Archive

  • Home is where the heart is Hodgson tells Armstrong

    IN a week in which the future of Alun Armstrong will be resolved, Darlington manager David Hodgson will urge his leading scorer to carefully consider his options. Even when Armstrong joined the club on a three-month deal in September, clearly stating

  • The 12 wines of Christmas

    I WAS rootling out a few bottles in my cellar the other day and started humming The 12 Days of Christmas. Couldn't get it out of my head, especially the milkmaids. It finally dawned on me that all those leaping lords, French hens and the partridge were

  • Ten of the best - and Coxhoe win it

    Coxhoe Athletic emerged winners following a ten-goal thriller with Wolviston in the second round of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup. Only one goal was scored in the first 45 minutes, when Coxhoe's Phil Best who headed home at the far post. Wolviston levelled

  • Jenny strikes gold, silver and bronze

    A NORTH-EAST student has returned from a major international sports tournament with a fistful of medals after literally bowling over her opponents. Jenny Billingham, 17, of Broompark, near Durham, was part of Great Britain's ten-pin bowling team for the

  • Bernard: Show me the money or I will walk

    OLIVIER BERNARD has reiterated his stance that he will show no hesitation in walking away from Newcastle United if what he regards as a suitable contract is not offered to him. Everton, the club surprisingly occupying a Champions League place, have money

  • Calendar images of city are distributed around the world

    A POPULAR calendar featuring contrasting scenes of a North-East city is being sent around the world. The award-winning Images of Durham calendar, featuring the work of photographer Royston Thomas, who is based in the city, has remained consistently in

  • Tributes to WWII veteran

    A WOMAN who faced many dangers during the Second World War has died at the age of 89. Diana Luxmoore was in charge of a platoon which drove ambulances around London at the height of the blitz before joining a unit which manned anti-aircraft guns to protect

  • Firm plans the next stage of community

    THE latest phase of a scheme to create a community on the edge of Darlington is to go before planners. Bussey and Armstrong has submitted plans to Darlington Borough Council, seeking consent for a community building on the West Park development, at Faverdale

  • Santa to present fruity festive fare

    SANTA and his helpers will today distribute healthy food to North Durham children. The free parcels given out in the Consett and Stanley area are part of the Why 5? project run by Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT). The team from the PCT's health promotion

  • Mary hits the right notes for hospital

    A CHOIR member has raised more than £1,000 for charity through a sponsored hymn sing. Mary Hugill sang for four hours at Danby Wiske Church, accompanied by her friend, Dorothy Hodgson, on the organ. Their efforts raised £1,020, which has been donated

  • Joyful reunion as cat comes home

    A MAN has been reunited with his cat following an appeal published in The Northern Echo. Student David Nelson said he was reading the newspaper when he recognised his cat Drum, which had gone missing four months previously. He is now keen to track the

  • Security cameras help police make arrests

    A CLOSED-circuit television system (CCTV) in part of north Durham played a key role in three arrests in a two-week period during November. Durham Constabulary and members of the Derwentside Safety Partnership have praised the impact of the CCTV system

  • Clubbers to join musical show cast

    TWO North-East clubbers voted top movers on the dance floor will join the cast of a musical this week. Laura Barr, 18, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, and Michael Harriott, from Heat-on, Newcastle, were crowned king and queen of disco in a competition

  • Doctor urges pensioners to come forward for flu jab

    UP TO 5,000 pensioners in Hartlepool are at risk because they have not yet received their flu jab. Around three quarters of the town's 15,400 over-65s have been to their GP to be vaccinated against the illness. However, thousands are still unprotected

  • Film-makers celebrate the Games

    A FILM about a team of young reporters as they covered the Olympic Games has been screened. The group from Hall Garth and King's Manor schools, in Middlesbrough, were given the opportunity to cover the Athens games during the summer. Friends and family

  • Gauntlet cast down to garden designers

    TEN of the country's top landscape designers have been invited to put forward ideas for a £2m transformation of one of the region's gardens. Sunniside Gardens was originally laid out in 1821, but is being redesigned as a centrepiece for the £130m regeneration

  • £100,000 for new footpaths

    Three kilometres of footpaths will be opened at visitor sites in County Durham. Among the sites to benefit will be the Causey Arch area in Stanley, Blackhall Rocks in east Durham, Waldridge Fell Country Park, near Chester-le-Street, and Pow Hill Country

