A strong performance in Asia has helped gases group BOC boost profits by more than a half. The group, which employs 80 people on Teesside, reported that pre-tax profits in the six months to March 31 rose by 53 per cent to £359.9m. BOC, which employs 46,000
MORE action has been demanded amid claims teenage thugs are terrorising residents in Thirsk and Sowerby. People list verbal abuse, vandalism, bullying, intimidation and other anti-social behaviour among the problems. A residents' group - SOS (Save Our
MIKE Hussey continued to prove an inspired choice as captain yesterday when he became the fourth batsman to carry his bat through a Durham first-class innings. Hussey's unbeaten 144 was the rock around which Durham built a total of 338 at Old Trafford
ROYAL and Sun Alliance has trebled its profits in the first three months of the year - despite losing £24m in storm damage payouts following the January floods in Carlisle. The UK's second largest insurer, which operates the More Th>n brand, said pre-tax
FEARS that Hambleton district might be subject to extensive wind farm developments have been downplayed by planning officers, who say the idea is only one of many being considered. Concerns were raised after a report identified the district as being a
FEARS that Hambleton may be subject to extensive wind farm developments have been downplayed by planning officers who say the idea is only one of many being considered. Concerns were raised after a report identified the district as being a prime spot
AN ALL-GIRLS' school is opening its doors to boys for the first time later this year. Teesside Prep and High School, in Eaglescliffe, is to take boys aged three to four in its nursery department from September. Headmistress Hilary French explained: "We
THOUSANDS of Single Farm Payment application forms are still outstanding as Monday's deadline rapidly approaches. The Rural Payments Agency office in Northallerton is staying open all weekend - 8.30-5pm - for farmers to deliver the forms by hand. The
MANCHESTER United fans last night pledged to stage mass demonstrations outside this month's FA Cup Final in protest at US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer's £790m purchase of the club. Mr Glazer effectively completed his controversial buyout yesterday by
A FAMILY firm taking on Europe in a bid to call its product feta cheese is vowing to fight on after the latest set back. Shepherd's Purse Cheese of Newsham, Thirsk, is refusing to bow to European Commission pressure that only cheese made in Greece can
Families Behaving Badly (five); Princes In The Tower (C4) REALITY shows like Supernanny and Brat Camp have made us used to youngsters behaving badly. They swear, they rage, they hit out. But the Foul-Mouthed Kids in five's new series about parenting skills
Families Behaving Badly (five) Princes In The Tower (C4) REALITY shows like Supernanny and Brat Camp have made us used to youngsters behaving badly. They swear, they rage, they hit out. But the Foul-Mouthed Kids in five's new series about parenting skills
THE General Election result, as far as constituencies in North Yorkshire and County Durham were concerned, was in line with our prediction of four weeks ago. No surprises, with the sole exception of Scarborough and Whitby, and perhaps that wasn't a surprise
IT WASN'T until Spectator's colleague drove down into the West Riding just after last week's election that the missing factor in Alan Milburn's fiefdom became apparent. There seemed to be party posters on every hoarding on every corner and Darlington
MASSIMO Maccarone has been assured by Italian outfit Siena that they intend to make sure he does not have to return to Middlesbrough this summer. Maccarone has been on loan back in his homeland since September after being deemed surplus to requirements
A STOCKTON woman's "charming" idea has proved so popular that she has set up her own business, working from home. Suzanne Kelly, a French and Spanish teacher from Ingleby Barwick, came across the idea during a trip to the USA, where she first saw some
THE PRESIDENT of Cleveland Bridge has said its Saudi Arabian owners have pump-ed "million upon millions" of pounds into the company. Jon Dale, who was appointed president earlier this year, said Al Rushaid was backing it to the hilt and was confident
A LOCAL enterprise agency is heading for a new home in a large empty property in the centre of Bedale. Negotiations are continuing to enable Business Solutions Bedale, which needs new permanent acccommodation for its rapidly expanding operations, to move
