Stories for 21 August 2006

The Northern Echo News

Scheme to protect children of substance abusers

A scheme to improve home safety for the families of people using medication is launched in the North-East today. Cleveland Fire Brigade is the first in the country to introduce the multi-agency programme.The pilot scheme, which will be run in Hartlepool, is designed to increase fire safety, home security and, in particular, reduce the potential risk of children having access to drugs by providing secure medicine cabinets.The Safer Hartlepool Partnership has provided funding for the scheme, which will be spent on the cabinets, along with other safety equipment.Les Jones, the brigade's community safety manager, said: "This initiative is the first of its kind in the UK and, hopefully, the first of many. "The brigade has just employed Lyndsay Galbraith as a drugs and alcohol advocate. She will be dedicated to raising fire safety awareness for this specialist group and working with partners to take this initiative forward."Ed Parrish, of Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "We would like drug and alcohol users and their families to either get in contact with us directly, on (01429) 872311, or through their own drug treatment programmes to find out more about the free scheme, get safety advice, or sign up for a referral. Everyone will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence."Chris Hart, planning and commissioning manager for the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, said: "The heart of this project is our intent and desire to protect and ensure the full safety of children of substance misusers."  more...

Troops still at risk from poor equipment

BRITISH troops in Iraq are still having to risk their lives patrolling in flimsy Land Rovers, despite 18 soldiers having been killed by roadside bombs.The Ministry of Defence has been heavily-criticised by MPs for failing to provide enough armoured personnel carriers despite the increased terrorist threat in Basra.A report by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee claimed lives were being put at risk by the shortage of equipment and soldiers were left overstretched.Those killed by roadside bombs while patrolling in Land Rovers in Iraq include Anthony Wakefield, a 24-year-old father-of-three from Newcastle. He died in May last year.Soldiers are particularly at risk from deadly explosively formed projectiles (EFPs).These bombs are designed to fire a football-sized chunk of metal at one mile a second.They are powerful enough to punch straight through a lightly-armoured Land Rover.The Northern Echo travelled to Basra to go out on patrol with soldiers on the frontline in a war that has already claimed the lives of 115 British servicemen and women.Among those spoken to were part-time soldiers from the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers who survived a massive roadside bomb attack.The blast blew the front off their Land Rover, sent the engine block 75 metres and set the vehicle ablaze.Lieutenant John Eastham, 35, a solicitor from Preston, told how he hurled himself out of the vehicle as it was still moving.Lt Eastham, who escaped with shock and cuts and bruising, said: "I was the front-seat passenger. We were doing 50kph and it went off about 20 metres in front of us. "There was a massive explosion and the Land Rover skidded across the road."I threw myself out of vehicle while it was still moving and hit the deck. I then took up a fire position in case we were engaged by the enemy." The Ministry of Defence say they had ordered 100 Cougar RG31 armoured personnel carriers but admitted it would be the end of the year before any arrive in Iraq and next year before they were all in service.The Land Rovers, which are made from Kevlar and will protect soldiers from gunfire and shrapnel, cost about £50,000 each. The new Cougars have armour capable of resisting a bomb attack but cost about £250,000.  more...

Humbled by public support for vigil

The Archbishop of York said yesterday he had been humbled by the support he received during his vigil for peace in the Middle East.Dr John Sentamu spent a week sleeping in a tent inside York Minster, living on liquids to show solidarity with the countless people who have suffered on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border.At a service in the minster yesterday, the 57-year-old called on the international community to redouble its efforts to bring about sustainable peace, warning that the conflict in the Middle East was encouraging terrorism.He said: "I have been humbled by the thousands of people - of faith and of no faith - who have supported me over the past seven days with their presence, prayers and solidarity."As the fragile ceasefire between the two sides continued, the Archbishop said: "The events of the past weeks, in the Lebanon, Israel, the United States and Britain have demonstrated that we cannot afford any longer to leave the issues of the Middle East in the pending tray of unresolved business."There is no greater recruiting sergeant for would-be Jihadists than the conflict in the Middle East."Without urgent action on our part, for their sakes and our own, the spiral of violence that has lasted longer than the whole of my lifetime - and I am 57 - will continue unabated, as new generations become mired in the enmity of their forefathers."Dr Sentamu said his tent would remain in York Minster as a symbol of the continuing need for prayer until a UN peacekeeping force is put in place in southern Lebanon.  more...

