TOW LAW mart this week announced it that it had been acquired by Hexham and Northern Marts. The directors have leased the premises to Hexham auction mart for ten years, with immediate effect. Mr Harry Vickers, the fourth generation chairman and managing
LOYALTY cards are to be launched in a dale's shops in an attempt to make people more aware about supporting their local traders and services. Businesses throughout Weardale have joined the scheme, pledging to pass on special offers to customers when the
From this newspaper 25 years ago. - A cup of cold tea went flying among the angry words at a Stockton committee meeting on Wednesday. During an argument over the Leisure and Amenities budget for next year Coun Mrs Maureen Taylor let fly with the cup -
COVERDALE in the Yorkshire Dales national park will soon have its own fully equipped art studio and workshop with a self-contained, self catering flat. It will be housed in a 17th century building of traditional Yorkshire stone and mullioned windows in
A COUPLE who between them have fought in a world war and battled against a brain tumour are celebrating 65 years together. Wilf and Annie Roe live at South Church Nursing Home and yesterday celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Wilf, 87, met Annie
A MEMENTO of one of North Yorkshire's famous residents has found a new home in the Richmondshire Museum. Knaresborough has Mother Shipton, Ripon has its hornblower tradition, and Richmond has the story of the Drummer Boy. But Bolton-on-Swale is the last
THE decorations may have only just come down, but traders are planning how they can decorate their town next Christmas. Guisborough Business Association was so delighted with the success of a scheme with Guisborough Town Council to adorn trees along Westgate
Darlington continued to maintain their stranglehold grip on the North-East League Division Two with a 7-0 away win over Hartlepool Caledonians and tomorrow Darlington look to take another step towards promotion when they take on South Shields at the Eastbourne
New Marske Harriers The Northern cross country championships were held at Nitton Park, Blackburn, on Saturday on a hilly, muddy, testing course. A small party representing NMH travelled and in the Under-13 girls race Penny Wilson finished 27th, Abi Silcock
WORKERS have criticised print company managers for moving the firm away from Northallerton. Employees from Sparkprint SE on Yafforth Road said that workers were not happy to travel to the company's new site in Newton Aycliffe but were told if they wanted
MR CHRIS Hobson is not the type to put his head in the sand, but when he was looking for something to diversify into he decided his future could lie in ... ostriches. Seven years on, he is now not only fattening 300 a year for the meat market, but has
A speed camera blitz is saving lives on Teesside's roads. Road casualty figures for the area fell by 25 per cent in the nine months following the introduction, last April, of a controversial, self-financing speed camera pilot scheme. Road safety expert
GUISBOROUGH has been selected as one of six towns in the country to be part of a scheme looking at regenerating market communities. The Countryside Agency chose the town for preparatory work as part of the scheme, which aims to revitalise its infrastructure
Sir, - The Past Times article (D&S, Jan 19), talked of Scorton once being the "most complete village in England." How true, but sadly, many of the businesses and amenities have now gone, a sign of the times present. The boys' grammar school has been
THOUSANDS of illegally smuggled cigarettes and litres of alcohol have been recovered following a massive operation by North-East Customs and Excise officials. Using information received through the Customs Confidential Hotline, ten teams raided more than
A TASK force set up by the government to examine the problems facing hill farmers has visited the Yorkshire dales. The "task force for the hills" was the guest of the dales advisory group, made up of farmers and landowners, which advises English Nature
TWO councils have joined forces to introduce 'townies' to the countryside. Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland Councils are jointly organising a 17km walk linking the Cleveland Way at Highcliff Nab, above Guisborough, to the Teesdale Way at Middlesbrough
THE new chief executive at Teesside airport is carrying out a "sanity check" on proposals for a multi-million pound freight centre on its south side. At his first meeting with the airport consultative committee on Wednesday, Mr Hugh Lang set out to separate
Willington and District League The Prospect Club caused a major upset when they entertained league leaders, Oakenshaw Club and whitewashed them with wins from Chris Atkinson, Ray Aiston, Paul Blyth, Dave Peacock and Lee Sample. This pushed the Prospect
ORGANISERS of a summer festival are planning to bring influences from across the Atlantic to North Yorkshire. This year's Ryedale Festival will continue the international flavour established in recent years with a series of American-themed events. The
