Archive
-
Date
Dancer centre stage at revamped Ascot
Dancer centre stage at revamped Ascot ASCOT re-opens today following a 608-day closure during which time the course has undergone a £200m facelift. Such massive investment is great news for the sport, benefits that include providing a world-class
-
Date
Nerves of Steel required
STEEL BLUE needs to bounce back to form if he's to justify his inclusion in Racing North's ten-to-follow for 2006 and win Catterick's feature, the £20,000 totequadpot Handicap. Richard Whitaker's gelding finished last of 14 on his most recent outing
-
Date
Harmison free to lead Durham's attack in C & G Trophy clash
DURHAM will again have Steve Harmison in their side for Monday's C & G Trophy tie against Leicestershire at Riverside. After proving his readiness for an England return by taking four for 19 in 11 overs against Sussex on Wednesday, it was felt he might
-
Date
Parents on alert after abduction attempts
POLICE are hunting a would-be child snatcher who has attempted to grab a number of children in the last few weeks. Cleveland Police are investigating a spate of attempted abductions in Middlesbrough and Redcar. In the first incident, at about 7pm on Thursday
-
Date
Transplant milestone for hospital
HUNDREDS of patients who have undergone life-saving heart and lung transplants in the North-East will help celebrate a remarkable birthday today. It is 21 years since a team of surgeons at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle carried out their first heart
-
Date
Asbo for man who tore off pigeon's head
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who was once caught on camera ripping the head off a live pigeon in front of horrified shoppers was placed on a two-year anti-social behaviour order yesterday. Frankie Pearson, of Burnigill, in Meadowfield, was given the Asbo by Durham
-
Date
Flight into hell and a new world
Film-maker Paul Greengrass attempts to deal with the many questions thrown up by 9/11 in his film about the final hijacking of that dreadful day. But he's the first to admit he has no answers, he tells Steve Pratt. IT'S the question that film-maker
-
Date
Giving succour to flocks of all kinds
For worshippers at one Weardale church, an annual lambing service is just as important as the harvest celebrations. Westgate lies towards the top of Weardale, once the western extreme of the Bishop of Durham's deer park but now a place of which it
-
Date
Ryan the hot Rod
RYAN Molloy almost missed returning to the North-East in a big touring version of West End musical Tonight's The Night after being rushed into hospital to have his appendix out in January. Tyneside-born Molloy, who doesn't admit to an age beyond 29
-
Date
Singin' in the clink
They're more used to toughing it out on screen, but now award-winning TV series Bad Girls has been turned into a musical, reports Steve Pratt. THINK about it, Kath Gotts suggests, and turning award-winning TV series Bad Girls into a musical isn't quite
-
Date
The global conveyor belt
THIS is the story of the modern world, of the way we live today. It's a big story, a global story, but it could be shortened to just four letters: TEUs. You may have noticed them on Tuesday's front page. They cropped up in the report about the Government's
-
Date
May 27, 2006
BRAVE GURKHAS NEED PENSION EQUALITY: IT was with dismay that I read about the Gurkhas having to go to Downing Street and beg for a pension that would put them on an equal footing with their British counterparts (Echo, May 23). These brave soldiers
-
Date
Clare's courageous example
WE should all spare a thought today for Daniel Curtin, the eight-year-old boy who has died after being knocked down by suspected joyriders in the North-East. And we should also think of his mother, Clare, who has shown remarkable fortitude amid unimaginable
-
Date
Good turn for adult learners
CLOCKS, bowls and goblets were put on sale during a show of talent by woodturners. Celebrating the success of Adult Learners Week in Stockton, work produced during lessons was put on display at the town's Central Library. A spokeswoman at the library
-
Date
Children raise funds for charity
CHILDREN at two Teesside play centres took part in a marathon with a difference, to help youngsters suffering from leukaemia. About 30 children from the Oscar play centres, at Owton Manor Community Centre and Boys Welfare Youth Centre, both in Hartlepool
-
Date
Artworks taking root in former allotments
THE transformation of a disused allotment site into an attractive community garden has taken another artistic turn. Seats and tables, designed by students at Grangefield School, in Stockton, have been installed at the site in the town's Oxbridge Lane.
