A COUNCIL which has been paying the wrong business rate on a property for the past nine years is to receive a rebate of almost £1m. Darlington Borough Council appealed against the rates it was asked to pay for the Dolphin Leisure Centre in 1995. Now the
HORTICULTURISTS are mystified by a flower which has grown with one side perfectly white and the other pink. Gardener Derek Lofthouse, pictured, said he has no idea why the dahlia grew with a line down the middle where the two colours meet. "I'm no expert
IT was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, was just the ticket for keeping Count Dracula at bay, and is great for keeping you fit. And now scientists reckon they have found a new use for that most pungent of plants, garlic. According to researchers garlic
I JOKED soon after becoming Willington Under-15s' manager that I wanted to "improve" my team's disciplinary record, which apparently contains just one booking in the previous five years. I didn't expect that light-hearted vow to come true inside the first
A SET of pre-Dinky toys made by Meccano in 1933 made a world record price of £12,650 when they were sold by a North-East auction house. They were part of the Modelled Miniature series that were the forerunners of thousands of toys that were to be called
Darlington RA: After a fairly disappointing first half hour of the RA's home tie with Blyth Town in the Women's FA Cup first round, a precision Darlington goal was disallowed, ruled offside, from a free-kick taken by Becks Keeler. Darlington always seemed
A COUNCIL locked in a legal battle with another local authority has accused it of rejecting an "olive branch" which would settle the dispute. Darlington Borough Council has offered to share responsibility for a former landfill site at Creeback, which
MORE than 40 farmers and others attended the year's last farm walk, organised by North Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group at Kersey Green Farm, Marske, near Richmond. The farm won the 2002 Tye Trophy for progress in farm conservation. Mr and
The number of female gamblers in on the increase. Women's Editor Christen Pears meets one woman who became addicted to betting and who nearly lost everything. RUTH will never forget the night she sat in front of her computer and gambled away £1,100 in
Tommy Porter, the man who put true zeal into Premier Passions, has been named by the FA as the country's top non-league groundsman. Turned 70 in the summer, the former farm worker retired as Sunderland's head groundsman five years ago and now nurtures
The Morrison Indoor Bowls Centre in Darlington launched a comprehensive autumn programme this week. This exciting schedule includes up to 26 leagues and a wide range of championships, tournaments and competitions suitable for beginners, new starters,
Thornaby Mandale 2 Ennis Square 3: Ennis Square took top spot in midweek thanks to a last gasp winner from Steve Gent. Bradley Murray had given Mandale the lead when he latched on to a through ball from Steve Lambert and although Gent levelled with a
David Beckham wandered over to his familiar peg in the Old Trafford home dressing room before the match against Liechtenstein only to find someone else's strip hanging on the hook. It was a defining moment for the England captain, a signal that his life
Durham and Cleveland under-17 squash players Lee Skinner and Graham Johnson travelled to Preston last weekend for the BNFL Springs Open Tournament. After winning his round one match, Graham went down in the fifth game after an eight-hour wait between
Sir, - On August 28 a most irregular meeting took place of Hambleton District Council's development control committee, to consider the Lower Ure Conservation Trust's proposal to re-grade the landscaping of the existing nature reserve at Nosterfield and
ANOTHER road sign is to be removed in the North-East after a legal challenge by an unsuspecting motorcyclist who was clocked for speeding. The 40mph sign in Worsall Road, Yarm, near Stockton, will have to be taken down after a camera caught Anthony Alderson
Sir, - It was with interest that I read about the sale of the carriage collection at Aysgarth (D&S, Sept 5). As a regular visitor to the Dales, and Wensleydale in particular (presently in the middle of my 23rd visit), I have witnessed the general
A NEWLY-FORMED football team is hoping to take the league by storm as it turns out in new kits. Shildon Town Juniors Under 12s have got together to take part in the Russell Foster Youth League. The team, which comprises youngsters from Shildon, West Auckland
ALAN SHEARER, the greatest English striker of his generation, last night confirmed he will retire at the end of next season. Shearer, 33, expects to sign a one-year extension to his contract today that will tie him to Newcastle United until May 2005.
THOUSANDS of families travelled to Weardale at the weekend to enjoy England's oldest agricultural show. Wolsingham's 224th annual show offered a more diverse programme than ever, which more than lived up to expectations for all ages and tastes. Sunday
Cleadon SC manager Doug Key can hardly believe the transformation which has taken place this season. Currently, the South Tynesiders are just a point off leaders New Marske following nine games and have yet to play a fixture on their Jack Clark Park pitch
SUPERMARKETS have brought the world into our shopping trolley. Beans from Zambia, tomatoes from the Canaries, jam from France, avocados from Israel and disgusting breakfast cereals from America. The world, as Arthur Daley once famously said, is our lobster
A LEADING engineering company has been accused of moral blackmail for saying that its future in Northallerton rests on a controversial redevelopment of its site involving the loss of 100-year-old gardens. Allerton Engineering, a major skilled employer
POLICE yesterday warned people turning up to the biggest dog show in the North not to fall prey to opportunist thieves. The annual Darlington Championship Dog Show, which gets under way in South Park today, will be the subject of a major police operation
DOUBLE Trigger, one of Britain's great stayers on the Flat in recent years, is honoured in The Double Trigger Maiden Stakes at Redcar on Monday, when the seven-race programme starts at 2pm. A contest for two-year-olds over nine furlongs, the race is supported
Darlington manager Mick Tait believes he is ready to see the best of his squad - because competition for places is bringing out the best in his players. Tait wants to see his players fight for their places ahead of tomorrow's Third Division clash with
A TEENAGER could need plastic surgery to rebuild her face after she was viciously assaulted by three other girls. The 14-year-old was playing with two female friends in the park behind the Co-op store in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, when three girls
ONE of the biggest cannabis growing sites in the UK has been uncovered, just days before it was due to go into full production. Audacious criminals had spent thousands of pounds converting a barn, in a remote corner of County Durham, into a sophisticated
