A North-East employer has taken part in an education consultation exercise at 10 Downing Street. David Willett, modern apprenticeship advisor for the Orange telecommunications company, visited Prime Minister Tony Blair to explain how education can fit
A LARGE quantity of cocaine has been seized in a police swoop on a village in east Cleveland. Drug squad officers, members of the district support unit and dog handlers raided a house on the Grange Estate at Lazenby, near Redcar, and a nearby allotment
Police have labelled as "vicious" and unprovoked, an attack on two students in a town centre. Teenagers Ben Sanson and Ross McMahon were walking home from a friend's birthday party, through the centre of Middlesbrough, when they were attacked by two men
More and more grandparents are playing a vital role in helping their own children get back to work. Emily Flanagan reports THE Government is considering revolutionary plans to pay grandmothers to look after grandchildren and get single mothers into work
Once children couldn't wait to leave home. Now it seems they can't wait to get back. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports WHEN my mother burst into tears and told me she had no idea I would still be living at home at the age of 26, things turned a bit
Darlington captain Craig Liddle was the main attraction on Saturday afternoon and he didn't disappoint as he turned in yet another man of the match display against Scunthorpe. His future at the club in doubt as chairman George Reynolds wants the fans'
AN MP told a packed meeting of former miners that he intends to apply pressure at the highest level of Government to speed up the processing of compensation claims for victims of lung disease. North Durham MP Kevan Jones organised the meeting at East
KIERON Dyer geared up for his international return on Wednesday night by refusing to consider himself as a replacement for David Beckham. The 23-year-old was hailed in many quarters as England's answer to their problems on the left of midfield, but since
Spennymoor dropped out of the play off places with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Workington on Saturday - and manager Tony Lee labelled the result and performance as "the worst since I arrived." Moors, in fifth place at the start of the game, never got
OWN-GOAL villain Gianluca Festa apologised to Middlesbrough for his FA Cup semi-final blunder - then admitted he might have played his last game for the club. Festa, who had been on the field only eight minutes as a replacement for hamstring victim Ugo
Likely Lads Ant and Dec came back home today to film a tribute to their comedy heroes. The Geordie duo are to recreate the classic 60s comedy The Likely Lads, playing lead roles of Terry and Bob, in a one-off show, which will be screened next month. The
UNSUNG heroes from across Redcar and Cleveland have been honoured at an annual awards ceremony. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Mayor, Coun Vilma Collins, presented the Community Achievement Awards at a ceremony at the council chamber in Eston. The
WHEELCHAIR wonder Tanni Grey-Thompson proved she was back on form yesterday after winning the London Marathon ten weeks after having her first baby. The Paralympic champion, from Redcar, east Cleveland, stormed home in the women's wheelchair race ten
STEVE McCLAREN'S crusade to lead Middlesbrough to an elusive first major trophy was cruelly crushed at Old Trafford. Fate conspired against plucky Boro when England World Cup hopeful Ugo Ehiogu hobbled off with a hamstring injury after half an hour to
SUNDERLAND aren't bad enough to be relegated and - on this form - Liverpool aren't good enough to win the Championship. That seems a pretty fair assessment after a hard-fought game in front of a record 48,355 crowd at the Stadium as Liverpool climbed
A PRIMARY school has failed in its bid to have all its pupils attend the same comprehensive school. Sadberge Primary School asked Darlington Borough Council to change its admissions policy to allow its children to attend Hurworth Comprehensive School,
I really have to disagree with some of the comments made to me over the last few weeks that there isn't much colour in the garden at this time of year. In fact, I was so disheartened to hear people thinking this way that, at one point, I decided to prove
A MAN who plunged into dangerous river currents to save a pensioner's life, insisted he was no hero. Brad Margach, 24, dived in after a man, who was dressed only in pyjamas and slippers, plunged from the top of the Tees Barrage, near Stockton. Battling
SEDGEFIELD could soon have an officer dedicated to looking after nature reserves. At the end of last year, Sedgefield Borough Council made a bid to English Nature for funding through its Wildspace scheme. The council proposed sites which qualified for
COUNTY Durham's social services will undergo a major performance review later this month. The Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate will begin a two-month evaluation as part of a national programme of social service department assessments
FOR many years, it has been argued by this newspaper that there is only one way to fund significant improvements to public services such as the NHS - through taxation. For too long, the NHS has lagged behind other comparative countries. Our investigation
BUSES, trams and robots made from Meccano went on display at Beamish Museum at the weekend. The County Durham museum, which preserves the North-East's industrial heritage, staged one of the most popular events in its calendar, the History of Meccano exhibition
LOTTERY chiefs are to launch an awareness campaign about the impact of their funding in the North-East. Although more than £500m has been spent on 5,500 projects in the region over seven years, research has shown that only one in ten people can name a
A MAN leading an investigation into allegations of perjury involving officers from a North-East police force has been rushed into hospital. Superintendent Norman Taylor was taken ill as finishing touches were being put to a report on the findings of a
A HIT-AND-RUN driver who left a six-year-old girl dying was last night being hunted by police. Leonie Shaw was flung across a busy road near her home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, when she was struck by a powerful 2.7 litre Rover car just before
WORK on a £120,000 road safety scheme, including a new mini-roundabout, is to start today. City of York Council will carry out work at the junction of Strensall Road, York Road and Ox Carr Lane, in Strensall, which may last between six to eight weeks.
