Archive
-
Date
Johnson eyes Cup tilt for Abbey
Howard Johnson is to give Grey Abbey the chance to prove that he is a genuine Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. The Crook trainer is mapping out a select programme for the 10-year-old, who is enjoying a break following an impressive return to action
-
Date
Traffic congestion could threaten region's economy
BUSINESS leaders have warned that congestion and the threat of total gridlock in the region's city centres is emerging as one of the worst burdens on the North-East economy. Regular nose-to-tail traffic problems on the A1 Western Bypass around Newcastle
-
Date
Village homes scheme is rejected
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build luxury homes on an old meadow near a village has been turned down. The Burgess Group had wanted to build 11 homes in a field in Thornton-le-Dale, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, and demolish a bungalow to get access to the
-
Date
'Businesses must cater for disabled - or face being sued'
DISABILITY campaigners have issued a fresh warning to business owners in Darlington that they must take heed of new legislation. The Disability Discrimination Act came into effect on October 1, with implications for traders providing services to the public
-
Date
On TV
Teachers (BBC1) Diana's Will (five) A Christmas-themed wedding sounds like a great idea - until you learn that the participants are teacher Bob and Ping, the Thai takeaway bride purchased over the Internet. Teachers got into the holly-and-tinsel mood
-
Date
Daredevils in charity skydive
THREE teenage computer enthusiasts from a North-East university are swapping PCs for parachutes in the New Year when they take part in a charity skydive. James King, 18, Craig Snowdon, 19, both from Sunderland, and Colin Atkinson, 19, of Hetton-le-Hole
-
Date
Liddle expects to battle for first-team return
DARLINGTON skipper Craig Liddle will not be taking his place in the team for granted when he returns from injury next month. The influential defender has admitted Quakers' recent form in League Two will make it difficult for him to break back into manager
-
Date
McCarthy pays tribute to the fans
MICK McCARTHY paid tribute to his loyal supporters ahead of this weekend's Boxing Day clash against Leeds United, and asked them to provide their team with a further boost by turning out in numbers. The Black Cats' boss expected a good turnout for last
-
Date
Approval gained for cannabis-based treatment
A COMPANY that develops cannabis-based medicines celebrated a landmark yesterday after receiving preliminary approval for a product in Canada. GW Pharmaceuticals said Sativex mouth spray could be available on prescription to multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers
-
Date
Losses fall at cafe chain
COFFEE Republic yesterday hailed the popularity of its deli outlets as it posted narrower first-half losses. The group said sites converted from standard coffee bars to delis as part of a major strategy change had shown a significant increase in sales
-
Date
Scanner donated to trust
A SCANNER which will help in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer has been given to the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust. The £10,000 portable ultrasound machine will be used at a clinic opening in Stanhope in February, where Weardale men aged between
-
Date
Discount sales may have cost M&S dear
RETAILERS in the region are preparing for the two busiest Christmas shopping days of the year. Experts predict that today and tomorrow will see consumers braving the Christmas rush to spend millions of pounds on last minute gifts and essentials. According
-
Date
The Goliath that smote David
An inquiry yesterday found David Blunkett had misled the public over his role in obtaining a visa for his former lover's nanny. Nick Morrison looks at how the fall-out from the Home Secretary's resignation has left a stain on the Blair Government. When
-
Date
Smart guess wins shopper a new car
A SHOPPER was handed the keys to a brand new car yesterday after winning a competition at a Darlington supermarket. Jim Miller was handed the keys to the Smart car at Netto's Neasham Road store. Customers were asked to guess how many Robert Wiseman two-litre
-
Date
Brave mother loses cancer battle
A FAMILY faces Christmas without their mother after she lost her brave seven-year battle with cancer. Now her husband, Colin, and their son and daughter say they will follow the plans she had made for the festive season while in hospital. Wendy Blacklock
-
Date
North-East to honour swimmer
