YOUNG adventurers are bracing themselves to come face-to-face with deadly snakes and to brave river rapids over coming weeks. For these are some of the fun activities arranged as part of a project which aims to give youngsters from the Sherburn Road area
ONE of the men of the millennium, Captain James Cook, will be the focus of Friday's Yorkshire Day celebrations. A token will be presented to Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar in a ceremony also designed to mark the 275th anniversary
PORTSMOUTH are poised to make a £1m bid for Newcastle United defender Nikos Dabizas. Although Leeds United are also interested in Dabizas, Pompey are likely to make the first concrete offer for the Greece international. Dabizas's first-team career at
RUN-down council homes in three North-East communities will be repaired under a £150m initiative that will strip the local authority of day-to-day control. Gateshead, Newcastle and Easington councils have been given the go-ahead to set up arms length
EXPERTS in crime investigation have received accolades after honing their skills at a North-East centre of excellence. Centrex national training centre for crime investigation, based at Harperley Hall, near Crook, County Durham, held its tenth annual
Ruby Wax Meets ... Jim Carrey (BBC1); Mummies That Made Themselves (Channel 4): THE jury is still out on which was more frightening - American film funny man Jim Carrey out of control or the nightmare-inducing thought and sight of Buddhist priests who
A TINY parish council has taken a sideswipe at its giant neighbour - the Menwith Hill American listening station. Darley and Menwith Parish Council is critical of the moorland base near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, over recent planning issues. Since the
AN ice cream maker has enjoyed a sales rush on the back of soaring summer temperatures. Richmond Ice Cream, manufacturer of Nestle ice cream brands, sold more than three million Fab ice lollies in only a fortnight - equivalent to 216,000 a day. The company
The highly-acclaimed British film Calendar Girls, based on the real-life exploits of the Rylstone Women's Institute, in the Yorkshire Dales, will be shown at the Customs House, in South Shields, on the first day of its North-East release. Tickets cost
A construction group is setting up a division to drive its expansion plans. MMP Estates, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, will focus on land and property and carrying out development work in housing. The division complements MMP's three arms - finishes
ENGINEERING company Amec has won a contract with Marks and Spencer to deliver a new retail concept for its Gateshead store. Amec is delivering the shell and fitting out a full-sized two-storey house being built in the store. The house will have an interior
JUNINHO wants to clinch a double during the new season - a trophy for Middlesbrough and a return to the Brazil squad. After an injury-ravaged campaign, during which he made just ten senior appearances, Juninho is eyeing an elusive first piece of silverware
MOTOR dealer Reg Vardy has appointed a team to deal with companies that operate fleets of vehicles. North-East companies that operate up to 100 vehicles are about to benefit from the launch of the regional fleet team. The team, based in Sunderland, has
AN amateur pilot who learnt to fly in the North-East touched down in the region again last night as part of a solo journey around the British coastline. Mother-of-one Angela Robotham gained her pilot's licence less than two years ago after taking lessons
INVESTORS' confidence dropped this month as people remained concerned that the downturn in stocks and shares was not yet over, research showed last night. JPMorgan Fleming said its investor confidence index fell to 75 during the month, from 86 in June
JUNINHO wants to clinch a double during the new season - a trophy for Middlesbrough and a return to the Brazil squad. After an injury-ravaged campaign, during which he made just ten senior appearances, Juninho is eyeing an elusive first piece of silverware
FASHION retailer Monsoon saw summer sales shine as it reported an excellent start to the year last night. The group, which runs 287 Monsoon and Accessorize stores in the UK and Ireland, as well as franchises in more than 20 countries, saw like-for-like
Fountains Abbey: The Cistercians in Northern England by Glyn Coppack (Tempus, pb £15.99) Perhaps no abbey in England is better loved than Fountains Abbey. The quietness of the setting and solemnity of the ruins, perhaps coupled with the complementary
A teenager has been made subject of an anti-social behaviour order after appearing in court yesterday. Zara Jane Hawkins, from Huntsgarth, Willington, County Durham, did not contest the application made by Durham Police Constabulary, when she appeared
One third of fathers say they want to be house husbands. Women's Editor Christen Pears meets one man who can't think of anything rather do. LOOKING after the children and the home has traditionally been women's work. Think of the 1950s housewife, immaculately
David Shayler, the renegade former MI5 officer who served a jail sentence for breaching the Official Secrets Act, failed today in an appeal court bid to clear his name. Three judges in London rejected his claim that he should be given leave to appeal
FOUR rare red squirrels are the latest additions at a falconry centre. The litter is being hand reared at Falconry UK, Sion Hill Hall, near Thirsk, and will soon be tame enough to be handled by visitors. The squirrels - one female and three male - have
A HYPNOTIST will attempt to beat his own world speed record in front of the television cameras next month, while raising money for a toddler with cerebral palsy. David Knight, the world's fastest stage hypnotist, took the record by hypnotising 35 people
BEING a good neighbour isn't always appreciated - as one dog lover found out to his cost. He had volunteered to feed an absent friend's animals when he was away - but had not counted on what the dogs thought of the arrangement. The 32-year-old ended up
