Archive

  • Disturbed enough already...

    HUSSEIN on the front page, Hussain on the back. Wouldn't it be nice to have a peaceful, ordered life? In the circumstances, it would be understandable if Nasser were to emulate Spike Milligan by hanging a sign on his door, saying: "Do not disturb, I am

  • The final whistle at 66

    JOHN Adams' 44 years of playing football will go up in smoke tomorrow following friendly advice from his doctor. Last year, the 66-year-old Darlington grandfather was told it was time to hang up his boots after twisting his knee during an energetic five-a-side

  • Wide welcome for new ruling

    THE reduction of the 20-day standstill ruling for livestock to six days has been widely welcomed by the industry. Robert Forster, chief executive of the National Beef Association, encouraged each producer to comply with the new regulations. "It will help

  • Red Lion roar to victory

    Spennymoor League Coxhoe Red Lion pulled off a good victory when they visited Spennymoor Pit Laddie and took both doubles to clinch their two points victory. The home side had singles wins from J. Brown and A. Mullin, whilst the Lion went ahead with singles

  • Counting down to start of Shakespeare season

    THE Shakespeare countdown has started in Northallerton. Leisure centre staff are now counting down to the visit by the Royal Shakespeare Company which arrives on Sunday on the first stop of a national tour. The company stages The Merry Wives of Windsor

  • Northallerton and District League

    Dominoes Division One: Wheatsheaf played 17, points 45; Football Club 17, 41; Green Tree 17, 39; Nags Head A 17, 39; Duke Wellington 17, 38; WMC C 17, 37; WMC A 17, 36; Cricket Club B 17, 33; County Arms 17, 32; Elders A 17, 30; Masons Arms 17, 30; Sportsmans

  • Tow Law Area League

    Esh Stag's Head retained the League Championship when they beat the visiting Tow Law Station in the final match of the season. The home side needed six points to be certain of holding on the trophy and that was precisely what they scored. Mike Wightman

  • Terrible cost of a flawed system

    Yet again we find a miscarriage of justice dominating the news pages, yet again it is down to flawed scientific evidence. It is impossible not to feel the most enormous sympathy for what Sally Clark has gone through - surely there can be few experiences

  • The UniBond League

    More floodlight problems at Shildon mean that Bishop Auckland's home game with Bamber Bridge tomorrow will kick off at 2.30pm. After their Northern League Cup tie with Whitley Bay had to be abandoned because of a damaged cable, Shildon informed Bishops

  • Reyna confident Black Cats can avoid the drop

    SIDELINED Claudio Reyna last night admitted he fears returning to action with Sunderland in the Nationwide League. But the United States World Cup star remains confident that the rest of the Black Cats squad can come out of the relegation dog-fight unscathed

  • North East Christian Fellowship League

    Match of the day was at Consett Churches Belle Vue Sports Centre against Heworth Christian Centre. Chris McNally gave Consett a 1-0 advantage before Heworth surged into a 4-2 half-time lead, Nick Rowling collecting a hat-trick with Paul Charles scoring

  • Waldridge U8s pipped at post

    THE Chester-le-Street Waldridge Park U8s were pipped at the post for the league title when they lost 2-0 to Easington Kestrels. A hard fought top-of-the-table clash saw Waldridge lose out to two relatively soft goals. Despite solid midfield performances

  • Shop Talk: Maggi goes for the soft soap approach

    Maggi Dearmer, who suffered an allergy to commercial washing products, is hoping to clean up in the soap market after deciding to make her own. ALL Maggi Dearmer wanted was to lie back and soak luxuriously in a bath full of bubbles. Unfortunately, all

  • Stepy's Coaches Durham Sunday League

    Sherburn Lambton Arms progressed into the semi-finals of the Durham Football Association Sunday Cup for the first time in their history. The Lambton, promoted into the Premier Division this season, easily disposed of visitors South Shields D2M 2-1. The

  • Squash: Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League

    The see-saw battle for supremacy in the First Division shows no sign of slackening. In the past few weeks new leaders have emerged and then faltered. Now Adel have bouned back to take over as top dogs above Harrogate Squash and Ilkley following their

  • The Albany Northern League Today

    Northern League clubs could be unable to enter the FA Cup if Chelsea chairman Ken Bates has his way. Nationwide Conference club Farnborough have been accused of undermining the spirit and image of the FA Cup by switching their fourth round tie to Arsenal

  • Bowls: EIBA National finals area three

    Singles quarter-finals: G Skipp (Thornaby) 21, A Kirtland (Dton) 12; A Frosdick (Thornaby) 21, P Pane (Gt Aycliffe) 14; T Bousfield (Dton) 13, V O'Neill (Thornaby) 21. Pairs quarter-finals: Black/Armstrong (Dton) 14, Fenwick/Kilner (Hpool) 23; Hudson/

  • Darlington Church and Friendly League

    Although teams had to deal with strong winds they still produced some very good encounters. Darlington The Mowden and Darlington Travellers Rest had their usually closely fought hard game with Mowden coming out on top with a goal in either half, John

  • Quakers clash off

    Darlington's Third Division clash with Cambridge tomorrow has been called off due to a frozen pitch. The Feethams pitch was this morning deemed unplayable after a 10.30am pitch inspection. Middlesbrough's home clash with North-East rivals Newcastle has

  • Embleton joins Cestrians

    Aran Embleton, the first girl from the North-East to represent England at full international level, has signed for the club and she promptly scored on her home debut. Manager, Bill Godward, said: "It's a complement to the club that she has chosen to join

  • Stanley and District Sunday League

    AFTER ten straight wins, league leaders Chester Garden Farm finally tasted defeat when they went down 2-0 at home to local rivals Pelton Crown. The Crown raised their game substantially to cause the upset of the day to topple the league newcomers. Del

  • Mother charged with murder

    A WOMAN has been charged with the murder of her baby daughter more than 13 years after the girl's death. Maxine Jane Robinson, 34, is to appear before North Durham magistrates sitting in Peterlee on Wednesday accused of killing nine-month-old Victoria

  • No moves for boss Wilko

    SUNDERLAND'S hopes of boosting their relegation chances with new players look to be destined for failure. Black Cats boss Howard Wilkinson is thought to be highly unlikely to bring in fresh blood before the closure of the transfer window tonight. Wilkinson

  • Old Raby stages season's opener

    THE region's point to point season gets under way on Sunday with the Old Raby Hunt Club meeting at Witton Castle. The first race starts at 12.30 and the feature race of a six-race card is the men's open. If he appears, the classy Parade Racer looks the

  • 31/01/03

    WAR ON IRAQ: THE American President's father is to blame for this war. The last Gulf war was legal, Saddam Hussein was then on the ropes, waiting for defeat when America decided to call a halt. This gave Saddam 13 years to build up for another crack at

  • Swimming: The magnificent seven

    Northallerton ASC Northallerton got their 2003 season off to an inspirational start last weekend at the Gateshead and Whickham graded gala held at Felling. Seven swimmers excelled at the meet as they competed as part of the Moors swim squad helping Moors

  • A Hoggarth and Sons Eskvale and Cleveland League

    The Northern Echo Cup Annandale Hotel v Boosbeck Utd: With the wind behind them Boosbeck raced into a two-goal lead through Slater and Johnson, despite stand-in keeper, Farndale displaying his agility with a number of top notch saves. The Annandale defence

  • Cleveland League Sponsored by Coors Brewers

    At the half way stage of the season, the Redcar WMC lead Division One with 66 points followed in second place by Redcar Lakes A with 55. The result of the week, however, was a 4-2 home win for Guisborough Cons. who were playing hosts to third-placed Saltburn

  • Darlington Simply Lasses

    On a very heavy pitch, Darlington Simply Lasses and Hartlepool St Francis engaged in a fiercely fought battle mainly in the midfield area. Both teams worked hard to gain supremacy but it was the home team who eventually took the lead when Kerry Denham

