Stories for 26 February 2004
Consett,Stanley,Chester Le Street News
MP will speak at renewal seminar
COUNTY Durham is to join in the debate on the role family learning plays in neighbourhood renewal. more...
Festival organisers welcome £50,000 contingency fund
ORGANISERS of a popular free music festival have given a cautious welcome to the contingency sum set aside by a council to ensure the event goes ahead this year. more...
Children arrested at former hospital
PARENTS are being warned that children in Chester-le-Street are facing prosecution for vandalising a disused hospital. more...
Minister training day
A training event for Methodist ministers and lay preachers is to take place in Chester-le-Street on April 3. more...
Darlington,Newton Aycliffe,Sedgefield,Barnard Castle News
Nicholas is the new voice of youth
Nicholas Atkinson is the new voice for young people across Darlington. more...
Villagers appeal for traffic action
ANGRY villagers have called on Darlington councillors to tackle the problem of speeding motorists. more...
Communication award for school newshounds
A SCHOOL newspaper has made such an impact that it has won an award for citizenship and communication. more...
Police appeal to trace motorists
POLICE are trying to contact rush-hour motorists whose cars were allegedly damaged by two drunken men in Darlington on Monday. more...
Durham,East Durham News
Net tightens on illegal traders
ROGUE doorstep fish traders are being caught by food watchdogs. more...
Car park reaches security milestone
THE car park at Durham's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre has clocked up five years without a vehicle being broken into. more...
Experts value family treasures
HEIRLOOMS including cigarette cards and old picture postcards went under the eye of specialists who were visiting Carrville, near Durham, yesterday. more...
Market bans smoking
A SMOKING ban comes into force at an indoor market next month due to popular demand. more...
East Cleveland News
Lisa has the skills to help change your life
AN east Cleveland woman has become a North-East Skills for Life Champion and will help improve standards of adult literacy and maths throughout the region. more...
Paedophile murder denied
A MAN is to stand trial after denying the murder of a convicted paedophile. more...
Northallerton,Richmond,Hawes News
Anglers reel in £1,140 for charity
ANGLERS from all over the country have taken part in a fishing match to raise more than £1,000 for charity. more...
Tributes paid to dedicated headteacher who died at 47
TRIBUTES have been paid to a school headteacher who died this week aged 47 following a short illness. more...
Lack of staff hits coronary services
A SHORTAGE of specialist staff is slowing down the improvement of some coronary care services, according to a report. more...
Scenic views restored as teams clear trees
RICHMOND is celebrating the restoration of one of its landmarks this week. more...
Teesside News
Skate park security petition
A PETITION will be handed to councillors tomorrow calling for tighter security at a skateboard park following reports of bullying. more...
Consultation group targets teenagers on electoral roll
TIME is running out for people to join a consultation group which helps shape council services in Hartlepool. more...
Revived drive to net shop thieves
SHOP thieves were warned last night that the net was closing in on them as a scheme was revived to reduce retail crime. more...
Lisa has the skills to help change your life
AN east Cleveland woman has become a North-East Skills for Life Champion and will help improve standards of adult literacy and maths throughout the region. more...
Addicts jailed for charity shop raid
A DRUG addict couple who robbed a volunteer worker in a charity shop were jailed yesterday. more...
The North East Advertiser
Heart girl Rachel gets her wish to help others
THE final wish of Rachel Wakeford, who has died three years after a life-saving heart transplant, was to donate her heart back to medical research. more...
Funfair will help local charity
ORGANISERS of a funfair that has become a popular annual event in Newton Aycliffe are looking for a local charity to support. more...
Charity treadmill challenge
PENSIONER power gave a charity event a leg up this weekend. more...
Friends and family gather for popular solicitor's funeral
WELL-KNOWN solicitor and former director of Darlington Football Club has died aged 55. more...
War on fast food litter
FAST food outlets in Darlington will be 'named and shamed' in a new campaign to clean up the streets. more...
Homes protest gathers pace
RESIDENTS are regrouping for round two of a battle with a property developer in Chester-le-Street. more...
Drama group steps into jungle life
AN amateur dramatics group in Darlington is appealing for new members as it prepares to stage the Jungle Book. more...
