Archive

  • Police dogs preparing for move to new home

    police dogs in the region are swapping their rural home for new kennels on an industrial estate. Durham Constabulary has been given planning permission to move its dog training centre from Harperley Hall, near Crook, to a business site on the outskirts

  • From farm to psalm

    It began life as a humble farm, and 50 wonderful years later at St Clare's, at Newton Aycliffe, it's time for some golden celebrations May a town arise here fair and lovely for the eye to see, noble in its proportions, majestic in its beauty, homely in

  • Shooting 'latest in tit-for-tat gang war'

    A HOODED gunman blasted a man in the leg after he answered the door in what police believe was a gangland shooting. The attack, in Sceptre Place, Elswick, Newcastle, at 4pm on Thursday, came after a lull in a spate of tit-for-tat shootings in the city's

  • Hurst backs North-East big three to cut mustard

    SIR Geoff Hurst believes Sunderland have what it takes to cut it in the Premiership and has backed them to stay up, but hopefully not at the expense of his beloved West Ham. The former England striker, who put six past Sunderland in an 8-0 win for West

  • No room for sentiment as Westwood makes return

    THROUGHOUT last season, Martin Scott was of the belief that when his two central defenders played well, Hartlepool United played well. Today, he will be hoping that one of that lauded pair often referred to has a nightmare at Victoria Park. Chris Westwood

  • Star student Fatima vows not to let setbacks get in her way

    A STAR student who has always achieved top results will not give up on her ambitions to be a doctor, despite being rejected by four medical schools. Both of Fatima Malik's parents are doctors at Darlington Memorial Hospital, and she had dreams of following

  • X marks the spot

    Judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh begin their search for the next singing sensation tonight but, amid the tears and tantrums, it's the presenters who'll be picking up the pieces You can be sure that the opinionated judges will be stealing

  • Shearer's blast for Eriksson

    ALAN Shearer has blasted Sven-Goran Eriksson's handling of England striker Jermain Defoe during Wednesday night's 4-1 friendly defeat in Denmark. Eriksson hauled Defoe off at half-time, despite his replacement, Michael Owen, being suspended for England's

  • 20/08/05

    POSTWATCH : I am writing in response to your article, Surprise package as letter returned - eight years later (Echo, Aug 5). I notice that there is no mention of Postwatch, the independent consumer watchdog for postal services. Postwatch acts as the voice

  • Shock loss a wake-up call, declares McClaren

    STEVE McClaren last night insisted England were still on track for the World Cup finals, but admitted Wednesday's humiliating 4-1 defeat to Denmark had been a wake-up call for the entire nation. The England number two returned to domestic duties with

  • RBS banks on £1.7bn move into Chinese market

    ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) announced a move into China after it led a group of investors in the purchase of a stake in the country's second largest bank for $3.1bn (£1.7bn). The co-investors will take a ten per cent holding in Bank of China in a move

  • United fans have not seen my best yet, says Babayaro

    CELESTINE Babayaro last night admitted that Newcastle's fans were yet to see him in full flow after injury problems wrecked his first season at St James' Park, writes Scott Wilson. The Nigerian full-back, who made a £1m move from Chelsea at the turn of

  • How a dream turned into the stuff of nightmares

    WHEN Rebecca met Richard she thought he was the man of her dreams. Before meeting Richard, the 36-year-old from Stanley had been trapped in an abusive relationship with the father of two of her three daughters for 11 years. He beat her and she regularly

  • Country roads need £5m repairs

    MAIN roads and country lanes in Ryedale need £5m spending on repair and maintenance, according to engineers. Peter Renshaw, Ryedale divisional engineer for North Yorkshire County Council, said only a fraction of the work can be done because of a lack

  • Car thefts prompt warning over keys

    POLICE are warning people to keep their car keys out of view after a spate of vehicle thefts in Ryedale. PC Terry Triffitt said there had been a number of cars stolen since the start of August by thieves who had earlier broken into houses to get the keys

  • New front opens in war on domestic violence

    An organisation that helps victims of domestic violence opened premises in Stanley yesterday. Gavin Havery reports. Derwentside Domestic Violence Forum was formed by the Reverend Tim Atkins in 1997 to give advice to women. Eight years later, its services

