RIO FERDINAND: EVERY time I hear about how unfairly Rio Ferdinand has been dealt with, my hackles rise. If Manchester United and the players' union are upset at the FA, who I hope will not back off from doing the right thing, I have a suggestion. The
A FORMER magistrate accused of throwing a picture frame into his girlfriend's face during a row said yesterday that it was "a pure accident". Paul Geldart, 44, who also served as a borough councillor in Darlington, told police investigating the alleged
NOW, at last, desperate Iain Duncan Smith's secret plan for seizing the keys to Downing Street is revealed. It's violent revolution. After week of bizarre threats to shoot anyone in his way, the threat of physical force ran through the leader's speech
England have been set the daunting challenge of proving that crocked Michael Owen is replaceable for tomorrow's vital Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey. Sven-Goran Eriksson's worst fears were confirmed when, just before the squad departed for Istanbul, Owen
TORY leader Iain Duncan Smith won himself breathing space in his battle for survival with a relaxed and confident speech that won over a conference dogged by talk of plots to ditch him. The embattled leader was rewarded with a remarkable 19 standing ovations
COUNTY Durham social services director Peter Kemp is to leave his post after almost two decades at the helm. Mr Kemp, 56, the county's social services chief for more than 18 years, is also the longest serving social services director in the country. Announcing
POP star Cheryl Tweedy punched a female toilet attendant in the face in a row over a handful of lollipops and called her a "black bitch", a court heard yesterday. The 20-year-old Girls Aloud singer screamed racist abuse before punching Sophie Amogbokpa
Worthington CIU Team Knockout: Wingate and Spennymoor B will contest the final of the Team Knockout after both had fairly comfortable wins in their semi-finals. Wingate beat Durham City, whilst Spennymoor B overcame Newton Aycliffe. Durham City had 61
WORLD triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards officially opened a school's new £1m sports centre nearly two years after its original centre was destroyed. Jonathan visited The Hermitage School in Chester-le-Street last week to open the Gill Dobson Sports
Durham League C6 Division 3 Specsavers Wear Valley Wild Dawgs v Norton B Celso was on form for Norton who found themselves three points down at the end of the quarter due to some good three-point shooting by Valley and Hirst. The second period reflected
MORE than 550 pensioners signed up yesterday to have their free flu jab. Practice Nurses from Sacriston Surgery and Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) have joined forces with Sacriston Working Men's Club, County Durham, to help fight
Nurse Martin Platt will be asking if there's a doctor in the house after fists fly in Coronation Street (ITV1) when his secret affair with schoolgirl Katy Harris is finally revealed. He and Katy, who's young enough to be his daughter (and knowing the
THREE fitness fanatics from Darlington are hoping to prove their might in the final of a national event. Gym owner Paul Hamilton, 34, and police officers Owen Turnbull, 32, and Neil Walton, 28, will have to undergo a tough series of exercises to achieve
Evenwood Road Runners travelled across the Pennines for the Langdale Marathon and half marathon. On the challenging two lap course Neil Douthwaite seemed to have an off day as he finished in a dehydrated state for four hours 18 mins for a credible 40th
A MOTHER has criticised refuse workers for leaving a trail of rubbish behind when they empty her bins each week. Jacqueline Roscoe, of George Street, Darlington, said litter was regularly scattered along the back alleys near her home after bin collection
PLANS have been shelved for a doctor's surgery at a new £1.3m community centre in Darlington. But the centre, being built in Burnside Road and due to open in January, will still offer health services to residents. Councillor Roderick Francis said: "Having
THE planting of thousands of trees to create a community woodland in the north of Darlington will begin this month. Up to 36,000 trees will be planted on 20 hectares of agricultural land alongside the River Skerne, near Barmpton village. The land is being
THE best friend of a fisherman who died in a freak storm has spoken about his last moments. Alan Chapman told the inquest into the death of Keith Evans, 58, that he was convinced he was also about to die in the storm. The Hartlepool inquest heard that
MORE than £100m has been spent on County Durham school buildings during the past six years, but more work is still needed. A total of 307 schools have benefited from a huge cash injection in projects ranging from a new sports hall to the building of school
TREES will soon be springing up all over the east Durham area. English Nature has joined forces with Easington District Council to organise a seed collection day in Castle Eden Dene tomorrow. The event is part of the Tree Council's Seed Gathering event
AN open day at Stockton Town Hall is one of a series of activities being planned to mark Local Democracy Week. The event, which takes place on Wednesday, will be an opportunity for people to find out things they did not know about Stockton's past and
Three Northern League clubs are eagerly looking forward to their big day in the FA Cup tomorrow. However, all three of them will be going into their matches with injury worries on the biggest day in their recent histories. Shildon, who go to Nottinghamshire
PARKING may be banned near Darlington Football Club's new stadium. The borough council has won the support of Durham Police in a bid to stop cars being parked along the A66 bypass, near the Quakers' Reynolds Arena. The council and police are asking the
