CAN there ever be too much football? It is a question worth asking as the football season kicks off in heat that in some parts of the country will be too hot for something sedentary like tiddlywinks let alone the kick and rush of football. Can football
A CANTEEN isn't the best place in the world to try to lose weight but three strong-willed women have managed just that. They shed their unwanted pounds to bring in much-needed pounds for Macmillan Cancer Relief. Chris Boyes, Anne Bennett and Denise Thompson
SUNDERLAND took a huge step towards financial security last night when their millionaire players agreed to defer some of their wages until next year. The Nationwide League new boys, whose debts were revealed at £26.6m in January, yesterday put the finishing
BIKE SAFETY: I CAN think of someone more selfish than an irresponsible motorcyclist - a journalist using his privilege of column space to vent his biased opinions whilst hiding behind a mask of anonymity (Echo, August 5). Indeed, reckless motorcyclists
FORMER Newcastle United defender Didier Domi wants to bury the hatchet before he comes face to face with his former employers next weekend. The Frenchman left Tyneside under a cloud after going AWOL, leaving Sir Bobby Robson with little choice but to
A NORTH-EAST man who decided to research his father's wartime career ended up writing a history of the searchlight operators. When Geoffrey Berriman, from Witton Gilbert, near Durham, began looking into his father Alan's wartime history, he discovered
A NEW health chief has laid out his vision of modernising local services. Peter Innes has been appointed as chairman of Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) and having taken up the £16,000 role a week ago, he has already identified several areas of health
The Readers' Durham County League: It's bottom versus top when Shildon meet Evenwood this afternoon - and although the result might appear a foregone conclusion, the leaders will be wary of an upset. The gulf between the two sides could not be more stark
PARENTS of drowned North-East teenager Adam Shad have decided his final resting place will be the hills around Loch Lomond where he spent his last hours. His mother and stepfather, Jeanette and Terry Cooper, vowed to travel back to Scotland to scatter
THE hustle and bustle of a Georgian country fair will be recreated for the first time at an open air museum this weekend. The event will be held at Pockerley Manor, at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, today and tomorrow. On both days a Northumbrian
A NORTH-EAST man who decided to research his father's wartime career ended up writing a history of the searchlight operators. When Geoffrey Berriman, from Witton Gilbert, near Durham, began looking into his father Alan's wartime history, he discovered
AN investigation into claims that thousands of pounds went missing in a club's lottery scratch card game has been dropped. Police in York have been investigating allegations involving Fulfordgate Working Men's Club since last March, following a complaint
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Bottom club Norton can play out the remainder of the season without the cloud of relegation hanging over them. League secretary Keith Telford is concerned that no club have applied to join the competition
VANDALS stole a bulldozer and demolished a sewage pumping station. The bulldozer was returned to a nearby building site after the small pumping house at Cowpen Bewley, near Billingham, Teesside, was destroyed. The vandals struck overnight on Wednesday
UP TO 1,000 children and parents participated with international folk dancers and came face to face with exotic animals and creepy crawlies at a fun day yesterday. The event outside Hardwick Community Centre on Stockton's Hardwick estate was hailed a
KITTIWAKES are posing a new headache for householders living near Scarborough Harbour, aggravating the the problems already caused by herring nesting gulls. Stephen Oldridge, Scarborough Borough Council's director of environmental health, said in a report
Durham Coast League: Leaders Murton will be hoping that Keith Chapman maintains his rich vein of form against Dawdon this afternoon. The medium pacer, who has taken over 1,000 wickets for his club in the league, was devastating in last week's double weekend
THE Government has imposed a temporary export ban on a Roman statue that was sold at auction for almost £8m last year. The statue, known as Jenkins Venus, had been part of the art collection at Newby Hall near Ripon, North Yorkshire, since the 18th Century
DEFENDING champion Martin Scaife will be going for a hat-trick of victories in tomorrow's Darlington 10K - run for the first time in its 15-year history on a totally traffic-free course. The 31-year-old Darlington bakery manager had a thrilling battle
AS with much else in these crowded hours, today's column is the child of a birds and stones operation. Needing to be at Marske United FC on Sunday lunchtime, we invited ourselves to the 9.30 service at Marske Parish Church. It is true that none of United's
