Archive

  • Care centre garden boost

    A GROUP of young people who attend Care Plus play sessions at North Ormesby Pavilion, in Middlesbrough, are to see their dreams of a garden for the centre come true. Following a successful bid to the Children's Fund, £7,000 has been granted to landscape

  • Study looks at virus threat

    A STUDY has been launched to find out if the virus Louping Ill is killing off rare golden plover on the North York Moors. Bracken, which can take over and ruin rare moorland habitat, harbours ticks that transfer the Louping Ill virus to lambs, hares and

  • MP to discuss council tax

    HARTLEPOOL MP Peter Mandelson is meeting with local councillors tomorrow to discuss council tax levels in the town. The former Northern Ireland Secretary has been invited to a meeting of Hartlepool Borough Council's resources scrutiny forum - one of four

  • Reprieve for cottage facing demolition

    OBJECTORS have won the first round in their fight to halt demolition of a traditional Dales cottage in a Ripon village and replace it with a four-bedroomed property. Councillors voted six votes to two against bulldozing the cottage, known as Ashville,

  • New police chief praises his officers as crime figures fall

    A POLICE force claims it is winning the fight against crime with figures showing falls in most categories of offences. New Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price said a 12 per cent fall in recorded offences is down to the hard work of his officers. "The

  • Plans for riverside nightspot unveiled

    WORK has begun on plans to turn a delapidated landmark into a bustling riverside night-spot. The 19th Century Brown's Boathouse, on the banks of the River Wear next to Elvet Bridge, in Durham City, is to become a cafZ bar. Ultimate Leisure is spending

  • Facing up to life withiout steel

    If debt-stricken steel company Corus decides to close its Teesside works, the Lodge family, and thousands like them, will face life on the dole. Chris Webber talks to the family. DOT Lodge's children run in and out of her nice, tidy seaside home while

  • Starting them young is just the job

    J is for JOBS... the sooner the better. Well no, you can't send boys up chimneys or down pits at a young age these days. Bit of a shame really. The adolescent male has so much energy that he looks for things to do with it - a 12-hour shift underground

  • Homes plan upsets the neighbours

    HUNDREDS of home owners have vowed to fight plans for an eco-development on the doorstep. Around 300 people attended a public meeting at Woodham Village Community Centre at the weekend to discuss the plans for an urban village of 120 environmentally-friendly

  • Holiday craft courses offer

    PEOPLE interested in taking part in holiday activities at a countryside park in Hartlepool are being urged to book as soon as possible. Summerhill, off Catcote Road, has announced a series of events to coincide with the school holidays. The only activities

  • School to be built after cash awarded

    TWO secondary schools in Redcar and Cleveland are celebrating the award of Government cash for building work. Freebrough Community College will be rebuilt after £5m was awarded to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. No decision has been taken by the

  • Gentle country ride

    A PRO-HUNT group in the North-East have invited anyone with a horse or pony to join them for a leisurely ride on Easter Sunday. Cleveland Hunt Supporters will start at Foxdale Farm opposite Guisborough Hall between 10am and noon. The route is all off

  • Church sale will benefit project

    THOUSANDS of pounds can be unlocked for community facilities in a Yorkshire dale after planners agreed to a redundant Methodist church being converted into a detached house. Money from the sale of Shaw Mills Methodist Church, near Pateley Bridge, will

  • Musicians win awards

    YOUNG musicians excelled this weekend at the Darlington Festival for Performing Arts. The music section of the festival took place on Friday and Saturday at a new venue at Haughton Community School. Organisers said there were less competitors than last

  • Residents welcome news of resurfacing on noisy road

    RESIDENTS living near a busy stretch of road are looking forward to some peace and quiet following the announcement of resurfacing work. For years, town and parish councillors, along with fed-up home owners, have put pressure on the Highways Agency to

  • 'If you did it with a novel, I'd Slice your head off'

    With much-loved books including Behind The Scenes at the Museum putting York-born author Kate Atkinson firmly at the top of the tree, she tells Steve Pratt why getting involved in the theatre means letting go of her work. Kate Atkinson is a successful