  • Have a cuppa in aid of cancer support

    ENJOYING a cup of tea could help raise money for two east Durham schemes that help cancer victims and their carers. The Macmillan East Durham Appeal needs more money to help meet an annual bill for cancer support services that is expected to reach £130,000

  • Councils in ten-year waste plan

    TWO local authorities have joined forces to recycle up to 16,000 tonnes of grass, shrubs and plants every year. Hambleton and Richmondshire district councils have awarded a ten-year recycling contract to waste management company Yorwaste. The joint contract

  • The carrot cake of customer service

    It was only 3.30 in the afternoon and the caf didn't close for another half an hour. But the lady wasn't for serving. Just about everything on the menu was off, she said. Well, there was still carrot cake, but I didn't want carrot cake. There was coffee

  • Sarah celebrates 100th birthday

    FAMILY and friends of a Derwentside woman helped her celebrate her 100th birthday yesterday. A party for Sarah Northey was held at the Lamplight Arts Centre, in Stanley. It was attended by Durham North MP Kevan Jones, who gave her a card and chocolates

  • 'Our Mo' - a rare politician

    MO Mowlam was a member of a truly rare breed. She was a popular politician. Indeed, for a while, she could lay claim to being the most popular politician in the world. Her death will be a cause of sadness around the world because she touched so many people

  • Potter's Trotters inspired by cancer fight to raise £1,000

    A WOMAN who was treated for breast cancer inspired her work colleagues to raise £1,000 for charity. Sheila Potter, a Darlington Borough Council social worker, organised a team called Potter's Trotters to run the 5km Race for Life course in South Park

  • Opportunity to enrol for courses

    NEWTON Hall Community Centre, in Durham, is the venue for three ten-week courses next month. Painting for Pleasure will be held on Mondays and Fridays between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, starting on September 12 and 16. Computers and More, Laptop Computers, for

  • Comic puts his home on the market to fund legal battle

    A COMEDIAN is putting his £80,000 cottage on the market to pay for legal action against a council in a seafront planning dispute. Stand-up comic Chris McGlade is to mount a legal challenge against Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council over its proposals

  • Artist's work on display at shopping mall

    A PROFESSIONAL artist says his work and outlook on life will be richer after working with a group who have all suffered varying degrees of mental illness. Adam Baldwin, an artist with Platform Arts, in Thornaby, has been working with the Phoenix Art Group

  • Mourners donate £700 to charity

    A SAD family farewell has led to a generous donation to a charity devoted to helping adults with learning disabilities. The funeral of Ken Hopkin was held at St Mary's Church, Richmond, in April and the congregation gave donations for Northallerton-based

  • Police support call for market day traffic ban

    POLICE are backing moves to make part of Pickering traffic free on Monday market days. Ryedale's police chief, Inspector Neil Burnett, was replying to criticism from market traders that they were "sick" of abuse from drivers negotiating the Market Place

  • Four store chains move into shopping centre

    FOUR new shops are opening in a city's shopping centre. Store chains Shoe Zone, MOJI, Start Fitness and Cartridge World have all taken up vacant premises in Durham's Millburngate Centre. All have, or will be opening by the end of the month, with three

  • Invisible ally for crime-hit farmers

    POLICE have unveiled an invisible weapon in the fight against rural crime. Richmondshire police have been given £13,000 to supply 300 farms with SmartWater Tracer. The liquid can be painted on equipment and, if touched, sticks to clothing and skin. It

  • Keep fit qualification

    PEOPLE in Sedgefield can achieve a qualification while helping elderly people keep fit on a new ten-week course. The Age Concern Sedgefield office is preparing a programme of physical activity sessions in the Sedgefield area and is recruiting volunteers

  • Teesdale to lure Swiss visitors

    A COACH party from Switzerland is to visit Teesdale next month. The visit comes as part of the Discover Teesdale Travel Trade Project, which was set up to encourage tour operators to include the area in holiday itineraries. Dorset-based tour operator

  • Platinum Gas on fast-track

    A SMALL plumbing and heating engineering company launched a year ago has played a key role in improving people's living standards. In a fast-track programme of work, Platinum Gas, in Yarm, near Stockton, has installed central heating systems in 300 homes

  • Aliens point the way to a safer life

    THE aliens have landed in Ferryhill - thanks to a scheme at a local education centre. Youngsters from the town's Ladder Centre, in Coniston Road, have developed a film about safety, based around the antics of alien visitors Weedo and Electra. Their mission

