THOUSANDS of students are expected to gather in Durham City for a rally against university top-up fees. The event next to Durham Cathedral on Saturday, could attract campaigners from as far south as Huddersfield. Speakers will include National Union of
POLICE officer Dave Robinson was hailed a hero after he saved an elderly widow from her burning home yesterday. PC Robinson, 32, responded to reports of a blaze in Victor Terrace, Chester-le-Street, County Durham. He smashed his way into the house, then
AN IRON man is laying down the gauntlet to the region's strongest men and women. Graham Whalley is appealing for musclemen and fitness fanatics to take part in a series of fundraising challenges over the Easter weekend. The father-of-three has organised
THREE points this afternoon would gladly do as a belated anniversary gift for Mick McCarthy. Forget about sending him a bunch of red and white roses or even a card from a local supermarket, all he wants is a home win. It was 12 months yesterday when McCarthy
'I STRONGLY recommend that you put the phone down and get someone to call an ambulance for you immediately," said the nurse at the end of the line. I'd only dialled the out-of-hours number for a little reassurance. I'd hoped they'd say: "You're young(
ITEMS that belonged to Captain James Cook, which have not been seen in public for nearly 200 years, will go on show next month. About 20 items in the Curiosities from The Endeavour exhibition, at the Cook Memorial Museum, at Whitby, North Yorkshire, will
MIDDLESBROUGH and Liverpool yesterday called off their High Court battle over Christian Ziege's controversial move to Anfield after Premier League chairman Dave Richards acted as peacemaker in the dispute. The clubs were due to meet each other across
SZILARD Nemeth has given Boro boss Steve McClaren a major selection headache as he prepares to name his side for this afternoon's trip to Charlton. The Slovakian striker has not started a game for the first team since featuring in the 3-3 draw with Leicester
A SCHOOLBOY has been diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis. The student, from Easingwold School, near York, is receiving treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, which affects the lungs. Doctors said he was responding to treatment. North Yorkshire Health
POSTMAN Paul Lambert added up to £100 a week to his wage for six months by stealing from mail he was supposed to deliver. Magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, heard how complaints began to be received about missing mail on Lambert's round. Andrew
What do a disabled Darlington football fan and an Oscar-nominated household name have in common? Entertainment writer Steve Pratt reports. OSCAR-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite is the latest actor to be linked with the Darlington-based movie Down Among
Tow Law manager Steve Smith has pledged his loyalty to the club, despite their off-the-field turmoil. Chairman John Flynn resigned after Lawyers dropped to fifth bottom following their home defeat by Durham City. Smith said: "I'm disappointed that John
JOHN CARVER is facing a touchline ban after he was charged by the Football Association with improper conduct. The Newcastle United first-team coach has been given 14 days to respond after the FA acted following a bust-up with referee Rob Styles at Birmingham
SIR BOBBY ROBSON admits he is on the horns of a dilemma over whether to recall virus victim Jonathan Woodgate for Newcastle's clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane tomorrow afternoon. Robson yesterday revealed that he refused a request from his defensive
BASKETBALL players shot their way in to the record books during a charity marathon at the weekend. Players from Durham University held the event at the Tesco store, at Dragonville, scoring 16,391 baskets in 12 hours. They are the first players to set
THREE points this afternoon would gladly do as a belated anniversary gift for Mick McCarthy. Forget about sending him a bunch of red and white roses or even a card from a local supermarket, all he wants is a home win. It was 12 months yesterday when McCarthy
A COMPUTER containing the only copy of a safety manual for a new £8.5m ship was stolen yesterday. The Terra Marique, a 12,000-tonne barge that aims to help beat congestion on the roads, was launched in Sunderland on Thursday. The ship will take abnormal