  • Rugby star dies at the age of 33

    NORTH-EAST rugby was rocked at the weekend by news of the death of former West Hartlepool captain and Darlington Mowden Park player-coach Dave Mitchell, aged 33. Hopes were high that he had beaten both cancer and leukaemia, but the leukaemia returned

  • Newsagent syndicate's £1.5m joy

    A SYNDICATE of shop workers were today celebrating an early Christmas after scooping £1.5m on the National Lottery. But the 17 lucky shop workers, who all work at a branch of newsagent Forbuoys, in Hartlepool, nearly did not win at all. They forgot their

  • Boy from Down Under is finally on top of his game

    NEALE Cooper believes Joel Porter is finally showing the consistency he demands. Hartlepool United's Australian striker netted his seventh goal of the season in the win over Stockport on Saturday. And, after taking time to adapt to the English game, Cooper

  • Souness gets crumb of comfort

    WITH his face full of frustration, Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness was given an excuse for a little light relief as he prepared to face the media after failing to guide his side to a much needed win against managerless Portsmouth. Press room tea

  • Pair's anger as 25,000 cigs confiscated

    SECURITY staff seized almost 25,000 cigarettes from a mother and daughter as they tried to take them through a North-East airport. Heavy smokers Sharon Dryden, 42, and daughter Amanda, 22, tried to bring the cigarettes through Newcastle Airport. Mother-of-two

  • Warning at start of new rail era

    RAIL users will this morning be getting used to new timetables and franchises introduced across the region. SercoNed and Netherlands Railways took over the Northern rail franchise yesterday, including services previously run by First North Western and

  • Navy supports 'festival of the sea' in North-East

    THE Royal Navy has announced plans for a huge presence in the North-East next year after agreeing to support two of the region's biggest events. Sunderland International Airshow - the largest free airshow in Europe - and the Tall Ships Race 2005 take

  • Secrets of iron foundry uncovered

    ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered the remains of an iron foundry that played a crucial part in a city's 19th Century industrial history. York Archaeological Trust is working on the site of the Walker Iron Foundry in Walmgate, York. Teams have uncovered walls

  • Tree lit to mark lives of loved ones

    A TREE was lit up in Darlington market square yesterday celebrating the lives of people's loved ones this Christmas. St Teresa's Hospice asked residents from the town to dedicate a light on the tree in memory of somebody special. The dedication and tree

  • State of the art

    The furniture made in Viscount Lindley's workshop in Whitby shows a standard of workmanship that belongs to a bygone age. And if we don't train up some young craftsmen, that could well be true, he tells Sharon Griffiths. DAVID Linley is holding a doorstop

  • Taking success in her stride

    Kelly Holme's life has changed since winning two gold medals at the Athens Olympics. As her unforgettable triumphs are retold in her new book, she tells Hannah Stephenson what it means to have achieved her lifelong dream and what the future holds. Double

  • UniBond League: Not good enough, Clark

    Spennymoor manager Graeme Clark admitted that his team "deserved nothing" after they were beaten 3-0 at Wakefield on Saturday. "We didn't start the game at all," he said. "We never got involved and never really competed. "Some of our players are still

  • Hignett ignores the pain to cause Orient a headache

    IT could be said that Craig Hignett could take on the cream of League Two with his eyes closed, but the Darlington star took that theory literally on Saturday. Hignett almost pulled out of the 3-0 win over Leyton Orient before a ball had even been kicked

  • Airman dies in crash two days before wedding

    A NORTH-EAST airman who was due to marry his American sweetheart died two days before the wedding following a crash. Kristoffer Tott was seriously injured when his Honda car was in an accident with two lorries, near Newmarket. The RAF technician was taken

  • New life for a Lady in need of a little loving

    WHEN Lady's tragic story appeared in The Northern Echo recently, it couldn't help but soften even the most hardened of hearts. The young border collie was looking for a new home after being abandoned without shelter and starved to within an inch of her

  • Whitehead and Lawrence end Black Cats' Cardiff jinx

    SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy is fast becoming the modern day equivalent of an alchemist. In Renaissance times an alchemist was said to have had the gift of turning base metals into gold. McCarthy, on the other hand, has a gift of turning players plying

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: New laws are not needed

    FINDING a burglar in your home is many people's worst nightmare. There can be very few who have not stirred uneasily when the wind has got up and turned over the dustbin - or was it someone breaking in? The law says a homeowner may use "reasonable force

