Q My granddaughter, aged 18, has been working as a trainee on £40 a week but has been too ill to work for the past seven weeks. She gets no money from either her employer or the State. Is she entitled to anything? A She should claim Income Support from
Chris Turner is back at Hartlepool United albeit in a different role. Sports Editor Nick Loughlin spoke to Paul Stephenson and Micky Barron about the impact he had first time round. A SUMMER pre-season friendly at Billingham Town may not carry the most
HOSPITAL PRAISE: WE had to take our daughter Emily, aged five, to Bishop Auckland Hospital to have three teeth taken out. I would like to thank all the staff on Ward 20 for the care and kindness they showed to us. These people are not valued enough in
AARON O'Neil only lived for 92 days. And the suffering he endured during his tragic, brief life is unimaginable. It was bad enough that he had a father capable of torturing him to death and a mother prepared to turn a blind eye. But what has made an already
A MOTHER whose son died at an Army barracks will give evidence to MPs next week. Lynn Farr's son, Private Daniel Farr, died at the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick Garrsion, North Yorkshire, in 1997. Since his death, Mrs Farr has set up Daniel's
ST MARY'S was built in 1842, consecrated in 1942 - the Catholics are a bit funny about these things - and is described on a board outside as the Mother Church of Teesside. In all her years, with all her darling daughters, Mother may never have seen anything
ONE of the North-East's oldest and most popular radio disc jockeys has branched out into a new career as a dales shopkeeper. Frank Wappat, who recently celebrated 35 years on the airwaves with BBC local radio, has taken over an electrical and radio accessories
AN INCREDULOUS Glenn Roeder has banned Craig Moore from attending an Australian training camp next week and told the injury-plagued defender to prove his worth to Newcastle before he even begins to think about furthering his World Cup dream. Moore has
FROM a season that had threatened to descend into one of real crisis, Middlesbrough are attempting to ensure progressive cup form does not derail hopes of climbing away from the relegation zone. Boro will play their seventh game in 22 February days tomorrow
Bishop Auckland are looking to stretch their unbeaten run to four league matches when they make the long trip to Gresley Rovers in the UniBond First Division. The mini-revival, however, may have come just a little too late to stop Bishops finishing in
A RETIRED vicar has criticised the police after thieves stole his identity and tried to use credit cards in his name. The Reverend Ted Spiller claims the case was not looked into properly and says he was made to feel like a criminal. Last March, Mr Spiller
PAUL Stephenson is hoping for a repeat showing this afternoon. Hartlepool United's temporary boss, in charge until the end of the season, got off to a winning start in his only home game in control. Pool beat Chesterfield 1-0 at Victoria Park 15 days
A PIECE of the region's racing heritage was lost forever yesterday as bulldozers moved in to demolish the former home of one of the North-East's most famous racehorses. Red Alligator became a legend in his home town of Bishop Auckland, County Durham,
POLICE are hunting two "despicable" conmen who targeted seven pensioners in one day. Detectives have issued an urgent warning after the spate of doorstep crimes in North Yorkshire. In one of the worst incidents, the two thieves stole several hundred pounds
ONLY one of the five police force mergers proposed by Home Secretary Charles Clarke were yesterday approved by the police authorities involved. As expected, the Cleveland force voted against the voluntary move - leaving the North-East merger with the
The match of the day in the Wearside League is between leaders Cleadon SC and second-top Whitehaven at Jack Clark Park with five points separating the pair, writes Malcolm Pratt. Following a recent blip Cleadon are back in form but manager Doug Key is
FOUR weeks ago, Ugo Ehiogu was pencilling in Middlesbrough's trip to West Brom as an opportunity to lock horns with a club that shaped his career. It still is, just not in the way the former England international expected. After joining West Brom's youth
A WOMAN and her young family escaped serious injury when their car was involved in a collision with a fire engine. The crash was the second in two weeks involving an emergency vehicle responding to a call. The tender was on its way to Carter Bequest Hospital
ENGINEERING firm Syncro has been bought out for an undisclosed sum. The business, which has a base in Gateshead employing 130 people, provides mechanical and electrical engineering services to the private sector. It has been bought out by Aston Ventures
North-East hopes of a senior medal in today's National Cross Country Championships have been hit by the absence of former women's title-holders and newly-crowned Northern champions Chester-le-Street. England's premier winter fixture comes too early for
DARLINGTON have had more strikers than manager David Hodgson cares to remember this season and if they fail to achieve their play-off dream in May the Quakers boss will know exactly where it all went wrong. Hodgson last night expressed his frustration
BUSINESS confidence in the region has hit a two-year high, according to research. North-East companies are more bullish about economic prospects for the next 12 months than the national average, the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales
IT is renowned throughout the world and an integral part of any good Sunday roast - and soon it could have the same protected status as a bottle of champagne. Moves are afoot to ensure that the humble Yorkshire pudding, the much-loved accessory to beef
IT is difficult to know which is the more notable feature of tomorrow's Carling Cup final - that unfashionable Wigan have made it to the Millennium Stadium showpiece or that mighty Manchester United actually want to win it. Wigan's progress this season
WITH Titus Bramble's hamstring injury forcing Glenn Roeder to field yet another remodelled back four this evening, Robbie Elliott has described being a defender at Newcastle as "the hardest job in football". The club's defenders have been subjected to
HARTLEPOOL power station operator British Energy will invest a share of £250m in the plant this financial year, it confirmed last night. The nuclear power station has been plagued by operating problems over the past year, which have led to a drop in output
A BOXING club planning a trip to Australia is seeking sponsorship. Ten fighters and five officials from Spennymoor Boxing Club, in County Durham, will fly out in May for a two-week visit, which will include fights against Australian boxers. Members as
FOR someone who has spent a large amount of time with his head in accountancy books over the past year, Kevin Kyle has proved his number is far from up - even if it was not too long ago when he thought it was. Sunderland striker Kyle was sidelined in
AN eco-friendly school has found a novel way to recycle potentially dangerous trees in its mascot's garden. A tree survey was carried out at schools across Darlington by the borough council's abhoricultural section to identify any dangerous trees. Concerns
AN awards ceremony has been held to recognise the achievements of a group of looked-after children in Darlington. The ceremony, at Darlington Football Club'S TFM Arena, celebrated the personal and academic successes of the young people. Certificates were
A SCHEME that could offer a lifeline to thousands of elderly and vulnerable people throughout the area is to be extended. The Message In A Bottle initiative encourages people to keep a small container, including vital personal information, in their fridge
GIRL Guides, Brownies and Rainbow packs in Hurworth have raised a flag in the village to celebrate a special day. The flag - the guiding World Flag - flew over the village to mark the joint birthdays of Lord Robert Baden-Powell and Lady Olave Baden-Powell
BOTH political parties contesting a parish council by-election came out with something to celebrate. Labour and the Liberal Democrats each took one of the two seats in Thursday's election for the West Ward of Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council, in
FOUR teenagers from north Durham have completed the first chapter of their careers in the British Army. They passed out of the Infantry Training Centre, at Pirbright, Surrey, after the completion of their basic military training. The four young men, three
A BENEFIT cheat who falsely claimed jobseekers' allowance could have been entitled to more money had he filed legitimate claims, a court heard. James Ernest Stanley, of Hundens Lane, Darlington, narrowly escaped prison yesterday after he pleaded guilty
AFTER years of encouraging a district's youngsters to take up sports, cricketer Darren Brown has taken on the role of managing two school sports halls. He now runs identical facilities at Bishop Barrington, in Bishop Auckland, and Wolsingham School and
VILLAGERS who could lose their council-run old people's home will have the chance to air their views at a converence this morning. Lynwood House, at Lanchester, is one of three residential care homes that Durham County Council is looking to close as part
A TEENAGER who hit an 11-year-old boy has appeared in court. Liam Anthony Armstrong, 19, pleaded guilty at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday to two counts of actual bodily harm. The court heard how Armstrong, of Manor Grove, Cockfield, hit
A VILLAGE'S youth club is celebrating after getting an award for its efforts to encourage youngsters to lead more healthy lives. The Bowburn Youth Project has been awarded the healthy youth work standard by Durham County Council's Education in the Community
YOUNG actors were masking everything but their emotions as they took part in a three-day drama course this week. Participants donned masks as they learnt about masked-theatre techniques, at the free course, at Bishop Auckland College. The half-term course
YOUNG pilots of the future descended on an air base in North Yorkshire for a residential camp in which they could take to the air. Richard Armstrong, 16, from York, was one of 30 hopefuls who beat off competition from 20,000 others to earn a place at
TWO neighbouring councils have approved their budgets for the next financial year, which will lead to council tax rises in both areas. Residents of Sedgefield will see their council tax rise by three per cent, while in Wear Valley the increase will be
A DISTRICT council is being asked to pay out up to £1m to help secure flood defences for a market town. Ryedale's Conservative MP John Greenway has written to the local authority asking for a share of its reserves to kick-start a fundraising campaign.
