FOOTBALL fans are being urged to send in a mountain of mail to save an historic North-East club. Ten times Amateur Cup winners Bishop Auckland need an army of supporters to write in backing their bid for cash so that they can quit their famous Kingsway
THE LONG wait to find out this year's winner of the Northern Echo sponsored Lifetime of Achievement Award comes to an end next week. On Thursday, the business community of the Tees Valley will gather at the Tall Trees in Yarm for the Business Show, at
LOCAL people unable to afford the full cost of a new house in Redcar are being invited to initially buy a 50 to 75 per cent stake in the property of their choice. The invitation is being extended on a new housing development at Mickledales, where Yuill
A MAN who tried to dupe local magistrates into believing he had been given a job at a bacon factory in a bid to escape jail is, six months on, working as a trainee butcher, a court heard yesterday. Instead of sending Matthew Thomas, 22, to prison for
A TEENAGER who mugged a hospital consultant for her handbag was locked up for three years and two months yesterday. Gemma Claridge, 18, was told by Judge Paul Hoffman at York Crown Court that the doctor had, no doubt, been helping members of the public
REVIEWS:Reviews: MICROSOFT releases the biggest shake-up in the PC market since Windows 95 this month. It's called Windows XP and it promises to do away with all those nasty error messages once and for all. Anyone who made the early transition from Windows
THE first major fundraising event for the Macmillan County Durham Appeal gets under way on Wednesday with a charity concert by the Richmond Operatic Society in Bishop Auckland. The Richmond group, which is well-known in the region and celebrates its 80th
ROLLS-Royce workers in the North-East must wait to find out if their jobs are safe, after the aero-engine manufacturer announced plans to axe 3,800 jobs in the UK. The company, which employs about 1,200 at three sites in the region, is planning to cut
A PENSIONER faces prison after waging a 40-year war on neighbours whose homes failed to match his own idea of perfection. Newcastle Crown Court heard how John Bushell, is a 75-year-old bookmaker, whose pride in his pristine home and impressive gardens
Q I heard that pensioners should have £92 to live on but, after paying my rent and basic expenses, I am left with just £44. My pension is £106 a week and a pension from my late husband's work of £90 a month. What can I do? A Claim Housing and Council
VILLAGERS are taking the lead from their French counterparts and launching a local produce market this Christmas. Residents who visited Wolsingham's newly twinned parish of Poix de Picardie, in Northern France, last month, were inspired by the town's
EAST Durham business bosses are to be given an insight into the realities of signing up to the euro. A breakfast briefing is being organised to help local captains of industry judge for themselves the pros and cons of the single European currency. The
Pressure is expected to mount on North-East councils to hold referendums on directly-elected mayors following the decision by voters in three areas to back the proposal. Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and North Tyneside all came out in favour of the new, powerful
KING of comedy Ken Dodd accepted a cheque for £3,000 on behalf of the Darlington Civic Theatre, last night. The cheque was presented to the comedian by David Stott, treasurer of the Friends of Darlington Civic Theatre and Arts who have been raising money
The Taliban leaders were last night bracing themselves for a deadly campaign by elite US troops after after it was revealed that special forces are now operating behind their lines. Crack soldiers from the American Delta Force and US Rangers have been
A FATHER who was caught with 42 fake Ecstasy tablets has been jailed for 18 months. Stanley Bell, 39, had intended to deal the drugs when he was stopped by police behind a medical Centre in South Shields, South Tyneside. But Newcastle Crown Court heard
A HOSPICE and a church fund have benefited from a sponsored abseil from the second highest church tower in Durham Diocese. Butterwick Hospice and the Friends of Sedgefield St Edmund's Church will receive £2,162.66 each from the charity abseil. A cheque
THE City will be given a fuller view of the impact of the global downturn and the after-effects of September 11 next week - with a swathe of companies from supermarkets to pharmaceuticals due to post updates. Department store group Debenhams is expected
A FEROCIOUS blaze that killed three small boys and their grandmother was probably started when one of the children played with a lighter, an inquest heard yesterday. Nine-week-old Ashley Humph-rey, Stephen Humphrey, two, and Corey Humphrey, three, died
THERE were plenty of winners following yesterday's referendum results which decided that three North-East councils will pioneer new directly-elected mayors. Ray Mallon, in Middlesbrough, is the obvious one, but Tony Blair is another. The Prime Minister
Every Wednesday and Saturday Bishop Stephen plays the National Lottery, using the same numbers each time. When marked on the card, they make the sign of the cross. If it is God's will, he says, he will win. So far his prayers haven't been answered. A
THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised to help two hospitals buy specialist cameras to detect eye problems caused by diabetes. The Save Our Sight Campaign was launched by the South Durham Health Care Trust four months ago with the aim of raising £60,000
TEESSIDER David Richardson will make his first Premiership start for Newcastle Falcons at home to Leeds tomorrow, while his younger brother Shaun is again likely to be on the bench. The eldest of the three, Lee, will be playing for Stockton at home to
THE North-East's newest landmark is being showcased in an exhibition of the best of British design in New York. Gateshead's Millennium Bridge has been chosen by the Design Council as one of the top 100 innovative designs in its Great Expectations show
Appearance money in classified races is still being paid and recent figures show how certain trainers are still abusing the system. Gerry Kelly has run four horses just for appearance money and has amassed £29,600 in payments, with none of his runners
A website for a North-East photography firm has been shortlisted for an award. The site created by IT consultants Waterstons, of Durham City, and Newcastle graphic designers NE6, for Newcastle company Alex Telfer Photography, is one of 20 finalists in
AN Auschwitz concentration camp survivor is to give a talk in Hartlepool on Tuesday. Eva Schloss - the step-sister of diary-writer Anne Frank - will be giving talks on her experiences of the Holocaust. Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during her years
CHRIS Turner last night leapt to the defence of midfielder Tommy Widdrington. The summer signing from Port Vale has come in for criticism from fans as Pool have endured a sticky start to the season. A missed penalty in the defeat at Scunthorpe in September
THE University of Sunderland's School of Education is piloting a national scheme to tackle to teacher shortage. It was asked by the Government to join five other education schools in the country to help attract more teachers and speed up training. The
RESIDENTS are being warned not to give money to bogus charity collectors who are operating in a town. Over the past few weeks, Cleveland Police have received several complaints of youths knocking on doors and alleging they are collecting for causes including
SHOPPERS looking for ideas for Christmas presents found inspiration at a charity fair. The two-day Durham Shopping Extravaganza took place this week at Ramside Hall Hotel, in Durham City. There were more than 60 stalls, selling items such as designer
A COUPLE are to carry on with their campaign to create an Elfinwood on the edge of a North-East beauty spot - despite being twice refused planning permission. Retired marine engineer Harry Davison and his wife, Val, are appealing to the Department of
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid yesterday paid £1m for Republic of Ireland international Jason McAteer. He was hastily registered before the noon deadline and will be eligible for Monday night's derby at Middlesbrough. Reid also stepped up his bid to sign
AERO engine giant Rolls-Royce has become the latest economic casualty of the US terrorist attacks, announcing 3,800 job losses in the UK. While the fate of 1,200 jobs in the North-East still hangs in the balance, the majority of the redundancies are likely
COUNCIL officials are seeking urgent talks with the owners of Scarborough's decaying Royal Opera House, amid fears it has become a safety hazard. Inspections carried out by Scarborough Borough Council and the fire service have raised concerns over the
SOCCER stars swapped their strips for anti-racism T-shirts to help promote a campaign yesterday. Members of Middlesbrough's first team took time out of training at Rockliffe Park to show support for football's national week of action against racism. The
THE mother of murdered Julie Hogg last night vowed to step up the fight to see her self-confessed killer retried for murder, exactly ten years after he was cleared by a jury. Heartbroken mother Ann Ming told The Northern Echo she would take her case to
NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson has warned his side to watch out for their Nemesis, Gus Poyet, in tomorrow's clash with Tottenham at St. James' Park. The Uruguayan midfielder grabbed four goals in his last three meetings with the Magpies before making
PEOPLE living in Gateshead will be able to sample a taste of Africa later this month at two special events. The concert and market, which are being organised with the African Community Association, are part of Gateshead Borough Council's efforts to support
AGONY aunt Denise Robertson has launched a website for carers on Wearside. The star of This Morning, who lives in East Boldon, is a patron of The Sunderland Carers' Centre, which went online this week as part of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers' 10th
ANYBODY who has travelled through Kent in recent years will perhaps have thought the Garden of England had turned into one great construction site. Work on the Channel Tunnel rail link has driven a great gouge though the chalk downland along the M20 corridor
RESIDENTS in two former east Durham pit villages are being given the chance to help improve their communities. Easington Colliery and Horden have been earmarked for funds under the Government's Pathfinders scheme. The initiative has been launched to help
