THORNS were crowned champions at the league end-of-season presentation night last week, held at Old Shildon WMC. As well as all the club awards, the individual player awards were dished out, with Thorns midfielder Anthony Stewart getting the Player of
A £1m revamp for Bedale rail station has been given the green light. Councillors' initial concerns about safety have been addressed with a plan for a footbridge over Bedale beck. At last week's meeting of Hambleton's development control committee, members
MIDDLESBROUGH and Newcastle United are on the verge of missing out on one of their right-back options this summer. Spanish club Villarreal are closing in on a deal that would take Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot to La Liga on a free transfer. Melchiot
HUNDREDS of people turned out at Redcar Racecourse to watch the East Cleveland Advertiser's handicap stakes. The winner of the race, which was contested over the straight seven furlongs for three-year-olds, was Dark Day Blues, based at Middleham, near
MOORLAND farmers, worried by a growing number of raids on livestock and implements on their farms, are working with police to set up a new farm and countryside watch group. Thousands of pounds worth of animals, tractors, quad bikes, and horse tackle has
Cleveland and North Yokshire League: In week six there was a clean sweep for the home teams. The league leaders Oak Lodge had the biggest victory of the evening by 181 to 153. The team captain of Oak Lodge, Ron Calvert, led from the front with the only
MIKE Blunt of Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, has been named a regional winner in the national farm sprayer operator of the year competition 2004. He is responsible for spraying 1,700 acres of arable crops, including cereals, oilseed rape, sugar beet and
A NEW plaque to commemorate the birthplace of cricket legend Thomas Lord has been officially unveiled. It is the first of 20 blue plaques being erected in Thirsk to mark famous buildings and birthplaces. Thomas Lord - the founder of Lord's Cricket Ground
MIDDLESBROUGH Scott Bros Bears returned to winning ways against the reformed Crewe Kings on Wednesday evening at Hull's Craven Park with a dramatic victory in the final heat. Twenty-nine years have passed since the teams last met and whilst the standard
Darlington Harriers: The Raby Castle 10km race took place on a hot Sunday morning hosted by Teesdale AC. Joe McCready stole the show for the Harriers with a brilliant third place in a time of 35.01. Other placings: Jack Mason 24th, 38.55; Hon Lee 57th
NUCLEAR energy company BNFL, which owns Sellafield, has reported annual losses of £303m after seeing costs increase at its operations. BNFL chief executive Michael Parker said it was disappointing, but said the financial position of the business was about
HOUSEHOLD electrical goods maker Alba said last night it hoped the Olympics would spur demand for its Carl Lewis brand of fitness equipment which recorded sales of £2.8m in the first year following its launch. The company said it was hoping to create
After the circus that was Jennifer Lopez's engagement to Ben Affleck we should all be grateful that her latest exchange of vows was conducted in secret. The singer and actress invited friends and family to a barbie at her Beverly Hills home but instead
DURHAM University spin-off company Bede has raised more than £700,000 with a share issue that will help fund 30 jobs it hopes to create by the end of the year. The group, which makes testing equipment for the semiconductor industry, has overcome a severe
THE chairman of Cleveland Police Authority warned this week that rising crime and falling detection levels demanded urgent answers and urgent action. Coun Ken Walker was commenting on new statistics showing that overall crime levels in the Cleveland force
CRICKET club officials say they are delighted by the news that some of the game's biggest names are coming to the region for a fundraising match. The world-famous Lashings XI is coming to Malton and Old Malton Cricket Club, North Yorkshire, on June 20
The Durhams D-Day Diary, Sgt Charles Eagles, 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, Final Part: Blown up. JULY 22, 1944, was just an ordinary, routine day in Normandy. D-Day was a month-and-a-half behind the Durham Light Infantry, and we were beginning
AN EPIC campaign to get a safe footpath from Neasham to Hurworth is nearing success. A £100,000 scheme to put in a metalled path along a dangerous stretch of the Teesdale Way is being prepared for the approval of Darlington Borough Council cabinet members
THE mammoth task of re-roofing Ripon Cathedral at a cost of £512,000 is entering its final phase, with thousands of new slates set to go in place. Fundraising for the roof by the cathedral's development campaign, which attracted a 60pc grant from English
YOUNGSTERS at Cockerton Primary School in Darlington have been getting set for National Food Safety Week as they learned about the importance of washing hands before handling food. The schools' campaign will form part of the special week which starts
Police traffic officers have posted an eve of Euro 2004 warning over the potentially lethal cocktail of football, fine weather, barbecues and alcohol. The traditional seasonal temptation to flout drink/driving regulations is increased this year with the
Norton made a very useful 231 for five against Stockton in their second division match. Neil Fox was just five runs short of a century and Geoff Kean contributed 71 while for Stockton Mark Fletcher was the pick of the attack with three wickets for 47
Young tennis star Aiden Robson moved a step closer to realising his dream of playing at Wimbledon when he won a major tournament recently. He tasted success in the Road to Wimbledon tournament held at Greenfield Tennis Club to take his place in the County
Stockton won off the last ball when they visited Blaydon. Set a target of 182, they needed one run from the last delivery and scraped home with their last pair at the wicket. Ellis contributed 50 and Mason 49 to the Stockton total, while for Blaydon Stuart
FIFTY cyclists hit the streets of Darlington last Sunday for an 80-mile road race around the town. Among the competitors tackling the inaugural Bannatyne's Cycle Road Race was former national champion Matt Stephens and current national masters champion
VAN HELSING. Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Out now. DO YOU love those old Universal horrors? I do. When I was a kid I couldn't get enough of Lon Chaney Jnr, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Movies like Frankenstein Meets
TEDDY bears and toys abandoned in snow and on waste land are among the images which can be seen on the backs of buses in Tees Valley throughout June. They are the work of Stockton artist and photographer Helen Shannon and were commissioned by Tees Valley
