Stories for 22 January 2007

The Northern Echo News

Eight arrested after flight fight

EIGHT men have been arrested after a fight broke out among passengers onboard a holiday flight returning to the North-East.   more...

Reid launches respect campaign in North

THE Home Office's Respect campaign came to the region this morning as the government announced a £6m funding package to tackle anti-social disorder.   more...

Prisoners found dead in cells

TWO inmates have been found dead in their cells in separate incidents, it was revealed today.   more...

Region braced for snow and ice

THE region last night braced itself for this season's first bout of wintry weather as temperatures were set to plummet below freezing.Severe weather warnings of widespread icy roads across the North-East and North Yorkshire were issued by the Met Office last night, with the public told to expect sleet, rain and hill snow overnight.Skies were expected to clear late last night, causing temperatures to drop to -1C and leaving a risk of icy patches on untreated roads, making rush hour dangerous.The end to the unusually mild weather has been brought about by a change in wind direction, with bitter north-east winds sweeping wintry showers across the country.The Met Office has predicted 5C as the maximum temperature across the region today, and issued warnings of icy roads for the second day running.It is thought the colder weather will last until the weekend, at the earliest.The wintry weather follows erratic weather conditions, including last week's high winds and thunder storms at the weekend.In Harrogate, North Yorkshire, a nursing home for the disabled and a family house were struck by lightning on Saturday night.Fire crews were called to St George's House nursing home, in Harlow Oval, after fire alarms were set off by lightning.None of the home's 18 residents or staff was injured.In Darley, just outside Harrogate, a mother and daughter escaped injury when their home took a direct hit from a lightning bolt.The strike damaged a stone window ledge, blew a fascia board off the roof, damaged electrical equipment and fractured an external gas main. Engineers from the electricity and gas companies were called out to repair the damage.Nick Ricketts, of the Met Office, said: "It is the sort of colder weather one might expect at this time of year. Whether it is likely to last is hard to say at this stage."  more...

Blair agent in bullying row

TONY BLAIR'S agent, John Burton, said last night that he was appalled at claims of bullying and intimidation made by a fellow councillor.Mr Burton, who has been the Prime Minister's agent since 1983, has been reported to the Standards Board for England, which upholds the councillors' code of conduct.It is not known who made the complaint.The former teacher faces claims that he pressurised Sedgefield Borough Council's deputy leader, Kester Noble, over a planning vote.Mr Burton, who has been a member of the council for more than 20 years, is accused of threatening Mr Noble with deselection from the Labour Party if he did not support a £20m housing development at Trimdon, less than a mile from Mr Blair's County Durham home.The allegation has been denied by Mr Burton. Last night he said he was hurt and appalled to be reported to the board, which has the power to disqualify a councillor from office.Mr Burton said he was amazed the issue had gone so far.He said: "I am very hurt by this. It was never discussed locally by the Labour group. They went straight to the Standards Board, which is appalling."It is about having a go at Tony Blair and myself."Far from warning about deselection, Mr Burton said he merely pointed out there was an election in the offing and the plan, to build 112 homes, was popular with residents.If it got the go-ahead, the developer, Rupert Beckwith-Moore, had pledged to provide land for a health centre, £448,000 to upgrade or rebuild schools, and £130,00 for all-weather sports pitches.Mr Blair had publicly supported the housing plan, which he said would tackle "urgent social problems" facing Trimdon, which is in the top ten per cent of the country's most deprived wards.Although he supported the scheme, Mr Burton declared a prejudicial interest and left the meeting last October because he had already discussed the issue publicly.The committee agreed with the advice of planning officers and rejected the scheme by 23 votes to 4.Mr Noble was not available for comment yesterday but other Labour councillors rallied to Mr Burton's side.County councillor Paul Trippett, deputy chairman of the Sedgefield branch, said most Labour party members were 100 per cent behind Mr Burton.He said: "I am absolutely appalled at the treatment that John Burton has had at the hands of certain sections of Sedgefield Borough Council."This is down to just one or two people, and it should have been kept strictly in house."All John Burton has ever tried to do is to help and support the people of Trimdon Village. This is all he was doing here, but the support of the borough council wasn't forthcoming."A Standards Board spokeswoman said an investigation was under way.She said: "The allegations include an alleged failure to treat other councillors with respect and allegedly seeking to improperly influence a decision in which he had a prejudicial interest."  more...

