Archive
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Helping poorly pets bloom again
FLOWERS could be the answer to cure depressed cats and aggressive dogs, a pet practitioner believes. Chris Drinkhall, a qualified Bach flower practioner after two years' training, has gone into business treating animals. Ms Drinkhall, of West Dyke Road
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Falcons take heart from last-gasp victory
SNATCHING victory with the last kick of the match offered surprising consolation for Newcastle yesterday in a Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final which had long been beyond them. They showed no conviction in the first half that they could overhaul
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Yorkshire set to part company with coach Clark
Yorkshire are set to announce that their Australian-born director of coaching, Wayne Clark, will not be at Headingley next season. Clark, who guided Yorkshire to the Championship in 2001 and was in charge last summer when they lifted the Cheltenham and
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Soldier injured with pick-axe recovering
A soldier allegedly struck with a pick-axe during an Army exercise is out of danger. Lance Corporal Konrad Bisping, 26, based at Catterick Garrison, was fighting for his life following the incident on Salisbury Plain last week. He needed emergency surgery
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Lining up a nice little earner
THIEVES who stole 300 tonnes of railway track will not stop plans to revive a mothballed North-East line, campaigners were assured last night. More than two miles of rail was ripped up and taken away, leaving just the bare track bed. Over the weekend,
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England captaincy beckons for mature Jenas, says Dyer
KIERON DYER has tipped midfield sidekick Jermaine Jenas as a future England captain. The pair were labelled "absolutely outstanding'' by Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson after Saturday's 2-0 home win over Kevin Keegan's Manchester City. Robson, who
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Councillors revolt by leaving Labour
A town hall bust-up has led to rebel Labour councillors leaving the party and standing as independents in the May elections. Up to eight members could leave Stockton Borough and Thornaby Town Councils after a furious war of words with the local Labour
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Setting wheels in motion for improvements at bus station
A ONE-WOMAN campaign to revamp Durham's busy bus station has been given the backing of passengers. Janice Spence, from Burnhope, near Lanchester, was spurred into action after watching mothers with small children, and elderly people, endure an uncomfortable
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Brian Clough recovering after transplant
Legendary football manager Brian Clough is recovering at a North-East clinic after undergoing a liver transplant. The 67-year-old was recuperating following the major surgery which took place last week. The former Nottingham Forest manager underwent the
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Zoe is 'chuffed to bits' at first hit
NORTH-EAST pop princess Zoe Birkett was thrilled last night after storming into the charts at number 12. The 17-year-old narrowly missed out on the Top Ten with her debut single Treat Me Like A Lady, but said she was delighted all the same. "I'm absolutely
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Gardening: A feast for my feathered friends
FRIDAY night used to be party night. It was a matter of kick off the work shoes and chill out for a couple of days before Monday came round again. Recently, however, my Friday evening routine has been changing. Instead of flopping into the sofa with a
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800 patients removed from GP centre's list
EIGHT hundred patients are being removed from the list of a North-East surgery. Patients in County Durham who are registered with GPs at the Rowland's Gill Medical Centre have received a letter from the practice explaining why they will have to find new
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Extra security cameras
WORK is under way on a new £75,000 closed-circuit TV camera system covering the Bensham and Saltwell areas of Gateshead. The four-camera system will be linked to Gateshead police station and will be monitored 24 hours a day. Masts will be installed at
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Preparing for cuts at schools
THE first phase of consultations on plans to overhaul primary education is under way. Sunderland City Council announced the plans as part of a rolling programme to eliminate surplus places. It is putting forward a range of options for schools in Sunderland
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Car worker clocks up 30 years
THE New Year has brought a double celebration for garage technician Jimmy Goldsmith. The 54-year-old, of Silksworth, Sunderland, became a grandfather for the first time and also clocked up 30 years working for car dealer Reg Vardy. Mr Goldsmith, who is
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Stepping in to promote city
EXPERIENCED city centre manager Ken Mackie has stepped into the breach to answer a call in the North-East - 200 miles from his familiar stamping ground. Mr Mackie retired last July at the age of 65 after 11 years promoting Wolverhampton city centre, in
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Group pulls together to aid farm idea
