Archive
-
Date
Content Gauntlett still doing it all by the books
Three cars sit in Michael Gauntlett's drive. There is more chance of his being chosen as Trescothick's opening partner in the third Test against Sri Lanka than there is of even the smallest ever getting into the garage. It has become a book store, many
-
Date
Tragedy of baby smothered by the hood of his pram
A BABY died after his head caught in the hood of his pram and he was accidentally smothered. The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Lewis James Archer emerged at an inquest yesterday. Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter told the hearing
-
Date
Grassroots: Washington
EXERCISE TERRORS: The Washington Millennium Centre, Concord, holds Little Terrors time, an exercise session for toddlers. More details can be obtained from Jayne Anderson on 0191-219 3881. PLAY DATES: Washington Theatre Group is staging the Testing of
-
Date
The Great North Road: a completely different World
On the morning after the delusory nights before, the column found itself on World Cup watch at the Little Chef, alongside the A1 near Skeeby in North Yorkshire. It proved not to be the Great North Road show. This, of course, was no fault of the chubby
-
Date
Sled race game is storming ahead
Sled Storm. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Players: 2. VIDEO game developers are a strange lot. For the past ten years or so they have spent countless hours trying to create realistic sports simulations. Then, when the goal has
-
Date
Clothes spark search
LIFEBOATMEN have slammed the "thoughtlessness" of a family who triggered a full-scale air and sea rescue search. The Teesmouth all weather lifeboat and Redcar inshore lifeboat were both launched following the discovery of children's clothes on a beach
-
Date
Disabled drivers may have to pay for parking in city
CAR parking charges for disabled drivers may be introduced in Durham City. The city council's cabinet will also consider proposals to abolish parking season tickets for people who work in the city centre. Currently, drivers who display the blue, formerly
-
Date
New idea in sewage row
Redcar MP Vera Baird has put forward an idea which could solve East Cleveland's on-going beach pollution row. The long-running wrangle centres on concerns about sewage spillage and offensive odours on Marske beach, but Mrs Baird said she was reasonably
-
Date
Bringing a bit of Crackerjack to Panto
HE'LL never escape his I Could Crush A Grape catchphrase, but Stu Francis has many other claims to fame... including the day he almost pushed a custard pie into the face of the Princess of Wales. Francis, 51, is regarded as Britain's best comic turn in
-
Date
Village celebrates royal anniversary
VILLAGERS on Wearside plan to continue Golden Jubilee celebrations this weekend. People at South Hylton will hold a festival in honour of the Queen's landmark anniversary at the village's primary school today. The event is being staged from 11am to 5pm
-
Date
Canals, coal and the birth of Dixie
Echo Memories embarks on an extraordinary ramble from a historic canal on Cockfield Fell, accompanied by the Darlington Male Voice Choir, and ends up wiffing, waffing and wuffing in Etherley Dene. THE Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) is the
-
Date
Easy does it for Ebeneezer
HAT-TRICK seeking soft-ground specialist Jonny Ebeneezer has the class to conquer a hugely competitive field in this afternoon's £65,000 William Hill Trophy at York. Any further rain will definitely suit Ian Wood's fast-improving sprinter, while his keen
-
Date
'Woman on a mission' Sally lands achievement award
A RADIO station manager has been named Woman of Achievement in the inaugural North-East Women in Business Awards. Sally Aitchison, managing director of Swalwell-based Metro Radio, received the award at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, County Durham,
-
Date
'Cutting edge' deal jobs hope
A MULTI-MILLION pound jobs deal has been agreed in principle for East Cleveland. National support services company Amey plc is negotiating with Redcar and Cleveland Council on a 'cutting edge' partnership package that would generate millions of pounds
-
Date
Toy shop role puts Mark on the path to a career
A TOY shop worker who was excluded from school for truancy has excelled on an NVQ programme. Mark Errington, who started a Life Skills programme after leaving school is starting on a second NVQ programme and has got a job at Lamb's Toy Shop in Darlington
-
Date
Flash flooding causes spate of accidents
Three separate accidents within the space of minutes created traffic chaos for motorists on one of the region's busiest roads yesterday. Four vehicles were involved in accidents on the A1 near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, at about 3pm, as drivers struggled
-
Date
Car crime menace is locked up
A YOUTH described by police as Middlesbrough's most prolific car thief was locked up for ten months yesterday. The 16-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - pleaded guilty at Teesside Youth Court to 11 charges relating to vehicle crime and
-
Date
Family's plea leads to calls
AN emotional appeal by the family of a missing prostitute has prompted a flood of calls to police from the public. Rachel Wilson, 19, was last seen in Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, at about 11.30pm on Friday, May 31. In an appeal for help tracing her
-
Date
Tykes' gloom deepens
Yorkshire's mood was as dark as the weather at Headingley when rain and murky light allowed only 23.5 overs to be bowled on the third day of the Championship match against Sussex. But there was still sufficient time for Yorkshire to lose their last four
