EDDIE AHERN and Etching (7.35) represent a totally irresistible combination in this evening's two-mile Ripley Handicap at Thirsk, writes Janus. Newmarket handler James Fanshawe rarely bothers to travel his horses so far north unless they hold outstanding
A BOOK telling the life story of the man who successfully crossed the divide from policing to politics was launched last night. Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, formerly plain Brian Mackenzie, a "policeman's policeman", has gone into print with his autobiography
YOUNG musicians are being given the chance to show- case their talents in a competition. Following the success of the Stockton Young Musician 2003 competition, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of Stockton Rotary Club, members have given their approval
GOLDEN NUN gets the green light to grab Group 3 glory in the £50,000 Chartwell Fillies Stakes at Lingfield today. Tim Easterby's filly was placed numerous times in decent company last season and by finishing runner-up in a similar standard event at The
IMMIGRATION: IN reply to the letter from F Atkinson (HAS, Apr 28), detailing fears that immigration would put a strain on social services, hospitals and other services, I would like to make the following points. Firstly, according to official figures
SHOOTING the messenger is a common activity when scandals are brought to light. The Audit Commission's report on Cleveland Police's budget black hole of £7.3m is another case in point. The force's financial position is described as "difficult" but the
COUNCILLOR Bruce Burn, who has taken over as leader of the District of Easington Council, is a retired education welfare officer. Coun Burn, who has a wife, Margaret, and a son and daughter, lives in Seaham. He joined the district council six years ago
A COMMUNITY office set up in a former bank has confirmed it has assisted with more than 1,000 inquiries from the public on council matters since it opened in January 2003. Swaledale residents have been able to pay rent and council tax over the counter
GERMAN and Danish railways are in the running to take over the Flying Scotsman rail route -one of the most prestigious in the country -it emerged last night. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) announced the shortlist for the East Coast Main Line yesterday
HUNDREDS of mourners gathered yesterday to pay tribute to a "sensitive joker" who died in a freak accident. All Saints Church, in Skelton, east Cleveland, was packed as more than 200 people said their goodbyes to Anthony Porritt, 22. The factory worker
DISILLUSIONED David Hodgson last night called for a major shake-up in the running of financially embarrassed Darlington. A fortnight after steering Quakers to league safety, Hodgson has expressed his growing concern over the way the football club - now
When Sunderland student Chris Smith went to war, he'd reckoned without one thing - how cold it would be. He could cope with the tough physical regime and even the mental torture. But the cold sent shivers down his spine as he joined a bunch of raw recruits
COURTS in part of the North-East have come out high in the league for making criminals pay for their crimes. Since the start of the year, Cleveland has been second only to North Yorkshire in the proportion of fines collected. Anne Smith, head of fines
IMMIGRATION IN reply to the letter from F Atkinson (HAS, Apr 28), detailing fears that immigration would put a strain on social services, hospitals and other services, I would like to make the following points. Firstly, according to official figures there
IN May last year, The Northern Echo published a report in which it was stated that Anthony Cormack, of Deona Court, Darlington, would not appeal after being found guilty at Teesside Crown Court of stealing £60,000-worth of jewellery. As reported in The
IT was the biggest scandal to hit the sleepy village of Daddry Shield (population 47) for many a year. What had happened to the village post box attached to the telephone pole outside farmer Neil Pattinson's cottage? The box had been in the village, in
A COUNCILLOR in Tony Blair's County Durham constituency is facing a tribunal into allegations that he broke a national code of conduct. Bill Waters, Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet member for housing, is one of several members being invest- igated
DETECTIVES believe two rapists who attacked a woman after offering her a lift home may have struck before. The men raped a 25-year-old woman after driving her to a deserted farm track at Butterwick, near Sedgefield, County Durham, in the early hours of
FOUR North-East hospices have been given a boost with a donation of more than £3,000. St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington, Butterwick Hospice, in Stockton, Teesside Hospice, in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool and District Hospice, are each to receive £925
A POLITICIAN warned yesterday that Darlington could become "a tale of two cities" if on-street car parking charges are introduced. Anthony Frieze, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the town, said a proposed £1-an-hour parking charge
