Archive
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On TV
Wife Swap USA (C4) CAPRICE Policchio drinks coffee through a straw to a avoid staining her bleached teeth and is obsessed with doing housework. The Pitts let their 25 pets, from parrots to prairie dogs, have the run of the house and only clean the bathtub
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Echo jobs fair sets people on career path
SCORES of people took the first steps on the path towards a new career yesterday. The Northern Echo Recruitment and Training Exhibition was staged at the Williamson Motors Stadium, home of Darlington Football Club, with a range of professions represented
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End of the line for the 'bottle of dog'
The last true bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale will be brewed next week. Tyne Brewery in Newcastle will close on Friday, bringing an end to city centre brewing. The final ale run will include just 3,000 bottles with commemorative labels. The brewing process
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Get the stock right and watch sales rise
HEY, big spender, where have you gone? Not down the British high street or even round the out-of-town malls, that's for sure. We're no longer shopping 'til we drop, as we used to do, and last month's figures for retail trading were down rather more than
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Cash-in on technological developments
A SEMINAR is being held to encourage more of the region's companies to get involved in technology contracts. Knowledge House, an organisation that promotes collaboration between the region's five universities and companies and entrepreneurs, is planning
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Special livestock sales
BORDERWAY (Car-lisle). - Wed of last week. Fwd: 2,536 store cattle, stirks & calves for special May Cont X store cattle show & sale. Judge: Les Bainbridge, Seamer. Champion: 10-m-o BAX red steer by registered BA bull Pioneer Tanner, out of Lim
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Cathedral dean in court on drink charge
A SENIOR clergyman appeared in court on a drink-drive charge yesterday, three weeks after resigning from his post. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Methuen, has been charged with being almost one-and-a-half times the legal limit. Harrogate Magistrates
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One small speck for man - a giant leap for mankind
SCIENTISTS in the North-East have succeeded in cloning Britain's first human embryos. The announcement came on the day that another team of researchers in Korea revealed they had taken a "giant step" closer to developing revolutionary treatments based
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Age no barrier as Irish Skater shines
STOKESLEY'S Julie Robinson was among the prize-winners at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials, staged in 1,000 acres of Derbyshire parkland and attracting riders from several nations. Robinson finished fourth in a strong advanced section, won by
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Wellock's World: Ego trip of owning a football club
PRESUMABLY Malcolm Glazer is not as big a buffoon as he looks. Yet the same could be said of others who have embarked on the ego trip of owning a football club, only to be left questioning their own sanity. While Feethams is now a wilderness, the new
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Ego trip of owning a football club
PRESUMABLY Malcolm Glazer is not as big a buffoon as he looks. Yet the same could be said of others who have embarked on the ego trip of owning a football club, only to be left questioning their own sanity. While Feethams is now a wilderness, the new
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Saltburn bowlers on top as Northallerton crash
REDCAR ring the changes tomorrow as they attempt to halt Guisborough's impressive early-season form in the premier division. Stuart Mackay, Steve Law and Steve Robson all return, while a debut is handed to 16-year-old bowler Andy Hunter. But Darren Nalton
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The hero with a donkey
He's one of Australia's most celebrated heroes of the First World War, but he was born and bred in the North-East. On the 90th anniversary of his death, Gavin Havery looks at the man who had an instinctive way with animals and who they say deserved a
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Five top £10,000 at Limousin sale
FIVE bulls sold at more than 10,000gns and 20 at more than 5,000gns, with a 71pc clearance at the May Limousin bull sale at Carlisle on Saturday, May 7. The average was £3,109 for 175 bulls sold and leading the sale at 19,000gns was Hafodlas Valour, a
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City set for transformation
RADICAL plans have been revealed to deal with Durham City's growing housing crisis by selling off dozens of plots of council-owned land for development and pumping millions of pounds back into council and community services. The ambitious five-year plan
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City to splash out on baths
THE 20-year wait for a replacement for Durham City's crumbling swimming baths appears to be over after plans were revealed this week for a £5.8m pool complex. Proposals for a new 25m eight-lane pool near the Walkergate development are expected to be ratified
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Sir Rex's signature helps chapel appeal
AN auction of promises organised by the churches of Hutton Rudby had a surprise guest among its vendors. Sir Rex Hunt, the former governor of the Falkland Islands, donated a copy of the book The History of the Falkland Islands, for which he wrote the
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Inquiry call as Wimpey -goes back on its word'
A COUNCILLOR wants an independent inquiry into the planning process for a controversial Skelton housing development. Coun Brian Briggs, who is a member of Redcar and Cleveland planning committee and represents Skelton, was due to present his concerns
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Council escapes lawsuit for beck dredging errors
BEDALE Town Council has escaped prosecution over controversial dredging of Bedale Beck but has been given strong official advice on how the radical results should be managed. A meeting with the council on Monday was requested by the Environment Agency
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200 jobs lost at the last Tees shipyard
THE last shipbuilding yard on the Tees has been mothballed, with the loss of about 200 jobs. Swan Hunter put its Port Clarence operation on to a care and maintenance cycle after work ran out. John Mitchell, the company's project director, said: "There
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Hartlepool have improved every year, insists Barron
WHEN Micky Barron arrived at Hartlepool United in September 1996 from Middlesbrough, thoughts of finals at the Millennium Stadium couldn't have been further away. When Pool lost 2-0 to Northampton at Victoria Park in October that year, Barron, on loan