  • Figures show region's growing drink-drive problem

    THE number of accidents in the North-East caused by drivers who were over the legal alcohol limit has increased, it has been revealed. In all but one of the region's police force areas, incidents of drivers failing a breath test following an accident

  • Residents say votes are lost

    RESIDENTS have accused their local authority of robbing them of the right to vote on the future of their homes. The accusation comes after Wear Valley District Council members voted in favour of an arm's-length management (ALMO) approach to its housing

  • PC organises beat surgery

    PEOPLE are being invited to attend two sessions with their local police officer. PC Gary Coulson, beat officer for Kirk Merrington, Byers Green and Middlestone Moor, is holding a beat surgery today, between 1pm and 3pm, at Kirk Merrington Primary School

  • Smokers will be given a helping hand

    SMOKERS will be given a helping hand to quit their habit before Christmas when they visit Bishop Auckland Hospital today. Trained smoking cessation workers from Durham Dales Primary Care Trust will be on hand in Chimneys' Restaurant, on the ground floor

  • putting smiles on faces of needy

    STUDENTS and staff at a North-East college have made up to 200 parcels to bring a smile to faces of less advantaged young people in the region this Christmas. Representatives of the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club collected the parcels from students at Derwentside

  • Round-the-clock cover to begin

    RESIDENTS will soon be covered by a round-the-clock emergency response service to deal with flooding, overflowing sewers, dangerous buildings, emergency highway cleaning and winter maintenance. Ryedale District Council's policy and resources committee

  • Debate on car site approval

    PLANS to continue dismantling cars and storing vehicle parts for sale on a County Durham site will be discussed by councillors this week. Planning officers have recommended that Durham County Council's planning committee meeting on Wednesday approve an

  • Youth team edge closer to title

    Darlington had double reason to celebrate on Saturday as not only did David Hodgson's side strengthen their place in the play-off zone but the youth team also went a step closer to clinching the title after racking up their latest win, writes Craig Stoddart

  • Traffic chaos will be halted

    PLANS to ease the problem of speeding traffic through a village are under way. Speed limits will be altered on the two main roads into Sadberge as a result of a meeting between local residents, Darlington Borough Council and the police. Two months ago

  • Debt threatens landlady's dream

    A LANDLADY whose dream was to serve behind the bar of a village pub fears she may have to leave due to mounting debts. Marie Kenny said she was upset over the possibility of losing The Three Tuns, in Sadberge, near Darlington, while still owing thousands

  • Make mine another double says Westwood as Pool top Hatters

    TO do it once could be considered lucky, twice is perhaps fortunate, but the third time left Chris Westwood feeling a tad embarrassed. In the space of three home games on three successive Saturdays, the Hartlepool United defender has scored five times

  • Safety first policy helps charity

    CHARITIES have benefited from a safety record clocked up by workers at a Teesside chemical complex. Earlier this year, DuPontSA, at the Wilton site, near Redcar, achieved 3.5 million hours without a serious accident. In celebration of the achievement,

  • MP criticises council appeal in taxis case

    AN MP has accused a council of squandering its taxpayers' money by deciding to appeal against a court ruling in favour of taxi drivers. Labour MP Gerry Steinberg has backed the drivers as Durham City Council presses ahead with its bid to introduce a code

  • Blair opposes wind farm bid

    VILLAGERS who are campaigning against a wind farm in the heart of Tony Blair's constituency say the Prime Minister is backing their fight. Trimdon Area Group Against Wind Farms is hoping that a letter from Mr Blair will persuade members of Durham City

  • Council to vote on future of its homes

    WEAR Valley District Council is to vote for an arm's-length management approach to its housing stock. The council says it cannot afford to maintain its housing stock and achieve the decent homes standard as set out under Government guidelines. The future

  • Blessing for school

    A NEW £10m secondary school in Hartlepool has received a bishop's blessing. The Right Reverend John Pritchard, Bishop of Jarrow, officially opened St Hild's Church of England School, in King Oswy Drive, 18 months after work started on the project. The

  • School's incentive to help cut traffic

    THE Government is offering a financial incentive to a school in a bid to cut traffic during the school run. If Harrogate Grammar School adopts a School Travel Plan (STP) it will receive about £15,000 for a project aimed at getting people to stop using

