PLANS to introduce 20mph speed limits in a town centre will be discussed at a meeting next week. Councillors said the plans for Richmond town centre have caused disquiet and question whether the limits are needed. But traffic officials at North Yorkshire
FARMING brothers James and Andrew Voakes have cut out the middleman and started a pie-making business. They keep 400 breeding sows on their mixed farm at Whixley, near Boroughbridge, and Andrew used to run a butcher's shop in Harrogate. With the help
THE Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will be given 500 reasons why plans to cut Tees-Tyne passenger services should not go ahead. The number of daily through-trains linking Saltburn, Middlesbrough, Darlington and Newcastle could be cut from 19 to four when
HEALTH boss Sue Young put her best foot forward when she joined the Hambleton Strollers. The chairman of the local primary care trust joined 30 others for a 45-minute stroll near the Bedale Leisure Centre. "I had the most enjoyable time participating
THIS time last year, Sunderland fans were contemplating a trip to Cardiff with a mixture of despair and disbelief. After experiencing Anfield in Autumn, the thought of Ninian Park in November did not exactly set the pulses racing. An awful lot has happened
AN arts and music festival is expected to make a loss - even though it is likely to be a sell-out. Ryedale Festival attracts tourists from all over the UK to its catalogue of events, staged in some of the finest country houses and historic landmarks in
Aaron Fletcher of Shildon ABC has returned with a bronze medal from the Presidents Cup in held in Azerbaijan after being controversially beaten at the semi-final stage. There were ten nations competing in the Cup at Baku, Azerbaijan and the England coaches
A SERIES of walks that promise hikers a pint at the end of the route is being organised by a local Ramblers group. Barnard Castle Ramblers have planned the evening walks, called Potter and Pint. All the walks take place in Teesdale and end at a pub. Non-members
ONE of the largest counterfeit music and video rings found in the UK has been smashed after police raids in the North-East. Bootleg CDs and DVDs with a high street value of more than £250,000 were recovered in three raids in Stanley, County Durham, yesterday
AN 11th hour objection has delayed the start of a £5m bypass that could cut congestion and open up industrial land. A public inquiry will decide the future of the 1.5-mile route taking traffic from West Auckland, St Helen Auckland and Tindale Crescent
A COMPANY says it has raised standards for tenants in some of Tees Valley's most deprived areas. Coast and Country Housing, which took over ownership of nearly 12,000 homes from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in 2002, said it had now spent £35m
A COUNCIL is offering motorists the chance to save money by getting their exhaust fumes monitored free. Middlesbrough Council officials have tested 350 vehicles in the past 12 months and found a third failed to meet legal standards. Some cars were emitting
MEETINGS to establish area environment committees in east Cleveland are being held. Each of the six committees in Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's area will be made up of ward councillors, who will meet every six weeks. They will oversee the work
A HAMSTER has been named in honour of an AA patrolman who stepped in to rescue him. Bob Fuller was called after the distressed hamster became trapped beneath the gearbox console of a family's Renault Clio car. The drama began when hairdresser Kathleen
WITH European elections looming, an east Durham school is to stage its own mock poll. In an attempt to spark interest in politics, Easington Community School is to invite figures from the three main parties to address pupils. Jon Gregory the school's
A VILLAGE has secured a memorial to the men who died fighting for their country. A stone with a brass plaque has been installed at Quarrington Hill Community Centre to commemorate the sacrifice of servicemen in both world wars and other conflicts. The
LONE parents seeking support and advice from people in the same situation will meet tonight to set up a branch of the charity Gingerbread. The national lone parent charity hopes to set up a number of local groups in the North-East, including a branch
THE Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will be given 500 reasons why plans to cut Tees-Tyne passenger services should not go ahead. The number of daily through-trains linking Saltburn, Middlesbrough, Darlington and Newcastle could be cut from 19 to four when
CARPERBY Rovers brought their season to a very successful end last week by winning the Wensleydale Creamery League. They had already won the Medals shield competition and were finalists in the North Riding FA Saturday Challenge Cup. In total, Carperby
A TEAM of charity cyclists is planning a ride from coast to coast in one day. Five riders from Chester-le-Street will undertake the 137-mile challenge from Whitehaven to Sunderland. They reckon it will take them 13 hours, but hope to raise more than £1,000
MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club has been accused of being a bad neighbour by councillors at Hurworth. The club's main training ground is at Rockcliffe Park but parish councillors claimed it could do more to be involved with the village. Coun Roderick Burtt
A PROPOSAL to merge Whinfield infant and junior schools reaches a critical stage on Monday when it goes before the borough council's school organisation committee. The merger would create a 630-pupil primary - the biggest in the borough - within the walls
COME on, be honest, how long is it since you sat down to enjoy a Saturday evening in front of the television set? I can't even remember when I last looked in the Radio Times to see what was on, because it got to the point where one glance at the schedules
The Northern Runner Simmer Series of fell races opened with the Fox and Hounds Chase, which 55 runners completed. The 8.8 mile race was won by Sean O'Grady of Loftus AC in 68.39. Peter Wilkin was the first Harrier to finish, in ninth place in 70.31, Stewart
THE first thing to be said about Some Versions of Light is that it is great fun. Martin Richman's neon stairway piece on the roof of the old telephone repeater station at Brompton on Swale, just off the A1, signals that one is in for something unexpected
