Archive

  • Close eyes kept on new school

    STAFF and pupils who will be based at a £34.9m education village have been taking a keen interest in how the building work is developing. A viewing platform on the site of Haughton Community School, in Rockwell Lane, Darlington, means that everyone involved

  • Price cuts fail to win over customers

    SUPERMARKET group Morrisons is suffering a post-acquisition hangover as sales slump in its unconverted Safeway stores. The chain, based in Bradford, warned that annual profits would be substantially below expectations. North-East retail expert Anthony

  • Gardener settles into his new home

    A FAMILIAR figure in Middlesbrough town centre has returned. The Gardener, a life-sized fibre glass statue by Graham Ibbeson, was a popular feature before he lost his perch on a large raised planter when Linthorpe Road pedestrian shopping area was redesigned

  • Fate of a nation hinges on Portugal's final push

    THE Portuguese are not a nation normally associated with sporadic outpourings of joy. Singing in the street is not unknown - but the singing is in the style of fado, the melancholic and nostalgic folk music that Portugal has made its own. Literally meaning

  • Children help signal start of lost lake's restoration

    YOUNGSTERS from two primary schools helped launch a multi-million pound parkland restoration. The children, from Sedgefield and Hardwick primary schools, in County Durham, brought the huge diggers under starter's orders to begin excavating a lost lake

  • website helps fill DJH order book

    AN engineering company is expanding to cope with demand for its bespoke corporate gifts. DJH Engineering has built a 1,500sq metre extension to its premises at Consett Business Park to give it more construction space. The company produces a range of gifts

  • Wizard fun as railway museum conjures up a magic weekend

    THE public are getting the chance to experience all things magical this weekend, courtesy of one of the region's attractions. The National Railway Museum, in York, is staging a wizard festival today and tomorrow, when visitors of all ages will be able

  • Bakery aids community projects

    A BAKERY company has awarded grants totalling £78,000 to three community projects in the North-East. Greggs Trust, the charitable arm of Greggs plc, has pledged the money to Cockerton and Branksome Living Enterprise Ltd (Cable), in Darlington, the West

  • All-round Immaculate

    THOSE who suppose that the sun shines only upon the righteous had best be reminded of the correct quotation, which may help explain what happened in Crook last weekend. It's from Matthew 5:45. "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and

  • 03/07/04

    HEDLEY VERITY THE photograph of Captain Verity (Echo, June 30) brought sad memories. Captain Verity was my company commander, an absolute gentleman and a pleasure to serve under. It was a bad night and we lost a lot of friends. When not in the front line

  • Drugs crackdown success

    POLICE say an operation to net drug dealers has been hugely successful. But they are urging the public to continue helping with the crackdown. Chief Superintendent Dee Collins said: "I would urge the public not to get complacent and assume we know about

  • Shoaib replacement is lined up

    DURHAM have lined up Zimbabwean all-rounder Andy Blignaut as a temporary overseas player following the departure of Shoaib Akhtar. They have agreed terms and are hoping to secure a visa within a week, which would make him available for the three home

  • Unlikely odyssey nears end for the Greek Gods

    "Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy." Greek culture has always had a soft spot for epic journeys. Homer's Odyssey, written in around 700BC, tells

  • Milner deal done, now for Beattie and Butt

    NEWCASTLE will make a take it or leave it offer for Southampton's James Beattie next week as they look to complete a transfer triple whammy. Teenage winger James Milner completed his move from Leeds United yesterday after passing a medical on Tyneside

  • Another legacy from Portugal

    I WAS in something of a palaver last week. I couldn't spell 'palaver' and had to go through all the palaver of looking it up in the dictionary. It is a fine word, much under-used. When Neil Herron used it in last Saturday's paper to dismiss John Prescott's

  • Ex-pat's grand gesture in memory of 'forgotten hero'

    A BRITISH expatriate's memories of his North-East childhood during the Second World War have prompted him to donate £1,000 to The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero appeal. Frank Moses grew up near Billingham, Teesside, and remembers watching Lancaster bombers

  • Roof work completed at Grainger

    A MAINTENANCE company that specialises in high-rise and high-level projects has completed a £250,000 refurbishment of the Grainger Market roof. Stone Technical Services (STS) was called in to work on the 19th Century building by Newcastle City Council

  • Here is the news...

