Leaders Stokesley SC hope to take another step towards a league and cup double today by beating Wolviston in the semi-final of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup. Secretary Peter Grainge has warned though that his side will find it difficult at Metcalf Park
BLAYDON, desperate to stop the rot which has plunged them into the National Three North relegation mire, are counting on derby passion to help them beat Tynedale today. Originally frozen off on December 21, the match at Crow Trees is the first of two
ELECTRONICS firm Filtronic has been boosted by confident stockmarket trading predictions. The company, which employs more than 250 people in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has recently seen its share price rise and was yesterday trading at 105p per share
ACTIVITIES have been revealed for this year's Spring Thing folk festival in the region. The 18th annual five-day music and dance festival will once again be hosted by Darlington Folk Club and Darlington Arts Centre. It will take place from Wednesday to
Q My state pension is £76.30 a week, my works pension is £23 a week and I have £14,000 in the building society. Can I get help with my council tax of £590 a year now and pensioner credit in October? A Yes and Yes. £4.73 a week council tax benefit now
A SEX attacker who pounced after offering to give a woman a lift home late at night has been jailed. Instead of driving the 28-year-old home, Mark Mills, 34, drove to a secluded spot in New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, and subjected her to a 15-minute
THE ink on Peter Reid's eight-game contract had barely dried when one worried Leeds United fan outside Elland Road yesterday spoke of his greatest fear. "He might relegate two teams in the same season," the fan said, as Reid was talking about his pride
This time last year relegation to the Conference was all but assured for Matt Clarke. The gangly defender was then part of a Halifax side which had seemingly consigned itself to life outside the Football League almost as soon as the very first ball had
THE speed limit on a road where a car collided with two horses and their riders is likely to be reduced. Horse riders Gemma Roper, 16, and 14-year-old Jennifer Nelson, were injured when a van driven by Kenneth Bailey, of Geneva Crescent, crashed into
UP TO 1,400 students have been offered the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine after a case of mumps was confirmed at a Darlington college. Public health officials are now awaiting laboratory test results on 11 other possible cases among teenagers
A CRACKDOWN on youngsters who persist in skipping school is proving a success. Northumbria Police and Sunderland Education Social Work Service are working in partnership to catch out truants. Since November last year, there have been 12 truancy sweeps
HISTORY talks on Henry VII and family names are to take place over the next few weeks in Durham. Dr Benjamin Thompson, from Somerville College, Oxford, will be giving a free talk on Henry VII at the Durham branch of the Historical Association, on April
RYEDALE District Council has chosen to work in partnership with Agilisys to improve services for customers and help meet the council's e-government requirements. The improvements will range from one-stop receptions to contact centres and Internet services
TOWNSPEOPLE have reacted with fury after discovering that they have lost out on £25,000 for much-needed flood defence work. The money was offered to Hambleton District Council nearly two years ago, shortly after Thirsk was inundated with water when the
MAJOR stores in York are among the many that have pledged their support for the city's late night shopping initiative. Key names, including Marks & Spencer, Allders, Waterstone's, Toni and Guy, and Gap, have made clear their commitment to late night
IF you have a head for heights, then head for Hartlepool - that is the message from a group of stiltwalkers in the town. The search is on for recruits to join Stiltskins, a group of stiltwalkers of all ages which has been delighting crowds at several
A DUCK pond fountain out of action for 30 years is working again. The water feature in the middle of Norton's duck pond has not worked since the early 1970s after its pump failed. But a £3,000 project by Stockton Borough Council to return the fountain
THE family of the North-East schoolgirl found stabbed to death in her bedroom gathered to pay their last respects at her funeral yesterday. Twelve-year-old Natalie Ruddick was found in the family home in Frosterley Place, New Mills, Newcastle, on March
SHOP assistant Anthony Scott milked his company's customer refund system of £600 in three months to help pay his bills, a court heard yesterday Peter Scott, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates that Scott, 20, either paid the refund money to himself
