American cancer specialist Dr Gil Lederman is bringing a message of hope to the North-East this weekend. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson talks to a patient who is cheating death. LENNY Kirk was midway through his cancer treatment when the specialist
ABOLITION of pest control charges in Richmondshire has been called for by town councillors. Richmond Town Council heard rat problems had increased since the district council introduced fees for ridding private property of pests. Members are to write to
Technology developed in Durham has been showcased at a science event at the House of Commons. Durham Scientific Crystals (DSC) took part in the Set for Britain event, a gathering to promote UK science, engineering and technology. The Northern Echo reported
YOUNGSTERS at a new roller hockey club are on the ball after scooping a £2,500 grant to buy sports equipment. The money will be used to buy balls, sticks, goals and roller boots for West Middlesbrough Roller Hockey Club, for children aged between eight
COLIN MCRAE RALLY 4.0. Publisher: Codemasters. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99: COULD this be the end of the road for the Colin McRae series? After a decade of competition in the world rally championship the Scot finds himself without a drive next year. A
The annual presentation night was recently attended by 130 players and their guests in Ushaw Moor WMC to celebrate a highly successful year for the League. Superb entertainment was provided by Sue Sweeney and Adrian Harris to ensure an enjoyable night
Pyschos and killers, and that's just the cops The Bill (ITV1) 'AH, this doesn't look good," said Inspector Gina Gold surveying the scene of the armed siege. This sort of reaction is nothing unusual at Sun Hill, where law and order have broken down - not
FAMILY businesses that have become household names will be in the spotlight at an event next week aimed at finding the business moguls of the future. The Entrepreneurs Forum, an organisation formed to promote business growth, hosts to Christopher Oughtred
THERE was a warm front when TV weatherman Bob Johnson opened the new community wing at a village primary school. The Tyne Tees presenter, renowned for his dislike of 'skitey bits', delighted youngsters from the reception class at Pittington Primary School
Willington Lion and Unicorn travelled to Willington New Inn as the league leaders but they suffered a surprising defeat and now have to share the top spot with Willington Cottles. At the New Inn the singles were shared when the home side had wins from
A LOCAL Christmas tree grower is celebrating after winning the "best spruce" category in a national competition. Croft Christmas Trees of Croft, near Darlington, won the section with their first entry in the annual Christmas Tree Growers' Association
On September 20 West Cornforth were bottom of division three without a point having lost all their opening games, but now they are joint second and and have won their last five matches. Last Saturday saw them win 3-1 at home against Boldon Black Bull.
Mowden Park Under-15s' home match against Hartlepool Rovers on Sunday saw a turn around in their recent performances. The first half had both teams fighting for control of the game but despite good defence work by Hartlepool Rovers, Mowden Park put the
TWO entrepreneurs determined to use their industrial motors expertise to set up their own business have seen their start-up company expand more than four times in 18 months. Paul Worthy, 36, and Neil Waddington, 32, worked in the Tees Valley for a Midlands
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is to be a special guest at the The Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards 2003. The Boro boss confirmed this week that he would be "delighted" to attend The Northern Echo's prestigious awards, known as The Oscars of grassroots
In the match of the day Grange Villa WMC played Stanley Royal with both sides level on top of the table. The Villa found themselves in front by the odd goal in five at the break before the Royal transformed the match and rattled in five unanswered goals
CHEMICALS group ICI sprang a better-than-expected profits report on the City yesterday but warned that uncertain times lay ahead. The group's pre-tax profits were down 13 per cent to £105m, an improvement on analysts' expectations that they would drop
CHOIRS from across the North- East will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London this weekend as part of the Yorkshire Festival of Music 2003. The event is organised in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research and more than 50 choirs from the region,
THIS column knows what it likes and, although it may strike the reader as a trivial point, a Sunday lunch is not considered complete without a bit of pulverised potato. We refer to mash, but not the stuff that comes out of a supermarket packet. We mean
Durham County Council Girls League: Trimdon United 6 (R Ingold 3, J Higgins, J Brown, og), Consett Blackfyne 1; Boldon Girls 2, Trimdon United 2 (Ingold, Higgins). Boys U18: Redheugh Boys 3, Trimdon United Juniors 2 (A Marshall 2).
