The secret of some perfect partnerships. THE master and servant relationships of the actors in popular 1970s drama Upstairs, Downstairs continued away from the TV studio. They'd attend parties where those playing the artistocratic Bellamy family were
A disabled North Yorkshire man is set to complete an amazing 3,200 mile circumnavigation of Britain today - powered by hand. Paraplegic David Abrutat has powered his specially designed handcycle the length and breadth of the country in an Around Britain
LAST week, The Northern Echo examined whether or not we need to cull animals we view as predators. Today, John Dean asks if we are going to kill them, how should it be done? IF you accept that there is a need to control predators such as crows, stoats
A YOUNG woman whose face was rebuilt by a surgeon has thanked him by raising thousands of pounds to help his work in the developing world. Rachel Burnett, 18, from Carlton Husthwaite, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has been raising money for surgeon Charles
IT MAY be a throwback to the glory days of the English seaside resort, but Scarborough Spa Orchestra is 90 years old this year and still going strong. Nick Morrison pulls up a deckchair. FROM the end of June to the middle of September, every morning -
A HEARTBROKEN grand-father last night spoke of his anguish at watching his heroin addict granddaughter destroy herself. Now millions of television viewers will share his devastating experience later this month when they see 18-year-old Michelle Pickthall
QUEENSLAND batsman Martin Love will fly home tomorrow with a contract already signed to bring him back to Durham for a third season next year. With two overseas players allowed, Durham are also looking for a bowler and among those they will consider is
A North-East man has pleaded guilty to the hit-and-run death of six-year-old Leonie Shaw. Colin Meek, 34, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared before Leeds Crown Court this morning. Meek, of Salvin Street, Spennymoor,
THE region's biggest free blues festival attracted almost 15,000 people as the sun came out after days of rain. Organisers of the Stanley Blues Festival, in County Durham, had been expecting a record crowd of between 9,000 to 10,000 for the tenth event
TRIBUTES have been paid to Teesdale councillor Frank Wilson, who has died, aged 70. Councillor Wilson was first elected to Teesdale District Council in 1997. He represented no political party and held his Etherley seat in the 1999 elections. Charles Anderson
A DARLINGTON runner raised £303 for carers of people with mental health problems. Ronnie Read, a member of the Darlington Harriers running club, took part in the London Marathon with his friend Jack Mason, and collected money for the Mental Health Carers
FIREFIGHTERS used a lasso and pole to rescue a dog trapped on the roof of the Coachman Hotel, in Victoria Road, Darlington, at 4.15pm yesterday. The dog was uninjured. CHURCH DISPLAY: St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington, is holding an exhibition featuring
IN sporting terms, it was a weekend which underlined the value of investing in young talent at the grass roots, and provided renewed optimism for the future. Last night's closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester sealed a sporting festival
GLORIOUS sunshine helped make an annual pony show a roaring success after earlier wet weather had almost caused it to be cancelled. Entrants from all over the country visited Stainton Camp, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, for the Dales Pony Society's
TRIBUTES have been paid to Teesdale councillor Frank Wilson, who has died, aged 70. Coun Wilson, described as "a true champion of the local community", was first elected to Teesdale District Council in 1997. He represented no political party and held
MUSICIANS have been honing their skills at an annual gathering of folk music enthusiasts. More than 300 musicians took part in workshops held in Durham and hosted by the region's Folkworks development agency. The event featured concerts in the city's
SLICES of history were on sale at a well-known football ground at the weekend. Officials at Kingsway, home of County Durham club Bishop Auckland FC for more than 100 years, were cutting up the pitch to sell as souvenirs before the old stadium is demolished
POLICE in North Yorks are urging the public to be more careful with their mobile telephones after an increase in the number of unintentional 999 calls. Phones left in handbags and pockets without the keypad lock activated have been dialling the emergency
POLICE are hunting a robber who escaped with a substantial amount of cash after clubbing a member of staff at a carpet warehouse in Richmond. The thief struck the assistant over the head several times before snatching the money and escaping down the rear
THERE was a treat in store for sports car enthusiasts who visited Beamish Museum at the weekend. The North-East Triumph Sports Six Club put on a display at the award-winning tourist attraction near Stanley, County Durham. Dozens of Triumph sports, some
THOUSANDS of people gathered by the sea for one of the region's biggest beach parties of the year on Saturday. More than 25 bands performed on two stages at the H2O O2: Beached festival on the sands of Scarborough's South Bay, entertaining fans for more
Police have been accused of over-reacting following clashes between rival football fans. The charge comes from innocent Middlesbrough Football Club supporters caught up in the wake of a pre-match fight between Hull City and Boro fans. Humberside Police
