THE rugged beauty of Weardale has brought inspiration to many artists - landscape painters and nature-loving poets - but never can it have been said to have inspired a pop overture to a revolution aboard a Russian ship. This week, the Pet Shop Boys announced
STEVE McCLAREN last night welcomed a pairing with Swiss outfit Basle in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup by claiming every club left in the competition would have feared facing Middlesbrough. After dumping out two of the most fancied teams in the previous
BARON WINDRUSH (2.55) has ticks in all of the right boxes for this afternoon's £110,000 Midlands Grand National, writes Colin Woods (Janus). When faced with a stamina test in excess of four miles, priority number one is sheer staying power, a quality
PAUL Drinkhall's hopes of a Commonwealth Games team table tennis medal are still alive despite the Loftus teenager experiencing mixed fortunes on his second day of competition. Drinkhall saw off Farjad Saif in straight sets as England whitewashed Pakistan
Darlington RA manager David Woodcock has set his side a five-win target to clinch promotion, starting today against Alnwick at Brinkburn Road. The RA have surprised everybody by climbing up to second, but last week their 17-game unbeaten run was ended
The only trouble with St Patrick's Day, which yesterday jigged and reeled its way round once again, is that no matter how late Easter falls or how close to Christmas they advance Ash Wednesday, March 17 is always in Lent. Whatever else the Irish give
A SURVEY has revealed there are not only North-South inequalities between humans -but also between birds. Our feathered friends are enjoying a better quality of life in the North than their cousins living and visiting south of Watford Gap. Latest Government
AN armed man demanded money from staff at a solicitors firm after he ran into their offices. The man ran into Close Thornton Solicitors, in Duke Street, Darlington, at about 12.45pm yesterday. The attacker, who was carrying a metal bar, told staff to
CARERS are being invited to discover if they are receiving the correct benefits. A training day on welfare rights, organised by the Darlington Association for Disability, will be held at West Lodge on Monday, March 1, between 1pm and 3pm. The session
THE careers advice service at Thirsk School has been singled out for praise by a team of examiners. The school was given top marks for its work by Connexions North and North Yorkshire. A team from Guidance Enterprises visited the school on behalf of Connexions
CLUBBERS are helping to pilot revolutionary technology to put under-age drinkers under the thumb. Escapade Night Club, in Gladstone Street, has installed a biometric fingerprint sensor as part of a new membership scheme. The equipment has been designed
TEAMS of undercover underage "drinkers" have helped to reduce illegal sales of booze to youngsters, a report says. Now the policy looks likely to be extended in the hope it will have similar effects on sales of aerosol sprays and cigarettes. Last year
DEAN Whitehead has admitted that Sunderland face a summer of uncertainty following Mick McCarthy's dismissal, but the highly-rated midfielder is hoping the club keep their current squad together to maximise their chances of an instant return to the top-flight
A HAPPY couple gave thanks to their work in the health service yesterday as they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Eric and Jean Burden looked back on the jobs that brought them together, as they and their family marked their golden wedding at their home
FOUR teenage quiz buffs successfully took part in a financial service organisation's regional competition. The team from Endeavour Branch, the local branch of the Foresters charitable organisation, won the plate trophy at the regional quiz in Bradford
BUDDING writers and book fans took tips yesterday from a best-selling author. Lynda Page, whose adult fiction includes For What It's Worth, A Lucky Break and No Going Back, gave a talk to a group of enthusiasts at Hartlepool Central Library. She spoke
HEALTH care staff from across the Durham Dales were honoured at an awards ceremony to recognise their work. Two years ago, Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) launched their Making a Difference Awards to reward staff who make a real impact on the quality
YOUNGSTERS learned a traditional craft as they took part in a rag-rugging workshop yesterday. Pupils from Middlestone Moor Primary School, in Spennymoor, gained new skills as they learned about the traditional rug-making technique which many of their
MANY a present day poacher, when caught pinching a rabbit or grouse from some wealthy squire's moor, must long to be defended by a solicitor like J. Ingram Dawson, who was acknowledged as the absolute master in this kind of case in Teesdale, and far beyond
