Newcastle Airport was closed for more than an hour yesterday after a plane got stuck on a runway. The light aircraft's landing gear failed, blocking the runway, and attempts by the airport's fire service to move it failed. The plane was eventually moved
JONATHAN GREENING is willing to dig in and "do the dirty work'' to make sure Middlesbrough see the best of Juninho. Greening was Boro's match-winner with a stunning strike in goalkeeper Simon Tracey's testimonial at Bramall Lane on Saturday. But, once
CALL centre workers and their large pink elephant mascot march into the North-East this week to demand a halt to companies moving operations overseas. Members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) aim to draw attention to the number of companies switching
'I KNEW Queen Victoria. I used to say to her 'Vicky, come home and have a cup of tea'," said my exasperated wife as the question of history, and our age, intrigued the children this week. It was all the fault of TV's newest mad professor Garry Lavin who
WITH monkey-faced Robbie Williams plastered all over TV at the moment there seems to be a strong counter-argument to week-long series Nobody Likes A Smartass (BBC2). My wife initially groaned at the idea of watching celebrity know-alls, but was soon hooting
CUSTOMS chiefs fired a stern warning to organised crime gangs last night after smashing audacious bids to smuggle more than 750,000 cigarettes through North-East airports. A series of dramatic swoops by anti-smuggling officers culminated at Teesside Airport
FANS of brass band music are invited to attend a series of Sunday summertime concerts. The events - all free - have been organised by Hartlepool Borough Council and take place from 2pm to 4pm. This Sunday, Murton Colliery Band will play at the Quayside
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Norton must have fancied their chances of at least gaining a draw when they romped past the 200 mark but Newcastle's opening batsmen, captain Wayne Ritzema and Ryan Phillimore blasted their side to a ten
Federation Special Durham Senior League: What a glorious day it was for Horden on Saturday. The sun shone on Welfare Park, the game was all over in 91 minutes, 20 points were in the bag and Burnmoor defeated Horden's closest rivals for the championship
DARLINGTON may have preserved their unbeaten run in pre-season but manager Mick Tait was far from happy after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Barrow. Quakers completed their preparations for the new season with a less than convincing display against the Unibond
RESIDENTS are organising a protest march over delays to a parking permit scheme around Darlington Football Club's new stadium. The Northern Echo revealed on Saturday that a dispute over the cost of the residential permit system, north of the Reynolds
IF the name Madhur Jaffrey only makes you think of jars of Tikka sauce, cookery programmes and hugely successful recipes for Indian food, it's time to think again. Jaffrey is also an actress and she's about to join the cast of EastEnders for a couple
POLICE blocked the entrance to a town centre car park last night to stop "car cruises" which have led to illegal racing on public roads. Dozens of drivers regularly congregate in the North Bondgate car park, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on Sunday
SHOWING the self-assurance that had deserted his teammates on the Rugby Park pitch, Michael Proctor skilfully sidestepped the most innocuous of questions. Would you be disappointed, Michael, if you weren't in the starting line-up for the first game of
THOUSANDS of music fans at a blues festival paid tribute to its late founder this weekend. The 11th annual Stanley Blues Festival took place in the County Durham former pit town on Saturday. The man behind the free family event was John Kearney, founder
THE fairytale story of Cinderella was brought to life along a crowded high street yesterday. People of all ages turned out to watch the community carnival Ashrella - based on the children's favourite - part of Stockton International Riverside Festival
FOLK musicians showed practice makes perfect with an outdoor concert. The group, which has been taking part in the Folkworks Summer School, demonstrated what its members had learned with a performance of traditional music in Durham's Market Place on Saturday
The Readers' Durham County League: Tudhoe secretary Dave Linford forecast before the game with Kimblesworth that the side which failed to win would go out of the race for the championship. Despite the fact that there was no intervention by the weather
A CITY enjoyed a colourful break from everyday life when the sun shone on the an annual celebration of the community's patron saint. A dozen floats and more than 20 vintage cars joined the carnival procession to mark St Wilfrid's Day in Ripon on Saturday
QUICK-thinking police commandeered a golf buggy in their pursuit of a drunken man who took an angler hostage, holding a pair of scissors to his throat. Officers chasing the man across Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, called for back-up
A RAPID opening stand of 62 in only eight overs between Matthew Wood and Stephen Fleming gave bottom club Yorkshire Phoenix early hope that they could pull off a shock win against Second Division table-toppers Gloucestershire Gladiators at Cheltenham.
