Archive
-
Date
Mystery last night surrounded the future of Jon Smith
I can't let the week pass without adding to the warm tributes to great journalist and teacher, Jon Smith. Jon has retired from his post as lecturer at Darlington College, where he has guided many journalists in the ways of their craft.
-
Date
A66 finally re-opens after six days
THE A66 trans-Pennine re-opened at 6.30pm today, an unprecedented six days after the weather forced it to close. The route between Bowes, in County Durham, and Brough, in Cumbria, was closed to traffic after heavy snowfalls made it impassable
-
Date
Howden-le-Wear garage raided again
TRADERS are being urged to step up security after a petrol station was targeted by masked thieves the second time in a month. A gang of males made off with cigarettes and over £1,000 cash from the BP garage, in Howden-le-Wear, early on Saturday. At
-
Date
Town clerk puts Willington on the map
VISITORS to a Wear Valley town can learn more about its heritage by taking a stroll. Town clerk Helen Cogdon has teamed up with the Willington Walking Group to showcase the area’s countryside and history in a new leaflet. It guides people
-
Date
Plans to rebuild Willington Methodist Church
A church will be at the heart of community life should councillors give £600,000 rebuild plans the green light. Willington Methodist Church has been on Lydia Street since 1874 but members are asking residents to ‘buy a brick’ and help fund a new
-
Date
House plan for former church
A COUPLE has applied for planning permission to convert a disused parish church into a house. Clayton and Beverley Thompson, who run Manor Developments in Fishburn, want to redevelop St Paul’s Church in the centre of Trimdon Colliery. They have applied
-
Date
Cash boost for Bishop Auckland youth groups
A town council is appealing to youth groups to enter themselves for an award which comes with a cash boost. Bishop Auckland Town Council is offering up to £3,000 for groups which will enhance the skills and creativity of young people in the town.
-
Date
National Tupperisems…
Although ‘our hero’ Tupper has been quiet of late, - only mentioning that in the recent cold snap, that he’d been ‘Sweating like a leaf’ when he saw a couple of wagons HIGH-JACKED (Jack-knifed) on the motorway!- Ally ‘Duke’ Milroy sent me some examples
-
Date
Rescuers seek loving homes for "plainer'' strays
A KENNELS is seeking new homes for two strays that have been over-looked by potential owners for better looking dogs. Vicky, a three-year-old crossbreed, and Walter, an 18-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, have both been at Deerness Kennels
-
Date
Government urged to crackdown on council "free sheets"
MPS have urged the Government to safeguard local newspapers from the "unfair" competition of council-run publications. Liberal Democrats urged ministers to take action against council newspapers during a debate in London’s Westminster Hall.
-
Date
Sick kids get boost from Sir Bobby's charity
MONEY donated to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation by Newcastle United will be used to benefit teenage cancer patients from across the region. Around £30,000 raised by auctioning player's shirts from the recent Ipswich v Newcastle match will go towards
-
Date
School to promote refurbishment plans
PARENTS and villagers are being invited to find out about proposed works to a primary school, which is sharing in £2.7m worth of funding. Staff at Hurworth Primary School, near Darlington, will host an information event to showcase a refurbishment of
-
Date
Masked raiders steal Post Office cash
MASKED raiders stole cash from a Post Office after trying to force a lone female worker to open the till. The two thieves struck at Marton Cum Grafton, near Harrogate, around 7.50am on Tuesday, January 12. They lone female assistant refused to open
-
Date
Volunteers wanted to re-shape riverside.
