Two of Prince William's Sandhurst pals have been airlifted to hospital after collapsing from heat exhaustion during a training exercise in the North-East. The two trainee officers were taking part in a large exercise in full chemical protection suits
In the 1970s a solitary Daleswoman called Hannah Hauxwell became one of Britain's most unlikely celebrities, when a Yorkshire Television documentary about life in the High Pennines accidentally stumbled across her struggling to cope alone on her beloved
Up to one million people are expected to attend the 18th Sunderland International Airshow this weekend. Organisers are hoping the current heatwave will continue and attract record numbers to Europe's biggest free airshow. It is expected to generate
TRAIN operator GNER has lost its High Court challenge to allow competing services on part of the rail network's flagship East Coast Main Line. It had urged a judge in London to quash a decision made in March by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR),
Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison destroyed Pakistan's first innings with a devastating spell of 6 for 19 as England took charge of the second Test. Spinner Monty Panesar took three wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for only 119 on a pacy Old Trafford
Stem cell scientists in the North-East have been granted permission to use an ''egg sharing'' scheme to obtain fresh human eggs from donors. Until now, UK scientists working on stem cells and therapeutic cloning have had to rely on ''surplus'' unfertilised
MIDDLE EAST: MAY I, as one of the last British troops to leave Israel in 1947-1948, agree entirely with recent HAS correspondents Alan Dodgson and Hugh Pender and give Christopher Wardell, Kevin McStravick, and your columnist, Peter Mullen, some real
Oscar Hernandez brings his Spanish Harlem Orchestra to the Harrogate Festival at the weekend on the wave of a salsa revival which has cost him a recording contract. Viv Hardwick talks to the Latino music sensation about the rocky road to fame. IT'S taken
Trying to find an unknown new star for the role of Maria in The Sound Of Music, the world's most popular musical, must look like a ratings winner for the BBC. Steve Pratt reports on the latest TV talent show to hit the phone-vote trail. TV talent shows
HE may be 81, but Paul Newman is still racing ahead of actors half his age. He took up the sport after appearing in the 1969 movie Winning and has remained passionate about it ever since. He even holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest driver to
The Cars are the stars but Pixar director and motor racing fanatic John Lasseter steered towards a human element for his four-wheeled freinds. He also hired legendary actor and rce driver Paul Newman to extend the film's family-wide appeal. Steve Pratt
THERE'S only thing worse than Gail Platt and Eileen Grimshaw being at loggerheads - when this pair of Weatherfield warriors join forces. Soapland enemies Gail the hamster and Eileen the bull-in-a-china-shop are brought together by marriage in Coronation
AIR historian John Yarker has at last been able to complete his file on a dogfight which took place 66 years ago - thanks to a meeting with a witness. He had compiled all the details of a Spitfire pilot shooting down a German aircraft near Barnard Castle
POLICE are appealing for information after a man was found dead in a street with a head injury. The man has not yet been identified, but he is believed to be a 42-year-old man of no fixed address. He was found on Tuesday morning in Jackson Street, Gateshead
A FESTIVAL will be held next month to celebrate a village hall's centenary. Sir Hugh Lowthian Bell put the finishing touches to his model village of East Rounton in 1906. It was designed by Philip Webb and includes several grade II listed buildings, including
THE first information boards on a heritage trail to be created through Richmond and its surroundings could win planning approval next week. Ten interpretation boards linking places of interest are porposed, and a "time line" has been installed in the
A SPORTSMAN has competed alongside world champions and Paralympic gold medallists only a year after he learnt a new sport. Arnold Fewell, from Northallerton, took part in the four-day European Arch-ery Grand Prix, at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, in Buckinghamshire
SLOE chocolate and Yorkshire puddings are among the traditional delicacies for visitors to sample at an event on Tuesday. Yorkshire Day marks the day in 1759 that soldiers who had fought in the battle of Minden, in Germany, picked white roses as tributes
ENTERPRISING students at Northallerton College have been getting a taste of big business in a project to stimulate entreprise. More than 200 students formed companies for a day and held a market, selling jewellery, exotic jellies and a car wash service
A FLYPAST, fireworks and rousing music will be on the programme when an air base opens for a charity evening. RAF Linton-on-Ouse will hold the event, on Friday, August 4, to raise money for local and forces charities. The Central Band of the RAF will
