DURHAM County Council is coming to the end of an extensive review of its residential care services for older people. The review was announced early last year and a special project team was set up to oversee the development of a strategy to modernise the
THE former leader of Durham County Council is among 12 former councillors to be honoured for their long service. Don Robson, the council's Labour leader for a decade, retired at the June elections after 20 years service and nine years on the previous
LAST of the Mohicans... Last of the Summer Wine... Last Tango in Paris. None can compete with the gripping drama produced by The Last Dummy In The House... The little 'un goes to big boys' school in September but he still has a dummy - or a 'doddy' as
A CRICKET match stopped by rain is a frequent occurrence in our fickle climate, but it was a wedding which interrupted play at Crakehall on Saturday. In an almost Biblical gesture, the approach of Miss Helen Stubbs across the village green parted players
LARGE scale celebrations of Saltburn's Victorian history will not take place this summer because of a lack of volunteers and funding from the local authority. The Heritage celebrations, also known as Victorian Week, have become a popular event in the
POLICE used Rat on a Rat tip-offs to raid eight houses for drugs in a County Durham town today. Officers in Chester-le-Street arrested five men on drugs charges after early morning raids in Chester West, Pelton and Grange Villa. They seized cannabis,
A YORKSHIRE Euro MP has called for a pan-European inquiry into the handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Mr Robert Goodwill, Conservative MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber has written to Mr David Byrne, European Commissioner for health and consumer protection
A REDCAR school has been criticised for not consulting neighbours and the council about plans for a two-metre fence. Ings Farm Primary School, in Stirling Road, applied to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee for permission to put
THE people of Loftus have delivered a clear message over the future of a picturesque stream which runs through the town. Residents who packed into a special town debate delivered a resounding "no" to the idea of culverting to head off flooding problems
Middlesbrough defenders Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu have been included in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad to face Holland on August 15. The former Aston Villa pair are part of a 26-man squad which also includes Bayern Munich's Canadian-born midfielder
Talented seven-year-old Cyle was rewarded for his display during a recent football coaching course when he won the player of the course award. Since moving to Sacriston, Cyle, who supports Newcastle United has become a keen and dedicated footballer, becoming
FLOWER power might not help put out a fire or catch a villain, but the emergency services in Darlington have created some very arresting floral displays outside their stations. The police and firefighters in the town have shown a softer side, after spending
Black clad as a referee always should be - T-shirt, tracksuit, baseball cap - Jeff Winter kicks off slightly late for lunch, shoves his mobile phone into his cap, decides his order in the approximate time it takes to say "Name and number". "Fettuccine
A DALES market town celebrates its past this weekend, with a programme of events raising money for charity. Guided tours of Masham and its church, an exhibition of memorabilia linked to the town's Victorian railway station, a table-top model of the building
ENGINEERING group GKN has warned the slowdown in the automotive market could spread to Europe as its first-half profits fell by 24 per cent, hit by difficult conditions in the US. While there were signs US car production "may be stabilising" GKN said
POLICE investigating the suspicious death of a man have revealed the house where he died was a brothel. Kalvant Singh, 41, was found in the backyard of a house in Errol Street, Middlesbrough, on Monday. An upstairs window had been shattered, and Mr Singh
FROM the Cut-throat Celts to the Blitzed Brits, two thousand years of horrible British history are being brought to life during the summer holidays. The Horrible Histories Funfair of Fear is based on the books of best-selling County Durham author Terry
Slazenger Harrogate and District League - The Academy are just one victory away from capturing the First Division championship following their resounding win over Knaresborough. A win against Harrogate Racquets in their final match of the season would
LAST of the Mohicans... Last of the Summer Wine... Last Tango in Paris. None can compete with the gripping drama produced by The Last Dummy In The House... The little 'un goes to big boys' school in September but he still has a dummy - or a 'doddy' as
A VETERAN cyclist who returned to the sport after a gap of more than 40 years has claimed a national road race title and is now looking for world glory. Bryan Bliss, who rides for Ferryhill Wheelers, won the British Cycling Federation Over 65s National
