DESPITE decreases in resources and increases in service demand, crimes across Cleveland have dropped by 1,845 in the past year. The annual Cleveland Police Authority report for 1999-2000 published this week, highlights a 13pc reduction in house burglaries
GIRLS are being urged to take part in courses offering them the chance of a sporty summer. Hartlepool Borough Council is keen to promote girls' rugby, football and climbing, which have all been organised as part of the Sports 4 All programme of activities
NORTH Yorkshire farmers concerned about their industry's plight were given two pieces of good news when they met MEP Mr Edward McMillan-Scott, who told farmers the European Commission had just agreed two key decisions to help the industry. One was to
A COLLEGE is opening its doors to youngsters but it is not expecting them to get their books out and study. East Durham and Houghall Community College wants its young visitors to have fun when it holds a play day on Wednesday for four to 16-year-olds.
REDCAR and Cleveland Council is being asked to find a possible £50,000 for vital work to Saltburn Pier. In a report to the council's Policy and Resources Committee, Dr Joan Rees, the council's Director of Economy and the Environment, says the money is
Stockton Community Safety in Stockton. Offers open to children aged under 16 years at Billingham Forum, Stockton Sports Centre, Thornaby Pavilion and Thornaby Pool. Swimming £1; Skating £2 (including skate hire); Badminton Courts £2 per court; Squash
YOUNGSTERS have been getting first-hand experience in writing from a North-East author. The group of year six pupils, who are due to start at the secondary Bishopsgarth School, Stockton, in September, were taking part in a literacy summer school. David
THE chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has been re-elected for a second term. Steve Macare was appointed to the position again, ahead of fellow authority members Jerry Pearlman and John Blackie. He will lead the authority through
A GRANT has been awarded to council chiefs in Hartlepool, to investigate the condition of a disused mine covering almost 12 acres. The £72,100 grant from the Government's new Land Stabilisation Programme, run by English Partnerships, will fund initial
NURSING staff coming up to retirement age could be given the chance to return part-time in a bid to help hospitals cope with winter pressures and staff vacancies. South Durham Health Care NHS Trust is currently looking into a health service circular which
A POLICE finance officer has been arrested and questioned over allegations that he has been operating an escort agency. Civilian worker John Dockerty, 27, was arrested early on Saturday and questioned on suspicion of living off immoral earnings. The Durham
A COUNCIL has been accused of being cold-hearted about helping East Cleveland villages prepare for a floral challenge. Redcar and Cleveland Coun Steve Kay says the authority should be ashamed for not sending road-sweeping teams into Margrove Park and
A NORTH-EAST council has warned that an Appeal Court judgement over who should pay for residential care for people with mental health problems raises serious problems for authorities across the country. Yesterday, the Appeal Court ruled that a resident
DOGGIE chocs are at the centre of a doping scandal which has soured the sport of whippet racing. The small, round sweet morsels could scarcely be more innocuous - but they have sparked a drugs furore on a whippet-world scale of Linford Christie's positive
Two more North-East soldiers have appeared in court charged with murder in connection with the death of a black man in an attack outside a nightclub. Thomas Myers, 20, of Hartlepool, and a 17-year-old from the town, who cannot be named for legal reasons
TEENAGER Gemma Danielson lost four pints of blood when her tongue piercing went wrong. The young mother was determined to have her tongue pierced, but the fashion fad almost cost her life when a vein in her tongue was sliced open. The 18-year-old was
A PLEA was made this week for farmers in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale to get involved in a new partnership scheme. The Two Dales Partnership plans to seek European funding to help all who live and work there but, while there has been a good response from
A VOLUNTEER coastal watch group in Redcar is on the look out for recruits to help save lives. Coastwatch Redcar is a volunteer coastal surveillance station working from above the Zetland Lifeboat Museum in Redcar, as part of a national coastal and inshore
DISABLED actors are heading to the Edinburgh Fringe to perform a specially-written murder mystery musical. But Derwentside-based Snug (Special Needs Unity Group) will be showcasing the new production for local audiences. The group, made up of able-bodied
