FIREFIGHTERS were tackling a serious blaze at a factory on the Hackworth Industrial Estate in Shildon last night. The incident was reported around 11pm and five tenders were sent to the scene. They were later joined by the aerial ladder. No more details
THERE is widespread speculation that the long-running cash-for-honours inquiry will end without charges being brought. Simultaneous reports on Sky News and BBC1's 10 O'Clock News quoted unnamed sources as saying that the Crown Prosecution Service will
THE polls have closed tonight for the Sedgefield by-election. A turnout of just over 40 per cent was forecast compared with 62 per cent at the 2005 General Election when the then Prime Minister Tony Blair was the candidate. A result is expected around
A WOMAN and a baby were among those who had to be rescued by firefighters as flash floods wreaked havoc in several villages tonight. A freak rainstorm, which lasted for around half-an-hour around 7.30pm hit several communities in North Yorkshire. Streams
COUNCILLORS have decided how Darlington's referendum for an elected mayor will be conducted. At last night's full council meeting, members voted to offer the public the choice of adopting a mayor and cabinet system - meaning that issues which under the
SERGIO GARCIA secured a memorable birdie at the testing 17th hole at Carnoustie to ensure he holds a two-shot lead at The Open Championship. The Spaniard, looking to become the first European to win the Open since Paul Lawrie in 1999, carded a six under
A SCIENTIST today told a murder trial jury that DNA found at the scene of a stabbing linked two brothers with the death of a former boxer. David and Terry Reed are accused of murdering Peter Hoe, 43, in the front room of his home in Eston, near Middlesbrough
AN education authority has agreed to search for private sponsors with a view to creating controversial academy schools in County Durham. Members of the county's cabinet have today agreed to the wide-ranging review of secondary education. Academies,
ASDA will be selling Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows for £5 per copy, the retailer said tonight.
A MOTORIST who ploughed into two horse-drawn carts, killing a "fabulous" family man and badly injuring his son, walked free from court after being cleared of causing death by dangerous driving. Lisa Tomlinson, 26, was found guilty of the lesser charge
ORGANISERS have been forced to cancel next weekend's Cleveland Show after they declared the site was unsafe. The torrential rain of the past several weeks and a gloomy forecast has resulted in Stewart Park being too waterlogged for the event to go
A PROPERTY firm boss who owned Inspector Morse's famous red Jaguar MkII has appeared in court for an alleged multi-million pound fraud. John Potts and four other directors of the now wound-up Practical Property Portfolio business appeared before
ARE you one of the millions of fans waiting anxiously for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? Do you fancy sharing your thoughts with readers around the world? The Northern Echo is looking for reviews of the final Potter tale. E-mail your thoughts
THE parents of lorry driver Peter Williams were trying to come to terms with his death today. Mr Williams, 25, died in hospital hours after his Calor Gas tanker plunged 50ft from a road bridge on the Causeway in Wolsingham and landed on a railway line
FOUR canisters containing an unidentified chemical substance have been unearthed today at Newcastle Airport. The substance is not thought to be explosive. The discovery was made by Northumbrian Water workers completeing excavation work on a new water
A TRAWLERMAN has dredged up the skull of his dead friend - three years after he was lost at sea. Brothers Robert Temple and Brian Allison disappeared without a trace on November 17, 2004, when their boat sank off the North Shields coast. But in a bizarre
A CLEARLY frustrated Graeme Storm has admitted that his dream of making his first Open Championship cut lay in tatters after a nightmare opening round. The Hartlepool golfer struggled to find his form at the challenging Scottish links, made worse by
The first Red Kite chicks to be hatched on a project to reintroduce them to the North East have flown for the first time. Gateshead Council said the chicks have successfully flown from their nest in the Derwent Walk Country Park, near Rowlands Gill.