A PUBLIC meeting will give people the opportunity to help shape the scenic riverside area in Barnard Castle. Work will soon begin to improve the riverside walks, sculpture garden and views between the Castle and the River Tees. As part of this, a team
-
Date
Thank you for feeding swans
A WILDLIFE lover has thanked people who helped keep swans alive during the bad weather. Linda Charlton, of the North-East Swan Rescue and Wildlife Trust, appealed to people to feed the swans and cygnets living at Riverside Park, in Chester-le-Street,
-
Date
Royal reception for young cadet
A TEESSIDE St John Ambulance cadet has attended a Buckingham Palace reception for Young Achievers. Matthew Robinson, 14, who suffers from mild cerebral palsy, was nominated for his outstanding achievements. During the reception he was
-
Date
City makes Britain In Bloom shortlist
DESPITE being buried under a blanket of snow, Durham has reached the finals of Britain in Bloom. The city has again been shortlisted in the large town/small city with a population of 12,000 to 35,000 category. Durham, which won silver
-
Date
Mandelson downplays university budget cuts
LORD Mandelson today insisted that universities will not be put under threat by multimillion-pound budget cuts. The Russell Group of 20 top UK universities warned earlier this week that the higher education system could be brought to its knees by Government
-
Date
Tributes paid to Mayor
REPSECTS have been paid to the Loftus Town Mayor and chairman of the town council, Leslie Ward, who passed away at the weekend. The 62-year-old died on Saturday after losing his battle with prostate cancer. Councillor Ward was born in Danby and educated
-
Date
Cash injection sharpens focus
CINEMA-goers are having their viewing experience brought into sharper focus thanks a cash investment. Redcar and Cleveland Local Enterprise Growth Initiative has paved the way for a £80,000 investment for Redcar's Regent Cinema. The new hi-tech installations
-
Date
Anderson released by Black Cats
SUNDERLAND defender Russell Anderson has had his contract terminated by mutual consent. The Scotland international has been beset by injuries since moving to the Stadium of Light from Aberdeen in 2007. The 31-year-old had made over 300 appearances during
-
Date
Dentist wins awards thanks to patient recommendations
A DENTIST has been received a prestigious award thanks to positive recommendations from her clients. Claire Lawson, 35, has been named North East Young Dentist of the Year, after being nominated by a colleague. Ms Lawson was also the only female dentist
-
Date
Young drivers urged to be more responsible
YOUNG drivers are to be urged to take more care on the roads, and of their cars, at a community safety event. The Drive to Survive event will offer advice on modifications, such as tinted windows, and how to drive more sensibly in wintry conditions.
-
Date
Winter driving advice for motorists
A CAMPAIGN to encourage drivers to take more care in wintry conditions has been launched by community safety experts. The annual winter safe driving campaign by the Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership is timed to follow on from the Christmas campaigns
-
Date
Mazda CX7 (Price: £25,515)
THE CX7 has, until now, been one of Mazda's less successful cars on the UK market. It wasn't hard to see why. Despite the chunky body, four-wheel drive, oodles of high tech kit and keen pricing the CX7 was saddled with a gas guzzling 2.3-litre petrol
-
Date
Launch event for children's crafts
A MOTHER-OF-TWO will hold a launch event this weekend for her expanded children's craft business. Vicky Lloyd set up her own business, NE Day Crafts, last May, holding creative workshops and selling craft kits for children and their parents. Initially
-
Date
Wilks looks to celebrate ten years rallying in style in Monte Carlo
TEN years after contesting his first rally, Guy Wilks will begin the most exciting challenge of his career when he tackles the opening round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), in Monte Carlo (January 19-23). Monaco and the
-
Date
Exercise classes on offer for over 50s
RESIDENTS of a market town aged 50 and over are being encouraged to get active and take up a new hobby. Indoor bowls, tai chi, salsa, badminton and exercise classes are being offered as part of a project to encourage Bedale’s over 50s to take
