Archive
-
Date
The UnIBond League
Spennymoor United are hoping to appoint a new manager next week. Moors sacked Peter Quigley a fortnight ago, and since then senior player Jason Ainsley has been picking the team. Spennymoor chairman Barrie Hindmarch said: "We've got a few interesting
-
Date
Burning home hero honoured 30 years later
A man who rescued three children from their burning home was honoured today for his heroic actions - 30 years after the event. Builder Brian Tumilty, of Hartlepool, saved three youngsters from the flames of their Plevna Street home, in the town, in 1971
-
Date
Stockdale has no hard feelings with Robson
FULL-BACK Robbie Stockdale last night insisted he bears no grudges against former boss Bryan Robson for stalling his Middlesbrough career. Birthday boy Stockdale, 22 today, is back in favour at the Riverside under new manager Steve McClaren and looking
-
Date
Chester le Street - Carl's challenge
A STANLEY soldier battled wind, rain and fatigue when he took on one of the toughest challenges the Army has to officer. Fusilier Carl Boyd was part of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers taking part in Exercise Cambrian Patrol. The annual
-
Date
Farmers may soon start to rebuild
GOVERNMENT ministers are set to lift foot-and-mouth restrictions on the movement of animals for North-East farmers within days, The Northern Echo can reveal. The move will mean hundreds of farmers in the region can finally start rebuilding their devastated
-
Date
Consett & Stanley - Former PC cleared of defacing lesbians' car
A ROYAL British Legion chairman and former policeman has told of his life of 'absolute hell' after being wrongly accused of abusing a lesbian couple. Raymond Smith Brodie, 67, appeared before Consett magistrates court this week accused of scratching the
-
Date
Wellock's World
IT COULD become a quiz question: what does Darlington manager Tommy Taylor have in common with Jagmohan Dalmiya? Answer: they both considered withdrawing their teams in protest at a referee. Dalmiya, president of the Indian cricket board and a wealthy
-
Date
Bookings are well up for panto season
THE stars of Darlington's pantomime arrived in town this week to polish up their acts for another seasonal spectacular. The cast of Aladdin started rehearsals at the arts centre on Monday. Old favourites the Chuckle Brothers, making their fifth appearance
-
Date
Comeleon changes its look rapidly
LICENSING agreements with Coca Cola and mobile phone firm Nokia are helping a County Durham digital imaging company to expand rapidly. Since floating on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the Stock Exchange in December last year, Comeleon, at
-
Date
Blocked thinking
THE Chancellor may have been congratulating himself this week in preparing the nation for substantial tax rises to pay for the NHS with barely a dissenting voice. There now exists an all-party consensus that public services must improve and that improvement
-
Date
Village hall lands windfall
CHRISTMAS has come early for a remote dales village with a £300,000 National Lottery grant aimed at making its town hall the heart of the community. The money, from the Lottery's Community Fund, will be spent on refurbishing the hall at St John's Chapel
-
Date
MP in talks on hospital
FEARS that the new Bishop Auckland General Hospital will not have a wide range of services when it opens next year have prompted MP Derek Foster to seek a meeting with Health Secretary Alan Milburn on December 7. Mr Foster, Bishop Auckland MP, asked for
-
Date
Labour of love promotes school coaching
WRITING the history of Crook Town Football Club was a labour of love for three fans who are using the proceeds from the project to help the community. Club secretary Alan Stewart, committee member John Phelan and lifelong fan Michael Manuel have used
-
Date
Dedicated ambulance man retires
A FORMER nurse who swapped careers to become an ambulance worker has retired due to ill health after 31 years of caring for people. Ambulance technician Norman Jackson, 61, grew up as a miner's son in Harwood and then Middleton-in-Teesdale, before training
-
Date
New public roadway plan to be piloted
HIGHWAYS officials are to experiment with a new type of public thoroughfare, described as being between a road and a footpath. Work could start next year on the creation of a possible network of quiet lanes -rural roads which walkers, cyclists, horse
-
Date
College innovation on international stage
COLLEGE chiefs have addressed an international conference on their successful digital factory project. Bishop Auckland College's £1m computer centre at Newton Aycliffe offers some of the most advanced technology in the North-East to schools and businesses
-
Date
Abuser fed pets to victims, court told
AN alleged paedophile killed three children's pet rabbits and fed them the animals in a stew, a court was told yesterday. James Mason, 61, told them it was prairie chicken, but afterwards he revealed that they had eaten their pets which had lived in a
-
Date
Raid nets drugs and cash
A BIG drugs raid was carried out by Cleveland Police on a number of houses in Middlesbrough on Wednesday. The officers from Middlesbrough's operational support unit and community policing team carried out the raids and a sniffer dog was called in to assist
-
Date
Silent night? No, but it was very close ...
