South Durham Royals: Having been beaten 3-0 four days earlier in the knockout cup by Chester-le-Street, Royals went into their semi-final of the Bill Godward League Cup against the same opposition with renewed determination. They got off to the perfect
WOMEN from across the North-East enjoyed an exclusive preview yesterday of summer fashion collections. The catwalk show was hosted by the Aria boutique as part of a major fundraising drive for The Rainbow Trust. Ladies Day took place at Ramside Hall Hotel
Ladies: A busy time for the ladies under the captaincy of Dorothy Hill with competitions in the wider fields of golf as at Bedale. Mail on Sunday: The third round of this competition was played at Dinsdale golf club with the team of Gillian Petrie, Julie
THE man who has transformed a Bedale-based enterprise agency in only four years retires today, reflecting on success stories among people who have set up their own small businesses. The arrival of Ian Crowther as chief executive at the modest offices
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Centenary sale. Fwd: 394 store cattle, 120 feeding bulls, 6 bulling hfrs, 2 pure Lim bulls, 1 hfr incalf, 11 cows & hfrs with calves. Champion beast: Lim X bullock, JW Dent & Sons, £710 to Nicholson. Prizes. - Feeding bull
OTTERS are being encouraged to breed in a quiet section of one of the region's rivers. English Nature has unveiled new otter holts constructed on the River Wear in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. It is hoped the scheme, part of the Mineral Valleys Project
Bishop Auckland Barrington Wanderers: Barrington Wanderers travelled to play Farringdon Jubilee, Sunderland and came away comfortable 6-1 winners. On the hottest day of the year so far the temperatures made it difficult to play football but the sun also
THIS year the Government trumpeted plans for enhanced investment in public services, promising extra grants for local authorities. This promise, against the background of the lowest rate of inflation for a generation, ought to have meant good news for
A MAJOR survey involving nearly 7,000 respondents has highlighted concern about the future of working farms. Nearly a third of those questioned in the survey, conducted by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said they were most worried about losing
A pioneering and controversial midwife-run maternity unit goes live a week today. But bosses at Bishop Auckland General Hospital say the new, less high-tech approach to giving birth is proving a hit with local women. When plans were announced to strip
Fairy Godfathers (C4) Successful reality shows, like Wife Swap, match like with unlike and set the cameras rolling to watch the confrontations. The secret is in good research, in finding the right participants to ensure that conflict is inevitable. A
What a difference a week makes - from the torrential rain and foul conditions of the previous weekend, to warm Spring sunshine. Golfers at Woodham enjoyed splendid weather for their weekend competitions on April 24/25. The Neville Pharmacy Stableford
DARLINGTON winger Ian Clark last night leapt to the defence of goalkeeper Michael Price by insisting survival wouldn't have been achieved without his heroics this season. The stopper came under scrutiny when he struggled to deal with a near post shot
FALLOUT: BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL: Publisher, Avlon Interactive, Format: PS2, price: £39.99, out now: FALLOUT, Interplay's adult-oriented post-apocalypse action game, is rightly regarded as something of a PC gaming classic. Sure, it may have ripped off Mad
THE family of an obese smoker have received £1,500 in damages after they turned down a £65,000 offer made after medical staff failed to diagnose fatal heart disease. Housewife Gladys Ranson, a 21-stone diabetic who smoked 20 cigarettes a day, died in
Sir, - We write to express our concern over a growing threat to one of Britain's most precious national treasures, the North York Moors National Park. This is a site of extraordinary natural beauty, environmental significance and historical importance
Middlesbrough AC: Rob Cole of Middlesbrough AC winner over both 1500m and 3000m at the recent open meeting and with an outstanding winter of cross counties behind him, is the only North-East athlete to be selected to race at Iffley Road, Oxford on May
NEWSPAPERS have been full of asterisks recently. After Beckham's text messages it became a tale of the two Ronnies - O'Sullivan and Atkinson. Big Ron has suddenly become Bigot Ron, and our infatuation with political correctness has meant that some national
A MAN was taken to hospital after he was shot in the stomach with a baton round during an armed siege yesterday. Firearms officers were called to Sandringham Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, after reports that another man had been threatened with a firearm.