SWIMMER Chris Cook, who made his Olympic debut for Great Britain in the summer, will receive a civic commendation in the region today. The 25-year-old breaststroke specialist, who reached the 200m semi-finals in the Athens games, in August, is being honoured
-
Date
Liddle expects to battle for first-team return
DARLINGTON skipper Craig Liddle will not be taking his place in the team for granted when he returns from injury next month. The influential defender has admitted Quakers' recent form in League Two will make it difficult for him to break back into manager
-
Date
Closure dismay
RESIDENTS have expressed their dismay at the closure of two post offices next year. Branches in Bleach Green and Swalwell, Gateshead, will be closed as part of a Government decision to slim down the Post Office network. Gateshead Lib Dem Councillor Peter
-
Date
Quiz champions become this year's question masters
SUPERBRAIN, the North-East's toughest trivia quiz, is 20 years old today. And this year, for the first time in its history, its taxing questions have been set by last year's winners. Teacher Dave Tucker, of Aycliffe Village, and bread delivery man David
-
Date
Call for talks as cash-flow crisis hits railway
CRISIS talks have been called at Britain's newest heritage railway line after bosses admitted a cash-flow problem. Workers at Weardale Railway Limited have only received two weeks of their monthly pay because that is all the venture could afford. Company
-
Date
Radio station turns the spotlight on community groups
COMMUNITY groups in Hartlepool have had some welcome exposure thanks to a new radio station. Radio Hartlepool, which broadcasts from the Grand Hotel, has just completed a four-week stint on the airwaves. The station hopes to secure a community radio licence
-
Date
Father admits killing partner
A FATHER has admitted stabbing his partner to death as their two children slept upstairs. Craig Sexton, 30, killed Lynda Lovatt, 29, in Defoe Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, on June 18, as their seven-year-old son and daughter, four, lay in their
-
Date
Flood defences call
LIBERAL Democrat candidate Ian Swales is calling for action on flood defences. Since October 7, there have been maps on the Environment Agency website showing areas of Redcar liable to flooding. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has bid £7m for extra
-
Date
Coppers and robbers
A bungling robber held up a securicor officer at gunpoint - and got away with just 2p coins. Just moments before the raid courier David Bennett had been transporting huge quantities of notes to and from the HSBC bank in South Shields. But by the time
-
Date
Worker's false cash claim for university
AN employee who told his bosses he was gaining qualifications at university to justify his growing salary appeared in court yesterday. For seven years, 33-year-old Shaun Percival told his employers at Armour Plastics on the Pennywell Industrial Estate
-
Date
Plea from NHS_to avoid A&E unit
PATIENTS in north Durham are being urged not to add to the extra workload in accident and emergency departments this Christmas. The festive season brings a substantial rise in the number of cases of major injury and illness. But health bosses want people
-
Date
600 entries for logo contest
A COMPETITION to design a logo for the new Smoke-Free Derwentside project has received more than 600 entries. Children aged four to 18 were invited to enter the competition, which has four age categories. The overall winner will be announced on January
-
Date
Concert raises £2,100
A Christmas concert by Durham Constabulary's brass band and male voice choir raised £2,100 for Willow Burn Hospice in Lanchester. The performance took place at police headquarters on Saturday and included a wide-ranging musical programme and a finale
-
Date
Lady Zephyr can motor to Ludlow success
EVEN though she must concede weight to all nine of her rivals, Lady Zephyr (1.40) should have little difficulty in capturing Ludlow's EBF Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle. Lady Zephyr's relentless galloping style has already yielded three victories from five
-
Date
Father admits killing partner
A FATHER has admitted stabbing his partner to death as their two children slept upstairs. Craig Sexton, 30, killed Lynda Lovatt, 29, in Defoe Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, on June 18, as their seven-year-old son and daughter, four, lay in their
-
Date
Payout setback for abuse victim
DESPITE years of appalling sexual abuse a young man suffered at a North-East children's home, he is not entitled to a penny in compensation, appeal court judges ruled yesterday. The man, now in his 30s and named only as X for legal reasons, has been left