MR STEVEN Nesbitt realised things on the family farm had to change when his college lecturer wife started earning more in a day than he did in a week. "We knew everything was stacked against the little farmer," he said. "If you have not given yourself
Bishop Auckland Cycling Club THE club celebrated the achievements of five young cyclists at the club's annual presentation evening at the Toronto Lodge near Bishop Auckland last week. All five gained certificates and prizes in the League 2000 series at
A PUB is celebrating 12 months of fundraising to help the local community. Staff and customers at The Green Inn at Skelton Green have raised money for events including a pantomime trip for 35 children and a Christmas buffet for pensioners. The remaining
GHOSTLY goings-on in the 16th and 17th Century are being put under the spotlight in an academic conference in Durham City. A one-day conference at Durham University, called Early Modern Ghosts will examine aspects of ghosts and apparitions. Papers will
A GROUP of residents won praise yesterday for their efforts in gaining new qualifications and finding employment. The Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Pete Andrew, met more than 70 people at the Willows Community Centre in Portrack, Stockton, who have been
DOUBLE vision is one thing, but when it comes in triplicate it is more important than ever to keep an eye on what is happening. The youngest section of Aysgarth school, at Newton-le-Willows, originally had only one pair of twins but now it has got three
The straight and narrow isn't what it used to be, the line of the land precipitous. When the farming folk of Masham gathered on Sunday evening to speed the plough, it was impossible not to suppose that it was struggling in first gear, uphill all the way
SCHOOLCHILDREN joined Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong and councillors from the Wear Valley district to remember the millions of people who suffered and died through Nazi persecution. Ms Armstrong, who is MP for North-West Durham, unveiled a
THERE was a steep rise in the number of house burglaries in Hartlepool last month. In the months before Christmas, house burglaries had been reduced to three or four a day, but since the start of the year, this has risen to an average of between six and
STEEL made Teesside and Teesside made steel. For more than 160 years, one industry above all others has dominated the banks of the river and created a community along its length. Industry is the reason why Teesside exists the way it does today. It brought
YOUNGSTERS got the chance to meet real life Bob the Builders when they visited a construction site. Haslam Homes North-East is building three-bedroom semi-detached homes in a cul-de-sac off Front Street, at Pity Me, Durham. Twenty five six-year-olds from
AGRICULTURE and horticultural students from Sunnydale School, Shildon, will be putting theory into practice next week when they plant trees at the town's millennium green. On Tuesday, a group from year 11 will spend the afternoon at the site in Dean Gardens
HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn is backing a plan to speed up the treatment of heart attack victims which could save thousands of lives. The Darlington MP, who has made the battle against heart disease a personal crusade, has asked medical watchdogs to
A TEAM of swimmers from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington produced superb performances in the recent North-East British Colleges swimming championships. The college won both the medley and freestyle relays and was awarded the shield for
PRIMARY school youngsters had to be locked in school after two animals escaped from Northallerton auction mart. The incident has prompted renewed calls for the mart to be relocated. Mr Al Procter, headteacher at Applegarth primary school, told how terrified
THE changing face of high street shopping is reflected in recent developments in North- allerton. Some traditional retailers are closing their doors but others clearly feel the future is bright. They include Tesco, which this week announced it was considering
COUNCIL bosses under fire for thinking of installing a £25,000 state-of-the-art sound system in their council chamber have scrapped the plans. The system, which would have enabled councillors to vote electronically and control the volume of each microphone
LOFTUS residents are being invited to nominate a local person for a special award for dedication to the community. The Loftus Town Council annual citizen's award, now in its fourth year, will be given to a parishioner who has contributed to life in the
SEEING the litter-strewn state of the streets surrounding nearly every school I come across these days, with the road running past the newly designated languages college in the west end of Darlington, Hummersknott, especially worthy of dishonourable mention
Sir, - The regrettable decision made by Northallerton Town Council's amenities committee to withdraw toilet facilities to their own community charge payers, and local market traders who also pay tax to the town hall, should be of concern to all. The raison
