Sunday is Workers' Memorial Day . The international event is intended to remember the hundreds of thousands of people who die because of their employment or who suffer physical or mental impairment because of their work. One of the biggest gatherings
COUNCILLORS have agreed to increase the salary they are offering to a qualified youth worker. Ferryhill Town Council has been looking for a co-ordinator to run the youth caf in the market place. The position was advertised at £6.50 an hour, but drew no
A NEW fundraising manager has taken on the task of raising thousands of pounds every week for a south Durham hospice. Mother-of-three Sylvia Stoneham, 45, arrived at the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland at the beginning of the month. She is putting
THE start of the cricket season was of special significance to Tom Stafford, as it marked 40 years of involvement with Yarm Cricket Club. Newsagent Mr Stafford, 55, is lucky to be alive and enjoying his cricket again, after suffering a serious illness
ORGANISERS of street parties to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee are being urged to contact their local authority. Hambleton District Council says requests for street closures received after May 6 will not be processed in time for the celebrations
SINGING starlet Zoe Birkett's first nationwide tour will be broadcast on prime-time television tonight. Zoe, 16, from Darlington, will be seen with the other Pop Idol finalists in one of the shows from their recent tour. The youngsters, including Geordie
A COUNCILLOR is calling on community groups in Teesdale to join forces to secure the future of a hospital and elderly care home. Councillor John Watson said there was growing concern in Barnard Castle about the future of the Richardson Hospital and Stoneleigh
A SCHOOL which lost its fight to stay open is closing in a blaze of light. One thousand candles will be lit at a Roman Catholic mass to celebrate the 45-year life of St Anthony's RC School, Middlesbrough, which has surplus places. Its motto is Let Your
VISITORS to a popular Teesside attraction can now get some extra exercise. In addition to walking, running and cycling, there is a wide range of exercise opportunities on the Trim Trail at Castle Eden Walkway, Thorpe Thewles. The trail consists of seven
IT has not been a good week for justice - either here or abroad. A week in which the trial into the murder of Damilola Taylor ended with serious questions being asked about the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. A week in which a North-East shoplifter
Hearing-impaired children in the North-East will take part in a two-day soccer school to encourage their involvement in the sport. The school, sponsored by Phonak Hearing Systems, is part of the national Hear the Cheer campaign run by David Campbell Celebrity
A SENIOR Durham nurse retired yesterday after more than 41 years in the profession. Margaret Best, 58, left her post as director of nursing and quality enhancement for the North Durham Healthcare NHS Trust, at the University Hospital of North Durham.
A BANNER hung outside Darlington's new football ground for 24 hours. It didn't say "Welcome to the exciting new home of the Quakers" as it might. For the thousands of motorists on the bypass skirting Darlington, it alleged that one of the region's best-known
RARE species of flora are to be given extra protection in a scheme to enhance wildlife along Teesdale's roadsides. The Teesdale Roadside Flora Project aims to identify some of the area's rarest flora so that greater attention can be given to preserving
CRIME cameras in Ferryhill are providing value for money. Members of Ferryhill Town Council requested statistics to assess the effectiveness of the town's closed-circuit television camera network. Councillors are often questioned about the value of having
THREE binmen have been hailed as knights in shining armour after they helped victims of a car crash. The men helped the injured, pushed two cars out of harm's way - and even remained at the scene to sweep the road afterwards. The trio, Barry Durkin, Anthony
A SCHEME to curb the number of deaths from heart attacks in the Durham Dales is to be launched. The Weardale First Responders Scheme involves training teams of local people to administer life-saving treatment with heart-start machines before paramedics
MURDER squad detectives were last night investigating the gruesome discovery of a body at a Middlesbrough waste site. Officers were called to the Teesside Waste Management premises on Dockside Road, not far from the Riverside Stadium, yesterday afternoon
NEW high-tech methods of communication between hospitals and doctors serving remote communities in North Yorkshire are to be examined by the new health trust, which administers services in the north of the Yorkshire Dales. The so-called "tele-medicine
