Archive

  • Banners unfurled in animal tests demo

    FIVE women and two schoolgirls turned out in the pouring rain yesterday to protest against animal experiments outside a North-East industrial site. Watched by security men and police, they were also filmed unfurling two banners outside the main entrance

  • Fears for jobs as Nestle in sale talks

    FOOD firm Nestle is in talks to sell its UK-based ice-cream business in a move which is likely to result in job losses in the region. The group is in discussions with Richmond Foods, the country's largest manufacturer of ice-cream products, about a possible

  • Haulage firm says it with flowers

    HAULAGE firm Prestons of Potto has again won a trophy for its colourful displays of flowers. The company's head office and warehouses near Hutton Rudby, are decorated with a multitude of blooms including roses, fuchsias, geraniums, lilies, busy lizzies

  • Racing Week by Jo Scott

    A PIRATE'S raid in Ireland by David Nicholls paid off as the Sessay trainer sent over the winner of the Phoenix Spring Stakes at Leopardstown. Bahamian Pirate, giving jockey Johnny Murtagh his 50th win of the season, held off One Won One by the shortest

  • You can't quit, Mallon told

    RAY Mallon will be tried in his absence if he refuses to attend his disciplinary hearing, it emerged last night at the end of a day of extraordinary twists at Cleveland Police. The dramatic day began with Cleveland's Chief Constable Barry Shaw refusing

  • Important referee position available

    The League is urgently seeking an immediate replacement for referees secretary Ted Ilderton who has had to step down from the post he has held for the last 11 years. "This is a crucial job and we need someone as soon as possible, as our season starts

  • Cricket; Bishop Beaten in friendly

    Batman and Robin were nowhere to be seen as Bishop Auckland travelled to Gotham Village near Nottingham to play a friendly cricket match last week. The result was not important, the home side winning by 16 runs after being bowled out for 196. Gary Wigham

  • Railway club fun

    CLEVELAND Model Railway Club is gearing up for a bumper weekend of fun as it puts on its annual show. The event takes place this weekend at the Redcar and Cleveland College Connections Campus, opposite the Turner's Mill pub in Redcar. It will feature

  • Lottery boost for estate

    PLANS to regenerate a run-down estate have received a cash boost. Residents on Middlesbrough's Easterside council estate have received a £150,000 National Lottery award towards giving the area a facelift. They want to give the estate a new look, with

  • Driving ambition of a dogged girl racer

    WHILE most of her teenage friends were grooming their ponies or swooning over pop stars, Annie Templeton was racing her Austin A30 at breakneck speed around one of Wensleydale's most elegant estates. Now a celebrated racing driver, Mrs Templeton has fond

  • Brothers in arms rewrite record books 62 years on

    SEVEN patriotic brothers have marched into the Guinness Book of Records after more than 62 years. For the Burdon brothers accomplished what must be one of the most poignant entries by all serving together in the armed forces during the Second World War

  • Who's a clever girl, then?

    IT seems like the woman's way is a winner as far as school exams are concerned. While girls outshone boys in terms of A-level passes some time ago, this year's results have shown girls steaming further ahead in terms of scooping more A-grades than the

  • Rugby boys turn their hand to football

    The latest venture by Bishop Auckland rugby club has been to set up a football team which made its debut in the Crook and District League last Saturday with a 10-0 victory away to Tow Law Cattle Mart FC, another new club. John Paul Collinson led the way

  • Champion of tenants dies

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a former top football referee and a tenants' champion who died last week. Peter Baldwin, 71, of Farndale Gardens, Lingdale, had a football career that spanned 50 years and included 14 years as a Football League referee. He refereed

  • Transport boost for new crime-fighting chief

    THE NEW man at the helm of an anti-crime agency has received a boost just days into the job. Chief Inspector Tim Wilson has received the keys to a new Vauxhall Astra on behalf of the Durham Agency Against Crime. The diesel car was donated by security

  • Small firms more clued-up on Internet

    BUSINESSES in the North-East are proving critics wrong when it comes to using computers and the Internet. New research carried out by the Federation of Small Business (FSB) contradicts earlier surveys conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry,

  • Here's another fine meeting...

    The Hog Wild Tent of the Sons of the Desert, Bishop Auckland branch of the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society, meet at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on September 4, at 8pm. For details call (01388) 602610.

  • Consett & Stanley - MP demands pool answers

    THE drawn-out saga over a Stanley's swimming pool has prompted the town's MP to demand answers from National Lottery bosses. North Durham MP Kevan Jones has passed on the frustrations of Stanley residents over the four-year wrangle over plans for a new

  • Pony dates

    Annual show. - Sept 2: 9.30am, in hand, ridden, working hunter, show hack and show jumping classes. Sae for schedules from Union Hall, Brass Side, Durham DH1 5SG. Sept 30: Combined training, dressage and show jumping. Bedale Hunt SC. - Aug 25: Barn dance

  • Poetry that packs a punch

    A WRITER has combined poetry with his life-long love of boxing in a collection of work dedicated to the noble art. Mr George Jowett, who lives in Richmond, has had his collection of rhyming verse published under the title The Old Campaigners. Several

  • Hear all sides

    FOOT-AND-MOUTH LORD Haskins says farmers should take part-time jobs to supplement their income (Echo, Aug 15). Perhaps he's not aware that we were told to diversify several years ago and most of us did. Not only do I work around the farm, but I also have

  • Mob attacks home of sex charge man

    A MAN accused of a string of sex offences has been moved to a secret location after a vigilante mob vandalised his house and car. Graham Reginald Thornhill, 40, is accused of committing an act of gross indecency on a girl under 14, and seven separate

  • New partnership studied

    LIBRARIES in Redcar and Cleveland are aiming to become involved in a ground-breaking partnership to help people study near their homes. They are joining forces with the University of Teesside to see if material relating to courses run by the university

