FAMILY and friends were joined by MP Peter Mandelson yesterday at the funeral of teenager John Paul Jeffries, whose body was found in a marina. Mourners, including the Hartlepool MP, packed Grange Road Methodist Church, where John Paul had been baptised
TORY leader William Hague is to face an official parliamentary standards investigation over a charity which did not exist. Labour MP Fraser Kemp this week lodged a complaint with parliamentary standards commissioner Elizabeth Filkin after the revelation
WE'VE all been there. The moment when you realise your car has got a flat tyre. Inevitably, you are miles from the nearest phone box and the spare is useless. Oh, and it's probably raining. A new gadget from a company called SmarTire aims to make that
MATCH-WINNER Mark Tinkler has forgotten what it's like to lose a game since he moved to Hartlepool United. Pool have gone from strength to strength in recent weeks - and it's no coincidence that the outstanding run of form that has taken Chris Turner's
BRITISH diplomats arrived in Bangladesh last night in an attempt to secure the release of a North-East man being held hostage by rebel gunmen. It is understood a £1.2m ransom is being demanded for the release of Tim Selby, a 28-year-old from West Jesmond
BOBBY Robson has admitted he would like to carry on as Newcastle manager until he is 70. Former England chief Robson, 68 yesterday, has rubbished reports he is set to vacate the St. James' Park hotseat and take a behind-the-scenes role. He said: ''I am
WHILE Hartlepool has clearly suffered from Darlington's emergence as a rugby town, it became evident on Saturday just how far Teesside has also slipped behind. Middlesbrough's home defeat by Blaydon increased the chances of both Boro and Stockton going
A WATERCOLOUR painting by Prince Charles has been withdrawn from a charity auction after a pink squirrel by former Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney proved more popular. The prince was left red-faced when the squirrel drawing by Sir Paul fetched £4,000.
DEJECTED Sunderland supporters trooped away from the Stadium of Light wondering if the bubble has burst. Normally they leave the ground excited and full of praise for a hard-fighting display, or up in arms about another controversial performance by the
FERRYHILL could soon have a new youth centre, thanks to a £34,000 grant. Ferryhill Community Partnership has secured money from the Single Regeneration Budget, subject to certain requirements. Establishing a youth facility was one of the projects singled
THE largest piece of public artwork since the controversial Angel of the North is being planned - the Roker Horn. It is estimated the 40-metre-long sculpture, which will be decked out in the traditional red, white and black colours of Sunderland football
A puppy from the North-East is following in the paw prints of famous canines Shep and Petra to become the new Blue Peter dog. The as-yet unnamed youngster from Weardale will make her TV debut on the BBC1 children's show tonight. The ten-week-old puppy
WITH the ground so wet it is difficult to get on with much in the garden. So take the opportunity to get down to the garden centre to choose your seeds. When making your flower seed selection for this year do not overlook the annuals. There are all manner
POLICE remain anxious to locate a missing man, who has not been seen since he is believed to have jumped into a fast flowing river. Extensive searches of the River Wear and its banks in the area of Barker's Haugh sewage works in Durham have failed to
A MAN who raped a divorcee and drowned her in a bath to silence her was yesterday sentenced to life. Michael Wade, 43, had told detectives he revived an affair with Jean Whitfield when he traced her five years after they parted. He gave detailed descriptions
THE City will be kept busy next week, as a host of blue chips are set to report results. Continuing the reporting season for banks, Internet bank Egg, spun out of Prudential, will kick off the week with full year figures on Monday. The group is expected
Albert Ferrer admits the FA Cup tie with Arsenal tomorrow could make or break Chelsea's season. Victory for the cup holders in the fifth-round clash at Highbury would sustain a challenge for European qualification on two fronts and the competition represents
George Graham hopes to inspire his players to victory today by telling them what a great feeling it is to hold an FA Cup winner's medal. Spurs take on First Division strugglers Stockport at White Hart Lane, bidding to book their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Harry Redknapp has revealed how West Ham had serious doubts that Michael Carrick would ever make it as a footballer. Three years ago, Carrick was a tall and gangly 16-year-old who looked too thin and weak to play football. But the Hammers kept faith as
HIGH-FLYING Hartlepool United chief Chris Turner last night saluted skipper Micky Barron as he sets his sights on a promotion place. A stunning run of 27 points from a possible 33 has lifted Pool to fourth place in Division Three, just two points behind
ITALIAN group De'Longhi is to buy food blender-to-kettles maker Kenwood Appliances in a £45.9m deal. Kenwood said it had reached agreement with the family-owned Italian firm on the cash offer, which would create a leading European manufacturer of air
NEWCASTLE Airport has recorded another exceptional month for growth in passenger numbers. More than 192,000 people flew out of the airport, an increase of 29 per cent on the same time last year. Of those, 90,000 took domestic flights, a 40 per cent increase
LLOYDS TSB saw its profits leap seven per cent to a bumper £3.9bn last year. The figure compares with the previous year's £3.6bn, while total income also increased seven per cent to £8.5bn. Lloyds, which is awaiting a decision on whether its £19bn bid
VERY few people can have doubted that Cleveland Chief Constable Barry Shaw was right to begin Operation Lancet four years ago when serious allegations came to his attention. However, since then, the Operation has degenerated into a farce. Now, as it approaches
HANNIBAL Lecter, the world's most famous cannibal killer, is about to horrify movie-goers as he slices, dices and munches a feast of human flesh. Returning to UK cinema screens, in the sequel to Silence Of The Lambs, Hannibal once again terrifies audiences
ENGLAND boss Clive Woodward has attempted to play down the hype surrounding his Six Nations favourites ahead of the Twickenham clash against massive underdogs Italy. Despite the accolades showered on England following a record 44-15 victory over Wales