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Government backs Everyday Sport campaign
THERE are hopes that a campaign to promote physical activity pioneered in the North-East could help to win the battle against obesity and ill-health. The spiralling costs of treating over-weight and obese patients is the key reason why the Government
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Human cloning for health's sake: Your questions answered
Health Editor Barry Nelson answers some of the questions thrown up by the controversial issue of therapeutic cloning. Q Why are scientists trying to clone human beings. Won't it lead to Frankenstein-style experiments or designer babies? A Scientists in
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Darlington team ride to national titles
DARLINGTON Riding Club's senior open team returned from the Festival of the Hunter event at Peterborough earlier this month as national champions. Claire Pearson on Vader was one of the first riders to tackle the course and came home clear just three
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Oaklands Ted completes South Durham double for Jackson
JOCKEY Tina Jackson landed a double at the South Durham point to point held at Howe Hills last Saturday. A large crowd, admitted for free, saw Jackson partner Wynyard Dancer (Cleveland) to success in an exciting Ladies Open. Three were in the air together
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Men arrested after drugs found in raid
TWO men were arrested on suspicion of possessing crack cocaine yesterday after police launched an early morning raid. Fifteen officers were involved in the operation, which targeted a council house on the Skerne Park estate, in Darlington, just before
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Crime blitz success
POLICE are hailing the success of crackdowns on crime and anti-social disorder in two former colliery communities. The StreetSafe initiative was launched to combat street disturbances, petty crime, drugs misuse and fears posed by youths congregating in
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Hutchinson must prove fitness for Quakers deal
DAVID HODGSON is confident Joey Hutchinson will commit his future to Darlington, but has warned the defender must prove his fitness before earning an improved deal. Hutchinson is reportedly unhappy with the terms of the 12-month contract on offer, despite
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Traditional breeds could benefit upland farms
TASTY traditional meats could provide one way forward for upland farms. Beef from an Aberdeen Angus bullock, reared by Steve Ram-shaw, whose Northumbrian Quality Meats is based at Monk-ridge Hill Farm, near Hexham, was voted the tastiest at a seminar
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Shoptalk
CAN you afford it? Do you really need it? If Janet Menzies had her way, these are question we would all be asking ourselves every day. "I saw some T-shirts printed with those questions and I would love to have crowds of people wearing them, getting the
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Boro ready to cut losses on Reiziger
MICHAEL Reiziger is ready to turn his back on English football after just one season by returning to his native Holland next month. The full-back is keen to resurrect his international career ahead of next summer's World Cup and, while Steve McClaren
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Sheep on show
THE 20th annual Eastgate Sheep Show takes place in Weardale on Saturday, May 28, with a total of £2,000 prizemoney and 32 cups on offer. There are more than 50 classes for Swaledales, North of England Mule Sheep, Blue-faced Leicesters, and an "any other
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Hail the new chief, the new chief executive
SPECTATOR wonders what Blue Watch make of the new fire chief in County Durham. To be more precise, we are talking about the new chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority. Executive is the key word, for Susan Johnson
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Ruined abbeys - just the ticket
THE star of a Thirsk exhibition is looking further afield and has already inspired interest in his work among American buyers. Colin Britton has an exhibition of watercolour paintings on show at the Zillah Bell Contemporary Art Gallery, but the architect
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Company behind Ghost Ships deal wins award
THE company behind the so-called Ghost Ships controversy has won an award for its environmental standards from petrochemical company BP. Able UK has won the Diamond Award, presented by BP to contractors judged to have contributed most in the areas of
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Memories and future hopes at hospice anniversary event
HOSPICE supporters celebrated a decade of care yesterday by pledging future growth. More than 2,000 patients and their families have been given care and support since the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland opened in May 1995. It opened because every
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Appeal for help after dogs snatched
THE owners of two dogs stolen in a house raid have appealed for their safe return. The daschunds were taken from their kennel in a raid on a property in Heighington at about 6pm on Wednesday. Thieves also stole several items of machinery, but the house
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Mayor is selected for town
A TOWN council has elected its new mayor. Great Aycliffe Town Council selected Councillor Val Raw as mayor and Councillor Mary Dalton as deputy mayor at its annual meeting on Wednesday. Councillor Raw said she was delighted and grateful for the appointment
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Grandmother makes history at council
A GRANDMOTHER has made history by becoming the first female vice-chairman of Durham County Council. Edna Hunter, who has represented Tanfield division, Stanley, since 1997, will serve in the ceremonial post for two years and will move up to be the Labour-run
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Appeal for help after dogs snatched
THE owners of two dogs stolen in a house raid have appealed for their safe return. The daschunds were taken from their kennel in a raid on a property in Heighington at about 6pm on Wednesday. Thieves also stole several items of machinery, but the house
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Police seek witnesses after vandals target communities
VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in a spate of attacks on village toilets, bus shelters and a sports complex. Ferryhill Town Council is angry about the vandalism in Ferryhill Station and Mainsforth, and said it will cost taxpayers
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Concern at plan to build pub next to new school
PLANS to build a pub next to a Darlington school have worried councillors. They plan to attend Darlington magistrates on June 7 when the application for a provisional premises licence is made. The plans were outlined to Archdeacon Newton Parish Council