GRAEME STORM'S CARD OF CARNOUSTIE First round of the Open Championship Hole 1, 406 yards, Par 4 Wayward tee shot to the right, left him in the light rough but redeemed himself with an iron to the fringe. A long putt rolled round the lip and he
Whilst completing excavation work on a new water main at Newcastle airport, Northumbrian Water has this morning discovered four canisters containing an unidentified chemical substance. These canisters have been unearthed in an area of grass adjacent
DARLINGTON'S friendly with Gretna has been switched to the home of the Scottish Premier League newcomers. The move comes after Darlington officials expressed their wish to protect the newly-installed playing surface following the recent heavy rain.
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL 1 (1) The Blood Diamond 2 (2) Ghost Rider 3 (3) Norbit 4 (4) Outlaw 5 (-) Premonition 6 (5) Hot Fuzz 7 (6) 10th & Wolf 8 (7) The Hamiltons 9 (8) Flags Of Our Fathers 10 (9) Letters From Iwo Jima Supplied by www.blockbuster.co.uk
Derbhle Crotty is ready to be competely evil when the Royal Shakespeare Company brings two versiions fo 'the Scottish plat' Macbeth and Macbett, to Newcastle. She talks to Viv Hardwick about the toil and trouble involved. 'AN evil child in a pink Napoleon
THE gates of Soapland swing open to allow a pair of blonde bombshells admission to Albert Square. So let's hear a big welcome for Ronnie and Roxy Kray, sorry Mitchell. The sisters are all dolled up for a wedding in EastEnders (BBC1) and expect to be
Despite being lumbered with the name Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner, the Surrey-born singer-songwriter is the latest Myspace success gaining 250,000 plays in the last 12 months. Tutored by the late great guitarist Eric Roche, Faulkner actually started
The original 1988 film set in 1960s America didn't earn much critical praise but an award-wining stage version of John Water's musical led to a movie remake with John Travolta in a female fatsuit. Cast members and director Adam Shankman discuss the project's
WHAT'S ON: The Young Sinfonia appears at The Sage Gateshead at 7.30pm on Saturday. The programme includes Bartok's Rumanian Folk Dances, Hummel's Trumpet Concerto and Beethoven's Symphony No 1. Box office: 0191-443 4661. Reviews: Mozart; Prokofiev Piano
** BREAKING NEWS ** GRAEME Storm suffered in the worst of the Carnoustie weather this morning as he slumped to a seven-over-par round of 78. The Hartlepool golfer, who celebrated his maiden European Tour success last month, made just one birdie in
THE most important collection of Viking treasure found in 150 years has been discovered in North Yorkshire. The British Museum has hailed the find as being of global importance and said it provides valuable new information about the history of England
AS a mother of two children and a daily customer of Asda (Darlington), I am absolutely disgusted that the company thinks it has the right to sell unsafe clothing for our children. In your Protect our Children campaign story, "Asda says customers
ACCORDING to Danny Sriskandandarajah, head of migration, equalities and citizenship at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Britain should grant an amnesty to half a million illegal immigrants. He suggests that if we deported these
I HAVE never been enthusiastic about supercasinos, which is not to say that I believe gambling is a bad thing. There are ample opportunities for gambling and I agree with Gordon Brown's seeming decision to abandon the plans. Of course, the loss
WHAT follows does not lay blame on pupils or teachers. The blame lies with successive government directives that led to the current prescriptive system of education. Parents are pleased when their children get good exam results but, when asked
THE Turkish army has stated on its website that it may intervene to defend democracy against Turkish Muslims. Pete Winstanley (HAS, July 16) thinks this proves the "broad spectrum of opinion within Islam". If he thinks opposing democracy is a
DAVID Lacey, (HAS, July 13) regards it as "essential" for permanent peace in the Middle East that Israel should remove its illegal settlements on the West Bank. For many years, all that the Palestinians have been asking for is the removal of these
COLUMNIST Rob Merrick is wrong to say Regional Eurostar trains have been "flogged off" to the French (Echo, July 12). They have been leased to rail operator SNCF which ensures they can be returned to Eurostar service, if and when there is demand
A NEW play area at Darlington Memorial Hospital was officially opened by two football stars.Darlington Football Club manager Dave Penney and winger Martin Smith cut the ribbons on the new children's activity room, which was built with funding from The
