INTERNATIONAL engineering firm Amec runs a number of its divisions in Darlington and is one of the town's biggest employers. These include its downstream oil and gas division, internal asset management and shared services, which only recently moved to
MORE unitary authorities or one all-purpose super council. About the only thing local councils could agree on was the need for bigger, and better, local authorities. One thing is for certain: the arguments will be long and difficult. If the North-East
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Picker/packer. Thirsk, £4.75ph, 8.30am to 5pm Mon-Fri, part-time available, temporary, must be 18 plus with own transport, experience an advantage. Ref: NOE 19215
A MALE nurse bent back the thumbs of a frail, elderly patient and drank alcohol while he was on duty, a disciplinary inquiry heard yesterday. The hearing also heard that Donald Emery, 47, handled patients roughly, failed to implement a doctor's instructions
ENGLAND'S cricketers made history yesterday with a remarkable nine-wicket win over South Africa. Against all the odds England bounced back from a disastrous first day to clinch victory at The Oval, and square the Test series. Never before had an England
A RESEARCH and technology centre is developing its lake as a habitat for wildlife. The body of water is an attractive feature of the Wilton Centre near Redcar, east Cleveland, which is home to a large number of multinational companies. Over the years,
Hero Carl Kennedy abandoned his own engagement celebrations to rescue a drowning woman from a river. He and fiancee Abi Barker had just broken the happy news of their wedding plans to Carl's parents Mick and Kim. But as they walked along the River Wear
Even the most pessimistic have had to change their tune recently, as the UK Stock Market pushes on. The FTSE 100 Index has now broken through the stubborn 4200 barrier, and momentum is building for a sustained rally. While the main market has risen by
A CHARITY has furnished the visitors' suite at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, at Kirkleatham, with £750 worth of electrical goods. The North-East Ladies Luncheon Charity presented the items, along with £750 worth of garden furniture, to Philip Moxham
AN army of volunteer walkers will take residents on health walks over the coming weeks, in an attempt to get them to take regular exercise. The Health Walks Gateshead scheme consists of short two-mile circular urban walks, designed to get people exercising
Inverness Clachnacuddin, perennially familiar on the pools coupons, are again just one game from the jackpot. The Scottish Cup first round proper, anyway. The Gaelic name means something about the place of the washing stones; the reality is less romantic
PLANS to establish a walking group for visually impaired people in Darlington are pressing ahead. Social services are working with the town's countryside team to support the organisation, which has already staged its first walk. Darlington Borough Council
PLANS to establish a walking group for visually impaired people in Darlington are pressing ahead. Social services are working with the town's countryside team to support the organisation, which has already staged its first walk. Darlington Borough Council
A COURSE at a County Durham library is opening up a new world for people whose sight is impaired. Durham County Council's Clayport Library, in Durham City, runs an array of information technology (IT) courses with the support of New College, Durham. But
A COURSE at a County Durham library is opening up a new world for people whose sight is impaired. Durham County Council's Clayport Library, in Durham City, runs an array of information technology (IT) courses with the support of New College, Durham. But
A CRAFTS conference is due to leave a lasting impression on Tyneside this month. A two-day conference examining new approaches to curating the crafts, due to the increasing diversity of locations for craft exhibitions and virtual format presentations,
A FOOTBALL team has picked up a prize from The Northern Echo for its website. South Bank United Football Club's site has been chosen as Pick of the Month by our CommuniGate team. Mark Trainor, who runs the website for the Teesside team, received a pair
A POPULAR disco for under-age youngsters looks likely to come to an end. The monthly event has been running for five years in Durham but now the organisers say that rising costs have made it unviable. The last event will be held on Saturday, September
A CAFE owner is to appeal to the Government after a £5,000 tax demand led him to close his business. Shaun Omara felt he had no alternative but to close in the face of the crippling bill for business rates. He paid off his three staff, ditched £1,000
A DARLINGTON school has raised £1,300 to help deprived children in Uganda. Pupils and staff at Hurworth House School have spent the past year fundraising for the Friend's Orphanage Project. Cash was raised at a variety of events. The donation has allowed
