POOR Adrian Mutu. Tested for drugs by Chelsea, exposed as a cocaine-user, and sacked for gross misconduct by the club yesterday. Poor, poor Adrian Mutu. How dare Chelsea target him for a drugs test and then kick him out of the Premiership? It's not the
She may be one of the movie world's leading actresses, but Kate Winslet keeps her feet on the ground. She talks to Steve Pratt about motherhood, kissing Johnny Depp - and farting. One moment she's posing with former First Lady Hillary Clinton at the US
MORTGAGE lending last month fell to its lowest level since April last year, official figures showed yesterday. Lending secured on homes fell to £7.7bn last month from £8.4bn in August, according to monthly lending figures from the Bank of England. Mortgage
Companies will learn how giving time for free can be good for business. The North East Chamber of Commerce is hosting a seminar on the benefits of taking part in community projects. A range of initiatives have seen bosses and employees roll up their sleeves
SHADOW cabinet minister Stephen O'Brien called for a shake-up of the business support system when he visited the region this week. Mr O'Brien, the shadow secretary of state for industry, said the UK had developed a dependency culture in business that
FORGET the movie, the stage version is better. Nothing can beat the razzle dazzle of seeing this slick, sleek and sexy show in the flesh. The setting is a women's jail but Prisoner: Cell Block H never had such a bevy of bumping and grinding jailbirds
A COMPANY that exports all over the world is creating jobs thanks to a £140,000 grant from regional development agency One NorthEast. Stephenson Gobin, in High Etherley, Wear Valley, County Durham, has been able to secure the future of 19 jobs from its
MICHAEL HAMMOND'S decision to drop Tidy (4.55) back in trip to seven furlongs looks like a recipe for success in the Racing UK Handicap at Newmarket. Tidy, who went off a well-backed 6-1 favourite over one mile at Newbury last Saturday, appeared to run
A VIRUS-BEATING vaccine that could save thousands of women's lives has been welcomed by health bosses in the region. The vaccine, which is being developed by drugs company GlaxoSmithKline, could cut women's chances of contracting cervical cancer by combating
GRAEME SOUNESS has conceded he may never be able to replace the goalscoring prowess of Alan Shearer, but believes the club's talismanic skipper could extend his playing days beyond this season. Shearer has made no suggestions that he is willing to rethink
THE bill for housing asylum seekers in the North-East and North Yorkshire has soared more than 1,300 per cent over the past six years, new figures reveal. Local authorities will pay out £2.3m this year for refugees in their care, compared with £158,000
A MAN was airlifted to hospital after a car crash near a beauty spot yesterday. The accident happened shortly after 3.30pm when two cars collided on the A6076 between Stanley, County Durham, and Sunniside, Gateshead, near the Causey Arch railway bridge
SCHOOLS in a sun-drenched Caribbean island school could soon link up with young people from County Durham. Primary school teachers from around the world are meeting in the county to link up with schools from the region. About 65 delegates will attend
INQESTS are due to be held in Bishop Auckland next week into the deaths of four men killed in three separate tragedies on south Durham roads. Marine engineering mechanic Craig Samuels, 21, of Westwick, near Barnard Castle, died on March 14, following
MICK McCarthy has insisted that Sunderland must win at all costs if they are to achieve promotion to the Premiership - even if that means triumphing through "hopeless" football. The Black Cats boss has seen his side develop a ruthless streak in recent
A KARAOKE night ended in uproar after a drunk contestant was told to keep quiet during other performances, a court was told. A brawl broke out, with people piled on top of each other, and a man had his thumb bitten so hard he needed reconstructive surgery
A FIRM is in the pink and it is all for charity. Arriva Vehicle Rental, in Middlesbrough, has painted one of its rental vans bright pink in aid of Cancer Research UK and breast cancer awareness. All proceeds from renting the vehicle will be donated to
WETHERBY stage a vintage renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase, with a whole host of confirmed National Hunt stars taking their respective places in the line-up for the £70,000 showpiece, writes Colin Woods. This year's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, Sir
A DRIVER told a court he fled from a policeman because he thought he was a drug dealer. Matthew Frankland, 25, said that he made the mistake when a plain clothes officer got out of an unmarked police car and challenged him. Frankland, who was disqualified
