Archive

  • Call for village to show support for £100,000 field bid

    A PARISH council which has bought its own sports field is now planning to spend £100,000 on creating twenty-first century facilities there. Chairman Coun Brian Anderson said Heighington Parish Council had bought the field in order to benefit all villagers

  • Fashionable Man turns on the style at Catterick

    TOUGH and well-travelled describes Zindabad, winner of Saturday's John Porter Stakes for Mark Johnston - and his globetrotting looks set to continue. Kevin Darley partnered the six-year-old to land the Newbury Group 3 event in battling style. Zindabad

  • Pearson puts Stranton in Final

    North East Christian Fellowship League In the League Cup Semi-Final Stranton Saints Hartlepool came back from behind to win at Whitley Bay Churches and book a place in the final with Monkwearmouth Christians. Jeff Turnbull put Whitley Bay in the lead

  • Dales Alliance

    The round played at Crook had the benefit of good weather and the expressed intention of Thirsk and Northallerton to perform well this season was again evident although they relinquished top spot on the day to Catterick Garrison, but only by one point

  • Letters: Spot on, Mr Rhea

    Sir, - How I wholeheartedly agree with Countryman's comments (D&S, Apr 19) re any proposed ban on foxhunting by the Government. Being in my 20th year as a professional hunt servant, a position that is more than just a job, it is a way of life, I am

  • Hughes has big hopes

    VERSATILE defender Aaron Hughes is refusing to rest on his laurels, despite playing a major part in turning the Magpies' dream of Champions League qualification into reality. The Northern Ireland international is banking on the team to prosper from their

  • Hunt raises cash to aid Yorkshire farmers

    THE West of Yore Hunt has donated £325 to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Farmers in Need Appeal following it's highly successful cross-country ride in March. Starting and finishing at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, the ride attracted a record entry

  • Northallerton and District League

    Division One: Green Tree pld 26, pts 115; Elders A 25, 111; County Arms 25, 105; Nags Head A 25, 105; Football Club 25, 104; Workingsmens C 25, 103; Masons Arms 25, 102; Cricket Club B 25, 101; Sportsmans 25, 96; White Swan 25, 92; Wheatsheaf 25, 91;

  • Darlington kick to victory

    Darlington Koryo Club finished top of the lot when they entered an inter-club tournament last weekend against four other clubs from the region. All five teams - Cockerton, Darlington, Newton Hall (Durham), Belmont, Hartlepool - are part of the Koryo organisation

  • Bishop Auckland RUFC 53 v 10 Jarrowvians RFC

    Bishop Auckland completed their home fixtures in Durham and Northumberland Division Three with a decisive victory over Jarrovians. Bishop went ahead within minutes of the start when they won a scrum deep in their own 22, moved the ball out to Sayer who

  • Gran launches aid campaign for Afghanistan

    A grandmother dubbed Queen of the Donkeys for her work delivering aid to Afghanistan has launched a new appeal. Hermione Youngs, 56, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, won international acclaim after she completed a 450km trek into Afghanistan following

  • New hope for threatened hostel

    AYSGARTH Youth Hostel may receive a stay of execution if local authorities can help attract grant aid for the building. The hostel was threatened with closure by the Youth Hostels Association, which suffered losses owing to last year's foot-and-mouth

  • Basketball: Tyneside run brought to an abrupt end

    Durham League Tyneside this week brought to an end an unparalleled Durham League record when they conceded, for the first time in their history, a league game. That forfeit, which counts as a defeat, brings to an end an amazing run of victories which

  • Talented duo shine on national stage

    TWO Mowden Park under 16 girls rugby players represented the North East of England in the national tens tournament at Lichfield on Sunday. Abby Blackburn and Rosie Mangle, both 15, regularly represent the North East in fixtures against other regional

  • Battye takes crown

    Weightlifter John Battey was tired of hearing members of a rival organisation boasting of their triumphs, so he entered one of their competitions to show them who was best - and he took the title, writes Craig Stoddart. John, 32, of Darlington, is a member

  • Errol piles on lean, not fat

    OUTSTANDING performance has been achieved by one of Cotswold's 2006 boars while on test at the company's Wiltshire nucleus unit. Boar A33415T, nicknamed Errol and pictured, above, out-performed all his contemporaries, gaining 1,340g a day - more than

  • Parking fine was not just a fading memory

    BUYERS of weekly parking tickets in Darlington beware - the sunlight fades the ink displaying when the ticket expires. A colleague discovered the details had vanished from his £8 ticket only three days after purchasing it in the council's Garden Street

  • Buster Buttons sets up double success for Tutty

    A DOUBLE for jockey Nigel Tutty was the highlight of the Cleveland point-to-point held at Stainton Vale last Saturday. On well-watered, good to firm ground, Tutty's first leg came when the Jill Jones-trained Buster Buttons (S Jones/Cleveland) won the

  • Have gyms fixed it for disabled people?

    A visit to a new fitness centre proves that modern facilities for disabled people who want to keep fit are improving... but there's still some way to go. WHEN hanging out the washing or dragging the wheelie bin to the kerbside constitutes a workout in

  • Get your hands on this game, dead or alive

    DEAD OR ALIVE 3. Platform: X Box. Publisher: Microsoft. Price: £44.99. IF it is to succeed, the Microsoft X Box needs to cover all software bases. One of the most crucial barometers for success has to be a decent beat 'em up and Dead or Alive 3 promises

  • Grant increase recognises changes

    FARMS taking part in the North York Moors land management scheme are to receive more money. The scheme was launched in April 1990, when the grant was fixed at £3,000 a year, and there have been payment reviews every three years since then with the ceiling

  • Persecuted gay women set to help others

    A gay woman, persecuted by people in her community, is preparing to help others in the same situation. As reported in The Northern Echo last month, Kirsty Lord and her partner, Samatha Dewhurst, have suffered verbal attacks and their Darlington home has

  • Robber jailed for five years

    A prolific offender dubbed Spiderboy was yesterday jailed for five years by a judge who said he had an ''appalling'' criminal record. Thomas Laws, 22, who admitted robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint, earned his nickname nine years ago for his ability

