A PIONEERING approach which has weaned hundreds of inmates off hard drugs at a North-East prison is proving such a success that it could now be copied by jails across the country. A total of 568 inmates in Durham Prison have used the Substance Misuse
SEVENTY families may be given a chance to have their homes heated by a central timber-burning stove to save them buying coal or using electric heaters. A three-month feasibility study is being carried out to see how the scheme would work on the Leekworth
SHOPPERS, workers and slimmers in Darlington joined forces to raise almost £1,000 for charity as part of the recent Shades for a Day appeal. People paid a donation to Guide Dogs for the Blind for wearing sunglasses all day as they went about their business
A NEW home is needed for a lively pair of Yorkshire terriers. Max and Lucy were put into the care of the National Animal Sanctuary Support League after a change in family circumstances. Both Max, aged seven, and Lucy, aged five, have been neutered, microchipped
A PALLET-making company was fined £4,000 yesterday after a worker severed a tendon in his hand on a circular saw. Tyne and Wear Pallets, represented by its managing director Peter McKenzie, pleaded guilty before Gateshead magistrates to failing to protect
HIS adventures have delighted children for decades - but not everyone is such a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. Residents of a North-East street found the noise of the friendly-faced steam locomotive too much to bear at the weekend. Hundreds of children
A FAMILY fun day to raise money for an air ambulance will take place in autumn. The event, at Hummers-knott School and Language College, Darlington, on Sunday, September 14, from noon until 6pm, has been organised by the town's Rotary Club. It will feature
HEALTH and safety officials in Darlington are to investigate warnings that children are playing with asbestos materials at the town's auction mart. Youngsters with weeks of summer holiday ahead of them have vandalised part of the auction mart and dislodged
A COUNCIL has dropped its opposition to plans for a nightclub. Chester-le-Street district councillors had blocked attempts by nightclub owner Billy Walton to secure planning permission for his second nightclub in the town, fearing it would lead to anti-social
A TEENAGER fought off a gang of youths who attacked him for his mobile phone and sports kit. The 13-year-old boy was walking through Doxford Park, Sunderland, on Saturday, when three youths jumped out from behind bushes in City Way. One of them grabbed
A MAN taken to court for failing to display a residents' parking permit said it would not stick on his dashboard. Kevin Pashley told Teesside Magistrates's Court that the permit fell off the dashboard three times when he parked outside his home in Diamond
A Ryedale support service for children with special needs and their families has been awarded a £20,000 grant from the Lloyds TSB Foundation. Ryedale Special Families provides services that include emotional support, crche facilities and a special needs
As two more celebrity marriages crumble, Christen Pears asks whether star couples can survive life in the spotlight or whether they are doomed for divorce. IT was one of the glitziest showbiz weddings of recent years. Elizabeth Taylor was matron of honour
MANAGERS and staff at a factory are celebrating after being presented with an employers' award at a ceremony held in the Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield. Managers at Aycliffe Fabrications Limited, which has premises on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate,
A FARMING family's fight for survival after the foot-and-mouth epidemic is the background to the latest book from North-East novelist Julia Clarke. You Lose Some, You Win Some is narrated by 17-year-old Cesca and picks up her family's story near the end
JOBLESS Paul Jackson falsely claimed more than £4,000 in benefits. Middlesbrough Council solicitor Angela Gray told Teesside Magistrates that the false representation for housing benefit, job seekers' allowance and council tax relief represented a loss
MANAGERS and staff at a factory are celebrating after being presented with an employers' award at a ceremony held in the Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield. Managers at Aycliffe Fabrications Limited, which has premises on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate,
A FARMING family's fight for survival after the foot-and-mouth epidemic is the background to the latest book from North-East novelist Julia Clarke. You Lose Some, You Win Some is narrated by 17-year-old Cesca and picks up her family's story near the end
TRIBUTES were flooding in last night for a former council leader whose high-flying political career came crashing down in a high profile criminal investigation. Rod Hills, Labour leader of the council in York until a year ago, was found dead at a house