A THIEF took a pensioner's purse after another distraction theft in the region. The theft happened at about 4pm on Wednesday, at a row of Aged Miners' Homes in Horden, east Durham. A man, believed to be in his late-20s or early-30s, approached an 85-year-old
MICK McCARTHY last night vowed to keep freezing out Kevin Phillips and Michael Gray - but gave a shock call-up to Tore Andre Flo. The Sunderland manager revealed he would omit Phillips and Gray from his first-team plans unless they are still at the club
SHARES in Lastminute.com continued their rapid ascent yesterday as bid speculation and strong trading took the online retailer to levels not seen since 2000. The travel and leisure ticket specialist topped the leaderboard in the second-tier FTSE 250 Index
A TOP police officer has unveiled a vision for a North-East force to tackle crime and reassure residents that action is being taken against criminals. Sean Price, Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, is planning to deploy a further 20 police vehicles,
CAMERONS is hoping to capitalise on the US's love of lager. The Hartlepool brewer has just shipped a container of Scorpion Lager to the US. Mike Berriman, marketing director at Camerons, said: "British brewers expect to have some success when exporting
RECIPES from around the world are needed for a charity book to raise money for a children's hospice movement. Staff at Travelcare's branch in Market Place, Richmond, North Yorkshire, plan to put together the book in aid of the Association of Children's
SPECIALIST craftsmen are giving the public a chance to look behind the scenes and learn the techniques used to keep York Minster's stonework looking so beautiful. The Minster stoneyard will open its gates next week to give visitors the opportunity to
LIFE will be all write for Hartlepool United and Ritchie Humphreys this season. Pool start out as a Division Two club at Peterborough this afternoon, 48 hours after player of the year Humphreys launched his promotion diary, his first venture into the
A MAN pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 17-year-old youth yesterday. Sean Matson, 20, of Langthwaite Walk, Redcar, made his plea at Teesside Crown Court. He was remanded in custody until a further court hearing on November 19. He was accused of killing
Darlington may have forgotten what defeat feels like after an unbeaten pre-season, but today's Third Division opener at Hull City will be a real test of their credentials. Quakers go into today's clash at the KC Stadium having netted 16 times and conceded
A NERVOUS chill twitched through my body as the jumpmaster called my name. ''OK Dylan, you're next,'' he said beckoning me towards the edge. Summoning all my courage I shuffled forwards, desperately trying to look unfazed as I caught sight of the winding
Sir Richard Branson has praised staff at Virgin Atlantic for overcoming "every imaginable obstacle" to bring the airline back into profit. The carrier soared back into the black, making a pre-tax profit of £15.7m for the year to the end of April. It represented
NIGHT owls have been invited into the forest to experience the lure of the Red Planet. The Forestry Commission's popular summer Nightwatch at Kielder Castle, in Northumberland, will be staged from 9pm on Saturday, August 30. Visitors will be able to peek
SABOTEURS have tried to shoot down one of the Britain's biggest model aircraft exhibitions - and left organisers scratching their heads. The two-day Yorkshire Giant and Jet Model Spectacular starts today on the airfield at Rufforth, near York. The event
I had a glorious day on Sunday. Having spent the morning in the hustle and bustle of Middlesbrough town centre I had decided to spend the afternoon on the moors. I walked from the house with the two dogs and my partner Nick, straight up to the top of
THE work of talented artists will be going on show this weekend. An exhibition of work by some of York's adult education tutors is on show at Bedern Hall, St Andrewgate, from today until Friday. The exhibition, called Creativity in the City, celebrates
A THIEF who stole a charity box felt so ashamed that he gave himself up to police and repaid the money with an apology, a court was told yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard that heroin addict Bryan Horrigan told police that he did not realise that he
THREE people have appeared in court charged with supplying class A drugs. Lynette McKensie, 31, of Hartley Terrace, Spennymoor, and Lynn Patsion, 40, of Hawthorne Road, Spennymoor, are accused of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs between
A WILLOW shoot bridge which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world has been damaged for a second time by vandals. An environmental group faces a bill running into thousands of pounds to restore the bridge. But it has vowed not to be beaten
POLICE are examining a burnt-out car to see if it was the getaway vehicle for armed robbers. Three raiders wearing ski masks and brandishing two handguns and baseball bats grabbed more than £40,000 from the sub-post office at Cheveley Park, Belmont, Durham