  • Bin men help rescue accident victims

    Three bin men became knights in shining armour when they came upon a car crash. The trio Barry Durkin, Anthony Jenkinson and John Metcalfe leapt into action from their dustbin lorry when they came upon the car smash. Two cars had collided, leaving wreckage

  • Curtain falls on a season of turmoil

    ATTENTION was already being focused on prospects for next season as Darlington ended the current campaign with a 2-1 win at Oxford United last Saturday. The virtually meaningless match was the last in a Quakers shirt for left back Paul Heckingbottom,

  • Region needs its own laureate for the arts

    A WRITER, artist, singer or an actor should be commissioned as a regional laureate to raise the North-East's cultural profile and lobby for devolution. That is the view of a Cleveland writer who is backing the Campaign for a North-East Assembly's call

  • Letters: Daylight robbery

    Sir, - Firstly, I note the Rev Ted Spiller's presentation of two ureteroendoscopes to Mr Hindmarsh, the urologist who visits the Friarage Hospital, and also Mr Spiller's letter regarding the huge hike in council tax this year (D&S, Apr 12). I wonder

  • Get your hands on this game, dead or alive

    DEAD OR ALIVE 3. Platform: X Box. Publisher: Microsoft. Price: £44.99. IF it is to succeed, the Microsoft X Box needs to cover all software bases. One of the most crucial barometers for success has to be a decent beat 'em up and Dead or Alive 3 promises

  • Yet another casualty on A66

    A SERIOUS crash has occurred on the country's worst road, just days after another fatal accident. A post office van and a Mercedes Benz car were involved in a crash just before 9am today on the A66 trans-Pennine route. There have been more than 70 fatal

  • Wearside League

    Stanley United manager Vince Kirkup is "over the moon" at the possibility of having to fork out cash at the end of the season. Kirkup, now in his 25th season in charge at Hill Top, promised his players some months ago before they had won a single game

  • Slipping from the moral high ground

    THE Pope gathered American cardinals at the Vatican this week to tell them abuse of children is an appalling sin and will not be tolerated in the Church. Strong words. But can anyone imagine any other group of professionals with easy access to young children

  • Stagecoach deliver National victory

    National PSV Championships The Stagecoach bus company won the national championship after some excellent results. Stagecoach also play in the Middlesbrough league from the Yellow Rose. The competition was played to a North South area divide and Stagecoach

  • Wellock's World

    IN this week's tale of two W Smiths, Wayne's world has been far rosier than Walter's, and the latter's demise must surely spell the end for Gazza. Wayne is the former All Blacks coach credited with masterminding Northampton Saints' destruction of Newcastle

  • At least someone is going to be alright, Jack

    AMONG matters on which New Labour is deaf to all pleas is the restoration of the link between earnings and the state pension, notoriously broken by Margaret Thatcher. Shamed by that insulting 75p increase, the Government has more recently raised the pension

  • Water Polo

    Durham City Under-17s mixed boys and girls water polo team recorded an excellent 14-8 victory over visitors Doncaster, with Anna Richardson top-scoring for Durham with four goals. The first two quarters were even, leaving the half time score at 6-6. The

  • EU urged to counter US import tariffs

    THE EU could be forced to introduce counter measures against the US, if it doesn't back down over plans to impose steel tariffs on European steel imports. Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe met with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy yesterday to discuss

  • Shoptalk: Where are the best places to get fruity?

    HAVING fruit in the house when you weren't ill was a real sign that you were posh, reckoned Bobby Thompson. Now the Government is considering giving every child a piece of fruit a day and we're all encouraged to eat a lot more of it. An apple a day really

  • Ice Hockey: Spitfires' double joy

    Sunderland Cherokees were 3-2 winners over Altrincham Spitfires at Hillheads, Whitley Bay on Saturday in the English Bantam (U12) North promotion/relegation play-offs. The following day the two sides met at Altrincham with Spitfires gaining both points

  • South West Durham League

    In the delayed semi-final Heppell Hodgson of Tow Law got away to a poor start against his teammate, Charlie Donaghy. Hodgson was well below his best as Donaghy steadily built up a lead in a bid to meet Tom Ward of Hunwick in the final. The hundred mark

  • In good shape - now as when Wesley visited

    YARM Methodist Church might be said to hide its light under a bushel. Tucked away down one of the many old wynds off the High Street, it has little option. But the building - which the minister has described as a Tardis of a place - is well worth taking

  • Extra hands would make bus go faster

    DARLINGTON'S disabled taxi service, Ring-a-Ride, needs volunteer helpers to work alongside its drivers. With two buses working flat out to meet demand, service operator Darlington and District Youth and Community Association is looking for ways of speeding

  • Play it again, Soames

    There has been much criticism over Granada's decision to remake The Forsyte Saga, but they're just following a trend for reinventing the classics. And anyway, who can remember much of the black and white 1967 original? Granada has been rightly irritated

  • 'Disgusting' GP struck off

    A FAMILY doctor was yesterday struck off the medical register after his bizarre behaviour was branded a "disgusting and gross departure" from professional standards. Ashok Bhagat, 52, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General

  • News in brief: Students back charity appeal

    Students from Darlington College of Technology are joining the National Union of Students' first charity day. Next Friday, the students will hold a variety of madcap events to raise money for ActionAid's fight against Aids in Africa. The students are

  • Planners' nightmare

    THE far-too-precious-by-half tendancy within the Council for the Protection of Rural England has got it wrong in urging the Government to subject car boot sales and other similar events to local planning controls. It believes that anybody wanting to hold

  • Blaze delays hotel's spa opening plan

    THE opening of a £9m oriental spa at one of the region's most luxurious hotels may now be delayed following a fire yesterday. Five fire appliances including an engine with a 100ft aerial ladder were rushed to Seaham Hall Hotel at about 6am to tackle a

  • Life lessons

    A NATIONAL theatre group has been helping pupils at a Darlington school learn the value of work experience. Theatre group ImpAct has been enlisted by learn2work, the company set up to enable all 15 to 19-year-olds in the Tees Valley gain work-related

