Archive
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How a PoW taught guards to play football
THE remarkable story of a prisoner of war who taught his Japanese captors to play football has been told for the first time - 60 years after the end of the war in the Far East. Sam Purvis organised matches between guards and prisoners after being taken
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Call to grow willow to supply electricity
BUSINESSES which own surplus land could turn it into cash by growing trees to create electricity. SembCorp Utilities, which owns Teesside's Wilton International site, is building a £60m power station to burn fast-growing willow coppice, creating electricity
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Banks seek greater surety after ruling
A LANDMARK House of Lords insolvency law ruling could have a damaging effect on small businesses and their ability to secure loans from high street lenders, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has warned. The ruling in the Natwest v Spectrum
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Fury as jobs axed in RAC shake-up
UNION bosses spoke of their fury last night after the RAC sacked more than 1,700 workers - including hundreds in the North-East - as part of an £80m cost-cutting plan. The breakdown group's new parent company Aviva, which also owns insurance company Norwich
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Graham Stokoe, Rikke Ledger, Paul Knight
CAR dealership Benfield Renault has made three new appointments. Heading up the dealership's new team is 34-year-old GRAHAM STOKOE, a veteran of Benfield Renault. He started as business manager five years ago at the Benfield dealership and now Mr Stokoe
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£175,000 for asbestos death
A DOCTOR has won £175,000 damages from the Department of Health after his wife died from exposure to asbestos dust. Nurse Rebecca Little, 53, of Catterick, North Yorkshire, died in February 2002 from mesothelioma, the asbestos-related cancer. Since then
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Rescue crews in row over funding
A ROW over funding has erupted between the region's two air ambulance services. Fundraisers from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service (YAAS) say colleagues from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) are raising money on their patch. This was hampering
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A wedding that win't break the bank
As a survey reveals that most couples drastically underestimate how much they will spend on their wedding - an average of £16,500 - Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings looks at how to keep the wedding costs down. WHEN her big moment came, Melania Knauss floated
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A weapon we cannot surrender
I met a man called Neil Boyd, retired and living in York. He had painted in oils and watercolours some remarkable pictures from memory of his time as a prisoner of war in Japan. Neil died a few years ago but I think of him especially this week, the 60th
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Boro to finally rein in Rudolph
MIDDLESBROUGH have finally agreed a deal with Sporting Lisbon for lightning-quick winger Rudolph Douala. After weeks of negotiations the clubs have agreed a fee in the region of £5.5m and Douala will today be given the go-ahead to undergo a medical and
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Proctor accepts it's right to play Martis in the middle
Darlington assistant manager Mark Proctor has defended the decision to field defender Shelton Martis as an unorthodox right-back, but admits the Dutchman would be better utilised in his natural position in the middle of the defence. The 22-year-old impressed
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Homes evacuated in major gas leak
UP to 50 people were evacuated from their homes in Crook last night after a major gas leak. Engineers managed to reduce the pressure of leaking gas shortly after 12.15am this morning following temporary repairs. Many of those asked to leave their homes
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High hopes for Hirefone service
A communications company that had to reduce its workforce by more than half following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US is hoping that a new mobile phone sim card will turn its fortunes around. Hirefone, which is based in York, has been established
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Man raided home of his dead neighbour
A BURGLAR who raided the home of his dead neighbour has been jailed for three years. A judge told Craig Fairweather that his crime was "a nasty offence" and said: "You know you have to go to prison." Fairweather, 28, from Billingham, Teesside, was also
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The bells are ringing out for the Black Bull's new owners
When it comes to a good pub, what could be better than one that is family run with traditional values, serves hand-pumped cask ale, freshly prepares food using local produce and is smoke-free? And for added measure, the Black Bull, in Frosterley, near
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Boy of 7 saved by 11th hour transplant
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy with days to live was saved by a heart transplant at the 11th hour. Justin Maskell was given five weeks to live and was being kept alive by machines when his heart condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors launched a desperate bid to
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Hero PC's bravery during cathedral rescue
A POLICE officer told last night how he was locked in a 200ft-high life-or-death struggle with a suicidal woman on top of Durham Cathedral. Neville Waller had to climb over the fence onto a ledge to grab the 19-year-old as she knelt to say a prayer before
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Jeremy Hogg, Jeff Hatch
Jennings Ford in Stockton has appointed JEREMY HOGG and JEFF HATCH as sales executives. Mr Hogg, 33, joins from another motor dealer in the region. Before that, he was a customer relations executive for NTL. Mr Hatch, also 33, was sales executive for
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Food workers consider more strikes
FOOD factory workers at the centre of an industrial dispute may vote for further strike action later this week. Staff at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, are holding crisis talks with the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) as company bosses
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Is the future of the workplace to be found in our living rooms?