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Hearing tests for newborn babies
NEWBORN babies in Darlington are being offered hearing tests in an initiative designed to ensure problems do not go undetected. Babies are prone to illnesses such as German measles, which can affect their hearing from an early age. And some children inherit
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Teenagers banned from centre
A CHIEF constable has vowed to break up groups of more than two teenagers after a campaign of violence and intimidation at a shopping centre. Mike Craik, chief constable of Northumbria Police, will use new powers to allow his officers to disperse troublemakers
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Views sought on a Vision
THE public is to be asked to have an input into a plan being devised as a blueprint for a city's successful development. "Vision for the City" aims to point the way Durham develops during the next 20 years, to ensure it flourishes as a major tourist destination
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Young pupils step up to set healthy example
CHILDREN from 15 primary and nursery schools in Stanley are to step out to show the health benefits of walking to school. The children will take part in a synchronised walk from their schools to South Stanley Community Centre carrying a jigsaw story piece
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Tea at three will aid charity
RESIDENTS in Teesside can have a cup of tea while raising money for charity. Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond is urging local people to support the town's hospice by holding tea parties. The re-elected mayor is urging friends, neighbours, relatives and
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Park spruced up
RESIDENTS, students and churchgoers have joined forces to clean up their quiet corner of Durham City. Stephen Light, a member of the congregation at King's Church, organised 40 of his neighbours to spruce up Laburnum Park, known locally as Peskies Park
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Pupils receive award for work to help tackle environmental issues
COST-saving pupils on the look out for lights left on and running cloakroom taps have won their school a leading energy award. St Peter's Church of England Primary, Brotton, is the first North-East school - and only the second in Britain - to be awarded
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See it, hear it, discuss it
NORTH Sheep 2005 promises to be a major source of information and advice for producers coming to terms with the new farming regime. Key industry speakers will give advice and inspiration; valuable exhibitions and demonstrations for meeting the market
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Grandmother becomes first female vice-chairman
A GRANDMOTHER has made history by becoming the first female vice-chairman of Durham County Council. Edna Hunter, who has represented Tanfield division at Stanley since 1997, will serve in the ceremonial post for two years and will move up to be the Labour-run
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Members sought for social care group
A GROUP of organisations providing social care in County Durham and Teesside is looking for new members. The Tees Valley Social Care and Health Alliance is one of four such groups in the region. It is made up of organisations that provide social care
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Tenants must wait for work on houses after poor rating
HUNDREDS of council house tenants will have to wait at least a year for much-needed improvements after a management company failed to come up to scratch in an Audit Commission report. The Arm's Length Management Organisation (ALMO), set up by Easington
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Trip to Cardiff for lucky Lotto winners
A family who hit the jackpot with a £1.2m lotto win are praying their luck rubs off on their football team. Myra Hart, 79, son Bill, 53, daughter Moira Massey, 56, and her husband Jimmy, 55, will celebrate their windfall by travelling to watch their beloved
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Sale of college's machinery draws buyers to ring
THE sale of surplus farming and horticultural implements and equipment on behalf of Houghall College Farm, Dur-ham was conducted by Hexham and Northern marts before a large crowd of potential buyers from all parts of the country and Northern Ireland.
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Stepping down from key woodland role
A WOODLAND manager who played a key role in the transformation of the region's forests into internationally important havens for wildlife has hung-up his axe. Bill Burlton, 59, who managed conservation projects and recreational facilities in the 200,000
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Poetry event inspired
PUPILS from two Darlington schools will be taking part in a poetry reading next week - in a park that inspired their work. The children from Corporation Road Junior School and Reid Street Primary School will be reciting their poems at the bandstand in
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Star Wars fans get a surprise at the YMCA
SHOPPERS in Darlington were surprised to see Princess Leia and a Stormtrooper in town yesterday. The Star Wars favourites were performing a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the relaunch of the YMCA shop, in Northgate. However, instead of jetting off afterwards
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Relaxation service for MS sufferers
PEOPLE suffering from multiple sclerosis can benefit from an aromatherapy service launched by The Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland. The service is free to people in Wear Valley and Teesdale and offers sufferers massage sessions using essential oils
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Closure date no closer, says health trust
CAMPAIGNERS are still waiting for health chiefs to announce the closure date of a hospital unit for leukaemia sufferers. Plans to shut the six-bed haematology ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital and merge it with a unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital
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Impressions from a changed city
The distance between Glasgow and Edinburgh is under 50 miles but there is a large gulf in the perceptions people have of these proud Scottish cities. While Edinburgh conjures up images of the arts and architecture, those who have never been to Glasgow
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Company's web sponsor deal extended
A COMMUNITY website has received further sponsorship from a local building firm. The Richmond Online site will continue to be supported by the town's Randall Orchard Construction Limited. The company started sponsoring the site -www.richmond.org.uk -which
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Recycling priority for officials
