Archive

  • James asks for support as he bids for TV fame

    ASPIRING television star James Clark has beaten thousands of people hoping to win a part in a reality TV series. He is only North-Easterner to get into the final 20 who want to win a place in Cruel Holiday, with the chance to win £10,000. The Stockton

  • Experts look at link between age and disease

    MEDICAL experts will gather in the region today to discuss why growing old means an increased risk of disease. Leading scientists from Japan and the UK are meeting in Newcastle University's Institute for Ageing and Health, at the International Centre

  • Hopes for 400 new jobs in Teesdale

    PLANS are underway to create 400 jobs which are badly needed in a rural area to replace those being axed at a big drugs factory. The efforts are being greatly assisted by £750,000 donated to an enterprise fund by GlaxoSmithKline to compensate for reducing

  • Approval likely for war camp proposals

    PLANS to create a major visitor attraction at a former prisoner of war camp are expected to be approved this week. Scheduled monument Harperley POW Camp, near Wolsingham, in Weardale, County Durham, is set to be transformed into a Second World War museum

  • 16/07/03

    BBC AND IRAQ: IN the dispute between the BBC and Downing Street the question now is did Andrew Gilligan receive his information from someone at the MoD or is his informant in some other Government department? The BBC is protecting the identity of the

  • Wright U-turn keeps McClaren searching

    MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has suffered another setback in his player search after Alan Wright performed a dramatic U-turn to pull out of a trial and link up with Rangers instead. The former Aston Villa and Blackburn left-back yesterday revealed

  • Paradise rediscovered, but still below par

    The Eustace Bros (BBC1): WHAT'S in a name? Quite a lot if you're trying to relaunch a series that failed to capture viewers' imagination the first time around. Paradise Heights fell between two stools as a comedy-drama, being neither funny nor dramatic

  • Pub owner overcomes licence objections

    PUB OWNER Andrew Power raised a glass of lemonade yesterday to toast his overcoming objections to the renewal of his public entertainment licence. He feared his business would become unviable if he lost the right to stay open until 2am six times a week

  • Family pays tribute to 'wonderful' centenarian

    TRIBUTES have been paid to centenarian Teresa Snowball who has died. The pensioner, who celebrated her 100th birthday in November, died in her sleep at South Church Nursing Home, Bishop Auckland. Her daughter, Terry Eggleston, said she had lost the world's

  • Bringing seaside fun to landlocked town

    Darlington's Market Square will be transformed into a sandy beach later this month, with a 50ft inflatable sperm whale, a mermaid and a pirate. Darlington-by-the-Sea rock will be on sale and there will also be sand sculptures, Punch and Judy, balloon

  • Top marks for toddlers' class

    A GLOWING report has been given by an Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) inspector to a team which teaches 14 toddlers in an early learning scheme at a village school. It says the quality of teaching by the four staff is very good in the pre-school

  • Teen swimmers fly flag for country

    TWO teenagers will fly to Spain this week to represent Great Britain in a major sports tournament. Scott Hathaway and Emily Surtees, both pupils at St John's RC Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, will take part in this year's International

  • Man pleads guilty to assaulting wife

    A FATHER-OF-FOUR punched his wife until she fell to the floor following an argument about shopping. Michael Smith, 38, attacked wife Lorraine at their home in Darlington, South Durham Magistrates' Court heard yesterday. Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, said

  • Man pleads guilty to assaulting wife

    A FATHER-OF-FOUR punched his wife until she fell to the floor following an argument about shopping. Michael Smith, 38, attacked wife Lorraine at their home in Darlington, South Durham Magistrates' Court heard yesterday. Hari Jandoo, prosecuting, said

  • Police step up efforts to find killer

    A MOBILE police station has been set up in a park to encourage people to come forward who have information about the death of a father-of-two. Detectives investigating the murder of Darren Manders are placing the unit in Middlesbrough's Albert Park. The

  • Pupils travel world in the classroom

    PUPILS have been taking part in a series of activities to learn more about the cultures of other youngsters and people from around the world. The youngsters, from White Mere Community Primary School, Felling, Gateshead, have been learning how to make

  • Spikey's a one-track bird

    WHEN she agreed to look after a lost cockatiel, Elaine Redhead did not realise she was also getting an early morning alarm call. Every day Spikey wakes her at 4am with a rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Two weeks after taking him in, Mrs Redhead

  • Teenagers' community activities rewarded

    DURHAM teenagers have been honoured for their work in the community. Twenty eight students from Gilesgate Sports College have received bronze and silver awards from the Prince's Trust. The year ten and 11 students were involved a wide range of activities