PEOPLE living in Durham are being urged to put their best foot forward for local celebrations of the Queen's golden jubilee. Newton Hall Community Centre is planning to stage a lunch for pensioners, a painting competition for children and a barbecue and
MOTORIST Gary Hart faces another multi-million pound writ from a freight company involved in the Selby rail crash. Freightliner yesterday confirmed it was looking to recover a "substantial" sum of money for damages and loss of business following the disaster
DURHAM skipper Jon Lewis believes Nicky Peng could be in contention for an England place this summer if he maintains the form which brought him a century at Derby on Thursday. Every county's Professional Cricketers' Association representative has been
A WOMAN charged with an offence in connection with an alleged hit-and-run incident has had her case adjourned. Six-year-old Leonie Shaw died after being hit by a car as she tried to cross the road near her home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Emma
ONE of Tony Blair's closest political allies will today outline his vision of the future for the New Labour project. Speaking in Darlington, David Miliband, the South Shields MP and former head of the Downing Street policy unit, will argue that education
RADIO presenter Paul "Goffy" Gough is considering taking legal action over a banner put up at a North-East football stadium falsely claiming that he is a secret homosexual. The Century FM DJ, who is married with three children, is furious that the banner
REHEARSALS are under way for an unusual theatrical event which will be taking to the stage next month. The drama department at Longfield Comprehensive School, Darlington, is one of several schools and community groups working with the Tara Arts theatre
THE economy edged ahead just 0.1 per cent in the first quarter this year, new figures have revealed - making an imminent rise in interest rates highly unlikely. The figure was below economists' expectations of 0.4 per cent and meant that against the same
SEDGEFIELD specialist Fatehalkhair bids for an amazing twelfth course win in £20,000 Foster's Durham National today. "He just loves the place," said trainer Brian Ellison who added: "Fatehalkhair is in a different class to his rivals, it's simply a question
It's Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and hello Arizona as Oz and the (cow)boys return with plans to dismantle the Transporter Bridge in order to sell it to native American Indians. Entertainments Writer Steve Pratt reports. A NATIVE American Indian sits crosslegged
A JUNIOR school has received a Government award after improving its results for three years in a row. Greenland Junior School, in Stanley, has been recognised with an achievement award from the Department for Education and Skills after its 11 year-olds
AN exhibition of work by three women photographers opens its doors in Stockton this week. Digital Dreams, which is on display at the Green Dragon Museum, is made up of images by Andrea Robertson, Julia Routh and Patricia Ruddle. All three photographers
MEMBERS of the National Canine Defence League (NCDL) will be at the Asda store car park, Spennymoor, on Wednesday, to microchip dogs. Anyone wanting their dog chipped can have it done at a cost of £9.50. The service is free for pensioners or people receiving
MORE than 2,000 people in Durham have backed a call for Israel to end its occupation of Palestine. They signed a petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair, which was launched by the Durham Campaign for Peace and Solidarity in the Middle East. The protestors
TELEVISION archaeologists were celebrating a big success yesterday after uncovering evidence of a lost Viking village. Experts from Channel Four's Time Team programme have spent the past few days digging up the sprawling lawns of Castle Howard, near Malton
BURGLARS have left victim Mohammed Chughtai reeling following two break-ins in two months. The 28-year-old mature student lost a family heirloom in the first raid on his home then burglars returned to steal his pet puppy. "It's awful, devastating. I am
A SELF-TAUGHT artist is hoping his inclusion in a national exhibition will be a springboard to more success. Ken Small, 68, has had six paintings accepted for the British Watercolour Society's annual summer exhibition, the largest display of original
ONE of Europe's top orchid growers has chosen a show at a stately home as his only exhibition in the North this year. Jack Wubben will bring more than 75 different species of the flower to the Raby Orchid Show, at Raby Castle, in County Durham. The event
GOVERNERS at the primary school attended by Leonie Shaw have written to their county council in an attempt to make safety improvements on the road where she was killed. Alex Clements, chairman of governors at St Andrew's Primary School, Henknowle, County
