BANK on Bonne de Fleur (3.25) to blossom in today's big race at York (3.25) for the £75,000 William Hill Trophy. Bryan Smart's filly looked a picture in the paddock prior to blitzing some decent sprinters on her comeback outing in the Listed Silver Bowl
PLANS to build a tourist attraction celebrating the life of a world famous explorer have moved a step closer to becoming reality. Captain James Cook RN (Charity Trust) Limited has submitted a formal planning application to build Captain Cook's World,
WITNESSES to a robbery in which money was snatched from a businessman are being urged come forward. Police believe the robber had been lying in wait for the man and grabbed a briefcase from his car containing what was described as a large amount of money
A 62-year-old grandfather was crowned the North East's most talented pensioner yesterday. Ronny Hughes, a retired builder from Sunderland, was named top act in the Area Final of Yours Silver Stars talent contest for senior citizens. He was one of 13 acts
A DISPLAY of Georgian-style costumes is at Richmond Town Hall. They have been created by students on a BA honours entertainment design crafts programme at the Hartlepool campus of Cleveland College of Art and Design. The students had to incorporate a
A MOTORIST battled to try to save a father-of-three trapped in a burning car, an inquest heard yesterday. Lorne Craig, a service engineer from Crook, was travelling along the A689 at Wynyard, towards the A19, when he spotted flames coming from under the
Pupils past and present came together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Gunnerside Methodist VC School. THE poster announcing the 150th anniversary service calls it Gunnerside Methodist VC School. Since there are more valorous undertakings than growing
"IF it was down to me, I'd put them in a cage in the garden and poke them with sticks," said my wife. She wasn't talking about England supporters who are on the verge of misbehaving in Portugal, it was her solution for dealing with small children who
David Beckham has set his sights on recreating the joy that followed England's World Cup rugby triumph by leading his country to Euro 2004 glory. Beckham admitted he started dreaming of such possibilities after witnessing the amazing scenes in London
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Stockton again miss the influential Alan Walker when they visit bottom of the table Gateshead Fell. Walker has still not recovered from an injury sustained when he was called into the Durham County side
TWO members of a mob who attacked an Olympic medal hopeful have been told they could be facing jail. Champion athlete Jared Deacon, 29, was pelted with makeshift missiles and was punched in the face during the attack in Horsley Hill Square, in South Shields
THE price of properties in market towns is soaring, figures showed yesterday. Halifax, which analysed property prices in 112 English market towns and some larger villages, said the cost of a home had at least doubled in all but four of the towns since
A TIRELESS campaigner who championed the elderly and saved a vital piece of North-East rail heritage has been awarded the MBE. Pensioner Ted Defty, of Clough Dene, Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, was awarded the honour for his contribution to the
SIXTEEN runners charging down the home straight on the Knavemire is sort of scenario that suits Stretton, in with a great shout of picking up the opener at York today. Stretton (1.50) can be a bit of quirky character in that he needs everything to drop
ARRIVA Trains suffered a blow last night when its main rival to run Scotland's rail service, First Group, was named as preferred bidder. Both companies submitted bids to run the Scotrail service, which is currently under the control of National Express
AS John Prescott conceded in typically earthy language, Labour got "a kicking" in the local council elections. Even taking into account the inevitable mid-term protest vote, it was an unquestionably depressing result for Tony Blair. The loss to the Liberal
A CHARITY is teaming up with an energy supplier to launch an award to recognise those who help wildlife and the local environment. Durham Wildlife Trust is working with npower to celebrate the efforts of individuals, groups and organisations. The Conservation
A battle for control of the airwaves is hotting up around a town in the region with the return of one of the leading contenders. Hambleton Radio will be broadcasting from Northallerton again this summer as it fights for the full-time licence for the area
OLDER people living in sheltered housing are to receive extra support thanks to an extension of county council care services. Extra help is being offered to people in Richmondshire as part of a county-wide effort to ensure older people can live in their
