NORTH-East born Premiership manager Phil Brown told today how he saved the life of an apparently suicidal woman who was threatening to jump off the Humber Bridge. It was by chance that Hull boss Brown, who was born in South Shields, decided to take his
Just returned from a meeting at Cockfield club and although we’re not out of the woods yet, the future is looking a lot brighter! The club have applied for a further three months stay of closure to finalise and agree the debt figure to the Inland
Tees Valley Leisure, operators of Eston Sports Academy have announced an upgrading of the lights at Middlesbrough Lions home arena. The lights have been in need of upgrade for some time now and the new specification in LUX output will bring in line
Elizabeth “Lizzy” McChesney, better known by the stage name Lissy Trullie, is a New York singer that oozes style, no surprise that she used to be a model. Lissy has only been on the stage five minutes and she’s already proved a match for headliners The
Opening their set with the tremulous Peaceful The World Lays Me Down, it's plain to see that it's front man Charlie Fink who carries this band, his distinctive voice bearing some simple, others complex songs of love and heartbreak all accompanied with
THE jury in the trial of a policeman involved in a crash which led to the death of another driver has been sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict. PC Thomas Hart is accused of causing the death by careless driving of Aimee Welsh, 25
A LANDMARK legal victory may have opened the floodgates for millions of people to take credit card companies to court. Lynne Thorius is the first person to see her credit card debt of £8,000 wiped out in court because she was unfairly sold payment protection
GRAHAM Onions was overlooked for the emerging player of the year award at the International Cricket Council annual dinner. Durham fast bowler Onions made the four-man shortlist but was pipped by Australia's Peter Siddle who took 49 Test wickets
CHILDREN are being asked to bring their water pistol to an unusual drawing event at a nature reserve. Youngsters are being invited to try out pond dipping at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, near Durham City, followed by using their water pistols to draw
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two windows were smashed at church in Ferryhill yesterday evening. Bricks were thrown through the windows at All Saints Church, on Dean Road, sometime between 4pm and 9.30pm. It is thought the
A SCHEME which has given away almost 150,000 books to encourage young children to read is planning a series of events next week. Libraries across County Durham are taking part in the annual Bookstart project, with more than 30 events aimed at children
MEMBERS of Wolsingham Methodist Chapel are being invited to worship at Frosterley Methodist Church whilst their chapel undergoes a refurbishment. People should meet outside Wolsingham Chapel at 10.30am on Sundays. Transport will be provided.
FERRYHILL Stage Society are performing Oliver at Mainsforth Community Hall, in Ferryhill Station, next week. Performances run daily from October 6 to 10, and start at 7.15pm. Tickets cost £7 for adults, and £5 for children. To book, call Joan
POLICE forces have wasted over £30,000 of local taxpayers money on repairs to cars after officers filled them with the wrong fuel. Critics have attacked the serious problem which has seen money squandered regionally on the issue in recent years. Mark
FOOTBALL hero Alan Shearer has added another accolade to his name - being an official representative of the Queen. The former England captain, Premier League winner and all-time top scorer, ex-Newcastle United boss and OBE has been appointed Deputy Lieutenant
Headline for the story about Swedish commandos blowing up the wrong house...BOMB STEER!
I have now seen a leaked copy of the confidential legal report into a blunder which has led to a bill of more than £800,000 for taxpayers. The report is due to be discussed in private by members of Darlington Borough Council's cabinet next Tuesday.
A new service for patients requiring urgent health care is being launched in County Durham and Darlington. From Thursday, October 1, patients can ring a special number – 0300 1110111 – and they will be passed to the service they need. It is
I have a real feeling that this could be my week in the Headline Game on TFM. IN three years, I've never even drawn but I'm 3-2 down with one day to go and I'm excited. It was a point each this morning on the story about the first clown in space. Our
A LORRY driver escaped unhurt when a trailer being towed by his vehicle overturned this morning. The accident occurred on the Tindale Crossing roundabout, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, just before 10am. It is thought the lorry,
MOTORISTS are still speeding on a road outside a school campus almost a decade after traffic calming measures were introduced. Residents in Whinfield have asked police and councillors to tackle issues of speeding in Salters Lane South and Barmpton Lane
A PRIMARY school is celebrating after winning all of the top prizes in a painting competition to support the Northallerton Blooming Together event. Pupils from Sacred Heart RC School in Northallerton created their artwork at the end of the
IT’S still nearly three months away - but already thoughts are turning to getting into the festive mood. Tickets are about to go on sale for one of York’s most evocative Christmas traditions– Carols in Kirkgate. Now in its 48th year, the singing of
The East Coast rail franchise will remain in public hands for ''at least'' two years, the Government indicated today. Junior transport minister Chris Mole said this would provide stability for passengers and staff. ''It also provides us with a breathing
A POSTER campaign featuring local people has been launched by a district council to encourage adults to take more exercise. The ‘How do you get your 3 x 30minutes?’ campaign aims to bring moderate exercise into the everyday lives of adults across Hambleton
A SEARCH has been launched for a new face to join the district council in Richmondshire. The standards committee needs an independent member to join the group of 12 members. The committee meets four times a year and has a duty to assess complaints against
A CAMPAIGN to raise £16,000 to help clean and repair organ pipes used at the wedding of James Herriot is to hold fundraising recitals. Staff at St Mary’s Church, in Thirsk, have been raising money to carry out large scale repairs to the church organ.
