Well done Britain! We enjoyed watching all the athletes performing, they were magnificent. Still have a long way to catch up with the Aussies though. Well done Melbourne, now they only have to pay for it. Some people are starting to complain already
One of a tiny percentage of female racing drivers, Amanda Whitaker is also Britain's fastest woman. She tells Women's Editor Sarah Foster how she loves to beat the boys. HUNCHED behind the wheel, sweat forming beneath her layers of clothing, Amanda
SOPHIE AND THE ALBINO CAMEL by Stephen Davies (Andersen Press, £4.99): CHILDREN love adventure stories and they don't come much more exciting than this unusual short novel. Set in the West African country of Burkino Faso, it features a camel chase
NEVER GO BACK by Robert Goddard (Bantam Press, £12.99): BACK in England to sort out affairs after the death of his mother, Harry Barnett has a chance encounter which changes his plans, changes he lives to regret. He is invited to a reunion to mark
Just once a week, Saturdays at half past 12, a train would leave Shildon directly for Newcastle. It steamed off via Bishop Auckland and Durham, almost always pulled by engine number 61023, Hirola, or 61024, Ajax. Whatever we upwardly immobile kids supposed
TWO men touched by a wartime tragedy have visited the sites where the drama unfolded more than 60 years ago. Dr Jim McPhee, from Ontario, Canada, was 19 when he took off in 1944 from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, in North Yorkshire, on what turned out to be a fateful
Philip And Elizabeth (five); Big Love (five); The Play's The Thing (C4); Gyles Brandreth has been friendly with Prince Philip for 25 years and didn't let us forget it in the first of his two royal TV biographies. "Many years ago Prince Philip said to
She may be a style icon, but as a recent photograph showed, Victoria Beckham is blighted by bunions. As we step out in sandals, Women's Editor Sarah Foster finds out more about the foot. POOR Mrs Beckham. Pilloried for her weight, now she's facing fall-out
PRINCE Harry could be heading for the region to become one of the Army's elite. The soldier-prince, 21, is expected to volunteer for one of the military's most gruelling challenges - the pre-parachute training course at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire
THE Queen and Prince Philip will be at Mansion House in the City of London on Thursday for a lunch to celebrate her 80th birthday and his 85th. There'll be plenty of pomp and circumstance as befits such a grand occasion, but I like to recall some of
STAFF at a closure-threatened pipe organ company have been promised by a Euro MP that he will do everything he can to save their jobs. Planned EC directives threaten the future of Harrison and Harrison, which has been in business since 1872. North-East
Britain's antiquated system of coroners' courts is to be overhauled under new proposals unveiled by the government. Lindsay Jennings looks at the history and future of coroners. IT is hardly surprising that the role of coroner will have changed over the
AN urban day spa is to be launched by the group behind the award-winning Seaham Hall and Serenity Spa. Tom's Companies will open Serenity in the City, in Jesmond, Newcastle, in September as a smaller version of the successful spa in Seaham, County Durham
THE rate at which house prices are rising jumped to an 11-month high during April, Government figures showed yesterday. Annual house price inflation increased to 5.1 per cent during the month, up from 3.3 per cent in March and the strongest figure since
EACH-WAY backers could do worse than side with Efidium (4.30) in today's top race at Redcar, the £15,000 John Smith's Straight-Mile Championship Qualifier. Over the past few seasons Neville Bycroft's battle-hardened eight-year-old has run many of his
THE scientist who introduced fish oil trials in schools to raise pupils' intelligence said she was thrilled the Government was following her lead. Education Secretary Alan Johnson has ordered the Food Standards Agency to investigate the benefits of fish
ACCOUNTANCY recruitment specialist Ken Wilson Associates, based in Newcastle, has appointed two consultants. CARL SWANSBURY, 22, from Philadelphia, County Durham, joined as recruitment consultant but has been promoted to divisional manager to oversee
A GP struck off for dishonesty last week had been given a second chance by medical authorities, it has emerged. Dr Nabil Awadalla Naroz, a part-time major in the Royal Army Medical Corps as well as a family doctor in South Shields, South Tyneside, was
