WHY do you think the great public schools put so much emphasis on sport? Was it to develop the noble ideals of a healthy mind in a healthy body, teamwork, sportsmanship, the great British principles of fair play? No. It was just to get teenage boys exhausted
PUPILS returning to a Darlington school this week enjoyed more than £200,000 of improvements. The Government money was spent at Heighington CE Primary School on three main projects. During the last year work has been carried out on an extension to the
A GROUP of teenagers have pulled out all the stops to help a severely handicapped little girl get around. Skaters and bikers from Shildon's newly-built skate park jumped at the chance to help raise money for nine-year-old Sarah Cail, who desperately needs
FOUR childcare nurseries providing 211 day-care places are planned for disadvantaged areas of Darlington. The Neighbourhood Nurseries for children aged up to four are set to be in the Eastbourne, Northgate, Park East and the Morton Palms areas. They should
ANGRY crew members have threatened to close Gilesgate ambulance station in Durham on safety grounds unless 'inadequate' road gritting is improved. Ray McDermott, secretary of the North-East Ambulance Service branch of Unison, called for action after ambulances
BUSINESSES in Darlington have been criticised for failing to respond to the council's plea to help keep the town tidy. Darlington Borough Council launched its clean-up campaign, supported by The Northern Echo, at the end of last year. A series of enforcement
A FORMER Newton Aycliffe schoolboy has received his Green Beret. Liam McKenna, 17, who went to Woodham Comprehensive School, has completed 30 weeks of training to become a Royal Marine Commando. The Green Beret is the distinctive hallmark of commando
residents claim that shoppers at a new £15m supermarket are disturbing the peace in their town centre cul-de-sac. Bosses at Asda's head office in Leeds are meeting this week over complaints from people in Blackett Street, Bishop Auckland, who live only
AN injured fell walker was recovering this week after an air ambulance crew plucked her to safety from isolated, snow-covered hills. The woman, who has not been named, was rescued by the Great North Air Ambulance crew after they battled freezing conditions
PLANS are being discussed to make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to use a main route through Darlington. The project, called the Yarm Road Corridor of Certainty, targets three areas in an effort to improve traffic flow. They are between
STOCKTON Borough Council's community skip programme will be running as normal from Monday. Next week's programme is: Monday - High Newham Road, Hardwick; Tuesday - Glebe Shopping Centre; Wednesday - Marrick/Bellerby Road, Hartburn; Thursday - Maltby Village
A CYCLE route from Hart Village to Clavering Estate has been approved by Hartlepool Borough Council. The route takes cyclists from the Raby Arms to the Bamburgh Road roundabout. Council officer Ian Parker said: "This scheme is part of our local transport
A closed-circuit television system at Derwentside College's new campus, in Consett, is paying dividends. Cameras picked up two men destroying a sign at the car park entrance. Police have questioned two men and charged one with criminal damage. TEA DANCE
WORK has started on a plan to tackle unemployment, crime, and transport, health and housing problems in east Cleveland. Economic and social strategists in the district are appealing to the public to come forward with fresh ideas. Redcar and Cleveland
IT is all well and good being in a museum but somehow it's just not cricket. For Guisborough Ted, the first mascot given to Guisborough Ladies' Cricket Club in 1918, remembers his young days as the only man in the all-female team. But the cuddly toy has
TWO Teesside women have been appointed to the board of North Tees Primary Care Trust. Elizabeth Bridge and Jean Forster have taken up the post of non-executive directors. They will help oversee the trust's work in Stockton, Thornaby, Yarm, Billingham
A closed-circuit television system at Derwentside College's new campus, in Consett, is paying dividends. Cameras picked up two men destroying a sign at the car park entrance. Police have questioned two men and charged one with criminal damage. TEA DANCE
YOUNGSTERS headed for the nearest steep hill when snow came to the region this week. But as the forecast for the week's weather continued to be icy, a spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said it will not possible for all roads in the town to be gritted
A FERRYHILL student has won an award for overcoming his health problems. Patrick Adams, 16, a Year 11 student at Ferryhill School, has won an 'Outstanding' certificate given by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award For Young People. The awards are
PROJECTS aimed at creating jobs and promoting business development across North Yorkshire are to benefit from almost £1m in European cash. The schemes will share £960,000 from the European Commission's funding scheme to encourage competitiveness, innovation
THE old saying that you can't see the wood for the trees has taken on a new slant in a North Yorkshire town. In Knaresborough, it is a case of trees getting in the way of landmark views that have helped make the market town famous. Following complaints