Evidence suggests that working from home is becoming increasingly attractive to employees and employers alike, and a growing number of organisations are encouraging their staff to consider this option. The possibilities were recently brought home to me
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Region bucks the trend
TRADING conditions for smaller manufacturers have continued to decline, with output, employment and new orders all falling for the second successive quarter, according to the CBI's latest survey. However, the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) Northern
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Is the desktop PC on its last legs
A FEW years ago, I would have said terminal services were something that happened in an airport and I'd have thought a citrix farm was some form of organic farming method. However, more and more organisations I visit are using this technology. But why
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Reward offered to trace dog
A TELEVISION reporter has offered a reward of £200 for the return of her small dog, which is in danger of dying unless given a daily supply of pills. Stephanie Ryan, a journalist with Tyne Tees Television, was devastated when Zoe, her ten-year-old black
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The ultimate driving machine gears up to take over in Asia
DESPITE all the glossy brochures, the millions spent on television advertising and the razzmatazz of the international motor shows, there's no doubt the automobile industry is going through a torrid time at the moment. But amid all the talk of crisis,
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Casino bets on a familiar name
Bannatyne Casinos Ltd has named PAUL EDWARDS as its new managing director. Mr Edwards takes up the role after two years as financial director of sister company Bannatyne Fitness. Bannatyne Casinos is aiming to consolidate its position in the North-East
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Christian who fears persecution if sent back to Iraq suffers new blow
A CONVERT to Christianity who claims he faces the threat of harsh repression if forced to return to his native Iran had a crucial legal claim dismissed in London's High Court yesterday. Ciamak Smaili, now living in Thornton Court, Washington, says he
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What if the love doesn't last?
For Hollywood actors and pop stars, pre-nuptial agreements are as important a part of getting married as the icing on the wedding cake. Once seen as only necessary for the rich and famous, a prenuptial agreement - also sometimes referred to as a premarital
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What are the rules on employing children?
Now that we are well into the school summer holidays, it is likely that many employers - particularly those in retailing and manufacturing - will have been approached by schoolchildren looking to make a few pounds before they go back to class in September
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Law firm brokers major nuclear deal
North-East law firm Ward Hadaway has closed a deal for Swedish nuclear technology firm Studsvik on its acquisition of Newcastle-based Environmental Remediation Services Ltd (ERS). Stockholm Stock Exchange-listed Studsvik, a service provider to the nuclear
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Alan Markham
York marketing agency The Partners Group has appointed ALAN MARKHAM as account manager. His background in trade and technical PR has allowed him to help market clients in the construction and manufacturing industries.
