Archive

  • Sharon Griffiths Meets... Student counsellor Genevieve Kerr

    When students put out a distress signal, or just need a bit of day to day help and advice, college counsellors are often their first port of call. THE rows of leaflets in the Student Centre are a good clue. Surviving Away From Home, Healthy Eating on

  • Inquest told of surgeon's doubt over instruments

    A SENIOR surgeon has said that controversial disposable instruments played an important role in a young woman's unexpected death. Frank Martin, consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon, told a Middlesbrough inquest into the death of 33-year-old Elaine

  • PR support deal

    Newcastle PR consultancy Mitchell Halton Watson has been appointed to provide public relations support to Harlands accountants and independent financial advisors. Harlands, which employs more than 40 staff, recently announced it had expanded the number

  • Good morning Catterick Garrison

    Catterick's Garrison Radio, in North Yorkshire, has a new presenter for its service aimed at soldiers and families. Former Heartland FM and Perth FM host HAL STEWART has taken over the breakfast show at a time when the Army service is awaiting a decision

  • Phil Nelson

    Mitsumi UK, of Jarrow, North Tyneside, has appointed PHIL NELSON as sales manager. The 40-year-old, from Gosforth, joins the electronics specialist, which is part of the worldwide Mitsumi group, with 25 years' experience in the industry. He entered the

  • Would-be burglar makes his getaway along river in canoe

    LIKE a scene from a James Bond movie, a would-be burglar made his getaway using a canoe along a river chased by a helicopter. A shocked householder living near the River Tees rang police after the man tried to break into his property, and officers drafted

  • Bolstering Quakers' spirits

    MARK PROCTOR admits Darlington's recent capitulation has drained morale, but insists a win over Boston United tonight will provide the perfect lift Proctor and manager David Hodgson took charge of training yesterday where, not only was the focus on tactics

  • Internet gave man a taste for porn

    A MAN used skills gained on a college computer course to download pornographic images from the Internet, a court heard. James William Graham, who was classed as vulnerable and needing social services assistance, had an interest in computers and completed

  • Report suggests community role for prison

    A new role is being recommended for a North-East jail which is difficult to run effectively, because of confusion over its precise function. That's at the centre of a report on Stockton's Holme House Prison by Anne Owers, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

  • Family fears Christmas in a caravan

    A FAMILY fear they could be forced to spend Christmas in a caravan because of a lack of water at their new home. The Jobling family is building the house at Lockton Cottage, in Welbury, near Northallerton, after they were given planning permission to

  • Mungo rehomed after years of unnecessary suffering in stables

    A HORSE found with hugely overgrown hooves in a stable 5ft deep with manure has been rehomed. Bay stallion Mungo was discovered by RSPCA inspector Justin Le Masurier in a stable at Greenbury Farm, South Cowton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire in June

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Giving peace a chance

    AFTER so many years of hatred and division, the decommissioning of the IRA's weapons was never going to satisfy everyone. How can anyone really be sure that all the guns, mortars and explosives have really been put out of use for good? Prime Minister

  • Wolseley overcomes slowdown

    PLUMBING Center chain Wolseley overcame tough trading conditions with an 11 per cent rise in profits and a forecast of more growth. The improvement for the UK business, which operates from 1,570 outlets, helped the worldwide group to post profits slightly

  • Drunken teen rapes mother

    Police today warned of the dangers of binge drinking after a teenager was convicted of carrying out an horrific rape after consuming a litre and a half of vodka. Sean Thomas Regan, 16, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one charge of making threats

  • Downing and Boyd get awards

    INJURED duo Stewart Downing and Adam Boyd last night received the perfect pick-me-up with double honours at The Prince's Trust North-East Footballer of the Year awards. Downing, sidelined with a knee injury watched his side succumb to Sunderland in Sunday's

  • Making a burger that's good for you

    Scientists in the North-East claim they have found a way to make junk food that's good for you. The team says adding an extract from an exotic type of seaweed to cakes or fatty burgers could boost the fibre content - helping to fight against obesity,

  • Eating Owt column

    RE. Hash. How may an eating place of that name be defined, explained or written about without, shall we say, making a right pig's ear of it? It's a multi-purpose word, ranging from a short form of hashish to meat chopped into small pieces for cooking.