-
Date
Eat your way to health
AN Eat Your Way to Health initiative has been launched. The slogan will be used by Hartlepool Borough Council for a series of events to promote the benefits of a healthy diet. Fruity Friday has already taken place, and was aimed at council staff. Healthy
-
Date
Pupils' giant jigsaw promotes the joys of walking to school
PUPILS helped to promote the benefits of walking by taking part in an eye-catching event this week. Sixty children from St Aidan's CE Memorial Primary School, in Hartlepool, each carried a piece of a giant jigsaw that was then assembled in the playground
-
Date
Council 'annoyed' at call for election
TOWN councillors are angry that they are being forced to hold an election to replace one of their members. Councillor Bob Stephenson recently announced his resignation from Yarm Town Council, as he is unable to attend meetings. The vacancy was advertised
-
Date
Money raised for town Meet
A BARNARD Castle restaurant raised more than £1,100 for the town's annual meet earlier this week. The Spice Island Indian restaurant, in the market place, held a Bollywood-themed night to raise funds for the festival, which takes place this weekend.
-
Date
Power company threat to woman who never got bill
A PANICKED pensioner paid £420 to an electricity supplier over the phone after receiving threats that her power would be cut off. Diana Gibson, 60, who lives with her 87-year-old uncle, John Robinson, was so fearful that their electricity would be disconnected
-
Date
An insight into criminal justice
RESIDENTS of Barnard Castle can find out more about criminal justice at an open day next week. Visitors can call into Witham Hall between 10am and 3pm on Wednesday. There will be representatives from the police, courts, DVLA, victim support, drug action
-
Date
Unemployed benefit from job centre
JOBSEEKERS are to benefit from the opening of a one-stop advice centre. The opening of the Jobcentre Plus office, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, also signifies a key milestone for the service's office modernisation programme. The North-East is the
-
Date
Plea for CCTV grant to deter park vandals
A BID has been made to install a £100,000 camera security system in a town's Victorian park to help stop vandalism. Almost £1m has been spent on restoring Hackworth Park in Shildon over the past five years. But play areas, which have been paid for with
-
Date
Adult learners praised for beating the odds
ADULT students who often had to beat huge odds to continue their education were recognised at an awards night at Bishop Auckland College. Many of the nominees at the Adult Learners Awards Ceremony on Thursday had worked hard to succeed while working,
-
Date
Government to certify Thai boxer
A MUAY Thai boxer is to undertake his instructor's certificate with the Thai government. James Land, 33, from Newton Aycliffe, will visit Bangkok and Pattaya, in Thailand, later this year. During his visit, he will study a range of different aspects of
-
Date
Hodgson swoops for Cummins and Conlon
Darlington's squad rebuilding began in earnest last night when they made a double transfer swoop, bringing back former striker Barry Conlon and signing midfielder Michael Cummins from Port Vale. Conlon has agreed to return to the Quakers after an uneventful
-
Date
O'Neill back in the running as Venables says no
MARTIN O'NEILL has re-emerged as the front-runner for the Middlesbrough manager's job after spending yesterday afternoon in talks on Teesside. O'Neill, who boarded the delayed 16.20 train heading North out of Darlington station following discussions with
-
Date
Nerves of Steel required
STEEL BLUE needs to bounce back to form if he's to justify his inclusion in Racing North's ten-to-follow for 2006 and win Catterick's feature, the £20,000 totequadpot Handicap. Richard Whitaker's gelding finished last of 14 on his most recent outing,
-
Date
Dancer centre stage at revamped Ascot
ASCOT re-opens today following a 608-day closure during which time the course has undergone a £200m facelift. Such massive investment is great news for the sport, benefits that include providing a world-class stage for up-and-coming trainers such as
-
Date
Downing tipped for stardom
FORMER England Under-21 striker Jon Stead feels Stewart Downing, a former team-mate on the international stage, can have a serious impact on this summer's World Cup. Sven-Goran Eriksson's preparations for the Germany finals were boosted yesterday morning
-
Date
Newcastle target Kuyt calls for halt to transfer speculation
NEWCASTLE transfer target Dirk Kuyt has pledged to put all discussion over his future on hold until the end of this summer's World Cup finals. But the Magpies are still expected to send a scouting delegation to Rotterdam's De Kuip Stadium this evening
-
Date
Burke named Falcons' skipper as Charvis and Grimes are shown the door by Andrew
NEWCASTLE Falcons are to be captained by their Australian World Cup winner Matt Burke next season after releasing this year's skipper Colin Charvis. Full back Burke, recently named Player of the Year, has scored 21 tries in 48 starts during his two seasons
-
Date
Ward's chance to show Power
