Archive

Date

Greece hold out for point as Katsouranis sent off against Japan

TEN-man Greece held Japan to a goalless World Cup draw in Thursday's Group C clash at Arena das Dunas in Natal. As a result, Colombia's qualification to the last 16 was secured after they beat Ivory Coast 2-1 earlier in Brasilia to give them six

Date

Chaotic introduction of new benefit is "shocking" say MPs

DISABLED people have been plunged into poverty after being forced to wait six months for a botched new benefit, a damning report reveals today (Friday, June 19).The chaotic introduction of the personal independence payment (PIP) – being piloted

Date

Two arrests after violence breaks out in Darlington town centre after England game

TWO people were arrested after a large-scale disturbance outside of a Darlington town centre pub. The violence, which came not long after the end of England's World Cup defeat to Uruguay last night, was outside of the William Stead and close to

Date

Valuable peatland restored in North Yorkshire

THE Yorkshire Peat Partnership has restored 17,000 hectares of peatland in North Yorkshire - the equivalent of about 10,000 football pitches - and is well on track to hitting its target of 35,000 hectares by 2017. Set to celebrate its fifth anniversary

Date

Fire crews deal with Malton barn blaze

FIREFIGHTERS are dealing with a large barn blaze near North Yorkshire The incident, close to Eden Camp, Malton, broke out around 6pm. The barn contains hay and straw. Five tenders were called to the scene. The incident is still ongoing, but

Date

Suarez punishes poor England as Uruguay leave them on the brink

ENGLAND stand on the brink of a early World Cup exit after Luis Suarez blew Roy Hodgson's men away with a deadly double in Sao Paulo. Wayne Rooney thought he had snatched a draw for England after he equalised Suarez's opener in the first half.

Date

Sadberge man whose animals ate a canine carcass banned from keeping dogs for five years

A MAN has been banned from owning dogs for five years and ordered to pay £2,000 vets' bills after being convicted of five animal welfare charges.When the police and RSPCA visited Bradley Valks’ kennels at Middleton Riding Centre, in Sadberge

Date

Police seeking missing Christopher Iley from Newcastle

POLICE are trying to trace Christopher Iley who has been missing since Wednesday. The 24-year-old, from Piper Court in Kenton, Newcastle, has not been seen since he left home on Wednesday, June 18 at 10.20am. Police and his family are concerned

Date

Kind-hearted Taylor honoured by firefighters

A SCHOOLBOY who raised hundreds of pounds for a hospice during Lent has been given a taste of life as a firefighter as a thank you. Taylor Farrington, 11, raised £728.14 for St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham City, earlier this year by donating his

Date

Hats off to the ladies at Royal Ascot

Standing tall in a sleek black dress, with red lipstick and stylish bobbed hair, Tiffany Rowe looked every inch the society girl. Add her hat into the equation, however, and it is clear the 40-year-old jeweller does not take herself too serious. For resting

Date

Colombia close in on knockout stages after entertaining win over Ivory Coast

COLOMBIA closed in on the knockout stages of the World Cup after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in a fiercely-contested Group C clash in Brasilia. James Rodriguez fired Colombia ahead just after the hour with a powerful header from a corner, with substitute

Date

Toothache 'led to scallop dredger tragedy'

A CORONER has called for carbon monoxide detectors to be made compulsory on fishing boats after two men died when one left a gas cooker on overnight in the hope the warmth would ease his toothache.Father-of-two Mark Arries lit the grill on the dilapidated

Date

Mother to take part in bodybuilding competition

A MOTHER who took up bodybuilding a year ago is taking part in a national competition. Claire Rayson, from Stanley, County Durham, has qualified for the toned figure category of the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association Miss Universe event

Date

Fantastic Mrs Fox evades wardens to steal food at bird sanctuary

A CUNNING fox has been stealing food and then evading staff at a bird sanctuary. The vixen has been giving wardens at RSPB Saltholme, near Billingham, the run around as she pinches all the bird feeders. Assistant warden, Dean Heward, who

