DARLINGTON 's first game without David Hodgson in charge has not gone as planned. The club sacked Hodgson in midweek, blaming poor results in part. However, Rochdale smashed in five goals without reply in the League Two encounter at the 96.6TFM Arena
LINCOLN: Marriott, Eaden, Moses, Beevers, Mayo, Amoo, Frecklinton, Kerr, Hughes, Stallard, Forrester. SUBS: Gritton, Cryan, Ryan, Mettam, Rayner. HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Konstantopoulos; D Williams, Nelson, Clark, Brackstone; Gibb, Liddle, Boland, Robson;
ONE pensioner has died and another is missing after their car plunged 50ft over a cliff into a swollen river. The blue Nissan Micra plummeted into the River Swale, near Marske Bridge, on the A6108 between Richmond and Reeth, North Yorkshire. The incident
A MOTHER who has campaigned for 15 years to bring her daughter's murderer to justice saw him jailed for life today For Ann Ming, 60, it marks the end of a long battle to get the man who killed Julie Hogg brought to justice. The case made legal history
A COURT case of a 12-year-old boy who stole just £1 has cost taxpayers in the region of £8,000. The youngster had threatened to beat up a fellow 12-year-old boy if he didn't hand over some cash so the terrified boy handed over two 50p pieces. The boy
ONE person has been killed this morning in an incident at a foot crossing over a railway line, police said. The incident happened south-west of Pannal railway station, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, at 7.09am, a British Transport Police spokesman said
MY polytunnel has its fair share of successes and failures, but overall it has performed remarkably well. I have had fabulous crops of tomatoes and chillies, enormous marrows and pumpkins, and cucumbers in every shape and colour. My small block of
PEOPLE in north Durham are being warned about bogus callers pretending to be from local authority regarding the transfer of council housing stock. Chester-le-Street District Council has cautioned all residents to be aware of people telling them they are
THE future of a town's tourist information centre has become more secure, thanks to the efforts of residents. The centre in Easingwold was one of four earmarked for closure by Hambleton District Council earlier this year, in a bid to save £25,000 after
THE creative skills of young people on the North Yorkshire coast will go on show this weekend in the spectacular setting of Whitby Abbey. A series of Norse shields will be on show at the site - challenging visitors to decode the Viking Trail. The trail
COUNCILLORS in the region are being urged to take the fight for country post offices to the Government's doorstep. Sub post offices, run in market towns and villages by private business people, represent 97 per cent of the national network. The battle
OUTLINE plans for a development of about 50 homes near Catterick Garrison have been approved. Richmondshire District Council's planning committee heard that a quarter of the homes on the estate, off Catterick Road in Colburn, would be set aside at "affordable
A NORTHALLERTON man is the manager of the new Sainsbury's store, which opened in the town yesterday. Michael Watkiss and his wife have lived in Northallerton for 13 years and he has worked for the retail chain for 25 years. Town mayor David Blades cut
FANS of James Herriot can hear about the vet's life from his son at a dinner next week. Jim Wight, who will be the guest speaker at The Herriot Dinner next Friday, has been a vet all his life and worked with his father for many years at the famous practice
A TEACHER at a North Yorkshire school has been awarded top marks in a national competition. Mary-Jane Foster, of Queen Mary's School in Topcliffe, was runner up in the Early Years Teacher of the Year competition. She was one of 24 teachers put forward
The author of Boozers, Ballcocks and Bail, Yorkshire solicitor Stephen Smith, will be giving a talk and signing books at Richmond Town Hall next Thursday, from 7pm to 9pm. Admission is £3, including wine and refreshments. The event had been organised
A NEW express service is being introduced to boost cross-region bus links. Go North East is launching the number 30 service on Sunday, for passengers travelling between Hartlepool, Peterlee and Sunderland. Running from Hartlepool's Victoria Road, and
VILLAGERS are objecting to a proposed quarry development which is expected to create jobs in North Yorkshire. Parish councils in and around Scorton, near Richmond, fear there will be more traffic and noise problems if Tarmac is given the go-ahead to build
A TEESSIDE woman is striking a blow for equality by pursuing her dream of a career in the male-dominated world of engineering. Tracy Johnson, 33, pictured right, who lives in the Rift House area of Hartlepool, is employed through Hartlepool Borough Council's