-
Date
Murder trial twist as woman admits killing boyfriend
A MURDER trial took a dramatic twist today when a woman accused of torturing her long-suffering boyfriend to death admitted killing him. At the end of the prosecution case, Clare Nicholls pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Andrew Gardner
-
Date
Dog breeding inquiry due this afternoon
AN INQUIRY set up to examine if the way pedigree dogs are bred damages their health is set to report this afternoon. The investigation’s conclusions could have far reach implications for some of Britain’s biggest dog shows - including the Darlington
-
Date
44 Inch Chest (18)
44 Inch Chest (18) ★★★ Stars: Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Ian McShane, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Dillane, Joanne Whalley, Melvil Poupaud. 94 mins THIS latest script from the writers of Sexy Beast plays like a stage play – mostly confined to a single
-
Date
Up In The Air (15)
Up In The Air (15) ★★★★ Stars: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, Melanie Lynskey, Danny McBride, Jason Bateman. 109 mins His job in Jason Reitman’s Up In The Air is to take away the jobs of others. Ryan Bingham (Clooney) earns his
-
Date
Example: Won’t Go Quietly
SUMMER 2009 has seen the explosive arrival of Example (aka Elliot Gleave) with his highly original take on life and his unique musical style. Won’t Go Quietly follows single Watch The Sun Come Up as another sparkling slice of modern pop with
-
Date
January 14, 2010
WHAT’S ON: Singer Bobby McFerrin on Saturday and the John Escreet Project featuring David Binney on Wednesday, The Sage, Gateshead, 0191-443-4661. CD REVIEWS: David Liebman Trio/Lieb plays Weill (Daybreak DBCHR75439) A great selection of Kurt
-
Date
January 14, 2010
WHAT’S ON: Northern Sinfonia, The Sage, Gateshead, 7.30pm tonight. Haydn’s Symphony 100 Military and Schubert’s Ninth Symphony. Box office: 0191-443- 4661. REVIEWS: Beethoven Piano Concertos: Ronald Brautigam (BIS-SACD-1693) In 1806, Beethoven
-
Date
Erik Hassle: Album Pieces and single Hurtful
SWEDISH cool-pop wunderkind Erik Hassle releases his debut album Pieces, and single Hurtful this February. He has already spent over a year at the top of the Swedish charts so now it’s the UK’s time to sample his powerful and emotive voice.
-
Date
Crazy Heart: Film Soundtrack (New West Records)
THOSE who enjoy movies with country music soundtracks can look forward to Crazy Heart opening on February 18 featuring around 23 songs. The film tells the tale of Bad Blake played by Jeff Bridges who is a broken down, hard living country music
-
Date
Teenage girl hit by car
A TEENAGE girl has been rushed to hospital with head injuries after she was hit by a car in Bishop Auckland. Police were called to the Durham Road area at around 8.45am this morning after the Vauxhall Corsa hit the pedestrian. Officers cordoned off
-
Date
January 14, 2010
THE weather has taken its toll on the local folk scene over the past week, it seems. South West duo Ember cancelled all the clubs they were due to visit, a particular shame, as they are splitting up very soon and won’t be able to set up a return
-
Date
Hitting off 2010
Andy Welch looks ahead to the big musical events of 2010 and offers some thoughts on the great download debate. WE don’t have to wait long for the contenders to the crown of best album of 2010. The new Hot Chip album is out for starters. The
-
Date
Pregnant cause
Claire Moss reveals to Viv Hardwick how her debut novel turned into a contemporary look at romance in a North Yorkshire market town. DARLINGTON-born Claire Moss always intended to write a thriller but instead came up with a newlyreleased contemporary
-
Date
Up to scratch
Viv Hardwick speaks to Darlington author Helen Stephens about how she became an award-winning picture book creator. POLITICAL correctness almost put paid to Darlington artist/writer Helen Stephens’ best-known book before it went into print… because
-
Date
George faces up to baby talk
George Clooney’s co-stars Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick dish the dirt on working with the sexy leading man. Steve Pratt reports. THERE was a third person involved in Vera Farmiga’s relationship with George Clooney on the set of satirical comedy