  • Operatic society back in Gala performance

    FOLLOWING the success of its last show at Durham's Gala theatre, an amateur group has been invited back. Durham's Amateur Operatic Society became the first amateur group to perform at the venue, and the first company to stage a musical there, when it

  • Adoption service issues parents plea

    HOMES are being sought for children who will have to leave the region unless adoptive parents come forward. Within the next six months, the National Adoption Register will contain details of about 15 Sunderland youngsters who are looking for homes in

  • Del Boy's three-wheeled castle

    A MAN dubbed "Del Boy" by his mates astonished court officials yesterday by giving his address as an old and battered three-wheeler van. Magistrates, who accepted 30-year-old Neil Savage's unusual explanation, granted him bail on condition that he cannot

  • Nursery education could prove a step too far

    KNOWING that this is a column of catholic tastes but Protestant upbringing, Ernie Reynolds in Wheatley Hill invites consideration of the term "left footer". In the North-East as possibly elsewhere, it is a reference to Roman Catholics - and so far as

  • Backlash fear over council computers

    CASH-STRAPPED Durham County Council is to spend more than £170,000 to provide councillors with computers in their homes. All 61 members of the Labour-run authority will be offered a computer with email, Intranet and Internet access, plus a desk and chair

  • Free school transport decision to be reviewed

    A CONTROVERSIAL decision to remove free transport for children on a hazardous school route is to be reviewed. Durham County Council's cabinet has agreed to look again at the move, which will affect more than 100 youngsters in the Leadgate area who attend

  • Is Le Pen poison spreading?

    As Europe still stuggles to come to terms with Jean-Marie Le Pen's shock showing in the French election, Glen Reynolds asks if we are at risk from a new wave of fascism THE second round of the French election beckons and fellow far-right travellers in

  • 92p can of spaghetti costs taxpayer £8,000

    IT began with the theft of a humble 92p can of Heinz spaghetti - and ended with a hefty bill for the taxpayer. Habitual shoplifter Steph-en Phillips, 23, was found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court of stealing the 400g can after rejecting the

  • Radcliffe is a real competitor

    AS I puffed, panted, wheezed and staggered through my three-mile jog yesterday, it was easier to sympathise with Oscar Wilde than to comprehend the amazing achievement of Paula Radcliffe. Wilde said whenever he felt the urge to take exercise he lay down

  • Euro MP's alert over fisheries delay

    A Euro MP warned yesterday that delays in a review of fishing policy would increase uncertainty about the future for many workers at the region's ports. Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe was reacting to an announcement by the European Commission that

  • Are higher taxes more healthy?

    ONE thing is for certain today: by the end of it, most of us will be paying more of our wages in income tax. In Gordon Brown we have one of the most enthusiastic raisers of taxes in modern history. True, he has not put up the standard rate since he came

  • Green laws put the squeeze on traffic solution

    ROADS around Hutton Rudby village green can only be widened if alternative recreation space is found, parish councillors have learned. Widening was generally seen as the only long-term solution to traffic congestion and the erosion of verges. But Rudby

  • Tackling a tiresome garden problem

    'YUK! What on earth is that? I'm not going anywhere near it! What is it?" The cry came from inside the house, so I threw down the secateurs (well, I laid them down gently, you don't throw old faithful Felcos around) and ran indoors. I was expecting to

  • Nuns get back into the learning habit

    NUNS with the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor are putting their faith in distance learning with Newcastle College. The sisters are taking a Certificate in Basic Counselling Skills in order to conform with Government regulations regarding

  • Slipping from the moral high ground

    THE Pope gathered American cardinals at the Vatican this week to tell them abuse of children is an appalling sin and will not be tolerated in the Church. Strong words. But can anyone imagine any other group of professionals with easy access to young children

  • House prices soar out of reach

    NEW house prices could be getting beyond the reach of some people in Guisborough. This was the fear voiced at the town's parish assembly this week. Two councillors - at opposing ends of the political spectrum - agreed that prices of some properties on

  • Hands-on learning at replica plant

    A TRAINING plant being built by TTE Management and Technical Training on Teesside has proved an excellent training opportunity for six apprentices. The plant at TTE'S South Bank Training Centre has been built by Corus Northern Engineering Services (CNES

  • Countdown starts for the Dalby sound system

    THE countdown to two major open-air concerts by British stars Pulp and Jools Holland began against the unlikely backdrop of a wood pulping machine. Forestry Commission chief Andrew Smith launched the run-up to the mid-summer gigs, which will take place

  • Airline founder wins top accolade

    THE CHIEF executive and founder of low-cost airline Go, has landed a top award for businesswomen. Barbara Cassani, 41, has been named Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year. She saw off competition from five other finalists, including Chey Garland,

  • Early boost for young netball stars

    A NETBALL team in Darlington is enjoying a successful season, despite only playing for the first time last month. Pupils from Rise Carr Primary School, Darlington, were awarded a National Lottery grant for their after-school netball club. The school had

  • Happy Williams hoping for the last laugh

    EIFION Williams is playing football with a smile on his face again. The stakes of tomorrow's Third Division play-off with Cheltenham aside, Hartlepool United's newest recruit is just happy to be playing football again after a stint in the doldrums and

  • Forum calls for volunteers

    EAST Durham residents are being invited to help improve health standards in their community. Peterlee Health Forum is looking for people willing to volunteer their skills and who have the time to help identify health issues affecting the community. It

  • Security package for shops

    SHOPKEEPERS plagued by vandals and burglars are hoping a new package of crime-busting measures will keep trouble at bay. Ten shops are benefiting from a Government grant of £28,000 given to Redcar and Cleveland Community Safety Partnership to fight crime

  • Comment: A flawed and dubious trial

    THE acquittal yesterday of the two brothers charged with the murder of Damilola Taylor does not come as a surprise. On the flimsy and flawed evidence presented during the three-month trial at the Old Bailey, the jury had little alternative but to return

  • Tyre quality led to tragedy

    UNDER-inflated tyres have been blamed for a crash which left four people dead. Coroner Michael Oakley described the two-car crash at Cayton Bay, on the Scarborough to Filey road, as "horrendous and tragic" after hearing at an inquest in Scarborough how