MARKS & Spencer is poised to launch its Simply Food store in Durham at the end of the month, creating 30 jobs. The 5,500sq ft site, which will be one of 150 Simply Food stores across the UK, will open in the Arnison Centre, Pity Me, on June 27. The mini-supermarket
COMEDY star Janette Tough, one half of The Krankies with husband Ian, may be heading to the Scottish High Court over a compensation claim for serious injuries she suffered in a 20ft fall during a pantomime in 2004. Speaking at the launch of this year's
A NORTH-EAST writer's script about the World Cup will be broadcast to the nation on BBC Radio Five Live today - voiced by Johnny Vegas. Management consultant Paul English, from Billingham, near Stockton, entered the radio station's World Cup tapes competition
One of the country's last remaining coalmines is to be mothballed, threatening the jobs of more than 300 miners, it was announced yesterday. UK Coal said the decision to mothball Harworth Colliery, in Nottinghamshire, was because the company was unable
CONSTRUCTION company Metek Building Systems has appointed Steve Thompson as managing director. The company is part of the MMP Group, based at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Mr Thompson was recruited by Michael O'Connell, chairman of the MMP Group, to
A management team has been appointed to run a new office complex at the heart of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme. Ann Cowey will be general manager of the Argent Business and Conference Centre, an office accommodation and business and conference
CIVIL servants working for the much-criticised Rural Payments Agency (RPA) were under investigation last night after allegations of outrageous behaviour. One person has been sacked and the RPA is investigating allegations that workers at its Newcastle
A NORTH-EAST coroner investigated because grieving relatives were forced to wait years for inquests will lose his job as part of a shake-up unveiled yesterday. A draft Bill to overhaul a system dating back to 1194 will slash the number of coroners in
A LITTLE girl whose courageous battle with leukaemia inspired a North-East community has lost her four-year-fight for life. Seven-year-old Chloe Latcham, from Toronto, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was surrounded by her family and friends when
THE detective leading the hunt for the killers of a 17-year-old father has appealed to other parents to look into their hearts and come forward with information. Detective Chief Inspector Darren Best said that while some people had contacted police with
TELECOMS firm Executel has appointed a customer services manager at its Gateshead operation. PETER GRAHAM, 51, started in customer services in 1985, when he took a management role for British Telecom providing sales support and an after-sales service
YESTERDAY was the hottest June 12 on record, beating the previous high set on the North Yorkshire coast 109 years ago. Blistering temperatures of 30.7C were recorded at Heathrow Airport, beating the 30.2C recorded in Scarborough in 1897, said PA WeatherCentre
DAVID FOSTER has been appointed as a solicitor at Crutes Law Firm. Mr Foster, from South Shields, joined Crutes as an office junior in 1993 before studying at Newcastle College to become a qualified legal executive. Over the past two years, he has been
THE troubled Wembley Stadium project faced further delays yesterday when steelworkers were told they would not be paid because of a financial problem. A group of about 50 workers remained in a canteen on the site in protest. The GMB union said the men
A COMMUNITY centre could become financially self-sufficient before the end of the decade, thanks to a specialist training grant. The money will pay for manager Martin Landers, who works at Maidendale House, in Burnside Road, Darlington, to undergo the
PUPILS from a Darlington school have returned after studying weather and flood defences in North Yorkshire. Last week, 27 year nine students from Hurworth School Maths and Computing College travelled to Ampleforth Abbey College in North Yorkshire on a
WHEN Mark Viduka helped Middlesbrough score three second-half goals to beat both Basle and Steaua Bucharest last season, he claimed he would never see a comparable comeback on a football field. But when his Australia side grabbed three goals in the last
WALKERS on the new footpath between Neasham and Hurworth, near Darlington, now have an extra pit stop. A new bench has been provided by Middleton St George Hospital and is located close to The Otter and Fish pub. Hospital director Linda Stephens, who
YOU would expect a newspaper like The Northern Echo to raise concerns about the proposed secrecy in inquests. From the hearings, we get many stories which we believe interest the readers who buy our paper. We obviously wouldn't want the source of those