A North-East chef has won a national prize for his culinary skills. Chris Kindlan, 35, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, won the Paul Taylor Trophy as GNER's Chef of the Year. The trophy was named after the chef who won the award in 2000 but died a year
PROPOSALS to replace some of the worst housing in a North-East city with a modern development are to be considered by councillors next week. Plans to demolish properties in West Benwell and Lowe Delaval, in Newcastle, are to be presented to councillors
MEMBERS of an action group fighting plans to close a residential home have vowed to continue their battle in the High Court. Relatives in the Stoneleigh Relatives Action Group, which was set up to block plans by Durham County Council to close the home
A £2M programme to improve a rundown shopping centre started in earnest this week. Supermarket chain Asda is treating the Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, to a facelift following its move last November to a £15m store at the opposite end of Newgate
A GERMAN shepherd dog that has been staying at a veterinary surgery since Christmas is looking for a new home. Police took Sabre to Wilsons Veterinary Surgery, Bishop Auckland, on December 21, after he was believed to have been involved in a road traffic
ASYLUM seekers in Sunderland are enjoying pedal power, thanks to a flourishing recycling scheme. Lazarus Environment, in The Parade, Hendon, takes unwanted household items, including bikes and furniture, and refurbishes them before distributing them to
PLANS for a visitor centre at a Ferryhill quarry will be discussed by Sedgefield Borough Council tomorrow. The proposal is for a countryside education visitors centre to be built on land provided by Lafarge at the Thrislington plantation, near West Cornforth
PUPILS and staff started the new term this week in a school that has benefited from improvements worth more than £200,000. The Government cash was spent at Heighington CE Primary School, near Darlington, on three main projects. During the past year, work
PLANS for an overhaul in primary education to eliminate more than 3,500 surplus places were revealed yesterday. As part of a rolling programme to address falling pupil numbers, Sunderland City Council has announced plans to cut primary school places throughout
PARISH officials paid thanks to a publican for his public-spirited generosity. Sunderland football fan Edwin Pickersgill was presented with a framed photograph of himself meeting team manager Howard Wilkinson. Edwin, licensee at The Cross Keys in Esh
Going along for the official opening of Seaham Hall's Serenity Spa was an education in itself; watching world-weary journalists wowing and cooing as they toured this haven of peace was testament to just how special a place has been created. I remember
BRITAIN'S favourite horders The Wombles are visiting the Wear Valley this weekend to encourage residents to follow their example at the launch of a £700,000 recycling scheme. Around 80,000 homes in the Wear Valley, Teesdale and Derwentside will be targeted
A NEWTON Aycliffe airman has been rewarded for saving a man's life. Corporal Sean Reece has been presented with an Air Officer Commendation after providing life-saving medical treatment to a man who had collapsed in the street. Corporal Reece, who is
THE woman who sold her home to set up a hospice service for people in County Durham and the Darlington-born man who organised the Commonwealth Games have both won New Year honours. Mary Butterwick, 79, was awarded an OBE. Prompted to ease the suffering
A NIGHTCLUB owner has revealed details of a £1m investment tipped to revitalise a city's night life. But he has warned that it could go further downhill if a price war on cheap drinks develops. Vimac Leisure, which owns DH-1 and Caf Rock on North Road
COMMUNITY champion Brian Myers says he is accepting his MBE on behalf of the people of his town. The 60-year-old has been recognised for his services to the community in Willington in the New Year Year honours. A grandfather of two, he has been instrumental
SIR - Now we know. Durham Council is preparing for another substantial increase in council tax for the year 2003/2004. When will they realise that you cannot draw water from a well indefinitely? It will eventually run dry. The same applies to the council
THE MAIN road route leading to Durham's World Heritage site is in the midst of a week-long closure for refurbishment work for ageing water pipelines. 'Road Closed' signs went up on a stretch of Saddler Street on Monday as contractors, who have been renewing
BUS STOP RISKS: Villagers walking to the bus stop in Constable Burton are risking their lives, parish councillors concluded. North Yorkshire County Council has been urged to resite the stop in the centre of the village. The bus stop was installed outside
GIRLS with a penchant for football will be able to hone their skills with the help of a former Scottish international. Aileen Sheerins will be coaching seven to 12-year-olds at Knaresborough Community Centre every Thursday evening from January 23. Local
TWO villages are going into battle over plans to reduce heavy lorries in one community and increase them in another. People living in Burton Leonard, near Ripon, are fighting to keep a 7.5tonne weight restriction in their village. The issue has already