A MAN who underwent a transplant has proved that a heart operation does not mean you have to take things easy. Just weeks away from the eighth anniversary of his life saving operation, Middlesbrough engineer David Lyth has won gold medals in international
THE Silk family are fighting fit and they have got the medals to prove it. Colin Silk, 41, and his 16-year-old son Andrew, of South Bank, near Middlesbrough, each won a bronze in international karate championships in the US, while 12-year-old son Mathew
THE medical wards at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton now have a peaceful place for relatives of patients and staff to spend a quiet moment - the Sheila Windress Room. The room is dedicated in memory of Sheila, a well-loved member of the community
Radio station 96.6 tfm, based in Stockton, says it is winning the battle of the airwaves. The claim comes after official figures showed 301,000 listeners are tuning in every week to the station and its sister station, Magic 1170. One of its major successes
A NEW bridge has had to be built across Hutton Beck on the famous picture-postcard common at Hutton-le-Hole after the previous one wore out due to the number of visitors crossing it. It has been built and designed by staff of the North York Moors National
CHARGES are to be increased for some people receiving help from social services. While some Hartlepool residents are expected to pay less in the future, others will have to pay more for the use of day centres, home meals service, and other help provided
A GROUP of sporting youngsters is on a roll. This season has been one of the most successful on record for Middlesbrough's roller hockey team, having played six cup finals and winning four, as well as winning league honours at regional and national level
A SEATING area in Bishop Auckland is to be improved. Young people from the Henknowle estate identified the need for improved seating when they carried out a photography project last year, with support from Groundwork West Durham and Wear Valley District
IDENTICAL triplets Demi, Shanen and Sian Young spent their first seven years in a world of their own. In fact, the girls seemed so introverted that worried parents Gillian and Dennis decided to act. Two years ago Mr and Mrs Young, from Peterlee in east
FIREFIGHTERS used a lasso and pole to rescue a dog trapped on the roof of the Coachman Hotel, in Victoria Road, Darlington, at 4.15pm yesterday. The dog was uninjured. SAFER PLAY: A fence has been erected around a grassed area in Beechfield, Newton Aycliffe
A DARLINGTON runner raised £303 for carers of people with mental health problems. Ronnie Read, a member of the Darlington Harriers running club, took part in the London Marathon with his friend Jack Mason, and collected money for the Mental Health Carers
ABOUT 1,000 people filled the centre of Ripon on Saturday as rare sunshine blessed the city's annual St Wilfrid's Day parade. The heavy downpours of the past few days held off to allow a procession of floats, vintage cars and marching bands to make their
THE Royal Navy warship that hit a reef off Australia may be scrapped. A report yesterday suggested that HMS Nottingham, which came to grief off Lord How Island, in the Pacific, last month, will be written off. The £170m type-42 destroyer, which recently
TEESSIDE International Airport bosses are hoping flights will be back to their pre-September 11 capacity by 2004. Managing director Hugh Lang was speaking at the airport's consultative committee meeting at which he discussed the potential of increasing
THE community association at Newfield, near Willington, is celebrating receiving a grant of £4,995 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme. The money will allow the group to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee with a multi-cultural event,
A COUNCILLOR is trying to attract a major car manufacturer to Weardale in a move to help regenerate the area. Councillor John Shuttleworth is determined to try everything he can to reverse the fortunes of the dale, which is facing 147 job losses with
THERE was a time when a banner was an effective way of getting your message across. That age is being celebrated in a new museum exhibition. High and Mighty opened on Saturday at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle, and will run until February 2. Banners
KEEN cyclists spent yesterday touring the region's castles as part of the Darlington Cycling Festival. The 80-mile Castles Ride, which incorporated Snape, Upsall, and Fawcett castles, attracted more than 80 cyclists. It is the penultimate event in the
A CLINIC offering single jabs as an alternative to the controversial MMR vaccine is to visit the region. The private facility, run by London paediatrician Dr Damitha Ratnasinghe, has been welcomed by many parents in York, where it will arrive next month
VISITORS who crossed the moat around the ruins of a North Yorkshire castle during the weekend found themselves stepping back eight centuries. As part of the celebrations to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee, English Heritage is staging a series of events
NORTH-EAST born TV presenter Jayne Middlemiss has swapped lager and partying for yoga and globetrotting, she has revealed. The face of BBC's Holiday on a Shoestring, Middlemiss was once a typical ladette icon alongside Zoe Ball and Sara Cox. "I was a
A HOODED man arrested outside Tony Blair's constituency home is the son of North-East rock star Bryan Ferry, it has emerged. Otis Ferry, 19, was stopped by armed police as he approached the Prime Minister's home, Myrobella House, in Trimdon Colliery,