A DARLINGTON primary school has been recognised for its commitment to the arts. St Augustine's Primary School was one of 38 schools in the region to receive a Gold Artsmark award from the Arts Council. The awards are given to encourage schools to increase
Hurworth Methodist Church Field Day and Fete will be held in the primary school playing fields on Saturday. It will be opened at 2pm by Barbara Bell, a lifelong supporter of the event. There will be stalls, games and sports for all ages. Entertainment
DARLINGTON'S crumbling primary schools are to be ranked according to the most dilapidated, ahead of a multi-million pound investment programme. Earlier this year, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) announced plans to refurbish or replace half
SIXTH-FORM art students are setting up a public display to show off their final work. The 28 students on the BTEC diploma in Art & Design at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College are displaying their work this week. The display is called 'Fiesta
GARY Pratt's brilliant fielding has failed to save him from the axe as he makes way for Gary Scott in the Durham team to face Kent at Stockton in the four-day match starting today. Since Pratt scored 52 against the same opponents in the first match of
MODEL Nell McAndrew will start the first Great Women's Run this month. Nell, who is expecting her first child at the end of August, will take part in the 10km run along the seafront at Sunderland, joined by her mother, Nancy, and family friend Sheree
A STUDY has revealed Darlington residents have the highest number of out-of-control pets in the UK. Pet insurance company Petplan was behind the first national study into pet behaviour across the country and is now calling for ASPOOS - Anti-Social Pet
DARLINGTON last night conceded defeat in their bid for Sheffield United striker Luke Beckett. After talks with Beckett and the 29-year-old's representatives, manager David Hodgson has decided not to take his interest in the player any further. Despite
A TEENAGER died in a car accident two days after he gave evidence at the inquest of a friend who died in similar circumstances. A close-knit community was last night in shock after Ben Lawson's death. Ben, 18, from Staithes, North Yorkshire, died hours
NEWCASTLE United defender Robbie Elliott has revealed he is considering severing his long association with his hometown club to play football in the Middle East. The 32-year-old has been offered a new one-year deal to stay at St James' Park next season
ARRIVA SERVICES: I'D like to respond to points made by a correspondent (HAS, June 7) following last week's industrial action by Arriva North-East bus drivers. The writer was misinformed and I would like to make these issues clear. Arriva has never "
A schoolS' cricket festival has been hailed as a great success. The second Durham County Cricket Club and School Sports Partnership Dales Cricket Festival took place at Wolsingham School and Community College on Friday. The final four teams were Wolsingham
AS Hartlepool United home in on their new manager, the club could also be on the verge of securing their first summer recruit. Sheffield Wednesday winger Jon-Paul McGovern is interesting Pool after his surprise release from Hillsborough. He was signed
FOSTER carers are being urged to get in touch with their local authority in light of changed Government laws. Government legislation now places responsibilities on councils to increase awareness of the need to inform local authorities about private fostering
WORK by fifty North Yorkshire artists has gone on display. Among the artwork featured at the Mercer Gallery, in Harrogate, is an 8ft heron made of recycled copper. The sculpture by Reeth artist Michael Kusz is fitted with a bearing so it can blow in the
YOUNGSTERS are being offered the chance to make free mobile calls and texts - by shopping local vandals. They are being asked to pass on information about those causing damage to local neighbourhoods, and will be rewarded by mobile phone "top-up" vouchers
A TALENTED musical teenager has achieved top grades on both the saxophone and piano. Rebecca Newton, 16, has reached grade eight in recent exams held at Queen Mary's School, near Topcliffe. The talented student from Helperby, near York, is now thinking
A RUNDOWN walkway linking a town's library and memorial hall is being demolished. Work on removing the covered way, between Redcar Central Library and Coatham Memorial Hall, is expected to last for two weeks. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said