A DARLINGTON couple are appealing for help to find their missing cat. Rasheed and Tracy Jaleel's black cat, Dee, went missing on Sunday afternoon after wandering out of their back yard in George Street. Mr Jaleel said: "She isn't an outdoor cat and all
A CHURCH will be filled with flowers and music this weekend as part of the national heritage open days. Fourteen large floral displays are being arranged in Northgate United Reformed Church, in Darlington, for visitors to view on the four open days. The
A DARLINGTON dance school has been invited to perform at a London theatre. Pupils aged from six to 19 from the Born to Dance studio will take part in the Children's Variety Show at Her Majesty's Theatre, in Haymarket, on Sunday. Yesterday, 42 girls and
A SET of points dealt the glancing blow that led to a head-on collision between two trains in the Selby rail disaster, an expert revealed yesterday. An inquest into the crash at Great Heck, near Selby, North Yorkshire, on February 28, 2001, heard how
PLANS have been drawn up to develop a popular wildlife area in Darlington. Cocker Beck, in Cockerton, will be improved with the creation of wetlands and tree and shrub planting. Water flows will also be improved to maintain water quality. The move follows
TEENAGERS have won a runners-up prize in a national photographic competition. The youngsters have been invited to the Royal Albert Hall in London to receive prizes in the group category of the Imagine photographic competition organised by research charity
VISITORS to a museum are to be treated to an ever-changing display of curios which have been collected over eight decades. Hartlepool's museums service has accrued many artefacts in the 80 years it has been in business. Some of the more diverse items
AN innovative project aimed at providing an east Durham school with its own young people's health and advice unit was launched yesterday. The Teenage Referral and Advice Centre (TRAC) based at Shotton Hall school has been devised as a means of supporting
EVERY 90mph missile that Steve Harmison propelled at South Africa's batsmen yesterday had a defiant message writ large across it. Loosely speaking, it read: Drop me if you dare! Axed for the Headingley Test last month, when the uncapped Kabir Ali was
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenager snatched a handbag from a woman in Hartlepool. The 58-year-old woman was walking along Church Square with her sister at 8.40pm on Friday when the thief rode up on a bicycle behind her. He grabbed the
THORNLEY Women's Group will run a series of bite size courses this autumn. The group, with the Workers' Educational Association and Stonham Housing, will offer subjects including mat making, local history, computer skills, jewellery making and healthy
POLICE have branded as cowards two men who beat a man unconscious. The 21-year-old victim of the unprovoked attack is believed to have lain in the street for 90 minutes with a broken cheekbone, four loosened teeth and extensive bruising and swelling to
A CHARITY dedicated to helping vulnerable young people is seeking volunteers to help with its work. Hambleton and Richmondshire Nightstop is looking for hosts and drivers to provide accommodation and transport for 16 to 25-year-olds with nowhere to stay
Inverness Clachnacuddin, perennially familiar on the pools coupons, are again just one game from the jackpot. The Scottish Cup first round proper, anyway. The Gaelic name means something about the place of the washing stones; the reality is less romantic
A TEENAGE design student is keeping his fingers crossed in the hope of picking up an important title next week. Matthew Mellalieu, of Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby, is hoping his design for an energy generator will impress judges of the Audi Design Foundation
A PROFESSIONAL photographer has won an award after submitting hair model shots created by stylists at Saks in Ripon. Paul Cooper originally took the photographs for the salon's entry into the Saks Awards last year, but two were so striking that he used
SIX young people are celebrating after being chosen to model for a new clothes shop. The group has already spent an afternoon on a photoshoot at a modelling agency after winning a competition at Thirsk's new shop for teenagers, Mur Mur. Their pictures
Darlington's summer of relative inactivity in the transfer market may have provided few with much optimism for the new season - but it couldn't have worked out much better for one player. The story of Chris Hughes is one which could have come straight
UNCERTAINTY is hanging over the jobs of more than 300 staff at a US-owned steel firm after it slid into administration. PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed joint administrators of Sheffield Forgemasters Rolls, which employs 312 workers at plants
CRAIG BELLAMY performed a dramatic U-turn last night when he agreed to head back to Newcastle today to avert a dressing-down from Sir Bobby Robson. Bellamy, who played for Wales in their 4-0 mauling by Italy against the Newcastle manager's wishes, had
