Stories for 25 January 2007

The Northern Echo News

Diggers 'not to blame' for error

COUNCIL gravediggers have said they are not to blame for an administrative error which meant a grave was not dug in time for a funeral.Dozens of mourners at the funeral of 83-year-old Ethel Hird were left waiting in the cold for her grave to be prepared at West Cemetery, in Darlington, on Monday.It is believed a council official did not open an email instructing workers when and where the grave should have been dug.Darlington Borough Council said the mistake was down to a communication error.However, the "front-line" workers have insisted they are not to blame and the fault lay further up the chain of command.One of the gravediggers, who did not wish to be named, said: "Someone didn't open an email. We don't know what we've got to do until we're told."We're very professional, it wasn't us that bungled."The grave was eventually dug after mourners waited for nearly an hour.However, at one point, they were told they may have to come back in the afternoon.The family of Mrs Hird said the events of the day left them deeply distressed.Alan Docherty, the secretary for the Darlington branch of Unison, reiterated that the gravediggers, who work for the council's Street Scene department, were not at fault.He said: "Obviously, this is a very sensitive issue and we don't want to make too much out of it. There is yet to be an investigation into who was responsible for this error or why it happened. "However, I do know it was not the workers on the front line "They too were shocked and embarrassed by this occurrence."On Monday, the council released a statement unreservedly apologising to Mrs Hird's family and friends for the blunder and saying it was due to communication errors.The authority has promised to review its procedures to ensure the mistake is never repeated.Last night, a council spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate for the council to comment any further on the matter.  more...

Magpies star's praise for home turf

NEWCASTLE United goalkeeper Steve Harper was preaching the virtues of healthy living yesterday as he attended an awareness event at his former school.Harper returned to Easington Community School to look at plans for a healthy living resource centre in the County Durham town, and help a group of pupils improve their football skills.The visit was the second in a series of events planned to raise awareness of the centre, and gain an understanding of what facilities residents would like to see.Earlier this year, a health map revealed that Easington was one of the ten most unhealthy places in the UK, but the Magpies star was keen to point out the merits of an area also badly affected by unemployment.Building work will begin later this year at the former Waterworks building on Easington Colliery's Paradise Lane, and it is hoped the venue will be open to the public by October."This is going to be a big bonus for Easington," said Harper. "It's nice to dispel some of the myths about Easington and show that the town does have some good points."This will improve the standard of living for people here and that's great. "It will help to improve some of the statistics that do not reflect well on the town."County Durham Primary Care Trust has secured funding for the £750,000 refurbishment, and is working in partnership with the District of Easington Council, Northumbrian Water and the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder.  more...

Proposals to recognise Bevin Boys 'will be made in weeks'

PROPOSALS to recognise the "extraordinary work" of conscripted Second World War miners will be published in the next few weeks, the Prime Minister said yesterday.Tony Blair made the announcement in response to calls for medals for the Bevin Boys, young men conscripted towards the end of the war to replace miners who had been called up.About 48,000 men worked in the mines between 1943 and 1948 under a scheme devised by Minister for Labour Ernest Bevin.They were conscripted into the mines after a massive slump in coal production, but their former jobs were not held open for them.At Commons question time yesterday, Labour's Neil Turner (Wigan) said: "During the war, many men were conscripted into the pits and performed a vital role in the war effort."Can you see that this is recognised by the award of a medal for these Bevin Boys as quickly as possible so they can wear it with deserved pride?"Mr Blair said: "Over the next few weeks, we will be announcing proposals in order to give recognition to the Bevin Boys and the extraordinary work they did in service of their country in the Second World War."They worked often in very, very dangerous and difficult conditions underground and, as a result of their work of course, we were able to sustain our war efforts, so it would be entirely right that we find an appropriate way of recognising their service."The Prime Minister's comments delighted Kevan Jones, Labour MP for Durham North, who led a Commons debate last summer on the Bevin Boys.Mr Jones said last night: "I warmly welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to recognising the contribution that the Bevin Boys made in the Second World War."I have raised this issue on a number of occasions, arguing for a badge of honour, but we will have to wait to see what the details will be."Famous Bevin Boys have included entertainers Jimmy Savile and Eric Morecambe.  more...

