Relics from the Titanic recovered from a washed-up corpse have been unearthed after 90 years hidden away. Alfred King, of Niall Road, Gateshead, was only 19 when he landed a job as a first-class lift attendant on the doomed liner. And one of the personal
Yorkshire left-arm fast bowler David Lucas has had his contract extended until the end of the summer, writes David Warner. Lucas was signed from Nottinghamshire at the start of the season for three months but director of cricket, David Byas, said yesterday
A 28-YEAR-OLD man arrested by police investigating the death of a biker in a hit and run incident has been released on bail. The man, from Thirsk, was arrested on Monday and taken to Northallerton police station, in North Yorkshire, before being bailed
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are in vogue. The number of orders handed out in the North-East and North Yorkshire has nearly doubled in five years to more than 100 in 2004. It is a pattern being repeated across the country. The Government claims they are
HARTLEPOOL are poised to make former Sunderland striker Michael Proctor their first signing of the summer later this week. Proctor has been told he can negotiate a move away from his current club, Rotherham, despite having a year of his contract still
SHE'S back. The Kat is sat on the mat again. And the residents of Albert Square are sorely in need of a cat as the place is being overrun by rats. Not love rats - though, goodness knows, there are enough of them in Walford - but vermin. The problem in
THE high street is suffering a record fall in sales, an influential survey has found. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)'s monthly Distributive Trades Survey (DTS) found that 42 per cent of retailers questioned reported that sales were down during
A conman who operated a worldwide loans fraud from his North-East home has been ordered to pay almost £1.7m compensation - or face a further eight years in jail. Loanshark George Steen is already serving a six-year prison sentence for masterminding the
THE rail watchdog for the North-East has criticised the lack of help for passengers in its last annual report. The North-East Rail Passengers' Committee said customers were "again and again highlighting the need for better station facilities". It also
A POLICE chief is appealing for an end to a two year wall of silence surrounding the brutal murder of a drug addict. The badly decomposed body of 31-year-old Darren Manders was discovered by a dog walker, two years ago today , partly concealed under a
CONTROVERSIAL plans to cut the number of hospitals offering inpatient services for leukaemia sufferers have been widened. Campaigners have fought proposals to close the six-bed haematology ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital and merge it with a unit
ACCLAIMED author Bill Bryson made his first public appearance in his new role this week in the building which captured his imagination on first sight. The American travel writer sang the praises of Durham in his account of a tour of Britain, Notes from
EVERY dog has its day and Schmeichel's has arrived in Coronation Street (ITV1). He doesn't come first at Crufts or save a small child from drowning. Unfortunately, he gets run over, proving that the roads in Soapland are as dangerous as anywhere else.
After the sinking of Celebrity Love Island and the turn-off that was Celebrity Wrestling, many could be forgiven for thinking reality TV was dead. But Big Brother is waiting to defy the critics. George Orwell introduced Big Brother in his novel 1984,
MONSTER HUNTER, Publisher: Capcom. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 12+: MONSTER Hunter is a strange game. It starts with the usual warning about graphic gore and violence that players of the Resident Evil series have become familiar with,
AN architectural practice has won a £750,000 contract to refurbish a railway station. Waring and Netts, of Newcastle, beat competition from five practices with its plan for Pelaw Metro station, near Gateshead. Judges were impressed by the design and hope
POLICE are urging Durham City centre residents to apply for access permits for Miners' Gala day on Saturday, July 9. Several roads will be closed to all through traffic on the day, from 7.30am until teatime, to allow the bands and marchers to make their
The distance between Glasgow and Edinburgh is under 50 miles but there is a large gulf in the perceptions people have of these proud Scottish cities. While Edinburgh conjures up images of the arts and architecture, those who have never been to Glasgow
TESTS on a discarded tin of lighter fluid could provide vital clues in the police search for the killer of 11-year-old arson victim Dean Pike. The yellow 100ml tin of Swan Extra Refined fluid may have been used to start the blaze that took hold in a house
THE region's businesses will be invited to enter for an award today. The Queen's Award for Enterprise recognises achievement and is internationally recognised, providing a promotional and marketing tool. Stephen Brice, secretary to the Queen's Awards
FOUR teenagers were hurt - one critically - when a car believed to have been taken without the owner's consent collided with a tree stump at the weekend. A police spokesman said the accident happened when a Nissan Micra failed to take a right-hand bend
THE future of Soapland's children has long been a cause for concern. Tugged this way and that by arguing parents, they're prime candidates to become unhappy teenagers. Take Rebecca, the soap child formerly known as Chloe in EastEnders (BBC1). You might
A FOUR-WEEK yoga course exclusively for men is being offered by Stockton Council's adult education service. The course is open to all ages and abilities, with no previous experience necessary. Tutor Ruth Little said: "Sometimes men feel self conscious
A COUNCIL claims opposition to a proposed seafront re-development could jeopardise the chances of bringing millions of pounds of investment to Redcar. The row centres on the sale of land for housing, to pay for a new swimming pool and leisure centre.