  • Protestors win road concessions with homes

    OBJECTORS to a housing scheme at School Aycliffe left Darlington town hall with a smile on their faces on Wednesday. Campaigners won vital concessions in their battle over road safety concerns - a 30mph speed limit, pedestrian crossing and talks on a

  • Nothing wasted in garden

    rubbish has been turned into art to transform a derelict piece of land. Young people on a summer holiday scheme used willow and waste to make animal and flower sculptures on wasteland next to the Old Billingham Community Centre, and a residential home

  • Disney trip aid for Kyle and Amy

    FIREFIGHTERS have helped two youngsters get a step closer to taking the holiday of a lifetime. The family of Kyle and Amy Jameson, from Bishop Auckland, are hoping to take the two youngsters, who suffer from muscular dystrophy, to Disneyland in Florida

  • New-look frozen meals are put to the taste test

    FOLLOWING concern about the provision of an alternative frozen meals on wheels' service in Teesdale, a tasting session for the new products took place this week, writes Sheila Dixon. Armed with a microwave and a wide selection of frozen dishes, WRVS food

  • Fundraisers' gain is worth the pain

    THREE burly men had tears in their eyes as they vowed "never again" after experiencing just a little of the pain women go through in the name of beauty. They had endured their first body waxing in order to raise £500 for their estate's residents association

  • Call for fresh attempt on sewage problem

    FRESH efforts are being made to tackle a long-standing sewage problem in Brotton. Residents - fed-up with a foul stench from a rail bridge wall - organised a protest petition calling for action. And this week it seemed as if people power had triumphed

  • Firm fined for festive lights peril

    STORE chain Matalan Retail was fined £9,000 yesterday for selling unsafe Christmas tree lights. Tests showed the £5 lights overheated, making them a fire risk. The 500-branch firm admitted two offences under the Consumer Protection Act, and four under

  • How to get your results published

    The Northern Echo will publish four pages of comprehensive A-level news and results next Wednesday. Schools and colleges wishing to submit their results are asked to follow the key below and send the information to results coordinator Gerry Crowe via

  • Title race reaches climax

    Worthington CIU Summer League Wheatley Hill A virtually wrote their name on the Championship trophy after beating their nearest rivals, the visiting Old Shildon team for the loss of only one point. The Hill started in good form with Dean Bryden putting

  • Critical report prompts call to close child secure centre

    THE region's only privately-run child secure centre has been condemned in a Government report for "disruption and turbulence" which has dogged its first 20 months. And now a representative of the probation officers' union Napo has called for Hassockfield

  • Trolley's shopping for a home

    A VETERINARY surgery is appealing for help to find the owner of a cat with a penchant for late-night shopping. The tabby and white adult female, nicknamed Trolley, was found wandering around outside Sainsbury's at the Arnison Centre, in Pity Me, Durham

  • Yorks 'treated less favourably than Cumbria' claim

    NORTH Yorkshire had been "well and truly short changed" compared with Cumbria when it came to receiving Government cash help to deal with the effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis, it was claimed on Wednesday. Coun John Blackie, who represents the upper

  • Message to thieves

    A DOUBLE-edged warning for residents and burglars is being issued. Stickers carrying a two-way message are being distributed at libraries throughout Redcar and Cleveland. Designed to be displayed on front doors, they warn callers: "We don't buy or sell

  • Heard the one about the farmer...?

    THE show is ten minutes late starting and there is an atmosphere of panic running through the theatre foyer, with much hustling and bustling of technicians. The audience is growing restless too, as they huddle together in a typically small, hot and airless

  • Mental health care centre planned

    OLDER people with mental health problems could benefit from a multi-agency centre being planned for Redcar. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is expected to approve the scheme, which would be based at Wheatacres Residential Home in the town, at its

  • Police put on arresting show with high-speed mini cooper

    SOME of the smallest and fastest police vehicles ever built will be appearing in public this weekend. Durham Police's annual Bike Wise event will take place on Sunday, at Aykley Heads, Durham City. It will feature the planet's fastest police bike, the

  • Bus firm steps in to save service

    A NEW operator has been announced for a popular bus service which had been under threat. Until last month, the 32 and 33 services covering the Albert Hill, Hundens Lane and Mowden areas of Darlington was run by Leven Valley Coaches. When the company backed

  • Trinity purchase of News wins approval News buy-up

    THE victor in the Tyneside free newspaper war has won Government approval to acquire its defeated rival's assets. Department of Trade and Industry Minister Alan Johnson has given the go-ahead for the sale of The Morning News to Trinity Mirror, owners

  • Teenage raiders put behind bars

    A GANG of teenage tearaways who terrorised the old and vulnerable was behind bars last night. The four Teesside youngsters, aged between 15 and 19, were responsible for a campaign of break-ins, intimidation and theft. Most raids were carried out on elderly

  • Government takes flak over FMD inquiries

    THE government was this week accused of betraying its promise to give the British people open and accountable administration by refusing to approve a public inquiry into its mishandling of the FMD disaster. The National Beef Association said that by doing

  • Wear Valley - Disease delays new radio system

    THE foot-and-mouth crisis has delayed the introduction of Durham Police's new high-tech communication system. Restrictions on movement in the countryside - imposed in many parts of the county - have meant that BT engineers cannot get to places to assess

  • Welsh rally joy for Henderson and Windress

    THE fourth round of the Formula Rally Championship survived a last minute foot-and-mouth scare as the R&M Williams Welsh Rally went ahead, much to the relief of both organisers and competitors, last weekend. With the scheduled route on the Epynt military

  • Workers return to repair blast site

    POWER plant giant Enron has been given back control of its plant following last week's fatal explosion that killed three men. The Health and Safety Executive, investigating the explosion that also left a fourth man injured, has handed back the plant,

  • Ex-butler hopes for career on the stage

    A FORMER butler, who went to school in Yarm and attended theatre classes in Stockton and Billingham, hopes he has ironed his last newspaper after being offered a place at a London drama school. Mr Mike Stephen, 33, of Fieldhouse Lane, Kirkelvington, now