The daughter of speed hero Donald Campbell said she was 'totally relieved' to hear today that human remains discovered at the bottom of Coniston Water definitely belonged to her father. Gina Campbell, 51, was speaking after a 10-minute inquest into the
IT COULD have been worse. It could have been Eminem, in which case the vicar might have had a point. Instead, a vicar in Cheshire banned a couple from having Jerusalem and I Vow To Thee My Country at their wedding, claiming they were nationalistic and
TEACHER and writer Paul Telfer had to perform emergency surgery on his TV drama script Starman after the countryside was hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The half-hour film drama Starman, which he'd written for Tyne Tees Television's First Cut series
ASBESTOS surveys are to be carried out at more than 600 council-owned properties as part of a £1m scheme. North Yorkshire County Council has announced plans to carry out the surveys in all its properties, including offices schools, libraries and social
ON Reflection is the theme of the Askrigg artists' group annual exhibition, which is held at the Dales countryside museum, Hawes, for the second year in August. For the talented young guest painter Jill Hodge, of Preston Under Scar, it is also her second
HOSPITAL shop volunteers are contributing to easier and safer births by spending some of their profits on equipment for new mothers. The Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) helpers who run the shop at the maternity unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital
PROPOSALS to redevelop Bishop Auckland town centre have been greeted with enthusiasm by local people, who say they cannot wait to see the improvements. The scheme to brighten up the market place and surrounded area aims to reverse the decline in visitors
YORKSHIRE and England legend Freddie Trueman has been lined up to help Thirsk Cricket Club celebrate its 150th anniversary. The famous fast bowler will entertain past and present players and members of the club as the guest speaker at an anniversary dinner
Durham and District League - Ever Ready/Craghead extended their lead at the top of the First Division to three points after they only dropped two points to the visiting Langley Park, while their main challengers, Leeholme were stretched before winning
A suicide verdict was returned by an inquest jury on a prison inmate from the North-East who was found hanged. Registered disabled, John Shutt, 52, of Kelsey House, Front Street, Kelloe, Durham, was found hanged by a shoe lace in his cell toilet at London's
THE region's first "one-stop shop" police and fire station has been hailed as the way forward for emergency services in the North-East. The new police and fire centre, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, is the first of its kind in the region and
THE future of Leyburn's Thornborough Hall has been thrown into doubt again, after the town council confirmed it would no longer be looking for cash from Europe to buy and refurbish the building. However, the council has not given up on plans to acquire
Wolviston have paid the price of success. Five of last season's side have left and manager Graham Howard has brought in only three newcomers. "We enjoyed the last campaign when we finished third in the table and won the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup but
The League starts the new season with the announcement of a new sponsor, South Cleveland Garages. A three-year deal has been agreed in what both hope could turn out to be a long-term partnership. There are no changes to the membership of the League, at
COUNCILLORS will hold surgeries in the following Redcar and Cleveland wards: Today: Guisborough, Guisborough Library, 6-7pm. Tomorrow: Belmont, Anchor Inn, Belmongate, 9.30-10.30am; Brotton, Brotton Library, 10.30-11.30am; Guisborough, Chapel Beck Community
Rob Burn took part in the world veterans athletics championships in Brisbane, Australia and he competed in the cross country event, an 8km race over a tough three lap course. Rob (pictured, right), 47, finished an excellent 13th in a very competitive
APPRENTICE Paul Bradley represents excellent value for his 5lbs weight allowance, a factor well worth taking into account when assessing the prospects of Wilson Blyth (3.30) in the day's most valuable race, the £10,000 Showcase Handicap at Lingfield.
DARLINGTON chairman George Reynolds yesterday ended speculation about the future of manager Gary Bennett by giving him, and his assistant Mick Tait, two year contracts. The pair's contracts both expired at the end of last season, and there has been considerable
POWER company Enron last night named the three men killed in an explosion at its North-East power station. The two who died at the scene were Andrew Sherwood, 36, of Hartlepool, who was an operator technician, and Darren Higgins, 28, also an operator
COUNCILLORS are to visit a strip of land near the Old School, Wilton Village, east Cleveland, before they make up their mind on an application for a detached house. Neighbours said they support the plans partly because the site is in a derelict state.
