HILL farmers have been warned to take care with wool from Blue-faced Leicesters. The British Wool Marketing Board this week said a number of complaints have been received from buyers. It believes that international manufacturers are losing confidence
A POPULAR ward councillor is to step down from his role on Darlington Borough Council's community protection committee. Councillor Paul Baldwin will leave the post on July 17 but will continue to serve Cockerton East as a ward councillor. Coun Baldwin
The Market Place in Bishop Auckland will provide the stage for the town's first car show. New models from car dealers Elliotts, SG Petch and Oakley will be on display from 10am to 4pm on Friday, July 25. The public are invited to view a range of new vehicles
SHILDON Community Safety Group has been given a £500 award from the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend fund. The money bought 300 personal alarms and shed alarms for residents, including people from Shildon Court, who have also received
MOBILE religious education lessons proved a success for Newton Aycliffe students. For two days last week, year seven and eight pupils at Greenfield School were able to take part in RE lessons using the latest technology. The GSUS Live presentation takes
KIND-hearted volunteers who take patients to hospital and doctors' surgeries for appointments have been praised for their efforts after logging 7,000 trips. Former policemen Ken Saxby and Geoff Moody run the Driver Support Scheme in Teesdale, for people
CHILDREN at a Newton Aycliffe primary school have been learning how to design their own clothing. Pupils from St Francis CE Junior School attended an after-school club, funded through the New Opportunities Funds (NOF), to design T-shirts. Their art work
POLICE are launching a crackdown on vandalism and anti-social behaviour in school grounds across Sedgefield borough during the summer holidays. Operation Honolulu will start on Friday, when schools in the area close for the summer holidays. Sergeant Ed
A NORTH-EAST school marked its tenth anniversary with a parade yesterday. Children from Wheatlands Primary School, in Huntdale Crescent, Redcar, have been learning about China, India, South America, the US, Africa and Australasia. They paraded along Redcar
ELEVEN volunteers will today give a makeover to footpaths near their homes. Members of The Friends of Flass Vale, in Durham, will be taught path management by Durham County Council's rights of way and countryside officers. They will clear overgrown vegetation
DOG owners are being urged to inoculate their pets after vets confirmed the presence of a killer disease. Six cases of Canine Parvovirus, have emerged in Middlesbrough in recent weeks. Parvo causes severe diarrhoea and intestinal bleeding in pets and
A KEEN swimmer will take the plunge to raise money for an organisation that trains dogs to help disabled people. Dog trainer Ian Young has set up the International Dog Service Fund as a not-for-profit organisation to coach animals to perform tasks that
A POLICE operation has helped to cut crime and juvenile disorder in Gateshead. Recorded incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Birtley area of Gateshead West Area Command was halved and crime reduced by a third, while the detection rate increased.
I CAUGHT my wife scrubbing furiously at the skirting boards in the bathroom the other day before she admitted: "It's all the fault of those women on How Clean Is Your House? (C4, Wednesday)." Those women are, of course, the dreadfully direct "it's for
A £610,000 programme to update heating systems in more than 250 homes in Darlington has been started by the borough council. A total of 185 homes in the Red Hall, Lascelles and North Road areas will have central heating systems replaced. Residents in
Half-centuries for Matthew Wood and Michael Lumb in Yorkshire's dull draw with India A at Headingley yesterday kept the pair neck-and-neck in their race to become the county's first batsman to reach 1,000 first-class runs this season. Wood's painstaking
PEOPLE who have difficulty walking have criticised a council's decision to move a taxi rank. The extra walk in Middlesbrough town centre is proving too much for some elderly and disabled people. They say the location of the rank was ideal before it was
NORTH-EAST racing star Warren Hughes will meet fans and sign autographs this weekend when he makes a pit-stop at a North-East racing circuit. The Sunderland driver is aiming to pick up more points in Rounds 11 and 12 of the British Touring Car Championship
THE lifesaving Great North Air Ambulance could be grounded from next year unless £2.5m can be raised, the charity warned yesterday. European regulations due to be enforced next year mean the current craft flying out of Teesside International Airport,
ANOTHER warm, sunny and dry month kept up the trend that has so far made this year's weather such a delight. Well, it was dry up until the very last day, which turned out to be easily the wettest since the end of last year. Up until the 27th, many places
In the fifth part of his look at the development of entertainment in Durham, David Simpson recalls the heyday of the city's cinemas. Cinemas in Durham were not confined to the city centre and many of the neighbouring villages had their own "picture houses
DANIEL Hart believes in suffering for his art. "I think you have to suffer slightly every time you play a character if you want to get to something special," says the actor, playing composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on stage at York Theatre Royal. "You
Bedale & West of Yore PC. - July 24: Senior one-day event, contact Mrs F A Blaine, 01845 526185. Pony club area J: Enquiries for Helen Crockett novice one-day event on Aug 5 to Mrs F A Blaine, 01845 526185. Bedale Hunt. - July 11: Farmers party from
A CANCER patient sets off on a 194-mile walk today as his way of saying thank-you to the people who helped him on the road to recovery. Ian Jones is doing a ten-day hike from St Bees Head, in Cumbria, to Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, to raise money
A CONMAN who tricked his way into the home of an 81-year-old woman stole £40 in cash. The man bluffed his way into the house in Rothesay Grove, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, by saying he was working at a neighbour's home, but needed to check her water pipes