A COMMUNITY group in Darlington is to get a new logo thanks to the work of school pupils. The design skills of Lucas Roy, 15, from Eastbourne School and Beth Weller, ten, from Heathfield Primary School, will be combined to form the logo for the Lingfield
VILLAGERS are mounting a postal protest against plans for wind turbines close to their communities. People in Stanley Crook are joining forces with their neighbours in Sunniside to object to the siting of two 107-metre masts at Stanley Moss by developers
A WOMAN took £17,000 from the bank account of her neighbour with dementia, a court heard yesterday. Durham Crown Court heard Jennifer Hartas, 35, began "borrowing" from the savings of her 71-year-old neighbour, who was unable to look after her financial
LEADING figures in the media, arts, business and science were given honorary degrees at Newcastle University yesterday. Among the recipients of the honours conferred by university chancellor Chris Patten was sculptor Antony Gormley, who created the The
SCHOOLCHILDREN are learning about the art of gardening at the Teesside Garden and Wood Festival. This year, pupils from St Patrick's Secondary School in Thornaby, near Stockton, are selling pots they have designed and made themselves at the festival.
A CORONER has recorded an open verdict on the death of a 42-year-old Guisborough woman. Helen Bell, an unemployed typist, of Trinity Court, had a history of depression, Teesside Coroner's Court heard yesterday. She had also recently been badly affected
CARL ROBINSON, the man whose crucial goal booked Sunderland's place in the top six, has never tasted success in the Division One play-offs. The midfielder was with Wolves on two occasions - defeats to Crystal Palace and Norwich - when the Molineux club
NINE out of ten people know little or nothing about the issues surrounding this October's referendum on elected regional assemblies, according to new research. North Yorkshire county councillors say they are very worried by the figures, which were produced
A SCHEME has been launched in east Cleveland to help hay fever sufferers in the summer. Community pharmacists have been recruited by Langbaurgh Primary Health Care Trust to give advice and dispense treatments. The initiative, which will run initially
FORMER Hartlepool United midfielder Tommy Miller has his perfect weekend already mapped out. Now with Ipswich, Miller would love nothing more than to make it a double celebration at the Millennium Stadium come the end of May. Avoiding defeat today is
OLIVIER Bernard last night insisted that Newcastle's demoralising UEFA Cup semi-final defeat in Marseille will help them to ensure there is not more heartbreak in the final week of the season. The United squad arrived back on Tyneside yesterday morning
SHOPPERS in Bishop Auckland were shown the way to a healthier lifestyle by a team of experts this week. Staff from Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) offered advice to visitors at the Newgate Centre on Thursday and asked them what help they needed
A MEMORIAL service was held yesterday for a 56-year-old man who died while saving his wife and son from drowning while on holiday in Florida. Mark Steven Voigt, of south Harrogate, was chief logistics officer at RAF Menwith Hill, Harrogate. Mr Voigt drowned
OLIVIER Bernard last night insisted that Newcastle's demoralising UEFA Cup semi-final defeat in Marseille will help them to ensure there is not more heartbreak in the final week of the season. The United squad arrived back on Tyneside yesterday morning
WHEN Ethel Stobbs moved to Durham City every street was cobbled and horse drawn carts were the a common mode of transport. Mrs Stobbs, who has just celebrated her 100th birthday, was born near Marske, in Cleveland, and moved to the city with her family
A YOUNG man who helped to steal £500 of electrical goods was made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court. David McGough, 19, was linked to the raid at Tadcaster Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, on August 30 last
A MIDDLESBROUGH healthcare assistant has won a national award in recognition of the way she turned her life around. Teresa Osbourne, 33, is the 2004 joint winner of the National Health Service University Learning Works Award. She will receive the accolade
A North-East man has been accused of blackmailing a US supermarket chain with threats to put poisoned baby food on store shelves. David Ian Dickinson, originally from Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody by Los Angeles Judge Jennifer Lum after a court
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has handed England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson a massive boost by declaring that Gareth Southgate is on course to be fit for Euro 2004. The Boro skipper is poised to step up his recovery from the knee ligament injury he
A BOYS' Brigade leader who sexually abused a 12-year-old 20 years ago was jailed for a year yesterday as police warned other perverts they could not hide from justice. George Alan Marshall, 62, who was the leader of the Boys Brigade Ist Company at The
ARCHERY enthusiasts are preparing to celebrate their club's tenth anniversary with a public open day. Thirsk Bowmen was set up on May 24, 1994, by Derek and Linda Wilcock. The club now has about 40 members and is keen to promote archery at all levels.
