Archive

THOSE with an ear for the likes of the Deftones should find an instant liking for Darlington outfit Kickshaws. Whilst the vocals are softer and more accessible, the construction of the songs on this six-track offering leans does owe something to

COMEDIAN Jimmy Tarbuck has been rebailed over an allegation of child sex abuse. The veteran entertainer and quiz show host was arrested last April after information was passed to North Yorkshire Police by Metropolitan Police officers working on

THE RSPCA says it is satisfied with the way animals are being treated at a sanctuary after an evicted owner said she was disgusted at how they were being cared for. Paula Campbell raised concerns over the welfare of more than 300 animals at Rainbow

VOLUNTEERS are facing a £100,000 bill to put a heritage railway back on track for the second time in a year. A huge landslip forced the closure of part of the Wensleydale Railway last October and it’s just been revealed that repairs will cost far

Sunderland Under-21s 2 Newcastle United Under-21s 0 SUNDERLAND'S Tyne-Wear success story this season continued at the Stadium of Light when Kevin Ball's Under-21s made it two wins in three days over Newcastle United. After a slow first half

THIRSK Carers is appealing for volunteers in the Northallerton area to sit with children to give parents a break. A charity spokeswoman said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to increase your skills, add to your CV. No qualifications are necessary

MICHAEL Gove has called for teachers to use traditional punishment methods to clamp down on bad behaviour among pupils such as litter-picking and writing lines. But Simon Kennedy, North-East regional organiser for teaching union NASUWT, says the secretray

WELL-known to TV fans thanks to a string of appearances on the likes of Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Royal Variety Performance, Channel 4's Comedy Gala and others besides, stand-up Jimeoin has just started a brand new spring

A MAN and two women have been arrested as part of a national campaign targeting loan sharks. Police officers raided two properties in Spennymoor, County Durham, and seized cash and documents. A man aged 45 and two females, aged 44 and 47, were

AN artistic youngster has won a competition to design a banner that encourages more children to walk to school. Daisy Middlemas, who attends Hartside Primary School in Crook, triumphed over youngsters from across the county in the contest, which

RUGBY club spectators could soon be watching matches away from the worst of the weather after plans were unveiled to raise £10,000 to buy a shelter. Durham Tigers rugby league club is hopeful of buying the shelter for its Shildon Sunnydale Leisure

LOCAL government workers will take part in an official day of protest tomorrow (Tuesday, February 4). Council staff will stage protests, stunts and rallies at town halls across the region. A spokesman for the Unison trade union said the action

AN MP deselected after a bitter dispute with her constituency association has condemned bullying. Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh, who was told on Friday (January 31) that she would not be automatically readopted as the constituency's candidate

A FORMER library building which is taking on a new lease of life at the heart of an ex-colliery community opens its doors to the public tomorrow (Tuesday, February 4). Just months after closing as a traditional book-lending facility, a new chapter

There wasn't a seat to spare in Sage Gateshead's Hall One for Royal Northern Sinfonia's latest concert in the Classic FM series - one of the key attractions being violinist Jennifer Pike, playing the ever-popular Bruch Violin Concerto. The youngest

SET PRICE: The George and Dragon community pub in Hudswell is now offering two meals for a set price Wednesday to Saturday. On Wednesday there will be pie and peas, two for £10; on Thursday two curry dishes for £15; on Friday two fish and chip

A WEEK of wildlife-themed activities takes place at a North-East museum this month. The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, is inviting families to visit during the half-term holidays, starting on Monday, February 17. Visitors can paint wooden

THE journey that saved the land’s most powerful saint and one of the world’s most beautiful and important books feature in a new exhibition. Acclaimed writer Richard W Hardwick and award-winning photographer Paul Alexander Knox researched the Gospels

The York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership is delivering a new grant funding scheme targeted at helping micro, small and medium enterprises. To find out more visit businessinspiredgrowth.com/bgp Store scheme: A planning

HUNDREDS of Sunderland fans queued round the block to secure their seat at Wembley as the club’s first League Cup Final tickets went on sale today (Monday, February 3). Season card holders with one or more loyalty points for attending away games

