A HOST of bookmakers were pulling their market on the identity of the next Sunderland manager late last night after receiving a flood of bets on Croatia boss Slaven Bilic. Bilic has come in for sustained support since around 5pm onwards, with
PLANS to pay hill farmers to protect the natural resources, wildlife and character of their land have been welcomed by agricultural chiefs in the region. The environment department (Defra) today announced a £31m scheme to replace the hill farm
Newspaper offices can be surreal places... We have a story in tomorrow's paper about a blind lurcher called Stevie Wonder. Stevie was abandoned and staff at Deerness Kennels, in Langley Moor, Durham, are appealing for an animal-lover
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a running-battle involving rival gangs. Cleveland Police have released CCTV images taken of the fighting near Middlesbrough town centre. One appears to show a running fight. In the other, one youth appears
A DRIVER involved in a road accident which fatally injured a schoolboy has been adjourned until after an inquest is held into the 12-year-old’s death. Joe Caven-Norris of Margrove Park, near Guisborough, died in hospital two days after a collision with
A POSTER campaign has been launched urging drivers in Hartlepool to take care of their Sat Nav’s this Christmas. The Safer Hartlepool Partnership initiative is targeting existing owners and those who might receive systems as Christmas gifts. The posters
THOUSANDS of special plastic glasses are to be handed out to pubs and clubs across Hartlepool as part of an on-going safety partnership. The Safer Hartlepool Partnership hopes the polycarbonate glasses will reduce the number of accidental injuries, remove
A MAN trying to set up his own cannabis farm in yoghurt pots forgot to put the bulb in the heat lamp he bought to help them grow, a court heard. Police who raided John Allison’s home in Hartlepool found 10 drooping plants in tiny pots which were dying
SPOT checks on door staff across night-spots in Hartlepool proved they all held a valid licence. Cleveland Police and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) checked 44 door supervisors working at seventeen different public houses and the operation was
A CRACKDOWN on benefit cheats in Middlesbrough has uncovered almost £1m in fraudulent claims. The town council’s benefit fraud team has had its most successful year ever for detecting overpayments. Nearly £400,000 was uncovered in the course of 354
COUNCILLORS have demanded compensation for parents who they say spent hundreds of pounds on bus passes for their children, only to be told that a vital service had been suspended. The X34 Arriva service, which transported dozens of students
BOOK SIGNINGS: Ray Simpson and Andrew Wilkinson will be signing copies of their book Farewell to Feethams at the Darlington FC Club shop on Priestgate, Darlington, tomorrow (SAT) from 11am to 12noon. This will be followed by Jeff Winter signing copies
Folie A Deux is Fall Out Boy’s fourth full-length album, and although the group has grown exceptionally in their seven year existence there is a consistency musically to the group. Since album 1, to album 4 the music has stayed the same with barely
HEALTH chiefs have announced that a new dental practice serving 3,000 patients is to open in north Durham. The surgery, at Brandon, near Durham, will be ready by spring and also operate as a vocational training centre for newly qualified dentists. The
SUZANNE Holdsworth said she had always loved Kyle Fisher, the child she had twice been accused of murdering. Speaking outside court, Lee Spencer, Ms Holdsworth's partner, read a statement out on her behalf. "This case has always been
VISITORS to A North Yorkshire farm shop this Christmas will be treated to a unique festive display. Straw sculptures depicting the three wise men and their camels have been constructed by staff at Mainsgill Farm Shop on the A66 near Richmond, North Yorkshire
STAFF at the Yorkshire Building Society in Richmond have raised more than £700 for a charity that provides disabled youngsters with life-changing electrical wheelchairs. Dressed as characters from Peter Pan, the staff took part in an all-day relay
PLANS to pay hill farmers to protect the natural resources, wildlife and character of their land have been welcomed by agricultural chiefs in the region. The environment department (Defra) today announced a £31m scheme to replace the hill farm allowance
. FISHING fans from the region will be given the chance to land cash prizes at an angling contest next month. The District of Easington Open Sea Angling competition is to be staged on Sunday January 25 between 11am and 4pm. Anglers can take their
