TWO North-East cities laun-ched their Christmas celebrations last night with the help of football personalities. Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson switched on Newcastle's lights in Grey Street, with The Newcastle Vipers ice hockey team
A GOVERNMENT minister has visited a youth club, which a Teesside MP said could set an example for the rest of the country to follow. Home Office Minister Fiona McTaggart saw for herself the Easterside Pod Youth Club, opened in response to anti-social
NINE schools have been congratulated by their MP after winning plaudits under a national assessment scheme. The schools in the Vale of York have each been awarded the Basic Skills Primary Quality Mark. The award acknowledges those schools that meet the
MORE than 60 teenagers helped the Royal Air Force make an early start to their Children in Need fundraising. They descended on the base at Linton-on-Ouse for a series of activities - including pulling a Tucano aircraft along the runway. During the afternoon
HEALTH bosses are concerned pensioners are missing out on free flu jabs. Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) said a recent shortage of vaccine may mean some elderly people have not yet made an appointment with their doctor. Dr Phil Kirby
A TEESSIDE student has completed a huge turnaround in his fortunes after starting his educational journey in a homeless hostel. At 16, Stephen Holmes was struggling to study in an almost impossible environment, but nine years later he is about to graduate
PUBLIC money totalling £20,000 has been provided towards the cost of demolishing four buildings on Hartlepool's Headland. The empty buildings to be bulldozed include the former Friarage sports hall and youth centre and buildings associated with the former
THE site of a controversial development is to be visited by members of the North York Moors National Park Authority's planning committee. A scheme by the Burgess Group, of Victory Mill, Thornton-le-Dale, to build 11 homes at Castle Close, had been recommended
A COUPLE who stepped out to mark a milestone in their life together have raised more than £500 for charity. Keen dancers Jimmy and Irene Alderson, both aged 80, invited 130 friends and relatives to a dance in the Victoria Club, Consett, to mark their
A SCHOOL's plans to develop its football facilities have taken a step forward. Pelton Roseberry Sports College at Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, achieved specialist status over a year ago. It hopes to build an all-weather synthetic pitch with floodlights
EAST Durham residents can learn more about local and family history next week. Murton Library, near Seaham, is holding a history open day on Friday that will look at the pit village's past. There will be displays, books, maps and information, and local
Truants (BBC1): A STAGGERING £650m has been put into the campaign to get children back into school. And when you're spending that amount of money tackling truancy, you want everyone to know, so you get a BBC camera crew to spend a year on the streets
POLICE have launched a crackdown on gangs of youths causing trouble in a north Durham village. Chester-le-Street police commander Insp Dave Marshall said: "The problem first reared its head about 12 months ago in Great Lumley and several youths were given
BUDDING young football stars are hoping to pick up some pearls of wisdom from a seasoned North-East professional. Former Sunderland captain and ex-Darlington manager Gary Bennett started work coaching promising youngsters in Chester-le-Street. Mr Bennett
A WOMAN whose dog walks had been terrorised by gangs of teenagers "lost her cool" and attacked four of them with chains, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates were told how 47-year-old Theresa Frances Hunt swung a pair of dog chains round and
RESIDENTS of Wear Valley are invited to a community conference to help to pave the way to a brighter future for the district. The third annual community conference will be held at Bishop Auckland College on Saturday, from 9.15am until 3.45pm. The Wear
OFFENDERS in Darlington are to be targeted in a crackdown on drug-driven crime. Criminals will be offered rehabilitation in a new approach that works on the basis that prevention is better than cure. Some of the town's most active criminals are hooked
CTC THEATRE, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, has been invited to tour its latest play for children in the Far East. Formerly known as Cleveland Theatre Company, it was founded in November, 1979, by Tom Spencer to tour small-scale plays to schools
A POPULAR antiques fair makes its return to a County Durham museum next month. The Galloway Antiques Fair will be coming to the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, from Friday, December 3 until Sunday, December 5 for its fifth year. Nearly 30 antiques and fine
A CENTRE which will help put tenants at the heart of a new housing organisation has been opened. The tenants' resource centre marks the start of Erimus Housing - Middlesbrough's new not-for-profit housing organisation. It is taking over the management
SPENNYMOOR will host an annual music contest for the last time this weekend as the event will move to a new venue next year. The 28th Brass in Concert Championship will be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Sunday, featuring ten of the UK's leading
THE mother of a heroin addict has made an emotional plea for residents to help police to catch a town's drug dealers. The call comes after two former addicts warned the drugs problem in Richmond would spiral out of control if action was not taken. Sheila
ABOUT 150 cars were damaged when fire broke out at a Sunderland scrapyard on Wednesday. The fire, at the Rock Top scrapyard, in Farringdon Road, broke out shortly after 8pm. It took four fire crews to bring it under control.
