Archive

  • Japan fans get bigger taste of the Orient

    THE dreams of two people who are fanatical about Japan will come true next week when the pair travel to the country for the first time. Jill Clay and Katie Chaplin jet off on Wednesday after saving up for a year for the visit. The pair run Vintage Kimono

  • Jonny in Falcons' frame

    NEWCASTLE Falcons' preparations for the biggest game in their history are not being helped by injuries. Three weeks before the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Stade Francais in Paris, boss Rob Andrew is considering having Jonny Wilkinson on the bench

  • Pete thunders back on local rock scene

    CHESTER-LE-STREET rock prodigy Pete Shoulder is back in the region with two gigs in five days. This Saturday Pete, 21, and his trio Winterville, formerly called The Others and then the Keytones, will support Thunder at Newcastle City Hall. Then next Thursday

  • Johnson stable lead region's bid for Festival glory

    THE Olympics of National Hunt racing are upon us, the Cheltenham Festival, this year stretched to four days from Tuesday to Friday, and with our area as strong as it has ever been. Howard Johnson and owners Andrea and Graham Wylie have the nap hand for

  • Wife killed as joke turns tragic

    A GRIEVING husband told yesterday how a practical joke by his teenage wife cost her life. Derek Jobes, 57, was driving home with his wife Cassandra when he pulled over into a layby to stretch his legs. As he stood by the car, Cassandra, 19, leapt into

  • Jonny in Falcons' frame but Burke and Charvis still out

    NEWCASTLE Falcons' preparations for the biggest game in their history are not being helped by injuries. Three weeks before the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Stade Francais in Paris, boss Rob Andrew is considering having Jonny Wilkinson on the bench

  • Snake slithers back for another outing

    METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER, Publisher: Konami, Format: PS2, Price: £39.99: Family friendly? Younger gamers will find this too frustrating to play for more than a few minutes. OF all the blockbuster games appearing on the PS2 in 2005, this is probably

  • Pubs' champion back in his job

    A PUB ambassador who was suspended from his job after he was quoted apparently criticising rural landlords, is back at work. Wear Valley District Council, County Durham, called temporary time on 52-year-old Len Alderson's £15,000-a-year job co-ordinating

  • UEFA Cup Diary

    THE trip to Athens was rounded off yesterday by achieving something that Paula Radcliffe couldn't manage - making it to the original Olympic Stadium. The "Panathenaic Stadium" hosted the archery events at last summer's Games, and was also the finishing

  • Sixty years' service to lifesaving at sea

    AFTER a lifetime of supporting the Staithes and Runswick lifeboat, Clem James could be forgiven for putting his feet up and taking it easy - but not a bit of it. The 85-year-old, from Seaton Garth in Staithes, never misses a practice, and is always in

  • Road to get traffic lights

    TRAFFIC lights are to be installed on a busy road following a long-running campaign. For six years members of the Havannah Branch of the Labour Party have called for traffic calming measures at the Hunter Hill junction of the A693 between Stanley and

  • The Jungle Book, Darlington Civic Theatre

    WHEN you are up against a Disney classic loved by millions, you have your work cut out to produce a show that's entertaining, fast-moving and fun in comparison. Yet the Birmingham Stage Company does exactly that with its production of The Jungle Book.

  • Tributes paid as councillor dies

    long-serving Independent councillor Bruce Mackenzie has died, aged 66. The Westworth ward councillor died peacefully on Tuesday. His funeral will take place at St Aidan's Church, Boosbeck, next Thursday at 10.15am. Coun Mackenzie, of Lingdale, was first

  • Terrorism Bill goes to wire in battle of wills

    TONY BLAIR was last night locked in a battle of wills with the House of Lords over the future of the Government's proposed anti-terror legislation. The debate was continuing late into the night, with the Prime Minister ratcheting up pressure on his opponents

  • Work in progress could be a problem if the inspector calls

    THERE are times when you know your timing is just not right. We realised it was one of those moments shortly after arriving at the Frenchgate Hotel in Richmond. The splendid Georgian building is under new ownership and we were tempted to call following

  • Bar counsel expects boom

    A LAW firm is launching a specialist team to capitalise on the expected boom in licence applications following the relaxation of drinking laws. Crutes, which has offices in Middlesbrough and Newcastle, is establishing a licensing unit to handle demand

  • Storm slips but still leads struggling Els

    After a day he would like to forget in a hurry, star attraction Ernie Els is in danger of missing his first halfway cut on the European Tour for six years. A red-hot favourite for the Qatar Masters in Doha - he is the only player in the world's top 50

  • Hospital was lacking vital equipment, inquest told

    A PRIVATE North-East hospital did not have potentially life-saving resuscitation equipment, an inquest into the death of a patient heard yesterday. Barry Byers, 60, died a week after undergoing what should have been routine gallstone surgery at the Cleveland

  • Docked points push Priorymen closer to trapdoor

    Guisborough Town had no match last weekend, but relegation from division one now looks almost certain after they were deducted three more points by the league management committee last week. The struggling Priorymen were docked the mandatory three points

  • Grain prices

    Thursday's prices Grainfarmers, Thorp Arch. - Wheat: Mar £65.50; Apr £66.50; May £67.50. Barley: Mar £65.50; Apr £66; May £66.50. Oilseed rape: Mar £128; Apr £129; May £130. GrainCo, Tyne Dock. - Wheat: Mar £66; Apr £67; May £68. Barley: no prices were

  • Auction mart rejects claim of 'under-use'

    THE company which has transformed business at Masham auction mart since the foot-and-mouth crisis has attacked "misleading" claims by planning consultants who have suggested that the site could be earmarked for housing. More support for retention of the

  • 11/03/05

    MOBILE PHONES: NOW that the banning season is in full swing, would it be possible for a new campaign to ban mobile phones in all public places. These machines are gradually damaging people's health by making blood pressures rise, which will eventually