A TEENAGER was given a reprieve after being briefly locked up for having sex with a 13-year-old girl he met on the Internet. Jason Atkinson, 18, "seduced" the girl in chat room messages, and arranged the liaison to have sex in a tent, in a field near
CARETAKER manager Kevin Ball last night urged his shot-shy strikers to "get physical" in an attempt to address Sunderland's chronic lack of goals. Ball was renowned for his whole-hearted commitment during a playing career that included two Division One
A HEALTH centre will be demolished and replaced with a £17m medical facility if the scheme is approved. Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) has submitted a planning application for permission to pull down the centre in Clifford Road, Stanley, and create
PIPEWORK design specialist Forge House Group (FHG) expects its turnover to increase by a third to £2m this year. The Darlington company said work for clients in the iron and steel industry had accounted for much of the growth. In the past six years, FHG
FIREFIGHTERS are digging out their buckets and sponges for a charity car wash. Crews from Richmond will accept donations in exchange for sparkling cars at the town's Co-op store, from 10am until 2pm next Saturday. Money raised will go to Martin House
AS a teenager growing up in Darlington's Albert Hill, David Cox harboured desires of becoming a musician. He had more than enough desire, and probably adequate ability - but quickly realised he would not be able to live his dream. "There was nowhere to
PUPILS have moved into their new village school - three years after their former building was devastated by an arson attack. Yesterday, the £3.2m St George's Church of England Aided Primary School threw open its doors for the first time. Two classrooms
A PUB landlord was banned from driving for three years yesterday. Michael Watson, 33, from the Kings Head in Gunnerside, near Richmond, admitted being one-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit when he was stopped by police in Catterick Garrison
A CAMPAIGN to restore a historic church organ has been awarded £5,000 from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. Members of St Mary's Church, in Thirsk, are trying to raise £100,000 for vital work on the organ, which dates back to 1877. The grant comes
A REMARKABLE public servant - who became a top council official despite leaving school with no qualifications - has died. Neville Fearneyhough became the borough solicitor for Darlington council after gaining qualifications while interned in a prisoner-of-war
CARETAKER manager Kevin Ball last night urged his shot-shy strikers to "get physical" in an attempt to address Sunderland's chronic lack of goals. Ball was renowned for his whole-hearted commitment during a playing career that included two Division One
A FEMALE student was dragged into bushes and subjected to a terrifying sex attack in which a man tried to rape her, a court heard yesterday. The 18-year-old Teesside University student had got out of a taxi and was walking to a friend's flat in a halls
Glenn Roeder welcomed the class of player being linked to replacing retiring skipper Alan Shearer at Newcastle, but suggested there was probably little truth in any of the speculation. Ahead of tomorrow's home game with Liverpool, Roeder also revealed
THEY may be the latest "must have" motoring gadgets, but the ease with which satellite navigation systems can be stolen has created a crimewave that threatens to derail a nationwide fall in vehicle break-ins. Car break-ins have fallen dramatically in
DEFENDING champions Sunderland Harriers, running away with the Start Fitness North-East Harrier League title, are looking for a grand slam of senior men's victories as the competition reaches the penultimate stage at Consett today. Last year the Wearsiders
DRIVERS are being warned to prepare for 18 months of problems as roadworks start on a busy dual carriageway. The A66 Surtees Bridge, near Stockton, which carries 55,000 vehicles a day, will be demolished and rebuilt in a £14.3m project. Work will start
HE MIGHT have been the star of the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens tournament, but Mathew Tait's hardman image was shattered yesterday - when he broke down in tears during a phone call to his mum. The Wolsingham-born 20-year-old scored nine scintillating
DRIVERS are being warned to prepare for 18 months of problems as roadworks start on a busy dual carriageway. The A66 Surtees Bridge, near Stockton, which carries 55,000 vehicles a day, will be demolished and rebuilt in a £14.3m project. Work will start
A NORTH-EAST family-run drugs racket has been smashed by detectives who have secured convictions totalling 28 years. The lengthy investigation removed one of the region's most prolific crime gangs, run by husband and wife Christopher and Jane Moloney,
SINCE opening its doors for the first time in August 2003, there has been little to get excited about at Darlington's new state-of-the-art home. In the 67 games played at the stadium on Neasham Road, few have captured the imagination of the Darlington