A SMALL corner of Britain will forever be in bloom while a perennial listeners' favourite remains on the airwaves. BBC Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time is still going strong in its 56th year and is believed to be one of the longest-running shows in
IT WAS surely coincidence, but Spectator thinks Wensleydale Railway can hardly have chosen a better time to dip its elbow into the hot water by reviving timetabled passenger trains between Leeming Bar and Leyburn. As the great, the good and the ordinary
FOUR Olympians who returned to Teesside after winning medals at the 11th Special Olympics World Games were honoured with a civic reception in Eston this week. Claire Rule and Claire Skelton, who attend the Grangetown Centre, Robert Kneeshaw, who attends
HEALTH assurances were given after it was revealed that a power plant plans to create 'green' energy by burning fat from cattle slaughtered at the height of the BSE crisis. SembCorp Utilities Teesside, which operates Wilton Power Station, near Redcar,
POLICE have recovered a substantial amount of suspected stolen property following a raid at a Teesside house. Officers discovered electrical equipment, tools and two motorised go-ped scooters, one blue, one purple. The specialist equipment includes spiral
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Steve McClaren is being thwarted at every turn in the transfer market after becoming the latest manager to be warned off in the chase for Fulham midfielder Sean Davis. McClaren, who yesterday saw long-time target Geremi lined up for a
A MAN was jailed for two years yesterday after police seized £20,000 of cannabis resin. Teesside Crown Court was told 4kg of the drug was seized at a house in Bollington Road, Middlesbrough. It was in a holdall, hidden under a double bed, and in a wardrobe
Fun Run: The annual Yarm Fun Run organised by the Yarm District Lions Club, in conjunction with Conyers School, will take place on Sunday. The three-and-a-quarter mile fun run will start from Conyers School at noon and finish at Snaith Field, at the top
A TEESSIDE school has become the first school in its town to win a basic skills agency quality mark. Linthorpe Infants School, in Middlesbrough, was also awarded an Artsmark. Headteacher Ronnie Dee said: "We are pleased and very proud. We have done a
Dancers are invited to Kiplin Hall, near Scorton, on Sunday, to enjoy the Northallerton Caledonian Society dancers performing on the sunken lawn. The following Sunday, July 20, the Great North Clog Morris dancers from Darlington will give a lively display
DURHAM Young People's Centre, End House, is looking for people to serve on its management committee. They should be prepared to attend at least two meetings a month. The centre offers support and counselling to 13 to 25-year-olds. For details call project
STUDENTS are learning that crime does not pay during a two-day safety challenge set by the Hambleton Community Safety Partnership. Youngsters at Bedale High School are completing tasks, which focus on issues such as vandalism, anti-social behaviour and
DURHAM County Cricket Club was plunged into disarray last night only weeks after realising its dream of bringing Test match cricket to the North-East. Chairman Bill Midgley quit amid recriminations at the way his efforts to reform the club's finances
MORE help is being offered to groups and organisations working on the regeneration of the region's market towns. A seminar is to be held to guide groups through the many funding options. Action for Market Towns will be held at the Angel Inn, Topcliffe
A GLOBAL summit on social problems afflicting mankind is to be held in the North-East. Delegates from China, Austral-ia, South Korea and Israel will attend a brain-storming session of the international Social Policy Association, at the University of Teesside
DURHAM Labour MP Gerry Steinberg will hold surgeries for constituents on Saturday, July 19, at Bowburn Community Centre, from 10am to 11am, and at Croxdale Community Centre from 11am to 11.30am.
ONE of the country's most celebrated lyricists is allowing his private art collection to be exhibited at the Bowes Museum from tomorrow. Sir Tim Rice, who has written songs for shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King and Joseph and
CAMERA AUCTION: Washington Camera Club is holding an auction of photographic equipment and other items at 7.15pm tonight, at the Harraton Camera Club. FAMILY FESTIVAL: The North Washington Family Festival will be held from 10am to 3.30pm on Sunday, in
TENNIS LESSONS: Derwentside Leisure Services and Benfieldside and Shotley tennis clubs have organised coaching sessions at Annfield Plain Park during the summer. To take part, call 07960 933 696. COMMUNITY GRANTS: The SRB Community Fund offers small grants
IN an interview in the first Starsky and Hutch fan magazine 25 years ago, David Soul admitted to two vices - drinking beer and chain smoking. The former wasn't a problem when he took time off from filming at Tyne Tees Television's Newcastle studio this
THE World Quoits Championships will be staged in the North-East this weekend. Competition will be fierce at the Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, with entries from throughout the region and southern Scotland. Thirty-five teams will compete
A PRIVATE collection of more than 100 photographs and memorabilia charting the history of Guisborough Cricket Club from the 19th Century will be on view at the club on Monday, July 21, at 4pm. Historian Stewart Clarke built up the collection over 40 years
PRIOR to the calender changes of 1752, today was Midsummer Eve and in the North of England it was marked with bonfires and other celebrations. Even today, relics of this date appear in some calendars and almanacs where it is shown as Old Midsummer Eve
HAMBLETON District Council has retained its Investors in People status following a rigorous assessment. Assessors said the authority was an "excellent example of a well managed, effective organisation that is developing a useful culture of continuous
