A PENSIONER who sexually abused five children was jailed for seven years yesterday. Michael Doherty carried out the attacks on girls aged six, eight, ten and 11, and on a boy of eight. Appearing for sentence at Teesside Crown Court, the 68-year-old admitted
MIDDLESBROUGH face a battle to land prime target Yakubu Ayegbeni after Portsmouth moved closer to tying up a £3m deal for the Nigeria striker. Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to fend off Boro's interest, which was prompted by Yakubu's four-goal
Durham Senior League: With a double header over the weekend there will be an opportunity to dent the records of the four unbeaten sides in the league. Two of them, Whitburn and Horden, meet on the former's ground this afternoon. To add spice to this game
AN artist has used materials employed in the restoration of a locomotive to produce works for an exhibition. Adam Baldwin collected rust, coal, sand and grease before the restoration began, to make the images now on display in the Darlington Railway Centre
OSCA, a European eagle owl, took a keen interest in the proceedings as artist Steve Blaylock made the finishing touches to his latest creation. Mr Blaylock, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, took Osca to Newby Hall, near Ripon, where an exhibition of contemporary
A 13-YEAR-OLD admitted exposing himself to a four-year-old girl when he appeared before a court yesterday. The youth, who was placed on the sex offenders' register in March, was alone with the girl in her house when the incident happened, Darlington Youth
THE Mayor of Darlington performed the honours at the opening of a £1.4m community centre yesterday. Councillor Roderick Francis cut the ribbon outside Maidendale House in Firthmoor - a facility he campaigned to have built as a resident of the estate.
A COUNCILLOR has criticised his authority for failing to listen to people in rural areas. Councillor Roderick Burtt, ward councillor for Hurworth, told a meeting of Darlington Borough Council that its planning committee regularly ignored the views of
The fattiest and saltiest ready-made meals were named and shamed yesterday - with some oozing three times as much fat as their competitors. Pizza, chicken tikka masala and beef lasagne were three of the nation's favourites to be closely scrutinised. Some
A horticultural company has been equipped with the latest television and audio equipment by a local car dealer. Northdale Horticulture, in Yafforth Road, Northallerton, is a registered charity which provides work experience and training in horticulture
POLICE are appealing for information after an elderly widow was mugged as she returned home after shopping on Thursday. The woman was walking away from Peterlee town centre along a pathway next to the community college between 3pm and 3.30pm when she
PEOPLE living near a supermarket in Spennymoor are angry they were not asked to voice their concerns about a proposed car park extension before the plan was approved. Sedgefield Borough Council has granted outline planning permission for Asda Spennymoor
MORE homes are planned for Consett and Stanley as the north Durham housing boom continues. Derwentside District Council's development control committee will meet on Thursday to look at plans by developers for another 130 houses. At the same time, the
BOOKWORM Kimberley Stephenson is helping her school in its attempt to unlock tens of thousands of pounds in funding. Kimberley, 13, a pupil at Moorside Community College, in Consett, aims to read all 100 of the UK's most popular books by the end of this
INDIVIDUALS and companies are being urged to save office materials that usually end up in the bin. They are being asked to save empty toner and printer cartridges and old mobile phones to help raise money for the Friarage Scout Link Group, in Northallerton
THE parents of a boy killed in a road accident are demanding answers about how and why he died. Caroline Butterfield and Peter Dermott say they are being kept in the dark over what happened on the day of the accident. Care chiefs have promised a full
ON the King's Road in south-west London, the most pressing matter facing Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has seemingly been which of the Champions League finalist bosses to bring to Stamford Bridge. On Neasham Road, on the edge of Darlington, there
A bus is to be used to help get youngsters away from crime and anti-social behaviour. The Youth Inclusion Project's (YIP) mobile bus, to be launched on Tuesday, will provide positive activities for youngsters living or spending time in local crime hot
TWO Middlesbrough schools have been awarded Primary Quality Marks by the Basic Skills Agency. Brambles Primary and Easterside Primary are the first in the town to receive the award, which recognises the systems in place to improve literacy, numeracy and
