THE mystery surrounding the location of a vanished medieval castle in Aiskew could soon be solved. Amateur archaeologists from Bedale Archaeology and History Society are planning to pin down the exact spot where the castle once stood. Peter Cole, the
POLICE have launched appeal proceedings into the sentence given to sex attacker Timothy Din. They believe the 20-year jail term handed down to the hooded rapist last week was not long enough, and are due to ask the Attorney General to consider referring
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a woman's death yesterday during a 999 control room breakdown. The 67-year-old, who is not being named, died while waiting for an ambulance after a power cut sparked a fire alert, knocking out the control room's
YOUNGSTERS showed star quality when they performed their own version of a classic musical. A group of 62 eight and nine year olds from Esh Winning Primary School staged a colourful production of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. They put on
Durham League Middlesbrough Mavericks kept up the pressure on Middlesbrough College Academy in the race for Durham League division one title this week when they beat Norton A 76-66 in their derby at Stockton. A brace of three point baskets from Mark Winter
A NEW chief executive has been appointed to lead the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Nigel Pulling, 42, formerly the society's head of finance and commercial enterprises, takes up the post with immediate effect. Announcing the appointment, chairman John
EIGHT members competed in the London Marathon. This year saw a record number of participants, including Alasdair Tatham who was competing as an elite runner. He completed the course in an excellent time of 2:36:05. Next Quaker home was Gordon Richards
HORSE riders using the bridleways around Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate can now tie up their animals at a corral and take a break to stroll around the National Heritage site. Fiona Wallis of Harrogate Bridleways Association said: "Lots of people
THERE are few weather sayings which can be attributed to a very small locality - usually, they apply to larger and rather vague areas like "the north", "the coast" or perhaps "the Pennines" and even the area around a county boundary, but the modestly-sized
THE 2000 Guineas tomorrow sees the north with a rare runner, Mark Johnston sending Love Regardless to contest this Classic race under Kevin Darley. As we went to press, 22 colts stood their ground in the contest, including Adian O'Brien's well-regarded
Sir, - I noted with interest the comments made by Coun Middlemiss, deputy leader of the Richmondshire Association of Independent Councillors group in the report "Bid to unveil political alliance voted down" (D&S, Apr 26). A motion had been placed
JUBILEE MUGS: The golden jubilee committee has agreed to buy 180 mugs at about £2 each, to be presented to the children of the two villages of Great Broughton and Kirkby, and to any other child attending the village school. Kirkby parish council and the
TWO of City of York Council's libraries are to be temporarily closed this month, users have been warned. Tang Hall library will close next week for two weeks so that essential work on adding a UK Online information technology learning centre can take
CATTLE showman David Cormack will change roles to judge the Limousin line-up at the British Limousin Cattle Society Perth bull show and sale on Monday. Mr Cormack has been stockman for Peter and Anne Lang, at Hawnby, near Helmsley, for the last eight
Sedgefield 75 Carol Mohan, Charlotte Nichols, Samantha Mitchell and Angela Winstanley Smith have confirmed their selection for the European Junior Championships, Great Britain team in Portugal in July. This is a remarkable achievement to have four players
The region's dairy farmers tightened their belts again last month as the milk price fell. Rob Simpson, of the National Farmers' Union examines the reasons behind the price slump, and Jessica Slee talks to a North Yorkshire farmer who is working towards
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
The pool section is very tight with only two points separating the top four teams. Crook Belle Vue recorded a very good away win at Ferryhill, who slipped to their second defeat in the decider. The Crook side went two up with wins from Gordon Dodds and
At the Kirkbymoorside 10km Road Race Steve Dauber was the club's only representative running a Personal Best time of 54.58. There were four running the Blyth ten-mile on Sunday. Martin Grainger finished ninth overall in a personal best time of 54min 13sec
From this newspaper 100 years ago. - A unique event in the history of Yarm took place by the launch of a steam yacht, built by and under the superintendence of Mr Archie Clapham. The craft's measurements were 22 feet long, five feet beam, and draws about
A MULTI-PURPOSE pitch costing an estimated £610,000 at Bedale High School is among 31 sports and recreation projects for youngsters nominated for Government cash help by North Yorkshire County Council. The project, which would involve building the pitch
THE GROWTH of Britain's buoyant services sector has quickened to its fastest pace for more than a year. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) said the recent upturn in confidence among manufacturers had helped boost demand. Research