  • Town hall opens again after major works

    STOKESLEY town hall is to reopen to the residents and businesses of the town from next week, following its major refurbishment. The building has served the parish and neighbouring villages for almost 150 years, but had begun to show its age. The first

  • Youngsters to benefit from £4m project

    YOUNG people are to benefit from a multi-million pound project to be piloted in the North-East. The Royal Bank of Scotland has donated almost £4m to the Prince's Trust to create Route 14/25, a charity for disadvantaged young people. The scheme that will

  • Youth hostels struggle to survive as crisis goes on

    A WARNING has been sounded about the possible closure of a significant number of youth hostels in England and Wales, following a dramatic fall in visitors owing to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Wardens around the D&S Times region have echoed the warning

  • Letters: Bagby horror

    Sir, - I have just read your report regarding the horror story of the cull in Bagby. On that morning, a tearful neighbour told me of what was about to happen. I rushed off in my car, I couldn't get away quickly enough, and spent the day wandering the

  • A month that blew hot and cold

    JULY started on a "high" note in more than one sense of the word. High pressure to the south of Britain, with south-westerlies on its northern flank, produced high temperatures - a welcome taste of high summer. This was an extension of the fine spell

  • Three injured in head-on crash

    THREE people were injured in a head-on crash at 8.20am, yesterday. A Mercedes travelling south on the A6076, between Sunniside, Gateshead, and Stanley, County Durham, was in collision with a Vauxhall Nova, travelling in the opposite direction. A police

  • Golf; Harrogate and District Union

    Ladies team and individual silver championship Held at Harrogate golf club, the ladies had to cope with very poor conditions during their rounds, with heavy rain making conditions very difficult. However, Sara Garbutt played excellent golf and not only

  • Progress of £20m stadium cemented

    A TWO-day convoy of cement mixers has been streaming in and out of the building site of Darlington FC's new stadium as work continues at a rapid pace on the £20m development. Throughout Wednesday and yesterday, about 200 mixers arrived, carrying the cement

  • Group's success

    A PARENT and toddler group is going from strength to strength, according to organisers. The group has been running at the village hall in Charltons on Fridays between 10.30am and 11.30am since March and is becoming increasingly popular. The club is organised

  • Hunt for teenage purse snatcher

    A TEENAGER, who snatched a pensioner's purse while she chatted with friends, made off in a stolen getaway car which was abandoned just minutes later. The youth ran up to the 76-year-old woman as she stood talking outside the Alldays store, in Fulthorpe

  • Abandoned Ellie becomes a top dog

    Ellie the springer spaniel was tied to the gates of the National Canine Defence League's Darlington Rehoming Centre and left in the freezing cold. She sat all night until the staff at the centre found her at 7am the next day. Defence league staff cared

  • Firm races to Chris's rescue

    A MOTORCYCLE racer tipped to become one of the world's best has had his career kick-started by a furniture company. Chris Burns, 22, has been riding motorbikes since he was three and has won numerous championships since entering his first race at seven

  • Fears for jobs if rival buys yards

    INVESTMENT and jobs in the Tees Valley could be placed in jeopardy if a rival shipyard company takes over the stricken Cammell Laird company, it has been claimed. Neil Etherington, chief executive of the Tees Valley Development Company (TVDC), was speaking

  • Consett & Stanley - Boy's suffocation was an accident

    A FOUR-year-old child with cerebral palsy suffocated to death after falling head down on a beanbag. Callum Niall Ruddick of Iveston near Consett was found by his full-time carer Charlotte Irwin as she went to wake him, an inquest heard on Tuesday. The

  • Horror of 2,200 pets condemned to death

    THOUSANDS of stray dogs are being killed in the region every year because they are unable to be rehomed. A report by the National Canine Defence League has revealed that 2,200 stray dogs were destroyed by local councils in the region last year. Clarissa

  • Double celebration as Saltburn revival gathers pace

    SALTBURN Tennis Club is on something of a roll after celebrating a double promotion success. The club's A team have achieved their second successive promotion, reaching division one of the Durham and Cleveland league just one season after climbing into

  • Birthday celebration for Mothers' Union

    TO celebrate 125 years of the Mothers' Union, members of Yarm Mothers' Union held an open day in St Mary Magdalene Church, the parish church of Yarm, in West Street. There were photographs of personalities and local, regional and national events, and

  • Leeholme recover

    Durham and District League Leeholme bounced back to the top of the First Division after they only dropped two points to the visiting former leaders from Ever Ready/Craghead. The reigning champions put themselves on course for a repeat with a victory of

  • Ferryhill show their mettle with double win

    Less than a week ago Ferryhill Athletic thought they might go out of existence because of a lack of administrators but the new ten-man committee celebrated with a 5-1 victory on the opening day of the season, another on Wednesday evening. On Saturday,

  • Wear Valley - Business aid agency saved from closure

    TWO weeks of frantic negotiations have stopped the closure of an agency supporting 900 businesses in one of the most deprived parts of the region. A cash flow crisis at the Wear Valley Development Agency, in Bishop Auckland, had forced its board to give

  • Fundraising campaign to keep community bus on the road

    ORGANISERS of the Bedale community minibus have launched a fundraising drive to ensure that the service can continue after eight years as a rural lifeline. Community minibus schemes in Hambleton which received grant aid from the district council suffered

  • Exam joy as grades soar into 'nineties'

    SCHOOLS across the region had every reason to be celebrating with their students yesterday as many scored well over the national A-level pass rate. Headteachers in the North-East and North Yorkshire praised their hardworking students and staff as their

  • Call-up for North-East trio

    As a result of their performances at last week's Great Britain national short course championships at Norwich, three local swimmers, two from Newcastle and one from Richmond, have qualified for selection to the British team for the European short course

  • And some fell on stony ground, and blossomed

    A FARMER'S daughter, who can talk about gardening until the cows come home, has been rewarded for her dedication. Mrs Grace Hunter's enthusiasm so impressed the judges in Darlington's rural gardens competition that they awarded her the top prize, the