A GYMNASTICS coach was found not guilty yesterday of raping a 14-year-old girl acrobat in the early 1990s. Jack Foster, 62, said he now wanted to get back to coaching youngsters again. Mr Foster also said he would campaign for anonymity until conviction
EAGER shoppers were able to get their first glimpse of the new Wilkinson store in Bishop Auckland when it opened 30 minutes ahead of schedule yesterday. The grand opening of the long-awaited store was early after bosses felt they could wait no longer
STAFF at a factory in Darlington have raised £25,000 for charity. Magnet presented the National Autistic Society (NAS) with a cheque yesterday. The money was raised by donating £1 for every home survey booked by its customers during its last sale campaign
A SEDGEFIELD hair and beauty salon which featured in a documentary series has reached the final of a national competition. Staff at Evolution, in Sedgefield village, are heading for London for the final of the British Hairdresser of the Year contest after
A NEW Year's Eve reveller who smashed his car into a tree was over the drink-drive limit, a court heard. Andrew Richard Hodgson, 18, had six passengers in his car when he crashed on the outskirts of Willington, in the early hours of New Year's Day. Magistrates
A SENIOR doctor voiced fears yesterday that the region could be on the verge of a measles epidemic after a sharp fall in vaccination rates. New statistics show that the proportion of young children having the controversial triple MMR (mumps, measles and
Wearside League: Wolviston's aim is to go one better this season and clinch the championship which just eluded them in May. Manager Graham Howard is again at the helm and he has brought in five new players to strengthen his squad. David Steel joins his
Charity Headway Teesside is holding a race night to raise money for people who have suffered brain injury. The social event will be held at St John of God Pastoral Centre, in Cass House Road, Hemlington, near Middlesbrough, at 8pm on Thursday. Tickets
A PRIMARY school pupil has been awarded the top prize in a painting competition. Sally Shanks, of Mount Pleasant School, Darlington, won a sunflower painting competition, organised as part of the Sunflower campaign run by St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington
IT'S bloody hot. If it's good enough for the heir to the throne, then it is good enough for a humble columnist. And it is - except on the beach at Sunderland on Thursday afternoon where people were wearing jumpers and anoraks. The British are obsessed
Innocent appeal or money-making scam? The vicar and congregation of St Mark's Church, Marske, debate a dilemma which arrived in the post with a Middlesbrough FC season ticket. AS with much else in these crowded hours, today's column is the child of a
A PUB landlord died after his car collided with an articulated lorry, a Bishop Auckland inquest heard yesterday. Jeffrey Lowe, of Collingwood Street, Coundon, died when his car collided with the lorry on the A167, near Newton Aycliffe, in April. The 59
A MAN pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 17-year-old youth yesterday. Sean Matson, 20, of Langthwaite Walk, Redcar, made his plea at Teesside Crown Court. He was remanded in custody until a further court hearing on November 19. He was accused of killing
COUNTY Durham could get its own Yellow Pages business telephone directory. Publisher Yell is considering printing a County Durham edition, which would include Newton Aycliffe, Bishop Auckland and St John's Chapel. The Sunderland Yellow Pages, which at
AN MP has reignited a war of words with a district council he wants abolished by launching a survey to seek the views of residents. North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones, who earlier this year dubbed Derwentside District Council "about as popular as a dose
POLICE have issued a warning about a pair of bogus gardeners after a blind man was conned out of cash. Two men called at the 62-year-old's home in Netherfields, Middlesbrough, offering to do work in his garden for £45 on Tuesday afternoon. After pretending
LIFE will be all write for Hartlepool United and Ritchie Humphreys this season. Pool start out as a Division Two club at Peterborough this afternoon, 48 hours after player of the year Humphreys launched his promotion diary, his first venture into the
MICK McCARTHY last night vowed to keep freezing out Kevin Phillips and Michael Gray - but gave a shock call-up to Tore Andre Flo. The Sunderland manager revealed he would omit Phillips and Gray from his first-team plans unless they are still at the club
YOUNGSTERS are preparing to take part in a football tournament organised by a town's street wardens. More than 70 five-a-side teams will take part in a knockout tournament organised by the wardens in Middlesbrough. Heats take place on Monday to Wednesday