Cricket in crisis over tampered ball claim

CRICKET was in crisis last night after International Cricket Council officials (ICC) ruled the final Test between England and Pakistan had been forfeited by the visitors.The decision followed hours of talks between players, officials and umpires following controversial scenes earlier in the day when the umpires accused the Pakistanis of tampering with the ball - possibly the most serious crime in cricket's rule book. The Pakistanis were incensed and refused to take the field of play after tea."Pakistan felt a grave accusation had been made against the team and country, and felt deeply insulted," said the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaharyar Khan, at The Oval cricket ground, in London.After staying in their dressing room for up to half an hour to register their complaint, Pakistan emerged to a chorus of boos from the disenchanted crowd.However, the neutral umpires - Australia's Darrell Hair and the West Indian Billy Doctrove - decided that Pakistan's non-appearance had made Test history and they had forfeited the match. The umpires returned to their dressing room and refused to come out, even though the Pakistanis were on the field. Play ended at 6.13pm.Although there are nearly 30 television cameras broadcasting practically every moment of the match live, there appears to be no footage of any tampering.Yesterday's incident began at 2.30pm when the umpires decided the state of the match ball had been altered by someone on the fielding side as Pakistan pushed for victory.They awarded five penalty runs to England and, despite protests from the tourists, play continued until it was halted by bad light.Pakistan failed to appear for the 4.40pm restart, and the umpires waited five minutes in the middle before walking off to the bemusement of the sell-out crowd. England batsmen Paul Collingwood, of Durham, and Ian Bell waited on their balcony.After a further ten minutes, the umpires and the batsmen again returned to the middle, but the only response from the Pakistan dressing room was wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal sitting on the balcony reading a newspaper.The umpires and the batsmen then returned to the pavilion, only for Pakistan to emerge. They were sent back in, and the day finished in controversial chaos."From our point of view, the boys were extremely upset at the slur of ball-tampering and, as a result, they wanted to register a protest with the match referee," said Shahriyar.He continued: "The umpires are totally within their rights to make the decision they made, but the captain and boys feel gravely insulted they were not consulted."Last night, the ICC, England and Wales Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board said in a joint statement: "After lengthy negotiations, which resulted in agreement between the teams, the match referee and both the ECB and PCB to resume the fourth Test, it was concluded that, with regret, there will be no play on the fifth day. The fourth Test has therefore been forfeited with the match being awarded to England."In accordance with the laws of cricket, it was noted that the umpires had correctly deemed that Pakistan had forfeited the match and awarded the Test to England."* Fans who attended yesterday's play at The Oval will be eligible for a 40 per cent refund of their ticket price, the ECB announced last night. Those who had tickets for today will receive a full refund. The cost of the refunds is expected to be about £400,000. Further information is available on 08712 461 100 or at www.surreycricket.com  more...

Soldier volunteers for Afghanistan to forget death smash

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Government urged to take over GNER

Union chiefs today urged the Government to take over GNER to avoid jobs cuts and service disruption.   more...

Newcastle in takeover talks

NEWCASTLE United could become the latest Premiership club to fall into overseas hands after a group from Jersey confirmed it had opened takeover talks.Investment consortium the Belgravia Group has described the possible purchase of the club as an attractive opportunity.Two of its fund managers, Ron Mitchell and Duncan Hickman, are understood to have held talks with Sir John Hall, the club's biggest individual shareholder.They are hoping to purchase Hall's 28.8 per cent shareholding, as well as the 12 per cent stake in the hands of Sir John's son, Douglas.Sir John, who has already relinquished his seat on the Newcastle board, has been promised the position of life president if Belgravia's take-over talks are successful.Last night, a Belgravia spokesman said discussions were at an early stage and nothing had been finalised. Newcastle United refused to confirm the group's interest.A spokesman for the club said: "Our policy is that we do not comment on speculation."Should the investment group succeed in its attempts to purchase the Halls' combined shareholding, it would turn its attention to the 28 per cent stake owned by club chairman Freddy Shepherd. He has consistently resisted approaches to sell his stake and has even been trying to buy further shares in an attempt to strengthen his position. His stance could change, though, if he was faced with a powerful competitor boasting almost 40 per cent of the company. Newcastle United has a market value of £81m, although the club's latest accounts revealed a fall in its cash position of almost £9m.Stock market analysts have suggested that Belgravia's offer to acquire the company is likely to be at least ten per cent higher than Friday's closing stock market price of 61p per share.Confident of a full recoverySIR Bobby Robson has said he is confident of making a full recovery from an operation to remove a brain tumour.The 73-year-old, who has overcome cancer three times, fell ill while watching a match at his former club Ipswich, on August 5.A subsequent scan revealed a tumour, which surgeons will try to remove on Wednesday.Sir Bobby, who was born in Sacriston, County Durham, and grew up in nearby Langley Park, said yesterday: "The tumour is in my brain, which sounds bad, but it is in a position where it can be removed relatively easily, and it's extremely small, the size of a grape, which indicates they caught it early."  more...