    In the past year the BBC has been making the news rather than reporting it. The fallout of the Hutton inquiry led to the integrity of the BBC's respected news-gathering operation making the headlines. The 50th anniversary of the BBC's first TV news bulletin

  • Home interest in misfit Medina

    ARGENTINIAN club side San Lorenzo will use this month's Copa America to run the rule over Sunderland misfit Nicolas Medina. The Buenos Aires based outfit are ready to end the midfielder's Wearside nightmare if he can prove he has recaptured the form that

  • Man arrested in murder inquiry

    POLICE have made another arrest as part of a long-running inquiry into the death of a North-East market trader. Tommy Harrison, from Middlesbrough, was arrested on Thursday by officers from Cleveland Police investigating the death of father-of-five Kalvant

  • Saving the sewer children

    AS millionaire Duncan Bannatyne stepped down into the stale sewer caverns of Medellin, in Colombia, he could immediately sense the movement of children finding their way in the pitch darkness. Without a light at first, he could only imagine what horrors

  • An untenable position

    THE Bichard Report found a catalogue of failures by Humberside Police, which allowed Ian Huntley to get a job as a school caretaker in Soham. Over the past ten days, the force should have given its fullest possible attention to introducing the reforms

  • Balkan Knight can add to Quelly's reputation

    TOM QUEALLY'S rapid rise to fame is firmly in line for yet another boost by winning Haydock's £70,000 Old Newton Cup aboard Balkan Knight (2.55). Following Johnny Murtagh's surprise decision to relinquish his lucrative position as stable jockey to the

  • Milner deal done, now for Beattie and Butt

    NEWCASTLE will make a take it or leave it offer for Southampton's James Beattie next week as they look to complete a transfer triple whammy. Teenage winger James Milner completed his move from Leeds United yesterday after passing a medical on Tyneside

  • Saving the sewer children

    AS millionaire Duncan Bannatyne stepped down into the stale sewer caverns of Medellin, in Colombia, he could immediately sense the movement of children finding their way in the pitch darkness. Without a light at first, he could only imagine what horrors

  • No slowdown for building trade

    GROWTH in the building industry picked up last month, despite rising oil prices and a shortage of raw materials. Total construction activity increased faster in June than in May following a sharp increase in orders, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing

  • Air aces ready to star in show

    AEROBATIC aces will headline the biggest free air show in Europe when it is held in the North-East later this month Spectators at the Sunderland International Airshow will be able to see a display by the Red Arrows as the closing event. Airshow director

  • Investors keep an eye on Matalan

    Market heavyweights will again be missing from the corporate spotlight next week as some of the stock market's lesser lights prepare to update the market on trading. Plant hire group Ashtead is expected to pass a milestone in its recovery on Thursday

  • Stranger exposed himself to children

    PARENTS and children are being warned to be on their guard after two indecent exposure incidents in a park. Two girls, aged 11 and 12, were playing in a wooded area of Annfield Plain park, near Stanley, County Durham, when a man waved at them and began

  • Beaten Durham fail to cut the Mustard

    DURHAM'S lack of Twenty20 firepower was quickly exposed as the crash, bang, wallop competition began its second season at Trent Bridge last night. Despite tasty contributions from Mustard and Onions, Durham are not going to be the hot dogs of the northern

  • Former customs boss joins Arriva

    TRANSPORT group Arriva has appointed a former head of customs to succeed its retiring non-executive chairman. Arriva said Sir Richard Broadbent would join the board immediately and would formally take up the post at the start of November when Gareth Cooper

  • Wembley 'row' ends in axe for workforce

    NORTH-EAST engineering firm Cleveland Bridge last night announced it is laying off its entire workforce of almost 250 at the new Wembley Stadium. The Darlington-based company told staff they would be out of work by the end of the month after failing to

  • Neighbour injured after noise row

    A NOISE complaint sparked Boxing Day violence between neighbouring families. Rhys Robert Shaw emerged from his home in West Lane, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, carrying a machete and an ornamental sword, after he said he was threatened by neighbours

  • Awards for the stars of tomorrow

    TALENTED young sportsmen and women have had their achievements recognised at Richmondshire's Local Sports Council Junior Sports Awards. The ceremony was held at Risedale Community College at Hipswell. The presentations featured individual sports categories

  • 5,000 to take the healthy option

    ONE of the biggest health promotion events for young people to take place in the region starts tomorrow. The event, which brings together up to 5,000 young people from the North-East, Cumbria, Wales, Ireland and Hungary aims to encourage healthy and active

