Archive
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Harmison does the historic trick, but Collingwood's ton is vital
THE true value of Paul Collingwood's century was underlined by the subsequent clatter of wickets, topped by an amazing Steve Harmison hat-trick at Riverside yesterday. The England paceman continued his fine-tuning for the Ashes series by bowling all three
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University agrees China college deal
ONE of the region's universities has signed an agreement with a counterpart in China to improve relations between the two. Staff from Sunderland University and Wuhan University have agreed to student exchanges, and to carry out joint research between
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A home for nesting birds and rare butterflies, but is it good or evil?
WHILE many of our hedgerow trees and shrubs are bursting into leaf, the blackthorn is producing masses of thick, white blossom. Aptly named due to its black bark, this dense and very prickly shrub manages to smother itself with flowers some time before
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The week that shamed justice
THE teenage son of a hospital consultant who knocked down and killed a little girl has escaped with a fine of just £500. It is the third North-East case in a week where justice has been exposed as a sham. On Monday, Mark Hobson, the former binman who
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Motorist shocked vandals with electrified car
Plagued motorist Peter Bayles prepared a shock for vandals who attacked his car. The electrician parked his blue P-registration Ford Mondeo outside his house and he wired it up to the mains. But a neighbour who spotted the cable tipped off the police
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Master cooper turns from beer to water
BEER and water do not usually mix, but the opposite has proved to be the case for Jonathan Manby. Mr Manby, one of the country's few remaining master coopers, makes traditional wooden casks for Theakston's Brewery at Masham, and has now used his skills
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Cup organisation under fire as Darlington cruise into final
THE prospect of an all-Darlington Durham Cup final moved a step closer on Wednesday night, but the organisation of the event came under fire as Darlington beat a Blaydon second XV 53-5 in the semi-final and Mowden Park were made to wait another week before
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Conman cheats cash out of OAPs
A CONMAN posing as a council worker duped pensioners out of their cash after he offered to remove unwanted furniture from their homes. Shortly before 3.30pm yesterday, the man, who was wearing blue overalls and a yellow hard hat, cheated cash from an
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Diouf to deny disorderly conduct allegation
Premiership footballer El-Hadji Diouf is to deny an allegation of disorderly conduct when he faces magistrates. The Bolton striker, on loan from Liverpool, has been accused of the offence following an incident at Middlesbrough in November. He is alleged
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Maternity warning
RUMOURS about the future of maternity services at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, persist because more and more people are aware that closure is an option that is being looked at. Although the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust and the primary care
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East coast inspires Eton boys
THE exhilaration and adventure of teaching art, especially to bright students in a creative environment, is captured in the latest exhibition at the Zillah Bell Gallery in Kirkgate, Thirsk. It is a fascinating and varied exhibition with some very saleable
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Jury told husband suffered too much
A WOMAN who watched her reclusive husband die after he took an overdose told a doctor she felt he had suffered enough, a court has heard. Jill Anderson, 49, was upset, but remained calm in the aftermath of her husband's death, Leeds Crown Court was told
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Delay over ship refit puts jobs at Swans in jeopardy
SHIPBUILDER Swan Hunter will continue to cut jobs if talks over a lifeline naval contract drag on, it emerged last night. The Tyneside yard is appealing to the Ministry of Defence to plug a two-year gap in its order book, by giving it a Royal Navy hospital
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Breeder in court over fine payments
A PARROT breeder was yesterday ordered to pay £130,000 in court fines at a rate of £150 a month. Harry Sissen, 66, of Cornhill Farm, East Cowton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, spent eight months in jail after he was convicted of smuggling rare
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Overdose man's wife thought he was past help
A woman who watched her reclusive husband die of a drugs overdose told police she did not call for help because he had turned blue and she thought it was too late, a court heard. Jill Anderson, 49, had spent the previous weekend begging her husband Paul
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Rapist may be free in just four years
A SERIAL rapist was freed from jail - only to strike again. Clifford Church, who worked in a charity shop in Redcar, was given a life sentence for a sickening sex attack but he will be able to apply for release after just four years. Church, 42, of Lincoln
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£155m schools project
FIVE new schools are to be built in Redcar and Cleveland in a multi-million pound project announced yesterday. Engineering contractors Mowlem will start work this month on the £155m deal which will see a new school in Mersey Road, Redcar, and one to be
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Bates gets the all-clear
RELIEVED Mark Proctor has backed Matthew Bates to go from strength to strength after the young defender survived a health scare yesterday. Bates will make his home debut for Darlington tomorrow after a second blood test allayed fears that the 18-year-old
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Simon proves ideal rock and role model for his pupils
A NORTH-EAST teacher will prove he can join the Fame Academy tonight when he performs the UK's number one single on primetime television. Music teacher Simon Ferry will be part of the band backing greying crooner Tony Christie as he performs number one
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Burton's Bytes: Horror on the high seas
COLD FEAR, Publisher: Ubisoft. Formats: PS2, Xbox, PC. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? No. Over 18s only: COLD FEAR was up against it from the start. Ubisoft couldn't have picked a worse time to release a survival horror game when the kings of the genre
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These happy piggies go to market
RARE breed pork and sausages have gone on sale at a Leyburn shop, thanks to business links forged between the proprietor and a Wensleydale farmer. Anne Kiely, who runs the Happy Piggy Park farm at Aysgarth, began selling her produce through the Dales
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The band that beats the bulge
A revolutionary form of stomach surgery is helping thousands of obese Europeans shed weight. Health Editor Barry Nelson discovers why so few such operations are done in the North-East. KEYHOLE surgeon Hasan Bandi is a frustrated man. He has the rare skills
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Scotmail Lad seals double victory for Mulhall
JOCKEY Clive Mulhall was in double winning form at the Cleveland point to point held at Stainton Vale last Sunday. First leg came in the Members on the Barr's Stepastray. Stepastray was held up early, he closed three from home, took up the running between
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Just to put you in the picture
YOUNG people and staff from the Thirsk Clock youth centre are to feature in a six-minute video about its activities and services. The film is being devised by volunteer James Loomes, and recorded by Helmsley-based company Gordon and Associates. One of
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Looking Back
FROM this newspaper 150 years ago. - Middleton Fair - The annual Spring Fair was held on Thursday. There was a good show of cattle, and most of them were sold at good prices. There were also premiums for the following:- For the best cart horse, £8, awarded
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Pupils to try healthy lunch for free
THOUSANDS of pupils will be offered a free school dinner to promote healthier menus. Durham County Council will introduce traditional, more nutritious meals in more than 240 schools -and will let youngsters try them for nothing. Councillors and officials
