NATURE lovers are being invited to celebrate their local environment this weekend. Herrington Burn, in Sunderland, is hosting a series of activities between 11am and 3pm, on Sunday. Under the guidance of local artists and craftspeople, the public will
A HOTEL has been granted permission to expand despite objections from neighbours. Melsonby Properties had its plans for the Grey Horse Hotel, in Haughton Green, Darlington, approved by Darlington Borough Council subject to conditions which councillors
THE concept of regional government is an attractive one. Who can deny that the regions should have greater control over their destiny? We have in place a tier of quangoes and government bodies charged with the task of allocating every year £1bn of public
BCTG. - Nov 19 & Dec 17: Dressage clinic with Patsy Bartram. Open to non-members. Dec 17: Christmas meal. For details phone Connie on 01325 332685. Bedale Hunt. - Nov 12: Show jumping at Richmond EC, open to all, details 01677 450229. Braes of Derwent
Tommy Taylor has made his first signing as Darlington boss with the capture of former Torquay United midfielder Brian Healy. The Glasgow-born schemer had a trial spell with neighbours Hartlepool earlier in the season after falling out of favour at Plainmoor
LAST Christmas Sandra Reynolds had one of the most moving experiences of her life when she delivered 9,000 shoeboxes filled with gifts to the children of Croatia. It was an experience that has given her a new determination in her bid to persuade people
Sir, - On Saturday evening I, along with many other people, attended the final event of the Bedale 750 celebrations. That was a bonfire and brilliant fireworks display with music. On behalf of many local people who have attended the events held over the
REDCAR MP Vera Baird made a splash when she went out on patrol with Redcar Lifeboat at the weekend. She was given a tour of her constituency from the seaman's perspective in the station's Atlantic 21 lifeboat Leicester Challenge. On the way back from
TENS of thousands of households were without water last night after a freak electricity fault at a treatment works. The electricity at Broken Scar Treatment Plant in Darlington went off at about 5pm, resulting in dwindling water supplies across the town
A ferry operator is on its last warning for bringing refugees into the North-East after a spate of arrivals over recent weeks. During October, a total of 63 illegal immigrants sneaked into Teesport, Teesside, on P&O North Sea Freight ferries. The
A TEAM of bomb disposal experts was called in to explode a 500lb device found about ten miles off the North-East coast. A fishing boat trawling off the coast near Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, got the mine caught in its nets on Wednesday. The boat, the
Isabel Foley, a 13-year-old member of Woodham Golf and Country Club is demonstrating her golfing skills in the Ladies Section competitions. At the annual prize-giving of the section she picked up no less than eight prizes including Most Improved Player
HEALTH and beauty chain Bootshas revealed a rise in half-year profits. Pre-tax profits across the Nottingham group for the six months to September 30, were up eight per cent, at £248.9m. Turnover increased two per cent at £2.55bn, but like-for-like sales
A MARKET trader, who carried on working after a heart attack, has said a final farewell to fellow stallholders at the market he has worked for almost 20 years. Bob Barkley - known as The Sweet Man - suffered a coronary six months ago, but returned to
Matthew Hurst from Thorpe Larches has won yet another title on the prestigious nationwide U19 circuit. He and Carl Goode of Warwickshire captured the doubles with a 4-7 7-1 7-2 7-0 final success over Dan Corby (Devon) and Matt Smith (Notts) in Nottingham
THE girlfriend of County Durham's only known victim of the terrorist attack on New York has told how she watched in horror as the twin towers of the World Trade Centre collapsed -knowing her boyfriend was inside. New York lawyer Bridget Fitzpatrick frantically
A benefit cheat took more than £3,000 from the Department of Social Security, after claiming he did not have a job, while working at a club. John Halcrow, 55, of Cheshire Grove, South Shields, claimed £3,200 in incapacity benefit in ten months, while
Darlington 21st Allstars - Quite a few Darlington 21st Allstars JFC teams did not have games this weekend, partly because the first Sunday in the month in the Teesside Alliance is largely restricted to League Cup games and partly because the League programme
THE theme music to the BBC's Match of the Day programme inspired a project by primary school pupils. Children from Bowes Hutchinsons Church of England Aided School, Barnard Castle, created wooden musical moneyboxes which played the tune, when they visited
A PROJECT to preserve the historic heart of one of the region's cities has won a national award. The Grainger Town Project, in Newcastle, was awarded a best practice award from the British Urban Regeneration Association. Bill Midgley, the partnership's
THE North-East takes a major step towards "home rule" today when Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott hears how the region would like to govern itself. Mr Prescott is expected to welcome the proposals by the Campaign for a North-East Assembly (CNA), and
Huge demand has led to harried cinema bosses to book yet more showings of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone this weekend. The UCI cinema at Gateshead now has a further 13,000 tickets available for the first screenings on Saturday and Sunday, November
AN ARTIST is making waves in Redcar - out of concrete. The five metre tapered column, made of pre-cast concrete, features wave-like forms. It has been erected at one of the town's main gateways, next to the Zetland Park roundabout, between Lord Street
