Archive

  • Smiling barmaid in line for award

    A BARMAID has been shortlisted for an award after spending years cheering up customers with her smile. Pauline Rushton, who has worked behind the bar at the Blue Bell Hotel in Acklam, Middlesbrough, for 32 years, has been shortlisted for the Most Cheerful

  • Chart-toppers book concert date at venue

    POPULAR teenage band McFly have announced a North-East date on their national tour. The trio will play Newcastle City Hall on Thursday, September 30. Veteran rockers Whitesnake have added a second date in Newcastle, after their October 8 gig at the City

  • 16/07/04

    REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: NOVEMBER 4 has now been set as the referendum date for regional assemblies in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North-East and North-West. This will give local people an opportunity to have their say on the creation of regional assemblies

  • George Mann Cup

    Stanhope Grey Bull came close to reaching their first ever George Mann Cup Final when they played Wolsingham Club in the semi final. The Bull batted first but made a very slow start when they only reached 18 for 1 in the first eight of their 20 allotted

  • Fosters Northumberland League Juniors

    Tynemouth clinched the Under-15 Division championship when they made it six wins out of six defeating Seaton Burn. Batting first, the Seasiders posted 136 for seven which included 22 by Ricky Handy, 21 from Jonathan Hymers and 20 by Shaun Orrick. Ryan

  • French triallist has chance to impress

    THE imposing figure of Abrahim Tounkara could be given a chance to impress in a Hartlepool United shirt tonight. Pool play their second and final game of their trip to Holland and the French triallist is in line for a run-out. The defender flew into Holland

  • Badminton

    The fourth and final round of the Darlington Grand Slam Badminton Competition took place at the Dolphin Centre on Sunday, July 4. For the first time in the history of the Darlington Grand Slam Badminton Competition trophies have been awarded to the overall

  • Surprise finds may be link to a Roman military past

    THE discovery of evidence of a Roman military presence in an unexpected part of the North-East has surprised archaeologists, who are preparing a major investigation. Faverdale East business park, on the edge of Darlington, was the last place experts believed

  • North-East Midweek League

    THERE were mixed fortunes for Nine Pins in Division One as they lost out against Kirkwood only to bounce back and gains some revenge with an emphatic win over West End. Some uninspiring bowling saw Kirkwood to 134-8 with A Malik top scoring with 35 while

  • Viewforth to restore faith

    VIEWFORTH, who had anything but a clear sight of exactly what was occurring at Ayr on Monday, bids to put the record straight in Carlisle's Kingmoor Park Handicap. Punters lumped on Viewforth at the Scottish track forcing him down to 7-2 favouritism,

  • Carvings among best in the North

    WITTON GILBERT, pronounced Jilbert with a soft G, is two miles north-west of Durham and overlooks the valley of the River Browney. Its nearest neighbour is Sacriston, a former mining village to the north and with 20th Century housing developments, the

  • Burton's Bytes: Film-style fun - with a few frustrations

    SHADOW OPS: RED MERCURY. Publisher: Atari. Format: Xbox. Price: £39.99: MICROSOFT'S Xbox console has become the games machine of choice if you enjoy first-person stealth 'em ups. Hardly a week seems to go by without another title promising gripping gameplay

  • Woodham

    After last week's aberration the Woodham Mens Team found themselves Ryton Target for promotion after a 12-2 demolition of Ryton GC on Tuesday, July 13. Only two matches got as far as the 16th green. Lee McCavanagh and Peter Moralee had their matches won

  • Ruby's a TV hit

    FOUR-year-old Ruby Lingwood is the envy of her friends after making her debut on the hit pre-school TV show Balamory. The youngster, from Fulford, York, won a competition in the Balamory magazine. Together with her mother and grandmother, she was taken

  • Green declares war on M&S

    RETAIL entrepreneur Philip Green last night declared war on Marks & Spencer after losing his takeover battle. Bhs and Arcadia owner Mr Green has warned his group will now do battle in a high street "judgement day" with M&S. Mr Green, who is the

  • Hibs are keen on Murphy

    RELEASED Middlesbrough defender David Murphy is attracting interest from Scottish Premier League side, Hibernian, writes Lee Hall. The Hartlepool-born full-back is currently on trial with Darlington after being freed by Boro at the end of last season.

  • Teesside and District Union Inter-Club league results July 7

    Division One: Saltburn 14, Castle Eden 10; Seaton Carew 21, Darlington 3; Cleveland 18, Bishop Auckland 6. Rearranged fixture: Eaglescliffe 16, Seaton Carew 8. Division Two: Billingham 17, Teesside 7; Middlesbrough 7, Hartlepool 17; Blackwell Grange 21

  • Wallace wants to find a fireside

    A CAT whose wandering days are over is in need of a home. Wallace, a silver tabby tom cat, has spent the past few months as a stray, being cared for and fed by a number of people. But after suffering a minor foot injury, Wallace is being looked after

  • Shop staff aid charity funds

    SHOP staff were inspired to raise money for charity by a colleague's struggle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Pauline Harnden, who works at Boots, in Northgate, Darlington, has had the condition for ten years. Despite her problems, she remains cheerful

  • Shopper plays pop with store

    A SUPERMARKET customer was staggered when police awoke him at 7.30am and accused him of stealing soft drinks worth 98p. Adam Zambrzycki, 25, of Iris Crescent, Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, had spent £60 at his local Tesco the day before. He had bought

  • In charge of health service changes

    A HEAD of nursing has been appointed to take charge of a shake-up of services in Darlington. Linda Bailes, former head of health improvement with Darlington Primary Care Trust, takes over the position at a critical time in the development of the service

