SINGLE Farm Payment issues are occupying every farmer's thoughts, as well as covering kitchen tables and filing cabinets with paper, and more than 50 farmers filled Masham Methodist Hall for a meeting to grapple with the complexities of cross compliance
ADAM Valks from Potto, near Stokesley, gave a brilliant performance to win the John Whittaker International Winter JA Classic qualifier at the Stainsby Grange Junior Premier Show. Adam came out tops after producing the only triple clear round in the six-pony
A 14-year-old refugee is fending for herself after being placed alone in a flat thousands of miles from home. N'Sira Kourouma says she feels so "lost and lonely" that she has contemplated taking her own life. Her case has outraged asylum seeker support
TRAFFIC wardens are taking on a new role as North-East community crime busters. Durham Constabulary decided to dispense with its traffic wardens because parking enforcement has been taken on by councils and private companies. Now many of the former meter
THIRSK'S Shepherds Purse Cheeses has scooped double gold wins at the World Cheese Awards in London. The cheesemaker impressed judges at the World Cheese Awards held at the International Food Exhibition, taking five honours across different categories,
PEOPLE in Darlington are to be urged to car-share or join car clubs as a way of tackling traffic congestion in the town. These were among the ideas spotlighted during the opening session of a Town on the Move three-day transport meeting at the Dolphin
IN this injury-infested world it's hard to know who evoked the greater sympathy this week, Jonny Wilkinson or Best Mate. Some might even argue a case for Titus Bramble. But, as usual, it's the horsey people who put on the brave face, with the general
STEELMAKER Corus recorded its first profits last night - but warned of uncertain trading conditions later this year. The company - formed from the merger of British Steel and Dutch firm Hoogovens in 1999 - brought a halt to five years of losses with a
MINISTERS last night insisted privately-sponsored city academies were "making big strides" after the controversial programme was attacked by a committee of MPs. And they pledged to press ahead with the next wave of academies that will see a third open
A PLEA for a more open system of university quotas has been made by a headteacher of an independent school in Darlington. Marie Green, headteacher of Polam Hall School, made the plea after a leaked London School of Economics quota system was reported
BLUEPRINTS of one of the region's most famous landmarks, the Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough, are being restored and preserved for the future by experts. The blueprints, stored at Teesside Archives in Middlesbrough, date from just before the First
HOWARD Johnson has thanked the County Durham countryside for turning Inglis Drever into his third Cheltenham champion of the week. The Crook-based trainer landed one of the biggest prizes of his career yesterday when the Graham Wylie-owned jumper beat
DEPARTMENT store group House of Fraser posted higher profits yesterday but found its progress overshadowed by a sluggish start to the new financial year. The group, which has 46 outlets, said profits before property gains rose to £28.2m in the year to
Billionaire entrepreneur Philip Green told retailers there were no acquisitions on his radar as he warned the sector would see little growth this year. Speaking at the Retail Week Conference in London, Mr Green said trading conditions on the high street
HIGH street sales resumed their slowdown last month after a brief pick-up during the January bargain hunts, official figures show. The volume of retail sales in February grew by only 0.2 per cent, compared with a revised figure of 0.7 per cent the month
SUPERMARKET group Morrisons warned of further profits disappointment after continuing to experience problems integrating its Safeway acquisition. Morrisons said annual profits before tax and one-off items would now be in the range of £320m and £330m -
DESIGNER wear may be his business, but for the next few months, Charles Barker, owner of the Northallerton department store, is into sports gear. In June, the head of Barkers plans to cycle from London to Paris - a distance of 300 miles - with the aim
STUDENTS from a Teesside school will take to the stage next week to perform an original play produced through a creative writing project. About 30 youngsters from Bishopsgarth School, Stockton, will appear in their own play, called Fame Star at Arc, next
CLEVELAND Chamber Orchestra and the Michaelmas Singers give two Passiontide performances of Bach's St Matthew Passion tomorrow and on Sunday. Tim Jackson, musical director. Said: "Bach's music is dramatic and deeply moving, and we are trying to communicate
THE death of a swan has saddened residents in Middleton St George. The swan had taken up residence in the village's water park but was found dead on Monday. At this week's parish council meeting, chairman Coun Doris Jones said: "I received a very sad
A LEADING car safety systems manufacturer is to create 170 jobs in a multi-million pound expansion. TRW Systems is building three production lines at its plant in Peterlee, County Durham, to manufacture the latest generation of electronic sensors for
An artist who designed award-winning special edition stamps for the Royal Mail is furious after valuable work got lost in the post. Yvonne Gilbert posted two children's illustrations using the special delivery service, confident they were in safe hands
PLANS for a £60,000 skate park in Darlington's South Park have been given the go-ahead by councillors. The borough council's planning committee has approved proposals for the scheme, which forms part of the £3.9m refurbishment of the historic park. The
A TEAM of girls from a Darlington college are celebrating after they were crowned national biathlon champions. Lynsey Carveth, Julia Orr and Sarah Dove, of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, competed in the final of the British Schools' Biathlon Championships
