DURHAM have had to make three changes to their selected team for today's Tetley's County Championship match against holders Yorkshire at Wharfedale. Darlington prop Phil Lancaster and Mowden Park flanker Darren McKinnon are unavailable, while West Hartlepool
The game of the day in the Premier Division is at Middlesbrough, where Guisborough are the visitors. Guisborough, worthy champions last season, are favourites to retain the title but Boro will be one of the sides likely to press them for their crown.
Arsenal are on course to claim their second double in five seasons after beating Chelsea 2-0 in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Second half strikes from Ray Parlour and Freddy Ljungberg earned the Gunners their first trophy of the season and they travel
A NEW mental health unit in County Durham named after the late Queen Mother's family has been officially opened. Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn performed the ceremony at the £4m Bowes Lyon Unit, Earls House Hospital, Durham City. It was
From Hartlepool to Middlesbrough, Political Editor Chris Lloyd follows Labour on the road to nowhere as the first directly-elected mayors are chosen in the North-East IT was an extraordinary day. In the morning a joke monkey was made mayor of Hartlepool
A RESPECTED businessman turned to wholesale dishonesty in a desperate bid to save a failing hotel venture. Anthony Mattimoe, 61, a former pillar of the community in the Bishop Auckland area, was jailed yesterday for two years for a "deliberate fraud"
A NEW mental health unit in County Durham named after the late Queen Mother's family has been officially opened. Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn performed the ceremony at the £4m Bowes Lyon Unit, Earls House Hospital, Durham City. It was
WE have seen a bizarre and historic week here in the North-East. A former policeman who pleaded guilty to disciplinary offences, but insists he is innocent, is Mayor of Middlesbrough. A former monkey who campaigned in an ape suit, but insists he is a
AN OPEN-MIKE comedy night is in danger of turning into a one-man show if more comedians do not step forward soon. Darlington funnyman Tony Hindle is organising the event after returning to the town from a ten-year stint on the comedy circuit in London
ONLY Stephen Harmison is fit to return from Durham's nine-man casualty list for today's Benson & Hedges Cup tie against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. After suffering from a sore elbow joint, Harmison is likely to return in place of Mark Davies,
ONCE the dust settles on his mayoral success, Ray Mallon could be forgiven for asking why he is being paid £23,000 less than a monkey. The newly-elected Middlesbrough mayor will earn £30,000 a year. H'Angus the Monkey, or as he is now properly known,
THE sceptics who believe England do not have a prayer at this summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea should have a word with the Reverend Mark Haynes. The soccer-loving vicar and his congregation will not only be offering a prayer or two for England's
A FORMER bouncer whose body was found at a recycling plant could have climbed into a skip to sleep off the effects of alcohol before being crushed to death. Police in Middlesbrough said yesterday they were considering the possibility that father-of-four
A LISTED building in the heart of a market place could be demolished to make way for a £2m project fronted by the YMCA. Most of the buildings overlooking the cobbled square in Richmond, North Yorkshire, have a history dating back to the Georgian era or
PICTURES from an art gallery will be sky high when they are displayed on the 17th floor of a landmark North-East building. The paintings are on loan from Middlesbrough Art Gallery to both local and national companies for an annual fee in an attempt to
THE sale of Europe's deepest potash mine has been completed. In November last year, American Anglo announced its intention to sell the entire share capital in Cleveland Potash Ltd to Israel Chemicals' fertiliser division, ICL Fertilizers. Yesterday, it
PROFESSORS and researchers from the world's top universities will descend on the North-East next week for a meeting of minds. Billingham catalyst company, Synetix, is hosting the three-day event at the Sunderland Marriott Hotel in Seaburn, on Tuesday,
AN institution has applied to become an official centre to help teenagers who have been excluded from school. Consett YMCA, in Parliament Street, already works with teenagers involved in Durham County Council's Impact Scheme, but it is now hoping to become
AN organisation, which has been bringing together disabled people for almost 50 years, is holding its summer rally in Willington next month. The Mayor and Mayoress of Great Aycliffe will be guests of honour at the event for the Durham County Association
A hydrotherapy pool at a Newton Aycliffe care centre is proving popular. A survey at the Pioneering Care Centre found that 72 per cent felt that using it had improved their health. More 70 per cent of people questioned also said that using the pool regularly