  • New plans for 'poor' facilities

    CULTURAL and historical facilities across East Middlesbrough and East Cleveland have been described as poor by the man charged with running them. Peter Lane, assistant director of leisure at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, made the comment in a

  • Joining forces pays off with new fleet for fire brigade

    FIRE chiefs have taken delivery of seven eye-catching cars - courtesy of their colleagues on the police force. The VW Golfs are being supplied to the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service by the leasing company Inchcape Fleet Solutions. But Inchcape

  • Riding out the snowstorm

    BLIZZARDS and high winds brought traffic chaos to the North-East and North Yorkshire last night as many roads were rendered impassable. The treacherous conditions were blamed for a 21-vehicle accident on the A69 east of Corbridge, Northumberland, yesterday

  • DNA link to murder shocks churchgoers

    THE vicar of a tiny North-East church spoke of his shock yesterday after his congregation was caught up in one of Britain's biggest murder investigations. Detectives hunting the killer of Surrey schoolgirl Amanda "Milly" Dowler have confirmed that DNA

  • Scheme to clear final hurdle

    THE final permission needed to begin the regeneration of a Darlington estate is expected to be given next week. An application for outline planning permission to build housing on the site of the former Firthmoor Primary School will go before Darlington

  • Lenience for attacker who gave up drinking

    A FIFTEEN pints-a-night man who drunkenly attacked his ex-wife and her lover with a hammer was saved from prison yesterday after going on the wagon. George Craggs, 46, stopped drinking immediately after his arrest and lost three stones, said Dan Cordey

  • Trade unionists to show support for fire dispute

    TRADE unionists from throughout the North-East will converge on Newcastle tomorrow to show their support for firefighters during their pay dispute. A TUC spokesman said all trade unions were united in their support for the firefighters and that the event

  • Kitchen firm suspends four after probe

    FOUR people have been suspended from Darlington kitchen manufacturers Magnet following an internal investigation. The factory workers were suspended on Tuesday from the Allington Way site, a spokesman for the company confirmed yesterday. "Magnet has been

  • Don't drop your guard just yet

    THIS Sunday marks the halfway stage of winter. Due to the lighter evenings and mornings, often with a splash of welcome sunshine during the daytime hours and the sight of new growths in plants and trees, we can be deceived into believing spring is almost

  • Date announced for theatre re-opening following delays

    LEISURE bosses yesterday set a date for the re-launch of a popular arts venue that has been closed for building repairs. The Empire Theatre, in Consett, was due to open at the beginning of January, following a £700,000 re-fit. But the project fell behind

  • News from the guilds, WIs and clubs

    St Joseph's Ladies Circle, Gilesgate Moor; LAURA Farmer, leader of the Ladies' Circle, opened the monthly meeting with prayers and welcomed members. Apologies were taken, minutes were read and the financial report was given by Lilian Taylor. Final arrangements

  • Pyjama party for staff

    STAFF at Bradford and Bingley, in The Bridges, Sunderland, braved the biting weather yesterday and posed in their pyjamas to promote a charity event. The workers have signed up for Britain's Biggest All-Day Breakfast, which takes place on Friday, March

  • Moorland project hailed a sucess

    A REPORT by the Moorland Association has warned that, despite the success of its uplands regeneration project, there is still much more to be done. The Northern Uplands Moorland Regeneration Project report says that over 370,665 acres of heather moorland

  • Residents divided over plans for homes

    A DECISION on whether to brick up empty properties in Ferryhill Station has been put on hold. Representatives from Three Rivers Housing Group this week met residents from a group of streets known collectively as The Rows to discuss the issues surrounding

  • Firemen cross picket

    STRIKING firefighters broke their picket line this week to save three people after a bad car smash. Five officers from the picket in Leadgate, attended a head-on collision on the A693 Consett bypass, between Villa Real and Delves Lane, at around 10.50am

  • Mystery of man found unconscious

    POLICE are trying to trace the movements of a man who was found unconscious in Stockton. The man, believed to be in his 20s, was found in Norton Road shortly before 4am yesterday. He was discovered on the pavement close to the Earl of Stockton pub by

  • Ceremony to celebrate student work

    STUDENTS at a Hartlepool college will have their achievements recognised at an award ceremony. The ceremony, which will take place at Hartlepool College of Further Education on Thursday, will involve the presentation of certificates and awards to 38 students

  • Family and friends mourn conman-victim pensioner

    A COMMUNITY united in grief at yesterday's funeral of a pensioner who was targeted by a con-man. Residents of Haswell, County Durham, including close friends and family of George Sharpe, packed the village's St Paul's Church for the service. Mr Sharpe

  • Belt-on accessory to combat disease

    HOSPITAL staff have begun wearing a new fashion accessory as part of the fight to beat hospital superbugs. Everyone from the most senior consultant to the most junior doctor is being asked by York Health Services NHS Trust to wear bottles of alcohol-based

  • Cot death: every mother's nightmare

    Sally Clark, jailed for life for murdering her wto baby sons, walked free this week following an appeal. Women's Editor Christen Pears talks to a North-East mother whose son died of cot death and reports on how difficult it is to diagnose. TWENTY-two

  • Health drive has triple success

    A HEALTH service has landed three awards for its fight against a killer disease. The Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) programme, developed for the districts of Teesdale and Wear Valley, has been identified as one of the most successful in Britain. Durham

  • Charity being wound up

    THE Charities Commission is working with trustees to wind up a Darlington charity which collapsed after serious money problems occurred. Yesterday, the commission said investigations into Dial-a-Ride were now concentrating on winding up the affairs of

  • Sand bikers risk losing their vehicles

    MOTORCYCLISTS and quad bikers using protected sands at South Gare face possible prosecution and confiscation of their machines or fines up to £20,000. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cleveland Police and Corus will carry out the joint crackdown.

  • Housing revamp rumours quashed

    A COUNCILLOR has assured people that a town's revamp will not include the demolition of council houses. Widespread rumours of plans for demolition of buildings in Brotton, east Cleveland, could have a negative effect on the findings of a survey, say officials

  • Police hope CCTV will combat vandalism

    NO arrests or specific charges have been made against anyone relating to vandalism at Stokesley public toilets, which cost thousands of pounds to repair. But police hope a proposed High Street CCTV system and on-going crackdown on badly-behaved children

  • Grain report

    by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT prices have remained steady in the nearby positions as shippers look to cover recent sales. There is, however, very little carry in the market as the surplus is still there to come to market. Last week's export subsidies

  • Angling

    Aireborough's Nick Smith topped the biggest river turnout of the weekend 61 rods during the Knaresborough Piscatorials Dick Whitehouse Memorial Trophy on the River Nidd recording 9.2.0. At the bottom of the Sawmills length at Scotton, Nick legered bread

  • Children get stuck in to healthy meals

    YOUNGSTERS are being encouraged to give up crisps and chocolate and start eating more fruit. Children at Hartburn Primary School, Stockton, have been taking part in a week-long healthy eating initiative, which is to encourage them to eat five portions

  • T M Disco Crook and District League

    The name of Roddymoor dominates the list of winners of the Norman Wright Memorial Trophy and they are through to the final again. In the semi final opponents Stanhope Town took a 40th minute lead from an Andy Lee header. Roddymoor keeper Michael Sanderson

  • Ambitious plan to tap in to mart's tourism appeal

    VISITORS fascinated by the sights and sounds of Hawes auction mart should be welcomed as a boost to the economy. That was the message from Maurice Hall, mart manager, to a meeting to explain how a £100,000 feasibility study into redeveloping the site

  • Team awaits decision on accolade

    A DELEGATION of council chiefs has headed for London in a bid to win an award. Eight officers and councillors from Derwentside District Council are in the capital for the final round of interviews that will determine whether the authority is awarded Beacon

  • Tough lessons

    PUPILS from Teesdale Comprehensive School, Barnard Castle, will be tackling an assault course as part of a personal, social and health education (PSHE) day with the Army on Wednesday. Pupils will take part in a business challenge day at Glaxo Social Club