ICONIC locomotive Mallard lit up a museum and castle this evening (Monday, February 3). The National Railway Museum, York, promoted its final showcase with all five surviving sister locos by lighting up the museum and Durham Castle between 4pm

PEOPLE are invited give their views on the next phase of a project to strengthen the sea defences on Hartlepool’s Headland against the effects of coastal erosion. Hartlepool Borough Council is holding a drop-in exhibition on Tuesday, February 11

ART classes for over 60’s are being staged at the Dales Care centre in Bedale. Tuition is by Walter Parker from 10am to 11.30 on Thursday February 6. The cost is £2 with coffee and biscuits and there is limited space. Contact 01677 426089 for information

UNIVERSITY students have founded a new forum to debate the big political issues of the day. It is hoped the Durham Democracy Forum (DDF) will bridge the gap between politicians and people and empower the public on local and national issues.

A HOUSEHOLDER came across an intruder looking in his fridge after hearing a noise from the kitchen, a court was told. When challenged, Lee Thomas Morris, fled, taking a wallet, a body warmer and another coat as he escaped over the rear wall of

ON World Cancer Day (Tuesday, February 4) health experts are stressing the importance of seeing a health professional if you spot symptoms that could be associated with cancer. Patients in the region are being advised to see their GP as soon as

A YOUNG boy was left distressed and shaken after he was chased by a man in woodland. The ten-year-old was running through the woods from Saltburn Valley Gardens towards Skelton on the Cleveland Way at around 1.25pm yesterday (Sunday, February 2

CHRIS Lloyd, deputy editor of The Northern Echo, will give a talk, entitled ‘Attacking the devil and sinking the unsinkable: W.T. Stead and the Titanic’, at Aycliffe Village Local History Society’s next meeting. Entry to the event, which takes place

OLYMPIC silver medallist Nicola Wilson has become the patron of a disabled riding centre in Middlesbrough. The eventing star will be the new patron of the Riding for the Disabled’s Unicorn Centre, at Hemlington. Mrs Wilson, who is based at

A CHARITY has launched an urgent appeal for money after seeing a sharp rise in the number of sexual exploitation victims coming forward for help. In the Tees area, Barnardo's worked with 166 young people in September 2013, compared to 51 during

THE Dales Care centre in Bedale is appealing for drivers to help run its unique meals on wheels service. Dales Care, which offers help and care for older and vulnerable people, has seen demand for the service grow since it was set up 18 months

A MAN who is fighting for his life in hospital was the victim of a ‘sustained and horrific’ attack with a wooden weapon, police said today (Monday, February 3). Gerard Williams, who detectives believe was deliberately targeted, suffered fractures

A WOMEN-only triathlon event will be held in the North-East this summer to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. Triathlon Pink will be held in Sunderland on Sunday June 29 for women of all ages and abilities to have a fun day out take

POLICE were called to defuse a potential flashpoint outside a North-East school. Officers attended Hummersknott Academy, in Edinburgh Drive, Darlington, at the end of the school day on Monday (February 3). Vice-principal Nick Merrifield said

A CHARITY that has been tackling deprivation and social exclusion for three decades is gearing up for an exciting but challenging year. In May, Disc in Newton Aycliffe will embark on a series of celebratory events and fundraising campaigns to mark

Technology is changing our relationship with privacy, in ways we might not expect. Giles Turnbull reports HOW would you feel if anyone could take a photo of you, anywhere you go, without you knowing? In a sense it’s already happening, and has

From Private Lives to Fallen Angels, Sara Crowe has enjoyed a successful association with the plays of Noel Coward. She talks to Steve Pratt about comedy with a far deeper meaning WHEN she says that reaction to her performance the first time she

POLICE are trying to trace the driver of a car involved in a collision in which a 64-year-old pedestrian was injured. The incident happened at about 7.30am today, February 3, on Cornwall Road, near the Pump Rooms in Harrogate. The pedestrian

MOST lovers would be more than happy to be given one of these delicious and beautiful bakes, served with nothing other than two spoons. Ingredients: For the crust: 125g ginger biscuits 115g ground almonds 50g sugar 60g butter

