A TEENAGER who killed a young business tycoon during a row over a chip is facing years behind bars. Michael Kennedy, 19, felled company director Dean Windle "like a piece of wood" with a single punch after a night out in Newcastle city centre last November
A "DEPRESSED'' man was found alive and well in remote moorland today following a massive combined air and ground search. Between 50 and 60 people combed a ten to 15 square mile section of the North Yorkshire Moors for the missing 26-year-old, as an RAF
Department store jobs hope Two department stores in the North-East may escape closure after administrators confirmed they are in talks with potential buyer Vergo Retail Limited. The future of Joplings, in Sunderland, and Robbs, in Hexham, Northumberland
Harriers made an excellent start to this season's Young Athletes League when the first round was staged at Darlington. The series gives youngsters the chance to try their hand at a range of disciplines at both track and field. Lorna Goldsmith took
A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of North Yorkshire woman Jenny Nicholl. David Hodgson, 47, of Olav Road, Richmond, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he appeared at Northallerton Magistrates Court. The defendant was
Everyone who applies for a job should be required to produce their birth certificate or passport as part of a tough new plan to ''flush out'' illegal immigrants, the Government said yesterday.Immigration minister Liam Byrne announced proposals for a new
N&SA U13's are looking for players to strengthen their existing squad for a big season next year having lead the 1st division for 98% of the season. We are now looking to push on from an excellent season. Anyone interested,please contact Blakey on 07763
with half time approaching Norton took a deserved lead following good link up play between Emma Graham and Larissa Burkinshaw who played ball into Rachel Horsley,who held off the defender before slotting the ball past the advancing keeper. At the start
I MUST say that Princes William and Harry looked very dapper in their bowler hats and City suits at the recent Army Parade in Hyde Park, London (Echo, May 14). The photo brought back memories of the recent rigmarole that I went through with my beloved
HUGH Pender states that the bookmakers have Labour as favourites to win the next General Election (HAS, May 10). Really? If Mr Pender has any vices, visiting betting shops cannot be one of them.D Cook, Sacriston, Co Durham.
FOLLOWING on from the letters about your Amos columnists (HAS, May 14), one can only wonder - from their photographs - at the injustice of "smaller son" Owen's already receding hairline compared with father Mike's luxuriant head of hair. Eric Gendle
THE ban on the use of mobile phones while driving is a complete waste of time until police have a major crackdown. The threat of three penalty points has been no use at all. I have witnessed as many as a dozen people talking on their mobiles while
RE the suspension threat faced by Durham county councillor John Shuttleworth, since cleared of breaching a code of conduct by not treating a health chief with respect (Echo, May 9 and 10). I support Coun Shuttleworth's remarks about the ambulance
RE E Reynolds' remarks about Princess Margaret's lifestyle choices (HAS, May 3). She may well have over-indulged in her drinking and smoking habits. Margaret lived a completely opposite lifestyle to her sister, the Queen. I read that in her later
IN reply to Christopher Wardell's letter about rubbish collections (HAS, May 9). I am a resident in the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council district and we have had fortnightly collections for quite a while now. We get the household rubbish,
WE would like to add our support to our wonderful Dr Tim Pearson, who has been forced to "retire" from the Friary Surgery, Richmond. We have been patients of this doctor since 1999, and have found him to be an excellent doctor - very caring, very
HERE we go again. A 50 per cent increase in on-street parking charges planned for Durham City. Ok, ok, park-and-ride I hear the council screaming. Well not when it isn't in the direction that I enter the city - from Shincliffe. I would have to
RE Councillor Steve Harker's letter about the local elections in Darlington (HAS, May 11). As the losing Conservative candidate in Pierremont Ward, having given my all to the campaign, sacrificing my business which is struggling in the town's
RE Hugh Pender's letter about George Bush (HAS, May 14). While not an expert on the American Constitution, the position as I recall is that the Executive (ie Cabinet) is separate from the legislature unlike here, where the Cabinet is part of the
Who writes Tony Blair's speeches? Perhaps more important, who vets them? Surely not Cherie? No loving wife would have allowed her husband to come up with that toe-curling climax to Mr Blair's farewell speech at Trimdon. "This country is a blessed nation
VANDALS are risking lives by setting fire to wheelie bins. In one night alone, 34 bins were set alight across Hemlington, Middlesbrough Fearing that fires could spread to homes, hundreds of bins are to be chained to metal posts
ON its way to setting a new £100,000 box office record at the venue, the ever-popular Willy Russell show can appear to cope with just about anything. A glass milk bottle carted away by the uptight milkman demanding payment on Liverpool's grim back-to-backs
FAMILIES are being urged to reap the health benefits of leaving their cars at home and walking to school. Walk to School Week runs from Monday to May 25, and the main focus this year is on reducing pollution that can severely affect children's health.