FREE arts and theatre are on offer to young people in Darlington. The Civic Theatre and Arts Centre have been successful in an application to the national Free Theatre Initiative, and have secured a £10,000 grant. The Free Theatre initiative is a two-year
GOLFERS in Bishop Auckland teed off a fundraising campaign in support of a charity helping injured servicemen and women. Bishop Auckland Golf Club captain Melvyn Metcalf pledged to raise funds for the Help For Heroes organisation during his year in the
THE mother of a tragic teenager who became the youngest person in Britain to die in custody has launched a legal challenge to force a fresh inquest into his death. Adam Rickwood was just 14 when he hanged himself in the privately-run Hassockfield Secure
RECYCLING PLANT: An industrial warehouse will be demolished to make way for a recycling facility at Albert Hill industrial estate, Darlington. The former Darlington Wire Mills will make way for a smaller unit. The facility will process up to 10,000
FANS at Darlington Football Club could be offered up to a third off the price of their season tickets as part of a raft of measures being considered for next season. However, the major discounts would only be applicable if the club sells a certain amount
POLICE say they will not be reinvestigating the case of Kyle Fisher following the acquittal of Suzanne Holdsworth. Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, of Cleveland Police, said: "The re-trial of Suzanne Holdsworth was properly
A GROUP of singers have donated £300 to charity as they ready themselves for their next performance. Darlington's The Richardson Singers donated the cash to the Great North Air Ambulance Service after raising the money at a concert in the Dolphin Centre
SPEAKING outside court following Miss Holdworth's acquittal The Crown Prosecution Service denied they had been wrong to bring the case. Keith Simpson, of the Crown Prosecution Service in Cleveland, said: "The role of the Crown Prosecution Service
NEWCASTLE could be looking for a new Academy director soon after Richard Money was linked with the vacant managerial position at League One strugglers Swindon Town. Sources in Wiltshire claim Money is on the verge of walking out on the Magpies to sign
BABYSITTER Suzanne Holdsworth was today cleared of murdering toddler Kyle Fisher, marking the end of a long campaign to clear her name. A jury at Teesside Crown Court acquitted Ms Holdsworth, 38, of Boggart Hill Drive, Seacroft, Leeds, of murder
A HEADTEACHER got in touch with his feminine side to take part in spot of festive entertainment for pupils. Hurworth School Maths and Computing College headteacher Dean Judson donned a dress and wig to play one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella, performed
FORMER Sunderland manager Roy Keane was today handed an official warning following an incident during a game against Chelsea on November 1. Keane was charged for his conduct towards referee Martin Atkinson in the tunnel during the half-time interval
CAR giant Nissan sent its workers home five days early for their Christmas break today. It was originally scheduled to be the last production day of the year, with staff due to undergo training and carry out housekeeping duties until the scheduled closedown
Sportswear entrepreneur Mike Ashley has admitted that he may be forced to hang on to Newcastle United beyond the end of the season - and may even stay on permanently. The club's owner said he had been unable to find a buyer for the Toon despite drastically
IT was all aboard the Christmas special for a morning of festive fun for a group of care home residents this week. Old folks from the Leeming Bar Grange care home, in Leeming, enjoyed a seasonal trip on the Santa Express, operated by Wensleydale Railway
DURHAM will start the defence of their County Championship title with a home match against Yorkshire starting on Wednesday, April 22. The Dynamos will be looking to repeat the success of the last two seasons in the Friends Provident Trophy having won
FORGET the Met Office - stoats at a 600-year-old monastery in the region are a safe bet for an accurate weather forecast. Experts say a colony of stoats, which has set up home at Mount Grace Priory, near Osmotherley, in North Yorkshire, can predict
. THE run up to Christmas has proved a busy time for budding young actors at one of the region’s primary schools. First the Infants section at Bournmoor Primary School at Houghton-le-Spring presented their version of the first Christmas story.
