Police in County Durham are searching for a popular pub landlord who has been missing since the weekend. Gavin Allinson, 48, the landlord of the Royal Star, Startforth, near Barnard Castle, left the pub with out warning after closing time on Sunday (Feb
THE NATIONAL Beef Association has warned that introducing area-based payments will put many environmentally important upland farms at risk. Robert Forster, chief executive, said many might give up suckler cows in favour of one-man flocks of sheep, which
Last Saturday the wintry weather completely wiped out the Over-40s Cup and League programme, every game bring postponed and with only 13 Saturdays remaining mid-week matches are now a certainty in order to complete all the fixtures, a factor which always
COUNCIL taxpayers in Middlesbrough have to foot the bill after a Government miscount at the last census, it has been claimed. Residents of Stockton, and Redcar and Cleveland are also facing council tax increases more than double the rate of inflation.
A COUNTY Durham school's rugby success is going from strength to strength with another pupil being selected to play for England. Ross Batty, of Barnard Castle School, has been chosen for the England Schools under-18 rugby squad as a loose head prop. Rugby
Against all expectations, the unfancied Durham and Cleveland county squash team produced a major upset in capturing a national title at the weekend - just weeks after contemplating not sending a team to the championships. A fortnight earlier it looked
THE sister of Trophy Rapist Antoni Imiela said last night she believes his treatment at the hands of his "cold, cruel" father made him into a monster. Jadwiga Imiela, 39, said her brother was mentally scarred after being abandoned by his mother and brutalised
007: EVERYTHING or NOTHING, Publisher: Electronic Arts, Format: PS2, GameCube, Xbox, Price varies. On sale: now: THE DIFFERENCES between movies and games are now so subtle that it's sometimes hard to tell the difference. A game like Metal Gear Solid has
EAT sausages and slim? Thirsk slimmers are losing weight with a bang(er) or two thanks to butcher and wholesale supplier, Haigh's of Dalton. Recently at a family celebration, Sharon Bartram, who runs Slimming World classes at Thirsk and Boroughbridge,
A MAN who attacked an off-duty police officer as he tried to arrest a suspected thief was yesterday locked up for nine months. Ian Metcalfe was one of two people who pulled up in a car as Sergeant Alex Clarke grappled with a teenager who was thought to
DURHAM Army Cadets lifted the overall winners shield as 120 cadets moved in on Otterburn Camp last Sunday for the annual regional cross-country championships. They triumphed over a strong field as runners from Cleveland, Durham, Northumbria, Humberside
Durham Amateur Rowing Club played host to the annual Small Boats Head on the river Wear at the weekend. The race is run in four divisions, over a distance of 1800 meters, running from the Count's House, to just beyond the Band Stand on the race course
Lawrie Norman and Aynsley Rainbow saved the blushes of the Willington Black Horse Tavern team when they won the penultimate doubles to score the only point their team gained in the visit to Byers Green Royal Oak for their re-arranged match. The home side
Esh Stag's Head revived their chances of repeating their Championship win of last season when they won the battle of the top two teams in their home match against Tow Law New Market A, who arrived holding a four points lead for this penultimate game in
RISING young singing star Jordan Louise Roseberry hopes to hit the high notes in support of a young family friend who is suffering from a life-threatening illness. The 11-year-old singer will take centre stage in a charity concert on Saturday, being staged
A 13-YEAR-OLD rider from Potto is off to Leicestershire this weekend to take part in selection for a national team. Emma Stokes, a member of the Cleveland Hunt Pony Club, and her 15-year-old pony, Misty, have been put forward for the England team selection
Against all expectations, the unfancied Durham and Cleveland county squash team produced a major upset in capturing a national title at the weekend - just weeks after contemplating not sending a team to the championships. A fortnight earlier it looked
CONGRATULATIONS to my old club Middlesbrough on bringing their first major trophy back to Teesside. A fantastic win in Cardiff and a fitting tribute to chairman Steve Gibson for all the work and money he has put into the club over the years. Not only
ANGRY George Boateng has slammed the Football Association after being brought back down to earth with a bump following the fanfare of Sunday's memorable Carling Cup victory. Just three days after securing Middlesbrough's first trophy success at the Millennium
AN inquiry is to be held by MPs after a damning police report criticised the way the Army cares for recruits. Surrey Police released the results of their final report yesterday into the deaths of County Durham soldier Geoff Gray and three other privates
Thank goodness the design bods at Levi have returned to the drawing board. The jeans giants have decided to redesign their classic 501 range taking inspiration from the first ever pair of Levi's work trousers marketed in 1873. And the reason for the redesign
A JAZZ band provided the backdrop to the funeral of a pub landlord yesterday. Brian Skipp, 57, ran the White Swan, at Stokesley, North Yorkshire. He died suddenly last week after a heart attack. Yesterday, the band led the way as his cortege wound its
A METAL sculpture made by adults with learning disabilities and a blacksmith has been unveiled at a training centre in Nunthorpe. The 6ft garden sculpture is the result of the metalworks project at Upsall Hall Rural Adult Training Centre, which has seen
A team of junior swimmers, some of them swimming competitively for the first time, swam very well at Denton Pool and despite some close finishes scored the most points. Results: Hebburn Metro 48 points, Blyth 92, Billingham 137, Peterlee 150, Ashington
ANGRY George Boateng has slammed the Football Association after being brought back down to earth with a bump following the fanfare of Sunday's memorable Carling Cup victory. Just three days after securing Middlesbrough's first trophy success at the Millennium
MORE than 500 runners have already signed up to run in the 22nd Redcar Half Marathon. But organisers of the event, on Sunday, March 14, hope another 500 will take part in the 13.1 mile race, which attracts a range of serious club and fun runners. There
Although it appears the race for the championship is now confined to a trio of clubs, several sides are still involved in the three domestic cup competitions which are at advanced stages. Second-top Birtley Town and third-placed Stokesley SC are still