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On TV last night
The Week The Women Went (BBC3) Without a Trace (C4) YOU just knew it was all going to end badly when lorry driver Andy said: "I just don't understand why she thinks it's going to be hard for me. It is not rocket science is it?" It's almost as if he'd
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Governor pours cold water on further rate cuts
The Bank of England reduced interest rates to 4.5 per cent at the start of the month. The move was entirely anticipated, and would only have been a shock if it had not have happened. The expectation until last week, was that this would be the first of
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Woman stable after collision
A woman was last night in a stable condition after firemen cut her free from her car following a collision with an articulated lorry. The woman, in her early sixties, suffered a broken leg, broken arm and chest injuries in the accident on the A66 near
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Eating Owt
ON a Sabbath day nearly four years ago we ate, appreciatively, at the Seaham Hall Hotel, then recently opened. Nothing's changed: not the sophistication, the nonsensical literature ("A hotel for the way we live now"), nor the price for Sunday lunch. It's
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Rail chief hits back over new route plan
THE boss of a rail operator which wants to run new train services from the North-East to London last night hit back at his critics. York-based Grand Central Railways (GCR) hopes to run four trains a day from Sunderland, Hartlepool and Eaglescliffe to
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Alcohol death toll soaring - figures
DEATHS from drinking alcohol have soared by 28 per cent in four years across the North-East - even before the controversial extension of pub hours. A total of 430 people died from conditions such as liver disease and alcohol poisoning last year, compared
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Stories that must be told
THE 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War has thrown up some remarkable stories of courage, sacrifice, tragedy, and comradeship. Many were relived yesterday as veterans gathered to mark the anniversary of VJ Day. Today, we especially feature
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Every dog has it's day . . . once again
It's 30 years since champion greyhound Fawny last graced the pages of The Northern Echo . . . discovering the cutting means both dog and owner are back in the news again. IF EVERY dog has its day, as widely is supposed, a greyhound called Fawny is about
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Bus bomb threat man is spared prison
A MAN who claimed he was going to blow up a bus a week after the London public transport explosions narrowly escaped a prison sentence yesterday. Ian McCready made what turned out to be an idle threat when he lost his temper in a telephone row with a
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New call over 999 shake-up concerns
A COUNCILLOR has repeated calls for assurances over plans to shelve standby ambulance services at rural stations. Durham county councillor John Shuttleworth, who represents Weardale, had asked for a written response to his claim that the North-East Ambulance
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News in brief
HELICOPTER SCRAMBLED: Cleveland Police scrambled its helicopter on Sunday night after a member of public reported a car being driven in the fields in between Hunley Hall Golf Course, in Brotton, and Skiningrove Works. Inspector Paul Pickering, from Cleveland
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Shop licence extended
A SHOP was yesterday granted permission to sell alcohol for 17 hours a day every day of the week. Bells Stores, in Red Hall, Darlington, was granted an alcohol licence from 6am and 11pm, seven days a week, at a sub-committee meeting of Darlington Borough
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Town creates permanent reminder of market charter
A TOWN is to unveil a plaque today to bring to a close celebrations of the 750th anniversary of its market charter. Bedale was granted its market charter in 1251 by Henry III -and the town held a five-month-long festival in 2001 to mark the occasion.
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Watchdog backs rejection of gates in conservation area
AN environmental watchdog has welcomed a decision to reject a plea for large entrance gates at a North Yorkshire priory estate. The scheme, for the Priory Estate in the Nun Monkton conservation area near York, had been turned down by Harrogate Borough
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Green scheme helps company take a walk on the wild side
AN environmental programme launched by a County Durham company is starting to prove a success with an increase in wildlife on its site. 3M created an area known as the Centenary Field next to its plant in Heighington Lane, Newton Aycliffe, in 2002, to
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'Why women need to regain control in childbirth'
In a controversial book, Val Clarke claims that mothers' instincts are being eroded by the childbirth 'system' and encourages them to heed their inner voice. She tells Sarah Foster about her experiences as a midwide including delivering Paula Yates' child
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Fears for US woman
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for a missing American woman. Amy Lee, a 41-year-old who lives in Harrogate, has not been seen for more than a week. She is 5ft 3ins with waist-length black hair, an average build and a very soft voice. Anyone
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Frog offers freebies
RECYCLING mascot Freda the Frog will give away freebies when The Big Green Recycling Roadshow visits Teesside this week. Stockton Borough Council will host the event at South Thornaby Community and Resource Centre, in Havilland Road, Thornaby, on Thursday
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Residents warned of cowboy builders
RESIDENTS are being warned to be on their guard against cowboy builders who cold-call on homes seeking work. Council officials in Hartlepool are keen to prevent a repeat of an incident two years ago when they were left with a £10,000 bill to clean up
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Appeal for members
GARDENERS are appealing for anyone who shares their passion to join their club. Darlington Amateur Gardening Club is looking for new members. During the year, members will have the chance to compete for the Norah Ellison Memorial Trophy in the club's