A REPLICA of one of the most famous sailing ships of all time is to come to Hartlepool. Captain Cook's Bark Endeavour will dock at Hartlepool Marina next summer as part of the town's Maritime Festival. Endeavour, currently moored in Middlesbrough, will
CROXDALE lies on the southern boundary of Durham City forming an area that is particularly rich in history. It is, however, important to distinguish the old from the new where Croxdale is concerned. Many people are familiar with the striking stone terraces
A BLOCK of flats built for £1million five years ago is to be demolished due to a lack of demand. North British Housing Association built 16 flats in Hollyhill Gardens East, South Stanley, in 1998. The scheme received £350,000 of European funding through
The Darlington Indoor Bowls Club which plays from the Morrison Centre has been very successful in all five disciplines over the last 24 years and particularly so in team events. At Hartlepool, Thornaby, Stanley and York the bowlers have established bluechip
Durham League Division One: University of Tees. v Belmont Panth. The away team were always on top as Teesside found it difficult to establish rhythm on offence. Belmont had no such problems though scoring quickly and efficiently throughout. So the pattern
GUISBOROUGH Town Council is holding two Christmas parties for senior citizens on Thursday, December 4, and Friday, December 5, in Sunnyfield House in Westgate. Afternoon tea will be served at the parties, which start at 2pm, and entertainment will be
Shildon midfielder David Bayles is savouring the feeling of reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup. Shildon produced a giantkilling act by crushing Stocksbridge 6-0 last Saturday to put them through for the first time in 42 years where they will
A NORTH-EAST call centre which opened two years ago is to close as a High Street bank seeks cheaper labour in India. Lloyds TSB is the latest financial services firm to announce it is axing British call centre jobs to take advantage of English-speaking
NO sooner had Arsenal said sorry yesterday for their reprehensible behaviour at Old Trafford than their apology was shown to be a hollow one. If their five guilty players' actions had indeed "fallen well below the required standard" at Highbury, why are
FIRST of all a confession - this piece was written under the influence of a wonderful rum truffle and a gooey, slightly bitter orangey thing that was utterly delicious. I might also have been drunk on the smell of chocolate. Isn't chocolate wonderful?
Kevin Adcock hauled out a sensational chub haul of 71.14.0 during the River Swale Preservation Society Les Winder Memorial Middle Swale Championships and also smashed the existing record which stood at 42.7.0 set way back in 1992. Fished on the Gatenby
HAIRDRESSERS in north-west Durham have proved they are a cut above the rest when it comes to health and safety. The first Derwentside Hairdressing Health and Safety Awards took place in Consett Civic Centre, with 11 salons making the grade. The awards
SECOND Division side Voltigeur claimed a morale-boosting League Cup win over Victoria to book themselves a second round tie. Volty have been struggling in the league, with three wins and a draw leaving them tenth in the division. But they pulled off a
THE Wm Morrison supermarket chain has a clear sight of the finish line in its race to buy Safeway - nearly ten months after lodging its initial bid. Entrepreneur Philip Green's decision to pull out of the takeover battle will have come as a relief to
WINNERS of a national TV body beautiful competition came to the region yesterday. The male strippers are to appear at Hartlepool Borough Hall next month and three of the performers visited the town yesterday to check the place out. All eight winners of
STAFF at a Bishop Auckland hair and beauty salon joined in a record breaking charity abseil. The team from Hair Haus were among 1,200 people who took part in the world's largest charity abseil from the Baltic arts centre, in Gateshead. Their 150ft drop
Tow Law Station tasted victory for the first time this season. Opponents Wearhead took an early lead in the Albert Vickers Cup through Paul Tennick. The hosts equalised through Paul McMenamin who scored again in the second half to see the Station home
IRATE taxi drivers say they have been double crossed by a supermarket development. Cabbies in Newton Aycliffe are angry and upset that the town's Tesco store, which is due to open on Monday, does not include taxi ranks. Initial plans for the town centre
A CRACKDOWN on youngsters causing mayhem on a Darlington estate has proved a success. In the past four months, the town's anti-social behaviour unit has made 35 arrests and contacted more than 90 families about the nuisance behaviour of their children
A TIMBER firm which was hit by fire is hoping others in the trade will help them protect a local charity. Chopsticks was set up in Northallerton in 1995 by a group from Mencap, chopping timber into kindling for sale at local shops while providing adults
Licensees Ian Bell and Michelle Blythe, of The Green, Billy Row, Crook, were celebrating yesterday after being presented with an award for the best food in the country. The competition was open to all InnSpired's 1,100 pubs that offer food. Business development
CANCER bosses in the region say they need extra cash to continue the pace of improvements in patient care. This week, Health Secretary John Reid ordered a new drive to end postcode prescribing. He announced that "Cancer Tsar" Professor Mike Richards would
RESIDENTS in a coastal town will meet tonight to discuss whether they will oppose a proposed windfarm. EDF Energy wants to erect up to 30 wind turbines off the east Cleveland coast at Redcar. The development, which is in its public consultation period
PJS FC 7 Black Horse 0: Due to the Arthur Reed Shield Competition being played there was only one league game played. Both sides currently languish near the bottom of the table and a must win for either club was a pre requisite. Black Horse FC struggled
DETECTIVES could be weeks away from solving the murder of a North-East woman. They believe advances in DNA technology could see them finally solve the case of Julie Smailes, who was found dead in her County Durham home on October 30, 1996. The 27-year-old
Sexually transmitted diseases are spreading at an alarming rate, particularly among tenagers. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports on the epidemic that could leave thousands of women infertile. THE two women flicking through the pages of glossy magazines
It was League Cup day and the youngsters of Darlington GSOB put up a strong fight before going out 4-0 to Darlington Archdeacon. The first half was tight with neither side getting the upper hand. The deadlock was broken when Matthew Jones put the 'Deacon
A RIDING centre for the disabled has come up with an unusual solution to the "What shall I get them for Christmas" dilemma. The Unicorn Centre, at Hemlington, Middlesbrough, has launched Adopt a Pony, where individuals can "adopt" one of 18 horses or
POLICE chiefs say they are horrified by the results of an operation that showed how opportunist thieves are getting an easy ride in Darlington. Operation Hawkeye was set up to provide regular patrols of car crime hot-spots by council wardens and police
THE MetroCentre in Gateshead is hosting an evening Christmas fashion show next week. From Monday to Friday, more than 30 of the shopping centre's retailers will be displaying their clothes on the catwalk in Exhibition Square, near Woolworths.