The family of one of the country's leading athletes, who collapsed and died as he competed in the World Transplant Games, last night spoke of their shock. And Alan Ayre's family paid tribute to the man they called "everybody's best friend". Kidney transplant
PRICELESS buildings in need of renovation across Europe could finally be repaired - thanks to stone from the East Coast. Yorkshire scientists are working on a £1m research project to rediscover what was once the world's fastest setting cement. And stone
Yorkshire have dropped star overseas batsman Yuvraj Singh from the Championship match against Gloucestershire which begins at Cheltenham tomorrow It is the only time that Yorkshire have axed an overseas player since Sachin Tendulkar became the first to
FOR those crew members of HMS Ocean who hail from the region, it is a particularly emotional return. It is a matter of great pride that the amphibious helicopter carrier played a crucial role in the Gulf War - highlighted by the impressive statistics
An Iraqi sea captain admitted joking to airport check-in staff that he was carrying two bombs in his briefcase. Talal Abdul Hameed, 47, who works for Arab Maritime Petroleum Company, made the remark as he checked in to board a flight at Teesside International
NIGHT owls are being invited into the depths of a forest in the region for a close encounter of the planetary kind. The Forestry Commission's annual Summer Nightwatch takes place in the 8,600-acre Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, on Saturday
Rookie soldier Mark Massey tried to kill himself after he was tormented by Army bullies. Liz Lamb tell his story. ON the day of his passing out parade, Mark Massey's family watched proudly as their son achieved his life-long dream. The ambitious 17-year-old
ABOUT 200 people enjoyed a night of country dancing to raise money in memory of a respected doctor. David Gatehouse, 58, a consultant at Shotley Bridge Hospital, near Consett, County Durham, died from cancer in January. His widow, Gwen, organised a ceilidh
In The Northern Echo yesterday we published an incorrect telephone number for people wishing to donate money to a Ugandan orphanage. Anyone wishing to support the orphanage should telephone Stephen Murphy on 07947 003086. We apologise for any inconvenience
TEENAGERS have given a bungalow a four-month makeover through a college and council learning scheme. The team of 14 to 16-year-olds learned painting and decorating techniques in an Impact programme linking Bishop Auckland College and Wear Valley District
Margery Nelson and Vera Chapman, from Barnard Castle, have reached the national final of the Townswomen's Guilds' flat green bowling contest. The pair, who are members of the Darlington and District Federation of Townswomen's Guilds, will compete in Worthing
A DARLINGTON couple who celebrated 50 years of marriage yesterday have used their anniversary to raise money for the town's Talking Newspaper. Bernard Hoare, 83, who is blind, and his wife, Annie, 93, have asked friends to give donations to the charity
REVELLERS could hold vital clues to the death of a teenager who collapsed in a nightclub, say police. Garry Henderson, 18, was taken ill at the New Monkey nightclub, in Pallion Road, Sunderland, at about 6am on Sunday. The teenager, from Cambridge Street
RUN-down council homes in three North-East communities will be repaired under a £150m initiative that will strip the local authority of day-to-day control. Gateshead, Newcastle and Easington councils have been given the go-ahead to set up arms length
ART lovers will today be able to get a sneak preview of a sculpture created for a transport interchange. The design for a 90-metre long work, commissioned for Gateshead's newly refurbished public transport interchange, will be unveiled at a reception
A FILM recording is to be released following the exploits of classic car and other vintage vehicle owners on a popular trail around North-East rural roads. This year's Beamish Safety and Reliability Run, the 32nd annual event, attracted more than 100
SO many books have been given to a church by one of its members that officials have decided to organise a weekend sale. Several hundred volumes, all in good condition and some unread, have been donated to St Mary's Parish Church in Barnard Castle. "It
PROTESTORS who believed they had stopped a 57-home development scheme were dismayed yesterday to hear that it might go ahead. The objectors cheered after plans for the estate in Barnard Castle were rejected by members of Teesdale District Council's development
Proposals for the North-East's first eco-village have been thrown out by planners after a last minute intervention by highways chiefs. Objectors, who packed the council chamber this morning to hear the application, applauded as councillors refused permission
BOBBIES on bikes are patrolling public parks to clamp down on mobile phone thieves. The crackdown has been launched in Middlesbrough at the beginning of the school holidays. Cleveland Police hope the presence of officers on bikes will help prevent youngsters
THE search is on for visitors to libraries across the borough of Stockton who are prepared to offer their views on the service. Stockton Borough Council's library service runs a customer panel which meets every two months to discuss a number of issues
A JOBSEARCH team has secured a new future for two Shildon men who were made redundant. Ernest Schact was one of the casualties when manufacturing company Vertex closed down in the town earlier this year, leaving 120 people without employment. Mr Schact
EMPLOYMENT: MR Hope (HAS, Jul 21) loves New Labour and continues to believe the Tories actually closed coal mines. With New Labour comes statistics and, yes, a swift check of the facts, New Labour style, reveals more coal mines, a lot more in fact, have
ARMY cadets from Newton Aycliffe showed their mettle during a training weekend in Catterick. The Aycliffe cadets joined counterparts from Newcastle, Scunthorpe and Rotherham, all affiliated to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), on Exercise
LATEST accident figures for a North Yorkshire district have shown a sharp rise. Injury accidents in the Harrogate district, which includes Ripon, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge, have shown a 10.5 per cent rise in the past year, from 631 to 705. The number
