The halfway point in the regular RLC season saw Teesside's irresistible progress continue, sweeping aside Sunderland City in an 84-6 rout that confirms the Steelers as the almost certain champions elect in the North-East division. Durham Tigers' victory
AN historic church is celebrating a new lease of life after undergoing a £250,000 refurbishment. The Church of St Mary-the-Less, South Bailey, Durham, is the chapel of St John's College and is used for the training of Church of England ordinands and Methodist
A SCHEME which has brought cut-price travel to elderly and disabled people is likely to be expanded, council chiefs have confirmed. Concessionary bus fares were first offered to people living in Hambleton in June last year, in a move which local authorities
FROM ageing rockers to bright young things, those parading across the stage at this week's Jubilee concert spanned the generations. But there was one glaring omission - the punk era. I was a teenager 25 years ago when the Sex Pistols topped the charts
THE battle to develop a skateboard park in Richmond continues next week when revised plans go before councillors. Initial proposals for Ronaldshay Park were rejected by the former planning committee because they would have removed the football kickabout
JO PEARSON had no reason to think she might die. The 61-year-old enjoyed good health and diet. She had her husband, family and friends, and a comfortable life in Darlington's West End. Her religious faith was strong. "I never thought I was going to die
PEOPLE interested in horse care are being urged to snap up places on summer courses. The Unicorn Centre at Hemlington is organising the sessions, which begin in July. An Access to Horse Care course starts on July 3 and runs for two weeks, Monday to Friday
Expectations are running high for the new Coarse Fishing Season on the region's many rivers - just over a week away now Sunday 16 June, writes JEFF HERBERT. It is eagerly awaited with bumper summer catches on the cards and following the foot and mouth
THE region will grind to a halt at lunchtime today as workers down tools to cheer on England in their vital World Cup game against arch rivals Argentina. Pubs are expecting bumper crowds for the 12.30pm kick-off while many employers have made special
AN historic ruin, still said to be the best preserved example of Norman architecture in the UK, has become the setting for the latest chapter in the story of a £1.5m rejuvenation project pioneered by English Heritage. Richmond Castle is home to the fourth
Bishop Auckland District have enjoyed an impressive season which has seen them win one trophy and finish as runners-up in two other competitions. The Under-11s were winners of a tournament in Jersey where they played six games and won five, with one victory
Durham County face Northumberland in A team, B team and C team events on Saturday, the following teams have been selected: A team: Middleton Cup at Summerhill (2pm); B Poulter, D Livingston, R McKie, Theobold(s); G Peacock, S Northam, A Jobling, W Condron
The lethal potential of the road dubbed one of the most dangerous in Britain was thrown back in the spotlight today after yet another horrific crash. In the last decade the trans-Pennine stretch of the A66 has claimed some 70 lives and caused countless
Fancy a Burberry raincoat for a third of the normal price? Or does your taste run more to colourful unique tie-dying? Whichever you go for, Whitby could have the shop for you. IT might be a bit hard to think of a £300 raincoat as a bargain, but when it's
SIMEON was a gallant third under Frankie Dettori in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday, well clear of the remainder if somewhat behind winner Sulmani and second-placed favourite Act One. This gives top hopes to Mark Johnston's Vodaphone Derby
Tough enough doing a 200 mile sponsored cycle ride, Steve Clark and Keith Smeltzer suddenly found themselves in bandit country. Keith is Guisborough Town FC's secretary, Steve a committee member. As Tuesday's column noted, they spent the four-day holiday
FIVE Darlington Cricket Club youngsters have been selected to play their part for their county this season. Steven Lister, Liam Coates, Adam Fenwick, William Manners - all 11-years-old - and Ian Wilson, who is ten, have been named in the Durham squad
THE British Army is promising an impressive show of its military might for the public later this month as Catterick Garrison's open day returns. Last year's event had to be cancelled as units which would have been part of the event were called away to
A COMMUNITY is demanding the return of its heritage - two tall columns of ironstone removed from its midst more than 30 years ago. The stone was hacked out of the hills above the town of Eston where iron ore was discovered, 152 years ago. The discovery
CHARITY football teams are to take to the field to help a girl with a chronic eating disorder. Four-year-old Annie Jones, from Normanby, Middlesbrough, suffers from infantile anorexia, which means she has to be force fed through a drip. Her condition,
HORSES and riders went through their paces in front of special visitors when a £200,000 indoor school opened at Catterick Garrison saddle club. Richmond MP William Hague and his wife, Ffion, watched horsemen and women use the arena after performing the
Auckland Croquet Club provided three finalists in the 1st International Women's Golf Croquet Championships held at Ripon over three days last month. In the singles final, Jane Pringle of Auckland lost a tough battle to Samantha Curry of Ripon. Sam is
Good conditions for this competition with prized for various categories as follows: Mixed Nett 72 Bob and Gillian Petrie (7) and Bob and Gillian Gent (16) card countback required. Mixed Gross 82 Mike and Sue Mayman. Same Gender Nett 76 Ian and Mark Smith
A GIPSY has decided to appeal to the Secretary of State against Darlington Council's refusal to let him set up a caravan site for his family. Jim Mounsey, of Blackwell Moor Farm, Snipe Lane, has been turned down twice by the planning committee. It refused
