THE grass-covered stage is bare apart from a table and two chairs. A man, Harry, arrives and carefully re-arranges one of the chairs before sitting down. A second smartly-dressed man with a cane, Jack, joins him. Later two boisterous woman, Marjorie and
Owner Graham Wylie has indicated that his recent purchases No Refuge and Regal Setting could soon be making their jumping debuts. The big-spending businessman paid nearly 400,000 guineas in total for the pair at last week's Tattersalls Autumn Horses In
THE Government may not act on recommendations made during the inquiry into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale until next year, it has emerged. Although the investigation reported almost two months ago, no action has been taken on the recommendations it made
A UNIVERSITY is supporting the Government's fight on flab by offering to train people to run neighbourhood slimming clubs. Academics Dr Beckie Lang and Professor Carolyn Summerbell say the NHS is struggling to cope with the growing problem of obesity
Wearside League: There is no change at the top of the table since the three leading sides all won by a 3-1 margin. Leaders Stokesley SC came from behind before seeing off fifth-placed Jarrow who had the incentive of a first-minute goal from Mark Rumbles
Since taking over the reins from his mother in late August, Keith Reveley has made an immediate impression in the training ranks. The Lingdale handler has already notched seven winners on the Flat and over hurdles, including success in a Newmarket handicap
ParaLYMPIC champion athlete Tanni Grey Thompson, scored another personal first yesterday when she took the controls of a light aircraft. Tanni was the guest of paraplegic flyer Steve Derwin, 54, of Yarm in Cleveland, who has a specially adapted aircraft
NORTH-EAST brass bands gathered to serenade the National Lottery, which has paid for hundreds of instruments in its ten years. On Saturday, more than 100 musicians from across the region gave a performance of Robbie Williams' hit Angels at the foot of
TURNING down the chance for an assembly would put the resurgence of the North-East back 20 years, union bosses have said. TUC regional secretary Kevin Rowan, backed by the leaders of the North-East's four biggest unions, warned that a No vote would be
A FAMILY firm of butchers is celebrating more success. H Coates and Son, which has shops in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham, Coxhoe and Trimdon, County Dirham, picked up eight accolades in the British Pig Executive for Excellence awards. The firm
AFTER collecting a bonus point against National Three North leaders Halifax the previous week, Darlington picked up another in an 18-13 defeat away to second-placed Macclesfield. But they slipped back into the bottom three and need to win at home on Saturday
The Albany Northern League: With their first win of the season Willington boosted their chances of staying in the league after overcoming third bottom Easington on Saturday - and they also found their scoring touch. Before Saturday Willington had collected
An exhibition of works in various media by Durham artist Julie Parkinson will be held in Trevelyan College, Elvet Hill Road, in the city, until December 3. Admission to the exhibition, titled Contrasts and Harmonies, is free and it will be open between
GEORDIE actor Deka Walmsley took a special interest in a recent edition of BBC2's Match Of The Day 2 on BBC2, which featured a countdown of the top ten hand gestures used by football managers. This proved an unexpected piece of research for his latest
UNDEFEATED since taking over at Newcastle United, the inevitable finally arrived for manager Graeme Souness at the Reebok Stadium yesterday. Nine games tasting only victories and draws - ten if you include the win over Blackburn when he was not officially
A PROJECT to help North-East women with mental health problems is to expand. Sunderland's Bridge Positive Mental Health Project has been awarded more than £16,000 from the city council's Strategic Initiatives Budget. The project provides creative expression
YESTERDAY'S game saw former Newcastle United favourite Gary Speed line up against his old club in direct competition to the man who replaced him, Nicky Butt. It was the first time Speed had faced the Magpies since his £750,000 transfer to Bolton Wanderers
Millions of Americans go to the polls to elect a president tomorrow - but while some of them have been courted by both candidates, other have been largely ignored. Nick Morrison reports. IF you were a voter in Toledo, Ohio, over the last six months you
A COURSE to train air ambulance crews in the North-East is attracting worldwide interest even before it has started. There have been inquiries from as far afield as Kuwait about sending students to the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, to study
A TALENTED teenager from the North-East is to play at a charity gig alongside his musical hero, Sir Elton John. Craig Mallaby, 15, of Yiewsley Drive, Darlington, impressed the superstar's producers when he visited Townhouse Studios in London. He won a
WHEN Dimi Konstantopolous arrived in England just over 12 months ago there was a sense of 'in the right place at the right time'. An agent's phone call to manager Neale Cooper and the towering Greek goalkeeper had a trial lined up at Hartlepool United
BEN CLARK is doing his level best to prove to Hartlepool United fans that there may be life after Michael Nelson. Nelson handed in a transfer request recently but remains a big part of Pool boss Neale Cooper's plans. The uncompromising defender has been
GOVERNMENT officials are investigating concerns that a leafy corner of Teesside is about to disappear under an "urban sprawl''. For four years, Egglescliffe Parish Council has protested at a constant rash of planning applications to build apartment blocks
THE Government is facing calls to introduce a nation-wide screening programme to combat a disease that accounts for the death of 100 babies every year. Campaigners say a simple test would prevent the deaths and stop hundreds more babies becoming ill.