NOEL WHELAN is in talks with Millwall over a possible one-year loan deal. The Middlesbrough forward, a Bryan Robson recruit from Coventry for £2m three years ago, has been hampered by injuries and has failed to establish himself under Steve McClaren.
SUPPORTERS of fox hunting are being urged to join local Labour parties in the region in a last attempt to save the sport. A new organisation, called the Rural Army, has set up a website to persuade activists to take out constituency membership at a cost
A TEENAGER is fighting for his life after being struck by a car as he attempted to cross the A19. The 17-year-old, from Peterlee, County Durham, was among a group of youths who were running across the dual carriageway during rush hour. The accident happened
Old favourites from The Generation Game to Blind Date may have bitten the dust, but TV bosses are still struggling to keep viewers entertained on Saturday nights. In the summer of 2001, the then-ITV director of channels David Liddiment talked of a "once
IT WAS only a matter of time before someone became suspicious of Peter Barlow's movements in Coronation Street (ITV1). So when he goes missing yet again, his soon-to-be mother-in-law Bev smells a rat and that rat is called Peter. She puts on her deerstalker
SEAFRONT crab and shellfish stalls in a coastal town are under threat because of planned increases in rents from the borough council, say fishermen. The stalls have been on the harbourside between the West Pier and the lifeboat house, in Scarborough,
ATTEMPTING to unravel the vagaries of previous form can be frustrating to say the least, but one thing we do know for sure is that jockey tactics play an enormously important role in outcome of horse races. Ripon's undulating round course has for instance
POLICE were last night investigating a major warehouse blaze in the heart of a busy shopping area. More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze yesterday afternoon at Portrack Workshops, on the North Tees Industrial Estate at Stockton. Thick black smoke
DURHAM are giving trials to three overseas men as they consider their options for next season's squad. Gareth Breese, an all-rounder who bowls off spin and has played in one Test for the West Indies, played in last week's Second X1 Championship match
JONATHAN GREENING is willing to dig in and "do the dirty work'' to make sure Middlesbrough see the best of Juninho. Greening was Boro's match-winner with a stunning strike in goalkeeper Simon Tracey's testimonial at Bramall Lane on Saturday. But, once
A COUNTRY show, scrapped in 2001 because of the foot-and-mouth crisis and called off again last year after heavy rain, made a triumphant return at the weekend. Organisers of Tockwith Show, near York, believe there was a record crowd on Saturday, with
ABOUT 200 boats will take to the water today as a national competition comes to the North-East. The sailing dinghies will set off from the beach at Roker, Sunderland, this morning, for the Topper Nationals Championships. It is the first time the event
Q I NOTICE that signposts around Darlington say 'Darlington in the Tees Valley'. Is Tees Valley a county or should Darlington still be regarded as part of County Durham? - J Marshall, Darlington. A A DISTINCTION should be made between the traditional,
LIKE Dunblane and Lockerbie, Soham will always be a community which is synonymous with tragedy. And today - on the first anniversary of the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman - that tragedy will inevitably rise to the surface. It is right that
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Division One: Great Ayton leapfrogged Seaton Carew into second place when they won the match of the day by seven wickets. Richie Clayton made a century but still ended on the losing side. His 107 included
Spennymoor Town Band has been given £750 towards running costs by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham Masons. Joe Bulmer, from the Masons, presented a cheque at a recent rehearsal.
TWO students have been appointed chefs at a top restaurant after successfully completing work placements in the Channel Islands. Louise Forster and Rachel Weighell, NVQ catering and hospitality students at Darlington College of Technology, will start
TWO students have been appointed chefs at a top restaurant after successfully completing work placements in the Channel Islands. Louise Forster and Rachel Weighell, NVQ catering and hospitality students at Darlington College of Technology, will start
TOM Richards has typed 600 pages of his action-packed life story, but at 92 still has a long way to go to bring it up to date. "So far I have reached 1980, but a lot has happened in the 23 years since then, so I have got a lot of writing to do yet," he
THE family of a young girl who died from cancer chose what would have been her fifth birthday to launch a fundraising appeal. For almost two years, brave Katie-Leigh Tones amazed doctors with her fight against neuroblastma, the most common form of childhood
A GO-KARTING teenager with a passion for speed has taken the next step on the racing ladder. Daniel Cook, 15, from Scotton, near Catterick Garrison, has been approached by Honda to drive one of its single-seater cars when he turns 16 later this month.
