The families of three young soldiers who died in controversial circumstances at Deepcut Barracks will today speak out against the MoD's handling of military deaths. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Lembit Opik will join relatives of Cheryl James, Geoff Gray
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott today said he was confident the forthcoming referendum on the proposed North-East regional assembly will be a success - despite the ongoing controversy over all-postal voting. However, he said that he could not be so
SHOP owners are demanding an urgent meeting with competition authorities amid fears they could be forced out of business by big supermarket chains. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is calling for a meeting with the Office of Fair Trading after
It may sound like a hothouse for precious youngsters, but a summer school for gifted children shows the reality is far removed from the image. Nick Morrison reports. JUST inside the college entrance, a noticeboard bears a series of phrases divided into
HUNDREDS of mourners gathered to remember twins Diane and Claire Sanderson, who died last month. The bodies of the 27-year-old sisters were discovered in Camblesforth near Selby, North Yorkshire, on July 18. Yesterday, about 250 friends and family of
A babysitter appeared in court today charged with the murder of a two-year-old boy. Susan Holdsworth, 34, of Millpool Close, Hartlepool, made a tearful 10-minute appearance before the town's magistrates following the death of Kyle Fisher from head injuries
TECHNOPOLIS is the working title of a dramatic science park planned for Newcastle. The idea of Centre for Life chief executive Alastair Balls, it is hoped the Newcastle Technopolis will develop the city as a world-leader in the field of innovation and
That'll Teach 'Em (C4) The Block (ITV1) With A-level results out tomorrow it is time for the annual cries of 'the exams are getting easier' and 'kids today don't know they're born'. I always feel sorry for teenagers who have sweated over their exams only
PLANS to remove 31 telephone boxes from rural Teesdale have met with an angry response by local residents. BT says the increase in mobile phone use means the phone boxes are no longer viable. The majority of the phone boxes are in isolated locations,
YOUNG footballers from County Durham took part in a competition yesterday aiming to raise their aspirations. More than 130 youngsters, aged ten to 16, gathered at Oakies Fields, Tanfield, near Stanley, for the Positive Futures tournament. Fifteen teams
A CORONER yesterday recorded an open verdict on a 38-year-old Chester-le-Street teacher who was found hanged in his garage. North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle found there was insufficient evidence to show that Paul Wood, of Crichton Avenue, had intended
PARENTS of troublesome teenagers are to be offered help from an advisor in an attempt to curb difficult behaviour. Clare Glass will work with families of young people who have been involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, or who are judged to be at
A VOLUNTEER drugs worker has admitted nearly running down a pedestrian while he was high on a cocktail of pills. Heroin addict Paul William Fenwick, 29, of Briardale, Delves Lane, near Consett, made off in his Ford Escort when approached by police. The
A MOTHER pleaded in vain with an attacker to spare her daughter's life as he subjected his victim to a frenzied knife attack. Call centre worker Nusrat Ali, 25, was stabbed in her front garden as she left home to go to work yesterday morning. Neighbours
A SLOWDOWN in the numbers of homes being built in the Harrogate district has seen the fewest number of houses finished for 12 years. The district, including Ripon, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Masham and Boroughbridge, saw 476 new properties built in
A SOUTH African environmental worker has swapped safari adventures for life in Sedgefield, where she will work to protect wildlife. Tammy Casey is Sedgefield Borough Council's local nature reserve officer and aims to encourage people to get involved in
THE curtain goes up this weekend on the first festival celebrating the arts and culture of Weardale. For two weeks from Friday, events will be staged in nearly every village in the dale. The aim of the event, organised by the Weardale Society, is to demonstrate
FAMILIES living in Middleton-in-Teesdale were delighted yesterday when they were promised a mobile dental surgery will visit the community every week. The £160,000 National Health Service vehicle will stand for seven hours each Tuesday in a car park in
A CARE home near Darlington is undergoing a £150,000 development to help meet demand for accommodation. Middleton Hall, in Middleton St George, is increasing its number of studio apartments as part of an ongoing investment programme. Middleton Hall's
A drugs intervention team has been set up on Teesside. Members of the national organisation Lifeline have been appointed by Middlesbrough Council to work with youngsters involved in, or at risk of, alcohol, substance and drug abuse. The team will work
A FORMER Durham schoolgirl has swum across the Channel in under 13 hours. Katherine Mearman, 25, completed the challenge in 12 hours and 54 minutes. Katherine, who attended St Godric's and St Leonard's schools, in Durham, is also a former member of Durham
