Archive
-
Date
Traffic to be banned from historic bridge
ONE of the region’s most striking bridges is to close to all vehicles, church leaders say. The 233-year-old Prebends Bridge, which crosses the River Wear by Durham Cathedral, is part of Durham’s World Heritage Site, grade I listed and a scheduled
-
Date
Instructor convicted of sex charges
A SPORTS instructor was yesterday convicted of inciting a schoolgirl to engage in sexual activity, despite telling a jury that he thought she was 16. Andrew McQuade, 31, from Middlesbrough, denied ever seeing the youngster in her school uniform
-
Date
Take That's thanks to the North-East
CHART superstars Take That have heaped praise on the region once again after kicking off their European tour at the Stadium of Light. The band returned to Wearside on Friday to start their Progress Live tour, the band's first since the return of Robbie
-
Date
Missing rug
MISSING RUG: Elizabeth Richards, also known as Pat, of Armstrong Court, off Brinkburn Road, is appealing for the person who stored her terra-cotta fireside rug while her flat was being decorated in March to return it. She said: "I went into hospital not
-
Date
Mayor supports Talking Newspaper
THE mayor of Darlington has paid a visit to a charity which provides a vital lifeline to visually impaired people in the borough. Last night, mayor Coun Lee Vasey visited the offices and studios of the Darlington and District Talking Newspaper at the
-
Date
Signed photo to be auctioned
A PIECE of memorabilia which celebrates the life of one of the country's greatest sportsmen is to be auctioned for charity. The signed, framed photograph of Sir Henry Cooper will be auctioned off tomorrow (FRI) as part of the Darlington Mayor's Charity
-
Date
Fair Trade students inspiring others
STUDENTS have inspired family and friends by staging their first community event. Year seven students at Darlington Education Village organised the Fair Trade event to raise awareness of the issue. The students sold Fair Trade products, cakes
-
Date
Centre staff help public with queries
STAFF from a Darlington shopping centre will fly the flag for the Tees Valley after learning about what the area has to offer. Eight security and cleaning staff from the Cornmill Shopping Centre took part in My Tees Valley, a training scheme run by
-
Date
Literary festival will boost poorest areas
A LITERARY festival aims to boost reading in some of Middlesbrough's poorest areas. Poetry, stories and music will stimulate creativity over four weeks through a range of events starting on Saturday. Best-selling crime author, Val McDermid, and renowned
-
Date
Have your say on issues to be studied
RESIDENTS are being asked to suggest which local issues they want put under the microscope. Topics ranging from the environment, housing and community protection to health, social care and transport could be investigated by a panel of Middlesbrough councillors
-
Date
Extra time for noise watchdogs
NOISE and enforcement patrols across Stockton borough are now operating for longer following a review of the service. Stockton Borough Council has seen more than 80 extra complaints about noise in the early hours submitted as a result. Officers from
-
Date
Roadworks allow training to continue
A MOTORCYCLE training scheme in Hartlepool is to continue after groups joined forces to secure its future. Improvement work to road surfaces within the grounds of Catcote School Business and Enterprise College have enabled the site to retain its status
-
Date
100th concert at tiny chapel
A TINY east Cleveland venue is presenting its 100th classical music concert later this month. Sir William Turner's Almshouses at Kirkleatham, Redcar, has become a leading venue for musicians from across the world. Peter Sotheran, chairman of the trustees
-
Date
Fundraising row to boost charity funds
A STUDENT is in training as he builds up fitness to join a team of friends set to row 100,000 metres to raise funds for a cancer charity. Durham School student Ryan Bowes, 16, of Newton Aycliffe, with five of his fellow pupils is to row the length of
-
Date
Appeal for clothes to boost cricket club refurbishment
A CRICKET club seeking £28,000 for a club house refurbishment is appealing for old clothes to boost the bid. Tudhoe Cricket Club, near Spennymoor, is fundraising in a bid to improve facilities at the club. The Readers Durham County League side are aiming
-
Date
Darlington make second summer signing
DARLINGTON boss Mark Cooper has secured his second signing of the summer, with midfielder Kris Taylor joining the Quakers. The 27-year-old, released by League Two side Port Vale at the end of last season, has penned a one-year deal at the Northern
-
Date
Business is on the road to success
A CAMPERVAN enthusiast, whose 20 years of Army service was ended by a serious leg injury, has been backed to start his own business in Redcar. Hardy Johnson, 38, who lives in Normanby, has won support from UK Steel Enterprise to set up Turtle
-
Date
Whale body removed from beach