A BASKETBALL court which has proved a huge success with youngsters has been officially opened. The £86,000 floodlit facility, at Kader Youth and Community Centre, Acklam, Middlesbrough, was designed to give youngsters somewhere to meet and play sports
An uncharacteristic fall by Carbury Cross in the Scottish National last Saturday put a damper on an otherwise pure gold season for Jonjo O'Neill. Since being installed by the legendary Irish gambler J P MacManus at the lavishly-appointed training established
A WEEKEND of music and dancing is set to bring a market town to life when it kicks off next week. The annual Teesdale Thrash, at Barnard Castle, in County Durham, will feature street dancing, a candle-lit sing-a-long and music workshops. The event, from
THE Parliamentary football team made up of Westminster MPs is playing a North-East team in a charity match at St James' Park tomorrow. The regional team is made up of representatives from key North-East institutions. The Regional Development Agency One
THE Northern Echo has launched an online TV listings service. Readers can check The Northern Echo's website for programmes on dozens of cable and satellite channels - far more than it is possible to carry in print - as well as last-minute schedule changes
Six stunned British plane-spotters were last night preparing to fly home from Greece with the shadow of a three-year jail sentence hanging over them. Lawyers acting for the six, and two Dutchmen, launched an immediate appeal after they were convicted
CRAIG BELLAMY has been pulled out of Newcastle United's end-of-season party after failing to shake off a nagging knee injury. The Wales striker won't play again this term after manager Bobby Robson revealed he is still suffering the effects of tendinitis
AN auction of promises may be staged at this year's masked summer ball, in the grounds of Barnard Castle's Bowes Museum. The Friends of the Museum are holding the event on Saturday, June 29, at 7pm, and are inviting ideas for the auction. Anyone with
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid will order his team to go out at Charlton this afternoon with all guns blazing in a bid to shoot their way to safety. "Three points at Charlton and we should be all right - that could be it and we've got to aim for that and
REPUBLIC of Ireland international Jason McAteer - desperate to avoid the agony of Premiership relegation - has told his Sunderland teammates before the crucial game at Charlton: "Let's sort it out." The 30-year-old Merseysider, who was sidelined by injury
CHRIS Turner has an example in front of him - now his players and supporters must follow the script. Turner leads Hartlepool into the play-offs for the third season in a row, aiming to follow the lead set by Blackpool last season. After a semi-final defeat
A PENSIONER has become the latest victim of a "cold and calculating" con involving a three-piece suite. Trading Standards officers said that the man, from the east Cleveland area, was offered it in exchange for his old three-piece suite, which was in
A fun day in Gateshead will give people the chance to find out about plans for a nature reserve. The Bensham Wildflower fun day, organised by Gateshead Borough Council and Durham Wildlife Trust, will be held tomorrow, at the Bensham Butterfly Station
TAXI drivers threatening to strike in protest at new driving tests have moved to reassure the public about tonight's services. Mick Kennedy, chairman of the Darlington Independent Taxi Traders' Organisation, said no date had been set for the strike. It
IT'S a scenario that has become all too familiar to Sunderland fans. Once their club were mainstays among English football's elite, but that changed irrevocably when a then-record 68-year tenure in the top flight was broken by relegation for the first
SOME of the gardening portrayed on television is more like joinery, a flower show chief has said. The president of the North of England Horticultural Society, John Lyles, currently staging Harrogate's Spring Flower Show, said he believed some programmes
THE curious case of Larry the missing lamb has astonished farmer's wife Christine Suddes and her five daughters. The pot lamb was taken from Thornley Pit House farm, just outside Tow Law, County Durham. Larry, an ornamental white lamb with a distinctive
A FORMER gymnast trained by a coach cleared of sexual abuse told a tribunal yesterday she had never seen him touch children inappropriately. From the age of 15, Vicky Gray, 32, was trained by Paul Wells four times a week, until she became a coach. "Throughout
CONCERNS are growing for a diabetic pensioner who is missing from home and may not have taken his medication all week. Clifford Reed was seen by a number of people in his home town of Staindrop, County Durham, on Monday, but there have been no confirmed
FUNDING to provide Thirsk market place with dropped kerbs to provide disabled access is in this year's county council budget. A scheme for introducing the kerbs was put forward to the authority 18 months ago. A member of the public asked Thirsk Town Council
