TITUS Bramble has urged Shola Ameobi to develop a "horrible streak" if he is to fulfill the promise shown by last weekend's derby double against Sunderland. With Michael Owen back to full fitness, Ameobi is almost certain to be back on the bench when
DETECTIVES are starting to piece together the sequence of events that led to a Middlesbrough man's death a fortnight ago. But they believe key witnesses are protecting people by withholding information out of misguided loyalty. Despite the initial reluctance
CHILDREN with cancer could be spared debilitating chemotherapy treatment after North-East scientists made an important brain cancer discovery. Until now, every child with a brain tumour, known as medulloblastoma, has been given the same intensive treatment
DEDICATED club athlete Tony Wallett, who runs a string of sports shops in the region, has come to the rescue of the North-East Harrier League, which lost the financial support of long-standing sponsors DP Furniture Express, now in administration. As soon
In an era when National Hunt racing is struggling to maintain its' status quo, Wetherby's £75,000 Charlie Hall Chase has happily bucked the trend by producing one of the best fields of staying chasers ever assembled at the course. Twelve months ago Grey
A PIONEERING science park in the region is hoping for millions of pounds of investment from the US following a visit from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's right-hand man. Dr George Atkinson, the science and technology advisor to Ms Rice, yesterday
WHEN he took over at St James' Park last September, Graeme Souness' number one priority was to achieve harmony in the dressing room. When he travels to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, the Newcastle manager is hoping for a bit of unrest. After spending
AN MP's bid to give householders more right to protect themselves against burglars sparked a political row yesterday. Anne McIntosh, Tory MP for the Vale of York, said her backbench Bill would end the scandal of intruders enjoying more legal rights than
ROYAL Shakespeare Company actor Barnaby Kay is used to having the first word. He speaks the opening line in all three plays in which he appears in the current season. In Twelfth Night, it's the well-known speech beginning "If music be the food of love
WHEN he took over at St James' Park last September, Graeme Souness' number one priority was to achieve harmony in the dressing room. When he travels to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow, the Newcastle manager is hoping for a bit of unrest. After spending
A 73-YEAR-OLD from the region has been crowned one of the UK's fittest pensioners. Merlyn Hannant, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, came third in a competition to find superfit senior citizens, run by energy drink Yakult. More than 500 pensioners
Q Do you have to be 65 to get Pension Credit? How much savings can you have and what is Savings Credit? A The Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit brings incomes of people aged 60 and over up to a fixed level, usually £109.45 a week for singles and
A JUDGE said yesterday that he hoped a teenager learned a lesson after he was hauled into court for having sex with a drunken 13-year-old girl. Richard Ireson, 18, faced a life sentence when he was originally arrested for rape. Investigations by his defence
TROUBLED music management company Sanctuary suffered a fresh blow yesterday when it revealed that changes to its accounting policies may significantly alter its balance sheet. Sanctuary, whose portfolio includes Sir Elton John and Beyonce, saw its shares
YOU will have to go a long, long way to find a prouder man than Michael Hunter today, writes Nick Loughlin. Look right across the Continent and the British Commonwealth because the Hartlepool boxer is now the British, European and Commonwealth super-bantamweight
A 60-METRE London Eye-style big wheel could attract up to a million visitors to one of the region's most historic cities, it was claimed yesterday. The National Railway Museum, in York, has applied for planning permission to build the observation wheel
ONE win - a single victory over a team at the bottom end of the table - might be no cause for celebration, but for Hartlepool United, the relief was immeasurable. Lee Bullock netted the late winner against Danny Wilson's MK Dons and Pool go to Port Vale
YOUTHS who dice with death on railway lines could be caught by a helicopter that will be patrolling the region's skies. Yesterday, rail bosses unveiled their £1m weapon in the battle against trespassers and vandals who put lives at risk by tampering with