ALTHOUGH funding is readily available to build a youth shelter at Middleton in Teesdale, finding somewhere to do so is proving a tough job. WPC Alison Race has spent hours during the past year seeking a suitable spot, with various sites mooted around
A NORTH university has announced its bursary scheme to help poorer students pay tuition fees. Durham University will charge undergraduates the full £3,000 a year, and plans to help students from lower-income families by offering grants that will eventually
SCHOOLCHILDREN became teachers for the day to help their parents discover their artistic talents. The event marked the end of a project which has seen more than 100 children at Normanby Primary School, Middlesbrough, participate in weekly workshops with
A NORTH university has announced its bursary scheme to help poorer students pay tuition fees. Durham University will charge undergraduates the full £3,000 a year, and plans to help students from lower-income families by offering grants that will eventually
AFTER more than two decades of feeding hungry children, dinner lady Rhoda Dawson has finally hung up her apron. For the last 22 years, she has been serving up the lunchtime grub for youngsters at Broomfield School in Northallerton. And as she carried
AN MP is lending her support to a new campaign to ensure every home in Teesside has a smoke alarm. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor is joining firefighters today at Asda in Thornaby to promote the scheme, called Egg for an Alarm. Organised by Cleveland Fire
COUNCIL staff were praised at a local government presentation ceremony. Stockton Borough Council was named finance team of the year and received commendations in a further two categories at the LGC Awards for Excellence 2005. The council was commended
THE widow of the man who inspired James Bond's Q character has revealed some of his ingenious gadgets, which feature in dozens of Bond movies. Charles Fraser-Smith was Ian Fleming's inspiration for 007's trusty aide. Chessmen filled with ink, matches
BUSKER Norman Evans MBE will be given the freedom of his borough on Tuesday. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will meet at Gisborough Hall at 11.30am to confer the honour on Mr Evans, of Redcar. He regularly busks for charity in the town's High Street
LITTLE Red Riding Hood, trolls, wizards and fairies will be out helping youngsters celebrate Easter this year. Newby Hall, near Ripon, is playing host to a series of family fun events on Easter Sunday, including a woodland treasure hunt. Elsewhere there
KARATE kid Kathryn Sams has earned her black belt at the age of ten. The award makes the County Durham girl one of the youngest martial arts experts in the country. She has been training up to three times a week since taking to the sport in January 2003
NEW figures have revealed that more than a third of North Yorkshire residents are risking major health problems by not exercising enough. The study, by MORI and Sheffield Hallam University, found only 26 per cent of people living in the county exercise
NORTH-EAST education worker Wendy Jackson will pass on her expertise to universities in three African countries over the next four weeks. Ms Jackson, who works at the University of Sunderland, will leave on Sunday to visit academic institutions in Ghana
STAFF and students from Derwentside College met MPs in London yesterday as part of a drive to improve funding in higher education. Principal David Houpt is heading the Bridging the Funding Gap campaign to close the ten per cent disparity between sixth
AN outdoor adventure centre has received a welcome cash boost from the Big Lottery Fund. The £53,000 grant will pay for improved shower and toilet facilities with better disabled access at the Stainsacre Hall Residential Education and Activity Centre,
A MOTHER and her two children escaped from a house fire unscathed thanks to the early warning from a smoke detector. The blaze at a house in Doncaster Crescent on Stockton's Ragworth estate is being investigated, but firefighters said "smoking materials
POLICE have put the brakes on off-road bikers using parks and footpaths as speedway tracks. Operation Obey is an intelligence-led enforcement to stop off-road riders persistently riding in public areas. Community police teams together with council wardens
EIGHT girls from the same North Yorkshire school were celebrating yesterday after being accepted into the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. They are all pupils at Queen Mary's, an independent school for girls based at Baldersby, near Thirsk
CELEBRITY historian David Starkey visited Snape Local History Group to talk about a notable historic figure from the area. Dr Starkey visited the group on March 11 to speak about Catherine Parr, who was Lady Latimer of Snape Castle before she became the
A VETERAN anti-nuclear campaigner has told North-East civic leaders about the need to back a campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Bruce Kent visited Durham Town Hall to talk about Mayors for Peace, which was started by the Mayors of Nagasaki
WITNESSES are being sought after a "highly visible" raid on isolated premises near Sutton Bank on the edge of the North York Moors. The thieves stole 3,500 litres of diesel fuel, a power-washer, two petrol strimmers, an MTD ride-on mower, a Hayter lawnmower
A COUNCIL is taking to the road to ask people how it should spend £78m earmarked for travel and transport improvements. Durham County Council will hold eight public sessions on draft proposals for improvements across the county over the next six years
BUSINESSES involved in tourism will find strength in numbers next week when they meet to promote a dale's economy. More than 30 businesses ranging from guest houses to gift shops are joining in a promotional event at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland,
VOLUNTEERS who have rescued a swimming baths for community use have set themselves a target date to reopen. Campaigners in Weardale banded together a year ago after Wolsingham pool closed to the public because it lost a £20,000-a-year council subsidy.