REPAIRS to a busy main road in Barnard Castle are likely to cause delays next month. Durham County Council will carry out reconstruction work on the A688, at Prospect Place, which will affect 150 metres of the road from Teesdale School to the roundabout
A HIGH school student sentenced one of his teachers to a terrible punishment on his work experience placement. Keen actor Duncan Mason, of Bedale High School, spent his fortnight scaring tourists by acting out parts at York Dungeon. Work experience co-ordinator
CHILDREN went Down Under for a week when they studied Australia as a classroom project. Every pupil at Stokesley Primary School took part in the work, which included learning about Aboriginal art and beliefs and producing their own artwork about the Great
ONE of the oldest traditional sheep shows in Yorkshire celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. The Moorcock Show, at Mossdale, between Hawes, in upper Wensleydale, and the Cumbrian border, will take place on September 2. Organisers say the 90th event
YOUNGSTERS can learn about an endangered bird and make and fly their own red kite at a Teesside park next week. Officers from the Northern Kites Project will talk about the plight of the red kite at Preston Hall, Eaglescliffe, on Monday, from 1pm to 4pm
PARENTS in two County Durham towns have been praised for their part in developing centres designed to give their children a better future. SureStart Shildon and Newton Aycliffe have been handed the keys to the two children's centres, part of a £1.3m
A PUBLIC meeting is being held to give people the chance to discuss the design of a new health centre in Stanley. Derwentside Primary Care Trust's new building on the Thorneyholme car park site has outline planning permission for development. Three developers
LIBRARIES are holding African tribal themed events during August. The two-hour sessions will include stories by a professional storyteller, a drum workshop, and a mask-making session. Norton Library and Thornaby Central Library hold their events on Friday
A BISHOP Auckland volunteer youth worker has kept a royal appointment a reward for his support for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Keith Rodway, 46, was among 8,500 UK volunteers who celebrated the award's 50th anniversary at a Buckingham Palace garden
A YOUTH drop-in facility has been given a new lease of life thanks to a £1,100 gift. The Ferryhill E Cafe, which offers young people in the area a place to meet after school, has received the donation from North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's Community
DRIVERS filling up with petrol are being given a reminder not to break speed limits. The Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership has commissioned an advertising campaign that features the slogan "Don't Hurry. Be Happy" on petrol pump nozzles. The partnership
GREEN-thinking pupils are being urged to promote environmental issues in their schools. Two schools in Hartlepool are spearheading a drive to promote environmental awareness. St Hild's and West View Primary School are working with Keeley Metcalfe, Hartlepool
A plumber was bang on target when he won the top award in a national Territorial Army contest. Sergeant Dave Fenwick, from Crook, was named the top shot and winner of The Queen's Medal in the TA's Skill at Arms Meeting (TASAM) held at Bisley and Pirbright
A COMMUNITY radio station is preparing to the hit the airwaves once again. Radio Hartlepool will broadcast live on 107.5 FM for 15 days from Saturday. The station's fourth broadcast will be switched on by the Hartlepool Borough Council chairman Carl Richardson
TRADITIONAL fairy tales will be brought to life in a four-day open air festival, starting today. Swiss theatre group Nicole et Martin will stage three plays in the grounds of the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery. The series opens with
A MAYOR put his literacy and numeracy skills to the test yesterday. Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond boarded the BBC Radio Cleveland Bus in the town centre for the challenge. He said: "It was a mini-test and it was no problem. At the end of the test,
OFFICIALS have warned they will start clamping down on illegal rubbish dumping after holding back on issuing fines. But before the clampdown, Hartlepool Borough Council is keen to ensure that householders understand the law. Under the Clean Neighbourhoods
POLICE are hunting two arsonists who lit a fire in the corridor of a community hospital. Staff at Shotley Bridge Hospital, near Consett, reported seeing two men acting suspiciously in the grounds at about 11pm on Monday. The pair, aged 17 to 20, had been
A HEALTH chief has retired after working in the NHS for 32 years. Wynn Griffiths has stood down as chief executive of Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT). The past 21 years of his career have been spent in County Durham and he has led the trust since
POLICE have a new weapon in their fight against anti-social behaviour and disorder. The arrival of the first mobile security camera unit in Richmondshire has been welcomed by officers. The van, which has two cameras and external microphones, will target
A TEESSIDE town could get a food superstore with hundreds of parking spaces if £18m development plans are approved by planners next week. A request for outline planning consent for the development, in Stockton town centre, will go before the council's
