Supporters remained in the ground long after the final whistle, the players did two laps of honour, the PA announcer incessantly congratulated the team and then played We Are The Champions - what would they have done had Scarborough won? The people of
Education Secretary Charles Clarke yesterday made a last-minute concession to Labour rebels fighting the Government's plans to introduce variable university tuition fees. He promised a legal bar on increases to the proposed £3,000 cap on fees for the
MORE than 14,000 people turned out yesterday to support Darlington Football Club in its hour of need - helping secure its short-term future. The record crowd at the Reynolds Arena will help keep the crisis-hit Quakers afloat for another two months. The
POLICE are investigating after a 20-year-old man suffered a sex attack by two women. Detectives said the man, who was playing pool at the Duke of Albany pub in Washington, Wearside, was attacked and knocked unconscious. He regained consciousness to find
A mother has praised the bravery of fire crews who saved eight children who had became stuck at the bottom of a cliff after a beck flooded. The children, aged between five and 15, were playing in the beck in woodland near Loftus Bank at Loftus, east Cleveland
COUNCIL TAX: IT is about time that the council tax system was reformed. It is becoming expensive, unfair and poor value for money. My Band D property gets the same services as my neighbours who live in lower band properties. My husband and I pay more
DARLINGTON Mowden Park's flickering hopes of earning the promotion play-off place in National Three North will die if they lose at home to leaders Halifax on Saturday. They were reminded of Waterloo's title credentials on Saturday as they lost 35-12 at
Scott Kerr was Scarborough's midfield inspiration on Saturday, and although beaten he was proud of his day's work against one of the country's top sides. The experts didn't give the Seasiders a chance of victory but they battled hard, especially Kerr,
VILLAGERS have rallied to support a young sportsman's development. Ten-year-old Bradley Smith's dedication to a host of sports, inspired villagers in Kirk Merrington, near Spennymoor, to raise money to buy him equipment. Customers and staff at The Half
A SURVEY is being undertaken to find out about housing needs. A questionnaire is being sent to every house in the Teesdale District Council area. The local authority has commissioned David Cumberland Housing Regeneration Limited to carry out the housing
TWO groups have scooped awards with photographs of themselves taken while they were walking their way to healthier lifestyles. Auckland Amblers, based in Bishop Auckland, and the after-school walking club at St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Coundon,
European funding may be sought to move Darlington cattle mart from its residential site. The area's representatives on Darlington Borough Council are to investigate what financial help may be available to relocate the mart from Clifton Road. Park East
A GROUP dedicated to preserving rural skills is expanding to help people secure jobs in the countryside. The recently-formed Burnhope Association for Rural Crafts (Barc) is looking for people from across Derwentside to join workshops in country crafts
A PLAY area built through people power is to expand. The £120,000 Park House play area, in Lanchester, near Durham, opened in May last year, after a four-year fundraising drive by residents. The first phase was aimed at younger children, but Lanchester
Strike: When Britain Went To War (C4) THE opening resembled one of those nostalgia programmes recalling the fashion, fads and folk from a year gone by - namely 1984. Wham were demanding "wake me up before you go-go", Torvill and Dean skated to victory
An extra time goal from Stuart Irvine gave Bishop Auckland a place in the semi-final of the League Cup with a 2-1 win over Burscough. After Mark Foster cleared off the line for Bishops, they took the lead after 26 minutes when Craig Robson fired home
WAITING lists for patients are at theirlowest for years, says a health chief. Alison Guy, chief executive of the NHS Trust which covers Ryedale, Scarborough and Whitby told its board meeting that there were now 362 people who have been waiting for in-patient
A MEETING is to be held next week to launch the Teesside Industrial Memories Project as a society. The project aims to collect and record personal memories of working life in the industries of Teesside. It will start with the ICI works at Billingham,
A GROUP of children have given up their spare time to help transform part of Redcar. The Cubs and Beavers spend Saturday mornings hedge-planting at Coatham Marsh in an attempt to improve its appearance. They are joined by wardens employed by Tees Valley