VILLAGERS will have better access to computers, thanks to a £2,500 grant. Newcastle Building Society Community Fund donated the cash to the Computers For All project at Lanchester Community Centre, near Consett, for a digital projector and a laptop computer
A LOCAL authority is doubling the number of vehicles it runs on liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in an effort to further reduce pollution. The five new Vauxhall Combo vans delivered to Richmondshire District Council represent the latest phase of a project that
AN "organic" hairdressing salon in a small village is leading the way with its environmentally-friendly agenda. Michelle Costello opened Green's Hairdressing salon 15 months ago, working on her own because she was unsure how the public would take to alternative
Adopting their son was one of the Brown family's most rewarding experiences. In the first of a three-part series on adoption, Women's Editor Christen Pears meets them. THE moment they saw him, Helen and Bob Brown knew they wanted to take Gavin home with
A HOUSING development blamed for damaging a town's industrial heritage is proving a big success. North-East housebuilder Barratt is building an estate on the site of the former steel works in Berry Edge, Consett, County Durham. It has spent £2.8m cleaning
Nasser Hussain resigned as England's Test captain last night after coming to the harsh conclusion that his style of leadership was a thing of the past. Hussain announced he would be stepping down as captain after 45 Tests having convinced himself he was
A YOUNG woman was knocked to the ground by a thief trying to steal her handbag. The 19-year-old was walking along Greenfields Road, Bishop Auckland, at 3am on Saturday when she was punched from behind. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident
ONE of the country's greatest stately homes will be jazzing things up at the weekend. Castle Howard, near Malton, will be turning up the tempo for an afternoon of modern and traditional jazz, Latin, swing and Dixieland on Sunday. Bands will play non-stop
BUSINESSMAN Steve Thompson got more than he bargained for when he opened a package sent from overseas. Mr Thompson, 41, who runs Genuine Army Surplus, in Darlington, found that a shipment of sleeping bags was infested with spiders and ants. The British
TWO supermarket chains are hoping to win planning approval on Teesside from the Secretary of State. Both Tesco and Asda want to build superstores near Middlesbrough, creating new jobs for the area, but they will have to go before a public inquiry in September
A GROUP of friends who raise hundreds of pounds for charity every year have presented their latest donation to a service supporting children with special educational needs. Just Friends consists of 20 women from the Spennymoor area who get together because
A KEEN cyclist is preparing for his biggest challenge so far - and is taking his uncle with him. David Anderson, 43, from Stanley, travels to Brazil next month for a 400-mile ride from the Amazon Basin to Rio de Janeiro. Alongside him will be his uncle
THREE people died and a fourth was seriously injured yesterday when their car crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Passers-by managed to pull one man free from the wreckage, then watched in horror as a fireball engulfed the vehicle, killing a man
The White Swan at Pickering may be pricier than average but its Sunday lunch is second-to-none. ON April 23, 2001, the Daily Telegraph reported atop its front page that an American businesswoman called Claudia Niera had got her Internet in a knot. Having
Q I have heard a great deal about ragwort, a plant that is poisonous to horses. Why it was introduced to Britain? - Mary Phillips, Seaham. A Ragwort is native to Britain and I think you are confusing it with Oxford ragwort which was introduced to Oxford
FOREST rangers are setting out to ease the summertime blues by creating a month full of adventures for youngsters. Fun, eco-crafts, games and team building challenges are on offer to children between the ages of eight and 12 when they visit Hamsterley
TEENAGERS have given a bungalow a four-month makeover through a college and council learning scheme. The team of 14 to 16-year-olds learned painting and decorating techniques in an Impact programme linking Bishop Auckland College and Wear Valley District
TOWN and parish councillors in the Harrogate area have been invited to a meeting with North Yorkshire County Council to discuss the county's draft forward plan. The consultation meeting in Harrogate Rugby Union Club, at 7pm, on Thursday, August 7, will
AN outreach youth work fishing tournament held in Billingham has been so successful the team is now planning to make it a regular occurrence. The Youth Services' Mobile Unit Fishing Tournament, which was held at Charlton's Pond, Billingham, on Friday,
BOTTLED water will be swapped for traditional cups of tea when Yorkshire Day is celebrated on Friday. Employees at Harrogate Spa Water will be taking part in Yorkshire's Biggest Tea Break in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research. The charity is urging employees
CHARITY fundraiser Caroline Peacock got more than she bargained for when she opened her garden to the public to raise funds. More than 250 people paid to look around Caroline's picturesque country garden near Hamsterley Forest, County Durham, on Sunday
COUNCILLORS have defied planners' advice and voted to give the go-ahead for a church to be built on the fringe of Knaresborough. But members of a Knaresborough area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council will have to re-examine the application
A GANG of thieves is bringing misery to motorists by targeting alloy wheels on cars. Northumbria Police said that there has been a marked increase in the number of wheel thefts in the Jesmond and Gosforth areas of Newcastle, since June. Most thefts were
A MUSEUM is appealing for photographs from the 1950s for use in an exhibition. It is the golden anniversary of Preston Hall Museum, Stockton, this year, and as part of the celebrations, the borough council's museums service is appealing for the snaps.