The Barnard Castle Meet starts with the crowning of the Meet Queen at Scar Top today, at 11am. The main procession will be held on Bank Holiday Monday, at 1pm, and will feature floats, bands and other vehicles. Activities will include a boat race on the
A project aimed at providing a healthy lifestyle for residents has been given a civic seal of approval. The Mayor of Seaham, Councillor Charles Walker, joined forces with members of local organisations and children from the town to formally launch the
A TYPING pool is celebrating after a National Lottery win. The syndicate of typists, who work for the Inland Revenue in Newcastle, won £117,234 after they matched five numbers and the bonus ball in Wednesday's draw. Syndicate leader Susan Mardghum, 43
DOMESTIC violence counsellors in Darlington and County Durham have joined forces to bid for £750,000 in funding. A consortium between Darlington Domestic Violence Forum and the county's women's refuges is hoping to secure the cash from the Northern Rock
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS CHARLES Johnson (HAS, May 20) exhorts us to trust the Conservatives to stand up for us in the EU, assuring us that only they will put our nation first. I do not doubt for one minute Mr Johnson's patriotism and sincerity of motive. I
A MAN caught with computer child pornography by police who were targeting his son for similar offences yesterday failed to get a reduction in his prison term. Alan Hume MacAdie, 56, of Auckland Way, Stockton, was jailed for 15 months at Teesside Crown
A FLAGSHIP office block is to be the first building in the multi-million pound transformation of a derelict site in the region, nearly 20 years after the scheme was first suggested. Countless masterplans have been drawn up for the 200-acre Middlehaven
THE parents of a boy killed in a road accident are demanding answers about how and why he died. Caroline Butterfield and Peter Dermott say they are being kept in the dark over what happened on the day of the accident. Care chiefs have promised a full
THE remaining ships in a so-called toxic ghost fleet will almost certainly not be heading to the North-East this year, US officials said last night. The news from the US Maritime Administration (Marad) could mean the saga of the ghost ships dragging well
Durham Coast League: The match of the day is between leaders Bill Quay and Silksworth both of whom are being strongly tipped for the championship. The Tynesiders are rejuvenated following the signing of the highly rated Chris Pleasants, who was the scourge
AN anti-war party has lodged an official complaint after thousands of its leaflets failed to reach North-East voters before the arrival of postal ballots for next month's Euro elections. Peter Smith, a sub-agent for the Respect Party on Teesside said
OPPOSITION members may complain to the district auditor over Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's decision to spend £10,000 promoting Yorkshire. The council dropped associations with the former Northumbria Tourist Board and joined forces with the Yorkshire
Last night, millions of fans tuned into Channel 4 to see the final episode of US comedy Friends. Among them was dedicated follower Hayley Gyllenspetz, who has watched all 234 episodes over the past decade. It's lasted longer than any of my relationships
EXPLOSIVES experts carried out a controlled detonation on a bomb that had been lying in a garage for more than 20 years. Two streets were blocked off and dozens of homes evacuated in Westbrooke Avenue, Hartlepool, after a resident called police on Thursday
FOUR North-East men were yesterday banned from travelling to England matches in the Euro 2004 football championships after alleged hooliganism. Paul Hind, 38, Michael Hutchinson, 37, Christopher O'Brien, 23, and Jeffery Wake, 28, were also banned from
THE number of children expelled from North-East and North Yorkshire schools is increasing, according to figures. The number of permanent exclusions from schools in England dropped for the first time in more than a decade in 2002-2003 to 9,290, according
TWO brothers were reunited in harmony last night at a gala concert. Ray and Paul Farr have lived in different countries for more than 15 years, but were back together for the musical feast in Durham's Elvet Methodist Church, where each took the podium
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: CHARLES Johnson (HAS, May 20) exhorts us to trust the Conservatives to stand up for us in the EU, assuring us that only they will put our nation first. I do not doubt for one minute Mr Johnson's patriotism and sincerity of motive.