TALENTED pensioners rocked around the grandfather clock yesterday to become the region's top silver star. The North-East final of Yours magazine's Silver Stars amateur talent contest took place in Middlesbrough Theatre yesterday afternoon. Glamorous grandmothers
Bob Pendlebury Cup Final: Willington Under-18s celebrated winning the Bob Pendlebury Cup with a nine wicket win over Evenwood. Batting first Evenwood posted the useful total of 139 for eight in a maximum 30 overs with Drew Samms their top scorer with
ARSONISTS are being blamed for a blaze at a North-East centre that provides services for adults with learning difficulties. A shed containing gardening equipment and also a temporary building were severely damaged in the fire at the Aucklandgate Centre
HAVING broken two world records in a matter of days few would bet against Kenenisa Bekele shattering another here in the North-East. Few that is except for the Ethiopian himself. The 21-year-old established new marks in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at
Ferryhill Surtees were in a hurry when they visited Coxhoe Cricketers Arms and dismissed their hosts for just 43. The reply was similarly hectic as the visitors raced to victory by knocking up the winning runs for the loss of three wickets in eight overs
D-DAY: THE D-Day celebrations were marred when the veterans were kept waiting for the greater part of an hour while the much younger and fitter heads of government and state took advantage of the photo opportunities. During a TV interview, one of the
IT was February 11 2004, the day that the Gadfly column took wings, slipped the surly bonds of custom and practice and landed on page three. Page three's done differently here. Until that Wednesday morning four months ago, few in the North-East would
Fishburn held on to their top spot in the First Division but were taken to the decider before they won at Brandon, a result which kept them one point ahead of Wheatley Hill A. Charlie Hirst put Fishburn ahead but Kevin Sample put in a 30 break to level
Two North-East karate players won trophies at a recent prestigious national competition. Anne Hov and Simon Cudworth, members of Chikara Dojo of Kyokushin Karate Club in Spennymoor, both enjoyed success at the British Nationals Full Contact Karate Tournament
Mervyn Close with 51 and Andrew Toulson with 41 led Barnard Castle to an impressive 187 for eight when they visited Redcar in division three. Ian Patchett sent down 13 overs in the Redcar attack to claim three wickets for 47 runs before the Seasiders
Staff From Hell (ITV1): SWEETHEARTING, blocking and dipping sound like instructions from a sex manual but turn out to be terms describing the methods used by shop checkout staff to steal from their employers. Businesses face a crime epidemic. "Twenty-five
The Under-17s just failed in their attempt to complete a Russell Foster Youth League and Cup double when they went down 2-1 to a last minute goal against Hilda Park in the League Cup final. Played at Washington Nissan, after an even first half with very
PUBLIC toilets will get a £200,000 revamp over the next three years. Area environment committees will soon be helping to decide where to spend the investment to improve the area's public conveniences. It is hoped to reopen and refurbish the toilets in
A COUNCIL is to get tough with litter louts and dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets. If caught red-handed by street wardens, people who drop litter in East Cleveland will be given the opportunity to pick up their rubbish, and a dog owner
A QUICK straw poll in the pub the other night thankfully revealed that I am not alone in feeling intensely irritated by all the flags flying from car windows at the moment. At first I thought it was something to do with D-day, but then I realised it is
A hitman paid by a family to assasinate a rival ended up shooting one of the men who hired him in the groin, a court heard. In a bizarre series of events, Thomas Anderson was accidentally blasted in the penis by drive-by gunman Arthur Pattinson. It is
Running legend Steve Cram yesterday urged people in the North-East to seize a golden opportunity to improve their fitness and health. The multiple gold medal winner was speaking about Everyday Sport, a new government-backed initiative. Yesterday's launch
Hartlepool Chester Hotel are savouring winning the Darlington Charity Cup after beating Tindale Crescent WMC in the final held at the Darlington RA ground. It meant the team completed a clean sweep of all domestic cups, the Hartlepool Church League as
NEASHAM has pledged to support Hurworth in its fight to prevent Darlington Borough Council closing down its comprehensive school. The two parish councils are to join forces to try to protect the village school amid fears that Hurworth is vulnerable because
Murton chairman Tommy Torrence admitted that he was "dumbfounded" by the Northern League's decision to relegate his club at last Saturday's AGM. Torrence thought enough clubs would support his view that Murton should remain in the league after bringing
COUNCIL bosses have been given a ringing endorsement of their efforts to crack down on litter louts. Darlington Borough Council leader John Williams was presented with a certificate from environmental charity Encams, in recognition of an action plan the
ONE of the biggest church parishes in the county has a new rector. The appointment of The Reverend Beryl Bowes to the united benefice of Amotherby, Barton-le-Street, Appleton-le-Street, Slingsby, Hovingham, Coneysthorpe and Scackleton coincides with the
TWO weeks of special events at a primary school will see youngsters learning about cultures from around the world. One of the first events at Kirkby and Great Broughton Church of England Primary School, near Stokesley, takes place on Monday, when storyteller
With the season now over league secretary, Ken Moore, looks back on the year's highs and lows. We began with three division but the season didn't start too well with three teams from the top division resigning before a ball had even been kicked - this
Durham and District League: There was a change in leadership in all three divisions as the top teams failed to maintain their early momentum. Reigning champions, Leeholme lost their top spot in the First Division when they went down by two points at Coxhoe
SPORTS enthusiasts were cheered yesterday by the news that work on a long-awaited facility is about to start. Construction on the £485,000 project to build an all-weather pitch and skatepark in Northallerton will get under way later this month The news
CHAMPAGNE breakfasts will be on offer to regatta-goers as one of the country's oldest annual rowing festivals takes place this weekend. The 170th Durham Regatta will take place on the River Wear, with a new main sponsor giving the event added impetus.