A GROUP of students are pulling together to raise cash for Romanian orphans. Students and lecturers from Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, will haul a tractor more than nine miles, from Tynemouth to Grey's Monument
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A feast for my feathered friends
FRIDAY night used to be party night. It was a matter of kick off the work shoes and chill out for a couple of days before Monday came round again. Recently, however, my Friday evening routine has been changing. Instead of flopping into the sofa with a
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News in brief: Woman killed in car collision
A WOMAN died and four other people were injured in an accident on the A169 in North Yorkshire yesterday. A Vauxhall Cavalier and a Peugeot were involved in the collision, near Eden Camp Museum, Malton, just before midday. Three people in the Cavalier
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Invitation to happy couples
COUPLES celebrating wedding anniversaries will be able to share the secrets of a long and happy marriage at a service at Ripon Cathedral later this year. Blessings and thanksgiving are part of the event, held a number of times over the past few years,
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Community bank reaches milestone
A COMMUNITY bank set up to boost the incomes of people living in Hartlepool's New Deal for Communities (NDC) area is celebrating reaching a milestone. Moneywise Community Banking, in Avenue Road, recently recruited its 100th NDC resident member since
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Agony goes on for Boro's travelsick fans
FULHAM'S unhappy supporters held yellow cards aloft before their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough to demand a return to Craven Cottage. But those followers, who held up the "Take us home" cards, were the ones smiling by the final whistle. And perhaps after
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McBride double sinks struggling Sunderland
EVERTON manager David Moyes was talking about his match-winner Brian McBride, but how apposite his comments are when used to describe Sunderland's plight. "He gives us great honesty and commitment, and that's what you need in your team to make it work
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FA Vase round-up: Bay are the sole survivors
Only Whitley Bay from the Albany Northern League are left in the FA Vase after four clubs crashed out in the fourth round on Saturday. Durham City crashed out 4-0 at home to Sudbury, but the scoreline flattered the visitors. Durham boss Billy Cruddas
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D-day for electricity station proposal
A DERELICT North-East cokeworks could play a key role helping to power homes in Norway. Revised plans will be considered by Easington district councillors on Thursday for an electricity converter station proposed for the former Hawthorn Colliery and Cokeworks
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Mowden ease worries
WHILE Darlington Mowden Park eased their relegation worries in National Three North with a 28-15 win at Broadstreet, Darlington lost the top-of-the-table battle in North One when they went down 26-17 at Cleckheaton. Mowden moved up two places to fifth
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The present gives voice to the past
Songs and poems from across the North-East have been brought together in a new compilation, which has also united opera singers with heavy metal frontmen. Nick Morrison tunes in. WHAT do the lead singer of heavy metal group AC/DC, Inspector Morse's sidekick
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Wearside League: Ten-men Wolviston let lead slip
It is difficult enough playing Birtley Town with a full side but when Wolviston were reduced to ten men after only 35 minutes, they faced mission impossible in the quarter final of the Durham Challenge Cup. Until then they more than held their own after
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Widow's plea to find war nurse
A NORTH Yorkshire woman is hoping to trace a nurse who treated her husband, in the hope she can help clinch an appeal against a decision to deny her a war widow's pension. Pat Lynch has been told by the Ministry of Defence that she is not entitled to
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Clarke proves natural
Unlikely goal hero Matt Clarke revealed why he was so reluctant to answer Mick Tait's half-time call for a striker - he wasn't sure of what to do! But Clarke, who began his career as a forward with Halifax, proved that scoring goals is a bit like riding
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Oxford blue as rampant Richardson runs riot
REPUTATIONS count for nothing at Victoria Park these days. Oxford arrived on Saturday labelled a tough nut to crack, seven games unbeaten and the division's meanest defence on the road. Hartlepool United striker Marcus Richardson started the game knowing
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Washing machine dilemma solved
FORMER laundry manager Pauline Golightly confesses to more than a passing interest in old washing machines. Her relationship with one particular model has, in fact, developed into a magnificent obsession. It all began at a car boot sale at Scorton, in
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Ex-mayor angers Neale victims
VICTIMS of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale have criticised a former mayor for urging them to take part in a private inquiry into the scandal. John Bacon, who was mayor of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in 1983, made his appeal last week to former patients
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Students hit the road - on a simulator