THE company behind Europe's largest biodiesel plant last night refused to name a date when production will be at capacity. The Biofuels Corporation's brokers, Collins Stewart, believe full production at the Teesside plant will not come until July - but
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Healy has a goalkeeping problem ahead of todays trip to Colwyn Bay. Tony Davison has been playing in goal for Bishops, but he might be recalled by Hartlepool United to go on the bench for their game against Barnsley, so Healy
TORKINKING (4.10) has his sights set on winning Newcastle's Spike Rawlings Handicap Hurdle for the second season in a row. Twelve months ago, the Maurice Barnes-trained gelding stormed away with first prize off a rating of 104. As a result of two further
Glenn Roeder welcomed the class of player being linked to replacing retiring skipper Alan Shearer at Newcastle, but suggested there was probably little truth in any of the speculation. Ahead of tomorrow's home game with Liverpool, Roeder also revealed
AFTER witnessing the heavy- handed approach of the police in Rome, the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority is writing to the city's mayor, Walter Veltroni, to express his anger. Councillor Dave McLuckie said he was appalled and disgusted by the treatment
Q For the past year, my daughter has been 'temping' for £70 to £100 a week. Now she is pregnant but, because she has worked through an agency, does not think she will be due any Statutory Maternity Pay from an employer. Can she claim any kind of maternity
THINK of caravan holidays and it's difficult not to conjure up an image of mum, dad, grandad, three kids and a dog cooped up in a sardine can with windows, while the wind and rain batter it from the outside. That's certainly how it seemed when I was growing
With England's players putting their reputations on the line in tonight's Six Nations finale with Ireland, Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson has talked to one player who has grown accustomed to treating every game as if it was his last. WITH coach Andy
He's intelligent. He's witty. He's tall. And he uses long words that many of us can't even say, let alone spell. There are, you can see, many good reasons to hate wordsmith and wit Stephen Fry. In turn, he might reasonably be jealous of his former performing
Actor and writer Julian Fellowes was determined to "do a Hitchcock" and appear in the first film he's directed, Separate Lies. Unlike Alfred Hitchcock, he didn't do it in the flesh - he's only seen on a TV screen. A scene from the now-axed BBC1 Sunday
A gang of bogus builders were jailed yesterday after conning old and vulnerable people out of nearly £150,000, which they spent in the pub. Teesside Crown Court heard how John Richards, 52, George Anthony Chaffer, 46, and Allan Phillips, 44, carried out
FORMER England full back Tim Stimpson is gambling on his fitness in today's National Three North promotion showdown between Nuneaton and Blaydon. The ex-West Hartlepool and Newcastle player joined Nuneaton from Leeds two months ago, along with former
COSMETICS retailer Body Shop yesterday agreed to a £652.3m takeover by L'Oreal. Body Shop accepted an offer of 300p a share from the French firm - a large premium on its closing price of 268p. It is expected that Anita and Gordon Roddick, who set up Body
PRIMARY schoolchildren regularly using the toilet during lesson times are being given a yellow card as part of a sanction system. Children at Alderman Leach Primary School, in Darlington, are being encouraged to go during lunchtime or breaks. The measures
ALMOST 250 pupils took to their bikes this week as part of a scheme to cut congestion. Youngsters at Oatlands Junior School, in Harrogate, were invited to travel by bicycle for a Two-Wheel Day. Organisers were amazed by the response, which saw 245 bikes
CONSERVATIVE councillors yesterday stood by plans to introduce travel-to-school charges for teenagers, despite Liberal Democrat attempts to halt the move. A county council scrutiny committee voted 7 to 5 in favour of a £8 weekly charge for 16 to 18-year-olds
D-DAY paratrooper George Price will share a gem of a day with his wartime sweetheart to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. The former Lance Corporal with the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion met his wife, Edna, during a course in North Wales
A NEWLY-CREATED young people's jazz band is appealing for the community to help them become an established musical group in Darlington. The Junior Marching Jazz Band is the first of its kind in the town, and in the month it has been in existence, has
EXTRA savings for concessionaires have been introduced at leisure centres across Sedgefield borough. People under 16 or over 60, students, benefit claimants, GP referrals and disabled users will see many prices slashed from Monday, April 3. Non-concessionary
