Stories for 28 November 2007

The Northern Echo News

Green park at the centre of inquiry

IT could create up to 5,000 jobs   more...

Brown is trapped by ‘sleaze’

GORDON Brown was last night   more...

Labour chief insists he was unhappy about developer's donations

LABOUR chief fundraiser Jon Mendelsohn today insisted that he wrote to North-East property developer David Abrahams to arrange a personal meeting so he could inform him he was unhappy with the way he had disguised donations to the party.   more...

Key figures in the Labour donor row

The property   more...

Family of boat tragedy victims say they were safety conscious

THE family of two brothers killed in a boating tragedy off the North-East coast believe they would never have gone out that day if they had known about the poor weather conditions.   more...

Council leader survives confidence vote

DURHAM County Council leader Albert Nugent has survived a vote of confidence.   more...

Otter family delights walkers and experts

A FAMILY of otters is proving a   more...

Arsenal of weapons found at home, court told

POLICE who raided the home of a security firm boss found a small arsenal of weapons stashed in his garage.   more...

Jobs boost for Teesside planned

MORE than 500 jobs are expected to be created with a multi-million pound redevelopment on Teesside.   more...

Stars of grassroots sport in the spotlight

THE stars of grassroots sport will be honoured at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday night.   more...

North-East woman mauled to death by wild dogs

A NORTH-EAST woman has been mauled to death by a pack of wild dogs in Bulgaria, the Foreign Office confirmed today.   more...

Pompey manager arrested in anti-corruption probe

PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp was one of five men arrested today by detectives investigating corruption in the sport.   more...

Lound music led to violent exchange

VIOLENCE flared when a grandfather took action against a neighbour when late night music blared from his garden.   more...

Footbridge will imprive riverside access

A NEW footbridge which will improve walking and disabled access to the Durham riverside will be open by Christmas.   more...

Cash will help solve problem of travellers

RESIDENTS of a village in County Durham are being encouraged to discuss how to spend a £5,000 grant aimed at solving problems caused by travellers passing through the area.   more...

Yorkshire soldiers help seize million dollar drugs haul in Afghanistan

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment helped the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to seize 100kgs of opium with a street value of more than $1million US dollars in a raid in Lashkar Gar, Southern Afghanistan on Monday.   more...

MP vows to fight for seat after fears raised

AN MP has vowed to fight for his seat after it was revealed that plans are afoot to deselect him.Frank Cook, the Labour MP for Stockton North for 24 years, is rumoured to be facing deselection over concerns he spends too much time away from his constituency.But the veteran campaigner said: "This is a procedure which is always there. I actually stomped the highways and byways of the northern region supporting the suggestion of mandatory reselection."On this occasion, it seems to have penetrated deeper into the local party's attention. I am most certainly taking them on and will be fighting for the seat."In 2005, Mr Cook was returned with a majority of 12,437, but in January he will try to convince local party members that he is the right man to continue in the role.He said: "Next year, it will be 25 years I have represented this constituency."I am feeling better than ever, and plenty of people are still wanting to speak to me, so I certainly intend to carry on."Candidates are barred from speaking out during the selection process, but among the people the 72-year-old stalwart could face is former Government minister Barbara Roche.The former Blair cabinet member was rejected by her North London constituents in Hornsey and Wood Green at the last election.Stockton councillor Alex Cunningham is also understood to be one of the local activists being considered for the shortlist of prospective candidates.Another name being linked as a nominee is Teesside opera singer Suzannah Clarke.The soprano was a pivotal figure in attracting the BBC's Proms in The Park this year and is a celebrity in North Korea after she performed there in 2003.Saturday's local party meeting will produce a shortlist of candidates who will move on to the next round on January 12.The hustings, next year, where candidates lay out their political beliefs before members, will decide whether Mr Cook or one of his challengers will stand as their representative in the next General Election.  more...