ONE of the leading organisers of the London Olympic Games has visited North Yorkshire to find out how the region is preparing for 2012 . Charles Allen, the chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, Nations and Regions
CHURCH leaders from North Yorkshire have launched a move which could see couples getting more choice about which church they are married in. They are launching a challenge to an apparent anomaly in changes which were introduced by the Church of England
A CALL has gone out for amateur actors to help fill two important roles in a market town’s festive play. The Bedale Festival Players, under the direction of Richard Boyton, have been unable to cast two key roles for their forthcoming production of
THE seven Disney Princesses on ice, who played to a sellout audience at the Metro Radio Arena four years ago, are returning with a brand new show called Princess Wishes. Tinker Bell is the guide to further inspiring stories of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella
Almost drowning in debt, Rain Man star Neil Morrissey tells Viv Hardwick that he’s determined to pay off his creditors. "I’LL be in debt until I’m over 50,” says Neil Morrissey in jokey fashion about his recent business disaster which saw him
ABUSE to workers over poor pay for long hours is to be tackled by a local MP who is to raise the issue in the Houses of Parliament. Phil Willis MP claims that parliamentary interns are treated badly and that they work an estimated 18,000 hours of unpaid
A TALENTED brother and sister team are looking forward to representing their country at karate. Teenagers Aaron and Abigail Tarleton Hodgson live in Kirkby Fleetham and attend Bedale High School. Both became involved in Wado Kai/Ryu style of karate
Stars: Debbie Allen, Charles S Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth,Asher Book, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabakr, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez, Anna Maria Perez De Tagle
After The Office and Extras, Ricky Gervais turned his pen and performing to Hollywood film scripts. Steve Pratt reports. AS his latest US movie opens, The Office and Extras star Ricky Gervais reckons he still’s amazed that he’s a Hollywood favourite
FORMER Northern Rock boss Adam Applegarth is making a career comeback after becoming an adviser to a US private equity firm, it was reported today. Mr Applegarth - who led the Newcastle-based lender to the brink of collapse and eventual nationalisation
THE North-East’s biggest music festival, Evolution, has been nominated in this year’s prestigious UK Festival Awards in three categories: Best Medium Size Festival, Best Headline Performance (for Dizzee Rascal and The Wombats) and Best Toilets
WHAT’S ON: A busy weekend with Scott Hamilton & Alan Barnes at Darlington Arts Centre tomorrow evening and the Happy Chappies there on Saturday lunchtime, 01325-486555, and Stacey Kent at The Gala, Durham on Sunday, 0191-332-4041. CD REVIEWS: Chris
WHAT’S ON: Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Thomas Zehetmair, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm on Friday October 9. Haydn, Mahler and Brahms. Box office: 0191-443 4661. REVIEWS: Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time (Deux-Elles DXL1133) The Fibonacci
Norway and the Czech Republic are the new artists drawn to the third NewcastleGateshead Art Fair. Viv Hardwick talks to Mike Pederson and Chris Yeats about the weekend showcase. ONCE it was the Vikings who rather forcibly brought their art to
A cancer support group that aims to improve services for people with cancer and their families is looking to widen its membership. The County Durham and Darlington Cancer Patients and Carers Support Group was established in 2004 and aims to influence
THERE’S quite a week ahead for local folk fans, myself included, with a brace of solo gigs for me, at Croxdale Community Centre on Friday, and Washington’s Davy Lamp on Saturday. American songster Jeff Warner is at Blaydon’s Black Bull
Red Cliff (15, 139 mins, Entertainment In Video, DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £29.99) Stars: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung, Zhang Fengyi, Chiling Lin. RED Cliff is the most expensive Chinese language film in history, set during the rule of the Han Dynasty
ALTHOUGH I’ve always been associated with country music my musical tastes are eclectic. With that in mind it is good to know that I’m in good company when it comes to the tastes of Lyle Lovett. His first self-titled album gave the country fan a
Adrian Edmondson explains to Viv Hardwick why he’s decided to switch from comedy to music and how he managed to get musicians to take him seriously. THE Bottom line is that there will be no more Bottom, says Adrian Edmondson as he prepares
Susan Griffin talks to Romola Garai about constantly being cast in a corset and why she wants to defend the reputation of Austen’s Emma. IT’S no wonder Romola Garai considers herself a “corset geek”. She’s something of an expert, having appeared
