DARLINGTON FC is among several North-East clubs selected to host the biggest football tournament in the country since Euro 96. The Euro 2001 Under-16 Football Championship kicks off a week on Sunday. Tickets for the championship are on sale to the public
PLANS are under way for a popular annual fire engine and vintage vehicle rally this summer. Spaces are still available for businesses and local organisations to book a stall for the event at Preston Park, Stockton, on Teesside. The rally, organised by
DUNKIRK AS a non-believer and as an ex-servicemen who lived through those days, I am grateful to your correspondent, EA Moralee, for educating me on the matter of the Dunkirk debacle of 1940. So they were all saved by the power of prayer! I had previously
A £50,000 marketing campaign for Sunderland's newest tourist attraction has been approved. Sunderland City Council's cabinet agreed to release money for the £13m Winter Gardens project at a meeting yesterday. It will be used to fund advertising campaigns
HUNDREDS of North-East workers are on a knife-edge after shipbuilder Cammell Laird called in the receivers. The company, which employs some 800 workers on the Tyne, Tees and Wear, said a series of events had caused "significant damage" to its trading
MORE footpaths have been opened to provide an Easter bonus for walkers. Darlington Borough Council has decided to open eight paths closed because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The move follows consultation with the NFU and follows Maff guidelines, bringing
VETS and farmers should contact the Newcastle Disease Emergency Control Centre (NDECC) instead of regional Maff centres if they wish to apply for licence applications to move vehicles, machinery or people within infected areas in the North-East. The NDECC
VILLAGERS living close to an experimental genetically modified crops site are to hold a referendum on whether they want the trials carried out in the area. A meeting in Oakenshaw Workingmen's Club, in County Durham, also asked GM foods company Aventis
SCHOOLS across Derwentside have been able to learn about improving the environment the hard way - by getting on their hands and knees and picking up litter. Youngsters from Blackfyne Comprehensive, at Blackhill, Consett, and Consett County Junior School
HUNDREDS of jobs in the region's coal mining industry will be safeguarded as part of an multi-million pound aid package. H J Banks' sites in Northumberland are to receive £703,000 to bolster existing jobs there. The European Commission cash, totalling
MAGISTRATES across a district of County Durham may consider resigning if plans to close a magistrates' court are implemented. Chairman of Derwentside Magistrates' Bench Arthur Maughan said many of the area's 37 magistrates would "seriously look at their
SCOUTS are appealing for more help with their new campsite. The Scouts, from Redcar, asked for assistance in The Northern Echo and its sister paper, The Clarion, for equipment to set up the campsite at Ingleby Greenhow, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire
A PRIZE-winning North-East biker, killed when another rider turned across him on the Isle of Man TT course, has been described by a friend as the safest rider he ever knew. School caretaker and father-of-two, Kevin Lynn, 44, from Hartlepool, was killed
A COUNCIL footpath is being diverted after an eroded riverbank collapsed into the water. Since last November's floods the bank of the River Wear, at Chester-le-Street, has been steadily crumbling. Numerous chunks of earth have come away from the bank
THEY laughed, says Alan Singleton, when ten years ago he diversified from farming into growing mushrooms as well. Now he shifts almost two tons a week. "It's an awful lot of mushrooms," says Alan. They probably raised eyebrows, too, when he began keeping
MORE footpaths have been opened to provide an Easter bonus for walkers. Darlington Borough Council has decided to open eight paths closed because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The move follows consultation with the NFU and follows Maff guidelines, bringing
Friday, April 13th: Number of calories eaten: 1,500 (v.good). Number of boyfriends: None (I'm destined to a life of ready meals for one). Number of cigarettes smoked: None (hurrah). Alcohol units: A bottle of Chardonnay... The inauspicious start of Bridget
ARMY wife Sarah Reay is in for some happy house-hunting - after scooping £15,000 in a commercial radio contest. Mrs Reay, a 30-year-old mother, lives with her husband in Army quarters at Catterick Garrison. But after winning the cash on Galaxy radio she
SHOPPERS can take part in a Good Friday service at an unusual venue tomorrow. Middlesbrough town centre chaplain, the Reverend Andy Byng, will conduct a 30-minute service in the Cleveland Centre, from 11am. Ministers from the town centre's six churches
A SCHEME piloted in Bishop Auckland to give stroke victims their independence has been hailed a success. Under the project occupational therapists visit people in their homes to help them carry out day-to-day tasks . About eight patients a month in the
