TWO men have been charged following a police raid on a house in a quiet residential street. Officers targeted the house in Kader Farm Road, Acklam, near Middlesbrough, on Wednesday. Tonight a 31-year-old man and a 25-year-old man were charged with conspiracy
EUROPE'S largest equestrian touring theatre show made its debut in County Durham today. The Spirit of the Horse company presented its production of Chimera for the first time at Dalton Park, Murton which will be followed by further performances tomorrow
Middlesbrough player Stuart Parnaby has signed a three-year deal with Birmingham City today. After rejecting a new contract with Boro, the 24-year-old moves to the Midland's club on a free transfer. A number of other clubs were interested in signing
THE 'devastated' family of cancer patient Pamela Smith are to seek a judicial review after health bosses turned down her appeal for a life-extending drug. Mrs Smith, 62, from Darlington has advanced bowel cancer and her consultant is being prevented
A FOOTBALLER ordered to complete a refereeing course as punishment for a foul-mouthed tirade has become one of the top officials in the country. The official saw the error of his ways after he was sent off in a youth match six years ago for swearing
A pub DJ who hid a dealer's drug stash at work walked free yesterday after a judge said that there were exceptional circumstances. Christopher Hughes's secret was discovered at The Old Dun Cow in Darlington when the licensee checked the premises
BOBBIES on the beat are to be tracked by computer in an effort to improve the use of resources in North Yorkshire. The force is to make use of the new Qlikview computer system so it can keep tabs on patrolling officers. The system will be used to help
TONY Blair's local Labour party is attempting to prevent a "lurch to the left" under Gordon Brown by saddling the next prime minister with a Blairite deputy. Sedgefield constituency party has declared its support for party chairwoman Hazel Blears
HUNDREDS of Darlington Primary School children took part in the eighth Annual Football Festival for boys and girls at Longfield School recently. Secretary Paul Bielby said: "Over 230 boys and 130 girls have once again shown tremendous enthusiasm
ST. MARY'S Under-7s picked up their first piece of silverware on Saturday with some tremendous displays in the Monkton Juniors FC Annual Tournament. In their first group match St. Mary's were up against Hetton Juniors. St Mary's took the lead with
A TRIUMPHANT Under-13s football team got the star treatment after losing just once in two seasons. To mark their amazing run the lads were given an tour on an open topped bus as friends and family lined the streets. Coach Rob Draper decided arrange
SUNDERLAND'S 19-year-old allrounder' Steph Houghton capped a fine personal season by being named Nationwide Young Player of the Year. The Black Cats skipper finally made her mark at full international level during the past season, having impressed
JUNIOR football club in North Yorkshire is celebrating after clinching a new sponsorship deal with a local car dealership. Simon Bailes Peugeot has become the new sponsor of Brompton Girls Junior Football Club and will be providing the team with
JOHN Astley and Sam Craigie have showed that snooker's future in the North-East is a bright one, after lifting national championships. Astley took the under 19 title, with Craigie taking the under 14 honour at the English Association of Snooker
A SCHOOLBOY died from an allergic reaction to a single sweet he had popped into his mouth in the family shop. Nine-year-old Mohsen Hussain struggled for breath after his nut allergy was triggered by the treat he picked up at the grocery store in Brotton
Durham v Scotland (Friends Provident Trophy) THERE were even a few hardy Scots among the Bank Holiday souls who braved the whistling wind at Riverside yesterday to see Durham take another step towards the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final. Other
When last we heard from Ralphy Ord, he'd just packed up as manager of Wearhead United, Crook and District league second division, after the boys made it 20 years without a trophy. "Four or five of the players weren't pulling their weight. I was scrattin
THE missing BBC journalist Alan Johnston who was captured in Gaza more than two months was shown in a video today, saying he was fit and well and not being mistreated by his captors. The video was apparently posted on the internet by the Army of Islam
A 49-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with three sexual offences in connection with an attack on a woman. He will appear before magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, this morning. The woman was assaulted as she walked on a footpath in the Pinewoods
