ONE of the largest - and perhaps the most unusual, mixed-use development in the region - is Middlehaven. Work has started on the realisation of the £500m dream to transform 250 acres of waterfront wasteland into an architectural icon. Thousands of jobs
PUPILS from Darlington's Joanne Lowe School of Dance, and the Pam Tallentire Studio of Dance, are celebrating their success in the International Dance Teachers' Association examinations. Joanne Lowe School of Dance awards: One dance: Tyler Lowe (commended
PUPILS from Darlington's Joanne Lowe School of Dance, and the Pam Tallentire Studio of Dance, are celebrating their success in the International Dance Teachers' Association examinations. Joanne Lowe School of Dance awards: One dance: Tyler Lowe (commended
A JUDGE has spared an attacker from prison after hearing of his good work with elderly people and disabled children. Scott Sherlock was told he had come close to being locked up for an unprovoked assault on a man who was out drinking with friends shortly
A GROUP of Newcastle youngsters got a taste of stardom when they performed in a musical in Cambridge. The eight girls are now in secondary schools, but were pupils at Moorside Community Primary School when they performed in a show called Dreams of Mother
FORESTRY workers are ensuring that people think "green" in more than one way during the Christmas period. Hundreds of trees are on sale in Hamsterley Forest from 10am to 4pm each day until December 22, with some of the proceeds going to care for the region's
TRIBUTES have been paid to a professional golfer who has died. Fred Thorpe, 67, of Wathcote Place, Richmond, North Yorkshire, died suddenly after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm last Monday. Mr Thorpe, who was originally from Cheshire, joined the
ROBBERS armed with a penknife and a metal pipe raided a shop at the weekend. Two men in black balaclavas burst into the Co-op store in Cleveland Road, North Shields, North Tyneside, at about 6.25pm on Sunday. One wielding a penknife set off an alarm to
Three children from Thornaby have won the honour of designing their Teesside MP's Christmas cards. The winners were Sabaa Ahmed, ten, of Mandale Hill Primary, Charlotte Good, ten, of Christ the King RC Primary and Mustafa Khan, six, of Harewood Infants
A CHARITY that offers people with learning disabilities the chance to express themselves through art has opened its own gallery. Heart House Studios, based in Front Street, Lanchester, will be a permanent base for Real Lives: Real Choices. The building
A STRIKE at a plastics factory has been postponed until further notice. Up to 180 workers at BPI's Stockton plant, also known as Visqueen, had voted to take part in three one-day stoppages, starting tomorrow, over pay. But following a last-ditch meeting
An initiative is being launched in Hartlepool today to try to reduce accidents and make the town's roads safer. The Responsible Driver Campaign is the idea of Mayor Stuart Drummond who is urging people to sign up. It involves safety-conscious motorists
A SMOKER has raised money for a disabled child by kicking the habit after many years. June Peel, 47, of Northallerton, finally got the incentive she needed to quit smoking after hearing about four-year-old Joshua Peacock, who has a rare form of cerebral
TWO lords returned to where it all began for them yesterday - to open a unit at their former school. Lord Darlington and Lord Mackenzie were friends at Dodmire Infants School, in Darlington, in 1948. They went back to school yesterday to open a £160,000
FATHER Christmas will return with free treats for shoppers in two towns next week. Santa Claus, invited by Derwentside Leisure Services, will take his elves and a sack of presents to Middle Street, Consett, on Monday, December 13, from 6pm to 7pm. He
BOOK-lovers in some of the remotest parts of North Yorkshire will soon have more space to browse - thanks to a new mobile library. A new "supermobile" is about to take to the roads to reach the more rural communities. The new vehicle, which is 12 metres
Carers in Darlington can attend a surgery explaining the benefits they are entitled to. The event takes place at West Lodge, West Crescent, on Friday, from 10.30am to 3pm. The surgery is a joint venture between Darlington Association on Disability, the
VOLUNTEERS Susan Morley and Caroline Howgate have been recognised for their work at Firthmoor Community Centre. The pair have received certificates in community volunteering after working for six months in a variety of disciplines, including management
Davey Jones knew marble halls and London balls, played in an Arsenal youth team front three which also embraced Charlie George and Ray Kennedy, was tipped no less spectacularly to succeed. Thirty seven years later, Davey Jones's soccer is played with
