REFEREES have been keen to embrace the new rights that have been made available to them since they turned professional in 2001, so it is about time they also started to face some of the responsibilities. By turning their back on their amateur days, England's
EU DIRECTIVES: WHILE Westminster enjoys its extended summer holiday, Brussels never sleeps. It continues to churn out EU directives that pass into British law without comment from our MPs until it is too late. EU WEEE is now a problem. Implementation
Guylain Ndumbu Nsungu was Darlington's match-winner on Saturday with an 81st minute penalty - but had some of his team-mates had their way the striker may not have had chance to take the spot-kick, writes CRAIG STODDART. Although Clyde Wijnhard missed
The X Factor (ITV1) He's Having A Baby (BBC1) can see myself with my name in lights," said singer Sarah before her audition for The X Factor. Unhappily for her, it wasn't her name up there in lights but the sign saying EXIT as judges Simon Cowell, Sharon
AFTER 2,000 years of stretching from coast to coast, Hadrian's Wall could finally be in danger of collapse. But unlike in the days of the Romans, when the wall acted as the country's defence against invasion, it is not warriors who are attacking, it is
SAFETY campaigners have hailed a speed camera with a difference - one that hands out smiles instead of fines. Drivers clocked by the £6,000 speed detector receive a big smile from an electronic board if they are obeying the limit. Motorists who are travelling
Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes concluded her track career in Britain in the 800 metres at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield. Holmes, who won the 800m-1500m double in Athens last year, made her final appearance on a British track
DURHAM'S double promotion bandwagon became a little more rickety yesterday as they lost their totesport League match at Taunton by five wickets. They are still only two points off the top, but leaders Sussex's defeat at Grace Road allowed Leicestershire
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour felt that his side was "very unlucky" to lose their opening First Division game of the season at home to Colwyn Bay, writes RAY SIMPSON. Bishops lost to a goal by Carl Rogers after 59 minutes, and Honour, who gave
Billingham Town manager Micky Watson blasted the referee after one of his players was red-carded on Saturday - for having a drink of water. Town beat fancied Durham 2-1, but they finished the game with ten men after John McKie was shown his second yellow
'FOREVER the optimist, I am looking forward to the rest of the summer, and to making the most of what remains of the best season of the year. The season that brings a smile to my face, a warmth to my heart, and a glass of wine to my hand. Every year brings
AGAINST all odds Anthony Peacock is proving that size doesn't necessarily matter in football. Where others have slipped through the net pint-sized Peacock provides quality rather than quantity to his game. At 5ft 3ins Peacock may be as small as they come
JONJO Dickman believes Grimsby Town felt the brunt of a Darlington side with a point to prove at the weekend. Midfielder Dickman played an impressive role in Quakers' first away win of the season as David Hodgson's men moved up to sixth in League Two.
After only three games, just two Wearwide League sides - Cleator Moor Celtic and Ryhope CW - have 100 per cent records. It took Ryhope an hour to break the deadlock against Boldon CA before Michael Pattison finally opened the scoring. Pattison put the
A family of five stranded on rocks by a rising tide had to be rescued by a lifeboat crew on Sunday evening. The Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat was launched at 4pm after the Humber Coastguard received reports that five people had been cut off beneath cliffs
Expert triathletes on a sea training exercise sparked an emergency rescue operation when passers by thought they were drowning. The swimmers were holding onto a bouy waiting for the rest of their group to catch up when a coastguard crew tried to rescue
Most people harbour the hope that when their time is up, they will die peacefully in their sleep. But dying in your sleep may not be as peaceful an experience as is popularly supposed, new research suggests. Scientists believe death occurring during sleep
Sir Michael Stoute's two-year-olds at Leicester are always worth a second glance and the Newmarket trainer has a strong candidate for today's EBF Nanpantan Maiden Fillies' Stakes in Cantabria. The daughter of Dansili made a pleasing debut when only beaten
SHRILL, but melodic tones of a traditional North-East wind instrument entertained visitors at a regional museum yesterday. Home Farm, at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, played host to a collection of regional musicians. They included North-umbrian