Murton chairman Tommy Torrence is launching a campaign to save the club from relegation. Torrence, who almost single-handedly has battled to keep the club alive over recent years, is going to canvas all the other league clubs in an attempt to stop the
Worthington CIU Summer League: The new season opened with its fair share of surprises. The reigning champions, Spennymoor A were beaten at home, new team, Coundon B opened with an away win, whilst the other new team from the Victoria Club were just beaten
Beleaguered US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made a surprise visit to the Iraqi prison at the centre of the abuse scandal yesterday and predicted there would be more "bad things" revealed in days to come. He said lawyers were advising the Pentagon
Frontline officers will not be sacrificed to balance the books of Britain's most controversial police force. Cleveland Police Authority has set up rigorous budget monitoring to curb spending, in response to the Audit Commission's criticism of a "spend
THE opening of a residential home for autistic adults has renewed Neasham Parish Council's quest for a safe footpath to Hurworth to be created. It intends to press Darlington Borough Council to say when a £25,000 planning gain, a condition of the change
The race for the championship looks to be going right to the wire with both Tindale WMC and Stillington The Royal picking up maximum points, it could be decided next week when the two sides meet at Stillington with Tindale only requiring a point. In their
All who've seen Sky's Soccer Saturday, and perhaps one or two who've been this season to the erstwhile Reynolds Arena, would appreciate Jeff Stelling's little joke on Tuesday night. "It's a funny old football programme," he tells Hartlepool United's annual
If you carried out a random sample of the British public and asked them to name ten Conservative MPs, I suspect some might struggle. I guess most would come up with Michael Howard and the former leaders, William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith. Kenneth Clarke
Leadgate Golden Lion's bid to go throughout the season unbeaten appeared to be in great danger in their final outing when they trailed a young Blackhill Comrades 5-3. But the Lion roared back to make it 18 without defeat when they drew 5-5 despite a hat-trick
GRAHAM Wylie's latest venture, Technology Services Group (TSG), has expanded into Scotland. The Sage founder's new business has made several acquisitions since he bought and merged Joynson, based in Newcastle, and CPA Systems, based on Teesside, to form
A mile north east of Lanchester, Maiden Law stands on top of a hill where a crossroads leads to Leadgate, Durham and Annfield Plain. Maiden Law was a hamlet in the 19th Century and though it grew in the early 1900s it is still very small. Until 1914,
Tow Law Juniors: Tow Law Juniors clinched the Russell Foster Premier League Championship with a 2-1 victory in their final game at Washington Nissan. There was a dreadful start for the Lawyers in a must-win match when after only three minutes their goalkeeper
NO SOONER had Muttiah Chuckalot become the world's leading Test wicket-taker than it was decided to outlaw his "doosra". This is the ball which spins the other way from his usual off break, and extensive studies using all the latest gadgetry have confirmed
IT must be some form of recommendation when an Italian eaterie in this country is patronised by Italians. A group of six were tucking in at Panetti's in Bedale the night we called to sample the cafe/bistro's fare. And they were clearly regulars too, judging
CAMPAIGNERS against a development of "2-storey" blocks of flats in Darlington are taking their fight to the top. And there were new concerns expressed over more apartment blocks planned for the current College of Technology site in Cleveland Avenue. Angry
TELEWEST last night produced further evidence of its recovery by announcing an 81 per cent fall in quarterly losses. The cable operator said it made a net loss of £36m in the three months to March 31, against £187m at the same time last year. The group
Fairy Godfathers (C4) NICK and Colin know how to make an entrance. "Backs to the wall, the queers are here," they shouted, entering a blues bar in Harrogate in search of Simon and Jed, whose (female) partners wanted them given a makeover. So the fairy
YOU could say it hasn't been a bad week for Jim Provett. In fact, it's hard to find any blemish when the Hartlepool United goalkeeper reviews the season. Provett, in his first season as Pool's number one choice, was this week crowned both the supporters
A mile north east of Lanchester, Maiden Law stands on top of a hill where a crossroads leads to Leadgate, Durham and Annfield Plain. Maiden Law was a hamlet in the 19th Century and though it grew in the early 1900s it is still very small. Until 1914,
THIS week's diary comes from Knebworth in Hertfordshire, where my wife and I were attending the annual conference of the Crime Writers' Association. Away from lectures and socialising, we had time to explore the locality and, as our hotel was on a site
APRIL saw no major rarities but nonetheless there was much of interest for local birders. Summer migrants arrived en masse and many of these were significantly earlier than average. The first swallow was seen at Streetlam on the 2nd, yellow wagtails were
Gardening is good for you and it's never too soon to start. It's a great way to get children out of doors and busy. With a bit of luck, they might succeed in growing something and make that magic connection between something that grows and something they
AN 11-year-old boy died in a tragic mistake after he fell in a busy road, an inquest was told. Ashley Orley was struck by a Jaguar car driven by Ian Sherwood as he made his way across the A179 Hart Lane, in Hartlepool, on Monday evening. The youngster
A DRIVER caught at 156mph in one of the world's most glamorous car rallies said his love of Newcastle United saved him from jail. Gary Pudney, 32, originally from Consett, County Durham, was clocked at more than double the speed limit on a Spanish motorway
THE wife of a man jailed for leaving a North-East shopkeeper brain-damaged in an attack was punished yesterday for dishonesty. Mother-of-four Elizabeth Rees, of Auckland Avenue, Darlington, was ordered to carry out 100 hours of community punishment for
MICK McCarthy last night rallied his troops ahead of this evening's play-off opener with Crystal Palace by telling them: "You're good enough to reach the Premiership." McCarthy has steered the Black Cats to within touching distance of an instant return