THE Durham and Chester-le-Street Alzheimer's Society is holding a series of events for Alzheimer's Awareness Week which starts on Sunday. On Monday, the branch will hold its annual candle vigil in St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church, Chester-le-Street,
TESTS on a discarded tin of lighter fluid could provide vital clues in the police search for the killer of 11-year-old arson victim Dean Pike. The yellow 100ml tin of Swan Extra Refined fluid may have been used to start the blaze that took hold in a house
A travel agent cast aside her L plates on a television programme. Amy Simpson, 20, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, was featured on BBC One show Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre as she underwent driving lessons. She needed to learn to drive in order to keep
MAN proved faster than a 1913 tram in an unusual running challenge round the site of Beamish Museum at the weekend. Several club athletes successfully responded to the now annual Beamish Tram Challenge and beat the early form of mechanised public transportation
A YOUTH theatre is appealing for information on the pierrot troupes that entertained visitors at the region's seaside resortsin the mid-1900s. The senior youth theatre group, from the Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, is producing an exhibition on
PLANS to designate a village a conservation area are dividing a community. Ryedale District Council earmarked Wombleton, near Helmsley, as a possible conservation area because it has 13 listed buildings. Conservation officer Emma Woodlands said the move
PEOPLE across Teesside can broaden their knowledge with a host of new courses starting in September. Prospectuses for Stockton Adult Education courses are now available from offices at Billingham Community Centre, The Causeway; Thornaby Flight Training
New Darlington striker Simon Johnson has been tipped to take League Two by storm. The 22-year-old is Quakers' only pre-season signing so far and will be competing for a starting place alongside Clyde Wijnhard and Akpo Sodje. While assistant manager Mark
A POLICE force is turning back the clock to make a community safer. Dixon of Dock Green-type policing is being re-introduced across Stockton, giving neighbourhoods their own recognisable beat bobbies. And it could only be a matter of time before the pendulum
Two of the UK's greatest TV sitcom writers are preparing to bring their first play to Scarborough tonight. Maurice Gran talks to Viv Hardwick about Playing God and switching from the small screen to the stage. MAURICE Gran jokes that he once needed £15,000
RESIDENTS in County Durham are to be first in line for more than 100 new jobs in the medical field. After years of being starved of funds for healthcare, it was revealed earlier this year that a bumper £46m was heading to the Easington District. Now,
DAVID ALLAN'S red-hot streak seems all set to continue courtesy of Jeepstar (2.20) in the opener at Haydock. Allan, who rides principally for Tim Easterby, is currently boasting a 20 per cent strike-rate, not bad for a jockey without even a modicum of
COMMUNITY leaders took to the streets yesterday as part of an initiative to tidy up Shildon. Police, councillors, officials from Sedgefield Borough Council and other town representatives took time out of their every day duties to walk around the Redworth
The A692 Consett Road at Watergate Bank, Gateshead, will be closed to traffic on Sunday for maintenance and roadside drain emptying. The road will be closed between its junctions with Whickham Highway and Pennyfine Road from 4am to 6pm. Access will be
HARLOW CARR GARDENS: IT can be something of a craving for lovers of gardens at this time of year - the almost overwhelming need to see the first signs of growth. Such a craving drove me to pay a visit to the gardens at Harlow Carr in Harrogate. The chance
A UNIVERSITY lecturer has followed in his wife's footsteps after being awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for his inspiring teaching. Alan Walker-Gleaves, of the University of Sunderland, will receive £50,000 for a pioneering project to help both
A CRIME-BUSTING police van was showing off its capabilities yesterday. The 1.9 litre Vauxhall Vivaro with CCTV security camera, which joins four others operating in the north of County Durham, will be mainly used in the Easington area. It will add to
A BOOK charting the 450-year history of one of the country's oldest grammar schools will go on sale next week. The book, Ripon Grammar School-Celebrating 450 Years, is being launched to coincide with events marking the anniversary, including an Old Riponians
A NEW community caf proved so successful on its opening day that it nearly sold out of food. The Green Leaf Caf, is part of the massive refurbishment of Horden Welfare Park and is located in the former ambulance house building. Along with the newly upgraded
AFTER 50 years of unmitigated misery, dolorous delight and concelebrated condolence, the Lyke Wake Club is dead. We woefully reported as much on June 9, regretted that Britain's most eccentric long distance walking outfit was finally being laid to rest
FAMILIES could win a computer for their children's school by putting safety first. Cleveland Fire Brigade is offering free laptops to schools returning the most applications from families, via pupils, asking for free home safety checks. In a bid to reduce
WHEN does a trail become a trial? Usually when you find yourself out of your depth, miles from anywhere, at a point where little or no help can be obtained. I have long held the belief that the Forestry Commission were the leaders in providing information
AN Army band will give a charity concert tomorrow. The King's Division Waterloo Band will perform at Wensleydale School, in Leyburn, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. All proceeds will go to the Royal British Legion's