THE first phase of a review of crime-fighting in Darlington will be considered later this month. Local groups are being asked to have their say on policies relating to several issues. The event, in the Dolphin Centre on Wednesday, August 13, is being
TRADERS in a town where one in five shops is empty have sent an SOS to a district's 40 councillors. Twenty retailers have backed a plea from the town's Chamber of Trade for shopper-friendly car parking in the centre of Bishop Auckland. Visitors will soon
HEALTH bosses have announced how they will spend £5m to improve services. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) received the extra cash from the Government in its budget for 2003-4. Trust leaders have spent the past months working out
THREE temporary workers were rewarded for being "one in a million" at a presentation night. Richard Maughan, from Northumberland, Nicola Hawes, from Durham, and Peter Whitter, from Sunderland, won joint first place in a competition to find "temps" who
A Punch and Judy puppet show is among the attractions on Craghead Millennium Green on Wednesday as part of Derwentside Leisure' Lark in the Park. Events run from 11am to 4pm and feature games, large inflatables and a soft play area. Admission is £3, but
A NORTH-East man has appeared in court charged with murdering a man outside a London nightclub. George Arthur Lumsden, 41, of Whittingham Road, Newcastle, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Saturday, charged with murdering Steven Pilling. He was
YOUNGSTERS from east Cleveland enjoyed the sun yesterday as they took part in a summer event. The third Saltburn Swashbuckle took place in the town with a number of new attractions, including an 18-metre inflatable whale, which was situated in the town's
THREE temporary workers were rewarded for being "one in a million" at a presentation night. Richard Maughan, from Northumberland, Nicola Hawes, from Durham, and Peter Whitter, from Sunderland, won joint first place in a competition to find "temps" who
A FORMER council painter and decorator is staging an exhibition of watercolours. Former Easington District Council employee Dawson Elliot - above, with some of his work - now extends his skill with the brush to more intricate paintings. His latest exhibition
TRANSFORMATION work on a former haunt of drug dealers and prostitutes has won an accolade from the Government. Glebe Park, Middlesbrough, which once a no-go area for families, has been cleared of overhanging trees and bushes which screened wrongdoers
CHESS players at two Eaglescliffe schools will benefit from funding for a new scheme. The Links Primary School and Teesside Preparatory and High School have been allocated Government funding for a Primary School Chess Partnership. Building Bridges is
A MOTORCYCLIST died at the weekend after he lost control of his bike and hit a car head-on. The 37-year-old, from the Ashington area of Northumberland, was riding east on the C200 Bellingham to Kielder road, on Saturday, when he lost control on a left-hand
A COMPANY has won an appeal to continue the recycling of building and demolition waste on a Darlington industrial estate. Concerned residents had spoken of their fears about the noise, smells and risks associated with asbestos at the TM Ward site, on
Trimmers Hairdressing in Bishop Auckland is sponsoring children's rides at a Celebrity Cricket Match featuring the cast of Emmerdale at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club on Sunday August 17. Proprietor Jean Wombwell said she wanted to encourage young people
Trimmers Hairdressing in Bishop Auckland is sponsoring children's rides at a Celebrity Cricket Match featuring the cast of Emmerdale at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club on Sunday August 17. Proprietor Jean Wombwell said she wanted to encourage young people
A GO-KARTING teenager with a passion for speed has been given the chance to drive a bigger and better machine. Daniel Cook, 15, from Scotton, near Catterick Garrison, was approached by Honda to drive one of their single-seater vehicles when he turns 16
safety zones could be created outside three York schools. Proposals are being put forward to improve entrances to Burton Green, Tang Hall and Clifton Green primary schools. The initiative includes "keep clear" markings, red road surfaces and a 20mph speed
YOUNG people who put their estate in the picture opened a week-long display of their work last night. Artist and dramatist Jane Crawford joined children from Woodhouse Close, in Bishop Auckland, at the beginning of June, to produce a book of photographs
When, in her twenties, Sam Sharpe discovered she was adopted, her world fell apart. In the second of a three-part series on adoption, Women's Editor Christen Pears hears about how Sam got to know her birth parents and rebuilt her life. IT was 8.30am.