TENS of thousands of women who work for councils in the North-East are continuing to get a raw deal on pay, according to public sector union Unison. The union's national secretary for local government, Heather Wakefield, was yesterday in Durham to talk
A NURSE had a narrow escape when she found herself in a terrifying situation after stopping to help a car crash "victim" who turned out to be faking. Detectives believe four men may have staged the accident in a bid to stop the woman. But when the nurse
SOME of you might find this article quite controversial. Others it may offend. For certain though, I won't ever gain employment with the local council for what I am about to say. It is something that I have always frowned upon in the back of my mind,
WEARSIDE'S Daniel Hair will be hoping the exciting form he showed at Silloth on Monday continues as he looks to seal a place in next week's Open, writes David Waterhouse. A monstrous 60-foot putt in a eight-man play-off for the last qualifying spot ensured
A DEAN who has been under fire for his style of management has issued a let's pull together plea to his cathedral. The Very Rev John Methuen, of Ripon Cathedral, issues his call in the July edition of his monthly newsletter. Dean Methuen says his picture
DURHAM Young People's Centre, End House, is looking for people to serve on its management committee. They should be prepared to attend at least two meetings a month. The centre offers support and counselling to 13 to 25-year-olds. For details call project
A NATURE reserve in the heart of a busy military training area yesterday clinched a hat-trick of awards. The Army Training Estate North-East was presented with the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Silver Otter Trophy for the third time, for Foxglove Covert
In part four of his look at the development of entertainment in Durham, David Simpson remembers the transition from theatre to cinema in the early part of the 20th Century. MOVING pictures made their first appearance in Durham City in the 1890s, when
AN award-winning museum is expanding in a bid to encourage more visitors. The National Railway Museum (NRM), in York, is opening a shop in the city. It is leasing the premises in St Helen's Square, York, which were once the home of Terry's confectionery
TARGETING known crooks is forcing down crime figures, say police. Figures released by the Cleveland Force this week showed that crime fell by 11.5 per cent between April and June. But sexual offences have almost doubled, rising from 25 in May to 45 in
Sir, - Further to your report (D&S, June 27), the Deputy Prime Minister would have us believe that regional assemblies would be a genuine decentralising measure. This is a myth. The opposite is true. Power will not be pushed down from central government
Darlington manager Mick Tait will be hoping trialist Michael Price is the right man following yesterday's devastating news that keeper Andy Collett faces up to four months on the sidelines. A day after losing out on Marco Gabbiadini, who signed for Hartlepool
MARCO GABBIADINI last night admitted pride was the reason behind his shock move to Hartlepool United. Gabbiadini trained with Darlington this week as a return to the club, where he was recently voted its greatest ever player, looked likely after he was
FOUR people died in the North-East and North Yorkshire as a result of agricultural accidents last year. National figures released this week also revealed a growing trend towards deaths among the self-employed. Linda Williams, the Health and Safety Executive's
A DRIVER who had pleaded guilty to causing a woman's death by dangerous driving was yesterday refused permission by a judge to change his plea to not guilty. Sheila Glass, 53, from Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was a back seat
A CLOTHING label that counts Madonna and Mick Jagger as fans has hired a Teesside firm to drive its business forward. Design brand Rude, known for its quirky T-shirts, has appointed Middlesbrough marketing consultancy Rocket Science to help it expand.
MORE than 27,000 free tickets to the Durham Country Show have been sent to children in Wearside. The County Show at Herrington Country Park at Penshaw, near Sunderland, takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The agricultural show has been running for the
Sir, - Your report on the proceedings of Egglescliffe Parish Council (D&S, June 27) states that, with respect to a planning application, "Councillor Rigg and other members felt that the close boarded fence was out of keeping ..." At the beginning
ONE of the country's leading unions has joined forces with its law firm to open an office in the region. The GMB and Tyneside solicitors Browell Smith and Company will operate from premises in Market Place, Durham. The company, which has offices in the
A 56-year-old footballer collapsed during a charity match last night. John Noddings's wife, son and daughter - a police officer - rushed to the middle of the field after the player fell to the ground at Tow Law, County Durham. Referee Nigel Miller, a
THE mid-term CAP review agreement continued to receive a mixed reaction this week. The general idea of getting away from production-based payments was welcomed, but there was widespread concern about Britain introducing the system in 2005, ahead of others
A fraudster who fleeced computer suppliers of £244,000 worth of equipment, was jailed for four-and-a-half years yesterday. Mother-of-two Nichola Brough ordered computer and other electrical equipment under assumed names with no intention of paying for
THE warm weather saw visitor numbers soar at the Great Yorkshire Show, with the fourth highest attendance in the event's history on Thursday. Organisers of the 145th show said 127,127 visitors came to Harrogate over the three days of the region's leading
MARCUS STEWART last night vowed to banish the memory of Sunderland's season of shame. Despite two successive relegations from the Premiership, first with Ipswich Town and then Sunderland, Stewart is remaining upbeat about life in the Nationwide League
LIVESTOCK will be returning to the Durham County Show today for the first time since its enforced absence due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Thousands of people will converge on Herrington Country Park, at Penshaw, near Sunderland - the show's venue