Another emphatic win for Billingham Wolves in English Under-19 North Promtion/Relegation play-offs. Their final play-off game of the season brought a 17-2 victory away to Sheffield Scorpions. Wolves went into the game without several players due to work
TWO new elderly care homes are on the cards for Darlington at a cost of £2.4m. On Wednesday, planning councillors are expected to approve planning permission for two 60-bed care homes and associated car parks at Winton House, I'Anson Street, off Whessoe
Bishop Auckland and District League Crook Coach and Horses moved into second place in the table after they only dropped four points to the visiting Tow Law Station, who relied on David Craggs to take two singles points and then add the two captain's points
HOPES that a residential home will remain open until its occupants are suitably relocated were dashed this week after staff were told that it would shut at the end of September. Stoneleigh home in Barnard Castle is one of 17 earmarked for closure by the
Sven-Goran Eriksson threw down the World Cup gauntlet to his England team last night and challenged them to rekindle the spirit of Munich. The England coach wants his players to prove they belong on the world stage by replicating the performance they
SLOGANS threatening "rural rebellion" if a hunting ban comes into force have been daubed on motorway bridges in North Yorkshire. Three bridges on the A1 between Catterick and Leeming Bar have been hit in what is thought to be a county-wide campaign. The
THOUSANDS of North-East people whose livelihoods depend on hunting are expected to join the Countryside Alliance march in London on September 22. Plans are already well advanced to cater for the 5,000-plus rural workers across the region who want to take
A FATHER-OF-FOUR who suffered from mood swings took his own life, an inquest heard. Jonathon Chapman, 51, was found hanged at his home in Ellerton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire, on November 5, last year. Mr Chapman, a drummer, formerly of Park Lane, Darlington
FUNDRAISERS at a Darlington school have raised more than £150,000 since the launch of its golden jubilee year appeal. Governors at Polam Hall School have set a target of raising £365,000 to carry out six projects. The latest initiative came when the modern
A GLIMMER of hope for a solution in an East Cleveland beach pollution row emerged this week. An MP has put forward an idea which could solve two problems at a stroke. Northumbrian Water is now considering a scheme by Redcar MP, Vera Baird, in a bid to
A food directory is being launched this week to encourage people to buy local produce. The updated version of the Ryedale Local Food Directory has been produced by a partnership including Ryedale District Council, York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth
A FITNESS centre owner is to be given permission to open a gym in Darlington, despite concern from residents. Jeremy Grant, who owns Grant's Gym, in St Helen Auckland, has applied for planning permission for a site in Brunswick Street. But residents in
PLANS for a new out-of-town retail park in Darlington are likely to be rejected by the Borough Council. Grendale Developments has proposed building three modern non-food retail warehouses on the south side of Haughton Road, next to Bannatyne Health and
NORTH-EASTERN soldiers killed on June 6 58 years ago were remembered yesterday. Survivors of the perilous wartime landings on the Normandy beaches, in 1944, remembered their part in the Longest Day at a special ceremony to salute those who fell in action
A COMMUNITY centre completed golden jubilee celebrations this week with events for young and old. Children under seven took part in a teddy bears' picnic at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon, yesterday. And older children from the centre's junior
BAD publicity, it appears, dogs Stephen Byers after his Cabinet career has come to an end. Had he not resigned last week, the emergence of details of the e-mail concerning members of the Paddington rail crash survivors' group would have prompted his sacking
FOOTBALL bosses have begun a search for a new club mascot - after their old one retired to become a town's first elected mayor. Third Division Hartlepool United is in desperate need of a new signing to entertain their fans after H'Angus the Monkey was
A battle for custody of more than 140 parrots - some of them among the rarest in the world - was waged in court yesterday. Harry Sissen has already been convicted of smuggling Lear's macaw and a blue-headed macaw into Britain following a well-publicised
MANICURES, video games, table football, massages and a free bar are all part of a day's work for staff at a marketing company. Rocket Science, at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough, is one of only a handful of UK companies to specialise in marketing analytics
THERE was a time when I wasn't a great fan of royalty, although I've always admired Prince Charles and Princess Anne. But the Jubilee celebrations have been truly magical. I, for one, appreciate the way the Queen and the Royal Family have opened their
A MAN was stabbed near to a town centre police station in the early hours of yesterday. The 31-year-old was left with a punctured lung after the attack in a churchyard in the middle of Stockton's shopping area, on Teesside. Immediately after the attack
NO-frills airline Ryanair hit a new high last month by carrying a record 1.2 million passengers. Low fares and new routes helped it attract 44 per cent more passengers than the same month a year ago. The airline, which has operations at Teesside Airport
THE Bank of England gave mortgage holders another month's reprieve as it left interest rates on hold at four per cent. The decision means rates have been held at their 38-year low for seven months. But city analysts believe the Bank's Monetary Policy
