THE opposition for my wife's affection may wear a wig and have to suck in his stomach when he wanders around the imaginary Old Bailey, but the fact remains that Martin Shaw's appearance is law around my house. Our idea of High Court judiciary is one of
HEALTH watchdogs are urging people to keep their kitchens clean at Christmas, to avoid serving up food poisoning. Environmental health officers are issuing guidelines to people planning to cater for large groups of family and friends over the festive
A charity boss and his partner who siphoned off about £100,000 from a fund set up to help sick and dying children were jailed yesterday. Joseph Mulcahy was described as a "liar, a hypocrite and a thief" by the judge who sentenced him to five years at
COUNCILS across the North-East gave mixed reactions to a promise of extra government money for local authorities. Chancellor Gordon Brown announced on Wednesday that £403m of extra money would be distributed to local authorities in an attempt to avoid
David Hodgson takes pride in telling it like it is. The Darlington manager has always talked a good game and during his time in management, his teams have, for the best part, played a good game too. The former Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Liverpool striker
DESPITE not having run for 252 days, reigning Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster (3.05) is unlikely to let his crown slip in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham. In the 2002 running of the £75,000 showpiece the Philip Hobbs-trained grey did not let his supporters
IDENTITY CARDS: On the day this country commemorates those who gave their lives for liberty, Remembrance Day, the Home Secretary announced another attack on the liberty of the individual. He is introducing compulsory identity cards. He claims they will
FEARS that more than 1,000 jobs could be lost on Teesside were heightened last night when a deal was set up to sell part of the Hibernia Foods group. An unidentified UK food manufacturer has submitted a bid to Hibernia's receiver, KPMG, which includes
A CATHOLIC community in north-west Durham is preparing to mark the 50th birthday of its church after renovation. St Teresa's in James Street, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, opened on December 17, 1953, with cash raised by residents, who had previously
A MAN was yesterday barred from entering shops in a town centre for being verbally abusive. Brian Birmingham, 23, did not oppose Stockton Borough Council's application to impose an interim anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) on him to restrict his movements
CONCERNED residents have voiced strong objections to the proposed site of a school. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants to demolish Beech Grove Primary School, close Cromwell Road Primary School and build a joint replacement at the existing Beech
JONNY Wilkinson has been pulled out of his Newcastle Falcons comeback tomorrow because of a neck injury. The club insist it is nothing to do with his midweek car accident and it is more likely to be a recurrence of a problem he has had for several years
RUGBY hero Jonny Wilkinson is the red-hot favourite to become the 50th winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award tomorrow night. The England and Newcastle Flacons fly-half is odds-on to add the honour to his World Cup medal and the MBE he
FRANCK QUEUDRUE is backing Middlesbrough teammate Gareth Southgate to force his way into England's Euro 2004 squad, and dreams of playing against his club skipper in the big Group B clash next year. June 13, 2004 has been pencilled in by many as the biggest
NEWCASTLE is NCL. London Heathrow is LHR. Manchester is MAN. Oxford is OXF. Leeds Bradford is LBA. Even Penzance Heliport is PZE. You do not need to be a genius to realise that there is something of a scheme to the International Air Transport Association
FEARS that more than 1,000 jobs could be lost in the North-East were heightened last night when a deal was set up to sell part of the Hibernia Foods group. An unidentified UK food manufacturer has submitted a bid to Hibernia's receiver, KPMG, which includes
The magic behind the biggest animated film of the year will be revealed when its director comes to the North-East. Mark Walsh, directing animator of Finding Nemo, is coming to Middlesbrough to take part in the University of Teesside's Animex festival.