AN initiative which aims to get unemployed people back into work is proving to be a success. CableCom Training and Network Construction Services, in partnership with the Into Work Project and JobCentre Plus, help unemployed people from the Tees Valley
YOUNGSTERS all over the North-East are being encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables as schemes start to take root. Seven 5 A Day community initiatives from Teesside to Northumberland are now under way. They are part of a Department of Health drive
A JAPANESE pianist, who achieved the highest distinction at the Royal College of Music, will be performing at the Kirkleatham Almshouses, near Redcar. Mami Shikimori won the award in 1999 before studying for a year at the University of Southern California
PEOPLE are being invited to have their names set in stone to raise money for a community centre. Waterhouses Village Hall, just outside Durham, is looking for people to sponsor the building by having their names inscribed on its bricks. Secretary of the
A PROJECT helping elderly people in rural communities get to their doctor is proving a success. Deerness Valley Car Scheme provides transport to GP surgeries and health clinics for elderly people and those with disabilities who cannot use public transport
A woman who allegedly told airport staff she was carrying a bomb in her luggage has been charged by police. It follows an incident at Newcastle Airport on Friday involving Lesley Brennan, 48, of Wheatley Gardens, West Boldon, South Tyneside. As reported
TWO schoolgirls are preparing to swap their Easington comprehensive for a Scottish public school favoured by high ranking Royals. The move to boarding school is being taken by Hayley Joyce, 15, and Katherine Hall, 16. Both are students at Easington Community
Despite the gloom, a carnival atmosphere descended on yesterday's vital fundraiser at the Reynolds Arena. Julia Breen reports. SQUINTING into the sun, a surprisingly slimline Paul Gascoigne mumbled into a microphone. A hush fell over the stadium as 14,000
FEARS that the reason a vicarage is being sold off is to raise cash for the Church of England have been dismissed by diocese officials. Plans to sell the vicarage at All Saints' Church, Northallerton, and buy another property elsewhere in the town were
Darlington 4 Chelsea 1 January 28, 1958 FA Cup Fourth Round Replay (after extra time). "DARLINGTON sent their supporters delirious with delight by their display, and in the whole history of the club there has been nothing quite like the scenes when early
THEY say history has a knack of repeating itself. And for the sake of Middlesbrough and Steve McClaren let's hope that old adage is about to ring true. Crashing to defeat at Arsenal and conceding four goals in the process is nothing new to McClaren, but
A CAMPAIGN to reduce the number of stray dogs on a town's streets has been hailed a success. About 600 dogs have been chipped so far this year by wardens from Hartlepool Borough Council's environmental action team, who set themselves a target of 400 for
GAVIN Strachan revealed Hartlepool United were given warned about Brian Tinnion - but there was little they could do about it. Strachan and Pool were beaten by Bristol City after Tinnion lashed the ball home from long range with the score level at 1-1
NEWCASTLE United chairman Freddy Shepherd has laughed off Sir Bobby Robson's threat to quit as nothing more than a fit of pique. The pair had clear-the-air talks on Friday after a raging Robson declared war on the club "insider'' who ridiculed his signing
THE REGION'S young athletes did the North-East proud in the North of England Cross Country Championships at St Helens, winning two gold, three silver and three bronze individual medals. Pride of place went to Lewis Timmins (Gosforth) and Mary Ferrier
NURTURING the skills of local young people is paying dividends for a Durham acccountants. Ken Sharkey has seen his firm grow after taking on staff through the Modern Apprenticeships scheme. Providing training opportunities has won him an Investor in People
BASTION Security Installations has won a £200,000 contract to manufacture and install high security courtroom furniture in Ipswich and Cambridge. The Gateshead-based business has been appointed by construction company Mowlem to provide a full turn key
HARTLEPOOL United again discovered the difference between success and defeat in Division Two - about a million pounds. Pool went down to a home defeat to Bristol City, their second Victoria Park reverse in three games after going 28 without losing. And
NEWCASTLE United chairman Freddy Shepherd has laughed off Sir Bobby Robson's threat to quit as nothing more than a fit of pique. The pair had clear-the-air talks on Friday after a raging Robson declared war on the club "insider'' who ridiculed his signing
