THE full extent of the financial crisis gripping Darlington Football Club may not be revealed for several days, administrators said last night. David Field, who is leading the team of insolvency experts striving to rescue the club, has been pouring over
A PROCESS control business is moving for the benefit of staff and to allow the business to expand. Process Control Equipment Limited (PCE) has moved to premises in Dukesway, on the Teesside Industrial Estate, in Stockton, after outgrowing its previous
A CONCERT will be given by pianist Chaiporm Pookhaothong at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, Kirkleatham, Redcar, on Friday, January 9, at 7.30 pm, not on January 8 as stated in The Northern Echo, yesterday. Tickets cost £10 and are available, by credit
A man is fighting for his life after lighting a cigarette in his car - which had a leaking butane cylinder in the boot. His lighter ignited fumes from the faulty blow torch he had been using to do DIY work. The man, who is about 30 and isn't being named
WATCHDOGS in the telecommunications sector say warnings about a premium rate calls scam to North-East home owners is nothing more than an elaborate hoax. Last week, trading standards officers in the region issued a warning after receiving complaints that
EXTRA money is to be made available to shops and businesses in Richmond as the drive continues to make it a better place to live and work. The Town Centre Forum has managed to fill almost half the empty shops in the town centre. A clothes shop, another
More women than ever are transforming their looks with a quick injection during their lunch hour. Women's Editor Christen Pears meets Dr Rita Rakus, practitioner of non-surgical facelifts and the Queen of the London Lip. DR Rita Rakus pushes her glasses
THE life of a baby boy who was hit by a car at the weekend was hanging in the balance last night. Callum Taylor was left fighting for his life after suffering serious head injuries when the car ran into his family as they strolled in a County Durham village
ONLINE gaming operator ukbetting yesterday boosted its portfolio of sports websites by finalising a £2m deal for Rivals Digital Media. Ukbetting, which includes TEAMtalk and sportinglife websites among its brands, said the takeover would add 1.5 million
PLANS by a hospital to help patients on the road to recovery have reached a milestone. A £60,000 appeal to create a rooftop conservatory and garden at the University Hospital of Hartlepool has now topped £10,000. Sid Holroyd handed over £1,000 towards
With Musselburgh abandoned yesterday and overnight frost forecast in many parts of the country, Lingfield's all-weather fixture could well end up as the only action of the day. Type One appeals as a likely sort in the littlewoodspoker.com claimer over
HOPES of reopening a number of festive ice rinks faded yesterday as the company responsible ceased trading. Financial problems led to the closure of the temporary ice rinks in Stockton, Durham, Middlesbrough and Darlington on Christmas Eve. It was hoped
PSYCHIC Gary Fowler has had to admit to failure in his attempt to prove the existence of a sixth sense. The Teesside medium had placed details of a prediction in a sealed envelope which was deposited in a locked safe at The Northern Echo's Darlington
THE mother of a girl who apparently hanged herself in her bedroom on Christmas Day has spoken of her grief. The body of Georgina Phelan, 12, was discovered in her room at around 10pm, after the youngster had spent the day with her parents and brother
ONE of Britain's biggest manhunts was under way last night after police named a nightclub doorman wanted in connection with the murder of PC Ian Broadhurst. US-born Nathan Wayne Coleman, 37, has been in the UK for about four years and worked in the West
A WOMAN with terminal cancer has undergone controversial treatment in Mexico. Sandra Richardson, 52, returned home to celebrate Christmas with her family and said the treatment has already had a positive effect. The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one
A CINEMA run by volunteers is looking for more people to come forward and help out. The Ritz Cinema in Thirsk has been running for eight years purely as a voluntary venture and is open almost every night of the year. Four volunteers have left in the last
A CRACKDOWN on prostitution has been hailed a success by anti-vice campaigners. Officials have seen a drop in the number of prostitutes working in Middlesbrough. They have also seen an increase in the number of girls seeking help to get out of the vice
HAIR and beauty salon owner Dean Jackson is a walking advert for his business. The 32-year-old is so dedicated to looking good that he gets through an estimated £25,544 worth of designer clothes, haircuts and beauty therapies each year. Dean, of Newton
AS I waited for the instructor to attach the rope to my harness, I looked up. The climbing wall loomed large above me. The only way to the top was via the multi-coloured pegs dotted seemingly randomly across the surface. "Off you go," said the instructor
PARTNERS at a County Durham law firm are moving into purpose-built premises after being forced to work from an attic. Hewitts Solicitors has expanded to such an extent during the past year that partners at its head office in Market Place, Bishop Auckland
DELAYS to an inquest into the death of a serviceman who took part in military chemical warfare tests were last night condemned by a campaigner who accused defence chiefs of a cover-up. Gordon Bell travelled to his native North-East with hopes of finally
FAME Academy runner-up Alistair Griffin was in the region yesterday as his debut single went on sale. The 26-year-old from Castleton, near Whitby, gave a live performance of the song Bring It On at the Cleveland Shopping Centre, in Middlesbrough, before
A TRANSPORT company has given £6,000 to community groups in the region during the past year. Arriva, based in Sunderland, made grants from its charitable fund to 12 voluntary organisations. Fulwell Hard of Hearing Club, also in Sunderland, was presented