THE shock and outrage felt at the terrorist bomb attacks in Madrid will be long-lived. But as the demonstrations across Spain showed last night, there are already signs of defiance in the face of the constant threat posed by terrorists. The only way to
EARLIER this season Neil Danns was instrumental in making Hartlepool United suffer; today he will be part of the Pool side aiming to cement their place in the Division Two elite. Blackburn midfielder Danns played 15 games on loan at Blackpool, including
POLICE are warning women across the country to be on their guard for a trickster with a strange fascination for feet. The fetishist rings unsuspecting victims and claims to be a DJ for Capital Radio. The caller promises them up to £3,000 and a year's
FORMER football manager Lawrie McMenemy yesterday called for a museum dedicated to the amateur game in the North-East. The former England number two backed plans for an amateur football visitors' centre when he returned to the town that launched his managerial
MIDDLESBROUGH and Liverpool yesterday called off their High Court battle over Christian Ziege's controversial move to Anfield after Premier League chairman Dave Richards acted as peacemaker in the dispute. The clubs were due to meet each other across
A DURHAM pub has won a late-night extension on weekend evenings despite mixed views of the nearby university populace. The Hogshead, on the city centre peninsula, can remain open until midnight, for live music and dancing. But it only applies on Friday
Spaniards were defiant in the face of terrorism last night, taking to the streets in their millions in protest against the Madrid bombings which have sent shock waves around the world. As the vast crowds gathered, the 199th victim died - a seven-month-old
SUPPORTERS of Darlington Football Club have been urged to turn out in force for today's match against Cambridge United. Administrators Wilson Field hope a bumper crowd will make up for the disappointment of fewer than 4,000 people attending Tuesday's
POLICE are warning women across the country to be on their guard for a trickster with a strange fascination for feet. The fetishist rings unsuspecting victims and claims to be a DJ for Capital Radio. The caller promises them up to £3,000 and a year's
ALL SONSILVER will be the toast of Tyneside if he can win the feature race at Newcastle today, the £10,000 Guinness Handicap Chase. Trainer Martin Todhunter has already bagged two nice prizes at the course this season with his progressive seven-year-old
A COMPANY that rescued a famous brand of toffee has continued its success by adding a traditional food hall to its growing portfolio. Since rescuing Farrah's Original Harrogate Toffee from a sticky end seven years ago, the father and son partnership of
THE transformation of Scholl footcare owner SSL International into a consumer products group has gathered pace with the break-up of its medical division. The group, based in Knutsford, Cheshire, has agreed to sell its wound management section for £55m
TALKS are to go ahead in an attempt to end a dispute that brought the Tyne and Wear Metro system to a halt last weekend. The system operator, Nexus, said that the negotiations with four unions involved in the industrial action will take place on Thursday
A ROOM warning children of the dangers of drugs has been unveiled at a doctor's practice. The play area at Leadgate GP Surgery was redesigned by Millennium Volunteers as the Feel Good Room. Volunteers from secondary schools redecorated and installed new
A PIZZA delivery woman was dragged into a house and indecently assaulted by the drunken occupants, a court heard yesterday. The victim suffered the ordeal after calling at an address in Otterburn Place, Newton Aycliffe, with a pizza and soft drinks at
TALKS are to go ahead in an attempt to end a dispute that brought the Tyne and Wear Metro system to a halt last weekend. The system operator, Nexus, said that the negotiations with four unions involved in the industrial action will take place on Thursday
PUPILS from Belmont School, in Durham, have been taking part in a project linking music and computer technology. Twenty-two year nine students have been working with professionals from Generator and focusing on developing their skills as DJs. They have
RED tape has led to a delay of up to three months on a £3m town centre regeneration project. The rebuilding of Stanley Bus Station has been heralded as a cornerstone in the former mining town's bid to reverse its decline in fortunes. Contractors were