AN 84-year-old caretaker has received an award of a silver-plated hip flask for services to the community. Retired steel worker Harry Arden worked for free at Hamsterley Community Rooms, at Hamsterley, north of Consett, since 1988. Leading Derwentside
BEDE'S World is celebrating The Big Draw this weekend by filling the museum with a record number of artists of all ages and abilities. Artist Elaine Heckles, whose exhibition, Growing Younger Every Day, opens today, will lead a giant art workshop between
PARALYMPIC gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson is the new patron of an organisation that provides disabled people with sport and leisure facilities. Tanni, who lives in Redcar, has agreed to be the figurehead of Durham Area Disa-bility Leisure Group. Lynne
SUNDERLAND FC fans are being urged to help keep a supporters club's bus service on the road. The 400-strong Langley Park branch, near Durham, runs three double-deckers to matches at the Stadium of Light and organises coach trips to away games. The third
COUNCIL planners have won praise from an independent watchdog for their fair and consistent approach. The Audit Commission's Best Value Team says Durham County Council's planning service is helping to transform the county's environment and economy. It
A RECYCLING site is to replace Darlington's refuse centre in an effort to reduce the amount of landfill waste created in the town. Council officers have proposed plans to create the recycling site to deal with 60 per cent of all town rubbish. Kerbside
MOCK battles and skirmishes from the famous naval Battle of Trafalgar will be re-enacted at Hartlepool's Historic Quay tomorrow. Meanwhile, the life and times of Teesside seafaring hero Captain James Cook will be celebrated at the Museum of Hartlepool
Reviews: MICROSOFT releases the biggest shake-up in the PC market since Windows 95 this month. It's called Windows XP and it promises to do away with all those nasty error messages once and for all. Anyone who made the early transition from Windows 3.1
HARTLEPOOL United's misery continued when they went down to a single goal defeat at Torquay. Once again, they paid the penalty for a string of missed chances as they dominated the first-half at Plainmoor. Mark Robinson, Tommy Widdrington, Ritchie Humphreys
VISITORS to a town centre will once again be able to enjoy outdoor skating with the return of an ice rink. Following the success of last year's ice rink, which attracted thousands of visitors to Middlesbrough's Victoria Park, it is making a return visit
A CHARITY, helping victims of domestic violence and their families, is hoping to open a new refuge by next year. The Darlington and Districts Women's Refuge, called Family Help, has been raising money to move to new premises. The charity helped more than
THE approach of winter is the ideal time to reconsider the layout of your garden. With the past season fresh in mind, changes and alterations can be more confidently and successfully achieved. The commonest problem with a garden, especially a recently-established
A TASTE of the Wild West is coming to Ferryhill in a music society's latest production. Ferryhill Operatic Society is performing the musical Calamity Jane, at Mainsforth Community Centre, Ferryhill Station. Linda Land, formerly with Bishop Auckland Operatic
A NORTHERN MP has been praised for her work in fighting terrorism. Redcar MP Vera Baird, a barrister, has won ministerial praise for her work with the House of Commons Export Control Committee and proposed new legislation controlling the international
STICK with Sarrego at Catterick this afternoon and hopefully you shouldn't go far wrong. Reg Hollinshead's two-year-old made mincemeat of his 14 rivals on an impressive debut at Nottingham, overcoming a tardy start to register a shock 50-1 two-and-a-half-length
WHEN he was a youngster Chris Lucas couldn't get enough of Cannon and Ball. At the height of their fame, the duo were Britain's highest paid stars. Once, as a special treat, Chris and his younger brother David were taken to see the pair perform live on
A MAN described as a "walking miracle" is due to visit Stockton next week. David Paterson, 34, earned the nickname because of his extensive fundraising efforts - despite suffering from a crippling condition. He has suffered from arthritis since he was
Appearance money in classified races is still being paid and recent figures show how certain trainers are still abusing the system. Gerry Kelly has run four horses just for appearance money and has amassed £29,600 in payments, with none of his runners
A BARMAID who was sacked by a football club after work records revealed she had been late 66 times and absent on another 60 occasions, is suing for unfair dismissal. Tracy Bailey, 28, claimed at an industrial tribunal yesterday that the figures were wrong
APATHY is perceived as a major concern in British politics. In June this year, we elected a national government, and around half of those eligible to do so cast their vote. In local government the perception is more pronounced. Rightly, or wrongly, the
PLANS for a controversial bail hostel in a North-East town have been rejected by the Government. A Planning Inspector has sided with councillors and residents of Chester-le-Street who opposed plans for the 25-bed hostel in their town. Undeterred, the