PARENTS are being urged to take part in a training session to learn more about cyber-bullying. Stockton Borough Council's anti-bullying service is calling on all parents to book a place for the one-hour session, run by Childnet International. The course
VILLAGERS are being asked to help tidy up their community. Residents of Shotley Bridge are being invited to take part in a community litter pick, at the play park in Snows Green Road, from 10am to 12.30pm, on Saturday. The event has been organised by
A TEARAWAY youth yesterday paid the price for snubbing a last chance to retain his liberty. The 14-year-old was one of three teenagers who carried out a spate of robberies on other youths, taking mobile phones, cash and other possessions after threatening
Make Me A Virgin (C4, 11.10pm), The Good Samaritan (ITV, 9pm), Natural World: The Bloodhound And The Beardie (BBC, 9pm) THE end credits of Make Me A Virgin contain the most unusual thank you I've seen on a TV programme. The list of names of those who've
A blueprint designed to breathe new life into east Durham was unveiled yesterday. The 15-year regeneration plan, launched by Easington District Council, brings with it the hopes of up to 5,000 new jobs, thousands of new homes and a booming population.
A MAN who admitted glassing a long-term friend was told he may face a lengthy sentence for public protection. The warning was given to David Gibson after he admitted a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He changed his plea on
A FAMILY business, which was set up by a former wartime fireman and spanned three generations, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Joe Simon launched the business after the Second World War when he sold velvet curtains in the region's markets. The venture
DURHAM City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods will join a panel discussing global warming at the Gala Cinema, on Sunday. Dr Blackman-Woods and a member of Durham Friends of the Earth will answer questions following a screening of An Inconvenient
APPLICATIONS are being sought for the last two phases of a village's £680,000 conservation project. The three-year scheme to restore historical features in shops and homes in West Auckland has been so popular that the budget for the first year is now
A MAN who threatened to shoot two police officers sneaked out the back of his home as an armed response team guarded the front. Wayne Dixon had already brandished a Samurai sword at Sergeant Carol Steveley and PC Christopher Lambert when he warned them
A football star returned to his former town last week to offer encouragement to youngsters. Michael Mackay stepped in to present the awards at the annual Consett YMCA Juniors presentation evening held in the town's Empire Theatre after original guest
SEDGEFIELD Racecourse has appointed the seventh female racecourse manager in Britain. JILL WILLIAMSON has taken up the position only months after taking over the commercial management of the County Durham track, while at the same time as being business
KEVIN RYAN'S top-class sprinter Amadeus Wolf (3.15) rates the standout bet on day one of York's Dante Meeting. After a glittering 2005 two-year-old campaign which included victory in the Gimcrack and an even more famous triumph when nabbing the Group
TEESDALE District Council has defended its decision to hold a referendum on proposals to shake up the local government system in County Durham. Durham County Council has outlined plans to replace the two-tier system with one council to cover the county
NINE people have appeared in court charged with violent disorder. The defendants, who are aged between 18 and 20, are alleged to have committed the offence in Darlington on November 3. Their cases were adjourned until June 5. The accused were Serena Mary
PLANS for a "rainbow coalition" at Stockton Borough Council have been knocked back after the three minority groups refused to take part. It was hoped that under a new coalition, all political and independent groups on the council would have a place in
A RECRUITMENT fair is being held on Teesside to inspire others to join the fight against drug abuse. Representatives from a number of agencies, ranging from the fire brigade and police to medical experts and treatment and advice centres, are meeting in
A MAN who had been celebrating his brother's birthday stole a kitten from a pet shop - because she was being scratched by other cats, a court heard yesterday. Martin Dean Oxley, who was a regular customer at the shop, pleaded guilty to the theft of the
A FATHER who borrowed his son's motorbike to go to the shop for a packet of cigarettes has been banned from the roads. Carl Turner, 28, admitted three driving offences, including drink-driving, when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday
FOUR walkers completed the three peaks challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Father and son Stuart and Michael Colclough and friends Steve Allenby and Andy Bamber completed the expedition in less than a day. The team, all from Darlington, climbed
AN art gallery was named best in the country at an awards ceremony. Platinum Galleries, based in Northallerton and Middlesbrough, won the art retailer of the year category in the Fine Art Trade Guild's 2007 awards. Gallery owners Andy and Maureen Close