UTTER confusion reigned until the last minute as to whether carol singing, due to kick off the Christmas festival in Barnard Castle tonight, would go ahead, following a mix-up over road closure times. The event, which will take place at 6pm around the
-
Date
Take your seats for 'horrible' tale
A LEADING County Durham children's writer is bringing the curtain down on his roadshow looking at bizarre aspects of Christmas. Terry Deary, author of the best-selling Horrible Histories children's books, is teaming up with Ronan Paterson, of Byker Grove
-
Date
First class Amanda sheds tears of joy
Graduate Amanda McGowan has a clear enthusiasm for the subject of psychology. Not only has she is the only person on her course to achieve a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in psychology, but she has also started a Masters degree in the subject. Amanda,
-
Date
Bill swaps world of punk for power of the bard
At the age of 15, Bill Angus's English teacher refused to enter him for English literature O-level due to his lack of application. By this year, the situation has completely changed, as Bill will graduate today with a first class BA (Hons) degree in English
-
Date
Roll up your sleeves - or lose village hall
A CLEVELAND community could lose its parish hall unless more volunteers come forward. Crunch time for Egglescliffe parish hall could come in the new year. A local councillor has said more people should roll up their sleeves and help. "Otherwise this valuable
-
Date
Tragic tale of fanatical goalkeeper
SILLINESS, John Burridge once observed, was spending all night in the pub or losing a week's wages on the horses - "not taking a ball to bed like I do." In bed, he might have added, he also wore goalkeeping gloves and occasionally football boots, undertook
-
Date
Rising pension bill could 'cripple' police force
A WARNING has been given that the police service in North Yorkshire could be crippled by the rising cost of pension payouts. Police authority members were told on Monday that a present overspend of £2.1m, arising mainly from the impact of pension costs
-
Date
Billingham edge through
Sunderland Catholic Club Overs-40 League - In the quarter-final of the Villa Real Cup Billingham Wanderers are through, they won 1-0 on penalties after extra time against Silksworth Lord Seaham. The home side became unsettled immediately and Mark Steel
-
Date
Football club's charitable kick-off
A TOP football club is offering a kick back to the community in the form of a newly registered charity. Sunderland AFC is underpinning its community work with a charitable foundation which will help it to reach more young people with a range of health
-
Date
Boxing News
Spennymoor Boxing Academy flew out to the US in the early hours of Tuesday morning where they will take on the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing club. Led by head coach Robbie Ellis and general secretary Paul Hodgson, the club have spent months arranging the
-
Date
Equality cuts both ways
WE won the vote, the right to an equal education and job opportunities. Now women are knocking on the doors of one of the last bastions of male domination - prison. And they don't want to let us in. In a bizarre twist on women's rights, judges have been
-
Date
Equality cuts both ways
WE won the vote, the right to an equal education and job opportunities. Now women are knocking on the doors of one of the last bastions of male domination - prison. And they don't want to let us in. In a bizarre twist on women's rights, judges have been
-
Date
Rector preacheson proper conduct
Worshippers behaving badly have come under fire from a North Yorkshire rector. His comments in the church magazine at Ripley, between Ripon and Harrogate, have ruffled a few feathers - and won him support. The Reverend Stephen Brown says supporters outnumber
-
Date
Trees or flooding? Plea for sense sways officialdom
A STOKESLEY man battling to build a flood wall around his home has won a compromise after planning officials sought to stop him felling trees in his garden. Last winter's floods caused £40,000 worth of damage to Mr Robert Bezemer's family home in Station
-
Date
Raising standards gives young talent a chance
THE need to pay close attention to the grass roots has been identified in recent years as vital to the long-term sporting health and success of the nation. With membership of sports clubs falling, the task of encouraging young people to get involved and
-
Date
The hobby that can land you in jail
With the Greek government facing mounting pressure to release the 12 British planespotters, Nick Morrison looks at the hobby which has landed them in prison accused of spying. WHEN Tony Jones was 12 his parents took him to Heathrow to see a plane. Not
-
Date
Double success for young rider
LAURA Gray from Brafferton, near Darlington, collected two awards at the Dartmoor Pony Society's annual presentations at Exeter. She took the Starlight Salver for the second year running with Hopelaws Woodpecker Too, by Hopelaws Kazek, an award she also
-
Date
'Get the countryside fully open' plea
THE government is being pressed for quicker progress in completing the reopening of the countryside in North Yorkshire. Leading county councillors and local MPs urged countryside minister Mr Alun Michael, at a meeting in London, to set out a clear timetable
-
Date
Shoppers to travel back in time for all the fun of the fair
A North Yorkshire market town travels back in time on Sunday. More than 60 stalls will fill the market place in Knaresborough - all selling traditional gifts at the town's annual Edwardian Fair. With high street shops also opening their doors, the town
-
Date
Letters: The big picture
Sir, - Last week a letter to your newspaper drew attention to Hunton's recent success in the Village of the Year competition 2001. However, your correspondent asserted the report submitted in support of our bid made no reference to the annual Hunton steam