A COUNCIL has hired a recycling officer to help it meet Government targets. Andy Turner has joined Richmondshire District Council to improve the authority's recycling service. Mr Turner will work closely with recycling champion Councillor Jill McMullon
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Dozen church members raise £70,000 for improvements
YOUNGSTERS will soon be able to enjoy a new out-of-school club following a £70,000 fundraising campaign by churchgoers. The 12 members of Hunton Methodist Church, in Hunton, near Bedale, raised the money as part of a commitment to making their church
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Students offered help with funding
YOUNG people in Richmondshire are being urged to apply for a higher education scholarship. Skipton Building Society is offering the money to students from families with an income of less than £19,000 a year. Scholarships of up to £500 a year are available
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Looking Back
FROM this newspaper 150 years ago. - In excavating the works of the Darlington and Barnard Castle Railway, the workmen have come to what appears to have been the burial ground in connection with the Roman camp at Piercebridge. Several skeletons have been
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Cash injection could help Celtic to make Bellamy deal permanent
A MAJOR cash injection has given Celtic the perfect platform to launch their big push to land Newcastle United striker Craig Bellamy and leave Aston Villa frustrated. The Villans remain adamant, despite the Magpies' denial, that a double deal has been
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Shop Talk: Taking away the doom of debt
As a debt caseworker, Janet Menzies ses her fair share of desperate people, but they leave her with a lightened heart. CAN you afford it? Do you really need it? If Janet Menzies had her way, these are question we would all be asking ourselves every day
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Weardale dog tops spring sale
THERE were 29 forward dogs for the inaugural spring sale of working and unbroken sheep dogs and puppies on Wednesday of last week at Harrison & Hetherington's Lazonby Mart. The top price, 1,500gns was paid for Star, an 18-month-old registered dog
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First woman fire chief comes from marketing
THE country's first female fire chief executive has been appointed in County Durham. Susan Johnson is also the country's first non-uniformed person to lead a fire and rescue service. In her new role with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority
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Whessoe may be forced to leave its roots
BOSSES at an engineering company are threatening to move out of a town if they cannot find new premises there. Whessoe Oil and Gas, in Darlington, which employs about 200 staff, will move from its home in Brinkburn Road when the lease on the site runs
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Sorry, drivers - you won't get your parking fines back
THE hopes of hundreds of motorists have been dashed after a council insisted it would not refund up to £70,000 in parking fines. Darlington Borough Council had been examining the legality of its fixed penalty notices after the D&S Times revealed how
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Freedom brings responsibilites as Open Access begins
NEW public access rights to the countryside, due to take effect from the end of May, could hit a snag from the word go. Restrictions operated by landowners mean people could be excluded from large areas throughout the North-East. More problems could arise
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Echo jobs fair sets people on career path
SCORES of people took the first steps on the path towards a new career yesterday. The Northern Echo Recruitment and Training Exhibition was staged at the Williamson Motors Stadium, home of Darlington Football Club, with a range of professions represented
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Thompson rallies well to finish third in class
ROUND two of the Darlington and District Motor Club's Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship saw many local competitors travel to Oulton Park in Cheshire last weekend as part of the CSCC Classic and Jaguar Raceday. Stockton driver David Botterill
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Relocation, relocation relocation is theme for software designers
CITY high flyers who gave up bright lights and high salaries to relocate to Richmond say it's definitely not grim "up North". Almost a third of the staff at a hi-tech firm in the town have opted out of the fast lane in favour of a better quality of life
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Scott Trial saved after U-turn on payments
MOTOR sports enthusiasts have welcomed a Government U-turn which means their events can go ahead in the countryside this year. Organisers of the Scott Trial, held each autumn in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, were among clubs which put events on hold following
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Rehearsing for a right royal do in the North
YORK Racecourse got its first taste of what is to come when Ascot moves to the North, with a full dress rehearsal of the royal procession yesterday. The men and women responsible for the procession, which opens the proceedings on each of the five days
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Victims' parents: We feel so sorry for 78-year-old driver
THE parents of a teenager and her young brother who died in a road crash have said they feel sorry for the elderly driver who was responsible. Frail Thomas Theobald wept in court yesterday as he admitted a charge of careless driving. The court heard how
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Footballer wins US academy place
A YOUNG North-East footballer has won a place in a US training academy. Chris Palmer, 19, from Darlington, will attend Central College in Iowa, to help achieve his ambition of becoming a professional player. The scholarship is for four years, and he will
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Germ wars: revenge of the supergel
As the Government announces tighter hospital hygiene controls to tackle the deadly superbugs that have killed 5,000 patients in British hospitals, Health Editor Barry Nelson takes the hand-washing test... and finds it surprisingly difficult. OK, so what's
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Jenna's sums add up
YOUNG maths wizard Jenna Cave has proved more than a match for older number crunchers. The 14-year-old Durham Johnston School pupil achieved a gold certificate in the Intermediate Maths Challenge aimed at sixth-formers. Only three entrants got a better
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Forensics expert identified burglar
A CRIME scene expert with Durham Police examined footprints left at a break-in scene and identified the suspect, a court was told yesterday. Scenes of crime expert John Marr, 14 years an investigator with the force, identified teenager Gary Jenkinson's