Steve Pratt talks to academic Tom Shakespeare about baring his soul as an actor in his forthcoming play. Tom Shakespeare jokes that he was only asked to take part in a new writing programme at Newcastle's Live Theatre because of his name. Certainly, it's
DARLINGTON Borough Council has awarded three young people £300 each to take part in musical, sporting, social and educational activities. Keen ice hockey player Andrew Finn will use the cash in representing England under-14s in Windsor, Canada, at the
AN attacker who smashed a bottle into a friend's face has been given a chance by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court to prove he can stay out of trouble. Graham Hipkiss, 23, swung a bottle of Stella Artois lager into Wayne Smith's face when a row broke out
A CLEAN-UP operation launched to stamp out fly tipping, littering and anti-social behaviour in streets near a recently-opened multi-million pound railway museum has been hailed a success. Operation Axenic was launched in July by Sedgefield Borough Council
A TEENAGER was disqualified yesterday after admitting riding his scooter above the drink-drive limit. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had drunk a couple of cans of lager before getting on his bike, Darlington Youth Court heard
YOUNG actors are to turn shopping assistants to raise funds for their latest production. Chester-le-Street Theatre Group's junior section, is performing the pantomime Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood in November. To raise cash for costumes and props
FOUR men accused of being involved in a pub shooting in which a pensioner died may be tried by a jury in the new year. Fred Fowler, 72, died and Michael Nixon, 19, was injured when two gunmen burst into the Tap and Barrel pub, in Hendon, Sunderland, on
THE regeneration of a piece of derelict land in Billingham got under way yesterday. It is hoped the land adjacent to the town's Roscoe Road will eventually be turned into a nature area for residents. A large scale clean-up operation started yesterday
THE COUNTDOWN to Halloween has started with craft classes on Teesside. A DIY chain yesterday stepped in to ensure preparations for the day for witches and ghosts were fun but also safe. Staff at B&Q's Middlesbrough warehouse showed youngsters how
She may be one of the movie world's leading actresses, but Kate Winslet keeps her feet on the ground. She talks to Steve Pratt about motherhood, kissing Johnny Depp - and farting. One moment she's posing with former First Lady Hillary Clinton at the US
TWO men caught with a bag of cocaine have been jailed for five years. The families of Stephen Bendall, 44, and Kevin Shaw, 40, shouted abuse at the judge at Teesside Crown Court when the sentences were passed. Police caught the pair sitting in an Audi
YOUNG people have won the thanks of their neighbourhood for trying to improve residents' quality of life. The youngsters stepped into the limelight at a ceremony this week to thank them for their efforts. Four individuals and seven groups organised events
MOURNERS are to have a peaceful area set aside in a Ferryhill cemetery where loved ones can be remembered. A remembrance garden in Duncombe Cemetery is to be funded with a £56,000 grant to Ferryhill Town Council from the Countryside Agency. In the garden
A FASHION and homeware retailers opened an 18,000 sq ft store in Durham this week, creating 70 jobs. Matalan, which is committed to investing in the North-East, now has 12 stores in the region. Peter Ryan, store manager at the new Matalan, in Dragonville
RESIDENTS who have spent three decades extending a hand of friendship to their European neighbours are holding a celebration. The Derwentside-Werdohl Friendship Club was formed in April 1975, after the north Durham district was twinned with Werdohl, in
THE work of artistic youngsters will help make Christmas in Durham more colourful. For the second year, the Durham City Forum has run a competition for primary school pupils to produce designs for the city's festive light display. Almost 400 entries from
A CHEERLEADING club has won a £9,470 grant from an organisation representing community groups. Members of Wear Valley Cheerleaders celebrated with their families at a presentation ceremony at Bishop Barrington School, in Bishop Auckland. More than 160
Being cast in a TV production of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series is a new departure for Jamie Theakston, but the presenter says he's keen to pursue an acting career. Jamie Theakston intended to be an actor but somehow got diverted into presenting
THIS event, part of Newcastle's Festival of Stories, was hosted by Natasha Perova, who edits Glas, a Moscow-based publishing venture dedicated to bringing Russian literature to the West. Dubbed "the Russian Granta', Glas appears thrice-yearly, showcasing