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 5 calves, 705 sheep. Bull calves to £120; hfrs to £62. Store hoggs to £42. Lt hoggs to 110.7p av 98.8p; std to 117.8p av 112.2p; med to 119.2p av 114.5p; heavy to 110.8p av 108.6p. Cast ewes: Mule to £39.50; Swale to £34; Suff
Bishop Auckland manager Tony Lee has jumped to the defence of striker Danny Mellanby. Darlington fans aren't happy with the fact that the Football League side are chasing a non-League striker, but Lee said: "Danny has got the potential to make it at Football
A NORTH-EAST school is stamping out persistent bullying in the playground with a range of measures - including a new buddy stop. Staff at Walkergate Junior School, Sutton Street, Newcastle, have installed the new buddy facility, which is like a bus stop
SISTERS Kimberley and Brittany Knowles, of Darlington, enjoyed success in a karate competition held in Sunderland recently. Ten-year-old Kimberley won the junior class, while her eight-year-old sister triumphed in the cadet section. Both girls are members
Almost a week after losing to Bristol Rovers in the fifth round, Chester-le-Street Ladies' presence in the FA Cup is still hanging in the balance. The Cestrians have lodged an appeal with the FA, claiming their Avon opponents fielded an ineligible player
AGE and infirmity are reducing the ranks of a town's old soldiers. They have taken such a toll that the South Bank branch of the Royal British Legion is down to eight veterans. On Sunday, February 18, they will parade, for the last time, to the town's
A NEW £14.5m road is being heralded as the way ahead in East Cleveland. The Skelton and Brotton bypass, the biggest engineering project undertaken by Redcar and Cleveland Council in its five-year lifetime, has been completed. Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough
THE future of the famous Farndale daffodils is under threat, according to the North York Moors National Park authority. As a result action is to be taken to conserve them for future generations by banning farm stock from grazing the fields where the daffodils
EXTRA flood defences - costing £100,000 - are to be built at Skinningrove. Redcar and Cleveland council's executive on Tuesday agreed to an additional 60 metres of flood wall, giving further protection to the village which was devastated by flooding twice
THE Year of the Snake will be seen in style this weekend when Durham holds its second Chinese New Year celebrations. Last year saw the first major event staged by the County Durham Chinese Association to mark the first year of the Millennium. Now bigger
COUNCIL tax payers in Teesdale are facing a hefty tax increase as the local authority tries to bolster its dwindling reserves. The news came at a meeting of Teesdale District Council's policy and resources committee, which met to discuss a recommended
Sir, - In the Thirsk Town Council election held on December 14 last year, only 119 people voted out of a possible 3,609. I myself did not vote because I did not know the election was being held and did not receive a poll card. I have now found out that
HE might well be called Yorkshire's bridgemaster. And no title would please John Carr more. An architect of great distinction, his portfolio of major buildings ranks with the best. He designed Harewood House and Buxton's elegant Crescent. A volume of
I FEEL confident no more parents will go through the same heartache as those who have suffered in the grotesque Alder Hey body parts scandal. Action has already been taken to make sure of that. But I am troubled by the ease, yet again, with which an inadequate
A long-running campaign to prove a steelworks lies behind a cancer cluster among its workers is back on. Earlier this year, cancer sufferer Jack Atherton and his wife, Dot, announced they were pulling out of the fight on behalf of afflicted former Consett
FAYE Anderson was two-and-a-half years old when she spotted a ballet dress in a charity shop window in Redcar and pestered her mother to buy it . Now, nearly all of Faye's spare time is dedicated to the passion which has dictated her life for 12 years
Sedgefield's four junior women waterpolo internationals, Angie Winstanley Smith, Carol Mohan, Samantha Mitchell and Charlotte Nicols, are in the British squad which goes to Zeist, Holland, on February 19-25 for training and matches as part of their preparation
ONE of the region's most prestigious museums, which saw a new board of trustees set up last year, has welcomed the arrival of its new director. Mr Adrian Jenkins joined the team at the Bowes museum last week following the retirement of its last curator
Cleveland Ladies Super League Cricketers Arms, from Stockton were at home to Billingham Social Club. Joyce Dunlop (12.90) beat Trish Manton (12.81) 3-1 to put Billingham 1-0 up. Jane Andrews (12.25) made it 1-1 when she beat Chris Cole (11.78) 3-1 and
