MICHAEL Owen will make his first start of the season, for Newcastle at Reading. Owen has not played since damaging knee ligaments in England's 2-2 draw with Sweden in last year's World Cup. And tonight, after a long and drawn out recovery process, the
AN alcoholic who beat to death his best friend has been jailed for life. Recovering heroin addict Bryan Sorlie, 38, punched and kicked Brian Mohammed Sultan, inflicting 88 separate injuries,then left the 41-year-old father to die, ignoring his pleas
A DISABLED woman is facing jail for waging a two-year campaign of hate against a family living next door. Partially-sighted Jacqueline Devey was today found guilty of breaching a restraining order five times last year. The 46-year-old was given the
UNIVERSITY centre Rob McDermott showed his class with a man-of-the-match performance as Durham began their County Championship Plate programme with a 45-14 win away to Leicestershire. He scored one of the three long-range tries in the second half which
A TEENAGE traveller raped two North-East schoolgirls visiting Appleby Horse Fair, a court heard today. The 15-year-old attacked one 13-year-old girl before raping her 14-year-old friend minutes later, Carlisle Crown Court was told. He carried out a
A FIREMAN doused himself in petrol and set himself ablaze in front of shocked colleagues after seeing his soldier son off to Iraq, an inquest heard. Timothy Tasane, 46, called his son 30 minutes before setting himself alight to tell him that he was "
MIDDLESBROUGH has been officially announced as one of the new venues for BBC's 2007 Proms In The Park extravaganza. Over 7,000 music fans will be expected to gather for the evening in the new Centre Square on Saturday, September 8. The venue will join
POLICE have this morning named a motorcyclist killed in an accident on a County Durham road at the weekend. Stephen Wind, aged 39, of Blackgate West, Coxhoe, near Durham City, was thrown off his Kawasaki bike when it hit a concrete and metal fence on
A SET of rare photographs showing African slaves being freed by the Royal Navy have gone on show for the first time as part of an exhibition marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. Samuel Chidwick, 74, has donated the photographs
AN RSPCA booklet about fashion details some alarming facts regarding Karakul fur, sometimes labelled as broadtail, Persian lamb, swakara and astrakhan. It is reported that the female sheep which bear this type of lamb has between three and five
I REMEMBER seeing Alan Ball, the England 1966 World Cup footballer who died last week at the age of 61 (Echo, Apr 26), in a Middlesbrough v Arsenal match at Ayresome Park in the 1970s. Before the match began, and at the conclusion of the players
FITNESS, health, leisure and sport are now major sources of income and activity, contributing massively to the economy and still growing. The most popular originated in England and there are still some that haven't made the world stage yet. Like
MY wife and I were shocked and concerned to read of the compulsory retirement of Dr Tim Pearson, of Friary Surgery, Richmond. This would appear to be a drastic measure. Dr Pearson has been our GP for the past nine years. It seems a catastrophe
PERHAPS the two men involved in the Kayleigh Baker case at Hurworth School should reach for a dictionary and check the definition of the word voluntary - "done, given or acting of one's own free will". Activities outside school hours cannot be
FURTHER to my letter about cricket (HAS, Apr 27) I've been a keen follower of the game for many years and was delighted when Durham became first class, but have been hugely disappointed. Now, I go once a season to see if there is any improvement
SOME correspondents have written of the National Health Service as an out-of-date socialist concept that is badly in need of reform. But do those who would like to see a radical reform advocate a system whereby an individual's financial assets
GOING back to Hull last week, to speak to the East Riding Townswomen's Guild, was somewhat different to my first visit. This time, it was a relaxed train ride, changing at York. When the Humber Bridge came into view, and the train clattered underneath
A couple setting up a business is not uncommon, but what sets Healing Hanns apart is that its founders are both blind. Women's Ediotr Sarah Foster talks to Paul and Janet Hann. IT does feel strange, but not unpleasant, when Paul Hann goes through his
Dealing with the language barrier wasn't the only difficulty for a touring theater company in Japan - finding seaside deckchairs wasn't that easy, Steve Pratt hears. When you're thousands of miles away from home and putting together a stage show, the