THE New Demi Club, in Consett has been reopened following a £100,000 refurbishment. The remainder of the refurbishment work at the former Irish Democratic Club, in Medomsley Road, is expected to be completed next month, but the first function was held
Tragic Terence Monaghan choked to death after swallowing two snooker balls. First aiders thought they had cleared the blockage when a red ball shot out of his mouth after they squeezed his chest. But seconds later they realised there was a second blockage
AFTER being compared to one of Hartlepool United's greatest players when he arrived, Darrell Clarke had a lot to live up to when he moved to Victoria Park. And now the hard-running midfielder is showing exactly why Chris Turner was quick to make his move
ASKRIGG is the next dales ward to go under the microscope as the district authority assesses housing needs across Richmondshire. A survey has begun to establish the need for affordable housing in the communities between Leyburn and Hawes. The study is
MIDDLE EAST ON TV I was watching the Israeli Defence Minister being interviewed about the Israeli and Palestinian conflict in which he stated that there was no political solution to terrorism. Does he not recall how the state of Israel was created, by
A GRANDMOTHER dubbed Queen of the Donkeys for her work delivering aid to Afghanistan has launched a new appeal. Hermione Youngs, 56, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, won international acclaim after she completed a 450km trek into Afghanistan following
A MERCY mission to take a fire engine to Afghanistan from the region has been delayed by a bureaucratic hitch. The tender will now leave North Yorkshire next week on its 5,000-mile, two-week journey. The 12-year-old vehicle was bought on Merseyside with
A CHEMICAL tanker crash caused road chaos yesterday. Firefighters said the collision between a lorry carrying sulphuric acid and titanyl sulphate and a highway maintenance truck, on the A19 in Teesside late on Thursday, was "a potentially nasty incident
POLICE confirmed last night that they were treating as arson a major fire which broke out at a North-East factory this week. Meanwhile, the management at E&R Polymers, on the former Ever Ready site near Stanley, County Durham, have revealed that losses
A GAY woman, persecuted in her community, is preparing to help others in the same situation. Last month, The Northern Echo reported that Kirsty Lord and her partner, Samatha Dewhurst, had suffered verbal attacks and their home, in Darlington, had been
NEWCASTLE Falcons will go into the three home games which could secure their place in Europe without hooker Matt Thompson, son of the club owner David Thompson. The club have handed Thompson junior a two-week ban after being sent off for fighting in an
THE most endangered bird of prey in northern England appears to be making a comeback after being driven to the brink of disaster. Last year was the first time the hen harrier had failed to nest at all in the North-East and North Yorkshire since they re-colonised
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren last night refuted suggestions that star striker Alen Boksic's future lies away from Teesside. The Croatian has not played in either of Boro's two games since their 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford
SPORTS and recreation facilities across North Yorkshire could be in line for a multi-million pound boost. County council chiefs have submitted a bid for £3.4m in Government funding which could allow many projects to go ahead. The schemes include proposals
A SERIOUS crash has occurred on the country's worst road, days after a fatal accident claimed the life of a lorry driver. A post office van and a Mercedes Benz car were involved in a crash shortly before 9am yesterday on the A66 trans-Pennine route. There
Sunderland City Council has started moves to acquire land it needs to build a bypass for Ryhope and Grangetown. The council has published notices of compulsory purchase orders. Objectors can write to the Secretary of State for Transport, Government Office
SENIOR police officers from Germany and Holland are visiting the North-East this weekend on the last leg of a European tour aimed at reducing football-related disorder. A delegation of 11 officers will be guests of Northumbria Police, studying the policing
TWO teachers have been nominated for their dedication to the classroom in the forthcoming Teacher of the Year Awards. Roisim McVeigh and John Maddison, who both teach at Wolsingham School and Community College, County Durham, have been shortlisted for
A TOP judo student has scooped a gold medal in an international competition. Following a run of recent successes by East Durham and Houghall Community College's judo academy, Ben Quilter has taken the top award in the British Open competition at Crystal