DARLINGTON have earmarked Torquay United defender Steve Woods as a possible replacement for Notts County-bound Matt Clarke. Quakers boss David Hodgson last night admitted the club faces a fight to keep hold of Clarke after receiving an approach from relegated
THE growing campaign against the danger of speeding motorcyclists in the region has won its highest-profile supporter yet. The Prince of Wales has given his approval to the campaign being run by North York Moors action group Bilsdale Against Noise and
SEX offenders freed from prison could face compulsory lie detector tests after pioneering research in the North-East showed its value. Home Secretary David Blunkett yesterday announced plans to use electronic polygraphs to prevent offenders striking again
DARLINGTON have earmarked Torquay United defender Steve Woods as a possible replacement for Notts County-bound Matt Clarke. Quakers boss David Hodgson last night admitted the club faces a fight to keep hold of Clarke after receiving an approach from relegated
ONE of the biggest rail festivals ever to be held in Britain gets under way today in the city that became wealthy with the arrival of the train. History-makers and record-breakers from all over the country have converged on York for the nine-day Railfest
As the third Harry Potter film opens, the teenage stars look to the future after they graduate from Hogwarts. Steve Pratt falls under the young wizard's spell. It's a bit like watching someone's children growing up. Another Harry Potter movie, another
STANDING in front of Lingvres church in the warm May sunshine. Birds tweedle happily in the trees; cows munch contentedly in the field. It's an ancient church, creamy-white - the sort of shade you only find in a paint colour chart. But it's not quite
FORMER England rugby star Tony Underwood has opened a nine-hole golf course in the region. The £300,000 course at Headlam Hall Hotel, near Gainford, County Durham, has taken a year to build and is the first course to open in Teesdale in more than 100
With the demise of three top-rating US sit-coms within months of each other, British TV schedulers are desperately looking for something to full the gap. ROSS, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Monica and Rachel have gone their separate ways after a long and lucrative
COURTS in the North-East and North Yorkshire have dramatically improved their collection of fines after new measures to tackle non-payment. Figures show that North Yorkshire, Cleveland and Durham all hit Government targets to prevent offenders escaping
Michael Owen insists England are now at their peak to win a major tournament and describes the Euro 2004 finals as the ''acid test'' for the current squad. Owen believes that Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad have developed with experience since the 2002 World
With Cannon and Ball as its main attraction, the fifth Whitby Gospel Music Festival attracted more interest than even the fish and chip shop. THE queue outside the Pavilion Theatre in Whitby is even longer than that outside the Magpie Cafe, and fish and
WORK is expected to start early next year on a £20m building scheme for a police force crippled by financial problems. Cleveland Police - struggling to recover from a £7.3m budget "black hole" - is building five stations and modernising custody suites
SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Thomas Myhre has turned down a return to his native Norway with Odd Grenland. Myhre, understood to be eyeing a move to Italy or Spain, was wanted by Odd coach Arne Sandstoe as cover because of an injury to fellow Norwegian international
STUDENTS staged a fashion show that could affect the rest of their lives. Costumes by final year undergraduates at Cleveland College of Art and Design, in Hartlepool, had their efforts judged by assessors as part of their final exams. The costumes, which
ROAD RACE enthusiasts who have seen the number of North-East events drastically whittled down because of police safety concerns again move to a traffic-free course in the Raby Castle 10K tomorrow. The event, which replaced the long-standing Barnard Castle
THE new chief executive of Darlington Football Club yesterday told of his hopes that the new-look Quakers will become a thriving force in the region. Only days after creditors accepted a deal allowing the Sterling Consortium to take charge, Andy Battison
THE latest work of a group of local artists will be viewed by visitors from across the globe in coming weeks. Chester-le-Street Art Society is staging a display of some of its members' more recent creations at Durham University's Botanic Garden. A total
A MAJOR retrospective exhibition of works by a celebrated landscape artist is bringing together works on loan from private collections around the country. Simon Palmer, who lives in Masham, is a successful artist whose London shows every two years are
The Barnard Castle Meet starts with the crowning of the Meet Queen at Scar Top today, at 11am. The main procession will be held on Bank Holiday Monday, at 1pm, and will feature floats, bands and other vehicles. Activities will include a boat race on the