A FOOTBALL fan who tried to travel to Newcastle United's match in Marseilles has been banned from going to games for more than two years. Mark Ginelly, 30, of Tosson Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, received a banning order for 27 months at an emergency hearing
DISILLUSIONED David Hodgson last night called for a major shake-up in the running of financially embarrassed Darlington. A fortnight after steering Quakers to league safety, Hodgson has expressed his growing concern over the way the football club - now
VINTAGE motoring enthusiasts have a rare chance to see a piece of engineering history today. Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, is allowing people behind closed doors for a free tour of its Regional Museums Store. One of the gems is a working
Q I am a married woman of 58 and have been told that I will only qualify for a State Pension of £26.32 a week. But I can get more if I pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for 1996 to 2002 of £1,632.30. What do you advise? A Paying all those
NEWCASTLE Falcons have selected prop James Isaacson at hooker for their final match of the season against relegated Rotherham at the Don Valley Stadium today. The move is part of Director of Rugby Rob Andrew's search for more flexibility in his squad,
FORMER Hartlepool United midfielder Tommy Miller has his perfect weekend already mapped out. Now with Ipswich, Miller would love nothing more than to make it a double celebration at the Millennium Stadium come the end of May. Avoiding defeat today is
North-East opera star Suzannah Clarke has been confirmed as a headline act for Opera at the House at the inaugural Harewood Music Festival Thousands of people are expected to attend the event, which features opera, jazz and fireworks, in the grounds of
Cleveland Police were allowed to operate under a "spend, spend, spend" culture leading to a budget black hole of £7.3m. Yet remarkably, despite finding widespread mismanagement, a report by Government watchdogs yesterday concluded that the crisis "is
A MAN convicted then cleared of murdering a North-East schoolboy more than a decade ago hanged himself in woodland near his home, an inquest heard yesterday. Stephen David Johnson, of Tow Law, County Durham, took his life after the relationship with his
VINTAGE motoring enthusiasts have a rare chance to see a piece of engineering history today. Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, is allowing people behind closed doors for a free tour of its Regional Museums Store. One of the gems is a working
A CHARTER has been launched for users of mental health services and carers in part of the North-East. The charter, written by users and carers, will set high standards for adults with mental health care needs in County Durham and Darlington and their
Torn between artistic integrity and commerciality, the Cannes Film Festival is reinventing itself. Steve Pratt reports. A BOATLOAD of Hollywood stars, including Gary Cooper and Mae West, were on their way. Other visitors were arriving from all over Europe
HE'S the chef who's given the F-word a bad name, but 37-year-old Gordon Ramsay swept into Ambleside this week and shattered all illusions about the Lake District's Glass House restaurant. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (C4, Tuesday) featured the swearing
A FESTIVAL celebrating the life of one of the North-East's best selling authors has invited organisations to join the fun-packed event. The Cookson Festival Parade will be held in South Shields on Saturday, July 3, and the theme is 30 years of parades
A CANCER charity is more than £23,000 richer thanks to the fundraising efforts of an east Durham council leader. Each year, the district of Easington authority chairman selects a good cause to receive funds collected through sponsored activities and events
AN Essex side almost as depleted as Durham may have bowled Gordon Muchall into form yesterday as he made his highest championship score since his century at Lord's two years ago. While there was still a fair amount of playing and missing, there were also
A LAW firm is hoping its links with new EU member Poland will provide a boost for the region's economy. A team from Jacksons Commercial and Private Law, in Stockton, Teesside, has returned from a trip to a conference and exhibition organised by the British-Polish
AN acclaimed copy of one of the world's greatest books will be given pride of place at a library next week. The copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels will be on show in Chester-le-Street library, County Durham, from Monday until June 4. The colour copy will
