The Youth Hostels Association may find it has got its sums wrong when it comes to sell its Aysgarth hostel. It came as no surprise that the association announced the hostel's closure this week. Although the initial closure decision was deferred for more
YOUNGSTERS waiting for Derwentside's first skate parks can get in some practice on a new set of mobile ramps. The YMCA in Parliament Street, Consett, has bought two ramps, thanks to a £4,000 grant from Connexions County Durham. The kit has already proved
POLICE have withdrawn opposition to a new nightclub in Chester-le-Street. Plans to build a nightclub and caf bar on the site of a derelict bingo hall at South Burns, near the town centre, were originally knocked back by councillors at a planning meeting
NEW wildlife officers have been appointed to encourage interest in the county's flora and fauna. Jennie Garrod and Ian Armstrong want to generate enthusiasm in the wealth of wildlife and scenery on people's doorsteps. Durham County Council has created
A POPULAR Medieval manor house in Durham opens for the season over the Easter weekend. Crook Hall and gardens will open for the Easter break, starting on Good Friday. Set in four acres near the banks of the River Wear, less than a mile from Durham city
WOMEN'S Institute members added a sparkle to lifesaving fundraising withs sacks full of jewellery. WI members have turned unwanted or broken jewels into cash for the National Heart Research Fund's Treasure Chest appeal. Delegates took them to the Durham
FUN-seeking youngsters can have an adventure of their own if they set off to find a bounty of hidden treasure in an ancient wood. The Easter adventure has been organised by the Forestry Commission, which is inviting young children and their families to
FIVE men were jailed yesterday for a two-hour terror ordeal in which a car driver was threatened with a hammer, a knife, a Samurai sword and a loaded shotgun. The incident took place after a Ford Sierra Cosworth car was sold to a Teesside man, and was
Alarm bells are ringing after a sharp drop in the number of children having the controversial triple MMR vaccine in the region. The new figures coincide with an outbreak of mumps in Darlington which has seen up to 30 suspected cases. Last week more than
A 67-YEAR-old pensioner described his shock at getting call-up papers for Army service in the Gulf - 40 years after he was rejected from the forces on health grounds. The letter, bearing a Ministry of Defence letterhead and ordering Ken Johnson to report
A STOKESLEY musician has just recorded a six-track CD in a Cleveland recording studio and hopes to become a professional performer. Guitarist Sophia Fountain, 27, of Dalewood Walk, cut the CD at Studio 64 in Middlesbrough and has been promoting it to
ROUND two of the Kumho Tyres National Rally Championship headed to North Wales last weekend, with local crews aiming for success at the Llangollen-based Astra Stages Rally. Having retired on the opening round in Bournemouth back in February, Scorton's
IN the drive to raise school standards, the sense of balance is in danger of being lost. Almost from the moment youngsters take their first steps into formal education, thoughts turn to testing and how league tables will look. Of course, we all want to
With a reputation for discovering talent, director Joel Schumacher is riding high as his new film is released. Steve Pratt reports. DIRECTOR Joel Schumacher has an eye for spotting talent. He gave Julia Roberts, Demi Moore, Kiefer Sutherland and Colin
TWO Irish DraughtxTB horses have tied for the honours at the end of the Hemlington Unicorn Centre's winter series. Fifteen-year-old Liam Gamble from Leven Park, Yarm, rode 11-year-old Jaywalker to success, taking first place in the Dodson and Horrell
TWO new blue cheeses make their debut at the Dales Festival of Food and Drink in Leyburn next month. Both are produced in Wensleydale - one at the Hawes creamery and the other at Fortmayne Dairy in the lower dale. Fortmayne's King Richard III Blue follows
A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was warned he faces detention after admitting four burglaries. The youth, who cannot be named, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday. The court heard that on January 19, he targeted homes at Broughton Road and Milner Street, both
A MAJOR campaign to help reconnect people with the countryside was launched in Yorkshire this week. The cross-industry national drive to boost the public's understanding of agriculture and horticulture took a bow at the Tesco supermarket in Tadcaster
A POLICE officer has been praised for his work in the town of Ferryhill. Sergeant Brian O'Connor has transferred to Newton Aycliffe after two-and-a-half years in Ferryhill. Sgt O'Connor paid tribute to members of Ferryhill Town Council and said it was
FORMER cricket umpire Dickie Bird yesterday urged pensioners to make sure they claim all the benefits they are entitled to. Mr Bird, who umpired 66 test matches and 69 one-day internationals, visited Durham County Cricket Club's ground, at Chester-le-Street
TAX staff have been moved from other duties to deal with a deluge of phone calls about new tax credits. Millions of people have swamped the £53m national helpline with inquiries for the Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Many callers have complained
FORMER dairy farmer Graham Chapman has teed off on a whole new career. Where cows used to graze, stands an 18-bay fully automatic, floodlit, under-cover golf driving range, described as the only one of its kind in the North of England. Mr Chapman, whose
About 100 groups and singers will be converging on a North-East town next month for a free music festival. Danish duo Junior Senior, whose single 'Move Your Feet' is at number four in the UK charts have confirmed they will be performing in the fourth
THE mother of Bali bomb victim Ian Findley has spoken of the six-months of torment she has endured grieving for her eldest son. It was six months ago last Saturday when two explosions ripped through the Kuta Beach tourist resort on the Indonesian island
Pupils from Hong Kong will be studying in isolation units at a North-East school, as a precaution against the deadly Sars virus. But Polam Hall School, in Darlington, has refuted suggestions that foreign youngsters returning after the Easter holidays
WORK is progressing on target on an entertainment venue development on the site of Durham's last mainstream cinema. The near £2m-conversion will see the former Robin's Cinema in North Road become the latest in a national chain of more than 40 Walkabout
THE racing fraternity is putting the finishing touches to a traditional Easter open day. Giving punters an opportunity to see behind the scenes of some of the sport's most successful stables, Middleham, is fast becoming the racing capital of the North
THE Bishop of Durham the Rt Rev Michael Turnbull will only have a short time to enjoy a parting gift made for him by young school craftsmen. Students at Parkside School, in Willington, marked the bishop's retirement at the end of the month by presenting
A CHANCE conversation led to a sizeable donation to Richmond's Friary Hospital. Pet shop owner John Meynell was telling his Finkle Street neighbour Mackenzie Thorpe about the high standard of care provided by the hospital staff when his mother was ill
