Archive

  • Ballystone to see off Czech trio

    WITH three Czech challengers, plus one Norwegian-trained raider, lining up for this afternoon's £30,000 Sporting Index Chase at Cheltenham there's a real international feel to the race. Run over the unique cross-country course at Prestbury Park, contestants

  • Don't honk

    OUTRAGEOUS, manifestly absurd, unreasonable and ultimately undeserving. These are just some of the words used to describe the firefighters' claim for a 40pc pay rise. With North Yorkshire and County Durham covered by just 28 Green Goddesses, the militancy

  • Residents callfor safety measures following accident

    Residents are calling for urgent safety measures at the scene of a fatal car crash. A man was killed on Wednesday night when his van collided head-on with a car and burst into flames on a bend on the A67 near Teesside Airport. Farmers whose homes overlook

  • Junoir Round-up

    Coxhoe Boys: THE Under-14s went top of the table for the first time this season with a resounding 7-0 win against Jarrow Boys on Sunday. Previous leaders, Seaham, were knocked off their perch as their match was postponed leaving Coxhoe free to become

  • Stanley and District Sunday League

    PELTON Fell bounced back from a goal down to book themselves a place in the third round proper of the Durham County FA Sunday Cup following an excellent odd goal in three away win at South Shields Fad Continentals. The Fell found themselves a goal down

  • Cleveland League

    The best result in Division One was recorded by Redcar WMC A, who, on their travels, whitewashed Guisborough Cons. A 6-0. Arthur Smith, in his first game, contained Scott Hardy Burns, that was until Scott compiled a 40 break to win the game 57-32. Scott

  • Durham ready for double test

    Durham County Under-16 Girls play against Northumberland Under-16 Girls tomorrow in the first of two scheduled games and will be held at the Durham Girls' home ground, Houghall College, Durham. The second match will be at Northumberland's ground at Bullocksteads

  • Optimism that horse -flashing' will return to fair

    YARM Fair is expected to have dramatic displays of horse "flashing" again next year, if a safety agreement can be drawn-up between Cleveland police and travellers. Yarm Town Council was this week quietly optimistic that the display would return in some

  • North East Christian Fellowship League

    In Division Two Jesmond Parish Athenians exploded into a 8-0 lead against Stockton Baptist Tabernacle. Finishing the match 14-1 Jason Alexander (5), Keith Chamber (3), Neil Fitzpatrick (3) Ian Tew, Ken Matthews and Andrew Huntley scored. St Aidan's scraped

  • Letters: College move

    Sir, - I am concerned about the proposed relocation of Darlington College of Technology from Cleveland Avenue to a site on Yarm Road. It is very pleasing to hear the college continues to do so well and I wish it every success for the future but it seems

  • Paying price for failed merger

    Beleaguered steel manufacturer Corus will have to cut £35 off the cost of each tonne of liquid steel produced to make up for its failed merger with Brazilian firm Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN), it emerged last night. The collapse of the bid to

  • Ice Hockey: Junior round-up

    Sunderland Cherokees played two games in the English Under-12 North A League at the weekend winning one and losing one. Victory came on Sunday with a 4-1 win over Blackburn Sparrowhawks. Jake Shanks gave Cherokees the lead after nine minutes, Grant Sharp

  • The region's going wild to help children

    THOUSANDS of people across the region are joining madcap events to raise money for the BBC's Children in Need appeal today. Bathing in custard, dressing as Wombles and abseiling are just some of the crazy fundraising activities taking place around the

  • Back to the drawing board over £220m partnership

    THE latest setback to a £220m partnership deal for East Cleveland has been criticised. Redcar and Cleveland Council this week announced that Amey was no longer the preferred bidder in a massive development programme. That means it is back to the drawing

  • A crass decision

    NASSER Hussain was roundly pilloried for so generously inviting the Australians to bat first at Brisbane, and it appeared such a crass decision I couldn't wait to hear his attempts to justify it. Surely we all had the right to know at the close of the

  • Proud grandparents on the way to top title

    A ROMANTIC couple who recently celebrated 51 years of marriage are still getting over the shock of becoming regional finalists in a Grandparents of the Year competition. Richmond couple Molly and David Squires had no idea their granddaughter, Helen, had

  • Deploy reserve fire engines -- MP

    An MP is calling for a reserve troop of modern fire engines, standing idle in the North-East, to be deployed to save lives during the firefighters' strike. House of Commons Library figures, produced by the Conservatives, show that there are 27 reserve

  • Special autumn livestock sales

    BARNARD CASTLE. - Mon. Annual show & sale of 180 suckled cattle. Prizes. - Lim bullocks: 1 JW Dent & Sons £510; F Allinson £530. Lim hfrs: 1 RW Makepeace £350; MA Close £300. Char bullocks: 1 Mrs J Kearton £540; JW Dent & Sons £525. Char hfr

  • Darlington Mowden Park

    Mowden Park Under-16s lost 19-10 at Gosforth who came out strongly but it took them 30 minutes to score their first goal after Mowden Park had returned the pressure with interest, themselves unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. A Gosforth breakaway

  • Approaches made to entice school away from town

    YARM School could quit the town if its plans to move to the outskirts are rejected. The D&S Times learned this week that neighbouring authorities were keen to tempt the independent school elsewhere It hopes to move to land in Green Lane but planning

  • Trip to palace for top cheesemaker

    JUDY Bell, farmer's wife and prize-winning cheesemaker from Newsham, near Thirsk, described her visit to Buckingham Palace last week to receive her MBE as wonderful. Mrs Bell, who founded Shepherd's Purse cheeses, was presented with the award, for her

  • Letters: City that never was

    Sir, - David Simon's letter (D&S Nov 8)is a rallying call for those of us who expected greater things of Teesside. As it stands, Teesside is the city that never was. The Teesside Study Group was campaigning for a unifying plan for the area in the

  • Last Night's TV: Wire In The Blood (ITV): Horizon (BBC2)

    Grim and unrelenting but well made. There was a particularly horrible moment in the opening episode of The Mermaids Singing - the first of the Wire In The Blood stories - when a trussed up, naked man was lowered, bottom first, on to a barbed wire-covered

  • Longhorn Hardware Darlington and District League

    Archdeacon 5 v DSRMSC Reserves Archdeacon took an early lead when a corner was headed home but a Rolly's levelled matters from the penalty spot. The Deacon led 2-1 at the interval and an own goal presented them with a safety cushion which was increased

  • Relive your gaming youth with beat 'em up

    CAPCOM Vs SNK 2: EO Publisher: Capcom. Format: Gamecube. IS there anything more that can be done with the two-dimensional beat 'em up? Capcom clearly believes there is. Capcom Vs SNK 2: EO is the culmination of a 15-year journey that started in the arcades

  • Bishop Auckland

    Bishop Auckland's first 15 recorded a 34-17 friendly win at home to Durham and Northumberland fourth division league leaders Seaham in a friendly match at West Mills. Unbeaten in the league, Seaham started the game with a flurry of attacking moves. Bishops

  • Windass is desperate to cut a dash with the Blades

    OUT-OF-FAVOUR Dean Windass last night admitted he is desperate to make a go of his loan move from Middlesbrough to Sheffield United. Windass has yet to play in the Premiership this season and he has been looking for a new club. He joined the Blades on

  • Wearside League

    Leaders Stokesley SC suffered a shock defeat in the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup last weekend, but for the victors' manager it was all smiles at the end of the game. David Jones, whose side is seventh from bottom, believes the result is just the fillip his