  • Inquiry hold up for £10m store

    PLANS for a £10m sports retail store, which could create 50 jobs, has suffered a setback. A public inquiry is to be held before the Government will grant permission for sports retail giant Decathlon to build a 50,000sq ft store at the Portrack Interchange

  • Sick benefits most disputed

    MORE than one in ten complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman are over payments for sickness, a report revealed yesterday. In his annual report, the pensions ombudsman, Dr Julian Farrand, said disputes over ill-health benefits were the most common cause for

  • Parents of tragic Suzie are so proud

    THE grieving parents of a teenager who died last month in a car crash learned yesterday that their daughter had passed her A-levels and would have won a place an university. Suzie Preen, from High Grange, Crook, County Durham, was killed only weeks after

  • Quakers search for elusive cutting edge

    DARLINGTON will be hoping they can quickly find some finishing power as they try to kick-start their season with two home games in three days. The Quakers take on Kidderminster Harriers at Feethams tomorrow and then first division Sheffield United in

  • Franklyn's strongarm tactics win the day

    WEST Indian cricketer Franklyn Rose showed his Test match class to beat off some of the best strong arms in the North-East, writes CHRISTEN PEARS. The Jamaican fast bowler was the only competitor to hurl a cricket ball beyond the 100 metre mark, to comfortably

  • £1.3m sewers scheme will ease flood threat to village

    A £1.3M package of improvements to a village's sewerage system could prevent repeated problems of flooding. Carlin How, near Skinningrove, has suffered continued flooding - mainly along the A174 running through the village. Northumbrian Water said it

  • Get me to the church on time

    FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Last Saturday, not over two miles away from Thirsk, a little incident occurred which proved that the bus connection between Thirsk Junction and Thirsk Town is not of the best. A bridegroom came from a neighbouring

  • Comment from The Northern Echo; An exceptional situation

    RAY Mallon's reasons for wanting to resign from Cleveland Police so he can run for mayor of Middlesbrough are entirely understandable. He has lost faith in the disciplinary procedure which, as we have said on previous occasions, resembles a kangaroo court

  • Park potential 'under-used,' government to be told

    THE North York Moors national park is an under-used resource, and could play a bigger part in aiding its economy and quality of life for the residents, the government is to be told by its Helmsley-based authority. A government review on policy and financial

  • Station defeated

    Tow Law League Tow Law Station went down to their first defeat of the season when they lost in the decider of their home match against Esh Football Club. The singles were shared with Andrew Burrows, Philip Slater and Stephen Turner winning for the Station

  • The bite that almost cost Keith his life

    THE symptoms were slow to appear, at first. Keith Newbould had been feeling unwell the day before he left Kenya, where he had been working for a charity, helping with maintenance work on a hospital and orphanage. He put it down to over-indulgence after

  • Darlington - 'Rats roam unchecked'

    A SNOOKER club boss has hit out after it took environmental health officers more than a week to respond to reports of rats near his club. Peter Everett says that he first saw rats at the back of Darlington Snooker Club, in the town's Corporation Road,

  • Blowing the whistle on Saturday night TV

    SATURDAY night television is on the verge of its biggest shake-up in years. The night of the week that has become a resting place for tired old game shows, talent competitions and nostalgic compilation programmes is getting a major makeover, although

  • Quad stars head for Witton Castle

    THREE British quad champions will race for points in the Zip Wear British Quad Championship at the scenic Witton Castle track on Sunday. The Auto Cycle Union, governing body of British motorcycle sport, have also awarded organisers the Iveston and Satley

  • Gary heads to US for football future

    Being offered a contract at a full-time football club is the ambition many young boys have, including Gary Williamson, but when that moment arrived he turned it down in favour of chasing another dream. By this summer, Gary had spent a total of four years

  • Easington comeback

    Easington District The Under-11s fought their way back from being 2-0 down at half time to win the game 6-2. Luke Whittington notched a hat-trick, his first for the club, Geoffrey Cairns grabbed a brace of goals while Adam Charlton got the other goal,

  • Green Howards stalwart calls it a day

    THE man who held the purse strings at the Green Howards regimental headquarters in Richmond for ten years has retired. Maj Bill Laws, who has been with the regiment for 44 years, stepped down at the end of July and was succeeded by Maj Brian Metcalfe.

  • Chester le Street - Bodybuilder in the big one

    A BODYBUILDER is celebrating a chance to prove himself among the world's top fitness stars in this year's Mr Universe competition. Paul Hildreth, from Darlington, is to compete in the contest, which boasts action movie hero Arnold Schwarzenegger as a

  • Picture This - a place in national spotlight

    JOHN Moorhouse's Picture This, ridden by Suzanne Eeles, qualified for the Mercedes-Benz national dressage championships at the northern regional championships held at Frys, East Yorkshire. They qualified in both the prelim and the novice sections and

  • But 30 pupils left waiting

    ABOUT 30 disappointed youngsters at a North Yorkshire school failed to get their A-level results on time yesterday. Philip Marr, deputy headteacher of Sherburn School, near Selby, said the pupils had not received results in geography, business studies

  • Durham - Land decision judged unfair

    A WATCHDOG has reprimanded a council over its decision to give planning permission for an extension to an industrial estate on farmland. Local Government Ombudsman Patricia Thomas said Derwentside District Council was guilty of maladministration causing

  • Super six join the straight A team

    SIX students from the same college were celebrating a sparkling set of A-level results yesterday - after notching up four As each. Six is the highest number to collect four As at Northallerton College, North Yorkshire, since 1997, and no one was more

  • North Yorkshire - Floods trap man and boy

    EMERGENCY services have issued a warning about the dangers of flooding after a man and his 11-year-old nephew became stranded on an island in a fast-flowing river. The pair were trapped about 15 metres from the banks of the River Swale at Great Langton