Suspicion (ITV1) The Curse Of Friends Reunited (five) THE mobile phone now has a regular part to play in modern thrillers, with key plot points hinging on a vital call or even a missed call. Now the role of the e-mail is being felt. Amanda Redman's Carol
A CATALOGUE of remarkable coincidences played a prominent part in the events that led to the Selby rail disaster, an inquest heard yesterday. Deputy North Yorkshire coroner David Hinchliffe re-opened the hearing at Harrogate's Majestic Hotel more than
BRAND management group Chorion has forecast that Agatha Christie TV deals and increased demand for children's character Noddy would drive a substantial increase in annual profits. The London group said its computer-generated TV animation series Make Way
SUNDERLAND'S win in the best large city category meant it pipped deadly rival Newcastle, which won an award of merit. The judges said they were very impressed with the enthusiasm of all concerned with the entry. They praised the many attractive floral
THE region's stunning scenery and varied landscape could be the key to bringing A-list movie stars to work in the North-East. Bosses at Newcastle-based Northern Film and Media, the people entrusted with attracting big budget movies to the region, have
PUNTERS shouldn't go far wrong by backing Ryans Mistake (4.55) at Catterick this afternoon. Being a son of the Derby winner Dr Devious out of a Halo mare, Alan Swinbank's three-year-old just about gets the nod on breeding alone. Beautiful bloodlines are
Nanotechnology has been heralded as the next big technological revolution. In the second of a series of interviews with the five bosses of the new regional Centres of Excellence, Business Correspondent Jonathan Jones met Dr Gerson Machado, the man with
WORK has begun on a £3.6m industrial and distribution development which has the potential to create more than 250 jobs in an area devastated by redundancies. Maple Way will be 70,000sq ft of new, high-quality premises on the Aycliffe Industrial Park,
NORTH-EAST women are reluctant to make the lifestyle changes that might reduce their risk of breast cancer, according to a new survey. The research, carried out by Cancer Research UK, shows that only a small proportion of women take action to minimise
BUILDERS merchants Travis Perkins posted a 22 per cent rise in half-year profits. On top of the effects of an ongoing expansion drive, the group said warm spring weather and resilient consumer confidence helped it to a strong first-half, with pre-tax
THE Government stands on the threshold of one of the more far-reaching decisions in the history of British domestic politics - whether to split up the long-established Whitehall structure. The most powerful Bills of modern times have been drafted, thrashed
BRITISH Airways and directories business Yell are preparing for promotion to London's blue-chip FTSE 100 Index, with the latest quarterly reshuffle due to be announced later this week. Both have seen their share prices rise in recent months, putting them
THE spectre of negative equity has raised its head after an economic think-tank said Britain's economy could fall into a deflationary spiral by the middle of 2005. House prices would fall by almost ten per cent next year and by about 15 per cent in both
THE Government has been handed a gilt-edged opportunity to right some hefty wrongs. The decision to commission a review into the feasibility of relocating government departments to the regions presents the clearest chance to date to do just that and to
STRUGGLING British manufacturers saw output rise in the past three months. According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), manufacturing output increased by 0.2 per cent in the three months to July. But when including figures
BOOKMAKER William Hill shrugged off disappointment on the race track to post a 27 per cent rise in profits in the first half of the year. The group, which runs 1,581 betting shops, shrugged off tough comparisons with last year when the football World
DARLINGTON needs to shout louder to make the world of business and commerce more aware of the benefits of moving to the town, according to Alasdair MacConachie. The chairman of the Darlington Partnership and managing director of Vauxhall car dealership
VEGETARIANS used to be treated with suspicion by the meat eating majority. "How could they resist a nice juicy steak?" people would ask. "And wasn't a diet of just fruit and vegetables bad for their health?" But not anymore. After countless scare stories
A MAJOR effort is being launched to tempt more people to visit one of the region's most historic cities. Leading tour operators from all over the country are about to arrive in Ripon, North Yorkshire, for a special showcase event. And they will be given
THERE is so much to learn from the words of Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster yesterday as he cut the first turf in Shildon for the new railway heritage centre. As we report on Page 14, he said: "This is the most exciting day for Shildon in my 24 years