FILM studio Pinewood Shepperton was a star performer on its stock market debut with shares forging ahead. Demand for the group behind the Harry Potter films and a string of Oscar-winning classics was so strong that its shares were oversubscribed at 180p
A SELL-OUT concert by Sting was cancelled last night after the singer developed laryngitis. The rock star was due to open the UK leg of his world tour at the Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena yesterday but pulled out of the show in his home city because of
THE region is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, figures showed last night. Researchers found the number of visitors to the region rose during the winter. More than half the businesses questioned by regional development agency One NorthEast
OIL prices reached a 13-year high yesterday leading to concerns about the economy. The FTSE 100 Index tumbled 50 points during trading yesterday, recovering only slightly in late afternoon, after the cost of crude reached $36.60 in London, the highest
HOUSEHOLDS are facing steep rises in their water bills, it emerged yesterday. Suppliers want to raise bills to fund nearly £22bn-worth of maintenance and improvements. Consumer groups have criticised the proposed increases, arguing poorer customers will
A BEAUTY contest has proved so popular that organisers have extended the deadline for entries. More than 50 entries have been received for the Miss Durham competition, the final of which will be held at Sedgefield Racecourse during its Ladies' Night fixture
PLANS are under way for a book paying tribute to women who worked in a North-East munitions factory during the Second World War. The Northern Echo's community web editor, Andrew Hutton, has been extensively researching the history of the Aycliffe Angels
A BUSINESSMAN who bottles Scottish whisky in a tiny North-East village is planning to sell it back to the Scots. Whisky dealer John McDonough has built his £1.5m business from an industrial park in the former pit village of Annfield Plain, in County Durham
Student Colin Smith had no regrets in taking part in the BBC's new series Destination D-Day, but he says it's put him off a career in the Army. When Sunderland student Chris Smith went to war, he'd reckoned without one thing - how cold it would be. He
It was a rare event for Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division champions Guisborough to suffer two defeats in the space of three days but they keep faith with the same side for the fourth successive match when they host Redcar
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has handed England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson a massive boost by declaring that Gareth Southgate is on course to be fit for Euro 2004. The Boro skipper is poised to step up his recovery from the knee ligament injury he
WORK is under way to build a pioneering £34.9m education village in the North-East. The Darlington facility, on the site of Haughton Community School, will have 1,900 pupils. The project also includes the building of a new primary school. The campus is
FUNGUS experts are overjoyed after the discovery of an extremely rare species deep inside a forest. Violet crown-cup (sarcosphaera coronaria) usually only grows in North America, North Africa and central and southern Europe. But a colony has been found
SIR Bobby Robson has backed his players to get straight back on the European trail by beating lowly Wolves at St James' Park tomorrow, writes Scott Wilson. Newcastle crashed out of the UEFA Cup in Marseille on Thursday, and their chances of more European
Torn between artistic integrity and commerciality, the Cannes Film Festival is reinventing itself. Steve Pratt reports. A BOATLOAD of Hollywood stars, including Gary Cooper and Mae West, were on their way. Other visitors were arriving from all over Europe
How did the crisis happen?: THE Audit Commission was called in by the Police Authority to carry out an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the budget deficit for 2004/05. The extent of the problem was identified in late January this year
The parents of a 12-year-old boy took him to court for criminal damage in an attempt to get help. Darlington Youth Court heard yesterday how the youth's behaviour had spiralled out of control to such an extent that his parents felt they had no option
