A SCHOOLBOY has been appointed the region's youngest football referee - at the age of just 14. Teenager Dan Nelson has just completed an eight-week training course to become an official referee with Sunderland FA and is believed to have become the youngest
COURAGEOUS ten-year-old Kate Stobbs will tomorrow make a life-saving gift of bone marrow to her older sister, Kimberley. Kimberley, 14, of Burnhope, near Consett, County Durham, was diagnosed with leukaemia in August last year. A course of drugs, radiotherapy
GUISBOROUGH could be designated a Fair Trade Town, selling local and international produce made by fairly-paid workers, if businesses and civic leaders back a campaign by the East Cleveland branch of the World Development Movement. The WDM scheme is seen
WHEAT prices have remained around the £60 mark as export values have improved with currency movements and logistical problems in other exporting regions. It is more that the export market has reached our levels than that it has put up our prices. Both
Anthony McGrath is expected to be named as Yorkshire's new captain following last night's meeting of the management board at Headingley. The board heard director of cricket, Geoff Cope, put forward his preferred choices and 27-year-old Bradford-born McGrath
Peter Vickers performed a unique double in the NEC Indoor Athletic championship at Jarrow by winning both the Under-20 and senior 60m sprint titled. This involved six races during the day and he clocked 7.0 for the Under-20 final and 7.1 for the senior
ANGER erupted at the second meeting of Hambleton Flood Forum this week - because one of the main partners involved did not send a delegate. People from the Stokesley, Great Ayton, Bagby and Potto areas were furious that Environment Agency reports on local
Brown Shipley North-East Premier League North Division Tennis World Middlesbrough closed the gap on leaders Invicta Sunderland to three points after beating their Wearside rivals at home recently in the vital top of the table clash. The 3-1 result meant
WATER running off the road is flooding gardens and at least one household septic tank at Middleton on Leven, it is said. A councillor from the hamlet says five households have been affected, bubbles can be seen rising from a manhole and there is a bad
From this newspaper 100 years ago. - New colliery for Cockfield. Sinking operations at the New Mostyn Colliery have resulted in the Brockwell seam being reached at the depth of 87 fathoms. There are four good seams and, when in full working order, a large
OVER the years, I have reported many a trip to Leeds for the annual sale of Yorkshire pictures by Philips auctioneers. Year by year, the title of the sale would slightly change - Yorkshire pictures and painters, Yorkshire pictures and sporting art - but
A new ladies football league is being launched in the region later this year. The Teesborough Sunday Morning Men's League are to branch out and form a ladies division to cater for the growing demand. With games to be played on a Sunday afternoon and beginning
WHILE some dream of owning the perfect kitchen, others dream of making it. That's definitely the case with Lesley Maddison. After years spent as a kitchen design specialist with MFI, she has finally taken the plunge to go it alone. Tomorrow the doors
BY any standards, Tom Proud can be said to have had a good innings after clocking up 52 consecutive years as a player for Kildale Cricket Club. He might not be opening the batting any more, but the 66-year-old still turns out for the team when he is needed
A TALENTED young squash player from Guisborough has earned national recognition as a potential star of the future. Chris Allinson, a year eight student at the town's Laurence Jackson School sports college, has been chosen to train with the England squad
CONFRONTED with a blazing building and reports that a rescue operation was needed, the firefighters did not think twice. Even when they discovered that those trapped inside were animals rather than people, they still braved the flames. The firefighters
A TEENAGER from Longnewton has won the Durham County Junior Golf Championship held at South Shields Golf Club. Ryan Riley, 17, of Eastgate Farm, took the title after beating 64 rivals in the 36-hole event. After shooting a par 71 in the first round, he
Division A Tile Sheds 3, Black Swan A 4; Station Hotel (HR) 1, Queens Head A 6; Dudley Arms 3, Royal Oak 4; Buck Hotel 4, Blacksmiths Arms B 3; Falcon Inn B 6, Blue Bell A 1; Queens Head B 1, Miners Arms A 6; Black Swan B 2, Buck Inn A 5. Miners Arms
A CELEBRATION of Darlington through the last 50 years is ready to hit the Civic Theatre stage. The Late Late Jubilee Show, presented by Coun Roderick Burtt and Alan Cowie, takes a light-hearted journey through the town during the five decades of Her Majesty's
Tow Law Bass League Hamilton Row Black Horse pulled off their best victory of the season when they travelled to Newhouse Club and ended the rather remote mathematical hopes the home side had of overtaking Tow Law New Market A in the race for the Championship
STAFF at London Electricity, in Sunderland, have given £2,000 to Portland Special School to buy equipment for its sensory learning room. The school, at Plains Farm, Sunderland, caters for children with learning difficulties. Ann Swain organised a fancy
THE Prime Minister tried to divert attention to the domestic political agenda last night. But the focus on the "crusade" for public sector reform will be short-lived. As important issues as health and education are, at the moment all eyes are on Iraq.