YOUNG public sector workers have the chance to improve their numeracy and literacy skills thanks to a partnership between five district councils. Derwentside, Wear Valley, Chester-le-Street and Teesdale district councils, and Sedgefield Borough Council
LAST weekend's Roush Manx Rally saw Castleton driver Ryan Champion and his co-driver Craig Thorley, from Pocklington, record a convincing victory in round three of the 2005 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge as they crossed the line 50 seconds ahead
CLIVE Owen first become known in Chancer, a hit TV series about a yuppie sports car dealer. "It laid the whole foundation for my career," he says. This year he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting actor for his role in Closer, and was nominated for
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 345 cattle for show & sale of breeding cattle. Lim hfr & hfr calf £830; Lim hfr & bull calf £780; Lim cows & bull calves £660; BB cows & hfr calves £540; in-calf hfrs £650; Lim bulling hfrs £585. Bulls:
WHEN Wigan Athletic booked their place in the Premiership at the weekend people sat up and took notice. But Martin Scott believes Hartlepool United will take a step of equal enormity if they can become a Championship club. Pool, written off nine days
TWIN brothers accused of trying to kill their step-father have made another appearance in court. The 15-year-olds appeared at Hartlepool Youth Court yesterday and were remanded in custody until their next appearance on June 2. No pleas were entered to
POLICE have hailed a significant drop in the level of crime in Darlington - while admitting that anti-social behaviour is on the increase in the town. Crime in Darlington fell by more than 11 per cent last year - including a 42 per cent drop in thefts
THE Bowes Museum is to host the 18th annual Teesdale Brass Band Contest on Sunday, July 3. The free event will take place in the grounds of the museum at Barnard Castle. Bands from all over the North have been invited to take part. Eleven will play on
HEXHAM. - Last Fri. Fwd: 1,687 store cattle & suckled calves for special May term show & sale. Judge: Gordon Amos, Market Harborough. Overall champion: JS Gibson & Son, Thornton Tower, seven-eighths Lim steer (12-o-) £770 to the judge; res
A DEAF and blind pensioner has been forced to move away from his family and the area he has lived all his life owing to a shortage of care home places. Angus Dodsworth, who will turn 92 next Friday, has had to move from Thirsk to a nursing home in Eston
A NORTH-EAST pensioner is hoping to relive his youth by taking to the open roads on a motorbike. Barry Seaton may be 73-years-old, but his new acquisition - a silver and chrome Suzuki 125cc - is bringing back happy memories of his biking days, 50 years
NSK Bearings last night confirmed it was making more than one in ten of its workforce redundant at a County Durham factory. The Japanese company, which has had a major presence in the region for nearly 30 years, said it was shedding 85 jobs from its workforce
FEARS a Thirsk green belt could be built on have been dismissed as being unfounded. Residents fear developers will be given approval to build on land between York Road and Cod Beck, but Hambleton District Council has denied it is looking at any firm bids
AN engineering company has been placed in voluntary liquidation with the loss of ten jobs. Middridge Precision Engineers, in Shildon, County Durham, has lost the majority of its income over the past two years as its main customers either closed or took
THE founders of lastminute.com were looking forward to a share of £40m yesterday after the darling of the dotcom boom agreed a takeover by rival Travelocity. Brent Hoberman and Martha Lane Fox will realise the value of their shareholding following the
SVEN Goran Eriksson has defied the instructions of Newcastle boss Graeme Souness by naming Jermaine Jenas in his England squad for this month's controversial tour of the United States. But, in an attempt to placate the Magpies manager, fellow midfielder
THE economy is a long way from recession, a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee told The Northern Echo yesterday. Marian Bell, a member of the monetary policy committee (MPC), which meets once a month to assess interest rates and inflation
ONLY two winning results were achieved in Division One last Saturday as the weather played havoc with the programme. Bedale managed to complete their game, but it was visitors Stokesley who won the day by the comfortable margin of 117 runs. The home batsmen
THIS week's Diary comes from Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, which is currently enjoying a remarkable renaissance. Its old and very widespread image of a run-down industrial relic with more than a hint of neglect disguising lots of inner city problems