A READING group in a housing complex for older people will be launched by North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong on Friday. The scheme, at Southfield Lodge, Crook, will call on members of the community to visit residents to read, review and discuss books
A LINGUISTIC "survival kit" study course for holidaymakers is being held at Darlington College of Technology. The ten-week basic foreign language courses are designed to help people feel confident enough to do basic things such as ask for directions or
BUDDING sports stars are being invited to enter the Darlington Young Sportswinner of the Year competition. A winner will be announced each month until the final in December, when an overall winner will be announced. Last year's winner, runner Richard
THE first in a series of projects to encourage people to stay fit by tending to their vegetables has opened in Fishburn. Groundwork East Durham, the driving force behind Fishburn Community Allotment, is looking for people interested in growing healthy
EARLY birds can join a morning walk through a nature reserve tomorrow, to mark National Dawn Chorus Day. Durham Wildlife Trust has organised the event at Low Barns Nature Reserve, Witton-le-Wear. Participants will here the early morning song of bullfinches
A NORTH-EAST museum has planted a tree in memory of the Queen Mother. Staff at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, held a ceremony in the grounds of the museum, and director Adrian Jenkins helped to plant the tree to mark the Queen Mother's
MOVES are being made to modernise mental health and learning disability services in the region. Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust has started a major consultation process on the issue. Chief executive Moira Britton said: "We are proud of the services
VANDALISM and crime has been a recurring problem, Egglescliffe parish assembly was told. In her report, parish council chairman Linda Vernon said various meetings had been held with different agencies to discuss the issue. Councillor Maureen Rigg also
NORTH-EAST carers who look after sick relatives are saving the National Health Service billions of pounds a year, according to new figures. Now, groups which support the carers are hoping the figures will lead to greater recognition of the contribution
A 26-YEAR-OLD businesswoman is hoping she will soon be the owner of the only true hackney carriage in the Yorkshire Dales. Charlotte Sowerby aims to launch a horse-drawn taxi service in the Wensleydale market town of Hawes this summer. However, council
COUNCILLORS will be asked to decide on a bid for a bigger storage area at a Richmond cheese factory next week. Swaledale Cheese already has Richmondshire District Council support for its proposals for new maturing rooms, an office and a staff changing
Kevin Phillips, boosted by his first goal in 11 games, will continue to play through the pain barrier to help Sunderland make sure of First Division survival. Wearside boss Peter Reid has paid tribute to the way the former England striker has insisted
I AM full of shame and haunted by an overwhelming sense of guilt. I don't know how I'm ever going to look anybody in the eye ever again. I have done something this weekend that I always swore that I would never do. In my defence, I can claim it was completely
TWO of the region's minnows - as far as rink space goes - have won much-deserved recognition in the Domnick Hunter Durham County Inter-County Club Leagues. The Division A title was won by Hebburn, which has only three rinks at its Tyneside base, while
I AM full of shame and haunted by an overwhelming sense of guilt. I don't know how I'm ever going to look anybody in the eye ever again. I have done something this weekend that I always swore that I would never do. In my defence, I can claim it was completely
MORE SIRENS should have the call in today's one-mile Anthony Fawcett Memorial Thirsk Hunt Cup. A low draw is crucial at Thirsk on the round course, where the ability to save vital ground by hugging the inside rail on the sharp home turn is an absolute
MICK DOYLE, the Irish-based fishing magnate who not only sends all of his horses to be trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston but also includes the word "love" in the name of all of his racehorses, goes for gold with Love Regardless in today's Sagitta
NORTH Tyneside made it a trio of mayoral flops for Labour, when Conservative candidate Chris Morgan romped to success in the second round of votes. The new mayor now faces the intriguing prospect of having to work with a council which retained a comfortable
JUST as in the case of the mayoral contests in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, it was the fringe candidates who stole the thunder in local elections across the country. With final results coming in yesterday afternoon, the three main parties had few reasons
