A TRIO from the Teesside Play and Education Resource Centre are using recycled paints in a bid to transform the floor space at a creche into a giant snakes and ladders board. Darren Cairns, Jane Hinley and Wendy Stoker are also creating a large jungle
POLICE are hunting an attacker who sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl in a fast food restaurant. The child was attacked by a teenage boy as she was having a burger with her mother at McDonald's, in King Street, South Shields, South Tyneside. The
A MARKET town in the region will be rocking to the rhythm of music for all tastes as its annual two-day music festival gets under way from today. The Cosmic Rough Riders return to headline the event at Richmond, North Yorkshire, tomorrow night after a
Cricket coaching for youngsters aged eight to 11 takes place at the Lintz Cricket Club, Burnopfield, on Monday and Tuesday, August 18 and 19, from 10am to midday. Children will also have the opportunity to see Durham in action against Hampshire at the
AN ADVICE service for consumers is to be expanded in the North Tees area. Stockton Borough Council's trading standards and licensing unit's consumer advice service, based in Stockton Central Library, is contacted by 8,000 people a year and advisors obtain
LITTER louts are being warned fly-tipping will not be tolerated after a Teesside man was fined for dumping packaging on a travellers' site. Middlesbrough Council officials caught the man unloading rubbish from a house refurbishment at the site in Metz
WASTE not, want not - that's the philosophy of a group of Teesside workers. And it has paid dividends for the Teesside Hospice in Middlesbrough. Members of SembCorp Utilities high voltage maintenance team at Wilton have presented the hospice with nearly
BRITISH Airways yesterday plunged to its worst-ever loss of £45m in the first quarter, and said the cost of last week's wildcat swipe-card strike could be as high as £40m. The airline also suffered during the three months to the end of June from the war
A NORTH Yorkshire brewery has become a victim of its own success. And now Hambleton Ales is being allowed to build homes to generate the finance for a move to bigger premises. Councillors yesterday decided the boost to the local economy outweighed other
A celebration of children's play has been organised as a family event in Hartlepool later this month. Summerhill, a 100-acre outdoor pursuits and countryside site off Catcote Road, will host a range of activities from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesday, August 12
SPECTATOR makes no apology for returning to the subject of hedgehogs, this time in the context of litter. One of his friends got up for work the other morning to find a hedgehog blundering around the back garden, blindly bumping into things because its
Cricket coaching for youngsters aged eight to 11 takes place at the Lintz Cricket Club, Burnopfield, on Monday and Tuesday, August 18 and 19, from 10am to midday. Children will also have the opportunity to see Durham in action against Hampshire at the
CAMPAIGNERS fighting for a tougher stand on noise from a motor racing circuit have won another round in their battle for information from the local council. Resident Derek Watson took four complaints to Richmondshire District Council's standards committee
A FORMER Army officer has taken on a new command - as manager of customer services teams for a high-speed train operator in the the region. Chris Tetley, 42, has swapped his military khaki for the blue and red of GNER to take up the role of regional manager
DANCE music stars will perform before thousands of North-East youngsters at a free beach party this weekend. Radio station Galaxy 105-106 throws its first free beach Party at Sandhaven Beach, South Shields, South Tyneside, tomorrow, from 2pm to 8pm. Artists
A scientific breakthrough which could solve one of Britain's most baffling murders may be just months away, investigators said last night. On the eve of the 13th anniversary of the killing of housewife Ann Heron, whose body was found at her home on the
THE first of a new type of non-medical hospital specialist has been appointed in the region. Atle Karstad has become the North-East's first consultant physiotherapist. His elevation to consultant status at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust is part
A CLOG-dancing student has tapped her way to a top title in a folk competition. A-Level student Rebecca Metcalf, 17, from Ushaw Moor, won the Northern County Championships in clog dancing, which took place in Durham on Sunday. The championships, were
The region's roads are simply smiles ahead when it comes to putting a grin on the face of Britain's normally frustrated motorists. For a survey to find the nation's favourite roads crowned the unclassified Buttertubs Pass between Muker and Hawes in the
Eighties pop star Matt Goss visited the North-East this week to showcase his new solo album - much to the delight of his screaming fans. The former Bros frontman, who sold millions of records in the Eighties, performed to about 300 music lovers at the
EVERYONE knows that over-exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can lead to skin cancer but basking in a little sunshine might be better for you than you think, according to a controversial new study. A report published in the British Medical Journal
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a North-East businessman have traced two key vehicles - more than two years after the inquiry began. Officers are continuing to hunt the killers of Peter Beaumont-Gowling, who was shot at close range at his home
HARRY Potter fans were wide-eyed with wonder when various species of owls appeared at the Botanic Gardens in Durham. Bird of prey expert Michael Mann took a barn owl, tawny owl, European eagle owl and harris hawk to the gardens yesterday, to give children
A REWARD of up to £5,000 has been offered by police for information about a man they want to speak to in connection with a murder. Tony Karim is wanted for questioning about the death of Sheik Mohamed, after he was assaulted in Hull city centre during
THE firm at the centre of a pay dispute at the region's biggest airport last night denied it had told staff their jobs are at risk if they strike. About 170 check-in staff who work for ground handling agent Groundstar at Newcastle Airport are due to vote
A NORTH-East hotel has taken part in a survey to discover the nation's most popular wedding songs. Corus, which owns the Hall Garth Golf and Country Club, in Darlington, asked events staff what were the most requested tunes at wedding receptions. It was
CHILDREN living in deprived areas of the North-East will benefit from a share of £2.2m to improve their road safety skills. The money will be spent training volunteers, who will teach road safety skills to youngsters aged five to seven in schools in 24
A BUS operator has made changes to a number of its services in Chester-le-Street and Durham. Go North East has axed some services, while adding others, according to demand. In Chester-le-Street, evening journeys on service 720 will cease, while the evening
