Archive

  • Still time to try for award

    THE deadline for entries to the Parcelforce Worldwide Small Business Awards has been extended. To qualify for entry, a company must be independently owned and UK-based. It must employ 30 people or less, have an annual turnover of more than £60,000 and

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Speaking our language

    IT would have been a waste of taxpayers' money had Britain continued on its path towards a referendum on the European Union constitution. We saw such expense in the North-East last year: all the literature, TV adverts and ministerial visits attempting

  • Reservoir fogs

    The weather may have been inclement but the welcome at Langdon Beck was as warm as any walker could have wished for. ABOUT halfway up the high road from Langdon Beck to Cow Green reservoir, in Upper Teesdale, there's a notice identifying the 74 square

  • Training success brings more jobs

    A TRAINING provider is taking on more staff after two years of growth. Durham Logistics College, based in Langley Park, near Durham City, is recruiting five workers as it gears up for further expansion. From offering three training courses, it now delivers

  • Colin coins it in again

    A PROLIFIC fundraiser is celebrating after cycling the width of England to raise £3,000 for the annual Poppy Appeal. Colin Northridge and his wife, June, of Thirsk, spent three days pedalling 140 miles from Workington, in Cumbria, to Sunderland. Mr Northridge

  • MG and Rover to rise again?

    FOR months before MG Rover careered into administration, company bosses were telling anyone who would listen that the Chinese were the only deal in town. Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) hoped to tie up a co-operative deal with MGR that

  • Firm wins car parks contract

    CENTRAL Parking System (CPS) has won a five-year contract to manage the multi-storey car parks at a North-East shopping centre. The firm, which is one of the UK's leading off-street parking management specialists, aims to improve parking at Sunderland's

  • Trading standards warn of improper cold call tactics

    TRADING standards officers have warned householders to be on their guard against the "cold call" tactics of some unscrupulous doorstep salesmen. They have issued advice after growing numbers of calls from concerned people who fear elderly relatives may

  • Bid to solve pubs' licence problems

    A SERIES of workshops have been organised for pubs and clubs in Chester-le-Street to speed up the number of applications for licences to sell alcohol. Under regulations introduced under the Licensing Act of 2003, local councils rather than magistrates

  • Pool and chemists get shock donations

    TWO pieces of life-saving equipment have been installed in Thirsk thanks to local people and the British Heart Foundation. The town's swimming pool and the local branch of Boots now have defibrillators, a device that can deliver an essential shock to

  • Nature flourishes in cemetery

    NATURE lovers have been searching for wildlife in a North-East cemetery. Guided by two experts from the Hartlepool Natural History Society, visitors to the Spion Kop Cemetery on the town's Old Cemetery Road spotted meadow pipits, sky larks and uncommon

  • Vehicle rally is an event for whole family

    VINTAGE vehicles and fire engines from across the decades will be on show at an annual exhibition later this month. The Vintage Vehicle Rally will take place at Preston Park in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26. Firefighters

  • Calls for compensation over contaminated housing land

    ANGRY homeowners are demanding compensation after experts discovered dozens of properties are poisoned with arsenic and zinc. Ninety-one homes on an estate in Hartlepool are affected and owners fear house prices will plummet. Council chiefs are now taking

  • Hoggard receives all clear for Roses clash

    Matthew Hoggard is all set to play in the Roses match at Headingley tomorrow after Yorkshire and England yesterday expressed themselves satisfied that the pain he has felt in his ankle and hip should not cause him any serious problems. His presence in

  • Garden centre operator beats the high street slowdown

    GARDEN centre operator Peter Barratt's is bucking the retail trend following a record year of sales. While some of the biggest names on the high street continue to suffer as a result of a retail spending slowdown, Peter Barratt's Garden Centres, which

  • Fears park and ride scheme could increase congestion

    A BUS-ONLY lane considered a key element of a city's planned park and ride scheme has won approval despite fears it will increase congestion. One lane of the A690 dual carriageway approaching Durham from the A1(M) junction at Carrville will be reserved

  • Flexible sport needs many skills

    No matter how much politicians try to foster the 'entente cordiale' the British still regard the French with a good deal of suspicion - and I suspect that the sometimes scratchy feelings between the two countries will always be present despite any amount

  • Luxury hotel becomes smoke-free

    One of the region's most luxurious hotels will become a smoke-free zone from the beginning of next month. The complete ban will mean there will be no smoking in any part of Seaham Hall Hotel or its adjoining Serenity Spa. It was following the no smoking