SPECIALIST nurse Carol Berthou has earned a BA honours degree in nursing practice after 39 years in health care. Mrs Berthou, who works at the University Hospital of Hartlepool as a gastroenterology nurse, enroled on the degree course because nursing
THE opening of the first purpose-built mountain bike trail on Tyneside has been delayed after it was targeted by vandals. The £20,000 2km route in Chopwell Wood, near High Spen, Gateshead, was to be unveiled next week but signs and visitor counters were
NATIONAL charity The Samaritans has staged two events to raise awareness of its round-the-clock service. The charity held 24/7 day on Monday to highlight the fact that people can call The Samaritans 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On Friday, 12 teams
A SHARPshooting North-East plumber was on target when he won the top award in a Territorial Army contest. Sergeant Dave Fenwick, from Crook, County Durham, was named the top shot and winner of The Queen's Medal in the TA's Skill at Arms Meeting at Bisley
THE end of term marked the end of an era for two adjoining schools. Deneside Junior School and its neighbouring infant school, in Seaham, County Durham, officially closed after 71 years when lessons ended last week. The coming academic year, in September
A COUNCIL has announced plans to give children and teenagers a better deal. Durham County Council's 38-page Children and Young People's Plan has been produced following the 2004 Children Act, which calls for greater integration of services for children
STAFF at Durham technology firm Waterstons pushed themselves to the limit to raise money for an international aid charity. Employees Alex Coates, Edward Waterston, Andrew Kershaw and Clare Henderson took part in a two-day adventure challenge in Cumbria
A CHILDMINDER has become the first in Hartlepool to be rated as outstanding by education inspectors. Christine Fox, 57, was informed of the accolade by Government watchdog Ofsted after undergoing an assessment at her home in Trentbrooke Avenue. Christine
A WOMAN is preparing for a Peruvian trek in a bid to raise money for charity.Mental health support worker Andrea Edwards will trek the Inca trail next May in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.Ms Edwards, who works for Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust
A PLAY area that was designed in consultation with school children opened this week.Moore Lane Park play area was built at a cost of £117,500 by Sedgefield Borough Council and Great Aycliffe Town Council.The project began after the town council received
CHILDREN are to get free swimming lessons at a new pool as part of a deal to hand over the land for the development.Agreement has been reached between Durham City Council and Durham County Council to hand over the site of the pool in Freeman's Place in
ROBBIE Elliott is on the verge of a surprise move to Sunderland after training with the Black Cats squad at the Academy of Light yesterday, writes Scott Wilson. The former Newcastle defender is out of contract after his one-year deal at St James' Park
FIRE risk warnings have been issued as North Yorkshire firecrews tackle twice as many blazes as normal. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has fought 160 grassland blazes this year compared to only 80 last year. One blaze saw 70 firefighters battling a quarter
FARMERS and land managers in the North-East are being offered grants to create 1,000 acres of woodland. The Forestry Commission is encouraging schemes that deliver conservation benefits, enhance the landscape, create public access or restore derelict
A ROCK star who has survived in the charts for more than 30 years and one of the Government's most senior officers are testament to a North-East man's educational skills. Former Roxy Music front-man Bryan Ferry and the chief inspector of
NORWICH City director Delia Smith once claimed it was impossible to create the perfect dish without top-quality ingredients. As Glenn Roeder digests last night's friendly win over the Canaries, he will no doubt be thinking exactly the same thing himself
TO many of Sharon McShane's friends and neighbours, the news of her death at the hands of Robert Ashdown came as little surprise. Police officers were frequent visitors to the house that she shared with Ashdown in Bramall Lane on the Red Hall estate,
HE might have lost one of his most creative forces when Julio Arca finally completed a £1.75m move to Middlesbrough yesterday, but Sunderland boss Niall Quinn has reassured fans that his side will be sent out with an instruction to attack this season
AN MP whose constituency once included areas with record teenage pregnancy rates is calling on the Government for benefit help. Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, is demanding increased Income Support levels for pregnant mothers, to improve the life
A TINY designer dog's adventurous nature got her into trouble when she became stuck in an electric reclining armchair. Inquisitive Angel, a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire terrier -known as a chorkie, had to be rescued by the fire brigade when
