Archive

  • Women jailed for supplying crack cocaine

    Three women who were involved in supplying crack cocaine in a North-East town have been jailed. Drug addict Dawn Nelson, 49, was the main player in the operation, Teesside Crown Court heard today. When police raided her home in Hereford Street, Hartlepool

  • Wijnhard's contract is ended by Quakers

    DAVID HODGSON last night terminated the contract of Darlington striker Clyde Wijnhard. The 31-year-old's stay in the North-East was brought to an end following a serious repeated breach of club rules. Wijnhard has been given 14 days to appeal against

  • Driver, 17, taken to see victim's body

    A HIT-AND-RUN drink-driver was taken to see the dead body of one of his victims to make him realise what he had done. The girlfriend of victim Joseph Scurfield, Rianne Abbink, asked driver Kyle Barthram to visit the body so he would be aware of the devastation

  • Grisly find of burnt corpse

    A BODY was found covered in blood and set alight behind a North-East pub last night. Detectives swooped on Tubwell Row, in Darlington, after the grisly discovery was made in an alley behind the Nag's Head. Forensic teams and a police sniffer dog scoured

  • My tip for the Tory Party Crown

    Just prior to the 1997 election, I found myself in conversation with Sir Bernard Ingham, the former press secretary to Margaret Thatcher. I wondered if Labour won and the Tories dumped John Major, whether Ken Clarke or Michael Heseltine would become the

  • Anxious wait for Jenny's call

    THE mother of missing Jenny Nicholl was waiting anxiously for news last night after making a heartfelt plea on her daughter's birthday. Several callers phoned police after Ann Nicholl's emotional appeal yesterday. But, as of midnight, Miss Nicholl, who

  • Why we're still waiting for the wonderdrug

    In theory, NHS doctors have the right to prescribe any drug which is proven to be effective. The reality is very different. Health Editor Barry Nelson examines the issues behind this week's row about the breast cancer drug Herceptin. ON the face of it

  • Teenagers used baby rabbits as golf balls

    TEENAGERS have used sticks to hit baby rabbits off the top of a cliff like golf balls. The three youths were seen arriving at the top of the cliff, at Skinningrove, in North Yorkshire, carrying two bags of baby rabbits. One man saw the youths kick and

  • 07/10/05

    TRAFFIC SHAMBLES: I CAN quite understand why so many people, especially the elderly, are having great trouble in coming to grips with the new traffic situation, no I mean traffic shambles, in Darlington town centre. What can one do but accept it when

  • Howard bows out as Davis loses backers

    SUPPORT was slipping away fast from long-time Tory leadership frontrunner David Davis last night as the party's "beauty parade" conference ended in Blackpool. Two backbenchers who were close to endorsing the Shadow Home Secretary to succeed Michael Howard

  • Driver shown body of victim

    A HIT-AND-RUN drink-driver was taken to see the dead body of one of his victims to make him realise what he had done. The girlfriend of victim Joseph Scurfield, Rianne Abbink, asked driver Kyle Barthram to visit the body so he would be aware of the devastation

  • Praise for Collins

    MARTIN Scott believes it's no suprise to see Neill Collins earn international honours. The big defender is on loan at Hartlepool United from Sunderland and is in line for an appearance for Scotland under 21s tonight against Belarus, Collins has been part

  • Geordie ordered to leave US star alone

    A HOMELESS Geordie left former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson in fear of her life, a US court has heard. The actress has taken out a restraining order saying she feared for her safety after 29-year-old William Peter Stansfield followed her for a month.

