Archive
-
Date
Quakers match postponed
Darlington's Division Three clash with Plymouth at Feethams this afternoon has been postponed due to snow. The decision was taken to abandon the fixture following a heavy downfall of snow this morning. Quakers are without a win in eight games and were
-
Date
Victory should be A Piece Of Cake
A PIECE of Cake is fancied to live up to his name by strolling to success in the opener at Chepstow for Mary Reveley. Mary doesn't send too many horses on the long journey from the North-East to the South Wales track, so the inclusion of A Piece Of Cake
-
Date
Schoolboy dies in bus accident
Police investigations have been launched after a schoolboy fell under the wheels of a moving bus. Jamie Lee Wells, 12, was killed as he stepped off a bus in Middlesbrough. Cleveland police say the child left the bus through the entrance doors adjacent
-
Date
Refreshing news
A NORTH-EAST village's luncheon club is enjoying the taste of success following a community grant award. Thanks to the £300 cash award from the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend fund, the club at Brotton, east Cleveland, now has hot
-
Date
Two strikers, two legends, no Cup winner
MALCOLM Macdonald and Alan Shearer have more than a few things in common. Both have received adoration from the St James' Park faithful, both have graced the number nines of England and Newcastle, and both will be assured of "legend" status for years
-
Date
Villagers create wildlife haven
Acorn Trust's team of volunteers will be helping residents of Tantobie to plant a hedge of native species, for wildlife, near to the community centre, at 10am today. Joan van Hove contacted the trust on behalf of the community earlier in the year, about
-
Date
Trust quartet named
FOUR people have been appointed as non-executive directors on Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust's board, from April 1. Professor Andrew Gray, of Durham City, is appointed after serving as professor of public sector management at Durham University
-
Date
The scents to keep calm
Staff at one of the region's call centres are taking part in an unusual scheme to keep calm at work, using aromatherapy. About 70 staff at Orange, in Darlington, are to deal with callers armed with scented oils. Workers will also receive an aroma stone
-
Date
Praise for takeover causes outrage
HOUSING Minister Lord Falconer yesterday hailed a North-East council's housing stock transfer as exemplary. But public service union Unison, which represented former council workers at an employment tribunal, said the assessment was far from accurate.
-
Date
Ambulance patient dies after traffic lights crash
AN invesigation was under way last night after a heart attack victim on his way to hospital died when his ambulance and a car crashed. Stewart Taylor, 54, was being taken to Durham's University Hospital when his ambulance collided with a Seat Ibiza at
-
Date
Bluebird remains untouched full year after find
A YEAR since Bluebird was salvaged from the depths, the famous craft is still on the blocks - with preservation yet to begin. And, although there are plans to restore it to full working order, it is unlikely that the Bluebird will take to the water again
-
Date
River deaths parents: We will never forgive
The families of two teenage girls who were swept to their deaths by a fast flowing stream while on a school trip last night expressed their anger after an inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death. Hannah Black, 13, and Rochelle Cauvet, 14,
-
Date
Sex game woman's 'seizure'
A WOMAN who died during a bondage sex session may have suffered a fit, a court heard yesterday. Norman Heaton is accused of throttling his 32-year-old wife, Jacqueline, and hiding her body under the stairs of their maisonette in South Shields, South Tyneside
-
Date
Dancers learn all the moves
ASPIRING Billy Elliots from one North Yorkshire community have somewhere to show off their moves as from this weekend. Children with rhythm are welcome at a club teaching everything from ballroom, Latin American, disco and rock 'n' roll from 9.30am every
-
Date
Jail for motorist after girl, 14, killed
A teenage motorist caused the death of his 14-year-old girlfriend when he took to the roads without passing his test and with the benefit of only a few lessons from his friends. Kevin Parker, 19, drove his Ford Escort into the path of a Citroen Xantia
-
Date
New battle of the Somme
THE names of ten North-East soldiers whose graves could be dug up to make way for an airport have been released. After resting untouched for nearly 85 years, the graves of the First World War heroes could be bulldozed as part of a £3.5bn scheme by the