AS if taking on the assembled might of France wasn't enough, England will also be tackling the history books when they open their Euro 2004 campaign at Lisbon's Stadium of Light tomorrow. This is the seventh time England have made it to the final stages
A MAN who was found in possession of more than 500 indecent images of children has been placed on the sex offenders register for five years. Paul Marley, 34, of West End Villas, Coundon, Bishop Auckland, was arrested as a result of Operation Ore, where
Ken Livingstone brought huge relief to Tony Blair last night when he was re-elected Mayor of London after a bruising day which saw Labour lose control of Newcastle for the first time in 30 years. Mr Livingstone was re-elected with 828,380 first and second
Federation Special Durham Senior League: With the season only eight games old, there is now no unbeaten side in the league. The defeat of Horden last week removed that record and it is perhaps an indicator that there will be several clubs in contention
A MOTORIST has died after he was hit by a lorry as he helped the driver of another broken-down vehicle. The 65-year-old was struck as he assisted the driver of a Citroen AX that had broken down on the east-bound carriage way of the A66, near the Cargo
WORK to improve the centre of a run-down former mining village begins next week. Contractors for Durham County Council will move in to start on a package of improvements for West Road in Annfield Plain, near Stanley. The £89,500 scheme will spruce up
A WOMAN who has devoted 44 years of her life to the Guide Movement has been rewarded with an annual citizen of the year award. At a presentation in Loftus Town Hall yesterday, mayor Gerry Dickinson presented the award to Maureen Smith, of Easington, near
A ROAD running through a new business park in Darlington will be named after a local person. City and Northern, the developer of Morton Palms business park, is looking for suggestions of people who deserve to be commemorated. Managing director Elliott
WHEELS will be put in motion next week to get unemployed people back into the jobs market. The Middlesbrough Football Club Enterprise Academy bus will be parked at Asda, South Bank on June 14 and 15, giving people the chance to see what support is available
SUNDERLAND'S forgotten man Nicolas Medina will be handed one last chance to prove he can make a name for himself on Wearside. The young South American has only made one appearance for the Black Cats since Peter Reid paid £3.5m for him in 2001. And, after
PLANS to bring a key development site in Middlesbrough into use have taken a step forward with appointment of a team of consultants to prepare a feasibility study and master plan. White Young Green started work on the project for the 46-hectare site of
JUST like flowers in the desert after a sprinkling of rain, the cross of St George suddenly blossomed on the rooftop of every other car in the North-East exactly a fortnight ago. Today, you can't walk down a street without been flapped at, and you can't
NEWCASTLE UNITED have revived their interest in Tottenham's Stephen Carr as they try to end their search for a new right-back. Following Andy Griffin's departure to Portsmouth, the Magpies' need has become desperate with only Aaron Hughes familiar with
'It is an absolute privilege to meet someone with such physical courage at the age of 19," said Angela Williams. "To think he risked his own life carrying my father off the battlefield...it is incredible." Thursday night was the first time Angela had
MIDDLESBROUGH are convinced Joseph-Desire Job will eventually sign a new contract at the Riverside, despite renewed interest from a number of French clubs. The Cameroon striker's contract runs out at the end of this month when he will be able to move
After a lifetime around planes, sculptor and artist Keith Maddison has been asked by The Northern Echo to create an 8ft bronze statue to honour a Second World War pilot who was award the Victoria Cross. Chris Webbber spoke to him. THE son of a Second
A ROUTINE flight in Afghanistan turned into something special for for a soldier after he received a surprise promotion. Sergeant Shaun Flynn, 38, from Middlesbrough, is serving with the 1st Battalion The Green Howards on a six-month tour of duty. His
A PENSIONER who was the driving force behind the dramatic change in fortunes of a North-East estate has been awarded the MBE for his dedication. Royal recognition of his tireless efforts to revive the Firthmoor area of Darlington has capped a remarkable
TWO weeks after an elderly cyclist suffered fatal injuries in broad daylight on a busy road, police have revealed not a single witness has come forward to help their inquiry. Police have now made an urgent appeal for witnesses to the accident in which