PUPILS have been given the chance to experience driving without actually moving. More than 300 County Durham students, many under 17, had the opportunity to use the British School of Motoring's (BSM) driving simulator, which is touring the region. The
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Police wait to interview teenager injured in crash
POLICE trying to solve the mystery of a schoolboy's death in a road crash hope to question an injured teenager today. Until they interview the 14-year-old, who is in hospital with a serious hand injury, they will not know which of four boys was driving
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Excise duty 'damaging our trade'
TRADE organisations argue that lower cigarette duties in countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Spain are damaging because North-East people can legitimately bring in cheap cigarettes. John Abbott, North-East spokesperson for the Tobacco Alliance
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Comment: First shut the stable door
SMOKING is not illegal in this country and, despite all the health warnings, there will be some people who persist in smoking either through addiction or choice. As British tobacco prices are twice as high as abroad, there will be smuggling. And so while
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N-E 'is blackspot for cigarette smuggling'
ACCORDING to the Customs Service, the North-East is a blackspot for cigarette smuggling. Indeed, in October it selected the region for its first publicity campaign, designed to make smugglers realise that they risked being caught. The service said that
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The Albany Northern League Today: Huggins blow tempers Brandon's rise to top
Brandon returned to the top of the First Division with a 3-2 win at Prudhoe - but their delight was tempered by injury. While Brandon held on for victory, previous leaders Bedlington dropped points at home to Consett. But Kenny Lindoe's side look as if
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Raiders strike at station
THIEVES have put lives at risk after stealing a piece of medical equipment from a North-East train station. The £1,500 defibrillator, which can restore a heartbeat in the event of a heart attack, was taken from the platform of Darlington station between
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Motorists stop youngsters' skatepark fun
KILLJOY motorists who stop youngsters from using a mobile skateboard park are being asked to move their cars. Sedgefield Borough Council cannot run weekly skateboarding sessions in Spennymoor because drivers are refusing to clear the Festival Walk car
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News in brief: £300,000 church revamp
A NORTH Yorkshire town's Methodist Church, gutted by fire a year ago is getting a £310,000 restoration. The church, at Norton-on-Derwent, was extensively damaged when the fire started in the organ and spread to the rest of the building. It is likely to
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News in brief: Playscheme staff praised
PLAYSCHEMES and out-of- school clubs in Hartlepool have come in for praise following a consultation exercise. Hartlepool Borough Council operates a summer playscheme from five venues around the town, as well as several after-school and holiday clubs.
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Sewer switch celebration
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating victory in a battle they did not expect to win, after persuading a water company to switch a sewer site. Northumbrian Water has bowed to pressure from people in Bladeside, Crook, and is moving an outflow chamber away from their
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Quizzing councillors about tax spending
TAXPAYERS who want to know how their money will be spent locally this year have been invited to question senior members of North Yorkshire County Council at a series of meetings. The authority's leader, Councillor John Weighell, has confirmed he will
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Focusing on night sky
VISITORS to the Museum Gardens, in York, will be invited to take a journey through space tomorrow night. Resident astronomer Martin Lunn is hosting an open evening at the old observatory from 6pm, which will include an exploration of the night sky through
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Sheep bring colour to the meadow
SHAGGY eco-warriers have chomped their way through a vegetarian menu to bring a riot of spring colour to a popular beauty spot. The unwitting environmentalists are a flock of Suffolk- cross sheep recruited by the Forestry Commission to encourage flowers
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Go behind the scenes with cathedral tour
A SECOND tour behind the scenes of one of the region's cathedrals is to be held following huge public demand for an event later this month. A Jolly Up January evening tour of Durham Cathedral was organised as a fundraiser for St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham
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D-day for electricity station proposal
A DERELICT North-East cokeworks could play a key role helping to power homes in Norway. Revised plans will be considered by Easington district councillors on Thursday for an electricity converter station proposed for the former Hawthorn Colliery and Cokeworks
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Residents block games arcade
RESIDENTS have won their battle to stop developers opening an amusement arcade and caf yards from a primary school. More than 200 people living near the former Locomotive pub, in Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, signed a petition against the plan by Unetco