A SINGLE mother who used an elderly woman's details to buy mail order goods has been jailed for six months. Andrea Little, 24, bought £450 of items from Grattan, Littlewoods and Next using the name of the woman who had previously lived in her house in
DEVELOPERS have submitted controversial plans to demolish a landmark pub and hotel on the edge of Darlington. Premier Homes UK has lodged proposals with the borough council for the demolition of the White Horse Hotel, in North Road. The company wants
TEENAGE entrepreneurs have organised a battle of the bands competition in their own sixth form common room. The 12 young people hope that more than 180 musicians from the Tees Valley will take part in the competition, on Wednesday, April 13, at Stockton
ONCE upon a time, planes were just for the rich. The rest of us went - if we went at all - by bus or train and ferry. But that's all changed. Now you can fly abroad for less than it costs you to get to Newcastle or York on the train. And it's not just
It was the job advert that caught my attention. It read: "No pay, no promotion prospects, no bonuses, no expenses, no business lunches, no glamour and sometimes not even a thank-you." Hardly a ringing endorsement for a position - but the advert for the
INGLIS DREVER put the seal on a Cheltenham treble for trainer Howard Johnson yesterday -and he immediately paid tribute to the North-East's part in the success. The trainer - who sent Arcalis and No Refuge to victory earlier in the week -put the success
SPECTATOR is still not quite sure what they're doing on the islands in the middle of Darlington's ring road - but he knows what they've done. Contractors seem to have felled several of the trees which brought a little bit of relief to the dreary dual
THE owner of a controversial animal incinerator gave a cheerful thumbs-up to a friend shortly before he was found shot dead in his office, an inquest heard yesterday. Edward Noddings was found by police at the offices of J E Noddings and Son, in Charltons
BEFORE Christmas, Neale Cooper was sick of saying the same thing after each away game ended in defeat. Now he's fed up of again sounding like a broken record as Pool prepare for tomorrow's game at play-off rivals Bradford City. Cooper is experiencing
IN this injury-infested world it's hard to know who evoked the greater sympathy this week, Jonny Wilkinson or Best Mate. Some might even argue a case for Titus Bramble. But, as usual, it's the horsey people who put on the brave face, with the general
VICTORIAN times were brought to life for pupils from Reeth and Gunnerside. Youngsters gathered in Reeth Primary School, where they were visited by Jane Sammells and Julie Bissicks from Curriculum Kitchen. The two women came to the school dressed in period
DESPITE suffering their ninth defeat in the last ten games, Darlington Mowden Park did well enough at Bradford and Bingley to suggest they can overhaul Rugby Lions to avoid the third relegation spot in National Three North. Against a side pressing for
VULNERABLE residents have been advised how to protect themselves from bogus callers. As part of a Home Office campaign to protect the elderly, the Lock, Stop, Chain and Check seminar arrived in Redcar. The campaign is backed by organisations including
A LEADING car safety systems manufacturer is to create 170 jobs in a multi-million pound expansion. TRW Systems is building three production lines at its plant in Peterlee, County Durham, to manufacture the latest generation of electronic sensors for
FORMER members of three pop bands will appear in Darlington next month. Faye Tozer, from Steps, Jon Lee, from S Club 7, and Noel Sullivan, from Hear'Say, are in the musical Love Shack, at the Civic Theatre from April 11 to April 16. The show also features
INTERNATIONAL rider Nicola Tweddle has started the 2005 British eventing season in good style. The 27-year-old from Northallerton took part in the opening one-day event of the season, staged at Isleham in Cambridgeshire and sponsored by Isleham Fresh
A TEESSIDE council has appointed a new assistant chief executive. She is Jenny Haworth, previously head of policy and performance at Stockton Borough Council. She will be responsible for the communications department which was previously run by Jane Knox
With Clyde Wijnhard suspended when Darlington travel to Grimsby Town tomorrow Quakers look likely to call on one of the club's veteran reserve strikers. Craig Russell and eight-goal Craig Hignett come into contention, although the ex-Sunderland striker
THE agricultural industry was facing its biggest-ever challenge, Steve Ellwood, head of agriculture for HSBC bank, told a large gathering of farmers. He was one of four speakers at a conference From Plough to Plate, held at Thirsk Racecourse and organised
Air travel round Britain isn't just for the wealthy any more, and with the growth in regional airports, it can be very convenient. But is it better/cheaper/quicker than taking the train? ONCE upon a time, planes were just for the rich. The rest of us
