A FORMER pit site could figure in plans to transfer electricity between Britain and Norway. National Grid International (NGI) is seeking planning permission from Easington District Council to build a converter station on 200 acres of land at Hawthorn
A CHARITY has been presented with a computer to help its members across the region keep in touch with each other. ME North-East, based in the volunteer bureau in Clarence Terrace, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, received the technology through BT's
POLICE are trying to track down a sex pest who has plagued a woman with obscene post for four years. The victim, a churchgoer in her late forties who lives near Durham City, first received greetings cards, containing hand-written sexually explicit suggestions
Letters from The Northern Echo QUEEN'S PORTRAIT I WOULD call the Queen's portrait (Echo, Dec 22) no less than gracelessly demeaning. When I compare this monstrous image to the natural and smiling photograph of Her Majesty sent to us on the occasion of
TONY Beckett once made an impromptu appearance in pantomime at Darlington Civic Theatre. Ugly Sister Paul Shane dragged him into the middle of the stage to perform a song and dance. Usually, he's seen but not heard as a signed performance interpreter,
THERE is no shortage of problems for Tony Blair to deal with in Britain as a new year dawns: a health service which remains a long way from being able to cope with demand; a public transport system in chaos; and a manufacturing sector in crisis, to name
A MOTHER is hailing her two friends heroes after they rescued she and her toddler from their burning home. Rona Turton, 25, woke up just before 11.30pm on Wednesday to find thick, black smoke pouring from her kitchen. She ran to wake her three-year-old
LIVING in one of the most beautiful spots in Britain is no consolation when you are all alone at this time of year. The surface of the spectacular 70-acre lake at Castle Howard, near Malton, North Yorkshire - the setting for TV's classic serial Brideshead
TENANTS across the borough of Stockton are being urged to get involved in the future management of their homes. This week Stockton Borough Council will be sending out a postcard to its tenants to alert them to the imminent arrival of more detailed information
A WEBSITE providing the region with the latest music news and reviews has been given a new address of its own. Until now, The Northern Echo's Revolution site could only be visited via the paper's thisisthenortheast site. But such has been its success,
A RECRUITING drive for school governors has been launched by Redcar and Cleveland Council. Three information sessions have been set up, offering a 15-minute presentation, followed by time for questions and answers about the role of a governor. The council's
A MAN who was rescued after falling into a frozen beck has been described as being very lucky to be alive. The man, believed to be in his early forties, was pulled from the icy waters of the beck at Hemlington Lake, Middlesbrough, by Leading Firefighter
CHAMPIONS Manchester United moved ominously into second place in the Premiership as Ruud van Nistelrooy reminded Bobby Robson of what he missed when Newcastle were priced out of the market for his £19.5m signature. Dutch ace Van Nistelrooy, a Robson protg
AS another North-East family claimed their child has been damaged by the MMR vaccine, solicitors say the overall numbers of claimants continues to grow. Liam Amberfield from Toft Hill, County Durham, was allegedly injured after being injected with a defective
ONE of Britain's leading physicists, who was born on Tyneside and worked for several years in the North-East, has died aged 93. Professor George Roch-ester, a former professor and pro vice-chancellor at Dur-ham University, died in Durham on Boxing Day
POLICE say they are closing in on computer thieves who struck for the third time at a North-East university yesterday. The latest break-in happened at 7.15am yesterday when two men were found by security staff in the computer room in the laboratory complex
A MAN who admitted glassing his best friend's face was yesterday warned he could face prison. Stuart Ridley, 27, of Davidson Road, Darlington, denied a charge of wounding Steven Catterick, 26, on December 22, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm
A STREET that was so badly vandalised it had to be demolished could become the site of an innovative scheme to help young mothers. Wear Valley District Council demolished two streets on the Woodhouse Close Estate, in Bishop Auckland, a few weeks ago as
A PARAMEDIC is recovering at home after his car was sent spinning into a ditch as he tried to help victims at a crash scene. Colin Clark was the first on the scene when two vans collided on an icy road near Willington on New Year's Eve. He had parked
CONTROVERSIAL plans to replace an historic Darlington building with 18 flats are being recommended for approval by council experts. The development in Stanhope Road should go ahead despite 58 letters of objection from residents, says a report to Darlington
