ACCORDING to all available evidence Oneway (2.00) is poised to top the bill at Wetherby this afternoon. The two-mile £50,000 Skybet-sponsored Castleford Chase is the prestigious prize all five runners have their guns trained on, although it's Oneway's
HOBS were spirits common in the North Country. Also known as hobmen, hobthrusts and hobbits, they often lived in caverns and gave their names to their habitations, such as Hob Hill, at Upleatham near Marske, and Hob Hole near Runswick Bay. Similar to
Kicking King brought a seasonal smile to his supporters when holding the late push of Monkerhostin and landing his second Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown Park. Laid low since injury saw him defeated at Haydock on his seasonal reappearance,
AFTER watching his side grab a point against top-six side Barnsley, Hartlepool United boss Martin Scott believes they would be rubbing shoulders with their loftier opponents if only they could realise their potential. The 1-1 draw at Oakwell yesterday
DESPITE growing up in a small Australian town, sisters Dawn, Elaine and Selwa Anthony realised the popularity of Lebanese cooking at an early age, when friends continually visited their mother's kitchen to sample her cooking. Now the trio have collected
GANGS of shoplifters capable of stealing £15,000-worth of goods in a single raid are facing a new enemy. The North-East Retail Crime Partnership, formed six years ago, has combined the region's Shop Watch schemes into a single network. The link-up means
GANGS of shoplifters capable of stealing £15,000-worth of goods in a single raid are facing a new enemy. The North-East Retail Crime Partnership, formed six years ago, has combined the region's Shop Watch schemes into a single network. The link-up means
Bishop Auckland's plight at the bottom of the Unibond League First Division worsened yesterday when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Clitheroe. Damon Robson missed a good chance for Bishops when he was put clean through in the opening minutes, and they
ACCORDING to William Brockie, he had been told the story about three years earlier, his informant one Mary Shaw. She had died at the age of 85, but before her death she had passed on the tale which she, in turn, had heard from those with first hand experience
IT was on Boxing Day three years ago when Sunderland's 20-game run without winning in the Premiership at the Stadium of Light first started. Yesterday the Black Cats' hopes of ending that depressing sequence ended in goalless deadlock, but those who turned
VISITORS to an east Cleveland museum can experience maritime past through the eyes of a lens. Shipyard, which is being showcased at Kirkleatham Museum over the coming months, captures life at Smith's Dock, South Bank. About 75 photographs are being displayed
PEOPLE are being urged to consider childcare as a career and a way to bring some sparkle to their lives. Hartlepool Borough Council's childcare and recruitment officer, Susan Beasley, is on a drive to entice more people to the job in the coming year.
A SHOWGROUND used for some of the region's biggest rural events is hoping to hold more attractions. Brothers John and Dennis Hinchcliffe have applied to Teesdale District Council to allow land at Streatlam Farm, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, to
RESIDENTS and businesses have been praised for lighting up a village over Christmas. West Auckland Parish Council held its annual competition for the best Christmas decorations in the town. There were categories for the best large house, best small house
A SOUTH Durham nightspot has hosted a Keep Safe sexual health event for young people. Held at the Cube nightclub in Spennymoor, it featured activities and games promoting World Aids Day and good sexual health, particularly over the festive season. Maria
A TEENAGER from Durham has completed 32 weeks of the hardest initial training in the world by becoming a Royal Marines Commando. Andrew Tipping, 17, a former pupil of the city's Framwellgate School, passed out at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
STAYING in hospital over Christmas may not be the best way to spend the festive season for any young person. But the pain has been eased for youngsters recovering from various ailments at Durham's University Hospital of North Durham this year. The Treetops
Eight students at The King's Academy, Middlesbrough, were rewarded with bikes for gaining the most merit points since half-term. Merits are awarded by teachers at the Coulby Newham academy for special performance including good behaviour, hard work in
A NORTH-EAST park named Britain's Best is to host a new event. The recently-crowned Saltwell Park, in Gateshead, has been announced as the location for a new event next year for residents and visitors. Organised by Gateshead Council, it will replace Gateshead's
DARING people who stripped off for a mass naked photoshoot can see the artist's pictures for the first time next month. About 1,700 adults took part in New York photographer Spencer Tunick's photoshoot in Newcastle in July. The exhibition, at the Baltic
NOT even Carlisle's biggest crowd in a decade could neither unnerve nor deny Darlington the point they fully deserved at Brunton Park yesterday. Manager David Hodgson promised his side would rise to the occasion and they certainly didn't disappoint in
Cleadon SC are the new leaders after they defeated Ferryhill Athletic 7-2 and Birtley Town lost to Boldon CA. Cleadon romped to their biggest win of the season at Jack Clark Park as David Newton (three), Mark Johnson (two), Danny Efford and Danny Nixon
A MOBILE cinema has been set up to give youngsters living in rural villages a new meeting point. A van run by North Yorkshire's Community Education Service already visits villages in the Easingwold area to give younger residents somewhere to meet up with
STEVE McClaren has urged his Middlesbrough players to "hold their nerve" despite yesterday's 2-0 defeat to Blackburn leaving them rooted in the bottom half of the Premiership table. Shefki Kuqi's brace condemned the Teessiders to their eighth Premiership
POLICE are appealing to the public for help catching a couple who stole power tools from a Durham shopping centre. They entered the Homebase store in the Arnison Centre, at Pity Me, at 12.45pm on September 11 and the man severed a cable, releasing the
A BID to pull down Harrogate's fire station and replace it with a new building is being made by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The replacement building, expected to cost £2.7m, will be on the same site as the present station in Skipton Road.