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 1,950 sheep. Store lambs to £31.50; lt lambs to 103p av 98.4p; std to 110p av 105.2p; med to 115p av 108.6p; heavy to 117p av 105.5p. Cast sheep: Cont to £49.50; Suff to £43.50; Masham to £40.50; Mule to £35.50
Guisborough Town 7 Peterlee Newtown 1 GUISBOROUGH finally found their shooting boots last Saturday and boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation by hammering visitors Peterlee 7-1. The home side deservedly led 1-0 at the break, but nothing could have
A MAN who admitted killing a father-of-four, but later tried to plead innocence, yesterday failed in an Appeal Court bid to clear his name. However, judges agreed to reduce the jail sentence imposed on Carl Mason, of no fixed abode, for manslaughter from
NEWCASTLE United centre-back Andy O'Brien has admitted that the much-maligned Magpies defence is struggling to shake off what he sees as an unwarranted tag of under-achievers. Graeme Souness's side head to Selhurst Park tomorrow aiming to remedy a run
A CAMPAIGN to ban low-flying helicopters and jets which have been blamed for spooking horses in North Yorkshire is gathering pace. Linda Butler-Blades wants horse owners whose animals have been terrified by aircraft to form an action group and take on
FOXHUNTING was finally banned last night after a day of confusion at Westminster, paving the way for clashes in the countryside during next year's General Election campaign. The "nuclear option" of the Parliament Act was used for only the fourth time
AN MP has been given a close-up look at the heather moorland which makes up 25pc of her constituency. Hilary Armstrong, MP for North-West Durham and Government Chief Whip, visited the moors surrounding Killhope lead mining museum at the top of Weardale
A COUPLE have been banned from keeping animals for three years after they caused unnecessary suffering to a dog. Darlington magistrates saw pictures of a white and black female lurcher owned by Craig Wallis, 25, of Lansdowne Street, Darlington. They show
THE Tenant Farmers' Association has welcomed the publication of advice to tenants and landlords on issues affecting them through CAP reform. Produced by the Tenancy Reform Industry Group and published by Defra, the advice reminds both landlords and tenants
SUPERMARKET chain Safeway has seen its share of the market decline since it was taken over by rival Morrisons, industry analysts have found. Safeway accounts for only 5.8 per cent of supermarket sales in Britain, down from 8.8 per cent a year ago. The
Royal Mail has not yet won the North-East business community's confidence, despite delivering profits of more than £200m, business leaders said last night. Figures released yesterday by Royal Mail showed the organisation was making £1m a day and delivering
THE Archbishop of Canterbury will give a lecture in honour of one of his predecessors as figurehead of the Anglican Church, next week. Dr Rowan Williams is the guest speaker at the Michael Ramsey Memorial Lecture, at Durham Cathedral, on Tuesday. The
TWO North-East cities laun-ched their Christmas celebrations last night with the help of football personalities. Former Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson switched on Newcastle's lights in Grey Street, with The Newcastle Vipers ice hockey team
A UNIQUE work of art is to go under the hammer to raise money for a poor community in Africa. Retired architect Harold Dick has researched the history of the Royal Navy's ships from 1210-1900, drawing 16 superbly-drafted charts, each a work of art in
AMBITIOUS plans for a conference and exhibition centre could be dropped from a £1m project to redevelop Bedale railway station. Hambleton councillors will be told next week that the likely cost of creating the centre is too high to justify its inclusion
FROM one extreme to the other, that's the holiday adventure plan of a Masham woman. Prue Keigwin, 58, has this year opted for the freezing temperatures of the Antarctic instead of her usual holidays in Africa. Mrs Keigwin, D&S Times correspondent
IT HAS long been claimed that lichens will grow only in places where the air is not polluted and that is one reason they are rarely found in towns and cities. I refer to them now because I've noticed their recent appearance on rocks and trees where there
CRAFTSWOMEN from across Britain have contributed to a collection of quilts on show in the region. The Nineties Collection, at the Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate provides a colourful snapshot of the best of British quilt-making from the end of the 20th
CHILDREN in Need Appeal mascot Pudsey Bear last night met the region's business leaders as part of fundraising efforts. The yellow bear appeared at the North East Chamber of Commerce's annual Tyne and Wear Dinner. A radio fundraising effort by BBC Radio
A NOTED County Durham Charolais breeder is to judge the entry at next week's breed society Christmas Cracker show at Carlisle. Steve Nesbitt of Winston will judge 103 Charolais bulls and 43 females on Thursday, before they are auctioned next day. He will
THE man at the centre of the controversy surrounding Cleveland Police's financial fiasco has left the force amid secrecy nine months after he was suspended. Steve Preval, the former director of finance and commissioning, was suspended when a £7.3m shortfall
PEOPLE are being invited to use the newly opened caf bar within Durham's Gala Theatre. An area of the theatre has been refurbished to create Intervals. Theatre bosses hope people will drop in to sample the fare throughout the day, rather than it be used