TWO rescued dogs are looking for homes. Harvey, a white greyhound, was the most emaciated dog rescuers had ever seen when he arrived at Deerness Kennels, in Langley Moor, near Durham. Angie, is a small whippet-terrier cross-breed. Margaret Gardner, from
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: Shanoka Dissanayake produced another match-winning performance when Richmondshire dented the championship hopes of Redcar. He has played the leading role improving Richmond's fortunes and
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Lanchester still lead the table but it was a close call for them at Ashington where they won with their last pair at the wicket. The target of 116 looked well within their reach but when the Rutherford
POLICE are stepping up patrols in Harrogate's Valley Gardens following a sharp rise in youth disorder and crime. Police said the problems have coincided with the school holidays and that extra patrols are being backed up by the town's six newly-appointed
BUSINESSES and gym members in the Stanley area are rallying to raise funds for a stroke victim. Julie Manson, 32, of Craghead, suffered a stroke which has also brought on a tumour. Her condition means that she needs alterations to her house to make her
A CAMPAIGN group has pledged to be the eyes and ears of the community in a bid to help enforce experimental traffic regulations on a busy high street. Stockton Pedestrians' Group has expressed concerns that the Traffic Regulation Order on the town's High
HARTLEPOOL UNITED'S fringe players have been told to prove their worth by assistant boss Martin Scott. Several experienced Pool squad members played their part in a 1-0 win over UniBond League outfit Whitby Town on Saturday. And, despite the low scoreline
ROY and Hayley Cropper have never been Soapland's most normal Mr and Mrs. He's a mild-mannered chap who wouldn't say boo to a goose and she's a transsexual formerly known as Harold. Now, as we know, Roy was given a date rape drug and taken to bed by that
BUSINESS confidence in the North-East has fallen, according to a survey. The study, by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Experian Business Strategies, showed that the only two regions to avoid a decline in outlook over the last quarter were
Police have been urged to step up their efforts to tackle a bizarre sex craze sweeping North-East beauty spots. Countryside workers say that dogging - where couples get their kicks out of inviting strangers to watch and sometimes join in with them having
My Family and Autism (BBC2): "WE'RE an odd bunch, but for us this is ordinary life," said 14-year-old Luke Jackson near the end of this enlightening documentary. As viewers, we're so used to programmes about people with diseases and disabilities that
Plans are well under way for one of the region's biggest summer shows. Stockton Summer Show will be held in the grounds of Preston Hall Museum, from Friday to Monday, August 22 to 25. Friday is magic and mystery day with appearances by Hogrid and Dumbldare
ORGANISERS were clearing up yesterday after another successful two-day music festival in the shadow of a North-East castle. Richmond Live began earlier than usual this year, thanks to the backing of the famous Black Sheep Brewery and the North Yorkshire
HEALTH bosses have announced how they will spend £5m to improve services. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) received the extra cash from the Government in its budget for 2003-4. Trust leaders have spent the past months working out
CROOKS attempting smash and grab raids on pub fruit machines will soon get more than they gambled on. Northumbria Police is helping Houghton-le-Spring and Hetton-le-Hole landlords improve the odds of catching burglars who target the machines. Several
Three people are recovering after their car left the road and crashed into a tree. Emergency services were called to Beechwood Gardens, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, shortly before 2am yesterday. Firefighters cut off the roof and both front doors of the Ford
What better way is there to spend a summer's day with a small child than at a farm, surrounded by animals? Nicola Cutler and her two-year-old son Aidan sampled some of the those open to the public. Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester, County Durham (01388) 730300
A GROUP of poets have taken their passion for words to Scandinavia. Andy Willoughby and Jo Colley, from Darlington, Bob Beagrie and Val Magee, from Middlesbrough and Angela Redman, from Newcastle, visited Turku, the ancient capital of Finland. The group
WILL the media muck it up for the young man who would be king or can he manage the task quite easily by himself? If Prince William - the subject of How To Be A Prince (BBC1, Wednesday) - needed any pointers on turning press and public against you, then
