FARMERS' incomes have recovered to their highest level since 1997, according to Defra. Total income from farming - generated by production within the agriculture industry, including subsidies - rose by 34pc to £3.23bn this year, from £2.48bn in 2002.
VILLAGERS are launching a bid for funding to modernise their village hall. The building in Middridge, near Shildon, needs work costing about £200,000 to provide a new roof, kitchen and boiler room. Villagers are hoping applications to the National Lottery
Spennymoor manager Tony Lee wants his defence to tighten up as the club approaches a crucial stage of the season. Moors dropped off the leading pack last weekend when they lost at Barrow by 2-0, and Lee said: "We seem to be giving teams a goal start,
Darlington Under-14s were well beaten by Carlisle to reverse the result of the match played at Blackwell Meadows early in the season. Whilst Darlington travelled with some good players missing it was still a strong squad of 22 that arrived at the Cumbrian's
For years, there was only one choice for gaming on the move but this Christmas, two portable systems - Nintendo and Nokia - are going head-to-head GAME BOY ADVANCE SP, Price: deals vary - expect to pay about £89 for the unit alone. PROS: Unrivalled selection
PLANS to build a park for Guisborough will be unveiled at the town's biggest market tomorrow. The Gisborough Priory Project expects the development to cost about £3m and will apply for funding, including money from the National Lottery, to create gardens
DISAPPOINTED fans who were unable to get tickets for Lindisfarne's farewell concert will now be able to see the entire sell-out gig. The final performance has been captured on DVD, video and CD. And a preview showing of the unforgettable last performance
With the demise of C&A, finding ski wear can be tricky but you can still look stylish on the slopes without spending a fortune as Shoptalk discovers. GOING skiing and want to get kitted out, be snug and warm and not spend a fortune? Cheap ski wear
MILITARY units based in the region could be pared down or axed altogether under a radical overhaul announced yesterday of the way British forces go to war. In a statement to the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced proposals included
Students at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College have had an extraordinary run of sporting success in the last few weeks. Two strong swimming teams were entered into the English Schools Division One regional championships and both did extremely
Woodmans Arms 2 Ennis Square 1: Woodman's Arms produced one of their best performances of the season to beat title contenders Ennis Square. They opened strongly and although both sides had their chances, it was the Woodies who struck first when Mark Jones
A NEW public toilet has won a top award in an annual Loo of the Year competition. The £130,000 facilities in the Applegarth car park in Northallerton won a five-star rating from the judges of the contest, promoted by the British Toilet Association. It
A TEESDALE farmer has been nominated for the post of national NFU vice-president. Richard Betton, who farms more than 700 acres in upper Teesdale, was put forward at the annual meeting of the North Riding and Durham NFU at Croft on Thursday of last week
I HAPPENED to be ravenous by the time we got to Sam's restaurant for dinner - my own fault, I should have either booked the table for an earlier time or eaten a heftier lunch. Some may say (particularly those in the catering trade) that this is the ideal
A NORTH-EAST toy shop has supplied dolls clothes that are the perfect fit for a tiny premature baby girl who lives more than 3,000 miles away. Pauline Connelly sold the outfits at her shop in Barnard Castle, County Durham, to proud grandmother Patsy Prewitt
SUCCESS is most definitely on the menu at one North Yorkshire school. For the number of children staying to school meals has soared since a new "theme scheme" came into play. Pupils are now queuing up for lunch at Romanby Primary - because they choose
With the visit of George Bush, the fixtures were decimated for two weeks, with only the Fire teams getting into action. Tyne and Wear were able to secure two wins to make up ground on the leaders. They beat Newcastle 8-2 and Durham Fire 6-2, to clock
Swimming in his first open gala, ten year old Calum Gibson of Durham City ASC won a full set of medals at the Blyth Graded Meet, two gold, one silver and one bronze. Gibson won the boys ten years 50 metres freestyle and 50 backstroke, he was second in
A decision made by Durham Football Association chiefs has sparked outrage in a local league who say it sets a 'monumental precedent'. The Durham FA overturned the Spennymoor Sunday League's decision to dock a club points for fielding an unregistered player
Bristol City boss Danny Wilson has challenged Lee Matthews to use his loan spell with Darlington to prove his striking credentials. The Robins frontman has been unable to hold down a regular place at Ashton Gate this season and was made available for
AN ARTIST who has studied and taught internationally has returned to her childhood home of Darlington to present a collection of Yorkshire Dales landscapes. The exhibition of pastel landscape paintings by Barbara McMillan is on display at art dealers
A SCHEME to earmark 1,000 graves for green burials at a North Yorkshire nature reserve has been rejected by planners. Harrogate Borough Council planning committee overwhelmingly rejected the scheme at Gertrude's Pasture in Scotton, near Knaresborough.
