Archive

  • Garage on fire

    Fire crews tonight fought a blaze at the Lido garage on the coast road in Blackhall, east Durham. At the height of the fire, the single-storey garage was well alight.

  • Police investigate attack on railway

    Police are investigating an incident at a tourist attraction which left a woman in shock and a rare railway car damaged. Vandals aimed a missile at a griddle car, one of only six catering type cars ever made, at the Weardale Railway, in County Durham

  • Festival a success

    About 40,000 music lovers enjoyed the finale of the Evolution music festival on Tyneside tonight. Kate Nash, Duffy and The Streets were among the acts playing on the banks of the Tyne in Newcastle and Gateshead.

  • Search continues for family as new pictures released

    POLICE are continuing to search for a North-East mother and her five young daughters who went missing more than a week ago. Northumbria Police believe Natalie Bracht and her children, aged five to 13, may be in London. Ms Bracht, 34, and the children

  • Thug paralyses lamb and records ordeal on phone

    POLICE are hunting a happy slap teenage thug who kicked a lamb to near death for fun. Cricketers reported seeing the boy attack the lamb as it was grazing close to playing fields at Ormsby Hall, near Middlesbrough. He kicked the animal so hard it was

  • Test win for England

    A CENTURY from Andrew Strauss was the cornerstone of an excellent performance that saw England beat New Zealand by six wickets at Old Trafford on Monday. Durham's Paul Collingwood - although clearly out of form with the bat - was there at the end (24

  • Gough announces retiremant plans

    YORKSHIRE captain Darren Gough has confirmed this season will be his last in the county championship. The 37-year-old seamer, who made his first-class debut in 1989, had previously intimated that the 2008 season would probably be his last. Gough, who

  • Police appeal to taxi driver over injured man

    POLICE have issued an appeal to the taxi driver who gave a lift home to a man who was later found unconscious in the street with severe head injuries. The man, believed to be in his early 20s, had been on a night out in Middlesbrough before catching

  • Chance to meet Touring Car drivers

    A TRIO of top drivers will make a pit stop in County Durham ahead of this weekend's British Touring Car Championship meeting at Croft Circuit. HiQ Darlington, based in Meynell Road, will host the evening of thrills and spills from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on

  • Going with the grain

    Farmers wife Elizabeth Hird first served granola as a treat to guests at her B&B. Now the guests have gone, but her cereal business is getting bigger all the time. Mike Bridgen reports ELIZABETH Hird makes a seriously good cereal. Her Yockenthwaite

  • What a Carrie-on

    The Sex And The City movie opens this week, and while few women will be able to afford endless designer dresses and cocktails on tap, they will share relationship problems with the stars of the show. But which one of the fabulous foursome are you and

  • Nothing changes

    CORRESPONDENTS have argued about whether the recent local election results were the final nail in Labour's coffin, a new dawn for the Liberal Democrats or the precursor to a Tory government. Surely these are the wrong questions. Changing one lot

  • Pensioners

    JOE Wellthorpe seems to condemn pensioners for the situation they are in (HAS, May 17). Well, give it time At 65, the local council said I was too old to work and dismissed me. It was then impossible to find another job. So at 83, the only work

  • Wage differences

    I CANNOT possibly understand why we have such vast differences in the wages structures in the so-called modern world of today. Why should business directors, so-called executive management and supermarket bosses award themselves such high annual salaries

  • Abortion

    AS I see it, we would live in a far better world if the question of abortion did not arise. All abortions are a case of a life denied existence by the intervention of a medical procedure. I would hope to persuade any woman who I might influence

  • Missing out

    REGARDING the 10p tax rate fiasco. The Government mentions only two groups that have lost out - those aged 60-64 and those low-paid families outside the working tax credit system. There is a third group of victims about whom the Government has

  • Prince's Trust

    AS The Prince's Trust celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Business Programme, I would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to our volunteer business mentors, staff, supporters and donors who have made it possible for thousands of disadvantaged

  • Hospital sites

    IT is excellent news that logic and common sense has prevailed in the decision to locate a new "super hospital" at one of two sites, Wynyard Business Park, or Green Farm, Wolviston, both near Billingham, which is approximately half-way between

  • Advert screamers

    PERHAPS animal rights activists should turn their protective instincts to commercial TV and radio audiences in the North-East who are subjected to people (usually promoting carpets) screaming into a microphone. There is no way I would venture