A BEST-SELLING children's author has hit back at a Christian fundamentalist group that has attacked his books for being "saturated by the occult". Former North Yorkshire vicar Graham Taylor, who has enjoyed global success with his two novels, Shadowmancer
IF it's good enough for Chatsworth, it's good enough for Castle Howard. The Duchess of Devonshire's farm shop at Chatsworth is rightly famous, but now the stable courtyard at Castle Howard, near Malton, has been revamped to include a farm shop, a caf
STAFF from the Morrisons Redcar store braved the chilly temperatures of the North Sea to celebrate the store's second birthday and raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. About 20 members of staff slipped into fancy dress costumes before
BUCKETS in the upstairs corridors could soon be a thing of the past at one of the region's top museums as staff prepare to launch a £300,000 emergency appeal. Repairs to the central section of the roof at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle look set to
BEER drinkers seeking the "hair of the dog" can find it in the unlikely location of a greyhound stadium. The Pelaw Grange track, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has become a haven for real ale enthusiasts. Thanks to track manager Jeff McKenna's love
IF it's good enough for Chatsworth, it's good enough for Castle Howard. The Duchess of Devonshire's farm shop at Chatsworth is rightly famous, but now the stable courtyard at Castle Howard, near Malton, has been revamped to include a farm shop, a caf
VANDALS left a trail of destruction when they struck at Great Ayton Cemetery. About 100 graves were damaged during the attack, which took place last Friday morning. Howard Atkinson, the cemetery superintendent, found flowers, vases and memorials had been
A CHANGE of heart means that a pensioner is not after all to lose the home she has lived in for 20 years. The former clerk of Carlton in Cleveland Parish Council, Kathleen Morris, worked at Cleveland Outdoor Education Centre from 1972 and lived in a bungalow
THOUSANDS of people across the region remembered the nation's war dead on Sunday when they observed the Armistice Day silence. The two-minute silence at 11am marked the moment the First World War ended, in 1918. However, men and women who have lost their
WORKERS at BPI's Stockton site are expected to start an overtime ban next week as part of industrial action following a pay dispute. Union officials said a strike decision had been delayed until the start of next week, when a meeting will be held with
FAMILIES and friends joined Cleveland Juniors under-13s for their presentation at Marske Cricket Club. Each member of the team received a trophy for their hard work over the past season. Ryan Honeyman and Matthew Lazenby were awarded joint player of the
Bedale & West of Yore PC. - Nov 21: Pony club games team training at Catterick. For more details contact Rowan on 01748 832829. Braes of Derwent PC. - Nov 28: Team show jumping at Holmeside Arena and open classes for teams of three or four. Sae for
EUROPA topped one of the Doncaster sales sessions last August and new owner Trevor Hemmings recouped some of his outlay when landing a good handicap chase at Kempton on Wednesday. Formerly with Tom Tate, and one of our 15 to Follow last year, Europa is
FACED with the plethora of problems facing Britain and the world at large, Parliament's valuable time could have been better spent than having interminable wrangling over the issue of hunting. Perhaps we should be grateful for the procedural opportunity
THE Hurworth Hunt opened its doors to illustrate the role hunting plays in the local community. The long parliamentary debate over hunting is reaching its final stages and the hunt wanted to show at first hand the devastating effect that a banning Bill
ALL eyes will be on the reappearance of triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate at Exeter this afternoon, but whether he can hold off the stern challenge of Sir Rembrandt (2.25) is open to debate. Best Mate only had a half-length to spare over Sir Rembrandt
HEXHAM. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 126 beef breeding cattle for special November sale, inc dispersal of Low Shield Green herd of Galloway cows for T Robson. Prices. - Low Shield Green: 3rd calvers to £490 av £413.33; 4th calvers to £420 av £330; 5th calvers
THE number of people killed and seriously injured in workplace accidents is rising in the region, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports. In 2003/4, there were 14 deaths across the North, compared to 13 in the previous 12-month period. There were
THOUSANDS of people across the region remembered the nation's war dead on Sunday when they observed the Armistice Day silence. The two-minute silence at 11am marked the moment the First World War ended, in 1918. However, men and women who have lost their
THE growing furore over the plans for Darlington's town centre is welcome. It's about time there was a decent debate about the central area which, in many respects, is a mess. Opposition to the ideas proposed by the borough council has focussed on the
A REALISTIC Marcus Stewart concedes this could be his swansong campaign at Sunderland but hopes to go out in style by helping Mick McCarthy's men to the Premiership. The experienced striker turned 32 this month and fears he may follow other elder-statesmen
MOTORISTS and pedestrians have been warned not to fall foul of thieves who are stealing manhole covers and selling them for scrap. So far, about 90 of the metal safety covers have been stolen from towns and villages in south-west Durham over the past
