Archive
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Three in hospital after serious crash
THREE people have been taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash in a North-East town. Fire crews, police officers and ambulances were called to the crash on Grange Road in Hartlepool at 10.30pm last night. Two people had to be cut free from one vehicle
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Cannabis find in Darlington house
POLICE tonight charged a 29-year-old man with the production of cannabis after 21 plants were found in a wardrobe at a house in Darlington. Officers were called to reports of a domestic assault at the property on Lowmoor Road in the Firthmoor area of
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Pair in court following fatal disturbance
TWO men appeared in court today in connection with events leading up to a man’s death. Paul Barker, 28, and Dean Whitworth, 24, appeared before magistrates in Bishop Auckland on charges relating to a disturbance at the Beehive pub, in Bishop
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Memorial service for Lady Crathorne
A MEMORIAL service will take place for the inspirational Lady Sylvia Crathorne, who lost her battle with cancer last month. Lady Crathorne, who was involved in charity work all over the region, died peacefully at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton
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Farewell Sarah
Just back in the office after attending a farewell dinner in honour of Sarah Robinson, who is moving on as principal of Darlington College. My association with Darlington College goes back a long way. I did my journalism training there in 1980. Sarah
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The many mysteries of the market
YESTERDAY, I had a mooch around Darlington Covered Market with Robin Blair, Darlington's Citizen of the Year and, of course, a greengrocer with a stall in the market. Robin loaned me a magnificent picture of the market shortly after it was built in 1861
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Life in jail for boyfriend who slit his partner's throat
A BOYFRIEND who slit his partner's throat after being freed on bail for an earlier attack was jailed for life today. Stephen Newton, 38, inflicted an eight-inch wound after first strangling Nicola Morrin, 26, with a pair of her baby's tights
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Traffic problems in the centre of Stanhope
A BUSINESSWOMAN’S efforts to convert an empty shop into a café have led to traffic chaos in a dales market town. Council officers told Linda Mears to stop work and move out of the three-storey building Regent House, in Front Street, Stanhope, when
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Browned off? You can say that again
There are times when this job drives you round the twist. One of the big stories of the day is the announcement that Newcastle Brown Ale is leaving Tyneside and will be brewed in Yorkshire. It's a sad day for the region - the loss of
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Free online event
COUNDON and Leeholme Community Partnership are introducing people to the Internet at a free UK Online event on Thursday October 22 from 10.00am to 2.00pm. There will be free refreshments and snacks and a supervised activity area for young children.
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Car overturns near Stanley Crook
TWO males were treated for minor arm and neck injuries after a Peugeot 306 overturned near Stanley Crook this afternoon. No other vehicles were involved with the accident, which occurred near Mount Pleasant Garage at 3.45pm. Police, paramedics,
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Cash boost for community groups
TWO community groups have shared £3,000 worth of funding from the Durham Police Authority. The organisation’s Community Initiative Support Scheme awarded £1,735 to the Shildon Community Safety Group, and £1,200 to the Activity Den, in Tanfield Lea, Stanley
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Artist meets visitors to her exhibition
AN artist whose work draws inspiration from images around the North-East met visitors to her exhibition on Saturday. Sarit Cape visited the McGuinness Gallery, at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, where her Tranquillity exhibition is halfway through a month-long
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Obama - deserving a Nobel Peace prize?
Barrack Obama has recently received the prestigious Nobel Peace prize to the surprise of many worldwide. Undeniably, Obama’s intentions are most admirable, his main international ideas being ending the war in Iraq responsibly and stopping the creation
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Headline Game
Not surprisingly, Newcastle Brown Ale's move to Yorkshire is going to be the subject of tonight's Headline Game on TFM Radio at 6.30pm. I fancy the headline: "Browned off."
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Farewell to a North-East icon
There's a real "ale storm" brewing over production of Newcastle Brown Ale being switched from Tyneside to Yorkshire. Bosses at Scottish and Newcastle Breweries have announced that "Broon" will now be brewed at the John Smith's Brewery at Tadcaster.
