Archive

  • Cat sanctuary facing cash crisis

    A CAT rescue centre could be forced to close through lack of funds. Alex Winwood runs the Eldon Hope animal rescue centre from her back garden in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The registered charity is a scaled down version of a centre for cats and

  • Tesco in rethink

    A REVISED planning application for a Tesco supermarket in Newton Aycliffe is expected to be submitted soon. It was announced last year that the company was seeking to build a 68,000 sq ft store as the centrepiece of a £25m town centre scheme. Steve Barker

  • Friends flock for Watson

    Stories flowing like Theakston's best bitter, Jack Watson's 80th was marked with a surprise lunch last Tuesday. Bob Stokoe was there, and Durham's director of cricket Geoff Cook and former Hartlepool United chairman Garry Gibson whom Jack - his memory

  • Secrecy row over future of RC school

    ANGRY parents are demanding governors explain themselves after voting in secret to close a school. While governors at St Anthony's School, Middlesbrough, took a majority decision in secret to close the school - their agreement had conditions attached.

  • I should have left the Stones ten years earlier

    THIRTY-one years playing bass guitar with the Rolling Stones made Bill Wyman a music legend with the band seen by many as rock'n'roll's bad boys. An infamous relationship with teenage model Mandy Smith in the Eighties did little to dispel an image of

  • Blitz on drivers is positive

    A POLICE blitz has revealed that the message not to drink and drive seems to be getting through. More than 100 drivers were breath-tested throughout the Cleveland Police area, during last Friday's European-wide campaign. The 24-hour push involved a team

  • Building on firm foundations at Bede

    CONSTRUCTION is under way at Bede plc's new headquarters at Belmont Business Park, in Durham. The company, which floated on the Stock Market last November, raising £30m, is moving from Bowburn to a new 27,000sq ft facility at the park to house its head

  • Celebration to go ahead

    CELEBRATIONS in a North Yorkshire are to go ahead, despite the crisis. There had been fears the May Fair, in Northallerton, would have to be called off. However, a spokesman for the Showman's Guild insisted yesterday that the fair would be going ahead

  • Hearty boost for health care

    THE fight against heart disease in County Durham has received a £130,000 boost. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Group has given each GP practice in its area machines to monitor blood pressure. Some practices have also received electrocardiograph

  • Red on parade

    Thousands of people today lined streets and watched from office windows as triumphant Grand National winner Red Marauder went on a victory parade through the centre of his owner's home city. The 11-year-old chestnut enjoyed bright sunshine on his mile-long

  • Free guide on the way

    NORTHERN Leisure, The Northern Echo's comprehensive guide to the region, is bigger and better than ever this year. The annual publication, available free with The Northern Echo on Tuesday, has been extended to include more places to go, attractions to

  • Job Search 2001

    Head chef, Yarm, 36hrs pw on rota, experience essential, must have driving licence. Ref: STL 27670. Trainee photographer, Stockton, £4ph, rising to £4.15ph, 38.5hrs pw, required for family studio, no experience necessary as full training given. Ref: STL

  • Hear all sides

    RED MARAUDER MAY I thank Norman Mason, owner-trainer of Grand National winner Red Marauder, for inviting my two friends and myself to their recent celebration party. When we arrived at his Manor House stables, near Brancepeth, to do some photographs we

  • Beach invite for workers

    OFFICE workers are being invited to bond at the beach as part of a new training scheme. Rosemary Hepworth, of Smile Training and Development Consultancy, has joined Nick Noble, of Saltburn Surf Shop, to offer team building through a day on the waves.

  • Partnership looks forward to changes

    HOMES across Billingham will be receiving the latest news on the town's regeneration this week. Billingham Forward is the first of what are planned to be regular bulletins on developments in the town. Published by the Billingham Regeneration partnership

  • Jobless urged to start own businesses

    JOBLESS people in Consett are being urged to consider setting up their own businesses as the route back to work. The Consett South Enterprise Association wants to encourage individuals and groups in the area to think about community enterprises. Community

  • Job Search 2001

    MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Medical receptionist, Seaham, full and part-time hours, experience and/or AMSPAR diploma an advantage although office administration experience considered

  • Traders lose fight to protect Market Square car parking

    AN attempt to have the number of car parking spaces in Richmond's Market Place set in stone has failed to win the backing of a Government inspector. The town's business and tourism association challenged Richmondshire District Council when its blueprint