  • Picture is a truly felt experience

    ANDREA Hunter's powerful felt wall hanging, The Gathering, goes on show next week in Harrogate when the Knitting and Stitching Exhibition arrives at the Conference Centre. The artist grew up surrounded by sheep farming in upper Wensleydale, and this inspired

  • Taking flight gives disabled man a better view of home

    TOM Pearson is a man who likes to aim high. Which is why - despite the fact that he is a wheelchair user - he is prepared to hang out of a light aircraft to get the best aerial shots of his beloved Masham. Other parts of North Yorkshire have also been

  • Weardale Ladies League

    Elaine Swan of Pack Horse hit the first 180 of the season. Blue Bell B increased their lead at the top to five points over Mill Race. Pack Horse and Wolsingham WMC are thirteen points in arrears of the leading duo. Results: Rookhope WMC 6 Stanhope Queens

  • Squash: Junior round -up

    Junior Inter-County Championships Boys Under-17 Division One North (Carlisle) Durham and Cleveland were victorious in two matches to top the group and move into the promotion group in stage two next year. D and C 4, Cumbria 1: Lee Skinner lost to P Bell

  • Quakers RC

    Ian Scott competed in the Derwent Water ten mile Road Race at Keswick on Sunday, November 3, finishing 15th out of 412 runners in a time of 58:14 taking the second Over 45 Vet prize. Also competing was John Bright who finished in a time of 1:19:26 and

  • Shepherd smiles all the way to bank

    CHAIRMAN Freddy Shepherd maintains he can't be sure how much Newcastle's latest Champions League windfall is worth - but the bank manager is smiling. Most estimates suggest United's first appearance in the second group stage will earn them close to £10m

  • Music was his first love ...

    A CLEVELAND media lecturer who also runs a record company and music firm is publicising the latest tour by Tyneside band Lindisfarne. Dave Hill, of Cleveland College of Art, has been involved in the music industry since the Seventies. He is a big fan

  • South Cleveland Garages Teesside League

    Division One: BEADS FC 4 v 1 Mackinlay Park Redcar side Mackinlay Park switched venues for this game but home side BEADS were well on top and took a tenth minute lead through Paul Chamberlin who capitalised on the keeper's error to give his team the lead

  • Mowden skipper Redaelli suffers another injury setback

    DARLINGTON Mowden Park skipper Aaron Redaelli, who has been out for two months with a rib injury, has now broken two bones in a hand. The No 8 was due to return at Waterloo tomorrow, but after proving his ribs had fully recovered he suffered the new injury

  • Looking Back

    From this newspaper 100 years ago. - There was only a moderate attendance at Bedale Hirings on Tuesday, but a good attendance of masters and mistresses. There was a great demand for female servants, which were very scarce, and many mistresses complained

  • Big repair bill for historic chapel

    THE oldest Methodist chapel in continuous use in the world is facing a large repair bill after structural faults were discovered during a routine inspection. Spokesman Mary Lowes told the D&S Times that quite a lot of structural damage, some of it

  • Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League

    Arthur Reed Memorial Shield first round, sponsored by Leven Bridge Engineering Ltd Thornaby Mandale 4 v 1 Thornaby Vill. Mandale won the Thornaby derby with Andrew Dyson taking the honours with a well taken hat-trick. Man of the match Dyson opened his

  • Cricketer Norman is our Local Hero 2002

    THE Local Heroes of grass roots sport were honoured at a prestigious ceremony watched by a 600-strong audience last night. The Northern Echo's Local Heroes Awards 2002, powered by npower, took place at The Tall Trees Hotel, near Yarm. And the overall

  • Tow Law Bass League

    Tow Law Dan's Castle celebrated only their second victory of the season when they visited Sunniside Moss Inn, but it was the one that lifted them from the foot of the table. The Castle opened out in fine style by taking both trebles points and went on

  • Athletics:Laurence Jackson School

    Last Saturday the School's inter-boys cross country team attended the Northern finals of the English Schools cross county cup at Northallerton. The team defeated 11 other schools from as far afield as Northumberland and West Yorkshire and now go to the

  • Spinning a fine way to travel

    A SLENDER shaft of autumn sunlight brightened the garden directly opposite my kitchen window and, in its clean glow, I could see several strands of spiders' webs, each about a foot long and stretched out horizontally as the merest whiff of a breeze caught

  • The Unibond League

    Spennymoor are now the favourites for the Durham Challenge Cup after they came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 on Wednesday night. A young side looked as if they would be going through after they created several chances in the first half, but Moors

  • Junior round-up

    Darlington Mount Pleasant Rangers: The Under-12s A Team played at home against South Bank Juniors in a league game and dominated from start to finish. The score ended 6-0 to Rangers. Rangers scorers were Mikey Smith (2), Gary Martin, Sean Lowe, Grant

  • Letters: Waste re-think

    Sir, - I must express my disappointment and disgust at Richmondshire District Council over its re-cycling policy. The council is at present singing its own praises at introducing the blue bag waste paper collecting scheme. This is, I believe, where households

  • US defence chief to visit North Yorkshire

    The head of the US missile defence project will visit the UK base which is key to its success, it was confirmed today. Defence chiefs played down the significance of General Ronald Kadish's trip to RAF Fylingdales, an early warning radar station, in North

  • Hood picks up player of the year award

    TIM Hood of Marske rounded off a remarkable season when he was presented with the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League player of the year award. He is pictured above receiving the accolade from David Copland, marketing and communications manager

  • Darlington Dalecom Church and Friendly League

    County Cup commitments and the weather left the League with just three league games, all at Darlington's Hundens Park. Darlington Travellers Rest and Newton Aycliffe Navy Club had a hard-ding dong battle which eventually ended all square at 3-3. The visitors

  • Traders' chairman soldiers on to save chamber from folding

    AN OUTSPOKEN campaigner for Thirsk Chamber of Trade, Don Moore, resigned on Tuesday as he is about to leave the town. But when no-one offered to take on the chairmanship, rather than let the group founder he offered to continue in the position - even

  • Distillex fined after massive blaze

    A firm whose "shoddy" system of work turned an industrial town into a "war zone" was fined £39,000 yesterday. Three hundred homes were evacuated and 19,000 put at risk after a junior worker used a wrong piece of machinery and caused a devastating chemical

  • Roseberry Group North East Durham League

    East Rainton were presented with no fewer than seven trophies at the League's annual awards ceremony. The first XI carried off the championship, winning 19 and drawing two of their 22 matches. They also clinched the Henry Bainbridge Cup, Vinton Trophy

  • Teenage rebellion from Elvis to Eminem is winning theme

    THE darker side of rebellious teenagers and the influence of popular music on them was the winning theme for Branksome School in the Darlington Schools' Public Speaking Competition. The school's main speaker, Ellie Grassick, told the audience at Darlington

  • Middleham races into the limelight after record year

    THE booming racing industry centred around the North Yorkshire market town of Middleham is celebrating its most successful year ever. The Wensleydale community, which now boasts more than 500 horses in training at 16 stables, has broken the £3m prize-money

  • Hide in memory of conservationist

    THE Wildfowl and Wetland Trust is to open a bird watching facility in honour of Paddy Fleming, a keen ornithologist and conservationist from Richmond who died in January, aged 59. Mr Fleming's widow, Doreen, will officially open Paddy's Hide at 11am on