CLASSIC children's characters have been brought to life in the form of giant mural. The 300ft wall painting, at Greenside Primary School, Ryton, near Gateshead, features characters from Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Little Red
A PRICELESS collection of regimental silverware has gone on display in Durham Cathedral, as part of a national exhibition. The exhibition, which runs until November 28, is being held in the Chapel of the Nine Altars to highlight the work of SSAFA (Soldiers
Veteran agony aunt Claire Rayner was guest of honour at a North-East pensioners' rally yesterday. The 70-year-old spoke at the Cleveland Pensioners' For-um's first anniversary rally at Redcar Bowl. The forum, a local branch of the National Pensioners'
This Saturday will be the last chance to meet Roman soldiers at Bishop Auckland. The soldiers will be on guard at the Discovery Centre between 11.30am and 3.30pm to answer questions about Roman military life. On display will be a replica catapult and
YOUNGSTERS are being given a healthy start to their lives with gym sessions. Children aged from four months to two years can wobble about in baby bouncers, tumble down foam ramps or climb rope ladders at the free baby gym being provided by Sure Start
THE theme music to the BBC's Match of the Day programme inspired a project by primary school pupils. Children from Bowes Hutchinsons Church of England Aided School, Barnard Castle, created wooden musical moneyboxes which played the tune, when they visited
THOUSANDS of young people are being offered half- price bus travel in County Durham. Over-14s who have to pay full price will benefit from the £100 scheme drawn up by Durham County Council and the Investing in Children (IIC) programme. Students can take
A MINISTER has launched an £125,000 appeal to help build a church hall. The Reverend Keith Phipps, minister at Northallerton Methodist Church, is spearheading a campaign to build a meeting room to cater for 50 people, with two storerooms, toilets, a kitchen
THE SECOND phase of a major revamp of Ripon market place, costed at more than £1.5m, is nearing completion. With a grant of more than £1.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and more than £400,000 committed by North Yorkshire County and Harrogate Borough
A FATHER-OF-SEVEN who murdered his teenage wife as she lay sleeping was jailed for life yesterday. There were cheers from the public gallery as a jury at Teesside Crown Court returned a guilty verdict against Stephen Butters, who stood accused of murdering
MORTGAGE rates were slashed to a 46-year low last night after the Bank of England took dramatic action to shore up the economy. Yesterday's 0.5 per cent reduction in interest rates to stave off recession was cheered by unions and industry leaders - and
SALTBURN Community and Arts Association has appointed Wilma Gardiner-Gill as its new arts development promoter. Ms Gardiner-Gill will be responsible for promoting arts and cultural events at the community centre and the theatre. She has spent the last
RICHMOND garden and farm centre is to close on December 15 after weeks of uncertainty over its future. The move sees the end of the 27-year-old business and the loss of 13 jobs. Proprietor Mr Mike Pattison took the decision after long discussions with
Despite being unable to repeat the consistent form which was the hallmark of their game last season, North Shields firmly believe they are one of half-a-dozen sides who will continue to compete for the championship. Currently, the Robins are fifth from
A COLOURFUL history of life behind bars at a once notorious North-East jail has been put together by a group of long-serving prison officers. But the "warts and all" archive of prison memorabilia can only be viewed by those with access beyond Durham Jail's
IT has been suggested that the new Darlington football ground could be called Porridge Stadium. This is partly because it will house the Quakers, but also has something to do with where the chairman was once housed. No doubt this is a rumour put about
A FARMERS' representative has predicted short-term grief for Teesdale, following the lifting of foot and mouth infected area status from most of County Durham. Mr Phil Barber, Barnard Castle NFU branch secretary, spoke out after an announcement by the
CRAIG Liddle has handed Darlington boss Tommy Taylor a boost by declaring he'll return from injury by February. The 31-year-old fell awkwardly two weeks ago against Hull and a trip to hospital revealed a pin may have to be inserted. He had originally
MIDDLESBROUGH defender Gareth Southgate believes Boro have one of the best coaches in Europe in Steve McClaren. The former Manchester United assistant endured a torrid opening few months to his managerial career at the Riverside but it now looks as though
SEVEN Sunderland youngsters visited the Houses of Parliament this week to make a presentation about their area to Sunderland South MP Chris Mullin. The youngsters, who are part of the Pennywell Youth Participation Project, are pupils at St Anthony's,
THE chairman of a Stokesley charity which runs minibuses for old folk has been stunned by fighting talk from Great Ayton councillors. Mrs Kath Murray, chairman of Stokesley and district community care association, said her charity had lost almost £7,000
WHITEHALL was urged to consider a broader social and economic role for national park authorities yesterday. Richard Pullen, an envoy for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who is leading a review of the role the authorities play
IT has been suggested that the new Darlington football ground could be called Porridge Stadium. This is partly because it will house the Quakers, but also has something to do with where the chairman was once housed. No doubt this is a rumour put about