Athletes from the North-East are hoping for Olympic success in a competition for people with learning difficulties. Ten athletes, from County Durham Care's day centres, will be part of the northern regional team competing in the Special Olympics National
MIDDLESBROUGH are on the verge of a striker crisis ahead of the start of the Premiership campaign next Saturday. Boro boss Steve McClaren has confirmed that neither Michael Ricketts nor Massimo Maccarone will be available. And with Malcolm Christie (groin
Jesse Spencer thought he'd made a bad career move by playing heart-throb Billy Kennedy in Neighbours but the Aussie soap proved to be a sprinboard for success. The story goes that when Oscar-nominated Cate Blanchett was asked, as film writers always inquire
A HEADTEACHER was "paralysed with fear" when she was assaulted by the father of a member of staff, a court heard. Trevor Collishaw grabbed Maxine Barwick by the throat and pinned her to the desk in her office, before being restrained. Collishaw admitted
THE life expectancy and appropriate treatment for people diagnosed with a brain tumour will be more accurately judged thanks to a recent research project. Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, Dr Janice Royds and her colleagues have found a marker for
ANDREW Jordan's first game in a Hartlepool United shirt didn't exactly go as planned. Jordan, one of a possible five making their debut for Pool at Peterborough this afternoon, had his first outing in last week's friendly with Newcastle. And after a 6
THE Northern Echo has teamed up with Music Zone and Ottakars to give fans of The Lord of the Rings a chance to win exciting prizes. We have copies of the soon-to-be-released DVD The Two Towers to give away, as well as a boxed set of books, featuring The
Disappointed Jonathan Lupton is determined to finish his amateur career on a high - by strengthening Yorkshire's position at the top of the EGU Northern Counties League against Durham at Ramside today. Lupton, from Yarm, was a surprise omission from the
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside League: The game of the day between leaders Lanchester and Newcastle City could go a long way to deciding the destination of the championship. Lanchester, with just one defeat, are 14 points in front of their rivals
SPONSORS Blue Square may have got their sums wrong by over generously quoting odds of 9-4 about the Rest of the World to beat Great Britain & Ireland in this afternoon's Shergar Cup at Ascot. The home team are 3-1 on to repeat last year's whitewash
POLICE are growing concerned for the welfare of a teenage girl who has been missing for a week. Coi Kamall was last seen by her flatmate in Byker, Newcastle, last Friday, but not reported as missing until Tuesday. Coi, who is 16 but looks older, is black
THE mother of a North-East man killed in the Bali bombing has backed calls for a change in a terrorist's death sentence. Loraine Findley's son, Ian, was one of 202 people killed in the blast that ripped through the Sari Club and nearby Paddy's Bar, in
APPARENTLY the latest craze sweeping the world is hundreds gathering to carry out a random pointless act, like going into an electrical shop at closing time and eating a banana. While you can argue the merits of wasting the time of shop assistants against
SABOTEURS have tried to shoot down one of the Britain's biggest model aircraft exhibitions - and left organisers scratching their heads. The two-day Yorkshire Giant and Jet Model Spectacular starts today on the airfield at Rufforth, near York. The event
A DISTRAUGHT mother last night demanded a public inquiry into her soldier son's death after claims he was raped by a senior Army officer before he died. Fusilier Mark Murray, 18, was based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, Europe's biggest army
APPARENTLY the latest craze sweeping the world is hundreds gathering to carry out a random pointless act, like going into an electrical shop at closing time and eating a banana. While you can argue the merits of wasting the time of shop assistants against
STEVE McCLAREN was last night told he must play the waiting game as he tries to sign Sean Davis, writes Steven Baker. The Middlesbrough manager is desperate to make Davis his first high-profile signing of the summer, but Fulham will not sell the midfielder
NORTH-East women who have had a traumatic experience during childbirth are being urged to take part in a national survey. The last study, carried out ten years ago, showed the region had more than double the number of complaints about post traumatic stress
The story goes that when Oscar-nominated Cate Blanchett was asked, as film writers always inquire of people from Down Under making a name for themselves in Hollywood, if she had ever appeared in Neighbours. "No, I'm an actress," she is claimed to have
THE good news for Sunderland is Jeff Whitley was at Manchester City when they made an immediate return to the Premiership in 2002. The bad news for Sunderland is he was also a Maine Road player when they dropped from the top flight to the Second Division