BRITAIN'S newest Class A psychedelic drug has spread across the country, new evidence has shown. The first two people in the North-East to be arrested with possessing the drugs 2C-I and 5-Meo-DIPT have now been charged. The drugs have been described as
Love him or loathe him, there's no denying that the world is taking notice of George Galloway. I don't particularly like Mr Galloway. When I see the TV pictures of him shaking Saddam Hussein's hand it makes my skin crawl. And there's a part of me that
Oh Danny boy, what are you playing at? It's all very well keeping it in the family but sleeping with your son's girlfriend is overstepping the mark. Leanne - that's spelt S-L-A-P-P-E-R - is the young lady caught in the middle of father and son Baldwin
EFFORTS by a North-East city to shed its "beautiful but boring" tag moved a step forward yesterday with the launch of a massive public consultation exercise. Over the next eight weeks, thousands of visitors, students, commuters and traders will be asked
HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds is likely to be pumped into upgrading recreation sites in Sedgefield borough. Councillors are expected to approve a spending plan this week that will pave the way for the biggest ever single investment in fixed play areas
Merry Oaks WI: Vice-president Denise Brookbanks officiated at the June meeting and secretary Edith Hall dealt with the business. Doreen Norman gave a comprehensive report from the AGM at the Royal Albert Hall. The annual plant sale was very successful
FORZA MOTORSPORT, Formats: Xbox, Publisher: Microsoft. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Yep: A WEEK is a very long time in the interactive entertainment business. In my last column I hailed Gran Turismo 4 as the new benchmark for racing games. Now we have
VETERAN cricketer John Armstrong is nursing a broken ankle, bruising and battered pride - caught, fair and square, by the sight screen. The 60-year-old retired chartered surveyor simply didn't see it coming. It happened in Saturday's Durham County League
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL: 1 (-) Million Dollar Baby 2 (1) The Aviator 3 (-) Assault On Precinct 13 4 (-) Shall We Dance 5 (-) Flight Of The Phoenix 6 (2) Creep 7 (-) Harold & Kumar Get The Munchies 8 (4) Closer 9 (-) 9 Songs 10 (9) Star Wars - Trilogy
IF TOP-LEVEL football is one big soap opera there is little wonder that other sports struggle to compete for attention. While viewers are finally switching off from the nastiness of EastEnders, other soaps continue to encourage the proliferation of young
The latest subject of a health warning is Ibuprofen but by listening to all the advice, we'll only make ourselves ill. SO now it's painkillers that are bad for you. Well, for this week, at least. Warning: Taking notice of health warnings can serious damage
CHRIS Gwilliam, one of the very nice people involved with the Quaker meeting at Norton-on-Tees, was being less than wholly forthcoming when the At Your Service column sought information about his "church" background. He'd been a Church of England member
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
STOP talking with your mouth full - it's rude. At least, 1,671 people thought so. They complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about the KFC ad, which featured workers in a call centre chomping on some KFC delight while dealing, or not dealing
FOOTBALL Association chairman Geoff Thompson opened Durham FA's spanking new £1m headquarters yesterday, recalling the days when it was the Subbuteo table, not the top table, around which decisions were made. As a young FA Council member in the 1970s,
The adventures of the Famous Five, soon to be made into a cartoon series, will seem very alien to today's over-supervised youngsters IF the Famous Five were alive today, they'd probably be in care. And their parents would definitely be in the slammer
ALLEN Armstrong is one of the nicest men around: grey haired, getting on a bit, pony tailed and proud of it. He is also warden of the south-west Durham churches of St John's, Lynesack and St Mary's, Woodland, and it was at Woodland's splendoured centenary
A prank to make Tom Cruise feel small did nothing to dampen his dignity. MAYBE Tom Cruise could change the world. Or at least the bit of it that involves cheap and nasty television programmes that trade on other people's discomfiture and embarrassment
PERHAPS in the hope that this one will run and run, we turn again to George Butterfield, an Olympian when last the games were held in London. Backtrack previously mentioned him in February 2003, expressing as ever the Micawberian wish that something further
A SCHOOL dinner nanny who has been told she is too old to work is making a last ditch plea to keep the job she loves. Pensioner Lena Morrison will be forced to retire this summer despite her insistence that she is fit enough to keep working another two
I was reading the other day about the Iberian lynx. Apparently this rare and beautiful animal, native to Spain, is threatened with extinction. Its main food source is dying out. And what is this rare food? Rabbit, that's what. Well, I've got good news
POLICE last night moved to reassure parents after investigating a spate of reported child abductions. Detective Inspector Paul Harker, of Darlington Police, has reviewed up to 30 calls made by the public regarding suspicious activity involving youngsters
Cutting Edge: The Black Widow (C4) How Clean Are the F*lthy Fulfords? (C4) THE first indication Richard had that his wife was a psychopath was when he was hit over the head with a baseball bat. You may have thought his suspicions would have been raised
THE region has seen a large increase in the number of people diagnosed with sexually transmitted disease. The 9.7 per cent surge from 21,202 in 2003 to 23,251 suggests many people are ignoring safe sex advice. The dramatic increase in new regional diagnoses