  • Johnston rounds off season with Doncaster treble

    MIDDLEHAM took the honours for the final day of the Flat season on turf at Doncaster last Saturday. Mark Johnston sent out three of the winners - Lots Of Love, Marinas Charm and Knavesmire Omen. The first was a red letter day for apprentice Scott Marshall

  • The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

    n Ithe week of the Local Heroes Awards 2002, the league found its own heroes in Smith and Allan. After two years, over 40 games and many 100s of goals conceded, they finally won their first game. In a battle between the bottom two in division three, Smith

  • Crook League

    Market and Belle Vue moved a further point clear of Old Horseshoe who drop to third place. Coach and Horses had a bye in division two and lost second place to Australian. Cricket Club remain well clear at the top. Results - Division One: Royal George

  • Six months jail warning for hoax callers

    POLICE last night pledged to show no mercy to 999 hoaxers caught making calls during the firefighters' strike. Police forces in the North-East and North Yorkshire condemned malicious callers responsible for sending Green Goddesses out unnecessarily. The

  • Police arrest 60 in child porn inquiry

    A doctor, a nurse and a teacher were among 60 people arrested as part of an Internet child pornography crackdown, police revealed yesterday. More than 200 officers recovered thousands of pornographic images showing children as young as two being sexually

  • Mother defends son after police car collision

    THE mother of a driver who was injured in a head-on collision with a police patrol car has denied her son is a boy racer. Machine operator Nicholas Robson, 26, from Lilac Court, Shildon, County Durham, was left shocked and bruised when his Rover 25 collided

  • Prisoners to get more family learning time

    A PROJECT that will allow prisoners to spend more time with their children is to be launched. Visiting time for prisoners at Low Newton, County Durham, is a precious opportunity for mothers who have little chance to see their children. It is recognised

  • Housing plan sparks protest

    RESIDENTS in a commuter village are fighting plans for further development in their community. York's new Local Plan, which sets out the how the district will be developed over the next decade, has gone out for public consultation. It includes proposals

  • Arty dozen produce calendar

    A calendar has been launched featuring artwork by GSCE students at Hurworth School. A selection of work by Year 11 art and technology pupils was put on display at the school in May. Parents, staff and other students voted for their favourites which appear

  • Court case adjourned

    THE case against Louis Welch, 32, of Honeypot Lane caravan site, Darlington, was adjourned until 10am on Tuesday, November 26, at Darlington Magistrates' Court. He is accused of possessing offensive weapons and using threatening and abusive behaviour

  • BBC Children In Need: Pudsey joins hotel strollers

    PUDSEY Bear called at a hotel to officially start and take part in a children's sponsored walk in aid of Children in Need. About 50 youngsters helped to raise in more than £550 after completing the one-mile walk along the Quayside from the reception of

  • Women to face trial

    THREE women are facing trial, accused of conspiracy to defraud after an investigation into overtime payments by a defence contracts company. Mary Ann Rainbow, 52, Trina-Daneze Howard, 31, and Helen Louise Powell, 28, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates

  • Company defies red tape to board up drugs den

    A PROPERTY company is defying council red tape to board up a town centre drugs den. The Waterbridge Group plans to block off two floors of a derelict ten-storey office block in the centre of Middlesbrough with metal sheeting. Cars parked around the base

  • News in brief: Miners video is premiered

    PUDDLE Productions, from West Rainton, will be showing part of its new video Miners at War, at the Durham Clayport Library, Millennium Place, Durham, at 7pm on Thursday, November 28. There are 80 tickets, which include wine and a buffet, available from

  • Tractor pull hailed a success

    FARMERS of all ages battled it out at the weekend in the first Barnard Castle tractor pull. The event, held at Streatlam Farm, saw local farmers, farm workers and agricultural contractors test their tractor's pulling power during the event, which was

  • Prosper by fighting crime, says police chief

    The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Crispian Strachan, yesterday told businesses across the region how they could prosper from the fight against crime. Mr Strachan, the main speaker at the Crime Reduction Conference at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland

  • Talent on show

    A TALENT competition for young people is to take place next month. The contest involves young people aged from eight to 19 performing songs and imitating their favourite pop stars. It takes place at the Lamplight Theatre, Stanley, on December 6. The show

  • A colder, wetter month, and watch out for January

    OCTOBER was very mild during the first week. Soil temperatures were at their highest in October for at least 15 years. Not surprisingly, it didn't continue, unlike a year ago. Then, we had the warmest October over England as a whole for more than 300

  • Pledge on bogus callers

    NEW measures to tackle doorstep crime were unveiled yesterday. A number of North Yorkshire organisations attended a seminar at the Cairn Hotel in Harrogate to discuss bogus callers. Most major utilities and other organisations involved in calling on houses

  • Drinkers say thank you

    STAFF and friends at a market town pub have raised hundreds of pounds for the hospital where the landlord spent his last days. Nigel Towler, who ran The Greyhound Inn at Bagby, near Thirsk, with his wife Hilary, died in August having suffered from brain

  • Church tops £95,000 at collection

    THEY say it is better to give than receive and at one North Yorkshire church, that's a message that is taken very seriously. In just one day, the generous congregation at St Martin-le-Belfry church in York, handed over a staggering £95,000 for good causes

  • Have your say on postal vote

    RESIDENTS can have their say on a council's intention to run a pilot postal voting scheme at the next district and parish council elections. Chester-le-Street district councillors will be at a stand at the town's market today, between 9am and 2pm, asking

  • Hear All Sides: Fire Strike

    I WAS a self-employed butcher for most of my working life, working not less than 80 hours a week and taking three days holiday a year. I never had a full Sunday free from work. I had two children who I helped through college, and never in my life had

  • Anonymous tip-offs can play a vital role

    THE Operation Lancelot team has emphasised the importance of Crimestoppers in the fight against burglars. Crimestoppers is an information gathering service where members of the public can pass information to the police about any crime. A spokesman said

  • Pony show boosts disabled riders

    MEMBERS of Court Endeavour of The Foresters have made a presentation of £560 to the Riding for the Disabled Association. The money comes from the proceeds of a pony show the Foresters held at the Unicorn equestrian centre in Hemlington earlier this year

  • Crash fireball victim could not have been saved

    THE man who died in an horrific road accident within hours of the start of the firefighters' strike could not have been saved, even if industrial action had been averted. The van driver, who police say is not from the North-East, died in a fireball when

  • Guarding against bogus callers

    BOGUS officials are one group of criminals being targeted by Operation Lancelot officers. Of the ten burglaries committed in Sedgefield borough since the start of November, two were carried out by people posing as water board officials. The burglaries

  • Grassroots: Yarm and Eaglescliffe

    CHRISTMAS FOCUS: Members of the Yarm group of the National Women's Register meet on alternate Tuesdays. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 26, at 7.45pm, where there will be a Christmas demonstration. For more details, call 01625 781567. CRAFT FAIR

  • Join new forum

    MEMBERS of the public are needed to help improve their community on a new council-organised Local Access Forum. The forum will give advice on recreation and access strategies, and improvements to rights of way. Meetings will be held twice a year. To join

  • Brass band's musical odyssey

    A BRASS band will be making a 1,344-mile round trip to take part in a competition in the North-East. The Jag Mount Charles Band, from St Austell, Cornwall, will compete against an otherwise northern line-up in the Bands in Concert Championships, at Spennymoor