STUDENTS from a special school have completed a training programme to help them into paid employment. The youngsters from Beaumont Hill Special School, in Darlington, completed the Advance+ work preparation programme, which is part of the Advance Employment
A BURGLAR led police on a trail around homes he raided late last year. Durham Crown Court heard that a fingerprint lifted from a burgled house in Watling Road, Bishop Auckland, led to the arrest of Paul Joseph Theaker. It was one of five houses in south
A VICAR is calling for action to stop vandals from damaging a deteriorating churchyard. Gravestones have been destroyed and others vandalised at St Nicholas' Church, Guisborough, which is also plagued by drug users who use the churchyard as a drug den
YOUNG hospital patients have received hundreds of new toys thanks to the generosity of bus passengers. Keith Willans and John Bell, both drivers on Stagecoach buses, dressed as Father Christmas in December and collected money for the children's ward at
TOURISM bosses in the North-East are hoping that a spring campaign will bring 40,000 visitors to the region. One NorthEast and Northumbria Tourist Board (NTB) are backing the drive that begins in the middle of next month and aims to promote the region
THE future of a popular agricultural show is safe after councillors gave planning permission for a new showground. Borrowby Show can now move to an 11 hectare site west of the A19 Knayton/Borrowby junction. The site will also be used by up to ten local
A BEER brewed in Masham can claim to be the official taste of the Yorkshire Dales after a partnership was cemented over a pint yesterday. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a comprehensive programme of
A TEENAGE girl who carried out a knifepoint robbery at a newsagent's was yesterday sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution. Durham Crown Court was told that Donna Marie Kennedy pressed a bladed implement to the neck of an assistant
CHARITIES are more than £1,200 better off thanks to some big-hearted beer lovers. The Masham-based brewery T and R Theakston, best known for ales such as Old Peculier, has donated the cash through its Paradise Fund. The fund, named after Paradise Fields
SOLDIERS David Arnold and Jonathan Cross are preparing to swap the comforts of the UK for the rigours of Afghanistan. Private Arnold, from Leyburn, and Private Cross, from Billingham, are members of the Green Howards. They are on duty guarding the new
Once the toast of Hollywood, Kevin Costner has been beset by a succession of commercial and critical flops. And now he is looking to an unlikey genre to put his career back on track. He talks to Steve Pratt about failure, westerns and Princess Diana.
A CENTRE offering support for thousands of carers believes it is being targeted by vandals. Derwentside Carers Centre, in Delves Lane, near Consett, has suffered a spate of attacks in which windows have been smashed. Audrey Wells, from the centre, said
THE most advanced training centre for media students in the UK was officially opened yesterday. Arts Minister Estelle Morris launched the £9m Media Centre at the University of Sunderland. The building, which will form part of a centre of excellence for
A PATCH of countryside that has been cultivated since before medieval times could be given more protection. Although it is already in the North York Moors National Park, the site, which includes a hall, could be designated as a conservation area. A detailed
NEWCASTLE goalkeeper Shay Given has admitted that the Magpies are envious of the cup exploits of rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland. But the Republic of Ireland international reckons the North-East's big three could all be celebrating silverware this
ASHLEY NICHOLLS may be consigned to the stands this afternoon, but the man responsible for his omission would prefer to see the midfielder out on the pitch in a Darlington shirt. Last month, Quakers boss David Hodgson reluctantly sanctioned Nicholls'
A GROUP will be set up to explore ways to prevent young people dying from heart problems after pressure from a North-East MP. Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson announced the move to tackle so-called sudden cardiac death and improve services for people
