Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery has admitted that his team are outsiders to regain their title. Bedlington lost the title to Brandon last season, and are in third place behind Durham and Dunston as they prepare for today's home game with Peterlee
IT'S been hard to tell Matty Robson has been played out of position this season; this afternoon the Hartlepool United teenager is ready to show what he really can do. After 19 solid starts and six substitute appearances, Robson will begin today's game
Another detective duo hits the small screen next week - the latest in a long line of mismatched pairings. DETECTIVE duos are nothing new. They're a staple of TV drama, and the more mismatched they are the better. Compatible isn't a word in the vocabulary
IT has taken 128 years for a major trophy to be brought home to Middlesbrough. But for the 150,000 fans expected to turn out to see the Carling Cup paraded through the town tomorrow, it will have been worth the wait. Sporting silverware is a rarity in
AS a half-washed tin of cat food sailed into the plastic carrier bag containing my lunch, I kind of knew it wasn't the best time of day to be discussing the week's television with my wife. "Look, I'm recycling aren't I? It just happens to be the wrong
A NORTH-East businessman who fleeced £500,000 from his company to lavish gifts on a high-class call girl was behind bars last night. Infatuated Peter Lee, 51, ruined his bus company, Durham Travel Services, and left 170 workers without jobs, after spending
GREGGS plc expects to create up to 600 jobs this year as it forges ahead with expansion plans. The group, based in Newcastle, plans to increase the number of shops from about 1,230 to 1,700 by 2010, and predicted it would open 67 outlets this year and
The trademark long red tresses have gone as Patsy Palmer finally leaves Bianca and Albert Square far behind to star in a one woman musical by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. She talks to Viv Hardwick. PATSY Palmer admits she's never had a singing lesson in her life
DALEPAK is hoping to take a larger slice of the vegetarian food market by launching a range of frozen ready-meals. The market leader in frozen vegetable-based, meat-free food is hoping to increase its presence in a sector which is worth £187m and expanding
FANS of Farmer Jack (3.30) can look forward to a bumper harvest at Newbury provided the eight-year-old maintains his recent improvement, writes Colin Woods. Farmer Jack rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick over fences at Taunton, Haydock, and Kempton last
A competition is encouraging musical youngsters to hit the right note. Pupils aged seven to 11 from Pelton Community, Chester-le-Street CE and Red Primary schools, in Chester-le-Street, and St Margaret's CE School, in Durham, are taking part in a musical
A former patient who led efforts to get Richard Neale struck off has condemned Health Secretary Dr John Reid for refusing to meet representatives of more than 300 victims. Sheila Wright-Hogeland is founder and chairwoman of the action group set up to
A ROMAN Catholic priest who preyed on boys for 12 years was behind bars last night after a judge told him: "You let the church down and brought shame to yourself." Retired parish priest Noel Barrett, 62, was jailed for 45 months by Judge George Moorhouse
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: HUGH Pender (HAS, Feb 28) did not really have any thing worthy to say about the letter from JN Woodrow (HAS, Feb 24). The questions posed by Mr Woodrow are relevant to England and there should be no input from Scottish MPs or their
A GROUP of secondary school pupils are preparing for a gospel concert. The youngsters, from Grangefield School, in Stockton, will take part in the event with the Birmingham group Black Voices, which is holding workshops in schools on Teesside. Two members
A DRIVER was jailed for eight years yesterday for causing the death of an eight-month-old baby. The family of Callum Taylor were walking near their home in West Cornforth, County Durham, when Paul Lee lost control of his car and mounted the pavement.