Less than a year after celebrating its 40th birthday, Top of the Tops is to leave BBC1 in an admission that an attempted revamp has failed. Nick Morrison asks if its downfall is a sign of the changing music market. PERHAPS only Pan's People could have
A scheme to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill sites has been started by a conservation group. Teesdale Conservation Volunteers, in Startforth, near Barnard Castle, have set up a furniture recycling scheme called Freecycle. People can donate
A scheme to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill sites has been started by a conservation group. Teesdale Conservation Volunteers, in Startforth, near Barnard Castle, have set up a furniture recycling scheme called Freecycle. People can donate
A PRIMARY school has opened a library with a difference to encourage its pupils to enjoy learning with their families. Hutton Rudby Primary School's sack library is made up of 50 large colourful bags containing a mix of fiction and non-fiction books,
SMOKERS will be encouraged to dispose of their litter responsibly this weekend. Darlington Borough Council's environmental and recycling teams will be highlighting the problem of smoking- related litter on Saturday. Officers will be in the Market Square
SHOPPERS are being urged to help a charity campaign. After the huge success of a "spectacles amnesty", when more than 2,000 pairs of glasses were donated to charity, Specsavers is raising money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The opticians
SHOPPERS are being urged to help a charity campaign. After the huge success of a "spectacles amnesty", when more than 2,000 pairs of glasses were donated to charity, Specsavers is raising money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The opticians
BUSINESSES on Teesside have been targeted as part of a fax machine scam. Companies in the Hartlepool area have received a single page fax, purportedly from an Indian firm, saying the sender wants to sell the firm's fax number. The fax goes on to say that
A COUNCIL that was heavily criticised after a Government inspection has unveiled its plans for recovery. Teesdale District Council was given a grading of poor in a comprehensive performance assessment published earlier this year. The report also said
MORE than 20 politics students from Darlington will travel to Westminster tomorrow to question their MP about the workings of Parliament. Alan Milburn, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, set up the trip to reward high-achieving students from Queen
MORE than 20 politics students from Darlington will travel to Westminster tomorrow to question their MP about the workings of Parliament. Alan Milburn, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, set up the trip to reward high-achieving students from Queen
CAMPAIGNERS say they feel bitter that facilities provided by a 100-year-old hospital have not been saved. Health bosses made the decision to close Homelands Community Hospital, in Helmington Row, Crook, saying that the 101-year-old building was no longer
OTTAKAR'S Bookstore in Darlington has unveiled an exclusive new range of local history products. The range of books, stationery and gifts has been produced with publisher Francis Frith, and will be appreciated by anyone with a love of Darlington and its
In the first of a three part series, Business Echo looks at the commerce behind the region's top football clubs, starting this week with Middlesbrough FC. Busines Correspondent Paul Willis reports. WITH the football team riding high in the Premiership
AN RAF squadron has returned after completing an arduous eight-week jungle survival course. Members of No 34 Squadron, based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, lived in hammocks and faced daily trials to find enough to eat and drink. Their only conciliation
A COUPLE have stepped in to try and prevent the axe falling on a village's only telephone box - by sponsoring it. The villagers of Laverton, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, who recently lost their only community facility - the Methodist chapel - could save
THE sound of brass band music is to return to a museum which used to be famous for its open air concerts. The annual Teesdale Brass Band Contest, which until now has taken place in a village school, is to be held in future in the grounds of the Bowes
EastEnders (BBC1) Bomber Crew (Ch4) WILL someone please tell Dennis Rickman to choose between his teenage girlfriend and his sister? The tiresome threesome has been going on for far too long and now I don't really care whose bed he finally decides to
A TAXIDERMIST who knocked the stuffing out of a gang of burglars has been hailed a hero by a judge. Eric Morton's courage in trying to stop the men, even though he was outnumbered, was praised by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court, who awarded him £500