  • Sowing seeds of industry

    HENRY Bolckow, a German accountant, sowed the seeds of Teesside's steel industry when he formed a partnership with ironworks manager John Vaughan, in 1839. The pair bought land near Middlesbrough's Commercial Street from Joseph Pease, of Darlington, and

  • New fostering scheme being launched

    VULNERABLE youngsters will receive better quality care under a new fostering scheme being launched in the North-East. The major children's charity NCH is setting up intensively supported foster care for youngsters aged 11-17. Aimed specifically at those

  • Spurned lesbian lover took own life

    A LESBIAN affair ended in tragedy when a 40-year-old, unable to accept the relationship was over, took her own life. Mandy Skinner gassed herself in her Renault Laguna, parked 200 yards from a lonely North Yorkshire road. When she was discovered, a framed

  • Future's a virtual step away

    A training organisation which has helped more than 1,000 people find jobs in the region's automotive and high volume manufacturing businesses is to put the North-East at the forefront of learning excellence, with the launch of a ground-breaking website

  • Knife attack victim stable after surgery

    SURGEONS have operated on a man who was stabbed in a street attack. The unnamed 24-year-old is reported to be in a serious but stable condition following an operation at Middlesbrough General Hospital. Detectives have so far been unable to interview the

  • Some extra advice on offer for the disabled

    AN EXHIBITION is to offer disabled people advice on how to make life easier for themselves. Tyne Tees Television presenter Sarah Gatenby will officially open the Disability Awareness Day exhibition, in the Optimum Centre, Bishop Auckland College, at 11am

  • Birthday trip banned

    THE epidemic cast a shadow over the birthday of one of the North-East's oldest residents yesterday. For the past few years, Annie Pattison's grandson, Raymond Finlay, has visited from Ulster to share her big day at her home in Tow Law, County Durham.

  • MS sufferer to ask Milburn why she is denied drug

    AN angry mother-of-three is to ask Health Secretary Alan Milburn why she is being denied access to a drug which could transform her life. Ann Weatherburn, 34, of Darlington, has multiple sclerosis, the progressive disease. She said her consultant had

  • Residents clean up town centre

    RESIDENTS braved the rain yesterday as they got to work on a major litter pick of their town centre. The litter pick was carried out by Stockton's Town Centre Residents Association, who were helping to launch the £25 fixed penalty notice for anyone who

  • Slaughterman 'victim of the virus'

    A SLAUGHTERMAN was last night suspected of having contracted foot-and-mouth disease. The unnamed man, based in Cumbria, is undergoing tests to establish if he has the disease, which produces flu-like symptoms and blisters on the hands and mouth. Although

  • Child accusors in sex assault case quizzed over TV plot

    THREE children who claimed their teacher had sexually assaulted them were quizzed by police to see if they had made up the tale after copying an EastEnders storyline. Teesside Crown Court was told yesterday that the BBC television soap had a storyline

  • Farmer moves into van to be near flock

    THE fear of spreading foot-and-mouth has driven a North-East farmer to leave his family and move into a caravan near his stock. Ian Stoddart, who has asked for his exact whereabouts not to be published, moved off his farm in Teesdale ten days ago so he

  • Spanish eyes are focused on Venables for Valencia post

    TERRY VENABLES has emerged as the front-runner to take charge of Valencia after the favourite for the job yesterday ruled himself out. Alaves coach Jose Manuel Esnal was strongly tipped to succeed Hector Cuper next season. But Esnal insists he has no

  • Horses nuisance causing big headache for rugby contest

    UNWELCOME four-legged visitors will be shown the red card when a rugby club hosts its annual sevens tournament at the weekend. Officials at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club are pressing ahead with Sunday's competition despite fears that horses grazing illegally

  • Grand old lady of the Magpies

    SCAN the throng at the East Stand of St James' Park Stadium on a pre-match Saturday afternoon and you'll see a pretty predictable sight. Groups of men joined together by their love of the Magpies, kids sporting club scarves and Mark Knopfler's Local Hero

  • Kick-off for double bill of youth soccer

    INTERNATIONAL football continues in the region tonight with a vital clash in the European under-16 championships. Darlington FC's Feethams grounds hosts the Romania versus Germany match, while Durham City will host the Spain versus Belgium game this evening

  • Mother tells of her rape ordeal

    A young mother told a court yesterday how she was savagely beaten and raped in her home after she returned from a night out with friends. The woman, who cannot be named, said she had just got home, early on March 26 last year, when Stuart McSkelly, 28