A SECOND purpose-built skate park is to be opened this weekend with an afternoon of activities. The park, which has been six years in the planning, has been built next to the community centre, in Sunderland Road, in the Belmont area of Durham City. The
AN EAST Durham coastal town has introduced poop scoop dispensers to halt dog fouling along its newly-refurbished seafront. People taking their dogs along Seaham's new promenade will have no excuse for not cleaning up after their pets. Easington District
A CAR park on the outskirts of Durham that was used as an unofficial rubbish dump has been transformed into a picnic area. Durham City, Durham County and Belmont Parish councils transformed the site near Kepier Woods, just off the A690 slip-road for Belmont
A NEW £5.5m auction mart has been hailed a beacon of hope for farmers affected by foot-and-mouth disease. Since opening last month the Thirsk Rural Business Centre facility has given the area's farmers a boost. Vale of York MP Anne said the centre represented
A COUNCILLOR has raised the stakes in an argument over a new primary school which critics say is a danger to children. In a letter to Durham County Council, seen by The Northern Echo, Councillor Chris Foote Wood describes the council's failure to complete
A POWERFUL motorcycle was recovered after a high-speed chase, a court heard. Police estimate that Jeffrey Richardson reached speeds of up to 100mph on a stolen Honda CBR 600cc motorbike during a pursuit in Seaham, in September last year. But Richardson
PLANS to form a town council have come under fire from councillors who claim it would be a white elephant. Yesterday, district councillors representing Annfield Plain, Catchgate and Tanfield presented a 700-name petition to Derwentside District Council's
YOUNGSTERS have brightened up their walk to school by painting their shoes. The children from St Mary's RC Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, are taking part in International Walk to School month. As part of the event, Durham County Council's schools travel
A SPORT club is being set up in response to calls from teenage girls. The weekly after-school club at Spennymoor Leisure Centre will be launched by Sedgefield Borough Council on Monday. For the first few weeks, organisers will run structured activities
A TEESDALE designer has been shortlisted for a national award for the design and craftsmanship of his furniture. Rupert McBain, whose workshop is in Winston, near Barnard Castle, is one of ten finalists for the The Wood Award announced this week, with
A TEESDALE village is seeking a crossing patrol officer following the retirement of the school's lollipop lady. There was some doubt whether Durham County Council would replace Marilyn Metcalfe, retired after 19 years helping children cross the A67 at
Chester-le-Street District Council has launched a service for reporting incidents of litter, abandoned vehicles or fly-tipping via text. The service will cost the customer their normal charge for a text message. The message should be sent to 07786-200166
A LUNG cancer support group has raised £1,250 for Bishop Auckland hospital. The cash was a surprise for Dr Rashid Abasi, who had been expecting a straightforward question-and-answer session when he visited the group earlier this week. He also accepted
A MAN has denied punching his girlfriend in the face during a drunken row, a court heard. But Graham Blewitt admitted he had struck Lisa Wilson after they had been out drinking on July 30, before returning to their home. Alison Nunn, prosecuting, said
A MINIBUS driver found on the road without insurance has had his vehicle confiscated by the police. Last weekend, enforcement teams checked 35 taxis, hackney carriages and minibuses in Middlesbrough using officers from the taxi licensing section, Cleveland
OPEN DAYS THANKS: ON September 9 and 10, as part of the Heritage Open Days Project, Loftus Town Hall was open to the public. This event was organised by Loftus Town Council through its archives working group. The open days included guided tours of the
LINGFIELD Countryside Centre, in Coulby Newham, is launching an events leaflet packed with family wildlife events at the centre until April 2007. Details of the environmental amusement arcade are included, as well as how to join the nature club and get
AN increase in cases of a sexually transmitted disease on Teesside has prompted health experts to act. Posters are to be displayed and thousands of credit-card sized leaflets will be circulated to pubs and clubs after 11 cases of syphilis were confirmed