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More work for less pay: school staff alarmed
TEACHING assistants have slammed a job evaluation scheme that they claim will leave them working more hours for less pay. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants to introduce the scheme as part of its new equal pay policy. The National Single Status
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Guilty - but the match is on
A CROOKED football fan's prayers were answered yesterday - when he was given the chance to watch the biggest match in his team's history. But Darren Russell - who has convictions for 158 offences over 22 years - was warned by Judge John Walford not to
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From heart and head
SPENDING £15m over three years on a campaign to persuade people that the North-East is a great place to live and work in - and to visit - seems like a lot of money, especially when it is public money. Inevitably, it prompts the question from some that
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Impressions from a changed city
The distance between Glasgow and Edinburgh is under 50 miles but there is a large gulf in the perceptions people have of these proud Scottish cities. While Edinburgh conjures up images of the arts and architecture, those who have never been to Glasgow
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End of the road in sight for dangerous junction
PLANS are on track to improve a dangerous road junction at Sedgefield during the summer. Residents were consulted in February on proposals by Durham County Council to ban drivers from making a right turn from the A689 dual carriageway on to Stockton Road
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Boxer admits late-night assault
A TRAINED young boxer was told to be careful what he does with his fists out of the ring. Judge Richard Lowden gave the warning to Daniel Phillips after hearing how the apprentice bricklayer knocked out a 19-year-old man in an unprovoked late-night street
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Complaints as travellers move on to popular site
RESIDENTS say their lives are being ruined by travellers making their way to Appleby Horse Fair. Up to 30 caravans, as well as vans, trucks and cars have parked on the Demesnes, next to the River Tees at Barnard Castle, County Durham. People whose homes
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Latest stop in storyteller's journey
ONE of Australia's foremost Aboriginal storytellers has been weaving his tales in the area's schools this week. Francis Firebrace, a 68-year-old Aborigine elder, visited Bowes on Wednesday as part of the school's aim to promote multiculturalism. The year-long
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'No mental illness' when killer struck
A KILLER who beat a disabled man to death was not suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack, a jury heard yesterday. Keith Jones was diagnosed with an anti-social personality disorder in 1990, but did not have psychosis or a depressive
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Options for traffic scheme are issued to townsfolk
A MAJOR consultation exercise, including a three-day public exhibition, is under way as North Yorkshire County Council tries to develop a traffic management strategy for Bedale. The council has been working with a wide range of local organisations on
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20/05/05
BRILLIANT MUSEUM: I recently accompanied Whinfield Junior School to the Railway Museum in North Road, Darlington, as a helper on their school trip. I have never been to the museum before and, to be quite honest, was not over enthusiastic about going,
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Drive to block proposals for city relief road
CONSERVATIONISTS are opposing plans for a new route that could lead to more tolls for motorists on a busy existing road. Durham County Council announced last year proposals for a northern relief road in Durham City that would run from the A690 near Belmont
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Entrepreneurs lining up for national competition
SOME of the region's businessmen are in the running for the Entrepreneur of the Year award. The finalists range from companies involved in property, alternative energy generation and surgical training. Mark Hatton, managing partner at Ernst and Young's
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Promotion and elevation for old political rivals
DEREK Foster, who recently retired as Bishop Auckland MP after 26 years, has been elevated to the peerage. Mr Foster, who admitted to once voting to scrap the House of Lords, was delighted to be among 16 Labour life peers created by Tony Blair, which
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WI and guild news
Merryoaks WI: MARGARET Thornhill, the president, welcomed members and a visitor to the May meeting. Edith Hall, the secretary, dealt with the business. The quiz team was fourth in the final of the county quiz. Members were given arrangements for the outing
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Handle with care
THE cloning of human embryos is guaranteed to inspire passionate debate. Is it a case of dangerous interference with nature, or human beings maximising their skills and knowledge for the long-term benefit of the species? We can appreciate the arguments
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From clean campaigner to the Pitts
Wife Swap USA (C4): CAPRICE Policchio drinks coffee through a straw to a avoid staining her bleached teeth and is obsessed with doing housework. The Pitts let their 25 pets, from parrots to prairie dogs, have the run of the house and only clean the bathtub
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One small speck for man - a giant leap for mankind
SCIENTISTS in the North-East have succeeded in cloning Britain's first human embryos. The announcement came on the day that another team of researchers in Korea revealed they had taken a "giant step" closer to developing revolutionary treatments based
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£15m campaign aims to make North-East a place to be reckoned with
A MULTI-MILLION pound marketing campaign has been launched to improve the image of the North-East. Business and tourism leaders gathered at Seaham Hall last week for the unveiling of the latest advertising campaign to promote the region. The campaign,
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Fathers 4 Justice protest at police station where they were held
SIX campaigning fathers who said they were arrested on General Election day to spare Prime Minister Tony Blair from embarrassment, yesterday demonstrated outside the police station where they were held. The group, all members of Fathers 4 Justice, were
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Mortal combat to test the mettle
CLOSE COMBAT: FIRST TO FIGHT, Format: Xbox. Publisher: Take2/Microsoft. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 16+: THE United States Marine Corps is at the cutting edge of American military might. Ready for anything 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the marines
