The North-East fishing industry could receive a shot in the arm if a new fish-processing park get the go-ahead. North Shields Fish Quay Company is to carry out a feasibility study into plans for a new development at Tanners Bank, North Shields, North
THE University of Sunderland is celebrating a £250,000 boost towards its centre of arts excellence. The grant, from the Northern Rock Foundation, will help the university start the next stage of its £20m centre for the arts design and media at St Peter's
YOUNGSTERS at a Middlesbrough school have created a reminder of the millennium. David's Dream has been created by the pupils of St David's School. The book was made by the children and contains their millennium wishes. Some of them simply say "Smile",
A CHILDREN'S road safety campaign is £600 better off thanks to the North Eastern Co-op. The Crook and Communities Road Safety Initiative was awarded the community dividend grant to buy 700 fluorescent armbands for children from 14 primary schools in County
THIS is the face of the man stabbed to death in a busy North-East shopping centre as horrified shoppers looked on. Twenty-two-year-old Mohammed Ali was a refugee who fled to Britain after escaping persecution in his own country. Shoppers watched in horror
JUBILANT Sunderland manager Peter Reid last night called for immediate England recognition for his star striker Kevin Phillips. Phillips led the 4-1 hammering of high-riding Ipswich Town with his fifth goal in three games and 12th of a campaign which
ENGLAND striker Kevin Phillips yesterday inspired a Sunderland fightback which hoisted the Wearsiders back into third place in the Premiership, level on points with Arsenal, at the Stadium of Light. It was Sunderland's fifth consecutive home victory and
ROBBIE KEANE marked his first Leeds start with a disputed penalty to deny Terry Venables-inspired Middlesbrough a memorable victory at Elland Road. Relegation-threatened Boro were chasing only their second win here in 25 years and 18 visits, and Alen
CHILDREN from a Hartlepool primary school have been learning about the danger of drugs through a project involving their parents. About 40 six and seven-year-olds from St Helen's Primary School were involved in the six-week project, coordinated by teacher
A combination of emerging talent and serious financial restraints means that several Yorkshire players are in danger of not getting their contracts renewed unless they show much improved form next season. Although director of coaching Martyn Moxon has
TOY enthusiasts were given the chance to step back in time and relive their childhood memories yesterday. From Star Wars and Dinky toys to Pokemon and Beanie Babies, there were thousands of favourites on display at a special toy, train and sci-fi collectors
FIVE-year-old Melissa Brown cuddles her new doll, Baby Annabel, before proudly showing her visitors how to feed her and put her to bed. The lively youngster is clearly a joy to her parents George Brown and Vivienne Norwood of Willington, County Durham
AS a small boy, Gil Chatfield was bitten by the railway bug. He recalls the highlight of his childhood as travelling 18 miles in the cab of an electric train from Charing Cross in London to Dartford in Kent with his grandfather driving. It was an illegal
A NORTH YORKSHIRE market town can look forward to more than 30 events to celebrate a historic landmark. Bedale's market charter is 750 years old this year - and a programme to commemorate the anniversary begins on Sunday, May 20. The first event - a cricket
TRAGEDY turned to tears of joy for newlywed Melanie Archer-Smith after her missing wedding and engagement rings were found on Christmas Eve by a metal detecting enthusiast. The 26-year-old, from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, was left heartbroken when
THE Kirkleatham Old Hall Museum, Redcar, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and is planning a series of events, starting with a Meccano exhibition. The exhibition, called Mechanics Made Easy, opens later this month and promises to be a celebration
NATIONAL retailers are joining the queue to be included in a multi-million pound shopping development on Teesside. The Regent Walk Shopping Centre, in Redcar, will be next to the High Street, stretching from West Dyke Road to Regent Street, and as far
AN INVESTIGATION is under way after a member of Prime Minister Tony Blair's armed guard accidentally fired a shot while on duty. The police marksman had finished his shift protecting Mr Blair, who was at Myrobella, his residence in Trimdon Colliery, in
STOP lying to us, Mr Blair, and admit that the European superstate project is well-advanced. In 2001 it will become apparent, despite the smoke and mirrors of the Government's spin-doctors, that we are losing more and more control of our own country.