-
Date
Traders oppose store's proposal
A supermarket war - which has already seen rival chains fight a High Court battle - is set to be reignited, it emerged yesterday. Nearly five years after first coming up with the plans, Safeway is on the verge of gaining approval for a new superstore
-
Date
McClen handed chance
Jamie McClen is likely to get an unexpected chance to put his bad-boy reputation behind him for Newcastle against Arsenal in the FA Cup. Local lad McClen landed in hot water last month when he was cautioned by police following a drinking incident on the
-
Date
Boro fear Everton's star duo
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has urged his players to stop Gazza showing his magic on his old stamping ground tomorrow. The former Boro midfield maestro, who has been left out of Everton's last four matches, is set for a recall in the FA Cup quarter-final
-
Date
Scrum on down to women's club
A WOMEN'S rugby club is looking for new players to boost its squad. Durham City Women's Rugby Club is encouraging both new and experienced players to join its ranks. Claire Smith, club captain, said: "We would welcome any experienced players who may be
-
Date
Cup dream lives on for ace stopper Southgate
MIDDLESBROUGH star Gareth Southgate would love to claim his first FA Cup winners' medal at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium this year. The 31-year-old centre-back, who has an impressive haul of 45 England caps, is regarded as one of the finest defenders in
-
Date
Using Net to trap the dealers
DRUG dealers in the region are being hunted in cyberspace thanks to a new initiative. As part of the ongoing Rat on a Rat project, the Darlington Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Durham police have set up a website allowing people to pass on anonymous
-
Date
Wilkinson fit to spur Falcons into cup final
NEWCASTLE Falcons are confident Jonny Wilkinson will be fit for today's Powergen Cup semi-final at Northampton. At least the calf muscle he damaged during England's defeat by France last week is not in his kicking leg and has been able to practise with
-
Date
A chance to shine in star ratings
HOTELS, guesthouses and campsites in Redcar and Cleveland are to be given a helping hand on to the national tourism map. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is hoping to obtain inspections through the English Tourism Council to give star ratings to accommodation
-
Date
Mallon: 'I didn't cross the line'
Earlier this week , Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell, under the protection of Parliarmentary privilege, launched a detailed attack on Ray Mallon and his policing methods. Today, in the interests of fairness and balance, we give Mr Mallon the opportunity to
-
Date
Laura's a real high flier
TEENAGE travel agent Laura Docherty really is going places after scooping a national award. The 17-year-old beat nearly 900 colleagues from across Britain to win a Director's Special Award - just eight months after joining Thomas Cook as an apprentice
-
Date
Deadline is set for new VWF claims
THE Government has confirmed that its compensation scheme for Vibration White Finger (VWF) claimants will close later this year. An advertising campaign has begun to warn sufferers that no new claims under the national scheme will be accepted after a
-
Date
Jailing of smuggler 'warning to others'
A NORTH-EAST man has been jailed for a year for dealing in smuggled tobacco and alcohol. Harry Gibbon, 64, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court yesterday after admitting five charges involving the evasion of £18,000 in duty over a six-month period. He
-
Date
Grant opens new door to domestic violence victims
VICTIMS of domestic violence are to be provided with a safety net. A partnership has won a Government grant to help combat a rapid increase in violence against women in Middlesbrough. An office is to be opened in the town centre next month, staffed by
-
Date
Lighting up Vietnam
PAUL WILLIS ventures into Vietnam and is caught up in a cigarette smuggling scam FOR much of the past month I've been saying how easy travel is in South East Asia, and that, after the complications and craziness of India (much of which I admit to having
-
Date
Comforting idea for ramblers
RAMBLERS could soon be walking with an extra spring in their step thanks to inventor Tom Robson. Mr Robson, from Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, is hoping his idea for a weatherproof, attachable rucksack mat will catch the judges' eye at this year's