Half the population with be suffering from an allergy within 11 years according to some estimates. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson considers how we are rising to the challenge. GEORGIE Ashwell endured nearly 20 years of misery because of an undiagnosed
Division One: Duke of Wellington pld 20, pts 46; Nags Head 20, 45; Football Club 20, 45; Green Tree 20, 43; Cricket Club B 20, 43; Wheatsheaf 20, 43; Golden Lion 20, 42; County Arms 20, 41; Sportsmans Club 20, 38; Workingmens A 20, 38; RAFA 20, 37; Grey
DARLINGTON will be hoping striker Barry Conlon continues to find the back of the net as they go into tomorrow's crucial relegation battle at Macclesfield Town. The club's administrators this week backed manager David Hodgson's decision to turn down a
A TEENAGER fought off a youth who tried to abduct her. The incident took place at about 8.20pm on Wednesday, near the Safeway store in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton. The 14-year-old was on her way to a friend's house when the youth approached her, grabbed
Darlington Under-14s made it to the final of the County Cup when they convincingly beat Durham City at Green Lane. A bitter wind and snow flurries kept the spectators on their toes but the players didn't appear to notice. Darlington were quickly into
A 79-year-old Redcar man has won the British Veterans' Indoor Athletic Championship in Cardiff. Jim Caddy, who has a treadmill in his sheltered accommodation at the Sir William Turner Almshouses in Kirkleatham, won both the 1,500m and 3,000m races in
COUNCIL-bashing cobbler Tony Martin faces eveiction from his Durham shop. But the man who has waged a one-man campaign against officialdom for five years, says he will barricade himself in when his notice expires this Friday. Since 1999 he has plastered
FORMER B&Q director Helen Weir is about to become one of the highest paid women in British business after landing the job of finance director at Lloyds TSB. The UK's fifth largest bank named Ms Weir as successor to Philip Hampton, who received a salary
COMMUNITY wardens will soon be on the streets of Ingleby Barwick. The council wardens will begin patrolling the area early next month and the scheme will run every day for a trial period of a year. Funding will come from the parish council precept at
In pursuit of a national title the Quakers' eight-man team travelled to the neutral venue of Selby indoor bowls club full of confidence and experience to play Lincoln in the Over-60s double rink championship. Ken Bousfield, Eric Ramsdale, Mort Mooney
Arthur Reed Memorial Shield Final: With no games played on Saturday due to the poor weather conditions and a migration to Cardiff for the Carling Cup Final, the League would like to preview the Arthur Reed Memorial Shield Final. This season's final will
A Northumbria University graduate has emigrated to work on some of Australia's most famous landmarks. Building services engineering graduate Richard Crampton has made an 11,000-mile move from Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, to Newcastle, Australia, for a job
EDUCATION chiefs have denied that almost 200 schools across the region are threatened with closure due to a lack of pupils. Following a national review by the Department for Education and Skills, Schools' Minister David Miliband this week encouraged local
A GLASSBLOWING assistant has presented sculptures of a web, pig and spider to cast members of Charlotte's Web. Charlotte Hughes produced the pieces for the box office window of the Sunderland Empire. The theatre has been working closely with The National
Craig Hill was the star of the Tees Valley U13 boys team in the Sports Hall championship at Thornaby. He clocked a speedy 24.43 to win the two-lap sprint and soared out to 2.20m for second place in the standing long jump, which was won by his team mate
MOTHERS will put their best feet forward to help the battle against cancer. Members of Wheatley Hill Mothers Club are organising a sponsored walk in aid of the breast cancer charity Breakthrough. The club is hoping other people will join the stroll through
Anglers braved icy weather to compete in the tenth District of Easington Open Sea Angling Competition. But the ice and snow took its toll on the entry with only 385 anglers casting off - less than half the usual turnout. Brian Hughes, from Seaham, caught
TERRITORIAL Army (TA) chefs from across the North will be battling it out in a catering competition this weekend. They are being asked to whip up a meal and serve it in a cookery competition on Wearside. At Whitburn training camp, near Sunderland, six
Around a dozen runners from Richmond and Zetland Harriers completed the Nationals on Saturday, February 21. The English National X-C Championships were held in the grounds of Temple Newsam Hall near Leeds and the course was a mixture of testing hills
COMMUNITY wardens will take to the streets of Ingleby Barwick following a request from the parish council. The wardens will be on the estate for a number of hours a day after Ingleby Barwick Parish Council asked for the warden service to be extended to
EVERY piece of jewellery made by Helen Rennison and Sue Ley - otherwise known as Heart and Soul - features a heart somewhere. Sometimes it's a massive great stone that forms the main piece of a necklace. Sometimes it's a tiny bead hiding almost unnoticed
Pelton Crown Inn have boosted their squad by signing two new players. They have snapped up Shaun Mansfield who has moved from Grange Villa WMC and Harry Willis from neighbours Pelton Fell WMC. In the Durham Hospitals Cup the league already has two representatives
Heavy snow caused the cancellation of the Clay Bank East Fell Race on Sunday, much to the disappointment of the enthusiasts, but it is to be rearranged for April. The previous week, Peter Wilkin ran in a Fell Race at Ilkley, along with 281 other competitors
A MAJOR mopping-up exercise was taking place last night after a series of explosions at a chemical plant in the region. Investigations are continuing into the cause of the blaze at the Shanks chemical works on the Tofts Farm Industrial Estate, Seaton
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT prices have lost what they gained last week, mainly because of a lack of new export sales and a surplus still to sell. American markets are coming under a little pressure as Egypt recently bought more Australian
The ex-patient who led efforts to get Richard Neale struck off has condemned Health Secretary Dr John Reid for refusing to meet with representatives of more than 300 victims. Sheila Wright-Hogeland is the chairman and founder of the action group set up