  • Magpies line up Woodgate for £9m

    NEWCASTLE UNITED were last night closing in on the £9m signing of England international Jonathan Woodgate. Woodgate, 23, discussed personal terms with the Magpies yesterday and is expected to complete the formalities of his move today. His departure from

  • News in brief: Lewis takes county title

    Darlington schoolboy Lewis Moses became County Durham cross country champion at a race held in Bishop Auckland on January 23. The year 11 Longfield School pupil became the first student from the school to win the title. WILDLIFE TALK: Middleton St George

  • Halls are given funds lifeline

    VILLAGE halls threatened with closure under revised Government funding arrangements are being thrown a £150,000 lifeline. On Wednesday, Durham County Council's ruling cabinet agreed to recommend that the full council incorporates the sum in next year's

  • Course in cinema to be held

    THE story of the movie business will be revealed when a new course gets under way. Durham's Clayport Library is to run a ten-week evening course on the history of film, starting on Wednesday. The tutor for the course is David Williams, who has lectured

  • Town for change

    A PRIME site on Whitby's harbourside looks set to be redeveloped with shops and flats despite opposition from town councillors. W Eves and Company wants to demolish its petrol filling station and garage in New Quay Road to make way for the scheme. Planning

  • Volunteers for nature reserve team needed

    THE Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers to join the Wednesday Wild-Bunch conservation team. As part of the Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration Project, the Wild-Bunch will carry out practical management projects at reserves along the River

  • 'Winning airwaves battle'

    RADIO station bosses say they are winning the airwaves battle for listeners. The managers of 96.6 tfm and Magic 1170 last night claimed official figures confirmed they are market leader in the local radio listening stakes. The sister stations have 16.6

  • Gipsies told to move from temporary home

    A COURT has ordered the eviction of more than 100 gipsies from their temporary home after an order by a High Court judge. The order was made on Wednesday after violence flared at the site in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, directed against contractors

  • Dot helps to tidy up area for launch

    A PENSIONER helped launch an environment group's state of the borough report, doing what she does best. Dot Williams went on a litter-pick in her home ward of Acklam, Middlesbrough. Ms Williams, who has been collecting litter each week for a number of

  • Sale of court is subject to conditions

    GUIDELINES have been agreed to help safeguard one of Hartlepool's historic buildings. Tunstall Court, a large house and grounds near Ward Jackson Park, closed last year after a number of years as a Hartlepool Borough Council training centre. The house

  • Managers help out at centre

    CALL centre managers swapped suits for overalls to give a charity's base a makeover. Ten managers from London Electricity (LE) Group's Doxford Park call centre, in Sunderland, helped paint the North East Refugee Service's (NERS) new premises in Hendon

  • Grassroots: Washington

    HEALTHY STAFF: Staff at Asda, on the Pattison Estate, have begun a healthy living campaign. Thirty-three members of staff have formed three teams to complete in a slimathon and 11 staff have signed a non-smoking pledge. VOLUNTEER WORK: Anyone interested

  • News in brief: Gang of youths target van

    A GANG of youths surrounded a delivery van and attempted to snatch a parcel off the driver and a colleague on Tuesday. The workers were sorting through parcels while in Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, when the gang of six surrounded the vehicle. One of

  • Partnership allows free legal advice

    FREE legal advice is on offer in Easingwold following the forging of a partnership by Hambleton District Council. The authority has joined forces with the Citizen's Advice Bureau and Thirsk solicitors Shirtcliffe and Co to provide the weekly sessions.

  • Supermac kicks off fair

    TRADERS set out their stalls yesterday to attract employees to a multi-million pound shopping complex. Thirty firms that will be among the tenants of Dalton Park, Murton, County Durham, attended a jobs fair in the former pit village's Glebe Centre yesterday

  • DNA may snare sex attacker

    OFFICERS investigating a sex attack on a pensioner in her home hope forensic tests will lead them to the culprit. The 78-year-old, from Westlea, in Seaham, County Durham, woke at 2am on Saturday to find a man standing over her bed. He pulled back the

  • CCTV campaign gains support

    A DISTRICT councillor has backed a campaign by residents to have security cameras fitted near their homes. The plea for 24-hour surveillance in the market town comes after years of vandalism to cars and properties. However, Hambleton District Council

  • Polish park trip debate

    TWO Yorkshire delegates could be flying out on a study trip to Poland in June if the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority gives the go-ahead. The visit to the Ojcow National Park, in the former Eastern Bloc country, is seen as an ideal training opportunity

  • Line will close for a month

    RESTORATION of a railway embankment between Leeds and Harrogate will involve part of the line being shut down for a month later this year. The news means more misery for rail passengers, who are enduring a long-running dispute between rail operator Arriva

  • Is Blair's shuttle diplomacy winning battle to go to war?

    Tony Blair shuttle diplomacy in the battle to build a coalition against Saddam appears to be paying off. His vow to deal with Iraq may have received support from seven European leaders but opinion closer to home remains sharply divided. During the past

  • Basketball: Durham League

    Three ties of the third round of the Durham League Mens County Cup took place this week, all pitched first against second division. Belmont Reds proved to be too strong for their guests from division two, Old Houghtonians, and the Durham side ran out

  • Public transport schemes to get £630,000 following bid

    MORE details have emerged of major improvements on the way for public transport in some of the more far-flung areas of North Yorkshire. The county has won £631,500 after making a bid to the Government's Rural Bus Challenge competition and the money will

  • 'Hopefully, some good will come of James's death'

    More than 100 bereaved North-East families who discovered body parts were taken from their children by the NHS without consent are lock in a battle for compensation. But not all the parents want the money. Hayley Gyllenspetz speaks to one family who have

  • Letters: Not anti-reserve

    Sir, - Despite Simon Warwick's protestations (D&S, Jan 24), the matters raised by Mr Piggott-Smythe concerning the Lower Ure Conservation Trust and Nosterfield Nature Reserve are far from untrue. The LUCT will only consider concerns which it deems

  • Organic grower will promote farmers' markets

    THE quality and availability of local produce is to be flagged up, following the appointment of a new farmers' market co-ordinator. Katrina Palmer, who runs Bluebell Organics, has a regular stall at the Barnard Castle farmers' market. Her new role will

  • Summit told Government must lead way

    THE Government must lead the way in addressing the British milk industry's problems, a supermarket boss told the Semex Milk Summit in Glasgow. The summit attracted 230 delegates to hear speakers from all parts of the food chain. Ian Merton, Sainsbury's

  • Ice Hockey

    Junior round-up Sunderland Tomahawks join Altrincham Tigers and Whitley Braves all on four points at the foot of the English U19 North A League. This was after a 5-4 victory at Altrincham on Sunday. Tomahawks went ahead in the fifth minute through Michael

  • Fives and Threes:

    Darlington and District League Pairs knockout preliminary round to be played on February 7. To be played at The Grey Horse, Bank Top. MC A Stainsby: P Gill, T Ashton (Vic Soc) v V Leach, D Raisbeck (Grey Horse BT); C Stainsby, S smith (Cleveland Club)

  • Sister Kate's gift of love

    BRAVE ten-year-old Kate Stobbs is recovering after surgeons extracted the bone marrow she hopes will transform her sister's life. Kate's older sister, Kimberley, 14, of Burnhope, near Consett, has been battling leukaemia. Consultants tested the family

  • A tricycle built for fun ...