NEWCASTLE United have launched a tit-for-tat reprisal against Intertoto Cup rivals Troyes by complaining to UEFA that the French side's ground was unsafe. United hit back after Troyes made moves to have the Magpies kicked out of the competition for fielding
CONSTRUCTION orders dipped sharply in the second three months of this year as new data provided another jolt to the UK economy. The figures from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) show orders fell 16 per cent against the previous three months
A YOUNG swimmer from Middleton St George has confirmed her potential as a star of the future by producing medal-winning performances at the recent national age group championships in Sheffield. Fifteen-year-old Natasha Crawley, who swims for Middlesbrough
A CHARITY launched by a former mayor of Durham has been nominated for a national award. The Mildred Brown Trust has been put forward by members of the public for the Ease Awards - Ease of Access, Service and Employment - which reward organisations that
WITH the start of the grouse shooting season imminent, measures were taken this week to avoid confusion over the status of moorland footpaths in parts of Teesdale. Moorlands in the south-west and west of the district have been closed to the public, following
Boddingtons Durham Course Under 18s - Andrdew Gale (54) and Chris Price (32) were both in top form when Dawdon defeated Bill Quay by 65 runs. Batting first, Dawdon ended on 145 for five from their 20 overs with the Hussain brothers, Suhaib and Zuhaib
PROPOSALS to redevelop Bishop Auckland town centre have been greeted with enthusiasm by local people, who say they cannot wait to see the improvements. The scheme to brighten up the market place and surrounded area aims to reverse the decline in visitors
SEDGEFIELD'S Dun Cow Inn once again carried off the first prize in the commercial class of Sedgefield Civic Trust's floral awards competition, winning the George Robinson Trophy. In second place was the Nags Head Inn, with the Number 4 Tea and Gift Shop
A NEW bus service operating between Thirsk, Sowerby and Northallerton is attracting little support. Wensleydale Railway Company introduced a service of hourly double-deckers, open-topped in fine weather. The company also operates a late night bus from
Black clad as a referee always should be - T-shirt, tracksuit, baseball cap - Jeff Winter kicks off slightly late for lunch, shoves his mobile phone into his cap, decides his order in the approximate time it takes to say "Name and number". "Fettuccine
CARPET manufacturer Hugh Mackay has designed the carpet for the Gala, the £14m theatre at the centre of the Millennium City development. The company, based at the Meadowfield Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Durham, has added the project to a list
ANYONE who has been abroad on holiday is likely to have a small collection of foreign coins about the house, ready for the next time they go overseas. However, from January 1, next year, many Continental countries will be switching to the euro - and soon
JOINT talks are to be held over plans for a bypass and the form it should take. A meeting between Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough borough councils, scheduled for next week, should bring an end to the deadlock between the neighbouring town halls
A TOURIST attraction has recorded its highest number of visitors during a weekend for five years. The number of people using the renovated Saltburn cliff lift peaked at 9,854 at the weekend - the most since 1996. Work on the lift, which was completed
A PIER off the Teesside coast faces collapse unless emergency repairs are carried out. Surveys conducted at the end of July showed that about 40 metres of the outer North Pier, at Hartlepool, will collapse unless the town's borough council spends £200,000
A FULL weekend of racing is on offer this weekend - thanks to The Clarion and its sister paper, The Northern Echo. The newspapers are sponsoring a fun filled day at Redcar Racecourse on Sunday. Gates open at 11am and attractions include a funfair, performances
A LENGTHY injury list and some disappointing pre-season results have already cast a shadow over Darlington's prospects for the new Nationwide Division Three season, which begins with a long trip to Southend United tomorrow. With Martin Gray, Paul Heckingbottom
POLICE welcomed the heavy sentences passed on a gang of heroin dealers this week - but criticised the judicial system for the delay in jailing them. Ten drug dealers, who were arrested last year during Chester-le-Street CID's 150-officer Operation Cassidy
AN INTENSIVE operation to check vehicles and farms in the special biosecurity area around Thirsk has already had a major impact. Trading standards officers from North Yorkshire, with colleagues from as far afield as Cornwall and Norfolk, have carried
A NEW housing scheme in a village would "drive a battering ram" through the lives of elderly people. This was the warning of a councillor as the plans for Skelton came under the spotlight. But despite objections, the application for 24 homes on the site
PEOPLE wishing to take advantage of a free bulky item collection service are being urged to call the council as early as possible. Darlington Borough Council has offered the free service for some years, but because of demand it was decided late last year
BEVERLEY and Leslie Bailey enjoyed getting married so much, they did it all over again yesterday. After just a year of wedded bliss, the couple took part in one of the first affirmation of vows ceremonies to be held in the country. The ceremonies, offered
NEVER have so many wickets fallen in a day at the Riverside. And that's saying something. The umpires are obliged to alert the pitch inspectorate at Lord's if 15 fall in a day, but yesterday 18 fell between lunch and the fifth over after tea. The explanation
THE new president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is Mr Peter Smith, a society member for more than 40 years. He received his staff of office from Lord Gisborough, retiring president, in an informal ceremony at the Great Yorkshire showground in