THE Princess Royal is to visit the region this month to launch a charity appeal. Princess Anne will visit Bishopthorpe Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of York, next Wednesday, to unveil a St John Ambulance North Yorkshire and Teesside appeal.
STAFF from a home for adults with learning disabilities plan to make a splash to raise cash for the centre. The workers from Church View, Kirkleatham, will take part in a sponsored swim at Saltburn Leisure Centre on Friday, April 28, after setting themselves
AN appeal has been launched to give a multi-racial community a new focal point. The vicar of North Ormesby, the Reverend Graham Usher, is the brains behind the dream, which needs £600,000 to be realised. "Our church hall has played an important part for
AN appeal has been launched to give a multi-racial community a new focal point. The vicar of North Ormesby, the Reverend Graham Usher, is the brains behind the dream, which needs £600,000 to be realised. "Our church hall has played an important part for
HAT-TRICK hero Darrell Clarke was last night trying to come to terms with his first triple haul. Clarke netted three times in Pool's 7-1 win over Swansea and admitted: "I've got the match ball and it's signed by all the lads - I won't be letting that
Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has been forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday's friendly against fellow World Cup finalists USA at Lansdowne Road. Quinn suffered a neck muscle injury in Saturday's 1-0 defeat by title-chasing
YOUNGSTERS from three Gateshead schools have helped to design a sculpture for an estate's new green. The green was created on a rubbish-strewn field on the Springwell estate and features a 6ft Roman wheel and images of water. Pupils at Fell Dyke Community
WHEELCHAIR wonder Tanni Grey-Thompson proved she was back on form yesterday after winning the London Marathon ten weeks after having her first baby. The Paralympic champion, from Redcar, east Cleveland, stormed home in the women's wheelchair race ten
A NEW website is offering up-and-coming writers a chance to find an agent for their work and to take their talent to the attention of industry decision-makers. The site has been set up by South Shields journalist and PR consultant Ed Waugh and Internet
A TOWN'S ongoing dispute over plans to build more than 156 homes has produced a further development. The application to develop land at Station Fields, Shield Row, Stanley, has already been called in by the Government for a public inquiry because it is
GARDENERS in the region are being invited to take part in a national survey looking at the welfare of butterflies and moths. Butterfly Conservation, a charity aimed at saving butterflies and their habitats, is conducting the study in the North-East and
CANCER nurses at Harrogate are mounting a campaign to persuade people to set aside any thought of embarrassment over their bowels and seek help if they suspect they night have a problem. Displays have been set up at Harrogate District Hospital and at
TWO police officers risked their lives to rescue a mother and daughter from a burning house. "It could have been fatal - it was as serious as that," said Fire Station Officer Alan Powles. Yesterday's fire, which almost claimed the lives of Alison Pugh
DARLINGTON'S physio will be working overtime today in an effort to get four key players fit for tomorrow night's Durham Cup semi-final at home to West Hartlepool. Fly half Paul Lee has just about recovered after missing three games, while his brother
THE finishing touches are being put to Sedgefield's annual medieval fair. Among the favourite attractions at the event on Saturday, May 18, will be The Knights of the Black Phoenix, said the organiser, Sedgefield Community Association. The Knights of
STEPS are being taken to reduce the high levels of domestic violence in Sedgefield. Sedgefield Borough Council is to employ a domestic violence co-ordinator to help tackle the growing problem. The borough suffers the highest levels of reported incidents
POLICE in Australia were last night questioning a man in connection with the murder of teenage backpacker Caroline Stuttle. The 19-year-old, from York, died after being flung from a 65ft bridge in the quiet Queensland town of Bundaberg, on Wednesday evening
VILLAGERS in Sedgefield gave a warm welcome to Northumbria in Bloom judges on their spring tour of the community. The judges were delighted with many aspects of the village and are looking to encourage entries into some of the smaller awards in the competition
PLANS for a National Army Museum to be created in the North were revealed to the public at the weekend. Former Tory leader William Hague and his wife, Ffion, cut the ribbon to a display showing how the £23m museum would be built at Catterick Garrison,
A YOUNG martial arts fan has been awarded his tae kwondo black belt just days after his tenth birthday. Jordan Glendenning is one of the youngest people to achieve the high standard in the sport. His achievement was recognised at the recent Positive Young
AN UNUSUAL television star helped roll out the 40,000th fleet vehicle from a North-East hire firm. The Mandy Morris truck, which was driven by Claude Jeremiah Greengrass of ITV's Heartbeat series, visited the Northgate hire centre on Yarm Road business