  • Army alert after shell discovery

    AN Army Logistics Corps team was called to a residential street last night after fears that a war-time relic may be a live shell. The specialist crew from Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, was alerted by police after they received a call from a

  • Police alarmed by the scale of under-age alcohol sales

    POLICE have expressed alarm at the findings of an operation in which one-in-four off-licences served alcohol to under-age customers. Owners of premises where young test purchasers were served with alcohol face a police warning. Further action will be

  • Music festival saved after event change

    THE line-up for an annual music event which was almost cancelled has been unveiled. The future of Hurworth's Picnic in the Park looked in doubt in May when organisers revealed a funding crisis. A scaled-down version of the event will take place in the

  • Mayor to hold a 'drop in' service

    A CITY'S mayor has sent out an invitation to residents to raise concerns with him face-to-face. It is part of a crusade by the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor David Parnaby, to bring local people closer to the workings of the city council. The mayor is making

  • Artist returns for exhibition

    AN artist is returning to his native North-East for an exhibition of his work. Cavan Corrigan's work will be on display will be at Witham Hall in Barnard Castle, County Durham. Mr Corrigan started painting while a pupil at Barnard Castle School and later

  • Gallery show puts spotlight on coastline

    AN exhibition featuring an environmental project is on display at Hartlepool Art Gallery. An artist, photographer and poet have been capturing the Turning the Tide project, which has seen £10m spent on revitalising the coastline from Crimdon to Seaham

  • News In Brief: Mayoress holds 'at home'

    VISITORS to the Mayoress of Durham's "at home" event will be serenaded by a Hungarian wind band. The public are invited to meet Mayor Councillor Ray Gibbon and the Mayoress, his wife Margaret, today at the town hall, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Tiszafured,

  • Police van will watch criminal hot-spots

    A MOBILE unit fitted with crowd monitoring equipment is helping police tackle crime and disorder. The £180,000 Wear Watch van has the most up to date security camera equipment available and will be used in crime hot-spots across Sunderland and Washington

  • Tait given Sheeran reminder

    Darlington continued their preparations for the new season with a comfortable 2-0 win at Blyth Spartans last night. Second half strikes from substitutes Mark Sheeran and last season's top scorer Barry Conlon ensured a second successive win for Quakers

  • Reptiles had 'few signs' of illness - vet

    SNAKES, lizards and terrapins confiscated from an unemployed teacher by the RSPCA had no noticeable illnesses, an expert witness told a court yesterday. Romain Pizzi, a specialist in exotic creatures and wildlife from Edinburgh University Veterinary School

  • Wedding vicar denies headbutt

    A VICAR last night denied headbutting a wedding photographer at his church. Canon Richard Smith said he slipped while wearing leather shoes and full robes while approaching photographer Graeme Kitching at St Cuthbert's Church in Billingham, on Saturday

  • Fundraising run is a family affair

    THREE generations of runners are keeping it in the family by taking part in Darlington's 10k Road Run. Tony Evans. 34, his father-in-law David Metcalfe, 52 and eldest son Thomas, eight, were among the first to send in their entries for the charity run

  • Pupils' road safety message

    Artwork by children at Guisborough's Galley Hill Primary School is helping to spread Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's road safety message. Nine-year-olds Jamie Lear and Stephanie Heron have won prizes for providing the illustrations for the council's

  • New care homes to bring big jobs boost

    TWO care homes for elderly people are to open in Darlington, creating more than 100 jobs. Each will house 60 residents. The first, in North Park, is due to open in August, and the second, in Hundens Lane, in November. The homes are being opened by Gary

  • Warship remembered with plaque donation

    A PIECE of maritime history linking Redcar with its adopted warship from the Second World War has brought back memories for a man who served on the vessel. George Wanless, 84, yesterday presented a plaque bearing the crest of HMS Skate to Kirkleatham

  • Man suffers haemorrhage

    A MAN suffered a brain haemorrhage after having a row with another man over a dog. It happened in Roach Court, Washington, Wearside, at 1.30pm on Monday. The 67-year-old was taken to hospital, where surgeons found he had suffered the haemorrhage. His

  • Youngsters learn secrets of healthy living

    CHILDREN had the chance yesterday to experience a healthier lifestyle. The pupils at Billingham Campus School took part in the first day of a two-day event aimed at urging them to take up more exercise and eat healthier food. They were visited by a number