  • Healthy steps

    A SERIES of lunchtime walks got off to a promising start in Darlington this week. The walks, organised by Darlington Borough Council's countryside team, in partnership with Darlington Primary Care Trust, as part of the walking the way to health Initiative

  • Peal celebrates two events

    WHEN the bells rang out to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, it had a special meaning for ringers at a Darlington church. It was the 100th full celebratory peal rung on the bells - the first one was in 1893. The session took place

  • Civil court allows man to stay at home

    A MAN who was accused by neighbours of anti-social behaviour will not be banned from his own home. Scott Scales, of Aviemore Court, Darlington, had civil proceedings brought against him by Darlington Borough Council yesterday. The local authority had

  • On-street parking charges may be hitting town's trade

    THE introduction of on-street parking charges in Darlington could be hitting traders, a new report has warned. Although the charges appear to be having the desired effect and are discouraging people to stay longer than their allocated time, the number

  • Depot closures will benefit

    COUNCIL leaders have announced details of a major reorganisation that will see ten highways depots close. The changes will mean the county council's highways service - Highways North Yorkshire - will be split into seven areas. Seven area offices will

  • Regeneration scheme

    PLANS for a regeneration strategy for the Chester-le-Street district have been backed by councillors. The blueprint is aimed at ensuring an effective collaboration between different agencies District council regeneration portfolio holder, Councillor Chris

  • £900 boost for wildlife garden

    A TREASURE hunt has raised £893 for Nawton and Beadlam Millennium Wildlife Garden, near Kirkbymoorside. The event, organised by Alan Kitching, saw 40 members of the North-East Region Metal Detectorist Association search for buried tokens. Perdie Beckett

  • Improved website is unveiled

    A COUNCIL has relaunched its website to allow residents and business access to more services online. Visitors to Ryedale District Council's site can now read committee agendas and minutes, and complete a number of forms. Online payments have been available

  • Vehicle bringing support to young people on Teesside

    YOUNG people are to have help and advice taken to them, with the arrival of a mobile youth unit on Teesside. Hartlepool Youth Service is on the move to take support to young people. The specially-designed vehicle is being used by the service in its work

  • Campaign defeats plan for posh retirement apartments

    CAMPAIGNERS have won a battle over plans to demolish two executive homes and replace them with flats. Residents living around The Avenue, in Eaglescliffe, persuaded Stockton borough councillors that the controversial development was unsuitable for the

  • Controls agreed for colours of stonework

    PLANNERS will be able to control painting of stonework on buildings in a large swathe of central Harrogate in a bid to maintain the town's special character. Councillors have voted unanimously to introduce the controls amid fears that some gaudy colours

  • Preparing for the carnival parade

    A MINI-Durham Miners' Gala will feature in the Houghton Feast carnival parade for the first time tomorrow. Six pit banners and a band will march at the back of the carnival cavalcade that makes its way through Houghton-le-Spring as the annual celebrations

  • X-ray gift fits bill for hospital

    HOSPITAL patients too ill to be moved can now be x-rayed in their beds by a new mobile machine. Radiographers at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, can take the £30,000 x-ray machine to patients wherever they are, including accident and emergency

  • Young swimmers steel the show

    YOUNG swimmers have come away from an annual gala with five honours. Seven members of the Thirsk White Horse swim team competed in the event, in Sheffield. The gala is one of a few remaining events made up purely of 50-metre races for the four main strokes

  • North trials prove taking fish oil DOES make pupils brainier

    NORTH-East children have proved that taking food supplements containing fish and plant oils can significantly boost the schoolwork of children. The results of the world's largest food supplements trial, involving 270 Middlesbrough junior school pupils

  • Community groups get £230,000

    COMMUNITY groups across the North-East are celebrating after winning their share of more than £230,000 in Lottery money. The Awards for All programme makes grants to voluntary and community groups, including schools, parish or town councils and health

  • Albert Hall date for brass band

    A BRASS band from the North-East is competing in a national championship later this month. The Reg Vardy Band, based in Stanley, County Durham, is performing at London's Royal Albert Hall on October 15 for the 38th time in 43 years. They are the reigning

  • Students' supply lifeline to India

    SIXTH form students from Chester-le-Street have raised enough money to feed and clothe an Indian family for life. Members of the Qualitea project, at Roseberry Sports and Community College, have been selling Fair Trade tea from the Nilgiri Hills, in southern

  • Weekend of mystery and suspense

    A GRISLY death will rock a Teesside park this Halloween, when it plays host to a murder mystery weekend. The Victorian Lane at Preston Hall Museum, in Eaglescliffe, will take on an eerie atmosphere when Thieves Kitchen is performed from October 28 to