RESIDENTS and civic conservationists are waiting to see the revised plans for housing on a landmark former roadside pub site. Outline permission was granted for housing on the site of the former Cock o' the North hotel, at Farewell Hall, on the A167 southern
A village's annual fair was hailed a great success at the weekend despite its fancy dress procession and fell race being cancelled due to new safety rules. The two traditional features were missing from the event at Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, County
ONE of Britain's best-known fire engines helped raise £900 for a North-East hospice on Saturday. The 1954 Dennis F8, which has made regular televi- sion appearances in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, during the 13-year run of the
FOOTBALL fans are toasting the survival of a landmark pub near Sunderland's Stadium of Light. The Fort, a popular match day watering hole for Sunderland supporters from across the North-East, had seen better days and was in danger of closure until local
NOVICE young musicians can take part in an informal concert, staged from scratch, at Durham Cathedral this week. As part of the cathedral's summer holiday activity programme, fun music sessions are being staged daily, in the Chapter House, from 10am to
MORE than 60 police officers took to the streets of Middlesbrough as an unprecedented crackdown on drink-fuelled bad behaviour got under way. They were accompanied by Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price who delivered his "zero tolerance" message in person
A six-year-old youngster who survived a 150ft fall from a cliff top at a North Yorkshire beauty spot has spoken of her amazing escape. The parents of Demi-Leigh Tweddle watched in horror as the youngster plunged off the cliff, near Filey. They thought
A PARTNERSHIP improving life for people in twin south Durham communities will soon be offering free benefit advice. The Coundon and Leeholme Community Partnership launches a fortnightly Welfare Rights Service next month in the Tees Walk Community Centre
DEVELOPERS have been given planning permission to build two apartment blocks on the site of a former gym. Hedley Park Developments is replacing a disused ladies fitness centre in King Street, Spennymoor, with two buildings containing 12 flats. The plan
FRIENDS spoke yesterday of their relief after surviving a shock ceiling collapse while enjoying a leisurely game of pool. The quartet were playing on tables at one end of a first-floor snooker club, when, without warning, a section of the floor above
ONE of Darlington's oldest opticians has announced it is to close after 72 years of trading in the town. JW Wardman opticians, in Duke Street, has said it has been forced to close after finding it increasingly difficult to compete with the rising number
A NEW women's course record was set as Kenyan athletes continued their domination of the big Auckland Castle 10K yesterday. But a little-known British athlete almost came up with the shock of the season as he was just pipped for the £1,000 men's prize
THERE were plenty of family members around Ellen Dybell to celebrate her birthday on Teesside, yesterday. The widow had 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren to wish her a happy 102nd birthday at the Middlesbrough Council-run Albert Cocks Residential
THREE people were seriously hurt in accidents on North Yorkshire roads on Saturday. A 17-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were taken to Harrogate District Hospital following a head-on collision on the A61 at Wormald Green, between Harrogate and Ripon
A CRIME-hit jewellery firm has been ordered to remove a security shutter. Smash and grab thieves have struck three times at Market Cross Jewellers, in Guisborough, east Cleveland. But jeweller Roy Welch went to appeal after Redcar and Cleveland Council
A PARTNERSHIP between housing officials, police and residents has seen a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour. Coast and Country Housing, Cleveland Police and people living in the Redcar and Cleveland area joined forces for the initiative. Between
A TWO-DAY roadshow which promotes rail safety and gives youngsters the chance to sample alternative activities, is finally arriving in Darlington next week. The town is one of four places in the country which have been selected because they are rail-crime
A man has been remanded in custody accused of murdering a 16-year-old schoolgirl. Kimberley Bage was stabbed to death at her mother's home in Troutpool Close, Central Estate, Hartlepool. Paul Andrew Knappett, 29, of Wentworth Grove Hartlepool, appeared
Marton were the happier side when their top of the table clash with Thornaby ended in a draw. They took four points more than their opponents and are now six points off the top with a game in hand. Mark Foster struck a century leading Marton to the impressive
The race for the championship was unexpectedly thrown wide open with Castle Eden's defeat by Dawdon. Seaham Park made no mistake at Houghton and, with two games to play, only six points separate the pair. Dawdon were the underdogs at Castle Eden but triumphed
