STEVE Bruce has named an attacking starting line-up as Sunderland visit Manchester United for this evening's Premier League game. The Black Cats boss has opted to go with two strikers up front, with Kenwyne Jones partnering Darren Bent for the second
DOZENS of rail enthusiasts turned out today to see the first new mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain in almost 50 years travel on an iconic route. Tornado, the Darlington-built Peppercorn A1 Pacific, with her passenger train The Waverley
AN RAF serviceman based in the region who was killed in southern Afghanistan was named today as Senior Aircraftsman Marcin Wojtak. The 24-year-old airman, from 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment and based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, died in
Lee Thorpe has made a surprise return to the line-up for Darlington's game at home to Macclesfield Town this afternoon. The striker was not expected to return for at least a week due to groin trouble but caretaker manager Craig Liddle has been able to
JOSE Enrique has picked up a slight hamstring strain in training forcing Chris Hughton to make changes to his back four. The manager has also made changes in attack where Marlon Harewood makes his first start for the Magpies alongside Peter
PETER Hartley was a last-minute withdrawl from the Hartlepool United team at Exeter this afternoon. After naming the same starting XI for the third game in a row, Chris Turner was forced into a late change when his left back suffered a hip
POLICE are appealing for information following an attempt armed robbery yesterday afternoon. A man walked into a bank on West Dyke Road in Redcar at about 4pm and threatened staff and customers with what is believed to be a handgun. He then
A YOUNG man is fighting for his life after crashing his car in the early hours of this morning. The 21-year-old suffered serious head injuries in the accident at the A689/A68 roundabout at Harperley, near Crook, County Durham. He is
Once the butt of sitcom jokes, Butlins has re-invented itself for the 21st Century holiday camper. Lucy Richardson takes her family to test it out. BREAKFAST with Bob the Builder, a dip in the pool, followed by a spin round a race track and
IN Tom Sharpe’s latest instalment of farcical misadventures – after Wilt In Nowhere five years ago – comes a comedy of errors much to do with slapstick reversals. It all begins with the Gropes, an ancient matriarchy from Northumberland, whose long
COUPLAND’S latest novel is gently apocalyptic. Set in a dystopia where bees have finally become extinct, and global warming is taking its toll, society is gradually dissolving. It’s a dismal vision. Yet in this world of lingering decline there
AFTER arriving in Washington to give a speech and finding an empty room, symbology expert Robert Langdon’s confusion turns to terror when the severed hand of prominent Mason and Langdon’s mentor Peter Solomon is found covered in Masonic symbols
PART travel book, part history, part personal memoir, this is a gripping read. When Yorkshire writer Rosemary Bailey went to live in a former monastery in the south of France, she became fascinated by the landscape and its history. The Pyrenees
North-East actor Steve Hawksby is back in the region. He tells Viv Hardwick about his latest role. I INTERRUPT actor Steve Hawksby on his way to that rarest of events, an audition for a North-East-based TV show destined for a mainstream showing
FIRST-TIME feature director Andy Wilton had a horrible feeling that life was imitating art. The 28-year-old Newcastleborn film-maker was editing a movie about a hapless film director attempting to make a horror movie. After six months, he was halfway
Back to Church Sunday aims to help reverse a decline in congregations: some have never been away. IF the burgeoning public relations industry were wholly to be believed, and by and large it is not, every week of the year would now comprise seven
IN response to our £40,000 organ appeal at Whitworth Church near Spennymoor, R Gent recommended the use of an electronic organ (HAS, Sept 22). We considered this option rather than full restoration but believe we must try to restore a wonderful
DAVID Skelton, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for North Durham, talks of needing quicker action to help ex-miners recover the money deducted from their compensation claims (HAS, Sept 21). If it had been left up to his Conservative
THOUGH not welcome in some circles, I found Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s speech to the Labour Party conference in Brighton just about the best he has ever made. He began with a list of Labour successes that included the minimum wage, the winter
OVER the past few months, I have been repeatedly written to by the TV Licensing Authority in an increasingly intimidating and threatening manner, on the basis of its belief that I have a television set and have not paid a licence fee. Apparently
AS we wave goodbye to another spectacular summer, and nights spent in my garden enjoying the torrential rain, I turn for solace to the television for my evening’s entertainment. However, just a cursory glance at the TV listings fills me with dread
AN orderly queue is a good thing (HAS, Sept 28). It works on the principle of first come, first served. However, when it comes to public transport, legislation for the disabled and elderly has led to easier access entrances, even raised pavements
I WAS wryly amused by Peter Barron’s column about the Daily Star’s “tedious” saga of Peter Andre’s split from Jordan (Echo, Sept 21). Hasn’t Mr Barron been boring us for weeks, if not months on end, by publishing the repetitive outpourings of