THE GOVERNMENT'S new identity cards were launched in the North-East yesterday, with a Lord Mayor becoming one of the first people in the country to sign up. Newcastle councillor Margaret Carter had her facial characteristics, iris and fingerprints recorded
A FORMER Darlington driver who lied to police after knocking down a pedestrian, who later died, has been jailed for six months. Graphic designer Michael Proctor had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice after the accident. Proctor, 32, was
A COUPLE have made a last ditch appeal for the return of their cat. Ollie, a ginger tom cat with a small white spot on his chest, has been missing since its owners moved to Chilton in February. Despite an extensive poster appeal and several advertisements
HUNDREDS of youngsters are gearing up for two football festivals this month. Derwentside Leisure has organised two girls' football tournaments in a search for the best young players in the district. Sports development officer Colin McBride said: "Our
A CAMPAIGN to find more foster carers was relaunched by North Yorkshire County Council. The Help Us Raise 100 Smiles campaign has so far found 15 new foster carers, but social services say they need many more volunteers. The council unveiled 55 County
AN alcoholic who stabbed his friend in a drunken row walked free from court yesterday. Faisel Abdou, 45, stabbed Brian Sultan with a kitchen knife after drinking wine and vodka at Mr Sultan's home in Frederick Street, South Shields, on November 27, 2002
A NORTH-East teenager was kept captive by an African asylum seeker who infected her with the HIV virus after they had unprotected sex, a court heard. Musician Feston Konzani slept with the girl when she was only 15 after approaching her in a Middlesbrough
POLICE are hunting a man who tried to abduct a 13-year-old girl. She was grabbed by the man in Beacon Lough Road, near the entrance to Popplewell Gardens, Gateshead, at 6.40am yesterday. She escaped uninjured and the man, who was in his 50s, drove off
FAMILY doctors, employers and health officials met over breakfast this week to discuss ways to tackle ill health at work in east Durham. They looked at the way ill health affects people in their jobs and the problems facing employers and GPs. The meeting
HUNDREDS of photographs depicting life in rural north-west Durham over the past century are going on display. The exhibition will focus on the area around the village of Delves Lane, near Consett, and takes in the former steel town, along with nearby
A DISTRICT council has been praised for reaching a Government target to reduce homelessness levels. All local authorities responsible for homelessness in the UK were challenged by central Government to ensure that stays in bed and breakfast accommodation
LEADING figures in the media, arts, business and science were given honorary degrees at Newcastle University yesterday. Among the recipients of the honours conferred by university chancellor Chris Patten was sculptor Antony Gormley, who created the The
YOUNG people from nearly 40 County Durham schools were yesterday praised for telling tales as part of the international celebrations to mark Europe Day. About 400 eight and nine-year-olds with their teachers visited Durham County Council's headquarters
A CHURCH congregation has only days to consider a development deal that could mean the loss of buildings and land. Members of St Thomas' RC Church, in Wolsingham, are meeting tomorrow night to discuss a proposal that their parish hall, an orchard set
A SELL-OUT concert by Sting was cancelled last night after the singer developed laryngitis. The rock star was due to open the UK leg of his world tour at the Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena yesterday but pulled out of the show in his home city because of
A PROPOSED housing scheme that attracted 540 letters of objection has been amended and given the go-ahead. Protestors have vowed to continue their fight against a controversial housing development at Wheatlands Farm Cottages, Redcar Road, Redcar, despite
FOUR hospices have been given a boost with a donation of nearly £4,000. St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington, Butterwick Hospice in Stockton, Teesside Hospice in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool and District Hospice are each to receive £925 raised by members
PUPILS and teachers at a school in County Durham are celebrating after it was described as excellent. Ofsted inspectors visited Ouston Infant School, near Chester-le-Street, and found the quality of teaching to be very good or excellent in 86 per cent