Cleadon SC will move into third position if they defeat second-from-bottom Washington Nissan UK this afternoon. And, despite the fact that they have played more games than their nearest rivals, manager Doug Key is confident his side can finish in the
THERE might be a host of emerging drivers waiting to steal his crown, but the person most likely to rob Michael Schumacher of the Formula One world title is Michael Schumacher himself. The German created grand prix history last year by becoming the first
THE curious thing about a life preserver is that its purpose was often the opposite, to bash Victorian brains out. "A stick or bludgeon loaded with lead, referred to as a frequent weapon of burglars," says the Oxford English, and might have added that
ABOUT 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of Middlesbrough tomorrow, to hail Boro's Carling Cup heroes. Organisers yesterday revealed details of the route the victory parade will take through the town, allowing people to see for themselves
DETECTIVE duos are nothing new. They're a staple of TV drama, and the more mismatched they are the better. Compatible isn't a word in the vocabulary of the writers of such series. Several pairs are added to the roll call of odd couples sleuths this month
THERE might be a host of emerging drivers waiting to steal his crown, but the person most likely to rob Michael Schumacher of the Formula One world title is Michael Schumacher himself. The German created grand prix history last year by becoming the first
She has had an acclaimed career both on stage and screen, but for some people Diana Rigg will always be Emma Peel. Steve Pratt meets the Dame who found fame in a catsuit. DAME Diana Rigg has been caught red-handed and there is no point denying it. She's
ONE of the region's most historic Christian sites has been reopened to tourists after a £500,000 refurbishment. The 12th Century St Hilda's Church, in Hartlepool, has had new facilities installed to attract tourists. The church, built on the site of a
ANDY COLLETT last night thanked the Darlington fans who have given the goalkeeper his "best years in the game". The Quakers stopper yesterday announced his retirement from professional football after failing to recover from a shoulder injury. Collett
A POLICE officer's career appears to be over following his conviction for assaulting a constable attending a house over an early hours' noise complaint. PC Richard Lee Grayson, 35, denied a charge of assaulting PC Dennis Thompson, causing him actual bodily
FRANK PETERS, a highly-respected former chief sub-editor of The Northern Echo, has died at the age of 69. Born in 1934, he attended St Bede's School, Sunderland, before joining The Echo in Darlington. During a distinguished career, he worked for the Scottish
A CASUALTY department was closed when staff began feeling unwell after treating a man who had been squirted in the face with caustic chemicals, it was revealed yesterday. The 25-year-old County Durham man was attacked outside a house in Surrey Crescent
PEOPLE in a County Durham village have been reassured that plans to curtail the opening hours of their local bank are not a precursor to its closure. Villagers in Middleton-in-Teesdale were worried that the local Barclays branch had been scheduled for
A WIDOW is furious after a local authority issued her dead mother-in-law with a council tax bill for one penny. Heather Mitchell, of Barnard Castle, received the bill from Teesdale District Council for her late mother-in-law, Gladys Mitchell, who had
A FAMILY is celebrating after collecting a full set of academic honours. Katrina Gill, from Sedgefield, has become the fourth member of her family to gain a doctorate. She completed her PhD - her thesis was in protein biochemistry - at Newcastle University
ACTION is being planned to stop groups of people meeting for sex in a lay-by and picnic area near Darlington. Two areas just to the north of the town, on the A68, are being advertised as locations for "dogging" - meeting to have sex with strangers in
Q My only income is a State Pension of £87.27 a week. How much in savings are people allowed when claiming Pension Credit (PC)? I am 83. A There is no upper savings limit. Savings are treated as income on a sliding scale, with anything under £6,000 ignored
PLANS to demolish a sports hall and health centre in Darlington have been condemned by conservationists. North-East Property Holdings has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to demolish the Archer Street sports hall and a medical centre
COLOUR Sergeant Ross McNab is now tuned in to the needs of the 21st Century Army, thanks to Darlington College, at Catterick. The 33-year-old warrant officer with the 1st Battalion of the King's Regiment is being trained as an instructor and will be among
A SCHOOL with 15 pupils has won a national award for producing an illustrated guide to the local countryside. Forest-in-Teesdale School, in Upper Teesdale, has received a Heritage Stars Award for the Langdon Beck Story Walk project. Four of the pupils