THE region's biggest agricultural show is hoping to be a major success this year. Event organisers are promising visitors a chance to see some of the country's finest horses and ponies. The Great Yorkshire Show will take place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire
PUB chain J D Wetherspoon's newest nightspot opens in North Yorkshire today. The company has spent £1m converting Richmond's old post office counter and sorting office into a modern inn and, after a weekend of rehearsals, the first customers will be welcomed
FOUR successive wins, seven goals on Saturday, three points and one game to go with everything to play for - what more can you ask for from Hartlepool United? While Pool were thumping seven past Swansea, it was one of Pool's old boys who had just as big
WOMEN are being given the chance to get behind the wheels of some unusual vehicles next month. They will be able to get to grips with everything from articulated trucks and fire engines to police cars and buses among others at a charity driving challenge
INVESTIGATIONS are due to start today into the chemical blaze that forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents on Friday. The Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive will begin trying to find out what caused the fire at the Distillex solvent
THE Durham Aged Mine-workers' Homes Association is starting work on the construction of 12 homes at Peterlee. The two-bedroomed homes in Southway are being built in a £663,000 scheme with Easington District Council. The association also plans to build
A NEW team has been established at the University of Sunderland to support the development of the institution and its students. The main focus of the new development office is to support the University Development Trust with fundraising for the ongoing
Professor Sylva Petrova, an art historian based at The National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, recently won the National Book of the Year Award in her native Czech Republic. She tells SARAH FOSTER about her battle against Communism WITH a sigh of resignation
NORTH-EAST doctors are being asked to take on medically qualified asylum seekers to boost the NHS workforce. Around 35 medics are being trained to work in the UK. So far there have been few openings for the doctors, who have fled repression in countries
A WOMAN has been killed in a mystery riding accident. The unnamed 52-year-old, an experienced rider, appears to be have been thrown by her mount. Her body was found by members of the Cleveland Search and Rescue Team on a bridleway between the villages
A VETERINARY surgeon from the region was part of a pioneering team which succeeded in restoring the sight - and love prospects - of a 19 stone female gorilla. Since leaving his home town of Richmond, North Yorkshire, David Gould had been working his animal
The Secret (BBC1) Here's another fictional drama dealing with an all-too-real issue. There's a lot of them about. This follows the Sarah Lancashire series The Cry, which wraps up the issue of child abuse in a psychological thriller format. The secret
MARK Davies continued to press his claims for a place in Durham's championship line-up by taking three of the first four wickets on his first-class debut yesterday. While the other seamers toiled on a flat Riverside pitch, the 21-year-old Norton bowler
AS John Gregory pounded the streets of London yesterday, no doubt doing his best to avoid TV presenters, he must have spent around four hours reliving those two moments from Saturday afternoon that just about finished off the Rams' run in the top flight
APPLICATIONS for places at Sir William Turner's Hospital at Kirkleatham are outnumbering the number of places available. "We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the public interest in our almshouses, said Peter Sotheran, chairman of the board of trustees
Police have named the man they believe was behind the wheel of a high-powered car who drove off leaving a six-year-old girl dying in the road. Officers said they wanted to trace Colin Meek, 34, following the death of Leonie Shaw yesterday morning. Leonie
Tow Law went nap at Chester-le-Street to strengthen their chances of the runner-up spot. Brian Wake, who recently returned to the club after a spell at Carlisle, led the way with two of the goals, and manager Graeme Forster said; "Brian is slowly getting
I have just indulged in one of my ultimate fantasies. The apple trees at the bottom of the garden (five of them - is that big enough to call it an orchard?) have grown large enough to take the weight of a hammock (plus dozing gardener and dog). I have
Q I HAVE received an ornamental elephant and understand that elephants can bring good luck, providing they are positioned correctly in relation to the front door. Where should I place the elephant to bring good luck? - D Knowles, Darlington. A ELEPHANTS
A RIDING school which was forced to shut because of the foot-and-mouth crisis has bounced back with a show which surpassed all expectations yesterday. The Backandside Riding Centre, at Hummerbeck, near West Auckland, needed a good turn-out for its first
