A MAN was seriously injured and four other people required hospital treatment after a collision between two cars this afternoon. Emergency services were called to the B1280 at Wingate, near Peterlee, County Durham, at around 6.25pm. It followed a collision
GAFFE-prone soccer boss Freddy Shepherd scored another own goal - when he bragged he would carry star striker Michael Owen back to Liverpool. Mobile phone footage of the Newcastle United chairman appeared on YouTube after being shot by Liverpool fans
Minister David Miliband Visits Teesside ENVIRONMENT Minister David Miliband is to mark the beginning of construction on one of the UK's biggest renewable fuel developments on Teesside today. The development, by Yarm-based biofuels firm Ensus, at a site
Central defender Alan White is poised to sign a contract with home-town club Darlington. The former Middlesbrough trainee left Notts County last season after a bust-up with supporters and went to Peterborough on loan, where he scored three times in seven
MIDDLESBROUGH FC is going back to its roots with the launch of a new club badge that honours its long heritage. The new badge, which is launched today, recognises the fact that Middlesbrough is one of the oldest football clubs in the world, having been
The Inshore Fisheries Langbaurgh League Champions Broughton struggled to beat Stafford Place despite having them back in the pavilion for just 98. Veteran Andrew Smith took five for 11 after Roger Briddock had struck earlier with three for 34. Mally
COUNDON Cons midfielder Phil Brumwell admitted that winning an FA Sunday Cup winners medal is the highlight of his football career. The former Sunderland and Darlington player was in two Wembley squads with the Quakers, and finished a loser twice, but
Bishop Auckland St. Mary's THE Under-14s played their last game at home to Kader and started off very well after winning and drawing the last two games. Kader were expecting an easy game but were soon up against it after Dean Thexton put St
LIFE begins at 40 for some, so the saying goes, but for Colin Shields it could be said it started ten years later as he has just received his first England call up. The 50-year-old this weekend takes a bow for his country in the Over-50s Home International
FOR the second year running Newton Aycliffe Sports Club travelled to Mablethorpe last weekend to participate in the Lincolnshire Challenge Cup Tournament. Teams were entered for the following categories - Under-8s, Under-9s Jaguars, Under-9s Panthers,
QUINNS lifted the Division One Cup with a 2-0 win over the North Briton at Coxhoe last week. The Division One runners-up were made to work for their victory, though, and only a couple of spourned half-chances by the Brit allowed Craig Parker to put Quinns
The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League, League Cup Semi-Finals THIS year's Northern Echo League Cup final will be between Haughton Grey Horse of the First Division and the Shuttle and Loom of the Second, after they both came through severe
As the pop group Europe put it, this may be considered the final countdown. After Coundon Conservative Club's momentous victory at Anfield on Sunday - Tuesday's column - the Arngrove Northern League Cup final followed on Monday, the Northumberland Senior
NORTHERN League secretary Tony Golightly has denied claims that league clubs are going to be excluded from FA Competitions. There have been suggestions recently that the FA is going to be vindictive enough to kick clubs out of the FA Cup and FA Vase because
A RECENT letter to HAS highlighted the incredible earnings available to Premiership footballers. In the last few days it has been made known that Steven Gerrard has opened talks with his club, Liverpool, over a new contract with a starting salary
IN reply to Bill Callen's letter about the Echo's misuse of baited (bated) breath (HAS, May 7). When hunting, my cat eats a large piece of smelly cheese and then sits outside the mouse-hole with baited breath. Jeff Sutton, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham
COLUMNIST Harry Mead (Echo, May 9) once again peddles the Tory myth that the pension crisis was caused by Gordon Brown's taxation policy on pension fund dividends. He must know that the main causes of the crisis were the collapse of the stock market
THE United Kingdom has been a very successful unit for 300 years and I don't think there is any strong feeling among most people towards wanting to break it up. Any animosity, between England and Scotland particularly, is the result of rabble-rousing
COUNCILLOR Ian Galletley is desperate to put some positive spin on the Tories' fifth successive defeat in Darlington (HAS, May 9). He confesses that the Tories only fielded 39 candidates when there are 53 seats. Did they honestly expect voters
HAVING read letters about Dr Tim Pearson's compulsory retirement from the Friary Surgery, Richmond, I feel it necessary to add my view - which supports the action that the practice partners have taken. I am a former patient of his and moved to
