MEMBERS of a leading association of food and drink producers are looking forward to a brighter future following the trauma of foot-and-mouth. The Yorkshire Pantry marked what it hopes will be a turning point by launching a book of 22 mouth-watering recipes
RICHMOND MP William Hague yesterday expressed incredulity that disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale has been working for the National Health Service. The Department of Health is to investigate how the former North-allerton Friarage Hospital consultant
Despite bowling out The Merlin, Dormans had to work hard for a four wickets victory when the sides met in Division One. Fareed Ramzan claimed seven for just 27 runs in 9.5 overs and Sdj Hussain returned three for 16 in nine overs but in reply Dormans
Burnopfield had 49 runs to spare when they visited Whickham who could only make 84 for five which included 22 by Chris Morton. Jason Temperley took two of the wickets for only 16 runs and when Burnopfield batted first they ended with 133 for five. Ryan
ORIGINAL paintings by some of the twentieth century's most famous artists have gone on display in a new exhibition. Twelve of the Best is the first in a series of exhibitions at the dli - formerly Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery -
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Juniors Richmondshire had nine wickets to spare when they hosted Wolviston who were restricted to 56 for six. Michael Fleming led the Richmond reply with a top score of 30 and Stuart Pounder carried his
Sherburn upset the First Division when they whitewashed the visiting league leaders from Spennymoor A and plummeted them down to fourth place. This win lifted Sherburn three points clear at the top with Cockton Hill A in second place, one point ahead
Juninho finally looks set to re-join Middlesbrough after the Brazilian World Cup winner was granted a work permit following an appeal in Sheffield today. A statement on the clubs website read: "Boro are pleased to announce that Juninho has been granted
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed Fwd: 972 prime sheep. Prime lambs std to 105.1p av 100.6; med to 109.4 av 104.2p; heavy to 101p av 99.8p. Cast ewes: Suff to £40; Cont to £37; Mule to £35; horned to £26. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 59 cattle, 856 sheep
Chester-le-Street enjoyed a big victory when they visited Seaham Harbour who could only make 29 for the loss of seven wickets replying to the Cestrians total of 114 for eight. McTaggert claimed three for 12 and Mason two for 11 in the visitor's attack
A RESCUE package to prevent two school swimming pools from closing is being assembled by Sedgefield Borough Council. An announcement by Durham County Council to close the two school pools at Fishburn and Shildon has angered the local communities. While
This week's bargain - save yourself £3,000! That was a recent estimate of how much it costs to keep a child amused over the summer holidays. Others say it could be a lot more by the time they've included the cost of theme park entrance, ice creams and
A YACHTSMAN had few worries as he sailed peacefully off the North-East coast on a hot summer's day. Running into a patch of fog, he decided to drop anchor for a short while and wait for it to clear. But the fog failed to lift, and he remained stranded
CHEMICALS and paints group ICI lost its gloss yesterday after warning that problems in its fragrances division would knock profits. IT problems at a Dutch factory making flavours for foods meant second half profits would be about £10m lower, it said and
Darlington will field a full-strength side tonight when they play their final home pre-season friendly. Huddersfield Town provide the opposition for the game which manager Tommy Taylor, injuries permitting, plans to use most of his first-choice XI for
The two quarter final matches in the League Knock-out Cup produced one-sided matches as Spennymoor Half Moon beat the visiting Wolviston King's Arms A for the loss of only one point, which was won by Micky Hann. Wolviston King's Arms B had a similar comfortable
HOLLYWOOD spent millions attempting to recreate the horror of a giant meteorite smashing into the Earth and the subsequent devastation spreading across the planet. But now a terrifying insight into the reality of Armageddon has been discovered far closer
Round One: Best gross: 1 R J Aisbitt 71, 2 N Dodd 72. Handicap Section: 1 D Lamb Gross 80, nett 68; 2 F Waterhouse 81, 68. Round Two: Best Gross: 1 R J Aisbitt 69, 2 S McGee 72. Handicap section: 1 D Lamb gross 75, nett 63; 2 A S Walker82, 67. Club champion
SANDHUTTON residents turned out in force for a meeting on the village green on Wednesday night. The parish council and residents met the deputy leader of Hambleton District Council, Coun Arthur Barker, and operational services manager Mike Kneebone to
OPERATING theatres throughout the region are standing empty due to funding shortages, a new survey has shown. The spare operating theatre capacity has been revealed after hospitals were ordered to carry out a military-style mobilisation plan. The plan
Durham Ranking Tournament Mal Clarke made his first appearance in the event and came very close to winning, only losing in the semi-final in the deciding frame to Gary Carr. This fine first appearance for Clarke moved him straight into the Ranking List
Inter County Cup: Durham and Cleveland men promoted last season, finished third in Group Five of County Week with three victories from five matches, but just missed promotion again by a small matter of scoring two rubbers less than second placed Staffordshire
The quarter finals produced three very close encounters and one run-a-way victory. Willington Market reached the semi-final after only dropping one point to the visiting Willington Commercial. However there was a fantastic recovery from Willington Brewer's