  • It's a minature world

    SITTING in the editor's chair is all very well. But getting out of it to venture around the region is the best part of the job. You never know whom you might meet. Last week's engagements included a visit to the place where I was born to speak to

  • Throwing cash in the bin

    AT a time when the economy is under intense pressure, efficiency is the watchword - not just in the private sector, but in public services too. So while the rest of us are pennypinching to make up for rising fuel and food costs, what on earth is

  • Big bang theory

    Teenagers and guns can be a lethal combination. But it has been suggested that boys should learn to shoot to control their need for violence. Ruth Campbell takes her boys to a shooting school to find out PERHAPS because I grew up in Northern Ireland

  • Public can take part in Team work

    PEOPLE are being given a chance to help with conservation and learn more about one of the region's key waterways. The Great North Forest is to launch a year-long series of green exercises around the River Team. The river, once one of Britain's

  • Councillor battling to defeat proposal for takeaway licence

    A RESTAURATEUR is battling to start selling takeaway meals. The Mediterranean Kitchen, in Sherburn Village, is prohibited from serving takeaways and limited to telephone orders and home deliveries. But owner Rahim Foroughi wants the condition

  • City’s parish church welcomes new vicar

    A NEW vicar has been appointed to lead Durham City's parish church. The Reverend Stephen Bellamy said he was attracted to an advertisement for the post, at St Nicholas' Church by the warmth of its ministry. The Market Place church counts former

  • Children in scheme to spread kindness

    MORE than 500 children have set out to bring extra kindness into their villages. For two weeks, the youngsters from Great Lumley and Woodstone are carrying out small acts of kindness for their friends, relatives and neighbours. Each act will be

  • Popular primary school to get a big send-off before it closes

    A SERIES of events is being organised to commemorate a popular primary school which is to close. Hamsteels Primary School, in Esh Winning, will be made redundant at the end of the summer term. The school is planning an exhibition, a staff reunion

  • Miniature memories of railway station

    A DERELICT railway station which used to welcome royalty and has now been turned into a visitor centre was brought back to life this weekend. A working model of Thorpe Thewles station was set up in the village hall, complete with the different

  • Books to tell of transport and churches

    TWO history books are about to go on sale, detailing the history of local transport and places of worship. The subject of Roads and Road Transport in the Stockton-on- Tees District to 1968 has been written by Reg Sowler. It covers the history

  • Toilets reopen following £140,000 refurbishment

    THE newly refurbished toilets in Redcar are now open. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council spent £140,000 on improvements to the toilet block in Moore Street. Councillor Sylvia Szintai, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "

  • Man who beat and bit former lover spared jail

    A LANDSCAPE gardener who beat up and bit his girlfriend after an all-day drinking session has been spared jail. Edward Jones, 35, attacked Jolene Donachie, 25, at their home in Thornaby, after accusing her of having an affair. Jones stormed out

  • Work under way on £15m sports college

    WORK has started on a £15m sports college for students in the Stockton area. Pictured cutting the first sod is Stockton Borough Council deputy mayor Paul Kirton, with the principal of the new Bede Sixth Form College, Sujinder Sangha. The

  • Boro legend helps raise funds for friends battling illness

    FORMER Middlesbrough legend George Smith will put on his blue suede shoes for a charity night inspired by two friends battling life-threatening illnesses. Mr Smith, who transferred from Portsmouth to Middlesbrough in 1969 for a then recordbreaking

  • Fahey’s gelding can prove to be a Smart bet at Redcar

    SMART INSTINCT ran a cracker at York on his seasonal bow and better awaits in the totesport betXtra Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar. The Bank Holiday feature has attracted a typically competitive field but Richard Fahey's gelding appeals as a lightly-raced

  • Nanda and Lowe lead Boro charge

    WITH a sensational batting display to win the important top-ofthe- table meeting with previously unbeaten Richmondshire, last year's champions Middlesbrough took over as new league leaders and showed the power and ambition to retain the title.

