Death by Gardening (BBC1): SEVERED limbs, infernos and electrocutions don't sound like subjects for comedy but according to presenter Tommy Walsh, accidents in the garden should have us roaring with laughter. The problem with Death by Gardening was that
BINGO group Gala is linking up with US operator Harrah's to open eight mega-casinos across the country in a move designed to cash-in on the deregulation of the UK's gaming industry. The joint venture will see Gala and Harrah's invest up to £600m to develop
IT'S official - dads are the heroes of the world. I've always said it and now I've been truly vindicated. In a national Father's Day competition, children were asked to draw pictures of their heroes and give reasons for their choices. Nearly 40 per cent
P is for PUBS, PARTIES and PUBERTY, which creeps up on your little boy about three years before you expect it. There you are, thinking he's still happy in his chain store jeans, playing with Lego and giving his mum a cuddle. Then suddenly, he's all hair
THE body of a North-East man is expected to be flown back to the region today after he died in Spain. Billy Hauxwell, from Stockton, was with his 12-year-old daughter, Jade, in the sea when he realised he was having a heart attack. In a bid to make sure
GENEVA, Malaga and Belfast were yesterday unveiled as the first of a wave of new routes out of Teesside International Airport. The destinations, ann-ounced by budget airline bmibaby, represent the start of a process intended to increase the number of
A RESTAURANT at the centre of an investigation into a massive increase in salmonella cases could face prosecution, it emerged last night. Health officials began their inquiries after 146 cases of the food poisoning infection were reported in County Durham
The dole queue beckons one Weatherfield resident as Karen McDonald is given her marching orders from Underworld knicker factory in Coronation Street (ITV1). Why she's surprised to be sacked by owner Mike Baldwin is beyond me. As bad girls go, she's travelled
THE new headquarters of Tees Valley's fastest-growing legal firm was greeted as a signal of the area's regeneration at its official opening ceremony. In the three-and-a-half years since it was established, the Endeavour Partnership LLP has more than trebled
A WOMAN faces a possible prison sentence after admitting illegally acquiring computer and other electrical equipment worth more than £180,000. Nicola Brough came before Durham Crown Court yesterday to face 17 counts of obtaining property by deception.
A MAN had his car stolen after he stopped to help the victims of a road accident. The man left his blue Vauxhall Corsa near the fire station in Tees Road, Seal Sands, on Tuesday at about 5.10pm to see if he could assist following the smash. But as he
ARMY investigators were last night racing to unravel the mystery of what happened in the moments before Iraqis turned on British soldiers - killing six Royal Military Policemen. Service chiefs have ordered an urgent inquiry into the Army's worst casualties
A fascinating day before the foreign affairs select committee which boiled down to the fundamental question about this Government: how much of its claims do you believe? The Government's director of communications Alastair Campbell accused the BBC of
Hundreds of dads are prepared to risk jail in protest at their treatment at the hands of the divorce courts. Nick Morrison meets one of the new breed of militant men. IF someone tells you they've been unable to see their children for three years, the
A NORTH-EAST mother who flew to the US to beat a crippling medical condition has returned with fresh hope. Ann Teasdale was in the depths of despair before a fundraising campaign in her home town of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to send her to Texas
A MAJOR review of local government in the North-East was launched yesterday to pave the way for a regional assembly. The Boundary Committee staged a briefing on Teesside to explain how the year-long process will work. The review in the North-East could
A RAPIST who attacked a young mother in a copycat attack from a video nasty was jailed for ten years yesterday. Stephen Riley, 22, broke into the 23-year-old's home at night and raped her as her two young children slept in the next room. Newcastle Crown
England all-rounder Craig White will be used as a bowler for the first time this season in Yorkshire's Championship match against Somerset, which starts at Taunton tomorrow. Reserve wicketkeeper Simon Guy makes his first Championship appearance of the
A SCHOOL'S sports day was rescued after a swarm of bees threatened to put the event in jeopardy. Beekeeper Roger Chappel was called to Darlington's Hummersknott School after a large swarm of honey bees settled in a tree on the edge of the grounds. Teachers
