A TEENAGER killed by a high-speed train on the East Coast Main Line did not intend to take her own life, her father said last night. The family of 17-year-old Catherine Joanne Hodgson described her as the "life and soul of wherever she was", and said
IT is a fact of life that people are more inclined to moan about something than say well done, so dealing with complaints is a common task for editors. Sometimes, the complaints don't come as any surprise because of the controversial nature of a particular
TWO explosive devices have been uncovered in as many days by staff washing potatoes at a frozen food factory. A worker found a Second World War shell tip among potatoes at McCain's UK head office, in Eastfield, Scarborough, on Friday. Then came the discovery
CONSERVATION groups say they are delighted by the return of a rare bird of prey to the North-East for the first time in two centuries. It was confirmed at the weekend that red kites are nesting in the region for the first time in 200 years, after a successful
IT is impossible to imagine what John Hodgson and his family are going through. The heartache must be unbearable. His daughter, Catherine, made a single terrible mistake, which on Thursday cost her young life - het up, she strayed on to a railway line
TWO explosive devices have been uncovered in as many days by staff washing potatoes at a frozen food factory. A worker found a Second World War shell tip among potatoes at McCain's UK head office, in Eastfield, Scarborough, on Friday. Then came the discovery
There was a delayed start in Northern Rock ECB North-East Regional Premier League game between Benwell Hill and Stockton, but they produced an exciting day's cricket. In a game reduced to 89 overs, runs were scarce and at close of play Stockton were only
WET weather failed to dampen the spirits of traditional dancers from across the North at the weekend. Kern Morris, of Durham, invited other traditional dance groups from Cumbria and Yorkshire to the city for its 20th anniversary celebration, on Saturday
POLICE say they are no longer treating the death of a married father-of-seven at a social club as suspicious. John Lathan, 64, died after trying to break up a fight at Roseworth Community and Social Club, in Stockton, on Saturday, May 13. A 45-year-old
BUSINESSES in the region are the most pessimistic in the country about their prospects for the remainder of the year. Figures released today show that the North-East is the only region in England and Scotland to be pessimistic about the overall business
BIRMINGHAM CITY hope to set an early benchmark for the rest of the Championship this week by completing a £3m move for long term Sunderland target Cameron Jerome. It is a move that will frustrate Black Cats supporters who are becoming restless while Niall
Stokesley SC had to settle for the runners-up position after Whitehaven clinched the championship with a five-goal romp at Annfield Plain - but they still been promoted to the second division of the Arngrove Northern League, writes Malcolm Pratt. There
STEVE Harmison will make his first Riverside appearance for Durham since his hat-trick against Worcestershire 13 months ago in the championship match against leaders Sussex starting tomorrow. As he did not have enough bowling in the rain-ruined match
PEOPLE have voted overwhelmingly against expansion of their village. Residents of Sadberge, near Darlington, who attended an open meeting to discuss a parish plan, voted four-to-one against development of housing. The meeting put forward four scenarios
A FORMER Conservative Party leader backed new technology as a way to win back Darlington voters. Richmond MP William Hague, now the Shadow Foreign Secretary, addressed 120 Conservative Party members at the newly formed Political Supper Club at the 96.6tfm
A SCHEME offering cut-price access to leisure and arts facilities has attracted 2,000 subscribers. The concessionary policy was revised by Darlington Borough Council earlier this year, enabling more people to make use of sports, leisure, arts and cultural
BISHOP Auckland Town Hall has launched a website. The Town Hall, which has been open since 1993, has given its online presence an overhaul. Promotions and marketing assistant Elaine Kenyon and Claire Willans, from Durham County Council's web design team
A FOOTBALL club's plans to redevelop its ground for the community's benefit are still on course, their chairman has insisted. Crook Town FC announced proposals last September to buy the 90-year-old stadium lease on its Millfield home from landlords Wear
A NORTH-EAST MP took up her new Government post by returning to her old stamping ground at the weekend. Hilary Armstrong, the North-West Durham MP and former Government Chief Whip, made her maiden speech as Social Exclusion Minister in her home city of