  • Rare win for Peterlee

    A rare win for Peterlee was the big news of the weekend in the 3D Durham Coast League. They achieved their first victory for two seasons when they beat Easington and it moved them off the bottom of the league and up four places in what for them

  • Maiden century for Rickard

    Norton's fortunes took another turn for the better when Jonathan Rickard hit a maiden century against Gateshead Fell in the Northern Rock North East Premier League. The youngster opened the innings to reach an unbeaten 103 out of their winning

  • Debut 84 for Ranjith

    Newly-promoted Ryton continue to battle with Swalwell, leaders of the Wellstream Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League as both won their respective games at Shotley Bridge and against Benwell and Walbottle. Ryton scored 255 to beat the Bridge

  • Burnmoor join Lyons at top

    Burnmoor joined Hetton Lyons as joint leaders of the Warmseal Durham Senior League after grabbing extra points in a high scoring victory over Eppleton. Opener Jimmy Daley hit another century as the Moor posted 246-3 but try as they did the visitors

  • Davies creates history with 269no

    THE record books were rewritten for the second time this season in the Readers Durham County League when Tudhoe's ground became a batting paradise for Simon Davies. Following the remarkable runmaking by Kimblesworth's two openers, Stephen Meek

  • Easbourne overtake As Good As It Gets

    Local Heroes did Eastbourne a massive favour by defeteing 'As Good As It Gets' 5-4 with in a thrilling encounter. The result enabled Easbournes 9-4 win against the Bhoys prpoel them to the top. AGAIG ubeaten record looked to have remained in tact until

  • Manning seals top ten Indy finish

    DARREN Manning finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the North Yorkshiremans best finish in four starts. Driving the No. 14 ABC Supply Co./A.J. Foyt Racing entry, Manning started the race from the middle of

  • Derby wash-out leaves Yorkshire facing two must-win games

    Derbyshire v Yorkshire (Friends Provident Trophy) SCORECARD Derbyshire v Yorkshire At Derby. Derbyshire Won Toss Yorkshire Innings Rain Stopped Play. A W Gale c Clarke b Wagg 11 C White c Rogers b Langeveldt 1 A McGrath c Klokker b

  • Durham face real test today

    Durham v Scotland (Friends Provident Trophy) DURHAM need to follow yesterday's 38-run win against Scotland with a resounding victory at home to Derbyshire today in their final group game in the Friends Provident Trophy. The abandonment of Derbyshire's

  • Well done Bobby

    THE FA Cup Final between Portsmouth and Cardiff was a bit of a non-event for most North-East football fans, the game a bit dull and uneventful. However, the man of the match was from the North-East - Sir Bobby Robson! Limping quite badly, it was

  • Sadly missed

    I WAS sad to see in the press notification of the deaths of two long serving Guisboroughborn stalwart supporters of the NYSD circuit John Bird and Edward (Dick) Rowlinson. To share a bench at Guisborough with the Bird twins was an enjoyable experience

  • Euro rubbish

    DIDN'T really want to write this letter, but I am forced to because I am really tired of socalled soccer experts like Mark Hughes, Andy Townsend, David Pleat and Clive Tyldesley telling me that I am watching a great game of football when in fact

  • Six-wicket Panesar plays England into contention

    MONTY Panesar resuscitated England's hopes of winning the second npower Test at Old Trafford - although New Zealand still feel in the box seat. Left-arm spinner Panesar claimed a Test-best six for 37 to help dismiss the New Zealanders for a paltry

  • Pogatetz likely to be made Boro captain

    HE HAD previously talked of starting next season without a club captain, but Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has now hinted that Emanuel Pogatetz will continue as the club's skipper on a permanent basis. Pogatetz finished last season with the

  • Yorke ponders his future

    DWIGHT Yorke is mulling over his Sunderland future after a trio of Championship clubs trumped the Black Cats' offer of a new one-year playing deal. Yorke, whose contract is due to expire next month, met boss Roy Keane over a week ago to discuss

  • Owen contract on the agenda for new chief

    DEREK Llambias will be confirmed as Newcastle's new chairman within the next two weeks - and his first priority will be to kick-start contract negotiations with the club's captain, Michael Owen. Llambias will succeed Chris Mort once the current

  • Windass: I am not a legend

    DEAN Windass does not want to be referred to as a legend'' after his goal saw Hull promoted to the top flight for the first time in the club's 104-year history. The 39-year-old Hull-born striker scored with a magnificent volley as the Tigers overcame

  • Wilson is pipped by Jimenez

    CIGAR-SMOKING, wine-drinking Miguel Angel Jimenez achieved the biggest victory of his long career at Wentworth - and left England's Oliver Wilson the nearly man yet again. The 44-year-old Spaniard, having holed in one earlier in the day, collected

  • Rovers promotion is O’Driscoll’s cup of tea

    Doncaster Rovers 1 Leeds United 0 DONCASTER manager Sean O'Driscoll celebrated his side's return to the Coca-Cola Championship for the first time in 50 years with nothing more than a cup of tea. Doncaster secured a third promotion in five years

