Archive

A STORMING drive through the final stage propelled County Durham driver David Henderson (MSR Mitsubishi Lancer) to outright victory on the Christmas Stages Rally at Croft circuit last Saturday. Co-driven by girlfriend Hayley Selby, this year's Ford Puma

COUNCILLORS in Guisborough are calling time on late-night drinking in the town centre. The town council is to oppose all applications for extended licensing hours, except for one-off occasions. Members say the move is necessary to halt a trend of drunkenness

PLANS to convert derelict farm buildings into holiday cottages look likely to be approved, despite local groups' concerns. At a meeting of Derwentside District Council's development control committee next Thursday, councillors will be recommended to approve

BARGAIN hunters with plenty of cash have once again sent January sales figures through the roof in Darlington. Stores in the Cornmill Centre have reported yet another bumper sales period with January targets reached before new year. Some had even exceeded

Middlesbrough and Darlington have had their FA Cup third round ties postponed as freezing conditions continue to wreak havoc with games across the country. Quakers' game with Peterborough at Feethams was abandoned after a 3pm pitch inspection today. Boro's

THREE schools in the borough of Stockton have been awarded grants to expand their after-school activities. The cash, from Awards for All, provides National Lottery grants to local groups. Bishopsgarth School, in Stockton, has received £1,200 to pay for

A NEW group has been formed to promote the study of the rich history of County Durham. The Friends of the Durham County Record Office was set up by local and family history enthusiasts who delve into the archives at County Hall. Members live in the county

THE two Darlington clubs could meet in the final of the revamped Durham Cup if Mowden Park win their league and cup double-header at Blaydon tomorrow. They have had the edge over Blaydon in recent seasons but will need to rediscover their form after suffering

MEDIEVAL mystery plays are to be staged in churches in North Yorkshire at Easter, thanks to a lottery grant worth £11,000. The passion plays, first written down more than 500 years ago, will involve professional actors alongside amateur players from the

Brown Shipley North-East Premier League Tennis World Middlesbrough squeezed home over Cleveland rivals David Lloyd Teesside 6-5 with rubbers tied at 2-2 in the top of the table post-Christmas clash in the Northern division. But the victims in this local

A CONFERENCE to discuss ways of developing and promoting the historic railway line between Darlington and Bishop Auckland has taken place in Shildon. The event, which involved community representatives from Darlington, Newton Aycliffe, Bishop Auckland

AN 80-year-old was left battered and bruised after a heartless thief attacked him for just £1.28. Pensioner Harry Mason, who uses a stick, was walking slowly in icy conditions on New Year's Eve when he was mugged, just 50 yards from his Middlesbrough

AFTER hearing a Second World War Lancaster Bomber crash near his home village when he was four years old, a chance conversation 57 years later led a North-East man to find out more about the fatal training exercise which resulted in the deaths of seven

North Shields, challenging for honours on three fronts, are delighted to have two veterans in their squad. Wilf Keilty and Paul Ross are both in their 40s but still give sterling service to the Robins. Indeed, it was Keilty who inspired North Shields

CHARITY workers have praised the 'incredible generosity' of County Durham people who almost doubled their contribution to the Christmas shoebox appeal for underprivileged children. This Christmas 18,444 shoeboxes filled with gifts and toys were collected

A NORTH-EAST football club was wrong to sack a female employee who began an affair with a married director, an employment tribunal has decided. Miss Helen Coverdale was fired from her job as commercial manager of Third Division Darlington after a confrontation

A BUSINESSMAN last night vowed to make a success of an ambitious bar/restaurant complex hit by financial problems within months of opening. Cathedrals, created in Durham City's refurbished, Victorian-built police station, has operated in administration

Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League THE title chase will hot up over the coming months as the championship battle looks set to be one of the closest for a number of years. Newton Aycliffe - who have won the First Division title for the

A MOTHER is hailing two friends heroes after they rescued her and her three-year-old son from their burning home. Rona Turton, 25, woke up just before 11.30pm on Wednesday to find thick, black smoke pouring from the kitchen of her home in Thornley, County

AMBITIOUS plans to transform a disused building into a beacon for culture and youth art have been unveiled. The community theatre company Cap-a-Pie aims to establish a new centre in Dipton, creating a focus for the arts in Derwentside and the wider region

Junior round-up Whitley Braves' 100 per cent record in the English Under-19 North B League was kept intact after they had an 8-1 victory over visiting Flintshire Avalanche at Hillheads. Flintshire were unhappy with the state of the ice surface but played