LIGHTLY-WEIGHTED Anani (3.05) has the ideal credentials to lift this afternoon's £135,000 John Smith's Cup at York. Ed Dunlop's smart three-year-old started the season by thumping Jebel Suraaj in a one-mile maiden at Ascot and has since followed by being
POLICE launched an investigation yesterday after the body of a woman was found in a street. A woman walking her dog discovered the body on the pavement outside a doctor's surgery in High Street, Tow Law, County Durham, shortly before 7.30am. The deceased
FORD Rallyesport Junior Team driver Ryan Champion enjoyed a successful tarmac debut with his Super 1600 Ford Puma on last weekend's Jim Clark Memorial Rally, which comprised round three of the Pirelli British Rally Championship. The event started with
Kieren Fallon's booking for Blue Spinnaker (2.25) is a hint not to be missed in the Brazil And Parry Handicap at York. Septuagenarian Sheriff Hutton handler Mick Easterby loves nothing more than having a winner at his local track and Spinnaker so nearly
Darlington manager Mick Tait will be hoping trialist Michael Price is the right man following yesterday's devastating news that keeper Andy Collett faces up to four months on the sidelines. A day after losing out on Marco Gabbiadini, who signed for Hartlepool
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare a 12-year-old boy who has been missing since Sunday. A police spokesman said Stephen Gill, who went missing from the Kenton area of Newcastle, may be in the Stockton area, where his family lives
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Lanchester have received a big boost ahead of their game against Shotley Bridge at The Spa with the news that Phil Carlin is available. He has been a big hit since his return from service in the Gulf
HOW sad that so soon after the dream of Test match cricket in Durham had been realised, the club should be torn apart by controversy. On the day Durham were beaten with a day to spare by Northamptonshire, chairman Bill Midgley walked and suddenly all
EIGHT bodybuilders from across the region will be flexing their muscles in a strongman contest today. The competition, at West Pelton Primary School, near Chester-le-Street, is a heat for the tenth North East Strongest Man finals, to be held in Barnard
A TOWN could face five times more flooding and a summer drought every three years by the end of the century. Now Middlesbrough Council has launched a plan to tackle climate change, on which the public will be consulted. Councillor Barry Coppinger, executive
Inside The Mind Of Paul Gascoigne (Channel 4) ; Darien: Disaster In Paradise (BBC2) THE outlook was not good - the narrator wondered: "How close is Paul Gascoigne to complete mental breakdown?". After watching the programme, Gazza might well have been
SO, that's just about it. Here we are in July and I haven't heard a cuckoo. How does that old rhyme go? The cuckoo comes in April. He sings his song in May. In the middle of June He changes tune, And in July he flies away. Very little time left, then,
A FORMER mining community is staging its own celebration today, when part of its heritage is paraded through the village for the first time in 35 years. Residents of Greenside, in Gateshead, formed Banner Tales, a group dedicated to preserving the social
A DARLINGTON school is celebrating a series of sporting successes. Pupils at Carmel RC Technology College have notched up an impressive 23 trophies in only three days. The Darlington Schools Athletics Championships was the first event the young athletes
PEOPLE in Darlington are being asked for their opinion about the state of the town's streets. Darlington Borough Council is carrying out a street environment review to look at the way streets in the borough are designed and looked after. A series of listening
ONE of the country's leading unions has joined forces with its law firm to open an office in the region. The GMB and Tyneside solicitors Browell Smith and Company will operate from premises in Market Place, Durham. The company, which has offices in the
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Snowfall in July: On Monday morning snow fell on the Hambleton Plain, east of Thirsk, accompanied by a cold wind. It is many years since snow was known to fall during the first week in July, in this portion of North
LIVESTOCK will be returning to the Durham County Show today for the first time since its enforced absence due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Thousands of people will converge on Herrington Country Park, at Penshaw, near Sunderland - the show's venue
COMPANIES that encourage and support workers giving blood have been recognised at an awards ceremony held by the National Blood Service. Companies and donor organisations received Supporter Loyalty Awards at a ceremony in the Tall Trees Hotel, in Yarm
THE public will continue to be allowed to address planning meetings of Hambleton District Council. The opportunity for public speaking will become permanent following a six-month trial. More than 70 people made their views known to councillors in development
RESIDENTS have reacted with outrage after a housing developer removed part of their industrial heritage to make way for more homes. Barratt Newcastle is building an estate in Genesis Way, Consett - the site of the town's former steel works. The land includes
NORA Batty is inviting people to celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1 by joining her for a cup of tea. Last of the Summer Wine star Kathy Staff is supporting a fundraising initiative by the charity Yorkshire Cancer Research. Taylor's of Harrogate has donated
HARTLEPOOL and District Referees Association is holding a 70th anniversary dinner in support of a local charity. It will be held at the Mayfair Centre, Hartlepool, on September 20 and proceeds will go towards Hartlepool and District Hospice. Malcolm Lancaster
A WELL-KNOWN Stockton sculpture is to be repaired almost a year after it was damaged. The missing dog from the middle of the three greyhounds known as 'Racing Ahead' in the town centre is to be reunited with its two friends. It was damaged during last