  • Child killers escaping law, claims MP

    CHILD killers are escaping justice because of a loophole in the law, a North-East MP has told the House of Commons. Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar, said that as the law stands, if a couple kill a child in their care, unless one testifies against the

  • Gum-buster cleans town

    DARLINGTON town centre is set for a spring clean as the borough council takes delivery of a new gum-busting and graffiti removing machine. The new £15,000 Enviroclean machine, which was bought as a result of extensive trials around the town, roars into

  • Cameras on the crowd

    FOOTBALL fans who turn up to watch a celebrity match at the weekend may find themselves appearing in a feature film. The film Down Amongst the Dead Men is based on the autobiography Flipper's Side by disabled Darlington FC supporter Paul Hodgson. The

  • A blast from the past - and a very modern style

    It's always fascinating to see beautiful restorations of proud old buildings, and, on recent trips to London, I've seen two excellent examples carried out in very different styles. First on the list is the Langham Hilton in Portland Place, just off Regent

  • Running the race for a children's charity

    A SHOP assistant wants to raise £1,000 for a children's charity when she runs her first London marathon next month. Joanne Singleton, 24, of Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland, will take part in the 26-mile road race on Sunday, April 13, to raise money for

  • England fear the worst following pitch invasion

    ENGLAND face punishment from UEFA after a pitch invasion by home fans at the Stadium of Light last night marred the vital 2-0 Euro 2004 qualifying victory over Turkey. UEFA will consider whether to force England to play their next Group Seven game - at

  • News in brief: Charity auction for hospice

    A CHARITY auction will help boost the coffers of St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham. The auction will be held on Saturday, May 17, at Durham Indoor Bowling Club, Abbey Road, Pity Me. The hospice's retail operations manager, Marcia Leathard, who is organising

  • 'End game' as Iraqi division is wiped out

    Allied troops were last night within striking distance of Baghdad after destroying an entire Republican Guard Division. They also moved across the "red line", which Allied commanders have always identified as the point likely to trigger the use of chemical

  • Man walks in memory of brothers

    WHEN Mick Kirkbride tackles the Pennine Way he will not just be raising money for charity - he will be paying tribute to his two younger brothers who died last year. It will also mark the start of the healing process after a year in which he also lost

  • Nursery makes room for parents

    PARENTS can learn alongside their children thanks to a £100,000 expansion to a town nursery school, which was officially opened on Thursday. Oxclose Nursery School in Spennymoor will open the doors of its new extension to families and members of the community

  • Walk for the blind

    THE Mayor of Sedgefield Borough was left in the dark by his latest charity fundraising effort this week. Coun David Newell has already donated hundreds of pounds to St Dunstans, which provides care for members of the armed services who are blinded and

  • Charity show will go ahead

    AN annual fundraising concert, cancelled when its military stars were called to war, has been saved. The Last Night of the Proms show at Darlington's Dolphin Centre was scrapped when the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division was called up. The event,

  • Watching Brief: New hero is born as Rooney runs riot

    SO much for Sven-Goran Eriksson resisting the nationwide clamour to hand Wayne Rooney his first England start. This was a triumph for people power - a poll had shown that 83 per cent of fans wanted the boy wonder in the team. By half-time, manager Eriksson's

  • Internet brings the past to life

    A VIRTUAL reality tour unearths a colourful hidden history of archaeological sites around County Durham. The Past Perfect web site is designed with the expertise of county archaeologists from Durham and Northumberland. The site gives browsers a chance

  • Councils sell off airport interests

    LOCAL authorities yesterday sold their controlling interest in the region's second biggest airport - paving the way for a £20m investment programme. The five North-East councils which owned Teesside Airport sold 75 per cent of their shares to a Manchester-based

  • Assault charge

    John Pye, 19, of Easington Colliery, County Durham, has been charged with assaulting father and son Robert and Gary Martin in the village on Sunday. The pair are said to be comfortable in hospital.