Garden tribute for 100th birthday
A FORMER civil servant celebrated her 100th birthday by having a garden named after her. more...
Breakdown boss urges safer toll
A FORMER rally driver has called for improvements to a Durham city centre road toll barrier to prevent further accidents. more...
Guild and WI news
North Lodge WI: AFTER the business was concluded at the February meeting, the president Mrs Rennie and committee relaxed and enjoyed the annual Members' Night, which was splendidly organised by Dorothy Emmerson and volunteer members. more...
Council saves blues festival
ORGANISERS of a popular free music festival have cautiously welcomed a contingency sum set aside by a council to ensure the event goes ahead this year. more...
New care homes opened
A NEW-STYLE home designed for pensioners who want to live independently has opened on the site of an old residential home. more...
Teenager is inspiration to young people
TEENAGER Stephen Westgarth's achievements are being used in a campaign to raise attainment in north Durham. more...
Jonathan's goal
A Chester-le-Street footballer is heading overseas to follow his dream of becoming a professional. more...
Police shutters go down at night
FRONT desks at police stations in Darlington and County Durham are to be closed overnight. more...
Great works on show
CELEBRATED artist Tom McGuinness is to stage his first selling exhibition in four years. more...
Poisonous spider goes up for adoption
A POISONOUS tarantula is set to start a new life after being replaced by bosses of a horticultural haven. more...
Jonathan's goal
A TEENAGE sports enthusiast is heading overseas to follow his dream to become a professional footballer. more...
Volunteers step out
TWENTY volunteers have already stepped forward to walk over burning coals, in the name of charity next month. more...
Pupils monkey around
MONKEYING around with an artist has paid dividends for pupils at a Derwentside school. more...
Landlord toasts new brew
LANDLORD Graham Ford is celebrating after winning his own beer festival. more...
The North East Business
Workers vote for industrial action on pay
FACTORY workers have voted to take action over a below-inflation pay increase. more...
Building society reports soaring profits
NEWCASTLE Building Society has seen one of its best years with profits and income soaring. more...
Phil's Mini adventure gets a little bit longer with fleet extension
BRIDES wanting a little bit of luxury on the way to their weddings can take advantage of a new service. more...
Banking company adds £4bn to profits
HBOS yesterday delivered forecast-beating results to add another £4bn to the £25bn profits expected from the five major UK banks this year. more...
Dog gone? Beer could lose protected status
ITS famous name is protected by European law alongside Cornish Clotted Cream, Jersey New Potatoes and Shetland Lamb. more...
Interest rate increase is predicted
ANALYSTS predicted another interest rate rise last night after figures showed the British economy was growing more quickly than anticipated. more...
Schott staff suspend strike pending vote on pay offer
PLANS for strike action at a North-East factory have been suspended to give union members time to consider a revised pay offer. more...
The North East Entertainment
The Full Monty, Newcastle Theatre Royal
ADAPTING this well-loved film for the stage was always going to be a tough challenge. So many of us loved it for its gritty humour and quintessential Britishness that any new version was likely to set itself up for criticism. more...
Meaty kiss
NANNY Claire packs her bags and prepares to leave Coronation Street (ITV1) - and butcher Ashley Peacock. Observers are dying to cry out, "Stop, he loves you" but good manners prevent them from shouting in public and sounding like Les Battersby. more...
The passion and the fury
It's already been dubbed the most controversial film of the year and denounced for blaming the Jews for Christ's death. more...
New To Rent
Confidence (15, Momentum Pictures, DVD to buy £17.99/VHS £12.99): Starring: Edward Burns, Rachel Weisz, Andy Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, Morris Chestnut, Paul Giamatti, Brian Van Holt, Donal Logue, Louis Lombardi, Luis Guzman, Franky G. more...
Polly clots
Steve Pratt meets Jennifer Aniston and Ben Shiller as they discuss thoughts on British comedy after filming Along Came Polly and why Aniston would never turn down filming another episode of Friends with Matt Le Blanc. more...
Pyjama aims
Viv Hardwick talks to young actor Stefan Butler about lopping a decade of his age to play ten-year-old Tom in Tom's Midnight Garden and why he doesn't mind having to constantly wear pyjamas on stage. more...
