A PHILOSOPHICAL Sir Bobby Robson refused to point the blame for defeat at the match officials after seeing his Newcastle side go down to a controversial goal at St James Park yesterday. A combination of Blackburn Rovers' teenage striker Paul Gallagher
THE cramped existence of an officer aboard a Nelson-era British Navy frigate has been brought to life thanks to public donations. A gift of £2,500 from the Friends of HMS Trincomalee, Britain's oldest warship, has helped fit out the Master's Cabin in
THE latest fad for motorised scooters is proving a headache for police. Forces across the region say the devices have prompted scores of complaints and fears of accidents. Numerous complaints about youngsters on scooters have been received by police in
THE cramped existence of an officer aboard a Nelson-era British Navy frigate has been brought to life thanks to public donations. A gift of £2,500 from the Friends of HMS Trincomalee, Britain's oldest warship, has helped fit out the Master's Cabin in
REVELLERS in the region are being warned not to mix drink and drugs on New Year's Eve. The alert was sounded after a poll of youngsters showed almost half of those planning to take illegal substances tomorrow night will combine them with alcohol. The
NEW Year's resolutions. Many, including me, will be thinking about making them around now despite having partly given up on that lifelong yearning to 'lose weight', 'get that dream job' and 'find the perfect partner'. Let's face it, the more world weary
A LITTLE girl took centre stage to perform a symbolic gesture marking the start of the busy Christmas week at Durham Cathedral. In one of the shortest, but most popular services on the cathedral calendar, the lighting of the giant Christmas tree was carried
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for a man with mental health problems who went missing from home on Christmas Day. Michael West, 19, lives at the Pine Unit, a mental health unit, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, but was allowed to visit
POLICE and teenagers braved icy winds on Monday to kick-start a new seven-a-side football tournament. Staff at the Riverside complex in Chester-le-Street and the town's police force helped to organise the event for teenagers from the town and surrounding
Jonny Wilkinson was last night undergoing X-rays to determine the extent of the shoulder injury he aggravated in Newcastle's 23-19 Zurich Premiership win over Northampton. The 24-year-old fly-half suffered a recurrence of the injury on his first appearance
ROUND-THE-CLOCK help is being offered to people facing mental health problems, in a bid to reduce suicide rates. Schemes are being piloted in Stockton and Darlington to provide a 24-hour crisis service. An NHS medical team will assess and treat sufferers
POLICE have named a man who died on Boxing Day when his car careered off the A167 between Chilton and Ferryhill. Kenneth Anthony Burrell, 48, was behind the wheel of a black BMW car which collided with a street light and some trees after it left the carriageway
DURHAM North MP Kevan Jones has accused a law firm of ripping off families claiming cash for miners who died from lung disease. In the House of Commons, Mr Jones accused Newcastle firm, Mark Gilbert Morse, of taking cash from claimants after it had been
DARLINGTON Football Club could return to its old Feethams ground if administrators believe the move makes financial sense, it emerged last night. Officials from Darlington Cricket Club, which administers the 120-year-old ground, said they would not stand
THE Northern Echo's music website, Revolution, is about to launch its own charts. They will be regional and will feature albums released by North-East and North Yorkshire bands and artists. From next month, the band or artist can select the single to
IT was a tale of two strikers at St James Park yesterday as Newcastle's stuttering season again faltered in front of their adoring fans. Michael Chopra, who turned 20 last week, was given his first Premiership start by Sir Bobby Robson, but it was his
A FERRY passenger with suspected meningitis had to be airlifted to hospital in a dramatic North Sea rescue. The helicopter crew had to battle howling winds and driving sea spray to pluck the passenger to safety. The team from RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland
School pupils invited elderly people from their community for an afternoon of entertainment. About 100 guests arrived at Deerness Valley School, in Ushaw Moor, last week for the Christmas party. There was a carol service, bingo, raffles, and drama and
Darlington fans may have made yesterday's trip across the A66 to Carlisle with some trepidation, but they will have left Brunton Park wondering what all the fuss was about. Quakers earned only a point but it could easily have been three in a thoroughly
Darlington manager David Hodgson last night congratulated striker Lee Matthews on proving his doubters wrong. After a difficult start to his month-long loan move from Bristol City, Matthews finally opened his account for the club at the fourth attempt
PLANS to extend York Racecourse to cater for Royal Ascot in 2005 have provoked anger. York Race Committee has applied for permission to build a temporary five-year extension of the track at the northern end of the Knavesmire Road site to allow the course
