Archive
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Boost for racing fans
LAST year's Grand National winner will be among the stars when stables around the region's racing capital open their doors to the public. The Middleham Stables Open Event was a casualty of the foot-and-mouth crisis last year - but the North Yorkshire
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Dealer's Choice a firm one
THE importance of 100 per cent perfection in the tack department was highlighted yet again when Dealer's Choice was pulled up at Sandown because his saddle slipped. All kinds of things can go wrong such as broken stirrup leathers and faulty girths, but
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Meeting held after felling of trees
PROTESTS over axing a row of trees in a village sparked an emergency meeting of a parish council with standing room only. Villagers in Arkendale, near Knaresborough, reacted angrily when they saw ten hornbeam and whitebeam trees getting the chop from
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Teesside news in brief
Cash tonic for hospice HARTLEPOOL and District Hospice has been awarded a £20,000 grant towards the construction of purpose-built accommodation and facilities. In association with Help The Hospices, the Rank Foundation held a funding awards programme
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Sales influence fall in inflation
THE underlying rate of inflation fell 0.4 per cent last month to 2.2 per cent, said the Office for National Statistics. The headline rate, which includes mortgage interest payments, fell 0.3 per cent to one per cent. ONS said the biggest effect was smaller
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Views of our mining heritage go on show
A COLLECTION of watercolour pictures of the North-East's mining heritage goes on display at Easter. The paintings, by Newcastle-born Thomas Harrison Hair, reflect colliery life in the region in the early 19th Century. Hair's paintings, capturing every
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New window rules 'a pane' for home owners and trade
THOUSANDS of homeowners and DIY enthusiasts will be hit in the pocket by new building regulations approved by the Government. From April 1, homeowners will have to buy their windows from a registered double glazing firm or pay about £100 for local authority
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Pupils gather for cross-country fun
THOUSANDS of primary school children have been striding out in a series of cross-country races designed to encourage an active lifestyle. All 3,000 youngsters, aged seven to 11, were the winners at the eighth County Durham Primary School Cross-Country
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The girl with a golden voice
Brittany Knowles's victory over other children at an arts festival singing contest was not enough - she went on to beat the adults as well. The ten-year-old took the trophy for the under-12s vocal solo contest at the Darlington Festival for Performing
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Magpies post strong results
Newcastle United claim to be looking to the future with confidence following a "strong six months" which saw them generate an operating profit as well as continue to challenge for the Barclaycard Premiership title. The Magpies' push for the championship
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Choice titbits from the postbag
THE Newton Cap Viaduct was on the Bishop Auckland to Durham branch line, which opened on April 1, 1857. There were five viaducts on the line - a nine-arch stone one at Belmont, two timber ones over the rivers Browney and Dearness, and an 11-arch one at
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Celebrations as art group gets cash lift
A VILLAGE art group is celebrating after being awarded a grant to expand its activities. Fishburn Art Group was formed three years ago. The group has now been given £2,580 by Northern Arts, to help fund art workshops and exhibitions. Secretary Bob Waller
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Drivers face road diversion
DRIVERS are being warned of roadworks which will be carried out in Hartlepool this weekend. A section of the A689 between the Owton Lodge roundabout and the roundabout at the junction with Brenda Road will be closed to traffic from 8am on Saturday until
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Families try for corporate killing law
A FAMILY from the North-East is joining bereaved families from across the UK in pressing the Government to bring in a corporate killing law against negligent employers. George Stewart from Newcastle will lobby MPs at the House of Commons today, for a
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Residents urged to hit health trail
AN Army of walkers is setting out to keep people of all ages healthy and fit as part of a campaign to get residents walking around their communities. More than a dozen volunteer walkers will be helping to organise the Health Walks Gateshead scheme, which
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Groups preview new community centre
COMMUNITY groups were given their first tour of what will soon become a key meeting place for a town's residents. The transformation of the former Wesleyan Methodist Church, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, into a community resource centre is almost
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Clever trevor - the lucky, plucky turkey - puts the stuffing back into angling
AT THE official reopening of a fishing lake, which has become a big hit with the angling fraternity, you could reasonably expect aquatic species to steal the limelight. But as farmer Colin Newlove proudly declared his four-acre lake open again in the
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First for homes group