GUY Wilks has suffered a double blow to his rallying aspirations. Not only could the Darlington driver have celebrated his British Rally Championship victory prematurely, but his bid for a World Rally Championship seat with Subaru lies in tatters
. GARDENING enthusiasts are being asked to help cultivate some community spirit in an east Durham Village. The Horden in Bloom group, dedicated to making the area a brighter and tidier place, is appealing for residents to join its management committee
MORE than 80 members of a trampolining club showed off their bouncing skills at their annual Christmas show. The show, which had an Olympic theme, saw members of the Hambleton Gliders Trampoline club and children from casual sessions at Hambleton Leisure
. GIFTS ranging from a refrigerator to a teddy bear arrived at a Durham Women’s Refuge this week. The bumper delivery of presents was all thanks to the staff at the Belmont Grange Care Home in Durham. For weeks staff members have been collecting
There's a lot of bad news around at the moment but the story in today's Northern Echo about 84-year-old Charlie Harrison is wonderful. Charlie has been playing tenor horn for the Cockerton Prize Silver Band in Darlington for 79 years. How incredible
A campaign to help reduce the amount of food wasted over Christmas has won the backing of district councillors. Hambleton District Council is promoting the web-based "Love Food, Hate Waste" Christmas dinner portion calculator. Each year in Britain a
Julia Sawalha talks to Polly Weeks about finding romance for her lovelorn character, Dorcas Lane, in Lark Rise To Candleford, and why she feels like she’s celebrated a good Christmas already. WHEN it comes to Sunday night telly, the schedule is usually
Polly Weeks talks to Geordie Robson Green and Teessider Mark Benton about bringing back festive rivals Colin and Howie. FORGET peace on Earth and goodwill to all man – it seems that people want to see a bit of oldfashioned oneupmanship and
The return of Frank Capra’s feel-good hit with James Stewart as George Bailey, who gets a visit from his guardian angel when things look black. The December 23 screening at Newcastle Tyneside Cinema will be followed by a late evening live musical
Another festive classic is back on the big screen with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye teaming up for the Irving Berlin classic. They recruit the likes of Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen to help save an ailing ski resort.
Animated modern fairytale in which brave mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) is banished to the dungeon for speaking with a human. He’s only one of several unlikely heroes in this story. Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman) is a good-hearted rat who
A JURY today began its second day of deliberations on a babysitter accused of murdering a toddler. Suzanne Holdsworth, 38, is on trial for the second time charged with killing two-year-old Kyle Fisher in her home in Hartlepool in July 2004. Yesterday
A BURGLAR fled empty handed after he was punched in the face by a brave pensioner. Paul Phythian had crept into James MacWilliams' Pelaw home and was about to snatch a bottle of wine from a kitchen bench. Mr MacWilliams' was shocked to see an arm reach
★★★ 119 mins ALTHOUGH director Alex Gibney “shaped” the screen story, every narrated word in this film biography comes from the typewriter of its subject, one of America’s most influential writers and rebels, Hunter S Thompson. His classic, Fear
★★★★ Stars: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Cam Gigandet, Kellan Lutz, Elisabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed 122 mins TEEN love is never easy at the best of times. Things get even tougher when one of you is mortal and the other is a vampire, even if
Kate Whiting talks to Imelda Staunton about meeting the Queen and working with Burt Reynolds on the Isle Of Man. IT’S not often a British actress can say her latest film has been given the royal seal of approval, but then Imelda Staunton is
Ken Morley talks to Viv Hardwick about the undying interest in his Corrie character Reg Holdsworth, and his love of pantomime. DOUBLE glazing advertising personality extraordinary he may be, but North- East pantomime dame playing Ken Morley can
WHAT’S ON: Tonight Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Band’s Christmas Special, Sage, Gateshead, 0191-443-4661 and Extreme Measures, Georgian Theatre, Stockton, 01642-674115. REVIEWS: radio.string.quartet.vienna & Klaus Paier/Radiotree (ACT 9473-2) This is
IF your taste is bluegrass music and you missed out the first time round when Steve Earle joined up with the legendary Del McCoury band, then you’ll be interested to know that a 1999 album is now available again. The ground-breaking album sees Earle
Kopatchinskaja/Say: Beethoven etc (Naive V5146) Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and pianist Fazil Say give a dazzling account of Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No 9 “kreutze”. The couple’s take on Ravel’s Violin sonata in G major is edgy and accomplished
Polly Weeks talks to Des O’Connor about his many years on top TV, as album number 36 challenges for the charts. AT 76, you’d think that veteran entertainer Des O’Connor would be happy to take things easy. The Queen spoke for many TV viewers