AN initiative which aims to get unemployed people back into work is proving to be a success. CableCom Training and Network Construction Services, in partnership with the Into Work Project and JobCentre Plus, help unemployed people from the Tees Valley
COUNCILS across the region are bracing themselves for heavy snow showers and plummeting temperatures. Local authorities, many of whom were caught out by blizzard-like conditions earlier this month, are determined to be prepared to tackle the effects of
AN academic has won the right to stand as the Labour Party's first female candidate in a city constituency. Roberta Woods, 46, won the nomination for Durham City after a vote by 700 constituency Labour Party members this weekend. She said: "I am thrilled
DETECTIVES hunting a killer sought help from the victim's neighbours over the weekend. The body of Colin Johnson, 40, was found by his girlfriend in his living room in Pickering Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, at 10.30pm on Saturday, January 17. He had suffered
LEE HALL, who reports on the Quakers for The Northern Echo, recounts one of the most memorable games of his life - from the pitch MAKE no mistake. This was one to tell the grandchildren. Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle, Kenny Dalglish and . . . Lee Hall.
A PENSIONER from the North-East believes she can settle an argument over the identity of Sir Winston Churchill's parrot. Last week, the war leader's daughter, Lady Soames, rubbished claims that a foul-mouthed Macaw from Surrey had once belonged to her
THE 14,200 supporters who were at the Reynolds Arena yesterday have given Darlington Football Club a fighting chance of survival. Yesterday's proceeds will help ensure that the club will fulfil its fixtures until the end of the season. And for that, a
AN exhibition aims to explode one of the myths of the Yorkshire Dales. The interactive family shows aims to disprove once and for all that only one type of real Dales person exists. And at the same time it will explore who has arrived, stayed in or left
DARLINGTON went from woeful to wonderful as they saw their National Three North lifeline in danger of being severed on Saturday. They came back from 14-0 down at half-time to record their seventh successive home win and move up one place to sixth from
MARKET leader Harlov triumphed in the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick on Saturday, sparking a 22-1 treble for in-form jockey Richard McGrath. Under strict instructions to ride a waiting race, McGrath sat as quiet as a church mouse on the first
When the Sunderland Empire emerges from a seven-month, £4m refurbishment, manager Dominic Stokes is confident that the best of the West End shows will call. Viv Hardwick reports. EVERYBODY has one question for the Sunderland Empire's youngest ever manager
THE official fan club of one of Glam Rock's founding fathers has been taken over by two North-East men. Nigel Hatfield and Tony Foster have teamed up to pay homage to the legendary former T-Rex frontman by running the Official Marc Bolan Fan Club. The
HOSPITAL bosses in the North-East are pushing ahead with controversial plans to impose time limits on "bed blockers". The new policy, which gives patients 14 days to select a care home of their choice, is intended to speed up the discharge of patients
LION dancers roared through Durham city centre this weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year. Members of Oceans Apart Kung Fu Club paraded the brightly-coloured, 10ft long lion around the Market Place, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and Milburngate Shopping
When the Sunderland Empire emerges from a seven-month, £4m refurbishment, manager Dominic Stokes is confident that the best of the West End shows will call. Viv Hardwick reports. EVERYBODY has one question for the Sunderland Empire's youngest ever manager
Tony Blair is facing the longest day of his political life with the vote on tuition fees swiftly followed by the Hutton Report. Parliamentary Correspondent Rob Merrick looks at the Prime Minister's chances. IN the TV thriller 24, Jack Bauer warns viewers
SIR BOBBY ROBSON has admitted that time is running out for him and Alan Shearer to realise their cherished dream of leading Newcastle to FA Cup glory. It will be half a century next year since the Magpies last won the oldest cup competition in the world
Devil's Run, who gets his preferred easy underfoot conditions for the first time this season, looks an interesting runner in the Rocom Bt Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong at Wetherby this afternoon. John Wade's chaser was in good form on