The newly-formed Bishop Auckland FC Independent Supporters Club is to distribute its first newsletter to 10,000 homes in and around the town later this month. The newsletter will include news about the club and its planned move to a new ground at Tindale
A COUNTY Durham riding school's hopes of holding a show over the August bank holiday have been dashed. The business run from Backandsides Farm at Hummerbeck, West Auckland, has been at a standstill since foot-and-mouth disease hit the region back in February
A TEENAGE girl and another woman were sexually assaulted in separate attacks in the space of three days in a city centre. The 15-year-old girl was dragged along North Street, Ripon, North Yorkshire, and subjected to a terrifying sex attack by a man in
THERE is a scene in the hit move Billy Elliott where the young hero just can't stop running. Sprinting through the terraced pit village streets, Billy runs like the wind. Unlike Billy, Sunderland-born David Reavely finished up with a PE teaching certificate
A NEW handyman service - available in Stockton for the last few months - is now on offer to people in Redcar and Cleveland who have assessed social care needs. The scheme aims to tackle minor jobs that are too difficult for individuals but not serious
THE heat is on, with champion Kevin Darley and former champ Kieren Fallon locked in battle for this year's title. Fallon passed the 100 mark on Wednesday last week, but Darley won't give up easily and is just a handful behind. His pillar-to-post win for
CARING father David Sharp took the plunge into business so that he could be at home to help care for his sick child. He set up his own vehicle accessory firm to avoid spending long periods away from home which meant he did not see much of his young son
A PIONEERING scheme to set up a cheese factory in the Esk Valley is being spearheaded by a moorland councillor. Coun Herbert Tindall sees the project as a way of creating much-needed jobs, helping farmers hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis and attracting
Sir, - While it is to be expected that most people have sympathy with the country's farmers during the current foot-and-mouth epidemic, I wonder if as many realise the discomfiture suffered by farm workers? Their annual pay increase, which is usually
SANYO staff at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and Thornaby, Teesside, who are due to lose their jobs when the plants close later this year, are receiving help to find new work. Specialist careers advisors from ICM Career Care have been drafted in to
THE villagers of Bagby were still shocked this week following a massive foot-and-mouth cull at the weekend. Chaos was created as 40ft articulated lorries lined up all the way through the village on the narrow road. "The congestion was unbelievable, there
A FEATHERED fugitive looks like spending a few more nights on the tiles after weeks of giving would-be captors the bird. The lone peahen has been stalking the streets of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, for more than a month, sleeping on roofs above the
DARLINGTON Borough Council has been advised to pay compensation to residents whose homes have lost value because of a planning decision. Local Government Ombudsman Patricia Thomas criticised the council after a complaint from a resident citing concerns
Durham City Harriers - Val Hancock made the long trip to Brisbane, Australia, to compete in the 14th World Veterans Championships and she returned with two medals in the 8K cross-country race. She ran extremely well to gain a well deserved silver medal
WITH the new season fast approaching, training began in earnest at Northallerton Rugby Club in July. There is much optimism for the new campaign in Yorkshire Division Two with the arrival of coaches John Widdall and Kevin Robson, who join the club fresh
A GARAGE owner and his team took centre stage at the weekend when they auditioned their remote-controlled robot for a spot on a cult television programme. Mr Anthony Hobson, the proprietor of Tallentire's garage at Bowes, joined forces with electronics
FIFTY racing stables built at Tall Trees stud, Sessay, have to be demolished, a council has ruled. Hambleton District Council will seek an enforcement notice demanding that owner, Mr D Nicholls, remove the stables erected without planning permission.
THE eighth annual Kirkleatham engine rally will go ahead this weekend despite a low turn out in the trade and craft sections. Organisers fear traders and craft workers are not interested in having a stall at the event because they think it is cancelled
THE latest state-of-the-region report had a depressingly familiar ring to it. Compared to the rest of the UK, the North-East has higher unemployment, higher death rates, lower wages, poorer education standards. Other less reliable barometers of the region's
TOP show cow Upsall Skychief Gremlin, above, bred by Mr Robin Dickson of Upsall Grange, near Guisborough, is one of six animals chosen for a photographic dairy judging competition to be run by Semex. Entrants must rank, in order of merit, six Holstein
CUSTOMS officers seized three-and-a-half million cigarettes from a ferry. The North Sea ferry berthed at the Tyne Commissioners Quay, North Shields, arriving from Holland on Wednesday. While examining a trailer unit, supposedly carrying vegetables, officers
A COUNTY Durham jazz band has lined up a series of guests for its new regular gig. No Place For Jazz has been playing on Sunday nights at the Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, near Stanley, for the last three years. Now it has a Tuesday night spot at The Bridge
YORKSHIRE Tourist Board is using high-technology to sell itself throughout the world at the click of a button. And the idea is to turn their new web site into a one-stop international shop for all the products traditionally associated with Yorkshire.