FATHER-OF-THREE Shaun Jary received the best possible Christmas present weeks before December 25 came around. The 44-year-old, from Shildon, County Durham, is enjoying the company of his children and counting his blessings, 14 weeks after undergoing a
ACCORDING to William Brockie, he had been told the story about three years earlier, his informant one Mary Shaw. She had died at the age of 85, but before her death she had passed on the tale which she, in turn, had heard from those with first hand experience
What's your picture of London at Christmas? Hordes shopping rampantly along Oxford Street? Millions turning rowdily out of the pubs at all hours? Traffic? Noise? Pollution? Well, I'll let you into a secret: it's none of those things here in the City.
THE television schedules are regularly packed with re-runs during the festive period and, yesterday, Middlesbrough's footballers served up their own Christmas repeat. But, while the likes of Only Fools And Horses and Morecambe And Wise are rightly heralded
HUNDREDS of people braved freezing temperatures yesterday in the annual Boxing Day dips along the North-East coast. About 1,000 people took part in the biggest Boxing Day dip in Europe at Sunderland - with the places having been snapped up by keen "dippers
THOUSANDS of hunt supporters turned out as 250 meets gathered for the biggest day of the hunting calendar. The most popular hunts in the North-East and North Yorkshire went ahead for the first traditional Boxing Day meet since the ban, without any trouble
SECRETARY of State for Education Ruth Kelly will give an address at an education conference in the North-East next year. More than 300 delegates will meet from January 4 to 6 at the Sage music centre, in Gateshead, for the North of England Education Conference
NOT even Carlisle's biggest crowd in a decade could neither unnerve nor deny Darlington the point they fully deserved at Brunton Park yesterday. Manager David Hodgson promised his side would rise to the occasion and they certainly didn't disappoint in
TWO men arrested in connection with a hit-and-run incident that led to a father's death have been released on bail. Malcolm Farrow, 38, died soon after being struck by a Fiat car as he crossed Cargo Fleet Lane, in Middlesbrough, at about 11.50pm on Friday
PENSIONS: THOSE who know how intensely Anne McIntosh works in the House of Commons on behalf of her constituents will be heartened by her appointment as Shadow Minister for Pensions, with a special responsibility for women. Their state pensions are so
THOUSANDS of hunt supporters turned out as 250 meets gathered for the biggest day of the hunting calendar. The most popular hunts in the North-East and North Yorkshire went ahead for the first traditional Boxing Day meet since the ban, without any trouble
WHITE Ladies dwelt in running water, spirits which often appeared to unwary travellers stopping to drink or cross the river or stream. One of the most notorious was at Thirsk in North Yorkshire, whose haunt was known as White-lass-beck. Like many spirits
A RAIL company has pledged a zero tolerance approach towards drunken passengers who abuse its staff over the festive period. Northern, which operates a number of routes in the region, including the Esk Valley line and Bishop Auckland-Darlington-Middlesbrough-Saltburn
TWO men arrested in connection with a hit-and-run incident that led to a father's death have been released on bail. Malcolm Farrow, 38, died soon after being struck by a Fiat car as he crossed Cargo Fleet Lane, in Middlesbrough, at about 11.50pm on Friday
Michael Owen's supposed fairytale return to his old stomping ground was turned into a nightmare by a rampant Liverpool side who, on this evidence, look the best bet to finish second to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in the Premiership title race. The England
RETAILERS across the region were given a much-needed boost yesterday as bargain hunters splashed out on a Boxing Day bonanza. High streets, shopping centres and retail parks put a disappointing Christmas trading period behind them to welcome hundreds
VOLUNTEERS from an east Cleveland museum have been given a helping hand to find out more about their local heritage. A group of adult learners at Skinningrove's Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum are being sponsored by the European Social Fund to take