THE mysterious death of a teenager, whose body was found on rocks in Hartlepool marina, is being treated as murder. Yesterday Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, of Hartlepool CID, announced that as a result of forensic tests and a post mortem
IT'S YET another six pointer at the Riverside as Boro, in their battle for Premier-ship survival, come face to face with another of the sides battling for their lives - Manchester City. Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is looking forward to a crucial home
CUP HERO Danny Dichio is ready to return to the Sunderland firing line this afternoon determined to blast a way towards a place in Europe. The 26-year-old Londoner, whose spectacular match-winning goal against Ipswich Town last week earned the Wearsiders
A COUNCILLOR has asked schools in his area to make children aware of County Durham's mining heritage. Councillor Tony Moore has written to the headteachers of Greenfield Community and Arts College, Sunnydale Comprehensive School and primary schools in
WEAR Valley and Sedgefield district councils have been given an extra cash boost to spearhead the regeneration of the area's deprived communities. The Government has doubled the amount of money the councils will receive in the first year of the three-year
PEOPLE in Durham are being asked what they think the best structure for the leadership of the city council will be. People will have the chance to vote on the best option in March when a leaflet on the subject is distributed to every household. The three
THE BIRTHPLACE of Bryan Robson, the infamous answer to Peter Lee's Who wants to be a Millionaire? question and the highest unemployment in County Durham - Chester-le-Street has certainly had a mixed press in recent years. But a new book by a local archaeologist
A MAJOR high street name has confirmed it is in negotiations to take over the Dressers shop in Northallerton high street. WH Smith confirmed that it was interested in taking over the building to be vacated by the family stationers in March. Shoppers were
HUNDREDS of council workers are celebrating after cleaning up in local government awards. Gateshead Borough Council has become the first in the country to win a Charter Mark for its cleaning service. The authority's building cleaning division has 750
FUNNY old game, this history malarkey. It can intrude at the oddest moments. There we were, skipping up the grandiose staircase towards an early evening reception at the Bowes museum, nothing on our minds more pressing than a nagging thought that the
DRIVING farmers out of business would destroy the countryside. It would destroy the high standards of animal welfare and cause unimaginable damage to the environment and ecology. These warnings were given by Mr John Thorley, chief executive of the National
A FORMER Bishop Auckland student has proved she has one of best brains in Britain when it comes to geography. Cambridge undergraduate Suzanne McDermott gained one of the highest scores nationally in the A-level geography examination last summer. Suzanne
A DAY of celebration took place at Skelton at the weekend, as a Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme was launched. Skelton Youth Inclusion is being implemented by Redcar and Cleveland SRB. The £2.45m programme, developed and managed by Skelton Priority
UNION leaders last night began drawing up plans which they say could save most of the 6,000 workers being axed by steel giant Corus. The dramatic move came as The Northern Echo added its regional voice to the campaign to make Corus bosses review their
THREE puppies had a lucky escape when fire swept through an allotment. But the blaze at Easington Colliery, in east Durham, has robbed handicapped people of an unofficial drop-in centre. Yesterday the owner of the plot, retired miner Fred Welsh, was counting
Darlington manager Gary Bennett will tell centre forward John Williams to prove his doubters wrong when Quakers go to York City for their crucial bottom of the table clash this afternoon. Quakers go to Bootham Crescent two points in front of their neighbours
FORMER Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson last night threw down the gauntlet to miners' leader Arthur Scargill. The president of the NUM is planning to challenge Mr Mandelson for his Hartlepool seat at the next election. Mr Scargill, general secretary
BCTG. - Feb 5: Show jumping with Jane Graham. Feb 12: Flat work with Corinne. Training continues on alternate Mondays. Subs now due. Ring 01325 332685. British Eventing (former BHTA). - Feb 17/18 and Mar 4: Cross country clinics, Helen Bell, Manor House
Severe flooding which hit part of Ripon in October and November last year, has prompted housing developers to seek planning permission to raise floor levels of new homes. Permission was given in April 1999, for two detached homes with double garages on
UNIONS and politicians have vowed to fight for Teesside jobs after steel giant Corus slashed 1,100 jobs yesterday. While steel plants in south Wales bore the brunt of the 6,300 job cuts nationwide, a quarter of the Teesside staff will lose their jobs.