-
Date
Recluse's body 'in flat for six months'
A LONER may have lay dead in his North-East home for six months before his body was discovered. The body of John Aplin was discovered by police after neighbours reported swarms of flies around his council flat home. The alarm was raised at the complex
-
Date
Smuggling case
A jobless man has appeared in court accused of smuggling £120,000 worth of heroin into London's Waterloo station on a Eurostar train from Brussels. Terry Nixon, 34, of Salisbury Avenue, North Shields, was remanded in custody until June 21
-
Date
City Diary: Eyes on inflation and sales figures
ECONOMIC data will be the focal point next week as the London market attempts to pull out of its recent tailspin. With little in the way of company results, inflation and retail sales figures should be keenly watched. Data on Tuesday is expected to show
-
Date
Surprised and humble - the region's honours list recipients
A FARMER who saw at first-hand the devastation caused by foot-and-mouth is among those from the region to be honoured. Other recipients include a cheesemaker, a showwoman and a teacher who went the extra mile to help pupils from a poverty-stricken area
-
Date
News in brief: Fears of homes market crash
ECONOMISTS have sought to reassure homeowners that the housing market is not heading for a 1990s-style crash following warnings that current price growth was unsustainable. The comments come after Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George told a Commons
-
Date
Entries are flooding in for road race
ENTRIES are flooding in for Darlington's athletic event of the year. The borough council has received a host of entries since the Darlington 10km Road Run, which will take place on Sunday, August 11, was launched earlier this week. More than 1,000 runners
-
Date
Tesco growth slows after buoyant year
Tesco's sales growth is slowing as consumer demand becomes more subdued. The group said like-for-like sales in its 700-plus UK supermarkets for the three months to May 18 grew 4.5 per cent. That compares with a 4.9 per cent rise for the previous quarter
-
Date
Pro-hunt activists target MP's office
PRO-HUNT activists have struck at the office of York MP Hugh Bayley leaving behind a cleaning bill expected to run to hundreds of pounds. A dozen poster stickers have been plastered across the outside of the Labour MP's Holgate Road base. The green A4
-
Date
Guitar prospect Pete back in the limelight
ROCK prospect Pete Shoulder is looking forward to his first live performance this year. The County Durham 18-year-old, who signed a six album deal with Sony's USA arm last year, will play at the Pretoria Club, Medomsley, near Consett, tomorrow night.
-
Date
Leader sacked as probe continues
TROUBLED councillor Rod Hills has been sacked as leader of York's Labour group as a police investigation into allegations against him continues. Labour Party members of City of York Council voted at a private group meeting to replace him with Councillor
-
Date
Ultimate tribute to King goes on road
THE winner of a television contest to find the best Elvis impersonator will appear at a North-East theatre next month. Former truck driver Heath Ashton, from Tiverton, in Dorset, won GMTV's Search for Elvis competition, which was run in conjunction with
-
Date
Chris introduces the Howards' way
GUISBOROUGH'S Chris Gent will be spending time at work persuading others to follow in his footsteps. The 33-year-old seargent joined the Green Howards 14 years ago and has since served all over the world, including Bosnia, Northern Ireland, the Falklands
-
Date
Local rivals face off in basement battle
It's the battle of the bottom today when former NYSD League rivals Norton and Stockton square up with vital points at stake. The pair are too near to basement side Tynemouth for comfort and with the possibility of one side being relegated, the outcome
-
Date
News in brief: Hospital in safety display
Members of staff from the Accident and Emergency department at the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, will team up with Halfords to give demonstrations and advice on the correct use of cycle helmets to patients and members of the general public
-
Date
Evenwood and Brandon vie for top spot
The leadership could again change hands today because Kimblesworth have a free day which gives Evenwood and Brandon the chance to move into pole position. Most clubs play twice this weekend and the top game this afternoon is between Evenwood and Brandon
-
Date
Sponsors can add drive to Italian Job
A POLICEMAN is hoping local companies will help him replicate the stunts pulled off by Michael Caine and his team in the classic film The Italian Job - or at least the legal aspects of it. Sergeant Paul Wren is among 100 drivers who give up their time
-
Date
Robber forces landlady to hand over cash
A PUB landlady was left badly shaken after a robber forced her to hand over money from the till. The woman, who has not been named, was getting ready to open the Sportsman's Arms, in Front Street, Leadgate, County Durham, when the robber struck, at 6.30pm
-
Date
Tip hunt after sex attack
POLICE are searching through 150 tons of rubbish at a tip looking for evidence after what is believed to have been a case of male rape. Three men carried out a serious sex attack on a 32-year-old man in Scarborough town centre, North Yorkshire, earlier
-
Date
Murton look to regroup
If Murton needed any reminder that nothing is certain in cricket then the fact was dramatically brought home to them on Tuesday when they were shot out for just 38 runs by Crook Town in the Drill Turn Trible Shield. Just two days earlier they celebrated
-
Date