A CYCLING network could be created in a North-East town. Darlington Borough Council has received £1.5m from the Government to become one of six "cycling demonstration towns" in England. Council officials are hoping that the creation of a cycling network
SATISFIED manager Mick McCarthy last night suggested Sunderland's draw with Bolton could prove the spur the whole squad need in an against-all-odds push for survival. The chances of the Black Cats preserving a place in the Premiership remain slim despite
A PENSIONER was left with a broken hip after a bus driver had to react to miss a wayward van. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident in Teesside at 12.50pm on Thursday to come forward. The Stagecoach bus was travelling along Low Grange Avenue
A SECOND bid to secure a car park for a North Yorkshire village school has been tabled. On December 13, Harrogate Borough Council planning committee refused by eight votes to two, with three absentions, a plan by David Sharp to build a detached property
POLICE have renewed an appeal for information about a car chase that resulted in a serious accident. A Renault Clio being driven by an 18-year-old man went out of control and hit bushes before overturning and landing on its roof at about 11.15pm on Christmas
FOUR children have been named as winners of a Magic Roundabout colouring competition organised by Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Thornton's chocolate shop. Alexander Seed, aged two, Nyaradzo Mugwendere, five, Griffin Ball, six, and Bwighane Muanjoka, ten
YOUNGSTERS who enjoy a no-alcohol disco at a local nightclub have helped bring festive cheer to poorly youngsters Studio nightclub, in Front Street, Chester-le- Street, has donated gifts to the Treetops Wards at the University Hospital of North Durham
ROWDY behaviour could lead to court proceedings as enforcement officers step up their patrols. Stockton Borough Council is sending a stern message to people who commit acts of anti-social behaviour - we will use every avenue at our disposal, including
GRAEME Souness last night admitted he has no complaints about yesterday's 2-0 defeat at Anfield - and acknowledged his old team deserved their victory. First half goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch, and a Lee Bowyer dismissal, conspired to send
BATTLING North-East baby Lennox Nicholson is continuing to make steady progress after his life-saving liver transplant. The five-month-old baby boy from Guisborough, east Cleveland, is recovering well in Leeds after undergoing a massive operation days
A MAN who lost three stones by following a careful diet and attending meetings is setting up a new group in north Durham. Paul Sharpe, 32, is setting up Slimming World, in Bournmoor, between Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring, in the new year when
AN experienced Army mountain climber is making the final preparations towards setting a British record for climbing Everest. Staff Sergeant Darren Doyle, from Darlington, was this month selected for a 14-man team of mountaineers to tackle one of the highest
AS the Metro trains whiz past at more than 50mph how many busy travellers stop to admire the artwork that brightens the stations and tunnels? Over the past quarter of a century artists of all kinds have used the Tyneside Metro as a backdrop for their
BEDALE Leisure Centre has been named the seventh best in the UK after receiving high marks in a quality award. The centre was given 78 per cent in its Quest assessment - up four per cent on last year's mark. Quest is a nationally recognised quality standard
HOTEL diners with a visual impairment can now get a real flavour of what's on the menu - thanks to a North Yorkshire college. Students from Henshaws College, in Harrogate, created a Braille edition as a thank you to the nearby Rudding Park hotel. Rudding
FATHER-OF-THREE Shaun Jary received the best possible Christmas present weeks before December 25 came around. The 44-year-old, from Shildon, County Durham, is enjoying the company of his children and counting his blessings, 14 weeks after undergoing a
OF course, no one likes to think about their own death. It is hard enough for most people to draw up a will ordering how their personal possessions will be divided up at the natural end of their days. But to consider giving away parts of your body after