ANDREW Jordan yesterday became Hartlepool United's second signing in as many days after agreeing a switch to Victoria Park. Jordan, freed by Cardiff, has been on trial at York this summer and impressed to the extent he was offered a deal by boss Chris
TWIN girls raised the alarm after a driver tried to tempt them into his van. The 12-year-olds were on their way home from a play area in Plover Drive, in the Crookgate area of Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, when the white, Transit-type van
DURHAM'S patient batting on a placid Riverside pitch began to pay dividends as their change bowlers made inroads into Somerset's batting last evening. Nicky Peng diligently compiled his first championship half-century at headquarters for two years in
THE hugely popular replica of Captain Cook's ship, Endeavour, will return to the region next year, it was confirmed yesterday. The visit - the fourth to Whitby since 1997 - will be in mid-May. The vessel will stay for a month and again be open to the
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who beat a father and son unconscious in a frenzied attack was locked up for four years yesterday. John Stephen Pye, of Dene Avenue, Easington Colliery, County Durham, admitted two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent
Telecoms group Carphone Warehouse yesterday announced it would create up to 800 jobs this year as it revealed a ten per cent increase in first quarter profits. The group said it planned to take on between 300 and 400 staff at 100 shops that it proposes
THE draw bias on the straight course at Glorious Goodwood is very pronounced in favour of the high numbers, a factor which should play into the hands of the strongly-fancied northern raider Undeterred (5.35) in the closing six furlong handicap. An even
LOCAL authorities have been criticised for reducing the priority given to health and safety enforcement. Statistics released by the Health and Safety Commission last night showed there had been a ten per cent drop nationally in the number of inspections
A LAS Vegas gambling tycoon is hoping to bring a multi-million pound casino to the North-East. Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd and his deputy, Douglas Hall, are in Los Angeles this week and are believed to be in talks with billionaire Sheldon
A WARSHIP which has special links with the region docks in Portsmouth today after a six-month tour of duty in which the crew saw action in the Gulf. HMS Richmond put to sea in February, originally on routine Nato patrol, but the Type 23 frigate was reassigned
Police are treating as suspicious a fierce blaze which wrecked a disused caravan factory. Fire broke out in the late afternoon on Tuesday in the former Elddis works in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett, and took hold throughout the 150sq m building
A 300-YEAR-OLD military tradition will be upheld today despite concerns that it may have fallen casualty to the recent war in Iraq. But the unbroken link with the past will be maintained after Interflora stepped in to ensure 700 red roses will be delivered
WHILST Julius Caesar was warned to beware the Ides of March, it is the long hot days of August that Tony Blair will be wary of. The Prime Minister, who is increasingly accused of being empirical, has seen his own Praetorian Guard badly depleted in recent
A COUNTY Durham farming couple this week became the first outright winners of an award in memory of a prominent environmentalist. Maurice and Kath Toward of Herdship Farm in Teesdale were presented with the David Arnold-Forster Trust award on Wednesday
A MAJOR arts festival took to the streets of a North-East town yesterday. The centre of Stockton became the stage for street theatre performers as the second stage of the 16th Stockton Riverside Arts Festival got under way. And last night, the first of
NEWSPAPER publisher Trinity Mirror is to shed 550 jobs in a bid to revive the group's fortunes. The move, aimed at saving the company £25m a year, follows a wide-ranging review by chief executive Sly Bailey. Trinity, which publishes the Newcastle Chronicle
A NORTH-EAST truck driver has won through to the finals of the Young European Truck Driver competition. David Gowland, from Borrowdale Avenue, Seaburn, in Sunderland, will be taking part in the contest, in Bedfordshire, when he will have to sit a theory
A DECISION to grant permission for amended plans for a sports pavilion, pitches and car park in Darlington's South Park caused uproar at Wednesday's planning committee meeting. The meeting had to be moved to the town hall council chamber to accommodate
Detectives will attend a murder victim's funeral today. Detective Superintendent Karnail Dulku will be among mourners of Darren Manders, whose battered and decomposed remains were found hidden in woodland, last month. He will arrive at the Teesside Crematorium
AN action group has been formed to fight plans for a new auction mart on land off Thirsk Road, Northallerton. The group formed on the St James housing estate said this week that local people were worried about the environmental and traffic effects which
COUNCILLORS have given the go-ahead for a two-storey block of six flats in Hurworth, despite objections from villagers and the parish council. Residents said the flats, on the site of the former Church View Garage, were not in keeping with the conservation
STARSHIPS UNLIMITED. Format: PC, CD ROM. Publisher: Price: £29.99: THIS game had an interesting history. It started life as a freeware project distributed via the Net and has since been reworked into a fully professional retail release. It's an unusual
REGULARS at a village pub have started a petition to allow the landlord to retain a controversial advertising board. Morris Race has been placing the sign outside the Wheatsheaf at Staindrop in a bid to boost passing trade, as the inn is set back from
The Real Richard Desmond (C4): The Way We Travelled (BBC2): FROM school drop-out to pornographer to national newspaper proprietor - The Real Richard Desmond set out its stall from the start. The documentary had secured a rare interview with the proprietor
One of Winston Churchill's wartime drivers was invited back to Downing Street when he bumped into the Prime Minister yesterday. Stanley Carrick, 85, was having a blood test as the Prime Minister officially opened the new West Cornforth Medical Centre
THE first three-day trials competition staged by the Richmond Motor Club last weekend has been hailed a runaway success. The trial was held at Grinton over three completely separate courses and the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale event, sponsored by Darlington
MILK producers have been underestimating the real costs of production by more than 20pc, according to an industry working party representing production and recording interests. The working party, initiated by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers
POLICE have made a further appeal for information about the rape of a 23-year-old woman at the weekend. A spokesman said a man seen at the north end of Newcastle's High Level Bridge from 10.20pm to 10.30pm on Sunday could have information about the incident
UGO EHIOGU has revealed how the plight of a teenage leukaemia sufferer has put into perspective his fight against a knee injury. The Middlesbrough defender yesterday confirmed that he won't kick a ball for four months after damaging the posterior cruciate
A PROFESSIONAL photographer has retained his post as chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority after being re-elected unopposed. Steve Macar will remain at the helm of the authority as it looks to the challenges of its 50th year - which
THEY gathered from afar. Musicians, singers, dancers and poets travelled to Upper Wensleydale from all over Britain to take part in the second Upper Wensleydale Gathering. And at the hub was the pub. The Green Dragon Inn at Hardraw to be precise. Music
Darlington complete their pre-season programme at Barrow tomorrow with manager Mick Tait hoping to run the rule over more potential signings. Goalkeeper Michael Price this week ended a summer of frustration for Tait when he signed a one-month contract
ONE of the "famous five" who discovered Tony Blair 20 years ago has been suspended by his fellow Labour councillors for branding their £1,000 allowance increase "immoral". Paul Trippett has been banished from the Labour group on Durham County Council
EXPERTS in crime investigation received awards after honing their skills at a centre of excellence in County Durham. Centrex, the national training centre for scientific support to crime investigation, based at Harperley Hall, near Crook, staged its tenth
THEY say that some dogs are the double of their owners - and for pet lover Dave Harris putting the theory to the test proved a prizewinning move. Judges in a pet lookalike contest spotted the resemblance between Mr Harris, from Frosterley, County Durham
SEVERAL market towns have been chosen to demonstrate how they can become the new centres of employment, housing and services for their area. Among those included in the Countryside Agency's Beacon Towns Initiative are Barnard Castle, Middleton in Teesdale
MOVES could be made to have Richmond's famous street cobbles placed on the Buildings at Risk register in a bid to have them restored. The town council backed proposals to approach English Heritage, which compiles the annual log of listed buildings considered
THE FORCE is with a group of fledgling Jedi warriors who are becoming skilled in the art of light sabre duelling. Young Star Wars enthusiasts were given a chance to learn the art, as seen in the science fiction films and spin-offs of the George Lucas
A scientific breakthrough which could solve one of Britain's most baffling murders may be just months away, investigators said last night. On the eve of the 13th anniversary of the killing of housewife Ann Heron, whose body was found at her home on the
TOP skewbald Merrigan has taken the supreme coloured championship for the second year running at the Royal International Horse Show. His County Durham owner, Clare Merrigan-Martin from Stainton, near Barnard Castle, said Hickstead was swept by torrential
A CHARITY is looking for people to take part in its biggest ever skydiving weekend. The jump will take place at Peterlee Airfield, in County Durham, on Sunday, October 5, and money raised during the event by the Leonard Cheshire charity will go towards
WHILST Julius Caesar was warned to beware the Ides of March, it is the long hot days of August that Tony Blair will be wary of. The Prime Minister, who is increasingly accused of being empirical, has seen his own Praetorian Guard badly depleted in recent
THE future of Durham Citizens' Advice Bureau could be in doubt unless it can secure more funding to meet rising costs. The charity provides free, independent advice to people on issues ranging from consumer problems to benefit wrangles and legal disputes
THE latest resident at an animal rescue home is a little more exotic than the average pet. The black-headed caique is a type of parrot usually found in the aviaries of committed bird lovers. But this little fellow was found lost and alone in the village
FARMERS were warned that they could see their new single farm payments unexpectedly reduced under the new CAP regime. If the Commission thinks the EU farm budget will be overspent, it may reduce individual payments by 2pc. "If the budget is underspent
SIR BOBBY ROBSON will keep a watchful eye on Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer at Sheffield Wednesday tonight - while the rest of Newcastle's big guns are unleashed on Hartlepool at Victoria Park. Robson is leading a largely youthful party to Hillsborough, where
A NEW era begins for one of the region's most historic theatres Sunday night when it re-opens to the public for the first time in over a year. Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal has been transformed since spring 2002 by a modern extension which has been
LOVERS of modern art stopped to admire a sculpture outside one of the region's art galleries. Made out of wooden pallets, a tea chest and a square of cerise fabric, it appeared to be making a bold statement. People walked around it in curiosity while
A TOWN'S links with the Army, which date back 90 years, will be strengthened at a ceremony next week. Members of the Army Foundation College will be granted the freedom of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, after marching through the town on Saturday. The college
IT HAS been likened to something on the set of a science fiction film or a James Bond epic as it towers more than 100ft above the North Yorkshire countryside. The true explanation behind the gigantic steel frame which has sprung up on Dalton industrial
AS a testament to the mechanical power of yesteryear, a mighty traction engine is hard to beat. The huge wheels, the precision engineering, this hiss of escaping steam and the spectacular paintwork create a magnificent image. Visitors to this year's Pickering
COUNCILLORS have deferred a decision on whether 32 flats should be built on the site of a former petrol station in Darlington. More than 40 letters of objection to the proposal, for land behind Cockerton Club, in Woodland Road, were received by Darlington
A VINTAGE radio enthusiast has added another wireless to his collection - thanks to the kindness of a visitor from abroad. Jo Baker was given a rare wartime radio by Dieter Steinberg, who came to Darlington with wife Ilse as part of a twinning trip from
THIRTY-FIVE jobs are to be created after council chiefs awarded grants worth more than £17,000. Seven firms received funding from Darlington Borough Council's financial incentives panel. A grant of £4,000 was awarded to Coats Crafts to assist with a warehouse
The next Lark in the Park events in Derwentside take place next week. They will be held in Blackhill and Consett Park on Monday, Craghead Millennium Green, near Stanley, on Wednesday, and Allensford Park, near Consett, on Friday. Events run from 11am