The hottest day of the year stirred the carp into action during Wednesday's Carpvale Open at Moor Monkton and competitors witnessed a feeding frenzy, writes Jeff Herbert. Top venue regular Dave Wright delivered 2002's best so far a sensational bag of
A RUGBY team from Carmel RC Technology College in Darlington will certainly look the part when they represent Durham county in the national schools tournament at Twickenham this weekend. After winning the county 12-a-side tournament to qualify for the
DURHAM County Council is to spend more than £170,000 on computers for councillors in their own homes. All 61 members of the Labour-run authority will be offered a computer with e-mail and intranet and internet access along with a desk and chair and combined
DUNGEON SIEGE Format: PC CD Rom. Publisher: Microsoft. Price: £39.99 JUST BECAUSE Microsoft has a pretty important games console out at the moment (now reduced to just £199 - what are you waiting for?), it hasn't forsaken the PC games player. Five years
EFFORTS to offer a hand of friendship across Europe have earned Durham County Council international recognition. The council is the only UK local authority to be named on the roll of honour for the 2002 Europe Prize. County Durham was selected by the
Durham County Youth The Under-18s lost 2-1 away to Birmingham in the final of the FA County Youth Cup, but gave a good account of themselves in what was their ninth national final. Durham have won the trophy seven times, the last being in 1999. The final
A JUBILEE event may be at risk because parish councillors do not want to see drinking on a village green. Unless Egglescliffe Parish Council agrees to a licence bid for a bar, the celebration could be abandoned - and some members are strongly against
A FIRE engine which was to have made an extraordinary journey to the Afghan capital of Kabul finally left North Yorkshire on Monday, bound for a different destination thousands of miles away. The 12-year-old former Merseyside machine bought with the help
DURHAM County Council is to spend more than £170,000 on computers for councillors in their own homes. All 61 members of the Labour-run authority will be offered a computer with e-mail and intranet and internet access along with a desk and chair and combined
Bishop Auckland's enforced relegation from the First Division has ruled out the possibility of a local derby in the play offs. The news which Bishops feared, arrived yesterday in a phone call from league secretary Duncan Bayley that they will be relegated
A FAMILY business badly hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak has fought back to regain lost trade with the help of One NorthEast grants. Sayers of Yarm had built up a loyal customer base in the 23 years since it opened in the town's High Street, specialising
THE flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la! This is the best time of year for wild flowers. Even now, when so many fields and hedges are trimmed and treated, nature has a way of fighting back. Wild flower meadows as we used to know them might be a thing
Can't get on with contact lenses but tired of wearing glasses? Steve Parsley braves a laser beam to take a closer look at the hi-tech alternatives A RING of bright white light encircled the blinking red eye of the laser just inches from my face. Lying
H'ANGUS the Monkey caused a political sensation early this morning when he became the first elected mayor of Hartlepool. In the first vote, Stuart Drummond - the monkey - polled 5,696 votes, Leo Gillen 5,438, Ian Cameron, (Independent), 5,174, Arthur
ALL public rights of way in Teesdale are now open after restrictions on some farms with footpaths running through them were lifted. This leaves only four of the county's network of more than 4,300 rights of way still closed in the aftermath of foot-and-mouth
North Shields have just about wrapped up the championship following victory over Harton and Westoe and Darlington RA's defeat at Birtley Town. In what is now a two-horse race, the Robins lead their rivals by 12 points although RA have four games in hand
ANOTHER attempt is being made to give a new lease of life to a prominent Bedale building described as an eyesore by local people. A planning officer said yesterday that a decision could be made within the next few weeks on an application by a Bedale-based
THE funeral of a former company managing director will be held next week. Jack Capeling died at his home in Heighington, near Darlington, on April 29. A well known industry figure, he retired in 1982 after 35 years at Smart and Brown's engineering company
FOREST riders now have a new voice, thanks to the recently formed Guisborough Bridleways Group. A committee of 15, under the chairmanship of Julie Fishpool, was formed following a well attended meeting at the Branch Walkway Centre, Pinchinthorpe. Laura
PLANS for a sandwich shop and coffee bar in Ferryhill are expected to be approved by councillors today. The application is for a shop in empty premises in Parker Terrace. Sedgefield Borough Council has received one letter of objection from a neighbour
A TALENTED trio received extra praise at a ceremony to honour the achievements of year 11 pupils at St John's RC Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland Simon Quinn, of Derwent Avenue, West Auckland, has represented the school at football, cricket, basketball
A NEW method of dealing with young offenders has come into operation in Darlington. Young people who plead guilty and are convicted for the first time at Darlington Youth Court can now be made subject of a referral order, based on the principles of "restorative
Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League NEW MASONS will clinch the First Division championship for the first time in five years if they win their final game of the season next Sunday. The Shildon team, who last won the title back in 1997,
NEWMARKET'S Guineas meeting not only brings us the first two Classic races of the season, it also heralds the return of the powerful Godolphin team, fresh from spending a winter away in sun-drenched Dubai, writes Colin Woods. Just like most of us there's
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy with learning difficulties let a younger child follow him on to railway tracks where they narrowly cheated death, a court heard yesterday. The older boy dived into bushes to avoid an oncoming train that passed only inches away from the
PREPARATIONS were under way throughout the region yesterday for the Queen's visit next week. The royal party's two-day visit will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Bunting was being hung in Darlington's
A FORMER parcel office was transformed into a battlefield as four artists unleashed their version of the Gulf War on to the North-East. Desert Rain, a game, art installation and performance piece, is at Middlesbrough railway station's old Red Cross office
THIRTY firefighters fought a blaze which gutted a warehouse and sent a plume of smoke miles high into the sky. An arson investigation team, aided by scenes of crime police officers, sifted through the remains of the 70m by 20m storage shed on Middlesbrough's
FOR those of us who are not even sure what digital means, the pulling of the ITV Digital plug does not amount to a hill of beans. The failure to hand over £178m to Nationwide League football clubs, however, is already having serious repercussions in terms
THIRSK could see the return of its street fair later this year. Hambleton District Council has been asked by local fairground operator Crows to allow a traditional street fair to be held in the market place in August. Parish councils, Thirsk Town Council
T and M Disco Crook and District League Earl of Warwick looked far from likely champions when goals from Clive Treby, Ashley Hind and Kevin Hamilton gave opponents Rugby Club a 3-0 lead. The Warwick pulled one back before half time and in a one sided
COUNCILLORS will be asked next week to approve plans to convert a Leyburn old peoples' home into flats and houses. Lochiel House closed this year when owners Margaret and Keith Knight decided to retire. If Richmondshire District Council agrees, the property
A cabbie's kindness helped save the life of an injured fox cub. The female fox cub seemed badly hurt when taxi driver Brian McKenna, of Consett, County Durham, found it lying by a roadside, probably after being hit by a car. He took it to a vet in the
Junior round-up Whitley Tomahawks played their first two matches in the English Junior (U16) North promotion/relegation play-offs last weekend and got at least one point and could be awarded a second. Tomahawks' second match was against Blackburn Eagles
DISCUSSIONS with the fashion and furnishings store, Next, have prompted developers to submit a planning application for alterations to Dressers' store on High Row, Darlington. It is more than a year since the well-known stationers' closed its doors to
The man who championed zero-tolerance policing in Britain today became the Mayor of Middlesbrough. 'Robocop' Ray Mallon today stormed into office on an election ticket of law and order leaving Labour candidate and deputy leader of Middlesbrough Borough
Sunderland and District Table Tennis Club have, for the second year in succession, qualified for the final of a national competition following their series of victories at the Northfield School TTC Billingham. Their success was coming second out of eight
NEW strips will help a Darlington school rugby team put on a good show in a national competition. Carmel RC Technology College will represent the area in the finals of the national schools tournament at Twickenham this weekend. After winning the Durham
CABLE company ntl yesterday announced it had gained approval from its banks to press on with a life-saving refinancing plan. NTL is handing control of the business over to its bondholders in return for them forgiving £7.4bn of debt. The debt is being
A PROGRAMME of events organised by the Friends of the Bowes Museum starts with a picture gallery tour tonight, at 7pm. Tickets are available for £6, which includes a lecture, wine and canapes, and a tour of the gallery with the museum's keeper of fine
Peugeot is to create up to 700 new jobs at its UK plant under plans to increase production. A fourth shift will be added at the Ryton factory in Coventry which produces the 206 model. The number of cars built at the site will increase from an expected
A GROUP of teenagers concocted lies to convince police officers that a 14-year-old boy's death was accidental, a court heard yesterday. Matthew Sheffield, of Clifton Avenue, Eaglescliffe, Teesside, was shot in the head with an air-rifle pellet as he ran
A LITTLE piece of Georgian England has been recreated at the Beamish Museum. The 1820s country landscape, with riven oak field gates, stone gateposts and stone flagging, has been built at the museum, near Gateshead, with a £120,000 grant from the County