SPECIAL recognition will be awarded to a post office after helping firefighters generate hundreds of home safety checks. Norton post office welcomed Cleveland Fire Brigade in to chat to their customers about fire safety and encourage them to sign up for
THIEVES managed to steal cigarettes worth £10,000 from a delivery van that had been parked for only 20 minutes. They prised open the back doors and made off with their haul while the delivery driver was taking stock to the shop in Front Street, Acomb,
CULINARY experts have been dishing out the praise to four would-be chefs from Teesside. Angus Ritchie, Paul Donoghue, Sam Dobson and Stacey Vint, have been hailed by a national panel of judges as "natural born chefs". The four won a trophy at the World
A FARMING family is appealing for help to find a dog which has been missing for more than a week. Six-year-old Jack Russell Millie disappeared from Locker Farm, on Snilesworth Moor, near Osmotherley, on Valentine's Day. Her owner, Gill Hunton, said she
FIREFIGHTERS rescued a man from the second floor of his home yesterday after a blaze trapped him in a loft conversion. The man could not escape from the house in Londonderry, near Bedale, because of a fire in the ground-floor kitchen. He called the fire
A MOTHER who swindled the taxman out of nearly £17,000 has appeared in court. Lisa Dawn Copland, 32, pleaded guilty at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday to obtaining tax credits without giving full details of her partner's income. Susan Hirst
A plan to develop much-needed low-cost village housing has been rejected by councillors - only nine days after the project had been approved. On February 14, Harrogate Borough Council's full planning committee voted by 11 votes to two to approve a scheme
PEOPLE prepared to walk over hot coals in their bare feet to raise money for good causes are being urged to come forward. The Derwentside Rotary Club is holding a sponsored fire walk on April 8, at the Craghead Village Hall, in aid of charity. It will
THREE department store workers have clocked up an amazing 172 years service. Don Raper, Alan Dandy and Maureen Carr have worked at Barkers in Northallerton, since they were teenagers. Mr Raper, who is company chairman, joined in 1934 as a 13-year-old
Tow Law manager Graeme Clark wants the same again from his side when they face leaders Newcastle Blue Star at Ironworks Road. Lawyers have dropped to fourth bottom with Ashington nine points behind with a game in hand. "We've done well against all the
LACDOUDAL (3.20) must take all the beating with the benefit of his favoured soft surface in the Racing Post Chase at Sandown. The £100,000 showpiece has attracted a heap of top three-mile National Hunt stars but arguably none boast the combined staying
MPs who are pressing the Government to take action over a series of medical scandals - including the Richard Neale affair - have been told they will have to wait a little longer. Richmond MP William Hague and Stockton North MP Frank Cook have both called
THANKFULLY, World Cabbage Day passed without incident last week. Cabbages, boiling with anger, did not take to the streets, demanding equality for cabbages, or the vote for cabbages or that cabbages should become kings. In fact, in County Durham, the
NEWCASTLE'S FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea has been given the glamour Wednesday night spot after the Football Association confirmed the last-eight schedule yesterday. After seeing off Mansfield, Cheltenham and Southampton in previous rounds, the Magpies
Since Disneyland Resort Paris opened its gates in 1992, 160 million people have entered the Magic Kingdom to experience a little make-believe. Karen Westcott re-lives her childhood on a trip with her husband, Matt, and two-year-old son, Joseph ESCAPE
DARLINGTON have had more strikers than manager David Hodgson cares to remember this season and if they fail to achieve their play-off dream in May the Quakers boss will know exactly where it all went wrong. Hodgson last night expressed his frustration
Wellness On Wheels (WOW), the North-East's pioneering mobile gym, has been shortlisted for a national award. WOW is working its way around the Wear Valley as part of a project designed to bring gym facilities close to isolated rural towns and villages
A MOTHER whose son died at an Army barracks will give evidence to MPs next week. Lynn Farr's son, Private Daniel Farr, died at the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick Garrsion, North Yorkshire, in 1997. Since his death, Mrs Farr has set up Daniel's