  • Lecturers robbed after leaving club

    TWO university lecturers enjoying a night out were attacked and robbed as they left a nightclub. The un-named pair, who work at Newcastle and Northumbria universities, were set upon as they walked from Klute near Elvet Bridge in Durham City shortly after

  • New bus timetables to cope with roadworks

    A BUS company is rescheduling its services between Durham and Brandon because of roadworks. Arriva buses have suffered delays because of a £1.3m scheme to repair a worn-out stretch of the A690, between Langley Moor and Meadowfield. Buses running through

  • Dormans' win keeps them in the running

    Bass North Cleveland League Dormans maintained their position second from top in division one with an emphatic victory at home to Brotton. The visitors were all out in 23.3 overs for just 72 and more than half the runs came from Andy Hanczik, who went

  • Transport boost for new crime-fighting chief

    THE NEW man at the helm of an anti-crime agency has received a boost just days into the job. Chief Inspector Tim Wilson has received the keys to a new Vauxhall Astra on behalf of the Durham Agency Against Crime. The diesel car was donated by security

  • Ripon's famous sprint promises plenty of action

    RIPON'S most valuable race of the season, the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Stakes, takes pride of place in a quality programme at Yorkshire's garden racecourse tomorrow. A famous contest for sprinters over six furlongs, the showcase handicap now has

  • The future for farming

    AMONG the letters I have received over foot-and-mouth is one from a farmer who asked my opinion on the future of farming after the outbreak. In particular, he wanted my view on how far farming should be tilted towards the environment. I replied that I

  • Landfill risk to babies 'small'

    BABIES born near landfill sites have a "small excess risk" of birth defects, according to a report. The findings will worry thousands of residents who live close to landfill sites in the North-East and North Yorkshire, especially near the 21 sites in

  • Cricket

    Coast League at Castle Eden. The coast League totaled 166 with Chris Price scoring 62 and his Dawdon team colleague Andrew Stephenson 28 while for the County League Carl McGregor was against in top form, taking five for 26 runs in 7.3 overs. When the

  • Youngsters given a fun safety lesson

    YOUNGSTERS from the area gathered yesterday to learn about keeping safe during the summer. Representatives from the police, ambulance, fire service and coastguard were at Darlington's Railway Museum to present a safety message to children and their parents

  • Cricket; Just Sport Inter-league Trophy

    The first games in the Just Sport Interleague Trophy at U13 level were both washed without a ball being bowled and the Federation Special Durham Senior League fixture against the Boddingtons Durham Coast League at U15 level was also cancelled. The Fosters

  • Is it art or a waste of space?

    THE debate about the sculptures destined for Saltburn has filled the columns of this page over the past few weeks and today Spectator is pleased to bring you pictures of the controversial works. The argument appears to be split between locals fiercely

  • Taking the heritage trail

    A GROUP of 30 youngsters are about to start work on a heritage trail leaflet for other children. The group will spend four days exploring Durham City as part of the Saint, Sword and Mitre project, based at Durham Gilesgate Sports Centre. They will visit

  • Dispol looking rock solid for Newcastle

    DISPOL ROCK, a horse suffering a bad bout of seconditis, could be about to reverse the trend at Newcastle this afternoon. David Barron's ultra-consistent five-year-old has run three solid races of late, but rather frustratingly for connections keeps on

  • Ottakars secures deal on former Dressers store

    ONE of the country's biggest bookshop chains has provided a boost to a market town by taking over a prime retail unit. Ottakars Books has completed the deal to take over part of the former Dressers (Stationers) Ltd's store, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire

  • Buffalo milk completes a trio of the blues

    AN AWARD-WINNING cheesemaker has grabbed a new opportunity by the horns and launched a Buffalo Blue cheese. Shepherds Purse already produces two blue cheeses, Mrs Bell's Blue made from ewes' milk and Yorkshire Blue made from cows' milk from their farm-based

  • Taylor's home run

    Darlington Harriers At the CD Bramhall-sponsored Darlington 10k road race, the Harriers had a memorable day. Bernadette Taylor scored a home victory in the women's race, beating off international Sheila Allen finishing 39th from a field of almost 1,000

  • No room at the inn as vets take over towns' hotel rooms

    THE foot-and-mouth crisis has had a severe impact on North Yorkshire's economy, but ironically hotels in Northallerton and Thirsk are experiencing a boom in business. However, it is not holidaymakers who have taken virtually every room available - but

  • Darlington - Road run races into the record books

    RECOND entries and a bumper crowd helped to make Darlington's weekend 10km road run one of the best yet. The CD Bramall Darlington road run and 2km fun run took place around the town on Sunday. Delighted organisers said there were 1,041 entries for the

  • Council drive to end service inequalities

    A consultation exercise is being carried out in an effort to remove inequalities in services across North Yorkshire. The idea is to remove barriers to accessing services, linked to factors such as race, sex, and disability. To carry out the project thoroughly

  • Sixteen things they didn't tell you at ante-natal classes

    IF you are pregnant for the first time, or are happily cradling your new baby, then maybe you shouldn't read this. I expect you think that the ante-natal classes told you all you need to know about taking care of your precious bundle. Ha! Ante-natal classes

  • Quakers aiming to bounce back

    Darlington boss Gary Bennett is hoping his side can bounce back at home to Kidderminster Harriers tomorrow. The Quakers were narrowly beaten at Southend last week and Bennett admitted he's not too concerned about how they collect three points - as long

  • Junior Football

    The Darlington-based Master Skills Sporting Academy has recently completed its fourth year, with 310 children aged from four to 13-years-old each receiving a certificate and a trophy, presented by Middlesbrough player Curtis Fleming at the annual presentation

  • Baton buffoons too much

    THERE are three certainties in life - death, taxes and Britain's sprint relay squad botching the baton change at major championships. It wasn't quite as big a farce as they managed at the Olympics, but it's getting to the stage where the team might as

  • Staff get shipshape on safety

    STAFF on board the Tuxedo Princess have sailed through a safety training programme. Ten of the maintenance staff on the Tyne's floating nightclub completed the intensive health and safety training course devised by local training provider, Lifeforce.