A NEW method of waste collection in the Hambleton district was launched in a carnival-style atmosphere. Street theatre, stilt walkers, the world's largest motorised dustbin and a plastic bottle mountain featured at a roadshow in Easingwold. The event
A GANG of thieves is bringing misery to motorists by targeting alloy wheels on cars. Northumbria Police said that there has been a marked increase in the number of wheel thefts in the Jesmond and Gosforth areas of Newcastle, since June. Most thefts were
THREE people died and a fourth was seriously injured yesterday when their car crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Passers-by managed to pull one man free from the wreckage, then watched in horror as a fireball engulfed the vehicle, killing a man
FOLK music fans from around the country converged on Durham for "a right old song and dance". The 14th Durham Folk Party featured colourful displays from more than a dozen dance teams, including performances in the Market Place. Shoppers and tourists
EUROPE: WHEN the European Union introduces rules that help Mr Herron (HAS, Jul 19) he applauds them. It's nice to see him have a good word for the EU. However, if there are rules they have to be enforced. What would he say if the garage where he tried
Mattie Jay, of pop band Busted, has been told to belt up after his trousers fell down on stage. The 18-year-old, described on the band's website as "all mouth and trousers" failed to live up to his billing as he bounded around on stage at a packed concert
A VILLAGE'S summer fair will have a healthy living theme this year. The fair at Medomsley, near Consett, will feature supervised quad bike riding for children aged four to 12, an It's a Knockout contest and healthy cooking demonstrations by students from
PUNTERS seeking to stay one step ahead of the bookies at the start of Glorious Goodwood's fabulous five-day meeting should look no further than Athenian (2.05) in the opening Littlewoods Showcase Handicap. The Dave Morris-trained four-year-old has only
Trade Partners UK has appointed a mentoring manager to help North-East firms make the most of opportunities in international trade. Simon Crosby, from Whitley Bay, has accepted the challenge of developing and introducing a mentoring programme to help
Probably among the reasons that people talk so much about the colossal cost of getting married is that the train fare from Darlington to Gretna Green is £33.70. That's return, of course. Elopers might find a one-way ticket more economical. Though the
RESIDENTS have been given a chance to object to plans to close a post office. A planning application before Gateshead Borough Council outlines proposals to turn Chowdene Post Office, in Durham Road, into a betting shop. Anyone who wishes to comment about
Many of us with disabilities are, sadly, used to being described and perceived as being 'confined'. Often, this is in the context of being "confined to a wheelchair" after an illness or accident. Ask any of us if this is true and the reply would be that
INTERNATIONAL cricket stars are getting ready for a World versus All Stars clash when they gather for a testimonial match in the region this week. Players including former Pakistani internationals Ijaz Ahamed, Atta-ur-Rehman and Shahid Anwar, Indian bowler
SCHOOLCHILDREN are getting a better start to the day thanks to a breakfast club initiative that was piloted in the North-East. Greggs the Bakers has set up breakfast clubs around the UK for primary school pupils. The scheme started with four schools but
New fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw yesterday stepped into the war of words between scientists and trawlermen - and pledged to try and "bridge the gap." He's spending £1m in an effort to get the two sides to reach a better understanding of each other's
DETECTIVES are hunting a man who raped a 13-year-old girl as she walked home. The girl, from the Redhouse area of Sunderland, was attacked at 9.15pm on Friday. She was making her way home along a footpath at the back of Hylton Redhouse Comprehensive School
The White Swan at Pickering may be pricier than average but its Sunday lunch is second-to-none. ON April 23, 2001, the Daily Telegraph reported atop its front page that an American businesswoman called Claudia Niera had got her Internet in a knot. Having
TWO firearms experts are to train fellow police officers in the West Indies. The Cleveland Police officers were requested for the job because of their role protecting former Northern Ireland secretaries Mo Mowlam and Peter Mandelson. Sergeant Jon Winn
A HEROIN addict was given a final chance by a Crown Court judge yesterday after he pleaded for help with his addiction. Lee Graham, 28, wrote a letter to Judge Esmond Faulks begging for help with his drug problem after he admitted handling stolen goods
ART lovers will today be able to get a sneak preview of a sculpture created for a transport interchange. The design for a 90-metre long work, commissioned for Gateshead's newly refurbished public transport interchange, will be unveiled at a reception
BLACKBURN ROVERS will this week make a £2m bid for Sunderland's Claudo Reyna. Graeme Souness wants Reyna to take over David Dunn's mantle as Blackburn's midfield schemer. And with the United States star back from international duty, the Blackburn manager
A MOTORCYCLIST whose pillion passenger died after he lost control of his bike the morning after a drinking session has won a reduction in his jail term. Graeme Eden, 23, of Southburn Close, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, was jailed for four years at Teesside