  • Take a walk

    SIX new leaflets have been published to help walking enthusiasts in east Durham. Easington District Council has produced the publications to add to its popular Walkaround series. The new leaflets cover walks in Hutton Henry and Hurworth Burn, Haswell

  • Farmer's herd is among UK best

    FARMER John Stevenson's dairy herd is the creme de la creme when it comes to milk production. His 100 Holstein and Friesian cows at Highfields Farm, Loftus, east Cleveland, are among the premier First Milk producing herds in the country. And the farmer

  • Challenge for pupils

    PUPILS got a taste of Army life last week at an annual schools competition. Children from Belmont Comprehensive, in Durham City, took part in the Army's annual Inter-Schools Competition at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks, in Strensall, York. Ten pupils from

  • Village prom night

    HUNDREDS of free tickets are available for a night of music to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Chilton Town Council will host a Night of the Proms Victory in Europe concert at Chilton and Windlestone Workingmen's Club

  • More Tory group members resign

    THREE more councillors have resigned from the controlling group of a council. Councillors Yvonne Peacock, Keith Loadman and George Dent have left the Conservative group of Richmondshire District Council and will now set up their own group. The resignations

  • Nightclub launches search for X-Factor

    A DURHAM nightclub is on the lookout for student talent to take part in an X-Factor-style competition. DH1, in North Road, plans to hold a competition for students at the city's university during each of the three academic terms. It is based on the popular

  • Victorian pier is a shining example

    THE lights were switched on last night, illuminating the North-East coast's last remaining pleasure pier. Saltburn's Victorian pier, in east Cleveland, is being lit up from dusk to midnight. The lighting, part of a £750,000 package of improvements, extends

  • Pupils open new-look shop

    SCHOOLCHILDREN will this morning cut a ribbon to open a new-look store. The Co-op Store, in Langley Park, has completed a £180,000 refit following United Co-operatives takeover of the Quality Fare group of stores last summer. The makeover includes the

  • Police arrest 11 in raids

    POLICE have recovered property worth more than £1,000 in a series of raids across Teesside. Officers swooped on addresses in Stockton, Billingham, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, seizing property ranging from power tools to a dog kennel. Eleven people,

  • Burton's Bytes

    WALLACE AND GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT Publisher: Konami Europe. Formats: PS2, Xbox. Price: £34.99. Family friendly? No worries here. DO you remember the "movie tie-in"? Anyone over the age of 30 will probably have fond memories of tatty paperback

  • Firm aids with bus

    A SCOUT group is celebrating after reaching its target to purchase a new minibus. The 1st St Helen Auckland Scout group has been raising money towards its £29,000 goal for the past 12 months. The scouts have collected funds through various events, including

  • Burglars who conned widow jailed for five years

    An elderly widow who was conned out of £20,000 life savings by a bogus builder became a victim for a second time after she was targeted by a gang of burglars. The 84-year-old, who The Northern Echo is not naming, was bullied into letting the two men and

  • Young pianist to give recital

    TALENTED young British pianist Ashley Wass will launch Hartlepool Music Society's 21st season of concerts at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday. Mr Wass, only the second British pianist in 20 years to reach the finals of the Leeds Piano Competition

  • Invitation to Skulduggery

    SKULLS and Skulduggery is a free fun day for all ages on Teesside this weekend. The event, investigating evolution and the human form, will be this Saturday, from 10am until 2pm, at Durham University Queen's Campus, University Boulevard, Thornaby. There

  • Cash plea to help homeless

    A CHARITY that finds temporary places for young homeless people to stay is appealing for funds before the busy Christmas period. Stop2Night, at the Grange Road Baptist Church, in Darlington, is hoping people will pledge money so they can give homeless

  • Accidents in region claim two more lives

    TWO people died in separate accidents on the region's roads yesterday. Shortly after 11am, a car and lorry collided on the A1237 York ring road, between Little Hopgrove roundabout and Monks Cross roundabout. A man in the car was pronounced dead at the