HARRY Potter stuff is everywhere. Broomsticks, spell casters, magic mirrors, pencil cases, pyjamas, fire-breathing dragons and Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans. Never before, it seems, has so much merchandise been devoted to one film. Entire sections
Big Billy Cruddas, it must be admitted, was a familiar face at disciplinary hearings. They'd not heard anything, however, like the tale of the touchline tree. As a youngster, they reckon, Billy the Kid was slight and shy. He grew into a familiarly physical
NORTHALLERTON Riding Club held a very well attended showcross event at Londonderry, near Leeming Bar, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs P Coupland and Mr and Mrs R Dixon. Many of the youngest competitors were taking part for the first time in this type
APPLICATIONS for longer opening hours at two Darlington pubs have been refused because councillors believe it could lead to more violence and drunken behaviour. Police objected to the plans for Humphries, in Blackwellgate, and Flares, in Skinnergate,
RESIDENTS are celebrating after plans to build a 12.5-metre mobile phone mast in their midst were blocked. BT Cellnet had hoped to build the mast just off the roundabout at the junction of Waldridge Road and Whitehill, in Chester-le-Street. With homes
Letters from The Northern Echo WAR ON TERRORISM IN his carefully crafted article (Echo, Nov 2) Glen Reynolds supports non-violent dissension in a wartime situation by using the example of Martin Luther King's attitude and reaction to the Vietnam war.
Blackfyne easily saw off the challenge from Consett when the sides met in the Under-11 division. Andrew Reynoldson (3) and Stephen Shaw (2) scored most of the goals in a 7-2 victory. Andrew McNally recorded a hat-trick in Felling's 5-0 defeat of Swalwell
KIERON DYER'S agent Jonathan Barnett has slammed as "scandalous'' the public criticism aimed at the Newcastle United star since he was sent home in disgrace from the club's Spanish training camp. Dyer, one of the Newcastle Four banished for snubbing a
THE Bowes museum is preparing an application to the national lottery, which it hopes will be the first move in attracting more than £5m to the Barnard Castle treasure house. The Bowes will submit a first bid in June next year with the aim of being awarded
MORE than one million used stamps have been collected in east Cleveland to help the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Yesterday, guide dog in training Tally and her puppy walker, Margaret Mableson, collected the stamps from the area's main drop-off
FAMILIES, those with lung diseases and talented youngsters are among the beneficiaries of a charity's latest grants. Cleveland Community Foundation has awarded a total of £62,000 to a range of groups and individuals throughout the Tees Valley. They include
A CONSULTATION exercise is to take place in Redcar in the hope that a new swimming pool can be built in the town. The town's old pool was shut down a few years ago - despite a protest campaign by local people. But, over the past few months, interest in
A WATER worker was crushed to death when a crane he was operating smashed through the front of an oncoming bus. The tragedy happened at traffic light-controlled road works in Brotton High Street, east Cleveland. David Mason was operating a jib and grab
CYBERCAFES in Sedgefield are to be given a boost by the local authority, to encourage more youngsters to use them. Sedgefield Borough Council has agreed to continue financial support to cybercafes in Newton Aycliffe, Ferryhill, Shildon and Spennymoor.
AN open evening takes place at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough on Monday. The event gives prospective students and their parents a chance to see the recently completed new developments, including the resource centre, drama studio, computing rooms
INTERNET business directory Ask Alix is taking on more staff as it continues to spread across continental Europe. The Eaglescliffe operation has taken on staff fluent in French, Swedish and German, to make its website more accessible across Europe. The
STARDOM is beckoning for a teenage singing sensation who wowed a television audience at the weekend. Sixteen-year-old Zoe Birkett from Darlington won through to the final of ITV's Pop Idol competition on Saturday night. More than 1.3 million people cast
THE countdown is on to the biggest event of the year for grassroots sport in our region. A bumper number of nominations have been received for The Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards. And a judging panel, including representatives from event partners Darlington
Eleven-year-olds in Wensleydale were left looking forward to joining their new school this autumn after an action-packed fortnight during the summer holiday. Wensleydale School ran its first Fast Forward Summer School from August 13 to 24. The school
NERVE-TORN lollipop patrols are getting the menace of madcap motorists taped. School crossing staff are being equipped with dictaphones to instantly record information about vehicles ignoring lollipop stop signs. Redcar and Cleveland Council is issuing
THE family of murdered teacher Lesley Grant spoke last night of the life sentence they must bear after their daughter's death. In a statement issued through Cleveland Police, Ms Grant's relatives said: "As a family today's successful result can bring
OUTRAGEOUS fantasy will be the highlight of a charity fashion show organised by a trainee hairdresser. Shireen Tahmbosybayat, from Durham City, took up an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship so she could train while doing a full time paid job. The show, which
ARCHAEOLOGISTS who discovered an Iron Age hill fort on Sutton Bank have also revealed that the White Horse of Kilburn has shrunk. After comparing old and new aerial photographs, experts have revealed that the landmark horse's legs are now half their original