Darlington boxer Argie Ward finally gets a crack at the British bantamweight championship when he takes on undisputed title-holder Martin Power on Tuesday. The bout was originally scheduled to take place two months ago, only for Ward's opponent to cancel
-
Date
Saturday Spotlight: Holyfield demands another bite at title
THE Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 has the evocative memory of the United States' boxing 'dream team' winning nine gold medals. It could, and Americans would say should, have been ten had Evander Holyfield not been disqualified in the semi-finals. Instead
-
Date
Absent quartet make it tough for Tynedale
It is all change for Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League champions and leaders Tynedale, who meet newly-promoted Greenside at Hexham this afternoon. Prolific run-maker Scott Kay, with Neil Clark, Chris Barber and Philip Hearle, are all
-
Date
Home sweet home at last as Lyons break new ground
Foster's North-East ECB Regional Premier League: Hetton Lyons play for the first time on home soil this morning since gaining promotion but they face another daunting task against title contenders Benwell Hill. At the end of last season the Lyons celebrated
-
Date
Naidu boosts Tudhoe
The Readers Durham County League: After playing six games without a professional, Tudhoe finally hand a debut to Indian Alind Naidu at Esh Winning this afternoon. They originally attempted to bring Teneto Willetts back into the League and then lined-up
-
Date
Northallerton battle on without Botham
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League, Premier Division: Resurgent Northallerton defend an unbeaten record when they line up against Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road this afternoon but captain Ian Gill goes into the match without three regular
-
Date
Seaham turn on their critics
The Surridge Sport Durham Coast League: Seaham Park have been stunned this week by suggestions that last Saturday's fixture with Peterlee should have been called off because of inclement weather. The game was one of only two to be played and victory propelled
-
Date
Moor out to make up ground
Durham Senior League: With only two games starting last Saturday, teams will be hoping that the Bank Holiday double-header will allow them to get back on course. Burnmoor, who lost ground at the top when South Shields played and won, entertain Boldon,
-
Date
Staff threaten action over council U-turn on merger
COUNCIL staff are threatening legal action after a decision not to merge revenues and benefits services was overturned. Members of Ryedale District Council voted against the merger with Hambleton District Council on April 24. But Ryedale councillors used
-
Date
Back on home turf for officer
A POLICE inspector has returned to take charge of the area he fell in love with as a junior constable. Inspector Nick Hunter is the new officer responsible for policing in Richmondshire. The 38-year-old began his career with the police as a probationary
-
Date
Anger over post changes
CUSTOMERS have spoken of their anger at Royal Mail's decision to run a part-time parcel collection service in Harrogate. They are also angry that the company has introduced a 50p service charge to collect undelivered parcels at local post offices. Under
-
Date
Theatre's losses are bigger than expected
A THEATRE which was expected to make a loss of £53,000 has instead chalked up a financial shortfall of £212,000 at the end of its latest financial year. But the future of Harrogate Theatre has been safeguarded thanks to continued backing from its key
-
Date
Students given top accolade
STUDENTS have joined an exclusive roll of honour. Northallerton College students Rav Jayasuriya and Natalie Williams have won the Cuthbert's Cross - which has its roots in the heritage of St Cuthbert. The 18-year-olds, of Northallerton and Romanby respectively
-
Date
Pupils protest at TV adverts
CHILDREN at a North Yorkshire school have written to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him to help clamp down on adverts promoting unhealthy food. Headteacher Tracey Ralph said the youngsters at Norton Community Primary School, near Malton, have been studying
-
Date
Circus to return
THE circus is coming to town again at Bedale. The Bulgarian State Circus, which uses no animals, will pitch its big top in Bedale Hall park from June 1 to 4. Attractions include Spiderman on the trapeze and a troupe of musical clowns voted the best in
-
Date
Up and away for hospital
THE special baby care unit at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital is getting a boost to its funds from a balloon release. The hospital unit has been chosen by Cummins Engines as its charity for the year and about 300 balloons were released into the sky
-
Date
Stolen cycle sold
A TEENAGER who unwittingly sold a stolen unicycle back to its owner was sentenced to six months behind bars yesterday. Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, said Christopher Henderson, 19, sold the unicycle for £5 to Tait Severs in a park in Richmond on March
-
Date
With a little help from their friends
THE Friends of Baldersby St James CE Primary School, near Thirsk, have raised more than £1,000 by holding a silent auction of promises for parents, governors, pupils and staff. Among the lots were nights at the Crab Manor Hotel, at Asenby, Harefield
-
Date
Relief road unveiled as part
