Archive

  • Mixed emotions for soldiers on homecoming from Afghanistan

    AN Army battalion which lost five of its members during a punishing deployment in Afghanistan was welcomed home today in a tearful homecoming. A total of 120 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards returned to their base in Aldershot

  • 88 jobs under threat at Sunderland college

    UNION chiefs have reacted with dismay at the announcement that 88 jobs could go at a North-East college. City of Sunderland College is facing a financial crisis after having its budget reduced by £3.2m for this financial year. A 30-day formal consultation

  • Former bishop to chair Christian hustings

    A FORMER bishop is to chair a Christian election hustings on Friday night. The Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali, formerly Bishop of Rochester, will chair a debate at Elvet Methodist Church, in Durham City. The event will be attended by Labour’s Roberta

  • Councillors back Bedale bypass plan

    PLANS for a £38m bypass to improve traffic through a rural town and tackle congestion have been given the backing of councillors. North Yorkshire County Council wants to create a 4.8km relief road to cater for drivers in Bedale, Aiskew and

  • Soldier devastated by theft of medals

    A SOLDIER has been left devastated following the theft of a box of his service medals. The box, which was stolen from a vehicle parked on Norton Road in Stockton at 11am on Monday, April 26, contained three military service medals relating to service

  • Jazz band blows away the election blues

    A JAZZ band will hold a concert to help people beat the election blues. Jazz Blowers stages its first concert on election night, Thursday, May 6, at Hurworth Grange Community Centre. The group will play songs from jazz players such as John Coltrane,

  • Soldier devastated by medal theft

    A SOLDIER has been left devastated following the theft of a box of his service medals. The box, which was stolen from a vehicle parked on Norton Road in Stockton at 11am on Monday, April 26, contained three military service medals relating to service

  • Yorkshire v Durham (Day 3, Tea)

    DURHAM had lost one wicket today when rain arrived at Headingley at 2.45 with Michael Di Venuto unbeaten on 107. The fact that showers had always been forecast for the last two days of the match made Yorkshire’s tactics all the more baffling

  • Wilks looking forward to Canary Islands challenge

    WITH a monster 25km stage early tomorrow, Guy Wilks believes that whoever gels with their car the quickest will have a big advantage when Round 4 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Rally Islas Canarias 'Trofeo El Corte Ingles', gets underway

  • Local gallery shows David Hockney exhibition

    ARTWORK by a well known painter drawing on fairy tales for inspiration has gone on show in a bid to bring it to more people. Rural Arts, in Thirsk, is showing work by David Hockney based on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. The

  • Tyre fire could continue to burn for weeks, fire chiefs say

    THOUSANDS of tonnes of burning tyres could continue to smoulder for weeks, fire chiefs said today. Fire broke out in a pile of shredded tyres at the EnviroTyres recycling unit on Littleburn Industrial Estate, in Langley Moor, near Durham City, on the

  • Crime figures down in Stanley

    CRIME figures show police in a north Durham town have scored a resounding success in fighting crime over the past year. Significantly year-on-year and overall the number of crimes recorded in Stanley this year has dropped by 16 per cent compared with

  • Mother denies murder of man crushed to death under car

    A MOTHER-of-two has denied murdering a man who was crushed to death under the wheels of her car. Shaun Dalby, 28, suffocated under the weight of Naomi Myers' Fiat Punto in a shop car park in Coxhoe, County Durham, in the early hours of February 2. Myers

  • Yorkshire v Durham (Day 3, Lunch)

    THERE was no gloating in the gloaming from Yorkshire members this morning as Michael Di Venuto and Dale Benkenstein took Durham to 156 for three at lunch. After 50 minutes the umpires conferred about the light, prompting Yorkshire to turn

  • Durham Diary

    EVERY picture doesn’t tell the story. I was reminded of that when accosted by a Durham member on my arrival for the second day’s play of the season. The back page of that morning’s Northern Echo had carried a lovely photograph of one lone spectator

  • Woman denies murdering man under car wheels

    A MOTHER of two today denied murdering a man who was crushed to death under the wheels of her car. Shaun Dalby, 28, suffocated under the weight of Naomi Myerss Fiat Punto in a shop car park in Coxhoe, County Durham, in the early hours of February 2.

  • Ups and Downey’s

    Steve Pratt looks at the biography which Robert Downey Jr couldn’t bring himself to write as Iron Man 2 explodes on to the cinema screens this weekend. IT MUST be weird, author Ben Falk muses in a new book about actor Robert Downey Jr, being

  • Tucker goes nuts

    Todd Carty always looks on the bright side of life, he tells Viv Hardwick. Perfect for the role of Patsy in the stage tour of Spamalot. "I’VE always carried a spare pair of coconuts around with me,” jokes Todd Carty about being cast in the role

  • Police name train death woman

    A WOMAN killed after she was struck by a train at a level crossing has been named by police. Yvonne Banks, of Strensall, near York, died after she was hit by a First TransPennine Express train on Wednesday, April 21. The 55-year-old, who worked as an

  • Iron Man 2 (12A)

    Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L Jackson Running time: 120 mins Rating: ★★★★ THE first Iron Man film was one of the better movies based on a comic book hero, not

  • Cyrus about love and film future

    Miley Cyrus missed a UK launch thanks to the volcanic ash scare. But Shereen Low tracked her down in LA for a chat. LOVE might be in the air, but Miley Cyrus is firmly on the ground thanks to the infamous cloud of Icelandic ash. The 17-year-old

  • MGMT: Congratulations

    MGMT’s hotly anticipated second album holds many surprises. The album is different to debut effort Oracular Spectacular, more alternative, instrumental and in some songs magical. Front man Andrew VanWyngarden says: “It’s us trying to

  • Scouting For Girls: Everyone Wants To Be On TV (Sony)

    IF You’re watching your daily intake of sugar, then be prepared for this. For so sickly sweet is this album you are likely to exceed your weekly allowance by the first morning of day one. Not strictly my taste in music, I can, however, understand

  • First local folk festival of the year is in Bellingham

    THE first local folk festival of the year takes place in Northumberland this weekend, in the picturesque village of Bellingham, and organised by those nice people from the weekly BAA Club. It starts tonight with an opening concert featuring American

  • Lauren Pritchard: The Jackson Sessions

    THE debut EP from dazzling new artist Lauren Pritchard. She has a remarkable voice and a rare song-writing talent to match. Pritchard has had an inspiring growing up; she headed to LA at 16, sang in a reggae band, lived with Lisa Marie Presley

  • Mika VS Redone: Kick Ass

    MULTI-platinum selling pop superstar Mika goes head to head with the world’s hottest pop producer Red One – the title track from the movie with the same name. Based on the Marvel Comic by Mark Millar and John Romita, the movie tells the story of

  • April 29, 2010

    WHAT’S ON: All Eyes on David Lang, Hall Two, The Sage Gateshead, 8pm, tonight. The programme includes his The Little Girl with Passion. Box office: 0191-443 4661. REVIEWS: Schubert, Symphonies 8 & 9 (BIS-SACD-1656) The Swedish Chamber Orchestra

  • Vince Gill: Love Songs (Humphead)

    FROM the early days of Boone Creek with Ricky Skaggs and as frontman with Pure Prairie League, I have always appreciated the talent of Vince Gill. Since those early days he has earned 18 Country Music Association Awards and 20 Grammies (the most

  • April 29, 2010

    WHAT’S ON: Tomorrow John Etheridge and Saturday lunchtime Maine Street Jazz Band, Darlington Arts Centre 01325 486555. CD REVIEWS: Paul Motian/Lost in a dream (ECM 2732132) This trio, with Chris Potter on tenor saxophone and Jason Moran piano,

  • Pearl of the dales

    Ruth Addicott talks to artistic director Malcolm Creese as the Swaledale Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary with 51 events across the dales. AS A classical jazz musician and artistic director of the Swaledale Festival, Malcolm Creese has

  • Rosa future

    A Pirate King and a new version of A Tale Of Two Cities are future projects for veteran showman Paul Nicholas. He talks to Viv Hardwick. PAUL Nicholas jokes about adding Beuselinck, his real surname, to a poster advertising his starring role as

  • New to rent April 29, 2010

    Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (15, 115 mins, Entertainment In Video) Stars: Andy Serkis, Olivia Williams, Naomie Harris, Bill Milner, Charlotte Beaumont, Ray Winstone, Toby Jones, Wesley Nelson MAT Whitecross directs this free-wheeling biopic of 1970s

  • The biter bit

    THERE are those in Soapland who complain that Nicola de Souza lacks bite these days and that the once bitchy, scheming and generally bothersome back-stabbing woman has turned soft. Good news for all, she turns nasty again in Emmerdale (ITV1).

  • A special man who touched many lives

    I CAME away from the funeral of a 95-year-old neighbour this week realising just how much we can learn from a life lived well. I first met Major Walker, who we soon came to know as Peter, about five years ago when I was out for a walk with

  • Run of the Mill

    Fond memories of fresh air, freedom and fun were evoked at the Wind Mill reunion. NO doubt in the belief that what goes around comes around, they held a gloriously nostalgic reunion last Saturday – a celebration of time flown, a grandmothers

  • Oklahoma, Sunderland Empire

    YEE-HAH! Rodgers and Hammerstein’s mighty fine show is back in the North-East territory. Musical theatre is no pony ride and we ask the world of our performers. This lot certainly deliver. Marti Webb, as Aunt Eller, with a young, cute cast

  • Miners' tales

    AS a tribute to all miners, I intend to write a book about their courage, loyalty and great sense of humour. Many acts of bravery have taken place both on the surface and underground and I would welcome contributions from readers who may have

  • Avoided volcanic ash, shame about turbulence

    IT'S nice to have arrived in Spain, safe and sound. With less than an hour to go before I tee off in the opening round of the Spanish Open, it's quite nice to have actually made it here. I have had two weeks in the Far East, where I was in

  • Sydney ardour

    Greatest Cities With Griff Rhys Jones (ITV1, 9pm); How the Other Half Live (C4, 9pm); Psychoville (Dave, 10.20pm) GRIFF RHYS JONES rattles off a story about swimming with sharks in Sydney. It segues into another anecdote of owl catching, he then

  • St George's Day

    I MUST applaud Darlington Borough Council for flying the flag of St George last Friday on the town clock and offer praise to Frankies and the Boot and Shoe pubs for doing the same. Special thanks also to my friends for making it an enjoyable day

  • Show thanks

    I WOULD like to thank everyone who came to the World War Tribute Show, “Lay Down Your Arms/Back to the Britz”, at Chilton and Windlestone Club on April 15 – also the WW2 Appreciation Society for attending dressed in the style of the Forties.

  • EU membership

    I CANNOT understand the enthusiasm with which correspondents argue over who will win the General Election as we will still be ruled effectively by Brussels. EU law will still take precedence over English statute law; our government cannot support

  • Hung parliament

    IT seems the threat of a hung parliament is needlessly troubling voters and political party leaders alike. Pre-1997, this country was in a mess under Tory rule with New Labour’s blue-eyed, new boy wonder, Tony Blair, waiting in the wings, promising

  • General election

    WITH just a week left in the General Election campaign, it is perhaps worth reflecting on the many positive aspects of living in the UK for citizens and immigrants alike. Firstly, this is still a free society, providing free healthcare, education

  • What a noteable occasion...

    I WOULD like to give a big vote of thanks to Durham Music Service for the fantastic concert that it and pupils from schools all over the county gave at The Sage, Gateshead, on Sunday (Echo, April 27). Considering that the youngest was only seven,

  • Time to KO this system of voting

    IT is always best to stand up to a bully, so I trust voters will treat the outrageous Tory scare campaign against a hung parliament with the contempt it deserves. The Conservatives have plunged new depths in their increasingly hysterical crusade

  • Newcastle striker in court on assault charge

    NEWCASTLE United striker Andy Carroll has appeared in court over an alleged nightclub bust-up. The 21-year-old was told his assault charge is so serious it must be heard at Crown Court this summer. The footballer was arrested after an incident in Newcastle

  • A sinner at the door

    Bigotgate threatened yesterday to push Labour’s election campaign off the rails, but Political Editor Chris Lloyd wonders if Gordon Brown can turn it to his advantage. AS front doors go, Gillian Duffy’s is unexceptional. It is white uPVC, four panels

  • No excuses, Mr Brown

    GORDON Brown is in the fight of his life, pleading with the nation to give him another chance, asking for our trust in his leadership under the everyday pressures of running the country. Yesterday, when he was inadvertently recorded calling a

  • Tango can hot-foot it into the winner’s enclosure

    BLUE Tango was narrowly denied over course and distance on his last start and cannot be ignored for the Tarpan Vodka Handicap at Brighton. Amanda Perrett’s in-form four-year-old attempted to make all the running – as he did when scoring at Lingfield

  • Ryder Cup tickets alert

    ORGANISERS of the Ryder Cup have reinforced the warning to all golf fans to be vigilant of unscrupulous agents offering forged or invalid tickets for October’s match at Celtic Manor, in Wales. The second ballot for public match day tickets is

  • Advice for troubled McIlroy

    RORY McILROY is being advised to “just be his own man” by stablemate Lee Westwood as he seeks a return to form. After missing a second successive halfway cut at The Masters three weeks ago, the Northern Ireland youngster spoke of taking a

  • ‘No danger for athletes in Delhi’

    SECURITY at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October will ensure the safety of English athletes, sports bodies are to be told. Commonwealth Games England is to write to all governing bodies providing reassurances about security and making

  • Bopara steers England to victory

    Ravi Bopara took his opportunity to impress as England began their ICC World Twenty20 campaign by coasting to a seven-wicket warm-up win over Bangladesh in Barbados yesterday. Bopara, back in the England reckoning after a winter left to his

  • Durham made to toil as Rudolph hits 228 not out

    NEVER have Durham been kept in the field so long. Yorkshire batted for 176 overs before declaring on 610 for six on the second evening at Headingley, to which Durham replied with 54 for three. Even on the occasion of Brian Lara’s 501 not out Warwickshire

  • Nadal makes progress in Rome Masters

    RAFAEL NADAL avoided the same fate which befell Roger Federer as he strolled through a potentially tricky Rome Masters second-round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber. World number one Federer was subjected to a humbling 2-6 6-1 7-5 defeat

  • Champagne moment as Davis makes his exit

    STEVE DAVIS sipped a glass of champagne and said his Crucible crusade had made him feel a decade younger after he bowed out against Neil Robertson yesterday. The 52-year-old put plenty of fizz into the Betfred.com World Championship with his

  • Benitez praises Gerrard

    LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has praised captain Steven Gerrard for raising his game against the background of rumours of problems with his marriage. Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran yesterday denied there were any difficulties with their marriage

  • Hodgson to wait on Zamora

    FULHAM manager Roy Hodgson will not gamble on the fitness of striker Bobby Zamora ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Hamburg at Craven Cottage. The 29-year-old – whose 19 goals this season have propelled him into

  • Rhys facing race to make Aussie squad

    RHYS WILLIAMS faces a race against time as he attempts to prove his fitness ahead of the announcement of the Australia squad for this summer’s World Cup. Having played through the pain barrier in recent weeks, Williams will be rested as Middlesbrough

  • Dallaglio warning over salary caps

    LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO fears Guinness Premiership clubs could be sent into football- style financial meltdown if rugby authorities do not keep a tight grip on the salary cap system. Premier Rugby, the clubs’ umbrella body, will decide next month

  • Antigua ground approved

    THE International Cricket Council has informed the West Indies Cricket Board that the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, in Antigua, may now be used for international cricket after passing an inspection. In February 2009, the ground was the scene of

  • Fulop deal sealed

    SUNDERLAND have confirmed that goalkeeper Marton Fulop has joined Manchester City on an emergency loan deal. The 26-year-old Hungary international travelled to Manchester yesterday as the two clubs thrashed out an agreement – and looks certain

  • £1m fraud pair implied connections to IRA

    A MARRIED couple who conned a farmer out of £1m after suggesting they were connected to Irish terrorists were jailed yesterday. A judge heard how travellers Dennis McGinley, 30, and Bianca McGinley, 25, defrauded terrified victims in North Yorkshire

  • A credit where it’s due for rugby college

    A COLLEGE has been officially accredited by the Rugby Football Union. East Durham College, based in Peterlee, County Durham, has been named an RFU Community Rugby Accredited College, recognised by the RFU, the Women’s RFU and British Colleges

  • Barcelona 1 Inter Milian 0 Inter win 3-2 on aggregate

    Barcelona 1 Inter Milian 0 Inter win 3-2 on aggregate GERARD PIQUE’S late strike proved insufficient for Barcelona as Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan held out for more than an hour with ten men to seal their passage to a European Cup final for the

  • Be the Magpies’ latest signing

    NORTHERN Rock has launched a Newcastle United-based website as part of its sponsorship of the football club. Sign the Stripes will show the strip gradually formed by fans entering their names and messages of support to create the black stripes

  • Playlist website on song

    A WEBSITE capitalising on the increasing popularity of social networking and music downloading, is to create jobs in the North-East. Sharemyplaylists.com (SMP) will revolutionise the rapidly-growing Spotify music community, which has millions

  • Stadium of Light scores again

    SUNDERLAND AFC’s Stadium of Light may already be well known for high standards on the pitch, but it has now received national recognition for excellence as a business and events facility. The stadium, which reached the national finals after

  • Wham BAM builders’ top turnover

    A CONSTRUCTION firm building a transplantation centre in the North-East has reported profits almost equal to its best ever. BAM Construction, which is building the Institute of Transplantation at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, has reported

  • Van hire firm wins security car contract

    A NORTH-EAST vehicle hire company has secured a threeyear deal to supply a security firm with its cars. Northgate Vehicle Hire, based in Darlington, is providing the fleet of 50 cars to Securitas Mobile, a division of one of the world’s largest

  • Swine flu lifts profit at Glaxo

    A PHARMACEUTICAL factory in County Durham played a significant role in boosting the performance of a drugs company. GlaxoSmithKline yesterday revealed H1N1 treatments in reponse to last year’s swine flu crisis helped first quarter sales rise

  • Estate regeneration will mean jobs for the boys

    AN area hit by the mothballing of a steel plant is to benefit from dozens of jobs regenerating a run-down housing estate. Housing company Coast and Country has said that 60 per cent of the jobs created when it starts regeneration of the Closes

  • Carroll’s gratitude to boss Hughton

    ANDY CARROLL has thanked Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton for standing by him despite the off-field problems that have plagued him throughout the current campaign. Carroll has emerged as one of the stars of Newcastle’s Championship-winning

  • Davey explains teenage line-up

    SIMON DAVEY has explained that he dipped into Darlington’s youth ranks for Tuesday’s defeat to Notts County through necessity rather than choice, and says that relying so heavily on teenagers is not his long-term strategy. The manager is keen

  • Cana vows Black Cats will have title race say

    THE rest of the country might be obsessing about the possibility of Liverpool wrecking Chelsea’s title hopes this weekend, but Lorik Cana feels more attention should be paid to Sunderland’s chances of derailing Manchester United’s championship

  • Soldiers return home for comrade’s funeral

    SOLDIERS who have recently returned from Afghanistan were among mourners at the funeral yesterday of a brave 21-year-old who died while searching for hidden explosive devices. Many of the troops owed their lives to Rifleman Mark Turner, of 3 Rifles

  • Accountant was made ‘fall guy’

    THE Army was last night criticised for pressing for a prosecution and making “a fall guy” of a woman who worked at a North Yorkshire barracks. Karen Hustwick left court in tears after being given one of a judge’s most lenient sentences because

  • A shoulder to lean on for city centre drinkers

    DRINKERS who find themselves a little worse for wear may be able to call upon the help of Christian volunteers to get home safely. Members of Durham Street-Lights have begun walking the city’s streets on Saturday nights ready to help troubled

  • Free package for couple who endured ‘living hell’

    A COUPLE who cut short an overnight stay in the North-East after finding themselves surrounded by “boy racers” are to be offered a complimentary return trip. Members of Bishop Auckland Town Council have agreed to pay for a night’s accommodation

  • Lecturer is recognised for debut novel

    A NOVELIST and lecturer from the region has seen his debut novel earn international recognition. Writer Kachi Ozumba, who lectures in creative writing at Teesside University, was shortlisted for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First

  • Worker killed by falling crowbar

    AN inquest into the death at a Corus steel plant of a man who was hit on the head by an iron crowbar heard that gaps big enough to allow a metal pole to fall through were found at the scene of the tragedy. Stewart Eddy, specialist inspector Health

  • Jury hears tragic fire 999 call

    A STABLE hand who escaped from a blaze that claimed the lives of two jockeys broke down in tears yesterday as a jury heard a recording of a 999 call she made. During the brief call, Lizzie Murphy, 18, frantically asks for help as the fire takes

  • Dreamspace go-ahead ‘wasn’t rubber-stamped’

    A COUNCIL chief has denied his officers did not fully consider safety issues posed by an inflatable walk-in sculpture because they were excited to be hosting such a prestigious artwork. Tony Galloway was director of development services of

  • Voters not being told gory details of cuts, says Clegg

    POLITICIANS are not telling voters the “full, gory details” of the public spending cuts or tax rises needed to fill the black hole in the nation’s finances, Nick Clegg acknowledged yesterday. The Liberal Democrat leader said he would establish

  • Campaign in turmoil after PM’s blunder

    LABOUR’S election campaign was in turmoil last night after Gordon Brown was recorded calling a lifelong Labour supporter a “bigoted woman” in a blunder that threatened to plunge the party to a defeat. Party aides admitted the incident in

  • Hostel closure looms after funding bid fails

    A HOSTEL looks certain to close during an overhaul of Darlington’s services for the homeless. The Salvation Army hostel at Tom Raine Court failed in its bid to secure funding from Darlington Borough Council and The Northern Echo understands it

  • Election candidates ‘are adjusting to the realities’

    THREE leading North-East politicians went head-to-head on Tuesday night in a televised debate – and on most issues found themselves in agreement. Filmed in Sunderland University’s new City Campus, all three agreed that transport links needed

  • Politicians grilled over housing plans

    POLITICIANS faced tough questions from North-East estate agents yesterday about their plans to help boost the housing market. Members of the North-East Property Forum had a chance to question all three candidates fighting for the chance to

  • Communities in limbo with rejuvenation delay

    PLANS to demolish and rebuild run-down North-East housing have been shelved, leaving scores of properties derelict and hundreds of residents in limbo. Durham County Council cannot afford the second and third phases of a £56.5m housing masterplan

  • Duke opens first part of campus expansion

    THE Duke of York was in the region yesterday to visit his namesake city. During his trip to York, Prince Andrew officially opened Goodricke College, the first building on the University of York’s campus expansion, unveiling a plaque to mark

  • Bus driver fined for using phone at wheel

    A MAN has been fined after two off-duty police officers saw him driving a bus containing about 30 passengers while using his mobile phone. Stephen Wright, 39, from Lucerne Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, admitted the offence of driving while using

  • Scales of the unexpected

    A FISHY mystery has taken another twist after 30 goldfish, which were thought to have been eaten by a greedy heron, reappeared in the garden pond from which they were stolen. The fish, some as large as eight inches, disappeared from Sidney Carter

  • 200th arrest made in drugs operation

    A CAMPAIGN to stamp out drug dealing netted its 200th arrest during a police operation yesterday. Darlington police made five arrests and found what they believe to be cannabis during the latest Operation Nimrod raids. More than 80 officers

  • Communities in limbo with rejuvenation delay

    PLANS to demolish and rebuild run-down North-East housing have been shelved, leaving scores of properties derelict and hundreds of residents in limbo. Durham County Council cannot afford the second and third phases of a £56.5m housing masterplan