  • Tourism boss bids to end walks ban

    TOURISM chiefs are to hold talks with farmers' leaders and Government officials today to try to open some footpaths. The move is aimed at ending the widespread ban on walking or cycling in the countryside, in place since the early days of the epidemic

  • Learners' prize draws

    PEOPLE taking part in an adult learning scheme are being given an opportunity to win up to £100 in the first of four prize draws. The Darlington Learning Town Group launched the Passport to Learning scheme last month, with actor Ricky Tomlinson, star

  • 'Falling viaduct masonry is putting people's lives at risk'

    CHUNKS of stone falling from a viaduct could be putting people's lives in danger. Trains crossing the Durham City viaduct are dislodging the material, which is falling to the road. Dr Paul Mayor, who runs Durham Arches dental practice, in North Road,

  • UK is in its best economic shape for a century, says expert

    BRITAIN is in its best economic shape for a century. That was the message from Dennis Turner, chief economist of HSBC Bank, in London, when he visited the bank's customers in Darlington yesterday. The audience at the New Grange Hotel, included many of

  • Slaughter near Hague begins

    THE slaughter of hundreds of animals just half-a-mile from the home of Tory leader William Hague began yesterday. An outbreak of foot-and-mouth was confirmed at Home Farm, in Catterick, North Yorkshire, where 780 sheep and 280 cattle were slaughtered.

  • Residents likely to win fight for village green

    A FIGHT by villagers to prevent open land being fenced in looks likely to end in victory. Councillors will be recommended tomorrow to declare the half-acre field a village green. Seven families in The Hollow, near Howden-le-Wear, spent £4,000 on a legal

  • Drive to help Theatre Royal

    ONE of Richmond's historic attractions is hoping to boost its coffers by offering its supporters a chance to win a car. The town's Georgian Theatre Royal has linked up with Sherwoods of Darlington, which is supporting a giant prize draw - supplying a

  • Job Search 2001

    MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Cleaner, Darlington, £3,70ph, 3.30pm to 4pm, 6pm to 6.30pm Mon-Fri, experience not required as training provided. Ref: DAE 25901. Cleaner, Darlington

  • Job Search 2001

    MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Senior enforcement officer, Northallerton, up to £20,364pa, 8.30am to 5pm Mon-Fri, required for investigations team, must be serious and highly motivated

  • Sale of Camerons brewery

    TRADITIONAL brewing in the North-East was saved from extinction today with the sale of the Camerons brewery to Castle Eden. But last orders were called on the historic Castle Eden site in Peterlee with the proposed demolition of the building to make room

  • Enthusiasts visit region to view discovery during holiday trip

    ANTIQUES Roadshow expert, Eric Knowles, was in North Yorkshire yesterday, showing fellow enthusiasts around a town famous for one of the most remarkable finds of the past century. The Middleham Jewel, a 500-year-old gold pendant set with a saphire, was

  • Musical show

    Spennymoor Operatic Society takes to the stage with its version of the Cole Porter musical, Anything Goes, tonight. A would-be-tycoon stowaway disguised as a gangster, and a tale of unrequited love set the scene for the farce aboard the SS American. Tickets

  • Train company attacked for stopping disabled boy's treat

    A grandfather has criticised Northern Spirit for refusing to allow his disabled grandson access on to a train. James Sproxton and his wife Maureen, of Redcar, planned to give their 13-year-old grandson Daniel Gott a treat at the weekend by taking him

  • Crackdown on yob culture

    Tony Blair today launched a crackdown on yob culture. The Prime Minister unveiled measures to clean up communities blighted by graffiti, litter and abandoned cars. He said loutish behaviour and rundown streets seriously undermined people's quality of

  • Arts success stories in line for grants

    A FOLKLORE festival and a drama group are among those in the running for arts awards. Billingham Folklore Festival, on Teesside, and the Castle Players, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, are two of eight organisations being considered for grants by the

  • Tidy efforts honoured

    THE actions of two elderly residents, who have helped to clean up their local environments, have been rewarded. David Stokes, 63, of Elmtree, Stockton, Teesside, and Margaret Newham, 68, of Billingham, are to receive the Individual Environmental Improvement

  • Meeting plan over double jobs blow

    PROSPECTIVE Redcar MP Vera Baird was due to meet Secretary for State for Trade and Industry Stephen Byers last night over closures announced by steel giant Corus and shipbuilders Cammell Laird. The London lawyer, hoping to take over the seat from Mo Mowlam