AS a friend of Verity Walker, the new Miss Durham, I'm upset about the abuse she has received since winning the title. It is understandable everybody thinks their daughter is the most beautiful, but parents weren't the ones deciding. Fair enough
I DON'T think Newcastle United are very good at managing their finances if they bought Michael Owen for £16m and put a get-out clause in his contract saying they are willing to sell him to the first team that offers them £9m. Margaret A Greenhalgh
PEOPLE were surprised when the House of Commons passed the bill that would exclude MPs from the Freedom of Information Act. We will be equally surprised, I assume, when they pass a Road Pricing Charges Bill which means that MPs will claim even
I AGREE with Dave O'Hara about junk mail (HAS, May 21). However, for years I have returned junk mail by writing on the envelope: "Unsolicited mail, return to sender". Alternatively, I tear it all up and place it in the pre-paid envelope provided
TODAY'S Labour Party operates double standards when it comes to open democratic election policies. In local government, the Labour hierarchy believes that directly elected mayors are a more responsible and democratic way of selecting the local
I ENJOYED the story about young Saltburn cricketer Lee Hodgson who took a catch in the recent England v West Indies Test match at Lord's (Echo, May 28). It must have been a proud moment for him. As a schoolboy in the 1950s, I would spend many a
YOU were right to highlight the fiasco of overpayments on tax credit and child tax credits (Echo, May 25). There are so many anomalies and loopholes in the welfare system that it cries out for a serious overhaul. Take unemployment benefit. This
I SEE that Israeli basil has been withdrawn at a number of supermarkets as it was found to be contaminated with salmonella. There are many other good reasons not to buy any Israeli goods. Israel grows produce on stolen Palestinian land; it destroys
BRENDAN Barber, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), advocates a new bank holiday - called Community Day - in recognition of the unpaid work many people undertake as volunteers. He stated that it would be a good way for the
THE comments of Des More (HAS, May 25) towards people who allegedly "hate" this country were entertaining, to say the least. No wonder he's so disgusted. After all, one ICM poll last year suggested that 72 per cent of British people agree our foreign
A COMMITTEE that determines planning applications for some of the most sensitive areas of Richmondshire might sit without any representatives from the district, it has been said. Reductions in the size of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and
A LIFESAVING hero who could not swim, but who rescued a woman from a river, has died. Edmund Nicholson, 82, waded into the fast-flowing Cod Beck, in Thirsk, to save the struggling woman. The former soldier received a Royal Humane Society medal for his
YOUNG people in Bedale are getting the chance to have their say on plans for a youth centre in the town. Bedale High School students have been invited to give their views on the idea next week. The Bedale community plan, published in 2004, and a workshop
A HOUSING landlord has won an award for its work in keeping youngsters out of trouble. Erimus Housing, Middlesbrough's largest social landlord, teaches primary school children about how to avoid the pitfalls of youth crime and anti-social behaviour through
FOUR young charity crusaders completed a sponsored walk to raise funds for a blind charity. Twelve-year-old Danielle Hind organised the five-mile trek from her home in Trimdon Village, through Fishburn and on to Sedgefield. Along the route, she and her
MORE than a third of a village's residents have signed a petition against a housing development they say will ruin its character. Protestors said the courtyard-style scheme at Hudswell, near Richmond, is out of keeping with the traditional look of the
A WEBSITE has been set up to help people researching village and family history. The site for Brompton, near Northallerton, aims to bring together picture and stories. It has been set up in conjunction with Brompton Heritage Group and is called Brompton
Springwatch (BBC2, 8pm). Big Brother (C4, 8.30pm, 10,30pm, 2.05am) THE promise was that if we stayed up into the wee hours of the morning we would see something a "little scurrilous, a little naughty". And for a brief, happy moment it looked like that
WALKS and wildlife events take place over the next week at a nature reserve. Foxglove Covert, at Catterick Garrison, will hold a series of events from tomorrow to mark Local Nature reserve Week. There will be wildflower walks tomorrow and on Monday, discovering