  • Council worker attacked by gang

    POLICE are appealing for help in finding teenagers who attacked a council worker causing facial wounds which required eight stitches. The attack on gulley wagon driver John Reed, who works for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, was the second in three

  • Horse riders asked for views

    A council wants horse riders to say where they should have access in the borough. The new equestrian access officer for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Penny Sinclair, is drawing up a strategy for the borough's horse riders. Ms Sinclair said: "The

  • Nurseries receive £1.7m to expand

    YOUNGSTERS across the region are to benefit from new nursery places after grants worth about £1.7m were announced today by the New Opportunities Fund. Eight schemes in the North-East will receive money, which includes £664,000 for Stockton Borough Council

  • Outbreak of violence brings action pledge

    POLICE and council wardens in Darlington last night pledged to present a united front following a night of violent disorder in the West End. Around 30 young people were involved in a fracas on Friday evening in the Mowden area of the town. Police were

  • Balloon launch lifts Josh's spirits

    HUNDREDS of balloons were released into a clear blue sky to raise money for a little boy who has cerebral palsy. Two-year-old Joshua Peacock listened to the crowds cheering as almost 600 colourful balloons floated away into the distance from Broomfield

  • News In Brief: Five arrested after robbery

    POLICE in Ferryhill made five arrests after a man was robbed at knifepoint yesterday, just after 2pm in the town's Darlington Road. The man is not thought to have been badly injured, but was taken to hospital as a precaution. Shortly after the incident

  • A hat trick of excellence in Barny

    Now here's something to celebrate: beautiful scenery, a unique theatrical experience, and superlative accommodation - and all here in County Durham. The drive over to Barnard Castle on a beautiful summer's evening was a real pleasure, and even those of

  • Boy of 15 dies in skip fire

    A MURDER investigation is underway after a teenage boy died after he suffered horrific burns in a skip fire. Michael Temperley, 15, of Low Fell, Gateshead, died in hospital in the early hours of yesterday, after being found in a sealed industrial container

  • Boy of 15 dies in skip fire

    A MURDER investigation is underway after a teenage boy died after he suffered horrific burns in a skip fire. Michael Temperley, 15, of Low Fell, Gateshead, died in hospital in the early hours of yesterday, after being found in a sealed industrial container

  • When you read this I'll be up in the stars

    Hundreds of mourners who gathered yesterday for the funeral of military policeman Ben Hyde - killed by a mob in Iraq - heard the brave young soldier's moving final words to his parents. Lance Corporal Hyde had written a "last letter" before the conflict

  • New Pool boss looks for Dutch courage

    NEALE Cooper's latest stint in English football kicks-off tonight - and he is hoping it is a long way better than the first. The new Hartlepool United boss takes control of his team for the first time since his surprise appointment almost three weeks

  • Wedding vicar denies headbutt

    A VICAR last night denied headbutting a wedding photographer at his church. Canon Richard Smith said he slipped while wearing leather shoes and full robes while approaching photographer Graeme Kitching at St Cuthbert's Church in Billingham, on Saturday

  • Residents to be put in picture over proposals

    PEOPLE living in a New Deal for Communities (NDC) area can catch up on latest developments at a meeting tonight. The NDC's community forum will meet at Grange Road Methodist Resource Centre, Hartlepool, at 6pm. Residents will be given the chance to hear

  • Police step up efforts to find killer

    A MOBILE police station has been set up in a park to encourage people to come forward who have information about the death of a father-of-two. Detectives investigating the murder of Darren Manders are placing the unit in Middlesbrough's Albert Park. The

  • 'Business as usual'

    SSL International pledged to concentrate on its recovery, despite becoming the subject of takeover talks. The group, which yesterday revealed it was in talks about a potential takeover, told shareholders that it was "business as usual". Speaking at the

  • Teen swimmers fly flag for country

    TWO teenagers will fly to Spain this week to represent Great Britain in a major sports tournament. Scott Hathaway and Emily Surtees, both pupils at St John's RC Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, will take part in this year's International

  • Double murder suspect faces extradition

    THE fate of a North-East born businessman who faces a double murder charge in Singapore is set to be decided in the next few days. Michael McCrea, 45, who ran a business offering financial advice to expatriates, was arrested in Australia after the remains

  • Nurseries receive £1.7m to expand

    YOUNGSTERS across the region are to benefit from new nursery places after grants worth about £1.7m were announced today by the New Opportunities Fund. Eight schemes in the North-East will receive money, which includes £664,000 for Stockton Borough Council