Francis Jones of Darlington and Gateshead's Danny Moir are preparing for their bout this evening, billed as 'The Decider'. The pair drew their previous encounter so both are keen to put on over on each other, especially with the Northern Area light-middleweight
SUNDERLAND striker Kevin Kyle last night predicted that the club's hectic fixture schedule could work in their favour as they close in on a place in the Premiership. Wednesday's 3-1 win at Walsall kicked off a run of 10 games in the space of just 31 days
Division One: Thornaby: They still top the 1st Division and were due to play current league Champions Grangetown Boys Club last weekend but their meeting will be scheduled for some time in April or May. Thornaby lead by five points from the Boys Club
THE kitchen firm headed by Sunderland Football Club chairman Bob Murray has confirmed it plans to float on the London Stock Exchange. Yesterday, Omega confirmed rumours first circulating in December that it would float on the Alternative Investment Market
ARRIVA has crowned a "difficult but good year" with profits of £83.8m. The bus and rail operator enjoyed growth in its core divisions, with the ongoing push to get workers in London on to public transport continuing to benefit the Sunderland group. Predictions
Darlington Spraire Lads have again been invited to take part in the prestigious annual international youth tournament being staged near Darlington's twin town, Amiens in northern France. Hosted by US Camon on the outskirts of Amiens, this will be the
Crook Travellers Rest A were able to move up into second place in the First Division after they only dropped two points to the visiting Crook Golden Fleece. The home side had singles wins from Stephen Todd, Anthony Bell, Tony Storey, Dave Poulter and
NEARLY a third of leisure bus seats into the Yorkshire Dales will be lost this year, says an organisation which represents public transport passengers. The Yorkshire Dales public transport users' group is dismayed at cuts in leisure bus services for hundreds
RESIDENTS on a trouble-hit Guisborough estate have branded council wardens and police support officers a waste of time and money. People living in the Helmsley Drive area of the Wilton Lane estate claimed council community wardens treated it as a no-go
One of the region's most historic Christian sites has been re-opened to tourists after a major £500,000 refurbishment. The 12th Century St Hilda's Church in Hartlepool has had new facilities installed to attract tourists. The church, built on the site
AN ALL-weather sports pitch is planned for Saltburn on Huntcliff School land next to the town's leisure centre. It would be floodlit and available to the public out of school hours. The £200,000 scheme is subject to approval by the New Opportunities Fund
JUST a few weeks ago the talk was of another round of railway network cuts, in scope second only to to Dr Beeching's hatchet job of the Sixties. The Strategic Rail Authority was indeed planning a major announcement but it did not, thankfully, turn out
POLITICIANS are notorious for claiming the credit when anything goes right and though I usually try to avoid such opportunism I cannot resist it on this occasion. Spike Milligan employed such a tactic when he famously entitled his book Adolf Hitler: My
About 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of Middlesbrough on Sunday, to hail Boro's Carling Cup heroes. Organisers today revealed details of the route the victory parade will take through the town, allowing people to see for themselves the
A Harrogate side's victory bid was dealt a cruel injury blow. Harrogate Squash looked to be on course for a win against north Leeds side Adel in Division One. But disaster struck when Tony Nowakowski had to pull out of his clash against Mark Ambler mid-way
GOING Solo has been a family affair for brother and sister James and Victoria Brooks. Between them, the siblings are running a Scunthorpe firm which their father, Gordon Brooks, acquired in a management buy-out. That is not so unusual, until it emerges
ONE of the country's most picturesque branch lines, once threatened with the axe, could become a test bed for proposals to give rural railways back to local communities. The Esk Valley line, which winds its way from Middlesbrough to Whitby through Great
ONE of the North-East's best known brass bands has hit a high note after securing a five-year sponsorship deal. The Reg Vardy (Ever Ready) Band is the new name for the 28-musician band, formed in 1910 at Craghead Colliery, near Stanley. For the last 12
COUNTY Durham emerged triumphant as the ETTA national champions at under-15 level when they topped the inter county championships cadets premier division in Grantham last Saturday. David Meads from Gainford, Darlington boy Mark Simpson, Sunderland brothers
Bishop Auckland League: Crook Olde Horse Shoe recovered from a point down with two to play but they managed to edge out the visiting Crook Travellers Rest by the odd point. The singles were shared when Gavin Witton took two and Cliffy Owen, Johnny Mason
PENSIONS: RECENT publicity in the press shows that a manifesto is to be put before Parliament outlining demands and the rights of the pensioners of this country to be listened to by this Government. It has been drawn up by the National Pensions Convention
Tees Rowing Club members set off through the snow to the Durham Small Boats Head of the River last Saturday. The event had been rearranged after it was abandoned three weeks ago because of dangerous conditions. On a crisp, sunny day, the water conditions
Bearpark Colliery and its village were located on a hill, quarter of a mile south west of Beau Repaire. The terraces of the colliery village have now gone and the heart of Bearpark is now situated alongside the main road from Durham, another quarter of
Prime Minister Tony Blair today launched a passionate defence of the war in Iraq, saying that September 11 came as a ''revelation'' to him and persuaded him of the need to act against rogue states. Mr Blair openly acknowledged that his decision to go
At the recent annual meeting of the Locomotion Sea Angling Club, trophies were awarded for the 2002/3 Winter and 2003 Summer seasons. The star performer over the last year was Peter Dinsdale who scooped three of the six trophies available: the Les Robson
BUSINESS leaders last night welcomed news from the Bank of England that interest rates would remain at four per cent. The decision, which follows two increases since November, came despite continued concerns about the level of consumer debt following
COUNCIL house tenants living in the more "desirable" Teesdale villages look set to pay more for exactly the same properties, thanks to Government changes. The change came as members of the district council's social and environmental committee agreed an