MAKE sure Adiemus (3.40) is on your short-list for the first big handicap of the Flat season, the Freephone Stanley Lincoln. It might not be very original tipping up the well-backed 9-2 ante-post favourite for the £100,000 mile contest, but reality kicks
WORK to revive a landmark will get under way on Monday. The Swing Bridge over the River Tyne is to be repainted in a 17-week operation that will see 3,000 litres of paint used to cover a 15,000 sq metre area. The bridge, listed as an ancient monument,
TWO of the region's most popular heritage attractions will feature in a TV programme on the nation's favourite ancient monuments. Hadrian's Wall, in Northumberland, and Castle Howard, a stately home in North Yorkshire, will battle it out with 22 other
A SCHOOL was closed yesterday so staff and pupils could attend the funeral of a popular teacher, who died in a car smash. Jennifer Askew, from School Street, Witton-le-Wear, died in Darlington Memorial Hospital after being involved in a head-on collision
A SCHOOL was closed yesterday so staff and pupils could attend the funeral of a popular teacher, who died in a car smash. Jennifer Askew, from School Street, Witton-le-Wear, died in Darlington Memorial Hospital after being involved in a head-on collision
A TEENAGER who intervened when police tried to arrest his brother appeared before magistrates himself yesterday. The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and breaching a conditional discharge
ACCLAIMED artist Ralf Broeg met a master, as he opened his first exhibition in Sunderland. Mr Broeg, from Dusseldorf, is showing salon d'automobile, three new works inspired by his time in Sunderland, at the city's Vardy Gallery. He is the Henry Moore
A BLIND society has raised concerns over changes to the way people can gain access to benefits. From next month, the Government is phasing out the traditional ways of collecting pensions and benefits from post offices in favour of direct payments into
NOMINATIONS for the Mayor of Darlington's Community Awards are being invited. Darlington's top citizens or groups can be honoured for their community work or efforts for good cause. People who have made a significant difference to the community can be
A TEESSIDE MP wants to use the success of a local household waste incinerator as a springboard to a national debate on recycling. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar yesterday used a House of Commons debate to call on the Government
A TEAM of young gymnasts from Thornaby are celebrating after being given new kit. Members of the Robert Atkinson Gymnastics Club are now sporting new outfits thanks to gas pipeline company Transco. The team of 30 youngsters, aged from seven to 20, all
AT the beginning of the week we were fighting the flab, thanks to BBC1's Diet Trials, by Thursday the battle of the bulge was a sideshow. I'm finding it difficult to be my usual flippant self concerning what's happening in Iraq, mainly because my daughter's
THERE are so many millions of new words being churned out day after day about war that there are hardly any left that are worth deploying in the battle to catch a reader's eye. Fortunately, many others have fought over the same ground before, and some
FOOTBALL fans are being urged to help a club achieve its goal by giving money to a hospice. Middlesbrough Football Club has chosen the Teesside Hospice, in Middlesbrough, as its charity for 2003. The club is urging supporters to bring extra small change
A TEENAGE girl has been left traumatised after being raped in an alleyway. The incident happened as she was walking home after spending an evening with friends, at about 8.45pm, on Tuesday, March 4. She was walking in an alleyway between Princess Road
TIME is running out for musicians to enter a summertime battle of the bands in Hartlepool. Held in June, the showcase for new talent is organised by Hartlepool music venue The Studio as part of the town's Youth Arts Festival, which gives youngsters a
CHILDREN on Teesside will have to get their skates on for that perfect Mother's Day present. To celebrate Mother's Day, on Sunday, March 30, Billingham Forum's Ice Arena is letting mothers in free. Allan McDermott, Stockton Borough Council's leisure area
THE economy of one of North Yorkshire's market towns could be boosted this year as a result of a promotional idea. A comprehensive guide and map to Pickering has been published in which about 140 enterprises in the town, more than 90 per cent, have contributed
PEOPLE in Hartlepool have the chance to have their say on proposed extra amendments to the town's Local Plan. The town's current plan, a blueprint agreed by councils to shape the future use of land, was adopted in 1994 and work has been under way for
NEWCASTLE UNITED were last night on the verge of bolstering their Premiership title challenge by signing Ipswich Town midfielder Darren Ambrose for £2.5m. Ambrose, 19, was expected to complete his move to Newcastle over the weekend after travelling to