  • Bellion final offer

    MANCHESTER United are ready to make Sunderland a final take-it-or-leave-it offer for David Bellion, pictured, in a bid to avert a transfer tribunal. The 20-year-old French forward moved to Old Trafford this month after becoming a free agent. But as he

  • Remembered as a hero, and as a friend to many

    Shops closed, traffic stopped and crowds lined the streets, proving actions can speak as loud as the moving words that were used to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Ben Hyde yesterday. ON a hot summer's day, the harsh reality of a young man's tragic death

  • Harry Mead: The murky tale that won't go away

    INCREDIBLE. Three weeks after I penned my last column, with my summer holiday intervening, the biggest running story is still whether Tony Blair misled us into war with Iraq. Why doesn't the Government resolve this issue in one of the following ways?:

  • Brothers in arms make a piece of military history

    LIFE in the Armed Forces is a family affair for the North-East brothers who have made military history. John and Michael Dixon have become the first twins to welcome a third brother, David, into the same Army regiment. The pair returned to their native

  • The danger of being too safe

    THE weather has been glorious. Even if it's raining by the time you read this, we have already had more sunshine than in many entire summers. So why are our children so pasty? It is really noticeable. Everywhere you go there are adults with scarlet faces

  • Hardy perennials and the perils of lettuce

    TOPICAL advice from a certain Mr Markham, author in 1635 of The English Husbandman: "In this month of July, eschew all wanton bed-sports, and of all things forebear lettuce." It's recalled in the monthly newsletter of the Frankenstein Sound Laboratory

  • Vp division buys Trench Shore Ltd

    A DIVISION of equipment rental specialist Vp has made its fourth acquisition in three years in a £2.7m deal. Groundforce - which specialises in the rental, sale and design of shoring systems and allied services to the water, civil engineering and construction

  • Ukranian bosses to visit region

    BUSINESS leaders from Ukraine will be in North Yorkshire next week to meet their counterparts in the Hambleton district. Members of the district council's economic development team are to host the eastern European delegation next Wednesday. They will

  • Music festival saved after event change

    THE line-up for an annual music event which was almost cancelled has been unveiled. The future of Hurworth's Picnic in the Park looked in doubt in May when organisers revealed a funding crisis. A scaled-down version of the event will take place in the

  • Child porn case delayed

    MAGISTRATES have agreed to a delay in the case of a man arrested as part of Operation Ore, the trans-Atlantic investigation into Internet child pornography, after his lawyers pointed to discrepancies in the evidence against him. Francis Mingay, 47, appeared

  • Help us stop crime in your area, police urge residents

    CRIMINALS are being warned that not only will police be on their trail this summer but also their neighbours, who are being asked to be the eyes and ears of their communities. Cleveland Police has launched Operation Honeycomb and drawn up a list of people

  • Two youths arrested over skip death

    TWO youths have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a 15-year-old boy who was left in a burning skip. The two aged 15 and 16 years were arrested after Michael Temperley of Low Fell, Gateshead, was found suffering from severe burns in

  • Hardy perennials and perils of lettuce

    TOPICAL advice from a certain Mr Markham, author in 1635 of The English Husbandman: "In this month of July, eschew all wanton bed-sports, and of all things forebear lettuce." It's recalled in the monthly newsletter of the Frankenstein Sound Laboratory

  • Tasty brainwave is a hot seller

    A TEENAGER from Darlington has invented a sandwich which is proving a commercial success. Jack Booth, 14, came up with the idea of a marguerita pizza toasted sandwich while experimenting with tomato puree and cheese one afternoon. Jack is the son of Stewart

  • Olympic pool bid approved

    PLANS to build an Olympic-size swimming pool in the region have moved a step closer. The Sport England Council has confirmed that the joint bid, by Newcastle City Council and Northumbria University, to build a 50-metre pool in the city centre, has been

  • Buy-in secures Cenargo depot

    SIX hundred jobs have been secured after a deal was struck to safeguard a depot. A management buy-in has secured the future of ferries and logistics group Cenargo International's largest UK operation. The terminal, in Eaglescliffe, Teesside, is home to

  • Rising sports stars celebrate awards

    BUDDING sports stars from the Richmondshire district had their efforts recognised at a local Sports Council junior sports awards. Run in partnership with Richmondshire District Council, the sixth annual ceremony was held at Wensleydale School, in Leyburn

  • Youths hit man with branch during bowls match

    A man was left stunned after vandals hit him on the head with a tree branch while he was playing a bowls match at Harrogate's Valley Gardens. John Stakes, 58, was hit by the 15-inch long branch as he played at Harrogate Bowling Club . He was shocked but

  • Man made women have sex with father, court hears

    A MAN forced two women to have sex with his father, a jury has been told. On a separate occasion, Philip Nigel Coates and his father, Raymond Coates, watched the younger of the women in a sexual act with a dog, William Lowe QC told Leeds Crown Court.