DOMESTIC violence counsellors in Darlington and County Durham have joined forces to bid for £750,000 in funding to help combat the problem. A consortium between Darlington Domestic Violence Forum and the county's women's refuges is hoping to secure the
POLICE believe a spate of rooftop burglaries in Darlington could be linked. Two premises in the town were broken into yesterday morning after several burglaries earlier in the week. The culprits got into all of the properties via the roof. Motorbike equipment
A STUDENT from Darlington has beaten competition from other talented youngsters in the country to win a place in a national theatre company. Georgia McIntyre, 11, has gained a place in Youth Music Theatre UK. The Hummersknott School and Language College
Penny Boler wanted her mother to look pretty in pink instead of her usual black leathers - so she called the Makeover Mum hotline. The result of mother Doreen's new look can be seen in the Tyne Tees Television programme tomorrow at 5.45pm. Twelve-year-old
A group of youngsters has made a journey of discovery through the ruins of an ancient abbey. Hundreds of pupils from schools across the county have been exploring the lifestyle of a medieval monk at Jervaulx Abbey. They were taking part in Lifepath, a
A ROYAL seal of approval is being given to a charity started by a couple in a shed at the bottom of a garden. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will open the new headquarters in a former helicopter hangar of the Jennyruth Workshops, on the Newby Hall estate
POLICE are planning a month-long clampdown on drivers who ignore the seatbelt and mobile phone laws. They are warning offenders that they will receive a minimum £30 fixed-penalty ticket. "This is a road safety issue - a matter of life or death - and friendly
A SCHEME to help people living in remote areas find work is celebrating its third anniversary after proving to be a runaway success. The Wheels 2 Work transport loan scheme was established in 2001 with funding from the Countryside Agency and at the time
TEENAGER Beverly Priestman has been crowned Student of the Year at Derwentside College, in Consett. The 18-year-old, from Moorside, Consett, won the accolade for coaching and sports activities, both in college and in the wider community. Beverly, who
DOMESTIC violence counsellors in County Durham and Darlington have joined forces to bid for £750,000 in funding. A consortium between Darlington Domestic Violence Forum (DDVF) and the county's women's refuges is hoping to secure the cash from the Northern
NORTH-EAST cancer sufferers as young as 13 are having their sperm frozen to allow them to have children later in life. Dozens of boys, who would be unable to have children in the future due to them becoming sterile as a result of treatment, are being
A SCHOOL is mourning the death of a much-loved teacher and former pupil after a long illness. Anthony Knock, 56, was a pupil at Howsham Hall School, near York, in the 1950s and won a scholarship to Ampleforth College. After attending Trinity and All Saints
PUPILS have been digging out their unwanted football shirts to send to people in Africa. Children at Staindrop Comprehensive School, near Barnard Castle, are taking part in BBC Radio Five Live's Shirt Amnesty. The station is asking people to send clean
COUNCIL bosses, contractors and a priest scaled a town hall clock tower yesterday. The group climbed 160ft above Middlesbrough's town centre, marking a landmark moment in a £750,000 contract to repair and renovate the town hall clock tower and the spire
THREE Scout leaders are embarking on a Coast to Coast challenge to raise money to buy climbing equipment for their troop. Mark Hunt, Scout leader for the fifth Redcar Scout group based at Larkswood Road, Redcar, will set off with Explorer Scout leader
Motorists who continue to flout the law with their careless parking at the Gateshead MetroCentre are risking penalties - no matter what time of the day or night. Thanks to CCTV technology, Northumbria Police can take action even if no officers are present
ON the King's Road in south-west London, the most pressing matter facing Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has seemingly been which of the Champions League finalist bosses to bring to Stamford Bridge. On Neasham Road, on the edge of Darlington, there
A NORTH-EAST church is in line for a cash windfall after workers uncovered buried treasure in the churchyard. Experts from the British Museum have compared the significance of the 7th Century pendant found in Middlesbrough with that of the famous pectoral
THIS week my wife sat on the sofa with her hands over her ears and sang la-la-la quite loudly to drown out a certain programme that, apparently, I only watch to annoy her. The show being the nation's current favourite Hell's Kitchen (ITV1, ITV2 constant
ONE of the biggest rail festivals ever to be held in Britain gets under way today in the city that became wealthy with the arrival of the train. History-makers and record-breakers from all over the country have converged on York for the nine-day Railfest
COLLEGE students will soon be on patrol after achieving National Beach Lifeguard accreditation. The sports science students from Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough begin their patrols of Redcar and Saltburn beaches today. The will also patrol on Monday