THE tradition of pavement art was revived in the region yesterday. Young artists from across the North-East turned the pavements of Newcastle's Haymarket into a street art gallery as part of a national competition. The four to 16-year-olds' efforts will
A guide has been launched to introduce people to the tourist delights of Yorkshire. Aimed specifically at groups, Hidden Yorkshire is part of a series of themed campaigns funded by regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward. The idea is to attract
A BEAUTY spot could be turned into a quarry where 850,000 tonnes of sand and gravel would be worked over almost nine years. The scheme at Ripon City Quarry, next to the city's racecourse, has sparked a protest petition with 435 names from nearby Littlethorpe
A COMPETITION sure to set tails wagging is being held in the region later this month In association with the National Canine Defence League (NCDL) and The Kennel Club, Pal Scruffts is holding the Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year competition. Ricky Tomlinson
A 32-year-old woman was detained in hospital last night after her motorcycle and a car being driven by an 18-year-old man collided. The accident happened on the A690 at Brancepeth Castle, near Durham City, shortly after 10pm on Wednesday. The woman, from
It would have been heresy to question his position just a week ago, but today promises to be a defining moment in Michael Owen's career. Owen has scarcely taken a backward step in the last four years, dodgy hamstrings excluded, and a welter of accolades
A GRADE II listed bridge, partly washed away in floods more than 18 months ago, should not be widened, according to a planning official. The issue over whether to widen Creet's Bridge at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, has gone on for months. The 18th Century
A ROLLER shutter approved for a supermarket entrance in Barnard Castle brought criticism from a councillor. Safeway applied to amend the entrance design of its £15m store by moving it six metres along the frontage, bringing it in line with other stores
SPORTING volunteers in Stockton are being thanked for their contribution to community life. The town's borough council is holding a special ceremony to recognise the work of people who have given up their time for more than 20 years in helping out and
Two youngsters in the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League Junior Division have set the game alight in the last couple of weeks, writes Malcolm Pratt. David Richardson, who plays for Crookhall, has scored 150 not out and an unbeaten 121. The higher
CHILDREN will make the most of outdoor learning thanks to a £2,000 grant. Pupils at Mill Hill Nursery School, in Sunderland, will benefit from a heated greenhouse and a pond marsh area after winning first prize in the School Grounds Awards. The judges
BOLDON are off to a winning start in defence of The Northern Echo/Local Heroes U-15s Schools Cricket Cup. Last year's winners easily beat Pelton Roseberry in the first round of the 2002 competition. Batting first, Pelton were restricted to 27 for 4 off
THE owner of a house that was demolished because it was unsafe could be banned from rebuilding it. Richard Hadland of Skipbridge, in Hurworth Moor, near Darlington has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to build a four-bedroom house.
A Division P Rogers 92 for Middleton St George against Barningham. G Campbell 50 not out for Heighington against Ald. St John. S Laundy 67 for Ingleton against Raby Castle. S Dawson 65 not out for Ingleton against Raby Castle. James Frankland 5 for 63
Staff from Durham Prison will present a cheque for about £1,400 to the children's ward at the University Hospital of North Durham, at 2pm on Thursday, June 20, after staff and inmates collected the amount through fundraising activities. Wood walk: A free
AN environmental warden saved the life of a little mongrel dog, mown down by an uncaring motorist. Long-haired Pepper was left badly injured at the side of the road in Peterlee's Pennine Drive on Wednesday when the driver of the car failed to stop and
A UNIQUE collection of autographs, including that of Albert Einstein, is going under the hammer later this month. Middlesbrough-born William Bowran, who died in 1976, collected 250 autographs from the likes of Rudyard Kipling and the famous pianist Rachmaninoff
SHOPS in Darlington's Cornmill Centre were applauded for putting on a bit of style for the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. As part of festivities to mark the jubilee, all tenants in the shopping centre were encouraged to spruce up their shop windows
CONCERN is growing for the safety of a missing North-East prostitute. Nineteen-year-old Rachel Wilson, from Middlesbrough, has not been seen by her family for a week. Police are expected to make a public appeal for information about her whereabouts today
THE owner of a house that was demolished because it was unsafe could be banned from rebuilding it. Richard Hadland, of Skipbridge, in Hurworth Moor, near Darlington, has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to build a four-bedroom house
THREE neighbouring local authorities are joining forces in an effort to see whether their revenue and benefits services can be more cost effective. Darlington, Richmondshire and Teesdale Councils are getting together to investigate whether they can make
The first asylum-seeking doctor to join the region's health service tells Health Correspondent Barry Nelson how he came to flee torture and oppression in Iraq. ADNAN always wanted to be a doctor. Stirring his cappuccino in a fashionable Newcastle caf
COMPANY boss Martin Leach was "rude, irate and intimidating" when he was issued a ticket for parking on a double yellow line while he went to the bank in a busy market town, a court heard yesterday. Leach, the 38-year-old managing director of Trafalgar
RAIL enthusiasts were jubilant yesterday after their ambitious plans to rejuvenate a neglected stretch of line were approved. The Wensleydale Railway Association won approval yesterday for its scheme to reopen Leeming Bar station. The buildings are presently