LONG distance walkers crossing the North York moors after a night's stay in Osmotherley or Ingleby Cross often stop for lunch by the moorland road at Carlton Bank. In recent years some, unwrapping their sandwiches, have remarked to companions: "I don't
THE stoic response to the hardships that have beset the rural communities of County Durham during the past year was rewarded on Wednesday. This year's Durham County Tidy Village competition winners are probably among the most deserving to receive the
LEARNING centres go online today, in a project making top level computer equipment available to a school's surrounding community. Durham Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre has attracted funding to provide a network of computers for use by
ORGANIC produce grown locally may soon appear on the shelves in Marks & Spencer stores in Yorkshire. The company is involved with the ADAS-operated Stonechair organic farm at High Mowthorpe, near Malton, where some of the land is now fully converted
A 300-ACRE family farm near Darlington has reaped the benefit of the countryside stewardship scheme, run by Defra. The Vickers family, of Newton Grange Farm, Sadberge, are into the fourth year of a ten-year agreement and already wildlife has returned
A FIRE brigade may have to review safety procedures after a crew was ambushed by hooligans throwing fire works and firing rockets at them. The crew of six were reported to be "distressed" at finding themselves the target of yobs who used the flat roof
Plymouth are taking the skies for next week's FA Cup tie at Whitby. The Third Division leaders are flying to Teesside on Friday in preparation for the game, which kicks off at 1pm at the request of the BBC who expressed their concern at the brightness
SIXTH form students have been taking part in a conference discussing moral issues of the day. The Medical Ethics Conference, organised by the charity Life, took place at Redcar Leisure Centre last Thursday. Among the topics under discussion at the conference
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - At Ripon City Council, the sanitary committee recommended Skellbank as a convenient place for a public slaughterhouse at cost of £1,000. But Coun Moss presented a petition against the proposal from eighteen Ripon butchers
RESIDENTS of Redcar are digging deep to make sure Christmas in the town this year outshines all others. A crowd of nearly 9,000 packed Redcar Racecourse for a firework display on Saturday night and a Concert for Light held at Redcar Bowl last month raised
A RECORD number of students from Hartlepool Sixth Form College have started their studies at Durham University this year. The 15 students who won places at the university met the vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, at the Students' Union. College
HARRY Potter stuff is everywhere. Broomsticks, spell casters, magic mirrors, pencil cases, pyjamas, fire-breathing dragons and Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans. Never before, it seems, has so much merchandise been devoted to one film. Entire sections
A GROUP set up to help struggling smallholders in rural North Yorkshire has become a major voice for the army of enterprises in five other counties. Founded by Mr Roger Walker and his wife, Pat, at their home in Pickhill, near Thirsk, the North Yorkshire
ONE day a letter dropped on the mat at Mirelle Pull's home. Gently she picked it up, slowly opening it. Unable to speak, move, or even to cry, it took her husband Raymond nearly an hour to get any sense at all from her. Mirelle had just had the first
TICKETS were selling fast yesterday for a match featuring some of the region's former football stars. A team, which will include Sunderland boss Peter Reid, former Middlesbrough favourite Bernie Slaven and Newcastle United player Mick Martin, will play
A TEESSIDE council has accepted a new constitution which will determine the way it is run in the future. Unlike Middlesbrough Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has opted to go for a council leader and executive system, rather than
A special needs teacher laughed as he fed autistic children a chilli pepper, a court heard. Malcolm Phillips, 51, also slapped a young girl ten times in the face, a jury heard. A former colleague of Mr Phillips', Clair Kisby, said they had spent time
Staff at Corus on Teesside have expressed their shock at a blast furnace explosion in Wales, which killed one steelworker. At least 13 others were seriously injured in the blast, on Thursday night, when molten iron escaped from the blast furnace at the
Brandon right back Anthony McStea is lined up for a trial at First Division club Wolves. McStea, who was signed during the summer after being released by Middlesbrough, has been outstanding this season, and together with some of his team mates, has been
CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish a Great Ayton bungalow and replace it with a two-storey house, with four bathrooms and an additional toilet, have been refused. Hambleton council said the proposal for 7 Easby Lane would have an unacceptable impact on the
MORE than 250 shopfloor workers at Thorn Lighting's Spennymoor plant walked out yesterday, for the second time in a fortnight. Members of the electricians union, the AEEU, clocked off four hours early, in protest at a two per cent pay offer. Members of
LEGALISING drugs could lead to a better quality of life for everyone, according to a Cleveland councillor. Coun Ian Jeffrey, who holds the schools portfolio, outraged members of Recar and Cleveland council during a debate on drugs when he suggested that
A MAN who stabbed his partner to death in their kitchen then tried to kill himself was jailed for life yesterday. The jury at Teesside Crown Court took two hours to return a guilty verdict on Simon Keogh, who had denied murdering teacher Lesley Grant.
