Archive

  • Focus on retail park job vacancies

    SEASONAL employment opportunities for people seeking work on the run up to Christmas will be outlined at a jobshop at a retail park. Jobcentre Plus has teamed up with Dalton Park shopping complex, in Murton, east Durham, to highlight part and full-time

  • Carter gets the vote as Britain's finest

    Gangster film Get Carter has been declared the greatest British movie of all time. Starring Michael Caine as killer Jack Carter, the film - much of it filmed in the North-East - trounced classics such as Lawrence of Arabia, in eighth place, and Zulu,

  • Porter packs a punch as Pool stifle the toothless Tigers again

    PERHAPS Hartlepool United are finally seeing the results and rewards after a few months of trying. A demolition job on Hull City - the scoreline flattered the morose visitors - was Pool's second win over the toothless Tigers in five days. It was also

  • Crucial witness in court

    A CRUCIAL witness who may have watched British backpacker Caroline Stuttle plunge to her death is to give evidence at a murder trial after police mounted a hunt across Australia to trace a fruit picker. Peter Ralph Boehmke, 42, contacted officers yesterday

  • Focus on retail park job vacancies

    SEASONAL employment opportunities for people seeking work on the run up to Christmas will be outlined at a jobshop at a retail park. Jobcentre Plus has teamed up with Dalton Park shopping complex, in Murton, east Durham, to highlight part and full-time

  • Sporting stars back charity golf game

    A CANCER charity is looking for teams to help raise funds by joining sporting legends in a round of golf. Ex-cricketer Ian Botham and former Newcastle United football manager Sir Bobby Robson will be among celebrity players teeing off at the Macmillan

  • Let down by my 'bit of rough'

    I was invited to a friend's party last weekend and, because I didn't know any of her crowd, I thought I'd stay for a quick one before going home for the dregs of trashy Saturday night TV. Twelve hours later I was making my way home, impressed at how hang-loose

  • 'I'm definatley not a Cookson clone'

    Author Elizabeth Gill may be known for her historical North-East sagas, but she is as far removed from Catherine Cookson as you can get, as Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings discovers. IT'S the not the kind of look I imagine for an author of 14 historical

  • Public urged to help police in their fight against crime

    POLICE who pledged to crack down on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour are calling on the public to help them in their fight. Five months after the launch of the StreetSafe initiative, Durham Constabulary have told of the successes already enjoyed

  • I'd rather die in jail than admit murder

    THE man who claims he was wrongly jailed for a North-East murder has spoken about the case for the first time and insisted: "I'd rather die in prison than own up to something I didn't do." Former soldier Tony Bottrill is launching an appeal against his

  • Police are to show CCTV film to parents

    YOUNG people found misbehaving during police patrols late at night are to have closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of incidents shown to their parents. The move is part of a bid to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in Ryedale. Police have started

  • Swimmers win medals

    A TEAM of swimmers from Thirsk White Horse Swim Team were successful at a regional competition in Scarborough. James Palliser, ten, from Thirsk, scooped the prize for the top boy after winning the most points. He won two gold medals and three silvers.

  • £10m boost to build future for hospital

    WORK is due to start by the end of the year on improvements to Scarborough General Hospital. Alison Guy, chief executive of the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, says in her annual report that confirmation has been received about £10m to

  • Yellow line row victory

    AN expansion of yellow lines that sparked a strong protest from a motor dealer has been stopped. Members of a North Yorkshire County Council area committee refused to support a scheme to extend yellow lines in Ripon. Instead, they voted for the issue

  • End of the road for one-way traffic plan after objections

    PLANS to make a busy street one-way could be scrapped next week following objections from residents. Council officers wanted to impose the plan on Romanby Road, Northallerton, with traffic entering it from the High Street. The aim was to reduce queues

  • Anger over six-year wait for sex swap operation

    A FORMER prison officer who has been living as a woman for six years has criticised health bosses who have denied her surgery. Transsexual Michelle Collins was in the RAF for 12 years and spent 13 years as a prison officer. The 61-year-old plans to sue