YEAR 11 students from the region are being urged to apply for places at an Army college before this year's deadline. The Welbeck Residential Sixth Form College, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, offers a two-year, science-based education, with students eventually
A NEW hotel on the A1 has started a recruitment drive to find 30 staff. The £4.5m Sleep Inn, situated at Newton Park Services, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is the first of a nationwide chain planned by Aston Hotels. The group, headed by Paresh
A BOGUS letter claiming the recipient must take in a family of Asian lodgers has been sent to a vulnerable person. An official-looking letter, with the Darlington Borough Council letterhead, claims the homeowner will have to provide a room in his house
THE funeral of a popular doctor will be held next week. North Yorkshire GP Martin Mowbray died suddenly in hospital last Sunday, aged 58. He leaves a widow, Margaret - also a GP - daughters Alison and Catherine, and son John. Dr Mowbray was born in Lincolnshire
HALF-a-century of conservation work is being celebrated in liquid form - with the launch of a beer. The North York Moors National Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary and has teamed up with Cropton Brewery for a party flavour. Anniversary Yorkshire
Charlton 2 - 2 Sunderland - Sunderland eased their relegation worries by ending a run of five consecutive defeats this season in London by drawing 2-2 at Charlton. It looked as though the Wearsiders would gain a priceless victory until Charlton substitute
A SENIOR police officer has asked for a meeting with a coroner battling with a backlog of inquests amid criticism from bereaved families. Responding to complaints that inquests take too long to be held, Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield said Cleveland
Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Chelsea - Teenage striker Carlton Cole struck his first goal in senior football for Chelsea at the Riverside on Saturday to push his side towards a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. Cole, an 18-year-old who has scored 27 goals in 24 reserve
VITAL safety work on road bridges across the region's railways is to begin during the next few weeks. Four Railtrack bridges in Darlington borough have been highlighted as in need of high priority work in an independent survey commissioned following the
Hartlepool United 1 - 1 Cheltenham - Hartlepool United go in to Tuesday's play-off with Cheltenham with it all to do after being held to a 1-1 draw at Victoria Park. Pool had to wait until first half injury time to take the lead when Micky Barron's cross
FORMER Hartlepool United star Tommy Miller last night sent his full backing to his old teammates my insisting: "You can clinch promotion." Pool take on Cheltenham at Victoria Park this afternoon in the first-leg of their Third Division play-off semi-final
PLACEMAT manufacturer Pimpernel International is set to create about 70 jobs after buying rival Cloverleaf for an undisclosed sum. The Consett business is shutting Cloverleaf's Wiltshire headquarters, making about 90 of its 130 staff redundant. But it
A BAND has signed a three- single production and development deal and changed its name. Darlington's Stone Coda, formerly known as Lucas, play their first show under the new name tonight. The three-piece, made up of brothers Leroy and Aly Buckley, and
THE final piece of the Sunderland Metro extension will be completed tomorrow with the opening of Park Lane station. The underground station is below the Park Lane public transport interchange in central Sunderland and on the extension run by Nexus. It
UNIVERSITY graduates Liam Dawson and Mark Overfield are making a name for themselves in the modelling industry - without a catwalk in sight. Liam, 24, from Guisborough, and Mark, 22, from Brotton have used their technical skills to secure promotional
HARTLEPOOL United's Ritchie Humphreys last night revealed he is determined to make sure his first taste of an end-of-season shoot-out is a sweet one. The 24-year-old, who has had spells with five different clubs, has played in every division but he has
A LONG-AWAITED third route out of Ingleby Barwick was officially opened yesterday. The £10m first section of the South Stockton Link Road connects Lowfields Avenue, Ingleby Barwick, with Bowesfield and Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton. It will
A terrified girl is guarded by armed police yesterday as she is helped from an armoured vehicle following a massacre at a school in Germany. Eighteen people died in the bloodbath at Erfurt - the same number who were killed in the Dunblane horror in Scotland
CRAFT taster sessions are taking people back in time to when the art of proddy and hooky mat-making were essential skills. The mats were commonly used by mining families because carpets were too expensive. They were made by the women of the household.