POLICE are appealing to people living in a seaside town for help in piecing together a father-of-four's last day alive. The body of unemployed construction worker David Griffiths, 39, was found by workmen sifting through a pile of rubbish at a recycling
A CONFERENCE is being held in Sunderland on how to teach the city's school children how to be good citizens. The event, which began yesterday and continues today at the Stadium of Light, addresses the introduction of citizenship lessons in secondary schools
A NORTH-EAST student is a finalist in a student design award. Victoria Glover, from Marton, Middlesbrough, is studying for a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design with Marketing and Promotion at Batley School of Art and Design in West Yorkshire. She is one of 12
THE cost of jubilee events in an east Cleveland town has been given a boost thanks to the National Lottery. The Lottery's Awards For All scheme has given almost £6,000 to Guisborough Town Pride to help with the cost of two days worth of events at Gisborough
ANTI-SOCIAL children in the Stokesley and Great Ayton area are being targeted by the police with the aid of information from other agencies. Officers told a public meeting at Kirkby on Thursday of last week that court orders could be imposed on youngsters
Sunderland Catholic Club Over-40s League Billingham Wanderers won 3-1 away to the Killingworth Arms and once again top the Premier Division. Leading 2-0 at the interval courtesy of Barrett and Aldridge whose goals put them two up after two minutes, Billingham
THE new mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Coun Eric Jackson, was installed yesterday - and it was all very familiar territory for his mayoress, Coun Brenda Forster. Not only did she serve as borough mayor from 1992-3, she also acted as mayoress to Coun Les
Darlington Cleveland Bridge won the Darlington Charity Cup sponsored by Darlington Building Society by beating Coxhoe Athletic 3-1 in the Final held at Feethams, Darlington. A skillful and competitive game was marred by an early incident when Coxhoe forward
WORLD Cup holders France have been told they are making a big mistake ignoring Newcastle United star Laurent Robert. The blunt warning comes from Robert's compatriot Sylvain Distin, who played alongside the winger with Paris St. Germain before they were
THE subsidy system was this week blamed for causing peaks and troughs in beef supplies. And Murray Hardy, livestock procurement manager for Scotbeef, said they must be ironed out. Between September and December there was traditionally low supply and high
A 74-YEAR-OLD cricket competition has been saved from the scrapheap thanks to the help of the Durham Cricket Board. The George Mann Cup competition has taken place in Weardale every year since 1928 - the man himself being a popular local cricketer back
Case one: Horse is slashed with a broken bottle POLICE are hunting a sick attacker who slashed a horse with a broken bottle in a frenzied onslaught in daylight. The black and white cob stallion had to be destroyed by a vet after the attack, which officers
Detectives still hope that new developments in genetic fingerprinting could hold the key to one of the North-East's most notorious murders. Hopes were raised last year when police revealed that they planned to carry out DNA tests on materials recovered
LOFTUS rider Daniel Neilson enjoyed a successful weekend of competition at the Talk of the North equestrian centre recently. The 12-year-old won the national 138cm competition on his new pony Guinness Special, which was bought from Scotland only three
NOT a good week for the public image of Teesside. The revived television comedy series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet attracted millions of viewers across the country on Sunday night. They were entertained by Messrs Oz, Neville and Denis finding as many ways as
THEATRE chef Darren Foster is hoping pedal power will boost the funds of a charity close to his heart. Darren, 35, of Woodham Village, who is head chef at the new Gala Theatre in Durham, plans to cycle 100 miles through the Scottish countryside next month
The Readers Durham County League Under-18s Colin Pratt returned the magnificent figures of six for six in the Hunwick attack, but his side still lost against Ushaw Moor. Pratt sent down five overs and Ushaw Moor were restricted to 94 for eight which included
ANY signs of lack of commitment by businesses could affect a bid for cash to revamp Yarm Town Hall. Traders have been told that the £85,000 scheme could hit snags if funding bodies feel the community is not pulling its weight. Part of the problem may
KNEETON Park lifted the Hambleton Ales League Cup on Sunday after beating Streetlam Farmers 3-0 in a tense final at Northallerton Town's Calvert Stadium. The trophy will sit alongside the Frank Bainbridge division one cup, won two weeks previously after
Sir, - I write to plead to all the parents of local skateboarders and all those in the Richmondshire area who support the need for a skateboard park to fully back the new application for the site to be situated in Ronaldshay Park. Too many people complain
FALKLANDS War veteran Colin Waite has called on the Prime Minister to support his campaign to save the Royal Navy's oldest warship. The former Royal Marine, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, needs to raise the money to save HMS Fearless, which
So You Think You Want Bigger Boobs (C4) IT'S not the sort of thing that Jim would have fixed, but the makers of this programme did make Liverpool hairdresser Charlie's dream come true. They equipped her with a pair of bigger breasts, specially designed