  • GNER waits for news on payout

    TRAIN company GNER was last night awaiting news of a £100m claim against Network Rail for disruption to services caused by the Hatfield rail crash. The East Coast Mainline operator has been given the go-ahead by rail regulator Tom Winsor to make its case

  • Chess champs go head to head

    PUPILS at a Darlington school went head to head in a chess tournament at the weekend. More than 60 youngsters at Whinfield Junior school took part in the British Land UK Chess Challenge 2003, which is aimed at promoting the game nationally. Pupils aged

  • Golden memories of a happy marriage

    CHILDHOOD sweethearts James and Jean Geldard had an explosive start to their relationship. The couple, who celebrated their golden anniversary last Friday, met, aged 12, at a bonfire night display in Darlington. It took three years for them to start courting

  • Notes From Planet Zog: Starting them young is just the job

    J is for JOBS... the sooner the better. Well no, you can't send boys up chimneys or down pits at a young age these days. Bit of a shame really. The adolescent male has so much energy that he looks for things to do with it - a 12-hour shift underground

  • New school building approved

    A SCHOOL is celebrating after learning it will be moving into a new building. St Cuthbert's RC Voluntary Aided Primary, in Crook, will get its new home in September next year, exactly 150 years after it was founded on a hillside above the town. Parents

  • 03/04/03

    WAR AGAINST IRAQ: WHY does the Rev Heslop (HAS, Mar 25) set out only half the story in his analysis of Israel as squeaky clean and blameless? Surely he must accept that the worsening relations between Israel and the Palestinians remains a major factor

  • 95 arrests as fans go on the rampage

    About 95 England fans were arrested last night before the crunch international match against Turkey in Sunderland. Police intervened as trouble flared between rival Newcastle, Sunderland and Leeds fans. Superintendent Jim Campbell, in charge of security

  • Work of artists is honoured

    ARTISTS from all over the North-East have been honoured in the annual Dover Prize, in Darlington. The prize promotes art and rewards amateur and professional artists for their drawings, paintings and prints. Chris Newbrook, from Newcastle, won the competition

  • No jib too big for Jalna

    A specialist vehicle repair firm has completed major work on a 1000-tonne crane - one of only four in the world. Jalna Fleetspray, based at Dawsons Wharf in Middlesbrough, took only nine days to complete the task, the largest of its kind to be carried

  • Disgust as British war memorial in France desecrated

    CEMETERY caretakers and visitors were left "shocked, upset and disgusted" after seeing a French war memorial covered with anti-war graffiti, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said. The memorial, at Etaples, near Boulogne, on the Channel coast, was

  • Homeless hostels struggle to cope

    HOMELESS hostels in the North-East are still facing unprecedented demand, with rough sleepers being turned away in their droves. Charity bosses were demanding more emergency shelters in the region earlier this year, following the tragic death of alcoholic

  • Lottery cash preserves DLI's history

    A PICTORIAL record of one of the country's most famous fighting regiments will be permanently preserved thanks to a £49,400 Heritage Lottery Fund grant. All 36,000 photographs in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) collection are to be digitised to make them

  • Military funeral to be held for North casualty

    THE mother of a soldier killed in the war on Iraq is planning a military funeral. Ann Nichol watched television coverage of the bodies of the first British servicemen killed in the Gulf being flown into RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, in tears at the

  • Get walking, urge TV stars

    TWO stars of television comedy made a serious plea yesterday to back their North-East hospices. Vicki Michelle who was in the hit TV comedy, 'Allo 'Allo, and Giles Watling, a star of the situation comedy, Bread, are backing a ten-mile sponsored walk from

  • Celebrating the achievements of youth

    THE achievements of more than 100 young people were recognised at a ceremony last night. The Northern Echo's Positive Young People awards, powered by n-power, were held at Darlington Civic Theatre. Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo and Jenna Newman

  • Action will be taken to stop truants

    MEASURES will be taken to cut truancy at Darlington schools after a report revealed that many parents were allowing their children to skip lessons. A review group was established by Darlington Borough Council to look at ways to improve attendance at the

  • This is not the time to fret over Flipper

    IT could only happen in England. An indignant letter from a host of animal lovers in one of our national newspapers, headed "Military must end cruel exploitation" demands the use of dolphins and sea lions by the Americans in the war with Iraq be unreservedly

  • Transport pass is hailed a success

    A MONEY-saving public transport pass aimed at businesses has been hailed a resounding success after netting more than £200,000 in only ten months. The Corporate MetroSaver, launched by Nexus in June last year, has proved popular with local employers keen