Durham League: There were some excellent bowling at the League Finals Day, held at Vane Tempest Bowling Club, Durham but nothing matched the excitement of the finish to the Rinks, where Witton Gilbert took on four County players from Leeholme. The Witton
Sir, - I was amazed to read your report (D&S, Sept 6) about the proposed relocation of Thirsk's auction mart. The tone of the report, supported by the selected quotes, gives the impression that planning approval is a foregone conclusion. I trust this
NORTHALLERTON. - Last Fri. Dairy herd dispersal, for AN&MA Wilson, Cam House, Chop Gate, Bilsdale. Sale of 118 Fries dairy cows & followers inc one stock bull. Cows to £905, £845, £835, £825, £805, £780, £770 av £540; in-calf heifers to £730,
Kirby Sigston are still out in front after recording their 20th victory in 23 games at the weekend. They saw off the challenge from Skelton Castle by seven wickets after restricting the home side to 77 all out as Clarkson claimed four wickets for 31 runs
YES, YES, oh yes! We had only hopes last week, but they came true. Somnus beat the supposedly invincible Oasis Dream in a grinding battle on a rain-softened Haydock turf to land the Group One Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup for Great Habton trainer Tim Easterby
FAMILY and friends yesterday remembered a popular North-East student who died two years ago in a skydiving accident. Sue Westwood, 23, died in June 2001 when one of her legs became entangled in the parachute cords as she left the aircraft. A fellow skydiver
Colburn League: Ogame to go in what has been a great season. The Legionnaires were beaten 2-0 by Colburn A but I'm sure they don't mind. Colburn B and Le Maginot are still fighting it out for second place after winning against Hillgiftware and Upex respectively
Early menopause affects thousands of women under 40. Women's Editor Christen Pears meets one woman who was just 19 when she went through the 'change of life'. AS a teenager, the last thing on your mind is the menopause. It's something you associate with
IT'S not only go-getting career women who go into business - and that's official. A recent survey by Barclays Bank showed that women at home - "mothers and housewives" as they were described - were as likely to set themselves up in business as women already
On Sunday, June 15, the 3rd Durham Dales Fell Series was held - Chapelfell. In extremely hot conditions Michael Mallen of Crook won the race in a time of 36:08. Results: 2nd Paul Kelly, Darlington, 36:19, 3rd, Steve Lumb, Quakers, 37:36, 4th, Marcus Byron
Rohm and Haas JOC Hetton Youth League: Sacriston went nap when they entertained Jarrow St Bedes and after establishing a two goals interval lead the home side never looked back. Scott Embleton and Stephen Clifford found the target in the first period
AN ITALIAN gasket-maker is tripling its Teesside workforce as part of a million-pound relocation. Ilpea, based in Skelton, plans to take on 74 staff, taking employee numbers to 120, in time for its move to a 1,000sq-metre factory. Thirty people have already
A NORTH Yorkshire farmer took the champion and reserve champion at the third annual sale of pedigree Beltex sheep at Skipton mart. David Findlay of Birdridding Farm, Coverham, a leading member of the Northern Beltex Partnership, took the championship
THE highly successful Yorkshire Pantry networking group, which has promoted all that is good in food and wine in the area for the past three years or so, is to be phased out. It will be replaced by a new product brand name, as yet under wraps, and will
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 15-year-old boy who has gone missing. Lee Urwin, who has learning difficulties and lives at a foster home in Ryton, Gateshead, has not been seen since 3.45pm on Tuesday. He was seen by a friend
Willington Boys under-16s played an exciting 5-5 draw away to Plains Farm in the opening game of their Russell Foster junior soccer league campaign. After taking all six points from Plains Farm last season, Willington found the opposition a much stronger
RUTH will never forget the night she sat in front of her computer and gambled away £1,100 in an Internet casino. Her boyfriend was away from home on business and there was nothing on TV, so she opened a bottle of wine and settled down in front of the
TWO potentially devastating hurricanes were last night threatening to delay the arrival of a condemned US "ghost fleet" in the North-East. The Northern Echo revealed yesterday how the US Maritime Administration responsible for the mothballed ships had
Spennymoor are hoping to sign former Darlington midfielder Phil Brumwell in time for tomorrow's Premier Division away game at Stalybridge. Moors boss Tony Lee has decided to move quickly to strengthen his squad after they slumped 4-2 at home to Bradford
Hundreds of historic buildings throw open their doors to the public for free this weekend. Mark Foster concludes our series on the Heritage Open Days. HIDDEN away down one of Whitby's narrow old streets is a building that on first glimpse is entirely
This will be my last column here before, appropriately, travelling elsewhere, and it seems an appropriate time to look back on the last twelve months in the world of travel. The first thing to say is that, despite amazing electronic communication advances
A SEVERELY depressed pensioner who beat her husband to death with a hammer walked free from court yesterday. Former nurse Mary Milbank Swinburn, 68, launched a frenzied attack after the behaviour of her husband, William, became too much for her to take
On Sunday leaders MN All Stars had a 6-1 victory over Fighting Cocks, although it was the visitors who took the lead when Carl Bewick beat the offisde trap to score. Top scorer Steve Howden levelled for the home side and the two goals from Paul Robertson
AS lost cities go, the flints, arrowheads and rough hewn tools do not look much - but archaeologists believe they are the first proof of a "prehistoric Atlantis" submerged off the North-East coast. Divers have uncovered two ancient settlements under the
THE Quakers faithful will certainly not be getting carried away, but at least they had something to cheer at the Reynolds Arena last Saturday. Two early goals from Barry Conlon against rock bottom Carlisle United were enough to give Mick Tait's side their
Durham HQ are the early pace setters, remaining unbeaten after three matches following their excellent 2-1 win at Langbaurgh. Jason Malcolm gave Langbaurgh the lead only for Tony Insall to equalise almost straightaway. In the second half, debutant Paul
Sacriston failed in their bid to become overall champions of the division when they lost by six wickets to Tynemouth in the play-off. Sacriston, who had won the Tyneside section, realised 95 for the loss of nine wickets in 28 overs. John Lee top scored
CENTRE records were smashed at Borderway mart, Carlisle, last Friday when a pedigree Texel ram sold for 120,000gns - just 2,000gns short of the world record for a sheep, which was broken at a sale in the Borders in August this year. Born in April 2002