HAS anyone else noticed how scarce mushrooms are this year? I’ve seen the odd one here and there but nothing like the usual numbers. Once it would have drawn comment but there’s not the same interest nowadays. Fifty years ago people used to turn
I HAVE toured with my talk Four Scandals and A Gooseberry for more than five years, curing some listeners of insomnia and reminding others that an hour is too precious to waste again. The talk got two airings this week, at Weardale Probus in
Forty years ago, Monty Python’s brand of surreal, subversive and plain silly comedy debuted on BBC television screens. Fan Barry Nelson recalls the comedy team’s beginnings and some classic sketches. BIZARRELY, the stirring military band music that
NOW Kevin Keegan has been awarded £2m in damages for constructive dismissal against Newcastle United, we hope all parties can move on. Although the club can appeal the decision by carrying it forward to the high court, we hope common sense will
TUESDAY evening, 6.45. On the near-deserted road to the stadium, past the pub speciously offering “live” football, there’s a large police sign advising that it’s an “event day.” So it is. Darlington v Rochdale. It’s just no longer a big event
JENSON BUTTON believes his experience around Suzuka can give him a crucial edge following yesterday’s rain-affected practice as he looks to take a step closer to securing his first world championship in Japan. Following a damp morning session
TANE TU’IPULOTU has warned Saracens to expect their 100 per cent start to the season to come to a shuddering end when they visit Kingston Park tomorrow. Saracens’ new-look side are currently top of the Guinness Premiership, while Newcastle Falcons
JUST as he did when he took third place two years ago – in only his second professional event – Rory McIlroy tamed one of the toughest holes in golf yesterday. And this time his birdie three on the famous Road Hole 17th at St Andrews helped the
FORMER Newcastle Falcons player Adam Dehaty makes his first start since March for Blaydon at Redruth today, replacing his injured brother Matt on the wing, writes TIM WELLOCK. Blaydon will fly out of Newcastle at 9.50am and be back at 8.05pm after
SIRVINO can strike a blow for the north by winning the totesport. com Cambridgeshire at Newmarket Trained in Thirsk by David Barron, the four-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks this season and can put the seal on it with victory
LABOUR members are calling for urgent talks with party bosses who told them to choose a female candidate for the next General Election. Members of former cabinet minister Hilary Armstrong's North West Durham constituency have rejected a ruling by their
GARETH Southgate was booed by a section of the Boro supporters this week. We asked The Legends, has Southgate run his course at the Riverside or should he be given time to turn things around? We also asked them to give their respective club
the first round of the FA Carlsberg Vase, West Auckland, who are without a league win this season, are at home to Hall Road Rangers, who beat Bishop Auckland in the last round. West have won just twice this season, both in previous rounds in
WHITLEY Bay are looking for a perfect ten when they travel to Billingham Synthonia. The FA Vase winners have won every league game so far, although they haven’t managed to shake off Spennymoor and Penrith at the top. Their latest victory was
Kieran Richardson’s career has been shaped by a succession of larger than life figures, from his father Clyde to a quartet of Manchester United legends. Andy Richardson looks at the career of the Sunderland player whose switch to left-back has handed
DARLINGTON hero Craig Liddle says he is aware of the high regard he is held in by the club’s supporters and is mindful that could eventually change should he become manager. He is revered by fans following almost a decade’s service at the heart
FEW sets of football supporters can have suffered so much as those who follow Darlington have in 2009. First denied what appeared a good chance of promotion and then dragged through the uncertainty of administration, Quakers were relieved simply
SIR ALEX FERGUSON feels his old Manchester United warhorse Steve Bruce is taking the right path to managerial stardom. It is still mystifying how a player who could be such an integral part of Ferguson’s first double-winning team could end his
LEROY LITA has described the response to Tuesday night’s defeat to Leicester City as “harsh”, and urged Middlesbrough supporters not to voice their frustrations during this afternoon’s game at Reading. A large section of the Riverside crowd booed
WITH Caleb Folan likely to be sidelined for at least six weeks, Gareth Southgate will consider signing another loan striker during the international break. Folan tore his hamstring last Sunday, and tests have revealed extensive damage that will
DENIS BEHAN is confident he’s back on song after struggling with a bout of fatigue. The Hartlepool United striker was on target in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Stockport, his first goal after three blank outings. His spectacular 35-yard free-kick at
WHEN Sunderland visited Old Trafford last December, they didn’t just ‘park the bus’ in front of their own goalmouth, they borrowed any vehicle they could get their hands on and lined them up on the edge of the 18-yard box as well. Defence, in
WHEN Temuri Ketsbaia threw his Newcastle United shirt into the crowd and attacked an advertising board having scored in a routine win over Bolton more than 11 years ago, he did not know his antics would live long in the memory. Not just on Tyneside