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No comment over spitting court case
CLUB bosses are refusing to get publicly involved in controversy surrounding Premiership footballer El Hadji Diouf. Officials at Bolton Wanderers last night remained silent about the prosecution he faces for allegedly spitting at a fan at Middlesbrough's
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Amelia celebrates her century
AMELIA USHER, a pillar of the north Durham community, has celebrated her 100th birthday. Mrs Usher marked the occasion surrounded by family and well-wishers at Durham House residential care home in Chester-le-Street. The daughter of a local wholesale
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Work on £25m school site to go ahead after funding deal
A DEAL was reached last night to rebuild one of the region's schools after education officials agreed to underwrite the project. The £25m project, to rebuild Durham Johnston School on a single site, will go ahead after Durham County Council agreed to
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Man told to pay £900 to authority
A MAN locked in a ten-year feud with a rural council was last night ordered to pay the authority £900 by a judge. Bernard Borman, from Leyburn, North Yorkshire, had launched a legal claim against Richmondshire District Council for £108 after claiming
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Motor sports may fall foul of Defra payment rules
MOTORCYCLE trials organisers are fighting to save their sport by pressing for clearer guidelines on using moors and farmland. One event in the Yorkshire Dales has already fallen victim to new Defra rules and others under threat could include the Scott
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Seems too good to be true because it is
PAY off my debts. Win £250,000. I could be sitting pretty, it said. All I had to do to gain this bounty was to scratch off the silver panels to find three matching symbols. Anything from that £250,000 to a digital camera would follow - and, according
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Tagging rare gun brings influx of orders
A RARE 17th century gun retrieved from the wreck of King Charles II's famous man o'war, the Stirling Castle, has led to an influx of orders for a Masham company. Ritchey-id - part of Ritchey plc - has found much demand for its robust polyurethane tags
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Alert issued over forged £20 notes
SHOPS, pubs, clubs and other businesses have been warned to beware of the circulation of fake £20 bank notes around County Durham. Convincing counterfeit notes have turned up in cash tills, and an alert has been issued by police and retail partnership
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Still more questions than answers over SFP
THE confusion and uncertainty over the Single Farm Payment was still very obvious this week. Prof Allan Buckwell, chief economist for the Country Land and Business Association and widely accepted as one of the leading authorities on the scheme, told a
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Charity is a good bet
A BETTING shop has given £1,000 to a charity that feeds children every morning and gets them to school on time. Ladbrokes Betting Shop, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, handed over the cheque to the Dene Valley Community Partnership. Partnership chairwoman
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Coroner rules on man's suicide
A TRAVELLER found hanging at a Bishop Auckland caravan park intended to take his own life, a coroner has ruled. Thomas Jardine, 32, was found by relatives and friends on November 9 last year. The Darlington inquest heard that a post-mortem examination
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Index aims to redeploy 160 staff
UNION leaders last night claimed to have saved up to 160 North-East store workers from the axe. Earlier this week, Littlewoods announced it was shutting down its Index catalogue store chain, with the loss of up to 300 jobs in the region. But shopworkers
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European victory for Hughes at Spa
WARREN Hughes notched up TVR's first ever international sportscar win at the weekend with victory in the first round of the European Le Mans Series (LMES) at Spa in Belgium. The prestigious European Series opener, a 1000km event, saw a big entry list
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Crash driver was on wrong side of road
DRIVER Susan Palin crashed her car into another woman's vehicle, then crawled towards her as she lay in the road, repeating: "What have I done to you?" a court heard yesterday. Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates how Palin, 39, of Post
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Social servies staff achieve national honours in care
A TEAM of carers who provide help and support for some of the most vulnerable people in society is celebrating national success. More than 50 social services staff in North Yorkshire have gained nationally-recognised qualifications, including National
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Preaching conference opens in city
A THREE-DAY preaching conference attracting visitors from across the world opened yesterday. The 2005 Durham Preaching Conference opened at St John's College, in the city, with US writer, the Reverend Fleming Rutledge, as the main speaker. More than 20
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Johnson steps up Scottish championship bid
LEEMING rally driver Kevin Procter continued his superb 2005 form when he added the Shenpar Phoenix Stages title to his list of successes. Unbeaten in his last four outings, Procter recorded another superb victory last weekend despite the damp conditions
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'Mask' baby Isobel makes history
A SIX-MONTH-OLD baby has become the youngest person in the world to receive revolutionary treatment for a rare medical condition. Isobel Flintoft, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, has Pfieffer syndrome. She was born without eye sockets and her skull
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Joes Edge wins Scottish National in thrilling finish
JOES Edge did it, in the most thrilling way, landing the Scottish Grand National at Ayr at 20-1 under a fine ride by Keith Mercer and edging out Ruby Walsh on Cornish Rebel by the shortest of short heads. Tomorrow is the final day of this National Hunt
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Die Fledermaus, Darlington Operatic Society, Darlington Civic Theatre
ENTERTAINMENT might be the new religion, but the society seems to be praying for good fortune after being forced to drop plans for Jesus Christ Superstar to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee Year and opting for an ambitious version of Johan Strauss's comic
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Museum steps up security for visit of Raphael's painting
GATES to a museum are being locked each night while it houses a valuable work of art. As part of the security arrangements for the visit of the Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks to the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, the museum gates are
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Shoptalk
THERE comes a time in a man's life when he has to get out of his jeans, T-shirt and trainers and into a suit, complete with shirt, tie and proper shoes. I think it's called growing up - as well as a transformation. Whether it's a wedding, an interview
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Civic hat-trick for meeting room
MIDDLESBROUGH'S deputy mayor has completed a hat-trick of visits to a community meeting room. As chairman of Middlesbrough Council's housing committee, Councillor Bob Brady opened The Courts Meeting Room, in central Middlesbrough, in 1985. In 1995, he
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Spotlight on young parents
A CONFERENCE designed to give advice and support to young parents took place in Tees Valley yesterday. The day-long Young Parents Think Positive meeting at the Oakwood Centre, Eaglescliffe, was attended by more than 130 delegates. Although the national
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Driver banned after incident with cyclist
A VAN driver collided with a cyclist on a busy bypass, shortly after the pair exchanged words over the manner of his driving, a court heard. The cyclist was knocked from his bike into roadside railings after being clipped by the van in Park Road Central
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Permits for waste disposal discussed
TWO local authorities are to scrutinise an unpopular decision by Durham County Council to introduce permits for waste disposal. The overview and scrutiny committees at Teesdale and Wear Valley District councils are to look into the new permit scheme.