THE impact of foot-and-mouth disease is finally showing signs of forcing farmers to sell up, according to a rural land survey. The survey covers the second quarter of 2002 and shows the first increase in farmland availability for nearly two years. According
Convincing victory for Heighington Heighington still lead Division A following their ten wicket victory over Cockerton who they dismissed in 31.1 overs for just 51 runs. Rob Waite sent down ten overs, seven of them maidens, and conceded only five runs
LOCAL rail campaigners working towards the restoration of passenger trains in Wensleydale marked Yorkshire Day by throwing open Leeming Bar station to the public daily for a month. The move by Wensleydale Railway plc and the Wensleydale Railway Association
THE flooding in Northallerton this week will, hopefully, concentrate minds on finding a solution to what is becoming a regular problem. If some thought the flooding of 2000 was freakish, the three incidents in recent months should have convinced those
WARRING cartoon couple Horace and Doris are not known for the blissful state of their marriage, but now The Northern Echo has located their namesakes - who have been happily married for 70 years. Horace, 92, and Doris Leeson, 91, had no idea until now
In week nine of the Billiards League, the Redcar Literary's A team rocked the leaders on their own pitch, beating them 2-1. Mark Andrews (-35) lost his first match of the season against Phil Hartley (Scr) 103-150. John Hartley (-55) made it 2-0 with an
OPERATION Granite, a three year investigation into a North-East policeman's claims that he was set up by fellow officers, has been completed, it was revealed last night. The inquiry into the allegations by ex-Cleveland Police traffic officer Sultan Alam
Tow Law New Market B became the first team this season to win by a maximum after they visited Tow Law Cattle Mart and never dropped a point. The New Market team was Tom Dowson, Margaret Goodwin, Gavin Tennant, Stephen Umpelby, Phil Spencer and Doris Elsbury
The next meeting of Darlington's Older Persons' Action Network will take place at Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, from 2pm to 4pm on September 5, looking at best value in services for older people and transport.
IT is difficult to comprehend the sheer scale of the Commonwealth Games. In terms of the number of sports, venues and competitors, only the Olympics Games are bigger. Without any shadow of doubt the Manchester Games have been phenomenally successful.
TWO shops have been fined thousands of pounds for selling potentially dangerous clothes. Sunderland Trading Standards prosecuted Sports Soccer and Shoefayre at Sunderland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after officers found children's tops with cord threaded
THE Northern Echo and its sister paper The East Cleveland Advertiser are betting readers will have a great day of racing fun at one of the North-East's best loved racecourses. Both papers are sponsoring this year's family fun day at Redcar Racecourse
BANKING group Barclays yesterday reported a six per cent fall in profits, after figures were knocked by a steep rise in the amount it set aside to cover bad debts. The group said pre-tax profits for the half year to June 30 fell to £1.75bn, against the
VICTIMS of timeshare swindler John "Goldfinger" Palmer last night criticised a decision which will mean he will not have to pay back millions of pounds for his crimes. Palmer won his appeal yesterday against a confiscation order for £33.2m made after
A NURSING home manager swallowed an overdose of pills prescribed for depression after she learned her estranged husband was seeing another woman, an inquest heard yesterday. Allwyn Fairley's son, Michael, found her body at the family home in Lingmell
THICK fog brought chaos to the roads in North Yorkshire yesterday as emergency services were called to a string of accidents. Three people were taken to hospital and roads blocked off after three accidents in under two hours on the eastern side of the
A ZERO tolerance policy was announced yesterday against landowners, farmers or gamekeepers who use poisoned bait to control pests. The warning was prompted by the discovery of two more dead red kites in North Yorkshire this year - one of the birds among
A ONCE heavily-polluted river could soon make quite a name for itself for game fishing. Record numbers of salmon are being logged in the River Tees, already one of the best coarse fishing rivers in the UK, it is claimed. Eighty seven salmon were caught
a minibus owner depressed after a driving ban cost him his livelihood hanged himself, an inquest heard yesterday. Anthony Blenkinsop, 39, was found by his mother, Mary Pratt, at her home in Abbey Road, Bishop Auckland. He was lying on a bedroom floor
STAFF at Darlington's National Canine Defence League rescue centre are seeking new homes for two of their longer-term residents. Unfortunately, visitors to the centre, on the outskirts of Sadberge, have taken little interest in the slightly excitable
A FORMERLY polluted river could soon become a magnet for game fishing fans. Record numbers of salmon are being logged in the River Tees, already one of the best coarse fishing rivers in the UK, it is claimed. Eighty seven salmon were caught in the Tees
VOLUNTEERS are needed to become "expert patients". Darlington Primary Care Trust has already run two courses under the Department of Health's programme and a third will start this month. The scheme offers courses to help people cope with long-term illnesses
Sir, - Mr Prescott's recent statement about the Government's intention to reform the planning system takes some account of the widespread opposition to its original proposals in the Green Paper published last December. His emphasis on urban renewal and
THE publicity describes it as a cathedral of air - but the children think it is a posh bouncy castle. Either way, the giant inflatable air sculpture in a Stockton park has created quite an impression. The Ixilum is a blow-up series of tunnels that uses