  • Anger as tycoon targets land in travellers protest

    VILLAGERS in Prime Minister Tony Blair's constituency have branded as despicable a millionaire's plans to buy land near their homes and sell it to travellers. Businessman Len Gridley claims to have identified land worth £500,000 in Mr Blair's constituency

  • Buoyant Blaydon hand Darlington warning

    BLAYDON'S excellent 20-8 win at New Brighton saw them climb away from danger in National Three North, overtaking Darlington with a warning to expect a physical approach from the Merseysiders next week. New Brighton, who have cancelled their players' contracts

  • £75,000 skatepark is used eight days in five months

    A MOBILE skateboarding park set up with £75,000 in grants has been used for only eight days in five months. The facility, which packs away into a van the size of a horsebox, was bought by Stockton Borough Council in July. It was intended to provide young

  • Downing takes star role as Boro complete great escape

    THE television companies might be criticised for showing too many repeats during the Christmas period, but you would struggle to find any Middlesbrough fan complaining about a double dose of "The Great Escape". After scoring twice in the last two minutes

  • Boy, 12, accused of raping teacher

    A 12-YEAR-OLD boy from the North-East has been charged with raping his teacher, it emerged yesterday. The boy, who has behavioural difficulties, is alleged to have attacked the woman after receiving personal tuition from her. The victim, in her early

  • Further hospitals shake-up debated

    ANOTHER round of major changes to North-East hospitals is planned, health bosses have revealed. Surgeon Professor Ara Darzi is already looking at the viability of the University Hospital of Hartlepool as part of a review of NHS services on Teesside. The

  • FA Vase: Robinson full of praise for Town after victory

    Billingham Town reached the last 32 of the FA Vase with an exciting 4-3 home win over St Helens on Saturday. Town blew a two goal lead, but they kept their nerve in the second period to go into the hat for the draw, which is now on a national basis. Manager

  • Sam to be honoured at last

    SAM Bartram was a Boldon collier, played at wing half for England schoolboys, had an unsuccessful trial for Reading after marching south to escape the depression, scored a hat-trick on his centre forward debut for Easington Colliery and became one of

  • Factory workers strike over pay

    Workers at a factory producing plastic film are launching a series of one day strikes over pay. Employees at the British Polythene Industries site, in Stockton, have the backing of the Transport and General Workers Union in their struggle. Staff have

  • Storm makes his mark

    GRAEME STORM has made a fantastic start to life back on the European Tour by claiming the third highest finish of his career in the dunhill Championship in South Africa, writes Paul Fraser. The Hartlepool golfer tied for eighth place at the Leopard Creek

  • From a little princess to the dancing queen

    Dancing queen Jill Halfpenny's took her first tentative steps in a tu-tu. The Strictly Come Dancing winner has been a fleet-footed sensation since the age of nine, according to her family. And these pictures show her earliest days on the dancefloor, at

  • Tomasino to make long trek pay dividends

    TOMASINO'S long trek from Lingdale to Plumpton might not be in vain come the finale of the two-mile coralpoker.com Handicap Hurdle at the picturesque Sussex venue. The six-year-old carries the charismatic claret and blue colours of owner Peter Savill,

  • Still room for improvement - boss

    DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson may have had no qualms about the result on Saturday, but he was less than satisfied with the manner in which his side beat Leyton Orient 3-0, writes Lee Hall. Quakers moved up to fifth in League Two after securing their

  • Big opportunity for digital art teams

    THE world of virtual reality will be showcased on Teesside tonight. Digital art including computer animation, a virtual tour of a renovated historical building, advanced computer game design and an animated film, based on the work of local artist Mackenzie

  • Storm makes his mark

    GRAEME STORM has made a fantastic start to life back on the European Tour by claiming the third highest finish of his career in the dunhill Championship in South Africa, writes PAUL FRASER. The Hartlepool golfer tied for eighth place at the Leopard Creek

  • Man arrested for a pizza mischief

    MOST people know how it feels to get the munchies after a night out on the town. But not everyone will go to the same lengths to stave off the hunger pangs as the man who broke into a takeaway shop and made himself a pizza. Unfortunately for him, and

  • Priest is subject of diocese inquiry

    A ROMAN Catholic priest has been withdrawn from his North-East church pending an investigation. Yesterday's announcement that Father Michael Higg- inbottom has stood down stunned his parishioners at St Augustine's Church, in Darlington. A spokesperson