A MUCH-loved mother-of-three and district nurse who died last year was described as a “very special and beautiful person” at her inquest. Susan Badger, of Redcar, died suddenly, of multiple organ failure, aged just 44 – leaving behind three sons

YOU don’t need to slave away over a three-course meal for your loved one on February 14. Simply make something heart-shaped as a Valentine’s Day treat. Ingredients: 100g chopped dates 50g white chocolate, broken into pieces 40g toasted

SPRING may be on its way, but we still need warming winter dishes, whether eating at home or in restaurants. The following recipe is reminiscent of school dinners or, at least, how they should have been if prepared and served well and is a popular

WORK has started on the second phase of a major redevelopment of an Eaglescliffe primary school. Eight new classrooms are being created at Junction Farm Primary School together with a new dedicated ICT Suite and extended playing fields. Headteacher

TRIBUTES have been paid to two young soldiers who were killed in a car crash in Catterick Garrison on Saturday. Codie Richardson, 20, from Stockton, and Mark McKeen 23, from Northern Ireland, died when their car left the road and hit a tree opposite

Don’t let the winter gloom get you down – remember that spring is coming ABOUT four years ago, out of the blue, I received a call from the Jeremy Vine Radio 2 programme. For some reason they wanted to ask how the news of the Corus steelworks

A LARGE haul of high purity cocaine was found by police executing a search warrant at a house on the run in to Christmas, a court was told. Fourteen bags containing 164-grammes of the class A drug were discovered in a concealed box in a bedroom

A NORTH-EAST college which has been confirmed as the most improved state secondary school in England has launched a new sixth form. The announcement by Dyke House Sports and Technology College, in Hartlepool, followed a remarkable turnaround in

STOCKTON’S first new centre for digital businesses based in a 200-year-old, Grade II-listed building, has opened its doors. Six businesses have already opened in the Dovecot Street centre which was made possible by a £500,000 grant from the European

Worried that all those hours of TV-watching are damaging your eyes? Think eating carrots for good eyesight is a myth? Optometrist Valerie Alsop reveals some of the fact and fiction of caring for your eyes THERE are hundreds of myths and misconceptions

CARDI-BACK, part of the Move4Life programme, is funded by County Durham Sport and is an eight-week programme at community venues across the county. It is aimed at supporting people with back pain and reducing their risk of cardiovascular disease

AN AIRMAN from the region has jetted off to Russia – to help carry country’s hopes at the Winter Olympics. John Baines, a senior aircraftsman based at RAF Leeming, is heading for Sochi as part of the GB2 four-man bobsleigh team. The Middlesbrough-born

AUSTRALIAN star Jason Donovan has dusted down his high heels for a musical return to the stage. The former soap actor and chart-topping singer is starring in a touring version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which opens at Newcastle Theatre Royal

A mother-of-four who developed back pain while caring for her Down’s syndrome son, has seen great improvements thanks to a pioneering fitness programme. Barry Nelson reports TEN years ago, Julie Jones and her husband, Stephen, decided to try for

THE best of County Durham will be illuminated and celebrated at a showcase event in London tomorrow (Tuesday, February 4). Hosted by Business Durham, the business arm of Durham County Council, the reception, at the House of Commons, is a one-off

TAXPAYERS in the region are to be charged more for policing. Durham Police’s Police and Crime Panel today (Monday, February 3) agreed in principle to increase its council tax precept by two per cent. That equates to an extra 6p per week for

THE New Year has got off to a pretty wet start, so the important thing this season is to keep dry and warm. If you’re looking for styles that provide performance, practicality and durability, Dalton Park has up to 60 per cent off outdoor, ski and sportswear

A FARM-BASED nursery near Darlington has been praised by Ofsted inspectors after retaining its status as ‘good’. High Bank Day Nursery’s ‘drive for continuous improvement’ along with the ‘positive partnerships’ it has with parents were just two

SEVEN million people mis-sold cover for bank and credit cards can start making claims this month as part of a £1.3bn compensation scheme, a regulator has confirmed. Eligible customers who bought into card protection plan products from York-based