ONE of the oldest residents of the North-East celebrated her 105th birthday at the weekend. Margaret Hetherington, of County Durham Care's Stanfield House residential home, Stanley, was born in Queen Victoria's reign. One of her earliest memories is of
A LOCAL historian is appealing for help with his next book on the Durham Miners' Gala. Michael Richardson's series of books of old photographs of Durham City and the surrounding area have proved popular over the years. He plans to focus on the Big Meeting
CAN you tell me if the Walker Wingsail-built trimaran called Blue Nova is still in existence? This futuristic vessel was featured in The Northern Echo in 1991 and 1993. - JL Robinson, Darlington. THE trimaran was built by Walker Wingsail in Plymouth between
A GOVERNMENT decision to revoke permission for the storage of a hazardous substance at a Gateshead factory has been welcomed by residents. Borough Council Labour councillor Nick O'Neil, who represents Lamesley ward, said: "Labour has campaigned hard for
An 18th Century North-Eastcoaching inn with a worldwide reputation has been put up for sale. The Allenheads Inn, in the small village of Allenheads, near Hexham, Northumberland, has been placed on the market with the Newcastle office of licensed property
A HYBRID bramble bush last seen in a North-East county over a century ago has been found during a Forestry Commission botanical survey. The discovery was made by 67-year-old naturalist Gordon Simpson, from West Auckland, County Durham, in the heart of
ADVICE centre workers in Sunderland are celebrating a Government award. Ford and Pennywell Advice Centre, in Hylton Road, has won an Investors in People award after 18 months of hard work by managers and staff. The award recognises high-quality training
FOR those who aspire to be the next Liberace, but have yet to progress beyond Three Blind Mice, the answer may be at hand. A new course, using a revolutionary method of writing music, is being held on Teesside. According to its tutor, it could end up
A mixed-up white stork which ought to have been in tropical Africa lost the plot as it flew around snowbound northern England. Appearances by these long-necked birds, with wing spans of nearly 6ft, are traditionally associated with childbirth. But that
YOUNG people from Wearside are counting themselves lucky after successfully completing accountancy courses with the North East Chamber of Commerce. School-leavers who embarked on the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) course with the chamber's
PUPILS and staff at a primary school have been praised by inspectors. The Ofsted report on Oakfield Infant School, in Low Fell, Gateshead, said it was a good school with several very good features, and that pupils achieve high standards in reading, writing
information forums are being held in the New Year for people who work with, or who are interested in working with, children. The events have been organised by Gateshead Borough Council. They are at Gateshead Central Library, Prince Consort Road, on January
FOR centuries youngsters have marvelled at how Santa manages to get to every child in the world in just one night. He doesn't look the fittest of men, and however fast those reindeers go, surely they would be hard pushed to cover seven seas in 24 hours
NO ONE really knows what happened at the momentous BMW boarding meeting that took place on February 5, 1999. With Rover's future at stake, the company that had become the envy of the European motor industry lost its two most influential managers and came
STAFF and councillors at Gateshead Borough Council have been taking part in a pilot recycling scheme that could be introduced to libraries, swimming pools and leisure centres across the borough. As part of the authority's Local Agenda 21 Strategy, ten
BUSINESS masterminds from across Wear Valley are coming together for an informal evening aimed at boosting turnover and profitability. Two guest speakers will address the event, organised by the Wear Valley Business Forum. The Reverend Howard James Haslett
DETECTIVES say they remain confident of solving a ten-year North-East murder. A series of new DNA tests continue to be carried out on exhibits collected during the investigation into the murder of Ann Heron. And, while the tests require painstaking attention
THE Government is to order an inquiry into the scandal of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale, The Northern Echo can reveal. Since the North Yorkshire gynaecologist was struck off the medical register last year, after botching a string of operations, the
POLICE are on the trail of a Christmas Scrooge who used a sledge as a getaway vehicle after stealing 20 tins of chocolates. For the past few months, staff at Bishop Auckland Hospital have been saving chocolates donated by grateful patients. The sweets
A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of an Iraqi refugee in a North-East shopping centre. Horrified shoppers saw Mohammed Ali, 22, who had fled to Britain to escape persecution, stabbed in the Cleveland Centre, Middlesbrough. After the
THE North-East's sick and dying ex-miners fear badly-needed compensation payments may be held up if the NHS is hit by a winter crisis. A lack of consultants qualified to carry out medical assessments is already holding up payments for hundreds of former
THEY watch, and they look, and they observe, and they record. From a vantage point above the Zetland Lifeboat Museum, Redcar, volunteers watch the North-East shore and sea, from Hartlepool to Skinningrove. The members of Redcar Coastwatch, part of the