CHARITY begins at home in Emmerdale (ITV1). Unfortunately no one wants her there. Her reappearance rather spoiled the prospect of a happy family reunion as daughter Debbie and ex-lover Cain discovered Charity at the altar about to marry Debbie
‘IT’S such a relief once your children are older. Some day, you’ll be able to sit back and relax and just let them get on with it,” I sympathised with my friend, Jane, as she jumped up and down from the table, chasing after her three-year-old twins
TONY Blair is selling his former constituency home for £300,000. Myrobella House, Trimdon Grange, County Durham, once provided the backdrop for a photo session during the visist of US President George W Bush. The £300,000 price tag represents
FEW opening bars catch the attention quite as much as the rousing brass fanfare of Janacek’s Sinfionetta. The Philharmonia held an audience at The Sage captivated from the outset as 12 trumpets gloriously overwhelmed the acoustically fine-tuned
THREE health professionals have been appointed to the board of a North Yorkshire primary care trust. The Appointments Commission has selected three new members to the clinical executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York. Five existing members have also
A SUPPORT group set up five years ago to improve services for people living with cancer set to expand. The County Durham and Darlington Cancer Patients and Carers Support Group, which was established in 2004, now hopes to widen its membership and is
At last, but still unprintable, what Princess Anne really thought of Resurgence. IT has divided public opinion for 40 years. For four decades, too, it was believed that Princess Anne had maintained a diplomatic royal silence after unveiling
A LIGHT, frothy comedy with dialogue that crackles with wit – doesn’t sound much like the average Agatha Christie play, does it? Prepare yourself for a complete departure for the mistress of the whodunit. This play owes more to Whitehall farce
IT’S not that Florence Welsh has a machine, rather she is the machine. It’s the recording name of Florence and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music. Musically, the band’s sound is generally referred to as soulinspired indie
THE three main political parties are finally in agreement about something. They all now say that public spending has to be reduced. But what will be cut, how big will the cuts be and when will the cuts be made? Business leaders say that Britain
Autumnwatch 2009 (BBC2, 9pm); Benidorm (ITV1, 9pm); Friday Night With Streisand and Ross (BBC1, 9pm). MEDDLE with a successful format at your peril. The makers of Autumnwatch have made major changes for the 2009 season and risk upsetting regular
WITH reference to Greg Jones and Christopher Wardell (HAS, Sept 29), I agree it is a very sad state of affairs at Durham Tees Valley Airport. However, we must remember aviation is suffering a global downturn, and the loss of air services is not
PETER Mullen’s eulogy on the Dark Ages (Echo, Sept 29) appears based on that period’s invention of various horse accessories such as stirrups and the realisation that the world was round – partly attributed by Mr Mullen to Thomas Aquinas, who
CAN I offer my hearty congratulations to your reporter Chris Lloyd for his excellent reporting on the recent Regional Grand Committee in Middlesbrough? (Echo, Sept 26) His description was exactly as it was – nothing more than a self-congratulating
POLICE have been called into the conference centre here in Brighton to investigate rumours of a mysterious death – that of the Labour Party. Detectives were first alerted to the possible demise of the once-thriving institution when Chancellor
AN URGENT call is being made for more foster carers to come forward following an increase in the number of children who need to be looked after. Over the last year, the number of youngsters in County Durham needing foster care has risen by 14 per cent
YET again The Northern Echo is complicit in the plans for Eastgate’s manipulation and abuse by business interests (Echo, Sept 29). There is nothing “ecological” about the Eastgate scheme. The city of Bath is not just a pumped warm water scheme
WITH the demolition of Darlington’s former bus station there is now a large area in the town centre ripe for development. Indeed, we are told that the new offices for the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) “were part of a much
ON my way to the Sunderland v Wolves game, I noticed from Wearmouth Bridge banners supporting the campaign to bring the historic City of Adelaide clipper back to its birthplace on the River Wear. What a great thing this development could be for
She died young but her simple spirituality struck a chord with people. As the relics of St Therese of Lisieux come to the North-East, Steve Pratt looks at the life of the Little Flower. FATHER Gerard Robinson recalls a story told to him that
EVER since it was devastated by a truly mysterious fire just over a year ago, the King’s Hotel has been an unsightly blemish on the face of Darlington town centre. Surrounded by ugly scaffolding, and waiting in vain for a verdict from baffled fire