PENSIONERS are reaping the rewards of a campaign to promote benefits take-up. A campaign by Easington District Council and Durham Welfare Rights, in which benefits information was sent to residents over 60, was run in 2002/2003. It resulted in 92 people
DISCO FUN: A disco for people with learning difficulties, but with everybody being made welcome, will be held from 7pm to 11pm next Saturday at Springwell Village Hall. The bar will be open from 7.30pm, and the £2 tickets include a pie and peas supper
PEOPLE in Hartlepool have the chance to have their say on proposed extra amendments to the town's Local Plan. The town's current plan, a blueprint agreed by councils to shape the future use of land, was adopted in 1994 and work has been under way for
A TEESSIDE MP wants to use the success of a local household waste incinerator as a springboard to a national debate on recycling. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar yesterday used a House of Commons debate to call on the Government
A teenager pleaded not guilty yesterday to the samurai sword murder of a man. Jason Benjamin Kelly, 19, was accused at Teesside Crown Court of killing scaffolder Robert Dunne, 31, who left a nine-month-old child, outside a post office in West Lane, Middlesbrough
GARAGE boss Mark Watson has come up with some egg-stra cash to kick start a school's Easter minibus appeal. Mr Watson's Wolsingham Motor Company has given £400 to launch fundraising at Wolsingham School and Community College. The money has bought dozens
AN intensive ground and air search has been launched for a missing mother-of-one. Julia Graham, 40, went missing from her home at Kipling Avenue, Blackhall Colliery, near Peterlee, east Durham, on Thursday. Due to freezing overnight temperatures, police
A TEENAGER has denied a series of charges relating to the taking of a Jaguar car which lost control and crashed into the living room of a house. Brett Crawford, 19, is accused of taking the green S-type vehicle after breaking into the owner's house and
An Oscar nomination for Frida is the icing on the cake for the actress who began acting in her native Mexico in the primetime soap Teresa. Steve Pratt reports. EVEN if Salma Hayek doesn't win the Oscar for best actress, she can console herself with the
Last night's bombing of Baghdad represented the beginning of the US "shock and awe" policy - designed to intimidate not just the Iraqis but the whole world. News editor Nigel Burton examines the policy and looks at its notorious origins... SHOCK and awe
AN Iraqi-run pizza restaurant has been the target of a petrol bomb attack. A round-the-clock police guard was ordered after a petrol bomb was thrown through the front window of Luisiano Pizzeria, in Redcar, Cleveland. The incendiary device was thrown
The boss of union Amicus, Derek Simpson, is to open an employees' learning centre at television manufacturer LG Philips Displays on Monday. The learning centre, based at LG Philips' base on the Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham, is a joint venture between
THE parents of human shield Antoinette McCormack told of their devastation last night as their daughter remained in Baghdad as bombs blew apart the Iraqi capital Mairi and John McCormack remained watching their television sets throughout the evening,
THE finishing post is within touching distance for Hartlepool United - and the sooner they reach it the better. Pool go to Bristol Rovers seeking one of the two more wins required for promotion and one of the four more which would probably be enough for
A gang of masked men failed in their bid to ram-raid an off-licence. The men, wearing ski masks and balaclavas, drove a white car into the back wall and door of Bargain Booze, in Yarm Road, Darlington, at 10.20pm on Wednesday. A small amount of damage
Rail operator Arriva Trains Northern has launched a campaign to encourage racegoers to travel by train. The company is offering discounts for people travelling to race meetings at a number of courses in the region, including Hexham, Newcastle, Redcar,
HUNDREDS of anti-war demonstrators are planning to take their protest to the heart of Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency today. Moving at the pace of a funeral cortege, hundreds of cars will travel in a bumper to bumper cavalcade across Teesside into
DURHAM have finalised their deal with World Cup finalist Javagal Srinath, who will be joining them on April 20, three days before their season starts at Taunton. The 33-year-old Indian paceman will deputise for the first month for Martin Love, who is
A COUPLE who made perfect partners on and off the dance floor for more than half a century have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Margaret and Michael Tennick met at The Rink dance hall in Spennymoor and married two years later. They lived
Spennymoor start their push for an automatic promotion place at home to Chorley today, writes Ray Simpson. Moors' midweek win over Lincoln United put them into third place in the table, and now they want to swap a play-off spot for an automatic spot.