Barred from parking on his own road

A COUNCIL has apologised after mistakenly painting traffic markings on a road it does not own.Owner Andy Hill was bemused when a Keep Clear sign was painted on a private road next to his shop and post office in Middleton St George, near Darlington.The markings - and double-yellow lines painted previously - were put there by Darlington Borough Council.Mr Hill said he did not say anything when the yellow lines were painted because he was in the process of submitting a planning application to expand his shop. The application was refused, partly because of traffic congestion.However, when the Keep Clear sign was painted on the road, Mr Hill felt he had to make a complaint - especially when a planning inspector drew his attention to the sign in dismissing his appeal against the refusal of planning permission. Mr Hill said: "He said that there were vehicles on the road where the Keep Clear sign was, yet they were our vehicles."I had to dig out the deeds, which date back to 1846 and clearly show that we own the road."A council spokesman for the council said: "We received a request from residents asking if we could do something about access to their property being blocked by parked cars. As a result, we put the markings on the road. "This was on a private road and we have apologised for that. "We hope that we will be able to come to a solution with the owner."  more...

Cricket in crisis over tamperedball claim

CRICKET was in crisis last night after International Cricket Council officials (ICC) ruling that the final Test between England and Pakistan had been forfeited by the visitors.The decision followed hours of talks between players, officials and umpires following controversial scenes earlier in the day when the umpires accused the Pakistanis of tampering with the ball - possibly the most serious crime in cricket's rule book. The Pakistanis were incensed and refused to take the field of play after tea."Pakistan felt a grave accusation had been made against the team and country, and felt deeply insulted," said the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaharyar Khan, at The Oval cricket ground, in London.After staying in their dressing room for up to half an hour to register their complaint, Pakistan emerged to a chorus of boos from the disenchanted crowd.However, the neutral umpires - Australia's Darrell Hair and the West Indian Billy Doctrove - decided that Pakistan's non-appearance had made Test history and they had forfeited the match. The umpires returned to their dressing room and refused to come out, even though the Pakistanis were on the field. Play ended at 6.13pm."The umpires have concluded the ball was deliberately scuffed and we are absolutely 100 per cent sure that is not the case," said Shaharyar.Although there are nearly 30 television cameras broadcasting practically every moment of the match live, there appears to be no footage of any tampering.Mr Hair is known as a no-nonsense umpire who speaks his mind. He famously no-balled the record-breaking Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing the ball in 1995. Last winter, he accused a Pakistan bowler of deliberately scuffing the pitch with his boots in a Test against England. The Pakistanis have not been impressed by his umpiring on the present tour.The incident began at 2.30pm when the umpires decided the state of the match ball had been altered by someone on the fielding side as Pakistan pushed for victory.They awarded five penalty runs to England and, despite protests from the tourists, play continued until it was halted by bad light.Pakistan failed to appear for the 4.40pm restart, and the umpires waited five minutes in the middle before walking off to the bemusement of the sell-out crowd. England batsmen Paul Collingwood, of Durham, and Ian Bell waited on their balcony.After a further ten minutes, the umpires and the batsmen again returned to the middle, but the only response from the Pakistan dressing room was wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal sitting on the balcony reading a newspaper.The umpires and the batsmen then returned to the pavilion, only for Pakistan to emerge. They were sent back in, and the day finished in controversial chaos."From our point of view, the boys were extremely upset at the slur of ball-tampering and as a result they wanted to register a protest with the match referee," said Shahriyar."Once we had done that, we were ready to go out there and play but there is now a question of the umpires not being prepared to go out."We said we would stay in the dressing room for a few minutes and then go out and play, but the umpires came and warned the boys what would happen if certain things continued and we would forfeit the match."Last night, the ICC, England and Wales Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board said in a joint statement: "After lengthy negotiations, which resulted in agreement between the teams, the match referee and both the ECB and PCB to resume the fourth Test, it was concluded that, with regret, there will be no play on the fifth day. The fourth Test has therefore been forfeited with the match being awarded to England."In accordance with the laws of cricket, it was noted that the umpires had correctly deemed that Pakistan had forfeited the match and awarded the test to England." Match report - Back Pag  more...