MANAGERS based in the highest office block in the North-East are walking tall after learning they have helped hospital patients. Bosses at Centre North East, in Middlesbrough town centre, decided not to send out corporate Christmas cards. Instead, they
IF Prime Minister Tony Blair is to make just one New Year's resolution, it must be to stop exaggerating and to start telling the whole, unvarnished truth. Just before Christmas, Mr Blair told British troops that there had been found in Iraq ''massive
DARLINGTON Football Club could return to its former Feethams ground if administrators believe the move makes financial sense, it emerged last night. Officials from Darlington Cricket Club, which administers the 120-year-old ground, said they would not
A NEW exhibition will give people the chance to wallow in nostalgia this spring. But first the organisers are hoping to obtain the help of the public, by encouraging people to dig around in their attics, cupboards and garages for much-loved mementoes
SADDAM HUSSEIN: I AGREE that Saddam Hussein should be tried before the courts. However, any such trial should be before an independent, international court where the trial is not driven by revenge, but by truth and justice. It should be an open trial
NORTH-EAST shoppers have got wise to sales tactics by saving cash in the run-up to Christmas to take advantage of the big reductions in prices afterwards. Rather than spending money on gifts, presents of cash and gift vouchers have been given at Christmas
THREE shopkeepers in North-West Durham face losing their alcohol licences after selling alcohol to under-age teenagers in a police sting operation. Police sent youngsters aged just 14 into all 34 off-licences in the Consett area with instructions to try
THE driver of a motorhome, who is believed to have had a heart attack at the wheel in a busy town centre, was in a critical condition last night. The motorhome, being driven by a man in his 70s, left the road and came to a standstill on a grass verge
WITH only two days to go to New Year's Eve, part of the region is preparing to celebrate the arrival of 2004 in style. The festivities in Newcastle and Gateshead have been designed to cater for people of all ages and everything will be free. Between 4pm
A GULF WAR soldier married his North-East sweetheart on Saturday in a carefully-timed ceremony. Section Commander William McSeveney, originally from Glasgow, serving with the First Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, married Lisa Perring at
DARLINGTON'S libraries have enjoyed a very busy year year which has seen the introduction of new services and features attracting more members and visitors. During 2003, the libraries in Crown Street, Cockerton and the mobile libraries have issued almost
A COMMUNITY leader would like to see a North-East estate transformed into a multi-coloured community to brighten the place up. Martin Landers, a resident on the Red Hall estate, in Darlington and chairman of the local Community Partnership, wants to recreate
A £5m housing development could transform a former school site in the centre of a dales village. A plan to build executive homes behind St Anne's High School, in Wolsingham, is due to be considered by Wear Valley district councillors next month. Developers
A CENTENARIAN who says the secret of long life is hard work, marked her big day with family and friends yesterday. Bertha Marr, of Coxhoe, who still lives in her own home, received the customary message of congratulations from the Queen. There was also
AN expanding firm of Bishop Auckland solicitors is starting the New Year in new offices. After rapid growth over the past year, partners at Hewitts' listed Georgian head office in the Market Place were forced to move into the attic. Two mergers, with
After only 20 weeks in the Army, Private James Lavery of the Logistic Corps has already gained distinction by winning the trophy for best at physical training in his platoon. The inspecting officer Brigadier Simon Caraffi presented Pte Lavery his prize
Great Britain international Stephen Hepples of Loftus AC won the Loftus Poultry Run, clocking 42.27 for the eight-mile race to win by 16 seconds from Darren Bilton of Leeds City. International decathlete Paul Lowe of Middlesbrough AC claimed third place
A SOIL conditioner produced from compost is proving popular with gardeners. GrowGreen will soon be sold at every public household waste site in North Yorkshire following the success of a trial scheme. Yorwaste, which took over responsibility for waste
MANAGERS based in the highest office block in the North-East are walking tall after learning they have helped hospital patients. Bosses at Centre North East, in Middlesbrough town centre, decided not to send out corporate Christmas cards. Instead, they
TRAFFIC could be banned from travelling beneath an historic monument in a bid to protect it from damage. Nine vehicles have struck Walmgate Bar, in York, in the past seven years. In November, a panel truck carrying sweets became wedged under the arch,
DURHAM North MP Kevan Jones has accused a law firm of ripping off families claiming cash for miners who died from lung disease. In the House of Commons, Mr Jones accused Newcastle firm, Mark Gilbert Morse, of taking cash from claimants after it had been
A WOMAN told she has terminal cancer has undergone controversial treatment in Mexico. Sandra Richardson, 52, returnedhome to celebrate Christmas with her family and said the treatment has already had a positive effect. The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one