Rescuers' anger over hoax hours after sea deaths

POLICE have questioned a man about an elaborate hoax that cost tens of thousands of pounds and involved more than 50 people in a major sea search.The man from Sunderland has been spoken to by police investigating the large-scale search on Friday night, which was triggered by a series of Mayday distress calls to the Humber Coastguard and came just hours after three people lost their lives in a genuine sea tragedy.During the 90-minute search between the rivers Tyne and Tees, a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland, was scrambled, along with four lifeboat crews from along the North-East coast.It is estimated about 50 people, including coastguard and lifeboat crews and four staff from Boulmer, were involved in the search - at a cost of more than £30,000.It was only when lifeboat crews, through their positioning equipment, managed to trace the distress calls from land, in the Sunderland area, that the hoax came to light.A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We have spoken to a man on South Tyneside in connection with this, but inquiries are continuing. The man is in his 40s and from the Sunderland area. All offences of this kind are taken very seriously."The hoaxer has been lambasted by the Humber Coastguard and the RNLI for causing the "sickening" waste of resources.A spokeswoman said hoax calls were not unusual, but said this one was taken so seriously because the hoaxer continually made contact with its operations centre via a VHF radio between 11.30pm and midnight on Friday.She said the hoaxer claimed a pleasure craft had sunk about 15 miles offshore, with three occupants having to take to a life raft.They were unable to give their position, but said they had been travelling from the Tyne to Hartlepool."It was completely malicious and a waste of everyone's time, and it was putting people's lives at risk," she said."We do get hoaxes from mobile phones, but coming over the radio is very unusual."It was totally pointless and malicious."The hoax came just hours after three people from Middlesbrough were killed in a boating tragedy outside Whitby's harbour walls.Brothers Andrew and John Carrick, aged 45 and 36, and Andrew's partner, Jill Russell, 48, died on Friday afternoon after their cabin cruiser, Last Call, overturned in rough seas as they attempted to make their way to Redcar.Sunderland RNLI senior helmsman Paul Nicholson said Friday's hoax was made even more sickening because of the events earlier.He said: "We would certainly hope that the police investigations lead to a successful conclusion."All of the crew were really upset and disgusted when it became apparent it was a hoax. It was a huge waste of resources, which may have been needed elsewhere."If convicted, the hoaxer could receive a fine of up to £5,000 and/or six months in prison.An inquest was yesterday opened and adjourned into the deaths of Ms Russell and Andrew and John Carrick by North Yorkshire East coroner Michael Oakley.  more...

Rail fares on the up

RAIL fares, such as season tickets, are to rise by an average of 4.8 per cent in the New Year, while cheap day returns and long distance fares will go up by 5.4 per cent, it was announced today.   more...

College rated among best in country, but vows to improve

A COLLEGE that has received one of the best Ofsted reports in the country will continue to improve, its principal has vowed.Tim Fisher, the head of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, said he was delighted at the "belter" of a report it received.Inspectors said the college was outstanding in every area it was assessed on.The report tops a successful year for the college, which received its best A-level results in August with a pass rate of 99.2 per cent, beating last year's record result by 0.3 per cent.The college which has more than 1,700 full-time and 400 part-time students from across Darlington and south Durham, was visited by inspectors last month.Mr Fisher, who said he had not dared to expect such a good report, said: "It was fantastic, a wonderful moment in my career, to stand in front of a group of staff at the end of the inspection to announce that all their hard work had been recognised."I knew that we were functioning at a very high level and had been for a period of time."The inspection means it is one of the most successful colleges in England, something Mr Fisher thinks will have beneficial effect on Darlington.Mr Fisher, who took over from retiring principal David Heaton in August, said: "What has really impressed me is that students have had a lot of involvement in this and have taken a great deal of satisfaction from it."The thing that has also really pleased me is the recognition that over the last four years, not only have we progressed, but we have the capacity and we are looking to improve."Chairman of governors Chris Wiper said: "All concerned are to be congratulated, but I would like, in particular, to pay tribute to David Heaton, who retired as principal in the summer, and to Tim Fisher, the current principal, for their sterling work and outstanding skills in bringing first-rate educational opportunities to the people of Darlington."The report lists only one area for improvement and suggests the college should address aspects of its system for self-assessment.It said the college was financially strong and provided outstanding value for money.  more...