Jewellery designer Ginny D makes her stunning pieces in a converted North Yorkshire barn which used to house pigs. Creativity, Ruth Campbell discovers, is in the genes JEWELLERY designer Ginny D’s home is dotted with quirky, individual touches

AN ANCIENT order of freemen has appointed two new leaders. Eric Bulmer and Bob Elliott will serve as wardens of the City of Durham Freemen’s plumbers’ and mason’s companies, respectively. Mr Bulmer, of Brandon Village, follows in the footsteps

THREE weeks ago, John Phelan recalled Stockton’s 1958 FA Cup Amateur Cup win over holders Bishop Auckland in his Grassroots Memories column. Stockton won 2-1 at the Victoria Ground, a result which ended Bishops’ incredible run of 25 games undefeated

RETIRED postman Harry Maddison has colourful memories of the time he was stranded in a hotel for three days during the great snowstorm of 1963. It sounds like a perfect place to be stuck, with plenty of warm luxury and fine food. But this was

THIEVES have stolen a set of temporary traffic lights from roadworks. It happened in Bevan Avenue, Sunderland, between 7am on Friday, January 31, and 7.10pm on Saturday, February 1. Police believe thieves used a vehicle to steal the lights and

ASPIRING Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls are invited to take a smallholding course. East Durham College is running new pig, cattle, poultry, grassland and sheep management courses at its Houghall campus, near Durham City. All will be four-hour

THE people of Middlesbrough are said to have been so impressed by the singing potential of a teenager growing up in their midst that they collected enough money to send her to the Royal Academy of Music in London. That Florence Easton lost the

TWO films will be screened in Mickleton village hall, on Friday. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 (cert U) starts at 6pm, followed by Django Unchained (cert 18), at 8pm. Entry is £2.50 for adults and £2 for children. DANCE NIGHT: There

For the past couple of weeks, Memories has been mining a rich seam down North Skelton – the last ironstone mine in the Cleveland Hills which closed exactly 50 years ago. Last week we were looking in awe at the machine that was used to pick up the ore

A DECISION on whether a firm should be allowed to opencast in countryside on the outskirts of Durham is drawing near. Hargreaves Surface Mining wants to dig up to 514,000 tonnes of coal and up to 83,000 tonnes of fireclay from under farmland known

A BREWERY has launched its first seasonal ale developed using its new small-scale production unit. Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery has transferred Bighorn to its main brewhouse, which has a minimum run of 50 barrels from the microbrewery it launched

HAVING been badly injured twice down Mainsforth Colliery, Joseph Weston decided to join up in 1917. Then, instead of being injured by the enemy, he found himself subjected to the torture of Field Punishment Number One by his own side. “I used to

SPRING came early for a group of charity volunteers as they helped launch a fundraising appeal. Members of the Darlington branch of Marie Curie Cancer Care gathered at the Brick Train landmark, in Darlington, on Monday (February 3), for the launch

READERS have been piecing together what happened to the pieces of the stone soldier who once stood atop the war memorial in Tursdale, County Durham. As Memories told last week, he was unveiled on March 25, 1922, in tribute to the 41 men from Tursdale

POLICE investigating a “two-in-one” raid in Northallerton have issued a photo of the vehicle stolen in the incident as part of their appeal for information. The grey VW Golf Gti was taken from a house on Thirsk Road after thieves broke in and stole

A DIY Youth Co-op for young people aged 14 to 19 interested in staging gigs, events, film screenings, art exhibitions or writing is being staged at Empty Shop, Durham City, from Thursday (February 6) from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. For further details, email

DURHAM Cathedral is commemorating the centenary of the First World War with a special concert, and it needs the help of Memories readers. the concert starts on March 8, images of the war will be shown on a large screen in the nave. Memories is

I WAS a regular reader of Ray Mallon’s column and believe it a shrewd move by The Northern Echo to engage him. His topics were wide and varied. When the Newcastle United directors Freddie Shepherd and Douglas Hall were secretly recorded making

OH dear, once again your serial ranter Colin Mortimer floats the tired mantra of “the mess that Labour left”, when thinking people know that responsibility for the financial meltdown of 2008 was the fault of greedy grasping bankers (HAS, Jan 29).