AN inquest opens today into the death of a passenger in a car which crashed off a dual carriageway in the early hours of New Year's Day. Brian Cole, 45, of Cramlington, Northumberland, was certified dead at the scene of the accident, just south of the

CONFIDENT striker Ritchie Humphreys last night insisted that Hartlepool United have still got their eyes on an automatic promotion place. Pool, who do not have a game tomorrow following their elimination from the FA Cup, are still seven points adrift

AT this time of year, it is inevitable that we reflect on the months which have passed while attempting to forecast events during those which are to follow. The former is a comparatively simple exercise thanks to one's own recollections supported by records

ICY pitches caused the postponement of all but one game in the Hambleton Ales Combination on Sunday. The only fixture to survive the conditions was the division two game at Gilling West, where the home side were beaten 8-3 by Skipton BS. This was the

COUNCIL workers in Darlington have been battling 24 hours a day in a bid to beat the latest winter freeze. The gritter lorries have been out on roads and pavements around the town in a bid to help drivers and pedestrians overcome the slippery conditions

There are just three days of skating remaining before the open-air rink, in Middlesbrough town centre, closes on Sunday. Thousands of skaters have already got their skates on and taken to the ice in the successful venture run by Middlesbrough Council.

Engineering group Kvaerner said yesterday its creditors had agreed to its refinancing package. The move means the group can concentrate on its merger, first announced in November, with Norwegian rival Aker Maritime. President and chief executive Helge

SINCE the abolition of betting tax late last year the big hitters in the betting ring have not been frightened to wager substantial sums on short-priced favourites. At Southwell this afternoon another such opportunity arises in the shape of the certain

NEW Year, New You and all that. OK, so you've resolved to give up smoking, go on a diet and go the gym. That's the body sorted out. But what about the rest of you? While you're improving the body, what about making the best of the rest of yourself - your

A FURNITURE business is to close its Richmond store after 43 years in the town. Changes in the lease have been blamed for the closure of Peter J and R Olivier's shop in the market place from the end of May. All business will be concentrated at the company's

Bruce to boost tree recycling Bruce the Spruce is heading for the Guisborough Forest and Walkway today to promote Christmas tree recycling in the Teesside area. The 7ft mascot of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association, recruited to promote the

A NIGHTCLUB is closing for 12 weeks while it undergoes a £1.5m refurbishment. Work is expected to start at The Mardi Gras nightclub, in Gladstone Street, Darlington, by the end of the month. Although plans have not been finalised, the refurbished club

PLANS are under way to demolish a struggling village petrol station to make way for a modern medical centre. Planning officers at Teesdale District Council are preparing a report on proposals to build a surgery on the site of Gainford's petrol station

THE new year has started with a body blow for the business community of a Dales market town. Family furniture company Peter J and R Olivier, whose store has been operating in Richmond for more than 40 years, has confirmed it will be pulling out of the

Fundraising concert The Carol Andrew Singers will perform a concert at the Salvation Army Citadel, Northgate, Darlington, on January 19. Tickets cost £5, with proceeds going to the citadel rebuilding project. Further details and tickets are available

THE first of the new pylons to stretch across the landscape of the Picton to Shipton area has been completed and work is expected to speed up over the next few weeks. Several pylons have already been erected on the Lackenby to Picton section of the controversial

A TAXI driver arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge. An investigation was launched after Colin Arnold, 34, was found fatally wounded outside a house in Stockton at 4am on New Year's Day. He had been seen arguing with an Asian

MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has held clear-the-air talks with defender Colin Cooper. Boro veteran, Cooper, was rumoured to have stormed out of the Riverside on New Year's Day unhappy that he was not chosen to fill the void left by injured centre-back

A MAN accused of a series of sex attacks on women is due to be released on bail today. An application to keep the 44-year-old in custody was refused at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. He faces one charge of rape on November 23, 1999, three charges of

UP to £50,000 worth of damage was caused in a factory fire yesterday morning. The blaze broke out at Conder Products, Bracken Hill, on the South West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, east Durham, at 9.20am. Fire officers arrived quickly and managed to stop

ROB Andrew stood his ground yesterday as Gloucester threatened a counter-attack over his accusations of racism and spitting. Gloucester have called a Press conference for tomorrow morning, at which they will present their side of the story and they are

The widow of a man who was attacked and later died after chasing two suspected car thieves broke down in tears yesterday as she hailed her husband a hero. Kevin Jackson was stabbed in the head and severely beaten in Halifax, West Yorkshire, on Sunday