Dachsund facing dangerous dog death sentence

A MINIATURE sausage dog is facing a possible death sentence after nipping a neighbour's ankle.   more...

Teenager lucky to escape after stranger stabbing

A TEENAGE boy escaped serious injury after being stabbed by a stranger.   more...

Safety warning after gas leak scare

A GAS supplier has urged residents to check their appliances after families had to be evacuated from their homes because of a suspected leak.A number of homes were plunged into darkness in the Friday night incident.The authorities were alerted after reports of a strong smell of gas coming from a house in Marsden Walk, off Longfield Road, Darlington.A couple, both believed to be in their 80s, who were sleeping upstairs, were rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus before being given oxygen and taken to hospital. They have since been discharged.It was later found that a gas cooker had been left on unlit, possibly for several hours.A spokeswoman for United Utilities said appliances should be checked to ensure they were not left on.She said: "In the event of a suspected gas leak, we would advise people to turn the gas supply off immediately, then if necessary evacuate the building. Contact the gas supplier and emergency services if necessary."Doors and windows should be opened, and people should not turn electrical switches on or off, smoke or use open flames when there is a suspected leak.Gas appliances should be checked annually by a Corgi registered engineer.In the event of a suspected gas leak, the national emergency number is 0800-111-999.  more...

Motorbike crash son 'touched by God'

A FATHER has said his son must have been "touched by the hand of God" as he fought back from injuries no one thought he could survive.Mark Upton, 27, suffered brain damage, paralysis and shattered his leg, hip, arm and pelvis in a million-to-one chance collision with his brother in a field in Darlington last April.Mark spent two months in a coma, and it was six months before he could be taken home from the hospital in Middlesbrough on a stretcher.He has earned the nicknames Miracle Man and Lazarus at The James Cook University Hospital, where he was treated.Yesterday, almost ten months after the accident, Mark's father, Leslie Upton, said both Mark and his brother, Lee, 32 - who was also badly injured in the crash - were doing well, but Mark had a "long way to go".Mr Upton said: "When the air ambulance came to get Mark he was in his death throes. People injured as badly as Mark don't normally live."Mark and Lee were using off-road motorbikes in a field behind Darlington's Red Hall estate.They had been riding for a while when they started to head towards each other.They tried to move out of each other's way twice but each time chose the same direction - and as a result collided at a combined speed of up to 90mph.Although both were wearing helmets, the brothers suffered severe injuries.Mark was airlifted to hospital in Middlesbrough and paramedics thought he would not survive the journey.However, he was alive when he arrived at The James Cook University Hospital, but he was still classed as "non-survivable" in accident and emergency.Once again, Mark defeated the odds and lived through the night - before enduring a long operation the next day.Paramedics on the air ambulance asked the police to help airlift Lee to hospital. He had fractures to his face and leg.Paramedic Jane Peacock was one of those first on the scene.She said: "Straight away we realised both were seriously injured, especially Mark, who was unconscious and in a bad state. Head injuries are so unpredictable and his were significant."I couldn't believe it when he lived."Months later, Mrs Peacock visited Mark at The James Cook University Hospital.She said: "He was talking and I was chuffed to bits. His recovery has been amazing. If you get one case like this a year it makes everything worthwhile."The brothers are being cared for by their parents at the family's home in Mill Lane, Darlington.Mr Upton said: "They call Mark Miracle Man and Lazarus at James Cook Hospital."I am not the only one who thinks he must have been touched by the hand of God."The surgeon told me 'there were two of us working on him'.Mr Upton paid tribute to the medical staff at James Cook and also the air ambulance.He said: "They don't know if Mark will ever fully recover. We were told three months ago that he would never walk again, but he has started moving with a zimmer frame."Mark has amazed us all how far he has come, but there is still a long, long way to go."  more...