POLICE are calling for the scrapping of a controversial bus lane which has sparked a number of road rage incidents. Officers have compiled a catalogue of near misses, "inappropriate driving'' and road rage incidents sparked by Eaglescliffe's quarter-mile
A UNIQUE collection of autographs, including that of Albert Einstein, are going under the hammer later this month. Middlesbrough-born William Bowran, who died in 1976, collected 250 autographs from the likes of Rudyard Kipling and the famous pianist Rachmaninoff
THE redevelopment of Knaresborough bus station will get under way on Monday, a project that is expected to last 12 months. In an attempt to minimise disruption for passengers, temporary bus stops are being provided as near to the existing station as possible
A CENTURY of musical entertainment has been celebrated with the publication of a book. York Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society was launched in 1902. As part of the celebrations, author Helen Mackman has written Memories By The Score, illustrated with
A TEENAGER whose mother has epilepsy has raised money for young sufferers. Haley Evans, 18, presented a cheque for £100 to the Teenage Epilepsy Group at West Lane Hospital, Middlesbrough. The money was raised through a series of tombolas and raffles organised
DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 38 cattle, 609 sheep. Steers med to 90.5p av 89.5p; heavy to 88.5p av 88.2p; bulls med to 94.5p av 90.8p; heavy to 93.5p av 90.4p; hfrs heavy to 101.5p av 91.5p. Hoggs std to 81p av 79.4p; med to 106.9p av 99.6p;
THE Great Yorkshire Show expects to play host to some of the finest equestrian classes in the country next month. A total of 1,620 entries have been received across the 28 sections, with records in the hunter riding and skewbald and piebald ridden classes
A NEW report has warned the countryside could become the exclusive domain of the rich if house prices continue to rise. The latest State of the Countryside report, issued by the Countryside Agency, highlights a lack of affordable homes in rural areas.
HOUSE price changes in the region saw ups and downs over the last quarter. While rural North Yorkshire raced ahead with a rise of 2.5pc, urban Teesside dropped a place in the average price league table for the North East. And County Durham experienced
SHEEPDOG trial enthusiasts are appealing for new venues in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The 20-day standstill rule on livestock movements is cutting sites because it effectively means sheep taking part have to be on site at the farm where a
A RETIRED military officer has launched a stinging attack on the inclusion in Richmond castle grounds of a feature inspired by the story of conscientious objectors imprisoned there during the First World War. Maj Roy Tyler, who lives in the town, branded
A BRIDE-TO-BE who suffered a migraine during her wedding rehearsal died 48 hours before she was due to walk down the aisle. An inquest in Darlington heard yesterday how a rare series of events, triggered by a severe headache, caused Penelope Taylor to
Cleveland Bridge Over-40s team are celebrating a fantastic season having secured a League and Cup double. Their feat in the Sunderland Catholic Club Over-40s League may not have matched that of Arsenal's, indeed, they didn't finish top of their division
Langbaurgh League Stafford Place overtook the Great Broughton total of 98 all out with seven wickets and plenty of overs to spare. The home side, for whom Michael Cook top scored with 25 including three boundaries, found Stafford Place's Graves in splendid
Hamilton Row Black Horse were able to hang on to their second spot in the table after they made a fine recovery to beat the visiting Tow Law New Market A in the decider. Phil Spencer and Dale Duxfield put the visitors ahead but then Steve Wilkie and Dave
Championship Manager Season 01-02. Publisher: Eidos. Format: Microsoft X-Box. Price: £44.99. BY the time you read this we will probably know whether England's World Cup campaign will progress beyond the group stages or end in disappointment. Given his
EAT your hearts out, ladies. The man in my life not knowing the offside trap from a mousetrap, football didn't enter into our jubilee weekend programme. Instead, we went to a sugarcraft exhibition. The last time I mentioned sugarcraft here, I was taken
Wolsingham Club moved to the top of Section A with a good win over Wolsingham Sixth Form in the competition sponsored by Weardale Steel. The Club batted first and lost an early wicket but they quickly recovered with Nigel Percival making 19, Alan Crinnion
Darlington and District League Heighington remain top of Division One following their eight-wicket victory over Aldbrough St John who they restricted to 109 all out. Most of the runs came from Smelling with 39 and for Heighington Jackson claimed four
SHOPPERS in Darlington could soon be welcomed by a uniformed town ranger who will give directions, rescue lost children and hand out information. The ranger, complete with an identifying baseball cap, could be made a permanent fixture in the town after
THE new chief executive of the Tees Valley Urban Regeneration Company has set himself world class targets. Glaswegian Joe Docherty, 32, has been chosen as the man to lead the regeneration of the Tees Valley over the next decade. His main aim will be to
Division A: Oriel 130-5 (P Wilson 40; D Vairey 4-59), *Cloughton 2nds 129 (G Spence 53; J Kilburn 4-11). Scarborough 3rds 133-2 (J Dickinson 71 no, N Tennant 39), *Ebberston 2nds 132 ((K Wibley 50, J Metcalfe 30; E Craggs 5-38, J Hall 3-49). Wykeham 2nds
THE growing reputation of an open-air music festival has been given another boost with news that Marillion are the headline band at this year's event. Richmond Live was extended over two nights for the first time last year, attracting the chart band,
