Archive

  • Festival's expansion promises best ever

    A NORTH-EAST flower show will be bigger than ever this summer. The 15th annual Gateshead Summer Flower show will feature 300,000sq ft of marquee, providing cover for most of the show, making it the largest event of its kind in the region. Last year, the

  • Radar equipment reinforces police efforts to curb speeds

    A CAMPAIGN to reduce the number of people injured in road accidents has been bolstered by the delivery of speed monitoring equipment. North Yorkshire Police now has three portable radar speed monitors. They will be used at a variety of road-side locations

  • Eating Owt: Where the grass is greener

    The Green at Billy Row, near Crook, lives up to its glowing reputation, leaving the column bowled over. THE last time we were in Billy Row - and only heaven and Mr David Simpson may know who Billy was - was for the closing service of the Methodist church

  • House prices still on the rise

    House prices rose by 1.2 per cent during May as growth continued to be driven by properties at the bottom end of the market, figures have shown. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said the average home in the UK cost £170,719, 12.2 per cent more

  • Elderly attacker is hunted

    AN elderly man is being hunted by police after he dragged a woman into his car and attacked her. The 22-year-old victim was walking home alone at about 11.15pm on Saturday after an argument with her husband when she was assaulted. Police said she had

  • Summer recruit Ross forced out of tour

    NEW boy Jack Ross was last night left behind as his new Hartlepool United teammates headed for Holland. Pool set sail from North Shields for a five-day stint in the Netherlands, where they will kick-off their pre-season campaign with games against Top

  • Jarvis sends only one for Beverley raid

    BACKERS at Beverley should take note of the fact that top Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis sends just one runner, Kibryaa (3.15), to the track this afternoon. Kibryaa, a superbly bred son of Silver Hawk, gave notice that his turn was imminent when splitting

  • Soldier raped pregnant mum-of-two - claim

    A PREGNANT mother-of-two was dragged from the street and raped by a Fijian soldier who threatened to kill her after she left a North-East nightclub, a trial jury was told yesterday. The 23-year-old Darlington woman was five months pregnant when she was

  • Agency backs station site revamp plan

    THE battle to transform an old railway station into a valuable community resource has taken a major step forward. The scheme to turn the Richmond Station site into a multi-purpose business and community centre, including a cinema, has been given the seal

  • Coalition formed to oppose elected regional assembly

    SOME of the North-East's most influential business leaders have launched a campaign to derail plans to establish an elected regional assembly. Sir Tom Cowie and Barclays Bank vice-chairman Sir Richard Pease have joined a powerful coalition of entrepreneurs

  • Show's declaration - farming is back

    THE biggest event in the North's agricultural calendar opens today with a sense of optimism running through the industry. The three-day Great Yorkshire Show begins in Harrogate this morning having already broken a number of records, from livestock entries

  • Staff and shoppers stunned at closure

    Marks & Spencer workers found themselves locked out of their store yesterday as management admitted a costly blunder. The £40m Lifestore at Gateshead's MetroCentre, heralded as "exciting and groundbreaking" when it opened on February 25 is to close

  • MP takes on national football team

    A North-East MP took on England Women's Football team today in her role as striker for the Parliament Women's Football Team. Vera Baird, MP for Redcar, took part in the exhibition match, which got into action at Archbishops Park, near St Thomas's Hospital

  • Storytelling festival

    The art of storytelling is as old as the trees and now an exciting summer festival is going to celebrate the ancient link between stories and woodland. Tales From the Tees is a new free regional festival which will allow storytellers to spin their amazing

  • Quakers off to steady start with Whitby win

    TWO second half goals ensured Darlington's pre-season preparations got off to a winning start at Whitby Town last night. Goals from former York City striker Aaron Wilford and Quakers youngster Dale Mendum ensured a 2-1 victory at the Turnbull Ground.