Folk band sing about mining life
THE music of pitman's poet Tommy Armstrong will be given the 21st Century treatment in Stanley this weekend. more...
A Doll's House, Darlington Civic Theatre
I CAN'T claim any prior knowledge of Ibsen's classic work, but this play from the 1880s creates debate today let alone the sensational attack it was on society in those days. more...
Captain Corelli eat your heart out
Gavin Engelbrecht talks to musician Rod Hall about his decision to fight for the musical future of the mandolin. more...
Learning a hard lesson away from Westminster
My Week In The Real World (BBC2): T HIS series is the politicians' equivalent of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. Former Cabinet minister Clare Short's bushtucker trial was to spend a week teaching geography in a tough inner city London school. more...
Acting sister
Kaye Wragg has had to cope with criticism of her acting projects after BBC1's The Lakes came under fire for its content. more...
Family friendly museum wins national honour
A MUSEUM dedicated to the North-East's mining past has been named the most family friendly museum in the country. more...
The North East Features
TV review
My Week In The Real World (BBC2) more...
Tony should come clean over MMR
WHEN my youngest son was a few months old, there was a case of measles at our local playgroup. The parents of the infected child hadn't had him vaccinated against MMR because they were worried about links with autism. more...
The passion and the fury
It's already been dubbed the most controversial film of the year and denounced for blaming the Jews for Christ's death. more...
John North: A dying wish fulfilled
A visit to a North Yorkshire village provides the column with news of an historic funeral. more...
Dad At Large: Love all in a game of doubles
SOULMATES don't come along very often but that's what Jack is - my soulmate. I'm going on 42 and he's ten but we have everything in common. Me and my shadow, we stick together like glue. more...
26/02/2004
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: THERE are strong arguments on either side over whether we should have a regional assembly set up in the North-East. more...
Comment from The Northern Echo: Not a case for anonymity
THE Northern Echo accepts that, more often than not, there are very valid reasons why juveniles appearing in court should not be named. more...
The North East Leisure
Love all in a game of doubles
SOULMATES don't come along very often but that's what Jack is - my soulmate. I'm going on 42 and he's ten but we have everything in common. Me and my shadow, we stick together like glue. more...
Love all in a game of doubles
SOULMATES don't come along very often but that's what Jack is - my soulmate. I'm going on 42 and he's ten but we have everything in common. Me and my shadow, we stick together like glue. more...
The North East News
Car dealership offers cup final weekend discount
A CAR dealership is getting into gear as cup final fever grips a town. more...
Games are postponed after club player dies
THE team-mates of a footballer killed in a car accident last night agreed to postpone their next two matches as a mark of respect. more...
Experts to introduce crime deterrents
SAFETY experts have launched an initiative to help elderly and vulnerable people. more...
Businessman with call girl obsession makes 170 redundant
A wealthy businessman threw 170 workers on the dole when he fleeced his own company of £600,000 - spending most of it on a high class call girl. more...
Teen abducted and sexually assaulted in car
A TEENAGE girl who was abducted and sexually assaulted escaped her attackers when they were spotted by passers-by. more...
Military Cross for hero marine
A ROYAL Marine from the North-East was among those honoured by the Queen yesterday for outstanding bravery in the allied action against Iraq. more...
Dentist 'caught up in Dutch kidnap case'
THE dentist at the centre of extraordinary scenes when her new clinic opened last week has appeared in court on a criminal charge, it emerged yesterday. more...
Store to raise cash for hospices
STAFF from the region's Tesco stores have pledged to raise £3m for hospices around the UK - and causes in the North-East will be among those to benefit. more...
Bird feeders blamed for rat infestations
KIND-hearted householders who take the time to feed birds during the winter months are being blamed for an increase in rat infestations. more...
Counselling service welcomes newcomer
The Northern Echo's counselling website has a new representative. more...
Mystery over businessman's bid for Quakers
MYSTERY last night surrounded businessman Ted Forster's bid to take over Darlington Football Club after a day of surprisingly little activity. more...
Rapist youth who tried to strangle victim is locked up
A 16-YEAR-OLD youth who raped a teenager twice and half-throttled her in a wood has been locked up for six years and put on the sex offenders' register. more...