A POLICEWOMAN came in for the chop this week to raise funds for a children's playground. As the last golden lock fell from PC Vicky Coxon's head, she had not only brought in more than £1,000 in sponsorship but also completed half of a hair-raising family
SIXTH form students are being offered the chance to enrich their lives with a new course. Stockton Sixth Form College principal Martin Clinton has introduced The Enrichment Programme to help develop interests outside academic courses. Students are offered
A scheme has been launched in the Scarborough area to encourage residents to help keep parks and gardens in good condition. The borough council's Parks and Countryside Services has set up a Volunteers In Parks (VIP) project inviting people to take part
TRAINEE accountant Joyce Atherton is managing to achieve balance in her life, as well as the books, after getting back into learning. The mother-of-three said she became a virtual recluse after she was struck down in 1985 with the eye condition retinitis
TRAINEE accountant Joyce Atherton is managing to achieve balance in her life, as well as the books, after getting back into learning. The mother-of-three said she became a virtual recluse after she was struck down in 1985 with the eye condition retinitis
YOUNGSTERS in Darlington are being offered the chance to win a year's free swimming by coming up with the best name for a waterslide at the town's Dolphin Centre swimming pool. The centre, run by Darlington Borough Council, is holding a competition to
SEVERAL cars have been broken into in Darlington recently during the day. Cars in Hollyhurst Road, the Town Hall car park, Fairfax Road, Havelock Street and Edmund Street have been targeted. Police are warning motorists not to leave anything on view when
A POLICE manhunt has been launched for a bank-robbing pensioner. Staff at a High Street branch of Bradford and Bingley at Stockton were held up by someone who appeared to be in his 60s and escaped with several hundreds of pounds cash. "He warned staff
A SUMMIT meeting next week could help to open lines of communication between a council and the people it serves. Political journalist Tony Baker will grill senior Durham County Council officials about its services. He will put them on the spot over experiences
POLICE are growing concerned for the safety of Gary Dixon, 30. He has been missing from his home in Grindon, Sunderland, since Monday. Mr Dixon was last seen in Chester Road Broadway on his way to Penshaw. His family are worried as it is unusual for him
A CELEBRATION of the cultural wealth of the North-East was marked by the publication of an ethnicity directory yesterday. The directory, Ethnicity in the North-East - an overview, is the only guide of its kind in the UK and was launched in Newcastle.
A TEAM from Bishop Auckland Golf Club has been hailed as one of the best in the country by qualifying for a competition final in Spain. The club rounded off one of its most successful seasons by reaching the last four of the Mail on Sunday National Golf
LAST month was one of the warmest Septembers on record, according to Durham University meteorologists. Professor Tim Burt, of the university's geography department, said apart from 1999, it was the warmest September since 1981, and the 20th equal warmest
A COUNCIL has been criticised by a Government agency for taking an average of 77 days to process housing benefit and council tax claims. A report by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) into Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said poor administration
A CRIME spree in Heighington last month has led to pleas for more people to volunteer as Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators. The number of crimes in the last quarter, from July to September, was 14, with eight of those committed last month. There were
A NEW partnership is to deliver a health roadshow around Sedgefield borough. The initiative, called the Your Health Roadshow, is mainly for the over 50s, although anyone can attend. The roadshow offers the opportunity to have a flu jab, free health check
ENGLAND'S beleaguered footballers arrived in Turkey last night amid unprecedented security as fears continued that fans would ignore warnings to stay away from the crunch Euro 2004 qualifier. Despite repeated pleas for English supporters not to travel
AN old churchyard that became a wilderness has been tidied up thanks to a group of civic-minded men. The six men were fed up with the state of the grounds at the former St Paul's Church - it was demolished a decade ago - in Quarrington Hill, which had
Darlington manager Mick Tait is awaiting the green light from chairman George Reynolds before making a move for free agent Keith O'Halloran. The former Middlesbrough midfielder, released by Swindon Town at the end of last season, is currently on trial
If in the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king, as old Erasmus long since supposed, what of the world of clay pigeon shooting? Bobby Guy fires the imagination, too. Without sight in one eye since 1969, he has this year bagged a clutch of British
A TEESSIDE school is become a specialist centre for hockey after receiving nearly £500,000 for sports investment. Egglescliffe Comprehensive School, at Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, will spend the money on a synthetic surface pitch and upgrading the changing
PEOPLE are urged to complete a council questionnaire. Hartlepool Borough Council has sent questionnaires to 2,500 addresses in Hartlepool, asking residents for their views about life in the area and how satisfied they are on issues such as transport,
A STOCKTON man has a career in the pipeline thanks to a Government job creation programme. Alex Rutherford, 29, was one of 11 unemployed men from across the North-East to begin work as a gas network operative for Transco. He was supported by training