STAFF and regulars at a pub have thrown their weight behind a fundraising campaign to help to improve a disabled man's mobility. The Blue Bell Inn, in Boroughbridge, is hoping to raise £3,000 for the Robert Hornby Trust Fund, which was set up to help
A CORNER of Eston has had a makeover with the completion of a community garden and two squares of land in the Mansfield Road and Jubilee Road area. Eston Residents Association worked with environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork South Tees, to develop
TV CELEBRITY John Grundy yesterday jumped on board a new bus service aimed at luring shoppers to one of the region's most popular visitor attractions. The presenter launched tour company City Sightseeing's new link from Newcastle to Beamish Museum, near
A court heard today how a motorist battled heroically in an attempt to try and save a father-of-three trapped in a burning car. Lorne Craig, a service engineer from Crook, was travelling along the A689 at Wynyard towards the A19 when he spotted flames
A VIDEO CAMERA which has helped combat anti-social behaviour problems on a North-East estate has been modified to improve its success rate. The camera, which was mounted on a police cycle helmet, has helped catch hooligans on the Ingleby Barwick estate
Promotion can be achieved in many different ways. A runaway success that sees a side finish all alone on top of the table, a dramatic last-day surge into the top two, or even a heart-stopping penalty shoot-out win in the play-off final in Cardiff. Yesterday
ENGLISH prime beef carcase weights have increased by an average of more than 2kg a year over the past 12 years. The English Beef and Lamb Executive says it is due to sustained improvements in terminal sire growth rates, which have significantly improved
A COMMUNITY association is believed to be the first in County Durham to adopt an environmental and ethical policy. From now on, Brancepeth Village Hall will only use green products and Fairtrade goods wherever possible. Light bulbs are being changed,
It was no contest in the top versus bottom affair in Division One when Rowlands CA saw off Whickham Glebe by 41 runs. Colin Tait unbeaten on 70 and Simon Curtis 51 steered Rowlands CA to 149-3 and they then restricted Beamish to 108-3 thanks mainly to
NEWCASTLE United have finally won some silverware this season - for pioneering work in education. The club has won a Quality in Study award for the Newcastle United Learning Centre, in St James' Park. The centre, which opened in 1997, is part of the Government's
With people becoming increasingly disillusioned with supermarkets, traditional markets like the one in Darlington could be poised for a revival. IT'S one of the town's great treasures. Visitors love it - possibly more than the locals do. Darlington market
THIS year's crop variety open day, organised by Farmway, the North-East agricultural co-operative, is on Friday, June 25. This event, from noon until 6pm at Grange Farm, Croft, near Darlington, by courtesy of Croft Farms, is now the biggest cereal/oilseed
More and more people are opting out of the conventional route to a cure their illnesses. Barry Nelson talks to one practitioner who is bringing traditional Chinese medicine to the North-East. WHEN children with severe eczema suddenly got better, specialists
BUSINESSES in Darlington are failing to back a charity ball being held in aid of a women's refuge, according to organisers. Dee Wastnedge, from Darlington Domestic Violence Forum, asked 100 companies in the town to donate raffle prizes for the black-tie
HAMBLETON councillors are being asked to accept a package of measures designed to maintain and improve the promotion of a 30-year-old public building in Northallerton. A district council committee spent three months earlier this year reviewing the promotion
A LOYAL employee has celebrated 50 years of working on the grounds of a stately home. Ron Smith, 65, was born at North Lees, just outside Ripon, and now lives at nearby Marton-le-Moor. He started his working life at the age of 14 when he was employed
YOUNGSTERS have tamed a wildlife area that had been left to nature for too long. The wildlife area, at Moorside Infants School, in Ripon, had become overgrown and neglected and a renovation was needed. So the county's grounds maintenance team worked with
ORGANISERS of an Arabic course hope it will help counteract harmful stereotypes caused by recent world events. A group of adults, aged from 18 to 60, from the Redcar Adult Learning Centre have learnt to communicate in modern standard Arabic as well as
A GUISBOROUGH church has raised more than £750 towards missionary work being carried out by a vicar and his family in Africa. The Reverend Rodger Petch left the UK and set up home in Nigeria in September. He was followed shortly afterwards by his Nigerian
GRANTS totalling £45,000 have been awarded to arts and heritage groups in Ryedale. Arts Council England in Yorkshire has awarded grants to three groups. Musicians in Residence, which runs an online directory where event organisers can search for suitable
FOOTBALL fans on Teesside are being asked to hand over their old strips for charity. DHL Express has linked up with BBC Radio Five Live's football shirt amnesty to collect old and unused shirts now the football season has come to an end. The kits will
A 'BOY RACER' was disqualified from driving for 12 months yesterday after racing at high speed along a road before crashing into another car. Craig Stuart, of Newholme Crescent, Bishop Auckland, paid no regard to the double white line markings as he sped
STUDENTS have built a bridge which will help Saltburn's bid for success in Britain in Bloom. The part-time students from Redcar and Cleveland College, who have learning difficulties and disabilities, have built a scale model of the renowned Ha'Penny Bridge
Young acro gymnasts from the region are to be the backbone of the Great Britain team for the forthcoming World Championships held in France in May. The popularity of Deerness Gymnastics and Leisure Centre goes from strength to strength in this demanding
Andrew Mynarski's family have never allowed his memory to be forgotten. Chris Webber spoke to the airman's nephew James Holowaty. WHEN Canada formally separated from Britain in 1947 the first citizen of Canada was named as the prime minister, second was
AN extra £8m is to be invested in north Durham to improve health services, it was announced yesterday. Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) has revealed that its budget for 2004-2005 will be £101m - an £8.2m increase on last year. The PCT has spent the
A SHOCKING image of hundreds of children lying scarred and bleeding will launch a hard-hitting North-East safety campaign later this month. About 500 pupils from schools in Gateshead will be transformed into the victims of horrific accidents, using special