  • Controversial town revamp vote nears

    PLANS to change the face of a North-East town are on the verge of gaining council approval, despite a wave of opposition. Campaigners on both sides of the debate over proposals to remove Victorian features from Darlington's High Row are gearing up for

  • Man had ear cut off after noise complaint

    A grandfather had his ear cut off with a machete when he went to complain about noise at a neighbour's house party. Darren Winston, who was a guest at the bash, used a two-foot long sword to hack off 52-year-old Alan Robson's ear and repeatedly slash

  • Castle art to go on display

    PAINTINGS of a ruined castle and its dramatic backdrop are going on show at a town art gallery. The images of Knaresborough Castle were produced last year by artist in residence, Adam King. He worked at the site with the help of an Arts Council research

  • Special livestock sales

    HAWES. - Tues. Fwd: 94 cattle, 12 calves and 1,082 sheep for the spring show and sale of store cattle. Prizes. - The champion and winner of the Barclays Bank Challenge Trophy was a 12-month old BB blk from JR&A Blades, Muker, and sold for £605 to

  • Painting is bounty for North museum

    A NORTHERN museum has received cash to buy a painting depicting the travels of a famous 18th Century sailor. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, has received £3,646 towards the total needed to buy Thomas Gosse's Mezzotint. The

  • When Kylie got a little bit too sexy

    Greatest TV Ads Never Seen (C4): KYLIE Mingogue, wearing the flimsiest of bra and knickers, astride a mechanical bucking bronco is a sight denied most of the population - until now. She was judged too sexy to be seen by viewers in the privacy of their

  • Discussions will determine future of loss-making port

    PLANS to turn around a loss-making port will be discussed next week. Sunderland City Council's cabinet is to meet on Wednesday to discuss taking on a private partner to run the troubled Port of Sunderland. The proposals are to consolidate the cargo operation

  • Old school will make way for the new

    demolition crews have started work, above, at a former school to make way for a £14m centre of educational excellence. The old Freebrough College buildings at Brotton, have been the centre of vandalism and crime in recent months. But to residents' delight

  • Terrorism Bill goes to wire in battle of wills

    TONY BLAIR was last night locked in a battle of wills with the House of Lords over the future of the Government's proposed anti-terror legislation. The debate was continuing late into the night, with the Prime Minister ratcheting up pressure on his opponents

  • Hanged gambler had run up debts

    A MAN who ran up credit card debts to fund his secret gambling addiction took his own life, an inquest heard. Anthony Strange, 20, of Cardigan Close, Redcar, was discovered hanging from a railing at the rear of the Regent cinema in the town, in November

  • Wood-burning power plant is boost for farmers

    A NEW £60m wood-burning power station at Wilton has been given the green light. SembCorp Utilities UK is to build the new plant, known as Wilton 10, creating about 400 jobs during construction and 15 permanent jobs within the company. The project will

  • Eating local goods treats the palate and saves the planet

    IF consumers switched to buying foods locally they would save £2.1bn a year in environmental and congestion costs, a new report claims. Farm Costs and Food Miles: An Assessment of the Full Cost of the UK Weekly Shopping Basket, saw Professors Jules Pretty

  • Family reunited after 24 years apart

    A WOMAN has spoken of her joy at finding the father she had never met, thanks to The Northern Echo. Lisa Hunniford, 24, had tried for many years to trace her biological father, George Johnson, after being adopted at birth. Mr Johnson, 71, had also been

  • Dog found abandoned

    ANIMAL welfare workers this week told of their shock at the condition of a young dog found abandoned. The Saluki, thought to be about a year old, was found on Sunday night in Lansdowne Street, Darlington. Sores covered its body. RSPCA inspector Garry

  • Tea and health tips

    AN event to keep the over-50s warm, healthy and safe over the winter months has been rescheduled from last week due to severe weather. It will take place during a tea dance at Stanley Central Club today at 1.30pm. Activities and advice have been organised

  • Last gig for fans before national tour

    AN up-and-coming band are to play a thank-you gig for fans at a County Durham village pub. The Riffs are to play at the Cross Keys in Gainford tonight, before embarking on a nationwide tour. The band consists of Dave Brittle, Mark Dunn and Paul Hayman

  • Last gig for fans before national tour

    AN up-and-coming band are to play a thank-you gig for fans at a County Durham village pub. The Riffs are to play at the Cross Keys in Gainford tonight, before embarking on a nationwide tour. The band consists of Dave Brittle, Mark Dunn and Paul Hayman

  • Bikers say final farewell to 'gentle giant' Red Beard

    BIKERS took over the streets yesterday as they said their final goodbyes to veteran motorcyclist, Red Beard. A three-deep cortge of motorbikes followed the coffin of Alan Pearson to St Mark's Church in Eldon near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and dozens

  • 'Drivers are putting lives at risk'

    RESIDENTS who live near a factory say their lives are being made a misery by workers parking in their street. The Explorer Group provides ample car parking for its 450 staff but some are choosing instead to park on Sunningdales, in Delves Lane, Consett

  • Dispute over homes

    A CITY council is refusing to accept the design of five new homes planned for a former North Yorkshire quarry. Planning officers are recommending approval of the scheme by A&G Developments (Yorkshire) Ltd at Doublegates Quarry, Clotherholme Road,

  • Action plan launched to revitalise town in decline

    A REVAMP of Crook town centre is to start next week after £700,000 of funding was secured to create a more shopper-friendly environment. The scheme, a partnership between Wear Valley District Council, Durham County Council and Crook Market Towns Initiative

  • Demolition of former school is under way

    THE first blow has been struck in the demolition of a former school to make way for a £14m centre of educational excellence. The Freebrough College buildings at Brotton, east Cleveland, have been the centre of vandalism and crime in recent months. But