THREE top bands have announced extra dates at the MetroRadio Arena Gateshead due to the North-east demand for tickets. The UK’s premiere girl group, Girls Aloud, has now sold out two shows Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6, and has now announced
THE folk club Christmas party is a long-standing tradition around the UK, and those clubs who have not already done so will be celebrating in fine style in the next seven days. There are still a few regular concert events going on, however, such
County Durham TV star and writer Mark Gatiss explains to Andy Welch why he decided to write three ghost stories for Christmas. WHAT is it that makes Christmas and ghost stories go so well together? December 25 may be associated with
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL 1 (-) The Dark Knight 2 (1) Indiana Jones/Crystal Skull 3 (-) Hellboy 2: The Golden Army 4 (2) Hancock 5 (4) Iron Man 6 (3) The Mummy/Dragon Emperor 7 (7) Kung Fu Panda 8 (6) Mamma Mia! 9 (-) Star Wars – The Clone Wars 10
WHAT is it about Weatherfield that puts residents in a murderous state of mind? Do the cobbles exert some strange influence over the brain, or perhaps Liz McDonald is putting something in the beer in the Rovers. The latest person to find the
PANTONI is a company with a wealth of pantomime experience, but sadly they don’t seem to be hitting the mark these days. Last year’s Sleeping Beauty at the Gala was a depressing experience and this production of Snow White is along the same lines
Apparitions (BBC1, 9pm); Fat Teens In Love (ITV1, 9pm) IT’S no wonder that Martin Shaw’s Father Jacob can’t find anyone to exorcise him. “The last priest who helped me with exorcism was skinned alive,” he reminds a potential helper. That scene
THE boys looked shocked when I told them. It was as if I’d just announced a death in the family. “It’s closing? Woolworths is closing?” said the nine-year-old incredulously. “No, no, no,” wailed the six-year-old. Even the 13-year-old was stunned
The column looks at a new historical book on local pubs at a time when they were still the heart of the community. IN a century when a man could be sentenced to death for stealing clothing from a farmhouse, or given six weeks’ hard labour for
IT was heartening to read your article about Lyndon Longhorn, from Crook, County Durham, celebrating his 13th birthday (Echo, Nov 28) after doctors amputated his legs, much of his right arm, and the fingers of his left hand to save him from meningitis
YOU are better received with a smile – if it is natural and genuine. I am lucky; a born optimist who appreciates people, so smiling comes easily to me and I nearly always get one back. The face and eyes say a lot about how people feel and whether
MIGHT I conclude from some recent HAS contributions that present employment opportunities will be limited to psychiatry? That a great number of people continue to defend New Labour and Superman Brown is surely a result of dumbing down education
THERE seems to be some conflict between Gordon Brown claiming he has “saved the world” (Echo, Dec 11) and Bill Morehead putting it down to EU cooperation (HAS, Dec 3). It would seem logical in the current dire circumstances worldwide for countries
I ENJOYED Colin Mortimer’s seasonal touch (HAS, Dec 15) about the “saving the world” Freudian slip of the tongue by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the House of Commons (Echo, Dec 11), which highlighted the worry many people have about a man who
I MUST congratulate managing director David Coates, editor Peter Barron, deputy editor Chris Lloyd and the rest of your team for putting together a fantastic edition of The Northern Echo on Saturday, December 13. It is full of pictures, colour
IT was meant to be the big policy idea of the 21st Century, but now ridicule awaits any politician who suggests it. Not so long ago, the notion that the Government should concentrate on making us happier – rather than wealthier – was gaining ground
Darren Grey was born with the lower half of his left arm missing. Despite that, he is one of the world’s best onearmed golfers and excels in a number of other sports. In the latest of our Local Heroes series, Owen Amos meets him. THE Northern
THE announcement that British troops will come home from Iraq by the end of July next year is refreshingly good news in the week before Christmas. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the conflict, there is no doubt that our troops have done an outstanding
KEVIN Pietersen will drag his weary body into the final Test convinced that England need only a marginal improvement against India to bounce back from their defeat in Chennai and level the series. The England captain, already suffering from a
ENGLAND were last night attempting to clarify the situation regarding their long-term deal with Sir Allen Stanford following reports he has withdrawn his support for cricket in the West Indies. The Texan billionaire has contributed millions of
NACARAT created a huge impression on his British debut last season and though his form has been a little in and out since, he can win the Exeter Graduation Chase at Exeter (1.50). Tom George’s French import looked a natural when making a mockery