GRAEME Souness seemed to be hinting this week that we're a bunch of whingers in the North-East. He's not alone in that view - county cricketers from outside the region who have come to play for Durham have formed much the same opinion. It could be dry
Police are appealing for witnesses to a fatal road accident which took place in Teesdale last night. Shortly before 10pm on the A67 Darlington to Barnard Castle road, a Honda CRX car travelling east towards Gainford left the road at Arlaw Banks, two miles
SPECTATOR was reassured, yet somehow dispirited in the same breath, to find about 50 people of a similarly mature age around him when he saw Ladies in Lavender, starring Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, at the Teesside Showcase cinema on Sunday. He
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson believes winger Neil Wainwright is setting an example other players in his squad would do well to follow. Wainwright was one of seven whose name was circulated for loan or transfer last month. Hodgson insists the measure
OSMOTHERLEY villagers are "fed up" with the way the character of the moorland village is being "ruined". This view was registered by the parish council at a planning meeting of the North York Moors National Park Authority, when a plan to build a large
A WEATHER forecast for more frost this weekend has raised a worry about winter maintenance of roads in Upper Wensleydale. Some residents feel that promises have been broken concerning the re-location of the salt pile at Bainbridge and delivery of salt
TAPWAVE ZODIAC, On sale now. Price: £225: GAMING on the go used to be the sole preserve of Nintendo's Game Boy. Pretenders like the Game Gear and the Atari Lynx promised great things but failed to set the world alight. The Game Boy has some great games
THREE charities are set to benefit from a festive night of music in Durham Cathedral next month. Proceeds from the Concert for the Feast of St Nicholas, on Friday December 3, will go to St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Macmillan
A MUSICIAN who has performed with orchestras all over Europe is bringing music to children with impaired hearing. Harpist Anita Aslin, 32, from Stokesley, teaches the harp and piano privately and provides music support in three Marton primary schools,
ONE of Middleton St George's oldest buildings is to be restored to its former glory. On Monday, the parish council accepted an offer from private property developer, Charminster Developments, to renovate the derelict meeting room in the water park. The
JANE Lishman from Darlington was on top form at Stainsby Grange Senior Show, Thornaby, where she won the 35-starter Elevator Discovery qualifier for the Blue Chip championships at Solihull next April. She rode the seven-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Porto
FEARS that new farming measures place too much emphasis on the environment at the expense of agriculture were expressed at a meeting in Hexham. One farmer claimed that Countryside Stewardship had caused such a reduction in livestock numbers on one farm
YOUNGSTERS at a playgroup are getting arty thanks to a cash boost. St Bede's Playgroup in Sacriston, has been awarded £160 through the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend scheme. The group plans to use the cash to buy new arts and crafts
POLICE investigating a degrading sex attack on a 17-year-old student have traced a couple who could hold vital information. But they are still seeking other people who were in New Elvet, Durham City, late last Thursday night when the slightly-built victim
TAPWAVE ZODIAC, On sale: now. Price: £225: GAMING on the go used to be the sole preserve of Nintendo's Game Boy. Pretenders like the Game Gear and the Atari Lynx promised great things but failed to set the world alight. The Game Boy has some great games
A RASTAFARIAN window cleaner who sported 3ft-long dreadlocks has shaved his head for charity. Last night, Barry Creighton, 37, of Goldsmith Gardens, Darlington, took the electric shavers to his hair, which he has been growing for 16 years. His stunt raised
A PASSIONATE Michael Hunter last night predicted fireworks when Marc Callaghan renews a two-year feud to challenge the Hartlepool boxer for his British title tonight. Reigning super-bantamweight champion Hunter has just one blemish on an otherwise perfect
WORK has begun to restore the six historic bells of St Michael's Church, Heighington. On Tuesday, the bells were lowered from the church tower. Three of the bells were cast in 1425 by a founder from York. They are among only a handful of medieval bells
ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Charlie Heslop is looking forward to a dream trip to watch his football idols. The youngster will be a special guest of Manchester United tomorrow, when the Red Devils face Charlton Athletic. Charlie, a pupil at Beaumont Hill Special School
READERS will have enjoyed last week's tale of the reviewer's recalcitrant mother making a tiddly spectacle of herself at a restaurant in Staindrop. It brought to mind my own dear mother who was somewhat more Presbyterian in her approach but just as adept
A CHARITY for the homeless in Darlington was joined by the town's mayor to help to celebrate its fifth anniversary last night. First Stop, in Tubwell Row, offers advice and guidance to the homeless but helps them with far more than just housing. Ten staff
STUDENTS from a Darlington college have sampled military life - by taking part in a team-building challenge with the Territorial Army. Six GNVQ business students at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College attended Bramble Hill Farm, Middlesbrough, for a series