The Lifeblood Appeal

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: MondayChurch of the Ascension, Penrith Road, Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough 2.30pm-6.45pmAsda, Bloodmobile in car park, Marina Way, Hartlepool1pm-3.40pm & 4.15pm-6pmTuesdaySt Cuthbert's Church Centre, Market Place, Darlington 2pm-7pmBrough Hall, Middlegate, Headland, Hartlepool2pm-7pmWednesdayOur Lady Queen of the Martyrs, Newhouse Road, Esh Winning, 2.45pm-7pmEdgar Street, Norton3pm-7pmThursdayThe Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, 2pm-7pmYarm Road, Darlington3pm-7pmBelasis Avenue, Billingham 10am-3.30pmFridayCorporation Road, Middlesbrough, 2pm-6pmAllendale Road, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, 2.30pm-7pm  more...

Team's web move is talk of the town

THE Northern Echo has teamed up with Darlington's Talking Newspaper to offer a free weekly news digest via the Internet.From tomorrow, visitors to www.thenorthernecho.co.uk will be able to download a podcast of news and events in and around Darlington.Lasting 20 minutes, the bulletin is an edited version of the weekly news and features service published by volunteers working for the town's talking newspaper.The first edition of an audio newspaper for visually impaired people was recorded in 1979 in the vice-principal's office at Darlington College of Technology.More than a quarter of a century later, the service operates out of a recording studio provided rent-free at the Priestgate head office of The Northern Echo.The newspaper came to the rescue in 2004 when the charity was forced to leave its previous home in Darlington Arts Centre because of problems linked to new disability access legislation.More than 300 people subscribe to the service, which offers news and features on tape and CD.Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "It was right that the Talking Newspaper should be based at the office of its home town newspaper. "The service it provides is second-to-none and I am sure our readers will enjoy listening to the news."In future, it is hoped that The Talking Newspaper may also be able to use podcasts recorded for The Northern Echo's website.Mr Barron said: "Visitors to the website can already hear their favourite columns read by the author. "We plan to provide this material to the talking newspaper as well." Downloading a news podcast is as easy as clicking on a link. The bulletin can be replayed on a PC or copied to a portable music device, such as an iPod, so listeners can enjoy it on the move or in the car.Visitors to the website www.thenorthernecho.co.uk can subscribe to the service free of charge and, if they have the right software, the bulletin will be automatically downloaded every week.* Do you run a Talking Newspaper with online ambitions? If you would like to discuss how to get your material on to the worldwide web via The Northern Echo, please call Nigel Burton, Assistant Editor, on (01325) 505165.  more...

City is 'not just a place to shop'

A REPORT on the future of a city visited by thousands of people each year has been crticised for placing too much emphasis on improving its shopping.Durham City Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said the 20/20 Vision project, which lays out ideas for enhancing the city's appeal, should look more to education and heritage.The 200-page document was produced by consultants for a group of councils and other bodies following the biggest consultation carried out in the city.Among its proposals are encouraging the development of more diverse and specialist shops to move away from what it terms "anwhereville", partial redevelopment of The Gates and Prince Bishops shopping centres and new anchor stores in key locations, including a supermarket in North Road. However, Mrs Blackman-Woods said: I think they should be looking more at education, the knowledge economy and heritage for Durham's future, rather than retail."The city is known for its fantastic heritage and its internationally-renowned university and we want to build an economy around that with spin-off companies."Retail is important because people who visit want nice shops but it should support. You don't want it to be a vision around shops. I would have concerns if they were trying to make Durham another MetroCentre.''She said she would like to see more done to open up the River Wear and make it more accessible, more emphasis placed on design and architectural quality and more proposals about the villages that surround the city.Dr Douglas Pocock, secretary of the City of Durham Trust, said the trust would be study the proposals closely. The report is now out for consultation and will be displayed at seven locations around the region, including Durham Tourist Information Centre, Millennium Place, Claypath, and County Hall, Aykley Heads, where it will be exhibited until Thursday, August 31.  more...