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New team of community police officers patrolling the streets
A TEAM of community police officers is now patrolling the streets of east Durham in an attempt to reduce the fear of crime. The eight police community support officers have just started in the Easington Colliery and Horden areas and are working closely
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Willow artist weaves his magic for visitors
CREATIVE visitors to a country park have been given a lesson in garden decoration. Artist Derek Mosey lead the willow workshop at Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park, Normanby, Middlesbrough, organised by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Mr Mosey and
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Balancing the scales
IN this column yesterday, we bemoaned the lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system. It was based on two cases featured on our front pages this week. The first was about Mark Hobson, who killed four people after being allowed his freedom
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Classmates have designs on innovation awards
TWO teenage inventors are hoping to walk away with top design awards today. Schoolgirls Lisa Richardson and Rebecca Hurst, both 12, have already been crowned winners with their innovative designs of a glove torch and an automatic plant watering system
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How to help a hedgehog
A HEDGEHOG rescuer is raising awareness after saving hundreds of the spiny mammals across Cleveland and County Durham. Iris Davison, a member of the Cleveland Hedgehog Preservation Society who runs the Elton Hedgehog Rescue, in Darlington, has been rescuing
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London link made with unidentified body in car
UNCERTAINTY continues to surround the identify a man whose badly burnt body was found in a car that was on fire. The body was found by firefighters after they put out the blaze in a lay-by on the A61 Thirsk to Ripon road, in North Yorkshire, last Friday
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A ragged trousered educationalist
He left school at 16, but today Lord Sawyer will be installed as Chancellor of Teeside University. Nick Morrison talks to the trade unionist who hauled himself up to become one of the architects of New Labour. WHEN Tom Sawyer was asked to be Chancellor
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Losing out in the casino gamble
IF in war the first casualty is truth, in this election campaign it appears to have been regional casinos. Originally, any forward thinking authority was to be given the chance to bring a bit of Vegas glamour to their town or city. Then the Government
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Index aims to redeploy 160 staff
UNION leaders last night claimed to have saved up to 160 North-East store workers from the axe. Earlier this week, Littlewoods announced it was shutting down its Index catalogue store chain, with the loss of up to 300 jobs in the region. But shopworkers
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Richmond boys edged out by late try
RICHMOND School's under-16s rugby team just missed lifting the Yorkshire Cup when a late try denied them victory in the final at Doncaster last Saturday. Richmond dominated the first ten minutes against South Hunsley School and went ahead with a try by
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Housebuilder confident - despite selling less property
HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon yesterday sought to reassure investors by praising the resilience of the property market - despite selling fewer homes than a year ago. York-based Persimmon said the caution shown by buyers this year had not translated into a sharp
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Council outlines three-year strategy on yob culture
A THREE-YEAR blitz on anti-social behaviour is being lined up in Darlington. A string of measures will aim to tackle the problem, including a crackdown on litter and boosting council support for victims and witnesses of social disorder. Councillors will
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Protests grow over school closures
A BARRAGE of criticism has been fired at Darlington Borough Council ahead of a meeting to decide on school closures. A ward councillor and senior teachers have weighed in with attacks on plans to close Rise Carr Primary. Meanwhile, residents have signed
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Funding for N-E wind farm projects
WIND farm projects in the North-East could benefit from a bank's plans to plough £5m into the sector. Triodos Bank, which specialises in wind energy finance, is aiming to raise the cash from a share issue and predicts a healthy return for shareholders
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Former Boys Brigade leader admits sex attacks
A former Boys Brigade leader from the North-East was jailed yesterday after admitting a string of child sex attacks and internet pornography offences. David Bell and Jonathan Scarcliffe pleaded guilty to 26 charges earlier this year, ranging from making
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22/04/05
BACK OUR BOYS: HOW fickle some Darlington supporters are. The club has done everything in its power to help to bring the crowds to the Williamson Motors Stadium, by allowing children in free, and by allowing David Hodgson to bring in a number of class
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Wellock's World: An ever-darkening sewer
IF we think things are bad at Newcastle, spare a thought for the team they beat in a semi-final replay at Roker Park the last time they won the FA Cup 50 years ago. That was York City, who on Tuesday night lost 4-0 to Canvey Island. After all, the Magpies
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On TV
Ray Mear's Bushcraft (BBC1) Born With Two Mothers (C4) THE whole idea of Ray Mear's Bushcraft sounds so unlikely. I mean, an entire hour devoted to watching him build a canoe in a programme lacking the fast pace and flashy editing of most series these
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Special sale
LEYBURN. - Last Fri. Fwd: Catalogued entry of 54 cattle for April show & sale for North-East Limousin Breeders' Club. Judge: Alan Hall, Darlington. Champion: GD&J Clark, Castle Eden, 2-y-o bull Castleden Urchin by Lino out of Castleden Marielle
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New prom garden will include fossils and mosaics
A NEW garden is to be built on Saltburn's upper promenade near the top of the cliff lift. Costing £365,000, it will include an interpretative fossil area and mosaic features. The scheme is taking nearly half the £750,000 earmarked for improvements to
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Fight to protect village's character homes goes on
PROTESTERS are continuing their campaign to protect Eaglescliffe from housing developments after Government officials rejected an invitation to visit. Egglescliffe Parish Council has been campaigning for five years to prevent the demolition of historic
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Candidates square up for General Election
SEVEN candidates are contesting the Redcar constituency in next month's General Election. The nominations are: Vera Baird (Labour), Andrew Philip Harris (British National Party), Jonathan James Lehrle (Conservative), Christopher Sean McGlade (Independent
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ShopTalk: Time to get shirty