ORGANISERS of a community fun day on Teesside are promising an action-packed day of excitement tomorrow. Hartlepool New Deal for Communities (NDC) is holding its third annual fun day at Stranton Primary School from 11am to 4pm. Hartlepool United Football
A CLASSICAL duo will play at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, Kirkleatham, near Redcar, on Wednesday, July 23, at 7.30pm. Clarinetist Sarah Beaty, from south Durham, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, and has been invited to
A BUSINESS which started out with a single office in Middlesbrough more than 50 years ago has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise for international trade. From those humble beginnings in 1946, construction and management consultancy Turner and Townsend
A VILLAGE school could receive a cash award for recycling its rubbish. The scheme at West Heslerton school, near Malton, has made it one of only five primary schools in the region to be nominated for the £500 prize by the Guidance Enterprise Group. Headteacher
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Steve McClaren is being thwarted at every turn in the transfer market after becoming the latest manager to be warned off in the chase for Fulham midfielder Sean Davis. McClaren, who yesterday saw long-time target Geremi lined up for a
Out of sight, out of mind - the traditional British approach to prisons. It may surprise some people, but I never got much satisfaction from seeing anyone jailed. For me, it was the least rewarding part of the job. I know, of course, that locking someone
ELEVEN volunteers will today give a makeover to footpaths near their homes. Members of The Friends of Flass Vale, in Durham, will be taught path management by Durham County Council's rights of way and countryside officers. They will clear overgrown vegetation
NORTH-EAST racing star Warren Hughes will meet fans and sign autographs this weekend when he makes a pit-stop at a North-East racing circuit. The Sunderland driver is aiming to pick up more points in Rounds 11 and 12 of the British Touring Car Championship
GARDENING enthusiasts in North Yorkshire are preparing for their annual show. The Northallerton and District Horticultural Society's annual show takes place at Northallerton Town Hall on Saturday, August 16. It is open to the public from 1pm to 4.15pm
David Soul, best known for the cult 1970s series Starsky and Hutch, is working on a pilot programme in the North-East. But he knows that whatever else he does, he'll never be separated from Hutch. IN an interview in the first Starsky and Hutch fan magazine
ELEVEN volunteers will today give a makeover to footpaths near their homes. Members of The Friends of Flass Vale, in Durham, will be taught path management by Durham County Council's rights of way and countryside officers. They will clear overgrown vegetation
A £610,000 programme to update heating systems in more than 250 homes in Darlington has been started by the borough council. A total of 185 homes in the Red Hall, Lascelles and North Road areas will have central heating systems replaced. Residents in
A PRIVATE collection of more than 100 photographs and memorabilia charting the history of Guisborough Cricket Club from the 19th Century will be on view at the club on Monday, July 21, at 4pm. Historian Stewart Clarke built up the collection over 40 years
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture NEW crop cereal prices have remained unchanged but a little nervous as we are above US prices for wheat and their market is under a little pressure as harvest continues. Oilseed prices have also been a little nervous as
HUNDREDS of Morris dancers are in the region this weekend to celebrate their ancient art. The Benfieldside Morris Men group, based near Consett, County Durham, is hosting the 296th meeting of the Durham Morris Ring, taking place in Durham City. Based
THE bands and banners will be out in force as the reviving fortunes of the Durham Miners' Gala continue on Saturday. Almost a decade after the closure of the last pits in the Durham Coalfield, the mining heritage of former colliery communities across
The Readers' Durham County League: It is extremely tight at the top of the table with only 34 points separating four sides. Willington are last of the quartet but they have a game in hand and the double programme this weekend affords the opportunity for
THE combination of quality spin bowling and the dreaded Australian left-handers sent Durham crashing to an eight-wicket defeat at Riverside yesterday. At 76 for two at lunch on the third day, leading by 81, they were in a strong position. But they were
DAVID Guest, a loving and much loved parish priest and a firm and faithful friend, conducts his final services in East and West Rainton tomorrow. Rector for 17 years, a priest for 30, he retires at 62 because of a spinal problem. "We wanted a man with
MORE than 100 picturesque routes have been opened up for nature lovers to enjoy in Yorkshire. Ramblers, horse riders and cyclists will be overwhelmed with the choice of farmland walks and scenic routes featured in the latest edition of the Department
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Early on Monday morning the attention of a passing policeman was drawn to a pig-stye in Parliament Road in Middlesbrough. On close inspection PS Blakeborough found the stye to be occupied not only by pigs, but by a
BULLFIGHTING is great fun - and before you all reach for the green ink or telephone the editor, no animals are hurt in this sport. No animals even take part in it; it's a battle of words. It's also the only example I can find of "braining up" - the opposite
I CAUGHT my wife scrubbing furiously at the skirting boards in the bathroom the other day before she admitted: "It's all the fault of those women on How Clean Is Your House? (C4, Wednesday)." Those women are, of course, the dreadfully direct "it's for
ELEVEN volunteers will today give a makeover to footpaths near their homes. Members of The Friends of Flass Vale, in Durham, will be taught path management by Durham County Council's rights of way and countryside officers. They will clear overgrown vegetation
WHEN it was first rolled out 12 years ago, the campaign to bring passenger trains back to Wensleydale was seen by many as a Titfield Thunderbolt: a zany dream, achievable only on celluloid. A series of apparently unsurmountable problems made it look more