Pupils' farewell as stage careers beckon
STAR pupils from a Teesside dance school are putting on a farewell dinner dance spectacular before they leave to join stage schools. Students from the Amanda Meglynn Academy of Stage and School have been accepted at premier stage schools including the
-
Date
Floods hit roads and hospital
A CHILDREN'S hospital ward was disrupted and fire crews across the region were deluged with hundreds of emergency calls after heavy thunderstorms sparked flash flooding last night. Firefighters and local authorities were kept busy in County Durham after
-
Date
Call for electoral boundary debate rejected
A COUNCILLOR has lost his fight for people to have their say on which MP has responsibility for their area. Darlington Borough Council Conservative group leader Councillor Tony Richmond wanted public consultation on possible changes to the Sedgefield
-
Date
Gallery of fame as stars are unmasked
SOME of the world's most famous faces will feature in a new exhibition of portraits opening in the region today. The Behind the Mask exhibition will be at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, until August 25, and features paintings of famous
-
Date
Pregnant mum jailed
A pregnant woman was jailed yesterday after admitting trying to smuggle heroin into her boyfriend's police station cell. Lisa Steel, 22, is due to give birth in weeks but was jailed for three months yesterday. Newcastle Crown Court heard that she was
-
Date
Picking the perfect place for a pleasant pond
IT'S all about turning a negative into a positive, isn't it? That's exactly what I have done in one particular area of my own garden. Where once I had a pile of broken old stones, I now have a sculptured wildlife pond. Every garden has that little corner
-
Date
Over-50s activities winners
THE first winners of the annual Darlington Active Independent Staying Young (Daisy) competitions in Darlington have been announced. Darlington Borough Council launched Daisy to encourage people over-50 to join in activities in the community. Throughout
-
Date
Man jailed for bottle attack
A MAN who hit a takeaway shop customer over the head with a bottle was jailed for 18 months yesterday. David Stansfield, 21, of Fairfield Street, Darlington, was locked up after admitting a charge of unlawful wounding at Teesside Crown Court. His victim
-
Date
Clean up our town, demands mayor
CIVIC leaders are seeking urgent talks over what they claim is a poor standard of street cleaning in their market town. Bedale Town Council wants a site meeting with a senior representative of Hambleton District Council, the authority responsible. The
-
Date
Probe is launched into air tragedy
Air accident investigators fly out this weekend to probe the cause of a helicopter crash in the Atlantic Ocean that killed two Royal Navy flyers. Flight Lieutenant Jenny Lewis, a former student of Newcastle University, is believed to be the first woman
-
Date
Publican drowned after pier fall
A RETIRED publican fell from a pier in Gibraltar and drowned after a drinking session. John Leonard, 58, of Lilac Avenue, Thornaby, Teesside, was on a deep sea diving holiday to the enclave when the tragedy happened on August 6, 2000. The grandfather-of-five
-
Date
Street flies flag for both teams
IT may not be a case of love thy neighbour in a Darlington street today. England fan Paul Hilton, 28, and his Danish neighbour Bjarne Hogh, 39, will be at loggerheads as they watch the England v Denmark match. The pair, who live next to each other in
-
Date
Viking invader gets no joy from St George
An English hero faced a Viking warrior yesterday and made him look as soft as Danish pastry. Pre-match rivalry boiled over in an historic showdown as St George crossed swords with Erik Bloodaxe. The scary Scandinavian looked a fearsome sight but it was
-
Date
Peter lays it straight as he backs England all the way
Grassroots fan Peter Miller has a lawn of hope and glory. The England fanatic has transformed his back garden into a giant flag of St George in tribute to Sven's heroes. It took ten litres of white emulsion and a tin of red to make the 20m x 15m flag.
-
Date
Ron Hogg's World Cup Diary: English are well behaved as police turn eye to Japanese
I HAD predicted that there would be some low-level disorder here in Japan, but we have not even had that. The English fans and Argentinians all mixed well together during last Friday's game. By and large it was good-natured. I think the big thing concerning
-
Date
Pupils harness the force
A SCHOOL'S own Ground Force team has given part of its site a new lease of life. Youngsters from Sir Charles Parsons School, Walker, Newcastle, have transformed the overgrown quadrangle into a sun trap, filled with herbs and aromatic plants. Old bushes
-
Date
Grant helps charity get its message across
DURHAM students are helping a charity raise awareness of its work. The Dyspraxia Foundation County Durham aims to promote greater understanding of the condition, which can affect movement in children. It has been given £260 by the Durham University Charities
-
Date
For Your Benefit: Should I be paying full tax?
Q Should I be paying full council tax of £711.34 a year? My monthly income is: state pension of £375.20, war pension £95.84 and works pensions of £147.10. I have no savings. AIt depends how your council treats your war pension. If they ignore it your
-
Date
Vandals ruin pub's £2,500 flower display
A PUB owner who spent £2,500 on a floral display has condemned the vandals who destroyed it. John Rushworth, landlord at the Derwent Arms in Norton, found most of the display ruined on Tuesday morning. "I was absolutely disgusted when I saw it, it was
-
Date
Could you do better than Sven?
