NORTH-EAST fundraising volunteers have been honoured for their efforts in the fight against cancer. The Cancer Research Campaign's Chester-le-Street, Teesdale, and Whitley Bay local committees have gained prestigious runner-up silver commendations in
THE amount of poisonous chemicals emitted from an incinerator in the region has been highlighted in a Greenpeace report. Campaigners say that the Sita incinerator at Billingham, Teesside, has breached the terms of its licence - to ensure it complies with
OLD boys from Richmond School will make a poignant trip across the Channel later this year. A party from North Yorkshire will visit the beaches where Allied invasion forces landed in 1944, and pay their respects at the graves of friends from the region
NURSERY nurses in Darlington will gather today to plan the next step in their campaign for more pay. A mass meeting has been called after the nursery nurses' appeal for an improved pay and career structure was rejected by Darlington Borough Council. The
AN 80-year-old woman was injured when a teenage thief snatched her handbag. The attack happened between 11.45am and 11.50am on Monday in Southend Avenue, Darlington. The woman was walking alone in the avenue when the robber struck. Detective Constable
A LEADING North-East scientist will tell supporters of the Cancer Research Campaign today that researchers are on the brink of a treatment revolution. Professor Herbie Newell of Newcastle University will thank fundraisers for their support and reveal
NOMINATION forms are available for this year's Darlington Young Sportswinner of the Year award. As well as the main award, which has been won previously by two Olympians, there will be a team or club award, a coach award and a service to sport award.
COLLEGE staff are leaving further education in droves as workloads mount and pay increases lag behind schoolteachers, lecturers said yesterday. The stark picture was painted as hundreds of lecturers across the region demonstrated in a one-day strike over
THE need for a suntan is so great for some Britons that even a skin cancer scare isn't enough to put them off from wanting bronzed skin. Imperial Cancer Research Fund's new survey, 'Sun Sense or Sun Abuse?' found that 14 per cent of the British public
A POLICE scheme involving letters being sent to the parents of disorderly youths is spreading throughout Gateshead. The concept, which has been operating successfully in Gateshead East Area Command, is starting in Gateshead West. Parents of youngsters
CHILDREN and parents across Teesside are putting the car keys to one side and walking to school this week. Hundreds of children in the Tees Valley area have signed up to the national initiative, Walk to School Week, which began on Monday, and ends on
BRYAN ROBSON'S future at Middlesbrough was plunged into doubt last night as Steve McClaren appeared to demand total control at the Riverside - and Terry Venables agreed a five-year extension to his contract with ITV. The dramatic double development looks
FAMILIES living near a foot-and-mouth burial pit fear it could become a toxic timebomb on their doorstep. Villagers have stepped up their campaign to close the Inkerman site in Tow Law, County Durham, fearing gases could escape. The number of people attending
CRANSWICK, the food manufacturing group which incorporates Thornaby-based Lazenby's, plans to make the brand a favourite on the dinner plates of the nation. The start of those plans will see Lazenby's launch a "Best of British" sausage range later this
WILD horses brought terror to a North-East road early yesterday when at least one motorist narrowly escaped injury. A red BMW was written off when it collided with a stray horse on the Toronto bypass, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Both the car
VANDALISM I OFTEN have overseas visitors and always take them along the Darlington/Northallerton Road to see the obelisk recording the Battle of The Standard, an epic in the history of this area, and the countryside where this battle took place. This
PITY those poor souls who backed Distant Prospect in the Chester Cup a fortnight ago when jockey Martin Dwyer found every blind alley going during the race. Clearly trainer Ian Balding didn't take too badly to Dwyer's duff tactics since he gives the normally
JUST days before the General Election was called, Labour announced its intention, if re-elected, swiftly to sanction the 24-hour opening of pubs and clubs, seven days a week. Obviously viewed as a vote-winner - otherwise why get a minister down the pub
TWO men have been cleared of murdering a rival in a dispute that started in a mosque. Basharit Hussain, 26, and his 18-year-old nephew Arfan Hussain from Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough, Tees-side, were acquitted after a 13-day trial. They had denied murdering