A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was shot in the back in a busy city centre. The youth had been walking along Washington Road, Sunderland, between 7.30pm and 7.45pm on Thursday when a member of a gang of ten teenagers shot him in the back of his right shoulder with
An Afghan refugee who fled from the Taliban ended up being a robbery victim, a court was told yesterday. Asylum seeker Daod Ahmadi, 26, was robbed of his food vouchers and £60 when he was targeted late at night in Middlesbrough. The robbery, which took
A VERGER who was attacked by an intruder in his own church told of his ordeal yesterday - and said he was thinking about resigning. David Brown, 61, struggled with the man he found sleeping in Holy Trinity Church, in Trinity Lane, off Micklegate, York
A BANK holiday celebration will help Salvation Army singers mark a golden anniversary. People in Shildon are invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the town's Salvation Army Songster Brigade with meetings over the May bank holiday weekend. Next
A TAXI driver who carried out sex attacks has walked free from court. John Bullock, 49, of Henry Street, Hetton-le-Hole, admitted indecent assault against two victims. Newcastle Crown Court heard that he had committed one of the attacks when he was drunk
Bishop Auckland start a tense final week of the regular league season with a tricky game at Runcorn today. Bishops go to Cheshire level on points with Colwyn Bay, and with two more away games to play, at Droylsden and champions Burton Albion. And the
THE Chinese ambassador to the UK was in the North-East yesterday to meet Chinese investors in the region. The region leads the UK in Chinese investment and is home to 18 Chinese companies. Ma Zhengang visited the offices of accountancy software firm Sage
A COUNCILLOR who receives a monthly council allowance of £577.42 has only attended three council meetings since last August - a total of £1,154.84 per meeting. Now MP Kevan Jones has called for the resignation of Coun Keith Murray-Hetherington, a Labour
Esh Winning manager Barry Fleming knows that the club faces the biggest day in its history against already promoted Shildon in the Albany Northern League today. Esh are in second spot in the Second Division this morning, and victory will ensure their
A PROLIFIC offender dubbed Spiderboy was jailed for five years yesterday by a judge who said he had an "appalling" criminal record. Thomas Laws, 22, who admitted robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint, earned his nickname nine years ago for his ability to
Customers are queuing up to get their hands on £275,000 luxury apartments because they have the best view in the city. Yet a mile away, Gary Cunningham enjoys an even more spectacular outlook from his council flat - for £35 a week. Developers Crown Dilmun
A group of North-East public figures met museum bosses from across the region yesterday to discuss an innovative funding initiative. Management staff from Beamish Museum, near Gateshead, Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle, County Durham, Hartlepool Museum
New 20mph speed zones are being created outside three Ripon schools in a bid to prevent accidents. One of the Government's recently-approved low-speed areas will be outside Ripon Grammar School and its neighbour Ripon College, in Clotherholme Road. The
When Lorraine Heggessey became BBC1's first female controller 18 months ago, people called it the hardest job in the world. She wouldn't argue with that, but she would add it's also the best. "It's a fantastic time to be doing this job," says the former
PRINCESS Elizabeth was one year old on April 21, 1927. She awoke at Windsor, reported the following morning's Northern Echo, to find "a wondrous assortment of dolls and toys awaiting her pleasure." The little princess, we added fancifully, "said something
THE region's newest community woodland was launched yesterday with the planting of the Tees Forest's two millionth tree. South Burdon Community Woodland is being created along the A66 Darlington bypass, in a joint project between the borough council and
MP praises store staff STAFF at a Teesside shop received support from an MP yesterday for money raised through the National Lottery. The Village News, in Normanby High Street, welcomed Redcar MP Vera Baird to celebrate raising £970,198 for the Good Causes
MODEL-MAKER extraordinaire Molly Glew is hard at work on her latest painstaking creation. Slowly taking shape in the workshop of her home at Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, is a meticulous matchstick likeness of Truro Cathedral, in Cornwall. The pensioner
A SUNDERLAND museum will compete with international attractions to become European Museum of the Year. The Museum and Winter Gardens is one of six attractions nominated to represent England in the annual award, judged next March. It opened to the public
WHEN Hilda O'Brien was taken to hospital 50 years ago she was hoping for a healthy, bouncing baby - but ended up with three times what she had bargained for. Now 83, Mrs O'Brien is looking forward to the 50th birthdays of Aileen, Maureen and Kathy, her