BIRD watchers were almost caught on the hop when a rare visitor from Mediterranean regions chose the North-East for a summer holiday with a difference. The gaudily-plumaged roller, about the size of a jackdaw, settled in a stretch of South Tyneside farmland
A BANK has announced the closure of one of its branches in Darlington. Halifax is to close its High Row branch and transfer business to its office in Northgate. The firm says the decision to concentrate its operations at one branch will not effect customers
A Stamp featuring the coastline of East Durham has acted as the inspiration for a specially commissioned film. The mini-movie stars 15 pupils from Shotton Primary School and was shot on location at Blackhall Rocks. The film is part of the Turning the
A jury in the trial of a head of police communications, who claims he was set up on child pornography charges after carrying out "sensitive" internal work within force headquarters, was last night sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict
A PHONE pest bombarded police with more than 1,000 needless calls, a court heard. Margaret Dixon, 41, made the mainly silent calls almost every day for three months before Cleveland Police were forced to take action. Yesterday, she admitted a breach of
I should have known better. Getting boys to do what you ask them to do is impossible. Getting them to do more than that is nothing short of a miracle. We went away for a few days, just the two of us, abandoning the boys to their own devices. We read the
THREE action-packed weeks of activities are on offer to youngsters in East Cleveland to keep them occupied during the summer holidays. The first Tracker week runs from Monday to Friday, next week, and events include a day at Saltburn, with visits to the
A PARK and ride scheme held during a popular town fair is to continue, but showmen are being asked to foot the bill. The initiative was introduced to ease traffic problems during Northallerton's May Fair, with 227 people using the service this year. The
THE Chester-le-Street U11s district schools' football team are now joint National adidas Predator seven-a-side champions after a Wembley draw against an Oxford team. Their achievement was reco-gnised by Chester-le-Street district council when the chairman
ONE of the most vivid images from last season in the Premiership was the way Manchester United players in particular vented their fury against referees. Roy Keane looked as if he was about to burst several blood vessels and send his eyes popping out of
VILLAGERS will soon be put in the picture about wrongdoers. Six close circuit television cameras are to be installed around Skelton. What they see will be transmitted back to a central Redcar and Cleveland Council CCTV control room. Residents are being
The lure of Lord's has proved too much for Guisborough. Their cup success this season left them with an agonising choice because of two key games on the same day. They have decided to field their first-choice side against Sheffield Collegiate in the quarter
STANDING at the spot where, 175 years ago, the Stockton and Darlington Railway began, the heart sinks. I was raised in Shildon so the town's heritage, and that of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), is something which runs deep - although
REDCAR and Cleveland Council has begun a recruiting drive for independent members to sit on a new organisation to manage the borough's 12,000 council homes. Tenants will vote on the 'not for profit' organisation, set up to deliver a substantial repairs
A YOUNGSTER has won a gardening painting competition thanks to his love of primulas. Ben Darcy, 11, a pupil at Oak Tree Primary School, Stockton, entered the competition run by Garden News. For his prize, Ben won his school a computer, printer and a digital
The lure of Lord's has proved too much for Guisborough. Their cup success this season left them with an agonising choice between two key games on the same day. They have decided to field their first-choice side against Sheffield Collegiate in the quarter
TWO young gymnasts have somersaulted their way through to the National Acrobatics Championship Final. Alisa Pitt, 14 and Julia Pacitto, 13, of Hemlington Gymnastics Club, Teesside, are travelling to Staffordshire as part of the North of England Team.
Jon Stewart of Redcar won the 200 metres at the Norwich Union Athletics International in Liverpool at the weekend. Representing Great Britain, Stewart ran 20.91 to beat German and French opposition in the Three Nations match. Stewart spoke of his intentions
IT'S that time of year when visitors flock to the seaside but one coastal town has seen a different kind of guest invading its shores. Thousands of jellyfish are strewn up on the beach at Redcar on a stretch from the South Gare to the Majuba car park.