A TECHNOLOGY and computer exhibition is to take place to help get the region's businesses online. Neon 2004 at Newcastle Telewest Arena on March 24 and 25 will showcase the latest technology and provide a one-stop shop for anyone wanting to discover the
THE company that will carry out up to £232m of improvements to Gateshead's council houses will be launched on Monday. The Gateshead Housing Company, which will manage the council's 24,000 houses from next month, was formed after nearly 94 per cent of
AS the new year approaches, finding a way forward for Darlington Football Club is looking an increasingly difficult challenge. It is not overstating the case to say that the club's existence is under serious threat. Darlington is not the first club to
IT'S spend, spend, spend for a teenager when she next visits a shopping centre. And Claire Wright's spree will not cost the 17-year-old a single penny. She won £500 worth of vouchers as part of a promotion for the Middleton Grange shopping centre in her
PUPILS gave their headteacher a rousing send off when he left a Darlington primary school. David Ackroyd was presented with a This is Your Life book, compiled by pupils at Whinfield Junior School. The book was presented to Mr Ackroyd on his last day at
UP to 100 hectares of "wildspace" exists on Darlington's doorstep, thanks to the work of the council's countryside team and community groups. Throughout the year, the two have worked together to ensure sites offer visitors what they want to see and experience
A COUNCIL is due to recruit a new chief executive next year, following the departure of its head. Mick Waterson has left Chester-le-Street District Council and Bernadette Marjoram has been appointed as interim chief executive in his place. Ms Marjoram
A TOWN has called on the services of a grime buster. Karen Lapsley has been appointed Clean and Green Co-ordinator for the Middlesbrough neighbourhoods of West Lane, Newport and Whinney Banks. "If residents know of any litter problems I would urge them
CONCERNED residents say traffic congestion around a Newton Aycliffe primary school is putting children and parents at risk. Parking problems around Byerley Park School eased with the introduction of a park-and-walk scheme. Parents are encouraged to park
A SMALL community has been given a Wurlitzer organ and has now launched a hunt for someone to play it. "We would very much like to hear from anyone who would be willing to lead a regular sing-along session, perhaps once a month," said Peter Sotheran,
A SCHOOL has adopted a traditional hobby to help pupils get to know each other better. Eleven year six pupils at Woodham Burn Junior School, Newton Aycliffe, known as the Striders group, have produced a friendship quilt. Working with teacher Kathy Legge
A POPULAR countryside path that has been severely eroded is to get a 600-tonne make-over in the New Year. Work will start on the section of path in need of repair, known as Sandy Lane, in Errington Woods, New Marske on Monday, and last until the end of
POLICE patrols are being stepped up at a shopping and leisure complex blitzed by thieves. Cleveland Police admit there was a spate of car break-ins at Teesside Park, between Thornaby and Middlesbrough, with ten cars broken into over two days. Five cars
DETAILS have been released of allowances paid to Richmondshire's district councillors in the past financial year. Each member of the council receives £2,500, although additional responsibility payments are also made to the council leader, John Blackie
A BISHOP says 2004 should be a year for greater generosity by Christians in his diocese. The Anglican Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Right Rev John Packer, has launched a campaign called Gratitude and Generosity. Bishop Packer said he was confident about
THE company that owns two of Durham's nightclubs has taken on a new general manager. Vimac Leisure, which runs the recently-refurbished DH-1 and neighbouring Caf Rock venues, both in North Road, has appointed Jaclyn Newton, of Low Fell, Gateshead. She
MEMBERS of a school football team have won through to the county final of a national competition. The year seven team from Woodham Community Technology College, Newton Aycliffe, made it to the district final of the Bishop Auckland Schools Football Association
MEMBERS of a school football team have won through to the county final of a national competition. The year seven team from Woodham Community Technology College, Newton Aycliffe, made it to the district final of the Bishop Auckland Schools Football Association
FAIRYTALE figures have waived their magic wands to raise hundreds of pounds for charity. Staff at Newcastle City Council's Business Development Unit have collected £570 for The Rainbow Trust, by dressing up as pantomime characters. The workers donned
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former sportsman and businessman who gave his spare time to help others. Les Raw, who owned two shops in Barnard Castle, County Durham, died this week, aged 73. After retiring, he became a volunteer driver taking patients
SOLDIERS have been lending their talents to a project to help young people learn valuable skills for the future. Spotlight Training and Media, which runs courses for students aged between 14 and 16 who may not be in school education, has taken over premises
A COUNCIL is giving permission for a club to use its land for two motorbike events next month. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's countryside staff have drawn up a series of strict guidelines for Middlesbrough and District Motor Club to use an area
Jonny Wilkinson is keen to take out his frustration on the pitch, according to his mentor Rob Andrew. England's World Cup hero is facing another injury lay-off after his comeback was curtailed after 53 minutes of Newcastle's game against Northampton.
