TRAVELLERS parked in a Teesdale village for the past few weeks should be gone by the weekend, Durham County Council said yesterday. Up to 30 caravans have been parked beside the A67 at Winston, near Barnard Castle, since the Appleby Horse Fair, early
FLEET transport and haulage operators in County Durham found out how fuels made from vegetable oil can help cut their greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. Durham County Council held Durham Biodiesel Day at Beamish, the North of England
A PLAN to build 88 homes in Derwentside is expected to be approved on Thursday. Haslam Homes wants to develop land at Whitehouse Farm, in Whitehouse Avenue, Burnhope. It already has outline planning permission and is expected to get the full approval
THREE children should be compensated after their mother's boyfriend ran amok with a metal crowbar in their home. The youngsters, aged between three and 13, screamed when drunken John Champley smashed windows and said he would kill their mother. Champley
POLICE in Chester-le-Street are appealing for a young woman to come forward after a good Samaritan who went to her aid was attacked. The man, in his early 20s, suffered cuts to his forehead and needed hospital treatment following the incident at about
STUDENTS will brave their own version of ITV's Hell's Kitchen next week as part of a busy Technology College Week. The youngsters will be up against a time schedule, dodging colanders and soup ladles to prepare meals for hardworking staff and fellow pupils
A MAN who launched a "shocking" attack on another late-night reveller was yesterday jailed for eight months. David O'Hare was told by a judge that it was "something of a miracle" that his victim, Graham Watson, was not seriously injured. Closed-circuit
BLIND and partially sighted people have been experiencing life in the fast lane, thanks to a rally-driving optician. David Stockton, director of Specsavers, in Newport Road, Middlesbrough, was in the driving seat for the sponsored Blind Drive Challenge
POLICE are warning women to be extra vigilant after bag snatchers on bikes struck for the second time in 48 hours. A thug on a bicycle deliberately rode into a 42-year-old woman near the Focus store in the Coulby Manor Shopping Centre, Coulby Newham,
ARTWORK by youngsters from a Newton Aycliffe college goes on display next week at Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon. The Transporting Lives exhibition by Greenfield Community and Arts College pupils opens on Monday. The project examines
A CREDIT union that will provide savings and loans for people has been launched in Trimdon. People who live or work in the area can join the community-run co-operative, which is a non-profit organisation offering basic banking and financial services.
PLANS for a DIY store and garden centre have been withdrawn. Developers took the decision after planners said the Focus development in Catterick Road, Colburn, would threaten the viability of nearby Catterick Garrison and Richmond town centres. The proposed
A PARTNERSHIP set-up to tackle anti-social problems in the countryside has vowed to continue the fight. Police, Yorkshire Water, the National Trust and North York Moors National Park joined forces to reduce vandalism, littering and illegal camping around
A CAMPAIGN to halt a rise in incidents of summer drink driving has been launched by Hambleton Community Safety Partnership. Positive breath tests across North Yorkshire last summer increased by 17 per cent on the previous year. Nearly 450 people found
A PENNILESS teenager resurrected his criminal career and targeted the same store three times to raise money, magistrates were told. The court heard how Sam Cranfield, 18, paid his first shoplifting visit to Asda, in Harrogate, on June 18, when he tried
HIGH winds have delayed the British rowers' attempt to cross the North Atlantic, but they are still on course to set a world record. The crew of Naturally Best, which set out from Newfoundland, Canada, 37 days ago, were hoping to reach UK shores this
POLICE have released an e-fit of a man wanted in connection with a series of approaches to young girls. The move follows an appeal earlier this week for information about the man, who hung around the Oxford Road area of Hartlepool asking girls to go out
THE Durham Diocesan Board of Education has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to erect a 2.1-metre high boundary fence and gates at St John's Primary School, in Fenby Avenue.