SUNDERLAND City Council is urging residents to check that charity collectors are licensed. The council licenses charity collections to ensure that people are giving their money to genuine causes. It also approves house-to-house collections, usually for
ONE of the country's top tycoons who spearheaded the development of Sheffield's multi-million pound Meadowhall shopping centre has been prevented from putting up a building near his North Yorkshire home. Paul Sykes has been told his countryside development
RURAL firms which were devastated by the indirect effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis are planning to sue the Government for allegedly neglecting their plight. Many traders in North Yorkshire are joining forces in a group legal action which they believe
POLICE and residents are opposing plans to re-open a pub which, it is claimed, once had a reputation for being a haven for violence. The Temple Bar, a converted church in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, closed in April when its licence expired. Middlesbrough
POLICE have issued a warning to collectors of protected birds' eggs after the success of two operations in the North-East. Durham Constabulary is one of many forces actively involved in the ongoing Operation Easter, which was launched in 1997 to crackdown
A YOUNG farmer, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, fulfilled a heartfelt promise to attend his brother's graduation before he died. Tim Maughan, of Piercebridge, County Durham was determined not to let his illness stop him from attending
DURHAM go into tonight's floodlit match against Yorkshire at Headingley with skipper Jon Lewis insisting they are not yet doomed in division one of the National League. But after Saturday's five-wicket defeat by Kent at the Riverside, they are 14 points
THE chairwoman of the Department of Health's National Treatment Agency will be in the region tomorrow to see how one of its boroughs is tackling drug addiction. Baroness Massey will be meeting the leader of Stockton Borough Council, councillor Bob Gibson
Q WHAT is the basis for the claim that red-headed people are descended from Neanderthals? - Helen Smith, Spennymoor. A IN 2001, researchers at Oxford University suggested people with red hair, fair skin and freckles might be descended from Neanderthals
THE Silk family are fighting fit and they have got the medals to prove it. Colin Silk, 41, and his 16-year-old son Andrew, of South Bank, near Middlesbrough, each won a bronze in international karate championships in the US, while 12-year-old son Mathew
Darlington will not benefit from an expected huge cash windfall triggered by Sean Gregan's move to West Bromwich Albion. The former Quakers skipper is expected to join the Premiership newcomers today, and his Preston contract has a clause inserted stating
YOUTHS drinking and causing trouble on the streets of Darlington are being targeted in a police campaign. Operation Timbal was launched last week after police received a number of complaints about young people damaging property, drinking on the streets
Q WHAT is the basis for the claim that red-headed people are descended from Neanderthals? - Helen Smith, Spennymoor. A IN 2001, researchers at Oxford University suggested people with red hair, fair skin and freckles might be descended from Neanderthals
MANAGERS at an under-pressure hospital are considering housing patients in portable buildings as a way of increasing bed numbers. Since it opened last year, the £97m University Hospital of North Durham (UHND) has struggled to cope with rising demands.
DURHAM'S Stephen Harmison is hoping that a Test debut on Thursday will allow him to spend the winter in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, rather than Ashington. The 23-year-old paceman has developed a reputation for homesickness, but says he would "jump at
AS David Dolan made his way to the BBC Television gantry at the MEN Arena, Audley Harrison led the applause for Sunderland's Commonwealth Games champion. It was a deeply ironic moment. There was Dolan, his brow soaked in sweat, elated after striking boxing
PROPOSALS for a golf driving range in Bishop Auckland could receive planning approval this week. The application for a 14-booth range at Flatts Farm will be considered by Wear Valley District Council's development control committee on Thursday. A previous
DARLINGTON Football Club chairman George Reynolds insisted last night that Paul Gascoigne may still join the Quakers - despite having no wish to play for the Third Division club. "We're still endeavouring to get him," he said. "We are going to try and
THE community association at Newfield, near Willington, is celebrating receiving a grant of £4,995 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme. The money will allow the group to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee with a multi-cultural event,
A NEWTON Aycliffe school has had three mathematics events taking place during the summer. Year six and seven pupils from Woodham Community Technology College took part in the school's master mathematics challenge. The school also invited pupils from Greenfield
CHILDREN and parents are being invited to take part in country dance and music workshops at Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, on August 15 and August 24. Christine Williamson will teach English country dancing at the first event. On August 24, members of the
Police in County Durham are becoming increasingly concerned with the whereabouts of a pensioner who hasn't been seen for over 24-hours. William Comerford, aged 70, from Framwellgate Moor was last seen at 8am yesterday morning as he left his family home