  • Letter from the Algarve

    As you read the paper this morning, I hope I am sitting beside a pool under the palm trees with something nice in my glass and thumbing through a guide to the hills in Portugal's Algarve - with an afternoon drive in mind. Those hills are alive with the

  • Premier snaps up Quorn maker

    THE maker of meat substitute Quorn was acquired by Premier Foods yesterday for £172m. Marlow Foods, of Stokesley North Yorkshire, whose only brand is Quorn, was sold to Premier by Montagu Private Equity. Quorn will be Premier's largest brand, joining

  • Excitement grows for two different days at the races

    A MASS of tents and hospitality suites is growing up around York Racecourse ready for next week's visit of Royal Ascot. Over the past few weeks, the course has undergone a transformation, with bars, restaurants and rooms shooting up around the Knavesmire

  • Durham Diary: Plunket injury woe for Durham

    THERE was mixed news for Durham on the injury front yesterday, with Nathan Astle looking likely to be fit for the four-day match against Essex starting at Riverside on Thursday, while Liam Plunkett is doubtful, writes Tim Wellock. Plunkett's bruised heel

  • Harry's game for a fresh challenge

    A SUNDERLAND University graduate has found full-time employment in the region after leaving his home in China to avoid the Sars virus. HARRY LI, 25, first came to England in 1999 to study for a business and finance degree. After spending at year at university

  • Rob Littlefair

    A BUSINESS organisation set up to attract investment in North Yorkshire has appointed ROB LITTLEFAIR as its first inward investment manager with specific responsibility for the North Yorkshire coast area. He will be based at york-england.com's offices

  • How to keep the bullies at bay

    Parenting columnist Anne Sutton runs the nannying agency, Internannies, and has 30 years experience in childcare. This month she gives advice on what to do if you think your child is being bullied. FINDING out that your child is being bullied can be a

  • Boro run rule over Milicevic

    MIDDLESBROUGH are exploring the possibility of adding promising defender Ljubo Milicevic to the Australian contingent at the Riverside Stadium - particularly if one target is missed. German club Bayer Leverkusen last night warned Boro to keep their hands

  • Rallying for the health cause

    HEALTH workers have organised a car rally to get healthy living messages through to young men. The Castle Cruise has been organised by Carl Bell, a health promotion worker with Durham Dales Primary Care Trust. The event is on Sunday, June 12, at Witton

  • Technology Services Group backs awards

    AN IT solutions company is backing the E-Commerce Awards. Technology Services Group, in Newcastle, has joined regional development agency One North East as sponsor of the regional heats, which take place in September. The winners in six categories will

  • Shipyards fear loss of carrier contracts

    THOUSANDS of North-East jobs are in jeopardy after the Government backed away from its pledge to build Royal Navy ships in the region. Swan Hunter, which has yards on Teesside and Tyneside, was one of four shipbuilders earmarked by defence bosses for

  • Gene machine is here

    GENETIC scientists have instant access to the tools of their trade thanks to a vending machine. The system, known as the Helena Smartstore, combines a vending machine, smart card technology and wireless communications. It stocks up to 40 enzymes and reagents

  • From Herriot to horror as scary movie is set in town

    A market town more famous for its connections with James Herriot is to become the setting of a grisly horror movie. A group of amateur film makers will film their production, called Slow Rot, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The film is about a man who finds

  • Concern for welfare of missing man

    POLICE are appealing for information following the disappearance of a 28-year-old North-East man. John Anthony Reynolds, who lives in the Hendon area of Sunderland, was last seen in the city on Friday, May 27, at 2pm. Police are concerned for his welfare

  • The new king on the block

    THERE was a certain symmetry to the scenes that greeted Rafael Nadal's victory in the final of the French Open. Punching the air in delight, the wide-eyed teenager headed straight to Spanish monarch Juan Carlos before the pair spoke briefly and hugged

  • Weekend of success for northern riders

    A STRONG northern contingent headed to Lincolnshire to take part in one of the season's two-day endurance competitions at the superb setting of RAF Cranwell. The competition, April 30 and May 1, was held by kind permission of the Air Officer Commanding

  • Warning to firms about disposal of hazardous waste

    BUSINESSES in the region have been reminded that the deadline is approaching for changes in hazardous waste regulations. Under the new rules, any business that creates hazardous waste may need to register with the Environment Agency. Businesses are already

  • Eating Owt: Reservoir fogs

    The weather may have been inclement but the welcome at Langdon Beck was as warm as any walker could have wished for. ABOUT halfway up the high road from Langdon Beck to Cow Green reservoir, in Upper Teesdale, there's a notice identifying the 74 square

