THE watchdog for postal services in the North says the Royal Mail is failing to honour a commitment to reinstate a service it had scrapped. A survey of postboxes by Postwatch Northern England was carried out in August and September. It found that, of
TWO young computer programmers from the North-East were yesterday jailed for their part in an international conspiracy to create a computer worm that infected tens of thousands of PCs around the world. Cousins Andrew Harvey, 24, and Jordan Bradley, 22
UNION representatives at a cardboard box manufacturer are holding talks with management on Monday to seek assurances that their jobs are safe. SCA Packaging last night confirmed that talks were being held at one of its two neighbouring Darlington plants
A TEENAGER was last night charged with the murder of a man whose bloodstained body was found in an alleyway behind a town-centre pub. The 17-year-old, from Darlington, was arrested on Thursday evening on suspicion of murder. He was charged last night
A BAG-SNATCHER jailed for three years in 2003 was back behind bars last night after carrying out a similar offence to help to fund his drug habit. Gary Appleby, now 23, was given the three-year sentence at Durham Crown Court in November 2003 for robbing
THE case against England and Newcastle footballer Lee Bowyer, who is accused of speeding at 112mph in his Porsche, has been adjourned after the summons was sent to a locked postbox. Solicitors for the Newcastle United midfielder successfully applied for
VISITORS to a North-East museum will step back through time tomorrow to the era of horse-drawn carriages. Vintage carriages will gather at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, for a 15-mile drive taking in surrounding villages
MORE than 200 concerned residents have signed a petition calling for proposed traffic safety measures in a North Yorkshire town to be extended. However, in an unexpected twist, the petition may mean the introduction of any improvements is delayed. Residents
ONE of the country's leading fast food delivery companies has confirmed it is likely to open a new outlet in Durham City. Domino's Pizza, which already has 380 sites around the UK, is looking for suitable premises in the area. The company said Durham
A Japanese Akita dog which attacked a woman will not be put down after its owner proved he is no longer a danger to the public. Margaret Scott was knocked to the ground and suffered cuts and bites to her arm after Rusty pounced as she walked along a footpath
THE detective leading the investigation into a vicious assault on a man while he slept has made an urgent appeal for people with information to come forward. Three men and a youth were arrested by Darlington police yesterday in connection with the incident
SPECIAL bins for discarded chewing gum are being erected in a new clampdown. And if the action does not bring results, Harrogate Borough Council has warned that on-the-spot fines will follow. The bins are going up in the town centres of Harrogate, Boroughbridge
A NUMBER of bus services are being axed on Teesside because of a decline in passengers. Stagecoach is withdrawing its service 24, which runs from Middlesbrough town centre to Trimdon Avenue; the X36, which travels between Stockton and Hartlepool; the
STRICT restrictions were yesterday imposed on a nuisance drunk whose antics have already led to him being barred from many shops and licensed premises in a city. Richard Shaun Laverick was given a three-year anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) by North
A SECURITY expert says thousands of CCTV cameras could soon be being operated illegally in the North-East following changes in legislation. Michael Wilkinson, a former North-East policeman, says as many as 7,000 people registered in the North-East as
SUNDERLAND are seeking a healthy compensation package after a pay-per-view match worth over £500,000 was postponed due to Liverpool's involvement in the World Club Championships. Liverpool were due to play at the Stadium of Light on December 17, with
Faced with a threat that already costs billions in lost sales and damaged reputations, global business is fighting back against the hackers. In an effort to help law enforcement agencies identify authors of viruses and bring them to justice, Microsoft
YOUNG artists are being invited to take a pictorial tour of a North-East city's heritage. The Old Fulling Mill Museum of Archaeology, in Durham, is inviting youngsters to take part in a drawing tour of the city centre today. Museum education officer Jim
A 17-year-old boy appeared in court Saturday charged with the murder of a Darlington man. The youth, also from the town, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address at Newton Aycliffe Youth Court, in County Durham. He was charged with the murder of
THE Welsh Connection in the Newcastle Falcons side have warned their team-mates they will have to rise to a massive challenge in tomorrow's Powergen Cup tie at Llanelli. Skipper Colin Charvis, who spent nine seasons with Swansea, knows exactly what to
ONE Saturday morning over a decade ago, when schoolboys from Middlesbrough and Langbaurgh contested an intriguing district match, scouts from across the region flocked to cast an eye over a prolific young centre-forward named Thomas Jones. Jones had made
LIKE many computer addicts, Andrew Harvey and Jordan Bradley spent hours locked away in their bedrooms logging on to the Internet and tinkering with their PCs. But while other users visited their favourite websites, shopped on-line or checked out the
Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted he had never avoided big decisions as a manager as he prepared to show his ruthless streak by leaving Rio Ferdinand out of England's World Cup qualifier against Austria. Eriksson has not been exactly renowned for his decisiveness