-
Date
Time to corpse
Steve Pratt chats to Steven Pinder about winding back the clock to star in an Alan Ayckbourn play during the Harrogate season. STEVEN Pinder is multi-tasking – doing a telephone interview and keeping an eye on the cricket on the TV at the same
-
Date
Billy fizz
Viv Hardwick looks at the race to put youngsters from the region into a gala celebration of Billy Elliot’s fifth anniversary in the West End. YOUNGSTERS from Darlington, Yarm and York are eagerly brushing up on their Billy Elliot in the hope of
-
Date
New to rent
(500) Days Of Summer (12, 91 mins, Twentieth Century Fox, DVD £19.99/Bluray £24.99). Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Chloe Grace Moretz, Clark Gregg, Geoffrey Arend, Matthew Gray Gubler TOM (Gordon-Levitt) writes platitudes in greetings
-
Date
North Yorkshire sailor rescued from sinking yacht
A NORTH Yorkshire woman is among sailors who have been rescued from a sinking racing yacht after it struck rocks in Indonesian waters, the UK coastguard said today. There were 16 people on board the Cork Clipper when it was holed near the island
-
Date
You’re knickered
CHIP shop entrepreneur Ian Beale and Janine, a woman with morals as loose as her knicker elastic, have history. The Soapland records show that he once paid her for sex while she was practising the oldest profession in the backstreets of Walford
-
Date
Mulan – The Chinese State Circus, The Sage, Gateshead
THE Chinese State Circus’s latest production is yet another mind-bending show of acrobatics, martial arts and folk theatre. In the kind of show which would have entertained at emperors’ courts down the millennia, the Beijing-based troupe stopped
-
Date
Still making fans laugh
The Simpsons, Sky1, 7.30pm. NANCY CARTWRIGHT is the boy who never grew up. The 52-year-old is preserved on screen as cartoon character Bart Simpson, who celebrates his family’s 20th anniversary this year yet remains a ten-year-old in his short
-
Date
England look to Collingwood to steady the ship
ENGLAND needed their Cape Town saviours Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell to bail them out after their horrendous start to the final Test against South Africa at The Wanderers. The tourists lost captain Andrew Strauss to the first ball of the match, Jonathan
-
Date
The marriage that almost went up in smoke
OF all the occasions I’ve been sent to The Doghouse, the time I lost my wedding ring was easily the most deserved. It was a gold ring, engraved with our wedding date – 26-6-1988 – and it vanished around the time a decade of marriage had passed
-
Date
Harry’s war
Harry Bunting recalls his childhood during World War Two and entertains school children with his fascinating stories. HARRY Bunting was a baby when World War II broke out, still just six when fire ceased. He remembers it, recalls the shelters and
-
Date
Search resumes for missing fisherman
THE search was resuming today for a missing man who is feared to have been swept out to sea while fishing on the County Durham coast. Keen angler George Derbyshire, of Blackhall, County Durham, has not been seen for two days after telling his
-
Date
County Durham firm secures £8m aircraft carrier contract
AEI Cables has been awarded a prestigious £8m contract to supply cables to help build the next generation of aircraft carriers for the British fleet - the largest ships to enter service in the UK. The Aircraft Carrier Alliance awarded the prestigious
-
Date
Quo honours
BEING a huge Status Quo fan, and having attended many of their concerts over the years, I totally agree with Brian Corrigan (HAS, Jan 9) that Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi deserve their OBEs in the Queen’s New Year Honours. Nigel Merritt, Darlington
-
Date
Vile literature
BRIAN Gardener describes how he approached me after I “had posted my vile literature through his letterbox” (HAS, Jan 9). As Mr Gardener mentions no time, date or location I am in no position to comment on his accusation as many people approach
-
Date
Jobs vision
NORTH Durham Conservative parliamentary candidate David Skelton berated Labour for its lack of innovation in job creation (HAS, Jan 8). But Labour has just announced plans to develop the biggest expansion of wind energy ever seen in the world.