Wansbeck Trophy (Best Village): winner, Earsdon; runner-up, Waterhouses. Cameron Trophy (Best Large Village): winner, Warkworth; runner-up, Greatham; awards of merit, Heighington and Aycliffe Village. Whitworth Hall and Gardens Trophy (Best Small Country
Suspicion (ITV1); The Curse Of Friends Reunited (five); THE mobile phone now has a regular part to play in modern thrillers, with key plot points hinging on a vital call or even a missed call. Now the role of the e-mail is being felt. Amanda Redman's
A CRUCIAL study has told Chancellor Gordon Brown to consider Darlington when tens of thousands of jobs are moved out of London, The Northern Echo can reveal. An unpublished analysis by King Sturge, the international property consultants, has identified
Hundreds of historic buildings are throwing open their doors for Britain's Heritage Open Days weekend. Marjorie McIntyre reports on Seaton Holme SEATON HOLME in Easington Village was constructed in the 13th Century and is believed to be one of the oldest
The music industry is renowned for dashing the hopes of bright young things. One man who survived to establish a recording studio is Graham Robinson. Tony Kearney visited Circulation Recordings to find out the secret of his success. FRAMED on the wall
Michael Vaughan dragged his weary body away from The Oval having finished his first summer as captain with a memorable victory over South Africa. Vaughan was in the dressing room to begin the celebrations as man-of-the-match Marcus Trescothick edged Jacques
The Butterwick Children's Hospice celebrates its fifth birthday this week. Today, Katie Barlow visits the hospice and finds a place that shatters her preconception. IN my mind, the image I had of a hospice was of a place where people go to die, filled
MIDDLESBROUGH new boy Boudewijn Zenden faces the axe for Holland's crunch Euro 2004 qualifier with the Czech Republic in Prague tomorrow night. Zenden, set to make his Boro debut at Bolton on Saturday, was hauled off at half-time after a disappointing
According to some, they are a disaster waiting to happen. Yet the arrival of unwanted warships from America will create much-needed jobs in the North-East. Nigel Burton looks at the risks - and the benefits - of dismantling the Ghost Fleet. FROM a distance
TRIUMPHANT Sedgefield carried off the award for the best small country town for the eleventh consecutive year. Mayor Linda Maddison picked up the Whitworth Hall and Gardens Trophy at the awards ceremony. The entry was organised by the Sedgefield in Bloom
If your investment portfolio has not been providing you with the returns that you expected recently, it could be time to undertake a review of its overall composition. Many investors are often overweight in shares and underweight in fixed interest investments
FIVE generations of the Handley family turned out to celebrate a great-great grandmother's 100th birthday. Centenarian Letitia Handley, from Shildon, said that the gathering at the Burtree Inn had been a truly special day. She said: "All my grandchildren
A NEWTON Aycliffe doctor who won a cash prize at a learning event is to split his winnings between two charities. Dr Rob McKinty, from the Bewick Crescent practice, won the £100 raffle at a Time Out and Time In protected learning event, held every three
OFFICIALS are delighted with the high number of sheep entered for one of the North-East's leading agricultural shows after two bleak years in the wake of the foot and mouth disease epidemic. Some classes will have far better entries than expected at the
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: The Church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Cuthbert's, in Crook, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone on Sunday. A book telling the story of the church will be launched at a service on Tuesday, October
A MOTHER is stopping her child from going to school in a row over drinking water. Steven Tindall, aged five, has missed five days of the new term at Whitecliffe Primary, Carlin How, in east Cleveland. With no taste for plain tap water, Steven drinks flavoured
FORMER Pop Idol Aaron Bayley, has had his first North-East concert moved after selling out the venue. Aaron, who is signed to Washington's Road Goes on Forever Records, has sold out his first gig in the bistro at Newcastle Opera House. It has been moved
A NURSERY school owner has won his appeal to build a childcare facility in Newton Aycliffe. John Owens was furious when Sedgefield Borough Council refused him permission to build a 50-place nursery on the town's industrial estate. Mr Owens plans to replace
A DARLINGTON record label has set up a television programme to showcase local and national bands. Virtual Venue, which began on August 20 and will run for 12 weeks, offers opportunities for young musicians, as well as technical training in other areas