THE golden jubilee celebrations have been widely and rightly acclaimed a great success. Whether a modest gathering on the village green or the sound and light extravaganza at Buckingham Palace, we showed the world we know how to mark an anniversary. Whether
YOU may not have heard of Sport Relief as it has not been as widely publicised as it deserves to be. A spin-off from Comic Relief, it aims to raise money for children whose lives are impossibly hard, and the BBC are devoting a special night to it on July
A MAVERICK helicopter pilot has sparked an investigation in East Cleveland. The craft has been seen doing take-offs and landings from Saltburn cricket ground in a built-up area of the town. People living nearby have raised concerns and these are being
Three cars sit in Michael Gauntlett's drive. There is more chance of his being chosen as Trescothick's opening partner in the third Test against Sri Lanka than there is of even the smallest ever getting into the garage. It has become a book store, many
Sir, - Should I be asked to name representatives of my heritage, I would have no problem. Alfred the Great, Canterbury Cathedral, Edith Cavell, Florence Nightingale, the wreck of the Birkenhead, all spring to mind. English Heritage has a different sense
TUESDAY: Langbaurgh League: Swainby 138 (A Kerr 59, Willey 3-38, Mould 4-40), East Harlsey 139-0 (P Mason 73no, R Mackerell 55no) Great Broughton 156-9 (D Blayden 53, N Stockton 5-60), Chopgate 46 (D Blayden 5-17) George Coates Trophy: Etherley 110-7
Fears are growing for the welfare of two prisoners from the region held in India as tensions mount over a possible nuclear war. As India and Pakistan gear up for war over the disputed territory Kashmir, and Britons have been advised to leave, Peter Bleach
KIEREN FALLON looks set to answer his critics in the best possible manner by winning this afternoon's Vodafone Oaks aboard Islington (3.45). After a couple of allegedly ill-judged rides earlier in the season, Fallon was informed he would no longer be
In the top of the table clash in the First Division, the visiting Crook Belle Vue edged one point away from the leading Crook Mill House after they won the deciding doubles. The Mill had singles points from Norman Slack, John Winning and Eddie Ryan, whilst
ARMED police officers sealed off a town centre street in a major hunt for a gun toting gang. Seven people were arrested as about 40 police officers swooped on addresses in Middlesbrough yesterday. Officers sealed off Union Street and also went to Regent
FARMERS in Weardale shook off the shadow of foot-and-mouth at the weekend to stage the first sheep show in the country since the disease struck in February last year. Organisers of the 17th Eastgate Sheep Show hailed it as "the final light at the end
THE League has taken the unprecedented step of publishing an exclusive end-of-season magazine to mark the end of the 2001-2002 campaign. The 20-page programme - which is packed with cup reports, reviews and tables - is believed to be the first of its
HALF a league, half a league onward, into the valley of death rode the six hundred. Well, 664 if we're going to be precise - of which 362 became casualties or were taken prisoner in one of the worst military blunders in history. History on television
Two young Middlesbrough players, Anthony McMahon and Andrew Taylor, have been called up by England's Under-17s side. They have been picked for a forthcoming tournament where they will come up against Brazil, Italy and the Czech Republic. Sixteen-year-old
Tourism is on the up again after the horrors of foot-and-mouth - but only just, new figures reveal. The overseas tourist market is making only a slow recovery, although domestically the picture is a lot better. The UK received 2.22 m foreign visitors
ANGER vented by Catterick Village residents over national taxation rates is to be taken direct to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. After attending a public meeting to hear villagers' views on local and national tax and rates, Richmond MP William Hague
Keith Hewson and Adam Maddison wrote their names into the record books when they both claimed hat-tricks for Peterlee on the same day. Hewson, in his fourth season as professional for the Boddingtons Durham Coast League side, claimed his three wickets
AN engineering designer who hopes to revolutionise transport in the UK has won a government grant towards building a working model of his vehicle. Carl Henderson, of Skeeby, near Richmond, has been working on devising an integrated system which would
Offshore fabrication firm AMEC has won a multi-million contract for an oil and gas platform for the Clair field in the North Sea. The Wallsend-based company has won a £50m deal to build the topside for the 540ft high platform, which will be based 47 miles
SIX previous winners return to Bramham International Horse Trials near Wetherby this weekend. They include Pippa Funnell, who won the world's biggest eventing prize, Badminton, at the beginning of May. Ten nations are represented in a very strong entry
EAST Coast main line operator GNER was revealed as having the worst record for train punctuality in the country in figures released yesterday. Quarterly figures from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) revealed that only 69.2 per cent of GNER trains were
THE senior British police officer supporting security operations at the World Cup yesterday suffered the embarrassment of being refused entry to a Japanese football stadium. Durham Assistant Chief Constable Ron Hogg was stopped by an over-zealous security
CONCERNED relatives have received backing from a national action group in their campaign to keep an under-threat residential home open. Families and friends of residents at Stoneleigh Residential Home, Barnard Castle, will meet representatives from the
THREE men arrested in one of the region's biggest anti-terrorist swoops have started legal moves to clear their names. Omar Mohammed, Walid Zamzam and Mousa Mohamad were among six Middle Eastern men rounded up in dawn raids by armed police in January.