  • AI service now available for Britain's rare pig breeds

    A NEW artificial insemination service for four traditional and rare breeds of pigs has been launched. Up until now very little AI has been available for such breeds because of the high cost of testing and quarantine to meet EU licensing requirements.

  • Festival's journey around world

    A DANCE group from Kenya gave a colourful performance at Billingham's International Folklore Festival yesterday. The Simba Ngona Lion Drum Troop performed in the festival marquee at John Whitehead Park. There was also dancing and music from North America

  • Donaghy wins convincingly

    CIU Singles Championship Ithe first of the semi-final round-robins played at Meadowfield, the holder, Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law came through with a clean sheet victory and was joined by Dickie Evans of Crowtrees to move on to the Final Round Robin. In

  • Tenants urged to take up ballot chance

    TENANTS in Redcar and Cleveland are being urged not to forget to vote to decide the future of their homes. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is proposing to transfer the ownership and management of the 12,000 council houses across the borough to a

  • Rural group's protest angers councillors

    A COUNTRYSIDE watchdog has been criticised for objecting to a proposed housing development on derelict land in Darlington. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) raised objections to the development on land to the south of Allan Street

  • Cyclists back - minus bikes

    CHARITY cyclists have arrived back home after a 600-mile charity bicycle ride without their bikes, which have been stolen. The fundraisers, trainees from TTE Mechanical and Technical Training in South Bank, Middlesbrough, had cycled through Europe in

  • Hope of action on sea defences

    ALTERATIONS could be made to sea defences in an east Cleveland village following a long-running campaign by local people. Since the defences were completed in Skinningrove in 1991, several problems have emerged, which local people say were never properly

  • Gold award winner in Palace date

    A NORTHALLERTON student has been presented with her Duke of Edinburgh gold award at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth Fawcett, 19, of Thirsk Road, gained her bronze, silver and gold awards while studying at Allertonshire school and then Northallerton College

  • Expansion for programme to fight child poverty

    A SUCCESSFUL scheme aimed at stamping out child poverty in east Cleveland is to be introduced in another part of the borough. The Sure Start programme is a Government-backed initiative, which aims to introduce a series of community child-based programmes

  • Acklam at it again

    South Cleveland Garages League Monday's matches Champions Acklam Steelworks continued their winning form from last season when they made it two wins out of two, despite having a number of new faces in their side when they beat New Marske 3-0 at home.

  • Tragic lock-in prompts talks

    A cleaning firm is to be asked to explain why a heroin addict was locked all-night in public toilets after giving himself a lethal injection. Redcar and Cleveland Council, owner of the Moore Street toilets in Redcar, wants a meeting with French-owned

  • It's fun all the way for youngsters beside the seaside

    Brothers Thomas and Harry Howell, aged six and three, enjoy one of the rides provided in a day of entertainment in Redcar High Street, organised to give bored youngsters a bit of fun. The day's events were sponsored by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's

  • 'McClaren a huge loss to United' - Greening

    MANCHESTER United may have spent around £48m this summer, but cast-off Jonathan Greening has warned Sir Alex Ferguson he could pay a heavier price for the loss of Steve McClaren. Greening and fellow England Under-21 midfielder Mark Wilson followed McClaren

  • Neighbours attack restaurant scheme

    NEIGHBOURS and conservation watchdogs have criticised plans for a three-storey restaurant close to homes in Harrogate's conservation area. The restaurant would replace a two-storey block of outbuildings at the back of Cambridge Terrace, where there is

  • Rose and Crown make great comeback

    Tow Law and District League Tow Law New Market B stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points after they beat their hosts at Tow Law Black Horse A by the odd point. The Horse took the first and last points through Tony Brown and Howard

  • Countryman's Diary; Holiday mayhem: the solution

    WITH Yorkshire Day now past, and the celebrations over for another year, I was interested to hear about a proposal that, within the county of Yorkshire, their own special day (which falls on August 1) should become a local bank holiday. We do not make

  • 'Man who took pride in his community'

    THE funeral took place yesterday of another of the victims of last week's explosion at Teesside Power Station. Paul Surtees, who lived in Hawthorne, East Durham, was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital after the explosion, but later died of his injuries

  • Letters: Pubs can manage

    Sir, - Brian Redhead's report "Think again over pub closure" (D&S, Aug 10), regarding the Milbank Arms at Well, gives a very one-sided view of the problems encountered by all village pubs. Yes, times are hard for all such rural businesses following

  • Thrilling race

    THERE was a nailbiting climax to The Northern Echo Handicap at Redcar on Sunday when Time To Remember won in thrilling fashion. Locally trained at Great Habton by Tim Easterby, the winning distance was the minimum possible - a short-head, but that won't

  • Minibus volunteers face cash shortfall

    VOLUNTEERS behind the Bedale community minibus have launched a fundraising drive to ensure that the service can continue. Community minibus schemes in Hambleton, which received grant aid from the district council, suffered a setback when the Government

  • Judging day for floral beauties

    MONTHS of meticulous planting and pruning will finally end today as Darlington takes its turn in the Britain in Bloom spotlight. A team of judges will tour the town to assess Darlington's bid for glory in the coveted best city category of the national

  • Football club responds to arrest figures

    NEWCASTLE United has defended its good name after police revealed the club topped the list for the highest number of arrests in the Premiership last season. The police National Criminal Intelligence Service revealed that 191 Newcastle United fans were

  • Mixed fortunes for Bishop's juniors

    Bishop Auckland the Under-18s drew 2-2 away to Trimdon Juniors as they prepare for the new season in the Auckland and District Youth League, Dean Maddison and Keith Fairley scoring for Bishops. New signing Fairley also scored in a 4-3 defeat away to Gateshead

  • Centre's sweet smell of success

    A FORGOTTEN corner of a North-East centre for adults with learning disabilities has been transformed into a sweet smelling haven. For years, an outdoor section of the Durham Centre at Aykley Heads had languished uncared for and untended. It may well have