    DISABLED people who enjoy cycling events at an Egglescliffe nature site are buying special tricycles and equipment with a grant of nearly £3,500. The Gateway Wheelers Club holds regular events at the Admiralty ecology site, which adjoins the Elementis

  • A school of very good value

    HURWORTH School has come out top in the latest school performance tables for Darlington and County Durham. Using new value added indicators, which measure how well each pupil has progressed through senior school, Hurworth School beat off competition in

  • Council set to put taxes up again

    COUNCIL taxpayers face a rise of at least nine per cent following Durham County Council's low grant settlement. Last year the council levied a 14.8 per cent increase - the biggest of any English county - in its share of the bill householders for local

  • Chance to learn computer skills

    PEOPLE were invited to sample computer courses at an open day. The Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street, invited community members to its UK OnLine Centre, which opened 18 months ago thanks to a £220,000 Government grant, on Tuesday. Aimed at encouraging

  • Looking Back

    From this newspaper 100 years ago. - A generous Stockton lady. The handsome new stained glass window dedicated on the first Sunday of this year in Holy Trinity Church, Stockton, is a fitting memorial to its donor, Mrs Wright, who has just passed away

  • Toll of heroes now complete

    AFTER almost a century, a complete record of where each one of the 168 men and boys who died in the North-East's worst ever peacetime disaster can be recorded for posterity. Only the grave of Thomas Killingback, victim of the 1909 West Stanley Burns Pit

  • Hostility mounts over national park barn decision

    A TIDAL wave of opposition to national park planning policy was demonstrated when three-quarters of residents in two upper Wensleydale parishes signed a petition. A total of 1,519 people from Hawes and High Abbotside and neighbouring Bainbridge and Askrigg

  • New Dales service funded from rural bus challenge

    RURAL transport projects worth £631,500 are being developed in North Yorkshire following a successful bid by the county council to the Government for funding. North Yorkshire was among 46 winners of the fifth round of the Rural Bus Challenge run by the

  • Warning over mumps

    EXPERTS have issued a health warning after a rise in confirmed cases of mumps. Public health officials from Tyneside to North Yorkshire have seen a steady rise in cases of mumps in recent months. Now GPs on Teesside have been put on alert after four cases

  • Tyne Tees Girls Youth League

    Under-12s: Spraire Lasses 5 v 1 Norton & Stockton Ancients Spraire took their goal tally to 100 for the season in an highly entertaining league game. Norton were brimming with confidence but were left frustrated by the excellent goalkeeping of Spraire

  • Romance on cards for Valentine evening of music

    A CLASSICAL music evening with a romantic theme is being held at the listed Sir William Turner's Hospital, at Kirkleatham, Redcar. Flutist Fiona McLaughlin and pianist Maria Dzenkauskaite proved a hit when they first performed at the centre in spring

  • Generous help allows trust to buy reserve

    YORKSHIRE Wildlife Trust has become the new owner of one of the county's finest nature reserves, thanks to a successful public appeal. It has bought Staveley nature reserve between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge, where it has been creating a wildlife

  • Prices at the markets

    BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,486 sheep. Lt hoggs to 108p av 96.2p; std to 115.7p av 108.5p; med to 125.3p av 110.8p; heavy to 117.3p av 108.5p. Ewes: Cont to £55.50; Suff to £60.50; Mule to £54.50; horned to £35.50. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week.

  • County warned that expansion of Europe could slash grant aid

    NORTH Yorkshire councillors are facing the daunting task of digesting major and far-reaching changes in European funding in only a few years' time. They have been warned that England's largest county could lose millions of pounds in aid after 2006 following

  • Is a ham sandwich a security risk?

    A TRIP to Ireland at the weekend flagged up the differing approaches to security at two airports - our own at Teesside and Dublin's. With tension over the terrorist threat at its peak, one would have thought practice would be uniform, especially within

  • Durham Alliance

    Durham County Trophy Semi-Finals One of two clubs in the league will lift the Trophy this season, following the success of Hartlepool Town last season, then playing as Hartlepool Boys Welfare. In the first game Sporting Club Sunderland roared into the

  • Gulls see off Quakers as Whitehead sees red

    A CONTENTIOUS refereeing decision helped to undermine Darlington's fading hopes of a late push for the Division Three promotion play-offs last Saturday. Former Premiership official Paul Danson played a major role in Quakers' 3-1 defeat at Torquay United

  • Darlington 21st Allstars

    11 goals for the Allstars U17's with Mr Wright scoring Seven. The Under-17s were at home to Cawood Wanderers in the league and romped home to a fantastic win. The Allstars quickly got into their stride and controlled the game from start to finish. With

  • Young cricket star heads for the sun

    A YOUNG Bedale High School pupil will soon be travelling thousands of miles to play schoolboy cricket in the South African summer. Although he has travelled abroad on family holidays, the journey starting on February 14 will be a new experience for 12

  • Six-day standstill brings new biosecurity rules

    THE six-day, whole-farm standstill for livestock, announced by Lord Whitty, food and farming minister on Thursday of last week, will run from March 4 to July 31, with a review at the end of May. The changes do not affect pigs. But there was a stern warning

  • Belle Vue tested by the Travellers Rest

    Crook League Crook Belle Vue maintained their third place in the First Division but were taken to the deciding doubles by the visiting Crook Travellers Rest A. However the odd point win failed to shake the big lead of the top two for Crook Olde Horse

  • Tennis: Brown Shipley North-East Premier League

    David Lloyd Stockton became the kings of Cleveland winning the local derby contest with Tennis World Middlesbrough in the North Division of the Brown Shipley League last Sunday at home while Invicta Sunderland took the group title and Academy Harrogate

  • Repeat history to repair clock, townsfolk asked

    A FREEMAN of the town of Redcar has launched an appeal to restore a vandalised landmark clock. Vera Robinson wants 10,000 of the resort's residents to dig into their pockets to match the generosity of their Victorian forbears, who created the Grade Two

  • Home Front: Brandon carry on regardless

    BRANDON in mid-winter is an unforgiving place. A bitterly cold Arctic wind tends to howl through the exposed parts of this former pit village, scything through anybody brave or foolish enough to venture out. And the local Northern League club, currently

  • Letters: Get real, firemen

    Sir, - Once again we are being subjected to a fireman's strike in pursuit of a totally unrealistic 40pc pay claim. At the beginning of the dispute, I, like most people in the country, were unaware of all of the aspects of a fireman's job. However, all

  • Rounds with Rocky are a knockout

    ROCKY Formats: PS2, Gamecube and Xbox. Price: shop around. Publisher: Rage. ROCKY Balboa is on the verge of a comeback, it seems. Movie producers are talking to Sylvester Stallone with a view to him stepping back into the ring for one last pay day. The

  • Boro's double

    MIDDLESBROUGH expect to complete the signings of Derby County pair Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott this morning. Christie and Riggott have passed medicals and now both players are understood to be ready to complete loan deals, with a view to permanent

  • 'Be honest' survey plea

    RUMOURS could have a negative knock-on effect on a survey to help decide plans for the future of Brotton, it has been claimed. Residents are to be asked to list their priorities as part of a consultants' study to provide a blueprint for an improved environment

  • Worthington Durham County CIU Winter League

    Fishburn A pulled off a good odd point home success over last season's champions, Old Shildon. The visitors looked to be in for a hiding when they went down in the first three frames as Brian Quest, Wayne Oliver with a 34 break and John Carter put the

  • Ladies' club holds AGM

    REDCAR and District Ladies' Luncheon Club held its AGM earlier this month. Betty Mattock was elected president, Dorothy Hutton chairman and Avril Canaway as secretary. The club's meetings are held in the Regency Hotel, Coatham Road, Redcar, on the second

  • Landing contract puts N-E back on shipbuilding map

    AS the Ark Royal slid gracefully down the slipway and into the River Tyne 23 years ago no one could have realised how far the North-East shipbuilding industry would have to fall before another naval leviathan would be built there again. HMS Ark Royal

  • Tait issues a challenge to his strikers

    Caretaker boss Mick Tait has challenged his strikers to stake their claim for a place in the side following Richard Offiong's return to Newcastle. Darlington entertain promotion-chasing Cambridge tomorrow with a starting berth alongside Barry Conlon up

  • Athletics: Quakers RC

    Kwere certainly knocking on January 18, in wet and cold conditions, nine members took part in the Eston Nab Nee Nocker Fell Race. First home for the club and third overall was Paul Figg in a time of 36.59 and he was followed by Ken Maynard in sixth place

  • Dizzie making strides towards the top

    A NORTH Yorkshire coloured mare with a racing pedigree is making her mark as a potential eventing star of the future. Heidi Sircus of Nunnington imported Rodezja, known as Dizzie, from Poland as a three-year-old in 1999 and she says the mare is surpassing

  • Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

    Oa perfect morning for running, 13 Harriers travelled to York for the ever popular Brass Monkey Half Marathon. There were 860 finishers in the event, which was won once more by Ian Fisher of Otley AC in a time of 1.07.56. Ernie Huck was the first Harrier

  • Let diversifying support scaled-down farming, says ICA

    GRAVE concern has been expressed over the mid-term CAP reform proposals announced last week. Under them, Britain's farmers will lose up to £300m a year in support payments from 2007. The farming and rural business group of the Institute of Chartered Accountants

  • Athletics:County Cross Country Championships

    A number of students from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College represented Darlington at the recent County Cross Country Championships at Bishop Auckland and all did very well. The six-man Senior Boys' Team consisted of the following QE students, all of

  • Sal's Gal to boost Nick's run

    NICK LITTMODEN, by far the most successful trainer farming the all-weather circuit, looks primed to scoop yet more prize-money on the sand at Wolverhampton today via Sal's Gal. Littmoden is not only leading the all-weather trainer's championship by a

  • Richmond and District League

    Results January 24: Half Moon (Barton) 2 The Board Inn 6; The Ship Inn 5 Comrades Club A 3; Cricket Club 5 Croft WMC 3; Bay Horse (Middleton Tyas) 2 King William (Brompton) 6; The Crown (Brompton) v bye; Comrades Club B v bye. Diamond Jim The Final was

  • Vulnerable first to get SmartWater

    AN INNOVATIVE crime prevention product, which has its own unique profiling system, is to be introduced in Teesdale in a bid to combat bogus callers. Similar to DNA profiling, anything - or anyone - carrying the merest trace of SmartWater can be identified

  • Letters: NYPD blues

    Sir. -It is plain to see that North Yorkshire police chief Della Cannings can not live within her means, or ours. With a budget of £96m she needs more, £6m more. Yet if tales from Bedale are anything to go by we will all be paying more for less police

  • Men's Hockey

    North League January 25: Premier Division: City of York 8, Warrington 0; Durham Univ 3, Timperley 0; Harrogate 4, Brooklands Man U 2; Oxton 1, Ben Rhydding 2; Southport v Sheffield Hallam postponed. January 26: Division One: Chester 1, Alderley Edge 1

  • Fingers crossed for action at Wetherby

    HAVING not raced since Boxing Day, officials at Wetherby will be hoping that the weather relents to allow the course to stage a quality seven-race programme tomorrow. The meeting features a pair of grade two contests - The Gerrard Wealth Management Novices

  • Consett Sunday League

    The Stateside handed out a five-goal warning to their rivals with Martin Herdman, Darren Pike, Kevin Eglon, Darren Watson and Steve Beckwith bagging the strikes in the 5-0 romp. Darren Grimes increased his season's tally by another two goals when he helped

  • South Cleveland Garages Teesside League

    Division One BEADS FC 1 v 2 Richmond Town after a scrappy half hour Richmond took the lead when Adam Emson's shot rebounded off Archie Moore back to Emson who slotted home the opener. In the 75th minute Richmond broke and Emson scored his sixth of the

  • Primary pupils' first aid lessons - by the book

    BUSINESSES are being urged to help to kick-start a campaign to recruit an army of junior life-savers. The Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) is to issue primary school children with a first aid educational handbook. And it wants

  • Poaching under investigation

    NUMEROUS reports of poaching are being investigated by Stokesley police. The incidents cover a large area from Seamer, Hutton Rudby and Swainby, to Kildale and Raisdale. A series of suspected poaching incidents have been reported to officers at Stokesley

  • Swimming: Medals for Billingham trio

    Billingham ASC: In a busy weekend the club competed in the Gateshead Open Long Course Meet at Ponds Forge, Sheffield against tough opposition. Three swimmers collected medals between them two golds, two silvers and two bronze. Eleven-year-old Christopher

  • Abandoned dog has tumour op

    A DOG left to die by its callous owners is making a good recovery, after vets removed a tumour the size of a golf ball from its body. Staff at Consett Veterinary Centre found the nine-year-old, black and grey spaniel bitch tied to railings outside their

  • Durham County

    The Durham County Pool teams are hoping to improve on their very promising start to the Region One Inter-Counties Championship when they entertain Northumberland at Sacriston Daisy Hill on Sunday, February 9. Players are asked to report at 11.30am and

  • Details revealed of college homes as protests grow

    PLANS to replace a Darlington college campus with about 130 homes could be given the go-ahead next week. The college of technology's application for outline planning permission to develop its Cleveland Avenue site for housing will be considered by the

  • Sunderland Catholic Club Over-40s League

    The Kenny Ball Cup, third round produced its usual shock results last Saturday. Premier leaders Ferryhill Greyhound turned in a dismal performance, never playing in their usual immaculate fashion by losing 3-1 away to lowly-placed Sunderland Catholic

  • Last Night's TV: Girls Behaving Badly (ITV2); Empire (C4)

    Lasses with plenty of front "I FEEL I have been put on this planet to do what I do," proclaimed Linsey Dawn McKensie as she dribbled milk over her bare 34FFF breasts. Quite why Glamour Girls should feature in a series labelled Girls Behaving Badly is

  • Yorkshire Rabbits Golf Association

    Harrogate Area The annual general and quarterly meeting of the association took place courtesy of Harrogate Golf Club last week. The meeting commenced with the President, David Taylor in the chair and the previous year's Annual General minutes were confirmed

  • Junior Football

    Richmond Town: THE Under-9s travelled to Barnard Castle where they hoped to get a result, writes Ben Prosser. The first match started well including a shot past the keeper by captain J Henry to take the lead. In the second half Barnard Castle fought back

  • Double CD for folk music lovers

    DEMAND for cassette tapes which are no longer available will be met when local folk duo Nebula launches a double CD, Now and Then, at the George Hotel folk club at Piercebridge on Monday evening. Roly Hindmarch and Dave Hutchinson have been part of the

  • Rising star to train with England

    A TALENTED young squash player from Guisborough has earned national recognition as a potential star of the future. Chris Allinson, a year eight student at the town's Laurence Jackson School sports college, has been chosen to train with the England squad

  • Brompton Juniors

    Brompton A Under-9s played Catterick B winning 3-1 with goals from Chris Holmes, George Austick and an own goal from Catterick. Brompton played some good passing football and were deserved winners. Brompton A then played against Catterick A in a tightly-fought

  • Comment: Robson goes front to back

    SIR BOBBY ROBSON has forgotten more about football than most managers have ever learned about the game. So it has been curious over the last three years to see the Newcastle United boss ignore one of soccer's most fundamental laws as he constructed his

  • Falcons expect big crowd for Quins

    NEWCASTLE Falcons are confident their crucial match at home to Harlequins will go ahead tomorrow, despite an inch a half of snow. The Kingston Park pitch is covered for a match to be televised live on Sky, which is why it has been brought forward a day

  • Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Plate Championship

    A quarter-final cup battle went to the wire as Bedale defeated Wensleydale 3-2. In the pivotal clash on court Bedale's John Abbotson and Ian Grogan were locked in a tense battle before Abbotson scampered home with two points to spare in the fifth game

  • Safeway expansion plans may be blocked

    PLANS to extend Darlington's main Safeway store into a "hypermarket" look set to be refused permission by councillors next week. Safeway submitted plans to extend its Victoria Road store last year after withdrawing an original application 24 hours before

  • Junior Football

    City of Durham: THE Under-9 Dragonflies marched onward with two fantastic victories at the weekend. In the first game a top of the table clash with Newbottle the Dragonflies took control early on with some fantastic passing football which was not easy

  • Apologise and give the cash for heating, says councillor

    AN APOLOGY should be given to the Yarm charity running the Fellowship Hall - and a bigger sum paid to it, to improve the hall's heating. That was the view of a Yarm councillor at this week's town council meeting. The town council owns the hall but the