For the second year in succession Matthew Bowden of Sedgefield is included in the England team which is competing in the city of Loule, Portugal, junior international waterpolo tournament this weekend. Matthew, who celebrates his 17th birthday whilst
ICE CREAMS, craned necks and the roar of jet engines - just some of the sights and sounds of this weekend's Sunderland International Airshow. Europe's biggest free airshow roars into the region with a million visitors expected to cram on to Seaburn seafront
THE toughest of mathematical theories proved a doddle for youngsters from Conyers School, in Yarm, who have shown they are high fliers in mathematics. National Maths Challenges, organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust from the School of Mathematics
DARLINGTON may be on the brink of a new industrial boom. This week the European Commission approved the UK government's new Assisted Areas map and with it the promise of up to £150m per year in regional state aid for all selected areas. Darlington, accepted
A YOUTH club in north County Durham is holding a family fun day to end the first week of an international summer camp. A group of 15 young people from Hungary, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy are spending two weeks with 35 volunteers from Stanley Youth
SHEPHERD Homes have been dubbed as 'the neighbours from hell' after submitting revised plans to build 41 flats in Darlington's west end. In April, councillors voted eight-two against proposals to site four blocks of four-storey apartments in the grounds
THE area's newest cub pack has celebrated welcoming a record 36 new members in just six weeks. The 1st Waldridge Fell Cubs and Beavers at Chester-le-Street, one of a small number of County Durham groups to enrol girls, invested the 22 beavers and 14 cubs
VILLAGERS in Aiskew are calling for improvements to be made at a main road junction before 40 houses are built on the derelict site of a former gas depot. About 40 people in Back Lane and the surrounding area, who believe the junction with the A684 will
ABOUT 420 pensioners enjoyed a great afternoon at Durham City Council's senior citizens' rally, at Deerness Sports Centre, Ushaw Moor. They were treated to afternoon tea and entertainment by Famwellgate School Brass Band, a vocalist and a comedienne.
RESIDENTS of Norton have pledged to wrest control of their village from Stockton council. Two public meetings in six days resulted in villagers agreeing to establish a parish council. More than 100 locals attended a meeting on Thursday of last week and
SHOPPERS in Middlesbrough will be able to help a New Marske toddler win his battle to overcome autism. Ben Collins, three, was locked into his own confusing little world, unable to communicate until his parents, Paul and Sandi, came across Son-Rise, a
Sir, - Your correspondent's letter (D&S, July 21) concerning the future role of LEAs was both misleading and factually incorrect. I have been involved with North Yorkshire's local education authority for 20 years, four of those as chairman of the
A FAMILY wedding gave pig producer Mr Richard Barker the idea for a new business. The flood of cheap imports and disastrously low prices forced the family to quit pigs in October last year after 30 years in the sector. "We worked damn hard at the job
A PUB chain's plan to expand into Chester-le-Street has run into objections from residents and police. JD Weatherspoons, a Watford-based firm, wants to build a £1m pub on the site of a derelict car showroom. It is hoped that the pub, backed by Chester-le-Street
RETIRED businessman Cliff Richardson was a talented artist at school, but did not pick up his brushes again until middle age. Now self-taught Cliff, who lived in Cold Hesleden, East Durham, before moving to Sunderland, is staging an exhibition. Cliff
WHEN Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries some monks were lucky enough to receive compensation. Forty pounds a year, a sum beyond the dreams of avarice to the peasantry, was awarded to the abbot of Shap; so said English Heritage's notes at the delightfully
THE case of Richard Neale, the former Friarage hospital gynaecologist came to a conclusion this week - whether or not it can be considered satisfactory depends on whether you one of Mr Neale's badly-treated patients or one of his former employers. Nothing
THE WOMEN victims of disgraced gynaecologist Mr Richard Neale have called for the Northallerton NHS Trust board to resign. Campaigners made up of more than 100 women patients of the 52-year-old consultant have also called for an inquiry. Richmond MP Mr