A shopping centre is holding activities to keep the family entertained during the half-term holiday. The fun starts today at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Shopping Centre, when it holds a fundraising day for autism charity Daisy Chain. Shoppers can take part
A REDCAR club has reopened following a refurbishment made possible with the award of a £67,000 grant. The 9-0 Club has a function room with seating for 40 people, a modern kitchen area, improved access for disabled users and new labatories. George Robinson
NEWHAM Grange Leisure Farm staff have returned triumphant from the Carlisle Rare Breeds Show. Two of their beef shorthorn heifers were placed first and second in their class. Both heifers were then bought by breeders at the show which covers the Northern
HUNDREDS of school pupils made a step towards a healthier lifestyle yesterday on a two-mile walk as part of a health drive in the Durham dales. About 350 youngsters from Teesdale enjoyed the two-mile trek from Barnard Castle CE Primary School, which included
PEOPLE who are being plagued by anti-social youths are calling for a condemned estate to be demolished immediately. A family had to flee from their home in the Grangetown Older Housing Area when the house next door was set on fire by youths on Wednesday
A VILLAGE primary school has joined the nation's elite by winning an award for its arts work. Bowes Hutchinson CE Aided School, near Barnard Castle, has been awarded the Artsmark Silver Award for enriching its curriculum with a diverse range of music,
A 13-YEAR-OLD admitted exposing himself to a four-year-old girl when he appeared before a court yesterday. The youth, who was placed on the sex offenders' register in March, was alone with the girl in her house when the incident happened, Darlington Youth
CRAIG BELLAMY insists his decision to go against Newcastle United's wishes and play for his country has been vindicated. The injury-prone striker came through Wales' friendly with Norway unscathed on Thursday night and now he wants to earn his 25th cap
Q I am 82 with a State Pension of £89.87, War Pension of £98.32 monthly, works pension of £143.80 a month and savings of £8,747. I pay full council tax to Derwentside Council. Can I get Pension Credit? A Only about 70p a week, but as Derwentside ignores
IF we are what we eat, then many of us are no more than fat and salt. As we report on Page 2 of today's paper, the Consumers' Association has discovered that a single portion of some ready-made meals sold in supermarkets contain an entire day's recommended
A TOWN'S security camera system is a year old. Middlesbrough's cameras have directly led to 521 arrests in its first year of operation. The round-the-clock tapes have recorded robberies, soliciting, kerb crawling, drug dealing, assaults, vandalism, trading
THE new boss of Chester-le-Street District Council is due to take up his post on Tuesday. Roy Templeman's appointment as chief executive was ratified this week by the full council. He has been in local government for 28 years, and has extensive experience
WALKING through humid jungle pathways to reach the tree-covered remains of a Cambodian temple, it is easy to imagine the excitement of the explorers who rediscovered it over 100 years ago. Ta Prohm was built in the 12th century and its beautifully carved
A MUSIC event for youngsters in Darlington is to return by popular demand. The Next Generation Music Gig will take place in the town's Dolphin Centre, on Friday, June 11, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. The event is being organised by Darlington Borough Council
SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Thomas Myhre has turned down a return to his native Norway with Odd Grenland. Myhre, understood to be eyeing a move to Italy or Spain, was wanted by Odd coach Arne Sandstoe as cover because of an injury to fellow Norwegian international
THE ancient art of charcoal burning is being rekindled this bank holiday weekend. Expert David Hutchinson will build and burn an earth-mound kiln on the North York Moors, a skill that has not been used for at least a century. Mr Hutchinson, of the Yorkshire
MIDDLESBROUGH face a battle to land prime target Yakubu Ayegbeni after Portsmouth moved closer to tying up a £3m deal for the Nigeria striker. Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to fend off Boro's interest, which was prompted by Yakubu's four-goal
PLANS to get more lorries on the region's roads have been criticised by county councillors. The Northern Freight Group, a consortium of public and private bodies, has produced a strategy document with proposals to help the freight industry over the next
The Readers Durham County League Preview: Captain Paul Watson hopes it will be a case of six of the best when Evenwood visit Esh Winning this afternoon. "We have made a great start and are already the only side with a 100 per cent record having chalked
THE number of children expelled from North-East and North Yorkshire schools is increasing, according to figures. The number of permanent exclusions from schools in England dropped for the first time in more than a decade in 2002-2003 to 9,290, according