THE North-East scientist who has developed an early warning system for skin cancer believes a commercial test kit could soon be available. Dr Mark Birch-Machin, a skin cancer specialist at Newcastle University, has developed a new way of assessing sun
'DESPITE age and failing health, she never turned into an old lady. Her wardrobes are full of smart clothes. I never saw her without her make-up on. Her front room is stylish, with a shiny, wide-screen TV squatting in one corner. "She was witty, subversive
ON January 21, 1944, the log of Pilot Officer William Johnston read "missing". Records at Linton on Ouse RAF station in Yorkshire stated "killed in action", while a telegram received by his wife Joan read: "Information received through the Red Cross Committee
Film-makers have embraced the cinematic possibilities of comic strips since the 1930s and 1940s, but what is a film maker to do when men in tights don't thrill us any more? Film Writer Steve Pratt talks to director Ang Lee about his latest blockbuster
THOUSANDS of walkers will take a giant step towards a healthier lifestyle when they head for the hills of County Durham this weekend. Nearly 5,000 people have signed up to take part in Sunday's Great North Walk, through the diverse Weardale countryside
SPECTATOR, who wrote about hedgehogs last week, today turns his attention to squirrels and electricity poles. A two-paragraph item in a regional daily newspaper records quite correctly how squirrels have been leaping on to wooden pylons, mistaking them
A FATHER and daughter have designed an award-winning website which tells pupils about meals on offer at their school. Arnold Fewell, a catering consultant from Northallerton, and his daughter Karen, decided to create the site to help local authorities
GUISBOROUGH road racer Dennis Hobbs continued his excellent form this season by taking a career-best double victory in the fourth round of the British Superbike Championship Privateers' Cup at Rockingham last weekend. Riding his 1,000cc Hobbs Racing Suzuki
Sedgefield Community Association's three-day Real Ale Beer Festival held in Ceddesfeld Hall and its grounds attracted hundreds of visitors and by 8.30pm on the second day it had run out of festival real ale. Social club chairwoman Dr Wendy Gill, said
PUPILS from the region will get a taste of life as a medical student this summer. Durham University is holding a three-day residential course at its Queen's Campus, in Stockton, Teesside. The Medical Summer School is organised by second year student Michael
IRONICALLY, it was the dearth of paying customers that caused British Railways, as the monolithic national organisation was then known, to call it a day and put up the shutters at the ticket offices in the first place. The classic case, one supposes,
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Norton captain Kenny Gresham is hoping it will be third time lucky in more ways than one today. Not only will he be hoping to steer his side to their third win of the season but he will be also be keeping
PITMEN'S union leaders have delivered a stinging Durham Miners' Gala-day rebuke to Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Government. Today's traditional Big Meeting messages from North-East NUM leaders Dave Hopper and Dave Guy include criticism of everything
PITMEN'S union leaders have delivered a stinging Durham Miners' Gala-day rebuke to Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Government. Today's traditional Big Meeting messages from North-East NUM leaders Dave Hopper and Dave Guy include criticism of everything
AN UPPER Teesdale farm is on the shortlist for two major environmental awards. Maurice and Kath Toward, who have farmed Herdship Farm, at Harwood in Teesdale, since 1964, are already through to the finals of the David Arnold-Forster Trust Hill Farming
A NURSE had a narrow escape when she found herself in a terrifying situation after stopping to help a car crash "victim" who turned out to be faking. Detectives believe four men may have staged the accident in a bid to stop the woman. But when the nurse
THERE were mixed feelings amongst parents and teachers last night over controversial plans for a North-East town to pioneer the first federation of schools in the country. Education chiefs announced last week that top-performing Hurworth School and Eastbourne
IRAQ: ON the evidence so far produced to justify war with Iraq, would the Crown Prosecution Service have recommended court proceedings? - Alan Kelly, Ferryhill. THE recent BBC-Government controversy emphasises the fact that the BBC should be given its
A TOP cheese trophy, which mysteriously disappeared more than 30 years ago, has been returned to its rightful Dales home - thanks to a spot of tenacious detective work by retired creamery worker Derek Ramsden. The prestigious Wensleydale Trophy, which
HUNDREDS of women are limbering up for tomorrow's Race for Life in the North-East. Among them are 30 members of staff from the privately-run mental health hospital and care home at Middleton St George will join in the event at South Park, in Darlington
STANDS the grammar school clock at five to five. And honey may still be for tea as cricketers saunter from the green towards a Sunday spread laid in the village hall. Scorton's stout slogger, whites all the creamier for the blue kerchief he probably wears
THERE have been a number of black days in Durham's 11-year first-class history, but nothing quite so depressing as the events of yesterday evening. The news that chairman Bill Midgley had resigned arrived just as the team were completing an appalling
Durham Coast League: A measure of how tight it is at the top can be gauged from the fact that four sides have all lost just once and only 14 points separate leaders Murton from Silksworth. Today, Murton visit second-placed Castle Eden and there are only
A 56-year-old footballer died last night after collapsing during a charity match. John Noddings's wife, son and daughter - a police officer - rushed to the middle of the field after the player fell to the ground at Tow Law, County Durham. Referee Nigel