A SCHOOLGIRL will continue her education at Darlington's Polam Hall School thanks to Peugeot dealer Simon Bailes. Lara Tyselling, 11, from Darlington, has been awarded the Simon Bailes Scholarship to study at the school. The scholarship is the first business-sponsored
PEOPLE living in a town preparing for the launch of a £10m visitor attraction have launched a plea to rescue their blighted neighbourhood. About 60,000 visitors a year are expected to visit Shildon when Locomotion: The National Railway Museum opens. But
PEOPLE are protesting that work has only just begun to repair a Darlington community centre which was set on fire more than a month ago. Joyce Standing told a meeting of the Skerne Park Community Partnership: "We can't find out how long it is going to
AFTER using up one of his nine lives when he was attacked by a dog, a homeless cat is looking for a new owner who can give him a name. The silver tabby was taken into care in Darlington after an elderly woman, who fed him occasionally, found him lying
ALMOST 400 balloons were released yesterday to raise money for a playcare scheme for disabled children. The release was carried out at Cummins, in Yarm Road, Darlington, by Garry West, of Darlington After School and Holidays, which is the company's chosen
A CERAMIC plaque depicting community life has gone on show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the village school. The plaque has been erected on the front wall of Cotherstone School, in Teesdale, and has been designed by children in years two to six
A council is consulting with more than 400 allotment holders to see what they want for the future and how their needs can best be met. To date there has been an encouraging response to the questionnaires given to allotment holders as they pay their annual
PEOPLE living in Ferryhill will be consulted on plans for the town before they are submitted for final approval. Ferryhill Town Council says it wants to ensure the area's local development framework reflects the needs and aspirations of townspeople as
A TOWN council is opposing plans to pull down a former farmhouse outside village development limits and replace it with a modern four bedroomed property. Boroughbridge Town Council said the scheme, at New House Farm, Minskip, is nearly identical to previous
A TEENAGER is preparing to travel to an African orphanage to work with babies and children suffering from Aids. Jennifer Brown, 17, from Aycliffe Village, will travel to Uganda in July to work in an orphanage for a month. Her work will be mainly with
HOUSE prices rose by an average of more than £100 a day this month as the property market continued to boom. Nationwide Building Society said UK house prices increased by 2.1 per cent during the month, up from 1.4 per cent in March, taking the average
LINE dancers will step out in style tomorrow to raise money for a leading cancer charity. Boldon Community Association Line Dancers are holding a 12-hour marathon with live music during a fun day at the association's centre in New Road, Boldon Colliery
CHARTERED accountant Pam Taylor has been raising funds by going up in the world. She collected more than £10,000 for Scope, the cerebral palsy charity, by taking part in an expedition to the Himalayas, trekking to above the Everest base camp. More than
Pupils at Rise Carr Primary School, in Darlington, can dress smartly on the sports field after more than £500 was raised for 23 tracksuits. Judith Thompson, a nursery nurse at the school, who runs a number of after-school sports clubs, said she had applied
STUDENTS have been rewarded for helping brighten up their community's bins. Year Eight pupils at Tanfield School took part in a competition to design posters for the school's litter bins. The contest was organised by Havannah Community Partnership, a
A MASSIVE crowd enjoyed an excellent day's racing at the York and Ainsty point to point held at Easingwold last Sunday. Mick Brown's Hadeqa (Sinnington), who ran the Jo Foster-trained and ridden Texas Ranger close at the Bedale, reversed the form when
A TEENAGER has been arrested following the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl. Detectives investigating the attack in Sunderland, which left the girl in hospital, have questioned a 17-year-old. He was bailed pending further inquiries. The rape was said
MOORLAND farmers are playing a key part in the return of wading birds to the North York Moors National Park. Lapwing, which have suffered a 40pc decline over the last 30 years, are making a comeback, says the park's ecologist Rona Charles. There were
RICHIE Ornsby is a man with a mission - tracking down the specialist crooks who keep others in business. The detective constable has been given the job of tracking down "fences" or receivers of stolen goods. Cleveland Police has asked him to find vital
A BROCHURE to attract visitors to the North-East has been criticised for failing to mention Sunderland. More than 700,000 12-page flyers were enclosed in national newspapers last weekend promoting the some of the region's cultural gems. But Wearside appears
RESIDENTS who want to secure their homes without turning them into fortresses are invited to attend an event this weekend. PC Steve Davies, Hartlepool's burglary reduction officer, and Colin Hopkins, crime prevention officer for Hartlepool New Deal for
A TALKING newspaper has received a £300 boost from Durham's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre. The centre has given the money to the County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, based in North Road. The society produces a fortnightly newspaper
Bazaar date: A story in The Northern Echo on Wednesday gave the wrong date for a fundraising bazaar at Redcar East Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar. It is being held on Saturday, May 8, at 2pm. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
FARMERS and landowners have been urged to take advantage of a woodland grant scheme before the May 31 deadline. The scheme, run by the Forestry Commission and Defra, is in its final year and woodland consultancy IndiWoods, based on the Aske estate, near
A TEAM of students has fought off strong competition at the British Colleges' Sport National finals to win golds. The girls' cross-country team, from Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough, east Cleveland, ran against seven teams at the competition in Loughborough
A NORTH-EAST racecourse is hoping thousands of punters will pour through its turnstiles on May Day to help break a charity record. Newcastle Racecourse hopes to break the record by raising more than £30,000 for WaterAid - Britain's only major charity
WOMAN of the Year, Angel of Nagpur. These are just two of the labels by which Leah Pattison has become well known. But Miss Pattison, who hails from Frosterley but now spends much of her time in India working with lepers, is uncomfortable with such saintly
Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League: Chester-le-Street had mixed fortunes in the two games they have played recently. Already established as champions they crashed 5-1 to second club Walker Central for whom Grant Kershaw bagged a brace of goals. At
A 36-year-old woman collapsed and died of a heart attack hours after she was diagnosed as suffering from indigestion. Doctor Patricia Ridley said mother-of-two Christina Hymers "seemed okay" when she called to see her during the night. Mrs Hymers was
NEWSPAPERS have been full of asterisks recently. After Beckham's text messages it became a tale of the two Ronnies - O'Sullivan and Atkinson. Big Ron has suddenly become Bigot Ron, and our infatuation with political correctness has meant that some national
A JUDGE last night led calls for a change in the law after issuing a two- year suspended jail sentence to an elderly driver who caused the death of a doctor. Judge Michael Taylor criticised the present regime of applying for driving licences which allowed
CHARITY bosses will benefit from concerts by local musicians next month. Two events, Promenade for Youth and A Last Night of the Proms, will be staged at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, on Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15. Proceeds will go to St Teresa's
UMBRO has announced plans to float on the London Stock Market in a move likely to value the England kit supplier at about £200m. Umbro is planning a June listing, as the group builds on the revival in its brand following the arrival of a new management
North Skelton Village 2 Middlesbrough Post Office 8: Three first half goals set Middlesbrough Post Office on the road to victory at North Skelton with Paul Davies converting from the penalty spot for the opener with just five minutes gone. A second Posties
ACTING as an arbiter can be a thankless task - whatever you decide someone will be unhappy. But what I am pleased to see is a growing trend for those who sit in judgement to come out and defend their corner, rather than simply sitting back in an ivory
RELIEF greeted last week's announcement that Defra would adopt the three-region system for calculating the single farm payment - but farming organisations were quick to point out that there were still many complex issues to be worked out. A major concern
SPECSAVERS opticians is hoping to open two shops in North Yorkshire, creating up to 20 jobs. The group is looking for sites in Whitby and Wetherby after recently opening a branch in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. The move comes after Specsavers announced
Crook Town, leaders of Division III, won the Echo Cup, defeating the Toll Bar 4-1. They hope to achieve a unique double, now having won the first let but may have to settle for just promotion. Crook took the lead after eight minutes when a free-kick,
DARLINGTON take on Swansea City in their last home match of the season tomorrow with the threat of relegation to the Nationwide Conference finally lifted. Only a bizarre set of results in the last two weeks of the season could deny Quakers Division Three
In the Premier Division Consett Saint Patricks are Premier Division champions. Having beaten Metro Church, Sunderland three weeks ago 5-0, the return fixture was at Belle Vue Consett where both teams needed a win to go to the last match of the season.
