NHS staff on Teesside are taking part in a major review of how well services are being modernised. The NHS plan, published by the Government, sets many targets for improving services to patients, improving the health of the population and finding new
A UNIVERSITY'S annual summer exhibition of small works has attracted a mammoth number of entries this year. The Northumbria University Gallery, in Newcastle, is featuring a record 624 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculptures, all measuring
SUCH a fuss over Archer's perjury. What a headline: "Politician Tells Lies"! I've been doing some research and I've come across a few more examples of incredible stories. WATER IS WET. Professor IP Green, author of Rubbing Noses Causes Global Warming
SO greatly and so necessarily have these multi-faceted columns become a discipline of birds and stones that we are contemplating a pump-action catapult. Had we been asked to sling Goliath of Gath, for example, the single shot would have accounted not
A GROUP of young musicians returned to their former school to help raise money for charity. The five-piece band performed in front of hundreds of cheering fans at Teesdale Comprehensive School, Barnard Castle, to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind
NEWCASTLE Jesters director of hockey Glenn Mulvenna is expecting to agree terms with a third player today. Mulvenna last week announced his first captures, former Newcastle goal-grabber Mikko Koivunoro and ex-Manchester Storm captain Blair Scott. And
A NEW playground has been damaged by young vandals a week after contractors praised estate children for looking after it. Hundreds of youngsters have enjoyed the £120,000 play area at Woodhouse Close, Bishop Auckland, which was built mainly for children
Customs and Excise officers today launched a court attempt to confiscate more than £400,000 from a North-East parrot breeder who was convicted of smuggling rare birds. Harry Sissens, 62, was jailed for 30 months in April last year after a jury found him
DURHAM County Council is being taken to court for alleg-edly failing to ensure builders were not at risk when working with asbestos at a school. The Health and Safety Executive has accused the council of breaching the Health and Safety Act in September
BUDDING footballers are improving their skills, thanks to coaches from a Premiership club. Coaching staff from Sunderland AFC are running a series of soccer schools across the North-East during the summer holidays. The courses cater for youngsters aged
A CLEANER on income support was given a conditional discharge by magistrates. Mother-of-two Ann Ross, 44, pleaded guilty to three charges of making false representations to claim benefit, when she appeared before Teesside magistrates, yesterday, but asked
A mother of three who left a teenager horribly scarred after a dance floor glassing had her grievous bodily harm conviction overturned by top judges at London's Appeal Court today. June Harrison, 35, left 18-year-old Catherine Bradford needing 22 stitches
A WOMAN was injured when she fell to the ground after a struggle with two youths who ran off with her bag. The attack happened as the woman, in her 50s, was walking through South Park, in Darlington, on Saturday morning. She had been shopping in the town
A WOMAN was left badly shaken when a teenager pointed an air rifle towards her and demanded money. The woman, in her early twenties, was waiting for a bus near Motor World, in Front Street, Annfield Plain, County Durham, at 11.05pm on Sunday. She initially
RICHMOND visitors can shop while they bop thanks to a market trader who has announced he will be using his musical talents to entertain his customers. Paul Milsom sells ornamental ships in glass bottles at the town's indoor market. But, from this weekend
TIME is to be called on a district's lager louts. Middlesbrough is looking at plans for new powers which would allow local authorities to declare areas drink free. Borough council leader Ken Walker was yesterday presented with a petition on behalf of
PRIMARY school youngsters turned their hands to brickwork, plumbing, joinery and roofing to gain a construction award. All 51 pupils from Bowes Hutchinson Church of England Primary School, Barnard Castle, successfully tackled the challenges laid before
Railtrack chairman John Robinson today urged the company to adopt a "zero tolerance" attitude towards rail safety. Speaking at the company's AGM in York, he said rail safety was "absolutely fundamental" and that Railtrack was "deeply sorry" for the recent
THE first factory-built affordable housing scheme outside London is coming to York. The £2m project, by City of York Council and Yorkshire Housing, will see Portakabin subsidiary Yorkon build 48 steel-framed modules to provide 24 houses on the site of