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You write
No Relief: IN your headline report, New toll road possible, Advertiser, May 7, there was reference to a northern relief road running from the A690 to Aykley Heads. When the Arnison Centre was being developed it was understood that the northern relief
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Attraction feels the heat in Hong Kong showpiece
ATTRACTION did not shine in the sweltering heat of Sha Tin, but well done to the Duke of Roxburghe, her breeder and owner, and the Mark Johnston team for having a crack at the Asian Mile competition. Of course, as briefly touched upon last week, the trip
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Jack turns it on with magnificent seven
YOUNG Jack Vickerman had experienced batsmen in a real spin when he took seven wickets in a Darlington and District League match last Saturday. The 11-year-old leg spinner finished with amazing figures of 7-55 from his 15 overs to help Aldbrough St John
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Newcastle to Nudecastle
Thousands of naked volunteers will turn Newcastle into Nudecastle in the name of art, it was confirmed today. American artist Spencer Tunick has made headlines around the world for his "installations" featuring hordes of naked people. Having worked in
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Village pub provides sizzling entertainment on the plate
I'M often wary about places which try to be all things to all people, but as always there is an exception to the rule. It's said that a thriving village needs a school, shop, church and pub. And if I lived at Hamsterley I would be delighted to call the
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Battle joined for new commercial radio licence
THE battle to win the right to run a commercial radio station for Northallerton and district has entered a critical stage. Ofcom, the regulatory body governing UK broadcasters, has formally advertised the licence for the Northallerton station. The new
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Swan Hunter mothballs last shipyard on the Tees
THE last shipbuilding yard on the Tees has been mothballed, with the loss of about 200 jobs. Swan Hunter put its Port Clarence operation on to a care and maintenance cycle after work ran out. John Mitchell, the company's project director, said: "There
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Panto star gets a touch of Hay Fever
A PANTOMIME favourite is to appear in a different guise at a North theatre. David Leonard, best known as the villain in the Christmas shows at York's Theatre Royal, heads the cast of Noel Coward's comedy Hay Fever. He follows long-time pantomime dame
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Cancer survivors step out to raise cash for research
CANCER survivors Alan Hodgson and James Cook were among hundreds of North-East men who took part in a major charity run yesterday. The Cancer Research UK Men's Cancer Run, in Newcastle's Exhibition Park, was the first to be held in the region. Alan Hodgson
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Funeral of man who died in Iraq
THE funeral of a North-East bodyguard who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq is to be held today. Father-of-three Alan Parkin died when his convoy was targeted on the notorious "Road of Death", near Baghdad Airport. The 44-year-old, from Consett,
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Tyler's farewell as shop closes
ONE of Guisborough's best-known shops is to close at the end of this month, after 43 years in the town. The Wool Shop, at 7 Market Place, is being taken over by Saltburn Animal Rescue Association. Margaret Tones originally opened the business as D and
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A flutter of excitement
THE elderly residents of Brentwood Lodge in Leyburn are excitedly awaiting some youngsters emerge on the premises. A blackbird has adopted the basket of a motorised scooter as her nest and is sitting on her eggs beside one of the main thoroughfares of
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'Not all halibut and holidays' - couple make two names for themselves
FISH and willow may seem an unusual combination, but with it Rob and Emma Green have found a recipe for success. With the restaurant they developed from scratch named as one of the best in the country, and a flourishing second business in willow creations
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Car parks decision could be made to limited audience
A TWICE-cancelled meeting to decide the fate of two Richmond car parks could go ahead on June 1 - with public attendance limited. Richmondshire District Council resources committee was called off twice in March, the second time because up to 800 people
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Websites support team to unveil bus
AN acclaimed project which has made the worldwide web more accessible to organisations across the region will today announce a new development. The CommuniGate scheme run by Newsquest North-East - publishers of The Northern Echo - will reach further into
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Hussey desperate to win top-of-table battle
FIRST and second in division two of the Frizzell County Championship, the scene is set for a classic encounter between Durham and Yorkshire at Riverside today. Both of last year's clashes were disappointingly one-sided, the surprise being that the second
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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 588 sheep. Med lambs to 150p; lt hoggs to 139p av 113.5p; std to 132p av 117.8p; med to 138p av 119p; heavy to 128p av 108p; owt to 131p av 112.7p. Cast sheep: Cont £46; Suff £45; Leics £37.50; Swale to £37.50;
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Inquest held into baby's death
A MOTHER whose baby died when he was five hours old in hospital, told an inquest yesterday that doctors seemed to panic at the birth. Gillian Hoyle told a hearing into his death that the delivery of her son, Maxim, at the James Cook University Hospital
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Complaints as travellers move on to popular site
RESIDENTS say their lives are being ruined by travellers making their way to Appleby Horse Fair. Up to 30 caravans, as well as vans, trucks and cars have parked on the Demesnes, next to the River Tees at Barnard Castle, County Durham. People whose homes
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Winning team
Squadron 2505 (Bishop Auckland) fielded a team of 21 would-be champions in an inter-squadron athletics competition at Monkton Stadium, Sunderland. The team won five gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
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Memories and future hopes at hospice's celebrations
HOSPICE supporters celebrated a decade of care yesterday by pledging future growth. More than 2,000 patients and their families have been given care and support since the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland opened in May 1995. It opened because every