THE National Railway Museum has received an award for recent achievements. The York attraction has been honoured by the Heritage Railway Association for its contribution to railway preservation this year. One of the achievements acknowledged by the Peter
A FAMILY firm of butchers is celebrating more success. H Coates and Son, which has shops in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham, Coxhoe and Trimdon, County Dirham, picked up eight accolades in the British Pig Executive for Excellence awards. The firm
A TALENTED teenager from the North-East is to play at a charity gig alongside his musical hero, Sir Elton John. Craig Mallaby, 15, of Yiewsley Drive, Darlington, impressed the superstar's producers when he visited Townhouse Studios in London. He won a
DAVID HODGSON only has to ask Tony Adams the importance of building from the back to achieve success. As far from inspiring as Saturday's performance against Adams' Wycombe Wanderers was, Hodgson's men reaffirmed their reputation as the division's shut-out
AUSTRALIAN full back Matt Burke emerged as the hero as Newcastle Falcons hung on in the face of intense late pressure to take a big stride towards the Heineken Cup quarter-finals at Kingston Park yesterday. Burke upstaged centres Jamie Noon and Mathew
In beating Wycombe Wanderers Darlington may not have put in the most convincing performance of the season but that didn't matter as much as the three-point haul. Quakers needed a win to nip in the bud a run of form that could have turned into a slide
REBELS in Iraq targeted Black Watch troops yesterday in a series of rocket attacks at their base 25 miles south of Baghdad. No one was injured in the four assaults and there was minimal damage. But British soldiers at Camp Dogwood have faced daily bombardment
HAVING bridged the gap between division two and the Championship with the minimum of effort, Liam Lawrence is confident he can handle even higher heights, writes Matt Westcott.. His penalty against Brighton secured three points for Sunderland and saw
UniBond League: Bishop Auckland came up with the perfect response to their midweek Durham Challenge Cup shock when they won 2-1 at Lincoln United on Saturday - their first away win of the season. But victory was at a price because new signing Gavin Mudd
CAR parking charges are to be introduced on streets in Darlington town centre from today. Solar powered parking ticket machines have recently been installed in more than 20 streets where parking will be subject to time restrictions. Charges will be 80p
A STARS and Stripes flag signed by US President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair will go under the hammer for charity. The two world leaders signed the flag for Ferryhill councillor David Newell when Mr Bush visited the region earlier this year
PATIENTS with minor health problems are being encouraged to go to the chemist instead of the doctor as part of a scheme launched in Sedgefield Borough today. The Care in the Chemist scheme has already been running as a pilot in Trimdon and Fishburn since
MOST people who live near the site of a proposed skate park in Darlington are happy with the proposal, according to a ward councillor. Residents of Parkside and Loraine Crescent recently spoke out against the plan to build the £60,000 facility on the
HEALTH services in Darlington are to be transformed by a £6m investment in primary care. The last of three major building schemes planned by Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) has secured £3.6m in funding from the Strategic Health Authority. By the end
A STARS and Stripes flag signed by US President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair will go under the hammer for charity. The two world leaders signed the flag for Ferryhill councillor David Newell when Mr Bush visited the region earlier this year
A BUILDER from Darlington launched his autobiography at the weekend, much of it based on his experiences boarding up windows in the region after dark. Bill Stenson, a Conservative councillor in the town for almost 40 years, was regularly called out when
GOVERNMENT officials are investigating concerns that a leafy corner of Teesside is about to disappear under an "urban sprawl''. For four years, Egglescliffe Parish Council has protested at a constant rash of planning applications to build apartment blocks
SEVERAL families had to be evacuated after a suspicious fire. The blaze broke out on Saturday afternoon in a building which is used for car repairs in Landing Lane, Haxby, near York. Several houses were evacuated after firefighters became concerned that