THERE'S a traffic jam on the road leading back into Soapland as former residents queue to regain entrance. Bet Gilmore and the McDonalds are hammering on the gates of Weatherfield, but have been overtaken by the father - godfather? - of all soap villains
Darlington Spraire Lasses: Spraire Lasses Under-13s gained a valuable point in the Darlington derby against Simply Lasses. Simply Lasses took the lead in the eighth minute when a long cross hit the crossbar and bounced over the line leaving Spraire keeper
Coxhoe Athletic moved three points clear at the top of the table when they beat Shildon Railway 3-0 at home. Ralph Petitgean put them in front within ten minutes when an indirect free-kick for Coxhoe rebounded for him to slot home. Coxhoe were on the
OF all the games to miss, Chris Westwood had to be suspended from Hartlepool United's game of the season in front of the biggest Victoria Park crowd in almost 13 years. Former manager Chris Turner is back in town tonight with his Sheffield Wednesday side
The United States has given us some wonderful things over the years: from aeroplanes to Microsoft, Elvis Presley to Hollywood. The land of opportunity provides a freedom and a market place that encourages new thinking and can make you a millionaire overnight
A farmer who went missing for two nights in a remote area has been found safe and well. An extensive search involving Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue volunteers and police was launched for North Yorkshire man Cliff Allen, 50, after he went missing
A SOCIAL worker who blackmailed a colleague after he filmed them having sex at work was jailed for two years yesterday. Married Desmond Ross, 43, threatened to send the video tape to the woman's boss when she tried to end their affair. It showed the pair
One of the region's leading construction companies has been chosen as the main contractor for Darlington's Morton Palms office and leisure development. Newcastle's Metnor Construction will be lead contractor on the £7.5m first phase of the project. Metnor
Bedale - President's Putter: The golfing season is now drawing to a close in this glorious autumn weather and with only the Turkey Trot as the last major competition still to be played no more trophies are to be played for this year after that. Richard
CLOTHING retailer Austin Reed has seen its profits crumpled by the revamp of its flagship London store. Half-year profits tumbled 59 per cent to £1.1m due to disruption caused at the Regent Street outlet, as well as the wider impacts of the Sars virus
JOHN Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached at Shincliffe in 1780 while staying at the house of a Mr Parker. He gave a sermon from Mr Parker's front door, because the congregation was too large to fit inside the house. Wesley remarked: "It seemed
QUESTION: How can three wins suddenly become worth only six points? When the team that Willington Under-15s beat on the opening day of the season drop out of the League, that's how. Our 2-0 victory at Parkside has been scrubbed from the record books -
Stockton Town: Stockton Town Under-10s started brightly against Hardwick Youth in what turned out to be a thrilling cup tie. With the advantage of the wind Stockton Town found themselves on the attack in the early stages through some enterprising play
HE was the tracksuited, darts-playing, furry figure at the forefront of a concerted effort to convert the bitter-loving British drinker to lager. George the Bear, complete with trilby, led the drinking revolution that made it socially acceptable for pub
JD Sports owner John David Group made first half operating losses of £1.5m - down from profits of £11.1m last time - after what the firm described as a disappointing six months. Many of the problems stemmed from difficulties integrating the newly-acquired
This week is Britain's first Babyloss Awareness Week. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports on the pain of pregnancy loss and neonatal death. EACH day in Britain, 16 babies are stillborn or die during their first 28 days of life. One in four pregnancies
RAIL chiefs have performed an apparent U-turn over plans to pull the plug on a North-East train service, it was claimed yesterday. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) said it will continue to fund the four trains a day Whitby to Middlesbrough Sunday winter
Last season's Premiership champions Hetton Lyons Cricket Club must travel to Hull to meet Smith and Nephew FC in the second round of the All England FA Sunday Cup Competition on Sunday, November 2. Smith and Nephew play their home fixtures in the competition
Division One, Hartlepool FC 2, Carlin How 3: League leaders Hartlepool slipped to their second defeat of the season. In a tight first half hour Hartlepool took the lead through James Parkinson. In the second half Hartlepool pressed for a second but were
The final was finally played on Tuesday night at Hartlepool RFCs Mayfield Park ground when Seaton Carew proved that persistence pays by accounting for Hartlepool Rovers Second string by 15 points to 12. The Seatonians came to the Final with four consecutive
AND the winners of this year's Worst Parents Award goes to Ken and Deirdre of Coronation Street (ITV1). Only the other week, Ken was woebetiding the fact that his son, Two Wives Peter Barlow, had committed bigamy. "Where did we go wrong?," he asked. Now
HUNDREDS of mourners yesterday paid their last respects to 16-year-old Terri Ellwood, who died while on holiday in North Yorkshire. Our Lady of the Rosary RC Church, in Peterlee, County Durham, was packed with hundreds of grieving school friends, family