HENMANIA of another kind has erupted at our house. Not everyone has been pleased that tennis-playing Tim has torn the TV schedules to tatters all week in his forlorn bid to win at Wimbledon 2003 (BBC1-BBC2). As early as Saturday, an unsporting umpire
I CAUGHT my wife scrubbing furiously at the skirting boards in the bathroom the other day before she admitted: "It's all the fault of those women on How Clean Is Your House? (C4, Wednesday)." Those women are, of course, the dreadfully direct "it's for
HAVING had my usual feast of Golf: the Open (BBC1 and BBC2) put under somewhat of a handicap this year, I've found myself seeking less sporting entertainment. It felt a little like watching Frank Spencer putting with a plastic child's nine iron when my
A WARNING has been issued to anyone found destroying birds nests that they could face a big fine or even prison. Police in Yarm, near Stockton, have received a number of reports from residents who have found water birds nests destroyed by stones thrown
LADY Catherine Percy has been banned from driving for speeding and still faces another charge. The 21-year-old daughter of the Duke of Northumberland was disqualified from driving for six months and fined £300 at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, in North
SHOWING the self-assurance that had deserted his teammates on the Rugby Park pitch, Michael Proctor skilfully sidestepped the most innocuous of questions. Would you be disappointed, Michael, if you weren't in the starting line-up for the first game of
A HAND-HELD gadget which can be used to help diagnose brain injury is one of the first fruits of a partnership between the National Health Service in the North-East and industry. The Pupilometer measures the eye's changing response to light during a neurological
MATTHEW Wood became the first Yorkshire batsman this season to reach 1,000 first class runs before the rain-ravaged Championship match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham fizzled out into a tame draw. It was a good day, also, for Steve Kirby who captured
New England captain Michael Vaughan has already had to learn the hard way that patience is a virtue and that one has to take the rough with the smooth. One thing he must do, however deep in the abyss he finds himself looking into, is keep the smile on
POLICE were last night investigating a major warehouse blaze in the heart of a busy shopping area. More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze yesterday afternoon at Portrack Workshops, on the North Tees Industrial Estate at Stockton. Thick black smoke
As the summer crop of budget-busting films prepares to battle it out on the cinema screens, Film Writer Steve Pratt looks at the phenonmenon of the blockbuster. Blame it on Hollywood director Steven Spielberg. He started it with his man-eating shark nicknamed
TALENTED musicians from across the region were brought together for a two-hour performance. The North Yorkshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra, which selects musicians from the county, as well as Teesside and County Durham, performed before more than 400
Durham Coast League: Only Hylton lost ground in the race for the championship. Although they won easily yesterday, they suffered a damaging defeat on Saturday whereas the other three contenders claimed maximum points from the week-end double programme
DURHAM'S modest one-day form continued as they lost their National League match against division two's bottom club Somerset at Riverside yesterday. Not even Shoaib Akhtar, who is rapidly becoming the local hero, could prevent the four-wicket defeat despite
Q I NOTICE that signposts around Darlington say 'Darlington in the Tees Valley'. Is Tees Valley a county or should Darlington still be regarded as part of County Durham? - J Marshall, Darlington. A A DISTINCTION should be made between the traditional,
THE birth of a baby is a happy time in the real world. But in Soapland, such occasions are the maternity ward equivalent of the St Valentine's Day massacre. The panting and groaning of the mother in labour is nothing compared to the gnashing of teeth
NEALE Cooper admits he is ready to further boost his squad in the next five days. Cooper takes his Hartlepool United side to Peterborough for the big kick-off on Saturday and the new boss believes more additions - he has signed four player already this
Honeymoons From Hell (ITV1): Love was in the air on the flight to Sri Lanka, as Jim said "yes" after partner Candace proposed over the plane's tannoy system. To add to the surprise, she'd smuggled their two young daughters and various relatives aboard
NEALE Cooper admits he is ready to further boost his squad in the next five days. Cooper takes his Hartlepool United side to Peterborough for the big kick-off on Saturday and the new boss believes more additions - he has signed four player already this
Famous faces from Coronation Street visited the region at the weekend to play in a charity football match. Staged at Northallerton Town Football Club's ground, North Yorkshire, the actors who play Ashley (Steven Arnold), Kirk (Andy Wymnet), Tyrone (Alan
