ENGINEERS who are fighting a lengthy court battle with chemical giant ICI now face an anxious wait over the outcome. The 441 former Teesside workers are claiming £100m in compensation from the company which they say broke pension and pay agreements. The
A PRISON has won a national award for the work carried out in one of its workshops. Durham Prison received the Elton Trophy for its data entry workshop. Every prison has an industries department where prisoners are employed in a variety of tasks, and
COLLEAGUES have said farewell to a dedicated volunteer who has helped run a prison tea bar. Nancy Harrison, of Durham, has hung up her tabard, after 20 years of serving cuppas in the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) tea bar in the visitor centre
PLANS for a park-and-ride service to Darlington Football Club's new 25,000-seat ground will avoid the protests which surrounded the siting of the stadium, the club has promised. Residents opposed to the building of the £20m stadium on the Hurworth Moor
A FILIPINO dance group has added its name to the list of performers in a folklore festival. The Karangahan Dance Company has agreed to perform at this year's Billingham International Folklore Festival, from August 11 to 18. Festival director Joe Maloney
CHILDREN had a chance to try out a coffin for size and pin the tail on a werewolf at a North-East museum. Deadly Durham Games started on Saturday at the dli Museum and Durham Art Gallery. The games, which include stocks, a giant Lambton Worm and ladders
STUDENTS are going to learn life saving skills in a scheme run by St John Ambulance. The 12 youngsters from Northallerton College will take part in a six-hour training session at the charity's centre of excellence in Thirsk as part of the Millennium Volunteers
MP Gerry Steinberg is urging the Government to deliver on its promise to test all newborn babies for deafness. The Durham City MP wants Health Minister Yvette Cooper to announce a firm timetable for making the test and follow-up support accessible to
MP Gerry Steinberg is urging the Government to deliver on its promise to test all newborn babies for deafness. The Durham City MP wants Health Minister Yvette Cooper to announce a firm timetable for making the test and follow-up support accessible to
THE leader of one of Britain's highest-charging council tax authorities has welcomed Government plans to make the system fairer. Up to last March, Redcar and Cleveland was the second most expensive council tax area in the country. It has since slipped
FOLK enthusiasts from across Britain came to the North-East during the weekend for one of the biggest events in the region's folk calendar. The 12th Durham Folk Party, which is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere, began on Friday. This year's event coincided
RESIDENTS of a Teesside town are much more afraid of crime than the national average, yet are less likely to report it than those living elsewhere. A Voiceover Citizen's Panel survey by Middlesbrough Borough Council, involving 769 residents of all ages
A NORTH-EAST university plans to build world-class cancer and environment centres after winning £33m of funding. Newcastle University, which already has a respected cancer research team, has won £16.2m from the Science Research Investment Fund and attracted
MINISTERS have admitted that haemophiliacs were given virtually no chance of avoiding a deadly virus through exposure to contaminated blood products. In a letter to campaigners, health minister Lord Hunt said the risk of hepatitis C from imported plasma
scorching weather and an archery event at Richmond Castle brought the crowds out at the weekend. Three archers, from Arrow-flight, were at the castle to show visitors the art of 14th Century archery, demonstrating how to make and use long bows, crossbows
THE North-East's sickening record of animal cruelty was dealt another blow when two puppies were found drowned in a water-filled bag hung from a barbed wire fence. But two of the day-old puppies were saved and are now being nursed back to health following
THE North-East's sickening record of animal cruelty was dealt another blow when two puppies were found drowned in a water-filled bag hung from a barbed wire fence. But two of the day-old puppies were saved and are now being nursed back to health following
HOT summer days could be an invitation for opportunist thieves, police have warned. A spate of thefts from homes in Darlington during the past few weeks has forced them to issue a warning about the dangers of leaving doors open during the day. Burglars
A UNIQUE collection of negatives belonging a well-known North-east photographer are to be preserved for future generations. Jimmy Forsyth, 87, has been taking photographs of Newcastle for more than 50 years. Thousands of negatives, showing the changing
THE names of more than 150 pitmen who lost their lives in two County Durham mines are to be given lasting memorials. Mainsforth Colliery and Dean and Chapter Colliery, in Ferryhill, have stood dormant since the 1960s, and the memory of dozens of miners
DESIGNER bins from Britain and Europe were the star attractions at a conference. Middlesbrough Borough Council played host to the Institute of Waste Management for the event at the Cellnet Riverside Stadium. The town was chosen as it is the only one in
A PROTRACTED takeover battle which would change the face of the North-East brewing industry is expected to come to a head today. Hartlepool pub chain Pubmaster has launched a hostile takeover bid for Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, owners of the Hartlepool
THE company behind a scheme to convert a disused cinema into a nightspot has resubmitted its plans to try to avoid a forthcoming public inquiry. Earlier this year, Tribecka Leisure lodged an appeal against Durham City Council for its failure to determine