BEYBLADES. Publisher: Atari. Format: PSOne. Price: £19.99: SOMETHING truly remarkable happened this summer. A game released on an eight-year-old console conquered the all-format video game charts. Despite long ago reaching the point of near obsolescence
On Saturday, 11 members from Billingham Swimming Club swam at the Annual Open Meet held at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington against tough opposition. With teams from all over the North of England competing. In the 10/11 year old category Glen Martin performed
EAT your heart out B&Q! There might be things that the national DIY chain sells that J. Raines doesn't, but you'd be hard pushed to think of them. Raines seems a tiny shop on the corner in Middleton in Teesdale - till you go in. No wonder the locals
During his years as a bank manager in Teesdale Trevor Wood had a crinkly smile for one and all, even when handing out harsh words about accounts that had crept too far into the red. And now that he has retired he seems more bouncingly cheerful than ever
DARLINGTON FC chairman George Reynolds last night backed down from a legal battle with council chiefs over plans to hold a car boot sale at the club's new stadium. Mr Reynolds confirmed that he would be applying for planning permission for the car boot
TORY leader Iain Duncan Smith won himself breathing space in his battle for survival with a relaxed and confident speech that won over a conference dogged by talk of plots to ditch him. The embattled leader was rewarded with a remarkable 19 standing ovations
A NURSE with almost 40 years' service in the NHS has won the first chair's award given by a North-East mental health trust. Janice Burnip, from Hartlepool, is among 27 individuals and teams nominated by colleagues and patient and carer groups for Tees
THE sound of wedding bells could be heard in Soapland soon - as the happy couples beat each other around the head with them. In Coronation Street (ITV1), Mick the bent copper is down on one knee, a position which ensures he can't follow his usual practice
England coach Clive Woodward finally appears to have assembled a squad capable of matching the huge weight of national expectation placed on its shoulders. Rugby writer Tim Wellock reports on England's chances of success Down Under. AFTER 37 years of
Roy Coates, the secretary of the Durham County Cricket League, is delighted that free cricket coaching is being provided for youngsters who play in the junior sections of the league. John Phelan and Michael Manuel, known as the Friends of Crook Town Football
Chester-le-Street Town: JUNIORS are through to the first round proper of the FA Youth cup and for the second successive season their opponents will be Hartlepool United. The Juniors won through to the competition proper with a comfortable 3-0 victory
A FAR right party has come last in a council by-election in which a record number of people voted. Chester-le-Street District Council has estimated that the result of the Chester North ward by-election is probably the highest ever voter turnout for a
Morag McDonnell was awarded for a fantastic run in the Womens Northern 4 Stage Relays last weekend when she pulled Chester-le-Street from sixth to first on the third leg, with an England vest to run the Great Irish Run. The 10km race took place on a hilly
HOMEOWNERS and manufacturers breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as interest rates were held at 3.5 per cent. Poor trade figures may have influenced the decision by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. The UK trade deficit in goods and services
RURAL businesses struggling with poor electricity supplies are to get help from Europe. A total of £830,000 in funding will be announced today by Government Chief Whip and Bishop Auckland MP Hilary Armstrong. Ms Armstrong is confident the Energy for Enterprise
Newfit Services Willington: Willington Club pulled off a good away victory over Willington Lion and Unicorn with a five points success. The home side shared the singles when they had wins from Dave Hawkins, Arthur Goldsborough and Michael Pickering, whilst
Health Correspondent Barry Nelson talks to the health boss who is likely to head one of the first foundation hospitals in the region. OPPOSITION to foundation hospitals is showing no signs of going away if the recent Labour Party conference is anything
Billingham Wolves lost for the first time this season in English Under-19 North A League in a close encounter at Forum Ice Arena against Nottingham Leopards. The teams only met a week ago in Nottingham which was also a close affair which ended 3-3. Leopards
Wilton: Wilton 2nd travelled to Morpeth 1st for what was their first encounter of North-East division two hockey, expecting a tough test Wilton started apprehensively but soon realised that the opposition were there for the taking. Wilton were forced
THE Right Reverend Dr Tom Wright will be ceremonially confirmed as the new bishop of the diocese at Durham Cathedral on Sunday. The 90-minute ceremony will culminate in Dr Wright climbing the steps to sit on the Bishop's Throne. Dr Wright, successor to
The Northern Road relay championships at Silksworth on Sunday, October 5 consisted of four by 3k laps, with all the best teams being represented from the Northern area. The Under-13 boy's team came 10th behind the eventual winners Warrington, but were
The two bottom sides, Darlington Dalesman and Darlington Skerne Park had a great encounter for most of this fixture, but once again the final ten minutes caught out Skerne Park. Steve Madden in the Dalesman goal denied Skerne Park an interval lead with
VILLAGERS have vowed to crack down on bikers and truckers who they say are making their lives a misery. The pressure group Bilsdale Against Noise and Danger (Band) is calling for a 50mph speed limit on all roads in the North York Moors National Park.