Death by Gardening (BBC1): SEVERED limbs, infernos and electrocutions don't sound like subjects for comedy but according to presenter Tommy Walsh, accidents in the garden should have us roaring with laughter. The problem with Death by Gardening was that
A former North Yorkshire "red cap" who lost his legs in a bomb blast last night urged the Army to track down the al-Majar killers. Royal Military Police staff sergeant Andy Mudd was severely maimed by an IRA bomb which blew up outside his home. The former
POLICE in Darlington will be the first to pilot a scheme aimed at reducing repair costs for Panda cars. Durham Constabulary is fitting ten divisional beat cars with "black box" recorders. The equipment will collate information about the vehicle's speed
A YOUNG mother, who overcame breast cancer and beat the odds by having a child after her treatment ended, is running in the Race for Life in Darlington. Yvonne Bryden, from Darlington, was diagnosed with the disease three days before her 30th birthday
THE singing talents of pupils at Greenfield School, Newton Aycliffe, have been recorded on a compact disc. Headteacher Mike Thornton initiated the project at the specialist arts college in collaboration with colleagues Alan Hunt, Margaret Berwick, Sandra
ALMOST 60 years after he left his village school, an amateur historian has preserved the building for posterity by creating a miniature model in wood and card. Pensioner Bill Colley, from Byers Green, near Spennymoor, has been making replicas of landmark
VOLUNTEERS are needed for a scheme to stop first-time offenders getting into more trouble. The Referral Order Panel in Darlington works with the courts to try to offer restorative justice to young offenders. Once a referral order is made by a magistrate
FARMERS have won praise for following guidelines over keeping public paths free of crops. Rights of way officers from Durham County Council have worked with farmers on 100 paths, trying to ensure they are not ploughed up or overgrown by crops. Senior
THE future of a former stationers' shop in Darlington might not be decided until next year, it emerged last night. Fashion chain Next said it had no plans to move into the former Dressers store in High Row before the end of the year, despite being the
A motorist had to be cut free from the wreckage of a car which left the A6076 and ended up in a field beside Causey Equestrian Centre, near Stanley, County Durham, yesterday. The casualty was freed by firefighters and taken to the University Hospital
VILLAGERS aim to show their school is the heart of their community in an attempt to stop it closing. Aycliffe Village Primary School is one of 23 being considered for closure by Durham County Council in a £300m education shake-up. The council says it
GRANGEFIELD School, in Stockton, is holding a summer fair on Saturday, July 5, from 1pm to 3.30pm. Stalls include books, bingo, karaoke, games and face-painting.
A motorist had to be cut free from the wreckage of a car which left the A6076 and ended up in a field beside Causey Equestrian Centre, near Stanley, County Durham, yesterday. The casualty was freed by firefighters and taken to the University Hospital
BUS company Arriva is to issue 500 free bus travel tickets in east Cleveland to help the area's unemployed travel to a job and skills opportunity day. The tickets have been funded by the Government's Single Regeneration Budget to help boost attendance
PUPILS from schools in the Darlington area have been showing off their sporting prowess. The annual Darlington Primary Schools' Athletics Championships was split into two sections this year, with field athletes competing last Friday and track events taking
AN awards ceremony is being held next week to celebrate the achievements of young librarians in the borough of Stockton. The Junior and Young Librarian 2003 awards ceremony takes place on July 2 at Stockton Central Library. Nine schools took part in the
A motorist had to be cut free from the wreckage of a car which left the A6076 and ended up in a field beside Causey Equestrian Centre, near Stanley, County Durham, yesterday. The casualty was freed by firefighters and taken to the University Hospital
MORE than 700 young people will explore the everyday uses of science at the annual Chemistry at Work summer school on Teesside. The school will hold practical demonstrations such as controlled explosions, forensic crime scene science and an obstacle course
DURHAM City Council's new bosses have pledged to make it one of the best councils in the country. The council, which has been at the centre of several controversies including the collapse of the Gala Theatre's management, fell to the Liberal Democrats
Neale Cooper has been unveiled as the new manager of Hartlepool United. The former Ross County boss succeeds Mike Newell, who was sacked last month despite leading the club to only its third promotion in the clubs history. Former youth team coach Martin