A HOUSING provider has become the UK's first to secure a cheap-rate loan from a European bank. Less than a year after completing Britain's largest housing stock transfer, involving 36,000 former Sunderland City Council properties, Sunderland Housing Group
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Neale public inquiry bid fails
VICTIMS of bungling doctor Richard Neale have claimed that the truth would never be known after losing a court battle with the Government. Former patients had asked the High Court to overturn a decision by Health Secretary Alan Milburn to hold an investigation
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When your boss is a football hooligan
Among the soccer hooligans sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court last week were a company director and other professionals. Sarah Foster asks what drives these people to football-related violence. AS if prompted by an inaudible starting pistol, the two rival
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A world of characters
MOHAMMED Ali and Long John Silver are pictured having their book reviews checked by Cruella De Vil. The unlikely gathering happened at Tow Law Millennium Primary School last week, when Cruella, aka literacy co-ordinator Claire Singleton, helped out pirate
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Racing roadshow comes to town
ANYONE fancying a flutter on the horses can get tips from the experts when a roadshow comes to town. Discover Racing is touring the country and will be in Darlington Market Place tomorrow and Friday. Experts will be on hand to give advice on the racing
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Veteran racer riding out to aid charity
A VETERAN motorcycle racer is coming out of retirement to raise money for local charities. Neil Metcalfe, who lives in Newton Aycliffe, says his appearance in Ireland's famous road race, the Coca Cola North West 200, will be his swansong. Mr Metcalfe,
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Thieves target car stereos
MOTORISTS have been warned thieves are on the look out for car stereos. Police in Wallsend are reminding car owners that although nights are getting lighter it takes only a few seconds for a thief to steal a stereo. While car crime is falling in the Northumbria
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Opera tuition
OPERA lovers are invited to a weekend of workshops taking place in Middlesbrough. The free workshops, at St Mary's Centre, in Corporation Road, are organised by amateur company Opera Nova and are aimed at giving people of all ages the chance to learn
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North Durham and Tyneside news in brief
Museum to reopen doors Durham Heritage Centre and Museum, in the former St Mary-le-Bow Church, in North Bailey, reopens for the season on Easter Saturday, March 30, with a new temporary exhibition celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee, called Durham
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Author booked for sign session
A BEST-SELLING author will be signing copies of his new book later this month. Gervase Phinn shot to fame after appearing on TV show Esther and has since enjoyed success with accounts of life in the Yorkshire Dales. Head Over Heels in the Dales, published
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Roads to get old style custodians
HIGHWAYS chiefs are turning back the clock more than 20 years to smarten up the streets and roads of County Durham. The county council is bringing back 'lengthsmen' - council workers who once had special responsibility for the general maintenance of specific
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Sex fiend woman could be man in drag
Cops believe a lust-crazed "woman" who has been trying to drag men into bushes for sex could really be a man in drag. Worried men have avoided a riverside footpath after a spate of attacks from a tracksuit-wearing horror with a bowl haircut and spots.
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WI carries on proud tradition of petticoat power
AFTER 86 years of sharing a distinctive anniversary, a village Women's Institute branch has been left alone to celebrate. Until last month, Witton-le-Wear and Cotherstone WIs stood together as the oldest in County Durham and the 13th oldest in the country
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Campaign boosts student numbers at tiny school
A recruitment campaign by one of Britain's smallest schools has paid off - with a 25 per cent boost in pupil numbers. Rookhope School, in Weardale, has just 22 children on the roll - five infants and 17 juniors. The tiny numbers prompted concerned staff
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School success in tackling bullies
"BULLYING happens - and it happens in all walks of life. It happens at work, at home and at school. It happens when you put two people together," said headteacher Richard Appleton. In his six years in charge at Eastbourne Comprehensive School, Darlington
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Castle setting for Potter sequel
HOGWARTS School of Wizardry has been recreated in the North-East as filming gets under way on the second Harry Potter film. The setting of Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland, has been chosen for the movie Harry Potter's Chamber of Secrets. The Warner Brothers
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Darlington and South Durham news in brief
Thieves in school raid More than £1,000 worth of electrical equipment was stolen from a Darlington school in a raid at the weekend. Thieves broke into Beaumont Hill Middle School, in Glebe Road, and took a Sony theatre system between the close of school
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Van driver in on robbery, court is told
A POST Office driver who claimed gunmen held him up and stole cash and jewellery worth £100,000 conspired with the robbers, a court heard yesterday. Robert Johnson, 32, denies conspiracy to steal. Former schoolmate Wayne Ramsey, 30, and Peter Stephenson