THE driver of a gas tanker who died after it plunged from a bridge onto a railway line has been named. Peter Williams, 25, from Darlington, was thrown clear from the cab of the Calor Gas tanker when it fell 50ft onto the Weardale Railway, at Wolsingham
HEALTH bosses have secured nearly £500,000 in lottery funding for community health projects. The money will be used to run education projects and to give volunteers and community workers the information they need to help people live healthier lifestyles
HIGHWAY engineers have been urged to "bite the bullet" in making improvements to solve long-running traffic problems at a difficult junction in the centre of Bedale. Residents and businesses say the measures should be a priority at the staggered junction
THERE were attractions for all ages at this year's Bedale summer festival. The event combined the annual gala of Bedale Scouts and Guides with a battle of the bands and a rock concert. The day began with a parade of decorated floats by Scouts and Guides
THE funeral of a centenarian and former teacher has taken place. Mary Robson died on June 30, aged 100. She lived in Marske, Swaledale, until 1998, when she moved to a nursing home near Brighton. She was born in Sheffield, where her father a master cutler
ADULT learners in North Yorkshire enjoy one of the best services in the country, a recent inspection report has revealed. Ofsted inspectors have rated North Yorkshire County Council's adult learning service as "good". The grade places the council among
A GROUP of teenage singers will perform for thousands of music lovers on the last night of the Proms. Tees Valley Youth Choir, runners up in the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition, are to entertain an expected 7,000 spectators converging on Middlesbrough
councillors have unanimously backed a demand for action from the Government over flooding in the county. Liberal Democrat member Bernard Bateman proposed a motion at the quarterly council meeting urging the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
A CHARITY has given an interest-free loan to help equip a community and commercial centre being created at a former railway station.Trustees of the £2.6m project, in Richmond, which is due to open in November, say the loan will help to cover any shortfall
YOUNG entrepreneurs of the future have been helping people in the world's poorer countries while turning in a profit.Pupils at Crakehall CE Primary School, near Bedale, took part in the Young Enterprise at Work scheme, which challenged them to make a
WELLIES have been a feature of the summer so far, but they are put to a fascinating use by a visiting song and dance group.Black Umfolosi 5 brings its gumboot dancing show to Richmond, North Yorkshire, next week, during the company's 25th anniversary
WHEN the phone rang at 8.40am on Saturday I almost didn't answer. Our weekends are usually pretty hectic as we rush around dropping off and picking up boys from a range of training sessions and sporting fixtures, often many miles apart. But lately, ever
IT may not have the glitz, glamour or television coverage that its related game of snooker now enjoys - but billiards is still a popular sport all around the globe.And this week, Chris Shutt launched his bid to be named as the best player in the world
COMMUNITY leaders are looking for creative ideas to bring in jobs and change their area's image. The Redcar and Cleveland Partnership is inviting creative agencies to submit proposals for a marketing and public relations campaign. It wants to challenge
GOLFERS will swing into action tomorrow in memory of a dedicated fundraiser and family man. The David Bosomworth Champagne Trophy will be held at Wynyard Golf Club, near Billingham. Mr Bosomworth died, aged 59, in August 2005, after suffering for many
A TECHNICAL studies student will swap his safety goggles for his guitar to record in a professional studio after winning a battle of the bands competition. Peter Glasby, 18, from Billingham, impressed the judges at the TTE Technical Training Group's Battle
Inveterate Eastender Keith Richardson is a man who knows his station in life... and is now behind efforts to help restore it to its 1950s glory.IT MAY not perhaps be said that Kirkby Stephen East is Keith Richardson's station in life, though he remains
ONE of the most successful breeders and exhibitors of Wensleydale sheep has died.Ruth Pedley became ill after judging at last week's Great Yorkshire Show and died at home at Old Hall, Hunton, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, on Monday night.She and her husband