AN INSURANCE firm says its new North-East call centre will create 400 jobs over the next five years. The Budget Group has opened the centre at Vantage House, on the Sunderland Enterprise Park, and plans to fill 150 of the jobs as soon as it can. The first
HOWARD WILKINSON is in a "right'' pickle as Sunderland prepare for tomorrow's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Blackburn, writes Clive Hetherington. Black Cats boss Wilkinson is without a recognised right-back for the trip to Ewood Park. First-choice Stephen
BLACKMAILERS who preyed on a bric-a-brac dealer after he made the £140,000 find of a lifetime were jailed yesterday. Dealer Mark Tarbitt, who picked up an 18th Century Chinese vase at a country auction for £450 and went on to sell it at Christie's, in
A PIONEERING transport scheme which helps young people in rural areas get to work or training has received a boost. The Wheels 2 Work initiative in North Yorkshire has added 22 mopeds to its fleet, bringing its full complement to 40 mopeds and 12 pushbikes
HUNDREDS of members of an Asian community turned out to say a final goodbye to Nabeala Hussain and her two children. Solemn looking men and tearful women pushed flowers into the hearse as her coffin, together with the coffins of her son and daughter,
RESIDENTS in Teesdale are to be given a financial incentive to encourage them to recycle more of their waste. Teesdale District Council has vowed to pay householders in the dale £10 if they put out their recycling boxes 80 per cent of the time. The reward
NATALIE Osborn is scaling new heights in a career switch. The 26-year-old, a former RAF police officer, has not only became a firefighter, she graduated top of her class. She made history yesterday by becoming the first female firefighter to be presented
A RAPIDLY-expanding recruitment firm plans to branch out nationally in the near future. Newcastle company North-East Workforce has taken on 16 new employees in the past eight months, more than quadrupling its workforce from five to 21. The company, which
THE sheltered bay where Captain James Cook discovered Australia is to get a £1.8m facelift to preserve it as a historically significant site. The Middlesbrough-born explorer sailed the Endeavour into Botany Bay, landing on April 29, 1770. New South Wales
A FREE health topic group programme is available at a Newton Aycliffe care centre. The first two planned sessions at the Pioneering Care Centre will cover osteoporosis and weight management. Other topics, which are available thanks to funding secured
NORTH-EAST one-price retailer Poundzone has bought The Factory Shop Group. The group was aquired from its management team and venture capitalists 3i and Bridgepoint for an undisclosed price. With 17 stores, principally in the North-East and Yorkshire,
A man arrested for urinating in the street has been jailed after police used DNA evidence to link him to a rape seven years earlier. Mark Wilkinson was jailed for five years after a jury found him guilty of raping a 19-year-old student in December 1995
CULTURAL and historical facilities across east Middlesbrough and east Cleveland have been described as poor by one of the people charged with running them. Peter Lane, assistant director of leisure at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, made the comment
A SICK North-East pensioner was stuck in a lift for half an hour on the way to hos- pital with a suspected heart attack. During the 30-minute ordeal paramedics looked after the elderly woman while firefighters tried to release the jammed lift. The early
TRAIN conductors embroiled in a year-long pay row will reject a new offer aimed at ending the dispute, union leaders claimed last night. The prediction came ahead of a ballot of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers at Arriva Trains Northern. Up to 700
HOUSEHOLDERS in Teesdale are to receive a £10 annual reward for putting out recycling boxes, under a new system to be introduced next week. The cash, which will be paid out in the first week of March each year starting in 2004, is aimed at encouraging
THE Government faced a North-East rebellion last night over calls for a fairer funding formula to help the region. Regional MPs are demanding changes to the Barnett Formula, which channels extra cash into Scotland at the expense of needy English areas
THE FTSE 100 Index plunged to its lowest level since December 1995 yesterday after the worst run in its history. Continued uncertainty about Iraq and corporate profitability saw the Footsie close down 55.8 points at 3622.2. The drop means the index has
A SNAPSHOT of what a changing town used to look like is being presented in an exhibition this weekend. Officials at Stockton are so enthusiastic about the exhibition of photographs by professional photographer Jack Marriott, that they are encouraging
A PUBLIC bridleway which is part of the Marske to Saltburn cycleway is to close for repairs. The bridleway, which runs from the corner of Howard Drive, Marske, to the motorcycle barrier near the entrance to Saltburn allotment, next to the railway line
RIVAL petitions have been organised for and against plans to extend a North Yorkshire village school. A petition backing the extension at Rockcliffe CE Primary School, near Boroughbridge, has attracted 91 signatures. One which opposes the scheme has been
A SCHEME to cut traffic congestion in Easingwold is part of a consultation exercise by North Yorkshire County Council. The scheme aims to make walking, cycling, and public transport more attractive as an alternative to the car. A sample survey will be
NORTHUMBRIA Police are poised to make several arrests as part of their investigations into historical sexual crimes. Under Operation Phoenix, officers have been using the latest DNA techniques to revisit sex cases from 1985 to 1999. This week officers
A MISSING woman has turned up safe and well. Police had become concerned for the welfare of Lynne Faraday, 43, who uses a wheelchair and is partially sighted. She disappeared from her Middlesbrough town centre home early yesterday after leaving a note
A COUPLE have been charged with supplying amphetamines after a police raid. Langbaurgh police raided a house in Mersey Road, Redcar, as part of a crackdown on crime. A total of £500 worth of amphetamines and £800 in cash was taken in the raid, on Tuesday
A BOY from Malawi, whose parents named him Trouble, has been renamed Gift thanks to a group of friends from North Yorkshire. Peter and Rosemary Harrison's son Jim trained as a surgeon in Newcastle but has since taken a post with the Care International
A NORTH-East man accused of stalking his young neighbour for more than a year was cleared by Darlington magistrates yesterday. Leslie Norman Brown, 53, of Albert Place, Darlington, was accused of stalking by his neighbour and former colleague, Sarah Astwood
KIND-hearted club regulars would give the shirts off their own backs for charity. But one shirt in particular keeps coming back. Members of Eston and Normanby Workingmen's Club cannot get rid of it for love nor money. The top, signed by Middlesbrough
STAFF at London Electricity, in Sunderland, have given £2,000 to Portland Special School to buy equipment for its sensory learning room. The school, at Plains Farm, Sunderland, caters for children with learning difficulties. Ann Swain organised a fancy