Date

Region's new mums top smoking league

PARTS of the North-East had the highest proportion of women who were still smoking when they gave birth last year, according to new figures. More than one in five (20.6 per cent) of women who gave birth in the Durham, Darlington and Tees area were

Date

Woman admits theft of money she was trusted to safe-keep

A WOMAN has admitted stealing money stored on behalf of an elderly relative of her husband.Georgina Jayne Appleby today (June 19) admitted the theft of £27,000 from a larger amount that she and husband Peter were safe-keeping for a 79-year-old man.She

Date

Charity Shildon cyclists tackle 250 mile London to Paris bike ride

CHARITY fundraisers are to tackle a 250-mile cycle challenge from London to Paris in aid of a breast cancer care unit. Workers from Wilsonart, in Shildon, hope to complete the cross channel challenge within three days. The team of 16 cyclists

Date

Sex attack - police renew appeal for witnesses

DETECTIVES investigating a serious sexual assault have renewed their appeal to trace two witnesses.The victim, a woman aged in her early 20s, was walking home alone after a night out with friends when she was attacked near St George’s Field car

Date

Royal Ascot Ladies' Day charity event is hat-tastic

WOMEN attending a charity event gave Royal Ascot Ladies' Day fashionistas a run for their money.About 100 women who attended the fundraising event at Crathorne Hall, near Yarm, dressed to impress with a competition for the best hat, while watching

Date

Two-year-olds are top of the class in Trimdon Grange

AN infant school that offers places to children as young as two is celebrating an outstanding Ofsted report.Trimdon Grange Infant and Nursery School launched a new class for two-year-olds last November and now caters for eight toddlers.The class has been

Date

Remembering a war hero

A GROUP of school children remembered a war hero today (Thursday, June 19) by laying poppies at his grave. Children from Trimdon Grange Primary School visited Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre, in Wheatley Hill, near Peterlee, County Durham, as part of a

Date

Palin brings first solo stage tour to York

Why have you decided to embark on your first-ever solo stage tour this September and October? Over the years I’ve done a lot of one-man shows, usually just for one evening either to raise money at a charity event or at a book festival. I’ve really

Date

Any bargain buys among these discount store stars?

RIVALS from two discount stores will go head-to-head on the football field tomorrow (Friday, June 20).The eyes of the sporting world may be on Brazil right now, but the ‘Poundland derby’ means just as much to those involved as the World Cup

Date

TV drama filmed in York

FILM crews have arrived in the region’s tourism capital to film another TV costume drama.York, which last year formed much of the backdrop for the BBC’s Death Comes to Pemberley, is being used for filming some of the scenes in Knifeman.It

Date

Reward offered after pet parrot goes missing

A DARLINGTON mother has offered a cash reward for the return of her family's much-loved pet parrot, after it went missing from home.Four-year-old African Grey parrot Donnie flew out of his home in Russell Street, off Haughton Road, Darlington, on

Date

‘Sadistic’ attacker jailed for life

A DANGEROUS prisoner who almost killed his cellmate during a frenzied and "sadistic" attack has been jailed for life.Steven Hanson, 22, subjected Steven Lindsay, to a 20 minute ordeal of sickening violence while they were both at Durham Prison.Newcastle

Date

Health and safety 'knit-wits' order Tour de France bunting to be taken down

HEALTH and safety bosses have ordered knitted bunting in a town on the Tour de France route to be taken down – as it was causing lampposts to lean. The bunting, featuring yellow, green, white and polka dot jumpers to represent the winners’ jerseys

Date

The Manor House, Maltby

Chris Lloyd sails over to The Manor House at Maltby, near Stockton, to try out the restaurant fare LIKE the iceberg and Titanic, it seemed like fate when I heard that the Manor House in Maltby had been relaunched. The Echo Memories section of the