Penpals set for second meeting in 60 years

A WOMAN is preparing to fly to Canada to meet a penpal she has been writing to for more than 60 years.Ada Gaskill, 73, from South Church, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has been exchanging letters and photographs with Romanian friend Adriana Janiszewski since she was 12. Their friendship has survived an emigration, deaths and the fall of communism.Ada attended Stanley Crook Primary School and Neville Cross Secondary School, in Durham, before moving to Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, when her husband, Bill, was posted there with the armed forces.She began writing to Adriana as part of her studies, but has continued to correspond and the pair have had plenty to write about. Adriana had lost both of her parents by the time she was 17 and lived through tense political times in her homeland, before moving to Canada. There she married a Pole, named Roman, who died a few years ago, and had three children. It is at the wedding of her daughter, Jennifer, where the pair will meet on Saturday."I think the penpal scheme was done at school, somehow or other, through a magazine advert," said Ada. "I picked someone out, and it was Adriana. It was a good choice because the letters have kept on coming."At the height of problems in Romania, the correspondence stopped for several years. But in 1989, a letter arrived from Adriana explaining that she had emigrated. "I thought she had been killed," said Ada. "I was thrilled to bits when I got the letter."They met three years ago in Sleaford, before Ada and Bill moved back to the North-East, and now Ada will catch up with her friend again.She will also visit Prince Edward Island to meet another penpal, Beryl Zarvie, who she has been writing to for five years.  more...

A Hollywood production crew and 18 horses? Neigh bother . . .

STUNT horses arrived in the region this weekend for a starring role in a multi-million pound Hollywood blockbuster.The horses spent the weekend settling into their new surroundings and sharpening their skills as they prepared for the spotlight this week.Eighteen horses arrived at the livery stables in Guisborough, east Cleveland, with an entourage of 22 minders to keep them in shape for the big screen.The mixture of Andalusian, Friesian and Welsh breeds have been brought together for Atonement, a feature film based on Ian McEwan's best-selling novel.Part of the film is being shot along Redcar seafront, as the beach is used to re-enact the 1940s Dunkirk evacuation.Up to 1,000 locals will take part in the film as extras while the rest of the town is buzzing with excitement and benefiting from hundreds of crew and cast members staying in the area.Local hairdressers, builders, businesses and organisations are helping to make the production company's stay in the region as comfortable as possible.Robert Gosling, owner of the Greencroft Livery Stables and Driving Centre, in Guisborough, described the call from the production company.He said: "My wife answered the phone and she initially said we didn't have room for so many.But when he started to talk about what it was for, my wife said, 'well, let me have a word with my husband'."We discussed it and had a word with some liveries to see if they could take some horses for us."We rang back and said we could do it and everything has gone from there."Mr and Mrs Gosling and their staff spent last week getting their stables ready in time for the arrival of the horses.But there will be no red carpet or special treatment for the guests - it will be normal hay, food and stables.Mr Gosling said: "Everyone is very excited about it. It is obviously bringing in work for us."Filming begins today on Newcomen Terrace, Redcar, and on the seafront.The film stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in the lead roles. Although Miss Knightley will not film any scenes in Redcar, Mr McAvoy will be there for the Dunkirk scenes.  more...