-
Date
Humphreys calls on team-mates to seize their chance
SKIPPER Ritchie Humphreys doesn't want his Hartlepool United players to let their opportunity go begging. Pool, after last weekend's 5-1 win at Wrexham, go into the festive period on the edge of the play-off zone. Neale Cooper's side have four League
-
Date
22/12/04
CHRISTMAS: A recent report claimed that attendance for Christmas services at Northern cathedrals, including Durham, is hardly more than at normal Sunday services, which figure itself is going down, perhaps because of the growth of Sunday trading. I think
-
Date
Nightclub plan to open until 8am rejected after concerns
A TOWN centre night club has been refused a late licence that would have allowed revellers to keep partying well into Sunday mornings. The Cube, in Spennymoor, wanted to extend its weekend opening hours to 8am on Sundays but residents and police objected
-
Date
Spurs wait in wings for Robert
ANGRY Laurent Robert has put Tottenham on alert after the Frenchman's Newcastle United career edged a step closer to an acrimonious end. The 29-year-old has aimed a scathing blast at Graeme Souness' reign on Tyneside and opted to speak out after being
-
Date
Government bid to overturn Porton Down inquest verdict
THE Government last night revealed plans to challenge the verdict of an inquest that ruled a North-East airman was unlawfully killed more than 50 years ago. Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison died during secret nerve gas experiments at the Porton Down
-
Date
Enough already! Stop the shop
RIGHT, that's it, time to stop shopping now. Fight the urge, put away your credit card, hide your purse, the car keys. Just think of everything you have already bought and Don't Buy Any More. It's the same very year. There's something about the last few
-
Date
Car crashes into couple's living room
An elderly couple thought they were in for a smashing Christmas - when a high powered hatchback crashed into their living-room. Eric and Julia Mackman were lucky to escape injury because they were in another room when the black Ford Focus careered into
-
Date
Worker's false cash claim for university
AN employee who told his bosses he was gaining qualifications at university to justify his growing salary appeared in court yesterday. For seven years, 33-year-old Shaun Percival told his employers at Armour Plastics on the Pennywell Industrial Estate
-
Date
Policeman sacked for counterfeit DVD sales
A policeman was sacked by his force today after being convicted of selling pirated DVDs of Hollywood movies on internet site eBay. Pc John Wragg, a probationary officer with Cleveland Police, was "required to resign" following Tuesday's court case. The
-
Date
Prison for man who stored child porn
A MAN born with a female chromosome who claimed to have downloaded child porn in an attempt to gain a better understanding of his condition, was jailed yesterday. David Ian Dennison, 53, told police who raided his North Yorkshire home he suffered from
-
Date
Lottery funding 'no go' warning
FAILED bids for National Lottery cash to improve sports facilities have prompted a council leader to warn of further disappointment in the future. John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council, will tell colleagues today they should not expect
-
Date
Advertising errors cost Axa £500,000
AXA Sun Life was fined £500,000 yesterday for misleading advertisements - some featuring television personalities Carol Smillie and June Whitfield. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) imposed the fine after an investigation into advertisements for
-
Date
Firm breaks into China
Billingham polymer paint manufacturers Johnson Matthey Catalysts had a stand at the Chinacoat 2004 exhibition - one of the largest paints and coatings events in the Far East. China is one of the fastest growing markets - evolving at a yearly rate of 25
-
Date
Father-of-three to fight Labour seat
The Liberal Democrats have chosen Ian Swales to fight a Labour-held North-East seat in the next General Election. The married father-of-three will stand as a candidate for the Redcar, east Cleveland seat, held by Labour MP Vera Baird. The accountant,
-
Date
Kindness is repaid in cash
A FARMER has used his 60th birthday to raise money for his local hospital. Instead of buying presents, friends and relatives of William Alderson donated a total of £320 to the Friarage Hospital and Rutson Rehabilitation Centre, in Northallerton. Mr Alderson
-
Date
Change of direction for indoor trader