A Chester-le-Street Rotarian has collected more than 2,000 pairs of glasses for a scheme helping African people with sight problems. Ron Trotter, chairman of the international committee of the Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street, toured the town's opticians
DETECTIVE work helped Elizabeth Arrowsmith, from Crook, track down the first weekly prize in EchoQuest. She followed the trail set by Holmes and deduced correctly he was at Hartlepool at the end of week one. Her prize is a two-night cruise for two, from
POLICE are hailing a crackdown on car crime in the Durham and Chester-le-Street area a success. But they are calling on drivers to do more to curb the number of offences by taking basic security measures. Officers taking part in Operation Oceana have
POLICE are hunting a mugger who left a pensioner with a broken arm after attacking her in broad daylight. The 69-year-old woman, who has not been named, was attacked as she walked to her daughter's house from a church service at Sacriston, at 11am on
THOUSANDS of people have backed a letter asking a Government minister not to forget their community. The letter and a petition containing more than 3,000 signatures from Stanley residents was presented to local MP Giles Radice on the understanding that
SOME of television's best known personalities were among more than 4,000 people who stepped out to take part in the 13th Great North Walk last weekend. Sir Jimmy Saville, saw the four sets of walkers off from the starting point in Wolsingham, County Durham
RAIN, hail or shine self-confessed surfing nut Ian Peters was up on his board off Saltburn beach. Riding the waves was a way of life for the lean, fit 38-year-old. On warm sunny days his wife Val and nine-year-old son Ian would be out on their boards
THE happy youngsters pictured above let their fancies fly on the last day of term last week. The 102 pupils from Our Lady and St Joseph RC Primary School, Brooms, dressed up in fancy dress to parade through the streets of Leadgate, joined by their headteacher
A CONSETT school whose performance was one of the worst in the region two years ago is celebrating exam success. Delves Lane Junior School, near Consett, has almost doubled its pass rate in the national SATS exams - signalling a huge turn-around. Two
THE day-to-day activities of the humble sheepdog were displayed on the big stage yesterday at a top national event. Competitors from the North-East and North Yorkshire were among dozens to take part in the English National Sheepdog Trials at Allerton
Jim Allenby, a regular in the Durham City first team, performed well with both bat and ball but could not save his side from defeat by Hetton Lyons. When the Lyons batted first and posted 102 for six Allenby returned figures three for 13 and Duncan had
A NORTH-East family business has headed-off the threat of closure and come up with a rescue package to secure most of the firm's jobs. Geoff Moore, who runs ladies clothing business Loudella with his wife Pamela and son David, said he was exhausted, but
VILLAGE youngsters will have the chance to join a new theatre company set up especially for them. Local man, Bill Wilkinson, and other organisers are still in the process of establishing the Shoestring Theatre Company for six to 16-year-olds at Dipton
THE Government is being pressed to clarify whether Mr John Prescott's transport investment blueprint could allow for the revival of proposals for an A1 motorway between Dishforth and Barton. Mr Prescott's transport department was a major beneficiary of
APPLAUSE rang out from objectors when Stockton councillors turned down a church's plea for new premises. A packed public gallery at the town hall was delighted to hear the planning committee's decision on a bid by Norton Baptist church to convert offices
THE Government has named two new "tsars" charged with reducing crime across the North-East and North Yorkshire. The crime reduction directors will try to strengthen links between the police, local community groups and central government to co-ordinate
A North East junior team will be kitted-out for success, depending on how well its supporters feel they deserve it. Sunderland AFC and their kit sponsors Nike, have launched a competition which will see a local U-16 team being rewarded with a new outfit
IN YEARS gone by, the scene was very similar. Rows of railway lines spread across the sidings at Shildon, County Durham, the town known as the cradle of the railways. In 2002, work is expected to begin on an offshoot of the National Railway Museum, boosting
YOUNGSTERS will express feelings about their home town at the end of a summer arts project. Derwentside arts group, Busy Ape Arts, has started a three-week residency, working with 14 to 16-year-olds at the Burnside Resource Centre, South Stanley. The