  • Rail operator in pledge to get tough on fare dodgers

    FARE dodgers who are costing a train company £1m a year were last night warned: "We'll track you down and take you to court". First TransPennine Express, whose services include a Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport rail link, has pledged to prosecute

  • National accolade for professor

    A COMPUTER expert has won one of Britain's top teaching prizes. Professor Philip Barker's will receive £50,000 for research purposes at the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme award is the fifth that the university

  • Gray relishing return to Premiership big time

    ANDY GRAY believes an appearance at Anfield this afternoon will help to convince him he is back in the big time - especially as he should have been playing in the Championship at Preston. Liverpool's first Premiership home game of the season since lifting

  • No time for more delays

    LONDON'S police chief Sir Ian Blair has dismissed claims that there was an attempted cover-up over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. But the statement by Independent Police Complaints Commission chairman John Wadham - that the Metropolitan Police

  • Little relief for visitors to new £85,000 superloo

    VISITORS to a coastal beauty spot in the North-East could not wait to spend a penny in an £85,000 superloo. The 24-hour toilet, in a car park at Crimdon Dene, near Hartlepool, is said to be fully automatic, vandal proof, and can even clean itself. In

  • Clinton and Blair lead Mo tributes

    PRIME Minister Tony Blair and former US President Bill Clinton led the tributes to former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam, who died yesterday at the age of 55. Dr Mowlam, former MP for Redcar, never regained consciousness after hitting her head in

  • Hundreds mourn Dean's 'sad and needless death'

    RED and white floral tributes in the shape of footballs and a Sunderland strip adorned the funeral hearse carrying the body of Dean Pike yesterday. Hundreds of mourners attended the service for the 11-year-old, who died after a fire at the home he shared

  • Armagnac has plenty in tank for Chester

    NORMALLY a double figure draw over seven furlongs means curtains at Chester, but in the case of Armagnac (3.30) stall ten could prove to be a blessing in disguise. As a result of racing with the choke out at Sandown earlier this month, Mark Buckley's

  • Once upon a time in Byker

    It has been more than ten years in the planning, but the new centre for children's books finally opens its doors today. Nick Morrison takes a tour of all Seven Stories. IT'S a fair bet that, at least as far as most of the exhibits at the new centre for

  • Matalan cuts 300 jobs

    CLOTHING chain Matalan has shed 300 jobs as part of a restructuring programme announced yesterday. Fifteen jobs have gone at stores across the North-East and North Yorkshire as the company trimmed the workforce at its 190 stores nationwide and cut 100

  • 135 years of trading to end as store closure plan announced

    House of Fraser said yesterday it will close London department store Barkers after 135 years of trading The Kensington store, known for its designer clothing, will be replaced next year by US company Whole Foods Market, which specialises in organic and

  • Second buyout at Jennings

    JENNINGS Ford, one of the region's longest established motor dealers, has undergone its second management buyout. Under the move Nas Khan, the company's sales director for the past 13 years, will take over as group managing director from Alan Bentley.

  • Sunny side up

    Peta King travels to the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and discovers a country eager to cast off the remnants of communism and embrace 21st century Europe Bulgaria has a bit of a reputation for being invaded. First, there were the Thracians, then the Romans

  • McCarthy hopes to have a fit Kyle back for new year

    MICK McCARTHY is optimistically looking for Kevin Kyle to be back in Sunderland action by the turn of the year - after the striker had a career-saving operation in America. Kyle, who has not kicked a ball in the Black Cats first team for 12 months, has

  • Cost of wasp's nest removal may have a sting in the tail

    HOUSEHOLDERS who want a wasps' nest removed could be stung for anything up to £70 by their local council. A survey by The Northern Echo has revealed a wide range of charges for removal of wasps' nests from private properties. Those lucky enough to live

  • Sponsored bed push to raise funds

    FAMILY and friends of a woman struck down by cancer are to take part in a sponsored bed push to raise money for the hospice where she spent her final days. June Huddlestone, 38, lost her battle with cancer at Teesside Hospice, Middlesbrough, last May.