TEESDALE residents wanting to question a bid to turn the area into an NHS Foundation Trust can attend a public meeting at 6pm tonight. Representatives from County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will answer questions at a meeting at the
MILLIONS of pounds have been earmarked to tackle the crime blighting the lives of residents in one of the most disadvantaged areas in Britain. The £3,200,000 from the Safer Stronger Communities Fund is aimed at improving life for people living in east
A TEENAGER has organised a charity concert at Northallerton's Hambleton Forum to raise money for the hospice that cared for her dying father. Michelle Goult, 17, lost her father, Allan, last November to mesothelioma, an asbestos-related disease. He died
A HEALTH worker will benefit from a trip away after winning a holiday. Dawn Rowell, an occupational therapist at the Rutson Rehabilitation Hospital, Northallerton, won the holiday in a competition run by the local health branch of Unison. Mrs Rowell entered
ROCKETS will be launched into the sky at an event next month. Stockton Borough Council's parks and countryside team is hosting Build a Rocket, at Wynyard Woodland Park, on Thursday, June 1. Youngsters are asked to bring along two two-litre plastic pop
TEN times the usual number of people returned questionnaires on green issues in their community. Residents in the Upper Esk valley were asked to complete a home energy questionnaire earlier this year. Half of all residents returned the forms. The usual
A FOOTBALL expert has joined an encyclopaedic venture which claims to be able to answer any question in the world. Earlier this year, east Cleveland entrepreneurs Matthew Bladen and John Rymer unveiled their venture dedicated to finding out some of life's
A BIKE shop has received a helping hand from the council. Martin Lewin, owner of Kudu Bikes, in Hawes, has been awarded a £1,500 grant by Richmondshire District Council. Mr Lewin said: "We have been supported throughout the development of our business
TWO churches in North Yorkshire, each with congregations of less than ten, are trying to raise thousands of pounds to carry out repairs. About £85,000 has been put forward for the cost of work at St Mary's Church, Rievaulx, which dates back to the 13th
A TEESSIDE art student has been awarded a scholarship to help her on to the career ladder. Amelia Martin, 19, beat off the competition to gain the scholarship from the Helena Kennedy Foundation. The foundation supports second chance students to help them
BISHOP Auckland Town Hall has launched a website. The Town Hall, which has been open since 1993, has given its site www. bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk an overhaul. Pages include more information on events in the theatre, gallery and library, details of
MARK VIDUKA was smiling last night after being confirmed as Australia's World Cup captain, but at club level the Middlesbrough striker admits he does not know what the future holds. Viduka has a year to run on the contract he signed at the Riverside Stadium
TWO football teams from the same school have secured a treble victory. The teams from Spennymoor School, in Whitworth Lane, won every match in their leagues to finish top for the first time in 13 years. The year seven team won the under-12s league and
ASPIRING young rock musicians are being offered the chance to improve their skills at a half-term project. The School of Rock and Pop workshop will be held on June 1 and 2 at Belmont Community Arts College. The workshop, which is open to musicians from
PEOPLE in Blackhill, near Consett, and surrounding areas are invited to have their say about policing matters at a meeting next week. A community neighbourhood forum will take place at 6.30pm on Tuesday in Blackhill Baptist Church, Highgate, Blackhill
DURHAM workers have been praised for reuniting holidaymakers with their car keys. Chris and Val Tunaley, from Anstey, Leicestershire, lost the keys after they used the park and ride service to visit Durham Cathedral. But park and ride staff and workers
A PLANTING day has been held at an environmentally friendly business centre. Staff from Groundwork West Durham, Derwentside Primary Care Trust and other tenants of The Greenhouse, on Greencroft Industrial Estate, Stanley, put aquatic and marginal plants
A CHARITY shop has opened after a facelift that it hopes will draw in more customers. Age Concern, next to Durham bus station, was reopened by the city's town crier, former city councillor Colin Beswick. The shop, which has been open for about seven years
POLICE SEEK CRASH DETAILS: POLICE are appealing for information following a road accident on Teesside earlier this month. The accident, between a white van and a silver Vauxhall Tigra, happened in Sandy Lane, Marske, on Monday, May 1, at 10am. A police