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid last night called for an overhaul of the Premiership refereeing system to make match officials more accountable for their performances. Reid feels that professional referees could be the answer to a growing problems and suggested
Darlington manager Gary Bennett is hoping that the introduction of Steve Harper and David Brightwell will spark a much needed revival in the Quakers' bid to beat the dreaded drop. The former Hull pair, who moved to Feethams on Thursday, go straight into
Q You recently said that Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) could only be reduced if the claimant had an occupational pension of more than £50 a week. Why then is my wife's superannuation from her late husband deducted in full from my JSA? A The £50 rule for
FRIGHT NIGHT: If you haven't had the fright of your life yet, then you haven't been to see the latest Hannibal Lecter blockbuster. The man with the strange taste in food and wine is back on our screens in what has been billed as the most horrific and
WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire? contestant Richard Scott is giving his wife a second honeymoon after winning £16,000 on the show. Richard Scott, a civil engineer, from Eston, Middlesbrough, told the TV audience that he wanted the money to take his Egyptian-born
A NIGHTSPOT has had its application for an entertainment licence turned down because it is too noisy. Sedgefield Borough Council received more than a dozen objections from residents about late-night noise levels at The Lakeside, at Woodham Golf and Country
FLY-HALF phenomenon Jonny Wilkinson produced a record-breaking performance to lead England on another Six Nations points spree, then declared: ''I've got my weaknesses.'' Wilkinson claimed three landmark feats as the title holders and tournament favourites
PLAYBOY drugs baron Peter Beaumont-Gowling probably knew his executioner, detectives revealed last night. The former international restaurateur, who ran a string of businesses throughout the North-East, was found shot dead at home by his girlfriend shortly
THE Government was last night standing firm over its hardline policy on Iraq in the face of growing criticism of Friday's Anglo-US air strikes. Britain and the US were left looking increasingly isolated as Russia and China led the international torrent
POPSTARS reject Stuart Pawley is still hoping to make it big - by setting up his own band with another contestant. Stuart, 22, from Dipton, near Stanley, County Durham, made it through to the last 60 of ITV's find-a-star show. Although he did not make
Football pools giant Littlewoods Leisure is being sued by a firefighter for £30m over allegations that the firm stole a patented version of Spot the Ball. William Constantine, from County Durham, has lodged a writ with the company claiming damages and
SUNDERLAND striker Niall Quinn last night saluted old adversary Stuart Pearce and declared: "At this rate, he'll go on for ever.'' Pearce, who enters his 40th year in April, was outstanding as West Ham's defensive cornerstone in Saturday's FA Cup win
HOW Bobby Robson must rue the day Ruud Gullit saw fit to get rid of Stuart Pearce. At a time when Newcastle United boss Robson is lumbered with a defence who can't defend, veteran Pearce is enjoying a new lease of life and playing out of his skin for
Another miserable away defeat for Darlington had relegation written all over it at Underhill on Saturday. Goals from player manager Tony Cottee, Danny Brown and Mark Arber consigned the Quakers to yet another defeat on their travels in a nightmare run
PETER Beaumont-Gowling always craved the life of an international playboy. Friends recall his early attempts to amass the fortune which would eventually fuel the cocaine and champagne lifestyle he yearned for - which began in unlikely circumstances. Despite
SINCE love may conquer all but it's duty which pays the gas bill, the column found itself on the evening of St Valentine's Day at a diocesan service in Penshaw in celebration of holy wedlock. Some marriage lines now follow. There, too, were Ted and Mona
West Ham booked their place in the last eight of the FA Cup thanks to Frederic Kanoute's 76th minute strike. The Frenchman latched on to Frank Lampard's precise through ball to slot the ball past Thomas Sorensen and send the visiting Hammers fans into
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to forget about picking centre back Martin Keown for the Swede's first international in charge against Spain a week on Wednesday. The 35-times capped defender, who skippered
MIDDLESBROUGH are preparing the ground for a bitter legal battle with Liverpool as the Premier League drag their feet over the Christian Ziege saga. Boro, who claim the German wing-back was the subject of an illegal approach before he completed his controversial
BRAZILIAN centre-half Emerson Thome admitted last night: "It would be beautiful to win the FA Cup with Sunderland." But the 28-year-old defender knows that to stand any chance of fulfilling his dream he will have to keep a tight grip this afternoon on
THE 500th customer to take advantage of a training course designed to improve standards in food preparation, is to open her own New York-style noodle bar. Karen Ooi, 39, from Middlesbrough, and her husband, George, 41, are to fulfil their ambitions of
YOUNGSTERS in a Teesside town are to get a £10,000 play area thanks to their local town council. The play area at Butt Lane, on the Whitby Avenue estate, in Guisborough, is the second to be funded by Guisborough Town Council in a four-year programme to
TONY Blair has appealed again and again for a rethink. Stephen Byers has issued countless pleas for clemency. Teesside MPs have gone down on bended knee. But it was a largely implacable steel magnate who appeared before the Commons' trade and industry
NEWCASTLE'S European Shield semi-final against Harlequins will be held at Headingley on April 22. While the Falcons had hoped to stage the match at Kingston Park after being first out of the hat, European officials have decreed it will be held in Leeds
TECHNOLOGY business Virtuoso has celebrated a year in business with a visit from a Government minister. North West Durham MP and Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong joined representatives from regional business support organisations at Virtuoso's
COMPUTER services group Sema, which is being bought by Franco-American firm Schlumberger, has reported "disappointing" results with profits down four per cent. Sema, which this week recommended a £3.6bn bid from the oilfield services group, said pre-tax