RABBIT warrens which date from a time when rabbit farming industry thrived in the region have been protected by law. The underground remind-ers of a time when North Yorkshire was a major producer of pelts for the London hat trade are among 13 sites to
Jesse Spencer thought he'd made a bad career move by playing heart-throb Billy Kennedy in Neighbours but the Aussie soap proved to be a sprinboard for success. The story goes that when Oscar-nominated Cate Blanchett was asked, as film writers always inquire
NAKED rambler Steve Gough was given a ticking off yesterday by his mortified mother. Nora Gough, who is in her seventies, begged her son not to go ahead with his naked walk from Land's End to John O'Groats, but her plea was in vain. She said: "I was horrified
NORTH-East women who have had a traumatic experience during childbirth are being urged to take part in a national survey. The last study, carried out ten years ago, showed the region had more than double the number of complaints about post traumatic stress
Dawn Wilkinson was just 20 when she suffered a massive stroke. Five years on, she talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears about rebuilding her life. LIKE most women her age, Dawn Wilkinson loves shoes, but the sight of her friends wearing strappy sandals
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: Guisborough are keeping their fingers crossed that the four players who were injured at Hartlepool last week will be able to play in today's crunch game against Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road. "At one
POLICE are hunting attackers who gouged a sheep's eyes out. A farmer called police and a vet to his field in Wilton Lane, Eston, Teesside, after finding the traumatised animal. The farmer and his wife, who wish to remain anonymous, were extremely upset
A popular miniature railway will be back in business next weekend. The Saltburn line will be open on Saturday, 16 August from 1pm to 5pm. It will be officially reopened for the summer on Sunday, 17 August at 1pm by Robin Butterell, a writer on miniature
A HEADTEACHER was "paralysed with fear" when she was assaulted by the father of a member of staff, a court heard. Trevor Collishaw grabbed Maxine Barwick by the throat and pinned her to the desk in her office, before being restrained. Collishaw admitted
ACTS from around the world came to a North-East town yesterday for one of Europe's biggest folk events. The 39th Billingham Folklore Festival officially opens today but many of the international dance troupes started performing for the people of the town
PARENTS of drowned North-East teenager Adam Shad have decided his final resting place will be the hills around Loch Lomond where he spent his last hours. His mother and stepfather, Jeanette and Terry Cooper, vowed to travel back to Scotland to scatter
Q I am 62, my wife is 56 and I will soon face redundancy. My age and arthritis mean I will not work again. I have savings of £6,000 but will have nothing else. What can I claim? A Claim Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG). This will give you £155.80 a week
TWO lifeboats and a coastguard searched a stretch of the North-East coastline for a fisherman feared missing. A fellow angler at Skinningrove, east Cleveland, saw the man go out in a fishing boat and became concerned when he did not return for a long
THE bubble could be about to burst on low cost home loans amid speculation that interest rates will rise during the next 18 months. Leading lenders are raising the price of fixed-rate mortgages, despite the Bank of England's decision on Thursday to keep
A UNION has launched a campaign to secure equal pay for women working in the North-East's local authorities. Thousands of women in the region are employed in low-paid manual jobs and often struggle to make ends meet, according to the GMB Northern Region
EXPERTS say they still cannot be certain how a North-East prostitute, who was thought to have been murdered, met her death, an inquest heard yesterday. The naked body of Vicky Glass - a known drug addict - was found on the North Yorks Moors three years
A £70,000 programme of work due to start next month will see the region's first translucent water slide installed. The Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, is undergoing a series of improvements in the next few weeks. The new slide, featuring water jets, is
POLICE recovered a sawn-off shotgun after a drugs raid yesterday. Officers arrested a 38-year-old man after the raid at a property in Alder Road, Stockton. A quantity of Class B controlled drugs was also discovered at the premises. Officers attended the
A TODDLER who has cerebral palsy has benefited from proceeds raised at a charity day held in memory of a man who died on one of the region's roads last year. The inaugural Mark Swales Memorial charity day, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, raised £620
A MANAGEMENT team has bought the UK's largest independent survey business. OIS Survey, of Stockton, was sold to the team by owners Abbot Group, which decided it was no longer part of the core business. The company provides topographical and engineering