DIABETES sufferers in north Durham are being invited to an event. The Derwentside community diabetes service, part of County Durham Primary Care Trust, will hold the event at the Lamplight Arts Centre, in Stanley, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, on Monday. Those
THE head boy and girl of Durham Johnston School had the trip of a lifetime on a Tall Ship that sailed 700 miles around England. Alistair Carter and Katy Unsworth, both 17, of Durham, won the ten-day trip after their names were drawn out of a hat. They
Preston Hall Museum, near Stockton, is exploring creepy crawlies during a bug-themed half-term. From October 23 to 27, the museum is supporting an exhibition of bugs by Billingham Campus School with activities are for all ages. Museum admission prices
A COMMUNITY will come together for a weekend of music and dance. The parish of Coatham and Dormanstown has organised a harvest arts festival to highlight the area's talented youngsters, build community links, and develop confidence and self esteem in
A WATER company was fined over inadequate safety measures surrounding roadworks on a country lane. Durham County Council brought the case against site operator Northumbrian Water as part of its highways get tough campaign. Although a sub-contractor carried
A SCHOOL received a cash boost from the husband of a teaching assistant, who drove from land's End to John O' Groats in his 38-year-old car. Paul Heslington, whose wife, Carol, works at Trinity School, Aykley Heads, Durham, made the journey from Cornwall
The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League: DIVISION ONE With many clubs participating in the County Cup, the game between Haughton and Model T was the only fixture played with both sides wishing to consolidate a place in the upper echelons
A THORNABY teenager is flying the flag for the North-East in the world of netball. Leanne Rogers, a member of Tees Active Sports Academy, has been selected for England under-17s netball squad. Leanne impressed the selectors after intensive trials at the
LAST year's Local Heroes winner Ian Berry says he won't be reaching for the pipe and slippers just yet. Ian, last November, scooped the overall 2005 Local Heroes Award following years of dedication to establish junior volleyball in the region. When he
The Non League paper reported last Sunday that Sunderland Reserves had kicked off at their new home - the former Eppleton Colliery ground at Hetton-le-Hole, within the city boundaries. There was a photograph, too - on the left high profile new Sunderland
Bishop Auckland have extended their groundshare deal with Shildon until at least the end of the season but chairman Terry Jackson believes that the Tindale Crescent scheme still is not dead. Bishops' hopes of a new permanent home at Tindale Crescent have
MARTYN Tweddle gained revenge on Ronnie Wright to take the 2006 men's singles title at New Blackwell Tennis Club in Darlington. Wright had come from a set down against Tweddle to win last year's final but there was no repeat fightback this time round.
STEPHEN Pennock is a deserved winner of The Northern Echo Cricketer of the Month award for September after plundering a mammoth unbeaten double century. The Great Ayton Cricket Club opening batsman scored 210 not out against Darlington in the NYSD Premier
Boddy Printers Sunday League: Barracuda 2 Lingfield Farm 0.Barracuda are running into form and are becoming a threat to the more notable teams in the league. They have just completed the double over Lingfield Farm and their confidence is gradually
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall Of An Empire (BBC1); Extras (BBC2): 'I want to be first over the wall tomorrow," says young Tiberius Gracchus to his soldiers. And he was, which meant that he got to wear the golden crown. Very nice he looked too in this
It's a long way from the baked beans... and we do mean that literally. Asda's first stand-alone clothes store has just opened in Middlesbrough. ASDA was the first supermarket in this country to start selling its own label line of clothing. At the time
Shakespeare purists might like to look away now. The RSC have invited Kneehigh theatre company to produce Cymbeline and the result, cut down from some four hours' running time to two, is a revelation. I have to admit to a sinking feeling at the prospect
Former school teacher Pam Hedges lived four frustrating years without a voice, before alternative therapies helped restore her speech. Helen Cook talks to her. A NOTEBOOK and pencil became Pam Hedges' medication when a bout of flu rid her of her voice
VISION AND COMMITMENT: IN his column, headed "How we've gone off the rails" (Echo, Sept 30), Chris Lloyd raises an important issue regarding the complacent and unthinking side of local and regional leadership in recognising the worth of its history