Premier Division, Rovers Quoit 3 Burn Valley 2: Reigning league champions Rovers set up a dramatic championship play off with Lion thanks to Stuart Ord's last gasp winner against Burn Valley. With timing running out and the league crown heading back to
NO SOONER had Muttiah Chuckalot become the world's leading Test wicket-taker than it was decided to outlaw his "doosra". This is the ball which spins the other way from his usual off break, and extensive studies using all the latest gadgetry have confirmed
LOCAL cricket's longest-serving sponsors, Darlington Building Society, have extended their record by backing the North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League for the 14th successive year. The league, which got under way last month, consists of 25 teams
BRIAREUS (3.35) is the banker bet on a busy seven-race card at Newbury this afternoon. Andrew Balding's four-year-old carries joint top-weight in the TKP Surfacing Handicap, but that shouldn't be a barrier to success on the evidence of his most recent
CONSULTANTS charged with assessing whether rail links between Northallerton, Ripon and Harrogate can be revived had good and bad news for the advocates of public transport. An economic case can be made for re-instating the Harrogate to Ripon link but
A DRIVER was locked up for 15 months yesterday after he twice gave police a false name and led to an innocent man being arrested. Teenager Stephen Seaman gave an incorrect name when police stopped him behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta on June 24 last
IRAQ: THE more I read about the horrors of US torture in Iraqi prisons, the more I am grateful that I was captured by the most evil, brutal regime in the world - and not the Americans. - Yvonne Ridley, RESPECT candidate, County Durham. LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Following the recent burst of rainbows over 18.0.0 and brownies to 12.0.0 trout sport returned to normality at Masham's Leighton Reservoir. Keighley's John Regan proved the star of the week winning Wednesday's qualifying round of the Theakston Trophy
MORE used to navigating the hills and dales of England, co-driver Stephen Robson is set to test himself in altogether different environment. For the 34-year-old from Consett is flying out to Barbados for the Caribbean island's Rally Carnival which takes
Division One, Thornaby YC 4 Bedale FC 1: Thornaby Youth Club bounced back from their MacMillan Bowl defeat by BEADS FC by winning their last match of the season and leapfrogging BEADS into fourth. After the opening 20 minutes three goals in 13 minutes
A HOST of pop stars will take to the stage tomorrow to boost funds for a cancer charity. Billy Row Club, near Crook, is the venue for the Stars in Your Eyes Special, which will feature local people dressed as their singing heroes. Among the highlights
TRIBUTES have been paid to a police chief who has died. Terry Romeanes, a retired Chief Superintendent and a former Assistant Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, died at the Butterwick Hospice, in Stockton, on Tuesday aged 58. During his 37-year police
RISE TO HONOUR Publisher: SCEE Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 Out:now I BLAME Bruce Willis. Ever since he appeared as a character in a video game (his likeness appeared in Apocalypse on the PlayStation) other Hollywood stars have fallen over themselves to
Fairy Godfathers (C4): NICK and Colin know how to make an entrance. "Backs to the wall, the queers are here," they shouted, entering a blues bar in Harrogate in search of Simon and Jed, whose (female) partners wanted them given a makeover. So the fairy
THE team behind a popular North-East pantomime are offering the chance to star in this year's comedy extravaganza. The pantomime - Dick Whittington - features a young woman called Alice, and auditions will be held for the potential star at the Customs
The first Young Athletes League meeting of the season was held at Darlington on Sunday, May 9. Shildon fielded a total of 22 athletes in both boys and girls and 12 of them achieved national standards. Most notable performance of the day was achieved by
If you carried out a random sample of the British public and asked them to name ten Conservative MPs, I suspect some might struggle. I guess most would come up with Michael Howard and the former leaders, William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith. Kenneth Clarke
In athe crunch clash with League leaders, Brancepeth GC, the Woodham Mens Team, sponsored by Turners of Sedgefield Ltd, produced a table-topping performance to win 9-5 and replace the visitors at the top of the North Durham Golf League. Five of the seven
THE Under-13s played the first round of the Durham Senior League Under-13 Cup on Thursday, May 6 at South Hetton. South Hetton batted first and were all out for 60, L Robson top scoring for South Hetton with 25. Durham City bowler Casey Shogren bowled
North-East clubs in the UniBond League Premier Division will be relieved they don't have to play in the First Division next season. The National Leagues committee has announced membership of the First Division, with teams stretching from Colwyn Bay in
OPPOSITION is growing against the possible closure of Eaglescliffe post office. Couns Maureen Rigg and John Fletcher, ward councillors for Egglescliffe, and Coun Mike Cherrett, who serves Preston, have joined forces to protest against the potential closure
A TEACHING assistant who took part in a 11,000m parachute jump in South Africa has raised £400 for a local hospice. Pamela Birkbeck, who works at Kirkleatham Hall School, was supported in her efforts by pupils and fellow staff members. Pupils joined Ms
Congratulations to DTTC B who won the Week's Cup. Both DTTC B and DTTC D played extremely well with five out of six players playing above their handicaps. Player of the Match goes to Sarah Robinson(DTTC D) who played well above her handicap with Joanne
A Division Mixed: Larchfield A lost to Ferryhill 1-8 5-17; Central B bt Oakleaf A 5-4 11-9; Larchfield A lost to Richmond 2-7 5-15; Oakleaf bt Northallerton 801 16-3; Larchfield A lost to Central A 3-6 10-14; Central A lost to Harrowgate Hill 2-7 4-15
BROOMPARK Loves sought revenge when they lifted the League Cup last week. They narrowly missed out on the league championship when Thorns pipped them to the title by just two points. But Loves made up for it by beating them 3-0 in the League Cup Final