  • Take your partners

    A DANCE craze tailored to suit most musical tastes is sweeping the North-East. Modern jive is catching on in discos and on function room dance floors across the region, partly through the efforts of Lynn Smith. The Darlington dance teacher, who already

  • Council says 'yes' to N-E assembly

    A NORTH-EAST council has added its voice to the 'Yes' campaign in the referendum for a directly elected assembly for the North-East. Chester-le-Street District Council has agreed to ask its electors to vote in favour for November 4's ballot. The council

  • Home wanted for devoted friends who will not be separated

    TWO devoted dogs who kept a three-day vigil by their dead owner's side should not be separated, say staff at an animal rescue centre. Misty and Maxie stayed by their owner, a man in his 60s from Redcar, in east Cleveland, after he died suddenly from a

  • Talk reveals site's history

    VOLUNTARY groups will soon be able to find out more about Sir William Turner and the Almshouses he founded at Kirkleatham. The trustees of Sir William Turner's Almshouses are offering a speaker to groups interested in finding out about the site's history

  • Loved ones remembered

    STARS from the soaps came to Teesside to help a hospice. Martino Lazzeri, who played Alex in Hollyoaks, and Shane Conner, the builder Joe Scully from Neighbours, launched the project on behalf of Hartlepool Hospice. They launched the Light Up A Life fundraising

  • Fascinating history

    VOLUNTARY groups will soon be able to find out more about Sir William Turner and the almshouses he founded at Kirkleatham, near Redcar. The trustees are offering the services of a speaker to groups interested in finding out about the site's history. Peter

  • Campaign focuses on brittle bones risk

    SMOKERS are being warned of the damaging effects cigarettes can have on bones with the launch of a campaign to highlight osteoporosis. Many of the 4,500 chemicals found in every cigarette are being blamed for eating away healthy tissue and weakening bones

  • Hoping to improve community life

    NEIGHBOURS are joining forces to improve their community with the launch of a group at the weekend. Residents of Crook's Wheatbottom and Helmington Row areas have formed a community group to work with support workers to boost the ward. Wheatbottom and

  • Fun for all at Scouts' fundraising fair

    Scouts and their families raised about £500 last weekend at an autumn fair. The 8th Darlington (Cockerton Green) Scout Group met at the headquarters, in Cockerton, Darlington, on Saturday for an afternoon of games, stalls, refreshments and a raffle. Viv

  • £1.5m award will end long trek to lessons

    MORE than £1.5m of building works will put an end to a town centre trek between lessons for pupils at a secondary school. Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, is to be given a much-needed drama studio and technology suite on the school's

  • Queen of the dance

    HOLIDAYMAKER Jane Turner, from Coronation Avenue, Shildon, won a weekly freestyle dance competition at Pontin's Southport holiday centre. The 17-year-old won a medallion, a £10 voucher and a certificate. She was also invited to a finals weekend at Pontin's

  • Police seek public help to succeed in crime campaign

    POLICE who pledged to crack down on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour are calling on the public to help them. Five months after the launch of the StreetSafe initiative, Durham Constabulary said it had already enjoyed successes. But Chief Inspector

  • General Election is up for grabs, says Howard

    TORY leader Michael Howard last night labelled Tony Blair a "lame duck Prime Minister" as he insisted the next General Election was still up for grabs. In a speech to party agents ahead of today's opening of the Conservative conference in Bournemouth,

  • Back to work

    TWO Redcar men who thought they would never work again have been helped by a Teesside firm. Reed in Partnership helped Barry Whitwick, 57, who had worked in the mines for 30 years. He took a course to develop writing and interviewing skills and is now

  • Poets appointed as writers-in-residence

    TWO poets have been appointed as writers-in-residence at the University of Teesside. Andy Willoughby and Bob Beagrie will work in partnership to run a programme of free, open workshops for members of the public. They will run a programme for undergraduates

  • Timetable for work on £3m bus station

    A TIMETABLE outlining how work will progress on Stanley's £3m bus station has been published. Work is expected to start in January on the bus station in Mary Street, and planners hope the finished product will be open by October. Derwentside District