The cheap men's shirts now available may not be tailor-made, but they'd cut the mustard in most offices. THERE comes a time in a man's life when he has to get out of his jeans, T-shirt and trainers and into a suit, complete with shirt, tie and proper
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Banging the drum for diabetics
With the general election looming, the national charity Diabetes UK is calling for prospective MPs to make the illness a priority. Health Editor Barry Nelson reports. PEOPLE with diabetes in the region are being urged to lobby their local Parliamentary
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Priority for homes may be changed
A COUNCIL is to consult housing groups over planned changes to the way it allocates accommodation. Chester-le-Street District Council currently operates a system where the longer someone is on the waiting list the higher priority they are for a home but
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Gait price a surprise
AUCTIONEERS were surprised by the high price paid for sheep grazing rights near Hawes. The 60 sheep gaits on Abbotside Common, the first to come up for sale for ten years, had a guide price of £200 each, but brisk bidding took them to £320, a total of
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Wings can fly high in Sandown Derby trial
SANDOWN stages an important Derby trial this afternoon featuring the leading Middleham-based contender, Hearthstead Wings (2.20). Mark Johnston's colt rounded off last season by finishing third in the one-mile Gran Criterion, an Italian Group 1 event
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Rena says farewell to charity shop
CHARITY champion Rena Shaw has hung up her fundraising boots after helping to pull in more than £1m for Cancer Research. Mrs Shaw has clocked up more than 30 years of fundraising for the charity and during her time as manager, its High Street shop in
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Father of fatal crash victim found dead in hotel room
A GRIEVING family has been dealt another tragic blow following the death of a young father whose daughter was killed by boy racers. The body of Kevin Schwec, from Loftus, was found in a hotel room in Bristol on Monday - the day that would have been his
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Sir Trevor praises all-weather centre
FORMER England footballer Sir Trevor Brooking has officially opened a £485,000 sports facility in the region. He watched tennis, football and hockey demonstrations at the all-weather pitch in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, before he opened the facility
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Teesdale talk - French tourists enjoy local sights
Four tourists from France sounded quite animated this week as they translated the words on a history display board at the site of a Roman ford used for three centuries by troops to cross the River Tees at Barnard Castle. The visitors took snaps of each
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Bogus filmmaker who videoed girls is jailed
A bogus filmmaker who made hundreds of videos of naked teenage girls was jailed for six years today. Lawrence Petch gave his business card to schoolgirls who flocked to his house in dinner breaks and at weekends. He bought a wardrobe of outfits for them
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Breeder in court over fine payments
A PARROT breeder was yesterday ordered to pay £130,000 in court fines at a rate of £150 a month. Harry Sissen, 66, of Cornhill Farm, East Cowton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, spent eight months in jail after he was convicted of smuggling rare
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Caring for their food
CARE staff from across the region have been cooking up treats for elderly people. Catering experts at Darlington College of Technology joined forces with nutrition specialists to run a Focus on Food course for professional cooks. About 30 staff attended
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Guilty of possession
TWO men found in possession of cannabis and ecstasy tablets were both given 18-month community rehabilitation orders by magistrates yesterday. Graeme Hogg, 22, and Kevin Shields, 23, were arrested after police raided an address in Chatsworth Terrace,
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Parrot breeder to protest against confiscated birds
A protesting parrot breeder plans to perch on a giant grandfather clock until his confiscated birds are returned. Harry Sissen, 66, pitched a tent on the 30ft high wooden clock that he built in a field next to his home. He says he will stay there until
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Crime team to beat the thieves
A TEAM of specially-trained police officers will investigate every house break-in the county. The team of hand-picked officers has been schooled in forensics, crime scene awareness and crime prevention in an attempt to arrest more thieves and recover
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£155m to build five new schools
A MASSIVE £155m schools building programme has been given the go-ahead on Teesside. The 30-year scheme will see five schools built in Redcar and Cleveland. The private finance (pfi) deal will pay for the design and build of the schools. It will also fund
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No flock wallpaper shock in new Indian restaurant
IN A small town already well catered for with Asian food outlets, any new kid on the block is going to have to be either exceptionally good or radically different in order to cut the mustard (seed). In the case of Aroma, founders Nij, Sammy and Atikul
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Walking for charity
CHARITY fundraisers organised a dog walk with a difference when they set out to conquer a North-East landmark. Staff from the BiB insurance group, in Darlington, brought family and friends together for the sponsored walk up Roseberry Topping, in the Cleveland
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Trust works on help for minorities
A MENTAL health trust has carried out its first census to improve services for ethnic minorities. County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust took part in the national Count Me In mental health and ethnicity census this month to gather information
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Addict told to take drive test
A HEROIN addict who repeatedly drove while disqualified was told by magistrates yesterday to take his driving test. Father-to-be Mark Naisbitt, 24, of Pateley Moor Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance
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Six months jail for punch that broke jaw
A 20-YEAR-OLD man was jailed for six months yesterday after he admitted throwing a punch which broke his victim's jaw in two places. The blow, from Peter Vickers, of Kenilworth Drive, Darlington, left Paul Briggs unable to eat solid foods for two months
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Homes future up for debate
THE first part of the formal process of transferring Teesdale's council housing stock is about to start. Next Thursday, district councillors are expected to approve a Formal Offer Document, which will be sent to all tenants, detailing the proposals for
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Howard pledges to scrap stamp duty for most
STAMP duty would be scrapped for the majority of homebuyers in the North-East and North Yorkshire, under Conservative plans unveiled yesterday. Michael Howard said the Tories would raise the stamp duty threshold from £120,000 to £250,000 at a cost of
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Inquest into death of man in police probe