TEMPERATURES in the region topped most countries on the continent yesterday as Britain experienced one of its hottest April days. People basked in the glorious sunshine as thermometers reached 72F (22C), a heatwave that put Britain on a par with the Bahamas
THE David Easterby-trained Silver Groom returned to his best form when winning the ladies open at the Bedale point-to-point held at Hornby Castle last Saturday. Silver Groom (T Rose/Holderness) raced prominently under regular pilot Jo Foster and travelled
THE Yorkshire Woodfair 2003 is to be incorporated in the major Countryside Live! event at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Yorwoods has held talks with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and is delighted with the arrangements. Martin Glynn, director of
ARTISTS have let their imaginations run wild for an exhibition of textiles. Visitors to Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre, in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, can view the displays of garments and sculptures made from innovative and unusual materials. With
KEN Carter thought his diamond ring was lost forever, until an off-duty policeman and his unusual hobby came to the rescue. Mr Carter, 57, of Fell View, The Grove, Consett, had spent the day in his garden, planting and replanting dozens of bushes. It
WHEN Ron and Hilda Horseman married more than 60 years ago they vowed: "Till death do us part." They were so inseparable that when Mr Horseman died peacefully his beloved wife followed only hours afterwards. Yesterday, their daughter Margaret said the
A construction company which is working on the Wembley Stadium project has announced 30 new jobs for Teesside after acquiring a fellow competitor. Cordell Group, based in Stockton, has acquired steelwork design, fabrication and construction company Structures
A PROPOSAL to demolish a redundant weir in upper Teesdale has been dismissed by one parish councillor as "health and safety gone mad". Coun Diana Mahood's comment came after members of Middleton in Teesdale Parish Council received a letter from the Environment
EVERY Christmas there's always a new variation on an old cartoon - the one about a man looking lost and bewildered in a ladies' lingerie department. Oh how we laugh at his incompetence, how we mock his ignorance of cup sizes and fastenings, slips, thongs
The old art of horse-logging was revived for aspiring forestry workers last week. Students studying for a National Certificate in Arboriculture at East Durham and Houghall College, on the outskirts of Durham, organised the display which saw horses used
ONE of Darlington's top young rugby teams has received a fresh boost from a sponsorship deal with the town's Lingfield Point business complex. The £1,000 boost has already seen Darlington Mowden Park's under-14s buy 20 brand new shirts, boasting the Lingfield
SEDGEFIELD Primary Care Trust is investing an extra £5.6m to improve health services in the borough. The trust, which has a budget of £87m for 2003/2004, has spent a number of months considering how best to spend the additional money. Officials have been
A WALL of decorative ceramic tiles has been unveiled at Ferryhill Comprehensive School. The project involved students working with a professional artist as part of a bridging project. Judy Caplin, who works with Sedgefield Borough Council, first worked
WAR AGAINST IRAQ: IN a war where humanitarian aid was a declared priority, the desperate plight of Iraq's children failed to find significance amid the scenes of battle. Away from the cameras the devastating impact of war upon children has largely gone
TEACHING is to start again at Middleton St George Primary School, which was severely damaged by fire in February. Four temporary classrooms and a dining room have been put in place, after two rooms and the roof of the old Victorian school building were
A HURWORTH parish councillor has warned that growing traffic problems could put lives at risk. Coun Peter Foster issued the warning after a pedestrian was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after an accident outside the Spa shop on the village green
Darlington striker Glenn Naylor last night announced his retirement from the game after failing to recover from a serious knee injury. The York-born forward has seemingly admitted defeat in his bid to overcome knee ligament damage after several failed
DARLINGTON received a harsh lesson in the physical nature of national league rugby in last night's Durham Cup first-round tie. Mowden avenged their defeat in last season's final by overpowering their neighbours, who achieved their season's main ambition
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Extremely cold weather has prevailed during the Easter holiday, and has continued during the week, with frequent showers of snow and hail. Snow fell heavily in Richmond and Swaledale on Wednesday, and there was a fall
A COUNCILLOR has resigned from the Labour Party following a row over his attendence. Keith Murray-Hetherington said he resigned in protest at the way members had sought his resignation from Durham County Council. Councillor Murray-Hetherington complained
A Dinky toy lorry achieved a world record price when it was sold at auction yesterday. The maroon eight-wheeled Foden chain lorry fetched £12,000 when it was sold by auction house Vectis, of Stockton, Tees-side. The toy was made in 1952 and would have
THE celebration of Easter is the oldest of the Christian festivals, pre-dating Christmas by more than a century. It is known that Easter was celebrated in AD 200, while Christmas appeared during the fourth century, and the reason for Easter's huge significance
SPECULATION over which high street retailer will take over the former Asda store in Bishop Auckland has ended. Homes and Gardens chain Wilkinsons has announced that it will be moving into the Newgate Centre in Bishop Auckland this summer. Up to 80 jobs
THIS is the face of a man wanted in connection with an indecent assault on a young woman in a town centre. According to his alleged victim the man tried to kiss and fondle her as she walked along Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, near its junction with Southfield
TALENTED young hopefuls sang their hearts out at a Pop Idol-style contest that could set them on the road to stardom. Students from Bishop Auckland College, St John's RC and Bishop Barrington schools, in Bishop Auckland, took part. The 15 singers performed
A SOLDIER who feared jail over a drunken fracas that left his best pal gravely ill walked free from court yesterday to fly out to Iraq. Private Keiron Malone, 20, based at Catterick Garrison, had carved out an amazing future for himself said his barrister
NEWCASTLE United pulled out of the chase for Portugal winger Simao after baulking at Benfica's £11m asking price. The Lisbon giants have confirmed that the Magpies enquired about the speedy 23-year-old, who was watched by Sir Bobby Robson when Portugal
CLEVELAND Hunt Supporters welcome anyone with their own horse or pony to join them on a pleasure ride on Easter Sunday. The ride begins at Foxdale Farm, opposite Gisborough Hall, between 10.30 and noon. The route is all off-road and is approximately nine