  • Marking anniversary of the day bombs rained on town

    THE 90th anniversary of the famous bombardment of a North-East town is to be remembered in an exhibition. More than 100 people died as more than 100 shells rained down on Hartlepool for 40 minutes at the beginning of the First World War. Among the casualties

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Finding the right leader

    WITH a General Election expected next May, when should a political party change its leader? Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, with his party buoyant, is unassailable, and Tony Blair - despite the bloody mess in Iraq, the loss of trust, his personal

  • N-E law firm secures local government appointment

    NORTH-East law firm Dickinson Dees has won a contract to provide legal advice to the second largest city council in the UK. Birmingham City Council has appointed Dickinson Dees to handle the council's litigation work. It is the fourth local government

  • Spirits high as cadets compete

    HUNDREDS of Army cadets battled it out yesterday in a bid to be named the best in Yorkshire and the North East. In total, 39 teams of boys and girls were at Catterick Garrison for Exercise Colts Canter - the highlight of the Army cadet year. Teams from

  • Lamb hits back at Nasser criticism

    Tim Lamb, the outgoing chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has hit back at the ''sad'' comments made by former England captain Nasser Hussain in his autobiography. Hussain, who retired during the summer, condemned Lamb's handling of

  • One small cell...

    He has been accused of playing Frankenstein and of sacrificing lives to benefit others, but Miodrag Stojkovic has no qualms over his work. He tells Nick Morrison why his conscience is clear. "PEOPLE are thinking we are taking small babies and we are killing

  • No emergencies as the AA arrives to save Quakers

    Darlington's season was stalling and in danger of seizing up, but the AA cranked into gear and came to Quakers' rescue. In a stunning team performance, the sort not seen for five seasons, Alun Armstrong stole the show with a hat-trick that earned a standing

  • The Cloud that's finally ready to burst

    It's been a slow-burn but Robert Pickavance is finally getting his chance to play a radical Russian poet who's been haunting him for some time. Steve Pratt reports. LITTLE did Robert Pickavance realise when presented with an early draft of new play, A

  • McCarthy fury over break allegations

    MICK McCARTHY hit back at claims he was responsible for breaking the leg of Black Cats' midfielder Colin Healy, writes Will Scott. The Sunderland boss was furious, after his side's 0-0 draw against Derby County, following Saturday morning reports that

  • Home wanted for devoted friends who will not be separated

    TWO devoted dogs who kept a three-day vigil by their dead owner's side should not be separated, say staff at an animal rescue centre. Misty and Maxie stayed by their owner, a man in his 60s from Redcar, in east Cleveland, after he died suddenly from a

  • Owner's appeal after pigeon theft

    A PENSIONER devastated by the theft of 33 prized racing pigeons has appealed for help tracking down the thieves. Gordon Stevenson, 68, said the young birds, worth about £950, were stolen from a cree in Woodside Gardens allotments, in Sacriston, County

  • Tigers too slick for injury-hit Falcons

    ALL the talk of how the summer signings had given Newcastle Falcons massive strength in depth suddenly seemed like so much poppycock on Saturday. Yet more injuries forced them to play Epi Taione at inside centre, switch flanker Mike McCarthy to lock and

  • On TV at the weekend

    Himalaya (BBC1) Rosemary And Thyme (ITV1) THE opening sequence of Himalaya made me think I'd mistakenly stumbled across an old episode of Great Railway Journeys Of The World. There was Michael Palin aboard the Khyber railway, travelling in carriages being

  • Father's violent death in the murky world of drug dealing

    The Kirkleatham Showground murder brought drug dealing, gang rivalries and a brutal killing to a quiet North-East village. Chris Webber looks back at a crime that shocked the region. THE pictures show a man sprawled face down in a field at night, a young

  • Soldier's name added to war memorial

    THE name of a military policeman killed in Iraq has been added to the war memorial in his home town. About 60 people gathered at the memorial at All Saints' Church, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, on Saturday for a dedication service. Lance Corporal