AN inquest was opened yesterday into the death of a man who was arrested in connection with the disappearance of a former miner three years ago. Fifty-six-year-old Edward Donnelly went missing from his home in Fynway, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street
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Police appoint expert team in quest to cut burglaries
A TEAM of specially trained police officers is to investigate every house break-in across County Durham and Darlington. The small team of hand-picked officers has been schooled in forensics, crime scene awareness and crime prevention in an attempt to
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Inquest into death of man in police probe
AN inquest was opened yesterday into the death of a man who was arrested in connection with the disappearance of a former miner three years ago. Fifty-six-year-old Edward Donnelly, pictured, went missing from his home in Fynway, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street
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Rising crime figures are an accounting blip - Labour
VIOLENT crime returned to the top of the election agenda yesterday after Home Office figures revealed a surge of nine per cent in recorded incidents in the final three months of the year. Labour said the figures were down to a chance in accounting procedures
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Losing out in the casino gamble
IF in war the first casualty is truth, in this election campaign it appears to have been regional casinos. Originally, any forward thinking authority was to be given the chance to bring a bit of Vegas glamour to their town or city. Then the Government
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Coroner rules on baby's death
A BABY girl who died when she was only eight days old had a heart defect, an inquest heard yesterday. Amy Louise Walker, from West Chilton Terrace, Chilton, died in February. Durham Deputy Coroner Brenda Davidson recorded a verdict of death by natural
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Expansion plan for recycling services
PLANS to spend £730,000 on Darlington's household recycling centre have been unveiled. The plan is to double the size of the Drinkfield Civic Amenity Site in Mewburn Road, and offer more recycling and educational opportunities. Darlington was awarded
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Drugs gang to serve longer sentence
An eight-strong drugs gang snared by police after a lengthy undercover operation will have to serve even longer in jail because of a change in judges' sentencing powers. The eight, all Darlington men, had been handed sentences earlier this month totalling
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Hoaxes down as suspect calls are challenged
FIRE chiefs are finally overcoming hoax callers, who cost the emergency service hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. Statistics out this month show a significant fall in the number of prank calls because of the success of challenging suspected
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Scheme puts farmers under stress
A CHARITY is concerned about the severe stress farmers are under through problems surrounding the new Single Payment Scheme. Farm Crisis Network (Yorkshire) says: "Some are so disillusioned they have not even attempted to tackle their SPS application
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Soldiers show off latest equipment at open day to tempt recruits
TERRITORIAL soldiers paraded alongside impressive machinery at the launch of a recruiting campaign. Hundreds of people are needed to join the Territorial Army in the North-East to replace those who have left in recent months. The busy TA centre in Brambles
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Don't tolerate bad behaviour
HARTLEPOOL'S anti-social behaviour unit is calling on residents not to suffer in silence. The unit in Hartlepool said that with the approach of summer and lighter nights, incidents of yobbish behaviour were likely to increase. Senior officer Nicholas
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All change at housing office
A HOUSING organisation has announced changes to its area offices. Residents who use Coast and Country Housing's offices in Roseberry Square, Redcar, and Wilton Lane, Dormanstown, will be able to access services at the organisation's new headquarters,
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Airport business park row still to be resolved
PLANS to develop a business park at Durham Tees Valley Airport are no further forward after concerns over its location. An open meeting of Darlington Borough Council was held yesterday, at which proposals to build the park on greenfield land north of
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McCarthy turning to hot-shot Elliott for season's end
AN EXPECTANT Mick McCarthy is looking for Stephen Elliott to fire Sunderland towards the top-flight this weekend, after claiming that the striker's recent rest has left him refreshed and raring to go. Elliott was the Black Cats' leading scorer in the
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An ever-darkening sewer
IF we think things are bad at Newcastle, spare a thought for the team they beat in a semi-final replay at Roker Park the last time they won the FA Cup 50 years ago. That was York City, who on Tuesday night lost 4-0 to Canvey Island. After all, the Magpies
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Pony dates
Bilsdale Hunt. - May 7: point to point, Rising Sun Farm, Easingwold, first race 2pm. Free passes for qualifying farmers and landowners, sae to Michael Heywood, Chapel House, Knayton, York YO7 4AZ. BHS Durham County. - May 22: Access Week ride, starting
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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 797 sheep. Lt hoggs to 130p av 100.2p; std to 121p av 105.2p; med to 123p av 112.5p; heavy to 121p av 108.2p. Cast ewes: Cont £56; BFL £33.50; Mule £50.50; Swale £44.50. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 450
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Simon proves ideal rock and role model for his pupils
A NORTH-EAST teacher will prove he can join the Fame Academy tonight when he performs the UK's number one single on primetime television. Music teacher Simon Ferry will be part of the band backing greying crooner Tony Christie as he performs number one
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News from the Guilds and WIs
Wentworth Park WI: THE annual meeting was held in Ouston Community Centre April 14. After the singing of Jerusalem, we had a minute's silence due to the death of one of our members Gina Felton, who will be sadly missed. The minutes of last month's meeting
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Connor's first steps to recovery
A CHILD'S first birthday is supposed to be a happy occasion, filled with memories the family will cherish for life. Connor Bolton's family will certainly never forget the day he turned one, but not because of the sight of him blowing out a candle or eating
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Family's relief at call from backpacker feared lost
THE importance of phoning home has been drummed into one young backpacker after an international campaign was launched to trace his whereabouts after he was feared missing. The family of 23-year-old Darren Pearson, from Thimbleby, near Northallerton,
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Team-mates may leave, but I'm staying put - Shay
SHAY Given has predicted a summer of upheaval at St James' Park, but the sought-after shot-stopper insists he will be going nowhere in the close season. Given has been one of the few success stories in a calamitous campaign that has seen Newcastle lurch