THE statue of the Third Marquis of Londonderry, dressed in full battle regalia astride his horse, looked out impassively over a sea of war protestors. Underneath him, anti-war banners had been hung, while sitting comfortably alongside, shoppers and workers
Schools Standards Minister David Miliband praised the North East's "languages hit squad" on a visit to the region yesterday. Mr Miliband was at a regional event staged by the Regional Language Network North-East, at Sunderland's Stadium of Light, to hear
AT the beginning of the week we were fighting the flab, thanks to BBC1's Diet Trials, by Thursday the battle of the bulge was a sideshow. I'm finding it difficult to be my usual flippant self concerning what's happening in Iraq, mainly because my daughter's
A WOMAN and her nephew have appeared in court charged with the murder of her husband who was found dying in a country lane. Christina Button, 31, and Simon Tannahill, 20, are accused of killing 53-year-old George Button, on March 3. Mr Button died in
A UNIVERSITY has refuted claims that it is among a select group calling for tuition fees of up to £4,000. Durham University responded to media coverage of Education Secretary Charles Clarke's remark to the Commons Education Select Committee that the Russell
A NEW black comedy which is being shot in the North-East, is set to have its premier at a national film festival. Killer Cure stars a cast of disabled actors and actresses and is being filmed at Middlesbrough General Hospital. It is due to be screened
Watching the footage on television, Chris Lloyd gives his views on the multi-media spectacle of war. WHEN it came, it was indeed shocking and - rather than awesome - quite awful. Half-a-world away, viewers were thrown back into their seats when the television
A LONG-DISTANCE runner will put her best foot forward next month in a bid to raise at least £1,000 charity. Sarah Gregory, of Parker Drive, Bedale, will run her second London Marathon in April. She wants to raise as much as possible for The Outward Bound
HUNDREDS of anti-war demonstrators are planning to take their protest to the heart of Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency today. Moving at the pace of a funeral cortege, hundreds of cars will travel in a bumper to bumper cavalcade across Teesside into
A MEDIA centre in the region has been awarded beacon status for excellence in journalist training. The School of Journalism, Media and the Arts at Darlington College of Technology, has been given the award for its close links with the media industry.
A SELL-OUT crowd joined a jubilee celebration of Darlington's history. The Late Late Jubilee Show at Darlington Civic Theatre took a light-hearted trip around the town during the five decades of the Queen's reign. Presented by Coun Roderick Burtt and
FITNESS entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne has spoken of his delight after completing a deal which will keep his headquarters in Darlington. The announcement from Mr Bannatyne, one of the North-East's richest men, is a huge boost to the town's efforts to attract
CONSISTENT Sunderland Harriers are set to claim their 18th senior men's team title in 23 years in the final Durham Pine North Eastern Harrier League meeting at Prudhoe this afternoon. The defending champions had hoped to complete a grand slam of victories
MORE lives will be saved in the region after kind-hearted North-East residents raised more than £800,000 to fund a new air ambulance. Crowds gathered at the Baltic centre, on Gateshead Quays, yesterday, to celebrate the official arrival of a second air
SURRENDER talks were taking place between Iraqi officials and allied commanders early today as one of history's most ferocious aerial bombardments rained down on Baghdad. While the promised "shock and awe" onslaught through the night, speculation was
SUNDERLAND'S Springwell Dene School, a £2m special educational needs facility serving 65 pupils aged 13 to 16, is among the finalists in the small buildings category of the Department of Trade and Industry National Quality in Construction Awards, to be
THE new Dean of Durham enjoyed his journey to his new diocese - the train buff was a special guest of Great North Eastern Railway. The Very Rev Michael Sadgrove said it was 'a real thrill' to be allowed to travel in the cab of the train from Doncaster
Following Howard Wilkinson's sudden and surprise departure from the Stadium of Light, Sunderland players have been gripped buy a reality check. Despite relegation being a near-certainty, Chief Sports Writer Steven Baker finds goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson
AROUND eleven hours after Onyx - "first class boy/girl duo" - had left the stage at St Patrick's Men's Social Club in Thornaby, Fr Michael Keogh took to it to celebrate Mass. Had it been Riverdance up there, had it been pensioners' bingo night (Thursdays