A SCOUT group in the region is £250 better off thanks to a donation from a family- based charity. Members of Court Endeavour of The Foresters made the presentation to the East Cleveland Scout District at the charity's annual dinner dance, held in the

A tremendous haul of 18.15.0 pushed Chester-le-Street's Graham Skirrey well ahead of a big Knaresborough Piscatorials Open which attracted 62 rods to the bank of the Nidd, writes JEFF HERBERT. The Turners Tackle regular drew in the greenfield on the Sawmills

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help clean up an east Cleveland beach. Saltburn 500 Club and the town's surfers turn out every few months to pick litter from the town's beach and to make notes about the kind of rubbish being left on the beach as part of the

JOINED-up government was one of the slogans of the Blairite revolution and there is no doubt that health and social services departments are working more closely together. In Darlington this has led to different agencies coming together under one roof

THIS year marks the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of Great Britain. The Northern Echo is planning to commemorate the jubilee by publishing a series of supplements looking at how the lives of the people of Britain have

THE gap between house prices in the North-East and South of England widened in 2001. According to the Nationwide Building Society, average house prices soared by almost 14 per cent as the economic slowdown failed to dampen consumer confidence. The society

SHARES in Bede plc slumped 11 per cent after the semiconductor group warned its full-year figures were likely to come in at the lower end of City expectations. Bede, based on the Belmont Business Park in Durham City, floated on the stock market in November

MORE than 300 people turned out to cheer on a "Brits versus Yanks" tug-of-war, alongside the River Nidd, at Hampsthwaite, near Harrogate - and helped to raise more than £1,100 for charity. The homsepun team of locals who take on American residents in

A FORMER leper chapel, founded in 1120 and still used for weekly services, is to have its future safeguarded. Moves are being made to set up the Friends of St Mary Magdalen, in Ripon. The chapel, a Grade I listed building, was founded by Archbishp Thurston

PLANS to install the final CCTV camera in a security system covering Hipswell and Scotton, near Catterick Garrison, could be approved on Tuesday. Planners say they are likely to recommend the scheme, near the play area in Mallard Road, Scotton, if no

A MEETING next week will study new blueprints for a new village hall for Eppleby and Forcett. The two hamlets, on the North Yorkshire-Durham border, were celebrating a Lottery windfall in September when the Community Fund confirmed a £250,000 grant to

THE recent spell of freezing temperatures and icy conditions has led to delays in some of Stockton Borough Council's refuse collection services. The sub-zero temperatures has made conditions on the area's roads and pavements difficult for refuse collection

Council house residents in Chester-le-Street are being urged to ensure their smoke alarm is working by pressing and holding the test button for between one and five seconds, when the alarm should sound. The district council recommends that this is done

ANGER was mounting last night as readers of The Northern Echo queued up to condemn the Pop Idols telephone voting system as a shambles. Scores of viewers of the smash hit television programme flooded our switchboard with complaints that they had been

WAR ON TERRORISM HUGH Pender's letter (HAS, Dec 31) caused me great offence and no doubt outraged a large number of your readers. To describe, as he did, the response of the Israeli government to the current Palestinian uprising as being "equal" to the

A LOCAL authority last night announced that it was confident a troubled multi-million pound arts venue would reopen "as soon as possible". But a decision has not yet been made on whether Stockton Arc will reopen as an arts centre or in another capacity

A FORMER head of a Darlington college has told of his surprise at receiving an OBE. Peter Shuker, principal and chief executive of Darlington College of Technology for 14 years, believes his award recognises his college career and his work in the community

UP to £50m in vital Government aid promised to help regenerate former steel towns in the wake of last year's devastating job losses has disappeared, say campaigners. Steel Action, which represents local authorities in steel-making areas, made the claim

POP Idol, like Popstars and Big Brother before it, has become an obsession for television viewers, capitalising on the hugely lucrative trend of encouraging mass public voting for a favoured contestant. Without public participation, the show would be

As he watched the terrible events of September 11 unfold on a television screen in Hollywood, Irish-born director John Moore's initial reaction to the New York terrorist attack was one of fear, horror and panic. Then, as the shock waves reverberated around

THE year got off to a special start for a number of people in the region who were named in the new year honours list. Among them was the former principal of Darlington college of technology, Mr Peter Shuker, who was awarded the OBE for services to further

RAMBLERS eager to take to the paths of County Durham are being warned to check routes before setting off. For though the foot-and-mouth status has been lifted, some closures are still in place. At the height of the crisis, the disease blighted more than