A TEENAGER whose body was pulled from the River Wear was drunk and abusive on the night he died, a court heard yesterday. Witnesses told how John Chipp, 18, swore and caused trouble in a takeaway shop before his death. Mr Chipp, of Castletown, Sunderland
A WINDOW cleaner who drove while disqualified escaped a prison sentence yesterday so he could continue his business. David Dove, 29, of East Mount Road, Darlington, had pleaded guilty at a previous court hearing to driving while disqualified. Yesterday
TWO sumo wrestlers in tutus, Bob the Builder and a punk flexed, stretched and strained in the name of charity. Fifteen women took part in a fancy dress aerobics class at Haughton Youth Centre, Darlington, to raise money for Children in Need. The entertaining
WALKERS who stepped out for a good cause raised £75 for a children's charity. Auckland Amblers collected money for Save The Children during a special two-mile walk last Thursday. Members decided to raise money for the charity to thank Asda supermarket
A TEESSIDE mother-of-two who suffered from severe diabetes took her own life after the illness became too much for her to bear, an inquest heard. Joanne Sexton, 38, of Clydach Grove, Ingleby Barwick, died in North Tees University Hospital on April 7 after
LICENSEES Peter Lockwood and Cecilia Purse say they are not natural gardeners - but their talents have still won them an award. The pair share the task of tending the hanging baskets and beer garden at the Turk's Head, the pub they run in Low Skellgate
LIKE Great Britain and the US, men and women are divided by a common language, and that chasm will widen as the social calendar gears up in the coming weeks. Faced with an invitation, a woman says: "But I haven't a thing to wear." The average male's response
A NEW helpline has been launched to give people advice about a recycling initiative. Sedgefield Borough Council is launching a telephone line for its Kerb-it Recycling service to help people to understand how the scheme works, get their opinions and ensure
RESIDENTS fed-up with planning applications being submitted which will change the appearance of their village are holding a meeting tonight. During the past few years, Stockton Borough Council has been inundated with planning applications from developers
THE police authority is looking for a volunteer secretary for a community policing group. The job involves basic secretarial duties, such as minute-taking and setting agendas for quarterly meetings of the Harrogate Community and Police Group (CaP). Previous
POLICE have targeted Ryedale in the latest in a series of no-crime days. The days are being run across North Yorkshire and involve police officers, the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and council officers. In Ryedale, 107 people were
CRAFTSWOMEN from across Britain have contributed to a collection of quilts on show in the region. The Nineties Collection, at the Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate provides a colourful snapshot of the best of British quilt-making from the end of the 20th
A housing modernisation programme has been unveiled for parts of Teesside. The east Cleveland Coast and Country Housing Association is to spend £60m upgrading homes on the edge of Middlesbrough. The four-year programme will be carried out by Coast and
POLICE are planning a sweep through a community in a concerted effort to clamp down on troublemakers and to help dispel the fear of crime. Durham Constabulary's StreetSafe: Fighting the Fear of Crime campaign will move into Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street
REGULARS at a village pub have raised more than £2,000 for charity. Over the past year the Cricketers pub, in Coxhoe, near Durham, held fundraising events, organised by landlady Shirley Armstrong. They included an exhibition of dolls houses, plus a cricket
NORTHALLERTON'S new town manager has been appointed. Geraint Williams, who has worked as a town manager in both Stockton and Redcar, has accepted the post and will start in January. Mr Williams, who lives in South Kilvington, near Thirsk, with his wife
PEOPLE ignoring court fines on Teesside face Christmas behind bars. Hundreds of not so artful dodgers have already realised there is no escaping the long arm of the law. More than 220 people found themselves escorted to their local police station by police
A WOMAN who set fire to her home was unlikely to start more blazes, a court was told yesterday. A psychiatrist reported that Amanda Jane Westcough, 37, was not a fire risk for the future. Westcough, of Brunswick Avenue, Teesville, pleaded guilty at Teesside
A COUPLE who were spat at by youths during a visit to market town have vowed never to return. The incident came to light during a discussion of anti-social behaviour at a meeting of North Yorkshire County councillors, in Harrogate. Chairman of the area
THE Tanfield Group is planning to finance its expansion by placing £3m-worth of shares on the stock exchange. The manufacturer of engineered metal and plastic components, based at Stanley, County Durham, has nearly doubled its workforce in the past year
ANDY Jordan last night waved goodbye to Hartlepool. The defender, signed in the summer of 2003, has not appeared in Pool's first team since the win at Stockport in October last year. After being omitted from the reserve team, the son of former Leeds and
FEMALE footballers will not be kicking their heels over the usual festive lay-off this year, thanks to a new indoor soccer venue in Durham. The recently opened £2m Soccarena development, at Belmont, has answered the call from teams unable to play their