The second fixture of the NYSD cross country league took place in fine weather at Acklamd Grange course. The first race was the Under-13 boys and Graeme McPherson was the Harriers' sole runner. Finishing 21st in the Under-13 girls Jessica Morten was 17th
STUDENTS at a Sunderland school have been learning a valuable environmental lesson. The Youth Litter Campaign roadshow visited Washington Technology College to raise awareness about the impact of rubbish on the environment. Groups from the school's Eco
AN 11-YEAR-OLD East Cleveland schoolboy took home a UK trophy from the Home Pony International show in Cheshire. Teams from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales lined up to challenge each other in the finals, but there were also individual classes. Daniel
A "SUPER'' waste disposal centre is to be built in the North-East. Durham County Council has given planning approval for the recycling facility on the Hownsgill Prestige Industrial Park, Consett, County Durham. It will be built by Project Genesis, which
THE scent of wood smoke was a sign of welcome as we embarked on a short autumn break in the Lake District. It came from the open fire at a 15th century coaching inn at Hawkshead and was wafted tantalisingly around the streets by a mild and gentle breeze
A 'CARING and considerate' young man who fell to his death from a notorious suicide spot had taken the class-A drug Ecstasy that night, an inquest has heard. Jason Tate, 20, died from multiple injuries after he fell from the Hownsgill Viaduct, at Hamsterley
Heart patients are to benefit from plans to build new diagnostic units at smaller hospitals. The move should speed up tests and allow patients to be seen closer to their homes. Currently, patients with suspected coronary heart disease in South Durham,
THE Bowes museum at Barnard Castle has for too long been an undeveloped asset. An underrated treasure house, it has struggled for many years because of inadequate funding. It has also found it hard to attract the visitors it should to cover its substantial
THE talents of North Yorkshire artist, Elizabeth Smith, have been recognised by one of the country's leading art societies. The Royal Society of Marine Artists has rewarded the consistently high standard of her paintings by electing her to membership.
A MASSIVE fire ripped through the premises of one of the region's leading recycling firms last night. So many firefighters were called in to tackle the blaze at the SWS Waste Management plant in Thomlinson Road, Hartlepool, that crews from County Durham
A TEENAGER has won a work placement at a French medical centre. Lisa Benneth, of Stockton Sixth Form College, is going to the European centre for the Study of Diabetes, in Strasbourg, for ten days. An exchange visit, which links Stockton college with
NEWCASTLE Falcons boss Rob Andrew has thrown his weight behind Yarm school's fundraising efforts for a South American tour next summer. The former England international donated a signed ball for the school's auction of promises when members of the tour
SUNDERLAND'S Empire Theatre is presenting a family Christmas show later this month. The show follows the adventures of Santa and Mother Christmas as they embark on a magical journey to find the spirit of Christmas, before it is destroyed forever. The
IF you want to see demonstrations of the latest thinking in natural horsemanship at first hand, the place to be is the North of England Christmas Equine Show. The event is being staged at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, on the weekend of December
A HURWORTH shop owner who has served the village for more than 13 years has decided to take a well-earned rest after spending nearly 40 years in the retail trade. Mr Billy Marsh, owner of the Spar shop on the green, hands over the reins to the new owner
KEVIN Henderson could be out of action for the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments on Wednesday. The Hartlepool frontman, who has just returned after suspension and a calf strain, damaged medial ligaments in the reserve game with Halifax.
This Saturday will be the last chance to meet Roman soldiers at Bishop Auckland. The soldiers will be on guard at the Discovery Centre between 11.30am and 3.30pm to answer questions about Roman military life. On display will be a replica catapult and
A SENIOR council officer has defended his authority's decision to hold out for a higher price for a key plot of land in a two-year wrangle with a supermarket chain. Charles Anderson, chief executive of Teesdale District Council, spoke out after being
A steelworker died and 13 others were injured, some seriously, after an explosion at a Corus steel plant last night. The company said a "serious escape" of molten iron occurred at a blast furnace on the company's Port Talbot site in South Wales. It added
SIX months of celebrations marking the 750th anniversary of the Bedale market charter ended in spectacular style on Saturday with a firework display thought to have been the biggest and best ever seen in the town. Fireworks worth £7,000 were expended
THE restoration of an ancient village spa might be given a Christmas present. Funding the whole project was likely to cost about £7,000, of which members had raised £3,700, Coun Jack Diamond told Gainford and Langton Parish Council on Monday. Following
A THIRTEEN-year-old golfer has cleaned up in the women's competitions at Woodham Golf and Country Club in Newton Aycliffe. Isabel Foley demonstrated her golfing skills to pick up no less than eight prizes at the club's annual prizegiving event, including
A MAN needed 18 stitches after suffering a severe gash to his arm after a town centre robbery turned nasty. Steven Laing, 46, was on a night out with colleagues from Middlesbrough General Hospital, where he works as a porter, when the attack happened.