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Anger at threat to ploughing near henges
ANGRY farmers have told English Heritage that proposed restrictions on ploughing in an area of eight square miles around three scheduled ancient monuments near Bedale could threaten their businesses. The zone was revealed to farmers and landowners at
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Forty years of blisters and vistas on a great adventure
IT might have taken 30 years for the idea to catch on. But the Pennine Way has certainly gone on to make its mark in the walkers' world. This weekend, the 268-mile trail celebrates its 40th birthday. The occasion is being marked with a special "Walk the
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Steak or fish on Fridays - a Papal puzzle
BISHOP John Crowley of Middlesbrough, a former secretary to the late Cardinal Hume, told the story of a "steak of a lifetime" bought for Pope John Paul when he visited Britain in May 1982. Asked at a news conference in Middlesbrough for a light-hearted
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Senior health staff insist: Friarage maternity unit is not at risk
HEALTH managers have described claims that the Friarage Hospital maternity unit is at risk as unfounded. Concern was voiced after it emerged that closure of the unit was one of four options considered by the NHS South Tees Trust clinical futures board
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Wasteful method to make cash
A RECYCLING firm is offering to pay schools and community groups for old textiles. R Klub Recycling, from Hartlepool, said it will dish out £200 for every tonne of textiles it receives from schools, clubs and community groups. The clothes will then be
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Community award at the age of 90
AN EAST Anglian man who settled in Guisborough has received a community achievement award at the age of 90. Vic Knights, who hails from Felixstowe, moved to Brotton in the 1980s and then to his home in Stump Cross, Guisborough, in 1988. Since then he
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Call for radical approach to end transport logjams
DARLINGTON needs to clear the decks on traffic snarl-ups. This was the call made to the council's transport forum this week. Coun Jim Ruck said the borough's second local transport plan should be an opportunity to get tough. "We need to be more radical
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One step closer to sale of Feethams
THE trust that owns the derelict former home of Darlington Football Club last night took a big step towards disposing of the ground. Darlington Feethams Cricket Field Trust has agreed to seek professional advice on how to secure the best possible deal
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Gone is child's freedom to roam and to learn
WITH some of my grandchildren in the car, the topic under discussion was "what was it like when you were little?". Half a century separates their today from my yesterday. It became immediately apparent that childhood in the post-war countryside was very
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African adventure for charity volunteer
A TEESDALE volunteer has exceeded her fundraising target for a trip to Africa. Jenny Wayman, 21, from Baldersdale, will travel to Tanzania for three weeks after raising £2,201. Miss Wayman will be working with charitable organisation Cross Cultural Solutions
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My nightmare: Belsen
A Belsen survivor has spoken for the first time about her experiences at the Second World War concentration camp. Toni Zwaak decided to break her 60-year silence following the anniversary of the liberation of the camp in the hope that her experiences
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Approval to convert pub
A scheme to turn a disused pub into a community hall and housing development in Nidderdale has been approved. Councillors voted unanimously for the project at The Bay Horse Inn, Burnt Yates, on the Ripley to Pateley Bridge road, near Ripley. The planning
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Army tonic for sick children
HOSPITAL staff yesterday said a big thank you to the Army for donating DVD players, PlayStations and games to a children's ward. Members of the Royal Military Police from Catterick Garrison visited the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, to hand over
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A rural upbringing produced healthy stock
A GREAT grandfather, who celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday, puts his health and independence down to good Welsh farming stock. Bill Allen, of Sanderson Close, Newton Aycliffe, was brought up in Wales and says it was his start in life that has kept
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Man made threats to smash car
GRANDMOTHER Linda Green's car outing with her daughter and two young grandchildren ended in terror because of the antics of a man waving a bottle of cider and banging on her vehicle, a court was told yesterday. Simon Ostler, prosecuting, said Justin Jackson
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Caring for carers with massage offer
CARERS got a taste of their own medicine yesterday when they were offered therapeutic massages from the British Red Cross. They were given a relaxing hand, neck and shoulder massage at the Methodist Church, in Northallerton. The therapeutic care service
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Tribunal is told faulty car left plant
A MECHANIC who said a car had left the Nissan factory with a potentially dangerous fault declined to hand over the details when bosses visited his home, a tribunal has been told. Instead, Alan Richardson said he was only prepared to communicate with the
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Hurry for free advice
A FREE planning advice service for farmers and agricultural businesses in North Yorkshire has been given the go-ahead to continue until the end of June, but farmers are being urged to use it quickly. Yorkshire Planning Aid is part of the Royal Town Planning
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Horror on the high seas
COLD FEAR, Publisher: Ubisoft. Formats: PS2, Xbox, PC. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? No. Over 18s only: COLD FEAR was up against it from the start. Ubisoft couldn't have picked a worse time to release a survival horror game when the kings of the genre
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The week that shamed justice
THE teenage son of a hospital consultant, who knocked down and killed a young girl while speeding, escaped with a fine of just £500 yesterday. It is the third North-East case in a week where justice has been exposed as a sham: * On Monday, Mark Hobson
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Baroness highlights the crisis facing homeless
BARONESS Maddock visited the region yesterday to focus on the crisis she said was facing homeless single people. The Liberal Democrat housing spokeswoman in the House of Lords was in Durham City to visit Durham Action on Single Housing, at Dragonville
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Tragic student is remembered
SOCCER-LOVING students hold a fundraising football tournament this weekend in memory of a friend who died of epilepsy. Last year, Teesside University physiotherapy student Robert Baldwin died suddenly from the condition, aged 19. Determined to honour
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Wasteful method to make cash