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Car crashes into town centre shop
SHOPPERS and motorists had a lucky escape when a car careered into a town centre shop. The vehicle was being driven along Market Street, Scarborough, and crashed into the Bjorn Clogs shop in Queen Street - only minutes after owner Bjorn Roswald had closed
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Disabled people celebrated
A SERIES of events to mark the European Year of Disabled People will be launched in Darlington on Wednesday. Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) plans to hold activities throughout the year including a sponsored abseil and swim, a competition for
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Planners to visit stately home site
THE location chosen for a new stately home will be inspected when councillors visit the site at the end of the month. Property developer Leon Howard hopes to use designs drawn by Castle Howard architect Sir John Vanbrugh as the basis for his home in North
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Rural post offices close following series of raids
ANOTHER post office is to close in the wake of an armed raid last week. Geoff Simpson was beaten and left bruised by two men who used a chainsaw to get into his premises in Helmsley, North Yorkshire. A substantial amount of cash was taken in the robbery
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Rural post offices close following series of raids
ANOTHER post office is to close in the wake of an armed raid last week. Geoff Simpson was beaten and left bruised by two men who used a chainsaw to get into his premises in Helmsley, North Yorkshire. A substantial amount of cash was taken in the robbery
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Workers win safety award
Employees at a Newton Aycliffe factory have won an international award for the plant's environmental, health and safety record. The 3M company, which operates in more than 60 countries, has singled out the Aycliffe site as the first global winner of its
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N-E target of Yardie gangs, says Chief Constable
FEARS are growing that Yardie gangs could be moving into the North-East in an attempt to corner the crack cocaine and prostitution markets. A report by the Chief Constable to Cleveland Police Authority says West Indian organised crime groups could already
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Advisor is guest speaker
PROFESSOR Malcolm Hooper, the chief scientific advisor to Gulf War veterans, is guest speaker at a meeting called by the Sunderland Stop the War Campaign next month. The Sunderland University professor, a leading researcher in medicinal chemistry, is
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Police appeal after attack by intruder
POLICE are hunting an attacker who injured a woman in her home. The middle-aged woman was awoken by sounds in the early hours of Saturday in the house in South Stanley, County Durham. When confronted, it is understood the man repeatedly punched the woman
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Families try their arm at shooting for the bull's-eye
FAMILIES in Hartlepool were given the chance to tackle the ancient sport of archery over the weekend. A special event was held at the town's Summerhill Visitor Centre on Saturday where full instructions and equipment were provided.
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Anti-burglary drive aims to ease fears over crime
AN anti-burglary drive has been launched in Hartlepool in an effort to reduce the fear of crime among householders. The Hartlepool Community Safety Partnership, whose members include Hartlepool Borough Council, the police and local businesses, is funding
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Fiamma to make it four
Fiamma Royale, a real Wolverhampton specialist, is taken to notch her fourth course win in today's Bet Direct On 0800 329393 Handicap at her favourite track. Malcolm Saunders' mare is also a most consistent type, something most of this field cannot boast
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Athletics: Morpeth dominate relays
Morpeth Harriers underlined their status as the North-East's leading cross country outfit by providing the first two teams in yesterday's 20th Durham Cathedral Relays. The national cross country champions divided up their runners, with Great Britain internationals
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20/01/03
MIDDLE EAST: THOSE who berate talks with the Palestianians should remember that, to ease the West's guilt after nearly 2,000 years of church and state sanctioned anti-Semitism, the Jews were given their own homeland. We in the West did not care one bit
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Quakers shine with double Matt finish
There's a new striker in town by the name of Matt Clarke. The Darlington defender is hardly renowned for his goalscoring prowess, and by his own admission winning tackles beats putting the ball in the back of the net. But maybe after Saturday's two-goal
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Government under pressure in wrangle over pit pensions
THE Government last night faced fresh calls to rip up a controversial pensions agreement depriving retired coal miners of billions of pounds. About £5bn has gone the way of the Government since agreement was reached eight years ago to underwrite two industry
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Burning Questions: Who was behind the hero of the people?