A 21-YEAR-OLD father who has already been to prison five times was jailed yesterday for stealing alcohol. In September, Timothy Horrigan was with a gang of people when he stole £113.63 of alcohol from Asda, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, while on
PRODUCERS of a community play are looking for aspiring actors to help develop the script. Already, 70 people have shown an interest in the Richmondshire Community Play project. Nine performance dates and venues have been confirmed for the summer. North
TATTOOED from head to toe and weighing 20 stones, Earl Kauffman knows more than most about prejudice. For the past eight years, he has been touring schools in his native US and the UK as Scary Guy, preaching a message of tolerance and anti-bullying to
RETAIL sales volumes fell by more than expected last month. The decline of 0.4 per cent was at odds with a 0.3 per cent improvement forecast by some analysts and was sharply lower than the 1.1 per cent gain seen the previous month. The latest figures
NATIONWIDE customers have benefited by about £300m in the past six months, the building society said yesterday as it announced record first-half pre-tax profits. Britain's biggest mutual said its members had enjoyed better interest rates and lower fees
WORKERS at BPI's Stockton site are expected to start an overtime ban next week as part of industrial action following a pay dispute. Union officials said a strike decision had been delayed until the start of next week, when a meeting will be held with
IT'S the bane of many women's life, but being pear-shaped could actually be good for you. Experts believe that waist measurement, rather than overall weight is more accurate at predicting future health problems, so people with fat around the stomach -
DARLINGTON'S 30-27 defeat away to third-placed Tynedale underlined how little there is to choose between all but the top and bottom teams in National Three North this season. Darlington are fourth from the bottom but have picked up a bonus point for losing
SCIENCE and technology companies across the region were given a boost last night when a £35m venture capital fund was launched. Nstar has launched the North-East Co-investment fund to work with trade investors and other venture capital funds to increase
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT prices have remained stable, with most local activity on loading the boats that are in. It looks as if it is getting harder to sell some of the borderline biscuit wheats, as end users are now more demanding. Following
BURKE'S Peerage, the ultimate guide to the "who's who" of titled people, is spreading its wings and will soon be featuring the great and good of Yorkshire in a new regional publication. The UK's most famous heritage publishing company, which is based
A SHOCKING and bloody tragedy features as the third play in the RSC's Golden Age season. Based on an Old Testament tale, it is the story of King David's daughter, Tamar, who exacts revenge on her brother Amnon after he rapes her. It is a brutal and premeditated
What Labour?: Writing to those who 'have lost confidence' in Labour, David Lindsay, of Lanchester, (Advertiser, November 13) appeals to all who share his aspirations to 'come home' to the Labour party. The disillusionment and sheer disgust of many former
AN Internet company based in a North Yorkshire farm is keeping ahead of the competition thanks to a capital grant. AmpleBosom.com, which supplies lingerie mostly for larger women, has received £16,000 to help convert a redundant pig shed into a warehouse
BLAYDON continue to pay a huge price for reaching the third round of the Powergen Cup for the first time as they haven't won a game since the second round. Skipper Dave Guthrie broke his chest bone in the victory over Division Two club Wharfedale on October
THE Government must adopt a new agenda for equality if it is to solve the growing problem of racism, a leading campaigner said last night. Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, speaking in Darlington, said no one would vote
FUTURE chancellors of Durham University are to be offered a fixed-term appointment. The university is seeking a successor for the popular Sir Peter Ustinov, who performed the role for 12 years until his death in March, at the age of 82. He was the second
BABYCARE retailer Mothercare says it has recovered from a hiccup in its sales revival. The group told investors that like-for-like sales grew by 0.5 per cent in the five weeks to November 12, recovering from a 0.2 per cent fall in the previous 13 weeks
Gateshead Council is celebrating after achieving a three-star rating for its social services department. The rating follows a visit from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The authority is one of only 20 in England to be awarded top marks
A TEENAGER has won a place in the British boys' judo squad only two months after moving to the country. Jan Gosiewski, 16, came to the North-East in September with his parents from Gdansk, in Poland, and has since been combining his AS-level studies with
A FAMILY has won its 50-year fight for justice, after an inquest ruled the death of an airman during secret nerve gas experiments was unlawful. Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison, 20, of Consett, died in May 1953 after being exposed to the deadly nerve
A HOSPITAL radio station is looking for new members to help keep patients entertained. Darlington Memorial Hospital's station, Radio Skerne, has been broadcasting for almost 20 years, but needs more volunteers. The station has live shows each week night