IF the Government spent less on things we don’t need, essential services would not be cut. The whole country would benefit. N Tate, Harrowgate Village.

A COFFEE morning will be held at Haughton Green Methodist Church, in Darlington, on Saturday (February 8) from 10am to 11am. The event includes cakes and a bring and buy stall. Admission is free and all are welcome. WARD MEETING: Borough councillor

RECENTLY I was snapped by a lurking speed camera doing 35mph in a 30mph zone. I was given the option of a £100 fine, plus three points, or attending a speed awareness course, plus £84 cost. Because I have held a clean licence for 50 plus years

I WAS driving between Bowburn and Sherburn Village when I noticed a sign on the roundabout leading to Durham and Peterlee asking if people would sponsor the roundabout. Sadly, the sign did not say whether the roundabout would be doing a sponsored

NEWCASTLE United owner Mike Ashley has again shown just how easy it is to make a fortune out of football, especially when buying in the French league. Alan Pardew brought Demba Ba to St James’ Park on a free transfer in August 2011. At the same

AS a long-time reader and first time writer to HAS, I would like to say what a great letter you printed from Gavin Shaw, of Chilton (HAS, Jan 30). His description of fundraising for a friend stricken by cancer restored my faith in humanity.

I AM confident that responsible smokers already take care not to smoke in confined spaces shared by others. Smokers are fully aware of the harm tobacco usage brings. Shocking television adverts and other methods have a part to play in dissuading

REGARDING the diatribe by Robert Richardson, of Bishop Auckland (Echo, Jan 30), he is so up to date with current affairs he does not know that for the past nine months, although still a member of the Labour Party, I have not been a county councillor

FREEMASONS have donated £1,000 to a Durham-based veterans’ charity. Durham Freemasons handed the cash to the County Durham branch of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Family Association (Ssafa). The money will be used to help veterans at the

PROVIDED the off-shore tapping and utilising of the coal gas (Echo, Jan 31) turns out to be an unmixed blessing, that it does not add to the carbon output in the atmosphere and global warming, I see a substantial investment by the Government in our

WHATEVER the business, you need to bend over backwards when it comes to customer service. And with that in mind, I feel compelled to report a cracking little example of how not to do it. In the run-up to Christmas, I bought a pair of shoes in a

WEARING RED: The King William pub in Barton, between Richmond and Darlington, is holding a Ramp Up the Red fundraising event for the British Heart Foundation on Friday, February 7 at 7.30pm. There will be quizzes, various stalls, bingo and raffle

People with long-term healthcare needs will soon be able to spend NHS money on buying a dog, a bike or even a night in a B&B, reports Lisa Salmon GETTING away from it all by the seaside, going for a long walk with the dog and singing have long

DALES communities have been reassured they will not be left isolated should bad weather hit when major road works begin later this month. Swaledale and Arkengarthdale residents were frustrated they had not been consulted over traffic management

CHESTER-le-Street’s award-winning Civic Centre is set to be demolished in the spring to make way for housing. The pioneering metal and glass structure, which was built by the now-defunct Chester-le-Street District Council in the 1980s, has been

AN exclusive charity event will transport guests back to the 1980s, with a performance by new wave music sensations ABC. The band, led by Martin Fry, will headline at the annual Lobster Ball at Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield, County Durham

A FAMILY event exploring life during the Second World War will take place this weekend (Saturday, February 8). Beamish Museum will stage a free 1940s day at Langley Park Primary School on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm. There will be 1940s makeovers

THE man in charge of maintaining the world’s longest ongoing daily ceremony has been made a Yorkshire Patron. George Pickles, who has been the Ripon Hornblower since 2004, has been handed the honorary title by tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire

A PODIATRY lecturer and three students stepped out to help homeless people. New College Durham teacher Barbara Chambers and three of her trainees spent a day at the Crisis centre in Newcastle providing much-needed footcare. The students were