THE transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) - which is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV - is on the rise in the UK, and experts are now so worried that they say it makes both medical and economic sense to immunise all British children against
IT'S not often in these weekly descriptions of meals to be eaten across the breadth of D&S land that the waiting staff take top billing. And that's not to say that we don't think service is important. It is and that's why every establishment gets
Frank Bainbridge Div One Cup Final Unison 2 Brompton on Swale 2 (aet, Brompton won 4-2 on pens) UNISON'S treble dream ended in heartbreak as Brompton on Swale lifted the Frank Bainbridge Cup with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory at The Calvert Stadium
MANCHESTER United fans last night pledged to stage mass demonstrations outside this month's FA Cup Final in protest at US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer's £790m purchase of the club. Mr Glazer effectively completed his controversial buyout yesterday by
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS: Shadow Showdown Publisher: THQ Format: PS2 Price: £19.99 Family friendly? Nothing for parents to worry about here. CARTOONS used to be strictly for the kids. Nowadays, all the best animated TV series usually have a nice line in adult
HOSPICE bosses are asking people to join them in celebrating Britain's biggest tea party. The national event is encouraging people to stop for tea at 3pm on Friday, June 17, and make a donation to their local hospice. St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington
PROTESTS have been voiced over plans for a huge opencast colliery at a North-East beauty spot and wildlife haven. Residents are opposing a planning application for a 45-hectare opencast colliery near Whickham, Gateshead, close to the Durham County border
A POPULAR pet bird auction has been forced to stop after the organisers were warned they were breaking the law. The event was held at the village hall at Coxhoe, near Durham City, every other Sunday and drew visitors from across the region. But Durham
POLICE in the region are investigating an allegation of election fraud. A voter from Richmond, North Yorkshire, has been interviewed by officers in connection with an alleged incident of personation. Police say they are looking at the man's votes in both
A GRIEVING mother is calling upon the police to review the way they investigate cot deaths. Barbara Marshall said she accepted the police have a job to do, but said she and her family were treated insensitively after the death of her nine-week-old daughter
TYSON was floored, but not permanently damaged by a lengthy ordeal stuck under a water tank. The Tyson in question is a four-year-old terrier-cross which has the run of Stables Farm, at Leamside, near Durham. But while out with Bruno, a two-year-old labrador-cross
GEORDIE actor John Middleton, who plays the Reverend Ashley Thomas in the ITV series Emmerdale, is inviting people to join him on a charity walk. He is taking part in the Newcastle Gateshead Bridges Walk on June 4 to raise money for the The Children's
A MAN has admitted being involved in the theft of parcels and other packages from Royal Mail vans. James Gibb was one of two men arrested on suspicion of stealing thousands of pounds worth of cash and goods from special delivery mail vans across the country
POLICE are hailing the success of crackdowns on crime and anti-social disorder in two former colliery communities. The StreetSafe initiative was launched to combat street disturbances, petty crime, drugs misuse and fears posed by youths congregating in
TWO sister museums were celebrating yesterday after they won accolades in a national awards scheme. The National Railway Museum (NRM) at York was honoured for its successful campaign to save the Flying Scotsman for the nation. Its sister museum at Shildon
VINTAGE memorabilia including steam engines, organs, and old vehicles will be on display at a collectors' fair. Durham City Collectors' Society is holding a rally at Blackhill Park, near Consett, on May 21 and 22. There will also be arts and crafts, trade
A PIGEON fancier took a rival breeder's prize racer hostage in an attempt to track down his own missing birds. Brian Tumilty, 41, was devastated when arsonists caused £30,000 of damage to the pigeon loft he inherited from his father last year. More than