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Tykes ready for thriller
After the heady excitement of the Ashes, Old Trafford will still be buzzing today as one of the most crucial Roses matches in recent years gets under way. Yorkshire are second in the Second Division table with Lancashire holding the third promotion spot
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Disabled artists exhibit work
A GROUP of disabled artists have become the latest people to exhibit their works at the Chester-le-Street Civic Centre. Artworks by members of the town's Society of Disabled Artists (Soda), covering a range of media, can be viewed in the cash desk area
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Mother's final farewell to arson attack victim Dean
THE funeral of a young boy who died after an arson attack on his home will be held on Thursday. Dean Pike, 11, was found dead on the landing of the house he shared with his mother, Janine Dodd, on Deerness Estate, Hendon, Sunderland, in June. The youngster
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Masons dig deep to boost breakfast club funds
YOUNGSTERS can continue to enjoy the benefits of their village breakfast club thanks to a £1,000 donation. The Dene Valley One Stop Shop, in Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, has been given the money by the Freemasons of Durham. About 40 children use
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Magical mystery tour
FAMILIES are invited to take part in a countryside walk with a difference. Children will be challenged to lead the way, working out the route of the seven-mile ramble by solving a series of clues, while the destination is kept under wraps. The walk will
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Children flock to make bird boxes
MORE than 300 youngsters turned out with their parents yesterday to put their artistic talents and nature knowledge to the test. The children attended Ward Jackson Park, in Hartlepool, to make 20 bird boxes and face masks, all with a feathery theme. The
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Boumsong determined to play on
JEAN-ALAIN BOUMSONG claims his Newcastle United career will not be affected by a determination to earn as many caps as possible for France. Young centre-back Steven Taylor was last night pulled out of the England under-21 squad as a precautionary measure
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Vagrant barred after Ibiza holiday
A HOMELESS alcoholic returned from a holiday on the sunshine isle of Ibiza to be banned from the town centre he plagues. Terence Elliot told magistrates he was due to fly out to the Canary Islands and a hearing for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo
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Kriya Patel
NEWCASTLE Building Society has promoted KRIYA PATEL to a newly-created position of third party Internet manager as demand for its IT services grows. The 32-year-old will oversee delivery of the society's Internet services and computer systems which it
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Mother's final farewell to arson attack victim Dean
THE funeral of a young boy who died after an arson attack on his home will be held on Thursday. Dean Pike, 11, was found dead on the landing of the house he shared with his mother, Janine Dodd, on Deerness Estate, Hendon, Sunderland, in June. The youngster
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They have legal consequences - so don't throw e-mails away
Love it or loath it, the e-mail is here to stay. And increased regulation means companies must face up to the fact that e-mail archiving is now a necessity, not a luxury. High-profile court cases involving global operators have shown that anyone can fall
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Soldier's rescue mission after desert car crash
A NORTH-EAST soldier battled in the desert heat to save a trapped man after coming across the aftermath of a car crash. Army officers believe medic George Demopoulos saved the lives of two people after their Jeep careered 80 metres down a steep hill in
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Big win can improve Stoute's title hopes
SIR MICHAEL STOUTE needs to scoop York's hugely valuable Juddmonte International Stakes with Maraahel (3.05) in order to challenge Aidan O'Brien for the 2005 Flat trainer's championship. The latter is currently £190,000 ahead of Stoute at the top of the
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Retailer is on a roll with store openings
STOREY Carpets will announce the opening of two stores within weeks, The Northern Echo can reveal. Storey, based in Washington, Wearside, owns and operates the Walter Wall and Woodland Floors stores, and recently opened a Storey Carpets shop in Durham
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Kaye Johnson-Walker
Law firm Gordon Brown Associates has appointed award-winning legal secretary KAYE JOHNSON-WALKER to its Chester-le-Street team. Ms Johnson-Walker won an Institution of Legal Executives (Ilex) award as a Student of the Year at Darlington College of Technology
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£2m makeover designed to bring resort's seafront to life
FAR-reaching plans to transform a resort's harbour and create one of the best seafronts in Europe have been unveiled. The £2m scheme would see the harbourside area of Scarborough given a new look - and now the public are being invited to have their say
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Chance to forge links with the Far East
Business leaders in the region will welcome a delegation from the Far East next month. Delegates from Malaysia, led by the country's high commissioner, Dato' Abd Aziz Mohammed, will tour the region forging links between the two countries. Geoff Young,
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Bishops class of 1950 take a trip down memory lane
Bishop Auckland's famous old football ground is gone, flattened, replaced by what the signs call sheltered accommodation for Durham's Freemasons. Bishop Auckland's famous old footballers, again reunited, were somewhat taken aback. "Bloody hell, the new
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Travellers banned in landmark judgement
A FAMILY of travellers were last night banned from setting up camp across a swathe of countryside as part of a landmark legal ruling which could have implications for councils around the country. It is thought to be one of the first times that Anti-Social
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McCarthy to keep faith with his current crop