THE body of a 35-tonne sperm whale has been removed from the beach at Redcar. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council became responsible for clearing the site once it became clear the 44ft mammal had not survived. "A painstaking operation, involving
-
Date
Shop tactics
The Government recently appointed Queen of Shops Mary Portas to rescue Britain’s struggling high streets. Graeme Hetherington visited a cluster of Saltburn entrepreneurs who are already flying the flag for independent shopkeepers. REAL Meals
-
Date
Middlesbrough reserves reveal pre-season schedule
MIDDLESBROUGH reserves have arranged pre-season friendly matches with Spennymoor, Billingham Synthonia, Harrogate Town, Fylde and Chester-le-Street Town.The title-winning development squad will make the short trip to Spennymoor on Tuesday July 12
-
Date
Yorkshire tea update: Tykes battle for a draw
Yorkshire battled hard during the afternoon session on the final day of their County Championship match with Sussex. They only lost one wicket at Hove – to boost their chances of salvaging a draw from the contest. By tea on day four they had reached
-
Date
Durham hammer Lancashire to go top of the table
Durham have moved 17 points clear at the top of the County Championship table after beating previous leaders Lancashire by an innings and 125 runs at Chester-le-Street. After also beating Worcestershire and Warwickshire by an innings, it was 2008 and
-
Date
‘We must look to the future’
THE recent hammer blow announcement that hundreds of steelworkers are to lose their jobs will not hold back the recovery of Redcar and the surrounding area, the town’s political leaders have insisted. Tata Steel’s decision to cut nearly
-
Date
Jess is top dog in late spring sales
A TOP price of £4,830 was paid for a two-year-old black and white bitch in the late spring sale of working sheep dogs at Skipton. Jess was from John Maginn, the former Irish national champion who will represent Ireland in the World Sheep Dog
-
Date
Forsters expecting plenty of company
LEWIS and Helen Forster are preparing to receive more than 6,000 visitors to their 1,200-acre hill and upland farm. The couple host North Sheep 2011 at West Nubbock, Hexham, on Wednesday, June 8. Organised by the Northern region of the National
-
Date
Cathi sets sights on winning challenge
TWO years after being forced to sell her car to fund mortgage payments, a North-East businesswoman runs a flourishing financial support service that is aiming to win a competition run by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. During the depths of the
-
Date
Under-fire council chief to quit
A COUNCIL chief executive whose £10,000-plus pay increase caused a row has announced he will quit. Paul Walker, in charge of Hartlepool Council, saw his pay rise from £157,205 to £168,000 at a time when 86 jobs at his local authority were under threat
-
Date
Wilks aims to make amends in Ukraine
DARLINGTON rally driver Guy Wilks is looking to make amends for his off in Corsica by scoring points on the Prime Yalta rally in Ukraine. The event, the fourth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge championship, starts tomorrow. Wilks, who drives
-
Date
Pensions move may unlock funding
RENEWED claims that several banks are not meeting Government-agreed lending targets highlight the fact that many small businesses still face significant cashflow problems. Other difficulties for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking
-
Date
Motorist injured as stone smashes van window
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a motorist suffered minor injuries when a stone was thrown at his van. The stone smashed the driver’s window of a white Ford Transit van as it was driven through Spennymoor. The incident took place at 8.50pm
-
Date
Questions over council masterplan
A RELAUNCHED economic masterplan which could see more than 7,000 new homes built in and around Durham has failed to win over its opponents. Durham County Council chiefs unveiled the latest draft of their multi-million pound County Durham Plan, which
-
Date
Youngsters rock climb to raise funds for Austrian trip
HARD working youngsters are heading to Austria to help work on a project to build a play park for deprived children. A team of ten youngsters and two team leaders from Bishop Auckland Prince’s Trust are to head out to central Europe. They are to visit
-
Date
NORTH YORKSHIRE: news in brief
CIVIC TALK: The next lecture for the Richmond and District Civic Society will be led by William Feaver about The Pitman Painters. Mr Feaver is a former art critic and now an artist in his own right but is best known for his book, the Pitman
-
Date
Verdict on Moat police Taser boss
AN open verdict has been recorded in the inquest of a company director whose firm supplied Tasers used during the stand-off with gunman Raoul Moat. Peter Boatman, 57, director of operations for Pro-Tect Systems, was found dead at his home in
-
Date
Could savings certificates be an attractive investment?