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson believes winger Neil Wainwright is setting an example other players in his squad would do well to follow. Wainwright was one of seven whose name was circulated for loan or transfer last month. Hodgson insists the measure
RESIDENTS in Egglescliffe are claiming a victory for people power after plans to demolish the Rookery and Sunnymount and replace them with new houses and flats were refused. Stockton Council's planning committee voted unanimously against the proposals
AN AWARD-WINNING dairy farm is now home to an impressive new equestrian centre, offering livery stables for up to 90 horses. Robin and Pat Dickson have farmed the 278-acre Upsall Grange Farm, Nunthorpe, since 1969 and the dairy herd, well known on the
POLICE are investigating the death of another soldier at Europe's biggest Army base. A 34-year-old man was found hanged in a store room at the Somme Barracks, in Catterick Garrison, at 9.40am on Wed-nesday. The soldier, who will not be named until next
The drain on the nation's finances caused by avoidable illnesses is unsustainable and I'm delighted that the Government has realised it's time to act. But, unfortunately, the smoking ban proposals as they stand will do nothing to reduce the North-South
POLICE took to the streets last night to gather information about a sex attack. A week after a 17-year-old college student was set upon by three men wielding sticks in Durham, detectives and plain-clothed officers spoke to people in and around New Elvet
REDCAR MP Vera Baird has been named as backbencher of the year. She received the accolade at The Spectator magazine-sponsored Parliamentarian of the Year awards in London. The human rights barrister was commended for speaking up for pensioners and holding
POLICE investigating a sex attack on a 17-year-old student have traced a couple who could hold vital information. But they are still seeking other people who were in New Elvet, Durham City, late last Thursday night when the slightly-built victim, who
TEN-YEAR-OLD Max Coates from Scorton, near Richmond, was racing at the Rowrah kart circuit last weekend and left the Cumbrian venue with a well-deserved victory. Saturday's practice was not going well for the Coates Garage Team, with engine problems meaning
A heroic ship's engineer has told how he helped to avert a major disaster when an oil tanker loaded with 300 tons of fuel caught fire. Derek Davison, 59, was left traumatised by the blast and fire on his ship, The Border Heather, at BP's Grangemouth oil
More than half the UK is overweight and there are fears that obese children might die before their parents. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson investigates new North-East efforts to fight the flab. WHEN 50 people turned up on the first night of a new style
THE encouragement of champion jockey Tony McCoy has helped a ten-year-old girl achieve considerable success in the show ring. Lucie McKenzie, from Stillington, near Stockton, hopes to one day emulate her idol by making a name for herself in the racing
A WEDDING reception ended in violence and the arrest of two guests after a third had a finger broken, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates were told how Julie Eaton was set upon by her sister, Tracy Keys, 37, and Paul Sykes, 29, after he and
A DEADLY legacy of industrial heritage has been revealed after a widow was given £85,000 following her husband's asbestos-related death. Figures have revealed that Teesside accounts for one in ten deaths from the disease in Britain. The situation is expected
ORGANISERS of a charity event are angry that their advertising sign was torn down by council officials in Richmond. Sue Wood and her husband, Mike, who voluntarily run the town's Richmondshire Museum, have always advertised the main fundraiser of the
Truants (BBC1) A STAGGERING £650m has been put into the campaign to get children back into school. And when you're spending that amount of money tackling truancy, you want everyone to know, so you get a BBC camera crew to spend a year on the streets with
SENIOR councillors in Darlington have agreed to press on with plans to create a new "pedestrian heart" for the town centre. Cabinet members approved the revamp on Tuesday - despite a swell of protest and concerns about some aspects of the scheme. In recent
Howard Johnson added another high-profile horse to his Crook string yesterday when leaving the Doncaster November Sales with Vodafone Derby fourth Percussionist. The son of Sadler's Wells had been expected to top a quiet week at the sale, and the three-year-old
TEENAGE football manager David Bogg had the best result of his life last night when he was crowned the Local Hero of 2004. David, 14, was the star of the night at The Northern Echo's annual tribute to the heroes of grassroots sport, which attracted a
GRAEME Souness seemed to be hinting this week that we're a bunch of whingers in the North-East. He's not alone in that view - county cricketers from outside the region who have come to play for Durham have formed much the same opinion. It could be dry
FOR huntsman Joe Townsend, yesterday began, like every other day, with a 6.30am start to exercise more than 100 hounds - despite the fact that 230 miles away in Whitehall, the sport that is his livelihood was about to be banned. The Old English foxhounds
The drain on the nation's finances caused by avoidable illnesses is unsustainable and I'm delighted that the Government has realised it's time to act. But, unfortunately, the smoking ban proposals as they stand will do nothing to reduce the North-South