THE discovery of a series of mysterious rock carvings has sparked a quest by experts to find out exactly what they are. The designs were found on an sandstone boulder in an isolated area of Northumberland and have left top archaeologists baffled as to
ALL Premiership footballers should be ordered to write an essay as part of their contract negotiations. It would be entitled: "Cupidas Radix Malorum Est. Discuss." Most of them would probably think it was Pele's real name, or the latest cocktail drunk
IF there was a prize for consistently failing to tell the truth in Soapland the runaway winner would be Peter Barlow in Coronation Street (ITV1). Look where this lying has got him - two wives, Shelley the barmaid and Lucy the florist. For months his favourite
The Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League joined the 21st Century this week when they launched their new official website. Their new site contains just about everything there is to know about the league - with more than 20 pages giving
Lumley Ladies: LUMLEY maintained their 100 per cent record in the Northern Regional Women's League Division Two with an 11-0 victory at Northallerton Academy. Following the disappointment of the narrow FA Cup defeat at neighbours Chester-le-Street, the
Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner's Tale (BBC1): CHAUCER'S original tale is a simple story of three pals who kill each other over a cache of gold. That was unpleasant enough. Tony Grounds's TV version retained that premise but around it wove a dark tale
ENGLAND'S beleaguered footballers arrived in Turkey last night amid unprecedented security as fears continued that fans would ignore warnings to stay away from the crunch Euro 2004 qualifier. Despite repeated pleas for English supporters not to travel
First Division champions Bedale came an early cropper when they went down 3-0 to Wensleydale. Bedale, who won the title for the first time last season, had been expected to ease past their Leyburn-based rivals. But surprise wins for Wensleydale's Keith
Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers Peter Wilkin demonstrated the versatility of Harriers when he entered the Three Peaks Cyclo Cross event which covers 38 miles and involves climbs of 4500 feet, often carrying one's cycle! Peter finished in an excellent 13th
INMATES at Durham Prison are doing their bit to help some of the North-East's wildlife. The prisoners have been building nest boxes as part of a project that will help bird populations in the region's countryside and give the inmates new skills. The Royal
J Raines may lack the space of a big DIY store but it more than makes up for in customer service and choice. EAT your heart out B&Q! There might be things that the national DIY chain sells that J. Raines doesn't, but you'd be hard pushed to think
FEARS that North-East hospitals are struggling to cope with increasing numbers of drug-resistant superbug victims are ill-founded, according to experts. Reports suggesting that the region's hospitals had seen dramatic increases in reported cases of methicillin
DOGS owners made sure their pets were in tip-top condition yesterday at a free health check session in Darlington. A roadshow is at the Pets At Home store, at Darlington Retail Park, in Yarm Road, until the end of the week. The PDSA PetCheck unit has
A SOLICITOR'S skill on the golfing green has earned him the Old Dunelmian Society's golf trophy. Kenneth Howe, a Chester-le-Street solicitor and deputy North Durham Coroner, recently won the Old Dunelmian Society's Annual Golf Trophy. The competition
A FASHION show organised by businesswoman Mavis Wayman raised £620 for Butterwick Hospice. Mrs Wayman owns Jayne Fashions, in Sedgefield. The fashion show, which proved a huge success, was held in Sedgefield Parish Hall. Accepting the cheque, fundraiser
A CELLIST added a musical touch to the launch of a festival in Middlesbrough yesterday. Imogen Busby, 21, is taking part in the Chimera project as part of the audio visual AV Fest, which is partly organised by the University of Teesside. She will help
BONFIRE Night is less than a month away and safety campaigners in Hambleton aim to ensure the celebrations are not marred by accidents or tragedy. The district has a good safety record and its Community Safety Partnership is backing a national and regional
A GOLD medal winning athlete has called for Teesside students to help her write an important speech. Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, who lives in Redcar, asked students and lecturers at Redcar and Cleveland College to give their views on further education
MORE than 150 people turned out to protest against controversial plans to build flats in a seaside town. At yesterday's site meeting, councillors had to use a tannoy to communicate with residents opposed to the building of 22 two-storey flats at Wheatlands
Nightstop Teesside is holding a homelessness and youth work event on Wednesday at Coatham Bowl, in Marjuba Road, Redcar, from 4pm to 8pm. The event will include drama, interview, videos and networking and the main event will be between 5.30pm and 6.30pm
THE annual search for Hartlepool's environmental champions has begun. As part of Hartlepool Borough Council's Pride in Hartlepool campaign, nominations are needed for this year's Pride In Your Neighbourhood awards. The annual awards scheme aims to recognise
