YOUNGER people influenced by television programmes have helped boost profits at The Grainger Trust. The property investor, which is based in the North-East, saw profits before tax rise by 57 per cent in the last six months, it reported last night. Grainger
A BUSINESS complex in Darlington is home to an important message board encouraging people to improve their life skills. A Get On North-East roadshow stand has been sited in the reception area at Lingfield House, in Lingfield Point. It will be on display
TWO North-East families have criticised a budget airline that cancelled their holiday flight home and offered them another one four days later. Bmibaby withdrew the flight from Malaga to Newcastle on Sunday, June 6, after mechanical problems. The airline
FANCY a bit of peace and quiet? Then maybe you should head for New York. It's "the city that never sleeps" and they've had enough. Clearly desperate for a decent night's kip, the mayor, Michael Bloomberg is waging war on noise. Barking dogs, car alarms
A FORMER north Durham residential home, once suggested as a hostel for asylum seekers, could re-open. Hustledown House, in Wear Road, Stanley, has been vacant for six years and residents claim it is an eyesore and attracting anti-social behaviour. It
FIRE chiefs have developed a model house to teach children how to escape from a burning building. Community fire safety bosses at Cleveland Fire Brigade built the model, which is the size of a doll's house, as part of an interactive science project. It
The friends and family of a young university graduate spoke of their shock at his arrest in Portugal over soccer-related violence. John Jackson, 22, of Throckley, Newcastle, had attended Euro 2004 with friends and has no prior violence convictions. His
YOUNGER people influenced by television programmes have helped boost profits at The Grainger Trust. The property investor, which is based in the North-East, saw profits before tax rise by 57 per cent in the last six months, it reported last night. Grainger
A FATHER-of-one who went on a drunken rampage in a stolen car before crashing into the wall of a house has been jailed. Keith O'Donnell was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit when he took the Ford Fiesta and drove at speeds of 65mph through Middlesbrough
OPPONENTS on both sides of the speed camera debate last night clashed over a report that indicates they have saved more than 100 lives a year. The number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites nationwide fell by an average of 40 per cent
FORMER Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds last night vowed to clear his name following his arrest on suspicion of money laundering. Mr Reynolds, who had £500,000 cash in his car when it was stopped in a police operation, said: "They can
Former Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds today lost a legal bid to force police to hand over £500,000 seized when he was arrested on suspicion of money-laundering. The flamboyant businessman, a one-time safe-cracker who went on to build
MANUFACTURER Domnick Hunter has created about 70 jobs at its County Durham base. The first phase of a £4.5m investment programme has been completed, with the creation of 35 jobs. The second phase will result in an additional 35 posts. The investment programme
William's Women (five) Real Crime: Who Killed the Pageant Queen? The Prime Suspect (ITV1) THE tone of the documentary about Prince William's search for a suitable princess was set early on, as the saucy narrator told us that: "From the Spice Girls to
A REPORT predicts there will be 1,400 surplus places in Darlington's primary schools within eight years. That is equivalent to three medium-sized schools and raises serious questions about the future of primary education in the town. The report recommends
The city that never sleeps may soon be nodding off with the introduction of new noise restrictions, but maybe what's left will be worse. FANCY a bit of peace and quiet? Then maybe you should head for New York. It's "the city that never sleeps" and they've
ALTHOUGH Sir Michael Stoute was on duty at Royal Ascot, it didn't stop the reigning champion trainer winning yesterday's feature race at Thirsk with Peeress. Despite being heavily backed down to 13-8 favouritism, it wasn't all plain sailing for Peeress
A GROUP dedicated to the idea of making a real difference to young people's lives are going to have more fun thanks to Gannett, The Northern Echo's parent company. The Friarage Scoutlink was set up just over a year ago to allow children of mixed abilities
The National Lottery has awarded a commemorative blue plaque in recognition of a project to boost tourism around Hadrian's Wall using a film shot from a bird's perspective. The Vindolanda Trust, which preserves a fort on the Roman Empire's northern border
A JUDGE convicted of being drunk and disorderly has had his law practice closed because of allegations of financial irregularities. David Messenger, 50, was also convicted of two counts of obstructing a police officer and criminal damage following a row
A COUNCIL is planning to invest up to £750,000 in sports facilities in an effort to improve the health of residents. Hambleton District Council will spend the money on a feasibility study at Easingwold Sports Hall, improving the dry sports facilities
A COMMUNITY is to buy equipment for its meeting place thanks to a grant from the Gannett Foundation. The Northern Echo's parent company has given £2,150 to the Jubilee Fields Centre, in Shildon, to replace sports and games equipment at the centre, which
POLICE are making sure they regularly check a village's collection of tree houses after reports they have become drinking haunts for youths. Last Friday, police patrolling in Middleton St George, near Darlington, found six teenagers drinking in one of