  • Auctioneer seeks approval for plan to expand business

    AN auctioneers' hopes of expanding its business with a new base in Darlington could be dealt a hammer blow next week. The Thomas Watson auction house has been in Northumberland Street for 157 years, but bosses are keen to establish a second site in Dudley

  • Bathroom prize in aid of team tour

    A SCHOOL sports team which is on a tour of Canada has been helped on its way by a bathroom company. A group of 27 pupils and staff from Polam Hall Girls School have left for a ten-day lacrosse and netball tour. Their departure was helped by a series of

  • MCC Spirit of Cricket Under-13 Cup

    Silksworth had 28 runs to spare when they met Langley Park at Washington. Batting first, the Wearsiders totalled 109 for the loss of just one wicket as Edward Wood ended undefeated with 36 after Craig Ritchie had scored 21. When they went into bat Langley

  • Drugs killed former soldier, inquest told

    A FORMER soldier died after taking heroin for the first time, an inquest heard yesterday. Simon Million, 34, died of a drugs overdose at the Bury Guest House, in Newton Aycliffe, last November. His brother John Million told the hearing, held at Bishop

  • MP Alan joins opera singer Suzannah for production preview

    THE first opera to be staged on a railway station platform got Parliamentary approval yesterday as former health secretary Alan Milburn visited the set. The Darlington MP was at the town's railway museum, where preparations for the Blaze! opera are well

  • Jurors clear man of plot to murder

    A MAN accused of helping to hire an assassin to kill a family rival was cleared of conspiracy to murder yesterday. Stanley Anderson was accused of being part of a plot to pay Arthur Pattinson, 42, to murder Stanley Creswell in a drive-by shooting. Newcastle

  • Teenager 'went off the rails' with cash

    TEENAGER Kristopher Herrington went off the rails after being awarded thousands of pounds compensation for severe injuries sustained in an accident, a court heard yesterday. His solicitor Andrew Tinning said Herrington, 19, of Kirkham Road, Bilton, Harrogate

  • Bike stunt team at action-packed day

    ONE of the most famous motorbike stunt teams in the world will be in action this weekend. The Royal Signals display team, the White Helmets, will putting on a death-defying show when the Army holds its annual open day, in York, tomorrow. Other attractions

  • Contest for cutest dog

    Scruffts, the competition to find the region's cutest crossbreed dog, takes place at the Sunderland Air Show on July 25. The contest is run by the Kennel Club and sponsored by pet food company Pal. The entry fee is £1, with proceeds going to the Newcastle

  • Farmer's tribute to famous locomotive is an amazing site

    AN a-maze-ing tribute to the Flying Scotsman has cropped up in a 30-acre field. York Maze has been designed in the shape of the legendary steam locomotive to celebrate its new home at the city's National Railway Museum. The maze is the idea of farmer

  • Students urged to apply for funding

    STUDENTS from North Yorkshire who are heading off to university in September are urged to apply for financial support as soon as possible. Undergraduates and others returning to college are also reminded to submit their funding renewal applications in

  • On tour with the Busy Bus

    Teesdale Sure Start will launch its Busy Bus next month. The bus will provide a range of services to children and their parents. Barbara Ashford, Early Years co-ordinator at Teesdale Sure Start, said: "We're hoping it will be a real help in communities

  • Matron is clowning around

    A NURSING home matron shed her traditional uniform this week and went to work dressed as a clown. Tina Lambert, 43, is also a director of Nightingale Hall Nursing Home in Richmond. She has been sponsored to wear the costume as the home is raising cash

  • Meeting debates lane gate proposal

    A PUBLIC meeting is to be held to discuss developments in efforts to close a country lane in Sedgefield. But the Defend Our Village Environment (Dove) group says little progress has been made in finding a solution to long-standing problems in Old Beacon

  • Street cred for ordinary people

    A PLAQUE bearing the words: Ann Huxtable waited here for a friend who did not arrive December 8, 1952, may mystify some people. But the artwork, set in the pavement on the corner of Bigg Market and Grainger Street, Newcastle, is the latest alternative

  • Summer drive aims to cut roads toll of youngsters

    POLICE chiefs have launched a campaign to cut child deaths and injuries on the roads during the summer holidays. Focusing on the correct use of child seats and improving cycle safety, the initiative was launched yesterday at the Arnison Centre, Durham

  • Smiling barmaid in line for award

    A BARMAID has been shortlisted for an award after spending years cheering up customers with her smile. Pauline Rushton, who has worked behind the bar at the Blue Bell Hotel in Acklam, Middlesbrough, for 32 years, has been shortlisted for the Most Cheerful

  • Motorbike the prize at police road show

    BIKE lovers have the chance to win a Harley Davidson by cracking a safe this weekend. The winner will ride off on the powerful V Rod as part of the Ridewell event on Sunday if they can crack the code and get their hands on the ignition keys. Military

  • Revival of county show to continue

    COUNTY show organisers hope the event will continue its recent revival this weekend. The Herrington Country Park site, near Sunderland, is prepared for tens of thousands of visitors to the Durham County Show tomorrow and Sunday. Organisers from the Dur-ham

  • Rising costs halt project

    PLANS to build a £4.5m community facility, the first of its kind in the country, has been halted because of spiralling building costs. Work was due to start on the development at Skerne Park, in Darlington, this summer but council chiefs admitted last

  • Pupils' wedding to help studies

    THERE was high excitement when 200 pupils attended the wedding of two fellow students. But the marriage was only a mock occasion organised as part of GCSE religious education (RE) curriculum at Houghton Kepier School, Houghton-le-Spring. The ceremony