Bearing all to panda to charity

LOOK very closely at the panda. Particularly around the eyes. It's been lovingly crafted - and the woman who made it didn't even use her hands. Instead, she used a far more risqu part of her body.Yes, that's right. You're looking at the latest way to raise money for cancer charities - breast plates - and I don't mean the ones worn by Russell Crowe, in Gladiator.This quirky fundraising effort, which originated in the US, urges women to make an imprint of their breasts on a plate and transform it into a decorative item - and now it has come to a small North-East village.Inevitably, someone on The Northern Echo had to try it. And as I'm the newspaper's only full-time Darlington female reporter, and am not exactly noted for my shy and retiring nature, I was deemed the perfect candidate.In truth, I wasn't really sure about the idea at first. Covering my breasts with paint in front of a photographer, a video camera and a total stranger sounded a bit dodgy.But when I spoke to Joanne Scott, at Buttercups Ceramic Studio, in Hurworth, near Darlington, I was reassured that I would leave the premises with my dignity intact.And I needn't have worried. The pottery is the antithesis of seedy. Run by mother-of-two Mrs Scott and her husband, Lee, the business is a place for families, friends and community groups to be creative.Located next to the village community centre, it is light, airy and clearly family-orientated, decorated with colourful children's handprints and charmingly painted plates in bright and pastel colours. "We decided on Breast Cancer Care plates because we have a few customers who are going through breast cancer," said Mrs Scott. "You just want to do something to help. And this is a fun way to raise money for a good cause."There's an array of designs to choose from, including cherries, Christmas puddings and bumble bees. I opt for a panda, because I think it's rather cute, so I go behind the screen, undress, get blacked up and make my mark on the plate. I felt a bit silly doing it and found it hard not to giggle, but I think if you added a few friends and a couple of bottles of wine, it would be a real laugh.Then, it's simply a case of getting cleaned up and painting the rest of the panda round the plate. Buttercups will then glaze and fire the plate and, voila, you have the perfect stocking-filler for your partner this Christmas. That is, if he can tell what it is."One man came in and was admiring a panda plate I'd made the week before," said Mrs Scott. "He was asking lots of questions about it and I explained it was for Breast Cancer Care and I hadn't used my hands to paint it, but the penny still didn't drop. "A few moments later, a look of recognition passed across his face and he just kind of went 'Oh!' and rushed out of the shop. "I think the poor man was a bit embarrassed."All in all, it was a great experience and, despite stick from the boys in the office, I'm quite proud of my effort. At any rate, it's one to show my grandchildren. For more information about creating the breast plates, which cost £12 with at least £3 donated to Breast Cancer Care, contact Buttercups on 01325-722459.  more...

