Archive
-
Date
Approaching a pandemic
THE international pandemic alert level of the World Health Organisation was last night raised to phase five of six amid the global outbreak of swine flu. Phase five indicates that the disease is able to spread easily between humans. However
-
Date
Hint of U-turn over 'rain tax' water bills
SKY-HIGH water bills issued to churches and sports clubs are “wrong”, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said – raising hopes of a Uturn. Mr Benn attacked water companies for imposing “very, very large increases in bills in a very short
-
Date
Penney to quit as Darlington boss today
DAVE Penney is to quit as Darlington manager and will today be appointed as Oldham Athletic's new boss. He is to end his two-and-a-half year reign at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena to take charge of the League One side. He had two
-
Date
Man with finger stuck in petrol filler cap rescued
A MAN with his finger stuck in his car's petrol filler cap had to be rescued by firefighters tonight. Crews were called to North Hylton Road in Sunderland around 5pm. The man had apparently been working on the car and dropped an item
-
Date
Alert level raised as flu pandemic nears
THE World Health Organisation tonight raised its alert level following the outbreak of swine flu to phase five. Director General of the organisation Dr Margaret Chan said that, on the positive side, the world was better prepared for an influenza
-
Date
Two hospitalised after car overturns
TWO people were taken to hospital after a car overturned. The incident happened just after 7pm on Leeholme Road, Leeholme, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. A woman was released before the arrival of the fire brigade and taken to Darlington Memorial
-
Date
Simply inspirational
It was a pleasure to be at the Npower North East Disability Awards at Durham County Cricket Club this afternoon. It is one of my favourite events of the year because the stories which emerge are so inspiring. It is an occasion which makes you think
-
Date
Headline Game update
The story for tomorrow morning's Headline Game on TFM radio is about a row between Devon and Cornwall over pasties. The row broke out after a Devon company won a national award for its "Cornish Pasty". Pasty manufacturers in Cornwall lodged an objection
-
Date
McMahon signs new Boro deal
Defender Tony McMahon has signed a new, three-year deal at Middlesbrough. His previous deal was due to expire at the end of the current campaign and last night penned a contract to stay. Evenwood-born, McMahon has made 38 senior appearances since graduating
-
Date
Seat Ibiza SC 1.4 Sport
THE old Ibiza started to show its age long before Seat announced it was going to get an overhaul. Now, like an ageing model after a visit to the plastic surgeon, the new Ibiza has hit the streets and while it’s not quite a million dollars, it
-
Date
No plans for permanent British troop "surge" in Afghanistan, PM
The Government said today there would be no permanent increase in British troop numbers in Afghanistan once a temporary ‘‘surge’’ for the presidential elections was over. In the Commons, Gordon Brown confirmed plans agreed at the Nato 60th anniversary
-
Date
Police appeal after clothes taken
POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a woman who took clothes from two high street stores. The woman went into Fat Face, on High Street, Durham, at about 4pm on Saturday, February 28. She picked out two items of clothing and went into a changing
-
Date
Bag a bargain
SHOPPERS will be able to bag a bargain and help save the environment when a campaign to protect an east Durham beauty spot is launched this week. People visiting Seaham on Friday will be offered free canvas shopping bags in a bid to cut the amount
-
Date
Work to start on walkway
WORK will start next month to improve a former railway line, now a popular route for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. The nine-mile line through open countryside from Broompark, on the edge of Durham City, to Bishop Auckland is to have £28,000 of
-
Date
Post office team pick up award
A POST office has been congratulated for its teamwork after picking up an award at its regional awards. Mowden Park Post Office, in Fulthorpe Avenue, Darlington, will go forward to the national finals for the People's Post Office Awards. The post office
-
Date
Traffic warden plans blasted
COUNCIL plans to take on powers for fining illegal parkers have been criticised by a leading councillor. Liberal Democrat Coun Peter Freitag said the policy would penalise motorists, whereas the authoritys focus should be on providing better
-
Date
Inspectors criticise Darlington's recycling service
COUNCIL auditors have criticised the performance of waste management and recycling services in Darlington. Inspectors gave Darlington Borough Council an overall rating of "excellent" in their annual report, with top scores in a range of key areas including
-
Date
Deaf signing session at Northallerton
THE library in Northallerton will be holding a special session about British Sign Language during Deaf Awareness Week which begins on May 4. Nearly 15 per cent of the population has some degree of deafness and British Sign Language is the first or preferred
-
Date
Breaking news: Spain confirms case of swine flu in victim who had not travelled to Mexico