OPEN government and the end of sleaze heralded Tony Blair's election success in 1997 and contributed to him being successful in two further terms. But he also managed to introduce a social policy agenda that promoted important rights and responsibilities
Being handy with a spade can come in useful in the most unusual situations and occasions IT never fails to amaze me just how versatile and transferable the skills of a gardener are and how often they come into play in the most unusual of situations
Political Correspondent Robert Merrick gives his view of Tony Blair's success - and his biggest failure.TONY Blair has insisted history will judge him far more kindly than will today's obituaries marking his resignation from power. He can only pray he
A SCHOOL celebrating its 150th anniversary has been praised by Ofsted inspectors. Baldersby St James Primary School, near Thirsk, which has 43 pupils, was rated good in terms of achievement and standards. Leadership, management and the children's behaviour
DISCO fever will be the lesson for the day as fundraising teachers boogie back to the Seventies to help save lives in Africa. An Abba tribute band, made up of teachers and staff from Allertonshire School, in Northallerton, will take to the stage alongside
YOUNG farmers have been recruited as models for a charity fashion show. The event, at Carlton in Coverdale village hall, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, at 7.30pm tonight, will be compered by Kathryn Apanowicz, the partner of the late television presenter
COUNCILLORS will be given an update on a youth policy being developed by police in the county. Community safety officer Inspector Stuart Mackleson will address councillors at County Hall on Tuesday. Police have a duty to co-operate with councils and other
THE latest winner of a cup given in memory of a young road accident victim has been announced by Bedale High School. Lyndsey Bland has been awarded the Becky Robinson Trophy for effort in girls' PE. The cup is awarded annually in memory of former pupil
RESIDENTS and councillors have been left disappointed at a decision to build either 38 or 49 houses at Thistleflat Farm, in Crook. The Heather Lane Action Group, formed by residents of the Thistleflat Estate, have been fighting since 2005 to stop houses
THE owner of a revived cafe is looking for pictures of the business when it was last open. Janet Aberdeen will open Cafe Continental, in Commercial Street, Crook, next month. It will be on the site of the former Continental Cafe. Ms Aberdeen, who is opening
ALMOST two decades after gluing the first tiny tracks to a wooden board, Mick Simpson's miniature railway scene has won the admiration of fellow model railway enthusiasts. Nineteen years ago, Mr Simpson, from Chester-le-Street, started creating the layout
THE head of marketing and development at the Bowes Museum spoke to Barnard Castle Rotary Club at a recent meeting. Ruth Robson talked about the large-scale repair work under way at the museum, and, once the leaking roof is repaired, how the interior will
A PAPER girl from Tow Law has been delivering copies of The Northern Echo all week dressed as a viking to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. Jade Armstrong, 15, from the Deerness Estate, is a pupil at Wolsingham Comprehensive School, and raised Â
A HOT jet-wash machine is being used to clear graffiti from the streets of Wear Valley district. The machine is being used across the district, including areas in Crook and Bishop Auckland. It also clears chewing gum from pavements and fly posters. Neighbourhood
MUSIC lovers can help raise money for a day centre for people with physical disabilities at an event taking place tomorrow night. Five acoustic acts will perform at the Woodcutter pub, in Kingsley Avenue, Hartlepool, from 8pm. Tickets cost £5 at the
A THEATRE has received more than £20,000 from the Arts Council towards a UK tour this year. A production by the Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, based on the life of early 19th Century clown and pantomime artist Joseph Grimaldi, will be taken to audiences
A PRIMARY school will hold its main fundraising event of the year tomorrow. May Madness: Football and Fun will take place on Thornton Watlass School playing fields from noon to 4pm. The event features an annual football tournament with teams from 11 local
A MAJOR debate on the impact of transport on climate change will come to a market town this month. The Stockholm Environment Institute, at York University, is leading a one-year campaign called Climate Talk to raise awareness and understanding of climate
A YEAR-LONG clampdown on persistent criminals in Middlesbrough's Gresham area is continuing with fresh impetus. Last June, the criminals blighting the lives of people living in the area were warned by Cleveland Police "You are not in charge, we are."