Date

Stockton FC's expansion plans approved by council

PLANS to expand Stockton Town Football Club have been approved, despite more than 100 objections.The Bishopton Road West club will now erect a 200-seat stand, floodlighting, artificial turf pitch, pay booth, changing facilities and toilet and refreshment

Date

McCormack & Yarde Duo featuring Elysian Quartet/Juntos (Joy and Ears JAE0002)

THE wonderfully inspired and inspiring duo of pianist Andrew McCormack and saxophonist Jason Yarde were joined by the flexible Elysian Quartet at this year’s Jazz Festival. I found their set full of ingenuity and wit with the string quartet fully

Date

Tim Garland/Songs to the North Sky (Edition Records EDL1051)

THIS ambitious double CD makes available Tim’s impressions of the North-East, his home base for the previous ten years. It was performed at last year’s Gateshead Jazz Festival and then, as here, the strings of the Royal Northern Sinfonia (in particularly

Date

Back women bishops this year, says Bishop of Durham

THE Bishop of Durham has said he hopes the Church of England will introduce women bishops this year.The Right Reverend Paul Butler made the comments as he celebrated 20 years since the Church allowed women to become priests. He said: “The mission

Date

No Place for a family get-together

THERE'S a refreshing and varied selection of folk acts performing across our region this week, starting tonight with something of a family get-together at The Beamish Mary in No Place near Stanley. I first met multi-instrumentalists John and Caroline

Date

Witton-le-Wear small holding plans approved after villagers' objections to two pigs deemed irrelevant

A COUPLE’S plan to create a Good Life style small holding has caused a stink for villagers who object to living near two pigs.Andrew and Liz Charles have dreamed of having their own land to grow vegetables and live a sustainable life for more than

Date

Lucky punters hope to won £1m on a single spin

FIVE lucky punters from the North-East will have the chance to win £1m on a single spin of a roulette wheel.Gladys Jarvis, from Stanley and Fay Wong, from Chester-le-Street, in County Durham, along with three other contestants from Tyneside, have

Date

Plans to build £30m new child heart unit

DESPITE continuing uncertainty about the future of heart services in England, the world-famous Freeman Hospital in Newcastle has revealed plans to build a new £30m Children’s Heart Unit.Bosses at the Newcastle Hospitals Trust, which runs

Date

Relief for veteran as he is able to collect a temporary passport to get him to Texas for wheelchair basketball competition

A TRAVEL crisis has had a happy ending after a veteran trying to get to Texas for a wheelchair basketball event was able to pick up a temporary passport to cover his visit.Gaz Golightly, 32, from Hartlepool, got the document after dashing to the Durham

Date

Sterling six-year high suggests UK may take lead on raising interests rates

STERLING climbed to a near six-year high against the US dollar today as it looked increasingly likely that the UK would take the lead on raising interest rates. The pound rose by a cent as it pushed above the 1.70 mark before surpassing a previous

Date

Family tribute to young Consett father who died in crash

A FAMILY has paid tribute to a young father who died when his car hit a tree on a country road. Dean Robinson died on Tuesday afternoon in the accident at Knitsley, near Consett. The 30-year-old was the only occupant of a blue Peugeot 206 which

Date

Musical theatre group raises more than £1,300 for The Northern Echo's appeal for Phoenix House

A NORTH-East musical theatre group has raised more than £1,300 for a Northern Echo appeal from collections after each of its recent shows to support Help for Heroes.Encore performed a medley of songs to commemorate the centenary of World War I last

Date

Artist to have brush with fame

A FORMER professional cyclist who has turned his hand to painting has overcome competition from thousands of artists to secure a place painting celebrity portraits in the finals of a national art contest. Robin Puplett said he had been delighted

Date

School's greenhouse will have a whole lot of bottle

VOLUNTEERS took time out from work to start work on a school garden greenhouse which will be made out of 2,000 plastic bottles.A wooden frame has been installed for the greenhouse at Red Hall Primary School, in Darlington, with the remaining work to be