A YOUNG cast is rehearsing for a production of a children's musical which takes to the stage tomorrow. The 46-strong cast of Ocean World, aged between five and 12, are all members of Durham Gala Theatre's Junior Stage School, and were yesterday polishing
POLICE have arrested four people following a pitched battle between rival Sunderland and Newcastle football supporters in a railway station bar. About 150 fans clashed on Saturday night, in the Centurion Bar of Newcastle's Central Station, as Sunderland
Eversheds has announced the appointment of new corporate head David Bowcock, 35, who joins from the international law firm's North West office, where he enjoyed five years with a department that completed almost 500 deals worth more than £6.6bn during
TOURISM bosses in the region last night hailed a significant increase in visitor numbers as a clear indication of the successful fightback after the foot-and-mouth crisis. Research by the VisitBritain organisation has revealed that attractions under the
REVELLERS could hold vital clues to the death of a teenager who collapsed in a nightclub, say police. Garry Henderson, 18, was taken ill at the New Monkey nightclub, in Pallion Road, Sunderland, at about 6am on Sunday. The teenager, from Cambridge Street
Nigel Hudson, business development director with Newcastle firm Sage, has joined the Business Link Tyne and Wear board. Mr Hudson is responsible for business planning and strategy for Sage UK. Mr Hudson joined Sage in 1993 and has held several senior
A SERVICE which trains dogs to help people with disabilities has received a grant. The International Service Dog Fund, based in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has been awarded £400 from the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend fund
PRICELESS buildings in need of renovation across Europe could finally be repaired - thanks to stone from the East Coast. Yorkshire scientists are working on a £1m research project to rediscover what was once the world's fastest setting cement. And stone
A SPECIALIST North-East manufacturing company has won a contract with the Falkland Islands Government. Sapphire Screen Products, of Newton Aycliffe, makes rubber screencloths, which are used in quarrying for grading and sizing stone. Managing director
THE Government was last night under increasing pressure to hold a public inquiry into a North Yorkshire Army base after a soldier alleged he had been driven to the brink of suicide by bullies. Rookie soldier Mark Massey claims he suffered weeks of torment
A DECISION on whether to allow a Teesside power plant to burn cow fat for energy is not expected until the end of the year, it was revealed last night. The Environment Agency (EA) is launching a full-scale investigation into SembCorp Utilities' plan to
A FORMER businessman was jailed for five years yesterday after admitting being involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine. Robert Henson, 54, of Shields Place, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, admitted two charges of conspiring to supply class A drugs
ELECTONICS firm Filtronic last night insisted its North-East workforce was secure, despite its Newton Aycliffe plant still running at a loss. The company's finance director said employment should increase in the County Durham plant in the next year, though
GOLF-mad teenager James Paterson will be packing his bags next month for a trip of a lifetime to watch the 85th USPGA championship in New York, America. The 17-year-old heart transplant patient from Bedale will be flown to the United States by the Make-a-Wish
Cate Blanchett is used to playing strong women on screen, from Elf Queen Galadriel to Elizabeth I and in her latest role, as murdered journalist Veronica Guerin, she tackled a dilemma which was close to home. Steve Pratt reports. ACTRESS Cate Blanchett
SOLDIER'S wife Emma Dunks-Lunn has been given a new lease of life by a military charity. Emma, of Leeming, near Bedale, suffers from muscular dystrophy and when her husband, Lance Bombardier Richard Lunn, was deployed to the Gulf with 40 Regiment Royal
DETECTIVES investigating the death of father-of-three Andrew Hickox interviewed scores of people at the weekend in an attempt to establish new leads. Motorists, pub-goers and clubbers were interviewed during the high-profile operation in the centre of
PD Teesport, part of PD Ports, Logistics and Shipping, with headquarters in Middlesbrough, has appointed Nigel Chew as general manager for container management. Mr Chew, 40, will be based in the commercial department at Teesport and is responsible for
FIRMS in the North-East are slowing down investment plans for the next six months following falling profits in the first half of the year, a survey has revealed. Almost half of the region's businesses expect to hold steady and maintain spending rather
RESIDENTS will be out in force again today in a bid to prevent work starting on the site of a proposed refuse processing station. They plan to walk into a wood near their homes at Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, in the hope of preventing
Many of us with disabilities are, sadly, used to being described and perceived as being 'confined'. Often, this is in the context of being "confined to a wheelchair" after an illness or accident. Ask any of us if this is true and the reply would be that