A GARDEN used by disabled people and school children is blooming, thanks to the growing ambition of a group of students. The boys from The King's Academy, in Coulby Newham, have been digging, weeding, building and planting to transform an overgrown patch
YOUNG performers met the mayor ahead of a popular charity concert this weekend. Members of the Gala Theatre Stage School gave Mayor of Durham Councillor Jeff Lodge a preview of their opening act for the Mayor's Charity Gala Concert tomorrow, at 7.30pm
RESIDENTS are being invited to give their views on the multi- million pound transformation of a derelict factory into the UK's biggest eco-village. The owners of Lingfield Point business park are holding consultation events on the redevelopment of the
AN educational support nurse is to scale new heights in memory of patients who lost their battle against cystic fibrosis. Over her ten-year career as a nurse at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, Mel Gannon has got to know many patients
WHEN Tony Kent became a village bobby, he was told by teenagers that they had nothing to do, so he set about launching a cafe for them. And now, after only a few months, it has resulted in a drop in crime and anti-social behaviour among the young people
A COUNCILLOR has welcomed plans to build the first retirement village outside Darlington. Permission has been given to build leisure facilities at the Middleton Hall site, in Middleton St George. Developers say the creation of a swimming pool, gym, cafe
COUNCILLORS at a troubled local authority will receive extra training next week to ensure their behaviour is up to scratch. Members of Richmondshire District Council will attend compulsory classes on the councillor code of conduct. The move comes after
A FIRST aid charity's building is to be given a new lease of life thanks to a £4,000 grant. The St John Ambulance centre in Willington received the boost from Durham County Council. The building houses 13 cadets and 11 adult volunteers, and the money
GEORGE is a farm labourer in Yorkshire acting in a local production of the York Mystery Plays. John is a young, middle class director up from London to work on the staging. Their relationship throws up matters of class, North and South, family, sexuality
SNOW Hall gardens, in Gainford, near Barnard Castle, will be open to the public on Sunday, May 20, from 2pm to 5pm. Entry is £3.50, and free for children. Cream teas will be £1. All proceeds will go to St Mary's Parish Church. The organisers say azaleas
DARLINGTON FC I AM quite shocked at the decisions made by Darlington manager David Penney. His decision to offer new deals to Clark Keltie, David Stockdale and Kevin Burgess while allowing much better players to leave the club is frightening, and I, too
Gladiators Graveyard - Timewatch (BBC2, 9pm), Sky Monsters (five, 7.30pm). IT'S official. Friday night is for digging around looking for old bones. Some belong to gladiators, others to pterosaurs. Where there're bones, there's a professor with a slightly
THE pitfalls of putting on Anton Chekov's popular work in its original Russian aren't immediately apparent as a heart-warmingly large audience throngs into Newcastle's newest venue. But the large stage area provides a testing challenge for on-lookers
VICTIMS of domestic violence in Hartlepool are being offered more support, thanks to an innovative project run with the help of local GPs. Patients who disclose concerns about domestic violence to their doctor are provided with information on how to receive
TONY Blair has finally announced his long-awaited departure amid much talk of a political legacy and everyone keen to point out areas where he has 'failed'. I feel it is right for me to talk about Blair at this time and say that I think he has done a
PROBATION chiefs are meeting most of their targets in dealing with offenders and victims of crimes. The Probation Service on Teesside has come in for praise following the release of its performance figures for the 12 months to March. Elaine Lumley, chief
A LOCAL historian and author has published his second work associated with the Stockton area's industrial heritage. Alan Betteney has followed up his work on shipbuilding in Stockton and Thornaby with a 64-page book called The Brickworks of the Stockton-on-Tees
PREVIOUSLY inaccessible court records dating back to the Middle Ages will be compiled into an online database after a university was awarded nearly £400,000. The records include marriage, slander and defamation cases that came before the church courts
POLICE are hunting a motorist who failed to stop following a two-car collision in Hartlepool. The incident happened at about 3.30pm on Wednesday, in Arncliffe Gardens. A green Rover 214 collided with a blue Ford Focus and, after initially stopping, the