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Get fit, have fun and be healthier
HUNDREDS of children from Teesdale primary schools are expected to visit a local sports centre this weekend to become more active. The youngsters will be taking part in a family fun day at Teesdale Sports Centre in Barnard Castle, on Sunday, organised
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A battle of skill to find town's top teams
PRIMARY pupils pitched their skills to be town's top team. Abbey Junior School won the final of the Darlington Primary Schools boys' tournament, which involved four league-winning schools - Mowden, Middleton St George and Harrowgate Hill. The girls' tournament
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Friends gather for centenarian
IT was party time yesterday for centenarian Edith Herbert, who shared her birthday with her family and friends. Born in Hunwick, Mrs Herbert left school at 14 and was 20 when she married her stonemason husband, Christopher, in Bishop Auckland, on Boxing
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Broken jewellery aids charity appeal
A SHOP raised more than £2,700 for the tsunami appeal by asking people to donate broken and unwanted jewellery. Bramwell's Jewellers in the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham, put a notice in the window and people responded well, giving many items
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Rock star to judge N-E bands contest
NORTH-EAST musician Mark Knopfler is to take time out from his latest sell-out tour to listen to young people in the region play music. The songwriter and guitarist is to visit Tyne Metropolitan College, in Newcastle, and listen to student bands hoping
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Workshops teach brass
NEW Orleans trumpeter Abram Wilson will lead workshops to help young brass players in the Durham area discover different kinds of music. The sessions are part of a series being organised by Free Range Music and the Durham Brass Festival that also includes
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Pilot survives crash into mountain
A PILOT had an astonishing escape yesterday when his light aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain en route to the North-East. The Austrian was on a flight between Inverness and Newcastle when the Cessna came down in low cloud. Grampian Police received
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Mobile unit created for children
A MOBILE shelter is to provide somewhere for young people to meet in the Hambleton district. The £6,600 building will spend three months in set venues, but if successful, it is hoped similar structures will become permanent. The Hambleton Community Safety
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Wardens awarded for quality work
A TEAM of street wardens has been awarded quality badges for their high standard of work. The warden scheme was launched in 2001 by Easington District Council in an attempt to improve the physical appearance of streets and open spaces and to prevent anti-social
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Winning team
Squadron 2505 (Bishop Auckland) fielded a team of 21 would-be champions in an inter-squadron athletics competition at Monkton Stadium, Sunderland. The team won five gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
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Charitable trust concert raises funds for work with young musicians
A CHARITABLE trust has staged its annual concert to raise money for its work with young musicians. The orchestra from Durham Johnston School and the choir from St Leonard's School, both Durham, performed at last week's concert in Elvet Methodist Church
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Volunteers urged to join charity ride
VOLUNTEERS are urged to get on their bikes, have fun, keep fit and help to keep a hospice up and running. Willow Burn Hospice is staging its annual Sunflower Cycle Ride on a stretch of the Lanchester Valley Walk in County Durham, on Sunday. The 15-year-old
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Carers offered a welcome break
CARERS in east Durham are in for a well-earned rest next month. As part of National Carers Week, Easington Carers Collaborative is holding a celebration event on Thursday, June 16, at Shotton Hall Banqueting Suite in Peterlee. There will be a number of
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Roads closed
DRIVERS are being warned about two road closures. On Monday, North Road, in Stokesley, will be shut from its junction with College Square to its junction with Weavers Court for water main repairs. In Northallerton, the road along the eastern side of the
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Milestone reached in restoration scheme
WORK is progressing on a major restoration project at a historic church. An inspection of St John's in Bellerby, near Leyburn, five years ago found that urgent roof repairs were needed. People in the parish have collected about £20,000 towards the project
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Walking and cycling festival steps up a gear
PEOPLE with a zest for outdoor exercise are invited to take part in Redcar and Cleveland Council's fifth annual Walking and Cycling Festival, next month. The festival opens with a welcome evening on Friday, June 17, including two free walks around the
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Amanda jumps at chance to help
DAREDEVIL Amanda Simpson has raised nearly £150 for the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), after taking the plunge on an aerial slide from 100ft above Sedgefield Racecourse, County Durham. Amanda, who works at Specsavers Opticians, in Middlesbrough
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Funeral of man who died in Iraq
THE funeral of a North-East bodyguard who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq is to be held today. Father-of-three Alan Parkin died when his convoy was targeted on the notorious "Road of Death", near Baghdad Airport. The 44-year-old, from Consett,
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Book launch to help cope with autism
A MOTHER has written a book about learning to cope with autism, after her eldest daughter was diagnosed with the condition - at the age of 19. Valerie Smith's book, called The Face Of An Angel, tells of her family's frustrations at trying to get a diagnosis
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Music students want a chance
MUSIC students are asking entertainment venues to take a chance on them - as they try to set up gigs. The students on Darlington College of Technology's Rock and Pop course have formed an Abba tribute band and need to find gig venues. Tutor Andrew Meadowcroft
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Volunteers sought for healthcare alliance