A BEREAVEMENT charity is inviting families to take part in its annual snowdrop walk this month. Child Bereavement UK is holding the event at Hardwick Park in Sedgefield, County Durham, from noon until 3pm on Sunday, February 23. The walk is

TWO new books for Lent have been launched at Durham Cathedral. Barefoot Prayers was written by Stephen Cherry, a cathedral canon, and contains prayer-meditations. Canon Cherry said: “The idea is that people can take the book with them on the

A VAN driver is facing a prison sentence for a crash which killed one passenger and badly injured another. Peter Hammond, 49, died in the collision on the A68 at Heighington, near Darlington, on May 24 last year. A van driven by Duanne McLoughlin

A HIT-and-run driver who knocked a woman over as she was walking with two young children is being sought by police. The woman was knocked to the ground by a dark 4x4 vehicle as she and the children crossed Dean Road in Scarborough, close to the

AWARD-winning music star James Blunt has added another date to his diary – an open-air gig in the heart of North Yorkshire. He will be playing in Dalby Forest on the North York Moors as part of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live annual concert

A PUPPY that has already had five different owners in his short life is looking for a permanent home. Oscar, an 11-month-old black Labrador, has broken the record at Darlington Dog’s Trust rehoming centre for having had the most homes in the shortest

THE family of missing student Megan Roberts have thanked wellwishers for their support and say they’re still holding onto the hope she will be found safe and well. Megan was reported missing a week ago today (Monday, January 27) after disappearing

BOTH Norwich City and Newcastle United have been charged by the FA for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour. The charge relates to an incident in or around the 82nd

LIVE MUSIC: Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash will take to the stage at The Forum Music Centre, in Borough Road, Darlington, on Friday, February 7, at 8.45pm. The original line-up achieved success in the early 1970s and are known for their guitar-driven

Darlington Neighbourhood Watch Association is looking for new members. The group would like to hear from anyone interested in running a scheme, but also from people who may have less time and just want to be a member. Association members receive

AIRLINE Flybe says it will cut fewer jobs than expected as it gets rid of unprofitable routes and surplus aircraft. The group says it has reduced the number of positions it will axe to about 450, with up to 60 compulsory redundancies. Last

STARS from hit series such as Vera, The Paradise and Hebburn are expected at the region’s biggest television awards. The Royal Television Society holds its North East and Border regional awards on March 1 at the Hilton Hotel, in Gateshead.

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to ensure one of the region’s muddiest obstacle challenges runs smoothly. Durham County Council’s Muddy Mayhem event, at Hardwick Park in Sedgefield, County Durham, has already sold out but there are still ways to get

IN an article on NHS pay we stated that the chief executive of a North-East hospital trust enjoyed a 15 per increase between 2010 and 2013. This information about Mr Jim Mackey’s remuneration  at the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

OUTSPOKEN education secretary Michael Gove is a divisive figure. Teachers see him as a pantomime villain, floating one crazy idea after another, but some parents like his approach. They approve of the way he complains vehemently about “trendy

ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster insists Wales, who shattered his side’s RBS 6 Nations dream last year, now provide the inspiration to stage a championship fightback. France were installed as favourites to relieve Wales of their crown after

ENGLAND limited-overs coach Ashley Giles is “very interested” in replacing Andy Flower as team director. Giles has been tipped as the man most likely to replace Flower, who announced he was leaving the post on Friday. New England and Wales

IRELAND must make ‘‘huge improvements’’ to have any chance of beating Wales on Saturday, according to standin skipper Jamie Heaslip. Leinster loose-forward Heaslip, Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney claimed the tries as Ireland saw off Scotland 28

A PROLIFIC Darlington offender is back behind bars for a drugs offence and receiving stolen goods. Kenneth Worley, 39, of High Northgate, was sentenced to 16-weeks in prison for receiving a stolen bike and being in possession of amphetamine with

DARLINGTON FC's fundraising drive has been boosted by an investment from the team's manager. Martin Gray has become the latest person to buy shares in the Quakers as the club looks to fund a return to its home town. Mr Gray has managed the