East Durham Development Agency has appointed Andy Lowes as human resources director. He has almost ten years' experience in human resource management and training in the manufacturing and service industries. Before taking up the position, Mr Lowes ran
TEENAGER Phillip Holdsworth, who lives at East Cowton and is a student at Northallerton College, is North Yorkshire Sportsman of the Year. Phillip, 16, an opening batsman who captained England's U-15s cricket team last season, has won the county's Donaldson
As a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds, I was intrigued to read that buzzards and crows have been attacking human beings and stealing the fast food they were scoffing as they walked along. I sympathise with the folk who have had their heads
IN all the furore surrounding the release from prison of Tony Martin we must not overlook some salient points. They are that a teenager was killed after being shot in the back by Martin. He was found guilty of murder by a jury of his peers, but the conviction
PORTSMOUTH are poised to make a £1m bid for Newcastle United defender Nikos Dabizas. Although Leeds United are also interested in Dabizas, Pompey are likely to make the first concrete offer for the Greece international. Dabizas's first-team career at
AN illegal immigrant's violence brought fear to people soaking up the sun in gardens surrounding a war memorial, magistrates heard yesterday. Mark Kastriot, 27, who fled Kosovo to work as a waiter in an Italian restaurant, pleaded guilty to affray at
The North East of England Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) has made two appointments to bolster its business support in the region. De Peter Warriner, 33, joins the product and process development unit as a design electronic engineer. His role will
A PATCHWORK quilt made by a poor villager to pay her rent will be the centrepiece of an exhibition at the weekend. The Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, will host a quilting weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Among the 40 quilts on display will
SECURITY and access control specialist Cam-Tec Systems has completed a move to new premises. The firm, which has installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems for many of the North-East's blue-chip companies, has acquired an 11,500sq
YOU could call Christine Liddle a gardener - but maybe miracle worker might be more accurate. Her three-acre garden and nursery at Birkheads, near Causey Arch is nearly 700 feet above sea level. There's nearly always a wind blowing, they have lots of
HEALTH workers in the North-East could be offered interest-free loans to buy bus passes and bicycles, as part of an environmental campaign. County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is developing a "green travel plan" in a bid to reduce dependency
Four of the region's market towns have been named among the country's first to be recognised under the Beacon Towns Initiative. Barnard Castle, in County Durham, Richmond and Whitby, in North Yorkshire, and Hexham, in Northumberland, are among nine in
THE Government was last night under increasing pressure to hold a public inquiry into a North Yorkshire Army base after a soldier alleged he had been driven to the brink of suicide by bullies. Rookie soldier Mark Massey claims he suffered weeks of torment
FOR those crew members of HMS Ocean who hail from the region, it is a particularly emotional return. It is a matter of great pride that the amphibious helicopter carrier played a crucial role in the Gulf War - highlighted by the impressive statistics
THE first phase of a pioneering £1.5m congestion-busting scheme was launched in a traffic-clogged city yesterday. The Traffic Congestion Management Scheme (TCMS) aims to help motorists beat queues and jams in York. The system is the first of its kind
The highly-acclaimed British film Calendar Girls, based on the real-life exploits of the Rylstone Women's Institute, in the Yorkshire Dales, will be shown at the Customs House, in South Shields, on the first day of its North-East release. Tickets cost
In The Northern Echo yesterday we published an incorrect telephone number for people wishing to donate money to a Ugandan orphanage. Anyone wishing to support the orphanage should telephone Stephen Murphy on 07947 003086. We apologise for any inconvenience
A TAXI firm closed last night after 15 years trading in Darlington, with bosses blaming its demise on council bureaucracy. Abbacab, which has been one of the town's best known operators, had lost the majority of its drivers and was forced to cease business
Kelly Osbourne, the popstar daughter of legendary rocker Ozzy, will play at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Tuesday, August 19. Tickets cost £12.50 from Middlesbrough Town Hall, on Corporation Road, telephone (01642) 358086. ONE TO WATCH: Bird watchers are
A FLORAL display has been planted in Darlington's South Park to mark an anniversary. The display, near the clock tower entrance to the park, has been planted by Darlington Borough Council to mark the Darlington and District Townswomen's Guild's 50th anniversary
ORGANISERS of a North-East town's ruined Britain in Bloom bid have been overwhelmed by generous offers to help repair the damage to floral displays. A mystery poisoner slipped weedkiller into a contractor's water tank used for watering hundreds of colourful
PROTESTORS who believed they had prevented a 57-home development scheme from going ahead were dismayed yesterday to hear that it might still be built. The objectors cheered after plans for the estate in Barnard Castle were rejected by members of Teesdale
