The Government has agreed to fund the upgrade of a major arterial route in Sunderland, it has been announced. It will contribute £21 million of the £23 million cost of the scheme on the A1018, which will act as a bypass for the Ryhope and Grangetown areas
ONE of the country's leading experts on sudden cardiac death is backing a North-East family's call for greater awareness of a killer heart condition. The specialist, Dr Mary Sheppard, also revealed unpublished research which suggests that sudden cardiac
A TERMINALLY-ILL youngster has been reunited with her wheelchair after it was stolen from outside her sister's house. Julia Mangan, 11, was left devastated after her chair, which she relies on to get around, was taken in the early hours of Tuesday from
Richard Burns Rally; Publisher, Sci; Formats, PC, PS2, Xbox; Price, £39.99: Family friendly? It's fiendishly difficult but there's no sex or violence to be seen. IT'S a nightmare scenario. You're developing a rally driving simulation and, with one eye
Firefighters were called to a blaze on the roof of Darlington Civic Theatre today. Twenty staff had to be evacuated after smoke leaked into the building in Parkgate at lunchtime. The fire was believed to have been started by workmen using a blow torch
MARKET traders have told of their anger at a blunder that left them without mail for more than a week. Stallholders at Darlington's indoor market raised the alarm when hundreds of letters failed to reach them - remaining stuck in a Royal Mail delivery
A WIDOW who lost her husband weeks before the birth of their baby fulfilled his dream by discovering the gender of the couple's unborn child. Amanda Holmes wrote a poignant letter revealing his dying wish in a heart-breaking farewell at his funeral. Paul
AS there's obviously something of the knight about Newcastle United at the moment, how about Sir Clive Woodward for the next manager? Just about everyone else has been tipped, other than Gazza, who is just starting to sip a fresh brew in his Boston tea
The phoney war over the proposed regional assembly came to an abrupt end yesterday with the official launch of the Yes 4 The North-East campaign. Tony Kearney watched the opening round of what promises to be a keenly-fought tussle THE campaign for the
BAE Systems' decision to merge its newly-acquired Alvis operations with its land defence operation RO Defence may create jobs in the region. Unions have expressed concerns about the future of the Alvis plant at Telford, near Wolverhampton, which is expected
Former Darlington skipper Andy Crosby returns today with his fourth club since leaving six year ago and Quakers are hoping they've finally cracked the hoodoo he seems to hold over the club. Darlington's home win in April over Oxford, Crosby's then club
It is said that the difference between football and rugby is that one is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans and the other is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen. I lose track of which way round it is, but I suppose it depends on which set of
The parents of Daniel and Anne-Marie Readshaw from County Durham are calling for a greater awareness of the rare heart defect that claimed their children's lives. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson investigates the call for improvements AFTER Anne-Marie
A STINK has erupted over dog dirt detectives on the prowl for fouling four-legged friends. At least six complaints have been made in recent months about over-zealous dog wardens working for Richmondshire District Council. Pet lovers landed with a fixed
A historic Grade II-listed building in the region has been earmarked for partial demolition by Network Rail after falling into a state of disrepair. The firm has applied to Middlesbrough Council for listed building consent to demolish Zetland House, at
In times gone by Framwellgate Moor was, literally, an area of empty moorland and was not enclosed into fields until the early 1800s. An open track ran through this undulating land, forming the Great North Road that in parts come to be the Front Streets
Bishop Auckland are facing an injury and suspension headache for their away trip to Prescot Cables today. Bishops could have as many as nine players missing for various reasons as they look for their first win of the campaign, and manager Brian Honour
It is said that the difference between football and rugby is that one is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans and the other is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen. I lose track of which way round it is, but I suppose it depends on which set of
YORKSHIRE'S hopes of avenging yesterday's 210-run mauling by Durham in tomorrow's crucial totesport League match at Scarborough were boosted yesterday by Australia making Ian Harvey available. The all-rounder has been playing in a one-day international
BANDARI, a horse for whom cotton wool earplugs have become an essential piece of kit, is fancied to win Kempton's Group 3 September Stakes, writes COLIN WOODS. Mark Johnston's colt has always been of nervous disposition, often sweating profusely during
A man was killed early this morning when his car left the road and hit a tree. The 24-year-old man from York, died after his car veered across the city's Foss Islands Road, mounted the kerb, went up a grass verge and hit the tree at around 5.45am. He
A North-East restaurant owner who sold a gun to an undercover policeman was jailed for 18 months yesterday. David Harvey Noble, 58, searched the stranger for a wire tap before he sold him the .410 shotgun with a silencer for £120. But the buyer was an
SUNDERLAND have asked Scotland boss Berti Vogts not to hamper Kevin Kyle's injury comeback by subjecting him to two full games in the space of six days. Kyle missed almost all of the Black Cats' pre-season programme after injuring his hip in training,
THE future of an RAF base remains uncertain after a Government announcement that new aircraft will be stationed elsewhere. A defence shake-up earlier this year left RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire, preparing to lose both its Tornado F3 squadrons by 2008