HELP for redundant TV tube factory workers is being extended for three months. The taskforce set up to support employees of LG Philips Displays at Belmont, Durham City, was due to fold at the end of this month. And although 85 per cent of the workers
LOW-COST airline bmibaby yesterday announced it is to base a second aircraft at Durham Tees Valley Airport with the creation of more than 180 jobs in the region. The airline intends to double the number of flights coming in to and leaving the airport,
FOR a manager who delivered European Cup glory six months ago, Rafael Benitez must have thought his second season in English football was going to be easier - everyone else did. As Liverpool prepared to embark on their first Premiership campaign as European
ANDY Gray admits he is 'reasonably happy with his own performances' following his transfer from Sheffield United prior to the Premiership curtain-raiser. Now he wants to add goals to his impressive form. The Sunderland striker has drawn praise from both
GAIZKA Mendieta insisted he was always confident he could make a full recovery from his career-threatening cruciate ligament setback last year. The Spaniard's season was rocked a little over a year ago when he twisted his knee while challenging Patrick
ON THE BUSES: RL Phillips's letter (HAS, Oct 26) reflected accurately the behaviour of too many schoolchildren who turn bus trips into a total nightmare for other passengers. This, in itself, is a good reason for not using public transport. The negative
THE family of an Alzheimer's sufferer allegedly murdered by his doctor told a jury that the GP had described giving him an injection to "help him on his way". Dr Howard Martin, who was a GP and partner in a County Durham medical practice group, is accused
DURHAM City have announced they will be applying for promotion to the UniBond League at the end of the season. No club from the ANL has moved up the system for nearly a decade, mainly for financial reasons, but Durham secretary Kevin Hewitt said: "We're
THE winner of this year's Big Brother, Anthony Hutton, is to star in a pantomime, a North-East theatre has announced. The 23-year-old from Consett, County Durham, has joined the cast of Darlington Civic Theatre's festive production Beauty and the Beast
Darlington RA manager David Woodcock is waiting on the fitness of star striker Warren Byrne in this afternoon's FA Vase clash against Dunston. The RA have made a promising start this season, but today's challenge doesn't get much bigger with league champions
THE Roman invasion which swamped a village overnight was a very civilised affair - smoothly done, in fact. A rabble of red-cloaked military men which greeted the people of Newsham, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, when they woke yesterday morning were,
A DEALER caught by police in a crackdown on a North-East town's burgeoning heroin trade had his sentence upheld by Appeal Court judges. John Oliver Thompson, 41, told officers he began supplying narcotics because he became involved in a "drugs co-operative
A WEBSITE has been launched that can generate money for Tees Valley charities through the services it is able to offer businesses in the area. The initiative is aimed at start-up businesses as well as small to large established firms. The services range
THE second phase of the Boro Brick Road has been completed in time for today's Barclays Premiership clash with Manchester United. More than 1,000 additional bricks have been laid alongside the original 3,000, as part of the club's ongoing celebration
CHILDREN could well come across a prickly customer during their half-term holiday. Harry the Hedgehog - countryside officer Richard Buckley, in disguise - is promoting wildlife interest among youngsters this week. Artist Nigel Dobbyn, from Guisborough
FORTY youngsters took part in an annual parade of sail staged to mark the 277th anniversary of Captain James Cook's birthday. The event, on the River Leven in Great Ayton on Wednesday, saw home-made craft sailing down the river to compete for prizes for
CRIMINALS on Teesside who ignored paying their fines have had a rude awakening. In a week-long blitz, 375 people were arrested by court enforcement officers during early morning raids. Nine hundred warrants were executed by the team, with help from officers
THE third Estates Gazette Rich List is published today and features some high-fliers from the North-East. The list contains the richest 296 people in the country - who have a combined total wealth of £56bn. Qualification for the list is a personal wealth
A CONSULTATION exercise has been launched over plans to ban lorries from a narrow moorland road. North Yorkshire County Council is looking to prevent heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs) from using the road between Grinton and Bellerby Camp, near Leyburn.