A TITANIC battle has broken out between neighbouring families over noisy late night renditions of a classic hit by singer Celine Dion. Joe and Elaine Wright said they had to endure sleepless nights listening to the theme music from the blockbuster film
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,710 sheep. Lt lambs to 99.5p av 89.6p; std to 115.3p av 102.3p; med to 111.9p av 104p; heavy to 104.37p av 101.8p. Cast sheep. - Suff to £46.50; Mule to £43.50; cont to £39; Swale to £28.50. BELLINGHAM. - Thurs of last week
DARLINGTON and District Motor Club attracted more than 200 competitors to their annual club championship race meeting at Croft last weekend. Drivers from all parts of the country, as well as one from Sweden, mixed it with a strong local contingent in
SCULPTURES installed at Durham County Council's headquarters for three months have been branded a waste of money. The three artworks have been at County Hall, Durham, since June as part of a two-year £55,000 project. Over the next week or so they will
LASER SQUAD NEMESIS. Publisher: Just Play. Format: PC CD-ROM. Price: £9.99: ONLINE gaming is great. Playing against a computer can never replicate the thrill of defeating a real human on the field of cyber-conflict. Unfortunately, on-line gaming isn't
A DRIVER who was more than three times over the drink-drive limit gave his brother's name when he was stopped by police, a court heard yesterday. David Stephen Russell, 53, of Hammond Drive, Darlington, even turned up to a court appearance under his brother's
A TOWN'S MP has launched a campaign to warn elderly residents to beware of menacing letters promising them cash. Alan Milburn, MP for Darlington and former health secretary said there had been a spate of bogus letters sent to pensioners during the summer
WATER has been released from Kielder reservoir into the River Tyne to help salmon move out of the estuary and further into the freshwater section of the river. Since July, officers from the Environment Agency have found more than 1,000 dead salmon and
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 15-year-old boy who has gone missing. Lee Urwin, who has learning difficulties and lives at a foster home in Ryton, Gateshead, has not been seen since 3.45pm on Tuesday. He was seen by a friend
FINAL approval has been given for a revamp of a town centre park which has fallen into disrepair. North Lodge Park, near Gladstone Street, in Darlington, which celebrated its centenary this year, will receive £265,000 for repairs to restore it to its
A MULTI-million pound art gallery could be bigger and better than first planned. The £9m glass-fronted gallery has been planned for Middlesbrough town centre. But the centrepiece building, designed by architect Erick van Egeraat, will be more impressive
THIRSK and Northallerton Golf Club are celebrating a memorable and exciting victory which saw the ladies A team crowned Yorkshire county champions. The team emerged triumphant at the YLCGA inter club match team handicap championships held at Scarborough
A COMMUNITY centre which faced closure last year has fought back to launch its own website. The future looked bleak as funding came to an end for Hunwick Community Centre, in June last year. But villagers refused to be beaten and rallied round to save
AN NHS initiative is looking for volunteers in Langbaurgh. The Expert Patient Programme recognises that patients with long-term health conditions often have a wealth of knowledge about the management of their illnesses and become experts in their own
A MAN who left a reveller seriously injured after hearing his girlfriend described as a Teletubby has walked free from court. Michael Barthram punched John Woods after he allegedly made the remark during a chance encounter in Newcastle. The blow felled
FITNESS enthusiasts are being invited to pit their skills on the rowing machine against one another. The Last of the Summer Row challenge begins at Hambleton Leisure Centre in Northallerton today. Rowers can take part individually or in doubles teams
A GROUP of Sedgefield villagers will be on the trail of good food when they take part in a safari on Saturday. Their destinations will not be some far away location but several homes in the village, with the guarantee of food and refreshments at each.
ONLY the superfit need apply for the latest challenge to be thrown down by a charity. Runners are needed to take part in the world's most demanding marathon in the Sahara in April next year. The Marathon des Sables - Marathon of the Sands - involves running
PATIENTS and the public were given a valuable insight into hospital life at an open day event in Northallerton. The doors of the Friarage Hospital's day unit were opened to the public to demonstrate just what work it carries out. The unit helps patients
Anthony Nixon was fuming in a motorway traffic jam when the bright idea for his latest piece of furniture came to him. He was mulling over a design for a large round table when he had the brainwave of creating a unique octagonal one instead. He had just
SCULPTURES installed at Durham County Council's headquarters for three months have been branded a waste of money. The three artworks have been at County Hall, Durham, since June as part of a two-year £55,000 project. Over the next week or so they will
COUNTY Durham youngsters are being urged to say whether they believe the voting age should be lowered. Durham County Council wants the county's youth to help make it respond to a national consultation on the issue. The Electoral Commission wants to find
RETIRED couple Dot and Tom Armstrong are helping lead the fight against one of the major causes of injury among the elderly. Every year, more than 1,500 people aged 65 or over are killed in falls in their home and more are seriously hurt. The cost to
THE organisation which will take over the running of council housing in Hartlepool has appointed a chief executive. Cath Purdy, Hartlepool Borough Council's chief tenants' services officer, was appointed by the board of management for Housing Hartlepool
NORTH-EAST district councils have made a united stand in the face of the proposed change to regional assemblies. This week's formal campaign launch at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland was supported by leaders and chief executives from County Durham, Northumberland
ENGINEERING students have been putting their skills to use creating new-look signs for a town centre. Students and staff at Derwentside College have created the first of several ornamental information boards, which will be located in prominent places
Rob Campbell, 37, is the new headteacher of the 1,489-pupil Laurence Jackson School (LJS), in Guisborough. He has come to the area from Witchford Village College, in Cambridgeshire, where he was deputy headteacher for three years. Mr Campbell said: "I
A LANDLADY is appealing for centenarians to come along for a free drink at a newly refurbished pub. In an echo of the old pub joke 'centenarians who bring their parents can drink for free,' The Centenary, on the Glebe Estate, Norton, Stockton, really