  • Pupils celebrate school hat-trick

    A TINY dales school had three reasons to celebrate when North Yorkshire's education chief paid a visit. North Yorkshire County Council's education director, Cynthia Welbourne, officially opened Gunnerside Methodist Primary's new adventure playground,

  • Residents to be put in picture over proposals

    PEOPLE living in a New Deal for Communities (NDC) area can catch up on latest developments at a meeting tonight. The NDC's community forum will meet at Grange Road Methodist Resource Centre, Hartlepool, at 6pm. Residents will be given the chance to hear

  • Schools draw up strategy for survival

    SCHOOLS which could be facing closure will be putting their strategy for survival to education chiefs this week. Headteachers, governors, parents and children in Wear Valley have been preparing what they feel is a convincing case for their schools to

  • James asks for support as he bids for TV fame

    ASPIRING television star James Clark has beaten thousands of people hoping to win a part in a reality TV series. He is only North-Easterner to get into the final 20 who want to win a place in Cruel Holiday, with the chance to win £10,000. The Stockton

  • Proctor looking to stake his claim

    MICHAEL PROCTOR returns to York City tonight aiming to prove there is life after Kevin Phillips for Sunderland. With Phillips still expected to leave before the transfer window closes at the end of next month, Proctor has the chance to force his way into

  • Musical Fair hopes to be on song

    There's plenty to be said for following in-form sprinters and Musical Fair can prove the point by taking the Sanna's Post Handicap over five furlongs at Catterick this afternoon. Jeremy Glover's three-year-old is a progressive sort who loves top of the

  • Remembered as a hero, and as a friend to many

    Shops closed, traffic stopped and crowds lined the streets, proving actions can speak as loud as the moving words that were used to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Ben Hyde yesterday. ON a hot summer's day, the harsh reality of a young man's tragic death

  • Estate vigilante stabbed to death with samurai sword

    A TEENAGER who stabbed to death a self-styled vigilante with a samurai sword was jailed for life last night. Jason Kelly, 19, admitted murdering father-of-one Robert Dunne, 31, only yards from his home. Teesside Crown Court heard how Mr Dunne had taken

  • Sex attack on teenage girl leads to appeal

    DETECTIVES are appealing for information after a teenage girl was sexually assaulted by a group of youths at the weekend. The attack happened as the 17-year-old victim was walking home after attending a barbecue at a friend's house on Saturday night.

  • Northumbrian Water to float

    UTILITY firm Northumbrian Water will float on the full stock exchange by the end of September, the company confirmed last night. The Durham group floated on the London Stock Exchange's junior index, the Alternative Investment Market, in May, but announced

  • Protestors join forces to attack BA plans

    STEWARDESSES and environmental demonstrators joined forces to disrupt British Airway's annual meeting in London. Air crew protesting about having to retire at 55 were joined by protestors, dressed in white boiler suits, goggles and masks, from Heathrow

  • Pregnant women recruited for study into pre-eclampsia

    NORTH-East women are being asked to take part in a study into one of the major causes of death among babies and pregnant women. Researchers are recruiting women at 22 hospitals across the UK, includingthe Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, to discover

  • Burberry protest

    FASHION house Burberry has been hit by a shareholder protest over pay policies that could earn its chief executive an estimated £12.4m if she is fired. Just under a third of investors - other than majority shareholder GUS, which holds 77.5 per cent of

  • Northumbrian Water to float

    UTILITY firm Northumbrian Water will float on the full stock exchange by the end of September, the company confirmed last night. The Durham group floated on the London Stock Exchange's junior index, the Alternative Investment Market, in May, but announced

  • Boy, 17, missing on trip to Alps

    FEARS were growing last night for a sixth-form student who went missing while on a school trip to the Italian Alps. Alex Foulkes, 17, was among a group of 12 students from Harrogate Grammar School, North Yorkshire, when he disappeared during the trekking

  • Ambulance service is on the critical list after poor rating

    Figures out today paint a revealing snapshot of the North's NHS service. The independently compiled survey shows that there is still a wide disparity between services. Barry Nelson reports POOR financial management at one of the region's ambulance services