A FORMER school will again echo with the sound of children as it has been converted into a nursery. Nursery nurse Kirsty Walker has turned the old school and schoolhouse in Hipswell, near Richmond, into a kindergarten for children aged between six weeks
ROCK star Sting will be nominated for his home town's highest honour. Newcastle Council is to be asked to enrol Sting -real name Gordon Sumner -as an honorary freeman of the city. The milkman's son from Wallsend, North Tyneside, rose to fame when he gave
A SENIOR firefighter has warned of the dangers of malicious calls and arson attacks after new figures highlighted the extent of the problem in North Yorkshire. The report shows the county fire service has received more than 2,000 hoax calls and responded
NEWCASTLE Airport is launching a record number of direct services this week. This week there is the launch of scheduled flights to Budapest, Copenhagen, Exeter, Rome and Southampton, charter holiday flights to Antalya, in Turkey, and a long-haul charter
POP chart-topper Lisa Stansfield will today turn on the Christmas lights at the MetroCentre. The Rochdale-born singer, the granddaughter of Gracie Fields, will flip the switch at the Gateshead centre, which has regained its distinction as the continent's
HEALTH bosses are urging people to find out about their medicines. Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trusts wants patients to better understand the medication they have been given. All 15 community pharmacies in the area have been asked to participate
While quality of life for most people in North Yorkshire is described as very high, it's not all a bed of roses, says a new report. While the county boasts low unemployment, a generally healthy population, low levels of crime and high standards in schools
THE retired Methodist minister who organised the Christian tour of Jordan in which nine Britons died has spoken of the tragedy for the first time. Graham Haslam lost his wife Margaret, 70, when a tyre on their coach blew out, sending it careering into
A COUNCIL has received a national award for its work on improving facilities for cyclists. Durham County Council has been presented the accolade of most improved authority in the North-East by the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. To achieve the
YOUNGSTERS from two schools are to be consulted about the redevelopment of their local health centre. The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum for Sedgefield will be working with youngsters from Greenfield School and Woodham Comprehensive, Newton
A MOTHER-of-two has emerged as the people's choice in elections to the board of council house landlords Tristar Homes. Denise Mason polled the most votes and has been re-elected to the one vacancy for a tenant director with Tristar, which manages most
TWO leisure centres are hoping to attract hundreds of people to work out for charity. Belle Vue Leisure Centre, in Consett, and the Louisa Centre, in Stanley, are taking part in a nationwide workout on Friday, November 19, at 8.30pm. The event has been
PENSIONERS in East Dur-ham are being urged to get a winter flu jab and health check at two sessions this week. The Easington Primary Care Trust (PCT) has held a series of events across the area. At the sessions, held with Age Concern and GP practices,
YOUNGSTERS got in the spirit for Halloween at a library-run spooky craft session. Clayport Library, in Millennium Place, Durham, held an hour-long event for four to 12-year-olds at which they were shown how to make ghostly masks and costumes for seasonal
RESIDENTS of three Durham villages spent part of their weekend digging to ensure a colourful spring. People at New Brancepeth, Sherburn Hill and West Rainton planted hundreds of crocus and daffodil bulbs on sites near their homes on Saturday. The work
A BENEFITS rights service for people in County Durham is set for a record year. The service, run by Durham County Council, expects to have attended more than 1,000 appeal hearings for social security claims by the end of the year. This compares with just
A FUND set up to kick-start innovative community projects in County Durham has reached the £1m mark. The LA21 Partnership Project Fund aims to inject cash into projects that would not otherwise get funding but which make a significant impact on the sustainable
A flag day held in Durham by the Durham branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on October 2 raised £1,310 for the charity. The branch has thanked everybody who contributed.