PHOTOGRAPHS, letters and memories from a historic Durham village are wanted for a community archive project. The Brancepeth Archives and History Group is putting together a computerised history of the village and is holding an open day so people can contribute
A TIMETABLE has been set for the process that will decide whether Darlington has an elected mayor. A referendum will be held this year and if the electorate votes to change the council's political system, a mayoral election will be held in May next year
A FRAIL pensioner took his own life because he was frightened of losing his independence, an inquest heard yesterday. Frank Barry Shutt, 82, died from an overdose of prescription drugs at his home, in Carlton Avenue, Darlington, last October. His daughter
THE sole UK distributor of Pandora jewellery yesterday said huge demand would send turnover towards £20m in the next two years. North-East entrepreneur Darren McCormick launched Pandora UK in 2005 after signing a ten-year contract with the Danish parent
A FRENCH student has landed a job with project management company Hall and Partners. YOLANDE GAERTNER was studying for a BSc (Hons) in Building Project Management at Northumbria University when she secured a work placement at the firm. The Newcastle
PUB equipment company Brulines is moving its Teesside head office. The AIM-listed company plans to move from Stockton's Preston Farm Business Park to the town's Surtees Business Park. Brulines, a provider of draught alcoholic drinks volume, quality and
A NORTH-EAST company has agreed a £500,000 deal to supply parts for some of the world's most advanced combat aircraft. Express Engineering, based in Gateshead, has secured work on the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme and is manufacturing
HEALTH trusts say lessons have been learnt from the death of a psychiatric patient who died from an overdose of prescribed drugs. Peter Harper, 62, of Grassholme Place, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, had three times the recommended level of lithium in
X-RAY instrument maker Bede yesterday revealed first-quarter losses that had narrowed slightly as it reported stronger sales and new orders. The Durham company announced pre-tax losses of £1.14m for the three months to March 31, compared to £1.57m a
MARK Davies will make only his second championship appearance since his back problem surfaced in July, 2005, in Durham's match against Warwickshire starting at Edgbaston today. Gordon Muchall also rejoins the squad after making a century for the A team
Yorkshire will be giving youth a chance in the three-day match against Loughborough University Centre of Cricketing Excellence which begins at Headingley Carnegie today, writes DAVID WARNER. Andrew Gale captains Yorkshire who have rested all their senior
Matt Prior will try to intimidate West Indies and establish himself as England's Test wicketkeeper with his energetic approach. The 25-year-old Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman is the latest candidate to fill the void left by the retirement of Alec Stewart
YOU have to hand it to Freddy Shepherd. For years, the Newcastle chairman has been promising his club's supporters a big-name manager, only to let them down with his chosen recruit. Sir Bobby Robson was the nearest he came to living up to his promise,
THERE was a very interesting paragraph in a column in yesterday's Business Echo written by James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce. Mr Ramsbotham was reflecting on how Tony Blair - the Prime Minister and MP for Sedgefield
A PIONEERING scheme to rehabilitate young offenders through unpaid work is being trialled in the region. The project is being piloted by North Yorkshire County Council's youth offending team. The scheme works by making young criminals carry out unpaid
A PENSIONER died after he was given the wrong medicine by an exhausted care home assistant working alone, a court was told yesterday. Frank Hutchison, a long-term resident at The Hollies, in Norton, died at the University Hospital of North Tees, in nearby
WHEREAS fans gave a mixed response to the appointment of Sam Allardyce, those in the game appear united in agreeing it is a great move by the Magpies. Lifelong supporter Steve Wraith, editor of the North-East football magazine Players Inc, said: "I stood
VILLAGERS have presented a cheque to a charity that supports adults with learning difficulties. The four churches from the parish of Easby with Skeeby, Brompton-on-Swale and Bolton-on-Swale raised £1,133 for Breathing Space. Parishioners provided soup
AN open day is planned as part of a campaign to make communities safe from drugs and alcohol misuse. The Hambleton Community Safety Partnership is one of 60 crime and drugs agencies across the country to join the Home Office's year-long project, Changing
WEBSTER'S stage, and probably street, persona of unreconstructed Geordie bloke is charming and likeable. Old fashioned misogyny, thinly disguised as "post-modern irony" for any politically correct faint hearts, features heavily and traditional bar room
A website that helps people investigate their family history is now available free in the county's libraries. North Yorkshire County Council's library service has signed up to genealogy website, Ancestry.com at a cost of £6,000. The 400 computers in
One day after indicating he may withdraw from Great Britain's Davis Cup team in order to further his ATP Tour ambitions, Andy Murray's hopes of cementing his place in the world top ten came to a painful halt in Hamburg. The British number one, who was