  • 04/10/04

    PARALYMPICS: TANNI Grey-Thompson is Britain's greatest Olympian of all time. Sir Steve Redgrave was knighted after five gold medals. Tanni has been overlooked by those in office. Make Tanni a dame. - Kevin Grainger, Darlington. POLITICS ALAN Milburn has

  • Poom's patience plea

    MAN of the match Mart Poom pleaded with the Sunderland supporters to be patient. The Black Cats' goalkeeper was in inspired form against his former club Derby County at the weekend and kept his team in the match on several occasions. It was the Estonian

  • 'I'd rather die in jail than admit murder'

    THE man who claims he was wrongly jailed for a North-East murder has spoken about the case for the first time and insisted: "I'd rather die in prison than own up to something I didn't do." Former soldier Tony Bottrill is launching an appeal against his

  • End of the line for rail tickets posting policy

    A TRAIN company operating on the East Coast main line is refusing to post tickets to passengers if the journey is within five days - because they might not get delivered on time. GNER, which also runs many stations on the line, only now issues tickets

  • No worries as Darlington RA stroll home

    Darlington RA anticipated a difficult game when they met last season's runners-up Birtley Town, who had lost just once in eight outings - but Dave Woodcock's side romped home. Six goals flowed with Warren Byrne again in scintillating form. He scored twice

  • Riverside teenagers steal the show from new hero Rooney

    WITH the Stretford End goal unattended, as the players from Manchester United and Middlesbrough carried out their pre-match warm-ups on the Old Trafford turf, the solitary figure of Wayne Rooney juggled the ball, entertaining himself as much as the crowd

  • Ex-boxer's dream to pair Gazza with pop superstar

    FORMER world boxing champion Glenn McCrory is planning to make a movie featuring Christina Aguilera - and Paul Gascoigne. The singing sensation, whose video to her single Dirrty shows her sparring in a gym, is among a star-studded line-up McCrory hopes

  • Sites for wind farms identified

    MORE small wind farms could be coming to Teesside after a study identified potential sites. Renew Tees Valley, the company set up to promote the development of renewable energy, has identified sites for small-scale wind turbine projects. They will not

  • Poets appointed as writers-in-residence

    TWO poets have been appointed as writers-in-residence at the University of Teesside. Andy Willoughby and Bob Beagrie will work in partnership to run a programme of free, open workshops for members of the public. They will run a programme for undergraduates

  • Tutu hits out at disgrace of prison

    Archbishop Desmond Tutu has branded the Guantanamo Bay prison camp a disgrace. The Nobel Peace Prize winner yesterday compared the legal situation surrounding the detention centre to South Africa's apartheid system. He was speaking following allegations

  • Health team's delight after cut in teenage pregnancies

    NHS workers have welcomed continued large falls in Hartlepool's teenage pregnancy rate. Hartlepool used to have one of the worst under-age pregnancy rates in the UK, at 81.8 per thousand. But the figure has fallen dramatically in recent years and now

  • TV hope for henges protestors

    A CAMPAIGN group fighting to stop quarrying being extended near an ancient landmark say a BBC series will aid their efforts. Thornborough Henges, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, will feature on British Isles - A Natural History, which is being presented

  • Souness happy with point

    GRAEME Souness was happy with a point at St Andrew's, but believed Newcastle could have come away with all three if the referee had handed the Magpies what he saw as a clear penalty. Kenny Cunningham unceremoniously dumped Craig Bellamy on the turf after

  • Schools project launched

    A PIONEERING scheme that will see two schools in Darlington provide more services to pupils, families and the wider community was launched over the weekend. A family fun day took place on Saturday at Hummersknott School and Language College, in Edinburgh

  • Public urged to help police in their fight against crime

    POLICE who pledged to crack down on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour are calling on the public to help them in their fight. Five months after the launch of the StreetSafe initiative, Durham Constabulary have told of the successes already enjoyed

  • Dog owners face court

    TWO dog owners have been prosecuted by Ryedale District Council as part of a tough new policy. The cases, heard at Whitby Magistrates' Court, resulted from work undertaken by the council's dog warden, Brian Dunn. In the first case, a postwoman was attacked

  • In gear for Internet win

    AN Internet contest winner has taken delivery of her prize - an £11,000 Mitsubishi Colt car which she can use for a year courtesy of Ripon Mitsubishi. Carol Senior and her husband, David, from Tennyson Avenue, Harrogate, were delighted with their win.

