Archive

  • Mystery of Orient inspires art students

    AN exhibition of students' art inspired by the culture of the East has gone on display at Durham University's Oriental Museum. The work, by Year Ten and 11 pupils taking GCSE Art and Design at Spennymoor School and Year Two students on the BA (Hons) International

  • Town faces roadworks disruption

    MOTORISTS in Malton town centre are being warned about disruption to the local traffic system while roadworks are being carried out. Surfacing work will be carried out in Wheelgate and Yorkgate and temporary traffic lights will be in operation. Other

  • Group donates £42,000 to good causes

    A CHARITY group has made its latest donations to causes in the North-East. Cheques totalling £42,170 went to church, community, health and other support groups serving the Hartlepool area, by Christ's Hospital, Sherburn, near Durham. The latest round

  • Trio witness 'new Magna Carta'

    THREE North-East students have witnessed the launch of a new Act decribed as the biggest change to the English justice system since the Magna Carta. Joanne Mann, Lisa Hewitson and Claire Jay, from Darlington, were invited by the Home Office to the launch

  • The outlook is not so black for the threatened famous grouse

    A FEW years ago, the black grouse looked to be down and out - now a conservation scheme has produced signs of a comeback. The moorland rarity is still one of the fastest declining bird species in England, but a project in the North Pennines has seen numbers

  • Gym'll fix it for good sport mum

    A MOTHER who says her life changed when she took up sport has defended facilities in the region. Sue Hammler said she was angered by comments made recently about the lack of sporting facilities in the North-East. The 47-year-old, who lives in Middleton

  • Angela turns to art after illness

    A TALENTED artist has recovered from debilitating illness to stage her first solo exhibition. Angela Kruger, 54, not only suffers from ME, the chronic fatigue syndrome, but has also undergone surgery to remove extra bones growing down her neck. So risky

  • Why are we waiting?

    ARE you being served? Probably not. Apparently, we now spend about a fifth of our shopping time standing a in queue. (Only a fifth? Good grief, there are days when it seems like half a lifetime at least.) When we finally get to the head of it, the chances

  • Brave rachel said 'no' to stranger

    A BRAVE teenager who foiled the attempted abduction of her four-year-old friend has told of the moment she saw off the stranger. Little James Gibson was playing with friends near a park in Oxford Street, Thornaby, when the incident happened on Saturday

  • Nurseries to fill the gap

    UNUSED places at primary schools in County Durham are to be used to provide nursery education for three-year-olds. The number of primary pupils has fallen in many areas and some schools are operating well below capacity. Durham County Council is one of

  • Bride smiles through disasters

    A BRIDE'S wedding day disaster story had a real sting in the tail - when she was attacked by a poisonous jellyfish on honeymoon. Newlyweds Mark and Tracy-Ann Steel, from Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, thought they had weathered the worst of the

  • Tories unveil 'zero tolerance' drugs plan

    See the conference webcast live here. The Conservatives have unveiled a tough "zero tolerance" policy on drugs at their party conference in Bournemouth. Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe said recreational drug users would face an automatic £100 fine

  • 'Petty politics' blast over cut-price travel fares plan

    A POLITICAL row has erupted over a district council's plans to introduce cut-price travel fares. Tory-controlled Hambleton District Council has been criticised by local Labour leaders for failing to extend concessionary fares to disabled people. And the

  • Police target garages in car crime operation

    POLICE will target council-owned lock-up garages across the region as part of massive assault on car crime. Detectives from the Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire police forces will be helped by local council key-holders in the search

  • Children go on foreign visits

    DARLINGTON is bracing itself for a foreign invasion in the next couple of weeks. On Thursday, October 19, pupils from Hummersknott School will be sent into the town centre as part of a special languages day. The youngsters will have to listen to a tape

  • Two hurt in accident

    A TAXI driver and passenger escaped with minor injuries after crashing into a bus shelter in Consett on Monday morning. The incident happened outside Elddis Caravans, in Delve Lane. The 59-year-old driver, from Consett, suffered minor face and knee injuries

  • Drug stash found in raid, court told

    A POLICE search revealed drugs with a street value of between £1,350 and £2,700 in a woman's house, a court heard yesterday. Linda Speight pointed out a handbag in a bedroom of her home when officers asked her if there were any drugs in the house. Mrs

  • Fears for safety of missing man

    POLICE are concerned for the safety of a mentally ill man missing from a Sunderland guest house without essential medication. Stuart Ainsley, 41, disappeared from the Beach View guest house, Roker, on Friday, where he was staying while visiting his sister