-
Date
Wearside League
Ryhope CW secretary George McKitterick reckons last week's victory over high-flying Windscale is just the tonic his side needs to boost confidence. The Wearsiders went into the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup tie the under-dogs but confounded the critics with
-
Date
Still overarching but no longer post executive
THE ink was barely dry on Spectator's Notes last Friday when Coun David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council was on the phone to explain exactly what the "Post Executive Overarching Overview and Scrutiny Committee" was all about. Coun Walsh admitted
-
Date
Letters: Tax relief
Sir, - I read with interest the article (D&S, November 2) about the study in Thirsk on converting the upper floors of properties into living accommodation. It set out various sound reasons for such developments, but failed to point out the tax benefits
-
Date
Volunteer killed himself
The leader of a community health group killed himself under a train after being involved in two road accidents in 24 hours, and being stressed by his workload. The North Yorkshire East Coroner Michael Oakley recorded a verdict that John Richard Jewitt
-
Date
Tragic tale of fanatical goalkeeper
SILLINESS, John Burridge once observed, was spending all night in the pub or losing a week's wages on the horses - "not taking a ball to bed like I do." In bed, he might have added, he also wore goalkeeping gloves and occasionally football boots, undertook
-
Date
Good helping of healthy eating
YOUNGSTERS who have been learning all about healthy eating were invited to put their new-found knowledge to the test. Years five and six at RAF Leeming Primary School are taking part in a project about the body and healthy eating. And they were invited
-
Date
Steel rises to the occasion as Scotland face mighty All Blacks
A FORMER Thirsk school pupil lined up against the most feared man in rugby last weekend. Winger Jonathan Steel, 21, came face to face with his opposite number Jonah Lomu in Scotland's 37-6 defeat by the New Zealand All Blacks at Murrayfield. Steel said
-
Date
Unions express fears as firm makes job cuts
UNIONS fear further job cuts at one of the region's oldest transport firms. Brambles Heavy Contracting, of Billingham, is understood to have issued redundancy notices to eight drivers. The road haulage company specialises in abnormal load movements and
-
Date
Risks, the dales and all that jazz
TAKING a risk is what life's all about, according to a jazz musician who turned professional in his 60s and made his home in the Yorkshire dales after an impulse property purchase. Mr Roger Myerscough doesn't believe in becoming too cosy. At an age when
-
Date
Regional FMD probe sought by national park
COUNCILS and national park authorities across the northern uplands are to be asked to band together to ensure a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth crisis is carried out. The Yorkshire Dales National Park authority agreed to sound out other public
-
Date
North Yorkshire - Tags for tearaways
PERSISTENT young offenders across North Yorkshire face the risk of being electronically tagged from next week. Tough new measures are being introduced county-wide from next Monday in a bid to cut the number of crimes committed by young tearaways. Tagging
-
Date
Professor applauds tuition fees u-turn
THE vice-chancellor of Teesside University yesterday applauded the Government's u-turn on tuition fees. Speaking at one of the university's graduation ceremonies, Professor Derek Fraser said he "very much welcomed" the decision to review financial arrangements
-
Date
North Yorkshire - Courts may be closed
RESISTANCE is growing to another wave of closures of magistrates' courts. The Lord Chancellor was inundated with objections when Ripon and Leyburn were among the seats of justice earmarked for closure in the late Nineties. Despite hard-fought campaigns
-
Date
Pony dates
BCTG. - Dec 17: Dressage clinic with Patsy Bartram. Open to non-members. Dec 17: Christmas meal. For details phone Connie on 01325 332685. Bedale Hunt. - Dec 10: Inter-hunter trial at Richmond EC, 11am. Open to all. Jan 4: Fun day at Richmond EC, 11am
-
Date
Rugby News
Darlington Mowden Park were able to test their recent good form, at home to Hartlepool this week. In recent years this has always been a very hard fought, close contest. After only four minutes Mowden won clean possession from a ruck, just outside Hartlepool's
-
Date
Wizard way to catch up with the hogwarts express
TRAINEE wizards are set to retrace the now famous footsteps of Harry Potter, steaming through the Forbidden Forest on their way to Hogwarts School. As Potter-mania continued to grip the country yesterday following the release of one of the biggest British
-
Date
Jumping to victory
SOUTH Durham Pony Club won the first class at the recent Braes of Derwent Pony Club team jumping event held at Holmeside equestrian centre. All four members of the team, coached by Emma Cox from Brafferton, went clear after jumping two individual rounds
-
Date
Only the fearless head for Silent Hill
Reviews: Silent Hill 2. Publisher: Konami. Format: PS2 DVD Rom. Price: £39.99 CHRISTMAS is coming and what could be more seasonal than a winter ghost story? Memories of the original Silent Hill will prickle the hairs on the neck of many a PlayStation
-
Date
The huge benefits of a broken arm
I'LL say one thing for Senior Son - he's an incurable optimist. This isn't always a good thing. It means he always thinks he can pass exams without doing any work, that essays will write themselves and that his horse will always win. Plenty of experience
-
Date
The perfect antidote to blue legs