  • Clothes with a royal connection

    AN on-loan exclusive display of Hollywood film costumes was the highlight of the show at an annual textile art show. The display, Royal Connections, was premiered at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, as part of the 2004 Fashion and Embroidery

  • Cousins in court on rape charge

    A student who arrived home from college with leaves and twigs in her hair told her mum that she had been raped in the woods by two men, a court heard yesterday. The 17-year-old said that she was grabbed soon after she got off the bus at her usual stop

  • Divine Guineas prospect

    Divine Proportions cemented her position at the head of the betting for the 1000 Guineas with a clear-cut success in the Prix Marcel Boussac Royal Barriere Deauville at Longchamp yesterday. The 8-11 favourite had to survive a stewards' inquiry after they

  • Holiday park wins gold prize for environmental achievements

    A HOLIDAY park has won an environmental competition organised by Professor David Bellamy. York House Holiday Park, in Balk, near Thirsk, won a gold prize in the David Bellamy Conservation Awards, which recognise the UK's top providers of green holidays

  • City sets sights on bloom gold title

    A CITY'S latest gilt-edged achievement in the Britain in Bloom competition was heralded as a partnership effort between local people and a council workforce. But planning is already under way to possibly give Durham a gold award in next year's competition

  • Blessings for all creatures great and small

    ANIMALS trotted, slithered, crawled and hopped to church yesterday to celebrate St Francis's Day. The fourth annual animal blessing ceremony was held at St Hilda's Church in Redcar, east Cleveland. St Francis, patron saint of animals was remembered as

  • Car-towing incident plea

    POLICE accident investigators have appealed for information from witnesses to a near collision involving a car under tow. A female motorist was forced to swerve to avoid the towed vehicle, which strayed into the oncoming carriageway on the A1290, Washington

  • Village hall jubilee brings back some golden memories

    A VILLAGE'S long history was highlighted to mark the golden jubilee of the focal point of the community at the weekend. The people of Shadforth, near Durham, went to the village hall to see a local history exhibition which marked the 50th anniversary

  • Spaniards rescue driver

    TWO Spanish visitors to the North-East proved Good Samaritans when they came across a fire-hit car after a two-vehicle accident. They helped rescue the female driver of a Ford Fiesta, which ignited after a collision with a Nissan Micra. Firefighters reached

  • Fundraising firefighters work down at the car wash

    FIREFIGHTERS worked as car washers in the name of charity at the weekend. Crew members from Middlesbrough, Saltburn and Grangetown raised money for the brigade's benevolent fund. Each station in Britain is trying to raise £200 towards a new £2.5m national

  • Health team's delight after cut in teenage pregnancies

    NHS workers have welcomed continued large falls in Hartlepool's teenage pregnancy rate. Hartlepool used to have one of the worst under-age pregnancy rates in the UK, at 81.8 per thousand. But the figure has fallen dramatically in recent years and now

  • Career advice for teenagers

    Experts will visit colleges, schools and other venues across Tees Valley to offer career advice for 13 to 16-year-olds this month and next month. The first event takes place in Hartlepool on Thursday, October 14, and is followed by events at Middlesbrough's

  • Councillors back health HQ proposals

    A health headquarters is to be built on an expanding business park. About 80 staff from Durham Dales Primary Care Trust will be based at the development on South Church Enterprise Park, near Bishop Auckland. Bosses at the trust hope the building will

  • Sports centres transformed

    TWO leisure complexes have benefited from a £68,000 transformation that has improved their indoor sports facilities. The sports hall floors at Spennymoor and Ferryhill leisure centres have been refurbished by Sedgefield Borough Council. Spennymoor's sports