Big Brother hopefuls flock to North-East

BIG Brother came to Toon yesterday, with hundreds of hopefuls undeterred by the Jade Goody race-row controversy.As public figures queued up to add their views on the storm over the bullying by Goody and fellow contestants in the Celebrity Big Brother series, the next batch of would-be contenders lined up to win a place in the next series.More than 1,000 self-confessed extroverts, oddballs, and fame-seekers travelled to Newcastle from across the region and beyond, aiming to impress judges from production company Endemol UK,All were prepared to put up with the January weather, queuing in match-day fashion outside St James' Park in the hope of landing a place in the Big Brother house when the next non-celebrity series is aired in the summer.They hoped it would be the first stride to follow in the footsteps of previous North-East contestants Jonny Regan, Michelle Bass, Narinder Kaur, and 2005 winner Anthony Hutton, from Consett, County Durham.Student Dorian Bell, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, thought dressing as a geisha girl might catch the eye of the judges."It took about an hour-and-a-half to get ready, but I think I stand out from the crowd," he said.Twenty-year-olds Kirsty Tatham and Jason Cameron, from Darlington, said they were merely seeking to "spice it up" by adding the missing ingredient, the much-needed "bit of Darlo" to the show.Thirty-one-year-old Robert Price, from Hartlepool, who joined the queue at 2.45am, said he wanted to show "all poor people aren't thick and bigoted".Among those decrying recent events in the Big Brother house over the weekend was the Archbishop of York.Delivering the 20th Martin Luther King Memorial Lecture, in London, Dr John Sentamu called for the country to "cast out the four modern demons" - idolatry, materialism, militarism and racism.Dr Sentamu, who turned down an invitation to appear on Celebrity Big Brother when asked in October, quoted Dr King's famous dictum: "Ignorance is the root of all prejudice."He added: "As the week's events on reality television demonstrate, there is an ugly underbelly in society only too ready to point the finger at the foreigner, or those who might not fit in."Goody gave a tearful interview in a Sunday newspaper yesterday in which she admitted she was a bully and that the treatment housemate Shilpa Shetty received had been racist.The Channel 4 board will meet today to discuss the future of Celebrity Big Brother.Senior managers will brief the board's eight non-executive members on the network's handling of the damaging bullying and racism row.  more...

Museum shows off its X appeal

THE ABC of art is outlined in an exhibition that opened at a gallery at the weekend.Forty artists and craftspeople were invited to create a interpretation of their favourite letter. The result features the 26 letters of the alphabet appearing in all shapes and forms, including bread, at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, in Durham.Dennis Hardingham, the museum's exhibitions and events officer, said: "It's certainly a show for visitors to enjoy and have fun with."There are letters to admire, letters to question and to answer, letters working for art and business, and letters doing what they do best, being letters."Exhibits are made of wood, metal, slate, stone, and even growing plants.They are sculpted, drawn, carved, cut and stitched in needle-point, calligraphy and printed.The Chosen Letter runs alongside X Marks the Spot, an exhibition of work by people with learning disabilities, in the Aykley Heads museum until March 4.During the school half-term holiday next month, free workshops inspired by the exhibition will be staged for visitors aged five and over.Under-11s must be accompanied, with the workshops running for anything between ten minutes and two hours.Call the museum on 0191-384 2214.  more...