YOUNG mum Eileen Jennison capped a short but eventful literary career with a place among the prizewinners of a short story competition. The mother-of-four, from Proudfoot Drive, in Bishop Auckland, took second place in Bishop Auckland Town Hall's national
BUD is affectionately known as the "bionic dog" after a road accident left him with a wired jaw. Now the two-year-old border collie is fully recovered from his injuries and is waiting at the Ramshaw Rescue Centre, near Bishop Auckland, for a new home.
Sir, - As an ex-trustee of long-standing and a founder member of Masham town hall association, who, along with others in the 60s saved the building, I am concerned at the way the trustees are bulldozing through alterations. Most people in Masham think
NEIGHBOURS have reacted angrily to plans to knock down a 1930s art deco house on a North Yorkshire estate and replace it with a block of flats. They say 12 flats will be out of character with the other homes in Firs Road, Harrogate, a sought-after residential
Veteran agony aunt Claire Rayner was guest of honour at a North-East pensioners' rally yesterday. The 70-year-old spoke at the Cleveland Pensioners' For-um's first anniversary rally at Redcar Bowl. The forum, a local branch of the National Pensioners'
AN Army officer accused of calling a female captain a ''blonde, thick bimbo'' yesterday said her opinion of her changed after the captain demanded an apology from two soldiers for calling her a bitch, a tribunal heard. Lieutenant Colonel Jean Kennedy,
The country's top footballers today voted by a massive 99%-plus to come out on strike. An overwhelming 2,290 PFA members backed action in a bitter row over TV cash. Only 22 players said they shouldn't strike. PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "We
CLASSY claimer David Allan has a gilt-edged opportunity to further advertise his talents aboard Pure Coincidence at Doncaster this afternoon. The smart young apprentice jockey has been booked to partner Karl Burke's sprinter for the second time in the
A LORRY ended up hanging over an embankment after it crashed through a wall yesterday. No one was hurt in the accident, which happened in a hilly part of Durham City at lunchtime. The removals vehicle and the wall, in Back Western Hill, were badly damaged
HARRY Potter fans in Darlington will now have a better chance of seeing the eagerly awaited new movie. Early risers will be able to watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at the ABC cinema in North Road from 9am. The cinema applied for a variation
A NORTH-EAST police authority is asking taxpayers to find more money for extra officers - on top of a six per cent budget increase. The extra cash would fund additional Cleveland Police officers to patrol the streets of Teesside. Councillor Ken Walker
SIX secondary schools in Darlington are preparing for the town's annual schools' public speaking competition. The event, to be held on Tuesday evening at Darlington college of technology, will be keenly contested by teams from Eastbourne, Hummersknott
A FORMER Whitby joiner has just opened his first pine and fireplace centre in Guisborough and is looking for sites in Scarborough and Redcar. Business is flourishing for Mr John Pickard, who first opened a shop in Skinner Street, Whitby, with his wife
FLATS for the elderly are to be built on the site of a former garage in Saltburn. Tees Valley Housing Group has announced plans for specially-designed flats at the former Watson's Garage in Milton Street. The £790,000 scheme will result in 12 purpose-built
RURAL transport is improving but village post offices continue to decline, a national survey has concluded. The Countryside Agency's Rural Services in 2000 report, launched on Tuesday, showed 67pc of parishes had a bus service six or seven days a week
WHEN Geri Halliwell feels bloated, she cuts out wheat and loses half a stone. "I'm suffering from a food allergy," she announces. And before you know it young, impressionable teenage girls everywhere want one, to go alongside the mock Prada handbag and
There's nothing more annoying for the viewer than to have a series they've been following - at a time they are able to watch - suddenly shifted around the schedules half way through. So why do the programmers do it? THE producer of a new BBC2 documentary
A GROWING number of young drug addicts are finding themselves homeless, agencies are reporting. Those charged with looking after them feel powerless to help the young people to find beds because of a shortage of rooms and the number of people living on
A FINAL seal will be put on a 100-year-old maritime tragedy in a windswept cemetery this weekend. As the rest of Britain and the Commonwealth remember the fallen of two world wars and conflicts since, a small international gathering will offer prayers
Northmbrian Water worked through the night on Thursday to restore Darlington's water supply. It took seven hours to restore the supply after a freak electric fault on a transformer at the Broken Scar Treatment Plant in the town. The power was back on
A BLUEPRINT to improve life in Malton and Norton has been approved and is in the hands of the Cabinet Office. The action plan drawn up by the Malton and Norton Area Partnership is the second to win approval in the Yorkshire and Humber region from the
SPECTATOR'S colleague was kept awake for a good deal of Tuesday night by repair men digging up the road to repair a gas leak in her neighbourhood. But what a comfort it was, lying in a warm bed, knowing that someone was beavering away in the dark, fighting