-
Date
Soldiers have a sense of pride creating garden
PART-TIME soldiers are digging in to help a group of handicapped youngsters. Seventy members of 104 Pioneer Squadron, based at Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, are transforming spare ground into a sensory garden. They are preparing the site, laying
-
Date
Appeal aims for luck of the Irish
A CHARITY which aims to improve support services for cancer patients is holding a major fundraising event later this month. The Macmillan Cancer Relief County Durham Appeal committee is trying to raise £600,000 to appoint the county's first pain control
-
Date
Darlington and South Durham news in brief
Villagers called to assembly Sedgefield villagers can tell town, borough and county councillors what they think of their stewardship over the year at the annual assembly in the parish hall on Monday, at 7pm. Likely topics are the continuing problems of
-
Date
New hospital is looking very healthy, says MP
BISHOP Auckland's £67m new hospital was given a glowing health report by the town's MP yesterday. After touring the building, MP Derek Foster was full of praise for the hospital, which is due to open next month. He also welcomed a controversial plan from
-
Date
Regional news in brief
Fundraisers hot foot it FIREFIGHTERS, police and members of the public braved burning coals to raise £6,000 for charity. They undertook a fire walk, at Durham Police headquarters, at Aykley Heads, Durham, in aid of St Cuthbert's Hospice. After two hours
-
Date
Richard to walk with the Angel
A NORTH-EAST student is to work alongside one of the country's most famous artists after being selected for a project for talented young artists in the region. Newcastle College art and design student Richard Hay, from Wideopen, Newcastle, applied for
-
Date
Pupils show off their work
PUPILS from three Darlington schools presented the results of a year of work with businesses to an audience of parents, industrialists and teachers. For the second year, pupils from Heighington CE Primary, Rise Carr Primary and Abbey Junior schools have
-
Date
Insurance premiums hike hits council spending plans
COUNCIL officials have criticsed an insurance company for unexpectedly increasing its premiums by £400,000. The extra money must now be clawed back from Darlington Borough Council's budget, and could mean increases in future council tax bills or cuts
-
Date
Pupils set instructive construction challenge
COMPREHENSIVE school students will rise to the challenge of forming their own construction company as they set out to redevelop a football ground. Pupils from Sunnydale School, Shildon, and Bishop Barrington, King James, School and Community College and
-
Date
Insight into South African townships
SCHOOLCHILDREN will be given a three-day snapshot of life in the South African townships next week. Sunnydale School, in Shildon, is hosting the Talakani Tour, with Raymond Otto - a multi-cultural and cross-curricular event bringing the rhythms and flavours
-
Date
Councillor's speed guns call
POLICE are to be asked to deploy speed guns in a village plagued by traffic problems. The move is the latest in the saga of traffic-calming in Castleton. At last week's meeting of Danby Group Parish Council, Councillor David Hodgson said early-morning
-
Date
Creature with a shrewd idea of a haven in the rough
GOLFERS may hate it, but new research conducted in the region has revealed that shrews like nothing better than landing in the rough. Dr Alex Lewis, a biologist at the University of York's environment department, spent a year studying the way small mammals
-
Date
Bank staff take the cake for fundraising
CUSTOMERS at a Darlington bank were served a special treat when they visited their local branch. Visitors to Abbey National tucked in to dozens of cakes baked by staff and helped to raise hundreds of pounds for Darlington Memorial Hospital's breast cancer
-
Date
Graves study is nearly finished
A survey of grave memorials is nearing completion, and officials are preparing to turn their attention to the reinstatement of cemeteries. Harrogate Borough Council, in North Yorkshire, launched the programme after a tragedy nearly two years ago in which
-
Date
Grateful quads put on a regal show for charities
THE five-year-old Moss-Carbert quads will be acting like kings for the day when they take part in a sponsored golden jubilee walk. Simon, Adam, Hannah and Jonpaul, will step out in their regal attire today to raise funds for two charities, the Yorkshire
-
Date