Bidder sails in with £13,000 for letter written on Titanic
IT was one among thousands and, on numerous occasions, could so easily have been consigned to the dustbin, but yesterday, a single letter fetched an impressive £13,000. more...
Chemical spill shuts water plant
AN inquiry was launched last night into a chemical spill at a major water treatment works that supplies 250,000 North-East homes. more...
Seeking ways to speed up IVF
HEALTH bosses who warned North-East women they would have to wait eight years for fertility treatment are to hold talks to improve the service. more...
Revived drive to net shop thieves
SHOP thieves were warned last night that the net was closing in on them as a scheme was revived to reduce retail crime. more...
Hospital unveils new heart machine
HEART patients are to benefit from a £100,000 machine which will help in the fight against coronary heart disease. more...
Force is accused over funds shortfall
A POLICE force which is £7.3m in the red was accused of financial mismanagement yesterday. more...
Ancient stack offers little resistance to modern machine
A LONE 21st Century machine yesterday triggered the swift demise of a 250 million-year-old landmark on the North-East coast. more...
Delegation to put case for Gospels' return to region
ONLY the British Library - not the Government - can take the decision to return the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North-East, MPs were told last night. more...
Consultation group targets teenagers on electoral roll
TIME is running out for people to join a consultation group which helps shape council services in Hartlepool. more...
Students on march over university top-up fees
STUDENTS at one North-East university have millions of reasons for rebelling against Government plans to introduce tuition top-up fees. more...
Police probe mystery of garden grave baby
A POLICE investigation was under way last night after a baby's body was discovered in a shallow grave in the garden of a terraced house. more...
The North East Sport
Riley to give Boro and Bolton offside help
MATCH referee Mike Riley is to meet representatives from Middlesbrough and Bolton to clarify FIFA's revised interpretation of the offside rule before Sunday's Carling Cup final. more...
Gilded Cove can cut a dash in Southwell's sprint opener
PUNTERS should need no second invitation to back Gilded Cove (2.20) in the opening six-furlong dash at Southwell today. more...
Goal hero seeking a repeat show
SUNDERLAND goal hero Tommy Smith last night set his sights on a second FA Cup semi-final appearance in the space of two years. more...
Duffield anger at bid block
Darlington target Peter Duffield has revealed his frustration at not being allowed to join the Quakers from Third Division rivals Boston United. more...
Robertson tribute to Cooper
HUGH Robertson admits the chance to link up with Neale Cooper again was too good to turn down. more...
Top of the cash league
Premier League clubs are still spending far in excess of their European neighbours on new players, although prudence remains the watchword in the English transfer market. more...
Smith shoots Cats into quarter-finals
TOMMY Smith's extra-time double fired Sunderland into the last eight of the FA Cup as Mick McCarthy's men returned to St Andrew's to avenge the lowest point of a rollercoaster 12 months. more...
Newcastle seeking light at the end of blind alley
Sir Bobby Robson has admitted Newcastle United will be stepping into the unknown when they face Norwegian side Valerenga in Oslo tonight. more...
Bridges to end Euro nightmare
Michael Bridges aims to bury his European ghosts and launch his Newcastle United career in the Magpies third round UEFA Cup match against Valerenga in Norway tonight. more...
Chambers set to fight Olympic ban
Dwain Chambers is expected to become the first athlete to test the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban policy at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. more...
Tyneside News
store opens with fireworks
FIREWORKS greeted hundreds of shoppers who turned up at the new home interiors store from Marks & Spencer yesterday. more...
Arson fear over blaze at university building
A FIRE that caused damage of about £2m to a building at a North-East university may have been started deliberately, it emerged last night. more...
Wear Valley,Bishop Auckland News
Birthday milestone celebrated
A FORMER nurse celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday, surrounded by friends and family. more...
Foundation stone laid for care home
THE foundation stone of an extraCare home for elderly people was unveiled yesterday. more...
Anger at failure of community arcade
DREAMS of building a community arcade have been shattered. more...
Quit smoking course popular
A PROJECT has supported hundreds of people in Sedgefield borough who want to stop smoking, figures show. more...
Wearside News
MP will speak at renewal seminar
COUNTY Durham is to join in the debate on the role family learning plays in neighbourhood renewal. more...
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