IN the autumn of last year, we suffered some sudden and powerful gales accompanied by heavy rain, a result of which was to coat one of our local lanes with a covering of conifer needles. They formed a thick golden-brown carpet for the entire width of
A £6M sports development that would have brought hundreds of jobs to the region has been scrapped, The Northern Echo can reveal. A prime industrial site on the edge of Darlington had been chosen for a JJB Sports Soccerdome to provide first-class sporting
THE development of a riverside nightspot that has intrigued passers-by for months has come to fruition. The Chase Boathouse, in the former Brown's Boathouse, on the banks of the Wear, in Durham, opened last night. Ultimate Leisure has spent more than
A VET has warned there will be road accidents unless bridleways for horse riders are safeguarded and extended. Guisborough-based vet Jane Davies is worried that while horse ownership has increased across East Cleveland, safe off-road routes for equestrians
A North-East waterpolo team have created history by becoming the first team from the region to win the under-17 national championship. Sedgefield 75 took the honour at the finals of the ASA National under-17 boys championships at the Manchester Aquatic
CHARACTERS from children's books have been brought to life in a mural designed to encourage youngsters to read. Favourites such as Peter Pan, Harry Potter, Kipper and many others are featured in the mural, at the library and information centre in Harrogate
Cable operator ntl may be close to profit as its turn-around in financial fortunes continues. The group, which has operations on Teesside, gave further assurances yesterday that its debt restructuring while under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection would
A CONFERENCE to help community groups access funds takes place this month. The event, titled Sharing Good Practice, is open to organisations in wards in Derwentside that qualify for the Single Regeneration Budget Community Resource Fund. It takes place
A SCHOOL has been praised by Ofsted inspectors who said it had achieved what many would envy - the pupils enjoyed going there. Hipswell Primary School, on the edge of Catterick Garrison, had problems related to Army postings. But the Ofsted report described
A HUNDRED balloons will be released at the weekend to mark the centenary of a small university college with strong links to the Church. St Chad's College, near Durham Cathedral, came to the city from a site near Doncaster in 1904, originally training
THE sister of serial sex attacker Antoni Imiela described her brother as "evil" last night after he was found guilty of a string of rapes. Imiela's sister Jadwiga said she had looked up to her brother her whole life, until she heard how he attacked seven
POET Sally Lawson, pictured, is stitching together a lyrical business capturing personal sentiments for all occasions. The 55-year-old, from Sunderland, has worked as a seamstress for the same company for 18 years, and has been writing poetry since she
007: EVERYTHING or NOTHING, Publisher: Electronic Arts, Format: PS2, GameCube, Xbox, Price varies. On sale now: THE DIFFERENCES between movies and games are now so subtle that it's sometimes hard to tell the difference. A game like Metal Gear Solid has
HEALTH bosses in Harrogate have decided to put practicality first when it comes to uniforms. All 400 members of the nursing staff at Harrogate District Hospital have been allowed to mix and match from a number of styles displayed at a series of fashion
PLANS to redevelop the headquarters of a North-East police force are in jeopardy, after nearby villagers objected to the scheme. Northumbria Police Authority wants to raise the cash needed to modernise the force HQ in Ponteland, Northumberland, by building
A GLASSBLOWING assistant has presented sculptures of a web, pig and spider to cast members of Charlotte's Web. Charlotte Hughes produced the pieces for the box office window of the Sunderland Empire. The theatre has been working closely with The National
PLANS for a project to improve the treatment of waste flowing into a beck have been unveiled. Yorkshire Water is about to begin work on a £390,000 scheme to improve the treatment of sewage in the village of Oldstead, near Thirsk. The project, which gets
It doesn't get much better than last Sunday - what a magical day the February 29 turned out to be for Middlesbrough FC fans. First the Carling Cup and then a magnificent new record of 125.12.0 was set on the River Ure during a remarkable Ripon Piscatorial's
PEOPLE in isolated rural communities are being given a bus link to their main hospital and shops. The weekly Bishop Auckland Hospital Access bus starts on Wednesday and is aimed at people with mobility problems who cannot use public transport. As well
Worthington CIU Winter League: Spennymoor A's lead at the top of the First Division was cut to one point after they went down by the odd point at home to Cockton Hill. The first frame produced a great encounter, which was won by Andrew Aisbitt with a
THE young winner of a poster competition was yesterday congratulated by the Mayor of Darlington. Twelve-year-old Angie Beckett was unable to attend a ceremony last month at which Councillor Ron Lewis presented certificates to children who entered the
UNIFORMED wardens in a North-East town are being issued with miniature cameras that will attach to their hats and allow them to record offenders. The device is aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour, including harassment, begging, noise, youths causing
UNIVERSITY students have been challenged to create a new entrance for a North-East business park. Lingfield Point in Darlington has asked students from the University of Teesside to come up with a "highly visible, contemporary and iconic gateway". Owner
Norway's attempt to drink Willington Football Club dry ended on Tuesday night in staggering success, entente and alcohol poured out with equal liberality. No matter how Valerenga fared at Newcastle the following evening, their supporters - so appreciated
Darlington Mowden Park: On a glorious late winter's morning, ideal for rugby, Acklam visited Mowden Under-16s on Sunday, February 15. The pitch was in excellent order and a tribute to the hard-work of the groundsman, Graham Sykes. Traditionally, this
FARMERS who lose out under the single farm payment system may recoup some of their lost income through new environmental schemes. Ciaran Gannon, adviser with Defra's rural development service in London, said the entry level and higher entry level could