  • Campaign aims to reduce child deaths on the roads

    POLICE chiefs have launched a campaign to reduce child deaths and injuries on the roads during the summer holidays. Focusing on the correct use of child seats and improving cycle safety, the initiative was launched yesterday at the Arnison Centre, in

  • Pre-school pupils celebrate move to a permanent home

    A PRE-SCHOOL which almost closed after it lost its premises, yesterday celebrated the opening of its new home. Romanby Preschool, in Romanby, near Northallerton, prepared to close last year after church leaders announced plans to sell St James' Church

  • Castle lights bill shock for council

    A HARD-UP council got a shock when it received an electricity bill for the floodlights that illuminate its castle each night. The account for lighting up the 12th Century tourist attraction at Barnard Castle, County Durham, is usually under £300 a year

  • £6m expected for schools

    PORTABLE classrooms could soon be consigned to the history books in Middlesbrough. Councillors are expected to approve a schools' investment programme of nearly £6m at a meeting next week. One result of that would be mobile classrooms phased out within

  • Residents call for rethink on speed humps

    A RESIDENT has taken his complaint over plans for speed humps in his street to a council. John Campbell has written to Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and council officials, questioning plans to introduce traffic calming measures into the Middlesbrough

  • Wallace wants to find a fireside

    A CAT whose wandering days are over is in need of a home. Wallace, a silver tabby tom cat, has spent the past few months as a stray, being cared for and fed by a number of people. But after suffering a minor foot injury, Wallace is being looked after

  • How babies can deliver a healthy message

    I am firmly convinced that in order to change society for the good you have to target the young. It's far easier to convince a youngster than a middle-aged person who is set in their ways, reasonably happy with their lot and who just wants an easy life

  • Mind over matter

    One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in our lives and, thanks to charities like Mind, there is a network of support organisations ready to help. Barry Nelson finds out about the work of one of Mind's most active North-East branches

  • Verdict: Show is better than ever before

    THE Great Yorkshire Show ended yesterday with organisers claiming the event a resounding success. An estimated 125,000 people passed through the gates over the three days. Entries in the competitive classes in the show were the second highest in the event's

  • Sure Start team to pioneer web page trial

    SURE Start North East has been chosen to pilot a regional webpage. The first of its kind in the country, it provides an overview of the Sure Start programme in the North-East. "When we heard they were looking for a pilot, we jumped at the chance," said

  • Uncertain future for 45 staff

    WHITE collar workers who had been employed by a North-East company on the Wembley Stadium project are facing an uncertain future. While the jobs of 205 construction workers at the site have been saved, the fate of 45 technical staff is not yet known.

  • House prices still climbing in the North

    The housing market is steadying but there are no signs of an impending price crash, a survey has found. The National Association of Estate Agents said its members were reporting a steadying in price rises, suggesting the market was beginning to shift

  • Medal prospects

    WITH each passing year one football season merges more seamlessly into the next. So Sir Bobby Robson and his Magpies are in Thailand without Craig Bellamy, who is injured. Is this 2004 or 2003? Playing in the sapping humidity of Malaysia didn't appear

  • Speedway

    MIDDLESBROUGH Bears clinched a thrilling last heat victory at Glasgow's Saracen Park against the Ashfield Giants on Sunday evening in front of an appreciative crowd. Mike Pickering and Phil Downes were the Bears heroes as they held their nerve and raced

  • Places still available

    ENTRY is still open to female teams for two prestigious summer tournaments being staged in the North-East in coming weeks. Organisers of the North Tyneside International Youth Football Tournament are looking to fill the last one or two vacancies for the

  • Federation Special Durham Senior League

    Under 15s: Horden and Sunderland produced a high scoring game during which 278 runs were scored for the loss of just six wickets. Batting first, Sunderland realised 157 for three which included 65 by Bewick, of which ten boundaries and an unbeaten 30

  • Bishop Auckland St Marys Juniors

    The Under-9s entered a team in to the Barnard Castle Glaxo tournament. Four games took place with St Marys winning three, drawing one, scoring 11 goals and only conceding one. St Marys then played Heighington BC in the final and won 5-1 with Liam Mather

  • Athletics: Newton Aycliffe

    Andy Gaskarth ran a personnel best at the Tynedale 10k on Wednesday, July 7. Andy was one of seven runners from the Aycliffe club taking part in the race on a very fast course and in ideal running conditions. Gaskarth ran a great race to finish in 36.12

  • Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

    The Burn Valley Half Marathon once again provided a testing run, made more so by the windy conditions. Alasdair Tatham of Quakers RC came home first in a creditable time of 81.03, and Cameron Choules was the first Thirsk and Sowerby finisher, in 20th

  • Lilley's close encounter

    Planet Snooker Premier League: Odd point victories were the order of the day when top met second and third met fourth, with David Lilley being the only mover when he swapped places with third placed Mike Dunn. Dunn, World number 58 from Redcar entertained

  • Call for consistency of care for rape victims

    NORTH-East rape victims face a postcode lottery in the quality of treatment they receive, according to Government research. The Home Office study, published yesterday, found the best level of services is provided by specialist sexual assault referral

  • Bed-hoppers beware

    The history of my love life might read like a horror novel but (as far as I am aware) I have never been cheated on. Finding out that your partner has played away from home must be devastating but once the tears have dried it is not surprising that thoughts

  • The Readers Durham County League

    Under-15s: Evenwood enjoyed a ten wickets romp at home to Mainsforth after restricting their opponents to only 50 for six in the 20 overs. Gary Close bowled five overs taking two wickets for eight runs and Lee Foster returned two for 18, also from a five

  • How babies can deliver a healthy message

    I am firmly convinced that in order to change society for the good you have to target the young. It's far easier to convince a youngster than a middle-aged person who is set in their ways, reasonably happy with their lot and who just wants an easy life