MICK McCarthy is ready to keep faith with the players that secured Sunderland's return to the big time, in the knowledge that one defeat doesn't mean they lack the experience to cut it in the Premiership. The Black Cats went down 3-1 in the opening game
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Set up your own website
A COMMUNITY centre hoping to get hooked up to the Internet is having a four-day visit from The Northern Echo's CommuniGate Bus. Bowburn Community Centre has a suite of computers, used by several groups, and computers in its office but none are linked
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Heroin dealer and his neighbour jailed by crown court
A DARLINGTON drug dealer was jailed for six years yesterday for selling heroin from his home and from a neighbour's house two doors away. Police filmed addicts buying heroin from Mark Wilson's home in Chandos Street. They also filmed him using the house
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All hands on deck at the puppet workshop
CHILDREN became puppet masters for the day when they took part in a summer workshop. Youngsters gathered at Darlington Arts Centre for the event and, after creating their own hand puppets, took their designs home to show to parents. The workshop was part
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Youngsters display message of worldwide friendship
YOUNG people at County Durham schools are showing off their friendship links to a worldwide audience. A series of four posters with the theme "making links, making friends, making sense of the world" are to go on show at Durham Tees Valley airport from
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Trading standards warn small companies about advert scam
SMALL businesses in Darlington are being warned not to be conned by an advertising ploy that could dupe them out of hundreds of pounds. Business owners have complained of being contacted by an unnamed company, who say they have entered into a verbal agreement
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Gardener completes hat-trick in challenge
GARDENER Joan Kemp-Ambler completed a hat-trick yesterday when she won her town's garden competition for the third year in a row. She was awarded a trophy and £50 after the judge, Steve Robinson, of Darlington, was impressed once more by the lawns and
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Burglar snared by security tag clues
A BURGLAR was caught after he broke into student accommodation - and left his electronic tag inside the property. Gary Hearn, 20, was given an electronic curfew after a raid in February and still had the Securicor tag around his ankle when he forced his
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Teenager jailed after admitting two house burglaries
A YOUTH has been jailed after stealing more than £1,000 of jewellery. The 14-year-old, from Newton Aycliffe, who cannot be named for legal reasons, yesterday admitted burglary at two houses. Despite his solicitor arguing that custody could have a bad
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Christian who fears persecution if sent back to Iraq suffers new blow
A CONVERT to Christianity who claims he faces the threat of harsh repression if forced to return to his native Iran had a crucial legal claim dismissed in London's High Court yesterday. Ciamak Smaili, now living in Thornton Court, Washington, says he
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Takeaway robbed at knifepoint
POLICE have appealed for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery at a takeaway. A police spokesman said a man went into the Fortune Inn takeaway, in Felling, Gateshead, brandishing a knife and demanding money, at about 10.15pm on Friday. He jumped over
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Brighten up your day
PEOPLE are guaranteed a bright weekend at an annual horticultural show. Hartlepool Horticultural Show will feature champion carnations, dahlias, chrysanthemums, gladioli, fuchsias, sweet peas and vegetables. The show is organised in conjunction with Hartlepool
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Canoe adventure
TWO sporting adventures are on offer to youngsters later this month. There will be a two-day canoe camp at Ullswater, in the Lake District, from August 22 to 23, open to anyone aged between 11 and 16. It costs £20 to £24 per person. A two-day mountain
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Boy of 7 saved by 11th hour transplant
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy with days to live was saved by a heart transplant at the 11th hour. Justin Maskell was given five weeks to live and was being kept alive by machines when his heart condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors launched a desperate bid to
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Engines deal with town fire
THREE fire engines were called to a town centre house yesterday morning after a window frame caught fire. It is believed that the occupier was using an electric paint stripper on the window frame when it ignited at 10.46am. Two fire engines from Northallerton
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Paid too much benefit
A 56-year-old woman who was wrongly paid almost £1,500 in benefits appeared in court yesterday. Christine Nesbitt, of East Villa, Crathorne, near Yarm, pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to notify Hambleton District Council that she was receiving
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Cadets shine at summer camp
A BATTLE camp for cadets has won praise from one of the teams that triumphed at the event. Fifteen schools from all over the country sent their Combined Cadet Forces to the Wathgill Battle Camp, in Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales, for the week-long exercise
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Healthy eating advice at chemists
PHARMACIES in east Durham will be offering residents expert advice on healthy eating. From today until Friday, pharmacists in the Easington District will give advice to customers on the benefits of buying healthy food. Taste test challenges will be taking
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James Nightingale
JAMES NIGHTINGALE has joined Watson Burton law firm's corporate department as a solicitor working on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. Mr Nightingale qualified with DLA in Leeds, before moving to Keeble Hawson's Leeds practice. He graduated
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Guided walk
Voluntary Countryside Rangers Steven and Janet Hutchinson will lead a ten-mile guided walk in the Edmundbyers area, near Consett, on Saturday, August 27, starting at 10.30am, at the village hall. The walk costs £2, concessions £1.