GOAL-HERO Paul Arnison believes Hartlepool United can win the title next season and avoid another Third Division play-off heartache. Arnison, the scorer of Pool's only goal at Cheltenham on Tuesday night, is out of contract in the summer and is yet to
Sir, - My attention has been drawn to your lead story concerning people using the green lanes in the Dales (D&S, Apr 19) Organised groups such as the Trail Riders Fellowship and four-wheel drive clubs have no time for people who ride off the roads
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Centenary sale for 44 feeding bulls, 257 store cattle. The ring was full, with buyers from Cumbria, Yorkshire and Northumberland and with very keen prices for all the cattle. Judges: GW Hammond & Son. Prizes. - Single bullock
Coundon Forresters made a successful defence of the Darlington & Stockton Times Division One Cup with a late goal against Spraire RA. Played at Darlington FC's Feethams ground on Sunday, Coundon came back from a goal down to win 2-1 and had Norman
HARTLEPOOL boxer Steven Cosgrove is quickly making a big name for himself in the sport, writes Paul Fraser. The 12-year-old, who claimed a National Schoolboys' title in March, made his first appearance in an England vest last weekend in Swansea - and
POLICE are investigating an arson attack which caused damages of up to half a million pounds at a factory near Stanley last week. Flames tore through a storage area at the former Ever Ready factory on the Tanfield Lea Industrial estate at 8.30pm on Wednesday
BUILDING on the resounding success of 2001 - a record year for attendance - and with a national reputation for artistic excellence, Ripon International Festival has announced its most ambitious and exciting programme to date for September. Headed by its
LONG Street in Thirsk, a main routes into town and much criticised for its tatty appearance, is in line for improvements The street, which lacks trees and has a number of derelict premises, is considered an unattractive approach to the town giving visitors
AN ARMED robber was literally caught red-handed by police just minutes after holding up travel agency staff in Durham at knifepoint. Heroin addict Peter Scorer was jailed for four years at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting carrying out the
NORTHALLERTON College has been celebrating after winning two area football trophies in less than a week. The under-15 team lifted the Hambleton and Richmondshire cup after an exciting final in Northallerton just five days after the college's under-16s
THOSE who look after adults with learning difficulties belong to one of the least recognised branches of the caring professions. It is not glamorous and funding for anything other than basic facilities is often hard to come by. So the work of the Chopsticks
THE Queen will be in Darlington on Wednesday as part of the golden jubilee celebrations. Her Majesty is due to arrive at the Market Place at 3.40, when the mayor, Coun Isobel Hartley, the mayoress, Lilian Elliot, and Barry Keel, the chief executive of
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
A RARE oak tree from Windsor Great Park was planted in the grounds of the Bowes Museum yesterday in memory of the Queen Mother. The sapling was offered by Alan Savage, co-ordinator of Project 2000 botanic gardens and arboretum at Cramlington in Northumberland
Whitley Bay striker Yosuke Suzuki could make history by becoming one of the first Japanese players to appear in a national competition final next week. Suzuki is studying at Newcastle University, and will be part of the Whitley Bay party which takes on
THE Duke of Edinburgh will visit Durham University Stockton Campus on Wednesday as part of the Queen's golden jubilee celebrations. Prince Philip is due to arrive outside the Ebsworth building at 3.10, where the mayor, Coun Jean O'Donnell, Dari Taylor
THE Under-15s produced their best rugby of the season, away to Ottley. After ten minutes Mark Zissler picked up the ball from the base of the scrum, dummied a pass to the outside half, and stepped inside the opposing flanker to score between the posts
One of the biggest and best boxing shows witnessed in Spennymoor took place at the town's leisure centre arena in front of 600 fight fans last Friday against the world famous Chicago Golden Groves boxing team. Having travelled the world with his team,
The Under-11s Royals made a lively start against Stockton West End with R Pattinson going past two players to make it 1-0. A minute later S Ellis replied for Stockton and 18 minutes later V Wray broke through and chipped the keeper 2-1. After 24 minutes
DETAILS of the £550,000 facelift planned for County Durham's oldest theatre have been announced. In early February, The Advertiser revealed that urgent structural repairs costing £300,000 were needed if the Consett Empire was to remain open. Now Derwentside
A 12-YEAR-old Teesdale schoolgirl is to have one of her photographs featured on a 2003 calendar, copies of which find their way to the four corners of the globe. Katie Walton of Barnard Castle has been entering the annual Focus on Teesdale competition
Mike Trees of Darlington has been selected to represent Great Britain in the European championships after finishing second in the 2002 British Duathlon Championship held recently in Swindon. Eleven years after winning the inaugural British Championship