I’VE written many column inches already on inflation in recent months, detailing its causes as well as providing some advice to both savers and investors alike, on how best to protect themselves from the threat of rising inflation rates.
-
Date
Lunch update: Yorkshire battle to avoid defeat
YORKSHIRE lost two vital wickets during the morning session as they battle to save their LV=County Championship match with Sussex at Hove. By lunch on the final day they had reached 118 for four. This meant they still needed 157 more runs to make their
-
Date
Police ask did you Take That bracelet?
POLICE are appealing for help to recover a diamond bracelet lost at last night's Take That's Stadium of Light concert. The 18 carat gold bracelet with 30 inset diamonds was lost at Sunderland's Stadium of Light sometime on Tuesday night. The piece
-
Date
Stokes blow
JUST when he had a chance of breaking into England’s one-day squad, Durham’s Ben Stokes has been ruled for six to eight weeks. The right index finger he dislocated in the field yesterday evening has had to be pinned and there is also some ligament damage
-
Date
Germany calling
THE column has rather resembled an ice cream parlour of late, nothing more greatly enjoyed than a 99 at Café Bungalow, overlooking the harbour at Sunderland. By various names, that little building has been around for more than 100 years. A nearby
-
Date
Dance academy introduces new yoga class
A NEW yoga class is starting in Newton Aycliffe. Aycliffe Dance Academy has welcomed new Yoga instructor, Helen Tait, to its team, and she will be hosting the session on Monday evenings from 7.45pm to 8.45pm, at the Bethany Centre, on Woodham Way. Ms
-
Date
The end game
Britain’s Got Talent (ITV1, 7.30pm), and results (9.30pm) Coronation Street (ITV1, 9pm) Desperate Housewives (C4, 10pm) Wonderland: The Men Who Won’t Stop Marching (BBC2, 9pm) Storyville: Fight to Save the World: Sergio (BBC4, 10pm) HARD luck
-
Date
Sharon Shoesmith
TO put it bluntly, Peter Mullen is a cantankerous old curmudgeon who is stuck somewhere in the Edwardian era when the sun always shone, there were no mobile phones and the lower classes knew their place. It is a therefore a surprise and delight
-
Date
Beatles gave me the creeps
AS I enter my gloaming years I remain baffled by certain life experiences, such as how to open a circular pack of biscuits by using the tab and, most of all, the attraction of Beatlemania. I may get lucky with the biscuits but I’m certain I’ll
-
Date
The Irish
ERIC SHUTTLEWORTH (HAS, 27 May) has surely never said a truer word when he describes the “excruciating tosh” in Hear All Sides. His own letter is surely an example. He says Ireland when he means The Irish Free state or Eire, and he says Ulster
-
Date
Policing
PC David Rathband, the North- East police officer who was blinded by Raoul Moat, recently challenged Home Secretary Theresa May over why she believed his £35,000 salary may be too high. Thousands of police officers have already warned that UK
-
Date
Monkey's blood
IN last week’s Gadfly column Mike Amos asserts that the term “monkey’s blood” (for raspberry sauce) was exclusive to the North-East. This is not the case. I was born and grew up in South-West Lancashire, about a dozen miles from Liverpool, and
-
Date
Trades unions
PERHAPS Steve Cason (HAS, May 31) might enlighten the public as to where my letter stated I am against the general work of trade unions. I’m not, but neither is it the taxpayers’ job to fund them. The Taxpayers Alliance highlighted the issue of
-
Date
Prebends Bridge to close to traffic
ONE of the region’s most striking bridges is to close to all vehicles, church leaders have announced. The 233-year-old Prebends Bridge, which stretches across the River Wear in the shadow of Durham Cathedral, is part of Durham’s World Heritage Site,
-
Date
Own goal
I THINK you have scored an own goal in your reporting of a new cigarette aimed at young women (Echo, May 31) by giving it so much space and a picture. The Northern Echo has done the company a favour. Under the advertising rules in place, they
-
Date
Windy
I HAVE read with interest the recent letters regarding the debate over the efficacy of wind farms. My view is that wind farm developments are normally bitterly opposed and unlikely to make any significant contribution to the UK’s national power
-
Date
Should this be the end of the line?