EIGHT-WEEK football courses for girls start next week in Derwentside. Sessions start on Wednesday, from 5pm to 6pm, in Stanley Youth Centre, for girls aged 12 to 14. On Thursday, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, sessions for ten to 12-year-olds start at Belle Vue
A MEMORIAL service will be held later this month to mark the 60th anniversary of a bomber pilot's sacrifice. Pilot Officer Cyril Barton was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for guiding his crippled Halifax bomber away from homes in a North-East pit
WALKERS who say a footpath on the edge of Northallerton is so neglected it has become dangerous have been advised to make the repairs themselves. President of the Rotary Club of Northallerton Les Crelling has been leading the calls for repairs to the
YOUNGSTERS from primary schools across Thornaby have had their voices heard this week in a celebration of the spoken word. The Blue Beyond presentation is the culmination of workshops where children rehearsed poetry, prose and drama. Pupils from Village
POLICE are searching for a pub landlord who has been missing since the weekend. Gavin Allinson, 48, the landlord of the Royal Star, Startforth, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, left the pub without warning after closing time on Sunday and has not been
TONY BLAIR'S vision for education came under the spotlight during his visit. He toured Teesside University's new Olympia Building sports facility, in Middlesbrough, where students protested over plans to introduce top-up tuition fees. His entourage swept
AFTER more than five years of campaigning, east Durham has secured a portable skateboard park. The ramps and safety equipment, worth £37,000, will be set up in different parts of the district according to demand. It was the lack of skateboarding facilities
FRANCK QUEUDRUE is hoping Middlesbrough's first ever trophy success will strengthen his attempts to fulfil a dream of receiving an international call-up. Queudrue will be part of the club's victory parade tomorrow afternoon as they proudly display the
HOLIDAY park operator Parkdean Holidays has started the new year on a high with like-for-like advance bookings up more than ten per cent. Parkdean, which has 14 parks in Scotland, South Wales and Cornwall, said it had continued to generate holiday hire
THE Duke of York embarked on a whistle-stop tour of North Yorkshire yesterday - including a ride on the newly restored Wensleydale Railway. Prince Andrew's day began in Thirsk, where he toured the Multidrive factory, which makes specialist vehicles for
DESIGNER jewellers and textile artists are to highlight the creativity of communication in an exhibition. Twenty one members of the Designer Jewellers Group and 22 textile artists created works for the display, called Fusion, which will be at the Durham
The life and scenery of Nidderdale will be illustrated in an exhibition of photographs by Tessa Bunney at Harrogate's Mercer Gallery next week. The artist will be at the gallery from 1pm on Thursday and 2.30pm next Saturday. Those who would like to attend
TWIGGY and Mick Jagger are to put in an appearance at a North-East gallery as part of a star-studded exhibition. Tony Blair and John Gielgud will also be featuring in the exhibition called A History of Portrait Photography, which opens at the Durham Light
The children's story, The Greatest Drummer in the World, is brought to life in a stage production. Steve Pratt reports. When Elizabeth Mansfield was asked to contribute to a festival of new writing for children, she jumped at the chance. And she knew
A DRIVER was jailed for eight years yesterday for causing the death of an eight-month-old baby. The family of Callum Taylor were walking near their home in West Cornforth, County Durham, when Paul Lee lost control of his car and mounted the pavement.
SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy has effectively written off his side's chances of winning the FA Cup - because he can't see anyone beating Arsenal. McCarthy is convinced that the Gunners, who have a quarter-final date with Portsmouth at Fratton Park this
GREGGS plc expects to create up to 600 jobs this year as it forges ahead with expansion plans. The group, based in Newcastle, plans to increase the number of shops from about 1,230 to 1,700 by 2010, and predicted it would open 67 outlets this year and
BUDGET airline easyJet reported a 17.4 per cent increase in passengers on its flights last month. The carrier said 1.86 million people flew on its planes in February, against 1.59 million in the same month last year. The group's load factor - how full
A LAW student who swapped the courtroom for a life of magic has been hailed a success. Matthew Dowden was voted Close-up Magician of the Year by his peers in the Newcastle Magic Circle. Close-up magic is based on sleight of hand and card tricks, all performed
THERE are certain images that leave an indelible imprint in FA Cup final history and, for whatever reason, most of them are couched in white. Wembley's famous twin towers shone out like white beacons, the venue's first ever Cup final will forever be remembered