A WOMAN has been arrested after she was found cutting up a quantity of suspected heroin, police revealed last night. Officers who raided the property in Hartlepool, found the 35-year-old in the process of preparing the drug into individual wraps. Officers
England fans were warned last night they will be hunted down back home if they shame the nation with racist chanting at Euro 2004. The man in charge of the British policing operation at the tournament made the threat after he overheard fans singing racist
STUART Pearce knows a thing or two about penalty shoot-outs. Football thrives on creating heroes and villains but in no other part of the game can one man go from being one to the other in such a short space of time. In 1990, Pearce found himself cast
A NURSERY in Darlington became the second in the country to be presented with a Quality Assurance Award. Staff at Albert Hill Nursery, in Prescott Street, received the award, which recognises high standards of early years education, from the town's MP
EUROPE: THE liberal elite who run this country and those who think like them are never short of a solution to our problems, always providing it doesn't involve facing up to reality. The current one, of course, is Europe. The reality though, is that neither
TRANSPORT company Go-Ahead expanded its airports division yesterday with a £1.2m acquisition. Go-Ahead boosted its car parking business at UK airports with the acquisition of Chauffered Parking Services (CPS). It hopes the move will generate savings at
YOUNG musicians serenaded officials from a leading charity while they ate when they visited a County Durham school. Representatives from Cancer Research UK were at Durham School to collect £1,000 raised on a recent musical evening. A school spokesman
THE decline of manufacturing in the North-East was last night blamed for job losses at a packaging plant. SCA Packaging confirmed that it was planning to "streamline and refocus" its factory at Faverdale Industrial Estate, in Darlington. The firm, which
A CHARITY is teaming up with an energy supplier to launch an award to recognise those who help wildlife and the local environment. Durham Wildlife Trust is working with npower to celebrate the efforts of individuals, groups and organisations. The Conservation
A town council has given an award to the first allotment holder to pay the annual rent for the year. Brian Gibson, of Magdelene Terrace, was the first one of the 400 plot holders from the seven Ferryhill Town Council- run allotment sites to pay his rent
A MAN who attacked and robbed a taxi driver was last night sentenced to four and-a-half years in a young offender's institution. Michael McKittrick, 19, threatened to stab Pervaz Iqbal Deen and then slashed him across the face with a sharp object before
A DISABLED pensioner is pleading with a pickpocket who stole her purse to hand it in to police. The purse was snatched from Toni Gray, 78, while she was out shopping with her husband, Albert, in High Row, Darlington, on Wednesday afternoon. Wheelchair-bound
A MOORLAND farmer's bid to diversify his business into a holiday enterprise has been given a boost. The North York Moors National Park planning committee went against a recommendation to refuse permission for a tennis court and children's play area in
SPECIALIST recovery vehicles had to be called in to help when a lorry loader carrying scores of pallets toppled over yesterday. The hiab - a truck with a crane arm - was off-loading pallets when it overturned near the Elm Ridge garden centre, in Coniscliffe
A CONSERVATION charity is seeking volunteers to help build a stile and steps over the Wensleydale Railway. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers wants people to help with the project on June 23 and 24. The work will take place at Akebar, near
ONE of the region's most successful businessmen and a North-East pensioner who has dedicated his life to community work and are named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List today. Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne and Bill Cook, who has championed improvements
THURSDAY'S elections in Harrogate were a victory for the status quo, with neither the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats making gains. Elections took place in the borough council's 16 wards, with the Tories winning 13 seats and the Lib Dems winning three
CHARITY workers, professors and soldiers are among those recognised in North Yorkshire in the Queen's birthday honours list. One of the most prestigious awards, the Order of the Bath, or KCB, was given to the former colonel of the Richmond-based Green
A MAN who attacked an innocent passer-by was jailed yesterday for a year. Christopher Francis McStravick, 23, of Thirlmere Road, Darlington, had taken a mix of drink and anti-depressants before the incident, which took place in Mill Lane, Darlington,