-
Date
Transparency
IT remains to be seen just how much of Sir Christopher Kelly’s recommendations on MPs’ expenses will be implemented. There appears to be some back-peddling, in particular on MPs being allowed to continue employing close family members as secretaries
-
Date
Islam4UK
THE extremist group Islam4UK has abandoned its march through Wootton Bassett, claiming it had “successfully highlighted the plight of Muslims in Afghanistan” (Echo, Jan 11) – a plight which only exists because Muslim extremists declared war
-
Date
NHS
RE your article about the right-wing think-tank, 2020Health (Echo, Jan 11). As a Labour Party member, Conservative policies and their advisors give me cause for alarm for the people of this country. Everybody realises that to provide the health
-
Date
Winter weather
RE your recent letters about the weather. We lived at Scotch Corner for ten years (1959-69). I worked at Scotch Corner Garages and lived in the bungalow just behind the garage on the west side of the road. When my son was born in 1963 I had to
-
Date
Global warming
STEVE Pratt’s article on global warming (Echo, Jan 7) pointed out that global warming is real despite the present cold spell. Dr Myles Allen, of Oxford University, was quoted as saying that all the indicators “suggest” the globe is warming up in
-
Date
David Cameron
RE your Comment column, “New year, old politics” (Echo, Jan 4), which stated that in November 2005 you asked David Cameron – above: “Can an old Etonian understand Easington?” He replied: “What matters is not where you are from, but are you a
-
Date
Coup leaves Miliband wounded
FEW tears will be shed by the region’s MPs if last week’s botched coup ends up knocking David Miliband out of Labour’s leadership race, I suspect. The Foreign Secretary increasingly looks like the main victim of the shambolic plot, after failing
-
Date
On the Jedward stage
The singing phenomenon known as Jedward go Ape in a Middlesbrough nightclub tonight. Steve Pratt charts the progress of the Irish twins from the X Factor to following in Charlie Chaplin’s footsteps. JEDWARD. There, I’ve said it. A word to strike
-
Date
Cuts are the road to ruin
HARD-PRESSED councils are facing difficult decisions over spending next year and the current bout of bad weather must be playing havoc with their financial calculations. Durham County Council has already exhausted its budget for keeping the roads
-
Date
Jumps trying to beat the weather
HUNTINGDON officials remain hopeful their meeting tomorrow can become the first jumps meeting to take place since Plumpton on January 3. An inspection will be held at 8am today to assess the prospects, with a ‘‘slow thaw’’ now in action. ‘‘We’
-
Date
Fathsta has the heart for Wolverhampton
FATHSTA was not beaten far in a competitive event at Lingfield last Saturday and is one to keep on the right side as he makes a quick reappearance at Wolverhampton. David Simcock’s charge did not enjoy the clearest of runs entering the straight
-
Date
Black ice causes further problems on region's roads
BLACK ice and in many places a further overnight snow fall caused further misery for morning rush hour motorists today. Just as 24-hours earlier there were a series of shunts and bumps reported across County Durham, many on untreated side and
-
Date
Hatton determined to end his career at the top
RICKY HATTON admits his determination to finish at the top convinced him to return to the ring following his tworound destruction by Manny Pacquiao last year. The popular Manchester ‘Hitman’, who admitted back in September he expected to lace
-
Date
Higgins crashes out of Masters
WORLD champion John Higgins was woeful as he suffered a Pokerstars.com Masters first-round exit to Mark Allen at Wembley Arena yesterday afternoon. The 34-year-old Scot, who is provisional world number one and won the Masters in 1999 and 2006
-
Date
Hape becomes the latest red rose Kiwi
MARTIN JOHNSON has defended his decision to pick former New Zealand rugby league international Shontayne Hape for England’s RBS 6 Nations campaign. The 28-year-old qualified to play for England on residency grounds this month and Johnson wasted
-
Date
Henderson has no fear of hero Lampard
JORDAN HENDERSON will line up against one of his heroes this weekend, but the Sunderland midfielder is determined to give Frank Lampard a tougher afternoon than he experienced when the pair last crossed horns at Stamford Bridge. Henderson made
-
Date
Collingwood happy to carry on boring
PAUL COLLINGWOOD will not be changing his dogged Test match style for anyone after one of the most rewarding innings of his career. England hold a 1-0 lead and will be out to complete a series victory when the final Test gets under way against
-
Date
Proteas look to finish England off
SOUTH AFRICA are feeling the pressure but remain confident they can at last land the knockout punch on England – at the third attempt. Graeme Smith’s team will start today’s final Test of an “epic” series at The Wanderers in the unenviable position
-
Date
Newcastle United 3 Plymouth Argyle 0
Newcastle United 3 Plymouth Argyle 0 DESIRABLE or distracting? Either way, Newcastle United are in the fourth round of the FA Cup thanks to a replay win over Plymouth that was both comprehensive and clinical, if potentially counter-productive
-
Date
Staunton frustrated as Keltie opts to join Imps
Darlington will today sign a defender from the League of Ireland, but former Quaker Clark Keltie will join relegation rivals Lincoln City despite last week agreeing on a return to the club. The Newcastle-born midfielder has trained for the
-
Date
Strachan lands trio as Shawky heads to Turkey
IT’S a case of three in and one out for Gordon Strachan as the Middlesbrough manager completed deals that reunited him with a trio of his former Celtic players, while midfield flop Mohamed Shawky left on a free transfer. Following defensive target
-
Date
Liverpool 1 Reading 2 (after extra-time, 1-1 at 90mins)
Liverpool 1 Reading 2 (after extra-time, 1-1 at 90mins) LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez implied he was unhappy with referee Phil Dowd’s performance but refused to criticise his own players after seeing his side crash out of the FA Cup to Reading.
