane Keith ripped into Belize. It
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Orchard squatters facing eviction
SQUATTERS face eviction from the grounds of a near-derelict house. Three men, aged 33, 22 and 19, parked a caravan in the orchard of Ashbrooke House, in Queen Alexandra Road, near Grangetown, Sunderland, after being thrown out of their homes by Sunderland
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£10.5m plan to regenerate town's most deprived estates
MILLIONS of pounds are to be poured into a town which topped a national league table for deprived estates. Three Middlesbrough neighbourhoods - Thorntree, Pallister Park and St Hilda's - featured in the top five of a chart table of Britain's most run
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Health trust secures permission for 30-bed unit
HEALTH chiefs hope to build a 30-bed unit at Earls House Hospital, in Durham, as part of a shake-up of mental health services. The County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust has won permission from the city council for the development, in Lanchester
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Call for volunteers to help save carnival from collapse
A carnival could fold unless more volunteers are found to help run it. Northallerton charity carnival has been running successfully for the past 24 years, but could face extinction without an injection of new blood. The news has broken at the same time
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Former college leader mourned
A man who helped transform Durham University in the 1960s and 1970s has died aged 85. Sir Derman Christopherson was vice-chancellor between 1960 and 1979, and led the university as it changed from a small traditional institution to one of the fastest-growing
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New hope for staff at Blue Circle
WORKERS at a rural cement firm awaiting the results of a production review at their site, are hoping a surge of voluntary redundancies can help save their jobs from the axe. Staff at Blue Circle in Weardale were expecting the worst after management announced
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Indian dance group stars at diversity day
THE colourful sight of Indian dancers, many of whom are blind, was one of the highlights of a celebration of different cultures. Durham Town Hall hosted a Diversity Day, held to coincide with Remembrance Day and the Anne Frank exhibition, being held in
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Indian restaurant is a drive away
A NEW roadside restaurant is hoping to curry favour with food lovers in the region. The vast majority of Indian restaurants are found in town centres, and are usually a haven for late-night drinkers who stumble out of pubs and clubs in search of food.
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Fan given two-year football ban
POLICE have succeeded in getting a North-East football hooligan banned from every match in the country for the next two years. Michael Hawdon has been made the subject of a football banning order under new legislation introduced after the Euro 2000 championships
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Armistice Day's love secret
A COUPLE who eloped after only six weeks together celebrated 65 years of marriage at the weekend. In a romance straight from the pages of a novel, Les and Rose Robson, married in 1935 at Bishop Auckland register office on Armistice Day - on the 11th hour
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Bright new era at school
A NEW era starts this week at a Houghton-le-Spring school. The new St Michael's RC Primary School, in Durham Road, opens on Wednesday, across the road from the old 130-year-old split-site school. Preparations for the opening of the new seven-classroom
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Honours for the country's unsung heroes
SOLDIERS and civilians who sacrificed their lives fighting for Britain were honoured by the nation's leaders yesterday. Thousands gathered for the service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday, when the Queen, Prime Minister Tony Blair
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Display nets meeting for sewing friends
QUILTERS who communicate about their favourite hobby on the Internet, visited an exhibition in the North-East on Saturday, and met each other for the first time. The enthusiasts had travelled from all over the country to see a quilt exhibition at Bowes
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Legion's helping hand
NEWSAGENT Mark Cartright is a living example of the Royal British Legion's work. Although Remembrance weekend tends to concentrate thoughts on those who gave their lives during the two world wars, the legion is keen to stress its work with living ex-servicemen
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Cemetery concern
Travellers using Beacon Lane cemetery area in Sedgefield, County Durham, as a camping ground, have given the town council and residents in the area cause for concern over the years. Now the council is planning to investigate the problem more closely and
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Housing proposal angers residents
Plans by Durham City Council to sell off land in a former pit village for housing have run into opposition. The council wants outline permission from its development control committee for two areas south of Wood View, at Croxdale. However, residents are
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Rotaract members in shopping quest for MS centre
A GROUP of Teesside youngsters is launching an around-Britain shopping trip to raise funds for a centre treating hundreds of multiple sclerosis sufferers. The centre at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, needs £1,200 a week to stay operational. Members of
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Rape claim woman may face action
A WOMAN who claimed she was raped could face legal action for wasting police time. Detectives at Hartlepool launched a manhunt and called a press conference to appeal for the public's help after a woman told police she had been raped by a bogus workman
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Market traders fear they will be forced to move out
UP to 30 small businesses and 100 jobs in a thriving indoor market could be under threat from a multi-million pound property deal. Furious traders are accusing Middlesbrough Borough Council, owner of the lease on the Hill Street Centre indoor market,
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Burning Questions
Q AT this time of disastrous floods, I would like to know what you can tell me about the Great Flood of 1771. I understand most of the bridges on the rivers Tees and Wear were destroyed. - Stan Dack, Newton Aycliffe. A THE Great Flood of November 17,
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Injuries plunge Flintoff inot fray
Andrew Flintoff could be poised for a shock return for England just 24 hours after returning to Pakistan as cover for the lengthy injury list threatening their first Test preparations. The Lancashire all-rounder was forced to head off to Lahore two weeks
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Bennett's frustration
Darlington manager Gary Bennett yesterday revealed his deep frustration at Quakers' lack of scoring power as he prepares for a meeting with chairman George Reynolds. Bennett could only watch helplessly as Quakers squandered several chances to end their
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So who might move to a house like this?