KETTLENESS: MOST people with disabilities need more to go on than is provided in conventional mapping and in regular articles about 'walks'. Thankfully, many publications do exist that, when used in conjunction with - say - an Ordnance Survey map, open
MEDAL OF HONOR: EUROPEAN ASSAULT, Publisher: EA. Formats: PS2, Xbox. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Too much violence for younger children. IT may be the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War but this is getting ridiculous. I've lost count
ABDUCTION FEARS: IN less than a month there have been at least eight reported incidents in Darlington in which a man in a white van has called children over or attempted to abduct them. As a parent of young children, I share the grave concern of many
VETERAN left-wing MP Dennis Skinner will return to the Durham Miners' Gala speakers' platform at the 121st Big Meeting a week on Saturday. Dubbed the Beast of Bolsover, the former miner who has represented his Derbyshire constituency since 1970, has appeared
SUNDERLAND skipper Gary Breen has handed Mick McCarthy a major pre-season boost by declaring himself fit for the club's forthcoming tour of North America, writes Scott Wilson. Breen was forced to sit out the Republic of Ireland's two World Cup qualifiers
Cutting Edge: The Black Widow (C4); How Clean Are the F*lthy Fulfords? (C4): THE first indication Richard had that his wife was a psychopath was when he was hit over the head with a baseball bat. You may have thought his suspicions would have been raised
DURHAM are hoping Nathan Astle will be fit to bowl in tonight's Twenty20 match against Yorkshire at Headingley after he was off the field for most of Nottinghamshire's innings on Tuesday. The New Zealander had two stitches in his right hand after splitting
OUR family trip to Bowes Museum was on something of a whim. A bit of a last-minute decision with, consequently, not a lot of time to plan and make sure everything would go smoothly. Often in such circumstances, this is a recipe for disaster when there
BAKERY students have risen to the top of their game winning a national competition in bread making. Nicola Brown, 25, and Christine Whattam, 19, students at Darlington College of Technology, beat more than 500 competitors in the Hovis contest. Darlington
PEOPLE wanting to take part in Durham's third annual duck race will be able to enter by sending a text message. Sending the word 'duck' to the number 60999 will cost £1.50, although ducks will still be available from outlets in the city for £1. The event
SERVICES to help young offenders in Darlington stay away from crime are having a positive effect, according to a report. The borough council's youth service has been given two high grades following an assessment by the national Youth Justice Board. The
SCHOOL pupils were put through their paces by the Army yesterday. A total of 11 teams took part in the annual Green Howards Adventurous Activities competition at Richmond Castle, in North Yorkshire. Each team of ten undertook tests of their physical and
SOMETHING quite remarkable happened during the Easter holidays, something which filled me with surprise, excitement and hope. My teenage son cut the grass. Forgive me for getting carried away to the point of dizziness, but this was the first time he'd
ABOUT 150 workers at a chilled food factory are expected to carry out their third strike next month. Staff at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, voted for a walkout and other action, such as an overtime ban. The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU
"BORED, bored, bored, bored..." sang my wife to a tune not dissimilar to the chimes of Big Ben as she suffered through extra time and penalties in the FA Cup Final (BBC1, Sky Sport 1, Saturday). "This football has been going on for three flipping hours
NOW let's just get this straight. Dr Tom Gilder is dead because Michael French wanted to be written out of Born And Bred (BBC1, Wednesday) and his father Dr Arthur Gilder can't attend the funeral at perpetually crisis-hit Ormston village because actor
THIN, scruffy, unpleasant, limping... and American. Hardly a good description of British comic Hugh Laurie as he growls his way through the darkly medical mirth of House (five, Thursday). "But he's so rude," said my wife as medical programme examiner,
WE'D found the forgotten video up on the shelf, among a collection of others from the early years... The little boy, with dyed purple hair and wearing a black cloak, was in the garden, rehearsing for his big moment with a serious face. "My name is Christopher
THE Government has announced it will not step in over controversial plans to build a medium-security hospital for mentally-ill patients in the region. Partnerships in Care has applied to convert the former Royal Navy communications centre at HMS Forest
MIDDLESBROUGH'S town centre is to play host to friendly French invaders. French market traders will hold a market in the centre of Middlesbrough, tomorrow and Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm in Captain Cook Square. Seventeen stalls are expected with a variety
HEALTH bosses have pledged a full investigation into the problems of child obesity in Darlington. Borough councillors were asked to look into the issue, which has become a growing concern across the country. They found that, although statistics were not
A SCHOOLBOY has described how he was left sprawled on the side of the road after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. Ten-year-old Liam Kendell, who miraculously escaped serious injury, was treated in hospital for bruising to his right leg and a swollen
THIEVES stole two motorbikes and attempted to steal a third in Darlington between Tuesday evening and yesterday morning. A black Honda CBR 600 motorcycle, registration T995 OCL, and two fishing rods were stolen from a garage in Devonshire Road. A yellow
