STUDENTS were being warned of the dangers of meningitis at a North-East university yesterday after it was believed an 18-year-old woman student contracted the infection. Newcastle University has begun an information campaign for all its students after
ONE of the region's major bus operators is running a revised service in County Durham. Go North East has changed many of the services in Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland, Consett, Stanley, Wearside and Washington. The company says it has made the changes
DARLINGTON director Luke Raine last night revealed that the club is continuing negotiations with Middlesbrough, with a view to arranging a link-up between the two clubs. Earlier this season Boro contacted Quakers hoping to set up a deal between the pair
NEW homes are being sought for old greyhounds past their racing best on the tracks of the North-East. The Retired Greyhound Trust is a national body which has been running in the region for only the past year. But it has been quick out of the traps in
A SALTBURN writing competition has attracted entries from all over the country. Response to the Saltburn Writers Group competition was so large that the organisers had to increase the number and value of the prizes. Winner of the poetry section was Tracy
ANOTHER birthday flipped by on Monday, the one after which Messrs Britvic inexplicably named their orange drink. Presents included a video of the Complete Ivor the Engine - he from the top left-hand corner of Wales - a pair of Stone Cold Steve Austin
A DELIGHTED Bobby Robson admitted he had considered leaving goal hero Craig Bellamy out of last night's Cup tie at Barnsley. Robson thought the Welsh international striker, who made it four goals in two Worthington cup ties with his 78th minute strike
PLANS for a swimming pool have taken a step forward after a funding group offered to finance the first stage. At a public meeting organised by Get Redcar A Swimming Pool (Grasp), on Saturday, the West Redcar Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) group, which
A LOCAL authority has been censured for its failure to deal with blocked rights of way. Middlesbrough Borough Council is criticised today by Local Government Ombudsman, Patricia Thomas. She finds that the town hall "failed miserably to assert and protect
Water companies should be able to cut leakage by a further 1.5 per cent in 2002-03, regulator Ofwat announced today. It said new targets continue the progress made since the peak levels of the mid 90s, and water companies' leakage has fallen by almost
A CENTRE which found worldwide fame thanks to a 96-legged creature has marked its tenth birthday. Sunderland University's Ecology Centre was set up to develop teaching and research into the subject, and hosts international conferences and seminars. It
THE most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the Darlington area are to be given easier access to legal services. Darlington Borough Council has been granted £86,234 over three years to promote its community legal service. The service, which was established
A BUS driver whose car left the road and careered through trees died of head injuries, an inquest heard yesterday. Graham Fletcher, 64, from Auckland Park, near Bishop Auckland, died on Friday when his car failed to negotiate a right-hand bend in Coundon
A ROTTEN goat carcass dumped on a bridleway has prompted angry residents to call for the area to be cleaned up. Timothy Hillary, who lives in Alexandra Gardens, Shildon, found the carcass on Friday and is outraged that Sedgefield Borough Council did not
A SEVERELY disabled footballer is determined to pursue his dream of playing for England - despite being disqualified by stringent rules. Although he lacks lower legs and a left arm, David Clark, 18, has been a keen sports player since childhood. A former
GOSH, what a sober lot we are. A spate of reminiscences this week reminds us that it was not always so. Comedian Frank Skinner and the fearsome Anne Robinson - a pretty unlikely pair when you think about it - have both been launching autobiographies a
IN THE month since the terrorist atrocity in the United States, two words have been conspicuous by their absence. United Nations. So little has been heard of the UN that you could be forgiven for forgetting that this world forum, set up to prevent wars
BLACKBURN cut short Middlesbrough's Worthington Cup campaign with an extra-time winner at Ewood Park on Wednesday night. Centre-back Craig Short glanced home in the 113th minute to ruin the night for Mark Crossley and book Rovers a place in the fourth
A NEW wave of suicide attacks was threatened late last night by Osama bin Laden's terrorist group al Qaida. It called for Muslims across the world to join a holy war against America and its allies. And in a chilling warning, a spokesman for the group
THE chance to get behind the wheel of a car and drive is on offer to youngsters living in Redcar. Megadrive, set up by Langbaurgh police and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council road safety department, is targeted at 16-year-olds from the Redcar and Cleveland
A LOCAL authority has been censured for its failure to deal with blocked rights of way. Middlesbrough Borough Council is criticised today by Local Government Ombudsman, Patricia Thomas. She finds that the town hall "failed miserably to assert and protect
MANY farmers are celebrating after foot-and-mouth restrictions were finally lifted from their farms yesterday. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has officially lifted protection zones covering 174 farms in an area from