A SHILDON doctors' surgery has been presented with a Quality Practice Award by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Dr Surendra Baliga and staff at the Shildon Health Centre were celebrating their success last week, after assessors from the Royal
THERE is no "sinister agenda" behind plans to redevelop South Park, Darlington Borough Council officials have asserted. Residents have reacted with fury to proposals to build a pavilion, sports pitches and a car park in the town's main park. A decision
MEN and women who have received long-term medical treatment are being given a chance to act as expert patients in a new programme that starts in September. They will be able to take part in a scheme at Barnard Castle to help them cope with ailments including
TWO firearms experts are to train fellow police officers in the West Indies. The Cleveland Police officers were requested for the job because of their role protecting former Northern Ireland secretaries Mo Mowlam and Peter Mandelson. Sergeant Jon Winn
A FORMER businessman was jailed for five years yesterday after admitting being involved in the supply of heroin and cocaine. Robert Henson, 54, of Shields Place, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, admitted two charges of conspiring to supply class A drugs
Margery Nelson and Vera Chapman, from Barnard Castle, have reached the national final of the Townswomen's Guilds' flat green bowling contest. The pair, who are members of the Darlington and District Federation of Townswomen's Guilds, will compete in Worthing
FOR those crew members of HMS Ocean who hail from the region, it is a particularly emotional return. It is a matter of great pride that the amphibious helicopter carrier played a crucial role in the Gulf War - highlighted by the impressive statistics
Tributes were flooding in last night for a former council boss whose high-flying political career came crashing down in a headline-grabbing criminal investigation. Rod Hills, Labour leader of the council in York until a year ago, was found dead at a house
A whippet covered in scabs and without any fur has been found roaming around a housing estate. The male dog, which is about a year old, has been described as "looking like a pink rhino", because it has an inflamed skin condition. It was found last week
A VILLAGE hall is to receive a revamp after a vital cash grant from Hambleton District Council. The second phase of an upgrade at the hall in Faceby is expected to cost £41,468. But the council cabinet deferred a decision on grant aid in April, pending
RESIDENTS have been given a chance to object to plans to close a post office. A planning application before Gateshead Borough Council outlines proposals to turn Chowdene Post Office, in Durham Road, into a betting shop. Anyone who wishes to comment about
A £5.2m initiative which will revitalise the River Wear and create jobs has been launched. The Mineral Valleys Project will make some of the river's beauty spots more accessible to the public while improving conditions for wildlife and fishing. It is
The family of one of the country's leading athletes, who collapsed and died as he competed in the World Transplant Games, last night spoke of their shock. And Alan Ayre's family paid tribute to the man they called "everybody's best friend". Kidney transplant
INTERNATIONAL music stars are lining up to take part in the North-East's own version of the Last Night of the Proms. Opera singers such as Graeme Danby, Valerie Reid and Bethany Halliday will be appearing at the Northern Proms when it arrives at the Riverside
Q THE Tudors were a family who dominated the throne for many years and were Welsh. What exactly was their origin and how did they come to take the English throne. - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street A THE founder of the Tudor dynasty is usually said
A VILLAGE'S summer fair will have a healthy living theme this year. The fair at Medomsley, near Consett, will feature supervised quad bike riding for children aged four to 12, an It's a Knockout contest and healthy cooking demonstrations by students from
RICHMOND Live, billed as the fastest-growing free live music event in the UK, is held on Friday and Saturday. The sixth annual event features more than 30 bands and solo performers on two stages. On Friday, a Live and Loud workshop will be held, for musicians
A MOTORCYCLIST whose pillion passenger died after he lost control of his bike the morning after a drinking session has won a reduction in his jail term. Graeme Eden, 23, of Southburn Close, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, was jailed for four years at Teesside
COMMUNITY groups have banded together to fight for environmental improvements in their town. An environmental federation has been formed in Chester-le-Street, comprising residents' associations, environmental groups and other parties to ensure green issues
BLACKBURN ROVERS will this week make a £2m bid for Sunderland's Claudo Reyna. Graeme Souness wants Reyna to take over David Dunn's mantle as Blackburn's midfield schemer. And with the United States star back from international duty, the Blackburn manager
Love Again (BBC2): Roger Roger (BBC1): Creatures Of The Black Lagoon (ITV1) "It's like a French farce," said poet Philip Larkin as the three women in his life crowded round his deathbed. Funnily enough, that was the phrase I'd jotted down earlier while