GEORGE REYNOLDS made an extraordinary bid to keep control of his £20m stadium last night - by selling Darlington Football Club separately. He has outlined a deal in which he would step down as Quakers chairman but, crucially, retain complete control of
PUBS have been praised for helping the fight against drink-driving by charging sensible prices for soft drinks. A survey by trading standards officers across the UK, including Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire county councils, has found the region's
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson has insisted the morale of his players has never wavered during one of the most difficult times in the club's history. Cash-strapped Quakers were last week put into administration by chairman George Reynolds in order to
HUNDREDS of workers at a Sainsbury's distribution centre staged a 24-hour strike yesterday after rejecting a pay offer. The centre, in Haydock, Merseyside, distributes goods to Sainsbury's stores across the north of England. The site employs about 750
SERVICES developed by North Yorkshire County Council are helping people in the county to find jobs. The North Yorkshire Outreach aims to boost the employment prospects of people in rural areas. Developed by North Yorkshire County Council's employment
GEORGE BOATENG has bemoaned Middlesbrough's dearth of goals but urged manager Steve McClaren to keep faith with strikers Massimo Maccarone and Michael Ricketts. McClaren has identified a frontline signing as his top priority when the transfer window opens
SEMBCORP Utilities' plan to build a 30-megawatt biomass-fuelled power station on Teesside has taken a step forward with the appointment of two consultants. Fuel sourcing for the plant will be led by Toby Beadle, of Urban Harvest Limited, who will be working
CONSULTING engineer Arup has been recognised for its contribution towards energy efficiency in the region. The consultancy, based in Newcastle, won an award at the National Grid Transco TNEI Energy Efficiency Awards 2003. Arup's Cheviot Centre, in Wooler
Getting fit is always at the top of the New Year's resolution list but pounding the treadmill at the gym doesn't appeal to everyone. Women's Editor Christen Pears looks at the alternatives. AS I waited for the instructor to attach the rope to my harness
FOR the first time in decades, a mask created for an ancient Egyptian burial is to go on show to the public. Made of cartonnage, an ancient form of papier-mch, it was made about 2,000 years ago during the Roman era. After years of careful conservation
He was the undisputed master of the one-liner but, alongside the jokes, there lay a life of tragedy. Nick Morrison looks at the comic legend that was Bob Monkhouse. SMARMY, insincere, oily. Even his permanently orange skin was held against Bob Monkhouse
Carol Cooke recently visited the Harvey Milk School in New York, a public high school for gay teenagers - and became a convert to its methods. SO that's Susan Sarandon, Hilary Clinton and me, Carol Cooke, from Teesside. We've all been there, done it,
A LONG-established amateur theatre group will take to the stage with a pantomime favourite next month. The Dryburn Theatrical Workshop will perform Dick Whittington in the Park View Theatre at Chester-le-Street from Tuesday to Saturday, January 10. There
SUNDERLAND striker Marcus Stewart has revealed how he played it by ear to inspire his side to a vital victory over Rotherham. Two-goal Stewart explained why he indulged himself in an unconventional celebration after handing the Black Cats the lead in
Entrepreneur Karen King has set up the first 60-second spray-tanning booth in the region. Supported by the North-East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), Ms King left her call centre job and opened the beauty salon Un Momento, in Pallion, Sunderland
SHAREHOLDERS have backed a reverse takeover that should secure the future of a loss-making County Durham company. At an extraordinary meeting, held yesterday, investors in comeleon plc voted in favour of proposals that will see the firm, based in Stanley
PARTNERS at a County Durham law firm are moving into purpose-built premises after being forced to work from an attic. Hewitts Solicitors has expanded to such an extent during the past year that partners at its head office in Market Place, Bishop Auckland
THE leader of North Yorkshire County Council is going on the road to consult people about his pledge to keep any proposed council tax rise to half that of last year. Councillor John Weighell will be holding open meetings with communities during January
A GANG of teenagers almost killed a man after attacking him for a crate of lager. Some of the thugs in the incident, which left Chris Gregory, 57, needing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, are believed to have been as young as 12. The incident happened on
NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer is backing Michael Chopra to transfer his prolific goalscoring form on to the Premiership stage. The 20-year-old became Shearer's fourth strike partner of the season on Sunday, when he made his first Premiership start