Dales Diary saluted as the best on TV

VIEWERS have named Luke Casey's long-running series The Dales Diary as the region's favourite TV show.The poll to find the best programme was carried out by the Royal Television Society's North-East and Border Centre for its 20th anniversary celebrations.There was also an honour for presenter and producer Eric Robson, marking three decades of success in series such as Out Of Town and as presenter of BBC Radio Four's Gardeners' Question Time.Luke Casey, who has presented his countryside chronicle The Dales Diary for the past 16 years, collected the viewers' vote award at the star-studded awards ceremony at The Sage, in Gateshead, on Saturday.Others among the top five shows were the Robson Green ITV1 thriller series Wire In The Blood, Our Friends In The North, Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Highway.Robson Green did not go home empty-handed because he picked up an award in the best drama or entertainment category for Wire In The Blood for the second year running.He was among the guest presenters, who included Emmerdale actress Charlie Hardwick and former North East Tonight presenter Mike Neville.The first regional awards, staged in 1987 at Newcastle's Tyneside Cinema, were attended by just 150 people. This year's event, hosted by newsreader Nicholas Owen, attracted about 700 guests to make the event the biggest TV awards show outside London.Eric Robson took home the centre award, which recognises a contribution to the broadcast and media community over a period of years.Collecting the award, he said it was fantastic to be honoured in this way."But much more important than an honour is how these awards have grown in scope and quality," he said. "This is a place to be reckoned with. London had better watch out we are on their tail."Patrick Collerton, maker of award-winning documentary The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off, collected another award. His company, YIPP Films, won best factual production (higher budget category) with C4's The Town That's Looking For Love.The BBC's David Morrison carried off the best journalist trophy and his undercover report Inside Out, about Sunderland's parking attendants, was named best factual production in the lower budget category.New media was celebrated for the first time, with games company Euctechnyx taking the honours for Big Mutha Truckers 2. The moving image company of the year went to Mere Mortals, of Newcastle.Two trophies were awarded in the best production for a target audience because of the quality of entries - Boro TV won for its best-selling football DVD Lucky Slaven and IF Films for My World.Best promotional production was won by Twenty First Century Media for an in-store DVD about the Tommy Tippee feeding bottle.The best craft award went to Steven Boyle, director with Dene Films, and best animation to Matt Turner, 3D artist with Hartlepool-based Qurios Entertainment.The best musical trophy was awarded to composer Steve Luck.Student awards were won by Lauren Hunter, of Sunderland University, with Gagging For Sex, which was named best factual production.Darren Home and Matt Thompson, of Cumbria Institute of the Arts, won best non-factual production for Pro Patria Mori. Mark Bell, of Northumbria University, won best animation for Skin Cell.  more...

Woman killed walking across highway

ONE pedestrian died and another was badly injured in two accidents on the same road at the weekend.A 40-year-old woman pedestrian died after she was in collision with a car on the A1231 Sunderland Highway, in Washington, Wearside, early yesterday.Police said she had left the nearside verge, stepping into the eastbound road, near the junction with Barmston Way, when the accident took place, involving a Volkswagen Pasat, at about 1.45am.A stretch of the road was closed in the vicinity of the accident for almost four hours while police investigators began inquiries at the scene.Police were withholding the woman's identity yesterday, as efforts were being made to contact family members to inform them of the tragedy.Less than 24 hours earlier, another pedestrian was hit by two vehicles on the westbound carriageway of the highway, nearer its junction with the A19.The 21-year-old man, from the Teesside area, was in collision with a Peugeot 807 people carrier, on the slip road with Pattinson Road, Washington.He was flung into the path of a Fiat Ducato, on the A1231, suffering serious multiple injuries, including fractures to both legs and head and back injuries.Both motorists, who were heading westbound, were shaken, but contacted emergency services, following the incident at about 2.45am on Saturday.The victim was detained in Sunderland Royal Hospital over the weekend, but his injuries were not said to be life threatening.Northumbria Police has made appeals for witnesses to both accidents, and anyone with information is asked to contact motor patrols investigators on 0845-604-3043, ext 66331.In another weekend road accident, a pensioner was killed crossing a road not far from her Tyneside home.The 89-year-old woman, from Throckley, near Newcastle, died at the city's general hospital from injuries suffered in the collision involving a Mercedes van.The accident occurred in the westbound carriageway of Newburn Road, near the junction of Station Road, Newcastle, on Saturday at about 9.30am.Witnesses are asked to ring police on 0191-214-6555, ext 62772, or 62780.  more...