Geoffrey Boycott today launched a blistering attack at the England and Wales Cricket Board after the latest Test disaster. The England and Yorkshire legend declared the two-division county championship doesn't produce good enough Test players. England
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Marketing officer, Hartlepool. 39hrs pw, Mon-Fri. Required to make new contacts with customers by letter, brochure and telephone. Experience in marketing
PARENTS and their children held a picnic in front of Darlington Town Hall yesterday in a protest at proposals to cut free school transport. Campaigners aim to keep pressure on the council, which proposes to change the qualifying distance for free transport
A GROUP of young musicians returned to their former school to help raise money for charity. Five-piece band Afterthought performed for hundreds of cheering fans at Teesdale Comprehensive School, Barnard Castle, to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind
DARLINGTON full-back Paul Heckingbottom is set to make his long-awaited return from injury at Whitby Town tonight. The former Manchester United trainee has been plagued by groin injuries over the last 18 months, and missed the closing stages of last season
CHILDREN made the gruesome discovery of a cat that had been zipped in a holdall and dumped in a stream. The two girls who found the dead animal were left in an extremely distressed state after spotting the cat's ears poking out of the bag in a tributary
OLYMPIC GAMES THE colossal disgust and disappointment which the award of the Olympic Games to Beijing felt by people who care about human rights and crimes against humanity is hardly surprising. It is difficult to see any consistency in the way the nations
TEARS flowed when the North-East's top dancers were named in Tyne Tees Television's talent show, Red Hot Dance, last night. Five dancers were chosen from the 200 who auditioned for the chance to dance at an Ibiza nightclub. Presenter Sam Ross said: "I
NHS staff on Teesside are taking part in a major review of how well services are being modernised. The NHS plan, published by the Government, sets many targets for improving services to patients, improving the health of the population and finding new
A SUSPECTED child molester has been found dead at a North-East beauty spot, it was revealed last night. Norman Dyer, of Lockerbie Walk, Thornaby, Teesside, went missing on April 19, after appearing in the dock for the first day of his trial at crown court
CHILDREN across Derwentside had fun, turned green and went ape at Consett Park yesterday. Environmentalists The Acorn Trust joined up with Busy Ape Arts to organise a fun day and picnic at the park as the sun shone. Hundreds of children turned up to take
THERE are just a few days left for community leaders of the future in former coal mining areas to apply for a chance to help their neighbours. The Coalfields Community Spirit Millennium Awards are designed to give recognition and training to up to 140
A LEADING North-East politician has hit out after learning that a town's residents are living with a "health hazard on their doorstep". Martin Callanan, Conservative MEP for the region, said he was "appalled" to hear from the Marske Residents' Association
UNION leaders from Teesside's steel industry have welcomed ministerial intervention after the US threatened to impose duties on steel imports. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt was yesterday spelling out the consequences of the proposed new
ASSURANCES have been given that a town's Christmas celebrations will not clash with Armistice Day. Traditionally, Darlington's Christmas lights, which attract huge crowds to the market place, are switched on six weeks before Christmas. But this year that
SKATEBOARD enthusiasts - such as Adams Williams, above - are being invited to go along to a temporary skate park which will be open throughout the summer holidays. Popcorn has teamed up with 5BORONYC Pro Skate Team to launch the park at the Big W, in
A MAN was jailed for nine months yesterday after he admitted sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl he was babysitting. Christopher Daniel Mullan, 37, of Rainsford Crescent, Middlesbrough, admitted indecency with a child, at Teesside Crown Court. Ian
CONSTRUCTION company Mansell has seen a significant rise in the number of inquiries from business opting for high-tech offices across the North-East. The Gateshead company has completed contracts worth more than £6m in the high-tech sector during the
A WARNING has been issued for people not to be hoodwinked by unsolicited and heartbreaking letters claiming to be from children in Uganda. The warning is being made through the Ripon and Leeds Diocese by Ian Smith, area representative of the Church Mission