The Spanish government has confirmed a case of swine flu in a victim who has not visited Mexico - the first person to be infected outside North America. Officials said the victim had, however, been in contact with someone who had recently returned from
-
Date
Thefts create road hazard
THIEVES have put motorists and pedestrians at risk by steeling drain covers from an industrial estate. Over the weekend 19 cast iron drain covers were taken from Aycliffe Business Park, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, leaving unmarked holes in the
-
Date
Cathedral shows for dancing students
DANCE students will be performing in Ripon Cathedral at the culmination of a ground-breaking arts programme with the world-renowned Rambert Dance Company. The two-year arts-in-education programme Aspire has been the first of its kind in North
-
Date
Model railway show
A MODEL railway club that is based in a pub cellar will move into the bar this weekend for its fourth annual exhibition. The Grand Model Railway Club will hold the event in The Grand, on South Church Road, Bishop Auckland. It will be
-
Date
Street light replacement programme approved
OUTDATED street lights are set to be replaced after councillors approved new funding. Darlington Borough Council's cabinet has approved plans to spend £30,600 every year for quarter of a century to replace concrete lamp columns. The
-
Date
Childcare worker demanded good reference after escort claim
A CHILDCARE worker sent a damning email to bosses after she was suspended for allegedly advertising herself as an escort, a court heard today. Mandy Graham, 46, demanded a good reference from Northumberland County Council and threatened to distribute
-
Date
Family of man murdered by mob win appeal for compensation
THE family of a father-of-one who was murdered as he confronted a mob outside his home won an appeal for compensation today. Kevin Johnson's family have finally been awarded £5,500 - half of what they could have won - after being turned down
-
Date
The last word
The Speaker (BBC2, 8pm) The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm) Extraordinary People: Octopus Man (five, 9pm) THOSE who gain the impression that teenagers today communicate solely by grunting and texting will have been pleasantly surprised by The Speaker.
-
Date
Online system suggested to improve planning process
PLANNING applications are set to be made available online to speed up the process and make it easier for residents and councillors to add their comments. A review group from Darlington Borough Council has worked for more than a year to draw up a list
-
Date
Fame The Musical, Sunderland Empire
I HAD the title song of Fame going through my head all day in anticipation of the evening’s performance. I had watched every one of the TV episodes in the Eighties and I loved it. The live show seems to have lost the angst and rejection of student
-
Date
Police identify mystery canal body
POLICE have finally identified a body that was dragged out of a North Yorkshire canal more than five weeks ago. He was a Chinese national who had been living in the UK illegally and under a false name since 2001 His real name was Cai Guan Chen and his
-
Date
Special passenger helps celebration
A CENTENARIAN passenger shared his birthday with a Dial a Ride service celebrating its first anniversary of business. Sid Unthank, who is at the centre of a family celebration for his 100th birthday, loves his regular trips on the bus with his friend
-
Date
Schools charging different prices for same meals
PARENTS across Darlington are paying different amounts for meals depending where their children go to school. A council study in to the quality of lunch meals has found that schools charge different fees for the same food. A small group of councillors
-
Date
Old deputy returns to cut the ribbon
IT was a very special return for Errington Primary School's retired deputy headteacher Linda Staples when she came back to officially open the school's £1.5m new look. She was delighted to be chosen to cut the ceremonial ribbon on a day of celebration
-
Date
Onions delighted with England call-up
ONE OF Graham Onions’ first instincts on hearing of his selection in the England Test squad yesterday was to speak up for his Durham colleague Steve Harmison, who was overlooked. After regaining his England place at the end of last summer following an
-
Date
Welcome to the real world, Elen
Elen Rives should use her split with Frank Lampard as an opportunity to do something useful with her life. GOOD grief. It’s as if the last 50 years hadn’t happened... Elen Rives, former partner of Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard is
-
Date
Somerset v Durham: Day Two
THERE would be much talk of Onions bringing tears to Somerset’s eyes at Taunton today. Durham’s Graham Onions celebrated his call-up to the England Test squad by taking six for 31 as Somerset subsided to a paltry 69 all out and had to follow
-
Date
Body of missing North-East oil worker found
THE body of a oil worker who vanished from a North Sea oil platform has been found following an underwater search. Martin Lindsay, 51, described as being from "the Cleveland area", went missing from the Beryl Alpha platform early on Tuesday
-
Date
The name game
A connoisseur of puns himself, the column is full of admiration for some tribute bands’ ingenious names. IT was just a twopence ha’penny line in last Tuesday’s “News in brief” column. Shildon Civic Hall was to stage a tribute band called Oasish.