LAND Securities, which owns The Gate in Newcastle, The Bridges in Sunderland and Retail World in Gateshead, has appointed KATHERINE LIGHT as portfolio manager. She joins the Land Securities team in the north from the Leeds office of Donaldsons chartered
A NORTH-East pipe specialist has won a lucrative contract in Australia. Pipe Equipment Specialists (PEL) Limited is a major supplier and hirer of equipment to the pipe and cable laying market. It designs,manufactures and sells products for water and gas
TWO years ago, Teesside couple Geoff and Chris Baxter's lives were in turmoil. Geoff's 20-year career in manufacturing was cut short by redundancy and the couple were forced to remortgage their home as Geoff's search for a new job proved fruitless. When
A firm of architects in the North-East has given itself a new look. The branding and name for Niven Architects was unveiled at an evening reception for more than 150 clients of the practice in Coniscliffe Road, Darlington. Formerly Niven and Niven, the
Housekeepers are the latest weapon in a North-East hospital's drive to improve patient care. Following a successful pilot last year Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital has employed 18 housekeepers in medical and surgical wards across the hospital including
RECRUITMENT agency North-East Workforce has announced three appointments. NICOLA JOHNSON, a former account manager for Nexus, has joined NEWcom, the organisation's administration and call centre recruitment operation. KEVIN LILLIE, previously operations
SOLICITOR and tax advisor SIMON BRITON has returned to the North-East from London to take up a post with law firm Ward Hadaway. Former Durham University student Mr Briton, 28, who specialises in tax, will join Ward Hadaway's corporate finance team. He
SHANGHAI Auto is a relatively small player in the global cars market, but it has big plans. Through joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors it sold 612,000 cars last year, a 57 per cent increase on the previous year. Its factory, in a modern
THE sound of brass band music is to return to a museum which used to be famous for its open air concerts. The annual Teesdale Brass Band Contest, which until now has taken place in a village school, is to be held in future in the grounds of the Bowes
THREE youngsters are to compete against the very best after qualifying for the World Irish Dancing Championships. Richard Feather, 12, Frances Finn, 11, and Rachael Baty, 12, will travel to Ennis, Ireland, in March, for the competition. They are members
Party plan demonstrators, Northallerton. £200-£500pw. 20-40hpw. No experience needed. Ref: NAL 268. Salesperson. Meets NMW. 40hpw. No previous experience required as full training will be given. Ref: NAL 515. Housekeeping manager, Thirsk. £13,000pa, 37hpw
A SINGER billed as Europe's No 1 Elvis impersonator is to give a concert in the North-East on what would have been the legend's 70th birthday. Neil Glass, who uses the stage name Elvis Glass, will appear in the show at the Jersey Farm Hotel in Barnard
A MAN is facing a possible prison sentence after admitting causing injuries to a six-week-old baby boy. Paul Barton, 26, pleaded guilty to a single count of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm to the boy, at a brief hearing at Durham
RMN nurse, Consett. 40hrs pw, Mon-Sun, shifts over 24 hrs. Must be qualified mental health or adolescent nurse with similar experience. Ref: CON 18342. Office cleaner, Pelton Fell. £5ph, 15hrs pw, 8-11am, Mon-Fri. Required for general office cleaning.
Mortgage approvals have fallen to their lowest level for nearly five years but economists said the overall picture pointed to a levelling out rather than a crash in the property market. They said the data suggested the market was stabilising after an
WORKERS in Chester-le-Street clock up more hours than anyone else in the North-East and North Yorkshire - but people in Redcar and Cleveland take home the biggest pay packets. New statistics have revealed big differences in the number of hours worked
FARMERS who support hunting with dogs are threatening to refuse access to their land. Hunt masters meeting to discuss the ban on the sport said landowners would be 'bloody minded' when bodies such as utility engineers, council officials or the Army asked
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. RMN nurse, Consett. 40hrs pw, Mon-Sun, shifts over 24 hrs. Must be qualified mental health or adolescent nurse with similar experience. Ref: CON 18342. Office cleaner
For one young man the sight of model- turned-actress Kelly Brook in the flesh was too much. "Oh my God. Oh my God," he kept repeating, along with less printable comments about her figure, as she paused on the red carpet, posing for the camera on his mobile
THE forgotten works of one of the North-East's favourite playwrights will be published this week. Tom Hadaway's The Prison Plays, two full-length and two short plays, were inspired by his time as the first writer in residence at Durham Prison in 1986.