STEWART Downing might have provided the tricks, but it was Bolo Zenden that supplied the treats as Middlesbrough's midfielders celebrated Halloween weekend by bewitching the Valley. The Dutch international's first-half strike cannoned off both Jimmy Floyd
SUNDERLAND football fans have been offered a chance to abseil from the club's Stadium of Light. The SAFC Foundation, the club's educational charity group, and the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund will share the money raised by the charity event
THOUSANDS of people attended an event to celebrate rural crafts and livestock over the weekend. The second Countryside Live, held at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, combined cattle and sheep classes with demonstrations of country skills such
AFTER collecting a bonus point against National Three North leaders Halifax the previous week, Darlington picked up another in an 18-13 defeat away to second-placed Macclesfield. But they slipped back into the bottom three and need to win at home on Saturday
STAND-up comic Roy "Chubby" Brown, thought a diagnosis of throat cancer would be his last curtain call. But doctors have given him the all-clear following a two-year battle with the killer disease. The foul-mouthed funnyman from Grangetown, near Middlesbrough
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) yesterday denied that it had been trying to stop the wives of Black Watch soldiers talking to the media. British troops in Iraq are being asked to tell their families to stop criticising the Government, a regiments campaign
MICHAEL Bridges may well have the Sunderland fans in his pocket, but Mick McCarthy is proving somewhat harder to please. The striker, who signed for his former club on a free in September after unsuccessful spells at Leeds and Bolton Wanderers, is slowly
DEFENDING champions Sunderland underlined their strength-in-depth with an emphatic senior men's team victory in the opening DP Furniture Express North-East Harrier League fixture at Farringdon. The Wearsiders - going for their 20th First Division title
A police force has blamed new procedures for a whopping 94 per cent leap in complaints against its officers. County Durham police said changes introduced by a new body, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), were in part responsible for
ARTIST Paul Newman would be the first to admit his creations are rubbish. He uses a wide range of recycled materials, mainly old newspapers, to sculpt everything from mirror surrounds to wall panels, mantlepieces and figures. Mr Newman started work on
A DYSLEXIC father-of-two has written a book about how to win at gameshows after he failed to make the grade on a popular TV show. David Ogden was selected to compete on Who Wants to be a Millionaire but found his condition hampered him from making it
Darlington's victory on Saturday came courtesy of their first ever penalty at the Williamson Motors Stadium, but Wycombe Wanderers left adamant they should have had a spot-kick of the own. In their 33rd match at the ground Quakers were finally awarded
A FUND set up to kick-start innovative community projects in County Durham has reached the £1m mark. The LA21 Partnership Project Fund aims to inject cash into projects that would not otherwise get funding but which make a significant impact on the sustainable
THE loss of Mark Bedworth, who had been their best player, ten minutes from time almost proved disastrous for Mowden and could yet prove a big setback. Bedworth has really looked the part at inside centre after his switch from fly half, but a hamstring
BIG-hearted Kim Henderson is determined to light up people's lives this Christmas - starting tonight. The mother-of-one has filled her front and rear gardens in Juniper Grove, Marton, Middlesbrough, with Yuletide figures, plus silhouettes, lights and
North-East actor Deka Walmsley talks to Steve Pratt about his dream role as a football manager. GEORDIE actor Deka Walmsley took a special interest in a recent edition of BBC2's Match Of The Day 2 on BBC2, which featured a countdown of the top ten hand
A SHOPPING precinct has had a four-day knees-up to celebrate its fifth birthday. The five-year-old Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough, organised street entertainers, children's activities and even had a cake baked for the occasion. To mark its birthday
TWO young men were killed last night when their car left the road and hit a tree on the outskirts of Durham City. The 17-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were both certified dead at the scene of the accident on the A167 road, close to the