  • Murray edges through

    ANDY MURRAY made it through to the second round of the French Open but was handed a lesson in clay court tennis in his opening match by a player young enough to be a schoolboy. The Scot, who had been suffering from a throat infection for the past

  • Ecstatic Hamilton labels victory a ‘career high’

    LEWIS HAMILTON yesterday rivalled the feat of his late hero Ayrton Senna by taming the streets of Monte Carlo, and then proclaimed: "I hope this is the start of something very special." Hamilton could not have won in more dramatic circumstances

  • Lifeline as study lifts fish quotas

    FISHERMEN have been thrown a lifeline and will not have to stick to strict quotas, as part of a study into the environmental impact of fishing boats. There are calls for the Government project, which includes Hartlepool, to be extended along other

  • Steam fans celebrate as loco arrives at museum

    FORTY years ago, steam fans were in mourning when the great coal-powered locomotives were withdrawn from mainline operations. The mighty No 70013 Oliver Cromwell pulled the last British Rail steam-hauled service on August 11, 1968 - the 15 Guinea

  • Plans to give increased protection to landmarks

    THE region's most important historical landmarks are to receive greater protection under plans announced by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews. The Government is to protect all 17 of England's World Heritage Sites, three of which are in the North-East

  • Wilks' hopes go up in flames

    GUY Wilks escaped unhurt after his Mitsubishi Evo IX was destroyed by fire on the fourth stage of the Jim Clark International Rally at the weekend. Wilks, from Darlington, had made the perfect start and was looking to extend his early lead when the rear

  • I won't be beaten by tumours, says Liam

    A TEENAGE art student living with deadly brain tumours has drawn on his past experience to raise money for charity. Liam Lincoln, who discovered he had the terminal condition three years ago, has raised more than £1,000 for the breast cancer charity

  • In the running to aid Blair initiative

    A SPORTS foundation set up by former prime minister Tony Blair has stepped up its hunt for people to take part in the Great North Run. Mr Blair will personally sponsor 100 people when they take part in the famous half-marathon - to the tune of

  • Hundreds expected to join farmers for annual open day

    HUNDREDS of people are expected to head for the countryside on Sunday when farmers hold their fourth annual Open Farm Sunday. The day is designed to let people see how farmers feed the nation and care for the landscapes the area is renowned for

  • Rescuer beaten back by smoke during fatal fire at care home

    A 71-YEAR-OLD woman has died after suffering severe burns in a fire at her care home. A newsagent pulled two other residents to safety after the blaze broke out at Priory Court care home, in Wardley, Gateshead. But smoke prevented Tim Thompson

  • Non-driver spared jail after low-speed police chase

    A TEENAGER who cannot drive hijacked a car and led police on a lowspeed chase because he could not get out of first gear, a court was told. Youth worker Andrew Parkinson, 18, and an unnamed accomplice took the Citroen Saxo from Christopher Smith

  • You've bin shamed

    PUBLIC money is being thrown away because political rows at a council have stalled a rubbish collection service, it emerged last night. Thousands of wheelie bins have been held in storage since last year - at a cost to taxpayers of £1,000 a week

  • Thief lied to court over death of father

    THE family of a man who tried to avoid being sentenced for theft and fraud by telling the court his father had died have assured friends he is alive and well. Peter McDade, 25, of Osbourne Gardens, Crook, County Durham, was due at Newton Aycliffe

  • Belgian memorial honours Second World War hero’s role

    THE heroism of a North-East man will forever be remembered in Belgium after a memorial was unveiled. For 68 years, the bloody history of the bridge across the River Dyle was hidden, with nothing to mark the spot where in May 1940, 35 Allied soldiers

  • Echo website wins inaugural award

    THE Northern Echo's rapid development as "more than just a newspaper" has been recognised with the inaugural North-East News Website of the Year award. For the first time in 27 years, the North-East Press Awards included a website category to

  • Soldiers get on their bikes for charity

    A GROUP of soldiers are getting on their bikes for a gruelling 460-mile journey, all in the name of charity. Sergeant Philip Ingram, who is based at Catterick Garrison, will accompany his six colleagues from First Scots Company on the ride from Catterick

  • Former MP is to be made life peer

    A FORMER North-East MP is to be made a member of the House of Lords. Michael Bates, who served as Conservative MP for the now-abolished seat of Langbaurgh from 1992 until 1997, is to be made a life peer. Mr Bates lives and works in Aykley Heads, Durham