A NORTH-EAST celebrity has turned down the chance to pose for Playboy. Emma Nicholson, 24, formerly Emma Padfield, was recently voted ninth in a list of the most beautiful UK woman iby readers of lads' magazine Maxim. It led to an offer to pose for Playboy
WRITERS in the North-East are being urged to send their ghost stories to a group planning to compile a book of scary short stories. Concept wants to hear from authors who have got supernatural tales to tell and would like to see their work published.
Staff of low-cost airline easyJet at Newcastle Airport swap their traditional orange uniforms for pink today. The workers are taking part in Cancer Research UK's In the Pink campaign, to raise funds for breast cancer research through in-flight collections
COLLEGE principals are concerned about a controversial plan to build a new sixth-form centre. Councillors will decide next month if the centre, which would encompass Nunthorpe School, Eston Park School and Southbank's Gillbrook Technology College, can
SURF girl Jorji Watson is riding on the crest of a wave after the British Open Surfing Championships. The outgoing nine-year-old from Blackhill, Consett, made the most of her chance of glory when the championships were staged on familiar waters, at Tynemouth's
MODERN apprentice Andrew Proud has changed his career path to follow in his father's footsteps. The teenager is working with his father, Michael, in the family plumbing business while completing a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering
Durham City Reserves had a convincing 5-1 win away to Seaham Mallard. This keeps them joint top with Coxhoe Athletic. Durham went in front when Dean Wardle bundled in the goal from close range. The Mallard drew level two minutes later, John Hunt was fouled
IF not kisses, then certainly a fair-sized pat on the back is earned by this warm-hearted and lavish Cole Porter crowd-pleaser which hauls the town's ambitious amateur society within sight of the £100,000-a-show mark. The key to success is the recruitment
Wheatley Hill A and Spennymoor A established themselves as the two points early leaders in the First Division after both completed good wins last week. The Hill whitewashed the visiting Old Shildon with wins from Ronnie Peacock, Dan Bryden, who was making
Nick Millar didn't find any time to count the tulips on his recent visit to Amsterdam. He set a new club record for the Marathon (over 45 age group) of 2:52:24, smashing his previous best time by 10 minutes, finishing 142nd out of 3527 competitors. Four
MINSTER GLORY (2.45) is at his best when forcing the pace so there won't be any hanging around in Wetherby's two-mile White Rose Handicap Chase today. Mick Easterby's massive gelding stormed back to form with a virtual all-the-way win at Bangor three
With leaders Durham HQ without a match, it was up to the rest to try and close the gap. Second placed Stockton travelled to Tyne and Wear Fire and had the temerity to take the lead, when Chris Green tapped in from close range. The lead was short lived
DENNIS HARRISON is the latest winner to pick up his prize cheque after playing The Northern Echo's Bingo Daily Lucky Numbers competition. Mr Harrison, of North Lodge Terrace, Darlington, scooped £166.66 in the game after matching the numbers printed on
OUT-OF-FAVOUR Hartlepool United defender Paul Arnison has joined Division Three strugglers Carlisle United on a month's loan, writes Paul Fraser. The 26-year-old has only made two starts for Pool this season despite a string of impressive displays for
Newcastle Benfield Saints general manager Bob Morton thinks more Northern League clubs should be playing on Friday nights. Saints' attendances are affected because they are in the shadow of their neighbours at St James Park and Morton said: "We think
Durham County Senior Restricted Championships Men's singles: final - Richard Eaton (Washington) bt Andrew King (Middlesbrough) 15-12 15-9; semi-finals King bt Andrew Risby (Larchfield) 15-3 15-1; Eaton bt Stan Johnson (Washington) 15-13 15-7. Womens singles
IF you're one of the people who thought Tommy Steele was dead, you should have heard the cheer that went up when he appeared on-stage at the Theatre Royal. In character as curmudgeonly old Scrooge, it was all he could do to suppress the famous cheeky
MORE than 4,000 people have voted for their preferred choice of design for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Tees in Stockton. The Northbank project partners, Tees Valley Regeneration, English Partnerships, One North-East and Stockton
A PLAN to build the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge near Barnard Castle was endorsed in principle by Teesdale District Council this week. A presentation on the £4.5m scheme, which backers claim could attract 165,000 visitors a year to the
YOUNGSTERS have been given the chance to make their own horror movies during a week-long film festival. The festival has been run by arts charity, Rural Arts, in conjunction with the Ritz Cinema, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. About half of the 25 children
PEOPLE can have another say on draft plans for the development of Redcar's Coatham Enclosure. The plans for revitalising the 35-acre site and turning it into a visitor attraction, including a swimming pool and a housing scheme, will be on display at the