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Lottery windfall means more activities for young people
YOUTH workers are to take to the streets in Bishop Auckland thanks to a £173,793 Lottery grant. Bishop Auckland Community Partnership is looking forward to expanding its already successful youth service after receiving the money. The money will allow
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Coach receives award
A BOXING club coach has been recognised for his services to young people by Wear Valley District Council. John Heighington, who lives in Bishop Auckland, has coached hundreds of youngsters at Shildon Boxing Club. His has trained 92 young men at national
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Country call caps off perfect week for Collins
NEILL Collins' swift development continues tonight when he turns out for his country. The central defender, on loan at Hartlepool from Sunderland, has been named in Rainer Bonhof's squad for Scotland's under-21 friendly in Austria. Collins made an impressive
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Aussie theme bar withdraws bid to extend opening hours
A PUB has withdrawn its bid to stay open into the early hours in the face of objections from residents and the police. Regent Inns, owner of the Walkabout Australian theme bar in the former Robins Cinema, in North Road, Durham, wanted to extend its opening
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Warning after thieves steal car navigation equipment
POLICE are urging owners of cars with satellite navigation systems to hide the devices so they do not become a target for thieves. The advice comes after a spate of thefts in recent weeks, most of them in the Middlesbrough area, where a dozen of the sophisticated
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Nappy pervert hunted after woman confronted in park
POLICE are hunting a man who runs around at night wearing nothing but a nappy and asks women: "Are there any baby changing facilities around here?" A number of people have reported sightings of the pervert running around the Eaglescliffe area of Stockton
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16/08/05
GRASS CUTTING: I WALK my dogs for an hour or so every day with my pockets full of poo bags, as a good citizen should. Since January I have been trying to get our council to cut the grass on a designated footpath so that walkers can see where the potholes
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Friendship the key for software to help blind
FIVE years ago, IT expert Adrian Sach set up his own company in County Durham specialising in computer software development, creating customised packages for firms nationwide. His business, Software Express, in Langley Park, took a dramatic change in
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Stephen Gowland
Solicitor STEPHEN GOWLAND, of Durham firm ILS Solicitors has been appointed to the National Council of the Institute of Legal Executives (Ilex). Mr Gowland, who is chairman of the Newcastle branch, said: "I feel very privileged to be representing the
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Children of the digital revolution
It has gone from an artistic discipline to a multi-million pound sector that offers huge potential for the economic future of the Tees Valley. John Dean examines the digital revolution. CHILDREN playing their favourite computer games never stop to think
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Mike Wardle
MIKE WARDLE has been appointed head of IT at Grainger Trust plc. His job is to keep technology ahead of competitors at the UK's largest quoted residential property investor. He joins the Newcastle company from Norwich Union, where he was head of solutions
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Proctor accepts it's right to play Martis in the middle
Darlington assistant manager Mark Proctor has defended the decision to field defender Shelton Martis as an unorthodox right-back - but admits the Dutchman would be better utilised in his natural position in the middle of the defence. The 22-year-old impressed
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Talking meter for diabetics is launched
A MEDICAL product testing company hopes to tap into the US market following its success in the UK. Sunderland-based CDx Ltd launched its revolutionary SensoCard Plus - a talking blood glucose meter designed for visually impaired diabetics - through an
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Solution more than just a pipe dream
A SUBSIDIARY of the company that runs Teesside's Wilton International site has won a major contract with Esso to supply pipe-checking computer software. Advanced technology developed by SembSolutions is helping Esso check its network of underground pipelines
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Big win can improve Stoute's title hopes
SIR MICHAEL STOUTE needs to scoop York's hugely valuable Juddmonte International Stakes with Maraahel (3.05) in order to challenge Aidan O'Brien for the 2005 Flat trainer's championship. The latter is currently £190,000 ahead of Stoute at the top of the
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Man who racially abused PC spared prison
A MAN who racially abused an Asian police officer has walked free from court - because he spent three months on remand for another allegation. Geoffrey Ward was told he would have been locked up had he not spent the equivalent of a six-month sentence