  • Town remembers 120 killed by war's first bombing raid

    ONE of the most dramatic and tragic chapters in a town's history will be commemorated on Thursday. December 16 is the 90th anniversary of the German bombardment of Hartlepool - the first place in Britain to be targeted by the Germans during the First

  • Grieving widower's search for missing dog

    PENSIONER Ken Smith cuts a familiar figure as he trudges a town's streets, day and night, looking for his lost dog. Neighbours, local children, residents and even complete strangers stop and ask the 72-year-old if he has found his silver grey Cairn terrier

  • 13/12/04

    BISHOP AUCKLAND: E REYNOLDS' facetious letter (HAS, Dec 9) about pavement parking and cyclists misses a very pertinent point. Here in Bishop Auckland, cars are parked anywhere now that parking is to pay for. Like many others, I do not condone pavement

  • Prize for enterprising pupils

    PUPILS with learning difficulties have beaten entries from 30 state schools to win an enterprise award. Five teenagers from Hare-law School, in North Road, Harelaw, near Stanley, won best trade stand at the Young Enterprise Christmas Trade Fair, in Durham

  • Meeting to tackle noise worries

    RESIDENTS claim they are being driven to distraction by a company which makes so much noise that they dread getting up in the morning. Residents of Sledwick Close, in Billingham, say that for five years they have had to put up with shopfitting company

  • Chris's efforts earn reward

    A YOUNG man has conquered his learning difficulties to win an award. Chris Cartner, 23, of Northallerton, was presented with the Director's Award North-East for Outstanding Achievement at the recent YMCA Achiever of the Year ceremony. Mr Cartner received

  • Debate on rise in allowances

    INCREASES in allowances paid to the 17 members of Cleveland Police Authority will be debated this week. The authority's standards scrutiny learning and feedback committee will consider the subject on Wednesday. The existing deal pays members £7,500 a

  • Fitness is focus

    FAMILIES are being encouraged to make fitness their New Year's resolution by signing up to a free programme. Shape Up With Your Family is a 12-week course, starting on January 3 to educate families about ways to improve diet and fitness. The sessions

  • Recycling reward as children plant trees

    PUPILS planted trees given to their school to mark the recycling achievements of people in Hartlepool. The children from St John Vianney RC Primary School planted the saplings in their grounds under the supervision of Clare Belcher, Hartlepool Council's

  • Grisley murder and garish makeup

    Agatha Christie: Marple (ITV1): EARLY in the proceedings, it appeared that Miss Marple had lost her marbles. "It brings to mind little Tony Timson and our new schoolmistress - she opened the drawer and a frog jumped out," twittered the spinster sleuth

  • Trawler wreck lifted from sea

    MARINE accident investigators yesterday raised a fishing boat from the seabed off the North-East coast after it went down with the loss of two crewmen. The wreckage of the trawler was last night being towed to Tynemouth and accident investigators hope

  • Pub told to close over absent licensee

    POLICE have closed a pub after it was found the licensee had not been at the premises for several months. The owner of The British Lion, in Carlisle Street, Felling, Gateshead, has been advised that any staff serving alcohol will be in breach of licensing

  • Move over Miami, here comes csi Sunderland

    A NORTH-EAST university will soon be training detectives of the future by using methods seen in TV shows such as CSI Miami and Waking the Dead. The University of Sunderland's BSc in forensic computing - dubbed CSI Sunderland - is a unique degree that

  • Motor group's computers boost for children in Africa

    A NORTH-EAST motor retailer has given an early Christmas present to hundreds of schoolchildren in Africa. Following an IT refreshment project, the Reg Vardy Group, which is based in Sunderland, has donated 50 computers and a number of printers to enhance

  • New heart attack treatment is life-saver

    A revolutionary new approach to treating heart attack victims is proving to be a big life-saver, according to North-East doctors. Since April heart specialists at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough have treated heart attack victims by unblocking

  • The Albany Northern League: West keep the faith with easy win

    West Auckland used three keepers but still managed to win 3-1 at Peterlee. West had keeper Jonathan Collinson red-carded after 18 minutes for bringing down Paul Hinton - who scored from the resulting penalty - so they put midfielder Dion Raitt between

  • McCarthy happy with win

    MICK McCARTHY admitted his side were not at their best at the weekend but said the goals from Dean Whitehead and Liam Lawrence were worthy of winning any game. The Sunderland boss saw his team grind out a third successive win and third clean sheet on