Chester-le-Street entered a rearranged Durham Northumberland league fixture against West Hartlepool with a plan to do the double over them and finish a fine season on a winning note. It would also see captain Jim Langley leading his team out for the last
Brewer Scottish & Newcastle last night said its Foster's and Kronenbourg 1664 beers had helped it get the year off to a good start. S&N said its UK brands had experienced good trading conditions since January, led by very good performances from
Cleveland County: The national English Bowling Federation indoor finals were held at Newark and produced a best ever result for Cleveland bowlers. Adrian Robins and Ralph Mitcheson were winners of the men's pairs with a fine 21-9 victory over Lincolnshire
A YARM pub manager is taking legal action against her former employer for unfair dismissal. Lilian McNaughton, who worked in the Ketton Ox for 22 years and was manager from 1995, was told in February by Barracuda that, following refurbishment to the pub
TOMORROW is May Day and one of the ever-present customs associated with this happy time is maypole dancing. In spite of repeated attempts to halt it, this essentially rural ritual has survived with lofty and colourful maypoles continuing to be a feature
RICHMOND ale and North Yorkshire beef have been brought together in the latest in a range of ready meals. Felicity Davy, co-owner of Pridham's delicatessen, in the town's Finkle Street, and Keith Thomas, co-founder of the Darwin Brewery, came up with
IT was almost 25 years ago, on a very hot summer Sunday, that I first stumbled into the Abbey Inn. Lying in the shadow of the ruins of Byland Abbey, near Coxwold, it was a welcome haven after a sweaty and dusty walk through the rolling hills on the southernmost
Local van hire company, Transmore Van Hire Ltd. has made two young snooker player's dreams come true after providing £10,000 in sponsorship funding. Gary Wilson, 18, and John Astley, 15, will receive enough funding for this year to ensure they are given
BROADBAND campaigners in rural areas will know at the end of June how changes to the registration system will affect their efforts to bring faster internet access to their communities. BT announced on Tuesday that it had scrapped its pre-registration
DESPITE falling behind with only 52 seconds on the clock, Felling Mulberry still went on to beat Stanley Masons Arms SC 5-2. The Masons stormed in front through Chris Philips only for the Mulberry to hit back and take control of the game though the Masons
A LARGE figurine lies in pieces on the table, a shepherdess parted from her shepherd, both of them separated from the base. A box holds pieces that were once a much-loved bowl. A horse prances proudly - but minus his tail. That's the bad news. But the
DUNCAN Bannatyne - once tipped as a possible saviour of Darlington FC - has questioned whether the town needs the club. The self-made multi-millionaire ruled out ever investing in a football club. "I would rather have a sex change," he said. Mr Bannatyne
The flute, keyboard and percussion trio Classic Rhythm will perform at Murton Library on Friday, May 14, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm as part of the Live in the Libraries series of concerts. Tickets costing £4, concessions £2, are available from the library
THERE is a double programme in the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League premier division during the holiday weekend and Monday's game between last season's runners-up Saltburn and champions Guisborough should give a pointer to the title aspirations
A children's author who admitted a series of sex attacks on young girls fascinated by his fantasy books was facing jail today. William Mayne staged regular naked romps with the girls, who were all aged between six and 16, at his homes in North Yorkshire
THE wet weather failed to put a dampener on spirits on the golf course as sports stars from the region got in the swing for charity. Leading footballers and figures from other sports, past and present, gave up the day to take part in the annual Steve
Parents of young children are being warned about the possible dangers of jelly mini-cup sweets, which have now been banned by the Food Standards Agency. North Yorkshire County Council trading standards officers are concerned about the safety issues over
MORE than 70 years of school history has been unearthed with the discovery of headteachers' logbooks spanning two centuries. The hand-written records were discovered at Northgate Junior School, Guisborough, inside a tin trunk in a dark cupboard where
After a fabulous 2003 for Darlington athlete Mike Trees which culminated in being crowned British Duathlete of the Year, 2004 has begun even better. The 41-year-old has become champion of the world in the World Masters 10K Road Race held recently in Auckland
HOT weather and blue skies brought crowds of visitors to the North York Moors National Park on Sunday - but also hordes of bikers. Motorcyclists screaming past cars and visitors on what is known as the "Yorkshire TT" highlighted the need for action, says
POLICE are using new powers to prevent the region's worst football hooligans causing mayhem at the European Championships. In a civil case brought by police - one of the first cases of its kind in the country - a notorious thug from the North-East was
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S Jonathan Woodgate will learn if his Euro 2004 dream has been shattered today after paying a visit to a London-based specialist. The 24-year-old has already been ruled out of his club's campaign and his chances of travelling with England
A FLUORESCENT light sculpture is said to be causing sleepless nights for people living near a contemporary art exhibition. Residents say the blue glow from the roof of the former industrial unit at Brompton on Swale has scared away wildlife and keeps
HUNDREDS more teachers are working in North-East schools than in 1997. The region has also maintained teacher numbers in the past year, despite falling pupil rolls. Government figures show that the number of full-time teachers in the region increased
Some Northern League rules are going to be scrapped under a new national shake up, including the notorious February 1 rule. The FA is to introduce a national rule book across every league in the country, which means the Northern League will have to ditch