A MAN who handed over thousands of pounds after being told he had scooped a £1m jackpot said he would "hate to win the National Lottery". Michael Pratt received a letter saying he had won top prize in a draw and paid a £3,500 "administration fee" to online
A BLUEPRINT for the economic revival of a dale hit hard by job losses was finally unveiled tonight, almost a year after the closure of a major employer. Every resident will be given a summary of the Integrated Rural Development Plan for Weardale, County
A reptile collector was today allowed to keep his large collection of exotic animals despite being convicted of causing them unnecessary suffering by housing them in a "ramshackle" barn. At the end of a trial which cost £30,000, unemployed music teacher
MARK JOHNSTON, currently on the 99-winner mark for the season, is poised to make history at Goodwood today by racking up his tenth domestic century in a row with Lucky Story (2.40) in the Group 2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes. Johnston, who in 2002 equalled
GOSH, aren't we lucky not to have such refined taste? Life is so much simpler for us peasants. We see hanging baskets, busy borders, tub, pots and containers overflowing with vivid begonias and bright busy lizzies and we - simple souls - feel our hearts
Sam Northeast is starting to make a name for himself. The 13-year-old, reports The Observer, has this season scored 11 centuries in 19 innings for his school team in Broadstairs, Kent, with an average of 291. It's a name we'd not previously stumbled across
TONY BLAIR: I FIND myself in a rather puzzled state and am wondering if your readers could help. First let me state that I am against the killing of any animals. Chasing after a fox for hours on end and then ending its life painfully is cruel and should
WITHOUT a shadow of doubt, the menace of drugs lies behind a great many crimes. Individuals resort to theft, burglary and robbery to feed their addiction to drugs. Prisons may temporarily deprive addicts of drugs, but it does nothing to combat their addictions
TWO rare Iron Age settlements on the North-East coastline have been uncovered by gas engineers. Workers for Transco, which is laying a 15-mile pipeline across County Durham, found the first site near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, then astounded archaeologists
Honeymoons From Hell (ITV1) Love was in the air on the flight to Sri Lanka, as Jim said "yes" after partner Candace proposed over the plane's tannoy system. To add to the surprise, she'd smuggled their two young daughters and various relatives aboard
AN Iraqi sea captain yesterday admitted joking to airport check-in staff that he was carrying two bombs in his briefcase. Talal Abdul Hameed, 47, who works for Arab Maritime Petroleum Company, made the remark as he checked at Teesside International Airport
Darlington manager Mick Tait was last night looking forward to a double striker boost after Danny Mellanby declared himself fit for the new season and trialist Glen Robson closed in on a permanent switch. Mellanby is expected to return to action in a
CONSUMER spending on the high street is likely to continue growing during the coming months, but holiday spending on credit cards may fall, according to new research. People expect to spend an average of £904 on their credit cards during the three months
AFTER four decades of nurturing hill pastures in one of the most isolated spots in the country, it seems that the rest of the farming world has finally caught up with keen conservationists Maurice and Kath Toward. The couple proved that their home Herdship
CIGARETTES group British American Tobacco (BAT), which is to axe its Darlington plant, has announced a small rise in profits. Half-yearly figures showed a two per cent rise in profits and a ten per cent increase in its interim dividend. The London group
A COMMUNITY support group has been given a cash boost. The Kara project, based at South Bank, in Middlesbrough, is to receive £40,000 funding from the Greggs Trust, phased over three years. The windfall will help Kara, which provides a range of family
AN ice rink will be opening in Stockton in time for Christmas. The temporary ice rink is due to open on Friday, November 1 - BBC Children in Need Day. It will be outside Splash Swimming Pool on Church Road, in Stockton, and will be paid for by Stockton
Stockton Borough Council has produced a mini-guide to the borough. The booklets contain details of attractions in the area, including Preston Hall Museum and Billingham Art Gallery. They are available from libraries, hotels, tourist information centres
A ONCE run-down park has been cited as an example of how open spaces can be successfully transformed. Middlesbrough's Glebe Park was highlighted by Government regeneration minister Yvette Cooper yesterday as she launched an £89m project to revamp neglected
MULTI-MILLION-POUND plans to regenerate a town centre were dealt a blow yesterday after the government rejected bids for funding. The Gateway project for Billingham, Teesside, is a proposed leisure, learning, health and cultural facility in the town's