Early bedtime for youngsters involved in storytelling project
BEDTIME will come early for youngsters visiting one of North Yorkshire's leading tourist attractions next week. Playgroups across the Hambleton district are being invited to take part in national Bedtime Reading Week at the World of James Herriot Centre
-
Date
Network appeal in vandals battle
A RURAL community has been urged to consider establishing a Neighbourhood Watch network to thwart vandals responsible for repeated attacks on the village church. Gravestones at St Agatha's, in Easby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, have been damaged in
-
Date
Barrister may in Neale case may face disciplinary action
A BARRISTER who represented disgraced surgeon Richard Neale could face further disciplinary action over his conduct, it emerged on Friday. Former patients of the shamed North Yorkshire gynaecologist had written to the Bar Council to allege that Malcolm
-
Date
Children step out for charity
TOTS around the region have toddled their way to providing a cash boost for charity. Barnardo's arranged sponsored toddles across the North-East to raise money to support vulnerable children. Thanks to the efforts of youngsters in Darlington, Stockton
-
Date
Builders ready to move on Dalton Flatts development
AFTER almost a decade of planning wrangles, work is finally due to begin next week on a £36m leisure and retail development at one of the region's worst economic blackspots. The long-awaited Dalton Flatts project, near the former pit village of Murton
-
Date
Hear all Sides
LOCAL HEROES I HAVE recently seen the reports of the Local Heroes Awards evening and would like to add to the remarkable list of achievements by Kip Watson, a friend for over 20 years. About ten years ago, one of the Royal Navy mine counter measures vessels
-
Date
Future in residents' hands
A consultation exercise begins next week on the future direction of Redcar and Cleveland borough. The consultation is part of a review of the local plan, and will highlight the economic, social and environmental issues facing the area. It will also link
-
Date
Woman airlifted amid three-car pile-up chaos
A WOMAN was recovering in hospital last night after being airlifted from the scene of a three-car pile-up. Emergency crews freed Paula Durham from the wreckage of the Vauxhall Corsa she was travelling in after it crashed head-on with a Ford Mondeo containing
-
Date
Mice plague over at school
A SCHOOL closed by a plague of mice is to reopen fully on Monday. More than 150 pupils were sent home when a nursery and two reception classes were closed at Linthorpe Infant School, Middlesbrough, earlier this week. The rest of the 291-pupil school remained
-
Date
Weekend walk
Recovering cardiac patients are encouraged to take part in supervised walks organised by the Take Heart Support Group. The first one leaves Egton Bridge, near Whitby, on Sunday at 10.30am and is about five miles. Anyone interested should call (01642)
-
Date
Local history will dispel beliefs of city
THE popular belief that Ripon is one of England's oldest cities is to be exploded in a book by local historian Maurice Taylor. He pledges one or two other myths will be shattered when his 35,000-word Illustrated History of Ripon hits the book stands later
-
Date
Plans for town's library unveiled
DETAILS of a new library scheme for Stanley have been unveiled. Last year, The Northern Echo revealed that Durham County Council wanted to build a library at the old Stanley Board School, in Front Street. Now, a council spokesman has said the authority
-
Date
Donations lift college truck fund
A DURHAM college is celebrating after buying a forklift truck for its students. Finchale Training College provides vocational training for disabled adults. One of the courses it runs is warehouse and distribution, which includes the forklift driving certificate
-
Date
When size really does matter
Not put off by her last experience of camping, Heather Barron headed back to the caravans, with husband and four children in tow, for a fortnight in Holland. 'NEVER again!" That was what I'd said ten years ago following a disastrous camping holiday. But
-
Date
No flag-waving following Hoddle's plea for professional linesman
NO sooner had Lee Mason's flag gone up at Old Trafford on Wednesday night than the predictable calls soon followed. As referee Mike Riley handed Manchester United the most questionable of questionable penalties for Mauricio Tarrico's brush with Paul Scholes
-
Date
Reading all about it for the first time