YOUNG pretender Kingscliff might not yet be quite good enough to dethrone course specialist Marlborough (2.20) in the Tripleprint Chase at Cheltenham today. The pre-race odds for the £40,000 clash between the two high-class stayers suggest Kingscliff,
UNUSUAL accessories helped pupils at a County Durham school raise more than £100 for charity. Pupils at Ingleton Primary School topped off their normal school uniforms with fancy headwear for Wear-a-Hat day on Friday. Every hat-wearing child and member
AFTER October's dabble with the abnormal - it was the first appreciably colder than usual month for a year - temperatures resumed the above-average trend we've come to rely on. Winds from a south or south-westerly point once more prevailed in November
THE scrapping of the Northumbria Tourist Board must not be allowed to hamper the promotion of tourism to the region, said George Cowcher, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC). "We must make certain that the process of replacing
BUYING presents can pose a dilemma - one which I'm sure many of you are wrestling with as the festive season approaches. But what do you buy the man who has eveything - or at least enough wealth to buy anything he desires. I'm in Dubai as I write this
THIRSK market place's huge "black hole" is to be filled in by next Friday - and that's a promise. Yorkshire Water has made a pledge that its £380,000 project to build a sewer under the market place will be completed by the weekend before Christmas. The
DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Christmas show & sale of prime cattle & sheep. Supreme champion beast: BB hfr M Robinson 330p a kg (£1782.02) to Quality Fare, Leyburn; res BB hfr W Dodds & Son 260p (£1569.97) to Taylor's Butchers, Darlington
Highlights of Darlington Mowden Park Under-13s' game with Durham City were a fantastic battling all-round forward display by the Mowden pack; five great tries by Tom Oldham; some really excellent handling and passing moves by the Mowden backs; and the
A SPORTS and arts wing built at a cost of £483,000 has been opened at a Redcar school. Newcomen Primary School has been fitted with a new arts studio, a sports hall for games, music and drama, soft play area and community area. The new wing has been named
Twelve months after taking their inaugural Grizedale Stages win, Scorton driver Steve Petch and co-driver John Richardson from Northallerton took victory once again but the former national champions were made to fight all the way. With weather conditions
FAMILY and friends of a military policeman killed in Iraq joined staff and students at his former college yesterday to dedicate a plaque in his memory. Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, 23, was killed with five other military policemen in June at an Iraqi police
NEALE Cooper last night moved to fill the void left by Mark Tinkler's suspension with the capture of Manchester City's Chris Shuker. Shuker will replace Tinkler in Hartlepool's central midfield for tomorrow's trip to QPR, with the ex-Leeds and York man
POLICE are launching a campaign to clamp down on drink-fuelled violence in two East Cleveland towns during the run-up to Christmas. Redcar and Cleveland Council has supplied extra CCTV cameras to cover Guisborough and Redcar town centres which can be
A young ice hockey star has been called-up to play for his country but is hoping a Father Christmas-type figure will come forward to help make his dreams come true. Twelve-year-old Andrew Finn has been handed an early Christmas present after being selected
IF you are thinking of having a yule log this Christmas, now is the time to begin the preparations. I am not referring to those log-shaped chocolate cakes, however, even if they are sold under the guise of yule logs. I mean real pieces of wood, nice chunky
Knaresborough won the final match on court to seal the downfall of Thirsk in the quarter-final. The Knaresborough side clinched the tie when James Lambley defeated Steve Whiteley 6-9 10-9 8-9 9-6 9-2 in a storming fightback. Other scores (Knaresborough
THREE North Yorkshire cheesemakers gave cheeses to Chelsea Pensioners when the Dairy Council's annual Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses took place at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea last week. Ribblesdale Cheesemakers of Settle provided their Wensleydale
Bound by an elastic band but otherwise pretty pristine, a scrapbook arrives at the Lions' Club shop in Darlington to prove that there really is nothing new under the sun. It was March 1939: the Quakers were once again on their uppers. The board sent out
My mention of the possible appearance of Nutcracker last month brought a swift response. A reader from Darlington wrote and described what was undoubtedly a Nutcracker seen in a garden in the West Cemetery area of the town at the end of October. Unfortunately
EXPORT order books are at their fullest for almost three years, a survey has found. The finding sparked renewed hope of an upturn in the manufacturing sector. Output is also expected to grow for the first time in almost a year, the CBI said in its monthly
DARLINGTON councillors are suspected of not being completely squeaky clean when it comes to filling in a public register of their outside interests. Peter Kearsley, borough solicitor and monitoring officer, has asked the council's standards committee
HAND-made collectors' teddy bears will be part of Guisborough's biggest ever specialist market tomorrow. Retired teacher Joyce Thistlethwaite, of Brotton, started her one-woman business, Thistledown Bears, ten years ago. The individual bears, made from
Inthe premier league Norton-Stockton's fight against relegation continues, unbeaten since November 8, they defeated Penshaw Catholic 2-1 at home last Saturday and are now third from bottom and have games in hand of the clubs above them. The next two weeks
HORDEN are struggling to overcome a double blow as they prepare for tomorrow's Powergen Intermediate Cup fourth round tie away to Herefordshire club Luctonians. After coaching the club for 12 years, David Turner has resigned following a career-threatening
Former World boxing champion Barry McGuigan was singing the praises of Crook light welterweight professional boxer Nigel Wright after watching him win last weekend. Wright out-pointed Jason Hall 59-56 at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow and McGuigan labelled
A MAN who served six years of a life sentence for killing his wife has walked free - thanks to a change in the law. Philip Rowland was convicted of murdering his wife Linda, 37, a mother-of-two, at their home in Walker, Tyneside, in 1997. Last month Appeal
Blackhall CC 5 Burn Valley Club 5: Burn Valley took an early lead in an entertaining game at Welfare Park with a good finish from Neil Hay, but then things started to go wrong for them. Poor all round performances saw them concede four goals before the
POLICE say they have identified alleged bullies who tormented Redcar paedophile Arnold Hartley, known as Robbie. The 73-year-old died in the early hours of Saturday, November 29, after being attacked in his home in Queen Street. Information given to police
THEY may be a staple of Christmas dinner, but the humble Brussels sprout takes some swallowing in the North-East. A survey of sales across the country has placed the region at the bottom of the sprout league table. Safeway analysed sales from stores across
A DARLINGTON student inspired to shave off her long dark locks by the story of her friend's young niece has raised £1,371 for charity. Seventeen-year-old Alice Reid and her best friend, Laura Rutherford, were devastated when Laura's two-year-old niece