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North Yorkshire news in brief
Workers lose fight over jobs STAFF at the town centre Tesco store in Scarborough's Balmoral Centre have lost their fight to keep it open. But hardware store company Wilkinsons, which wants to take over the site, has promised to offer a job interview to
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Rock band sings the praises of New Deal
A TEESSIDE rock band and a Darlington recording studio have teamed up to show the power of the Government's New Deal for Musicians scheme. Through the New Deal programme, four members of the five-piece group, Iridium, have had access to recording studio
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Comment from The Northern Echo; 'Most serious' by our judgement
HOW do you define what is a case of "most serious" medical malpractice? A leaked internal Department of Health document, revealed by The Northern Echo today, shows that the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Liam Donaldson, rejected legal advice that he could
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Bus death inquest opens
An inquest was opened today into the death of a schoolboy who fell under the wheels of a bus. Jamie Wells, 12, tried to step down from a moving double decker at a road junction, just yards from a stop near his home on March 8. He died later that day at
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Bitten baby trial hears of father's earlier anguish
A MAN who admits killing his girlfriend's baby suffered a breakdown when his own baby died four years earlier, a court was told yesterday. Richard Baxter, 39, blamed himself for the death of his baby after a road crash in 1997. In February last year,
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Ample reward for Sally
A WOMAN who set up a mail order lingerie firm to help subsidise her husband's sheep farm is to be honoured at an awards ceremony celebrating rural enterprise. Sally Robinson, who runs Ample Bosom, at Sutton Bank, on the North York Moors, has been praised
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£500,000 lifeline likely for 'jewel in the crown' theatre
TODAY is D-Day for the Consett Empire but it looks likely that £500,000 needed to guarantee its future survival will be granted. The Northern Echo revealed in early February that Derwentside District Council would need to approve a £300,000 grant for
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Youngsters elect to be centre of attention
YOUNGSTERS have definite ideas on what £20,000 - to be made available to the country's first youth mayor - should be spent. Fifteen-year-olds Samantha Evans and Adam Gallagher and his 12-year-old sister, Kirsty, would want an elected youth mayor of Middlesbrough
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What a difference a year can make
IT traditionally marks a new beginning, signalling better times ahead - but never has the first day of spring today been more symbolic. A year ago the countryside was effectively shut down by foot-and-mouth disease, with the stench of death in the air
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Business news in brief
2Touch needs more workers FAST-growing Sunderland-based call centre and marketing services company 2Touch is creating up to 50 telesales and customer service jobs after securing an additional contract with Virgin Energy. 2Touch is recruiting further call
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Young achievers nominated for awards
THE North-East will be well represented in an awards ceremony to honour the achievements of people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). There are five nominees from the region at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust Awards, held in London tomorrow. The awards, sponsored
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Thatcher taken ill
Baroness Thatcher has cancelled her engagements for the next few days on doctor's orders after feeling ill yesterday. The doctor insisted that she must take things easy, but the former Tory Prime Minister's office insisted last night that it was "just
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Action sought to move caravans
A DALES community is pressing for speedy action over a family of travellers who have moved on to a car park next to a popular tourist attraction. Hawes, in Upper Wensleydale, was a virtual ghost town when foot-and-mouth disease swept through the area
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Recruitment fair to provide help about career in child care
PEOPLE interested in a career in child care are being invited to attend an event in Hartlepool this week. A day-long recruitment fair is being held in the Middleton Grange shopping centre on Friday. The chance to obtain information about the career and
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Idea that bugs Louise makes it on to market place
A VEHICLE that can transform the lives of young people with restricted mobility has launched a teenager into the business world. Louise Elliott, 19, is combining life as a student with being a hands-on director and shareholder of 1st By Design, the company
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Music group cuts jobs
Music group EMI is cutting 1,800 jobs as part of a restructuring of its troubled recorded music division. EMI said the majority of the positions will already have been gone by the end of this month. The remainder are set to go by September. The division
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Lords back hunting 'middle way'
THE House of Lords clashed with MPs last night by voting to continue fox-hunting under licence - the so-called "middle way" option. The decision by 366 votes in favour to 59, followed an eight-hour debate in which peers were asked to choose from one of
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Ashtenne pays £53m for agency's property portfolio