MEMBERS of the public were last weekend given the chance to get a close-up view of convincing replicas of the Crown Jewels as part of Golden Jubilee celebrations at Newby Hall. Links between the Compton family, who own the Hall, and the monarchy date
THE return of bowler Barry Petty coincided with a much better performance by Thirsk as they gained an advantage draw over third-placed Clifton Alliance last Saturday. Petty, who has been the leading wicket-taker for each of the last ten seasons, made
CHILDLESS families in County Durham could have a private fertility clinic on their doorstep, if plans get the green light. The Cromwell in-vitro fertilisation centre in London is thinking about setting up a unit at Darlington's private Woodlands Hospital
PROTESTERS have lost the fight to stop a herb grower moving its premises to the outskirts of their village. Hambleton District Council's development control committee yesterday approved plans for Herbs Unlimited to move to a farmer's field just to the
Durham Light Infantry Museum is looking for a picture of the museum site from the days when it was a coal mine. Land where Aykley Heads Pit operated until 1949 is now the Jubilee Walk park. Anyone who has a picture of the site is asked to call Steve Shannon
THE partner and family of a missing Darlington woman are appealing for help in tracing her. Natalie Raper, 22, of Northgate, has been missing since 4.30pm on Wednesday and she failed to turn up for work yesterday. A spokesman for Darlington police said
A DARLINGTON accountancy firm has launched a free checklist and hotline to help people in the Tees Valley area reduce their tax bills. Sanders Swinbank has unveiled its 54 question Tax-Ability checklist, along with a free TaxAbility hotline. According
Fosters Northumberland and Tyneside Under-15s Greenside were all out for just 14 runs when they hosted Burnopfield for whom Tinnion claimed five wickets for a miserly four runs in 4.2 overs and Leigh Stoneman returned figures of four for seven in five
THE Sedgefield and Darlington branch of the UK Independence Party is holding its next meeting on Tuesday, June 18. The theme of the meeting, will be Regionalisation - The Hidden Agenda. It will be held in the Golden Lion, Sedgefield, at 7.30pm. The branch
A CENTRE dedicated to mental health services is to be opened by Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg today. The opening ceremony of North End House, Durham, follows a £750,000 refurbishment. It will now become the base for child and adolescent mental health
THE Campaign for a North East Assembly (CNA) is meeting tomorrow to consult its members on proposed devolution in the region. The outcome of the meeting, in Newcastle Civic Centre, from 10.30am to 1pm, will contribute to the CNA's formal response to the
RELATIVES of a man found dead in his North-East flat were last night said to be "shattered" by the deaths of two family members within the same week. An investigation was launched on Wednesday after a post-mortem examination showed that Stephen Hunter
Championship Manager Season 01-02. Publisher: Eidos. Format: Microsoft X-Box. Price: £44.99. BY the time you read this we will probably know whether England's World Cup campaign will progress beyond the group stages or end in disappointment. Given his
A bus driver has appeared in court charged with causing a boy's death by dangerous driving. Twelve-year-old Jamie Wells died when he slipped under the wheels of a double decker bus he had been travelling on. Bus driver Deborah White, 40, of Hollinside
A WORK-OUT with the Paras was on the curriculum for dozens of schoolchildren from County Durham yesterday. A group of 40 youngsters aged between 15 and 18 were put through their paces by the Parachute Regiment in Durham City as part of a Durham Agency
Ron Hogg, Assistant Chief Constable of Durham Police, is charged with ensuring England football fans have a trouble-fee and enjoyable World Cup. In the second of a series of special reports from Japan, he talks about the concerns of the local community
THE mother of a murdered North-East woman is telling the story of her fight for justice on European television. A German television company has visited Ann Ming and her family, on Teesside, to talk about the murder of her daughter, Julie Hogg. Julie,
RAIL travellers will face fresh misery today because of another strike by conductors, which is expected to hit almost half the services of a leading train firm. Arriva Trains Northern said only 55 per cent of its trains will run because of a walkout by
A FAMILY doctor who is accused of providing "inadequate care" for her patients is facing a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing next week. Dr Usha Shyam Narendra Singh, a locum GP practising in the Tyne and Wear area, has been summoned to appear before
BEDS and furniture business Silentnight has warned that first half profits will fall below the levels of last year. The group, which employs more than 700 staff at its Homeworthy operation in Sunderland, said its furniture division had been hit by continued
HISTORY-lovers can mark the longest day of the year with a three-hour ferry ride on the River Tyne, accompanied by TV historian John Grundy. To celebrate summer solstice, on Friday, June 21, the Customs House, at South Shields, South Tyneside, and Nexus
Langbaurgh police area has experienced a dramatic fall in crime in recent months. The area has half the Cleveland Police force average for house burglaries, a 27 per cent drop in robberies over the past 12 months and a dramatic fall in car crime. New