  • Surrey keep pressure on the Tykes

    Surrey continued to dominate play at Headingley yesterday but Steven Kirby provided some crumbs of comfort for Yorkshire before they were left in utter despair again as openers Matthew Wood and Scott Richardson were out off the last eight balls of the

  • New sports stand 'will encourage sex and drugs'

    A "SEX on the bench" scandal posed problems for Cleveland planning councillors. A scheme for a spectators' stand at a sports club came under fire amid complaints of youngsters using the stand for drinking, sex and possibly for drugs. But while Redcar

  • Fireraisers putting lives at risk claim

    A REGENERATION boss has hit out at fireraisers she says are putting lives at risk. Cleveland firefighters have attended a spate of blazes started by vandals in empty houses waiting for demolition on Middlesbrough's Whinney Banks estate, which is at the

  • Clean-up to reveal ravine's beauty

    PEOPLE in the Gilesgate area of Durham are being urged to help in the tidying-up of a local beauty spot. The Gilesgate and Pelaw branch of the Labour Party plans to tackle the rubbish mounting in the ravine spanned by the Silver Link Footbridge, in Gilesgate

  • Recruitment drive brings Spanish doctors to N-E

    THIRTEEN Spanish doctors are due to arrive in the North-East this weekend as part of the latest NHS recruitment drive. The medics have all expressed an interest in working in County Durham and the visit is a chance for them to get to know the area. Meanwhile

  • Globe-trotting teddy finds a diddy friend Down Under

    DODDY the globe-trotting North-East teddy bear has been on his travels again. The cuddly toy mascot of Dodmire Infant School, in Darlington, often joins parents and friends when they go on holiday and has notched up some exotic locations. In the year

  • News in brief: Bomber arrives back in bits

    A Second World War RAF navigator from the North-East, who was shot down in Germany more than 60 years ago, never expected to see his bomber again. But George Wright was stunned when a remarkable memento of his wartime exploits arrived on his doorstep

  • Society reports a 'sparkling' year for profits

    THE past year has been one of innovation and investment at Newcastle Building Society. That was the message from chairman Chris Hilton at the society's annual meeting in Newcastle, yesterday. Mr Hilton told members: "We are continuing to provide our customers

  • School celebrates its awards hat-trick

    A SCHOOL is celebrating its triple achievement after winning three awards. Laurel Avenue Primary School, on Sherburn Road Estate, Durham, received a Healthy School Award yesterday from Annie Hitchman, of Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust

  • Royal approval for the Right Approach

    THE spotlight will fall firmly on Sandown this afternoon where Her Majesty The Queen's leading Vodafone Derby contender, Right Approach, lines up in the Group 3 Heathorns Classic Trial at Sandown. The vibes from Newmarket over the past few weeks have

  • Sports Briefs

    THAI-BOXING: Four members of the Darlington Boxing and Martial Arts Academy became television stars on the continent when they represented England against France at the weekend. Paul Spinks, Michael Dicks, Olivery Ley and Ron Harding enjoyed mixed fortunes

  • Countryside group honours dedicated Tom

    A COUNTRYSIDE worker watched as English Nature's new base in Wensleydale was named in his honour. Ted Asquith has helped to forge links between the Government and the area's farmers for most of his life, and his dedication was marked when Asquith House

  • Unique study may reveal river's secret life

    THE secret life of an ancient fish is about to be revealed by a unique study on the Ure in North Yorkshire. The lamprey lives, blind and hidden from human sight, for four years then ventures out to sea before finally returning to the river of its birth

  • Ripon races come under starter's orders

    THE first of Ripon's four Saturday afternoon meetings this summer takes place tomorrow, when the seven-race programme is scheduled to start at 2.30. Five of the afternoon's races are sponsored by NetBetSports.com, the on-line and telephone betting service

  • Four railway bridges in borough need urgent work

    VITAL work to replace safety barriers on rail bridges in the borough of Darlington will be completed within the next six months. A recent independent survey commissioned by the council following the Selby rail crash last February highlighted four Railtrack

  • Last night's TV: Would you Adams and Eve Tony's story?

    Football Stories (C4) A FOOTBALL match lasts only 90 minutes but players provide the public with hours of endless pleasure off the pitch. You've only to think of all the recent speculation about Beckham's poorly foot and Sven's love tangle to see that

  • Caretaker's greatest honour - but who's behind it?

    A SCHOOL caretaker has turned detective to discover who nominated him for one of the greatest honours of his life. Tony Cox, site supervisor at Haughton School, Darlington, has been chosen as a jubilee runner for the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay when it

  • Worthington CIU

    Winter League The promotion and relegation between the First and Second Divisions was not fully decided in the final week of matches although all other ups and downs were sorted. Old Shildon took the First Division Championship with Wheatley Hill A as

  • Athletics: Saltwell 10k Road Race

    (incorporation North-East Championships, Saltwell Park, Gateshead) SUNDERLAND Harrier Mark Hood, 20, became the first junior to win the North-East 10K Road Race Championship when he beat 19-year-old Mark Slessor, of Jarrow and Hebburn, in a dramatic sprint

  • Programme set for town's royal visit

    PREPARATIONS for the Queen's first visit to Darlington in 35 years are being finalised. The Queen will visit the town on Wednesday, May 8, for a walkabout in the Market Square. The last time she visited the town was in 1967, when she made a tour of the

  • £50,000 Lottery grant to transform Victorian hall

    A VICTORIAN village hall is to be refurbished with the help of a £50,000 National Lottery grant. The former Literary Institute, erected in 1898, is Copley's only resource for leisure, social and educational activities, with committee members welcoming

  • Depth of breeding pays off as top herd is dispersed

    RYEDALE Limousins' depth of breeding and quality of cattle paid off at the herd's dispersal sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, on with a 13,000gns top price and 17 head making 5,000gns or more. The overall average for 65 females sold was a huge £3,198.35

  • Young riders strike gold in South Africa

    TWO young riders from the region were part of the Great Britain team which won the gold medal at an international show jumping competition in South Africa. James Reveley, from Lingdale, and David Harland, from Hutton Mulgrave, joined Jodie Ward and Katie