FOUR Darlington teenagers have won an award after taking part in a safe driving course. Daniel Purdie, Terence Welch, David Barker and Matthew Hall, Year 11 pupils at Eastbourne School, picked up their Shrievalty Award at Durham Castle on Tuesday. The
The following cases were heard at South Durham Youth Court, in Darlington, yesterday: ASSAULT DENIED: A 16-year-old girl denied a charge of assault in Darlington on November 12. The case was adjourned until April 25 and the girl, who cannot be named for
BOSSES at an engineering firm which is shutting down its North-East operation rejected an offer to save jobs, it emerged last night. The Torrington plant, on Yarm Road industrial estate, in Darlington, will be phased out over the next 12 months with the
DUTCH students on an exchange trip to the region have enjoyed a taste of North-East beach life. The youngsters, from Rotterdam's Grafisch Lyceum, made sand sculptures on the Tyneside coast. It was part of a programme of events designed to give them experience
DARLINGTON Football Club chairman George Reynolds yesterday broadcast his own high-profile message of support to British troops in the Gulf. The entrepreneur, who has a relative serving with the British forces in the Middle East, displayed his best wishes
A TEENAGER has denied a series of charges relating to the taking of a Jaguar car which lost control and crashed into the living room of a house. Brett Crawford, 19, is accused of taking the green S-type vehicle after breaking into the owner's house and
EXOTIC creatures could move into a County Durham village as soon as September, now that plans for an animal sanctuary have been given the go ahead. Residents of The Exotic Animal Welfare Trust, to be created on the outskirts of Tow Law, will include wildcats
A MASSIVE operation to clean the streets of Sunderland is under way. Northumbria Police and Sunderland City Council have joined forces to target graffiti hot spots in the city. The clean-up is part of ongoing work to combat criminal activity and anti-social
SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night urged Craig Bellamy not to panic after the striker admitted his frustration at failing to hit the goal trail. Bellamy, 23, was critical of his own finishing on Wednesday night after he did not convert any of his ten chances
VILLAGERS are celebrating after a grant was awarded to fund a bus service. Brotton Over-60s Friendly Club has won a Small Scale Local Transport Improvement Grant to provide a three-month pilot bus service to and from the community's East Cleveland Hospital
A HOTELIER'S three decades of dedicated fundraising for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are to be rewarded. Betty Manders has played a key role in raising thousands of pounds to help run the lifeboats and now she is to receive the RNLI's certificate
A NEW board will transform the way the criminal justice system works to catch, convict and rehabilitate criminals across North Yorkshire. The Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB), is made up of chief officials from the police, probation, courts, the Crown
TENNIS fans are being invited to put on their whites and enjoy a few games for free this summer. As part of a recruitment campaign, the Lawn Tennis Association is encouraging people to play tennis free at clubs in North Yorkshire. Players of all ages
A THEATRE has suffered another setback with the departure of its catering manager, less than a month after the re-launch of its failing restaurant. The restaurant, at Durham's Gala Theatre, was re-opened as The Studio last month after closing for refurbishment
BUSINESS chiefs have published a railway timetable to prove that a popular spa town is even better connected to London than some believe. Official GNER timetables print only what they consider to be the most widely used connections between Harrogate and
A NORTH-EAST MEP visited a Newton Aycliffe factory to find out more about the efforts which have brought it a number of top awards for environmental health and safety. Stephen Hughes, who has a special interest in European health and safety matters, congratulated
A TEENAGER who intervened when police tried to arrest his brother appeared before magistrates himself yesterday. The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and breaching a conditional discharge
CISSY Horner vowed that when she reached her 100th birthday she would not have any fuss made, but the centenarian had a thoroughly good time when friends and family held a party for her yesterday. The pensioner was inundated with cards and flowers at
CISSY Horner vowed that when she reached her 100th birthday she would not have any fuss made, but the centenarian had a thoroughly good time when friends and family held a party for her yesterday. The pensioner was inundated with cards and flowers at