British Telecom has shelved plans to break up the remainder of its business. BT said that while it would still spin off its mobile phone arm mm02, a proposal to demerge its retail and wholesale divisions had been put on hold. The group had been looking
A COUNCIL'S plans to spread a warm glow around its homeless hostel have been given a boost by gas company Transco. The property in Bower Street, Harrogate, has been struggling with night storage heaters in recent times. But the borough council has now
A PROPERTY milestone has been passed in the region with an executive flat passing the £1m price tag for the first time. The sale, to an unnamed businessman in Newcastle's Turnbull Building, which has stunning views across the Tyne, comes as the North-South
RAILTRACK plans to go to the High Court to recover more than £350m of frozen cash, in a move which offers a ray of hope for shareholders. The board of the group is considering taking the action to recover the money, and if successful it says could be
A football director has resigned after having an affair with a former club colleague. Mike Metcalf stepped down from his post on the board of Darlington Football Club after a meeting with millionaire club chairman George Reynolds. His affair with former
THESE are worrying times, and little is more worrying than the threat of chemical or biological warfare. Unlike bombs, bullets and even hijacked planes, this is an insidious form of warfare because it is invisible and totally indiscriminate. Two weeks
FEARS have been raised over the future of a funding initiative that has so far seen £3m invested in environmental projects across North Yorkshire. The landfill tax credit scheme has seen cash pumped into hundreds of schemes, from education projects to
A MAN died from a heroin overdose only days after being released from prison, an inquest heard yesterday. James Hall, 35, was found dead in his room at Grange Road Bail Hostel, Darlington, on Monday, May 21, with drug-taking equipment on a bed-side table
PARENTS have given backing to school governors over their handling of accusations against a headteacher. Dave Scott resigned from his post at Kirkby and Great Broughton Primary School, near Stokesley, east Cleveland, last week, amid allegations of irregularities
AN all-girl band from Darlington is on the rise to music stardom with the help of a business support organisation. Kelly Menzies went self-employed with the help of the Stockton office of InBiz and put together Yen, with two friends, Claire Hill and Sarah
LONG-AWAITED safety measures are to be introduced on a main road near a Darlington supermarket. The improvements will be made after calls from members of the public to improve one crossing and provide another near Safeway on Victoria Road. When the supermarket
FARMERS' leaders are hailing a series of proposed ventures in the hard-pressed agricultural industry as growing evidence of rural communities' readiness to adapt. Diversification was a growing trend in agriculture even before foot-and-mouth disease took
FORMER Middlesbrough favourite Craig Hignett is hoping to come up against his old employers tonight for the first time since he left the club over three years ago. The Blackburn midfielder is urging manager Graeme Souness to select him in the Worthington
THE Methodist church that was at the centre of retired teacher Ella Wearmouth's long life was filled with former pupils and friends for her funeral yesterday. Stanhope minister Reverend Les Hann led tributes to the 102-year-old who died in her sleep last
GOSH, what a sober lot we are. A spate of reminiscences this week reminds us that it was not always so. Comedian Frank Skinner and the fearsome Anne Robinson - a pretty unlikely pair when you think about it - have both been launching autobiographies a
AFTER a quarter of a century as a town councillor, Bill Waters has been immortalised in a painting. The leader of Spennymoor Town Council was recently presented with the surprise gift of a painting of his home community, Byers Green, by local artist Eric
A BATTLE has been launched to save a town's only council-run residential home after it was threatened with closure. People living in Shildon are expected to voice their protests against the closure of Hackworth House at a public meeting on Monday night
THE crisis which is threatening the future of the region's top ice hockey club could result in the collapse of another North-East team, it has been warned. While those involved in the sport across the country have focused on the troubled Newcastle Jesters
THE family of North-East journalist Yvonne Ridley were counting down the hours last night before she arrives back home today, after ten days in Taliban captivity. Her mother, Joyce Ridley, 74, of West Pelton, near Stanley, County Durham, said she broke
THE sister-in-law of a man killed in a street brawl fainted in court yesterday. Debbie McGibbon was waiting to hear whether the four men accused of her brother-in-law's murder were to be remanded in custody or granted bail. The men, all from Hartlepool
FOUR men have been arrested following an armed siege on Teesside. Part of Hemlington, near Middlesbrough, was sealed off as armed police surrounded a house in the suburb's Eddison W'ay. Cleveland Police advised staff and children to stay inside St Gerard's
A LORRY driver had one-and-a-half hours sleep before driving his HGV into a road maintenance van killing two workers, a court heard. Brian Smith had his window open and loud music playing in his cab, possibly to keep him attentive, a jury at Teesside