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Mariners, Hornets & Warriors Pick Up Wins
Results D1 Teesside Hornets 135-43 Nunthorpe Velocity D2 Ryedale Warriors 71-61 Middlesbrough Lions B D2 Redcar Mariners 86-57 Darlington Storm The second division of the TBL came alive this week with Darlington Storm’s introduction
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Dancer swaps shoe shop for tap shoes
A DANCER who works in the shoe department of a Northallerton store is set to swap on type of footwear for another when she takes the lead in a new show. Anthea Wyatt, a member of the staff at Barkers of Northallerton, will don her tap shops
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District council facing £250,000 budget shortfall
A DISTRICT council is facing a budget shortfall of almost a quarter of a million pounds at the end of the year, with warnings that the situation is likely to get worse, despite the introduction of unpopular parking charges. The deficit facing Hambleton
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Excelsis Airlines - fraud squad called in
THE MAN behind Excelsis Airways faces a police investigation after the entire management team at Excelsis Airways resigned. Cleveland Police investigators have been called in by the businessmen employed to get the airline off the ground.
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Appeal after Bedale teenager assaulted in Northallerton
POLICE are appealing for information after a teenager was assaulted while he waited for a bus. The 17-year-old was punched in the face in the incident, which happened at about 9.45am, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, on Saturday. He was waiting at
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Newcastle Brown Ale to be brewed in Yorkshire
THE North-East's most famous tipple is to be brewed in Yorkshire. Bosses at Scottish and Newcastle have announced that Newcastle Brown Ale is to be made at the John Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. It marks the end of 82
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Blasts from the past
Just back from speaking to the University of the Third Age in Cockerton, Darlington. A lovely, receptive audience included two blasts from the past. Bob Beevors, the personnel manager when I arrived at The Northern Echo in 1984, was
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Doorstep salesman targets elderly for money
POLICE are appealing for information about the activities of a doorstep salesman, possibly targeting elderly householders. It follows reports of a man in his 80s being asked to pay extortionate amounts for various goods. Durham Police believes that
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Post-op glamour
Long gone are those flesh-coloured horror bras women had to put up with after a mastectomy. Here is the new generation of sexy post-op lingerie. BREAST Cancer Awareness Month in October is always a fantastic focal point for an incredibly inspiring
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Beneath The Banyan Tree, Darlington Arts Centre
APOLOGIES are in order to Theatre Hullabaloo, of Darlington, and Theatre Direct, of Canada, after I opted to take a couple of two-year-olds to this joint historic project marking 30 years of children’s theatre produced in the North-East. Basically
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Quite a mouthful
THANKS to Steven Spielberg’s 1975 thriller Jaws, everyone thinks the great white shark is the most fearsome predator in the animal kingdom. While most people understand that they are not the man-hunting beasts portrayed in film, few realise that
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Dad’s barmy
Despite a lack of party poppers, the column has a royal birthday feast at the Kings. ANOTHER birthday. Presents included a 1978 Dad’s Army annual – “world authorised” – and rather a lot of Broons books. Serious stuff. The elder bairn joined us
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Would-be MP backs Thirsk flood defence scheme
A WOULD-BE MP has hit back at town councillors’ criticism of plans to protect a market town from flooding. Some members of Thirsk town council said the plans to combat potential future flood problems in the town were "not justified". The plans have
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Welcome, Eastern
I WAS really pleased to see that Eastern Airways is to start flights to Southampton from Durham Tees Valley Airport in November (Echo, Oct 9), especially after my previous correspondence (HAS, Mar 23, 25 and 27) with regard to flights I have taken
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Sir Harry's verdict
IT was nice to see former editor of The Northern Echo Sir Harold Evans and Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee being so complimentary about the paper’s present-day output when they appeared on a recent Andrew Marr Show (Echo, Oct 5). Sir Harold drew
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Wise words