AN international youth project looking at disability will be held in County Durham next month. Shoulder to Shoulder will involve more than 40 young people from the county and European countries including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia
THE search is on for more than 100 talented young performers to take part in a summer production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Dionysis Theatre Company will hold a series of workshop auditions to find a cast of 120 to star in the show at Durham's Gala Theatre
A DOG left to die by its owners is making a good recovery, after vets removed a tumour the size of a golf ball from her body. Staff at Consett Veterinary Centre, County Durham, found the nine-year-old black and grey spaniel bitch tied to railings outside
THREE driving instructors claim to have proved cabbies wrong by sitting - and passing - a controversial new test. From April, taxi drivers in Darlington will have to pass the test to have their licence renewed, but they claim it is too tough and could
POLICE are hunting a robber who threatened to stab a woman before stealing her handbag. The incident occurred in Corporation Road, Darlington, on Tuesday night. The 37-year-old victim had just got out of her car when she was approached by a man who demanded
DARLINGTON drivers who park and leave their engines running could be liable to an on-the-spot fine before the end of the year. The move follows the introduction of the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions Fixed Penalty) Regulations 2002, which allows local
STAFF at London Electricity, in Sunderland, have given £2,000 to Portland Special School to buy equipment for its sensory learning room. The school, at Plains Farm, Sunderland, caters for children with learning difficulties. Ann Swain organised a fancy
A DEDICATED team of hand-picked detectives has been established to combat the problem of bogus officials. The investigation unit consists of a team of experienced officers who have been nominated from within each division of Durham Constabulary. Working
Police had become concerned for the welfare of Lynne Faraday, 43, who uses a wheelchair and is partially sighted. She disappeared from her Middlesbrough town centre home early yesterday after leaving a note indicating she was in a distressed state. A
Bishop Auckland Bridge Club Results for Thursday, January 16 North/South: 1st M Hook & J Burnell 57.78%; 2nd O Blenkinsopp & M Dexter 55.56%; 3rd D Muse & Mclark 54.72%. East/West: 1st I Gordorn & J Dobson 64.44%; 2nd A Mawston & A
A STEEL firm's £500,000 investment in new equipment will help it boost output by 20 per cent and cut delivery times. Armstrong Steel, based in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, bought a specialist metal cutting device to improve the service it provides
THE North-East will benefit from a Ministry of Defence decision to appoint the Javelin Joint Venture to supply a next-generation anti-armour weapon for the British Army. The US-designed, fire-and-forget Javelin will be built in the UK and will sustain
A HEADTEACHER has hit back after her school was named as one of the worst in the country for truancy. Eastbourne School, in Darlington, was ranked among the worst 200 schools for truancy in yesterday's secondary school performance tables. The school,
MYSTERY continues to surround the sudden closure of a popular pub in Richmond. Clubs and societies which use rooms at the Black Lion, in Finkle Street, are concerned they will have nowhere to hold meetings if it fails to reopen. The pub is one of the
VILLAGERS have stepped up their fight to make a property developer reopen a popular footpath. Protestors in Blackfyne, near Consett, are calling for the footpath linking Aynsley Terrace with Consett Heritage Park to be reopened. Property developer Strathmore
B & H King's Head 2 v 0 St. Mary's College OB For over an hour both sides battled hard to find a chink in the opposition's defence without success. Fifteen minutes from time however, King's Head man of the match Mick Jones broke the deadlock firing
FURTHER evidence that we're becoming a nation of wimps and cissies has been provided by all the recent talk about pitches. From Stamford Bridge to Cleveland Bridge, pitches are under scrutiny because in the 21st century everyone from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Merry Minstrel, who turned in a much-improved display after a long break last time, is taken to go one better in the Gordon Blackwell Lifetime In Racing Showcase Handicap at Doncaster today. On his first run for 440 days the ten-year-old looked an unlucky
Bihsop Auckland College The College's Under-15s side have made it through the League Cup Final, beating Premiership sides in every round bar the first. On Sunday it was Jarrow Town who were sent crashing out of the Cup by an injury time winner. Jarrow
Nine holes of golf played with two clubs and a putter preceded the meeting. the competition was won by Paul Godfrey with 18 points. The meeting chaired by the Rabbits captain Craig Harrison was held in the clubhouse. The captain after apologies for absence
CRAIG Parker netted two as second division Binchester Hotel recorded an impressive win over Horndale in the first round of the Invitation Cup. Binchester, who are currently ninth in Division Two, ended up comfortable winners over promotion-chasing Horndale
Sunday Invitation Ladies League Tioxide 2 v 1 Stockton the majority of the first half was played at the centre of the pitch but towards the end of the half, Tioxide scored the opening goal through a strong, by the attacking players with Sarah McIntyre
With only two league games played due to cup duties, Whitehill exchanged places at the top of the league on goal difference. Whitehill entertained Seaham The Duke at home and took an early lead on 12 minutes when Gary Robson got on the end of a Steven
North-East men and women who were dealt a cruel genetic blow at birth are now facing life trapped between the sexes. Distraught patients on the Newcastle Gender Dysphoria Programme are devastated after being told there will be no funding for further treatment
Durham City Ladies THE Ladies recorded their first victory of the season with a tremendous performance against Darlington RA. This result lifts City two places off the bottom of the table and eases the team's relegation worries. Durham Uni student Charlotte
The Ripon Piscatorials Open was practically over within the first two hours before the Ure started to rise but remarkably weights were terrific - 15 double figured catches, writes Jeff Herbert. Pegged between Hutton Beck and Barn Island below Hewick Bridge
Darlington Mowden Park Mowden Park RFC 49 West Hartlepool RFC 5 Mowden Under-13s go on there North West tour having notched up there eighth consecutive win of the season with another strong performance against West Hartlepool who with some fine tackling
ONE of the North-East's richest men is to build an orphanage in Romania after being touched by the plight of abandoned children. Fitness clubs magnate Duncan Bannatyne has pledged about £100,000 towards the full cost of building the home in the Transylvania