THE human cost of Britain's worst mainland terrorist attack became clear last night as desperate friends and relatives searched London for missing loved ones. Police admitted the official death toll of 49 would inevitably rise as they continued the grim
Yorkshire's progress was interrupted at New Road yesterday by a defiant innings from Worcestershire's acting captain Gareth Batty, the Bradford-born all-rounder's brave knock of 57 helping take them to 345 all out. Batty, leading Worcestershire while
POLICE searching for a missing teenager were last night questioning drinkers in her home town. Concern is growing for the safety of 19-year-old Jenny Nicholl, of Richmond, North Yorkshire. She left her home on the evening of Thursday, June 30, and was
IT WAS back to the bad old days yesterday as Durham crumbled from 72 for no wicket to 167 all out against Lancashire, who replied with 112 for one at Riverside. Durham couldn't even blame the interruption to their previously buoyant championship campaign
DARLINGTON'S management duo David Hodgson and Mark Proctor will on Monday discuss crucial transfer moves which could shape next season's assault on League Two. With a list of targets drawn up and talks with several players at an advanced stage, Hodgson
NEWCASTLE'S midfield merry-go-round continued to gather pace last night after Darren Ambrose completed his move to Charlton and Emre Belozoglu inched nearer to St James' Park, writes Scott Wilson. Ambrose has signed a four-year deal at The Valley after
The Queen yesterday gave a defiant message to the terrorists behind the London bombings: "They will not change our way of life." She addressed staff at the Royal London Hospital, east London, after visiting survivors of the blasts in the centre of the
Tony Blair's statement after the G8 summit contrasted the hate of terrorists with the hope world leaders were offering to the poor of Africa. Here is what he said in full. "We speak today in the shadow of terrorism, but it will not obscure what we came
SCHOOLCHILDREN got a glimpse behind the scenes of the 60th birthday celebrations for one of the nation's best loved characters yesterday (FRI). Dozens of youngsters from Beaumont Hill School, in Darlington, paid a visit to the town's railway museum to
THE largest private employer in a job-starved area of County Durham is to cut 50 jobs, it was confirmed last night. The redundancies are at William Cook Defence, which makes tank tracks, in Stanhope, Weardale. Employees will be told who is affected next
A STUDIO that clinched a deal to produce miniature figures for Hollywood blockbuster Lord of the Rings is embarking on its latest venture. Tyneside-based company Crafty Corner and Ceramic Studio supplied hundreds of miniature figurines, based on characters
PARISH councillors are planning to take action to prevent a village green being ruined by "boy racers". Neasham Parish Council is concerned about youths driving their cars over the green, close to the River Tees. Council chairman John Weighell said: "
ORGANISERS of events to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War said the commemorations would continue this weekend despite the terrorist bombings. Today, the Queen will unveil a monument in London to the women of the Second World
A YOUNG Muslim woman telephoned the BBC yesterday to explain how she felt about the London bombings. She said she could not step out of her home and go to the shop because she wore traditional Islamic dress and was afraid of public reaction. "I'm too
ANOTHER BOTTLE (3.55) represents a tempting each-way investment at 20-1 or better for the £150,000 John Smith's Cup at York, writes Colin Woods. Put in this year's Racing North ten-to-follow list for precisely this type of wide-open contest, Another Bottle
TOMMY Miller's Sunderland career will get off to a flying start when he jets to Canada for the club's pre-season tour on Tuesday - provided a panic over planes doesn't leave him stranded at Amsterdam Airport. The Black Cats squad are due to fly to the
EVERY drop of moisture evaporating from the turf at York will enhance the prospects of Millfield (2.10) in the opening event on John Smith's Cup day. Like most of the horses owned by Transcend Bloodstock, the company set up by Crook-based trainer Howard
WORK is due to start on a major coastal protection scheme in a village troubled by flooding. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is outlining details of the £680,000 plans for the east Cleveland village of Skinningrove. Letters are being sent to residents
EXCITING middle distance runner Nick McCormick faces the biggest test of his blossoming athletics career in today's Norwich Union World and Commonwealth Trials and AAA Championships in Manchester. The 23-year-old Morpeth Harrier currently tops the UK
Durham County's Gary Pratt is set to make his Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside League debut for Annfield Plain today, but Burnopfield will have to get along without Neil Killeen, who has so far played just once. Pratt led Annfield Plain to victory
Durham Senior League: Having moved into top spot, Hetton Lyons will be looking to take maximum points from their game at Felling this afternoon and let those behind them worry about catching up. They face a side who have won just once and the Lyons will
ONE hundred years to the day since their church's first service was held, Saltburn Methodists celebrated their centenary a week back Wednesday. Then as now, very likely, the congregation talked before the service about their operations. It had been the
Woman's Editor Lindsay Jennings arrived at The Orange Tree, in North Yorkshire, feeling frazzled. But after a spot of belly dancing, reiki and meditation she was soon ready to face the world again. WE'RE standing in the attic room-studio at The Orange
AMID a week of extraordinary highs and desperate lows, a notable anniversary slipped by. On Tuesday, there were celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the first package holiday and the 164th anniversary of the first modern travel event. Both firsts