Hetton Lyons Sunday League Chris Fawcett (51no) and Paul Marsh (44no) enabled South Hetton to overtake Annfield Plain's 146 for nine with five wickets adrift. Newstead top scored with 73 when Annfield Plain made first use of the wicket and for South Hetton
MANAGERS at Arriva will roll up their sleeves today to ensure contract work goes ahead, despite a 24-hour strike called by its bus drivers. The company confirmed last night it will operate its contract services, but there will be no scheduled services
Three Houghton-le-Spring athletes feature in a track and field squad of 47 selected by the British Paralympic Association for the Sydney Games which take place from October 18-29. The trio are Nicola Jarvis (21) who won bronze in the wheelchair 100 and
MORE than £100,000 is to be spent in an attempt to keep teenagers in the region on the straight and narrow. Middlesbrough, Washington, Peterlee, Bishop Auckland and Hartlepool, are among 80 areas across England and Wales being targeted as part of a Government
DIAMOND wedding couple Linda and Douglas Tomlinson celebrated their special day yesterday with an open house for family and friends. The couple, who live in Crook, met at a dance at the Elite Hall in the village, and were married at Bishop Auckland Register
A GROUP of residents were so sick of having to look at a run-down eyesore in their street that they gave it a makeover. Instead of broken glass and wooden boards on the outside of a terrace house in Newcastle's West End, local people now see curtains
A SEX session with a 16-year-old cost a man his hopes of becoming a taxi driver yesterday. A judge told him he could not be trusted with drunken, drugged, and sometimes under-age girls leaving clubs and discos in the early hours. University drop-out Irfan
AS the summer holidays get under way, lifeguards trained to a higher standard than ever are patrolling beaches in Hartlepool. The seven-strong Hartlepool Borough Council team, which covers the beach at Seaton Carew and both the Block Sands and Fish Sands
TWO buildings owned by a council will have to be demolished - before they fall down. Officials are calling for Middlesbrough Borough Council leaders to take urgent action because of the "potentially dangerous'' condition of the properties. The council
THREE Teesside schoolgirls are celebrating after their letter-writing skills earned them top prizes in a North-East competition. Emily Johnston, six, from Redcar, Lindsey Aston, 15, from Stockton, and Amy Puttick, ten, from Stokesley, beat competition
The cider capital of Britain has relocated from the West Country to Tyneside, according to a new survey. Sales figures from supermarket Tesco reveal that drinkers in the North-East are shunning their traditional Newcastle Brown Ale in favour of the fizzy
A Stamp featuring the coastline of East Durham has acted as the inspiration for a specially commissioned film. The mini-movie stars 15 pupils from Shotton Primary School and was shot on location at Blackhall Rocks. The film is part of the Turning the
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd:2 calves, 1,184 sheep. Bull calves to £118. Lambs std to 78.2p av 74.8p; med to 83.3p av 78.6p; heavy to 77.2p av 76.5p, Cast ewes: Mule to 332; Cont to £33; Suff to £28.50; Leics to £31; horned to £11. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of
Boddingtons Durham Coast League U-18 A magnificent performance by Christopher Pringle earned Silksworth a big win against neighbours Ryhope. Pringle produced an unbeaten 123 not out as Silksworth romped to 188 for the loss of one wicket. Michael Waterson
OPPOSITION is growing to plans to house asylum seekers in a disused nursing home in a former pit village. People at Meadowfield, near Durham City, are against proposals to convert the Appletree Nursing Home, in Frederick Street North, into a short-term
It was while we hoofed to the harness racing - My kingdom for a horse, as Richard III is said in similarly straitened circumstances to have exclaimed - that Mr Philip Owers pulled up in his motor car. Mr Owers, aged 45 and long grey haired, kept goal
A city's links with author Lewis Carroll and his children's story, Alice in Wonderland, will be celebrated at a conference next week. The 400-strong Lewis Carroll Society, whose members come from 37 countries, is holding its conference for the first time
It was while we hoofed to the harness racing - My kingdom for a horse, as Richard III is said in similarly straitened circumstances to have exclaimed - that Mr Philip Owers pulled up in his motor car. Mr Owers, aged 45 and long grey haired, kept goal