  • Girl punched in face needed dental surgery, magistrates told

    A TEENAGE boy from Darlington punched a young girl in the face, injuring her so badly she had to have emergency dental surgery, a court heard. The 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual

  • Job losses as supermarket to be closed

    A TOWN centre supermarket is to close next month leaving 45 staff facing redundancy. The Safeway store in Northallerton High Street will close on September 24. It is one of 600 bought by Morrison's last year for £3bn. A spokesman for Safeway and Morrison's

  • Paedophile pensioner facing jail sentence

    A PENSIONER approached schoolgirls in a park offering money for sex, a court heard yesterday. Seventy-one-year-old Peter Atkinson tried to proposition the girls, aged 12 and 14, at least three times in a week, initially asking to see their private parts

  • Milestone for store - and for some of the staff

    AS a Darlington supermarket prepares to mark its tenth anniversary, 45 members of staff will be celebrating reaching their own personal milestones after working at the store since it opened. Morrisons, in Morton Park, opened on Monday, August 21, 1995

  • Boy admits theft of tapes from his friend

    A TEENAGE boy pleaded guilty to breaking into a friend's house and stealing his cassettes. The 16-year-old, from Darlington, admitted entering the property via an open downstairs window. The youth, who has learning difficulties and cannot be named for

  • Man jailed for losing temper after his girlfriend cried rape

    A FATHER who lost his temper after his girlfriend falsely claimed she had been raped, has been jailed after he ransacked a home for vulnerable adults. Simon Keith, 42, who was drunk and had taken drugs, became enraged when his partner, Samantha Rennie

  • Villagers fear staffing crisis will lead to shop closure

    FEARS are growing that a village shop that closed for a few weeks because of a staffing crisis may be shut for good. The Co-op store in Wearhead was the only shop in Upper Weardale between St John's Chapel and the Cumbrian border until it closed earlier

  • Changing faces at family-run business

    A NEWSAGENT which has been in Bishop Auckland for more than half a century will be under new ownership from tomorrow. K and T Baker Newsagent and Tobacconist, in Princes Street, has been run by the Baker family for 58 years. The store was originally opened

  • Bogus callers target elderly

    Elderly people across Teesside are being warned to be vigilant after a number of homes were targeted by bogus callers. Just before 2pm on Thursday, a teenager knocked on the door of a house in Avon Road, Norton, claiming he was there to carry out gardening

  • Passer-by risks electrocution to free car occupants after smash

    A MAN has told how he risked electrocution to pull three teenagers from the wreckage of their car after a road accident. The female driver of the silver Peugeot 306 lost control in Bedale Road, Scotton, near Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on Thursday

  • Two-year EU study finds the CAP doesn't fit

    RESEARCH published today by North-East academics supports Prime Minister Tony Blair's call for Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be reformed. In the first comprehensive study of the effect of the CAP on Europe's regions, a team from the universities

  • No fears for McCarthy as Black Cats face Anfield test

    A REALISTIC Mick McCarthy last night warned Liverpool not to expect Sunderland to suffer from another case of the Premiership jitters at one of the greatest club stadiums of them all. If last week's defeat to Charlton failed to whet the appetite for the

  • The not so Fantastic Four

    Fantastic Four Publisher: Activision Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 Family friendly? 12+ HEADS up True Believers... here comes the game of the movie that's based on the Marvel comic books. The film happened to be better than many fans' expectations so can

  • McClaren indulges in spot of mind games with Spurs

    WITH the contenders for a European spot already jostling for position, Steve McClaren has claimed Tottenham's lavish summer spending has made a top-seven finish a minimum requirement at White Hart Lane. Never one to shy away from some Sir Alex Ferguson-style

  • Aussie Williams admits countrymen have a battle on their hands

    DURHAM'S new overseas paceman Brad Williams was last night remaining tight-lipped on who he thought would win the current Ashes series - but admits the Aussies have a battle on their hands. Williams, who arrived at Riverside on Wednesday as a replacement

  • The carrot cake of customer service

    It was only 3.30 in the afternoon and the caf didn't close for another half an hour. But the lady wasn't for serving. Just about everything on the menu was off, she said. Well, there was still carrot cake, but I didn't want carrot cake. There was coffee

  • Investigation is completed into school bullying claims

    AN investigation into allegations of bullying, truancy and unruly behaviour at a pioneering school has been completed, The Northern Echo can reveal. Karen Pemberton was suspended as headteacher of Eastbourne School, in Darlington, in early May after an