  • Bands clash with gala-day police

    POLICE have been branded heavy-handed for stopping brass bands playing as they left Saturday's Durham Miners' Gala. Marchers with Sacriston Colliery Band found their way blocked by a police van in North Road as they headed back to their buses. And tempers

  • Under-fire force criticised by outgoing chairman

    POLICE chiefs have come under fire for initiating disciplinary action against a suspended finance officer who highlighted a North-East force's spending crisis. Ken Walker, the ousted chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, used his final meeting in office

  • Meeting backs city

    COUNCIL chiefs from across the North-East joined forces to back Durham City as the best home for a regional assembly. Leaders of local authorities identified Durham as their preferred choice at a meeting held by Yes campaigners in Dar*ington on Tuesday

  • Uncovered head for WorldNET

    A team of Darlington FC supporters will be playing against fans of clubs from across the country this weekend when they compete in one of the largest football tournaments in the country. Uncovered FC, representatives of the Darlo Uncovered website (www.darlofc.co.uk

  • Sex attack investigators appeal for help

    DETECTIVES hunting a sex attacker who put a woman through a terrifying three-hour ordeal yesterday released images relating to the assault. The stills were taken from CCTV footage of the attacker and his victim after the serious sexual assault in Harrogate's

  • 'Screening saves 5,000 lives a year'

    Britain's cervical screening programme is helping save the lives of 5,000 women a year and has prevented a cancer epidemic, experts reveal today. National screening for cervical cancer started in 1988 after deaths from the disease among women aged under

  • Games

    CIU League: The dominoes singles championship qualifiers were held at two venues with four players from each going forward to the finals. The qualifiers from Newfield Club were Ronnie Greensmith of Willington, Wilf Sharp of the Prospect, Terry Wray of

  • Durham Fell Runners

    Three DFR members took part in last week's Saltwell Harriers fell race, which is held near Stanhope in Weardale. Steve Lumb was first home for the club in sixth place followed by Patrick Bonnet 30th and Helen Witham 46th. Sam and Stu Ferguson travelled

  • £17,000 raised for Sudan

    NORTH-EAST churches have raised more than £17,000 to help an emergency appeal in Africa. Collections and fundraising events for the Darfur crisis in Sudan have been taking place around the diocese of Newcastle in response to Cafod's appeal. People in

  • Wallaby on loose making mischief

    ALTHOUGH it is more than a short hop away from its natural habitat in the Australian bush, a mischievous marsupial has caused a stir by making itself at home in a quiet corner of the North-East. The wayward wallaby has set tongues wagging in Toft Hill

  • Good start the key in Durham victory

    County Super League: Durham pulled off a good home win against Crook Town A thanks to a very good first half where they took the first five points through Chris Beswick, Simon Baker, Dave Ferguson, Paul Shutt and Sue Seal before Michael Burke and brother

  • Boro are braced for triple transfer blow

    MIDDLESBROUGH had a triple blow on the transfer front as Bolo Zenden took a step closer sealing a return to the Riverside Stadium last night, writes Paul Fraser. Zenden, with his agent and father Pierre, flew to Teesside yesterday to discuss terms with

  • Harvey's pitch battle with old friends

    Ian Harvey will tomorrow enter the same den in which he was once one of the fiercest lions when Yorkshire take on holders Gloucestershire in the semi-final of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Bristol. The 32-year-old Australian all-rounder played

  • Chris back for the big day

    A pint of Banner Bitter welcomed roving reporter Chris Webber at Durham Miners' Gala on Saturday. The Advertiser Series journalist is boosting the funds being raised to pay for a commemorative stone for miners killed in the 1909 West Stanley Burns Pit

  • Cats try to scupper Connolly bid

    LEICESTER CITY are confident they can fend off an 11th hour bid from Sunderland for striker David Connolly. The West Ham forward has already had a medical with the Foxes after a £500,000 bid was accepted earlier in the week. But Sunderland - who completed

  • Newsagent fends off attacker wielding knife

    A SHOPKEEPER helped police solve a series of crimes after he tackled a robber and held on to his training shoe. Sunder Singh fought back when knife-wielding John Farrow tried to steal from the till. The pair struggled on the floor of the Middlesbrough

  • Durham make Yorkshire pay for over-ambition

    YORKSHIRE'S hopes of a one-day treble were wrecked as much by their own over-ambition as by Durham last night. Both were left with two wins from five group games in the Twenty20 Cup and the seven-wicket defeat brought further Riverside frustration for

  • The UniBond League

    Spennymoor United are doing their best to make Bishop Auckland feel at home at the Brewery Field by painting the away dressing room in their tenants' traditional colours. Bishops will groundshare with Moors for at least one season and Moors' owner Benny

  • City Soccarena on target

    WORK is on schedule for the planned launch of a new indoor football centre in Durham, intended to serve clubs across the community. The Soccarena, which has up to eight six-a-side pitches on land at Broomside Park, Belmont, alongside Durham City AFC's

  • Northern Echo poet in print

    WRITER Stan Walinets, whose four-line poems have been a popular feature of The Northern Echo for seven years, was in Darlington last night for a book-signing session. The 71-year-old, whose pithy offerings have focused on everything from President Bush

  • Engineer wins four Anglian contracts

    AK Engineering Services, on Teesside, has won four contracts worth nearly £19m with Anglian Water. The subsidiary of engineering group Aker Kvaerner, which employs 700 people in Stockton, won the contracts jointly with Skanska. One of them - the partnership's

  • Darlington Spraire Lads

    Darlington Spraire Lads Under-16s, sponsored by Cummins Engines Ltd, entered two teams in the Teesdale soccer sixes which was held in Barnard Castle. The tournament was very competitive with 34 teams participating in the under-16s group. The Spraire A