BIG Brother 3 star Jonny Regan will be presenting awards at a ceremony for young volunteers on Monday. The former fireman will be at Club 2K in Darlington for the Sedgefield YMCA Millennium Volunteers event at 7pm. Project development worker Carl Bell
A TEENAGER was spared being sent back to a detention centre yesterday after he admitted carrying an air rifle while trespassing on a farm. Police discovered the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and a friend, carrying a .22 air rifle at Garthorne
AN £8m road bypass scheme aimed at regenerating a former coalfield area has been revived two years after the Government rejected it. Durham County Council, in partnership with the East Durham Task Force, first considered building the 5.1km bypass in the
THE grief-stricken family of an Iranian asylum seeker who was stabbed to death during a race hate attack have appealed to the people of Sunderland not to make the same mistakes again. Peiman Bahmani died on August 28 last year after racial tensions between
A MEETING has been arranged for the residents of Thornaby to have their say on a community group. People living in the Village Park area will discuss whether they would like the residents' association to continue. If no one turns up for the meeting, then
VOLUNTEERS raised £500 for their local hospital by dancing the night away. Nite City Promotions, which raises funds for local charities, organised a red nose disco at Hambleton Forum, in Northallerton. The idea was to raise money towards a diathermy machine
OBSTACLES faced every day by the visually impaired and people with disabilities will be highlighted at an exhibition at Darlington College at Catterick today. The Disability Action in Richmondshire (Dair) group has already illustrated how much the able-bodied
PLACES on a map reading course are still available in Hartlepool. The course will be held over three sessions - tomorrow, next Saturday and March 30 - and is organised by staff at Summerhill, a 100-acre countryside site near the town. It costs £7 per
A MOTORIST who crashed into a parked car while reaching for his mobile phone was fined £50 by magistrates yesterday. Christopher Williamson, 18, of Carwardine Close, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty at South Durham Magistrates' Court to driving without
ITALIAN guitarist Emanuel Segre will perform at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, at Kirkleatham, Redcar. The virtuoso performer made his English debut at Wigmore Hall, in London, before returning to play in Milan. He will now head straight to the North-East
YOUNG actors are bringing a contemporary version of Shakespeare, with an anti-drugs message, to the stage. The Customs House Youth Theatre will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Mill Dam, South Shields, venue on Sunday, March 30. Members of the
SOME of the modern world's most famous artists will display work for the first time in Tyneside. Art by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and David Hockney will go on show at the Customs House, South Shields, in May. The work is on loan from the Eyestorm company
HAS Saddam been killed or at least badly injured? Is the Iraqi regime on the point of surrender under one of history's most ferocious bombing campaigns? How long will it all last? These are all questions which remained unanswered last night, although
PENSIONERS are reaping the rewards of a campaign to promote benefits take-up. A campaign by Easington District Council and Durham Welfare Rights, in which benefits information was sent to residents over 60, was run in 2002/2003. It resulted in 92 people
HUNDREDS of private residential and nursing homes in the North-East are facing a double blow which could drive many out of business. Care homes have warned that a rise in the national minimum wage combined with a squeeze on local authority grants is about
Crook Town face their most important match of the season when they face fellow strugglers Norton at Millfield this afternoon. Both clubs are facing relegation, with fourth-bottom Crook, one of the league's longest-serving members, two points ahead of
An Oscar winning performance may bring an actor 15 minutes of fame, but how many have then slipped into obscurity? Film Writer Steve Pratt scans the credits for the best nobodies. AS winners hold the gold-plated Oscars triumphantly aloft at the 75th Academy
BUSINESS leaders from across the Tees Valley threw their weight behind the Newcastle-Gateshead European Capital of Culture bid yesterday. The Tees Valley Partnership met at Samsung, near Hartlepool, to officially sign its support for the North-East neighbours
FOUR teenagers have appeared in court charged with assaulting a police officer. Detective Superintendent David Jones, of Durham Police, suffered facial and leg injuries following an incident near his home in Woodham, Newton Aycliffe, on March 13. Lee