  • Invitation to the region's farmers

    FARMERS across the region are being encouraged to enter a competition to acknowledge good environmental practice. The Environment Agency Countryside Farmer of the Year is part of the larger Farmers Weekly Agricultural Awards. A spokesman for the agency

  • Jobs task force is making its mark

    THE task force set up after LG Philips announced it was closing its Durham factory has already found jobs and training for 75 workers. LG Philips Displays announced in March that its television tubes factory would close on July 22, with the loss of 761

  • Quickfire double on cards

    Frankie Dettori and the Godolphin operation, fresh from triumph in the French Derby on Sunday, can win the valuable Carlsberg Redcar Straight-Mile Championship Handicap at Redcar this afternoon. Godolphin has stepped up a gear in recent times and Esquire

  • Whitehall extends stewardship deadline

    THE deadline for farmers and land managers in the region who wish to sign up to a new Government environmental scheme has been extended. Officials from the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) took the decision after complaints about administrative

  • Legislation on ageism will cut both ways

    'Hope I retire before I get old..." as The Who might have said had the proposed age discrimination law been on the cards when they penned My Generation back in 1965. Those surviving band members, looking perhaps to make ends meet, could do worse than

  • Record industry praises officers who sank pirates

    A SENIOR record industry executive travelled to the region yesterday to thank the team of detectives who smashed one of the North-East's biggest piracy rings. Pat Ferguson, deputy director of anti-piracy at record industry organisation British Phonographic

  • Is this the best way to tackle the yobs?

    Seven years ago, anti-social behaviour orders were trumpeted as the Government's new weapon in the war against the thugs who terrorise our neighbourhoods. As a Sunderland teenager admits killing a family man eight days after having an order imposed on

  • Wildlife making its home in industrial heartland

    A YOUNG fox lopes across the scrubland as a rabbit bolts for cover, a kestrel hovers in search of mice and an orange tip butterfly flits from plant to plant. It is an idyllic scene and one all the more notable for being enacted in the heart of urban Teesside

  • Protests over homes plan

    PLANS for a housing development in a rural village have provoked strong protests. Under the proposals, five houses with garages would be built on a field in Fylingthorpe, near Robin Hood's Bay, on the North York Moors. The houses would be partly brick

  • Alan climbs into history books

    INTREPID adventurer Alan Hinkes is on top of the world after becoming the only Briton to have conquered the world's 14 highest peaks. The 51-year-old Northallerton grandfather earned his place in the history books after fighting his way through snow and

  • Hugh Prior

    HUGH PRIOR has taken over as company secretary at language charity Everyday Language Solutions (ELS), in Thornaby, near Stockton. He takes over from Jayne Bayley, who remains a board member of ELS, a not-for-profit business with a number of interpreters

  • God's other Rottweiler

    EVERYDAY THOUGHTS by Peter Mullen (£10 plus £2 p&p from The Administrator, St Michael's Foundation, The Watch House, 10 Giltspur Lane, London EC1A 9DE): THE new Pope may have to tone down his Rottweiler tendencies, but there's no restraining The Northern

  • Film-makers shoot for top

    A GROUP of amateur film-makers are hoping to hit the big time with a horror movie set in their home town. The 12-strong crew have been filming in Thirsk and the surrounding area with a cast of about 12 actors for the past ten days. Yesterday, they came

  • Mother will star in billboard campaign

    A WONDERMUM from the region is to star in a national billboard advertising campaign after winning a competition. Denise Devonport, of Hall Lane Estate, Willington, County Durham, will be appearing on posters nationwide as part of Dove's new advert. She

  • Webster on standby

    AN injury crisis could ensure Darlington midfielder Adrian Webster makes his international bow for New Zealand on Thursday. Initially, the 24-year-old was one of several untried players invited to train with the All Whites squad ahead of this week's friendly

  • Events to support cathedral campaign

    SIX fundraising events have been organised to help maintain Ripon Cathedral as a centre of excellence for its religious choral music. The long-term aim is to raise £3m to preserve the high choral standards, and what the Cathedral Development Campaign

  • Care home owners secure £4m to expand services

    CARE home bosses have secured permission for a £4m development. Middleton Hall, near Middleton St George, has been given permission by Darlington Borough Council for projects, including building retirement apartments and extending the home itself. Twenty-two