Date

Copy of ancient book returns to its birthplace

THE earliest surviving copy of one of the North-East’s most important historical documents is to return to its birthplace.The Boldon Book, a North-East version of the Domesday Book, was drawn up in 1183 on the orders of the Bishop of Durham, Hugh

Date

Man accused of axe murder claims partygoers were lying

A MAN accused of murder claims partygoers who saw him walk up to a former boxer and plunge an axe in his head were lying. Father-of-two David Sowerby said he had been trying to leave a New Year’s Eve party in Hartlepool to avoid a confrontation

Date

Police release images of wanted men

DETECTIVES investigating an attempted burglary have released CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to in connection with the incident. Two men were disturbed as they tried to get into an address on Romanby Road, Northallerton, in the

Date

Endurance runner's longest day

A CHARITY runner hopes to do his longest run yet on the longest day of the year this weekend (Saturday, June 21). Endurance runner Paul Smith is aiming to cover 100 miles by doing laps of the athletics track at Maiden Castle sports ground, near Durham

Date

Durham Blues Festival roars back this weekend

A POPLAR blues festival returns to the region this weekend (Saturday, June 21).The Durham Blues Festival will feature 12 acts across two stages at the Gala Theatre, Durham, on Saturday.Royal Southern Brotherhood will headline the Main Street Stage, which

Date

Darlington artist's creations entertain children world-wide

A DARLINGTON artist is thrilled to see her creations delighting children across the world.Joanne Carmichael is the inspiration behind popular children’s TV show Lily’s Driftwood Bay, which is screened all over the world.Mrs Carmichael &ndash

Date

Firms urged to apply for £200m pot

NORTH-EAST firms are being urged to bid for a £200m pot to create jobs and support growth.The Government has launched the next round of its Regional Growth Fund (RGF).Ministers say companies can apply for at least £1m to help expansion plans.Earlier

Date

Carnival music acts announced

THE line-up has been announced for the music stage at this Saturday’s Darlington Carnival. The programme includes an eclectic mix of genres, with bands and soloists performing original work and their take on some of the classics. Performances

Date

Lunch report: Rafiq breakthrough gives Yorkshire hope

AZEEQ Rafiq claimed a crucial breakthrough to give Yorkshire some late encouragement as they pressed for victory against Sussex and a flat pitch at Arundel. The Yorkshire off-spinner, making his first championship appearance of the season while

Date

Freedom of speech under attack by councils

CAN someone please let me know if we are still living in Britain, where freedom of speech and democracy are supposed to be held dear. I ask because of the latest advice issued by the National Association of Local Councils to all parish councils

Date

Residents fight bungalow plan for their housing estate

A PETITION signed by 100 residents objecting to the building of bungalows on their estate has been submitted to planners. Social landlord Derwentside Homes has applied for planning permission to build 10 two-bedroom bungalows on land near Dryden

Date

Soldiering on

A former soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan tells Chris Webber how post-traumatic stress disorder cost him his marriage, career and home and left him living on the streets OUR interview finished, we’re sharing a couple of laughs when, suddenly

Date

Lego brick idea is set in stone

A MASON is turning a cathedral’s Lego model initiative on its head by creating a replica of the plastic bricks in stone. Church leaders have been inviting people to buy £1 Lego bricks for a model of Durham Cathedral, in the hope of raising £1m

Date

Stab victim drove five miles before crashing car in flames

A STABBING victim managed to drive several miles before his car crashed and caught fire.The 34-year-old drove almost five miles from the Harraton area of Washington to the Hastings Hill area of Sunderland despite having what police describe as “

Date

Lower energy costs boost Go-Ahead

A NATIONAL travel operator running services across the North-East has revealed stronger profits after energy costs fell in its rail division. Go-Ahead, which has a base in Newcastle, runs the Govia joint venture, and said its Southern, London Midland

Date

Golf course setback triggers new calls for Durham town council

THE Government has refused to ‘call in’ part of a controversial £200m housing scheme, clearing the way for work to begin and triggering renewed calls for a Durham town council.After Banks Property won planning permission to turn the

Date

Who's winning in the style stakes at Royal Ascot Ladies' Day?