Billingham Wolves remain fourth in the English Under-19 North A League following a 7-2 victory over Blackburn Thunderhawks at the Forum ice arena. Scott War sent Wolves on the road to two points when he struck on the powerplay in the seventh minute. Blackburn
THE BBC comedy The Office is cleaning up the TV awards and there are many theories as to why it is so popular. Obviously, the writing and acting is first class, with the result that the viewer doesn't know whether to laugh or cringe - but cannot switch
This week saw the conclusion of the First Round of The Northern Echo League Cup, as all of the postponed ties from earlier in the season were rearranged. Newton Aycliffe Sports Club racked up the biggest score of the day as they totally dominated in their
Shildon: On Saturday Shildon Athletes were on school duty at the Durham County Schools XC championships held at King James Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland. The Shildon club had 16 athletes representing various schools of which 13 qualified to represent
A fortnight before his fiftieth birthday, Alan Shoulder had played two Northern League matches in three days. Willington lost the first 9-1, the second, on Tuesday evening, 8-0. "I still enjoyed it," he said next day, just as he seemed to enjoy almost
THE parents of a Darlington man killed abroad were travelling to Spain last night to bring his body home. Philip Johnson, 31, a logistics analyst, died on Wednesday when his car was in a head-on collision with another vehicle just outside Barcelona. The
THE BBC comedy The Office is cleaning up the TV awards and there are many theories as to why it is so popular. Obviously, the writing and acting is first class, with the result that the viewer doesn't know whether to laugh or cringe - but cannot switch
A VETERAN peace campaigner has won a legal fight to continue a religious tradition she has maintained for 25 years. Grandmother Lindis Percy, 61, appeared before Harrogate magistrates after being arrested outside the US military base at Menwith Hill on
Sir, - Can anyone else see the contradiction in planning policies for local people in the dales? On the one hand a planning application for a barn conversion for a local family who wish to remain within the community they live in is refused. On the other
A PILOT health scheme for sheltered housing residents is being expanded. District nurse Julie Knevitt helped pioneer the health promotion scheme with a six-week course at Avon Court, Newton Aycliffe. She said: "A lot of nursing homes and residential establishments
AN exotic array of species at a North Yorkshire bird centre have welcomed the newest recruit. Eighteen-year-old Laura Connolly has become a trainee falconer at Sion Hill Hall birds of prey centre, near Thirsk, and already knows the characters and peculiarities
YOUNG footballers at a Consett school have made sporting history after winning a tournament for a record seventh consecutive year. The team, made up of pupils from years five and six at St Patrick's RC School, beat rivals Castleside Primary in the finals
PANTO TIME: Babes in the Wood will be staged in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, by the Oxhill Youth Club at 7pm, from next Friday, to February 7, and at 6.30pm on Saturday, February 8. Tickets are £4 and £3 concessions. SPRING SPECIAL: Consett Civic
Durham League Willington Wasps produced the Durham League's first division performance of the week with a 112-74 success at Hartlepool against HQ Engineering Hornets. A great start set up Wasps win. Paul Campbell set the ball rolling with a three-point
WORK began yesterday at a Hartlepool primary school to create facilities for pupils and the community. Owton Manor Primary School has been awarded £500,000 from a joint Government and National Lottery scheme called Space for Sport and the Arts. The grant
STAFF at London Electricity, in Sunderland, have given £2,000 to Portland Special School to buy equipment for its sensory learning room. The school, at Plains Farm, Sunderland, caters for children with learning difficulties. Ann Swain organised a fancy
THIRSK'S fledgling farmers' market is to stay on the northern side of the market place, despite concerns about the loss of parking spaces. Hambleton District Council's cabinet yesterday decided to leave the market where it is, refusing to agree to Thirsk
AS work continues on Darlington Football Club's gleaming new stadium , there is still no inkling of what the new ground might be called. Whilst the club's owner - George Reynolds - may find it hard to resist the temptation to follow the example of other
DARLINGTON Mowden Park's two Tongans, Kelekolia Paino and Vaha Faleovalu, are hoping to play Rugby League for Gateshead Thunder during the summer. They will first complete the season with Mowden, whose last league game is scheduled for April 12 at Hull
KIERON DYER'S wish to see Jonathan Woodgate join Newcastle United is likely to be granted in the next week. Dyer revealed last night that he has been in regular contact with England teammate Woodgate, urging the defender to swap Elland Road for St James
DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn was forced to defend his marginal seat against a possible influx of Tory votes at a public inquiry this week. Conservatives told the Boundary Commission meeting that they wanted to give Darlington's rural villages a stronger
PEOPLE in the northern part of Hartlepool's New Deal for Communities (NDC) area are invited to a meeting on Monday. NDC is using £54m of Government money to transform an area bordering the town centre which stretches from Hart Lane in the north to Belle
VISIONARY proposals to help regenerate a Darlington estate have been revealed. Plans for a £1.2m Firthmoor Community Centre have been unveiled in artists' drawings. Developers are now being asked to tender for work on the centre, which will stand on land
AN international youth project looking at disability will be held in County Durham next month. Shoulder to Shoulder will involve more than 40 young people from the county and European countries including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia
Goldsborough v Highland Laddie Highland Laddie started the game a better side than Goldsborough, who had several palyers missing through injury. Laddie pinned Goldsborough in their own half from kick off and were rewarded by going 3 goals up within 15
One of the great pleasures of travel writing is being able to tip off readers about great holidays away from the obvious. Just back from Luxor in Egypt, I've found a winter destination which offers guaranteed sunshine, amazing historical sights, and incredible
Darlington Under-13s were grateful to Blaydon for being able to arrange a match at short notice following the cancellation of their match with Bradford and Bingley. In the opening minutes Blaydon caught the visitors a little cold and evaded several halfhearted
Durham and Cleveland junior players Lee Skinner and Katy Burgin performed well above expectations at the recent Scottish Junior Open and British Junior Open Championships. Both tournaments attracted world-ranked players from Australia, USA, Pakistan,
Former Health Secretary Frank Dobson has launched a savage attack on New Labour, dismissing its flagship health policy as "nonsense". Mr Dobson's successor, Darlington MP Alan Milburn, is bringing forward controversial legislation to give top-performing