IF you've ever wondered what type of house a top model and her Premiership footballer husband would consider living in, take a look at these pictures. To many, Darlington would be unlikely to even figure on the shortlist of locations where you would expect
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Back injury blow for Quinn
REPUBLIC of Ireland striker Niall Quinn faces a race against the clock to play in Saturday's Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park. The 34-year-old Dubliner, who ended a 14-game barren run by scoring Sunderland's equaliser in the 2-2 home draw against Southampton
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Hole lot of trouble as rain opens up 100ft crater
OFFICIALS are warning people to stay away from a 100ft-deep crater which has opened up on land near Newcastle International Airport. The hole began to develop on Saturday, on land owned by the coal authority. It is believed to have been caused by the
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Prescott clears garden centre
ENVIRONMENT Secretary John Prescott has given the go-ahead for the building of a DIY and garden centre at Skippers Lane, South Bank, near Middlesbrough. He had "called in" the application rather than let Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council make the decision
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Mobile police station boost for villagers
A RURAL community can now speak to their local bobby face-to-face on a regular basis, thanks to a mobile police station. Residents in Gainford, Teesdale, can inform police officers of any concerns or problems on a monthly basis without having to travel
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Workers rewarded for craft skills
A WORKERS' co-operative which faced closure five years ago has blossomed into a successful company. Teesdale Garden Crafts, which employs disabled people at its depot in Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, was on the verge of folding in 1995 when Euro
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Lottery cash sports boost for college
A NATIONAL Lottery grant of £290,000 is to provide new sports facilities in Sedgefield. The grant will provide Sedgefield Community College with an all-weather games pitch, three all- weather tennis courts, floodlighting, clubhouse with community office
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IT's a family first as five generations share an emotional moment
FIVE female generations of the same family shared an emotional moment when they met for the first time in Ferryhill. May Katherine Hutchinson, 87, became a great-great-grandmother when Shannon Louise Short was born at the end of last month. However, she
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Village looks to partnership
A MEETING is to be held in Sedgefield Parish Hall on November 23, at 7.30pm, to establish a Village Community Partnership. The aim is to build of the successful working together of Sedgefield village organisations through the Sedgefield 2000 committee
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College Olympic pool plan may face green belt obstacle
PLANS for a multi-million pound sports complex, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, could fall foul of planning policies. East Durham and Houghall Community College is drawing up plans to build the centre at Houghall Agricultural College, between
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Residents urged to shop playground vandals
A COMMUNITY leader has condemned vandals for wrecking children's play areas. Hooligans in Eaglescliffe have caused so much damage that pieces of equipment have had to be removed from play areas because their condition is unsafe, and the repair costs high
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Centre gears up for the Christmas spirit
THERE will be singing and dancing in a town centre to get into the Christmas spirit. Chart-chasing bands Supersister, Lonyo and The Artful Dodger will be performing in Middlesbrough before the November 19 Christmas lights switch-on. British Junior Skating
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Purses snatched from shoppers
POLICE in north Durham have warned people to be vigilant after a number of purses were stolen from elderly shoppers. Thieves have snatched at least four purses in streets and in shops, in the Consett area, during the past two weeks. All the victims were
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Pilot project provides family members with child care role
A PILOT project aimed at preventing children from being taken into local authority care in Darlington has been hailed a success. Darlington Borough Council's social services department began piloting Family Group conferences in February this year. The
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Conmen dupe elderly woman
CONMEN duped an elderly woman out of her savings. Two men told the 73-year-old they had been sent to check the water at her home in Langley Park, near Durham City, following floods. While one checked the water the other stole money. One was 20, 5ft 5in
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Island call-up for CS spray
MANX Police are learning how to reduce assaults on officers from the expertise of their Teesside counterparts. PC Mick Couhig of Cleveland Police is travelling to the island to brief Manx Force safety trainers on the use of CS spray. Since training was
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Blueprint for Dales discussed
CONSULTATION is under way on a new blueprint for the future of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A local plan, which acts as a template for decisions on development, has governed the area since 1996. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has begun
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New twist in hunt for vice girl's killer
MURDER hunt detectives have received a setback in their hunt for the killer of a 21-year-old Teesside prostitute. The naked remains of Vicky Glass were found on a stretch of remote North Yorkshire moorland just over a week ago. But a thorough search of
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Pollution-hit business pleads to Blair for help
A FAMILY-RUN firm, which is threatened with going out of business because of a pollution spill, is appealing to Prime Minister Tony Blair to intervene. Horse breeders Ken and Heather Saddington have written to Mr Blair urging him to order action before
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Another contestant joins race for Mo's job
A COUNCILLOR has thrown his hat into the ring for the contest to succeed outgoing MP Mo Mowlam. Ian Haszeldine, a member of Darlington Borough Council, is one of the people vying for the safe Labour seat of Redcar. It follows Dr Mowlam's announcement