THE decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge dedicated consultant surgeon John Stephen with manslaughter was an absolute disgrace. But the subsequent smear uttered by their spokeswoman in trying to justify the decision merely compounds the
THE Bank of England voted yesterday to leave interest rates on hold at 4.75 per cent. There had been some anxiety that the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) would spring a surprise hike to five per cent to curb rising inflation but economists are
POLICE have been scouring through schoolbooks to trace a graffiti artist who has plagued a community with his "tag". Officers hoping to find a clue to the identity of "Spit" have visited schools in the area, but have so far drawn a blank. Now they have
THE first single payment entitlements sold as part of a farm sale in the region have gone under the hammer. Tom Oates, auctioneer for George F White, said as they had never been sold on the open market, no one was sure how much they would make. However
OUTSTANDING work from volunteers and community groups will be formally recognised at the Best of Darlington Awards 2007, which are being launched today. Unsung heroes across the borough will be commended for the unpaid contribution they have made in
DARLINGTON FC/TESCO: WHILE all Darlington FC fans will be forever grateful to sacked manager David Hodgson for what he has done for the club in its hour of need, the time is now right to move on. A proven lower division manager is what is required, such
A SLIMMING class in Firthmoor, Darlington, has been axed by Weight Watchers. The group was set up in April and has about 35 members. On Wednesday the group was told it was being closed because of a lack of leaders. The group members were offered meetings
THE mastermind of one of the region's largest drugs operations was last night starting 14 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of running the £8m empire. Police said they were delighted with the sentence given to Habib Khan, who was convicted
AIRPORT bosses were celebrating last night after a new airline announced it was to launch flights to four major European tourist destinations. Budget airline Flyglobespan will set up a two-aircraft base at Durham Tees Valley Airport from March 30, which
A THAI prostitute, who admitted managing a brothel in Darlington, has been forced to forfeit takings totalling more than £1,000. Woranut Brown, 41, oversaw the day-to-day running of the brothel, in Duke Street, which was one of three in the town raided
AS A fully-paid up member of the AHFC (Audley Harrison Fan Club), I can't wait for his Commonwealth heavyweight title fight with Matt Skelton in December. People are saying it's a make-or-break bout for Audley, but they said the same about his fight with
A MAN has been cleared of raping a teenager at her friend's home, but was jailed after admitting his part in the theft of a valuable ring. Henry Thompson was found not guilty by the panel of seven women and five men at the end of a three-day trial yesterday
NEWCASTLE'S preparations for next weekend's Premiership match with Bolton have been aided by Craig Moore's premature return from an ill-fated trip to Australia. After missing the start of a team assembly and training camp in his hometown of Brisbane,
ACADEMY products Toby Flood and Lee Dickson will team up at half back in an all-English Newcastle Falcons line-up to entertain Llanelli Scarlets in the EDF Energy Cup tonight (7.40). It will be a first senior start for Dickson, the 21-year-old Barnard
LEAKED documents have detailed a catalogue of errors in the finances of a cash-strapped NHS trust. The report, a review of governance arrangements for Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, says there were errors in financial statements
A MAJOR town centre shopping complex has been put up for sale. The owners of the Cornmill Shopping Centre, in Darlington, are asking nearly £85m for the 20,616sq metre complex. The Cornmill's landlord, Darlington Centre Limited, said there has already
SUPPORTERS of Speedy Sam (2.20) will be hoping he can live up to his name by landing the first at York this afternoon. Trainer Karl Burke has always held the son of Medicean in the highest regard, a lofty opinion vindicated when Speedy Sam made all under
THE long-running saga over plans to scrap so-called "ghost ships" could be resolved next week. Hartlepool Borough Council confirmed yesterday that a date had been set to consider four applications from Able UK, relating to the development of its Graythorp