Durham County Super League Champions Crook B went down to their heaviest defeat ever when they visited the unbeaten Horden and lost 12-2. Winners for Horden with two wins were John Bourne, Darren and David Jones, Steve Nixon and Stephen Wylie, one win
DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 41 cattle, 212 sheep. Prem hfrs to 100.5p av 94.1p; comm to 92.5p av 88.6p; prem bulls to 110.5p av 103.5p; comm to 94.5p av 91.2p; dairy bulls to 83.5p av 79.9p. Med lambs to 119.5p av 118.2p; heavy 100p; med hoggs
APRIL proved to be a black month for owners of caravans and trailers across North Yorkshire, new figures have revealed. The number of thefts showed a big jump on the same period last year and police are urging people to be on their guard. The problem
LEISURE retailer JD Sports was 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. The deal includes the
LABOUR enjoyed a good night in several of the North-East elections held yesterday. The party held Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Newcastle, where the Liberal Democrats gained two seats. Sunderland produced an unsurprising result with Labour
WORK by fine art, three-dimensional design and graphics students at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, will be on display from today until May 22 at the Art Gallery in Crown Street. Sculptures by Kim Errington, who has cast forms from parts
THE new Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, responsible for front-line health care services in the area, has held its first meeting. Members of the trust, launched on April 1 to replace the Dales Primary Care Group, met at the Optimum Centre, Bishop Auckland
OF all the headlines which have graced the front pages of The Northern Echo over 132 years, 'Monkey Is Mayor' is surely the most unlikely. And yet it has happened. It couldn't happen. But somehow it did and the news will reverberate around the world.
After an historic night in Hartlepool, Political Editor Chris Lloyd tries to work out how H'Angus came to power and what this tells us about the state of local democracy in Britain today FIVE years ago, almost to the night, I was sitting in Trimdon club
A TEN-year-old boy was punched by a pair of teenagers who then stole his mountain bike. The attack happened between 8pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday, in Longfield Road, Darlington. The youths, aged about 14, shouted to their victim, and when he went over to
PUPILS at a Darlington college have been learning about the dangers of lymphatic cancer. Carmel RC Technology College also raised £250 for the Lymphoma Association, which was presented yesterday. National Lymphoma Awareness Week runs from May 11 to 16
Dramatic courtroom claim THE man expected to be declared one of the region's first directly-elected mayors this morning has been accused of forcing a criminal to sell drugs. The sensational claims about former Cleveland Police detective Ray Mallon were
EAST Durham council bosses have warned they are to get tough with dog owners and flytippers who are caught falling foul of the law. To combat the problem of dog excreta and litter, Easington district is doubling its on- the-spot fines for offenders from
TEENAGER Kirsten McGuigan is the disco dancing queen of Europe. The 16-year-old youngster from Leadgate, near Consett, beat off competition from all over Europe when she won the adult category in the Eurodance International Festival competition at Brean
NORTHERN Echo readers have the chance to win tickets to next Tuesday's Royal Gala Concert attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. It will take place at Newcastle City Hall at 7pm and will be hosted by celebrated Seaham-born baritone Sir Thomas
PLANS for a free night of live music for pop and rock fans are shaping up as The Big Chance search for the region's top acts gets under way. The competition being run by The Northern Echo's music website, Revolution, is launched today and will run for
ENERGETIC pupils and staff at a Darlington school are preparing to get on their bikes for charity. Youngsters at Beaumont Hill School and Technology College are taking part in a sponsored coast-to-coast bike ride next month in aid of St Teresa's Hospice
SUPER-FIT Suzy Degazon has transformed herself into one of the world's top athletes - after she almost died weighing just four-and-a-half stones. Ms Degazon is now one of the best triathletes in the world, but for ten years she battled with anorexia and
PREPARATIONS for a brass band's bid to win national glory are under way as it heads into its summer programme, this weekend. Cockerton Silver Band, from Darlington, are in the final of the National Brass Band Championships, in Torquay, in September. The
THINK of the origins of coffee and lush jungle paradises come to mind - sun-kissed climes a world away from the reality of northern England. Think of Yorkshire and it's foods like Wensleydale cheese, fish and chips and a certain Sunday lunch batter pudding
Two brothers appeared in court yesterday jointly charged with murder. David Worton, 41, of St Mary's Close, Stockton, and John Alexander Worton, 42, of De Brus House, Thornaby, appeared before Teesside Crown Court charged with the murder of father-of-seven
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture OLD crop cereal prices have fallen again, with most end users maintaining they have adequate cover. Some compounders have carried grain from April to May, which is indicative of slower sales than previously predicted.