PERUVIAN winger Nolberto Solano has urged Newcastle United to make the Champions' League an annual adventure. Bobby Robson's side clinched a place in the third qualifying round of Europe's elite competition by finishing fourth in the Premiership. United
VICTORIOUS Ray Mallon began his reign as mayor last night with a blunt warning to his enemies: "Work with me or get out." Mr Mallon - the former detective who championed zero tolerance policing - said: "I say this to my enemies: if you cannot let the
POLICE are trying to trace a man in connection with a savage daylight attack on a horse. The black and white cob stallion had to be destroyed after being stabbed with a broken bottle near to the Metz Bridge, in Middlesbrough, on Tuesday morning. A Cleveland
A MAN was locked up for two years yesterday after he admitting being involved in a string of burglaries. Kevin Howe, 18, of Cranick Street, Bishop Auckland, admitted two charges of burglary, one of theft and one of breach of a conditional discharge, when
FORMER Middlesbrough defender Steve Vickers was spat at by rampaging Millwall fans after setting up Birmingham City's last-gasp play-off semi-final winner on a night of anarchy at the New Den. Vickers, who moved from Boro to Birmingham last December in
BOBBY ROBSON has tipped Arsenal, Newcastle's quarter-final replay conquerors, to beat Chelsea in today's FA Cup final, writes Clive Hetherington. But, unlike many managers, the United boss won't be present at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - because it's
AN occupational therapy unit for children is to open in Newton Aycliffe after councillors gave their approval. Sedgefield Borough Council granted planning permission for the scheme, in the former Aycliffe Decorative Supplies building on the edge of the
PETER BARRON, formerly editor of the Hartlepool Mail and now editor of The Northern Echo, gives a personal view on what the mayoral election means for the town AFTER generations of battling to shake off its joke town image, Hartlepool became justifiably
Nick Loughlin, Sports Editor with The Northern Echo and friend of Hartlepool's newly-elected mayor, gives an insight into how an historic political campaign unfolded. STUART DRUMMOND is no monkey. Despite what some might think, he is a sensible, articulate
SPENNYMOOR United are on the up. Since Tony Lee swopped Bishop Auckland for the Brewery Field at the turn of the year, the club has never looked back. Lee, who led Moors to the team of the month awards for both January and February, has lost twice in
FIRST came the monkeying about - now it is business for the region's new mayors. Stuart Drummond, alias H'Angus The Monkey, will find himself in charge of an authority in Hartlepool with a £105m annual budget and 4,000 staff. In Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon
WORK on extra classrooms has begun thanks to more than £2.5m of Government cash. Carmel RC Technology College has become too small to accommodate all its students, so the extra classrooms are needed to house them in comfort. Health Secretary and Darlington
A TAXI driver has lost his licence - and his job - after being caught drink-driving while taking children to a special school. Derek Orchin was stopped by police during Operation Coachman, a swoop on taxis across County Durham aimed at spotting faulty
TIME and tide wait for no man - not even runners in one of the North-East's most popular multi-terrain races. Organisers of the Pier to Pier race between South Shields and Sunderland have discovered that a high tide will prevent athletes from negotiating
A MAN has appeared in court charged with indecently assaulting three women between 1999 and 2001. Stuart Hill, 50, from St Agatha's Close, Brandon, County Durham, spoke only to confirm his name at Chester-le-Street Magistrates' Court. Three charges of
A MAJOR shake-up in the world of the low-cost airlines was imminent after rivals easyJet and Go announced they were in takeover talks. Luton airline easyJet is seeking to buy Go, which was formerly owned by British Airways. The announcement comes just
A CHARITY is set to benefit by more than £100,000, thanks to the efforts of staff at a company from the region. Staff at Wolseley Centers, Ripon, North Yorkshire, are organising an eight-day jungle trek in Cuba to raise funds for the NCH children's charity
LEISURE retailer JD Sports is poised to more than double in size after announcing a £53.2m deal with rival Blacks Leisure. The group has agreed to buy Blacks' sport and fashion division, which has its headquarters in Peterlee, east Durham. The deal includes
POLICE are investigating after vandals ran amok in a former pit village's graveyard. Flowers and wreaths have been ripped up and urns overturned at Langley Park Cemetery, near Durham City. A police spokesman said: "We have received two complaints in the
A CONCERTED damage limitation exercise was under way in Hartlepool last night to persuade the world that the town has not really elected a monkey as mayor. The message coming from senior public figures was: "The monkey is dead - long live the mayor."