A ROAD-RAGE motorist who spat at his victim's car was traced by the DNA in his spit. Banned Michael Leslie Atkinson, who does not hold a driving licence, is now facing jail. The 24-year-old approached a female motorist and hurled abuse at her before spitting
A FATHER facing a desperate race against time was flown into war-torn Beirut by the British Army to snatch his two children to safety. And, with only minutes to spare, Graeme Wilson managed to get them aboard HMS Bulwark - the last ship to leave Beirut
MOURNERS will tomorrow pay their last respects to a North-East man who was killed in a boat tragedy. A memorial service will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Darlington, for 52-year-old Christopher Langan who died in Bahrain in March. Mr Langan was
As an inquest opened into the death of a teenager who drowned in a lake, police warned last night of the dangers posed by the hot weather. The Northern Echo reports. AN inquest opens today into the death of a teenager who drowned while swimming with
DOCTORS say they are pleased with the progress of a toddler whose fight for life has touched the hearts of millions of people across the country. Three-year-old Rosie Wright suffered horrendous injuries when she was thrown from the inflatable sculpture
A COUPLE who want to thank their neighbours for their help and support have nominated them as this year's Neighbours From Heaven award. Hilary and Kevin Cooper, of Pease Street, Darlington, have nominated neighbour Brenda Wallace and her husband
THE residents of two houses which suffered severe fire damage after a blaze started by two seven-year-olds were able to remain in their homes. Both houses suffered severe roof and first-floor damage in the blaze at North Fen on the Lakes Estate, Redcar
IT proved a water birth with a difference for proud mother Hayley Feeley. Rather than the comfort of a hospital birthing pool, the 22-year-old gave birth on the water - in a Ford Escort on the Torpoint to Plymouth ferry. Mrs Feeley, who was brought up
AN allotment-holder was yesterday jailed for failing to seek proper treatment for his injured Shetland pony. Joseph Iley was also banned from keeping animals for life, after he admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the black male pony. Iley, of Emerson
DURHAM County Cricket Club is preparing for a weekend of music only a month after Sir Elton John played in front of 15,000 fans at the venue. UB40, who have recorded 16 top ten singles including Red, Red Wine and I Got You Babe, will be performing at
A ROCK band has been booked to play live and unclothed in the world's biggest maize maze. Slash Bikini will perform to an audience of naturists at the York Maze, North Yorkshire, on Saturday night. Band member Randy P Rock III said: "Playing naked is
With his tow young children trapped in Beirut, and more bombs falling every day, there was only one thing Graeme Wilson could do - rescue them himself, he tells Claire Burbage. THE Israeli jets fly low in the Beirut skies. They pick their targets carefully
Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart (BBC2); I love You. And You. And You (C4): First, it's £400 on a handbag. Then £1,580 on clothes, followed by £6,000 for a sofa and a pony for your daughter. You spend, spend, spend and, before you know it,
Out and about in Willington, where there's a couple who prove ther's more to being an optician than meets the eye. Visionaries in a myopic world, Geoff and Jean Foster celebrated on Tuesday 30 years as Willington's only optician. Though it may not perhaps
A SCHOOLBOY is to tackle a 5km run to his favourite football club to raise money for a Darlington charity. Seven-year-old Owen Stubbings, from Newton Aycliffe, will set off from St Teresa's Hospice, in Woodland Road, and make the run to Darlington Football
Not too many horses improve when leaving Mark Johnston's stable but there looks more to come from Scotland Yard, who is fancied to notch his third win from his last four starts in the Garrowby Handicap over a mile-and-a-half at York this evening. Now
ANGRY union officials have described plans to shed 500 hospital jobs as "a kick in the teeth," for health workers. City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust released a statement yesterday, announcing it may have to lose up to ten per cent of its
NEW changing rooms at a refurbished leisure centre are to be opened next month. Families are being invited to the official opening of the changing rooms at Darlington Dolphin Centre, which are being called a "changing village". The launch on August 7
A RANGE of activities for children are being held at a Darlington school during the summer holidays. Daily sporting events and other activities are being organised by Hummersknott School until the end of the summer break. They are taking place at the
AN orthodontist's surgery has been given permission to move to bigger premises in Darlington. Approval for the surgery, in Dudley Road, on Yarm Road Industrial Estate, was given, although planning officers said it was more appropriate for a residential
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a private road in a village have been approved. An application by Lord Barnard to add a private access to a new housing development behind the village green in Summerhouse, near Ingleton, was yesterday approved by Darlington