MICHAEL Vaughan hit an unblemished century crammed with magical strokes to propel Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the Benson and Hedges Cup with a sparkling eight wicket victory over Somerset at Taunton yesterday. The Tykes now meet one day kings Gloucester
THE word voracious could have been invented for actor Brian Blessed. A huge appetite for life means that the bear-like Blessed will attempt to squeeze an awesome performance as Captain Hook into Sunderland Empire Theatre's pantomime, Peter Pan, between
A gunman shot 80 rare sea birds and laid them out to spell the word "death" at a coastal beauty spot, wildlife experts said yesterday. The discovery of the dead kittiwakes was made near the Marsden Grotto outcrop, on a stretch of the North-East coastline
VICTIMS and witnesses of crime are to be offered an improved support service under reorganisation proposals to be announced tomorrow. A network of seven independent organisations that have run successfully round County Durham for 12 years, is re-forming
CAMPAIGNERS against a mass foot-and-mouth burial site returned to their protest after magistrates yesterday overruled earlier bail conditions banning them from the area. Protestors took their banners, songs and slogans back to the Inkerman site near Tow
A 64-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of attacking two women during a birthday celebration in a nightclub. Pamela Temperley and Judith Libby accused Maurice Usher of punching them, in the 42nd Street club, in Hartlepool. Miss Temperley, 29, had a split lip
A pensioners' keep-fit class, which was scrapped when its instructor left, is to restart. For ten years, the class at the Rosedale Centre, in Rosedale Road, Nunthorpe was frequented by 30 to 40 elderly people, but when the tutor left, Redcar and Cleveland
THE first volume of Durham Biographies, an admirable and an overdue idea, has arrived in a little parcel of books from Professor Gordon Batho. Particularly, we are taken by the account of Ada Byron - the great poet's only legitimate daughter - who is
Participants from all over the world and speakers from Europe, Africa, Australasia and North America recently attended the University of Durham's ninth annual international counselling conference. Delegates shared moving and informative talks about the
PROTESTORS fighting to stop an £8m college being built outside their homes are claiming a victory. Residents in Berry Edge Road, Consett, say that the preliminary findings from the Local Government Ombudsman back their claim that they were not informed
REGIONAL brewer Wolverhampton & Dudley's restructuring plans are well advanced. The brewer, which has agreed the sale of its Camerons Lion Brewery in Hartlepool to Castle Eden, reported a 28 per cent rise in first-half profits. Pre-tax profits rose
ISOBEL Hartley would be the first to admit that the traditional concept of a mayor is an imperious looking gentleman in formal regalia. Even today, there are plenty of towns in the North-East where eyebrows would be raised at the idea of a woman mayor
WHY do we expect political wives to be so dumb? Ffion Hague is drifting through this election campaign, a dutiful three steps behind her husband, looking good, smiling sweetly and saying absolutely nothing. Cherie Blair has only just stopped a similar
A CAMPAIGNING grandmother has convinced a council to spend £12,000 on improving a playground. Retired youth leader Dorothy Bowden, 62, of Guisborough, frequently looks after her five grandchildren, aged from two to 11 years, but a lack of local facilities
A MOBILE play area took to the roads this week to offer fun and advice to Teessiders. The new single-decker, funded by the Sure Start East Cleveland Partnership, includes soft play equipment, a painting stand, musical instruments and building materials
Over a quarter of UK adults (27 per cent) are currently on a diet, survey results suggest. That's a staggering 12.8 million Britons - more than twice the population of Scotland. In addition to this, one in five dieters (22 per cent) reported dieting more
GNER is trying to persuade business travellers currently choosing to drive or take the plane, to let the train take the strain. Until June 15, anyone buying a GNER executive ticket for at least £190 can claim free first-class leisure travel for two for
A QUARTET of BSc (Hons) diagnostic radiography graduates from the University of Teesside shared their success when they all clinched their first posts as radiographers at Dryburn Hospital in County Durham, on the same day. The foursome are Lisa Marley
FORMER first citizens of Peterlee turned out in force for a special mayoral presentation. The past mayors each received a commemorative medal at the annual mayor-making. After receiving the chain of office for the coming year, the new Mayor of Peterlee
A 74-YEAR-OLD woman gave chase when a young man snatched her handbag. The pensioner, who did not manage to catch the robber, was returning from a charity shop where she works as a volunteer, when the man struck in Chillingham Road, Heaton, Newcastle.