  • Red letter day for yellow pages collectors

    YOUNGSTERS at a Spennymoor nursery school have won £300 to help improve their environment, after collecting the most Yellow Pages directories per pupil in a recycling initiative. The Yellow Woods Challenge, run by Yellow Pages, The Directory Recycling

  • Water polo club's stars

    A Newton Aycliffe water polo squad has gained more recognition with international call-ups for its members. Sedgefield 75 water polo squad trio Carol Mohan, Angela Winstanley-Smith and Tara Smith have been picked to play for Great Britain against the

  • Resort benefits from sunny spell

    THE tourist season has got off to a brisk start on the Yorkshire coast, with hotels and traders reporting brisk business as a result of the warm weather. Thousands of people have been flocking to Scarborough in temperatures of nearly 60F - well above

  • Joy over pension workers' transfer

    TRAFFIC campaigners are celebrating after a company announced that half of it staff are moving away from its premises in a residential area. Business services company Capita has announced that 250 of its staff are moving from its offices at Mowden Hall

  • hotel worker books retirement date after 57 years service

    IT'S the end of an era at one of North Yorkshire's best-known hotels as waitress Stella Dowkes hangs up her apron for the last time. After 57 years of serving people at Helmsley's Black Swan, ranging from the King of Spain to actor Nigel Havers, the 71

  • Mattress riddle

    Police are warning residents of Catterick Village to be on their guard after a number of people have reported receiving bizarre phone calls from strangers asking if they can test their beds. Callers offering mattress checks have hung up when asked about

  • Conference focuses on bullying

    A CONFERENCE on bullying in schools will be staged in the North-East tomorrow. The Action Against Bullying event, organised by the Children Against Bullying in School (Cabs) with the support of Newcastle City Council and the Children's Fund, will be held

  • Tarmac gangs alert

    TRADING standards officers have issued a warning advising people to beware of rogue tarmac-laying gangs operating in the York area. The warning follows a number of complaints about gangs targeting larger properties, mainly in Acomb and Bishopthorpe. The

  • Traffic fear fails to sway planners

    THE risk of additional traffic was not enough to persuade planners to reject a plan for a new warehouse in Richmond. Residents in Quarry Road claim they already have to endure vehicles which ignore access-only signs and use the residential street to reach

  • Lib Dem leader resigns

    THE leader of the Liberal Democrat party in Hartlepool has resigned to spend more time with his family. Councillor Andrew Ward, 29, who works as a bio-medical scientist at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, was elected to serve the Brinkburn ward

  • Professor takes on role of new vice-chancellor

    PROFESSOR Graham Henderson has taken over as vice-chancellor at the University of Teesside after replacing Derek Fraser who retired this week. Prof Henderson has been deputy vice-chancellor since he joined the university in 1999 and hopes to continue

  • Dishing out extra government funding to food training scheme

    A TEESSIDE training facility has been given a vote of confidence by securing a second round of Government funding. Middlesbrough's Food Technology Centre (FTC) has been awarded £150,000 to finance a two-year programme to support the food and drinks industry

  • £2.5m school has much to offer every age group

    A £2.5m hi-tech primary school officially opened last week. Chilton Primary School is an amalgamation of the former infant and juniors schools on to the former junior site. A major refurbishment programme took place at the existing school, with extensive

  • Transport pass is hailed a success

    A MONEY-saving public transport pass aimed at businesses has been hailed a resounding success after netting more than £200,000 in only ten months. The Corporate MetroSaver, launched by Nexus in June last year, has proved popular with local employers keen

  • Residents back plans for cafe

    RESIDENTS have backed plans for a continental cafe in Norton. Stockton Borough Council has received a planning application to change the use of two ground-floor offices into a cafe in the town's High Street. The council has received 12 letters and a 36

  • Stolen garden furniture to be replaced

    THIEVES have twice stolen garden furniture from a care home, but replacements are on their way. Residents of the Albert Cox Residential Home, Middlesbrough, were distraught when garden benches and tables were stolen for the second time in a fortnight.