FURNITURE chain Conroys is in administration, it was revealed yesterday. The family-owned company had run into cash-flow problems, and administrators were called in last week in an attempt to save the Gateshead business, which employs 92 people. Conroys
AN oil company boss, who was shot in the head as he struggled with an intruder in the grounds of his country mansion, was recovering from the ordeal last night. Prominent North-East businessman Peter Stephenson was wounded as he grappled with the gunman
BUILDING materials group Hanson saw profits for the last half year rise 12 per cent, the company announced yesterday. The increase was helped by a strong performance from its UK operations including those in the North-East. The group, which produces aggregates
THE fourth Heritage Open Days festival in Darlington has been organised to feature more bus tours, more properties and more walks than in previous years. A total of 20 properties will open their doors for the four-day festival. School events have also
A TEAM of five workers from the Swallow Three Tuns Hotel, in Durham, recently took part in a challenge at Derwentwater near Keswick, in the Lake District, and raised £2,400 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. In nine hours they cycled 26 miles, completed a
STAFF protesting over pay and conditions held their second day of industrial action yesterday. Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and the Journal yesterday picketed the entrances to Thomson House, the
A COUNCIL is building on a national campaign to boost its social services recruitment. The Department of Health's campaign to attract more social services staff, now in its second phase, has already generated more than 14,000 inquiries to a national helpline
POLICE in County Durham say complaints against the force have dropped to their lowest level in almost 30 years. In the year to March, 162 misconduct allegations were levelled against the force's 1,600 officers. That compared with 181 in the previous year
A 16-YEAR-OLD youth accused of a series of sex attacks on girls and an attempted mugging, appeared in court yesterday. The boy, from Hartlepool, appeared before the town's youth court charged with four counts of indecent assault and one of attempted robbery
FIFTY large memorial stones in a graveyard are to undergo urgent safety work after structural engineers completed a survey in Scarborough's Manor Road cemetery. Now, the borough council is planning to remove dangerous headstones and lay them flat in a
A PEER is fighting plans to introduce urban-style traffic systems at Helmsley. The schemes planned by North Yorkshire County Council are aimed at improving traffic systems, but the town council chairman, Lord Feversham, said they threatened to wreck its
I VISIT County Durham quite regularly and, having once lived in Weardale, I take a great interest in the fortunes of the Dale and its people. I was therefore saddened by your feature (Echo, July 27) which appeared to make light of, and trivialise, a very
CYCLIST Chris Newton was forced to settle for silver last night as Australia broke the men's 4,000m team pursuit world record. Newton was part of the England team that finished more than three seconds behind Australia, who came home in 3min 59.583sec
THE licensees of The Lord Nelson, St James' Green, Thirsk, for the past 18 years, Don and Ann Moore, will leave the town in October. They will retire to Teesside and the pub is to be taken over by Scottish-Newcastle, which has refurbishment and extension
A MOBILE glass recycling plant is to continue operating for the next year after it was granted extended planning permission. The plant at Black Quarry, on the outskirts of Leyburn, operates twice a year for three weeks, crushing glass to be used in asphalt
WORK on a £30,000 renovation of Darlington Fire Station will be finished on time, despite the project being dogged by delays and cash flow problems. There were fears that the work, which started last September, would not be completed in time for the opening
The programme was all but wiped out because of rain but Sunderland did manage to play at Whitburn where the home side won by nine wickets. Batting first Sunderland ended with a respectable 100 for the loss of four wickets and Applegarth was the top scorer
THE new cobbles in Yarm High Street have this week got the thumbs down from traders in the town. Shops were told in February that work was due to start and would take eight weeks. Traders were initially angry that work was taking longer than expected
WHILE perusing Rugby Union's law revisions for next season I noted that the wearing of fingerless mitts will now be allowed. It could almost become a metaphor for all the wimpishness we encounter in modern sport, so that when a sprinter falls down in
A NEW policy aimed at cutting tourist traffic around the UK's holiday hotspots could strengthen the case for saving a youth hostel from the axe. National park chiefs have agreed in principle to contribute £20,000 over the next two years to the Youth Hostel
THOUSANDS of youngsters from across the region have come together to celebrate the launch of a new youth project. Connexions Tyne and Wear was launched with a party in the Telewest Arena, hosted by Metro Radio presenters Wayne and Brian Moore, with music
COMMUNITIES across the region are putting the finishing floral touches to their bids to be crowned winner of Britain in Bloom. Ten judges for the competition arrive next week to inspect entries from the region's towns, cities and villages. Bob Sweet,
AN action group fighting to save a North-East care home has revealed that a private company is planning to build a new nursing facility. The news has angered members of the Stoneleigh Relatives Action Group, which has been at loggerheads with Durham County