A celebration of children's play has been organised as a family event in Hartlepool later this month. Summerhill, a 100-acre outdoor pursuits and countryside site off Catcote Road, will host a range of activities from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesday, August 12
A COLLECTOR of vintage radios has added a new wireless to his collection - thanks to the kindness of a visitor from abroad. Jo Baker was given a rare wartime radio by Dieter Steinberg, who came to Darlington with wife Ilse as part of a twinning trip from
TRADING standards officials are warning local businesses to beware after a spate of deliveries of goods that weren't ordered by the recipient. Officers have received a complaint about a company based in York which is sending credit card and till rolls
A GATE has been reinstated at the eastern end of Beacon Lane, Sedgefield, close to the junction with the road to Wynyard to deter unauthorised camping. The town council has also placed boulders on nearby land at the cemetery. The council has also said
A STUDENT has left Newton Aycliffe for the US to do research work after graduating with a first-class honours degree at Cambridge University. Suzanne McDermott, 21, from Tindale Green, gained 13 GCSEs and three A-Levels, all at A grades at St John's Comprehensive
COUNCILLORS have finally agreed that a new single-site Freebrough College should be built in Brotton. The college is currently split across three locations in Loftus, Skelton and Brotton, with Skelton originally being the site of choice for the 1,000-
IT IS going to be hugely interesting to see how Newcastle United fare this season. Will all that youthful talent earn them a trophy, or will the arrogance which seems to go with the job result in more penalties chipped over the bar? I suspect Sir Bobby
A NORTH-EAST travel management company has been appointed to help businesses keep an appointment with work opportunities in the Caribbean. Business Travel, of Gateshead, is handling travel arrangements during a Northern Offshore Federation trade mission
STORE chains are backing Durham County Council's drive to reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in its tips. The Labour-run council wants to encourage stores and shoppers to use more environmentally-friendly alternatives. It estimates that people
TRAINEE solicitors swapped their sharp suits and briefcases for wheelbarrows and wellies as part of a garden landscaping project to benefit a school. Fifteen trainees from Ward Hadaway, in Newcastle, rolled their sleeves up and undertook two days of hard
DIGGERS have moved in to start work on a wildlife haven for a tiny County Durham village. The Bishop Middleham wetland garden is beginning to take shape after years of planning by villagers. Residents decided to make the most of the former allotment site
A 20-YEAR-OLD man who beat a father and son unconscious in a frenzied attack was locked up for four years yesterday. John Stephen Pye, of Dene Avenue, Easington Colliery, County Durham, admitted two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent
ABOUT £1,000 worth of statues have been stolen from an industrial estate in Shildon. The statues, planters and other items were taken from Sharcon Classic Paving on the Furnace Industrial Estate, in Byerley Road, on Tuesday. The theft took place between
RESIDENTS have reacted angrily to plans to create an auction mart on a greenfield site, parts of which they said were less than 80 yards from their estate. Proposals to move Northallerton Auction Mart to land off the Thirsk road have been submitted to
A WASTE awareness campaign begins this weekend urging residents to rethink their attitude towards rubbish. A three-metre high, transparent dustbin, which demonstrates how 60 per cent of household rubbish can be recycled, will form the centre-piece of
NEWSPAPER publisher Trinity Mirror is to shed 550 jobs in a bid to revive the group's fortunes. The move, aimed at saving the company £25m a year, follows a wide-ranging review by chief executive Sly Bailey. Trinity, which publishes the Newcastle Chronicle
HUNDREDS of young people are expected to flock to a free arts and music festival this weekend. U-fest U-fest, billed as a festival to celebrate all young people in Sunderland, will be held at Herrington Country Park between 1pm and 9pm tomorrow. The event
PRIMARY school pupils are celebrating after coming first in a science competition. The youngsters from class 6G of Frederick Nattrass Primary School, in Stockton, were named regional champions in the Ariel Science of Cleaning competition. The competition
THE family of a man found hanged in his cell are threatening to take civil action against a remand centre following an inquest into his death. A jury returned a majority verdict that Bryan George Totton, 20, took his own life at Northallerton Remand Centre
A project offering disadvantaged youngsters the chance to learn sailing skills has received a £70,000 boost. The National Lottery will today announce the Community Fund grant for the Adventure Youth Sea Training Trust, in Hartlepool, which works with
THE Quaking Houses Village Hall Association has won a Queen's Golden Jubilee Award. A certificate signed by the Queen and commemorative piece of crystal were presented to committee members by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Sir Paul Nicholson. Honorary
Cricket coaching for youngsters aged eight to 11 takes place at the Lintz Cricket Club, Burnopfield, on Monday and Tuesday, August 18 and 19, from 10am to midday. Children will also have the opportunity to see Durham in action against Hampshire at the
A COUNCIL has been forced to drop its opposition to a new nightclub. Chester-le-Street District councillors had knocked back attempts by nightclub owner Billy Walton to secure planning permission for his second nightclub in the town, fearing it would
A waste recycling site will be opened next week. Newcastle City Council, which has redeveloped its waste reception site at Walbottle, will officially open the facility on Monday. The city council needs to improve Newcastle's recycling rate to meet the
IT will be intriguing to see if a blockbuster ever emerges from a group of enthusiastic writers who gather from all over Teesdale on Tuesday mornings to mull over storylines and read each other passages from their most recent efforts. Some gripping plots
STARSHIPS UNLIMITED. Format: PC, CD ROM. Publisher: Price: £29.99: THIS game had an interesting history. It started life as a freeware project distributed via the Net and has since been reworked into a fully professional retail release. It's an unusual
The dropping of charges against TV presenter John Leslie has opened up the debate on the issue of anonymity for those accused of sexual offences. Christen Pears reports. IT was the publication of Ulrika Jonsson's autobiography that started it all, an
ROAD safety around Stokesley School is to be improved with the installation of a puffin crossing. North Yorkshire councillors have agreed that the crossing in Station Road should be installed as planned during the school half term holiday in October.