Q WHO played Robin Hood in the 1920s and 1930s films? - Christine Canning, Shildon. AAt least five movies were made about Robin Hood before the 1920s. The first was a British film Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1908), the next came in 1912 with the American
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Weekend TV: The Royal (ITV1); The Lost Prince (BBC1)
By ambulance from Aidensfield. "JOHN Logie Baird has a lot to answer for," said hospital secretary TJ Middleditch in The Royal, echoing the thoughts of TV critics everywhere. Of course, we'd all be out of a job without the man who invented television,
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Parents protest over buses ruling
THE parents of a GCSE student say they are appalled that their son must walk along a dark country road to get a bus to and from school. Christopher Land, of Linburn Drive, Bishop Auckland, has to get to a bus stand two miles from his home each morning
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High note for children at post office
CHILDREN are benefiting from a post office collection after performing songs for its customers. Pupils from Our Lady School of Martyrs, Hamsteels and Esh Winning primary schools spent time singing at Esh Winning Post Office recently. As a reward, customers
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Learning to cope with illnesses
A PROGRAMME to help people cope with long-term illnesses is to begin. Next month, Easington Primary Care Trust (PCT) will start its first expert patient programme. Part of a national scheme developed by the Department of Health, it will offer courses
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800 patients removed from GP centre's list
EIGHT hundred patients are being removed from the list of a North-East surgery. Patients in County Durham who are registered with GPs at the Rowland's Gill Medical Centre have received a letter from the practice explaining why they will have to find new
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MetroCentre job
Former soldier John Elliott has been appointed as the new events technician supporting the marketing department at Gateshead's MetroCentre. He will help in the setting up, staging and management of events and activities. Mr Elliott previously worked for
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Age Concern appeal for volunteers
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help a charity assist elderly people in County Durham. Age Concern's information team is seeking support from people who can back up its work enabling older people, their families and carers exercise their rights and entitlements
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Group pulls together to aid farm idea
A GROUP of students are pulling together to raise cash for Romanian orphans. Students and lecturers from Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, will haul a tractor more than nine miles, from Tynemouth to Grey's Monument
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Police to tackle anti-social behaviour
A TEAM of Northumbria Police officers will use their expertise to combat anti-social behaviour and youth disorder. The ten officers, comprising detectives and uniformed officers as well as a licensing officer, will combine their skills to catch those
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News in brief: Forum seeking public opionion
A meeting of the coastal area forum, aimed at ensuring people are better informed about council services and allowing them to get involved in decisions, is being held at Poplar House, Welfare Close, Easington Colliery, on Wednesday, February 12, at 6pm
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Church delays search for rector
CHURCH officials have delayed replacing a retired rector for seven months because they need to save money. Rector of Fountains, Canon Tony Keddie, retired from the Fountains Group of Parishes near Ripon last July. But an advertisement for his successor
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Opportunity for pet owners to have animals neutered cheaply
PET owners in east Durham can get their animals neutered at a reduced price in an RSPCA initiative. The charity's Durham, Hartlepool and district branch has teamed up with a Hartlepool vets to offer owners who receive benefits a cut-price neutering service
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Who was behind the hero of the people?
Q WHO played Robin Hood in the 1920s and 1930s films? - Christine Canning, Shildon. AAt least five movies were made about Robin Hood before the 1920s. The first was a British film Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1908), the next came in 1912 with the American
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News in brief: Pets killed in house blaze
A CAT and dog were rescued by firefighters, but three other cats died when fire gutted a ground-floor room at a home in Melsonby Crescent, South Park, Darlington. Station Officer Michael Shillock, of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
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Survey will help devise strategy
THE movements of Tees-siders are being chronicled to help plan the area's future transport needs. Tens of thousands of motorists were flagged down and asked about the journeys they were making and the routes they were taking. The information will help
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Project launched to raise skills
A PROJECT has been launched at a Hartlepool school to encourage children to improve their reading skills. St Helen's Primary School, on the Headland, is piloting the scheme, which involves making reading kits available for children to use at home. Called
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Upbeat Phillips relishing home comforts
KEVIN PHILLIPS last night earmarked Sunderland's next two Premiership games as the defining moment in their season. Sunderland head into two home fixtures in five days, against Southampton and Charlton Athletic, at least two points away from safety. Their
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London wins gospels battle