MICHAEL OWEN could make his long-awaited return to action tonight, with his club and international colleague Scott Parker claiming the £16m man has Newcastle United in his heart. The Magpies' record buy has only made 11 appearances in almost two years
MIDDLESBROUGH'S decision to freeze their season-ticket prices for the 2007-08 season underlines the delicate balancing act that the majority of Premiership clubs are having to perform. To the club, a refusal to raise prices is as far as they are able
Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy has described claims he has no working relationship with manager Rafael Benitez as ''complete garbage''. Speculation suggested there was friction between the Wales international and his boss at Anfield with rumours that
The New London Consort presented Monteverdi's opera L'Orfeo to an entranced audience at the Sage Gateshead. The semi-staged production directed by Jonathan Miller was an unfussy and understated affair, yet all the more powerful for it. The choreography
Apartheid and its institutionalised racism are an abomination of humanity and there would have been many ways to approach the subject after the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. One would be to have extracted revenge on the minority whites who treated
Tony Blair will today claim that Labour reforms over the past decade have "saved" the NHS as he uses his final weeks in office to set out his legacy.And he will urge critics to take a step back and look at ongoing staff rows over pay and recruitment in
WHEN Linsey Wraith gave birth to twins in October 2003, it was prompted by a David Beckham penalty miss.But when she again went into sudden labour this week, her husband produced a delivery that the former England captain would be proud of.Esme Isabella
DANNY Wilson admits he had no complaints after his side was reduced to nine men in defeat at Rochdale. Andy Monkhouse and Richie Barker were red carded within three second-half minutes, as Pools were knocked off top spot in the process. Both will be
A YOUNG film-maker has teamed up with children from a drama group to create a fantasy movie with a message.Gintha and the Enchantress, directed by Ronak Singh, from Teesside, recently premiered at Cineworld, in Middlesbrough. The film, which aims to deal
A FAMILY of asylum seekers have won an eleventh hour reprieve from deportation.Geetha and Sagara Karunathilaka said they escaped war, torture and death in their native Sri Lanka to find peace in Stockton nearly seven years ago.But despite pleas by friends
ALAN Charlton has more reason than most to take part in this year's Diabetes UK Great North WalkAfter being diagnosed with diabetes in 2002, he now works full-time as an advisor to NHS managers and care providers on how to improve treatment for "sufferers
A HISTORIC building was seriously damaged by fire after a suspected arson attack. The blaze ripped through Morison Hall, a disused building on Hartlepool's Headland, for more than four hours on Friday night. At its height, the fire was tackled by 33
A REDCAR mother has secured a job at the college which placed her back on the career ladder.Claire Close, a former pupil of West Redcar School, was halfway through a course in business information technology at Sunderland University when she took time
STUDENTS welcomed a visit to their school by South African teacher Marianne Lachenicht.Teesside Prep School, in Eaglescliffe, hosted the overseas teacher as part of an exchange programme started last term by local teacher Carol Lara.Mrs Lara visited South
EIGHTEEN teams from ten primary schools took part in the annual Cleveland Active Primary Schools Basketball Tournament, organised by Ailsa Bell.Freeborough College, in Brotton, hosted the competition, which featured teams from Badger Hill, Handale, Hummersea
CHINESE children will take lessons at the North-East's only school to teach Mandarin as part of plans to strengthen the growing links between the region and China.Hummersknott School and Language College, in Darlington, has been selected as one of five
THE plight of Britain's struggling dairy farmers will be discussed at a Great Milk Debate event in the North-East tomorrow. The Women's Institute movement fears low farmgate prices are causing an exodus of milk producers, which could ultimately affect
A NURSERY has been saved from closure and 18 jobs safeguarded after it was bought by a Durham businesswoman. The site of Bearpark Kindergarten, in Auton Stile, Bearpark, was put up for sale by owners Just Learning, and could have been redeveloped. But
A BAKERY worker was taken to court for failing to tell a council her wages had gone up. Easington District Council is warning people on benefits to tell them if there is any change in circumstances that could affect their entitlement. Recently, the council