Championship Manager Season 01-02. Publisher: Eidos. Format: Microsoft X-Box. Price: £44.99. BY the time you read this we will probably know whether England's World Cup campaign will progress beyond the group stages or end in disappointment. Given his
-
Date
100 faithful venturers rev up for reliability run
A FLEET of ageing vehicles from a bygone era of British motoring takes to rural roads of the North-East for an annual test tomorrow. The 31st Beamish Safety and Reliability Run is back on its normal 150-mile route after being curtailed due to last year's
-
Date
Something for the weekend
SATURDAY - BEST FACTUAL Two years ago Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow was offered an OBE. He declined to accept it (on the grounds it would compromise his journalistic integrity) but wondered how his nomination came about. He finds out in Secrets Of
-
Date
Favoured five
England will be looking for five brave men, good and true, if today's game goes to penalties. It rankles that the last time England were knocked out of the World Cup finals without the game going to spot-kicks was in 1986 - and then Diego Maradona had
-
Date
In the Picture: More than a family affair
New families often have a short shelf life in soapland, especially if the producers run out of storylines. But, sometimes it's the ones we love to hate who survive the test As the Hancocks make their exit from Ramsay Street this week, a new family - the
-
Date
Get into the fast lane with racing game
F1-2002. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Format: PS2 and PC CD-ROM: INCREDIBLE as it may seem to football fans, there are some other sports still being played out on the world stage at the moment. Although Formula One is reckoned to be the second most watched
-
Date
Wellock's World
THE glittering strokes the world has come to expect from the Sri Lankans were finally unfurled by Russel Arnold to save the tourists from an innings defeat by Durham at the Riverside yesterday. After Marc Symington took four for 27 to dismiss Sri Lanka
-
Date
A role to die for
Annabelle Apsion hardly had time to celebrate her first, and unexpected, role in a soap when she was bumped off. But she says she still enjoyed the experience. ANNABELLE Apsion never much fancied being in a soap until she joined the cast of Coronation
-
Date
Green for safety in the garden
MY heart had jumped straight into my mouth, but I couldn't get any words out. I wanted to jump up but was frozen solid to the bench. You know that feeling when everything happens in such slow motion, you can see what is happening but can't do anything
-
Date
Love thy Neighbours
Actors come and go and the same plots go round and round. It's another typical day in Ramsay Street. But the much-maligned Aussie soap is about to reach its 4,000th episode on British TV screens. Neighbours is the soap that was dead but wouldn't lie down
-
Date
Pots of advice for happy plants
ONE of the most frequently asked questions at this time of year is "how do I stop my outdoor pots from drying out?" There are many angles from which you can tackle this problem. Before you even put plant and pot together, try to choose something which
-
Date
Beer is real draw for dales visitors
A MARKET town with a pub or bar for every 75 people living within half-a-mile of the centre holds its first ever beer festival this month. Richmond may have 40 premises with a liquor licence but it is only now that the community has realised its pulling
-
Date
Tribute to North victim of Falklands conflict
A TEESSIDE sailor who died in the Falklands War was remembered on the 20th anniversary of the conflict yesterday. John Caddy, from Dormanstown, Redcar, east Cleveland, was acting chief weapons engineer on board HMS Coventry during the conflict in the
-
Date
Wellocks World
SOMEONE on the wireless said England were through to the second phrase. This is quite an achievement as footballers are known for being unable to string two phrases together. What would the second phrase be? To be fair, in all fairness, at the end of
-
Date
More than a family affair
New families often have a short shelf life in soapland, especially if the producers run out of storylines. But, sometimes it's the ones we love to hate who survive the test As the Hancocks make their exit from Ramsay Street this week, a new family - the
-
Date
Home was used for growing cannabis
A MAN had a sophisticated system for growing cannabis in his home, including specialist lighting and gas tanks, a court heard yesterday. When officers raided the home of Mark William Adams, in Evenwood, they found numerous cannabis plants, soil acidity
-
Date
England make last eight
England are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after they beat Denmark 3 - 0 in Niigata. Sven Goran Eriksson's men will face Belgium or Brazil in the next round thanks to first half strikes from Michael Owen and Emile Heskey and a bizarre
-
Date
Parents angry at children film ban
CINEMAS bosses are to challenge the 12 certificate awarded to this summer's big movie, Spiderman. Thousands of comic book fans have been disappointed to find they are too young to watch the film because censors believe it is too violent. Although the
-
Date
A half-century to celebrate in true cricketing spirit
As modest a man as ever hid light under bushel, Alan Peirson is marking 50 years as secretary of Kildale Cricket Club and of subscribing the game's true spirit. He is a dedicated groundsman, too, recently relinquished umpiring responsibilities and quite
-
Date
Old habits and diehards
While the rest of England raised a glass to youth and vitality, the Over 40s League celebrated its 22nd wrinkle retardant awards night. Even dear old David Seaman is younger than any of this lot: for money read love, for vitality read viagra. It began
-
Date
School heads in running for national award
THE heads of two country schools are in the running for a national award honouring outstanding contributions to the rural community. Susan Hollows and Lynne Wood, both of North Yorkshire, have been nominated in the Rural Schoolteacher of the Year category
-
Date
Welcome for new guide which will help parents keep youngsters happy