A free cycling skills session will be held in the car park of the Tesco store, Renny's Lane, Durham, on Thursday, August 14, from 10am to 4pm. The Clover Bike Smart roadshow is open to children aged between seven and ten and teaches the basics of cycling
Bosses at an electronic sign firm have completed a £10m management buy-out and are planning to double sales. Directors of Gateshead company VMS, formerly Variable Message Signs, have bought the company from Rolls Royce, with the backing of venture capital
GONE are the days of the cinema organ playing at an appropriate tempo to match the mood on screen. But the role of film soundtrack and sound effects is being explored at the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough. Musician and composer Tom Cooke is leading
CARAVAN retailer Barrons of Burtree has boosted turnover by half. Figures released yesterday by the Darlington firm showed a 50 per cent increase in the first six months of the year. Nick Markl, managing director, attributed the rise to the firm offering
THE state of the economy is now the biggest concern for the region's small businesses. The latest NatWest quarterly survey of small businesses in Britain found that 26 per cent of North-East firms regarded economic uncertainty as their most important
NINE jewellers chosen for their skills and innovative use of materials will showcase their work in an exhibition. Visitors to the Shipley Art Gallery, in Gateshead, will be able to see the exhibition called New Talent. On display alongside work from the
A FUN DAY has raised more than £10,000 towards a sports centre for the disabled. The Percy Hedley Foundation, a school for physically disabled children and adults in Newcastle, held an annual summer fair in aid of its sports centre appeal. The centre
AN artist has transformed boarded-up shopfronts on an estate with colourful murals. Steve Hunter has been painting and restoring shop shutters on the Firthmoor Estate, Darlington, which were covered with graffiti. The clean-up was part of the Firthmoor
THE first outdoor theatre production in the walled Victorian garden of Eagescliffe's Preston Hall Museum has proved a success. The performance of Pride and Prejudice by theatre company Illyria recently, sold out of all 400 tickets. Stockton Borough Council
AN Iraqi sea captain yesterday admitted joking to airport check-in staff that he was carrying two bombs in his briefcase. Talal Abdul Hameed, 47, who works for Arab Maritime Petroleum Company, made the remark as he checked at Teesside International Airport
TRIBUTES were flooding in last night for a former council leader whose high-flying political career came crashing down in a high profile criminal investigation. Rod Hills, Labour leader of the council in York until a year ago, was found dead at a house
NOLBERTO Solano's international ambitions have almost certainly ruled the winger out of Newcastle's first two games of the season, and again put his future on Tyneside in jeopardy. The Peruvian FA yesterday confirmed Solano will play in their game against
SUNDERLAND last night accepted a bid of up to £1.75m from Wolves for Jody Craddock. The defender has been pulled out of the party for tonight's friendly at Hearts and will travel to Molineux this morning to discuss personal terms with the Premiership
SUNDERLAND last night accepted a bid of up to £1.75m from Wolves for Jody Craddock. The defender has been pulled out of the party for tonight's friendly at Hearts and will travel to Molineux this morning to discuss personal terms with the Premiership
A NORTH-East man who said he used cannabis to alleviate pain after he was injured has appeared in court. Police officers found the drug at Clive Joyner's home in Severn Way, Darlington, during a raid on the property on July 11. The 32-year-old told officers
A DARLINGTON optician has invested in equipment that could help to detect glaucoma and other diseases. Specsavers has spent £40,000 on three machines to carry out more thorough eye tests on customers. A digital retinal camera will allow opticians to take
A DARLINGTON firm of solicitors made a knockout fundraising attempt to help raise more than £800 for St Teresa's Hospice. The team from Latimer Hinks, which took second place in the Darlington hospice's It's a Knockout event on Sunday, has donated all
POLICE are to question scores of former officers who have retired on health grounds. The review by Cleveland Police has been backed by the Cleveland Police Authority. A statement by the police authority said that one officer has already to returned to
POLICE have identified the body of a 31-year-old man who was found in the River Tyne, near the Redheugh Bridge, Newcastle, about three weeks ago. He was Richard Merrifield, from Blyth, Northumberland. An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned
IT is likely a council will recommend that a power plant should be allowed to burn cow fat. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been asked to give its views on whether the power station at Wilton, Redcar, Teesside, should be allowed to burn the fat
A PLUMBER has appeared in court after claiming to be a member of a national gas safety watchdog. Teesside magistrates were told David Lee had used the logo of the Council for Registered Gas Installers (Corgi) in business, when he was not a member. Middlesbrough
A footballer will follow in the footsteps of England's World Cup team when he jets off to South Korea to represent Great Britain in the World Student Games. Michael Lennon will be included in a squad of 19 that will fly out for the championships next
A KARAOKE competition has hit the right note with regulars at a County Durham pub. The 12-week event at The Dog and Gun, Auton Stile, Bearpark, proved to be a draw for singers and customers alike. Lee Clark, of Looney Tunes Karaoke and Disco, who hosted
POLICE have launched a safety drive urging people to take care when they are out and about near water during the summer holidays. Northumbria Police, along with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), has warned children and adults of the many hidden
VULNERABLE and isolated people in east Durham are to benefit from improved access to health and council services. More than £600,000 from the Single Regeneration Budget will be used to supply a one-stop shop of services for residents in part of the district
MONEY is being made available to help people beat crime. Grants of up to £500 are available to voluntary or community groups in Hartlepool's Headland to support small community safety and crime prevention schemes. To be considered for funding, the schemes
A sculpture which was inspired by the River Tees is to be displayed outside a university as part of a major festival. Yesterday, 120 logs were towed by boat by visual artists Dave Allinson and Michelle Tripp, from the Tees Barrage to the University of
AN accordion player has shown that age is no barrier to achieving ambitions. Lillian Pattinson, 63, from Stanley, County Durham, has successfully completed a course in playing the accordion from the London College of Music and Media - the first person
A TALENT-SPOTTING company which claimed to help budding performers find fame has folded. Big Break Magazine was investigated by trading standards officers after canvassers across the region stopped young people in the street offering to help them break
SAFETY checks have been carried out on taxis in a North-East resort. Fifteen taxis were stopped in Scarborough at the weekend, 11 had defects requiring attention. The checks were carried out by North Yorkshire Police, the Vehicle Inspectorate, the Department
AN inquest opened yesterday into the death of a care worker who died in a kitchen accident. Linda Hayes, 51, slipped causing a knife to plunge into her throat and was pronounced dead on arrival at Durham's University Hospital of North Durham. She was
POLICE are to question scores of former officers who have retired on health grounds. The review by Cleveland Police has been backed by the Cleveland Police Authority. A statement by the police authority said that one officer has already to returned to
A WOMAN who held her former husband at knifepoint in a four-hour stand-off with armed police pleaded guilty yesterday to making a threat to kill him. Terrie Twentyman, 36, was finally overpowered and subdued with CS gas at the house in Park Lane, Middlesbrough
CONCERNS are growing for a man who has been missing for nearly a week. Daniel Mark Tuck, 24, left his family home in Billingham to share a flat in Hartlepool a week ago, and has not been seen or heard of since then. Anyone who may know his whereabouts
NOLBERTO Solano's international ambitions have almost certainly ruled the winger out of Newcastle's first two games of the season, and again put his future on Tyneside in jeopardy. The Peruvian FA yesterday confirmed Solano will play in their game against
Darlington manager Mick Tait was last night looking forward to a double striker boost after Danny Mellanby declared himself fit for the new season and trialist Glen Robson closed in on a permanent switch. Mellanby is expected to return to action in a
A FLEET of new ambulances, costing £4m, has been forced off the road because they cannot manoeuvre over speed ramps. The ambulances were bought by Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service last year from Germany to provide more comfort for patients
PROPOSALS for the North-East's first eco-village have been thrown out by planners after a late intervention by highways chiefs. More than 80 objectors, who packed the council chamber to hear the application yesterday, applauded as councillors refused
SIMON WILLANS was astounded to receive a benefit cheque for only 4p, along with a letter advising him that he can backdate his claim to February 28, 1852. The letter accompanying the giro explained that he is entitled to receive 4p a week, dating back