A NURSERY that was established seven years ago has expanded and doubled in size. Bright Beginnings, which is in the grounds of Bedale High School, was set up by owner Sara Robinson in 1996 with space for 20 children. But now, with the addition of a fully
PLACES are available for a new term of weekly classes for novice young musicians. Vacancies are open for four to six-year-olds in the new season of kindermusic classes at Seaham Music Academy, from Saturday. Sessions, designed to prepare children to begin
Darlington Flower Club enjoyed entertainment at its December meeting, at which prizes were awarded. A flower-arranging practice, entitled A Winter's Tale, was judged by Pauline Madagan from Hartlepool who was a winner at the Nationals earlier this year
PRIMARY school pupils are reaping the benefits of a safety competition after winning cash prizes. More than 150 children from three Wear Valley schools took part in the competition, organised by Lafarge Cement's Weardale Works. The company recently ended
POLICE are renewing their appeal for information following a suspected arson at a family home where three youngsters were rescued by firefighters. The eldest, a 16-year-old girl, suffered chest problems after inhaling smoke, and was taken to the University
A COUPLE whose daughter has leukaemia say they will be forced to move if plans for a mobile phone mast are approved. Hutchison 3G has applied to Durham City Council for permission to erect a 20m mast at Low Newton Farm, Brasside, Durham, only 100m from
A SCHOOLBOY stepped into the limelight when he met up with pantomime star Linda Lusardi for a second time. Andrew Hutchon, seven, of Darlington, was only a few months old when he first met the actress in July 1995. She was opening the Friends of the Memorial
DARLINGTON pop princess Zoe Birkett is hoping for a big hit next week when she releases her debut single. The 17-year-old releases Treat Me Like A Lady on Monday - a year after coming fourth on hit ITV show Pop Idol. For the past two weeks, the teenager
PROUD mum Samantha Graham gave birth to the first baby of the new year at the University Hospital of North Durham. Mrs Graham, 33, had Thomas, just hours into the new year, with husband Simon at her side. Thomas arrived at 2.13am, weighing in at 7lb 10oz
THE first baby of New Year's Day at Bishop Auckland Hospital was born at 5.43am. Clare Latcham gave birth to Euan, her second child, who had been due two days earlier. Her partner John Paul Scott was there to see the birth and cut the cord. The 23-year-old
CRICKET WORLD CUP: I WAS pleased to read that Nasser Hussain has stated that the Blair Government alone should take responsibility for boycotting Zimbabwe cricket. Tony Blair knows quite well that the colonists did not pay for the land when they first
Greenfield Community and Arts College at Newton Aycliffe has gained a glowing Ofsted report. Inspectors said the school had 'outstanding features' and singled out standards in the visual arts department as 'very high'. The report said the school had established
A DEPUTY Lieutenant of County Durham, Professor John Clarke, was awarded an OBE for his services to the community in the New Year Honours. Since premature retirement from Durham University in 1990 the geography academic, an emeritus professor, was appointed
A closed-circuit television system at Derwentside College's new campus, in Consett, is paying dividends. Cameras picked up two men destroying a sign at the car park entrance. Police have questioned two men and charged one with criminal damage. TEA DANCE
A SCHOOL snowboarding trip has ended with five Middlesbrough pupils being suspended from school after one of them was caught using cannabis. Four boys and one girl from Nunthorpe School were discovered with the drug during the five-day visit to Austria
RESIDENTS of a Middlesbrough suburb have expressed their gratitude to a homeowner who pulled out of a deal to sell his house for £225,000 after fears it would be turned into a children's home. Andy Thompson was ready to exchange contracts with Five Rivers
THE remains of three people discovered on the wreck of the trawler Gaul have been identified nearly three decades after the vessel sank mysteriously off the coast of Norway, it has been revealed. But the coroner has yet to decide on the sensitive issue
A closed-circuit television system at Derwentside College's new campus, in Consett, is paying dividends. Cameras picked up two men destroying a sign at the car park entrance. Police have questioned two men and charged one with criminal damage. TEA DANCE
TECHNOLOGY teacher Eric Wood will give a lesson in ornithology on Sunday. The expert will give a talk at Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park, Normanby, on Sunday, from 11am to 12.30pm. Mr Wood, who teaches at Hall Garth School, Middlesbrough, is also chairman
TWO organisations have benefited from grants from The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. More than £2.3m has been given to 15 projects throughout the UK working with disadvantaged young people. Cleveland Arts, in Middlesbrough, will receive £71, 272
A MOTHER-of-four from Hartlepool is appealing for help to trace property stolen when her bag was snatched. The 53-year-old was walking along an alley between the town's Sheriff Street and Sandringham Road at about 7.45pm on Friday when she was approached