  • Police action 'heavy-handed'

    POLICE have been branded heavy-handed for stopping brass bands playing as they left Saturday's Durham Miners' Gala. National Union of Mineworkers officials and a council leader will raise complaints with senior officers. The 120th Gala attracted thousands

  • Union 'in the dark' over where axe will fall

    UNION officials last night said they were in the dark over the number of jobs likely to go in the North-East following Gordon Brown's announcement of huge Civil Service cutbacks. Brian Morrison, a regional secretary with the public sector PCS union, which

  • Flying blind to rewrite records

    THE first blind person to attempt to fly a plane around the UK landed safely in the North-East on the first leg of his flight yesterday. Steve Cunningham, 41, who landed at Newcastle Airport after setting off from Biggin Hill airport, in Kent, on the

  • Offshore off-licence owner may take his case to court

    ATTEMPTS to close an offshore off-licence are poised to go before the courts. Entrepreneur Philip Berriman is considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights after Customs and Excise officials seized his yacht and cut-price stock of

  • Opening date for swimming pool to be revealed

    THE long-awaited opening date for a town's new swimming pool will be revealed today. People in Stanley have been waiting eight years for new leisure facilities, after the Burns pool closed in 1996. The £5.7m pool and gym at the Louisa Centre, in Front

  • Garden dedicated to school's 'loved and lost'

    PEOPLE who have touched the lives of staff and students at a rural school will be remembered through a special garden named after a popular sixth former who inspired the project. In a poignant service at Wolsingham School and Community College yesterday

  • Woman tried to cheat pensioner of £50

    A WOMAN who posed as a benefits rights worker to try to steal cash from a pensioner appeared before magistrates yesterday. Ann Varey, 41, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain £50 by deception at South Durham Magistrates' Court in

  • Warden gain power to deliver on the spot fines

    A TEAM of street wardens has got new powers to crack down on people who blight the neighbourhoods they patrol. The Wear Valley Street Wardens are now authorised to issue on the spot fines to litter louts, irresponsible dog owners and fly tippers. For

  • Secret gardens

    Women supporters of Guisborough Parish Church, are inviting people to enjoy refreshment as they wander around their gardens in Danesfort Avenue, on Saturday, between 1.30pm and 4.30pm. It will cost £3 to visit a total of four gardens with refreshments

  • Where the grass is greener

    The Green at Billy Row, near Crook, lives up to its glowing reputation, leaving the column bowled over. THE last time we were in Billy Row - and only heaven and Mr David Simpson may know who Billy was - was for the closing service of the Methodist church

  • Renaissance plan debated

    A RENAISSANCE team could bring a district more than £10m of investment if it is set up, council officials have said. The Ryedale team - of a renaissance manager, two market town development officers and a technical support officer - would cost £150,000

  • Men appear in court on charges

    TWO men appeared in court yesterday over a double stabbing. Gavin Calvert, 23, of Newland Court, South Shields, South Tyneside, was charged with two counts of Section 18 wounding, aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, criminal

  • Students design poster to encourage recycling

    A TEAM of students has come up with a winning design to encourage young people to recycle their rubbish. The first year National Diploma graphics students at Darlington College of Technology used the art of graffiti in designing their litter poster. Featuring

  • Bogus caller tried to con pensioner out of money

    A WOMAN who posed as a benefits rights worker to try to steal cash from a pensioner appeared before magistrates yesterday. Ann Varey, 41, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain £50 by deception at South Durham Magistrates' Court in

  • Anti-crime group concerned over incidents on riverbank

    ANTI-CRIME campaigners have expressed concern at a rise in violent incidents along riverbanks in the Darlington area. They are also worried about the dangers presented by young children visiting the Tees without responsible adults to look after them.

  • Badminton club boost

    A BADMINTON club in Hartlepool is celebrating after receiving £2,560 from the Awards For All Lottery fund. Set up two years ago, Brierton Community Sports Centre Badminton Club has about 60 members and is run by qualified coaches Tony Evans and his wife

  • Students to help out in Cambodia

    Two students are preparing to spend part of their summer holiday caring for poor and sick children from the worst slums in Cambodia. Esther Bainbridge and Naomi Sumner, both aged 20, will set off from Barnard Castle, Co Durham, next month to work hard

  • Small areas to get fair share of rural renaissance money

    WORK is under way on a programme to breathe new life into small communities. The County Durham Urban and Rural Renaissance Initiative was launched last year to invest about £20m on improving the physical environment of several urban centres. It is aimed