A bagpipe-playing pig, a smiling vicar (finally) and a first time in the pulpit have all been helping a North-East church pull in the crowds. LIKE (say) sales executive or sex industry worker, the term "reader", when applied to the Church of England,
-
Date
The Geordie blockbuster
THE BBC's new comedy-drama Breeze Block sounds about as Geordie as could be. And I don't just mean the accents of the almost-exclusively North-East actors who make up the cast, or the fact that the six-part series was filmed on location in and around
-
Date
Pool dream almost over
HARTLEPOOL United's play-off hopes are all but over after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers at Victoria Park. Coming on the back of the midweek 1-1 draw with Lincoln, Pool now need a miracle to reach the play-offs for the third season in a
-
Date
Gunners hold on
If the FA Cup ever needed a game to lift its flagging reputation then this was it. Newcastle and Arsenal served up an absolute cracker at St James' Park and they must do it all again after the sides played out a 1-1 draw. An entertaining first half saw
-
Date
No face like Nome
Terry Burns wanted to leave but he didn't ask to die. The makers of Channel 5's weekday soap Family Affairs decided his fate. "I was bashed over the head with a candlestick in the kitchen," he recalls, making his TV death sound like the Cluedo board game
-
Date
Bomb obsessed pair jailed
TWO military fanatics were jailed last night after turning their home into a bomb factory packed with an arsenal of weapons and explosives. John Lambert, 55, a former member of the Coldstream Guards, collected weapons and explosives as part of his weird
-
Date
Running to remember a friend
A RACE in memory of a young athlete who died during a swimming trip was given a world class start by one of the North-East's favourite sports stars of yesteryear. Nearly 20 years after his most famous races, Olympic bronze medallist and London Marathon
-
Date
Boro star Festa helps out as hospital nets new scanner
MIDDLESBROUGH FC player Gianluca Festa was guest of honour as a hospital unveiled a new £415,000 scanner yesterday. The CT scanner is a specialised piece of x-ray equipment used to produce cross-sectional images of parts of the body. Darlington Memorial
-
Date
Fancy a pate en croute de corned beef, pet?
EUROPEANS could soon be munching on one of the North-East's most popular snacks - a stottie. Tyneside bakery group, Greggs, is hoping that the French will ditch their morning croissants in favour of the region's famous sandwich. The family firm, which
-
Date
Delight at £21m grant to protect region's coastline
ENVIRONMENT chiefs told of their delight after securing a £21m Government grant to protect the region's crumbling coastline. The huge injection of cash will fund the majority of structural improvement work in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Three areas
-
Date
Cutting out dreaded wait for the next bus
OLD-FASHIONED bus stops could soon a thing of the past with the launch of 21st Century shelters. Gone will be the days of wondering how long your bus will take before it arrives. And printed timetables will be redundant as global positioning satellites
-
Date
Comic's jubilee tour heads to North-East
Comedian Jim Davidson will appear in the North-East as part of his 25th anniversary tour. Mr Davidson, who has become established as one of the nation's favourite funnymen, will appear at the Sunderland Empire Theatre, on Sunday, April 7. He will perform
-
Date
Reyna set to face Chelsea
UNITED States captain Claudio Reyna looks set to make a rapid recovery from his hamstring injury and hopes to be back in the Sunderland midfield for next Saturday's formidable test at Chelsea. Reyna, who has adjusted to the faster pace of Premiership
-
Date
Feethams ready to host ex-Quaker
HOPEFUL Darlington manager Tommy Taylor has his fingers crossed for that bit of magic to see the Quakers end their miserable winless run with a victory over Plymouth Argyle at Feethams this afternoon, but one man in the opposition's line-up will be looking
-
Date
Demolition crews remove eyesore
DEMOLITION crews have moved in to rid a North Yorkshire community of an eyesore which has been a topic for debate for years. The old Camas factory on the edge of Brompton-on-Swale has been derelict for some time, and a target for vandals who have smashed
-
Date
Man is cleared of gay rape attack
A MAN accused of launching a terrifying gay rape attack after locking his victim inside his flat has been cleared of all charges. Charles Lakeman, 37, was said to have attacked the man, who cannot be identified, at his home on September 27, last year.