Grey Horse 3, Heighington 0: A very physical first half ended goalless and saw Grey Horse reduced to ten men following the sending off of Scott Raper. The second half saw the ten men gradually get on top and following the introduction into the fray of
POLICE are appealing for information after a man tried to get a 14-year-old paper boy into a car in Nunthorpe. The incident, which police are treating as suspicious, happened at about 3.45 last Friday afternoon when a man asked the boy, who was working
The full horror of a NorthEast tourist's freak death in Italy emerged last night as her former husband described how she fell through a walkway and suffered horrific injuries. Antique book dealer Jack Baldwin, 64, was standing in front of his former wife
DANNY MILLS reckons Middlesbrough can emulate Leeds United's efforts of three years ago by overcoming a sluggish start to mount a charge for Europe. Mills, 26, was in the Leeds team that struggled in the first half of the 2000-01 Premiership campaign
HOUSEHOLDERS have again been warned against doing business at the door after a pensioner was fleeced of hundreds of pounds by visitors who did unsolicited surfacing work on his drive in Leeming Village. It was also revealed this week that, as part of
Goldsborough v Gt Ayton: o30 minutes Goldsborough opened the scoring, Marsay finding himself on the edge of the penalty area turned well and stepped past the defender to shoot past the Ayton keeper, Clements. Goldsborough then began to look the better
SUPPORTERS' favourite David Hodgson returned as manager of Darlington Football Club last night with an assurance that he will be given full control of team affairs. Chairman George Reynolds promised to take a back seat role to lure Mr Hodgson for his
ANOTHER batch of Gurkhas are on their way to join units after successfully completing their basic training at Catterick Garrison. The recruits began their induction into the British Army in January by learning English, but have since progressed to the
The Under-13 girls from Norton met up with Sunderland 24/7 for the second time in eight days, the result was about the same but a completely different game. Norton pulled out all the stops during this game, with just seven players available each girl
Anyone that receives 68 nominations is never going to fail to make the judging panel seriously consider their credentials for a Local Hero award. As the nomination forms came flooding into The Northern Echo Offices we were amazed at the level of support
THE NFU will fight any moves to impose buffer zones around farms. Defra has suggested that a 300m no-spray zone on land next to housing would address the "public's perception of risk from pest control products". The NFU says the measure would take 1.4m
A SAFE fireworks display is being repeated next week after a successful trial run last year. Committee members at Annfield Plain Cricket Club were overwhelmed by the response to their first organised bonfire, staged at short notice without publicity.
THE furore over the renaming of Teesside International Airport has had many people mystified for a number of reasons. The first of those is what is wrong with the existing title? Not a lot, we are told, except from the point of view of marketing the area
IN the glory days of non-league football, which are to be commemorated in a museum, word would have gone round for the last person out of Shildon on November 9 to turn out the lights. Nowadays they'll be more concerned that someone stays behind to keep
TEESSIDE International Airport's own consultative committee has qualms about changing its name - especially to Durham-Tees Valley. Peel Holdings, which has promised to invest £20m in the expansion of the airport, wants to re-brand it under a name which
A CORONER has returned an open verdict on a teenager who was left severely brain damaged after he was struck by a single blow. Carl Randall, 16, of Ellesmere Walk, Middlesbrough, was punched in the face, suffering a blood clot on the brain, and died in
A CALL has been made for a full Government inquiry as the controversy over proposed quarrying around ancient monuments near Bedale takes a fresh turn. Plans by Tarmac Northern to extend sand and gravel workings into an area containing the historic Thornborough
The Royal Oak and Haughton played out a ten-goal thriller with the visitors coming out on top 6-4. Haughton took an early lead through a speculative effort from Paul Cooper that squirmed through the Preston Slades' hands into the net. Despite constant
A SMUGGLER has escaped jail despite his part in bringing one of the largest hauls of contraband cigarettes into a North-East airport this year. Nigel Mark Cleckner, 30, of Franklyn Road, Peterlee, County Durham, was sentenced to a 240-hour community punishment
The second division saw the highest score of the day when Peacocks Pub Co. dominated the game against Canney Hill to run out 14-1 winners. Peacocks put on an impressive display and it was Michael Bland who led the way notching five goals, the best of
Crook Town travelled to Saltburn on Sunday and came home with the three points putting them at the top of the Northern Regional Women's League. Saltburn opened the scoring on ten minutes through Shelley Taylor, but as Crook got used to a small pitch they
Nestfield came out with all guns blazing in a very competitive game against visitors AFC Brinkburn. Adi Weston opened the scoring with a left foot volley that left Brinkburn keeper, Gordon Davies, rooted to the spot. Kev Baines put Nestfield further in