Date

‘Chefs are like rock stars’

Jon Favreau hit the blockbuster big time with the Iron Man movies, but he’s downsized with his latest project, Chef. The director, writer and actor tells Susan Griffin why it’s such a joy to have complete creative control AS director, producer,

Date

Making the most of Midsummer marvels

Steve Pratt talks to the founding members of the Sprite Productions company as it celebrates a decade of visits to Ripley Castle, near Harrogate SPRITE’S tenth anniversary production at Ripley Castle finds the company going back to the beginning

Date

Emma’s wartime Cinderella

Steve Pratt catches up with singer Emma Ralph, who returns to York Grand Opera House tomorrow night with a Second World War operatic version of Cinderella, called Cendrillon EMMA Ralph featured as a singer in University of York Opera Society’s

Date

Thinking outside the Box

Putting a little more bounce into Gilbert & Sullivan is the aim of this year’s Scarborough summer season THE summer season of new work at Stephen Joseph Theatre, in Scarborough, continues with a musical game of two halves as Sir Arthur Sullivan

Date

Castle to host youth art festival

THE first ever Youth Arts Festival for region, which is open to anyone aged 13 – 18 living in County Durham, is due to take place in Barnard Castle on July 12 and 13 this year. The festival will be held on the combined sites of Teesdale School,

Date

Cyclist hurt in 'hit and run'

A CYCLIST suffered a fractured skull after being knocked off his bicycle in an apparent 'hit and run' incident.The 27-year-old was cycling along North Road, in Darlington, between 6am and 6.30am on Wednesday (June 18).He was cycling towards the

Date

First Aid Kit, Stay Gold

LISTENING to the Swedish sisters’ music could transport you back in time, with their songs not appearing out of place alongside Sixties singer Gram Parsons and his ilk. Johanna and Klara Soderberg’s third album Stay Gold sees their exquisite brand

Date

Jack White, Lazaretto

THERE was a worry after the underwhelming Blunderbuss, Jack White’s debut solo album in 2012, that the prolific artist had become a little dull when he finally struck out on his own. But with Lazaretto, the 38-year-old has rediscovered his mojo

Date

Show of Hands, Centenary (Words and Music of the Great War)

JIM Carter’s distinctive tones open this double album of poetry and music to mark the centenary of the First World War. His rendition of Wilfred Owen’s Anthem For Doomed Youth The Downton Abbey star is followed by Imelda Staunton’s reading of May Wedderburn

Date

Jason Derulo, Tattoos (Deluxe Edition)

APPEARING at North-East Live later this month, Jason Derulo is basking in the success of his latest album. With more than one million singles sales so far off the back of Tattoos, he is enjoying arguably the high point of his career so far. This

Date

Example, Live Life Living

I’M too old for the rave tents of Glastonbury, but listening to Example makes me wish I wasn’t. For a studio album, this is custom made for the live arena. Slightly retro. It’s a cavalcade of pumping bass, 90s keyboard strokes and lyrics that,

Date

Taffy Plus +++

TOKYO’S Taffy sound like a reincarnation of the likes of Transvision Vamp, Elastica and Echobelly. The guitars distorted to the nth degree and the slightly daydreamy female vocals take me back to some of the halcyon days of my youth. Now, I

Date

Motown legend is calling out

She may no longer be playing a brand new beat but Motown legend Martha Reeves tells Joe Willis she still loves getting people up and dancing in the street AFTER half a century of performing, Martha Reeves – lead singer of Martha and The Vandellas