GREAT news for rail buffs is that Flying Scotsman, the world’s most famous locomotive, is back on display in York’s National Railway Museum following its painstaking five-year-long overhaul – virtually a rebuild, you might suppose. Hopefully, the
-
Date
Fighting for our fish
HUGH Fearnley-Whittingstall began touring Europe with his “fish fight” campaign yesterday, starting in Brussels, the home of the European Union. The tour will undoubtedly make good television viewing, but the facts that inspire the celebrity chef
-
Date
Helping hands
As National Volunteers’ Week starts, North-East Christian Aid volunteer Roshan Adam looks at helpers and their motivation for pursuing the charity’s goal of ending poverty. SOME of Christian Aid’s most memorable moments have been supported
-
Date
Community gardening open dayaims to help peolple live greener lives
AMATEUR gardeners can get some hands on advice at an opening day to celebrate the best in community gardening. The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is running a series of events aimed at giving people the opportunity to get their hands
-
Date
Anglers caught fishing without a licence in bank holiday crackdown
A LONG weekend of fishing licence enforcement has netted 69 people fishing illegally across Yorkshire. A team of bailiffs from the Environment Agency visited 70 sites in the county, checking almost 650 anglers for valid rod licences. Of those checked
-
Date
Campaigners celebrate mushroom factory expansion defeat
CAMPAIGNERS against the expansion of a mushroom factory have spoken of their delight after the latest decision in a long running planning battle went in their favour. Greyfriars UK, based at Wath, near Ripon, has submitted a number of different planning
-
Date
Former railway bridge to be given new lease of life as green bridleway
AN abandoned iron railway bridge is to be brought back into use for walkers, cyclists and horse riders as an alternative to a busy road bridge. Green transport charity Sustrans has plans to upgrade the old bridge across the River Swale, in Brompton on
-
Date
Profits boost at Northumbrian Water
NORTHUMBRIAN Water has reported a rise in full-year profits, due in part to higher water and sewerage charges. The Durham-based group, which supplies 2.6 million people in the North East and 1.8 million in the South, said revenues rose by almost 5 per
-
Date
Tributes paid to man killed in fire
TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a young man who died in a house fire. Craig Westhorp became trapped inside as fire ripped through the house in Formby Close, Hartlepool, in the early hours of Monday. The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at
-
Date
Progressive Elusive Prince can land Ripon handicap
ELUSIVE Prince appeals as capable of making his mark at a reasonable level outside of maiden company and should take the beating in the Ripon Farm Services Handicap at the North Yorkshire track. Progressive in three runs last term and
-
Date
Big things still expected from Pietersen by Flower
KEVIN Pietersen achieved an unfortunate distinction in England’s remarkable first- Test victory in Cardiff – the only frontline home batsman to be out for a single-figure score. As he once again succumbed to the nemesis of leftarm spin, others
-
Date
Bolt 'sluggish'
USAIN Bolt again failed to impress but still claimed a 100 metres victory in 9.91 seconds in his second outing of the season at the 50th Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava. As he was at the Rome Diamond League meeting six days ago, the three-time
-
Date
Murray secures last-eight berth
ANDY Murray reflected on one of the most emotional victories of his career after defying an ankle injury and the best efforts of Viktor Troicki to book a place in the quarterfinals of the French Open. The match had to be completed yesterday after
-
Date
The finest midfielder of his generation
ZINEDINE Zidane described him as “undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation”. Marcello Lippi, a World Cup-winning manager with Italy, said: “He would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that’s how
-
Date
Boro keen to keep Emnes
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Tony Mowbray will attempt to ward off Swansea’s interest in Marvin Emnes by offering the in-demand winger an improved contract at the Riverside. Emnes, who is about to enter the final year of his current deal on Teesside,
-
Date
Pre-season is vital for emerging Colback
JACK Colback claims Sunderland’s forthcoming pre-season programme will be crucial to his hopes of cementing a first-team spot next season. The Black Cats finalised their pre-season plans earlier this week when they confirmed a six-game tour of
-
Date
Signings don’t worry Simpson
AS Alan Pardew attempts to add Kevin Gameiro to a summer signing list that already features Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle full-back Danny Simpson has insisted his teammates are not afraid of facing increased competition for their places next season.