A £12M fund to pay for affordable housing has been set up in North Yorkshire. The affordable housing capital investment fund is a three-year programme created by the county council, the Housing Corporation and local authorities. Using money raised through
Youngsters are this week being introduced to the wonders of science. Pupils are attending Science is Great workshops and exhibitions at the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough. About 4,000 children are expected through the doors of to sample everything
AN evening of music has been organised by a Roman Catholic charity. Proms in the Park will be held in the grounds of Ushaw College, five miles west of Durham on Saturday. Music will be provided by Bede Wind Philharmonic, Gateshead soprano Ruth Lackenby
Refuse To Bend bounced back to his best to give Godolphin their sixth success in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday. Last season's 2000 Guineas winner had shown little in his two starts this year, including in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes
He was kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and blown up by a mine in Mozambique, but it seems nothing stopos Chris Moon. As his charity walk passes through the North-East yesterday, he tells Nick Morrison what's keeping him going. IT'S been - quite
FTSE-listed service company Capita has won a contract with the Royal Mint. Capita's Darlington site will take orders and inquiries for Royal Mint's specialist coins. It will be the Royal Mint's call handling partner for a series of high-profile campaigns
Research watchdogs were under pressure today not to give a team of scientists in the North-East permission to clone human embryos. A group of experts opposed to therapeutic cloning is urging the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) not
NEALE Cooper won't be swopping Hartlepool United for a return to Dunfermline. Cooper has been prominent in the thoughts of Pars' chairman John Yorkston in his search for a new manager. But the Pool boss is staying at Victoria Park, where he will be aiming
A STUDENT was expecting to sleep well last night after completing a supreme test of endurance. Rower Giles Tibbitts paid the price for suggesting fellow members of St Chad's Boat Club should stage an end-of- term challenge to raise funds for the Sir Steve
MOTHER-TO-BE Jennifer Webb gave birth to a bouncing baby girl - with a little help from TV hospital drama Holby City. She panicked when she realised she was going into labour but quick-thinking neighbours, alerted by her screams, sprang into action. Luckily
FAMILIES who have given their savings to a North-East father and son have told of their heartache. Gary Upson and his son, Ryan, are being investigated by Durham Police's fraud squad after disappearing from their horse wagon business in Banks Road, Darlington
FORMER Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds last night vowed to clear his name following his arrest on suspicion of money laundering. Mr Reynolds, who had £500,000 cash in his car when it was stopped in a police operation, said: "They can
RAFAEL Benitez was today confirmed as the new manager of Liverpool. The former Valencia coach succeeds Gerard Houllier, who was sacked by the Anfield board last month. Last season Benitez guided Valencia to the Primera Liga title and the Uefa Cup. A number
A GROUP of British Olympic greats yesterday helped launch a plan for the development of sport in the North-East. Ex-hurdlers Colin Jackson, Sally Gunnell and Kriss Akabusi, former decathlete Daley Thompson, sprinter John Regis and ex-middle distance star
THE arrival of North Eastern Railway 0-8-0 steam locomotive no 901 was a low key affair. Strapped to the back of a low-loader lorry, the black loco was delivered to its new County Durham home on Tuesday evening. Even as it moved slowly towards Locomotion
THERE are some men who are good at chatting up women. They have the charm, the good looks and, most importantly, the confidence to go up to the object of their desire and strike up a conversation with them. Then there are most men - at least, according
A REPORT into a fire on a passenger plane has highlighted concerns over the condition of wiring on some aircraft. The report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) was into a fire on a Boeing 737 being prepared for a flight from Newcastle airport
The city that never sleeps may soon be nodding off with the introduction of new noise restrictions, but maybe what's left will be worse. FANCY a bit of peace and quiet? Then maybe you should head for New York. It's "the city that never sleeps" and they've
A NORTH-East MP has vowed to fight to scrap a law that allows wife-killers to be acquitted of murder because they were nagged. Vera Baird, Labour MP for Redcar, said she would introduce an amendment to the Domestic Violence Bill to remove the defence
FOUR people were injured when part of a North-East shopping centre roof collapsed. Shoppers visiting the Middleton Grange centre in Hartlepool ran for cover when ceiling tiles and sections of a recently-fitted sprinkler system crashed to the ground under
A CELEBRITY golf match hosted by rugby star Tony Underwood has raised £984 for sick and under-privileged children. Simon Robinson, director of the Headlam Hall golf course near Gainford, where the event was held, presented a cheque to Tracey Butler and
A GROUP formed in Sedgefield village has promised to take action if steps are not taken to close a country lane to traffic. Defend Our Village Environment (Sedgefield) is a group of residents concerned about long-standing problems in Old Beacon Lane.