HARD work by a group of residents in Hartlepool will pay off next week when the community garden they have created is opened officially. Councillor Carl Richardson, chairman of Hartlepool Borough Council, will open the garden, which is at the back of
FORMER Tory leader William Hague is demanding answers from the NHS hospital which gave struck-off surgeon Richard Neale another chance. The Richmond MP wants to know how official NHS warnings about the former gynaecologist at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton
MORE than 3,000 people applied for only 350 jobs at a new supermarket in Redcar. A spokesman for Morrisons Supermarket said everyone at the organisation was delighted at the response from the public over several days at Redcar Job Centre. Gail Roberts
A NEW face has taken over as the new Officer Commanding the administrative wing at RAF Leeming. Born in Surrey and educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich, South London, Wing Commander Colin Smith joined the RAF in 1981 and was commissioned into the administration
A CITY where a huge gypsum crater forced nearby homes to be demolished and shut a road for two-and-a-half years is likely to see plans for new homes held up over fears of unstable land. Planning chiefs are calling for a ground stability study of land
August 1, was Yorkshire Day, and although this is a comparatively modern institution, it generates a fascinating range of events throughout England's largest county, all of which are designed to honour this most remarkable part of the country. Yorkshire
Langbaurgh League: Crathorne were bowled out for just 122 but made Stafford Place fight all the way before losing by three wickets. Charlie Heap scored two sixes and four boundaries in 42 and Barney Heap had one six and three fours contributing 32 to
CARL Cort wants to use tonight's friendly at Oldham as a springboard back into the Newcastle first team. Sir Bobby Robson has been forced to exclude Cort from his plans for most of the £7m striker's time on Tyneside. A hamstring injury in his first season
ASBESTOS victims and their families are being offered free support from the North-East Asbestos Support and Awareness Group. The group, in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, can help with compensation claims, filling in benefits forms, and offers general support
FUNDRAISING efforts are continuing to secure the future of an annual seaside coach trip for pensioners. Ferryhill Town Council has run a trip to South Shields for several years, but funds are drying up. It costs about £1,000 a year. Councillor Doreen
A HIMALAYAN river adventure turned into a white knuckle ordeal when the new ranger at Hamsterley Forest encountered Maoist terrorists. Robin Lofthouse survived to take over his present job three months ago, a peaceful environment after a dramatic interlude
NORTHALLERTON people tired of seeing their properties flooded descended on local council offices yesterday to make their point. The placard-carrying delegation to the Stone Cross headquarters of Hambleton District Council followed the setting up of the
FUNDRAISING efforts are continuing to secure the future of an annual seaside coach trip for pensioners. Ferryhill Town Council has run a trip to South Shields for several years, but funds are drying up. It costs about £1,000 a year. Councillor Doreen
When keeping mum is a mother's problem A BAD title for a programme that would have been more accurately called Children Behaving Quietly. For this first of four, in a series about families coping with children with extreme behaviour, was about three children
HEIGHINGTON still lead division A following their ten-wicket victory over Cockerton, who were dismissed in 31.1 overs for just 51 runs last Saturday. Rob Waite sent down ten overs, seven of them maidens, and conceded only five runs in taking four wickets
Newton Aycliffe The 5.5 mile White-Horse Handicap Trail Race on the July 16 saw three runners from the club compete. Colin Gibson and Brent Morfoot both recorded times of 37.06, followed by Michael O' Sullivan in 38.50. Four club runners took on the Northumberland
Once he boxed for England and was an Imperial Service champion. Now at 65 and with two new hips, Bobby Mills fights on. Still he has a makeshift gym in his backyard, still does carefully programmed hour and a quarter workouts, still runs and skips when
LEYBURN'S first Dales Festival of Food and Drink made a surplus of £18,285, making it possible for another one to be held over the May Day weekend next year. There are already reports of people returning to the Dales for several days after visiting the
Movies On CD & DVD. Publisher: FastTrak Software. Format: PC CD-ROM. Price: £29.99 Now that analogue capture cards are coming down to sensible levels, the prospect of transferring those old vids isn't such a daunting idea any more. Digitising your
POLICE are hoping a new initiative will help them tackle what most Richmondshire residents have highlighted as their major concern. A clamp-down on anti-social behaviour by teenagers and even younger children was listed as the number one priority by those
IT takes some believing, but the first six months of 2002 have been the warmest on record. The Met Office said yesterday that despite the recent torrential rain and flooding, the average temperature in the northern hemisphere has been the warmest in 143
Tow Law Bass League Tow Law New Market A held on to third place in the table after they came through a tough home match against Stanley Earl Derby to win by five points. The home side got away to a great start with wins in both trebles and then singles
THE owner of a village pub near Bedale has been told he must keep the business open, even though he has claimed there are hardly any customers. A planning inspector has ruled that Mark Wilson, who wants to turn the Milbank Arms at Well into a house, has
THIS week's atrocious weather notwithstanding, the tourism business in the North-East and North Yorkshire appears to be recovering well this year after the foot-and-mouth disaster of 2001. Spectator's contacts in the Yorkshire Dales' B&B trade suggest