Without the air ambulance, more lives would be lost

Air ambulances have been credited with saving an increasing number of heart attack patients in the region, but they also play a vital role in increasing the survival chances of victims of serious accidents. Oliva Richwald reports.THERE are two rescue mission last year that stand out for Great North Air Ambulance Service paramedic Jane Peacock.Both were serious, freak accidents in which the victims might have died without prompt - almost on-the-spot - medical care.One involved motorcyclist Mark Upton, who nearly died after colliding with his brother who was riding another off-road bike in a field, in Darlington.The other victim was little Rosie Wright, who was thrown into the air when the Dreamscape art installation broke free of its moorings in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, last summer.Mrs Peacock, 41, who is based with the crew at Durham Tees Valley Airport, said: "I didn't think either Mark Upton or Rosie would survive - they were both so lucky. Rosie's recovery has been amazing, she has done really well."It hit home with me because I have two kids of my own."When the air ambulance landed at Chester-le-Street, Mrs Peacock spotted a familiar face in the crowd - Peter Evans, the anaesthetist who saved Rosie's life.Mrs Peacock said: "He was in his normal clothes - I recognised him, then it dawned on me who he was."She rushed over to him, and Mr Evans managed to anaesthetise Rosie on site, before she was rushed to hospital in Newcastle.The Great North Air Ambulance flew more than 700 missions last year from Berwick to Bedale and Wallsend to Whitehaven.A highlight in May was a £100,000 legacy left by an anonymous donor, which led to the reinstatement of the grounded Northumberland helicopter.The Great North service has also started offering training to boost its coffers.Chief executive Grahame Pickering said: "We would like to say thank-you on behalf of all those who will need this life-saving service in the coming year and please keep supporting us in the coming months and years."Three-year-old Rosie, from Langley Park, near Durham City, was badly injured when the giant inflatable broke its moorings at Riverside Park in July.Mr Evans, from Sunderland, who was passing by, tended to the youngster by securing an airway before administering pain-killing drugs.He then travelled in the helicopter with Rosie from the park to the hospital, where she remained in a coma for four days. In October last year, health bosses said the air ambulance service was helping to save the lives of heart attack victims by getting them to hospital in a fraction of the time it would take by road.  more...

Soldier is killed in Iraq bombing

A British soldier was killed when a roadside bomb struck his patrol vehicle in southern Iraq yesterday.Four soldiers were also injured, one seriously, in the incident which took place in the northern part of Basra, said the Ministry of Defence.The dead soldier, who has not been named, was serving with 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry, as part of a unit attached to 1st Battalion the Staffordshire Regiment.The five were travelling in a Warrior armoured personnel carrier patrol in the north of the city. It is unclear whether the casualties were dismounted at the time of the attack.The patrol was carrying out routine duties when the bomb detonated.The death brings the number of UK service personnel who have died since the start of hostilities in 2003 to 130.It came the day after 19 Americans were killed in military operations in Iraq.  more...

Two-year-old hoodie banned

A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy has been banned from a shop because he was wearing a hoodie.   more...

Look back on 140 years of policing

ARCHIVE material has gone on show charting the development of a North-East police force during its 140-year history.Back on the Borough Beat is a display of photographs and memorabilia relating to policing in the Sunderland area, taken from the collection of the North-Eastern Police History Society.The society aims to preserve the history of all police forces in the region, from the early days of the Peelers up to more recent expansion and mergers.Back on the Borough Beat, which has opened at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, features an early image portraying the oddities of the uniform issued to officers in the pioneering policing era.Harry Wynne, chairman and historical information officer for the society, said: "The society has a significant collection of photographs, items of uniform, helmets and even some cutlasses, which were issued to officers before 1900."The exhibition also includes the only photograph we know of showing a Sunderland police officer wearing a top hat as part of his uniform."The earliest photograph on display is of police constable number 35 George Rutherford Maddison, who joined the force on November 11, 1858.PC Maddison's great, great grandson still lives in the Sunderland area.The exhibition, in the museum's second floor Open Space gallery, runs until February 25.Opening times are 10am until 5pm, on Monday to Saturday, and from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday. Admission is free.The society is appealing for information about any artefacts or memorabilia relating to any force in the region. People can submit ideas to www.nepolicehistory.com  more...