AS a native of Estonia, Mart Poom grew up watching the flickering images of FA Cup finals on Finnish television. In those pre-glasnost years, Soviet state TV blocked coverage of the Wembley showpiece. But Poom never stopped dreaming that, one day, he
SILENTLY sinking 12,000 feet through black water, the mini-submarine came to a halt on the seabed. As the sub travelled just above the silt, its torches picked up the silhouette of the behemoth. The salvage team had found that Holy Grail of wrecks, the
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S break from the strains of Premiership football has been welcomed by evergreen midfielder Gary Speed. The 34-year-old has played every minute of the Magpies' last 12 matches, and has only failed to start three of their 38 games so far
RAPIDLY rising star Rodalko (2.35) should not be missed in the three-mile £25,000 Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster today. Oliver Sherwood's six-year-old destroyed a quality field at Ludlow two days ago prompting the trainer to declare: "The horse really
Bishop Auckland have announced that they are to groundshare at Spennymoor's Brewery Field next season - to save themselves from relegation from the UniBond League. Bishops have been told by the UniBond League that unless their groundshare at Shildon's
SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy has effectively written off his side's chances of winning the FA Cup - because he can't see anyone beating Arsenal. McCarthy is convinced that the Gunners, who have a quarter-final date with Portsmouth at Fratton Park this
Michael Stephenson will be looking to put himself in the frame for next week's Powergen Cup semi-final when he returns to action for the Newcastle Falcons today. Stephenson has just recovered from a lengthy lay-off with a dislocated elbow and with no
ONE of the region's top young runners has achieved a remarkable victory by winning a major race despite being mistakenly sent off on a 400-metre detour. Simon Watson, 15, was well ahead in the County Durham Schools 5km race when disaster struck. With
PATSY Palmer admits she's never had a singing lesson in her life and has never appeared in a one-woman show, but she didn't think twice about taking on the tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman showcase Tell Me On A Sunday. On a Wednesday, after a hectic
THE new chairman of the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley pledged last night to boost the numbers of adults in education during his time in office. Terry Dabbs, who takes over as chairman next month, said he wanted to build a culture of learning
ANDY COLLETT last night thanked the Darlington fans who have given the goalkeeper his "best years in the game." The Quakers stopper yesterday announced his retirement from professional football after failing to recover from a shoulder injury. Collett
THE curious thing about a life preserver is that its purpose was often the opposite, to bash Victorian brains out. "A stick or bludgeon loaded with lead, referred to as a frequent weapon of burglars," says the Oxford English, and might have added that
THE future of Darlington Football Club still hung in the balance last night as the deadline for take-over bids passed with no offers on the table. Administrators will be sending details to creditors next week of a fall-back rescue deal, potentially involving
ABOUT 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of Middlesbrough tomorrow, to hail Boro's Carling Cup heroes. Organisers yesterday revealed details of the route the victory parade will take through the town, allowing people to see for themselves
A NURSERY in Darlington is experiencing its own baby boom, because a quarter of its staff has fallen pregnant. Five out of the 20 people who work full and part-time at the Kids and Co nursery, in Darlington Town Hall, are expecting babies in the near
SNOW White and Spiderman, gangsters and gremlins helped primary school pupils spread their World Book Day celebrations over a week. Pupils at St Cuthbert's RC Primary School, Crook, rounded off a busy programme of events yesterday by going to school dressed
PEOPLE in Darlington and Teesside will soon be able to learn new skills by switching on their television. The Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley is launching its own television series to help people develop vital skills. The Tees Valley Television
ACTION is being planned to stop groups of people meeting for sex in a lay-by and picnic area near Darlington. Two areas just to the north of the town, on the A68, are being advertised as locations for "dogging" - meeting to have sex with strangers in
THREE men have been jailed for their parts in a double attack on an innocent bystander who got caught up in a row. Recorder Anton Lodge locked up Teesside men Peter Gibbon and Brian Bennett for 18 months and their friend Richard Weighell for a year yesterday
A MAN who won a competition with a "green" pledge, has been presented with an nvironmentally-friendly fridge - delivered on a milk float. Trevor Dredge, from Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, won a Middlesbrough Council competition to encourage people to