BRITISH Telecom shareholders were sent reeling yesterday as the telecoms company revealed its finance director Philip Hampton would be stepping down. The move comes just eight days after chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield left BT, receiving a pay-off
MARSKE and New Marske district councillors said this week that residents would fight any plans to put a business park near their homes. The dispute arose at a meeting of the full Redcar and Cleveland council. Conservative group leader, Coun Vera Moody
WATCHING day-care patients being greeted in the hall of Darlington's St Teresa's Hospice is rather humbling. Frail-looking elderly men and women are fussed over and given such a warm welcome that it looks more like a homecoming than a visit to an institution
Big Billy Cruddas, it must be admitted, was a familiar face at disciplinary hearings. They'd not heard anything, however, like the tale of the touchline tree. As a youngster, they reckon, Billy the Kid was slight and shy. He grew into a familiarly physical
TWO Langley Moor firms are closing with the loss of up to 221 jobs. Durham Dairy, at Stonebridge, is expected to close within 90 days following the sale of the business which was announced on Monday. The news came only six days after Colway Tyres, at
POLICE are warning parents buying motorbikes for their children this Christmas to ensure they carry tags to prevent them being stolen. Chief Superintendent John Kelly, of Cleveland police, is urging that all machines carry security markings to ensure
DARLINGTON'S over 50s want to be seen as an asset in society, not a burden. A new council statement aims to do just that, presenting a positive image of older people, improving their quality of life and ensuring their views are listened to. The town is
Reaping rewards for your achievements is always a fulfilling dream when conquering goals, but for one young Darlington boy, a kick-boxing dream is just beginning to unfold, writes PAUL KINGSTON. Sixteen-year-old Michael Dicks competes for a British amateur
GROWING short rotation coppice for wood fuel is just round the corner for the North-East, according to speakers at a seminar held last week. Farmers and potential end-users met at Hardwick Hall hotel, Sedgefield, for the Defra-sponsored seminar to find
THE streets of Bedale should be given back to the people by solving parking problems and organising more public events, Hambleton councillors were told yesterday. Mr Ian Crowther, chief executive of Business Solutions Bedale, the enterprise agency for
IS IT just us or does everyone suffer from "ten to nine syndrome"? School days are set routines. Mum gets up at 6.45am to prepare the packed lunches, and the children (that includes me in her eyes) start being roused at around 7.45am. It's quite calm
OUR summer term is full of special activities relating to the curriculum, with every class taking part in an outing that relates to work studied in the classroom. This year, the early years children visited Saltburn. They enjoyed using the funicular railway
THIS year Darlington schools have been using the roads instead of the playground for their cycling proficiency. Our cycling course lasted six weeks. We were split into groups of four, each group with an instructor. The things we learnt were remembering
THE first of Durham County Council's new breed of residential care homes for old people is open in Crook. Nineteen people from Holmfield and Millfield have moved into the £2.2m Southfield Lodge 'extra care' development, in South End Villas, which, says
Sir, - I conclude from Peter Atkinson's letter (D&S, Nov 2) that he supports the repressive Taliban, or al Qa'eda, for they are the same, and its distorted ideology. For every victim of a stray US bomb, there have been thousands of Afghan citizens
There's nothing more annoying for the viewer than to have a series they've been following - at a time they are able to watch - suddenly shifted around the schedules half way through. So why do the programmers do it? THE producer of a new BBC2 documentary
Saturday saw the first round of the Archbold Trophy with SCA's performance against the Royal the highlight. In a game that went to extra time the result was in doubt up to the final whistle but the lads of SCA took the tie 3-2. SCA's goals all came from
REMEMBRANCE Day will have an extra special meaning at a ceremony in East Cleveland this weekend. As well as paying tribute to war dead, a group of people will gather to honour the memory of Norwegian sailors who lost their lives in a tragedy 100 years
A SCHEME to steer youngsters away from crime has won a national award. The Sunderland-based Phoenix Initiative, which involves teenage convicts receiving fire-fighting training from the Tyne and Wear brigade, won the young offenders' category of the National
ALL school children in Bellerby, Wensleydale, can now enjoy free travel to school thanks to the efforts of one mother. "I wish I had appealed a long time ago because it would have saved some people a lot of money," said Ms Elaine Sayer. Until September
FRESH blueprints for a new sports centre in Colburn will be tabled at a meeting in Richmond this evening. The district council already gave its blessing to one project for the community in April this year. However, architects employed by Colburn Town
THE Clarion has welcomed back an old friend to take over the role of general manager. Sheila Argument worked at East Cleveland's favourite weekly newspaper eight years ago and has returned to take charge of the advertising department. Mrs Argument, who