  • Recruitment drive to solve childcare shortage

    PEOPLE are being urged to consider a career in childcare to address a severe shortage of carers in County Durham. In common with many other areas, the county does not have nearly enough people providing childcare places for youngsters whose parents require

  • Ex-airman's porn jail term reduced

    A FORMER RAF airman who downloaded indecent photos of children onto his computer in his barracks room won his freedom yesterday after senior judges reduced his 18-month jail term. London's Criminal Appeal Court decided James Richard Poole's sentence was

  • News in brief: Inquest opened into fire death

    AN inquest into the death of 82-year-old Annie Isabella Wardle, known as Belle, of St Bede's Close, Crossgate Moor, Durham, was opened and adjourned by north Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle yesterday. Mrs Wardle died following a fire at her home last Thursday

  • Launch of eco group in town

    CHESTER-LE-STREET'S first community environment group has been launched to conserve the area's wildlife. Chester-le-Street Action for a Sustainable Environment will carry out projects at the town's Riverside Park and other areas in the district. Schemes

  • News in brief: Inquest opened into fire death

    AN inquest into the death of 82-year-old Annie Isabella Wardle, known as Belle, of St Bede's Close, Crossgate Moor, Durham, was opened and adjourned by north Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle yesterday. Mrs Wardle died following a fire at her home last Thursday

  • Comment: Shipbuilding - alive and well

    A DECADE ago we were talking about the death of shipbuilding in the North-East. The once thriving yards on the Wear and the Tees, for generations the mainstay of the local economies, had all but disappeared. And when the Swan Hunter yard on the Tyne went

  • Art with an eastern influence

    THE traditions of Eastern culture are the inspiration behind an exhibition created by students. The work, by year 11 pupils who are studying GCSE art and design at Spennymoor School, is on display at Durham University's Oriental Museum until February

  • Lorry is stolen

    A skip lorry worth an estimated £11,000 has been stolen. The blue and white Ford Iveco, complete with yellow skip, was stolen some time between Wednesday night and yesterday morning. Anyone who may have seen the vehicle - registered A5 KMC - is urged

  • Lorry is stolen

    A skip lorry worth an estimated £11,000 has been stolen. The blue and white Ford Iveco, complete with yellow skip, was stolen some time between Wednesday night and yesterday morning. Anyone who may have seen the vehicle - registered A5 KMC - is urged

  • Plans shelved for £3.5bn upgrade of East Coast line

    THE cash-starved Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) dealt the region a bitter blow yesterday as it shelved plans for the £3.5bn upgrade of the East Coast Main Line. The SRA has scaled back proposals for the London-to- Scotland route and other major rail improvements

  • Sword threats made to police

    POLICE were yesterday questioning a man after he threatened officers with a samurai sword. Sergeant Matthew Millington said police had been called to a house at The Croft, in the Newby area of Scarborough, at about 7am yesterday and were confronted by

  • Man is fined for racial abuse on GP

    AN oil rig worker who hurled racial abuse at his family doctor was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation yesterday. The surgery incident left Dr Paul Chatterjee on medication. His abuser, Andrew Gollogly, claimed he was under stress and was worried about

  • Employees face uncertain future

    MORE than 30 employees face an uncertain future at sweet manufacturers Nestle. The company announced it had carried out a review of costs and production at its factory in Fawdon, Newcastle, which could lead to redundancies. The GMB union has been in talks

  • Academic queues for 92 days of research

    AN academic has spent four years and thousands of pounds reaching the conclusion that British people hate queueing. In the pursuit of his studies, David Stewart-David spent 92 days standing in more than 2,000 queues. His work, which was funded by a £2,000

  • The Eagle who had trouble landing

    Minister for Disabled People Maria Eagle had her wings clipped when she tried jetting into the North-East yesterday. Ms Eagle, who was scheduled for three visits in the region, set off from London's Heathrow Airport early yesterday, but heavy blizzards

  • Sobbing mother denies causing baby's injuries

    A SOBBING mother told a court yesterday that she did not know who caused the multiple fractures to her baby which a medical expert said were the most severe he had seen. Two-month-old Kane Simpson, from Billingham, Teesside, had brain injuries, two skull

  • Pier to host conservation national AGM

    A conservation group which supported the £1.8m restoration of Saltburn Pier is to hold its annual meeting in the town. The National Piers Society, founded in 1979 by then poet laureate Sir John Betjeman, played a crucial role in helping the East Cleveland

  • Procession for artist's funeral

    A TRADITIONAL horse-drawn procession has been arranged for the funeral of Middlesbrough artist Glynn Porteous. His widow, Rene, has organised the traditional send-off for her husband, who was well known for his sense of humour. Last Friday, he lost his

  • Hunt for bogus workers

    TWO conmen followed genuine council workmen to the home of an 84-year-old woman in Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, and stole £130 from her handbag. One man, who was carrying a clipboard, is described as smartly dressed, about 5ft 8in, aged 35 to 45, with

  • Plans to get rid of blackspot junction

    CHANGES are proposed at a busy road junction which has earned a reputation as an accident blackspot. Plans have been lodged for the construction of a roundabout to replace the existing road lay-out at a junction on the A690 Durham to Sunderland dual carriageway

  • Appeal for Ann boosted by cheque

    AN appeal which aims to raise £20,000 for a woman with a crippling disease has received its largest single donation to date. Organisers of the Ann Teasdale Appeal have received a cheque for £2,500 which will be used to help send her to the US for specialist

  • 'How could I defend myself?'

    As one of the country's most respected gymnastics and trampoline coaches, Paul Wells trained tens of thousands of youngsters - until his 20-year career was ruined by claims of child abuse. He spoke exclusively to Lindsay Jennings about the four-year fight

  • Sixth-formers encourage children to consider young victims

    Teenagers have spent the week asking children to stop and think about the young victims of the Holocaust. Since Monday, National Holocaust Day, two Teesside girls have been encouraging other youngsters to think about other victims of racism and hatred

  • AOL makes record loss

    AOL Time Warner made financial history in the States by announcing the biggest losses on record. The firm, which pioneered the hit TV show Sex in the City, recorded a $45bn (£29bn) loss for the final three months of 2002 which left the company $98.7bn

  • Cleared gymastics coach loses fight for compensation

    A gymnastics coach who was cleared of child abuse has lost his fight for compensation against the council which unfairly sacked him. Paul Wells, 63, was fired by Newcastle City Council five months before his trial on six charges of indecent assault against

  • Tidy-up in the garden

    YOUNGSTERS gave a tidy-up to a garden created at their village hall. New Brancepeth Youth Group planted holly trees and spruced the site up before holding a 'winter warmer' celebration for residents in the hall. This included a buffet, games of bingo

  • Cider ad mats withdrawn as firm admits mistake

    A DRINKS manufacturer has been forced to withdraw a costly advertising campaign after a North-East drinker complained it glorified football violence. Last night the makers of Strongbow cider apologised for the drinks mats and said the advertising campaign

  • New company picks up order for equipment

    A NEW company selling industrial materials handling equipment has won an order with a rapidly growing leaflet distributor. Alliance Material Handling (AMH), on Consett's No 1 Industrial Estate, is selling forklift trucks and a pallet-carrying warehouse

  • Pupils sponsor guide dog

    PUPILS at a Billingham school have raised £2,000 to sponsor a guide dog to be trained. The Charities Commission at St Michael's School was challenged by the school's lay chaplain, Jane Cook, to raise the money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

  • Army homes given perfume crime alert

    ARMY families have been alerted to a doorstep perfume scam used by thieves to force their way into homes in the North. An Army Welfare Service newsletter - circulated in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire - reports the robbers pose as salesmen, offering

  • Region lacks information on the euro

    A Lack of information is leading to euro confusion for companies across the region. According to a poll by Durham Business Club, 60 per cent of local businesses questioned feel they do not have enough information to make an informed judgement on how entry

