STEVE McCLAREN last night hailed his goalscoring centre-backs for helping Middlesbrough's strikers in their hour of need. Between them, Boro's front two have only scored in six of their 17 Premiership matches this season - with Massimo Maccarone top-scoring
THE public image of Marty Yates-Brown, a former senior Mr Britain, grandfather and fitness club boss, is far removed from the man whose life was laid bare in court. The 55-year-old entrepreneur, who built up the Classic World of Fitness chain over the
ROMANCE is not dead. Tony Blair is loyally standing by his wife Cherie and in Swaziland, King Mswati III has been so taken by the Miss Swaziland who represented his country in the Miss World competition that he plans to marry her. The only hitch is that
Q Two years ago, my father, now 85, assigned the house he lives in over to his family. He is on Income Support (IS) and is contemplating a move to council-run sheltered accommodation. What rent will he be required to pay? A If he continues to be entitled
TALK about a big fish in a little pond. This year's gallant Grand National fourth, Kingsmark, really is a whale in with minnows at Martin Todhunter's small stable situated at the village of Orton, near Penrith. Martin has around 20 other horses in his
This wasn't meant to happen. The script was written for Darlington, the last ever visitors to the shoddy surroundings of Bootherry Park, to come and go without even a murmur and Hull would bow out in style. Not on your Nelly! A couple of months ago maybe
FORMER Coronation Street star Jill Halfpenny is set to swap the street for the square as Phil Mitchell's new love interest. Former Byker Grove star Jill joins the set of EastEnders as Kate Tyler, in an explosive storyline following the death of the character
BELLA Gauden was in good voice for her 103rd birthday celebrations yesterday. She joined in heartily as singer Philip Corrigan sang some of her favourites at the Langley Park Residential Home, near Durham City. Annie Isabelle Gauden actually reaches the
AN 11-year-old by is fighting for his life in Newcastle General Hospital after being involved in a collision with a car. A police spokesman said the boy, who is from the Benwell area of the city, had got off the 10A bus, which had stopped on West Denton
A GIRLS' swimming team from the North-East will compete against the best schools from around the country. The pupils from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, have reached the finals of the National Schools' Swimming Championships, at Ipswich
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour has set himself a target as they prepare to face Leek Town at Dean Street today, writes Ray Simpson. Bishops lost 5-0 to Spennymoor in a cup tie in midweek, and Honour said: "The game made me realise what we have to
RESIDENTS are being urged to lock themselves in while at home following a series of sneak-in burglaries. Police officers are examining a number of incidents which have occurred over the last few weeks where thieves have entered houses in the Sowerby and
A FAMILY is preparing for a special Christmas after its latest addition means it now spans five generations. Lennon Lee Yates, who was born just over a week ago, completes a family headed by Vera, 79, and Arthur Bartholomew, 84. Below them in the hierarchy
SCHOOLS and businesses in Darlington have been presented with Hygiene and Healthy Eating Awards. Thirty-two schools and businesses received certificates from Health Minister Alan Milburn yesterday. The awards are divided into two categories - the Heartwise
THE region's fishermen last night accused the European Commission of stage-managing a disagreement over cuts in catch quotas so it can force an emergency ban and the subsequent ruin of the British fishing industry. Whitby fisherman Richard Brewer, who
THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised by readers of The Northern Echo to help breast cancer victims. More than £4,000 was raised at The Northern Echo fashion show, held at Tall Trees Hotel, Yarm, Teesside, in October. The event, which featured models who
THE deputy mayor of Darlington, Ken Walker, has died just a few months before he was set to become mayor. Councillor Walker died on Thursday night after a long illness. He was first elected to Darlington Borough Council in May 1983 and served the North
Documentary film-maker Colleen Cairns was shocked by the amount of alcohol women in the North-East consume on a night out, she tells Steve Pratt. COLLEEN Cairns admits that viewers may be shocked by a new Tyne Tees Television series in which cameras follow
The leadership could change hands today if leaders Stokesley SC fail to win at third from top New Marske. Only two points separate the sides with Birtley Town in second position, a point off the leaders. Stokesley could include fit-again Ricky Farrell
A report calls on the Government to put more effort into closing the gap between the poverty of the North and the wealth of the South. Hayley Gyllenspetz reports. THERE is a stark conclusion to the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) report which
About 100 bikers will take to the streets today to bring Christmas cheer to deprived youngsters. The convoy of Harley-Davidson motorcycles sets off from Just Harleys, in Sandyford, Newcastle, and will travel to the offices of radio station Century FM,
POLICE seized four rifles in early-morning raids in Durham yesterday. The weapons were seized by detectives, accompanied by officers from Northumbria, who executed search warrants at eight addresses in the Gilesgate and Sherburn Road areas. Three were
MICK FITZGERALD will not be wearing his kid gloves when partnering leading Tripleprint Gold Cup hope Fondmort (2.30) at Cheltenham this afternoon, writes Colin Woods. Capturing such competitive and high-profile chase handicaps requires a fair amount of
A YOUTH who shot a 14-year-old boy in the face with a metal pellet gun had his sentence halved at London's Court of Appeal yesterday. Andrew Nixon, 19, of Fairview, Ovington, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding at Teesside
A FINE art and antiques auction that netted £580,000 was last night hailed a success. The four-day auction at Anderson and Garland, in Newcastle, featured 2,500 lots, including a painting by Victorian artist Atkinson Grimshaw, which sold for £149,000.