A RECORD number of students from Hartlepool Sixth Form College have started their studies at Durham University this year. The 15 students who won places at the university met the vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, at the Students' Union. College
YOUNG musicians are holding a concert to help a local charity raise public awareness of bowel cancer. In addition, the Sir Cliff Richard organisation has sent a message of support to the charity, Against Bowel Cancer. It is based in Yarm and was highlighted
A TALENTED young sportswoman from Colburn is hoping to win more honours at this weekend's European wado kai karate championships in Finland. Amanda Ilsley, aged 17, took up the sport six years ago and is now an established member of the national squad
Durham League - After winning their first league game just last week the Middlesbrough Mavericks season lifted off in a big way this week when two games in the week netted them two victories and moved them to the top of the first division league table
FARMERS must shorten the food chain to win a better deal for themselves. Mr Ben Gill, NFU president, said it was time they stopped being the industry's whipping boys. "We are no better off than the family dog which sits at the end of the table looking
THE Government is facing a revolt from rural businesses seeking more than £5bn in compensation for foot-and-mouth. Ministers offered small businesses hit by the outbreak £3m but traders from worst affected areas, which include County Durham, North-umberland
Bishop Auckland League - Crook Olde Horse Shoe emphasised their Championship success with a five point home win over Bishop Auckland Derby, who just did enough to secure their runners-up spot. The Shoe had two singles points from Richard Walker and Gavin
A TRIO of northern lights landed the spoils at Newmarket - two of which could have been expected, one less so - as Bollin Nellie, Riberac and Soller Bay scored on Friday and Saturday. Tim Easterby trains Bollin Nellie for her breeders, Sir Neil and Lady
On Saturday City travelled to South Shields for a friendly fixture against Westoe who last year won promotion but are finding life hard in North East Division Two. The game was exciting and could have gone either way with both sides scoring four tries
This week's action was dominated by two superb games from the Darlington & Stockton Times First Division Cup, as the two teams that will contest the final became known. The game between Coundon Forresters and Newton Aycliffe Sports Club provided,
SHILDON rally driver Barry Johnson justified making a last minute entry when he recorded a fine third place overall on the Jim Clark Memorial Rally held in Berwickshire last weekend. Driving the Barrier Surveillance WRC specification Subaru Impreza, Johnson
LAST weekend was a memorable one for Langbaurgh Brass as they beat 19 other bands to scoop the Section Three first prize in the Pontins-sponsored Brass Band Championships at the Prestatyn Sands holiday camp. Winning the first prize of £1,250 and a commemorative
Four people appeared in court yesterday in connection with the murder of father-of-four Michael Brolly, who was beaten to death in York's city centre. Carl Wesley Mason, 21, of Plumer Avenue, York; Leanne Beard, 18, of Bull Lane, York; Matthew John Carney
DARLINGTON'S worrying slump in form deepened after Tuesday night's disappointing 3-0 reverse at Shrewsbury Town. The Quakers have now gone eight games without a win and manager Tommy Taylor was angry that his players failed to show enough mental toughness
ORPHAN boy is taken in by hostile relations and endures years of misery, often harshly neglected in favour of his relatives' natural child, before finally escaping for a life of adventure. The plot of countless children's books, many of which have become
A NORTH-East academic has written a hymn inspired by the September 11 terrorist attacks on America. Dr Steve Croft, warden at Cranmer Hall, at Durham University's St John's College, hopes his hymn will offer comfort and hope to those who have been affected
ONE of the warmest autumns on record came to an abrupt end yesterday when the first winter snow fell across the region. Hazardous road conditions, howling winds and freezing temperatures signalled the arrival of winter following the mildest October since
WHAT a brilliant month to follow that dismal September. Over England and Wales as a whole, this was the warmest October for more than 300 years, for as long as reliably comparable temperature measurements have been kept. It is only six years, as well,
WHEN Geri Halliwell feels bloated, she cuts out wheat and loses half a stone. "I'm suffering from a food allergy," she announces. And before you know it young, impressionable teenage girls everywhere want one, to go alongside the mock Prada handbag and
A MAN suffered a fatal heart attack after taking too many pills to try to control his depression, a coroner concluded yesterday. Former forklift truck driver Vernon Law died at Darlington Memorial Hospital in November 1999, after collapsing at home. Doctors
Jack Jobson Memorial Final - Eddie Rhodes of Spennymoor was presented with the Jack Jobson Memorial Cup by Joan Jobson, Jack's widow, after he beat John Hall of Crowtrees in the Final, played at Tow Law. Eddie Rhodes was giving away thirty points per
Sensational sport on the Ure, writes JAMES HERBERT. Perfect autumnal conditions low clear and a touch of colour resulted in a staggering 26 double figured weights in the Ripon Piscatorials Open on Sunday when over 55.0.0 was needed for first place and