  • Caf calls for runners in hospice appeal

    A DARLINGTON caf is asking its customers to join a fundraising drive. Workers at Caf Gulp, in Priestgate, are taking part in this year's Sherwoods Chevrolet Darlington 10K road run. Theevent returns to the town on Sunday, August 14, and the caf is hoping

  • Success back in the classroom

    EARLY years workers have become the first to achieve foundation degrees in their chosen field. A two-year qualification was launched at Darlington College of Technology in 2003, to help working parents with children. Students spent a day in college and

  • Lights aim to attract young people

    POLICE have taken action to solve a problem with youths gathering outside a supermarket in a Teesdale village. A youth shelter in Cockfield has been lit up in an attempt to encourage youths to use it instead of congregating outside the Co-op store. Several

  • Petition against the use of weed killer

    A WOMAN is calling on a council to stop using a weed killer she claims gives her headaches when it is sprayed near her home. Yvonne Ivey, 44, of Kimberley Avenue, Catchgate, near Stanley, also wants Derwentside District Council to give residents 24 hours

  • £200,000 investment in the community and our schools

    SCHOOLS in Darlington are being encouraged to provide more services for the wider community after education chiefs secured a Government grant. Darlington Borough Council has received £219,000 to help schools and other groups in the community work together

  • Love of village pub leads team to take on restoration project

    THE restoration of a village's only pub has proved a real labour of love for its new tenants and a team of hardworking helpers. Built in 1896, The Loves, in Broompark, had for generations been a favourite local watering hole. But in recent years the pub

  • Youngsters have a lot to be proud of

    YOUNGSTERS in Bishop Auckland are sowing the seeds for a brighter future as they renovate a community allotment. Volunteers from the Prince's Trust started work yesterday on Henknowle Allotments, on South Church Road, in Bishop Auckland, to improve the

  • Go-ahead given to build 17 flats

    SEVENTEEN flats are to be built in Derwentside after a development plan was given permission. They will be built at Wood Street in Shotley Bridge. An existing workshop is also to be converted into two apartments and six garages. Neighbours were consulted

  • Makeover expert's a ground force to be reckoned with

    A FORMER engineer is recruiting more staff as his home and garden improvements business booms. Kelvin Baird, 32, a former engineer with Eatons in Newton Aycliffe, set up Who Did Your...? this year in Castleside, near Consett, County Durham. The firm specialises

  • Appeal after armed gang attack again

    AN armed gang have targeted a Teesside supermarket for the second time in two weeks, said Cleveland Police. The three men, armed with a knife and claw hammer, struck at the One Stop Shop in Allendale Road, in Ormesby, and stole cash and cigarettes. There

  • Set for national stage

    YOUNG dancers are celebrating competition success after qualifying for a national championship. Thirty-seven dancers from Diane White's Academy of Dance, in Shildon, have qualified for the International Dance Teachers Association National finals in October

  • Children experience life as Second World War evacuees

    SCHOOLCHILDREN jumped back through time yesterday during a real-life history lesson on the Second World War. Pupils from Linthorpe Primary, in Middlesbrough, took part in a re-enactment of the wartime evacuation of children to the safety of the countryside

  • They have legal consequences - so don't throw e-mails away

    Love it or loath it, the e-mail is here to stay. And increased regulation means companies must face up to the fact that e-mail archiving is now a necessity, not a luxury. High-profile court cases involving global operators have shown that anyone can fall

  • When the banks catch a cold, everyone sneezes

    Love them or hate them, high street banks can have a large effect on our day-to-day lives. Whether it is simply how convenient or inconvenient getting at your own money can be, or whether you are going cap in hand, asking for a loan or a mortgage. This

  • Legislation on ageism will cut both ways

    'Hope I retire before I get old..." as The Who might have said had the proposed age discrimination law been on the cards when they penned My Generation back in 1965. Those surviving band members, looking perhaps to make ends meet, could do worse than

  • Health trust in cash crisis

    THE financial crisis facing a North-East hospital group will be revealed today when a damning report is published into its deficit. South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the 1,000-bed James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, has been struggling

  • Famous clock's time has come again

    A clock face measuring a metre in diameter has been restored. The black and white clock face has been rehung at Register House, in Zetland Street, Northallerton, home of the Joe Cornish Gallery. It had been part of the fixtures when the building was previously

  • Park to get clean-up

    SOLDIERS and civilians will join forces at the weekend for an annual park clean-up day. The sixth Coronation Park community work day will take place in Catterick Garrison, on Saturday. Catterick Garrison commander Colonel Jonny Hackett said: "The garrison