  • Norwich Union will make 600 redundant

    INSURER Norwich Union plans to make 600 staff redundant in an efficiency drive which aims to remove 900 posts. The restructuring will see the closure of a life and pensions administration office at Cheadle, near Manchester, and the loss of jobs at NU's

  • Last night's TV: Paradise rediscovered, but still below par

    The Eustace Bros (BBC1): WHAT'S in a name? Quite a lot if you're trying to relaunch a series that failed to capture viewers' imagination the first time around. Paradise Heights fell between two stools as a comedy-drama, being neither funny nor dramatic

  • When you read this I'll be up in the stars

    Hundreds of mourners who gathered yesterday for the funeral of military policeman Ben Hyde - killed by a mob in Iraq - heard the brave young soldier's moving final words to his parents. Lance Corporal Hyde had written a "last letter" before the conflict

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Reforms long overdue

    THERE is no significant republican movement in this country, and no desire to see the monarchy disappear. The Jubilee celebrations and the emotion over Queen Mother's death last year demonstrate the high regard most people have for the sovereign. There

  • Reptiles had 'few signs' of illness - vet

    SNAKES, lizards and terrapins confiscated from an unemployed teacher by the RSPCA had no noticeable illnesses, an expert witness told a court yesterday. Romain Pizzi, a specialist in exotic creatures and wildlife from Edinburgh University Veterinary School

  • Riverside on alert as Yorkshire bounce back

    YORKSHIRE survived two alarms during their first 24 hours in Durham as neither the heat of the night nor the Riverside furnace could unsettle them. After being woken at 3am by a hotel fire alarm for the third time this season, they looked like self-combusting

  • Picture a thoroughly modern monarch

    The Queen should be able to retire, and daughters should have the same right to succeed to the throne as sons - just two of the recommendations in a report on the monarchy published yesterday. Nick Morrison reports TYING her headscarf under her chin,

  • Cafe celebrates 70 years of service

    A FAMILY business is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The Crombies cafe in Tubwell Row, Darlington, has been in the Stehr family for three generations. It attracts a wide clientele, including actors performing at the Darlington Civic Theatre. Owner Frederick

  • Bank's interest rate decision vindicated

    CHEAPER foreign holidays and slowing house prices led the underlying rate of inflation to fall unexpectedly in June. The news vindicated the Bank of England's decision to cut interest rates last week to a 48-year low of 3.5 per cent. Figures from the

  • Project to boost disabled workers

    A CHARITY scheme is being launched to help people with learning disabilities get into the workplace. Acorn Services aims to give them the skills and confidence to take on work opportunities in North Yorkshire. Based in premises in Showfield Lane, Malton

  • Norwich Union will make 600 redundant

    INSURER Norwich Union plans to make 600 staff redundant in an efficiency drive which aims to remove 900 posts. The restructuring will see the closure of a life and pensions administration office at Cheadle, near Manchester, and the loss of jobs at NU's

  • TV review

    Paradise rediscovered, but still below par The Eustace Bros (BBC1) WHAT'S in a name? Quite a lot if you're trying to relaunch a series that failed to capture viewers' imagination the first time around. Paradise Heights fell between two stools as a comedy-drama

  • Call for new law on sale of dangerous weapons

    THE mother of a man who was stabbed to death with a samurai sword is calling for a law to regulate the sale of dangerous weapons. Barbara Dunne believes there should be some sort of licence controlling the sale of knives and other sharp objects. Her son

  • School landmark soon to disappear

    THE north end of Darlington is peculiarly scrunched up, with hulking late Victorian church buildings looming up over the terraces of workers' houses so tightly packed it is a major surprise that there is not a wing mirror replacement shop on every corner

  • Inspectors praise prison but find room for change

    GOVERNMENT inspectors have called for improvements to combat drug use and bullying at a prison housing some of the country's most dangerous offenders. Inspectors said the maximum security Frankland Prison, on the outskirts of Durham City, provided a safe

  • Alps trip ends in tragedy

    The body of a North Yorkshire teenager who plunged into a fast-flowing river in the Italian Alps was found early today, the Foreign Office said. Alex Foulkes, 17, was on a trekking expedition with classmates from Harrogate Grammar School when he was reported

  • Sharon Griffiths: The danger of being too safe

    THE weather has been glorious. Even if it's raining by the time you read this, we have already had more sunshine than in many entire summers. So why are our children so pasty? It is really noticeable. Everywhere you go there are adults with scarlet faces

  • Boy, 17, missing on trip to Alps

    FEARS were growing last night for a sixth-form student who went missing while on a school trip to the Italian Alps. Alex Foulkes, 17, was among a group of 12 students from Harrogate Grammar School, North Yorkshire, when he disappeared during the trekking