A NEW guide is helping make life easier for the parents of children in the Chester-le-Street area. Durham-based Clever Clogs Publishing has produced a booklet that gives information on facilities, activities and services in the district for youngsters
-
Date
Top teachers to be named at ceremony
SOME of the region's most dedicated teachers will be honoured next week. During the Teaching Awards 2002, honours will be handed out to celebrate the role which teachers and teaching assistants play. Hundreds of nominations have been submitted by the
-
Date
Big Brother bets scam alert to viewers
NORTH-EAST Big Brother contestant Jonny Regan survived for another week in the show after viewers overwhelmingly voted to oust body builder Lee Davey last night. The escape for the 29-year-old firefighter from Trimdon, County Durham, came as the makers
-
Date
Historic cemetery to have facelift
A PROPOSED facelift for one of the North-East's oldest working cemeteries came a step closer yesterday. Middlesbrough Council's bid for refurbishments to Linthorpe Cemetery took another step towards success with the details of a revised funding application
-
Date
Scheme to send patients abroad takes step forward
ARRANGEMENTS to send North-East heart patients abroad for surgery have moved a step closer. Hundreds of letters will soon go out to patients waiting for heart surgery explaining how the Government's plan to speed up operations will work. As part of these
-
Date
World Cup and jubilee see increase in home violence
NEW figures have revealed a disturbing increase in incidents of domestic violence in the region during the World Cup. Victims' groups claim there were three times as many reported cases of domestic violence after England's first World Cup match during
-
Date
Thumbs up for graphical splendour
Virtua Fighter 4. Platform: PS2. Publisher: SCEE. Price: £39.99. VIRTUA Fighter 4 represented the defining moment in the demise of Sega's Dreamcast console. Although the under-rated machine had been struggling, gamers held on to the notion that Sega would
-
Date
Final victory for Victorian farm campaigners
CAMPAIGNERS are claiming what they hope will be the final victory in a long-running battle to protect a farm from development schemes. A Government planning inspector is recommending that Home Farm, with its collection of early Victorian water powered
-
Date
Love lost down by the Riverside for too long
DURHAM are resigned to being without Martin Love until late July, but seeking a replacement is out of the question. Although the rules allow a deputy for an overseas player who is on international duty, they do not allow one for an injured player. "We
-
Date
Death of mental health patient was 'natural', inquest decides
AN inquest into the death of a mental health patient whose body was found in a field was completed yesterday. Julie Sams, 54, had been missing for three weeks from the Goodall Centre, Woodhouse Close, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, when her body was
-
Date
Oars to the ready for big festival
WORLD Cup football will take a back seat as hundreds of oarsmen and women make a splash at a rowing festival this weekend. The 168th Durham Regatta, known as The Henley of the North, has attracted a near-record of 560 entries, despite the counter-attraction
-
Date
Journalists back strike action call
STRONG backing for strike action has emerged from a ballot of North-East journalists after they rejected a pay offer. The National Union of Journalists has balloted staff at Newcastle Chronicle and Journal (NCJ) - whose newspapers include The Journal,
-
Date
Comment: Sir Bobby - that's right
THERE have been times when we have felt compelled to question the justification for honours handed out to certain individuals. But no one will disagree that Sir Bobby Robson sounds just right. It is a reward which will not be questioned even in the passionately
-
Date
Addict robbed his own mum
A heroin addict burgled his parents' home weeks before violently robbing his mother. Adam Claughton, 24, raided his family home two days before Christmas last year and attempted to sell his parents' £500 hi-fi system for £30 to spend on the drug. Newcastle
-
Date
Police warn of cashcard con
PEOPLE wanting to withdraw money from cash machines are being urged to feel their way first. The police warning comes after two people lost their savings when ATM dispensers were 'spiked' by crooks. Cleveland Police fear a gang is targeting Teesside with
-
Date
Recluse's body 'in flat for six months'
A LONER may have lay dead in his North-East home for six months before his body was discovered. The body of John Aplin was discovered by police after neighbours reported swarms of flies around his council flat home. The alarm was raised at the complex
-
Date
Ambulance trust audited
ONE of the region's two main ambulance trusts is to be inspected by an independent health watchdog. The North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust is due to be visited by an assessment team from the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI). As part of the
-
Date
School closure evokes plenty of memories
A THOUSAND candles burned as brightly as the memories when a school began to mark its closure this week. St Anthony's School, which closes its doors for the last time after 45 years next month, was open yesterday for former pupils to take a last nostalgic
-
Date
New director named by trust
THE organisation responsible for community health services in North Durham has appointed a new director. Linda Templey becomes director of primary and community services for Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust. She was chief executive of the
-
Date
Rapist used screwdriver to threaten prostitute
A RAPIST was on bail for a similar offence when he assaulted a prostitute and threatened her with a screwdriver, it was revealed in court yesterday. Anthony Curran had been accused of raping a woman at his flat nine months before he raped the prostitute
-
Date
Police hunt lay-by carjackers