THE chief executive of Darlington Football Club yesterday told of his aspirations for the new-look Quakers. Only days after creditors accepted a deal allowing the Sterling Consortium to take charge, Andy Battison said the financiers were not about to
PROVIDED Karl Burke has his mathematics right, Million Percent should figure prominently in the opening six-furlong Classified Stakes at Doncaster. Following a couple of victories at Warwick and Newmarket last term, Million Percent's official rating edged
WE were warned last year that the house price bubble was about to burst. Then, at the beginning of this year, we were told that prices would start to level out. But figures published by Nationwide this week show that higher interest rates failed to deter
A NORTH-EAST church is in line for a cash windfall after workers uncovered buried treasure in the churchyard. Experts from the British Museum have compared the significance of the 7th Century pendant found in Middlesbrough with that of the famous pectoral
THE remaining ships in a so-called toxic ghost fleet will almost certainly not be heading to the North-East this year, US officials said last night. The news from the US Maritime Administration (Marad) could mean the saga of the ghost ships dragging well
IF you ask football fans to name the biggest game in English football, it's a fair bet that most of them will come up with the FA Cup final. Some Middlesbrough supporters will no doubt sing the praises of the Carling Cup decider, while followers of Manchester
EXPLOSIVES experts carried out a controlled detonation on a bomb that had been lying in a garage for more than 20 years. Two streets were blocked off and dozens of homes evacuated in Westbrooke Avenue, Hartlepool, after a resident called police on Thursday
A FILM made by pupils from Hummersea Primary at Loftus reached the final six of the Roots and Wings hands-on learning competition. Twenty youngsters, aged from seven to 11, became involved in the making of a film about the Skinningrove Ironstone Mine
Sunderland have parted company with Academy Director Kees Zwamborn as they continue to plan for a second season in the First Division. Zwamborn, who has been with the Black Cats for 15 months, will leave by mutual consent after playing a major role in
DAVID BARRON generally excels in the speed division so it is no surprise to discover he trains the ante-post favourite, Raccoon, for this afternoon's top race at Edinburgh, the £50,000 Scottish Sprint Cup, writes Colin Woods (Janus). Sponsors Victor Chandler
VOTERS in the UK are among the least likely to take part in the ballot for the Euro elections, according to a survey. The results of the poll - only four nations out of 25 have a predicted lower turn-out than the UK - have prompted a wake-up call to the
SHOPKEEPERS are expecting tills to sing when a free music festival hits town. Pubs, restaurants, shops and cafes are banking on Bank Holiday Monday's Middlesbrough Music Live Festival being one of their best trading days of the year. David Ward, manager
THE queue outside the Pavilion Theatre in Whitby is even longer than that outside the Magpie Cafe, and fish and chip people will know that that's twice the size of a conger. As forecast, it's a splendid spring Saturday, though one flat capped chap wears
HUNDREDS of people will be closing their eyes and gritting their teeth in the interests of a charity over the weekend. So far, 300 people have signed up to do an 800ft so-called death slide to raise money to save the lives of leukaemia sufferers. They
THE opening of a recycling centre near Guisborough has been delayed. But when it opens, after the summer, the centre at Carlin Howe Farm will be bigger and better. The household waste recycling centre was due to open in April. Redcar and Cleveland Borough
IT was the last in the series of late night performances by Northern Sinfonia at All Saints Church, in Newcastle, before the big move to the Sage across the river, and the end of an era was marked in fitting style. It was also one of those rare occasions
As the third Harry Potter film opens, the teenage stars look to the future after they graduate from Hogwarts. Steve Pratt falls under the young wizard's spell. It's a bit like watching someone's children growing up. Another Harry Potter movie, another
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: Bishop Auckland are second ahead of their game with table-topping Northallerton this afternoon, but even so director of cricket Paul Furby reckons the Kingsway side could have done even better. "It was
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy with a string of convictions was locked up yesterday after he admitted twice burgling a pensioner's home. Ashley Simpson broke into the 68-year-old victim's house in Windsor Gardens, Middlesbrough, by breaking down the door after watching
MARTIN Scott is today nursing a feeling of what might have been. While Bristol City and Brighton scrap it out tomorrow in the play-off final for a place in Division One, the Hartlepool United assistant boss knows his team should have been contemplating
A North-East woman is to walk along Hadrian's Wall to raise money for an animal charity. Jane Weeks is appealing for support from animal lovers, as she must raise £350 in sponsorship before she can start the challenge for the veterinary charity PDSA.