EVERY gardener knows the true value of horse manure. It's priceless. And when a Grand National winner makes the donation, then it's a sure bet that everything in the garden will be extra rosy. At least that's the hope of Tom Swindells, the gardener responsible
A TRADE union yesterday described news that the boss of troubled store chain Marks and Spencer could receive a salary and bonus of more than £1.4m as a "slap in the face" for the group's workers. Chief executive Luc Vandevelde is in line for a cash and
David Coulthard fears he faces another battle against the odds in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix in Imola. The Scot catapulted his way into second place in the championship after he blasted his way past Michael Schumacher when on his way to victory in
A town crier who twice quit the post in protest over funding is to don her distinctive uniform for a third time next week. Nancy Buckle stepped down from the job in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, last year because she felt unable to do justice on the
A YOUNG snowboarding star has returned from Austria with the British Junior title. Gemma Holmes, 17, of Lindisfarne Close, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, held off the challenge of 50 other competitors to win the championships, held in Mayrhofen. She
Lambs dumped in a skip and set on fire were not infected with foot-and-mouth disease. Firefighters discovered about a dozen lambs dumped in skips at Brown House tip, at Hill End, Frosterley, County Durham, on Tuesday night. A fire had been started to
WITH the splendour of stately homes and the dizzy heights of the highest pub in England, North Yorkshire has proved a real marriage hotspot. The county ranks joint first for civil weddings with Cornwall, in the latest figures to be published by the Office
TODAY, we publish a harrowing account of daily life for Pat Looms, a former patient of disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale. It graphically illustrates the depth of despair facing the women who had the misfortune to be treated by him. When patients see
A PROUD father and a canny coach are so sure of a young sportsman's success - they have put a bet on it. So convinced are Nigel Beaumont and Danny Evans that 16-year-old James Beaumont could play for England, they have gambled £120 with William Hill.
PREVIOUS winners of the Spirit of Innovation Awards are urging young inventors to get involved with this year's competition. At the age of 15, Alex Dixon and Andrew Teasdale, pupils at Monkwearmouth School in Sunderland, were encouraged to enter the awards
AN Easter gift of £40 was handed over yesterday - from one of the world's poorest nations to flood victims in one of the world's richest. The people of Mozambique, which is still recovering from a disastrous floods which left 200,000 homeless, were moved
THE North-East National Farmers' Union has attacked a move by a national milk retailer to put prices up because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Express Dairies, which has depots in Northallerton, Middlesbrough and Durham, has informed customers that the
A thief broke into a pensioner's flat and stole money from her bedroom as she slept. The 82-year-old woman awoke at 3am to go to the toilet and realised something was wrong. After getting up, she realised a quantity of money had been stolen from the room
RATE reductions are being offered to businesses in part of the region unaffected by the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The area covered by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is one of the few areas in the North-East which remains disease-free. But the council
Darlington manager Gary Bennett is today hoping to persuade Carlisle boss Ian Atkins to let him have keeper Peter Keen on loan for the remainder of the season. Keen's month's loan runs out today and Bennett wants to keep the former Newcastle keeper for
THE North-East National Farmers' Union has attacked a move by a national milk retailer to put prices up because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Express Dairies, which has depots in Northallerton, Middlesbrough and Durham, has informed customers that the
POLICE are searching for a tug-of-love child who has disappeared with her estranged father. It is feared David Lancaster, 48, may have smuggled Lauren Allen, four, abroad after failing to return her to her mother. Lauren's mother, Hayley Allen, of Walker
POLICE say the number of school buses with potentially serious defects appears to be falling in County Durham. A two-week operation checking buses across the county led to 11 out of the 192 inspected being ordered off the road. This compares to 20 out
SEASIDE resorts up and down the region are gearing up for a bumper Easter weekend as people flock to the seaside because of closures in the countryside. At Saltburn, on the east Cleveland coast, a Victorian cliff lift reopens tomorrow. The council is
RATE reductions are being offered to businesses in part of the region unaffected by the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The area covered by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is one of the few areas in the North-East which remains disease-free. But the council