A SENIOR doctor voiced fears yesterday that the region could be on the verge of a measles epidemic after a sharp fall in vaccination rates. New statistics show that the proportion of young children having the controversial triple MMR (mumps, measles and
A WELL-KNOWN wildlife artist will hold an exhibition of his work in the region next week. A selection of 35 paintings by Peter Reynolds will go on show at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, from Thursday. With price tags ranging from £75 to £1,800
THE summer of 2003 is running as the third hottest since records began almost 350 years ago, forecasters said yesterday. As much of the country basked in more sunshine, meteorologists were predicting even higher temperatures for the weekend - although
POLICE have named a 28-year-old man found dead in his flat on Wednesday. Keith Ian Andrew, of Middle Walk, Scarborough, was found at about 6.34pm, but as yet no cause of death has been established. A 34-year-old local man appeared before Scarborough magistrates
TWO British soldiers died when their motorbike collided with a van in Germany, an inquest heard yesterday. Lance Bombardier Alexander Izatt, whose wife lives in Easingwold, near York, North Yorkshire, was killed instantly when the bike he was riding collided
PREPARATIONS are well under way for the world's most famous aerobatics display team to jet into the region and thrill crowds over the bank holiday weekend. The Red Arrows team will be performing a spine-tingling display on both Sunday and Monday, August
A FAMILY have been left heartbroken after 11 pit bull terrier puppies were stolen from their garden shed. The pups were with their mother, Sara, when thieves struck at Sefton Road, in Thorntree, Middlesbrough, at 10.30pm on Wednesday night. Owner Paul
A THIEF who stole a charity box felt so ashamed that he gave himself up to police and repaid the money with an apology, a court was told yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard that heroin addict Bryan Horrigan told police that he did not realise that he
A THIEF who stole a charity box felt so ashamed that he gave himself up to police and repaid the money with an apology, a court was told yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard that heroin addict Bryan Horrigan told police that he did not realise that he
A NORTH-EAST man who killed his best friend with a single punch after a drunken row has been spared jail. David Lilley, 36, hit his head on the ground when he was hit by Kevin King, 29, and died after suffering brain damage. Hours earlier, the pair had
A DARLINGTON musician will be on stage at the Edinburgh Festival this weekend. Singer and songwriter Sam Upshall won a national competition organised by his employers, Orange, one of the festival sponsors, to discover hidden talent among its staff. The
HOPES are pinned on a pilot summer school project developing the sports stars of tomorrow. Roseberry Sports and Community College has picked its most promising sports students among its intake of ten, 11 and 12-year-olds and put them on a special summer
OVER-zealous traffic wardens have been putting parking tickets on their own council's vehicles - some while they were parked in the civic centre car park. Newcastle City Council has admitted public money has been spent to cover the cost of the fines on
CARE home workers are rallying together to pursue legal action against Darlington Borough Council, over claims it mismanaged their redundancies. Social services chiefs said last night they were rethinking the situation and could come up with a solution
PATIENTS at Darlington's St Teresa's Hospice have stars in their eyes when they relax in the bath. Nightsky Ceilings has installed a hand-painted mural of the night sky in the hospice's bathroom. The company is also donating 20 per cent of its profits
A DEAF awareness course for public sector workers proved to be a success. Ryedale District Council and Central Ryedale Community Education, in North Yorkshire, worked in partnership to launch the class last October. The idea was to enable officials from
FOOD at one North-East hospital will never be the same if chef Mark Thompson gets his way. Mr Thompson, the former head chef at the De Vere Hotel in Newcastle, has taken on the task of transforming the menu at the private Bupa Hospital in Washington,
A THIEF who stole a charity box felt so ashamed that he gave himself up to police and repaid the money with an apology, a court was told yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard that heroin addict Bryan Horrigan told police that he did not realise that he
NIGHT owls have been invited into the forest to experience the lure of the Red Planet. The Forestry Commission's popular summer Nightwatch at Kielder Castle, in Northumberland, will be staged from 9pm on Saturday, August 30. Visitors will be able to peek