  • Neat treats for feet

    Feet are the most neglected parts of our bodies, but it doesn't take much effort to put the spring back in your step What with strappy sandals and warm weather and holidays with lots of sightseeing and dancing the night away, summer is not a good time

  • Judge warns town's warring factions

    A JUDGE has warned warring factions in a North-East market town that the trouble must stop - or they will go to jail. Judge Peter Armstrong spoke out after dealing with a case involving violence in Stanhope, County Durham. Teenager John Newby was chased

  • Students' horseplay ended in stabbing

    A student who struck out with a knife during a row with a friend may be spared jail. Abdul Lardhi, 41, plunged a large kitchen knife into Brendon Connolly's leg after a night out in town erupted in violence. Newcastle Crown Court was told that the friends

  • Homeless riverbank campers could be re-housed

    A HOMELESS couple who have camped on a riverbank for three months have been told they could soon be found a new house. Kevin and Susan Howe, who are living in a tent at Barnard Castle, County Durham, were told this week a housing team wants to come to

  • Confidence high for healthy profit at Bannatyne Fitness

    BANNATYNE Fitness yesterday said net profits for this year were expected to rise 57 per cent on last year, to an estimated £7.4m. North-East multi-millionaire Duncan Bannatyne already has 36 fitness clubs nationwide, the first of which opened in the region

  • The cement injection that can cure bad backs

    Every year thousands of back patients are told they have vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis. Health Editor Barry Nelson meets a surgeon at the cutting edge of treating such crippling conditions AN extraordinary new operation is bringing hope to

  • Teenager locked up for attack with knife

    A TEENAGER stabbed another youth with a craft knife in a club car park after an earlier confrontation in the premises, a court heard. Michael Pratt, 19, was yesterday sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution following the incident outside

  • Terror attacks dent high street sales

    HIGH street sales went into reverse last month as retailers suffered a loss of business in the wake of the London bombings. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes were 0.3 per cent down on a month earlier, although this figure was

  • Brave, funny and down-to-earth - that was the marvel of Mo

    Political Editor Chris Lloyd takes an affectionate look at a woman who proved equally popular across political divides 'MO, Mo, over here," a group of middle-aged women shouted and beckoned to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Mo Mowlam tore

  • Eriksson still man for job

    NOTHING less than a semi-final spot in next year's World Cup finals will do for Sven-Goran Eriksson and England, according to 1966 legend Sir Geoff Hurst. Sir Geoff, forever remembered for the hat-trick he scored in the 4-2 win over West Germany which

  • Recognition for junior crimefighters

    YOUNG crimefighters have teamed up with police and housing officials to form a junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme. A group of boys and girls, aged eight to 13, set up the scheme in Easington Colliery, County Durham. The Colliery Crimebusters, as they are

  • Health classes organised for diabetes sufferers

    HEALTH officials are recommending exercise for people who are suffering from diabetes. Ten weekly sessions of education and exercise will be held by the Derwentside Primary Care Trust's (PCT) community diabetes team at two venues in the district from

  • Project to beat diabetes

    A PILOT diabetes screening service has now screened more than 100 patients. The one-year diabetes screening project, being piloted in the Wear Valley, has so far screened 101 patients. The pilot, which operates in six community pharmacies, got under way

  • Invite to join music workshops

    CHILDREN are being invited to a music workshop next week. Free Range Music features five three-hour sessions to be staged at Durham Town Hall, daily from Wednesday to Friday. Admission is £1. It will culminate in a city centre carnival parade, during

  • Concern over nightclub's plan to stay open until 6am

    POLICE chiefs fear that a nightclub's bid to serve alcohol until 6am could spark a rise in violence in the centre of Darlington. Escapade, in Gladstone Street, is one of several venues to have applied to the borough council to stay open later. All pubs

  • Hey fiddledy dee, it's an actor's life for me...