A team which offers people with mental health problems an alternative to hospital admission has reached the national final of the Health and Social Care Awards. The team, from Earlston House, Darlington, received the regional mental health award for its
Willington Brewer's Droop upset the Second Division placings when they visited the leading Crook Jelly's Bar B and only dropped one point. This pushed the Brewer's into pole position and moved Jelly's B down to fifth place. The Brewer's now lead Crook
JOB opportunities are being created in the Wear Valley by an expanding company that moved to the district this year. Reach Out Care, an agency for foster carers and a support and training network for social and community services, moved to the outskirts
A CAMPAIGN to get people in the North-East off their sofas and into sport will be launched today. The region will pilot Sport England's Everyday Sport scheme, which aims to combat rising levels of obesity and the economic burden it places on health services
THE Football League will ask Sunderland to clarify Peter Reid's shareholding in the club before they will allow them to compete in the Coca-Cola League next season. The former Black Cats boss held 400,000 shares in the club when he was sacked in October
Thomas Armstrong Men's Invitation Day: This popular annual competition gives members the opportunity to entertain their guests to a round of golf on a course in top condition. Prize winners: 62 John Gregory and Billy Roughly (Bishop Auckland); 63 Ian
DURHAM University spin-off company Bede has raised more than £700,000 with a share issue that will help fund 30 jobs it hopes to create by the end of the year. The group, which makes testing equipment for the semiconductor industry, has overcome a severe
Thirsk Under-11s, in their first season in the Teesside Football Junior Alliance, ended the season as champions of Division Four with a presentation at the Tall Trees Hotel, Yarm. After a shaky start to the season they went on a unbeaten run of 13 games
Junior round-up: Sunderland Commanches were in France for the Boulogne-Billancourt U14 Ice Hockey Tournament and finished seventh of the eight teams. Not such a bad finish as it was a strong competition with teams from Russia Czech Republic, Latvia, Canada
THE Under-8s won the Barnard Castle FC tournament on Saturday by beating St. Mary's 5-0 in the final. This was a tremendous performance by everyone involved and all the players and the manager on the day Andy Mitchell deserve praise for a great achievement
YORKSHIRE yesterday applied the theory that if you thoroughly sicken off opponents they will not be able to muster any resistance. After a century from Darren Lehmann, they batted on for seven overs after lunch at Riverside before declaring on 353 for
East Rainton closed the gap on leaders Washington to just three points when they won the match of the day by 82 runs, writes Malcolm Pratt. Batting first, the reigning champions ended with 166 for nine on the board mainly as a result of the efforts of
A LEADING minerals company is prepared to sacrifice archaeological heritage near Bedale for profits, it was claimed this week. A local campaign group has reacted angrily to the announcement that, as expected, Tarmac Northern has applied for planning permission
Ledley King and Jamie Carragher last night insisted they could rise to the challenge of stopping Thierry Henry if John Terry loses his fitness battle for Sunday's Euro 2004 opener against France. King and Carragher are in contention to partner Sol Campbell
A WILDLIFE site between steelworks and a main road has had a facelift thanks to environment groups. Staff from the Environment Agency and Tees Valley Wildlife Trust helped to improve the wetland site at Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve, near Redcar. The team
NETTLESWORTH and Kimblesworth are former mining villages on the western side of the Great North Road between Chester-le-Street and Durham. On the 1850s map Nettlesworth is called Broadmires and consists of terraced rows. Nearby, to the south-east of the
THE owners of a birds of prey sanctuary said some will have to be put down after they lost a planning appeal. Neil and Juliana Fowler, who run Scotton Owl and Raptor Rehabilitation at their home in Scotton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, applied for
A champion athlete feared his Olympic dreams would be shattered when a mob threatened to break his legs, a court heard. Medal hopeful Jared Deacon, 29, was pelted with makeshift missiles before being punched in the face as he passed through Horsley Hill
A MULTI-MILLION pound city centre development has been dealt a fresh blow after gypsum deposits were found on the site. The news comes only days after English Heritage announced it had dropped objections to the proposed £10m development of a supermarket
DOCTORS fought a race against time to save twins when their mother collapsed and died, an inquest heard. Avril Billington, 37, of Derby Drive, Consett, County Durham, collapsed in the University Hospital of North Durham as she was about to be induced
D-DAY commemorations and the recent debate on the re-branding of Teesside Airport bring sharply into focus the freedoms we enjoy thanks to the sacrifices of others. Today, we argue freely about the best name to entice foreigners to fly into this corner
VAN HELSING. Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Out now. DO YOU love those old Universal horrors? I do. When I was a kid I couldn't get enough of Lon Chaney Jnr, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Movies like Frankenstein Meets
NETTLESWORTH and Kimblesworth are former mining villages on the western side of the Great North Road between Chester-le-Street and Durham. On the 1850s map Nettlesworth is called Broadmires and consists of terraced rows. Nearby, to the south-east of the
Crook Ladies League: Willington New Inn and Crook Jelly's Bar B still share the top spot in the table after they both won tough games by the odd point. The New Inn beat the visiting Tow Law Black Horse whilst Jelly's B beat their hosts at Tow Law New
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 214 cattle. Lim cows & bull calves to £690; Simm cows & hfr calves to £540; BB cows & bull calves to £980; BA cows & bull calves to £740. Bulls: BB £588; Lim £610; Char £575; Fries £430. Hfrs: BB £660; Lik
Darlington welterweight Oscar Hall is back on track and has his sights set a British title fight to be screened on BBC television, writes Craig Stoddart. After a turbulent six months the 29-year-old recorded a much-needed victory last week and is now
SUZUKI driver Guy Wilks claimed his first Junior World Rally Championship win when he took victory on the Acropolis Rally in Greece last weekend. Despite searing temperatures and the notoriously rough and dusty stages, the 23-year-old from Heighington
In the Washington and Harraton Match at Eden Meadows on Saturday pastie sized carp made up the winner's net as Shiny Row's Steve Keane grabbed the honours recording 24.2.0. Split between Acer and Cherry Tree Lakes Steve on Acer 15 offered pellet tight