SUPERMARKET group Morrisons warned of further profits disappointment after continuing to experience problems integrating its Safeway acquisition. Morrisons said annual profits before tax and one-off items would now be in the range of £320m and £330m -
WITH Matty Appleby making an inspirational start to his second spell at the club, Darlington strikers Clyde Wijnhard and Alun Armstrong ended their recent lean spells to shoot down League Two leaders Yeovil Town last Saturday. After the Quakers front
A POPULAR male voice choir is seeking a recruit who can conduct him or herself properly. The Durham Constabulary choir, formed in 1948, was initially open only to serving officers. However, it now welcomes all force employees and members of the public
AN independent inquiry has criticised the way risk assessments were carried out in the case of a psychiatric patient who killed his wife. The inquiry was ordered after Thomas Gallagher, 45, stabbed his 34-year-old wife, Elizabeth, 30 times in September
THE chief executive of Teesdale District Council has confirmed that he is considering leaving the authority. Rumours abounded earlier this week that Charles Anderson, who has been with the council since 1996, was to announce his resignation at Wednesday's
THIS week's Diary comes from the remarkable West Yorkshire village of Saltaire, which lies between Bingley and Shipley, not far from the Leeds Bradford airport. We spent most of a day exploring this former industrial community and perhaps the enduring
CARE for the elderly in the Redcar and Cleveland area came under the spotlight this week, with news of a new home for Guisborough and discussions with MPs. Hartburn Care Homes was granted outline planning permission for a residential home with more than
AN asylum-seeker with HIV who was jailed for infecting three of his lovers with the virus has failed to have his conviction overturned. The decision to reject Feston Konzani's appeal was last night welcomed by the officer whose investigation put the musician
LISBON is a port and city rich with a history of exploration and discovery, so it's a little ironic that Middlesbrough's maiden European adventure should come to a shuddering halt in the Portuguese capital last night. Conceding three away goals in the
PLANS to erect five 80m high wind turbines near Heighington have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council. EDF Energy, based at Doxford International Business Park, Sunderland, is proposing to build the wind farm with a control building on land near
A MENTAL health patient who murdered a prostitute 17 years after killing his wife may not spend the rest of his life behind bars. Judges at London's Criminal Appeal Court yesterday ruled that an order preventing George Leigers from ever being considered
THE BUDGET: GORDON Brown certainly can take genuine credit for his decision in 1997 to transfer responsibility for inflation control away from politicians to the Bank of England which has led to greater stability of the economy. In addition, his decision
A BEER originally brewed for Teesside steel workers marks its 50th anniversary today. Camerons Strongarm was launched in Hartlepool on March 18, 1955. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the brewery has launched a premium version. Mike Berriman, sales
GO ON, admit it, if you've got internet access, you've had a peep. It would be only natural. We all want to know what our bricks and mortar are worth or, more accurately, what somone might be willing to pay for them. It's against human nature not to stop
FROM this newspaper 150 years ago - The discovery of iron-stone in Cleveland has given rise to a vast amount of enterprise, which is not confined to the immediate district. The immense mines of hidden wealth which have so suddenly been brought to light
A controversial £8,000 junket to Hawaii for a group of teachers has brought one new initiative for their schools - a parent and child drumming workshop. The arts conference in the exclusive Waikiki beach resort was paid for by the taxpayer and ignited
A CHARITY beer barrel push by youngsters accused of anti-social behaviour has been cancelled after relations between youths and adults turned sour. Young people in Masham, North Yorkshire, agreed to race barrels filled with water around the Market Place
IT is inconceivable that jewellery which may have been stolen from the victims of mass murderer Harold Shipman could end up belonging to his widow. Primrose Shipman has instructed solicitors to reclaim £10,000 worth of wedding rings, necklaces, brooches
THE management team that runs Hutton Rudby Village Hall is to investigate noise levels from the refurbished building. A complaint has been made following a number of social events at the hall, which re-opened in November following a £475,000 makeover.
