France, having ridden their luck and been just a minute of normal time away from a tame defeat against Italy, completed a remarkable comeback to become the first reigning world champions to secure the European Championship trophy. But, as Manchester United
THE parents of North-East hostage Keith Mangan say they will never give up hope of seeing their son alive - five years after he was kidnapped at gunpoint. On the eve of the fifth anniversary of her son's disappearance in Kashmir, Mavis Mangan said last
MARK Davies, another product of Durham's seam bowling production line, took three wickets at Darlington yesterday as Derbyshire crashed to the lowest all-out total recorded against Durham in the one-day league. The 19-year-old former Norton player slightly
Yorkshire are still perched on top of the Championship table after their nine wicket mauling in the Roses match at Old Trafford but they are not in the comfort zone they would have occupied had they beaten their old rivals. Instead of putting plenty of
Barnard Castle closed the gap on leaders Billingham Synthonia with a quick-fire victory against Darlington who were back in the pavilion after 25.5 overs with only 49 runs on the board. The Stanwix brothers did nearly all the damage sharing nine wickets
A NORTH Durham school's campaign to gain technology status gathered pace when a leading North-East businessman spoke in favour of the bid. Director and general manager of Thomas Swan Ltd, Dai Hayward, explained why a partnership with Moorside Comprehensive
MORE than 1,500 schoolchildren and teachers from Hartlepool are making their way to London today to join in celebrations at the Millennium Dome. At least 30 coaches and mini- buses set off at 6am this morning for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the
David Coulthard accused title rival Michael Schumacher of trying to force him off the track in France yesterday. Coulthard launched an angry attack on the German after surviving his roughhouse tactics at Magny-Cours to roar to a victory that blew the
Sunset in June The roseate sun sets in the glowing sky Tinged with hues of pink and mauve and green. Laughter of children floats across the darkening green Reminding me of days gone by. Was I too like them, I sigh? Thinking of naught but the games they
NEWS that high street store C&A is closing all its UK branches came as a shock to many shoppers. Sure, fashion conscious customers hadn't set foot in C&A for years. After all, this was the retailer best known for its acrylic knitwear, no-nonsense
WHY is Sunderland FC called the Black Cats when the players wear red and white? Newcastle United are presumably Magpies because they are in black and white? - A Hagger, Newton Hall, Durham. BLACK Cats is an official nickname voted for by Sunderland fans
THE Lindisfarne Gospels are heading back to their spiritual home - but only for a three-month stay. Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery confirmed that the mediaeval masterpiece, compiled when the Northumbrian region was the centre of Christian culture, will
COMEDY actress Vicki Michelle took time off from appearing at a North-East theatre to open a local garden fete. The television star, who sprang to fame in the television series Allo, Allo, did the honours at the summer fete at George Dent Nursery School
WHETHER the Labour Party likes it or not, multi-millionaire novelist Ken Follett has struck a raw nerve with his savage attack on Tony Blair and his so-called spin doctors. Mr Follett, once regarded as a loyal Blair ally, has suddenly broken ranks to
THE unremarkable world of Durham Railway Station's Platform Two was the scene for an extraordinary reunion of three brothers, together for the first time in more than 50 years. Tears were fought back as Mike Dowling cast eyes on long-lost brothers Ralph
Mark Philippoussis has insisted he has nothing to fear from Tim Henman when they clash on centre court in the fourth round today. Philippoussis, the 10th seed, came through the longest one-day match in Wimbledon's history on Saturday, defeating Holland's
Saltburn are the new leaders but they have only a single-point advantage over Redcar. Three other clubs are within striking distance in what is developing into a close championship race. The prediction was that Saltburn had a difficult match in prospect
TONY and Cherie Blair have done a remarkable job in protecting their children from the limelight and they are to be applauded for it. If one of the Prime Minister's children walked down the street, few people would notice. That is a tribute to their parents
A NEW child care group for "little monkeys" is to open just in time for the summer holidays in East Durham. Chimps, based at the Youth and Community Centre in Horden, was set up with the help of a £28,000 grant from the National Lottery New Opportunities