COMMUNITY leaders on an estate where domestic violence accounts for the majority of assaults have pledged to tackle the problem. PC Andy Gore, beat officer for the Firthmoor estate, in Darlington, told a community safety meeting he believed about 90 per
A NORTH-EAST university project has been so successful it has secured more European funding to help companies across the region. The University of Sunderland's Business Bridge North East, which offers local firms an extra pair of hands, has already helped
A gymnasium has been opened to help patients recovering from injury or operations to return to health more quickly. Physiotherapy staff at the facilities at Chester-le-Street Community Hospital can offer increased rehabilitation services to people in
A competition is encouraging musical youngsters to hit the right note. Pupils aged seven to 11 from Pelton Community, Chester-le-Street CE and Red Primary schools, in Chester-le-Street, and St Margaret's CE School, in Durham, are taking part in a musical
CHILDREN'S writer and TV presenter Nick Arnold is bringing his popular blend of science and fun to the North-East as part of a city's Science Festival. Famous for his best-selling Horrible Science series of children's books, Mr Arnoldwill perform two
A FIRSTHAND account of the plight of the Palestinian community in the West Bank was given to a North-East audience. Charitable trust worker, peace activist and Ramallah resident Hadeel Qazzaz is in the region on a week-long speaking tour of the country
TALKS are expected to resume soon over the future of Aysgarth's Youth Hostel. A campaign to save the premises foundered last year when regional development agency Yorkshire Forward declined to make a contribution to the £500,000 restoration scheme. North
A SCHOOL celebrated World Book Day by inviting an author to assembly to talk to the children about her latest book. Mother-of-two Amanda Robinson realised some aspects of information technology could be difficult for under-tens to grasp, so together with
A MAN was jailed for three years yesterday after setting fire to his ex-girlfriend's house while she was in bed. Teesside Crown Court heard how Karl Cirulis, of Staindale Gardens, Stockton, poured flammable liquid through Margaret Sheehan's letterbox
COUNTY Durham's sport development organisation has committed itself to fighting racism. Durham Sport, which co-ordinates the development of sport in the county, has signed the Racial Quality Charter for Sport. It has pledged to curb discrimination, celebrate
SO many people opposed a bid to transform a former royal residence into a school for pupils with learning difficulties that at a meeting they had to be divided into two groups. About 120 residents attended an emergency meeting called by Goldsborough Parish
THE organisation behind a campaign to rescue Richmond's former railway station has called a meeting for next week when the public will be asked to back a community buyout. Owner Richmondshire District Council has offered the old farm and garden supply
CAMPAIGNING cobbler Tony Martin has been given until the end of the month to leave his shop. Mr Martin, who uses the window of his premises in Claypath, Durham, to criticise Durham city councillors and officials, has substantial rent arrears. His landlord
PART-TIME childcare students have designed children's toys and other products with safety in mind. The group is studying for a Btec in early years development at Stockton Riverside development. Their tutor Joanne Riddle described their latest project
AN MP has condemned a North-East social club that bans women from playing snooker - in case a tantalising glimpse of their legs sparks a fight between the men. Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar, said she was furious to learn the Eston and California club
AN MP has condemned a North-East social club that bans women from playing snooker - in case a tantalising glimpse of their legs sparks a fight between the men. Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar, said she was furious to learn the Eston and California club
A CASUALTY department was closed when staff began feeling unwell after treating a man who had been squirted in the face with caustic chemicals, it was revealed yesterday. The 25-year-old County Durham man was attacked outside a house in Surrey Crescent
A FREE exhibition titled Come See Our Etchings is at a North-East art gallery. The display, at Hartlepool Art Gallery, in Church Square, runs until Sunday, April 18. Pride of place goes to a pencil drawing of The Front at Hartlepool by LS Lowry, which
She has had an acclaimed career both on stage and screen, but for some people Diana Rigg will always be Emma Peel. Steve Pratt meets the Dame who found fame in a catsuit. DAME Diana Rigg has been caught red-handed and there is no point denying it. She's
SHARES in Safeway were traded for the final time yesterday as the supermarket chain prepared for its £3bn takeover by Morrisons. Morrisons, based in Bradford, will take over Safeway on Monday - 14 months after first making an offer for the UK's fourth