  • Meeting backs city

    COUNCIL chiefs from across the North-East joined forces to back Durham City as the best home for a regional assembly. Leaders of local authorities identified Durham as their preferred choice at a meeting held by Yes campaigners in Dar*ington on Tuesday

  • Project seeks to preserve rare meadows

    A SCHEME to help preserve flower-rich hay meadows has been taken up by farmers across part of the region. Sixty hay meadows in Teesdale, County Durham, have been surveyed by staff from the Government's Rural Development Service in the North-East. Upland

  • Fosters Tyneside League

    Under-15s: Annfield Plain had eight wickets in hand defeating Blaydon who they bowled out for just 41 when Kevin Gohery claimed three wickets for ten runs in four overs. Craig Johnson took three for six from the 3.4 overs he delivered and Michael Allen

  • Cat is shot in head in catapult attack

    A CAT was blinded and left with a gaping hole in its head by a ball bearing shot from a powerful catapult. Fluffy was found covered in blood on a garden wall by his heartbroken owner. He was taken to the vet who removed a missile that was bigger than

  • Delighting in disasters

    Accidents Can Happen (BBC1): PAULA Newbold was devastated when she returned from work to find her home on fire. Gizmo, her pet rat, had been rescued by firemen but what had become of her beloved dog, Lucky?. You can just imagine the cruel jokes if Lucky

  • Gavin Pattison Under-15 Cup

    Silksworth progressed to the next stage when they hit Murton with a nine wickets defeat. Craig Gardner took five of the wickets for just ten runs in four overs and Michael Agar had two for six from the two overs he sent down. When they responded, Silksworth

  • Four Cup shocks in Team Knockout

    Worthington CIU Team Knockout Cup: Four Third Division teams stole the honours in the Second Round of the Team Handicap when they disposed of First Division rivals. Fishburn B, Ferryhill B, Coundon B and Tow Law A all made their way into Round Three with

  • Swimming: Richmond's super seven

    Richmond Dales: Seven swimmers attended the Durham University Aquatics first gala for swimmers who had not achieved National Qualifying times. All swam well and recorded 31 personal best times and achieving eight first places. Alec Wann continued his

  • Artists create warm welcome to civic centre

    SIX artists are making a visit to the local council offices a more colourful experience. Ten pieces of art are on display in the foyer of the headquarters of Hambleton District Council, Northallerton. Steve Tomlinson, of Stokesley, Sue Simpson and Julie

  • Leeholme set to be five stars

    Durham and District League: Leeholme look almost certain to take their fifth Championship in a row after they whitewashed the visiting third placed Wingate by 101 shots to 74 to go 14 points clear at the top of the First Division. Their lead was further

  • Durham make Yorkshire pay for over-ambition

    YORKSHIRE'S hopes of a one-day treble were wrecked as much by their own over-ambition as by Durham last night. Both were left with two wins from five group games in the Twenty20 Cup and the seven-wicket defeat brought further Riverside frustration for

  • Magpies close in on Kluivert deal

    PATRICK Kluivert has moved nearer clinching a move to Newcastle United after his agent held further talks with the St James' Park board. Kluivert has made playing for the Magpies next season his main priority and negotiations are at an advanced stage

  • Davies fondly remembers Stanley triumph

    Stanley Cricket Club no longer exists but at one time they were leading lights in the Mid Durham Senior League. Les Davies recalls the 1974 season when they lifted The Northern Echo and Sports Despatch Cup. Les said: "We played Lands CC in the final at

  • Fit funding bid for over-50s

    THE over-50s will be encouraged to take more exercise if a council is successful in a bid for funding. Chester-le-Street District Council's leisure services team wants to develop its Healthy Horizons project by securing a £220,000 grant from Active England

  • Museum will hold summer art workshops

    A NORTH-East museum is inviting youngsters to get arty at workshops this summer. Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is holding summer schools run by professional artists for 12 to 16-year-olds. The workshops have been inspired by the museum's

  • Young Lawyers ready to venture into new league

    Tow Law Juniors, who have been together for the last three seasons in the Russell Foster League, are getting older and in the coming season will compete in the newly formed under-21s league. The team has had great success in its three season, finishing

  • 'I couldn't let my grief destroy me'

    It is more than two years since gap year student Caroline Stuttle was killed in Australia. Her mother Marjorie tells Women's Editor Christen Pears how she is keeping Caroline's memory alive by helping other young backpackers keep themselves safe. WHEN

  • Gala tributes to proud mining heritage

    DURHAM Miners' Gala continued its revival at the weekend with a renewed show of pride by ex-colliery communities across the former coalfield. The event appeared doomed when the last working pits closed in the east of the county in the early 1990s. But

  • Pupils tuck into free fruit

    YOUNGSTERS at a north Durham school tucked into free fruit at a tasting session. Sixty pupils at Newker Primary School, Waldridge Road, Chester-le-Street, took part in an activity day organised by school catering company Scolarest and Durham County Council

  • Seaside fun after market place transformation

    Darlington's market square will be transformed into a beach complete with seaside entertainers this month. Next Friday, people are invited to take their buckets and spades to the free Darlington By The Sea event from 11am to 5pm. Attractions will include

  • Students earn community service award

    ELEVEN students have been rewarded after completing more than 100 hours of community service. The sixth form students at Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, have been presented with Community Sports Leaders and Millenium Volunteers awards

  • Shop owner appeals for alleyway to be closed

    AFTER years of cleaning up after people, a shop owner wants to block off one of the town's alleyways. Margaret Dobinson has had to clean up human waste and broken glass from the alley she owns next to Dobinson's of Darlington bridal shop, in Grange Road