PAUL THIRLWELL insists he would rather be on the Sunderland bench than playing if it meant Colin Healy was not ruled out for the rest of the season, writes Paul Fraser. Thirlwell looks set to replace the Irishman in the middle of the pitch at West Ham
Marlborough faces seven rivals including Kingscliff in Cheltenham's Tripleprint Chase today as he bids to get back on the winning trail. The 11-year-old gained his last victory over 12 months ago in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, and finished second
Presentation Night - Juniors Monthly Medals: April, Daniel Winterbottom; May, Matthew Day; June, William Abbotson; July, Darren Brown; August, Declan Barclay; September, Matthew Day, Hall Shield: Darren Brown. Junior Cup: Tom Beardsworth. John Plews Trophy
FIRMS in the North-East may be in for a lean Christmas, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). It has warned companies about invoice payments being disrupted by staff holidays and mail delayed by a backlog in the postal service. John Wright
THE Government has taken its time - almost a year, in fact - but it has come up with the right answer to the question of who should win the battle for the Safeway supermarket business. Although Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt is not empowered to say Morrisons
THREE goals and three points last Saturday lifted Darlington out of the Division Three relegation places and injected some badly-needed confidence into David Hodgson's side. There has been a definite improvement since Hodgson returned to the club, but
Sir, - I was pleased that my letter regarding the planting on White Mare roundabout at the end of Long Street, Thirsk ("Poor show", D&S Nov 21) prompted a response from Thirsk Town Council. The council said that I should get my facts right before
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - The fashions of today indicate the return of the dandy of the early Victorian era. An up-to-date overcoat is made to fit tightly to the figure round the waist, with a loose skirt and a broad collar with large lapels
A MAN was attacked with a hammer and a knife and had boiling water poured over him in a row over cans of missing lager, a court heard. Norman Heels, 27, spent three weeks in hospital, where he required skin grafts and an operation to mend three broken
Catherine Raine has shed an impressive 3st 7lb in the past 18 months, thanks to adhering heroically to an austere diet despite the temptations of Peat's tantalising bakery counter where she works. But now, while feeling like a new woman, the 26-year-old
HARD-working and talented students at Bishop Auckland College have been rewarded for their achieve- ments. The college's annual awards ceremony was held last week to pay tribute to the efforts of students who have shone for non academic reasons or have
A COMPROMISE may be reached in a row over a smoking ban at a £1.4m community centre in Darlington. Residents have threatened to boycott Maidendale House, which is due to open on the Firthmoor estate on January 12, because of the no-smoking rule. But now
SPECTATOR first noticed it in passing a year ago on his travels, was fascinated by its indescribable beauty, and looks forward to seeing it again before long. Fibre optic Christmas trees are two a penny these days, but Spectator had never seen a changing
MATERNITY units in parts of the North-East are to be subject to a service review. The move, which was announced by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority, is likely to lead to the downgrading of some smaller maternity units and the concentration
ONE of the world's finest opera singers yesterday received an honorary award from a North-East university for her outstanding contribution to the arts and entertainment. An honorary doctorate of music was conferred on Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at a special
A LEADING UK hotelier has taken over a 150-year-old hotel in a North town. Simon Rhatigan has bought the Feversham Arms Hotel, in Helmsley, for an undisclosed sum. He now plans to invest a further £230,000 refurbishing the 17-bedroom three-star hotel
UTILITY firm Northumbrian Water has been given an early Christmas present of £4m. Water industry watchdog Ofwat has finally given its blessing for a price rise in 2004/2005. But the amount sanctioned by Ofwat came as a surprise. A draft indication in
With developments on the Quayside, the north of Newcastle has been neglected recently, but plans for a new multi-million pound museum could create a new cultural quarter in the city. Christen Pears reports. WALKING up Northumberland Street, the average
A PRISONER found himself back in court yesterday, after being sentenced to a period in jail only last Friday. Ian Maitland, 25, of Alexander Terrace, Wheatley Hill, County Durham, pleaded guilty to two charges of taking petrol without paying and one of
STEWART DOWNING has made a premature return to Middlesbrough, and a frustrated Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy last night paid tribute to the young winger. Downing's loan, in its second month, was not due to expire until December 29 - meaning he was eligible
MEMBERS of an accident prevention panel were left fuming after county council officials declined to attend their meeting. Teesdale Accident Prevention Panel said the absence of county council representation made the committee less efficient. Representatives
MEMBERS of an accident prevention panel were left fuming after county council officials declined to attend their meeting. Teesdale Accident Prevention Panel said the absence of county council representation made the committee less efficient. Representatives
CHILDREN at a Darlington nursery got a festive surprise yesterday. Staff at Kids and Co, near the town hall, transformed the nursery into Santa's Grotto overnight. Complete with mini Mr and Mrs Santa Claus outfits for the children to dress up in, the
FIFTY letters have been sent to Darlington Borough Council objecting to plans for a takeaway business. Louise Todd has applied to change a vacant shop unit at 6 Burnside Road in the town to a hot food takeaway. However, local people, as well as the proprietor
THE building once vaunted as the region's biggest club for swingers has opened its doors as a conventional hotel. Plans to turn the derelict Kings Head Hotel in Stanley, County Durham, into The Love Shack, a club for wife-swappers and group sex enthusiasts
Coxhoe Boys: A determined and well-disciplined display saw Coxhoe rewarded with all three points to complete a perfect ten as the top two sides met in the Russell Foster Under-15s League Division One met. Coxhoe have now won a perfect ten out of ten in
WE will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of D Day next summer - the sort of military operation Whitehall believes we will never see again. War is still the nightmare it always has been. That much has not changed. But technology today has made it somehow
A PROJECT to revive the oldest part of Newcastle city centre has been celebrated in miniature. A sculptural map of the Grainger Town Project, a three-dimensional bronze model of the heart of the city, helps to illustrate the six-year regeneration programme
A PIONEERING North-East doctor is helping to promote a revolutionary new treatment for strokes. Professor Gary Ford, of Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, was one of the first specialists in the UK to use a clot-busting heart drug to treat stroke patients.