The annual general meeting of the South Durham branch of the Parkinson’s UK charity is to take place at St Paul’s Centre, in Spennymoor. It is on Monday, February 10 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and Margaret Hunter, an information and support worker for

A NORTH-EAST banknote maker is among 40 firms on a Government trade mission in Latin America.  Following stinging criticism that David Cameron had snubbed the region's firms on last December's trip to China, the Government has included the likes

MANUFACTURING continued to show improvement in January, as an industry survey revealed export growth reached a near three-year high. New order growth came from North America, mainland Europe, Asia, Brazil, Scandinavia and the Middle East. The

White Beech by Germaine Greer (Bloomsbury £25, ebook £15.08) 4/5 IN 2001, at the age of 62, Germaine Greer decided to acquire a rainforest – 60 acres of abandoned dairy farm in south-east Queensland that had been ruined by decades of wasteful timber

1 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Jeff Kinney 2 Minecraft: The Official Beginner’s Handbook 3 Demon Dentist, David Walliams 4 The Little Book of Mindfulness, Tiddy Rowan 5 Goth Girl: and the Ghost of a Mouse, Chris Riddell 6 Allegiant

The Unpredictable Consequences Of Love by Jill Mansell (Headline £14.99, ebook £4.62) 4/5 THE queen of chick lit, Jill Mansell, brings her best-selling novel count to an impressive 25. Here, the plot is extremely predictable. But, then again, that

A HOTEL chain has revealed plans to create 1,000 jobs in a £100m investment programme. Travelodge says it will open 15 new hotels, adding to the 500 it already runs, with new branches in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Glasgow, Manchester and Southampton

You loved the clavier, though The opening of the Kochel 545 Would sound banal under any other’s fingers: Merely the major triad just extended across Three bars in blatant, downmarket C-major (None of that Fred Chopin’s posh six flats

HOOKER Ross Doneghan insists Darlington Mowden Park are still going through the gears despite claiming a 19-5 win at Caldy that keeps them top of the table. Mowden are in three-way battle with Stourbridge and Macclesfield at the summit of SSE National

Furtively carrying his toolbox He skulked through the door Alarm showing on my face I cried "Please no more!" Everything’s now altered There is nothing more to do You checked everything electrical And have tightened every screw.

STEPHEN TOMPKINSON would be wasted behind a desk in a boring nine-to-five office job. As an actor, he has proved he is about as versatile as they come. We have seen him on-screen under the guise of a reporter, a priest, a construction worker, a

COME July, we probably won’t be able to budge for documentaries commemorating the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War and all thoughts will be with those who lost their lives fighting for our country. But the Beeb is getting

HE may not be a household name, but Ronald D Moore is one of the smartest writers and showrunners in Hollywood, having honed his craft on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the Battlestar Galactica revamp. He is juggling a number of projects,

THE Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia made their welcome return to Darlington’s Civic Theatre on Thursday – an annual event I very much look forward to. They opened their triple bill with a youthful and moving interpretation of Giselle

TWO charities are to benefit from the opening of a new supermarket. The new Tesco Express store in Hetton-le-Hole will open its doors on February 11, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by representatives of Hetton Town Trust and the Durham

A NEW group focussed on protecting and improving Durham city centre has begun its work. The first meeting of the Durham City Neighbourhood Planning Forum (NPF) was held at Durham Town Hall on Thursday night (January 30). Its first task will

SHILDON manager Gary Forrest was encouraged by his tam’s performance despite the Railwaymen being knocked off the top of the table by a controversial last-minute penalty in a seven-goal thriller at Celtic Nation on Saturday. A crowd of 649 saw

CANADIAN-BORN Lindi Ortega enjoyed a soldout gig when she made her North-East debut at Cluny 2. After gaining national coverage and praise for her London shows, people craved to come and see for themselves what all the fuss was about. Ortega

Full-time: Kendal Town 1 Darlington 5 There have been times of late when Darlington must have wondered if they would ever make inroads in the fight for promotion. During a winning run stretching back to November, it had become tediously frustrating