The Readers Durham County League Under-15s Etherley fielding a severely depleted side, were all out for just 18 when they met Shildon. Tweddle with three for seven and Rowley, whose three wickets cost him just nine runs, were the bowlers responsible for
A SENIOR policeman who helped catch a child murderer escaped a jail sentence yesterday for stealing a tax disc and putting it on his car. Detective Inspector Trevor Martin headed Northumbria Police's scientific aids unit and helped investigate the killing
NORTHUMBERLAND farmer Sir Donald Curry has been given another major challenge by the Government. He is to head a new body to oversee the changes Ministers want to see introduced in agriculture. Sir Don, who chaired the Policy Commission into the Future
CHANGES to the 20-day standstill ruling on farm livestock are expected to be announced either today or Monday. But on Wednesday any hopes that the ruling might be lifted, or dramatically reduced, appeared remote. The National Beef Association and Tenant
THE police net is widening in the search for three intruders who shot a wealthy businessman in the garden of his home near Thirsk on Tuesday. Businessman Peter Stephenson, aged 55, was left in a pool of blood after grappling with a shotgun-wielding burglar
Roseberry Group North East Durham League Nick Thompson was in splendid form when he led Washington to a match-winning 143 for eight in their home game with Coundon. He stroked four boundaries contributing 62 and Gordon Carr (27) and Alan Kitchen (20)
AN old, old argument raises its head again. Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? That much-publicised Mori poll of a few weeks ago on the relative popularity of different vegetables is to blame. I thought it a bizarre result, with carrots first and potatoes
Many will have raised a glass or lit a cigar in celebration at the news that Customs officers lost a landmark legal case this week. Spot checks have now been outlawed and officers must have "reasonable grounds" before stopping cars at ports to see whether
The Fell racing season continues and 32 runners finished the Guisborough Uphill Fell Race. Cameron Choules was in sixth place in a time of 7.45 followed by Richard Hall seventh in 7.55. Others: Stewart Mechie 9th 8.14, Hywel Smith 15th 9.09, Neil Mechie
PLANS for the creation of the Pennine bridleway have been endorsed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The 560km route from Matlock in Derbyshire to Byrness in Northumberland will pass through the western edge of the park, including a section
BOOKMAKERS up and down the country may well be crying in their cornflakes this morning because they've taken a serious pasting so far at Glorious Goodwood. I can see little respite on the horizon, especially as Kieren "the Enforcer" Fallon partners a
DETECTIVES are hoping new forensic evidence will close the net on an armed gang who shot a wealthy businessman at point blank range. Peter Stephenson was blasted in the head with a shotgun during a violent struggle in the grounds of his Kepwick Hall mansion
Tonight's friendly between Darlington and Huddersfield Town at Feethams has been postponed. After an inspection this afternoon the pitch was deemed unplayable as rain continued to fall across the region. Quakers boss Tommy Taylor had hoped to field a
POLICE say drugs have become the new killers on the region's roads. Laboratory tests revealed more than half the people who died on the roads in the Durham police area this year had taken drugs. Samples taken from road accident fatalities are routinely
CONCERN is growing for the welfare of a pair of rare nesting birds because the weather may be making it difficult for them to catch food. The colourful bee-eaters, normally found in southern Europe and North Africa, have captured the imagination of the
Oakdale Jubilee Trophy and Mixed Foursomes Thirsk and Northallerton Golf club was the venue for last weekend's mixed competition. With each club nominating three couples prior to the start of the competition then added together to find the winner of the
Middlesbrough are celebrating a record equalling feat in winning the Kerridge Cup for three consecutive years. Not since Redcar won the cup in 1929, 1930 and 1931 has a team won the Kerridge Cup three years running, and this is only the second time has
Crook Belle Vue edged a further point ahead of the second placed Cockton Hill in the darts section when they only dropped one point at the Prospect, whilst Cockton Hill dropped two at third placed Byers Green. This pushed Crook Belle Vue four points clear
The club hosted a tournament for players born 1986 or later at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre. As Sedgefield are generally so strong they sometimes put in two teams in some competitions, one under the banner of Woodham, which they did in this tournament
ARRIVA Trains Northern has hit back at claims that its stance over the long running conductors dispute was compromising safety. Rail Maritime and Transport union officials claimed the train company had shelved its regular safety briefings. But managing
BRIAN Lara was yesterday added to the Lashings World X1 to play Durham at the Riverside next Wednesday. It was always expected that Lara would play in the match, but he was not in the team announced a few weeks ago. He has now been persuaded to make himself
BROTTON residents campaigning for traffic calming measures have described their road as a race track. People living in Linden Road handed over a petition with more than 300 names to Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Dr Ashok Kumar, on Wednesday
strike action by council workers could force the Tyne Tunnel to close, bringing chaos to the region's roads. As part of a pay dispute with employers, unions are threatening to increase the pressure unless their demands are met at talks today. Unison has