POLICE were last night hunting two brazen thieves who hijacked a high-performance car from a lay-by on the Great North Road. The blue BMW M3 coupe was stolen after the owner, who has not been named, pulled over on the south-bound carriageway of the A1
-
Date
Threat of strike as lecturers reject rise
NORTH-East universities could face strike action after lecturers rejected the offer of a 2.5 per cent pay rise. The Association on University Teachers (AUT) said it would "take whatever action necessary" to secure a better deal after refusing the offer
-
Date
Brining the World Cup to your fingertips
2002: Fifa World Cup. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Available on all major home platforms. Prices start at £29.99 and run to £44.99. THE BEAUTY of playing video games is the way they can make your dreams come true. Take the World Cup, for instance. Although
-
Date
Students react dramatically to real-life issues
A NEWLY-formed theatre group is staging its first production this weekend. React, which is made up of Durham University students, will perform Saved, by Edward Bond, in the Fonteyn Ballroom, in Durham Students' Union, tonight at 8.30pm, and tomorrow at
-
Date
Young vandals putting bus services to estate at risk
BUS services may be withdrawn from an estate because drunken stone-throwing youths have targeted vehicles. Stagecoach is threatening to stop its service through the Red Hall Estate, in Darlington, after ten bus windows were broken by stones in the past
-
Date
Burglar locked up after house break-in
A BURGLAR who broke into a family's home while they were at prayers at a mosque was locked up yesterday. The family were at the mosque next to their Middlesbrough home when Jonathon Bamlett stole their property on March 17. Michael O'Neill, prosecuting
-
Date
Woolworths says Bhs merger would not benefit shareholders
WOOLWORTHS has rejected a merger with fellow high street retailer Bhs. The group said it had held exploratory discussions with Bhs boss Philip Green, to examine the benefits of a closer relationship between the pair, including the possibility of a merger
-
Date
Theatre place a big break for Jonathan
A TEENAGER from the North-East has been selected for training with the National Youth Theatre. Jonathan Bussell, 17, from Yarm, is one of 180 chosen from 4,000 applicants. The Conyers School sixth-former is fresh from lead roles in Oklahoma and a show
-
Date
Training for riverside jobs
A TYNESIDE college is playing a lead role in a flagship project to maintain vital skills for marine and offshore industries. South Tyneside College, in conjunction with Swan Hunter, has launched a new adult apprenticeship training programme, known as
-
Date
Club assault witness plea
A 39-year-old man is in intensive care after he was assaulted outside a nightclub yesterday. The victim was last night in a stable condition in Middlesbrough General Hospital following the attack outside the Bongo club, in the town's Sussex Street. Two
-
Date
Bath-maker makes waves on railways
A NEWLY qualified driver at Arriva Trains Northern was celebrating this week after becoming the company's 200th train driver to complete his training. Following one of the largest driver recruitment and training programmes ever seen in the rail industry
-
Date
Top airman flies in for assessment
A WAR hero and flying legend has been in the region to talk to aviation enthusiasts. Captain Eric Brown, the most decorated Fleet Air Arm pilot and British test pilot, was at the St George Hotel at Teesside Airport to talk to the Cleveland Aviation Society
-
Date
Lion-hearted support for school appeal
ROARY the Lion has kick-started a Stockton school's efforts to raise money for a new minibus. The Middlesbrough Football Club mascot visited The Norton School to present the winner of a raffle with a signed team shirt. Middlesbrough donated the prize
-
Date
Students showcase their efforts
A NORTH-EAST college is showing the work of its students. Their efforts range from fashion to three dimensional studies, graphics and textiles through to film and television design. The work of students attending Middlesbrough's College of Art and Design
-
Date
Shakespeare shows up at two castles
HISTORY comes alive later this month when the work of Shakespeare is played at two of the region's castles. Dilston, near Corbridge, is first to host a performance of As You Like It from 7.30pm on Saturday, June 29, while another follows at the same time
-
Date
David and Louise's day gets even bigger
MATCH of the Day kicks-off at noon today for England fan David Frostick. The Hartlepool United die-hard could be forgiven for allowing his thoughts to drift away while walking down the aisle. Because as England are taking on Denmark with a place in the
-
Date
Boost for Hetton
The derby at Eppleton looks set to be the most interesting game of the day when they entertain top-of-the-table Hetton Lyons. Nineteen points separate the sides as a result of Eppleton being left kicking their heels last week when rain washed out their
-
Date
Chris introduces the Howards' way
GUISBOROUGH'S Chris Gent will be spending time at work persuading others to follow in his footsteps. The 33-year-old seargent joined the Green Howards 14 years ago and has since served all over the world, including Bosnia, Northern Ireland, the Falklands
-
Date
Guide offers leisure ideas
A NEW leisure guide to Hambleton has been published. The annual district council publication includes everything from hiring village halls to places of interest. Leisure spokesperson, Councillor Susan Latter, said: "There are ideas for all ages and abilities
-
Date
Northallerton fearing the worst from Boro visit
After being bowled out for a meagre 30 runs in the Kerridge Cup at Acklam Park on Thursday night, Northallerton will not relish the prospect of meeting Middlesbrough again this afternoon. Even though they will have a stronger side on duty - including
-
Date
Cyclists' charity ride
STUDENTS and staff from Stockton and Billingham College will be cycling around Teesside in aid of charity. The event on Thursday is part of National Bike Week, which promotes the use of green transport methods. Participants will cycle from the college's
-
Date
Sorensen - hero or villain?