ONE OF the joys of winter is tugging on thick tights again. After a summer of bare legs - sugaring, shaving and fake tan - the in-between stage of thin tights that ladder as you take them out of the packet, what bliss it is to put your legs in hiding
-
Date
Bitterness as factory closes
There were no tears among shop floor workers for the demise of a North-East factory which closed today. Sanyo announced earlier this year it was closing its microwave oven operations at Newton Aycliffe and Thornaby, with the loss of 315 jobs, after deciding
-
Date
Come clean over academy site, pleads anxious councillor
A CITY academy is now an official goal for East Cleveland. Councillors have agreed to start work towards creating an academy for secondary education - but already there are rumblings of discontent. An independent member of Redcar and Cleveland council
-
Date
Only the fearless head for Silent Hill
Reviews: Silent Hill 2. Publisher: Konami. Format: PS2 DVD Rom. Price: £39.99 CHRISTMAS is coming and what could be more seasonal than a winter ghost story? Memories of the original Silent Hill will prickle the hairs on the neck of many a PlayStation
-
Date
Jail term warning for addict
A MAN who provided a base for a mobile drug dealer to prepare wraps of heroin, which were then distributed by bike, was warned yesterday to expect a lengthy prison sentence. Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the town's magistrates that Timothy Higgins, 25
-
Date
TV's Esther: Get rid of bullying for tragic girl
TELEVISION presenter Esther Rantzen has spoken of her tears for tragic bullies' victim Elaine Swift and the need to stamp out bullying. Writing exclusively for The Northern Echo, Ms Rantzen said the only memorial worthy of the Hartlepool teenager, who
-
Date
Railway tots put in a branch line of their own
UNDER-FIVES from a Darlington toddler group have been doing their bit for the environment by planting a tree. Called The Railway Children, the group meets every week at Darlington's Railway Museum for activities, many of which have a railway or environmental
-
Date
Chester le Street - Charity shop raided
A ROBBER made a quick change of clothing before holding up staff at a Durham city centre charity shop. The raider was seen entering the Cancer Research shop in Silver Street on Monday afternoon wearing a light-coloured top. He left, before returning moments
-
Date
Wrinkly pooch hopes to be welcomed into the fold
THIS wrinkly little puppy is looking for a new home with someone who can offer her the affection she craves. The shar pei puppy, who is eight weeks old, is part of a litter bred by Helen King, at her home in Darlington. While her brothers and sisters
-
Date
The huge benefits of a broken arm
I'LL say one thing for Senior Son - he's an incurable optimist. This isn't always a good thing. It means he always thinks he can pass exams without doing any work, that essays will write themselves and that his horse will always win. Plenty of experience
-
Date
Youngster handed job of opening £5m store
AN eight-year-old schoolboy has been given the honour of opening a town's £5m supermarket. Matthew Noble, a pupil at Burnside Primary School, in Houghton-le-Spring, will cut the ribbon to declare the 15,000sq ft Co-op open for business on Tuesday. The
-
Date
Former Olympian in sporting launch
FORMER Olympic champion Steve Cram will launch a sporting challenge for schools in east Cleveland on Monday. Along with top Teesside athlete Alison Curbishley and Yorkshire wicket-keeper Simon Guy, Cram will be a guest at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough
-
Date
Objectors applaud mining decision
OBJECTORS have applauded a council's refusal to allow opencast mining of farmland in attractive countryside. North-East Land Developments, part of the Hargreaves Group, at Esh, near Durham, wanted to mine 130,000 tonnes of coal over 18 months from the
-
Date
Batswing to strike blow for North
NORTHERN trainers do not fare that well at Newbury but Batswing could begin to rectify the situation in today's £15,000 Tote-sponsored Showcase Handicap Hurdle. It's a bit of David and Goliath scenario for the small stable of Malton-based Brian Ellison
-
Date
Voting for tenancy director
TENANTS in east Cleveland are being balloted to choose a representative for the board of Coast and Country Housing. Coast and Country Housing is a new non-profit organisation being set up to manage Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's housing stock.
-
Date
Looking Back
From this newspaper 100 years ago. - At the meeting of the Stockton Board of Guardians, presided over on Wednesday by Mr G M Watson, Mr Knowles moved that the inmates of the workhouse be allowed the usual Christmas dinner, with a pint of beer for those
-
Date
Darts News
Willington League - Keith Nicholson of Willington Cottles put in the highest checkout to date in a remarkable doubles win at home against the leaders, the Prospect Club. Playing with Andrew Robinson the Cottles pair trailed badly, needing 274 while the
-
Date
Special school gains health initiative award
PUPILS at a special school in Darlington have another reason to celebrate after scooping an award as part of a national initiative. It is the fourth piece of good news for staff and youngsters at Beaumont Hill Special School in as many weeks. The school
-
Date
Wellock's World
IT COULD become a quiz question: what does Darlington manager Tommy Taylor have in common with Jagmohan Dalmiya? Answer: they both considered withdrawing their teams in protest at a referee. Dalmiya, president of the Indian cricket board and a wealthy
-
Date
Snooker News
Worthington CIU Winter League - Old Shildon held on to their six points lead at the top of the First Division when they won by the odd point at Brandon. The home side had wins from Kevin Sample and Brian Graham, whilst the visitors went to victory with
-
Date
Police concern over missing man