A NEW plan to bring more housing and jobs to Northallerton includes a long-awaited relief road. The plan has been drawn up as part of work to create Hambleton District Council's new local development framework, which will guide all future developments
-
Date
Police seek man who fled court where he was cleared
POLICE are seeking the arrest of a man who was cleared of an assault after a trial went ahead in his absence. Twenty-eight-year-old Allan Brown fled Durham Crown Court earlier this week, prior to the scheduled start of his trial for the alleged attack
-
Date
Lambton Worm joins with cultures from around world
AFRICAN drummers, Indian dancers and the legend of the Lambton Worm came together yesterday to celebrate the diversity of cultures to be found in the North-East. Diverse Durham is a festival of arts and crafts from around the world being staged in Durham
-
Date
Getting a taste of Fairtrade
THE families and friends of children at a village school had the chance to taste fairly traded food from the Third World. Pupils at Kelloe Primary School spent the week learning about the Fairtrade movement and how, under conventional trading, producers
-
Date
New book is a snap for Phillip
AN AWARD-WINNING professional photographer has launched his latest book. Philip Nixon's publication, A Portrait of Durham, was unveiled at the Durham Tourist Information Centre in time for the summer season. Mr Nixon runs his own photographic library
-
Date
Half-term workshops for families
A SERIES of fun family drop-in workshops is to help put a spring into the school half-term holidays at a County Durham art gallery. Visitor assistants at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery are running a series of workshops from Monday
-
Date
My little boy's gift of life for others
THE mother of an eight-year-old boy knocked down and killed by suspected joyriders made the heart-rending decision last night to donate his organs for transplant. Eight-year-old Daniel Curtin lost his nine-day battle for life after suffering severe head
-
Date
Revenge of the border raiders (but not for long)
COUNTY crusaders swooped yesterday to take down several road signs in a row over historic geographical borders. Throughout the day, activists from the national CountyWatch group removed about ten signs welcoming motorists to County Durham. Some were unceremoniously
-
Date
Schoolboy, 13, terrorised teacher with 'gun' threat
A SCHOOLBOY was ordered to stay away from a former teacher after he went to her home and threatened to shoot her and harm her baby daughter, a court was told. James Thomas, prosecuting, told Darlington Youth Court: "The boy said, 'I know where you and
-
Date
Ex-partner arrested in hairdresser killing
A FORMER partner of stabbed hairdresser Sharon Bell was being questioned last night in connection with the city centre murder. Police last night arrested a 44-year-old Gateshead man following the frenzied attack on the mother-of-three in the New York
-
Date
Diving in to uncover our maritime history
A SHIPWRECK from the 19th Century will be excavated by young sea cadets as they dive into their town's maritime history. Hartlepool's distinguished marine history will be explored during the Dig, Dive and Discover project, with the help of a £24,000
-
Date
Property with Domesday Book links goes on sale
ONE of the region's oldest properties has gone on sale. The grade II-listed Old Hall, at East Layton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, dates from almost 1,000 years ago. The property was begun at about the time of the Crusades and has stood through the
-
Date
Asbo for man who tore off pigeon's head
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who was once caught on camera ripping the head off a live pigeon in front of horrified shoppers was placed on a two-year anti-social behaviour order yesterday. Frankie Pearson, of Burnigill, in Meadowfield, was given the Asbo by Durham
-
Date
Failure of six-year cigs fight
WHEN customs officers confiscated Kenneth Boxall's cigarettes after a trip to Europe, he was determined not to take the loss lying down. He launched a legal battle to get his tobacco back. Yesterday, after six years and thousands of pounds in legal costs
-
Date
Inventor's novel way to woo his first mate
A MUSEUM is to tell the story of a Victorian boat that plied the train tracks as part of an event celebrating the greener side of railways. From today until Sunday, June 4, the south yard at the National Railway Museum, in York, will be transformed with
-
Date
Two are suspended over pupil's bullying claims
TWO pupils have been suspended from school in connection with an alleged bullying campaign that left two 12-year-old girls too scared to leave their homes. The move came after reported incidents against Sarah Claydon and Carol-Ann Harrison, at Haughton
-
Date
For Your Benefit: Make sure you don't run out of time to apply
Q My friend's husband, who is approaching 65, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. What financial help might be available? A He should apply for Disability Living Allowance quickly because it has to be claimed before the person reaches 65. If
-
Date
At Your Service: Giving succour to flocks of all kinds