LIAM LAWRENCE was one of seven Sunderland players to be handed international call-ups this week and manager Mick McCarthy wants that to revitalise the club as a whole. Despite lying at the foot of the Premiership table, some ten points off today's opponents
NEWCASTLE'S acting captain Matt Burke celebrated the signing of his new two-year contract by kicking seven penalties to take his side to a hard-earned win at Kingston Park last night. The Australian full back made full amends for missing five penalties
Ken Livingstone's political career was rocked yesterday when he was suspended as Mayor of London for making a Nazi jibe to a Jewish reporter. Barring a possible last-ditch appeal to the High Court, the mayor will begin a four-week suspension on Wednesday
EIGHT talks on different subjects will be given in the coming months at Witham Hall, to mark the 160th anniversary of that much-used Barnard Castle building. It was put up as a memorial to the remarkable Harry Witham, a generous benefector, talented geologist
THE clash of National Three North's top two try scorers promises to provide an interesting little sideshow when Preston Grasshoppers visit Darlington today. But while No 8 Alan Brown will be out to add to his tally of 19, Darlington's main target is to
AN INCREDULOUS Glenn Roeder has banned Craig Moore from attending an Australian training camp next week and told the injury-plagued defender to prove his worth to Newcastle before he even begins to think about furthering his World Cup dream. Moore has
A TROUBLED circuit board company has shed more than 100 jobs since going into administration last month. Yesterday, administrators at South Shields-based Circatex made another 86 redundancies, on top of the 15 jobs that have already been lost. Circatex
Pierce Brosnan may not be On Her Majesty's Secret Service any more, but he's still the man with the golden gun. He tells Steve Pratt about his seedy character in his new film - and how he's more lethal than Bond. THERE'S something strangely familiar about
ORANGE last night became the first mobile phone operator to move into the landline market in the UK with the introduction of a fixed line service for businesses. The firm will operate the service from its business customer contact centre in Darlington
NEWCASTLE'S four-mile-and-one-furlong totesport Eider Chase represents a marathon made in heaven as far as Malek (3.35) is concerned. Very few racehorses can keep galloping over such extremes distances, but Malek proved he's one of the exceptions to the
WITH Titus Bramble's hamstring injury forcing Glenn Roeder to field yet another remodelled back four this evening, Robbie Elliott has described being a defender at Newcastle as "the hardest job in football". The club's defenders have been subjected to
CAR company Nissan is investigating after 20 cars were damaged in what may have been a protest at overtime. Production line workers at the plant, in Washington, Wearside, said the cars were attacked, causing up to £200,000 damage, during a night shift
A SADISTIC father who tortured his son to death was a known risk to children. But authorities failed to take his baby away - until it was too late. As Paul O'Neil began a minimum 22-year jail term last night for murdering his baby son, Aaron, it emerged
A TROUBLED circuit board company has shed more than 100 jobs since going into administration last month. Yesterday, administrators at South Shields-based Circatex made another 86 redundancies, on top of the 15 jobs that have already been lost. Circatex
FOUR weeks ago, Ugo Ehiogu was pencilling in Middlesbrough's trip to West Brom as an opportunity to lock horns with a club that shaped his career. It still is, just not in the way the former England international expected. After joining West Brom's youth
A WOMAN who celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends puts her longevity down to clean living. Nora Brown still lives at her home in East Stanley and opened her front door to her nearest and dearest for a buffet lunch and tea yesterday. She
A SADISTIC father who tortured his son to death was a known risk to children. But authorities failed to take his baby away - until it was too late. As Paul O'Neil began a minimum 22-year jail term last night for murdering his baby son, Aaron, it emerged
A PARTY is being held today to celebrate the birthday of one of Darlington's oldest residents. Nearly 80 friends and relatives are gathering at Cockerton Club for 100-year-old Hilda Hall's birthday. The centenarian, who only gave up smoking and drinking
VISITORS and residents have a chance to win £100-worth of vouchers in a photography contest for a guide to walks in the Darlington area. The free guide is called Walk, the Darlington Way, and aims to get more people exploring footpaths and bridleways.