A SURPRISE discovery has unearthed a fascinating picture of people more than 2,000 years ago. A standard archaeological search carried out on the site of a George Wimpey estate being built off Dixon's Bank, Marton, Middlesbrough, has revealed remains
AN INDUSTRIAL stand-off over pay at a North-East dock could escalate. Union negotiators for tug boat crews at Teesport may hold a strike ballot in January if a three per cent basic pay increase is not extended to bonuses and other benefits and if current
FREED charity worker Ian Stillman returned to Britain yesterday, vowing to clear his name. Mr Stillman, 53, who is deaf, has an artificial leg and suffers from diabetes, was greeted by cheers from his tearful family as he arrived at Heathrow airport,
A SPORTS organisation was awarded £1.6m to promote healthy living in local communities yesterday. Durham Sport, which covers County Durham and Darlington, was awarded the sum from the Sport England Lottery Fund to develop its Active Sports Programme over
THE father of an 11-year-old girl who was seriously injured when she was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver has made an emotional appeal for the motorist to come forward. Jeff Scales, 38, of Haxby, York, said his daughter Katie had lost her memory and
A MATURE student's commitment to going back to school has earned him a national accolade. David Brennan, 40, has won the Institute of Management's Student of the Year award. The project engineer, from South Shields, has spent the past three years studying
A PUBLIC inquiry into the proposed £139m New Tyne Crossing will start on March 4, it was announced last night. The hearing, to be chaired by Government inspector Stuart Nixon at Jarrow Community Association is expected to last up to six weeks. A pre-inquiry
THE NORTH-EAST is set to get a healthy jobs boost following the success of the latest trade mission to China, organised through Trade Partners UK. Hundreds of jobs will be created after MKW Engineering Ltd in Ryton, Gateshead, signed a joint venture with
Billingham Town are looking for revenge when West Auckland visit Bedford Terrace today. Town were thumped 5-0 by West in the opening week of the season, but feel they can turn the tables. Manager Allan Robinson said: "We want to continue the good form
Sven Goran Eriksson came to St Mary's to watch a strong candidate to be England's next centre-forward - but must have left wishing he had the previous one! For all the hype over Southampton's in-form James Beattie, Newcastle's Alan Shearer is still the
DARLINGTON caretaker boss Mick Tait is hoping his side can provide the spark in Hull City's last game at Boothferry Park after the club were refused permission for a fireworks display finale. The Tigers had hoped to commemorate the day before moving to
KEVIN KILBANE last night singled out Kevin Phillips as the man to fire Sunderland to safety. The Black Cats entertain Liverpool tomorrow knowing defeat could see them hit rock bottom in the Premiership. And Kilbane is convinced that if Sunderland can
SAVING Middlesbrough from almost certain relegation must now seem like a picnic for Terry Venables compared to his current problems at Elland Road. When Venables was first charged with the unenviable task of guiding beleaguered Boro to Premiership safety
The reincarnation of St Thomas's, Stanley - destined a decade ago for closure - is proof that miracles can happen. AMONG the things they still talk about on Stanley Hill Top is the afternoon of January 31, 1948, when Stanley United played Yorkshire Amateurs
A DURHAM computer company has been ranked among some of the fastest growing technology companies in the world. Waterstons Computer and Business Consultancy has secured a place in the Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu 2002 European Technology Fast 500, which
THE North-East's favourite cartoon couple, Horace & Doris, have served up a Christmas treat - their very own book. Hen-pecked Horace and irrepressible Doris have become a much-loved daily feature of The Northern Echo. Fans have bombarded us with requests
FORMER National champion Michael Openshaw will be hot favourite to win the senior men's title in today's North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships on home ground at Chester-le-Street Riverside. The 30-year-old, who started his athletics career
MIKE NEWELL will be forced into his first major decision as Hartlepool United manager today. Since taking over the Victoria Park hot-seat, it has been almost plain sailing for Newell. Pool may have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Southend United but
DARLINGTON'S player-coach Phil Lancaster will be on the bench for the third successive week today, hoping for another match-winning performance from players half his age. The home match against Macclesfield, which kicks off at 2.30, is a key game in the
A COLOURFUL North-East businessman and champion body-builder was jailed last night for his involvement in international drug-running. Gym owner Marty Yates-Brown, a former senior Mr Britain, was handed a three-year prison term after it was revealed he
THE PROCTOR gamble paid a spectacular dividend for Howard Wilkinson as Sunderland's famine ended at the Stadium of Light with an historic victory over Liverpool. After more than eight-and-a-half hours without a goal - 514 minutes to be precise - midfielder
SOME Metro rail services will be suspended during part of tomorrow morning to allow operator Nexus to carry out work. The service will be suspended from Heworth to South Shields, in South Tyneside, and from Heworth to South Hylton from the start of service