FOR more than 100 years, a towering landmark has stood as sentinel above the city streets in Ripon. Built as a lasting commemoration of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, the clock tower has become as much a part of the local landscape as the cathedral
ROAD safety protests from patents and governors have saved a school's crossing patrol. Durham County Council's highways committee agreed yesterday that Eldon Lane Primary, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, can keep the service, which helps children
Plans for an eco-friendly holiday village are to be examined by councillors before a final decision is made. Eco Build UK wants to construct 18 log cabins using green technology such as solar and wind-power, woodchip-heating boilers, water recycling and
SNEAK burglars are still preying on householders in Thirsk. Despite the good news from the police last week when several offenders were detained, three more break-ins have occurred. Two of them happened overnight on Tuesday, one in Herriot Way, when an
MEMBERS of an action group fighting plans to close a residential home have vowed to continue their battle in the High Court. Relatives in the Stoneleigh Relatives Action Group, which was set up to block plans by Durham County Council to close the home
A GERMAN shepherd dog that has been staying at a veterinary surgery since Christmas is looking for a new home. Police took Sabre to Wilsons Veterinary Surgery, Bishop Auckland, on December 21, after he was believed to have been involved in a road traffic
MOBILE library users in a Derwentside village will have their service doubled from today. Durham County Council's mobile library service is adding an extra stop at Tanfield Lea's Working Men's Club from 1.35pm to 2.05pm. This is in addition to the normal
PLANS to extend a care home in Yarm are likely to be refused when councillors meet tomorrow. Members of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee will discuss plans to extend the Ayresome Court care home in the town's Green Lane, which would create
A COMMUNITY project that has gone from strength to strength is launching a group aimed at 16 to 19-year-old youths. Over the past six months, Chester West Community Project has taken on a new lease of life, after moving into Bullion Hall, in Chester-le-Street
CHRISTMAS shoppers were largely untroubled by shoplifters and pickpockets thanks to a successful police operation against street crime in Stockton. Operation Reassurance ran for 18 days between December 13 and January 2, during which time officers stopped
PUPILS and staff started the new term this week in a school that has benefited from improvements worth more than £200,000. The Government cash was spent at Heighington CE Primary School, near Darlington, on three main projects. During the past year, work
AFTER the final credits of The Lord of the Rings had rolled, staff at The Robins said their last tearful goodbyes, switched off the lights, and filed quietly out. Their subdued departure was in marked contrast to when the cinema first opened as The Regal
FRIENDS and family paid tribute this week to former Darlington Mayor Rita Fishwick, who died between Christmas and New Year. Mrs Fishwick, 60, had combined council and charity service while working full time for William Press. She was born in Quetta,
RESIDENTS are urging councillors not to agree to plans to extend a pub in Yarm as they fear the town could turn into a Las Vegas-style area. Stockton Borough Council has received a planning application from The New Cross Keys, in the High Street, for
A SCOUT from Bishop Auckland is the first in his troop to gain a coveted award. Ryan Bunker, of 2nd Bishop Auckland Scouts, organised a host of activities on his way to achieving the explorer award. To gain the badge he had to show good knowledge of emergency
HEALTH chiefs have launched an inquiry into the death in hospital of a mental health patient. Paul Pohlner, 36, of Meadowfield Road, Darlington was found hanged in the Pierremont unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital on December 23. An inquest into his
HEALTH chiefs have launched an inquiry into the death in hospital of a mental health patient. Paul Pohlner, 36, of Meadowfield Road, Darlington was found hanged in the Pierremont unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital on December 23. An inquest into his
YOUNGSTERS are putting themselves at risk by riding pedal bikes and motorcycles dangerously, police have warned. Since Christmas Day, police in Easington have noticed a large increase in the number of complaints being made about off-road motorcycles and
AN extension to Catterick Village cemetery has been approved subject to the Environment Agency being satisfied with anti-pollution measures. Richmondshire District Council's environment committee accepted proposals for the extension into pasture and quarry
THE decision-making body responsible for police policy is opening itself to public scrutiny. Northumbria Police Authority is to publish the minutes of its meetings on the Internet. Councillor Mick Henry, chairman of the authority, said: "This is an important
A CHARITY is appealing to people to donate their old Christmas cards as it launches its seasonal recycling campaign. Volunteers from the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland launched their annual Christmas card collection appeal last week. Bernard Harrison