TRADE SECRETS: Carlton Miniott Primary School pupils have learnt the secrets of master furniture-makers with a tour of Treske furniture-makers, in Thirsk. The 30 staff at the Station Road factory work on projects for clients around the world, including
PEOPLE who protect drug barons by storing drugs for them can expect heavy jail sentences, a judge said yesterday. The warning came as a 24-year-old man was jailed for five-and-a-half years after a police raid uncovered £72,000 of cocaine at his Darlington
FOSTER carers are being encouraged to come forward in Darlington. The town's fostering service is taking part in Fostering Fortnight from May 14 to 27. The team and foster carers will hand out information to potential new families at a stall. Murray Rose
A DIVISION of the Reflex Vehicle Solutions group has opened a site on Teesside after a £1m investment. Reflex Vehicle Sales has opened in Acklam Road, Middlesbrough on the site of the former Middlesbrough Van Centre, after selling more than
The county's residents will be asked to post their votes for local councils or one council for the county. Reporter Mark Foster investigates the issues surrounding the controversial plans. EVERY voter in County Durham will be given the chance to have
ALMOST two decades after gluing the first tiny tracks to a wooden board, Mick Simpson's miniature railway scene has won the admiration of fellow model railway enthusiasts. Mr Simpson, from Chester-le-Street, started creating the layout, based on British
A COUNCIL says it will continue to crack down on benefit cheats. The warning from Chester-le-Street District Council follows its latest prosecution, with a man sentenced at Durham Magistrates' Court to a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to
YAZAMAAN (2.20) heads to Chester this afternoon to try and prove he's a serious Epsom Derby contender. The Group 3 Dee Stakes is a recognized Classic trial and as such trainer John Gosden and jockey Richard Hills are on a fact-finding mission to see if
A STASH of drugs was found hidden in an inmate's prosthetic limb during a cell search, a court heard. Suspicions were raised when a prison officer saw a fellow inmate carrying an envelope to the cell of Gerard Thomas Wilson, on a wing at Durham Jail.
A MAN who kicked the dashboard of a police car and set of the siren appeared in court yesterday. Police officers were forced to restrain Jason Crompton in the back of a police car, Darlington Magistrates' Court heard. David Maddison, prosecuting, said
A CHURCH hall in Consett is to reopen today after an £80,000 refurbishment. Bishop Kevin Dunn, the Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, will celebrate Mass at St Patrick's RC Church, in Victoria Road, at 6.30pm. Afterwards, he will join parish priest
DEPARTMENT store Joplings was last night given hope it may escape closure after it emerged the deadline for securing its sale had been extended to allow extra time for negotiations. The Sunderland store, which has traded on Wearside for 200 years, had
A COUNTY Durham glass company has boosted turnover to £1.5m and is investing "significantly" in growing the business after being involved in some of the world's most famous building projects. PLG Glass, based in Peterlee, has recently undertaken work
RESTAURANT chain Joe Rigatonis is to refurbish several of its North-East outlets, which will see an investment of hundreds of thousands of pounds in the company. Owner Paolo Arceri is to carry out the makeover at several of his restaurants following
DIABETICS in Derwentside are being invited to participate in guided supermarket tours. The aim of the tours is to help people manage their condition successfully, and to highlight what to look for on supermarket packaging. They will be run by community
QUORN owner Premier Foods saw its shares soar yesterday despite revealing its sales in April had been hit by the unusually warm weather. While its growth expectations for the year remained unchanged, Premier - which makes the meat substitute Quorn at
Manufacturing output figures have shown a 0.6 per cent increase in March, outperforming City expectations by at least half a per cent. The figures, from the Office for National Statistics, offset a weaker start to the year after falls of 0.6 per
A MAJOR movie about the last witch to be executed in England has been filmed on the North York Moors. Teesside-based Ironopolis Film Company is making Witch House - The Legend of Petronel Haxley, which tells the story of Petronel Haxley, who was executed
TO those of us who weren't born yesterday it is hard to believe it's pure coincidence that Sam Allardyce should resign at Bolton a few days before the Newcastle manager's job became vacant. And as we remove the wool from our eyes we cannot really be
MONEY is on the mind of William Shakespeare, in a Durham School play which opened last night. More than 40 pupils aged 11 to 13, are taking part in the play, Much Ado About Money, which was written by English teacher Hugh Dias. "Shakespeare's in debt