POLICE say they are very confident of catching a sex attacker who may have assaulted a number of pensioners. An 87-year-old widow was sexually assaulted on Wednesday when a masked intruder, armed with a knife, got into the bedroom of her home in Seaham
A DRIVER has told how he saw a car drift into the path of an oncoming vehicle in an accident which caused the death of a Newton Aycliffe man. David Cameron, from St Andrew's Court, Woodham, died from his injuries 12 days after the accident on the A689
A COMPANY director charged with possessing indecent images of children has been allowed to continue using the Internet for business purposes. John Wrigley, 42, of Woodvale, Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, told Teesside Magistrates' Court he relied
MORE than 200 homes will be demolished as a council attempts to clean up a troubled estate. Wear Valley District Council has decided to knock down 248 properties on the Woodhouse Close Estate, in Bishop Auckland, because many are standing empty and are
A GYMNASTICS coach was found not guilty yesterday of raping a 14-year-old girl acrobat in the early 1990s. Jack Foster, 62, said he now wanted to get back to coaching youngsters again. Mr Foster also said he would campaign for anonymity until conviction
A DARLINGTON doctor has become the first in the town to pass computer exams as part of a technological revolution sweeping the health service. Ian Bagshaw, from Rockcliffe Court Surgery, Hurworth, has passed his European Computer Driving Licence, a world
THREE people have appeared in court charged with supplying class A drugs. Lynette McKensie, 31, of Hartley Terrace, Spennymoor, and Lynn Patsion, 40, of Hawthorne Road, Spennymoor, are accused of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs between
POLICE are growing concerned for the welfare of a teenage girl who has been missing for a week. Coi Kamall was last seen by her flatmate in Byker, Newcastle, last Friday, but not reported as missing until Tuesday. Coi, who is 16 but looks older, is black
AN authority's benefits department has been described as "poor" by the local government ombudsman. Patricia Thomas found Hartlepool Borough Council's housing benefit department guilty of "maladministration causing injustice". She made the judgement after
FIVE fit fire officers have not only completed the nation's Three Peaks Challenge but each won a gold medal for their efforts. The men, from County Durham and Darlington's Fire and Rescue Brigade's headquarters, were delighted to have raised over £800
Darlington may have forgotten what defeat feels like after an unbeaten pre-season, but today's Third Division opener at Hull City will be a real test of their credentials. Quakers go into today's clash at the KC Stadium having netted 16 times and conceded
CONFERENCE ambassadors have chalked up another success for the region by attracting an important convention. Newcastle-Gateshead Convention Bureau, set up to engage the help of the region's top academics and professionals to boost the region's business
A NORTH-EAST man who killed his best friend with a single punch after a drunken row has been spared jail. David Lilley, 36, hit his head on the ground when he was hit by Kevin King, 29, and died after suffering brain damage. Hours earlier, the pair had
MOST people will remember the television advert which showed a Utopian world in which contractors stumbled on the idea of working together when it comes to digging holes in the roads. However, in North Yorkshire, the appointment of seven new inspectors
I had a glorious day on Sunday. Having spent the morning in the hustle and bustle of Middlesbrough town centre I had decided to spend the afternoon on the moors. I walked from the house with the two dogs and my partner Nick, straight up to the top of
PRIMARY school pupils retained their champions title for the fourth year running at an annual swimming festival. Children from Applegarth School, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, collected 91 points at the Inter-Primary Schools Swimming Festival, held
THE hustle and bustle of a Georgian country fair will be recreated for the first time at an open air museum this weekend. The event will be held at Pockerley Manor, at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, today and tomorrow. On both days a Northumbrian
SKY and the BBC emerged as winners in a new £1.1bn TV football deal unveiled by the Premier League last night. BSkyB has been awarded the right to screen live Premiership games - worth £1.024bn - between 2004-05 and 2006-07. And the BBC has paid £105m
A NIGHTCLUB reveller accused of attacking two men with a penknife walked free from court yesterday. Joseph Murrish, 22, of Grantham Avenue, Seaham, County Durham, was found not guilty of causing grevious bodily harm with intent by a jury at Newcastle
A DISTRAUGHT mother last night demanded a public inquiry into her soldier son's death after claims he was raped by a senior Army officer before he died. Fusilier Mark Murray, 18, was based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, Europe's biggest army