Richard Tunney had one of those days when everything went right for him when playing for Stockton Cricket C lub thirds - and even the opposition assisted him. He secured the vast majority of his side's runs when he chalked up a massive 173 not out in
ANOTHER local auction mart is changing hands in the wake of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Stokesley mart, currently owned by Penrith Farmers & Kidd's, is to merge with Northallerton Auctions from August 19. It follows PF&K's decision to quit the
The Northern Echo and KitClub have teamed-up to offer one lucky football team a free strip. If you manage, play, or help run a team in need of a new kit, this is a great opportunity and one which should not be missed. At this time of year amateur sides
WIND farm developers close to Teesside Airport are being asked to pledge a substantial cash bond to help solve any potential radar problems. The air disturbance from the rotating turbines is seen by radar operators as a moving target, similar to an aircraft
ELECTRICAL storms and torrential rain brought flash floods and power failures across North Yorkshire on Tuesday. Motorists faced long delays or detours, trains were disrupted and businesses lost trade as their premises were closed due to flooding or power
THE inaugural Darlington & Stockton Times Evening Inter-League Cup was contested by teams representing the Wensleydale and Northallerton and District leagues on a lovely afternoon at Middleham last Sunday. Wensleydale skipper Richard Sanderson won
A NEW report urges politicians not to forget rural businesses as they consider the lessons learnt from the foot-and-mouth crisis. The study, by Newcastle University's Centre for Rural Economy, warns that many small firms are still struggling from the
A FORMER mayor and prominent businessman has died at the age of 90. Alan Brown, a veteran of the Second World War, died at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Tuesday following a short illness. Mr Brown was a well-known local businessman, who built up a chain
POLICE are warning companies to be on their guard against a new scam. Cleveland Police say they know of seven firms who are trying to cash in on a change in the Data Protection Act. Unsolicited registration documents are being sent out highlighting a
IT was far removed from the usual modes of transport on the River Ouse - and this spectacular sight had bystanders enthralled yesterday. A transparent sphere, roughly the size of a house, floated down the river in York city centre to launch this year's
ARAN, chunky as you like, and no pattern daunts me but the delicate, feathery stitches of baby gear are not my thing. Not even for my own. She got an Aran pram rug from me and others did the lacy stuff. That's why when friends - and now friends' children
THE first national museum to be built in the North-East will be known as the Shildon Railway Village, it was announced yesterday. Famous around the world as "the cradle of the railways", Shildon, in County Durham, will house a slice of industrial history
JUDGES of European Capital of Culture visit the region today to run the rule over the region's entry. Newcastle and Gateshead have joined forces to bid for the 2008 title which, it is claimed, could give a massive boost to tourism. The panel, headed by
a minibus owner depressed after a driving ban cost him his livelihood hanged himself, an inquest heard yesterday. Anthony Blenkinsop, 39, was found by his mother, Mary Pratt, at her home in Abbey Road, Bishop Auckland. He was lying on a bedroom floor
A FORMERLY polluted river could soon become a magnet for game fishing fans. Record numbers of salmon are being logged in the River Tees, already one of the best coarse fishing rivers in the UK, it is claimed. Eighty seven salmon were caught in the Tees
STAFF at Darlington's National Canine Defence League rescue centre are seeking new homes for two of their longer-term residents. Unfortunately, visitors to the centre, on the outskirts of Sadberge, have taken little interest in the slightly excitable
Hylton suffered their worst defeat of the season when Seaham Park ran out nine wicket winners. Required to score 88, Seaham won easily as Tom Riches carried his bat for 40 and Ian Andrews ended unbeaten on 33. When Hylton batted first and totalled 87
A CHILTON woman had some VIP help to insulate her home. Prime Minister Tony Blair paid a visit to Joan Harrison's house to lend a hand, when it became the five millionth in Britain to have insulating material pumped into the wall cavities to conserve
A BUSINESSMAN wanted for drug dealing is enjoying a life of luxury in Northern Cyprus. Gary Robb, who owned several nightclubs in the North-East, fled the country in September 1997 before he could be tried on drugs charges. Mr Robb owned the Colosseum
A WASTE paper recycling bin has been placed in a Ferryhill car park to aid hospice funds. The Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland, which provides specialist care to the terminally ill, raises funds by organising recycling projects. A wastepaper container
A TEAM of five workers from the Swallow Three Tuns Hotel, in Durham, recently took part in a challenge at Derwentwater near Keswick, in the Lake District, and raised £2,400 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. In nine hours they cycled 26 miles, completed a
DARLINGTON'S public buildings are in better shape than those of most local authorities. Its libraries, crematorium, sports centres, offices and administrative buildings are in good condition, John Buxton, director of development and environment, told
TEACHERS overwhelmed with huge class sizes and fed up with demanding inner city children should no look no further than the remotest school in England. Kielder Community First School in Northumberland, which has only four pupils and is surrounded by spectacular