PROPERTY investment business Ashtenne Holdings has acquired the property portfolio from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. Ashtenne has paid £53m for the Yorkshire-wide portfolio comprising 48 properties, totalling 155,756sq m of property
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Bobby backs computer game
NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson is backing a new computer game which uses high quality graphics to promote fitness among schoolchildren. The new CD Rom called "It's Your Goal" will be used at the Newcastle United Learning Centre, a modern learning
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Call for interest rates cuts
Uunions and business leaders renewed their calls for fresh interest rate cuts after a sharp fall in earnings growth and a surprise reduction in unemployment. TUC general secretary John Monks said the Bank of England could afford to be "bold" and cut rates
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Tola proves top dog again
A BREEDER is back at home in Richmond after scooping another top prize at Crufts. Roy Bebbington was delighted when Tola, a vizsla, won as a young dog at the nation's top show last year. But Mr Bebbington, an ambulance paramedic, knew she was up against
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Pressure mounts on force as another inquiry drags on
PRESSURE was growing last night on Cleveland Police to conclude its inquiry into a senior officer accused of relieving himself against a presidential palace. Chief Superintendent Kevin Pitt was caught on camera apparently urinating beside a wall while
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Lecture offers new slant on killer
YOUNG people in the North-East will today get a new insight into a murder case that shocked Britain more than a century ago. Former Northumbria Police detective superintendent Stephanie Yearnshire and her husband John, also a retired police officer, have
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Housing scheme brings protests
PEOPLE have renewed their fight against a supervised housing scheme in their community. The project involves using a home In Prince's Street, near Bishop Auckland town centre, as a shared accommodation where young people between 16 and 25 can learn to
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Workers of the wee small hours
FOR the first time since they banned Beech Nut chewing gum from the back room of the Red Lion in Shildon in 1966, the column found itself on Saturday night in an establishment where notices warned against "illegal substances". Illegal substances should
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Regal role landed by Bosun
A pooch found himself in a class of his own after being the only canine to turn up for an audition for a regal role on stage. Although Bosun the corgi was the only candidate on the casting chair yesterday, he proved his pedigree and ended up treading
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Headline here
text text Published: Monday, March 25, 2002
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Passion plays tour churches
THOMAS Frere takes on the role of Jesus in a production of traditional Easter plays to be performed at churches across North Yorkshire. North Country Theatre and director Nobby Dimon have earned a reputation for wacky takes on big budget shows. Recent
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'Release prisoners to help the disabled'
PRISONERS should be allowed out into the community to support disabled and elderly people, according to a report published today. After carrying out an extensive survey of prisons in England and Wales, the Prison Reform Trust is calling for criminals
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Ex-mining community added to aid scheme
MEMBERS of a former coal mining community on Wearside are the latest to benefit from Government funding. Secretary of State for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Stephen Byers, added the Lambton Cokeworks, near Sunderland,
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House share battle restarts
RESIDENTS have resurrected their fight against a supervised housing scheme in their community. The scheme involves converting a house on Prince's Street, near Bishop Auckland town centre into a house share, where young people between 16 and 25-years-old
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Empty offices are target for arsonists
POLICE are investigating an arson attack on an empty office block. Firefighters discovered drinks bottles filled with petrol, planted throughout the two-storey building in Borough Road, Middlesbrough. The bottles ranged from two-litre cola bottles to
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Watch out - there's a madcap mob about
STARS of the theatre staged a bank robbery to promote a stage production of a classic British comedy. The mock stick-up took place at the Darlington Building Society, in Darlington, yesterday, the opening day of a production of The Lavender Hill Mob in
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Friends hoped to feel at home
A STATELY home shakes off the last of the cobwebs accumulated over years of neglect when its launches its support network next month. Kiplin Hall was built in 1620 by George Calvert - Secretary of State to James I and founder of the state of Maryland
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Friarage is in national top twenty
THE Friarage Hospital at Northallerton has been rated one of the best in the country according to a new survey. The Good Hospital Guide in the Mail on Sunday newspaper gives the Friarage eight out of ten in its star rating. The mark puts the Friarage
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Hearing is told of mother's fears about nursery carer
A MOTHER became convinced her daughter had been abused after she discovered that one of her carers had been suspended from his job at her nursery. The mother told the High Court she then linked her daughter's problems to the suspension of Christopher