VILLAGERS fighting to retain their secondary school last week staged another major public display of opposition against plans to relocate it. Just a day after about 200 people held a march to protest about the planned closure of Eastbourne and Hurworth
I was reading the other day about the Iberian lynx. Apparently this rare and beautiful animal, native to Spain, is threatened with extinction. Its main food source is dying out. And what is this rare food? Rabbit, that's what. Well, I've got good news
THE first house in the world to be lit by hydro electricity will close for 18 months for electrical rewiring. Cragside, the home of 19th Century Tyneside industrialist and inventor Lord Armstrong, will have its first complete electrical rewiring for 60
BOLO Zenden will travel to Anfield for formal contract talks on Monday rather than join the rest of the Middlesbrough squad for the start of pre-season training. While Boro's players check in at Rockliffe Park for a fitness assessment, Zenden will be
THE crew attempting to row across the North Atlantic have encountered more bad weather, following several days of sunshine. Nigel Morris and George Rock, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, along with fellow crew members Steve Dawson and Rob Munslow, are
FANCY a day out staring at walls? That is not nearly as desperate as it sounds when the walls in question are festooned with climbing roses and clematis - to name just two of the attractions of Helmsley Walled Garden. Tucked away between Helmsley Castle
A HUGE rise in the number of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) in the North-East and North Yorkshire is helping rebuild communities, the Government said yesterday. But opposition parties at Westminster warned that Asbos were being used as a "sticking
Popular Geordie duo Ant and Dec are set to discover that becoming movie stars is harder than doing a Bushtucker Trial on the ITV show they're so good at presenting, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. It's difficult enough for one TV entertainer to
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH: Formats: PS2, Xbox, Publisher: Lucasarts, Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 12+: UNLESS you have been living on an asteroid these past few months, you cannot fail to be aware that the sixth, and final, cinematic
For many years now I have been convinced that alcohol is a bigger threat to society than drugs. As a rookie police officer, I remember a sergeant with 25 years experience telling me that "drink is the root of all evil". That may be a bit of an exaggeration
FULHAM boss Chris Coleman last night slapped a £4m price tag on Luis Boa Morte and warned Graeme Souness he would not capture the winger on the cheap. With just four days to go until the Newcastle squad return to pre-season training, former Chelsea midfielder
THE North-East is the safest place in the UK to do business, according to research. Insurer Axa's Business Crime Index, based on its claims database, found that Newcastle had the lowest rate of crime against business and Middlesbrough was well below the
A HUGE rise in the number of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) in the North-East and North Yorkshire is helping rebuild communities, the Government said yesterday. But opposition parties at Westminster warned that Asbos were being used as a "sticking
THE management buyout of a glass and glazing business has led to the restoration of the company's original name. The takeover of the Darlington branch of Polton Glass Limited by former branch manager Peter Kelly has seen the company revert to the name
A WAYWARD youngster that gate-crashed a couple's quiet picnic on a hillside is hoping to be reunited with his family. The parrot landed beside Stephen Hall and Jacqueline Cowell as they enjoyed a packed lunch in the County Durham dales, between Eggleston
A man suffering from depression has gone missing after leaving work on Tuesday. Cleveland police are wanting to speak to anyone who may know the whereabouts of Paul David Fixter, of Mandale Road, Middlesbrough. The 31-year-old is described as 6ft 1in,
A 12-year-old boy told yesterday how his addiction to solvents almost cost him his life. Jordan Edwards "buzzed" or sniffed deodorants regularly for six months before he collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack. Solvent
WE'D found the forgotten video up on the shelf, among a collection of others from the early years... The little boy, with dyed purple hair and wearing a black cloak, was in the garden, rehearsing for his big moment with a serious face. "My name is Christopher
A NORTH-EAST charity worker who adopted a disabled Kenyan boy is battling to bring him to the UK for urgent medical treatment. Last month, Dee Knott-Mtile, 55, adopted 14-month-old Freddie, who was born with no arms or legs. She fears he might have internal
AS a music lover it is important for me to, literally, face the music as a member of the audience at any music venue. Being able to do this depends on the welcome the venue gives. This is only worth anything if everyone - regardless of ability - is actively
FIZZY, the wonder dog who raced her way into a list of world beaters, proved herself a true star last week by clocking up a new best time for millions of new fans across the other side of the world. With a Japanese film crew's cameras rolling, the border
AFTER 50 years of unmitigated misery, dolorous delight and concelebrated condolence, the Lyke Wake Club is dead. We woefully reported as much on June 9, regretted that Britain's most eccentric long distance walking outfit was finally being laid to rest
SMOKING will be banned from all council-owned leisure venues across Darlington from next week. The borough council is introducing the ban from Monday, ahead of Government plans to make all public places smoke-free by the end of 2007. The new ban will