A YOUNG footballer, who has been snapped up by a North-East Premiership club, has been named Teesdale's junior sports personality of the year. Tony McMahon, 16, from Evenwood, was awarded the accolade by Teesdale District Council after impressing judges
FINAL preparations are under way for Sedgefield's annual medieval fair. Among the favourite attractions at the event on Saturday, May 18, will be The Knights of the Black Phoenix, said organiser the Sedgefield Community Association. The group will demonstrate
A GROUP of young dancers took to the stage at the weekend to help raise £5,000 for charity. Youngsters from The Tiffany School of Dance in Darlington performed at the Civic Theatre on Saturday to raise money for Cancer UK and the Butterwick Children's
CALLS for a new role to be found for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre at Clapham have been made by a watchdog. The centre, in The Old Manor House, was set up about 40 years ago, and is due to close at the end of this year because of declining
The hunt for the killer of teenage backpacker Caroline Stuttle took a new twist yesterday as it emerged that Australian police have been given details of a second suspect. The news came as Caroline's travelling companion Sarah Holiday returned to their
A DARLINGTON drama group is staging a new production of a literary classic. Stepps will be bringing Mark Twain's classic Tom Sawyer to life with its production of Tom and Huckleberry. The group, which is based at St Teresa's Church, Eastbourne, will be
PAULA Radcliffe romped to one of the easiest victories - and the second fastest time ever - in yesterday's Flora London Marathon. Rampant Radcliffe roared to the first British success in London since Liz McColgan's runaway win six years ago, clocking
CALLS to set up a legalised red light district in a North-East town are being made by a man seeking to become mayor. Liberal Democrat Joe Michna's proposal for a tolerance zone as a commonsense way of controlling Middlesbrough's sex trade has put the
A SCHEME that provides help for people whose homes have been destroyed by fire or flooding is launching a recruitment drive. County Durham's Fire Victim Service, which has been operated by the County Durham and Teesside branch of the Red Cross since 1994
THE Government is speeding up moves to ensure North-East ramblers more access to the countryside. Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael told the Ramblers' Association annual general meeting at Newcastle University rights of way were beneficial to local
A NATIONAL park authority is making a bid for a 20 per cent-plus rise in its funding from the Government for the next financial year The funding is needed to carry out a wide range of schemes, including the development of local skills to aid the economy
A MOTHER-TO-BE received an armed escort to the hospital delivery room. Lesley Poole arrived at North Tees University Hospital, Stockton, at high speed with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring and in the company of two police marksmen. Husband David
EXPERTS who branded the A66 the worst road in the UK have underlined the importance of the route being upgraded as quickly as possible. The chairman of the A66 Completion Group, Councillor Michael Heseltine, said: "The view of the experts confirms what
STUDENTS from poor families are forced to live in lower standards of accommodation because they cannot afford privatised halls of residence, a union has said. Researchers working for public service union Unison looked at rents at 12 higher education establishments
PAINTER and decorator Alan Vipond has proved he is top of the pile at breeding dwarf rabbits with beautiful eyes. After winning the top trophy awarded by the North-East Netherlands Dwarf Rabbit Association last season, with a rabbit with blue eyes, he
A CHILDREN'S charity has produced an information booklet in a bid to update its image. Barnardo's wants people in the region to know it no longer runs children's homes and instead works on projects supporting and helping young people. The charity's last
Royal visit to mark jubilee The Queen is to visit Darlington as part of celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of her reign. Plans are under way at Darlington Borough Council to prepare for the visit on May 8. She last visited the town in 1967. A book
A HOSPICE is moving into the furniture business. Offenders working under the supervision of the Teesside Probation Service are turning out hand-crafted furniture, which Teesside Hospice shops sell. The Middlesbrough hospice, which needs to raise a minimum
AGAINST a backdrop of supporter angst, Darlington successfully completed their revenge mission in style by putting on a good performance against one of the division's promotion chasers. But George Reynolds wasn't there to see Quakers' best performance
NIGHTCLUB bosses have abandoned plans for a new venture in the heart of Ryedale because they claim rents are too high. A £750,000 project, drawn up over recent months by three local investors, was designed to give the twin towns of Malton and Norton their