FIVE youngsters have been arrested in an initiative to curb disruptive behaviour in schools. The arrests, all for violent, threatening or abusive behaviour, were made by a team of three police officers, an educational social worker and a youth development
A CONTROVERSIAL homes and offices scheme in Northallerton has been given the go-ahead. Approval came despite a warning that three-storey elements "could ruin the town." And members of Hambleton District Council's development control committee were also
HEALTH Minister Lord Warner ushered in a new era for North-East medical education on a visit to the region yesterday. He officially opened the academic centre at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and unveiled a commemorative plaque. The
FEARS that the UK could see a fresh wave of fuel strikes were mounting last night as oil prices continued to rise. Prices were edging closer to the record high set in the build-up to the last Gulf War. A barrel of crude costs $37.40 on London's International
PLANNING councillors in Hambleton have been warned they are "driving a coach and horses" through policy over a brewery relocation scheme. Members of the development control committee have agreed to let Hambleton Ales use cash from a homes project to finance
At the North-East Athletics league at Jarrow on Wednesday, May 5 on a wet but near perfect night for middle distance running Aycliffe's young athletes performed with distinction. Seven personal bests were recorded as well as five club records.They were
A BLOOD-curdling futuristic rock musical will be premiered in Bishop Auckland this weekend. Barrington Youth Productions, based at Bishop Barrington School, is staging The Late Sleepers, written and composed by Paul James and Eric Angus, on Saturday and
FOR 20 years, seven days a week, come rain, snow, hail or shine, Alan Oliver has ensured a 1,000-year hornblowing tradition continues. But at the end of this month he will be blowing the horn in Ripon Market Place for the last time. Dressed in his distinctive
PEOPLE in Stokesley have welcomed the news that their post office is to be relocated three doors away from its present position in the High Street. There was concern that the service might be lost altogether after sub-postmaster, Ian Mundell, announced
Paul Shattock's own son has autism, but his tireless campaign to find out the causes of the isolating condition and to provide support services for the parents of sufferers is speading far from home. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson reports. PAUL Shattock
EURO MPs last night hit back at a report in which they were branded "Brussels Snouts" and said to be cashing in with expenses claims. Thirty-three British MEPs were singled out in the report as "clocking on" at the European Parliament for cash handouts
JULIE Nelson is a vegetarian; unsure about intensive farming methods; uneasy about hunting and some country sports. And she is not a natural Tory voter. She is also priest-in-charge of four parishes on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. So she freely admits
BRITAIN'S luckiest Lottery shop has produced another winner. Cat Wilson - who only bought the scratch card after going into the shop get change for a rail ticket - scooped £100,000 at Metro News, which had already created two millionaires. Metro News,
THE financiers bidding to gain control of troubled Darlington FC last night went public to urge creditors not to end 121 years of football in the town. Stewart Davies, of the Sterling Consortium, spoke out ahead of Wednesday's meeting of creditors, which
Supermarket group Morrisons, which won the bitter £3bn fight to take over Safeways, said it has sold 14 stores to rival chain Sainsbury's. Of the branches being sold, 13 are Safeways stores, and one, in Ripon, North Yorkshire, is a Morrisons. It said
PUPILS are taking to the stage with their version of the story of a Greek King returning home after a long war. Boys at Bow School, Durham, will perform the story of Odysseus in One More Journey, at Durham School's Luce Theatre this Thursday, at 7pm.
THE power struggle between district councillors in Teesdale continues to rumble on, with its short-lived first and only leader, Coun Phil Hughes, failing to be elected to any of the policy-making committees. At Wednesday's annual meeting, councillors
After making a useful 162 for three from their 35 overs Raby Castle bowled out Catterick Village for just 105, writes Malcolm Pratt. Ian Dent batted through the Raby Castle innings recording five boundaries in an unbeaten 64 and his opening partner Mark
AN UPBEAT Michael Howard breezed into Northallerton this week to launch his party's European election campaign. The Tory leader shook hands and chatted with shoppers in the High Street - even checking on the sales performance of local beef at a well-known
Gardening is good for you and it's never too soon to start. It's a great way to get children out of doors and busy. With a bit of luck, they might succeed in growing something and make that magic connection between something that grows and something they
MORE abject batting from Durham's middle order left them scrambling to avoid the follow-on at Taunton yesterday. They were still 17 short of the target when the ninth wicket fell, but an unbeaten 46 from Andrew Pratt took them past the target before they
PUPILS are using traditional craftwork methods to prepare a rug which will be exhibited at an arts festival. A room at Barnard Castle Preparatory School has been devoted to the preparation of the proddy rug, which will be displayed at Barnard Castle Arts
FOUR Darlington councillors who have notched up 100 years' service between them will share a celebratory dinner tonight. Councillors John Williams, Bill Dixon, Frank Robson and Tony Richmond have each served the borough council for 25 years and will mark
ONE of the most protected species in the British countryside may be making a comeback in part of County Durham. The endangered great crested newt was thought to have disappeared from Chester-le-Street. But the town's Federation of Environment Groups said
TINY publishing company Clever Clogs has produced an updated version of its guide for parents and carers living in Chester-le-Street. The guide, called Chester-le-Street for Under Eights,is released this week, part-funded by SureStart. The booklet contains
Sunday Division: Richmondshire 210-9, Guisborough 171-8. Bishop Auckland 149, Marske 71. Hartlepool 149, Barnard Castle 150-5. Northallerton 118, Darlington RA 93. All other games were cancelled because grounds were unfit.