  • Residents lose fight to block housing

    RESIDENTS have lost their battle to block 200 new homes being built on the outskirts of Durham city. Controversial plans for council-owned land were approved by 14 votes to three when the local authority met on Wednesday. The project has been submitted

  • Worthington Durham County CIU Winter League

    Crowtrees B were able to celebrate their first ever victory in the League when they visited Tow Law and came through in the decider. Heppell Hodghson put the Lawyers ahead but then Martin Wolf and Terry Gibson moved the visitors in front. Charlie Donaghy

  • News in brief: Digital art to go on display

    A DIGITAL art exhibition titled People and Place will be held on March 1, at Redcar and Cleveland City Learning Centre, Normanby Road, South Bank. The event will showcase the work of novice artists from the Tees Valley.Digital content creation workshops

  • Teachers to get a lesson in the law

    TEACHERS are going back to the classroom for a lesson in the law. Northumbria Police are running a half-day course tomorrow, in Sunderland. It aims to help secondary school teachers understand the role of the police and criminal justice system, so they

  • Norman is the 2002 Local Hero

    THE inspiration behind one of the North-East's oldest cricket clubs was last night named as the Local Hero of 2002. Norman Sturman won the overall award at The Northern Echo's prestigious Local Heroes Awards 2002, powered by npower. Around 600 guests

  • Apollo Doors Gateshead Youth League

    Low Fell still lead the Under-11 division despite losing for the first time this season when they were defeated 2-0 by Redheugh. Heworth are second, three points behind the leaders and they enhanced their chances of taking over at the top with a 4-0 victory

  • Mayor pays a visit to mental health unit

    THE Mayor of Darlington visited a residential mental health unit in the town yesterday. Councillor Doris Jones spent the afternoon at the £650,000 Earlston House on Coniscliffe Road. The unit, which opened in June, cares for people with long-term mental

  • Row over 'don't use jab' warning

    THE controversy over single jabs was reignited last night after health experts raised safety concerns over the importation of a mumps vaccine. The Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM) said use of the vaccine Pavivac should be suspended while the

  • News in brief: Community centre opens

    CHURCH leaders have welcomed the opening of a refurbished community centre after a lengthy fundraising campaign. About £150,000 has been spent revamping the Willow Road centre, in Darlington, to provide an information technology suite and other improved

  • Glass act by Romanian aid helpers

    A NORTH-EAST couple are helping fund charity operations to Romania with profits from their glassware business. Ian Paxton and wife Sue, of Stockton, set out on a mercy trip to Romania in 1991 to provide aid for children. Since then, they have visited

  • Stars shine in city as lights are turned on

    HUNDREDS of people braved the rain and wind in Durham last night to usher in the Christmas season. A crowd gathered in the Market Place to see the switch-on of the city's new Christmas lights, paid for by the city council and traders. TV star Norman Pace

  • Playing areas need £1m more

    A PROPOSAL to invest £1m in east Cleveland's 68 playgrounds will be put before councillors next week. The plan has been formulated after Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council were hit with 19 compensation claims from people injured in the parks, which

  • Business is grooming for Stuart and Stewart

    WITH 20 years experience as a judge on the Canine Society dog show circuit and a working life tending to animals in kennels and zoos, Stuart Smith was ready to open his own pet grooming business. He teamed up with fellow dog enthusiast Stewart Gardner

  • Capital time for young environmentalists

    A NEWTON Aycliffe schoolgirl has been named Young Environmentalist of the Year at a star-studded ceremony in London. Nine-year-old Kayleigh Edge beat off strong competition to pick up the award, just beating her sister Charlotte into second place. Her

  • Top price cash goes to young breeders

    READY bids, particularly for the younger females, brought a top price of 6,200gns at the annual British Limousin Cattle Society Red Ladies Derby at Borderway, Carlisle last Friday. The average was more than £300 up on the 2000 figure. The sale, conducted

  • Advice sessions for community volunteers

    A volunteer co-ordinator has arranged drop-in sessions at centres across South Durham. Lindsay Wright, who works for volunteer agency 2D in Crook, hopes people will call in for advice and help at the sessions. The mother-of-three, from North Bitchburn

  • Basketball: Durham League

    Nissan stretched their Durham League unbeaten run to five games and moved to the top of the first division league table with a 81-70 home success against Hartlepool HQ Engineering Hornets. Arran Hope hit 13 of the 16 points which gave Nissan a great start

  • Education pledge as work starts on school

    A HEADTEACHER has pledged his future to a mission to raise educational standards on Teesside. Eddie Brady outlined his promise as diggers began work on a new super-school at Middlesbrough. He is headteacher at Unity City Academy, which opened in September

  • Tobacco sale sting warning to others

    A TRADING standards officer hopes the conviction of a newsagents' assistant for selling cigarettes to an underage customer will serve as a warning to all shop staff. Senior trading standards officer Tom Terrett was speaking after Sunderland magistrates

  • Burglary warning as nights draw in

    HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to take precautions against burglars as the dark nights draw in. The Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership, a venture led by the police and the district council, is offering 100 free shed or garage alarms to the first

  • Police to be given 40 patrol officers

    A TEAM of 40 new community support officers will be working alongside police on Teesside by early next year. They will provide a high visibility uniformed patrol to reduce crime, fear of crime and antisocial behaviour following a £300,000 grant from the

  • Schoolgirl uncovers rare fossil in quarry

    A 12-year-old girl has put dinosaur hunters to shame by unearthing a 250-million-year-old fossil during a field trip to a quarry. Stephanie Gomersall had almost given up hope of finding anything of interest during a visit to Lafarge Thrislington Quarry

  • News in brief: Seaside town gets its twin

    Scarborough is to be twinned with the Irish town of Cahir after councillors this week decided on an official link. The decision follows a decade of links involving a wide range of organisations from both towns making exchange visits and Cahir being closely

  • Festival to be a real wonder

    TWO of literature's enduring characters will formally open a Christmas gift and food festival. The event at Ripon Cathedral will take place on Saturday, November 23, when the special guests will be Alice and the White Rabbit, from the book Alice in Wonderland

  • Vessel arrival delayed - again

    A much-delayed attempt to bring the biggest vessel ever to sail into the Tyne has been postponed again. Just hours before the 300,000 tonne Bonga floating oil platform was due to enter the river this morning, the operation was called off. Hundreds of

  • News in brief: Woman faces theft charges

    A FORMER shop worker at the Army Foundation College, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, appeared before the town's magistrates yesterday accused of stealing from the Ministry of Defence. Diane Kellet, 31, who worked in a regimental shop where recruits bought

  • Hindley dead

    Moors murderer Myra Hindley has died, a Prison Service spokesman said today. Hindley, 60, died following respiratory failure. She was taken to West Suffolk hospital at Bury St Edmunds with a suspected heart attack earlier this month. ''Her next of kin

  • Hood wins Player of the Year accolade

    The North Yorkshire/South Durham (NYSD) Cricket League Player of the Year for 2002 is Tim Hood of Marske Cricket Club. Tim was presented with his Award at the annual NYSD Presentation Evening held recently at Billingham Synthonia Recreation Club by David

  • Shop Talk: Getting in the good books

    You know how it is - there's a book you'd like to buy, but you can't remember the publisher or the title or the author. Tricky. But good book shop assistants will hazard an educated guess, even with the most unlikely clues. "An amazing number of people