THE Archbishop of York yesterday raised his hat to the work of 999 crews when he opened a fire station. Dr David Hope performed the honours at the premises in Huntington, York, and was joined at the ceremony by divisional fire officer Graham Buckle. The
SIR BOBBY ROBSON will keep a watchful eye on Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer at Sheffield Wednesday tonight - while the rest of Newcastle's big guns are unleashed on Hartlepool at Victoria Park. Robson is leading a largely youthful party to Hillsborough, where
A WASTE awareness campaign that urges residents to rethink their attitude towards rubbish begins this weekend. A three-metre high, transparent dustbin, which demonstrates how 60 per cent of household rubbish can be recycled, will be the focal point of
A WASTE awareness campaign that urges residents to rethink their attitude towards rubbish begins this weekend. A three-metre high, transparent dustbin, which demonstrates how 60 per cent of household rubbish can be recycled, will be the focal point of
PEOPLE power has reaped big benefits in Stokesley. Controversial plans to develop a former council depot and bus station site in the town are to go ahead - but with major modifications. Changes to the scheme, which includes a new library, sheltered housing
POLICE are looking for a yob who hurled a brick at an ambulance windscreen. It was thrown from a footbridge over the A174, near the Marton Country Club, on the outskirts of Middlesbrough. It hit the driver's side of the laminated windscreen, covering
THE funeral of a teenager who died after being hit by a train is to take place tomorrow. Benn Williams, 19, from North Ormesby, died when he was hit by a train travelling from Whitby to Middlesbrough on Sunday at about 7.30pm. The incident happened behind
A THEME park which boasts Europe's longest rollercoaster may introduce a more down-to-earth ride next year. Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, is famed for The Ultimate, its stomach-churning, one-and-a-half mile ride. But managers are considering
A RESTAURANT was so impressed with work experience student Sarah Crowe that she was given a job after only three days. The teenager, from Queen Mary's School, near Thirsk, did her work experience at the Crab and Lobster at nearby Asenby. But in her few
RECORD Breakers, the old TV show hosted by the late Roy Castle, would have delighted in this week's racing. Mark Johnston romped to his fastest UK 100 seasonal wins, went through the £1m prize money mark again and, as this was his tenth successive century
Michael Vaughan pulled no punches about a dismal first day as full-time England captain and admitted ''we weren't just good enough''. South Africa took a vice-like grip on the second npower Test at Lord's as England were routed for 173 after being put
Bookings are being taken for a visit to Hartlepool Quay on Monday, September 8, organised by the Friends of Senior Citizens charity. The coach leaves at 9.30am, returning at 6pm, with pick-ups at Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, Chilton and Ferryhill. The trip
ANDREW Jordan yesterday became Hartlepool United's second signing in as many days after agreeing a switch to Victoria Park. Jordan, freed by Cardiff, has been on trial at York this summer and impressed to the extent he was offered a deal by boss Chris
MICK McCARTHY faces a huge selection dilemma ahead of the new season as he decides whether to bring Kevin Phillips in from the cold. Phillips, who revealed his desire to leave Sunderland almost three months ago, has not played in any of the club's pre-season
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 steelworks at Berry Edge, Consett. The firm has spent £2.8m cleaning up the
THE dismissal of the charges against John Leslie has re-opened the debate surrounding the naming of defendants charged with rape and sex offences. The cases for and against anonymity have merit. The Lord Chief Justice is right to say the issue is finely
TWO girls spent four hours on Redcar beach to protect a stranded baby seal from being hurt by dogs. Sam Clark, eight, and her sister Becky, seven, from Ely Crescent, Redcar, were walking on the beach near the town's Green Lane End with their older sister
A FORMER accounts clerk was unveiled yesterday as the new chairman of regional development agency One NorthEast. Margaret Fay, managing director at Tyne Tees Television, will replace Dr John Bridge in the £47,800-a-year job when he completes his five-year
Sir, - Having read of the proposed move of the Northallerton Auction Mart to a site close to the housing estate on Thirsk Road (D&S, July 18), I think this a most deplorable situation. I have lived on this road for more than 30 years and seen an alarming
RESIDENTS have pulled together to restore their town to its former glory after a mystery poisoner tried to sabotage efforts for this year's Britain in Bloom contest. In a move which has baffled residents of Saltburn, the poisoner secretly slipped weedkiller
TRADING standards officers have renewed warnings about bogus security companies which claim to have links with the police. In one instance, an elderly woman received a call from one of the companies and when she asked if her husband could listen in, the
TODAY is Yorkshire Day. The notion of celebrating this occasion was created in 1975 as a means of reminding everyone, both within the county and beyond its boundaries, that the famous three Ridings were not abolished in 1974. The boundary changes of that
The Real Richard Desmond (C4): The Way We Travelled (BBC2): FROM school drop-out to pornographer to national newspaper proprietor - The Real Richard Desmond set out its stall from the start. The documentary had secured a rare interview with the proprietor
VILLAGE halls, community centres and libraries are signing up to offer their members free computer training, courtesy of The Northern Echo's CommuniGate programme. CommuniGate is offering to hold sessions at community venues, including UK Online facilities
DURHAM'S patient batting on a placid Riverside pitch began to pay dividends as their change bowlers made inroads into Somerset's batting last evening. Nicky Peng diligently compiled his first championship half-century at headquarters for two years in