FIRE chiefs are urging everyone who intends to celebrate Bonfire Night to be aware of the dangers of fires and fireworks. Cleveland Fire Brigade says illegal fireworks are readily available and youngsters can suffer injury or even death from their misuse
FOLLOWING the success of art workshops this summer at Chester-le-Street's Riverside Sports Pavilion, a Halloween-themed session will take place on Monday, from 4.30pm to 6pm. The workshop, taken by Emma Boor, of Wild Boor Ideas!, whose puppetry and arts
A MAYOR who came under fire for using official notepaper to boost his annual civic appeal for good causes has answered his critic. Stuart Martin, the mayor of Ripon, justified his use of Ripon City Council-headed writing paper in a statement at the latest
THE developers of a multi- million pound leisure and retail park on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland have spoken of their disappointment, after the Government demanded a review of the plans, despite councillors approving them. Property company Terrace
NEW measures to tackle the anti-social behaviour of some council tenants are likely to be adopted. Darlington Borough Council's cabinet is expected to approve the use of the new powers when it meets next week. All council tenants in the borough have a
A help desk designed to point users in the right direction will be set up in Darlington's Crown Street library from Monday. The signposting service is being set up because local organisations offer a large number of activities that the public are not
CHRISTMAS has come early for a North-East teenager who beat off competition from hundreds of girls to play the title role in a pantomime. Lauren Hall, 17, will star as Cinderella alongside ex-EastEnder Jill Halfpenny in the production, to be staged at
Drystone wall builders from across the country will compete in the region next weekend. Competitors, ranging from novices to professionals, will be challenged to build a 20-metre wall during the event at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, near Houghton-le-Spring
A TRUST set up following the sale of Wrea Head College at Scarborough 25 years ago is to be used to help ren- ovate outdoor education centres. The trust, set up by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), will help Bewerley Park, Great Fryupdale, East Barnby
A CITY centre supermarket is closing as part of a national deal which will see it re-opening next month under new ownership. Safeway, in Durham's Millburngate Shopping Centre, is scheduled to close today, at 6pm. Shoppers have noticed a gradual dwindling
A DIGGER firm has come to the aid of a charity event that raises thousands of pounds for good causes. The Grand Durham Duck Race could have been left high and dry after the firm due to supply JCBs to drop 20,000 rubber ducks into the River Wear on Sunday
A THIRD person has been successfully prosecuted as part of a benefit clampdown by a local authority. Earlier this year, Chester-le-Street District Council launched a campaign to tackle fraudulent claims and, last week, prosecuted its third case when a
Cleadon SC, with five games in hand on Wearside League leaders Birtley Town, return to league action hoping to make inroads into their rivals 11-point lead, writes Malcolm Pratt. "I was disappointed with our performance in the Durham Challenge Cup last
Edinburgh is a gem, and all the more valuable for being within easy reach. You can eat breakfast at home, take a quick trip up the East Coast mainline and reach Scotland's capital city with time to unpack before lunch. And once there, there is much to
MICK McCarthy last night hailed Stephen Elliott's return to spectacular goalscoring form - but is hoping to see a few more tap-ins from the Republic of Ireland striker. Elliott has experienced fluctuating fortunes in his first full season as a striker
THE United Nations is about to be tested. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cannot suggest that Israel should be wiped off the map. The thought of one country wiping out the innocent civilians and children of another is abhorrent. But equally, after
A CANCER sufferer allegedly murdered by his doctor hid the severity of his illness from relatives, a court was told yesterday. Social Services records covering the two months before 59-year-old Frank Moss's death were read to the jury at Teesside Crown
SPEED cameras in the North-East have saved health and emergency services millions of pounds over the past year, according to a new report. With three fewer deaths in the Northumbria Police area, 18 fewer serious injuries and 27 fewer minor injuries at
TEN FURLONGS is just about as far as any two-year-old wants to travel but at least the lung-busting distance shouldn't hold any fears for Newmarket-bound Genre (2.05) in the Listed Zetland Stakes, writes Colin Woods. Richard Hannon's colt drew eight lengths
A CONVICTED murderer from the North-East was taken to hospital from his prison cell. Kevin Littlewood, from Hartlepool, is serving a life sentence after killing John Paul Robert Jeffries, 18, of the town's Lowthian Road, in January 2001. On Sunday, the
Since leaving BBC1's EastEnders, Lucy Speed has found herself a new job - as a cinema usherette. She deserves some happiness after playing Natalie and marrying the most boring man in soap, Barry Evans, in the Albert Square drama. So you'll see her in