CARL FROCH insists he wishes Joe Calzaghe well in his retirement as the Nottingham fighter prepares to get the new Super Six World Boxing Classic under way in his home town against American Andre Dirrell. Froch, the WBC super-middleweight champion
NEW Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has challenged his team to go one step further in the Champions Trophy upon sealing yet another semi-final spot. The New Zealanders made it through to a last-four meeting with Pakistan after a fourwicket win
FERNANDO ALONSO has admitted to joining Ferrari a year earlier than initially agreed. Alonso has signed a three-year deal from next season reputed to be worth £55m, still £20m shy of the pay Kimi Raikkonen is understood to have earned with the
KIEREN FALLON has certainly created quite a splash since his return from suspension, and he can maintain a so far fruitful partnership with Audacity Of Hope at Newmarket. Fallon appears to have been the making of Charlie McBride’s promising juvenile
GRAEME SWANN believes England can challenge the record books once more and eliminate Australia on the way to Champions Trophy glory. Few gave England a prayer in this eight-team tournament when they arrived in South Africa on the back of a 6-
CAPTAIN Ricky Ponting admitted he could hardly watch as Australia secured their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a nervy last-ball win against Pakistan at Centurion yesterday. Australia restricted Pakistan to 205 for six on a twopaced
ANDY REID believes the sense of purpose and direction Steve Bruce has imbued into the Sunderland players is the reason behind the Wearsiders most successful start to a Premier League season. Since he joined the club in January last year, Reid
CHRIS Turner believes the Pool">Hartlepool fans are now seeing the real Adam Boyd, after the striker took his tally to four for the season. Hartlepool United paid £80,000 to bring him back to Victoria Park from Leyton Orient in the summer
GARY O’NEIL last night sympathised with the Middlesbrough boo-boys, admitting he would have turned on the players himself had he been a fan. Sections of the Boro support directed their ire towards manager Gareth Southgate during and after the
CARETAKER manager Craig Liddle has explained his surprise decision to substitute Jamie Devitt during Darlington’s defeat to Rochdale on Tuesday night. With his pace and trickery on the wing, the on loan Hull City youngster has wasted no time
Manchester United 2 Wolfsburg 1 ON the night Michael Owen’s World Cup hopes may have come to a shattering end, the great survivor Ryan Giggs became the ninth player in Manchester United history to score 150 goals for the club. Last year’s PFA
Apoel Nicosia 0 Chelsea 1 CHELSEA stuttered to an unconvincing victory over Apoel Nicosia thanks to a first-half goal from Nicolas Anelka. The Blues, hammered 3-1 by Wigan in the Barclays Premier League last Saturday, produced another lacklustre
MICHAEL OWEN’S World Cup hopes suffered a setback after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the striker would be out for “two to three weeks” with a groin injury. It ends any lingering hope Owen had of being involved in England
CHRIS HUGHTON last night warned his Newcastle United players that their failure to overcome Queens Park Rangers at St James’ Park was a “big reminder” of the real fight they face to gain promotion back to the Premier League. Marlon Harewood emerged
THE North-East property market is showing significant improvement, with some estate agents reporting an increase of nearly 80 per cent in sales compared to last year. That was the positive news to emerge yesterday from the North-East Property
TWO law firms which merged last year confirmed last night that they are to split. As reported in The Northern Echo on Tuesday, Mincoffs and Jacksons, which became Mincoff Jackson last October, looked likely to go their separate ways almost a
AIRLINE Emirates yesterday revealed it has cut the travel time for passengers travelling from the North-East to Australia by almost eight hours. The Dubai-based airline, which operates a daily service from Newcastle International Airport to the
OUTDOOR clothing firm Blacks Leisure yesterday announced plans to close 89 of its loss-making stores. The company, which operates ten of its 256 Millets shops in the North-East and North Yorkshire, and seven of its 116 Blacks Outdoor outlets
A BUSINESS park has been commended for brightening up the lives of its workers. Belasis Hall, in Billingham, was named the best business park in the Tees Valley by Northumbria in Bloom. St George’s Securities, owner of the site, was awarded
ELECTRIC vehicle maker Tanfield could split its operation in half as a means of helping it recover from plunging into the red and seeing turnover fall by almost £63m. The company, based in Washington, on Wearside, blamed the dramatic fall in
A MAN has gone on trial accused of raping a teenager during a three-in-a-bed romp after a Halloween party. Craig Wayper is alleged to have attacked the girl when she was too drunk to consent to having sex with him. Wayper’s mother raged at him