-
Date
Translating the tomb
I GOT a D in my Latin O-Level. We spent our lessons waiting for the caped teacher to turn his back on us to chalk on his blackboard and then we would lob rubbers high into the ceiling. The ceiling in the Latin room was falling in. You could
-
Date
Quakers call on fans to get pitch ready
DARLINGTON Football Club is once again calling on fans and volunteers to help the club clear the pitch today for Saturday’s Coca-Cola League Two game against Aldershot. The Quakers are due to entertain the Shots at The Northern Echo Arena on Saturday
-
Date
Lovenkrands’ hat-trick won’t halt striker hunt
CHRIS HUGHTON last night paid tribute to Peter Lovenkrands after the striker’s hat-trick fired Newcastle United into the fourth round of the FA Cup, but the Magpies manager also admitted the Dane’s goalscoring exploits had not reduced his determination
-
Date
Ports strategy ‘will damage the North’
A CONTROVERSIAL planning shake-up will hit hopes of expanding northern ports such as Teesport, MPs were warned yesterday. One North East, councillors and planners joined forces to criticise a new national policy statement because it failed to pave
-
Date
Victim beaten on day he died, court told
A WOMAN accused of murder violently assaulted her boyfriend on the day he died, screaming at him: “We should never have met”, a jury heard. Clare Nicholls is said to have yelled abuse at Andrew Gardner, dragged him around a room and pushed him
-
Date
Decision this week on steel’s stay of execution
A DECISION on whether the mothballing of a threatened steel plant can be postponed by at least a month is expected tomorrow, it was revealed yesterday. The announcement on the future of the Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant came hours after
-
Date
Spared jail to fight the Taliban
A SOLDIER who assaulted two foreign workers after an all-day drinking binge has walked free from court so he can return to the frontline in Afghanistan. Lee Anson was spared jail after a Teesside Crown Court judge heard a custodial sentence
-
Date
4,000,000 mince pies put Greggs on a roll
AN expanding North-East bakery group said it had sold four million mince pies over Christmas as it ploughs ahead with plans to open up scores more stores this year. Greggs chief executive Ken McMeikan revealed a surge in demand for Christmas products
-
Date
Job cuts and reduced hours will ‘secure airport’s future’
DURHAM Tees Valley (DTV) airport’s owner said it remained committed to the facility last night, despite proposed staff cuts and reduced operating hours. Peel Airports Group last night released proposals, following an eight-month review, which
-
Date
Firm is offering training for redundant workers
AN industrial cleaning firm, which won support on television’s Dragon’s Den, is offering training to people made redundant in the recession. UK Commercial Cleaning Services (UKCC), which founder Tony Earnshaw grew from a window cleaning round
-
Date
Festival shows off business benefits
THE North-East’s animation and digital companies will be shown how the technology used to develop Hollywood blockbusters such as Avatar can benefit their business. Next month’s Animex, Teesside University’s international festival of animation
-
Date
Closures at Customs offices confirmed
ACCESS to tax advice in County Durham and Darlington will be damaged by confirmation that Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is to close two offices, it was claimed last night. Twenty-six staff at the offices now face an uncertain future after HMRC confirmed
-
Date
Plant closure is described as a tragedy for area
CONFIRMATION was last night given that the closure of a threatened Teesside plant is to go ahead, in a move that was described as a tragedy for the region and wider UK. The Dow plant – the UK’s only producer of the key ethylene oxide (EO) chemical
-
Date
Council offices under threat