A NORTH-EAST factory is going into the crime-fighting business by turning out a new breed of scenes-of-crime experts for police forces all over the country. Up to 250 specialists from all over the UK will pass through the unit at Spennymoor over the next
POLICE have welcomed the launch of a computer database aimed at stamping out car crime. The database, pioneered by the National Salvage Group, based in Darlington, contains details of more than half-a-million vehicles. It can be used by police forces
A FARMER fears his sick cattle will die because he is prevented from moving them to a barn about 200 yards away. George Jackson can only watch as his sick heifers and their calves deteriorate in a water-logged field. The cows, at Cherry Tree Farm, near
KC ENGINEERING is investing more than £750,000 to meet a 50 per cent increase in business. The company, based on the Delves Lane Industrial Estate in Consett, is currently installing state-of-the-art machinery. It expects the investment will boost its
A MAN locked up after appearing in court drunk was jailed for three months yesterday. Philip Winship admitted perverting the course of justice after using his brother's name when he was charged with drink-driving. The hearing was postponed on Tuesday
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has won an award for its road safety policy, which includes an internal driving licence. Kevin McGlone, chairman of the Association of Local Authority Risk Managers, which presented the award, said: "The award scheme
THE traditional trade of sea-coaling has had its day and should be scrapped, according to protestors. As part of an inquiry into sea-coaling in Hartlepool, protestors and supporters of the practice were invited to address a working group. The views expressed
COMMUNITY leaders have welcomed a proposed £2.5m investment in flood defences to protect a city's residents and traders. The Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee has set aside the funding for Ripon in its 2004 and 2005 budgets. County councillor
A scheme to use grassroots health workers to identify the best places where NHS health promotions should be concentrated is being tried out in the region. It could mean individual schools, or local areas with particular problems, will be targeted for
STAFF have been celebrating the arrival of the first baby at the new University Hospital of North Durham. Diane Henaghan, 35, gave birth to baby Beth shortly after 7am last Saturday at the hospital, in Durham City. She weighed a healthy 7lbs 5oz. Diane
PUPILS from Park View School, Chester-le-Street, have won the regional finals of an on-line science quiz. The youngsters competed against the clock to answer 20 questions in the Science Race 2001 quiz. The event was organised by the Engineering and Physical
A CHARITABLE foundation has announced £1m aid for communities hit by foot-and-mouth disease. Newcastle's Northern Rock Foundation has allocated this year's Big Project Fund to those affected by the outbreak across the region. Fiona Ellis, foundation director
FOOTBALL League bosses last night recommended Chesterfield be docked nine points and fined £20,000 after a three day hearing into illegal payments. A meeting next week is expected to confirm the decision even though charges against the club, including
CARLISLE yesterday recalled Darlington keeper Peter Keen back to Brunton Park - but first-choice stopper Andy Collett is set to return tomorrow against Cardiff City. Former Newcastle keeper Keen had been on loan at Feethams for a month, during which time
SUNDERLAND'S Gavin McCann was finally forced to admit defeat yesterday in his fight against a niggling knee injury. Manager Peter Reid decided to rest the newly-capped midfielder for tomorrow's crucial game against Tottenham, although he could be back
THE region's airports have called on the Government to make better use of regional facilities to meet demand for future air travel. Newcastle and Teesside Airports have responded to the consultation process that will shape a policy for aviation for the
CAMPAIGNERS are claiming victory after the NHS agreed to give the victims of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale access to fast-track corrective surgery. It is the first time in the history of the NHS that such measures have been taken after a medical scandal
WORRYING about weight problems has become one of the great obsessions of modern times - but staff at an animal rescue home have every reason to be counting their residents' calories. Ten fat cats at the Blue Cross animal adoption centre, at Topcliffe,
THE mother of a North-East biker killed on the Isle of Man has condemned the decision to let her son's uninsured killer go free. Jean Lynn's son, Kevin, a caretaker at Throston Grange Primary School, Hartlepool, was killed last year on the Isle of Man
THE receivers appointed at troubled shipbuilder Cammell Laird will be the same ones that handled the receivership of the Swan Hunter shipyard on the Tyne seven years ago. Ian Stokoe, of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), was the man who rescued Swan Hunter