A NORTH-EAST expert in popular culture crowned years of research into the sinking of the Titanic by finding a rare copy of the last photograph taken of the ill-fated vessel, and then getting it signed by the last known survivor. Geoff Pattison, a member
DARREN Carter expects Sunderland to be holding their own in the Premiership in 12 months time after claiming that the club are better equipped for the top-flight than Birmingham were in their promotion season. Carter, who is halfway through a three-month
AN inquest opened yesterday into the death of a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger, who were involved in a collision with a minibus. The accident happened when the bike and the minibus collided at the junction of Beacon Lane and Stockton Road, on
A 13-YEAR-OLD boy avoided prison yesterday after he was told he had one of the worst criminal records seen by magistrates in the youth court. He was ordered to be electronically tagged to ensure he stays at home in Darlington during a six-month curfew
BEN CLARK spent his youth at Manchester United's centre of excellence before making sporadic appearances during four years as a professional at Sunderland. But, after Hartlepool United manager Neale Cooper pulled off a major coup by the club's standards
RUNNER Neil Defty will test himself in his first marathon on the streets of New York. The 25-year-old, of Crossgate Moor, Durham, will fly to the Big Apple with his wife, Claire, on Wednesday and will join thousands of runners in the event on Sunday next
A SUPERMARKET has been giving away free fruit and vegetables in a joint drive with health experts to cut the chances of people suffering strokes. Shoppers at Asda, Hartlepool, have been urged to swap fat fatty foods for fruit and vegetables. Angela Javed
A THEATRE group has become the driving force in keeping Darlington College students safe from harm. Stockton-based StopWatch performed a play to 320 students at Darlington College of Technology recently, exploring teenagers' attitudes to cars, passing
AS far as deadly weapons go, a stick of rhubarb probably ranks alongside a wet sock for effectiveness. But that didn't stop 50-year-old Margaret Porter ending up in court for assault with a stick of rhubarb. Porter, of Tofts Farm, Newbiggin, in Wensleydale
NEWCASTLE Falcons have always relied heavily on Scottish internationals in the professional era, and tomorrow will be no exception when Perpignan visit Kingston Park in the Heineken Cup. In the week when they have said goodbye to Scotland flanker Andy
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has dismissed claims that Gaizka Mendieta's career could be on the line, writes Will Scott. The Spanish midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the Riverside against Portsmouth last Sunday and there
A CHIEF Constable has been cleared by an independent inquiry of misleading a police authority over a £7.3m financial "black hole". Last night, Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price said he was relieved to have been cleared but just wanted to get on with
TRIBUTES poured in last night to the North-East victims of the Jordan bus crash. Friends and family paid homage to the dead tourists as new claims emerged that a tyre had blown out earlier in their journey and had to be changed at a garage. The party
A GUNMAN who tricked his way into a family home dressed as a character from a horror movie and blasted a young father to death has lost his court appeal to clear his name. Andrew Davies was wearing a mask similar to the one worn by the killer in the horror
BIOFUEL producer D1 Oils completed its first full day of trading on the stock exchange yesterday but said the hard work still lay ahead. The Teesside company floated on the Alternative Investment Market(Aim) with a valuation of £34.4m. A delegation from
UP to 40 North-East technical support jobs are being transferred to India, The Northern Echo has learned. Software company IBM, which has 40 staff at the ntl call centre in Stockton, told workers this week their jobs were going abroad to cut costs. It
Northern League: Billingham Synthonia boss Stuart Coleby admitted a win is vital to his side's title chances at home to unbeaten Dunston today. Synners went top in midweek when they drew with Shildon, but Dunston, who are third, are just two points behind
DURING Gary Speed's days at Leeds, Newcastle United teenager James Milner idolised the Welshman and stuck posters of the midfielder to his bedroom wall. Speed only left St James' Park in the summer for Bolton and tomorrow, when Graeme Souness takes his