Richmond Dales: On Saturday the Junior team travelled to Middlesbrough to swim in the Junior League and on Sunday the full team travelled to Eston to compete in the Teesside and North Yorkshire League, winning both events. The Junior Team swam exceptionally
LEADERS Leadgate Golden Lion dropped their first points of the season and then discovered they are the new League Champions. The Lion were held to a 2-2 home draw by Blackhall Mill, but the gloom of seeing their 100 per cent record ended, disappeared
A TOURING exhibition, Out of the Wood, sets off in Teesdale next weekend. It has been organised by Highlights Productions, the rural touring scheme for the north Pennines, and visits Newbiggin in Teesdale Village Hall next Friday and on Saturday, May
FERDY MURPHY launches a three-pronged assault on this evening's Johns Smiths Durham National at Sedgefield via Be Upstanding, Fashions Monty, and Looking Forward (7.25). In view of the fact that Murphy has such superb record in long-distance chases, not
AN APPLICATION to build two blocks of flats in the West End of Darlington may be approved next week - despite 20 letters of objection. Bannatyne Fitness wants to demolish its old offices at 55 Cleveland Terrace and replace them with a total of 18 flats
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour is looking forward to playing in a "very competitive" UniBond League Premier Division next season. Bishops clinched their place in the Premier Division with their win over Farsley last week, and Honour said: "It should
DETAILED plans to move a special school into a £6m replacement building are to be released to the public. Windlestone Hall School for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) is housed in a 19th Century country mansion near Rushyford
Government inspectors have been challenged to go back to school - to learn how to spell. The reproach to red-faced Whitehall officials follows the award of Beacon status to Middlesbrough for its work in cutting crime. The assessors' report, recommending
EVEN if we hadn't been able to recognise a word in the newspaper in our holiday hotel, we'd have known the little feller in the outsized cloth cap, tab end dangling from his lip. He might be labelled Kaskett Karl but they couldn't disguise Andy Capp.
Sir, - With reference to the report on the litter problem in Northallerton (D&S Apr 23), I agree with Coun Coulson that litter in the town is increasing. I feel though that it is a community responsibility to tackle it. It is time to move away from
THE education service in North Yorkshire is one of the best in the country according to schools inspectors. An Ofsted report into the county council's education department listed no failures and no aspect of provision as unsatisfactory. In almost every
NEARLY 1,000 people packed a small North-East church over two nights to hear legendary preacher Nicky Cruz. The former New York gang leader told his remarkable story at the Christian Life Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. It was one of only three
STEVE PRATT talks to the North-East stars who are featured on Newcastle's Sunday For Sammy charity concert recordings now on release THE Sunday For Sammy charity concerts have become a keenly-awaited fixture on Tyneside. But as they're only held every
IT ended on Saturday at Sandown and Perth, and started again on Sunday at Wetherby - although you might be forgiven for not spotting it! The National Hunt season, that is. And Graham Lee with Howard Johnson so nearly pulled off a fourth top jumps win
Auckland Area CIU League: Eldon Lane qualified to meet Cockton Hill in the two leg semi-finals after they came through their second leg of the quarter final with a good win over the visiting Evenwood, who began the evening just one point adrift. In the
Ten-year-old sisters Helen and Sara Dowson both made their County debut last weekend playing for Durham and Cleveland under-13 girls squash team. The team played at Pontefract squash club against girls from Lancashire, Northumbria, Merseyside and Yorkshire
THE landscape and working life of a rural part of the area has been captured on video by a local filmmaker. Beautiful Teesdale... a Country Lad at Home has been filmed and produced by Cotherstone filmmaker David Rabbitts. The video, which is the fourth
TEESDALE District Council's chief executive has responded to a highly critical report, published next week, which has given his authority a "poor" performance rating. The Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) was carried out by the Audit Commission
FALLOUT: BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL: Publisher, Avlon Interactive, Format: PS2, price: £39.99, out now: FALLOUT, Interplay's adult-oriented post-apocalypse action game, is rightly regarded as something of a PC gaming classic. Sure, it may have ripped off Mad
South Durham Royals: Having been beaten 3-0 four days earlier in the knockout cup by Chester-le-Street, Royals went into their semi-final of the Bill Godward League Cup against the same opposition with renewed determination. They got off to the perfect
South Durham Gymnastics Club have scored another major success with the selection of Amy Fossheim for the Great Britain junior gymnastic squad, writes John Phelan. The squad are competing in Amsterdam this week in the Junior European Championships and
Vicar David Keen of Whinfield Church, Darlington, helped Haughton 1st XI to a Victory against Raby Castle 1st XI on the opening day of the Darlington and District League season. He had bowling figures of four wickets for 27 runs, well supported by Colin
Sir, - Regarding the report "Residents set to lose lorry park battle" (D&S, Apr 23) the Brompton Road residents have my sympathy, though we are in an even worse position. There can be up to 50 lorries overnight (yes, I counted them once) and every
Michael Rhodes of Durham went clear at the top of the table when he beat the former leader, David Craggs at Tow Law by three frames. In the first Craggs got away to a good start with a 49 break but missed a red using the rest allowing Rhodes to reply
Sir, - Following my letter of September 24, I am writing once again in connection with having the name of Benjamin John McGowan Hyde engraved on the war memorial which stands close to All Saints' Parish Church. In that letter I asked the residents of