A MONTH-long festival to celebrate lesbian, gay and bisexual culture in the North-East kicked off last night. Pride on Tyne began with an art exhibition in the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle yesterday and continues tomorrow with Pride Pet Show in the city's
DURHAM County Cricket Club was plunged into disarray last night only weeks after realising its dream of bringing Test match cricket to the North-East. Chairman Bill Midgley quit amid recriminations at the way his efforts to reform the club's finances
David Soul, best known for the cult 1970s series Starsky and Hutch, is working on a pilot programme in the North-East. But he knows that whatever else he does, he'll never be separated from Hutch. IN an interview in the first Starsky and Hutch fan magazine
ANNO 1503 Publisher: Electronic Arts. Format: PC CD ROM. Price: £29.99. A COUPLE of weeks ago, I was bemoaning the lack of strategy games for the PC these days. It seems that some of the biggest games publishers in the world agree with me because first
POLICE are hunting a hit-and-run driver who could have killed a little girl when he sped round the corner of her street in a stolen car. Katie Carmel, five, was playing with her friends while her mother, Samantha, stood in the garden of her Stockton home
Sir, - The real issue for our Worsall community today is the dangerous speeding traffic past our village, not the spelling of a street sign. Road safety was brought to the attention of the Worsall Parish Council some weeks ago by a group of parishioners
THE North-East's largest ever sale of potato and arable machinery takes place near Scotch Corner next weekend. The dispersal sale is a result of a change in farming policy by Nick Johnson whose family has grown potatoes at Sandwath House, Forcett, near
Sir, - I have recently become aware of a shocking example of the cruelty of factory farming - the pig farrowing crate. The farrowing crate is a metal cage in which sows are confined a week before giving birth and remain imprisoned until their piglets
HOUSE prices in the North-East are climbing faster than in any other region in the UK, according to figures released today. A survey by the Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, found that the average cost of housing across Northumbria, Tyne and
A DRIVE to recruit German-speakers to help North-East business has been launched. The Regional Langauge Network North-East, a body set up by regional development agency One NorthEast, hopes to address a loss in trade to one of the region's biggest trading
THE combination of quality spin bowling and the dreaded Australian left-handers sent Durham crashing to an eight-wicket defeat at Riverside yesterday. At 76 for two at lunch on the third day, leading by 81, they were in a strong position. But they were
POLICE have renewed appeals for bus passengers who may have witnessed a fatal road accident to come forward. Passengers on a service bus could provide vital information to police investigating the accident near Sedgefield Village, County Durham, in which
IF we ever find any WMDs I suggest we use them to wipe football agents off the face of the earth. One or two of them might be decent chaps, but as a breed they are parasites interested only in lining their own pockets. The two who have emerged from their
SOME of you might find this article quite controversial. Others it may offend. For certain though, I won't ever gain employment with the local council for what I am about to say. It is something that I have always frowned upon in the back of my mind,
MOTORSPORT fans will be savouring chance to witness classic racing when the British Touring Car championship roars into Croft this weekend. A series of rides in North Yorkshire comes on the back of two of the most closely-fought rounds for years. The
A WENSLEYDALE housewife produced her best ever round of golf to win the recent gold medal final of the Northern Region (Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire) golf clubs' silver division medal winners. For Midori Richardson (pictured right), of
YOUNG performers are putting the final touches to an open air summer pantomime taking place in Lumley Castle. Celebrate II is the second annual production written by former Dr Who actor Colin Baker and North-East composer George Hastings. It will be staged
NORTH-EAST sixth formers have been enjoying a university masterclass. Two hundred and thirteen teenagers from 35 schools, who are all in the lower sixth, have spent four days at Durham University. The event was designed to encourage youngsters whose parents
ALTHOUGH the pretty village of Crayke lies a few miles north of York, close to the southern edge of the North York Moors, it used to belong to County Durham. This apparent accident of geography occurred some years after the death of St Cuthbert (AD 687
A spurned mother drove 300 miles to hold a gun to the head of her estranged husband's new lover. Sharon Matthews, 29, set off from her home in Gloucester to confront love rival Joanne Young and tried to run her over after an armed confrontation in a Newcastle
POLICE are repeating warnings to householders to keep windows and doors locked after the recent warm weather saw a spate of sneak-in burglaries. In the past few days, there have been at least five instances where sneak thieves have got into houses in
Q Our State Pensions are £282.48 and £404.56 four weekly, and my husband's works pension is £144.66 a month. Our savings are £8,000. Can we have a reduction on our council tax of £114.72 a month? A Yes. Around £10 a week. Q I am 82 and disabled with a
AN Englishman's home may be his castle but his lawn is his love affair. He weeds it, he feeds it, he waters it, he trims it, he strims it, he rolls it, he edges it, he aerates it, he cuts it, he mows it, he lays it, he dreams of it. He forsakes all other
DAVID Guest, a loving and much loved parish priest and a firm and faithful friend, conducts his final services in East and West Rainton tomorrow. Rector for 17 years, a priest for 30, he retires at 62 because of a spinal problem. "We wanted a man with
A TEAM of council wardens are clamping down on litter bugs by issuing fines to people who are caught dropping rubbish. Chester-le-Street District Council launched the fixed penalty scheme in a bid to tackle the mounting problem of rubbish in the town.