A DELEGATION from London has travelled all the way to Richmond - just to listen to a church organ. The Harrison and Harrison organ installed at St Mary's Church in the town is considered a fine example of the instrument and thought to be one of a very

Shildon Two club senior members ran two races in as many days last weekend, both Bob Davison and Ray Halton ran the British Gas Great North cross country at Exhibition Park, Newcastle, on Saturday, December 29 and on the following day at Ripon ran the

A NORTH Yorkshire farmer awoke to find outbuildings ablaze yesterday morning. An electrical fault is thought to have started the fire at Sutton Howgrave, putting livestock and the farmhouse itself at risk. However, crews from nearby Ripon were quickly

As the Christmas clear-up continues, families are being encouraged to think green and recycle their rubbish. The Are You Doing Your Bit campaign aims to reduce the three million tonnes of Christmas waste created each year in the UK. It has been estimated

SOMETIMES it's only days, sometimes it's weeks or months. It can be years. Kicks arrive speedily, halfpence take longer to come in, but that's life. I'm as bad as anyone - quick to complain if a product or service isn't right, yet not nearly as prompt

A TRAIN company has said that passengers were not in danger, after thick smoke filled a rush-hour train. Commuters on the early morning service from London to Edinburgh fled the smoke-filled carriages after the train's brakes seized. The smoke began billowing

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to uncover the truth about the death of Chester-le-Street man on a Greek island took to the streets with their MPs at the weekend to urge holidaymakers not to go to the country. North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes and Durham North MP

At a presentation evening held in the Glebe Centre, Murton, the following awards were made to junior sides of Boddingtons Durham Coast Cricket League by sponsors Premier Sports of Houghton-le-Spring. Under-13: League winners Murton; Fred Foster Cup winners

This week, scientists announced they had cloned a litter of pigs that could help combat the worldwide shortage of organs for transplant. The Northern Echo's Business Editor Johnathan Jones tells Christen Pears why he has more reason thatn most to welcome

HUNDREDS of pupils from Darlington have taken part in a sponsored walk for charity. More than 600 students from Eastbourne School took part in the event and collected £2,000 for charities in the North-East and abroad. The money will be split between St

THE first of seven New Year babies to be born at the University Hospital of North Durham was a baby boy to teachers Joe and Kate Brake of Lanchester. The baby, who is likely be called Robert and weighed in at 8lbs 1oz, was born at 1.35pm. Mr Brake said

RETAIL sales of beef rose by almost 2pc in 2001, despite problems with foot and mouth disease. Latest figures from the Meat and Livestock Commission show an increase of 1.8pc, with British consumers spending more than £1.3bn on beef during 2001. The highest

ONE of the UK's largest providers of technical training has appointed a new chairman. TTE Management and Technical Training, Middlesbrough, has appointed Corus Construction and Industrial Businesses human resources manager Peter Lennon, 36, to the post

MEDICAL group Peacocks has taken steps to become a healthier company through productivity training with the Automotive Strategic Alliance (assa). Peacocks Medical, which was established in 1903 and produces medical equipment including professional orthotic

AS another North-East family claimed their child has been damaged by the MMR vaccine, solicitors say the overall numbers of claimants continues to grow. Liam Amberfield, from Toft Hill, County Durham, was allegedly injured after being injected with a

AFTER years of feasibility studies and discussion about access to Darlington's Crown Street library, the borough's disabled people decided "enough was enough". The move, by Darlington Association on Disability last year came after plans were repeatedly

A COUNTY Durham farmer has criticised cuts in countryside stewardship scheme payments. And Mr John Heslop is annoyed with the failure of all attempts to discover on what basis cuts were made. "I think we are entitled to know why they have been cut," said

Sir, - This is by way of an open letter to the town, district and county councils of Northallerton, Hambleton and North Yorkshire, on two subjects. I have just returned from trying to dispose of some glass and plastic bottles in the recycling bins at

BOOTS customers in the North-East paying by credit and debit cards fear they could be paying more for their goods. The confusion has been caused by signs appearing on the doors of the store in Darlington's High Row, as well as till receipts. The note

A LEADING North-East scientist has been awarded a £150,000 grant to help rid the environment of pollutants. Dr John Dean, principal lecturer in the school of applied and molecular sciences at Northumbria University, Newcastle, put in a joint bid for the

HOUSE prices in and around the Stokesley area will rise substantially, according to property experts. Mr Michael Westgarth-Taylor, North-East spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, predicts house prices across the Stokesley area will