A NORTH-EAST couple have sent six pallets worth of supplies to victims of Hurricane Ivan on the Caribbean island of Grenada. Mike and Jackie Cowan, from Darlington, fell in love with the Spice Isle after they visited on holiday and have built a bungalow
A NEW political satire by a North-East playwright will be performed in the region next week. Top Banana, written by David Napthine, is a satire on New Labour that draws heavily on Christopher Marlowe's classic tragedy, Dr Faustus. The play is set in an
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren revealed he has no qualms about sending his young guns into first-team battle - even if it has been more out of necessity than choice. Boro finished Wednesday's Carling Cup third-round tie against Coventry City with
AT least 100 post offices in the region have closed or will close by the end of the year. Figures obtained by The Northern Echo reveal 88 urban post offices have closed in the North-East and North Yorkshire since the restructuring was implemented in November
IRAQ: GEOFF Hoon, the Defence Secretary, has let the cat out of the bag with his recent statement to the House of Commons. He said: "We should be failing in our duty to our allies ...etc." Duty, according to the dictionary, is a moral or legal obligation
UGO Ehiogu has warned Steve McClaren that he will be "re-evaluating" his future if he is consistently left out of Middlesbrough's first-choice line-up. The England international will not feature in today's game against Charlton as he has suffered a recurrence
A TEENAGER sexually assaulted a woman only two days after he was released from a young offenders' institution. The 24-year-old woman was walking her dog in a park when Karl Hughes, 17, asked her for the time. He followed her until she reached her home
NORWICH Union owner Aviva yesterday hailed early signs of a recovery in the UK market for its products as it posted an 11 per cent rise in life and pensions new business to £10.8bn. Aviva said Norwich Union was benefiting from a gradual improvement in
THE family of a woman killed by falling masonry from a church during storms three years ago yesterday called for changes to the way the safety of historic buildings is checked. Debra Exton, 45, of Loughborough, died from severe head injuries after a 55lb
ON a sunny day, it can look one of the most picturesque places, tranquil even. But the hills of the Derwent Valley, whose main town Consett was famed for its steelworks, has a turbulent and bloody past that is recounted in a new book, The Dark Side of
I AM just about to embark on a fabulous project. A primary school has asked if I can design and build an interactive playground where the children are surrounded by food in its natural form. It would be an outdoor supermarket that would give them the
A 17-YEAR-OLD faces being locked up after stealing two bikes from a garage in Darlington. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted entering the garage on Baydale Road last month and taking the mountain bikes, worth £450. He also admitted
A DOCTORS' surgery which has served patients in Darlington for 85 years is set to move into plush new premises on Monday. The Netherlaw surgery on Stanhope Road is moving to the former Blacketts pub on Bondgate. It is part of a £2.1m move designed to
A THEATRE group has become the driving force in keeping Darlington College students safe from harm. Stockton-based StopWatch performed a play to 320 students at Darlington College of Technology recently, exploring teenagers' attitudes to cars, passing
PLANS to pedestrianise Darlington's town centre could damage the town's economy a leading Conservative has said. Anthony Frieze, the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Darlington, has said the £6.5m scheme would destroy the character
THE finalists have been announced for the hotly contested annual York tourism awards. Venues including the National Railway Museum, in York, and the World of James Herriot, in Thirsk, will compete for the title of best attraction. Other categories include
A NEW champion of crime fighters has been appointed. Rosemary Taylor has taken over the chairmanship of the Hambleton's community safety partnership from retired GP Dr David Smith. The former solicitor, from Swainby, will lead the partnership in its drive
YEARS of vegetation have been cleared to reveal the historic Kirkbymoorside name sign. The sign has been cleaned up by town mayor Councillor Nigel Richardson and retired farmer Ron Simpson. They have renovated the sign, set on a millstone believed to
PROTESTORS opposed to overhead power cables have said they are going to step up their campaign following a report of links with childhood cancer. A study for the Department of Health has revealed that living near high voltage power lines almost doubles