A NORTH-EAST football club was wrong to sack a commercial manager who began an affair with a married director, an employment tribunal has decided. Helen Coverdale was fired by Third Division Darlington after a confrontation with her lover's furious wife
A POLICEMAN who helped develop a high-tech computer to help solve crime across the country has been recognised by a commendation. In what is thought to be the first formal recognition for such a scheme, certificates were given to Durham Inspector Brian
A MAN who admitted breaking into a house must wait to find out his sentence. Anthony Dawson, 22, of Morrison Close, Newton Aycliffe, admitted burglary at Teesside Crown Court. He admitted breaking into a house at Scott Place, Newton Aycliffe and stealing
A TAXI driver has been arrested after a New Year's Eve party-goer was found dead outside a house. Detectives launched a murder inquiry following the death of 34-year-old Colin Arnold, who was seen having an argument with a taxi driver at about 4am on
DETECTIVES have vowed to continue their efforts to find a four-man gang that carried out a "well planned and very professional" armed robbery in the North-East. Officers investigating the raid in December on D and H Jewellers, in Darlington, are urging
A HEROIN addict robber was jailed for five years yesterday after stealing from a village shop while armed with a knife. Steven Naylor, 29, of Porter Terrace, Seaham, east Dur-ham, had denied a charge of robbery at Teesside Crown Court, but in November
PROPERTY group Haslemere is to team up with troubled cable operator ntl to give shoppers better mobile phone coverage. The deal should guarantee services from major phone operators at seven of London firm Haslemere's UK shopping centres. The financial
CRIME-HIT residents have voted Zero Tolerance cop Ray Mallon their Man of the Year. Nicknamed Robocop for his hard-hitting style, Detective Superintendent Mallon cut crime in the tough beat of Middlesbrough after vowing to quit if his tactics failed.
THE number of businesses failing during 2001 fell by almost one per cent, despite the impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis and the September 11 terrorist attacks. In England, Scotland and Wales, 40,532 firms went into liquidation or were declared bankrupt
A COUPLE have won their battle with planners to keep pet monkeys in "houses" at their home in the North York Moors National Park. Bob and Christine Page moved from Bradford, where they had a commercial kennels and cattery, to a smallholding at Littlebeck
THE man from London stood in front of a packed hall of CIU members and uttered the immortal words: "I believe women should be made full members of workingmen's clubs." In the next breath, a Geordie voice rang out: "Where's yer handbag, man?" That was
As Tony Blair sets off on his latest diplomatic mission, Nick Morrison looks at the roots of the conflict between India and Pakistan, and the dangers of decades of tension turning into all-out war. IT may have taken two months after his Middle East humiliation
SMALL and medium sized engineering firms in the region are being offered a training bounty of almost £400,000. The "train to gain" bounty of £397,000 is being offered by the Engineering and Marine Training Authority (EMTA), the national training authority
A BOY who admitted setting fire to flats in a North-East town has had his sentence adjourned so he can be assessed by a psychiatrist. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted arson at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. The court heard
A LEADING wildlife crime investigator has called for an end to illegal persecution which has virtually eradicated one of the region's most threatened birds. Last year, The Northern Echo revealed how 2001 was the first time the North-East failed to see
WINTER rarely passes without a measure of disruption to the National Hunt programme and this season is no exception, but at least the current freeze-up offers an ideal opportunity to catch up with the progress of the horses featured on the Racing North
THE farmer blamed for starting the foot-and-mouth crisis last night denied reports that he was to remain in the industry. Bobby Waugh, 56, a farmer of 40 years standing, said he had no idea what he might do in the future. The farmer recently gave up the
DESIGN and advertising agency Lateral has moved to new premises on Wearside. The move to a converted Georgian property, in West Sunniside, comes just 11 months after the company was established at the North-East of England Business and Innovation Centre
THE glory days of the railways, when steam giants thundered across the landscape, are recalled in a spectacular new exhibition. Original posters from the golden age of the train are taking visitors to the National Railway Museum, in York, on a special
THE region's train operators have pledged a brighter future for rail passengers this year. Virgin has revealed that it will be expanding its Cross Country services from Newcastle and York during the next 18 months. Crisis-hit Arriva Trains Northern said