COUNCIL offices could close under a major buildings review at the region’s newest local authority. Durham County Council’s executive cabinet is being asked to “rationalise” its offices portfolio, to allow public access to services while providing
-
Date
Singer tells of suntan pressure
GIRLS Aloud singer Nicola Roberts yesterday spoke of the pressure she faced as a youngster to have a suntan. The star, famous for her alabaster-toned skin, said she used to feel unattractive if she was not tanned. She said: “Tanning is a subject
-
Date
Lyndon may bring luck to the Quakers
PARALYMPIC hopeful and The Northern Echo’s Local Hero of 2009, Lyndon Longhorne is to be a football club’s guest of honour on Saturday. Darlington Football Club manager Steve Staunton has invited the 14-year-old swimmer to The Northern Echo Darlington
-
Date
MPs under fire over secretive expenses deals
THE Commons authorities were urged today to scrap an arrangement that allows MPs to admit expenses errors and repay money in secret. Dozens of individuals have been dealt with under a “fast-track” scheme for handling complaints about their claims
-
Date
Angry reaction to stroke unit plans
COUNCIL leaders have criticised plans to axe a newlyopened specialist stroke unit. Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet voiced crossparty opposition to a proposal to move the town’s stroke unit to Durham, when it met on Tuesday. The Northern
-
Date
Panto stars give walk a fairytale start
PANTO stars are celebrating the last week of a successful run by helping one of the region’s hospices. The cast of Cinderella, at the Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, launched St Cuthbert’s Hospice Midnight Walk to raise money for the charity that
-
Date
Parents delighted at history-making quads
THE parents of Britain’s first quadruplets made up of two sets of identical twin girls say they still find it difficult to tell them apart, two weeks after they were born. Lisa Kelly, 35, from Billingham, near Stockton, made UK medical history
-
Date
Rescuers go on foot to deliver essentials
People living in remote hamlets in the Yorkshire Dales have been cut off by snow since the middle of last month. Joe Willis joined the rescuers. YOU don’t live six miles from the nearest shop in one of the remotest parts of the country without
-
Date
Search continues for missing fisherman
A MAJOR search took place along the North-East coast yesterday after it was suspected that a fisherman was swept out to sea. George Derbyshire, 61, was reported missing by his wife, Rose, on Tuesday night after he failed to return home from a
-
Date
999 driver loses control as black ice causes chaos
AN ambulance slid into a tree after the driver lost control yesterday, as black ice caused dangerous driving conditions across the North-East and North Yorkshire. Two paramedics were not hurt in the crash, in Crook, County Durham, yesterday
-
Date
Trans-Pennine route remains closed
A SECTION of the A66 trans-Pennine route will remain closed today. The road, between Bowes, in County Durham, and Brough, in Cumbria, has been shut for five days, and while many areas have been experiencing a thaw, the A66 has been closed
-
Date
Relief at last
RESCUE volunteers have battled through 7ft snowdrifts to deliver vital medicine to residents stranded in their remote moorland homes for nearly a month. Occupants of the isolated Yorkshire Dales hamlets of Kexwith and Helwith, between Richmond
-
Date
Fishermen praised in Hartlepool rescue
FIREFIGHTERS have praised two fishermen who came to the aid of a fellow angler who fell 40 feet from a jetty at a derelict industrial site. Around 40 emergency service personnel were drafted in to rescue the fisherman who had fallen into the centre of
-
Date
Watt watching winner
A NORTH-EAST businesswoman has won a national competition after reducing her energy consumption by 40 per cent in just 90 days. Lesley Roberts of Newcastle has scooped the E.ON Watt Watchers competition after taking up the challenge to demonstrate