  • Junior round-up

    Brompton Juniors In the North Riding Cup two teams from the TJA League played in an entertaining match. Fourth Division Brompton Juniors Under-14s entertained First Division Beechwood and the away team scored after just two minutes following some sloppy

  • Macho's Austria call delights Wilkinson

    HOWARD Wilkinson last night revealed his delight for Sunderland's third-choice goalkeeper Jurgen Macho after he was called up by his country. It is the first time Macho has been named in the Austria squad and he is now hoping to play a part in next Wednesday's

  • Machinery sale

    CRATHORNE. - Machinery sale at Low Foxton Farm, Crathorne, near Yarm, for Mr & Mrs D Burrell, who are retiring from farming. Auctioneer Robin Jessop. Prices: J-reg (1991) Massey Ferguson 3065 4WD (2,960 hrs) £8,900; C-reg Massey Ferguson 275 Synchro

  • Brewer's Droop move clear after away win

    Willington and District League Willington Brewer's Droop B extended their lead at the top of the table to four points when they beat their hosts at Hunwick Club in the clash between the leaders. Hunwick moved two ahead when David Thompson and Robert Todd

  • Bishop Auckland

    Bishop Auckland Saturday Winter League (Stableford): 1 G Collinson and D Whales 44 pts, 2 D Perriss and J Kitchingman 43, 3 C Auld and R Sanderson 42. Sunday Winter League (Stableford): 1 M Toole and R Page 46, 2 A Lamb and M Peddelty 42. 3 M Wade and

  • The real victims betrayed by Burrell

    THERE'S an old joke about a couple from one of the North's most depressing estates who moved to London and were offered a house next door to Buckingham Palace. They refused, explaining to Westminster Council that they were not prepared to live next door

  • Bishop Auckland and District League

    The quarter finals and semi-finals of the League Singles Championship were played at two venues with the winner from each going forward to play in the Final at Bishop Auckland King's Head. The winner from Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms was Paul Willey

  • Sow numbers down by 30pc

    Pig Plan Monitor, by David Gloag, AgroSoft pig business management consultant THE many challenges faced by the British Pig Industry in recent years have led to a 30pc reduction in the size of the national breeding herd. The latest census shows only 554,000

  • Make your mark on a figure of hate

    DARLINGTON'S bid to get people to park their unwanted chewing gum on large boards around the town centre (as seen on the BBC's Songs of Praise) was a short-lived experiment. The pavements have now returned to their customary decor of black blobs of redundant

  • Thirsk Sharks

    Unfortunately for Thirsk, they gave away too many penalties in the first 15 minutes that resulted in Richmond converting a penalty to take a 3-0 lead. Thisk were camped in the Richmond 22 for 15 minutes during which they had two tries disallowed for being

  • T M Disco Crook and District League

    Stanhope Town consolidated fifth place with a home win against Tow Law Cattle Mart. The Mart took a fourth minute lead through Peter Brown but Louis Fraser equalised ten minutes later. Andy Lee put Stanhope ahead and the Mart had a player sent off just

  • Water Polo: Durham City

    Anna Richardson, Durham City's 15-year-old, gained a gold medal last weekend, playing for the North East Counties District 17 years and under girls team which won the ASA National Inter District water polo championships at Grantham. The NEC girls defeated

  • Table Tennis

    Stockton Junior Select Championships A strong contingent of local players led by Drinkhall brothers, Bryn and Paul from Loftus, will be involved in this weekend's prestigious tournament at Thornaby Pavilion. Other high ranked players hoping for good fortune

  • Praise for new milk contract

    A GROUNDBREAKING new milk supply contract on offer to Express Milk Partnership members has received a ringing endorsement from Sir Donald Curry, chairman of the Policy Commission that produced the report on the Future of Farming and Food. Speaking at

  • Bowls

    Durham County Community Carpet Bowls Division One: Croxdale played 4, 21 points; Tudhoe 3, 16; Bowburn 4, 14; Pittington 5, 14; Shincliffe 5, 12; Hamsteels 3, 11; Lansdowne 6, 8; Ludworth 4, 6. Division Two: Sedgefield A 6, 22; Esh Winning 5, 19; Fishburn

  • Villagers protest over phone box removal

    KNAYTON villagers are angry at the removal, without notice, of the village telephone kiosk. British Telecom engineers arrived last week and removed it from the village green. This means that the nearest telephone box is now at the services on the southbound

  • Government likely to rule on future of estate

    A FINAL decision on whether Leeming Bar industrial estate can be extended, attracting new firms and creating more jobs, is likely to rest with the Government. The 30-year-old estate, home to some of the biggest employers in North Yorkshire, now has no

  • Darlington

    A 36-0 defeat for the Under-13s at Malton and Norton could be perceived as this being a walk over for Malton, however Darlington, at times, played the better rugby. Darlington's lightweight backs unable to stop the much larger numbers eight ten and thirteen

  • Battle royal at Palace

    All this current kerfuffle with the monarchy could hardly have engendered more sensational front pages than events at the Palace on the night of January 25, 1995. It was the occasion that Eric Cantona went kung-fu crazy, failed utterly to keep his feet

  • ntl looks for revival but more jobs to go

    Cable firm ntl is on track to come out of its re-financing shake-up this month - but there are plans to axe 250 more jobs across the country. The US parent of ntl filed for "Chapter 11" bankruptcy protection earlier this year after mounting debts of £12bn

  • Health centre site revealed

    THE FORMER Farmway building in Darlington's King Street is to become a one-stop medical health centre, the D&S Times can reveal. Last month, the D&S Times reported that Darlington Primary Care Trust was looking to create a modern health care facility

  • Half a century of hits and memories

    Today marks the 50th birthday of the UK Hit Singles chart. This barometer of pop success has undergone many changes. Back in 1952, conservative Britain was still struggling out of the shadow of the Second World War, and Elvis had yet to have his first

  • Tees proves perfect venue for top rowing event

    MORE than 200 rowing crews took to the River Tees last Saturday when Tees Rowing Club promoted two time trial races. The first, held in the morning, was the Tees Long Distance Sculls, the final race in a series of six run in the North-East, while the

  • Pork producers told they must be more co-operative minded

    THE UK pig industry is fragmented and unco-ordinated, according to North Yorkshire industry award winner Tom Danter. He told a conference this week that the only way producers would get a greater share of the retail pigmeat price was if they got involved

  • Crook Ladies League

    Heidi Moses hit 140 to help her team beat their hosts at Crook Olde Horse Shoe and keep then way ahead at the top of the table. Beverley Hutchinson was the second highest individual scorer with 132 but saw her team, Crook Jelly's Bar A go down heavily

  • Mayor hosts reception for stars of the silver screen

    STARS of a film that tells the remarkable story of a North-East man's wartime heroism are to gather in Newcastle for the movie's regional premiere next month. Two Men Went To War tells the true story of 19-year-old Newcastle soldier Private Leslie Cuthbertson

  • Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League

    PHILLIP APPLEBY bagged a hat-trick to book Old Shildon a place in the semi-finals of the First Division Cup. Old Shildon, current holders of last year's League Cup, are vying for glory this year after aining a third-spot finish in the top flight last

  • Table Tennis

    Darlington League Division One Henknowle A 8 (L Orton 3, A Orton 2, Talbot 2 + dbls) Sedgefield 2 (D Young 2); Auckland Park 3(Brownbridge, Deacon, P Vickers) DTTC B 7(D Meads 3, P Robinson 3 + dbls); Railway B 4 (Darkes 1 + 3 walkovers) DTTC A 4(Scruton