THE final stage of scheme to boost recycling by introducing wheelie bins will be rolled out later this month. More than 5,000 houses in Northallerton and Romanby will take delivery of the green and black bins. Householders are being invited to a series
FIREFIGHTERS are giving young people the chance to learn basic skills as part of a new project. Firefighters in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, are organising a Young Firefighters Scheme, starting in July, for people aged 12 to 16. The aim is for them
A COMMUNITY partnership is planning a summer packed with festivities to celebrate its town. During June, Crook Community Partnership, working with Wear Valley District Council, will bring a celebration of the arts to Crook in an attempt to increase awareness
A MILITARY funeral for a North-East soldier who was killed in a roadside bomb in Iraq took place in the region yesterday. Coldstream Guard Anthony Wakefield died almost two weeks ago while on patrol in the southern town of Al Amarah. St Gabriel's Church
A COUNCIL has pledged to take action over flooding which has turned a children's play area into a quagmire. Residents of Marwood Drive, in Barnard Castle, are also concerned that flood waters may undermine the foundations of their houses. Barnard Castle
INSTALLATION artists from across Europe have turned the streets of Middlesbrough into gallery. Artwork has been installed throughout the town including a car wrapped in gold lam on the building site that will eventually become the Middlesbrough Institute
AN inquest has opened into the death of a 23-year-old woman who plunged from a ledge at her first-floor flat. Emma Jayne Reed died in hospital after the fall at her home in Southgate, Pickering, North Yorkshire, just after midnight on Saturday. Police
TONY Blair hailed the higher quality of life in the North-East yesterday as he threw his weight behind the region's £15m campaign to improve its image. The Prime Minister spoke of a renewed "buzz and vigour" that pointed to success for the One NorthEast
AFTER losing to Marske last Saturday, Darlington will hope for a better result against Redcar when the sides meet in the premier division at Feethams tomorrow. They show just one change in their line-up with Simon Whitehead coming in for Carl McGregor
One thing spin doctors cannot do is provide substance. The image makers can get a message across, grab headlines and catch the eye but, after that, the proof of any pudding lies under the crust. And that's the biggest advantage the regional development
WHEELCHAIR users say road works in Richmond which should have given them better town centre access left them with a 4in kerb to negotiate. Disability Action in Richmondshire has now won assurances from North Yorkshire County Council that a dropped kerb
LARGE numbers of fish are being driven out of the North Sea because of global warming, scientists claimed last night. British researchers claim that some species could be driven out of the region entirely by 2050. Scientists claim fish on the move include
A MILITARY funeral for a North-East soldier who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq took place in the region yesterday. Coldstream Guard Anthony Wakefield died almost two weeks ago while on patrol in the southern town of Al Amarah. St Gabriel's Church
FAIRLY ODD PARENTS: Shadow Showdown Publisher: THQ Format: PS2 Price: £19.99 Family friendly? Nothing for parents to worry about here. CARTOONS used to be strictly for the kids. Nowadays, all the best animated TV series usually have a nice line in adult
TWELVE months ago and Joel Porter's Hartlepool United career took off to a new level. Now the striker is desperate to take it on another notch by firing Pool into the Coca-Cola Championship. Against Bristol City in last season's semi-final first-leg,
"THIS garment is safe for you and for nature. Only materials tested to Oeko-Tex standard 100 have been used in its production." Well thank goodness for that. I might have worried. I can understand why a fabric - or rather its production or eventual disposal
MIDDLETON St George achieved a huge victory when they had 151 runs to spare at Heighington in Division A last Saturday. Batting first, Middleton romped to the massive total of 264-3 in 35 overs. Kevin Ashton top-performed, hitting no fewer than seven
Breast is best for brainy babies MOTHERS can transfer essential nutrients not always found in formula milks to their babies via their breast milk, according to a recent study from the University of Bristol Institute of Child Health. These include omega
IT'S the season for thumping Australians, so Shola Ameobi has my sympathy, even if his manager made no attempt to defend him after his sending off against Everton. Graeme Souness had plenty of whinges about the referee but knew very well that as the law