THE West of Yore meeting held at Hornby Castle last Sunday was one of only three meetings nationally to survive the frost last weekend. Tom Greenall was the jockey to follow, riding a double with both wins on David Easterby-trained horses. First leg came
A SUPPORT package worth more than £2.2m to the Bowes Museum over the next five years went before Durham County Council cabinet for approval yesterday. But the sum, which equates to £450,000 a year and is linked to inflation, falls short of the amount
A MAN had to sell his home after being told he owed £93,000 for a £8,000 loan he did not know his wife had taken out. Cynthia Padgett, who died seven years after taking out the loan, had borrowed the money to pay for a holiday to celebrate the couple's
Bearpark Colliery and its village were located on a hill, quarter of a mile south west of Beau Repaire. The terraces of the colliery village have now gone and the heart of Bearpark is now situated alongside the main road from Durham, another quarter of
LUCKLESS Avitta (4.25) deserves a change of fortune in today's most valuable race, the £15,000 South Yorkshire Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster. Twice this season when holding every chance, Avitta has tossed away prizes she might well have won
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (BBC1); The Carrot Or The Stick (C4); I DON'T like Inspector Lynley. This posh detective is a mean boss. No wonder his sidekick, common Barbara Havers, wears a permanent scowl on her face. In the first of the new series,
Sir, - Your correspondent Lynn Johnson (D&S Feb 27) complains that having moved from a town environment to the rural tranquility of Skipton on Swale, her peaceful existence is constantly shattered by the noise of aeroplanes flying from Leeming and
THE Tenant Farmers' Association has appealed to landlords to be fair in their treatment of tenants on milk quota apportionment, due to be agreed by the end of this month - also the end of the milk year. Following a European Court of Justice ruling in
HOPES are rising that one of the county's busiest roads will be upgraded. Following a fact-finding tour, Transport Minister David Jamieson said he was giving the go-ahead for an in-depth study of the economic and safety benefits of improving the A64.
POLICE say they are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of a Harrogate woman missing from home. Maria Pearson, 43, who has a history of depression, has not been seen by her family since she left her house in Bilton's Woodfield View at about
A SPECIAL guest called at a North-East library last night to read a story to children. Tony Blair visited Trimdon Library, in his County Durham constituency, to help promote and celebrate World Book Day. The event also marked the first anniversary of
A RETAIL park is offering a shopping experience with a French flavour. Until Sunday, the malls at the shopping outlet at Dalton Park, near Murton, will be lined with stalls offering a range of French goods. Market vendors from across the Channel will
AN inquiry is to be held by MPs after a damning police report criticised the way the Army cares for recruits. Surrey Police released the results of their final report yesterday into the deaths of County Durham soldier Geoff Gray and three other privates
THE North-East property market caught its breath when it emerged a lock-up garage was on offer for nearly £25,000. Estate agents Sanderson Young has the garage in Westfield Road, Gosforth, listed on its website as having "easy access to the High Street
A COUNCIL has pledged to improve its service after damning criticism from the Audit Commission. Chester-le-Street District Council's performance between 2000 and 2003 was described as "poor" in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) released on
Pupils are preparing to try some fancy footwork following the completion of their school's £250,000 dance studio. Shotton Hall School, in Peterlee, began planning the fame academy-style studio after it was granted Performing Arts College status. Yesterday
Teesdale School in Barnard Castle was the venue for Cross Country on Sunday, February 15. The day was ideal for running and the courses were undulating. In the under-13 girls race, Seraphina Kelvey-Brown was first home for the club over the 2.3 km course
A WATER watchdog is holding a seminar in Durham today to address debt and affordability. Regional consumer group WaterVoice Northumbria's discussion will help to shape national policy on the issues. Former Government Minister Joyce Quin, MP for Gateshead
DURHAM City council taxpayers face an increase above the national average. The total bill for council, police and fire services will rise in April by 6.8pc - double the rate of inflation - adding £52 to the charge for a Band A home. Durham City Council
Sunderland Arrows won both of their English Under-16 North A League away matches at the weekend. The Wearsiders already safe from the promotion/relegation play-offs met teams below them in the table. Bradford Pirates hosted Arrows on Saturday and kept
A YOUNG girl yesterday told how a charity transformed her life, to help promote a radio auction. Sammy Taylor, 11, of Trimdon Grange, near Sedgefield, was promoting a 96.6tfm radio auction for the Make A Child Smile Charity. Items included two full wedding
A FORMER drug addict who slashed his fiancee's father across the neck with a Stanley knife has been spared jail. Judge Les Spittle told Mark Anthony Dunn his attack warranted a nine-month prison term. However, he said he would suspended the sentence for
THE view from the office window might not be the first consideration for most businesses. But for one enterprising couple it was enough to bring them hundreds of miles north to their new North-East home. Maurice and Carrie Graham-Weall are so pleased
PEOPLE living near a new housing estate will today plead with councillors to have part of the development demolished and moved. Residents of homes bordering The Elms, in Spennymoor, are urging Sedgefield Borough Council to refuse a planning application
UNIVERSITY students have been challenged to create an entrance for a business park. Lingfield Point, in Darlington, has asked students from the University of Teesside to come up with a contemporary and iconic gateway. Owner Lingfield Investments wants
A MOTHER has been subjected to an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) after repeatedly stealing from Boots to feed her £30-a-day heroin addiction. Deborah Stannard, of Outram Street, Darlington, avoided prison after magistrates told her she was being given
COUNCIL taxpayers in Middlesbrough have to foot the bill after a Government miscount at the last census, it has been claimed. Residents of Stockton, and Redcar and Cleveland are also facing council tax increases more than double the rate of inflation.