  • Demolition plan for building discussed

    PLANS to demolish an Edwardian building and replace it with six flats look set to be approved today. Members of Stockton Borough Council will meet to discuss plans to demolish the empty Stafford Villa, Stafford Close, Thornaby. The building dates from

  • Extra cash available for local mortgages

    DARLINGTON Building Society is making extra funds available to meet an enormous local demand for its new discount and fixed rate mortgages. The society has made its best mortgage deals exclusively available to people living in County Durham, the Tees

  • Sir Tom's cash boost for enterprise project

    A LOCAL boy made good passed on business advice and a financial shot-in-the-arm to a school in his home city. Sir Tom Cowie handed over £50,000 to Thornhill School, Sunderland, on behalf of the managing director of his North European Marine Services company

  • Sir Tom's cash boost for enterprise project

    A LOCAL boy made good passed on business advice and a financial shot-in-the-arm to a school in his home city. Sir Tom Cowie handed over £50,000 to Thornhill School, Sunderland, on behalf of the managing director of his North European Marine Services company

  • Burton's Bytes: Rounds with Rocky are a knockout

    ROCKY Formats: PS2, Gamecube and Xbox. Price: shop around. Publisher: Rage. ROCKY Balboa is on the verge of a comeback, it seems. Movie producers are talking to Sylvester Stallone with a view to him stepping back into the ring for one last pay day. The

  • Bannatyne submits plan to demolish HQ

    DARLINGTON-based gym chain Bannatyne Fitness has applied for outline planning permission to demolish its headquarters in Cleveland Terrace to make way for a housing development. The application will be considered by the borough council's planning committee

  • Recruitment drive to solve childcare shortage

    PEOPLE are being urged to consider a career in childcare to address a severe shortage of carers in County Durham. In common with many other areas, the county does not have nearly enough people providing childcare places for youngsters whose parents require

  • Borough to pilot postal elections

    SEDGEFIELD will pilot a postal voting system at the borough council and all town and parish councils elections on May 1. Registered electors will be sent postal ballot papers to be returned to the council offices in Spennymoor no later than noon on May

  • Bistro welcomes year of the ram

    CHINESE New Year is being celebrated this week at the bistro in Darlington's Art Centre. Running alongside the regular menu, the bistro will be cooking dishes including chicken and sweetcorn soup, sweet and sour chicken and crispy duck in plum sauce.

  • Special livestock sales

    HAWES. - Sat. Annual show and sale of registered Blue-faced Leicester sheep. Fwd: 11 Gimmer Hoggs, 4 in-lamb gimmer shlgs, 4 in-lamb ewes. Overall av £509.38 (down £498.21 on 2002 video sale); gimmer hoggs to £1,150 av. £538.89 (down £417.65); gimmer

  • Support service needs volunteers

    A VITAL support service for families with children who have special needs is appealing for more volunteers to aid its work. The Parent Partnership Service has been running in Darlington for nearly three years, bringing a wealth of advice and information

  • Appeal for a new home for Alfie

    A DOG abandoned by its owners when they moved is looking for a new home. Alfie was left in the back yard of a house and was rescued by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League (NASSL) in Darlington. He was quickly rehomed but started to bully his

  • Cup fever at festival

    REAL ale fans are gearing up for their own version of the FA Cup. Sunderland supporting landlord Graham Ford is modelling the 12th annual beer festival at The Beamish Mary Inn, No Place, near Stanley, on the world famous football competition. The beer

  • Support officers given wide role as part of pilot scheme

    TRADITIONAL traffic wardens in Darlington have been replaced as part of a pilot scheme. The town has become the first in the region to have community support officers (CSOs), who have replaced wardens. Darlington Police have been given £114,000 from the

  • Storming finish earns county title for Lewis

    LEWIS Moses, a rising young star of local athletics, has realised one of his dreams by becoming the intermediate boys Durham county cross-country champion. The Longfield School, Darlington pupil was always among the leaders in the day's most competitive

  • 'GP crisis report is out of date'

    FAMILY doctors are fighting back after a report revealed that parts of County Durham are facing a recruitment crisis. The report published by the British Medical Association (BMA) this week reveals that the Durham Dales is one of the hardest hit areas

  • Councillors to decide on £20m health unit

    THE future of a planned £20m mental health unit in the North-East will be discussed at a meeting next week. The Private Finance Initiative-funded hospital, in Darlington, will replace facilities at the Pierremont Unit, at Darlington Memorial Hospital,

  • Supermarket thanks donors

    SHOPPERS have been praised for their generosity following the success of a Christmas appeal during which shoppers donated presents. The Asda Superstore, in Bishop Auckland was inundated with gifts which were given to the Salvation Army to distribute to

  • Ships contract to launch jobs boom in region

    LARGE-SCALE shipbuilding returned to the North-East yesterday for the first time in more than two decades, bringing thousands of jobs. Swan Hunter, which has yards on the Tees and Tyne, was named as one of the four principal manufacturers to benefit from

  • Your chance to have a say on community issues and concerns

    RESIDENTS will be able to have their say on a range of issues by attending a series of council meetings in Hartlepool. The Neighbourhood Consultative Forums, covering the north, centre and south of the town, are to take place next week. Each of the meetings

  • Offering a route to tree of knowledge

    A COLLEGE yesterday went on the road to promote its tree of knowledge. With the help of a computer-packed van, staff from Northallerton College were tempting people to learn more about gardening. They travelled to Strike's garden centre in the town, promoting

  • Security firm gives school bird a lift south

    A GIANT bird migrated south yesterday with the help of a team from Securicor. The bird, which stands 130cm high, was created by children at Abbey Road Junior School, in Darlington, for a competition being run by the new National Centre for Deafblindness

  • Ready for another new year party

    MORE Chinese students than ever will celebrate their New Year at a North-East university later today. About 450 students from China will mark the Year of the Ram at a double celebration at Sunderland University's Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's and

  • Ready for another new year party

    MORE Chinese students than ever will celebrate their New Year at a North-East university later today. About 450 students from China will mark the Year of the Ram at a double celebration at Sunderland University's Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's and

  • Solicitor's disciplinary hearing delay

    Disciplinary proceedings against former North Yorkshire coroner Jeremy David Cave, which were due to take place on Tuesday at the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal, in London, have been adjourned until March 27. Mr Cave, 53, of Croft Heads, Sowerby, near

  • Seat-belts law hailed a vital lifesaver

    AN estimated 800 lives have been saved in the North-East since the mandatory wearing of seat-belts for front-seat passengers was introduced 20 years ago today. Government figures released today show that since the regulations were introduced, front seat-belts

  • Initiative launched to fight for market towns across county

    COUNTY council chiefs have pledged to fight for the future of the market towns of North Yorkshire. They have given their backing to moves to set up an Action for Market Towns network to support and promote their regeneration. The move came at a meeting

  • News in brief: Police name hanged man

    A MAN found hanged in a garden at Spring Bank, Scarborough, has been named as William Howard, aged 49, who had been living temporarily at the address. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. The North Yorkshire East Coroner

  • Meadows tourism bid is put forward

    TWENTY two groups have bid so far for a share of money available from the Yorkshire Dales Sustainable Development Fund. Launched last year by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, the idea was to challenge

  • Animator caught up in web of terror

    A MONSTROUS flesh-eating spider set for a starring role in a film blockbuster will be a thing of nightmares. That is guaranteed, for the mere thought of orc-eating Shelob, one of the terrors of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, is already giving designer

  • Library draws visitors of

    A LIBRARY is attracting people from ethnic minorities for the first time after introducing books in their languages. When Durham City Library was at its old site on South Street, it seldom saw visitors from other cultures. So when the new Clayport Library

  • Kayak star's championship bid supported by city firm

    A YOUNG kayaking expert is going for gold this year. Eleanor Rutter, one of the UK's rising starts in this challenging sport, is looking forward to the busy competitive season thanks to support from Ripon-based Econ Engineering. Eleanor, who has lived

  • Stuart wins exams award

    A STUDENT from Teesville has been presented with an award for educational excellence. Stuart Wadlow, 16, from Teesside Training Enterprise, in Middlesborough, received the accolade for GNVQ learning at the OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations board