  • Cricket club keeps on growing

    A CRICKET club which has seen its membership increase tenfold over the past few years is on target with its improvement plan. Barnard Castle Cricket Club is approaching the £50,000 needed to build changing rooms for its ground at Vere Road. The club has

  • African dance class

    CHILDREN at a primary school have been dancing to a different beat after taking part in a masterclass with a South African student. Mthoko Ntuli, from Durban, visited Blue Coat School in Durham City to teach the children dances from his homeland. The

  • Neighbours From Heaven: Simon's kindness was very welcome

    WHEN Mark and Carol Bradley moved into their new house a year ago, a friendly neighbour helped them feel at home from day one. Since then, welcoming neighbour Simon Astill has continued to brighten up every day with his friendly chatter and helpful nature

  • Soap star opens pet hospital

    TAILS were wagging in Middlesbrough when a new PDSA PetAid hospital opened its doors to patients. Emmerdale actor John Middleton, who plays the Reverend Ashley Thomas in the soap, cut the ribbon to open the hospital yesterday. The hospital, which replaces

  • Raising awareness

    POLICE, fire crews and residents came together last week to stage a village fun day and raise awareness of community safety issues. The event was staged at the Community Centre in the village of Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, on Wednesday - as part of

  • Coffee empress shares her secrets

    THE co-founder of high street chain Coffee Republic is to share her expertise with North-East entrepreneurs. Sahar Hashemi will be a guest speaker at the Big Day event, on Thursday, June 30, at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. A London lawyer who developed

  • Carnival of colour at dales village

    A DALES village will come to life at the weekend with a carnival and flower festival. Fiona Nelson will be crowned carnival queen before she leads the festivities, which include a fancy dress and sports competitions, at Bowes, near Barnard Castle. Her

  • United confident Parker will pen deal

    NEWCASTLE officials are confident of making Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker their first signing of the summer later this week. But, while Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool are on the verge of dropping out of the race for the England international

  • Pasture management to protect against parasites

    Pasture management is an essential part of any worm control programme, and plays a vital role in ensuring the health and well being of your horse. Most life cycles of equine parasites involve a period of development outside the horse and on the pasture

  • Rethink on plan to cut fire cover

    COMMUNITY leaders say they are hopeful a town's night-time fire cover will not be downgraded. Fire chiefs have told councillors they will look again at plans to swap one of Harrogate's two full-time night duty crews with part-time retained firefighters

  • Sir Alf wins again at South Durham meet

    THE South Durham Hunt held the last point to point on the Yorkshire circuit for 2005 on Saturday, May 14. Held at Mordon by kind permission of Mr John Wade, it attracted a good crowd and the weather kept bright. With 20 fences to jump, the Members race

  • A new chapter in West Auckland Cup tale

    A new book on West Auckland's legendary "World Cup" story was launched on Saturday night. England's 1966 World Cup squad being somewhat out of their price range - most wanted over £3,000, Little Nobby was cheapest at £1,150 - the column was asked to say

  • Sage founder's next success looks like a racing certainty

    The co-founder of software giant Sage is once again making waves in the IT market. Deputy Business Editor Dan Jenkins talks to one of the region's most successful businessmen, Graham Wylie. FOLLOWING the phenomenal success of software group Sage, Graham

  • Full horror inside stables is revealed

    THE full extent of one of the most shocking animal cruelty cases in the region was still being uncovered last night. Rotting carcasses and bones were still being discovered more than a week after inspectors broke in to a North-East stable yard to find

  • Stories to inspire the imagination

    MEDIEVAL stories are to be brought to life at a County Durham castle next weekend. Raby Castle, near Staindrop, is hosting Past-Imagined storytellers on Saturday, who will tell a variety of comical and adventurous tales throughout the day. Events organiser

  • Memories of Second World War sought for project

    PEOPLE'S memories of Britain's darkest hours are needed for a project remembering the Second World War. County Durham residents are being encouraged to tell their tales from the Second World War for posterity. Bill Williamson, emeritus professor at Durham

  • Man who fled court goes to prison

    A MAN who spent months on the run because he feared a prison sentence was jailed for seven months yesterday. Paul Turner, appearing before Harrogate magistrates, North Yorkshire, admitted theft, deception, possession of cannabis and failing to answer

  • Initiative launched to curb domestic violence

    PROBATION chiefs are launching an initiative to tackle domestic abuse across North Yorkshire. The Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme is a group activity for convicted offenders, approved by the Home Office, which focuses on concepts like control and