Anti-social behaviour is now the biggest problem facing society. It is so prevalent that we shouldn't be surprised that it has utilised new technology. Young people are particularly prone to the so called "happy slapping" which involves capturing the
HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds is set to be pumped into upgrading recreation sites across Sedgefield district. Councillors are expected to approve a spending plan at today's cabinet meeting that will pave the way to the biggest ever single investment
A YOUNG North-East driver has beaten thousands of entrants to win a chance to race on the country's top tracks. Alec Berry, a 21-year-old student and IT consultant, from Crook, County Durham, will race against six other regional finalists at a Dunlop
A SURVEY has revealed strong public support for banning smoking in public places in Derwentside. One thousand people were quizzed about their views on smoking and were asked who should be protected from second-hand smoke. Support was strongest for venues
BAKERY students have risen to the top of their game winning a national competition in bread making. Nicola Brown and Christine Whattam, students at Darlington College of Technology, beat more than 500 competitors in the Hovis bread making contest. Nicola
SCHOOL pupils were put through their paces by the Army yesterday. A total of 11 teams took part in the annual Green Howards adventurous activities competition at Richmond Castle, in North Yorkshire. Each team of ten undertook tests of their physical and
RESIDENTS have accused a council of lowering a town centre's image by running car boot sales on a Sunday afternoon. People living near Bondgate car park, in Bishop Auckland, say the sales, which have been organised by Wear Valley District Council, are
FARE dodging on the Tyne and Wear Metro system has been halved since the launch of a crackdown last summer. Operator Nexus says the campaign, which has included the doubling of the penalty for evasion to £20 and the naming of offenders, is proving successful
Pets figure so little in Soapland you'd almost think they were an endangered species. And judging by the fate of the few who have appeared, it would seem they have every right to be afraid. Presenter Graham Norton was moved to tears when the award was
AN ancient murder mystery may be about to be solved by scientists planning to x-ray a mummy's head. The disembodied human head, which dates back thousands of years, is to be scanned at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. Investigators hope to discover
MORNING raids were carried out yesterday by police across east Durham. Five houses in Horden, Blackhall and Peterlee were targeted in Operation Preface and four men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of Class A
ONE of the region's most popular brass band contests is to get a new lease of life this weekend. The Teesdale Brass Band Contest will take place on Sunday in the grounds of the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham. It will be the first time it
STUDENTS are in rehearsals for a concert featuring music from the 17th Century through to modern day. Woodham Community Technology College, in Newton Aycliffe, will host its annual summer concert on Wednesday, July 6, in the school's main hall, from 7pm
GT4, Publisher: Sony. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Nothing to worry about: WHEN I tell people that part of my job entails testing cars, nine out of ten can't disguise their envy. It must be great, the thinking goes, to spend part of your
A TEENAGER has won an iPod in recognition of his perfect attendance record. Tom Able, 16, has never missed a day at Norton School - though he almost lost his 100 per cent record last week after injuring himself while exercising. Stockton building company
DRIVERS trying to get into the county's busiest council rubbish tip could soon have a smoother ride. The household waste site in Wetherby Road, Harrogate, opposite the Great Yorkshire Showground, is so small that demand has far exceeded its capacity.
A SCHOOL'S efforts to stamp out bullying have been recognised by the police. St Francis Xavier School, in Richmond, has been selected to represent North Yorkshire in the National Crimebeat Awards 2005. The school was nominated by youth action worker PC
POLICE are urging Durham City centre residents to apply for access permits for Miners' Gala day on Saturday, July 9. Several roads will be closed to all through traffic on the day, from 7.30am until teatime, to allow the bands and marchers to make their
THE focus may well be on Wimbledon, but Teesside will serve up its own tennis feast on Saturday. Brierton Community School, in Hartlepool, will host a PlayTennis For Free Come and Try It Day to encourage youngsters to take up the sport. The event runs
A conman who operated a worldwide loans fraud from his North-East home has been ordered to pay more than £1.5m compensation - or face a further eight years in jail. Loanshark George Steen is already serving a six-year prison sentence for masterminding
PUPILS were put through their paces by the Army yesterday. Eleven teams took part in the annual Green Howards Adventurous Activities competition, at Richmond Castle, in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Each team of ten students was tested, physically and mentally
BREAST cancer patients who have had reconstructive surgery can soon opt to have a finishing touch to their treatment - thanks to the generosity of a support group. Pansies Breast Cancer Support Group has provided Middlesbrough's James Cook University
MEASURES will be put in place to reduce the number of children being injured in accidents outside a school. Highway bosses say there have been 20 accidents where people have been injured in Darlington Road, Richmond, since 1998. There are four schools