Services on two sections of the Tyne and Wear Metro will be suspended on Sunday while engineering work is carried out. There will be no services between Pelaw, in Gateshead, and Sunderland and South Hylton. This will also disrupt the Arriva Trains (Northern
COUNCILLOR Maude Gray has been appointed Mayor of Great Aycliffe. Councillor Gray took over the chains of office from Councillor Malcolm Iveson at the council's annual meeting this week. Coun Iveson said he had enjoyed a wonderful year, adding: "I've
A RECOVERING heroin addict with 46 previous convictions was given a second chance yesterday when he appeared in court for biting a police officer. Grant Trodden was spared jail and instead given a 160-hour Community Punishment Order after he pleaded guilty
A HUGE bug designed by children is the latest art feature to be installed on the Great Aycliffe Way. The children's representation of a ladybird has been installed along the walk near its junction with Woodham Way, in Newton Aycliffe. The concept of the
PLANS to build an out-of-town DIY store, garden centre and retail unit have been rejected unanimously by a planning committee. Members of Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council rejected the proposed greenfield site develpment, next
DARLINGTON'S audacious attempt to land Bradford City striker Dean Windass is on hold until the future of the troubled West Yorkshire club is decided. As revealed in yesterday's Northern Echo SPORT, former Middlesbrough forward Windass has held talks with
WORKSHOPS are taking place to encourage people to get involved in community plans. Thirsk Regeneration Initiative held the first of four events at Kirby Wiske Village Hall last month. The sessions begin with a presentation by members of the regeneration
As the football season draws to a close, another trophy was won at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium week when Durham County beat North Riding County in final of the FA County Youth Cup, the most prestigious Under 18 tournament in the country. It caps
Services on two sections of the Tyne and Wear Metro will be suspended on Sunday while engineering work is carried out. There will be no services between Pelaw, in Gateshead, and Sunderland and South Hylton. This will also disrupt the Arriva Trains (Northern
A YOUNG boy raised the alarm and saved his family from a devastating house fire. Paul Taylor, 12, acted quickly when fire broke out at the family home in Ilford Road, Harwick, Stockton, in the early hours of yesterday. He helped his pregnant mother, Donna
TWO Japanese soccer stars are to have trials for a legendary British boys' club. Shinnosuke Murata and his friend, Yoichiro Kawamura, both 15, hope to join Wallsend Boys' Club, North Tyneside, where Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley played. They are desperate
CHILDREN'S Minister Margaret Hodge officially opened a £430,000 Sure Start centre yesterday. It had been feared the building, in South Avenue, Dormanstown, previously home to an NHS clinic until 2001, would become derelict and a target for vandals. But
CHILDREN'S healthy sandwich recipes are so good they have gone on sale to the public. Iain Drinkald, nine, and Rachel Lindstedt, ten, both of Millfield, Sunderland, won joint first place in a competition to design a healthy and tasty sandwich filling.
PEOPLE over 50 are being encouraged to log onto the Internet at a Silver Surfers' Day. The Shildon Project for the Initiation of Community Enterprise (Spice) is holding the event at its newly opened community access point and enterprise centre next Friday
PUPILS are using traditional craftwork methods to prepare a rug which will be exhibited at an arts festival. A room at Barnard Castle Preparatory School has been devoted to the preparation of the proddy rug, which will be displayed at Barnard Castle Arts
Michael Rudd of Hartlepool was determined his home match with David Craggs of Tow Law would produce fruitful points after a disappointing start in the league. Rudd fired some early warning shots that he would give everything to win the match, but Craggs
SCHOOLS are taking part in competitions to find the brainiest pupils. Youngsters from eight comprehensive schools took part in the east Cleveland heat of the Tees Valley Maths Challenge - a competition designed to raise awareness of maths in the workplace
RESIDENTS in almshouses are searching for a post box that went missing nine months ago. Since September, the 150 residents of the 25 almshouses in Kirkleatham have been awaiting the return of their post box after it disappeared overnight. The options
PLANS have been unveiled for this year's summer playscheme in Hartlepool. The scheme, for children aged five to 11, is from July 26 to August 20. There will be four venues -Bridge Youth Centre, Greatham Community Centre, Rossmere Youth Centre and the
COUNCILLORS have appointed leaders following parish and town council elections. Councillor Mike Findley, of Marske, who is a borough councillor for the Longbeck ward, was elected chairman of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council. Councillor John
PEOPLE are being asked for their memories for a website to attract visitors to an east Cleveland town. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has relaunched its Redcar Visitor website and wants memories of the town to create an archive of pictures and written
A TEESSIDE council is struggling to find takers for training courses aimed at providing traders with skills to prevent underage sales. So far, only 30 people are taking advantage of the free expenses-paid courses. Officials from Redcar and Cleveland's
VILLAGERS divided by a busy dual carriageway are asking for the speed limit to be lowered to improve road safety. Chester Moor residents want to see vehicles restricted to a maximum speed of 50mph on the A167, instead of the current 70mph. They say it
Norton and Stockton Ancients: Norton & Stockton Ancients Under-10s won at Haggerston Castle for the second year running. Norton were unbeaten in all the group stage matches, winning four and drawing one. On the first day Norton started their campaign
FARMERS are fighting back and buying more land, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Nationally, the share of land bought by non-farmers slipped back from 51pc to 43pc in January-March this year. Individual farmer
HOUGHALL College opens its doors to the public on Sunday to give a flavour of some of the rural and rustic activities performed on site. As well as a chance to see the livestock and some of the machinery in action, there will also be demonstrations of
Spraire Lads Under-8s travelled to Brinkburn to play two league games head-to-head due to an earlier postponement came away with all six points. In the first game Brinkburn took the lead early in the first half but a goal from man of the match Jonathan
Darlington RA Ladies: The end of season has brought the end of an era for three RA members as three of the team have ended their involvement. Liz Lawrence and Hailey Burton, have both hung up their boots after long spells with the team. Liz has played
A steelworks which is fighting its way back after closure has been devastated by the theft of more than £100,000 of metal. Thieves broke into Weardale Steel, Wolsingham, County Durham, on Wednesday night and made off with raw material and completed products
VILLAGERS in a small rural community have come to the support of a young couple whose baby son suffers from a rare condition. The village of Staindrop in County Durham has rallied round to raise money after hearing about the plight of seven-month-old
Five people sit round the campfire telling tales in the latest community production from HT2, Harrogate Theatre's Outreach Department. These Dales walkers are en route to witness the Burning of the Bartle, a long-standing tradition in North Yorkshire.