  • Jailed addict shook son so badly he was left disabled

    A HEROIN addict who shook his two-week-old son so badly that he suffered permanent brain damage was yesterday jailed for seven years. Paul Cool, 22, told police that baby Joshua's injuries were caused when he accidentally fell off a sofa. Joshua's mother

  • 'Women failing to make a mark in engineering'

    WOMEN are still failing to break into the male-dominated world of engineering, according to an expert. Professor Sarah Spurgeon, of Leicester University, says women could make a healthy contribution to the profession in the future. She said the UK was

  • Hanged gambler had run up debts

    A MAN who ran up credit card debts to fund his secret gambling addiction took his own life, an inquest heard. Anthony Strange, 20, of Cardigan Close, Redcar, was discovered hanging from a railing at the rear of the Regent cinema in the town, in November

  • Shark caught off North-East coast

    Is this the proof that the Geordie Jaws really does exist? This monster of the deep was caught off the North East coast and fishermen are convinced it is a deadly mako shark. There has been fierce debate on whether a mako has been responsible for a spate

  • Flats approval sought

    PLANS to build 28 apartments will be discussed next week. Clarion Homes wants to build the apartments at the Ernest Bennett and Co factory in Middleton St George. Darlington Borough Council received four letters of objection. Planning officers are recommending

  • SureStart holds taster sessions

    PARENTS have been invited to find out about a programme that works to improve the prospects of parents and children. SureStart Brandon and Deerness Valley will hold the taster day, in Esh Winning Primary School, at 1pm tomorrow. The event is available

  • Black Cats fans cheer team on

    A GROUP of County Durham-based Sunderland football fans will make sure they cheer their team on until the end of season. The Langley Park branch of the Sunderland AFC Supporters Association is arranging transport for the last five away matches, starting

  • Kids lead the way on Red Nose Day

    SCHOOLS, shops and businesses are entering into the spirit of Comic Relief by staging Red Nose Day events today. Ox Close Primary School, in Spennymoor, rounds off a week of international studies with a fancy dress day. Timothy Hackworth School, in Shildon

  • Bar counsel expects boom

    A LAW firm is launching a specialist team to capitalise on the expected boom in licence applications following the relaxation of drinking laws. Crutes, which has offices in Middlesbrough and Newcastle, is establishing a licensing unit to handle demand

  • Twenty years of serious humour

    It's big, it's red and it's back. Red Nose Night will dominate BBC1 tonight. Tony Robinson, who has long had a hand in Red Nose proceedings, talks to Will Marlow about events past and present. Tony Robinson has been involved with Comic Relief right from

  • Crucial upgrade of A66 backed

    The Government is to be asked to finance a transport scheme seen as crucial to the economic growth of the region. A long-awaited consultants' study, which looked into the upgrading of the A66 trunk road around Darlington, recommended a £52million-plus

  • Safety officers will target school areas

    ROGUE motorists who put children's lives at risk by speeding near schools are being targeted. Hambleton's Community Safety Partnership is taking its £12,000 speed matrix sign to known hotspots over the next three weeks. The sign flashes the speed of vehicles

  • McClaren takes heart

    MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren insists his side's European adventure is not over despite last night's 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sporting Lisbon. McClaren admits the Teessiders have a mountain to climb going into next week's return leg in the Estadio

  • Procter and Gilby ease to comfortable success

    LEEMING coach firm owner Kevin Procter and co-driver Mike Gilby, from Northallerton, saw off the opposition to win the Lookout Stages Rally with consummate ease last Sunday. Driving the Motoscope Ford Puma Evo 4x4 on the annual Trackrod MC event held

  • Skelton firepower helps Town open up clear lead

    Easington Colliery 0 Northallerton Town 2 NORTHALLERTON Town strengthened their position at the top of division two with a 2-0 victory at second-bottom Easington Colliery last Saturday. They took advantage of second-placed Washington Nissan's surprise

  • Winter's sting in the tail

    JUST as we were beginning to think we might get away with it, winter arrived with a vengeance. Up until the 18th it was quite warm, about 2C (3 to 4F) above the mean, quite sunny and relatively dry in the east of the region. Then the mercury dropped,

  • Health staff are rewarded for improving patients care

    HEALTH staff who have made a difference to the quality of service for patients have received awards. The first annual awards ceremony highlighting achievements in the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust team took place at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland

  • Custody for man who raided parents' home

    THE son of a former police officer who burgled his parents' home while they were on holiday lost his liberty yesterday for disobeying court orders. Daniel Catchpole, 21, was on bail after pleading guilty to entering a house in Anchor Road, Harrogate,

  • Skatepark plan up for approval

    DESIGNS for a £60,000 skateboard park in South Park have been unveiled. The designs are based on lengthy consultations with local youngsters. The plan features a skate bowl, ramps and a raised area for jumps. Darlington Borough Council's planning committee

  • Traders asked to help young offenders recover

    SHOPKEEPERS in Darlington have been urged to offer young offenders work instead of conventional punishment for committing crimes. More than 400 traders have been asked by Darlington Town Centre Management to help with Restorative Justice, a scheme that

  • Quango chief rejects MP's fears

    THE chief executive of a North-East quango has hit back at an MP who raised concerns about its management. Frank Cook, Stockton North MP, has written to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, claiming Tees Valley Regeneration (TVR) may not have observed

  • Play explores war minds

    A PLAY exploring the minds of men forced to fight a senseless war on foreign soil is coming to Teesside this month. White Men With Weapons, by South African writer Greig Coetzee, follows the fortunes of recruits in the old South African Defence Force.