A TEENAGE basketball squad are the toast of their school after reaching the semi-finals of a national competition. The trouble with Wolsingham School and Community College's young giants is that they can't stop growing and needed a brand new kit for their
FOOTBALL star Titus Bramble yesterday backed the call for recruits to boost the defence forces. The Newcastle United centre half was briefly "called up" to give the recruiting drive a timely push. Amid the armed forces' heavier-than-expected involvement
A MULTI sensory garden opened last year at a school has won praise from judges of an annual floral competition. While showing judges from Northumbria in Bloom round Middleton in Teesdale, Coun Madeleine Sutcliffe took them to see the primary school's
Harrogate and District League: Players competing in the League will be given a referendum on planned changes which failed to gain approval at the league's annual meeting. Several major changes were tabled but member clubs decided instead of introducing
STEPS have been taken to stop pigeons tarnishing one of the region's landmarks. A £40,000 European grant covered the cost of the restoration of Grey Friars Tower, in Richmond's Friary Gardens, in North Yorkshire, in 2001. Paving has also been laid around
Junior round-up: Having already won the women's premier league title several weeks ago Sunderland Scorpions completed their regular league at Slough Phantoms, Slough looking for victory to make certain a top four place and a play-off place. Slough went
Cleveland League, Division One: The result of the week in Division One was chalked up by Guisborough Quoit who beat Redcar Cons A 5-1. Colin Savage set the standard after winning both of his games against Ian Whittle 59-24 and 80-36. Mick McDermott then
NEW LABOUR: WHEN will Tony Blair do the nation a big favour and resign, with his puppet government and his failed cabinet ministers too numerous to mention? New Labour is the biggest disaster to people who love their country and our way of life just caused
A NORTH-EAST racecourse is hoping thousands of punters will pour through its turnstiles on May Day to help break a charity record. Newcastle Racecourse hopes to break the record by raising more than £30,000 for WaterAid - Britain's only major charity
Oxbridge Darlington and District League: Despite making a useful 157 all out, Witton-le-Wear lost by eight wickets visiting Barningham on the opening day of the season in Division A, writes Malcolm Pratt. Crisp top scored with 58 for the visitors while
FROM the moment the curtain rises, you know you're in for a fun evening in the capable hands of Darlington Operatic Society. It's 20 years since the society performed Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, but this production is fresh and amusing, with
Division Two, Sunday, April 25: Result of the week and possibly the season in division two saw the improving Copper Beech DCS put a dent in the title asparations of Cleveland Bridge as the Copper pulled off an impressive 2-2 draw. Beech produced a great
TELEVISION celebrity Loyd Grossman had the chance to compare pedal power to piston power when he called in at one of the region's leading attractions this week. The presenter visited the National Railway Museum (NRM), in York, to launch Museums and Galleries
Marton: Last season's title-winning performance was eclipsed as Marton Under-14s went the whole of this campaign unbeaten, a tremendous achievement and credit must be given to all the lads for their effort and hard work. Leven started the game with purpose
DIVISION ONE: Hartlepool FC 1 Nunthorpe Ath 0: New champions the home started the brightest and had an early Neil Hay goal disallowed for offside, Gary Walker had a shot which hit the post and a Steve Lahney effort cleared of the line. Michael Harrison
Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has reassured Sven-Goran Eriksson that he can rely on John Terry to underpin England's injury-hit defence at this summer's Euro 2004 finals. Eriksson is facing a considerable headache over his central defenders ahead of the
Big Kenny Simpkins, Welsh Under 23 international goalkeeper, rarely returns these days to the land of his fathers. It's Hartlepool which won his heart. Come May 30, however, he hopes again to be in Cardiff - and to be painting the town the colour of the
DARLINGTON winger Ian Clark last night leapt to the defence of goalkeeper Michael Price by insisting survival wouldn't have been achieved without his heroics this season. The stopper came under scrutiny when he struggled to deal with a near post shot
SHELL provided a glimmer of light in an otherwise dark month by reporting a nine per cent rise in profits. The oil group surprised City analysts with some positive news after seeing its reputation tarnished by a series of blunders over reserves. Underlying
Spraire RA won The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League Division One Cup at the weekend - two years after they last reached the final but fell at the last. In 2002 they lost out to the all-conquering Coundon Foresters - but on Sunday they
A DELIGHTED David Higgins emerged from the depths of Keilder Forest after a superb drive saw him win the opening round of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship last weekend. The Welsh-based Manxman and co-driver Chris Wood totally dominated
FALLOUT: BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL Publisher: Avlon Interactive Format: PS2. Price: £39.99 Out now FALLOUT, Interplay's adult-oriented post-apocalypse action game, is rightly regarded as something of a PC gaming classic. Sure, it may have ripped off Mad Max
POLICE are using new powers to prevent the region's worst football hooligans causing mayhem at the European Championships. In a civil case brought by police - one of the first cases of its kind in the country - a notorious thug from the North-East was
Calmer days have seen more fish start to rise but not yet in any great numbers. This may change in the near future because several hawthorn flies have been seen over the water. The rise to these flies can be spectacular in May when they drift onto the