MOVES by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou to launch a low-cost mobile service have been boosted by an agreement to rent airtime from T-Mobile. The entrepreneur expects the joint venture - allowing users to go online to order Sim cards and airtime
JULIE CURRY has joined North-East fund manager NEL as a marketing assistant. She takes responsibility for maintaining and developing relationships with intermediaries, which include some of the region's accountants and bankers, and for managing the company's
SUDAN: I AM writing to ask your readers to support Unicef's work in Darfur, Sudan, where we are deeply concerned about increased violence against children. Unicef staff working in the troubled region are reporting an increasing number of people arriving
THE captain of one of the Royal Navy's biggest ships visited a small school yesterday - and invited all 12 of its pupils to spend a lively time at sea with him as soon as he can arrange it. Captain Jerry Stanford, commander of HMS Bulwark, spent two hours
Ian Bell has taken two years to shrug off the disappointment of being snubbed by selectors - and now wants to establish himself in the England team. The Warwickshire batsman won the man-of-the-match award on his one-day international debut on Sunday,
A NORTH-EAST community's 50-year wait for a bypass ended in celebration yesterday when a Government inspector cleared the way for the £5m route to go ahead. The A688 West Auckland bypass will halve traffic through the centre of the village, improving
DISCOUNT retailer Aldi is planning to open 200 stores as part of a £500m expansion drive over the next seven years. The German chain, which is the ninth-largest retailer in Europe by sales volumes, has 278 outlets in the UK but believes it can eventually
LEARNING training provider PP Training has appointed SUE SIMMONS as audit manager. Having worked with the Jarrow company in her previous role as auditor for a national learndirect provider, Ms Simmons, from Washington, Wearside, is responsible for examining
A TEENAGER subjected to a terrifying sex assault was saved when her screams for help were heard by a late-night reveller. The 18-year-old, who had been visiting a friend, was yards from her home in Stockton in the early hours of Saturday when she was
KENNEL bosses have been inundated with offers to re-home a puppy found at the bottom of a wheelie bin. The six-week-old mongrel - named Dusty - was nearly thrown out with the rubbish. It was only by chance that she was discovered at the rear of Donnison
NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd last night launched a withering attack on Premiership rivals Manchester United, claiming the former champions were drifting "like a ship without a sail". Speaking at the annual Soccerex conference in Dubai, Shepherd
CHILDREN and young people in the North-East are being urged to raise thousands of pounds for charity by taking part in the Big Hush. The sponsored silence takes place on Friday, January 28, and will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Research. Primary
NOW let's get this straight... The Cornforths are not Catholics, they don't live on benefits, neither do they live in a couple of council houses knocked together. "But that's the sort of thing people immediately think when you say you've got ten children
NEW allegations of gang rape, systematic bullying and sexual harassment at Deepcut barracks reignited the debate over abuse in the Army last night. A leaked police report contains more than 100 allegations of serious abuse at the Surrey training camp,
YOUNG patients can breathe easy after fundraising by insurance brokers BiB paid for specialist equipment. Babies and children suffering from pneumonia, bronch-ialitis and other conditions affecting breathing can be monitored more closely at Darlington
KENNEL bosses have been inundated with offers to re-home a puppy found at the bottom of a wheelie bin. The six-week-old mongrel - named Dusty - was nearly thrown out with the rubbish. It was only by chance that she was discovered at the rear of Donnison
IT is already under fire for its gruesome alternative to the traditional Santa's Grotto - but the unrepentant team behind the region's goriest attraction is now going one step further. The York Dungeon set up a grim and macabre Satan's Grotto as a bizarre
FILM star Kelly Brook yesterday revealed how seducing her Hollywood actor boyfriend helped her get in character for a North-East movie. The former Big Breakfast presenter was on Tyneside for the premiere of her new film, School for Seduction. Her private