PLANS to break-up obsolete US ships in the North-East could be scuppered by a landmark international ruling made at the weekend, environmentalists said last night. The Basel Convention, to which Britain is one of 163 signatory nations, has decided that
the owners of a theme park have applied for permission to create accommodation for Spanish and Polish workers. Lightwater Valley Theme Park, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, has been forced to spend £40,000 bussing workers from Darlington 33 miles away, because
the owners of a theme park have applied for permission to create accommodation for Spanish and Polish workers. Lightwater Valley Theme Park, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, has been forced to spend £40,000 bussing workers from Darlington 33 miles away, because
Award-winning comedians Brendan Healy and Maxie and Mitch will top the bill in one of the region's pantomimes this winter. Glamour will be provided by actress/singer Stephanie Constable and Steel River Blues star Vicki Hawkins in the production of Cinderella
LIAM Lawrence's last penalty marked the lowest point of his young career. Needing to score to keep Mansfield in the play-off final against Huddersfield at the Millennium Stadium last season, he strode up to the spot with his trademark confidence. He had
Paula Radcliffe insists she is competing in the New York marathon because it is ''about being happy'' while admitting that dealing with the consequences of her dramatic experiences in Athens is a long-term process. Radcliffe made a late decision to enter
STAND-up comic Roy "Chubby" Brown, thought a diagnosis of throat cancer would be his last curtain call. But doctors have given him the all-clear following a two-year battle with the killer disease. The foul-mouthed funnyman from Grangetown, near Middlesbrough
STEVE McClaren has slammed Charlton counterpart Alan Curbishley's suggestion that Middlesbrough have bought their way into the upper echelons of the Premiership. The Addicks boss, who watched his side booed from the field after Boro's 2-1 win at the Valley
NEWCASTLE Airport is launching a record number of direct services this week. This week there is the launch of scheduled flights to Budapest, Copenhagen, Exeter, Rome and Southampton, charter holiday flights to Antalya, in Turkey, and a long-haul charter
WORK is due to start on the strengthening of two pedestrian bridges over the A1(M) today. The bridges are at the Washington motorway service area and at Portobello to the north of the service area. The work is required to strengthen the bridge supports
CAR parking charges are to be introduced on streets in Darlington town centre from today. Solar powered parking ticket machines have recently been installed in more than 20 streets where parking will be subject to time restrictions. Charges will be 80p
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: THE main benefit of three unitary councils, if we are to believe the district councils' Local Choice Local Voice campaign, is that it would make local government "truly local". I wonder. Let's take the proposed South Durham Council,
A BENEFITS rights service for people in County Durham is on track for a record year. The service, run by the county council, expects to have attended more than 1,000 appeal hearings for Social Security claims by the end of the year. This compares with
COUNCIL leaders have pledged a new era in open government if voters opt for a single council in Thursday's regional assembly vote. Ken Manton, the leader of Durham County Council, said new style "community boards" at the heart of his authority's proposals
NEEDY families who cannot afford furniture will be given a helping hand with the launch of a scheme this week. The County Durham Furniture Help Scheme will be launched for the Sedgefield area tomorrow. After years of working in the community of Newton
THE prison sentence of a career criminal has been reduced after judges heard the thief had made efforts to change his ways. Jonathan Lane, 29, of Welbourne Close, York, was jailed for five years after being convicted of two burglaries at York Crown Court
GRAEME SOUNESS claimed Bolton's players will wake up with 'sore arms' this morning after bombarding Newcastle United with a series of long throw ins and long balls yesterday. But Souness, disappointed to see his side lose their first game under his management
FASHION duo Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine hit the Gateshead MetroCentre's malls at the weekend to give women their opinions on style. The event was part of a nationwide book-signing tour. Their new book, What You Wear Can Change Your Life, is