A NATURE and wildlife group is inviting families and youth groups to take part in outdoor activities at a Winter Warmer event. The Durham Wildlife Trust, a regional conservation group, is hosting the event at Windy Nook Nature Park, near Gateshead, next
A MEDIEVAL fireplace in a fortified manor house has been uncovered after painstaking work by stonemasons. It took the owners of Markenfield Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, two-and-a-half years of negotiations with English Heritage, Harrogate Borough
A TOWN is gearing up to celebrate an off-beat New Year's Day tradition. When eight men from Chester-le-Street decided to take to the stage to imitate rock stars on January 1, 25 years ago, nobody guessed it would become one of the town's biggest events
DO you want to know a secret? I'm going to tell you anyway because, like the makers of too many TV programmes these days, I can't hold my tongue and resist giving the game away. The word is that Coronation Street's Steve Macdonald will receive unexpected
AN appeal to restore a town clock has received £10,000 to match the amount already raised. The Friends of Redcar Town Clock reached the £10,000 milestone last month, but it is estimated that the full restoration of the clock, which stands in the town
SOME new bus routes in Darlington have been cancelled until the New Year because of a shortage of drivers, it was revealed last night. The Green Bus company, which started trading two weeks ago, was thrown into crisis when eight drivers failed to turn
THE rapidly-expanding Esh Group, which outgrew the village that gave it its name, has added recycling to its lengthening list of businesses. The company's successful growth, that forced its move out of the County Durham village of Esh Winning, is set
BREWER Scottish and Newcastle has its sights set on the fast-growing Chinese beer market. S&N wants to build a relationship with Chongqing Breweries, although the company has not confirmed reports that it will pay about £36m for a 19.5 per cent stake
THE latest council fixtures and fittings can be viewed at three new showhomes. Under a programme of works, most properties in Thornaby, Stockton and Billingham, Teesside, will be inspected. A schedule will beprepared to provide new bathrooms, kitchens
MOST gardeners tend to be fairly good cooks. There is an understanding, or at least an interest, in growing food and knowing what to do with it. Connections are made with the taste buds and the fragrance given off by flowers, leaves and herbs. The brave
STEWART DOWNING'S return to Middlesbrough has left winger Thomas Butler focused on trying to ensure Sunderland do not miss the Teessider too much. Downing's return to the Riverside on Thursday, when his loan spell was cut short, proved to be the Black
Peter Jackson is being called a lot of names - the man who shot JRR, the world's favourite director, the 20th most powerful person in Hollywood in Premiere magazine's new list, and the film-maker whose last two movies generated $1bn at the global box-office
The Rev pamela Luca wears a nose stud and admits to being accident prone, used a vibrant Christmas service to bid farewellto her flock atr St Mary's parish Church, in easington Villiage. THE 1861 census records that the 72-year-old Rector of Easington
NOLBERTO SOLANO has hinted he may have to turn his back on Newcastle United after his latest plea for Premiership action appears to have fallen on deaf ears. The Peruvian winger is a fans' favourite at St James' Park but he has not started a top-flight
SOLICITORS who took up to £8,000 intended as compensation for crippled ex-miners face Government pressure to pay the money back. Energy Minister Nigel Griffiths has pledged to write to all coal health solicitors asking those who have charged legal fees
A burglar who targeted the bedsits of Teesside University students and stole computer equipment was jailed for 29 months yesterday. Heroin addict Christopher Thompson, 25, broke into houses in the centre of Middlesbrough that were rented by students.