NOW that the party conference season is thankfully over, and with a General Election looming, I believe we should heed the words of the Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971): “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build
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Durham City
VISITED Durham on Saturday, sat in the Market Place, all the seats were full, all the steps of the statue were full of youngsters and there was a lovely atmosphere. Durham is a historic city, people come from all over the world to see the cathedral
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Youth job creation
TORY leader David Cameron’s youth job creation scheme appears to be a watered-down version of Maggie Thatcher’s Youth Opportunity Programme (Yop) schemes which killed all the apprenticeships and many other jobs. Very few of the trainees were
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Child detention
WE live in York among families who have fled persecution. Our children play with children who have been incarcerated in Yarl’s Wood high security immigration removal facility, Bedfordshire. There’s two-year-old Ibrahim, whose mother was rushed
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Tracey Emin
CT Riley dismisses Tracey Emin as an “artist” (HAS, Oct 9), and I suspect doubts her talent. I think those who trained her at Maidstone College of Art and the Royal College of Art, London, would disagree strongly. I made a special trip to
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Motoring
POLITICIANS will soon be after our votes, but some respect for millions of drivers is overdue. We’ve contributed more than £400bn to public funds since 1997, but haven’t had the service we’ve paid for. Laws are now so complicated that official
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Obama's Nobel Prize
BARACK Obama is not the first US President to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. What is quite amazing is not the issue of his worthiness, but that the award’s recipient is an American president pressing the cause of world peace and nuclear disarmament
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St Therese’s bond with The Blues
THE relics of St Therese of Lisieux have been processed around the country, made a visit to Wormwood Scrubs and rested in Westminster Cathedral. The atheists and secularists kicked up a mighty fuss – which is very understandable, for they are enemies
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Sports retailer JJB back on track after smear campaign fails to stick
STRUGGLING sportswear firm JJB Sports was back on track with its £100m rights issue yesterday, after shrugging off a smear campaign apparently aimed at derailing the fundraising plans. The retailer was set to push ahead with the rights issue
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Nodules, knees and teeth
Steve Pratt calls hamster-eating comedian Freddie Starr to talk about his forthcoming appearance in York, but instead hears about a family crisis, having his nodules removed and missing performances. FREDDIE STARR’S number is engaged when I ring
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Taking it on the chin
THAT there has been shameful abuse of the expenses system by some MPs is beyond doubt. Cashing in on more than one property by an immoral practice which has become known as “flipping”, overclaiming for mortgages or services, and buying needlessly
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Boom to bust, to boom, to what next?
THE stock market has reached (another) crucial point. The rapid recovery since March has had a few setbacks on the way, but generally has powered ahead as confidence increases. Two weeks ago, I wrote about the wall of worry versus the wall of
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Pensions – start early or pay the price in the long run
WORKERS in their fifties (men aged 51 to 58, women 51 to 54) are early losers if Shadow Chancellor George Osborne lifts the state pension age from 65 to 66 in 2016, as he promised at the Conservative Party conference. But the grim fact is that
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Firing the imagination!
THE Kiln, a new building in Hoults Yard, has been developed to provide high-spec modern commercial spaces to fire the imagination of the North-East’s creative and digital sectors. Near Newcastle’s bustling Quayside and Ouseburn, the newlylaunched
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Campaign frontm plays a waiting game
Sunderland’s efforts to be part of the 2018 World Cup bid has received many plaudits, largely due to the efforts of its frontman Niall Quinn. Deputy Business Editor Deborah Johnson meets the inspirational Sunderland chairman, who is anxiously
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Nursery company branches out
A CHILDCARE firm has expanded with the purchase of a nursery school. Nursery Group Ltd has acquired Looby Lou’s, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, which offers pre-school care and education to children from six weeks to five years old.