NINTENDO DS, Price: £99, Family friendly? Definitely: IT'S going to be a vintage year if you are the kind of person who enjoys gaming on the go. We've already had the excellent Tapwave Zodiac and the Tiger Gizmondo is waiting (sort of) in the wings, provided
WITH an award-winning Cole Porter crowd-pleaser and a cast clad in £800,000 of costumes, which arrived via Broadway and the West End, this is more than Another Op'nin, Another Show. Strangely, this op'nin number drifts on a little too long before we meet
THERE was a time when Middlesbrough was a gastronomic desert of the very first order -a time when there was a greater likelihood of finding something decent to eat in a Soviet gulag than within the boundaries of the Boro. It was probably not as long ago
A RARE breed of cattle has been brought in to help conserve a nature reserve. Five Highland cattle belonging to hobby farmer Ken Ibbotson, from Murton, County Durham, are being allowed to graze - outside the flowering season - at the Crow Trees Local
THE Conservative Party has revealed its candidate to fight the seat of North Durham at the forthcoming General Election. Mark Watson, of Kimblesworth, Chester-le-Street, has been chosen to fight the seat currently held by Labour's Kevan Jones with a majority
A FUNDRAISING busker from Marske is to receive the freedom of the borough next week. Norman Evans, 66, who has raised more than £250,000 for charity over the last 25 years, will receive the honour at Gisborough Hall, Guisborough, on Tuesday morning. Mr
THE fate of dozens of workers at a troubled factory was sealed last night as the company lost its main customer. Unions said that the Acre Products factory, in Darlington, would shut down earlier than expected. Initially, Acre bosses wanted to close the
WITH last year's 50th anniversary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park now a fading memory, perhaps it is safe to raise a treacherous thought: Britain's national parks have had a malign influence on our countryside. Enemies of the national parks, of which
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 380 cattle. In-calf hfr £520; AA cow & calf £680. Bulls: Char £590; Lim £570; BA £560; BB £550. Steers: Char £720; Lim £680; BA £705; Fries £345; BB £600; AA £395. Hfrs: Char £548; Lim £582; BA £585; BB £540. Breeding
BIRDS of prey helped to launch a wildlife survey this week. The birds, on loan from the Kirkleatham Owl Centre, helped the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to launch an owl survey. People were asked to keep their eyes and ears open to help organisers to establish
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren hailed his players' performance as 'magnificent' despite as the club's first run in the UEFA Cup coming to an end in Portugal last night. A late Pedro Barbosa strike put the finishing touches to a Sporting Lisbon aggregate
A manager sacked in a "free hospitality for police" row at a North-East hotel is celebrating an out-of-court settlement with his ex-boss. Stuart Dyson was dismissed from the Park Head Hotel, in New Coundon, County Durham, last year amid allegations that
A 62-YEAR-OLD man who carried out an appalling catalogue of rapes and sex assaults on children has been jailed for 15 years. David Forster indecently assaulted three girls and left them needing treatment for depression in adulthood because of the devastation
DARLINGTON Mowden Park could gamble on pressing Mark Bedworth back into service for the match they must win at home to Tynedale tomorrow. After being out for nearly three months with hamstring and pelvic problems, Mowden desperately need Bedworth to kick
WHEN Kieron Dyer nonchalantly back-heeled the ball into the Olympiacos net on Wednesday, he was rightly applauded for a piece of impudent opportunism. Yet, while the goal initially appeared to have come from nothing, it should have been no surprise to
THE Feversham Cricket League's future was in considerable doubt two years ago, having been reduced to just four competing teams. But things have improved since then, with Slingsby rejoining in 2004 to compete with Gillamoor, Harome, High Farndale and
A RAIL firm previously criticised for the quality of its services has been named among the worst in the country for failing to run trains on time. Just 68 per cent of First TransPennine trains were on time during the last quarter of last year, compared
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to develop a country lane in Sowerby is still being met with objections by local people, despite the owner revising the scheme. John Potter revised the plans in a bid to reach an agreement with residents, and held an open meeting
The Government Inspector (C4); The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (BBC1); IT'S easy to lose sight of the fact that The Government Inspector is as good and gripping a drama as TV will screen this or any other year. That aspect of writer-director Peter Kosminsky's
UK DAIRY producers must get to grips with the dairy value chain. Sir Ben Gill, the chairman of Westbury Dairies who farms at Easingwold, said that, if they failed to understand that market, they would lose out to increased imports of added value products
It was the job advert that caught my attention. It read: "No pay, no promotion prospects, no bonuses, no expenses, no business lunches, no glamour and sometimes not even a thank-you." Hardly a ringing endorsement for a position - but the advert for the