SIR BOBBY ROBSON has warned any clubs interested in taking Hugo Viana on loan that it must be on Newcastle United's terms. And the Magpies chief also advised his stars who are becoming frustrated with lack of first team action to stop moaning. Robson
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren believes the fourth Champions League place is up for grabs in the Premiership, but is ruling Boro out of the chase. The Teessiders have put together a League run that has seen them take 18 points from the last ten
KEVIN KYLE wants to adopt the street-wise style of Niall Quinn in a bid to steer Sunderland's faltering promotion push back on track. During Quinn's time on Wearside, before hanging up his boots last season, he used to take time out and give his younger
SERIAL entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne's brief sabbatical from the business world ended yesterday with the announcement that he is to embarked on a new venture. Mr Bannatyne has turned his attention to building a casino empire after receiving permission
A DISTRICT councillor has denied three charges relating to alleged indecent acts involving two young girls. Harry Devine, 53, appeared before Durham Crown Court accused of indecent assault on an 11-year-old girl between June 1 and September 30 last year
KEVIN KYLE wants to adopt the street-wise style of Niall Quinn in a bid to steer Sunderland's faltering promotion push back on track. During Quinn's time on Wearside, before hanging up his boots last season, he used to take time out and give his younger
STRIKES that would have caused misery for tens of thousands of revellers, Christmas shoppers and football fans were called off at the last minute last night. The first of two walkouts on the Tyne and Wear Metro system was due to start at 9pm, but it was
NEALE COOPER is heeding the advice of others - and he's ready to take the game to Queens Park Rangers this afternoon. Cooper's Hartlepool are at Loftus Road to face the leaders. And while Pool sit in a healthy fifth spot, Rangers are widely regarded as
DO you want to know a secret? I'm going to tell you anyway because, like the makers of too many TV programmes these days, I can't hold my tongue and resist giving the game away. The word is that Coronation Street's Steve Macdonald will receive unexpected
A violent rapist has been jailed for life - by the judge who freed him two years earlier. Recorder David Hodson admitted that his decision not to jail ex-soldier Paul Parker for rape in 2001 had been "a mistake" after Parker was found guilty of attempting
A NORTH-EAST man was branded a "neighbour from hell" was remanded in custody yesterday. Trevor Bunce appeared before Judge Les Spittle. Bunce, of Eden Terrace, Chilton, County Durham, was secretly filmed by police setting fire to the door of his next-door
A BANNER celebrating a victory by North-East labourers over factory bosses is back on display in the region. The Sunderland Employers' Nine Hour Banner was made in 1871 to commemorate workers winning a battle to reduce their working week to 54 hours -
A MAN missed his holiday after falsely claiming he had a flick-knife in his baggage. Denis Lawrence Crossen was preparing to check-in at Teesside International Airport for a flight to Rhodes, Greece, in June this year when he committed the offence. The
A GALA Christmas concert in aid of Darlington's annual Giving Tree appeal is being staged next week. The Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, will be hosting the event on Friday, starting at 7.30pm. People are invited to sing along to their favourite carols
FEARS that more than 1,000 jobs could be lost on Teesside were heightened last night when a deal was set up to sell part of the Hibernia Foods group. An unidentified UK food manufacturer has submitted a bid to Hibernia's receiver, KPMG, which includes
TWO of Durham's longest serving magistrates are to retire after nearly 50 years service between them. Irene Lupton, from Belmont, and Kevin Storey, from Gilesgate, Durham, retire from the North Durham bench on Monday. Mrs Lupton, a former teacher, served
A fresh row broke out last night over the £11m contract to dismantle rusting US warships in a North-East yard. Green campaigners said the company hoping to recycle the so-called ghost ships could not dispose of poly-chlorinated biphenyls at its site in
THE man who steered Arriva through one of the UK's longest running industrial disputes has decided to retire. Euan Cameron will step down as executive director of Arriva Trains on December 31, after spending three years with the transport group's rail
SIR BOBBY ROBSON has warned any clubs interested in taking Hugo Viana on loan that it must be on Newcastle United's terms. And the Magpies chief also advised his stars who are becoming frustrated with lack of first team action to stop moaning. Robson
FOR years, it was the legendary Durham Puma that stayed one step ahead of wildlife enthusiasts eager to prove its existence. But now, experts are in a flap over sightings of a new mystery beast -the Weardale Wolverine. Exotic wildlife research organisation
JONNY Wilkinson has been pulled out of his Newcastle Falcons comeback tomorrow because of a neck injury. The club insist it is nothing to do with his midweek car accident and it is more likely to be a recurrence of a problem he has had for several years
WORK on the first phase of a North-East's business developments is under way. The first two buildings on the Morton Palms Business Park site, on the edge of Darlington, are being constructed and will eventually house up to 700 staff. Architects Red Box
David Hodgson takes pride in telling it like it is. The Darlington manager has always talked a good game and during his time in management, his teams have, for the best part, played a good game too. The former Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Liverpool striker
A DOG-LOVER has warned fellow pet owners to be wary, following the theft of his ninth dog in ten years. Brian McArdle, of Delves Lane, near Consett, County Durham, kept his two puppies and their mother on his allotment in the village, so neighbours would