A COUNCIL chairman has sacked his consort in a move which has increased tension within the authority. Richmondshire District Council chairman, Councillor Campbell Dawson, wrote to Councillor Jill McMullon to say that her services as his consort were no
COWBOY riding classes are being offered by a North Yorkshire horse trainer. The sessions will be held over three days next month at the Learning to Listen school, in Ilton, near Masham. They have been organised by trainer Sarah Kreutzer. She said: "We
POLICE have seized cannabis and cannabis plants worth thousands of pounds from two separate houses on the same street. At 3pm on Thursday, police simultaneously raided the houses in Bruce Crescent, in the West View area of Hartlepool. In the first house
ANTI-DEMOLITION protestors have suffered a damaging blow after a Labour candidate swept to victory in a Middlesbrough Council by-election. Pervaz Khan secured 55 per cent of the votes in the ballot that campaigners hoped would demonstrate local residents
THEFTS of farm machinery have halved following the introduction of a SmartWater campaign, crime figures show. It was introduced by Richmondshire Police last autumn and officers have sent out 300 kits to farmers in the district. The chemical, which cannot
A TIN of fruit cocktail and a tea tray helped young scientists to win a prize in a national competition. Students from Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough, east Cleveland, took second place in the final of the Paperclip Physics competition at the
TEAMS of undercover underage "drinkers" have helped to cut illegal sales of booze to youngsters, a report says. Now the policy looks likely to be extended in the hope it will have similar effects on sales of aerosol sprays and cigarettes. Last year, trading
A DARLINGTON couple who met at an RAF dance have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Thomas and Jean Gibson marked 50 years of marriage yesterday with family and friends. The main celebration was at Middleton St George Cricket Club on Thursday
STAFF and customers at a village cafe have served up a treat for a regional charity. The Coffee Shop, in West Cornforth, held a charity raffle with prizes donated by residents and businesspeople from the village. The event raised £179 for the Great North
KEEN walker Tom McMahon will be going on a rambling holiday on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Reunion for only £60, while his wife has to pay £1,600. Mr McMahon, 63, a retired civil servant, of Langley Park, won the bargain 16-day break in
SIX Red Caps killed by a mob laid down their lives to save unarmed Iraqi policemen, it was revealed yesterday. As hundreds of heavily-armed militants launched an attack, the six British soldiers made a final stand as terrified Iraqi policemen fled for
BEREAVEMENT counsellors believe a hospice extension will help them reach out to the most vulnerable victims of terminal illness -the children who are left behind. The bereavement team at St Cuthbert's Hospice say the opening of a ten-bed unit later this
A CHARITY night is being held next week to raise funds for a community park. Cookson Place Residents' Association has been fundraising since 2003 to create a multi-purpose family facility at Cookson Place, in South Stanley. The aim is create three leisure
MIDDLESBROUGH'S progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup is benefiting Chris Riggott as he continues his apprenticeship to become the next captain of the club. That is the view of Gareth Southgate, currently wearing the skipper's armband and Riggott's
Tall, dark and loquacious, Stephen Fry has had a career full of variety. But, as he tells Steve Pratt, he may now have found his natural home - as a TV chat show host in a new Hollywood movie. He's intelligent. He's witty. He's tall. And he uses long
A MAN who twice sexually assaulted a teenage girl has been spared a jail sentence. Anthony Leck, 41, grabbed at the girl's breasts and then, in a separate incident, put his hands over her breasts as she slept in her pyjamas. Teesside Crown Court heard
A NEW substance misuse service for the under-19s will be launched soon. Stockton Together Against Substance Harm (Stash) provides a comprehensive service for young people with substance problems. The service includes advice and information, harm reduction
A CAREERS convention with a difference is being held on Teesside. Job and training choices are to be offered to hundreds of young people amid fun activities including racing Minis and laser dromes. The organiser, Connexions Tees Valley, which offers advice
A CLUB is not pulling any punches when it comes to getting youngsters fit. The Dene Get Active Club has been set up in the Dene Community School, in Peterlee, to work with primary school children. Members of the boxing team at East Durham and Houghall
A DURHAM University graduate who began her career as a social worker with Durham County Council will return to the authority as one of its chief officers. Rachael Shimmin has been appointed corporate director of the adult and community services in the