A former cleaner with a leading chain of furniture stores, who complained that his job was changed when his employers found out he was HIV positive, is to claim constructive dismissal at a tribunal in the New Year. Michael Scott, who worked at Barker
UNEMPLOYED people are being offered the chance to get help in obtaining a job. Anyone in north Hartlepool who has the opportunity of full-time employment, but does not have the qualifications, certificates, equipment or tools needed for the job, can get
BRAVE Sally Slater's battle for life has inspired hundreds of people to register as organ donors, and helped The Northern Echo's Save A Life appeal top the 1,000 mark. Nationally, donor agencies have seen a 15 per cent increase in inquiries since Sally
DECTECTIVES in Sedgefield are investigating the theft of prescription drugs from a pharmacy in the village. Police are hunting for the raiders who stole hundreds of pounds in cash, as well as a substantial quantity of drugs. The thieves forced their way
SINGING SHARON Griffiths makes a good point when she laments the lack of singing to brighten people's spirits (Echo, Dec 6). Popular songs of the day were what was hummed, whistled or sung while doing everyday chores, as she says. Sadly, today's popular
COLUMBUS can begin to repay his hefty 32,000 guineas purchase price by winning the opening two-mile Novices' Hurdle at Ayr this afternoon. Chris Grant's ex-Irish four-year-old has been seen out twice in this country, finishing third at Wetherby prior
TRADITIONAL pantomime with plenty of audience participation, came to Sedgefield last week, thanks to Sedgefield Players. They brought a fast-moving version of Aladdin, by John Morley, to life to packed audiences in the village hall in a show full of colour
THREE lucky women will be able to toast the New Year in style after winning a shopping centre hamper competition. Ann Hardy and Susan Lapworth, both from Darlington, and Anne Walker, from Northallerton, entered a word square competition ran by the Queen
NESTLING among the exotic treasures in Durham's Oriental Museum is an unprepossessing boxwood statuette of an Egyptian servant girl. And if she has a slightly bemused expression on her face it is little wonder, as this diminutive servant girl is literally
THE foxy ladies of a village hunt have cast off their jackets and jodhpurs, and much more besides, to mark what could be the sport's final year. If hunting with dogs is outlawed by parliament in 2001, Michelle Welton, Sally French and their pals have
A GROUP of children on a council estate undergoing major regeneration was given a bumper Christmas by staff from a building company. Eighty babies, toddlers and children at the Sherburn Road Children's Initiative, Durham, got individual gifts from the
A COUNTY Durham community gathered last night to celebrate 1,200 years of history and to mark the start of their millennium celebrations. Groups of residents from Gainford, in Teesdale, met on the village green to watch the lighting of a millennium beacon
A LEADING councillor said he backed a red light district crackdown on kerb crawlers. Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said the latest in a series of name-and-shame court days for men caught by police with prostitutes "underlines
A CHIEF constable has praised his front-line troops at the end of a tough year for the force. Cleveland Police chief Barry Shaw said: "We have good people and we deliver a good service to people in the local community. "We get more letters of appreciation
COUNCILLORS are being recommended to ignore opposition from a parish council and give the go-ahead for the conversion of an old barn. A planning application has been submitted to Sedgefield Borough Council, seeking permission to transform a barn into
THE deadline is approaching for people in the tourism industry wanting to promote their accommodation or event to visitors to Richmondshire. Details are being collected for the Northern Dales Events leaflet, and for events pages on Richmondshire District
A CRAFT student has won an award for excellence. Simon Dale, 19, is a student in the school of construction at Darlington College of Technology and has received the Alan Pragnell Bursary Award for the Tees Valley area. The award, administered by the Construction
A NORTH YORKSHIRE graduate leaves the trappings of the West behind this month for life in rural Zimbabwe. Sarah Jane Robinson, of Aldbrough St John, near Richmond, has signed up to Student Partnerships Worldwide and has been raising money to cover the
STAFF at a Newton Aycliffe office have joined forces with factory workers on the town's industrial estate to fundraise for the Butterwick Hospice. Workers at the Lloyds TSB Word Processing Centre, above Blakes pub, took part in the hospice's 2000 for
PUPILS at five schools have been working hard on an art project. The youngsters at St Peter's RC Primary School, Cromwell Road, Beech Grove, St Andrews, all South Bank, and Teesville Infants, in Eston, worked with photographic artist Dr Carole Baker to
A COMMANDO from Hartlepool is spending the start of the New Year in Croatia. Royal Marine Corporal Paul Rowland, 24, above, has spent Christmas and New Year away from home while he and his colleagues of 845 Naval Air Squadron help to maintain an uncertain
A MAN has described how he battled in vain against flames and billowing smoke to save a neighbour from his blazing home. Retired naval officer Peter Gannon, 57, died when he dropped a cigarette at his home in North King Street, North Shields, on Friday
A COUNCIL is set to refuse permission for a house to be built in a County Durham town. Outline planning permission has been submitted to build a three-bedroom home on land to the rear of Auckland Terrace, in Shildon. But the highways authority has objected