-
Date
Club official sentenced after stealing £7,000
A FORMER RAF worker has been ordered to repay money he stole from a club started by First World War veterans. Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday how David Segger was working as a steward at Richmond Comrades Club, in North Yorkshire, when he
-
Date
Hospital will not be downgraded - bosses
HEALTH bosses have confirmed that a major hospital will not be downgraded. The news has calmed immediate fears that managers were drawing up plans to move maternity and children’s services from Darlington Memorial Hospital to The University Hospital
-
Date
Struggling Yorkshire left up against it
For most of this match it has been the Yorkshire bowlers who have been under the spotlight for their poor performance. On day three in Hove it was the frontline batsman who failed to perform. Twelve wickets fell in all to leave Yorkshire
-
Date
Stranded whale dies
MARINE biology experts will today try to solve the mystery of why a 44ft sperm whale died after getting disorientated off the North-East coast. A team from London is due in Redcar, east Cleveland, this morning, to examine the body of the whale
-
Date
Reprieve for libraries after public outcry
A LOCAL authority is to continue staffing 15 libraries after plans to introduce volunteer-run branches prompted a public outcry. However, the future of eight North Yorkshire libraries remains unclear, with council chiefs still looking for local
-
Date
Care home staff member sacked
A CARE home worker has been sacked amid allegations relating to medical regulations, The Northern Echo can reveal. Bosses at Southern Cross healthcare – the UK’s biggest care home operator – dismissed the staff member following an internal inquiry
-
Date
Fatal crash driver goes on trial
A LORRY driver was yesterday accused of failing to see a pedestrian who died beneath the wheels of his articulated truck. Heather Bauld, 60, was struck in Darlington in November 2009. Brian Lawton, 53, went on trial at Teesside Crown Court yesterday
-
Date
Rescue attempts fail to save whale
The tragic death of the stranded sperm whale attracted hundreds of people to Redcar, desperate for a view of the magnificent creature. Graeme Hetherington reports. IT was a sad sight. The lifeless body of a once magnificent leviathan of the
-
Date
Bellringers locked in belfry over noise row
A TEAM of bellringers were locked in a church tower by an unknown pensioner after he seemingly took offence at the noise. The man, believed to be in his 70s or 80s, climbed the narrow staircase to the belfry of Saint John the Evangelist Church,
-
Date
Southern Cross Healthcare granted breathing room by landlords
BRITAIN'S largest care home group has been granted breathing space by its landlords to sort out its financial troubles. It comes two weeks after Darlington-based Southern Cross Healthcare, which leases the majority of its 750 homes, admitted
-
Date
Take That boost to region's economy
A WEEKEND of hosting major music events has provided a major boost to the North-East's £4bn tourism industry. Hotels across the region were fully booked as Take That and the Pet Shop Boys performed in Sunderland and Tinie Tempah, Iggy Pop and Plan B
-
Date
Unsung hero Allan wins for Esh
Esh Winning stalwart Allan Morton gained some deserved recognition for his 40 year service to the club by winning the league’s Unsung Hero award last Friday night. Morton has carried out many roles for the club, especially since it joined the league
-
Date
Rider died on bike he bought a week earlier
A MOTORCYCLE enthusiast died a week after buying himself a powerful superbike, it emerged yesterday. Father-of-four James Gaines, 43, was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, after losing control of his 1,000cc Honda Fireblade