AUGUST 30, 2008, and Kevin Keegan is on the look-out for signings to strengthen a Newcastle United side that has taken four points from its opening two matches of the Premier League season. The following is a reconstruction of events that took
KEVIN KEEGAN hopes his relationship with the Newcastle United fans has not been soured after being awarded £2m in damages for constructive dismissal from the club last year. Keegan claims that walking away from his job 13 months ago was one
ANDREW STRAUSS admitted England had failed to set up a winning platform as they exited the Champions Trophy with a semi-final hammering at the hands of old foes Australia. Strauss’ side recovered from 101 for six to reach 257 thanks to a stand
RICKY PONTING’S Australia maintained their domination over England with a crushing nine-wicket victory in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy. Captain Ponting and Shane Watson both hit unbeaten hundreds in a new Australian record one-day stand
AN innocent teenager was detained in custody for up to 18 hours as a result of a woman’s comments to police. David Mason was returning home from a social club with two friends when he came across a commotion in the street involving Anne Louise
A TEENAGE girl has told how she survived a 30ft fall onto a concrete floor. Lauren Holmes, 15, fell through a hole in the roof of a derelict building last Saturday night. Emergency service were called to Elemore Lane in High Pittington, near
THE long-necked world of giraffes has been made the subject of a new exhibition. Durham artist and author Ingrid Sylvestre has brought her creations to the Durham Town Hall foyer in a show called Giraffes Come Home to Durham. Seven years ago,
A CHURCH service to mark the re-burial of 58 ancient skeletons – excavated from an Anglo-Scandanvian Christian cemetery more than 20 years ago – will take place on Monday. Dozens of people, including archaeology and local history enthusiasts,
TWO North-East contractors have been appointed to begin work on the latest phase of a school’s £20m development programme. Surgo Construction and VolkerStevin have bagged two contracts on the latest phase of Yarm School’s development programme
A PRIVATE investigation and baliff firm is to franchise its operation nationally. National Enforcement Services, at Lingfield Point, Darlington, will provide franchisees access to a computer and data system, individual websites, a blog, as well
THOUSANDS of workers at a threatened steel plant on Teesside have been given a reprieve after the company said its order book was full until the end of December. Up to 2,000 jobs are at risk at Corus – owned by Teesside Cast Products (TCP) – in
AN industrial cleaning company which won Duncan Bannatyne’s backing on TV’s Dragons’ Den has secured a contract with one of Britain’s largest care home providers. North-East-based UK Commercial Cleaning will provide its services to care homes
A GROUP of canoeists are raising money for the Great North Air Ambulance. The team of 14, plus five standby members, from the Bishop Auckland area and Teesside, will canoe 40 miles down the River Tyne, from Haydon Bridge, in Northumberland, to
A HEROIN addict who says a controversial NHS clinic has probably saved her life has urged the Government to fund “shooting galleries” across the UK. Vicky, 36, has been a heroin addict since she was 24. Before she enrolled on a Darlington-based
A FATHER and son arrested following the alleged discovery of the deadly poison ricin in a house have denied terrorism changes. Former lorry driver and pub DJ Ian Davison, who was arrested at his home in Myrtle Grove, Burnopfield, County Durham,
A DISTINGUISHED former editor of The Northern Echo has visited his old workplace. Sir Harold Evans, who was at the helm of the paper throughout the Sixties, called in at the Darlington headquarters of the paper as part of a promotional tour
YOUNGSTERS got a taste of India when they visited a take-away restaurant as part of a school project into the country. South Otterington Primary School, near Northallerton, visited the Raj of India, in Thirsk, to see how the food was cooked
RESIDENTS have spoken of their relief after a controversial and “alien” eco-lodge scheme was refused planning permission. The plans, which would have seen 12 solar-panelled log cabins built close to a conservation area at Easby, near Richmond
AN RAF serviceman based in the region has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said yesterday. The gunner, from 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, died on Thursday afternoon. The airman
A CONFIDENTIAL report into a £780,000 gas pipe blunder will be discussed in public after The Northern Echo revealed details of the secret document. A confidential solicitors’ report into costly delays to the Pedestrian Heart project after a digger
PEOPLE poured through the gates yesterday for the first day of a food festival. The second annual Darlington Food Festival was launched with a Chinese lion dance. The live entertainment was among the attractions at the event, which is run to
A GP who says he was told there was no bed available in County Durham for an acutely ill patient has strongly criticised the downgrading of a hospital. The long-serving GP, who asked not to be identified, said: “There is nothing left at Bishop
A NORTHERN edition of one of the world’s most famous board games will hit the shops this month. More than 30 landmarks will feature on the County Durham edition of Monopoly, which will go on sale on October 30. The Northern Echo will occupy
KEVIN KEEGAN said yesterday’s decision to award him £2m for constructive dismissal from Newcastle United vindicated “one of the most difficult decisions” of his life. Keegan walked out of a £3m-a-year contract at St James’ Park in September last