  • Councillor quits committee after row over its chairman

    A COUNCILLOR has resigned from a licensing committee in protest because he feels it has become politicised. Independent councillor John Pickersgill, who represents the Cornsay ward on Derwentside District Council, has quit the influential new alcohol

  • Tributes paid as councillor dies at 66

    A Long-serving Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillor has died aged 66. Independent councillor Bruce Mackenzie, who represented the Westworth ward, died peacefully on Tuesday. His death came as a shock but he had been suffering from illnesses over a

  • View lambs

    NEWBORN lambs will be making their first public appearance during an open day at a Durham City college this weekend. Houghall College is holding a lambing and open day on Sunday at its campus farm, when visitors will be able to see the new arrivals. The

  • Fundraising Easter bunnies

    FOUR women are dressing up as bunnies to raise funds for homeless animals. Ellie Sivills, sisters Helen and Cathy Southall and chum Rachel Lightfoot are putting on sexy bunny girl outfits to help raise funds to build a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats

  • Working together for better health

    WHAT is being hailed as one of the most significant developments in medicine and health in the region for many years is launched today. Durham University is setting up what it calls a Health Strategy Board for education and research. The aim is to make

  • Regeneration welcomed EURO with parking poser

    A LONG-TERM scheme aimed at making Barnard Castle one of the most vibrant market towns in the region was welcomed by councillors on Monday, albeit with reservations. Work will begin shortly on the first phase of the regeneration project, outlined in the

  • North-East is blackspot for suicide rates

    SUICIDE rates in the UK have reached a 30-year low - but the North-East remains one of the worst blackspots. Experts blame a combination of unemployment and drugs for the region's problems. According to new figures, there were 5,755 adult suicides in

  • Protestors step up High Row battle

    CAMPAIGNERS fighting against changes to part of the historic centre of Darlington pledged last night that they would be ready for their most important date yet. Darlington Civic Trust has spent months battling against the proposed demolition of the three-tiered

  • Station up for two awards

    HARROGATE Hospital Radio has been shortlisted for a top broadcasting award for the first time in its 28 years. The charity, which is based in Harrogate District Hospital, is vying for the coveted Station of the Year title, to be announced at this year's

  • Crime-busters from Caribbean pick up tips

    SENIOR police officials from Barbados have been on Teesside to pick up tips on how Cleveland officers handle major incidents. The team of four were given an insight into the way the force tackles everything from firearms and chemical hazards to training

  • Black Cats fans cheer team on

    A GROUP of County Durham-based Sunderland football fans plans to arrange transport to all the club's remaining matches this season. Work commitments of some senior members of the Langley Park branch of the Sunderland AFC Supporters Association hindered

  • Cost forces council to abandon camera coverage at hall

    THE idea of improved security camera coverage at Bedale Hall has been shelved because of the projected costs involved. The hall management committee explored the idea after Hambleton District Council announced it was planning to place three CCTV cameras

  • Hospital unit to aid hard of hearing

    AN investment of £50,000 is about to start paying dividends for people who are hard of hearing. The money has been spent on providing an audiology unit at Bedale Health Centre, which will be formally opened today. Providing a quiet environment for accurate

  • Forum tackles dentist problem

    A PUBLIC meeting is to be held about the shortage of NHS dentists in north Durham. Patients in need of treatment are being urged to get in touch with the Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPIF) for Durham and Chester-le-Street. The consulting body's

  • Ex-councillor gives evidence in trial

    A FORMER councillor accused of indecently assaulting a young girl, yesterday told a jury he "completely denied" the allegation. Harry Devine was giving evidence on the fourth day of his retrial at Durham Crown Court, having pleaded not guilty to the charge

  • Mayor given apology over letter remark

    THE Mayor of Leyburn has received an apology from a council watchdog over its handling of a complaint against him. The chief executive of the Standards Board for England, David Prince, has apologised to Coun Ian Barker for a remark made in a letter to

  • Number plate scanning scheme set to expand

    THE police force covering England's largest county is looking to spend almost £m on expanding a scheme to "fast track" the detection of travelling criminals dealing in hard drugs and stolen property. Police in North Yorkshire already have nine cars and

  • Wellock's World: One big soap opera

    IF TOP-LEVEL football is one big soap opera there is little wonder that other sports struggle to compete for attention. While viewers are finally switching off from the nastiness of EastEnders, other soaps continue to encourage the proliferation of young

  • Burton's Bytes: Snake slithers back for another outing

    METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER, Publisher: Konami, Format: PS2, Price: £39.99: Family friendly? Younger gamers will find this too frustrating to play for more than a few minutes. OF all the blockbuster games appearing on the PS2 in 2005, this is probably

  • James Herriot museum to star in TV programme

    AN award-winning visitor centre is to star in a series of television programmes designed specifically for teachers. The World of James Herriot, in Thirsk, has been filmed for Teachers TV, a 24-hour free channel funded by the Government to provide resources

  • Tetragon can romp home on faster ground

    TETRAGON takes the eye as a potential winner of the £7,000 Norwich Union Novices Handicap Hurdle at Ayr today. Lucinda Russell's lightly-raced five-year-old was returning from a 51-week absence at Sedgefield in February when finishing an extremely creditable

  • Souness praises discipline

    A BEAMING Graeme Souness last night praised his players for keeping their cool as Newcastle's UEFA Cup clash with Olympiacos descended into chaos in the Greek capital. An already volatile home crowd were incensed when referee Arturo Ibanez sent off Olympiacos

  • Plan to convert hotel to home clears first hurdle

    A PROPOSAL to turn a market town hotel into a single residence could see the loss of seven letting bedrooms if a planning application is successful. Geoff and Suzanne Thomas have been proprietors of the Montalbo Hotel, which has a public bar, in Barnard

  • Businessman criticises council for roadworks chaos

    BY LAUREN PYRAH A BUSINESS owner has called for better planning of Darlington's roadworks after it took him 25 minutes to drive less than three miles this week. Graham Robb, who is a partner in public relations company Recognition, has accused Darlington

  • Tsunami hits funds of N-East charities

    CHARITIES around the region are facing a serious funding shortfall because of the generosity of the public in responding to the tsunami disaster. On the eve of Comic Relief, one of the biggest fundraising events of the year, several charities have confirmed