NEWCASTLE United Football Club is to return to court to thrash out a claim for £80,000 costs from six fans after the bitter Save Our Seats legal battle. The club is to ask for a costs hearing after the successful outcome of court room clashes with season
PLANS to give leading Durham County councillors media training have been branded a waste of public money. The council's Executive Committee has approved proposals to teach a total of 50 people - in-cluding officers and committee chairman and vice-chairmen
CLEVELAND police authority has made an effort to set the record straight regarding concerns over the cost and length of time taken by Operation Lancet. In its annual report, the authority says the special inquiry into alleged malpractice is the longest-running
IN a moment of deep emotion, the 14 remaining full members of the Richmond, Yorkshire, branch of the 1940 Dunkirk Veterans' Association laid up their standard at Spennithorne church on Sunday. When it was formed in September 1957, there were 167 veteran
HOMELESS young people in the Sedgefield borough are to be offered support to help them lead more independent lives. The council is to work with the national Stoneham Housing Association to help 16 and 17-year-olds who have left home for whatever reason
FURIOUS residents say their Darlington street has been turned into a rat run after the re-routing of bus services. People living in Major Street woke up on Monday to discover buses going along their road for the first time. Inquiries revealed that Arriva
A COUNCIL officer is teaching children how to look after dogs after it emerged hundreds of strays were picked up in one area of north Durham last year. The dogs were all picked up in the Derwentside District Council area from April 1999 to April this
PEOPLE in Richmond were reminded yesterday that the future of the Duchess of Kent's hospital at Catterick Garrison was still firmly on the agenda of local campaigners. They mounted a low-key demonstration with placards in the grounds of the Friary hospital
Under-19s County Championship. Yorkshire under-19s v Durham under-19s. Marske CC staged a two-day under-19s county championship game for the first time. Blessed with fine weather, a good crowd viewed some entertaining cricket. Zubair Raje showed a lot
A MAN is demanding compensation from a North-East coach firm after claiming a dream trip to Paris turned sour. Jonathan Landers, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, had booked a two-night stay with his wife, Jane, in the French capital, with Stockton-based
A £1M strategy aimed at the regeneration of Richmond over the next five years could create jobs and revitalise the town centre. The first draft was unveiled on Wednesday by consultants EDAW, who had been hired by the town centre forum. According to consultant
SUNDERLAND families are helping to shape the dream of an environmentally-friendly city. More than 170 residents are expected to attend a conference - Towards a Better Future - today to discuss the city council's Local Agenda 21 strategy. People will be
POLICE in North Yorkshire are to receive just over £1m from the government in the current financial year as part of a £15m boost for rural forces in England and Wales. The force covering England's largest county has also been assured by the Home Office
elderly residents in Boosbeck have sent a petition to Redcar and Cleveland Council asking for their unmanageable windows to be replaced. The pensioners live in council-owned properties in Shepher Court and Fenton Street and 90 per cent have signed the
North Riding Senior Cup Semi-Final York City 1, Marske United 0 Marske United lost out in their bid to reach the North Riding Senior Cup final to a superb 30-yard strike from City's David McNivern. The Seasiders put in an excellent performance in the
COUNCILLORS are considering ending door-to-door rent collections in an effort to protect their staff. Police have recommended Derwentside District Council make the move to prevent its two rent collectors becoming targets for robbers while carrying large
A TORY councillor has accused Darlington's ruling Labour group of abusing the new cabinet system of local government. Under the former committee system, opposition councillors had the right to question officer recommendations and debate issues at some
A REDCAR deputy headteacher is lending a hand in the latest stage of the construction of a new school. Mike Erskine, deputy head at Rye Hills School in Redcar, has an office on the site of the new development - being built on land adjacent to the existing
Take-away turned down PLANS to turn a retail shop into a hot food take-away in an east Cleveland village have been turned down by planners. The take-away shop, which was planned in the High Street in Skelton, proposed to open from 4pm until 11.30pm seven