  • Angling

    It was a tough call on the Tees at Yarm during the 4th round of the North-East Winter League, writes Jeff Herbert. Extra water and a constant flow of leaves tested the 13 teams of ten anglers. Undeterred, individual winner Cleveland Angling Centre's Darren

  • County's food will go far and wide

    A NEW service is promising treats for Yorkshire tastebuds. From this week, the best of the county's produce can now be taken to a wider audience, thanks to an ambitious scheme launched in North Yorkshire. Moorsfresh will provide a dedicated food distribution

  • Upland pilot scheme area is named

    THE Barnard Castle area has been selected for one of four pilot schemes aimed at delivering more environmentally friendly farming. Sir Donald Curry's Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food recommended a new "broad and shallow" or "entry level

  • Wensleydale Creamery League

    Swale Travaux 9, Richmond mavericks A 0; Hawes B 0, Bowes 8; Redmire 0, Carperby 2; Richmond Mavericks 6, Hawes United 0; Leyburn United 4, Reeth 0; Askrigg 0, Middleham 0; Richmond Buck 3, Spennithorne 3

  • Swimming: Northallerton ASC

    The Harrogate Junior age group meet was held at the end of October. The impressive Hydro pool was the superb venue for a weekend of exciting and high class competition. The dozen NASC swimmers were clearly not daunted or out of their depth in this highly

  • Grain report

    by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT prices have fallen back as the dollar weakened following US interest rate reductions. American markets have also fallen back a little with no bullish news over the last few weeks. The main story has been the rise

  • Soldiers fighting different battle

    SOLDIERS from the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery have been given the task of providing emergency cover for a huge area, from Seaham, in County Durham, in the south, to Berwick, in the north. The regiment was one of the busiest during the first 24 hours

  • Villages could lose buses in Stokesley shake-up

    VILLAGES served by Stokesley buses could lose some or all of their services, following Arriva's closure of the town's depot in February. Arriva says the relocation to Redcar and Stockton depots is a commercial move and routes are under review. Increased

  • Arc advertises top post - with a blank sheet

    THE new director of Stockton's troubled arts venue, the Arc, could earn £35,000 a year - but the official job description for the post has been kept deliberately vague. The vacancy was advertised this week by agents for Stockton Council and Northern Arts

  • Durham Ranking Event

    Michael Rhodes took the top spot in the rankings after he won the final qualifying event at Durham Snooker Club by beating Chris Bowran 5-1 and put himself in pole position for the final 'big money' event to be held on Sunday, 24 November, again in Durham

  • Exciting plans unveiled at school

    A VILLAGE school with just a handful of children on its roll, is to become a centre of excellence. The three-class primary school at West Tanfield, between Ripon and Bedale, will become home to a new computer suite next year. And the new IT centre will

  • Willington League

    Hunwick Quarry Burn moved into third place in the table after they won by thee points on their visit to Willington Cottles B. Colin Weir and Alan Fleming took singles for Cottles, whilst Dave Robson, Dave Alderson, Nigel Perrin and Steve Wragg moved the

  • Bishop Auckland Area League

    When Bishop Auckland Manor visited Bishop Auckland Bay Horse this week the match started off as a very even contest with Ron Wright winning the first game for the Manor and Garry Lamb evening things up by taking the next for the Bay Horse. Jon Tomlinson

  • Birton's Bytes: Relive your gaming youth with beat 'em up

    CAPCOM Vs SNK 2: EO Publisher: Capcom. Format: Gamecube. IS there anything more that can be done with the two-dimensional beat 'em up? Capcom clearly believes there is. Capcom Vs SNK 2: EO is the culmination of a 15-year journey that started in the arcades

  • Flood works due to start should protect homes

    WORK is due to start soon on a £50,000-plus project to help protect properties on a Northallerton housing estate from further serious flooding damage. The project prepared by the River Wiske internal drainage board for College Stell, in Thirsk Road, represents

  • Missing end product frustrates Quakers

    THE lack of a player who can put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis continues to undermine Darlington's improved performances under caretaker manager Mick Tait. The problem was highlighted by last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at high-flying Rushden

  • The real victims betrayed by Burrell

    THERE'S an old joke about a couple from one of the North's most depressing estates who moved to London and were offered a house next door to Buckingham Palace. They refused, explaining to Westminster Council that they were not prepared to live next door

  • At the marts

    BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1, 985 sheep. Lambs lt to 95.4p av 88.5p; std to 108p av 100.6p; med to 107.3p av 100.8p; heavy to 102.5p av 97.2p. Cast ewes: Cont to £43; Mule to £37; Suff to £40; Chev to £40; horned to £25.50. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last

  • Tyne-Tees Girls Youth League Under-12s

    Marton clinch vital top of the table clash. Marton 4 v 2 Darlington Simply Lass. Ithis top of the table clash both teams got off to a lively start with both teams showing their attacking intentions but it was Simply who looked the sharper opening the

  • Fears for unborn in reubella outbreak

    There are fears that unborn children could have been exposed to danger after a suspected rubella outbreak in the region. Doctors on Teesside have confirmed that a group of nursery school children are being tested for rubella, or German measles. The suspected

  • Consett Sunday League

    IT was the end of the road for the two survivors in the Durham FA Sunday Cup with neither First Division leaders Stateside or Division Two outfit Lanchester Social managing a goal between them. Lanchester were beaten 5-0 by Bishop Auckland Tindale Crescent

  • -Murky area' in abattoir fees examined

    TOTAL deductions claimed by abattoirs before paying their suppliers can vary by as much as £13 a carcase, the National Beef Association's first cattle marketing report has revealed. It says some plants are taking £21 off in charges while others processing

  • Stepy's Coaches Durham Sunday League

    The Durham County Sunday Football Association Cup took preference over League fixtures, only one game being played in the Premiership which saw Spennymoor Admiral Heating being 4-3 home winners over Sedgefield St Edmunds. Steve Quinn (2), Michael Jackson

  • Games

    CIU League: Malcolm McDonald and Paul Kerr of Byers Green won the Delegates Cup when they beat Arthur Hope and Ernie Lomax of Crook Belle Vue in the Final. In the semi-finals Kerr and McDonald beat Kevin Whitehead and Peter Boucher of Newfield, whilst

  • Clay keen on child protection

    As a former play-scheme coordinator for a local authority and whose partner is also a teacher, it's no surprise that North Riding's Andy Clay cares passionately about providing children with a safe and positive sporting environment. Andy, 24, is the North

  • Durham Alliance

    Michael Pitt hit four in Whitehill's 5-0 victory over Garden Farm Real to keep them top of the league. Pitt hit his first after three minutes but had to wait until 58 minutes for his second. Gary Robson made it 3-0 and Pitt got his hat-trick with a penalty

  • Worthington CIU Singles Championship

    Jimmy Evans of Shotton Palms regained his Championship title when he beat Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law in the Final at Crowtrees by 18 points. The six qualifiers were split into two groups to play on a round robin basis with one going out of each group,

  • Magpies pull out Bellamy

    NEWCASTLE United are on collision course with Wales after pulling Craig Bellamy out of next week's Euro 2004 qualifier in Azerbaijan. Sir Bobby Robson has informed the Welsh FA that Bellamy, two-goal match-winner in Wednesday's Champions League victory