A MAN lost part of an ear in a fight between members of opposing factions in a long-standing feud, a court heard yesterday. Jamie Welch bit off part of his opponent's ear while holding him in a headlock, in what was described as a "consensual fight" between
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour says there is a "massive" six weeks ahead for his team. Having already reached the Durham Challenge Cup final on Easter Monday, Honour now has a top 13 spot in his sights. "First and foremost, it is imperative that
THE Royal Mail has come up with a radical way of boosting deliveries. Firms complaining about late postal deliveries in the North-East were stunned to be told: "If you want it any quicker you'll have to fetch it yourself." In a bid to save money Royal
A WITNESS who saw a gang of men corner a businessman and drag him into a Transit van has come forward. Police said the witness has provided crucial evidence in the hunt to find the gang that kidnapped Tony Pattison and held him hostage for 30 hours. The
TO BE quite polite about it, the age of chivalry seems dead. My wife lasted through 15 minutes of Bee In Your Bonnet (BBC2, Tuesday), where the Campaign for Courtesy pleasantly outlined how it was being ignored by most of Britain, before announcing: "
A MAN who went missing from his home this week is being urged by police to contact his family to let them know he is safe. Michael Ferens, 32, of Oakenshaw, near Crook, County Durham, was last seen at his home by his father at 1pm on Wednesday. He lives
THE Royal Mail has come up with a radical way of boosting deliveries. Firms complaining about late postal deliveries in the North-East were stunned to be told: "If you want it any quicker you'll have to fetch it yourself." In a bid to save money Royal
NEWCASTLE Falcons can reach Twickenham for the third time in six years tomorrow when they entertain Pertemps Bees in the semi-final of the Powergen Cup (2.15). It promises to be the culmination of a relatively easy run to the April 17 final, which has
COMIC Roy Chubby Brown has backed a campaign to save lives. The entertainer, who has been battling throat cancer, underwent an oral health screening check in Middlesbrough to promote awareness of head and neck cancers. Nearly 7,500 people across the North-East
AMEC has won a half-billion dollar contract to rebuild Iraq's power supply, the biggest reconstruction deal yet secured by a British company. The company, which was awarded the £277m contract in partnership with US company Fluor, said it was delighted
The column finds a colourful history and a formidable father at St Mary the Virgin Church, in Seaham. TODAY'S may be the only church column ever to have included Lord Byron and Paul Gascoigne in the same breath - Byron in his pomp and Gascoigne in his
MUSIC inspired by South America will be heard in south-west Durham next week. The Helen Chadwick Group will perform A Song In My Foot in Boldron Village Hall, near Barnard Castle, next Saturday. Ms Chadwick has interwoven original songs with stories inspired
A VICTORIAN church in danger of becoming a ruin could enjoy a new lease of life. St Luke's Church is all that remains of the large Winterton Psychiatric Hospital complex, near Sedgefield, County Durham, which was demolished six years ago to make way for
A COACH firm fears it is losing business because of the scandal that led to the collapse of Durham Travel Services. National publicity has affected another travel firm, Lees Coaches - also known as Lees of Durham - which has no connection with Durham
STAFF at a popular tourist attraction are celebrating after they were given an award for the quality of their service. Raby Castle, at Staindrop, County Durham, has been given a Quality Assurance Service award by the English Tourism Council. The castle
MARK the reindeer was having a few days off work to get his head together. He'd just shed his antlers, so our reindeer for the day was Will. We'd come to Kikut, high in the mountains above the Norwegian ski resort of Geilo, to find out a bit more about
STUDENTS have seen weeks of revision wasted after an examination board lost their papers. Eighty-four AS-level business students arrived at York College to collect their results, but were told the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) had mislaid
UNION leaders say they have secured a reduction in the number of job losses at engineering company Cleveland Bridge. The Darlington firm announced last month that it was planning to cut 240 jobs because of a lack of projects. But last night, that figure