  • Warning as waste site staff threatened

    WASTE company bosses yesterday warned they were prepared to prosecute anyone who abused their sites or staff across North Yorkshire. Northallerton-based Yorwaste said it would take to court anyone found committing a crime at its facilities, including

  • Campaigner seeks support for scheme to help addicts

    A WOMAN is appealing to a community to help save its young people from drug addiction. Anti-drugs campaigner Tina Williams wants volunteers, business people and professionals, with knowledge of money markets, to help her launch an apprenticeship scheme

  • A revolution in shopping that was just too radical

    IT was billed as a revolution in the home shopping market, but was Marks & Spencer's Lifestore simply too revolutionary? No-one who has visited the Gateshead store recently will be surprised to learn of its demise. Even at weekends, the car park has

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Care assistant, Chester-le-Street. £4.50 to £4.60ph, 20hrs pw, 3-4 days, from between 7.30am and 10pm. Care experience preferred but not essential as training provided. Ref: CHM 17233. Senior care assistant, Chester-le-Street. £5ph, 20hrs pw, 5 days out

  • North could be fit for Twenty20 crunch

    THERE was mixed news for Durham on the fitness front yesterday, with Marcus North and Liam Plunkett making progress while Paul Collingwood had a scan on his swollen knee. North's groin will be tested this afternoon in the hope that he can return in tonight's

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Will this be a winning hand?

    UNDERSTANDABLY, there is a degree of suspicion over the Chancellor's forecasts in his spending review. Gordon Brown is painting a rosy picture for the future. He is assuming the economy will remain on track, unemployment will remain low and that there

  • Judo expert jailed for assaults

    A JUDO expert's career was in ruins last night after he was jailed for an attack on two men in a town centre. Club doorman Martin Wilby, 27, was to represent England next week in the jujitsu world championships in Brazil. Wilby, who gave himself up to

  • Permira still stalking

    The venture capital group targeting retailer WH Smith confirmed it was considering a second bid for the troubled high street retailer. Permira's renewed interest comes a month after it suspended talks with WH Smith because the potential £940m offer would

  • Fight for 20,000 jobs exported from south

    THE fight was on last night for the North-East and North Yorkshire to win a share of 20,000 Civil Service jobs which Gordon Brown confirmed were moving out of London. The Chancellor announced that government departments had identified a total of 20,030

  • Children's safety plea

    A HARD-HITTING advertising campaign urging parents to make sure their children are properly restrained in cars will be launched this month. North Yorkshire Police and the county council's road safety team have put together a radio advert to drive home

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Technical sales administrator, £13,000pa, 37hrs pw. Must have a good knowledge of Microsoft Office, experience essential. Ref: SPE 13065. Manager/ess, £5 to £8ph, 45hrs pw. Must have managerial experience and qualification in hairdressing. Ref: SPE 13100

  • TV review

    Waking The Dead (BBC1) Young Doctors (ITV1) THE team investigating unsolved crimes in Waking The Dead need to turn their attention to star Trevor Eve's glasses. First they're on. Then they're off. Then on again. Then off again - you get the picture. The

  • Father calls for answers on tragic son

    THE father of a Down's Syndrome man killed in a road accident will today stage a protest against the organisation he blames for the tragedy. Richard Doyle, 26, suffered fatal injuries when he was struck by a Ford Transit on the A19 near Crathorne, North

  • Mother sobs as she tells of rape attack

    A mother of three broke down in tears as she told a court a soldier had dragged her off the street and raped her after a night out. The Darlington woman, who was five months pregnant at the time of the attack, told Teesside Crown Court she was left bruised

  • 'I just want them to admit they're wrong'

    Richard Doyle, a Down's Syndrome sufferer, was killed three-and-a-half-years ago. Today, on what would have been his 30th birthday, his father tells Sam Strangeways why he won't give up his battle to get a religious community to accept blame for Richard's

  • Jarvis sends only one for Beverley raid

    BACKERS at Beverley should take note of the fact that top Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis sends just one runner, Kibryaa (3.15), to the track this afternoon. Kibryaa, a superbly bred son of Silver Hawk, gave notice that his turn was imminent when splitting