  • 'IRA has given up arms'

    The IRA's entire arsenal of weapons has been put beyond use, the head of the international decommissioning commission confirmed yesterday. General John de Chastelain said "very large quantities of arms, which we believe include all the arms in the IRA's

  • Mike Crowther

    * The Institute of Customer Service (ICS) has appointed MIKE CROWTHER as membership director for its North region. Mr Crowther was previously service excellence programme manager for Halifax/Bank of Scotland (HBoS). The ICS has more than 4,000 institutional

  • Viv Ashby

    Leadership organisation Common Purpose has appointed a programme director for its Wear region. VIV ASHBY succeeds Paul Brannen, who has joined lender HSBC. Ms Ashby is a graduate of the Tees common purpose course in 2000 and Leeds and South Yorkshire

  • Bullock confident Pool's fortunes about to change

    LEE Bullock has called on his team-mates to stand tall in the face of adversity - because the rewards will come. Hartlepool United meet Rotherham at Victoria Park tonight, the 11th game of a season which hasn't started yet for Martin Scott's side. Pool

  • We deserved win - Nosworthy

    NYRON Nosworthy believes Sunderland were worthy winners against North-East rivals Middlesbrough at the weekend. When Rotherham referee Howard Webb blew for full-time at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday it signalled the end of a barren Black Cats' top flight

  • Mother contracts cancer after girl's treatment

    A MOTHER who nursed her girl through leukaemia is being treated for breast cancer. Linda Webster, 45, has launched a fundraising campaign after she was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago. The news came only three years after her daughter, Rebecca

  • The day our sailor did his duty

    It is the most famous sea battle in British history and now, for the first time the full story of the Battle of Trafalgar has been told through the words of those who took part. Nick Morrison looks at one of the eyewitness accounts. IT was a beautiful

  • Tenants shown housing options

    THOUSANDS of council tenants are to see details of plans about the possible handover of their homes to a company. Labour-run Derwentside District Council is the latest authority to consider transferring ownership or control of its housing stock. The council

  • Carnival appeal

    ORGANISERS of the Crook town annual carnival are hoping to build on the success of this year's event with a call for more volunteers. The carnival committee meets on Wednesday, October 19, at 7pm, at Crook Town Cricket Club. The date has already been

  • Barclays banks on N-E call centre

    BANKING group Barclays is creating more than 200 jobs at a contact centre in the region. Barclays, which already employs 1,250 workers at Sunderland's Doxford International business park, is to create another 200 part-time and 36 full-time jobs. Business

  • Bikers quick to aid pet charity

    BIKERS showed their softer side on Sunday - by bringing a special delivery to an animal charity. About 30 members of the Hartlepool Misfits club, which has undertaken all manner of charity work in recent years, descended on the Dogs Trust, at Sadberge

  • Health group launches its annual report

    A HEALTH organisation will launch its annual report at a public meeting in Darlington this week. County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust is holding its annual meeting on Thursday at the town's football stadium, in Neasham Road. This year's

  • Joining forces to prevent trouble

    MORE than 30 pubs and clubs are joining forces to reduce ant-social behaviour. The Ferryhill and District Pub Watch scheme will co-ordinate measures to tackle crime and disorder and create a safer environment. Most licensed premises in Ferryhill, Chilton

  • Mother contracts cancer after girl's treatment

    A MOTHER who nursed her girl through leukaemia is being treated for breast cancer. Linda Webster, 45, has launched a fundraising campaign after she was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago. The news came only three years after her daughter, Rebecca

  • 40th celebration

    ABBEY Infants' School, in Darlington, is preparing to celebrate a milestone this week. The school, in Cleveland Terrace, marks its 40th anniversary on Thursday with a series of activities. Children will dress in 1960s clothes and learn more about the

  • Appeal for witnesses

    A WOMAN was robbed and broke her hand in a dispute outside a village pub. The incident happened close to the Lord Nelson pub in Spa Road, Gainford, shortly after midnight on Friday. The 44-year-old woman, who lives locally, had left the pub with members

  • Smile - you are on our speed camera

    PUPILS and teachers are asking motorists to slow down and drive carefully near their village school. Kirk Merrington Primary School is the first in County Durham to use a portable speed board to flash up a warning to motorists if they break the 30mph