FOUR beat bobbies blazed a trail into their new premises this week, setting up a mini police office inside a rural fire station. PCs Mick McGuire, Steve Wailes, Vince Myhan and Alison Race, together with their section Sgt John Turner, are sharing the
IT'S enough to make Blind Date fans poke their own eyes out. In response to ITV showing Premiership highlights at 7pm on Saturdays the BBC are threatening to offer EastEnders as the alternative. Lord help us. It's a clash which highlights how television
Sir, - We read with some dismay and concern the report of what was said by some councillors at the meeting of Guisborough Town Council on the debate about Christmas lights. We would like to point out, in particular to Couns Pudney and Griffiths, that
RESIDENTS of a tiny rural community have been left hopping mad after a planned visit by Countryside Minister Mr Alun Michael was cancelled at the last minute. Mr Michael was due to attend Newbiggin village hall in upper Teesdale on Monday to launch the
REDCAR lifeboatmen are pin-ups in a special calendar. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's legacy calendar is sent to solicitors to display in their offices. David Brann, RNLI fundraising and marketing director, said: "The calendar highlights the
One man who saw behind the image of Forster as an elderly and harmless man was Ricky Smith, wrongly branded an evil rapist by the poison pen author. Mr Smith is now planning to sue Forster for making his life a nightmare for 13 years. Father-of-four Mr
ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Adam Valks from Barnard Castle had a triple success at the Penshaw Equestrian Centre's first junior BSJA competition. He won the Scope Golden Bear class on his coloured pony OK Mick, before partnering Royal Declan to beat off competition
The rivalry that exists between supporters of Darlington and Hartlepool United means that they do not always see eye-to-eye. But for the sake of charity, fans of each club got together to stage a football match in aid of Jon Robert Collingwood who lost
AN elders congress could soon become a feature of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. At a full meeting of the council last Thursday, Coun Chris Abbot, from the Liberal Democrat party, put forward the suggestion of an elders congress. His proposal would
A POLICE force is expected to block a suspended officer's bid to become a mayor. Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon today tendered his resignation from Cleveland Police whose bosses suspended him from duty nearly four years ago. Financial considerations
FOOT-and-mouth may have forced the cancellation of the Great Yorkshire Show but the annual agricultural long service awards went ahead. In a special ceremony, Lord Gisborough, outgoing president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, presented a tankard
A £400,000 east Cleveland sports facility has won approval from councillors. Preparations for a National Lottery application to fund the cost of an all-weather running track and multi-sports pitch are now being stepped up. It is hoped that the scheme
IT'S enough to make Blind Date fans poke their own eyes out. In response to ITV showing Premiership highlights at 7pm on Saturdays the BBC are threatening to offer EastEnders as the alternative. Lord help us. It's a clash which highlights how television
IT'S 11am on a sunny Monday morning and in the Brymor Ice-Cream Parlour a family is studying the list of ice-creams available. Father dithers between Rich Dark Chocolate or Ginger, mother is torn between Black Cherry Whim Wham and Strawberry Cream. Son
A 62-year-old from Aycliffe Village showed Army Cadets a clean pair of heels on their annual camp. Lieutenant Colonel Eddie Leadbitter joined 300 cadets from County Durham on a two-week camp in Scotland. There were two venues, one near Crieff, Perthshire
A charity which aims to raise £500,000 for brain haemorrhage research is seeking the help of pubs in the Sedgefield borough. Organisers of the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation have produced a charity football card which it wants to sell in pubs
ONE of the most comprehensive reports ever published on how the North-East compares with the rest of the United Kingdom was launched at the Guild Hall, Newcastle last week. The 17th state of the region profile report was compiled by the North-East Assembly
THE latest move in the ongoing Sheffield saga heavily hints at an ISL club from the Yorkshire city. The Findus British National League has announced its official list of clubs for the coming season - with no sign of a Sheffield team, Steelers or otherwise
Eurocell Marshall-Tufflex Darlington and District League - The foot-and-mouth epidemic and the inability of sides to find 11 players continues to worry the league. No games went ahead in division A at the weekend and throughout the league a number of
A DARLINGTON retail firm's continued success could see it double its workforce over the next few years. Savers Health and Beauty, which has its distribution centre at the town's Faverdale industrial estate, employs 250 staff and 45 drivers to deliver