AN amateur dramatic society is gearing up for its next production. Northallerton Variety Company's pantomime - The Babes in the Wood - will be staged at the Hambleton Forum in Northallerton from Sunday, January 18, until Saturday, January 24, Monday to
With Musselburgh abandoned yesterday and overnight frost forecast in many parts of the country, Lingfield's all-weather fixture could well end up as the only action of the day. Type One appeals as a likely sort in the littlewoodspoker.com claimer over
HUNDREDS of jobs have been saved after a factory was bought out of receivership yesterday. The new owner of the frozen dessert factory at Oakesway, Hartlepool, said that most of the 390 jobs would remain, but some would go. The factory was one of three
PEOPLE gave up part of their Christmas break to help clear a redundant railway track so it can be re-opened. Brian Cox, John Wardell, Kevin Hilary, John Askwith and Andrew Carr were among those who offered to tidy up the railway line, near Wolsingham,
PSYCHIC Gary Fowler has had to admit to failure in his attempt to prove the existence of a sixth sense. The Teesside medium had placed details of a prediction in a sealed envelope which was deposited in a locked safe at The Northern Echo's Darlington
REVELLERS in the region are being warned not to mix drink and drugs on New Year's Eve. The alert was sounded after a poll of youngsters showed almost half of those planning to take illegal substances tomorrow night will combine them with alcohol. The
A PIER has begun to collapse after taking a pounding from high winds and rough seas. The end of Bartram's Pier, at the south end of Sunderland's port, has partially collapsed after fierce weather conditions battered the brick coastal defence. The pier
DURHAM MP Gerry Steinberg has welcomed the Government's plans to give poor youngsters a financial boost. Child Trust Fund accounts, due to be introduced in 2005, will give £250 to every child born after September 1, 2002, rising to £500 for the poorest
A BANK is urging people to donate their unwanted Christmas presents to a charity. The Chester-le-Street branch of the Abbey has started accepting gifts that people do not like and will give them to the town's Help the Aged shop, which will sell them to
TWO cement mixers worth a total of £600 were reported stolen yesterday from the grounds of a house in Bleak Terrace, Cockfield, near Barnard Castle. Police have also said that a large window was smashed at Gainford Village Hall, near Darlington, over
POLICE are urging people to log details of valuable Christmas presents on their website. Northumbria Police have set up a secure and confidential database so that recovered stolen goods can be returned to their owners. People submit serial numbers and
CONCERNED residents say traffic congestion around a Newton Aycliffe primary school is putting children and parents at risk. Parking problems around Byerley Park School eased with the introduction of a park-and-walk scheme. Parents are encouraged to park
HARD-HEARTED thieves ruined a nine-year-old girl's Christmas when they stole her new bicycle. Billy-Leigh Daniel, from York, only had the pink bike a few hours before it was taken from outside her grandmother's house on Christmas Day. The bike had been
A CONCERT will be given by pianist Chaiporm Pookhaothong at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, Kirkleatham, Redcar, on Friday, January 9, at 7.30 pm, not on January 8 as stated in The Northern Echo, yesterday. Tickets cost £10 and are available, by credit
TWO sisters had to be cut free from a wrecked car following a smash involving a bus. The sisters and three other people in the Ford Ka were all taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, where they were treated for head injuries. The car
A SCHOOL has adopted a traditional hobby to help pupils get to know each other better. Eleven year six pupils at Woodham Burn Junior School, Newton Aycliffe, known as the Striders group, have produced a friendship quilt. Working with teacher Kathy Legge
MOTORISTS are being urged to cut car journeys and thereby stop poisoning the atmosphere. Vehicle fumes account for 40 per cent of emissions of carcinogens pumped into the air on Teesside. The Environment Agency claims while air pollution from industry
FAME Academy runner-up Alistair Griffin was in the region yesterday as his debut single went on sale. The 26-year-old from Castleton, near Whitby, gave a live performance of the song Bring It On at the Cleveland Shopping Centre, in Middlesbrough, before
A BUS firm is making important changes to fares for young people starting on January 2. Following representations from parents and young people, Harrogate and District Travel, which operates services throughout the Harrogate district, is extending half