ALASTAIR BALLS has been appointed chairman of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, it was announced last night. He replaces Sir Ian Wrigglesworth, who stands down after five years. Sir Ian will leave the post because of increased work commitments. The
League Cup Final, Lingdale Tavern v Highland Laddie: Although Tavern were minus two key players in Ward and Calvert they began well. A lively start saw both teams probing for an opening. Tavern had the first real chance, Shane Breckon firing a snap shot
Most buildings in Lanchester's historic heart predate the industrial age but like many other places in County Durham, Lanchester saw the greatest changes in the nineteenth and twentieth century. If you glance at old maps or photos of Lanchester you soon
A TEENAGER is preparing to travel to an African orphanage to work with babies and children suffering from Aids. Jennifer Brown, 17, from Aycliffe Village, will travel to Uganda in July to work in an orphanage for a month. Her work will be mainly with
VOLUNTEERS are invited to take part in a dig on the site of the largest known stone bridge in Roman Britain. Work will take place near Corbridge, Northumberland, with the help of a £303,500 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, this summer. Keeper of field archaeology
POLICE in Newton Aycliffe are warning car owners not to leave their keys in easy reach of burglars. The advice follows an incident in which two expensive vehicles were stolen from the drive of a house. Burglars struck at a house in School Aycliffe early
COMPLAINTS from the public have prompted a change to an out-of-hours service covering GP practices in the Dales less than a month after it was introduced. The North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors (NYED) network was already operating in other parts of the
VOLUNTEERS from a hospital radio station have had a welcome cash boost to kit out their studio with the latest in technology. Auckland Radio, which broadcasts to patients at Bishop Auckland and Weardale Community Hospital, has received a £3,095 grant
SUNDERLAND striker Marcus Stewart is hoping his play-off experience will help to fire the Black Cats back into the Premiership next month. Mick McCarthy's side will book their spot in the end of season lottery if they beat Crewe at the Stadium of Light
COMMUNITY spirit among young people in Middlesbrough is being recognised with an achievement award. Eleven youngsters will pick up their certificates at a ceremony at the town's Teaching and Learning Centre tonight. The award has been set up by Middlesbrough
TEENAGE offenders have been taking part in a scrapheap challenge as part of a rehabilitation programme. Five 17-year-olds were involved in the Intensive Supervisions and Surveillance scheme, organised by the Youth Offending Team, which aims to keep young
RESIDENTS in two towns have been examining plans to tackle traffic congestion. The multi-million pound proposals will restructure the traffic system in Malton and Norton. The plans will see parts of Malton market place pedestrianised and heavy lorries
A CRACKDOWN on under-age drinkers has led to police throwing many litres of alcohol down the drain. Forty cans of lager, 15 bottles of lager, 31 litres of strong cider, 31 bottles of white wine and a bottle of vodka were seized from youngsters aged 12
A GROUP of Scottish dancers have ensured that everything will run on time at one of the region's hospitals. A clock has pride of place on the wall of the recreation hall in Northallerton's Friarage Hospital thanks to the local Caledonian Society. Members
A MAYOR is calling upon the author of a smear campaign to put up or shut up. Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon last night condemned attacks on Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price, which try to apportion blame for the force's £7.3m budget deficit on him.
Premier Division, Sports Bar 1 Rovers Quoit 1: Champions Rovers could only take a point from this clash with Sports Bar and leaves the destination of the Premiership crown still up for grabs. The first half was a tense affair, with chances missed by both
The up turn in temperature coupled with sunny weather has brought about some tremendous fly hatches and subsequently if you're at the waterside at the right time the surface resembles a jacuzzi as hungry trout lose all caution in a feeding frenzy. Walking
A PLANNED memorial to a battle which proved a significant victory for the Scots over the English has won £20,000 funding from the Local Heritage Initiative (LHI). The Battle of Newburn Ford, which took place on August 27, 1640, led to the occupation of
WAR veterans from the region are heading back to the battlefields where they saw action 60 years ago. The Second World War heroes have been awarded Lottery funding to travel to the places in Europe which will forever have a place in history. John Morrison
THE owners of expensive cars are being warned to keep their keys safe after two BMWs were stolen. The cars were taken from outside their owners' homes in Earswick, near York, on Wednesday night. Thieves reached through either the letterbox or cat flap
A BROCHURE to attract visitors to the North-East has been criticised for failing to mention Sunderland. More than 700,000 12-page flyers were enclosed in national newspapers last weekend promoting the some of the region's cultural gems. But Wearside appears
HARROGATE firefighters faced a grilling when students from a school for visually-impaired youngsters paid them a visit. The group, from the town's Henshaws College, were given an assignment challenging them to find out about the world of work. Leading
A COUNCIL will shop around before setting up a webcasting system to beam meetings to taxpayers' computer screens. Durham County Council's cabinet has welcomed the idea of broadcasting its business over the Internet. The system could also be used to broadcast
DURHAM County Council's new-look old people's homes have won a second award - this time from surveyors. The network of extra care developments won gold in the community benefit category at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Northern Region 2004
SHOPPERS in Chester-le-Street are being invited to a family fun day at a recently-opened opticians. The celebrations, at the Specsavers store in Front Street, will take place tomorrow. Children will be entertained with free face-painting and lollies while