A NORTH-SOUTH wrangle over who gets the priceless Lindisfarne Gospels has finally been settled. A dispute has been raging for years about whether the gospels should return home. North-East campaigners believe they should have a permanent place on Holy
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Keegan tips Magpies for title tilt
SO what's new? Newcastle attack from the first whistle and Kevin Keegan's side defend badly. It's a familiar refrain to Geordie fans, who remember with fondness the cut-and-thrust of the Keegan era at St. James' Park. Six years after his cataclysmic departure
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The many houses that Zoe built
The building industry is no longer just about wolf whistles and bum cleavage. Women's Editor Christen Pears meets one of the country's few female construction bosses. "HAVE you brought your wellies?" asks Zoe Plummer as I step out of my car onto a rain-soaked
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UniBond League: Moors lose in front of new boss
Spennymoor's new manager Jamie Pollock watched from the stands as his side's promotion challenge faltered in a 3-0 home defeat by North Ferriby. Pollock, appointed as manager on Friday in succession to Tony Lee, saw another poor display by Moors, who
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The Monday Page: "God told me to open a hospice"
The founder of the North-East's first hospice was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours List. She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears about her tireless work with the terminally ill. FOR a woman who had no qualms about selling her home to raise
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Away-day blues remedy still eludes McClaren
STEVE McCLAREN admitted last night he is no closer to finding a cure to end his side's travel-sickness. Boro have now won just once in 12 Premiership matches away from home and McClaren was in no mood for making excuses after yesterday's 1-0 defeat at
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Newt still faces a struggle for survival
SURVEY work has revealed that the great crested newt is facing a battle to survive in parts of the region. A Durham Wildlife Trust survey team has been carrying out research into its status in an area from Darlington to Wearside over the past two years
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Menace of the cigarette gangsters
Children targeted from ice cream vans in booming illegal trade. ORGANISED criminal gangs are making millions of pounds in a racket which is threatening the future of small shops in the region and tempting children to light up. An investigation by The
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Residents to be given say on transport interchange plan
PLANS for a £2.5m transport interchange in Hartlepool will be put in the spotlight later this week to allow residents the chance to have their say about the proposals. The interchange scheme aims to reduce dependence on the car by making public transport
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News in brief: Pets killed in house blaze
A CAT and dog were rescued by firefighters, but three other cats died when fire gutted a ground-floor room at a home in Melsonby Crescent, South Park, Darlington. Station Officer Michael Shillock, of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
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Fourteen held in crackdown
Fourteen youths aged 13 to 17 were arrested as part of a police crackdown on youth disorder in the Biddick Hall area of South Tyneside over the weekend. Seven of them, including one girl, have been charged with offences ranging from causing public nuisance
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Fourteen held in crackdown
Fourteen youths aged 13 to 17 were arrested as part of a police crackdown on youth disorder in the Biddick Hall area of South Tyneside over the weekend. Seven of them, including one girl, have been charged with offences ranging from causing public nuisance
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Police hunt armed raiders
MOTORISTS may have vital information for police investigating an armed raid on a motorway service station shop. A security guard and a member of the public were threatened by two sword-carrying raiders who struck at the Esso shop on the northbound side
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Searching the woods for the Bolam Bigfoot
IT'S not just anglers and walkers who enjoy a stroll around picturesque Bolam country park, in Northumberland. According to recent reports, a half-human, half-ape creature with glowing eyes and a propensity for scaring fishermen is also quite taken with
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Volunteers getting steamed up at prospect of railway revival
FOR a group of passionate railway volunteers, getting steamed up about trains is almost a full-time job. The team from the Weardale Locomotive Preservation Group have spent a decade in pursuit of a dream, restoring rolling stock for a line which hasn't
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Volunteers getting steamed up at prospect of railway revival
FOR a group of passionate railway volunteers, getting steamed up about trains is almost a full-time job. The team from the Weardale Locomotive Preservation Group have spent a decade in pursuit of a dream, restoring rolling stock for a line which hasn't
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Police tests may hold clue to thief's identity
DETECTIVES are hoping forensic tests will lead them to a callous conman. Police are now certain the bogus official who struck in Haswell, east Durham, on Wednesday, January 8, is the same man who called half an hour later at a nearby village. The man
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News in brief: Forum seeking public opinion
A meeting of the coastal area forum, aimed at ensuring people are better informed about council services and allowing them to get involved in decisions, is being held at Poplar House, Welfare Close, Easington Colliery, on Wednesday, February 12, at 6pm