  • On TV

    Horizon: Could Fish Make My Child Smart? (BBC2) Underground Britain: Chelsea Girl (BBC2) ECCENTRIC scientist Hugh Sinclair was determined to prove that fish oil was good for you but, back in the 1940s, all fat was thought unhealthy. He'd noticed that

  • Recovery hopes are put on hold

    HOPES of a recovery in the manufacturing sector were put on hold last night following weaker-than-expected production figures for August. Factory output decreased by 0.2 per cent on the previous month, with the performance covering a broader range of

  • Teen held on suspicion of murder

    A 17-year-old youth has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead near The Nag's Head pub, Darlington. The man, thought to be in his 40s, was found by a member of staff in an alley by the Nag's Head, Tubwell Row, Darlington, on Thursday

  • Jewson opens new site

    BUILDERS' merchant Jewson has invested £600,000 in a site in the North-East. The branch opening at the Salters Lane Industrial Estate, in Sedgefield, County Durham, on Monday, has created 15 jobs, which could rise to more than 20 in the future. Branch

  • Farmers hit by subsidy delays

    FARMERS are being pushed to the financial brink by more problems with a new subsidy scheme, union chiefs warned yesterday. Edward Dennison, chairman of the North Riding and Durham branch of the National Farmers' Union, said many farmers were facing real

  • Blair on collision course over support for academy

    PRIME Minister Tony Blair was last night said to be strongly in favour of plans for a £25m city academy to be built in Darlington - putting him on a potential collision course with his own constituents. Proposals for the privately-sponsored academy, which

  • Community school may be just the tonic

    KEITH Bailey has twins Katie and Michael, 14, at Eastbourne School. He believes a new school would be hugely beneficial for the east side of Darlington. Mr Bailey, who is a teacher in Middlesbrough, admits he originally wanted to send his children to

  • Proctor expects revival from Quakers

    UPBEAT Mark Proctor remains confident Darlington's recent lapse will be shortlived and that a renewed assault on League Two beckons. Ahead of tonight's visit of Macclesfield Town, it's five weeks since the Darlington Football Stadium last played host

  • Council warns about bogus callers

    A council is warning residents and tenants to beware of bogus callers making doorstep offers of free insulation. Chester-le-Street District Council, in partnership with Scottish Power, operates an insulation scheme offering a grant of up to £450, plus

  • Pet owners put in the frame over foul deeds

    RESIDENTS are being put in the picture about the problem of dog fouling. Photographs of the mess left by dogs are being posted through residents' letter boxes in an area of Teesside, in a bid to encourage them to clean up after their pets. The shock tactic

  • A fortune out of the efforts of charity runners

    IT would seem uncharitable to raise even a hint of criticism of such a wonderful institution as the Great North Run, even if I have occasionally pondered the incongruity of paying thousands of pounds to professional athletes at the head of a field in

  • Hannifin wins bidding war for Hunter

    THE two-way battle for control of engineering group Domnick Hunter was over last night. Filtration specialist Domnick Hunter, which is based in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, looks set to be sold for £251m after Parker Hannifin won the bidding war.

  • Burning corpse found in alleyway

    A BODY covered in blood and on fire was found behind a Darlington town centre pub last night. Detectives swooped on Tubwell Row, after the grisly discovery was made in an alley behind the Nag's Head. Police confirmed there were suspicious circumstances

  • North-East hackers jailed over global virus

    Two hackers have been jailed for helping to create a virus that infected thousands of computers worldwide. Andrew Harvey, 24, of Sherburn Village, Co Durham, was jailed for three months, and Jordan Bradley, 22, of Darlington, was jailed for six months

  • Traditional suit maker Austin Reed dealt blow to recovery plan

    RECOVERY hopes at Winston Churchill's favourite suit maker were dealt a further blow last night. While losses at Thirsk-based Austin Reed narrowed to £1.1m in the six months to August 13, sales at its rebranded Country Casuals division remained deep in

  • Next stage in development

    AN outline planning application has been submitted for the next phase of the massive Middlehaven development in Teesside. With the first building in the phase one dockside area complete, Tees Valley Regeneration (TVR) is hoping to pave the way for more