  • Parishioners called on

    PARISHIONERS are being asked to dig deep to boost a fundraising campaign aiming to restore a Darlington church. More than £325,000 has been raised in the past 12 years to repair and maintain St James the Great Church, in the Albert Hill area. Three years

  • The return of Batman

    BATMAN and the Magic Roundabout are included in a programme of recently released films being shown in Bishop Auckland Town Hall from next month. A season of monthly screenings opens on Wednesday, October 5 with Ladies in Lavender, starring Judi Dench

  • Dalida lines up a double

    PATRICK HASLAM and Tony McCoy regularly team up to deadly effect and there seems no reason why they can't continue on their winning ways at Sedgefield this afternoon. Last week the Middleham handler and reigning champion jockey got together at Perth and

  • 27/09/05

    CYCLISTS' RIGHTS: AS a keen cyclist, I welcome the cross-party support for proposals, contained in Part 6 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, to end the questionable legal practice which has allowed motorised users to claim rights to

  • Parents make a start on a sure design

    PARENTS are helping shape designs for new community activities in their neighbourhoods. The first artist's impression of the new SureStart centres in Shildon and Newton Aycliffe reveal what the buildings will look like and the services that will be on

  • Langdon Beck Show winners

    THE Langdon Beck Show is now a firm fixture on the rural calendar after an absence of more than 100 years. Hundreds of people flocked to a tiny field at Forest-in-Teesdale, County Durham, at the weekend to support the event. The show, which attracted

  • Spreading the word

    LANGUAGES from across the continent were top of the timetable yesterday at one Darlington school as they played their part in European Languages Day. Hummersknott Language College hosted an event - also attended by pupils from other schools and colleges

  • Planning ahead to produce a wealth of entrepreneurs

    ABOUT 100 children from schools across Durham took the first step towards becoming the business magnates of the future yesterday at the launch of a competition. Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson was at The Gala Theatre to kick off the Future

  • Annual report launched

    A HEALTH organisation will launch its annual report at a public meeting in Darlington this week. County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust will hold its annual meeting on Thursday at the town's football stadium. This year's report incorporates

  • Competition encourages more language learning

    COUNTY Durham youngsters are being challenged to produce a design that promotes a positive attitude to cultural differences. The county council wants an emblem that includes the phrase Many Nations, One World to put on 12,000 bookmarks and 500 posters

  • Programmer Scott proves to be a Clear Digital Solution

    MIDDLESBROUGH company Clear Digital Solutions has expanded its customer support team with the appointment of SCOTT VIEIRA. The 26-year-old programmer, joins the information technology company as a general support engineer. "These are exciting times at

  • Judge warns yobs to behave or be jailed

    GANGS of drunken teenagers who hang around streets and intimidate the public were yesterday given a stark warning by one of the region's most senior judges. The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, locked up five friends who were part of a rioting

  • Solano out to renew partnership

    WHEN Nolberto Solano sealed a deadline day return to Newcastle United one of the first people to welcome him back was Kieron Dyer. And the pair have seen an awful lot of each other since the Peruvian made the switch from Aston Villa, albeit not in the

  • Neil Matthews

    Deloitte's Newcastle office has strengthened its reorganisation services (RS) department with the appointment of director NEIL MATTHEWS. Mr Matthews leads a team of six which restructure businesses in difficulty. That includes formal insolvency work,

  • 450 jobs at £30m centre for Asda

    SUPERMARKET group Asda is building a £30m import centre at Teesport that will create up to 450 jobs. The deal will "significantly" strengthen Teesport's case for a £300m expansion. The port near Middlesbrough - part of PD Ports plc - has been lobbying

  • David Wilson

    Smart and Cook has appointed former Willett and Ross director DAVID WILSON. Mr Wilson is branch manager at Smart and Cook's Stockton office. He has more than 19 years' experience in the commercial insurance market, having worked since leaving school for

  • Rural payphones could be spared from closure

    PHONE bosses say 28 payphones previously planned for closure could now be saved. However, concerns have been raised that the phoneboxes in the Harrogate district will become cashless. BT is considering converting the phones to card-only machines to save