SCHOOL pupils have helped design steel sculptures that have been put in place at the entrances to their village. Youngsters at Kelloe Primary School worked with artist David Graeme Hopper to create the artworks, which feature a depiction of flames,
THE first step in the construction of a £6m business park, expected to give a boost to the local economy, will take place today. Work on the Hawthorn Prestige Business Park, near Easington, which will be built on the former cokeworks site, is to start
A TEACHER who once swapped the sunshine of Zimbabwe to study in Durham has returned to the region to take up a new post. Stephen Prior left his job teaching at an independent school in southern Africa in 2004, to enrol as a full-time student at Durham
AN MP is calling for action to tackle anti-social behaviour that is plaguing villagers. Durham City Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods and local city councillor Kathleen Carr heard at a meeting with people at West Rainton that the problem was caused by
A COUNTY-WIDE young people's travel card could be introduced in North Yorkshire to encourage more use of buses. The county council is to be urged to explore the costs and feasibility of such a scheme as part of a campaign to boost the numbers of bus passengers
Match-winner David Rowson has grabbed the goals which have secured consecutive wins for Darlington, but he admits he does not know if he will be wanted at the club next season. Last week the Scottish midfielder scored an excellent strike from the edge
Middlesbrough 2, Tottenham Hotspur 3. SUPPORTERS gaining entry into the Riverside Stadium next season will need a gold swipe card rather than the traditional ticket and Middlesbrough will hope the new technology plays a part in filling the empty seats
Notts County 0, Darlington 1. Ticket prices had been reduced to a tenner for this game, but even if admission had been as low as 50p supporters would still not have got value for money because this was a terrible match. Devoid of entertainment or fluency
A TOURING exhibition highlighting heritage hedgerows opens today. The Wildflower Ark, a plant conservation charity, based at Nature's World, Middlesbrough, has discovered a number of old hedgerows in the Moorsholm area of east Cleveland. The exhibition
THE Northern Rock ECB North East Regional Premier League opened the new season with impressive wins for South Shields, Tynemouth and champions, South Northumberland. South North never looked stretched against Gateshead Fell who were restricted to 160
A GREEN business centre has won a prestigious award from surveyors in the region. The Rivergreen Centre, at Aykley Heads, Durham City, was voted Project of the Year 2007 at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors North-East Renaissance Awards in Newcastle
A PRIMARY school has received a glowing report. Grange Primary School, in Owton Manor Lane, Hartlepool, was inspected by Ofsted and the care, guidance and support given to pupils was found to be outstanding, the best possible grade. In all other areas
Reading defender Ivar Ingimarsson admits that spending the majority of his career outside the top flight has inspired him to the best form of his life. The Iceland international, who is the Royals' acting skipper in the absence of Graeme Murty, has featured
THE final preparations for the return of a statue of a First World War soldier, which was removed from a village 40 years ago, are under way. Repairs and landscaping are being carried out to the war memorial garden in Coundon and
A TEACHER from Billingham, whose son was born prematurely, has inspired his class to raise hundreds of pounds for special care babies - by picking up discarded small change. For the past five years, Bill Dale's tutor group at Hurworth School Maths and
A SCHOOL has welcomed an Ofsted report which praised its links with other organisations and the care provided to its pupils. Tow Law Millennium Primary School was rated as outstanding in the work it does in partnership with others to promote learners'
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho insists he has no hard feelings towards Everton's Phil Neville after his own goal blunder helped Manchester United take a giant step closer to the Barclays Premiership title. Former United defender Neville put through his own
When Wes Brown told goalscoring hero John O'Shea Manchester United were on the verge of seizing control in the Premiership title battle, the Irishman thought it was a wind-up. After applying the killer touch across Stanley Park at Anfield in February,