A TEAM of girls from Teesdale have gained a regional award for their business skills. The group of year ten girls received the award at a ceremony at County Hall, in Durham City, as part of the Young Enterprise HSBC Innovation Awards. To win the award
SEDGEFIELD Borough Council has been awarded Investors In People status. Norman Vaulks, chief executive, received the award from comic Frank Carson at Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street. To be awarded Investors In People status, the council had to demonstrate
THE main rail workers' union reported solid support last night for another strike which hit services at one of the country's biggest train companies. The Rail Maritime and Transport union mounted picket lines outside stations yesterday at the start of
SOCCER hero Niall Quinn could become the first freeman of the city of Sunderland if thousands of fans have their way. The Irish striker has earned widespread admiration and praise since announcing he was donating all the takings from his benefit game
OLYMPIC cyclist Chris Newton will signal the start of a charity bike ride at the Castle Eden Walkway tomorrow. The Blue Peter Bikeathon is one of 70 bike rides taking place across the country in aid of Leukaemia Research. Countryside wardens at Castle
PEOPLE planning a trip to the tip in Darlington at the weekend are being warned about roadworks delays. This weekend is traditionally a busy time at Darlington's Drinkfield civic amenity site. There will be roadworks with traffic control on Whessoe Road
BUSY FINGERS: The Washington Embroiderers' Guild meets at 7pm in St Bede's Church Hall, Heworth, on the first Friday of each month. More details can be obtained from Linda on 0191-584 6506. DISCO FEVER: Fortnightly discos have restarted from 6pm to 9pm
THE second phase of a project into the prevention of landslides is due to get under way after a cash injection from the region's Innovation Action Fund. IDA Technologies, of Billingham, which specialises in engineering and scientific research, has begun
I HAVE not yet seen the itinerary for the visit of the Queen to Darlington next week so perhaps I can suggest the following: Councillor John Williams and his cabinet could show her around our clean and tidy bus station. At the same time they could explain
RAY MALLON faces a political minefield as he bids to plot a course for Middlesbrough during his term in mayoral office. The former head of Middlesbrough CID has already taken more than one swipe at the town's Labour controlled council and now faces the
Gardens contest: The Ingleby Barwick Garden competition is to be an annual event. The three categories for entries are: best front garden, best back garden and best container garden (tubs, hanging baskets and pots) Nominations/entries should be sent to
A YOUNG mother had her mobile phone stolen during a trip to Darlington's South Park with her 15-month-old son. The theft occurred at the Clifton Road entrance to the park at 12.45pm on Thursday, when a group of youths snatched her Nokia 3310 mobile phone
A Middlesbrough company will help make a child smile as it celebrates its first birthday this month. At Home Furnishing, at Cannon Park, has pledged £10 for every day it has been in business to the TFM Radio charity, Make A Child Smile. That means £3,650
A FARMER who claims his animals were mistreated by Government officials during a cull on his farm has attacked the RSPCA for failing to support his legal campaign for compensation. Chris Graham, of Lane Ends Farm, in Manfield, near Darlington, claims
TWO children's groups are continuing their bid to buy new premises. The Borrowby nursery school and village playgroup started fundraising in 1999 to buy a portable classroom to be kept in the grounds of nearby Knayton School. Both groups are run from
THE squire of a market town has expressed concern that an extensive traffic scheme will ruin the look of the area. Lord Feversham, chairman of Helmsley Town Council, said a traffic management scheme planned for the tourist spot will have a damaging effect
GIRLS interested in becoming footballers are urged to attend a training session. Hambleton District Council is working with Brompton Junior Girls Football Club to select two teams to play in this year's North Yorkshire Area Youth Games. But girls who
A paper recycling scheme got off to a shaky start with a collections being made a day late. Hambleton District Council last week launched a recycling service for 20,000 homes in and around Northallerton, Thirsk, Easingwold and Stokesley. The first day
When the Forsyte Saga was first shown in 1967, its rape scene shocked TV viewers to the core. Now, even a diet including soft porn, naked game shows and incest fails to raise eyebrows. The timing of Sex On TV, Channel 4's trawl through the seedier areas
HARTLEPOOL United will offer new deals to defenders Chris Westwood and Paul Arnison today. But Northern Echo Sport can reveal that Pool goalkeeper Martin Hollund and striker Anth Lormor's days at Victoria Park are over. All four players' contracts run
When the Forsyte Saga was first shown in 1967, its rape scene shocked TV viewers to the core. Now, even a diet including soft porn, naked game shows and incest fails to raise eyebrows. The timing of Sex On TV, Channel 4's trawl through the seedier areas