GOALKEEPERS have a habit of making their mark in Hartlepool - Darlington games. Andy Collett was outstanding in back to back derbies at Feethams in 2001 and 2002. But even he had some way to go to match Mark Prudhoe back in February 1991. The game between
THE company behind the new Wembley project is involved in a proposed city centre redevelopment scheme in the North-East. Australian construction company Multiplex revealed it is to work with Newcastle City Council in drawing up plans to restore and breathe
Jockeys' Association chief John Blake hopes the senior riders' boycott of Wolverhampton will help spur on a resolution to the current stalls debate. Of the top jockeys, only Seb Sanders is due to ride at tonight's fixture with the majority of the 66 declared
Captain David Rutherford produced a man-of-the-match performance to lead table-topping Ashington to victory over Burnopfield. He took seven for 21 runs before hitting 12 boundaries in 71 not out as the Colliers won with eight wickets remaining. Second-top
Saltburn took another step towards the championship with victory over Marske - but despite dismissing their opponents for 112 the leaders had to work for every run. Chris Nichols, Richie Rennard and Rob Nicol kept them at bay and almost 41 overs elapsed
Two horses were killed on a busy road when they tried to escape the wreckage of their overturned trailer. The A1 was closed for a time to northbound traffic after the incident near Morpeth in Northumberland on Sunday afternoon. The two animals scrambled
ALAN Shearer has admitted Newcastle's poor start to the season has piled the pressure on an under-fire Graeme Souness, but denied that Wednesday night's trip to Bolton could have catastrophic consequences should the Magpies fail to record their first
TOMMY MILLER expects winger Andy Welsh's red card to be rescinded after an 'embarrassing' performance from referee Barry Knight - as Sunderland focus on earning their first Premiership points at home to Manchester City tomorrow. Knight should inform the
A bride and groom chose One Ring to bind them at a Lord Of the Rings Wedding in a fairytale castle. Dad-of-two Gary Grey, 38, did not want a traditional white wedding with guests dressed in formal suits and ties. So the computer programmer asked all his
A six-year-old youngster who survived a 150ft fall from a cliff top at a North Yorkshire beauty spot has spoken of her amazing escape. The parents of Demi-Leigh Tweddle watched in horror as the youngster plunged off the cliff, near Filey. They thought
only six points separate leaders South Northumberland from Chester-le-Street with four games to play. Both won but crucially the Cestrians gained two more points than their rivals when they bowled out Tynemouth for 162. Ben Debnam struck 59 but the six-man
AUGUST has always marked the start of the shooting season, so perhaps it should be no surprise Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has made a habit of using the month to fire his managers. Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson all failed to
A stalwart of amateur footballer who earned accolades as a player and referee has died at the age of 80. Joe Welsh, from Lanchester, County Durham, collected 40 trophies in his sporting career. Away from the pitch he was a popular lecturer at Durham Technical
Counterfeiters who sell fakes at car boot sales will face tougher penalties if a new bill gets the go-ahead. The move will give councils greater powers to crackdown on sellers and organisers. They will be outlined in a private members bill to be announced
MICKY Nelson joined Martin Scott in echoing the need for a brighter start at Victoria Park. Pool failed to click into gear until the second period against Walsall on Saturday, coming back from a goal down to draw. It's happened in both home games this
OFFICIALS were last night investigating the death of a murderer who exchanged love letters with Soham killer Ian Huntley. Louise Giles, 20, was serving a life sentence at HMP Durham, in Durham City, after she stabbed a woman to death with a kitchen knife
AFTER two games, no goals and just one point, the temptation to strengthen the Middlesbrough squad with players who do not top Steve McClaren's wishlist may prove strong. Never one to underestimate his own ability, George Boateng believes the club should
Crisis? What crisis? A week ago Darlington were heading for a miserable start to the season having been nothing short of dire in their defeat to Leyton Orient and facing up to three consecutive tough away games. But what a difference a week and one game
A PERMANENT memorial to reflect the achievements of former North-East MP Mo Mowlam could be erected in the region. Labour leaders on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are calling for a fitting tribute to the former Northern Ireland Secretary, possibly