SCARBOROUGH is to have a new lifeboat thanks to Eric Plaxton, the former boss of the Plaxton luxury coach building empire, who left £10m in his will. Mr Plaxton who died nine years ago, left the money to be invested and spent on a range of projects. Over
He may have different methods, but Coronation Street's Charlie Stubbs is still very much the soap villain. Actor Bill Ward, who plays the bullying builder, explains why he thinks Charlie should get his comeuppance If only Rovers barmaid Shelley had paid
WE columnists have to tread a fine line between the topical and the over-done, so I might touch on house arrest and the Oscars, while neatly side-stepping Charles, Camilla, the Pope, Michael Jackson and Jose Mourinho. With the golf course under snow and
Once upon a time gymslip mums would be covered in shame - now they're revered as celebrities. But what about their lost childhoods. THREE sisters have babies at the ages of 12, 14 and 16. Their mother blames the school and the Government for the lack
SERIALLY celebrated, Simon Jenkins wrote his final column for The Times last week after 12 years Thundering. Mind, he still only turned out two a week... "This job is tougher than the northern club circuit," Jenkins wrote by way of valediction, "except
A MOTHER who went on holiday to Turkey leaving her three children at home was reunited with them yesterday. There were emotional scenes as the two toddlers and a baby arrived at Kelly Ann Piggford's home, on the Red Hall estate in Darlington. The children
A new book on West Auckland's legendary "World Cup" story was launched on Saturday night. England's 1966 World Cup squad being somewhat out of their price range - most wanted over £3,000, Little Nobby was cheapest at £1,150 - the column was asked to say
FOR a time over the bank holiday it seemed that the only content of today's column might be the wanton recollection from Elizabeth Steele in Staindrop that she once knew a caravan site on a sewage farm at Sandford, near Oxford, which was owned by a Mr
THERE are many people who think Lee Bowyer ought to be in jail, yet even if he is found guilty in a court of law of assaulting a team-mate he will probably get away with a suspended sentence. He has already been fined and served a ban, so a public slap
Observing Leinster Cricket Club in traction at Shildon Railway, our last column suggested that Irish cricket "used to be a bit of a joke." Not in 1969 it wasn't, ripostes Martin Birtle in Billingham. July 2 1969 was the day that Ireland played the mighty
THE Times, now a tacky tabloid, has taken to emulating Antipodean journals by writing off the touring cricketers. It might be tongue-in-cheek, but winding up the Australians is a dangerous game. By asking "Is this the worst Australian touring side ever
ONCE more to the land of her father's, Blessed Serendipity for once seeming not to have packed her red spotted handkerchief and tagged, talismanically, along. Though we combed the Milford and West Wales Mercury, the Narberth and Whitland Observer and
CONFESSION time: I'm a male chauvinist pig and I have very little interest in women's sport. But I'm starting to believe that the girls will inherit the earth. They showed amazing skills in the football recently, good judges believe Annika Sorenstam is
The way we're going with our paranoia, the chilling image of Michael Jackson's veiled children may come to be the norm. HAS there ever been any recorded case of a paedophile getting a video of a school sports day and using it to track down children? Or
Tantobie WI: Mrs Smith welcomed members to the June meeting. After Jerusalem Mrs Oliver read a golden thread. Mavis Crawford gave a report on the AGM at the Royal Albert Hall. Arrangements were made for a visit to Holy Island in July. Mrs Stacey was presented
IT'S one of the region's most cherished, most memorable and most stirring traditions: bands and banners marching proudly through former pit communities on their way to Durham Big Meeting. Now, however, the coalfield tradition is being seriously undermined
Unavoidably between matches, Newcastle United publications editor Paul Tully is getting himself mightily excited - and with good cause - about a forthcoming visit to the cinema. Compiled by the British Film Institute, the 80 minute programme will incorporate
CROOK residents round off a busy festival week on Saturday with a Community Carnival at the town's cricket club. Sarah Akers is queen for the day, which starts at 10.30am. She was chosen with attendants Alexandra Wright and Rebecca May Richardson at a
CARS will be the stars of a summer festival in Durham City this weekend. Some of the most famous screen cars will take to the streets of the city centre on Saturday and Sunday, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The fine four-fendered friend will park
SUPPORTERS of a hospice which offers vital care for terminally-ill patients have reacted with disbelief after they were turned down for Government help. St Cuthbert's Hospice, in Durham City, has found that its application for money under the Government-funded
ALPHABETICALLY, Zoe comes down the bottom of the list. But Soapland's Zoes - Slater and Tate - are very much top of the pile next week and both have murder in mind. Zoe Slater finally leaves Walford. Her exit from EastEnders (BBC1) has been one of the
DAVID ALLAN'S red-hot streak seems all set to continue courtesy of Jeepstar (2.20) in the opener at Haydock. Allan, who rides principally for Tim Easterby, is currently boasting a 20 per cent strike-rate, not bad for a jockey without even a modicum of
Durham University student Josephine Kime was hoping maybe to help a camera crew when she applied for work experience at Tyne Tees TV. Instead, she found herself presenting a series on the region's top hotels. When Durham University student Josephine Kime
The decision by the Green Howards to spend £3,000 buying a dilapidated French shelter raises the question of who should pay for preserving the past. It was June 6, 1944, when Middlesbrough-born Sgt Major Stan Hollis charged up the Normandy beach and,