A Birthday girl celebrated her century in County Durham yesterday, enjoying her favourite pastime - reading The Northern Echo. Sarah Jones, of Bearpark, started reading the newspaper when she was first married 76 years ago. She has done it ever since,
SOME imposing birds of prey will make a flying visit to a museum as part of an exhibition this weekend. Visitors to Newcastle's Hancock Museum will have the chance to get close to eight birds of prey tomorrow from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Not far away, preparations were under way to elect a very different kind of mayor. However, in Redcar and Cleveland, a traditional mayor-making ceremony took place yesterday. Retiring mayor Councillor Vilma Collins was praised for raising the most money
LIVESTOCK entries at this year's Great Yorkshire Show are expected to be high, despite the impact of last year's foot-and-mouth crisis Schedules are on their way to potential exhibitors in readiness for this year's event at the Harrogate showground. It
THE final resting places of 40 men and boys who died in the region's worst mining disaster cannot be traced. Burial records name the grave sites of just 128 men and boys who died in the Stanley Burns Pit disaster of 1909, even though 168 perished in the
A REED bed designer believes the sewerage system has a good potential for water treatment and pollution control - but not for livestock farms. Andrew Joiner, senior partner in Iris Water of Castleton, believes reed beds could not cope with the large quantities
Tom Ward entertained Charlie Donaghy in the Final of this season's matches after the players had agreed to toss for choice of venue. Both players had come through the two qualifying leagues in second place but had disposed of the winners of the opposite
A PRISONER who feared he had contracted HIV while he helped his bleeding cellmate has won part of his legal action against the Home Office. Judge Michael Taylor, presiding over the civil hearing at Teesside Combined Court, ruled that Stephen John McAuley
RETALIATION against the United States over its use of import tariffs on steel is being kept open as an option. During Commons question time Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said the Americans' action was completely unjustified and unlawful
A COMPANY has confirmed that it turned down a last- minute offer for a chemical business which closed with the loss of 160 jobs. Basell, a joint venture between Shell and BASF, confirmed last year it was pulling out of its polypropylene plant at the Wilton
ICI remains in negotiations over the sale of one of its remaining Teesside operations. The update was given as it reported a fall in quarterly profits. The group, which employs 1,000 people on Teesside after a series of sell-offs, said that while "challenging
A NEW learning centre has been opened to help Nissan's 5,000 employees improve their skills. The centre, at the firm's Sunderland plant, offers a variety of Learndirect business-related courses including productivity improvement, skills for life, management
DAVID Easterby picked up a training double at the York and Ainsty point-to-point held at Easingwold last Saturday. His first leg came when Silver Groom (K Barron/Holderness) continued his excellent form with a very impressive win in the ladies open. The
A DENTAL nurse who cut her teeth training with the North-East Chamber of Commerce has picked up a national award for the outstanding quality of her work. East Herrington Dental Practice's Katrina Graham won the Dental Nurse of the Year award at the 2001
A WOMAN has endured fresh heartache in the battle to get her brother cremated, more than seven weeks after he died. Lucy Dawson is considering legal action as she struggles to overcome international red tape. Her brother, Robert Banks, died in South Africa
An ex-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 today they were considering the possibility that father-of-four David
ONE of the country's favourite rural bus services is returning this weekend, promising extra runs for visitors to the North York Moors. The Moorsbus service restarts on Sunday, providing transport for visitors from towns and cities throughout the North-East
Two 15-year-old youths have been released on police bail after an alleged attack at the junction of Hartlea Avenue and the A167 at Beaumont Hill, Darlington, last Friday. Police have recovered a mobile phone belonging to an 11-year-old who was punched