    THERE will be nothing puppet-like about a performance of Pinnochio in Shildon next week. The Disney classic will be performed by members of The Tearaways dance and drama group across three days next weekend. Youngsters aged between nine and 16 will fill

  • Standards board to probe rift affecting parish council

    THE deepening rift dividing Stanhope parish councillors is being investigated by the standards board. The board, which regulates the conduct of councillors, is probing complaints against nine members who, between them, attended two controversial meetings

  • School boilers may be converted

    SCHOOL boilers across County Durham could be converted to burn wood pellets in an attempt to cut carbon dioxide emissions blamed for global warming. The county council's cabinet was told that 1,800 tonnes of C02 emissions would be prevented if all the

  • Volunteer rangers left to clean up after vandalism to ponds

    VOLUNTEER rangers have been dismayed that their newly-dug wildlife ponds have been vandalised. Derwentside Volunteer Rangers yesterday moved in to repair the damage caused to the two ponds in Dipton, County Durham. Nature reserve officer Karen Fisher

  • Extra police are drafted in to deal with rowdy youths

    A BLITZ to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour is under way in Stanley. Durham Police have drafted in an average of 14 extra officers a day as part of a campaign to run for the rest of the summer holidays. The aim is to target youth nuisance, drug

  • Staff at food firm vote to strike

    FOOD factory staff at the centre of an industrial dispute yesterday voted in favour of further strike action. Workers at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, held crisis talks with the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) after company bosses continued

  • Residents urged to join friends group and revamp park

    VOLUNTEERS are being sought to give a rundown park a makeover. Fairy Dell park, near Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, is hosting an open morning featuring demonstrations of rural crafts, organised by Middlesbrough Council today from 10am to noon. The aim

  • Council to simplify parking controls

    CHANGES are to take place to the way parking controls and restrictions are enforced in Stockton. From Monday, September 5, attendants employed by Stockton Borough Council will take over responsibility from police for both on and off-street parking. The

  • Stop and search rules explained

    CLEVELAND Police Authority has launched a campaign to inform people of their rights when they are stopped by police. The Stop and Search Know Your Rights leaflet was prepared by the Association of Police Authorities and is being distributed throughout

  • Romans march into shopping centre on promotional mission

    TOWN centre shoppers found themselves invaded by Romans yesterday. A Roman senator accompanied by his soldiers and womenfolk invaded the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, in Hartlepool, and set up camp in the Curiosity Shop mobile exhibition. Claire Munroe

  • Cash wings its way to hospital

    The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton has been given £500 by staff at RAF Leeming. Wing Commander David Forster and station adjutant Flight Lieutenant Fi Carpenter visited the Friarage to hand over the money from the base's charity fund. The cash will

  • Library plan 'no threat to garden'

    A multi-million pound plan to transform Harrogate's public library and expand community services will have little impact on a rose garden, say experts. When the scheme was first mooted concern was expressed about how the expansion would affect the Victoria

  • Council puts reading aid on its website

    A COUNCIL is hoping to help residents with reading problems through the introduction of a programme on its website. The Browsealoud system, which is aimed at people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, or who speak English as a second language, has been

  • Checking out to head to the Andes

    A SUPERMARKET worker will swap the aisles for the Andes when he sets off on a trek in aid of charity. Trevor Smith, from Newton Aycliffe, will navigate the South American mountains to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice. He works at Somerfield supermarket

  • Magnificent seven keep agricultural show on the road

    SEVEN family members spread across four generations are preparing for an agricultural show. With just over a week to go before the Wensleydale Show, event secretary Gill Harrison said the talk around the dinner table was of little else. At the show her

  • Ice-cool raiders target council snowploughs

    police were last night hot on the trail of thieves who stole three huge snowploughs. Officers are appealing for the public's help in tracking down the thieves who took the vehicles, which each weigh a tonne. The theft comes weeks after council gritters

  • Boss slams attempted hijack

    A FURIOUS Steve McClaren has accused "another club" of scuppering Middlesbrough's move for Rudolph Douala, but refused to call time on his attempts to sign the Sporting Lisbon star. The Boro boss thought he had secured the versatile winger's signature

  • Scott hopes Pool profit from Black Cats clash

    HARTLEPOOL United will enjoy the benefits of this week's friendly with Sunderland - and Martin Scott hopes the Black Cats feel the same. Despite a reserve game on Wednesday, Scott arranged a game at the Academy of Light for his squad players and those

  • The not so Fantastic Four

    Fantastic Four Publisher: Activision Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 Family friendly? 12+ HEADS up True Believers... here comes the game of the movie that's based on the Marvel comic books. The film happened to be better than many fans' expectations so can