  • Ex-pub boss gets two-year jail term

    A FORMER landlord who had a reputation for clearing pubs of violent customers was jailed for two years yesterday for possession of drugs. Eugene Daly, 38, was caught at his home in Shakespeare Avenue, Grangetown, with £3,000-worth of amphetamines sulphate

  • Kitten hitches ride in wheel arch of Jag

    A TEN-week-old kitten was taken on a long car journey after stowing away in the vehicle's wheel arch. No one knows exactly how far the tortoiseshell kitten, dubbed Plucky, travelled around North Yorkshire after hitching a ride in the Jaguar. The owner

  • Rivals on trail of champs Murton

    The second-half of the season gets under way with reigning champions and current leaders Murton just a point ahead of Silksworth. Murton are the only unbeaten side but could find the going difficult at Ryhope, who have moved into joint third position

  • Children inspire charity beach walk

    MORE than 40 families who took part in a sponsored walk, inspired by three children battling against serious illness, have raised hundreds of pounds for charity. The aim of the walk, along the beach from Marske to Saltburn, was to raise money for charities

  • All-round Immaculate

    THOSE who suppose that the sun shines only upon the righteous had best be reminded of the correct quotation, which may help explain what happened in Crook last weekend. It's from Matthew 5:45. "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and

  • Safari so good

    A MALE lion lies atop a rocky outcrop while zebra, elephants, giraffes and a host of other creatures roam the savannah below. The jeep transport of Kilimanjaro Safaris splashes through fords and negotiates rough tracks as its passengers join in the hunt

  • Two-year contract for Close

    DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson has signed former Middlesbrough midfielder Brian Close on a two-year deal. Just 24 hours after Hodgson put pen to paper on a one-year rolling contract, Close has agreed to extend his stay with the club until 2006. The Northern

  • Cyclist checks planned by police

    CYCLISTS in Darlington are to be randomly stopped by police as part of a crackdown on bike theft. Operation Antiquarian has been launched to tackle the rising number of bicycle thefts in the town. Throughout this month and next, police will stop cyclists

  • Anger as vandals target church

    CHURCHGOERS were devastated after vandals launched an attack on their place of worship. Bricks, stones and lumps of granite rained down on the United Reform Church, in Northallerton, in the late night assault. Valuable Victorian stained glass was shattered

  • Children help signal start of lost lake's restoration

    YOUNGSTERS from two primary schools helped launch a multi-million pound parkland restoration. The children, from Sedgefield and Hardwick primary schools, in County Durham, brought the huge diggers under starter's orders to begin excavating a lost lake

  • Patient care wins quality award

    A DOCTORS' practice has been recognised for its high standard of patient care. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster presented Dr Andrew Sanderson's practice, in Spennymoor, with a Quality Practice Award from the Royal College of GPs. All practice staff, including

  • Tycoon's haven for street children

    A North-East millionaire is providing a haven for children fighting for survival on the streets of Colombia's most dangerous city. Fitness tycoon Duncan Bannatyne has pledged £150,000 to convert an abandoned property into a home for street children living

  • Beaten Durham fail to cut the Mustard

    DURHAM'S lack of Twenty20 firepower was quickly exposed as the crash, bang, wallop competition began its second season at Trent Bridge last night. Despite tasty contributions from Mustard and Onions, Durham are not going to be the hot dogs of the northern

  • No small honour for writer Bryson

    TRAVEL writer Bill Bryson returned to one of his favourite British cities yesterday to collect an honorary degree from Durham University. The best-selling author was given the accolade along with England rugby star Will Greenwood and Professor Sir Harry

  • No headpine

    In the past year the BBC has been making the news rather than reporting it. The fallout of the Hutton inquiry led to the integrity of the BBC's respected news-gathering operation making the headlines. The 50th anniversary of the BBC's first TV news bulletin

  • Price cuts fail to win over customers

    SUPERMARKET group Morrisons is suffering a post-acquisition hangover as sales slump in its unconverted Safeway stores. The chain, based in Bradford, warned that annual profits would be substantially below expectations. North-East retail expert Anthony

  • Wembley 'row' ends in axe for workforce

    NORTH-EAST engineering firm Cleveland Bridge last night announced it is laying off its entire workforce of almost 250 at the new Wembley Stadium. The Darlington-based company told staff they would be out of work by the end of the month after failing to