A FARMER has blamed "ignorance and scaremongering" as the reason why his agricultural training centre has been refused planning permission. Darlington Borough Council unanimously rejected the application from John Littlefair for the training centre at
NEARLY 200 pints of alcohol were seized from people on the streets during a crackdown on crime in central Darlington. Police also arrested five people during StreetSafe Action Week, which is being hailed as a major success by police and community safety
MIDDLESBROUGH Mayor Ray Mallon is to field a public question and answer session over plans for a school building in the town. Local people are being given the chance to raise questions about the proposal to build a school to replace adjacent Hall Garth
BUTTERWICK Hospice, in Stockton, is inviting families and friends to a Father's Day get-together to remember men it has cared for. Butterwick counsellor Hazel Saunders has organised the event for Sunday, June 17, between 10.30am and noon. To attend, ring
A GOLF club director has moved to allay fears his course is about to close, promising it will be open for business until at least 2009. Nigel Galvin said he wanted to end rumours about the future of the Mount Oswald Golf Club, in Durham, and has guaranteed
ABORTION is such an emotive subject that it needs a measured and rational debate. That is why I am aghast at the approach taken this week by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the senior Roman Catholic in Scotland. He has sparked controversy by indicating that
A SCHEME to provide a multi-million pound schools centre has cleared another hurdle despite concerns over potential chaotic traffic problems. Councillors yesterday approved a detailed planning application for the £16m Saltburn Learning Campus project
A FORMER mayor of Darlington has warned residents after she was burgled by a bogus caller yesterday. Councillor Eleanor Lister initially thought she had seen off the caller - but when she checked later, she realised her handbag and mobile phone had been
SCORES of people in the North made redundant when budget supermarket chain Kwik Save closed 79 stores nationwide will be given the chance of finding work with other retailers. About 100 people in the region lost their jobs on Wednesday when the company
PD Ports is enrolling hundreds of its North-East employees in training programmes to improve their skills and expertise. PD has already seen 600 employees successfully complete the staff development course, which can lead to an NVQ qualification. A further
A NURSERY has been targeted in an unusual break-in. Eight trees, worth £5,000, have been stolen from Wilkinson Landscapes, at East Brocks Farm, near Eaglescliffe. Two of the trees taken were cloud trees, each worth about £1,500. Twigs were broken
WORKERS yesterday spoke of their shock at impending job losses at a food factory. The Northern Echo broke the news that Kerry Foods planned to make up to 170 job cuts at its Durham factory as part of an ongoing review of operations. Factory bosses told
SECOND-STRINGS sometimes upset their more strongly fancied stable-mates, so it might be unwise to write off Light Shift (4.05) in this afternoon's Vodafone Oaks at Epsom. Using the ante-post betting as a strict guide, Henry Cecil's red-hot market leader
A MANUFACTURING manager from the North-East has been shortlisted for a national award that recognises women who have broken new business ground. Jane Atkinson, who works for SembCorp Utilities on Teesside, is one of five finalists in the manufacturing
AN engineering support services group, which operates two subsidiaries in the North-East, yesterday announced an £11.9m acquisition. Redhall Group plc, which operates Steels Engineering Services, in Billingham, near Stockton, and Steels Engineering Design
TWO business developments have been completed by UK Land Estates in the same week. Business accommodation at West Quay Court, on Sunderland Enterprise Park, and Boldon Court, on Boldon Business Park, also Sunderland, is now open and under offer for tenants
SECURITY cameras have been installed in a bid to cut crime - in a cemetery. Two closed-circuit television cameras are now keeping watch over Hartlepool's Stranton Cemetery. One family grave has been targeted three times by thieves, who even swapped fresh
French Open dark horse Lleyton Hewitt demonstrated his renowned fighting qualities to recover from going two sets down to defeat former champion Gaston Gaudio at Roland Garros. The Australian, seeded 14th, is known for his grit and determination and he
A SPECIALIST motor recruitment company has made a move across the Pennines as it expands its franchise network. The company, kream motor recruitment, which matches motor dealers' vacancies with potential candidates, has signed up its sixth franchisee,