UNIVERSITY centre Rob McDermott showed his class with a man-of-the-match performance as Durham began their County Championship Plate programme with a 45-14 win away to Leicestershire. He scored one of the three long-range tries in the second half which
Arsenal 3, Fulham 1. Lawrie Sanchez accepted Fulham had missed a golden chance to all but secure their top-flight status after they were eventually beaten 3-1 at Arsenal. The Cottagers remain just one point above the relegation zone and now have only
Ricky Ponting is confident Australia can overcome the gradual break-up of their great side and continue being a force in both formats of the game in the future. The Australia captain has already said farewell to Justin Langer, Damien Martyn and all-time
SUNDERLAND supporters might be in dreamland after their club's promotion to the Premiership was confirmed yesterday, but a jubilant Carlos Edwards last night told them: "The best is yet to come". Edwards will forever be remembered as the man that secured
Newcastle Falcons 12, Bath 20 NEWCASTLE'S five-month unbeaten home record was ended with a reverse at Kingston Park to Bath. Falcons went down 20-12, also ending any hopes they had of finishing seventh in the Premiership but with Sale losing heavily at
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S Steve Harper has welcomed Sunderland's return to the Premiership and is relishing Roy Keane's first visit to St James' Park with their arch-rivals. Derby County's defeat at Crystal Palace yesterday means the Rams can no longer finish
MONEY from the sale of a plot of land would not necessarily fund a proposed £3.5m sports centre, it has been claimed. Supporters of plans for the development in the grounds of Malton School say selling a section of the grounds would make up a cash shortfall
WORK by 16 North Yorkshire artists will feature in an exhibition which opens this week. Open AiR will showcase artists taking part in the North Yorkshire Open Studios 2007 event. The exhibition at Tennants auction house, in Leyburn, has been organised
Whitley Bay won the Northern League title for the first time in 41 years on a dramatic last day, while favourites Sunderland Nissan surprisingly blew their chances. Whitley, who were third before Saturday's games, won 3-1 on the artificial surface at
THE Government is offering compensation to farmers who give up land to ease the plight of families living in flood plains across North Yorkshire. Farmers have been urged to offer up land to help improve the flooding problems at Cod Beck, near Thirsk.
A BUILDING society has come to the aid of a pre-school that recently moved into new premises. Scruton Pre-School, in Northallerton, recently took over a classroom at Ainderby Steeple School which was in need of modernisation and the installation of disabled
Thieves smashed a window of a car parked in Green Street, Darlington, and stole a black soft leather bag containing hairdressing equipment. The incident happened between 12.45pm and 13.50pm on Tuesday, April 24. Witnesses should call police on 085-45
SPORTING celebrities raised more than £1,600 for charity with an A Question of Sport event. Two teams of famous names from the sporting world took part in the captain's charity night at Bishop Auckland Golf Club, which raised money for Barnardo's North-East
With four games to play, Birtley Town now have their noses in front for the first time in several weeks following a 3-0 victory over fourth-top Guisborough Black Swan. The visitors more than held their own during the first half but then went behind on
FIRE crews prevented serious damage to a factory after a blaze broke out near volatile chemicals yesterday. Dynea Aycliffe, on Newton Aycliffe Trading Estate, was evacuated for about an hour after the fire broke out in a ducting system. Firefighters
A COUNCIL has assured its taxpayers that it did not splash out on personalised number plates for its vehicles. The assurance comes after complaints from residents who believed Hambleton District Council had spent money on personalised plates, which can
SUCCESSFUL football clubs have a huge bearing on the economic well-being of a region. And while we appreciate the fact that Newcastle and Middlesbrough fans will not be celebrating Sunderland's return to the Premiership, there can be no doubt that it
ALL the fun of the fair is coming to Northallerton this week. Officers from Hambleton District Council are putting the finishing touches to plans for the annual May Fair. For five days, the High Street will be filled with rides and side shows, bringing
TWO former high-fliers from the world of sport are helping youngsters achieve their goals. Footballer Mark Sunley and hockey player Sean Wilson have signed up to coach pupils at Laurence Jackson School, in Guisborough. Mr Sunley, who played for Middlesbrough