A TEENAGER broke down in the witness stand and sobbed when he was asked what he thought about allegations that he tried to rape a young girl. Michael Hauxwell, 19, started crying and told Teesside Crown Court: "I think it is very sickening and disturbing
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to have Chester-le-Street's MP deselected. Coun Bill Proud wants to see Kevan Jones replaced after he attacked Derwentside District Council. The Labour member for north Durham accused the authority of holding an undemocratic
A SENIOR union official working at Eastbourne School has spoken about the mystery suspension of its headteacher, Karen Pemberton. It was revealed last month that Ms Pemberton had been suspended after a council-commissioned audit reported "serious concerns
OLDER people who face discrimination at work are being offered help and advice at an event in Darlington. Members of Growing Older Living in Darlington (Gold) will be taking part in the borough council's "Daisy Day", in the Market Place, tomorrow, from
THE high street is suffering a record fall in sales, an influential survey has found. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)'s monthly Distributive Trades Survey (DTS) found that 42 per cent of retailers questioned reported that sales were down during
A PARAMEDIC feared he was going to die after he was beaten by an irate taxi driver as he carried out a night shift, a court has heard. Richard Hannan, 36, told Teesside Crown Court his attacker was like a raging bull who tried to drag him from his ambulance
EVEN the name of the Trafalgar Square TV celebration caused a little, difficulty in my house. "Why is it V45 when it was 60 years ago?" said my wife, missing the relevance to 1945. As it was, the title of A Party To Remember (BBC1, Sunday) certainly lived
OUR youngest has always loved sleeping with his mum. Cuddling up to her in the big bed is his idea of heaven, and I've lost count of the number of times I've been relegated to his room. Max was eight last week and it's still his intention to marry her
"DON'T tell me... they reckon blueberries improve your sex life don't they," said my wife as her favourite breakfast fruit became a business TV highlight on Monday with the news that we in the UK now buy £26.2m of the "superfood". "Look, I've just eaten
THERE is a rash of new dads in the office. Or should that be a nappy rash? Paul, Nick, Nigel and Adam all seem to have got bored with what was on telly at the same time, and it's been a joy watching the big build-up to their entry into the world of fatherhood
A COMMUNITY has joined forces to raise money for an insulin pump to be used by a Weardale youngster. Dr Steve Lumb and Dr Nick Deytrich are taking part in a mini marathon from Killhope to Stanhope along with a group of fundraisers, called the Weardale
TV continues to struggle into the sunlight thanks to Coronation Street's Debra Stephenson announcing on Test The Nation (BBC1, Saturday) that her favourite celebrity was Marilyn Monroe when she "sang Happy Birthday Mr President to KFC". "You've made my
A SERIOUS conversation in a pub between two dads recently underlines the agonisingly difficult decisions us men have to make. The first dad was explaining that he was facing a real dilemma: his wife had indicated that she was interested in having sex
AMID the chaos that is breakfast on school mornings, the headline announcing "Rod Stewart to be a dad again at 60" caught my eye. Rocker Rod is already a father-of-six, with offspring ranging from the ages of 41 to ten. And it was while I was reflecting
Imagine if the boss came round at pay rise time and asked if you were doing a good job. How many people would say no? That's the trouble with self assessment, there's always a nagging suspicion that people might be over egging the pudding. So we have
SIXTY pupils were evacuated from their school and taken to a prisoner of war camp to learn about the upbringing many of their grandparents had as children during the Second World War. The youngsters, from Sugar Hill Primary School, in Newton Aycliffe,
THE residents of Soapland are not known for curling up in bed with Charles Dickens or Jackie Collins. Reading is something for which they have little time, being too preoccupied with eating, drinking, arguing, marrying, divorcing, cheating on their partners
Police searching for the killer of 11-year-old arson victim Dean Pike have been encouraged by the response for information about a discarded tin of lighter fuel, which would provide vital clues. The yellow 100ml tin of Swan Extra Refined fluid may have
Shows in which D-list celebrities try to keep their fame alive are not the turn-on they once were. And ratings disaster Celebrity Wrestling could be the beginning of the end. Celebrities are losing their attraction. Once a turn-on for viewers, they're
THE man leading the investigation into a Roman Catholic priest who has been suspended from duty for the past six months has said inquiries were moving slowly. Father Michael Higginbottom was withdrawn from St Augustine's Church, in Darlington, in December
CLOSE COMBAT: FIRST TO FIGHT, Format: Xbox. Publisher: Take2/Microsoft. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 16+: THE United States Marine Corps is at the cutting edge of American military might. Ready for anything 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the marines
IT was one of the most daring bomber raids of the Second World War, a low-level, precision operation on which the lives of many depended. Operation Jericho, the RAF raid on the prison at Amiens, in northern France, in 1944 has, over the years, become
THE hopelessly inaccurate biography of William Shakespeare at the start set the tone for the anarchic take on the work of the Bard. Apparently, after marrying Anne Hathaway, he wrote Mein Kampf, invaded the Rhineland and was found dead in a Berlin bunker