CATWOMAN, Publisher: Electronic Arts, Format: PS2, Price: £39.99 or less: Family friendly? There's quite a bit of violence so it's rated 12. AT one time a big movie hit our cinemas months before the video game arrived. These days all the marketing paraphernalia
NEARLY 100 lifesaving heart-start machines will be installed at public places in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The heart difibrillators are being allocated to ambulance services across the region as part of a campaign to save lives. Having a semi-automatic
Second from bottom Norton will play an important role in the destination of the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League championship when they meet leaders South Northumberland in the last game of the season this morning. The Teessiders, safe
AN off-duty police officer was attacked as he attempted to prevent two men from breaking into his neighbour's house. PC Richard Bagley, an officer with Middlesbrough Police, was confronted by the pair, one of them wielding a hammer, as he investigated
Guisborough, 16 points ahead of Bishop Auckland, are aiming to equal one record and to create another. Following three consecutive championship wins they aim to equal the record achieved by themselves between 1909-1912 and by Darlington during 1920-1923
In times gone by Framwellgate Moor was, literally, an area of empty moorland and was not enclosed into fields until the early 1800s. An open track ran through this undulating land, forming the Great North Road that in parts come to be the Front Streets
Shildon joint manager Ray Gowan is hoping for another taste of FA Cup glory today against Garforth and says: "We want the same again." Shildon enjoyed a fine run to the first round proper of the cup last season, and Gowan, who also managed Spennymoor
JAMIE SPENCER'S appointment as number one jockey to Aidan O'Brien at the beginning of the season has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster, but this afternoon at Haydock he can start to put the pieces back together by winning the Stanley Sprint
Voters in the North East are likely to back plans for England's first regional assembly, a poll revealed today. The poll, which was carried out on behalf of the Yes4theNorthEast campaign group, shows support for a Yes vote is running almost 2-1 ahead
An off-duty police officer was attacked by two men who were tring to break into his neighbour's Teesside home. The policeman was at home, in Stockton, watching The Bill on television when he heard breaking glass and went to investigate. He was hit by
YOU could forgive David Hodgson for staring across to old pal Brian Laws slightly green-eyed this afternoon. While the Darlington boss takes stock of a squad dictated by administration, Laws' only concern rests with how well his latest acquisition will
With a reminder that they shouldn't attempt to be a sort of spiritual Andrew Flintoff - "does all the batting, all the bowling and all the fielding while everyone else watches in amazement" - three Methodist ministers were welcomed to the Stanley circuit
Richard Burns Rally; Publisher, Sci; Formats, PC, PS2, Xbox; Price, £39.99: Family friendly? It's fiendishly difficult but there's no sex or violence to be seen. IT'S a nightmare scenario. You're developing a rally driving simulation and, with one eye
A VAN driver who crashed, killing a North-East pensioner, while chatting on his mobile phone was jailed for three years yesterday. It is believed to be the UK's first recorded case of death by dangerous driving involving a mobile phone. Alan Milbanke,
As responsibility for the terrorist outrage which has seen hundreds of Russian schoolchildren taken hostage is placed at the door of Chechen separatists, Nick Morrison ooks at how a 200-year-old conflict has taken on a very modern guise. As the Second
A man who drowned as he attempted to swim across the River Tees in Cleveland has been named. Gary Simpson died despite the desperate effort of two friends to save him, Cleveland Police said. The body of the homeless 26-year-old was recovered from the
A CHAIN of bookmakers has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who snatched cash from one of their branches earlier this week. Yesterday, police released an e-fit of the man, who stole cash from the bookies in
AN anti-gun campaigner is calling for stricter controls after a schizophrenic shot himself in the head. An inquest in Sunderland heard that 52-year-old Eric Karlson took his life at the city's Mayfair Shooting Centre, in April, three months after being
CARDIFF City are in pole position to make a move for Adam Boyd, after Sunderland pulled out of the running. The in-demand Hartlepool United striker will line up against Barnsley at Victoria Park this afternoon. But the likelihood of an imminent move to
THE recent spell of slightly-more-than-damp weather may not have been particularly conducive to leisurely horticultural pottering sessions, and it might have encouraged a nationwide epidemic of blight, but one thing is for sure, it has created some scary
Russia's school siege ended in a chaotic bloodbath yesterday with more than 200 hostages and some of their captors killed when special forces stormed the building in an unplanned onslaught. Several of the terrorists escaped, and last night they were believed
A man has been banned from riding a bicycle and from entering any car park in England or Wales, by magistrates. Appearing before Teesside Magistrates on the same day he was released from Holme House Prison, Stockton, 21-year-old Christopher James Wood
A £500,000 grant has been awarded to a project based at Teesside University aiming to encourage more young people to consider a future in engineering and science. The SETPOINT North East scheme, based at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, runs courses