Cup weekend saw places up for grabs in the second round, but it was the four teams playing in the preliminary round, who were looking for a victory to get them a place in the first round. First division high flyers Nestfield visited third division Falchion
A BEAUTY salon is offering shoppers plastic surgery vouchers as Christmas gifts. Cosmetic surgeon Alan Patterson came up with the idea after a client confessed she was struggling to come up with a novel present for her husband. "She said she wanted to
STAFF at Teesside International Airport have received honours to thank them for their help during the recent visit from the US President. Airside operations manager Lee Scott, was presented with a tie clip showing the Presidential Seal and signed by President
A teenager's victory in the final heralded a "new generation" of title holders. Adam Nowakowski of Harrogate Squash Club upset the seedings to defeat club colleague Simon Myring 5-9 5-9 9-7 9-5 9-1. Nowakowski, who was dubbed the 'Comeback Kid' after
Horizon: Percy Pilcher's Flying Machine (BBC2) THE makers of this documentary went to great lengths to prove - but not, I fear, conclusively - that the Wright brothers weren't the first men to fly. No, that honour should have gone to a Brit, Percy Pilcher
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT prices have drifted a little lower following last week's rise. This is mainly because the price rise ruled ourselves out for additional exports but there is a question mark over whether we need to get more export
MYSTERY surrounds the reason why a magician plunged to his death from a railway viaduct. An open verdict was yesterday recorded into the death of 45-year-old Kevin Reay, at an inquest in Dur-ham. He was found lying under Crimdon Dene viaduct, on the Durham
Ferryhill Athletic manager Mark Fanning is hoping his side's five-goals performance last weekend will lead to more victories. Previously, the team had won just once in 16 outings and only a fortnight ago Fanning had to play because the club was so short
CRIME-FIGHTING villagers have teamed up with police to launch a festive crackdown on burglars. People living in three North Yorkshire villages will go out on high-profile foot patrols to try to deter criminals. Residents of Huby, Stillington and Sutton-on-the-Forest
AN investigation is to be launched into a woman's death in police custody. Police from an outside force are to be called in to investigate how the 61-year-old patient at a psychiatric hospital, came to die in a Middlesbrough police station cell, less
A NORTH-EAST "body double" was called in when Hollywood heart-throb Jude Law turned down sex scenes with the leading ladies in his latest movie. Jude turned down the chance to appear in sex scenes with a string of beauties in his latest film, Alfie. Instead
Willington and District League: Willington Lion and Unicorn struggled through to beat the visiting Willington Cottles A by the odd point. The singles were shared when Alan Lee senior, Dave Hawkins and Kevin Hill senior won for the home side and Adam Mains
TWO Sure Start initiatives in Hartlepool have earned accolades for the quality of their services. Funded by the Government, the Sure Start North and South initiatives aim to ensure pre-school youngsters get the best start to life in terms of health, ability
THE Right Reverend David Hope, Archbishop of York, will officially open a community centre at North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, on Thursday. The long-awaited Trinity Centre was built as the result of an appeal, which raised the money in record time. The Reverend
A COUNCIL'S festive clean-up has been hailed a success. The operation targeted 20 villages and towns in the Easington district where 168 tonnes of flytipping material was removed and 1,705 bags of litter collected. Another five tonnes of waste was collected
SCHEMES to improve the physical and mental well-being of pupils have been recognised. South Stanley Infants School has won the Healthy School Standard. The standard aims to help children make healthy life-style choices and includes drugs education, emotional
DRASTIC plans to demolish and rebuild large parts of a council estate could kick-start the regeneration of a village. For several years, the Whitehill estate, Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, has suffered at the hands of vandals and arsonists. Nearly
SKELTON and Brotton Parish Council has a small grants fund available for local groups and organisations. Chairman Dorothy Hogg recently presented a cheque for £1,000 to Brotton Football Club to help pay for a football pitch in Brotton. North Skelton Bells
WORK on the next phase of a £4.19m housing scheme for elderly people in Thornaby is about to start. Stockton Borough Council is working in partnership with registered social landlord Anchor Trust on the development at the former John F Kennedy House sheltered
PUPILS have written poems about the aftermath of a serious fire which tore through their primary school. The work by Class Y5 at Grangetown Primary School is on view in the children's section of Waterstone's in Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough. The
Continued from page 30 Bishop Auckland's Tristan Pye continued his recent good form with another top ten placing to claim second in Group N in the JPM Subaru he was sharing with Scotsman Roger Herron whilst Ingleton driver Tony Thompson had seconded Darlington's
A DRAMA grant has been set up to allow young actors in part of the North-East to work with professionals. Durham County Council has set up a fund under the Elements drama initiative to allow young people who are regularly involved in theatre to get professional
Division One: Hartlepool FC 1, Richmond Town 2; The home side dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute through Ian Davies. In the second half the visitors broke clear ten minutes into the second half and Steve Hunter pulled
A GROUP of medical students will perform the Full Monty during a night of fundraising for the Anthony Nolan Trust. The event has been organised by Durham Marrow, a student branch of the Anthony Nolan Trust, and will see teams of first and second-year