Tow Law Area League: Esh Stag's Head recovered their top place in the table after they only dropped two points on their visit to Tow Law Rose and Crown. The home side's lone success in the singles came from Ken Reagen, whilst the visitors had wins from
Northallerton's Pat Adams is the toast of the Swale after pulling off an unbelievable weekend double winning back-to-back matches with incredible scores of 51.14.8 and 64.11.0. Win number one came during Saturday's big RAF Leeming Annual Charity Event
A MOTORCYCLIST collided with an oncoming vehicle after failing to negotiate a bend, an inquest was told yesterday. David Kershaw died instantly after the accident in June on the B6282 at Woodland, near Barnard Castle. The 51-year-old from Salisbury Place
A NATIONALLY renowned work of art has returned to the region. Visitors to the civic centre, in Northallerton, are able to see one of the sections of the Madeira Millennium Embroidery, which depicts the history of Britain during the past 1,000 years. The
A CRIME spree in Heighington last month has led to pleas for more people to volunteer as Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators. Of 14 crimes committed in the period July to September, eight took place last month. Anyone interested is asked to contact Ivor
TERRITORIAL Army (TA) officers serving in Iraq are keeping up with news from home, thanks to The Northern Echo. There are 115 TA soldiers from the North-East and North Yorkshire serving alongside full-time servicemen in Basra, Iraq. They have all taken
PARENTS whose babies died before or soon after birth are being invited to a remembrance service in Darlington next month. The annual service will take place at 3pm on Sunday, November 2, at the Darlington Memorial Hospital Chapel. Debbie Bunford, the
YOUNGSTERS across the county will be taking part in a ballot on whether they should be permitted to vote in General Elections. Secondary schools throughout the county have been invited to ballot students on whether the voting age should be lowered from
ENDING bed blocking in hospitals is one of the objectives stated in a three-year plan of improvements drawn up by North Yorkshire County Council. Councillors want to see a reduction in beds blocked from 54 last year to zero by next year, under plans to
A SUSPENDED solicitor is accused of gaining money from a share transaction carried out on behalf of a client. David Gatherer, 52, formerly the sole practitioner of the Durham firm of Carpenter's, appeared before Newcastle magistrates yesterday, charged
MORE than £100m has been spent on County Durham's school buildings over the past six years - but more work is still needed. A total of 307 schools have benefited from the cash with projects ranging from a new sports hall to the building of a completely
Bishop Auckland and District League: Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A pulled off a good win on their visit to Crook White Swan. The home side had singles points from Andrew Finch, Stephen Carr, Les Sanders and Stephen Murphy, whilst Chris Thompson replied
Brompton Junior FC have achieved Charter Mark Standards from the FA which means that the application can now go ahead for a new pavilion at the playing fields in Brompton. Charter Mark Standard is awarded to clubs with only the highest level of coaching
JOHN Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached at Shincliffe in 1780 while staying at the house of a Mr Parker. He gave a sermon from Mr Parker's front door, because the congregation was too large to fit inside the house. Wesley remarked: "It seemed
ANGRY dairy farmers could escalate their long-running protest over the price of milk. In an effort to get a better deal for their product, they have been holding short blockades of dairies up and down the country. Recent targets included Whitby, in North
Cleadon SC are a changed side this season, surprising some by becoming the League's pace-setters. "If you had asked me before the start of the season if I thought we would be top of the table going into October, I would probably have said no but I did
PEOPLE in Derwentside can get to grips with the world of computers on courses run at Consett Library. The library is running the sessions with Derwentside College to help people to get the most out of computers and the internet. Library manager Kay Winter
At the Morrison Indoor Bowls Centre in Darlington the October and November bowling calendar is packed with very important team games at local region and national levels additional to a demanding 22 league programme. Wednesday, October 15 sees Darlington
THE disgusting, pathetic state of English football, after a fortnight that has shamed the national game, was accurately summed up by what a sports journalist from another newspaper said to me yesterday. "I can't wait," he said with a sigh, "to be able
WE are at the end of a week in which the Conservatives promised to transform themselves into a credible alternative to Tony Blair's Government. But there is no credibility in a party which promises to cut taxes, cut spending, yet improve public services
A SCHEME to breathe a new community spirit into former mining towns has been launched. Derwentside District Council has set up an accreditation scheme to encourage private landlords to clean up their properties. Council bosses hope that good properties
THOSE luscious lips, that tanned body and artfully tousled blond hair prove too much for Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street (ITV1). He can't resist any longer. He puckers up and plants a great big smacker on the mouth of his girlfriend's brother Nick