A GOVERNMENT inquiry has been demanded into Richmondshire District Council's management of its assets in Richmond. And a public meeting passed a vote of no confidence in the authority after residents said it failed to consult them properly. At a special
EIGHT court hearings and eight months after she threw three sticks of rhubarb at her brother, Margaret Porter was yesterday sentenced to 40 hours community service. She was also made the subject of a six-year criminal anti-social behaviour order (Crasbo
THE British Horse Society this week celebrated its 60,000th member - with more than 2,000 in the North region. BHS president Noel Edmonds presented 29-year-old Lucy Haynes with champagne, a certificate and two years' free membership of the society, a
A DIRECTOR has been appointed to run the body which represents local government in the region. The Association of North East Councils has appointed Melanie Laws to its top post, following last month's decision to separate the work of the association from
A £60M wood-burning power station will make the Tees Valley the UK's leading biofuels energy centre. Dr Dermot Roddy, chief executive of Renew Tees Valley, said there was no doubt the area was the UK's key centre for such developments. Dr Roddy was speaking
Bedale & West of Yore PC. - Mar 21-23: polo, for more details call Jonny Beardsall 01677 460007. Mar 27: team SJ at Northallerton EC, details 01845 526185. May 7: coach trip to Badminton Horse Trials, adults £36.50, children £21. Ring Mandy on 01677
THE heartbroken family of an eight-year-old boy who died in a house fire have spoken of their grief at the loss of their "wonderful little boy". The parents and grandparents of Liam Blakelock, who died in the fire at the family home on the outskirts of
A TUESDAY outdoor market is launched in Richmond next week. The town council agreed to hold the extra weekly event as part of its celebrations to mark the 850th anniversary of the town's first royal charter, granted in 1155. The new market will be held
A NORTH-EAST football club is about to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the most mascots to take to the field before a match. Guinness' judges will be among the crowd at Darlington Football Club on Saturday, March 26, to see 122 mascots run out
BORDERWAY (Carlisle). - Mon. Annual show & sale of prime cattle for North-West Lim Cattle Breeders' Association. Judge: Gavin Little, butcher, Penrith. Champion: Geoff Little, Greenhill, Wigton, ltwt red-coloured steer, 180p/£1,044 (top price of day
MYSTERY surrounds the 'spontaneous' suicide of a businessman. On the day of his death Edward Noddings, 54, who ran a slaughterer's business near Guisborough, had not appeared to be unhappy. He had given a cheery thumbs-up sign to Allen Reed, owner of
HERITAGE campaigners have lost their fight to halt demolition of Victorian features along Darlington's historic High Row. Steps, railings and balustrades will now be removed and a disused toilet block pulled down. Darlington Civic Trust protesters said
A US football player was undergoing surgery yesterday after an attack by a thug weeks after he moved to a North-East club. Stuart Holden, 19, signed for Sunderland two months ago and is predicted to have a big future with the Championship promotion hopefuls
DARLINGTON Mowden Park could gamble on pressing Mark Bedworth back into service for the match they must win at home to Tynedale tomorrow. After being out for nearly three months with hamstring and pelvic problems, Mowden desperately need Bedworth to kick
COUNTY Durham butcher Harry Coates has been on a mission very deer to his heart. He recently visited the Queen's Balmoral Estate in Scotland, from where H Coates & Son Butchers has been obtaining venison for the past three years for its steaks, joints
THERE were record numbers for the 23rd Redcar Half Marathon run in brilliant sunshine. A field of nearly 1,400 runners started the race, which used chip timing for the first time. The athletes wore micro-chips on their ankles and their placings were recorded
Northallerton Town 1 Newcastle Blue Star 2 THIRD-PLACED Newcastle Blue Star, with four games in hand over division two leaders Northallerton Town, closed the gap to just five points with last Saturday's 2-1 victory at the Calvert Stadium. After having
PAUL NICHOLLS' master plan of preparing Strong Flow (3.15) specifically for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is on the verge of fruition as the curtain comes down on the first four-day Festival meeting. Reigning three-time champion, Best Mate, cannot be present
A GREAT finish to the men's open was the highlight of the Holderness point to point held at Dalton Park last Sunday. Mr Mahdlo (Middleton), owned and trained by Bob Woodhouse, went in front five from home with Mr Pendleberry (C Tinkler/Middleton), ridden
POLICE have been cracking down on anti-social behaviour by youths - and they have warned their get-tough line will continue. Chester-le-Street community inspector Paul Anderson said two youths had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly and six had
PAUL NICHOLLS' master plan of preparing Strong Flow (3.15) specifically for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is on the verge of fruition as the curtain comes down on the first four-day Festival meeting. Reigning three-time champion, Best Mate, cannot be present
A TEAM of young athletes from a Guisborough school have been crowned national biathlon champions in their age group. Laurence Jackson Sports College's year seven team of Ralph Pearse, Callum Moffatt, Andrew Thomson and Thomas Julian emerged victorious