A SCHOOL has kept it in the family by appointing the son of a retiring headteacher to take over the reins. Following the retirement of principal Elizabeth Gray, the board of directors at Grindon Hall Christian School, in Sunderland, has hired her son,
A SOCIAL worker secretly filmed himself having sex at work then threatened to blackmail his lover by sending the tape to her boss. The ten-minute video showed the couple making love twice - before cooling their passions by breaking off to have a curry
DERWENTSIDE Primary Care Trust (PCT) will launch its first annual report at its next board meeting. The report gives information about the PCT's work to bring together health, social services, users, carers and other partners to improve services for residents
THE searing heat and leaping flames are bad enough, but smoke can be the real killer in a house fire. Its effects are frightening, as I have just discovered from a brief experience of one aspect of the training undergone by firefighters in North Yorkshire
A US circus will be rolling into town next week. Uncle Sam's American Circus will be at the Riverside arena in Chester-le-Street from Tuesday to Sunday, September 21. Big top attractions will include clowns, trapeze artists, jugglers, acrobats, fire-eaters
SEVERAL seats are still available on transport taking Sunderland football fans to Stoke for Tuesday night's First Division fixture. The Langley Park branch of the Sunderland AFC Supporters' Association would like to hear from any fans interested in travelling
A RELIC of the steam age which has stood still for 40 years is to be brought back into working use at a North-East museum. The 12ft water crane, dating from the turn of the last century, was used to feed water to steam trains on the Stoke-on-Trent to
MARKSMAN John Robinson has returned from his latest competition with two medals to add to his tally. The former Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, from Huby, near Easingwold, took part in the Home International Olympic Skeet event at Bisley, Surrey
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault after a man suffered face and head injuries. The incident happened between 10pm and 10.30pm last Friday at the junction of Westgate Road, Guisborough, near to Bar 44. The assault involved a number of people
THREE buskers have raised £636 for visually impaired people by entertaining shoppers for two days on the streets of Barnard Castle. Betty Walton played her accordion, while her friends Ian and Michael sang. They gave the cash to the County Durham Society
A MAKESHIFT Middlesbrough Bears team put up a tremendous performance against the Humber League champions Scunthorpe Scorpions at Hull's Craven Park. They could not however prevent a third defeat against the Scorpions but defied the odds to more than make
A POPULAR North-East comic is to record his act for release on video, after 50 years in showbusiness. Gateshead-born Alan Snell, 64, a favourite on the region's club circuit, has never released a video before. "I've had several offers to make a recording
Division One: Bedale FC 2, SMG Redstripes 0: Bedale bounced back against Second Division Champions SMG Redstripes. With 15 minutes gone Adam Bramley added his eighth of the season to give Bedale a slender 1-0 lead. The visitors were just getting back
An investigation into the Selby train disaster by the Railway Inspectorate revealed there was no evidence of any failings in the system, an inquest heard yesterday. Mike Smith headed up a team of eight from Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) which
A NINE-MONTH North-East drugs case collapsed last night - leaving taxpayers to foot a bill that could be as high as £20m. Scores of detectives were involved in a long running investigation into drug dealing on Teesside. Undercover officers spent months
FOR stormin' Norman Sturman it has been business as usual since being named The Northern Echo's Local Hero of 2002. Sturman, who was also recognised as the Over-16s' Outstanding Achievever last year, was adjudged the most worthy recipient of the prestigious
A FAMILY of eight people has escaped uninjured after an arson attack on their home. The family dog alerted George Waters when what police call "an incendiary device" was thrown through the front window of his house in Peel Street, Hendon, Sunderland,
A TOWN centre at the heart of The Northern Echo and Wear Valley Advertiser campaign to support local traders has a new man at its helm. Derek Toon has been appointed as the new town centre manager for Bishop Auckland, whose traders joined forces with
BUSINESS leaders last night delivered their own riposte to the Government after it rejected a plea for positive discrimination to bridge the North-South divide. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott rejected claims from MPs that the North-East's problems
AN extraordinary double bill is offered at the Witham Hall in Barnard Castle on Sunday, September 21 at 7.30. Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, winners of the best duo at the latest BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, are joined by the barnstorming band 422, winners of
From this newspaper 100 years ago. - A singular accident happened at Redcar on Wednesday to a boy, aged 15, named Harry Boyle, of Leeds, a visitor staying at the Swan Hotel. With his sister he was digging holes in the sand, and when they had got three
During matches the referee has many decisions to make and, as you are all aware, he cannot please everyone all the time. Two amusing incidents are recalled which date back to the 1950's and 1960's and involve two former members of the Darlington Referees
THE Oldfield restaurant empire took a step closer to welcoming a new member to the family after it won a legal battle against a local authority. Newcastle City Council tried to block owner Bill Oldfield's ambition of opening a Newcastle restaurant, to
THIRSK auction mart's bid to move to a 20-acre site south of the town has been backed by Askham Bryan College, near York. About £2.5m would be invested by the mart in the site, which would in include not just a new mart with two auction rings and an undercover
There's an old story about the journalist who invariably got the answer he wanted. His interview technique was brutal and effective. The sole question to his hapless victim was: "Minister, (or councillor, or vicar, depending on which version you hear)
In the premier division Ferryhill Greyhound recorded their third successive win and now are clear leaders. They defeated newly promoted side Darlington Croft 2-0 at home. Stan Cummings gave them a first half lead with a solo effort which ended with a
Worthington Durham County CIU Team Knockout Wingate won their way to the semi-finals when they visited Sherburn Village and edged through by 14 points. The home side received 28 points start and this was extended by four when Peter McGowan won the first