STUDENTS with learning and physical disabilities from across the North-East took part in a sports day in the North-East yesterday. More than 150 young people took part in sports events at Gateshead International Stadium. The event, organised by staff
ALTHOUGH Manchester United aren't everyone's favourite football club, many football supporters will sympathise with the worries this morning of United fans. A new, unpopular owner taking over is bound to raise fears for the future. And it is a great shame
IN an ideal world, of course, children would eat proper food all the time. It's healthier, easier and cheaper. And now we've all listened to Jamie Oliver, there's even more incentive to feed our children properly. But as we don't live in an ideal world
TENANTS have been given a "long-term commitment" over the management and investment of a city's council housing stock. Durham City Council has pledged that tenants will also be given more say over future decision-making relating to housing. City council
BOB Murray has revealed that it isn't just Sunderland's fans who have been jumping for joy this week - the rest of the Premier League has also been celebrating the club's promotion to the top-flight. Last summer, the Black Cats' chief described how other
ALUN Armstrong will sit down with Darlington manager David Hodgson this morning to discuss his plans for next season. After culling his squad by a third on Wednesday, Hodgson will seek clarification on Armstrong's future when he opens talks with the former
THE future site of a long-awaited new village hall remains undetermined after the desired piece of land failed to reach reserve price at auction. Bids for the garage site in Sutton under Whitestonecliffe reached £298,000 at an auction at the Golden Lion
SIX-year-old Cian Gardner is just one of many North-East children who have benefited from Prof Avery's talents over the last two decades. His mother, Naomi Stones, 29, from Darlington, was referred to the Middlesbrough-based professor of maxillofacial
FRANK SONATA (2.30) rates a rock-solid choice for this afternoon's mile-and-three-quarter Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup. The selection's progressive profile was never more evident when chasing home John Gosden's Day Flight in the Group 3 John Porter
MANUFACTURERS saw the sharpest fall in orders for two years in the past quarter, a survey showed. But North-East manufacturers emerged relatively unscathed, with output rising slightly. Most UK regions saw orders fall markedly in the three months to April
A FACT-FINDING mission into the burning issues relating to grouse moor management visited Swaledale recently. Earl Peel, owner of Grinton Moor, was host for the visit, organised by the Game Conservancy Trust. Teresa Dent and Dr Stephen Tapper, from the
REGULATIONS which threaten motor sports events held on farmland and moors could be modified following pressure from enthusiasts. Rural Affairs Minister, Alun Michael, has pledged to look again at new rules which ban farmers from claiming subsidies on
POLICE are hunting a gang who kidnapped a 20-year-old man in his car. The gang of five men, all thought to be in their 20s, approached the man in his car in Park Lane, Guisborough, east Cleveland, at about 10.55pm on Wednesday. The man, who had stopped
A CORONER has recorded a verdict of death from natural causes after an alcoholic prisoner died as the result of a brain haemorrhage. Brian Wilkinson, of Station Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, was serving a four-month sentence for breaching his anti-social
Derby dreams came to life at York yesterday as Motivator maintained his unbeaten record with a stylish and forthright success in the totesport Dante Stakes. All through the winter and spring, trainer Michael Bell and the 230 members of the Royal Ascot
DURING a long and glittering career, magician Paul Daniels has entertained royalty, Prime Ministers and a host of showbiz celebrities - as well as television audiences around the globe. But now he's leaving the plush surroundings of London's West End,
A CHARITY is on the look-out for volunteers to help with its work at the University Hospital of North Durham. The WRVS, formerly the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, runs coffee bars and a shop where patients, visitors and staff can buy snacks, toiletries
Four true heroes awarded Britain's highest honour have been further immortalised in an online exhibition commemorating the end of the Second World War. Derek Seagrim, Richard Annand, James Jackman and Adam Wakenshaw were each decorated with the Victoria