A MOCK Viking ship is leading young schoolchildren on a voyage of discovery. The vessel has been created at the back of the main building of Wingate Infant School, which has 107 pupils aged four to seven. Money for the structure, which can hold 30 youngsters
A COMMUNITY has launched a campaign to ensure that a derelict school building is used as a facility for local people. Residents living near Harrowgate Hill Infants' School, in Darlington, insisted that the building - currently for sale - should become
UNIONS last night said the remaining 370 workers at one of the region's biggest furniture companies could be made redundant unless a buyer is found in the next two weeks. The shock announcement came as 180 workers at Stag Furniture, based in Sunderland
A CONSERVATION action group has lodged complaints with council officials who allowed a modern flats development to be built. At Eaglescliffe, residents who live in Victorian homes are outraged that planning officers ignored the fact that it is a conservation
AN MP spent the day as a care worker yesterday to see the difficulties facing care providers. Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, visited four elderly and disabled residents in their homes before stopping off at a care home. The
PLANS for a business park which could create more than 100 jobs have been unveiled. Businessman Simon Winstanley is looking to submit planning permission for the development in Harmby Road, Leyburn. The site, next to Tennants Auctioneers, would consist
CAR company Nissan is investigating after 20 cars were damaged in what may have been a protest at overtime. Production line workers at the plant, in Washington, Wearside, said the cars were attacked, causing up to £200,000 damage, during a night shift
A WITCHES' workshop was rated a success this week as youngsters had a wicked time. About 25 children aged between four and 12 created masks and cats, as well as a spell and a song, at the workshop at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. Two wacky witches, Eileen
A NEEDLE exchange service for drug addicts is to be run from a town hall. It is estimated that 50 to 60 people a week will visit the drop-in service, to open in the old taxi licensing offices in Middlesbrough's town hall. The visitors will be carers as
A WOMAN was hit in the face as she tried to fend off a man trying to snatch her handbag. The 44-year-old victim was returning home from her brother's house when two men walking towards her blocked her path, in Redhill Road, Stockton. One of the men demanded
CANDLES have been lit in a twilight vigil to raise awareness of the growing number of people in the region dying from an asbestos-related disease. Hundreds of North-East people die every year from mesothelioma, a form of terminal lung cancer. Mesothelioma
HARTLEPOOL Borough Council has issued advice to poultry keepers about bird flu. People who keep less than 50 poultry on private property do not have to register their flock by law, but environmental health officers are urging local residents to volunteer
A £2.2M health centre was unveiled in an official ceremony yesterday. People in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Eden Centre since plans for the project were announced two years ago. As well as being home to
SPACE suits and astronaut helmets have transported children to infinity and beyond. Youngsters put their imaginations to the test at a craft session during their half-term holidays. About 50 boys and girls arrived at Summerhill Country Park, Hartlepool
HOPES of saving a Durham primary school's learner swimming pool were sunk yesterday when it was decided to close the facility. Governors at Framwellgate Moor Primary School, on the edge of Durham City, had hoped they could persuade Durham County Council
THE chief constable of North Yorkshire Police has asked officers to help keep costs down - by driving more carefully. Over nine months last year, the police had to pay out £172,000 on repairs to vehicles as well as for legal damages, with the force's
A DRIVE to discourage smoking at work has gained the support of nearly 250 businesses in north Durham. A year after the Smoke Free North Durham project was launched, 13,000 employees are being protected from the effects of second-hand smoke. Three councils
PLANS to build a women's refuge in the heart of an east Cleveland estate have been refused, despite planners recommending it for approval. Residents this week won their fight to block the controversial proposal for the hostel in Dormanstown. A 300-name
A SADISTIC father who tortured his son to death was a known risk to children. But authorities failed to take his baby away - until it was too late. As Paul O'Neil began a minimum 22-year jail term last night for murdering his baby son, Aaron, it emerged
FOR someone who has spent a large amount of time with his head in accountancy books over the past year, Kevin Kyle has proved his number is far from up - even if it was not too long ago when he thought it was. Sunderland striker Kyle was sidelined in
UNIONS last night said the remaining 370 workers at one of the region's biggest furniture companies could be made redundant unless a buyer is found in the next two weeks. The shock announcement came as 180 workers at Stag Furniture, based in Sunderland