REGIONAL brewer Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries (W&DB) has forecast a 17 per cent jump in full-year profits, as it made a final attempt to convince shareholders to reject Pubmaster's £453m bid for the business. In a second defence document, W&
RESIDENTS of an historic market town have hit out after learning their water supply will be cut off to create a £14m water garden for a Duchess. Work has already begun on the Duchess of Northumberland's ambitious project in the grounds of Alnwick Castle
Lifeguards rescued a young girl after she got into difficulty at a popular foreshore at the weekend. Beach lifeguards at Redcar, east Cleveland, helped the girl after she was swept off her feet "wave-dodging" at high tide. The incident, on Saturday afternoon
THE Government provoked an outcry last night after a minister claimed contractors disinfecting foot-and-mouth farms could be "taking taxpayers for a ride". A temporary halt has been called to any new clean-up operations while the costs are investigated
THE largest health union is calling for a public inquiry into a controversial new NHS hospital built with private money. Unison wants the Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the decision to build the new University Hospital of North
FOOTBALL chairman and multi-millionaire George Reynolds makes no secret of his criminal past. But Darlington players could not believe their eyes when the former safe cracker turned up for a pre-season photo-shoot dressed in a prison uniform - complete
A FORMER paratrooper, who is battling lung cancer, has made one final parachute jump to raise money for young sport stars. Pensioner Edward Brown made the jump at Shotton air field to collect funds for a new boxing academy in his home town of Thornlee
A FORMER paratrooper, who is battling lung cancer, has made one final parachute jump to raise money for young sport stars. Pensioner Edward Brown made the jump at Shotton air field to collect funds for a new boxing academy in his home town of Thornlee
All over the region gleaming new hospitals are being built with private funds - but are we simply storing up financial problems for the future? Health Correspondent Barry Nelson weighs up the arguments about the Government's Private Finance Initiative
AN immigrant running a "filthy'' takeaway was operating under virtual siege conditions, a court was told. Teesside Magistrates' Court heard that environmental health officials found furniture, bricks and tools stored in the kitchen of Smokey's, in Loftus
A DISABLED man in a wheelchair was attacked by a gang of teenagers as he made his way to his local shops. Alan Powell, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was stopped by a group of four or five, in Raby Road, Hartlepool, near to its junction with Avondale
WHEN they found out that the hallowed turf of Newcastle United's St James' Park was closed for tours, a group of teenage Russian and Hungarian footballers might have allowed themselves a moment's disappointment. After all, they had saved up just about
FUTURE life in the borough of Stockton comes under the spotlight today as representatives from every sector of the community come together to shape a vision for the next ten years. Stockton Vision 2011 has been organised by regeneration organisation Stockton
BUSINESSES still struggling with the fallout from foot-and-mouth disease have been granted an extension to a rate relief lifeline. Following Westminster's announcement that councils would be given more money to compensate for lost income, the local authority
A BID by market traders to extend their regular hours to catch late shoppers is expected to be turned down by council chiefs. Traders in Northallerton have asked Hambleton District Council for permission to stay open for a further hour on Wednesdays and
TWO of a police force's most senior detectives are heading a murder squad. Detective Superintendents Mark Braithwaite and Tony Hutchinson have switched from their roles as crime managers, in Hartlepool and Langbaurgh, to run the scheme from police headquarters
A MAN is recovering in hospital after being stabbed several times in the back. The 20-year-old was injured during an incident outside his home in Severn Close, Peterlee, east Durham, at about 10pm on Sunday. He underwent surgery for a punctured lung at
THE largest health union is calling for a public inquiry into a controversial new NHS hospital built with private money. Unison wants the Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the decision to build the new University Hospital of North