THIRTEEN precious paintings that allegedly ended up in England after pirates ransacked a 17th Century ship, can be seen later this month. The viewing of Spanish artist Francisco de Zurburan's paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons will be staged on Thursday
NO indignity is too great for the North-East's own Mr Endurance when it comes to raising money for a good cause. Ron Gordon has swallowed 400 maggots, topped off with rag and lug worms, to raise £800 for charity. He has been covered from head to toe -
FIVE people from the Tees Valley have started a new chapter in their lives by enrolling on an access to further education course at a local college. The course is run at Redcar and Cleveland College's Learning Workshop and is specifically aimed at people
South Wales was hit by a small earthquake today with tremors being felt across the region, the British Geological Survey confirmed. The quake, which registered as three on the Richter scale, took place near Bargoed in mid Glamorgan. Effects were noticed
Letters from The Northern Echo Hear All Sides (Oct 2) contained a series of letters from the leftist brigade which always supports Britain's declared and proven enemies. Osama bin Laden will be proud of them. Lenin defined people like them as "Useful
A TEACHER accused of downloading indecent computer images of under-age children, admitted posing as a 14-year-old girl during Internet chat room conversations. However, Will Smiles, 36, said he used the nickname "Sue 14" as merely, "a laugh, to wind up
VILLAGERS are planning a scheme to build a play area. Residents of Bowburn, near Durham City, are concerned the lack of play facilities in the village is causing some children to turn to vandalism. Carrie Whitfield, who is leading the campaign for a play
The family of a girl who was left brain damaged after she was starved of oxygen at birth has been awarded £3m compensation. Sophie Louise Dodsworth, now seven, was left with cerebral palsy after a botched delivery at Sunderland General Hospital on January
STEVE McCLAREN is taking his lead from predecessor Bryan Robson as he hunts for the first major trophy in Middlesbrough's history. McClaren, who succeeded Robson in the summer, rejected overtures from West Ham and Southampton to pursue his managerial
HEALTH chiefs have launched a campaign aimed at wiping out the stigma attached to mental health problems. Teesside Health Action Zone are hoping adverts on local radio stations, publication of posters, postcards and the release of telephone helplines
A SURVEY at a North-East nature reserve has revealed eight rare species of moth. The investigation was carried out at Low Barns Nature Reserve, at Witton-le-Wear, in the Wear Valley, which is owned by Durham Wildlife Trust. Using a light trap, amateur
AMID the chaos of New York after last month's terrorist attacks, as the dust was still swirling around the broken remains of the World Trade Centre, one figure seemed to be everywhere. Wearing a fire department baseball cap and sweatshirt, he dashed from
A FORMER midwife has won £33,000 in damages after the botched delivery of her baby son destroyed her sex life. Jill Allen, 33, said she felt "raped" and was left with post traumatic stress disorder after the horrific forceps delivery. She suffered "grievous
MUSIC lovers will be able to bid for sofas warmed backstage by the bottoms of big-time band members. Metro Radio is giving listeners the chance to buy sofas used by chart stars including Steps, A1, Samantha Mumba and Artful Dodger, at the Feel the Noise
IN the field of botany, one Darlington family stands out above all others - and that's partly because in America there's a gooseberry that grows in the fields that bears its name. Last week, Echo Memories told of Stephen Robson (1736-1812), of Northgate
ANOTHER birthday flipped by on Monday, the one after which Messrs Britvic inexplicably named their orange drink. Presents included a video of the Complete Ivor the Engine - he from the top left-hand corner of Wales - a pair of Stone Cold Steve Austin
A MAN who was in a critical condition following a double stabbing was last night said to be improving. The unnamed 34-year-old lost so much blood that he needed a transfusion after he was stabbed in the chest on the corner of Fleetham Street and Princes
A MAN has been left fighting for his life following a double stabbing. The 34-year-old lost so much blood as a result of the attack, near Middlesbrough town centre, that he had to be given an emergency blood transfusion. He was reported to be "critical
A GROUP of brave women stepped onto the catwalk last night as part of The Northern Echo Fashion Show. The North-East women, who have all had breast cancer, were part of the fashion show at Tall Trees, near Yarm, which was organised to raise money for
A NEW initiative to improve mental health services in Sedgefield is being launched today to mark World Mental Health Day. Sedgefield Primary Care Group, County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, Durham Social Services, Sedgefield Borough
THE policeman leading a murder investigation made possible after an ancient law was abolished has revealed more details surrounding the death. Police opened the investigation after father-of-three Kevin Pharoah, 49, was found dead by his daughter in his
A POLICE officer who admitted threatening his wife and making nuisance telephone calls will not face an internal investigation, it was revealed yesterday. North Yorkshire Police have accepted the resignation of PC Arthur Swaine, who first offered to quit
A plastic skeleton has been stolen from a school in the Stanley area. Burglars smash-ed a window to break into the school to steal the skeleton worth £100 between the even-ing of Monday, September 1 and the following morning.