SLEEP-STARVED residents have called for curbs on overnight working by council contractors which they claim causes a near daily disturbance into the small hours. As part of a street enhancement scheme in North Road, Durham, work is being carried out through
RESIDENTS are complaining that a sewerage works near their homes cannot cope with the number of people who live in their village. An increase in houses in Middleton St George means the nearby sewerage works has become overloaded, according to parish councillors
A DECISION to allow a housing estate to be built in a village has been condemned by parish councillors. Members of Middleton St George Parish Council say they were not given time to comment on the development on land off Killinghall Row in the village
HUNDREDS of youngsters will be using pedal power to raise money for a leukaemia charity next month. Darlington will be hosting its leg of the Blue Peter Bikeathon, around the pathways of South Park, on Sunday, May 4, for the third year running. Last year
A SCHOOL secretary, retiring after 32 years, is handing over her job to her daughter. Dorothy Phillips, 63, has left Corporation Road Infant School, where she started as an auxiliary in 1971. She became school secretary two years later and has stayed
ADDITIONAL police patrols have gone on duty and local Watch schemes have been put on the alert following a second night of car crime in the Thirsk area. Earlier this week Borrowby was targeted by thieves who damaged a number of vehicles before stealing
A NIGHTCLUB popular with soldiers may be replaced with a supermarket. The Scorpion, at Catterick Garrison, was frequented by soldiers posted to the base and had a history dating back several decades. However, with the area earmarked for industrial development
POLICE had to subdue a man with CS gas in school grounds, Harrogate magistrates were told yesterday. Mark Coombes, 30, pleaded guilty to theft, resisting police and criminal damage to a window at the home he shares with a partner in King Edward Road,
A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was warned he faces detention after admitting four burglaries. The youth, who cannot be named, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday. The court heard that on January 19, he targeted homes at Broughton Road and Milner Street, both
YOUNGSTERS at a Trimdon infant school learned to play some unusual musical instruments and then performed in an evening show. Pupils from Trimdon Grange Infant School met six dancers and drummers from the World Music South African Education Project during
A WEEK-OLD foal was rescued from the River Tees by firefighters yesterday, 24 hours after it fell in at the same spot. The foal, clearly unsteady on its feet, was rescued when it fell into the river near Stockton, Teesside. A fire crew from Thornaby was
A HEALTHY lifestyle course which has proved a success in the Sedgefield borough is being made available to Spennymoor residents. The Passport to Health course will start on Wednesday, April 30, at Hartley Terrace Community CareLink House from 1pm to 3pm
DURHAM Constabulary Male Voice Choir's annual concert will feature two other groups. The force's singers will be joined by the 70-strong South Yorkshire Police Male Voice Choir and Seaham and District Youth Theatre Group. The concert will be held on Saturday
FUN-seeking youngsters can have an adventure of their own if they set off to find a bounty of hidden treasure in an ancient wood. The Easter adventure has been organised by the Forestry Commission, which is inviting young children and their families to
PARISH councillors have condemned proposals to change the structure of the Durham police force. A meeting of Middleton St George parish council questioned the merit of replacing the six divisions in Durham Constabulary with two divisions serving the North
PLANS are being finalised for activities taking place at a County Durham tourist attraction over the Easter weekend. Re-enactment group the Northumbrians will be at Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, showing what life was like in Roman times
Vulnerable youngsters are being helped to make the right choices in life. The Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley and Safe in Tees Valley's youth inclusion programme have held two events at Middlesbrough Football Club's Cellnet Stadium, aimed at raising
A PETITION demanding that a pharmacy be opened at Asda, in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was given to Redcar MP Vera Baird yesterday. The MP promised to pass the petition, which has been signed by more than 1,000 people, to the NHS. Ms Baird said: "
ASTHMATICS and people with heart conditions have been warned about high levels of pollution. The warning comes after air quality monitoring stations across the borough of Stockton detected higher than normal pollution levels, particularly small dust particles
FORMER civil servant James Reed, of Langthwaite, has been awarded the Imperial Service Medal. He was presented with the medal by Brigadier Hughie Monro at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick Garrison. Mr Reed retired in September after 38 years' service
The Wayfarer pub in Front Street East, Haswell, is holding a paste egg day from noon on Monday. It will feature children's egg and bonnet decorating competitions, quoits, darts and domino handicaps and music. Admission is free. For details, call the pub
A photographer who moved to a remote community to record how villagers coped with severe flooding is to exhibit his work in the area. Arthur Foster lived in Skinningrove, near Saltburn, for a month at the height of the floods two years ago. Now his work
TINDER-dry conditions across the Moors and Dales have led to fire warnings from the region's two national parks. Two hundred acres of heather moors near Sheepwash, between Swainby and Osmotherley on the North York Moors, were damaged by three days of
Sir, - In response to Alan Benn's letter (D&S, Apr 4), I would simply point out that the Conservative Party has been out of power since 1997. Labour has now been in Government for six years, and what do we in North Yorkshire have to show for it? The
GEORDIE panto favourite Berwick Kaler has been offered the ultimate accolade by the city that has taken him to its heart. As his 25th show approaches, councillors in York unanimously agreed to make him an Honorary Freeman of the City. Mr Kaler has appeared
CHURCH APPOINTMENTS: Richard Ward and Owen Evans were re-elected as churchwardens at the annual meeting of Worsall church. Lady Margaret Sutherland was thanked for her long service in support of the church. Geoff Barnet had helped produce the parish news
A TEAM of landscape designers with an average age of 11 have been helping a Newton Aycliffe factory plan a conservation area. Children from Heighington CE Primary School and Rise Carr Primary School, in Darlington, worked with 3M on ideas for gardens,
A 30-YEAR-OLD man who stole a BMW car before setting off on a night of crime was jailed for 18 months yesterday. Mark Wilson, of Howbeck Lane, Hartlepool, admitted three charges of theft and four of obtaining goods by deception at Teesside Crown Court
THE Guisborough Cycling Initiative will hold its first annual meeting next month. The group promotes cycling for short journeys as an alternative to the car, and is chaired by Les Thomson, director of sport at Laurence Jackson School, in Guisborough.