A YOUNG motorbike trials rider returned to his home at North Cowton with a trophy after being invited to take part in his first arena trial. Gavin Lowther, aged 15, rode in the competition staged by Tyne Valley classic motorcycle club as part of the classic
DURHAM County Council is coming to the end of an extensive review of its residential care services for older people. The review was announced early last year and a special project team was set up to oversee the development of a strategy to modernise the
MORE than a dozen years of suspicion and fear in a tiny village finally ended yesterday with the conviction of the man who waged a hate-mail campaign against his neighbours. Retired university lecturer James Forster was warned he could face jail after
PEOPLE wishing to use a free bulky item collection service are being urged to call the council as early as possible. Darlington Borough Council has offered the free service for some years, but because of demand it was decided late last year to limit the
AN accomplished horsewoman, whose eventing career ended after she broke her back in an accident, tackles a sponsored run later this month to help other injured riders. Mrs Sharon Watts, nee Lemon, of Catterick Garrison, competed at international level
IT'S 11am on a sunny Monday morning and in the Brymor Ice-Cream Parlour a family is studying the list of ice-creams available. Father dithers between Rich Dark Chocolate or Ginger, mother is torn between Black Cherry Whim Wham and Strawberry Cream. Son
AN American car enthusiast has won his battle against Government red tape that would have forced him to splash out more than £1,000 to change his number plate. Under DVLA regulations Owen Dawson's 3.1 litre left-hand drive Chevrolet Camaro, like every
Countryside warden Ian Bond is battling to turn around the near extinction of one of Britain's tiniest mammals. Mr Bond has set up a captive breeding programme with the aim of releasing harvest mice back into the wild. He started by approaching Chester
POLICE trying to unmask the author of what have become known as the Manfield Letters unravelled a trail of abuse, pornography and threats. And they found the letter writer, James Forster, to be an obsessive, snobbish and vindictive man who believed he
TEACHER and writer Paul Telfer had to perform emergency surgery on his TV drama script Starman after the countryside was hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The half-hour film drama Starman, which he'd written for Tyne Tees Television's First Cut series
RELATIVES of a former beauty queen who committed suicide after being convicted of blackmailing a former football star are to fight to clear her name. Carolyn Pick, 36, was granted leave to appeal against her conviction just a day after she was found hanging
HARTLEPOOL United's Mark Tinkler is desperate to get tomorrow's midfield battle with Mansfield Town underway. Mansfield travel to Victoria Park with two of the most promising midfielders in the Third Division raring to go. Lee Williamson and Craig Disley
A FATHER has urged council housing officers to fit safety catches on all kitchen doors after his 11-month-old son chopped off the tip of a finger. Ian Tague had to rush his screaming son Ross to hospital after he got his finger caught in a metal hinge
OUTSIDER Mr Copperfield came up trumps for Wolviston trainer Eddie McDermott in Sunderland's only open race last weekend. A proposed big puppy competition failed to fill, and the spotlight was on the 640m event - and McDermott's recent recruit to six-bend
Letters from The Northern Echo THE NORTH-EAST HUGH Pender's remarks about farmers having blind allegiance to the Tories (HAS, Aug 4) can be likened to the North-East's blind allegiance to the Labour Party. I've been fortunate to have worked around the
GOVERNMENT news releases and media coverage sometimes makes it seem as if the entire framework of rural life is supported by grant aid. But headlines trumpeting £1m towards this and £500,000 towards that are often tempered by a general feeling in the
GRASS roots groups thatstruggle to raise funds for community projects are being thrown a cash lifeline. Yorventure, the environmental body that distributes the landfill tax funds of Northallerton waste management company Yorwaste, has announced a small
EXCITING ice hockey prospect Michael Allinson is celebrating after being called-up by his country. The 14-year-old will travel to Canada in December where he will be representing England. Michael, who plays for Sunderland teams the Arrows and Tomahawks
Carlton Miniott's Woodlands complex proved the perfect venue and kept the youngsters busy during the latest heat of the Tek Neek Trabucco sponsored Junior Angling Championships, writes JEFF HERBERT. Warm temperatures ensured the fish fed well on Kestrel
RESIDENTS of Hartlepool have to register as voters by Monday if they want to have their say in a referendum for a directly-elected mayor. On October 18, the public will vote to say whether they want an elected mayor to run Hartlepool Borough Council.