AN attempt to break up a fleet of rusting former US Navy ships in the North-East is continuing to make progress, the man behind the project said. Peter Stephenson, the managing director of Hartlepool-based Able UK, was responding to fresh criticism of
A NEWLY-FORMED dance group is bringing a production to Northallerton later this month. M&Em from Leeds will perform Changing Landscapes at the Hambleton Forum, on Thursday, March 25. Hambleton District Council's arts development officer Kate Staines
MINISTERS pledged action against cowboy builders who rip off elderly people, as a Tory MP launched a bid to make such cold-calling a criminal offence. Andrew Robathan told the Commons that vulnerable people were being conned into paying out at least £32m
A NEW era of development is under way at a North-East airport with more than £30m being provided for improvements. Airport bosses have decided to radically revamp Teesside International Airport - due to be renamed Durham-Tees Valley Airport - over the
Q My pension is £46.45 a week and my husband's is £96.73. We both receive Attendance Allowance and he has a private pension of £240 a month. We have investments of around £16,000. I do not believe we are entitled to any benefits. A I believe you are,
NEWCASTLE goalkeeper Shay Given has admitted that the Magpies are envious of the cup exploits of rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland. But the Republic of Ireland international reckons the North-East's big three could all be celebrating silverware this
AMEC has won a half-billion dollar contract to rebuild Iraq's power supply, the biggest reconstruction deal yet secured by a British company. The company, which was awarded the £277m contract in partnership with US company Fluor, said it was delighted
DEBT-LADEN cable company Telewest posted sharply reduced losses as it moves towards the completion of a financial overhaul. Announcing results for last year, the group said it hoped a debt-for-equity agreement with creditors could be sealed late in the
A 15-year-old yelled racist abuse and threatened to kill members of a family before emptying bags of dog faeces on to their doorstep, a court heard yesterday. The Darlington youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before South Durham Youth
MAGIC was on the menu for pupils at a Darlington school yesterday. The Magic Carpet Theatre Company visited Heathfield Primary School to teach conjuring tricks and circus skills to youngsters. Teacher Carol Woodhams said: "They brought in unicycles and
CAMPAIGNING cobbler Tony Martin has been given until the end of the month to leave his Claypath shop. Mr Martin, who uses his shop window, to publicise allegations against Durham city councillors and officials, has run up substantial rent arrears. His
A BRAVE teenager said she did not want her abuser jailed after she was indecently assaulted in her home. The 15-year-old said Leslie Dent, 50, of Castleside, Consett, should be "kept an eye on" by police but should not serve any time in prison. Newcastle
A COMMUNITY is being urged to pull together to save a swimming pool. Fears are growing for the future of Wolsingham's pool after Wear Valley District Council announced it was pulling out of a sharing scheme that was costing the authority £20,000 a year
A DRUGS education project which works with young people has recruited children to help spread its message. Pupils from Greenfield School Community and Arts College, in Newton Aycliffe, have volunteered to take part in the Outthere Project, which involves
A NEW fundraising group that aims to support good causes across north Durham has been launched. Derwentside Rotary Club began meeting last October, and this week has received approval to join the ranks of Rotary International. It aims to bring together
OFFICIALS leading consultation on the possibility of regional assemblies have been criticised for failing to arrange a meeting in North Yorkshire. Sheffield, Halifax and Hull will host forums on the issue - but the deputy leader of Richmondshire District
Once the toast of Hollywood, Kevin Costner has been beset by a succession of commercial and critical flops. And now he is looking to an unlikey genre to put his career back on track. He talks to Steve Pratt about failure, westerns and Princess Diana.