CANCER patients in North-allerton have been given a £10,000 boost. The Mowbray Suite at the town's Friarage Hospital has been presented with new equipment by volunteers who run the hospital shop and the trolley service. The four new infusion pumps are
POLICE in Derwentside have issued two separate warnings to the public after a number of break-ins. Sergeant Tony Avery, temporary crime desk manager at Consett police station, said a number of radios had been stolen from cars and there had been an increase
A 16-YEAR-old boy has been arrested after a stolen Jaguar smashed into the side of a house. The green S-type Jaguar caused extensive damage when it crashed into the property on the Wynyard Estate, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, terrifying resident
MODERN-day North-Easterners yesterday had the chance to sample the tough life of a Roman soldier in ancient Britain. Hundreds of people visited the annual Roman festival at the Arbeia Roman Fort, in South Shields, South Tyneside. They saw Roman soldiers
For the first time in the history of the league a father and son from one team were drawn against a father and son from their opponents. The Evans pair from Shotton Palms saw off the visiting Rooneys' from Witton Gilbert to set up a maximum victory. Jimmy
A CAR show intended to persuade firms to go green takes place in Stockton next week. The Alternative Car Show will explain how the latest fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles can be good for business. It will show managers how they can save money
A NEW scheme could provide essential money for improvements to health centres and surgeries in the Durham Dales. Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT), is to make a bid, along with other agencies, for money from a Government fund aimed at improving NHS
DERWENTSIDE INDUSTRY WALK: Ray Thompson will lead a four-mile Healeyfield parish walk examining old railways and lead mining, leaving the Old Smelt Mill picnis site, near Castleside, at 2pm on Sunday, June 16. FARES REDUCTION: Fathers can travel at child
LEYBURN recorded a six-wicket victory at home to Richmond Mavericks in division one last week. The visitors batted first and got off to a brisk start, with J Caldwell making 16 and P Croft an unbeaten 25 at No 3. Runs started to dry up, but S Lawson gave
MOVIE NIGHT: The Chester-le-Street Volunteer Bureau is holding a Thank You Night at the Movies evening for volunteers at 7.30pm next Friday, in Ouston Community Centre. People are asked to dress as their favourite film stars or as though they were attending
THE Shining really did shine in last night's Big Chance competition, run by The Northern Echo's music website, Revolution. The Darlington band, consisting of brothers Stuart and Philip Davidson, Stuart Foster, Jon Bethell, Jon Metcalfe and Ronnie Hewison
A CLASSROOM is to be built at Heighington C of E Primary School, despite concerns from residents about an increase in traffic. The school has applied for planning permission to build the classroom and entrance lobby on Hopelands. The parish council objected
A 20-year-old man was arrested for drugs supply offences while prohibited weapons were recovered from his home address in a Dealer a Day campaign raid carried out by Cleveland Police in Middlesbrough. A 23-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of
Spennymoor Half Moon came close to recording their first victory since rejoining the league after a gap of many years when they entertained Trimdon Workingmen's Club and forced a draw. The other matches in the league were called off because of the poor
THE Sedgefield and Darlington branch of the UK Independence Party is holding its next meeting on Tuesday, June 18. The theme of the meeting, will be Regionalisation - The Hidden Agenda. It will be held in the Golden Lion, Sedgefield, at 7.30pm. The branch
REGARDLESS of what happens today in the World Cup in Japan, young footballers in North Yorkshire have been given reason to celebrate - after netting a huge cash windfall. The UK's largest sports charity has awarded almost £250,000 to a scheme to create
A Teesside actress has been invited to appear on stage in America. Rachael Chisholm is to perform in a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel, Nicholas Nickleby, in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old from Marton, Middlesbrough, received a surprise
POLICE are hoping one of 80 friends and acquaintances of murdered Syd Baldwin will hold a vital clue to the crime. Mr Baldwin, 44, of Heaton, Newcastle, was found battered to death in his home on Tuesday, May 21. Since then, Northumbria Police have traced
COUNTY Durham's social services chiefs say they are disappointed that their department did not get a higher inspection rating. Durham County Council was given one star - the maximum is three - for the year 2000/2001 when the Social Services Inspectorate
WHEN it comes to keeping a sports pitch in good condition, there's not much that Mark Wilson has to learn. He's just won two regional events in the search for Britain's Groundsman of the Year - and in September will do battle for the national title at
Young artists are being invited to show off their talent in a national calendar design competition. Run by Phonak Heating Systems, the competition is looking for entries on the theme, 'what makes me happy', from children aged from five to 16 who are hearing