AT first sight, one of the UK's most popular showmen looks pale and sounds husky as he arrives in full evening suit to front the opening number with his guests, the London Gospel Choir. Alone with pianist/confidante Mike Alexander and his orchestra, Wilmot
THE man charged with ensuring Labour wins the next General Election last night denied the party's drive to retain power was already under way, after unveiling a new advertising campaign. Darlington MP Alan Milburn was at the MetroCentre, in Gateshead,
THE merger of North Yorkshire's historic regiments, based in Richmond and York, will be sealed within the next few weeks. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon will insist the shake-up must go ahead to cut waste and boost recruitment in Britain's remaining 19
SUNDERLAND are preparing for a post-Christmas battle with Everton to retain the services of talented Northern Ireland full-back George McCartney. McCartney's form for the Black Cats over the past 16 months has caught the eye of many club managers but
ACCOUNTANCY firm Baker Tilly, based in Newcastle, has appointed nine recruits. The St James's Gate firm has recently appointed three accounts assistants, ERNEST DODDS, VICTORIA COLE and VICTORIA HOGG, from local accounting firms. On the marketing side
ELDERLY people faced an unexpected delay in collecting their pensions in Darlington yesterday. Lengthy queues formed early in the morning at the Crown Street post office, in the town centre, after computer problems caused delays. A spokeswoman said: "
A PRIMARY school has opened a library with a difference to encourage its pupils to enjoy learning with their families. Hutton Rudby Primary School's sack library consists of 50 large colourful bags containing a mix of fiction and non-fiction books, games
IF you have a phobia, Matt Hudson wants to hear from you. The Newcastle behavioural consultant, who claims he can deprogramme people to cure all kinds of phobias, is looking for people with a problem to benefit from free therapy. The clinical hypnotherapist
CITY chiefs raised a glass of wine as a German festive market opened yesterday. Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Jim Scott and council leader Bob Symonds opened the German Christmas market in Sunderland's recently refurbished Market Square. The attraction
TWO people are to appear before Teesside Crown Court charged with causing the death of a two-year-old girl by dangerous driving. Demi Schwec died of brain damage after being struck by a car near her home in Loftus, east Cleveland, on September 9, an inquest
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram today ruled out a public inquiry into the latest allegations of abuse of recruits at the Deepcut army training camp. But he said a further review by ''a fully independent figure'' would be carried out, with details to
CUISINE from across the globe greeted guests at an event to celebrate Hartlepool's ethnic diversity. The Cultural Celebration Event was held at the Grange Road Methodist Church with the aim of bringing together the town's ethnic communities, and which
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save part of a town's heritage have received a massive financial boost. Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) chiefs have pledged £690,000 towards the redevelopment of Richmond's old station. The Richmondshire Buildings Preservation Trust
POLICE are stepping up street patrols in the hope of curbing the number pensioners being targeted by distraction burglars. In the last two months, teams of conmen, usually posing as workmen from the water board, have targeted at least 60 elderly people
A programme of entertainment has been announced to mark the switching on of the Christmas lights in Consett, this weekend. A Christmas fair takes place in Blackhill and Consett Park, on Saturday, from 3pm. There will be a crafts marquee, fairground rides
RESIDENTS in a former mining community were able to research their family histories at a one-day event. The history open day was organised by Durham County Council at Murton library. The focus of the event was both family histories and past times in the
HARTLEPOOL United go to Oldham tonight in the LDV Vans Trophy, with their away form again under scrutiny. Pool have lost eight League One games on the road this season - winning just once - but in this competition they came away from Carlisle United in
PEOPLE in Hartlepool can now find out about services and jobs from the town council on their home computers. Beginning this week, residents can forward their requests, complaints or complements about any service provided by Hartlepool Borough Council.