AMBULANCE crews in the North-East were stretched to the limit by a surge in New Year violence, it was revealed last night. As midnight chimes rang in 2002 an explosion of violence broke out across much of the region. Up to midnight on New Year's Eve,
Darlington PR Director Luke Raine has called for a winter break to avoid the fixture pile-up which is going to hit Quakers as the season progresses. Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough looks likely to be the next victim of the freezing temperatures
NOT for the first time, Peter Mandelson has been at the centre of controversy, after suggesting that the Provisional IRA should be regarded as freedom fighters. Even though the Hartlepool MP didn't come out openly and say it, merely going along with something
NOT for the first time, Peter Mandelson has been at the centre of controversy, after suggesting that the Provisional IRA should be regarded as freedom fighters. Even though the Hartlepool MP didn't come out openly and say it, merely going along with something
TEACHERS are being tempted to steer their students towards "easier" subjects to boost their school's league table ranking, according to academics in the North-East. Research carried out at Durham University revealed that pupils are more likely to get
WHEN Helen Mallon learned she had breast cancer three years ago, her whole world seemed to fall apart. After undergoing an emergency double mastectomy, followed a year later by a hysterectomy, she sank into the depths of despair. Now on the road to recovery
DETECTIVES are urging people in Darlington to be on their guard after thieves targeted a number of homes during New Year celebrations. In Brinkburn Avenue, between 8.30pm on New Year's Eve and 2.20am the following day, thieves broke down a door and took
PLANS to convert a disused Darlington club into a children's day care centre should be allowed to go ahead, according to a report. The proposals for the Hundens Lane Club, known locally as the Talk of the Town, will be heard by Darlington Borough Council's
THE building from which Darlington's doomed Cavalcade of Steam project was run could be altered to provide extra office space for the borough council. Rail 2000, the company set up to run the 175th anniversary celebration of the Stockton and Darlington
HOPES have been pinned on a nightclub reviving a town's once thriving night life. In its heyday, in the 1960s, Spennymoor's Top Hat nightclub regularly attracted big name bands including Hot Chocolate and Thin Lizzy, and it became an entertainment hot
THE makers of hit ITV show Pop Idol last night insisted their telephone voting system was fair despite protests from viewers who say they were unable to back their North-East favourites. Geordie train driver Aaron Bayley was dumped from the show after
THE North-East will be the last to experience the thaw slowly moving across the country. With temperatures in the region peaking at only 3C yesterday, Sarah Morley of the PA Weather Centre said it could be the weekend before milder conditions arrived
GUN victim Kris Stephenson last night recalled the moment of horror when he confronted armed raiders at his Yorkshire Dales pub. And, his arm still in a sling, he paid tribute to his local community for the way they rallied round and helped after he was
A SOLDIER who admitted assault has had his sentence adjourned. Teesside Crown Court was told how a report that was to be made on Kenneth John Elliott, 28, a King's Own Scottish Borderer stationed at Catterick Garrison, had not been prepared. Stephen Ashurst
HAND-dyers group PHS has splashed out £6.4m on a water dispensing company. It is buying the UK Water Group, which provides workplaces with drinking water dispensers, in an all-cash deal. The firm, based in Farnham, Surrey, has more than 2,000 customers
A MUSEUM offer brought nearly 600 visitors flooding through its doors over two days. The Santa Special, at the DLI - the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery - gave families free entry on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Introduced by Durham
BRITAIN'S struggling manufacturing sector saw employment fall at its sharpest rate in ten years last month, according to a survey. The monthly survey, by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), showed the manufacturing workforce contracted
BOBBY ROBSON last night endorsed Manchester United's title credentials and insisted: "Whoever finishes above them will win the League.'' The Premiership champions recorded their sixth successive win against Robson's Newcastle, who suffered their second
A FARM loved by generations of North-East children is to reopen to the public after County Durham was declared free of foot-and-mouth. The owners of Hall Hill Farm, between Tow Law and Lanchester, at one point feared its doors would be shut forever to
ONE of the region's police forces was praised in a Government report yesterday. The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary named Sunderland West, an area command within Northumbria Police, as an effective division after an inspection judging performance and