Councillor under fire over circus held on family land

A COUNCILLOR whose political party and local authority support bans on animal circuses has come under fire after a show was set up on land owned by her husband.The Captive Animals' Protection Society (Caps) is asking Councillor Caroline Seymour to explain why the circus is using a field at her home, White House Farm, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire.Peter Jolly's Circus, which set up in the field last Wednesday and finished yesterday, features the country's last performing bear.Caps campaign manager Craig Redmond said Coun Seymour, a prominent Liberal Democrat on Hambleton District Council, which has banned animal circuses from its land, had failed to reply to his messages.He said: "Although private landowners are legally allowed to rent land to animal circuses even if those shows are banned from council-owned land, we would like to talk to Mrs Seymour about why such a circus is using her family's property," he said.Coun Seymour declined to comment yesterday and her husband, John, said she could not remember the vote, about five years ago, which banned animal circuses on council-owned land.However, national Liberal Democrat policy calls for a ban on circus animals, except horses and dogs.Mr Seymour defended the circus taking place on his land.He said: "It is my farm and Caroline is not involved in anything on the farm. I had no reason to ask her about it. It was my decision, not hers."He said he had inspected the circus animals and found them healthy and content."I have been a farmer all my life and the animals there are in absolutely superb condition," he said.Darlington-born Peter Jolly, owner of the show and a member of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' animal welfare committee, said: "We know that the landowner's wife is a councillor, but it is up to the landowner himself whether to allow the circus to use his land."His animals were inspected by welfare authorities wherever the circus travelled and had always received a clean bill of health.Hambleton council chief executive Peter Simpson said: "This circus is on private land and the council therefore has no jurisdiction over its use for this activity."  more...

Near miss triggers probe into track work

RAIL bosses have tightened up procedures after a near-accident earlier this year that could have claimed lives.The incident happened in January this year on the East Coast Main Line, just north of Thirsk, North Yorkshire, as a team were working on the track in the late evening.They had started to remove a rail in an area outside the stretch that had been notified as in "engineering possession" and which was therefore still open to traffic.A Manchester Airport to Newcastle train was approaching but was stopped at a signal just south of Thirsk station.When the situation became clear, the train was re-routed and passengers were able to resume their journey.The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) launched an investigation into the incident, while Network Rail also conducted an inquiry.The RAIB's report, published yesterday, noted that the consequences of the incident were "benign" as the track circuit had worked.But it said: "If the train had approached the worksite there would have been significant risk of serious injuries to the track workers and the possibility that the train would have derailed."They concluded the man in charge of the work had not realised they were outside the area of engineering possession because of a series of errors and omissions in the planning process.The report said certain managers and staff at the local depot and in the area planning team had an "incomplete understanding" of the planning process and were unclear as to their respective responsibilities.A spokesman for Network Rail said the company had taken the incident extremely seriously and had acted on all the recommendations made by the RAIB.The spokesman said: "We have held a thorough internal investigation and our processes and procedures are being strengthened."  more...

Widow pays for lung disease drug trial

THE widow of a lung disease victim is paying for a drug trial that could prolong the lives of up to a 100 patients in the region.Christine Knighton, who set up the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund in memory of her husband, is funding a study into Alimta, a new chemotherapy drug for sufferers of the fatal lung disease mesothelioma.The study will shed light on which patients will benefit most from the drug, that is said to extend some sufferers' lives by three months.This summer, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) decided to block its use by NHS doctors.Nice decided there was still not enough evidence that Alimta was better than existing, cheaper treatments.Dr Albi Runi Ryan Abbul Rasak, a specialist registrar in Newcastle General Hospital's oncology department, will carry out the study. He said it was a chance to show how much it could help mesothelioma patients.He said: "We are very excited about this research project. It is locally-funded and we will be able to see the results of the work in the local community."The research team will track the progress of the drug with a number of North-East patients.They will pay particular attention to the genetic make-up of patients and their tumours.Mrs Knighton, who lives in Wallsend, North Tyneside, said: "This research is going to help victims to have a better quality of life. The findings will be able to pinpoint if Alimta is the correct drug for a patient so they do not have to go through unnecessary suffering."Ian McFall of Thompsons Solicitors, who has fought for Alimta to be used in the North-East, said: "This is a huge step forward for mesothelioma victims, many of whom have developed the disease following years of hard work on the Tyne. "This research will ensure victims are given the best possible treatment."  more...