  • ShopTalk: When it's prudent to pay more

    With the array of different ranges, from the best to the most basic, Shoptalk samples supermarked foods to find those fit to grace our plates. HOW basic is Basic? How smart is Smart Price? Is Finest really all that fine? Can you really Taste the Difference

  • Head's shock at mystery illness

    THE headteacher of a school closed by the outbreak of a mystery illness says he has never seen anything like it in his 20-year teaching career. Blackhall Colliery Primary School, near Peterlee, in County Durham, was forced to shut on Wednesday after a

  • The 24-hour machine to keep rural garages afloat

    ONE of the North-East's oldest garage companies has turned to new technology to buck the trend of rural petrol stations facing closure. It has become the first filling station in Britain to install a free-standing card machine called the Illumina 3000

  • Clipperdown can score again

    FORMER top-notch jockey Walter Swinburn has made a satisfactory start to his training career with the likes of York-bound Clipperdown (2.20) keeping him in the news. Universally known as "the choirboy" during his riding days, Walter's angelic looks are

  • Council boss in cash probe

    A council chairman's future is in jeopardy following claims that he helped himself to cash belonging to a community association. Police last night confirmed they were looking into concerns over the running of Henknowle Community Association, near Bishop

  • 'I would ordain women bishops'

    THE Church of England's first black Archbishop has said he would be happy to ordain women bishops if the Church of England changed its rules to allow it. In a newspaper interview, Dr John Sentamu, who was confirmed as the 97th Archbishop of York in a

  • Wijnhard's Darlington days ended after striker is sacked

    DAVID HODGSON last night terminated the contract of striker Clyde Wijnhard. The 31-year-old's stay in the North-East was brought to an end following a serious repeated breach of club rules. Wijnhard has been given 14 days to appeal against the dismissal

  • Clarke climbdown on terror praise law

    Controversial plans to make it a criminal offence to praise terrorist attacks were significantly watered down by Home Secretary Charles Clarke yesterday. He abandoned proposals - published only three weeks ago - which would have made it a crime to glorify

  • Owner's joy after two dogs rescued from clifftop hole

    TWO terriers who became trapped underground in a clifftop crevice survived for ten and 12 days before being discovered. Their owner, Darren Lumsden, lost them during an evening walk along cliffs in Marske, near Redcar, east Cleveland. But his brother,

  • Landlord fined for faulty fire that could have killed

    THE discovery of a potentially lethal gas fire and heater landed a North-East landlord in court yesterday. As a result of a tenant's complaint, Hartlepool Borough Council asked the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to investigate Middlesbrough-based company

  • Nursery open day

    GREEN Lane Nursery, in Barnard Castle, is holding an open day for existing and prospective children and their parents on Saturday, October 15, from 10am to noon. There will be face painting and a bouncy castle. The nursery is next to Barnard Castle CE

  • Real ale festival

    MORE than 25 beers will be on tap at a forthcoming real ale festival. Free live music and bar games will also feature at the event at Richmond market hall, in North Yorkshire, from next Friday to Sunday, October 16. The festival, themed on the animal

  • Guided walk in famous battlefield

    HISTORY lovers can join a guided walk in one of the region's most famous battlefields next week. Local historian David Butler will lead a three-mile walk around the site of the Battle of Neville's Cross, fought between the English and Scots in the 14th

  • A wealth of talent on show at school's open day

    A variety of extra-curricular activities were on show at a school open day. Activities such as climbing, fencing, target shooting and rugby were demonstrated alongside traditional academic studies at Barnard Castle School. Headmaster David Ewart and senior

  • Welcome shelter for parents who walk pupils to school

    PARENTS can shelter from the elements while they wait to collect their children, thanks to a new scheme at a Darlington school. A parent shelter has been installed at Dodmire Junior School, providing somewhere for mums and dads, who walk with pupils,

  • Extra four months jail for assault

    A MAN involved in a domestic argument turned his anger on an innocent passer-by, a court heard. Bricks and racial abuse were hurled at the pedestrian, who was passing a house in Greenbank Road, Darlington, as Barry Waters was arguing with his partner,