POLICE continue to be concerned over the mysterious disappearance of a pensioner who has not been seen since he went to buy a newspaper on Monday. Robert English, 77, left his home at Station Cottages, Middleton in Teesdale, at about 2.30pm, but police
-
Date
Weeping relatives hear disaster tape
Survivors and relatives of those who died in the Selby train crash wept yesterday as a 999 call was played to a jury. In the call, Gary Hart desperately asked police for help after his Land Rover plunged on to a railway line. Relatives held each other
-
Date
Change of tutor stalls Changing Rooms course
WOULD-BE interior designers have been desperately seeking someone with the talents of television favourite Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to rescue them from their magnolia walls and stencilled borders. A course in interior design, in Spennymoor, was exactly
-
Date
Hear All Sides
Letters from The Northern Echo LOCAL HEROES AWARDS ON behalf of the Reverend Kip Watson, the winner of the overall Local Hero award, I would like to thank everyone - especially Peter Barron, the editor of The Northern Echo, and Mike Amos - for the excellent
-
Date
Choir lined up for triple fundraiser
A MALE voice choir is to perform three Christmas concerts in Darlington and Richmond. The Carol Andrew International Male Voice Choir, from Darlington, will perform the first of the three concerts at Aske Hall, Richmond, on Wednesday, at 7.30pm. The event
-
Date
Against the odds, John takes on world
John Battye battles daily with menieres disease but having trained diligently, next month the power lifter takes part in the World Bench Press Championships in New Zealand, writes CRAIG STODDART. Menieres means that John suffers severe attacks of vertigo
-
Date
Chubby children have healthy future
CHUBBY children go on to be healthier in later life, a North-East study has revealed. Parents concerned about children piling on the pounds should not worry because it does not necessarily mean they will become fat adults. People who were slightly overweight
-
Date
Seven years for sex beast
A seX offender who preyed on young girls was jailed for seven years yesterday. Andrew Hartley, 51, of Ravenna Road, Sunderland, admitted a string of sex offences dating from 1979 up to last year. Newcastle Crown Court heard how he would buy the youngsters
-
Date
Commons debate on cronyism claim
THE issues surrounding the controversial replacement of North-East health boss Kevin Earley are to be raised in the Commons next week. MP Kevan Jones has secured a half-hour debate on Wednesday evening following condemnation of Mr Earley's removal as
-
Date
Safety advice 'fatally ignored'
Four workmen who were flung 80ft to their death from a motorway bridge were working in a gantry with insufficient brakes while risks to safety were repeatedly ignored, a court heard yesterday. Darlington-based Yarm Road Ltd, formerly known as Kvaerner
-
Date
Tesco is just the job
A superstore chain is planning a £200m expansion in the North-East, with potential to create up to 4,000 jobs. Tesco has announced a five-year investment programme, which could see development at eight new sites in the region. Four of the stores, at Chester-le-Street
-
Date
Durham - Charity shop raided
A ROBBER made a quick change of clothing before holding up staff at a Durham city centre charity shop. The raider was seen entering the Cancer Research shop in Silver Street on Monday afternoon wearing a light-coloured top. He left, before returning moments
-
Date
Eddie muscles his way to title
MUSCLEMAN Mr Eddie Edwards of Carlton Miniott returned triumphant from Italy this week after winning one of the world's most prestigious bodybuilding titles. Mr Edwards, aged 55, who runs Eddies' Gym in Romanby Road, Northallerton, won the world natural
-
Date
Real growth to celebrate
ANTI-counterfeiting measures supplier Applied Optical Technologies has seen its operating profits increase to £232,000 in the first six months of the year. The business, in Washington, Wearside, has won numerous new contracts in the first half of the
-
Date
Second temporary bridge for villagers
A second temporary bridge was opened to North Yorkshire traffic today after the original 18th Century crossing had been partly swept away in floods a year ago. A debate is raging over the future of the old structure, which crosses Creet's Beck on the
-
Date
Importance of rural economy to N-E is 'on the radar screen'
SOME of the 70 invited delegates at a rural recovery seminar at Durham county hall last week felt it said nothing new. Dr John Bridge, chairman of the regional development agency OneNortheast, spoke about a regional approach to rural recovery. He felt
-
Date
Dales village wins special status despite not wanting it
REETH has been designated a conservation area in spite of strong opposition from the parish council. Members are now considering whether to launch an appeal against the move by the Yorkshire Dales National Park authority. The authority approved the designation
-
Date
MP considers forces merger
NORTH-EAST MP Ashok Kumar has suggested merging the Cleveland and Durham police forces. The MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland was speaking on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon's suspension. Dr Kumar has
-
Date
Albany Northern League
Tow Law striker Brian Wake is being pursued by several professional clubs. Former Darlington and Hartlepool manager Alan Murray, who is now working for Blackburn alongside his old Middlesbrough teammate Graeme Souness, is the latest to take notice of
-
Date
Training and skills 'key to N-E future'
TUC general secretary John Monks will address the region's manufacturing partners today. He will tell delegates from the regional development agency One NorthEast, the North East Chamber of Commerce, the North East Assembly, the CBI, Engineering Employers
-
Date