A CAMPAIGNER who played a key role in preventing an old people's home from closing down has been named as Knaresborough's new mayor. Councillor Jean Burdett, is chairman of Manor Grange Action Group, which led a spirited fight to retain the Manor Grange
COUNCILLORS in Durham are raising no objection to plans to increase the size of a major factory shopping complex. Two years ago Durham City Council opposed the development at Dalton Flatts, Murton, claiming it breached planning policies and could hamper
The North East's biggest match of the year, the River Swale Preservation Society Team Masters, is just a fortnight away, writes JEFF HERBERT. This prestigious event will be fished on Saturday, February 17. The match length runs from Morton Bridge all
We all make mistakes. Mine was Stone Cold Steve Austin. If you live a life of happy ignorance, you may not have heard of him. Lucky you. Stone Cold, as he's known to his friends, is a wrestler, an American wrestler. One of those oversized, tanned, oiled
GARRY Gibson is walking tall again. After several years adopting as low a profile as may be possible for a 6ft 6in giant, the former Hartlepool United chairman is ready once more to face the world wide web. His enthusiasm returned, he's even started watching
COUNCILLORS have thrown out a scheme for flats in Eaglescliffe because they felt the developer had planned to cram in too many. Stockton planning committee turned down the Barratt project after deciding that, if the firm could not compromise on the number
THE father-in-law of Prime Minister Tony Blair was due to visit a pensioners' rally in Redcar last night. Tony Booth, father of Cherie, was to attend the rally at Coatham Bowl along with BBC Radio Cleveland presenter Alan Wright and Leader of Redcar and
AN international family centre is expanding its work to cope with growing demand from new asylum seekers in Teesside. The centre, in Stockton, has been working for ten years to help non-English speakers to settle in the area. Last year, it provided a
WHEN it comes to collecting for charity, a Darlington schoolboy has got the rest licked. Dean Blackbourn, aged nine, of Tayside in Darlington, has collected nearly 5,000 used stamps for the BBC's Blue Peter appeal. The appeal set out to collect 300,000
A MARKET town's car parking fees are set to rise for the first time in three years. At present it costs 40p to park for up to one hour in the main car park next to the Safeway store in Barnard Castle. But members of Teesdale District Council policy and
ICE, snow and frozen mud - conditions couldn't have been better really for my gentle introduction to the strange and electrifying world of rallying. Strange because it goes against all your instincts to point the car you are driving at a steep-sided bank
A WARNING was given to pedestrians in Saltburn this week because of the danger of walking on seaside pathways. Vandals are thought to have removed barriers used to block off paths made unsafe after landslips caused by recent flooding. Three have disappeared
A road programme costing £75,000 aims to improve travel safety in South Durham. Drivers and pedestrians should benefit from a series of accident prevention and traffic calming measures which Durham County Council is installing in the Sedgefield borough
QUAKERS' under-fire manager Gary Bennett must be hoping his side's luck is changing as he contemplates tomorrow's crucial relegation derby clash with York City. Although Darlington played some good football at times at Lincoln City last weekend, they
THE British Academy Film Awards have always been Oscar's poor relation. They've been regarded as an after-thought, a ceremony that occurs weeks after the more glamorous Academy Awards in Hollywood. The Oscar ceremony may be over the top but boy, do those
A REAL ale pub chain is making a fresh bid to open in Durham less than a year after its plans to convert a disused cinema were rejected. Watford-based J D Wetherspoon was refused planning permission by Durham City Council for its plans for the 70-year-old
DR ROGER James has resigned as chairman of the Darlington primary health care group after two demanding years at the helm. His decision to step down with effect from March 31 has been met with regret by fellow board members who had all envisaged he would