  • Streetwise leaders add to the Mowden misery

    AFTER a minute's silence for Dave Mitchell, Mowden didn't know whether to be inspired by his memory or subdued by his tragically early death. For 20 minutes they defended as heroically as he would have wished, but there was no spark in attack and they

  • Pair still have a Job to do

    STEVE McClaren last night insisted that Szilard Nemeth and Joseph-Desire Job have a future at the Riverside, but warned Middlesbrough's two frustrated fringe players they must earn their place in the side. Both Nemeth and Job expressed their displeasure

  • Welcome to the war zone

    My new flat is now becoming an embarrassment. Five months ago, when I bought it, I couldn't wait to do it up and get friends round who would admire how I had transformed it. After I'd badgered them, two friends from Middlesbrough booked their train tickets

  • Cheetham hopes up the creek in play-off

    Neil Cheetham lost to home hope Charl Schwartzel in a play-off to decide which of the two would win his first European Tour title in the Dunhill Championship at South Africa's Leopard Creek Country Club. Worksop golfer Cheetham was denied when Schwartzel

  • Family welcome jury verdict over inmate's death

    The family of a young inmate who hanged himself in his cell have criticised a series of failings that contributed to his death. Government ministers will discuss a damning report into the death of 20-year-old Paul Watson. An inquest jury refused to return

  • Rugby star dies at the age of 33

    NORTH-EAST rugby was rocked at the weekend by news of the death of former West Hartlepool captain and Darlington Mowden Park player-coach Dave Mitchell, aged 33. Hopes were high that he had beaten both cancer and leukaemia, but the leukaemia returned

  • Decision time for striker

    Unless Darlington can persuade Alun Armstrong to sign a new deal, the eight-goal striker has played his last game for the club - but he has refused to rule out prolonging his stay at the Williamson Motors Stadium. Negotiations between the two parties

  • Preacher denies rape charge

    A PREACHER who told a schoolgirl she should not have sex before marriage raped her three times, a court heard yesterday. Born-again Christian Robin Brown, who is also accused of indecent assault, was the leader of a religious group when he repeatedly

  • Wilkinson wins but injury foils chance of family double

    GREAT Britain international Neil Wilkinson successfully defended his North Eastern Cross Country Championships senior men's title, then sympathised with his wife, Sarah, for not being able to join in the action at Meadowfield. The Wilkinsons, who moved

  • Butcher top of the flops for England

    Mark Butcher heads a list of England players with question marks over their form as they approach the opening Test against South Africa. Another failure by their top order left England battling to avoid a humiliating defeat in their only warm-up match

  • Christmas activities

    A NUMBER of activities will be available at four Sedgefield Borough leisure centres over the Christmas break. On selected days, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor leisure centres are offering swims for £1 with Christmas Eve and New Year swims at 25p. Middlesbrough

  • Staff are rewarded

    A BISHOP Auckland hairdressers has been presented with the Investors In People award. Jean Wombell, from Trimmers, in Newgate Street, was presented with the award by Nigel Griffiths, Under-Secretary of State for Small Businesses, and Bishop Auckland MP

  • Manager kicks the ball for hospice

    FOOTBALL boss Brian Honour impressed shoppers with his skills to raise money for charity. Bishop Auckland manager Mr Honour managed a total of 2,000 in the Keepy-Up challenge in the town's Newgate Centre, on Saturday. He was joined by footballers and

  • Magazine celebrates health initiatives

    A MAGAZINE providing information on the health of people in north Durham has been sent to thousands of households. Our Health magazine has been produced by Dr Anne Low, director of public health for Derwentside Primary Care Trust, and Derwentside District

  • Jenny strikes gold, silver and bronze

    A NORTH-EAST student has returned from a major international sports tournament with a fistful of medals after literally bowling over her opponents. Jenny Billingham, 17, of Broompark, near Durham, was part of Great Britain's ten-pin bowling team for the

  • The joy of giving

    A GROUP of bikers zoomed into Darlington yesterday with gifts for some of the town's underprivileged children. Members of The Motorcycle Action Group - who campaign for road safety - brought sacks of presents for this year's Giving Tree Appeal. Mayor,

  • Survey highlights skills shortage concerns

    A QUARTER of the companies in Richmondshire have job vacancies. A survey for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) also found that 13 per cent of employers in the district had vacancies that were proving difficult to fill. The survey looked at the extent