A JEWELLERS that survived a runaway cow and a severe fire has closed down. Ice Designs, on Galgate, in Barnard Castle, shut this week after almost eight years. In June last year, a Charolais heifer caused mayhem in the town when it escaped from Barnard
Foster's Durham Senior League: The weather decimated the programme when only two games were able to make a start. The matches at Boldon and Whitburn began on time with visitors South Shields and Seaham Harbour both victorious. Seaham Harbour's win lifts
THE World Cup is coming to North Yorkshire - in a distinctly flowery style. The people of Bishop Monkton, near Boroughbridge, are jumping on the football bandwagon with their own Fifa Festival. And although the beautiful game will be the theme, in their
A NORTH-EAST lifeboat volunteer has been honoured for his tireless service. Ian Readman, operations manager at Redcar lifeboat station, was presented with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) gold badge for his long and distinguished service
A theatre group has received an award for its work offstage. Tynegate Theatre Group has been awarded a digital camera for its website, built through The Northern Echo's CommuniGate community website service. The website was started by Tynegate group member
A NEW mayor wants to highlight the positive work young people do during her year in office. Councillor Mary Ovens, who has been elected mayor for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, also wants to raise the borough's tourism profile. The retired PE teacher
A "MEXICAN" team has won a mini world cup for youngsters held at a North-East Football Stadium. The 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena hosted The Northern Echo's Local Heroes SoccerSix World Cup Challenge yesterday, for under-14s. The competition was organised
GROUNDED before Boro's UEFA Cup final, the lads in Redcar RAFA Club decided instead to watch the game on the "ancient" club television. Trouble was, the old kite was so off the radar - jet-set no longer - that a member had to bring in his own. Match over
NUCLEAR POWER: DAVID Miliband, the South Shields MP and the new pro-nuclear environment secretary, has as his constituency chairman Alan Donnelly, a chief lobbyist for US multinational Fluor. Fluor is expected to bid for contracts if Britain decides to
MOST North-East football fans have suffered disappointment this month. Middlesbrough were thumped by Seville, Sunderland were confirmed as the worst team in Premiership history, Hartlepool were relegated and Darlington missed out on the play-offs. Sadly
A theatre group has received an award for its work offstage. Tynegate Theatre Group has been awarded a digital camera for its website, built through The Northern Echo's CommuniGate community website service. The website was started by Tynegate group member
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Three games were cancelled and of the three which did commence, two were timed out when they were interrupted by the weather. There were no problems at Ponteland, where the full 100 overs were bowled
CHRISTOPHER Biggins was one of the first to see the original production of The Rocky Horror Show more than three decades ago. The performer - who plays the Narrator in a touring revival in York - recalls particularly that one of the leading players was
A FOOTBALL fan's World Cup dream is being offered by a pub - seats at the front, free beer and bar staff on call to deliver it. The winner of the pre-match raffle at the Bay Horse, in Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, will receive two seats in front
IN the wake of the fatal stabbing of a schoolboy, a North East martial arts expert is to teach pupils about the dangers of knives. Mike Ilderton has just completed a course aimed at tackling the knife culture. Mr Ilderton, a martial arts enthusiast and
A SCHOOL that was spared closure earlier this year may gain sponsorship to safeguard its future. Bosses at Hurworth School are considering whether the school should link up with a business to provide much-needed investment. In March, parents, teachers
A PLANTING day has been held at an environmentally friendly business centre. Staff from Groundwork West Durham, Derwentside Primary Care Trust and other tenants of The Greenhouse, on Greencroft Industrial Estate, Stanley, put aquatic and marginal plants
A FOOTBALL fan's World Cup dream is being offered by a pub - seats at the front, free beer and bar staff on call to deliver it. The winner of the pre-match raffle at the Bay Horse, in Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, will receive two seats in front
A NURSERY assistant who killed a motorcyclist when she cut a corner just 14 months after passing her driving test has been fined £200. Tracy Jobling had been on her way home with boyfriend Paul McGee after taking two young nieces for an ice-cream when