A COUNTY DURHAM power distribution manufacturing company has invested £750,000 in the launch of two products that look certain to strengthen its position. Electrak International Limited, of Consett's Number One industrial estate, has developed Rotasoc
A NURSING home manager swallowed an overdose of pills prescribed for depression after she learned her estranged husband was seeing another woman, an inquest heard yesterday. Allwyn Fairley's son, Michael, found her body at the family home in Lingmell
YOUNGSTERS were bowled over at a food tasting workshop with a cricketing theme. About 20 children aged from seven to ten enjoyed delicious dishes from cricketing countries around the world yesterday, as part of a summer school at Abingdon Primary School
A MOTHER has launched a one-woman campaign to change a school uniform policy which she claims discriminates against less well-off families. Tracy Lean says she was outraged when she learnt she must buy her son Kurtis's school uniform sweatshirt and polo
A TEES Valley crane company is lifting off to success thanks to expertise, quality of service and financial backing from UK Steel Enterprise. RS Cranes and Material Handling Limited, of Middlesbrough, was set up by Mike Riley and Neil Sanderson just a
LOCAL authorities in the region are to share in an additional £3m of Government money to help them prevent homelessness and tackle the causes. The Government has revealed details of how almost £140,000 is to be allocated to the region to implement legislation
A COUNCILLOR has voiced concerns over anti-social behaviour following a series of attacks with ball bearing (BB) guns. The calls come as a Darlington teenager recovers from a BB gun attack which left him with grazing and swelling to the temple. Residents
PLANS by a developer to build 99 homes on land at Romanby failed over the cramped layout of the site. Hambleton District Council's development control committee agreed with officers that the scheme by Barratt for 60 houses and 39 flats on the site of
A VETERAN of the Second World War was targeted by heartless thieves who conned their way into his home and then stole a large amount of money. At about 3pm on Wednesday the 84-year-old, who lives on his own, answered a call at the door of his bungalow
YOUNGSTERS are being invited to take part in a series of summer play scheme activities this month (aug). Athletics, basketball, football and more are on offer at the Eastbourne Sports Complex, in Darlington. A fun athletics course for children aged eight
IT'S a long way from the sun-kissed beaches of the south of France to the North York Moors - but Anna Laplace Toulouse is glad she made the journey. She has swapped her home-town of St Tropez for the delights of Mount Grace Priory, near Northallerton,
AN indoor pelican crossing to promote the road safety message is proving a success. Last year, the Safety Works learning centre, in Newcastle, asked the city council's Cityworks traffic signals section if it would install a set of pelican crossing signals
Rock bands head for the region next month for the first UK Metal Mania festival. Artists performing at Newcastle University on Saturday, September 7, include former Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley, the Tigers of Pan Tang, the Macc Lads and Baz Warne.
WHEN Carole Bainbridge retired from her job as a scientist she had more time to devote to her hobby of painting flowers. Now, some of her watercolour and pastel pictures have gone on display in her second exhibition at the Discovery Centre, at Seaton
HALF a century of steam traction rallies in the North Yorkshire market town of Pickering is celebrated this weekend when thousands of people attend what has become Britain's second biggest steam rally. For organiser Simon Boak it will be the 26th time
A MAN was charged last night after a police station was left badly damaged. Joseph Lucas, 36, of Bethune Avenue, in Seaham, east Durham, is due to appear before magistrates at Peterlee this morning accused of criminal damage with intent to endanger life
Fosters Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League U18s Burnopfield had 49 runs to spare when they visited Whickham who could only make 84 for five which included 22 by Chris Morton. Jason Temperley took two of the wickets for only 16 runs and when Burnopfield
A FIGHT to save 50 jobs at a sausage skin business is going to Brussels. The Food Standards Agency in Britain has recommended to the European Commission that natural sausage skins should be banned from food use amid fears that mad cow disease and scrapie
THE Bank of England yesterday kept interest rates on hold at four per cent against a background of sliding stockmarkets and cooling demand on the high street. The move means interest rates have now been kept at their 38-year low for the ninth month in
THREE meetings are to be held in Hartlepool next week to give residents a chance to raise issues affecting their area. Hartlepool Borough Council's Neighbourhood Consultative Forums will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Issues due to be considered
PLANS for a purpose-built home for elderly peopleform the main feature of an exhibition in Stokesley library. Planners have designed the development with the aim of providing a better alternative to residential care homes. The £2.5m building will feature
A NEIGHBOURHOOD watch co-ordinator has been put forward for a national award. Liz Knowles was the victim of a house burglary 11 years ago and since then has spent much of her time trying to combat crime in Stockton. Starting out as a street coordinator
Heatwave conditions coupled with a low summer river resulted in the worst ever turnout of just 44 for the River Swale Preservation Society George Winney Memorial Upper Swale Championship pegged between Easby Abbey and Great Langton, writes Jeff Herbert
Movies On CD & DVD. Publisher: FastTrak Software. Format: PC CD-ROM. Price: £29.99 Now that analogue capture cards are coming down to sensible levels, the prospect of transferring those old vids isn't such a daunting idea any more. Digitising your