YOUNG people have been working with the congregation of a south-west Durham church on a project to improve its grounds. Dean Bank and Ferryhill Baptist Church won public support for the project through GMTV and the Big Lottery's People's Millions, last
ROY Keane has praised his assistant, Tony Loughlan, for the role he played in Sunderland's successful promotion to the Premiership. When Keane took over from Niall Quinn last August, one of his first moves was to appoint Loughlan, a former member of the
FABIO ROCHEMBACK has dismissed interest from Portugal by declaring his commitment to Middlesbrough and he intends to prove his worth in the Premiership next season. Both Lisbon clubs, Benfica and his former club Sporting, are putting packages together
Dave Penney's new-look Darlington defence is beginning to take shape after the club signed Steve Foster, captain of League One champions Scunthorpe United. Quakers announced yesterday morning that the experienced centre-back has agreed to join the club
Jonny Wilkinson is braced for a punishing England tour to South Africa, admitting: ''We are going to be hauled out of our comfort zone.'' The Newcastle fly-half is among five World Cup winners who headed to Johannesburg last night. But the severely-depleted
A CHARITY music night will take place at The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, to raise money for St Teresa's Hospice, on Friday. Fizzy Fish will play covers from bands Foo Fighters, Green Day and The Strokes, as well as songs by David Bowie
AN angry Freddy Shepherd has claimed that Newcastle midfielder Charles N'Zogbia needs to have his "backside smacked" after petulantly refusing to sit on the substitutes' bench at the weekend. Unhappy at being named among the substitutes at Vicarage Road
Unreconstructed long-ball advocate for one of football's greatest visionaries? Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson profiles the contrasting sides of Sam Allardyce. TO some, he is the dart-loving former defender who dragged Bolton Wanderers back into the
PEOPLE with learning and physical disabilities enjoyed a day out on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway thanks to their local Rotary Club.Sixty members and support workers from The Wilf Ward Family Trust went on the trip, which was organised by the Pickering
A COUPLE who dreamed for years of opening their own business say they have been forced to turn away thousands of pounds worth of work because they cannot get an electricity supply.Four months after applying for power for their new garage in Willington
MUSIC by a composer killed in action during the First World War will form the centrepiece of concert at the weekend.George Butterworth, a Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry, composed Shropshire Lad five years before he died at the Battle of the Somme
A SYSTEM that allows car parking companies access to drivers' personal details puts motorists at risk of identity theft, it has been said.The allegation is the latest twist in a public protest against fines of up to £90 for staying too long in a supermarket
As depression is on the rise, what about swapping retail therapy for ecotherapy?ARE you happy? Probably not. Not many of us are. Even if you were happy before, the latest round of news is likely to plunge you into instant gloom.The number of people
PUPILS have been given a sports coach to work on getting them into shape every lunchtime until October.In an age when children play more computer games than team sports, the youngsters at Fairfield Primary School, in Stockton, are exercising with the
IT was boys in blue against boys in blue during a football match at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena last night - but there was no colour clash.Darlington Police played Langbaurgh Police in the final of the Meredith Trophy - the Emergency Services League's
THE region will thank its war veterans for their brave service in a major event this summer. Durham City's Palace Green and town hall will be taken over by vintage military vehicles, a large display of military memorabilia, bands and street entertainers
A MINE-CLEARING expert who lost his leg in an explosion while attempting to rescue a Lebanese shepherd will today be rewarded for his bravery.But despite the prestigious accolade, David Alderson is remaining modest.Mr Alderson, from Saltburn, east Cleveland
SUPPORTERS of two of the region's Premiership football clubs are considering voting with their feet due to the cost of watching matches, according to a survey.The Football Fans' Price Index shows that 21 per cent of Middlesbrough fans may not renew their
Gordon Brown's succession to the premiership remained on course last night as it emerged that an overwhelming majority of Labour MPs had formally pledged their backing.A total of 282 of Labour's 354 MPs have nominated the Chancellor for the Labour leadership
THE Royal Shakespeare Company has marked its 30th anniversary of working with the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.William Houston posed on the theatre's roof in Roman costume in the role of Coriolanus, the first production in the RSC season, which runs until
OVER the course of the next few months Sam Allardyce will change the face of Newcastle United in an attempt to finally end the club's long wait for silverware during his three years in charge.Making few promises and delivering messages of hope rather