THE Great North Air Ambulance visited Richmond Castle yesterday to mark the launch of its service. While enjoying the sunshine visitors had the chance to see the helicopter land in the castle grounds. The helicopter now operates every day from Teesside
A PARISH council election has been postponed following the death of one of the candidates. Valerie Goodwill, 58, who died in hospital on Friday, was one of nine candidates contesting six seats in the St Germain's ward on Saltburn, Marske and New Marske
GARDEN plants and containers are being stolen in the Fens area of Hartlepool. Five gardens, in Thetford, Holland and Newark roads and Brandon Close have been targeted in the past couple of days. Police are advising residents to take steps to protect expensive
POLICE in Spennymoor are appealing for witnesses to an alleged assault in the town. The incident involved two women who were allegedly involved in a scuffle outside St Charles Primary School, in Durham Road, Spennymoor, at about 9.40am on Monday, April
THE final touches are being made to plans for Northallerton's May Fair. For five days the High Street will be filled with rides and side shows, bringing thousands of people into the district. Hambleton District Council chairman Councillor Percy Featherstone
A SEVEN-year plan to improve council houses has been drawn up by Richmondshire District Council to meet Government standards by 2010. In the present financial year, the authority will spend more than £1.7m on its housing stock. Work due for completion
LONG-serving Thirsk town councillor Joe Salmon is to step down because of health problems. The 57-year-old has to have kidney dialysis three times a week following renal failure, "which doesn't leave much time for community activities, sadly", he said
IN its wisdom, Scarborough Borough Council has designated Easter Saturday "chalet day" - the day those of us with seasonal lets have to take possession of our little wooden boltholes on Whitby foreshore. So, on Saturday morning, we'll fill the car with
CHILDREN are helping to clean up the streets of west Middlesbrough this week. About 30 children aged from eight to 12 began with a litter pick in Whinney Banks yesterday. It will be followed by litter-picking sessions in nearby West Lane and Newport.
A CONCERT will be held next month in memory of a popular church organist. David Garrood, 61, from Sedgefield, died on December 29 after he suffered a heart attack while practising the piano. Mr Garood, a music teacher, was an organist at St James the
A FAR-SIGHTED campaign by fundraisers has resulted in more than 6,000 pairs of discarded spectacles being sent to the third world. Chester-le-Street Rotary Club has collected 6,322 pairs of glasses in the last nine months and is now preparing to despatch
THOUSANDS of North-East workers face an unhappy Easter thanks to Scrooge-like bosses. A report by the TUC claims that more than 118,000 workers in the region taking Good Friday or Easter Monday off will not receive holiday pay. A further 6,000 people
A CARDBOARD policeman has been recruited to help to tackle a rise in sneak-in burglaries. The life-size cut-out is not the desperate move of a cash-strapped force low on real bobbies. Senior officers hope the six replicas of crime prevention officer PC
POLICE are turning up the heat on bogus callers. Operation Delivery, launched yesterday, comes in the wake of the growing incidence of the crime, which is often aimed at the old and vulnerable. In one of the more tragic cases, George Sharpe, 82, of Haswell
FURTHER investigation into a proposed animal incinerator near Guisborough has been recommended, following concerns about residents' safety. The North York Moors National Park Authority recently granted planning permission for the incinerator at Charltons
POLICE in Darlington want to reignite interest in a confidential web site launched last year to snare drug dealers. This year www.nettherat.org has received just three e-mails from the public with information about drug dealing activities in the town.
POLICE believe a motorist, who stopped at the scene of an accident which led to a cyclist's death, may hold vital clues to their inquiry. Dr Ceri Williams died last week in Middlesbrough General Hospital - eight days after he was knocked off his bike
RED House School's under-14 boys hockey team, inspired by a 4-1 victory over Yorkshire champions Scarborough College, went on to represent the North-East at the quarter-final stage of the national HA Youth Cup competition at Warwick University. In a close
AS DRIVERS prepare for the great Easter getaway, transport bosses have urged them not to take to the wheel while tired. Representatives of the Government Office for the North-East, and Washington Services, bedded down at the service station on the A1(
MORE than 2,000 potentially contaminated land sites have been identified during an initial survey of Darlington. The borough council has a huge job on its hands to prioritise those which need a more detailed inspection. A report by John Buxton, director
RAIL company GNER has prom-ised to cut train times after completing a £30m three-year project to refurbish its high speed fleet. The East Coast Main Line operator said work to upgrade its fleet of 31 electric class 91 locomotives will "dramatically improve
A KEEN cyclist is embarking on a gruelling journey from Lands End to John O'Groats. Stuart Hurst, from Chester-le-Street, aims to cycle the length of Britain to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. He will set off from the town this Thursday for Lands
STEVE McCLAREN last night declared that Middlesbrough are on the threshold of Europe and a ground-breaking era for the club. Manager McClaren joined chairman Steve Gibson to call on fans to back their ambitious plans with a season ticket sell-out next
ROCK legends Lindisfarne are returning to the stage in the region, for a one-off acoustic concert of their biggest hits. Three of the original members of the popular Geordie band, are playing under the name Lindisfarne Acoustic at the Lamplight Arts Centre
THE future of Leyburn's fast response and paramedic service was in doubt this week. The "revolutionary" new community response scheme launched with a fanfare at Castle Bolton last August has been abandoned before the first teams of volunteers have finished
WHEN former cancer patient Vanessa Price got married, there wasn't a wedding present in sight! Instead, she asked family and friends to put their hands in their pockets and help a number of causes close to her heart. Now, thanks to her generosity and
A CARDBOARD policeman has been recruited to help to tackle a rise in sneak-in burglaries. The life-size cut-out is not the desperate move of a cash-strapped force low on real bobbies. Senior officers hope the six replicas of crime prevention officer PC
A COMPANY accountant who swindled more than £225,000 from his firm to fund a luxury lifestyle was jailed for three years yesterday. As well as a £150,000 share portfolio with Gerards of London, Douglas Long paid off his mortgage, bought a second home,