FARMERS have won praise for following guidelines to keep public paths free of crops. Rights of way officers from Durham County Council have worked with farmers on 100 paths trying to ensure they are not ploughed over, or overgrown by crops. Senior rights
CALLS are to be made for Ryedale District Council to spend £50,000 on a study to decide whether to build a sports centre and running track. The authority will be urged by Councillor Elizabeth Shields to carry out a feasibility study into the possibility
A 17-YEAR-OLD Redcar student has been highly commended in the Guardian/BBC Prom Young Composer Competition. Sam Kennedy, who attends Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough, entered his AS-level composition, titled Vicious-Etude for two violins, cello
A COFFEE shop boasting beautiful woodland scenery has been opened in Middlesbrough. Bill Gould, chairman of Teesside Hospice Care Foundation, opened the shop, at Arcadia Garden Centre, in Stokesly Road, Newby, yesterday. It will offer visitors a chance
CONCORDE'S final resting place could be an award-winning museum in the region, British Airways (BA) revealed last night. The attraction is the only one in the region to have made the shortlist drawn up by BA bosses looking for something to do with the
A BOOK filled with cartoons illustrating the trials and tribulations of a paramedic is due to make a comeback. Two years ago, Richmond ambulanceman Gerard "Ged" Wild published a book of his own work reflecting the lighter side of his job. Doorstep Deliveries
ALL 500 students from a Harrogate school have been presented with an iced lolly - in thanks for raising lots of "lolly" for charity. Pupils from Harrogate Lad-ies College and its prep school, Highfield, became involved in projects to raise cash for Water
A PERFORMANCE in North-allerton by tribute band La Vida Santana has been called off as a result of disappointing ticket sales. The band were to be the third tribute act to play at the Hambleton Forum this year, but the district council was forced to pull
YOUNGSTERS overcame all obstacles to stage a sell-out production of Joseph and his Technicoloured Dreamcoat last night. Year five and six pupils at Greenland Junior School, South Moor, Stanley, had planned to stage the show at the Stanley School of Technology
HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon forecast results for the first half of the year would show a rise in sales of at least 20 per cent over last year against a steady market backdrop. The firm, which acquired the Merewood group for £22.6m earlier this month, said
ELECTRICAL goods firm Dixons has announced plans to create 2,200 jobs next year - months after signalling 350 head office staff were to go. The news came as mobile phone retailer Vodafone said it was to axe 480 jobs at a site in Swindon. The group bought
A TEAM of specialists has been appointed to aid the community-led regeneration of North Ormesby. Tees Valley Housing Group (TVHG) appointed two housing and project management experts to lead the scheme to map out the area's future. They will work alongside
A 17-YEAR-OLD Redcar student has been highly commended in the Guardian/BBC Prom Young Composer Competition. Sam Kennedy, who attends Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough, entered his AS-level composition, titled Vicious-Etude for two violins, cello
A NORTH-EAST business information consultancy has become first PISO business centre. PISO, which stands for Process Improvement for Strategic Objectives, is a method of restructuring business processes designed at the University of Sunderland. It shows
Many people view the Internet with caution and even concern -- perhaps rightly so when we consider the problems associated with this powerful tool and resource. Parents worry about the effects of children spending too much time online, especially with
A POLE-VAULTING competition will be held in Darlington's Market Square next week. Darlington Harriers and Athletic Club has linked with the North-East Pole Vault Academy to stage the contest on Friday July 4, at 7pm. The event will give people an opportunity
THE region's reputation for inspiring business ideas was in the spotlight last night at the Spirit of Innovation Awards. More than 250 people gathered at a glittering awards ceremony at Ramside Hall, Durham, as the achievements of individuals and companies
NEWS of the deaths sent shock waves among soldiers and their families at the Army's largest garrison. Barracks at Catterick, in North Yorkshire, were eerily quiet yesterday, as so many of the regiments based there are en route to the Gulf. Within days
A WOMAN accused of murdering her husband admitted lying to police about how she came to have the knife she used to stab him to death. Giving evidence at her trial at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Jayne Lovegreen, 34, conceded she had changed her evidence