A FAMILY business that has survived and flourished through decades of upheaval in the agricultural industry is celebrating its centenary.J Parlour and Son, an agricultural engineering company based at South Otterington, near Northallerton, has traded
If you could choose your own surname, "Pratt" might come near the bottom of the list... with good reason.WHAT really made Tan Hill Inn landlady Tracy Daly think that the solicitors for KFC couldn't be serious about seeking to proscribe the term "Family
TWO aspiring ballerinas have danced their way to London.Teesside schoolgirls Abbie Watson, 11, and Hannah Dawson, 12, recently performed before 5,000 people at the Royal Albert Hall.They were among 40 students from the Bradley School of Dance, at Great
A COUPLE who have only spent two weeks apart during their entire marriage celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary yesterday.Lawrence and Freda Milburn married on May 15, 1937, at All Saints' CE Church, in Skelton, east Cleveland.Mrs Milburn, 95, met
HOME Office Minister Vernon Coaker was in the region yesterday to see for himself how one town is leading the way in the fight against crime.Mr Coaker met offenders, police and community beat officers on a tour of Stockton, where crime has fallen 14 per
FOUR local election candidates have called for an inquiry into alleged ballot box irregularities.They all stood for election to Richmondshire District Council, in North Yorkshire, which last night denied any breach of procedures had taken place.Candidates
PHOTOGRAPHS, letters and memories from a historic Durham village are wanted for a community archive project.The history of Brancepeth, a village which for centuries housed servants from Brancepeth Castle, is being preserved for the 21st Century, with
A UNIVERSITY graduate who set up her business little more than a year ago has been shortlisted for an entrepreneurial award.Charlotte Liddle set up her textile design business last January - months after she graduated from Huddersfield University.She
A SCHOOL marked the culmination of several years of work last night when it celebrated becoming a specialist media arts college.About 250 guests attended King James I Community Arts College to watch music, dance and drama performances by pupils. The school
THE work of an artist who aims to highlight the importance of colour in our lives is being exhibited at a Durham gallery.The paintings by Margaret Brownlow went on display at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery, Aykley Heads, yesterday.A
A FAMILY has been left traumatised after thieves burgled a man's home as he was at his wife's funeral.Thieves struck on Friday when Ian Colpitts was at his wife Marjorie's funeral.The family returned home to find the property had been ransacked and treasured
A MOTHER who has led a campaign against knife crime following the murder of her son has renewed her call for stiffer sentences for people carrying the weapons.Barbara Dunne spoke out after a teenager was stabbed to death in Newcastle yesterday - 13 days
A YOUNG couple who have taken over a popular cafe are planning to sell more than just food.Kimberley Sutherland, 21, and her partner, Wayne Stooke, 24, have re-opened what used to be Carlene's Coffee Shop, in Wheldon Terrace, Northallerton, as the Terrace
TWO terminally-ill cancer patients gatecrashed a health trust meeting to ask officials to rethink the decision to deny them life-extending drugs on the NHS.The families of John Hodgson and Kathleen Devonport accused County Durham Primary Care Trust of
CELTIC last night won the race to sign Middlesbrough target Scott Brown. Boro had been confident of landing the Hibernian playmaker but the emergence of the Scottish champions proved too tempting for the Scotland international. Middlesbrough have been
AFTER confirming the appointment of Newcastle United's fourth manager in three years, chairman Freddy Shepherd joined forces with Sam Allardyce to insist that Michael Owen's future rests firmly in the striker's hands. Allardyce arrived on Tyneside in
ARE you happy? Probably not. Not many of us are. Even if you were happy before, the latest round of news is likely to plunge you into instant gloom. The number of people taking anti-depressants is at a record high - more than 31 million prescriptions
A FAMILY have paid tribute to a father and his talented rugby player son who died in a car accident as they travelled to a training session.Speaking last night, Fiona Austen described husband Paul and their son, Andrew, as unique and much loved.The pair
THE sound of breaking glass was followed closely by a fireball explosion as petrol bombs landed around the officers' feet. Rioters followed up the first wave of Molotov cocktails with a hail of stones and bricks that bounced off the reinforced plastic
From June 1, if you're selling your property, you will be expected to provide a home information pack to any would-be buyers. But what are they and why have they attracted criticism? Lindsay Jennings reports THE wider public may have heard of them, but
A TEENAGE mother found hanged after a row with her boyfriend would never have left her young daughter, her mother said yesterday.An inquest returned an open verdict on 19-year-old student Laura Kirwin, who died last November in the house in Langdale Gardens