A MANUFACTURING firm has plunged into administration with the loss of almost 40 jobs, The Northern Echo has learnt. E & R Polymers, of Stanley, County Durham, collapsed following a sharp decline in sales, and called in administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers
The latest restaurant in the Lau food group has opened in the North-East, with the creation of 20 jobs. The 150-seat Lau's Buffet King opened at the Gateshead MetroCentre this week after a £500,000 investment from the company. It was created by Meldrum
Matthew Hoggard looks to have lost his battle to be fit for next week's third npower Test against West Indies after suffering a recurrence of his thigh problems. The 29-year-old Yorkshire seamer has been struggling to overcome the thigh strain which restricted
COUNCILLORS appear to have backed away from a potentially costly legal fight with Able UK over its plans to scrap "ghost ships". Hartlepool Borough Council had rejected three planning applications to develop Able UK's base at Graythorp for various activities
A BUSINESS has donated £10,000 to a hospice which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses. The Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Group, which is based in Aykley Heads, Durham, has given the money to St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham, to help with
QUESTIONS must always be asked when someone dies in the custody of the authorities. Was due care taken? Was there mistreatment? Could it have been avoided? When someone as young as 14 dies in custody - as was the case with Adam Rickwood - those questions
AN industrial estate for start-up businesses has been given the go-ahead despite objections from residents. Plans for the estate in Faverdale West, Darlington, were approved by the council's planning committee this week. But a series of conditions were
POLICE in Consett are appealing for help to catch a car vandal who wreaked havoc in a street. Between 1am and 1.20am on Monday, ten vehicles parked in Surrey Crescent, Moorside, had their wing mirrors kicked off or damaged. Police estimated repairs would
Michael Owen has no doubt he is the man to fire England into Euro 2008. Owen will make his first international appearance for almost 12 months tonight when he leads England's attack in the eagerly-awaited friendly with Brazil at Wembley. Fitness permitting
Nicky Shorey has postponed his honeymoon after getting married tomorrow to play a part in England's vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia next week. Shorey will make his senior international debut against Brazil tonight, get married barely 18 hours later
PEOPLE across County Durham are being invited to attend a day of community activities and entertainment. Easington District Council is hosting this year's Action Packed Futures day, at Helford Road Cricket Ground, Peterlee, on Sunday, July 1. The annual
A TOUR of historical places in East Yorkshire is being organised by the Durham Historical Association. Guests will stay overnight on the University of Hull's Scarborough campus. Travel to and from Yorkshire will be by train. The trip runs from July 26
John Terry has welcomed David Beckham's return to the England squad and admitted he will happily temporarily hand back the captaincy if the Real Madrid star wins 100 caps for his country. Beckham won his 94th cap in the World Cup quarter-final defeat
A return to not just one, but two happy hunting grounds this week might just be the thing to reignite the career of Paul Lawrie. Europe's last winner of a major title was back at Carnoustie for a company day on Monday before travelling to the scene of
An enchanted woodland event for families takes place today at Skerningham Community Woodland, Darlington. There will be crafts, activities, and storytelling and a short walk. Meet at noon at Glebe Road, off Salters Lane, and the event will end at 4pm
A NEW councillor has launched an internet log. Councillor Mike Barker, who was voted in at last month's election has set up an online weblog. The Liberal Democrat is the new councillor for the North Road ward on Darlington Borough Council. In his first
YOUNG swimmers have raised more than £1,000 for charity. Members of Wear Valley Swimming Association raised the money at a sponsored gala in March. The money was presented to Dr Bill Lamb, a consultant paediatrician at Bishop Auckland General Hospital
POLICE in Newton Aycliffe are searching for a man who attacked a young woman while she was walking her dog last Friday morning. A 23-year-old woman from the town was walking along Scholars Lane, towards Alston Crescent, near the former Dandy Cart pub,