  • Sir Bobby offers encouraging advice

    FORMER Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson hailed the dedication of some of the world's greatest sportsmen as an example to the children about to embark on the Future Business Magnates challenge. Sir Bobby urged his audience to learn from the self-belief

  • School competes to win specialist status

    PUPILS and staff at a Teesside school are raising funds for a bid to become a humanities specialist col-lege. A race night is being held at the Billingham Synthonia Club tomorrow by members of The Norton School in Stockton. Everyone is welcome. Tickets

  • Car arson attacks cut through clampdown

    ARSON attacks on cars in Hartlepool have plummeted as a result of a clampdown on abandoned and nuisance vehicles across the town. Hartlepool Borough Council's neighbourhood action team, which has a wide-ranging clean-up brief, carries out regular operations

  • Bikers are quick to aid pet charity

    BIKERS showed their softer side on Sunday - by bringing a special delivery to an animal charity. About 30 members of the Hartlepool Misfits club, which has undertaken all manner of charity work in recent years, descended on the Dogs Trust, at Sadberge

  • Family fears Christmas in a caravan after water supply wait

    A FAMILY fear they could be forced to spend Christmas in a caravan because of a lack of water at their new home. The Jobling family is building the house at Lockton Cottage, in Welbury, near Northallerton, after they were given planning permission to

  • Homeowner submits plans for aircraft hangar

    A businessman wants to build an aircraft hangar beside his home in a peaceful village. Ashley Renham, managing director of a plastics factory, has applied for planning consent to put up the structure for his helicopter at Lartington, near Barnard Castle

  • Crafts and cultures are represented by children

    YOUNGSTERS have produced an art display representing and promoting the different cultures in their community. Pupils from Bowesfield and St Cuthbert's primary schools, in Stockton, completed an exhibition of arts from around the world to showcase the

  • Organisers ready for town's arts festival

    FINAL preparations are under way for a town's annual arts festival. Zest Fest, which will start tomorrow in Northallerton, is based around the town's Hambleton Forum and is designed to celebrate local talent. Tomorrow, amateur organisations including

  • On TV last night...

    Waking The Dead (BBC1) THIS doesn't make any sense to me," snarled Trevor Eve's Det Supt Peter Boyd as another unfathomable "cold case" inquiry was re-opened. Nothing new there, then. Anyone who can actually follow what's happening in this series is probably

  • Julian Pearson

    SHOWER manufacturer Roman, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has made two appointments. JULIAN PEARSON, who has been commercial manager for more than a year has been promoted to commercial director. MIKE SPINK has been transport and distribution

  • Day the steam age was born

    MOST of us have heard of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), but was it really that important? Well, yes it was. The 26-mile line, which connected Stockton, Darlington and several collieries near Shildon, County Durham, paved the way for modern

  • North-East minister backs city scheme

    NORTH-EAST people were "batty" if they believed a booming Newcastle would suck prosperity out of their communities, a Government minister said yesterday. David Miliband, the Communities Minister, said big cities could act as locomotives that could drive

  • Dalida lines up a double

    PATRICK HASLAM and Tony McCoy regularly team up to deadly effect and there seems no reason why they can't continue on their winning ways at Sedgefield this afternoon. Last week the Middleham handler and reigning champion jockey got together at Perth and

  • Seve Trophy may return in 2007

    HOPES are high that European golfing authorities may bring the prestigious Seve Trophy back to the North-East. Following the successful staging of the 2005 event at The Wynyard Club there is support for European golf's top team matchplay event finding

  • Bessie joins the garage team

    FORMER rescue dog Bessie has proved such a hit at a North-East car dealership that she has been made an honorary member of staff. The four-year-old has become a regular feature at the Sherwoods garage, in Chesnut Street, Darlington, since first appearing

  • Couple retire after years of caring for soldiers

    A COUPLE who have provided a friendly face and a shoulder to cry on for thousands of young soldiers are to retire. Salvation Army workers Syd and Elsie Jones have become almost surrogate parents to recruits at the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick

  • Surveying options on your doorstep

    ASPIRING chartered surveyors in the region will have careers advice on their doorstep from this week when the RICS opens its first office at Northumbria University. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) will open for business from Thursday

  • Tim Lamb

    TIM LAMB has been appointed general manager of Eldon Square Shopping Centre, in Newcastle. The 44-year-old joined Capital Shopping Centres in May as operations manager. His promotion comes at the start of a £170m redevelopment programme for Eldon Square