MODERN street lamps are to be installed in the centre of Hutton Rudby rather than Victorian-style lanterns. A decision has been made by the parish council, after lengthy discussions with residents. All the strengths and weaknesses of different designs

RIPON City Partnership has launched its programme for 2002, and it is bigger and better than ever. The events, which range from croquet championships to festivals and fairs, aim to provide a fun-filled calendar of things to do and see in Ripon and the

A VILLAGE'S only petrol station might soon be demolished to make way for a new medical centre. At present Dr Michael Neville and Dr Ian Waldin treat patients in consulting rooms at High Green in Gainford, but they need larger, modern premises and better

THE lights were back on last night in a village which has existed in a twilight blackout for more than a month. Villagers in East Hedleyhope, in the Deerness Valley, north-west Durham, say they have been left in darkness after sunset, despite repeated

A WEBSITE providing the region with the latest music news and reviews has been given a new address. Until now, The Northern Echo's Revolution site could only be visited through the newspaper's thisisthenortheast site. However, such has been its success

A CAMPAIGN to honour famous people and historical places of interest in Stockton has been launched by a local man who would like to see a sense of pride returned to the town. Norton historian Robert Harbron is asking for plaques and information boards

PARKING fines have been suspended in some areas of three towns after yellow line loopholes were discovered following the collapse of a court case. North Yorkshire police took the decision after studying a file of 50 photographs provided by 73-year-old

FARMERS have been praised for turning out to help motorists stuck in blizzard conditions at Osmotherley. Mrs Kathleen Collier and her daughter, Miss Pat Collier, were among those caught in the severe winter weather on Clack Bank, just outside the village

HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money are wasted on abandoned and delayed trials in the region's magistrates' courts, a report has revealed. The report, by the Lord Chancellor's Department, has found that "ineffective" trials are soaking

ONE of Britain's smallest cities is bidding to become one of the busiest this year by staging more than 70 events over the next 12 months. Ripon already hosts a series of festivals throughout the year, culminating in the New Year celebrations. Work is

A DRAMATIC drop in passengers because of this year's foot-and-mouth disease is forcing the North York Moors Railway to shed jobs. Chairman, Mr Roger Heath, said up to ten jobs were likely to be axed by the railway, which employs 80 permanent staff plus

WORK to allow disabled people full access to facilities at Darlington's Crown Street Library could begin next month. With planning permission for external and internal work already granted, consent for the alterations to the listed building are expected

MORE than 300 jobs could be created on Teesside if plans to build a new bio-pharmaceutical facility are approved. The new facility at the Avecia site on Belasis Avenue, Billingham, will provide for the contract manufacturing of bio-pharmaceutical products

TWO sets of twins were born in the Friarage hospital, Northallerton, at Christmas. All four are doing well in the maternity unit. First of the quartet to arrive was Jack, who weighed in at 7lb 5oz at 1.30am on Christmas Day, followed by his 6lb 7oz sister

CHRISTMAS 2001 was wonderful. Well, wonderful apart from... 1. Jack, aged eight, arriving in our bedroom at 4.45am on Christmas morning to let us know, thoughtfully, that Santa had been. Actually, we already knew because we'd sat up until 1am, waiting

A COUNCIL is getting into the spirit of European Year of Languages by putting up welcome signs in six languages. Sunderland City Council has put the signs - in Cantonese, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Punjabi - at the reception to its Civic Centre

A TAXI driver who may hold information about what happened to a teenager enjoying a night out on New Year's Eve is being urged by police to come forward. The 18-year-old, from Middlesbrough, was in the town's Royal Exchange pub when she lost her friends

A £2m development in the centre of Chester-le-Street has been put on hold. Private care provider John Oates had hoped to start work on a 60-bedroom residential care home near the centre of the town this year. After town planners at Chester-le-Street District

A £1m drive to eradicate fuel poverty in Chester-le-Street has been declared a success by council bosses. Four years ago the Government told local authorities to eliminate fuel poverty by 2010, but Chester-le-Street District Council hopes to reach this

A TEAM of 30 police officers was this week continuing investigations into the shooting of a pub landlord during an attempted robbery at Masham. Mr Kristian Stephenson, who needed hospital treatment for an arm wound inflicted from a range of about ten

THE NEW chairman of the Forestry Commission will go back to his roots today. Lord Clark, who lives in Ryton, near Newcastle, will be making his first public appearance since his recent appointment by visiting nearby Chopwell Woodland Park. There he will

A SCHEME that provides people with a supervised exercise regime is celebrating another successful year. Alison Haddick runs the classes provided by Exercise on Prescription, a Teesside Health Action Zone (HAZ) project, from a number of venues, including