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Efforts to beat pay deadlock continue
EFFORTS to resolve the first deadlocked pay negotiations in Nissan's 18-year history in the North-East will resume this week. The Japanese motor manufacturer has failed to reach agreement with its 5,000-strong workforce on Wearside three weeks after the
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Students hit the road - on a simulator
PUPILS have been given the chance to experience driving without actually moving. More than 300 County Durham students, many under 17, had the opportunity to use the British School of Motoring's (BSM) driving simulator, which is touring the region. The
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News in brief: Forum seeking public opinion
A meeting of the coastal area forum, aimed at ensuring people are better informed about council services and allowing them to get involved in decisions, is being held at Poplar House, Welfare Close, Easington Colliery, on Wednesday, February 12, at 6pm
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Date
News in brief: Forum seeking public opinion
A meeting of the coastal area forum, aimed at ensuring people are better informed about council services and allowing them to get involved in decisions, is being held at Poplar House, Welfare Close, Easington Colliery, on Wednesday, February 12, at 6pm
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Police wait to interview teenager injured in crash
POLICE trying to solve the mystery of a schoolboy's death in a road crash hope to question an injured teenager today. Until they interview the 14-year-old, who is in hospital with a serious hand injury, they will not know which of four boys was driving
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In one man's business, £2.25m a year is going up in smoke
SHOP owner Barrie Taylor knows the cost of illegal cigarette smuggling to his business - exactly £2.25m a year. The businessman, who runs seven stores which sell tobacco in County Durham, came up with the figure when he examined his cigarette sales two
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Seeking ways to provide help for vulnerable victims of crime
A CONFERENCE being held tomorrow will aim to thrash out initiatives to ensure vulnerable victims of crime are given a voice. Not everyone finds it easy to report what they see or hear, so police, lawyers and social services from across North Yorkshire
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On track for cameras
SECURITY cameras are to be fitted to the shed which houses Scarborough's miniature railway engines in an attempt to deter vandals. The move follows a blaze at the sheds over the weekend before Christmas. Arson has not been ruled out. Scarborough Borough
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Raiders strike at station
THIEVES have put lives at risk after stealing a piece of medical equipment from a North-East train station. The £1,500 defibrillator, which can restore a heartbeat in the event of a heart attack, was taken from the platform of Darlington station between
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Don't be taken in by bogus demands
BOGUS data collection agencies are targeting businesses in the North-East with demands for cash. The agencies have written to companies warning them they are breaking the law by not being registered under the Data Protection Act 1998. The official-looking
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Villagers invited to fly their flags
VILLAGERS are being encouraged to help bring an international feel to their community. Parish councillors in Hurworth, near Darlington, have backed plans to fly flags from countries across the world on the village green on their national day. Councillor
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Rose West plans to wed Slade member
Serial killer Rose West is said to be planning to marry the bass player from Slade in Durham jail, following a letter-writing romance. The Durham inmate, who is serving ten life sentences for killing ten young women and girls, is said to have 'fallen
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Bidding for bargains to help charity
BARGAIN hunters have been invited to bid for a collection of antiques - and help raise money for a worthy cause. The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Bernard Bateman, has chosen the Ripon Community House appeal as his the charity to benefit from his year in
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Artist's labour of love
AN expensive love of art inspired Darlington artist Maaike Draper-Albers to take up painting. The 48-year-old, who moved to the North-East 13 years ago from the Netherlands, was buying a piece of art a month until she picked up a paintbrush. She said:
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Football award is a town first
A NORTH-EAST secondary school has received a national award for its commitment to football. High Tunstall, in Hartlepool, is the first school in the town to be awarded the Football Association's Charter Mark Award. A few months ago, the school received
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Football award is a town first
A NORTH-EAST secondary school has received a national award for its commitment to football. High Tunstall, in Hartlepool, is the first school in the town to be awarded the Football Association's Charter Mark Award. A few months ago, the school received
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Clubhouse approval sought
PLANS to use a youth centre in Hartlepool as a rugby clubhouse may be approved when borough councillors meet on Thursday. West Hartlepool Rugby Club has applied for planning permission to use Brinkburn Youth Centre as a clubhouse on Sundays, from 11am
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Mental care scheme wins patients' praise
A SCHEME which allows some psychiatric patients to be cared for in the community rather than in hospital has been praised by its users. Patients in Darlington have given approval to the initiative, which provides emergency out-of-hours help in a crisis