RITCHIE Humphreys last night crowned a memorable season when he was named Hartlepool United's player of the year. Humphreys has been instrumental in guiding Pool to the verge of the Division Three championship, netting 11 times including a hat-trick against
FUN-seeking youngsters can have an adventure of their own if they set off to find a bounty of hidden treasure in an ancient wood. The Easter adventure has been organised by the Forestry Commission, which is inviting young children and their families to
PUPILS are backing British forces in the Middle-East by sending them some much-needed creature comforts. Children at Cheveley Park Primary School in Belmont eagerly responded to an appeal to offer a tonic to the troops. They have filled shoe-boxes with
EVERY Christmas there's always a new variation on an old cartoon - the one about a man looking lost and bewildered in a ladies' lingerie department. Oh how we laugh at his incompetence, how we mock his ignorance of cup sizes and fastenings, slips, thongs
ELDERLY residents whose families challenged a council decision to close their home through a judicial review have all moved out. The last resident at Stoneleigh Nursing Home, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, moved out this week, leaving the way open
I've always been a fan of that lovely word "decency"; the long-established way of how people treat each other. Sadly, there seem to be two tribes evolving in opposite directions here. A good friend recently moved house and was staggered by what he found
NURSERY school pupils have been devastated by the vandalism of willow domes they had spent hours creating. Pearl Robinson, head of Oxhill Nursery School, Stanley, said vandals had destroyed one of three structures and damaged two others. Ms Robinson called
CHEMICALS firm Huntsman is looking to expand its operations on Teesside in a move that would create hundreds of jobs for the region. The US-owned company wants to build a specialist polyethylene plant on the Wilton International site, near Redcar. It
A DERWENTSIDE music co-operative that organises two major festivals will get more than £48,000 from Durham County Council. Northern Recording Ltd, in Delves Lane, is best known as organiser of the Stanley Blues Festival, which celebrated its tenth anniversary
Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture BOTH old crop and new crop cereal prices have improved over the week. Old crop improved on good demand from Scotland,weaker sterling and exports to the end of February reaching nearly 2m tonnes of wheat. New crop wheat has
THE father of a soldier serving in Iraq has welcomed a Government announcement that families will now be able to send packages free of charge to their loved ones. Syd Worgan heard from his son Peter for the first time since the conflict started in a 4am
A 21-GUN salute will be fired in York on Monday to mark the Queen's 77th birthday. The salute will be fired in the Museum Gardens at noon by soldiers from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, at Topcliffe. The King's Division Waterloo Band will provide music
WOMEN'S Institute members added a sparkle to some lifesaving fundraising when they collected sacks full of jewellery for heart research. WI members have hunted their unwanted or broken jewels to turn them into cash for the National Heart Research Fund's
A CARDBOARD policeman has been recruited to help to tackle a rise in sneak-in burglaries. The life-size cut-out is not the desperate move of a cash-strapped force low on real bobbies. Senior officers hope the six replicas of crime prevention officer PC
Police say there are no plans for North-East officers to carry the new US-style stun guns capable of delivering 50,000-volt shocks. Five police forces are involved in trials of the "Taser" guns which fire needle-tipped darts up to 21ft to deliver the
FORMER steeplejack and television presenter Fred Dibnah and his film crew visited Beamish Museum yesterday. Mr Dibnah worked as a steeplejack in Bolton, Lancashire, until 20 years ago, when he was discovered by a documentary maker who was creating a series
A town was in mourning yesterday for a Royal Marine who died in Iraq. But Chris Maddison's parents urged those at his funeral to be proud of what he achieved and of his comrades still in the Gulf. Steve Parsley reports. IT was the mark of the man that
A CARDBOARD policeman has been recruited to help to tackle a rise in sneak-in burglaries. The life-size cut-out is not the desperate move of a cash-strapped force low on real bobbies. Senior officers hope the six replicas of crime prevention officer PC
MICKLETON R'n'B Club has announced a major coup in securing a return visit from Kevin Montgomery and the Roadtrippers who played the club to much acclaim in January. As well as Nashville-born lead singer Montgomery, the band again features Robert Reynolds
A POPULAR Medieval manor house in Durham opens for the season over the Easter weekend. Crook Hall and gardens will open for the Easter break, starting on Good Friday. Set in four acres near the banks of the River Wear, less than a mile from Durham city
NORTH Yorkshire councillors have been urged to protect from redevelopment the routes of redundant railways which could be used again. David Fanaroff, senior countryside officer with the Countryside Agency, was addressing a public meeting of a county council
A CONSERVATIVE councillor is seeking council tax reductions of up to 50pc for pensioners and those on low incomes in North Yorkshire. Danby Coun Herbert Tindall, a well-known borough and county councillor, said the latest controversial increase was ridiculous
WOMEN'S Institute members added a sparkle to some lifesaving fundraising when they collected sacks full of jewellery for heart research. WI members have hunted their unwanted or broken jewels to turn them into cash for the National Heart Research Fund's
Ian Huntley yesterday admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice following the deaths of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. But the former school caretaker, who appeared in the dock for the first time with his girlfriend, Maxine Carr
A FERRYHILL couple who met at a fairground more than 60 years ago have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. Ronald and Mary Dolphin met at Noah's Arc fairground in Spennymoor while Mr Dolphin was on leave from the Army. The couple spent much
A DEDICATED North-East customs officer killed himself because he feared becoming the scapegoat in a police corruption probe, an inquest heard yesterday. Amjad Bashir was found by his wife, Farida, hanged in the garage of his Middlesbrough home last April
THE tourism industry in the Yorkshire and Pennine Dales and the North York Moors will be looking forward to a bumper Easter. The summer weather may not be quite as sub-tropical as the forecasters were promising earlier in the week, but by comparison with