THE region's orchestra, The Northern Sinfonia, has moved a step closer to its new home in the Music Centre Gateshead. The orchestra and administration staff, based at Jesmond Vale, Newcastle, have moved across the river to Gateshead Town Hall. Other North
A SITE has been selected for the release of harvest mice in an attempt to reintroduce them to the North-East. The animals will be released into Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, on Teesside, which is managed by Stockton Borough Council. Stockton council is
CIVIC leaders have heaped praise on residents of a picturesque part of North Yorkshire after it was officially declared one of the cleanest areas in the region. A survey of 106 sites in Ryedale, carried out by environmental charity Encams, revealed that
A 36-year-old man is being treated for serious injuries in a hospital's intensive care unit after being attacked in the street. It is understood the man was with a friend and two women who were confronted by a gang of youths on the station approach, Hartlepool
DRIVERS failing to stop for school crossing patrols are to be prosecuted following fears of a tragedy. Sergeant Ian Hutchinson, community safety officer with Langbaurgh police, said: "These drivers are putting the lives of children and other people using
MANUFACTURERS in the region have welcomed tough new recycling rules even though the prices of all electrical and electronic household goods are likely to rise to meet the cost. From fridges to mobile phones, TVs to singing greetings cards, when they reach
MEMORIES almost half a century old came flooding back for a visitor to a shipwreck exhibition. Pauline Barker recognised herself in a photograph taken aboard a wrecked Greek cargo ship before it sank off Redcar, east Cleveland. The 73-year-old went on
SWEDISH international Joachim Bjorklund believes that Sunderland's spirited performance in the 1-0 home defeat against Championship-chasing Liverpool will spur them on to Premiership safety. The hard-working central defender, who has added authority to
High street clothing store Next is considering a move to the former Dressers site, in Darlington. Speculation about the shop's future intensified when it was revealed that discussions were taking place and an announcement was due any day. A spokeswoman
RUGBY UNION: Leicester Tigers celebrated a fourth successive title win on Saturday with a 20-12 over Newcastle Falcons, a record for the professional era. The Tigers started Saturday's game with five current England internationals on the bench and, as
COUNTY Durham's social services will undergo a major performance review later this month. The Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate will begin a two-month evaluation as part of a national programme of social services department assessments
A SCHEME that provides help for people whose homes are destroyed by fire is launching a recruitment drive. County Durham's Fire Victim Service, which has been operated by the County Durham and Teesside branch of the British Red Cross since 1994, is seeking
ENERGY-saving youngsters have won an award for their efforts to help the environment. Durham's Framwellgate Primary School won an energy efficiency certificate from gas company Transco and the Northern Energy Efficiency Initiative. The certificate was
VISITORS flocked in their thousands to Gateshead's spring flower show at the weekend. About 18,000 people visited the two-day event at the borough council's central nursery, Wickham. Council spokeswoman Elaine Barclay said: "It has been very good and
PARISH councillors in the moorland villages of Danby, Commondale and Westerdale have agreed to take over the running of two public toilets which were threatened with closure by Scarborough Borough Council. But the Danby group council members said they
IF trainer form at courses is anything to go by then Peartree House looks to hold solid claims in the two-mile novice hurdle at Plumpton. For Saltburn trainer Mary Reveley has had three wins from only five runners at the South coast venue in recent times
A SENIOR police chief is aiming to attract more officers from ethnic minorities. North Yorkshire Chief Constable David Kenworthy said: "Even though we succeeded in achieving our recruitment target of 1,420 officers to become the fastest growing force
A NEW face has stepped in to lead the Northallerton Ladies Choir into their new season. Following the recent retirement of founder and musical director Bob Barratt, there had been fears for the future of the choir, but local teacher Alec Jackson stepped
MIDDLE EAST I FEEL that I must respond to the letter from Hugh Pender (HAS, Apr 8). Now that Afghanistan is no longer in the news he has, it seems, lost all interest with that conflict and again jumped on the Israel/Palestine bandwagon. Where were his
CRIME reduction work in the Hambleton area of North Yorkshire has won the district authority an honour. The council has been awarded Beacon status in recognition of its efforts and has now been recognised as a centre of excellence. Officers and councillors
CRUCIAL talks over the potential opening of a rail link between two Ryedale towns should be opened up to the public, it has been claimed. Officers from North Yorkshire County Council have offered to talk to members of Ryedale District Council about any