  • Campaign focuses on brittle bones risk

    SMOKERS are being warned of the damaging effects cigarettes can have on bones with the launch of a campaign to highlight osteoporosis. Many of the 4,500 chemicals found in every cigarette are being blamed for eating away healthy tissue and weakening bones

  • Helping the community

    NEIGHBOURS are joining forces to improve their community with the launch of a group at the weekend. Residents of Crook's Wheatbottom and Helmington Row areas have formed a community group to work with support workers to boost the ward. Wheatbottom and

  • Pupils learn to be safe at the wheel

    PUPILS have received training about road safety in an effort to reduce the number of serious and fatal road accidents involving young people. Ten teenagers from Polam Hall School, in Darlington, attended the Wise Drive - Drive for Life scheme run by Durham

  • Village gets ready for judges' visit

    VILLAGERS hope to put their community on the map by showing judges of a national competition that their neighbourhood is one of the best in the North-East. Sedgefield village has made it through to the regional heat of the Calor Village of the Year contest

  • Queen of the dance

    HOLIDAYMAKER Jane Turner, from Coronation Avenue, Shildon, won a weekly freestyle dance competition at Pontin's Southport holiday centre. The 17-year-old won a medallion, a £10 voucher and a certificate. She was also invited to a finals weekend at Pontin's

  • Villagers await judges' visit

    VILLAGERS hope to put their community on the map by showing judges of a national competition that their neighbourhood is one of the best in the North-East. Sedgefield village has reached the regional heat of the Calor Village of the Year contest. Judges

  • Boro kids are alright

    LAST year's Carling Cup success might have ended a 128-year wait for a major trophy but, ultimately, a different piece of silverware looks like having a more lasting impact upon Middlesbrough's fortunes. Lifting the FA Youth Cup was rather overlooked

  • Form residents' group

    RESIDENTS are being urged to join forces and demonstrate their community spirit. Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council hope people will come forward and help set up a residents' association in the Clavering area. Their appeal follows a recent Operation

  • Chip pan sparks blaze

    AN unattended chip pan sparked a fire that severely damaged a kitchen yesterday. Fire crews were called to the semi-detached house in Rose Crescent, Fencehouses, between Houghton-le-Spring and Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at about 3.35pm. Appliances

  • Blessings for all creatures great and small

    ANIMALS trotted, slithered, crawled and hopped to church yesterday to celebrate St Francis's Day. The fourth annual animal blessing ceremony was held at St Hilda's Church in Redcar, east Cleveland. St Francis, patron saint of animals was remembered as

  • FA Vase: Boss praises 'superb' show

    A three-goal blast in the first half ensured that Horden collected a hat-trick of UniBond League scalps when they beat Frickley on Saturday. Horden have already beaten Telford and Warrington in the competition, and their first-half display showed their

  • Sites for wind farms identified

    MORE small wind farms could be coming to Teesside after a study identified potential sites. Renew Tees Valley, the company set up to promote the development of renewable energy, has identified sites for small-scale wind turbine projects. They will not

  • Pupils wear jeans to help gene charity

    PUPILS and teachers dressed down for charity. Pupils and staff at Teesside Prep and High School, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, paid £1 and wore denim to school for a day. They were supporting Jeans for Genes day, a charity that funds research into genetic

  • World famous pianist to play concert

    A world-famous pianist is to play in east Cleveland. Antii Siirala, of Finland, has won the Dublin International Festival, the Beethoven Prize and the World Piano Competition. He also won the Leeds International Piano Competition last year. The Antii

  • Drug tests to hit the classroom

    RANDOM drugs tests are set to be introduced into schools in a new crackdown on classroom abuse. Eighteen schools have contacted a new supplier to ask for information about the tests. Preventx is thought to be the first company in the country importing

  • The Boro kids are alright

    LAST year's Carling Cup success might have ended a 128-year wait for a major trophy but, ultimately, a different piece of silverware looks like having a more lasting impact upon Middlesbrough's fortunes. Lifting the FA Youth Cup was rather overlooked