A TEENAGE father attacked his best friend after he betrayed him by having an affair with the mother of his three-year-old-son, a court heard yesterday. Andrew Morrison, 19, was told by Harrogate magistrates the type of despicable and loutish behaviour
WITH just 72 days to go before Euro notes and coins become legal tender in 12 member countries, the North-East Euro Forum is stepping up efforts to ensure the region is ready for the single currency. Whether or not Britain joins, the move will impact
Letters from The Northern Echo PUBLIC SERVICE JUST occasionally we are given a sickening insight into the murky morality of our rulers. Most of the time they get away with it, but, once in a while, a stone is overturned and something slimy slithers out
PUPILS have been given a secure place to leave their trendy scooters when they get to school. About 50 youngsters at Abbey Junior School, in Darlington, County Durham, are following the latest trend and riding their scooters to school everyday. Although
ONE young artist's work will be on show in the homes of the great and the good of the community this Christmas. For new MP for the Stanley and Chester-le-Street area Kevan Jones has chosen Steven Brough's Christmas card design as the design for his cards
CATERERS who are helping to fight a city's biggest killer have won recognition for their efforts. Twenty-nine Heartbeat Awards will be presented on Monday to firms who are trying to combat heart disease in Sunderland, which has one of the highest death
TWO North East radio stations could walk away with a host of awards at a ceremony next month. Both Metro Radio and TFM are up for several categories in the London International Advertising Awards. Representatives from the Emap-controlled stations will
THE National Glass Centre in Sunderland is offering shoppers the chance to pick up bargain Christmas presents. The fair will be packed with reduced ex-demonstration pieces and end of range stock, from leading glassmakers and companies, including Phoenix
Darlington's Division Three match at Shrewsbury this afternoon has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. After heavy overnight showers, the Gay Meadow pitch was deemed to be unplayable by match referee Trevor Parkes after an inspection this morning
COUNTY Durham taxi drivers are going back to school to polish up their skills and get a qualification. About 60 cabbies have booked up for a free course that looks at aspects of the job such as helping disabled passengers, customer care and health and
UNWANTED mobile phones are being turned into money for charity by a North-East council. Darlington Borough Council is urging people to hand in their old phones to help fund vital medical projects for children worldwide. To help support National Waste
AN identity card scheme to prevent young people abusing alcohol and other substances has been backed by a police authority. Members have approved a grant of £15,000 to Sunderland City Council to help fund the project, which will enable shopkeepers to
MUSEUM bosses have pledged to keep social history collections on open display, despite a third theft in the space of six months. Police are investigating the theft of a late Victorian soda siphon, which was part of an Edwardian pub display at the Castle
A NORTH-EAST MP is leading a Commons campaign to stop plans to ban jackpot gaming machines from private clubs. The proposal, contained in a Government-commissioned independemt review of the gambling laws, says jackpot machines should be removed from clubs
A COMMUNITY appraisal to improve Sedgefield and surrounding villages could start within weeks, once funding is secured. The Sedgefield Development Partnership, established in December last year, was recently awarded £4,000 from the National Lottery Awards
THIRD Division football is seeing a 'surprise package' challenge at the top of the table and today Darlington will be hoping to get their own promotion bid back on track by defeating them. Shrewsbury Town have so far suffered just three defeats and they
HORSES are causing havoc on an industrial estate, where the animals are wandering into the paths of lorries and even peering through parked car windows. About half a dozen stray horses have adopted South Church Industrial estate, near Bishop Auckland,
THE images have been seared into the American psyche for the last 30 years - the horror of jungle warfare; the transport planes loaded with body bags; the frantic helicopter departures from the roof of the US Embassy, signalling a humiliating defeat.
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren could unleash a new-look three-man strikeforce on Sunderland in Monday's crucial derby at the Riverside Stadium. McClaren, who takes charge of Boro in a Tees-Wear clash for the first time, yesterday admitted he is
A TERRIFIED horse was rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped in a slurry pit. Horse lover Joanna Brown struggled frantically to keep the four-year-old's head from going under while 16 firefighters battled to pull him free. The drama unfolded after
A TEESSIDE council was fined £17,500 yesterday after a council worker fell eight feet from a roof and died. Middlesbrough Borough Council admitted breaching health and safety regulations, which led to the death of roofer Barry Price, 53. Mr Price, the