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Tagger gets welcomed over Channel
A NORTH Yorkshire company’s automatic sheep tagger has received a warm reception in France. Masham-based Ritchey attended a recent agricultural trade fair in Rennes and received inquiries from producers and agricultural merchants. The Ritchey
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Small paddock, small fortune
A SMALL grass paddock recently auctioned at Kirklington, near Bedale, may have sold for a record price. The 0.7 acre parcel of agricultural land realised £35,000 but, unusually, was also subject to VAT, which added an extra £5,250 to the purchase
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Farmers urged to attend tag meeting
SHEEP farmers have been urged to attend a meeting tomorrow to learn the latest on how electronic identification of sheep (EID) will affect them. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will brief farmers at Scotch Corner
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Spooky – he’s a nine-day wonder
A BULL called Spooky is cutting a remarkable nine days off the average calving time. Huddlestone Spooky (pictured) is one of Cogent’s most popular bulls and his ability to reduce the average gestation period by so much is considered “exceptional
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Family florists celebrates 40 years of blooming success
A FAMILY-RUN florist which started out as a market stall is celebrating its 40th year in business. From its origins as an outlet in Newcastle’s Grainger Market, Katherine’s Florists now operates from three locations across the city and employs
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Making mincemeat of last year’s price
THE increased consumer demand for mince and cheaper cuts of meat has led to a dramatic rise in cull cow prices for dairy farmers. John Crowther milks 200 cows on his farm just north of Annan in the Scottish Borders, and sells cull cows at Borderway
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Fred reaps reward after 350-mile trip
A 350-MILE round trip to a cereals event in Lincolnshire paid off for farmer Fred Ryle. He learnt about cereal varieties he had never heard of – and won 100 hectares (247 acres) of free seed from Nickerson Direct. Mr Ryle farms 750 acres
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Free meetings to explain upland stewardship
A SERIES of free meetings is being held throughout Yorkshire and the North-East to explain the new Uplands Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (UELS) to farmers. The scheme is due to open for applications in the New Year and will replace the Hill
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Teaming up for design project
A PARTNERSHIP between two organisations responsible for the North- East’s built environment could see projects developed more quickly. Design Review, which offers free advice to developers and planning authorities in the North-East, has joined
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Three heading for the top
LAW firm Sintons has appointed three new associates. Chris Patton began his career at the Newcastle firm as a trainee solicitor in 2003. Having gained experience across a wide range of legal issues, he now specialises in personal injury, dealing
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Law firm helps young businesses
A EUROPEAN law firm has donated thousands of pounds to help young entrepreneurs in the North- East. The donation of £10,000 by Taylor Wessing for youth charity The Prince’s Trust Business Programme in the North-East will be matched by the European
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Nagina Hussain: Let there be light
RIGHTS of light are becoming more important as developers find space remains at a premium, forcing them to construct buildings taller and closer together. However, if a new development limits the amount of light coming in through the windows
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Shop-fitting firm is leaving home
A SHOP-FITTING company, established as a home-based business less than a year ago, is doubling its workforce and moving into larger premises Absolute Interiors Commercial has already outgrown its original premises, and hit the turnover target
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Corus looks at alternative to pension plans
STEELMAKER Corus is considering other options to closing its pension scheme to new employees, after widespread opposition from within its workforce, The Northern Echo learnt yesterday. Corus faced widespread fury from its workforce nationally
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Investing in the future
A FIRM is investing in the future after promoting six trainee solicitors and taking on a further two. In addition to the appointments of Emma Foxley and Rebecca Bland as trainee solicitors, Muckle has also promoted six trainees to fullyqualified
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Art show launches solicitors’ office
A COUPLE have launched the second office of their North- East law firm. Jacqueline Emmerson and her husband and business partner Michael Robinson celebrated the opening of the new office of Emmersons Solicitors in Gosforth, Newcastle, by treating
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Factory job hopes after US buyout
A MAJOR Teesdale employer is to take on more staff at its medical equipment facility, following a buyout by a leading US firm. RW Injection Moulding, based in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, has been bought by Pennsylvaniabased Classic
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On-song Durcan lands big treble
TED Durcan was the man to follow at Windsor as he notched a 189-1 treble highlighted by Splinter Cell’s success in the Slough & South Bucks Express Handicap. Sent off a 5-1 chance for Durcan and trainer Marco Botti, Splinter Cell looked well and
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Have Shildon finally found a place in football history?