Shildon manager Ray Gowan still believes that his side can mount a title challenge after they thumped West Auckland 5-1 at Dean Street on Saturday. Shildon have fallen well behind with their league fixtures because of their cup commitments, and this morning
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to contribute to a tree planting and woodland creation programme. All the aluminium foil and cans people recycle in North Yorkshire will count towards the programme, which has been organised by the UK Aluminium Packaging Recycling
A PROVISIONAL council tax rise of 5.75 per cent has been set for 2004/5 in North Yorkshire. County councillors have approved the figure as the basis for consultations on the authprity's budget next month. An extra £3.4m allocated to the council earlier
A GROUP behind plans to develop Gisborough Priory says the public is enthusiastic about its proposals. Members from the Gisborough Priory Project are planning to apply for £3m funding to create gardens and develop woodland at the priory to include a visitor's
Jonjo O'Neill, who has his team in really good form, has decent prospects of landing the valuable Stan James Mandarin Chase over three miles at Newbury this afternoon with Hardiman. This ex-Irish entire is best on a sound surface so he will be suited
A business offering holiday homes for dogs has been set up in the North-East. Barking Mad matches host families with the pets of owners who might have concerns about leaving their animals in a kennel while they go away. Alison Liddle, who runs the franchise
A DISPUTE that has seen grass cutting suspended for more than a year in 20 churchyards across north-west Durham looks likely to be resolved. Cemeteries have grown wild for months after Derwentside District Council became involved in a disagreement with
VOLUNTARY Countryside Ranger Steve Shippen will lead a new programme of guided walks in County Durham. Mr Shippen will start a ten-mile country walk from Castleside, near Consett on New Year's Day. It is part of a three-month series, covering 360 miles
GOLDEN boots Jonny Wilkinson is to insure his famous left foot for a staggering £10m. The Newcastle Falcons ace now rivals David Beckham in the popularity stakes following his heroic exploits in Sydney when his last-minute kick clinched World Cup victory
IT'S the same routine every year. You're fed up and frustrated with the bad habits you've been vowing to shake off for years - so you make some 'New Year Empty Promises,' to please everyone else at the party. These vows are then usually swiftly broken
A BABY was fighting for his life last night after a car crashed into his family in a weekend of tragic accidents on the region's roads. The family of five were walking near their home in West Cornforth, County Durham, yesterday afternoon when a car veered
LIVES are being put at risk by the closure of an access road for ambulances at one of the region's busiest hospitals, unions have claimed. Ambulance drivers arrived at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, on Monday, to find that hospital
A SEA KING RAF helicopter on an exercise on the Yorkshire Coast was diverted to a real rescue. The helicopter crew rescued a man who was injured in an accident at Filey Brigg. Coastguards said 57-year-old John Kent of Scarborough had been walking on the
Anthony McGrath is all set to captain Yorkshire again next season, unless he is chosen for England's tour of the West Indies which begins in February and cuts into the first few weeks of the domestic campaign. If the speculation proves correct that McGrath
AN award-winning musician will give a concert on Tees-side next month, in a more modulated tempo than when he last appeared. Thai pianist Chaiporn Pookhaothong saved the day for managers of a group of almshouses when he stepped in to play at less than
A senior church leader last night criticised Prime Minister Tony Blair for not listening to opponents during the war in Iraq. Dr David Hope, the Archbishop of York, also questioned the legitimacy of the war and warned Mr Blair he would have to answer
Girls as young as seven are worrying about their weight. In the last of a three-part series on women and body image, Women's Editor Christen Pears finds out it isn't just adults who long to be thin. IT'S lunchtime at Framwellgate School, Durham, and I'm
Stokesley SC consolidated second position and did their goals difference a world of good when they put ten past Ferryhill Athletic. They are now just five points behind leaders Birtley Town with two games in hand and with 75 goals, the leading scorers
RESEARCH shows that the large white is the most commonly reported butterfly in Britain's gardens -but not in the North. The charity Butterfly Conservation surveyed reports from throughout the country and discovered the insect appeared in nine out of ten
STEVE McCLAREN'S hope that Middlesbrough could extend their proud unbeaten run into the new year was dashed by mentor Sir Alex Ferguson. Boro went into this fraught and fractious Riverside contest having avoided defeat in their previous 11 games in League
THE North-East is in for a double royal visit in the New Year, Buckingham Palace has announced. Prince Charles will open a hospice's children's unit when he visits the region next week. The prince will have a guided tour of the eight-bedroomed unit at