MOTORISTS in Darlington are being urged to adopt a simple crime-fighting tactic to tackle a steep rise in car crime. The number of vehicle thefts and vehicles taken without consent in the borough rose by almost a quarter last year, and police said offenders
THREE centres for childcare and family learning are to open today, signalling the launch of a town's £2.6m Early Excellence Service. The facilities at Newport Primary, Archibald Primary and Whinney Banks Primary, all in Middlesbrough, are designed to
A girl told how a charity had transformed her life during a radio auction yesterday. Sammy Taylor, 11, of Trimdon Grange, near Sedgefield, was promoting a TFM radio auction for the Make A Child Smile charity. Items for sale included two full wedding receptions
ARRIVA has crowned a "difficult but good year" with profits of £83.8m. The bus and rail operator enjoyed growth in its core divisions, with the ongoing push to get workers in London on to public transport continuing to benefit the Sunderland group. Predictions
ALAN Shearer last night urged Newcastle to take a leaf out of Celtic's book after they were handed a Spanish inquisition in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup. The Magpies will face Real Mallorca after seeing off Norwegian side Valarenga this week, with
THE full fixture programme was victim to the downfall of snow last week as every game was postponed. The league has had to re-arrange fixtures to accommodate urgent cup games, with all four finals due to be played by the end of April. But they are still
A TEACHER who as a professional musician rubs shoulders with the rich and famous is passing on the tricks of the trade to his students. Mick Donnelly is band master at Barnard Castle School, where a 12-piece soul band he helped set up in September went
A QUICK dictionary definition of the word tontine, so called after an Italian banker named Lorenzo Tonti: "Loan on which annuities are paid instead of interest, each annuity increasing as the number of the subscribers diminishes by death, until the last
A jockey who cheated death after suffering an horrific fall during a race has married the nurse who brought him back to health. Scott Taylor, 31, could not hide his joy when he said "I do" to Theresa Lishman, 26, at a plush ceremony in Prime Minister
The entire Snooker Association was shocked and deeply saddened when chairman Dave Wilson collapsed and died in Fishburn Club. Dave had been the forthright chairman of the Association for 17 years and was always well respected for his ability to keep meetings
EVERY piece of jewellery made by Helen Rennison and Sue Ley - otherwise known as Heart and Soul - features a heart somewhere. Sometimes it's a massive great stone that forms the main piece of a necklace. Sometimes it's a tiny bead hiding almost unnoticed
AS AN incomer to North Yorkshire of nearly three years' standing, I am still discovering fascinating villages. Such a village is Upsall, several miles from Thirsk. During my time in the county, I have constantly been amazed by the variety of villages,
COUNCIL taxpayers in East Cleveland are facing an increase that is more than double the rate of inflation. The total bill for council, police, fire and parish and town councils is set to rise by an average of 7.1 per cent. This will mean a rise of between
Schools in County Durham have been bringing books to life. Pupils and teachers got into character for World Book Day yesterday, which aims to encourage children to embrace the pleasure of reading. Popular choices for youngsters included Lord of the Rings
A MAJOR mopping-up exercise was taking place last night after a series of explosions at a chemical plant in the region. Investigations are continuing into the cause of the blaze at the Shanks chemical works on the Tofts Farm Industrial Estate, Seaton
IT appears unlikely that an inquest will be held into the death of a baby girl found buried in a Darlington garden, police said last night. The infant was discovered in a plastic box buried in a garden in Grange Road on February 24. A woman claiming to
FOUR icons of pop music are playing for one night only this month at a North-East venue. Darlington Arts Centre recently announced its forthcoming show The Hitmakers, featuring music by Chip Hawkes, Cliff Bennett, Chris Farlowe and David Dee. Between
NORTHALLERTON driver Dave Bellerby maintained his 100pc record in the ANECCC Winter Rallycross Championship by winning the second round at a cold and snowy Croft circuit last weekend. Driving the Motoscope-backed Vauxhall Nova, Bellerby romped to victory
FIREFIGHTERS have launched a campaign to cut down on the number of people who die in smoking-related fires. Since 2000, 15 people have died in house fires started by cigarettes in County Durham and Darlington. Nationally, fires started by smoking account
The final police report into the deaths of four soldiers at Deepcut has uncovered a series of lessons the Army has failed to learn. Liz Lamb reports. EVERY soldier who enlists in the Army knows life will be tough. After all, recruits are trained to become
WORK to extend Northallerton cemetery and check for unsafe headstones is set to go ahead. Both schemes have been at the centre of controversy for months. But on Tuesday, Northallerton and Romanby Joint Burial Committee spelled out details of when work
Sir, - Richmondshire District Council has done it again. At the council meeting called to discuss budget proposals for the coming year, I and others sat and listened in amazement to a list of statements and reports from the deputy leader of the council
PUBLIC Health Minister Melanie Johnson insisted yesterday that many people have still not got the message about healthy living. Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo before opening a health summit in Durham, Miss Johnson denied that a public consultation
Ladies AGM: A well attended meeting of lady golfers met in the club house to elect officer for the 2004 season as follows: Lady captain Dorothy Hill, vice-captain Jean Harvey, secretary Jackie French, treasurer Wyn Thompson, handicap secretary Mary Langthorne