FLYING closer to home than ever he could have imagined, John Briggs calls attention to a dreadful crash landing at one of his Darlington locals. The Hope Inn has long stood in Yarm Road. When in 1976 some brewery bright spark decided that it needed a
WORK on the first phase of a £1.2m regeneration programme to improve town and village centres is to start soon. Durham County Council has secured English Heritage funding for the project, which will make major improvements to Seaham town centre, Barnard
UNIVERSITY of Teesside graduates Graeme Dowson and Steven Burns share global ambitions, as they are planning to use their radiography skills to work around the world. Graeme, 22, and Steven, 21, are both from Normanby, Middlesbrough, and achieved their
MUCH information on dieting has been disseminated to the public but this has only clouded the understanding of the real causes of fat accumulation and methods used to reduce weight. 'Fad' diets proliferate but these invariably concentrate on eating one
REPORTS of the demise of a stately hall are greatly exaggerated. But the National Trust is having to spend thousands of pounds on letting people know that neither foot-and-mouth fears nor other problems have derailed its summer programme of events at
SUGAR is often blamed for tooth decay but the evidence shows that simply cutting out sugar is not the best advice, at least not for people in developed countries with access to fluoride. The most important factors are when and how often sugar is consumed
A GROUP of women who have carried on the music hall tradition and raised thousands of pounds for charity, may have taken their last curtain call. When Spennymoor Ladies' Circle decided to branch out into variety performance to raise money for charities
RETAILER Kingfisher said it was "well advanced" in talks to part with its Woolworths and Superdrug chains, as it reported a five per cent rise in sales for the first quarter. The group, which also owns Comet and B&Q, is breaking itself into two, splitting
Click here to see images from the show. TALENTED North-East gardeners are celebrating after winning coveted awards at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council won a silver medal for its display, which pays tribute to the
Click here to see images from the show. TALENTED North-East gardeners are celebrating after winning coveted awards at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council won a silver medal for its display, which pays tribute to the
HOW can you get to a doctor's appointment if your village only has two buses a week? How do you pick up your child from school several miles away if you have no car? How do you get money in a hurry if your village has no bank or post office? Twenty per
A SEARCH is on to find a primary school in Northallerton that deserves to win a £1,000 cash award. The prize is on offer in a competition launched by Woolworths, in association with its own charity, Kids First, and The Northern Echo. The company is offering
A COUNTRYSIDE association has decided to go ahead with its annual meeting, despite the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The North-East branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) meets at Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield, on June 14. Antony
SOLDIERS from the elite Parachute Regiment were in the region to encourage young people to join their ranks. The Paras were in Sunderland High Street yesterday, talking about the challenges of joining the regiment, and explaining the entry requirements
NEWCASTLE United have been rocked by a new injury setback which they fear could force Carl Cort to miss the pre-season tour of China and Hong Kong. United, already facing the prospect of opening the next campaign without skipper Alan Shearer, are awaiting
AN hotelier rubbed shoulders with royalty at lunch. George Tinsley, who owns the Pinchinthorpe Hall Country House Hotel, near Guisborough, was invited to a lunch at Thealby Hall, near Scunthorpe, where he was entertained by the Duchess of Gloucester.
THE gross error of judgement by the Lottery Commission in letting Camelot continue to run the National Lottery was clearly exposed yesterday. Annual results from Camelot showed ticket sales today are lower than they were four years ago. We shed no tears
SPRING is always a difficult time of year for those who suffer from hay fever, as the new pollen from the trees and flowers bring with them a season of runny noses, watery eyes and constant sneezing. However, this year let your pharmacist help you to
A CHARITY building Britain's first new mainline steam locomotive in 40 years is set to make a major step forward in its efforts. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the group working on the project, has dispatched its initial tender documentation to companies
A PILOT was hailed a hero last night for steering his plane away from a North-East town when the engine of his aircraft failed. The pilot, who has not been named, is believed to have been giving a flying lesson to a pupil when his Cessna 150 ran into
THE victim of a vicious road rage attack is to be taken to see a car officers believe may have been involved in a similar incident in the past. During the early hours of last Wednesday morning, May 16, the 26-year-old was slashed with a knife and beaten
A TOURIST chief has spoken of his frustration at the lack of progress in opening up the countryside to the public. Despite claims that the foot-and-mouth epidemic is on the wane across most of the North-East, the bulk of footpaths remain closed. According
BY his own admission, it proved to be only the second greatest day in the life of Middlesbrough FC and England football legend George Hardwick. Not that those honouring the 81-year-old for his achievements would mind being eclipsed by a world-beating
TWO high-profile businessmen are marking October 25 in their diaries as the date when they will address a Tees Valley business event. GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett and ntl marketing and development managing director Jerry Roest, will be the
A DISABLED man has criticised a council for failing to complete major repair work on a pavement, eight years after it began. Polio victim Jack Ambler, 68, said Durham County Council almost laid a new path at Park Road, South Moor, Stanley, eight years
PUPILS from a Chester-le-Street primary school have proved they have got the white stuff after winning a national milk-sponsored school poster competition. St Cuthbert's Primary School won £500 prize money for educational equipment with their poster in
SUNDERLAND transport company Arriva has promised to create more than 400 jobs if it is awarded the Trans-Pennine Express rail franchise. The group is one of three companies competing to run the route, which runs from Newcastle to Manchester and Liverpool
THESE are the two prime suspects captured on camera as they fled the scene of the cold-blooded execution of drugs cash tycoon Peter Beaumont-Gowling on Valentine's Day. The CCTV footage was shown on BBC's Crimewatch programme last night, as police unveiled
YOUNG rugby players helped to keep Durham City looking its best, by kicking litter into touch. Members of the Durham City Under-13s team spent 90 minutes picking up rubbish that had been dropped along the city's riverbank between Framwellgate Bridge and
BRIDGET Wilkinson has started a new career at the age of 37, thanks to her BSc (Hons) degree in occupational therapy from the University of Teesside. Bridget, of Dusley, Whitby, joined St Mary's hospital in Scarborough as an occupational therapist last
LEISURE chiefs in Richmond have voted to invest £1,200 in a pair of swimming sisters. The local authority is contributing £1,000 to the career of Nicola Jackson, who amazed the nation with a mature performance under pressure at the Sydney Olympics at
A COUPLE has been left devastated after more than £3,000 worth of their plants were annihilated by vandals. Mike and Judith Collins arrived at their family business, The Golden Acre Nurseries, in Marske, on Monday morning to discover that 75 per cent
WITH the current fashion for slimness, encouraged by pop stars and models, latest government figures show that one in six girls aged 15-18 are dieting to lose weight. However, according to supplement experts, the Health Supplements Information Service
SECONDARY school youngsters have put forward their ideas to transform a Victorian park into a 21st Century leisure attraction. Year eight pupils from Hall Garth School, Middlesbrough, studying information communications technology, have used Middlesbrough
TWO brothers were drugged and then sexually assaulted by a family friend who their parents met through CB radio, a court heard. The attacks happened when the boys stayed at Jeffrey Allison's Wearside home. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Allison, 35
SUNDERLAND has been named the best new university in England, according to a new league table. The Guardian newspaper published its list of the top universities in the country yesterday and classed Sunderland 26th out of 122. Researchers also found many
Sharon Williamson had little time for relaxation after completing her studies at the University of Teesside, as she finished her three-year course on a Friday and started work as a staff nurse in Hartlepool General Hospital's mental health ward on the
CATS of all breeds will be going before the judges at a show next month. The Millennium Cat Club, in Cleveland and the North-East, is holding its International Cat Show in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, on June 10. The event, in the Hambleton Community
A WATER wheel in an area of rural Derwentside has vanished from the landscape after campaigners said it was making the place look like the "Wild West". The wheel at Knitsley Mill leisure complex, Knitsley, near Consett, was taken down by the owners during
AN alarming report has revealed that more youngsters are putting their lives in danger by treating quarries as playgrounds. A study of hundreds of quarries across the country revealed the sites are being broken into by children who swim in lakes, climb
FACTIONS on the authority which administers the Yorkshire Dales barely managed to hold themselves in check yesterday during heated debate focusing on the organisation's integrity. Some members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority were stung
IS it really only four years since the last election? For me, the weeks running up to the vote in 1997 were quite extraordinary as Tony Blair, his wife Cherie, and the then Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw all rushed up to Middlesbrough to hear our crime
MUSEUM visitors and rail fans can now enjoy a taste of an epic journey which was to change the pre-industrial world. More than 175 years on, it is almost impossible to imagine the excitement of a jarringly uncomfortable and, for some, dangerous 4mph train
THE derelict site of a former guides hall has been transformed to provide an attractive resting place for walkers. Children joined residents and council officials for the unveiling of the £20,000 project which has risen from the ashes of Martindale Hall
IRENE Turner has finally realised her lifetime ambition to become a physiotherapist after graduating from the University of Teesside's school of health with two top prizes. Irene, originally from South Africa, travelled the globe before turning to the
A PENSIONER is facing holiday heartbreak after her chronic asthma put a halt to her travel plans. Dorothy Smith, 67, has been told she cannot take an oxygen supply on the 12-hour bus journey on her annual visit to the Isle of Wight with her daughter.
A YOUNG art student who was killed in a road accident last year is to be remembered by pupils at her former school. Emma Howard, who was 18, died in a crash just after returning from a trip along the west coast of America in March. Her parents, John and