  • Praise from head as school celebrates glowing report

    A PRIMARY school is celebrating after receiving a glowing report from Ofsted. Clavering Primary School, in Hartlepool, is said to be an effective school where children achieve well. Inspectors visited the school in May and their report praises the leadership

  • Knifeman is jailed after attack

    A KNIFEMAN who almost killed a man in a street attack was jailed for two-and-a-half years yesterday. Daniel Thoms needed four litres of blood to replace that lost when Kevin White's knife hit a vein in his neck. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Thoms

  • Villagers step up fight to retain church land

    VILLAGERS are stepping up their fight to halt a sale to the highest bidder of church-owned land, which they want to turn into a public open space. Dozens of residents packed the village hall at Killinghall, near Harrogate, to protest against the sale

  • Minister talks on measures to curb yobs

    GOVERNMENT ministers and officials have discussed yob culture with North-East residents. The Home Office held a question time session in Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland, to celebrate the city's pioneering response to anti-social behaviour. Sunderland

  • Slower growth on the high street

    Mixed weather and the Euro 2004 football tournament combined to produce slower growth in high street sales last month, figures showed last night. Total sales grew by five per cent last month compared with the previous year, against 6.5 per cent in May

  • Flagship Lifestore killed off as M&S resists takeover bid

    THE axe fell on Marks & Spencer's flagship Lifestore in Gateshead yesterday as the troubled retailer unveiled a masterplan to fend off a takeover bid by tycoon Philip Green. Lifestore, which opened in February, will close by the end of January next

  • Selby crash driver freed from prison

    THE man who caused the deaths of ten people in the Selby rail crash left prison yesterday after serving half his five-year sentence. Gary Hart, 40, left North Sea Camp open prison by a back entrance yesterday morning. Hart, of Strubby, Lincolnshire, was

  • Two days of fun that nurture artistic talents

    MORE than 3,000 young people enjoyed a taste of arts and music at a two-day festival designed to showcase and nurture local talent. The annual Youth Arts Festival, organised by Connecting Youth Culture team from North Yorkshire County Council Education

  • Terry succeeds where his namesake failed

    EURO 2004 may have been a a bit of a failure for David Beckham, John Terry and the rest of the England team, but the European Mencap Gateway Championships had an altogether different result. For victory in the 25th annual tournament went to England -

  • Street is closed as village holds fair

    A TEMPORARY pedestrian precinct will be created in the countryside so a village can hold its bi-annual fair in the main street. Residents in Aldfield, near Ripon, will be shutting the road through their community with police blessing for a fair that involves

  • Park plans summer of activities

    A COUNTRYSIDE park in Hartlepool has announced its events for the school summer holidays. Summerhill, off Catcote Road, has published events leaflets covering this month, next month and September. Events include archaeology for beginners, rock-climbing

  • Children invited to discover reading

    YOUNGSTERS are being invited to libraries across Stockton borough to take part in a literary challenge. The Reading Rollercoaster will take place throughout the school summer holidays, with youngsters being asked to complete a registration card that can

  • Shareholders attack former chairman's £2.3m share award

    SAINSBURY'S faced a storm of protest from shareholders over its decision to give ousted chairman Sir Peter Davis a £2.3m share award. Yesterday, Investors at the company's annual meeting in London called on the board to apologise for the award, which

  • What Katy did next

    A Durham University graduate has been recognised in a national competiton for her achievement above and beyond her studies. She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears. IF you thought student life was all about drunken parties and essay crises, think again

  • Equitable decision expected

    THE Parliamentary Ombudsman will announce next week whether she plans to reopen her investigation into the regulation of Equitable Life. Ann Abraham will report to Parliament on Monday, setting out her decision. She has already carried out an investigation

  • Marking daily steps to fitness

    VIEWERS in the region can find out how to get a free stepometer if they watch Tyne Tees Television tonight. The offer is part of ITV1's Britain On The Move campaign to encourage us all to build more activity into our daily lives. Experts have calculated

  • Woman of 80 mugged in street

    AN 80-year-old pensioner is in hospital with a broken hip after she was mugged during the day. Police have described the incident as a despicable attack on a vulnerable and defenceless woman. She was walking along Roberts Crescent, in the Bilton area