ONE Saturday morning over a decade ago, when schoolboys from Middlesbrough and Langbaurgh contested an intriguing district match, scouts from across the region flocked to cast an eye over a prolific young centre-forward named Thomas Jones. Jones had made
AN elderly widow who was conned out of £20,000 in life savings by a bogus builder became a victim for a second time after she was targeted by burglars. The 84-year-old, who The Northern Echo is not naming, was bullied into letting the two men and a woman
THREE-and-a-half years after earning the last of his two Holland caps, George Boateng's imperious displays at Middlesbrough could be rewarded with a long-awaited third today. Since signing for Boro in August 2002, Boateng's hopes of adding to his international
A COUNCIL chairman who has been accused of borrowing cash belonging to a voluntary association has stepped down from his post. Alex Clements yesterday distanced himself from his role as chairman of Wear Valley District Council, in County Durham, while
A TEENAGER was last night charged with the murder of a man whose bloodstained body was found in an alleyway behind a town-centre pub. The 17-year-old, from Darlington, was arrested on Thursday evening on suspicion of murder. He was charged last night
UNION representatives at a cardboard box manufacturer are holding talks with management on Monday to seek assurances that their jobs are safe. SCA Packaging last night confirmed that talks were being held at one of its two neighbouring Darlington plants
IT has been the home of exiled Romanov princes, an Indian princess who was a passionate suffragette, the widow of Lord Baden-Powell and the scientist who laid the foundations for modern electricity, but for most people, Hampton Court Palace is best known
A COUPLE are so desperate to find their lost cat they are turning to a medium to help. David and Elaine Carter want to find their tabby cat Meisha, who went missing while they were on holiday, but their search for the much-loved pet has drawn a blank,
A DEALER who turned his home into a cannabis convenience store was spared jail yesterday. Leonard Overton, 23, was collared after police raided his flat in St Mark's Way, South Shields, South Tyneside, and found 18 blocks of cannabis resin - 16 of which
A MURDERER who stabbed a woman nine times in the back five months after he was released from a life sentence can apply for parole two years earlier after an Appeal Court ruling yesterday. Kenneth Milroy, 53, was sentenced to life in 1994 for strangling
RUST-COLOURED water is seeping into a stream from old mine workings - and staining a resort's reputation. As much as three-quarters of a ton of iron sediment daily collects on the bed of a stream flowing through the seaside town of Saltburn. There are
THE image most people have of greyhound racing is that of a man with a flat cap, a dog and a pint in hand. But it is a stereotype that has changed over the years, and few have done more to transform the sport than the McKenna family. Pelaw Grange Greyhound
FIREFIGHTERS have answered a call for help from a hospice - and raised £500. Cleveland Fire Brigade personnel raised funds for the Zoe's Place hospice for babies on Teesside with a raffle at an awards gala dinner at the Tall Trees Hotel, near Yarm. At
DARLINGTON were dealing with life after Clyde Wijnhard long before the enigmatic Dutchman left the club on Thursday and last night's win over Macclesfield provided further proof that he won't be missed. As Quakers ended their six-game run without a win
A YOUTH homelessness charity opened its first accommodation-based service outside London yesterday. North-west Durham MP Hilary Armstrong opened the Centrepoint service in Consett, County Durham, to house vulnerable people aged 16 to 25. It has 11 beds
A NEW church choir's lone male voice has issued a plea for a man to join him to bring a better balance to overall performances. The Rector of Fountains, near Ripon, the Reverend Robert Sellers, is still the only male member of the choir he founded - supported
NORTHERN non-league football fans are mourning one of the game's most popular characters. Goalkeeper Stephen Tierney, from Hartlepool, died yesterday morning, aged 34, only days after he was diagnosed with leukaemia. The 17-stone goalkeeper is remembered
A MUSEUM has welcomed a new member of staff to help with its promotion. Ruth Robson has joined Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, in the new position of head of marketing and development. She will lead a team promoting the museum and raising
PLANS to merge four primary care trusts have been formally submitted for approval. Under the proposals, one large authority would be created to cover the whole of North Yorkshire and the city of York. The plans have been submitted to the North and East
Frank Lampard has told his England World Cup team-mates: "Your country needs you." Last month's shock defeat to Northern Ireland has left Sven-Goran Eriksson's men little margin for error as they look to clinch direct qualification for next summer's finals
DARLINGTON were dealing with life after Clyde Wijnhard long before the enigmatic Dutchman left the club on Thursday and last night's win over Macclesfield provided further proof that he won't be missed. As Quakers ended their six-game run without a win
GAVIN Strachan last night backed Hartlepool United boss Martin Scott's decision to send him out on loan, writes WILL SCOTT. The 26-year-old was almost an ever present last term featuring in 38 games for the Victoria Park club and helping the team qualify
LIKE electrical current and school gymnasiums, the Methodist church is organised into circuits. What goes around comes around, as probably they say when drawing up the local preachers' plan. Across much of south-west Durham last Sunday, a letter was read
With the worldwide success of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel to his credit, you'd have thought that creator Joss Whedon could do no wrong. You'd be wrong. Three years ago his TV series, a space drama called Firefly, was cancelled halfway