Fresh North-East link to cash storm

PRESSURE was last night mounting on Prime Minister Gordon Brown as the row over donations to the Labour Party intensified.It emerged last night that a fourth person from the North-East had been used as an intermediary for donations to the party from Newcastle property developer David Abrahams.But Janet Dunn said she and her husband knew nothing about the donation made in her name - a payment of £25,000 in January 2003, according to the Electoral Commission.Speaking at her home in Ponteland, near Newcastle, Mrs Dunn said: "I heard last night (Monday) that this money had been put in my name and I knew nothing about it."When asked if the money came out of her account, Mrs Dunn said: "Not at all. I never ever wrote a cheque. I am not happy."Her husband, Anthony, who said he had occasionally worked for Mr Abrahams, said: "He's used our name. It's a silly sort of thing to do. It's just strange."He said he would ask the developer for an explanation.Mr Brown was yesterday forced to hand back more than £650,000 in donations after admitting that they had not been "lawfully declared".As the funding row threatened to engulf his Government, Mr Brown said that the way the payments had been made by Mr Abrahams through a series of intermediaries had been "completely unacceptable".He said he had known nothing about the arrangements and that he was appointing a retired judge and a former bishop to advise the party on changes to its procedures.But it emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had been in contact with the Electoral Commission, which is investigating the affair.Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman was also under fire after she admitted accepting £5,000 from one of Mr Abrahams' intermediaries, Janet Kidd.Mrs Harman said last night she was returning the money. She had insisted that she had not been aware of the arrangement with Mr Abrahams when she accepted the donation for her deputy leadership campaign.Meanwhile, the Government said that a £60m North-East business park dragged into the crisis was given the go-ahead in the proper way.The Department for Transport (DfT) mounted a defence of procedures after it was revealed Mr Abrahams was behind the 540-acre Durham Green Business Park.It poured scorn on suggestions that Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander played any part in the Highways Agency lifting its block to the project last year.Controversy arose after it was alleged that in the year before the ban was lifted, Mr Abrahams donated £199,000 to Labour through intermediaries.But the Department for Transport said the block was lifted without Mr Alexander's involvement after more information was provided about the impact of the park on traffic levels on the nearby A1(M).A spokesman for Mr Alexander, who is now International Development Secretary and on a visit to Tanzania, said: "Douglas had not heard of David Abrahams before this weekend's coverage."To the best of his knowledge, he has never met him. Douglas was, thus, also unaware that Mr Abrahams was a Labour Party donor, or of any arrangement he had to donate to the party."Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, whose constituency includes the business park, said its approval had provoked no controversy.The Labour MP, who said she had never talked to Mr Abrahams, said: "Nobody has ever brought to my attention any issue about the business park."It is a really important development, both because of the number of jobs to be created and because of its location, close to the A1(M)."Carol Woods, the Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Durham City and a member of the city council cabinet, said: "I think it is important that we do get this business park."I was not on the development control committee and did not see the planning application - but I know he did not give us any money.''Fraser Reynolds, the leader of the Lib Dem-controlled city council, which gave the business park planning permission, said: "This should not be happening with a Government that was squeaky clean and supposedly trying to stamp out this kind of thing."Challenging Communities Secretary and Hazel Blears in the Commons, Tory spokesman Eric Pickles demanded the release of all Government papers relating to the development.Ms Blears said she would "liaise with my colleagues in other departments to ascertain exactly what has happened".Conservative MEP Martin Callanan, a former Gateshead borough councillor, called for an investigation by the police.He said: "The whole thing is extremely suspicious and I would hope that the two things (the donations and the lifting of the Highways Agency's objection) are not linked."Donors usually want to be named, and the suspicious thing is why a known Labour supporter would seek to channel donations through other people."Durham County Council's independent member for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, said: "There should be a full investigation, if nothing else, to reassure people that there is no murky business and that it really is a coincidence."Questions were also asked yesterday about a total of £62,000 donated to Labour in the names of Raymond Ruddick and Janet Kidd, on June 29 - the day the date of the Sedgefield by-election was announced to find a replacement for Tony Blair.At his monthly press conference, Mr Brown ducked a suggestion that the go-betweens for Mr Abrahams had "bankrolled Labour's by-election campaign in Sedgefield".  more...

MP takes Post Office fight to Parliament

AN MP angered by proposals to close four post offices in his constituency has taken the campaign to keep them open to the Houses of Parliament.   more...

Drugs busts drive down crime

A SERIES of high-profile drug and cash seizures is helping drive down crime in a North-East city, according to police.   more...

Pensioner hurt after crashing into field

AN 80-year-old driver was seriously injured yesterday when his car left a quiet country road and careered down an 8ft drop into a field.   more...

Motorist killed

A MOTORIST has been killed in an accident in North Yorkshire.   more...