SINCE post-war successes have been pretty few, we have again been trying – and still in vain – to establish Shildon’s claim to the football record books. Saturday’s column, it may be recalled, noted that the travel-sick club’s game at Congleton
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Should cricket stay live?
ENGLAND’S home Test cricket sponsors npower hope the Ashes will return to terrestrial television – and appear more inclined to continue their own financial support if they do. Reports have suggested the Government may choose, after a review undertaken
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Monty hoping Woods is there to fire up the USA
COLIN Montgomerie believes Tiger Woods’ presence would make it ‘‘a better win’’ for Europe if his team regain the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor next year. Woods, who missed the USA’s comprehensive 2008 victory in Kentucky after undergoing knee surgery
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Yorkshire deny Hoggard’s claims
YORKSHIRE chief executive Stewart Regan has scotched Matthew Hoggard’s claims that he was in discussions about taking over the captaincy from Anthony Mc- Grath. An angry Hoggard yesterday spoke about his exit from Headingley, something which
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Staunton relishing chance to make his mark
THE lack of a midweek game will give new Darlington manager Steve Staunton opportunity to work on his team’s weaknesses before Saturday’s visit of Shrewsbury Town. His first fixture in charge at the weekend saw Quakers start promisingly against
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Bruce ponders the power of three
STEVE Bruce has been so impressed by Fraizer Campbell’s rapid emergence this season he is considering fielding a three-man strike force to accommodate the former England Under-21 forward. After he snapped up the Hull City-bound striker in an
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County sack their manager
NOTTS County last night insisted the departure of manager Ian McParland was for ‘‘footballing reasons’’. McParland, who spent eight years with the Magpies as a player in the 1980s, was sacked despite County lying fifth in Coca-Cola League Two
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Riggott on slow road back
MIDDLESBROUGH expect to be without Chris Riggott until the festive fixtures, but they have received promising news that he could return ahead of schedule. Further ankle surgery last month has meant Riggott’s hopes of a long-awaited comeback had
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New youth advice service launched
A NEW project has been launched to offer free advice to people aged between 11 and 25 in Teesdale. Teesdale Advice and Guidance Service (Tags), based at the YMCA in Barnard Castle, can provide information and advice on job opportunities, benefits, budgeting
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Lampard knows it’s the last time
ADAM CROZIER was the man who dubbed Frank Lampard and company England’s golden generation. “And look what happened to him,” said Lampard of the former FA chief executive, who is now grappling with the difficulties of running the Royal Mail.
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Harper stresses the importance of the next week
STEVE HARPER has challenged his Newcastle United team-mates to recover from two frustrating nights at St James’ Park by emerging unbeaten from back-to-back away days to keep them ahead of the rest. Successive home draws with QPR and Bristol City
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Why Rooney is a clone of Gazza
AS HE has lurched from one crisis to another, the eternal regret of anyone connection with Paul Gascoigne is that when he left Newcastle, he did not join Manchester United. Perhaps only Sir Alex Ferguson had the power to mould Gascoigne’s qualities
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£3.3m park revamp begins
THE original golden key used to open a North-East park 100 years ago was used yesterday to symbolically close it for 18 months of restoration work. The £3.3m regeneration will return Barnes Park, in Sunderland, to its former glory. The park
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Ceremonies for Stephenson anniversary
CEREMONIES were held yesterday to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of one of the region’s industrial pioneers. Wreaths were laid in memory of 19th Century railway engineer Robert Stephenson during events in Newcastle and London.