Electrolux Outdoor Products outstripped its previous production performances when it built a record number of lawnmowers last month. The Newton Aycliffe company, in County Durham, which assembles Flymo mowers, built more than 313,000 in March, beating
THE National Beef Association is disappointed that the TB report released last week by MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee failed to acknowledge that current TB controls had no hope of eradicating the disease and at best could only
Sir, - The award of finance to enable a start on a new Freebrough College is welcome, but for Ashok Kumar MP to state (D&S, Apr4) that the Government has listened to people is misleading. Four years ago, after consultation with the community of East
THERE could be three possible buyers for a tiny Aiskew building valued by an estate agent at between £15,000 and £20,000, it emerged this week. The future of the leech house, a Grade 2 listed building beside Bedale Beck, is under discussion with the dissolution
A BRAVE, battling finish, a thrill right to the post, Ryalux gave his all to scoop last Saturday's Scottish National under a fine ride by Richard McGrath. It was a grand win for the little stable, the still-new-kid-on-the-block, Andy Crook. The Middleham
NINETEEN people have been made redundant at a North-East brewery after the company lost a major distribution deal. Camerons Brewery, near Hartlepool, announced the job losses yesterday. The news comes almost 12 months after the take-over of Camerons Lion
FUN-seeking youngsters can have an adventure of their own if they set off to find a bounty of hidden treasure in an ancient wood. The Easter adventure has been organised by the Forestry Commission, which is inviting young children and their families to
A CAMPAIGN to save Aysgarth youth hostel from closure has ended in defeat. The Youth Hostels Association confirmed on Monday that the premises would shut at the end of the year. The organisation blamed lack of cash support towards a major refurbishment
WHO could fail to be moved by the plight of Ali Ismail Abbas? The twelve-year-old boy, about the same age as my eldest, lost both arms and suffered horrific burns in a US air strike in Baghdad. His mother, father, brother and two sisters were killed.
A NORTH-East student has topped up his loan by scooping £163,191 after placing a £4 bet at his local bookies. Norman Evans, 46, a mature student studying Bio Medical Science at Durham University, won the cash after finding six winners on selected televised
DRACULA is coming to a medieval castle, in the shape of an unusual orchid. The rare bloom will be shown at the annual Raby Castle orchid show, near Staindrop, which this year takes place from May 3-5, 11am-5pm. Not only has it not been seen at Raby before
THIEVES failed to dampen the spirits of parishioners who carried on with their morning service despite having a hole in the church roof. Members of the parish of St Helens and West Auckland discovered that thieves had attempted to strip the lead off the
GHOST hunters were 'busted' by the spooky goings-on at a museum site. Dean Maynard, Danny Jones and Ron Wilson, who raise funds for a Newcastle cancer charity, asked to spend the night at Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum in Weardale.
Soapland is a place where the unexpected happens, but few things could be more unlikely than Tricia Dingle being transformed into a Bollywood movie star. The Woolpack's dim barmaid, who's always seemed a few bottles short of a crate, signs up as an extra
Location, Location, Location (C4), Watermelon (ITV1), Brits In Bangkok (BBC1) DECISIONS, decisions, nothing but decisions. In the comedy-drama Watermelon, Claire had to choose between two men and a baby. This was because neither seemed keen on sticking
A YEAR ago the nightmare that haunts every parent came true for a Bishop Auckland mum. Michelle Aldworth's world was shattered when her bubbly and bright daughter, who loved dancing and dressing up, died after a hit-and-run accident. Leonie Shaw, known
A NURSE has been presented with an award in recognition of the care and compassion with which she treats patients. Practice nurse Carol Broadhead, from Framwellgate Moor Surgery, in Durham, was yesterday given Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care
A POLICE expert on security has been appointed a deputy chief constable. Ron Hogg, 52, who has been in charge of security at Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency home, as assistant chief constable with Durham Police, has moved across the county line to
TOURISM is vital to the survival of many businesses and jobs in the North York Moors National Park - but so is agriculture. The one cannot exist without the other. Speaking to more than 60 tourist industry representatives who attended the first tourism
A MOTOR parts dealer who sold tax-exempt fuel illicitly to motorists was jailed for a year yesterday. John William Fletcher and staff were observed filling up hundreds of cars at Ford Autos Parts in Hendon, Sunderland, between September 2000 and the following
Richard Fahey doesn't have many runners at Newmarket so it looks significant that he is pitching his Fonthill Road in at the deep end for the Exning Handicap over six furlongs on day three of the Craven meeting at Headquarters this afternoon. The three-year-old
A CARDBOARD policeman has been recruited to help to tackle a rise in sneak-in burglaries. The life-size cut-out is not the desperate move of a cash-strapped force low on real bobbies. Senior officers hope the six replicas of crime prevention officer PC
A WEEK-OLD foal was rescued from the River Tees by firefighters yesterday, 24 hours after it fell in at the same spot. The foal, clearly unsteady on its feet, was rescued when it fell into the river near Stockton, Teesside. A fire crew from Thornaby was
THREE new computer systems costing almost £800,000 have provided a boost for Myson Radiators. While the Gateshead firm introduced the systems last summer, the first few months of their integration into the running of Myson's three UK plants have typified
PLANS for gas exploration wells in the North York Moors National Park have been criticised by the Ramblers' Association. The hikers' group has attacked the proposed scheme, claiming the wells near Westerdale would be a blot on the landscape for which
COMPANIES from throughout the North-East have been invited to enjoy a taste of the Orient as they explore new export markets with the help of Trade Partners UK's Trade Mission to China. The mission offers two alternative itineraries, the first visiting
Bedale Hunt Supporters Club. - May 18: Showcross at Maunby Hall, near Thirsk. Details from Anne on 01325 378259. Braes of Derwent PC. - Apr 21: Hunter trial at Lowfold RC, Sunnybrow, all classes. Apr 25/26: Tetrathlon, all classes. Apr 26: Hunter trial