Good Samaritan picked the wrong person to aid in scuffle

A GOOD Samaritan chose the wrong person to defend when he saw two men scuffling on the ground.Martin Daniel had just caught Michael Miller trying to steal his valuable mountain bike and had him in a head-lock.But the unknown do-gooder wrongly thought Mr Daniel was the crook and pushed him off Miller.A court heard how the man's intervention allowed 21-year-old Miller to escape on the £3,500 mountain bike.Miller took the custom-built bike from outside a takeaway at a shopping precinct in Hemlington, Middlesbrough.Mr Daniel, a bike mechanic who works for Halfords, was picking up a pizza when Miller struck on August 22.He left the bike briefly while he ordered the meal, but returned to guard it while his pizza was being cooked.Miller struck up a conversation with Mr Daniel for a few minutes, and took the bike when the owner went into the shop to collect his order.Mr Daniel chased him, caught up with him and tackled the thief off the bike and put him in a headlock.Teesside Crown Court heard how the passer-by thought Mr Daniel was trying to steal the bike from Miller and tried to help.Anthony Dunne, prosecuting, said: "The defendant took advantage of this to get onto the bike and ride off on it."The bike, which was not recovered, was valuable to him because he had built it himself out of premium parts."Miller, of Burghley Court, Hemlington, was later picked out in an identification parade.He told police he had been drunk and could not be bothered to walk home, and that he sold the bike for £50.Peter Wishlade, in mitigation, said Miller had the chance of a £300-a-week job with his girlfriend's father, and was beating his heroin habit. Miller, who admitted theft, was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the community.Judge Les Spittle told him: "You are on the threshold of a new life. There is a job to start in February and it seems to pay extremely well. I hope you are worth it. I hope he feels you are worth it."  more...

MP will back hospital fight despite call for resignation

CALLS for a North-East Labour MP to resign in the wake of plans to close hospitals were last night shrugged off.Iain Wright told The Northern Echo he would continue to fight for residents to get the best deal after the Government's announcement to close the University Hospital of Hartlepool.But campaigners said the MP should step down in protest to the plans.Last week, a Government-appointed panel revealed it had rejected a plan to upgrade maternity and children's services at the Hartlepool hospital. Instead, North Tees University Hospital, in Stockton, will become the main centre for women and children's services. Both will later be merged.But the report caused a storm of protest in Hartlepool. Campaigners said it went against a promise made in 2004 by Tony Blair to keep the hospital open.At the time, Mr Wright presented a 32,000-signature petition at Westminster in support of Hartlepool hospital.But Hartlepool UK Independence Party councillor, Stephen Allison, last night called for Mr Wright to "show leadership to the people of Hartlepool and resign". He said "If Iain Wright has any shred of honour or integrity he will resign from the Labour Party in protest over the announcement by his Government that Hartlepool Hospital is to close."Mr Wright is reportedly bitterly disappointed over the decision, however the statement he released had very little on what he could now do to continue the fight and seemed too concentrated on assuring his Labour Party masters that he would remain loyal to them."No one with any self respect stays in an abusive relationship and this is exactly the type of relationship that now exists between Labour and the Hartlepool voters. "If Mr Wright is to show any leadership he must resign from the Labour Party and sit in the House of Commons as an independent Save our Hospital MP."But Mr Wright said: "I think the actions over the past few days, weeks and months, of the Save our Hospital campaigners have always been an anti-Labour vehicle as opposed to actually trying to save it."What I want to do is make sure the people of Hartlepool get the best deal. What I will say is the battle has been lost, but the war is still ongoing."  more...

Donation saves the music

AN ENSEMBLE which   more...

Taking the lead to collar the region’s next pup idol

ENTRIES are flowing in for   more...

Lottery funds an incredible chronicle of firefighting

THE effects of a devastating   more...