A DARLINGTON record label has set up a television programme to showcase local and national bands. Virtual Venue, which began on August 20 and will run for 12 weeks, offers opportunities for young musicians, as well as technical training in other areas
A FOOTBALL team has picked up a prize from The Northern Echo for its website. South Bank United Football Club's site has been chosen as Pick of the Month by our CommuniGate team. Mark Trainor, who runs the website for the Teesside team, received a pair
HEALTH officials have outlined the actions they will be taking to improve Sedgefield Primary Care Trust's (PCT) national rating next year. The trust was given only a one star rating by the Commission for Health Improvement this year. Allan Gray, chairman
A MAN who twice cheated death is taking part in a charity run to give a young girl a better chance in life. Peter Baxter will join thousands of other competitors in the Great North Run on Sunday, September 21, to help a ten-year-old girl who has a severe
AN urgent plea has been made to fill 800 job vacancies to help with the Christmas rush at Gateshead's MetroCentre. With little more than 110 days to go until Christmas, store bosses will next weekend begin their search for staff at the MetroCentre Christmas
THE man credited with making Manchester United the world's wealthiest football club is the latest big-money transfer signing by Chelsea. The appointment of Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon to the Stamford Bridge boardroom was confirmed last night
Residents in the York area get a chance to find out more about health care services at a seminar tomorrow. Health trust representatives and City of York councillors will discuss issues including the key functions of the NHS Trust, partnership arrangements
RICHMOND has been put in the bigger picture thanks to a £2,000 upgrade to three security camera monitors used to relay images from the town centre. The monitors are based at a control room in Catterick Garrison and display images to civilian operators
PUNTERS shouldn't go far wrong by backing Ryans Mistake (4.55) at Catterick this afternoon. Being a son of the Derby winner Dr Devious out of a Halo mare, Alan Swinbank's three-year-old just about gets the nod on breeding alone. Beautiful bloodlines are
A CONTROVERSIAL vote by MPs could give health officials the power to add fluoride to drinking water. Following last night's free vote, health chiefs in County Durham and the Tees Valley will attempt to get public backing to make the changes in the North-East
RESIDENTS on a Darlington estate say a recycling scheme has collapsed, with boxes of bottles and newspapers going uncollected for weeks at a time. People on the Firthmoor estate have been leaving their unwanted items for recycling in blue boxes outside
A CAMPAIGN to raise the profile of Darlington's nature reserves has received a boost. Darlington Borough Council has been awarded a grant by English Nature to generate interest in the sites. The town presently has three local nature reserves but expects
CELEBRATIONS are planned in Middlesbrough to mark Pakistan Independence Day, on Saturday. Lord Nazir Ahmed, of Rotherham, will be guest of honour, joining the mayor and MPs at the celebration organised by the Teesside Cultural Forum, at the Southlands
VILLAGERS left stranded by cuts to a bus service linking east Durham and Hartlepool are demanding a rethink on its future. People living in Hesleden, east Durham, claim the decision to axe the public transport has made travelling to Hartlepool a lengthy
HUMAN settlement across Yorkshire has been brought to life with the launch of a book tipped to be a bestseller among archaeologists. The Yorkshire Archaeological Society announced on Saturday the publication of the most comprehensive review of human settlement
FIREFIGHTERS had to sledgehammer their way through two doors to reach a woman trapped inside a blazing house, in the same street where a family lost their lives in a fire in April. The unnamed woman, believed to be in her early 20s, had fallen asleep
ESH Parish Council has been rewarded for its efforts in looking after local footpaths over the past decade. It was one of 80 parish councils and community groups to be recognised at a ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of Durham County Council's Parish
A WEEK-long crackdown targeting drug dealers and other known criminals has netted police property worth thousands and led to a dozen arrests. Detectives executed more than 20 magistrates' warrants at addresses in the Consett, Chester-le-Street and Durham
Hundreds of Shetland ponies were groomed to perfection for one of the biggest events in the horse calendar. Ponies from as far afield as Aberdeen and Cornwall attended the 2003 Shetland Pony Stud-Book Society Breed Show, held for the first time in five
A 46-year-old woman who went missing from her home on Friday, triggering a countywide police search, was yesterday found safe. Judith Wildwood, of Southbank, in York, who suffers from depression, was found in the Penrith area of Cumbria.