  • Celebrating young readers

    PARENTS are being reminded that a number of activities for young children are being held at a Darlington library today. Crown Street Library is hosting four hours of fun to mark National Bookstart Day and to celebrate the extension of the Bookstart scheme

  • Society puts its art on show

    AN arts organisation that has been going strong for decades opens its latest exhibition this weekend. Darlington Art Society's Art for All show will open tomorrow until October 27. A range of paintings, drawings and crafts will be on show in the foyer

  • Exhibition to put regeneration in the spotlight

    AN exhibition showcasing community regeneration projects that have helped hundreds of people to learn will be held in Durham next week. The display, at County Hall, Aykley Heads, on Monday, will feature more than 20 exhibitors offering activities and

  • Owner's joy after two dogs rescued from clifftop hole

    TWO terriers who became trapped underground in a clifftop crevice survived for ten and 12 days before being discovered. Their owner, Darren Lumsden, lost them during an evening walk along cliffs in Marske, near Redcar, east Cleveland. But his brother,

  • Katich admits Aussies hurt

    Ashes defeat was the singular motivation for Australia to prove their eminence is not on the wane in the Super Series. Since losing 2-1 to England, Ricky Ponting's side have had their credentials scrutinised by the public both home and abroad. But they

  • Helen, 17, is head girl at college

    A COLLEGE has named its new head girl as a 17-year-old from Newton le Willows, near Bedale. Helen Johnson said she was delighted, but completely shocked, to be appointed the 113th head girl at Harrogate Ladies' College. She is a full boarder at the college

  • School rebuilding endorsed in face of priority dispute

    COUNCILLORS are pressing ahead with a £25m school re-building project, despite claims that other schools have a greater priority for action. Durham County Council is awaiting a Government decision on whether to give £6m to the £25m scheme to put the 1,400

  • Technology targets abandoned vehicles

    COMPUTER technology is being used to clear a district's streets of abandoned and untaxed cars. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been given direct access to the DVLA's web system to access records revealing a vehicle's owner, registered address

  • Man fights for his life after attack while he was asleep

    A MAN was fighting for his life last night after he was viciously attacked as he slept. The 42-year-old victim is in a critical condition after suffering severe head injuries, believed to have been caused by a blunt instrument. He was being treated in

  • Students' guide to ghostly goings on

    STUDENTS have created a tourist guide to some of North Yorkshire's spookiest attractions. The Rough Guide to the Legend and Mystery of North Yorkshire links a host of heritage sites to ghosts, druids and even the devil. The areas surveyed included the

  • £12,000 raised in a month for new hall

    RESIDENTS who have been raising funds for the past six years to replace their village hall have received £12,000 in donations in a month. People living in Welburn, near Malton, are aiming to build a hall to replace the existing 80-year-old asbestos-clad

  • Police appeal for mistaken ID man

    A MAN suspected of leaving a service station with someone else's wallet is being sought by police. Officers are appealing for help in finding a man, thought to be in his 30s, in connection with the incident at the Red Tiles Service Station, in Witton

  • In fighting men's footsteps

    HISTORY lovers will have the chance to walk one of the region's most famous battlefields during an event next week. Local historian David Butler will lead a three-mile walk around the site of The Battle of Neville's Cross, fought between the English and

  • Lottery boost for community

    A COMMUNITY group is celebrating some blooming good news after being awarded Lottery cash to launch an environmental project. The Chilton In Bloom committee, formed by councillors and residents of Chilton, has received a £3,124 Awards for All grant to

  • Talk about healthcare

    PLANS to reorganise acute healthcare in the Teesside area will be discussed at two public meetings. Residents are invited to meetings at Sedgefield Parish Hall, Sedgefield village, on Monday, and The Red Lion, Trimdon village, on Thursday, October 20,

  • Council chairman is facing cash probe

    A council chairman's future is in jeopardy following claims that he helped himself to cash belonging to a community association. Police last night confirmed they were looking into concerns over the running of Henknowle Community Association, near Bishop