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Gentle touch helps baby bonding
BABIES are bonding that much closer with their mothers with the help of the gentle art of massage. A course in baby massage has been added to the curriculum at mother and toddler group Sure Start Centre, in Joicey Gardens, Stanley. The classes, taught
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Woodcarvings used online to aid teaching
WOODCARVINGS in Ripon Cathedral are being used as a national teaching aid for schools through the Internet. The misericords - hinged seats in the choir stalls - are featured in an interactive exploration of seasonal themes of Lent, Easter and sustainable
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Farmers accept defeat over inquiry
CAMPAIGNERS pressing for a full public inquiry into last year's foot-and-mouth epidemic have been urged to accept defeat. The call to move on from the catastrophic events of last year came from farmers in the region who are trying to lead a recovery in
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School pushes its case for specialist IT status
A SCHOOL is hoping that a presentation ceremony this evening will highlight its bid to become a technology centre. Bydales School, in Marske, is preparing to submit a bid to the Government to be awarded specialist technology college status, which means
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John Menzies tackles slump
JOHN Menzies has delivered encouraging news after seeing signs of a recovery in its turbulent aviation services market. The Edinburgh company now focuses on newspaper distribution and ground and cargo handling services at airports worldwide. The group
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Directory now hot off the press
SEDGEFIELD Borough's Business Directory for 2002 is hot off the press. Whether you are looking for goods or services, the Sedgefield directory lists the details of more than 1,000 businesses, located within the borough. New for this year is the inclusion
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800 years of history ends as costs take toll at church
AN 800-year-old dales church is to be without its own vicar for the first time in its history despite appeals to church leaders to think again. Faced with severe financial difficulties, the Durham Diocese has decided to reduce the number of stipends in
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Pervert threatened to abuse victim's sister
A six-year-old girl suffered years of abuse at the hands of a paedophile after her attacker warned that he would do the same thing to her young sister if she told of her ordeal. William Best, 39, attacked the youngster at the home he shared with his parents
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Visionary projects are celebrated
AN east Durham company has earned a place among the country's top 100 most innovative organisations. Pride Valley Foods, from Seaham, has been named in an index which includes the Eden Project and Easyjet. Also singled out for places on the BT Vision
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Neale scandal 'was not most serious'
THE Government rejected proposals from its own lawyers when it denied patients a public inquiry into the Richard Neale scandal, The Northern Echo can reveal today. Leaked internal documents show that Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson
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Hear all sides
HUNTING A LOT of people may think the Government is trying to ban cruelty to foxes - this is not the case. Foxes, as vermin, should and will be, controlled, even if hunting is banned. This Government knows this. The main alternatives to hunting are snaring
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Surgery plans submitted
PLANS have been submitted to convert a former pub into a medical centre. Doctors at the Netherlaw surgery, Stanhope Road, Darlington, want to turn Blacketts, in Bondgate, into a GP practice. They have submitted proposals to Darlington Borough Council's
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Top grade score for Samantha
AN A-level student who decided to resit her philosophy examination to get a better mark came close to perfection second time around. Samantha Stokell retook her paper at Carmel RC Technology College, in Darlington, and was delighted to receive her 99
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Official blessing for school extension
THE hard work of parents and fundraisers who have contributed to a primary school's extension project has been formally blessed. Bishop Ambrose Griffiths from the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese visited St Chad's RCVA Primary School in Witton Park, near
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Free bus travel to Easter events
BUS travel is being promoted to help residents take part in Easter fun. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants visitors to the countryside to travel by bus - with the offer of free tickets. Countryside officer Briony Serginson said: "Cutting car journeys
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Grant awarded for new skateboard rink
A £76,000 lottery grant will give a town's youngsters their own bike and skateboard rink in a newly restored park. Shildon Town Council made the bid for cash after a group of young people presented them with a petition. The Sport England Lottery bid confirmed
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Final touches to displays in floral contest
TOWNS and villages across Yorkshire have a fortnight to add the finishing touches to floral displays to impress the judges of the regional rounds of this year's Britain in Bloom competition. The Yorkshire in Bloom adjudicators go on the road on Tuesday
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Bogus caller is hunted by police