SUCCESS is sheer poetry for two youngsters at a Northallerton school. For a poem they wrote on the impact of prison life has earned them a trip to London. Next month, Charlotte Rolf and Vicky Brown will go to the House of Commons to read out their award-winning
The League resumed this week after its winter break, which had an extension due to the weather. Only one match was postponed this week and disappointingly, it was due to involve the teams who have played fewest games, Frankland and Tyne and Wear. With
Braes of Derwent PC. - Tomorrow: Indoor dressage, Holmeside Park, all classes. BSPS Area 1A. - Jan 26: Winter qualifying show, Dalton Piercey, sae for schedules to Mrs M Neesam, 52 Newmarket Rd, Redcar, Cleveland TS10 2JA, tel 01642 486176. BSPS Area
A MASSIVE cemetery spending programme has come under fire from Northallerton councillors. A plan to spend £29,000 on a safety survey has been halved. And the Joint Burial Committee for Northallerton and Romanby is being asked to look again at an extension
With just one match remaining in the league programme, Esh Stag's Head have established a four points lead at the top of the table and look likely to repeat last season's Championship victory. The Stag's travelled to Sunniside Moss Inn and took the first
Spennymoor's new manager Jamie Pollock says that he's looking forward to the challenge at the Brewery Field. Former Middlesbrough midfielder Pollock gained a measure of the task ahead when he sat in the stands last Saturday for his first game, and he
BACON butties, sausage sandwiches and glasses of milk were enjoyed by about 80 youngsters at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Tuesday. Children from Woodlands Primary School, Harrogate, were joined by Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to bulldoze a village community centre and replace it with flats is still on the cards. Trustees of the Middleton St George hall say they are near bankrupt and fear being made to pay any shortfall out of their own pockets. They see
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 215 store cattle. BA hfr & calf £620: Simm hfr & calf £530 G Eastwood. AA bulling hfrs: £430, £428 J Harland; £385, £330, £322 G Eastwood. Lim incalf hfrs to £540 T&J Scott. Feeding bulls. - BB: £560 JW Dent. Lim
The porn man with a van JIM admitted that being a getaway driver for bank robbers in Scotland was easier than working in the adult film industry. He certainly encountered his fair share of problems in this documentary, The Money Shot, and most of them
NORTH Yorkshire farmers and landowners are being urged by thje Country Land and Business Association to apply to join the county council's new local access forum. The 18-member forum will include three county councillors, plus representatives of those
FELLS are not a feature of the North York Moors, but they do appear in the Yorkshire Dales, the Durham Dales and the Lake District. Fells are usually steep slopes on the sides of mountains or hills and the word suggests something lofty, wild and rugged
STUDENTS from poor backgrounds attending a North-East university are less likely to fail their exams than their wealthier counterparts, according to new figures. Out of 120 working class students attending Newcastle University, only five failed or had
SHEEP farmers have been warned they must follow safety guidelines when dipping their sheep. Any flouting of rules, particularly involving organophosphorous dips, could lead to swift action by the authorities. Vet Peter Watson told a seminar at the fair
Darlington skipper Craig Liddle believes the coming weeks are going to be crucial in deciding the outcome of Quakers' season. Having eased their relegation fears with just one League defeat in 12, Mick Tait's side are now just seven points short of a
BOLTON Wanderers are threatening to scupper Middlesbrough's hopes of landing Derby County striker Malcolm Christie. The Rams yesterday revealed they had received a "serious enquiry'' about Christie, a fortnight after Boro launched their move to take him
Durham and District League The shock result of the week, and probably the season, came at Ushaw Moor Catholic Club when the visiting league leaders, Durham Snooker Club crashed to only their second defeat when they lost by five points. The home side had
Hummersknott School in Darlington have continued their long-standing tradition of success in the English Schools Badminton tournament. Both of the school's under-16s boy and girls teams will compete in the national finals to take place in Luton after
Things can hardly get better for Birtley Town who reached the semi finals of the coveted Durham Challenge Cup last week and continue to be favourites for the championship. They visit Horden CW on Tuesday February 4 and the winners will meet either Billingham
Sir, - I feel compelled to take issue with the comments of Peter Swales (D&S letters, Jan 17). It is my understanding from talking to the many and varied sectors of the Middleham electorate that far from trusting the council the general consensus
AN arm of Northumbria Water is about to tender for a £20m private finance initiative project to build a sewage plant for Gibraltar. The British colony currently discharges its waste into the fast-flowing waters of the Gibraltar Straits, but will soon
RURAL areas would not be sacrificed in order to boost policing in York, the chief constable of North Yorkshire has pledged. Della Cannings defended her bid for an 80pc rise in North Yorkshire Police Authority's proportion of the council tax precept. Such
Division One: Wolviston Res 3 v 1 Mackinlay Park After a delayed start Wolviston's Ian Thompson scored after only 34 seconds after being played through by Greg Cattermole. Wolviston had a number of chances but Mackinlay Park drew level after 15 minutes
Result of the week was chalked up by Redcar Lakes B who were playing hosts to Carlin How A. Gary Marshall set the standard when taking two games from Andrew Shelley with scores of 60-47 and 62-48. Neil Grey then made it 3-0 when beating Mark Earl in their
SUNDERLAND last night offered an olive branch to stay-away striker David Bellion as they demanded a Premier League probe into his proposed move to Manchester United. The Wearsiders have reported United to the top-flight authority, claiming the unsettling
TRUCKERS Tavern scooped the Peter Marsh at Haydock in splendid fashion on Saturday, Ferdy Murphy's charge beating Hussard Collonges, the 3-1 favourite, inside the final few yards. It was another big win for his new yard by rider Davy Russell. Truckers
A WAVE of invading waxwings has arrived in the North-East and could be pillaging a berry bush near you. Flocks of the rare visitors from Siberia have been reported at sites throughout Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire, including recent sightings in
ARSENIC green would be a nice colour for Yarm Town Hall's interior, a councillor suggested during a talk on colour schemes. White was too clinical said some, while others said the warm pinks of new-look Stokesley Town Hall were just the thing. Yarm Town
FORECASTS of a damaging slide in shop sales over Christmas were blown apart by figures showing the high street enjoyed its strongest growth for eight months in December. The Office for National Statistics said total retail sales volumes were up by a staggering