  • Balloons released in tribute to Leslie

    CLASSMATES of a bright schoolboy who collapsed and died during an exam will pay tribute to him today. Leslie Pilkington collapsed during a SATs maths test at Shield Row Primary School, Stanley, County Durham, in May, and died shortly afterwards. Friends

  • Pensioner died after hitting head in fall

    A 78-year-old woman died of a blood haemorrhage hours after hitting her head in a fall, an inquest heard yesterday. Eleanor Quinn Lock, 78, of Glebeside, Frosterley, died in Bishop Auckland General Hospital on July 8. Relatives took Mrs Lock to her doctor

  • Bottle scheme saves lives

    A life-saving Message in a Bottle scheme is spreading across North Yorkshire. The scheme encourages householders to put emergency information inside a container, which is stored in the fridge for safekeeping. The small, waterproof bottle contains information

  • Pig farm plan is 'acceptable'

    PLANS to turn a former pig farm into a concrete manufacturing plant are acceptable, says a planning chief. Lightwater Farms Ltd has applied to North Yorkshire County Council to develop the manufacturing plant at Potgate Farm, North Stainley, near Ripon

  • Driver did 104 on A1 without passing test

    A BUILDER clocked by traffic police doing 104-mph in a Jaguar on the A1(M) in North Yorkshire told a court yesterday he had not passed a test in two decades of driving. Terence Richardson, 54, told Harrogate magistrates: "I have been driving for over

  • Students earn community service award

    ELEVEN students have been rewarded after completing more than 100 hours of community service. The sixth form students at Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, have been presented with Community Sports Leaders and Millenium Volunteers awards

  • Summer sport programme

    SPORTS and athletics training is on offer to youngsters. Derwentside Sports Development is running a five-day cricket course at Shotley Bridge Cricket Club, near Consett, on Monday, from 10am to 2pm. The sessions, open to children aged seven to 15, will

  • College take the honours

    A STUDENT football team is celebrating after being named champions of a regional league. The Darlington College of Technology side won 16 matches, drew two and lost two to top the Northern Alliance Under-19s League - winning it by eight points. The success

  • Multi-cultural event proves an attraction for the stars

    TOP name acts are flying into Teesside from Asia for this weekend's free, multi-cultural Mela festival. Anwar Shad, who has appeared in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Band of Gold and the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, is jetting in from Pakistan to compere

  • Butterflies to add colour

    A FAMILY event on a butterfly theme will be held next week. The event at Tanfield Local Nature Reserve, near Stanley, will include a storyteller, magician, a walk and a display of rescued birds of prey. The site is jointly owned and managed by Durham

  • Community-run post office opens

    CUSTOMERS queued up yesterday as a new post office opened in their village hall. Part of Craghead Village Hall, near Stanley, County Durham, was converted into a post office after the two nearest outlets closed within a matter of months. The project was

  • £17,000 raised for Sudan

    NORTH-EAST churches have raised more than £17,000 to help an emergency appeal in Africa. Collections and fundraising events for the Darfur crisis in Sudan have been taking place around the diocese of Newcastle in response to Cafod's appeal. People in

  • Children enjoy flavour of the world

    CHILDREN from primary schools received a flavour of other cultures as part of an international festival. About 60 youngsters aged ten and 11 from Chester-le-Street took part in the Bridge the Gap Festival. They worked with year sevens at Park View Community

  • Gymnastics

    Two local lads who recently came second in the World Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics are off to Downing Street to share their experience with the Prime Minister. Luke Rooney, 15, from Ushaw Moor and Richard Hurst 14, from Esh Winning flew the GB

  • Sure Start team to pioneer web page trial

    SURE Start North East has been chosen to pilot a regional webpage. The first of its kind in the country, it provides an overview of the Sure Start programme in the North-East. "When we heard they were looking for a pilot, we jumped at the chance," said

  • Ferrie's on crest of a wave at the Open

    THE name Kenneth Ferrie, the North-East's lone and largely unknown Open Championship hope, sits high on the leaderboard. Higher than Ernie Els, higher than Tiger Woods and even higher than Greg Norman. At Royal Troon yesterday the Ashington golfer turned

  • Clay pigeons: Cleveland & North Yorkshire League

    Oak Lodge got back into winning ways this week, after their defeat at Great Smeaton last week. Oak Lodge got the double over Thimbleby this season. Oak Lodge scored the highest total of the week with a 184 to Thimblebys 155. Oak Lodge's Gary Attwood,

  • Cycling

    Geoff Robinson is sticking by his decision not to chase a placing in the British best all-rounder competition - despite a stunning 100-mile win of 3hr 47min 16sec. The Cleveland Wheelers rider from Hutton Rudby marked his graduation to the over-40 veteran

  • Graduates make their debut

    TWO graduates from a North-East university who teamed up to launch a ladieswear fashion house will be showing their first collections at London Fashion Week in September. Kelly Clark and David Robinson have received support from Northumbria University's

  • Ministers to grab control of railways

    THE Government last night signalled a get tough approach with train companies as it announced a major shake-up of the railways. Officials pledged to do everything possible to build a better service for hard-press passengers fed up with dirty, unreliable

  • TV review

    Accidents Can Happen (BBC1) PAULA Newbold was devastated when she returned from work to find her home on fire. Gizmo, her pet rat, had been rescued by firemen but what had become of her beloved dog, Lucky?. You can just imagine the cruel jokes if Lucky

  • Mother proud of local hero

    JOYCE Ferrie spent an anxious day sitting in front of the television watching her son in the form of his life leading the Open. The Ashington-born golfer was a 250/1 rank outsider when the Open Championship got underway at Royal Troon. Joyce, who still