Training and skills 'key to N-E future'
TUC general secretary John Monks will address the region's manufacturing partners today. He will tell delegates from the regional development agency One NorthEast, the North East Chamber of Commerce, the North East Assembly, the CBI, Engineering Employers
-
Date
Young hooligans' dramatic artistry is recognised
KING James Community Theatre Group (The Theatre Hooligans) held their annual awards, known as The Cecils recently. Each of the main award winners received an original water colour painting or pencil drawing. Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans (Bath) are
-
Date
Urgent talks on beds crisis as winter looms
HIGH-level talks are taking place to avert a hospital bed crisis in Darlington this winter. On Monday, board members of South Durham health care NHS trust were told that the budget was in the red by £957,453 at the end of October. With no additional winter
-
Date
Falconry owner at centre of allegations
THE police have received details of alleged threats made by the owner of a controversial Great Broughton falconry against people walking dogs . Stokesley police are looking at one specific complaint, but the chief constable of North Yorkshire has received
-
Date
Robber attacked women for just £4
Two grandmothers were left battered by a vicious attacker for the sake of just £4. Emily Nessworthy, 83, and Annie Turnbull, 70, were attacked a few streets apart on the same afternoon. Both needed hospital treatment and Mrs Nessworthy may need plastic
-
Date
Shildon take advantage
Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League OLD Shildon jumped to the top of Division One last week after New Masons slipped up at Huntsman. Old Shildon, previously third, completed a 3-1 win over Laceys. And New Masons - who were cruelly pipped
-
Date
Juniors lift seven-a-side trophy
DARLINGTON Mowden Park Under-9s returned triumphant from the Houghton seven-a-side competition on Sunday, where they beat Middlesbrough 20-10 in an excellent final. Mowden lost their first game of the tournament to Consett, but then powered their way
-
Date
Robson is a massive fan of Distin
BOBBY ROBSON is poised to hand French loan signing Sylvain Distin the chance to clinch a permanent move to Newcastle United. Centre-backs Nikos Dabizas and Andy O'Brien can feel Distin breathing down their necks after his impressive display in Tuesday's
-
Date
Study on teen pregnancy
Students have been researching the issue of teenage pregnancy. They discovered that Wear Valley has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in County Durham, and one of the highest rates in Europe. The group of five boys and four girls developed a Theatre
-
Date
TV's Esther: Get rid of bullying for tragic girl
TELEVISION presenter Esther Rantzen has spoken of her tears for tragic bullies' victim Elaine Swift and the need to stamp out bullying. Writing exclusively for The Northern Echo, Ms Rantzen said the only memorial worthy of the Hartlepool teenager, who
-
Date
Local outcry at club plan
PLANS to open a nightclub in a residential area of Redcar have created an outcry among householders. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee is being asked to consider a proposal to change the former Warrenby Hotel, in Tod Point Road
-
Date
'Budgie' starts multi-million pound battle
Legendary goalkeeper John Burridge begins a multi-million pound law suit today after a Middle East push bike accident which, he claims, has ruined his life. Now the man the entire football world knew as "Budgie" is nicknamed Steve Austin - after the fictional
-
Date
Demand for pork pies means a third bakery
A RAPIDLY expanding Leeming Bar pork pie company is cooking up 30 new jobs with the opening of a third bakery before Christmas. Vale of Mowbray has invested £2m in the last two years, increasing the capacity of its two existing bakeries and building a
-
Date
Junior Football
Darlington Spraire Lads and Lasses - Spraire Lasses Under-11s made an excellent start in their 5-3 win over Reyrolles Kestrals with a goal after three minutes from girl of the match Rachel McKnight, Kirsty Watt equalised after 20 minutes. Laura Spence
-
Date
Kendall hits top form in Richmond qualifier
MARGARET Kendall from Brough was on top form when she won the 25-starter Equiline Discovery qualifier at Richmond equestrian centre on Julia Lloyd's Fair Green, pipping John Shaw on Fast and Curious. Margaret, who sustained facial injuries while schooling
-
Date
Slow to catch on
snail racing looks unlikely to gain a foothold in the North-East, where football and racing rule the sporting roost. The Irish pub chain O'Neill's hit on the idea as a way of keeping customers entertained, following on from the Guinness TV advert in which
-
Date
Criticism of 'black hole' on festive High Row
THERE will be no jingling tills this Christmas in what was one of Darlington's most prominent stores. Dressers, on High Row, has stood empty and boarded up since the end of March when the independent stationer, glassware and bookseller vacated the building
-
Date
Wear Valley - Children light up spirit of Christmas
CHILDREN put an extra sparkle into Christmas at the weekend when Shildon switched on its festive display. Dressed as angels and kings, the youngsters followed Father Christmas, pulled by two white ponies instead of reindeer, to the market square for the
-
Date
Jobs joy for Darlington - and hope for Enron
A MULTI-MILLION pound business park on the edge of Darlington is set to be officially unveiled today, with the promise it will create 2,000 jobs. The town's MP, Alan Milburn, will be among a host of dignitaries on site to mark the occasion at Morton Palms
-
Date
Hopes rise for Enron jobs after collapse
HOPES were growing last night that a rescue deal could save hundreds of North-East workers at troubled power giant Enron. The American conglomerate is facing the largest bankruptcy ever seen in the US following the collapse of a multi-billion bid from