Carriage restoration revives dying skills

TWO railway enthusiasts are helping to revive dying skills after launching a vintage vehicle restoration company.Dave Foxton and Dr Michael Wood are turning back the clock with Rail Restorations North-East, using traditional methods to breathe life into old vehicles.The company's first complete project is the restoration of three 1950s rail carriages that will be used to carry passengers along a rural County Durham line.The blood and custard-coloured carriages will be used on the Weardale Railway, which reopened under new management this month, 18 months after being mothballed because of financial difficulties.The project has proved a fitting way to launch to the Wolsingham-based business, as both men are members of the Weardale Railway Trust- the volunteer group that supports the railway.Dr Wood, a Spennymoor GP, had originally sold two of the coaches to the railway company and agreed to buy them back when it fell into administration.He then teamed up with Mr Foxton, who lost his job as depot manager with the railway, to restore the vehicles.He has almost single-handedly applied 34 gallons of paint and varnish, replaced 40 windows and re-upholstered 16 three-person seats.He said: "It has taken the best part of a year and every replacement fitting has had to be made by hand, but it is worth it to see something so special at the end of the day."Dr Wood said: "I don't have the time or expertise, so when Dave was made redundant it was a golden opportunity for both of us."We welcome any other projects, not just railway vehicles but cars, buses, whatever and will continue to work closely with the railway."Coach building is a dying art, so we are training two apprentices and will work with Locomotion: The National Railway Musuem, at Shildon, to keep alive those traditional skills and preserve heritage."  more...

Stoking the passions of steam buffs

THE return of steam to the Yorkshire Dales after a break of almost 40 years proved a runaway success over the weekend.The 360 seats on board the first steam-powered excursion on the Wensleydale Railway since 1967 were all snapped up well in advance.The operators of Saturday's hugely popular trip were confident they could have sold at least as many seats again if the train's capacity had allowed it.And now it looks almost certain that further steam trips will be held on the 22-mile route between Leeming Bar and Redmire in the future."It went very well - better than we could ever have hoped for," Ruth Annison, chairwoman of the Wensleydale Railway Company, said afterwards."The schedule was very tight but the train arrived off the main network right on time and then left our line back to the network to the minute."But the whole thing was only possible because of the enormous amount of hard work that had gone into it - from the unsung heroes who keep the track in good condition by working all hours to the highly visible train crew."Before Saturday, the last steam train was the Three Dales Special, run by the Stevenson Locomotive Society, in 1967.But the King Arthur class 4-6-0 steam locomotive Sir Lamiel made a triumphant steam return when it took a break from pulling the Scarborough Spa Express service to become the weekend's Wensleydale Explorer."Many of the people who live here can remember when there were steam trains daily on the line, before it closed for regular passenger services in the 1950s," said Mrs Annison."In those days, the large number of jobs on the railway meant that many local families depended on the line for their livelihood."She added: "Our fundamental aim is to help the local economy and the National Park, but this shows we can bring in income from other activities to strengthen our position."  more...

Conference centre will be home for religious group

A conference centre to be built on one of the region's largest industrial estates will also be home to a growing church.Plans for the £4m complex, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, have been approved by councillors.The facility will serve businesses across the region, with an auditorium that can accommodate 900 people, a lecture hall that can take 200, exhibition space, a children's day care centre and catering facilities. At a meeting of Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee, it was revealed that Aycliffe Christian Life Centre (CLC), which has been searching for a base for at least six years, will also move into the centre.Church leaders founded an independent company, Xcel Holdings Limited, to push the plans.Research by the company found that businesses on the industrial park needed function facilities, which led to the plans being devised.The complex also paved the way for a new place of worship to be created for the CLC, which said it needed larger premises to accommodate its growing congregation and to host youth and community events.Leaders hope the facility will be open by November next year, in the year the church celebrates its 40th anniversary.Julian Clark, of the senior leadership team, said: "We are very excited about it - we get around 700 visitors throughout a week, so we need more space."But first and foremost, it will be a conference facility serving the community, especially businesses, by giving them new resources."Previous attempts by the CLC to move on to the industrial estate were rejected by the council, which said it was an inappropriate location for a church.Members heard that the developers did not mention the church's connection to the building until an anonymous letter of objection raised concerns about its use.But officers said they were satisfied the main use of the facility was for business and that demand for manufacturing premises was in decline, so the proposal was to be welcomed.Sedgefield Borough Council deputy leader Kester Noble said: "I welcome this building for regeneration, supporting local business and providing important creche facilities on the industrial estate."The two-storey complex will be built on a 2.2-hectare site in Spring Road and will operate from 9am to 11pm.  more...