  • Fight for 20,000 jobs exported from south

    THE fight was on last night for the North East and North Yorkshire to win a share of 20,000 civil service jobs which Gordon Brown confirmed were moving out of overheated London. The Chancellor announced that government departments had identified a total

  • All set for summer holidays

    AS the long summer holidays approach youngsters across the Hambleton area are being promised plenty to keep them busy. Leisure centres are planning a series of Hyper Holiday activities in Northallerton, Stokesley, Thirsk, Bedale and Easingwold. Everything

  • If you want to have a prayer, press HELP

    NOW listen pals: you couldn't make this up. I have been invited to attend a course provided by The London Diocese Communications Officer to teach us how to write letters, to answer the door and the telephone. All the clergy have been asked to supply details

  • Dancers' technicolour dream

    SCORES of children from across the region joined a former Pop Idol contestant on stage last night in the musical Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. Andrew Derbyshire, who made it to the last 50 in the ITV show in 2001, is starring in the Andrew Lloyd

  • Watchdog delivers report on councils

    THE watchdog for local authorities in the North-East and North Yorkshire has published its annual report. Patricia Thomas is the Local Government Ombudsman responsible for dealing with complaints about councils in the region. The number of complaints

  • German pilot returns to village to apologise for bombing church

    A GERMAN Second World War bomber pilot yesterday visited a 1,000-year-old church he targeted by mistake and apologised to villagers. Willie Schludecker, 84, shook hands with churchgoers who remembered his inadvertent attack on the Saxon St Andrew's Church

  • Railway line no longer a safe place to wander

    RAILWAY police have mounted an education campaign telling youngsters and adults to keep off the country's newest tourist line. With the Weardale Railway, in County Durham, due to start its first regular passenger service for 51 years on Saturday, British

  • Marchday group wins property management award

    A COMPANY that has revamped a former wool factory in Darlington has won an award. The Marchday Group, which is transforming the former Paton and Baldwins factory into offices at Lingfield Point, Darlington, won a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

  • Stadium owners reveal pledges

    THE new regime at Darlington Football Club is closing in on a triple boost for supporters and the community. The Sterling Consortium completed its takeover of the Quakers at the end of May and instantly promised big changes at the Neasham Road venue.

  • Pupils perform in circus show

    FIRE juggling and unicycle rugby are not two activities usually associated with schools, but one group of youngsters is preparing to put on a show combining all manner of circus skills. Thirty pupils at Richmond School take part in a circus show which

  • 13/07/04

    STREET CHILDREN: YOUR article (Echo, Jul 3) about the plight of street children in Columbia gives the impression that the organisation, The Children of the Andes, operates exclusively in Medellin - not so. This charity, under the leadership of Peter Walters

  • Series not for the squeamish

    Waking The Dead (BBC1); Young Doctors (ITV1): THE team investigating unsolved crimes in Waking The Dead need to turn their attention to star Trevor Eve's glasses. First they're on. Then they're off. Then on again. Then off again - you get the picture.

  • Tykes pair get the international nod

    Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson and batsman Anthony McGrath are both included in England's preliminary list of 30 names for the ICC Champions Trophy which takes place in September. McGrath is already a regular member of England's one-day squad but

  • Airport expansion announced

    Multi-million pound plans to redevelop Teesside International Airport have been announced today More than 6,000 new jobs are expected to be generated in the region over the next ten years if planning permission for the proposals is granted next month.

  • Jim fixes it for town to greet a royal visitor

    The world's biggest passenger liner took a detour to a seaside town yesterday after a request by veteran TV presenter Sir Jimmy Savile. The 78-year-old arranged for Queen Mary 2 to sail past his home in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, on its way to the

  • Post full of promise

    ONE of the fun things about being involved with the media is that all sorts of people send you mail. I look forward to coming home and opening the front door to piles of envelopes littering the doormat. It makes me feel wanted and important. Much of it

  • Teenager

    A TEENAGER killed his step-grandfather after he was ordered out of his home for being drunk, a court heard. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, lashed out at the 57-year-old after he was told he could no longer stay with him due to his behaviour. Newcastle