Newhouse Club added the title from the Captain's League to their League Championship success. The final positions and points were 1st Newhouse Club 26 points; 2nd Tow Law Dan's Castle B 25; 3rd Tow Law Football Club 19; 4th Hamilton Row Black Horse; 5th
Regional U14 competition: Held at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, February 28. St Aidan's (Harrogate) and St Aidan's (Sunderland) from the boys competition and Hummersknott of Darlington will represent the region in the National Finals at Luton Regional
The new chairman of the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley today pledged to boost the numbers of adults in education during his time in office. Terry Dabbs, who takes over as chairman next month, said he wanted to build a culture of learning in the
PARISH councillors at Aiskew are on a collision course with the planning authority over an attempt to replace a redundant abattoir with houses. They would prefer to have the area redeveloped, rather than see the existing buildings become a derelict eyesore
TEENAGE show jumper Adam Valks has continued his recent run of good form with a major win at the Rowallan Junior Premier Show in Scotland. The 13-year-old from Barnard Castle was among many of the best pony show jumpers in the country to journey north
Few of Barnard Castle's 5,000 residents seem to realise they can visit the ruins of the town's stronghold as often as they wish free of charge. Howard Wilson, its helpful custodian, told me this week that he'd like more to take advantage of the perk.
Durham League Division One: HQ Engineering Hornets v Middlesbrough Steve Whitehead Joinery & Double Glazing Mavericks. With the Hornets missing a number of vital players such as Dan Bailey, the home team were always going to find this game a little
THE report by Surrey Police confirms suspicions that there is a culture of bullying and intimidation within the British Army. However, because the report essentially restricted itself to the examination of the death of recruits at Deepcut Barracks, it
Bakery group Greggs served up record profits but said consumers may be losing their appetite for its sandwiches. The Newcastle-based retailer said pre-tax profits rose 10.4 per cent to £40.5m in 2003 - the 12th annual increase in a row. Greggs said like-for-like
HEALTH experts said last night that a munitions factory where a worker was found with Legionnaires' Disease was unlikely to be the source of the bug. Bosses at the Royal Ordnance factory in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, shut down a shell plant after
YOUNGSTERS had the chance to learn how to make masks worn by actors in ancient Greece. The Old Fulling Mill Museum of Archaeology in Durham City has been hosting an exhibition of Greek vases from the Harrogate Museums collection. The museum has been staging
Wensleydale Title holders Bedale, who were without a fixture in Division One, have 134 points from 13 matches with just two defeats. Second-placed Wensleydale are now on 131 points, have lost three matches and played a game more than Bedale. The Wensleydale
THE sister of serial sex attacker Antoni Imiela described her brother as "evil" last night after he was found guilty of a string of rapes. Imiela's sister Jadwiga said she had looked up to her brother her whole life, until she heard how he attacked seven
The death of a 12-year-old girl who hanged herself on Christmas Day was a "prank that went wrong", a coroner ruled yesterday. Georgina Phelan was discovered by her mother, Debbie, in a bedroom cupboard which had been fashioned into a theatrical-type changing
THE North is expected to be one of the losers under the Government's proposed progressive flat rate regional payment system. Stefan Bainbridge, of Dickinson Dees law firm, said the Government acknowledged the switch would redistribute payments among farmers
Ten-year-old Paul Clifford was voted athlete of the month against the performances of some of his senior colleagues after some tremendous performances in the indoor minor athletes league that took place at Monkton Stadium in Jarrow over the last three
AT the Mayor of Richmond's Masked Ball a fortnight ago, the guest speaker William Hague recalled the two occasions he had appeared on the front cover of the satirical magazine Private Eye. Most memorable, he said, was the picture of him taken when he
A £6M sports development that would have brought hundreds of jobs to the region has been scrapped, The Northern Echo can reveal. A prime industrial site on the edge of Darlington had been chosen for a JJB Sports Soccerdome to provide first-class sporting
SCOTSHEEP 2004 has attracted a record number of breeds this year. The biennial event, organised by the National Sheep Association's Scottish region, takes place on the 2,000-acre upland farm of Poldean, Wamphray, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, by courtesy of
A STOCKTON quantity surveyor is heading for Denver, Colorado, later this month to help with an attempt to break the balloon altitude world record. British explorer David Hempleman-Adams is trying to break the Fdration Aronautique Internationale record
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 983 sheep. Lt hoggs to 140.6p av 130.6p; std to 135.3p av 124.4p; med to 136.2p av 126.8p; heavy to 130.40 av 120.6p. Cast sheep: Cont to £78; Mule to £66; Leics to £79; Swale to £40.50. Tues. - Fwd. - 359 store
ONE of the North-East's most ambitious cultural programmes has been awarded a £2m boost from the Northern Rock Foundation. It is the first funding to be generated by the campaign to meet Culture10's £140m target. The announcement was made during a Culture10
Darlington boss David Hodgson last night praised North-East neighbours Middlesbrough and Sunderland for their generosity after closing in on his latest signing. Hodgson expects to complete a move to bring Middlesbrough defender Brian Close to the Reynolds