A police officer indecently assaulted a young mother in the back of a police van, a court heard today. PC Andrew Shearer, 29, an officer with the Cleveland force, ran his hand up the legs of the 21-year-old as she gave another officer directions, Leeds
MIDDLESBROUGH'S friendly with Mansfield Town was a game billed as Gareth Southgate's debut, but it was two of last season's foreigners who will have given manager Steve McClaren most encouragement. Overseas pair Carlos Marinelli and Joseph-Desire Job
HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner saw his side make it five pre-season games without defeat and then revealed he is ready to turn his attentions to making his side an even meaner outfit. After wins over Billingham Town and Brann Bergen and draws with
Claire Nugent was the envy of teenage girls throughout the region when she met boy band A1 at Stockton's Feel the Noise Live event. Tipped as the next big thing since 5ive and Boyzone, the band shot to fame with hits including a cover of the A-Ha classic
WHEN Martin Love had the dubious honour of becoming Phil Tufnell's 1,000th first-class victim yesterday it was clear that Durham were on the way to an innings defeat inside three days. Love had just swept the left-arm spinner for four in his first over
MILITARY bands will be beating the retreat next Friday to celebrate a royal birthday. The event will take place on the Long Avenue, at Gibside, near Gateshead, and is traditionally performed on the eve of the Queen Mother's birthday. The music will be
VISITORS to a North-East museum will have claws to celebrate when they look around its new summer exhibition. Newcastle's Discovery Museum is exploring the world of cats in its Claws exhibition, which runs until September 9. The hands-on exhibition examines
TENANTS in Redcar and Cleveland are being balloted on the future management of their homes. It follows a proposal by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to transfer the ownership and management of 12,000 council homes in the borough to Coast and Country
MORE than 900 players from grandmasters to enthusiastic amateurs and child prodigies are to travel to the North-East this week for the British chess championships. The Smith and Williamson tournament will take place at the Spa Complex, in Scarborough,
NOW in its 13th year, Sunderland International Air Show has grown from a small one-day show to the biggest outdoor event in the region. This year, organisers estimate that more than a million people converged on the seafront between Roker and Seaburn
A CHARITY'S newest North-East shop has been given a boost by a women's group. Joan Wilson, of Brotton, and friends have spent a year making and selling knitted toys and clothing to raise money for charity, as they have done for the past ten years. At
GARDENERS in Darlington are being urged to make use of a garden waste collection service. Darlington Borough Council is offering people the chance to get rid of bags of waste with a cut-price collection service. Anyone buying one of the council's garden
YOUNG popstar wannabees have been learning the tricks of the trade at a special rock school. Twenty youngsters aged between ten and 16 have been learning about creating the perfect song at the rock school at Greenfield Community Arts College, Newton Aycliffe
A BUSINESS advisor who died suddenly has been described as genuinely caring for everyone he helped. Family man Mike Franklin, who worked for the job creation firm InBiz, at Redcar, died at the age of 55. Lifelong friend Kevin Willey, who spoke at Mr Franklin's
PLANS to hold civil weddings at a village hotel have attracted a flood of objections from residents. Middlesbrough Borough Council has received 19 letters objecting to an application from the Stainton House Hotel, in Stainton Village, to hold marriage
A FARMER in the heart of some of the county's most picturesque countryside is beating the plight of the agricultural industry by growing lavender. Nigel Goodwill's Yorkshire Lavender enterprise, in the Ryedale village of Terrington, is already so successful
BUSINESS leaders and motorists in Ryedale campaigning for multi-million improvements to the busy Leeds to Scarborough A64 road say that safety is their main concern. The road forms the main link route to the Yorkshire coast, and has claimed numerous lives
A CYCLIST was attacked by a road rage motorist after he had berated the man for driving his car dangerously close to his wife's bike at a popular beauty spot. The couple had been riding around Hamsterley Forest, in County Durham, when the incident happened
VISITORS to an exhibition at the Margrove Heritage Centre, near Guisborough, have the chance to give their own titles to the images on view. The exhibition, Seeing is Believing - Or Is It?, is a collection of 24 photographs and digital processing images
A WOMEN'S group will benefit from a £5,000 donation from a council fund. Redcar and Cleveland Women's Aid (RCWA) is to be given the sum from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Employees Loan Fund. The council's mayor, Councillor Vilma Collins, will
A FAMILY firm of travelling showmen is to appeal against a decision against a site being used to store their fairground equipment and three mobile homes. James Crow and Sons had applied for permission to turn an existing transport depot in Dalton Lane
A PRISON has won a national award for the work carried out in one of its workshops. Durham Prison received the Elton Trophy for its data entry workshop. Every prison has an industries department where prisoners are employed in a variety of tasks, and