A NEW heritage tale taking in the architectural treasures of a North Durham town will be launched at the weekend. The unveiling of the Chester-le-Street Heritage Trail, which is the culmination of a three-year project, highlights 39 points of interest
NINTENDO DS, Price: £99, Family friendly? Definitely: IT'S going to be a vintage year if you are the kind of person who enjoys gaming on the go. We've already had the excellent Tapwave Zodiac and the Tiger Gizmondo is waiting (sort of) in the wings, provided
A QUARRYING company confirmed this week that it had no intention of seeking planning permission to work an area containing three scheduled ancient monuments near Bedale. Tarmac Northern has been at the centre of local controversy since it announced in
A CENTURY-old theatre will take a trip back to the vaudeville music hall era when staging the world's longest running musical. The Harrogate Theatre, in Oxford Street, is hosting a revival of The Fantasticks, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as
INSPECTORS are to make unannounced visits to a £2m walk-in health centre. Officials from the Darlington Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum will visit the town's new walk-in centre at Dr Piper House. They are part of the forum's monitoring role
A PLAN to create 160 extra car parking spaces in a North-East town centre has been delayed. Darlington Borough Council hoped to take over the NCP car park in East Street and open its upper deck on April 1. A spokesman for the authority, which owns the
A NEW mother who bit two sisters during a brawl over a taxi was spared jail yesterday. Victoria Milburn, 20, bit Marissa Ridley's finger and thigh and bit a section out of Marina Gray's ear. Newcastle Crown Court heard how it was Milburn's first night
Marie Curie Cancer Care collectors will be in a shopping centre tomorrow, as part of the charity's Great Daffodil Appeal. They will be at the Cornmill Centre, Darlington, and regional fundraising manager Linda McDonagh, pictured, said: "We'll be there
THE battle of Darlington's High Row has been lost, at least from the perspective of the town's admirable Civic Trust. It has put up a sterling defence of the thoroughfare's steps and balustrades and made the somewhat complacent council take notice of
A SKATE shop owner has hit out at the council after she was ordered to remove artwork from the front of the building. The mural began at Urban Chaos, in Duke Street, Darlington, yesterday morning but, after a member of the public complained, the borough
TWO community groups in Darlington have been shocked by the sudden resignation of one of their most prominent members after a row at a residents' meeting. Tom Nicholson, who was secretary of the Friends of North Park group and chairman of the North Road
TEAMS of council officers are available to visit community centres to hold workshops on using energy efficiently. Derwentside District Council energy officer Paul Cooper and sustainability officer Natalie Tomlinson will talk about measures residents can
A school is helping its pupils get the best possible sporting chance. Bishop Barrington School, in Bishop Auckland, will open a £1.5m sports hall in September. And staff will submit a bid for specialist sports status, which could mean having more money
MILLIONS of pounds are expected to be spent on re-modelling a town's network of terraced streets. Central Middlesbrough's decaying maze of terraced streets was built to house the workforce for Teesside's heavy industry during the Victorian era. Of the
A visitor attraction is organising Easter activities for youngsters. Meet the Middletons, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, will hold a prize Easter egg hunt from next Monday until Easter Monday and egg decorating workshops. There will be no extra charge for
She lives in a former miner's cottage, has never had a television, and when she's in search of inspiration she washes her clothes by hand. Nick Morrison meets the winner of the UK's most valuable literary prize, Gillian Allnutt. THE front window looked
A MARTIAL arts expert from the North-East is trying his hand at comedy with a new DVD. Ian "The Machine" Freeman, from Leadgate, Consett, sings, tells funny stories and dresses as Elvis Presley in aid of Cancer Research. The 37-year-old recently launched
ARTISTIC students hit the high notes at a festival earlier this month. A 45-strong team of students from Belmont School Community Arts College represented their school at the Darlington Performing Arts Festival held on March 5 and 12 and won several prizes
AN artistic schoolboy has won a national competition designed to help cheer up children in hospital. Joss Humberstone won the senior art category in the Peter Pan Awards for Creativity, organised by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
A MAN who attacked his mother and kicked a doctor in a hospital casualty department turned violent because he could not control his mood swings, a court heard. Christopher Hart, 30, was being treated in the accident and emergency department of Harrogate
KIND-HEARTED bikers will bring Easter cheer to children spending the holiday in hospital. Members of the Lanchester Centurions motorcycle club will ride to the children's ward at the University Hospital of North Durham on Wednesday to deliver between