  • Vandalism fear over vacant Army houses

    CONCERN has been expressed about a row of houses left empty on a Darlington estate after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) put them on the market. Councillor Ian Hazeldine, whose Lingfield ward includes Sheerwater Avenue, said he hopes the houses are sold

  • Alley security gates proposed

    COUNCILLORS will meet later this week to discuss plans to introduce a pilot scheme for using alley gates within the borough of Stockton. It is hoped introducing the gates in the Newtown and Mandale areas will improve the environment and reduce crime and

  • Safety is child's play

    HUNDREDS of youngsters will be learning about safety when they climb aboard a merry-go-round with a difference. About 400 children from 34 primary schools in the Easington area will be attending the Safety Carousel - a series of workshops, each delivering

  • Service provides vital link to help make dreams a reality

    MANY people harbour a dream of running their own successful business and becoming an entrepreneur, but making that dream a reality can be a daunting prospect. For those who want to take the next step, however, help is available which will not cost a penny

  • Grief over death of saved pets

    A WOMAN'S pet goat and sheep, which she saved from a cull, have died. Linda Massey, of Norton, Teesside, has a smallholding at Cowpen Bewley, near Billingham, where Sherry the sheep and Wilma the goat stayed. The land is just 200 yards from an outbreak

  • Animal scams used to con pensioners

    A DETECTIVE has condemned as "callous'' a thief who lied to his victim about running over her cat, in order to steal her handbag. The theft comes only nine days after another crook, holding an injured squirrel in his hand, bluffed his way into old woman's

  • Group launches campaign

    A HERITAGE group is hoping people will support its fundraising effort to restore the graves of two Teesside figures. The Stewart Park and Marton Heritage Group has secured permission to restore the grave of Henry Bolckow, Middlesbrough's first mayor,

  • Ramblers' city tour

    FRUSTRATED at the restrictions that have hit their country excursions, a group of ramblers decided to head for the city. Measures to tackle foot-and-mouth have limited the options open to members of Peterlee Rambling Club. They headed to York instead,

  • Late licence joy for dance club

    CONTROVERSIAL plans to bring table dancing to a former city centre social club took another step forward last night. Entertainment company SFI plc was granted a late-night liquor licence for the proposed club, For Your Eyes Only, which it plans to create

  • Tasty clean-up campaign

    CHILDREN are teaming up with a fast-food restaurant to tidy up their playground. Pupils at Ferryhill Station Primary School will be picking up litter at their school as their contribution to a Tidy Britain Group campaign. More than 100 children are expected

  • Husband dishes up hate on a plate

    DISGRUNTLED husband Richard Walker is driving home his distaste for his estranged wife. The pensioner says he bought the personalised registration number - H8 HER - after his wife of 30 years walked out. Mr Walker, a 70-year-old retired oil tanker skipper

  • Drugs scheme reaches 100 in two weeks

    A DRUGS treatment service has already attracted one fifth of its target number of patients for the year - just two weeks after it opened. The Fulcrum Medical Practice, which operates from premises in Grangetown and Middlesbrough, Teesside, was set up

  • Fall climber to make recovery

    A CLIMBER who survived a 1,000ft fall down a mountain was comfortable in a Scottish hospital last night. The 43-year-old man, from the Darlington area, slipped and fell while making a solo climb up Stob Coire Nan Lochan, in Glencoe. He escaped with leg

  • Delicious Durham just about make their point

    THE small matter of a quarter of a point became the centre of attention before Durham's match against Gloucestershire was abandoned as a draw yesterday. That was what Durham stood to lose until they hurriedly squeezed in 2.4 overs at 4pm and just avoided

  • Fun visit to dentists

    YOUNGSTERS in east Cleveland are learning that a trip to the dentist can be fun thanks to the Sure Start Partnership. Sure Start is a Government funded scheme aimed at eradicating poverty for pre-school children. A role-playing toy, complete with dentist's

  • Blackmailer "could have appealed"

    The blackmailer who was found dead in a psychiatric hospital while waiting to be sentenced had been granted leave to appeal against her conviction, her solicitor revealed today. Former beauty queen Carolyn Pick, 36, of Cairnsmore Drive, Lambton, Washington

  • Academy yields clues to soccer club's plan

    A PARTY of councillors were guests of Middlesbrough Football Club yesterday, as they paid a visit to its football academy. Members of South Tyneside Borough Council's planning committee were not spying on Boro's pool of talent, however, but running the