A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with man-slaughter. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in connection with the death of Mark Mc-Kenna, 25, of Gerald Street, Newcastle, on Wednesday. The youth was remanded in custody
TWO seafront restaurant workers are to get bravery awards for rescuing a drowning man in a resort's harbour. Manager Richard Johnson and cook Richard Jones, of The Golden Grid, in Sandside, Scarborough, have each been honoured by the Royal Humane Society
David Soul, best known for the cult 1970s series Starsky and Hutch, is working on a pilot programme in the North-East. But he knows that whatever else he does, he'll never be separated from Hutch. IN an interview in the first Starsky and Hutch fan magazine
A patient whose life was saved by the skill of a North-East brain surgeon has raised more than £3,000 for hospital funds. Andrew Buckle roped in his best friend Jonathan Thompson for a marathon coast-to-coast cycle ride to say thank you to the health
CUSTOMS chiefs fired a stern warning to organised crime gangs last night after smashing audacious bids to smuggle more than 750,000 cigarettes through North-East airports. A series of dramatic swoops by anti-smuggling officers culminated at Teesside Airport
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
Young, Posh And Loaded (ITV1); Confessions Of A Cad (C4) : LAST year's documentary about young folk with expensive tastes and money to burn provoked jaw-dropping horror among the poor people who watched it. Now ITV is giving this posh lot their own series
EDUCATION: IT was illiberal thinking by Kevin Thompson (HAS, Jul 9) when he accused Durham County Council of subterfuge in the overhaul plan for future education needs, especially those dealing with primary education. If he ever takes a walk around Middlestone
QUICK-thinking police commandeered a golf buggy in their pursuit of a drunken man who took an angler hostage, holding a pair of scissors to his throat. Officers chasing the man across Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, called for back-up
HERE comes the bride, but will Shelley say "I do" or "get lost" to bridegroom Peter Barlow in Coronation Street (ITV1)? The happy couple have a few things to sort out beforehand. Their pre-nuptial agreement needs to include such topics as the wife and
A few years ago a comedy-drama about undertakers would have been a dead loss, but now death is not so much a dying business for TV producers In the week before ITV1 begins a new fly-on-the-chapel-of-rest-wall series about undertakers, the American comedy-drama
In Search of the Brontes (BBC1); Smart Sharks - Swimming with Roboshark (BBC1): The tale of the Bronte sisters would not have looked out of place in one of their novels. Three girls from a family of six children, brought up by their doting father after
GARY SPEED last night warned Premiership defenders to expect another season of torment from Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer. Super Shearer hit 25 goals in a goal-laden 2002-03 campaign which helped the Magpies clinch a Champions League berth. The
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
A MOTORCYCLIST died at the weekend after he lost control of his bike and hit a car head-on. The 37-year-old, from the Ashington area of Northumberland, was riding east on the C200 Bellingham to Kielder road, on Saturday, when he lost control on a left-hand
AN investigation was continuing last night into the cause of a fire which claimed the lives of a mother and her three-year-old daughter. The victims, who have not yet been formally identified, are believed to have been living with members of a peace collective
A pensioner remained in hospital last night following a road accident. The accident happened shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday, in Hillhead Road, on the Chapel House estate, Newcastle, 300 metres from The Peregrine pub. Police said a Ford Fiesta was travelling
THE managing director of online travel company Latedeals.com went back to the floor to improve the day-to-day running of his business. David Hawke experienced life as a customer advisor at his call centres in Newcastle, Peterlee, Middlesbrough and Leeds
Scarecrows greeted carnival crowds in a Teesdale town at the weekend. Middleton-in-Teesdale had been the centre of a scarecrow trail for two weeks before its summer celebrations on Saturday, with Worzel Gummidges of every shape and size lying in shop
Scarecrows greeted carnival crowds in a Teesdale town at the weekend. Middleton-in-Teesdale had been the centre of a scarecrow trail for two weeks before its summer celebrations on Saturday, with Worzel Gummidges of every shape and size lying in shop
KEY MEETING: The Upper Weardale Task Force will be revealing details of its strategy to regenerate the dale at a public meeting at Stanhope Town Hall, on Thursday, at 7.30pm. Officials of Wear Valley District Council will attend. HELPING HAND: The Age