  • News in brief: Shops scheme go-ahead likely

    THE site of one of York's best-known stores looks set to be transformed into shops and flats despite objections. Planning officers have recommended that councillors approve the plan for the former F R Stubbs building, in Walmgate. The Civic Trust said

  • Society to bring US history back to life

    SEVERAL hundred history enthusiasts will bring back to life the trials and tribulations of men and women during the US Civil War next month. The re-enactment will be staged in the grounds of Kiplin Hall, near Scorton, telling of life in the US in the

  • News in brief: Charity auction for hospice

    A CHARITY auction will help boost the coffers of St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham. The auction will be held on Saturday, May 17, at Durham Indoor Bowling Club, Abbey Road, Pity Me. The hospice's retail operations manager, Marcia Leathard, who is organising

  • Qualification is launched

    THE country's first qualification in the transfer of knowledge, launched yesterday by Universities for the North-East, is expected to be a welcome boost for industry in the region. The postgraduate certificate in knowledge transfer is being led by the

  • Trike joy for Chloe

    CHLOE HAMMOND can now ride alongside her twin brother thanks to a North-East charity. The three-year-old has cerebral palsy, which mainly affects her lower limbs, and cannot walk, crawl or stand without the aid of a standing frame and walker. To increase

  • I'm sick of losing - Phillips

    KEVIN PHILLIPS confessed last night that Sunderland's flops are sick and tired of being losers. As Sunderland close in on the most unwanted of records - the most successive League defeats in the club's history - Phillips warned Chelsea would face a backlash

  • Survey finds skills gap still a problem

    THE North-East's skills shortage is deepening, according to a business survey. Lloyds TSB Corporate's Business in Britain report showed that, despite mixed messages on the economy and state of the market, employers are struggling to find the right staff

  • Cultural day will back campaign

    PUPILS will today be uniting in music and voice to publicise the bid for Newcastle Gateshead to become the European Capital of Culture 2008. The Back the Buzz campaign been adopted as the theme for a culture activity day at Edmund Campion RC Secondary

  • Gentle country ride

    A PRO-HUNT group in the North-East have invited anyone with a horse or pony to join them for a leisurely ride on Easter Sunday. Cleveland Hunt Supporters will start at Foxdale Farm opposite Guisborough Hall between 10am and noon. The route is all off

  • Teaching facilities receive a £6m boost

    TEACHING facilities at a North-East school are about to be transformed thanks to a £6m improvement programme. The funding for St Cuthbert's Catholic High School, in Newcastle, will come from a Targeted Capital Grant, which is part of a £7.6m funding package

  • Bar prepares for air theme lift-off

    A CLUB night with a difference could soon take off on Sundays, on Teesside. Mile High, at the Moby Grape cafe bar, in Stockton, has been established by club promoter Nigel Wanless, and is being billed as a meeting place for sophisticated 21 to 40-year-olds

  • Burglary suspect found in tight spot

    AFTER spending seven hours trapped up a chimney, he could have shown his rescuers a little more gratitude. But instead, a red-faced burglary suspect was delivered straight into the arms of the law and taken to a police station. To compound his humiliation

  • Steelworks reprieved

    THE Weardale Steel works at Wolsingham looked set to be rescued this week. Anglo-Swedish, a Newcastle-based organisation, was expected to sign the deal to take over the company as the Advertiser was going to press. Anglo-Swedish managing director Les

  • Government backs MP's fight against rogue landlords

    THE Government has backed North Durham MP Kevan Jones's fight against the rogue private landlords he says are ruining former pit villages. The Home Office has issued a White Paper to tackle anti-social behaviour and tighten landlord regulations. Mr Jones

  • Warning to tourists after moors blaze

    FIREFIGHTERS have been tackling a fire covering about 100 acres of the North York Moors. Teams from four different stations have been at the scene high on the moors at Blakey Ridge. A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Fire Brigade said units from Kirkbymoorside

  • News in brief: Invitation to civic service

    Residents in Hartlepool are being invited to attend a Civic Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday. Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond and Hartlepool Borough Council chairman Councillor Carl Richardson will host the event at St Hilda's Church, on the Headland