Sunderland aim to make it five wins on the trot when they meet Blaydon at Ashbrooke this morning. In addition to defeating Stockton at Chester-le-Street, they have also beaten Guisborough and Ashington in the ECB National Knock Out Cup. "We are on a bit
A FLAGSHIP office block is to be the first building in the multi-million pound transformation of a derelict site in the region, nearly 20 years after the scheme was first suggested. Countless masterplans have been drawn up for the 200-acre Middlehaven
A RAPIST who targeted a 12-year-old girl on her way to school was jailed for life yesterday after police linked him to another sex attack. Alan Blackwell raped the schoolgirl in Washington, Tyne and Wear, after pouncing on her from behind bushes. The
A WOMAN has been conned out of £500 by a rogue tradesman who is using Redcar's Shopmobility as his business address. The man, claiming to be from Redcar Plumbing and Building Specialists, has angered staff at the town's Shopmobility service, in Pybus
AFTER all the ebbs and flows of a gripping game at Trent Bridge, Chris Read took advantage of a huge slice of good fortune to turn the tide decisively against Durham yesterday. The wicketkeeper who couldn't make enough runs for England scored his third
THE growing campaign against the danger of speeding motorcyclists in the region has won its highest-profile supporter yet. The Prince of Wales has given his approval to the campaign being run by North York Moors action group Bilsdale Against Noise and
TRAMPOLINE star Maya Rockett bounced back from a car crash and defied doctors to win a major competition. The eight-year-old, of Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, suffered severe whiplash injuries when the family car was involved in a road crash
A RAPIST who targeted a 12-year-old girl on her way to school was jailed for life yesterday after police linked him to another sex attack. Alan Blackwell raped the schoolgirl in Washington, Tyne and Wear, after pouncing on her from behind bushes. The
WHEN it comes to judging cricketing talent, you don't get much greater an authority than Sir Garfield Sobers. The legendary West Indian is universally acclaimed as the best all-rounder ever to have played the game. Cricketing bible Wisden talked of him
CRAIG BELLAMY insists his decision to go against Newcastle United's wishes and play for his country has been vindicated. The injury-prone striker came through Wales' friendly with Norway unscathed on Thursday night and now he wants to earn his 25th cap
A GUISBOROUGH school is hoping for an award after beating 800 primary schools world-wide to reach the top five in a newspaper competition. Northgate Junior School was picked from thousands of schools which took part in the Times Educational Supplement's
THE chief economist of the Institute of Directors (IoD) this week warned North-East businesses to be prepared for a period of considerable economic uncertainty. Graeme Leach visited the region to speak to the North-East IoD and warned that next year could
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior Legue Preview: Champions Lanchester, who have an identical playing record to Tynedale and are just one point off the leaders, miss several players for what is likely to be a difficult game at Sacriston. Captain
MARTIN Scott is today nursing a feeling of what might have been. While Bristol City and Brighton scrap it out tomorrow in the play-off final for a place in Division One, the Hartlepool United assistant boss knows his team should have been contemplating