PLANS to open the region's biggest club for swingers have been dropped, after outraged residents vowed to fight to close it down. Earlier this month it was announced that the derelict King's Head Hotel in Stanley was to re-open as The Love Shack, a club
Durham City ASC junior swimmers gained 23 personal best times from 36 swims at the Northumberland & Durham ASC Graded Meet in Killingworth Pool, but only two top six placings - such was the standard of competition. Chris Unsworth was fifth in the
THE Government is being urged to change its funding rules to allow for the redevelopment of a top-performing school. Durham Johnston School in Durham City regularly achieves some of the best A-level results in the country and is much sought-after by parents
Esh McKennas took advantage of the former leaders, Esh Stag's Head having a bye to take over the top spot with a five points home victory over Hamsteels Inn. The visitors' two points came in the singles from Billy Hird and Brian Agar whilst McKennas had
Babies who overheat are at risk of cot death. Women's Editor Christen Pears asks what parents can do to protect their children SEVEN babies die of cot death in Britain every week. It can occur anywhere and at any time, but because the cause is usually
CIU League: Crook Belle Vue recovered from their first darts defeat of the season last week when they travelled to the Victoria Club and only dropped one point to clinch the title with an eight points advantage. Cockton Hill took the runners-up spot when
WHILE there may be opposition from constituency members to their exclusion from the election process, it is wise for the Conservative Party to make the choice of successor to Iain Duncan Smith a fait accompli. A bruising battle between candidates would
A BUNCH of ordinary, non-privileged 13 to 17-year-olds have - entirely without help - produced Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at a prestigious theatre. That means The Northern Echo is absolutely guaranteed to give the plucky kids a rave review, right? Well
COLIN MCRAE RALLY 4.0. Publisher: Codemasters. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99: COULD this be the end of the road for the Colin McRae series? After a decade of competition in the world rally championship the Scot finds himself without a drive next year. A
A WILDLIFE trust is using wood from its nature reserves to produce charcoal. A trial scheme this summer proved successful and now supplies are being built up for next year's barbecue season. Mark Richardson, reserves manager for Durham Wildlife Trust,
Sir, - I read with great interest last week's report (D&S Yorks edition, Oct 24) on wheelie bins and new rules in Aiskew, as we are also having problems. A new directive from the council states that rubbish will now only be collected every two weeks
Engineering and business consultant High-Point Rendel has won a contract to find a solution to an ash disposal problem in North Yorkshire. The firm was commissioned to design a scheme to infill a pit at the site of an ash disposal scheme and help protect
A SHOPPING centre boss will spearhead the drive to attract more shoppers and visitors to Durham. Richard Toynbee, who manages the multi-million pound Prince Bishops Centre, has been appointed membership committee chairman of the Durham City Forum. The
A electronic device which could help prevent rail disasters and which is one-third the size of a matchbox was being unveiled today. The tiny gadget fits on the wheel axles of trains and can detect abnormal stresses on them which may be caused by problems
Philip Green's decision to pull out of the bidding for Safeway has left Morrisons with a clear run at the store group it first approached in January. Retail analyst Anthony Platts, assistant director in the Teesside office of stockbrokers Wise Speke,
THERE will be no skateboard park in Middleham until the vandalism stops, stated the town's mayor, Coun Tammi Tolhurst, this week. "How can we access money when we have this problem?" she asked. "As soon as the skateboard park was built it would get trashed
NUCLEAR power group British Energy has warned of a further blow to its troubled finances following shutdowns at two of its plants. The group, which last month agreed a restructuring deal, said the resulting loss of output was likely to have a material
Although club competitions are not very common at this time of year week in and week out, the elderly gentlemen continue to take their exercise on Friday morning and this week's competition was a scramble and was won with a score of 61.2 by the team of
So far so good, is the verdict of secretary Peter Grainge on Stokesley SC, who lead the table on goal difference from Birtley Town. To date, Stokesley have won 11, drawn one and lost three of their 15 games and with 55 goals, are the leading scorers.
COULD Robert Stephenson have been a junkie, a dope addict? We don't know, and a new book sheds no light on a question which has just been tossed into the historical arena on the 200th anniversary of the great man's birth. While Stephenson Power, published
FIRST of all a confession - this piece was written under the influence of a wonderful rum truffle and a gooey, slightly bitter orangey thing that was utterly delicious. I might also have been drunk on the smell of chocolate. Isn't chocolate wonderful?