Alec Guinness - A Secret Man (BBC2) Sir Alec Guinness told a friend he accepted the role of Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars because it gave him the chance to wear a pleated skirt and cloak. He was one of the few cast members who championed George
THE Calendar Girls are celebrating after receiving an extra Christmas present. The film of the exploits of North Yorkshire's Rylstone Women's Institute told the heart-warming story behind the nude charity calendar, which raised £900,000 for Leukaemia
DR Rita Rakus pushes her glasses down to the end of her nose, peers intently over them and studies my face. It's rather disconcerting, especially when she says in a very matter-of-fact voice: "I've noticed that when you talk, you raise your eyebrows and
A POLITICAL row has blown up over planned cuts of £1m to council services in Derwentside. In this year's election manifesto, the ruling Labour group of the district council vowed it would keep the council tax rise down to 2.5 per cent in this financial
RESIDENTS living near a line of pylons say that a main road has been damaged by construction traffic working on the project. Work to put up the power line, which runs through Lackenby, Picton and Shipton, was completed a month ago. But people living in
THIRTEEN part-time students have received special achievers awards at an annual ceremony. Mark Bowers, Peter Scollett, Christopher Rowland, Rachel Hoggart, Alison Jones, Naz Serginson, Alison Carter, Paul Stott, Kay Codling, Deborah Jackson, Rachel King
SMALL businesses can benefit from a free training programme in Information Technology (IT). The course is provided by the county council's continuing education unit to micro-business in Hambleton, Richmondshire and Ryedale. It aims to introduce IT into
PENSIONERS are being encouraged not to give up their pension book until 2005. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councillor Mike Findley, the nominated Older People's Champion for the area, believes many pensioners are feeling pressurised into changing to the
HUNDREDS gathered yesterday to remember schoolboy Daniel Readshaw who died in a swimming pool tragedy. Friends and family packed All Saints Roman Catholic Church, in Ferryhill, County Durham, for the 13-year-old's funeral. Daniel died on Thursday, December
SOLDIERS from Catterick will join Second World War veterans on a charity run this month, raising money for blind ex-servicemen. The Morpeth to Newcastle Road Race celebrates its centenary on January 11 and the St Dunstan's charity for the blind has been
A SONGBOOK and compact disc of children's songs written by women prisoners, has won an award. The work, Beyond the Secret Door, had been written and performed by inmates at three prisons, Askham Grange, in York, Durham Prison and Low Newton, in Durham
SOHAM MURDERS: LORD Mackenzie of Framwellgate claims that the tragic Soham murders show the need for compulsory identity cards. In fact, they show why they would be useless. Ian Huntley was able to get a job in a school because police did not have the
GROUNDS maintenance business HGM Services has found a winning solution with help and advice from Business Link York and North Yorkshire. The business, in Newton-le-Willows, near Leeming, in North Yorkshire, was badly affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak
Alec Guinness - A Secret Man (BBC2): Sir Alec Guinness told a friend he accepted the role of Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars because it gave him the chance to wear a pleated skirt and cloak. He was one of the few cast members who championed George
THE parents of a 12-year-old girl found her dead in her bedroom on Christmas Day. The youngster was yesterday named by neighbours as Georgina Phelan. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances and no else is being sought in connection with her death
AN entrepreneur is back at the helm of the North-East health club chain that he founded. Stan Henry has bought seven clubs under the Springs brand, which he sold nearly three years ago. The multi-million pound deal takes in the group's outlets in Stockton
CURRENT levels of job creation are unsustainable unless the Government revises its strategy towards the private sector, the CBI warned yesterday. It said healthy employment growth of 190,000 jobs next year masked the true state of the labour market and
Nanny, Darlington, £5 per hour, 16 hours per week, for four days Monday to Friday. Qualifications and experience preferred. Ref: DAE 37578. Play leader, Darlington, £5 per hour to start, 8am to 9am and 3pm to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Must have experience
ONE of Britain's biggest manhunts was under way last night after police named a nightclub doorman wanted in connection with the murder of PC Ian Broadhurst. US-born Nathan Wayne Coleman, 37, has been in the UK for about four years and worked in the West
MOTOR dealer Reg Vardy has made a number of appointments to mark the start of the New Year. SUE PORTER, who spent five years with Reg Vardy as sales development manager, has returned to the group as sales director. The first woman member of the operations