  • School governors seek consultant's view on closure

    GOVERNORS at a highly successful Darlington school have taken on a consultant to help them combat rumours of closure. The unusual step comes after speculation about the future of Hurworth School, with the expert being asked to consider a range of options

  • Why knitting has become seriously cool

    THIS weekend, Young Farmers' Club members from across the North are gathering in Scarborough for a whole weekend of competitive sports, skills and entertainments. Well thank goodness. At least there's something to account for the apparent outbreak of

  • Dangerous games

    THE four hunts that decided to disrupt the return of steam trains to the Whitby-Pickering railway line deserved all the flak they attracted this week. Protests against the hunting ban should be expected, of course, but it is bad tactics to select some

  • Protest at 'tight-fit' plan for houses and flats

    OUTLINE plans to convert a home into flats and build three new houses in Egglescliffe have been met with objection. Last week, Egglescliffe Parish Council examined the proposal to convert Prospect House in Aislaby Road into two flats and build three additional

  • One big soap opera

    IF TOP-LEVEL football is one big soap opera there is little wonder that other sports struggle to compete for attention. While viewers are finally switching off from the nastiness of EastEnders, other soaps continue to encourage the proliferation of young

  • St George advances on the French meat market

    MEAT producers, dealers and butchers from North Yorkshire visited one of the world's largest agricultural exhibitions as part of a one-year project to boost knowledge and understanding of developing overseas markets. The two-day trip on Wednesday and

  • Anger and shock at plan to sell off town car parks

    FURIOUS traders in Richmond have condemned council plans to sell car parking spaces for housing, saying it could sound a death-knell for the town. The plans from Richmondshire District Council would see car parks at York Square and Station Road sold to

  • BT announces blockbuster deal

    Telecoms operator BT has announced a deal to supply network services to news group Reuters for about £1.56bn. The deal - the largest service contract in BT's history - is part of a strategy to reduce its dependency on less lucrative fixed-line services

  • Welcome, with a warning, for stewardship scheme

    A NEW environmental stewardship scheme for farmers has been generally welcomed by organisations concerned with the countryside. Some have tempered their enthusiasm, however, with a warning that the three-part scheme announced by the Government must be

  • Rhodes boycott urged by family

    THE family of a holidaymaker who died on a Greek island have urged people to boycott it for their own safety. Relatives of Christopher Rochester stood outside travel agents in their home town of Chester-le-Street with placards handing out warnings to

  • On TV

    Greatest TV Ads Never Seen (C4) KYLIE Mingogue, wearing the flimsiest of bra and knickers, astride a mechanical bucking bronco is a sight denied most of the population - until now. She was judged too sexy to be seen by viewers in the privacy of their

  • Shoptalk

    HOW about a cup of coffee and a piece of cake? Or a glass of wine and a bar of chocolate? Or even some nice, healthy fruit juice and a banana? Choose the right ones, and you could be doing your bit to make the world a fairer place. If only all social

  • Pickering is scared, claims Hunter

    ESHAM Pickering is running scared of Michael Hunter. That was the verdict of Hartlepool's British super-bantamweight and his manager Dave Garside after Hunter successfully retained his title with a faultless display last week. Hunter tormented challenger

  • Heads and tails win in France: Britain loses on rules

    THE row of calf heads was a sure sign that this was not Smithfield but the offal hall of Rungis, the world's largest wholesale market, on the outskirts of Paris. The French consume almost every scrap of every animal slaughtered and the meat area of Rungis

  • Swain and Dawson goals put Bedale side in final

    Scorpion Cup Semi-Final Three Coopers Reserves 2 Spotted Dog 1 THREE Coopers Reserves withstood a second-half onslaught from visitors Spotted Dog to book their place in the Scorpion Cup final after a thrilling semi-final at Bedale last Sunday. The home

  • Provett relishes chance

    JIM Provett has spent enough time on the sidelines this season and is determined to make the most of his recall. Last season's player of the year at Hartlepool United, Provett was ousted from the first team in October and had since made only a single

  • Car parks sale plan criticised

    PLANS to sell two town centre car parks for housing have been labelled a joke by objectors. Richmondshire District Council is proposing to sell Station Road car park and part of York Square car park, in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Officers say the council

  • Prices at the auction marts

    BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues of last week. Fwd: 424 cattle. Lim cow & calf £650. Bulls: Lim to £645; Char to £605; BB to £590; BA to £578. Steers: Lim to £710; Char to £645; Saler to £638; Simm to £582. Hfrs: Lim to £598; Char to £585; BB to £522; BA to

  • Arts and crafts show is growing

    LOCAL artists, both amateur and professional, will be putting the best of their work on show next month. It will be the second such showing of arts and crafts from the Easingwold area and the event is expected to be bigger than last year's. The exhibition

  • Anger at four-year wait for surgery

    A NORTH-EAST grandfather says he has had to endure four years of pain after being promised a vital operation. Surgery to treat 58-year-old John Darby's condition has been cancelled twice. His case came to light only a week after the Government clashed

  • Rush to take up places for Race For Life

    MORE than 4,000 women across the region have already signed up for this summer's Race For Life. Campaigners said yesterday that it was a remarkable response, as applications only opened six weeks ago for the eight races planned in the North-East and North

  • Boro earn a lifeline from late fightback

    STEVE McCLAREN claimed prior to last night's UEFA Cup date with Sporting Lisbon that Middlesbrough are more than capable of going to Portugal and scoring. Now the Teessiders have to prove it after a scintillating fightback last night. Boro clawed themselves

  • Greek drama ends well for Newcastle

    YESTERDAY was 80 years to the day from when Olympiacos were formed. But in all that time the Greek side cannot have played in a more madcap match than last night's incredible UEFA Cup defeat to Newcastle. Three goals, two sending offs, two disputed penalties