COLIN COOPER admitted Hartlepool United did what they could to try and keep Jack Baldwin at Victoria Park. The centre-half moved to Peterborough late on Friday evening for £500,000. But Cooper revealed Pools were willing to reject the bid and make

Full-time: Hartlepool United 0 Scunthorpe United 0 LIFE without Jack Baldwin started better than it ended for Hartlepool United. After the centre-half made a late transfer deadline day switch to Peterborough, Pools collecting an initial £500,000

DANNY GRAHAM hopes his loan spell back at Middlesbrough can rekindle his career after he refused to close the door on his time at Sunderland. The 28-year-old striker made a return to Boro on Friday night, a year after signing for Sunderland, and

Full-time: Doncaster Rovers 0 Middlesbrough 0 AITOR KARANKA suggested that Friday’s transfer deadline activity may have distracted Middlesbrough’s players after his side laboured to a 0-0 draw at Doncaster Rovers. Boro worked late into the

Full-time: Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 3 THEY have reached a Wembley final, won six of their last eight matches and can now celebrate a first derby double over Newcastle United for more than 45 years, but when it comes to assessing his Sunderland

Full-time: Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 3 ANOTHER harrowing derby; another day from a black-and-white perspective where the absentees at St James' Park were more relevant than those attending. No Yohan Cabaye, sold to the highest bidder despite

A WORLD-renowned artist will be casting his characteristic eye over the Tour De France as he works on a series of images celebrating its anticipated arrival in the North. Mackenzie Thorpe has already started work on six paintings drawing on memories

Full-time: Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 3 WHAT a season this is shaping up to be for Sunderland and Newcastle United's latest failings in a Tyne-Wear derby can now form a key part of the incredible story. Whatever happens in the next 14 weeks

VURNON ANITA claims the home dressing room inside St James' Park was an awful place after the latest crushing defeat to Sunderland, but he insists Newcastle United still have the leaders to pick them back up. A frustrating week for Magpies fans

NURSES’ leaders have accused North-East hospital bosses of paying themselves substantial increases while allowing rank and file nurses to undergo a pay cut. A new analysis of senior executive pay at three of the region’s biggest hospital trusts

SUNDERLAND fans dreaming of the club's first silverware in 40 years can secure their ticket for the League Cup Final from today (Monday, February 3). Season card holders with one or more loyalty points for attending away games can buy one

HUDDLED in a sleeping bag, Andy Preston shivers as temperatures continue to plummet. Gathered in the shadows of Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, the 47-year-old looks for shelter in a night of homeless strife. But he's not without a place

FAMILY doctors are being urged to get involved in the battle for maternity and children’s services at one of the region’s hospitals. Consultations are currently being carried out on proposals to downgrade the current round-the-clock consultant-led

OFFICIALS say traces of cyanide found on the site of a new elderly care home pose no danger to the public. Tests showed the deadly poison was present in a field on the outskirts of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, where a 53-apartment extra care scheme

WOMEN aged over 70 in the North-East are being warned they are not too old to get breast cancer. One in three women (33 per cent) diagnosed with breast cancer in the North-East each year is aged 70 or over. This age group also accounts for more

BUTTERWICK Hospice is urging people to donate unwanted presents to help raise money through tombolas and raffles. Anyone able to help is asked to call Helen Kirby on 01388-603003 or leave items at the charity on Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland.

THE team behind plans to build a new church in Willington have asked a council for permission to build a smaller version of their already approved scheme. Durham County Council approved plans in 2010 to build a new Methodist Church on a former

NOMINATIONS for the Three Towns youth awards need to be submitted by the end of the week. The Three Towns Youth forum is appealing for entrants for its third Youth Awards, recognising the work of youngsters in the Crook, Willington and Tow law

A POPULAR annual Bishop Auckland arts festival will return next week. febfest will be held in the McGuinness Gallery in Bishop Auckland Town Hall from Monday, February 10 and will feature numerous artistic events and activities. There will

A NORTH-East butchers has proved itself a cut above the rest after its pork pies and sausages were classed as golden. Castle Bank Butchers in Crook, County Durham secured seven gold awards, six silver and two bronze from the British Pork Executive