POLICE have asked a council to remove rhododendron bushes from a Darlington park in order to prevent crime. Darlington Police made the request to Darlington Borough Council to cut crime in the Denes area of the town, which they say is a hot-spot for
DARLINGTON residents are being asked to donate their old mobile phones to charity. Darlington Borough Council collects old and broken mobile phones and passes them on to a company for reconditioning. The council is paid for each mobile phone it collects
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been presented with a prize for her winning entry in an art competition. Elisabeth Morgan was awarded a certificate and art materials for her design of the new Friends of West Park Hospital logo. She was among scores of pupils
A POET waxed lyrical about his work to readers in Darlington. Steve Holden was the latest writer to appear at Darlington's Crown Street Library to talk about his life. The Northampton poet was visiting relatives in the area and agreed to give a talk at
TAXI driving became a way of life several years ago. In fact, since number four arrived and we were forced to get a people-carrier, I've felt more like a bus driver. When they were younger, FAST CABS - Father's A Soft Touch - ferried the kids backwards
A PACKAGE containing drugs worth £1,350 was thrown from the window of a car being pursued by police, a court heard. Passenger Lee Heightley, who was arrested when the car was boxed in by police vehicles, was yesterday jailed for three years and nine
THE lack of a conviction in the Stephen Lawrence case is one of the biggest frustrations in the recent history of the criminal justice system in this country. An extremely bad smell has been left hanging over Neil Acourt, his brother Jamie, David Norris
ARSONISTS who persistently light fires in public places are to be issued with anti-social behaviour orders. Fire chiefs are working with police and local authorities to identify repeat offenders after being inundated with calls to deliberate fires across
SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury's is breaking a monopoly in one of the region's market towns. The company has taken over a Somerfield store at the north end of Northallerton, North Yorkshire. The store will close early next month for refurbishment. The
A PLUMBING and engineering business is planning to increase its £3.5m turnover, move into new markets and create jobs. Family-run Hewitt and Company recently moved into new premises in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and recruited five staff. The company
THE National Farmers' Union's (NFU) national sugar negotiators will be in the region next week to update growers on discussions with British Sugar. The company intends to close its York factory in February next year with the loss of an initial 100 jobs
DRUGS group GlaxoSmith- Kline yesterday reported a 21 per cent rise in profits and "outstanding" test results for a vaccine against the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. Glaxo, which employs 1,100 people in Barnard Castle, County Durham, said pre-tax profits
CHEMICALS company Croda said yesterday that it expected its acquisition of Uniqema to add about £20m a year to its profits. Last month, ICI announced it was halting its manufacturing operations on Teesside, where it once employed 30,000 people, by selling
CONSTRUCTION group Esh is creating up to 170 jobs across the region over the next year and expects turnover to grow by 25 per cent. The group, based in Bowburn, near Durham City, had a turnover this year of £100m and expects that to rise to £125m next
MORTGAGE bank Northern Rock raised its profit growth target yesterday after a strong first half with record lending. The Newcastle company, which has launched a recruitment campaign to support its expansion, announced a 14 per cent jump in pre-tax profits
ONE of the region's universities spends more time working with businesses than any other university in the UK, according to Government figures published yesterday. The survey counted the number of hours staff at 160 universities and higher education colleges
ZIMBABWEAN artworks, some of which weigh more than 1.5 tonnes, are going on show. Work by 40 artists has been drawn together at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, organised by the Matombo company. Artists Dudzai Mushawepwere and Matthew Nakhawale
Hampshire v Yorkshire (County Championship) : Day One A fine exhibition of seam and swing bowling by Dimitri Mascarenhas helped dismiss Yorkshire for 195 on the first day of their Championship match at the Rose Bowl.Hampshire had further tightened their
Middlesex v Durham (County Championship) : Day One DURHAM'S ever-dependable captain, Dale Benkenstein, and his new-found ally, Gareth Breese, turned a potential collapse into a torrent of runs at Lord's yesterday.On a day when the staunchest of MCC members
A SADISTIC killer who beat his partner to death will spend at least 19 years in prison, a judge ruled yesterday.Remorseless Robert Kevin Ashdown subjected Sharon McShane to a sustained attack, causing some of the worst injuries a pathologist had seen