AN INSURANCE firm says its new North-East call centre will create 400 jobs over the next five years. The Budget Group has opened the centre at Vantage House, on the Sunderland Enterprise Park, and plans to fill 150 of the jobs as soon as it can. The first
THE Government has announced that South Tyneside will be part of an experiment in electronic voting. Voters in this May's council elections in the area will, for the first time be able to vote for their preferred candidates over the Internet, by mobile
INGLEBY Barwick sixth former Sarah Loughran has been named Junior Wheelchair Athlete of the Year. The 17-year-old Stockton Sixth Form College student - pictured right - trains with Cleveland paralympic star Tanni Grey-Thompson and was nominated by her
Billingham SC Six hardy members of Billingham Swimming Team competed at Preston in a biathlon/triathlon braving the elements. The weather was cold, wet and windy for the run resulting in the course being wet, muddy and extremely heavy going. The competitors
SUPERMARKET target Safeway's six-way takeover tussle took another twist when it dropped its recommendation of an original offer from Morrisons. The UK's fourth largest supermarket chain instead told shareholders to "await developments". Despite the move
A GYNAECOLOGIST yesterday denied a woman patient had asked him to save her ovaries during a hysterectomy operation. Dr Nazar Amso, 53, said he would not have gone ahead with surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Gateshead, if Linda Alder had insisted
In the Durham Minor Cup sixth round Metro Church Sunderland hosted Hartlepool Saint James. Saint James took the lead after two minutes but after 25 minutes John Lumb squared the match at 1-1. The game stayed level until 90 minutes Ryan Pender got Metro
THE long-awaited opening of the Hadrian's Wall National Trail will take place in May. For the first time, hikers will be able to walk the entire 84-mile length of the wall - a signposted trail stretching from coast to coast, from Wallsend, in Newcastle
CHILDREN'S television presenter Kirsten O'Brien has donated nearly £15,000 in prize money from The Weakest Link to Teesside Hospice. The Nunthorpe-born celebrity beat off stiff competition from stars such as Johnny Ball, Philip Schofield, Floella Benjamin
SEVEN men were being interviewed by detectives yesterday after an incident in which two police cars were damaged. The incident started when two men in a Land Rover Discovery were assaulted in the Eastfield area of Scarborough on Wednesday night. The vehicle
THE first pedigree Limousin sale of the new year at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, was a major reduction of the noted Simbo herd. Sixteen lots from the herd, bred by Graham Simms and his son, Nigel, of Hulse Farm, Lach Dennis, Northwich, Cheshire, went to
AN INDEPENDENT girls' school in Eaglescliffe has topped Government GCSE results tables. Teesside High School is the only school in the area to obtain a 100 per cent pass rate, with each girl achieving at least five A to C grades. The school has also obtained
CHARACTERS from the cartoon series Scooby Doo are coming to life on Teesside - in the interests of education. The University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, is to host 450 pupils from 11 primary schools during a series of half-day taster activities in art
A NINE-YEAR-OLD tipped as a Formula One star of the future has won two major championships in his first season. Ryan Tebbs from Eastgate Farm, Longnewton has won both the Warden Law Kart Club and the South Yorkshire Kart Club championships. His remarkable
WHENEVER Graham Burrett fancies a trip to the cinema, he just has to make the short walk to his shed. That's because the 51-year-old film fan from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has recreated the magic of the movies in his own back garden. Complete with
Police are trying to trace witnesses who may be able to help an investigation into a fatal accident in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, at the weekend. The 40-year-old woman who died was a passenger in a silver Peugeot 206 which is believed to have been travelling
A PROMISING young athlete has been told she can no longer use her local park for training. Discus thrower Ashley Maddison, of Parkside, Spennymoor, County Durham, has been practising up to five times a week on Merrington Lane recreation ground for almost
THE wrong kind of coal has prevented 170 years of historical hurt being corrected, television viewers will see tonight. They will also see Sans Pareil eventually get up such a good head of steam that it gives Rocket a real run for a place in the record
A WOMAN is recovering after fighting off a yob who tried to snatch her handbag as he rode past on a bike. The 62-year-old resisted when he grabbed her bag and shouted at her at about 5pm, in Tweed Road, Hartlepool, on Wednesday. After a struggle, he fled
THE king of rock and roll was shaking everyone up at one of North Yorkshire's leading independent schools and proved to still be number one. Golden oldie Elvis Presley took centre stage at Queen Mary's School, near Topcliffe, and beat off stiff competition
DEPARTMENT store Debenhams is to honour a loyal employee who clocked up nearly 48 years service at the same store. The firm plans to name part of its Scarborough store, in North Yorkshire, after Stanley Burton, who was one of the company's longest serving
A LEADING member of the Jewish community returns to speak at Ripon Cathedral on Sunday at a service to mark the Holocaust. President of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, Ian Goldman, will address the congregation during evensong at 5.30pm on the
DARLINGTON discovered an unlikely source of inspiration when they finally managed to kick an annoying habit last Saturday. Two goals from central defender Matt Clarke - pushed up front at half-time as an emergency striker - helped Quakers fight back to
DOZENS of people in the North-East have been prompted to surrender weapons following high profile firearms incidents elsewhere in the country, it has been revealed. Northumbria Police said in the first 13 days of the 2003, 74 weapons were handed in -
A PILOT health scheme for sheltered housing residents is being expanded. District nurse Julie Knevitt helped pioneer the health promotion scheme with a six-week course at Avon Court, Newton Aycliffe. She said: "A lot of nursing homes and residential establishments
FURTHER evidence that we're becoming a nation of wimps and cissies has been provided by all the recent talk about pitches. From Stamford Bridge to Cleveland Bridge, pitches are under scrutiny because in the 21st century everyone from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
A MIDDLEHAM town councillor has vowed to resign immediately if she is re-elected alongside the current membership. Tammi Tolhurst claims the council is undemocratic, bars the public from some discussions unnecessarily and fails to keep accurate minutes
THE 20-day whole-farm standstill is to end on March 4 for all livestock, except pigs. It would be replaced by a six-day standstill, said Lord Whitty, Food and Farming Minister, yesterday, though there would be far fewer movement exemptions. The shorter