A STREAKER who flashed her knitted knickers in front of a 130 million worldwide football audience says match stewards boobed and let her stay on the pitch too long. Sunderland fan and mother-of-two Michelle Newton stripped down to her woolly red and white
A £1.5m restoration programme will see Ripon market place transformed this summer. A key feature of the work will be the enhanced setting of the obelisk - reportedly the oldest in Great Britain - built by John Aislabie in 1702, and Ripon town hall. Both
WHEN it comes to delivering the daily pinta, Stan Green is the tops with customers. They have nominated him for a national milkman of the year award which has a £15,000 car as the main prize. In East Cleveland, they say he's the best - and the fastest
Darlington More success came the club's way in a hectic weekend with the women's team leading the way by gaining promotion in the final round of Women's British League matches at Whitchurch. Kate Vickers and Sarah Noutch made the transition from junior
Wensleydale Creamery League AFTER an unbeaten run of 11 games, Hawes United missed a great chance to consolidate their position at the top when they were beaten 1-0 at lowly Catterick Village. Despite having the majority of the play, the visitors were
A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme to improve electricity supplies in Darlington is under way. But residents are being reassured that there will be minimum disruption while the work is carried out. Supply company NEDL is investing millions of pounds to upgrade
HOUSE prices have risen faster in the North-East over the last month than in many other parts of the country, according to a new survey. The Nationwide's monthly survey showed prices rose by 2.5 per cent in January and were 11.2 per cent higher than the
Auckland and District Ebac Youth League Esh Winning gained their second league win, beating visitors West Auckland 2-1. It was the first league defeat of the season for West who took the lead with a cleverly worked free-kick, Anthony Hodgson scoring.
TWO tireless workers for a North Yorkshire equestrian group have received the Unsung Hero award from the Endurance Horse and Pony Society at its ceremony in Coventry. Whitby couple Pat and Eric Garbutt go to every single North Yorkshire endurance ride
TODAY is the feast of Candlemas, otherwise known as Candlemas Day and more formally as the feast of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its other names include wives' feast day, cradle rocking day, groundhog day and the halfway stage of winter
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an insurance collector was attacked by two teenagers who tried to rob him. The 29-year-old man, from Seaham, County Durham, was walking along Flint Walk in Hartlepool, Teesside, on Wednesday at 4pm, when he was
GUISBOROUGH Town had to fight all the way for the three points at Crook. The only goal of the match was scored on three minutes by Mike Todd. Marske, whose match against Whitley Bay on Saturday was called off, travel to Hebburn Town tomorrow and on Tuesday
A SUPERMARKET is looking to open 24 hours a day in Northallerton. Tesco's store may be open round the clock to cater for the town's shift workers. Store manager, Mr Ian Backhouse, said "We would like to open 24 hours a day but at the moment we cannot
DARLINGTON Business Venture has added another string to its bow after receiving accreditation as an NVQ and NEBS training provider. To mark the successful completion of the first year of the two award programmes, students attended an award presentation
THE family of a woman who died ten years after a horrific road crash have said a practical thank-you to the medical staff who cared for her. Jane Birdsall was left in a permanent vegetative state after a moped crash, in 1988, on her way to work at York
THE postmaster at the centre of uncertainty over services in Yarm reassured townspeople this week. Mr John Webster's decision to put the town's only post office up for sale led to rumours about Yarm being left without one. A councillor pledged to fight
WHEN flying saucers levelled the White House, Ray Harryhausen was there. When a giant octopus, with its 200ft tentacles, reduced the Golden Gate Bridge to twisted metal, Ray Harryhausen stood back and watched. And when Hammer films needed a pterodactyl
PLANS to teach youngsters how to grow and cook their own vegetables at school have been launched in the region. A scheme which will involve a kitchen garden being cultivated by teachers, pupils and parents is just one of a number of innovative projects
Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League Out of sorts Wensleydale have bounced back into a challenging spot for the Division One title, thanks to a gift. The Leyburn-based side did not have to strike a ball when RAF Leeming, once among league challengers
Camerons Teesside League Champions Grangetown Boys Club trounced basement club Mackinlay Park 8-1, but only one goal separated the teams at half-time, Ian McGowan scoring in the 13th minute for the Boys Club. In the second half the Boys Club took control
New County North Durham Youth League Consett and Felling reached the semi-finals of the Durham County Under-16 Cup. Consett defeated Billingham Town 5-2 with goals from David Hogg (2), Daniel Craggs (2) and Dean Adamson. Felling, however, needed a penalty
YOUNGSTERS at a Hartlepool school have been rewarded after proving their commitment to the environment. The pupils from Brierton School received a tree from Tees Forest information and education assistant Lorna Willis in recognition of their Christmas
RIPON Motor Sports Club has again managed to attract a high quality field for the annual Riponian Stages Rally, which starts in the city on Sunday morning. Sponsored once again by Geoff Brown of Ripon Land Rover and Ripon Farm Services, more than 70 crews
IF you have a sound local knowledge, enjoy socialising, are aged over 18, and live in the Swaledale or Wensleydale area, then the Government may have a job for you. Preparations are under way for a national census later this year - and officers are needed
Thursday's prices Kenneth Wilson, Thorpe Arch. - Wheat: Feb £70; March £70.50; April £71. Barley: Feb £70; March £71; April £71. Oilseed rape: Feb £125; March £126; April £127. GrainCo, Tyne Dock. - Wheat: Feb £70; March £70; April £71. Barley: Feb £71
UNION bosses are claiming victory after safeguarding the jobs of 180 people at a closure-threatened depot. The Communication Workers' Union welcomed BT's decision to reprieve the workforce at its depot in Northallerton after months of uncertainty. The
THE legendary ex-Liverpool boss Bill Shankly once observed: "Football is not a matter of life or death. It's more important than that." Such obsessions are clearly unhealthy and, sadly, Shankly did not survive long after his retirement. But he was surely
MOBILE phone giant Orange has been accused of putting profits before lives over its decision to scrap pager services. Thousands of pager customers received letters from its sister company Hutchison Telecom this week telling them that contracts would cease
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid last night allayed fears that the playing career of Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn might be threatened after spending two days in hospital after the home defeat against Manchester United. The 34-year-old striker
NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson is desperately trying to talk Nolberto Solano out of an international comeback. Robson knows United will suffer most if Solano settles his differences with Peru. The Magpies' boss was delighted when the wily winger
HEALTH bosses have been accused of keeping patients in the dark over exposure to blood from donors who developed the human form of mad cow disease. The Department of Health confirmed last night that it did not believe patients had a right to know if they
MANAGER of the month Chris Turner last night reflected on a confidence-boosting week and declared: "The hard work is still to come.'' In the week he signed a new contact at Victoria Park and was named Division Three manager of the month as Pool make their
PETER Reid is facing one of his toughest tests as he weighs up the cost of Sunderland's midweek defeat by Manchester United. Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen pledged that the Wearsiders wouldn't allow their season to collapse, but preying on their minds is
IF the men and women of the Royal Navy ship currently looming over the Tyne ever forget just who they represent and who they serve, they need only wait until meal times. There is no doubt they are on a British craft. "We have roast meat every Sundays
Durham City manager Brian Honour is delighted with new signing Richard Ord. The former Sunderland player was forced to quit the professional game after picking up a bad injury at QPR, and Honour persuaded him to sign for the New Ferens Park club last