A MISSING man is being urged to contact his family or the police. Because of recent domestic problems, 40-year-old David Elcoat had been staying with his parents at Deneview, Cassop, County Durham, instead of with his wife at their home in Dunelm Road
A MOBILE phone scam led to four men appearing before Teesside Crown Court yesterday. Paul Cox, 25, of Granville Road, Peterlee, and Andrew Hadley, 25, of John Street, Houghton-le-Spring, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud. Colin Cleary
FREE festive fun for all the family is on offer at Gateshead's MetroCentre as the MetroGnomes return with their pantomime. Herbert, Sherbet, Maggot and Rusty will take to the stage from Monday, starring in their Christmas pantomime, A White White Christmas
PEOPLE who care about the countryside are being given the chance to influence how it is managed. Residents of County Durham and Northumberland have been invited to become members of two new bodies being set up as part of the Countryside and Rights of
A HOSPITAL trust claims it is winning the battle against so-called superbug infections. This week, new research showed that the number of deaths caused by the superbug MRSA increased from eight per cent in 1993 to 44 per cent in 1998. Only a year ago,
FILM MAKERS have secured funding to develop a movie about the life of a disabled North-East football fan. Northern Film and Media has agreed to provide cash for the screen adaptation of Paul Hodgson's autobiography, Flipper's Side. The people behind the
YOUNG hopefuls from across County Durham have lived out their pop star dreams before a packed audience. More than 400 people filled the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley to see 23 acts take the stage for the Youth Clubs County Durham Stars in Your Eyes
WITH an exquisite first half free-kick, Middlesbrough's loan star Geremi continued to light up the Premiership on Saturday. In his short time on Teesside, the Cameroon midfielder has quickly adapted to the pace of the English game and he was again impressive
TWO men were jailed for ten years yesterday over the killing of a homeless drug addict. Judge Mr Justice Keith told Steven Small and Brian Lancaster, both 33, that they had carried out two cowardly attacks on Robert Parkin, known as Swampy, whose body
COUPLES in the North-East are having fewer children because they cannot afford to bring up a large family. Birth rates in England and Wales have dropped to their lowest level since records began in 1924, according to figures from the Office for National
WHEN the Labour Government was elected to power in May 1997, after so many years in the political wilderness, there was genuine hope that the needs of the North-East would be fairly addressed. A Prime Minister with a North-East constituency was supported
THE Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, is celebrating a successful year. The venue averaged 6,602 customers a week over the year, presented 352 performances and filled 67 per cent of its seats - eight per cent more than the national average. Membership of the
A robber who terrorised office staff with a knife and held an elderly woman hostage in demand for money has been jailed. Thomas Mason, 26, burst into the housing benefits office in Shiney Row, Wearside, with accomplices Stephen Ambler and Kay Thompson
ASHOK Kumar, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, will hold talks over the future of Teesside's chemical industry. The MP will meet Lord Sainsbury, Department of Trade and Industry Science Minister, and industrialists on Monday to discuss
NORTH-EAST comedian, Billy Martin - best known for his stage partnership with Bobby Hooper in the Dixielanders - has died aged 79. Fellow comedian, Bobby Pattison, said: "He was a raconteur and very, very funny. But he was also a home-loving man, and
A SCHOOL that has no problem getting its pupils to lessons on time has held a power breakfast with one of Britain's most famous business faces. Digby Jones, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) visited Carr Hill Primary
A CHRISTMAS wish came true for Rosanna Pagan and friend Fiona Lofthouse, from Middlesbrough, when they met the boys from band Blue. Rosanna's father, Mark, who runs Pagan Eyecare opticians, in Middlesbrough, arranged the meeting when he was asked to fit
A DEVOTED fundraiser battling multiple sclerosis died just a day before she could have seen how much money her efforts had helped a North-East hospice. Rita Willis, 63, had been determined to help the patients and the staff at St Cuthbert's Hospice, in
FOURTEEN months after the start of a major fundraising campaign, the Macmillan cancer charity has announced the appointment of County Durham's first dedicated palliative care consultant. When the Macmillan County Durham appeal was launched at Auckland
HARTLEPOOL United are still top of Division Three. But on this performance it was hard to tell. As both a team and as individuals, Pool were second best at Rochdale on Saturday - and by a long way at that as their early effort and promise were swept away
FRUSTRATING French winger Laurent Robert is set to pay for his non-display in Newcastle United's Champions League defeat by Barcelona. Magpies manager Sir Bobby Robson was driven to despair as Robert was put to shame by a Dutch master-class from Barca's
THE North-East's first friend-to-friend live kidney transplant appears to be a success, organ donor Derek Marshall has revealed. Mr Marshall, 56, who donated one of his kidneys to lifelong friend Bill Brough, 54, on Wednesday, was speaking from his home
SUNDERLAND chairman Bob Murray has forfeited £250,000 after admitting to feeling "inadequate'' as the club has gone into a spiral of decline and amassed debts of over £25m. Millionaire Murray has taken a two-thirds cut in his £75,000-a-year salary, and