ALAN SHEARER last night insisted he wants to finish his career at Newcastle United - providing he is guaranteed a first team role in Sir Bobby Robson's side. The Magpies skipper's reassuring words to the St James' Park faithful follows the suggestion
A mobile assessment centre is taking to the road as part of a pioneering project to enable elderly patients in the North-East to have check-ups closer to home. The new facility will accommodate patients recovering from broken hips when it visits venues
EPSOM, Doncaster - they all come alike for the consistent northerner Uhoomagoo. On Oaks day at the Surrey track, Kevin Ryan's charge won the Vodafone Mile despite his five pounds penalty for his win the Saturday before on the Town Moor. Neil Callan had
A CAMPAIGN aimed at reducing heart disease in the North-East took an important step forward yesterday. The Northern Echo's award-winning A Chance To Live campaign was extended with the launch of a partnership in Darlington. It follows the formation last
FLIGHT paths in North Yorkshire are under review. Flying circuits operated by RAF Linton-on-Ouse are to be scrutinised by a committee of councillors. Members of Hambleton Council cabinet have instructed their overview and scrutiny committee colleagues
Film fans can take part in a free film-making course that involves being trained by top industry professionals at the University of Teesside. The Northern Shorts films will be screened at a preview evening at the university's Innovation and Virtual Reality
EXPERTS will meet today to discuss the North-East's reputation as the country's worst binge-drink area. The campaign group Alcohol Concern has arranged the seminar in Durham and has invited police, medical experts, academics and representatives of the
THE 60th anniversary of D-Day has demonstrated the importance of remembering heroes. Young and old have joined together to pay tribute to the courage of those who took part, just as they will next year when the six decades which have passed since the
Kirby Sigston made a magnificent 351 for the loss of just two wickets and Harper contributed 186 in the game with Chopgate, writes Malcolm Pratt. Harper, who opened the innings, was only 14 runs short of 200 when he was caught, while Thompson ended unbeaten
A few weeks ago 14-year-old Mathew Cowling was in a defensive mood as he helped Bishop Auckland CC 1st XI salvage a draw against Saltburn CC in Division A of the NYSD League. On Monday evening at Shildon Mathew was in an entirely different mood when he
The Rogers brothers were all in outstanding form when Middleton St George hosted Witton-le-Wear. Stephen made a top scoring 91 hitting six sixes and ten boundaries, Simon had 12 fours out of 63 while Paul struck a couple of sixes and five boundaries adding
Crook League: Newly promoted, Crook Coach and Horses B lifted themselves into second place in the First Division after they only dropped three points to the visiting Crook Mill House. The Coach had two singles from David Haygarth and David Stephenson
AN off-duty police officer was threatened at gunpoint following a failed attempt to rob a post office. Last night four men were in custody following the incident earlier in the day. At 10am yesterday, three men wearing balaclavas, one of whom was brandishing
Last week Casey Shogren was named as the summer's first monthly winner of this year's The Northern Echo Cricketer of the Year competition and we're now taking entries for the June accolade. Casey took the April/May honour after recording figures of eight
Bygone Days, a leading fancy for the William Hill Trophy, is only a reserve for the big sprint handicap at York tomorrow, writes TATTENHAM. The William Haggas-trained three-year-old missed the cut by one as a maximum field of 20 was declared at yesterday's
Donny Birch is calling it a day after 30 years behind the wheel - but he will be keeping on the move. Over the past three decades he has covered more than three million kilometres as a delivery driver for Masham-based animal feed manufacturer I'Ansons
A SHIPPING company is to become the first full-time tenant at a recently-opened container terminal in Teesport. Containerships has agreed a five-year contract with PD Teesport, the company that operates the docks, to become the first resident shipping
A PAIR of red kite chicks spread their wings yesterday as they prepared to become the first red kites in the North-East skies for more than 150 years. The fledgling birds of prey, delivered to an undisclosed area, will soon soar over the semi-urban environment
An unusual exhibition of portraits is on display in the corridors of The James Cook University Hospital. First year BA photography students from Cleveland College of Art and Design have put together a selection for their display called What Am I Doing
YOUNG people attending a Ferryhill drop-in centre have been brushing up on their artistic skills. The latest project for the 11 to 18-year-olds who visit the e.caf in the town is a mural on an animal theme for the entrance corridor. The development of
The North-East's only surviving pleasure pier became an open air art gallery. The display features large-scale photographic panoramas of Britain's 54 remaining pleasure piers by Salford University lecturer Lawrence George Giles. The photographic artist
Richmond hosted their 26th pro-am, good weather conditions and a full field of competitors made for an excellent day. This year's event was organised by Martin Catt, who worked hard to gain new sponsors, but also working with existing sponsors he and
A CHRISTIAN rock/rap band from Newton Aycliffe have released their first album. The Grade, from the Christian Life Centre (CLC) in Woodham village, have called their album Evidence. The band are finalists in this year's TalentSTAR contest, which aims
A BAT that narrowly escaped being eaten by a cat is now earning its keep educating people. On Wednesday evening, Norman, a Common pipistrelle, was the main attraction at a bat walk at Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Norman damaged
CAMPAIGNERS working to protect the surroundings of scheduled ancient monuments from further quarrying near Bedale hope to spread their influence across the country. Local group the Friends of Thornborough is already opposing plans by Tarmac Northern,
There's already several cricketers staking a claim as 'Local Heroes'. Last week I mentioned the guys who had scored six sixes in one over and now I read about young Casey Shogren and his stunning bowling performances for Durham! Casey finished his second
BOLTBY endurance rider Tracy Thompson went well at the Griffin Nuumed Golden Horseshoe ride, held over the challenging terrain of Exmoor and one of the toughest competitions in the sport. Tracy has competed several times at the renowned event and this