-
Date
Poor December sees waiting lists rise
THE number of patients in the region waiting to be admitted to NHS hospitals has risen in the past year, Government figures have revealed. The number of people waiting has consistently hovered above the 120,000 mark for the past 12 months. In January,
-
Date
Teenager who threatened to kill mother is locked up
A DISTURBED teenager tampered with the gas pipe leading to his estranged mother's home and threatened to blow her up. As gas poured into the building, 18-year-old Stuart Gibson told his mother, Helen: "I'm going to get a light and I'll see you in hell
-
Date
Probe continues into drugs death in flat
POLICE were last night continuing to question three men following the discovery of a man's body in a flat. The man, said to be in his mid-twenties, was found collapsed early yesterday in a flat above the Palladian Shops in Eastbourne Road, Grove Hill,
-
Date
Four-year jail sentence for driver who caused the death of friend
A MOTORIST who caused the death of his friend after driving him home from a pub while almost three times over the drink-drive limit was jailed for four years yesterday. James Hardman, 30, suffered cuts and bruises in the smash when his Vauxhall Cavalier
-
Date
Flower Fairies brought to life
Young dancers will stage a show based on Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairy poems next weekend. Prima Dance will perform The Fairy Garden at Kirk Levington village hall, near Yarm, next Saturday, at 5.30pm in aid of the British Heart Foundation. Tickets
-
Date
Williams starts Pool life at the fourth attempt
EIFION Williams has witnessed what Hartlepool United are capable of and now he wants to be part of it. The striker moved to Pool this week for £30,000, a month after looking on as his Torquay teammates were trounced 4-1 at Victoria Park. Williams, a long-standing
-
Date
Manager chosen for £2.6m centre
A MULTI-million pound community sports facility in Hartlepool has reached an important milestone. Karen Hyrons has been appointed manager of the £2.6m centre, which is being built at Brierton School, in Brierton Lane, and she will have responsibility
-
Date
Business news in Brief
JJB adds fashion chain RETAIL giant JJB Sports has agreed to buy discount fashion chain TJ Hughes for £42.3m. JJB, the country's largest sports retailer, plans to operate Liverpool-based TJ Hughes as an independent division if the proposals get shareholder
-
Date
Teachers learn how to tame latest technology
TEACHERS from the North-East were given the opportunity to find out more about a micro-electronics project yesterday. Schools from the boroughs of Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Stockton are involved in the project and
-
Date
School furnished with help for specialist bid
A FURNITURE store has boosted a school's bid to achieve specialist status by donating £1,000 worth of goods. Belmont School plans to apply to the Government to become a performing arts specialist. If it is successful, the school will receive an additional
-
Date
Four-fold celebration
THE birth of the spring lamb will be a welcome sight for many beleaguered farmers, but for smallholder Martin Myers there was cause to celebrate four times over. Quads were born to one of the Mule sheep on his smallholding at Thornton le Beans, near Northallerton
-
Date
Honour will rest players
Durham City manager Brian Honour is ready to rotate his squad during a hectic end to the season. City have 16 league games, a league cup semi-final and a two legged FA Vase semi-final - and maybe two finals - to play in the last two months of the season
-
Date
Wearside's Silentnight gain is Keighley's loss
BEDS and furniture group Silentnight is closing one of its oldest factories and moving production to Sunderland. The company is blaming tough market conditions for the closure of its cabinet manufacturing site in Keighley, West Yorkshire, with the loss
-
Date
Project to breathe life into region awaits public opinion
Plans to breathe new life into the heart of Herriot Country have been unveiled, and public opinion is needed to take the initiative forward. Details of the first community projects to be approved by the newly-formed Thirsk Regeneration Initiative will
-
Date
Dealer's house seizure battle