For worshippers at one Weardale church, an annual lambing service is just as important as the harvest celebrations. Westgate lies towards the top of Weardale, once the western extreme of the Bishop of Durham's deer park but now a place of which it may
-
Date
Ryan the hot Rod
RYAN Molloy almost missed returning to the North-East in a big touring version of West End musical Tonight's The Night after being rushed into hospital to have his appendix out in January. Tyneside-born Molloy, who doesn't admit to an age beyond 29, is
-
Date
The global conveyor belt
THIS is the story of the modern world, of the way we live today. It's a big story, a global story, but it could be shortened to just four letters: TEUs. You may have noticed them on Tuesday's front page. They cropped up in the report about the Government's
-
Date
Comment from The Northern Echo: Clare's courageous example
WE should all spare a thought today for Daniel Curtin, the eight-year-old boy who has died after being knocked down by suspected joyriders in the North-East. And we should also think of his mother, Clare, who has shown remarkable fortitude amid unimaginable
-
Date
Hear All Sides
BRAVE GURKHAS NEED PENSION EQUALITY: IT was with dismay that I read about the Gurkhas having to go to Downing Street and beg for a pension that would put them on an equal footing with their British counterparts (Echo, May 23). These brave soldiers have
-
Date
In The Picture: Singin' in the clink
They're more used to toughing it out on screen, but now award-winning TV series Bad Girls has been turned into a musical, reports Steve Pratt. THINK about it, Kath Gotts suggests, and turning award-winning TV series Bad Girls into a musical isn't quite
-
Date
Flight into hell and a new world
Film-maker Paul Greengrass attempts to deal with the many questions thrown up by 9/11 in his film about the final hijacking of that dreadful day. But he's the first to admit he has no answers, he tells Steve Pratt. IT'S the question that film-maker Paul
-
Date
What a weight to go for slimming club
WAISTLINES have been disappearing quickly in Darlington thanks to the success of a community-based weight management group. The Weight No More programme, devised by South Durham and Darlington Nutrition and Dietetics Service, has so far helped more than
-
Date
Road congestion trouble to be eased by £6m schemes
MILLIONS of pounds are to be invested in Darlington's roads to tackle the town's congestion and illegal parking problems, a councillor has revealed. Darlington Borough Council has pledged a total of £6m in total on schemes to reduce gridlock in congestion
-
Date
MP goes back to council roots
DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn went back to his roots this week when he joined local councillors for a walking street surgery. The former health secretary visited the town's Skerne Park area with Darlington Borough Councillors for Park East ward, Cyndi Hughes
-
Date
Teenager completes his marine training
A DARLINGTON teenager has joined the ranks of the Royal Marines, after successfully completing 32 weeks of notoriously gruelling training. Eighteen-year-old Thomas Allen, a former pupil of Carmel Technology College, passed out at the Commando Training
-
Date
Teenager in court for attack on bus driver
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy who punched and kicked a bus driver after his bus was stopped by a gang of youths has been given a supervision order. The driver was sprayed with water, hit with a bottle and kicked and punched in the incident on February 19 at 9.15am
-
Date
Amdega to take on staff from MFI
CONSERVATORY specialist Amdega made a handful of redundancies yesterday but said it was taking on an additional 20 factory floor staff. Seven office workers were laid off as part of the Darlington company's restructuring programme, which also saw redundancies
-
Date
Hargreaves buys tanker company
TRANSPORT provider Hargreaves Services yesterday announced the acquisition of a tanker company in the North-West. The Durham plc's joint venture company, Hargreaves (Bulk Liquid Transport) Limited, has paid just over £2m for Gilbraith Tankers Limited
-
Date
Change of name for pipe firm
ENGINEERING group Torday & Carlisle has changed its name after selling all but one of its businesses. The listed company is now named E Wood Holdings, putting the focus on its remaining manufacturing business, E Wood Limited, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire
-
Date
Cruising to a record year
A CRUISE company in County Durham expects to see turnover reach a record £5.5m this year. The figure is well above the £3.9m Check-in Cruise Club, in Crook, made for the year to October 2005 and is more than double the figure in 2004. Managing director
-
Date
Murdered teenager's dad spared jail for porn images
THE father of murdered teenager Jenny Nicholl was spared jail yesterday after he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children taken from the Internet.Brian Nicholl, 49, had more than 2,000 photos on his computer, which police examined
-
Date
No Sanctuary for chief executive
THE world's biggest independent music label, Sanctuary, yesterday said it had sacked its chief executive over the way he handled the company's accounts. Andy Taylor was "removed" by the Sanctuary board after an investigation into its 2005 financial statements