  • Butchers still need convincing

    CONSUMERS in France are ready to accept British beef on their plates again, but the key to re-establishing the export market lies in convincing butchers and retailers. Recent research by MLC France showed 80pc of consumers interviewed said they would

  • Students tell a Grimm tale or two

    A SCHOOL is staging a production of classic fairy tales this week. Pupils from Polam Hall School, in Grange Road, Darlington, will perform stories from The Grimm Tales. Children will star as characters from well-known tales such as Beauty and the Beast

  • Pickering is scared, claims Hunter

    ESHAM Pickering is running scared of Michael Hunter. That was the verdict of Hartlepool's British super-bantamweight and his manager Dave Garside after Hunter successfully retained his title with a faultless display last week. Hunter tormented challenger

  • 'Tax rise greedy, not needy'

    AN INCREASE in council tax for the Darlington borough was approved last night - despite an 11th hour challenge by Tories. The 4.8 per cent rise was approved at a meeting of the borough council in the town hall. It means taxpayers in a Band A property

  • A mat for all rhymes

    A GROUP of teenagers wowed a toddlers group when they put their art skills to the test and presented them with a nursery rhyme sensory mat. The five 14-year-olds, from Sedgefield, made the mat as an activity in their reading and craft group at Sedgefield

  • Fond memories from two diamond couples

    TWO mayors had a busy day visiting two couples celebrating their diamond wedding anniversaries yesterday. Spennymoor Town Mayor John Culine and Sedgefield Borough Mayor Marie Pedki joined Ken and Laura Titshall and Mary and Dick Fawcett to help them celebrate

  • Hospital was lacking vital equipment, inquest told

    A PRIVATE North-East hospital did not have potentially life-saving resuscitation equipment, an inquest into the death of a patient heard yesterday. Barry Byers, 60, died a week after undergoing what should have been routine gallstone surgery at the Cleveland

  • Life for boy who raped teacher

    A 12-year-old boy who raped his teacher was today detained for life. The schoolboy, who is one of Britain's youngest convicted rapists, attacked the woman as she sat next to him during a one-to-one teaching session. Afterwards, he stole her car and drove

  • Staff help with £2.4m donation

    STAFF at a Newton Aycliffe factory have donated cash to the Asian tsunami appeal. Employees at 3M, manufacturers of health and safety equipment, helped the international company to make a £2.4m donation. Contributions from the Heighington Lane workforce

  • Watching brief: There's no Riverside roll-up as fans stay away

    WHILE the PA system introduced last night's Uefa Cup tie with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon as "One of the biggest night's in Boro's history" many supporters will have been listening to the dulcet tones of John Barnes on Channel Five instead. As far

  • 24-hour care at homes

    A £4.2m sheltered housing scheme has been completed. The Parkside Court development has been built on the site of a former local authority sheltered housing scheme off Cumbernauld Road, in Thornaby. It consists of 31 two-bedroomed apartments and 17 two-bedroomed

  • Discussions will determine future of loss-making port

    PLANS to turn around a loss-making port will be discussed next week. Sunderland City Council's cabinet is to meet on Wednesday to discuss taking on a private partner to run the troubled Port of Sunderland. The proposals are to consolidate the cargo operation

  • Architect told to think again over flats scheme

    CONCERNED residents have confronted developers over proposals to build 19 flats in Egglescliffe. At a parish council meeting last week, more than 30 residents attended a presentation by the Davis Partnership on plans to demolish The Grange, in Urlay Nook

  • Darlinton on rise as Mowden slip into bottom three

    DARLINGTON'S 23-5 home win against Dudley Kingswinford last Saturday lifted them two places higher in National Three North and left Mowden Park occupying the third relegation place. Mowden's 16-8 defeat away to bottom club Bedford Athletic was a severe

  • Conversion work

    WORK is due to start on the conversion of a former school into luxury apartments. The year-long project to build 21 flats at Claremont, on Trinity Road, Darlington, will begin in May. In the late 1800s, the site was home to the Claremont School for Young

  • Interest rate decision welcomed

    THE Bank of England gave homeowners and manufacturers further respite yesterday by keeping interest rates unchanged for the seventh month in succession. The Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) kept the base rate at 4.75 per cent, the level at which

  • Club owner takes over restaurant

    A NIGHTCLUB owner has bought a restaurant. Sam's restaurant, on Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, has been bought by businessman Les Langley, who also owns Atlantic Bar and Club, in Duke Street. He plans to turn the 17th Century building into a bar and restaurant

  • Town arts festival springs into life

    A NORTH-EAST arts festival is under way, with a host of events to pull in the visitors. The 2005 Spring Thing is being run by Darlington Folk Club at the town's Arts Centre, and runs until Sunday. One of its highlights will be tomorrow night, at 8pm,

  • Residents will help select police officers

    Durham Constabulary's front-line officers are being selected with the help of the community for the first time. The force has become one of only a few in the country to involve public assessors in the recruitment process. This weekend, 72 would-be officers

  • Police team is cutting burglaries

    AN MP has backed Government moves to improve policing. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said neighbourhood policing measures had already proved effective in her own constituency. She said in the Parkfield and Mill Lane area of Stockton a dedicated neighbourhood

  • Should junk food parents face court?