YOUTHS who dice with death on railway lines could be caught by a helicopter that will be patrolling the region's skies. Yesterday, rail bosses unveiled their £1m weapon in the battle against trespassers and vandals who put lives at risk by tampering with
A LONELY donkey that was unable to bray properly has learned the language of love. Dixie the donkey, which baffled animal behaviourists with her backwards bray, is now the proud mother of a foal. When Dixie arrived at Ramshaw Rescue Centre, near Evenwood
A LONELY donkey that was unable to bray properly has learned the language of love. Dixie the donkey, which baffled animal behaviourists with her backwards bray, is now the proud mother of a foal. When Dixie arrived at Ramshaw Rescue Centre, near Evenwood
GUY Wilks will be putting thoughts of the championship to the back of his mind in this weekend's make-or-break Rally of Catalunya. Wilks, from Darlington, is in second place in the Junior World Rally Championship and will have to rely on a major problem
STEVE McCLAREN has learned to live with Middlesbrough's boo-boys and suggests the criticism aimed at Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks proves even the best managers are not immune to fans' frustrations. Manchester United boss Ferguson heads to the Riverside
SOARING wage bills and disappointing performances on the field are being blamed for a dramatic fall in profits at Newcastle United. Pre-tax profits almost halved - down from £8.8m to £4.5m in the year to July 31 - according to interim figures released
Nissan said yesterday it had sold more than 1.8 million cars in the first six months of its financial year, up 15 per cent on last year. But Nissan, which employs more than 4,000 people at its plant in Washington, near Sunderland, said net income after
Britain's most expensive peer, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, who claimed £60,013 in allowances, said last night: "I'm worth it." The former senior police officer in County Durham said he attended the House of Lords on every one of the 152 days it sat
A BLOODIED, drunken teenager accosted a 16-year-old girl as she walked home in the early hours after she rebuffed his advances. Wayne Parker, 18, who was bleeding and smelling of drink, approached the student as she made her way from a friend's house
Housewives' favourite Des Lynam may no longer be fronting sport on television but he's still a busy man, with his autobiograohy just published and his debut as the new presenter on the popular quiz show, Countdown, eagerly awaited. He talks to Steve Pratt
A MARRIED man admitted developing an "inappropriate" relationship with a 14-year-old girl, a court heard. John Savage was arrested after meeting the girl in a shopping centre car park, after increasingly flirtatious messages were exchanged between the
APPROACHING seven years after the day Middlesbrough ended a long overdue wait for a victory at Old Trafford, Manchester United will pay a visit to Teesside this evening and there is no suggestion of an off-the-cuff remark being made in the heat of the
CHILDREN with cancer could be spared debilitating chemotherapy treatment after North-East scientists made an important brain cancer discovery. Until now, every child with a brain tumour, known as medulloblastoma, has been given the same intensive treatment
STEVE McCLAREN has learned to live with Middlesbrough's boo-boys and suggests the criticism aimed at Sir Alex Ferguson in recent weeks proves even the best managers are not immune to fans' frustrations. Manchester United boss Ferguson heads to the Riverside
DEDICATED club athlete Tony Wallett, who runs a string of sports shops in the region, has come to the rescue of the North-East Harrier League, which lost the financial support of long-standing sponsors DP Furniture Express, now in administration. As soon
TWO teenagers have passed their compulsory basic training (CBT), allowing them to ride a 50cc motorbike or moped on the road after a week-long course. Luke Brown and Michael Brunton, both 16 and from Annfield Plain, near Stanley, passed their tests after
COUNCILLORS are hoping to repeat the success of a groundbreaking scheme in one of Teesside's most run-down areas. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council cleared an area in the north of Grangetown and then offered discounted housing to long-term owners who
MICHAEL HUNTER made it a night to remember for North-East boxing fans with a spirited fightback to claim the European and Commonwealth crowns in his hometown of Hartlepool, writes NICK LOUGHLIN. Hunter, who remains unbeaten in his five-year professional
FORMER Bishop Auckland MP Lord Derek Foster was honoured for his long service to the town at a special presentation yesterday. Lord Foster has served in Westminster for many years as a Chief Whip, but remained a regular visitor to his former constituency
THE winners of a digital photography competition have called in to the O2 shop in Middlesbrough to pick up their prizes. Entrants were challenged to present their representation of Teesside, whether it be images of people, architecture or landscape. Stuart
A FORMER bus depot, which was turned into an electronic football game centre, has now been given permission to be used as a carpet showroom and car park. The retail outlet at Gobal Stadium, Park Street, Ripon, is the one-time home of buses owned by the
A LEAFLET designed to help sufferers of domestic abuse is being distributed across Hambleton and Richmondshire. It is the latest phase of a campaign to highlight the plight of people who suffer at the hands of their partners. The Don't Suffer in Silence