COUPLES desperate for help to keep their marriages from breaking down may be saved from having to travel long distances in order to get advice and counselling. Relate North East is seeking thousands of pounds in funding to get an outreach service off
SALTBURN received a standing ovation when the results of the Northumbria in Bloom competition were announced yesterday. The town's community was devastated earlier in the summer after a mystery poisoner slipped a cocktail of chemicals into water used
Picker/packer. Thirsk, £4.75ph, 8.30am to 5pm Mon-Fri, part-time available, temporary, must be 18 plus with own transport, experience an advantage. Ref: NOE 19215. Administrator. Ripon, £11,500pa, 39hrs pw 8.30am to 5.30pm Mon-Fri, must be computer literate
Mobile sales and service technician. Consett, £14,500pa, 40-45hrs pw 8am to 5.30pm Mon-Fri, 8am to noon Sat, must have mechanical background, four years experience preferred, full driving licence essential. Ref: ON 16648. Meat packers. Consett, 7am to
Wartime secrets buried below a North-East town centre are threatening a £20m redevelopment. In 1939, Middlesbrough Council ordered the installation of seven, 27ft long air raid shelters to protect 350 town hall staff in the event of a German raid. It
SECOND WORLD WAR J COOK (HAS, Sept 6) repeats the old phrase that, had it not been for America, we would have been invaded by Germany. Not wishing to burst his/her bubble, but Germany ceased all plans to invade Britain after losing the Battle of Britain
AN advertising campaign launched yesterday shows people in the North-East are not alone when it comes toconquering barriers they feel they have to overcome to find employment. Speaking on the New Deal - The Deal is You're Not Alone campaign, Minister
Where did the real power and influence lie in the great country houses of the past? Women's Editor Christen Pears reports on a new exhibition celebrating 300 years of the role of women. WIVES and daughters, sisters and mothers, servants and mistresses
PROPERTY and land bank firm UK Land Estates has swelled the value of its portfolio to £160m by snapping up a major Newcastle landmark. Aerial House, a 13,950sq ft building in City Road, gets its name due to the telecoms compound on the roof where Yorkshire
POLICE are anxious to hear from anybody who recognises this man, pictured, who used a counterfeit £20 to pay for his goods. The man used a forged note when he bought a sandwich at the Post Office, at Goathland, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, on August
THERE are few bigger users of paper than the book industry - but now North-East entrepreneur Barry Crow has launched a project to reverse that trend. Newcastle-based Mr Crow has created the book website greenmetropolis.com, which encourages readers to
The war on terrorism came right into the middle of my parish here in the City of London on Sunday. Streets were cordoned off as hundreds of police and firemen staged a huge exercise in which it was pretended that a terrorist had released a deadly poison
DARLINGTON scooped the best small city award for the ninth time in a row and the fourteenth time overall. Judges commented on the "innovative floral designs" in the town centre and on roundabouts as well as the spotless appearance of the town centre.