A COLLEGE team did so well in a new sport that all ten members have been invited for national trials. The team from Northallerton College play Ultimate, a fast moving game involving Frisbees, in which players score by catching the disc in their opponents
A parrot breeder jailed for smuggling rare birds into the UK three years ago has taken his case to the High Court. Harry Sissen has maintained his innocence since his home was raided by Customs and Excise officials in May 1998. A total of 141 rare and
AS this column passed its third anniversary two months ago, and I am ranting no more now than I was at the start, I was a little surprised that a reader should suddenly suggest it should be renamed Wellock's Bitter and Twisted World. He points out quite
Bound by an elastic band but otherwise pretty pristine, a scrapbook arrives at the Lions' Club shop in Darlington to prove that there really is nothing new under the sun. It was March 1939: the Quakers were once again on their uppers. The board sent out
ONE of the world's finest opera singers yesterday received an honorary award from a North-East university for her outstanding contribution to the arts and entertainment. An honorary doctorate of music was conferred on Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at a special
There's an awful lot going on in the final part of director Peter Jackson's adaptation of the Tolkein trilogy. As he himself has said, it's climactic from beginning to end, hardly surprising as journeys are completed and relationships resolved from previous
The Darlington Lady bowlers turned in yet another impressive team performance this week when facing up to the strongest of local derby challengers in the All England Yetton Trophy Inter-Club Championship. The Quaker girls knew they had to be at their
Worthington CIU Winter League Coundon and Crowtrees A, the early leaders in the Second Division, were shown they will not have things their own way as both were beaten, Coundon for the first time. Coundon visited Meadowfield and went ahead with a win
A MAN was attacked with a hammer and a knife and had boiling water poured over him in a row over cans of missing lager, a court heard. Norman Heels, 27, spent three weeks in hospital, where he required skin grafts and an operation to mend three broken
Norton and Stockon Ancients: The Under-16s progressed to the last eight of the Durham Cup in a hard fought 1-0 victory over a well organised Shiny Row team. There were very few chances in the game but the deciding goal came in the second half, a fine
SIR Ben Gill, president of the NFU, received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace last Friday. Sir Ben, who farms 360 acres at Easingwold, was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours list for his services to agriculture, conservation and the community
Willington manager Alan Shoulder has had his dismissal at Newcastle Benfield Saints earlier in the season quashed by Durham FA. Shoulder was told to leave the dugout by the referee in Willington's game there in October, and in another incident involving
TELEVISION crews took a town back to the 1960s yesterday as they filmed an episode of the ITV series Heartbeat. Scenes were filmed in the town hall, houses and community office of Masham, in the Yorkshire Dales, for the latest series of the long-running
A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build giant polytunnels in Heighington will be considered by planning councillors next week. Darlington Borough Council has received 113 letters and a petition with 93 signatures from villagers objecting to the application
LOCAL authorities are seeking safeguards over a three-pronged scheme aimed at preventing underground minewater polluting water supplies and a stretch of heritage coast. The councils' call follows an announcement by The Coal Authority (CA) revealing its
FARMERS needing a new start in life after foot-and-mouth are being thrown a lifeline by a church organisation. Bob Baker has been appointed by the Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and the Humber to offer support to rural communities in Swaledale
For years, there was only one choice for gaming on the move but this Christmas, two portable systems - Nintendo and Nokia - are going head-to-head GAME BOY ADVANCE SP, Price: deals vary - expect to pay about £89 for the unit alone. PROS: Unrivalled selection
TROUBLED tour group MyTravel reported colossal £910.9m losses yesterday, raising fears it may go bust. The announcement will be of enormous concern to the newly renamed Durham Tees Valley Airport, where MyTravel is the biggest travel operator. The group
COAL dug at Tan Hill warmed the garrison at Richmond Castle in the 1380s. But it was not until 1934 that Tan Hill's final shovelful was extracted. At its nineteenth century peak, the mining there took place in quite deep shafts, with winding gear and
Bishop Auckland rugby 1sts continued their progress up the table as they registered their second successive victory in Durham and Northumberland third division with a 16-5 victory at Chester le Street. The visitors started at full pace, and the sheer
Lealholm v Lingdale Utd: Lealholm took the lead after just two minutes when a cross from Holland found Robinson free to make a good shot. There followed some equal end to end football before Iseton found the equaliser when he wrong footed the Lealholm
FORMER Conservative Party leader William Hague has joined in the debate over a controversial referendum involving residents in Hutton Rudby. The parish council is considering applying for a £200,000 loan from the Public Works Loan Board to help fund improvements
POLICE have drawn up a list of bullies who targeted murder victim Robbie Hartley and are advising them to contact police before they knock on their doors. The 73-year-old convicted paedophile was subjected to a number of threats and confrontations in
Of all the former colliery villages near Durham City, Brandon is probably the largest. In many ways it is more like a small town than a village and although it has almost swallowed up the neighbouring villages of Langley Moor and Meadowfield, their histories
PLANS for a two-storey apartment block in the centre of Darlington have been criticised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. A tyre depot at the corner of Coniscliffe Road, West Street and Northumberland Street would have to be demolished to make