SOME of the hidden delights of Richmond will be available for all to see later this month. More than 30 local gardeners will be opening up their plots on June 25 to help raise money for the Richmond Station Regeneration Project. Teas, homemade cakes and
A TEESDALE School is holding a concert to commemorate its historic organ. Barnard Castle School will relay live close-up pictures of the Henry Willis organ being played to the audience during the concert. Assistant director of music at the school, Matthew
A RENOWNED film director is to deliver an annual educational lecture. Lord David Puttnam, the man behind such blockbusters as Chariots of Fire, The Killing Fields and Bugsy Malone, will take to the lectern at the Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street
AN annual golf day has raised a record amount for charity. The fourth Wicked Witch Golf Society competition, held last month at South Moor Golf Club, near Stanley, raised £3,700 for two local charities. The proceeds are to be split between Willow Burn
VOLUNTEERS running support programmes for fellow suffers of long-term medical conditions have been recognised for their efforts. The Expert Patients Programmes have been running across the region since 2002. County Durham and Tees Valley's latest recruits
A CAMPAIGN to provide healthchecks for charity carers is being supported by Thirsk Carers Support. The move comes to help those who give unpaid time to support the sick, frail and disabled. Thirsk Carers Support claims almost one in eight people in its
THE owners of a puppy are appealing for help after their eight-month-old dog was stolen from the back garden. Sometime during the night of Sunday, June 4, until late afternoon on Monday, June 5, the Staffordshire bull terrier puppy was taken from the
POTENTIAL development of Masham Auction Mart for housing, employment and community use have been tabled by agents for owners of the Leyburn Road site. Harrogate Borough Council has been told development of the two-and-a-half acre area could start before
THE two new members of Youth Parliament for Wear Valley and Teesdale got some tips from a high-ranking cabinet minister. The North West Durham MP and Social Exclusion Minister, Hilary Armstrong, met Joseph Emery, 16, from Howden-le-Wear and Heidi Sowerby
HUNDREDS of young footballers are to take part in what is expected to become an annual tournament. The first Annfield Soccerfest takes place next month, with organisers expecting 50 teams made up of more than 500 players to take part. The week-long event
A referendum is being held this month in Sedgefield Town Council area to obtain the views of villagers on a future community building. The four options on offer are to either refurbish the existing parish hall, demolish it and rebuild on the same site
A CONSULTATION about plans to redevelop residential areas of a town will move into another stage today. A series of neighbourhood meetings has been arranged for residents of Peterlee to have their say about the proposals. Consultants have been hired to
YOUNG musicians and their parents have been on their bikes to raise money towards equipment. The team from Spennymoor Youth Band took part in a sponsored ride from Spennymoor to Bishop Auckland. The money raised will be spent on equipment and uniforms
SOMETHING fishy is going on Teesside. Thousands of pounds are to be spent turning Hemlington Lake, near Middlesbrough, into an anglers' paradise. Improvements will include a path, bridge, repairs to angling platforms and installation of others suitable
A GROUP has been set up to bring a town's ethnic communities closer together. The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Reference Group aims to give Hartlepool's various ethnic minority groups a stronger voice in local decision making. It has been set up by
VEGETABLE, flower and craft shows in the Durham area could get funding from a city council scheme. The council is keen to promote local shows, which, it says, are an important part of the area's cultural heritage, and is offering help with the running
IF YOU go down to Woodhouse Close today, you're sure of a big surprise. Woodhouse Close Library is holding an exhibition of teddy bears, created by members of Woodhouse Close Craft Group, until the end of June. To coincide with this, a special Little
AN Indian restaurant has been closed after police caught staff selling alcohol to customers without a licence after a potential sale of the business fell through. A closure order was granted to the owners of the Blue Begoon after Teesside Magistrates'