TOM Richards has typed 600 pages of his action-packed life story, but at 92 still has a long way to go to bring it up to date. "So far I have reached 1980, but a lot has happened in the 23 years since then, so I have got a lot of writing to do yet," he
FEARS for the future of Bishop Auckland as Wear Valley's main commercial centre will be put to council planners tomorrow night. The town's Civic Society is being addressed on an updated strategic plan charting a framework for development in the district
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a bus interchange to improve safety in Darlington town centre. Members of Growing Older Living in Darlington (Gold) have formed a group to press for the facility, which they say the town desperately needs. "I think it is pretty
POLICE were last night continuing the hunt for a man who tried to steal two parrots from a Darlington pet shop. The raid took place on Friday afternoon at Darlington Aquatics and Pets, when a masked man threatened staff before grabbing the two caged birds
SECURITY cameras could be used to prevent children playing at Darlington Auction Mart. Concerns were growing last week that youngsters were playing with asbestos materials on the site. They are said to have been breaking into the mart and vandalising
THREE temporary workers were rewarded for being "one in a million" at a presentation night. Richard Maughan, from Northumberland, Nicola Hawes, from Durham, and Peter Whitter, from Sunderland, won joint first place in a competition to find "temps" who
IT will be the end of an era when a family-run post office in North Yorkshire closes its doors later this week. Bill Spence helps his daughters in the shop, at Ampleforth College, while writing books under the pseudonym Jessica Blair. However, the family
Newcastle Airport was closed for more than an hour yesterday after a plane got stuck on a runway. The light aircraft's landing gear failed, blocking the runway, and attempts by the airport's fire service to move it failed. The plane was eventually moved
Three people are recovering after their car left the road and crashed into a tree. Emergency services were called to Beechwood Gardens, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, shortly before 2am yesterday. Firefighters cut off the roof and both front doors of the Ford
A DALES attraction wants to increase the number of visitors allowed through its gates. Coverdale's Forbidden Corner has applied to Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority for permission to let in 150 visitors an hour. Owner Colin Armstrong is hoping for
A HOST of pop stars were forced to flee when fans went on the rampage at a free beach concert. Stars at the gig, including the Cheeky Girls, former All Saints singer Mel Blatt and rapper Lisa Maffia, dived for cover as youths hurled bottles and beer cans
LADIES and gentlemen, in the red corner we have Tommy "Slugger" Harris, and in the blue corner we have Tyrone "Tubby" Dobbs. The fight in Coronation Street (ITV1) will be mercifully short as fiery ginger nut Tommy, freed from the restrictions of the witness
A NORTH-East man has appeared in court charged with murdering a man outside a London nightclub. George Arthur Lumsden, 41, of Whittingham Road, Newcastle, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Saturday, charged with murdering Steven Pilling. He was
A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with man-slaughter. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in connection with the death of Mark Mc-Kenna, 25, of Gerald Street, Newcastle, on Wednesday. The youth was remanded in custody
Archaeaologist Max Adams has a pretty uncompromising view of TV history programmes - and that's one reason why he's presenting his own. Archaeologist and historian Max Adams doesn't own a television set, but that doesn't stop him having strong views on
THE provision of consumer advice in the borough of Stockton is to be increased with the appointment of a new member of staff. Eight thousand people a year contact the trading standards and licensing unit's consumer advice service, which is based in Stockton
RESIDENTS interested in the future of their community are being asked to take part in an election. The post of the vice-chairman of the Hartlepool Central Neighbourhood Consultative Forum is vacant and residents in the area are being asked to nominate
POLICE have confirmed they are investigating another death in York. Andrew Hickox, of Elland, West Yorkshire, was found with serious head injuries in the city's Lower Friargate last month. He died several days later in hospital, prompting a high-profile
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
DISABLED people can now gain easy access to their community centre, thanks to a group of volunteers from the community. A new ramp has been installed at Thornley Community Centre following a project by the village's Community Team. The team is made up