  • New index may bring funding windfall

    MILLIONS of pounds of regeneration money could come to run-down areas of County Durham thanks to a new way of calculating need. The Government has abandoned the Index of Deprivation, used for several years in assessing funding bids, and replaced it with

  • Estate volunteers get royal reward

    PRINCE Andrew is visiting Sunderland on Friday to officially open a project aimed at improving the health of local residents. Pennywell's Community and Health Resource Centre is the culmination of almost ten years' work by locals. The Portsmouth Road

  • Broadcastcomplex enters new digital era

    A NORTH-EAST university is piloting a £1m computer system that can store vast amounts of words and pictures. Sunderland University's School of Arts, Design and Media has joined forces with Sony BPE UK and North-East firm Newland Electronics to test the

  • Striker is the one to hit the Towcester target

    PUNTERS hoping to hit the target at Towcester today could do worse than side with the in-form Red Striker (3.20). Norman Mason's runners have been excelling themselves lately and it doesn't look like Red Striker intends to be left on the subs bench judging

  • A scandal too far

    A CONSULTANT gynaecologist has been sacked by hospital bosses for having an affair with a woman patient. Neil Hebblethwaite, described as a "committed and respected" consultant, was fired after an internal inquiry upheld the woman's complaint. Yesterday's

  • Night bin rounds claim is denied

    A COUNCIL officer has denied claims that an area's bins will be emptied at up to nine o'clock at night. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's chief executive, Colin Moore, spoke in the wake of threatened strike action by binmen over the alleged plan,

  • Reynolds vows to stay away

    DARLINGTON chairman George Reynolds is staying away from Saturday's derby at Victoria Park - because he claims he is scared. Last season's play-off encounter was a fiery affair with then Quakers' manager David Hodgson claiming he was struck by a coin

  • Hague's bid for North

    See the conference webcast live here. WILLIAM Hague yesterday reached out to inner-city Britain in a bold bid to win over the voters of the North. The Tory leader signalled a bid to recapture the backing of so-called one-nation Conservatives by launching

  • Keegan to name his dream partnership

    Kevin Keegan is set to partner Michael Owen with Andy Cole in an England starting line-up for the first time in Saturday's opening World Cup qualifier with Germany at Wembley. The England coach fell just short of actually confirming the duo in his team

  • Acuna bid not taken as Red

    NEWCASTLE could be drawn into a bidding war with Manchester United over £700,000 Chilean midfielder Clarence Acuna. Israeli agent Ronen Katzav plans to meet United boss Alex Ferguson in London today to see whether he'll join the chase for Acuna, who recently

  • Company fined over dry dock accident

    A SHIPPING company was yesterday fined £4,000 following an accident in which a worker fell more than 30ft when his mobile crane toppled into a dry dock. Experienced crane driver George Wright, 49, whose injuries from the accident at Cammell Laird's South

  • World first for Newcastle Airport

    NEWCASTLE Airport is the first in the world to offer passengers an on-line timetable. The timetable uses daily information updates from global flight schedules provider OAG. At www.newcastleairport.com, travellers have free, instant access to tens of

  • New police offices have homely feel

    A POLICE team responsible for a huge area of moors and seaside resorts has moved into a new home. A converted pair of semi-detached police houses have become the base of the North Yorkshire force's eastern area management team. The team had been working

  • Wheelchair player aims for £1,500

    A DISABLED athlete is trying to raise funds for a special wheelchair he needs to compete. Robert Charlton, 28, of Norton, has been in a wheelchair since he was hit by a car in 1995. He enjoys playing basketball and is secretary of the Teesside Lions Wheelchair

  • Estate volunteers get royal reward

    PRINCE Andrew is visiting Sunderland on Friday to officially open a project aimed at improving the health of local residents. Pennywell's Community and Health Resource Centre is the culmination of almost ten years' work by locals. The Portsmouth Road

  • College site plans

    DERWENTSIDE College's planned £8m move to the site of the old Consett steelworks will pave the way for a redevelopment of the existing site. Planners at Derwentside District Council have published a draft development brief for the site. The site is thought

  • Joanne's hope of Olympic horse rein

    IT has already taken teenager Joanne Little years of effort and thousands of pounds to become a top event rider for her age group. The 16-year-old, of Howden-Le-Wear, near Crook, County Durham, is one of the country's best young riders and has been part

  • Pupils pray for injured boys

    PRAYERS were being said yesterday for two young friends injured when they were hit by a lorry as they walked home from school. A 12-year-old boy from Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring, suffered serious head injuries. Last night his condition was described

  • Industrial disease justice campaign

    A WORKERS' resource centre is launching a regionwide campaign to get justice for victims of industrial diseases. The Cleveland Trade Unionists and Unemployed Workers Resource Centre, based in Middlesbrough, has joined forces with a Newcastle law firm