The family of a woman fighting cancer for the second time has launched a cash crusade to send her on a 5,000 mile trip for treatment. Pamela Aston, 46, of Upper Church Street, Spennymoor, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and after a mastectomy
A CHARITY is looking for runners to take part in this year's Great North Run. Action on Addiction is entering a team as part of its Sport Against Addiction campaign, and has 15 places to fill. Each member is asked to raise £300 sponsorship. To apply to
MORE harvest mice have been released into the North-East countryside as part of a programme to save the species from extinction. Stockton Borough Council has been breeding harvest mice, and 50 of them were recently released at Castle Eden Walkway. The
Mick Tait's Darlington will be looking for revenge after being drawn against First Division Bradford City in the first round of the newly-sponsored Carling Cup. The Quakers will play the Bantams at Valley Parade in the week beginning August 11 - after
A DARING fundraising plan to fly a microlite aircraft to Russia and back in three weeks turned into a flight from hell for a North-East man. Part-time pilot and paramedic Jon Ker set off a week ago - with a co-pilot and another team - from Teesside Airport
Tony Blair last night led the tributes to the six Royal Military Police soldiers killed in Iraq. The Prime Minister told MPs the soldiers, who included Lance-Corporal Benjamin John McGowan Hyde, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, and Corporal Simon
A sculpture representing a North-East village's mining heritage will be unveiled next month. The bronze statue of a miner emerging from a coal seam, by artist Keith Maddison, best known for his sculpture of Middlesbrough football legend George Hardwick
THE chairman of the North-East Assembly yesterday stepped aside to let a Teesside representative take the reins. Councillor Bob Gibson, leader of Stockton Borough Council, became the assembly's chairman when Councillor Tony Flynn, leader of Newcastle
SHAYADI (3.15) should not be missed in today's feature event at Carlisle, the £20,500 Cumberland Plate. Two years ago Mark Johnston's gelding was a strong fancy for the immensely valuable Tote Ebor at York, but due to an injury he flopped in the Knavesmire
A COUPLE who dream of turning a former prisoner of war camp into a museum are hoping to cash in on a new reality television show. James and Lisa McLeod hope the BBC show Restoration will finally mean they can raise the £2m needed to transform the Second
The days of canoodling beneath the caterpillar are long gone at the annual fun fair on Newcastle Town Moor, replaced by the multifaceted masochism of the Chaos Afterburner and Drop Zone. IT MUST be 30 years since we were at the Hoppings, an age when "
AN initiative has been launched to make it easier for people to find out more about the region's railway history. Angela Brockbank has been appointed the North-East's railway and heritage project officer, and will be based at Darlington Railway Centre
A PROMINENT businessman, who employed 40 staff at his North Yorkshire factory, has died. Thirsk manufacturer David Price, of Power Plastics, died suddenly on Thursday, June 19. He was 63. Hertford-born and Cambridge educated, Mr Price founded his company
YOUNG singers and dancers will be putting the gloss on their performances this week before the final of a regional talent contest. The best 25 acts are preparing to go head-to-head at Durham's Gala Theatre on Sunday to find the winner of TalentSTAR 2003
SECOND-DIVISION new-boys Hartlepool United are expected to name their new manager today. And the new boss's arrival coincides with confirmation that Kevin Sheedy has been axed as assistant manager. Pool's decision to sack Sheedy is an indication that
UNION officials are to hold the first of a number of crunch talks over the future of a North-East tobacco factory. The first formal meeting between management at British American Tobacco's (BAT) plant in Darlington and unions will take place this afternoon
SOME parents at a North-East school have complained nine and ten-year-old pupils are too young to have lessons on death. But death has a way of rearing its ugly head when we least expect it and, sadly, the decision about when we introduce our children
IF the name Madhur Jaffrey only makes you think of jars of Tikka sauce, cookery programmes and hugely successful recipes for Indian food, it's time to think again. Jaffrey is also an actress and she's about to join the cast of EastEnders for a couple
A TEAM of firefighters are attempting a gruelling mountain challenge to raise money for charity. The team, from Darlington Fire Station's green watch, set off for the Three Peaks Challenge last night. The team of five, supported by two drivers, plan to
LEEDS UNITED have emerged as rivals to Middlesbrough in the race to sign Arsenal midfielder Edu. Northern Echo SPORT revealed yesterday how the Brazilian was the latest player to be added to Boro boss Steve McClaren's hit-list. But now it is understood