  • Animal scams used to con pensioners

    A DETECTIVE has condemned as "callous'' a thief who lied to his victim about running over her cat, in order to steal her handbag. The theft comes only nine days after another crook, holding an injured squirrel in his hand, bluffed his way into old woman's

  • Talks over dance event

    Talks are to be held tonight between Radio One bosses and North-East protestors about a major dance festival. Residents are worried that the radio station's day-long Love Parade festival, expected to attract 300,000 revellers to Newcastle Town Moor on

  • Police men's choir rehearsing for annual concert

    DURHAM Constabulary's male voice choir will be ending its season on a high note. The choir, which has 28 members, is rehearsing for its annual concert, at 7pm, on Saturday, at police headquarters in Durham. Also on the bill will be the Leadgate Gleemen

  • Gazza suffers more injury woe

    PAUL Gascoigne's comeback from injury took a knock last night when the Everton midfielder hobbled off on his return to action. Everton netted a late equaliser to hold Sunderland to a 1-1 draw - but they suffered a blow after 20 minutes when Gascoigne,

  • Magnet poised for sale

    KITCHEN firm Magnet, one of the biggest employers in Darlington, is poised to be sold to a Swedish company in a multi-million pound deal. Europe's largest kitchen manufacturing group, Nobia, has agreed to buy Magnet from parent company Enodis for £134m

  • Arresting message from across Atlantic

    DETECTIVES were delighted when a woman logged on to their new website to report an insurance fraud. But Cleveland Police soon realised the crime was a bit off their patch - several thousand miles, in fact, in Cleveland, Ohio. Force administrator Andy

  • The coffee shop manager who is about to conquer Hollywood

    A COFFEE shop manager is about to take on the might of Hollywood with the release of a movie being billed as the next big thing on the silver screen. Buoyed by the success of British blockbusters such as Billy Elliot and Trainspotting, the film was picked

  • We 'ear you want double glazing . . . try these instead

    DISABLED Bob Simmons asked council chiefs for double glazing to help him sleep at night. But instead of kitting his flat out with new windows, they sent him two sets of earplugs instead. Mr Simmons, aged 48, said he could not believe it when he opened

  • Man 'raped woman as wife slept next door'

    A MARRIED restaurateur was accused yesterday of raping a woman while his wife slept in the next room following a drinking session. Mark Hird, 28, is alleged to have had sex with the 37-year-old after she stumbled up to bed after being taken ill during

  • Rapist hunt plea to revellers

    LATE-NIGHT revellers are being asked to come forward to help in the hunt for a rapist who left a woman traumatised and a village in fear. The 30-year-old woman was returning home from a celebration night out with friends in Middleton St George, near Darlington

  • Phillips vows to silence Sunderland mockers

    ENGLAND international Kevin Phillips has vowed to prove his critics wrong after astonishing calls from disgruntled fans for him to be dropped by Sunderland manager Peter Reid. The striker, who won Europe's Golden Slipper and the Premiership Golden Boot

  • Angry Bobby hits out

    ANGRY Newcastle United boss Bobby Robson has hit out at renewed talk of Kieron Dyer making a summer move to Manchester United. Magpies' chairman Freddy Shepherd has assured Robson there is no need to sacrifice £20m-rated Dyer to generate transfer funds

  • Attack probe

    EARLY morning drivers are being urged to help police after a 30-year-old woman reported being attacked as she walked alone at the weekend. The 30-year-old victim, who has not been named, was walking alongside the A688 from West Auckland to Tindale Crescent

  • Gill staff are flying high as buy-out safeguards 300 jobs

    ABOUT 300 jobs were safeguarded yesterday when regional airline Gill Airways came out of administration. A management buy-out has secured the future for the Newcastle company, which has been in administration since February last year. The airline flies

  • Closure of playgroup avoided

    A STRUGGLING playgroup says the threat of closure has been avoided thanks to a desperate survival bid. There were fears that Hutton Lane Playgroup, in Guisborough might have to close if attendance numbers did not pick up, signalling an end to the group's

  • A year on: keep those comments coming

    HAVING begun life in the mainstream, I have every intention of staying there. Being good enough for mainstream events, venues and activities once upon a time means that, quite simply, I am good enough for them now. But now, having developed a disability

  • My life in 00-heaven

    JOHN Glen holds the record as the man who's directed most James Bond movies, but he still has one regret - his favourite, Licence To Kill, was not as big a box office success as others in the long-running cinema franchise. The 007 adventure, featuring