SUCH is the strength in depth of the Newcastle Falcons squad that they will have five full caps and an A international on the bench when they go under the microscope at Worcester tomorrow. The match against the Zurich Premiership newcomers is live on
From 1895 to 1920 Langley Park continued to expand with around thirty new streets built during the period. Between 1901 and 1905 an estate known locally as the Kop was built west of Railway Street, consisting of Lambton, Darcy and Dale Streets. The Kop
Cleveland Bridge could have to pay millions to its former employer at Wembley Stadium if it loses a contractual dispute. The beleaguered company, which has had to lay off more than 300 workers this year, is challenging adjudication proceedings launched
BUYERS are eagerly snapping up homes in the poorest areas of Gateshead and Newcastle to avoid crippling mortgages and a property stampede elsewhere, according to a new study. Instead of homeowners trapped by falling prices in so-called "low demand"areas
Wolviston assistant manager Craig Watson is forced to change a winning side when Washington Nissan UK visit Metcalfe Park this afternoon. Captain Gareth Murphy commences a lengthy ban and Simon Colligan has returned to Unibond League premier division
Shock as bus driver shot in the eye A BUS driver was recovering yesterday after being shot in the eye with a pellet gun. Police described the shooting as appalling and said it was lucky that the driver managed to stop without mounting the kerb as he approached
A man has made his first appearance at crown court faced with sex offences against a girl under 16. Paul Ahmed, 45, spoke only to confirm his name during a short hearing at Newcastle today. The charges, of gross indecency and another serious sex offence
CONSTRUCTION companies are failing to address skills shortages by not creating enough openings for apprentices, a leading figure has warned. Sir Michael Latham, chairman of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) criticised the lack of opportunities
A killer driver who smashed his van into a pensioner's vehicle while talking on his mobile phone was jailed for three years yesterday. Alan Milbanke, 32, had been chatting to a work colleague for just short of two minutes on a dangerous stretch of road
A chain of bookmakers has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who snatched cash from one of their branches earlier this week. Yesterday, police released an e-fit of the man who stole cash from the bookies in
MARK Viduka is happy to see his strike partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourishing, despite the pair playing just two competitive games together in a Middlesbrough shirt. Viduka missed the first two games of the Premiership season as he was still
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Parents maintaining an agonising vigil outside the Russian school seized by a suicide squad were becoming increasingly desperate last night. In a surprise move, the terrorists released 31 women and children yesterday afternoon. But at least 300 people
WHILE missing out on Wayne Rooney was understandable, Newcastle's failure to sign a centre-half before the transfer deadline was simply indefensible. But, rather than learning from their mistakes, Newcastle's board have got themselves into a similar mess
GENEROUS motorists are proving honesty really is the best policy for a market town. Visitors have been flocking to Masham, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, since word got out about its honesty box for parking. For a voluntary contribution of just 50p, drivers
TRANSPORT secretary Alistair Darling is to deliver his verdict on the future of railways in the North-East when he addresses some of the industry's key figures. The Government minister is being lined up to speak at a conference which aims to map out how
FUEL poverty is set to increase in the North-East, which could contribute to more winter deaths, experts have warned. British Gas recently announced gas prices will go up by 12.4 per cent and electricity by 9.4 per cent. Newcastle firm Eaga Partnership
Transport secretary Alistair Darling is set to deliver his verdict on the future of railways in the North-East when he addresses some of the industry's key figures. The Government minister is being lined up to speak at a major conference which aims to
A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a teenager involved in a fatal road crash. District Judge Roger Elsey yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Michael Ridley after the 18-year-old failed to answer his bail to face motoring offences. Ridley
BAKED beans, loo rolls, pair of jeans, suit for work. We now buy more clothes from ASDA than we do from M&S, cheerfully slinging our items into the trolley along with the rest of the week's shop. Twenty years ago it would have been unthinkable - and
Police forces in the North East are to team up with national experts to tackle the problem of alcohol-related crime and disorder. A director of Alcohol Concern and senior government figures from the Home Office will hold a meeting with representatives
FAMILY and friends of a much-loved North-East pensioner gathered yesterday to bid him a fond farewell. The funeral of Charles Robert Young, a well-known character around the town, took place at Darlington Crematorium, where loving tributes were paid.
The European Commission is expected to demand the break-up of troubled nuclear power group British Energy (BE), it emerged yesterday. The commission said it was considering a plan under which the company would be split into three units, each with its
FAMILY and friends of a much-loved North-East pensioner gathered yesterday to bid him a fond farewell. The funeral of Charles Robert Young, a well-known character around the town, took place at Darlington Crematorium, where loving tributes were paid.
MOVING 250 jobs to India, including some from the North-East, will cost the taxpayer £25m, a union has claimed. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is fighting the scheme, by German electronics company Siemens, which has the Government contract