A BORED soccer fan who was arrested after nodding off as his team were beaten by Arsenal will face a trial. Sleepy Adrian Carr landed himself in court after he dozed off as his beloved Middlesbrough were thrashed 4-0 by the Gunners in a Premiership match
A NUMBER of companies in the North-East have sponsored a new nature reserves guide. The main funding for Durham Wildlife Trust's guide has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Countryside
HISTORY was made yesterday as the first turf was cut at the launch of a £10m railway village. Derek Foster MP for Bishop Auckland did the honours at a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction work at the multi-million pound project in Shildon,
Wartime secrets buried below a North-East town centre are threatening a £20m redevelopment. In 1939, Middlesbrough Council ordered the installation of seven, 27ft long air raid shelters to protect 350 town hall staff in the event of a German raid. It
KITCHEN equipment group Aga Foodservice, makers of the cooker favoured by Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, has acquired a US-based fridge maker. The group said the £13.3m deal to buy Northland-Marvel would allow it to sell both cookers and refrigerators in North
WORK is about to start on a business park that could provide tens of thousands of square feet of office space suitable for government staff. Morton Palms has been highlighted as an ideal opportunity for civil service relocation to the region. More than
MOVES to bring Government and other institutions to the region could do away with groups such as One NorthEast and take power away from London. Such moves are vital in order to end the North-South divide, according to a leading North-East academic. Professor
AVIATION specialists Flight Precision had a pleasant surprise while carrying out routine work in Portugal when word-of-mouth brought the firm extra work. The company, based at Teesside International Airport, was working on Lisbon Airport when a plea for
THOUSANDS of bottles of flavoured spring water can now be found cooling in fridges all over the Maltese islands, only weeks after leaving a North Yorkshire farm. In his first export venture, former dairy farmer Richard Blomfield successfully saw 24,000
NORTHERN Foods has sold its Fox's Confectionery business to a management buy-in team. Northern, parent company of Dalepak Foods, of Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, has sold the business to Big Bear Limited for £7m. The transaction sees well-known brands
Suspicion (ITV1); The Curse Of Friends Reunited (five); THE mobile phone now has a regular part to play in modern thrillers, with key plot points hinging on a vital call or even a missed call. Now the role of the e-mail is being felt. Amanda Redman's
Even the most pessimistic have had to change their tune recently, as the UK Stock Market pushes on. The FTSE 100 Index has now broken through the stubborn 4200 barrier, and momentum is building for a sustained rally. While the main market has risen by
BRITAIN'S second-biggest pubs owner Punch Taverns plans to raise about £250m in a refinancing deal to help fund further acquisitions. Hartlepool's Pubmaster chain is believed to have received an approach from the group. Sources close to Pubmaster confirmed
Competing councils offered their blueprint for the region's future yesterday and, as Catherine Jewett and Mark Summers report, they are very different. MORE unitary authorities or one all-purpose super council. About the only thing local councils could
FARMERS and landowners are being asked to help protect the hare by adopting a series of simple measures. The Wildlife Trust says the brown hare is struggling. Current estimates put the population at about 800,000, which represents a 75 per cent decline
Durham Mayor Councillor Ray Gibbon paid tribute to the efforts of the city's parks and gardens department in adding the latest accolade to the civic roll of honour. Councillor Gibbon collected the award for the best Best Large Town. It maintains the city's
ONE of the region's leading experts on the ancient history of the area has died at the age of 79. Denis Coggins carried out archaeological digs, mainly in the hills above Barnard Castle, County Durham, to uncover traces of the tools and homesteads of
ENGINEERING company Cleveland Bridge has backed plans to move government to Darlington and the North-East. The bridge builder, which is supplying and erecting the steelwork for the new Wembley Stadium, has been in Darlington for more than a century. President
DARLINGTON Borough Council has embarked on a major charm offensive to bring jobs and investment to the town. The authority secured £36,000 Single Regeneration Budget money to put towards a national campaign across property and investment magazines featuring
A MAN who was woken by a noisy gang outside his bedroom has appeared in court charged with affray. Teesside Crown Court heard how Stephen Peacock, 28, had been sleeping off a heavy drinking session when he was woken by men outside his east Cleveland home
THE European Commission has approved measures to redevelop brownfield land and ease pressure on the green belt. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott welcomed the decision to make it easier for companies to bring former industrial sites back to life for
STAFF at solenoid manufacturer Mechetronics have moved bases. Mechetronics, a world leader in solenoid technology, makes devices used in products ranging from drinks machines to air brakes, and has moved to a £500,000 plant at the South Church Enterprise
SECOND WORLD WAR: J COOK (HAS, Sept 6) repeats the old phrase that, had it not been for America, we would have been invaded by Germany. Not wishing to burst his/her bubble, but Germany ceased all plans to invade Britain after losing the Battle of Britain
A NORTH-EAST company has been prosecuted after a man was severely injured following an accident at work. Trevor Jones, 56, from Darlington, needed two operations after the accident on January 28, at Italian-owned manufacturing company, Ilpea Ltd, on the