A CAMPAIGN group is offering help to businesses to get to grips with new laws on access for the disabled. Disability Action in Richmondshire is urging firms to ask for assistance, ahead of the Disability Discrimination Act becoming law in October. Development
A DISABLED man was robbed by a thief who forced his way into his home and demanded money. The 57-year-old man, who has suffered numerous strokes, was in his bungalow in Holyrood Lane, Middlesbrough, at about 10am on Monday when the intruder forced his
PLANS to amalgamate two schools in Thornaby will be discussed by councillors tomorrow. The governing bodies of Harewood Infant and Harewood Junior Schools have asked Stockton Borough Council to propose the amalgamation into a single primary school, with
DURHAM are planning to make four new signings for next season, including their two overseas players. They want their overseas men to be a top order batsman and a bowler who can both stay for the full season, although the international programme inevitably
ASHLEY Cole last night delivered a stark assessment of England's international prospects when he insisted: "Arsenal have a better team." Cole was an integral part of the history-making Arsenal side that went through the whole of last season unbeaten in
HEALTH bosses say the opening of a £7m mental health hospital is an example of how part of the North-East is enjoying the lion's share of health investment in the region. After unveiling a plaque at the Auckland Park Hospital, in Bishop Auckland, County
SUNDERLAND new-boy Neill Collins has delivered a damning verdict on the state of Scottish football which he believes is stifling the development of the country's young talent. The 20-year-old centre-back signed a two-year deal at the Stadium Of Light
ONE of the men behind Britain's first offshore off-licence is planning to take his battle with the Government to court. The confusing law surrounding the validity of the business could be settled when Trevor Lyons challenges Customs and Excise. Mr Lyons
Banking group Barclays today took the first steps towards establishing its Barclaycard operation in the United States credit card market. The move comes after Barclays said it had agreed to acquire Juniper Financial Corporation for 293 million (£160.7
DO you believe in the Job Fairy? A lot of very intelligent people do. They're the ones with university degrees and a lot of time on their hands, much of it spent sprawling on their parents' sofas gaining an intimate knowledge of daytime TV because they
CAUGHT in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, Ian and Denise Wilkinson and their son Adam found themselves stranded for 30 hours amid a weekend power cut at Sanford airport in Orlando. "It was horrific," reports Ian, from Darlington. "The air conditioning
TWO former Army friends have been reunited after more than 50 years thanks to the dedication of post office staff. Harry Dillon had not seen his friend Adam Hastings since being demobbed in 1953 after serving in Germany, and did not know where he was
FOR the first time in a century a trout has been caught in a London tributary of the Thames, the Wadle. The news would arouse mixed feelings in Richard Jefferies (1848-87), one of our finest nature writers. Son of a Wiltshire farmer, Jefferies learned
CROFT CIRCUIT: I am surprised that your reporter David Roberts (Echo, Aug 16) was silly enough to try and get to Hurworth via the A167 on Sunday morning. I am even more surprised that he whinged about getting stuck in traffic for two hours. Surely he
THE long-running North-East ambulance dispute is over, with the union side claiming victory. Since early summer, members of the Unison union who work for the North-East Ambulance Service have been refusing to work overtime. Triggered by a dispute over
That'll Teach 'Em (C4) - The Block (ITV1): With A-level results out tomorrow it is time for the annual cries of 'the exams are getting easier' and 'kids today don't know they're born'. I always feel sorry for teenagers who have sweated over their exams
England captain David Beckham is to remain the face of mobile phone operator Vodafone for another year, it was announced last night. The Real Madrid midfielder, whose image has been used by Vodafone for the past two years, will play a significant role
Police on Teesside are continuing their appeal for witnesses to an horrific car smash which claimed the lives of two eighteen year olds and left two more teenagers badly injured. One of those who died was Katy Linighan who lived in the Clavering area
JAGGER (2.25) gets the confident vote in this afternoon's 154th running of the richest handicap in Europe, the totesport Ebor at York. Four-year-olds have by far and away the best record in the historic contest, boasting a 38 per cent strike-rate in the
JAMES Milner admits he did not feel like a Newcastle United player until he took the field against Middlesbrough, despite leaving former club Leeds more than five weeks ago. The versatile midfielder, who returned to Teesside to represent England Under
BOSSES at Darlington Football Club will today reveal a major sponsorship package with a North-East car dealership that sees the Quakers' stadium renamed. The Northern Echo understands that the £20m Neasham Road venue will be branded with the name of Peugeot
ONE of the men behind Britain's first offshore off-licence is planning to take his battle with the Government to court. The confusing law surrounding the validity of the business could be settled when Trevor Lyons challenges Customs and Excise. Mr Lyons