  • The Cloud that's finally ready to burst

    It's been a slow-burn but Robert Pickavance is finally getting his chance to play a radical Russian poet who's been haunting him for some time. Steve Pratt reports. LITTLE did Robert Pickavance realise when presented with an early draft of new play, A

  • West pile on misery for poor Tow Law in five-goal thumping

    The Albany League: WEST Auckland leaped out of the bottom three and increased Tow Law's problems with a 5-0 win on Saturday. The victory was West's first in seven games, but the setback was the last thing Tow Law wanted after their pitch problems. West

  • Men quizzed over two sex attacks

    POLICE are investigating two alleged sex attacks only a few miles apart in the early hours of yesterday. Officers are investigating an attempted rape in Spennymoor and a rape in Ferryhill, both County Durham, although officers are not linking the two

  • Teenager arrested after station break-in

    A TEENAGER has been arrested on suspicion of burglary following a break-in at Darlington's main police station. The 17-year-old local boy was chased in the town by officers on Thursday evening who caught him and detained him at the station. He was interviewed

  • Under starter's orders for York Royal Ascot tickets

    TICKETS for Royal Ascot's visit to York next year go on sale today, and officials expect the phone lines to be extremely busy. Bosses from Ascot have urged people who want to attend the five-day racing festival, from June 14 to 18 next year, to book early

  • Wijnhard relishing opening

    CLYDE WIJNHARD is relishing the prospect of resurrecting his career in England with Darlington - insisting the switch is purely football motivated. The former Leeds United striker joined Quakers on a pay-as-you-play basis last week after leaving Portuguese

  • Looking after the older generation

    IT IS that time of the year again...We are preparing ourselves and our horses for the inevitable onset of winter. Precious stable space is usually reserved for those horses that have a riding use over the coming months, with youngsters and older horses

  • Big time arrives for girl spotted on trip

    THE stunning face behind a high-profile hair advert has been revealed as North-East teenager Hannah Shaw, who was spotted while on a school trip. Hannah, then only 14, was at the Clothes Show Live at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre as part of

  • I'm not a Cookson clone!

    IT'S the not the kind of look I imagine for an author of 14 historical novels and 14 modern romances. Elizabeth Gill appears at the door of her Durham home looking much younger than her 53 years in a long sweeping embroidered denim skirt, pale blue sleeveless

  • Taylor happy to see back of Victoria Park

    DEJECTED Hull City boss Peter Taylor is sick of the sight of Hartlepool United. As he departed Victoria Park for the second time in five days with his tail between his legs, Taylor would be quite content never to return. Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy reverse

  • We lack quality, admits McCarthy after dour draw

    MICK McCARTHY admitted his team lacked the class to break down a well-drilled Derby County side at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland's dour 0-0 draw against Derby, in front of their largest league gate of the season - 29,881 - was high on effort but woefully

  • Clappison penalty puts Blaydon in third round

    BLAYDON marched into the third round of the Powergen Cup for the first time when they came back from an early 14-0 deficit to win 16-14 at home to Wharfedale. The players were delighted to book a trip to division one club Orrell in two weeks, particularly

  • Traffic plan introduced as new students arrive

    Traffic arrangements were put into action to deal with the arrival of new students in a congested city centre yesterday. The Durham Freshers' Sunday traffic plan involved the opening of an old stone bridge to vehicles, to prevent a bottleneck on the narrow

  • Map used to predict flooding incidents

    INSURANCE company Norwich Union has launched a flood map to help the owners of 5,000 properties. The company said its digital map of the York area was the largest and most accurate ever undertaken in Britain, and could pinpoint the risk of river flooding

  • Strong turnout in the face of hunt ban

    SEPTEMBER 4 marked the beginning of another season's hunting with the Bedale Hunt. The first autumn meet was held from the kennels at Little Fencote, near Northallerton, with over 50 horses turning out and many foot followers, all showing their support

  • Tragedy at blackspot roadworks

    A WOMAN died when a car hit a concrete barrier on a notorious stretch of road where safety improvements are being carried out. Passenger Susannah Rose Hinnigin, 25, of Stocksmoor Close, Darlington, died when the Ford Mondeo struck a concrete block, left