STAFF looked pretty in pink and raised money for charity at the same time. Workers from Budget Retail Ltd, in North Yorkshire and Darlington, dressed in pink clothing for the Cancer Research breast cancer campaign yesterday. Aneka Jones, manager of the
A NEW minibus is setting Wear Valley and Teesdale communities on the road to healthier lifestyles. The minibus is being operated by the Durham Dales Healthy Living Partnership and was launched by Andrew Kenworthy, chief executive of the Durham Dales Primary
UniBond League: Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour is hoping for a vast improvement when his side go to Lincoln United today. Bishops were embarrassed in the Durham challenge Cup by lowly Hebburn in midweek, and Honour said: "Everybody must respond
POLICE chiefs have warned that they will be issuing fixed £80 penalty tickets to people who misuse fireworks in North Yorkshire this year. With Bonfire Night imminent, the force is warning that yobbish firework misbehaviour will not be tolerated, and
SOCIAL services bosses have welcomed the Government announcement of a national minimum allowance for foster parents. North Yorkshire County Council now hopes more carers will come forward. The council has recently introduced higher payments, to bring
COUPLES having registry office weddings in Stockton could be forgiven for thinking they are tying the knot in the Loire Valley. The town's registry office has been given a French Chateau-style makeover. A council spokesperson said it was to provide "
A SUPERMARKET extension could further damage trade in nearby town centres, retailers have warned. Tesco wants to add 20,000sq ft of floorspace to its Catterick Garrison store, which opened in 2000. But a group representing businesses in Richmond and the
FIRE chiefs have warned that unmanned bonfires could tie-up life saving equipment from real emergencies. So far this year, Cleveland Fire Brigade has been called to put out 52 bonfires, Community safety manager Les Jones said: "These are essentially rubbish
ROADWORKS on a busy North route are scheduled to start this weekend. The A1231 Sunderland Highway, between the A182 Washington Highway and the A195 Northumberland Way, will be closed tomorrow, from 7am to 5pm. Diversions will be in place. On Monday and
A YOUNG girl has been reunited with one of the two puppies stolen from the garden of her home. Lurcher dogs Lass and Sox were tempted out of their pens with meat by intruders on Sunday night. In The Northern Echo yesterday, Karen Jones, of Eldon Street
TRAFFIC cones have returned to the A19 on Teesside because of essential resurfacing work. Taking effect last night, the northbound carriageway will be closed between the A1046 Portrack Lane and A1027 Stockton Ring Road over three weekends. Autolink, the
PENSIONERS in Darlington have been told by a Government minister of one of the benefits of a regional assembly. Hilary Benn, the secretary of state for international development, visited Darlington yesterday to show how an assembly could help pensioners
A GROUP of 15 year ten pupils from Eastbourne Comprehensive School, in Darlington, spent a week with the Army recently and completed a series of team-building exercises. School tutor Paul McCann joined the teenagers and experienced true Army life, including
STAFF looked pretty in pink and raised money for charity at the same time. Workers from Budget Retail Ltd in North Yorkshire and Darlington dressed in pink clothing for the Cancer Research breast cancer campaign yesterday. Aneka Jones, manager of the
YOUNG Patch is as playful and loyal as most other dogs - the only difference is that he is deaf. Having already been picked up from a rehoming centre, the little collie-cross is back in kennels because his owners were unable to cope. Darlington Dogs Trust
RADIO students from a North-East university have won a string of nominations in the BBC Radio 1 Student Radio Awards. Utopia FM, at the University of Sunderland, is up for four titles at the awards in London next month. Judges for the competition, hosted
A LIFEBOAT boss is appealing to the community to report thieves who stole the stock from a charity souvenir shop. Thieves smashed their way into Redcar Lifeboat station and stole every item on sale, including key rings, sweatshirts, Christmas cards and
DETERMINED David Hodgson has set his sights on taking the club to the next level and is demanding his squad add a winning mentality to their game. Hodgson knows that with the players he now has at his disposal, a serious assault on League Two is a realistic
DURHAM'S Stephen Harmison has spent the last 12 months helping England to three successive series wins and establishing himself as the leading bowler in the world. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson talks to the Ashington Express about his incredible 2004