STEVE McCLAREN last night welcomed a pairing with Swiss outfit Basle in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup by claiming every club left in the competition would have feared facing Middlesbrough. After dumping out two of the most fancied teams in the previous
A £2.3M extension to Derwentside Business Centre was opened yesterday. Hilary Armstrong, MP for north-west Durham, did the honours at the facility at Consett Business Park, in Consett, County Durham. It is hoped 50 jobs will be created in the factories
THE operators of Teesport have launched a survey vessel as part of a £500,000 project. Port operator PD Teesport welcomed the launch of the Tees Navigator at its Middlesbrough base yesterday. Redcar MP Vera Baird - who has been involved in The Northern
A CAMPAIGN led by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn to ensure his local NHS primary care trust survives merger plans has received a boost. The board of Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) voted by six votes to four in a secret ballot to oppose wider
A SURPRISE deal to save a North-East school will not prevent further investment in the town's schools, education bosses have said. Despite there being a projected shortfall of more than 1,500 pupils four years from now, Darlington Borough Council has
NISSAN president Carlos Ghosn last night pledged to do everything in his power to ensure car production remained at his Sunderland plant - but warned the factory faced an "uphill struggle" to compete. The president and chief executive officer of Nissan
THE company behind Europe's largest biodiesel plant last night refused to name a date when production will be at capacity. The Biofuels Corporation's brokers, Collins Stewart, believe full production at the Teesside plant will not come until July - but
THE Prime Minister yesterday launched a video conferencing system that links people in remote communities with service providers in County Durham. Tony Blair was so impressed with the Video Conferencing Access to Services scheme he imagined communities
KIERON Dyer last night suffered more torment in an already frustrating season when he learned that manager Glenn Roeder intends to use him sparingly between now and the end of the season. Dyer's campaign has been curtailed by a series of hamstring problems
A gang of bogus builders were jailed yesterday after conning old and vulnerable people out of nearly £150,000, which they spent in the pub. Teesside Crown Court heard how John Richards, 52, George Anthony Chaffer, 46, and Allan Phillips, 44, carried out
COMMUNICATIONS specialist Equatel is poised to launch a revolutionary telephone globally. Trials are being carried out in eight African countries on Equatel's public phone, which allows people to communicate in rural areas of countries in the developing
HAD you asked a Manchester United supporter prior to the Carling Cup final whether they would prefer to have Ruud van Nistelrooy or Louis Saha in the starting line-up, the answer would have been almost unanimous. A Frenchman who started life at Old Trafford
STEWART Davies describes himself as the "accidental chairman" of Darlington Football Club. He didn't want to be in charge of a football club but was left with the Quakers on his hands when George Reynolds went out of business It is our view, however,
SIX Red Caps killed by a mob laid down their lives to save unarmed Iraqi policemen, it was revealed yesterday. As hundreds of heavily-armed militants launched an attack, the six British soldiers made a final stand as terrified Iraqi policemen fled for
DARLINGTON Football Club's new owner was last night revealed to be a millionaire North-East property developer. George Houghton, 65, announced he had bought the club for an undisclosed sum, and will take over as chairman from 3pm today, when the Quakers
BEN CLARK believes it's not only Hartlepool United's goal output that will be boosted by the return of Joel Porter - the defence will benefit as well. Eight days ago, Pool's Australian front man kicked his first ball of the season when he appeared as
FANS PRAISED: AFTER watching and reading about the disgraceful attacks by neo-fascist, and racist Roma Ultras on Boro fans in Rome, I was really heartened to see and hear about the excellent conduct of the Boro fans. The violent attacks of these neo-fascist
DARLINGTON Football Club's new owner was last night revealed to be a millionaire North-East property developer. George Houghton, 65, announced that he had bought the club for an undisclosed sum, and will take over as chairman from 3pm today, when Darlington
A STRUGGLING heritage railway company is to continue running a reduced service. The Wensleydale Railway will not resume its seven-day-a-week timetable. Instead, the company will supplement the income from Friday, Saturday and Sunday services with one-off