SIX people had a lucky escape after a two-car crash in which one of the vehicles burst into flames. Fire engulfed one of the cars after the accident outside a County Durham tourist centre - but all those involved escaped without serious injury. The driver
SIX people had a lucky escape after a two-car crash in which one of the vehicles burst into flames. Fire engulfed one of the cars after the accident outside a County Durham tourist centre - but all those involved escaped without serious injury. The driver
PLANS for a park-and-ride service to Darlington Football Club's new 25,000-seat ground will avoid the protests which surrounded the siting of the stadium, the club has promised. Residents opposed to the building of the £20m stadium on the Hurworth Moor
RESIDENTS are calling for action over a stretch of road said to be "an accident waiting to happen". David Kerridge, who lives in North End, Durham City, said on-street parking, combined with buses picking children up from nearby St Leonard's School, were
THE Olympic marathon and world cross country champions will compete in this year's Bupa Great North Run, which has attracted 47,000 entries. Olympic marathon champion Gezahegne Abera and double world cross country gold medallist Mohammed Mourhit will
THE Olympic marathon and world cross country champions will compete in this year's Bupa Great North Run, which has attracted 47,000 entries. Olympic marathon champion Gezahegne Abera and double world cross country gold medallist Mohammed Mourhit will
NATIONAL Park chiefs are to meet this week to consider the sale of its tourist centre in Reeth. The former Barclays Bank building in the village closed last year when the financial giant announced it was axing a number of rural branches. However, the
WE have all heard the expression "smashed to smithereens", but what exactly is a smithereen? - Steve Connor, Darlington. THE word smithereens seems to be connected with another similar word, smithers, which was used in a similar way, although it is not
LAWYERS who represented the victims of serial killer Harold Shipman are to help campaigners fighting for a public inquiry into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale. Victims of the North Yorkshire surgeon have rejected the Government's offer of an NHS inquiry
A MULTI-MILLION pound deal to save 140 jobs at a threatened flagship factory has been agreed. A rescue package will be announced today to secure the future of the Filtronic factory at Newton Aycliffe, in the heart of Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield
A RIGHT royal row has broken out between two neighbouring communities over ownership of an historical document discovered gathering dust on a shelf. The argument among the archivists in Weardale centres on a seal dating back to 1846 and signed by Queen
A SUNSEEKER was last night fighting for his life in hospital after being plucked from the sea along with three of his friends as the summer heatwave brought near tragedy to the North-East coast. Steven Graham, 20, was pulled unconscious from the sea by
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing after a man was killed on a railway line. The accident happened at 5.30am on Saturday on the line at Relly Mill, just south of Durham City. The man, who has not yet been named, was hit by a train travelling from Newcastle
BACKSTAGE at the Riverside Festival, a group of excited competition winners nervously waited their turn for photographs with their favourites. The performers, by contrast, seemed unfazed by the attentions of their adoring fans. Most seemed happy enough
Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson is ready to buy again after completing the £10m signing of Paris St Germain's Laurent Robert. Robson has told chairman Freddy Shepherd that he wants to add another striker to his squad before the start of the Premiership
THE Government is facing growing defiance over its plans to reopen public rights of way closed during the foot-and-mouth crisis. The National Trust is defying orders to reopen paths through a deer park in North Yorkshire - amid fears that the disease
German cool triumphed over English aggression in a shoot-out once again yesterday as Bernhard Langer beat Warren Bennett in a sudden death play-off to take his third Dutch Open title and put one foot firmly in Europe's Ryder Cup camp. Langer showed his
FOOTBALL-MAD boys and girls at a Derwentside primary school have earned warm praise of their headmaster. St Patrick's RC Primary School football team won all competitions open to Consett and district primary schools before going on to win two countywide
A SERIES of high-profile investigations have dented public satisfaction with a North-East police force. A report into the performance of Cleveland Police has found the public are unhappy with the force's response to 999 calls and the number of bobbies
NOW in its 13th year, Sunderland International Air Show has grown from a small one-day show to the biggest outdoor event in the region. This year, organisers estimate that more than a million people converged on the seafront between Roker and Seaburn
FOUR people were rescued from the balcony of a block of flats after a fire was started by arsonists. A 25-year-old, two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were rescued at about 8pm on Saturday, when a rubbish store at Breen Close flats, in North Ormesby,
PATIENTS prepared to travel to Germany to have major surgery have been given the green light to approach health bosses in the region for funding. Sunderland Health Authority - which has some of the longest lists for orthopaedic surgery in the region -
YOUNGSTERS from a County Durham primary school are celebrating after scooping the top prize in a competition to raise awareness of security issues at school. More than 200 schools from across the county were invited to take part in the Safer Schools campaign