THE FORCE is with a group of fledgling Jedi warriors who are becoming skilled in the art of light sabre duelling. Young Star Wars enthusiasts were given a chance to learn the art, as seen in the science fiction films and spin-offs of the George Lucas
A RIOT of colour and entertainment is promised when the biggest flower show of its kind in the North-East opens today. Organisers of the Gateshead Summer Flower Show are hoping for another record attendance. Now in its 14th year, the three-day show, sponsored
PURPLE heather is returning to a Dales hill farm - thanks to Highland cattle. On Saturday, James Mawle and his son, David, welcomed the Highland Cattle Society and a wide range of farming and environmental organisations to Coverhead Farm, in Coverdale
A TOWN'S community groups have joined forces to put the environment at the top of the agenda. A federation has been formed in Chester-le-Street, made up of residents' associations, environmental groups and other parties to ensure green issues are the
Yorkshire found themselves on the receiving end of a fierce assault from Matt Windows on another rain-shortened day at Cheltenham yesterday when Gloucestershire made every effort to make up for lost time. Driving strongly through the covers, Windows rattled
A MAN was recovering in hospital last night after impaling his arm on a tree branch while trying to escape police. Officers responding to reports of an assault on The Green, Richmond, North Yorkshire, at 10pm on Wednesday, came across the man, who is
Staff from a North-East college celebrated completing a coast-to-coast charity cycle ride. A dozen staff members from Derwentside College, in Consett, County Durham, followed a route from Whitehaven to Tynemouth to raise £500 for Breast Cancer Care. The
HIGH street banking group HBoS yesterday posted a 24 per cent rise in first-half profits after adding 500,000 credit card customers in six months. The bank said it was on track to meet its targets for the full year as it reported interim pre-tax profits
Entries are still welcome for a charity cycle ride on Sunday. The Richmond branch of the Alzheimer's Disease Society, in North Yorkshire, will benefit from the event, which starts at 11.30am outside the town's swimming pool and finishes at The Angel Inn
A NATIONAL conservation pressure group is opposing the possible tarmacing of common land near Durham city centre. The Open Spaces Society is appalled at the prospect of a third of The Sands, an open grassy area alongside the River Wear, becoming a temporary
A COUNCILLOR who was accused of breaking his council's code of conduct has cleared his name. Steve Kay, cabinet member for education with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, was reported by a fellow councillor last autumn for allegedly breaking confidentiality
THE father of a North-East soldier who died in suspicious circumstances is furious that police findings into his son's death have been "leaked". On Tuesday, police will announce the results of an investigation into the deaths of four soldiers who died
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: THE collapse, at massive public cost at the very least of £25m, of the case against ten suspected international drug dealers highlights a principle which the police would do well to treat more seriously. When embarking on such a venture
WALKING is the nation's most popular pastime - and women are setting the pace. The biggest numbers of new regular walkers are found among middle-aged women. Trailblazers, that's us. But as we are all striding out more and taking our walking more seriously
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,535 sheep. Std lambs to 121.7p av 116.1p; med to 119p av 113.8p; heavy to 119.5p av 111.8p. Cast sheep: Suff to £51; Cont to £47.50; Mule to £48; Leics to £44.50; Swale to £30. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 242 cattle
THIRSK hosts a two-day meeting today and tomorrow, with racing scheduled to start at 2.30 and 2.15 respectively. Today's feature race is The Peter Bell Memorial Stakes, a handicap contest over six furlongs, while tomorrow's programme begins with The Thomas
Cherie Blair has joined the ever-growing ranks of deluded wannabes who have no regard for noise pollution, forget they are tone deaf and perform karaoke. On the Blairs recent trip to China, the PM very sensibly declined the chance to show us his vocal
FRESH doubts were raised last night over ICI jobs on Teesside after the chemicals company announced it was slashing its UK workforce. Unveiling disappointing second quarter financial results, ICI said 300 posts were to go from a total of 1,400 worldwide
A MAN was cleared last night of unlawfully killing a father-of-two on a nightclub dance floor. Robert Aspery, 55, a steelworker, was found not guilty of the manslaughter of Mark Thirsk, 40, by punching him at De Niro's, in Middlesbrough, on December 6
THE Pony Club UK tetrathlon championships have a new title sponsor and a new Yorkshire venue this year. The championships have been sponsored by leading agricultural dealers, Ripon Farm Services Ltd, and are to be held in the grounds of Allerton Park,
AN organisation to help people with mental health problems has received £170,000 lottery money. Chester-le-Street Mind, based in South Pelaw, has been awarded the money from the lottery's Community Fund to help to provide services for people with mental
DETECTIVES hunting a man who raped a 13-year-old girl are appealing for three men who were with him shortly before the attack to come forward. The teenager was making her way home along a footpath behind Hylton Redhouse Comprehensive School, in Sunderland
A POPULAR family festival has been cancelled for the third year running, after fears were raised over road safety. The Allensford Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors, was due back this August Bank Holiday, after a two-year absence. But its
SALTBURN took the first step towards what they hope will be a league and cup treble when they defeated Darlington RA in the final of the Kerridge Cup at Thornaby last Sunday. Tony Bell and Phil Ramage gave the Saltburn innings a good start, but the RA
FRESH doubts were raised last night over ICI jobs on Teesside after the chemical giant announced it was slashing its UK workforce. Unveiling disappointing second-quarter financial results, ICI bosses said 300 posts were set to go from 1,400 worldwide.