  • Appeal bid by woman jailed while pregnant

    A WOMAN who gave birth to a stillborn baby only hours after being jailed for assault must wait to hear if she can appeal. Katrina Robinson, 20, is hoping her request to appeal her 15-month sentence will be allowed by the Court of Appeal. She was jailed

  • Rushworth anchors Harriers' convincing win

    DOUBLE British Masters cross country champion Brian Rushworth dropped back into the senior men's ranks to help Sunderland Harriers resume their domination of the region's opening cross country meeting of the season at Farringdon. The Wearsiders had been

  • Rhine's own cowboy rounded up

    SELF-STYLED cowboy John Thomas Hedley was safely back home last night after vanishing for eight days during a coach trip to Germany. The 70-year-old was last seen wearing a stetson, brown suede jeans, a tan waistcoat and a silver sheriff's badge as he

  • Minister calls for action to bridge 'huge' skills gap

    A GOVERNMENT minister last night admitted the skills gap in the North-East was "huge". The ministers responsible for skills and enterprise were taking part in a video conference with North-East businesses on key issues facing the region. Skills Minister

  • Brown's ready - but no early exit date for Blair

    TONY BLAIR will today vow to be more New Labour than ever before in shaking up schools, hospitals and the economy - while making clear he will not quit No10 early. The Prime Minister will use his speech to the Labour Party conference in Brighton to set

  • Resort's casino almost complete

    Work on building a £6 million casino on the site of Scarborough's former Royal Opera House is nearing completition. The complex, which has been built by seafront amusement arcade tycoon Nikolas Shaw is due to open late next month. The venture will provide

  • Planning ahead to produce a wealth of entrepreneurs

    ABOUT 100 children from schools across Durham took the first step towards becoming the business magnates of the future yesterday at the launch of a competition. Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson was at The Gala Theatre to kick off the Future

  • Teenagers jailed as judge gets tough

    GANGS of drunken teenagers who hang around streets and intimidate the public were yesterday given a stark warning by one of the region's most senior judges. The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, locked up five friends who were part of a rioting

  • Woman suffers epileptic fit after being punched by yob

    A WOMAN suffered an epileptic fit after she was punched in the street. Samalieshe Lavida, 35, and her 31-year-old fiance, Anthony Kemp, were surrounded by a gang of 15 youths, who hurled insults at the pair for 15 minutes. One youth punched Miss Lavida

  • Lisa Grehan

    LISA GREHAN has been appointed marketing co-ordinator for Mercedes van and truck dealer Bell Truck Sales. The 25-year-old will be responsible for the company's four depots in Newcastle, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, Spennymoor, in County Durham, and

  • Davies the difference claims angry Boateng

    GEORGE Boateng pointed the finger at Middlesbrough's profligacy in front of goal and the inspired heroics of Sunderland goalkeeper Kelvin Davis as the reasons behind Sunday's derby day defeat. Boro created several golden opportunities in the Tees-Wear

  • Tanfield hopes to open up Far East

    THE Tanfield Group's latest acquisition has secured an order that could open up the Far East market. Norquip, a subsidiary of the Tanfield Group, has won a contract to supply four catering vehicles to Cathay Pacific Airways at Hong Kong International

  • Larger-than-life characters urging children to walk to school

    AN array of strange characters are hoping to give parents paws for thought - while encouraging youngsters to walk to school. Arnie the Armadillo and his friends Spike the Hedgehog, Safety Squirrel, Pedestrian Pete, and Robbie the Amazing Kid with The

  • Construction consultancy opens office

    CONSTRUCTION consultancy company AA Projects has opened an office in the North-East. The company already had offices in Manchester and Liverpool, and has now opened another in Darlington. AA Projects is already involved in £120m of construction in the

  • Chapel to close in dale that was hotbed for Methodism

    ANOTHER chapel in a North-East dale, once a hotbed for Methodism, will close in the next month. After months of speculation, Weardale Methodist Circuit, in County Durham, has agreed to the closure of the 180-year-old chapel at Wearhead, at the top of

  • Keep your cycles safe, warn police

    POLICE are urging pedal cyclists to keep a close eye on their bikes following a recent spate of thefts. In the past three weeks there have been 21 reported thefts of bicycles in the Easington district area, many taking place after they were left unattended