Tow Law Area League With just one match remaining in the league programme, Esh Stag's Head have established a four points lead at the top of the table and look likely to repeat last season's Championship victory. The Stag's travelled to Sunniside Moss
THE search is on for more than 100 talented young performers to take part in a summer production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Dionysis Theatre Company will hold a series of workshop auditions to find a cast of 120 to star in the show at Durham's Gala Theatre
Defences were on top when Crook White Swan met West Auckland Queens Head in the Norman Wright Trophy. After a goalless 90 minutes Queens Head took the lead in extra time and then went on the rampage to win 5-0. Matthew Bailes grabbed a hat-trick and other
VISITORS to a North-East gallery will have an opportunity to see northern Pre-Raphaelite artist William Bell Scott's frieze The History of Northumbria alongside watercolours by J M W Turner. William Bell Scott - A Northern Pre-Raphaelite exhibition, which
VISITORS to a North-East gallery will have an opportunity to see northern Pre-Raphaelite artist William Bell Scott's frieze The History of Northumbria alongside watercolours by J M W Turner. William Bell Scott - A Northern Pre-Raphaelite exhibition, which
North League Premier Division: Ben Rhydding 5, Southport 2; Brooklands Man U 4, Oxton 2; Sheffield Hallam 1, Harrogate 3; Sheffield U Bankers v City of York - postponed; Timperley 1, Wigan 4; Warrington v Durham Uni postponed. Division One: Alderley Edge
A COMMUNITY'S fight to block plans for a power station may leave a council with a £10,000-plus bill after it rejected legal advice to back down. At a meeting of Easington District Council yesterday, councillors turned down revised plans for an electricity
It's not every day that a market town receives inward investment from its forgotten youngsters. When children return - older, wiser, and richer - not to mention bubbling with optimism and future plans, it's a breath of fresh air that can blow either way
ALTHOUGH sheep prices are recovering after foot-and-mouth they are still only the same as they were ten years ago. Maurice Jones of Signet told a seminar: "It is the one thing that really winds me up. We have had quite a good year and the price is quite
Billingham Girls 3 v 5 Barnard Castle Scorers for Billingham were Jessica Close, Toni Hardy and Amy Plummer who also took the player of the match award. For Barnard Castle their goals were scored by Danielle Scarr (2) and Kirsty Hutchinson (3) with the
Results: Darlington Snooker B 3, JUC A 1; Darlington Cricket Club 3, Hopetown 1; Northgate 1, Railway Athletic 3; Darlington Snooker C 0, Darlington Snooker A 4; JUC B 0, League: 1 Railway Institute 44 points; 2 Darlington Snooker Club 43; 3 Darlington
THE couple at the centre of a planning wrangle which has prompted residents to call for a change of national park policy have spoken of their surprise and delight at the weight of support from the community. Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling
Bishop Auckland Area League Bishop Auckland Manor visited last season's champions, Bishop Auckland King's Head with both teams needing a good result to give them a chance of catching leaders, Spennymoor Voltigeur. The opening games were shared with Peter
Three goals in the last 20 minutes gave Newton Aycliffe Navy Club a 4-1 victory at Darlington GSOB. Andy Ryder gave Navy Club the lead midway through the first half with Mally Leafe equalising for Old Boys 20 minutes into the second, Ryder went on to
Buying British is good for a number of reasons, but some supermarkets don't make it all that easy. BUYING British makes sense. It boosts our own economy, keeps our own people in jobs and should make us all better off. It saves transport costs too - better
A STARK production about the life of two men in a Nazi death camp will be performed in Darlington on Tuesday as part of events marking National Holocaust Memorial Day. Ashes to Ashes, which will be staged at the arts centre at 1.30, is an award-winning
DRUG addicts are thought to be responsible for a spate of thefts, Thirsk Town Council was told. Sergeant John Hunter said the thefts, plus a further four over the past week in the St Mary's Road area, and car break-ins at Catton village, were mainly due
When most people were sitting down to watch the Queen's Speech with a cuppa and cake, two Darlington Harriers, Alison Raw and Paul Kelly were packing their kit for a Christmas running feast. On Boxing Day they were at Guisely for the Chevin Chase, a seven-mile
Richmond Town At last the weather conditions improved so that the club's teams could play after a very long break for some of them, writes Ben Prosser. The Under-11s travelled to Middleton Tyas to play Dales Diamonds hoping to get their first away points
Dr Anne Lowe first became interested in public health medicine while working in Africa. Christen Pears meets Derwentside Primary Care Trust's new director of public health. POVERTY, political unrest and ill health on a massive scale - the problems of
Residents are being urged to have their say on a council's budget for 2003/2004 online. North Yorkshire County Council has set up a questionnaire on the Internet and wants as many people as possible to complete it. The responses will be used alongside
US president George Bush probably has enough on his plate as he prepares to go to war against Saddam Hussein. But a parish councillor in North Yorkshire is hoping the US leader can find time for more humble matters. Ernie O'Keefe has asked Mr Bush to
PARANORMAL investigators attempting to find evidence of a North-East Bigfoot say they, too, have caught a glimpse of the elusive creature. A dozen-strong team has been searching woodland surrounding Bolam Lake, in Northumberland, looking for clues of
PARANORMAL investigators attempting to find evidence of a North-East Bigfoot say they, too, have caught a glimpse of the elusive creature. A dozen-strong team has been searching woodland surrounding Bolam Lake, in Northumberland, looking for clues of
Following the arrival of the Royal Shakespeare Company at Northallerton Leisure Centre, in February, an insight session and workshop will be held for theatre enthusiasts. For information about the public workshop at the Galtres Centre, in Easingwold,
ONE of the region's leading theatres has announced details of its new season - with something for everyone. Durham's Gala Theatre has already scored several successes this season with sell-out shows such as tribute band Abba Gold and a rock 'n' roll nostalgia
WATERCOLOURS from some of the most influential art movements of the 20th Century have gone on show. Paintings including post impressionism and surrealism have gone on show at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. Splash of Colour includes work by international
A SCHEME to cut crime and disorder in a shopping centre is proving a success. Police on South Tyneside launched Operation Lonestar over the Christmas period. Officers carried out high profile patrols of the main retail areas of South Shields. Chief Inspector