Date

Armed and extremely dangerous

WE all know that Annie got her gun. Now it’s the turn of Adam in Emmerdale (ITV1) and Da-Do-Ron- Ronnie in EastEnders (BBC1). Soapland is becoming more like America every day. Soon the High Sheriff will be strapping on his gun holster and cleaning

Date

Sunderland Ladies resume with World Cup fun day

SUNDERLAND LADIES will stage a World Cup fun day when their Super League programme resumes with a home game against Yeovil Ladies a week on Saturday. The Lady Black Cats, who have enjoyed a perfect start to their maiden WSL 2 season, winning all

Date

A gift that takes the biscuit

Loved spending some time this morning with illustrator Paul Wick at New Marske Primary School. The utterly brilliant Year Three pupils have been doing a project on our children's books, the Monstrous Morals, and it was great fun reading Fartin'

Date

Mcdonald's to create 8,000 jobs

FAST food firm McDonald's is creating 8,000 jobs.Bosses say the posts will be filled over the next three years.The firm says the expansion follows continued UK investment and growth, which saw £95m spent on new restaurants last year.Jill McDonald

Date

7 historical facts you may not know about Uruguay

Ahead of England's crucial World Cup group match against Uruguay tonight, we have seven bits of historical trivia about the South American country THE first proper Uruguayan railway opened in 1878, funded by British money. Its construction was

Date

Inchila bids to prove Epsom was no fluke

INCHILA will be sent off at nowhere near the 40-1 on offer in the Investec Oaks as she bids to prove her Epsom fourth was no fluke in today’s Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam had felt that with a luckier run less than

Date

Owen swaps World Cup for Gold Cup

BROWN PANTHER can continue his progression by landing the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for trainer Tom Dascombe and part-owner Michael Owen. Owen has thrown himself head first into the racing game after his retirement from football and he is fortunate

Date

Darlington College Student Brushes with Success

Darlington College student Ashley Watson has won the North-East Inter-college Championships with his skills as a painter. The 18-year-old, of Northallerton, fought his way to the finals and took on another student in a challenging task that involved

Date

Landing Their Dream Job in Journalism

TWO NCTJ Journalism diploma students have landed jobs a week before the end of their course. Stacey-Lee Davies is heading for the Northern Echo as trainee reporter covering the Teesdale area and will be based at the regional daily’s Bishop Auckland

Date

Jobs to be created at energy efficiency firm

AN energy efficiency specialist is creating jobs in the North-East after deciding to locate its new low-carbon driving simulator in the A19 Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Enterprise Zone.Effective Transport Solutions, a new division of Tadea-UK in Billingham

Date

Student’s Help Design Charity Ball Literature for the Mayor

STUDENTS had a ball with their latest design brief after capturing the rural splendour of a borough. For the 12th year running Darlington College students were asked to help the town’s mayor by coming up with the designs for his annual charity

Date

Institute of Directors in the North East re-organises

THE Institute of Directors (IoD) in the North-East has re-organised its local sub-committee structure and appointed two new local sub-committee chairmen to support new regional chairman Graham Robb.The IoD will function through two local sub-committees

Date

Car parts firm steps up recruitment drive

A MANUFACTURER supplying some of the world's biggest car brands has welcomed a further 17 new staff in the second wave of its latest recruitment.Working across its many specialist divisions, including despatch, engineering, production, finance and

Date

Brief encounters

COUPLE of columns ago, I told the story of the “Feast Coast Main Line” – how my wife has got into the habit of supplying food to my daughter as she passes through Darlington station on her tour with a dance company. Hannah gets steps off her

Date

Northern Voices, St Cuthbert’s Church

A standing ovation was given by the audience at the end of a magical evening of song by Northern Voices on Saturday. The choir, who sing throughout the North-East, once again gave an uplifting performance in a programme which ranged across many

Date

Things We Do For Love, Newcastle Theatre Royal

THE woman at the cafe table next to us leaned forward and admitted she had no idea what play she was going to see. She just knew that Natalie Imbruglia was making her stage debut in whatever it was. Hardly the type of endorsement required for a