  • Open verdict on death of man found in river

    A CORONER recorded an open verdict yesterday on the death of a pensioner, who was pulled from a river hours after threatening to drown himself. James Kinchin, 79, confided in a friend on December 18 last year, that he was severely depressed and felt like

  • Worst fears confirmed

    ANOTHER North-East village fell under the shadow of the crisis last night. A farm at Heighington, near Darlington, was confirmed yesterday as having the disease, following a weekend of uncertainty for David and Elaine Etherington. The couple have 180

  • Stone dealer 'justified' in stabbing raider in stomach

    A STONE dealer living alone in an isolated moorland farmhouse was justified in grabbing a large kitchen knife and plunging it into the stomach of one of three attackers, a judge said yesterday. Last October, three criminals from Middlesbrough drove to

  • Skipper slams defeats

    Darlington skipper Craig Liddle yesterday warned his teammates: "I don't want to finish second from bottom." After a sparkling run of just one defeat in 12 games from mid-February to propel them away from relegation trouble, Quakers have lost their last

  • Grief over death of saved pets

    A WOMAN'S pet goat and sheep, which she saved from a cull, have died. Linda Massey, of Norton, Teesside, has a small holding at Cowpen Bewley, near Billingham, where Sherry the sheep and Wilma the goat stayed. The land is just 200 yards from an outbreak

  • World a darker place without legend Lyght

    Andrew Lyght so greatly enjoyed the high-life that when he was fighting cancer the local night club manager sent a cheery get well soon card because, he said, the takings were down something dreadful. Though the amiable West Indian was cured - a miracle

  • Scheme to tackle 'lollipop rage' hailed a success

    THE first campaign to help lollipop wardens in the country to deal with "lollipop rage" has been a success, according to organisers. Last year, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council launched the campaign following concerns at the abuse school crossing

  • Venues and dates for forthcoming blood donor sessions

    VOLUNTEERS have 11 opportunites to attend blood donor sessions in Darlington and South-West Durham next month. All sessions, unless otherwise stated, run from 3pm to 7pm. Times, venues and dates should be checked in advance on 0845 7711711 in case of

  • NFU welcomes movement licence scheme

    A licence scheme has been launched to help non-infected farms near confirmed outbreaks move livestock. The licence will be administered in the region by officials at the Animal Health Divisional Office, Newcastle. Welcoming the move, NFU North-East policy

  • Campaigner to meet minister

    A HAEMOPHILIAC campaigner is to meet Health Minister Lord Hunt over calls for a public inquiry into contaminated blood. Carol Grayson has been invited to meet the minister after a high-profile campaign on behalf of haemophiliacs who have contracted HIV

  • School to get new sculpture

    A NEW sculpture will be arriving at a Newton Aycliffe school tomorrow. The stone carved sculpture, created by artists Dave Paton and Colin Wilbourne, and called The Winds of Change, will be sited in front of Greenfield Community and Arts Centre. The huge

  • Community chest opens to help local groups

    A £30,000 treasure chest is being made available to community groups. The Community Learning Chest, organised by Darlington Borough Council, is offering groups in the borough a chance to claim up to £1,000 towards education and training. Cash has come

  • Wheelchair theft blow for woman

    YOUNGSTERS may have been responsible for a wheelchair theft which has left a disabled grandmother stranded in her home. The £900 wheelchair was taken from a hallway outside Pauline Gill's flat, in Crook, while she was out in her car on Sunday evening.

  • Tenants warned about callers claiming council backing

    COUNCIL tenants are being warned to beware of insurance salesmen claiming to have council backing. Easington District Council is urging householders not to let the sellers into their homes because it has no involvement with the unnamed company. The council

  • Job Search 2001

    MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Head chef, Yarm, 36hrs pw on rota, experience essential, must have driving licence. Ref: STL 27670. Trainee photographer, Stockton, £4ph, rising to

  • Depressed woman took fatal aspirin overdose

    A PSYCHIATRIC patient, discharged into the community for outreach care, was found dead by health workers who were worried when she did not answer her phone. Ann Shortland, who had a history of depression, had taken an overdose of aspirin. Eight packets

  • When prayer leaves you lost for words

    IT'S the season for weddings again. We use the real Prayer Book at St Michael's, so we don't go in for any of that crooning sentimental guff you find in the new Common Worship - hideously mawkish phrases such as "All that I am I give to you", what does