  • Priceless painting to go on show in N-E

    A PRICELESS painting by a Renaissance master worth millions of pounds is to go on show at a County Durham museum next year. Arguably, the highlight of the 2005 calendar at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, will be the loan of Raphael's Madonna of the

  • It was one of the best, claims happy McClaren

    STEVE McCLAREN regarded Middlesbrough's against all odds display at Manchester United yesterday as one of the best since he took over on Teesside three years ago. With seven players out injured, McClaren was forced to hand teenagers Tony McMahon and James

  • Another 'Yes' for Regional Assembly in N-E

    WORLD renowned opera singer Suzannah Clarke has voiced her support for the 'Yes' campaign by taking part in a promotional TV advert. The Yes 4 the North East short film is designed to highlight the benefits of a Regional Assembly and will be aired later

  • Campaign urges people to have flu jab as winter nears

    HEALTH experts are urging people to have their free flu jab to prevent unnecessary illness and death this winter. Vaccination sessions are being arranged in GP surgeries throughout the North-East and North Yorkshire. Nurses are also working with residential

  • Gregorio snubs Rapids to impress with Quakers

    There can't be many footballers who can say they turned down a contract with the Colorado Rapids in favour of football in the North-East, but Adolfo Gregorio has and after taking such a bold decision he's eager to make the move pay off. After studying

  • Uniform could lead police to PC's killer

    THE bloodied uniform of murdered PC Keith Blakelock has been removed from Scotland Yard's crime museum for forensic examination, which could provide a breakthrough in the near 20-year-old case. It is hoped that DNA testing of the clothing may provide

  • Taylor's TV training regime leaves celebrities in a sweat

    DO they not like that! A team of pampered celebs found out how it feels to be put through a gruelling session at a North-East training camp yesterday. Former national boss Graham Taylor led the stars through a punishing regime on their first day of training

  • No pipedream about Clough

    A CLASSIC example of no smoke without ire, we have been able successfully to rekindle the curious case (Backtrack, September 28) of Cloughie and the purloined pipe. Bit between the teeth, he really did appear with it in Sunderland's 1961-62 preseason

  • Limits introduced to protect historic bridge

    NEW speed and weight limits are introduced on a North-East bridge today. A 20-mile-per-hour restriction will be in force, along with a three-tonne vehicle weight limit, on the High Level Bridge which crosses the Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle. Until

  • Jaw, jaw, more, more

    Himalaya (BBC1); Rosemary And Thyme (ITV1): THE opening sequence of Himalaya made me think I'd mistakenly stumbled across an old episode of Great Railway Journeys Of The World. There was Michael Palin aboard the Khyber railway, travelling in carriages

  • UniBond League

    BISHOP Auckland manager Brian Honour says that his team faces a crucial week after their 5-2 defeat at Guiseley on Saturday. Bishops lie in the bottom two with just one win from 11 matches, and Honour said: "The next two games, against Gateshead and Wakefield

  • The Bacchae; Courtyard Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse

    A MAN in a tight striped suit, corset and gold high heels sits in the seat directly in front of me. I refrain from asking him to remove the 2ft red hat on his head. I wouldn't want to offend Dionysus, the god of wine, women and song - a heavenly chap

  • Musicians take big chance

    WOULD-BE pop stars had the chance to shine before one of the music industry's most successful managers, when he visited a studio. Genius Entertainment, in Stanley, County Durham, was asked to showcase performers for US businessman Richard Rashman, who

  • Passer-by asked to help deliver mail

    A POSTMAN has been criticised after handing a letter to a stranger in the street and asking: "Could you deliver this, I'm tired." Royal Mail chiefs have launched an investigation after the trainee postman got lost on his rounds. He approached Tom Parnell

  • Football club's plea for support

    FOOTBALL club officials are calling for support to keep one of the North-East's oldest clubs afloat until a problem with the pitch is rectified. An investigation will start this week to discover the cause of a ten-metre wide depression, which appeared