JONATHAN Woodgate is unlikely to play for England again this season after he was omitted from the England B squad for the friendly against Albania on May 25. The Middlesbrough centre-half was a notable omission from the 20-man squad named by Steve McClaren
BOLLYWOOD dancing is to be staged on Saturday, May 19 at Sunderland City Library and Arts Centre, Fawcett Street. Experts will demonstrate the dance and offer visitors the chance to try it. The drop-in session will take place between 10.30am and 1.30pm
EUROPEAN visitors are paying a fact-finding visit to County Durham's cultural hot spots. Groups from the county's twin areas of Kreis Wesel, in Germany, and Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, in Hungary, are touring Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland
PRESTON boss Paul Simpson is poised to make a summer move for Malcolm Christie after Middlesbrough yesterday confirmed that the striker would be released when his contract expires at the end of June. Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who will also release Danny
On the day two players committed their futures to Darlington, chairman George Houghton promised supporters that they will be "ecstatic" with the signings to be made this summer. Multi-award winner at the player of the year presentation, Neil Wainwright
The Northern Echo's Political Editor, Chris Lloyd, talks to residents of Blair's constituency about their views on his achievements. THE sun shines on Sedgefield, and the B1278 runs like a silver ribbon through the green and gently undulating constituency
A MUCH-missed country pub is to be revived by its owners. The Comet, in Hurworth Place, closed in February but its new landlords have vowed to restore it in time for the summer. The pub, which is next to the River Tees on the North Yorkshire and County
Tottenham Hotspur 1, Blackburn Rovers 1. Blackburn's hopes of a direct route into the UEFA Cup were ended by Jermain Defoe's leveller for Tottenham at soggy White Hart Lane. Mark Hughes' men needed a win to stay in the hunt for a top-seven finish in the
A CRAFTSMAN is proving he can hit the right notes after beating international competition to supply musical instruments to the military.Richard Smith yesterday presented the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire,
DRIVERS of buses that speed through the Pedestrian Heart in Darlington will be asked to slow down in a new code of practice drawn up by Darlington Borough Council.But the council has said pedestrian crossings will not be installed.The Pedestrian Heart's
Durham v Kent (County Championship) : Day Two ON a seriously blustery day at Riverside, Durham's hopes of building on the first day's merry-making were almost blown away by two solid citizens of Kent.Robert Key and Matthew Walker are not the leanest
A HISTORIC city is bidding to clinch a flower competition title for the second time in three years. Durham was first in the small city category of the 2005 Britain in Bloom awards, and the city's gardening enthusiasts are hoping to be first again this
FARMERS are likely to be interested in a portrait of one of the leading figures of milk production in the North-East which is coming up for sale on Saturday.The portrait is by the English school and is of Thomas Bates, who was born in Northumberland,
SISTERS who are believed to be Britain's oldest twins celebrated their 98th birthdays yesterday. Ivy Shermer and Olive Tucker grew up together and now live in nursing homes a few miles apart.According to the latest edition of Guinness World Records, the
As two-and-a-half years of speculation into the Prime Minister's resignation were put to an end yesterday there was a familiar sight on Trimdon Village green. The World's media had gathered once again, but could this be for the last time? Chris Fay reports.PROTESTORS
A MEMORIAL garden has been created at the favourite play spot of a schoolgirl who drowned while paddling in a river.Caroline Nicholson was ten when she died after getting into difficulties in the River Swale in Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, where
TRADITIONALLY, it takes one firefighter to rescue a cat stuck in a tree.But in Darlington, four police officers rescued a kitten from a house after it went missing from a local pet store. They raided a home in Headingley Crescent and found the eight-week
AN exhibition looking at the North-East's mining industry opened this week.Hindsight, by Harry Malkin, offers visitors a chance to see a variety of vivid images that introduce colour into a world that the artist previously saw in black and white.Mr Malkin
STUDENT oarsmen hope the success of two key crew members at national level will rub off at a head-to-head contest this weekend.Durham University Boat Club's senior men's eight will benefit from the expertise of Nick Fearnhead and Seb Stuart in Sunday's