A 15-year-old boy was orphaned after seeing his parents and his nine-year-old brother killed in an horrific minibus crash which also claimed the life of a North-East woman. Last night, she was named as Doreen Sommerville, 43, from Sunderland. Her partner
MARCO GABBIADINI last night admitted pride was the reason behind his shock move to Hartlepool United. Gabbiadini trained with Darlington this week as a return to the club, where he was recently voted its greatest ever player, looked likely after he was
THE Baltic arts centre celebrates its first birthday tomorrow with music and free birthday cake for visitors. The centre, on Gateshead Quays, is about to welcome its millionth visitor. It has established itself as a viewing space and art factory, with
DESPITE seeing his dreams of becoming a professional golfer turn sour, Andrew Blythe insists he does not regret giving up his amateur status. Blythe, from Eaglescliffe, quit his £30,000-a-year executive sales job back in January to concentrate on making
RETIREMENT: GIVEN that there appears to be a link between retiring early and subsequently living longer, it would seem obvious for such a manipulative and anti-working class government to simply ask us all to work longer and die younger, therefore reducing
HOUSE prices in the North-East are climbing faster than in any other region in the UK, according to figures released today. A survey by the Halifax, the UK's biggest mortgage lender, found that the average cost of housing across Northumbria, Tyne and
Sir, - I attended the Hambleton Council planning meeting on July 3 to hear the application by Yuill to build private houses on the old council site in North Road, Stokesley. I was there to express concerns over the builders using the Northfield Close
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl has written a touching poem to Prime Minister Tony Blair asking him to save her school. Chloe Mckenna is among a number children at Aycliffe Village Primary School who have joined in the fight to keep it open. The school is one of
A DEALER in fresh water fish has described his horror at discovering about 30 koi carp poisoned by vandals. Despite his efforts, Stanley Douglas was only able to save three fish - losing about £4,000 worth of koi. Mr Douglas who arrived at his business
A POPULAR ward councillor is to step down from his role on Darlington Borough Council's community protection committee. Councillor Paul Baldwin will leave the post on Thursday but will continue to serve Cockerton East as a ward councillor. Coun Baldwin
YOUNGSTERS could have 'hang-out' shelters built as part of a pilot scheme. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will consider building youth shelters in an attempt to stop anti-social behaviour. The authority is pledging to spend more than £1m on improving
FUNDRAISERS are aiming to raise £375,000 to safeguard the future of a community centre in Darlington. The building adjoining Harrowgate Hill Methodist Church is used by Scouts and Guides, self-defence classes, a young musicians' group, a badminton club
A DARLINGTON school is celebrating gaining an accolade for its work to promote environmental awareness among its pupils. Harrowgate Hill Junior School has been given a national Eco-School Green Flag award after an inspection. All decisions on environmental
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare a 12-year-old boy who has been missing since Sunday. A police spokesman said Stephen Gill, who went missing from the Kenton area of Newcastle, may be in the Stockton area, where his family lives
A TEENAGE pop rock band is looking forward to a recording session after coming second in a competition. The Word were one of five groups in action at Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, part of a festival by Theatre Cap-a-Pie, from Dipton, and organised by
DarlingtonBorough Council is the most efficient local authority in the Tees Valley for collecting council tax. Recent statistics published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister list the performance of councils across England for collecting council
PUPILS on a Durham construction firm's training scheme could end up working for the company. The Fit for Employment programme run by Bowburn-based The Esh Group was developed with Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, Ushaw Moor, and New College Durham
DESPITE seeing his dreams of becoming a professional golfer turn sour, Andrew Blythe insists he does not regret giving up his amateur status. Blythe, from Eaglescliffe, quit his £30,000-a-year executive sales job back in January to concentrate on making
COMPANIES that encourage and support workers giving blood have been recognised at an awards ceremony held by the National Blood Service. Companies and donor organisations received Supporter Loyalty Awards at a ceremony in the Tall Trees Hotel, in Yarm
A DEVELOPMENT of pensioners' bungalows has been opened in a former pit village. The Durham Aged Miners Homes Association (DAMHA) - the region's oldest housing association - built eight two-bedroom homes on land at Coalford Lane, Pittington. The development
HAIRDRESSERS in north-west Durham have adopted a scheme designed to guarantee high standards. Derwentside District Council's environmental health officers have teamed up with the Hairdressing And Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA), to launch a Health and
A YOUNG horticulturist has developed a non-toxic product to keep weeds at bay. The eye-catching, environmentally friendly weed suppressant gel was developed by York horticulture graduate Richard Fenwick. Sterile and non-nutrient, it consists of two natural
YOUNGSTERS at a sports club will enjoy their football all year round after work started on an all-weather pitch this week. The Cleveland Hall Community Association, based at the former Lyndhurst school complex in Beacon Lough, Gateshead, is having a £160,000
THE Green Howards have been doing their bit for the future of the Army - by hosting an event with 40 young people who are considering a career as officers. A group of young men and women have been taking part in a Look at Life event, organised by the
YOUTHS who spoilt a children's sports day with anti-social behaviour have been criticised by civic leaders. Officials running Ripon Children's Sports Day, at Camp Close, said it was difficult to control the troublemakers' behaviour Youngsters pulled down
HUNDREDS of Morris dancers are in the region this weekend to celebrate their ancient art. The Benfieldside Morris Men group, based near Consett, County Durham, is hosting the 296th meeting of the Durham Morris Ring, taking place in Durham City. Based
SPORTS clubs and community groups are being invited to feature in a directory to be compiled by Stockton council. The directory will offer information on local organisations, junior sections, facilities for hire, community centres, national governing
TWO brothers who volunteer at a club for children and adults with learning difficulties have had their bikes stolen from outside the centre. Anthony Agar, 20, of Brimham Court, Redcar, and his brother, Derek, 23, of Kirkleatham Lane, who both have learning
INCREASING numbers of visitors are flocking to Richmond as more shops set up in the town. The news comes amid concerns that many North Yorkshire market towns are losing customers to larger shopping centres. Ken Allinson, of The Richmond Town Centre Forum
A SERIES OF transport initiatives have been developed to make catching a bus in rural areas of North Yorkshire much easier. More than £30,000 is to be ploughed into public transport across the Ryedale district. Money from the Rural Community Transport
THE Baltic arts centre celebrates its first birthday tomorrow with music and free birthday cake for visitors. The centre, on Gateshead Quays, is about to welcome its millionth visitor. It has established itself as a viewing space and art factory, with