Sir, - Early in the Eighties, when Alf Wight was still practising veterinary crafts at Thirsk, the then Hawes Chamber of Trade at Hawes held a meeting at the White Hart - venues for these meetings moved around then. This was in the early days, when ideas
A concert will take place at Roseberry School in Pelton next week. Chester-le-Street Riverside Band will perform with Roseberry Youth Connection on Thursday, April 24, at 7pm to raise money for charity. Chairman of Chester-le-Street District Council Bill
DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Easter show & sale. Fwd: 270 cattle, 781 sheep. Prizes. - Bulls: 1&2 TN Hodgson & Son 126.5p, 118.5p both to P Honeyman, Stockton; 3 JD Atkinson 111.5p to JA Jewitt, Spennymoor. Hfrs: 1 M Robinson, East Alwent
CLOTHING retailer Laura Ashley has launched a much-reduced rights issue to help fund the closure or disposal of its loss-making European operations. The company has been forced to cut the price on the share sale to raise £8.2m after seeing its share price
IT was named after the Lord Rosebury-owned Derby winner of 1939 - but the locomotive Blue Peter hardly showed the same pace as its equine namesake as it was hauled in to Darlington. The locomotive was at the centre of a massive operation, several weeks
RETAIL group GUS said that it expected full-year results to be at the top end of market expectations as it revealed sales at catalogue chain Argos had exceeded £3bn for the first time. The Manchester company said like-for-like sales at Argos had grown
SCHOOLS and businesses in Darlington are being encouraged to sleep on the job to raise money for a local charity. St Teresa's Hospice is asking organisations to hold pyjama days throughout next month. Hospice director Jane Bradshaw said: "We want people
CAR crime in Darlington town centre car parks has reached an all-time low, according to new figures. For the first three months of this year, the statistics reveal only two incidents have been reported in the car parks covered by the borough council's
LOCAL racers managed a decent slice of the points haul when round two of the British Superbike Championship took place at a warm and sunny Snetterton in Norfolk last weekend. Following on from a superb top ten result in the opening round, Yarm racer Russ
The Wayfarer pub in Front Street East, Haswell, is holding a paste egg day from noon on Monday. It will feature children's egg and bonnet decorating competitions, quoits, darts and domino handicaps and music. Admission is free. For details, call the pub
CHILDREN asked to design a car of the future showed some real imagination. The teenage designers from Richmond School had the environment in mind when they suggested dust or even cheese could replace petrol and diesel. The competition was organised by
Coundon Leeholme Community Project, in Tees Walk, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, will hold a gala on Saturday, June 28. Volunteers are needed to form an events committee. A meeting will be held at the Community Project building, on Monday, April 28, from
ORGANISERS of Sedgefield medieval fair, which is to be staged on the village green and Ceddesfeld Hall on Saturday, May 17, are looking for teams to join this year's tug-of-war competition. In recent years, visiting teams have done well, often winning
ORGANISERS of Sedgefield medieval fair, which is to be staged on the village green and Ceddesfeld Hall on Saturday, May 17, are looking for teams to join this year's tug-of-war competition. In recent years, visiting teams have done well, often winning
A 30-YEAR-OLD man who stole a BMW car before setting off on a night of crime was jailed for 18 months yesterday. Mark Wilson, of Howbeck Lane, Hartlepool, admitted three charges of theft and four of obtaining goods by deception at Teesside Crown Court
FIVE more North-East towns are to get high-speed Internet access, after residents campaigned for the service. Communications group BT is bringing Broadband to Hexham on May 14 and Whickham on June 11. Other exchanges at Ryton, Denton Burn and Whitburn
A scheme giving unemployed people the chance to earn a wage, learn valuable skills and gain experience has been launched. The North Yorkshire Works! scheme has been created by North Yorkshire County Council's employment training services and will run
FERRYHILL Leisure Centre Playgroup is celebrating the start of work on its new home. The playgroup has the use of a leisure centre room but has always wanted an area of its own, and the development takes it a step closer to realising that dream. Work
A DOG called Misty is looking for a home. The two-year-old has been cared for by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League (NASSL), at Sadberge, near Darlington, for six months. Now she needs a home with someone who is used to dogs. Pauline Wilson,
CHILDREN at a school near Durham are to get their first sports hall as a result of a £340,800 investment. PE lessons at Sacriston RC Primary School, on Front Street, take place outside or at nearby secondary schools as the primary lacks its own sports
A POPULAR Medieval manor house attraction opens for the season over the Easter weekend with chocolate egg treats adding to the appeal for family visitors. The delights of Crook Hall and gardens will be revealed to the public on all four days of the Easter
PARISH councillors have condemned proposals to change the structure of the Durham police force. A meeting of Middleton St George parish council questioned the merit of replacing the six divisions in Durham Constabulary with two divisions serving the North
VILLAGE traders are expected to oppose plans to start a weekly market, which they fear will devastate their businesses, at a public meeting tonight. Shopkeepers and cafe owners in Stanhope, in Weardale, are concerned that the market would take their trade
PLANS are being finalised for activities taking place at a County Durham tourist attraction over the Easter weekend. Re-enactment group the Northumbrians will be at Binchester Roman Fort, near Bishop Auckland, showing what life was like in Roman times
GANG MUSICAL: The CBS Amateur Operatic Society is staging Guys and Dolls from Monday, April 28 to Saturday, May 3, at 7.15pm, in the Consett Empire. Tickets are £4.50 for the Monday show and £6 with £5 concessions for the rest of the week. Singing concert
PHEASANT rearing without Emtryl, the recently-withdrawn medicinal feed additive widely used to control the commonest diseases, may be easier than many UK gamekeepers fear, according to one renowned US-based gamebird consultant. Speaking at a series of
A SHUTTLE bus service launched as part of a drive to reduce congestion in a busy historic city centre is set to make its mark from the Easter period. The Cathedral Bus runs between Durham's coach and car parks, and bus and railway stations, to the World