Date

Fostering love

Fostering and Me with Lorraine Pascale (BBC2, 9pm) JUST imagine what you might watch if Uruguay weren’t playing England tonight? If not you might need the good old iplayer to track down chef, best-selling author and former model Lorraine Pascale

Date

'Boring' Phil doesn't deserve a place on the bench

IT appears the BBC received hundreds of complaints about the lacklustre and monotonous drivel of Phil Neville’s commentary during the England v Italy game. Phil’s response was that it was his first attempt at commentating — on the world’s biggest

Date

No strategy

ED MILIBAND spoke out against excessive planning consent and the creation of land banks. He said under Labour it would be “use it or lose it”. In the past year a land bank of 140 hectares has been created between Peterlee and Easington and not

Date

Care home

MORE could be done to help elderly people to have their own accommodation by building communities with people appointed to observe and guard them every day. They could live in gated communities instead of having to go into a nursing home to be

Date

Devolution

DURHAM MP Roberta Blackman- Woods says she believes in regional devolution but “the mechanisms should be local authorities or local authorities working together” (Echo, June 17). In the 2004 referendum, the North-East people rejected an awful offer

Date

Home closure

WELL done to councillor Anita Savory who is urging her colleagues to reverse a decision to close Newtown House care home, in Stanhope (Echo, June 16). At last, a councillor with some compassion. Because of of its location Newtown House should

Date

Fracking threat

THE Government recently published the Infrastructure Bill in the Queen’s speech. It includes making it easier for energy firms to dig fracking wells under people’s property without their permission and alters the law of trespass to allow it.

Date

Immigration data

ONCE again Peter Winstanley sets out unfounded statements in the Echo, that curtailing immigration would mean a significant loss of revenue to the country and that it would bring about an increase in taxation etc (HAS, June 13). Why is it that

Date

Jobs figures are just a ‘neet’ trick

WHEN the situation has been described as an emergency, any glint of progress is welcome – and so it is with youth unemployment. Not so long ago, the awful headlines told of one million young people not in education, employment or training – or

Date

Support buyers

House prices are again on everyone’s lips with interest rates forecast to rise. But Alison Thain, of the region’s largest housing supplier, says policymakers should look at new ways to help people take a first step on the housing ladder "HOUSE

Date

The price of failure

PEOPLE go on holiday to get away from the strains of every day life. They do not need the kind of additional stress caused by delays over the processing of passports. “I am sorry and the government is sorry,” Home Secretary Theresa May

Date

Sussex v Yorkshire LV=County Championship (Day Three)

Sussex v Yorkshire LV=County Championship (Day Three) JONNY BAIRSTOW’S recent upturn in form was maintained with an outstanding all-round display as Yorkshire attempted to force victory against Sussex at Arundel. Overlooked by England’s selectors

Date

Durham v Lancashire LV=County Championship (Day Four)

Durham v Lancashire LV=County Championship (Day Four) DURHAM skipper Paul Collingwood paid tribute to his bowlers, particularly Chris Rushworth, after they dramatically clinched their first LV County Championship win of the season by 27 runs at

Date

Spanish boss fears for future

SPAIN coach Vicente Del Bosque admitted he and a number of players may face consequences from their humiliating World Cup exit after the 2-0 defeat by Chile in the Maracana. It is the first time the reigning champions have been knocked out of the

Date

Holland win never in doubt, says van Gaal

LOUIS VAN GAAL claimed he had no doubts his Holland side would finish victorious even before substitute Memphis Depay’s decisive strike in the 3-2 World Cup Group B defeat of Australia. Holland beat defending world champions Spain 5-1 in their

Date

African warlord held in Durham jail in human rights claim

AN African warlord serving a 50-year sentence in a County Durham jail for crimes against humanity claims he is being denied the right to a family life. Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president who reportedly ate the hearts of his enemies,