THE credit crunch hasn’t brought much in the way of good news, but it could yet have a positive effect on British football this season. The current Premier League campaign is the most unpredictable in years, and with at least three of the ‘big
Matic and Juraj Hovancik have delivered positive reports on their time at Middlesbrough this month. The duo were both on trial with the Teessiders, and while Boro boss Gareth Southgate claims a final decision will not be taken on their future
NEWCASTLE Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates has delayed naming his starting line-up for Saturday’s Guinness Premiership game at Leicester after a flu bug swept through Kingston Park. Bates, who has been struck by the bug himself, was due
BLYTH SPARTANS could have pocketed more than £400,000 by the time Blackburn Rovers depart the Northumberland coastal town in early January, but the non-league outfit’s former Premier League star is not convinced this season’s FA Cup run will
MICHAEL Owen has not ruled out extending his stay at St James’ Park – but the Newcastle striker will not be signing a new contract until the end of the January transfer window at the earliest. Owen was formally offered a new deal on Monday, with
GARETH Southgate has warned that English football is on the brink of an “Italianstyle collapse” unless Premier League clubs follow Middlesbrough’s lead and put their financial house in order. With the effects of the global financial slowdown beginning
SPARTAK Moscow coach Michael Laudrup is plotting another upset at White Hart Lane after witnessing Martin Jol’s demise during his last visit. Denmark legend Laudrup was with Getafe last season and beat Spurs on a bizarre night when Jol’s dismissal
SUBSTITUTE Rob Purdie would have taken a penalty in Tuesday’s shoot-out defeat to Rotherham had Darlington not ran out of time before being able to make the change, manager Dave Penney has revealed. Purdie was on the bench for the Johnstone’s
SAM Allardyce has been chosen as the man to lead Blackburn away from relegation danger after the club moved swiftly to sign him up in case Sunderland made a move. Allardyce, right, was thought to be high on the Wearsiders’ list of candidates
Hamburg 3 Aston Villa 1 ASTON Villa surrendered their unbeaten away record in Europe this season as a severely weakened side were no match for Hamburg strikers Ivica Olic and Mladen Petric in a UEFA Cup clash at the Nordbank Arena. With qualification
MARTON Fulop last night backed Ricky Sbragia to become Sunderland’s next permanent manager, and claimed the entire Black Cats squad are hoping the current caretaker is allowed to remain in his post. The managerial field will reduce by one today
FORMER Newcastle defender Steve Howey has emerged as a surprise contender for the vacant managerial position at Hartlepool after submitting an application this week. Howey is keen to succeed the recently-departed Danny Wilson at Victoria Park,
REPRESENTATIVES from a football club have thanked primary school pupils for their fundraising efforts. Darlington FC’s Football in the Community scheme, and the Quakers’ mascot Darlo Dog, visited Le Cateau Primary School, in Catterick Garrison,
A YOUNG surfer has successfully mastered the waves to finish runner-up in an international competition. Evan Rogers, from Saltburn, east Cleveland, left the icy North Sea behind to take part in the European Junior Surfing Championship off the coast
EQUIPMENT used to monitor the performance of Formula One cars is being piloted in the North-East to improve care for heart patients. NHS nurses in Darlington are using telemetry to look after patients with serious heart conditions, including coronary
CONTROVERSIAL plans to tackle a historic city’s traffic congestion with a toll road and relief road through attractive countryside have been shelved. Durham City made history in 2002 when Britain’s first toll road in modern times was opened on
TWO councils in the region are among only three in the country to be given top marks by inspectors for their support of children. Gateshead and York councils were rated outstanding in the annual Ofsted performance assessments for children’s services
TEACHERS turned up for work with comedy beards for a day of fundraising at a school yesterday. Male staff at Hummersknott School and Language College, in Darlington, had been sponsored to grow the beards over the past three weeks. They were
A WOMAN broke down and cried after her “greedy” business partner was jailed for stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from their company – leaving her in financial ruin. David Patrick Hedges was told by Judge Peter Bowers at Teesside Crown
A SHOP dummy that looks the worse for wear is the latest tool in the campaign to dissuade young people from festive heavy drinking. The mannequin of a drunk young woman has been installed in the window of Clayport Library, Millennium Place,
A FAMILY’S dream has been destroyed by burglars who ransacked storage units containing all of their possessions. Gary and Marion Laverick were keeping everything they owned in three metal boxes while renovating a cottage. But it was
THE North-East branch of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations has donated toys to Children North-East’s Giving Tree Appeal, which supports children in need. Twelve teams entered a fundraising quiz, which was won by Northumbria Police.