A NORTH grandfather is among the charity workers searching for survivors of the devastating earthquake in Iran. Ray Gray, 48, flew out to the city of Bam as part of a 15-strong team from the International Rescue Corps (IRC). He had been opening Christmas
A New Year is about to begin - so is it time to create a new and more dynamic you? If you feel like you're stuck in a rut, take our quiz to find out what's going wrong and what needs to be done to brighten up your work and social life in 2004 THE WORK
Top Ten Egypt (BBC2): Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory: After They Were Famous (ITV1): Inside Australia (five); SOME years ago I took what was described, erroneously I discovered, as "a leisurely tour of Egypt". It was anything but leisurely as we
DURHAM North MP Kevan Jones has accused a law firm of ripping off families claiming cash for miners who died from lung disease. In the House of Commons, Mr Jones accused Newcastle firm, Mark Gilbert Morse, of taking cash from claimants after it had been
Bird-loving footballer Alan Shearer had his neighbour in a flap when he tried to scupper his plans for a dream home. The former England captain complained to council chiefs that a house earmarked yards from his home in Northumberland would endanger local
MICK McCARTHY last night rubbished a suggestion that Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer avoided being sent off at Rotherham United because he is a 'big name player'. McAteer was yellow carded in the first half for an over-the-top two-footed lunge on
THE world-renowned Northern Sinfonia is to perform in east Durham. The orchestra will be joined by conductor Harry Christophers and soprano Gillian Keith for a recital at The Community Theatre, in East Durham and Houghall Community College, Peterlee,
DURHAM county councillors have voted themselves a £1,200 increase in their basic allowance, just months after getting a £1,000 rise. But the Labour-run council said the move will not cost council taxpayers any more money as the increase is being funded
A RETIRING teacher bowed out in style as she left the school hall on the back of a Harley Davison. Staff at Harelaw School, near Stanley, sprang the surprise on Joan Bell at a special assembly to mark her retirement last week. Deputy headteacher Maggie
DURHAM county councillors have voted themselves a £1,200 increase in their basic allowance just months after getting a £1,000 rise. But the Labour-run council said the rise, which comes into effect next year, will not cost council taxpayers any more money
A YOUNG man who died when the car he was travelling in careered off a village road was out celebrating his coming of age. John Gary Robson, of Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, had met friends to celebrate his 18th birthday when tragedy struck
THE Civic Centre in Chester-le-Street closed at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve and will re-open at 8.30am on Friday, January 2. The council's housing repairs emergency service will operate 24 hours a day throughout the holiday period and council tenants with
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren believes ten-man Manchester United yesterday showed the resolve that can carry them to their ninth Premiership title. The champions hung on to their 1-0 lead at the Riverside, despite the contentious sending-off of winger
WHEN Marcus Stewart scores, Sunderland win. It is little wonder manager Mick McCarthy wants to see more goals from his most experienced striker. The former Ipswich Town man added another two to his tally in the highly-charged victory at Rotherham United
A DARLINGTON woman is facing New Year without her Tunisian husband because the British authorities will not allow him to enter the country. Jacqueline Ferjani, 27, has made a complaint to the Foreign Office about the way her husband, Abdel Kader Ferjani's
A DARLINGTON teenager will celebrate his coming of age with a flight over his home town, thanks to his mother. Steven Harrison turned 18 on Boxing Day. To celebrate, his mother, Christine, has provided a flight over Darlington for him and his girlfriend
A CITIZENS Advice Bureau is hoping to cut waiting times by extending its opening hours and offering appointments. From January 5, Darlington Citizens' Advice Bureau, in Bennet House, Horsemarket, will open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,
A PLANNING appeal has been lodged against Darlington Borough Council's decision to refuse permission for a bungalow to be built on the outskirts of the town. The authority's planning committee refused permission for the bungalow, at 1 Snipe Lane, on September
BUDDING performer Morticia would win any talons show. The hand-reared turkey vulture is a rising star at the Kirkleatham Owl Conservation Centre, near Redcar, east Cleveland, where she is being trained to give flying demonstrations for visitors. Her development
A LIFE coach with extensive experience in education, training and personal development will reveal the secret of making resolutions last beyond New Year's Day. Felicity Breet will be at Clayport Library, in Durham City, on Saturday, January 10 to show
FAMILIES and staff at a women's refuge want to thank everyone who has responded to one of its biggest festive appeals. Wear Valley Women's Aid, in Bishop Auckland, was flooded with gifts and food after an appeal in The Northern Echo. Staff said that the