Children save dad in pool

A MAN who suffered a seizure while swimming has praised the quick thinking of his children who saved his life.Martin Limon, of Burwell Road, Middlesbrough, started to sink to the bottom of the pool at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, on Sunday when the attack happened.However, his two children quickly realised what was happening and managed to keep his head above water until lifeguards dived in to help.The proud father said nine-year-old Matthew and Sarah, ten, had given him the best birthday present ever.Mr Limon, who turned 41 on Tuesday, said: "I know everybody thinks their kids are great, but what they did was fantastic. I had been in the pool about five minutes when I started to feel a bit strange. I thought I would be OK, but the next thing I remember is waking up in the ambulance."The family were at the pool with Mr Limon's friend, Nick Carling, who witnessed the drama.The 40-year-old, from Yarm, said: "Matthew saw Martin go down in the water, and immediately went to try to help him, and shouted at Sarah to help him."They both held him up out of the water so he could breathe, and shouted to the lifeguards. They potentially saved his life."If they had not seen him, he could have quietly gone under the water and no one might have noticed. They are unbelievable children."Martin, who works in retail, is still unsure whether he had an epileptic fit or a hypo attack caused by his diabetes."Either way, they saved me. They are absolutely priceless," he said.Sarah was a great help to medical staff on Sunday by recalling exactly what her father had eaten for breakfast and what his blood sugar level had been.As well as being thankful to his children, Mr Limon was full of praise for the lifeguards. He said: "They really were impeccable."A spokesman for the Dolphin Centre said: "All of our staff in that area are Royal Lifesaving Society trained."When they saw what happened, they got the man out of the pool and gave him first aid at the poolside while the ambulance came."Afterwards, they got in touch with him to make sure everything was all right, and we spoke to him again on Monday, and he said he was delighted with the response of the staff."  more...

£680,000 project to revive 'biggest green in Europe'

FOR a former pit village with a population of less than three thousand, West Auckland has more than its fair share of claims to fame.The local football team won the first World Cup, in 1909, and notorious killer Mary Anne Cotton lived in the County Durham village at the time of many of her crimes in the 1800s.The village green, around which her infamous old house still stands, is supposedly the largest in Europe.Yesterday, an exhibition opened at the Village Centre to showcase a £680,000 conservation project which could revive the green and the surrounding area.Homeowners and businesses can apply for grants towards repairs and restoration on a first come, first served basis, which it is hoped will lead to a return to the traditional character.The project has been hailed as one of the biggest events for years in the village, where a bypass is currently being built.Councillor Andy Turner, of West Auckland Parish Council, was at yesterday's exhibition to see the plans.He said: "I think this is the beginning of a really good year for West Auckland. For so long, this has been an area that's been forgotten - the land that time forgot. But this is a really good start in changing that."Roof, masonry and window repairs, as well as work to reinstate original river cobbles and York stone paving, will be carried out under the Partnership Schemes in the Conservation Areas' Grants Scheme.English Heritage has contributed £225,000 towards the scheme, with £200,000 from Durham County Council, £60,000 from Wear Valley District Council and £15,000 from West Auckland Parish Council. Homeowners and businesses are putting £176,000 into the scheme. Mary Bayles, 89, has lived in the village all her life, and has applied for a grant for her cottage opposite the green."It could be made a lovely little place," she said. "It has been a bit of a place years and years ago, with Mary Ann Cotton and the World Cup, so this is brilliant."Her daughter, Elaine, is also seeking money to restore her home, in East Green, which was built in the 1690s.She said: "I think it'll be worthwhile. It's the biggest village green in Europe, and it will make it more inviting for people who come through."Another exhibition will be held between 2pm and 6pm today, and the plans are on display until February 7. Tamsin Harrison, urban design officer for Durham County Council, said: "It's a once-only opportunity."  more...

Two sides of jobless blackspot revealed

A NORTH-EAST district has been named the third worst unemployment blackspot in the country.Easington district has confirmed its reputation in the survey showing the number of people claiming out of work payments and disability benefits.But the news comes on the same day as Seaham Hall Hotel in the east Durham area has been awarded a Michelin star - one of the most prestigious awards in the catering industry and only awarded to establishments serving the very best cuisine.The bleak unemployment statistic was revealed yesterday in a report created to mark the 25th anniversary of the moment the nation's unemployment figure broke through the three million barrier.Unveiling the findings of its report, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) described the situation in parts of Britain as "unacceptable".The think tank has urged the Government to do more to achieve Labour's manifesto pledge of full employment in every region by offering extra support on skills and childcare as well as giving more help to disabled people.A list of the worst-hit areas showed that the highest concentration of people claiming unemployment or disability benefits were in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales, with 21.3 per cent of claimants.Merthyr Tydfil, also in South Wales, scored 21.2 per cent, and Easington was third in the list with 20.1 per cent.Kate Stanley, associate director of the IPPR, welcomed a fall in last week's unemployment figures, but said there were still clearly pockets of Britain where full employment was proving very difficult to achieve.She said: "It requires us to target people living in deprived areas. "We also need the Government to focus on getting people the skills and childcare they need to get back to work and on using work-focused interviews to help people get off incapacity benefits."Easington MP John Cummings has already urged the introduction of a raft of initiatives to help boost employment in his constituency and attributed the high number of disability claimants to the area's industrial past.He said: "A high proportion of claimants in east Durham are suffering from long-term chronic illnesses and disability - a legacy of years working in the coal and other heavy industries."  more...