Richmond Under-9s were away to TSC and in a thrilling first match lost only 1-0. They had several chances in what was a great team effort. In the other game they lost 3-0. Richmond Under-10s were at home to Darlington Albion and continued their winning
HE was the tracksuited, darts-playing, furry figure at the forefront of a concerted effort to convert the bitter-loving British drinker to lager. George the Bear, complete with trilby, led the drinking revolution that made it socially acceptable for pub
AS love stories go it was a truly tragic affair, but at least it had a happy - if somewhat fishy - ending. And the proof can be found at Scarborough's Sea Life and Marine Centre in the form of more than a dozen baby lumpsuckers. When a solitary female
A student was fighting for her life yesterday after being crushed by a runaway council van five days into her university career. The accident happened on the steeply sloping cobbled streets under the shadow of Durham Cathedral as the girl was walking
DAVID DOLAN was rubbing shoulders with Lennox Lewis earlier this year - now he wants to make 2004 the year he emulates Britain's world heavyweight champion. Dolan, from Sunderland, was invited to Lewis's training camp in Pennsylvania in May just eight
Bishop Auckland probably won't be moving to their new Tindale Crescent ground until 2005, chairman Terry Jackson has announced. Bishops revealed earlier this week that the sale of their Kingsway ground was hopefully nearing completion, but according to
Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner's Tale (BBC1): CHAUCER'S original tale is a simple story of three pals who kill each other over a cache of gold. That was unpleasant enough. Tony Grounds's TV version retained that premise but around it wove a dark tale
The United States has given us some wonderful things over the years: from aeroplanes to Microsoft, Elvis Presley to Hollywood. The land of opportunity provides a freedom and a market place that encourages new thinking and can make you a millionaire overnight
NINE of the condemned US warships earmarked for disposal in a North-East yard will not arrive in the region until next spring, officials admitted last night. It was originally hoped that all 13 mothballed US navy ships would be en route to the Able UK
DARLINGTON Mowden Park are hoping to have player-coach Richard Arnold and his Newcastle Falcons colleague Martin Shaw available for tomorrow's National Three North match at Fylde. After recovering from his back problem, Arnold is now trying to shake off
CIU League: With three matches left in the season the three sections look to have safe bets for teams taking the titles. Crook Belle Vue hold a ten points lead over Cockton Hill in the darts section; Cockton Hill are three points ahead with a match in
Easington notched their second win of the season, when they surprised leaders Durham HQ. The match was a very close affair and it was Easington who ran out odd goal in three winners, coming from behind in the process. Dave Oliver gave HQ a first half
A TEENAGE rider from the village of Potto in North Yorkshire rounded off a fine season by winning the Foxhunter section at Stokesley Show. Gemma Macpherson, who works for npower as a customer services adviser, took the championship with her Irish Cob
With the Bishop Auckland Heart Foundation Cup taking place and a lack of available referees on Sunday the league saw a dramatic reduction in the number of fixtures taking place. Two sides progressed to next round of the cup competition, as holders Newton
The fulcrum of an exciting England team tipped for World Cup glory, Newcastle Falcons Jonny Wilkinson has come a long way since his first ill-fated trip Down Under back in 1998. Chief Sports writer Steven Baker reports. AS self-assured on the pitch as
Darlington: Darlington Under-14s performed well to notch up their third consecutive win of the season, this time against West Hartlepool. From the kick-off Darlington secured good ball and quickly moved it left with David McFall making a strong run at
Barnard Castle 0, Grey Horse 4.: Michael Weston put Grey Horse ahead in the first few minutes but it wasn't until the second half that a second from Weston and a Dave Palmer effort immediately after half time finally broke Barney's resistance. Barney's
DARLINGTON FC chairman George Reynolds last night backed down from a legal battle with council chiefs over plans to hold a car boot sale at the club's new stadium. Mr Reynolds confirmed that he would be applying for planning permission for the car boot
Darryll Holland, enjoying his best season in the saddle, has sound claims of landing the Haxby Handicap at York this afternoon with Wicked Uncle. Steve Gollings' sprinter hasn't won since May of last year but shaped as though a return to winning ways
Not one team in the leading pack have kept a 100 per cent record after only three matches in the First Division. Harrogate Squash II currently head the table with 29 points, followed by title pretenders Adel on 26. They edge out Chapel Allerton in third
GARETH SOUTHGATE appears to have all but reconciled himself to England rejection as he concentrates on winning his fight to be fit for Middlesbrough's derby clash with Newcastle United. The Boro skipper was omitted from the previous two England squads