FOR most people, a trip to a the Greek islands means lapping up the sun, taking it easy and recharging the batteries. For Paul Sturdy, of Great Ayton, a seven-day visit to Naxos and its neighbouring islands will be anything but. Every day, in temperatures
A campaign to remember a forgotten hero of the Second World War is launched today by The Northern Echo. Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski was 27 when he took off on his final fatal mission from RAF Middleton St George, near Darlington, on June 12, 1944. He
THE high cost of buying private properties in Darlington has ruled it out of a joint Tees Valley renewal project. Instead of supporting Darlington in a bid for £1.3m, three authorities divided the money between them for their own schemes. On Tuesday,
A RUGBY star has been suspended after failing a drugs test. York City Knights winger Alex Godfrey tested positive for an element of a banned substance - Benzoylecgonine. The Rugby Football League confirmed that a two-year ban had been imposed by the RFL's
It was on word-of-mouth and the promise of great things that I was lured out to the Friar's Head restaurant and pub. Despite enthusiastic encouragement from fans of the place, a minor hitch was encountered early on when none of them was able to give anything
His reputation may new somewhat battered but, for generations, Scott of the Antarctic was an inspiration, an example of courage and leadership. Now, our greatest living explorer is trying to make him a national hero again. Nick Morrison reports. SIR Ranulph
THE Northern Echo is to publish a comprehensive business diary highlighting meetings, seminars, and events taking place in the region. The diary will feature in the award-winning Business Echo supplement, which is published fortnightly on Tuesdays, and
MPs have demanded that business advice schemes are scrapped to end companies' confusion. A highly-critical report by the Commons' trade and industry select committee said there were 240 support organisations for firms in the North-East. It said the enormous
Shildon Cricket Club had reason to celebrate after beating Crook Town CC in the Horner Cup as it was their first win in three seasons. Crook were very much the favourites for the cup tie played at Shildon's ground and they made a good start by scoring
North Bitchburn CC stalwart Graham Dunn hit 104 not out against Plawsworth CC and 44-year-old Graham was not sure whether it was his seventh or eighth hundred for the little village team. Graham said: "I'm not sure how many hundreds I have hit for North
Michael Rhodes of Durham clinched a win in the decider against John McCallum of Ashington at Durham Snooker Club with a classy 132 clearance in the final frame to hold on to his top place in the league table. The opening stages of the first frame were
Chris Webber tells the story of Andrew Mynarski's last act of courage that earned him the Victoria Cross. STANDING by the escape hatch of a plummeting plane, his body in flames, Andrew Mynarski turned to his comrade he had given his life to save. Straight-backed
Durham and Cleveland Boys Northern Cup: There were mixed reviews for the Durham and Cleveland boys squash teams that took part in the end of season Northern Cup held in Liverpool and Manchester. With the championship winning under-19s team losing two
There will be another short trip in the UniBond Premier Division in the new season for the North-East's five UniBond League clubs after Ossett Town were promoted to the Premier Division. Telford's demise in the Conference meant that Ashton United were
A LOCAL councillor has levelled criticism at a central police call centre after she was unable to get a response when faced with a volatile constituent. The centre, at Bishop Auckland, covers the south of the county and was set up in March as part of
Newton Aycliffe Sports Club Under-9s and Under-10s competed in the Northwest-of-England Trophy over the Bank Holiday weekend and finished winners in both age groups. The Under-9s, who won the title at Blackpool last year as Under-8s and a year later topped
THE Northern Echo's campaign to mark the graves of the men and boys who died in the region's worst mining disaster has reached the other side of the world. New Zealand woman Frances Simpson's great grandmother lost her husband and two sons in the 1909
WILDLIFE enthusiasts say development officials have signed the death warrant on a bird sanctuary near Catterick Garrison after a planning appeal failed. Neil and Juliana Fowler, who set up the Scotton Owl and Raptor Rehabilitation centre in their garden
A good week for Brooks Mileson, the former English cross country champion - not quite four minute Mileson - who now controls Gretna FC. He has announced plans for a redeveloped 6,000 seat stadium to see the club into the Scottish Premier League, sold
TWO science teachers from the Wensleydale School in Leyburn were up early on Tuesday morning to catch a glimpse of a very elusive lady. For the planet Venus coyly hid behind clouds thwarting their attempts to photograph her. As the Wensleydale students
A SMALL Stockton business has secured funding to help it develop new technology which could revolutionise the rigging of world-class racing yachts. Colt Systems of Stockton, where a replica of Captain James Cook's ship, Endeavour, is moored, has found
Bedale & West of Yore PC. - July 22: ODE at Newfield, Mickley, PC and open classes, sae to secretary Mrs F Blaine, 7 Stoneybrough Lane, Thirsk YO7 2LS. British Eventing. - July 25: regional training day at Helen Bell's, Thirsk, to include show jumping
VOLUNTEERS put the finishing touches to a charity's new home yesterday. Northumbrian Water workers gave a make-over to the Heart House Studios, Front Street, Lanchester, County Durham. The building, a former bookmakers, will be a showcase for charity
A NORTH-EAST music venue closed last night after experiencing financial problems a year after it was saved in a six-figure deal. Newcastle Opera House was bought by the Adderstone Group in May last year. Last night, however, it was announced the venue
Downing Street last night promised a careful assessment of all-postal ballots amid allegations of widespread vote-rigging and chaos in yesterday's European and local council elections. While Leader of the Commons Peter Hain played down claims of voting
ASKHAM Bryan College, in Guisborough, is holding an open day on July 1. The centre will be selling plants to raise awareness of horticultural courses and there will be tours of the centre's grounds, workshops and new IT room. The event will run from 10am
PEOPLE affected by adoption are being invited to discover more about their family history at a drop-in session that has started in Darlington. The DFW Adoption group meets at Pease House, Horsemarket, on the last Wednesday of every month, from 1pm to
Film fans can take part in a free film-making course that involves being trained by top industry professionals at the University of Teesside. The Northern Shorts films will be screened at a preview evening at the university's Innovation and Virtual Reality