Saving an Alan Shearer penalty bestowed instant deification upon Thomas Sorensen in Sunderland. Today he stands a possible 90 minutes away from being denounced as the devil incarnate throughout the whole of England - Wearside included. With the eyes of
-
Date
Charity appeal to help save more lives
SPORTS centre worker Simon Albeson, from Darlington, has launched a fundraising drive to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. The 23-year-old, who works at the Dolphin Centre, in the town centre, also aims to raise enough money to help the sports
-
Date
Coins wanted
THE Butterwick Hospice wants foreign currency and pre-decimal coins to help raise funds. They can be delivered to the hospice in Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland, or call (01388) 603003.
-
Date
News in brief: Animal centre fun day
THE National Canine Defence League Rehoming Centre, at Sadberge, near Darlington, holds its annual fun day tomorrow. Events include dog shows, demonstrations, treasure hunts, a bouncy castle, face-painting, and a dog and dad look-alike competition for
-
Date
Dancer jumps for joy with fame school place
A UNIVERSITY graduate is dancing for joy after beating off hundreds of competitors for a coveted place at the UK Fame school. Stephen Uppal, from Middlesbrough, starts a diploma course in musical theatre at the Arts Educational Institute in Chiswick in
-
Date
Students aid dyspraxia campaign
DURHAM students are helping a charity to raise awareness of its work. The Dyspraxia Foundation County Durham (DFCD) aims to promote greater understanding of the condition - an impairment or immunity in the organisation of movement - that affects one in
-
Date
Witnesses to sexual assault are sought
WITNESSES are being urged to come forward after a teenager was sexually assaulted in Stockton. Police would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about the incident which took place at 10.40pm on Tuesday. The 14-year-old girl was assaulted
-
Date
Wardens are to be debated during forum
DETAILS of a community wardens pilot scheme in part of Hartlepool will be just one of the topics at a meeting next week. The New Deal for Communities (NDC) Community Forum takes place on Monday at The People Centre, in Raby Road, at 6.30pm. It gives residents
-
Date
Kidnappers threatened to cut off fingers
TWO men have both been jailed for three-and-a-half years after staging a kidnap where the victim was told that his fingers and toes would be cut off. Bryan Knox, 20, and Kristian Gibson, 23, took a man from a bus stop them drove him to a house in Washington
-
Date
The World Cup Bit on the Side
A Newcastle-supporting journalist at the World Cup almost committed the ultimate sin by claiming to be a Sunderland fan to get a story. Trying to chase up the latest on Jon Dahl Tomasson's injury, he eventually managed to track down Danish team-mate Thomas
-
Date
The black and white knight
THE sporting world united last night to congratulate football stalwart Bobby Robson on receiving a knighthood in today's Queen's Birthday Honours List. The hugely popular Newcastle United boss, who was rewarded for services to soccer, joins Sir Bobby
-
Date
Call for electoral boundary debate rejected
A COUNCILLOR has lost his fight for people to have their say on which MP has responsibility for their area. Darlington Borough Council Conservative group leader Councillor Tony Richmond wanted public consultation on possible changes to the Sedgefield
-
Date
Children in plea for play areas clean-up
CHILDREN are campaigning for playgrounds to be cleaned up after being told they can no longer play in the streets. Youngsters in the Cockerton area of Darlington have asked their residents' association to campaign for the three parks in the area to be
-
Date
Smartie idea for helping hospice
HUNDREDS of children have created artwork for a Father's Day event this weekend, which will also raise money for charity. Primary school pupils across County Durham have transformed ordinary Smartie sweet tubes into rockets, palm trees, animals and a
-
Date
People wanted to perform on stage
THE search is on for budding performers to steal the limelight in Hartlepool. A total of 40 volunteers are needed to take part in an exciting stage performance involving drama and music early next year. The main aim of the project is to bring together
-
Date
Lib-dems survey on technical college move 'premature'
LIBERAL Democrats are leafleting thousands of residents in Darlington to find out their views on plans to move a college to the outskirts of the town. Darlington College of Technology is keen to secure a modern facility, and is looking at the possibility
-
Date
Concern as teenager disappears
CONCERN is growing for a teenager who has not been seen for more than a fortnight. Victoria Sinclair, 14, moved to Kent at the end of last year but has spent most of her life in Middlesbrough. She was last seen leaving her home in Whitstable at about
-
Date
News in brief: Dance medal for student
A dance student with special needs has been awarded a certificate and medal after completing a course with the Exploring Arts course run by County Care North Yorkshire, Newbiggin, Richmond. Heather Reynoldson's sense of rhythm won her the admiration of
-
Date
Women who live in fear of football
The number of reported cases of domestic violence has risen dramatically during the World Cup. One victim tells Women's Editor Christen Pears why she is not surprised MELANIE'S husband was a big football fan. He used to invite his friends round to the
-
Date
News in brief: Minister to give lecture
Cabinet Office Minister Lord Macdonald of Tradeston, better known as former journalist and broadcaster Gus Macdonald, will give the fourth annual education lecture at Chester-le-Street's Hermitage School, on Friday, July 12, from 4.45pm to 5.45pm. Tickets
-
Date
Hear All Sides: WORLD CUP