THE family of the North-East couple who died in the Jordan bus crash on Thursday led the tributes last night. Richard and Angela Fothergill's three daughters, Alison Atkinson, Celia Kellett and Rosie Hetherington, expressed their deep shock at their parents
EARLIER this week, in celebration of Black History Month, the New Nation newspaper published the results of its poll for the greatest black icon of all time. The competition was fierce, with Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela
PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat, suffering from a serious but mystery illness, arrived in France on a stretcher yesterday for urgent treatment - ending nearly three years of Israeli-imposed confinement at his battered West Bank compound. As he was helped
A MOTHER-OF-FIVE was stabbed to death in her home by her drunken teenage lover and lay undiscovered for more than three weeks. Christine Longworth, 36, died of internal bleeding on New Year's Day. Her body was discovered 27 days later after neighbours
HUNDREDS of people eligible to vote in the regional assembly referendum have still not received ballot packs, it emerged last night. In Darlington, up to 800 electors have been missed, in about 18 streets in the Mowden area of the town. In neighbouring
"SOME are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrown upon them". Although, perhaps, not quite reaching those grand heights, English Touring Theatre Company's production of Twelfth Night achieves some highly meritable moments. An
A PSYCHIATRIC nurse has won national recognition for her work to reduce suicides in one of Britain's blackspots. Lyn Williams, a nurse consultant in liaison psychiatry with Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, has been presented with the Mental Health
NEWLY-PROMOTED Morpeth Harriers will challenge First Division champions Sunderland Harriers for their DP Furniture North-East Harrier League title when the new season starts at Farringdon today. North-East half-marathon champion Terry Wall, one of the
It may sound exciting, but even comedy has a mundane side, acclaimed stand-up Chris Addison tells Nick Morrison. AFTER seven years on the comedy circuit, Chris Addison has had enough of living out of a suitcase. However far it is, he would always much
AFTER seven years on the comedy circuit, Chris Addison has had enough of living out of a suitcase. However far it is, he would always much rather head home after a gig than check in to a hotel. "After you have done this long enough, you become obsessed
Wearside League: After suffering only their second defeat of the season last Saturday, Stokesley SC face another difficult task this afternoon at home to fourth placed Jarrow. The Teessiders though will be considerably stronger with the return of a quarter
THE bill for housing asylum seekers in the North-East and North Yorkshire has soared more than 1,300 per cent over the past six years, new figures reveal. Local authorities will pay out £2.3m this year for refugees in their care, compared with £158,000
A TEENAGER'S eye for a strike has won her a place at a major international sports tournament. Jenny Billingham, 17, of Broompark, near Durham City, has made Great Britain's ten-pin bowling team for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia. Jenny, a student
A TOURIST attraction has celebrated an impressive milestone. The World of James Herriot centre, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has welcomed its 300,000th visitor. The £1.4m attraction opened in 1999. To celebrate its fifth birthday this spring it underwent
THE latest adventures of "Dad At Large" have been compiled in a book that will raise money for a children's hospice. Dad At Large 3 - Whose Paper Round Is It Anyway?, available priced £5, is the third book based on the popular column written by Peter
Q My husband is coming up to pension age, having worked for 35 years before going on to Incapacity Benefit (IB) eleven years ago. When he reaches 65, he will be due an occupational pension of about £120 a week. We know he will have to come off IB when
IT'S hard to believe it was only just over a year ago that the four Tennessee boys of the Kings of Leon released one of the best debut albums since the heady days of punk in the late 70s. Youth & Young Manhood established the Followill family - three
A TROUBLED carpet company that counts the Queen as a customer has announced plans to expand after a second management buy-out. Hugh Mackay Carpets, in Durham, is coming out of a month-long period of administration, after the board secured a new backer
A MAN who admitted killing a father-of-four in a street attack yesterday tried to have his manslaughter conviction overturned at London's Appeal Court. Carl Mason, of no fixed address, chased Michael Brolly through the streets of York on September 16,