District councils to argue against unitary move

DISTRICT council leaders will today unveil details of their alternative bid to reshape the future of local government in County Durham.Today marks the deadline for local authorities to put their case to Local Government Minister Ruth Kelly ahead of a proposed shake-up of the two-tier council system in the shire counties.At present, Durham County Council controls services such as education, highways and social services, while Durham's seven district and borough councils are responsible for services such as housing, leisure and refuse - a system that critics believe is expensive, confusing and inefficient.Durham County Council has already submitted proposals to abolish the eight existing councils and replace them with one single unitary authority - a move which it says could save up to £21m a year.However, senior figures from six of the seven district councils - all Labour-controlled - are expected to outline their alternative vision for the future of County Durham at a meeting in Chester-le-Street this morning.The districts' submission is expected to argue the case for Pathfinder status - in which the existing two tiers of council would remain, but would find ways to share services.The districts are expected to argue that this would improve services without causing disruption.They are also expected to suggest that a single authority covering the entire 500,000 population of County Durham would be too remote from the communities it serves.Meanwhile, the remaining district - Lib-Dem-controlled Durham City Council - yesterday came out in favour of the same option and said it would write to the Secretary of State.City council leader Fraser Reynolds said the authority wanted to continue with its work to improve services without being side-tracked by setting up a new organisation.He said: "In theory, there should be savings but there is no evidence that large unitary authorities will ultimately save money - most re-organisations don't."  more...

Reid: Terrorism control orders 'are full of holes'

HOME Secretary John Reid was under fire last night after admitting the Government's flagship policy to control terror suspects was "weak" and full of "holes".Speaking to journalists at Westminster, Mr Reid admitted control orders - imposed on 18 people suspected of planning bombings - were unable to prevent the suspects escaping.The admission follows the embarrassment of a third suspect absconding while he was the subject of an order, which impose a type of house arrest.At the time of the escape last week, the Home Office described control orders - introduced two years ago when Parliament debated through the night - as essential.But, Mr Reid said yesterday: "They are weak, they are hard for the police to implement, they involve massive manpower from the police and security services to try to carry out surveillance."They have got holes all through them, if people are allowed to go out six or seven hours a day."Mr Reid went much further than his previous statements about control orders, which he had described merely to be "flawed".The Home Office suffered a defeat last year when a court ruled an 18-hour curfew was a breach of liberty, forcing ministers to reduce the time period to 14 hours.But the disappearance of the latest terror suspect led to criticisms that the police - rather than the legislation - were at fault.The 26-year-old British man was understood to have given police the slip after entering a mosque in Manchester and receiving help from an accomplice to leave through a back door.He is still at large, as are two other men - a British citizen and an Iraqi, who absconded at the end of last year.Mr Reid's comments were part of a concerted attack on the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats for opposing even tougher anti-terror laws.The Home Secretary is finalising new anti-terror legislation, but has come close to ruling out a fresh attempt to increase the detention without charge of suspects to 90 days.Control orders were introduced after the law lords ruled that emergency laws to indefinitely detain foreign terror suspects, introduced after the September 11 attacks, were illegal.Mr Reid made clear he would much prefer to detain terror suspects, or deport those from overseas to their countries of origin.Blaming the opposition parties for closing off those options, he said: "I feel frustrated that all I am left with to try to counter suspected terrorists is control orders."But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said the Conservatives had warned of the problems when the party criticised control orders two years ago.He said: "We explicitly offered the government the option of keeping these individuals in custody until they could come up with a more satisfactory solution."They turned us down and now we have terror suspects on the run."  more...