POLICE have released an image of a man who attempted to burgle a pensioner's home. The man, who is believed to be 30 to 40 years old, called at an old people's housing complex in Mellow Court, Eldon Street, Darlington, claiming to be a water company official
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Free parking incentive
MOTORISTS will be able to park for free in parts of east Cleveland later this month. Free parking will be available in Guisborough and Redcar from March 28 to April 2. The six days of concessions will cover more than 1,000 parking spaces in the two towns
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Lovable pair seeking a new fireside
TWO young puppies are seeking a loving new home. The collie-cross bitches, just nine weeks old, are being looked after by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League in Darlington. Pauline Wilson, from the league, said that they had been looking after
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Road tax dodgers face clamp down
Car tax dodgers in the North-East will wake up on Thursday to the realisation the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has got their number - literally. Mobile cameras have caught 109 unlicensed vehicles on the move - across Teesside - in just the first
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War hero honoured as housing estate carries his name
On a clear spring night in 1944, Alan Mitcheson witnessed a spectacle that was to haunt him forever. From the darkened skies above his bedroom window, a Halifax bomber came hurtling into view. The most terrible noise, like a car backfiring, shattered
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Pupils 'at risk' without bus service
WORRIED parents fear their children's safety could be at risk because of a local authority's refusal to provide a school bus service. Youngsters living in Wombleton have been told they cannot have a bus to ferry them to Ryedale School, which is two miles
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Young media sessions on the agenda
A series of weekly sessions for young people interested in photography and new media is to be launched in Darlington. The Young Media Makers' sessions, at Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, will start after the Easter holidays for children and teenagers
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City gears up for fifth automotive conference
SUNDERLAND is gearing up to host its fifth International Automotive Conference next week, which will highlight the remarkable impact the automotive industry has had on the city and its people. In less than 20 years, Sunderland has become a major player
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Old Sunday school to be visitor centre
A FORMER Methodist Sunday school will be the first port of call for the thousands of visitors expected to flock to the region's first national museum when it opens in two years' time. Sedgefield Borough Council has already taken over 1888 building in
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Ding, dong, bell.. pussy's in the Tower
The Tower (C4) THE Titanic was unsinkable. The Tower of London was impregnable. That's what they thought, although it turned out to be wrong in both cases. The builders of the London landmark had reckoned without a bunch of revolting peasants protesting
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Special needs children's home opened
A residential home for children with special needs and disabilities was opened yesterday. Lyndhurst, in the Beacon Lough area of Gateshead, has been refurbished as part of Gateshead Borough Council's commitment to provide appropriate residential services
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Eileen closes the book on teaching chapter of her life
A VILLAGE stages a special show tonight as a farewell to a popular teacher, who is retiring this week after 25 years at the school. The youngsters at North Cowton today are the children of some of Eileen Bruce's first pupils - and both generations are
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Firms asked to save historic railway station
COMMUNITY groups hope businesses will help them secure an important part of their history by temporarily purchasing a former railway station. The station house in Witton Park, near Bishop Auckland, once stood on the Stockton to Darlington railway and
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Reading racked up for school
STUDENTS at a Darlington school are making the most of a scheme which provides free magazines to young people. Haughton Community School is taking part in the project, run by retailer WH Smith, which entitles it to a free monthly supply of magazines,
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Pupils gather for cross-country fun
THOUSANDS of primary school children have been striding out in a series of cross-country races designed to encourage an active lifestyle. All 3,000 youngsters, aged seven to 11, were the winners at the eighth County Durham Primary School Cross-Country
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Moody scenes from an artist's travels around britain with his paintbox
SILHOUETTED in thought, a visitor contemplates a view of Lake Windermere - part of an atmospheric exhibition inspired by an artist's travels throughout Britain which is now on display in the North-East. Painting with Acid is a selection of about 85 of
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Shopping is big draw for town visitors
SHOPS in Darlington are one of the main attractions for visitors coming to the town. The Darlington Visitor Survey 2001 has revealed that 75 per cent of visitors believe that the town's shopping facilities are good. A total of 407 people were interviewed
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It's worth making a Sacred Journey