A RAIL expert has leapt to the defence of under-fire operator GNER over its price structure. MPs issued a damning report accusing the East Coast Main Line operator of chaotic ticketing and exorbitant charging, which they said was pricing out ordinary
A JEWELLERS that survived a runaway cow and a severe fire has closed down. Ice Designs, on Galgate, in Barnard Castle, shut this week after almost eight years. In June last year, a Charolais heifer caused mayhem in the town when it escaped from Barnard
REDCAR'S meeting is under threat from possible waterlogging, but if the fixture passes this morning's 8am inspection the soft ground shouldn't hinder Etoile Russe (2.40). Patrick Haslam's representative enjoyed a profitable winter and springtime jumps
STEVE Harmison will make his first Riverside appearance for Durham since his hat-trick against Worcestershire 13 months ago in the championship match against leaders Sussex starting tomorrow. As he did not have enough bowling in the rain-ruined match
NICKY BUTT could be offered an escape route from his Newcastle United hell by Wigan, and that means Lee Bowyer's surprising wish to stay at St James' Park will be granted. It has been widely expected Bowyer would be one of those to depart from Tyneside
A FORMER policeman who shared in the first-ever National Lottery jackpot has died after a long illness at the age of 46. Ken Southwell scooped an £839,254 share of the inaugural lotto prize in 1994 - and was renowned for keeping his feet firmly on the
THE Wild West came to a Darlington care home at the weekend. North Park Care Centre, in I'Anson Street, held a Wild West Day to raise funds for residents' excursions to Whitby, Hamsterley Forest and other local places of interest. Attractions at the Wild
DOZENS of wood carvers from around the country have visited Darlington for a national wood-carving jamboree. High Coniscliffe School hosted the national annual meeting of the British Woodcarving Association. It was followed by the jamboree, where a variety
CHILDREN at a Darlington school are being offered a positive and nurturing touch to help them relax in class. Darlington Primary Care Trust is introducing a massage programme at Mount Pleasant School. Children are being taught in pairs to massage, through
A SCHOOL that was spared closure earlier this year may gain sponsorship to safeguard its future. Bosses at Hurworth School are considering whether the school should link up with a business to provide much-needed investment. In March, parents, teachers
THE Charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has a recycling centre in place at Ripon Library until Saturday. The centre is for empty toner and printer cartridges, but not the Epsom brand. It also accepts mobile phones.
PARENTS have pleaded with council bosses to save a children's nursery earmarked for closure. A petition has been launched to save Clarence Day Nursery, in Newton Aycliffe. Durham County Council has decided to close the nursery in the summer as it needs
WORK has begun to create five affordable homes for older residents in Richmond. Richmondshire District Council is working in partnership with Tees Valley Housing Group to build the flats in Nuns Close. Councillor Linda Curran, member champion for disability
A NORTH-EAST MP took up her new Government post by returning to her old stamping ground at the weekend. Hilary Armstrong, the North-West Durham MP and former Government Chief Whip, made her maiden speech as Social Exclusion Minister in her home city of
A MAN will appear in court today accused of killing mental health worker Ashleigh Ewing. Ronald Dixon, 34, is alleged to have stabbed the 22-year-old support worker to death at his home, in Newcastle, on Friday. The body of Miss Ewing, who worked for
SCHOOLCHILDREN in Hartlepool are to feature in the making of a DVD to demonstrate how their town has achieved excellent grades in maths. The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics is producing the DVD, which will be sent to all
TODDLERS have raised hundreds of pounds for charity by walking round one of the region's parks. Dozens took part in the sponsored toddle around South Park, in Darlington, yesterday, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Organisers hope to have
AN arts centre in the region has started an appeal after its lighting rig was condemned. The Customs House, in South Shields, South Tyneside, needs to find £100,000 to replace the system. The theatre will have to close for three weeks in the summer. Last
TRAFFIC police will tell people about the perils of mixing drugs with driving during an event to mark National Drug Awareness Day. The Safer Hartlepool Partnership will host a special event in the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre on Tuesday, between 10am