  • Squash: Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League

    Harrogate Squash won their second successive key top-of-the-table clash in Division One. They beat Ilkley 2-1, pushing their rivals into third place. Currently Adel, beaten the previous week by Harrogate, are top on 83 points from seven wins in eight

  • Shearer relishes challenge

    NEWCASTLE United enter uncharted territory today when they go into the draw for the second group stage of the Champions League, with skipper Alan Shearer insisting that Sir Bobby Robson's babes won't be intimidated by the big boys. Geordie idol Shearer

  • Petch dominates first Forest Stages rally

    NINE months after sweeping to victory on the De Lacy Club's Kall Kwik rally, Scorton driver Steve Petch and John Richardson from Northallerton claimed another victory on home soil last Saturday. The pair won the same club's inaugural, compact and well-received

  • Top women's team moves to Thirsk

    A LEADING women's rugby team has found a new home at Thirsk RUFC after attempts to change their training night at Ripon ended in failure. Ripon Ladies, who won promotion to the National Premier Two league last season, have now become Thirsk Sharks. The

  • How the strike is affecting the region

    Home's fire drill leads to warning NORTH YORKSHIRE THE RAF issued a plea yesterday for organisations to inform the authorities if deciding to hold a fire drill while the strike continues. The request followed an incident yesterday afternoon when they

  • Artist meets his fans

    CHILDREN at a Darlington school were thrilled to meet a book illustrator who passed on some tips about drawing. Korky Paul is an artist who has worked on several books, including Winnie the Witch. Mr Paul visited some of his biggest fans at Corporation

  • News in brief: Miners video is premiered

    PUDDLE Productions, from West Rainton, will be showing part of its new video Miners at War, at the Durham Clayport Library, Millennium Place, Durham, at 7pm on Thursday, November 28. There are 80 tickets, which include wine and a buffet, available from

  • News in brief: Digital art to go on display

    A DIGITAL art exhibition titled People and Place will be held on March 1, at Redcar and Cleveland City Learning Centre, Normanby Road, South Bank. The event will showcase the work of novice artists from the Tees Valley.Digital content creation workshops

  • Millionaire denies kerb crawling charge

    Millionaire Keith Schellenberg denied a kerb-crawling charge when he appeared in court yesterday. The former member of the 1956 British Olympic bobsleigh team, powerboat and car racer, one-time Yorkshire county rugby captain, waterskier and controversial

  • Award boost for museum

    A NORTH-EAST museum has been awarded £11,000 to work with schools in the region. The Clore Duffield Foundation Award will be used by Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Dur-ham, to fund a two-year project involving more than 70 schools in the North-East

  • Two-year ban for drink-driver

    A 20-year-old woman from Darlington has been banned from driving for two years after adnitting being drunk in charge of a vehicle. Lynsey Ann Raine, 20, of Gurney Street, Darlington, committed the offence on October 6. Darlington magistrates told her

  • Success for guest house with a friendly ghost

    A COUPLE who transformed their historic home into a bed and breakfast have been named as the best in the region. Number 34, in the Bank, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, was named the Les Routiers North-East of England Bed and Breakfast of the Year 2002

  • Wearside Regency Windows Combination League

    Six of the League's teams were involved in the Durham County Minor Cup and all came through with flying colours. Castle Town S&SC had a long trip down the A19 to play Hartlepool Stranton Saints but the trek didn't prevent them from coming away with

  • Housing group cash boost

    The Tees Valley Housing Group has allocated £12.9m for new development projects. The North-East's biggest housing association hopes to pass the benefits of the funding on to residents across its area. Doug Ross, group director of finance and corporate

  • Cash to help young get jobs

    YOUNG people are being offered the opportunity to chase their dreams after a leading youth charity secured cash to help them. The Prince's Trust was awarded £62,500 from the West Middlesbrough New Deal for Communities Partnership for the project. Now

  • Headteacher loses battle

    A stressed headteacher who left his primary school post claiming the board of governors and education authority ignored his cries for help has lost his legal battle for damages. A county court hearing was told that 55-year-old Ernest Longstaffe was told

  • Watchers seek new recruits

    A NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch team is seeking volunteers. The scheme, in the Hummersknott area of Darlington, helps residents to prevent crime. Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators said pressures on police resources had made it even more important to take precautions

  • Jonny: I was worst paid in house

    Big Brother's Jonny Regan stood by his firefighting colleagues yesterday in defence of their 40 per cent pay demand. Britain's most famous firefighter is on a career break from the brigade, but hasn't ruled out a return. The 29-year-old hit out at the

  • Project to make homes energy efficient launched

    PEOPLE in Hartlepool are being given the chance to make their homes warmer and cheaper to run thanks to a new energy-saving scheme. Hartlepool Borough Council has teamed up with energy efficiency survey firm Leicester Energy Alliance to help people in

  • Children turn clock back to age of the cane

    YOUNGSTERS were given a brief taste of what school life was like for their Victorian forbears. Pupils turned up in period dress when the Minster School in York turned the clock back to a much stricter age. They discovered their usual teacher had been

  • Launch of bus service to city

    VILLAGERS are to get a direct bus service to Durham, its hospital and the Arnison shopping centre. Three parish councils have won Countryside Agency funding for a year under the Vital Villages Parish Transport Scheme. Durham County Council is also providing

  • The crime of sick hoaxers

    EVEN under normal conditions, hoax emergency calls threaten lives. Every bogus message that requires the attention of a fire crew uses up valuable resources, potentially putting at risk the lives of the people in genuine emergencies. A malicious call

  • 'Police at break point' due to strike

    THE fire strike is pushing the region's police forces to the limit, police authority members warned last night. Officers are taking emergency fire calls and helping soldiers get to life-threatening incidents, as well as doing their everyday duties. Jails

  • A novel way of learning

    LANGUAGE students have been exploring the world of science fiction . . . in German. Author Marcus Hammerschmitt, from Tubingen, which is twinned with County Durham, is leading three workshops with youngsters this week to explore his style of writing.

  • Concern raised over car deals

    TWO-THIRDS of official complaints about cars in North Yorkshire last year related to dealers from outside the county, new figures have revealed. Consumer complaints in relation to cars is one of the highest categories received by the county's trading

  • Region prepares for £3m question

    THE cost of asking North-East people if they want a regional assembly was revealed yesterday as £3m. Up to £2m will be spent on a referendum, with another £1m going on a review of local authority boundaries, which will decide whether or not Durham County

  • School chef prepares for title bid

    A SCHOOL cook is aiming to be named the flavour of the nation next week. Soggy semolina and colourless carrots are definitely off the menu at Wolsingham Primary School, where mother-of-three Lynn Pearson puts paid to people's memories of inedible, old-style

  • Restaurants and flats vision for derelict land is outlined

    NEW plans have been drawn up for the multi-million pound development of the Walkergate site in Durham. The car park, on derelict land below the Gala Theatre, was to have featured a multiplex cinema but an operator could not be found. Now, more than two

  • Keith's success helps preserve an ancient art

    IT may not be as long as the Great Wall of China, or as sturdy as Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, but a wall in Yorkshire has won an award. Stretching across the hills near Harrogate, the piece of craftsmanship has been named the winner of the Millennium

  • Show makes reading fun

    YOUNGSTERS from Middlesbrough primary schools were in for treat when two best-selling children's authors put on a show at Berwick Hills Library. Dressed as characters from the Hollywood hit Men in Black, Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore acted out their