A CHARITY for the blind and visually impaired has been given an award for its work in the community. Blind Life in Durham (Blind) have been chosen to receive a BT Community Connection award, giving them new computer software and Internet access. The group
CHILDREN are invited to search for Easter eggs on Good Friday. The hunt, on the Westfield pastures, in Richmond, will be from 2pm to 4pm. The hunt has being organised by the Richmondshire Open Spaces Appeal (Rosa), the fundraising arm of the charitable
PLANS to convert a barn are expected to be turned down. Nine neighbours objected to plans to convert an outbuilding to the west of 21 North Green, Staindrop. Teesdale District Council planning officers have recommended the scheme is refused planning permission
POLICE are looking for bogus callers preying on the elderly in Northallerton and Thirsk. Two males called at the home of an elderly couple in Northallerton at about 1.30pm on Tuesday. They tried to persuade the occupants to go into the garden to inspect
ILLUSTRATIONS from a book capturing the enchanting world of fairies will feature in an exhibition. Child Hazel was described as one of the most magical works of the Edwardian age after it was featured on BBC1's Antiques Roadshow recently. The book was
PHOTOGRAPHS of one of the country's oldest fairs are going on display. Scenes from Appleby Horse Fair, in Cumbria, which dates from 1685, have been captured in pictures taken in 1969. The exhibition - Appleby Revisited - will be in Darlington Arts Centre
COUNTY Durham rally star Guy Wilks took a sensational victory in the second round of the Junior World Rally Championship in Mexico last weekend after leading from the start and setting 11 fastest class stage times out of a possible 14. But the 24-year-old
AT THE beginning of April we are going to Percy's 90th birthday party. His modesty prevents me using his surname and all that it is important to know is that the Almighty cracked the mould that made him many years ago. He is a true countryman and modern
COUNCIL workers with young families are being offered the chance to receive vouchers to pay for childcare. Derwentside District Council has agreed to introduce the new salary sacrifice scheme for employees with children. People who sign up will pay £217
A JOB-SEEKER got a shock when she stumbled across an advert for a sex line operator - on a Government website. Rachel Thompson, 22, could not believe her eyes after a random search for call centre staff on the Jobcentre Plus website turned up the vacancy
North Lodge WI: BRENDA Dawson welcomed members, and also Tina Bickerdyke, county visitor. Mrs Bickerdyke presented Mabel Winter with the monthly competition trophy. Outings were discussed, one being a train ride to Edinburgh. The treasurer and secretary
The Government Inspector (C4) The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (BBC1) IT'S easy to lose sight of the fact that The Government Inspector is as good and gripping a drama as TV will screen this or any other year. That aspect of writer-director Peter Kosminsky's
POLICE have praised a actions of a new neighbourhood watch co-ordinator whose sharp eyes helped to catch a suspected bogus caller. Chester-le-Street community inspector Paul Anderson said there had been a spate of five bogus calls in the district on the
MICK McCarthy will spend the next seven days scouring the transfer market in an attempt to ensure Sunderland are not left cursing their luck in the most crucial month of the campaign. The Black Cats boss has resisted the urge to tinker with his squad
POLICE carried out three simultaneous operations at the weekend to target alcohol-related violence. Officers from the Cleveland force went on patrols last Friday and Saturday targeting 71 premises in Loftus, Guisborough, Redcar, Eston and Grangetown.
Renegade spy David Shayler is to stand against the Prime Minister in the forthcoming general election, it was confirmed today. Mr Shayler, jailed for six months in 2002 for revealing official secrets, will run in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency. The
AN announcement that a £2m sewer improvement scheme in Hartlepool is about to begin has been hailed as a second victory for people power. Northumbrian Water has announced it is to start work on the scheme on Monday. It follows a campaign by residents
A SEX parlour owner has been ordered to hand over almost £400,000 in earnings from brothels he operated in County Durham and North Yorkshire. John Middleton, whose girls entertained up to 40 soldiers a night, claimed he only made £30,000 from his prostitution
IN facing her 100th birthday next week, Madeleine Thompson, of Cotherstone, has more to remember than most, yet she can clearly recall momentous events that have occurred during her lifetime. The sinking of the now famous White Star liner, the Titanic
FARMERS have been urged to do all they can to submit error-free applications to join the new Entry Level Scheme. Strutt & Parker says Defra will accept applications for the scheme only on land already registered on the Rural Land Register digital
A COUNCIL-RUN centre for small businesses in Stockton has been labelled a white elephant by one of its tenants. Stockton Business Centre, in Brunswick Street, provides small starter offices and workshops for new businesses and those looking for their
THE Estadio Jose Alvalade can quite rightly claim to be one of the best venues in Europe and first impressions of the 52,000-seat stadium were breathtaking. From the outside the green and yellow colour scheme makes it a notable landmark but it's inside