Yorkshire v Worcestershire (County Championship) : Day Two Matthew Hoggard gave every indication that he is warming up nicely for next week's Test series against the West Indies by capturing an early wicket as Worcestershire chased Yorkshire's first
A TEAM of four students from Darlington have argued their way into the national finals of a debating competition.The students from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College triumphed in the North-East final of the debating competition hosted at Newcastle University
THE landlady of the highest pub in Britain said yesterday that ''common sense had prevailed'' after fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) backed down over a trademark row.KFC last night said it would take no further action against the Tan Hill
Horden Comrades last game of the season seen them beat Blakes from Newton Aycliffe 8-1. scores are as. G Hodgson won 3-0 with 25-63 ave,A Jennings won 3-0 with 20-86 ave,J Ashett won 3-0 with 33-40 ave, E Sandwick won 3-0 with 26-36 ave,D Heron won 3
Horden Catholic Club beat Peterlee Catholic Club 13-1 in the top game last week. Others results for 4th May are, Hesleden Workmens 12-2 Acre Rigg, Shotton Comrades 6-8 Easington Village, Blackhall Rafa 12-2 Trimdon Colliery, Horden Comrades 6-8 Peterlee
MICKY Nelson and Gary Liddle this week shared the players' player of the year award at Hartlepool United - and Nelson can understand exactly why his fellow team-mates voted for the midfielder. After being voted supporters' player of the year, Nelson and
AN angry Freddy Shepherd will hold urgent talks with Michael Owen next week in an attempt to diffuse the escalating row over the striker's future plans. Owen, who was yesterday named in the England B squad for this month's Turf Moor friendly with Albania
HE might have escaped the agonies of the play-offs himself, but Roy Keane will be still be keeping a close eye on this weekend's events and hoping that Derby join his Sunderland side in the Premiership. While the Sunderland squad have already begun their
A former soldier who was caught dealing heroin at a North-East hospital has been told he will be jailed. Dustin Robinson was arrested in February after hospital security guards saw him handing over a package to a patient in return for cash, a court heard
A FORMER policeman drove his £20,000 catering van into a filling station to check the tyres - and stood by helplessly as a thief leapt into the cab and drove it away. Anthony Hutchinson, 50, could only watch as the hooded thief sped away in the bright
BUSINESS leaders in the region were last night contemplating the implications for the North-East economy after interest rates hit their highest level in six years. Only days after a survey revealed that a third of companies in the region predicted they
SPINE-tingling, honest, apologetic - it was the speech of a master of soundbites, says Political Editor CHRIS LLOYD. IN the end, he just petered out and came to an end. He looked down, almost bashfully, a big grin - with white teeth - on his face. Silence.Even
FEARS over the future of a North-East electronics plant have been fuelled following the announcement that up to 31 jobs are to be cut - only months after a planned £45m upgrade of the factory was scrapped. The Northern Echo can reveal that Filtronic,
NORMAL service should resume on the East Coast Main Line today after disruption caused by a freight train derailment.Engineers worked through the night to repair track and clear overturned wagons from King Edward Bridge, the rail crossing carrying services
We all know that washing clothes at 30 degrees cleans them just as well as on a 40 wash and that it's better for the environment. But what about replacing detergents - do laundry balls work as well as good old-fashioned washing powder? MODEL Helena Christensen
Experts are hoping this summer's public space smoking ban will result in lower levels of a little known lung disease. Health Editor Barry Nelson investigates. IT'S frightening. Nearly nine out of ten people in the region have never heard of a disease
TONY Blair came home to Trimdon yesterday to tell the world that he will quit as Prime Minister on June 27.In a deeply personal speech charged with emotion, he defended his record by declaring: "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right."He was at
IT was December 2000, and Tony Blair was visiting a primary school in his North-East constituency to open a new library. The horrors of September 11 and the war in Iraq were still to come and the Prime Minister was enjoying a prolonged honeymoon period
Darlington manager Dave Penney will not be reunited with Mickey Lewis after his former assistant at Doncaster Rovers joined Oxford United's backroom staff. Penney had been expected to bring Lewis to Darlington having worked alongside him when they led