  • Old care home building may be demolished

    A FORMER care home branded an eyesore by residents could be demolished. Hustledown House, in Wear Road, Stanley, has been vacant for six years. It used to be a Durham County Council-run home for the elderly, but the 40-bed unit closed in 1992. North-East

  • Herbs without hardship

    A FRIEND of mine said she wished that she had the time and space to grow her own herbs for cooking. I had to take immediate (but friendly and informative) issue with her comment. Firstly, herbs can be grown in the smallest of spaces, and in a whole variety

  • Loyalty awards for dedicated lifeguards

    TWO Durham lifeguards who help others to learn how to save lives have been honoured for their work. Jonny Gwynne and David Walker, who work at the city's baths, have each been members of the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) for more than 17 years and received

  • Invitation from prince

    THE Prince's Trust is inviting young entrepreneurs in County Durham to put forward their business ideas. The organisation's business support programme is helping people aged 18 to 30 by offering low-interest loans and grants to those who have no other

  • Teenagers get healthy living advice from an Olympic athlete

    TEENAGERS were inspired to live the healthy life by an Olympic athlete yesterday. Sprinter Jared Deacon visited High Tunstall School, in Hartlepool, to talk to 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds as part of the school's Health Day. The youngsters took part

  • Field club walking date

    Consett and Vale of Derwentside Naturalists' Field Club has organised a trip to North Yorkshire. The group will hold two walks around Gunnerside, of 12 miles and just over six miles, on Saturday, July 24. The bus will pick up in Annfield Plain, Leadgate

  • Youngsters take a walk over bridge they helped to name

    SCHOOL pupils have helped name Durham's latest footbridge. Durham County Council invited the public to suggest the name of the £500,000 structure that provides a safe crossing for pedestrians over the busy A690 between the railway station and the city

  • Women recalled for breast cancer screening

    Two thousand women who have been screened for breast cancer are being recalled because of concerns over the accuracy of new digital X-ray equipment. The hospitals involved are Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Hexham General Hospital and the Friarage

  • Bike stars ready to reveal secrets

    STARS from the motorcycling world will visit the region next week to share some of their techniques and secrets with fans. The North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club (NYRRSC) holds its annual chat show at Club Amadeus, Northallerton, next Tuesday

  • Garden dedicated to school's 'loved and lost'

    PEOPLE who have touched the lives of staff and students at a rural school will be remembered through a special garden named after a popular sixth former who inspired the project. In a poignant service at Wolsingham School and Community College yesterday

  • Town's 100th CCTV camera goes online

    THE 100th closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera to be installed in Darlington has gone online. The device is in place in North Lodge Park and has started transmitting pictures to the town hall control room. And the move will act as a catalyst for the

  • Addict jailed after admitting thefts

    A PERSISTENT thief who raided cars to fuel his heroin habit was jailed for ten months by magistrates yesterday. Gary Drummond, 37, admitted three counts of theft, one of heroin possession and one of resisting a police officer at South Durham Magistrates

  • Top marks for dancers

    DANCERS, aged from three to 70, are celebrating after successfully completing exams. Forty-two pupils from the Premier Dance School, which holds classes for adults and children in east Cleveland, took part in the exams in ballet, tap, modern, character

  • Youngsters dance to sounds of the Sixties

    NURSERY school children will be going back to the Sixties in a performance for parents this afternoon. The production by youngsters at Broom Cottages Nursery School in Ferryhill features a medley of songs from the 1950s and 1960s. The children, aged three

  • Slower growth on the high street

    Mixed weather and the Euro 2004 football tournament combined to produce slower growth in high street sales last month, figures showed last night. Total sales grew by five per cent last month compared with the previous year, against 6.5 per cent in May

  • Bachelor boy Andrew marries his batchelor girl Deborah

    ANDREW and Deborah Wallace had two reasons to smile yesterday after a day they will remember for ever. The Wearside couple spent yesterday morning tying the knot at Sunderland Civic Centre, before rushing to the Stadium of Light to graduate from university

  • New weapon in speed battle

    A CAMPAIGN to reduce the number of people injured in road accidents has been bolstered by the delivery of new speed monitoring equipment. North Yorkshire Police now has three new portable radar speed monitors. They will be used at a variety of roadside