HEART attack victims in the region should soon have a better chance of survival because of a National Lottery-funded scheme. Thousands of electric heart-start machines - or defibrillators - are to be distributed around the country as part of a scheme
Wilton 1sts welcomed last years title contenders, Northumbria St Georges to Teesside hoping to improve on last year's 4-1 defeat. Wilton opened brightly, speedy attackers Scott Morton and Peter Morris both going close in the first five minutes. The visitors
Rohm and Haas JOC Hetton Youth League: One game was played in the league at the weekend and Ryhope's victory at Sacriston enabled them to move into joint pole position with Jarrow St Bedes. Ashley Bridge scored an early goal for Sacriston and Ryhope did
Newcastle Blue Star 1 Northallerton Town 1 A WICKED deflection off Craig Winter in the 60th minute denied Northallerton Town victory over Newcastle Blue Star, who were reduced to ten men five minutes later. Chances were rare for both sides in a generally
A FEMALE engineer has reached the finals of a national award that recognises women in the industry. Michelle Garthwaite, 29, a design engineer who works at Komatsu in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, has been selected as a finalist for the Young Woman
TONY BLAIR: THE Prime Minister's recent health scare should have been a major concern for us all, given who, had his incapacity been prolonged, would have stepped into his shoes - John Prescott. Were I responsible for advising the Prime Minister, the
THE Richmond Motor Club staged the annual Scott Trial last Saturday, the famous event providing the ultimate test for both riders and their bikes. The challenging course covered 80 miles and included a similar number of observed sections, which were in
RESIDENTS in Heighington hope to have a new post office in the new year, following talks with the Post Office. A representative from the Post Office met Coun Gerald Lee at Heighington last Friday to discuss his proposal to open a post office in the village
The Bill (ITV1): 'AH, this doesn't look good," said Inspector Gina Gold surveying the scene of the armed siege. This sort of reaction is nothing unusual at Sun Hill, where law and order have broken down - not in the community it serves, but in the cop
The deal to bring rusting toxic US vessels to Teesside for recycling has been blocked by the Environment Agency because of a planning wrangle, a spokesman said today. The organisation has withdrawn its approval for Able UK's contract with the US authorities
A CAF set up in a community hall has been served up an award for its healthy menu. The Heartbeat Award was presented to Pelton Fell Community Caf, run in the village hall, near Chester-le-Street on Monday. It is the first community caf in the trust area
A CHILDREN'S nursery owner has called on Sedgefield Borough Council to clarify which areas would be suitable for future facilities. Christine Kellett is to appeal against the decision by the borough council to refuse her application for an extension to
Taxi drivers say they have been double crossed by a supermarket development. Cabbies in Newton Aycliffe are angry and upset that the town's Tesco store, which is due to open on Monday, does not include taxi ranks. Initial plans for the town centre development
POLICE have issued a description of a man involved in a robbery in Scarborough on Wednesday which left a woman in hospital. The Superdrug store in Aberdeen Walk was raided at 6.25am when three masked men burst in, punching and kicking the middle-aged
A NORTH-East schoolgirl who took her fight against bullies to Downing Street has been shortlisted for a moral courage award. Joanne Geldart, of Ferryhill, County Durham, was nominated for one of four Young Person's prizes in the first ever Anne Frank
A TEENAGE dancer will be able to make more of her talents thanks to a grant from Richmondshire District Council. Laura Sayer, from Brompton-on-Swale, has recently been accepted as an associate member of the Urdang Academy based in London's Covent Garden
POLICE investigating an attempted raid on a garage have arrested two men. The pair, both in their twenties and from Horden, east Durham, were questioned about the attack at the ATS Garage in the town's Warren Square. A garage worker, in his forties, lost
Harrogate Squash suffered their fifth defeat of the season in the First Division. They went down 2-1 to top-of-the-table Adel, who have suffered just one defeat. Harrogate are now third from bottom, the only bright spot of their setback against Adel was
Spraire Lasses: Lasses suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at home to a well-organised South Durham Royals. Spraire, without three key players, were put under pressure from the start with the Royals hitting the crossbar twice in the first half
Burnmoor Cricket Club moved into second spot in the Premiership with a home win over Fishburn Wmc. McHahon opened the scoring after only three mins. Glyn Stockport levelled for the visistors with Hall hitting the winner in the 52nd minute. Sherburn Lambton
CATTLE exhibitors at the new Countryside Live! event in Harrogate won unprecedented praise from judge Ian Anderson. Before selecting the supreme beef champion he took the microphone and declared: "The cattle in front of me yesterday and the ones here
IAIN Duncan-Smith's demise as leader of the Conservative Party, and the subsequent tardiness of leadership candidates to declare themselves, inevitably prompted speculation that perhaps William Hague would be persuaded to make a comeback. The Richmond
A WOMAN from Chester-le-Street is demanding to know why her father died after waiting ten months for a cancer check-up. Rita Skeoch, of Quantock Avenue, wants an inquiry into the death of her father, George Barnett. Mr Barnett, 74, was diagnosed with
TEESSIDE International Airport's new "baby" arrived 10 minutes early on Sunday. Weighing in at 53 tonnes the bmibaby Boeing 737 from Belfast touched down at 7.20pm. Geoff Callen, (pictured above left), the first passenger to check-in for the new service
IT looks as if we're going to have to get used to calling it Durham-Tees Valley and not Teesside airport. It is said to be still under discussion but I've sat, as a neutral observer with a shorthand notebook, through enough of such "discussions" to know