PUPILS raised £1,122 in aid of Children In Need by holding a series of fundraising events. The group of sixth formers, from Teesside High School in Eaglescliffe, organised a week of activities involving pupils and staff. The fundraising began with a sponge-the-teacher
IF enjoyment of a play can be measured by body language, then my four-year-old son Jack loved this Northern Stage presentation. It wasn't so much his clapping as his rolling onto his back and kicking his legs in the air with delight that made me realise
THERE must be an election coming. Even the Tories are raising their eyes above their obsessions - Europe and asylum seekers - to talk about the subjects that concern ordinary people most. One of Michael Howard's most eye-catching ideas in his year as
POLICE are investigating the death of a 43-year-old Iraqi national whose body was found at the weekend. The alarm was raised on Saturday by a group of anglers who spotted the man's body in the River Tyne, floating close to the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Wear Valley and Darlington Cats Protection is asking people to support its Feed A Cat appeal this Christmas. Money can be sent to Cats Protection, PO Box 180, Wear Valley, County Durham, DL4 2HA. It can also be donated at an open event on Sunday, from
TRIBUTES have been paid to a professional golfer who has died. Fred Thorpe, 67, of Wathcote Place, Richmond, North Yorkshire, died suddenly after suffering a ruptured aortic aneurysm last Monday. Mr Thorpe, who was originally from Cheshire, joined the
"Marley was dead to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it... Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail." YOU get the posthumous
A REMAND prisoner released by mistake turned up to court for his trial yesterday. A warrant for the arrest of Stephen Reddington was withdrawn after he arrived at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court, County Durham, to plead guilty to behaving violently
The family of a terminally ill cancer patient has said she has been let down by the health service by its failure to provide her with night care. Louie McCrickard, 80, from Gainford, near Barnard Castle, has an aggressive form of bone cancer, which has
A TAXI driver lost six teeth in a shocking attack when two customers turned on him and stole his takings. Pervaiz Deen picked up two men outside the Aruba Bar, in Middlesbrough, who asked to go to Thornaby. During the journey, the men changed their destination
A NORTH-EAST market town has attracted one of the biggest names in the country to turn on its Christmas lights. Middleton-in-Teesdale, in County Durham, which has a population of about 1,500 people, will have the heir to the throne switching on its lights
TWO youngsters were given the chance to see a top band after winning a competition. Stevie and Hollie Stead, from Oxbridge, in Stockton, entered the competition, held by Stockton Borough Council and Galaxy Radio, after reading The Adventures of The Amazing
DARLINGTON trio Craig Hignett, Curtis Fleming and Adolfo Gregorio will step up their recovery from injury at Doncaster Rovers tomorrow. Neil Maddison's reserves take on Rovers at Belle Vue and manager David Hodgson will make the trip to South Yorkshire
Thousands of North-East schoolchildren have been offered the prospect of 21st Century facilities to replace their crumbling classrooms. The Government has announced that Middlesbrough is among ten areas selected for the second phase of an ambitious secondary
A YOUNGSTER has won £100 of designer clothes after taking part in a competition aimed at spotting counterfeit goods. Luke Overton, aged ten, from Billingham, Teesside, won the Spot the Fake competition, at Billingham Show earlier this year, after correctly
A CHARITY that offers people with learning disabilities the chance to express themselves through art has opened its own gallery. Heart House Studios, based in Front Street, Lanchester, will be a permanent base for Real Lives: Real Choices. The building
Rosalind Kerven picks out her favourite reads for little bookworms this Christmas. TODDLERS AND PRE-SCHOOLERS: The Big Baby Bear Book by John Prater (Red Box, £7.99) would be a great present for any toddler. It features lots of favourite nursery rhymes
HEREFORD'S ultra-sharp two-mile track could help Denise Best (2.40) to open her National Hunt account in the Sporting Options Novices' Chase. The Karen George-trained mare, a ten-furlong winner on the level for Mark Johnston at Pontefract this summer,
VICTIMS of bullying have a new online ally. Children and parents in the county county will be able to seek help and advice on how to tackle bullying at the push of a button or the click of a mouse. North Yorkshire's education service has launched its
Police, stores and CCTV operators have launched a Christmas crackdown on shoplifters in Darlington. Late night shopping in the town begins on Thursday, and the campaign to catch thieves is being stepped up because a large proportion of shoplifting crime