NEW Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw yesterday stepped into the war of words between scientists and trawlermen, and pledged to try to "bridge the gap". The Government is spending £1m in an effort to get the two sides to reach a better understanding of
THREE people who died in a car crash were named yesterday. The accident, which happened on Shields Road, Bill Quay, Gateshead, in the early hours of Monday morning, has been described by senior firefighters as one of the most horrific they have ever dealt
LONDON'S blue-chip shares endured a mixed ride yesterday, finishing a session marked by uncertainty on a low. Early jitters about insurance sector dividend payments sent the benchmark FTSE 100 Index tumbling before investor nerves were settled, helping
A PIONEERING approach which has weaned hundreds of inmates off hard drugs at a North-East prison is proving such a success that it could now be copied by jails across the country. A total of 568 inmates in Durham Prison have used the Substance Misuse
THOUSANDS of classic cars will roll up at one of the North East's historic houses after an absence of eight years. The Harrogate MG club is celebrating the return of its annual rally to the grounds of Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, next month
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a road accident in Thornaby. The crash happened at about 6.55pm on Monday on Thornaby Road close to the junction with Victoria Road. A black Citroen Zantia appeared to lose control and collided with an oncoming
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is stepping up his interest in Inter Milan midfielder Stephane Dalmat in an attempt to cushion the blow of missing out on Flavio Conceicao. McClaren, out of luck in the transfer market this summer, is increasingly
A SINGLE mother was asleep in bed when police called in the early hours, a court heard yesterday. The first Julie Kennedy knew was when she woke to find a male and female officer in her room, telling her she was under arrest, her solicitor, Geoffrey Boothby
SINCE the early years of the 20th Century one building has been at the core of local government in North Yorkshire. Over the years, County Hall, in Northallerton, has seen politicians of all political hues come and go, but has stood largely unchanged
ONCE-busy old machinery has been put to a restful new use at one of North Yorkshire's fast-developing attractions. Volunteers at Helmsley Walled Garden have turned an old hay rake into a brightly-coloured bench for visitors. The rake, with its large cast
MOBILE phone operator Orange boosted revenues in the UK in the past six months, but lost 54,000 customers. The French-owned group saw total revenues in its UK business fall by 0.6 per cent. But the figure is measured in euros and suffered because of currency
A MULTI-MILLION pound project to redevelop a town's hospital has been approved. Parts of the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, will be given an £18m facelift. The plans include a new children's unit, modern pharmacy and improved parking. The scheme
PROPOSALS for the North-East's first eco-village have been thrown out by planners after a late intervention by highways chiefs. More than 80 objectors, who packed the council chamber to hear the application yesterday, applauded as councillors refused
A CHILDCARE roadshow is heading for Consett to tackle a lack of childminders in the area. Durham County Council's Childcare Information Service (CIS) will be at Consett Library on Tuesday, to give advice to anyone wishing to work in childcare and to advise
DARREN DIXON survived a plunge from a tree when a young girl broke his fall. The girl was passing below just as Darren, 11, slipped and fell, landing on top of her. She walked away unscathed, while he suffered a broken wrist and a cracked pelvis. He was
THE problem that led to a £4m fleet of ambulances being mothballed could have been avoided before it even arose, it was claimed today. If 999 crews had been consulted at the design stage the flaw would have been spotted and dealt with before the first
NEALE Cooper will today hold talks with Andrew Jordan in a bid to strengthen his back line. The former Bristol City and Cardiff defender has spent pre-season with York and has been offered a one-year deal after impressing rookie boss Chris Brass. But
A FAMILY man had almost 700 indecent images of children on his computer which he had downloaded from the Internet, a court heard yesterday. Police made the discovery after seizing computer equipment during a raid at Francis William Mingay's home in Ripon
THE sky is the limit for cabin crew graduates from a Stockton college. More than a third of the students who completed their EMTA Air Cabin Crew vocational qualification at the Stockton Riverside College had secured jobs before the end of the course.