SUNDERLAND City Council is urging residents to check that charity collectors are licensed. The council licenses charity collections to ensure that people are giving their money to genuine causes. It also approves house-to-house collections, usually for
A NEW trail has been created for summer visitors to a wildlife haven. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), at Washington, is offering people the chance to follow its Wetlands of the World route until Sunday, September 1. The trail looks at the importance
RICHMOND Castle hosts a day fit for a queen - or three, or four - later this month. English Heritage is to pay homage to England's female monarchs to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee over the weekend of August 18 and 19. Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria
DEVELOPERS claimed that the £60m Coppergate scheme in York would be a vast improvement for the area. Speaking on the final day of a public inquiry, Robert White, the barrister for developer Land Securities, said objectors had been unable to put forward
THINGS were looking pretty grim for the UK's fastest growing free music festival when heavy rain threatened to make it the wettest. The rising River Swale forced organisers to call off most of Richmond Live's Friday night programme, although the Battle
A LEADING supermarket chain has dropped its bid to scrap a ban on night-time deliveries to its new £20m store. Tesco was considering app-lying for planning permission to deliver through the night to the 24-hour Tesco Extra in Dragonville, on the outskirts
A FIRE chief has condemned vandals who threatened the lives of a family on Teesside. Station Officer Steve Owens also commended the mother-of-two for keeping her cool and dialling 999 after yobs pushed a firework through the sleeping family's letterbox
A YOUTH conference where various authorities heard the views of young people has taken place in Durham. Alan Strickland, 18, from Newton Aycliffe, and Ben Kelsey, 16, from Woodham Village, County Durham, helped to organise the conference for young people
THE region's house prices have been rising steadily during the past three months, a Northern Rock survey has shown. Throughout the area, overall home values rose by 2.9 per cent in the last quarter to produce an average house price of £68,550. The average
HARRY BLYTHE, chairman of Scarborough Blind and Partially-Sighted Society, has died at the age of 82. Mr Blythe spent 30 years as a supervisor at the former GPO telephone exchange in the town. He was a former president of Manor Road Bowling Club and masterminded
THE North's biggest steam rally managed to survive its four-day run despite the threat of floods. The 2002 Pickering traction engine rally celebrated its 50th year at North Yorkshire's Pickering showground from Thursday until last night. The showground
OPERA stars from across the North-East are joining forces to perform in a golden anniversary concert on behalf of leading medical charity Action Research. The concert, in aid of the charity's 50th anniversary Touching Lives Appeal, will be held at Bowes
VIDEOPHONE screens are being installed in council buildings across Hartlepool to help deaf people access services. Interpreters will be seen live on the screens to translate into spoken English what a deaf person says in sign language, while converting
LIFE is no fairytale for little Sleeping Beauty Jessica Robinson. The seven-year-old sleeps for four days at a time as a result of a rare condition triggered by a fault in the brain which controls body temperature, sleep and appetite. It is thought that
METRIC martyr Steve Thoburn's fight for justice could end up in the European courts. Human rights group Liberty is taking up the cases of the Sunderland greengrocer and four traders, from London and Cornwall, who were prosecuted for selling goods in pounds
THE growing number of foreign languages spoken in the region has prompted Northumbria Police to put out an appeal for interpreters. Details of interpreters are kept on a database and they can be called on when needed. Their services are used for a variety
A HIGH profile youth conference has taken place in County Durham, at which civil servants gained fresh ideas from youngsters. Alan Strickland, 18, from Newton Aycliffe, and Ben Kelsey, 16, from Woodham Village, helped to organise the conference for young
THE merger between two colleges is being described as a major breakthrough. The merged Middlesbrough College and Teesside Tertiary College will have four campuses and will be known as Middlesbrough College. Principal John Hogg said that the merger "will
REGULARS at a Darlington pub kitted up to raise cash for youngsters in hospital. The football team at The Cricketers, on Parkgate, took on other regulars and the women's darts team from the pub for the match at South Park, in aid of Darlington Memorial
ADVICE on how to avoid canine calamities will be on offer for dog owners at the weekend. Canine behaviour specialist Howie Jones has been invited to the Pets at Home store in Teesside Park Drive, Thornaby, to give help and advice to animal lovers. Mr
A NEWTON Aycliffe school has had three mathematics events taking place during the summer. Year six and seven pupils from Woodham Community Technology College took part in the school's master mathematics challenge. The school also invited pupils from Greenfield
NOTHING but the best is being promised for pupils who attend a £20m super-school planned for Teesside. Those behind the 1,250- place Kings Academy, soon to take shape at Middlesbrough, say a notable design feature will be the provision of the best computer