Sacred Journey, The Gala giant screen, Durham. TO anyone familiar with history, the idea of packing St Cuthbert's life story into a half-hour film may seem like a tall order. But aside from vague recollections of his coffin being carried for miles, I
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Down to earth line in classes
CHILDREN in Darlington are being given the chance to try an innovative approach to environmental education. Darlington Borough Council has adopted the Earth Education programme, which takes children out of the classroom to learn about nature. The US concept
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Surgery plans submitted
PLANS have been submitted to convert a former pub into a medical centre. Doctors at the Netherlaw surgery, Stanhope Road, Darlington, want to turn Blacketts, in Bondgate, into a GP practice. They have submitted proposals to Darlington Borough Council's
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N-E primary schools to get £20m funding
PRIMARY schools in deprived areas of the North-East are to receive £20m in National Lottery and Government funding. The money will be presented in packages of up to £500,000 to 48 primary schools to improve facilities and create links between schools
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Premonition helps contestant win big
Who Wants to be a Millionaire winner Den Hewitt knew what his questions would be before he even got on the hit show. Civil servant Den, 42, walked away with £250,000 on Tuesday night after being helped to his fortune by a spooky premonition. Den dreamt
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Pool's double re-ignites play-off hopes
FOR Hartlepool the play-offs might not be out of the question as they answered the doubters in the best possible manner. Pool had been written off in some quarters after Saturday's draw at Rochdale, but last night's win at Carlisle was just what Chris
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Runners sought to help children
RUNNERS are wanted from the region to help raise cash for a children's charity. The Children's Foundation, Yellow Brick Road Appeal, is looking to recruit runners for this year's Bupa Great North Run on October 6. The charity is appealing to people to
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Man tells of his presence in house of murder
A MAN yesterday denied taking part in the murder of a punter visiting a prostitute - but admitted being at the house at the time of the killing. Thomas Petch, 22, admitted he was present at the house in Errol Street, Middlesbrough, where Kalvant Singh
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Robert is ready to step into the breach
Laurent Robert is ready to take over the penalty duties at Newcastle should Alan Shearer decide he's had enough of being put on the spot. Shearer's late miss against Ipswich on Saturday, his fourth in 27 attempts for the club, allowed Chelsea to cut the
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Consultant dies on diving trip
A HOSPITAL consultant has been killed in an accident on a diving trip in Egypt, where he was on holiday with family. Michael Oakley, 55, who was based at Harrogate District Hospital, in North Yorkshire, was taking part in the diving expedition with his
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Darlington and South Durham news in brief
Disabled access audit Wear Valley Disability Access Forum has been commissioned to carry out access audits on places of worship in the Crook area. Funding for the project has been provided through the Single Regeneration Budget. ANNUAL MEETING: The annual
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Planning permission granted for greenhouse
A LEAN-TO greenhouse can stay next to the listed Mortham Tower, near Barnard Castle, a planning inspector has ruled. After discovering planning permission was needed John McDonnell applied to Teesdale District Council for permission to keep the building
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Stan the man becomes Baggies fan
SLOVAKIAN defender Stanislav Varga will link up with former teammate Danny Dichio after West Brom agreed to take the Sunderland centre-half on loan until the end of the season. Varga joined the Black Cats for £800,000 in 2000 from Slovan Bratislava, and
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Grassroots
NEW DATE: The Crook Community Partnership community appraisal meeting scheduled for last Monday has been rearranged for Monday, April 8 at 7pm, in the Elite Hall, Crook. The partnership is in the final stages of drawing up an action plan for the regeneration
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Bunnies dig in to support charity event
Easter bunnies are the special guests at an animal lovers' event on Sunday. Gwen Butler, who runs Richmond's Bunny Burrows rabbit re-homing sanctuary, organised the Hot Cross Bunny Day to raise funds and awareness of animal issues. Some of Mrs Butler's
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Children book place in imaginary world
PUPILS at a Norton school have celebrated World Book Day by creating an imaginary world within their classrooms. World Book Day is the largest reading initiative in the UK and Ireland and encourages children to appreciate and learn from books. Each classroom
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Promenade shelter might be demolished
PLANS to demolish an early 20th Century shelter on Hartlepool Headland will be discussed by councillors today. The shelter is located on the promenade, beside Albion Terrace and was built to provide a viewing area for visitors to the beach. A structural
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Oldies are doing it for themselves
It's been another good week for grown-ups - always cheering for those of us hurtling too fast through our middle years. Granted, 102-year-old Rose Cottle was in the news because she is about to lose her flat in an old people's complex. On the other hand
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Who will go the final mile?