  • Surprise birthday party for TV's Dec

    GEORDIE television fav-ourite Declan Donnelly celebrated his 30th birthday with a surprise party at a tiny top-floor Chinese restaurant in a country village. Dec partied until the small hours with his best friend Ant McPartlin, 29, at the Princess Garden

  • City comes out top again in survey

    THE latest nationwide survey has once again found Newcastle to be the UK's favourite English city break destination. Organisers of the Guard-ian/Observer Travel Awards say they remain the best measure of attitudes to the travel industry because they reflect

  • Prison for man who swapped barcodes

    A barcode fraudster who bought top-of-the-range televisions for as little as £24 was jailed for nine months yesterday. Cash-and-carry card holder John Morris, 29, of Castlereagh Street, Sunderland, swapped product barcodes to steal thousands of pounds

  • Attacked girl afraid to leave her home

    A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl is afraid to leave her home after two teenage yobs robbed her of her mobile phone. Kayleigh Storey was punched in the mouth by the pair, who told her they would look for her if she reported the robbery to anyone. Her mobile - a Christmas

  • New meeting for volunteers

    A COMMUNITY group has rescheduled its annual meeting. Darlington CVS and Volunteers Bureau has moved the meeting to Wednesday, October 19, because it needs to include local area agreements in the agenda. It will be held in St Augustine's Parish Centre

  • Rural changes sought

    FOUR schemes have been drawn up in villages in a rural area to convert redundant farm buildings into homes. The applications have all been submitted to Teesdale District Council. One involves old agriculture buildings at Stotley Grange, Middleton-in-Teesdale

  • Council launches competition to promote a cultural county

    COUNTY youngsters are being challenged to produce a design that promotes a positive attitude to cultural differences. The county council wants an emblem that includes the phrase Many Nations, One World to put on 12,000 bookmarks and 500 posters that will

  • 'Don't lose right to vote,' residents told

    Residents in Hartlepool are being urged to make sure their names are on the borough's Register of Electors to ensure they can vote in local and national elections. Under national law, residents must apply each year to be included on the register. Full

  • School celebrates its inspection report

    A DURHAM school is celebrating after inspectors praised the quality of the education and teaching it provides. The team that ran the rule over Newton Hall Infants School found "very good leadership'' and a strong sense of teamwork. Standards have remained

  • Park friends celebrate success

    ORGANISERS of a family day in a developing Darlington park have hailed the event a success. The fun day, in North Park, was the first event since a regeneration project on the run-down park began several months ago. The Friends of North Park group, which

  • More young children will get free books to promote reading

    YOUNG children are to be given free books to encourage them to enjoy reading. The Bookstart scheme, in Darlington, is being extended to allow more children to enjoy packs of free books. Until now, the initiative has only been open to babies aged seven

  • Thief escapes with cash in robbery at busy estate shop

    A CORNER shop has offered a reward for help in catching a thief who dodged closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The theft happened at Bells Stores, in Red Hall, Darlington, on Saturday evening, during one of the store's busiest times of the week.

  • Planning ahead to produce a wealth of entrepreneurs

    ABOUT 100 children from schools across Durham took the first step towards becoming the business magnates of the future yesterday at the launch of a competition. Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson was at The Gala Theatre to kick off the Future

  • Christopher Bennett

    Patterson Motor Group has appointed CHRISTOPHER BENNETT as sales executive on its Seat sales team. The 24-year-old comes from a sales background and previously worked for British Airways and BT. He studied IT at Sunderland University before moving into

  • Duncan O'Neil, Andrew McCarron, Alex Jones

    Intermedia Web Development has added three members of staff to the team at its Darlington headquarters. DUNCAN O'NEIL has been appointed as senior web developer, ANDREW McCARRON is development studio manager and ALEX JONES becomes a junior web designer

  • Morale dented, Quakers look to get back on track

    MARK PROCTOR admits Darlington's recent capitulation has drained morale, but insists a win over Boston United tonight will provide the perfect lift. Proctor and manager David Hodgson took charge of training yesterday where not only was the focus on tactics