The Northern League is to hand out £15,000 worth of equipment to its clubs over the next two seasons. The league management committee met last week to discuss what to do with the FA administration grant which has accumulated over the last couple of seasons
Eight Leicester City footballers were in custody in Spain last night after three women claimed they had been sexually assaulted in a hotel room. The players, who were on a warm weather training break in the Costa del Sol, are alleged to have forced their
Sir, - Harry Mead's very interesting article about Arthur H Norway's book Highways and Byways in Yorkshire (D&S, Feb 20) asked for information about the derivation of the "coward of Barney Castle". As I understand it, this coward was Sir George Bowes
RESIDENTS in Yarm have been told they must log incidents of anti-social behaviour before community safety officials can take action. On Tuesday, the town council and residents met Marilyn Davies, community safety manager for Stockton Borough Council,
THE Under-10s are pictured with manager Kev Roddy, who had a tremendous season last year, winning six cups. Having enjoyed success in the league, league cup, the Longfield Tournament, the Nestle Rowntree Tournament, the Norton and Stockton Tournament
LEADGATE Golden Lion remain bang on course to make a clean sweep of all the League's top domestic honours. They got off on the perfect footing when lifting the First Division League Cup - the Harkness Trophy - with a crushing 5-0 win over Stateside. Mark
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Today the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, of Darlington, dispatch by the SS Cromwell from Middlesbrough the whole of the preliminary plant required for the erection of the new bridge over the Zambesi at Victoria
POLICE across the county will tuck into porridge to raise coppers for a cancer charity. Officers are taking part in Cancer Research UK's Britain's Biggest All Day Breakfast fundraising event next Wednesday and Friday. Durham County Council's catering
PAINTINGS by former miner Tom McGuinness, 77, are on show in Darlington in his first selling exhibition in four years. More than 20 original works are on display in the upstairs gallery at Gallerina, in Duke Street, ranging from etchings and lithographs
A DARLINGTON art gallery has tripled in size and seen business increase tenfold since it opened six years ago. Richard Hindle and Gwen Brown opened Gallerina in a Victorian town house in Duke Street in November 1998. They wanted to promote local artists
A LEADING wildlife research charity is concerned that some farmers may miss out on new payments if they do not get their act together. The Game Conservancy Trust says the entry level agri-environment scheme, due to start in 2005, will pay a minimum of
IF, in years to come, historians want to describe the sound of the early twenty-first century, it won't involve guitars or drums, Darkness, Beyonc or even the wealthy Miss Church. The sound they'll want is the bleep. Everything bleeps. Phones bleep as
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour blasted the referee after his side's 3-3 draw with Rossendale on Wednesday night. Bishops' defender Steve West was dismissed for allegedly headbutting one of the Rossendale strikers late in the game, with Rossendale
FARMERS in the North York Moors National Park could face a bleak future as a result of the proposed single farm payment scheme, says the park authority's chief executive, Andy Wilson. Park officers who have studied its implications say farmers in SDAs
Holders of the Federation Special Durham Senior league Third Teams Cup Burnmoor, will have a bye into the second round when the competition gets underway this coming season. The draws for the 3rd XI Cup and the junior competitions are: Third Team League
ALAN Shearer last night urged Newcastle to take a leaf out of Celtic's book after they were handed a Spanish inquisition in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup. The Magpies will face Real Mallorca after seeing off Norwegian side Valarenga this week, with
POLITICIANS are notorious for claiming the credit when anything goes right and though I usually try to avoid such opportunism I cannot resist it on this occasion. Spike Milligan employed such a tactic when he famously entitled his book Adolf Hitler: My
STANDARD LIFE is to cut up to 360 jobs from its direct sales force as part of a restructuring of the business. Europe's biggest mutual life insurer said it was closing ten of its 21 direct sales branches and reducing the number of people employed in direct
A DOCTOR with a dilemma is warning village patients of the possible closure of his Saturday surgery. Dr Ian Bagshaw of the Rockliffe Court practice in Hurworth Place says that a new telephone out-of-hours service is likely to cause changes.. As from April
A CAMPAIGN to raise £120,000 to buy Westfields and other areas of open space in Richmond is to be launched this month. Details of the project have yet to be revealed, but the town council has won permission to make public the sum needed to secure the
AK Engineering Services has won a £1.5m contract to carry out essential maintenance work on a North-East oil refinery. Petroplus Refining Tees-side, at the former ICI North-Tees site, will carry out its biennial production shutdown this summer to ensure
Newfit Services Willington: Byers Green Royal Oak shot to the top of the table after they only dropped one point to the visiting Willington Black Horse Tavern in the only match of the week. Gary Brunskill took a singles point to record the Tavern's lone
SNOW and frost may have prevented much racing this week, but it did not stop Howard Johnson in his quest for new big-time owners Graham and Andrea Wylie on Saturday. The Crook trainer, many of whose staff could not get to work, had to drive the horsebox
DARLINGTON is still considered the gateway town for the Tees Valley, despite recent news that Cleveland Bridge may shed 240 jobs. That follows on the Government's refusal to consider the town as a location for some of its offices, the closure of Torrington's