A DEFINITE case of deja vu marks the start of 2002 - we could almost repeat last year's column word for word. The weather hit jumps racing and even the all-weather ground to a halt on New Year's Eve. But this year it was Wolverhampton where the track

A GRANDMOTHER suffered a suspected heart attack after watching a video of open heart surgery meant to reassure her about a forthcoming operation. Elizabeth Johnston, 63, of Workington, Cumbria, was rushed to hospital in severe pain after viewing the graphic

PLANS to replace a substantial building in Darlington's West End with 18 flats are likely to get the go-ahead despite opposition from local residents and heritage groups. The development in Stanhope Road should go ahead despite the campaign against it

Inter-League competition The 48th inter-league darts competition was held on December 20 at the Fire Station Club where a large crowd watched some excellent darts playing. The eventual winner was the Magnet League who fought back in the final to win the

Tables Knock-out Steve Woodier came out the winner in the £25 pool knock-out held at Tables in Thornaby. Steve came through a very tough half of the draw with all the top players being in one half. Steve was up against fellow tour player Tony Short from

Tow Law Area League The race for the Captain's Table title is tight with Hamilton Row Black Horse and Tow Law New Market B sharing the top spot with 11 points each. Close on their heels in equal third place come Esh Stag's Head and Newhouse Club with

Crook Ladies League Crook Coach and Horses go into the New Year with an enviable record of having played 27 matches without defeat and dropping an average of less than one and a half points per game. Their latest victims were their hosts at Billy Row

Harry Little Memorial Handicap Pairs Semi-final draw: Steve Nelson and Stuart Neil (Newton Aycliffe) v Tom Ward and Barry Fleming (Hunwick) to be played in Tow Law Club at 7.30p.m. on Monday, 14 January. The other semi-final is Chris Morley and Steven

IS your career stagnant, your relationship floundering or your cash flow dried up? Well, in this new year it is just possible that a few minor changes around your home could be the answer, according to feng shui consultant, Christine Schofield. Books

ONE of Reeth's best-known characters has died at the age of 91 following a lifetime in the Swaledale community. Mr Fremont Hutchinson, known locally as Fremmie, was the last of the leadminers and died last Friday in hospital. He was born in neighbouring

REFORMS to the EU sheepmeat rgime have come under fire. The NFU said the recently-agreed reforms fell well short of what was needed to create a sustainable future for the sheep industry in Britain and Europe. Mr Tim Bennett, NFU deputy president, said

THIS being the pantomime season, it must have been tempting for Aston Villa fans to chant "there ain't nothing like a Dane" as Peter Schmeichel repeatedly denied Sunderland before their late equaliser on New Year's Day. The Great Dane must also have been

LAST week's stabbing of a 44-year-old man in Redcar by a gang of youths apparently high on drugs will deeply concern a community that is already struggling to find the best way of dealing with its youngsters. The un-named man was effectively a Good Samaritan

FOR the second week in succession the weather disrupted the Wensleydale Creamery League programme and only two of last Saturday's scheduled seven fixtures were able to be played because of frost-bound pitches. Top game of the day was at Richmond Buck,

A BIG step to helping scores of struggling moorland businesses, devastated as a result of this year's foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, is being masterminded by the North Yorks Moors national park. A project officer is being appointed by the authority

A MEETING next week will study blueprints for an expanded village hall for Eppleby and Forcett. The two hamlets on the North Yorkshire-County Durham border celebrated a National Lottery windfall in September, when the Community Fund confirmed a £250,000

A NATIONAL charity has sent out an appeal for dog walkers in Weardale, to care for a house-bound pensioner's pet. The Cinnamon Trust, based in Cornwall, helps elderly or seriously ill people to keep their pets by providing volunteers to walk dogs or foster

A FORMER colliery worker and his wife celebrated 60 years of marriage yesterday with family and friends. Joe Curry, 86, and his wife, Amy, 83, were married at St Aidan's Church, Chilton, on January 3, 1942. They held an open house party at their Ferryhill

THE public is still making generous donations to Darlington's Giving Tree Appeal, despite Christmas having come and gone. Last year's appeal - the fifth annual collection - was the most successful ever and ran up to Christmas Eve. But gifts have continued

A GIANT boar or oversized chess pieces could soon become part of the street furniture in Bishop Auckland. Major improvements are planned for the town's main shopping street in the coming months, which includes the installation of street art. Four North-East