YOUNGSTERS in Chester-le-Street can take advantage of a special offer to swim in the town's pool this summer. The council and the Children's and Young People's Action Group is offering free sessions to the under-16s, from Saturday until Sunday, September
CONTROVERSIAL plans to transfer a council's housing stock to a non-profit-making housing association will be put to a secret ballot, with more than 5,000 eligible residents encouraged to vote. Chester-le-Street District Council bosses say the change-over
A GROUP of aspiring performers are celebrating after completing a beginner's course in the art of singing. Eight people were given certificates for succeeding in the Singing for Beginners course at the Waddington Street Centre, in Durham, through New
THERE are fears for the future of Ripon Community Hospital after plans showed its bed capacity could be halved. Run by Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust (PCT), the Firby Lane hospital faces an uncertain future. The problem lies in
THOUSANDS of people flocked to a market town's summer fair to raise cash for local charities. More than 4,000 revellers basked in baking sunshine on Sunday when Guisborough Rotary Club held its third town fair. The club raised about £2,500 for a variety
AN annual charity day at Headlam Hall Golf Course, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, has been hailed a success. More than 50 players from the region took part in the competition, which raised £1,000 for St Theresa's Hospice. The individual winner
CONSTRUCTION group Balfour Beatty has been chosen as the preferred bidder for a £420m seven-year contract to replace old gas mains across the North-East and Yorkshire.Balfour Beatty Utilities, which has its regional office in Sunderland, hopes the deal
CARAVAN and motorhome manufacturer The Explorer Group has completed a £500,000 investment in its production line.The company, based in Consett, County Durham, ploughed the money into its Bond Shop area, where the main side panels of the vehicles are assembled
BULLIED soldiers will be able to complain to an independent commissioner to prevent a repeat of the Deepcut and Catterick scandals, after a major government U-turn today. The Ministry of Defence caved in to pressure from Labour MPs by announcing a 'service
A MAN has been handed a nine month jail sentence for sparking a bomb alert at a chemical plant. Michael Cooke, 50, of York Road, Hartlepool, phoned the ICI Wilton plant on Teesside and told staff that a bomb was going to go off. But the threat turned
A WOMAN has been arrested after a man was found dead in a pool of blood on the stairs of their home early this morning. Police and paramedics went to Bede Avenue, on Sherburn Road Estate in Durham City at 6.40am after getting a 999 call from a neighbour's
GOVERNMENT scientists who tested poison gas on soldiers more than 50 years ago will not face charges, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced. The CPS said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against the tests at Porton Down which killed
A GROUP has been set up to bring a town's ethnic communities closer together.The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Reference Group aims to give Hartlepool's various ethnic minority groups a stronger voice in local decision making.It has been set up by Hartlepool
AN Indian restaurant has been closed after police caught staff selling alcohol to customers without a licence after a potential sale of the business fell through.A closure order was granted to the owners of the Blue Begoon after Teesside Magistrates'
THOUSANDS of people flocked to a market town's summer fair to raise cash for local charities.More than 4,000 revellers basked in baking sunshine on Sunday when Guisborough Rotary Club held its third town fair.The club raised about £2,500 for a variety
FOSTER carers are being urged to get in touch with their local authority in light of changed Government laws.Government legislation now places responsibilities on councils to increase awareness of the need to inform local authorities about private fostering
A RUNDOWN walkway linking a town's library and memorial hall is being demolished.Work on removing the covered way, between Redcar Central Library and Coatham Memorial Hall, is expected to last for two weeks.Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said
ARRIVA SERVICES: I'D like to respond to points made by a correspondent (HAS, June 7) following last week's industrial action by Arriva North-East bus drivers. The writer was misinformed and I would like to make these issues clear. Arriva has never "blamed
A NEW charity is offering hope to families and carers of alcoholics and drug addicts in the south-west Durham area.The New Hope Project was set up by a group of volunteers who have had experiences of dealing with close family or friends who have had