THE crowning glory of an £85m shopping centre expansion will be a landmark work of art. The 30ft structure consists of five glowing metal balls, each 6ft in diameter, stacked in a vase-type vessel. It is destined for the roof of the Debenhams store at
GRIMY industrial buildings that have been a blot on one of the region's most picturesque landscapes for more than four decades are about to be pulled down. Since French company Lafarge closed its cement works at Eastgate, in Weardale, County Durham, two
RETAILERS will lead corporate announcements next week with B&Q owner Kingfisher and supermarket chain Morrisons due to report, while updates are also expected from companies in the media and leisure industries. Kingfisher buoyed investors with a positive
TEENAGERS learnt the consequences of causing bin fires yesterday as part of a training programme. The 16 and 17-year-olds were taking part in an Entry2Employment (E2E) event in Darlington, where they saw what it was like to commit an arson offence, be
CHRISTMAS shoppers in Darlington helped raise £6,544 for St Teresa's Hospice. For a suggested donation of £2, shoppers wrote their personal seasonal message on Christmas card baubles to hang on the St Teresa's Hospice Giving to Life Christmas tree, in
ASPIRING rock bands abounded at Darlington's Hummersknott School and Language College when young musicians played in support of the Fair Trade campaign. Four former pupils who make up the successful town band Fude - Adam Austin, Sam Cull, Jack Hardwick
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: LOCAL democracy is dying on its feet and until something is done to rescue it from this condition all talk of regional assembly is at best an irrelevance, at worst a prescription for accentuating the already glaring defects of the
AN emaciated stray boxer dog which has gone blind in one eye after an injury was left untreated has been handed in to animal welfare officers. The bitch, found at Waterford Road, Norton, near Stockton, has been described by the officers as being so skinny
A SOLICITOR who defrauded the benefits system of almost £250,000 yesterday had his "manifestly excessive" jail term reduced at the Court of Appeal, in London. John Aelred Tate, 54, of Mayberry Grove, Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years at Newcastle
BUSINESSES involved in the tourist trade are getting together next month to promote attractions on offer to visitors to the Wear Valley. The first Wear Valley information day is being held at Crook Golf Club, Low Jobs Hill, on April 21, with 32 organisations
CREATING jobs is proving to be child's play in one area of Teesside. A doubling in size of children's nurseries on both the Kirby and Marton campuses of Middlesbrough College, with the creation of 50 extra places, means 12 more child care workers being
BELLS store chain is hoping that its gift of 100 Easter bunnies to Teesside Hospice will help to boost funds. Sarah Dawson, activities and events co-ordinator at the hospice, said: "We have 100 Easter bunnies which we hope will get raffled around the
A TREE has been planted to mark the silver jubilee of the NHS Retirement Fellowship It was planted in a courtyard of the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, this week, to celebrate the work of the group. The Middlesbrough group, which has 90
A TEENAGE volunteer has been praised for his work in a Ferryhill community centre. David Gash was one of a number of young people honoured with a Shrievalty Award by the High Sheriff of Durham, Peter Cook. The 16-year-old, who attends Ferryhill Business
A wind-powered primary school in Durham has received a cash boost from the town's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre. Its recently launched community fund has given a donation of £250 to Cassop Primary School towards the development of an environmental sustainability
A BUSINESSMAN who fleeced his company of £500,000 to lavish gifts on a high-class call girl has been jailed. Peter Lee, 51, ruined his bus company, Durham Travel Services, and left 170 workers without jobs, after spending nearly £600,000 on three women
THE most advanced training centre for media students in the UK was officially opened yesterday. Arts Minister Estelle Morris launched the £9m Media Centre at the University of Sunderland. The building, which will form part of a centre of excellence for
SUPPORTERS of Darlington Football Club have been urged to turn out in force for today's match against Cambridge United. Administrators Wilson Field hope a bumper crowd will make up for the disappointment of fewer than 4,000 people attending Tuesday's
THE crowning glory of an £85m shopping centre expansion will be a landmark work of art. The 30ft structure consists of five glowing metal balls, each 6ft in diameter, stacked in a vase-type vessel. It is destined for the roof of the Debenhams store at
VERSATILE Stephen Hepples, regarded as one of the region's most promising athletes, is ready to "sing for his supper" in tomorrow's 22nd Redcar Half Marathon. The 24-year-old North Yorkshireman, who recently switched from his first club, Loftus AC, to
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has tipped Colin Cooper to get over his Carling Cup heartbreak by helping to steer Sunderland to the FA Cup final. Cooper, who is just three games short of having made 400 senior appearances for Boro, joined the Black
Empty the piggy bank and lump on Hot Shots (2.10) in today's showpiece at Sandown, the two-mile £50,000 Sunderlands Imperial Cup. Unfortunately, plenty of other punters are going to have the same idea and Hot Shots is not going to be especially good value