  • Full alert after grisly find

    POLICE have launched an investigation after a body was discovered in a waste factory on Teesside. It has not been revealed whether the body is that of a man or a woman but senior detectives are now investigating the death. The body was discovered by workmen

  • Angling: Water temperatures increasing

    Water temperatures are slowly moving up and there's more insect life which will increase steadily by the week now. The highlight of course if the magical mayfly hatches sometime next month - yes trout fishing is stepping up a gear as many anglers visit

  • Country group calls for new controls on outdoor events

    COUNTRYSIDE campaigners want controls on car boot sales, motorsport meets and clay pigeon shoots to preserve rural peace at weekends. The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), says that organisers should have to obtain planning permission

  • Party time as Allstars celebrate title victory

    DARLINGTON 21st Allstars under 12s ended the season in great style by winning the Teesside Junior Football Alliance second division championship at Feethams on Sunday morning. With the Allstars needing to win their last game to secure the title and gain

  • Northallerton charity launches £850,000 appeal

    A MAJOR appeal to help transform the lives of people with learning difficulties was launched this week. Northallerton charity Chopsticks is hoping to raise £850,000 to build a new workshop on the outskirts of the town. The appeal was launched at a presentation

  • Round-the-clock emergency cover pledge in remote dales

    AMBULANCE chiefs have promised remote areas of the Yorkshire Dales 24-hour emergency cover by the autumn. In the past, Upper Wensleydale and Swaledale have had to make do with the nearest available team once the station at Bainbridge closed at night.

  • Happy birthday to you and you and you

    IDENTICAL triplets from Thirsk celebrate their 50th birthdays on Tuesday. It was something of a shock 50 years ago when Hilda O'Brien was taken to the Mount Maternity Hospital in Northallerton to give birth to one child, as she thought. Now 83, she will

  • Games: Kensington Cup

    Hunwick and Brewer's Droop in final The final of this years competition will be between Willington Brewer's Droop A and Hunwick Club, after they came through two very different semi-finals. The Brewer's entertained the Prospect Club and shared the pool

  • Footwear firm treads path to top award

    AN INDEPENDENT Teesside shoe retailer has beaten off strong competition to be named retailer of the year at the UK Footwear Awards 2002. Charles Clinkard was also named the best family store at a ceremony in London attended by footwear suppliers

  • Rally thrills in store as top crews head north

    THE North East hosts the opening round of the Pirelli British Rally Championship this weekend when fans and enthusiasts from far and wide will be streaming to Gateshead for the Pirelli International Rally. After a 12-month sabbatical due to foot-and-mouth

  • The Albany Northern League

    One of the four clubs chasing promotion to the First Division of the Northern League is going to be feeling unlucky in a week's time. Shildon clinched promotion with a 1-0 win at Crook in midweek, leaving Esh Winning, Prudhoe and Penrith scrapping it

  • Chester remain the Premier team to beat

    Chester-le-Street will be the team to beat for the championship after strengthening their side which had 30 points in hand of runners-up Benwell Hill last season. Although they have lost the talented Ashley Thorpe to Durham County, he has been engaged

  • Can he persuade the Spanish to stay?

    This weekend 14 Spanish doctors who are considering working in the UK will visit the North-East. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson talks to a Spanish doctor who has already chosen to live in the region. JOSE Garcia-Miralles recalls vividly his first experience

  • Boddy Printers Sunday League

    Haverton Hill and Station Hotel Boosbeck fought out a 1-1 draw. Station had the better of the first period and were rewarded when Morgan Clode scored. Top scorer Paul McCulloch put Haverton Hill on terms but as both teams missed chances a draw was a just

  • Unibond Football League

    Bishop Auckland are facing a nervous end to the season on two fronts. They go into the last full week of the UniBond League season knowing that if their proposed groundshare at Shildon isn't approved by the league, then they could be relegated to the

  • Rick Stein drops in

    JUDY Bell, the founder of Shepherd's Purse cheese company, is to feature in a television series on food heroes. The accolade came as something of a shock to Mrs Bell, who was busy in her farmhouse at Newsham, near Thirsk, preparing dishes for a new series

  • Newcastle Breweries Thursday Night Invitation League

    Individuals First round draw: K Pratt (Slaters) v A Hird (Springfield); O Woffinden (Slaters) v F Grainger (Buck); B Khan (Slaters) v I Wakefield (DSRM); R Rees (Slaters) v M Hall (Buck); S Kell (Slaters) v K Monger (Slaters); S Clark (Slaters) v E Jones

  • The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

    Sunday saw the second division take centre stage as Division Two champions Shuttle & Loom faced runners-up Hurworth Albion, for the second time in just over a week, in the Darlington Motor Factors Division Two Cup Final. Once more both sides served

  • Crook bowlers send stumps flying with double hat-trick

    Crook Town Cricket Club bowlers Simon Huscroft and Neil Davies sent the stumps flying on Saturday as both bowlers recorded hat-tricks against Tudhoe in the Readers Durham County League last weekend, writes JOHN PHELAN. Simon, 22, making his debut for

  • Looking Back

    FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. A vicar on the conduct of a public house. Preaching at the Parish Church, Thirsk, the Rev T Barcroft addressed himself to landlords and owners of beerhouses in the town. In telling them how he would conduct a public

  • Shop front fails the pride and joy test

    COUNCILLORS have taken a tough stance over a shop front in Guisborough. Fears of setting a precedent played a part in deciding on roller-shutter plans for a jewellers' shop. And the firm concerned could now be made to halt work which has already started

  • Teenagers survive school roof plunge

    Two teenagers are lucky to be alive after they crashed through a skylight in a school roof trying to retrieve a tennis ball. Carrie Hamilton, 15, and Sean Kouvilirja, 14, suffered serious injuries when they plunged 15ft into a science laboratory. Police

  • Lealholm transfer Cup form to League

    Eskvale and Cleveland League After some good cup results, Lealholm were attempting to improve their league position in a close fought game at Brotton. The game remained goal-less for the first hour then Brotton were caught out with a break by Knight who