A GROUP of organisations providing social care in County Durham and Teesside is looking for volunteers. The Tees Valley Social Care and Health Alliance is one of four groups in the region, which consists of organisations that provide social care and health
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Inquiries continue into latest truants
THE biggest ever truancy sweep in Darlington has been carried out - and pupils skipping school are being warned that more campaigns will follow. Police and Darlington Borough Council chiefs launched the operation on Tuesday, the first to involve the whole
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A look at captain's life 270 years ago
A MINIATURE masterpiece has pride of place in an exhibition celebrating the life of Captain James Cook. The model shows what the site of the cottage in Marton, where the seafarer was born, might have looked like 270 years ago. Keen model-maker Gary Green
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Pole to be moved after villagers struggle to get by
A TROUBLESOME telegraph pole is being moved after villagers complained it was in their way. People in Hurworth could hardly believe their eyes when British Telecom erected the pole in the middle of the footpath outside the Methodist church. Not only was
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Raising awareness of spinal injuries
PEOPLE with spinal cord injuries are taking to the streets to help raise awareness about the reality of living with the life-long condition. Today, members of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association (SIA) will be in Middlesbrough's Captain Cook Square between
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Bank employee who stole from customer avoids jail
A BANK worker who stole £3,000 from a customer's account to pay off debts walked free from a court yesterday. Craig Pasco transferred the money to his own account and he was quickly discovered when the customer complained. The bank repaid the money. Pasco
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No mistakes from Willis and Shield
SUNDAY saw the Darlington Motor Club in action at Dalton Woods, near Croft, with the fourth round of their trials series. Run over four laps of ten sections on the steep hillside and bordered by the River Tees, a disappointingly low entry of just 33 riders
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Work starts on former garages site
WORK has started on two affordable bungalows being built on the site of former council garages. The land for the homes in Blue Nile Way, Colburn, was given to Tees Valley Housing Association by Richmondshire District Council. Local ward member Councillor
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Country night
A COUNTRY and western singer who has just returned from the US will give a concert in the region later this month. Suzy Martell, of Heworth, York, who was told she would never sing again after she contracted throat cancer, will perform at The Junction
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Delegation opposing 48-hour working rule
A DELEGATION yesterday handed a letter to a North-East MEP protesting at the proposed 48-hour limit to the working week. The protestors, led by former Metric Martyr Neil Herron, delivered the letter to Stephen Hughes - one of the region's three members
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TV star saved from sad end
A HORSE-DRAWN milk float featured in the first series of All Creatures Great and Small has been fully restored by Max Hardcastle of Harmby. During filming, the shaft on the float broke. It was then left in a field just outside Leyburn for 20 years. "The
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Hussey desperate to win top-of-table battle
FIRST and second in division two of the Frizzell County Championship, the scene is set for a classic encounter between Durham and Yorkshire at Riverside today. Both of last year's clashes were disappointingly one-sided, the surprise being that the second
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Burton's Bytes: Mortal combat to test the mettle
CLOSE COMBAT: FIRST TO FIGHT, Format: Xbox. Publisher: Take2/Microsoft. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 16+: THE United States Marine Corps is at the cutting edge of American military might. Ready for anything 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the marines
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Sex trysts in toilets prompt closure move
TOILETS in Thirsk have been shut amid claims they are being used by gay men as a meeting place. The men's public toilets at Millgate are now shut on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A Hambleton District Council spokeswoman said the closure followed
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Koller deal won't happen for Mick
JAN KOLLER will not be moving to Sunderland this summer after his agent, on a day of confusion, insisted the giant striker is staying at Borussia Dortmund. Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy has earmarked Koller - one of his predecessors' major targets - as
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Appeal for information on suspected armed thieves
POLICE are today appealing for information after security guards at a Darlington supermarket chased a gang of suspected thieves believed to be armed with a gun. Security staff at Morrisons, in North Road, began to follow the group of five as they left
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Neutrino to score for Luca
Luca Cumani was the scourge of the bookmakers at Goodwood in the mid-eighties and among his memorable wins there were three consecutive victories in what was known as the Extel Handicap, writes Richard Young (Janus). The Newmarket handler doesn't have
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Star treatment for students with 100% attendance
TWO students were treated like celebrities for the day in recognition of their exemplary attendance. West Redcar Community College students, Zoe McCartney and Karen Barnes, both 16, were picked up from home in a limousine and dropped off in style on their
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Store runs into row for changing signs
THE Co-op may be forced to change the front of three of its stores after a retrospective planning application was refused. The store chain did not have planning permission to change signs and the fascia of the former Quality Fayre store in Thirsk Market
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It's payback time as recovery team seizes criminals' assets
CRIMINALS are losing millions of pounds in cash and assets in a police crackdown - which the villains are funding. In the ultimate irony, seized money and goods are being used to finance the region-wide campaign to take the profit out of crime. With the
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More than 10,000 visitors expected to flock to North Sheep 2005
NORTH Sheep will be held this year at Whinfell Park, Penrith, on Wednesday, June 1. Organised by the National Sheep Association's northern region, it aims to inform and inspire all parts of the sector. Quality lamb production is at the heart of agri-businessman