Billingham Wolves had a convincing 10-1 victory over Blackburn Thunderhawks at the Forum Ice Arena in the English U19 North A league. Wolves took the lead on the powerplay at 02.24 through Andrew Thornton and Blackburn drew level 21 seconds later. Liam
ARABLE farmers in the North-East are being urged to get a better deal by using a grain contract drawn up by the NFU. The new contract, designed to strike a fairer balance between the interests of grain producers and those of their customers, has been
Durham League Division One, Willington Wasps v Belmont Panthers: Willington started the game very quickly in this re-arranged fixture taking a commanding 21-5 lead after seven minutes. Nine unanswered points by Belmont in two minutes saw the first quarter
A PLEDGE was made yesterday to improve life in a former mining community. A compact agreement which aims to tackle anti- social behaviour, under-age drinking and litter was signed by residents of Ushaw Moor, police and Durham City Council officials at
MODERN warfare is unrecognisable from the battles fought man-to-man during the two world wars. Going to war in the new millennium is every bit as horrific, yet very different. We live in the computer age when individual human targets can be identified
Willington Ladies League: Despite losing by the odd point at Hunwick Joiners Arms Willington Club B remain 11 points clear at the top of the darts section. Willington Club A are in second place, twelve points clear of Willington Market and Willington
MORE than 150 jobs and potential investment by national food producers could be in store for Seaham as a result of a major expansion by Yearsley Cold Storage and Distribution. The Yearsley Group is one of the country's leading frozen food distribution
CHEMICALS firm BASF has started a consultation exercise aimed at cutting staff by 35. The jobs will be lost as part of a restructuring programme at its Seal Sands operation. The company blamed the economic climate for the losses. It will take the total
GOING skiing and want to get kitted out, be snug and warm and not spend a fortune? Cheap ski wear is no bargain if it's not good enough to keep you warm and dry. There's nothing so miserable - or dangerous - as being cold and wet on top of a snowy mountain
HOPES of saving 1,100 North-East jobs were dealt a major blow last night when it emerged that the Hibernia Foods group could be broken up. Frantic negotiations were still going on to find a buyer for the entire group amid fears workers could end up on
PROPOSALS to ban the inappropriate use of mechanically propelled vehicles on countryside rights of way were outlined by Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Michael this week. The consultation period, launched on behalf of Defra, addresses widespread concern
Newfit Services Willington: Willington Cottles were taken to the deciding team game by the visiting Sunnybrow Brown Trout A but they managed to win to go 11 points clear. Cottles had singles wins from Kenny Louth, John Barron and Michael Richardson with
The Northumbria Lawn Tennis and Squash club in Jesmond played host to the 2003 Northumbria Junior Open at the weekend with several notable performances from Durham and Cleveland junior players. Star of the show was Norton's Danny Hockbourn who won the
FLYING carpets, magical genies, puffs of smoke and more than a little audience participation. Kids will love this performance of Aladdin, which is full of surprises, dazzling costumes and plenty of well-known singalongs. All the old favourites are on
Wilton Wilton 1st X1 recorded five wins on the bounce, unbeaten in eight to hold second spot in North-East Division One over Christmas. Newcastle medics were this week's visitors and proved to be tough opposition going ahead through a sweetly struck penalty
Sir, - Does Safeway in Darlington have a death wish? Like Brian Blackburn (D&S letters, Dec 5) I also found a penalty notification attached to my windscreen after a visit to this supermarket and, like him, naively assumed that the store manager would
A COUNCIL has refuted claims by an MP that it is pouring cold water on plans to build a new swimming pool for Redcar. Persimmon Homes, which is to redevelop the 35-acre Coatham Enclosure in Redcar in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
Iceland, needing the points could not hold Cleveland Inn their close rivals. Despite taking a two-goal leads Iceland had to defend in depth but found Ray Woodhouse a handful and he scored twice to level the score at half time. Roy Nigi, on two minutes
It was the final round of the North East Winter League fished on the Tees at Yarm on Sunday. Diawa Cleveland became the new title holders rounding off the series in fine style with a winning team performance on the day and then finishing champions with
NORTH Yorkshire council tax payers have the chance to hold their chief constable to account at a meeting in Northallerton tonight. Public consultations in Hambleton on the police budget for next year begin at an open meeting, 6.30-9.30, at Hambleton Forum
Richmond had seven runners at the sell-out Leeds Abbey Dash on Sunday, November 30 and 24 in the NYSD X-C fixture at Thirsk, including two men who competed in both. This was not unique as runners from Darlington, Loftus, Quakers and New Marske Harriers
Bristol City boss Danny Wilson has challenged Lee Matthews to use his loan spell with Darlington to prove his striking credentials. The Robins frontman has been unable to hold down a regular place at Ashton Gate this season and was made available for
BRITAIN will be keeping a watchful eye on the US to make sure it does not reintroduce tariffs on steel imports "through the back door", Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt said. US President George W Bush announced the end of 21 months of sanctions last week
HORDEN are struggling to overcome a double blow as they prepare for tomorrow's Powergen Intermediate Cup fourth round tie away to Herefordshire club Luctonians. After coaching the club for 12 years, David Turner has resigned following a career-threatening