  • Making over a rock chick

    Rock singer Heather Barnes has swappd the Australian sunshine for the less temperate North-East and the hope of a big hit in the UK. She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears. HEATHER Barnes smiles when I ask her where she's from. "Newcastle," she says

  • Oil workers' make a big impression

    TWO North-East men working for oil firm BP in Norway have raised £11,000 for a local children's hospital. John Spence, from Darlington, and Mark Lawson, from Newcastle, were working at the Nyo shipyard, in Grimstad, when they began a combined raffle and

  • Calendar Girls see fundraising aim achieved

    THEIR fundraising efforts have taken them around the world, but last night the intrepid Calendar Girls were back on their home turf. The Rylstone and District WI ladies, who stripped to raise funds for charity, were in York to open a pioneering research

  • Butcher will get the chance to make Mark

    England yesterday offered Mark Butcher the chance to belatedly break his way into the one-day side, despite omitting the Test batsman from their 30-strong provisional ICC Champions Trophy party. Surrey left-hander Butcher has curiously never played for

  • Stressholme champion Bates seeking a double

    FRESH from lifting the Stressholme club championship, teenager Adam Bates is aiming to make it a Durham double. Bates travels to Stockport today with the rest of the Durham team in preparation for the Northern Counties Boys Championship tomorrow. It will

  • Watchdog delivers report on councils

    THE watchdog for local authorities in the North-East and North Yorkshire has published its annual report. Patricia Thomas is the Local Government Ombudsman responsible for dealing with complaints about councils in the region. The number of complaints

  • Store sale puts jobs in jeopardy

    HUNDREDS of retail workers in the region were facing an uncertain future last night following a decision by the owner of a chain of department stores to close the business. Merchant Retail, which owns The Perfume Shop, is selling its Joplings store at

  • Sir Peter wins national award

    CAR retailer Sir Peter Vardy has been presented with an award for outstanding achievement in recognition of his work in the motor industry. The chief executive of Reg Vardy, based in Sunderland, was awarded the Motor Trader award for raising the profile

  • King of the four liner

    From wars to television, presidents to motorists, all have come within the scope of The Northen Echo's weekly Four Liner. As a new book brings the best of these poems together, Nick Morrison talks to the man behind the rhymes. Here's the story of Motorway

  • Two Open titles at stake

    Ernie Els will take on Tiger Woods at Royal Troon this week not only for the Open title they both cherish, but also for the world No 1 spot. If Els can repeat his triumph of Muirfield two years ago then Woods, winner at St Andrews in 2000, will have to

  • Delight as first red kites introduced into wild

    THEY hesitated at first when offered their freedom, but soared away majestically when they took to the wing. The first six red kites to take to the skies over the North-East in more than 150 years were released into the wild at an undisclosed location

  • New guide to 'protecting and enjoying' countryside

    A CODE of practice that has helped people enjoy the countryside for 50 years was re-launched yesterday. The new Countryside Code is an updated version of the advice put out for potential visitors when Britain's first national parks were created in the

  • City's economy is improving

    ACCORDING to a report, Newcastle's economy has improved, with unemployment falling and the number of qualified workers above the national average. The report was by Newcastle City Council. Stefan Lepkowski, chairman of the Prosperous Newcastle committee

  • Winners of all ages rewarded at fun run

    NEARLY 150 runners competed in the annual Yarm 5k fun run. The two new trophies introduced last year for the year ten/11 section, the Nigel Bentley Memorial Trophy and the Philip Mills Memorial Trophy, were won by Adam Mitchell and Caitlin Pearson, respectively

  • Refuse team gets new fleet

    A NEW fleet of refuse collection vehicles are taking to the roads in Richmondshire. The eight vehicles will collect the rubbish generated from all local businesses, as well as more than 19,000 homes. The refuse collection service recently received an

  • Anti-crime groups link radio systems

    TWO groups dedicated to stopping crime and troublemakers are making sure they are on the same wavelength. Scarborough Anti-Theft Group and Scarborough Pub Watch both operate radio systems to keep their members in touch and give early warning of approaching