E-COMMERCE is having a major impact on UK supermarkets and convenience stores, a survey has shown. The report, commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), questioned stores ranging from large supermarket chains to corner shops to assess
WELCOME to George Reynolds' dream - to hold the FA Barclaycard Premiership trophy aloft at the club's new 25,000-seat stadium. The multi-millionaire chairman's quest for silverware came true for a brief couple of minutes yesterday when he became the first
WELSH wonder Craig Bellamy continued his Worthington Cup scoring exploits last night to book a fourth round spot for the Magpies. The £6m man followed his 12 minute hat-trick against Brentford in the last round with the only goal of the game after Newcastle
The Northern Echo has a pair of tickets to see Newcastle United versus Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park, in the FA Barclaycard Premiership, on October 21, to give away to the winner of a competition, courtesy of Barclays. Send your name, address, telephone
HUNDREDS of youngsters in Darlington are taking part in an environmental project to benefit local charities. The Schools and Charities scheme (SACs) encourages the town's youngsters to collect old clothes, toys and books and donate them to charity shops
A WIDOW has been awarded more than a third of her husband's estate - despite his dying wish she should not receive a penny. Elderly Subodh Das hated wife Jyotirmoyee so much that he put a clause in his will stating that nothing should go to her. Although
A NEW adoption support agency is looking for sponsors to help it give advice to adopted children and families. Freda McGrath, of Darlington, was reunited with her daughter, 30 years after giving her up for adoption. She decided she wanted to help other
POLICE dog handler Steve Deakin is in a bit of a predicament - he has no dog. PC Deakin urgently needs a new canine partner on a training course at Durham Police's dog training school at Harperley Hall, near Crook, County Durham. PC Deakin was three weeks
THE long-awaited project to create a £3.5m extension at a hospital that treats south Durham patients has finally got under way. Demolition crews moved in to tear down two wooden huts that have been used as makeshift wards at the Friarage Hospital, in
The British-based radical sheikh whose group allegedly claimed Tony Blair was now a "legitimate target" for Muslims today distanced himself from the row. As Scotland Yard confirmed it was formally investigating the comments, Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammed
THE reopening of a disused rail link between two North Yorkshire towns would prove a great success, according to the Rail Passenger Committee (RPC). The group voiced its approval for the re-establishment of the line between Malton and Pickering - although
A PENSIONER suffered a dislocated shoulder after she was knocked to the ground by a mugger in broad daylight. The 68-year-old, who does not want to be named, was returning home from shopping in Norton High Street, near Stockton, Teesside, when the mugger
STAFF were overjoyed when a senior manager cancelled his winter holiday - as his break was raffled to the workforce. Sheila Thompson, from Crook, County Durham, works for clothing company Barbour and could not believe her luck when she won the holiday
IN THE month since the terrorist atrocity in the United States, two words have been conspicuous by their absence. United Nations. So little has been heard of the UN that you could be forgiven for forgetting that this world forum, set up to prevent wars
A murder case jury today heard a plea for justice for the father of a teenager whose severed limbs were found 60 miles apart. Advocate depute Alan Turnbull QC said the conviction of Teesside student William Beggs, 38, would represent "justice, not retribution
A BREWERY with designs on growth has called on Business Link North Yorkshire for help. The Daleside Brewery, in Harrogate, has a turnover of £1m, but believes it can increase that to £3m in three years through product development and an image overhaul
A TEENAGER was attacked and threatened with a screwdriver as he confronted a burglar when he returned to his home. The 19-year-old saw a light on upstairs in the house as he approached and knew there should have been nobody in. So when he got inside and
A NEW delay in determining the future of a brewery site has been agreed. Persimmon Homes wants to build 63 houses and 13 flats on the Castle Eden Brewery site, by the A19, near Peterlee, County Durham. Castle Eden Breweries is transferring its operation
A PIECE of railway heritage is to be preserved as part of a £100m plan to develop new homes and a leisure complex at Gateshead Quays. The former Greenesfield Railway Works was built at the birth of the railways, with parts of the complex dating back nearly
NORMAN MASON has his sights set on victory at Towcester today with Night Fighter (4.00). The trainer of this year's Grand National winner, Red Marauder, sent the lightly-raced six-year-old down from his County Durham base to Worcester in mid-September
Marks & Spencer is winning back customers as it reported its first increase in quarterly sales for three years. Improved womenswear ranges helped the group report a 2.8 per cent jump in the second quarter of its financial year, far ahead of City expectations
SUNDERLAND is gearing up to host a major automotive conference next year, which will attract industry experts from across the globe. The International Automotive conference, organised by Sunderland City Council and US company TRW, will provide an excellent