At the end of a frantic week of activity in the Darlington boardroom, the action returns to the pitch this evening as Quakers aim to put the focus back on football. David Hodgson's dismissal almost three years into his third tenure at the helm has somewhat
STEEL firm Corus was pushed back into the bid spotlight yesterday after Indian rival Tata Steel confirmed it was considering a takeover approach. Tata Steel - part of the massive Indian conglomerate Tata Group, which owns Tetley Tea - said it was looking
Before the comedian Vic Reeves, there was a boy called James Roderick Moir. He talks to Lindsay Jennings about believing he was an alien, 'conductiong experiments' in fields, disastrous gigs in Middlesbrough and playing cards with old ladies. THE young
CAREERS campaign Aspire has named its new chief executive as Mary Coyle. The 57-year-old will join Aspire full time in the new year, after ten years as regional director of leadership development organisation Common Purpose. She said: "My new role at
A TEENAGER is to be extradited from Ireland in connection with the alleged rape of schoolgirls from County Durham. Cumbria Police said yesterday that they had started proceedings to bring the 17-year-old from the Republic of Ireland over to the North
THE sacking of David Hodgson as manager of Darlington Football Club has all the makings of a messy, bitter, and sad affair. We do not propose to prejudge the rights and wrongs of the dismissal because all the facts are not yet known. However, we do believe
REMOVALS firm Pickfords has relocated to larger offices and taken on five new drivers. Its new offices, on the Team Valley Trading Estate, in Gateshead, were opened by group managing director Kevin Pickford. The 40,000sq ft facility can hold up to 2,000
A HOSPITAL chief executive has been criticised by a watchdog for failing to inform a council of the closure of a ward for elderly patients. But despite criticism, the controversial closure of the 26-bed ward 52 at Darlington Memorial Hospital will go
WITH his first managerial award at Hartlepool United in the bag, Danny Wilson has paid tribute to his players. Pools had a good September, earning five wins from seven games to move from 21st in League Two to seventh. That was enough for Wilson to be
CANCER sufferers across the region are being treated faster than ever after dramatic improvements in NHS services, a report says. Almost 95 per cent of patients in the North-East and North Yorkshire saw their treatment start within two months of referral
FUELS company D1 Oils has signed its biggest contract to date to supply biodiesel to Petroplus' Teesside division. D1 will supply 24,000 tonnes of biodiesel over 12 months to Petroplus Refining Teesside Limited, a regional division of the UK's largest
A FURNITURE business salvaged from collapsed DP Furniture Express last year has itself gone into administration. Furniture Express Limited, which was acquired by its management team after DP plunged into administration in October, has called in PricewaterhouseCoopers
NORTH-EAST gardeners have been told global warming is now taking its toll on the region's favoured horticultural hobby. Leek and onion enthusiasts have been warned they must change their planting patterns if they want to come up with prize-winning specimens
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has hinted that Jonathan Woodgate could be asked to return to the Bernabeu at the end of the season. Woodgate moved to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan deal in the summer, and has impressed in his opening four appearances
POLICE say they are taking seriously an attack on two bar workers who were beaten up as they handed out promotional leaflets while dressed as a kangaroo and a koala bear.The duo were pinned up against a wall in Middlesbrough town centre and punched.Fortunately
A SEXUAL predator whose offending spans 50 years has been jailed for raping and abusing a child.A judge yesterday warned pensioner Donald Moore he should expect to serve a significant time behind bars after details of his "evil hobby" were revealed to
The Northern Echo's Craig Stoddart was yesterday granted an audience with George Houghton. Also in attendance were Jon Sotnick and the club's PR representative Graham Robb. The interview is printed here in full and can also be heard by clicking the MP3
THE heartbroken mother of murdered shopworker Jenny Nicholl - who would have been 21 today - has made an emotional appeal to her daughter's killer to let her bury her body.Ann Nicholl said she could not bear the thought of Jenny being alone in a cold,
DARLINGTON football club is seeking guidance from the Football Association over "very concerning" issues which emerged after a routine audit, it was revealed yesterday.The club announced the move during a press conference to explain its reasons for sacking