  • News in brief: Charity auction for hospice

    A CHARITY auction will help boost the coffers of St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham. The auction will be held on Saturday, May 17, at Durham Indoor Bowling Club, Abbey Road, Pity Me. The hospice's retail operations manager, Marcia Leathard, who is organising

  • Volunteer's kind mission

    A GROUP of youngsters may be off on an inspirational trip of a lifetime thanks to a kind volunteer. Margaret Murphy spends her Friday nights at St Patrick's Catholic Youth Club in Stockton, as well as organising fundraising for the club, for 180 youngsters

  • News in brief: Charity auction for hospice

    A CHARITY auction will help boost the coffers of St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham. The auction will be held on Saturday, May 17, at Durham Indoor Bowling Club, Abbey Road, Pity Me. The hospice's retail operations manager, Marcia Leathard, who is organising

  • Group forms building dept

    Entertainment group Vimac Leisure has created its own maintenance division to manage the growing building work and general maintenance of all of its UK venues. Vimac Projects was set up by the Boldon, South Tyneside, company in response to the demands

  • BT unveils new pricing structure

    TELEPHONE customers are likely to reap the benefits of a price war which is looming on the horizon after BT announced yesterday it was slashing fixed-line call costs to beat the competition. Former British Telecom has introduced a three-part pricing structure

  • Blues night raises cash for MS sufferers

    BLUES band The Vast Majorities played at a charity night at St Augustine's Parish Church on Friday to raise money for the MS Society in Darlington. The evening raised £1,500 which will help buy a specially adapted caravan for MS sufferers to use. The

  • House prices still rising in North

    THE housing market is about to experience a "year for the North", according to a senior economist. Price growth is slowing in the South, while the North is continuing to enjoy healthy improvements in prices, said Martin Ellis, chief economist at the Halifax

  • Police recruits targeted

    A POLICE force has launched a plea for officers who would like to be sharpshooters. When it comes to numbers, Cleveland Police's team of Authorised Firearms Officers falls short of its target. The section has 75 firearms officers but needs 150 trained

  • Comment: A crucial and critical stage

    THE war against Iraq has entered its most critical phase. Allied forces are just a few miles outside Baghdad, and their military might will ensure eventual success. It is clear that both the US and Britain are still hoping the Iraqi army will capitulate

  • Unions react to buy-up talk

    UNIONS last night reacted with dismay to reports of a possible Corus buy-up involving controversial Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal. Corus, which employs about 3,600 workers on Teesside, is said to have been in informal talks with Mr Mittal's LNM group

  • Thief may have triggered fire alarm as a diversion

    A THIEF has escaped with thousands of pounds in a raid on a building society. It is thought the thief may have set off a fire alarm to clear the headquarters of Darlington Building Society before walking in to snatch the cash. Police were called to the

  • Running for Shelter

    TWO Darlington managers will take up the challenge of the London Marathon. Peter Rowley, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, and general manager David Dodd will compete in the marathon on April 13 to raise money for Shelter's work with homeless

  • Employer makes job promise to jailed docker

    BOSSES at a North-East shipyard yesterday have said they are prepared to take back a dock worker jailed for man-slaughter. Father-of-two John Barry Durham, who worked at Hereema, in Hartlepool, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison on Tuesday

  • Appeal after horror attacks on badgers

    ONE badger has been found dead and another badly injured - one snared, the other possibly baited with dogs. The grim finds in the region, which already holds the title of the worst in the UK for animal cruelty, has prompted further appeals to the public

  • Feeding the troops

    Former Willington Parkside Comprehensive pupil Neil Simpson, 38, is pictured at an RAF Mess at an airbase in the Middle East. Neil, an RAF Chef Sergeant, is the SNCO in charge and shift supervisor for the RAF mess. He is married to Shelagh and they live

  • News in brief: Arrest follows cannabis find

    A man has been arrested after cannabis worth more than £1,000 was recovered from a house in Darlington. Police carried out a search of the home in the Neasham Road area yesterday morning and found drugs with an estimated street value of £1,400. A police

  • Agent denies Magpies' Southgate bid

    GARETH SOUTHGATE'S agent Steven Firth yesterday angrily denied suggestions that the Middlesbrough skipper is lined up for a summer move to rivals Newcastle United. Reports claimed that Southgate, on England duty last night for the Euro 2004 qualifier