A CLINIC for organic farmers and growers to help them learn more about a government scheme has been organised. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is running the clinic at Askham Bryan College, York, so that farmers and
Britain was braced for the long-threatened big freeze today which was due to sweep across the country. Temperatures plummeted as a cold front swept in from the North Pole, expected to bring with it heavy snow to most parts tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday
CONCERNS at the length of time taken to hold inquests at a North-East coroner's court have been aired on national radio. An investigation on BBC Radio Five Live highlighted problems with coroner's courts across the UK. Among those featured was Teesside
AN office assistant was left shaken after two men in balaclavas threatened her with an iron bar. The men made off with more than £2,000 in cash and cheques from the office, in Stockton. A third man acted as a look- out outside the office and all three
A police clerk implicated in a sex smear by a chief constable has won a massive payout over the claims. Jayne Thwaites is now set to receive more than £100,000 after launching a damages action against Cleveland Police and Cleveland Police Authority. The
A RUN-DOWN warehouse and store in a conservation area in Bishop Auckland town centre could be demolished to make way for homes. A developer wants to demolish kitchen and bathroom retailer Homestyle Distribution Limited's warehouse and outlet, in Kingsway
VICTIMS of anti-social behaviour are being encouraged to speak out about their concerns. People in Darlington are being urged not to suffer in silence but talk to the police or local council officers if they are being subjected to harassment or abuse.
TWO groups have scooped awards with photographs of themselves taken while they were walking their way to healthier lifestyles. Auckland Amblers, based in Bishop Auckland, and the after-school walking club at St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Coundon,
TENANTS at a sheltered housing scheme in Darlington held a Burns night celebration. The tenants at Dalkeith House marked the annual celebration of the life and work of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, which is held on or around January 25. The
A CHARITABLE trust is trying to have a family re-housed rather than repair their home, which has been condemned as unfit for human habitation. The realities of life for stroke victim Muriel Ward, 87, and her two sons include bathing in a tin bath in front
A STATELY home is to reopen with a programme of activities for younger visitors. Castle Howard, near Malton, opens on Saturday, February 14, and will hold activities in each school holiday this year under its More 4 Kids scheme. Until Sunday, February
A small and exclusive hotel is in line for a top award. Shallowdale House is on a shortlist of nine for a national honour in the England for Excellence Awards, to be presented at Kensington Palace in April. Surrounded by spectacular scenery overlooking
TRADERS in Pickering are urged to back a business group which may be forced to fold. Pickering in Business has 60 members but lacks support at its meetings says chairman Councillor Natalie Warriner. She is stepping down as caretaker chairman, and the
Strike: When Britain Went To War (C4): THE opening resembled one of those nostalgia programmes recalling the fashion, fads and folk from a year gone by - namely 1984. Wham were demanding "wake me up before you go-go", Torvill and Dean skated to victory
A BEST-selling Yorkshire author signed copies of her wartime romance this weekend. Elizabeth Elgin, from Boroughbridge, signed copies of her paperback, A Scent of Lavender, on Saturday, at White Rose books, in Thirsk. The novel is set during the Second
A hospital could be about to lose most of its urology services only three years after it opened. A plan has been drawn up to rationalise urology services across North Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland. As part of these proposals, the £97m University
A TEESSIDE author has written his third book comparing his youth with the world today. Jim Haggas, from Yarm, reflects on why his generation was born in the right place at the right time in An Ordinary Man. The 72-year-old said he wanted to ask if changes
AN air cadet has received an award from his squadron after passing his exams. Cadet Flight Sergeant Michael Bennett, 16, of 473 Hartlepool Squadron, has become the group's first member to achieve a BTEC in Aviation Studies. The new award is for air cadets
RESIDENTS who fear a unique building will be demolished and replaced with apartments are being urged to fight the development. Stockton Borough Council has received a planning application from George Wimpey Ltd to erect 36 two-bedroomed apartments in