A PRIVATE health clinic offering single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines in Darlington believes it is to be the target of a national smear campaign. Two weeks ago a bugging device was found next to an administration desk at Direct Health 2000's company
Darlington and District League Midweek saw Post Boy move within two points of the title as they beat Speedy Hire 5-1. Peter and Paul Robson with two apiece and Andrew Heaviside were their scorers. Darren Thompson replied from the spot. Greyhounds led
AN ORGANIC cheese has proved so popular that extra staff have been taken on. The Swaledale Cheese Company in Richmond introduced the cheese earlier this year, using organic milk supplied by Hazel Brow Farm, Low Row, but its popularity took David Reed,
DUNGEON SIEGE Format: PC CD Rom. Publisher: Microsoft. Price: £39.99 JUST BECAUSE Microsoft has a pretty important games console out at the moment (now reduced to just £199 - what are you waiting for?), it hasn't forsaken the PC games player. Five years
The Annual Presentation Evening was held at Tow Law New Market when the trophies were handed over by Joy Prince. The League Championship trophy went to Newhouse Club with Tow Law New Market A taking the runners-up awards. The Captain's Trophy went to
AT first glance, it sounds like a good idea. Cut the benefits of parents who allow their children to truant. No more free money for feckless people whose children grow up to be lawless juveniles. It's Tony Blair's instant solution to youth crime. But
FOR those of us who are not even sure what digital means, the pulling of the ITV Digital plug does not amount to a hill of beans. The failure to hand over £178m to Nationwide League football clubs, however, is already having serious repercussions in terms
THE flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la! This is the best time of year for wild flowers. Even now, when so many fields and hedges are trimmed and treated, nature has a way of fighting back. Wild flower meadows as we used to know them might be a thing
YARM'S Russ Hodgson came within a lap of winning his first ever national championship race, only to be denied when a gust of wind caused him to crash his 125cc Cameron's Castle Eden Honda at Donington Park last weekend. Following on from his superb third
MIDDLESBROUGH are closing in on a deal for Benito Carbone after yesterday completing the £2.5m signing of Franck Queudrue. Boro hope Carbone will agree personal terms next week and that Bradford City accept a cut-price fee for the £3m-rated Italian, who
Disciplinary action taken against three police officers THREE police officers have been disciplined following the death of a teenager who collapsed in custody after choking on a condom filled with drugs. Gareth Brogden, 18, who had swallowed a condom
THE most endangered bird of prey in England has been seen across the moors in the north of the country in the last two weeks, wildlife campaigners have revealed. English Nature said 35 hen harriers had been sighted and hopes were high that they would
THE Under-11s squad can breathe easily this week after finally securing the Teesside Junior Alliance League Division Two championship after an anxious three-week wait. Having completed their League programme, Spraire had already secured promotion but
CRAIG White's selector nudging set the tone as Yorkshire outclassed Durham in yesterday's Benson & Hedges Cup tie at the Riverside. White is unhappy about not having his England contract renewed and after his 93 against Leicestershire on Wednesday
The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League The Division One title challenge is really starting to hot up after this week's games with Newton Aycliffe moving into pole position ahead of cup finalists Spraire RA and Coundon Forresters. On Thursday
Worthington CIU Team Knock Out Final Willington landed the trophy after they beat Fishburn B by 62 points in the Final played at Tow Law. Gordon Parkin gave Willington a great start against Dave Wilson of Fishburn B. The Fishburn side received only two
FOOTBALL fans who plann to go to the World Cup have been warned to take steps to avoid heartbreak. Several hundred England followers from the North-East are preparing to travel to Japan and South Korea for next month's jamboree. Some are thought to be
A TEESSIDE firm is pioneering a new house-building technique using energy-efficient polystyrene instead of bricks-and-mortar. Billingham firm W A Browne fixes polystyrene panels on to pre-fabricated steel frame sections in its factory, and these are assembled