LASER SQUAD NEMESIS. Publisher: Just Play. Format: PC CD-ROM. Price: £9.99: ONLINE gaming is great. Playing against a computer can never replicate the thrill of defeating a real human on the field of cyber-conflict. Unfortunately, on-line gaming isn't
A 20-year-old student plunged 60ft to his death from Scarborough's Spa Bridge after he took a hallucinogenic drug, an inquest heard. Coroner Michael Oakley recorded a verdict of accidental death on Christopher Amini, of Clifton Street, Scarborough, who
MICK McCARTHY reckons Sunderland should know by the end of the month whether they could bounce straight back into the Premiership. The Sunderland manager claimed last night that the Division One table will be a more reliable indicator of the contenders
Junior round-up: Billingham Pumas came away from Ice Sheffield with a point from a 5-5 draw against Sheffield Swamp Frogs in the English U12 North B League. After a 15-4 victory at Grimsby Ghosts last week Pumas gained a very valuable point. James Moss
TALKS are taking place which could bring vital defence work to manufacturing firms across the North-East and North Yorkshire. Northern Defence Industries (NDI), the cluster of about 170 defence and aerospace companies in the region, is talking to US firm
YOU don't need me to heap vitriol on Sven when the world and his dog have already done it. It's easy to speak with hindsight, but he was absolutely right to play Gerrard and Beckham against mighty Liechstenstein otherwise we might never have breached
Durham Ranking Tournament: Ron Hogarth won the latest Ranking Tournament when he beat Colin Hutchinson 5-2 in the final to take the £50 prize and leave his opponent with £30. This was Hogarth's first victory and it was sufficient to lift him from 13th
NEALE Cooper is only in the early stages of his new career - and already he is in the same boat as his predecessors. Hartlepool United boss Cooper is confronted with the same question presented to Chris Turner and Mike Newell; how to get the best out
The name of Pittington, east of Durham City, often conjures up images of pit heaps and coal mines, but in fact it goes back to Anglo-Saxon times when a settlement was established here by someone called Pidda. Pittington lies near the western edge of the
HUNDREDS of mourners paid their final respects yesterday to a North-East military policeman who was murdered while on a tour of duty in Iraq. Company Sergeant Major Colin Wall, 34, was laid to rest with full military honours after a funeral in the Weardale
SENIOR police officers were yesterday urged to tackle the problem of "maniac" motorcyclists who hurtle through the Yorkshire Dales at speeds of up to 150mph. Residents and councillors were appalled to hear that limited police resources meant there was
THE killing of the Swedish Foreign Secretary Anna Lindh will focus attention on the nature of democracy and on Sunday's referendum about whether Sweden should join the euro. It is unthinkable that Ms Lindh's death can have anything to do with her high-profile
Teesside teenager, Jonathan Cocker, retained his overall fourth position in this weekend's Porsche Carrera Cup GB race at Donington Park. After qualifying fourth in the sprint race, Cocker had a shaky start which enabled Jason Templeman to pass him early
A NORTH-EAST market has banned the sale of samurai swords after a father was stabbed to death. Barbara Dunne's 31-year-old son Robert died after teenager Jason Kelly stabbed him in the back in January in the West Lane area of Middlesbrough. Now Stockton
Spennymoor made a fine start to their new season in the Russell Foster Youth League Division One. Despite only having 11 players available due to holidays and injuries they defeated Newton Hall 8-0. Goalscorers were a hat-trick from Jason White, a Michael
D and E Locksmiths had an easy 6-2 victory over G-I FC scoring three in each half. Craig Bell and Lee Heseltine put them two up then Steve Gordon made it 3-1 on half time. Bell and Heseltine doubled their tally and Karl Lilley dived into head number six
Birtley Town Reserves won 3-1 at home to Seaham Town Community. They were in front after 15 minutes when Paul Quigley won the ball and travelled nearly the full length of the pitch unchallenged before slipping the ball under the Seaham keeper. Seaham
SPLENDID stands of huge leeks and a dazzling array of flowers were judged at an annual show at Beamish Museum. Produce on show at the 2003 Beamish Leek Show at the weekend was the culmination of a year's work of 16 members of the Shield Row Allotment
After midweek defeat, leaders West Auckland Queens Head returned to winning form. They had to come from behind after Stephen Emery gave Stanley United the lead. Queens led 2-1 before an own goal made it 2-2 at half time. A second half goal earned Queens
Six junior members of Darlington Harriers made the journey to York to take part in the last track meet of the season at the Huntington Stadium and came away with a handful of medals and personal best results. New member Matthew Jones, his father an ex-Harrier
It was like a blast from the past when Sunday's Robert Haggie Memorial was won with a sensational barbel net of 65.5.0. Fished on the Upper Swale between Richmond and Great Langton Bridge this long awaited barbel revival could have a lot to do with the
T AND R Theakston, one of the most famous names in British brewing, is set to return to the founding family's hands after almost 20 years under Scottish & Newcastle. Scottish Courage announced on Tuesday that it was in advanced negotiations with members
CHILDREN with special needs will benefit under proposals to build two new schools in an £11m education shake up. The two new state-of-the-art buildings will replace four existing schools in the Wear Valley and Sedgefield area. The proposals are due to
AS a teenager, the last thing on your mind is the menopause. It's something you associate with your mum or your gran. But for some women, the menopause, with its hot flushes, increased risk of osteoporosis and infertility, can happen much earlier. Gemma
Newfit Services Willington: Byers Green Royal Oak, new to the league this season, maintained their unbeaten record whilst ending the visiting Prospects' Club and knocking the visitors' from the top spot in the table. Sunnybrow Brown Trout A and Willington
Champions Bedale will be led by their top player Phil Martin after fears he might be missing for a large chunk of the new season. Martin, who returned to the area after studies at university to lead the side, had been planning to go on a world tour. But
A NINE-MONTH North-East drugs case collapsed last night - leaving taxpayers to foot a bill that could be as high as £20m. Scores of detectives were involved in a long running investigation into drug dealing on Teesside. Undercover officers spent months
HISTORY was made this week as the first turf was cut at the launch of a £10m railway village. Derek Foster MP for Bishop Auckland did the honours at a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction work at the multi-million pound project in Shildon.