THE first sapling in a new wood will be planted during a ceremony in a North-East city next week. The start of Foster Care Fortnight will be marked in Sunderland on Monday with a planting ceremony in the grounds of one of its children's homes. A sapling
THE next seven days will determine the fate of Newcastle's season but, perhaps more importantly, they will also go a long way towards determining how the club develops over the next two or three years. The disappointment of Thursday night's meek surrender
YOUNG bookworms will have a greater choice of reading material thanks to the fundraising efforts of staff from their local branch of Woolworths. Each of the company's stores are challenged every year to raise as much money as they can for their chosen
AN expert researching the death of a so-called human guinea pig during 1950s chemical warfare tests has claimed he found no evidence linking the experiments with research into a cure for the common cold. At the reopened inquest into the death of North-East
AT a time when Sunderland's strikers are going through a lean spell, confident boss Mick McCarthy believes his men are about to come good in front of goal. None of their four main forwards - Marcus Stewart, Kevin Kyle, Darren Byfield or Tommy Smith -
A CHINESE restaurant has been closed down after becoming infested with mice. Inspectors ordered the Jade Garden restaurant in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, to shut on Wednesday after finding mouse droppings on food and a mouse nest which had been there
REG Vardy shares went into reverse gear yesterday, despite the company reporting it was on track to meet market expectations. The group, based in Sunderland, saw its shares fall 4p to 564p as the City showed its concern about the state of the car dealership
A church on the banks of the River Swale will echo with music on summer Sundays this year. St Agatha's Church, at Easby, welcomes guest performers in June, July, August and September for concerts that will begin at 3pm. Harpist and singer, Anita and Charlotte
MAN OF the moment Adam Boyd admits there is no fear in the Hartlepool United camp. Pool are at Swindon today and know that a point would be enough to secure a play-off spot in their first season back in Division Two. Neale Cooper's side will be backed
Cuts in waiting lists, increased capacity and better treatments for patients in the NHS were hailed by the Government yesterday. NHS Chief Executive Sir Nigel Crisp said there had been a "sustained and accelerating" turnaround in the health service. In
HUNDREDS of mourners gathered yesterday to pay tribute to a "sensitive joker" who died in a freak accident. All Saints Church, in Skelton, east Cleveland, was packed as more than 200 people said their goodbyes to Anthony Porritt, 22. The factory worker
A NORTH-East teenager was kept captive by an African asylum seeker who infected her with the HIV virus after they had unprotected sex, a court heard. Musician Feston Konzani slept with the girl when she was only 15 after approaching her in a Middlesbrough
MY quest this week has been to explain Tony Blair's collars. To some, it is his policies that are a mystery; but to me, you see, it is his neckwear. In the past week, Mr Blair has changed dramatically. He has taken to wearing distinctive, wide, sprawling
Smarber chapel may be a ruin but parishioners still make the long trek up the hillside for the annual service that takes place among the sheep. THE steep and rugged pathway leads from the main road up Swaledale to the ruined and roofless Smarber chapel
THE steep and rugged pathway leads from the main road up Swaledale to the ruined and roofless Smarber chapel, high above Low Row."Fancy having to walk all the way up here every Sunday morning in winter," says a middle-aged lady, panting purposefully towards
IMMIGRATION: IN reply to the letter from F Atkinson (HAS, Apr 28), detailing fears that immigration would put a strain on social services, hospitals and other services, I would like to make the following points. Firstly, according to official figures
Cleveland Police were allowed to operate under a "spend, spend, spend" culture leading to a budget black hole of £7.3m. Yet remarkably, despite finding widespread mismanagement, a report by Government watchdogs yesterday concluded that the crisis "is
A CHINESE restaurant has been closed down after becoming infested with mice. Inspectors ordered the Jade Garden restaurant in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, to shut on Wednesday after finding mouse droppings on food and a mouse nest which had been there