  • Festive jokes for charity

    STUDENTS from Darlington created a festive joke book to raise money for charity. Proceeds from the book, penned by teenagers from Darlington College of Technology, will go to St Teresa's Hospice. Tutor Brian Simpson said: "We had a visitor from the hospice

  • Help scheme shortlisted for award

    A PILOT scheme which helps sexual abuse victims with learning disabilities has been shortlisted for an award. Newcastle City Council asked Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre to help women come to terms with their experiences. The scheme has been nominated for

  • Grieving widower's search for missing dog

    PENSIONER Ken Smith cuts a familiar figure as he trudges a town's streets, day and night, looking for his lost dog. Neighbours, local children, residents and even complete strangers stop and ask the 72-year-old if he has found his silver grey Cairn terrier

  • Gangs return to haunt village

    HOPES that a stronger police presence in a Darlington borough village would bring an end to anti-social behaviour were dashed over the weekend. By Friday morning of last week, there had been no reports of youths causing annoyance in Middleton St George

  • Awards presented to young achievers

    YOUNGSTERS from a Darlington estate have been recognised for their hard work and commitment at an awards ceremony. Red Hall Partnership held the event to celebrate the work by local children on the estate as well as their successes in football, dance

  • Awards presented to young achievers

    YOUNGSTERS from a Darlington estate have been recognised for their hard work and commitment at an awards ceremony. Red Hall Partnership held the event to celebrate the work by local children on the estate as well as their successes in football, dance

  • MP's warning on barrage anniversary

    AN MP is appealing to Government agencies not to repeat the mistakes of an urban regeneration quango blamed for wasting up to £40m. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar's warning coincided with the tenth anniversary today of the coming

  • Go-ahead urged for housing scheme

    DETAILED plans to build 167 homes on the site of an auction mart look likely to get the go-ahead later this week. Persimmon Homes wants to build the houses on the site occupied by Thirsk Auction Mart. The mart was given planning permission to move to

  • Man dragged into machine

    A factory worker died after he was dragged into a wire-making machine. The 46-year-old man died at the Bridon International Plant, Wallsend, North Tyneside. It happened near the beginning of a shift on Friday morning. Ambulance crews were called out but

  • Teenager missing

    CONCERNS are growing for a vulnerable teenager who has been missing from his care home for two weeks. Fourteen-year-old Jamie Williams ran away from the Darlington home on November 29. He had only returned three days earlier after being missing for a

  • Blair opposes wind farm bid

    VILLAGERS who are campaigning against a wind farm in the heart of Tony Blair's constituency say the Prime Minister is backing their fight. Trimdon Area Group Against Wind Farms is hoping that a letter from Mr Blair will persuade members of Durham City

  • Campaign to protect old shopfronts

    PLANNING officers have produced guidelines to save traditional shop frontages and signs. Ryedale District Council has come up with the advice for people who are altering shopfronts or creating new ones. Council planners now want people to give their opinions

  • Iraq report triggers aid bid for children

    A church parish is helping to provide £25,000 worth of paediatric chemotherapy drugs to help children suffering from leukaemia in Iraq. The move was triggered by John Hinman, of Osmotherley and Crathorne parish, near Northallerton, after seeing BBC News

  • Film-makers celebrate the Games

    A FILM about a team of young reporters as they covered the Olympic Games has been screened. The group from Hall Garth and King's Manor schools, in Middlesbrough, were given the opportunity to cover the Athens games during the summer. Friends and family

  • FA Vase: Robinson full of praise for Town after victory

    Billingham Town reached the last 32 of the FA Vase with an exciting 4-3 home win over St Helens on Saturday. Town blew a two goal lead, but they kept their nerve in the second period to go into the hat for the draw, which is now on a national basis. Manager

  • Dog owners urged to have pets neutered

    A COUNCIL has teamed up with an animal charity to offer people on benefits the chance to have their pets neutered. Durham City Council is working with the Dogs Trust to offer the service to owners on means-tested benefits. A council spokesman said: "Dog

  • Squatter takes over van on garage roof

    WHEN garage bosses parked a van on the roof of their business they hoped to attract customers. But a cheeky man liked the look of the Nissan Cargo so much he decided to move in. The squatter was discovered a year after the van was hauled on to its lofty