UP TO 700 jobs will be created in the £7m first phase development at Morton Palms business park on the edge of Darlington. One North-East and Darlington Borough Council this week announced that City and Northern would develop the entire business park,
Norma Davison of Willington Club B became the first player this season to hera the magic cry of 180 after throwing thee perfect darts in the home game against Willington Burn. This really inspired her team for they went on to whitewash the visitors and
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT markets seem to have entered a period where end users are happy with their cover and farmers are happy with sales made so far. This made values tend to drift off as there has been no input to hold them at their previous
FATHER-of-two Derek Hodgson has saved his brother's life by giving him one of his kidneys. The 42-year-old was last night recovering in hospital alongside his brother Ken, 46, after a seven-hour transplant operation. Their sister Julie Hodgson, 41, said
THIRTY years after the first equal pay legislation, women in the North-East still earn almost £100 per week less than men. A survey by the GMB union showed that the region's 482,000 female employees earn an average of £332.11 per week - only 75.6 per
ONE of Darlington's most eccentric and distinctive buildings is likely to be demolished. The Rise Carr pub, in the north of the town, is covered in bizarre heads, carved by stonemason Robert Borrowdale in 1867, but attempts to have it listed as a "hot
THE real stories behind the names carved on a village war memorial have been brought to life in a new book which has taken seven years to research. Friends Dave Bell and Norman Revell first became intrigued about the lives of the men after campaigning
THERE is something strange about the current debate over local government. Those engaged in it know it is a debate which may well prove to have been unnecessary because it is about what should happen if regional assemblies become a reality. So this "what
There's an old story about the journalist who invariably got the answer he wanted. His interview technique was brutal and effective. The sole question to his hapless victim was: "Minister, (or councillor, or vicar, depending on which version you hear)
NEON BLUE is fancied to lighten up an otherwise dull season for Scarcroft-near-Leeds handler Richard Whitaker in Doncaster's St Leger Yearling Stakes. Winners have been very scarce in the Whitaker' camp this term, although Neon Blue (4.05) has been running
Durham City Harriers: Shaun Moralee, 18, from Langley Park and representing Durham City Harriers had a brilliant run in the final of the North of England inter-club cup at Cudworth, Barnsley. Shaun was competing in the senior men's 800m and in the race
Durham's Riverside will host its second day/night one-day international when England take on New Zealand next June. The English Cricket Board yesterday confirmed that Michael Vaughan's men will take on the Black Caps at Chester-le-Street in a floodlit
DOZENS of worried workers are waiting to find out if their jobs are under threat, after plans were leaked to close a nursing home. Management at Summerdale, a residential home for the elderly, in Snows Green Road, Shotley Bridge, admitted this week that
Tow Law Area League: Esh McKennas moved to the top of the table after they beat the visiting former leaders, Billy Row Club by three points. The visitors' only managed to take one singles point when Harold Parkin won, whilst McKennas had wins from Colin
PUBLICITY mad creator of Sex And The City Candace Bushnell has revealed her secret for a happy relationship. The 44-year-old writer has discovered the delights of dating a younger man and now claims she would never consider going out with someone over
Horden striker Chris I'Anson is having a trial at Premiership club Birmingham City. He's been outstanding this season and has scored some superb goals which have had the scouts on red alert. And after he scored twice against Bedlington last Saturday,
THREE years of painstaking work by embroiderers at Richmond parish church has resulted in new vestments and altar cloths. The set was designed as a gift to St Mary's Church from the congregation to mark the dawn of the new millennium. Church member Ann
It is five years since readers of The Northern Echo helped build a children's hospice for the North-East. Katie Barlow meets one of the support counsellors. EVERY time a child dies, Hazel Saunders goes home and lights a candle as an act of remembrance
Boosbeck Utd v Grosmont: Boosbeck found themselves trailing after only six minutes. A break from the right created a misunderstanding in the Boosbeck Defence allowing Grosmont to take the lead through Dave Ross. Boosbeck settled and began to play some
THOSE who suspect the powers-that-be of introducing regionalism by the back door will not have had any of their fears allayed by this week's announcement of a replacement for Yorkshire Pantry with an as-yet-unveiled new name. Pantry members banded together
The 2003-04 season got under way with some very good encounters. Although the League lost some clubs it also gained some, leaving the League with 12 to compete for the title. Ritchie Dodsworth got Darlington The Mowden's campaign underway when he hit
HIDDEN away down one of Whitby's narrow old streets is a building that on first glimpse is entirely unremarkable. Once the sports hall for a church, it is certainly of no great age and architecturally it is of no particular importance. But appearances
AN exasperated commuter has gone straight to the top with his latest complaints about buses which fail to turn up. Jeffrey Brown decided to write to Bob Davies, chief executive of Arriva Group in Sunderland, after being told by the firm's Stockton office
MICK McCARTHY reckons Sunderland should know by the end of the month whether they could bounce straight back into the Premiership. The Sunderland manager claimed last night that the Division One table will be a more reliable indicator of the contenders
ALAN SHEARER, the greatest English striker of his generation, last night confirmed he will retire at the end of next season. Shearer, 33, expects to sign a one-year extension to his contract today that will tie him to Newcastle United until May 2005.
A sculpture carved from a living tree dating back to the 1880s has been unveiled at an arboretum and falconry centre. The piece, created from an ash tree at Thorp Perrow Arboretum and Woodland Garden, in Bedale, North Yorkshire, is of a male and a female
REGIONAL ASSEMBLY: ELECTED regional government has not been asked for by the people and nowhere has the 'will of the people' been demonstrated by the Government or any of those supporting the regionalisation agenda, except with misleading statistics and
NORTH Yorkshire rider Alice McCullagh and Little Storm put in another fine performance to help the England red division team to victory at the British Show Pony Society summer championships. The England blue and white division teams took second and third
DALES farmers are celebrating after winning two orders for light lambs from Greece. A key agent from the Greek meat trade visited Dales Quality Meat in Wensleydale in early August and last week the company received an order for 300 light lamb carcases
Roy Brown of Ferryhill became the star marksman of the week when he hit three 180's in the home match against Crowtrees. This is the second time this season that he has hit three in one match and now has reached 12 for the season. Phil Nixon, also of
THE BRITISH Pig Association show and sale at Ross and Wye proved a huge success last weekend. The total value of pigs sold through the ring was up 33pc on last year and the average price rose 20pc. The top price, 700gns, was almost double last year's