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Fast forward into the future as college building takes shape
In a scruffy corner of central Darlington, one of the biggest further education projects in the country is under construction. This time next year, the new £34.5m Darlington College will be unveiled as the first landmark building on the Central Park development
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How football saved Mister Sam
For more than 50 years, Sam Purvis stayed silent about his three-and-a-half years as a prisoner of the Japanese, until finally entrusting the story to his nephew. Nick Morrison reports on the man who used football to save his comrades - and the enduring
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Support Our Port: 'Claims that South-East is not congested are barmy'
CLAIMS by developers of a southern port that there is not a traffic problem in the South have been dismissed as "barmy" by Teesport owner PD Ports. PD is hoping to build a deep-sea container terminal on Teesside, which it says could narrow the £30bn economic
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Down Under takeover bid
THE battle for the London Stock Exchange intensified last night when an Australian bank confirmed it was considering a takeover bid. Macquarie Bank said its deliberations were at the most preliminary of stages and any formal offer would be made through
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Travellers banned in landmark ruling
A FAMILY of travellers were last night banned from setting up camp across a swathe of countryside as part of a landmark legal ruling which could have implications for councils around the country. It is thought to be one of the first times that Anti-Social
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Julia Staves
Gateshead firm Logistics North East - part of the APC Overnight Network - has appointed a new customer service manager. The company offers a service that involves sending a daily report to customers with information about the status of their deliveries
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River quality better than UK average
RIVER quality in the North-East is better than the average waterway in England, according to new figures. The latest results, announced by the Environment Agency yesterday, show that 81.9 per cent of rivers in the region have a good or very good standard
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John Grey
JOHN GRAY has been appointed as bar manager at Springs Health and Leisure club in South Shields. The 22-year-old abandoned plans to be a teacher of music to take the job. He holds a performing arts degree from South Tyneside College.
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Michelle Roberts
Computer connection technology company Lindy has appointed MICHELLE ROBERTS as Mac operator and graphic designer at its head office on Teesside. The 22-year-old graphic design graduate from the University of Teesside will work with the design team to
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Teenager admits sex assaults on boys
A TEENAGE sex attacker who subjected two schoolboys to sickening ordeals was spared a custodial sentence yesterday. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, sent the youngsters' friends on errands so that he could be alone with the victims during the two
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Call for action as fourth car crashes onto railway tracks
VOLUNTEERS at the world's oldest working railway are warning of a potential disaster after a car crashed through a barrier and landed on a track - for the fourth time in a month. The operators of Tanfield Railway have called for 40mph speed limit along
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Angel of North council boss adds backing for Sky Bowl
BACKING for a North-East city skyline work of art, dubbed the Wok of the North, has come from the home of the Angel of the North. Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council, has written to Durham County Council expressing his support for plans to commission
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Fury as RAC jobs are axed in cost cutbacks
UNION bosses spoke of their fury last night after the RAC sacked more than 1,700 workers - including hundreds in the North-East - as part of an £80m cost-cutting plan. The breakdown group's new parent company, Aviva, which also owns insurance company
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Former TSB man takes the helm at ntl
CABLE operator ntl last night announced the appointment of an executive charged with improving customer service. Neil Berkett will join ntl as chief operating officer next month, putting him in charge of day-to-day operations, such as the level of service
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Leniency for youth on sex assault charge
A TEENAGER who sexually assaulted a young girl has been spared being locked up so he can rebuild his life. The 16-year-old youth was told by a judge: "You did wrong and you must not do such wrong again." At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, the youth was
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Durham move for Aussie
DURHAM have signed paceman Brad Williams, who has played in four Tests for Australia, as their replacement overseas bowler. But they are still seeking a deputy for his Western Australia team-mate Mike Hussey and coach Martyn Moxon admitted: "It's a massive