Hello Danny as town hall hosts star's comeback

A West End entertainer, adored by celebrities and royalty, is to swap sold-out theatres around the globe for a North-East town hall performance as he makes a comeback from illness.This Easter - for one night only - theatre and television star Danny La Rue will take to the stage in front of only 200 people at Spennymoor Town Hall.After cancelling most of his scheduled performances last year, following a minor stroke, the comedian is gradually making his comeback on the entertainment circuit.On Saturday, April 7, he will be the headline act at the town hall, in County Durham, for an event organised by friends in the region.The veteran entertainer - who prefers to be called a comic in a frock rather than a drag artist - will talk about a lifetime in showbusiness.At the height of his career, in the 1970s and 1980s, he became one of the nation's favourite stars of stage and screen and the world's most famous female impersonator.He has entertained the Queen at three Royal Variety Performances, starred in smash-hit West End shows and was awarded an OBE in 2002 for his entertainment and charitable work.He also performed at his own nightclub, in Hanover Square, where patrons included Princess Margaret, Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Marlene Dietrich.When he appears at Spennymoor, he is expected to perform songs from the musical Hello Dolly and La Cage Aux Folles.Despite being used to performing in front of 10,000 people at the London Palladium, organisers believe La Rue -who will be 80 in July - will welcome the intimate atmosphere at Spennymoor Town Hall.Host Geoffrey Hindmarch said: "I've worked with Danny before, when he has performed in Newcastle and Darlington and he really loves North audiences. They are really warm and appreciative."I don't think there was a star he didn't know, from Frank Sinatra to Judy Garland."The black-tie event will also feature soprano Marilyn Hill Smith and comedian Dan O'Reilly and guests will enjoy a three-course meal and dancing. Tickets are £27.50 from 01325-317383.  more...

Wartime flyer returns to his squadron after 60 years

A WARTIME airman has been reunited with his squadron for the first time in more than 60 years.During the Second World War, Colin Denwood served with 207 Squadron, which suffered some of the heaviest casualties in Bomber Command.As a wireless operator, he flew in Lancasters and, despite a number of close calls, he survived a full tour of duty.Now 84, he lives in retirement in Whitehaven, but yesterday, he returned to his old squadron, which now trains pilots at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, in North Yorkshire.He showed the trainees the once-secret copies of his flight logs and, in return they gave him a trip down memory lane in the squadron's history room.The pilots also gave him a chance to sit in a Tucano trainer and, although it was 62 years since he sat in a cockpit, the smells and still-familiar instruments brought the memories flooding back.He recalled appalling losses during 1944 when his squadron saw 161 aircrew fail to return in three months. During a raid on Konigsburg, Prussia, his plane was shot at by a fighter plane and the fuel tanks were riddled with holes. They jettisoned their bombs and headed for the nearest landfall, in Scotland.Mr Denwood said: "The Lancaster would fly on one engine if it had to, but the crew calculated we had just enough to make it to Kinloss in the Moray Firth."Talk about accurate planning. The port side engines cut out as soon as we touched down - the tanks were completely dry. After a month of repairs we went back to collect our aircraft but that was the last time we flew it as a crew."  more...

Bone Idol: Could your dog be a pup star?

A POPULAR drama group is   more...

Miss Durham runs into sponsorship brick wall

A TEENAGE beauty   more...

Prove you're old enough to drink, store tells Jack, 87

AT 87, Jack Archer thought his days of being asked to prove his age at the checkout were long gone.But he was shocked - and flattered - when a worker at his local supermarket asked if he was old enough to buy a bottle of sherry.Mr Archer is one of a number of bemused pensioners to be asked for identification to prove they are over 18 at Morrisons, in Acomb, York.Staff have been ordered to adopt the hardline stance after the supermarket was reprimanded for selling alcohol to an under-18.Mr Archer, a former Lord Mayor of York, said: "I don't think I look my age, but they must have known I'm not under 18 - it's just silly."The girl said she had to ask how old I was. I was totally stumped and just said, "I'm over 80 - will that do? I don't blame the individual staff because they are just obeying instructions. I should think they get a few complaints, though."Don Parlabean, 70, chairman of York Older People's Assembly, was also asked for identification while trying to buy alcohol at the store."I think it's a ridiculous policy," he said. "Surely the staff can use a bit of common sense? You don't need to ask someone in their 70s and 80s if they are old enough to buy booze."When they asked if I was old enough, I offered to show them my bus pass."I've known people to be really put out by being asked for identification."A spokeswoman for Morrisons said: "Store staff are trained to be highly vigilant in the sale of alcohol and the detection of potential under-age purchases."The question is not being asked to cause offence and no disrespect is intended."We simply wish to make sure that we satisfy our moral and legal obligations with regard to the sale of alcohol."As a member of the Retail Alcohol Standards Group, we take our responsibility with regard to selling alcohol very seriously and have procedures in place designed to ensure that we meet all legal requirements."  more...