A DEVOTED father discovered he was suffering from a brain haemorrhage after he diagnosed his condition on the Internet. Despite being taken to hospital, postman Gavin Davison died only days later from a massive stroke. The 33-year-old turned to the Internet
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has reassured the young talent in his squad they have an important role to play as the club go for glory on four fronts this season. The big signings of Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Michael Reiziger, Ray Parlour
THREE men will return to court next month facing possible prison sentences after a man had his ears bitten during a pub fight. Brothers Jamie Robert and Stuart Taylor have admitted involvement in the attack, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which left
CONSUMER watchdogs in the North-East have issued a warning about an unsolicited advertising campaign promoting a prize draw. The promotion, originating from Holland, is from a company called LLN. It tells householders they have been specifically contacted
CAMPAIGNS are being launched to save several post offices from closure. The Post Office has revealed that two offices in the Durham area, in Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate Moor, and in Front Street, Nevilles Cross, are among 11 across the county that are
A FOOD bug outbreak that struck down almost 100 people over three weeks has peaked, health officials said last night. Medical specialists were first alerted to several salmonella cases in the Stanley area of County Durham on Tuesday, July 27. Since then
A US court will be asked to agree to more rusting former naval vessels being scrapped at Hartlepool. Four of a fleet of so-called ghost ships are already docked at Hartlepool-based Able UK, awaiting permission for break up work to begin. Green campaigners
CAUGHT in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, Ian and Denise Wilkinson and their son Adam found themselves stranded for 30 hours amid a weekend power cut at Sanford airport in Orlando. "It was horrific," reports Ian, from Darlington. "The air conditioning
A MOTHER pleaded in vain with a man to spare her daughter's life as he subjected his victim to a frenzied knife attack. Call centre worker Nusrat Ali, 25, was stabbed in her front garden as she left home to go to work yesterday morning. Neighbours in
SWIMMERS are being warned to beware of fast-flowing rivers after a man got into difficulties. Firefighters were called to Finchale Priory, Brasside, on the outskirts of Durham, late yesterday after reports of a man in trouble in the River Wear. Two appliances
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted near a 24-hour garage. The 21-year-old, who has not been named, was attacked near the Total Garage in Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, at about 1am on Monday. Police
DO you believe in the Job Fairy? A lot of very intelligent people do. They're the ones with university degrees and a lot of time on their hands, much of it spent sprawling on their parents' sofas gaining an intimate knowledge of daytime TV because they
TRADING of shares in Internet search engine Google could begin today after the company asked US regulators to approve its registration. Approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would enable Google to close the auction that is determining
A UNION has reacted angrily to proposals by one of the region's employers to transfer dozens of jobs to India. About 50 former civil service jobs at the National Savings complex at Millburngate House, in Durham City, are thought to be affected by the
SPARE a thought for the thousands of teenagers due to receive their A-level results tomorrow. Their performance in the exams can dictate future education and career prospects. And on such a critical day in their young lives, they have to endure the unjustified
SATELLITE broadcaster BSkyB has filed a lawsuit against Electronic Data Systems (EDS) over a scrapped contract to build and run a computer system for two UK call centres. BSkyB filed a claim in the High Court for material damages from US-based EDS for
A UNION has reacted angrily to proposals by one of the region's employers to transfer dozens of jobs to India. About 50 former civil service jobs at the National Savings complex at Millburngate House, in Durham City, are thought to be affected by the
A school girl has been censured by police for making a false allegation of rape. Cleveland Police say the 13-year-old's lie not only tied up valuable police resources - but in the wide publicity her bogus claims generated, gave the area an undeserved
PARENTS are being urged to encourage their children to take part in a six-month exchange so they can learn a foreign language fluently before they go to secondary school. Darlington mother Penny Jones sent her eight-year-old son, Richard, to Germany last
A VILLAGE sports club has been saved from closure by a grant made possible by a load of old rubbish. The bowling club at Thornton Dale, near Pickering, has been saved from the axe thanks to £28,500 from the environmental group Yorventure. Yorventure is
A HEROIN addict who stole money from his girlfriend's father to feed his habit is to be assessed for a possible drug treatment course. Paul Price, 25, admitted stealing £4,050 on April 10, and stealing a mobile phone from a second victim ten days later
VISITORS to a revamped gardeners' show will also enjoy free admission to a new attraction. The first Durham Horticultural and Craft Show will be held in the Durham Room at County Hall, on September 10, 11 and 12. The event replaces the city's annual produce