A PIONEERING science park in the region is hoping for millions of pounds of investment from the US following a visit from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's right-hand man. Dr George Atkinson, the science and technology advisor to Ms Rice, yesterday
MY young son has developed a fascination for trees. The bigger the tree, the greater the fascination. Just three, he dashes towards every big tree. He is so excited that before he gets there, he trips over the roots and lands nose down in the mud. Undeterred
PEOPLE will be able to recycle their household waste at a centre being opened today by Stockton Borough Council's Big Green Recycling Roadshow. The Newtown Community Resource Centre recently became a mini-recycling centre, where residents can take household
THE issue of Israeli settlement in the Palestinian-occupied West Bank will be aired at a public meeting in Durham next month. The national secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Betty Hunter, will address the annual meeting of the group's Durham
A LOCAL authority is celebrating being one of the quickest in the country at processing housing and council tax benefit claims. While some councils take more than four months to turn around new applications, Richmondshire District Council takes an average
PLANS for a water resource centre based at Whitby Harbour will go on show on Monday. The building would house showers, toilets and a launderette for users of the marina, as well as new public toilets, a function room, workspace units and a cafe. The proposals
A MAJOR facelift is to bring bigger and better facilities to east Durham's busiest shopping centre. Oracle Estates bought Peterlee town centre's shopping mall for £47m in January. After months of surveys and assessments, the firm has now launched a comprehensive
VOLUNTEERS are needed to support this year's Poppy Appeal in Darlington. Mayor Stella Robson formally launched the British Legion's poppy appeal earlier this week. This appeal marks 60 years since the end of the Second World War and the British Legion
AN event celebrating the musical achievements of youngsters across the Wear Valley will be held this weekend. More than 50 young people will perform at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Sunday. The event aims to celebrate the creative skills of local youngsters
A YOUNG man is appealing for help to raise money for an expedition to do voluntary work in a developing country. Michael Hodgson, 23, of Eastwell Close, Sedgefield, plans to travel to Malaysia next February to take part in two projects with Raleigh International
THE achievements and experiences of young people have been recognised at a community celebration. Children, parents and residents from Red Hall in Darlington descended on the community centre to watch a slide show covering events run by the Red Hall Partnership
A LOCAL authority has called on magistrates to take a tougher line on fly-tippers. Members of Durham County Council's cabinet heard a report this week saying that incidents of fly-tipping had fallen since the introduction of a permit scheme last December
DRINKERS in the region are being urged to think about the wider issues surrounding a night on the tiles. The Think B4U Drink campaign, launched at the Zanzibar nightclub, in Stockton, aims to make a night out a safer experience. Instead of focusing on
EAST Durham's annual music festival will draw to close this weekend on what promises to be a high note. One of the final events of the successful month-long extravaganza to be staged at Peterlee Leisure Centre this evening. Entertainment will be provided
A PENSIONER was jailed for nine years yesterday for sexually abusing five children. Cedric Smith, 70, carried out sexual abuse over a 26-year period on four boys and a girl. Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said that as one child grew up, he moved on to
A NEW political party has been formed to take control of a North Yorkshire local authority. The launch of the Independent Coalition for Richmondshire could have implications for protestors fighting plans by Richmondshire District Council to sell assets
A HALF crown downpayment has proved a wise investment for one bridegroom - as 60 years later he and his wife are just as happy as the day they married. When Bob and Marjorie Little tied the knot in 1945, Mr Little had to fork out an extra half a crown
A HALF crown downpayment has proved a wise investment for one bridegroom - as 60 years later he and his wife are just as happy as the day they married. When Bob and Marjorie Little tied the knot in 1945, Mr Little had to fork out an extra half a crown
A COUPLE cheated death after a crippled plane hit their golf buggy, tearing its roof off. Mary-Ann Brewster, 54, and her fiance, Alfred Leroy, 79, were on the 17th hole at De Kleine Zalze estate in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, South Africa, when they
WHEN David Hodgson takes his place in the visiting dugout at Wrexham this afternoon the Darlington manager will be taking a step into the unknown. As definitive as Hodgson's approach to football management is, when it comes to all things Darlington, there
HUNDREDS of music fans from across the country will attend a concert next month marking the tenth anniversary of the death of an acclaimed North-East songwriter. Alan Hull, who found fame with Lindisfarne in the early 1970s and wrote songs such as Lady