A DARLINGTON trader is playing a part in the success of an indoor market. Dave Patterson, from Darlington, has started selling second-hand computers, televisions and accessories at the indoor market at Richmond after being made redundant from his job
-
Date
Durham close in on Dale
DURHAM hope to confirm shortly the signing of a third player from overseas in addition to their two official ones. With West Indian Gareth Breese, who has a Welsh father, and Australian Callum Thorp, whose parents are both British, already on board they
-
Date
Questions unanswered
CONTRARY to Tony Blair's declaration of support, David Blunkett has not left the Government with his integrity intact. Sir Alan Budd's report constitutes an open verdict which leaves serious question marks over the conduct of the former Home Secretary
-
Date
Wildlife garden on school doorstep
JOBSEEKERS have given up their time to help youngsters find out more about the natural world. Workers from the Intermediate Labour Market team have created a wildlife garden at West Rainton Primary School, near Durham. The team offers the long-term unemployed
-
Date
Teacher loses job after fear about exam
PUPILS at a North-East school are facing a lengthy delay in sitting a GCSE exam after their teacher was sacked over concerns raised by parents. Education chiefs confirmed last night that a science teacher at Hummersknott School and Language College, in
-
Date
Beat bobbies on bikes will patrol areas to tackle crime
PEDAL power is helping police target potential problems of anti-social behaviour and low-level crime. Durham Police is now deploying officers on bikes to carry out high-visibility street patrols. Community policing units based at Durham City station and
-
Date
Fatal link that led to Blunkett's downfall
A "chain of events" linked former Home Secretary David Blunkett to the speeding up of his ex-lover's nanny's application for leave to remain in Britain, an official inquiry found yesterday. But former Treasury advisor Sir Alan Budd said he was unable
-
Date
Shamed officer: I was just unlucky
A POLICEMAN who is facing the sack for selling counterfeit DVDs last night protested his innocence. PC John Wragg was fined £1,000 with £5,000 costs and given a 12-month conditional discharge after he admitted selling pirated versions of films such as
-
Date
Students sign up for a double dose of fundraising
STUDENTS at Darlington College have been raising money for the starving in Africa as well as for cancer research closer to home. A coffee morning was held to raise money for Cancer Research UK, with a classroom transformed into a coffee house for the
-
Date
From also-rans to history makers in just 12 months
One year ago to the day, England's cricketers were slumping to an innings and 215 runs defeat in Sri Lanka that condemned them to a 1-0 reverse in the three-Test series. Twelve months on, and Michael Vaughan's men have made history by becoming the first
-
Date
Ted waves goodbye to a school he just couldn't leave
A HEADTEACHER who has returned to the same school time and time again is leaving for the last time - to take retirement. Ted Young, 58, started his career as a teacher at St Patrick's RC Primary School, in Consett, in 1969. After teaching for two years
-
Date
North-East to honour swimmer
SWIMMER Chris Cook, who made his Olympic debut for Great Britain in the summer, will receive a civic commendation in the region today. The 25-year-old breaststroke specialist, who reached the 200m semi-finals in the Athens games, in August, is being honoured
-
Date
Scouts call for volunteers
A TEESDALE scout group is looking for volunteers to help reduce waiting lists. The 1st Barnard Castle Scout Group is trying to reduce waiting lists by introducing a meeting on Wednesday nights. However, volunteers are needed to help. Anyone interested
-
Date
Florists are pick of the bunch in contest
florists Margaret and Robert Legge had their grandchildren to thank for winning Bishop Auckland's best-dressed window title for their shop. Rachel Legge, aged ten, and her five-year-old brother Dan used their artistic talents to decorate Flower World,
-
Date
Loner breached 'stay away' ban
A LONER will spend Christmas in prison after stepping up a harassment campaign against his mother and stepfather in defiance of a court order. James Maine, described as a man with few friends, was remanded in custody until January 11 by Harrogate magistrates
-
Date
Boro target Green as Schwarzer replacement
MIDDLESBROUGH will decide whether to table a bid to land Norwich City goalkeeper Robert Green only after the future of Mark Schwarzer has been resolved. The Aussie keeper and his agent Barry Silkman have rejected a contract offer from Boro - with a switch
-
Date
Gadfly writes...