  • McClen happy to stay

    NEWCASTLE UNITED midfielder Jamie McClen last night vowed not to take a "frightening" cut in wages by quitting St James' Park. As Newcastle waited for a club to come in for McClen, the 24-year-old insisted he was happy to stay until he was given an acceptable

  • Inspectors praise prison but find room for change

    GOVERNMENT inspectors have called for improvements to combat drug use and bullying at a prison housing some of the country's most dangerous offenders. Inspectors said the maximum security Frankland Prison, on the outskirts of Durham City, provided a safe

  • Buy-in secures Cenargo depot

    SIX hundred jobs have been secured after a deal was struck to safeguard a depot. A management buy-in has secured the future of ferries and logistics group Cenargo International's largest UK operation. The terminal, in Eaglescliffe, Teesside, is home to

  • Library amnesty planned

    VISITORS to libraries in Darlington who face paying fines on late books will be let off this week. Readers at the town's Crown Street, Cockerton and mobile libraries can take advantage of the library fines amnesty. The amnesty, which runs until Saturday

  • Vow to continue Legion tribute

    A COMMUNITY partnership has pledged to preserve a town's tribute to its fallen heroes despite losing its British Legion branch. Willington's British Legion branch recently disbanded after nearly six decades of organising Remembrance Day services and collecting

  • Estate vigilante stabbed to death with samurai sword

    A TEENAGER who stabbed to death a self-styled vigilante with a samurai sword was jailed for life last night. Jason Kelly, 19, admitted murdering father-of-one Robert Dunne, 31, only yards from his home. Teesside Crown Court heard how Mr Dunne had taken

  • Fire-damaged social club demolished

    A DARLINGTON sports and social club damaged by two suspected arson attacks has been demolished. The former working men's club in Skerne Park, now the Aiden's Sports Bar, was set on fire on July 6, two weeks after a blaze started in a flat above the premises

  • Chess titles decided

    THE eighth Middlesbrough Chess Congress has taken place. The event, hosted by Middlesbrough Council and Cleveland Chess Congress, attracted more than 100 competitors from across the country to Middlesbrough Town Hall. It was dedicated to Molly Maughan

  • Nurses are first class

    FOUR nurses received first class honours degrees from the University of Sunderland yesterday. Kay Simpson, 37, Julie McHugh, 38, Brigid Marron, 47, and Alison Stewart, 42, gained BSc (Hons) Nursing degrees. The part-time graduates worked full-time at

  • Fundraising journey

    HOSPICE supporters are crossing the channel for a five-day fundraising trip to Christmas markets in Germany. Travel for the shoppers is by club class coach, leaving on November 29 and returning on December 3. Half-board accommodation by the Mosel River

  • Fishcakes and sponge are winning combination

    A SCHOOL cook is to prepare one of her 80p budget dishes for some of the most discerning diners in the North-East. Margaret Campbell will recreate her tuna fishcakes in sweet and sour sauce for the clientele at Lumley Castle Hotel, near Chester-le-Street

  • Post office will close despite public protests

    THE closure of a Chester-le-Street sub-post office has been confirmed, despite the opposition of local people. The branch in Picktree Lane, a few hundred yards from the town centre, will shut on Wednesday, August 13, as part of a nationwide shake-up by

  • Army alert after shell discovery

    AN Army Logistics Corps team was called to a residential street last night after fears that a war-time relic may be a live shell. The specialist crew from Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, was alerted by police after they received a call from a

  • Sex attack on teenage girl leads to appeal

    DETECTIVES are appealing for information after a teenage girl was sexually assaulted by a group of youths at the weekend. The attack happened as the 17-year-old victim was walking home after attending a barbecue at a friend's house on Saturday night.

  • Children help hospice

    YOUNGSTERS at a Stockton nursery school have given the Butterwick Children's Hospice a present. Lucy Frain, nursery manager at the town's Just Learning Nursery, and some of the children visited the hospice to hand over money they raised during a Yellow

  • Police plea for bogus caller clues

    A BOGUS official stole hundreds of pounds after tricking his way into a pensioner's home. The man called at a home in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, and entered through a back door that had been left open. He found the occupant, an 81-year-old man, in

  • Approval likely for war camp proposals

    PLANS to create a major visitor attraction at a former prisoner of war camp are expected to be approved this week. Scheduled monument Harperley POW Camp, near Wolsingham, in Weardale, County Durham, is set to be transformed into a Second World War museum