IT was the announcement that Darlington Football Club fans had been waiting for - and the name of the club's new stadium was confirmed in grand style yesterday. The Quakers' new home was named last week as the Reynolds Arena, after the club's flamboyant
FRENCH flop Lilian Laslandes fears he will be priced out of a move back to his homeland this summer, writes Paul Fraser. And the towering striker is convinced he will be back on Wearside next Wednesday to start pre-season training with Mick McCarthy's
A LONG-serving headteacher took to the skies yesterday as a surprise to mark her retirement. Anne Ferguson was left speechless after she was taken on a secret journey to playing fields in the town and then whisked away by helicopter. The stunned 58-year-old
P is for PUBS, PARTIES and PUBERTY, which creeps up on your little boy about three years before you expect it. There you are, thinking he's still happy in his chain store jeans, playing with Lego and giving his mum a cuddle. Then suddenly, he's all hair
Filming for the long-running Heartbeat series is causing a headache for a popular tourist resort, it was claimed yesterday. Traders in Whitby have complained that disruption caused by television crews is costing them business. Now, Whitby Town Council
EDWARDIAN Darlington will be recreated in a park next month as part of its centenary celebrations. The Friends of North Lodge Park are holding an Edwardian country fete on Saturday, July 5, to recreate the atmosphere on the day the park was opened, July
A SOLDIER from the region has taken to the water in a national canoe competition. Lance Corporal Peter Bale, from Darlington, was one of 60 soldiers to take part in the Army's Land Command Canoe Slalom championships, in Wales. L Cpl Bale, 23, from the
POLICE in Darlington will be the first to pilot a scheme aimed at reducing repair costs for Panda cars. Durham Constabulary is fitting ten divisional beat cars with "black box" recorders. The equipment will collate information about the vehicle's speed
A YOUNG mother, who overcame breast cancer and beat the odds by having a child after her treatment ended, is running in the Race for Life in Darlington. Yvonne Bryden, from Darlington, was diagnosed with the disease three days before her 30th birthday
THE identity of a man who suffered a suspected heart attack and fell from his bicycle on Tuesday remains a mystery. The man, thought to be in his 50s, was found on the A167 road at the Thinford roundabout, between Ferryhill and Spennymoor. He was wearing
FAMILIES with young children in Shildon and Newton Aycliffe are being invited to a party to celebrate the launch of their Sure Start programme. The Shildon and Newton Aycliffe West Sure Start Partnership has organised the party for children aged up to
A CANVASSING exercise to raise awareness of the advantages of broadband Internet connection has started in Sedgefield. But villagers have been told they do not need to disclose their credit card details at this stage. A campaign to get broadband for the
VOLUNTEERS in Darlington are to be trained to help warring neighbours resolve disputes. A training course for volunteer mediators is to be held for people with good communication skills who will join a team of people dedicated to solving disputes. The
COUNCIL officials have revealed the latest phase of their anti-litter crackdown in Darlington. The borough council, backed by The Northern Echo, launched a campaign to clean up the town centre and estates last November. More than 200 fines have been imposed
A SCHOOL which had special measures imposed last year after it was found to have "serious weaknesses" has been praised by education inspectors for making good progress. Eastbourne Comprehensive School, Darlington, has recently had visits from national
PEOPLE in south Durham are being urged to help smash a world record and raise money for a national charity. Bishop Auckland Market Place will host a mass aerobics session on Sunday morning in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Staff from Wear Valley District
A SHOPPING precinct will open this week after a £2.5m improvement scheme. The refurbishment of The Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, will be unveiled tomorrow. The mall has been refurbished by supermarket chain Asda, which moved to the outskirts of
A SCHEME to create three lakes near a tiny one-street village has hit troubled waters. Robert Staveley, who created Lightwater Valley theme park at North Stainley, near Ripon - now operated by a major leisure firm - wants to develop the lakes at Carr
NURSES from St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington, are working at a new clinic in the town. The clinic has been launched to help people suffering from lymphoedema, a disease which causes fluid to collect in body tissue. The ailment is normally associated