Harrogate-born actress Claire King went from being Emmerdale's superbitch Kim Tate to the equally unpleasant wing governor Karen Betts in Bad Girls. Now she's more the lady of the manor as she concentrates on her horses and her Labradors. Emmerdale's
NORTH tourist attractions are to feature in a BBC television series. Presenter John Craven and his crew spent four hours filming at the World of James Herriot visitor centre, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, last weekend. The footage will be used in the second
ZIMBABWE: CHRISTOPHER Wardell (HAS, July 1) grumbles about 59 Zimbabweans seeking asylum in Britain, and suggests they should be sent to South Africa. Perhaps he doesn't know that South Africa is already trying to cope with over two million refugees from
THE human cost of Britain's worst mainland terrorist attack became clear last night as desperate friends and relatives searched London for missing loved ones. Police admitted the official death toll of 49 would inevitably rise as they continued the grim
A MULTI-BILLION dollar aid package for Africa agreed by the G8 last night will "lift the shadow of terrorism", Tony Blair said. The Prime Minister contrasted the deal struck by leaders at Gleneagles with the aims of those behind the London bombings. After
A man who beat his neighbour with a stick during a row over loud music was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. Gary Archer was left with cuts to his head, a broken finger and a black eye after Dennis Stokoe dragged him from his home
WORK is due to start on a major coastal protection scheme in a village troubled by flooding. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is outlining details of the £680,000 plans for the east Cleveland village of Skinningrove. Letters are being sent to residents
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: In recent seasons Darlington RA have spent much of the time looking over their shoulders but they go into this afternoon's game with Richmondshire at Brinkburn Road comfortable in mid-table
A TOP athlete has urged east Durham residents to take part in the newly-launched Million Mile Challenge. Susan Deacon, who competes for Great Britain and Scotland in the 100m and 200m sprint, issued her call while visiting Murton's Glebe Centre. The runner
A MIDDLESBROUGH woman has suffered a fractured skull after a yob hurled a brick at her. The 40-year-old was struck as she walked along Bridge Street West in the town at about 8pm on Thursday. She managed to stagger to her home before being taken to the
A BROCHURE to help youngsters have a fun-packed summer has been published in east Durham. Easington District Council has produced the School's Out pamphlet, which has been designed to let young people know about activities in the area. The eight-page
A PRIMARY school is ending term on a sporting high note after winning cricketing and footballing trophies. Framwellgate Moor Primary School had entered four teams in the Durham Kwik Cricket District Annual Shield competition. With both its first and second
DURHAM City residents have lost their fight to stop the introduction of pay-and-display parking in the road outside their home. Durham County Council's highways committee has approved the extension of parking controls, which have been in place in most
Cleveland Police are studying video footage showing a car driver tipping waste at the rear of shops in Broughton Avenue, Easterside, Middlesbrough. Enhancing the image, to pick out the registration plate will mean the motorist will be called in for questioning
A FIRM of furniture makers flooded out in last month's torrential rains has been forced to borrow back work for a display at the Great Yorkshire Show. Machines and furniture at Wren Cabinet Makers, in Thirlby, were damaged in the flash floods that hit
A SWIMMING pool rescued from closure by volunteers was officially opened yesterday. Wolsingham Community Swimming Pool was closed in March last year after Wear Valley District Council withdrew a £20,000 annual subsidy. But volunteers formed Wolsingham
YOUNGSTERS will travel through time tonight and step into the shoes of survivors of the Second World War. Pupils and staff at Broom Cottages Primary School, in Ferryhill, will relive the 1940s with music and drama to commemorate the 60th anniversary of
MOTORISTS are being urged to drive carefully in Fishburn village this morning as it hosts a traditional miners' parade. Fishburn Band will march through the village, from Fishburn Terrace to the Workingmen's Club, at about 8.15am before joining Durham
A PRIVATE row that has split a parish council went public yesterday when two members openly challenged their chairman. Stanhope Parish councillors Richard Mews and Angela Bolam have called an extraordinary meeting next week at which they will propose
A BOXING club has rewarded its most successful and promising stars. Two hundred sponsors and supporters of Spennymoor Boxing Academy packed a marquee at Shafto's Hall, Whitworth Hall, for the club's annual presentation night. The event gave the club a
RESIDENTS have been assured a town centre pub's extended licence will not mean the venue becomes a nightclub. The Wagon and Horses, in Bedale, has got permission to open from 10am to midnight every day. Neighbours objected, fearing more noise and an increase
IMPROVEMENTS will be made after a disabled voter complained he could not access a polling station. The man, who has not been named, was unable to get into a polling station at West Tanfield, near Masham. Hambleton District Council, which oversees elections
FIVE disabled artists will have their work displayed in an exhibition next week. The Disability Action in Richmondshire exhibition will be held at Richmond Town Hall until next Monday. On display will be photographs, paintings, tapestry, lace work and
COMMUNITY leaders have welcomed plans to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists in a North Yorkshire town. A traffic management strategy for Bedale will be discussed by district councillors on Friday. Improvements are being proposed amid