IF tradition may be said to be recent, and it's much too near Christmas to debate that sort of plum duff stuff, among The Northern Echo's has been that every December we've pictured page upon page of Ho-Ho Homes - North-East householders away with the
-
Date
youngsters enjoy the high life
A Christmas activity day for young people has got the seasonal holiday off to a fun-filled start. The event, designed by Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP), in Redcar, included a host of activities from boxercise to basketball and circus skills
-
Date
Big Three brewers 'control the trade'
SCOTTISH & Newcastle was among the top UK brewers accused yesterday by MPs of maintaining a stranglehold on the distribution of beer. The Trade and Industry Committee said the market was controlled by three international brewers: Carlsberg UK, Scottish
-
Date
Residents urge action over lorries
RESIDENTS are calling for large lorries to be banned from two narrow moorland roads. A 53-name petition has been sent to county highway chiefs from residents of Grinton, in Swaledale, calling for action against heavy lorries using the roads to Bellerby
-
Date
A hell of their own making
IN my youth, half a century ago, it was uncommon to see a drunken man. A drunken woman was so rare as to be almost an anthropological specimen. For anyone who disputes this, perhaps recalling the prodigious quantities of beer put away by steelworkers,
-
Date
Santa's gift of chips for dogs
A COUNCIL is taking the traditional message that a dog is not just for Christmas a step further. In a bid to keep down the number of strays wandering the streets of Middlesbrough, the local authority is offering a free microchipping service to all dog
-
Date
Council chief to quit after 41 years
THE chief executive of the region's biggest council, who has helped create thousands of jobs, is to retire. Kingsley Smith, 58, will stand down from the top job at Labour-run Durham County Council at the end of June. Mr Smith, who has worked in local
-
Date
Ewan's bang-bang with Ping
Teachers (BBC1) - Diana's Will (five): A Christmas-themed wedding sounds like a great idea - until you learn that the participants are teacher Bob and Ping, the Thai takeaway bride purchased over the Internet. Teachers got into the holly-and-tinsel mood
-
Date
Crackdown on drink problems
LICENSED premises in a North-East town will be the target of a Christmas crackdown carried out by police and trading standards chiefs. Officers will be attempting to stamp out drink-related problems in Darlington during the next two weeks. A joint letter
-
Date
Boro target Green as Schwarzer replacement
MIDDLESBROUGH will decide whether to table a bid to land Norwich City goalkeeper Robert Green only after the future of Mark Schwarzer has been resolved. The Aussie keeper and his agent Barry Silkman have rejected a contract offer from Boro - with a switch
-
Date
Enough already! Stop the shop
RIGHT, that's it, time to stop shopping now. Fight the urge, put away your credit card, hide your purse, the car keys. Just think of everything you have already bought and Don't Buy Any More. It's the same very year. There's something about the last few
-
Date
Charge of the lights brigade
IF tradition may be said to be recent, and it's much too near Christmas to debate that sort of plum duff stuff, among The Northern Echo's has been that every December we've pictured page upon page of Ho-Ho Homes - North-East householders away with the
-
Date
Partners in pact to end the menace of arsonists
A drive to reduce the thousands of fires started deliberately every year was launched yesterday. Latest figures released by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service reveal that about two-thirds of all fires in the area are started maliciously
-
Date
Charge of the lights brigade
IF tradition may be said to be recent, and it's much too near Christmas to debate that sort of plum duff stuff, among The Northern Echo's has been that every December we've pictured page upon page of Ho-Ho Homes - North-East householders away with the