A COUNCILLOR has resigned from the Labour Party following a row over his attendence. Keith Murray-Hetherington said he resigned in protest at the way members had sought his resignation from Durham County Council. Councillor Murray-Hetherington complained
HISTORY was brought to life for visitors to Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum yesterday. Staff and groups donned authentic outfits to recreate scenes from the town's past, for the Town in Time Alive day. Members of Middlesbrough Heathly Eating Project demonstrated
THE Pizza Hut restaurant chain has announced plans to create 200 jobs in the North-East by the end of the year. The company is making a concerted effort to expand into the region and is looking to recruit all levels of team members, from restaurant managers
TV food expert Loyd Grossman has expressed his support for the Dales Festival of Food and Drink. In a message of support for the Leyburn-based event on the May Day bank holiday weekend, Mr Grossman speaks of the importance of local produce. "It's now
WOMEN'S Institute members added a sparkle to some lifesaving fundraising when they collected sacks full of jewellery for heart research. WI members have hunted their unwanted or broken jewels to turn them into cash for the National Heart Research Fund's
DURHAM suffered a double setback in their friendly at Old Trafford yesterday when Paul Collingwood dislocated a shoulder and Mark Davies suffered a recurrence of his collapsed lung. Both are already ruled out of the opening County Championship match against
YOUNGSTERS from across County Durham will tee off to raise money for charity this month. The British Heart Foundation Junior Golf Championship regional heat takes place in Crook, County Durham, on Monday, April 28. The top three teams will be awarded
YOUNGSTERS from across County Durham will tee off to raise money for charity this month. The British Heart Foundation Junior Golf Championship regional heat takes place in Crook, County Durham, on Monday, April 28. The top three teams will be awarded
MICK McCARTHY has dropped a huge hint that Kevin Phillips will be sold in the summer - and that Marcus Stewart will spearhead Sunderland's promotion assault. McCarthy refused to say whether he expected Phillips to remain at the Stadium of Light after
THREE nineteenth century statues which stand in the grounds of a Teesdale mansion have been vandalised beyond repair. The owner of Lartington Hall, Robin Rackham, believes the damage was done by thieves thwarted by the sophisticated security system at
The Buck Inn, Maunby, is holding a race night and auction in aid of Hospice Care and the local branch of St John Ambulance. In the past two years, the night has raised almost £3,000 for charity, and organiser Jeff Barr hopes this year's event will do
NORTH Yorkshire has come joint top in the country for the number of civil marriages performed in the county, official figures have revealed. In a study of England's 34 counties, North Yorkshire and Cheshire share first place with four civil marriages
BUS operator Go North-East has urged passengers to check the travel times of its services during the Easter holidays. The company says some of its bus services will be operating at slightly revised departure and arrival times. All services tomorrow and
SECURITY will be tightened in a £1.4m town park that is being targeted by vandals. Blackhill and Consett Park re-opened last year after a major restoration programme, funded by Heritage Lottery and Derwentside District Council. Youths have targeted the
Three Bonny Lasses from The Toon is just one of the highlights of the Geordie Mikado, which moves Gilbert and Sullivan's little maids from the Far East to the North-East and has Nanki-Poo playing cornet in the Titipu Colliery band. MORE microbiologist
IGUANAS, pythons andvarious lizards were given a medical 'once over' by experts at an unusual surgery. More than 40 owners of exotic pets took advantage of the offer of a free health check for their reptiles. It made for a busy day at The Reptile Trust
ONCE they were the backbone of the railway network. Today, many of them are long forgotten relics of a different era, overgrown with weeds. Forty years ago last month Dr Richard Beeching published his infamous report on the country's rail infrastructure
DARLINGTON will tackle their Easter programme with renewed optimism having virtually secured their Nationwide League status with last Saturday's 5-1 demolition of a poor Shrewsbury Town side. Quakers picked the perfect time to produce one of their best
THIS Belgian Blue X Limousin heifer took the Gale & Phillipson championship at Darlington Auction Mart Easter show on Thursday of last week. Shown by Michael Robinson of East Alwent Farm, Staindrop, the 24-month-old heifer was bought by Honeymans
A COMMUNITY group has launched a campaign to save an historic park building which has fallen prey to vandals and drug abusers. The Friends of North Lodge Park says the park's 100-year-old bandstand is in desperate need of repair after being damaged by
One of the most powerful trades union jobs in Britain yesterday went to an activist who made his name in the North-East. Dan Jenkins meets the man who is promising to give Tony Blair a rough ride. RELAXED and tanned posing for the cameras in his sharp
A DERWENTSIDE music co-operative that organises two major festivals will get more than £48,000 from Durham County Council. Northern Recording Ltd, in Delves Lane, is best known as organiser of the Stanley Blues Festival, which celebrated its tenth anniversary
A RIDING school owner has offered to help find another way to reduce Marske's horse misery. Coun Bill Goodwill told this week's Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council meeting that the owner, Tim Hill, was ready with cash and machinery to join
FUN-seeking youngsters can have an adventure of their own if they set off to find a bounty of hidden treasure in an ancient wood. The Easter adventure has been organised by the Forestry Commission, which is inviting young children and their families to
MORE than 50 firefighters battled for seven hours on Tuesday to put out the moorland blaze that was caused by a spark from a steam engine. Thirty-eight hectares of heather-covered land were destroyed in the fire on the North York Moors, which required
HAWES. - Tues. Fwd: 12 calves, 222 sheep. Calves: Lim bulls to £230 FD&TW Chapman, Hawes, av £208; BA bulls to £200 D Middleton & Son, Askrigg. av £193. Fries bulls to£52 GS Bowe & Son, Hawes, av £39; Lim hfrs to £100 GS Bowe & Son av
A COMMUNITY is united in grief after the death of the village postman - described as the 'light of the village.' Stuart Looker, 25, was found hanged in an area of Sherburn known as the Scrambles, on Monday last week. Within hours of his body being discovered
A RETIRING doctor has been given a grand send off by medical staff after 21 years at a surgery. Dr Mohammad Abul Quasem, 65, of the Stanley Health Centre in Stanley, moved to Derwentside in February 1982. He first worked as a medical registrar in Wanstead