A number of matches had already been rescheduled because Middlesbrough were at home and in the event only one game went ahead when Norton hosted Hinderwell in Division One, writes Malcolm Pratt. After restricting Norton to 106 for eight Hinderwell won
Colin Howe of Crook Golden Fleece won the League Singles Championship when he beat Rob Grayson of Crook Spitfire Club in the final. In the semi-finals Howe beat his teammate and doubles partner, Gus Witton, whilst Grayson beat Ian Hodkinson of Crook Belle
Darlington Spraire Lasses Under-16s beat Consett Badgers Under-16s 1-0 to earn a place in the finals of the Subsidiary Cup on Saturday. With Consett having punished the Darlington side in a League game just the week before they were expecting an easy
Newton Cap successfully came through a nerve-racking penalty shoot-out to complete a Division Three league and cup double on Sunday. Having already sewn-up the divisional title they faced Goodfellas at Darlington RA's Brinkburn Road ground knowing victory
SPECTATOR well remembers Snow Drift at Bleath Gill, one of the five British Transport Films productions shown at a special event at Darlington Railway Centre on Saturday. He discovered it during a special Channel 4 railway season, Going Loco, in 1990.
TELEVISION gardener Alan Titchmarsh and broadcaster Simon Jenkins have been announced as the after-dinner speakers at a cathedral fundraising event. They will speak at the Ripon Cathedral Development Campaign's Angel Dinner, in the cathedral on October
FOLLOWING the huge success of last year, The Northern Echo is today beginning our Cricketer of the Year competition. But can anybody match the feat of last year's winner? Anthony McMahon of Chester-le-Street hit six sixes in an over - a truly remarkable
Mount Pleasant Rangers Under-12s A won the Wiggington Tournament recently. The Under-12s, sponsored by Magnet Ltd, played in the tournament at York and in their first game against Wiggington B won convincingly 4-0 with scorers being Craig Swainston, Nick
Champions Boroughbridge suffered a cruel blow in their second match of the season when injury struck John Rowe. The Bridge player was forced to concede two matches after picking up an arm injury in the first rubber while partnering with Kate Needham.
FORMER European and Commonwealth champion Alan Pascoe last night hailed Paula Radcliffe's decision to run at Gateshead next month as "a major coup for the North-East". Radcliffe will contest her first track race on British soil for nearly two years when
THE funeral of a man who died in a boating tragedy off Redcar was held on Wednesday at St Peter's Church, Redcar. Peter Blount, 47, of Redcar, and his best friend, Bernard Powell, 56, of Stokesley, North Yorkshire, died at sea after their boat's engine
LAST January was a tough time on Wearside. Sunderland failed to win a single league game all month as they tumbled towards the First Division. a listless 1-0 home defeat to Southampton offered worrying signs of what was to come, and manager Howard Wilkinson
MAUREEN Smith is understandably aggrieved that she was kept in the dark about her 14-year-old daughter's abortion. Her protests raise legitimate concerns about the issue of termination involving girls under the age of consent. It is an issue which requires
BEARS got their season off to a positive start with victory at Hull's Craven Park against the Hull Angels last week. The match went to a last heat decider and a superb performance from Paul Cooper and John Branney against the Angels' Mike Pickering and
Maxine Carr leaves prison today after completing her sentence for her part in the Soham murders. Sarah Foster looks at what the future holds for Britian's most hated woman. IT should have provoked a wave of sympathy. The image of a slight, timid woman
ACTOR Brian Blessed yesterday backed a campaign to save one of the region's smallest and most threatened creatures. The water vole was once common along rivers and streams. Over the past decade, its numbers have declined as farming methods affect its
DETECTIVES investigating a North-East murder are preparing to make several more arrests after fresh evidence placed five men at the scene. Julie Smailes, 27, was found stabbed and strangled at her home in Wingrove Terrace, Leadgate, near Consett, County
A 28-year-old African asylum seeker was jailed for 10 years today for causing grievous bodily harm to three women by infecting them with HIV through sex. Feston Konzani was charged with infecting the women, aged between 15 and 27, between November 2000
LOCAL commercial and charity stall holders are being invited to take part in a summer carnival. Organisers of Brotton Carnival, which will be held on Saturday, July 3 on Marshall Drive Playing Field, say the event will be a fun day for all the family.