A CITY'S long-awaited new swimming baths is expected to take a further step forward this week. Planning approval is expected to be granted for the £11m swimming pool and leisure complex in Durham, to replace the outdated 1930s-built facilities in Elvet
A pain clinic fundraising event will take place on Wednesday, at 7pm, at Darlington Memorial Hospital Social Club. Darlington College fashion and beauty students will provide entertainment and youngsters from Stagecoach Theatre and Arts School will perform
A WOMAN who fell to her death from a bridge was yesterday identified by police. Members of the public reported seeing a woman crossing the barrier on the east side of the Tyne Bridge, facing the Sage music centre, in Gateshead, shortly after 8pm on Saturday
POLICE and town councillors are teaming up to get tough on problem youths. Almost a quarter of recent calls to police from Tow Law were complaints about young people's behaviour, including reports of teenagers drinking and taking drugs on the streets
A CHARITY night in honour of popular pub landlord has raised more than £2,200. The money was raised in memory of Roger Balsillie, who worked in a number of pubs in the Chester-le-Street area. He died in March, and his friends organised the night and will
RESCUED rabbits and guinea pigs are enjoying a free feast thanks to an organic produce company. Farmaround, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, is giving its waste vegetables to the town's Bunny Burrows animal sanctuary. Founder and managing director Isobel
PARENTS and pupils have been exploring ancient historical sites as part of a school's Roman theme week. Each class at St Charles Primary School, Tudhoe, has been on a trip accompanied by school staff and a number of parent helpers. They have visited places
THE Government has given its seal of approval to a 400million plan to transform secondary education in County Durham. Durham County Council's blueprint - Building Schools for the Future (BSF)- outlining its "Vision" proposals was presented to the Government
MIKE Hussey always wanted to be Allan Border. So says his brother David, who would have relished coming up against his elder sibling at Trent Bridge last week had Mike been able to return to Durham. The hard-hitting Nottinghamshire batsman is just over
A TEENAGER killed by a high-speed train on the East Coast Main Line did not intend to take her own life, her father said last night. The family of 17-year-old Catherine Joanne Hodgson described her as the "life and soul of wherever she was", and said
Yorkshire Phoenix's chances of finishing top of the North Conference in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy and qualifying for the Lord's final have again been hit by bad weather. Their game with Warwickshire Bears at Headingley yesterday was the only
A DOCTOR has realised his dream of reaching the summit of Mount Everest. Dr Alastair Sutcliffe, 41, a GP with the Whitby Group Practice, undertook the challenge in aid of Scarborough's Saint Catherine's Hospice. His party reached the peak of the 29,035ft
A FAIR featuring knights on horseback has been hailed a success - despite having to abandon its traditional float procession. The medieval fair in, Sedgefield, County Durham, had to stop using floats because road closures were costing too much money.
A SEX offender could learn that he is to be deported when he returns to court to be sentenced for his crimes. Officials are checking on Zimbabwean criminal Trevor Tarirah's immigration status ahead of his next appearance. Tarirah was due to be sentenced
A FOOTBALL expert has joined an encyclopaedic venture which claims to be able to answer any question in the world. Earlier this year, east Cleveland entrepreneurs Matthew Bladen and John Rymer unveiled their venture dedicated to finding out some of life's
The Surridge Sport Durham Coast League: Seaham Park were rewarded for being able to stage one of only two games played and victory over Peterlee propelled them to the top of the table. With rain always threatening it was a double bonus for them when Peterlee
AS part of The Northern Echo lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region: Today * St Aloysius Centre, Argyle Street and Coquet Street, Hebburn, 2.30pm-7pm. * Red House
In his latest book, Middlesbrough-born writer Paul Doherty makes startling revelations about Queen Elizabeth I - including the claim that she had a lover and a secret son - and even more outrageous claims about Henry VIII and one of the wives he beheaded
A PAIR of students are hoping to drive to Mongolia in a 15-year-old Ford Fiesta van that has just failed its MoT. Despite having no mechanical knowledge and not speaking a word of any non-European language, Durham University students Richard Knock and