A CONVICTED heroin dealer has won the first round of a court fight to stop the home lived in by his wife and her handicapped daughter from being sold to cover a drugs money confiscation order. Judges were told John Kane and his wife - who cares for her
-
Date
Beefing up a farmer's income
A FARMER is hoping to buck the trend of the industry's failing fortunes with the help of new mechanical rodeo bull. Andrew Spence, who hit the headlines 18 months ago when he was at the forefront of the fuel protests, will take his portable machine to
-
Date
For your Benefit
Q I am 79 and have to give my 78-year-old wife 24-hour care. She gets Attendance Allowance of £37 a week. Is this right for our situation? A£37 is the rate for those needing care by day OR night. For day AND night care, the rate is £55.30. Ask for a review
-
Date
Children swap ideas on revival
TEESSIDE and Wearside youngsters swapped regeneration ideas as part of an exchange. About ten youngsters, aged from ten to 14, from Whinney Banks, in Middlesbrough, spent the day in Sunderland's East End and Hendon. The trip was organised by Mickey Waters
-
Date
School praised by inspectors
THREE years of radical change have raised standards at a Bishop Auckland school where a quarter of pupils have either special physical or educational needs, say Government inspectors. Teaching has improved at King James I Community College, where test
-
Date
Cash grant providing a big boost for harness racers
A GRANT of £4,000 has brought plans to create a centre of excellence for harness racing a step closer. Secretary of the North-East Standard Breed Association Richard Wigham, from Wolsingham, has been campaigning for more recognition of harness or sulkie
-
Date
Mums invited to road test nappies
VOLUNTEERS are taking part in a trial to throw away their disposable nappies and use washable ones instead. The trial in Ferryhill and Chilton is part of Sedgefield Borough Council's real nappy initiative, offering 20 per cent off the purchase price of
-
Date
Anti-smoking campaign
FIREFIGHTERS and care group workers will be giving advice on how to stop smoking next week. Representatives from Darlington Primary Care Group and Darlington Fire and Rescue Brigade will be at the Cornmill Shopping Centre next Wednesday, which is national
-
Date
Community news appeal
PEOPLE are being asked to air their views in a Darlington community newsletter. The Cable Courier, produced by the Cable group and delivered to people in the Cockerton West area, wants to include funny or interesting stories from the community. The newsletter
-
Date
Transports of delight will win cash at store launch
THE wackiest people in Darlington are being invited to help to mark the opening of a new store on the town's retail park. To celebrate the launch of the ScS superstore, the shop is giving £2,000 to charity and more than £2,000 worth of computer equipment
-
Date
Dramatic way to spread the anti-smoking message
ANTI-SMOKING campaigners are using a pantomime to get over their message to primary school children over the next few days. Youngsters in south-west Durham will be seeing performances of the show throughout next week to mark No Smoking Day on Wednesday
-
Date
Virtual babies give an insight into reality
VIRTUAL babies are being used to educate young people in County Durham in the joys and pain of parenthood. The ten computer-controlled babies are just like the real thing - they cry, and need to be fed and have their nappies changed. Each unit keeps a
-
Date
Musical concert treats in store
A HOST of orchestras, bands and choirs will take part in a series of concerts in County Durham this month. The County Wind Ensemble, Staindrop School Ensembles and Teesdale Folk Fiddle will be in concert at Staindrop Comprehensive School, on Wednesday
-
Date
School gears up for family learning
A NEWTON Aycliffe school is gearing itself up for a family event next week. As part of new developments at Greenfield Community and Arts Centre, the school is throwing open its doors to pupils of local primary schools, their families and the local community
-
Date
Quarry extension fight
BATTLE lines have been drawn up over a quarry extension near Ripon racecourse. Littlethorpe Parish Council has previously supported quarry workings in the area but this time it says a planning application by Brown and Potter would be unacceptable. The
-
Date
Nature projects make difference