The name of Pittington, east of Durham City, often conjures up images of pit heaps and coal mines, but in fact it goes back to Anglo-Saxon times when a settlement was established here by someone called Pidda. Pittington lies near the western edge of the
THE group reviving Richmond's old station building has set a deadline for businesses bidding for space inside the building. The Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust won approval from the district council to run the old terminal as a community asset
PEOPLE who illegally dump tyres on Teesside are to be prosecuted as part of a crackdown on what is becoming an increasing problem Hartlepool Borough Council has stepped up patrols around the town and is paying particular attention to known fly-tipping
THE promotion flame all but expired for Durham yesterday as they took only one batting point from their match at Bristol and Gloucestershire finished the second day 209 runs ahead with eight wickets standing. Martin Love made 98 and Shoaib Akhtar 34 out
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault after a man suffered face and head injuries. The incident happened between 10pm and 10.30pm last Friday at the junction of Westgate Road, Guisborough, near to Bar 44. The assault involved a number of people
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 79-year-old woman had her purse snatched. The woman was walking in Coral Street, Saltburn, east Cleveland, at 11am on Wednesday when she was attacked from behind. A man then snatched the woman's purse, containing
COUNCIL chiefs in Hartlepool have launched a month-long blitz on blocked drains following the misery caused by recent flooding. Carpets and soft furnishings were soaked when water seeped into properties last month as flash floods left a trail of chaos
MODEL apprentices have been chosen by a skills council to encourage other youngsters to follow their example. The Learning and Skills Council, Tees Valley has recognised 24 trainees as Champion Apprentices to go into schools and talk to future school
THE UK's van rental market leader has opened a call centre. Northgate built a £1.5m, 10,000sq ft extension at its headquarters in Darlington, County Durham to house the new operation. The opening coincides with the launch of ONE Call Fleet Rental, a re-branding
MULTI-million pound plans have been unveiled to turn a Victorian nursing home into the hub of a 21st Century care complex. A company is to create a care village at Nazareth House, Middlesbrough, which for 20 years was run by Roman Catholic nuns - the
A WORK of art has been placed in Chopwell Wood, near Gateshead. The piece is the latest creation by professional sculptor Dave Gross, from Seaham, who spent nine months carving a fern from oak timbers dredged from the Tyne. It is one of three works of
A RUNDOWN area near a North-East city centre is to be transformed with a proposed £100m regeneration scheme. Details have been revealed of the Sunniside Partnership's 15-year plan to breathe new life into an area to the east of the modern commercial centre
SCULPTURES installed at Durham County Council's headquarters for three months have been branded a waste of money. The three artworks have been at County Hall, Durham, since June, as part of a two-year £55,000 project. During the next week they will be
COMPETITION from abroad is being blamed for an engineering firm's decision to axe 40 jobs. CN Hadley has manufactured components for the chemical, oil and gas industries since it was founded in Darlington in 1933. The family firm moved to the nearby village
The six passengers and four railway employees killed in the Selby train disaster were unlawfully killed, an inquest jury decided today. The victims, all men, were killed on February 28, 2001, when a GNER express train was derailed and collided with a
A PIONEERING Internet survey to establish public opinion on local health services has been launched across the county. The poll allows Internet users to influence the way services are delivered in the future. People are being asked to log on to www.yougov.com
ANYONE who would like to play a part bringing musical events to Leyburn is welcome at a meeting at the town's Thornborough Hall next week. The Leyburn Band regularly performed in the town until a lack of musicians led to its demise a few years ago. However
The National Trust is inviting visitors to take a two-hour tour of the medieval deer park at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, on Sunday, September 21. The two-mile walk will allow people to watch some of the 500 wild deer that roam the grounds. Anyone wishing
AN inquiry is to be held into the circumstances behind the failed bid to create a £60m development in the historic heart of York. The planning advice which led to City of York Council fighting an expensive public inquiry over Coppergate Riverside will
HUBY'S John Robinson has won an individual silver medal and a team gold medal at the Home International Olympic Skeet (clay target) event held recently at the Commonwealth Games venue at Bisley, Surrey. Robinson, a former Commonwealth gold medal winner
YOU don't need me to heap vitriol on Sven when the world and his dog have already done it. It's easy to speak with hindsight, but he was absolutely right to play Gerrard and Beckham against mighty Liechstenstein otherwise we might never have breached
Longhorn Hardware Darlington and District League: Barnard Castle 0 v 3 Hole in the Wall Barney keeper Daniel Pritchard made a great save to maintain the status quo but was powerless to prevent Wall taking a first half lead when a free kick was turned
AS many as 133 lives could be saved over the next three decades, following proposals to upgrade two stretches of the A66 trunk road to dual carriageway in separate schemes totalling £11.7m. The figures were given at the start of public inquiries into
The 13th horticultural show in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is being held on Sunday, September 21, in Thornton-le-Beans village hall. Classes to be judged included vegetables, flowers, cookery and handicrafts. The show is a fun event and
CAR dealer Reg Vardy is on the verge of clinching a handful of Land Rover dealerships from rival Dutton Forshaw, The Northern Echo can reveal. The group is in advanced negotiations with the Bicester, Oxfordshire, company trying to seal the multi-million-pound
A STAINED glass window has been donated to a church in Hartlepool. It will be the first stained glass window to be fitted in the Church of James the Apostle, where renovation work has been planned for some time. The window was given to the church by the
THE inaugural North East All Breeds Dairy Calf show has been hailed as a huge success. Almost 40 handlers and more than 85 calves were entered by 30 exhibitors for the event at Thirsk auction mart. The show was organised by the North-East Ayrshire Club
DETAILS of a scheme to help low and middle income families in the Yorkshire Dales to buy their own homes should be published at the beginning of October. The shared equity housing scheme for Wensleydale and Swaledale would see private investors put in
AN Elvis Presley tribute show held at the Dormans Social Club, Middlesbrough, recently raised more than £1,500 to buy a horse for the Riding for the Disabled Association's Unicorn Centre at Hemlington. The event was organised by the Holmes family - Bill
TWO men tricked an Iranian student into believing they had a flat to rent before brutally beating and robbing him, a court heard. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Alireza Baghbani, 38, was attacked before being marched to a cashpoint machine. Anthony Ord
CONTROVERSIAL plans to explore for gas at a North York Moors National Park beauty spot were given the go-ahead yesterday. The park's planning committee gave approval to Sterling Resources UK to drill on land off Whyett Bank, Westerdale, in the Esk Valley