A LAWYER and keen biker died after losing control of a new machine he had bought to replace another he had judged too powerful, an inquest heard. North Yorkshire East coroner Michael Oakley was told 50-year-old John Ridley, of Main Street, Wombleton,
DARLINGTON Mayor Councillor Ron Lewis has held a tea party for winners of a school competition. Children from Darlington primary schools entered a competition to design a T-shirt promoting road safety, to coincide with Walk to School week, earlier this
A CYCLIST is travelling overseas with her bicycle to take part in a ten-day journey across Vietnam in aid of charity. Jenny Stephenson, of Skeldale Grove, Darlington, will arrive in the Far East today to begin her adventure through a backdrop of emerald
ANOTHER North-East shopping centre will ban smoking from tomorrow as part of a big push to improve public health. The Galleries shopping centre, in Washington, Wearside, is the latest mall to exclude smokers. It will bring The Galleries in line with the
Croft Circuit near Darlington plays host to the second and final round of the BARC Winter Series tomorrow when the competitors converge on the track for a seven race programme. Originally scheduled to be the opening round of the two round series for Formula
THE final phase of a new welfare centre at a North Yorkshire Army barracks has been opened - just in time for troops heading home following a six-month tour of duty in Iraq. The Commander of Catterick Garrison, Colonel Jonny Hackett, made the short journey
Spraire Lads: Jackson Kneeshaw has scored in every game this season for Spraire Lads Under-11s but had failed to grab a hat-trick. Convinced if he had the latest Murcurial Vapours boots by Nike he would finally grab a hat-trick, Jackson smashed a triple
Boosbeck St Aidens pulled off a surprise victory away to D and E Locksmiths. The only goals in the first period went to Boosbeck when poor defending allowed Daynes to score. D and E got back on terms early in the second half when Steve Gordon tapped in
PLANS in the region for the longest rope suspension bridge in the world have been given the go-ahead. The bridge, across the River Tees, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, could generate 87 jobs in the area. The scheme has now been endorsed by Teesdale
Plans to build a £22m North-East National Army Museum is to be scrapped, The Northern Echo can reveal. Officials will announce on Monday that the scheme for a northern site on the edge of Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, has been shelved. In a double
YET another young member of the Catterick Cobras water polo team has been invited to train with the junior Great Britain squad. Thirteen-year-old Lyndsey Johnson from Aiskew, near Bedale, will travel to Manchester for four days of training with the squad
AN MP has accused Durham University of threatening the city with a housing crisis. Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg reacted after the university revealed it had unexpectedly enrolled an additional 200 students. Mr Steinberg predicted this would force local
BLAYDON lock James Houghton has made a complaint of assault to police following the horrific eye injury he suffered at Longton last Saturday. The Potteries club, who are due at Darlington Mowden Park tomorrow, were understood to be holding a meeting last
Crook Town cricket club first XI player of the year Allen March received his award at the club's annual presentation evening last weekend. March also got the hat trick and catch of the season awards. Medallions were presented to all junior and under-15
SERVICEMEN from the North-East and North Yorkshire are among those honoured by the Queen today for service in Iraq. The awards are in recognition of courage and professionalism during Operation Telic, which began when Allied forces swept north across
Brompton Juniors: Brompton Under-10 A, weakened due to holidays and illness, put up a magnificent display against top-of-the-table Teesside Athletic C at Redcar. The first half was a very evenly matched contest with the half-fit David Holmes defending
A CHARITY'S lifeline business is in the balance in the aftermath of a huge blaze in Northallerton. The Chopsticks organisation is in desperate need of help as its supply of scrap wood was hit by the fire at North Yorkshire Timber on Friday night. The
CAMPAIGNERS have started legal action against the agencies that have given the go-ahead for a North-East company to dismantle toxic ships from the US. Three people from Hartlepool and an official from Friends of the Earth (FoE) served papers at the High
MINSTER GLORY (2.45) is at his best when forcing the pace so there won't be any hanging around in Wetherby's two-mile White Rose Handicap Chase today. Mick Easterby's massive gelding stormed back to form with a virtual all-the-way win at Bangor three
FOR Conservative MPs to have kept Iain Duncan Smith as their leader would have been akin to turkeys voting for Christmas. Amidst all the accusations of disloyalty, backstabbing, and ignoring the membership, one stark reality would have shone through as
THE owner of a large Swaledale estate hopes to smash a sailing record by steering his yacht round the world in 80 days. Multi-millionaire Robert Miller, whose property includes the 32,000-acre Gunnerside estate, wants to be the first to circumnavigate
OFFICE workers got their hands dirty to give a Redcar primary school a facelift. Nineteen Barclaycard employees spent the day at Riverdale Primary School as part of the company's Volunteer 2day Scheme, which gives each worker two days off business time
Eleven members were at the Richmond Castle 10km John Johnston returned home in 40.53 for 42nd overall. Following in was Neil Douthwaite 42.49 73rd, Darren Fairclough 43.51 92nd and Darren Million 48.22 153rd. Donna Douthwaite pipped Glynn Frith for 175th
COUNCILLORS have called a hearing after claiming that a pub owner has failed to satisfy conditions placed on his public entertainment licence. On Wednesday, licensing committee members at Teesdale District Council were unhappy to hear that Andy Power,