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Sheep bring colour to the meadow
SHAGGY eco-warriers have chomped their way through a vegetarian menu to bring a riot of spring colour to a popular beauty spot. The unwitting environmentalists are a flock of Suffolk- cross sheep recruited by the Forestry Commission to encourage flowers
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Evening lecture
SCIENCE'S view of life after death will be the subject of a lecture later this month. The Reverend Dr John Polkinghorne will give a talk called Science, Christianity and the End of the World: Is there a Destiny Beyond Death? at Durham Cathedral, next
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Damages bid over bombing arrests
RELATIVES of a jailed IRA bomber are to start a legal bid to sue police for their alleged unlawful arrest. Terrorist Sean McNulty's mother, his uncle and a former girlfriend are claiming damages against Northumbria Police at the High Court in Newcastle
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Pub quiz team provides cash tonic for Friarage
PUB regulars have raised thousands of pounds for local causes and charities through regular quiz competitions. And the latest to benefit from the efforts of the Tickle Toby Inn, Northallerton, owned and run by the Beckwith family, is the Mowbray Suite
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Fixed penalty fines threat for dog fouling and litter
A COUNCIL has launched a crackdown on dog fouling. A Wear Valley team is being provided with £50 fixed penalty tickets for dog owners who do not clean up after their pets when they foul the council's land. Culprits who do not pay up within two weeks could
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Youths' dangerous game may stop bus service
HUNDREDS of people could be deprived of two bus services because of a dangerous game being played by a gang of youths. The children have been hanging around near Firthmoor Community Centre, in Darlington, where they play their risky game. They wait for
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Panto stars
GENEROUS pantomime fans in Darlington have raised thousands of pounds for children with terminal illnesses. Audiences at every performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Darlington's Civic Theatre have donated cash for The Willow Foundation, which
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Father of beheaded man tells of tragic discovery
THE father of a man found dead in a bizarre circumstances has spoken of the horrific discovery. Self-employed builder Robert Taylor checked son Boyd's bedroom at the bungalow the pair shared in the hamlet of Milbourne, north of Ponteland, Northumberland
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Father of beheaded man tells of tragic discovery
THE father of a man found dead in a bizarre circumstances has spoken of the horrific discovery. Self-employed builder Robert Taylor checked son Boyd's bedroom at the bungalow the pair shared in the hamlet of Milbourne, north of Ponteland, Northumberland
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Wallowing in nostalgia as Lol's lads return to a field of dreams
Darlington fans were treated to a nostalgic trip down memory lane on Saturday when some of the 1966 promotion-winning team paid a visit to Feethams. Manager Lol Morgan's side, regarded by many as the greatest Quakers team, took to the field before the
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Advisor is guest speaker
PROFESSOR Malcolm Hooper, the chief scientific advisor to Gulf War veterans, is guest speaker at a meeting called by the Sunderland Stop the War Campaign next month. The Sunderland University professor, a leading researcher in medicinal chemistry, is
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Nominations wanted for youth awards scheme
THE search is on for young people across the borough of Stockton whose hard work and achievements deserve recognition. Last year, the Stockton Mayor's Achievement Recognition Trophy (Smart) awards were launched to mark the efforts of young people aged
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Double delight for Blades supporter Humphreys
A PAIR of identical results and Ritchie Humphreys was a happy man on Saturday, writes Nick Loughlin. A little under 24 hours before Hartlepool United beat Oxford 3-1 at Victoria Park, Humphreys raised a smile at the result of the Sheffield derby. Chris
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Arrangements in hand for postal vote election
LETTERS will be going out this month to servicemen and women who are qualified to vote in the borough of Stockton asking them how they want to take part in May's all-postal voting elections. Until now, servicemen and women serving overseas, or others
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Achievements honoured
THE first childcare providers to pass Stockton Borough Council's new quality assurance scheme have been presented with certificates for their achievements. Nine childcare providers, including childminders, day nurseries and holiday clubs, have worked
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News in brief: Playscheme staff praised
PLAYSCHEMES and out-of- school clubs in Hartlepool have come in for praise following a consultation exercise. Hartlepool Borough Council operates a summer playscheme from five venues around the town, as well as several after-school and holiday clubs.
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Doctors 'winning heart battle'
DEATH rates in a North-East health blackspot could be more than halved by a new approach to managing patients, it has been revealed. Family doctors in Easington, east Durham, have pioneered a scheme which has already reduced heart deaths by a quarter.
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Sergeant interviewed in Deepcut enquiry
A sergeant major named on television as the man at the centre of bullying allegations at an Army camp has been interviewed by police. Sgt Major Andrew Gavaghan, an Army welfare officer at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, was portrayed by BBC TV's