Date

Carragher warns England of Suarez’s qualities

URUGUAY striker Luis Suarez is a phenomenon who will be at “full throttle” against England tonight, according to his former Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher. The South American forward has been sidelined since a minor knee operation late last

Date

Sports Direct buys stake in fashion discounter

MIKE Ashley's Sports Direct empire has muscled in on the turf of fellow tycoon Sir Philip Green by snapping up a stake in retailer MySale. The group disclosed that it had bought a 4.8 per cent chunk in the online business - which sells fashion

Date

Game of the Day: England v Uruguay (World Cup 2014)

ENGLAND It’s not quite all or nothing as it’s possible that a draw could still be good enough if Costa Rica are beaten on Tuesday, but it feels like an evening that will effectively seal England’s World Cup fate. Saturday’s defeat to Italy

Date

Hodgson expects a lot from Rooney

ROY HODGSON is hoping for a big performance from Wayne Rooney in England’s crunch match against Uruguay tonight. Rooney’s place in the England team has come under scrutiny recently after a number of indifferent displays, the latest of which came

Date

Gerrard issues a warning to teammates ahead of must-win match

STEVEN GERRARD has warned his England teammates they are likely to be in for a long and miserable summer if they do not beat Uruguay tonight. Gerrard, along with vicecaptain Frank Lampard and manager Roy Hodgson, addressed the squad at their hotel

Date

Golf shorts: Free entry to see stars of the future at Seaton Carew

THE Brabazon Trophy returns to Seaton Carew after almost three decades next week when top amateurs from around the world will be look for glory.Previous winners include Sandy Lyle, Gordon Brand, Ronan Rafferty, Charl Schwartzel, Peter Hanson and Barnard

Date

North-East transfer gossip: Thursday, June 19

SUNDERLAND Like someone who has just moved into a new house and discovered the person who had it before them has piled a load of unwanted junk in the attic, Sunderland's new sporting director Lee Congerton has insisted the club will not be signing

Date

Polam Hall will offer free education

ONE of the oldest private schools in the region will become a state-funded free school from next September, after its application was approved by Education Secretary Michael Gove.Polam Hall School in Darlington, which was founded by Quakers in the 19th

Date

Coalfield communities blighted by deprivation and unemployment

NORTH-East coalfield communities continue to be blighted by deprivation, ill health and unemployment, an independent report has found.The State of the Coalfields study paints a grim picture for the 599,000 people who live in County Durham's former

Date

Discovery of St Christopher medal prompts search for dead airman's family

A GROUP of Dutch amateur historians are looking for the family of an airman who died in a crash in the Second World War – so they can be reunited with a St Christopher medal recovered at the site.Sergeant James Bernard Brennan of Chester-le-Street

Date

England til I dye

IT'S a case of "fur we go, fur we go, fur we go" as far as England fan Charlie the pooch is concerned. Charlie has been given a special "petriotic" hair-do in support of England's bid for World Cup glory. The three-year-old shih tzu enjoys

Date

Sacked salesman ordered about £300,000 of cars in revenge on former bosses

A SACKED salesman took his revenge on his former bosses by ordering nearly £300,000 worth of cars on their account in a drunken rage, a court was told.Paul Donkin, who was asked to leave Durham Hire and Sales in Langley Moor, near Durham, used the

Date

Amec to test staff for flagship projects

AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, is holding three days of trades testing in Darlington as part of its recruitment drive for offshore oil and gas employees to work on major projects in the North Sea throughout 2014 and

Date

Manufacturing sector 'better than 1980'

HUDDLED around the small production line, Black and Decker staff proudly smile for the camera.Machinery briefly stands idle as a myriad of boxes teem with plastic components.What appears to be skeleton of a garden strimmer lies ready to be worked on.The

Date

Girl drowns in holiday tragedy

A POLICE investigation was underway last night after a young girl drowned in a hotel swimming pool when a North-East family's holiday to Cyprus turned to tragedy. Investigators are examining closed circuit television footage after reports that