  • From concentration camps to the clarinet

    At the age of 80, Darlington's Mike Frankton is still touring the world as a clarinet player. Then again, he's survived a brush with Chinese bandits during the Second World War and coped with Hitler's concentration camps. Viv Hardwick talks to the amazing

  • Race is on for swimmers

    YOUNGSTERS are battling it out to see who is the fastest on the water slide at Hambleton Leisure Centre, in Northallerton. The swimming pool's 50m-long water slide has been fitted with a timing device. A laser activates the timer when the swimmer leaves

  • 06/06/05

    OTIS FERRY: HARRY Mead erroneously refers to the Otis Ferry group as "fox-hunting anarchists" (Echo, June 1). Whilst Ferry and Co have a healthy disregard for the legislation enacted by the Labour Government, I doubt that they wish to see the end of all

  • New meaning of giving God a whirl

    Spirituality Shopper (C4); Extraordinary People: She Stole My Foetus (five): MICHAELA Newton-Wright has a hole in her life. She has a high-flying job she loves, socialises in London's Soho - as opposed to Redcar's - and has a lovely flat, but she still

  • Stuart Reid

    KOMATSU, at Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, has appointed STUART REID, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, as director of finance and IT. Mr Reid has worked at the company for more than nine years. The 38-year-old will oversee the delivery of IT systems

  • Cybula is facing up to the bad guys

    THE agents charged with protecting the US from another September 11 terrorist attack are turning to technology produced in the region to guard its borders. The National Security Agency (NSA), made famous in the hit US TV show 24, is testing FaceEnforce

  • On TV

    Spirituality Shopper (C4) Extraordinary People: She Stole My Foetus (five) MICHAELA Newton-Wright has a hole in her life. She has a high-flying job she loves, socialises in London's Soho - as opposed to Redcar's - and has a lovely flat, but she still

  • Royal Ascot at York

    Royal Ascot is due to arrive at York next week. Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings compiles a guide to the strict Ascot etiquette and discovers how to avoid falling at any style hurdles. ROYAL Ascot may be coming North to York this year, but the dress code

  • Gemma is Britain's strongest

    GEMMA Taylor has been crowned Britain's Strongest Woman after winning all five of the competition's events. Gemma, 21, of Bagby, near Thirsk, can now add the title to her UK's strongest woman trophy. During the event, held in Maidstone, Kent, she pulled

  • Milkmen join forces in bid to fend off yob gangs

    TWO milkmen have been forced to do their morning rounds together because problems with abusive yobs has led to fears for their safety. Brothers Mark and Philip Wright, from York, have taken the action after suffering constant threats and intim- idation

  • Learning the art of listening

    At just ten years of age a blonde, blue eyed Australian-born girl ventured to the UK tucked tightly under the wings of her mother. Taken away from her childhood of horses, riding, competing and their family ranch, a young Sarah Kreutzer landed on the

  • Arsonists blamed for fire

    YOUNG arsonists were last night blamed for a blaze in a disused sports centre which put the lives of firefighters at risk. It took fire crews more than 40 minutes to get the flames under control after the second floor of the derelict Quaker Centre, in

  • Grain can grow into hundreds of jobs

    A BIOFUELS company is poised to make a multi-million pound investment in the region creating hundreds of jobs. Somerset-based Wessex Grain is looking at sites on Teesside to build a bioethanol plant, converting wheat into ethanol, also known as ethyl

  • Hospital trust faces cash crisis

    THE financial crisis facing a North-East hospital group will be revealed today when a damning report is published into its deficit. South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the 1,000-bed James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, has been struggling

  • Phil Beckinsale

    TEESSIDE-based business Internet service provider Onyx Internet has recruited PHIL BECKINSALE to market its latest services. Mr Beckinsale, who has a degree in computing from Sunderland University, has been appointed marketing executive. He initially

  • Local History: When war came to Sandsend... in a rubber dinghy

    WARTIME TEESSIDE REVISITED by Bill Norman (self-published, 23A Thames Avenue, Guisborough, TS14 8AE, £8.95; ISBN 0-9547325-0-2; www.billnorman.co.uk): ON October 17, 1939, a German Heinkel bomber was brought down about 25 miles off Whitby by Spitfires

  • Is it Gateshead Brown Ale or does it still taste of Newcastle?