A disciplinary hearing against North Yorkshire Coroner, solicitor Jeremy Cave was today adjourned to a date to be fixed pending a criminal trial he is due to face next year. Mr Andrew Miller, for the Law Society, told the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
A disciplinary hearing against North Yorkshire Coroner, solicitor Jeremy Cave was today adjourned to a date to be fixed pending a criminal trial he is due to face next year. Mr Andrew Miller, for the Law Society, told the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
RESIDENTS of an historic market town have hit out after learning their water supply will be cut off to create a £14m water garden for a Duchess. Work has already begun on the Duchess of North-umberland's ambitious project in the grounds of Alnwick Castle
THIS week is a busy one for company results, and the breadth of firms reporting will provide us with a flavour of how the economy is faring. By the time of publication, we will already have seen results from Arm, Provident Financial and Glaxo, with the
A RETIRED factory worker who fell downstairs after a night at his local pub must have lain unconscious for hours before he died, an inquest heard yesterday. Police who discovered John Land's body in his lounge at Hallgarth, Kirk Merrington, near Ferryhill
A councillor is calling for Government action to outlaw fake offers by fax. Middlesbrough borough councillor John Jones reacted to a spate of complaints about offers being made to local people. Police have been informed of faxes being sent offering free
TEENAGE swimming star, Joanne Jackson, defends her 200m butterfly title at the national championships, which open in Sheffield this weekend. The 15-year-old from Richmond, who has been training consistently for three hours a day since Easter, has been
THE North-East is lagging behind in the battle to attract information technology talent. A survey by global recruitment consultant TMP Worldwide found that the region needs to pay more competitive rates if it is to lure the best professionals to the region
MICKEY Heathcote, oldest swinger in town and among the more venerable centre halves, was relaxing after a Saturday night out. "I'm the disco dancing king of Dundee," he said. These pre-season tours can be hell. Mickey, 36 in September, is the North-East
ONE of Durham's best-known figures has died after an 18-month battle against cancer. Bobby Bryden, 46, of Sherburn Hill, was a freeman of the City of Durham and known throughout the city for his love of horses and pigeons. His funeral took place at St
LONG-SERVING childminder Dora Gooding is putting her feet up, after having seen almost 100 children pass through her care Mrs Gooding, of Trafalgar Terrace, Darlington, has mixed feelings about retirement after 29 years' service. She admits she will miss
people who live, work and play on Teesside will get their chance to be heard today following the launch of the Tees Navigation Strategy earlier this month. A series of consultations taking place at Arc, Stockton, was high on the list of the partnership
MORE people are choosing to invest with Darlington Building Society than ever before. That was the message from the region's number one local building society, as it revealed interim results for the six months to June 30. Gross investment receipts were
PROJECT and cost management consultant Faithful and Gould is helping to shape a degree course at Northumbria University. About 20 Faithful and Gould staff are on a quantity surveying course at the university. Because the firm provides more students for
A NEW series of guided walks is giving hikers an insight into County Durham's history. Durham County Council prepared the programme so that people can get out and about despite restrictions on walking in the countryside. The walks, which started on Sunday
Customs and Excise officers today launched a court attempt to confiscate more than £400,000 from a North-East parrot breeder who was convicted of smuggling rare birds. Harry Sissens, 62, was jailed for 30 months in April last year after a jury found him
TWO new members have been elected to the North- East Assembly. Christine Dobson, volunteering manager for the Women's Royal Voluntary Service in the North-East, has taken one of the voluntary and community sector seats on the assembly. Jimmy Robinson,
A SUSPECTED child molester has been found dead at a North-East beauty spot, it was revealed last night. Norman Dyer, of Lockerbie Walk, Thornaby, Teesside, went missing on April 19, after appearing in the dock for the first day of his trial at crown court
Kevin Phillips is setting out to gun down Celtic hours before celebrating his 28th birthday tomorrow. The England hotshot will be brought back to lead the Sunderland frontline in tonight's showdown at Parkhead. Black Cats boss Peter Reid is determined