A TEENAGER has appeared in court today charged with killing an eight-year-old boy during a hit-and-run crash. The 15-year-old was appearing before Teesside Youth Court accused of causing the death of Daniel Curtin by dangerous driving. The boy died
POLICE are investigating an accident which left a motorcyclist seriously injured at the weekend.The biker, aged 33 and from the Bishop Auckland area, is recovering in the town's General Hospital with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and internal injuries.He
YOUNG musicians and their parents have been on their bikes to raise money towards equipment.The team from Spennymoor Youth Band took part in a sponsored ride from Spennymoor to Bishop Auckland.The money raised will be spent on equipment and uniforms to
THE two new members of Youth Parliament for Wear Valley and Teesdale got some tips from a high-ranking cabinet minister.The North West Durham MP and Social Exclusion Minister, Hilary Armstrong, met Joseph Emery, 16, from Howden-le-Wear and Heidi Sowerby
A TEESDALE School is holding a concert to commemorate its historic organ.Barnard Castle School will relay live close-up pictures of the Henry Willis organ being played to the audience during the concert.Assistant director of music at the school, Matthew
A schools' cricket festival has been hailed as a great success.The second Durham County Cricket Club and School Sports Partnership Dales Cricket Festival took place at Wolsingham School and Community College on Friday.The final four teams were Wolsingham
AN annual charity day at Headlam Hall Golf Course, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, has been hailed a success.More than 50 players from the region took part in the competition, which raised £1,000 for St Theresa's Hospice. The individual winner of
VICTORIOUS Australia skipper Mark Viduka last night revealed that referee Abd El Fatah had claimed that God was on his side after a thrilling late comeback prevented the Socceroos' World Cup dream from being dashed by a refereeing error. But rather than
TRAIN passengers have hit out at ticket prices just weeks after MPs condemned the rail companies for a single-minded pursuit of profits. An independent survey published this week showed that many North East passengers felt they were being ripped off.
THE official motto of this summer's World Cup is "A time to make friends". When Sven-Goran Eriksson handed Stewart Downing his third international cap on Saturday, he certainly made plenty in Middlesbrough. Finally, after a wait of some 44 years, the
MORE than one in four employers in the North-East are looking to expand their workforce this summer, according to a study out today. The report found that 28 per cent of companies across the region are looking to take on staff between July and September
TYNESIDE shopping-at-work retailer Premier Direct Group (PDG) yesterday warned it is likely to report a trading loss for the second half of the financial year. The South Shields company said it had hit tough trading conditions after announcing its first-half
POLICE were stretched to the limit dealing with a record amount of trouble in the aftermath of England's opening World Cup match, it was revealed yesterday. A combination of scorching temperatures, high spirits and an afternoon kick-off - which meant
A WOMAN and her lover who "connived" to steal her dying husband's life-savings were last night both facing jail. The relationship between Catherine Ferguson and Peter Arnold blossomed after she hired him to help provide 24-hour care for husband Eric
WORKERS, shoppers and children are facing more transport misery next week. A second one-day bus strike by drivers in the region will be followed a day later by a national railway strike, which will affect millions of football fans trying to get home
Redcar Bears team manager Brian Havelock has stressed to his team that they must all be on top form when the Edinburgh Monarchs visit the South Tees Motorsport Park on Thursday evening at 7.30pm in Premier League action. The Bears squeezed home by the
For the second week in succession the Redcar Bears face a Scottish side smarting from a previous narrow victory at the South Tees Motorsport Park. In May the Glasgow Tigers went down by just two points in a 46-44 Premier Trophy North match. The Glasgow
BUSKERS, one-man bands and budding Bob Dylans are invited to take part in one of the North East's biggest free music festivals. The occasion has been given a touch of glamour, with Middlesbrough's representative in the forthcoming Miss England