PRIME Minister Tony Blair will launch a move to tackle yob culture during a visit to the region today. He will endorse a police pledge to crack down on crime and disorder in communities across County Durham and Darlington. At a lunchtime ceremony at Hardwick
Billingham Falcons travelled to face Solihull Kings in their second English U15 North Promotion/Relegation play-off match. After an opening 4-1 loss at home to Blackburn Kestrels, Falcons were looking to get points on the board. Solihull went ahead in
SIR Bobby Robson is pressing ahead with plans for an assault on the Premiership next season - even though Newcastle United are counting the cost of failing to clinch a Champions League place. The Magpies will miss out on at least £10m after losing the
Boosbeck Utd v Lingdale Tavern: Boosbeck worked hard to get this fixture played on a waterlogged pitch and were rewarded with a good opening ten minutes of play. Johnson ran onto a through-ball from Shimwell and rounded an exposed Moore in the Tavern
Another 200 North-East jobs could be lost to the cheaper European labour market following a shock announcement today. Workers finishing their shift at car parts manufacturer Calsonic Kansei's plant in Shildon, County Durham, were stunned to hear that
A 25-YEAR blueprint for the future of Bedale would need a major change in planning policy because of its effect on the town conservation area, a local councillor claimed this week. John Weighell added that there was no financial commitment from regional
REOPENING a rail line between Harrogate and Ripon would be economically viable, a detailed study revealed on Tuesday. A single line track, which would cost about £40m, could initially attract 1,200 passengers a day, rising to 2,700, the feasibility study
BRIAREUS (3.35) is the banker bet on a busy seven-race card at Newbury this afternoon. Andrew Balding's four-year-old carries joint top-weight in the TKP Surfacing Handicap, but that shouldn't be a barrier to success on the evidence of his most recent
TWENTY more jobs are in the offing at Somerfield's store, Saltburn, this summer. This would follow "a complete makeover" and take the number of full-time and part-time staff from 80 to 100. "The store will mostly stay open during the refurbishment, but
IT was a real family affair when champions, Stanley Royal completed their league campaign in style. The Royal were odds-on favourites to complete their 100 per cent record in the top against bottom affair against near neighbours Stanley RAFA. And the
Durham Coast League, Under-18s: Only two games went ahead when the programme was affected by the weather. Ryhope celebrated with a narrow victory at Hylton following a high scoring match. Paul Howe carried his bat for 73 and Brian Conlin captured two
RISE TO HONOUR Publisher: SCEE, Format: PS2, Price: £39.99. Out now: I BLAME Bruce Willis. Ever since he appeared as a character in a video game (his likeness appeared in Apocalypse on the PlayStation) other Hollywood stars have fallen over themselves
Stokesley SC require just one point from their last two games to finish runners-up to champions North Shields. On Monday they not only gained three valuable points but also avenged a recent defeat by Boldon CA, who won the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup with
CHILDREN's Minister Margaret Hodge officially opened a new £430,000 Sure Start centre yesterday. People had feared that the building, in South Avenue, Dormanstown, which had been an NHS clinic until 2001, would become derelict and a target for vandals
May Medal and Lascelles Qualifier: With an entry of 147 this month's competition attracted a large field and out congratulations go to Bob Moffat who although drifting towards 80 returns a gross 77 two shots better than his years and showing his younger
THE Swaledale Marathon celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer. The event, launched as a challenge walk in 1979, sees 500 runners and walkers tackle a 23.2-mile off-road course, including 3,586ft of ascent. An army of volunteers is checking bookings
Environmentally friendly biodiesel became available in the region for the first time yesterday. Margaret Fay, chairwoman of regional development agency One NorthEast filled a car with the green fuel at Eric East's Daleside garage, in Witton-le-Wear, County
Auckland Area CIU League: Eldon Lane will meet West Auckland in the two-legged final after both came through their semi-finals with narrow victories. West Auckland cut it very close against Old Shildon and were almost taken to the decider. West had won
RISE TO HONOUR Publisher: SCEE, Format: PS2, Price: £39.99. Out now: I BLAME Bruce Willis. Ever since he appeared as a character in a video game (his likeness appeared in Apocalypse on the PlayStation) other Hollywood stars have fallen over themselves
EASINGWOLD Brass Band will perform in the walled garden at Beningbrough Hall, Shipton-by-Beningbrough, near York, on Sunday. The concert is from 2pm to 4pm. Admission to the house and garden is £6 for adults and £3 for children. Published: ??/??/2004
AIR accident investigators have urged the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to review procedures after a series of near-misses over the North-East between fast military planes and passenger aircraft. A report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) also
Crook Individual League: Only two matches were played with the comment being made that a nil-nil draw would have been a fair result in both as none of the four players reached anything like their true potential. Lee Cullinan took the first frame against
PROTESTORS fighting plans to continue grasstrack racing near their homes fear a "second Croft circuit" could be created. Residents of Kiplin, near Scorton, urged Richmondshire District Council to reject proposals by the Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club,
A BUILDER is proving age is no barrier as he works towards his first qualification at the age of 62. Bryan Mitchell, of Sunderland, has worked in construction for 35 years, but did not want to be left behind as working practice and skills standards 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. Anthony was out with
MORE than 2,000 people in the Durham area have signed a petition calling for the scrapping of the council tax. The Liberal Democrats, who control the city council, are running a national campaign, against the tax, which helps fund local services. The
A MAN has praised two parking attendants who helped his wife when she fell. Edna Woodrow, 69, from Loftus, was getting on a bus in Redcar with her husband Arthur, 68, when she slipped and fell, leaving her left leg bleeding heavily. Mr Woodrow said: "
Newfit Services Willington: Willington Burn fought their way through to victory in the Six Man Team Trophy at the Prospect Club. The league has just announced their programme for the Singles Championships. The first qualifying event will be held at eight
TELEWEST last night produced further evidence of its recovery by announcing an 81 per cent fall in quarterly losses. The cable operator said it made a net loss of £36m in the three months to March 31, against £187m at the same time last year. The group
HAVE I seen too many summers, am I old-fashioned or do I really reflect the thoughts of the silent majority when I say the rural community is being swamped in signage, health and safety? Dignitaries called on to open parks, buildings and developments