-
Date
Hockey News
Darlington 9 v 0 Morpeth - Morpeth came with high expectations as they felt they had their strongest team of the season. Those thoughts were soon exstinguished, as it took Darlington 40 seconds to get the ball into the back of the net. The first penalty
-
Date
Learn language
ANYONE who wants to learn to speak Italian is invited to join a part-time course on Tuesday afternoons or Thursday evenings at Redcar Adult Education Centre, starting in the New Year. The fee for each class for the spring term is £26 but some people may
-
Date
Durham - Boathouse saved as new plan is floated
A DOOMED Durham landmark looks like being around for years. Brown's Boathouse, the home of rowing boat hire near Elvet Bridge, was destined to make way for a £3m glass-fronted pub able to hold hundreds of drinkers. But new owners, Newcastle-based Ultimate
-
Date
Man injured in hit and run
A 66-year-old man is recovering today after being involved in a hit-and-run accident in Hartlepool. The man was crossing Stockton Road at around 4.15pm on Thursday when he was knocked down by what is believed to be a red Cavalier. The driver of the car
-
Date
McDiploma to go, please
AN ASSISTANT manager at a fast food restaurant in Darlington is among the first to receive a diploma in restaurant management. Miss Sara Gaston, aged 26, is first assistant manager at the McDonald's restaurant at Morton Park. A graduate in humanities
-
Date
Stagecoaches as Christmas icons
THE sight of a bee exploring the bright yellow florets of a dandelion is not unusual, except in this case it happened in mid-November high on the North York moors only a couple of feet away from a snowdrift. A patch of dandelions had blossomed during
-
Date
Metro 'to bring 20,000 jobs'
THE opening of a £98m extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro system to Sunderland could create up to 20,000 jobs, it has been claimed. The Sunderland Direct line is regarded as important in the bid to attract more development in the city. Sunderland City
-
Date
Darlington - Town tax clue on way
THE first indications of whether Darlington residents can expect another large council tax increase next year will emerge next week. The borough council will receive its annual settlement figure from the Government, which is a key factor in determining
-
Date
Back to the drawing board
VILLAGE hall campaigners in Hutton Rudby have suffered a setback in their plans to build a modern £800,000 hall - but they have vowed to press on. Hambleton councillors yesterday rejected a planning application by ten votes to nine after officers voiced
-
Date
Have a great night out at launch of festive appeal for the needy
CLUBBERS at a North-East nightspot will be partying away for a good cause this evening. The Mardi Gras, in Darlington, is the venue for the launch party of The Giving Tree appeal, which provides Christmas presents for the needy. The club will be devoting
-
Date
Parents in school axe threat protest
PARENTS held a demonstration last night to protest over the possible closure of their children's primary school. The group is campaigning to save Tedder Primary School, in Thornaby. Parents have already enlisted the help of local MPs and councillors.
-
Date
One success leads to two new enterprises
A COUNTY Durham turkey producer received his first repeat order for this Christmas on Boxing Day last year. "A customer rang to say the turkey was wonderful, they enjoyed it so much, could they have one this Christmas," said Mr Robert Darling of Burtree
-
Date
Pair admit drugs supply
TWO dealers appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday and admitted a string of serious drug offences. Daniel Wallace, 22, of Bedford Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, admitted possessing 9,827 Ecstasy tablets and 249.9g of cocaine with intent to
-
Date
Letters: Fully informed
Sir, - With reference to the article "Annexe finances: 'We are being kept in the dark', say councillors" (D&S Nov 23). As financial officer and clerk to Sowerby Parish Council, I take exception to comments in that article about the management of finances
-
Date
16 held as drugs raids bear fruit
POLICE were last night questioning 16 people arrested in raids across the North-East as part of an operation to smash a multi-million pound drugs ring. Officers from the National Crime Squad led a series of co-ordinated raids yesterday morning on homes
-
Date
Basketball News
Durham League - A couple of Teesside derbies featured in the second round of games of the Durham League Division One Cup this week. The first of those game brought the long awaited first clash between the pupils, Middlesbrough College Academy, and their
-
Date
Two off as Quakers suffer crushing defeat
CONTROVERSIAL referee Paul Alcock put himself firmly in the spotlight last Saturday when Darlington's visit to Scunthorpe United disintegrated into chaos and a crushing 7-1 defeat. But the final score was almost academic after an explosive first half
-
Date
Pupils go wild as part of forest scheme
PRIMARY school pupils have been getting their hands dirty by helping the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust with their wildflowers from waste project. Youngsters from William Cassidi School, in Stillington, were involved in sowing a mix of wildflower seeds and
-
Date
Frustrated jockey stuck on 999 career winners
FRUSTRATINGLY for jumps jockey Adrian Maguire, by Wednesday he was still stuck on 999 winners in his quest to join the elite few with 1,000 career successes. And a flare-up at Wetherby that day left him with no winners and a six-day ban for hitting fellow
-
Date
It will be 'too long a winter' for many