    Helping every child to reach their potential is one of the most difficult tasks facing society - but it can also prove the most rewarding. Charity can play a leading role in this and no doubt some of the millions of pounds raised through Red Nose Day

  • Japan fans get bigger taste of the Orient

    THE dreams of two people who are fanatical about Japan will come true next week when the pair travel to the country for the first time. Jill Clay and Katie Chaplin jet off on Wednesday after saving up for a year for the visit. The pair run Vintage Kimono

  • Mars bar maker to axe 700 jobs

    THE company that makes Mars, Maltesers and Snicker bars is to shed 700 jobs and move production of some products overseas under plans to restructure its business. In another blow for the UK's manufacturing industry, Masterfoods said 500 jobs will go at

  • Stones stand again on ancient site

    HISTORIC stone safety markers have been replaced on a swampy moor top. A plaque commemorating the reinstatement of the six 'stoups' will be officially unveiled by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's deputy mayor, Councillor Ann Higgins, at the top

  • Traffic scheme leaves parish council anything but calm

    A TRAFFIC calming scheme proposed for Romanby has been condemned by councillors, who say it will destroy the character of the village. The scheme includes raised road "tables", a roundabout at the junction of Harewood and Ainderby roads, and five road

  • Nicola takes colour title

    A HAIRDRESSER is celebrating after winning a top accolade in her company's national awards. Nicola Wilkinson of Saks, Chester-le-Street, travelled to the Grosvenor House Hotel in London to pick up the Colour Image Award for her photographs of Saks apprentice

  • Owner helps fight for care home funds

    THE owner of a care home that was saved from closure is travelling to Westminster with an 8,000-signature petition to lobby the Goverment over its funding of elderly care. Barry Parvin, who owns the Graceland Care Home in Guisborough, will join a group

  • Premiership club to offer coaching tips

    CHILDREN are being given a chance to be coached by a Premiership football club during the Easter holidays. Middlesbrough Football Club is running a number of coaching sessions across Teesside and North Yorkshire from March 21. The courses will be held

  • Work to start on path between villages

    BY LAUREN PYRAH WORK on a long-awaited footpath linking two villages near Darlington may start next week - in the nick of time. Plans for a path between Neasham and Hurworth have finally come to fruition after 20 years of setbacks, with a compulsory purchase

  • Last gig for fans before national tour

    AN up-and-coming band are to play a thank-you gig for fans at a County Durham village pub. The Riffs are to play at the Cross Keys in Gainford tonight, before embarking on a nationwide tour. The band consists of Dave Brittle, Mark Dunn and Paul Hayman

  • College head joins protest to stop cuts

    THE head of Bishop Auckland College is joining a national campaign to protect adult learning from Government funding cuts. College principal Joanna Tait will join a countrywide lobby travelling to Westminster on Wednesday for the Association of Colleges

  • Councillor supports campaign to save secondary school

    A COUNCILLOR has given his support to a campaign to save a village school. Hurworth School, Maths and Computing College has called in consultants to examine its options. Governors made the move when rumours that the school could be targeted for closure

  • Approval sought for demolition of pub

    TEN flats could be built on the site of one of Darlington's most unusual buildings, under proposals going before councillors next week. Coniscliffe Property Developments is seeking planning permission from the borough council to build the flats on land

  • Whitley expects to end drought with important goal for Cats

    WHEN Jeff Whitley cut inside his man and unleashed a venomous left-footed drive from 20 yards in last Friday's victory at Burnley it looked as if Sunderland's combative midfielder was finally going to break his barren spell. Unfortunately for Whitley,

  • Man jailed for attacking partner

    A MAN was jailed for domestic violence yesterday after a court heard how his sustained attack on his partner of three years sent her fleeing to a neighbour for help. Prosecuting, Miriam Rasoul told Harrogate magistrates how Stephen Garnett had grabbed

  • 'Help us create fashionable image for a town on the up'

    Residents are being invited to help create a image for their town. International image makers Citigate SMARTS has been called in by Middlesbrough Council to develop a strategy for marketing the town to potential investors. A leading member of the council

  • Health staff help teenagers kick the habit

    TEENAGERS aiming to kick the smoking habit have been given expert advice by health professionals in Darlington. The town's primary care trust held sessions at schools this week, encouraging youngsters to quit smoking and warning them of the health dangers

  • Appeal by police

    POLICE are appealing for information after two quad bikes and a trial bike were stolen. Two Polaris Sportsman quad bikes and a silver 270cc Beta Rev 3 trial bike were taken from a farm at East Cowton, near Northallerton, yesterday morning. Police believe

  • Mums team up to battle bulge

    PRIMARY school pupils can look forward to having healthier mothers thanks to a slimming pact. It began after Julie Reynolds, whose children, Sally and Joe, attend Edmondsley Primary School, near Durham, was insulted on a night out. "I am 5ft 5in tall

  • We are the champions at chess

    THREE students have been crowned chess champions. Brother and sister Thomas and Emma Mavin and eight-year-old Dhruv Tapasvi came first in their categories at the Cleveland Chess Championships last weekend. All three are pupils at Yarm Preparatory School

  • Pizza shop to be monitored after clean-up

    A PIZZA shop has reopened after magistrates closed it for being dirty. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council officials served an Emergency Prohibition Notice on Goojys Pizzeria, in Allendale Road, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, on March 4. Magistrates confirmed

  • Man praised for catching bogus caller

    POLICE have praised the actions of a new Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator whose sharp eyes helped catch a suspected bogus caller. Chester-le-Street Community Inspector Paul Anderson said there had been five bogus calls in the district on the same day.

  • Children get the vote - on play area

    CHILDREN and parents are being given the chance to vote on their choice for a £37,000 playground. The Playground Action Team, in Esh, near Durham, has shortlisted three designs after giving manufacturers an idea of what they want. Each option will feature

  • Parrot breeder back in court in Customs tussle

    A PARROT breeder's five-year legal battle with HM Customs and Excise has continued in court. Harry Sissen, 66, appeared before Northallerton magistrates last Friday for failing to pay a £150,000 court order made after he was convicted of smuggling rare

  • Work in York? It's too grim that far up North

    ALISTAIR Rae (you may not have heard of him) recently finance director of Jarvis, the engineering group, has left the company, reportedly citing as his reason its move to a new HQ in York. It is closing its premises near the Barbican in London and keeping

  • Sale of car parks to raise money is branded a 'joke'