DURHAM university students living in and around the city centre fear they could be banned from having cars. It is one option the university is looking at to ease problems of students taking up limited parking spaces. If it was introduced, students living
Three Junior bowlers from the Darlington Indoor Bowls Club enjoyed success in the Greg Harlow Junior Challenge Competition held at the Scarborough Indoor Bowls Alexandra Centre on Sunday, May 9. Liam Mortimer, Lorna Ditchburn and Louise Abel were taking
DELEGATES from Durham County Council met this week to discuss ways of bridging the 'age gap' facing young people with mental health problems. The authority's overview and scrutiny committee investigated fears that people aged 16-25 are falling into a
West Auckland Queens Head are champions for the second consecutive year after a 0-0 draw at Bishop Rugby Club in the final game of the season. The title was in doubt till the last kick of the game, as a goal for the home side would have given them the
A rousing innings from Michael Lumb and a fiery blast of bowling from Chris Silverwood turned the tables on Hampshire during a fascinating day's Championship cricket at Headingley yesterday. Yorkshire showed such steely determination with the bat that
TELEVISION gardener Alan Titchmarsh and broadcaster Simon Jenkins have been announced as the after-dinner speakers at a cathedral fundraising event. They will speak at the Ripon Cathedral Development Campaign's Angel Dinner, in the cathedral on October
Willington had the better of Crook Town when the sides met in a local derby. Batting first, the home side managed only 70 for seven which included 20 by Mark Bowey, Chris Moore was in good form with the ball for Willington, returning three for 20 in five
TWO Japanese soccer stars are to have trials for a legendary British boys' club. Shinnosuke Murata and his friend, Yoichiro Kawamura, both 15, hope to join Wallsend Boys' Club, North Tyneside, where Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley played. They are desperate
A BLUEPRINT setting out high standards for mental health care in County Durham has been launched. The charter was devised by County Durham and Darlington Mental Health Service User and Carer Involvement Team, for use by the health, social care and voluntary
THE secretive Sterling Consortium broke its silence last night to reveal that it could install Scottish legend Kenny Dalglish as chairman of Darlington Football Club. In an exclusive interview with The Northern Echo, Sterling financier Stewart Davies
TEES Rowing Club achieved excellent results at last weekend's Durham City Regatta on the River Wear. More than 150 crews from across the North and Scotland contested a full range of events for junior, senior and veteran rowers and the Tees club sent a
RESIDENTS have attacked plans to create an off-road driving and shooting centre close to their homes. As reported in last week's D&S Times, Bill Bates has applied for planning permission to convert eight acres of land at his home, Handley Cross, on
Washington managed to stage the only game to be played in Division One on Saturday and were rewarded with victory over Kelloe, writes Malcolm Pratt. It was Washington's third successive victory and they are now the only team with a 100 per cent record
Foster's Northumberland Tyneside Senior League, Under-18 Cup: Shotley Bridge romped home at Crookhall without losing a wicket, writes Malcolm Pratt. With a target of 75, they were indebted to Rourke for his 48 and to Grinter who carried his bat for 18
Marton Under-14s were victorious for the third consecutive year in the North Riding Cup Final but had to fight hard for their victory against a determined Nunthorpe team who battled to take the trophy. Marton took the game to Nunthorpe from the start
PICTURES purportedly showing British soldiers abusing an Iraqi detainee were "categorically" not taken in Iraq, the Government said yesterday. Armed forces minister Adam Ingram said an investigation into the photographs - published in the Daily Mirror
Thirsk Falcons: THE Under-12s were at the Wigginton six-a-side tournament last Sunday and finished top of their group, winning against Selby A 1-0 with a Liam Cook goal. They drew 1-1 with Richmond B with Joe Barwick scoring, beat Osbaldwick 2-0 with
GAS suppliers are declining to fund a multi-million pound TV advertising campaign to cut deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning, The Northern Echo can reveal. The firms will reject a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) study that concluded up to £25m must
THE jury in the trial of a refugee who infected his lovers with HIV was told yesterday: "Make sure that emotion doesn't enter into your judgement." African asylum-seeker Feston Konzani is standing trial accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on three
MOTHERS and babies celebrated the value of breast-feeding yesterday at a party in Darlington. About 35 members of the Darlington Breast-feeding Support Group staged the event to mark national Breast-feeding Awareness Week. Pregnant women also joined in
VETERAN student Jean Hay has decided to call it a day after studying at Darlington College of Technology for the past 13 years. The 64-year-old is putting her studies on hold to help hearing impaired people and patients at St Teresa's Hospice. A thyroid
ON-STREET car parking charges outside homes in Darlington town centre could be in breach of human rights, a meeting was told yesterday. Councillor Dorothy Long warned that Darlington Borough Council could face legal action from residents if it implemented
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren last night stepped up his pursuit of Leeds United striker Alan Smith. McClaren is understood to have tabled an £8m bid for the England international in an attempt to head off the bidding war that is likely to ensue
People living in Teesdale are being warned to be vigilant after two men claiming to be water officials tried to enter a house in Barnard Castle. Nothing was stolen in the incident, which happened on Wednesday at about 5pm. The bogus officials were not
ONE in eight people in County Durham use a village hall or community centre every week, according to a survey. The survey was carried out by the One Voice Network, an umbrella group of community and voluntary organisations in the county. However, it said
THE Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will be given 500 reasons why plans to cut Tees-Tyne passenger services should not go ahead. The number of daily through-trains linking Saltburn, Middlesbrough, Darlington and Newcastle could be cut from 19 to four when
SHEEP rustling on the North York Moors "probably carried out by one of our own" is angering hill farmers. Three incidents were reported to police last week. An Aislaby farmer was shattered to discover his complete flock had disappeared from a field overnight
Steels Social Club are the Premier Division Champions for the second year running and they finished unbeaten. They won 6-2 at home against Darlington Croft who are relegated. Steels were determined to keep their unbeaten record and opened with attacking
IF last Saturday's game at Scunthorpe United was Barry Conlon's last in a Darlington shirt, his winning goal will be fondly remembered by Quakers fans. With several clubs chasing the big striker's signature, he looks likely to move on in the summer as