A GARDEN wall described as vertical crazy paving must be taken down. A retrospective planning application for the wall at Parkshill Court, Melsonby, near Richmond, was rejected and enforcement action will be taken. Senior planning officer Peter Featherstone
A TRANSPORT museum has been awarded a £500,000 grant for its restoration. The Monkwearmouth Station Museum, in Sunderland, will receive the money from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The museum is part of the region's industrial and transport heritage
RESIDENTS are being recruited to make a clean sweep of their neighbourhood. Northumbria in Bloom judges are visiting Nunthorpe on Tuesday, and community leaders want them to see the area at its best. A last-minute litter pick takes place today. Middlesbrough
NEARLY £2.5m is being sought to restore a town hall. The money would be used to refurbish Thornaby Town Hall, which would include building 25 business units for new enterprises there. The cost of the work is estimated to be about £2.45m and funding is
MORE than three-quarters of rubbish destined for refuse sites and incinerators could be recycled, according to a recent survey by council workers. Stockton Council's Care For Your Area team examined 100 bin bags left out for collection. The survey showed
A coroner issued a stark warning over the dangers of drugs use after hearing how a promising young footballer died after becoming addicted to heroin. John Courtney, 21, who was once the target of Newcastle United scouts, was found slumped in his uncle's
A TEESSIDE woman was strangled by her lover while her six-year-old daughter was in the next room. Rodney Hollands wrapped Sharon Selway, 40, who he strangled in her nightclothes, in a gold-coloured blanket and put a cushion on her face, so six-year-old
THE long-awaited Darzi plan for hospital services has been praised by health campaigners. The Save Our Hospital group, in Hartlepool, feared that proposals to reshape health services could result in the loss of their hospital. But yesterday, leading London
A MINERS' leader has launched a stinging attack on Tony Blair on the eve of the Miners' Gala. Writing in the programme for today's 121st gala, Durham NUM secretary David Hopper said: "The main concern on the doorsteps was the illegal war in Iraq and the
A MULTI-BILLION dollar aid package for Africa agreed by the G8 last night will "lift the shadow of terrorism", Tony Blair said. The Prime Minister contrasted the deal struck by leaders at Gleneagles with the aims of those behind the London bombings. After
THE region's newest lord was King of the Castle yesterday with a simple wooden bench for a throne. Recently ennobled Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland, former MP Derek Foster, was presented with a garden seat by the constituency supporters he worked with
Creative writing classes are being held every week at Darlington Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace. The classes run every Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm and all are welcome. The full course costs £32 and concessions are available. Visit the centre to find out more
A thief who stole his grandparents' life savings was spared jail after a judge heeded a plea for mercy made by his grandmother before she died. Kevin Anthony Joyce took a purse containing £3,000 from under a mattress at the home of his elderly grandparents
A CHURCH is appealing for help in compiling a book of remembrance for parishioners killed in conflict. St Matthew and St Luke's Church, in Brinkburn Road, Darlington, is looking for relatives, friends or neighbours of war heroes to get in touch. Beryl
STEWART Downing last night ended weeks of speculation by agreeing a new five-year contract with Middlesbrough. Just seven days after expressing his "disappointment" at the club's initial offer of a new deal, Downing's agent, Ian Elliott, confirmed the
MICKY Nelson last night ended months of uncertainty when he signed a new deal to stay at Hartlepool United. The commanding central defender, who moved to Pool for £70,000 from Bury two years ago, ended the doubts surrounding his future by putting pen
THE number of children at a North-East nursery affected by a food bug has risen to nine, health officials confirmed. An investigation was launched last month after four regular attenders at Bishop Auckland College Nursery, County Durham, became ill. Tests
A SECOND World War veteran is trying to trace former members of his battalion who served with him guarding Japanese prisoners of war. Bernard Seyburn was in the 2nd battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and was stationed in South-East Asia when
THE vehicles transporting world leaders around this week's G8 summit at Gleneagles were powered with biodiesel from the region. The biodiesel, supplied by Petroplus, which has its UK headquarters on Teesside, is produced by Argent Energy from tallow and
A PACKAGING operation in County Durham is being sold off as part of a multi-million pound deal. US-based Pactiv Corporation has sold its Stanley operations to private equity firm AEA Investors. The number of staff working at the Stanley site has also
A PARTY has been organised for former staff and friends of a school which will close this year. Rise Carr Primary School, in Darlington, will close this summer despite a campaign by parents to save it. The school is preparing to close in style with a
THE refurbishment of a Darlington leisure centre will now cost about £500,000 more than the original estimate. On Tuesday, the town council's cabinet members will be asked to approve the works to the Dolphin Centre after being told the original estimate
A REMORSEFUL robber who handed back some of the cash he stole and apologised to a postmistress for terrifying her has been jailed for four years. Unemployed painter and decorator John Shields, 23, waved a kitchen knife at Wendy Reid and demanded: "Get
Q Like a reader you recently answered, I too think I am being short-changed on my Long Term Incapacity Benefit. My wife is 63 and her only income is a State Pension of £31.96 a week. Should I be receiving extra on my Incapacity Benefit for her? A Yes.