    PLANS to sell two town centre car parks for housing have been labelled a joke by angry objectors. Richmondshire District Council is proposing to sell Station Road Car Park and part of York Square Car Park in Richmond. Officers say the council needs the

  • Rush to take up places for Race For Life

    MORE than 4,000 women across the region have already signed up for this summer's Race For Life. Campaigners said yesterday that it was a remarkable response, as applications only opened six weeks ago for the eight races planned in the North-East and North

  • Clergy and MP add their voices to asylum plea

    STOCKTON North MP Frank Cook is campaigning to prevent the deportation of a Zimbabwe woman living in the town. On Wednesday, Mr Cook accompanied Edneth Gotora to the Home Office where she handed in a petition bearing more than 17,000 names, calling on

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: When charity ends at home

    WHEN their hearts are touched by something, whether it is round the corner or across the world, the people of the North-East have a track record of being hugely generous. We know from the experience of our own appeals - helping to set up a children's

  • U-turn by BT will save rural kiosks

    PARISH councils and residents in a string of isolated villages are celebrating following a decision by British Telecom to save 27 kiosks. The dramatic change of heart follows campaigns by Ryedale District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Ryedale

  • Grieving father took his own life

    A MAN killed himself after he was unable to recover from deaths in his family and the collapse of his joinery business. An inquest heard Anthony Downes lost both his mother and elder brother within a short time, five years ago. The 37-year-old had started

  • Bunny girls hop to it to raise funds

    FOUR women are are dressing up as bunnies to raise funds for stray animals. Ellie Sivills, sisters Helen and Cathy Southall and their friend Rachel Lightfoot are putting on bunny girl outfits to raise funds to build a sanctuary for stray dogs and cats

  • Man arrested after woman's body is found

    A MAN has been arrested following the discovery of a woman's body in a house on Teesside in suspicious circumstances. The 49-year-old woman, who has yet to be formally identified, was found in the bedroom of her terraced house. Police were called to the

  • Hodgson's choices increase for Yeovil test

    DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson could have his attacking options boosted by the return of four key players for the visit of League Two leaders Yeovil Town tomorrow. Clyde Wijnhard, Alun Armstrong and Neil Wainwright are all available again after serving

  • Children give birds treetop views of river

    NEW homes are appearing in one of the North-East's most expensive and sought-after locations. The banks of the River Wear in Durham, in the shadow of the castle and cathedral World Heritage Site, attract visitors from all over the world. A des res with

  • Inquiry after dogs shot

    POLICE are appealing to residents to help to identify whoever was responsible for two shooting incidents in East Cleveland. A 43-year-old Guisborough man arrested by Redcar detectives earlier this week in connection with the incidents at Lingdale at the

  • Joint effort to stop thieves

    TWO public bodies in Cleveland have received £324,000 over the past two years to help prevent the deliberate torching of cars. Car thieves intent on destroying forensic evidence, especially DNA, could be responsible for more than half the vehicles deliberately

  • Snow White, The Studio, York Theatre Royal

    NICK Lane's latest family show begins as it means to go on with an announcement that the sending and receiving of carrier pigeons during the performance is not permitted. And people should turn off their mobile phones too. It's the irresistible mix of

  • Looking Back

    FROM this newspaper 150 years ago. - At Durham Assizes, on Monday morning, Mr Thomas Mills of Stockton, sail-cloth maker, was called on the petty jury. The summoning officer said he would prefer paying the fine - Mr Barron Parke said: "Let him be fined

  • Jet fighter base to cut 235 jobs

    HUNDREDS of posts are to be lost from the region's front-line fighter base as part of cuts in the armed forces. A total of 215 service and 20 civilian posts will disappear from RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire, over three years, as the Royal Air Force

  • Amec wins £54m gas plant deal

    ENGINEERING group Amec's Darlington division has won a £54m contract to design and deliver a gas storage facility. Yesterday, the group announced record annual profits of £118.1m and said it was looking to expand its operations in Iraq. But the company

  • Should junk food parents face court?

    Helping every child to reach their potential is one of the most difficult tasks facing society - but it can also prove the most rewarding. Charity can play a leading role in this and no doubt some of the millions of pounds raised through Red Nose Day

  • Support for family in wake of fire tragedy

    A COMMUNITY is rallying round the family of a boy killed in a fire that gutted their home. Neighbours and other residents in the Carrville area of Durham are collecting money to assist the Blakelock family, involved in Tuesday's tragedy at their home

  • Mixed day for Pollard as Malzeard win again

    IN-FORM Kirkby Malzeard made it 14 league matches without defeat when a hard-fought 2-0 premier division victory at Bramhope last Saturday consolidated their second place. The visitors went ahead ten minutes into the second half when Paul Abbott headed

  • Shop Talk: You can't say fairer than that

    You can shop and not care where the profits go, or you can shop and make sure the growers in Third World countries get their fair share. As it's Fairtrade Fortnight, we recomment giving the latter a go. HOW about a cup of coffee and a piece of cake? Or

  • Tanni up for half-marathon

    PARALYMPIC champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is taking part in the The 23rd Liberata Redcar Half Marathon at the weekend. Sunday's event boasts a record 1,300 entries this year. Tanni said: "It's so important to me to take part in an event held in my

  • Murder attempt charge

    A man has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of a young woman. Andrew Burn, 21, was arrested following an incident in Maynard Street, Carlin How, in the early hours of Wednesday this week. Mr Burn, of Coniston Road, Skelton, was remanded

  • Business boss has right Corrie on

    AS boss of one of the region's most successful companies, John Elliott always has plenty on his plate. However, for one day only, Mr Elliott, who runs the Ebac water cooler business in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is ditching his pinstripe suit for

  • Appleby completes Quakers move

    DARLINGTON have completed the signing of former fans' favourite, Matty Appleby. The 32-year-old will make his debut against League Two leaders Yeovil Town tomorrow after re-joining Quakers until the end of the season. The Middlesbrough-born utility man