WHEN Emma Wilson decided to take another stab at getting pregnant after five years of trying without success, she was even prepared to try acupuncture. Now Mrs Wilson and her husband, Keith, of Newcastle, are the proud parents of Nina - and are even thinking
THE obsession with cracking down on those responsible for social security or benefit fraud hides a recently exposed fact of far greater significance, which is one of the greatest scandals of our age. Social security fraud accounts for a loss to the taxpayer
A POP concert featuring Will Young, Gabrielle, Beverley Knight and Paul Carrack will take place in the North-East this summer. Summer Pops 05 will be held on the seafront at Cliffe Park, in Seaburn, Sunderland, on July 2. Organiser Chas Cole, of CMP Entertainment
MIDDLEHAM wonder horse Attraction flew to Hong Kong last week and her trainer, Mark Johnston, took to the air on Tuesday to join her there - but in his absence came a surprise new stable star as Secret History landed the Musidora Stakes in decisive fashion
SECURITY at a North-East airport has been put under the spotlight after a man chased away two youths trying to steal his motorbike. John Pala saw the youths trying to break the lock on his bike as he returned to the car park at Durham Tees Valley Airport
BY MIKE CHIPCHASE STOCKTON Borough Council could be heading for a power struggle following last week's local elections. Boundary changes, the scrapping of some seats and the creation of others left the controlling Labour group with 27 elected members,
A FEMALE driver remained in a critical condition in hospital last night after her car left the road and hit a lamppost on a busy dual carriageway. The 49-year-old woman was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, following the
CHILDREN living in the North Road area of Darlington hope to benefit from a £90,000 lottery grant. The money, from the Big Lottery, will pay for activities for five to 19-year-olds for a three-year period. The bid from Longfield Comprehensive, Corporation
POLICE have made a renewed appeal to catch a man who repeatedly punched a 20-year-old woman in the face as he tried to rape her. The victim was severely traumatised by the assault, which took place in Mandale Triangle, Thornaby, Teesside, over the Easter
A LORRY driver who used an air rifle to shoot crows was yesterday ordered to pay £365 in fines and court costs after being convicted of a series of firearms offences. Wayne James Woodhouse, 41, admitted the illegal possession of a Korean air weapon and
SEVEN people have been charged by police investigating heroin dealing. Officers arrested eight people during raids in Harrogate and Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, on Wednesday. Six men and two women were interviewed in connection with the supply of drugs
FIVE years after the film, Billy Elliot The Musical arrives on stage and has already been described as "the greatest British musical I have ever seen" by one national theatre critic. With the same team on board - including director Stephen Daldry, writer
A STARK warning was given to Professor Brian Avery, one of the UK's leading experts in skull reconstruction, by one of his young patients. "If you don't operate on me, I will kill myself," the desperate 12-year-old boy told the surgeon. For the last 18
Premier Division SESSAY moved into second place in the table after a fine victory over Woodhouse Grange at Sutton on Derwent last Saturday. Nick Harrison led the way for the Hambleton side with 74, while other valuable contributions came from John Flintoff
THE Territorial Army (TA) will be out in strength in the North-East at the weekend to tell the public what it has to offer. Tomorrow, there will be displays of armour, artillery, infantry, paras, engineers, signals, logistics, military police and medical
IT has no electricity, water for only half of the year, and the closest you can park the car is half a mile away. But a small wooden beach hut on one of the North-East's most barren stretches of coastline is on the market for more than £90,000. Estate
A COMPUTER teacher from the North-East was ordered to register as a sex offender yesterday after he downloaded more than 100 images of child pornography. Paul Whitfield, 35, is suspended from his post as head of information technology at Churchdown Comprehensive
BABIES born with skull deformities will no longer be able to have corrective surgery in the North-East. The withdrawal of the service means families will now have to travel as far as Liverpool, Glasgow or London. The changes follow the appointment of