  • Marine's widow gives birth to baby girl

    The widow of a Royal Marine has given birth to a daughter just 12 days after her husband died in a crash whilst returning from his final mission in Iraq. Captain Philip Guy, 29, was due to fly back to Britain to be at the birth of his daughter Emily when

  • Axe hangs over plant

    UNION officials fear an electronics company is about to pull the plug on a factory already hit by redundancies. Last year, LG Philips Display shed 300 jobs at its 32-year-old plant in Washington, Wearside, which made deflection yokes for television tubes

  • Millions allocated to help home violence victims

    WOMEN suffering under the hands of violent partners across the region have this week be assured of Government help. Barbara Roche, Minister for Social Exclusion and Equality, yesterday announced that £18.8m will be used to build and develop refuges throughout

  • Friend jumps to aid Kyle fund

    A FUNDRAISING campaign in memory of a four-month-old baby who died of cerebral palsy has been launched. Kyle Brooklyn died in his mother's arms at his Darlington home on January 28. Now a family friend, Linda Heseltine, is planning a sponsored parachute

  • Troops to be sent Echo's crossword

    SOLDIERS serving in the Gulf could soon be exercising their minds even more, thanks to colleagues back home and The Northern Echo. The paper's crossword, supplied by Bristol firm Central Press Features, is to be included in a newsletter being produced

  • Concern grows for missing teenager

    POLICE are appealing for information about a 14-year-old boy who is missing from home. Kristofer Davies, of Darlington was last seen at 7pm on Friday. There have been a number of sightings of him since then, but police are concerned for his welfare. Acting

  • Man jailed over computer porn

    A FORMER newsagent caught in a joint police operation with the FBI for downloading child pornography from the Internet was jailed for a year yesterday. Ian Thomas Waller, 45, a father of three children under 16, was caught with 530 indecent images of

  • Takeover rumours quashed by group

    A COMPANY chief last night dispelled rumours that he has dropped his bid to take over a troubled steelworks. Les Graham, managing director of the Anglo Swedish group, said he was still talking to administrators about taking over the 140-year-old Weardale

  • Hospital car parking fees under attack

    THE son of a stroke victim has accused hospital bosses of penalising distressed people after a sharp increase in parking fees for visitors. Garth Rookes, 56, was outraged when car parking charges at the University Hospital of Hartlepool went up on Tuesday

  • Psychic senses the trail to missing dog

    A DOG owner is resorting to paranormal powers to track down her missing miniature pinscher. Frantic Carol Iveson was convinced her six-month pup, Barney, had been stolen and turned to a psychic who is an expert in tracking down missing pets. Barney -

  • Tim may step into Hook panto role

    TV star Tim Healy is negotiating with Newcastle's Theatre Royal to star in its pantomime Peter Pan. The 51-year-old Newcastle-born actor is one of the busiest people in showbiz and may take the role of Captain Hook after filming the farewell series of

  • Human shield Antoinette home from Baghdad

    THE parents of human shield Antoinette McCormick last night told of their relief as their daughter returned from Iraq. Mairi and John were overjoyed that their daughter was back at home in York, after weeks of worry over her safety. The 38-year-old, who

  • Town landmark hoisted into place

    ONE of the most eyecatching landmarks on the east coast is proudly back in place, and locals are planning a series of celebrations to mark the event. For decades, a huge whalebone arch has overlooked the sea from the West Cliff at Whitby, North Yorkshire

  • BNP to stand in elections

    THE Right-wing British National Party makes its first election bid in rural County Durham next month. The BNP is testing the political waters in Wear Valley and Sedgefield by standing for seats in the local elections on May 1. Two BNP candidates are contesting

  • Open access 'threatening rare birds'

    SOME of the region's rarest upland birds could be at risk unless walkers, cyclists and ramblers ensure their dogs are under control in the current nesting season, it was warned yesterday. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, along with the Moorland