ONLINE fashion retailer Asos yesterday reported a 47 per cent year-on-year rise in sales and said overseas shoppers now accounted for a quarter of all business. With international revenues growing by 110 per cent, Asos – which stands for As
A FIRM providing specialist services to airports has started consultations on possible redundancy with several members of staff. Durham Tees Valley Airport- based Cobham Flight Inspection is understood to have started consultations with three
SCIENTISTS in the North-East have developed groundbreaking diamond-driven technology, capable of making renewable energy affordable on a mass scale for the first time. Evince Technology Ltd, based in the Printable Electronics Technology Centre
AN MP last night pledged to fight to the bitter end to save a threatened steel plant – as workers took their campaign to keep it open to the Labour Party conference. Vera Baird said she would let Teesside Cast Products (TCP) – based in her east
A TEENAGER who had to have her leg amputated after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver has become a poster child for a road safety charity in a bid to save lives. Danica Green had to have her right leg removed following the accident on the
A TEAM of shuttlecock footballers from the North-East are preparing for an international tournament. Four representatives of Consett YMCA are heading for Hagen, in Germany, for the German Shuttlecock Football Open. The sport, which merges the
On the eve of the biggest council shake-up in a generation, Local Government Minister John Healey said: “The acid test will be whether these councils deliver their promises including better services, leadership and achieving more for less.” Six
AN urgent fundraising campaign has been launched to help victims of tropical storm Ketsana. The Reverend Craig Burrows, who is originally from Richmond, North Yorkshire, is providing food and shelter to hundreds of refugees at the school and
RESIDENTS were celebrating as their campaign to preserve their village school on its existing site appeared to be nearing success. It follows what looks set to be a u-turn by Durham County Council over plans to re-locate Esh Winning Primary
A WOMAN who has suffered from agrophobia since a street attack has had her confidence boosted after winning her way through to the regional final of a talent contest. Elaine Layton, 27, of Chester-le-Street, takes part in the North-East final
THE owners of a landmark hotel that was devastated by a huge fire are to refurbish the building. Parts of the King’s Hotel, in Darlington town centre, has been hidden by tarpaulin and scaffolding since the blaze in August last year. Despite investigations
A SURPRISE pledge to axe hated hospital parking charges will save the family and friends of the region’s patients up to £1m a year. Health Secretary Andy Burnham yesterday promised to phase out the fees over the next three years, “as we can afford
A NORTH-EAST father is calling for a dog to be destroyed after it attacked his four-year-old daughter. Police are appealing for help tracing the black and white Staffordshire bull terrier and its owner after schoolgirl Eve Blackett needed hospital
THE Welsh government is to ban under-18s from using sunbeds in a move campaigners hope will be introduced across the UK. The Northern Echo launched its Sunbed Safety campaign last year, after a Darlington schoolgirl was hospitalised after spending
A RIDING school took part in a worldwide event yesterday aimed at promoting the sport’s benefits for disabled people. Wear Valley Riding For The Disabled, at Three Lane Ends Farm, Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, hosted part of The World’s Biggest
SCHOOLCHILDREN have signed up for a spooky challenge to raise money for charity. Staff and pupils at St Bede’s RC Primary School, in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, are taking part in a riverside Halloween Walk, organised by Mencap. The two-mile
Date: Monday 5 October 2009 Time: 3.45pm – 4.30pm Venue: Healthworks, Paradise Lane, Easington Colliery With the help and support of Sunderland Football Club Foundation, six community centres across the East Durham area are working together
A FORMER North-East student who murdered a teenager and dismembered his body has launched an appeal against his conviction. Former Teesside Polytechnic student William Beggs, 45, was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh in October 2001
POLICE are investigating the theft of two caravans from the same village one night this week. Both vehicles, each valued at around £10,000, were stolen from outside their owner’s homes in Wolsingham, County Durham, overnight on Tuesday.
THE controversial closure of a North-East hospital’s accident and emergency department went ahead last night – despite warnings that it would have a devastating impact on the region’s health service. Critics say the decision to scrap 24-hour emergency
A POLICEMAN has denied being a cavalier hero who took safety risks before being involved in a crash which killed a young bride-to-be. PC Thomas Hart told a jury at Teesside Crown Court that he did not believe it was dangerous to take a bend