A LAW student has won the right to buy his council house in a landmark decision that could have implications for thousands of householders. Tom Mountain, of South Shields, asked officials at South Tyneside Council to fix a minor fault in the ceiling of
FORMER Tory leader William Hague will be one of the first people on stage after the relaunch of Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal next month. But the town's MP won't be treading the boards in an acting role. Mr Hague is supporting an event to highlight
A pensioner remained in hospital last night following a road accident. The accident happened shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday, in Hillhead Road, on the Chapel House estate, Newcastle, 300 metres from The Peregrine pub. Police said a Ford Fiesta was travelling
Carnival organisers at West Auckland are choosing their queen and her attendants at a disco on Wednesday, August 13, in the working men's club. The carnival is on Monday, August 25. MINI-MARKET: St Catherine's Community Centre, in Crook Market Place,
A THOUSAND patients are facing a ten-week wait to find out if they will lose their doctors' practice. Last month, the Medical Group wrote to patients in Lanchester, near Durham, warning them that the village's Westlands surgery was to close because of
ABOUT 200 boats will take to the water today as a national competition comes to the North-East. The sailing dinghies will set off from the beach at Roker, Sunderland, this morning, for the Topper Nationals Championships. It is the first time the event
PLANS to open a much-needed community centre for young people are a step closer after a cash boost. Easington police and the district council's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit has secured £50,000 through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Pathfinder project
WORK has begun on a new children's art centre which will offer visual arts experiences for primary school youngsters. The centre, in the grounds of Our Lady and St Bede School, Stockton, has been funded through the Government's Space for Sports and Arts
A DISPLAY of work by students who have taken part in a range of special courses is on display in Stockton High Street to help inspire others. The display, by students on Stockton Borough Council's adult education art and craft courses, is mounted in the
German supermarket chain Lidl has confirmed its interest in a new store in Colburn. Richmondshire District Council has received a detailed application for a store on the site of The Scorpion nightclub, which would be demolished. The land is earmarked
HARROGATE Theatre's autumn season is being given a boost by three stars - John Duttine, Christopher Cazenove and Les Dennis. Duttine's credits include To Serve Them All My Days, Who Dares Wins and Jesus of Nazareth. Cazenove won fame as Ben Carrington
AN arts plan has been adopted in Hambleton to deliver events and exhibitions to adults and children. The impact of the scheme is already being felt in the area, with two public exhibitions held recently in Easingwold and Stokesley and a range of art-based
AN investigation was continuing last night into the cause of a fire which claimed the lives of a mother and her three-year-old daughter. The victims, who have not yet been formally identified, are believed to have been living with members of a peace collective
In Search of the Brontes (BBC1); Smart Sharks - Swimming with Roboshark (BBC1): The tale of the Bronte sisters would not have looked out of place in one of their novels. Three girls from a family of six children, brought up by their doting father after
DURHAM'S modest one-day form continued as they lost their National League match against division two's bottom club Somerset at Riverside yesterday. Not even Shoaib Akhtar, who is rapidly becoming the local hero, could prevent the four-wicket defeat despite
A HOST of pop stars were forced to flee when fans went on the rampage at a free beach concert. Stars at the gig, including the Cheeky Girls, former All Saints singer Mel Blatt and rapper Lisa Maffia, dived for cover as youths hurled bottles and beer cans
THE North-East has one of the best chances of recording house price rises in the coming year, according to a report. The Sunday Express/Technical Forecasts house price index revealed yesterday that the price of an average UK home has risen from £140,000
WHEN Luke Casey was working for BBC's Nationwide in London while still living in the North-East, his colleagues in the capital would ask him, "what's it like up there?". He didn't mince his words. "I always said, 'it's dreadful, shocking, you don't want
GARY SPEED last night warned Premiership defenders to expect another season of torment from Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer. Super Shearer hit 25 goals in a goal-laden 2002-03 campaign which helped the Magpies clinch a Champions League berth. The