-
Date
Martin to manage team at new site
A MAN who started out as a trainee with builders’ merchant JT Dove 22 years ago has been named as the manager of its new £1.5m North-East base. Martin Jakolins has been named as general manager of the 1.6 acre site in Stockton, which opened
-
Date
Figures show more women take challenge
THE recent increase in female business start-ups in the North-East is being reflected through entries to the If We Can, You Can challenge, it was revealed yesterday. Figures show a 17 per cent growth in the region over the past year, a fact which
-
Date
Northallerton students strut their stuff
FASHIONABLE students have designs on raising hundreds of pounds for a cancer charity. More than 75 textile students from Northallerton College, plan to strut their stuff in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. The GCSE, A and AS-level students will be dressing
-
Date
Plea for free aid to help drop-in
A FACILITIES firm has pledged to redesign a North- East youth drop-in centre for free to help keep it afloat. The West End Youth Enquiry Service project, run by charity Children North-East, has been operating out of a rundown Victorian building
-
Date
Canal body identified after five weeks
POLICE have finally identified a body that was dragged out of a North Yorkshire canal more than five weeks ago. He was a Chinese national who had been living in the UK illegally and under a false name since 2001 His real name was Cai Guan Chen and his
-
Date
With this high-tech ring, I thee think about... a lot
DIGITAL jewellery which can maintain the bond between couples when they are apart, and a high-tech kitchen which can help elderly or disabled people maintain independence, could become realities through a £12m North-East digital technology centre
-
Date
Measuring time and motion
HOW’s this for an idea which could prove to be a money-spinner for someone? A stopwatch which cannot be reset to zero, but which can be switched on and off under different headings like a computer or mobile phone. Over time, it could record accumulative
-
Date
Thatcherism
RE CT Riley’s comment that we should forget about the Thatcher period and think instead about the present plight of victims of repossession (HAS, April 22). He’s missing the point. The train of events that has produced all this trauma was started
-
Date
History in the making
FOR Jonny Britton, despite his strong academic qualifications, big salary and the perks of his high-flying jobs in the property industry, he quickly realised that working for someone else was not for him. After nine months, he realised he
-
Date
Earning a spotless reputation
A CLEANING company set up by a North-East mother and daughter has taken on another family member as its first employee. Scrubba’s was set up by cleaner Adele Whitfield and her unemployed mother Brenda to offer a full cleaning service for commercial
-
Date
MPs' expenses
I REFER to recent disclosures of lavish expenses, and lifestyles to match, that clearly demonstrate how many MPs are serving themselves, both here in Westminster and Brussels. Funded by the taxpayer, their extravagance confirms what many of us
-
Date
St George's Day
I WAS so happy to read Ann Allison’s letter (HAS, some editions, April 27) regarding the hard work she and fellow staff members put in for the St George’s Day celebrations at Asda, in Spennymoor. Serving their customers lashings of beef and pork
-
Date
Germ control
ON a recent visit to our local hospital outpatient department there was a woman with a terrible cough. This is an area with very little ventilation other than relying on doors opening and shutting. It has happened before when I have been in outpatients
-
Date
Animal disease
THIS year’s Budget began to unravel within minutes of the Chancellor sitting down. The focus now is rightly on the eye-watering debt levels and total failure to address our financial problems. Locally, the Tees Valley was denied the opportunity
-
Date
Pupil’s haircut ban
I WAS disgusted to read your article about ten-year-old Morgan Bell, who was banned from playing with his schoolfriends during break and lunchtime at Usworth Colliery Primary School, near Washington, Wearside, because his hair was too short (Echo
-
Date
Swine flu
WE were all fascinated by the pandemic that wasn’t (bird flu) and the resultant swathes of potential victims that ignored the pleas of the media and didn’t die. However, readers’ interest must now be roused by the latest panic – swine flu (Echo
-
Date
Bevin Boys
I WAS delighted when it was decided to award service badges to the Bevin Boys, who served in coal mines during the Second World War. They were introduced to the industry under a scheme initiated in response to an increasing shortage of labour
-
Date
Politics
THE Budget has set in motion an agenda for the General Election. New Labour brought an end to traditional “class politics”, with little difference between the two main political parties – but the picture is changing. Today, the Tories
-
Date
Speeding
RE Ralph Musgrave’s letter about speeding (HAS, April 27). Although I don’t condone speeding, I think there are more accidents caused by incompetent drivers who shouldn’t be let anywhere near a car, never mind on the road, rather than by speeding
-
Date
Bloody Canada