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Hospital vote will lead to closure
COUNCILLORS who have fought hard to keep their local hospital open have voted overwhelmingly for plans that will lead to its closure. A modern hospital on the edge of Wynyard Business Park was given outline planning permission by 11 votes to
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Thousands to benefit from sports upgrade
THOUSANDS of local sports enthusiasts will be able to train alongside Olympic hopefuls at a multi-million pound academy. Durham University is planning a £6.7m refurbishment of its main sports facilities and yesterday announced that Sport England
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Researchers appeal for brain donations
A BRAIN bank in the North-East is calling on people to pledge to donate their brains after death to help with vital dementia research. The Brains for Dementia research brain bank, at Newcastle University, is part of a £2m brain bank network. Last
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Marcus gets high five from Prime Minister
A GROUP of selfless youngsters will learn this week which of them has won the title Britain’s Kindest Kid. The five children, aged two to 13, have been nominated for the award in recognition of their efforts to raise money and support charities
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Murder accused’s fresh payout attempt
A FORMER North-East aircraft engineer, who spent 14 years behind bars before his murder conviction was ruled unsafe, began a fresh Court battle yesterday for more than £1m compensation. Three judges at the Court of Appeal were told that
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Fury over ‘family silver’ sell-off
THE Government was forced to deny yesterday that it was preparing to sell public assets “on the cheap” in an attempt to convince voters it was tackling Britain’s debt mountain. Treasury Chief Secretary Liam Byrne said ministers were not conducting
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Drunken pervert jailed for ten years
A MAN dubbed a “serial abuser of girls” was yesterday jailed for ten years. Alcoholic Andrew Stephen Brown carried out the offences after plying the victims with drink, having adopted an “open house” policy at his home. Durham Crown Court heard
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Brothers jailed over savage street attack
TWO brothers who launched a savage attack on a man in a street were each starting four-year jail sentences last night. Jason Griffiths suffered life-threatening head injuries when he was kicked and stamped on after being knocked out. The 29-
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‘Only 80p for two hours isn’t bad’
Motorists have been forced to pay for parking in four North Yorkshire market towns. Joe Willis asked drivers for their views. FOUR years of talks, consultations, arguments and protests are over. Despite widespread opposition, parking
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Man writes of anguish nine years after son killed
THE father of a man who was brutally executed and whose remains were found on North-East farmland has written a book describing his anguish and continuing battle for justice. Tony Corley has penned More Questions Than Answers nearly nine years
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Complaints over Puma pilot were dismissed
A MAN who raised the alarm about a helicopter’s “erratic” flying hours before it crashed has received an apology from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for not acting on his warnings. Andrew Carter, who runs Swale View Caravan Park near Richmond,
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Following in legend’s footsteps SAFC Foundation
WALKERS put their best feet forward yesterday when they took part in an event named after a city’s footballing legend. Niall Quinn, the one-time Sunderland goal-scoring hero, who is now chairman of the club – the region’s only Premiership side
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All aboard for rail restoration open day
A VEHICLE restoration company based on a former wagon works site is holding an open day this weekend. Rail Restorations North-East, in Shildon, County Durham, will open to the public on Saturday. The company, which was established in 2006 by
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Call for review of policy on detention
SUPPORTERS of a failed asylum seeker have praised a report that calls for an urgent review of policy after finding detaining children in immigration centres can cause anxiety and depression. Campaigners for Elizabeth Kiwunga, who was removed from
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MPs told: Don’t pay back your expenses
A NORTH-EAST MP last night urged colleagues not to repay expenses claims under rules imposed retrospectively by an outside auditor. Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell said it was unfair that the rules on expenses were being applied retrospectively
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Darlington brothel profits to be retained by owner
A COUPLE jailed for running a brothel in a two-bedroomed terrace house have escaped having to make any Proceeds of Crime payment. Former Northern Rock IT consultant Stephen Hodgkiss and his former Thai mistress, Waraporn Dodds, were believed
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Thousands to benefit from sports upgrade
THOUSANDS of local sports enthusiasts will be able to train alongside Olympic hopefuls at a multi-million pound academy. Durham University is planning a £6.7m refurbishment of its main sports facilities and yesterday announced that Sport England