FOR the fourth year running, the under-16 girls' football squad at the Wensleydale School in Leyburn have won the area seven-a-side cup. They didn't concede a single goal throughout the tournament, winning every game, but last weekend they were unable
Burnmoor Cricket Club took advantage of Hetton Lyons Cricket Club's involvement in the delayed Durham County FA Sunday Cup tie to go to top spot in the League Premier Division with a Thumping 8-0 Home win over Sacriston Wmc. Top man was Graeme Hutchinson
CITY bosses will decide next week whether to put £2m behind a bid to build a performing arts centre in the North-East. Northern Stage, one of the region's most respected theatre companies, has launched an £8m fundraising campaign to redevelop Newcastle
LICENCEES are being encouraged to give punters a lollipop at closing time in an effort to prevent drunken street bawls. Police have warned that they are clamping down on drunkeness near pubs and clubs and have ordered extra CCTV cameras to cover Guisborough
Billingham swimmers were jubilant last weekend when they competed in the South Yorkshire Open Masters held at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. From 31 swims 16 medals were gained with all competitors achieving personal bests. Lorraine Riddle swam
TALENTED teenage harpist Sarah Paterson will perform at the James Finegan Hall, Eston, tomorrow as part of a children's Christmas workshop. The 14-year-old from Saltburn, who attends Sacred Hearts RC School in Redcar, has played the harp since she was
BRITAIN will be keeping a watchful eye on the US to make sure it does not reintroduce tariffs on steel imports "through the back door", Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt said. US President George W Bush announced the end of 21 months of sanctions last week
A THUG who went on an orgy of violence in which passers-by were assaulted and a man hurled to his death from a window has had his 18-year sentence cut. Jonathan Crossling, of Hillside Avenue, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, was jailed in June after admitting
SOME secondary schools in Darlington are likely to face closure or merger during the next ten to 15 years because of falling pupil numbers, a council report has revealed. Because of an estimated surplus of 1,433 places, some secondary schools' rolls will
Argie Ward is making a name for himself amongst the boxing fraternity after recording the best win of his seven-fight career when he beat the number four in the country last week. Fighting in Huddersfield last Thursday, the Darlington super bantamweight
PLANS for a new £3m park in Guisborough will be revealed at the town's Christmas market tomorrow. The Gisborough Priory Project group is to apply for funding to create gardens and develop woodland at the priory and is asking residents for feedback on
KILLER Albert Dryden faces another Christmas in jail after his bid for freedom was put on hold yesterday. His parole-board hearing was planned for yesterday but has been postponed indefinitely. Dryden, 63, was jailed more than 12 years ago for killing
HOW ethical is ethical? It's a question I ask after seeing the bank which trumpets its "ethical" policies encouraging people to get into debt to meet their children's Christmas demands. A badly-written and worse spelt list for Santa hangs in the bank's
DURHAM have re-signed Shoaib Akhtar, the world's only 100mph bowler, for next season. After the Pakistani's success in the second half of last season his agent seemed likely to price him beyond Durham's reach for 2004, but after almost three months of
Jesmond Parish Church scored two goals from Chris Wells and Andy Watson in the first ten minutes before Andy Barrie pulled a goal back for Airport Church just before half time. Airport piled on the pressure in the second half but never recovered from
Sir, - Your leading article (D&S, Dec 5) invites a reply. Firstly I have to agree with your analysis of the Government's regional assembly proposals. The case for them is not convincing. They will add nothing to local government in the region and
WORK on the final phase of a streetscape scheme in Ferryhill Station will not be completed by the original deadline because of two setbacks. The environmental improvements programme of roadworks and landscaping in part of the village was expected to be
RICHARD Guest is even more convinced than ever that the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival is on the cards after Our Armageddon landed the One Man Novices' Chase at Wetherby in such fine style. This young New Zealand-bred has now taken four out of five
BUYING presents can pose a dilemma - one which I'm sure many of you are wrestling with as the festive season approaches. But what do you buy the man who has eveything - or at least enough wealth to buy anything he desires. I'm in Dubai as I write this
RIPON has been named the best small racecourse in the North by the Racegoers Club, a fans' organisation administered by the Racecourse Association. The accolade was awarded to Ripon for the course's warm welcome, excellent facilities and high quality
AS this column passed its third anniversary two months ago, and I am ranting no more now than I was at the start, I was a little surprised that a reader should suddenly suggest it should be renamed Wellock's Bitter and Twisted World. He points out quite
A MAN who cycled more than 2,000 miles has raised £3,800 for a cancer charity. Jeff Snell took on the challenge of cycling from his parents home in Shildon to Lands End, then to John O'Groats and back. The 29-year-old was inspired by his father David's
BIRMINGHAM CITY are considering a post-Christmas swoop for Newcastle United's out-of-favour full-back Andy Griffin. Griffin has not started a Premiership match since the draw with Bolton on September 20 and the Blues are understood to be putting together
HOPES of saving 1,100 North-East jobs were dealt a major blow last night when it emerged that the Hibernia Foods group could be broken up. Frantic negotiations were still going on to find a buyer for the entire group amid fears workers could end up on
AN opportunist thief, who stole valuable items from three parked cars, was jailed yesterday. Paul Ryan Dewison, 29, of Ruskin Road, Darlington, admitted stealing car radios and other valuables in overnight incidents. Between May 22 and May 23, he stole