  • Pockets of resistance over Open trousers

    GOLF traditionalists were left seeing red, white and blue over an outrageous pair of trousers at The Open at Royal Troon yesterday. The switchboard of the Royal & Ancient - the game's governing body - was flooded with complaints over Ian Poulter's

  • Wellock's World: Medal prospects

    WITH each passing year one football season merges more seamlessly into the next. So Sir Bobby Robson and his Magpies are in Thailand without Craig Bellamy, who is injured. Is this 2004 or 2003? Playing in the sapping humidity of Malaysia didn't appear

  • Disc launch

    Hot young North-East band Indigo Colony release their debut album, In an Hour, next week. The four-piece indie rock outfit, from North Tyneside, will perform at the album launch party at The Archer, in Jesmond, Newcastle, on Tuesday, at 8pm. Admission

  • ShopTalk: Hats off to home produce

    There are many good reasons for buying from small, local producers, not least because ther's such a good range on our doorstep. FIGHT back against the supermarkets - buy locally. It makes life more interesting, keeps money in the area, encourages small

  • Roman remains discovered at Argos site

    EXPERTS were preparing to launch a major archaeological excavation last night after a surprise discovery that could shed new light on the region's Roman past. A site in Darlington chosen for an Argos distribution centre that will create 700 jobs has yielded

  • Train delayed by vandals' 'foolish' act

    RAIL passengers were left stranded on a bridge yesterday after vandals climbed out of a window and tampered with the train. The GNER diesel express service to London Kings Cross, which left Newcastle Central Station at 11.15am, had reached the King Edward

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Getting back on track

    WHEN it comes to the railways, passengers don't really care who owns what. They simply want to know that they can rely on a cost-effective service which runs on time and provides a decent standard of comfort. We welcome the fact that the Government has

  • Project seeks to preserve rare meadows

    A SCHEME to help preserve flower-rich hay meadows has been taken up by farmers across part of the region. Sixty hay meadows in Teesdale, County Durham, have been surveyed by staff from the Government's Rural Development Service in the North-East. Upland

  • Bedale

    Steve Sutton Memorial Trophy: A stableford competition with pairs playing for the trophy. 46 points Ian and Pauline Morris; 45 Norman Harris and Andrew Jamieson, 43 Michael Burns and Carl Peacock. Red Cross Cup No 10: Excellent scoring again this week

  • Places still available

    ENTRY is still open to female teams for two prestigious summer tournaments being staged in the North-East in coming weeks. Organisers of the North Tyneside International Youth Football Tournament are looking to fill the last one or two vacancies for the

  • Bill's the big noise at Thunder

    Forever flying at 125mph, Bill Midgley has interrupted a homeward journey for a chat in the buffet at Darlington railway station. It's Friday afternoon, half past three. Catterick's decamping for the weekend, jumping the juke box and braying hell out

  • Ministers to grab control of railways

    THE Government last night signalled a get tough approach with train companies as it announced a major shake-up of the railways. Officials pledged to do everything possible to build a better service for hard-press passengers fed up with dirty, unreliable

  • World at her feet

    STUNNING Natalie Smith is hoping to wow the judges in the Miss England beauty contest this weekend. The 19-year-old from Chester-le-Street, the reigning Miss Durham, is in Bournemouth for the final on Saturday night. Family and friends will be cheering

  • Music helps pupils prepare for life at comprehensive school

    YOUNGSTERS took to the stage to celebrate the halfway point in an arts project. More than 240 pupils from six schools enjoyed a pop concert at Stanley School of Technology. They performed with singer-songwriter Pete Shoulder, from Chester-le-Street. Year

  • Tennis

    Slazenger Harrogate and District League: Harlow look set to regain the First Division title they last held two years ago. Their 6-3 away win over Harrogate Racquets put them four points ahead of Thirsk at the top of the table. The Thirsk side, currently

  • Scout leader starts jail term

    A SCOUTMASTER who was fined £2,000 for abusing youngsters in his care, will today start a 12-month jail sentence handed down by the Appeal Court. There was outrage last year when a York Crown Court judge imposed the fine on David Clifford Scrivener. Appeal

  • Romanby Juniors

    Romanby maintained their unbeaten record in the Harrogate and District Golf Union Junior Division with a fine win over the league leaders Oakdale. The win takes Romany into second place, a point behind Oakdale with a game in hand. The team of Luke Searle

  • Viewforth to restore faith

    VIEWFORTH, who had anything but a clear sight of exactly what was occurring at Ayr on Monday, bids to put the record straight in Carlisle's Kingmoor Park Handicap. Punters lumped on Viewforth at the Scottish track forcing him down to 7-2 favouritism,

  • The Quaker Bowl returns

    The revival of The Northern Echo Quaker Bowl Open Bowls Tournament takes place later this month after a lapse of seven years, but it was almost delayed even further until. The return of the tournament, taking place at Eastbourne Sports Complex in Darlington

  • Big dig offers glimpse into life of castle-dwellers

    INFORMATION showing what life was like in a castle hundreds of years ago is to be made public for the first time. A large-scale excavation was carried out from 1974 to 1981 in grounds of the ruined fortress at Barnard Castle, County Durham and since then

  • Scott and Buck in action

    Richmond and Zetland Harriers: Richmond and Zetland Harriers kicked-off their weekend's competition on Saturday 3rd with the Burn Valley Half Marathon and 3 mile Fun Run at Masham. Paul Scott and Grete Buck both ran in the Half Marathon, finishing 51st

  • Help for firms seeking EU funds

    TECHNOLOGY companies and universities in the region are being offered financial backing to help them apply for EU funding for research and development projects. Regional development agency One NorthEast has set up a £400,000 fund to help companies put