DURING the few days prior to compiling this weekly budget, our garden has been graced by a pair of chiff-chaffs. I cannot recall seeing chiff-chaffs there on a previous occasion, but they were clearly interested in one of our pyramids of sweet peas. The
Divisions One and Two: With the weekend being dominated by County Cup fixtures, the number of matches played in all three divisions was restricted. In in the only game in Division One East End had a 6-0 win away at AFC Brinkburn. Two goals for Areon Radstock
A FUGITIVE businessman arrested after two decomposing bodies were discovered in his limousine last year is to be extradited for trial over the killings. Durham-born Michael McCrea had been waiting to hear whether the authorities in Australia would authorise
Darlington manager Mick Tait believes he is ready to see the best of his squad - because competition for places is bringing out the best in his players. Tait wants to see his players fight for their places ahead of tomorrow's Third Division clash with
Homeless charity Shelter is calling on North-East people to take part in the largest football fundraising event in the country - Strip 4 Shelter. The charity is asking people to donate 90 minutes of their salary to its work with homeless and badly housed
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 1,130 breeding sheep. First show & sale of season, inc 2 dispersal sales. Prizes. - Mule ewes: 1 T Addison £72; 2 DTJ Metcalfe £80; 3 JP Coatsworth £56. Mule shlgs: 1 WT Robinson £108; 2&3 M McCoy £98, £100. Acc Suff
THE UK's van rental market leader has opened a call centre. Northgate built a £1.5m, 10,000sq ft extension at its headquarters in Darlington, County Durham to house the new operation. The opening coincides with the launch of ONE Call Fleet Rental, a re-branding
Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale (BBC1): IN common with thousands of people, I have fond memories of studying Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales at school. Not for the joy of revelling in his use of English or the uplifting morals contained in the
With the season rapidly drawing to a close, the following summarises the current positions in the North East cricket leagues: Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League In the Premier Division Guisborough, who have lost three games, are just one
A ROCK 'n' roll veteran who played with the Beatles in Hamburg is coming out of retirement for a benefit gig to help babies. Freddie 'Fingers' Lee has announced that his annual benefit show will be in aid of the Tiny Lives charity, which supports the
Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale (BBC1): IN common with thousands of people, I have fond memories of studying Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales at school. Not for the joy of revelling in his use of English or the uplifting morals contained in the
ARTHUR Jackson defeated Gordon Cripps 3-1 to win the Bilsdale Short Mat Bowling Club singles final held on September 3. The trophies were presented by Gladys Garbutt on behalf of the chairman, George Cook. The club has been running for eight years and
TALKS are taking place which could bring vital defence work to manufacturing firms across the North-East and North Yorkshire. Northern Defence Industries (NDI), the cluster of about 170 defence and aerospace companies in the region, is talking to US firm
THE promotion flame all but expired for Durham yesterday as they took only one batting point from their match at Bristol and Gloucestershire finished the second day 209 runs ahead with eight wickets standing. Martin Love made 98 and Shoaib Akhtar 34 out
A NEWTON Aycliffe man with a burning ambition to be a chef has won a place on a training scheme. Shane Punshon has been chosen from hundreds of students across the country to become an apprentice on the first Corus hotels' Chef School training scheme
Three shed burglaries occurred in Darlington between Wednesday and yesterday. A silver Orange E8 mountain bike was stolen from Staindrop Crescent, a Carrora Banshee mountain bike from Auckland Oval and a set of ten golf clubs in a silver and black Mizuno
AN information centre in Priestgate has details of vocational and academic courses at Darlington College of Technology and the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. The centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, on Fridays from 9am to 4.30pm, and
THE Government has been urged to re-think legislation which could cost 100 jobs at a spring water company. Abbey Well, in Morpeth, Northumberland, will be jeopardised by plans to impose 12-year licences on the bottled mineral water industry, according
A PARISH council will be on the move this winter after taking up an offer of a warmer home. The authority at Middleton St George will temporarily conduct its business in a refurbished room in the village community centre. The centre made an offer which
VILLAGERS are celebrating after long-awaited improvements to their sewerage network were announced. Work is about to begin on a £250,000 scheme in Hurworth, near Darlington, in January. The 12-week programme will be carried out by Northumbrian Water near
A WOMAN suffering from arthritis will take part in the Great North Run next week to help St Teresa's Hospice. Eileen Leonard, of Darlington, pictured above, hopes to raise enough money to furnish a room at the hospice, which is dedicated to her mother-in-law
While supermarkets have traditionally looked far afield for their stock, many are now taking advantage of the delicious produce right on their doorsteps. SUPERMARKETS have brought the world into our shopping trolley. Beans from Zambia, tomatoes from the
BEEHIVE won the first cup match of the season last Sunday when they knocked Binchester Social Club out of the First Division Cup at the first hurdle. Beehive were leading comfortably 4-1 with just 10 minutes to go thanks to four goals by prolific striker
A YEAR-long arts project will soon come to fruition with an exhibition at a Newton Aycliffe school. The exhibition, at Greenfield Community and Arts Centre, is being named Art-Work-Art. It involved German-born artist Rolf Wojciechowski working with Volante
A CONTROVERSIAL animal incinerator has been granted planning permission by a national park authority - for the second time. The first application by Edward Noddings to build the incinerator at the Stable House Industrial Estate, at Charltons, near Guisborough
Middleton St George are still in a strong position to clinch the championship of Division A despite their game at Heighington becoming a victim of the weather. They dismissed the home side for 95 in 25 overs as Dave McKenna captured five wickets for 40
A NEWTON Aycliffe man with a burning ambition to be a chef has won a place on a training scheme. Shane Punshon has been chosen from hundreds of students across the country to become an apprentice on the first Corus hotels' Chef School training scheme
THOUSANDS of people took up the chance to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the police. About 5,000 visited an open day at the headquarters of Gateshead West Area Command in Front Street, Whickham. Police said the majority of those who returned
A GROUP of Sedgefield villagers will be on the trail of good food when they take part in a safari on Saturday. Their destinations will not be some far away location but several homes in the village, with the guarantee of food and refreshments at each.
A SPECTACULAR collection of some of the country's finest modern jewellery has gone on show for the first time outside London. Fairfax House - regarded as the gem of York's Georgian townhouses - is the showcase for the collection from the Goldsmith's Hall
COUNTY Durham youngsters are being urged to say whether they believe the voting age should be lowered. Durham County Council wants the county's youth to help make it respond to a national consultation on the issue. The Electoral Commission wants to find