THE maternity unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital has become the first in the country to win an award recognising its commitment to patients. The unit has been awarded practice development status by the University of Teesside for excellence and innovation
IT took three-and-a-half years, and investigations costing from £3.5 to £7m, depending on whose figures you believe, but Robocop has finally been worn down. Ray Mallon's decision to resign from Cleveland Police has brought an end to a saga which has proved
A COMMUNITY forum has been set up in Brotton. The Brotton Community Forum, which is looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the village, hopes to make a real difference to local people. The forum said that one of the main problems affecting the community
GOLFERS are getting ready to tee off in a charity tournament later this month. More than 150 players will raise money for the Friends of Gleneagle, a Middlesbrough charity which provides respite care for children with disabilities, in a charity pro-am
PLANS for an indoor riding facility at Saltburn have been opposed by the parish council. Tim Hill, of Saltburn Riding Centre, just outside the town on the road to Marske, is applying to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for planning permission. He
A FOOTBALL club has been saved from certain closure after a community rallied round to raise vital funds. The Willington Association Football Club faced closure just five years short of its 100th anniversary when its main building developed a hole in
FOUR companies are attempting to take over highways maintenance work across North Yorkshire. Currently, the county council's direct labour organisation carries out the work, but from April 2002 it could be in the hands of a private company. The contract
SO ENGLAND is to become "Harry Potter country" in a bid to lure foreign tourists back to our foot-and-mouth hit landscape via a map of locations used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Given the young wizard's popularity with
A POP concert will be entertaining Redcar youth, thanks to a special partnership. The Clarion has teamed up with Redcar and Cleveland College and Redcar Town Centre Management, to organise the concert, which will be headlined by boy band X-poze. The band
Sir, - Having failed utterly with a similar campaign in the USA, the foreign animal rights organisation Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), with a "war chest" reputed to be £30m, has launched a sensationalist publicity campaign to try
NORTH Yorkshire County Council has criticised a north-south divide in vital government funding for flood repairs. The authority was originally pleased to have been given £1.2m to repair roads and bridges ravaged by floodwaters last November. Closer analysis
A CASH investment to revamp ear, nose and throat (ENT) services has been announced by health chiefs in York. The Government money will mean shorter waiting times and better facilities for patients at York District Hospital. The capital funding will be
A LEADING hotel has toasted the return of its manager following his success on a champagne tasting course in France. John Birnie, manager at Darlington's New Grange Hotel and Maxine's bar and restaurant, was one of 16 delegates selected by the Champagne
UP to 5,000 rural tourism jobs could be lost because of the long-term impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis, a report has warned. It is also feared that the epidemic could leave a devastating legacy, which could see 600 businesses fold before next spring
ALBERT Camus in his 1947 novel La Peste gives a gripping, highly atmospheric account of plague afflicting an Algerian port city. There's heroism, cowardice, dedication to duty, corruption and, of course, a vast body count. And the history books tell of
NEARLY 4,500 people have objected to plans to build 150 houses next to a nature reserve. Stockton Borough Council has received the objections to the proposed development, which would include call centres, e-commerce centres, a hotel and health club, and
THE Government's stubborn refusal to hold a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth epidemic is entirely without justification. Its announcement of three further investigations brings the number of separate public bodies examining the crisis to ten. Duplication
WORK at one of Saltburn's major attractions is nearing completion. Saltburn Miniature Railway has been closed since before Easter after it was hit by flooding problems. In April, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council gave permission to the team of volunteers
STUDENT Omaima Hamed has proved language is no barrier to success after completing a degree - despite knowing no English when she arrived in the UK. The 42-year-old mother-of-five came to the North-East from the United Arab Emirates seven years ago, with
AN environmental transport charity has been accused of betraying its principles for considering the sale of a former railway bridge on the Coast-to-Coast cycle route to a housing developer. Sustrans, which works on projects to encourage people to walk
SOCCER star Ugo Ehiogu was fined £100 yesterday for failing to produce an insurance certificate after being stopped in his high-powered car. The 28-year-old England and Middlesbrough player did not appear before magistrates in Selby, North Yorkshire,