  • Way is cleared for medical centre

    FIVE hundred people, who signed a petition urging Richmondshire District Council to clear the way for a new medical centre in Colburn, had their wish granted at a meeting last night. Planners agreed unanimously to give their conditional consent to the

  • Man quizzed after drinker's face slashed

    A MAN was being questioned last night by detectives on suspicion of attempted murder after a fellow drinker was slashed across his face in a pub. The 27-year-old victim received 20 stitches to the face and 12 to his throat following the attack, in the

  • Mine workers protest after opencast site plan rejected

    AN opencast firm which was refused permission for a new County Durham site may re-submit its application. A delegation of RJB Mining workers yesterday took a 1,420-name petition to County Hall, Durham, protesting at county councillors' rejection of the

  • Stadium protestors even up score

    OPPONENTS of a football stadium development clearly believe they have scored by taking a cheeky shot at club chairman George Reynolds. The anonymous critics of the 25,000-seat stadium proposed for Darlington Football Club have put up a sign suggesting

  • Broadcast complex enters new digital era

    A NORTH-EAST university is piloting a £1m computer system that can store vast amounts of words and pictures. Sunderland University's School of Arts, Design and Media has joined forces with Sony BPE UK and North-East firm Newland Electronics to test the

  • Teenager locked up for attack on woman

    A TEENAGE robber targeted an elderly woman as she left church, a court heard. David Renwick, 19, approached the woman from behind and grabbed her shoulder bag as she walked down an alleyway following the Sunday morning service in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street

  • Allergy child offered help after German TV appearance

    THE parents of a four-year-old chronic allergy victim are hoping she will be saved from a life of constant pain by a German specialist. Brianie Copeland's plight has hit the headlines as her family try to raise the cash to send her to a British allergy

  • Skater's family had to move

    PARENTS of the North's young ice skating stars are taking drastic action so their children can follow in the footsteps of ex-champion skater Joanne Conway. A lack of suitable ice rinks in the region forced one Peterlee family to move to Hull so their

  • Letters

    WASTING MONEY REDCAR and Cleveland Council is one away from being top of the highest council tax league but it surely must be top at wasting tax payers' money. The Loftus Bank opening fiasco, believe me, is the tip of a very big iceberg. The Labour executive

  • Pub pair could face jail for fraud

    A COUPLE have a month to wait to see if they face prison sentences over the fraudulent running of a pub and hotel business in County Durham. Jean Mattimoe, 58, yesterday pleaded guilty to four charges of failing to keep proper accounting records during

  • Fight to block homes on green fields site

    RESIDENTS in a North-East village have pledged to fight controversial plans by the local council to build houses on green fields. Durham City Council has applied for outline planning permission with a view to selling just under two acres of land for housing

  • Hunt is on to solve hedgehog killer mystery

    A COUNCIL has stepped in to try to solve a mystery illness which has killed dozens of hedgehogs in a village. At least 24 of the creatures have fallen ill and died after being found in Woodham, Newton Aycliffe. The deaths have puzzled animal lover Brenda

  • Where does all the lottery money go?

    GOLD medals glistening around their necks, Britain's athletes are celebrating their most successful Olympics for 88 years. The ignominy of Atlanta and a solitary gold four years ago was forgotten as Team GB returned triumphant with 11 golds, ten silvers

  • Ex-addict died of overdose

    A MAN found collapsed on his bedroom floor last New Year's Eve died of a heroin overdose, an inquest heard. The family of Andrew David Ward, of Auckland Terrace, Darlington, had thought he was free of the drug. But Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Cooper

  • Living on the brink of destruction

    ACCOMPANIED by a picture of two young apes cuddling each other, a Sunday supplement travel ad last weekend invited readers to visit "Borneo: Land of the Orang Utan". It might well have added, tackily but with essential truth: Roll Up, Roll Up, Last Great

  • Living on the brink of destruction

    ACCOMPANIED by a picture of two young apes cuddling each other, a Sunday supplement travel ad last weekend invited readers to visit "Borneo: Land of the Orang Utan". It might well have added, tackily but with essential truth: Roll Up, Roll Up, Last Great

  • Roof leap patient wins damages

    A MAN left crippled after jumping from a hospital roof has won almost £200,000 compensation. The man, an in-patient at the time, was allowed to leave the psychiatric unit of South Tyneside General Hospital three times. On the third occasion he got on

  • Pub pair could face jail for fraud

    A COUPLE have a month to wait to see if they face prison sentences over the fraudulent running of a pub and hotel business in County Durham. Jean Mattimoe, 58, yesterday pleaded guilty to four charges of failing to keep proper accounting records during