PRIMARY school children have named a canine mascot that will be used to promote street wardens in their home town.Appropriately, it has been named Paws, by youngsters from Berwick Hills Primary School, in Middlesbrough.They won a borough-wide search for
HEALTH experts will be targeting shoppers in a health drive next week. Officials from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will be outside the Tesco store, in Durham Road, Stockton, to persuade shoppers to cut down on their salt intake. Eating too much salt
Nazi Pop Twins (C4, 10.30pm), Bombay Rialway (BBc4, 9pm) When April says she's no stage mum and that she's not living through her children, don't get the impression this is another "don't put your daughter on the stage Mrs Worthington" documentary. The
SCHOOL-LEAVERS who are looking for work can get a helping hand from a project being introduced in Stockton. The St Ann's Development Board is launching Routz2work, aimed at 14 to 18-year-olds living in the Portrack, Tilery, Queen's Park, Mount Pleasant
PETITION HANDOVER ELVET Residents' Association would like to thank everyone, whether resident, local or worldwide, for the fantastic response to Petition No 3, addressed to our MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, asking her to represent our views about the proposal
A GUIDE to help people get to hospital and other health centres has been produced. The leaflet, designed for people in east Durham, has been created by County Durham Primary Care Trust. Travelling to Hospitals and Urgent Care Facilities from Easington
A DRIVER broke down in tears as she relived the moment her car ploughed into two pony-drawn traps, killing a North-East father. Lisa Tomlinson, 26, sobbed as she was cross-examined after giving evidence during her trial at Teesside Crown Court yesterday
He has been dubbed the James Herriot of the 21st Centrury, but for television zoo vet Matt Brash, his clients could crush him or trample him within seconds. He tells Lindsay Jennings about some of his escapades. IT has been another satisfying day for
SHAKESPEARE'S The Merchant of Venice is to be performed in the grounds of Brancepeth Castle, in Brancepeth Village, near Durham City, on Sunday. The castle gates open at 5.30pm for a picnic on the grass. The play, produced by Heartbreak Products Open
Summer fun: The Low Barns Nature Reserve at Witton-le-Wear has the following activities organised for the summer. All activities are from 1.30pm to 3.30pm - Wednesday, July 25, butterfly bonanza, mini-beast hunt and craft. Wednesday, August 1, storybook
A VINTAGE coach that took passengers around rural areas more than 50 years ago is to be used in a park-and-ride scheme for a farmers' market this month. It means visitors can leave their cars in a parking area and travel in style to the market stalls,
GREEN THOUGHTS IN response to Des Murphy's letter regarding new housing in Crook (HAS, Page 10, July 13), I urge him and others with an interest into the diminishing green spaces in and around our town to visit Wear Valley District Council's website and
A COUNCIL has rejected a complaint from one of its member's wives about the noise from a pub. Labour Durham City councillor Bill Kellett and his wife, Elizabeth, have lived next door to the Blacksmith Arms, Station Road, Low Pittington, for almost 30
RESIDENTS of Woodhouse Close Estate, in Bishop Auckland, will be encouraged to dig deep to improve their area. Groundwork West Durham and Darlington will be holding a planting day as part of the Wholesome Nine Yards scheme on Monday. The event takes place
CHILDREN from a West Auckland school have helped launch a community fitness facility. Pupils from Copeland Road School won a competition to design a logo for a new suite which will be a spin-off of Wear Valley District Council's Wellness on Wheels (Wow
JOYEAUX (4.00) travels to Hamilton this afternoon in the hope of retrieving losses, having failed to land a substantial gamble at Nottingham last week. Nothing much is going right for Malton-based trainer James Hetherton at present, misery compounded
NEWCASTLE United was yesterday taken off the London Stock Exchange after the club's takeover by billionaire businessman Mike Ashley. Sportswear magnate Mr Ashley, through his company St James Holdings Limited, now owns a stake of at least 94.5 per cent
A MAN carried out his threat to start a fire at his girlfriend's home when she refused to allow him his drugs, a court heard. Despite being swiftly extinguished by firefighters called by the woman, the blaze badly damaged upstairs rooms at her two-storey