A housing development in a flood plain will be built on two-metre stilts and include a pond to reduce potential flooding. A planning application has been passed to convert Croft House, in Tees View, Hurworth, into four apartments. The project includes
MUCH as he loves the North East, New Zealand's World Cup star Scott Styris will make his Durham debut today with an eye on getting back to Lord's. Despite his own consistent contributions, the Middlesex team he was part of last season finished bottom
AS spectators we can applaud the sheer excellence of an outstanding performance, such as Brian Lara scoring 501 or Tiger Woods winning the Masters by 12 strokes, but what we really crave from our sport is the drama and excitement of a tense contest. We
A RIDING club launched by two friends a few weeks ago in Teesdale has quickly proved to be popular, as it has 52 members already and has been given national affiliation. Lezley Aldrich, of Mickleton, and Viv Dent, of Lartington, called a meeting to get
A HOUSE remained sealed off last night after police swooped on a suspected drugs den in a quiet residential street. Officers targeted the house in Kader Farm Road, Acklam, near Middlesbrough, on Wednesday. It is believed they unearthed a cannabis farm
DARLINGTON manager Dave Penney last night made his sixth signing since the end of the season after completing a move for goalkeeper Andy Oakes. After passing a medical, the 30-year-old agreed to join Darlington on a two-year deal after failing to earn
A COMMUNITY centre that has supported a town for more than 20 years closed yesterday - but should reopen in a new guise within weeks. The Shildon Centre, in the town's Main Street, has been fighting for its survival since Durham County Council announced
A new way to grow vegetables - straw bale raised beds - has turned out successful and, what's best, with a minimum of effort.THIS week I have been doing what I like doing best. I have had the luxury of having plenty of time to potter around in the kitchen
A JUNIOR girls' football club is celebrating a sponsorship deal with a local car dealership. Simon Bailes Peugeot has become the new sponsor of Brompton Girls Junior Football Club, near Northallerton, and will provide the team with new tracksuits.The
AN unpaid army of men and women who give their time freely to help others launch their own week of celebrations todayNational Volunteers Week is a chance to celebrate and thank all volunteers around the country. A staggering 22 million people were engaged
A SERIES of historic drawings made during the last voyage of Captain James Cook have finally been returned to the great explorer's home port.John Webber was the official artist on Cook's third voyage and was the first European artist to see the natives
FORMER Health Secretary Alan Milburn has called on hospitals to become more consumer-friendly, to ensure that elderly patients do not miss out at mealtimes.The Darlington MP made his plea at the regional launch of Age Concern's Hungry to be Heard campaign
THE number of schools judged to be failing and requiring "special measures" is on the increase, according to education watchdog Ofsted.By the end of the last spring term, 15 schools in the North-East and North Yorkshire were placed in the inspectorate's
US President George Bush may often seem to find the English language a puzzle, but he loves piecing together the jigsaws of a North-East artist, it has been revealed.Mr Bush is so fond of the jigsaws of Howard Robinson, the President's wife commissioned
UP to 50,000 North-East families are not claiming the tax credits they are due, it was revealed yesterday.They missed out on average annual payments of £1,200, according to statistics from Revenue and Customs, which administers the system.The Citizens
At the Beyond Monopoly! boardgame club, there is so much more on offer than the chance to buy Mayfair. Lindsay Jennings drops in for a game or two.THE room at the top of the Railway Institute in York has already been set up. The long line of tables are
POLICE have launched an investigation after a council planning meeting descended into chaos amid reports of assault and vandalism.The Hambleton District Council meeting at the Civic Centre, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, had to be adjourned while members
A ROYAL Navy warship berthed at a port last night as the crew prepares to renew affiliations with its adopted county.HMS Bulwark gingerly reversed into the River Wear, guided by three tugs, before it arrived at Corporation Quay, Sunderland.It marked the
A MAN who almost died of kidney failure, only to be saved by his brother, has returned to the region after 27 years in Australia.Five years ago, 67-year-old Brian Mann travelled to Perth to donate his kidney to older brother, John.John, 68, said if the