  • Chance to quiz panel

    A QUESTION time event will be held at Whinfield Primary School, in Darlington, tonight, at 7.30pm. The panel includes Darlington MP Alan Milburn, the Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend John Pritchard, local headteacher Dame Dela Smith and award-winning

  • Public can speak out

    PLANS to reorganise acute healthcare in the Teesside area will be discussed at two public meetings in Sedgefield borough this month. Residents are invited to consultation events at Sedgefield Parish Hall, Sedgefield village, on Monday, and at The Red

  • Four months for attack on nurse

    A GIPSY camp resident who kicked and punched a nurse in a "horrendous attack" was jailed for four months yesterday. Harrogate magistrates heard how Jane Nichols, who was caring for a stroke victim at the travellers' camp at Springs Lane, Bickerton, near

  • Howe blow rocks Darlington

    DARLINGTON are resigned to being without experienced flanker Martin Howe for a month because of a thigh injury, but are confident their Newcastle Academy player, Phil Dawson, can do the job at open side. Dawson has come up through the club's junior ranks

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Punishment enough?

    IT is debatable whether five years behind bars is enough for Kyle Barthram. The 17-year-old killed two much-loved musicians - Joe Scurfield and Keith Morris - when he lost control of an uninsured car after drinking too much. Despite all that he had done

  • Parent fears a drop in education quality

    PETE Dodd has two children, Jolyon, 11, who is at Hurworth school, and Aja, aged eight, who is at the village primary. Both may well attend the new school, due to open by about 2008 if funding becomes available. Like many Hurworth parents, Mr Dodd fears

  • Top tie-in for the Plasticine pair

    WALLACE AND GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT: Publisher: Konami Europe. Formats: PS2, Xbox. Price: £34.99. Family friendly? No worries here. DO you remember the "movie tie-in"? Anyone over the age of 30 will probably have fond memories of tatty paperback

  • Shoptalk: when it's prudent to pay more

    HOW basic is Basic? How smart is Smart Price? Is Finest really all that fine? Can you really Taste the Difference? And how much will we pay for water when we think we're buying bacon? For years supermarkets battled it out on price, the cheaper the better

  • 999 staff reject pay deal

    FRONTLINE staff at the North-East Ambulance Service last night rejected a controversial pay deal on meal breaks. In a consultation ballot, the ambulance workers - all members of the union Unison - voted by an overwhelming majority not to accept a £1,500

  • Speculation on closure of AA centre is dismissed

    MOTORING organisation the AA last night dismissed speculation that its North-East call centre could close with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs. A source told The Northern Echo that there was concern that the motoring organisation's recent cost-cutting

  • McMahon sights on trophy

    INJURED Tony McMahon wants Middlesbrough to waltz through the UEFA Cup's group stage, so he can play his own part in winning the club's first major European trophy. McMahon watched Tuesday's draw with great interest. But he knows he will struggle to return

  • Construction begins

    CHEMICAL company Huntsman marked the start of construction on its £200m polythene plant, which will help safeguard the future of the Tees Valley's process industry, and create hundreds of jobs. President and chief executive Peter Huntsman said the investment

  • 2,500 workers told jobs safe after fears at meat factory

    THE 2,500 staff employed at a meat factory in North Yorkshire have received reassurances their jobs are safe, it emerged last night. Workers at the Malton Bacon Factory, in Malton, near York, had been concerned about their jobs after factory owners Grampian

  • Magpies star fails to show for speeding conviction

    Footballer Lee Bowyer failed to appear at court today to be sentenced for a 112mph speeding conviction. He had been summoned to appear at Bedlington Magistrates Court to be sentenced after he was convicted in his absence last month. At the hearing on

  • Left turn works out for Hoyte

    IT might have started as something of an emergency conversion, but Justin Hoyte feels his switch to left-back could yet become the defining moment of his career. When the 20-year-old arrived at the Stadium of Light on transfer deadline day, he joined

  • When Andrew becomes Freddie

    England's Ashes hero Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff has shown exactly what it takes to be a great cricketing all-rounder. As he publishes his autobiography, Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson looks at the contrasts in his character and what his country expects