A coroner issued a stark warning over the dangers of drugs use after hearing how a promising young footballer died after becoming addicted to heroin. John Courtney, 21, who was once the target of Newcastle United scouts, was found slumped in his uncle's
A MAN with a personality disorder who set fire to his home in a "cack-handed" attempt at suicide has been spared jail. Craig McConville was told that a two-year community rehabilitation order would be more useful than prison to both him and the community
FORMER servicemen will join civic and church figures from across the region tomorrow to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. They will gather at Durham Cathedral for an evensong service, and the cathedral's dean and chapter is
A a phone-a-friend on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Paul Ross was useless, but that hasn't stopped him stepping into Chris Tarrant's shoes on the stage, he tells Steve Pratt. PAUL Ross has presented several TV game shows but admits he lost his nerve
Readers Durham County League: Esh Winning go into the double programme boasting the only unbeaten record. They have won two games more than any other side while no team has lost less than four matches. The statistics prove why Esh lead the table and they
THOUSANDS of people from accross the North-East will be in County Durham this weekend to take part in an eight-mile walk through some of the region's most spectacular countryside. About 4,000 people are expected to arrive in the Weardale town of Wolsingham
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Norton give youth a chance when three 16-year-olds line up against Blaydon this morning. Opener John Watson, leg-spinner Chris Williamson and medium pacer Chris Atkinson all play , but teenager Anthony
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: In recent seasons Darlington RA have spent much of the time looking over their shoulders but they go into this afternoon's game with Richmondshire at Brinkburn Road comfortable in mid-table
Durham Coast League: Murton field their strongest line-up as they attempt to extend an unbeaten record to 14 games when they meet neighbours Easington. The reigning champions have won six and drawn seven of their fixtures and enjoy a narrow lead over
AN internationally renowned choir will perform a concert by candlelight during Harrogate International Festival. The 40th festival, from Thursday, July 21, to Friday, August 5, will feature the 21 members of the Tenebrae Choir at St Wilfrid's Church,
A WEEK ago last Thursday my wife and I were on a Piccadilly Line underground train between King's Cross and Russell Square feeling decidedly uncomfortable about the commuter crush in the run-up to 9am. But, up to then, the biggest disaster was news of
WARREN Hughes has backed Kimi Raikkonen to continue his pursuit of championship leader Fernando Alonso with victory in this weekend's British Grand Prix. Hughes, a former Williams F1 team test driver, has watched with interest as the battle between McLaren
STEWART Downing last night ended weeks of speculation by agreeing a new five-year contract with Middlesbrough. Just seven days after expressing his "disappointment" at the club's initial offer of a new deal, Downing's agent, Ian Elliott, confirmed the
THE largest private employer in a job-starved area of County Durham is to cut 50 jobs, it was confirmed last night. The redundancies are at William Cook Defence, which makes tank tracks, in Stanhope, Weardale. Employees will be told who is affected next
Emmerdale's Kim Tate would be a clear winner if TV bosses ever think of staging a battle of the soap bitches. Those glossy American sharp-tongued divas with names like Alexis are all mascara and shoulder pads. Beneath her sleek blonde exterior, Kim is
WE'RE standing in the attic room-studio at The Orange Tree guesthouse, learning about the art of self-massage. Sue Hine, a complementary therapist and life coach from Pickering, is leading the way, showing us how to rub our thighs, slap our bums and massage