SCORES of families are eating much more healthily in two villages since a scheme was launched to supply them with weekly packs of fruit, vegetables and salads. The fresh produce is sold for £2 a bag through a community co-operative project at Cockfield
RESIDENTS are being encouraged to investigate Darlington's military links. Darlington Centre for Local Studies, at Crown Street Library, is running events in conjunction with Local Studies Month and the BBC's People War project. The initiative begins
A 24-YEAR-OLD man who pleaded guilty to his third drink driving offence in the past five years escaped a jail sentence yesterday. Alexander Airey, of Aberdeen Road, Darlington, was almost two-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit when police officers
THREE people were taken to hospital after a crash on the A173 between Skelton and Guisborough. A Citroen Berlingo van and a Vauxhall Vectra car collided at Skelton Ellers at about 6.35pm on Wednesday. The van caught fire after fuel was spilt and was destroyed
POLICE have vowed to act to prevent a repeat of unruly and drunken behaviour by scores of Richmond Meet revellers. Drinkers spilled from the Turf Hotel onto Victoria Road and the King Street roundabout from teatime on bank holiday Monday, showering the
CAMPAIGNERS are appealing to health bosses to save their community hospital. Homelands Community Hospital, in Crook, is earmarked for closure as part of a modernisation of care services for the elderly and infirm in South Durham. Services have already
YOUNG people attending a Ferryhill drop-in centre have been brushing up on their artistic skills. The latest project for the 11 to 18-year-olds who visit the e.caf in the town is a mural on an animal theme for the entrance corridor. The development of
LIBRARY facilities are thriving in County Durham, contrary to a national report warning of the potential demise of the service. County councillors have questioned the validity of the report findings, which suggest public libraries may disappear unless
A COMMUNITY will stage a week of fun events to celebrate its diverse cultures. The events start on Monday and highlights include an International Family Day, to be held in Mowbray Park and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, from 10am to 4pm, on Friday
YOUNG anglers are being warned to be more careful with their lines amid fears that swans in a County Durham park could be strangled. Berwick Swan and Wildlife Trust volunteer Linda Charlton believes it is only a matter of time before one of the birds
CHILDREN yesterday took part in a passing out parade at Peterlee Community Fire Station after completing a 12-week course. The team of 12 and 13-year-olds from Shotton Hall and St Bede's Comprehensive Schools had taken a Firebreak Course run by County
A YEAR after an assessment team was set up in the county, people are reaping the benefits. The county's social services set up the unit to provide advice and support to people claiming benefit and information for those who were unaware of their entitlements
WHEN Brenda finally left her husband after three years of physical abuse she had nowhere to go. The 56-year-old had been arrested and charged by police with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after she cut her partner with a knife. He
BOB Bellerby from Harrogate retained his Harewood Speed Hillclimb Championship lead in last Sunday's Jim Thomson Trophy meeting despite an off in practice at the final corner, Quarry. The excursion wrecked the car's radiator and caused the cam belt to
Active Health Walks in and around Redcar are being organised by the council's sports development health promotion scheme. This month, the Tuesday morning hour-long walks all start at 10.30am, meeting at Kirkleatham Museum car park next week, the Mungle
A CAMPAIGN to get people in the North-East off their sofas and into sport will be launched today. The region will pilot Sport England's Everyday Sport scheme, which aims to combat rising levels of obesity and the economic burden it places on health services
SCORES of families are eating much more healthily in two villages since a scheme was launched to supply them with weekly packs of fruit, vegetables and salads. The fresh produce is sold for £2 a bag through a community co-operative project at Cockfield
A JUNIOR five-a-side football competition will be held in Sedgefield borough at the end of the month. The competition will be held in Sedgefield Borough Council's four leisure centres, at Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor, Ferryhill and Shildon Sunnydale, on
An unusual exhibition of portraits is on display in the corridors of The James Cook University Hospital. First year BA photography students from Cleveland College of Art and Design have put together a selection for their display called What Am I Doing
THREE people had a lucky escape after a silo exploded into flames next to their holiday cottage on Monday. John and Gaynor Edwards, from Kingswinford in the West Midlands, and John's father Jesse, were staying at a holiday cottage at Deepdale Farm, Hummersea
MORE than 60 representatives of organisations from South Bank to Loftus attended an event to honour volunteers in the area. The annual awards ceremony, which acknowledged the tremendous contribution by volunteers of all ages throughout east Cleveland,
A COUNCIL has rejected claims that it is deserting some of its most deprived areas. Labour ward councillors have accused Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's ruling coalition of abandoning Grangetown, South Bank and Teesville in its allocation of capital
IT'S one of the town's great treasures. Visitors love it - possibly more than the locals do. Darlington market is 140 years old. It's just been named as one of the top markets in Britain by The Independent, which loved its buzz as well as its fine Victorian
THERE were 127 entries in the Melmerby and Middleton Quernhow Village Hall committee's family run held on May 30 and 296 runners in the 20th Melmerby 10K road race, part of the Black Sheep Brewery series. Weather conditions may have been ideal for the
On a night when a number of matches were postponed due to Yorkshire League commitments, there was little movement between the top teams with the exception of the third division. Second placed Wynyard seized the opportunity of a home fixture against divisional
THE owners of a birds of prey sanctuary said some will have to be put down after they lost a planning appeal. Neil and Juliana Fowler, who run Scotton Owl and Raptor Rehabilitation at their home in Scotton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, applied for
NICOLA Tweddle, the Morton on Swale-based rider who has competed at the highest four star level, went well at the UAE Windsor three-day event recently. The two star event is a proving ground for up and coming three-day event horses and the North Yorkshire