A SPRING-CLEAN is to help restore pride in part of Middlesbrough. The event in Whinney Banks, West Lane and Newport is part of the approach to tackle rubbish dumping, fly-tipping, graffiti, dog fouling and abandoned cars by West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood
Julio Arca is turning into something of a lucky talisman for Sunderland this season. The Argentinian defender, who has always had a magic touch in the eyes of Sunderland fans, returned from suspension on Saturday to help the Black Cats secure a place
THE funeral will be held today of a well-known man from the Chester-le-Street area who died three months short of his 100th birthday. Ernest Williams was a volunteer for the Chester-le-Street Citizens Advice Bureau, organised blood donor sessions at Barley
A hospital could be about to lose most of its urology services only three years after it opened. A plan has been drawn up to rationalise urology services across North Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland. As part of these proposals, the £97m University
THE design team at Aker Kvaerner Engineering Services is embarking on a £1m contract in Ireland. A 22-strong team, from the company's headquarters in Stockton, is currently providing engineering and construction management services for the Lisheen Paste
EAGLE-eyed David Cassidy is setting his sights on winning his Duke of Edinburgh gold award as an air cadet. David, 17, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, is a corporal with the 1409 (Consett) Squadron Air Training Corps and has used his time with the
ROWING rivals are about to compete head-to-head for 24 hours, without leaving a students' pub. Boat club members from neighbouring colleges at Durham University are taking part in the day-long sponsored static rowing challenge. More than 40 members of
A BOOK about the history of healthcare in Middlesbrough has been launched. South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust's has copies of the book, which commemorates the closure of Middlesbrough General Hospital, North Riding Infirmary, and the neuro-rehabilitation
Inquests will be held into the deaths of two teenagers from the same North-East school, whose parents say killed themselves after years of bullying. An inquest into the death of Karl Peart, 16, of Lynemouth, Northumberland, opens tomorrow. A second hearing
IT used to be a familiar scene - a group of children sitting on a mat, gathered round their teacher while she recited nursery rhymes. After a while, they would pick up the words and the rhythm and join in. They would say the rhymes with their parents
RESIDENTS are being urged to have a say on a safety scheme designed to reduce accidents along a busy road. Accident records show there has been one serious and eight less serious accidents along the A1052 Dairy Lane, in Houghton-le-Spring, in the three
POLICE are investigating after a 20-year-old man suffered a sex attack by two women. Detectives said the man, who was playing pool at the Duke of Albany pub in Washington, Wearside, was attacked and knocked unconscious. He regained consciousness to find
LION dancers roared through Durham city centre this weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year. Members of Oceans Apart Kung Fu Club paraded the brightly-coloured, 10ft long lion around the Market Place, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and Milburngate Shopping
SOME of the best young musicians in the UK are to play a concert in a North-East village church, as a favour to their school nurse. Students from the Yehudi Menuhin International Music Schools are to play at the church of St Cuthbert, in Church Bank,
A portrait of Saddam Hussein, taken from one of the Iraqi dictator's palaces during the recent Gulf War, went on display this weekend. The Regimental Musuem of the Royal Dragoon Guards, in York, is exhibiting the picture of Saddam in military uniform
AT a time when students' finances are much in the news, there's an opportunity for one to wipe out their debt at a stroke. Student publication Real World magazine has linked up with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and HigherInsight to identify 2004's Graduate
Supporters remained in the ground long after the final whistle, the players did two laps of honour, the PA announcer incessantly congratulated the team and then played We Are The Champions - what would they have done had Scarborough won? The people of
EVERYBODY has one question for the Sunderland Empire's youngest ever manager Dominic Stokes: "What are you going to be doing for the seven months when the theatre is shut?" He jokes about reducing his golf handicap, but the 27-year-old knows that £4m