  • Darlington poised to top A-levels league

    STUDENTS in Darlington look likely to achieve the best A-level performance in the country, education bosses said last night. Last year, Darlington was second in the country for the percentage of students achieving at least two A-levels at grades A to

  • Swedish student studied Shearer

    SWEDISH student Jenny Lindstrom has spent four months in Britain studying Newcastle striker Alan Shearer. The trip helped Jenny produce a 14,000-word, 32-page dissertation, which she described as an ethnographic essay on the construction of a modern day

  • Police fear missing Jenny may be dead

    POLICE last night spoke for the first time of their fears that missing teenager Jenny Nicholl may not be found alive. The officer leading the investigation said last night that detectives had no evidence the 19-year-old had suffered an accident or had

  • Wellock's World

    FAR from snoozing on the sofa, cricket's soaring television audience are suddenly more likely to watch from behind the sofa and Rupert Murdoch must be rubbing his hands at the thought of rocketing dish sales. As Channel 4's audience peaked at 7.7 million

  • Durham welcome paceman Williams with another to follow

    DURHAM took delivery of one new overseas player yesterday and hope to announce another one today. Paceman Brad Williams flew in from Perth but will have the company of his Western Australia captain Mike Hussey for only 11 days. The Durham skipper leaves

  • 19/08/05

    HUMAN RIGHTS - There is a certain irony in the claim by human rights lawyers that the deporting of these dissident Muslim clerics to their own country could be dangerous for them when the alternative of letting them stay here is certainly dangerous for

  • Permira joins Gala investors

    THE owners of bingo hall chain Gala yesterday announced its second financial restructuring in less than a year. The £1.3bn refinancing is part of a wider overhaul valuing the company at £1.89bn, including debt, and comes after the group reportedly abandoned

  • Rapist who preyed on young women is jailed for 12 years

    A RAPIST from an affluent family who boasted to a prostitute he was wanted for murder before attacking her has been jailed for 12 years. Zeeshan Ali was intelligent and well-educated and came from a family who were upstanding members of the community

  • AA call centre jobs to be axed

    THE AA last night announced plans to cut 100 call centre jobs, 48 hours after the RAC said it was shedding 1,700 posts as part of an £80m cost-cutting measure. More than 50 jobs will go in AA's Newcastle insurance centre, and the rest in Cardiff, as part

  • End in sight for land dispute

    A PARISH council is an important step closer to resolving a land dispute and securing a play area for village children. The Charity Commission is supporting Dene Valley Parish Council's move to take over as trustees of land near William Street, Auckland

  • Neat treats for feet

    Feet are the most neglected parts of our bodies, but it doesn't take much effort to put the spring back in your step What with strappy sandals and warm weather and holidays with lots of sightseeing and dancing the night away, summer is not a good time

  • Man with sexual fetish fails to have prison term cut

    A man with a "sexual fetish" for medical equipment who has made a nuisance of himself at hospitals and dental practices across the country failed in a bid to have his sentence cut last night. Norman Hutchins, 54, of Rowntree Avenue, Clifton, York, pleaded

  • Youngsters told to avoid derelect pub

    YOUNG people are being urged to stay away from derelict buildings after a suspected arson attack at a pub. Firefighters were called to the Thatcher's Foot, in Chester Road, East Stanley, at 9.30pm on Thursday. They tackled a small rubbish fire on the

  • On course for training

    A COURSE is being organised for village hall volunteers to enable them to test electric appliances. The Teesdale Village Halls Consortium is arranging a Portable Appliance Testing course that leads to a City and Guilds Code of Practice in Service Inspection

  • Market place clock is back in action

    A CHURCH clock is keeping time again after restoration. The timepiece, in the tower of St Nicholas' Church, in Durham Market Place, has not worked since 2001. The clock was made in 1871 by Dents of London, and, until 2001, the chimes had not been heard

  • Court gives teen last chance

    A TEENAGE girl from Darlington narrowly avoided custody and was warned she was being given her last chance to behave. The 14-year-old was given a 12-month supervision order and has been electronically-tagged, as part of a three-month curfew, which will

  • Three times the effort, three times the success

    TRIPLETS Alison, Helen and Katie Prescott will soon be separated for the first time thanks to their sparkling A-level results. The three, who have been pupils at Durham High School since they were four, opened their envelopes together yesterday to find