POLICE are to be given powers to confiscate alcohol from drinkers in a city centre's streets to cut crime and anti-social behaviour. Durham City Council has agreed a designated public place order, allowing officers to ask people to stop drinking and,
SEDGEFIELD goes to the polls today to elect its first new MP in nearly 25 years. Tony Blair had represented the constituency since 1983 until he retired after ten years as Prime Minister three weeks ago, triggering the by-election. Eleven candidates are
WORK starts tomorrow on a building that officials say will create a 21st Century campus for its pupils. Councillor Ian Jeffrey, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for education, said construction of the £14.7m Saltburn Learning Campus
THE number of people unemployed in the region has fallen by 1,000, with the national total falling to its lowest level in more than a year, statistics revealed yesterday. However, the figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that
RESIDENTS are being asked for their views during a consultation exercise which will help shape a borough for decades to come. Sedgefield Borough Council is holding a series of events to help form its Local Development Framework. The framework will
A skills course has been set up in response to research that shows the problems the region's businesses face in recruiting highly-trained salespeople. A study by the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) found that 62 per cent of businesses in the region
RESEARCHERS in the North-East have produced a piece of scientific equipment with a ground-breaking level of accuracy that could be sold around the world. A team at Northumbria University have made a prototype of their Nanomobile device, which allows
STAFF at a bookmakers forced a robber to flee by refusing his demands for cash. The actions of the unflappable manageress and an assistant resulted in the raider leaving empty-handed. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, at the York Road
AN information centre will close tomorrow for three weeks before reopening at a new location - but trustees have warned that a permanent closure may be imminent. The Signpost centre, in Crook, will close for annual holidays until Tuesday, August 14,
BOX office successes including the third episode in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise helped cinema chain Cineworld win a bigger share of the UK movie market, the group revealed yesterday. Cineworld, which made its stock market debut two months ago
THORN Lighting is leading a £3m project to develop revolutionary energy-efficient technology that could replace conventional lighting within the next 15 years, it was announced yesterday. The County Durham company revealed it is leading a scheme to
South Tyneside IT and management consultancy Tadpole Consulting Services is sponsoring the team from Durham Business School taking part in the Cranfield Regatta, in Portsmouth, this weekend. Durham won the event last year, beating 17 other entrants.
The Government is accused today of failing to tackle binge-drinking after a study found the number of accident and emergency (A&E) visits related to alcohol trebled after the introduction of 24-hour drinking laws. Researchers from a London hospital discovered
AN NHS trust is to axe 600 jobs - a third of its workforce - as part of plans to save more than £28m. Managers at the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust gave the grim news to staff yesterday. The trust, which has 350 beds at the main site
UNEMPLOYMENT was the dog that didn't bark through the Blair years, as the official jobless count fell sharply and stayed low. With just 3.5 per cent of the North-East's working population claiming Jobseekers' Allowance, it is a far cry from the desperation
DANNY Wilson has called on his two new goalkeepers to prove they are worthy of a starting spot at Hartlepool United. Arran Lee-Barrett and Jan Budtz have replaced Dimi Konstantopoulos and Jim Provett at Victoria Park after last season's promotion keepers
FOR generations, the BBC has been a beacon of integrity and independence. But that proud heritage is in tatters following a series of deceptions which have seriously undermined trust in the corporation. Weeks after a deception by iconic children's programme
POLICE investigating the death of a frail man whose body was found in a hostel arrested three people yesterday. The three males, all juveniles, are being questioned in connection with the death of 49-year-old Robert Pride McLeod, whose body was discovered
Michael Vaughan insists he is ''excited'' at England's new-look attack after an injury crisis decimated his seamer options for the opening npower Test against India at Lord's. Already resigned to being without key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (ankle),