a group of staff and friends from a residential home in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire put their best foot forward for charity. They pulled on their walking boots and hiked nine miles to raise cash for St Catherine's Hospice in Scarborough. The
A man who gave himself up to rape inquiry detectives has been interviewed and released on police bail. The 23-year-old Middlesbrough man had walked into South Bank police station, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, in connection with the alleged rape
SVEN-Goran Eriksson has urged Newcastle's supporters not to forget the good times when Kieron Dyer runs out at St James' Park this evening. The Newcastle midfielder will start amongst the substitutes as England take on Ukraine in their only friendly outing
SCORES of young footballers from across County Durham took part in a competition aiming to raise their aspirations yesterday. More than 130 children, aged ten to 16, gathered at Oakies Fields, Tanfield, near Stanley, for the Positive Futures tournament
PLANS for changes in care provision for mental health patients in County Durham have been shelved, health officials said yesterday. Last week, proposals to relocate patients needing continuous care to sites outside Darlington were unveiled by health bosses
SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury's went on a recruitment drive in Darlington recently to fill more than 100 job vacancies. The company is refurbishing its store in Victoria Road - one of the 13 former Safeway shops acquired from the WM Morrison chain. Work
EVERY household in Marske and New Marske is be contacted by assessors wanting to make their homes better insulated. The assessors from Redcar and Cleveland Warm Zone, a Government-backed project that fits free home insulation for householders spending
Eriksson v The English Press is a battle that could run and run. Chris Lloyd was at Slayley Hall yesterday to watch round one, Sven's first press conference since England's Euro 2004 failure. The England team bus stands in a corner of the Slaley Hall
THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend a North-East racecourse for an annual music marathon. Award-winning Galaxy DJ Steve "Smooth" Sutherland will host the Live To The Manor Born Garden Party on Sunday, August 29. Established as one of the biggest
It's all or nothing for Yorkshire Phoenix who meet Leicestershire Foxes tonight under the Grace Road floodlights in the totesport League, writes DAVID WARNER. Having been saved from defeat by the weather on Monday, when they finished up splitting the
AN official at the centre of allegations that led to an investigation into the conduct of a senior North-East councillor has spoken for the first time. Dennis Hall, monitoring officer for Sedgefield Borough Council, in County Durham, was the subject of
LAUNDRY staff at an NHS Trust have appealed for help after becoming concerned about the amount of linen lost in the past year. During the past 12 months, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust has spent nearly £20,000 replacing lost items. It is thought
Liverpool's Stephen Parry last night dedicated his Olympic medal to his father after ending Britain's eight-year drought in the men's 200 metres butterfly in Athens. Parry produced a brilliant swim to break his own British record for the second time in
The man suspected of brutally murdering a young woman in the front garden of her home was her husband, police revealed today. Nusrat Ali married the 29-year-old in a ceremony in Pakistan but the couple never lived together in the UK as man and wife. He
THE mother of a talented teenager who died in a car crash last night paid tribute to her "perfect son". Richard Clemot-Escobar, 18, died along with his friend Katy Linighan, 18, when the Vauxhall Astra they were travelling in overturned on the A19 dual
CAUGHT in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, Ian and Denise Wilkinson and their son Adam found themselves stranded for 30 hours amid a weekend power cut at Sanford airport in Orlando. "It was horrific," reports Ian, from Darlington. "The air conditioning
THE Government has decided to postpone the closure of three offices of the water industry watchdog, including one in Darlington. Staff at WaterVoice offices in Darlington, Manchester and Exeter, faced redundancies under plans to reform the organisation
THREE men will return to court next month facing possible prison sentences after a man had his ears bitten during a pub fight. Brothers Jamie Robert and Stuart Taylor have admitted involvement in the attack, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which left
Rule Of Law galloped to the head of the betting for the St Leger with a convincing success in the Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes at York yesterday. The Godolphin colt had finished second in the Vodafone Derby and fourth in the Irish equivalent
Jubilant Darlington Football Club chiefs today unveiled the money-spinning sponsorship deal that will see the Quakers' ground renamed the Williamson Motors Stadium. As revealed in The Northern Echo yesterday, the club has signed a lucrative agreement
Airline Bmi said it would increase its fuel surcharge on long-haul flights with immediate effect because of the rise in oil prices. The carrier, which runs flights to London Heathrow from Teesside International Airport, said its surcharge would rise from