DETECTIVES are hunting a gang of men who attacked a woman early on New Year's Day. She was assaulted when walking with her husband across a field next to Rotherham Road, behind Pickersgill House, in Hylton Redhouse, Sunderland, after a night out. The

TWO girls appeared in court yesterday over an alleged abduction and attack on an 11-year-old boy. The boy is alleged to have who suffered cuts, bruises and burns in Southwick, Sunderland, on December 2. A 14-year-old was remanded to secure accommodation

A UKRAINIAN seafarer has seen his two-month-old son for the first time over the Internet, from a centre in the North-East. On a visit to The Mission to Seafarers Centre at Seal Sands, Teesside, he became the first seaman to use the one-to-one video conferencing

A JURY heard yesterday that it was almost impossible for a lorry driver to have been asleep at the wheel during an accident which killed a 73-year-old motorist. Police accident investigator Timothy Alderson told York Crown Court, the U-turn manoeuvre

POLICE are hunting a pervert who has tormented a respectable churchgoer with obscene mail for four years. The lewd greetings cards, including pictures of a man naked from the waist down, arrive at Christmas, Valentine's Day and other special occasions

THE grieving parents of a youngster who drowned at a popular North-East water park have launched a legal battle to win a six-figure compensation payout. Anthony Armstrong, seven, was pulled unconscious from a wave pool at Wet 'n' Wild, in North Tyneside

PEOPLE in Middlesbrough are being invited to start the year with a new kind of fitness activity. Beginning on Tuesday, Southlands Leisure Centre, in Ormesby Road, will be the first leisure centre in the area to offer fitball sessions, in which people

NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson is tipping Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to become a legend at Old Trafford. Van Nistelrooy grabbed the Red Devils' first goal in their 3-1 win over the Magpies on Wednesday. Robson is convinced the

BITTER multi-millionaire George Reynolds has shelved a major investment for the region after losing two industrial tribunal cases. The Darlington Football Club chairman announced the blow last night as he hit out at the "compensation culture" facing employers

A FATHER who had recently become reconciled with his family turned to crime to give them Christmas presents, a court was told yesterday. Richard Postgate, 28, stole two DVD players from the Argos store in the Hill Street shopping centre, in Middlesbrough

THE second phase of work to improve safety on a notorious road will get under way on Monday, the Highways Agency has announced. Contractors will be on site this weekend on the A64 at Top Lane, Copmanthorpe, North Yorkshire, setting up a contraflow system

AN era has come to an end with the passing of the last of that hardy breed of men who toiled for their living mining lead far beneath the Yorkshire Dales. Fremont Hutchinson was one of those men for whom the affectionate phrase "a real character" could

THE latest tenant of Darlington's Lingfield Point complex has signed on the dotted line. South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust is taking a 28,000sq ft building at Lingfield Point, to house a medical records facility. It will replace facilities at Darlington

A HEALTH watchdog has backed criticism of an NHS trust over its failure to make the best use of its resources. Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Community Health Council (CHC), commenting on the Commission for Health Improvement's review of the trust

SHOPPERS shook off worries about the economy and went on a bumper pre-Christmas spending spree, according to a new survey. The CBI said it had recorded the fastest year-on-year sales growth for December since 1987. Retail sales volumes in the first two

More than most, Danny Mellanby is hoping tomorrow's match survives a pitch inspection today as he's itching to get more games under his belt since recovering from injury. The Darlington striker recently returned to first-team action, having recovered

£200,000 for footpaths NORTH Yorkshire County Council's highways department is to spend £200,000 improving the county's hundreds of miles of public footpaths. The news comes in the wake of a survey carried out by the Countryside Commission which says

A DALES town council has decided it will not be giving up on an attempt to introduce a by-law banning the consumption of alcohol in parts of its market square. The move was inspired by a single vagrant, who has made Leyburn's market shelter his daytime

Three women passengers proved a handful for a taxi driver on Christmas Day, a court was told yesterday. The cabbie flagged down a police car after two of the women ran off without paying, leaving the third drunk on the back seat, said Alan Davison, prosecuting

Thomas Sheraton: cabinet-maker and leader of furniture design. He was born in Stockton in the 18th Century. Captain William Christopher: A comrade of Captain James Cook, Capt Christopher was born in Stockton and lived opposite the parish church. He is

First time for joint surgeries For the first time, Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, will be accompanied by one of the region's MEP's at his constituency surgeries. Stephen Hughes will join the member of parliament at his surgeries tomorrow. Mr Jones