  • Junior football: Spraire edge to promotion

    As the season fast draws to a close only a few Spraire teams had games. At Under-14 the B team went a step closer to achieving promotion with a 3-2 victory over Seaton Carew thanks to goals from Tarren Webb and Langley. This leaves Spraire requiring just

  • Wellock's World

    NOTHING to do with the arrival of Spring, but my body heat has been steadily rising this week to the point where I had to fall back on disbelieving laughter to prevent my blood boiling. It began gently enough on Monday with the news that a professor at

  • It's Citizen Ann

    A CARING grandmother has been named Loftus citizen of the year. Tireless charity worker Ann Middlemass received the honour at a ceremony in the town hall on Tuesday - but the 63-year-old was quick to thank a small army of volunteers. As she received her

  • Pigeon Racing

    North Yorkshire Federation of Pigeon Clubs Wakefield April 6, 121 members sent 2,707 birds K and K Homer and Williams (Grangetown HS) 1494.0, 1486.1, 1480.5, 1464.2, 1460.4; T Snaith and Son (Teesside Bridge) 1486.2, 1477.5; D Stubbs (St Mary's) 1483.2

  • Letters: Incinerator riposte

    Sir, - I write concerning your excellent report "Leading botanist slates council over forest incinerators" (D&S, Apr 12). As the lady spokeswoman strongly refuted my claim that the decision had gone through on the nod, saying that, "he was not at

  • Sex case coach hits out at council

    A gymnastics coach cleared of abusing youngsters yesterday accused a North-East council of ruining his life. Paul Wells, 63, said Newcastle City Council thought he was guilty - despite the fact that he was acquitted by a court of six charges of indecent

  • Childcare service seeks publicity

    A CHILDCARE information service will be promoted in a huge publicity campaign. Using radio adverts, promotions and mass mailings, County Durham's Childcare Information Service (CIS) will share a regional pot of £50,000 in Government funding to promote

  • Wellock's World

    WHEN silly money is involved there is always a high risk that it will all end in tears. And with the £315 million pledged by ITV Digital to cover Nationwide League matches we are talking very silly money indeed. Now that the digital dunces have realised

  • Dogged group raise charity cash

    DAYS after reaching the quarter-finals of this year's Crufts flyball competition - relay-racing for dogs - the Barnard Castle Dog Training Club took part in the Great North Dog Walk. They raised £1,700, to be divided between the special care baby unit

  • Dancer has model hopes

    A NEWTON Aycliffe dancer is hoping for a career on the catwalk after reaching the final of a modelling competition. Retail assistant and club dancer Lliane Pacewitch beat more than 1,000 entrants to reach the final casting of a Club 18-30 competition.

  • Police plea after school arson attack

    POLICE are appealing for information after a primary school was targeted by an arsonist during a visit by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). Firefighters tackled the blaze at Stephenson Way Infant School, Newton Aycliffe,

  • Torment of diving tragedy parents

    A COUPLE have told how their worst fears came true when their daughter died in a diving accident in Fiji. Bob and Rose Mary Jennings learnt of the death of Deborah Jane, 25, in a telephone call on Sunday night. The graduate student, from Hutton Rudby,

  • Learning shop celebrates success

    THOUSANDS of people have used Spennymoor's community learning shop since it was established a year ago. Spennymoor Community Learning celebrates its first birthday next week with an invitation to people to join staff for a free buffet. Since it opened

  • Hospital at forefront with spleen surgery technique

    A HOSPITAL in the North-East has become one of the first to carry out a new operation. Susan Brittain underwent keyhole surgery to remove her spleen at the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, on Tuesday. It was the first time the operation had

  • Scarecrow swaps field work for few days at museum

    IN yesterday's glorious weather, he would surely have preferred to have been standing guard over the sun-baked fields. But the scarecrow above will be among others spending a few days indoors as part of an exhibition at Beck Isle Museum, Pickering. The

  • Hear all sides: Saint George

    MIKE Amos certainly got one thing right about St George (Echo, Apr 23) of his feast day being one for merriment. Before the Reformation it was a public holiday and he remains a saint today, deservedly so, as he was tortured and beheaded for defending

  • Police seek crash witness car driver

    A CAR driver who witnessed a motorcycle accident has been urged to contact police. The accident happened as the driver of a red Rover overtook three children cycling south on the A167 at the Ferryhill Cut. The motorcyclist was overtaking them when his

  • Wellock's World

    THE Football Task Group suggested this week that clubs should take a more inclusionary approach towards their key stakeholders. Such gobbledegook is worthy of the utmost ridicule, although it is only what we have come to expect from task groups, think

  • Family tales of a loyal royal

    ALTHOUGH the Queen Mother was 50 years a widow, she truly fulfilled her vocation in the early part of the last century. She was living proof of the saying that, behind every successful man there is a great woman. Actually, she first met George at a children's

  • Heroes emerge from dark night for former battery factory

    MANAGERS of a North-East factory site ravaged by major fire last night praised firefighters for saving their main plant from the blaze. They said a catastrophe had been averted and lauded the actions of factory worker Ron Cloe, who donned an oxygen mask

  • Council IT plan to cost £174,000

    CASH-STRAPPED Durham County Council is to spend more than £170,000 to provide councillors with computers in their homes. All 61 members of the Labour-run authority will be offered a computer with e-mail, Intranet and Internet access, as well as a desk

  • City's pride rides the Metro rails

    CHILDREN gave a Metro train a final polish before it went into service yesterday. Pupils from South Hylton Primary School, in Sunderland, were joined by officials, including Sunderland City Council's deputy leader, Councillor Bryan Charlton, for the launch

  • Razed chemical plant may move away

    THE OWNERS of a Tyneside chemical plant which burned to the ground have said they will relocate - and the North-East will not be the automatic choice. Bosses of the Lancashire-based Distillex spoke as the Health and Safety Executive continues its investigation

  • The legacy of the truly talented

    OF THE three deaths of famous people over Easter, the Queen Mother's inevitably took the lion's share of the headlines. But the passing of the comedian Dudley Moore was also well noted, with many glowing tributes. However, the death of a man whose name