    ONLY a brand with deeply entrenched cultural roots could cause such an outcry by moving two miles down the road. Moving Newcastle Brown Ale from the city's Tyne Brewery to the Federation Brewery, in Dunston, will barely register outside the region - it

  • Family's terror in arson attack

    A FAMILY tortured by thugs feared for their lives when their caravan was set alight. Community worker Paul Tuffs and his family woke early yesterday to find their back garden alight. Mr Tuffs' daughter, Amy, 19, heard a loud bang outside after returning

  • Future of student paper at risk

    ONE of Britain's best-known student newspapers - Durham University Palatinate - is facing an uncertain future as a result of a deepening financial crisis. Durham University Students' Union confirmed to The Northern Echo it is in financial difficulties

  • Winds of change could bring brisk upturn in trade

    The renewable energy sector could one day be worth more than £2bn to the North-East economy. Business Editor Julia Breen speaks to Dermot Roddy, of Renew Tees Valley, the company set up to attract environmental and biofules investors to the region. THE

  • Timber specialist spreads its wings

    A TIMBER specialist is expanding after completing contracts for two landmark buildings. Robert Duncan Timber, in Gateshead, is enlarging its five-acre headquarters in Felling to meet an expected ten per cent increase in production. The group, which also

  • When the banks catch a cold, everyone sneezes

    Love them or hate them, high street banks can have a large effect on our day-to-day lives. Whether it is simply how convenient or inconvenient getting at your own money can be, or whether you are going cap in hand, asking for a loan or a mortgage. This

  • They have legal consequences - so don't throw e-mails away

    Love it or loath it, the e-mail is here to stay. And increased regulation means companies must face up to the fact that e-mail archiving is now a necessity, not a luxury. High-profile court cases involving global operators have shown that anyone can fall

  • Cats forced to rethink after Davis says no

    SUNDERLAND have been forced into a transfer rethink after Ipswich keeper Kelvin Davis rejected a move to the Stadium of Light. Both clubs agreed a £1m fee and Davis headed to the North-East last week for talks but returned to Suffolk unconvinced. Now,

  • Ava Madon, Nick Smith, Kevin Maloney, Siobhan Kenyon

    COMMERCIAL law firm Robert Muckle has made several promotions. AVA MADON, who joined the firm from CMS Cameron McKenna in June 2003, has been promoted to partner. As a member of the property division, she has been working with Sage Gateshead. NICK SMITH

  • Tracey Burton

    TRACEY BURTON has joined the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) as personal assistant to the senior management team. CPI is one of the five Centres of Excellence created under regional development agency One NorthEast's Strategy for Success. Based at

  • John McDougall

    JOHN McDOUGALL has been appointed chairman of the board of directors of Tristar Homes. Tristar Homes is the not-for-profit controlled company of Stockton Borough Council. It took over the management and maintenance of most of the council's housing stock

  • Parents' poster bid to find son

    THE parents of a missing man yesterday launched a poster campaign in a bid to track him down. Tristan Long, 29, has been missing from his home in York since April 16 this year. His car was found abandoned near Wetherby but there have been no sightings

  • Rowing For The Record: Rowers avoid the eye of the storm

    THE crew behind the North Atlantic record rowing attempt were breathing a sigh of relief yesterday after avoiding potentially disastrous weather. Nigel Morris and George Rock, of Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, along with fellow crew members Steve Dawson and

  • Jobs task force is making its mark

    THE task force set up after LG Philips announced it was closing its Durham factory has already found jobs and training for 75 workers. LG Philips Displays announced in March that its television tubes factory would close on July 22, with the loss of 761

  • Art show given an ideal platform

    AN exhibition of work by a group of artists is on show in a former railway station. More than 20 artists and craftspeople from Richmondshire have work on display at the old Richmond Station building until June 26. They are all members of the Dales Guild

  • Winds of change could bring brisk upturn in trade

    The renewable energy sector could one day be worth more than £2bn to the North-East economy. Business Editor Julia Breen speaks to Dermot Roddy, of Renew Tees Valley, the company set up to attract environmental and biofules investors to the region. THE

  • Love-split man drove into car, court told

    A MAN who lost his temper when he discovered his wife was having an affair was jailed yesterday. Paul Carter drove to the hospital where his wife, Lorna, 39, worked, assaulted her and headbutted a male nurse who went to her aid. Carter, 31, spent the

  • Bikers praised for behaviour at big weekend

    BIKERS have been praised for their behaviour at the weekend's British Superbike meeting. About 30,000 people flocked to the two-day event at the Croft race track, near Darlington. Police from four forces saturated roads around the circuit in a move to

  • Shipyards fear loss of carrier contracts

    THOUSANDS of North-East jobs are in jeopardy after the Government backed away from its pledge to build Royal Navy ships in the region. Swan Hunter, which has yards on Teesside and Tyneside, was one of four shipbuilders earmarked by defence bosses for

  • Help and advice on the bus

    AGE Concern Durham County's information and advice bus is touring the area. Today, at 1.30pm, the bus will be at Scarth Hall, Staindrop, and tomorrow, at Fairfield (10am) and the workingmen's club (11am) in Evenwood, and Etherley Red Houses at 1.30pm.