A mother of three who left a teenager horribly scarred after a dance floor glassing had her grievous bodily harm conviction overturned by top judges at London's Appeal Court today. June Harrison, 35, left 18-year-old Catherine Bradford needing 22 stitches
A PUBLIC inquiry starts today into plans to demolish a pub. Built by Middlesbrough's first mayor, Henry Bolckow, in 1860, The Ladle is believed to be the only surviving building of its type in Middlesbrough. Whitbread wants to replace it with a modern
A WOMAN was ambushed by three men and raped as she made her way home from a Love Parade party at the weekend, it has been revealed. A police spokesman said the 21-year-old victim had been with friends at Newcastle's Exhibition Park shortly before the
IT is six months since foot-and-mouth first appeared in our fair country and yet it is only now that the Government has woken up to the possibility that it may have been ripped off. And it has only woken up after the personal intervention of the Prime
TOURISM bosses fear that delays in reopening footpaths could put the North-East at a disadvantage in bouncing back from the foot-and-mouth crisis. A decision to reopen paths in a further 16 local authority areas over the weekend means many parts of the
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. PCV minibus driver, Newton Aycliffe, must hold PCV licence and be 25-plus. Ref: NEU 15423. PCV drivers, Spennymoor, 16hrs pw, age 25-plus, class 1 PCV
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Sales assistant, Northallerton. £200pw, 9am to 6pm, Mon-Fri, Sat 9am to 5pm. Mechanical or parts experience an advantage. Must be over 21. Ref: NOE
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Collector, Consett. 12 hours per week, Monday and Friday. £97 per week. For personal finance company. No experience necessary as training given. Own
A RESIDENTS' association is hoping to put the record straight on what will be provided at its proposed community house. Chilton West Residents' Association is planning to take over a house in Coleridge Road in the village to use as a base. But there is
A councillor is calling for Government action to outlaw fake offers by fax. Middlesbrough borough councillor John Jones reacted to a spate of complaints about offers being made to local people. Police have been informed of faxes being sent offering free
A COUNCIL is to look "afresh" at a farmer's plea to be allowed to continue living at his home. Len Webster landed in hot water with Hambleton District Council when it was discovered he was making more money offering bed and breakfast at his farmhouse
AT the fifth time of asking Hartlepool United last night secured a victory in Europe. After a 5-1 defeat to Romanians FC Brasov in 1992, a failure to taste victory over Brann Bergen, Voss and Fana 12 months ago and a 1-1 draw with Fana on Saturday, Pool
A WOMAN was ambushed by three men and raped as she made her way home from a Love Parade party at the weekend, it has been revealed. A police spokesman said the 21-year-old victim had been with friends at Newcastle's Exhibition Park shortly before the
A teacher who seduced a schoolgirl and sent explicit e-mails, before having sex with her, has been jailed for two years. Jason Kevin Ratcliffe, 25, bombarded the girl with more than 130 e-mails before enticing her to have sex with him. Teesside Crown
FARMERS devastated by foot-and-mouth are furious at invitations to a series of government seminars, which they say brands them as Worzel Gummidge characters. They describe the instructions they were sent to attend the meetings - aimed at helping them
THE marriage guidance charity Relate is appealing for volunteers to help it recover from a crisis. Last December, the North-East arm faced collapse after it underestimated the cost of amalgamating several offices. It was saved by an anonymous benefactor
A PIONEERING scheme could see Britain's first railway run by a community company set up in the region. Masterminded by Dr Paul Salveson and Neil Buxton, of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, the venture could secure the long-term future of
FARMERS wives are going back to nature to try to boost the rural economy. The women, all members of the Women's Farmers Union (WFU), have stripped off to pose for a calendar. They hope the saucy snaps will raise money for farmers whose livelihoods have
TEARS flowed when the North-East's top dancers were named in Tyne Tees Television's talent show, Red Hot Dance, last night. Five dancers were chosen from the 200 who auditioned for the chance to dance at an Ibiza nightclub. Presenter Sam Ross said: "I