TEXTILE student Rebecca Rawlinson came up with the winning design for this Bishop Auckland College Christmas card. More than 1,000 cards were printed based on 17-year-old Rebecca's embroidery and applique scheme. The former Staindrop School student said
A NORTH-EAST academic has been awarded £140,000 to evaluate the Government's Sure Start programme. Professor Nigel Malin, of the University of Sunderland, will spend the next three years examining the effectiveness of Sure Start, which aims to raise aspirations
A group of women have been helping to boost a charity. Dressed as cats, Cathy and Helen Southall, Gina Oliver and Joanne Harris visited pubs at Saltburn, Marske, Guisborough and Redcar, collecting more than £700 for an appeal to build an animal sanctuary
A teenage general administrator who chose to learn in the workplace rather than continue into higher education, has been awarded the title Champion Modern Apprentice by the Learning and Skills Council, Tees Valley. Aimee Inns, 19, from Norton, is impressing
A WARSHIP'S crew has provided a hospital's baby unit with a cash boost. Chief petty officers from HMS Marlborough - Middlesbrough's adopted frigate - have raised £1,400 for the premature baby unit at the town's James Cook University Hospital. It was while
RADIOGRAPHERS decided to reveal all to raise funds for their hospital. The hospital workers, who spend their working lives taking x-rays to pinpoint patients' problems, decided to become pin-ups. After the department at the James Cook University Hospital
A SCHOOL pushed the boundaries of the traditional Christmas show by putting on an alternative pantomime that tackled the problems of drug addiction and abuse. Tyne View Community Primary School, in Gateshead, swapped the usual festive cheer of traditional
A CHARITY which offers help to people with eating disorders is to provide more support for women in the Durham and Chester-le-Street areas. NIWE Eating Distress Service will be holding new group counselling sessions in central Durham, next month. It was
A CHARITY director's hopes of bringing Christmas cheer to Romania has been hit by a Home Office wrangle. Inmates from Kirklevington Grange, in Yarm, the north of England's only resettlement jail, were sent to help load a Convoy Aid lorry being sent to
A WRITER, world-famous for his Horrible Histories, is helping traditional rural crafts to flourish in his home village. Best-selling children's author Terry Deary is giving a community group access to his land in Burnhope, near Stanley, to run courses
Hospital patients in the North-East will be taking part in a drug trial to try to prevent an aggressive form of gullet cancer. Britain has seen an explosion of cases of the cancer, which is linked to persistent heartburn. The trial, funded by Cancer Research
A PICTURE postcard village is said to be at a turning point in its history. The popular tourist destination of Ripley, between Harrogate and Ripon, has been owned and developed by the Ingilby family over the past 600 years. However, half the village's
DIALYSIS patients are getting to grips with new technology by using their regular treatment sessions to receive computer training. The service at the Easingwold renal unit, in North Yorkshire, is provided by the county council's community education team
RESEARCH shows that the large white is the most commonly reported butterfly in Britain's gardens -but not in the North. The charity Butterfly Conservation surveyed reports from throughout the country and discovered the insect appeared in nine out of ten
DEBBIE Jones has been appointed acting director of health and social care at Durham County Council. She will replace head of Social Services Peter Kemp when he leaves the authority at the end of April. Mrs Jones is the authority's head of Services for
Darlington fans may have made yesterday's trip across the A66 to Carlisle with some trepidation, but they will have left Brunton Park wondering what all the fuss was about. Quakers earned only a point but it could easily have been three in a thoroughly
VISITORS to an ancient abbey were yesterday given an insight into the lives of its monks. Brother Anthony, alias English Heritage custodian Tony Powell, told the story of the 15th Century inhabitants of Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire.
THE Macmillan County Durham appeal has topped the half a million pound mark - well ahead of schedule. The news is a tremendous boost for Macmillan Cancer Relief and its supporters. Two years ago, Macmillan announced the County Durham appeal to improve
In fairytale fashion the 2002 Aintree Grand National hero Bindaree regained the winning thread with a thrilling victory over Sir Rembrandt in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Saturday. The pair had battled out of the finish of the Rehearsal Chase
TRANSPORT chiefs have unveiled an ambitious vision of the future that could see the North-East served by trams and high-speed trains. Plans include operating trams, extending the Metro service, creating the region's own high-speed rail service, expanding
A BRAVE ten-year-old, who plays for his school football team despite having an artificial leg, has received an award. Michael Peel, from Chester-le-Street, had to have his leg amputated to save his life when he was four years old. He had contracted the