A COLLEGE has officially opened its new resource centre packed with the latest computer equipment. The facility, based at Durham Sixth Form Centre's campus at The Sands, contains a library, computers for students and staff, and viewing rooms. It is part
A VET is warning parents to be on their guard after two cats died from a dose of poison strong enough to kill a small child. It is thought the two animals may have died after swallowing highly toxic starfish, ground into a powder. Vet James Haddow warned
PARENTS are being encouraged to read to their children at storytelling sessions in Stockton. Storyteller Tony Wilson enthralled SureStart parents and children by singing songs, playing banjo and guitar and storytelling, during his recent visits to four
A PLAY area in east Cleveland, which has had a £70,000 face-lift, was opened this week. The play area, at King George V playing fields, Guisborough, includes an enclosed area for younger children, with swings, climbing frames and apparatus for teenagers
The competition on Sunday, April 18th was cancelled due to a waterlogged course. The midweek Stableford competition was held on Wednesday, April 14. The winners were as follows: 1st Alan Biglin, 38 points; 2nd Mark Inglis 38 points (on countback; 3rd
THE chairman of Darlington Building Society has called for an end to a year-long dispute over executive pay. William Baker Baker told the mutual's annual meeting the public row was damaging the company's reputation. Mr Baker Baker spoke after one member
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 406 sheep. Pet lambs to £8. Lambs std to 168.6p av 168.2p; med to 158.2p; hoggs lt to 131.4p av 115.4p; std to 130.7p av 127.9p; med to 135.4p av 122.8p; heavy to 119p av 115.4p. Cast sheep: Cont to £66; Suff to
Durham City Midweek League: Coxhoe made the best start to the new season when they only dropped one point to their hosts at Vane Tempest. Brandon also made a good away win when they only dropped two points at Sacriston. Nevilles Cross matched the Brandon
Brandon started the season with a 106 runs victory over Ushaw Moor after posting the healthy total of 140 for one compiled from just 20 overs. Jamie Robinson led the way, recording one six and seven boundaries in 68 while Ian Hyde carried his bat for
TWO local riders will be taking on one of the greatest challenges in the equestrian sporting world this weekend when they compete at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire. The three-day event is one of just three top four-star
ENGLISH Heritage has made its position clear in the controversy over proposed quarrying extensions around three ancient monuments near Bedale. A group campaigning to protect the surroundings of the Thornborough henges has welcomed a statement by English
County Super League: Crook A made a late recovery to take the final frame and force a draw against the visiting Ferryhill in a re-arranged match. Billy Blamire put the visitors ahead but Michael Burke levelled. Good wins from Alan Blakey and Steve Wary
A RECRUITMENT clinic set up to find a bone marrow match for a seven-year-old with leukaemia has been inundated with volunteers. The clinic was set up at St Bede's Primary School, in Marske, east Cleveland, on Tuesday afternoon to find a donor for pupil
THE first parents have graduated from a scheme designed to boost their qualifications. Sure Start Stanley, in partnership with Derwentside Training, is employing a tutor to work with 35 parents. A free creche ensures that people with young children are
AN investigation is under way after an ambulance taking a dying man to hospital was involved in a road crash. The patient, a 61-year-old terminally ill cancer sufferer, was being rushed to the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, following a deterioration
COUNCILLORS have vowed to fight plans to close up to nine post offices throughout Cleveland. The Post Office announced the proposed closures in Eaglescliffe, Hartburn, Stockton, Guisborough, Billingham and Middlesbrough last week. Those affected include
HOUSE prices rose by an average of more than £100 a day this month as the property market continued to boom. Nationwide Building Society said UK house prices increased by 2.1 per cent during the month, up from 1.4 per cent in March, taking the average
JAMAICAN Gareth Breese is no stranger to English summers and as he watched the rain gently falling at Derby yesterday he said: "If this were a league game we'd be out there playing." Durham's new signing includes a season at Etherley in the Durham County
THEY may not have lifted the trophy, but Bishop Auckland's battling Under-15s can be rightly proud of their achievements, declared the area's schools football chief. Peter Malkin, chairman of the Bishop Auckland Schools Football Association, was paying
ASSURANCES have been sought about the future of £150,000 earmarked for sports provision at Richmond School if a leisure trust is established. Richmondshire District Council hopes to hand over its leisure facilities - Richmond swimming pool and dual use
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S Jonathan Woodgate will learn if his Euro 2004 dream has been shattered today after paying a visit to a London-based specialist. The 24-year-old has already been ruled out of his club's campaign and his chances of travelling with England
ACTING as an arbiter can be a thankless task - whatever you decide someone will be unhappy. But what I am pleased to see is a growing trend for those who sit in judgement to come out and defend their corner, rather than simply sitting back in an ivory
Darlington The Mowden reached their second League Final when they finally overcame their bogey team Stillington The Royal. They won 2-1 in the Archbold Throphy semi-final, in a tight hard fought game which could of gone either way. Royal struck first
Yorkshire fast bowler Steve Kirby broke down with an undiagnosed back problem during the Second XI match against England Under 19s at Headingley this week and will now undergo tests to try to determine the cause. Kirby captured a wicket in his first over
THE chauffeur who ensures Richmondshire District Council's chairman arrives at engagements on time is to retire after 30 years. Derek Bagley was appointed in May 1974, following the creation of the authority in a major local government reorganisation.