A RECYCLING firm is offering to pay schools and community groups for old textiles. R Klub Recycling, from Hartlepool, said it will dish out £200 for every tonne of textiles it receives from schools, clubs and community groups. The clothes will then be
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Yorkshire's on-song Harvey thumps a career-best
Revitalised Ian Harvey plundered his career-best score of 161 not out to charge Yorkshire on to 401 for seven and maximum batting bonus points against Somerset at Headingley yesterday. The Australian all-rounder also featured in an unbroken stand of 174
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Choral group concert marks new season
DURHAM Choral Society will open its 2005 season in Durham Cathedral next month with performances of 20th Century music. The main feature of the concert on Saturday, May 21, will be Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man, which was commissioned by The Royal Armouries
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Election candidates raise concerns over assets sell-off
William Hague says the "whole community is in uproar" over whether Richmondshire District Council should sell off its town centre assets to finance a £4.5m move to Colburn. Chris Lloyd and Joe Willis ask the four candidates in the General Election how
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Offenders spruce up hall
A VILLAGE hall is looking in pristine condition thanks to the efforts of offenders who were sentenced to do unpaid work in the community. Bearpark Community Centre has been given a new lease of life by offenders who redecorated two staircases, a large
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Voters on alert with polling cards due
VOTERS in Hartlepool are being urged to watch out for the arrival of their polling card for the forthcoming elections for the town's MP and mayor. The polling card will be hand-delivered to the home of every registered voter in the borough before Monday
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Youngsters targeted for disease screening
YOUNG people in County Durham are being encouraged to think about the consequences of chlamydia in a campaign launched this week. The initiative, launched by the Durham and Darlington Chlamydia Screening Programme, encourages young people to ask of themselves
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Witness plea after stabbing
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a stabbing which took place in daylight in High Street, Redcar, on Wednesday. An altercation between two women at about 1pm resulted in a 26-year-old being taken to the James Cook University Hospital with a stab wound
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Quakers stutter in final weeks
DARLINGTON must improve their poor record against struggling teams this season when they attempt to take a firm grip on a promotion play-off position against third from bottom Rushden tomorrow. Quakers, who recently recorded disappointing results against
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Teaming up with Tel was a mistake, Robson
FORMER Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson has admitted that bringing Terry Venables in to work alongside him at the Riverside almost wrecked his managerial career. The West Brom manager is preparing to return to Teesside tomorrow for the first time since
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Obesity 'cure' surgeon hit by funding crisis
A SURGEON who believes he can "cure" patients whose lives are threatened by obesity says he may have carried out his last operation because of lack of funds. Two months ago, keyhole surgeon Hasan Bandi operated on a 24st women who was desperate to lose
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Firm links up in £5m deal
NORTH-East firm AK Engineering Services has linked up with three partners in a deal worth £5m a year. AK, which is based in Stockton and is part of international company Aker Kvaerner, has signed a deal with acrylics manufacturer Lucite International
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Take a walk to celebrate 40 years of the Pennine Way
HUNDREDS of people will tramp along one of the country's best loved walking trails this weekend to celebrate its 40th birthday. To celebrate the ruby anniversary of the Pennine Way, the Walk the Way in a Day celebrations have been organised by the Countryside
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Company shortlisted for award
A SOCIAL enterprise company has been shortlisted in the regional finals of an award. The Eaga Partnership, in Newcastle, is one of four firms in the northern finals of the National Business Awards. It has been nominated for the Customer Focus Award and
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£7.4bn takeover toasted
A £7.4bn takeover offer to create the second-largest wine and spirits firm in the world was last night accepted by Allied Domecq. In a move that will spark a fresh reshuffle of famous brands including Courvoisier cognac and Teacher's scotch, Allied said
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Injured police dog recovers after attack
Police dog Zoltan is on the mend after being stabbed in the chest during an arrest in Stockton. The four-year-old German shepherd needed emergency surgery after suffering a 6in wound in the attack on Wednesday of last week. John McKenna, 39, of Russell
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Three wins in a week clinch title for Middleham
MIDDLEHAM clinched the title with two games to spare with a 4-2 win at Reeth on Monday - their third victory in six days. Their triple success began at Hawes B, where they ran out 4-1 winners. Gary Acton hit a double, Phil Crowe scored and Hawes B weighed
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Town council looks at reopening toilets
RICHMOND Town Council is to discuss a plan to reopen the Market Place toilets. The men's and women's toilets were shut at the beginning of the month in a cost-cutting exercise by Richmondshire District Council. The move has proved unpopular with traders
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Scott escapes touchline ban
MARTIN Scott has escaped a touchline ban and is free to help plot Hartlepool United's push for the play-offs. Pool assistant manager Scott was sent to the stands during the 3-2 defeat by Luton Town at Victoria Park on February 15. Scott and Pool were
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Swaledale firms fight car park charges
BUSINESSES in a Dales village are hoping to generate support for their fight against increased parking charges. Richmondshire District Council doubled the daily rate for its long stay car parks from £2.50 to £5 on April 4 in a bid to keep down council
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Villager's -wonderful' legacy for hospital Friends
A SMALL band of hospital Friends, who are continually striving to provide extras for patients' comfort, has been left a "wonderful" legacy of £112,000. The money, which could rise slightly when the estate is finally settled, was left to the Friends of
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Police officer Jim prepares for Cup Final after FA call-up
A DRUGS squad officer is to lay down the law at the final of the world's oldest football competition. Detective Constable Jim Devine, of Middlesbrough, will be assistant referee when Manchester United and Arsenal meet for the Cup Final clash in Cardiff
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Planning verdict goes against Irish horse importer