A motorised dustbin is to hit the road in County Durham to make people think twice about rubbish. The three-metre high bin is part of awareness roadshows in Durham City then goes on to tour main centres. Durham County Council is teaming up with other
CHARITY workers, professors and soldiers are among those recognised in North Yorkshire in the Queen's birthday honours list. One of the most prestigious awards, the Order of the Bath, or KCB, was given to the former colonel of the Richmond-based Green
AS the Durham players began an extended break following their three-day hammering by Yorkshire, coach Martyn Moxon warned: "Doing nothing is not an option." Moxon said there would be changes for the next four-day match starting at Cardiff on Wednesday
AS a family, we've never been on a camping or caravan holiday. So there were raised eyebrows among friends and family when we announced we were swapping our annual sojourn to a comfortable apartment in Northern Cyprus for ten days in a camper van, braving
CILLA Makinson says her family and friends will be thrilled when they learn today that she is to receive the MBE. The 76-year-old has been honoured by the Queen for her services to the community in West Auckland, St Helen Auckland and Tindale Crossing
ATHLETICS legend Steve Cram yesterday urged people in the North-East to seize a golden opportunity to improve their fitness and health. The former mile world record holder was speaking about Everyday Sport, a new government-backed initiative. Yesterday's
A DISPLAY of Georgian-style costumes is at Richmond Town Hall. They have been created by students on a BA honours entertainment design crafts programme at the Hartlepool campus of Cleveland College of Art and Design. The students had to incorporate a
SEVENTEEN years ago Irene Best retired and dedicated her time to her painting. The many hours spent at her easel at her home in Darlington, not only bring her great pleasure but also allow her to exhibit her work nationally. Mrs Best, 67, has been given
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: In 1971, Northallerton and Marske joined the A Division and today, after 33 years, they both celebrate playing their 900th game in the top flight. Northallerton go into their fixture against Saltburn in
THE price of properties in market towns is soaring, figures showed yesterday. Halifax, which analysed property prices in 112 English market towns and some larger villages, said the cost of a home had at least doubled in all but four of the towns since
Durham Coast League: The match of the day is between champions Murton and leaders Silksworth - and with two points separating the pair the outcome is crucial to both teams. "We are on a bit of a roll and I thought we played well in last weekend's double
FITNESS tycoon Duncan Bannatyne, one of the region's richest men, has been honoured with the OBE for his business enterprise and charity work. The Darlington-based entrepreneur, said to be worth £115m in the Sunday Times Rich List, made his name in the
FITNESS tycoon Duncan Bannatyne, one of the region's richest men, has been honoured with the OBE for his business enterprise and charity work. The Darlington-based entrepreneur, said to be worth £115m in the Sunday Times Rich List, made his name in the
TV viewers will hardly have a sporting chance this summer as the schedules are taken over by a very different type of game show. Today is the first day of the summer of discontent, as the viewing habits of regular TV watchers are disrupted with bosses
Don't know your offsides from your elbow? Don't want to feel left out when the water-cooler chat turns to Wayne Rooney? Never fear, Nick Morrison gives you the bluffers' guide to Euro 2004. AT last it's here - the second biggest footballing event in the
TEN people appeared in court yesterday charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs following early-morning raids in Darlington. Paul Wilson, 25, of Willow Road, Rodger Bowers, 26, of Kexwith Moor Close, and Alister Douglas, 32, of Duke Street, all
Less than two months after the Government-backed Action Team for Jobs moved into the Wear Valley, it has helped six people find employment and is advising 40 others. The project, which operates from Bishop Auckland Market Place, has advisors that run
A PENSIONER died after a hospital replaced the wrong hip in a bungled operation. Lilian Boorsma's family say the 79-year-old widow never recovered from having to undergo two operations in four days. She fractured her left hiwhen she fell from her bed
THE chapel at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, in Kirkleatham, near Redcar, will host a folk night for the first time in its 300-year history. The Marske support group of the Leonard Cheshire Teesside Home, a residential care home, is organising the event