LOCAL authorities in the region were given the go-ahead yesterday to push through inflation-busting council tax rises after escaping a Government "cap". Ministers had threatened to get tough with any council planning an increase above "low single figures
THE cost to British taxpayers of dealing with anti-social behaviour has rocketed to £3.4bn a year, a major North-East conference was told yesterday. Louise Casey, the head of the Home Office's anti-social behaviour unit, revealed the impact on public
STOCKTON North MP Frank Cook has spoken of his optimism about a proposed business park at Wynyard. Mr Cook held what he described as "breakthrough talks" with site owner Sir John Hall last Friday. Sir John has announced ambitious plans for a 500-acre
Most buildings in Lanchester's historic heart predate the industrial age but like many other places in County Durham, Lanchester saw the greatest changes in the nineteenth and twentieth century. If you glance at old maps or photos of Lanchester you soon
GANGS of drunken tearaways roaming the streets and spoiling for a fight, acts of vandalism and graffiti, frightened homeowners - these are the new priorities at the top of North-East crime-fighters' agendas. Barely a week goes by without unruly behaviour
THORNS were crowned league champions as they held their nerve to record a 3-1 win over Salvins. The championship went right down to the wire, with Thorns, Old Shildon and Loves all capable of lifting the title depending on their rivals' results. And Thorns
FERDY MURPHY launches a three-pronged assault on this evening's Johns Smiths Durham National at Sedgefield via Be Upstanding, Fashions Monty, and Looking Forward (7.25). In view of the fact that Murphy has such superb record in long-distance chases, not
Newfit Services Willington: Byers Green Royal Oak took the League Championship after their first season with a stylish home win over Sunnybrow Brown Trout B for the loss of only one point. This result leaves the Trout B holding the wooden spoon, but put
RESIDENTS in Yarm have raised concerns about a lack of parking around the town. On Tuesday, at the town council's annual parish assembly, members of the public voiced complaints about the unavailability of spaces in the High Street and problems with access
Soccer star Shola Ameobi's mum caused a smash after driving her car without passing a test. Margaret Ameobi, 53, was driving alone on a provisional licence so was uninsured when she was involved in the accident. Ameobi, the mother of the promising Newcastle
Tomorrow, the largest single expansion in the European Union's history will see ten new countries join what will become an economic unit of 450 million people. Nick Morrison look at what is going to happen. FIRST there were six. It was 1957, just 12 years
OPERA singer Robert Crowe has sold out venues as famous as Saddlers Wells and the Royal Festival Hall. But back home in his native North-East, a one-off concert at Spennymoor Town Hall in County Durham has sold only a single ticket. The star is so worried
FOOTBALL fans have the chance to win the new England away shirt, signed by the entire squad, for a fundraising raffle in aid of Darlington Football Club. The red Umbro shirt is among football memorabilia up for grabs, with all funds raised from the raffle
Arsenal may have clinched the Premiership title last weekend but I bet the celebrations were not as poignant as those at Spennymoor United's Brewery Field when Newton Aycliffe lifted the Spennymoor Sunday League First Division Cup. Young Ben Stevens lifted
DUNCAN Bannatyne's comments about his possible involvement in the troubled affairs of Darlington Football Club are typically forthright if somewhat startling. The town's most successful businessman since the Peases would rather have a sex-change than
MAN of the moment Adam Boyd is proof that the loan system can be put to good use. With his Hartlepool United career stalling, the striker was sent to Boston on a temporary basis and returned to take his Victoria Park days to new heights. The Hartlepool-born
PATIENTS needing emergency doctors in the upper dales are to have their calls automatically transferred to the out-of-hours service. The move by Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust follows complaints about the operation of a new system. The
THE four-week pilot broadcast of Radio Teesdale has been successfully completed, with the station now ready to proceed to the next step in its development. Spokesman Terry Willits said the response of the people of Teesdale was overwhelmingly supportive
A POIGNANT chord will be struck in Osmotherley next month when the organ at St Peter's Church is played for the last time. Now beyond repair, it is to be replaced with one rescued from a Methodist church in Whitehaven which will cost £40,000 to install
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - During the past week, the attention of Masham and district has been concentrated on the Private Bill Committee of the House of Lords, which has had under consideration bills promoted respectively by the Corporations
UP to 4,500 jobs could be created over the next ten to 15 years under a huge scheme to expand one of the country's highest-performing universities. The £450m project would see York University vastly improve in size and students numbers rise by about 40
GAIZKA MENDIETA has reaffirmed his intentions to remain at Middlesbrough for the next four years and help the club push for more major honours. Despite signing at the Riverside for five years last summer - the first is a loan deal which runs out at the
FIRE crews are fighting hoax callers by ignoring 999 calls they know to be malicious. In the North-East, brigades were struggling to cope with the number of false calls, which waste valuable time and money, as well as putting people's lives at risk. Now
HER father came to know practically every nut and bolt that held the line together, but it was a true journey of discovery for Hazel Blueman on Saturday as she saw rabbits romping and sheep scattering from the noise. She had made the trip once before
When your life is cracking up around you, the people to turn to are restorers Gary and Tracy Nicholson. A LARGE figurine lies in pieces on the table, a shepherdess parted from her shepherd, both of them separated from the base. A box holds pieces that
THE author of a book which led to a football hooligan facing a landmark ban last night told The Northern Echo: "I fear I'll be next." But John Pulling insisted he would fight any moves by police to stop him watching his beloved Middlesbrough or England
Kevin Oliver reckons last Saturday was the high point of his five years as chairman of Boldon CA. "Not only were we involved in a ten-goal thriller but at the end of the 90 minutes we were through to the final of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup," he said
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture OLD crop wheat prices have risen slightly where there is demand. The Scottish market, however, seems over-supplied at the moment, which is releasing local wheat destined to go North. New crop prices have drifted a bit
PRODUCTION of a fire-hit bakery's entire range of products will be up and running within a month, company bosses pledged last night. All 71 Peter's the Bakers stores from Northumberland to North Yorkshire are scheduled to re-open on Monday, May 24 - 29