  • Youth to the fore as Boro emulate the Dutch masters

    When Middlesbrough take on Tottenham this afternoon, it will be more than just a Premiership game for two of the players on show. Boro's Michael Reiziger and Spurs' Edgar Davids grew up together as part of the fabled Ajax Academy and Reiziger told Chief

  • Crucial cash for cricket

    A CRICKET club has been given crucial funding to help coach its younger players. Willington Cricket Club was awarded an £800 grant by the English Cricket Board yesterday to provide new equipment for youngsters. The club holds regular coaching sessions

  • Girl's 150ft fall ends in bruises

    A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl amazed doctors after plunging 150ft down cliffs and walking away with only bumps and bruises. Medical staff could not believe their eyes when Demi-Leigh Tweddle arrived by air ambulance at Scarborough Hospital with no serious injuries

  • Pevensey can progress to winners' circle

    PROGRESSIVE Pevensey (3.15) possesses the perfect profile to pick up Beverley's £50,000 totescoop6 Heritage Handicap. It's the richest ever race run at the East Yorkshire venue and commensurate with the value has attracted some big guns from the south

  • Pub backs charity by barring smoking

    A PUB is supporting a charity campaign to end smoking in the workplace by becoming a smoke-free zone from today. Damon Gray, manager of The Plimsole Line, in High Street East, Redcar, said: "We are having a major refit which will include new carpets and

  • Truant's mother on parenting order

    A MOTHER-OF-TEN has been placed on a six-month parenting order after one son repeatedly missed school. Magistrates heard that Angela Ashley's 15-year-old son, Daniel Nelson, only turned up to 33 school sessions out of a possible 127. It meant he attended

  • Pub couple hit back at police over late licence application

    LICENSEES have hit back at police who have said they shouldn't be allowed to serve alcohol until 2am. Tony and Sandra Humble have applied to Hambleton District Council to extend the drinking hours of the Black Lion, in Thirsk. They want to serve alcohol

  • Kendrick ponders move North of the border

    JOE Kendrick is training with Dunfermline after the Darlington defender turned his back on a move to Hamilton. Dunfermline yesterday made their move for Kendrick after learning first choice full-back Scott Morrison faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines

  • Dyer makes Germany dash in bid to rescue his season

    KIERON Dyer has made a dramatic dash to Germany in an attempt to rectify the continuing injury problem that is already threatening to wreck his season. The Newcastle midfielder is expected back on Tyneside later this weekend but, with a new back problem

  • Quakers to get a second chance from boss Hodgson

    REDEMPTION may be almost unheard of in only the third week of the season, but that is exactly what Darlington manager David Hodgson will give his side a shot at against Grimsby Town this afternoon. Despite their capitulation to Leyton Orient seven days

  • River devasted by pollution all clear, say agency bosses

    ENVIRONMENT chiefs have given a river devastated by pollution the all-clear. Tens of thousands of fish are believed to have been killed in the pollution spill, which infected a five-mile stretch of the river Tame last week. Latest samples taken by the

  • Horror smash: suicide feared

    A STUDENT may have deliberately killed himself in a high-speed crash because he could not face being sent back to prison. Lawrence Koppert, 23, died early on Monday when his silver Peugeot crashed into an ornamental archway straddling a public road by

  • Vying for title of top N-E chippie

    TEN fish and chip shops are set to battle it out to be crowned the best in the North-East. The shops are taking part in the National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition, and one will be crowned regional champion. One chippie in England will take

  • Toddler who simply loves being on top of the world

    A NORTH-EAST toddler is hiking his way through the Scottish mountains - aged two-and-three-quarters. Darwin Bradley, who lives in Guisborough, east Cleveland, has already conquered two of the mountains, known as Munro Peaks. At 22 months, his parents

  • Medals of fearless major are given to museum

    MEDALS awarded to a Green Howards officer have been presented to the regiment's museum. Major Derek Cartmel, who died in May, aged 83, received the Military Cross while serving in Italy during the Second World War with the Indian Army. He won the medal

  • Wenger reaches milestone

    WORKING largely anonymously in Japan, all that changed when Arsene Wenger transformed Nagoya Grampus Eight from relegation candidates to runners-up in the J-League within a year of taking over. Suddenly, the meticulous Frenchman had attracted the attention