Sir Clive Woodward came out fighting and declared that England will be back to their World Cup-winning form by the end of this year. Woodward's world champions face a daunting task in the second Test against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday. Woodward
SEADOG Ben the Labrador got a bit out of his depth during a game of fetch - and had to be rescued by lifeboatmen. Worried Martin and Muriel Wheeler, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, called to their pet for 40 minutes as he nudged the ball further
THE home city of Second World War hero Andrew Mynarski has thrown its weight behind The Northern Echo's campaign to have a statue erected in his honour. The 27-year-old airman, from Winnipeg, Canada, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for trying
POLITICS: WE are teetering upon a brink of a precipice and, unless we pull back at the last moment, stand to lose everything we hold most dear: our British way of life, based on traditional family values and embodied physically in our ancient countryside
A GROUP of campaigners dubbed the "mums' army" has been praised for getting a much-needed youth club up and running for youngsters in a village. Young people in Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, had complained that there were no youth facilities in the community
CAMPAIGNERS fighting proposals to move a public bench have promised to battle on, after suffering an embarrassing setback. Protestors called a public meeting with councillors to argue their case, but lost a vote on the issue when none of their supporters
A microphone system, loudspeakers and induction loop, has been installed in a council chamber. The equipment aims to improve the acoustics in Richmondshire District Council Chamber and public gallery. The system is portable and the council is planning
William's Women (five) Real Crime: Who Killed the Pageant Queen? The Prime Suspect (ITV1) THE tone of the documentary about Prince William's search for a suitable princess was set early on, as the saucy narrator told us that: "From the Spice Girls to
HEALTH professionals and business leaders across Redcar and Cleveland have been given an in-depth briefing on the changing face of the council's social services department. The authority's director of health and social care, Maurice Bates, told an audience
BUSINESS in the North-East was given a boost last night when bmi announced it is to increase its daily flights between London and Teesside. The extra flight will raise capacity by 37 per cent and take the number of flights between the airports to four
David Beckham rallied England by insisting that his belief in the team had not wavered despite their defeat to France - and urged them to show their reserves of character against Switzerland. Beckham insisted before last Sunday's game that England were
Sunderland target Liam Lawrence is in no rush to finalise where he will be playing his football next season. The Mansfield winger yesterday rejected the chance of a move to Crewe, having set his sights far higher. Lawrence is believed to be waiting for
The city that never sleeps may soon be nodding off with the introduction of new noise restrictions, but maybe what's left will be worse. FANCY a bit of peace and quiet? Then maybe you should head for New York. It's "the city that never sleeps" and they've
TIM EASTERBY generally gets on the scoresheet at Royal Ascot and this year one of his strongest challengers is Flighty Fellow (4.20), who lines up in the 32-runner cavalry charge for the £100,000 Hunt Cup. Stopwatch pundits in particular will be acutely
THE lure of bacon butties and home-made soup has prompted pilots to name a tiny North-East airfield as the best in the country. Flyer Magazine ran a competition in which pilots were asked to nominate the airfield they most liked to visit. And the warm
WHETHER England flop or triumph, Euro 2004, the football tournament that now has the nation in its thrall, is grimly expected to expand Britain's already grossly-distended waistline. Supermarkets, who know their trade, have stacked their shelves with