A TEAM of filmmakers from the North-East have been invited to take part in a festival in Hollywood. Their animation film, Emily and the Baba Yaga, will be shown at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival - the largest of its kind in the world
WHEN Chris Westwood gifted the ball to Julian Joachim last season and the striker raced away to net, some wags at Victoria Park suggested it wouldn't be the last time he's involved in a Walsall goal. Little did they know what was to follow. Then a Hartlepool
THE harbour porpoise has plied the North Sea in search of fish for thousands of years. But so, too, has man, using vast trawler nets in which large numbers of porpoises are accidentally entangled and dragged to their death. The accidental entrapment of
A mother's desperate attempt to save her son's life as he choked to death on a kebab was captured in a 999 call. As Michelle Curtis fought to save 10-year-old son Christopher's life she sobbed to an emergency operator: "Please, he's dying. His pulse is
Saltburn took another step towards the championship with victory over Marske - but despite dismissing their opponents for 112 the leaders had to work for every run. Chris Nichols, Richie Rennard and Rob Nicol kept them at bay and almost 41 overs elapsed
TODAY we applaud Pope Benedict XVI on his first foreign trip and on his quiet yet confident style in getting his message of peace across to a million youngsters. We saw that when he arrived in Cologne he showed that he was his own man by avoiding such
AS my car climbs the sweeping driveway to John and Margaret Elliott's house, an excitable springer spaniel bounds to greet me. A second later, Margaret appears, and with a few stern words, has the dog in check. He slopes off, reminded of who's boss, and
IT was during the wet Saturday nine days ago that I first tried to arrange a chat with Mick Lewis. I think he was heavily involved in a card school at the time, so the answer came back that he'd rather do it on the Monday. It's also the Aussie way - they'd
HAVING spent the past two years trying to adopt a street-wise approach to delivering Championship supremacy, Mick McCarthy now wants Sunderland to use their brains rather than brawn to come to terms with life in the Premiership. McCarthy was left puzzled
THE Northern Echo is promoting positive activities for children and teenagers throughout the summer holidays as part of the No Messin' campaign. The campaign aims to highlight the dangers of messing about on railways, while promoting alternative activities
The top four teams again won so it remains as you were. Hetton Lyons still lead by ten points after their expected win against bottom-placed Durham City materialised. Leading run-maker Sean Birbeck top scored with 84 and with the usual contribution from
Even by Newcastle's high standards for attracting criticism over the years, last season's farcical 'Carry On' antics reached epidemic proportions at Sid James' Park. Widespread discontent and disillusionment on yet another miserable campaign of turbulence
DEVELOPERS have been given planning permission to build two apartment blocks on the site of a former gym. Hedley Park Developments is replacing a disused ladies fitness centre in King Street, Spennymoor, with two buildings containing 12 flats. The plan
Esh Winning took another step towards the championship when they defeated Brandon and were marginally assisted by Tudhoe, winners over Willington. Dean Storey, Jim Allenby and Darren Punshon all passed 40 but, when Rizwan Quereshi and Shafiq Ahmed shared
HORSE power of the traditional kind has been used to clear a way through an overgrown park. Woodsman Chris Wadsworth, of Guisborough, east Cleveland, and shire horse Tyne went into action at the weekend to clear fallen trees from footpaths in tumbledown
SHOPPERS at a supermarket have been on a £2.6m winning streak in National Lottery payouts since the draw started 11 years ago. The Morrison's branch in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is in the top five in a national league table of the company's stores
HOUSE prices in a village could be affected if plans to close a top-performing school are approved. Proposals to close Hurworth School and Eastbourne Comprehensive in Darlington and merge them in a new £20m school in Yarm Road have caused outrage among
A WEEKEND wedding ceremony proved a real throwback to a bygone era, with a nostalgic theme enthusiastically adopted by all. The happy couple, Julie Butler and Steve Pickard, plus friends, families and other guests, all dressed the part in a 1940s-style
A SERIES of guided walks is being held in Darlington to teach residents more about the history of their town. The first walk is on Wednesday and will be led by Darlington historian George Flynn. The walk will be around the historic centre of Darlington
A former world hang-gliding champion yesterday soared to yet another International Bognor Birdman title as thousands of sun-seekers flocked to watch one of the wackiest events in the British summer calendar. Ron Freeman, from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland
A NORTH-EAST university will begin training detectives of the future next month by using innovative methods popularised through TV shows such as CSI Miami and Waking the Dead. The first students have been enrolled on the University of Sunderland's BSc
ACTIVE families are being sought to provide homes for two dogs. The Blue Cross animal adoption centre at Topcliffe, near Thirsk, has reopened after being closed for two weeks because of a virus. Staff are trying to find homes for Danny, a year-old neutered
BUSINESS should be back to normal today at a busy city centre indoor shopping complex forced to close to the public after a fire scare. Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated from Durham's Millburngate Centre after a blaze broke out in a shoe and watch repair
NIGHT-OWLS are being offered a close encounter with forest wildlife. The Forestry Commission and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will be staging their first Nightwatch event in Guisborough Forest, on Friday, September 2, from 7pm. Visitors will be
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to prevent the closure of a disability claims assessment centre. A fight begun by Redcar and Cleveland Welfare Rights Unit and the borough's Citizen's Advice Bureau to save the medical centre in Middlesbrough from closure
RESIDENTS have pitched in to end a yob nightmare that has spanned decades. They celebrated not with champagne but by digging up the cause of their problems - an alleyway running behind their homes. Sex pests, drug-takers, and drunks urinating have all
Floods which devastated an east Cleveland community are set to be just a bad memory. Contractors, who were brought into to work on a £680,000 sea defences for Skinningrove, have completed 75 per cent of the scheme. The village was badly hit by flooding
RESIDENTS are to be asked their opinion on a range of subjects, and what they say could influence future town hall planning. It is expected that an all-embracing, Middlesbrough-wide survey targeting a sample 8,000 residents will cost about £150,000. Residents
POLICE pursued a man across part of a town centre, through a furniture store, and into a river, until he made his escape using a narrow drainpipe. A dozen police officers, eight firemen and the Durham Fire and Rescue crew's boat patrolled part of the
MOTORISTS travelling through east Cleveland are to see a lot more of Smiley Sid. That is the nickname given to an electronic road sign that smiles if a driver sticks to the speed limit - but frowns if he does not. Following the runaway success of two
AN 80-year-old man has been honoured for a lifetime's work with the Roman Catholic Church. Gerald Dunwell, of Lime Chase, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, has been presented with the Bene Merenti medal and certificate in recognition of service to the
A PROJECT to support parents of troublesome teenagers is being expanded. The Parent Link Project was set up just over a year ago in Ryedale to work directly with families of young people who have been involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, or who
A WOMAN in remission from cancer is about to trek the Inca Trail in memory of her late husband. Elizabeth Davies, 62, from Scruton, near Northallerton, will fly to Peru next month to take up the challenge. Her husband died of leukaemia last year and she
A MINING museum once threatened with closure has struck it lucky. The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, near Skinningrove, is on target to overtake its previous best month for visitors, last August. More than 800 people visited the museum that month,
NEWCASTLE Falcons will decide today whether Jonny Wilkinson has any chance of playing a part in tomorrow's second and final match on their ten-day trip to Japan. The Falcons beat Japanese champions NEC Green Rockets 73-6 in front of a crowd of 10,000
Hartlepool-born apprentice Tony Hamilton lost his right to claim an allowance when the Richard Fahey-trained Paparaazi provided him with the 95th success of his career in dramatic fashion in the Gaffney Industrial & Welding Supplies Handicap at Redcar
Billingham Synthonia scored one of the fastest FA Cup goals of the season when they scored after just 22 seconds to set up a 5-0 win at Brandon on Saturday. Brandon had a man sent off last Saturday in the first minute when the two sides met in the league
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Mark Viduka has received the ultimate compliment from manager Steve McClaren who hailed the 29-year-old as his 'number one striker'. The Australia international appeared to be on his way out of the Riverside in the summer with Newcastle
A pioneering scientist has turned his back on medicine to become a handyman after failing to find a job. Dr Peter Vesey applied for more than 100 jobs but could not secure one and has had to abandon his specialist field. After realising he had no option