CARNIVAL organisers and war veterans are considering the future of their events because officials said they must pay for road closures. New safety advice issued to carnivals, fairs and street parades means they are having to pay a professional traffic
EXTRA police patrols will be on the region's streets on Sunday ready to crack down on any outbreaks of football-related hooliganism. Pubs across the region are expected to be packed with fans watching England's eagerly-awaited Euro 2004 game with France
STUDENTS with their sights set on a career in the horse industry now have a first class, purpose built equestrian centre in Yorkshire. The £700,000 rural centre at Askham Bryan College, near York, will give the college the opportunity to upgrade its courses
Harlow kept their top of the shop place in Division One with a 6-3 win over Spa while former leaders Thirsk slipped to third place after being held to a draw against Harrogate Academy. Harlow now lead the table on ten points from six matches, current
D-DAY commemorations and the recent debate on the re-branding of Teesside Airport bring sharply into focus the freedoms we enjoy thanks to the sacrifices of others. Today, we argue freely about the best name to entice foreigners to fly into this corner
JG Taxis League: Ushaw Moor Catholic Club dropped their first point in the overall table when they went down by the odd point at dominoes to the visiting Willington Cottles. The home side moved two up with wins from Ken Ryans and Alan Kelly but Paul Trow
MAY is often one of the most exciting months in the birdwatcher's calendar, but a combination of westerly winds and glorious weather meant this was not a year to remember. Nevertheless, there were some sightings of interest as summer migrants continued
Loftus are champions of division one after securing their 15th victory in 17 outings and with just one game to play they are 68 points ahead of Dormans. The latest victory came at Brotton where they had no fewer than 226 runs in hand after dismissing
Ilkley Centenary Junior Team championship: First played in 1990, this competition is played to cover junior golfers in three handicap ranges to reflect junior golfers' abilities. Masham golf club was the venue this year and players were not blessed with
The league has drawn to a close with the Chester dominating the league and cup competitions. In their final season in the league Chester, as in the last few seasons, set the standard for everyone to try and match with only one league defeat all season
The world's first lifeboat was built in South Shields in the 18th century, and the South Shields GC team were in need of one as Woodhams Mens Scratch Team swamped them 12-2 in their North Durham Golf Union League Match on Tuesday. Watched by representatives
SHARP-EYED female neighbours came to the rescue when a homeowner was burgled, a court was told yesterday. The women told police that they recognised suspects who were lurking around the house in Northbourne Road, Stockton, and then helped to pick them
UNION chiefs in the region will hold emergency talks today over plans for firefighters to ballot for industrial action. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) announced it will recommend possible strike action after it claimed councillors had failed to honour
Staff From Hell (ITV1) SWEETHEARTING, blocking and dipping sound like instructions from a sex manual but turn out to be terms describing the methods used by shop checkout staff to steal from their employers. Businesses face a crime epidemic. "Twenty-five
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating the announcement of safety improvements on a dangerous stretch of the A171 between Teesside and Whitby. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council cabinet approved the £160,000 scheme at a meeting on Tuesday. The main moors road
THE Unicorn Centre at Hemlington is offering free places on summer courses for young people who are interested in horses. The centre is a member of the Riding for the Disabled Association and provides riding and therapy for the disabled as well as training
PUPILS at a Guisborough school will enjoy a taste of Indian life next week. Park Lane Infant School is celebrating an arts week through music, dance, drama, art, story and food to introduce youngsters to life and culture in India. Visitors with various
A QUICK straw poll in the pub the other night thankfully revealed that I am not alone in feeling intensely irritated by all the flags flying from car windows at the moment. At first I thought it was something to do with D-day, but then I realised it is
TRAIL-BLAZING Tommy Smith (4.25) is going to take some pegging back in the £14,000 five furlong Blacks People For Property Handicap at York. It was noticeable that jockey Darren Williams experienced difficulty in pulling up Tommy Smith on Monday evening
THE British have never really taken to cycling. Tommy Simpson was something of a sporting icon before collapsing on the top of Mont Ventoux and, for a while in the 1980s, thousands were willing to line the route of the Milk Race as it wound its way around
HOMEOWNERS were hit by another rise in the cost of borrowing yesterday after the Bank of England imposed the first consecutive interest rate rise for four years. The bank's monetary policy committee (MPC), under pressure to impose a rise to cool the booming
A TEAM of breakdancers from Laurence Jackson School will entertain the crowds at Sunday's Guisborough Town Fair. The dancers will present their display in the performance arena on the front lawns of Gisborough Hall Hotel. Event organiser Peter Sotheran
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture OLD crop wheat prices have recovered a little, to £80. There has been no fundamental change in the balance sheet, just a bit of export and stronger French markets. New crop values have continued to drift lower. Oilseed
Hopetown created the big shock in the First Round of the Team Knockout Cup when they visited Bishop Auckland Golf Club, the reigning league champions, and won by 50 points. The Golf Club had wins from Kevin Mordica, who beat Peter Mellor, and Paul Weighill
ANOTHER Darlington Mowden Park player is on the first rung of the ladder towards winning selection to play rugby for England. Seventeen-year-old Ashleigh Wright has been selected for the under-18 RFUW England Performance Camp at Loughborough University
Rhys Bingham was a stranger to the world of American football when he enrolled at the University of Teesside but since joining he's become part of the national youth squad. Rhys, 18, from Leicester, is a first year student on the BSc (Hons) Disaster Management
THERE is a green hill ... not very far away. But the area around the Lady Chapel of Mount Grace is visited by people near and far. Pilgrims have visited in their thousands and hikers quite often divert from the nearby Cleveland Way to spend a quiet time