  • Parents aim to save film club

    PROUD parents are campaigning to keep their talented film-making children together. Work by the youngsters, all aged 11 to 16, featured in the international film and animation festival Animex 2002 and at the Royal Television Society's Young Film-Makers

  • Centrica pays £300m for offshore gas storage plant

    Energy group Centrica has bought its own offshore gas storage facility in a £300m deal with struggling US firm Dynegy. The British Gas group, which supplies 65 per cent of the UK residential market, has bought Dynegy Storage and Dynegy Onshore Processing

  • The girls who play a dangerous game

    Violence has always been an occupational hazard for prostitutes, but the increasing desperation of the sex trade means it is now almost inescapable for girls working the streets of Middlesbrough. Paul Willis reports. TWO years ago this month, the mutilated

  • Worker stole from resident

    A CARE home assistant was caught in possession of a marked £10 note a short time after it was taken from the purse of an elderly resident. Staff were individually asked to turn out their pockets in the presence of a senior carer after the note was discovered

  • Name the new ale and help provide tonic for ambulance service

    A BEER with no name has been launched in aid of a life-saving ambulance service. The brew will be available on draught at pubs across the region and officials from the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) hope it will boost their fundraising efforts. Yesterday

  • Carpet Bowls

    Durham County Community Carpet Bowls Division One: Croxdale played 4, 21 points; Tudhoe 3, 16; Bowburn 4, 14; Pittington 5, 14; Shincliffe 5, 12; Hamsteels 3, 11; Lansdowne 6, 8; Ludworth 4, 6. Division Two: Sedgefield A 6, 22; Esh Winning 5, 19; Fishburn

  • Sedgefield

    October was a month for finals and turkey trots at Sedgefield Knotty Hill Golf Centre. Ladies medal final: Lynne Homan (Hartlepool) net 74. Ladies Stableford final: Brenda Peel (Peterlee) 28 points. Men's Stableford final: Richard Dunning (Thornley) 36

  • News in brief: Miners video is premiered

    PUDDLE Productions, from West Rainton, will be showing part of its new video Miners at War, at the Durham Clayport Library, Millennium Place, Durham, at 7pm on Thursday, November 28. There are 80 tickets, which include wine and a buffet, available from

  • Police to patrol drug abuse and fly-tipping hot spot

    POLICE are to begin patrolling a lonely residential road on the outskirts of Darlington following reports of fly-tipping, drug abuse and cars being set alight. Residents in the handful of isolated houses in Railway Cottages, Neasham Road, are concerned

  • The Albany Northrn League Today

    Former Sunderland player Steve Agnew has agreed to join West Auckland on a permanent basis. Midfielder Agnew signed for West just in time for last Saturday's Vase defeat at Prescot Cables, after quitting UniBond League club Gateshead last month. West

  • Willington League

    Hunwick Joiners Arms moved up into second place in the table after they beat the visiting Willington Cottles by five points. The Joiners had singles wins from Ian Richardson, David Alderson, Kevin Dunnett and John Mason, whilst Cottles replied through

  • BBC Children In Need: Here is what you are up to

    DARLINGTON Darlington College of Technology students will be wearing their clothes inside out and collecting money around the town centre throughout the day. Staff at the Orange Communications Centre will go to work in their pyjamas, with their teddy

  • Lantern show is just magic

    A SLIDE show with a difference will take place in Teesdale later this month, using a Victorian magic lantern and its glass plates. The lantern has been in David Edwards' family since the late 1800s, when it was bought by his grandfather, Bill Jeffries

  • Wear Valley Ladies League

    Oakenshaw and Willington Brewer's Droop jumped up to share top place after both had big wins; Oakenshaw only dropping one point to the visiting Byers Green Club whilst the Brewer's Droop won handsomely at Crook Surtees. Despite their upward move, life

  • Farm couple mark centre's milestone

    A FARMING couple who opened an off-road driving centre will welcome its 1,000th customer this month. Deepdale Off Road, which is based at a dairy farm near Barnard Castle, County Durham, was opened three years ago as farmer Graeme Gill and his wife Ann

  • Girls help to raise £6,000 in mum's memory

    TWO youngsters who lost their mother to cancer have helped raise nearly £6,000 for two North-East hospices. Rebecca and Harriet Ashley, aged nine and five, attended a fundraising event at Headlam Hall, near Darlington, in memory of their mother, Jane.

  • Former pig farm looks to the future

    A FORMER farm, which turned to tourism after a slump in the pig market, has joined forces with a designer craft company. Thorpe Farm Peel House, at Greta Bridge, County Durham, was one of the last pig farms in Teesdale when it was forced to diversify

  • 'Looking at the bigger picture'

    AN anti-burglary initiative in Sedgefield borough has sent crime in one area into "a downward spiral", a councillor has claimed. The four-month offensive, codenamed Operation Lan-celot, was launched two weeks ago. The crackdown is a response to the seasonal

  • Christmas shoppers on crime alert

    CHRISTMAS shoppers in the North-East are being urged to be more security-conscious and not leave newly-bought presents on display in their cars. Spot checks conducted for vehicle glass repair company Autoglass on 1,000 cars parked at major retail centres

  • Health trust faces £1m overspend

    A NORTH health trust is facing a £1m budget overspend this year on prescriptions. Overall, Darlington NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) is underspending, but predictions discussed in its monthly meeting yesterday show a massive overspend of £1m. Chief executive

  • Wellock's World: A crass decision

    NASSER Hussain was roundly pilloried for so generously inviting the Australians to bat first at Brisbane, and it appeared such a crass decision I couldn't wait to hear his attempts to justify it. Surely we all had the right to know at the close of the

  • Teachers from Hungary visit

    TEACHERS from Hungary are having a taste of school life in County Durham this week. Six schools are looking after English teachers from the county's twin area of Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok. The group is taking part in lessons, seeing how schools are organised

  • To take key role at YAS

    FIONA Movley, right, has been appointed marketing manager of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society with immediate effect. She joined the department in January and is now responsible for promoting the society's growing range of activities as well as the Great

  • A Hoggarth & Sons Eskvale and Cleveland League

    Brotton still on title charge Annandale Hotel v Brotton WMC Aentertained title hopefuls Brotton. The game was evenly contested for the first half hour, with both teams attempting to play passing football on a heavy pitch. Solomon had a shot cleared off

  • Honoured for a life devoted to dancing

    A FORMER North-East dance teacher, who emigrated to New Zealand, has been honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance. Joy Beadell ran a successful dance school in Darlington for more than 40 years, teaching hundreds of young hopefuls. She was also an active

  • Firefighters' pickets face clash with Army

    TROOPS could be sent through picket lines if firefighters go ahead with a planned eight-day stoppage, the Government warned yesterday. In a dramatic escalation of its confrontation with the Fire Brigades Union (fbu), soldiers could be ordered to seize

  • News in brief: Photographers get the picture

    People in Bishop Auckland rediscovered little known corners of their community through a project led by Crook photographer Louise Taylor. Pictures taken around the town are on display until Saturday, November 30, in the Bishop Auckland Discovery Centre

  • Cestrians duo sign

    Two Chester-le-Street Town youngsters have been picked up by professional clubs after impressive starts to the season. Daniel Graham and Daniel Newby have been excellent form while playing in the Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League having joined the