A TEAM of five workers from the Swallow Three Tuns Hotel, in Durham, recently took part in a challenge at Derwentwater near Keswick, in the Lake District, and raised £2,400 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. In nine hours they cycled 26 miles, completed a
WHEN NHS bosses tried to downgrade a popular hospital in the Midlands and ignored strong local feelings, there was an electoral earthquake. The angry voters of Kidderminster sensationally hit back by electing a hospital doctor as their MP, sticking two
ORGANISERS of one of the biggest events in Ripon's calendar are hoping to reverse a sharp decline in income after a difficult time last year. The £1m revamp of the city's Market Square meant the funfair was missing from the programme for the annual St
A bid to bring the Capital of Culture title to the North-East may have Newcastle and Gateshead at its heart, but, as the judges visit Tyneside today, Nick Morrison hears how it could be good for the rest of the region. WHAT'S in a name? Quite a lot, if
THE founder of lingerie distributor AmpleBosom.com has been recognised in a national awards scheme for rural businesses. North Yorkshire farmer Sally Robinson, pictured here with sheepdog Ben, was highly commended in the Enterprising Rural Women Awards
Newton Aycliffe edged their way from the foot of the First Division after they beat the visiting league leaders, Fishburn A in the decider. The visitors went ahead with a win from John Griffin but the home side moved ahead when Michael Hewitt and Richie
TALKS between motorists, farmers and highways experts about a notorious A19 junction have been encouraging, organisers say. The Black Swan junction near Hutton Rudby serves commuters and farm traffic from a wide area, including Swainby, Potto, Appleton
THIRSK moved out of the bottom two in the premier division when they powered to a nine-wicket victory over Pickering last Saturday. Colin Frank (47) and Chris Nicholls (36) made runs for the Pikes, but Andrew Chandler hit a purple patch to grab 5-42 and
THE former leader of the Tory party has added his voice to calls for urgent action to prevent further flooding at Northallerton. A torrential downpour earlier brought more misery for many householders when floodwaters burst into their homes. For some,
A THEATRE group has paid tribute to a landlady and her daughter, who have left the pub where it was formed. Members of the Castle Players, renowned for their open air performances at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, showed their appreciation to Anna
OJuly 7 the Ladies travelled to Nottingham to play in the Jubilee Victoria Trophy five-a-side tournament with 69 other teams from across the country. With the teams split into ten groups of seven the Royals qualified for the quarter finals with wins over
ANGRY walkers say Darlington Council has acted illegally in digging up a section of the Black Path near Honeypot Lane. Members of the Ramblers' Association are furious that the council went ahead with the work on the 150m-long section of the bridleway
Many will have raised a glass or lit a cigar in celebration at the news that Customs officers lost a landmark legal case this week. Spot checks have now been outlawed and officers must have "reasonable grounds" before stopping cars at ports to see whether
A LITTLE boy's secret game with a forbidden cigarette lighter sparked a fierce blaze which killed him and his half-brother, their family heard yesterday. Members of Carl Taylor and Stephen Peel's extended family sobbed as details outlining the full extent
A PILOT scheme aimed at giving patients access to a doctor within two working days is being tried out in four practices in the south-west of County Durham. Barnard Castle, together with surgeries at Crook, Willington and Bishop Auckland, is taking part
Tow Law has a reputation for abandoned matches in winter, but their friendly with Spennymoor at Ironworks Road had to be abandoned on Wednesday night because of fog, writes Ray Simpson. The teams were drawing 2-2 at the time, but the referee was forced
HEALTH chiefs have issued an apology to a grieving widow, whose dying 81-year-old husband was refused privacy so other patients could watch World Cup football. Bosses at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, are now reviewing their
LOCAL authorities could face repaying hundreds of thousands of pounds after the House of Lords ruled they should not have charged for services to discharged mental patients. In a landmark judgement expected to affect about two-thirds of the country's
CYCLE club members are riding dangerously side-by-side along narrow roads and being abusive to motorists, it is claimed. Lanes between Stokesley, Hutton Rudby, Crathorne and Middleton on Leven are regularly used by cycle clubs, as is the A19 for speed
RICHMOND brothers Mark and Andrew Constantine overcame a severely bent rear beam to record a superb top three position in class and take the lead in the raceandrally.com 1400cc BTRDA championship after an eventful Quinton Rally based at Builth Wells in
WHILE perusing Rugby Union's law revisions for next season I noted that the wearing of fingerless mitts will now be allowed. It could almost become a metaphor for all the wimpishness we encounter in modern sport, so that when a sprinter falls down in
GUISBOROUGH police have launched a campaign to halt the illegal use of firearms in the countryside around the town. Operation Spruce has been set up after an increase in reports of air gun shooting and poaching in and around Guisborough Woods. The campaign
DAVID Dolan stands one fight from greatness today after taking an unlikely route into the Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight final. Two years after Audley Harrison reigned supreme in the same category at the Sydney Olympics, only Canada's David Cadieux