REPAIRS to a town's unstable clock tower could top £1.35m. Work on Middlesbrough Town Hall tower was initially quoted at about £90,000 last December. Efforts to rebuild and stabilise the 200ft structure began after it started to lean. The problem was
FOREST rangers are setting out to ease the summertime blues by creating a month full of adventures for youngsters. Fun, eco-crafts, games and team building challenges are on offer to children between the ages of eight and 12 when they visit Hamsterley
A NORTH-EAST firm yesterday won a major contract to recycle a so-called US "ghost fleet" creating about 200 jobs. Billingham company Able UK finalised the deal with the US Marine Administration (Marad), which will see 13 obsolete warships towed across
A SHILDON doctors' surgery has been presented with a Quality Practice Award by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Dr Surendra Baliga and staff at the Shildon Health Centre were celebrating their success last week, after assessors from the Royal
A NORTH-EAST firm yesterday won a major contract to recycle a so-called US "ghost fleet" creating about 200 jobs. Billingham company Able UK finalised the deal with the US Marine Administration (Marad), which will see 13 obsolete warships towed across
Kelly Osbourne, the popstar daughter of legendary rocker Ozzy, will play at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Tuesday, August 19. Tickets cost £12.50 from Middlesbrough Town Hall, on Corporation Road, telephone (01642) 358086. ONE TO WATCH: Bird watchers are
A GROUND-breaking study could lead to a new way of providing affordable housing in the Yorkshire Dales. Surveys have repeatedly shown that the cost of homes in the Wensleydale, Swaledale and Arkengarthdale areas is far outstripping local people's ability
YOUNG wheelchair users can learn how to get the most from their chairs on a free mobility training course. They can learn back-wheel balancing so they can go up and down kerbs independently and take part in games including wheelchair basketball. Parents
WORK is under way on a £50,000 overhaul of bowls facilities in the Headland area of Hartlepool. The money is being spent on improvements to the Town Moor and Friar Terrace bowling greens, which are on both sides of Marine Crescent. At the Town Moor bowling
Motorcyclists can improve their safety skills on a six-week course at Cleveland Police headquarters, in Middlesbrough, from Sunday. Participants will be trained to take the motorcycle test of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) after completing
FOLLOWING a period of continued success, project management and engineering design consultancy White Young Green has promoted Neil Thomson to director of engineering. Mr Thomson will have responsibility for engineering in White Young Green's Newcastle
A DECISION on whether to allow a Teesside power plant to burn cow fat for energy is not expected until the end of the year, it was revealed last night. The Environment Agency (EA) is launching a full-scale investigation into SembCorp Utilities' plan to
STUDENTS are working with one of Europe's leading street entertainers to create one-metre high paper heads for use in an arts festival. The ten 16 to 18-year-olds, from across Cleveland, will perform a mini-show at the weekend, using their work. It is
Ruby Wax Meets ... Jim Carrey (BBC1); Mummies That Made Themselves (Channel 4): THE jury is still out on which was more frightening - American film funny man Jim Carrey out of control or the nightmare-inducing thought and sight of Buddhist priests who
ORGANISERS of a North-East town's ruined Britain in Bloom bid have been overwhelmed by generous offers to help repair the damage to floral displays. A mystery poisoner slipped weedkiller into a contractor's water tank used for watering hundreds of colourful
Florist, Barnard Castle, National Minimum Wage (NMW), 37 hrs. Must have qualifications and retail experience. Ref: BAJ 4875. Sales representative, Darlington area, £9,600 pa plus comm, OT. 40 hrs flexible. Must have own car initially, good communication
MOBILE phone operator Orange was expected to announce a healthy second quarter as it reported its interim results to the City today. The company, which employs an estimated 5,000 people in its communication centres in the region, is also predicted to
ELECTONICS firm Filtronic last night insisted its North-East workforce was secure, despite its Newton Aycliffe plant still running at a loss. The company's finance director said employment should increase in the County Durham plant in the next year, though
RUN-down council homes in three North-East communities will be repaired under a £150m initiative that will strip the local authority of day-to-day control. Gateshead, Newcastle and Easington councils have been given the go-ahead to set up arms length
A chemical company prosecuted after a major pollution incident is today praised for improving its environmental record. Huntsman Petrochemicals is highlighted in an Environment Agency report which examines good and bad business performance. The company
PROPOSALS for the redevelopment of Richmond's grade II-listed station building have been unveiled at a public exhibition. Two approaches have been put forward, and either one could cost in excess of £2m. The plans will go before a special meeting of Richmond
THE region's newest retail attraction has given a stylish welcome to its 500,000th visitor. Dalton Park out-of-town shopping park, just off the A19 at Murton, east Durham, was opened in April by celebrity socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. Three months