VILLAGERS at Well, near Bedale, are fighting the threatened permanent closure of their only pub, where the licensee has claimed he paid only £1 for the goodwill of the business. Mr Mark Wilson has upset residents by lodging a planning application to convert
DRIVERS in Egglescliffe have been warned not to use a special bus route during peak times. A reminder has gone out that the Yarm bus green route lanes are for buses only during the evening. Stockton council says it is important that drivers know that
OLYMPIC stars of the future could be cultivated in Saltburn after planners gave the go-ahead to the development of a sports facility. The all-weather running track and multi-sports pitch - the first of its kind in the area - will be based at Marske Mill
Aldbrough St John Feast. - Aug 13: All Monday events, including fair and gymkhana, now cancelled. BCTG. - Aug 13: Flat work with Corinne, pm, open to any riding club member, tel 01325 332685. Bedale Hunt SC. - Sunday: Rummage sale at the Golden Fleece
A man was missing today after three men fleeing from police stole a dinghy and collided with a Royal Naval Reserve training boat, police said. Northumbria Police said three men jumped into the dinghy yesterday evening after reports of trouble in a riverside
A SECOND bidder has come forward for Cammell Laird's operations at Hebburn on the Tyne. Receivers PriceWaterhouseCoopers have confirmed that they have received a second multi-million pound bid for the yard, but refused to name the party concerned. A statement
Worthington CIU Team Knock-out Cup - Are-spotted black cost Third Division, Leeholme B a quarter finals place when the visiting Spennymoor A, from the First Division, took the black to win by seven points. Leeholme B received 133 points start but this
PARALYMPIC champion Tanni Grey-Thompson is expecting her first child. Tanni, 31, who lives in Redcar, spent the weekend celebrating with husband Ian after revealing that the baby is due in February. Tanni, who was born with Spina bifida, has been wheelchair
A POLICE force is stepping up its campaign to encourage residents to stop making life easy for burglars. Cleveland police officers are taking to the streets to get across their message that house windows and doors let in crooks as well as draughts to
HOTELS and leisure group Whitbread plans to double the size of its David Lloyd health and fitness business over the next five years. And according to a spokesman for the company that could be good news for the region's towns and cities, including Middlesbrough
A SCHEME enabling organisations to protect youngsters from abuse was launched yesterday. As part of the Child Safe initiative, groups will have access to packs informing them of a policy to protect the young people in their care. Backed by Durham Police
Bishop Auckland League - Gavin Witton took the final captain's point for Crook Olde Horse Shoe against Paul Biddle of Spennymoor Ashtree to edge his team into a vital odd point victory in the top match of the week. The Ashtree had singles points from
RESIDENTS awaiting compensation after a council was found guilty of maladministration are demanding to know why a strict local planning policy was ignored. Last week a local government ombudsman report upheld complaints that a new housing development
THE first Streets Alive festival is being held in Newcastle this weekend. Shoppers and tourists in Grainger Town will be mingling with The Invisible Men, jugglers, live bands and stilt walkers during the free festival, which will take place today and
DARLINGTON Dial a Ride has defied the borough council by putting two vehicles back on the road without private hire licences. Last Friday, the council was forced to issue the disabled taxi service's financial director Mr Charles Smith, with a notice to
DANCING girls and a disco will be among the entertainment at an evening of cabaret on Teesside. The evening, in aid of the Hartlepool and District Hospice 2001 Appeal, will be held on September 8, at the Mayfair centre. Tickets are on sale at £5, and
RE-OPENING of bridleways and moorland in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale has given the green light to a business venture put on hold earlier this year because of foot-and-mouth restrictions. Mrs Jane Baker had hoped to open her pony trekking centre at Easter
Roseberry Group North-East Durham League - Wearmouth strengthened their grip at the top of the table when they were the only side to complete their game at home to Benwell Hill. The visitors were all out in 23.3 overs for 54 runs as Darren Cliff claimed
A PLAN to convert a disused chapel into a house has been rejected because graves are only 3ft away from what would be the front door. Hambleton District Council development control committee heard yesterday that Mr E R King wanted listed building consent
MANY of our meadows and fields are rich with deep carpets of colourful wild flowers, more so than in many recent years. There may be several reasons for this allowing certain fields to remain in an uncultivated state, or perhaps a more selective use and
A TEENAGE gunman who tried to rob a woman as she waited at a bus stop in Darlington is being hunted by detectives. The woman, in her early 30s, who had been visiting a friend who lives near St Andrew's Church, left to catch a bus home shortly after 11pm
TALENTED youngsters held an exhibition of artwork at Redcar and Cleveland College. As part of a Government scheme to help develop gifted youngsters, these pupils from schools throughout the area took part in a summer school based on arts subjects at the