  • Memories of a war will be kept forever

    Residents of County Durham are being encouraged to tell their tales from the Second World War for posterity. Bill Williamson, emeritus professor at Durham University, is to give two talks later this month to urge more people to visit their local library

  • Media students get top tips from puppet animator

    MEDIA students at a Darlington college "are go" after learning the ropes from an animator for the Thunderbirds. Alan Perry went from clapper loader to director on the cult 1960's super-marionette series including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet

  • Town mayor makes sure people have a say in what matters

    THE MAYOR of Sedgefield wants to give local organisations in the town more of a say after becoming involved in a community network. Councillor Maxine Robinson is the Community Empowerment Network representative for the Sedgefield area, along with Paul

  • Police release photo of car used in shooting

    A PHOTOGRAPH of a car used in a shooting has been released by police in Newcastle. A 40-year-old man was shot in the leg after he left the VG shop, in Thorntree Drive, near its junction to Whickham View at about 9.40pm on May 15. The attacker then got

  • Memories of a war to be kept forever

    Residents of County Durham are being encouraged to tell their stories of the Second World War. Bill Williamson, emeritus professor at Durham University, is to give three talks later this month to urge more people to visit their local libraries and add

  • Protests over plan to build village

    PLANS for a housing development in a rural village have provoked strong protests. Under the proposals, five houses with garages would be built on a field in Fylingthorpe, near Robin Hood's Bay, on the North York Moors. The houses would be partly brick

  • Clean up campaign makes good start

    A CAMPAIGN to clean Darlington's most dirty and littered areas has got off to an impressive start. Since the borough council's "100-day grot spot" initiative was launched last Wednesday, three-and-a-half tonnes of rubbish have been cleared from streets

  • Stormy meeting scheduled over plans for a wind farm

    A PUBLIC meeting is to be held tomorrow about plans to build an industrial wind farm on the County Durham border. Npower Renewables wants to erect eight 120-metre high wind turbines at Shotleyfield, near Shotley Bridge, to generate electricity to power

  • Centre is welcomed

    A GARDEN centre is to be built in Derwentside with a restaurant and children's play area. The development will take place at Lintzford Bridge Nursery, in Lintzford, between Rowlands Gill and Ebchester. Buildings are to be demolished and a single-storey

  • High-paid senior posts are defended by council

    A COUNCIL has defended plans to take on two senior managers for six months at a cost of £144,000. Hartlepool Borough Council said it had been forced to turn to a recruitment agency to fill the posts of head of education resources and assistant director

  • From Herriot to horror as scary movie is set in town

    A market town more famous for its connections with James Herriot is to become the setting of a grisly horror movie. A group of amateur film makers will film their production, called Slow Rot, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The film is about a man who finds

  • Murder probe team renew witness appeal

    DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a teenager have renewed an appeal for witnesses nearly 18 months after his death. Scott Pritchard was found with severe head injuries outside his home in Lindsay Close, Hendon, Sunderland. He was pronounced dead

  • Church bells may be put on prominent display in town

    THE bells from a Teesside church could soon be sited in a more prominent location as part of £117,500 refurbishment. The bells from the parish church of St Hilda's were relocated in the 1970s to the rear of All Saints Church in central Middlesbrough.

  • Elderly go online to follow demolition

    A WEBSITE has been launched to keep residents of a sheltered housing complex up-to-date on the home's redevelopment. The demolition of the homes in Sycamore Close, Bainbridge, Wensleydale, began at the end of last year. By early 2007, the old housing

  • Pair locked up after threatening to kill man in attack

    TWO men attacked a passenger when he stopped to remonstrate with them after they threw a bottle at his car. George Taylor suffered bruising and swelling to his face after he was kicked and punched in a street in Redcar, east Cleveland, in June last year

  • Excavation work is to uncover remains

    EXCAVATIONS are being carried out this week to uncover remains dating back to medieval times on a strip of land in Teesside. The week-long dig by Tees Archaeology began yesterday on Hartlepool's Headland. Three three-metre square areas will be excavated