BROTHERS Nigel and Steve Mitchell celebrated a double 25th wedding anniversary. The pair, who live in Middleton-in-Teesdale, spent a year planning their double celebration, which involved a huge marquee at Stotley Grange boarding kennels Nigel and Steve
POLICE could soon have another weapon in their arsenal as the the fight against petty crime continues. Taxpayers were asked to contribute more than 40 per cent more to the North Yorkshire force's coffers in 2002 and another 70 per cent this year. Although
PROTESTORS yesterday succeeded in delaying plans to build new homes in their village. About 20 villagers from Brotton heard councillors agree to defer making a decision until they have visited the site near Coach Road, in Brotton, near Saltburn. The protestors
THERE should be more entries than ever for Richmond's annual Sheep on Show exhibition now that the town's Mayor has given the flock "extended grazing rights". The event has run exclusively in Richmond since Councillor Stuart Parsons introduced it two
A RAPIST who attacked a young mother in a copycat attack from a video nasty was jailed for ten years yesterday. Stephen Riley, 22, broke into the 23-year-old's home at night and raped her as her two young children slept in the next room. Newcastle Crown
PUPILS and staff at a Stockton school have been praised in a recent Ofsted report. Fairfield Junior School, which shares a site with the adjoining Fairfield Infant School, has received a report which classes it as a good school with very good features
A JCB digger was stolen after it was left parked at roadworks between Richmond and Reeth. The vehicle, registration number N391 YHH and with the serial number 760075, went missing between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Anyone who may have seen it being
A rural community is nearing its target to achieve faster and more efficient access to the Internet. But a final push is needed to reach the threshold of 350 expressions of interest in a broadband connection before the service will be provided for communities
THE rhythm of the samba came to Middlesbrough's Riverside stadium yesterday. More than 260 schoolchildren played instruments ranging from surdos or large drums to tambourines and danced the afternoon away. The event represented the culmination of a year's
A £200,000 project to ease parking problems and improve areas of open space in parts of north Hartlepool has been completed. The work has been carried out in Miller Crescent, Fulthorp Avenue, Ridlington Way and Goldsmith Avenue. Parking bays have been
POLICE have apologised after a breakdown in internal communications led to a statement that indicated officers searching for a missing pensioner had found a body. Pensioner Audrey Atkinson, of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, went missing from her home
The Royal Military Police is fiercely proud of its "first in, last out" tradition that it established after the Second World War. It has four primary functions - to provide operational support to the Army, prevent crime, maintain military discipline,
A COUNCIL was criticised yesterday after it took 200 asylum seekers on a day trip to a museum at a cost of £2,500 to taxpayers. Newcastle City Council came under fire for organising the visit to Beamish Museum, in County Durham. The council defended its
A NEW pressure group has joined the pro-hunting lobby and plans to march on London to deliver its Pants To Prejudice message to the Prime Minister this weekend. Yorkshire Families 4 Hunting (YF4H) will be setting up camp on Parliament Square on Sunday
A POLICE force wants its area to be used as a pilot scheme for prescribing heroin to drug addicts. Members of Cleveland Police Authority yesterday agreed to lobby the Home Office in a controversial move to tackle the number of users in the force's area
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: I LIVED in the North-East for a number of years, and my abiding memories are of the strong sense of regional loyalty, and the quality of the beer. The Welsh Assembly is a major contributory factor to Wales being a second-class region
A CLOSE friend told last night of how proud the parents of Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde were of the job their son was doing in Iraq. Jane Tasker spent many years living next door to John and Sandra Hyde, in Bankhead Road, Northallerton, North Yorkshire
A 23-year-old man will appear before magistrates in Peterlee, east Durham, tomorrow accused of theft of a handbag and a car. He is alleged to have snatched the bag from a woman in Trimdon, County Durham, in April, while the car is said to have been taken
TRANSFER-listed midfielder Clarence Acuna is considering a move from Tyneside to Mexico. The Chilean international, already a target for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, is being lined up by Mexican outfit Cruz Azul for a summer switch across the Atlantic