TESTS have revealed that the risk of people contracting the human form of BSE, or mad cow disease, through blood transfusions, may be higher than previously thought. The findings have caused concern among campaigners from the North-East. Institute of
IT may be about as far as you can get from the sea in the UK, but the Thirsk branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute can boast a successful fundraising campaign this year. Since May, members have amassed a total of £1,500. A collection held at
CASH-STRAPPED community groups are being urged to approach the Countryside Agency for money to cover the cost of projects which could help people learn more about their heritage or take action to preserve it. The Local Heritage Initiative offers grants
A tourist information centre was presented with a national award by GMTV's Alan Fisher at the weekend. Staff in Scarborough were chosen for their work selling the UK to visitors during the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, under the title: Only in Britain
VIDEOPHONE screens are being installed in council buildings across Hartlepool to help deaf people access services. Interpreters will be seen live on the screens to translate into spoken English what a deaf person says in sign language, while converting
CIRCUS entertainers, pink flamingos and ballroom dancers will take to the streets as part of an annual festival taking place during the August Bank Holiday weekend. Maynard Flip Flap, an act which sums up the phrase "living in a box" by wandering around
A HOSPICE has appointed a specialist nurse to lead its planned unit for children. Tracey Forrester is taking up the post of head of children's services at St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle. She joins St Oswald's from the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary
DOG owners are being urged to have their pets microchipped at a roadshow visiting the Chester-le-Street area this week. The National Canine Defence League (NCDL) is offering the service free to pensioners and people on benefit and charging £9.50 to other
ONE of the region's most popular radio presenters may be ready to switch stations. Paul "Goffy" Gough is in discussions with radio stations about a move from Century FM after eight years. His agent Paul Dale said last night: "His contract is up in September
NEIGHBOURS' objections to plans for a barn to be converted into a house are not expected to prevent the scheme from going ahead. Ken Dryden's planning application for the development at Blackwell Moor Farm, Snipe Lane, Darlington, is recommended for approval
A YOUNG driver terrified of wearing a seatbelt was killed in a freak accident in Darlington at the weekend. Malcolm Licorish lost control of his BMW when it aquaplaned on rainwater before careering across the road, mounting the pavement and knocking down
VALERIE OWEN started knitting when she was eight years old and what began as a hobby has now become her passion. But as the talented housewife launched her first exhibition, she said that she had never been tempted to knit something for her husband, Billy
A 102-year-old man was threatened with a golf club as he sat in his wheelchair during a daylight raid on his house, police said today. The elderly victim was forced to hand over his wallet after a young thug threatened to attack him with the club after
SUNDERLAND City Council is urging residents to check that charity collectors are licensed. The council licenses charity collections to ensure that people are giving their money to genuine causes. It also approves house-to-house collections, usually for
YOUR recent article (Echo, July 18) highlighting the problems of drug litter is extremely worrying, not only for people in the local community but also for medical waste managers such as ourselves. The dangers from discarded syringes and needles are very
Hopes were fading last night for a missing boat owner whose damaged motor cruiser was spotted drifting on the flooded River Ouse with its engine running but no one aboard. Nicholas Lightowler, 57, who comes from Crossgates in Leeds, was last seen piloting
LEADING lightweight jockey Francis "Franny" Norton packs a pretty big punch both in the boxing ring and on the racecourse. An extremely useful amateur boxer, Norton's powerful forearms come in very handy when required to pump the reins of a tired thoroughbred
HALF the region began the demoralising task of mopping up after Friday's floods, at the weekend - while the other half basked in Mediterranean-type temperatures. For much of the region, Saturday dawned to bright skies and soaring temperatures, attracting
A LORD of the manor is facing resistance from residents, who are opposing plans to convert listed buildings in the heart of the North York Moors National Park into homes. Sir Lawrence Barratt owns the old stables, coach shed and barn opposite the Feversham
LOMANA LuaLua has stopped clowning around - and it's a decision that promises to put a smile on the Toon Army's faces. At his best, LuaLua is a footballing sorcerer, a magical player capable of leaving even the most accomplished defender red-faced. But
EVERY minute of every sad day, the family of two little boys wishes they could come home. Half brothers Carl Taylor and Stevie Peel lost their lives through a terrible fire which happened at their home in Wood Vue, Spennymoor, County Durham, on Carl's
ANTHONY Sweeney is edging towards his Football League debut on Saturday. The teenage midfielder, regularly likened to former Pool favourite Tommy Miller by manager Chris Turner, has played his way into contention after an impressive pre-season campaign