A MATCHmaking scheme for employers and graduates is proving a success. A total of 20 graduates have found work directly relating to their degrees through the initiative, run by Askham Bryan College and organisations including the University of York. The
LIBERAL Democrats have been planning their future battle strategy. The Northern Region Liberal Democrats held their two-day annual meeting and autumn conference at the weekend in Hartlepool, where they reduced Labour's winning majority in the parliamentary
THE World's End has a new bridge thanks to a £340,000 investment by North Yorkshire County Council. And while the new crossing may not last until the world's end, but it should be good enough for the next 120 years. No one knows why the bridge over Cod
Murder Prevention (five); The Sand Marathon (BBC2): TELEVISION cops come in all shapes and sizes. We've have fat ones, thin ones, tee-total ones, drunk ones. Many come with marital problems and troublesome children. One looks like an English spinster,
HAIRDRESSERS in Darlington raised about £1,000 for charity when they donned Halloween costumes and worked for free yesterday. Stylists from Toni and Guy dressed up as a devil, a witch and her cat to raise awareness of breast cancer. The idea came after
YOBS who burned down a park pavillion have been labelled "idiots". Firefighters were powerless to save the wooden structure, which stood beside the main entrance to Locke Park, Redcar. The pavilion, which had no electricity supply, was totally destroyed
A DOZEN campaigners have been demonstrating their concerns about Teesside's environmental record. According to Friends of the Earth organiser Iris Ryder, Hartlepool and its surroundings are "overloaded with toxins". She and her fellow banner-carrying
YOUNGSTERS from two schools are to be consulted about the redevelopment of their local health centre. The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum for Sedgefield will be working with youngsters from Greenfield School and Woodham Comprehensive, Newton
COURTS across the Northumbria police force area are planning another blitz on people who have not paid their fines. Final warning letters are being sent to up to 16,000 people who face arrest unless they pay up within two weeks. The letters are being
SCHOOLCHILDREN across the region are being given the chance to become the face of a music shop chain Music Zone is launching the competition to encourage creativity in youngsters. The competition is for pupils aged five to 16 and the winner will star
Murder Prevention (five) The Sand Marathon (BBC2) TELEVISION cops come in all shapes and sizes. We've have fat ones, thin ones, tee-total ones, drunk ones. Many come with marital problems and troublesome children. One looks like an English spinster, while
FOR the millions who each week invest a pound in the dream of a life-changing Lottery win, enhancing the region's landscape is most likely not at the forefront of their minds in the queue for their tickets. But, quite possibly unknown to them, devoted
TWO villagers are aiming to tackle a mountain to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, which helps locate bone marrow donors. GP Peter Jones and leisure and planning consultant Geoff Hughes, from Sedgefield, County Durham, will join other fundraisers
MARK PROCTOR was reasonably happy with Saturday's FA Cup first round draw after Darlington were paired with League Two rivals, Yeovil Town. After gate-crashing a corporate box at the back of the main stand, Proctor looked on as Quakers were drawn at home
North-East actor Deka Walmsley talks to Steve Pratt about his dream role as a football manager. GEORDIE actor Deka Walmsley took a special interest in a recent edition of BBC2's Match Of The Day 2 on BBC2, which featured a countdown of the top ten hand
THE referendum on an elected regional assembly in the North-East is expected to cost taxpayers £10.5m, the Government has said. Latest figures show the No campaign is edging in the lead, but with days to go only a quarter of the ballot papers have been
ROCK star Sting will be nominated for his home town's highest honour. Newcastle Council is to be asked to enrol Sting -real name Gordon Sumner -as an honorary freeman of the city. The milkman's son from Wallsend, North Tyneside, rose to fame when he gave
CHANGE doesn't happen quickly in the National Health Service, does it? When Darlington MP Alan Milburn took over as Health Secretary, he said transforming the NHS after decades of under-investment was like turning round a super-tanker. The process of