FARM incomes fell by a further 25pc in 2000, according to revised Ministry of Agriculture figures. In real terms, the total incomes from farming are forecast to fall by 69pc from their 1995 peak, to an average of £8,500 per full-time farmer, the lowest
CHILDREN in schools across Redcar and Cleveland are being mobilised to help in the borough's battle against vandalism. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has launched an anti-vandalism poster competition, with the winning entries to be used on sites
A COUPLE who have been breeding dales ponies for the past 15 years have exported a four-year-old stallion to Germany. Mr Richie Longstaff, who was brought up with dales ponies, and his wife Freda of Newbiggin in Teesdale, are well known faces at pony
AS ONE of Newcastle United's fans she wears black and white every day, but it is more a matter of habit for Sister Josepha. Despite following the Magpies religiously, she has not been to St James' Park in almost four years. But all that will change this
FUNDRAISERS will flip for cash at The National Glass Centre's charity pancake race later this month. The event, at the Sunderland tourist attraction, will be held to raise funds for the Children's Hope Foundation. Anyone wanting to enter must have a team
TERRY VENABLES yesterday hinted at a long-term future with Middlesbrough when he mapped out the club's transfer policy. Head coach Venables confirmed Boro's interest in Alaves' £5.6m striker Javi Moreno, who is also being targeted by Aston Villa and West
TWO battling grannies caught a burglar and locked him in the loo until police arrived. The thief thought he had found easy pickings when he raided the rooms of a sheltered housing complex. But he reckoned without determined Josephine Armstrong, 71, and
IT is now 21 years since the steelworks at Consett closed, leaving almost an entire community facing life on the dole. On September 12, 1980, the steelworks at Consett, in north-west Durham, closed its gates for the last time, leaving 3,600 workers facing
A SCHOOL bus driver yesterday denied raping a teenager who accused him three years after the alleged attack. Ian Thompson, 47, said that he knew of the 14-year-old because she was on his school run, and he also drove her on youth orchestra trips. But
THE coaches no longer rattle through the arch of the White Swan. Gone are the days when the clopping of hooves echoed in the stable yard and weary travellers hurried into the warmth of the inn for supper and a bed for the night. The smugglers have gone
The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League In Division One Newton Aycliffe Sports Club were knocked off the top spot after losing 3-1 to a rejuvenated Stooperdale RA side. RA opened the scoring in a very good game of football with a left foot
Wolviston are heading for their best season in years and are in a strong position to win honours. They are three points adrift of leaders Nissan with a game in hand and have reached the semi-finals of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup in which they will
THE odds were 20-1, but northern shrewdies scooped up as Heidi III landed the Pertemps Great Yorkshire Chase in battling style at Doncaster on Saturday. Micky Hammond had picked this race as long ago as Boxing Day when Heidi was second at Wetherby. Those
GNER could be offered the opportunity to take over the maintenance of the east coast main line from beleagured Railtrack. Officials from the Strategic Rail Authority are studying plans to allow train operators to manage sections of track for themselves
GARRY Gibson is walking tall again. After several years adopting as low a profile as may be possible for a 6ft 6in giant, the former Hartlepool United chairman is ready once more to face the world wide web. His enthusiasm returned, he's even started watching
Classic Trophies UK Middlesbrough Sunday League Iceland and Lingdale YCC fought out a seven-goal thriller. Iceland took the lead through Lee Pennington but within minutes Lingdale levelled through Derek Pearson. Iceland regained the lead with a Paul Muthana
A MAJOR photographic survey mapping North Yorkshire from the sky could soon provide planners with a bird's eye view of the county. The county council is exploring the scope for a countywide aerial survey that would provide a snapshot of land use, landscape