THE average amount of unsecured debt has more than doubled in the past five years, rising from £890 to £2,000 the Government said yesterday. The Department of Work and Pensions said lone parents had a much higher risk of being in debt than two-parent
AN addict who burgled a family's home to pay off a drug debt was jailed for 15 months yesterday. Mark Stead, 30, took property worth £4,000, including a car, from the house in Thornaby, Teesside. Teesside Crown Court heard he had been threatened by his
CYCLISTS are being offered a chance to ensure their bikes are safe at two events next week. Dr Bike surgeries, which have been arranged as part of National Bike Week, will be held at Hartlepool's Asda store and the University Hospital of Hartlepool, from
THE chapel at Sir William Turner's Almshouses, in Kirkleatham, near Redcar, will host a folk night for the first time in its 300-year history. The Marske support group of the Leonard Cheshire Teesside Home, a residential care home, is organising the event
DOG owners are being urged to clean up after their pets, or face stiff penalties. Environmental officers are carrying out daily patrols as part of National Poop Scoop Week, which starts on Monday. Last year, three teams of wardens handed out more than
A NEW charity shop in Spennymoor town centre, that will raise money to support local people, has already helped five trainees into work. The Young Men's Christian Association store, in the High Street, was opened by Spennymoor's deputy town mayor, Christine
CHILDREN at a North-East school have been learning to sing opera - thanks to two former pupils. Britta Wray, 23, and Emily Smith, 25, have been working with youngsters at Hall Garth School, in Acklam, Middlesbrough, on a community opera which will be
A CHARITY is teaming up with an energy supplier to launch an award to recognise those who help wildlife and the local environment. Durham Wildlife Trust is working with npower to celebrate the efforts of individuals, groups and organisations. The Conservation
Today is the first day of the summer of discontent, as the viewing habits of regular TV watchers are disrupted with bosses concentrating on saturation coverage of Euro 2004. You'll be hard pushed to escape coverage of the matches as BBC1 and ITV1 broadcast
THE shock closure of one of the region's threatres has caused a setback for a multi-million pound musical by Elton John. A media launch to announce the world premiere of Billy Elliot at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre has been postponed for a month. The show
CHILDREN at a North-East school have been learning to sing opera - thanks to two former pupils. Britta Wray, 23, and Emily Smith, 25, have been working with youngsters at Hall Garth School, in Acklam, Middlesbrough, on a community opera which will be
Emile Heskey believes midfielder Steven Gerrard can be England's lethal weapon in tomorrow's Euro 2004 showdown with France in the Estadio da Luz. Heskey thinks his long-time Liverpool teammate has been in the best form of his career during the past campaign
THE Northern Echo's appeal to erect a statue in honour of a forgotten hero of the Second World War has got off to a great start. Tony Blair has already thrown his weight behind a £40,000 appeal to honour the memory of airman Andrew Mynarski. Mynarski
CILLA Makinson says her family and friends will be thrilled when they learn today that she is to receive the MBE. The 76-year-old has been honoured by the Queen for her services to the community in West Auckland, St Helen Auckland and Tindale Crossing
A TIRELESS campaigner who championed the elderly and saved a vital piece of North-East rail heritage has been awarded the MBE. Pensioner Ted Defty, of Clough Dene, Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, was awarded the honour for his contribution to the
STUART Pearce knows a thing or two about penalty shoot-outs. Football thrives on creating heroes and villains but in no other part of the game can one man go from being one to the other in such a short space of time. In 1990, Pearce found himself cast
YOUNG musicians serenaded officials from a leading charity while they ate when they visited a County Durham school. Representatives from Cancer Research UK were at Durham School to collect £1,000 raised on a recent musical evening. A school spokesman
Q My husband is 56 and gets income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for us both of £87.30 a week. When I am 60 in January, I will be due a State Pension of £83 a week. If he is still out of work then, will I be able to claim my pension? What can he claim