VETERAN councillor Sam Tombe has been presented with an award for long service and has declared he has no intention of quitting - at the age of 81. Coun Tombe represents the Normanby ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and has been presented
E-COMELEON has appointed a new UK sales and marketing manager. IAN HAMILTON, 42, takes up the post at the advanced imaging company from Omega Plastics, where he helped to build up a turnover of £3m in three years as sales director. Previously, he spent
A MAN who killed a known criminal on Christmas Day using a wheel brace was sentenced to just three years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Teesside Crown Court heard that Kevin Wright, 27, stopped and threw the wheelbrace at Kevin
DIY show Changing Rooms has gripped the nation for five years. Its stars, Handy Andy Kane and designer Linda Barker, tell LINDSAY JENNINGS why the fame game can be a bit daunting and reveal the latest interior trends 'HANDY" Andy Kane is feeling a little
The step-sister of war diarist Anne Frank was today receiving an honorary degree from the University of Northumbria. Eva Schloss, who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp, is receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from the Faculty of Health
A COUNCIL is launching a crackdown on dog owners whose pets fall foul of the law. Durham City Council plans to introduce new bylaws to ban dogs from certain parts of the city and surrounding area and ensure that they are kept on a lead in others. The
A FARMER has vowed to continue growing genetically modified (GM) crops despite several attacks on his land by protestors. John Richardson has remained defiant in the face of a series of attacks on GM crops at his farm in Hutton Magna, near Barnard Castle
ADVANCED imaging company e-comeleon has secured the exclusive worldwide rights to put images on a new range of replacement phone covers and cases, featuring world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher. The digital imaging work will be undertaken by
A RESIDENTS' group is opposing plans for a new police station because it says the building will be a "carbuncle''. The Seaham Environmental Association also claims that people in the town have not been consulted about the proposal. However, Durham Police
A DISABLED man in a wheelchair was attacked by a gang of teenagers as he made his way to his local shops. Alan Powell, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was stopped by a group of four or five, in Raby Road, Hartlepool, near to its junction with Avondale
A KILLER collapsed and sobbed in the dock yesterday after being found guilty of murdering a prostitute. There were shouts from the public gallery as the jury at Teesside Crown Court delivered its verdict on Shaun Tuley, who was standing trial for the
BUS companies have been urged to apply to run a vital service in Darlington. Darlington Borough Council has begun tendering to find an operator to run the 32 and 33 services which cover Mowden, Albert Hill and Hundens Lane. The services are being run
A KEEN cyclist is to take on a tough challenge in the autumn in the hope he can help dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. Darren Bowler, of Skeeby, plans to head for the Arizona desert in October, pedalling the 260 miles from
IMPROVING the East Coast mainline could help reduce the risk of a major air disaster, according to transport campaigners. The move is part of a package of measures put forward by pressure group Transport 2000 to try to stem the increase in air travel,
A MONTH-LONG operation aimed at getting knives off the streets has been launched by Northumbria Police. As part of Operation Dagger, high-profile patrols will be carried out by officers in the Arthurs Hill area of Newcastle West Area Command, aimed at
THE final set of plans for a major housing development in part of Darlington have been submitted. Darlington Borough Council has already given approval to a number of applications for the development of land at Bourne Avenue, in the Eastbourne area of
A NEW restaurant and sandwich bar is planned for Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate. Members of Sedgefield Borough Council are expected to approve an application to convert a warehouse in Durham Way. The proposal is for a sandwich bar for takeaway food
STANDING against a backdrop of burly firemen, the diminutive figure of Brenda Forster hardly looks imposing. She chats easily with them, her 20 years experience as a councillor and roles as a mother-of-five and grandmother of 11 no doubt having armed
POLICE investigating a blaze which wrecked a site office at the Inkerman foot-and-mouth burial site, near Tow Law, County Durham, say the incident may have been arson. The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Saturday and destroyed the temporary cabin