EASINGWOLD sidecar racer Steve Webster and passenger Paul Woodhead clinched their fourth win of the season to regain the Superside World Championship lead after a rain-soaked sixth round at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend. Rivals Jrg Steinhausen and
MICK McCARTHY faces a huge selection dilemma ahead of the new season as he decides whether to bring Kevin Phillips in from the cold. Phillips, who revealed his desire to leave Sunderland almost three months ago, has not played in any of the club's pre-season
THE old prison cells beneath Elvet Bridge may have been associated with a house of correction situated on the city end of the bridge. In 1632, this institution appears to have replaced or come to occupy an earlier chapel dedicated to St James that stood
TELEVISION reporter Luke Casey knew, before the first episode was filmed, that the Dales Diary would be a hit with viewers. Now, as the weekly half-hour countryside ramble prepares for its 12th series, he is already planning for a 13th. "Its strength
From this newspaper 100 years ago. - On Thursday evening a well-attended open-air meeting was held near the Market Clock in Thirsk to hear what Mr Guy Hayler, of Newcastle (secretary to the North of England Temperance League) had to say about England's
THE grieving family of a Royal Marine killed during the war in Iraq have welcomed a decision to extend the inquiry into his death. Christopher Maddison, 24, a former pupil of Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, was killed in March as he and other soldiers
A FORMER North-East man accused of a series of sex attacks on women and girls is to stand trial in January. Antoni Imiela, 49, originally from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has denied the 12 charges, which include nine rapes and the kidnap and attempted
THE future of a ground-breaking pedigree cattle breeding business remains uncertain after councillors failed to reach a final decision on plans for a worker's home in Wensleydale. Proposals for a bungalow just outside Finghall, near Leyburn, were rejected
A NEW record was created in the league last weekend when Middleton in Teesdale were all out for just six runs in their home game against East Cowton in Division B. The league's assistant secretary Steve Gill confirmed that the score equalled the six runs
IT IS going to be hugely interesting to see how Newcastle United fare this season. Will all that youthful talent earn them a trophy, or will the arrogance which seems to go with the job result in more penalties chipped over the bar? I suspect Sir Bobby
Sir, - Your report on the King's Academy (D&S, July 25) describes it as "a very different type of school", but restricts a description of the most significant difference to a single mention of the Vardy Foundation's request for a Christian-based ethos
FIVE THOUSAND eye-catching new ice-cream dispensers have just been delivered to Richmond Ice-Cream. The Leeming Bar company, the UK's largest ice-cream manufacturer, will sell the Nestl Ice-Creamery dispensing machines to retailers throughout the country
AMIDST all the condemnation heaped upon the sad soul who put weedkiller in the water supply for Saltburn's floral glory, one lone voice could be heard this week. Sir Roy Strong, the eminent art critic, suggested that instead of being buried in the foullest-smelling
PROTESTERS were disappointed to hear that a housing development might yet go ahead, after believing they had been successful in halting it in its present form. Objectors to the Wimpey Homes scheme, involving 27 houses and 30 flats at Montalbo Road in
THE promotion of an English brand for beef and lamb is a key and urgent aim of the new body. David Croston, chief executive, said it was working to re-capture and "grow" the market as much as possible. England produced the lion's share of UK beef and
YOUNGSTERS have enjoyed a first taste of a new £10,000 garden at a village community centre. The garden, at the Community Tea Rooms in Leadgate, near Stanley, was designed and built by villagers Dave and Desree Emerson, with help from youngsters. Students
A £260m improvement package for the region's railways was announced last night by the new operator of the TransPennine Express rail franchise. British transport company FirstGroup and Keolis, the largest private rail operator in France, were the preferred
A CLUB doorman died after drinking two litres of whisky and several bottles of beer, an inquest was told. Ian Fryer had more than five times the legal limit of alcohol permitted for driving in his bloodstream when he collapsed. After an afternoon's drinking
THE father of a North-East soldier who died in suspicious circumstances is furious that police findings into his son's death have been "leaked". On Tuesday, police will announce the results of an investigation into the deaths of four soldiers who died
WALKING is the nation's most popular pastime - and women are setting the pace. The biggest numbers of new regular walkers are found among middle-aged women. Trailblazers, that's us. But as we are all striding out more and taking our walking more seriously
THE old prison cells beneath Elvet Bridge may have been associated with a house of correction situated on the city end of the bridge. In 1632, this institution appears to have replaced or come to occupy an earlier chapel dedicated to St James that stood
DOCTORS at a North-East hospital are helping youngsters fight crippling pain with pioneering treatment to cleanse their bone marrow. Alice Henry is only the fourth child in the UK to be given the chance of a normal life after a pioneering operation to
A MOTHER whose son was crushed to death at work has criticised a court's decision to fine his employers only £10,000 for breaching safety rules. Factory worker and young father James West, 22, was killed when an overhead crane operated by an untrained
A VIEW of a thirteenth century church, taken by D&S Times' photographer Nigel Whitfield, has been reproduced in notelet and postcard form to help raise funds for repairs to the building. St Andrew's at Winston was founded in 1254, with the tower and
MORE than 600 Girl Guides from all over the world will take part in an international camp in the region next month. Groups are expected at Askham Bryan, near York from August 9 to 16, from the US, Nigeria western Siberia, and Ireland, as well as the UK
A BRIGHT future is predicted by Dr Dermot Roddy, recently appointed chief executive of Renew Tees Valley, the company at the forefront of new ideas for renewable energy and recycling. Dr Roddy expects the launch of exciting projects in the near future
WHILE most people look forward to putting their feet up after a hard day's work, Katie Petherick cannot wait to start her second job. The 17-year-old, from Stanley, County Durham, works as a junior secretary at the University of Durham, but spends two
Sir, - Further to Messrs Ellerby and Townsend (D&S letters, July 18) it is rather sad to see that fox hunting supporters cannot accept the will of the nation and are encouraging fox hunters to break the law when this outdated and cruel pastime is
COUNCILLORS in the Hambleton district have set out their support for the museums of the area. The cabinet has called the plan Securing our Future by Promoting our Past. Cabinet spokesman for leisure and tourism Neville Huxtable said: "The role of the
A 45-YEAR-OLD Yorkshireman is returning to his roots to take up the post of Rector of Fountains, near Ripon. The Reverend Robert Sellers, father of three grown-up daughters, is expected to take over in the autumn, and will be responsible for an area which
HEALTH bosses have agreed to invest £120,000 in initiatives to improve nursery facilities in the Richmond area. The money will be invested in a neighbourhood nursery at the old GP's surgery in Colburn, adjoining the library, in The Broadway. The project
AN investigation has been launched following the contamination of a river with pig slurry. A tributary of the River Foss, in York, was polluted following muck-spreading by a local farmer, the Environment Agency said. The agency has warned residents not
A PENSIONER has received a London congestion penalty charge - even though he has not visited the city in over 30 years. Derek Myers, 75, of Haxby, York, was puzzled when he opened the letter telling him he had to pay £40. "At first I thought it was a
MUSICIANS will be dusting off their accordions and tin whistles over the next few days for a folk music celebration. Folkworks' Durham Gathering had a rousing start yesterday evening at the Gala Theatre, with fiddle players from Scotland, England, Sweden
DURHAM'S Labour MP is calling for a rethink on the £25m redevelopment of the Walkergate car park. Gerry Steinberg, who originally supported the scheme, said he has had a change of heart and now feels the latest blueprint will do little to boost the city
CHILDREN in Darlington got a helping hand with art and drama from two experts yesterday. Artist Liz Million and actor Robin Ellwood were at the town's Railway Museum to run workshops. The Train Tribe sessions have been taking place all week with the last
A FAST FOOD restaurant chain has been given permission to open a second outlet in Darlington, but with revised opening times. Council officers recommended approval of plans to build a KFC restaurant and drive-through at Darlington Retail Park, in Yarm
COUNCILLORS have approved a house extension for the second time - despite being given wrong details in the first application. The plan for a first-floor extension at a house in Merrybent, near Darlington, was originally granted last year. But it was later
SUMMER FUN: A summer fun day organised by Lascelles Park Residents' Association, in Darlington, will take place on Saturday, August 16, between 11am and 4pm. The Northern Echo yesterday incorrectly published the date as August 14.