  • 'Devoted father who loved sport'

    MOURNERS gathered to pay their respects to Darren Higgins, the youngest victim of an explosion at a North-East power station. More than 500 friends, family and work colleagues packed into the tiny Roman Catholic Church of St Andrew's, in Teesville, Middlesbrough

  • Hope lost in window row

    TENANTS have lost the latest round in a campaign to get the local authority to replace their defective windows. Elderly people who live in Fenton Street and Shepherd Court, in Boosbeck, have had a long-running battle with Redcar and Cleveland Borough

  • Dean wins bike prize

    DEAN Davies successfully met an energy efficiency challenge - and won a mountainbike. The 11-year-old, from Catterick Garrison, took part in a contest organised by British Gas, designed to teach youngsters about how people use and waste energy in the

  • Durham - Unit moves to new home

    THE pioneering plastic surgery unit at Shotley Bridge set up during the second world war has this week re-located to the new University Hospital of North Durham. The unit's new home might have all the mod cons and state-of-the-art surgical equipment -

  • Arc's new season promises something for everyone

    THERE is an eclectic mix of entertainment awaiting audiences at Stockton Arc this autumn. Whether taste inclines to Chas and Dave, the classic theatre of Sophocles or an evening in the company of a legendary North-East footballer, there is something to

  • September calling...

    IT'S no good, you just can't put it off any longer. Unless your children are going to go to school in their swimming cossies and flip flops, it's time to buy the school uniform. And because we think that life's too short to battle round all those racks

  • Debate on dale's economy revival

    ORGANISATIONS are gathering to debate the future of Teesdale in the wake of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis. They will discuss ways in which businesses and farmers can rebuild for the future. The public seminar is open to anyone from the area whose

  • Blooms judges visit Saltburn

    JUDGEMENT Day arrived in Saltburn this week as the town braced itself for a good performance in the Britain In Bloom competition. The seaside town is a stalwart in the Northumbria In Bloom, Britain In Bloom and Nations In Bloom events and has scored several

  • Changes to car parks could help

    THREE new short-stay car parks in Darlington are set to be turned back into long-stay facilities after shoppers failed to use them. The car parks at Archer Street, Garden Street and Kendrew Street were long-stay until April but were then changed to cater

  • Wembley place completes fine season for Mr Smee

    GREEN Barrow Mr Smee, from the Green Barrow pony stud at Staindrop, has rounded off a successful season by qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley in October. The two-year-old riding pony colt, owned and bred by Mrs Christine Duke and her

  • Anger at 'slur' on A-level students

    HEADTEACHERS last night angrily rejected claims that universities cannot cope with the record number of A-level students being awarded top grades. On the day thousands of A-level students were celebrating their results, Professor Carol Fitzgibbon, of

  • Village litter-pickers join all-day clean-up

    THE village of Carlin How will be having an all-day clean-up operation on Wednesday. A similar operation a few weeks ago involved 12 adults - with help from the local police because of the number of drug users' needles found - and filled 70 bags with

  • Speight keeps place

    MARTIN Speight remains in the Durham squad for the championship match against Hampshire starting at the Riverside today. But the time is rapidly approaching when they must decide whether to part company. He will be 34 in October and may decide to concentrate

  • Victim of impure heroin 'serious'

    A NORTH-East man who is believed to be the victim of a contaminated batch of heroin was "seriously unwell" last night. Health chiefs are concerned about the circulation of the tainted drug as the County Durham man's illness follows a number of other incidents

  • How to turn junk into junks

    CHILDREN at Darlington Arts Centre turned junk into junks yesterday. They were participating in a workshop as part of Japan 2001, a celebration of Japanese life and culture. The 24 four to seven-year-olds learned how to make junks, a type of Japanese

  • Epidemic relief for farmers

    RELIEVED farmers are celebrating after foot-and-mouth restrictions were finally lifted from their farms. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) officially lifted protection zones covering 299 farms in the Durham Dales, between Tow

  • Stalwart dies after 80 years service

    A BROTTON woman, believed to be the longest serving member of the Labour party, has died at the age of 97. Marian Cooper, of Brentford Court, was a member of the Labour party for more than 80 years and was a founding member of the party's Skelton and

  • Letters: A hard look

    Sir, -The other day, with considerable reluctance, I signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the foot-and-mouth epidemic. My reluctance stemmed from the fact that, although I believe there should be a public inquiry, I found myself greatly

  • That £50,000 ram

    THE owners of a pedigree Swaledale ram have received £50,000 compensation after it was culled as part of the foot and mouth crisis. Mossdale Nuggett was bred on the Mossdale Farm, near Hawes, and bought by Mr Eric Nelson and Mr Robbie Cowperthwaite as

  • Health chiefs defend doctor recruitment

    AN MP has accused a health trust of "treachery" over a cuts plan at North Tees hospital. And he also cites a "catalogue of despair" with 22 consultants having left in the past two years. Stockton North's Mr Frank Cook says he is contacted regularly by

  • Surviving sextuplets 'all doing very well'

    THE five surviving sextuplets born 12 weeks early at a North-East hospital were last night reported to be doing well. The babies, two boys and three girls, were born to an unnamed mother at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, a week ago. A hospital

  • Foot-in-mouth

    THE accumulated wisdom of Lord Haskins, as summarised in the various things he has said to the media in the past week, does not appear to amount to much. Clearly as the man who has made Northern Foods into the successful company it is today, the government's

  • Canteen conversion backed

    THE conversion of a former canteen into three homes has been approved. The former Skipbridge brickworks building, off Neasham Road, Darlington, has not been used for several years, but is still in a sound structural condition. Now developers plan to convert

  • Graham's putt upstages hero on the golf course

    Exactly 20 years since his finest and most fondly remembered hour, Ian Botham was for once upstaged on Tuesday - but this time on the golf course. Close to home, the Squire of Ravensworth was playing in the Stable Lads' Welfare Trust golf day at Richmond