RE your story about the province of Alberta, Canada, using a Northumberland beach picture to promote tourism (Echo, April 25). Of course, it wasn’t a Canadian beach scene. There weren’t any seal pups being bludgeoned to death. D Reed, Eaglescliffe
-
Date
A lack of authority
THE Prime Minister’s decision to scrap plans for a daily “clocking-on fee” for MPs has left the whole issue of Parliamentary expenses in an even more shambolic state. Gordon Brown announced the proposals on YouTube, apparently without consulting
-
Date
Mind bender
Lindsay Wagner was one of TV’s most popular actresses as the Bionic Woman, but was more interested in opening the minds of viewers than defeating the bad guys. She tells Steve Pratt how she’s continuing her work running holistic workshops
-
Date
Fans were tickled Pink
PINK wowed North-East fans last night during a highenergy show at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena. The R&B singersongwriter, best known for hits such as Get The Party Started, Just Like a Pill and Don’t Let Me Get Me, was in the region
-
Date
Corus deny steel deal is at risk
STEELMAKER Corus last night denied reports that a buyer for its Teesside business could be set to pull out, putting 2,000 jobs at risk. In January, Corus agreed to sell a majority stake in its plant at Redcar, Teesside, to a consortium led
-
Date
Three more cases of swine flu
THREE more cases of swine flu have been confirmed in England, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today. A 12-year-old girl from Torbay, Cornwall, and adults in Birmingham and London have the virus. Mr Brown confirmed the latest cases during
-
Date
McLaren receives a suspended race ban for misleading stewards
McLaren has received a suspended three race ban for misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix earlier this month. The team was called to the Paris headquarters of the International Automobile Federation this morning. McLaren were charged with
-
Date
Berry gets busy at Bath
ALAN BERRY’S stable star Look Busy came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Listed EBF Lansdown Fillies’ Stakes at Bath. The daughter of Danetime enjoyed a fantastic year in 2008 with victories in Group Three and Listed company featuring
-
Date
Patkai can take Ascot honours
PATKAI can warm up for his likely Cup campaign with victory in the Woodcote Stud Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. The four-year-old shaped as a highly promising stayer last term and he will be returning to the scene of his greatest triumph for this Group
-
Date
Jeffries ready for his tough home test
TONY Jeffries knows his second professional bout to be considerably tougher than his first – but the Sunderland fighter is expecting the outcome to be the same at Crowtree Leisure Centre on Saturday night. Jeffries made a blistering start to
-
Date
Bad weather halts Yorkshire’s progress
Yorkshire v Worcestershire, County Championship Day One YORKSHIRE completed their first century opening partnership in the County Championship for nearly two years, but in the end rain left them frustrated after day one of their opening home fixture
-
Date
Durham benefit from poor work in the field
Somerset v Durham, County Championship: Day One TO put things into perspective, Somerset were woeful yesterday. They took a huge gamble by preparing a result pitch and putting Durham in, only to bowl dreadfully in the morning and drop six catches
-
Date
Wolverine and the X-Men, Volume 1 – Hindsight Review
As the cinemas pack in the crowds for the highly anticipated blockbuster movie ‘Wolverine – X-Men Origins’, the ever popular, animated incarnation of the iconic Marvel hero lives on. The original ‘X-Men’ cartoon series was a huge hit in the 90’
-
Date
House of Commons viewing for town campaigners’ film
A FILM highlighting a campaign to prevent a multi-million pound development scheme will be screened in the House of Commons. Teesside film-maker Craig Hornby made Coatham: A Common Concern to highlight a five-year fight to prevent the development
-
Date
Honouring the stars of disability sport
The seventh North East Disability Sports Achievement Awards take place at Durham's Riverside cricket ground this afternoon and I'm honoured to be a guest. It's always an inspiring event and I'm looking forward to presenting one of the awards. A report
-
Date
A mew age traveller
A BELOVED pet, originally rescued from the back streets of Bahrain, has been returned to the bosom of his family after going missing nearly five months ago. Ali Cat, a jet black tom cat, was brought to the UK from the Persian Gulf state in
-
Date
It's a dog's life
We were spoilt for choice in this morning's Headline Game on TFM radio. The story was about a chihuahua which was blown away by a freak gust of wind in Michigan. We had 11 headlines to choose from and the selection, in order of excellence
-
Date
Mum breaks silence to help search for Claudia
THE mother of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has broken her silence to issue a heartrending plea for help in tracing her daughter. Mother-of-two Joan Lawrence spoke in public for the first time since 35-year-old Miss Lawrence failed to turn up
-
Date
MP opens hire depot
SHADOW foreign secretary William Hague stressed the importance of the hire industry to the economy when he opened a new depot in the region. Richmond MP Mr Hague opened Yorkshire-based SHC Hire Centre’s new depot in Northallerton, North Yorkshire