A North-East town, a coastal village and an island have been shortlisted in a survey to find the best driving destination in the UK. Barnard Castle, in County Durham, Holy Island, in Northumberland, and Robin Hood's Bay, in North Yorkshire, are among
DARLINGTON police are horrified how easy motorists are making life for car thieves. A five-week survey found more than 350 vehicles parked either with valuables on view or left unlocked. In each case owners were sent a letter advising them how to prevent
FOR Conservative MPs to have kept Iain Duncan Smith as their leader would have been akin to turkeys voting for Christmas. Amidst all the accusations of disloyalty, backstabbing, and ignoring the membership, one stark reality would have shone through as
The next phase of the Charity Shield started with a plum tie between leaders Metro Church S'land and champions Jesmond Parish Church. Metro opened the scoring from Gary Thomas with Ben Slater equalising for Jesmond. David Robinson put Jesmond 2-1 ahead
Billingham Bears dropped their first point of the season in the English U16 North A League against Sunderland Arrows. Leaders Bears, the only team that had a 100 per cent record, were held to a 3-3 draw by Arrows who had not taken a point from three previous
A CROWD of up to 10,000 is expected to attend the annual bonfire and fireworks event at Durham Police headquarters on Wednesday. Now in its 28th year, the joint Durham Police and Fire Service Guy Fawkes' show, at Aykley Heads, is expected to be as spectacular
Bishop Auckland might not have to do as much work to Dean Street as they first feared. Bishops were presented with a long list of requirements by UniBond League inspectors last week, although some of those requirements will be easier to achieve than others
SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night slammed the critics who condemned him for controversially resting Alan Shearer during Newcastle United's Carling Cup exit. Robson responded to a Toon Army backlash by insisting he "did the right thing" - despite the damaging
In their best display of the season the Under-15s entertained Thornaby at home in the league, Albion winning 4-0 with another hat-trick for Tom Howard and a goal from Sam Richardson. Mention must be given to the workmanlike performance of both Michael
THIS week's Diary comes from the Peak District of Derbyshire, where we spent a weekend exploring some of the area's many charms. We were fortunate with the weather because we enjoyed tranquil autumn days rich with sunshine and warm enough to remain out
CROXDALE lies on the southern boundary of Durham City forming an area that is particularly rich in history. It is, however, important to distinguish the old from the new where Croxdale is concerned. Many people are familiar with the striking stone terraces
WILLINGTON UNDER-15s' players have spent this week licking their wounds and trying to shake off the crippling virus that contributed to "our worst performance in three years". After the euphoria of our 7-1 League Cup win seven days earlier, last Sunday
WORK has begun to transform the lives of the Fairfields show families who live in caravans on a troubled industrial estate in Middlesbrough. They have had to put up with arson, abuse, fly-tipping and dog dirt over the past few years, while businesses
Richmond and Zetland Harriers: The Roberts family journeyed north of the border for the popular Reebok Challenge Cross-Country Series which opened on Saturday 18th in beautiful style with a new venue, Callendar Park, Falkirk. The rolling grassland course
Uncertainty was hanging over 500 jobs today after retailer Northern Electric went into administration. Administrators KPMG have been appointed to Northern's holding company, Shop Electric Group, and its two subsidiaries, Northern Retail - which trades
North-East Premier League: Esporta Sunderland, the defending champions in the Northern division of the NEPL, emerged victorious by 3-1 against David Lloyd Newcastle last weekend. Adam Barratclough and Ainsley Kershaw proved hard to beat with two more
IN the glory days of non-league football, which are to be commemorated in a museum, word would have gone round for the last person out of Shildon on November 9 to turn out the lights. Nowadays they'll be more concerned that someone stays behind to keep
Division One: Football Club pld 7, pts 18; Golden Lion 7, 18; Wheatsheaf 7, 17; County Arms 7, 17; Duke of Wellington 7, 16; Nags Head 7, 14; Green Tree 7, 14; Cricket Club B 7, 14; Elders 7, 13; RAFA 7, 13; Workingmens C 7, 13; Workingmens A 7, 12; Sportsmans
TRAIN operator GNER is cutting the cost of travel for thousands of passengers travelling between the North-East and London. GNER is offering more than 20,000 seats a week at low prices for travel on its less busy trains. Standard tickets between Newcastle
Swimmers off all ages from Billingham Swimming Club were competing at the weekend. Three competitors qualified for the Master's Championships held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. All had excellent swims competing in the 40/44 year category. Guy Fawkes with
NEARLY 3,000 Durham University staff will have to pay to park at work under proposals being considered by their bosses. The university plans to introduce charging at its car parks to tackle a shortage of spaces, ease congestion and improve security. If
A WOMAN who was told she could not donate a kidney to her son has raised more than £1,600 for the hospital team who looked after him. Andrea Bailey, 33, from Guisborough, was devastated when doctors told her earlier this year that an antibody would prevent
Division One, Carlin How 2, BEADS FC 1: Carlin How took an early lead, Steve Starsmore' s run at the BEADS defence was halted by a trip by Craig Bishop on the edge of the visitors penalty box. Starsmore stepped up to fire home from twenty five yard into
NISSAN last night recalled 2.5 million vehicles - including more than 400,000 made at the award-winning Sunderland plant - to check potentially faulty wiring. The recall is the biggest in the Japanese company's history and affects Almeras, Primeras, the
MEMBERS of a fitness group marked the 35th anniversary of Guisborough swimming pool by presenting staff with a This is Your Life big red book. Guisborough Aquafit Group was formed two years ago, but many of its members have used the pool since it opened