THE Right Reverend Dr Tom Wright will be ceremonially confirmed as the new bishop of the diocese at Durham Cathedral on Sunday. The 90-minute ceremony will culminate in Dr Wright climbing the steps to sit on the Bishop's Throne. Dr Wright, successor to
BEYBLADES. Publisher: Atari. Format: PSOne. Price: £19.99: SOMETHING truly remarkable happened this summer. A game released on an eight-year-old console conquered the all-format video game charts. Despite long ago reaching the point of near obsolescence
Sven-Goran Eriksson's England stars have been warned that they could face a fans' backlash over their threat to risk the nation's Euro 2004 future by striking. Supporters' groups last night voiced relief over the late deal which saw David Beckham and
DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn yesterday marked the completion of the town's new £2m gas pipeline. The Transco project was undertaken to boost supplies and meet an expected rise in demand for gas by homes and businesses. The new pipeline stretches 4km from
A PRIMARY school alleged to have used a Victorian punishment to stop a child from fidgeting was this week being investigated by education bosses. An eight-year-old boy is said to have had his fingers clamped to two wooden blocks, with his hands tied behind
A MASSIVE redevelopment which will transform the region's second biggest airport is under way. The decision by Peel Airports to begin the £20m redevelopment of Teesside follows the decision by local authorities to sell their controlling interest in the
MORE than 500 balloons in college colours were released by Durham's Mayor on Tuesday, to mark Durham University's freshers' week. The helium balloons, in the black and yellow of Van Mildert College, momentarily filled the sky as they were set free by
THE disgusting, pathetic state of English football, after a fortnight that has shamed the national game, was accurately summed up by what a sports journalist from another newspaper said to me yesterday. "I can't wait," he said with a sigh, "to be able
LANDLADIES Clare and Anna Bedford are to get even more experience at serving bottles, after the sisters found out they are both pregnant. And rustling up a bottle for baby should be no problem for their partners - brothers Mark and Paul Innes - both are
BARCLAYS Bank has put new rules on corporate governance to the test by appointing chief executive Matt Barrett as its new chairman. The move goes against recommendations in the Higgs Review on best boardroom practice, although Barclays said Mr Barrett's
Richmond and Zetland Harriers celebrated their 21st Birthday with a Reunion Dinner at The Lodge, Leeming Bar on Saturday, September 27. The night was a great success, attended by over 60, split half and half between past and present members. The four-course
IF there's one thing I never expected to see in Coronation Street (ITV1), it was the sight of Jack and Vera Duckworth stoned out of their heads. Adultery, bent coppers, betrayal, witness protection families, date rape and Betty's hotpot, I can take. But
ALL Premiership footballers should be ordered to write an essay as part of their contract negotiations. It would be entitled: "Cupidas Radix Malorum Est. Discuss." Most of them would probably think it was Pele's real name, or the latest cocktail drunk
Ennis Square SC 6, PJS 0: With Middlesbrough PO otherwise involved in the North Riding Cup, Ennis Square took full advantage with a win that takes them back to the top of the table on goal difference. Man of the match Michael Dixon opened the scoring
DOCTOR Stephen Lumb is facing the greatest challenge of his life. With 79 other international runners, he is competing in next month's gruelling Everest marathon. The 46-year-old GP, from Stanhope, in Weardale, County Durham, will cover the 26-mile course
Mike Gough Sports Hartlepool Sunday League Premier Division: Blackhall Cricket Club 2, Blackhall Breathless 1 Ithe first encounter for 29 years between two Blackhall sides in a top division clash, Cricket Club edged out Breathless in a tight game featuring
A FRAUD squad detective has earned a commendation from his chief constable for cracking a work-from-home offer scam. Detective Constable Tim Lerner led the inquiries which resulted in the conviction of a Chester-le-Street couple at the centre of the fraud
CONFIDENT Alan Quinn has set his sights on a double delight following his switch to Sunderland. Not content with trying to earn himself a permanent move to Wearside, Quinn is determined to become a hero at the Stadium of Light. The talented, young midfielder
AT only 11 years old, karate kid Rachel Harrison is already celebrating national success. Rachel, of Catchgate, near Stanley, won the ten and 11 years age group individual kumite for competitors weighing 40kgs and over in the National Children's Championships
THE Right Reverend Dr Tom Wright will be ceremonially confirmed as the new bishop of the diocese at Durham Cathedral on Sunday. The 90-minute ceremony will culminate in Dr Wright climbing the steps to sit on the Bishop's Throne. Dr Wright, successor to
Yesterday was Iain Duncan Smith's chance to stake his credentials as a potential Prime Minister. But is he the real thing? Political Editor Chris Lloyd reports. AS one, the delegates rose from their chairs to greet Tony Blair. They clapped and cheered
FORMER soccer star Malcolm MacDonald is backing a new card which could throw a lifeline to vulnerable young people. The former Newcastle and England striker will be giving out mental health crisis cards to students in the Airport Lounge, in the Union