TWO supermarket workers endured months of anxiety after a drug addicted shoplifter cut them with a hypodermic syringe, a court was told yesterday. Heroin addict John Cooke, 25, was caught stealing eight air fresheners but escaped from a storeroom in Kwik
An Oscar nomination for Frida is the icing on the cake for the actress who began acting in her native Mexico in the primetime soap Teresa. Steve Pratt reports. EVEN if Salma Hayek doesn't win the Oscar for best actress, she can console herself with the
A BUSINESSWOMAN has extended her lingerie business in County Durham. Sadie Ayton, known as Sadie the Bra Lady, is just finishing her first week of trading from a shop in High Northgate, Darlington. She decided to open a shop in the town when she realised
FIVE men have been arrested in connection with violent disorder at a York City football match last year. Working with the Cumbria Constabulary, officers from North Yorkshire made the arrests at addresses in Carlisle yesterday morning. The operation followed
IN-FORM Jonathan Greening was last night tipped to force his way into the England squad by his Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren. National team coach Sven-Goran Eriksson announces his latest 23-man pool tomorrow night for two vital European Championship
FRIENDS and family will gather next week to mourn the North-East woman killed in a car crash in Australia. Former model Nina Smith, from Blyth, Northumberland, died instantly when the Nissan Pajero she was travelling in crashed on the remote Barkly Highway
A TEENAGE prostitute who burgled a brothel where she was working was locked up for 12 months yesterday. Heroin addict Stacey Chapman, 19, climbed through a broken window after the owner left and stole £150, said Elizabeth Farnsworth, prosecuting at Teesside
THE British National Party is planning to launch its biggest ever campaign for seats in the North-East. Kevin Scott, regional organiser for the party, said last night it would have a record number of candidates bidding for seats across the region in the
CRAFTSMAN Charles Jones is keeping a steady hand to carve a name in history - but not his own. The stonemason made the latest addition to the marble tablet listing all bishops, priors and deans of Durham Cathedral, dating back to the late 10th Century
DAVID "DANDY" NICHOLLS has made his name as a trainer manufacturing top-class sprinters and the production line shows no sign of stopping with the emergence of another lightning fast speed star, Funfair Wane. Having won the Ayr Gold Cup on his final start
AN Old Bailey jury in the case of accused double killer Kyu Soo Kim retired briefly to consider its verdicts yesterday. But just minutes after being sent out by the judge, they were told to go home after a juror complained of feeling unwell. South Korean
MICK McCARTHY last night revealed he wants Sunderland's players to laugh and joke their way out of trouble - but stressed: "They're not walking round doing Tommy Cooper impressions." While Cooper made a successful career out of his flawed attempts at
A THEATRE has suffered another setback with the departure of its catering manager, less than a month after the re-launch of its failing restaurant. The restaurant, at Durham's Gala Theatre, was re-opened as The Studio last month after closing for refurbishment
IS this the worst Sunderland team of all time? It's a question that has been debated across Wearside in recent months as Sunderland have lurched from one inept performance to the next. Certainly, the club will not plunge the depths next season that Sunderland
WAR AGAINST IRAQ: IN any war, it is the children who are affected first, and in the worst possible ways. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, knows from working in conflict situations around the world that children's survival, health, emotional
LAURENT ROBERT is keen to commit his long-term future to Newcastle United and sign a new contract to help the club become one of Europe's superpowers. Robert, 27, has more than three years still to run on the deal he signed when he joined Newcastle from
STOCKTON has beaten competition from Newcastle and Sunderland to host a national centre for street artists. As the existing host of the Stockton International Riverside Festival and the Billingham Folk Festival, the town was seen as the ideal venue for
AMBULANCE staff will leave the region today to return to Africa and share their life-saving skills. Three members of staff from the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service will be among a team visiting Malawi to teach Basic Trauma Life Support
IT promises to be one of the most intriguing relegation battles in years. While it only seems a matter of time before runaway leaders Hartlepool seal their place in Division Two, along with high-flying Rushden, it's the situation at the other end of the