A VICTIM of crime has joined forces with police to set up the first Neighbourhood Watch scheme on a troubled section of a Darlington estate. Michael Nicholson, chairman of Skerne Park Residents' Association, has been assaulted, burgled and robbed while
PENRITH. - Fwd: 52 horses & ponies for special July sale. Fell & Dale ponies (un-reg): 880gns (mare); 470gns (3yrs); 460gns (2yr). Coloured cobs: 690 gns (2yrs). Riding ponies: 415gns (5yr mare). Shetland stallion: 275gns (3yr); Shetland mare
A LONG-SERVING member of Darlington's volunteer community has died. Grace Julia Evans, 80, of Squires Court, died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 20, after a short illness. Mrs Evans was born on September 30, 1922, in Hammersmith, London. During the
VILLAGERS who said a new housing scheme would swamp their former pit community have been offered a compromise by council planners. Dozens of residents in Witton Park objected to a development blueprint from Wear Valley District Council outlining proposals
THE dismissal of the charges against John Leslie has re-opened the debate surrounding the naming of defendants charged with rape and sex offences. The cases for and against anonymity have merit. The Lord Chief Justice is right to say the issue is finely
LOSING weight through diet and exercise proved a path to better health for one of the supporters of The Northern Echo's Chance to Live campaign. Eddie Murphy, a councillor from Crook, delighted his doctors by losing 1st 4lbs and bringing his blood pressure
WEARDALE councillors are pressing to join a task force working to regenerate their area following job losses. The move follows a complaint from regeneration committee members at Wear Valley District Council that they had been excluded from the preparation
THE first month of a project aimed at ridding the streets of drug dealers in Langbaurgh has been hailed a success. Sixty arrests have been made during 46 police raids across the district as part of the Dealer A Day campaign. Police have recovered drugs
A YOUNG rider from North Yorkshire took top honours at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead last week. Eleven-year-old Alice McCullagh, of Great Smeaton, near Northallerton, won the 13hh working hunter pony championship with her home-produced
EVERYTHING'S come up roses for a group of council gardeners who won a prize in a national flower show. Chester-le-Street District Council was one of 22 local authorities taking part in the Royal Horticultural Show's National Flowerbed Competition at Tatton
THE distraught family of a 16-year-old girl who died in a road accident are campaigning for a crossing to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Sarah Temple died in June a couple of days after being hit by two cars on the busy A167, near the Gretna
A THIEF who used a baby buggy as cover for a planned shoplifting expedition was caught by store staff monitoring security cameras, magistrates in Harrogate heard yesterday. Paul Watson, 23, from Barkston Grove, Chapelfields, York, travelled to Harrogate
PORTERS at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital are squaring up to challenge plans for new working practices. The porters are angry about proposals they claim could scotch bonus payments and threaten jobs. But they stress no industrial action is being planned
MEMBERS of the North-East Regional Youth Assembly will no longer have to make the long journey from Teesside to attend meetings. A video link means Stockton members can take part in conferences from their home town. It has always been difficult to bring
FORGET the hours - the days - you spent at Heathrow if you started this summer's holiday when the schools broke up. No-one wants to hear about British Airways' strikes, lack of announcements, false promises and failure to tempt you to fly with them ever
ACTOR Timothy West, whose recent performance as King Lear was widely acclaimed in the region, is now wearing his director's hat for a new production of HMS Pinafore which forms part of the autumn season at Darlington Civic Theatre. Two members of the
WHILE the world waits for soil tests to show what caused Saltburn's floral displays to wither and die, the community has wasted no time in getting to work to replace them. Hundreds of volunteers have emptied and replanted baskets and tubs and raised money
The double-glazed window of a house in Hurworth Hunt, Newton Aycliffe, was cracked after someone hurled a stone at it at about 1.15am on Wednesday. It will cost £1,700 to replace.
YOUNGSTERS at a Middlesbrough school have benefited thanks to a £2,500 donation from a Teesside supermarket. Staff from the Tesco store in Billingham were able to donate the money to Beverley School through the company's Community Charity Trust. The school
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture FOLLOWING Brussels' moves to control wheat exports, values have stopped rising, but remain steady. They will, however, remain volatile as markets react to both political and weather inputs. Barley prices have risen as