A WASTE management company is recycling bicycles for communities in Africa. Durham-based Premier Waste is reconditioning bikes taken to two of its recycling centres across the region. Even badly-damaged cycles taken to the Annfield Plain recycling
THE region’s best property projects of 2008 will be commended through the North-East Renaissance Awards. Despite a challenging 12 months for the construction and property sector, the awards will showcase the achievements of people and companies
EMPTY property rates (EPR) will cost the North-East tens of millions of pounds next year and were condemned as the “last straw” for businesses in the present economic climate by a regional property expert. In this region, the tax – which became
PUB equipment group Brulines is to raise £4.7m through a share placing to fund future acquisitions. The Stockton company, which completed its fourth acquisition in two years last week, is now looking to expand further by taking advantage of opportunities
A RURAL enterprise has received funding to become involved in the biofuel supply chain. RMD Agriculture, in Sedgefield, is one of five businesses in the North-East to receive a grant from the Rural Development Programme for England for a range
NEWCASTLE United owner Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct International sportswear empire offered some rare retail cheer yesterday after betterthan- expected results. The group, which owns the Sports World chain, exceeded City hopes and bettered its
PLANS to give every town and city its own directly-elected police chief are in crisis after a powerful committee of MPs warned the posts could be “hijacked” by the BNP and other extremists. The Labour-dominated Home Affairs Committee urged
GORDON BROWN yesterday hailed the British military’s involvement in Iraq a “success story”. Speaking to troops during a surprise visit to the country, the Prime Minister revealed for the first time the official schedule for withdrawing the final
POLICE are warning the public of a scam offering people paid work at home. Two men living in the Bishop Auckland area called police after they responded to an advert in The Northern Echo on December 10, in which a company called Alpha Gallery
A MAN had to be rescued when he became trapped on a precarious ledge after he fell down a cliff. The 23-year-old’s cries for help were heard by a passerby at about 11.45am yesterday. However, because of the position of the injured man, it took
WHEN Charlie Harrison started playing for Cockerton Prize Silver Band, George V was king, and the Second World War was still 12 years in the future. Mr Harrison, 84, is now about to approach his 80th year as a member of the band, which last
ENTREPRENEUR and Dragons’ Den judge Duncan Bannatyne was at his fire-breathing best as he took to the stage in a cameo panto appearance last night. Mr Bannatyne took on the one-off appearance in Jack and the Beanstalk at Darlington Civic Theatre
WORKERS at a dozen of the region’s Woolworths stores will be among the first of thousands of people at the high street chain to lose their jobs, it was revealed last night. Twelve stores – from 206 nationally – will close by Saturday, December
UP to 3,000 more North-East workers and their families face a Christmas without cheer after another round of potential redundancies struck the region yesterday. Durham-based garage door company PC Henderson announced 150 possible redundancies,
FIRE crews attended a small fire in a property in Upper Town, Wolsingham, this evening. A spokeswoman for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Stanhope and Crook were sent to the scene. The fire was reported