A CAMPAIGN group hoping to save a Teesside theatre from demolition has come up with a rescue plan. The Save Our Theatre Group is angered that plans by Stockton Borough Council to demolish Billingham Forum to make way for a supermarket do not include the
BOSSES at a council yesterday admitted that it had illegally appointed a key officer. Bernadette Marjoram joined Chester-le-Street District Council, last year to turn around its much-criticised housing department. But local government watchdogs told the
A GROUP dedicated to preserving rural skills is expanding to help people secure jobs in the countryside. The recently-formed Burnhope Association for Rural Crafts (Barc) is looking for people from across Derwentside to join workshops in country crafts
ROWING rivals are about to compete head-to-head for 24 hours, without leaving a students' pub. Boat club members from neighbouring colleges at Durham University are taking part in the day-long sponsored static rowing challenge. More than 40 members of
IT is still only January and I am already in a spiritual abyss. What happened to the fresh start for 2004? What came of the new body I was going to chisel for myself? What about my plans to take up adventure sports? I come home from work and slouch around
School principal Jean Brown is on a quest to stop nursery rhymes disappearing from the classroom. She talks to Christen Pears about her new book and importqnce of traditon on shools. IT used to be a familiar scene - a group of children sitting on a mat
Durham manager Billy Cruddas blasted the referee after his team's 21 game unbeaten run in the league came to an end at Morpeth. Cruddas was furious after the referee awarded Morpeth two first half penalties and sent off striker Micky Dunwell, and he stormed
A campaigner whose haemophiliac husband was infected by contaminated NHS blood products has described a £45,000 Government compensation offer as "abysmal." Carol Grayson from Jesmond, Newcastle, was speaking out after Health Secretary Dr John Reid announced
Investment company Noble and Co has completed a £4m sale and leaseback deal on the Fox Cover Industrial Estate. The company has arranged for a syndicate to buy the sale and lease back of a timber production facility on the estate in Dawdon, County Durham
A MAN'S sudden death may always remain a mystery. Experts have been unable to explain why Graham Derwent, 32, a father-of-three, collapsed after washing the family car. His wife, Melody Derwent, returned to their home in Sowerby Crescent, Stokesley, North
FIVE lifeboatmen who braved severe weather to pull a lifeguard from the sea have been honoured for their courage. Helmsman Mark Reeves received one of the RNLI's highest awards - the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. Helmsman Mark Greaves and crew
Barnard Castle Glaxo gave championship challengers Birtley Town a real shock before losing a seven-goal thriller. It looked all over for the home side at the halfway stage when Birtley led 4-0 but Glaxo mounted a remarkable revival which almost earned
A MAN has been jailed for launching a savage knife attack on a friend while under the influence of drink and drugs. Michael Watson was sent to prison for four years after Durham Crown Court was told that the injuries he inflicted could have proved fatal
A timeshare fraudster who swindled millions out of unwitting victims was today challenging an order to pay £2.3 million compensation to his victims. Lawyers for John ''Goldfinger'' Palmer were expected to claim in the Court of Appeal in London that some
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Franck Queudrue has become the latest name to accuse match officials of showing favouritism towards Manchester United and Arsenal when the Premiership giants are in action on their own turf. Speaking after Saturday's 4-1 hammering at Arsenal
AN exhibition that commemorates aspects of life at the ICI industrial complex in Billingham, Teesside, has gone on show at the town's art gallery. The exhibition, which runs until April 3, gives an insight into the social and working life of the site.
THE achievements of a local government expert who died aged 69 will be celebrated at a service tomorrow. After serving as chief executive at Wear Valley District Council, in County Durham, Allen Dobson led a successful drive to regain county council status
NORTH-East pub-goers last night swapped their pints for tea and biscuits to take part in a record-breaking attempt. Drinkers at the Walkabout Australian theme pub in North Road, Durham, joined about 30,000 people across the UK for a taste of Down Under
Complaints about doorstep selling shot up by almost 200 per cent in one part of the region over the last year, it was revealed yesterday. Property repairs, maintenance and services were the biggest problem, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the complaints