Workshops are taking place throughout the Stockton Riverside Festival designed to introduce residents to a wide range of new activities. Henna body painting, line-dancing, African drumming and jewellery making are just a few of the activities taking place
A TALENT-SPOTTING company which claimed to help budding performers find fame has folded. Big Break Magazine was investigated by trading standards officers after canvassers across the region stopped young people in the street offering to help them break
INSURER Prudential has confirmed plans for its first dividend cut since 1914 as the group tries to conserve cash amid gruelling trading conditions. The Pru, which reported a 27 per cent drop in half year operating profits to £397m, estimated a 40 per
MORTGAGE lending soared to a record high last month, boosted by renewed demand from house buyers. The Bank of England said total mortgage lending was £21.88bn - up from £20.49bn in May. Net lending, which strips out redemptions and repayments, also reached
THE riverside in Stockton will provide a backdrop for three large-scale productions. The shows, which are part of the Stockton International Riverside Festival, which starts tomorrow, will be performed by British companies. On Saturday, IOU Theatre will
GARDEN WINNERS: The results of Ingelby Barwick Parish Council's garden competition have been announced. The front garden category was won by Ron Johnson, Bill and Linda Bradley came second and Susan Wright came third. The back garden category was won
A VENTURE capital firm is backing a North-East film which is tipped for success. The £250,000 backing for School for Seduction came from Northern Enterprise Limited (NEL), which made a £20,000 investment last year to enable Newcastle film company Ipso
AN IRAQI man wanted for questioning over a murder in Hull could be in the North-East. Detectives in Humberside are trying to trace the whereabouts of Tony Karim, an asylum seeker, who it is believed has connections with Tyne and Wear and Northumberland
FIREFIGHTERS battled a fierce blaze at a disused caravan factory yesterday. Fire broke out in the late afternoon in the former Elddis works, in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett, County Durham, and took hold throughout the 150sq m building. At
BOTH sides are hoping to have a key bowler back in action when Durham face Somerset at Riverside over the next five days. A week after twisting his ankle in the floodlit game at Hove, Shoaib Akhtar should be fit to return after missing the rain-hit match
MOTORCYCLE legend Randy Mamola, a 13-time Grand Prix winner, left would-be stars of the track awestruck when he gave a high-speed masterclass yesterday. The flamboyant American, one of the most famous names in the 500cc class, was at Croft Circuit, near
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is stepping up his interest in Inter Milan midfielder Stephane Dalmat in an attempt to cushion the blow of missing out on Flavio Conceicao. McClaren, out of luck in the transfer market this summer, is increasingly
A DEVASTATED community pulled together yesterday to bring its town back to its former glory. The people of Saltburn, east Cleveland, were shocked when a mystery poisoner slipped weedkiller into a contractor's water tank used to water hundreds of colourful
BOTH sides are hoping to have a key bowler back in action when Durham face Somerset at Riverside over the next five days. A week after twisting his ankle in the floodlit game at Hove, Shoaib Akhtar should be fit to return after missing the rain-hit match
A CHEMICAL company prosecuted after a serious pollution incident has been praised for improving its environmental record. Huntsman Petrochemicals was highlighted in an Environment Agency report which examined good and bad business performance. The company
OIL firm BP has posted second quarter profits of almost £2bn, despite seeing oil prices fall back from levels seen in the run-up to the Iraq war. BP made profits of £1.92bn in the second quarter of this year, up 42 per cent on the same period last year