  • Ice hockey: Junior round-up

    English National Ice Hockey League: The provisional fixture list for the 2004-2005 season has been released following the fixtures meeting held earlier this month. The league is split into two, North and South Conferences, with 11 in the South and nine

  • Panel given competition judging task

    JUDGES have been named for The Northern Echo's Revolution Big Chance music competition. The contest aims to find the best band or artist in the region and the winner will receive time in the Sanity Multimedia Recording Studio, 100 CDs and free CD artwork

  • Firefighters free toddler from sticky situation

    AN adventurous toddler is recovering after being freed from a sticky situation by firefighters. They had to use a tub of margarine to free 21-month-old Lucy Kilpatrick after she got a child's toilet seat stuck over her head. Lucy, the youngest of six

  • Samsung facing bill

    SOUTH Korean electronics company Samsung may have to repay up to £10.5m of Government aid following the closure of its Teesside factory. Samsung was given a regional selective assistance grant to help it open its Wynyard plant in 1995, which it said would

  • Prisoners do their bit for restoration project

    THE resurrection of the Weardale Railway has given prison inmates a chance to contribute to the project from behind bars. About 100 prisoners have been busy in the workshops, making the finishing touches for the stations at Stanhope, Frosterley and Wolsingham

  • Chester-le-Street Under-11s

    The Cestrians Under-11s defeated a young but enthusiastic Hetton Lyons side by 167 runs at Ropery Lane on Sunday morning with Alex Ryan impressing with the bat scoring 32 not out in 5 overs. Exceptional bowling by Robert Richardson, 4o 5w 21r and Bradley

  • Thornton Steward

    The heavy rains kept many anglers away from the reservoir last week. On the positive side, the water level has risen and the reservoir is almost full. Another couple of browns have been caught and retuned. Bag of the week was again club member Peter Metcalfe

  • Engineer wins four Anglian contracts

    AK Engineering Services, on Teesside, has won four contracts worth nearly £19m with Anglian Water. The subsidiary of engineering group Aker Kvaerner, which employs 700 people in Stockton, won the contracts jointly with Skanska. One of them - the partnership's

  • £20m church scheme to rebuild school collapses

    PLANS for the Church of England to invest £20m in replacing a North-East school at the centre of a pioneering education scheme have collapsed. The proposal to pull down Eastbourne Comprehensive, in Darlington, and replace it with a voluntary aided 900

  • City of Durham Under-15 Cup

    Willington progressed to the next stage with a three wickets victory at Esh Winning who were all out for 82 when they made first use of the wicket. Almost half the total came from two batsmen. Michael Bussey with one six and three boundaries in 27 and

  • Shoptalk

    FIGHT back against the supermarkets - buy locally. It makes life more interesting, keeps money in the area, encourages small producers, keeps regional varieties, cuts down on all those lorries pounding up and down the motorways - and puts a tiny dent

  • Fish Tales

    The North York South Durham Federation Girsby Charity Open fished on the middle Tees at Over Dinsdale resulted in an excellent match as nearly half the 54 competitors recorded nets into double figures. Roach continued to prove the mainstay with chub barbel

  • 9606TFM

    The best thing about reading Local Heroes every week is the fantastic stories of local men and women achieving amazing things in their own particular sports. During a summer when our national cricket, football, rugby and tennis players have under-achieved

  • Dougie finally gets a slice of good fortune

    IT'S about time Dougie Brimm enjoyed the rub of the green. Eighteen years ago the keen golfer was hitting the fairways on a regular basis and had managed to work his handicap down to eight. But then events dictated that Dougie had to give up the game

  • Oxbridge Darlington and District League

    Ingleton had just one to spare defeating Heighington at the end of an exciting game, writes Malcolm Pratt. Faced with a target of 119 Heighington managed only 117 for nine in the allotted overs. Opener Darren Riley raised their hopes scoring 34 with one

  • Recruit will take lead role in battle against bullying

    THE North-East is to get an anti-bullying tsar in an attempt to tackle the problem in schools. The move is part of the setting up of a national agency, the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), by the Government to take a lead role in dealing with bullying and

  • Tournament joy for Cestrians

    Last weekend saw the third annual Chester Athletic FC seven-a-side summer football tournament held at Lord Lawson School in Birtley, Co.Durham and again proved to be a tremendous success. Over the two days the event had 170 teams playing a total of 517

  • Cornsay impress with win over Newhouse

    Coors League: Cornsay Royal Oak pulled off a magnificent home win over last season's runners-up, Newhouse Club, who only managed three points. The Oak started in great style when they took both trebles but then they had to share the singles when they

  • Teesside

    July 6, Crosthwaite Cup: Winner: WJ ALLINSON 86 - 16 = 69; runner-up: B. LOWE 84 - 11 = 73. July 10: Swan 9: Winner: A Liddle 80 -12 = 68 (back 9); runner-up: P Dawson 81 -13 = 68; 3rd R Allen 70 -1 = 69 (back). July 11: Fred Marsh Foursomes: Winners:

  • Wear Valley Sunday League

    Coxhoe Cricketers Arms entertained Newton Aycliffe PWS in a match that produced the tightest finish in the league this season. The home side batted first and made 112 when their 20 overs ran out with Kevin Pugh and Graham Thompson both making 25. The

  • Film-style fun - with a few frustrations

    SHADOW OPS: RED MERCURY. Publisher: Atari. Format: Xbox. Price: £39.99: MICROSOFT'S Xbox console has become the games machine of choice if you enjoy first-person stealth 'em ups. Hardly a week seems to go by without another title promising gripping gameplay