  • Backing for freedom of speech challenge

    A COUNCILLOR who has taken a freedom-of- speech battle to the High Court in London says his stance has already won him widespread backing. Paul Richardson is challenging a decision by his own council - North Yorkshire County Council - which said that

  • Drug-user tried to buy laptop with stolen card

    DRUG addict Eugene Devereux thought he was on to a nice little earner when he was approached in the street and told that if he used a stolen credit card to buy a £989.99 laptop computer he would be paid a fee. But Devereux, 38, was instructed to make

  • The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

    Only eight of the 20 scheduled games beat the bad weather this week, but Newton Aycliffe Sports Club took full advantage of the situation as they closed the gap between themselves and second placed East End WMC to only two points. The Sports Club have

  • Bishop back in city

    A BISHOP returned to his former base for the first stop on an author's tour. Dr David Jenkins, the former Bishop of Durham, spoke to local people at St Nicholas Church, just down the road from his former base of Durham Cathedral, about his new book The

  • Villagers celebrate after fence victory

    VILLAGERS campaigning to have a popular woodland walk re-opened celebrated this week after council officers promised to make the landowner take down its barricades. Protesters in Blackfyne, near Consett, have gathered more than 500 signatures from residents

  • Rugby tips from the top for Thirsk girls

    CAROLINE Bell, a trainee with the English Rugby Academy, which trains players for the England squad, is hoping to inspire other students to tackle the game. A former Thirsk School student, Caroline is currently studying at Leeds University. She returned

  • Sister Kate's gift of love

    BRAVE ten-year-old Kate Stobbs is recovering after surgeons extracted the bone marrow she hopes will transform her sister's life. Kate's older sister, Kimberley, 14, of Burnhope, near Consett, has been battling leukaemia. Consultants tested the family

  • News in brief: Inquest opened into fire death

    AN inquest into the death of 82-year-old Annie Isabella Wardle, known as Belle, of St Bede's Close, Crossgate Moor, Durham, was opened and adjourned by north Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle yesterday. Mrs Wardle died following a fire at her home last Thursday

  • News in brief: Gang of youths target van

    A GANG of youths surrounded a delivery van and attempted to snatch a parcel off the driver and a colleague on Tuesday. The workers were sorting through parcels while in Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, when the gang of six surrounded the vehicle. One of

  • News in brief: Inquest into crash death

    AN INQUEST into the death of a 13-year-old boy was opened yesterday at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court. Liam Richardson died when a stolen Vauxhall Astra in which he was travelling careered out of control in West Cornforth, County Durham, on January

  • Tarrant's good Korea move

    NEIL Tarrant, whose nomadic football journey has been followed step by step by The Northern Echo, has flown off to play in Seoul. It is, of course, a Korea move. Though the language barrier presents problems, he can just about understand the Busan Icons

  • Wellock's World: Disturbed enough already...

    HUSSEIN on the front page, Hussain on the back. Wouldn't it be nice to have a peaceful, ordered life? In the circumstances, it would be understandable if Nasser were to emulate Spike Milligan by hanging a sign on his door, saying: "Do not disturb, I am

  • Terrible cost of a flawed system

    Yet again we find a miscarriage of justice dominating the news pages, yet again it is down to flawed scientific evidence. It is impossible not to feel the most enormous sympathy for what Sally Clark has gone through - surely there can be few experiences

  • News from the Guilds and WIs

    East Stanley WI: AFTER the excitement of Christmas and New Year, the president Anne Stayman welcomed members and two visitors to the meeting on January 13. Birthday greetings were given to five members. Rita Hall was thanked for the flowers sent to Audrey

  • Opposition forces recycling rethink

    COUNCIL chiefs have been forced to review their recycling strategy following opposition to a recycling centre in East Cleveland. Suggestions have been put forward for the centre to be sited at Deepdale, Loftus, at Liverton Mines Industrial Estate and

  • Extra cash found for fire service after 'duty of care' plea

    A FIRE chief who warned that proposed spending levels outlined by his controlling authority could lead to a failure in the service has won a concession from councillors. North Yorkshire chief fire officer, Eric Clark, estimated in December that the fire

  • Darlington Mount Pleasant Rangers

    All of Rangers teams were back in action this weekend. The Under-11s, sponsored by MKM (Darlington) A team, played at home in the League against Ferryhill Town. They dominated play from the off with a seven minute penalty opening the scoring. The game

  • Monte Carlo retirement is agony for Wilks

    UP and coming Heighington star Guy Wilks saw his hopes of a superb result dashed when he was forced to retire within sight of the finish of the world-famous Monte Carlo Rally last weekend. Driving the Chris Birkbeck Rallysport Ford Puma, prepared at the

  • Village living in fear

    PEOPLE in the village where police uncovered a DNA link to murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler are living in fear of a "killer in our midst." A male DNA sample taken from an item of Millie's clothing has been matched to one found after a theft at a tiny

  • Wearside League

    Although Cleadon SC are fourth from bottom in the Wearside League, manager Dougie Key reckons the side has come a long way in a short time. He is the first to admit that pre-season preparations were poor and when the side conceded 12 goals to Birtley

  • Athletics: Newton Aycliffe

    The Durham County Championships took place on the Saturday, January 17, they were again held at the exceptionally tough course at King James School in Bishop Auckland. Newton Aycliffe had a lot of young talent on show, one of which was Lewis Moses who

  • Southgate could face Nemeth in Riverside's international

    TWO Middlesbrough teammates could go head to head on home soil after the Riverside was confirmed as a venue for a crucial England game. Boro stars Gareth Southgate and Szilard Nemeth are hoping to be handed the opportunity to lock horns when the national

  • Policy is a pain

    THE problem with planning policies is that you tend to have to stick to them, otherwise they are not worth the paper they are written on. That suggests a degree of inflexibility which the planning system is often straining against. From time to time development

  • Vandal attacks bridge

    A VANDAL with a power saw has damaged a wooden bridge and a seat in Saltburn Valley Gardens. The culprit has also stolen a four-foot section of the bridge's ornate handrail and part of the seat's backrest. A member of the public alerted countryside wardens

  • Lifeguard station to have £27,000 paint job after just a year

    LEGAL action could be taken against an architect or building contractors, following a Cleveland authority's decision to carry out £27,000 worth of remedial paint work to Saltburn's new lifeguard station. The steel structure was opened last year but is

  • Free tax advice

    EXPERTS will be touring north Durham next week to give residents free tax advice. The Inland Revenue team from Sunderland will visit Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Consett to offer free help with tax and National Insurance queries. The team can also advise

  • Animal drug taken in theft from vet's car

    ANIMAL medicine stolen from a vet's car could give crooks a bad trip, say police. Thieves broke into a Renault car on Sunday night in Heather Terrace, Crookgate, and stole a vet's bag, belonging to vet Katherine Heathcote from the Reptile Trust at Burnopfield

  • The Tyne is right for £9m Woodgate deal

    JONATHAN WOODGATE was last night on the verge of completing his £9m move to Newcastle United that pushed Terry Venables to the brink of resigning as Leeds United manager. As Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd was rewarded for his dogged persistence of

  • Second-hand specs change villagers' lives

    A DURHAM optician has helped people in a poor African country see better with donated glasses. Priya Almani, of Specsavers in North Road, Durham, treated up to 50 patients a day during a two-week trip to Uganda with the charity Vision Aid Overseas. Ms

  • Team tunes up in bid for radio station

    A VETERAN broadcaster who helped to set up Classic FM is behind the latest bid to establish Durham's own radio station. Nigel Reeve, who was one of a team of three who set up the national station, is launching the bid with his partner Nick Jordan through

  • Injured Luke looking forward to comeback

    Cricketer Luke Cushlow is hoping for another success-filled season with Blackhall after a smashing 2002 - but only after he fully recovers from injury. The 14-year-old from Blackhall completed a marvellous season last year by taking four individual awards