MR DAVID Maughan, a farmer from Morton Tinmouth who lost his stock as a contiguous contact, gave the seminar a first-hand view of the problems facing the countryside. Mr Maughan, who is chairman of the NFU livestock committee for Durham and Northumberland
-
Date
Get advice at mart event
ALL farmers are invited to a post-foot-and-mouth advice event at Skipton auction mart on Tuesday. It is organised by Mr Geoff Hall, regional agricultural manager for Lloyds TSB, and farmers can drop in throughout the day. Four short talks on livestock
-
Date
Young keepers 'risk injury with adult footballs'
A LEADING academic has backed research which found that young goalkeepers are at "significant" risk of injury from playing with adult-sized footballs. Experts writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine said that keepers are vulnerable to wrist
-
Date
Hannah's date with the 'Arkansas Healer'
Hannah Maxwell-Jones and her family have just returned from the US where the disfigured little girl underwent life-changing surgery. Correspondant Barry Nelson spoke to them. IT was in the back of an Arkansas taxi cab that Allison realised she was among
-
Date
Store extension wins support
A SCHEME for a 21,300 sq ft extension to Barkers furniture store in Yafforth Road, Northallerton, was approved yesterday after being kept on the planning shelf for more than three years. The application had been held in abeyance by Hambleton council since
-
Date
Stephenson battles to his best result on Network Q
KEPWICK businessman Peter Stephenson roared to his best ever performance when he took a brilliant 25th place overall on last weekend's Network Q Rally of Great Britain based in Cardiff. Driving the brand new Able UK-sponsored Subaru P6 WRC, Stephenson
-
Date
Police hunt seven after raid on shop
SHARP-EYED shop staff have helped detectives draw up detailed descriptions of seven people believed to have been responsible for a burglary in Darlington. The group, who were foreigners, distracted staff in a general dealers' in Geneva Road and gained
-
Date
Factory worker impaled on spike
A 42-year-old man was taken to hospital today after he was impaled on a 6ft long spike in an accident at a meat processing plant. Firefighters called to the Malton Bacon Factory, at Norton, North Yorkshire, used a power saw to cut through the metal bar
-
Date
Turkeys are organic, lamb is getting there
A NORTH Yorkshire farmer is selling fully fledged organic turkeys for the first time this Christmas. Mr Steven Peirson of Hook House Farm, Kirkby Fleetham, began his turkey enterprise ten years ago with just 20 birds. Such has been the success of the
-
Date
Pool News
Durham County Super League - David Jacomb of Bishop Auckland won the Super League singles knockout when he beat Andrew Morley of Durham. 5-4 in the final. Helen Littlewood of Durham won the ladies event when she beat Clare Tritton of Chester-Le-Street
-
Date
99 today - and still driving after 76 years without a blemish on his licence
MR TOM Wright has no intention of putting the brakes on his long driving career. After all, he is only 99 today. Although he does not drive as much as he used to, he values the independence he enjoys with his car - despite the stresses and strains of
-
Date
The perfect antidote to blue legs
ONE OF the joys of winter is tugging on thick tights again. After a summer of bare legs - sugaring, shaving and fake tan - the in-between stage of thin tights that ladder as you take them out of the packet, what bliss it is to put your legs in hiding
-
Date
Plans already being made for 2002 awards
PLANS are under way to build on the success of the Local Heroes Awards next year, with the first nomination for next year's honours already being submitted. Youngsters from Longfield School in Darlington have been nominated for the junior team award in
-
Date
Wear Valley - Council's filthy homes criticised
INSPECTORS have slated a council's housing repairs and maintenance service in a damning report Wear Valley District Council came under fire from the Audit Commission who say it is unlikely to improve on its poor score of no stars. In homes classed as
-
Date
Ideas sought for town's former railway station
NINE would-be developers have been asked for their draft proposals for future leisure use of the former Richmond railway station building. The listed building was advertised in the Estates Gazette after Richmondshire district council agreed it should
-
Date
Darlington - Model club lays out its exhibits
VISITORS to Darlington College of Technology this weekend will be able to see a host of model railway layouts from all over the country . The college, in Cleveland Avenue, is playing host to a major exhibition organised by Darlington Model Railway Club
-
Date
Car park may gain extra floor and walkway to shops
A NEW multi-storey car park is being planned to take some of the strain off shoppers in Darlington town centre. The Cornmill shopping centre's new owner, the Rachel Charitable Trust, hopes to overhaul the 250-space car park in Crown Street next year.
-
Date
Atkinson back for Quakers
Darlington will welcome back Brian Atkinson into the squad when they host York City tomorrow afternoon. The 30-year-old former Sunderland midfielder came through his second comeback game unscathed during the reserves' 4-0 win over Walsall on Wednesday
-
Date
Consett & Stanley - Calendar sets a poser
MYSTERY locations around Durham city centre provide a puzzling poser for people receiving a popular calendar for next year. Images of Durham 2002 features 13 close-up shots of buildings in and around the historic core of the city, some of which are pictured
-
Date
Deals that drained power out of Enron
THE US-based Enron Corporation, once one of the world's largest energy traders, is continuing to slide towards bankruptcy. The corporation, which employs more than 900 staff on Teesside, split between Enron Teesside Operations Limited (Etol) and Enron