FISHING: I WONDER on what authority Peter Troy attacks the scientists who are attempting to save the North Sea fishing industry by reducing fishing quotas (HAS, Dec 9). On what grounds can he make the wild accusations that data, methods, equipment and
A HYGIENE campaign is being launched to save a town's residents from food poisoning over the festive season. One thousand information packs, 4,000 leaflets, free labels and themed fridge magnets are being distributed across Middlesbrough. Council officials
THE controversial issue of fluoridating drinking water is on the agenda again in North Yorkshire - ten years after sparking large-scale protests across the county. Amendments to the Water Industry Act, which have gone through Parliament recently, give
THE director of two computer software consultancies, which failed with total debts estimated at about £29,000, has given an undertaking not to hold directorships or take any part in company management for two-and-a-half years. Paul Hudson Graham, 32,
A BUSINESSMAN has pledged to help reverse an increasing trend of poverty in the North-East, highlighted in a report released by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Stefan Lepkowski, managing director of Karol Marketing, has been elected chairman of the Prosperous
Belford House moved to top spot, a point above the opposition Coxhoe Athletic, beating them 2-0 despite having lost one of their influential players, Ian Loughlan, with a broken shinbone. Belford went in front on the hour when Stuart Burton hit the net
Horizon: Percy Pilcher's Flying Machine (BBC2): THE makers of this documentary went to great lengths to prove - but not, I fear, conclusively - that the Wright brothers weren't the first men to fly. No, that honour should have gone to a Brit, Percy Pilcher
A STAR-STUDDED cast will take to the stage in an action-packed Peter Pan from tomorrow. The production at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, will star Tim Healy as Captain Hook, Jonny Regan as Starkey the pirate and Stacey Cadman, who will be thigh-slapping
THE North Eastern Counties Welsh Pony and Cob Association is trying to clear up some of the uncertainty surrounding the new equine passports to be introduced next year. Karen Hepple, the organisation's show secretary, has received many calls from Welsh
A couple who lived a ''high roller'' lifestyle paid for by tens of thousands of pounds plundered from a children's charity were being sentenced today. Joseph Mulcahy and Maureen Lewis siphoned off the cash from the Dream Foundation which was set up to
The highly successful South Durham Gymnastics Club held their club championships at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Sunday. The day rounded off another good year for the club that has grown and grown over the last decade. This year Hayley Robson has followed
A BEEF and sheep farm in a picturesque part of the North York Moors is diversifying - into health and beauty. The new business venture at Craven Garth Farm in Rosedale will offer a range of natural, locally-produced health and beauty treatments as Ena
Durham City: Durham City Ladies fought back from 2-0 down in the last 20 minutes to record a draw in an exciting game away to Saltburn. After four league defeats in a row it was vital that City got something out of this game against Saltburn and manager
THE Duke of Kent enjoyed a pint when he officially opened the new Wharfedale Brewery last week. The brewery at Hetton, near Skipton, has moved into bottled beers and is targeting outlets in Wensleydale. Its dbut beer, Folly Ale, was introduced in mid-September
A COUNCIL'S trading standards unit is warning people it is an offence to sell party-poppers to under-16s. A ten-year-old schoolboy volunteer visited six High Street premises in east Cleveland that sold the poppers, and was allowed to buy them in two of
MONEY has been found to ensure a town has Christmas lights this year after attacks by vandals. Last year was the first time in 20 years that Loftus, near Saltburn, had a Christmas tree and lights. But within 48 hours of the £1,000 lights being put up,
STRICTER eyesight requirements, training for those who use motorised wheelchairs and a clampdown on roadside memorials are among the more radical suggestions being put forward for reducing road accident injuries in North Yorkshire. A county council environmental
AN enforcement officer has scooped a national award for his commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour. Andy Bailey was runner-up in the personal achievement category at the first Neighbourhood Management Awards, held at Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
FALLING rolls could mean the scrapping of two secondary schools in Darlington in the next 15 years. A bid for Government cash to build new schools is being submitted by the borough council next week and head teachers have already decided that schools
A FARMER is about to open a garden centre after combining his passion for agricultural history with his son's desire to change the way he farms. Mark Noble and his father, Bill, have built a garden centre and antiques shop with the help of funding from
Durham Tournament: On Saturday at Gateshead stadium the Durham under-17 Tournament took place and in the girls singles Charlotte Heads of Wynyard continued to improve and reached the semi final where she beat Lancashire's Jenny Hayhurst 6.11 11.5 11.4
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 1,314 sheep. Lambs lt to 112.3p av 108.5p; std to 121.5p av 113.1p; med to 120p av 113p; heavy to 104.2p av 107.8p. Cast sheep: Mule to £55.50; Cont to £55.50; Swale to £34.50. DARLINGTON. - Mon. Fwd: 197 cattle
Injury hit Stanley RAFA were at home to Pelton Fell on a rock-hard ground and it was the experience of the visitors that proved the deciding factor. The Fell maintained their impressive run of results with a 6-3 win despite leaking goals to David Maughan
A WOMAN with severe disabilities fears she and her husband will end up on the streets because of a lack of suitable housing. Janice Fairbridge said she will have to leave her home because her medical condition is worsening and she needs to move into a