A RASH bet by soccer fan Sean Vasey has seen him spend more than £1,000 supporting one of his team's Premiership rivals. Sunderland supporter Sean, 40, lost a bet with an Ipswich fan over which side would make it into Europe first. He agreed to swap the

READERS may sympathise with the efforts of town councillors in Guisborough who believe the way to tackle problems of drunkeness in the town centre is to oppose any further late licence applications. They believe the rowdiness associated with people leaving

POLICE were yesterday still unable to identify the remains of a homeless man who had been beaten so badly that he was unrecognisable. The vagrant, whose body was discovered on New Year's Day morning on a beach at South Shields, was said to be about 40

TOURISM chiefs fear the continued closure of some North-East footpaths is deterring holidaymakers and may result in another bad year for the region's industry. Chief executive of the Northumbrian Tourist Board, Peter Sloyan, said that in the past few

January: The year started with the announcement that Guisborough's largest store, Sunwins, was to close with the loss of 23 jobs. Meanwhile, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council announced there would be no increases in council tax for the next 12 months

NATIONAL park planners visit a Yorkshire Dales farm which hopes to be home to a Happy Piggy Park visitor attraction today. David Keilty and wife Ann are already well-known for their organic pork as well as for running a small independent carriage museum

EASINGTON District Council is looking to appoint members of the public to sit on a committee governing councillors' conduct. The council is setting up a standards committee whose job will be the promotion of the code of conduct for councillors and co-opted

KEEPING the grounds of an 1,800-acre estate trim and tidy all year round could be seen by many as an unenviable task - but it's one Peter Godwin relishes. He is celebrating 25 years working at the stately homes of Lord Zetland, most recently at Aske country

Whitfield's Building Services Durham and Cleveland League The mid-season break cannot end soon enough for the leading three teams in the men's first division as the tightest of situations sees current leaders and defending champions Nunthorpe I just two

PUPILS have teamed up with a public relations firm to write, design and produce a fundraising calendar. Staff from Robson Brown worked with youngsters at St Mary's RC Primary School, in Whickham, Gateshead, to create the calendar which will be sold to

RESIDENTS are launching a bid to build their own community centre on an old refuse site near their homes. People living in the Sunnydale area of Shildon have called for some kind of community building to house extra facilities for the area. A questionaire

FARMERS taking sheep to Barnard Castle auction mart on Wednesday faced long delays, with freezing temperatures causing hold-ups in the cleansing of vehicles. Several described the situation as chaotic, with stock being taken into the mart but vehicles

AN information board has been installed to explain how the conservation of reeds in Billingham provides a vital wildlife habitat. The panel was put up this week at Billingham Beck country park, and shows how the countryside warden staff are managing the

HARTLEPOOL people are being invited to help decide how millions of pounds of regeneration cash should be spent. Residents from Hart Lane to Belle Vue and agencies working in the area are being urged to attend workshops to put forward their spending priorities

WORK is about to start on a banner celebrating an area's heritage, thanks to a partnership's support. A team of residents is creating the banner symbolising the east end of Sunderland and Hendon, with help from the Back on the Map Partnership. It will

STOCKTON police are anxious to find a bike-riding mugger who snatched a 73-year-old woman's handbag as she walked through Ropner Park, Stockton, on New Year's Eve. She was left with pains in her shoulder and wrist, as a result of the mugger trying to

POLICE are still hoping to trace two drivers who may be able to help with an inquiry into an incident just before Christmas in which a young man suffered injuries which proved fatal. Graham Stainton, 29, of Regent Avenue, was hurt in a collision with

FARMERS in the region received a welcome new year present when the whole of Yorkshire, Durham and Cumbria were declared foot-and-mouth free. Movement restrictions were lifted from midnight on new year's eve, but all livestock movements still require a

THERE was good and bad news for council tax payers from Derwentside District Council leader Alex Watson this week. Coun Watson revealed that the area's council tax and council house rent would certainly go up in the coming year. But he added that the

TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to a highly-decorated war hero, councillor and journalist, who died on New Year's Day. Great-grandfather Arnold Pearson, a wireless operator on almost 70 bombing operations during the Second World War, died peacefully in hospital

A TELEVISION advertising campaign has been launched to bring tourists back to Yorkshire. Stars from the worlds of showbusiness and sport are lending their support to a major £1.5m effort to get the industry back on its feet after the effects of foot-and-mouth

THE marketing people are at it again - taking liberties with geography with the aim of maximising the appeal of what ever it is they are trying to sell. Ripon City Partnership is using a Leeds-based firm's expertise to promote the city's 2002 events programme