A POPULAR youth club in Darlington is looking for a new venue. Up to 30 teenagers visited the weekly club at Northlands Methodist Church, in North Road, to play pool and meet friends. But now the Youth Service-run project has had to close over concerns
PLANS for a security fence at the front of a vandal-hit school in an ex-pit village have been approved. Durham County Council's planning committee approved the scheme for Bearpark Primary School, which is based in single-storey Victorian buildings away
SCHOOLS admissions policies in Darlington have been criticised by a young mother who faces having to take her children to and from three different schools and nurseries every day. Mother-of-three Claire Hutchinson hoped her son, Anthony, could follow
THE chairman of Hurworth Community Association has confirmed he will resign in September. George Lawman, who has been at the helm for six months, said there was a conflict of interests between his role as parish councillor. Coun Lawman became chairman
DURHAM yesterday confirmed that they have agreed terms with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, but he will be unable to make his debut at home to Hampshire tomorrow because of work permit problems. The West Indian left-hander is to fly to his home in Florida today
PUPILS turned out in force to for a fun run as one of their teachers prepared to cycle the length of the country. Graham Davey, head of performing arts and physical education at Sacriston Community College, near Chester-le-Street, is to cycle from Lands
HURWORTH Parish Council will talk to its local school about plans for an education village - but an agreement looks unlikely. Eamonn Farrar, chief executive of Hurworth School, wants the parish council to join the school in funding a new facility. The
EIGHT years ago, Colin Montgomerie's visit to Carnoustie tarnished his image of one of the 'world's greatest links' courses. This morning, after a couple of days practice on the east coast of Scotland, he feels the infamous venue is back to its challenging
Yesterday's accident reopened wounds that were just beginning to heal in the tragedy-hit market town of Wolsingham. Jim Entwistle reports on the local reaction. THUNDERCLOUDS hung overhead as the recovery operation got under way in Wolsingham yesterday
GRAEME STORM'S first visit to an Open Championship was as a highly-rated amateur. This morning he will tee off as a winner of a European Tour event with his sights set on a top-ten finish at Carnoustie. After taking one last final pre-tournament look
THE Open Championship was plunged into a drugs crisis last night as nine-time major winner Gary Player claimed that "at least ten golfers" were taking performance-enhancing substances. Player voiced his fears on the eve of the most important date in the
Darlington 0, Sunderland 2 KIERAN Richardson watched his new Sunderland team-mates for the first time last night as Roy Keane's Black Cats overcame North-East neighbours Darlington. Richardson was joined by fellow new signings Michael Chopra and Dickson
DAVE Penney has confirmed that Darlington flop Julian Joachim will be allowed to leave the club - but only at the right price. The Quakers board are keen to recoup a large chunk of the club record £100,000 paid to Boston United 11 months ago. But, after
Middlesbrough will have their fingers crossed that the Austrian Football Association look with sympathy upon their appeal against Fabio Rochemback's red card. The Brazilian received his marching orders on Tuesday for violent conduct - with a possible
NEWCASTLE boss Sam Allardyce has revealed the prospect of managing Michael Owen was an opportunity too good to miss. Allardyce took over at St James' Park a week at the end of last season following eight years in charge at Bolton Wanderers. He worked
THE cream of Durham's young musical talent took part in an annual festival and competition.Twenty-seven players performed in the fourth Durham Young Musicians Festival, held in St Cuthbert's Church, North Road.There were 16 junior, eight intermediate
FIVE men and three women were arrested yesterday as the latest crackdown on suspected drug dealers in Stockton got under way.Police seized crack cocaine worth £3,000 in raids on homes in Shaftesbury Street and Springholm Terrace, in Stockton town centre
HARDLINE Government plans to force single mothers to look for work when their youngest child reaches seven faced a furious backlash last night.Lone parent and children's organisations attacked the proposal in the Government's latest welfare-to-work strategy