  • Football; Darlington and District League

    The season commences tomorrow with 14 teams in membership. The league lost three teams at the end of last season, Cleveland Bridge having joined the Auckland League and Hole In The Wall and Spraire have folded. The two new members are The Albion, who

  • Racquets dethroned

    Slazenger Harrogate and District League History has been created by The Academy who have clinched the First Division title at their first attempt following successive promotion since joining the league six seasons ago. The Academy's 5-4 away win against

  • Musical voyage

    Gaslight Gaiety theatre company and Saltburn 53 drama group have combined to bring Atlantic Crossing, a new production, to Saltburn community theatre this week. Atlantic Crossing is set in the Twenties and takes the audience on a musical voyage across

  • Setting sights on exciting day at air base

    A GROUP of youngsters were on cloud nine after paying a visit to an RAF base. The children from the RAF Leeming Jesters Club were given a series of demonstrations by members of the 34 Squadron Regiment. They showed youngsters how they use aerial photographs

  • Mandale Harriers

    The club's junior men's team won the final NJAL match at Clairville Stadium to complete an unbeaten season and now travel to Spenborough for the play-offs to gain a place in the premier division. Paul Wardingham was again in top form by winning both the

  • Stubble turnips could be a boost to winter feed

    STUBBLE turnips drilled after cereals could prove a valuable addition to feed reserves this autumn. Advanta Seeds say they could be useful in helping to preserve silage stocks where first cut yields were lower than expected, or where extra livestock are

  • Hannah and her friends excel

    A DARLINGTON student has excelled in her A-level results and is now looking forward to a career as a vet. Hannah Tewby, 18, who attends Polam Hall School, gained five A grades in maths, English Literature, chemistry, biology and general studies. She has

  • Stunning students

    STUDENTS at Richmond School put on a "stunning" performance in their A-level and AS exams, according to delighted head Jim Jack. Their pass rate of 92 per cent was three percentage points above the national average and six students scored four straight

  • Chester le Street - Warning as letterbox thieves fish for keys

    POLICE have urged residents to take care of their keys following a spate of letterbox burglaries in the Chester-le-Street area. Det Sgt Max Newby said that there had been an increasing number of thefts of luxury cars and burglaries in recent months. He

  • Workers return to repair blast site

    POWER plant giant Enron has been given back control of its plant after the explosion last week that killed three men. The Health and Safety Executive has handed back the plant, although the site of the explosion remains cordoned off. A company spokesman

  • Call for FMD co-ordinator

    NORTH Yorkshire councillors have called for the appointment of a special government co-ordinator to lead and strengthen the campaign to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease in the county. The county council executive was told on Wednesday that heads needed

  • Fears over raw sewage dumping are put to rest

    FEARS that Yorkshire Water was planning to dump raw sewage into the River Ure at Masham have been allayed. News of the plan first broke after a public notice was spotted in the press. Yorkshire Water has now apologised for not telling the town council

  • Dive into sport women urged

    WOMEN have a chance to try out water skiing or canoeing in evening taster events next week. Hartlepool Borough Council is running the courses for women on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. They include training by a qualified coach, the use of a wetsuit

  • Cricket Club suffer first reverse

    Crook Ladies League Crook Cricket Club crashed to their first defeat of the season in disastrous style for they failed to take a point from their visit to the reigning champions, Crook Coach and Horses. This big win took the Coach ten points clear at

  • New man on the gavel at motor dealers

    A NEW auctioneer and general manager has been appointed at a County Durham motor dealers. Nigel Osborne has taken over the dual role at Durham County Motor Auctions, on Mainsforth Industrial Estate, Ferryhill. He has replaced Clive Bourne, who has retired

  • Teenager denies torching centre

    FLAMES shot 50ft into the air after a 15-year-old boy torched a derelict leisure centre, a court heard yesterday. The heat generated when Peterlee's Low Hills Sports Centre went up in flames was so intense that it melted the visors on firefighters' helmets

  • Sport facilities Domesday Book unveiled

    A DOMESDAY Book of all sporting facilities in the country is to be drawn up for the first time in a bid to ensure that investment goes to the most important areas and facilities. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, announcing the plans, said that everything

  • Games; CIU League

    The re-arranged games from the first week of the season there were two totally unexpected results. In the dominoes section, Crowtrees had the chance of overhauling Crook Belle Vue at the top, but they failed to score a point in their home match against

  • Leisure firm appeals over block on proposal for £2m nightspot

    A NATIONAL leisure chain is hoping to overturn city councillors' refusal to grant an entertainment licence for a new nightspot. Regent Inns plans to spend £2m converting Durham's Robins Cinema into an Australian-themed bar that would open until 1am, Monday

  • Disabled help scheme teaches work skills

    A GROUP of disabled people from Teesside have spent the past year gaining valuable work skills in an attempt to overcome unemployment among people with learning difficulties. About 90 per cent of the 1.2 million people with learning difficulties in the

  • North Yorkshire - Report reveals tourism crisis

    UP to 5,000 rural tourism jobs could be lost because of the disastrous long-term impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis, a report has warned. It is also feared that the epidemic could leave a devastating legacy which would see 600 businesses forced to fold

  • Historian George wins award for lecture work

    HISTORIAN George Flynn has marked his 20th year as a lecturer in Darlington with an award from a national education group. Mr Flynn, 72, started tutoring at the Workers' Educational Association's Bennet House centre, in Horsemarket, in 1971, with a course

  • Nursing home plan delayed

    PLANS to expand a nursing home will have to be put on hold until councillors have visited the site. The owners of Haughton Nursing Home, in Stockton Road, Darlington, have applied for planning permission to build a single-storey extension to provide a

  • Two near misses over N-E airport

    MID-AIR collisions were narrowly averted on the flight path above a North-East airport twice within days, it has been revealed. As reported in The Northern Echo in August last year, passengers on a flight from Teesside Airport to Schipol Airport, in Amsterdam