Crystal Palace 2, Derby County 0. Billy Davies admitted his Derby side had buckled under the pressure after their 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace cost them a chance of automatic promotion to the Premiership. Palace's victory, achieved thanks to goals in
Leeds could face the prospect of disciplinary action after their final home game of the season was delayed for half an hour due to a pitch invasion. Ipswich striker Alan Lee's late equaliser at Elland Road ensured a 1-1 draw with Ipswich and all but condemned
HE is already the most famous dog in football, and Roy Keane's beloved Trigger found himself at the heart of another drama yesterday, writes Scott Wilson. Five years after Keane was famously photographed walking his dog just days after he walked out of
A LONG-serving police officer who received four commendations during the course of his career is to retire.PC Les Coverdale spent 32 years with North Yorkshire Police, including spells with the dog section and as an advanced driver and member of the force's
A YOUNG dancer with some winning moves is celebrating after collecting two awards at a disco dancing festival.Twelve-year-old Shannen Talbot, from Annfield Plain, near Stanley, impressed the judges of the Yorkshire Open at the Haven Holiday park at Cayton
IT was a pit disaster that devastated a community and wiped out 37 men and boys.The Tudhoe Colliery explosion of 1882 was one of a number of mining tragedies to rock North-East pits and, at a service to mark the 125-year anniversary, the sadness could
A TEACHER whose son was born prematurely has inspired his class to raise hundreds of pounds for special care babies - by picking up discarded coins.For the past five years, Bill Dale's tutor group at Hurworth School Maths and Computing College has been
A PENSIONER who contracted a deadly lung disease through exposure to asbestos is hoping former work colleagues will come forward and help her with a compensation claim.Margaret Colman, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was diagnosed with the asbestos-related
Durham v Derbyshire (Friends Provident Trophy) DURHAM old boy Simon Katich returned to haunt them in their first home match of the season yesterday as he led Derbyshire to a four-wicket win in the Friends Provident Trophy.He comfortably won the contest
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:TODAYFerryhill Leisure Centre, Lambton Road, Ferryhill, 2.45pm-7pmCommunity Centre, Front Street
A TOWN'S second rowing regatta was hailed a success after attracting a larger number of competitors.The first regatta, on the River Wear, at Chester-le-Street, was staged by the town's rowing club last year after a 14-year absence, attracting 180 oarsmen
AN airline pilot from the region told yesterday how he helped strike the first blow to regain the Falkland Islands after the Argentinian invasion - setting a world flight record in the process.Today, Martin Withers, from Easingwold, near York, will fly
A HISTORIC public green space is one step closer to being transformed after hundreds of residents have given their views.The Denes, a series of parks which stretch across Darlington from Woodland Road to Northgate, are to be revamped after £300,000 of
PUPILS from local schools have launched the new-look Co-op store in Esh Winning.Peter Mckinnon, the store manager, presented the pupils with £100 donations for each school.He said: "We were delighted our local schools could play a central role in the
A GROUP of workers are pulling on their walking boots to raise money for blind students.Staff from Harrogate-based PR company Cicada will take part in the Nidderdale Walk for Henshaws College's Living Life Campaign, which has a £7.5m target.Cicada managing
HUNDREDS of people enjoyed an array of model railways at Ormesby Hall, near Middldlesbrough, at the weekend.The ninth annual show attracted about 800 visitors to the National Trust property over the two days.This year's event featured 11 layouts of varying
YOUNG film-makers in Teesdale have launched a DVD which explores Barnard Castle in decades gone by.The youngsters, who attend the YMCA in the town's Galgate, researched, produced and edited the film themselves and debuted it at the Witham Hall on Friday
A FOOTBALL club celebrated the opening of its renovated social club at the weekend.Sir Tom Cowie cut the ribbon at Northern League Crook Town FC's new-look clubhouse, which has undergone a £26,000 revamp.The overhaul includes new walls, heating, ceiling