Losers win in photo-finish fiasco

BOOKIES were left counting the cost yesterday when the wrong racehorse was declared the winner of a tight photo-finish.Judge Alastair Stewart delighted backers of 12-1 shot Classic Capers when he announced the horse had won the 2.40pm Weatherbys Bank North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.The only problem was, the horse came second to Bang And Blame, a 10-1 chance.The judge made the mistake while looking at video pictures of the photo-finish. Despite quickly correcting the error, bookmakers had already begun paying out on bets placed on Classic Capers.Racing rules meant they then had to pay out on the correct winner as well. Jonjo Sanderson, clerk of the course at Catterick, said: "It was a very tight finish and he called it the wrong way round."I'm not sure how many people took their money back and, I guess on this occasion, the punters have won. Thankfully, it didn't go on too long, maybe just a couple of minutes. He quickly realised his mistake and corrected it."Witnesses said there was surprise around the course when Classic Capers was named the winner.Cherry Coward, daughter of Bang And Blame trainer Mick Easterby, from Sheriff Hutton, near York, said: "Michael McAlister (the jockey) thought he had won so we were slightly surprised when they called the other one."At least they corrected it in time though, and there is no harm done. It's just human error."We are so pleased as he is such a game horse."Malcolm Jefferson, from Norton, North Yorkshire, who trains Classic Capers, was not too upset."To be honest I thought we had got beat looking at the television," he said.The judge said it was the first time in 19 years he had announced the wrong result.  more...

Our jails run out of room for criminals

CONVICTED prisoners had to be held in North-East police cells over the weekend because the region's jails had reached bursting point, The Northern Echo can reveal.Yesterday, it emerged that Home Secretary John Reid, Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer and Attorney General Lord Goldsmith wrote to judges and magistrates urging them to send only the most dangerous and persistent criminals to prison, in an attempt to relieve the crisis.The letter led to the Prison Reform Trust accusing the Government of "criminal negligence" in allowing jails to become so overcrowded.Durham Constabulary confirmed last night that a small number of convicted prisoners had been briefly held at a police station in North Durham following the reactivation last week of Operation Safeguard, the national contingency plan to ease pressure on the prison system.A force spokesman said: "In the past few days, the custody suite at one of our police stations has been used to hold a number of prisoners at various times."It should be stressed that any such prisoners held in police cells are there only as a stopgap measure - usually overnight - until appropriate places in the penal system are found."The Home Office has defended the ministers' letter, which was received by magistrates and judges yesterday, saying it was a necessary measure before plans to create a further 8,000 prison places were put in place in the spring.Mr Reid said: "It is necessary to a civilised society that those who are a danger to our society are put away."The public have a right to expect protection from violent and dangerous offenders. Prisons are an expensive resource that should be used to protect the public and to rehabilitate inmates and stop them re-offending."However, we should not be squandering taxpayers' money to monitor non-dangerous and less serious offenders."But Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "The Government has been guilty of criminal negligence to allow prisons to get into such a terrible mess."The trust named Northallerton Young Offenders' Institute and Durham Prison as two of the ten most overcrowded institutions in the country.Last month, Northallerton was only one prisoner short of its operational capacity of 252 prisoners - the maximum number that the Prison Service can hold without "serious risk to good order and security" - and nearly 100 more than its optimum level of 153 inmates.At the same time, HMP Durham was only 27 prisoners away from reaching its operational capacity of 981 and was holding more than 360 prisoners more than the level the Prison Service says is "the good, decent standard of accommodation that the service aspires to provide all prisoners".Kirklevington Grange Prison, near Yarm, had room for only three prisoners to fill a capacity of 223; Holme House Prison, at Stockton, had only 24 places left out of 994; Full Sutton, near York, had room for 19 prisoners out of a capacity of 604; Frankland Prison, near Durham City, had space for 15 prisoners out of a total of 744; and Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, near Barnard Castle, had space for 19 inmates out of a total of 458.Helen Attewell, regional spokeswoman for Smart Justice, said: "The North-East has become a net importer of prisoners."Smart solutions to crime have got to be based in the community. "Prisons are a hugely expensive resource and should be reserved for the most serious and violent criminals."  more...

Equine company takes stock after fire

A FARM and equine supplier has promised customers it is business as usual after a fire in its warehouse.   more...

Woman wrecks kitchen after following cleaning tip

A WOMAN wrecked her kitchen while following a cleaning tip which said that putting dishcloths in a microwaves killed off harmful bacteria.   more...

Barn blaze tackled

THE owner of an equestrian centre believes a fire in one of its hay barns this morning was started deliberately.   more...