  • Common assault on pregnant girlfriend

    A MAN who pressed his foot on his pregnant girlfriend's stomach and banged her head against a wall has walked free from court. Anthony Leech, 25, was given a 12-month conditional discharge after he admitted common assault. Leech, of Warren Street, Middlesbrough

  • Director seizes the initiative

    THE NewcastleGateshead Initiative has appointed Sue Crawley as its commercial director, it was announced last night. Ms Crawley joins the organisation from Tees Valley Tourism Bureau, where she is business tourism manager. Ms Crawley is the national chairwoman

  • Teachers in the running to support cancer charity bid

    TEACHERS will soon be on the run from a Teesside school. A team of 30 teachers and support staff at Middlesbrough's Acklam Whin Primary School will be taking part in the Middlesbrough Tees Pride 10km run on Sunday, to raise money for cancer research.

  • Police officer may lose job after phone card conviction

    A NORTH-East police officer is facing dismissal after admitting using a stolen sim card in his mobile phone. Abib Hussain racked up a £128 bill on the card a friend had stolen from his employers, a pub company called Brewline Limited. The Cleveland officer

  • £5m incentive for council to hit improvement targets

    KEY council services on Teesside could be given a £5m cash boost if targets are met to improve standards. Stockton Borough Council has agreed with the Government to reach a range of challenging objectives to improve local services in the town. If the

  • Meeting to debate duck pond problems

    A VILLAGE duck pond will become stagnant unless action is taken to improve things, campaigners have warned. Residents have called a public meeting in Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, at 6pm on Thursday to discuss the issue. An open invitation to attend has been

  • Steve Barker

    Former local authority planning boss STEVE BARKER has joined Blackett Hart and Pratt solicitors, making its town and country planning team one of the biggest for a law firm in the North-East. He joins the firm as a planning consultant. Mr Barker has 18

  • Barclays banks on N-E call centre

    BANKING group Barclays is creating more than 200 jobs at a contact centre in the region. Barclays, which already employs 1,250 workers at Sunderland's Doxford International business park, is to create another 200 part-time and 36 full-time jobs. Business

  • Safety day offers advice to residents

    PEOPLE in Middlesbrough are being given the chance to learn how to lead a safer and healthier lifestyle. The Ayresome Community Enterprise is holding an environment, security and safety day, which includes advice from the fire service, free energy checks

  • Service held for vicar

    A CHURCH was packed to overflowing for the formal induction of a vicar. The Reverend Linda Shipp's induction service as the vicar of the benefice of Whorlton was held at the Holy Cross Church, Swainby. The service was conducted by the Bishop of Selby,

  • Executive housing estate plans provoke anger among residents

    AN executive housing development which has been advertised before being granted planning permission has caused fury among residents. The Jasmine Field project in the village of Kirklevington, near Yarm, Stockton, is proposing 30 executive homes and bungalows

  • New air rescue system unveiled

    A NEW system that allows air ambulance dispatchers to see immediately which calls are the most important was launched at the weekend. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance opened the UK's first integrated air desk on Saturday. It has combined calls into the three

  • Army veterans express anger over drugs scandal

    GREEN Howards' veterans have spoken of their anger and sorrow after 14 soldiers from the famous Army regiment tested positive for drugs. Ten privates and four corporals face being discharged after failing a routine check. Meanwhile, seven soldiers from

  • Billingham seek to get to the root of weed problem

    Gardeners' question time: what on earth is Tom Donnelly to do about his mares tail, a problem that's truly deep rooted? Tom's chairman of Arngrove Northern League first division side Billingham Town, weed free hard standing required around the pitch for

  • Gaffney enjoys first podium place

    DURHAM teenager Sean Gaffney secured his first podium place in the UK Formula Ford Championship at Snetterton with a second place finish in the first of two races at the Norfolk circuit. After a six-week summer break since the last races at Silverstone

  • Engineer driven to expansion

    PRECISION engineering company Ford Component Manufacturing is increasing its workforce as it prepares to increase turnover by 30 per cent. The family-owned company on South Tyneside, which produces specialist parts for the aerospace, automotive and engineering

  • How the loco race began

    Known as the "Father of the Railways", George Stephenson once said: "The locomotive has not been the invention of any one man, but of a race of mechanical engineers." However, this is to downplay his reputation and legacy as an inventor of locomotives