YOUNG actors are preparing to take to the stage with a modern musical version of an old favourite.The Durham Stage School will stage The Wiz - based on The Wizard of Oz - at Durham's Gala Theatre on Thursday, May 31, and Friday, June 1.About 50 youngsters
SCORES of young runners from Teesdale schools battled it out for honours at a cross- country event.More than 100 children from 12 schools took part in the 14th Teesdale Primary Schools' annual cross-country competition in sunny but breezy weather.Hosted
A FORMER Army officer has celebrated her 100th birthday.Edna May Shields, who became a centenarian last Thursday, marked the occasion by going out with friends before enjoying a party at the Riverside View Care Home, in Darlington, where she has lived
A DARLINGTON primary school can now eat its healthy lunches on new colourful tables and chairs.Pupils at Reid Street Primary School, in the Denes, requested the equipment after being consulted in a school council questionnaire.The school approached Sainsbury's
THREE years ago in August, Mark Viduka completed a move away from Leeds United after a depressing relegation from the Premiership.This summer, while his former club are on the verge of falling further down the Football League ladder and into the depths
Scotland v Yorkshire (Friends Provident Trophy) England captain Michael Vaughan batted with great fluency and style yesterday but failed to go on to make a big score in his first innings for Yorkshire since returning from the World Cup.Vaughan, anxious
YOUNGSTERS gave their wellies a makeover as they learned about organic food and farming.Pupils from Bolton on Swale Primary School, near Richmond, painted their gumboots for a design competition to mark Welly Week, a national campaign to raise money to
A GROUP of youngsters enjoyed a close-up view of the Royal Air Force's front-line fighter jet.Scouts from Hutton Rudby were given a hands-on tour around Tornado F3s at RAF Leeming.They were kitted out with high-visibility vests and ear defenders and given
A CAMPAIGN that could save children's lives across Europe has been praised in the House of Commons.MPs across the country will be asked to lend their support to The Northern Echo's Protect Our Children campaign to ensure all children's pyjamas are flame
MARTIAL arts sessions are all in the family at a south Durham sports and arts centre.Taekwondo instructor Jonathan Saunders teaches brothers and sisters and parents and children at the centre at Oakley Cross Primary School, West Auckland, which opened
Sam Allardyce says his shock decision to quit Bolton was one of the hardest of his life. He is standing down with immediate affect after nearly eight years of success at the Reebok Stadium. With only three games of the season to go, the timing of his
IT does feel strange, but not unpleasant, when Paul Hann goes through his routine. The odd thing is the lack of pressure - though he manipulates the muscles, you barely feel his fingers working. He seems to pinch and roll the skin at several key points
A YEAR ago tomorrow, Sunderland lost 3-0 to Arsenal in their penultimate home game of the worst Premiership season on record.To the majority of the club's supporters, that sunny May Bank Holiday felt like the death of their football club. Disillusioned
PARAMEDICS saved a cancer patient's life when his heart stopped during a £14,000 mercy mission to bring him home.Graham Halford's family were so concerned about his deterioration in a Portuguese hospital that they chartered a private jet and Great North
Rochdale 2, Hartlepool United 0. WHEN it comes to last day of the season drama, few do it as regularly as Hartlepool United.After the outcome of six of the last seven campaigns boiled down to the finale game, this record-breaking one will prove no different.Pools
Last Christmas, Discworld creator Terry Pratchett saw his cult creation.s first ever live-action adaptation in Sky one's Hogfather. Now as the DVD is relased, he tells Jo Walker why he thinks his alternative universe holds such appeal. With 50 million
Million Dollar Pigeon (BBC2, 9pm), Cutting edge: Blind Young Things (C4, 9pm) Derek's chat-up line when he first saw the woman who became his wife was: "Hello, do you want to have a look at my pigeons". You might think this an interesting variation on
FANS hailed Roy Keane and Niall Quinn last night as Sunderland clinched a £50m promotion to football's Premiership, on a day the team didn't even kick a ball.Just eight months after the team were bottom of the Championship and a year after the club was
EXTREME eaters across the world are enjoying the world's hottest chilli sauce - made by a North-East stockbroker.Mark McMullan, from Darlington, first made the sauce in his kitchen "for a laugh".But when the Snake Bite Sauce was launched on the internet