  • Living the high life at a low point

    Fantastic food and smashing service made a visit to a transformed grotto one to remember. This restaurant is on the up THE Marsden Grotto at South Shields is a cavernous, cliff bottom pub accessed by a passenger lift. Of late, there have been too many

  • Footballer shot in 'horseplay'

    A SUNDERLAND footballer has undergone an operation on his eye after a team-mate accidentally shot him in the face. Reserve team defender Mark Maley, 21, was injured during horseplay with an air pistol at Welsh International John Oster's home in Durham

  • City centre car park open

    A DURHAM city centre car park has re-opened after a revamp. The Sands car park is run by Durham City Council, which spent £90,000 on the work carried out by Cavetto Landscape Contractors, of Chester-le-Street. A riverside footpath from Pennyferry Bridge

  • Boss 'made a fool of himself'

    COMPANY boss Kevin Towers made "a bit of a fool'' of himself by his behaviour when confronted by police after a night out. Towers, 27, managing director of a company employing a 13-member workforce, pleaded guilty yesterday to using threatening, abusive

  • Toddlers help charity

    BIG-hearted toddlers have been digging out their old clothes and toys in the hope of helping others. Finn Morgan, of Ainderby Steeple and Alice Dixon, of Yafforth, both aged three, above, were among those doing their bit to help a nearly-new sale, in

  • Ducklings paddle through the early days of their cycle of life

    YOUNGSTERS at George Dent Nursery, in Darlington, have been overseeing the early days of life of seven ducklings and a gosling at the climax of a project looking into life cycles. During the eggs' 28 days in an incubator, the youngsters sprinkled them

  • Advertising agency Yellow M stops trading

    THE advertising agency chosen to launch development agency One NorthEast's Here.Now campaign has ceased trading. Negotiations are continuing to discuss future options for the Newcastlebusiness, which is one of the highest profile agencies in the North-East

  • Making the most of the beauty of wood

    THE Westholme garden bench not only looks very classy - it's also extremely comfortable to sit on. It's definitely designed to tempt you away from the weeding and very much a cut above your DIY supermarket offering. The bench is a copy of one from Westholme

  • On a clear day, you can almost see the future

    EVERY time it rained heavily, the eight streets they called The Hollow were likely to flood. When they did, everyone was in the same boat. Nor was a permanently high water mark the only problem. Whole terraces, the column observed three years ago, were

  • Court in the culinary act

    Things are cascading out of control around here. The correspondence mountain, unacknowledged but by no means unappreciated, overflows like Etna on time and three- quarters. Just as the good Dr Barnardo once claimed that no destitute child was ever refused

  • Medal from winning FA Cup final is a rarity for Magpies

    FANS of Newcastle United have a chance to cast their eyes on that most precious of rare mementoes - a medal from an FA Cup final win. The linesman's medal, from the 1932 final between Newcastle and Arsenal, has arrived at its new home at St James' Park

  • Travellers evicted from site following residents' concern

    COUNCILS are nervously waiting to see where a group of travellers settles next. The group was moved from a site in east Cleveland following complaints from residents alleging intimidation, indiscriminate firing of air weapons, use of knives, defecating

  • Brick train sculpture falls victim to vandals

    THE region's famous brick train sculpture has been defaced by vandals. The landmark, which "steams" out of a turf tunnel on the edge of Darlington, has been covered in spray paint graffiti. The sculpture, outside Morrisons' Morton Park supermarket, was

  • George Mann Cup

    First established in 1928, the Cup, will be played for again this season after a break because of the foot-and-mouth problems last year. The games will again be played at Wolsingham School and Community College thanks to the donation of a new plastic

  • Wellock's World

    IN my light-hearted crystal ball gazing at the turn of the year I predicted that Ulrika Jonsson would announce her engagement to Mike Tyson while sporting a black eye. This may still happen, although it seems that her taste in men has changed. She has

  • Where are the best places to get fruity?

    HAVING fruit in the house when you weren't ill was a real sign that you were posh, reckoned Bobby Thompson. Now the Government is considering giving every child a piece of fruit a day and we're all encouraged to eat a lot more of it. An apple a day really

  • Moorland singer is road victim

    THIS morning's road casualty was a yellowhammer. I found his battered little body on the roadside during my morning walk where he was clearly the victim of a hit-and-run traffic accident. It was a male bird - the head and breast were bright yellow, while

  • Pupils on fact-finding mission

    A GROUP of pupils has been on a fact-finding mission to learn how to spend thousands of pounds to make their trip to school safer. The youngsters from Eastbourne School, in Darlington, were invited to meet officials from Sustrans - the charity that encourages

  • Dam plan mooted to save village from flooding

    A MASSIVE water storage area is being proposed in an attempt to protect villagers at Brompton from a repeat of the disastrous floods seen 18 months ago. Creation of the dam on land in the Water End area was the main recommendation for Brompton in a long-awaited

  • Boro's young guns have a bright future, says McClaren

    MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has praised the performances of his young guns during his first year in charge. The Boro boss handed 17-year-old winger Stewart Downing his first team debut at Ipswich Town on Wednesday night - and the teenager acquitted

  • Wind turbine plan at school

    A WIND turbine could be built at Baydales School in Marske, after councillors agreed a feasibility study. The school wants the equipment as part of its bid to attain Technology College status next year. Part of the Bydales vision is to become a community

  • Agreements are signed

    THE signing of the final agreements between the partners and developers in the creation of a secondary school in Ingleby Barwick took place on Wednesday. The partners, Stockton Borough Council and the Church of England's Diocese of York, have selected

  • Just how many more did he rape?