A PROCESS that is likely to see one of the region's largest NHS trusts shed up to 700 jobs over the next three years has begun.Wage slips received this week by almost 6,000 staff at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust also included a letter
A PREMIERSHIP footballer visited a Darlington children's centre yesterday to raise money for charity.Middlesbrough's James Morrison attended a sports event at McNay Street Children's Centre, with all proceeds going to the Foundation for the Study of Infant
THE coroner at the inquest into Britain's youngest prison death has called for an urgent review into the use of restraint techniques at secure training centres throughout the country.Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle was speaking after a jury returned a verdict
SIX young musicians are tuning up in a bid to win a place at the Royal Albert Hall later this year.Jazz sextet Milestones will compete in the National Festival of Music for Youth, in Birmingham, in July, after winning through the regional heat earlier
TEENAGERS have formed a football team with the goal of keeping their mates out of trouble.The players, who are aged 15 to 20, live on Middlesbrough's Brambles Farm estate.A disused five-a-side football pitch is being brought back into use for training
THE chairman of Wear Valley District Council presented a cheque for £4,153 to Crook and District Parent Carers Association.Councillor Eddie Murphy named the charity as the recipient of his year of fundraising in office. He handed over the cheque during
A DOUBLE rape liar who almost cost a man his life when she made her second false claim walked free from court yesterday.Jemma Potter, 19, told boyfriend Stephen Pitcairn, 24, that she had been attacked by Brian Pallister, 42.As a result, Pitcairn and
X FACTOR star Shaun Rogerson visited a North-East shopping yesterday to promote his new album.Wellwishers gathered at Darlington's Cornmill Shopping Centre to have items signed by the teenager, whose eponymous album Shaun was released on Wednesday.Asked
Derbyshire v Yorkshire (Friends Provident Trophy) Sun stopped play in Yorkshire Phoenix's Friends Provident Trophy match last night, but by then it was already beginning to go down on Derbyshire Phantoms' chances of beating the Tykes.Chasing a stiff
Three years after it opened, the Holistic Cancer Care Centre, in the grounds of James Cook University Hospital on Teesside is a victim of its own success. Health Editor Barry Nelson paid a visit.Colette Mills gets a little tearful when she talks about
AN unpaid army of men and women who give their time freely to help others launch their own week of celebrations todayNational Volunteers Week is a chance to celebrate and thank all volunteers around the country. A staggering 22 million people were engaged
THE benefits to the local economy of walkers will be debated at a conference at the end of the month.The event, at Hawes, in Upper Wensleydale, on Saturday, June 30, has been organised by the Settle-Carlisle Enterprise Network (Scene) and chaired by Terry
More and more people have challenged banks on excessive charges. Here is how to claim back your money.BEEN stung by hefty bank charges? It's easily done. You slip into an overdraft. They charge you for the privilege, which sends you deeper into the red
A SINGER is urging people in the North-East to change their lifestyle and avoid cancer.Ronan Keating lost his mother, Marie, 51, to breast cancer in February 1998.Although he will not be visiting Stockton in person, the star is backing the two-day visit
A ROYAL architect has visited a 17th Century mansion during a visit to the region.The Duke of Gloucester was a guest at Kiplin Hall, in Scorton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, where he unveiled a plaque in the new rose garden and signed the visitors'
A TASTE of the Continent came to Durham yesterday.The city's Market Place is hosting a Continental market until Sunday, featuring food from France, Germany, Slovakia and other nations, including German sausages, French bread and cheeses and produce from
TOUGH and aggressive with a violent kick and a tendency to lash out at the slightest touch, it seemed no one could cope with Silver.She was so dirty, no one knew her real colour and several owners had given up -she was destined to be put down.But then
THE region's most senior clergyman is urging people to become members of a new millionaire's club - by giving some money away.The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, was the first person to sign up for the Minster Million yesterday.Through the scheme
THE countdown to the completion of Darlington's £7m Pedestrian Heart scheme has begun.Blackwellgate will be lit up by an illuminating piece of artwork after yesterday's installation of the Life Pulse interactive feature.By placing their hands either side