Stanislav Varga was night tipped to take the Premiership by storm following his move to Sunderland. Manager Peter Reid paid only £650,000 for the 27-year-old defender, but said:"Stan has impressed me. "He could be a player who surprises one or two people
Langbaurgh West Rural District League East Harlsey enjoyed a ten-wicket victory over Great Smeaton. Batting first, Great Smeaton scored 122-7 (M Blench 65, D Willey 3-42) but Stuart Hodgson, not out 87 and Peter Mason, 33 not out, featured in an unbroken
A BLUEPRINT for housing and industrial developments has taken an major step towards becoming official. An independent report into objections to the Harrogate District Local Plan has now been drawn up and is being considered by Harrogate Borough Council
NEWS that the Ministry of Agriculture centre at Northallerton is to remain open was tempered this week with proposed changes to the way support payments are paid to farmers. Months of uncertainty ended on Monday with an announcement that the jobs of 300
THERE is no escape. Fans will find you wherever you are if you've appeared in a cult TV series. Alan Cumming knows this all too well. People come up to him in Hollywood and say, "Oh dearie me" or want to talk about Shona Spurtle. Those in the know will
A GLIMMER of hope has emerged with news that the government is backing the idea of a task force to tackle the impact of major steel job losses. Local MPs, council and business leaders all welcomed the announcement that Trade and Industry Secretary Mr
PLANS for a new road to serve a housing development have won backing despite villagers' fears they could put children at risk. Durham County Council's highways committee has approved plans to stop up an old back lane at Heugh Edge, Sacriston. It will
THE Archers of the Tees fifth annual Braveheart wooden bow archery competition attracted a record 65 entrants from all over the North-East last weekend. Colin Hope of the Chantry Bowmen won the Braveheart title with 93 hits and three petticoats giving
A PARISH council is giving police officers a helping hand in the fight against youth crime and disorder. Belmont Parish Council, on the outskirts of Durham, has given the area's beat bobbies two mountain bikes to get about quickly. Councillors hope the
CAMPAIGNERS who opposed plans to build flats in the West End of Darlington are gearing up for a fresh battle. Shepherd Homes has submitted a new application to build 41 flats in the wooded grounds of Greystones, a Victorian villa in Carmel Road North.
THE £1m pier restoration project for Saltburn has suffered a setback caused by serious storm damage to the legs which support the head of the structure. The local council has been told these must be replaced - or the pier head will have to be pulled down
A SCHEME has been launched to keep youngsters out of trouble during the summer holidays. The Splash! programme has been organised by Gateshead Youth Offending Team with £15,000 from the Youth Justice Board, and is aimed at youngsters in the Leam Lane
ONE of the challenges for conservationists trying to protect the planet's dwindling resources is to persuade people that there are practical advantages. It's a challenge which has been met highly successfully by volunteers at the Butterwick Hospice in
A MAN who spent more than 30 years as a local government administrator bade farewell at a ceremony at Darlington town hall last Friday. Family, friends, councillors and colleagues past and present packed the council chamber to give Mr Geoff Bosworth,
A PENSIONER had to be rescued by firefighters after falling into a hole in his garden. The 77-year-old man had gone into his house to consult some plans when water workers arrived to check the drainage. While he was in the house, rummaging among his papers
CAR airbags were targeted by thieves during three separate incidents on the same night in Darlington. The safety devices were all stolen on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning in the Eastbourne area of town. The first reported theft was in Parkside, where
PEOPLE going to see a youth company's production of Wizard of Oz will have a hard job finding the band. The musicians providing the backing for the Durham County Youth Company show, are not in the same room as the actors. They will perform from a classroom
DAVID Rowe, 39, an engineer from Great Lumley in Chester-le-Street, has been selected from hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts to join one of the country's most demanding mountaineering schemes. From September 10-16, David, along with 11 other people from