    A STRING of unsolved rape cases is to be reopened after a hooded attacker was jailed for 20 years last night. Timothy Din, 44, wore a black balaclava as he selected slim young women with shoulder-length hair in frighteningly similar strikes only a mile-and-a-half

  • E-fit issued after afternoon break-in at woman's home

    POLICE have issued an e-fit impression of a man who broke into a 77-year-old woman's home. The Northern Echo reported yesterday how the woman, from Valley Grove, in Lanchester, found the man and his accomplice in her kitchen at about 4pm on Tuesday. The

  • Collapse close for ITV digital

    MORE than a million TV viewers were last night facing the prospect of losing their favourite stations as administrators raced against time to save ITV Digital from liquidation. The service - cornerstone of the Government's plans to put Britain at the

  • N-E fans victims of ticket fraud, trial told

    HUNDREDS of North-East football fans fell victim to a multi-million pound World Cup ticket fraud, a court was told. David Spanton's company Great Portland Entertainments (GPE) claimed it could get any number of tickets for the France 98 tournament. But

  • Nursery cuts 'will hit no one'

    NO ONE will lose out as a result of a reduction in nursery places in Redcar and Cleveland. The pledge came from council leader David Walsh after it was agreed to reduce places at 15 nursery schools. Some staff will be redeployed, but there are to be no

  • Scented garden's cash lift

    Sunderland Rotary Club has raised £250 to develop the rose scented garden in the city's Roker Park. A group of club members, the Friends of Roker Park and Redby Primary School pupils will carry out planting today. Among those attending will be Gemma Old

  • Manager appointed

    THE Prince's Trust charity has a new business manager for the Tees Valley. Ray Crawford, 42, of Hartburn, Stockton, has been appointed to the position. Mr Crawford spent 22 years with Barclays Bank, latterly as small business manager, before joining the

  • Wellocks world

    IN my light-hearted crystal ball gazing at the turn of the year I predicted that Ulrika Jonsson would announce her engagement to Mike Tyson while sporting a black eye. This may still happen, although it seems that her taste in men has changed. She has

  • Residents get time travel offer

    VISITORS to Summerhill in Hartlepool are being offered the chance to travel back in time. The invitation has come from new landscape interpretation officer Claire Smith. Ms Smith, a history teacher who has worked in various museums, said: "We know the

  • White & Wild hits the shelves

    A FOUR-YEAR dream became reality this week when a pioneering new milk appeared in 60 Sainsbury stores. White & Wild is the first milk which claims to benefit the dairy farmer and wildlife directly. Every litre sold not only gives the producer a 3p

  • News in brief: Karaoke night boost to funds

    NIALL Quinn's benefit night charity fund will benefit from an end-of-season karaoke night organised by Sunderland fans in Chester-le-Street. Proceeds from the event, on Saturday, May 11, at Relton Terrace Workmen's Club, in Ropery Lane, Chester-le-Street

  • Peng the hero as the wickets keep on falling

    THERE was a time yesterday when ecstasy threatened to turn to agony for Nicky Peng as a wonderful century was followed by a nasty blow on his right index finger at third slip. He retired to see the physio and after it was decided there was no break he

  • Teacher's warning over gang warfare

    A HEADTEACHER is urging parents to help crack down on youths taking part in gang warfare. Dr Bob Dingle, of Seaham School of Technology, east Durham, spoke out after three teenagers were arrested in two outbreaks of armed combat in the town. Groups of

  • Approval urged for office suites

    A PLAN to generate additional income needed to secure a stately home's long-term future is being recommended for approval. Family-owned Newby Hall, at Skelton-on-Ure, near Ripon, has tabled a planning application to convert its stable block into 14 office

  • Lighting decision serves to sour relationship

    A SWITCH of position over lighting in Ronaldshay Park, Richmond, has soured relations between the district and town council. Vandals are an increasing problem in the park, as well as for the neighbouring bowls and cricket clubs, and police have indicated

  • The angel of the north wall

    WEDDING reveller ends up with his very own landmark A DRUNKEN night out with friends and family did not just leave gardener Malcolm Hockham with a sore head the next morning - but a 10ft version of the Angel of the North as well. For the tipsy reveller

  • NFU seeks clarification of guidelines

    THE NFU has won an important clarification from the Government on the entitlement of some farmers in Environmentally Sensitive Areas who also claim set-aside payments. Confusion was caused when Defra updated the guidance literature on the Arable Area

  • News in brief

    Speed limit action move A 20mph speed limit could be imposed in Reeth and Richmond's Bargate, if the public agrees. North Yorkshire County Council has agreed similar schemes for School Bank, at Middleton Tyas, and Brompton Park, Brompton-on-Swale, which

  • Cinema move hailed as boost for town

    THE reopening of a cinema which had to be shut down four years ago will bring an economic boost to a Ryedale town, according to community leaders. Malton's Palace Cinema is due to re-open next month after being taken over by a new company, Ryedale Entertainments

  • Housing plans face opposition

    RESIDENTS are protesting about green belt plans which could lead to 600 homes being built in their community. Dozens of people from the Haxby and Wigginton area of York attended a ward meeting to hear details of City of York Council's plans to take 15

  • Head backs leadership bid

    A TEESSIDE headteacher has graduated with the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and is now supporting his deputy through the same programme. Iain Bowran is headteacher at Ash Trees School, Billingham, a primary school for children

  • Graeme is Queen's Scout

    AN east Cleveland student has won the highest honour in the Scouting movement. Graeme Coulthard, of 1st Marske (Barn Owls) Scout Group received the Queen's Scout award from Cleveland Police Chief Constable Barry Shaw at the force's Middlesbrough headquarters

  • News in brief: Dormer plan thrown out

    PLANNING chiefs have rejected an application for an extension to a bungalow after more than 30 objectors turned up at a site visit. The proposal, to convert a bungalow in Cat Flatt Lane, Marske, into a dormer bungalow was thrown out on Wednesday after

  • Transfer bid over homes

    A BID to transfer 2,000 council homes in Richmondshire to a housing association have been shelved. A full meeting of the local authority ratified a previous vote by the housing committee to abandon consultation on the project after an initial survey showed

  • Autumn deadline for 24-hour Dales ambulance cover

    UPPER Wensleydale and Swaledale will have 24-hour ambulance cover from October at the latest, top health officials have confirmed. The service will also be boosted by a rapid response vehicle on call 14 hours a day and manned jointly by professionals

  • Games: CIU League

    In the top of the table clash in the darts section Cockton Hill made use of home advantage to beat the joint leaders, Byers Green by the odd point. This gives the Hill top spot with Byers Green two points ahead of Crook Belle Vue, who have a match in