A SOLDIER who kept command after a roadside bomb blew off his hand and killed his driver has been awarded his regiment's first Military Cross.Captain Ibrar Ali, of the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire,
NORTHERN Foods yesterday posted a rise in revenues, but said that trading conditions remained challenging.Underlying revenues in the company, which employs about 300 people at its Dalepak factory, in Leeming Bar, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, grew
RABBITS which contracted a fatal illness while being looked after in a council park had not received any veterinary treatment for two years.Darlington Borough Council has received a warning from the RSPCA after it was called in to investigate its treatment
A MID-AFTERNOON downpour brought yet more flooding chaos yesterday.A thunderstorm and torrential rain hit Durham City shortly after 3pm, causing widespread disruption.The A177 was closed in both directions between Shincliffe and Bowburn, causing congestion
INTERNET entrepreneurs George Kinghorn and Colum Smith are braving a bone-shaking journey in a scooter van to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance. The owners of Durham City-based Bayagent are taking part in the inaugural Scottish Coast 2 Coast
A TELEPHONE answer-machine message which is said to be a stabbing victim's final moments was played to a murder trial jury yesterday.The recording was a voice-mail received by Terry Atkinson, a friend of former boxer Peter Hoe, on the night of his killing
THE interim chief executive of a troubled council has resigned weeks after agreeing an extended contract.Jack Neal has cited personal and family reasons for his decision to leave Richmondshire District Council at the end of the month.The former chief
A SCHOOL has won £2,000 after coming first in a national anti-vandalism competition run by the Home Office. Year nine students from Bishop Barrington School, in Bishop Auckland, entered the competition along with 250 other schools in the UK. They produced
DEMANDS from MPs to ban housing developments near overhead power lines because of a possible link with childhood cancers last night prompted a call for electricity companies to bury cables underground.A cross-party inquiry was set up to examine the association
A NORTH-eAST town yesterday bolstered its reputation as the region's sex shop capital.Darlington borough council agreed that a fourth licensed sex shop can open in the town, despite a campaign by a rival store to have the application thrown out.Cherry
The BBC yesterday suspended all phone-in competitions after uncovering a string of viewer deceptions involving Children in Need, Comic Relief and Sport Relief.All three charity appeal programmes featured fake competition winners.Shows on the World Service
A GAS tanker driver died yesterday in the third tragedy to hit a village in under two months.The Darlington man, who was in his early twenties, was thrown from the cab of a Calor Gas tanker when it plunged 50ft off a bridge onto the Weardale Railway,
THE funeral of a centenarian and former Darlington school- teacher has taken place.Mary Robson died on June 30, aged 100.She lived in Marske, Swaledale, until 1998 when she moved to a nursing home near Brighton because of ill health.Mrs
A HOSPITAL worker will swap a prize mountain bike for a static version to help her shed the pounds after quitting smoking.Josephine Willis, a hospital domestic at Darlington Memorial Hospital, won a £350 21-speed mountain bike at the hospital's Friends
A COUNTRY road and a rural railway remain closed today after a gas tanker plunged 50ft onto the line, killing the driver.The seven-ton Calor Gas tanker careered down a steep section of Wears Bank, near Wolsingham, County Durham, wiping out a 20ft section
Sussex v Yorkshire (Twenty20 Cup) Yorkshire Phoenix's hopes of reaching the Twenty20 Cup finals day for the first time were dashed at Hove last night when they lost by 38 runs in their quarter-final encounter with Sussex Sharks.It was a disappointing
ROY Keane last night refused to be drawn on speculation linking Sunderland with a renewed £9m bid for Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Reports yesterday suggested the Wearsiders were about to break the British transfer record for a goalkeeper - and smash
THERE were 10,000 fans at the Darlington Arena last night to see Roy Keane's Black Cats overcome North-East neighbours Darlington 2-0. Ross Wallace's first half strike and Anthony Stokes' 76th minute goal sealed victory for the Premier League newcomers
A SOLDIER who kept command after a roadside bomb blew off his hand and killed his driver has been awarded his regiment's first Military Cross. Captain Ibrar Ali, of the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire
