Just heard that the Middle House (Kings Head) will be closed this week-end. Rumours have been rife all day that the pub was closing so I text Dolly and he confirmed that it would be closed from tomorrow but is unsure what will happen after Monday.
POLICE are appealing for witnsesses to an assault which left a man unconscious and a community in shock. The attack took place on Monday, January 25 between 10 and 11pm in Elmhurst Gardens, Hemlington, Middlesbrough. A man in his early 20s was attacked
Once upon a time I had a client who liked to let me know his feelings. The whole divorce process was understandably frustrating for him and he kept me updated as to how much, by peppering his e-mails with grunts and growls in the way Little Girl includes
Darlington's game with Notts County has been rearranged for Tuesday, April 27 (7.45pm). The original game was scheduled for February 23 but was postponed due to a frozen pitch, the seventh Quakers game to be affected by the weather this season
POLICE are trying to trace a woman who gave a teenage sex assault victim a lift into Redcar town centre. The 16-year-old had been attacked in the Birk Brow area of Guisborough on Thursday January 14 at 5.30pm. Fifteen minutes later a female motorist
FRAGILE bridges could fall victim to extreme weather conditions, a civil engineering body has warned. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North-East believes the closure of Leven Bridge, near Yarm, should be seen as a signal that much of the region
A COMMUNITY seed exchange is being launched to encourage people to take up the “good life” and grow fresh produce. Middlesbrough is holding its first “Seedy Sunday” bringing together gardeners from across the town and beyond to swap seeds, plants, gardening
A KARATE instructor who is on trial over sexual allegations has branded as "a load of rubbish" claims that he is a power crazy predator. Brian Matthewman is accused of molesting two martial arts pupils but today told a jury that there is no truth in
Winger Chris Moore has become Darlington's latest signing after arriving from Whitley Bay. The 26-year-old trained this morning with Steve Staunton's side and will be part of the squad that travel to Northampton Town on Saturday. He has
A DEVOTED father is taking a leap of faith to raise money for the hospital treating his child born with an unusual condition. Andrew Geelan, 31, is doing a sponsored zip wire next month at Everton Football Club’s Goodison Park ground in aid of Alder
A POPULAR countryside site is to be transformed with a £200,000 investment project. The cash will be used to improve parking and access at Guisborough Forest and Walkway. The scheme is being co-ordinated by the Redcar and Cleveland Council and funded
DON'T mention the car! I did in Wednesday's column, and I didn't get away with it. I got my Populars and Prefects muddled again. Sorry. As well as calls about old Ford cars, I've received some interesting follow-ups concerning items on this blog. We'll
A CRAFTY young entrepreneur has risen to the challenge by creating a mini-business to raise money for charity. Holly Buck, 10, took part in YMCA Barnard Castles Loan a Tenner scheme, which encourages young people to make as much money as they
SOCIAL networking website Facebook came under renewed pressure today to install a panic button on its website to protect youngsters from predatory paedophiles. Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman demanded swift action to ensure protection for children
MORE than £2,300 raised in memory of a nursery nurse has been donated to the hospice which cared for her in her final days. Janet Hill, of Woodstone Village, near Houghton-le-Spring, died last month at the age of 53, following a six-month battle against
HUNDREDS of people are expected to line the streets of Northallerton to welcome home members of an Army squadron after six-months in Afghanistan. About 120 members of 10 Field Squadron Royal Engineers will parade along the High Street later this month
FROM somewhere deep in the forest it announced its presence. A crack, a spit, the sound of the ground being torn up beneath it. It is alien to the noises that usually eminate from these pristine, snow-laden surroundings. As it gets closer, small groups
A HIGHLY-rated director is to appear at a North-East film festival. Mark Cousins will take part in 2010’s Northern Lights Film Festival (NLFF), which runs from March 20 to 28. Mr Cousins will introduce his film The First Movie, a documentary filmed
THOUSANDS of pounds worth of china were among the items stolen from a house in County Durham yesterday morning. Thieves who broke into the house in Auckland Park, near Bishop Auckland, escaped with a haul of Crown Derby china, including plates, a large
SUSAN BLOWER is trying to find a friend's birth mother. She is hoping to find Jean Barrass, who later took on her mother's husband's name of Wilson. Her parents were Mary and Thomas H Wilson. Ms Blower's friend was born in Chester-le-Street but was
A WOMAN was airlifted to hospital after falling from her horse today. The 21-year-old was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with suspected spinal injuries. But tonight people who know the woman said her injuries were not as
PATIENTS living in the Yorkshire Dales will no longer have to travel to Northallerton for high-tech scans. A new ultrasound service has been set up to meet the needs of Richmondshire residents through an innovative partnership between a GP surgery and
Firefighters extinguished a small kitchen fire in a semi-detached house in Thirlmere Road, Peterlee, today. A spokesman for the Darlington and Durham Fire and Rescue Service said the alarm was raised at 11.40am. Two pumps were sent from the
A BRITISH Airways computer expert from the North-East who allegedly offered to take advantage of a planned strike by cabin crew as part of a terror plot has appeared in court. Bangladesh-born Rajib Karim, 30, of Newcastle, faced three charges under counter
A NEW training suite has been dedicated to a woman who has inspired thousands of people with the way she rose to the challenge of falling deaf. Durham’s mayor Councillor Denis Southwell and Elspeth Southwell, the Lady Mayoress were on hand to unveil
Viv Hardwick talks to Washington actor James Hedley about the stage tour of The Hobbit. SMALL is beautiful as far as 5ft 7ins Washington actor James Hedley is concerned because his smaller stature made him ideal to play a dwarf alongside Bilbo
MacKenzie Thorpe talks to Viv Hardwick about being invited to stage his first solo exhibition in Middlesbrough, thanks to Captain Cook and Australia. IT seems astonishing to record, but worldrenowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe is about to stage
Stars: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleason, Jason Isaacs, Khalid Abdalla. 114 mins ★★★★ MAKING a movie about the search for WMDs – that’s weapons of mass destruction – is a tough challenge but one that director
Stars: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Lena Endre, Sven-bertil Taube. 153 mins ★★★★★ THE statistics linked to Stieg Larsson’s bestselling Millennium trilogy – of which The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is the opener – are staggering
After Green Zone Matt Damon is going to re-make the John Wayne classic movie True Grit with Jeff Bridges. Steve Pratt reports. BARELY a week after doing press for Clint Eastwood’s film Invictus, Hollywood actor Matt Damon is out again promoting
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley. 138 mins ★★★ THE trailer for Shutter Island makes you expect one of those ghostly
Crystal Cook tells Viv Hardwick about her fightback from career-threatening injuries to become the leading lady in Beauty And The Beast. ALEADING role in a touring Disney production seemed a long way off at the start of Crystal Cook’s performing
THIS finds New Young Pony Club at their poppiest with this melodic and sexy album. Self produced and more importantly self-funded and self-released, it is the sound of a band taking full control of their future. Opening with incredibly catchy
IN a week that started with the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, folk fans now get a chance to see one of the more offthe- wall British films of the last few years at Darlington Arts Centre next Monday. Morris – A Life With Bells On, set
INFAMOUS rocker Pete Doherty and his band are playing in the North-East at Easter to mark Inside Out of Darlington’s third birthday next month. The troubled frontman, who is formerly of The Libertines, and the rest of Babyshambles – drummer Adam
Sophie Stratford talks to Josh Franceschi lead vocalist from You Me At Six about the band’s headline tour, new album Hold Me Down and obsessive fans. YOU Me At Six enjoyed the rise to fame in 2007 with the success of debut album, Take Off Your
WHAT’S ON: Tonight, Liam Noble Trio plays Brubeck, Gateshead Old Town Hall, 0191- 433-8420; Saturday, Portico Quartet, Sage Gateshead, 0191-443-4661. CD REVIEWS: Osian Roberts/Steve Fishwick Quintet...meets Cedar Walton (Hard Bop Records 33006)
WHAT’S ON: Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Frans Bruggen, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm, Saturday. Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart. Box Office: 0191-443-4661. REVIEWS: Prokofiev, Freddy Kempf (BISSACD- 1820) Kempf, The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and
TO many it seems that country music depicts the sadder side of life. They say that to sing the blues you have to have lived them. In Gary Allan’s it was leaving a demo tape in a car which, as a car salesman, he’d sold to a wealthy couple who were
Viv Hardwick talks to Birmingham Royal Ballet first soloist Andrea Tredinnick about 20 years of stardom and a non-dancing role at Sunderland. ANDREA Tredinnick is initially stunned when I ask her about her long association with Birmingham Royal
Zombieland (15, 84 mins, Sony Pictures, DVD 15.99/Blu-ray 24.99) Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Bill Murray, Amber Heard AMERICA has been ravaged by a contagion which has metamorphosed all but the lucky few
COUNCILLORS have given the go-ahead to a multi-million pound upgrade of a sports complex. Sunderland City Council’s cabinet backed the £2.4m investment at Houghton Sports Complex, next door to the new £21m Houghton Primary Care Centre being built
WE’VE said it before and we’ll say it again – good golly Miss Molly. What a load of trouble she attracts. Now she’s pregnant and uncertain about the identity of the father in Coronation Street (ITV1). Potential dad number one is her
OBJECTIONS from officers, a parish council and a conservation group against two new village detached homes has been overruled by councillors. Plans to build the houses in a back garden at Middleton One Row, were approved by Darlington Borough Council's
THERE was a horrifying glimpse into the future when I went to get my hair cut – and it had nothing to do with the fact that there is less and less hair to cut. Nigel has been our family hairdresser since the kids were so little that they sat on
A Domino Dinner in Thirsk, an interloper from north of the Tees and one or two loosened ties. JUST as it has every March since 1915, the world’s oldest domino drive took place – top gear – last Friday. Officially the Thirsk Gentlemen
DURHAM and England seamer Graham Onions will fly back to England after being ruled out of the two-Test series against Bangladesh due to a back injury. The 27-year-old suffered the complaint in training last week after arriving in the sub-continent for
ARCHITECTS are an English metalcore band from Brighton, with influences ranging from Mastodon through Shadows Fall to the Dillinger Escape Plan. They play a complex mixture of metalcore punk. Their music is pumped with controlled rage and unhindered
Doctor Who (BBC3, 7pm); Michelin Stars – The Madness of Perfection (BBC2, 9pm); Too Poor for Posh School? (C4, 9pm) THE new Doctor Who is to materialise in Sunderland. He won’t be arriving in his time machine, the Tardis, but by bus. Not just
LOCAL NATIVES are an indie rock band from Los Angeles who create music that combines afropopinfluenced guitars with hyperactive drumming and hooky three-part harmonies. As soon as they graced the stage of the Academy, their soaring, sky-scraping
HERE we are again. Another toothless inquiry before which people can appear and lie with impunity. Clearly from the conflicting evidence given to date to the Chilcot Inquiry into the war in Iraq someone is lying. Men and women have died as a direct
AS a member of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) I was pleased to see Wendy Duery’s letter (HAS, March 3) expressing concerns about the future of the countryside and the environment. The UK Independence Party shares those concerns and
RE Stockton South Conservative parliamentary candidate James Wharton’s letter about being tough on crime (HAS, March 4). I would like to point out that it was the Conservative government in 1990 that changed the parole system. Parole was replaced
IF there really was a God, don’t you think He’d find some way of replacing the likes of honest, conviction-politicians, such as the late Michael Foot, in Parliament? Hell will freeze over before that happens with today’s political climate being
RECENT disclosures about William Hague’s involvement with the Belize-based deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, Lord Ashcroft, raise serious concerns. We now know that in 2000 Lord Ashcroft promised to take up permanent residence here in
EIGHTEEN years after Black Wednesday, it appears the Conservatives have still not learned the lessons of sterling’s humiliating crash that momentous day. David Cameron’s party has now launched a scare campaign to woo voters, warning that the price
JOHN Routledge may well bemoan the huge effort it took to drive through the ban on fox hunting (HAS, March 8), but would do better looking at avoiding making the same mistake again by trying to undo the ban. It took 700 hours of parliamentary
I AM amazed that Frank Robson (HAS, March 2) is happy to contemplate another five years under a Labour government when Labour’s past 13 years have been a total disaster for Britain. Mr Robson suggests a few possible Conservative cost-cutting scenarios
AN MP has visited a new hospital in her constituency. Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods visited the Lanchester Road Hospital, a new £17.9m mental health facility on the outskirts of the city which opened earlier this year. Afterwards, Dr Blackman-Woods
MORRISONS today hailed ''another good year'' as profits climbed 21 per cent and sales hit record levels. The UK's fourth biggest supermarket chain - with stores across the North-East and North Yorkshire - reported pre-tax profits of £767 million
Would you want information about your medication put online? Health Editor Barry Nelson investigates a system designed to improve patient safety, but which the British Medical Association thinks is being rushed through too quickly. THIS may come
IN reporting the guilt of Ashleigh Hall’s murderer Peter Chapman on Tuesday, The Northern Echo’s front page headline was “Fatal blunders”. The sentiment was aimed primarily at Merseyside Police for their incompetence in taking nine months to
GEORGE MOORE was left dreaming of big midsummer targets for Bogside Theatre after the mare outclassed her rivals at Catterick. It was only five days ago the six-year-old had finished runner-up to La Sarrazine at Doncaster – but she was certainly
Struck by Kings, are an indie band, based in the North East. The band is made up of four Darlington boys, who formed after the original members of the band, vocalist Jake Turnbull and lead guitarist Thomas Howson expanded their acoustic act “Tom&Jake”
WARREN HUGHES has completed the first two-day test with the ASM team in preparation for the forthcoming first round of the Le Mans Series. Along with team-mates Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral, the Sunderland racer completed more than 200 laps
JONNY WILKINSON admits England’s defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield two years ago was one of the most painful experiences of his rugby career. The England fly-half broke the world record for international points on that filthy afternoon in Edinburgh
BLAZING BAILEY took a while to open his account over fences but now he has a win under his belt he can go on to bigger and better things – starting at Wincanton. The Scottish National has been mentioned as a possible target for the former top-class
Every year Darlington plays host to a music and drama festival. This year the Darlington Festival for Performing Arts took place at Carmel RC College. Viveca Bradshaw, a local singing teacher entered 20 of her students with a wide variety of ages,
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has been warned no one will be giving him an inch on his return to Formula One this season. In days gone by, when Schumacher and Ferrari reigned supreme, the mere sight of the German in his rivals’ mirrors often resulted
CHRIS TOMLINSON admits he has let his British rival Greg Rutherford get under his skin but insists domestic rivalry will be the last thing on his mind at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. Rutherford first upstaged Tomlinson at last summer
DARLINGTON manager Steve Staunton says he was pleased his players were disappointed after Tuesday’s draw at Bury as their reaction demonstrated a winning mentality. Quakers held third-placed Shakers to a 1-1 draw in what was one of Darlington
ENGLAND bowler Graham Onions has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh with a back injury. The Durham paceman picked up the problem during net practice after joining up with the one-day international squad. Fellow bowler Stuart
MIDDLESBROUGH were last night staying silent over reports they are being sued for nearly £1m by former striker Tuncay Sanli. The Turkey international, who joined Stoke City last August for a fee believed to be around £6m, claims he is owed £544,677
IAN BELL may have played a leading role in England’s winter tour to South Africa but the batsman still believes he has to prove himself worthy of a place in the starting XI. Bell spent a period out of the Test side before coming back for the
Burnley 1 Stoke City 1 STOKE manager Tony Pulis could afford a wry smile after Burnley’s attempts to curb the threat of Rory Delap’s long throws came unstuck. The Clarets moved the advertising hoardings closer to the pitch at Turf Moor in the
Manchester United 4 AC Milan 0 (Man U win 7-2 on aggregate) THERE was no fairytale Old Trafford return for David Beckham as Wayne Rooney led a Manchester United cruise into the Champions League quarter-finals. Rooney scored a goal in each half
DAVID BECKHAM described Wayne Rooney as among the world’s best as Manchester United put his AC Milan side out of the Champions League. Rooney scored twice as United romped to a 4-0 last-16 second-leg win last night to secure a 7-2 aggregate victory
MORE than 800 young entrepreneurs from schools and colleges across the region gathered yesterday to hear words of wisdom from a host of the UK’s leading young tycoons. At the Use Your Loaf event, entrepreneurs from across the country shared their
A CONSTRUCTION company is to establish a base in the North-East after winning a social housing contract worth £27.2m. Yorkshire-based firm Southdale will open a base in Darlington, after winning contracts to build houses in the town, as well
THE Tanfield Group’s partners in its US division wants to buy out its electric vehicle operations on both sides of the Atlantic. Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (SEV US Corp) has made a bid for Tanfield’s Smith Electric Vehicle division, in
A WOMAN who has launched a global make-up business after building up popularity on social networking sites has now launched a computer game. Lauren Luke, from South Shields, South Tyneside, became an internet sensation through making home make-up
A WEB design business is looking to expand after winning a Government contract only two years after setting up in a North-East bedroom. Michael Peacock and Richard Carter started their business, Peacock Carter, while studying at Durham University
THOUSANDS of staff at nationalised lender Northern Rock are to receive bonuses of up to £3,000 each, with several senior managers in line to get at least £25,000, it was revealed yesterday. The announcement came as Newcastle-based Northern
NEWCASTLE UNITED manager Chris Hughton has joined the growing list of admirers in Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds. Hughton travelled to Scotland on Tuesday night to watch the centre-back after receiving glowing reports about his potential.
A DRIVING instructors’ association drove home the dangers of texting while driving to a group of teenagers yesterday. Ten members of the Bishop Auckland Driving Instructors Association visited St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre,
THE hidden gems that brighten up everyday life are being celebrated by the first “Love the North-East” awards. The Northern Echo has joined forces with Smooth Radio to honour local retailers and businesses. The cafe that makes the perfect cup
DARREN BENT’S hopes of playing in the World Cup might hang in the balance, but Anton Ferdinand feels Sunderland’s prolific striker is on a par with the best in English football. Bent’s first hat-trick at the Stadium of Light – the first
GORDON STRACHAN admits failure to secure promotion could result in some of his best players leaving this summer, but reassured supporters that star striker Scott McDonald will be at Middlesbrough next season. Victory over Championship leaders
A NORTH-EAST MP has suggested the chief executive of Corus be removed from negotiations to sell Teesside Cast Products (TCP) if he is not fully committed to its sale. Redcar MP Vera Baird’s comments follow reservations raised this week about
A BABYSITTER who tripped on a toy and broke her leg while looking after two-year-old twin boys has praised the toddlers for helping her call an ambulance after the freak accident. Catherine McNeill was spending the day babysitting her friend’
SHOPPERS in a North-East town centre did a double take when they spotted a pair of primates out for a morning run. Mother and daughter Carol and Jen Clayton donned gorilla outfits for their daily jog around Darlington town centre, in preparation
Dramatic scenes took place when two teenagers were winched to safety from a cliff ledge, with waves crashing below them. The pair became trapped on the ledge at Whitby, North Yorkshire, while fossil hunting on Tuesday, after the tide came in
POLICE have confirmed that a body recovered from a city centre river yesterday is that of a teenager reported missing from home nearly two weeks ago. Jonathan Havron, from York, had not been seen since February 27, following a night out in the
A YOUNG mother has spoken of the terrifying moment she was threatened by two masked men in her North-East home. The 27-year-old, who was in the house with her two-year-old son, said she feared for both of their lives as the men demanded access
COMEDIAN Roy “Chubby” Brown has appeared in court to deny assaulting a young woman following a foul-mouthed row in a car park. The argument erupted after the comic reversed to within an inch of Kelly Oliver’s grandmother’s car, in the car park
THE X Factor live show rolled into the North-East last night, with stars including series winner Joe McElderry taking to the stage at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena. The South Shields teenager has shown his support for the 3 Rifles Wristband
COUNCIL chiefs have come out fighting amid claims that contracting out street lighting could cost millions and saddle taxpayers with huge debts for decades to come. Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said even setting up a Private Finance
THE region is key to the survival of dozens of endangered species, according to a report released today. The audit by Natural England, called Lost Life: England’s Lost and Threatened Species, marks International Year of Biodiversity and lists
A GOVERNMENT minister has said identity cards for young people could be one way of keeping children safe on the internet. However, Meg Hillier MP said it was also very important for parents and teenagers to be aware of the risks they take when
LEADING doctors in the region have criticised what they claim is the waste of taxpayers’ money caused by the involvement of the private sector in NHS health care. In a letter published by a North-East newspaper, GPs and hospital consultants
THE police force responsible for a nine-month delay in trying to trace Ashleigh Hall’s killer will face the highest level of independent investigation, it was confirmed yesterday. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it
COUNCIL chiefs have come out fighting amid claims that contracting out street lighting could cost millions and saddle taxpayers with huge debts for decades to come. Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said even setting up a Private Finance
LOCAL food producers and artists are invited to set out their stalls at a new event. An award-winning group of traders has signed up to take part in Stockton farmers’ market, which launches on Saturday, March 27, between 9am and 2pm, in Wellington
PEOPLE have claimed a small victory in their battle against a proposed wind farm after their village was declared a conservation area. Proposals to designate Bolam, near West Auckland, County Durham, as a conservation area were approved by Durham
PEOPLE are being given a chance to air their views about plans to convert a village pub into a house. The Travellers Rest, in Skeeby, near Richmond, was sold to an unknown buyer in January; it had been empty for 18 months. The buyer indicated
THOUSANDS of staff at nationalised lender Northern Rock are to receive bonuses of up to £3,000 each, with several senior managers in line to get at least £25,000, it was revealed yesterday. The announcement came as Newcastle-based Northern Rock