A BUSINESSMAN who imports Irish horses to sell on in the UK has been refused planning permission to retain changes he has already made at his premises. Shane McAteer applied to Teesdale District Council for retrospective permission for a change of use
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Bereaved parents of soliders challenge Blair
Bereaved parents of soldiers killed in Iraq today shared an election platform as they challenged the Government over the decision to go to war. Reg Keys, whose military policeman son Tom was killed by an Iraqi mob, and Rose Gentle, who lost her 19-year-old
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When the presenter goes barking mad
Ray Mear's Bushcraft (BBC1); Born With Two Mothers (C4): THE whole idea of Ray Mear's Bushcraft sounds so unlikely. I mean, an entire hour devoted to watching him build a canoe in a programme lacking the fast pace and flashy editing of most series these
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Double Olympian Holmes reveals plans to quit
Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes announced yesterday this will be her final competitive season. The 35-year-old will make her last appearance on a British track when she competes in Sheffield on August 21, immediately after the World Championships
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Tees juniors row well at inter-regionals
THREE junior members of Tees Rowing Club competed at the Junior Inter-Regional Championships were held at Nottingham Holme Pierrepoint last weekend. The Tees club, of the Northern region, was represented by Rebekah Warburton in the J16 single sculls;
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Alternative site for airport expansion to be looked at
A DARLINGTON councillor is going all-out to ease the "horrendous" impact of a major airport expansion on people living nearby. At a meeting yesterday, Coun Jim Ruck "called in" a scheme for a business park at Durham Tees Valley Airport, saying there was
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Tribunal is told faulty car left plant
A MECHANIC who said a car had left the Nissan factory with a potentially dangerous fault declined to hand over the details when bosses visited his home, a tribunal has been told. Instead, Alan Richardson said he was only prepared to communicate with the
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Busker's kindness repaid
A CHARITY busker found himself on the receiving end of a kind gesture when he was presented with a cheque for £700 to pay for a well-deserved holiday. Norman Evans, from Marske, who recently received the Freedom of Redcar and Cleveland, has raised more
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Miners' memorial idea wins support
A BID to house a permanent miners' memorial on a redeveloped former colliery and cokeworks site has won widespread support. The Lambton and Houghton Banner group has called for some form of tribute to the many miners killed or injured working at the long-closed
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Scottish success for Stokesley rider
YOUNG Stokesley rider Cornelia Papiez, aged 11, has got the new showing season off to a flying start by taking the show hunter championship at Kilmaurs Show, Kilmarnock with her 133cm show hunter pony, Antoinette's Catamount. The nine-year-old bay mare
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Badminton run up going well for Skiver
Morton-on-Swale international Nicola Tweddle has been in good form recently, with success at events across England. The 28 year old four star rider was among the entries at the Burnham Market International one day in Norfolk, which staged a qualifier
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Sex offender banned from child work
A FORMER councillor jailed for indecently assaulting a schoolgirl has been banned from again working again with children. Former Easington District Councillor Harry Devine, 54, was handed the order yesterday by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court. The order
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Crime team to beat the thieves
A TEAM of specially-trained police officers will investigate every house break-in the county. The team of hand-picked officers has been schooled in forensics, crime scene awareness and crime prevention in an attempt to arrest more thieves and recover
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Organic milkman is cream of the crop
ORGANIC dairy farmer Gordon Tweddle is the cream of the crop. The founder of Acorn Dairy at Archdeacon Newton, near Darlington, was named Organic Business Person of the Year at the 12th natural and organic products annual industry awards dinner at London's
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Police warn revellers of latest crime weapon
REVELLERS who cause trouble in Darlington town centre are being warned the police will be watching them extra carefully from tonight - as officers take their newly-armed riot vans out for the first time. The two vans have been equipped with £17,000-worth
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Take a look at home security
HOME security upgrades are available for residents over 60 through Darlington's Community Safety Partnership. The offer is a joint project between the partnership's Neighbourhood Watch section and Help the Aged and is open to anyone with savings of less
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Scrutiny of permits for waste disposal
TWO local authorities are to scrutinise an unpopular decision by Durham County Council to introduce permits for waste disposal. The overview and scrutiny committees at Teesdale and Wear Valley District councils are to look into the new permit scheme.
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Fighting for a smoke-free zone
COUNTY Durham has a new leader in the fight to stop smoking in workplaces. Dianne Woodall has been appointed as leader of the tobacco control efforts of the primary care trusts in the county and in Darlington. She will be encouraging the owners of bars
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Helpine concerns unfounded
COUNCILLORS asked to investigate the effectiveness of a helpline for Darlington residents said there are no problems. Five borough council members formed a working group to examine the council's waste management helpline after complaints about the service
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Message scheme can save lives
PEOPLE who want to take part in Darlington's Message in a Bottle scheme are being urged to call into the town's Neighbourhood Watch office in Gladstone Street. The initiative was launched last week and is designed to help old and vulnerable people. The
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Acrimony over establishment of new Lyke Wake Walk group
A BREAKAWAY club set up to continue the tradition of the Lyke Wake Walk has come under fire from original club members. Paul Sherwood, secretary of the original Lyke Wake Walk Club, has accused the new group of going against the founder's intentions and
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Trust works on service for minorities
A MENTAL health trust has carried out its first census to improve services for ethnic minorities. County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust took part in the national Count Me In mental health and ethnicity census this month to gather information
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Cash stolen from fish warehouse
POLICE are hunting burglars who escaped with £1,500 after breaking into a Durham fish warehouse. Woodward Frozen Food, on the Abbey Industrial Estate, Pity Me, was broken into between 6pm last Friday and 6pm on Sunday when a passer-by heard the burglar