A software project that will help eBay fans sell more goods is being launched tomorrow. Computer software company Pixl, which is based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is inviting the public and businesses to the launch of eBaitor, which helps people
THE North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has been named the best in the country. NECC won the award at a ceremony held by the British Chambers of Commerce, in London. The organisation, which has 5,000 members across the North-East, was recognised for
Two of the region's leading chefs are taking to the streets to help shoppers cook up a great Christmas. Martin Charlton, a chef who has cooked throughout Europe for over 21 years and Richard Sim, a former Young Chef of the Year, are holding cookery demonstrations
JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink has predicted Middlesbrough team-mate Stewart Downing will become an England ever-present in the not too distant future. National team coach Sven Goran Eriksson has revealed the rising wing sensation was overlooked for the recent
A REGIONAL anti-fraud forum says businesses should work together to beat economic crime after figures showed fraud costs UK business £100m a day. The North-East Fraud Forum launched the results of the report, which showed economic crime such as fraud,
YESTERDAY marked 100 days since Matthew Pinsent wrote himself into Olympic history by capturing a fourth gold medal. In an age where sportsmen spit at fellow professionals, rake their studs down opponents' calves, gouge, swear and unload all ends of heat-of-the-moment
Middridge CRT rider Noel Clough, a runaway winner of round four of the North Eastern Cyclo-Cross Association points series at Hartlepool, could be heading for a unique North East and Yorkshire league double. Clough, who lives at Northallerton, has twice
Filing and administration clerk. £10,000 to £11,500pa, 40hrs pw. Must have experience of office environment. Ref: DAE 42584. Barber. 30hrs pw. Must have three years' experience. Ref: DAE 42587. Door and window fabricator. 30-40hrs pw. Must be 25-plus.
SWEDISH Bank Handelsbanken, which opened in Newcastle two years ago, has appointed DONNA ORRICK, from Washington, Wearside, as account manager, working with branch manager Kevin Pattison. He said: "Donna brings experience and maturity to a very important
CRISIS-hit home furnishings group Courts has gone into administration after banks pulled the plug on its debts. The troubled company, which was founded in 1850 and has been struggling to restructure debts of £280m, said it would seek to appoint administrators
INSURANCE companies are preparing for claims from people injured in Christmas disasters over the next few weeks. Spilt mulled wine, accidents involving Christmas tree lights and snow melting through leaky roofs and windows are among the problems companies
You couldn't make it up. I mean, I suppose I'm a bit of a satirist - for often the best way to get a point across is to try to help people see the funny side. I liked David Frost's comment years ago on the Homosexual Reform Bill. "I hear they've made
FAMOUS as the winner of football's first World Cup, a North-East village has also enjoyed less favourable notoriety as a bottleneck for frustrated motorists. As far back as anyone can remember, residents of West Auckland, County Durham, have been calling
ONE of the region's largest business parks, which is expected to create up to 15,000 jobs, was launched last week. An open day was held at the site in which a scale-model of the 48-acre Quorum development in Longbenton, Newcastle, was unveiled. The event
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save part of a town's heritage have received a massive financial boost. Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) chiefs have pledged £690,000 towards the redevelopment of Richmond's old station. The Richmondshire Buildings Preservation Trust
CONSULTANCY White Young Green has appointed PETER WELSTEAD as an associate landscape architect to join the team based at the company's Newcastle office. Mr Welstead, who has worked for such organisations as Groundwork South Tees, will be responsible for
EastEnders (BBC1); Bomber Crew (Ch4): WILL someone please tell Dennis Rickman to choose between his teenage girlfriend and his sister? The tiresome threesome has been going on for far too long and now I don't really care whose bed he finally decides to
JERMAINE Jenas has urged Newcastle's fans to give Kieron Dyer an even break after attributing his fellow midfielder's improved form to a more welcoming reception at St James' Park. Dyer has been public enemy number one on Tyneside ever since he refused
Durham Tees Valley Airport is becoming more attractive to international travellers with the help of a makeover. But its neighbouring flying school is also looking at ways of improving its business. Business Editor Julia Breen looks at how Northern Aviation
A FULL military funeral will be held today for soldier Mick Ansell who died last week after a motorbike accident. St Nicholas Cathedral, in Newcastle, will be filled with friends and family of Bombardier Ansell for the service this afternoon. The 30-year-old