AN amateur theatre group is looking for someone to bring a touch of glamour to the cast of its latest production, after a long-standing member announced her retirement. Consett, Blackhill and Shotley Bridge (CBS) amateur operatic society is appealing
THE search for a fishing boat with two brothers on board was called off last night. The operation was cancelled after a 24-hour search over a wide expanse of the North Sea failed to find the 32ft steel-hulled Jan Denise II. Bobby Temple, 32, and his brother
From The Big Show to the Dales Diary, for more than 40 years independent television has had a regional flavour. But the approach of all-digital TV could bring this to an end. Nick Morrison reports. DICKIE Henderson had flu and couldn't make it, but Jill
DETECTIVES believe out-of-work actor Stephen Milburn may have been dead for up to three weeks before his body was found. The divorced father-of-two was discovered in his two-bedroomed council house in Coxhoe, near Durham City, on Sunday. The 43-year-old
A PROTESTOR has attacked supporters of Redcar's controversial £55m Coatham Enclosure scheme and is determined to try to block the proposals in court. In front of a packed audience, local comedian Chris McGlade appealed for help to raise the £5,000 needed
TROOPS have returned to the region after a six-month tour in Iraq. More than 400 soldiers from the 8 Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps have arrived back in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, after saying farewell to their families in May. The
A JUDGE has criticised the Army for not protecting a soldier shot dead by a North-East lance corporal who had been on an all-day drinking binge. Justice McLaughlin said the Army was "institutionally wrong" to allow soldiers to drink heavily while having
WATER bosses say a mains that burst for the second time in 18 months could be replaced in the near future. Thousands of pounds of damage was caused when the 11-inch mains burst near the traffic lights in New Elvet near the junction with the Old Elvet
THE man at the centre of the controversy surrounding Cleveland Police's financial fiasco has left the force amid secrecy nine months after he was suspended. Steve Preval, the former director of finance and commissioning, was suspended when a £7.3m shortfall
SCORES of children went home last night with smiles on their faces - and lots of yellow paint. Dawn Knight painted more than 70 pupils to look like BBC Children in Need mascot Pudsey Bear. Mrs Knight, 36, took on a challenge to face-paint every child
THE illumination of a 60ft tower, designed as a landmark gateway to County Durham, has failed to impress. The £60,000 sculpture stands on the A689 on the Sedgefield to Wynyard dual carriageway and has the words "County Durham" down its length. The sculpture
A PASSIONATE Michael Hunter last night predicted fireworks when Marc Callaghan renews a two-year feud to challenge the Hartlepool boxer for his British title tonight. Reigning super-bantamweight champion Hunter has just one blemish on an otherwise perfect
MIDDLE EAST: I HOPE for a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. With the death of Yasser Arafat, many are talking of new opportunities for dialogue with a new Palestinian leadership. Let's hope so. I am sure, however, that
A DARLINGTON woman has been jailed after breaking two drug treatment and testing orders. Linda Dodsworth, 19, of Melsonby Crescent, was sent to prison for three months by Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday. Magistrates heard Dodsworth had stolen
Parking problem: On Saturday, October 30, at about 5pm, I parked my car on the edge of the pavement in front of my book shop, The Bookcase, on Front Street, Chester-le-Street. I was parked there - only for about five minutes - to loadbooks I deliver to
OFFENDERS in Darlington are to be targeted in a crackdown on drug-driven crime. Criminals will be offered rehabilitation in a new approach that works on the basis that prevention is better than cure. Some of the town's most active criminals are hooked
A MAN with a drink problem was jailed yesterday after punching and kicking his girlfriend and threatening to hit her with her stiletto boot. Debra Luck had tried to end her relationship with Andrew John Lee, of East Mount Road, Darlington, just days before
PEOPLE in the Haughton area of Darlington will show their support for a campaign to keep the town tidy at the weekend. Residents will carry out a litter pick along the banks of the River Skerne, between Great Burdon and Mill Lane. The group will also
A THREAT of closure could be lifted from a nursing home, following an agreement reached between health chiefs and the owner. Barry Parvin, proprietor of the Graceland Care Home, at Guisborough, east Cleveland, said after a meeting with Langbaurgh Primary
A COMMUNITY group has been thanked for helping to raise money for a lifeboat station after thieves stole the stock from its charity souvenir shop. Last month, thieves smashed their way into Redcar Lifeboat Station and stole every item on sale, including
YOUNG people in Newton Aycliffe are celebrating the opening of a new £500,000 town park specifically designed with them in mind. The park, off Burn Lane, has been created on the former Avenue Comprehensive playing fields, to give youngsters a place to
A REJECTED mistress kicked her former lover's wife twice in the head during a street brawl, causing severe facial injuries, a court heard yesterday. Tracy Ann Blackburn, 33, of Neasham Road, Darlington, got into a fight with Lesley Baker outside the Royal