  • Fantasy world of bigamist 'forced' to flee his first wife

    A FATHER-OF-SIX who claimed the IRA forced him to leave his wife in Northern Ireland was yesterday convicted of bigamy after twice re-marrying in England. Former Irish Guard Robert Hutchings was accused of marrying twice in Newcastle, despite having never

  • Fantasy world of bigamist 'forced' to flee his first wife

    A FATHER-OF-SIX who claimed the IRA forced him to leave his wife in Northern Ireland was yesterday convicted of bigamy after twice re-marrying in England. Former Irish Guard Robert Hutchings was accused of marrying twice in Newcastle, despite having never

  • Rally helps radio enthusiasts take to the airwaves

    A community hall was buzzing the day amateur radio enthusiasts called in to compare wavelengths. The Radio and Electronics Rally was organised by the Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics Society, which has met in the County Durham village for 26

  • Teenager accused ofMallon burglary

    A YOUTH has appeared in court charged with a £34,000 burglary at a suspended CID chief's home. David Ions, 18, of Appleton Road, Stockton, is charged with breaking into Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon's home in Stockton and stealing £34,284 worth

  • Attempt to increase jail term fails

    A BID by the Attorney General to increase a jail term imposed on a Tyneside man who robbed a doctor at knifepoint failed at London's Criminal Appeal Court yesterday. Stewart Jonathan West, 30, of Cotswold Drive, North Shields, held a knife to the terrified

  • Countries unite in grief for slain Sara

    A QUIET memorial service will be held this Friday for the murdered North-East student, whose death triggered one of the region's biggest ever police inquiries. Students and university staff will join mourners from Finland, where 23-year-old Sara Cameron

  • Countries unite in grief for slain Sara

    A QUIET memorial service will be held this Friday for the murdered North-East student, whose death triggered one of the region's biggest ever police inquiries. Students and university staff will join mourners from Finland, where 23-year-old Sara Cameron

  • Villagers voice their anger at damage caused by vandals

    A PICTURESQUE village has been hit by a spate of vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Vandals have targeted Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, tipping over headstones in the council burial yard, carving up the football field with their cars, and smashing a

  • Acuna bid not taken as Red

    NEWCASTLE could be drawn into a bidding war with Manchester United over £700,000 Chilean midfielder Clarence Acuna. Israeli agent Ronen Katzav plans to meet United boss Alex Ferguson in London today to see whether he'll join the chase for Acuna, who recently

  • Voller focuses on showdown

    RUDI Voller wants the scandal that has tarnished Germany's build-up to their Wembley clash with England swept under the carpet until after Saturday's World Cup qualifier. Former striker Voller, in temporary charge of the Germans, wants the internal in-fighting

  • Bride smiles through disasters

    A BRIDE'S wedding day disaster story had a real sting in the tail - when she was attacked by a poisonous jellyfish on honeymoon. Newlyweds Mark and Tracy-Ann Steel, from Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, thought they had weathered the worst of the

  • Marine seminar is set to boost regional offshore expertise

    THE ongoing drive to develop and diversify regional expertise in the maritime industry is set to continue with a marine equipment seminar at the Marine Safety Training Centre of South Tyneside College in South Shields this month. In conjunction with regional

  • Head leads way on pioneeringcourse

    A HEADTEACHER, who presided over a £3m transformation of his school, has qualified as a lecturer in a highly prestigious course. Ed Lott, headteacher at King James I Community College, Bishop Auckland, has been part of a pioneering education initiative

  • Love rival threw glass

    A VILLAGE cricket club barbecue in the peaceful Yorkshire Dales erupted in fury when a farmer, married for 33 years, saw his wife with her new lover. York Crown Court was yesterday told David Challis, 59, hurled a glass of whisky "like a cricket ball"

  • Ewe have got to be joking

    LIKE Miss Whiplash, the phrase "prima donna" is strictly feminine, literally translated as "first lady" but these days with overtones of temperament and egotism. Like Johnson's Baby Powder or the Christian name Pat, however, it is applied to both sexes

  • Boro 'best supported team' claim

    WHEN it comes to football, the people of the North-East are the most loyal to their teams. And Middlesbrough FC has been declared the best supported football club in the country by a unique test. The Boro have come out top in a poll, carried out by FourFourTwo

  • Funding cut is major hurdle for athlete

    DESPITE qualifying for the Olympics, champion hurdler Anthony Borsumato is living on credit after his Lottery funding was withdrawn. While the 26-year-old is among the pride of Teesside sportsmen, he is forced to scrimp and save to make ends meet. Since