  • Tribute paid to an Angel

    TRIBUTES have been paid to an Aycliffe Angel who has died at the age of 82. Bessie Liddle worked at the munitions factory at Newton Aycliffe during the war years but was better known for her role in the community of Sunniside, near Tow Law. Mrs Liddle

  • Future's brighter for 'Gee-nas'

    JERMAINE JENAS reckons Sir Bobby Robson has turned Newcastle United into the perfect breeding ground for young English talent - and insists his close friend Jermaine Pennant's Arsenal frustration proves his point. Jenas and Pennant grew up together in

  • Doctor told me to let patients die, says nurse

    AN intensive care nurse cleared of killing patients in her care told how she acted on the authority of a senior doctor. Former sister Kathleen Atkinson was sacked for deliberately killing patients, including a dying schoolgirl, by withdrawing drugs. But

  • Grant seeking recompense

    Chris Grant's bitter-sweet memories of Aintree will coming flooding back today when Master Wood (3.45) lines up for the Martell Cognac Fox Hunters' Chase run over the Grand National fences. Grant did everything bar win the National, three times partnering

  • Bouncing with health

    PRIMARY school pupils sprang into action yesterday to celebrate being awarded a top sporting accolade. Peases West Primary School, in Crook, held a fun day packed with healthy activities in celebration of gaining an Activemark Gold award from Sport England

  • Pupils prepare for signing performance

    PUPILS aged between six and 13 in Newton Aycliffe will take part in a special performance next week. All of the participants have been involved in a ten-week signing course with tutor Margaret Bain. She has taught the children sign language to music,

  • Crackdown on littering taking effect

    ONE hundred people have been fined for dropping litter in Darlington in the past two weeks. The fines were issued by Darlington Borough Council's team of uniformed wardens for littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling offences. They have been imposed as

  • Derelict homes removal complete

    A DEMOLITION scheme to clear a housing estate of derelict homes has been completed ahead of schedule to stop youths running riot. The last of 26 properties to be cleared from the Woodhouse Close Estate, in Bishop Auckland, was pulled down yesterday -

  • Expert patients scheme launched

    PEOPLE living with chronic illnesses are being recruited as expert patients to help fellow sufferers. Dales residents are being included in a national scheme developed by the Department of Health, which offers free courses to help people cope with ailments

  • Passion play puts England in top spot

    SO, Sven-Goran Eriksson and England lack passion, do they? They could hardly have delivered a more fitting riposte to that charge than the one that took them to the top of Group 7 at the Stadium of Light last night. Darius Vassell, a second-half substitute

  • Grants give boost to 50 charities

    FIFTY charities in the region are celebrating after receiving grants from the Lloyds TSB Foundation. The foundation works with some of the most disadvantaged people in the North-East and supports charities working with all sections of the community, including

  • Nursery plant tunnel backed

    PLANS to build a tunnel to house plants at a Darlington nursery were approved yesterday, despite a woman's concerns that her house was being damaged because of the heavy traffic. Darlington Borough Council's planning committee approved the installation

  • Autism centre plan for hotel backed

    PLANS to turn a 17th Century mansion into an autism centre of excellence were approved by councillors last night. Castlebeck Care wants to change the use of the Newbus Arms Hotel, in Hurworth Road, Neasham, into a care home for autism sufferers and other

  • Hospice helpers

    BUSINESSES who have made significant donations to St Teresa's Hospice have been thanked for their help. A banner was unveiled at Darlington's Cornmill Centre celebrating companies' contributions to the charity's Giving to Life appeal. The logos of the

  • Council to provide funding for environmental projects

    A GRANT scheme offering aid to environmental projects across Hambleton is being launched this week. The Natural Environment Fund, which embraces two existing grant schemes, will be used to achieve the aims of the district's Biodiversity Action Plan. The

  • Nathan makes trust celebration extra-special

    ONE-year-old Nathan Williams has been helping a health trust to celebrate its first anniversary. The Darlington toddler also chose his moment in the limelight to take his first steps. Nathan has had his fair share of medical troubles since he was born

  • Concern at impact of homes on village

    CONCERNS have been raised that a controversial plan to build 21 homes on a factory site in Middleton St George, near Darlington, could cause problems with a planned new school. Despite objections from the village's borough councillor, Darlington Mayor