A hitman hired by a family to assassinate a rival ended up shooting one of his employers in the penis, a court heard. Thomas Anderson was accidentally hit in the groin by bungling gunman Arthur Pattinson during a drive-by shooting, Newcastle Crown Court
A STRONG contingent of young athletes from Durham University will take part in tomorrow's Newton Aycliffe 10K. The keen road runners were out in force two weeks ago in the Raby Castle 10K, when 19-year-old psychology undergraduate Avine Fox, of Morpeth
DEMOLITION of a former country store is expected to start in the next few days after a contractor was found to deal with asbestos. The former Walton's Country Store at Eden Lane, Gainford, County Durham, is being demolished to make way for a development
THREE North-East bands will be launching their new CDs, thanks to a special event organised by The Northern Echo's music website Revolution. The Shining, The Fray and Eskimo will all be performing on July 30 at The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington
A MAN conned his grandmother out of more than £34,000 by saying he was joining the police force and needed to buy a flat. Durham Crown Court heard that Gavin Bell's grandmother mortgaged her retirement flat and gave him £23,000 to buy his own property
LABOUR took control of Hartlepool Borough Council yesterday for the first time in four years. The party gained an extra four seats, following local government elections held in the borough on Thursday, giving the party a total of 25, and a majority on
A FARM'S garden will be opened to the public to raise money for The Red Cross. Ravensford Farm will be open tomorrow, as part of the charity's Open Gardens 2004 programme. The 2.5 acre piece of land, near Hamsterley Forest, has been featured on the Out
DETECTIVES investigating an armed raid on a post office in Shotton Colliery are piecing together the movements of the gang's getaway car. A metallic blue three series BMW was found burnt out in the village of Ludworth, about three miles from the scene
HEALTH staff are being offered free breakfasts to encourage them to ditch the car and cycle to work. Derwentside and Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care trusts are being asked to saddle up in support of National Bike Week. Elaine Jackson, health
A WEARDALE primary school has been hailed as a shining example of a school that uses the arts in education. St John's Chapel Primary School has been awarded the Artsmark Gold Award at its first attempt. The school was selected for award for spreading
THE decline of manufacturing in the North-East was last night blamed for job losses at a packaging plant. SCA Packaging confirmed that it was planning to "streamline and refocus" its factory at Faverdale Industrial Estate, in Darlington. The firm, which
A MAN who held up a woman at gunpoint before telling her it was an April fool trick yesterday had his sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal in London. John O'Brien, 31, of Eastborough, Scarborough, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years at York Crown
A HOSPICE is planning a £2.5m expansion, to improve care for terminally-ill people. Willowburn Hospice has been overshadowed by the threat of closure for more than five years. The service is based in the former Maiden Law Hospital, near Lanchester, but
A PENSIONER who was the driving force behind the dramatic change in fortunes of a North-East estate has been awarded the MBE for his dedication. Royal recognition of his tireless efforts to revive the Firthmoor area of Darlington has capped a remarkable
THREE North-East bands will be launching their new CDs, thanks to a special event organised by The Northern Echo's music website Revolution. The Shining, The Fray and Eskimo will all be performing on July 30 at The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington
A CHARITY that supports people with terminal illnesses has reassured the public that its services will not be affected by a dispute over the way it is managed. Ten volunteers from Hospice Homecare, which is based in Northallerton, are unhappy with the
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to be extra vigilant following a spate of burglaries. Police have issued a warning following burglaries in Shildon, over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Twelve house, garage and shed burglaries were reported. PC Caroline Shields
Readers Durham County League: Following their superb victory over Hetton Lyons in midweek, Willington go to Kimblesworth with renewed confidence, although they anticipate a stern test. "It is not often that a side loses a 20-over cup tie when they score
AFTER 28 years of rubbing shoulders with the international horse and carriage set, North-East caravan company boss Jim Robson has finally achieved his greatest ambition. Next month, with his beloved Welsh cob Duke, he will be representing Britain in the