Q I work for a firm of property letting agents. The team I work in is really close-knit and we all get on extremely well. One thing is driving me up the wall, however - my boss insists on bringing his dog, a bad-tempered dachshund, into work. I am really
Just as the opening of advent calendars brings joy (and chocolate), the UK Stock Market has a habit of delivering festive cheer in December. With the FTSE 100 continuing to push onto new two year highs, this feature is most welcome. Company profits continue
Back in September, the Teesside Probation Service came up with what on the face of it was an innovative - if rather startling - solution to the serious skill shortage in the North-East labour market: recruit ex-offenders. Although the response of most
A GROUP of Newcastle youngsters got a taste of stardom when they performed in a musical in Cambridge. The eight girls are now in secondary schools, but were pupils at Moorside Community Primary School when they performed in a show called Dreams of Mother
ANN JOHNSON has been appointed as manager at Grainger Land and Regeneration, in Newcastle. She has worked for Grainger Trust for more than seven years, and recently graduated from Northumbria University's department of the built environment with a BA
BNS Telecom has appointed DAVINA OUTHWAITE as customer service director. With 25 years experience, she began her career as the Silentnight Group's first female management trainee and has held senior positions with companies that include Sealy, University
DIDGERIDOO player Kevin Howard overcame severe health and disability to start his own business. Mr Howard turned his hobby into a business and is running "didji" workshops in schools and colleges in the region. The 39-year-old, from Saltburn, Teesside
ANIMAL refuge staff believe they have found the region's unluckiest rabbit. Last Christmas Double Brandy was dumped on the doorstep of a veterinary practice in a box. But far from being a starved waif in need of a good feed, it weighed 6.3kg and had to
A pensioner died after a soldier lost control of his car and crashed into a field causing a frightened horse to run into the road, a court heard. James Balmer, 71, lost his life when he hit the runaway animal as he travelled with his wife along the A1M
A charity will share in Government cash to help people with mental health problems to become self-employed. The Northern Pinetree Trust, at Birtley, Gateshead, is to get £117,950 and is one of 13 projects across the country receiving £1.25m from the Department
A shopping spree has helped to boost the funds of three charities by almost £20,000. Hundreds of people took the opportunity for some early Christmas buying at the Durham Shopping Extravaganza, at the Ramside Hall Hotel, last month. The two-day event,
UK COAL last night said the viability of some under-performing collieries was being reviewed following a disappointing year for the mining group. The UK's biggest mining operator said that while the study would focus on ways to improve operational effectiveness
Across the region, millions of pounds are being ploughed into mixed-use developments, where it is hoped workers will be able to live, play and work together. Business Correspondent Paul Willis reports on a vision for the future. "SUSTAINABLE communities
MORE and more families in the UK are including their cats, dogs, budgies and all manner of other pets in their Christmas celebrations, according to a recent survey. What's more, while three quarters of pets will get a gift or a card, more and more can
PARAMEDICS battled in vain to save a young father after he collapsed in his car suffering an asthma attack. Chris Gibson, 24, was minutes away from hospital, but died despite a roadside effort to save his life. Passing motorists stopped to help and a
A TWO-AND-A-HALF year running battle between a council and local taxi drivers was taken to the High Court yesterday. The court case will set a national precedent on cabbies' driving tests - and is of such significance that Justice Alan Wilkie reserved
DRINKS group Merrydown made a potential takeover deal look sweeter yesterday by posting its first interim profits in four years. Merrydown, which is in the early stages of takeover talks with an unnamed party, said operating profits in the six months
MICHAEL Poole estate agents has appointed SUSAN HORNBY as business development manager for the Tees Valley chain. Ms Hornby, a member of the National Association of Estate Agents, will develop the business and oversee the establishment of an international
RESIDENTS hoping to cash in when the premier date in the racing calendar comes North are being warned they should think again. Next year, Royal Ascot is to be staged in York while redevelopment work takes place at the Berkshire racecourse. There have
A JILTED husband has been jailed for continually ignoring an order barring him from contacting his ex-partner. Mervyn Whitwell has been warned his sentences will be doubled each time he breaches the ban in the future. Whitwell, 55, was jailed for eight