WHEN plans were announced for opening up the Royal Mail to competition, a few questions were left unanswered. In particular, it was unclear how anyone muscling in on the postal business could provide a service without duplicating the Post Office's (sorry
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Alaskan gift resolves bones of contention
A SET of whalebones began the first leg of a 4,500-mile journey yesterday - after Alaskan Eskimos responded to an appeal to save one of the region's most famous landmarks. The pair of 15ft bones will cross the Atlantic Ocean on a jumbo jet before being
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Horror as man hit by train at station
A MAN was killed when he was hit by an express train in front of horrified passengers yesterday. Several bystanders had to be treated for shock as emergency workers cleared the scene at Durham railway station. One man fainted when he went to have a closer
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Pensioner's bike theft
A KIND-hearted pensioner had his bike stolen while helping a friend this week. The 70-year old man, who has not been named, was taking groceries to his friend's house in Harrow Street, Hartlepool, when a youth grabbed his bike and rode off, at about 6pm
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City's vision is recognised
A COUNCIL has been named as one of the country's 100 most visionary organisations. Sunderland City Council is one of only six local authorities nationwide to be listed in the BT Vision 100 index, a showcase of the UK's most visionary public and private
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Skipper looking to the future
Darlington captain Craig Liddle is looking forward to better times at Feethams after the players and chairman George Reynolds put a lid on the controversy which began when the first-team squad walked out of a fan's forum last month. The much publicised
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Pub crawlers raise £750
A SPONSORED pub crawl around Ferryhill and Spennymoor has raised £750 for charity. Neal Blenkinsop and his friends Glen George and Kevin Elsdon toured pubs in the two towns on Saturday to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The trio set off from the Eldon
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Businesses invest in education
Businesses in the region have been going back to school to help nurture tomorrow's leaders. Following recent concerns over educational standards and lack of skills among school leavers, more than 35 firms attended the North-east Chamber of Commerce's
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Youngsters stride out for fitness
THOUSANDS of primary school children strode out in a series of cross country races designed to encourage an active lifestyle. All 3,000 youngsters, aged seven to 11, were the winners at the eighth County Durham Primary School Cross Country Fun Run. The
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£2m drive to make us proud of our region
A £2M advertising drive to promote pride in the North-East was launched yesterday. Regional development agency One NorthEast and the North-East Assembly launched Here. Now. - a marketing initiative aimed at updating the region's image. The promotional
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Film portrayal of Cuthbert helps put city in spotlight
A £1M visitor centre featuring a film about St Cuthbert will be launched on Saturday in the city he helped establish. The centre in Durham, within the £30m Millennium City complex, will be launched with a procession of monks, Vikings, horses and deerhounds
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Kingfisher quiet about reorganisation
Retail giant Kingfisher is remained tight-lipped about plans to shake up its DIY and electrical businesses, as it reported a five per cent rise in annual pre-tax profits. Chief executive Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy said the group, which owns B&Q and Comet
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Drama challenge to raise funds
SIXTH-FORMERS spent a sleepless night creating a drama in a bid to raise money for specialist equipment. The group of 13 teenagers from Wolsingham School and Community College were sponsored to stay overnight at the Weardale School to write a play. Their
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Jobs boost as development company moves in
The Tees Valley jobs market looks set to receive a boost with the announcement that investment and development company Gort has attracted the first tenant to Hopetown park in Darlington. The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) - the government body
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Charity angered by cut in service
TWO councils have denied cutting costs after cutting a service for deaf and blind pensioners. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Middlesbrough Council have not renewed a contract with the national charity Sense to provide help for elderly people
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Finding right road to a greener future
ROADS and wildlife are not often seen as natural partners - but the Government's Highways Agency called a series of briefings around the UK yesterday to underline its commitment to the environment. A kestrel from the Sion Hill Hall falconry centre, near
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Oldies are doing it for themselves
It's been another good week for grown-ups - always cheering for those of us hurtling too fast through our middle years. Granted, 102-year-old Rose Cottle was in the news because she is about to lose her flat in an old people's complex. On the other hand
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Leisure plans on right track says survey
A CONSULTATION exercise has suggested plans for a new leisure development at a North Yorkshire seaside resort are on the right track. More than 1,000 people filled in questionnaires when an exhibition highlighting the preliminary proposals for Scarborough's