TRADE unionists will celebrate the region's cultural diversity at an event this weekend. The Northern TUC is holding a festival of music and dance on Sunday between 1pm and 4pm at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. The family day will feature music from DIP
MARK Paterson is an expert in no fewer than three martial arts - despite being severely visually impaired. "I started when I was a teenager in Malaysia where my dad worked," said the 35-year-old, "but I never thought, 'I will beat the fact I am partially
Ryan Riley, from Eastgate Farm, Longnewton has won the Durham County Junior Golf Championship following his victory against 64 competitors in a 36-hole competition at South Shields Golf Club. After scoring a par 71 in the first round, the 17-year-old
Andrea Marshall is facing an uncertain future, trapped between two genders, now she may never be able to complete her transition to become a woman. She tells Helen Miller what it is like to be woman trapped inside the body of a man FROM the age of nine
Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League Once again, the programme was severely curtailed and only one game went ahead. The result, though, was significant and Chester-le-Street's victory over West Denton enabled them to move into pole position. But Chester
NINE players from Darlington Mowden Park's under 16 girls' rugby team have been selected for the North East of England regional squad. They were invited to the regional trials at Bullocksteads, Newcastle last Sunday and all have been asked to train on
CONTRACTS worth £50,000 have been won by a charity which is creating employment for people on the Firthmoor estate. The Firthmoor Association for Community Enterprise Ltd (Face), operates a handyman service, which already employs two local men. Mark Fabb
DURHAM County Council has won national recognition for the education information on its website. The learning section of the site (www.durham.gov.uk) has been accepted on to the Government-run National Grid for Learning's portal (www.ngfl.gov.uk). Websites
DETAILS have emerged of a £30m-plus housing and leisure scheme for Redcar which includes a £2.5m swimming pool. Persimmon Homes said that the swimming pool at Coatham Enclosure would be "a substantial size" and could be part of a bigger leisure complex
CULTURAL and historical facilities across east Middlesbrough and east Cleveland have been described as poor by one of the people charged with running them. Peter Lane, assistant director of leisure at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, made the comment
Ferryhill Greyhound, still top of the premier division, are five points clear of their rivals who have played fewer games. They dropped to valuable points by drawing 1-1 at home to Killingworth Arms. It was a very even game with goals hard to come by.
For a second successive year, Scotsmen John Bogie and Davie Patterson charged to victory on the Jack Frost Stages Rally held at Croft Circuit on Saturday. Driving their newly acquired MG Metro 6R4, the pair ended up 12 seconds ahead of the charging Ryan
National competitions, area three Singles quarter-finals: P Latcham (Ferryhill) 21, J Hammer (Shildon) 20. Pairs, quarter-final: Tinkler/Kirtland (Darlington) 22, Aitken/Dodd (Great Aycliffe) 6. Triples quarter-finals: M Lynch (Darlington) 16, J Wells
The last unbeaten record was destroyed when Stanley Central visited Bearpark and lowered their host's colours in the Second Division for the first time. Frank Foster put the Central ahead but David Jackson and Shaun Easter with a 35 break moved the home
Three young brothers owe their lives to the love of their older sister after she donated the bone marrow that saved them all. Ciara MacMahon, seven, has undergone three operations for the sake of John, four and twins Rory and Edward, two. Her bravery
Sir, - I refer to to Judy Fawcett's letter (D&S, Jan 17) regarding siting of mobile phone masts in Hawes and the power they radiate. From reference to available data on the Government's Radio Communications Agency web site (http://www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk
SCOTSMEN John Bogie and Davie Paterson charged to a second successive victory on the Jack Frost Stages Rally, organised by Darlington and District MC and held at Croft circuit last weekend. Driving their newly-acquired ex-Chris Wood MG Metro 6R4, the
NORTH Yorkshire's new chief constable, Della Cannings, is adopting an uncompromising tone in her current series of public meetings held around the county. If you want a decent police force, she says, you'll have to pay for it. Council taxpayers seem certain
SimCity 4. Format: PC CD-ROM. Publisher: Electronic Arts. IT'S ALMOST 15 years since SimCity burst onto the gaming scene. A true breakthrough title that appealed to a massive demographic - many of whom had never played a game before - tens of thousands
A RAPID transit system linking Darlington to other Tees Valley towns could be operational by 2010. Experts are looking at three rapid transit options to find the best one which would link towns to existing and potential employment, education establishments
FEARS have been raised that young families are at risk from a bogus caller claiming to be a health visitor. Police were alerted by a young mother, who was visited by a woman in her late 30s or early 40s at her home in Kimblesworth, near Sacriston, County
SimCity 4. Format: PC CD-ROM. Publisher: Electronic Arts. IT'S ALMOST 15 years since SimCity burst onto the gaming scene. A true breakthrough title that appealed to a massive demographic - many of whom had never played a game before - tens of thousands
Esh Winning manager Barry Fleming was delighted with teenage keeper Lee Robertson on his debut last Saturday. Esh were without their regular keeper, Lenny French, for the home game with Dunston, and 16-year-old Robertson was plunged into the deep end.
GALA THEATRE: IN the same way that Brian Sewell's ill-judged remarks have focused attention on the Baltic, I suppose we must appreciate the reader or two who consistently seeks to berate the Gala Theatre, and the city council's management and ownership
GORDON Watson yesterday suffered frustration as his comeback stuttered. Watson was due to play in his second reserve game after four months on the sidelines following a broken leg, but the planned friendly behind closed doors between Hartlepool United
Elegend Peter Shilton makes an appearance in the region later this year. The former goalkeeping great played between the sticks for Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Derby during a glittering career and will be guest speaker at the tenth Darlington Allstars
The preliminary round of the Fives and Threes Mixed pairs KO competition will be played on Friday, January 31. Deadline 8.30pm. Games may be re-arranged by mutual consent. Results to be forwarded to C. Holmes within seven days of the deadline, otherwise
PLANNED European legislation aimed at preventing discrimination at work could restrict other freedoms, a leading North-East academic has warned. The Government is due to complete the latest round of consultation today on the EU Employment Directive, legislation
NORTHALLERTON rider Paul Barker was on top form in the grand prix at the recent Talk of the North. Over David Cole's challenging course, Barker qualified all four of his rides for the seven-strong jump-off. He was first away on Sunboy and, with a win