PEOPLE in Sedgefield borough, who are living with a long-term medical condition, are being offered the chance to take part in a Department of Health programme. The Expert Patient Programme (EPP) is a national initiative offering courses to help people
BUSINESS confidence is on the rise, despite the gloomy economic picture. According to research from Barclays Bank, business start-ups increased for the second quarter in a row, over the past three months. The Barclays Small Business Survey for Quarter
TOMORROW is the feast day of St Medard and in parts of rural Yorkshire there used to be a saying that if it rained that day, it was "St Medard watering his colts". Elsewhere, there was a similar saying that if it rained on St Medard's Day, it would rain
DIGNITARIES including the Bishops of Durham and Jarrow attended a ground breaking ceremony marking the start of work on a £8.7m school yesterday. The Venerable Bede Church of England Secondary School, being built on the former Ryhope Golf Course, near
FREEMASONS may be renowned for keeping their membership out of the public eye and for their secret initiation ceremonies - but anyone who would like to know more about the fellowship will be welcome at the Richmond Lodge's first open day at the end of
YOUNGSTERS from primary schools across North Yorkshire have been going green in an attempt to cut down on waste. Seven to 11-year-olds have been taking part in a competition to design a poster to encourage people to follow the motto - Reduce, Re-use and
A NEW postbus service has been given the stamp of approval by passengers who previously relied on a twice-weekly bus. Passenger figures have more than doubled since the service started and numbers are continuing to rise. Transport chiefs decided to change
Last season saw the emergence of a trio of Darlington teenagers who successfully came through the ranks to become firmly entrenched in the first-team - and youth team coach Martin Gray hopes he's found eight more to follow their lead. David McGurk (13
A MAJOR campaign to give a new lease of life to one of the earliest stations on the Wensleydale railway is set to receive a boost this week. Planners are expected to give enthusiasts the go-ahead to convert the Victorian railway station at Leeming Bar
A NEW fertility centre which could help hundreds of childless couples in the region is being considered for the North-East. The private Woodlands Hospital in Darlington is looking to set up an in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) facility at its site, with the
BEEF producers could improve their enterprises by spending more time selecting cows to suit their farms. Dr Duncan Pullar of the Meat and Livestock Commission said choosing the right cow to match the feed situation would yield better margins. He cited
Sven-Goran Eriksson's unwavering faith in a 4-4-2 system means he will again be putting a square peg in a round hole today. Paul Scholes has already broken rank to complain about Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to persevere with him as a deep-lying striker
THE centrepiece of a village tradition returned to its rightful home when a service was held to mark the rededication of the Gunnerside banner. Similar to the traditional miners' banners of the Durham coalfields, but remarkable for the quality of its
Crook Queen's Head A were able to open out a two point lead at the top of the table after they beat their B team by seven points, whilst their nearest rivals from Tow Law New Market B dropped four points on their visit to Crook Jelly's Bar A. Leading
Northern League secretary Tony Golightly has criticised clubs who have used ineligible players, writes RAY SIMPSON. Seven clubs were deducted three points for using suspended or wrongly signed players in their teams last season - five in the First Division
YOU may not have heard of Sport Relief as it has not been as widely publicised as it deserves to be. A spin-off from Comic Relief, it aims to raise money for children whose lives are impossibly hard, and the BBC are devoting a special night to it on July
Harlow humbled reigning champions The Academy 8-1 in Division One, victory taking them to the top of the table. Scores - Harlow names first: Simon Daly and Sophie Jacob lost to Gianfranco Cavestro and Sue Stothard 3-6, 3-6; beat John Sowden and Rebecca
Cockton Hill recovered from their first defeat of the season in the darts section last week at the hands of Crook Belle Vue and moved one point clear as they returned to the top of the table with a maximum win at Chilton. The Crook team, who were without
England need just a point from their final Group F game after beating Argentina 1-0 in Sapporo. David Beckham grabbed the all important goal from the penalty spot after Michael Owen was brought down by Mauricio Pocchettino. After the break England were
Bass North Cleveland League Graeme Leech hit four sixes and six boundaries in 77 and Gary Newsome had six fours scoring 37 when Ormesby Hall posted 200 for eight before declaring after 43 overs in their Division One game at home to The Merlin. When The
REIGNING premier division champions Guisborough continued their title charge on Tuesday when they cruised to a ten-wicket victory over visitors Darlington RA at Fountains Garth. The home side asked RA to bat first and they made 162-5, with Paul Freary
SEORUS Robertson of Alnwick as been elected the first entrant in the British Limousin Cattle Society's Book of Achievement. The society announced the establishment of the book at Beef 2002. It will form an historical record of those people the society