-
Date
Durham bowler named in Test squad - but it's not Steve Harmison
DURHAM pace bowler Graham Onions has been named in the England 12 for the first npower Test match against the West Indies which starts at Lord's on Wednesday. Onions joins fellow Durham player Paul Collingwood in the England squad, but there is no place
-
Date
Free screening aims to cut young deaths
A NEW national screening drive that aims to reduce the number of sudden deaths among young people will be launched this weekend. Housed in a mobile trailer, doctors and nurses backed by the Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry) charity will begin a
-
Date
National Lottery gives £10,000 to Bedale village hall
A MAJOR scheme to improve a rural village hall has been boosted with a National Lottery grant for £10,000. The Crakehall Village Hall committee, near to Bedale, has been given the funds under the Lottery’s Awards for All scheme. The
-
Date
Campaigner bids to overturn quarry plan
A COUNCIL has been accused of unfairness when it approved a controversial quarry extension. Durham County Council backed Lafarge Aggregates’ plan to extend Thrislington Quarry east of the A1(M) in October last year. Objector Eric Potts, of Bishop
-
Date
School's playground transformed
YOUNGSTERS are flexing their muscles as they help transform their own school playground. Pupils at St Peter's Primary School in Brotton, who helped design the new playground, will now assist in putting the plans into practice with the help of volunteers
-
Date
Fans urged to back Quakers crucial game
DARLINGTON complete their campaign at Chester City on Saturday, but their biggest match of the season comes a day later when Quakers stage a game to raise desperately needed funds. And assistant manager Martin Gray is appealing for Darlington
-
Date
Guthrie finds positives in the Portsmouth point
IT had been billed as a mustwin game, but Danny Guthrie still feels the point earned against Portsmouth on Monday could prove crucial to Newcastle’s chances of staying in the Premier League. The Magpies extended their winless run to nine matches
-
Date
We care about Sunderland’s plight, says Reid
AFTER chairman Niall Quinn asked for more vociferous support, midfielder Andy Reid last night made his own attempts to win back the fans by reaffirming that the players care about Sunderland’s struggles. The angry travelling support at The Hawthorns
-
Date
Hammers move into pole position to land Bates
GIANFRANCO ZOLA has emerged as the early frontrunner for the signature of Middlesbrough’s Matthew Bates. Bates is no nearer to signing a new contract at the Riverside Stadium and West Ham United have indicated to the player’s representatives
-
Date
Part-time soldiers facing the axe
HUNDREDS of the region’s part-time soldiers face the axe in a shake-up designed to make the Territorial Army better prepared for war. The posts will be lost from signals units in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Newcastle, whose technology
-
Date
Survivors mark 'one of greatest battles'
VETERANS of one of the most hard-fought battles of the Second World War gathered yesterday to remember thousands of their comrades who died 65 years ago. More than 20 survivors of the Battle of Kohima gathered in York, to mark the anniversary
-
Date
Sex assault victim ‘despises’ suspect
THE victim of an alleged sex assault tearfully told a court that she despises the man accused of carrying out the attack. Giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Leonard Michael Young, the teenage girl told Durham Crown Court that
-
Date
Spring pony show in Teesdale
COMPETITORS from across the country will be visiting a County Durham pony show at the weekend. The Dales Pony Society Spring Stallion and Breed Show will take place at Streatlam Farm, near Barnard Castle on Saturday. More than 150 ponies
-
Date
Venice to take lead from Boro
THE Prince of Wales witnessed an “unlikely” new vision for Venice yesterday – parts of the island could soon resemble Middlesbrough. Business leaders believe the Italian island city, famed for its Renaissance architecture, could learn from the
-
Date
‘Horror film led to torture killing’
THE “grotesque” killing of a North-East teenager, found burnt alive in a wood, was inspired by a spoof horror film, a court heard yesterday. The decomposed body of 17- year-old Simon Everitt, originally from Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, was
-
Date
Prosecutors drop court cases against 50 motorists
PROSECUTORS have dropped the cases against 50 motorists who denied speeding on the A66. The decision has prompted calls for officials to clear hundreds of drivers who had admitted the offence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says it will
-
Date
Teddies turn out for party
TEDDIES took over a nursery in Teesdale at the weekend as children, families and teachers attended an open day. The Teddy bears picnic at the Small World Nursery in Staindrop, near Barnard Castle was attended by more than 40 families, all armed
-
Date
Quarry objectors still fighting
A COUNCIL has been accused of maladministration and unfairness when it approved a controversial quarry extension. The former Durham County Council backed Lafarge Aggregates’ plan to extend its Thrislington Quarry east of the A1(M) last October