  • Olympic pool bid approved by sport body

    PLANS to build an Olympic-size swimming pool in the region have moved a step closer. The Sport England Council has confirmed that the joint bid, by Newcastle City Council and Northumbria University, to build a 50-metre pool in the city centre, has been

  • News In Brief;Youth's inquest is adjourned

    THE inquest into the death of a Redcar teenager who died from stab wounds has been postponed until the completion of a criminal case at Teesside Crown Court . Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield adjourned the inquest into 17-year-old Chris Cave's death

  • Weather report is at the touch of a button

    MARINERS will soon be able to surf as they sail at a North-East marina. Sailors with laptops at Hartlepool Marina can now access the latest weather reports or tidal information on the Internet or keep in touch with their office, without having to make

  • Police hunting knife attacker

    POLICE are hunting a young man who carried out a knife attack in a workingmen's club. The attack, described as unprovoked, took place in the club, in the centre of Barnard Castle, County Durham, on Thursday night. The victim, who has not been named, needed

  • Sporting way to help hospital

    SPORTING doctors will be raising money for hospital patients by bowling over a town's cricketers next week. Doctors at Bishop Auckland General Hospital first turned out against a cricket club XI to raise money for a scanner appeal 18 years ago. The tradition

  • News In Brief: Mayor heads ticket queue

    Mayor heads ticket queue THE first ticket for Richmond's restored Georgian Theatre Royal was bought by the town mayor. Councillor Stuart Parsons was at the head of the queue when seats for an August preview season went on sale. The theatre reopens on

  • Pupils tackle sporting challenges

    A SCHOOL for children with severe learning difficulties held a mini-Olympics yesterday. Rosebank School, in Ferryhill, has developed links with Sedgefield Community College, which has specialist sports status. As part of the relationship, Rosebank's Judith

  • Council leader on the mend

    A COUNCIL leader is recovering at home after suffering a heart attack. Bob Fleming, leader of Sedgefield Borough Council, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital on Monday last week after suffering a mild heart attack. Coun Fleming, 69, from Newton

  • Call to help hit new recycling targets

    PEOPLE in County Durham are being urged to help their local councils meet Government recycling targets. The county's authorities have joined forces with the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) to launch a bus advertising campaign that encourages

  • Burglar's appeal bid rejected by judges

    A MAN who burgled his former girlfriend's flat shortly after they split up failed in his attempt to have his conviction overturned yesterday. Donald Murphy, 34, of Raydale, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, was jailed for three years at Teesside Crown Court

  • Wright U-turn keeps McClaren searching

    MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has suffered another setback in his player search after Alan Wright performed a dramatic U-turn to pull out of a trial and link up with Rangers instead. The former Aston Villa and Blackburn left-back yesterday revealed

  • Brothers in arms make a piece of military history

    LIFE in the Armed Forces is a family affair for the North-East brothers who have made military history. John and Michael Dixon have become the first twins to welcome a third brother, David, into the same Army regiment. The pair returned to their native

  • James asks for support as he bids for TV fame

    ASPIRING television star James Clark has beaten thousands of people hoping to win a part in a reality TV series. He is only North-Easterner to get into the final 20 who want to win a place in Cruel Holiday, with the chance to win £10,000. The Stockton

  • College receives second stamp of sport approval

    Northallerton College has received another Sportsmark award in recognition of commitment to PE and sport. The plaque, from Sport England, was presented by Chris Whincup, a local businessman who has built vital links between the college and Northallerton

  • Donation will help seaside trip for blind

    THE Church is helping a group of blind people enjoy a fun-filled holiday in Blackpool. The Social Care Fund of the Church of England's York Diocese donated £500 to the Malton, Norton and District In-Touch Group, which assists and supports visually impaired

  • Presenter backs fort scheme

    TELEVISION presenter Loyd Grossman yesterday visited the North-East museum he believes is among the best in the world. Mr Grossman is chairman of the Campaign for Museums and he was at Segedunum Roman fort, in Wallsend, North Tyneside, to launch the attractions

  • Experts look at link between age and disease

    MEDICAL experts will gather in the region today to discuss why growing old means an increased risk of disease. Leading scientists from Japan and the UK are meeting in Newcastle University's Institute for Ageing and Health, at the International Centre

  • School reunion

    Pupils at the former Endeavour School, in Ormesby, Middlesbrough, between 1974 and 1984 are invited to a reunion at the Southlands Centre on Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough on September 26, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £1 at the door. To attend, call Clare Pearce