TWO further nominations have been received for The Northern Echo's community environmental competition. Making a Difference, now in its fourth year, honours volunteers who are improving the region's environment and is sponsored by regional development
-
Date
Shearer's desperate to avoid more Cup agony
ALAN Shearer has revealed the embarrassment of being paraded around the city of Newcastle as a Wembley loser is spurring him on in his bid to finally lift the FA Cup. The Newcastle captain is keen to bury the memory of one of the lowest points in a long
-
Date
Park's planners vote on new code
A NATIONAL park authority, warned over its planning procedures last year, is to vote on new policies next week. The Yorkshire Dales National Park was shaken last April when a report by the district auditor criticised members for making some planning decisions
-
Date
Man jailed three years after knife threat to his mother
A DRUG addict who threatened to slit his own mother's throat during an hour-long armed siege at her home was jailed for three years yesterday. Andrew Gibson, 26, told his terrified mother Maureen, 48, that he was going to kill her because he had nothing
-
Date
Wanted: a classy corgi
THEATRE producers in the region are casting for a corgi with style and class to play a regal role later this month. Roald Dahl's best-selling children's book The BFG - or Big Friendly Giant - comes to Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, from Tuesday, March 19
-
Date
Paddington says thanks - with marmalade sandwiches all round
PADDINGTON Bear said a special "thank you" to young fundraisers when he visited a school yesterday. Paddington dropped in to Durham High School for Girls to recognise the school's support for the medical research charity Action Research, which he represents
-
Date
Double success as Synetix wins the top honour
CATALYSTS business Synetix toasted double success at the Tees Valley Business Awards. The Billingham firm, which employs 800 staff, not only won Exporter of the Year, but was also named the area's Company of the Year. Synetix's big night was at the Tall
-
Date
Young patients join drive to cut smoking
SICK youngsters have joined a campaign to dissuade people from smoking. Patients on the children's wards at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, have designed posters for National No Smoking Day, which is next week. The posters will be displayed
-
Date
Direct debit persuasion
A council is hoping £500 may be enough to persuade more people to pay their council tax by direct debit. When bills are distributed across Richmondshire over the next couple of weeks, those who opt for the authority's preferred system will be entered
-
Date
Children celebrate World Book Day
Bookworms are welcome at Darlington College at Catterick, when the campus celebrates World Book Day next week. The emphasis will be on fun between 10am and 4.30pm on Thursday, with entertainment and games laid on. A number of stalls will also be selling
-
Date
Youth club ready to re-open after flood damage
A YOUTH club which was flooded out more than a year ago is to re-open to the public this week. The Northallerton youth centre, formally known as the T-Zone, has undergone extensive refurbishment after falling a victim to the floods of the winter of 2000
-
Date
Cereal proves a good starter for Diane
A TEESSIDE grandmother is certain that cereal is good for you - the last packet she bought helped her to win a car. Diane Arthur, of Hartburn, Stockton, entered a competition on the back of a Nestle cereal packet to win a Rover 75 and was picked out of
-
Date
North Yorkshire news in brief
Call for leaders of the pack A DALES Cub pack, established 80 years ago, could be in jeopardy unless adults step forward to volunteer as leaders. Two have already stepped into the breach in the wake of a meeting to debate the future of Leyburn's 1st Knights
-
Date
The voters need to know
ONCE again, we return to Operation Lancet on this page. We accept that, for every reader trying to follow the twists and turns of this baffling affair, there is another who is so at a loss to know what to think, that they've turned off completely. Once
-
Date
Greggs cooks up £32m rise in profits and more shops
BAKERY group Greggs has unveiled a huge rise in profits, as well as its ambitious plan to push into Europe. The business served up record pre-tax profits of £32.7m in the year to December 29, up 24.2 per cent. It plans to invest £38m in an expansion drive