AFTER a match resulting in England progressing to the second round of the World Cup, we should be singing England's praises. Not so after their match with Nigeria, when they were lucky to scrape through, due to the four points they already had under their
-
Date
Walks offer a healthy alternative
A SPORTS science student has been appointed as walking project co-ordinator for a health initiative. Duncan Gomes, a student at New College, Durham, has been working voluntarily for the community organisation Chance since September and recently completed
-
Date
Cadets support drug campaign
A COMMUNITY policeman has enlisted the services of sea cadets to combat drug misuse. PC Craig Johnson, designated beat officer for Bournmoor, Woodstone and the County Durham side of Fencehouses, has asked the Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets to distribute
-
Date
Cup hero opens sports club
FOOTBALL legend Jack Charlton opened the £700,000 Saltburn Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club last week. The facilities at Saltburn are now thought to rival similar clubs at Headingley and Lords. A new sports hall for community and club use sits alongside
-
Date
At Your Service: A devoted life and a violent death
THEY were poor but they were honest - most of them, anyway. They were sober other than on Fridays and Saturdays, smart in a second-hand sort of a way, peace makers except when provoked or drunk or on the occasion that a wronged husband threatened to cut
-
Date
Being a sport can help little Annie beat eating disorder
AMATEUR golfers and racing pundits can help raise money to send a four-year-old girl with a chronic eating disorder to America for treatment. Friends of Annie Jones' family have organised the fundraising events to help the youngster, who suffers from
-
Date
Hunt for rail track vandals
A HUNT is on to find vandals who tried to derail a train at Brotton last week. Three sleepers were dragged on to a railway track, but a driver saw the obstruction in time to stop his freight train before it could hit the blocks. British Transport Police
-
Date
A hero we have taken to our hearts
Sir Bobby Robson's epic journey has taken him from the County Durham mines to the coal face of Premiership football, via the toughest job in England and a life-saving operation. The 69-year-old's boundless energy puts people four decades his junior to
-
Date
Man jailed after attack on pensioner with stick
A WOULD-BE robber under the influence of drink and drugs beat a pensioner with a stick when she would not hand over her handbag, a court heard yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard that Sean Hewitson took sleeping tablets after drinking, before following
-
Date
Parents warned over truancy
A MOBILE police station is to become the latest weapon in a crackdown on truancy in North Yorkshire. The county's police force is teaming up with education chiefs to make parents aware of the potential legal consequences of not ensuring that their children
-
Date
Pensioner killed by 'adult cot death'
A RETIRED nurse died of the adult equivalent of cot death, an inquest heard yesterday. Audrey Holmes was discovered by her daughter on the floor of her bedroom in Ternbeck Way, Thornaby, Teesside, last December. The 64-year-old divorcee had a history
-
Date
Private meeting over 'adventure freebie' condemned
A PRIVATE meeting between a local authority's management team and its councillors has been condemned by one member, who is demanding it be held in public. Richmondshire District Council found itself under fire when 11 senior executives enjoyed a two-day
-
Date
Child pricked by used drugs needle
A MOTHER has called for a town's bus station to be cleaned up after her three-year-old daughter pricked herself on a used hypodermic needle. Emma Whitfield-Gash, of Woodside, Bishop Auckland, is now facing an agonising wait to see if her daughter, Rebecca
-
Date
The other Royal family
The combination of sex, money and lavish costumes has proved a winner in the past for the makers of royal sagas. But can the Queen Mother's story revive interest in the House of Windsor? The ingredients outclassed anything a glossy American soap could
-
Date
Picking the perfect place for a pleasant pond
IT'S all about turning a negative into a positive, isn't it? That's exactly what I have done in one particular area of my own garden. Where once I had a pile of broken old stones, I now have a sculptured wildlife pond. Every garden has that little corner
-
Date
Making fuel for thought
Q What is the difference between lead-free and unleaded petrol? - G Gregg, Ferryhill. A The sale of four-star leaded petrol ceased in the UK and Europe after January 1, 2000. Only special licensed pumps for leaded fuel remained for use for classic vehicles
-
Date
Squaring up for a GameCube challenge
TRADITIONALLY Nintendo has always been late. The Mega Drive arrived before the SNES; the PlayStation was on sale for more than a year before we even had a glimpse of the N64. In the past Nintendo could always rely on fans of its games to wait for a new
-
Date
Transport hiccup throws future of charity into doubt
A CHARITY for the disabled may be forced to shut down. Marie Ward, of the Durham County Association for the Disabled, said she fears for the charity's future if Durham County Council does not step in. In the past, the council provided buses to drive about
-
Date
It's all Red and White to former Animal Price
Alan Price, the best known Jarrow Lad since the Venerable Bede, wishes it to be known that he is a lifelong Sunderland fan. Good intentions notwithstanding, he remains much misunderstood. A German fan was so convinced that the 1960s pop idol would be
-
Date
Carlisle the visitors but what was the score?
Ann Winterton was the lucky one. The Tory MP may have been unseated from the opposition front bench for telling a wretchedly racist and risibly unfunny joke at a rugby club dinner, but at least someone must have been listening. They weren't at Darlington
