TONY Blair was asked tonight to appear before a US hearing on the Lockerbie controversy, according to reports. The former prime minister could appear alongside ex-foreign secretary Jack Straw who has been invited to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee
MORE than 400 holidaymakers who were abroad when their tour operator collapsed landed back in the North-East tonight. Two flights landed at Durham Tees Valley Airport at about 9pm carrying passengers from Turkish resorts Bodrum and Dalaman. They were
RESIDENTS will have greater powers to stop lap dancing clubs opening in their community, after a council adopted new tougher licensing laws. Durham County Council's cabinet agreed the clubs be reclassified as "sexual entertainment venues" and gave council
Eighteen darts players and a host of friends turned out for Jack Darnell’s birthday celebrations last night and a cracking time was had by all. The annual darts event was another resounding success and John (Dolly) Dalton turned out to be the
POLICE are warning young people against attending a camping event this weekend after it was promoted on social networking site Facebook. The event, at Round Howe, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, is expected to attract hundreds of party-goers celebrating
A GIANT bell cast from the metal of a decommissioned RAF Tornado warplane has been unveiled as the region's latest piece of public art. Turner Prize nominee Fiona Banner has installed the piece on Gateshead's Quayside, which opens to the public on Saturday
THE first mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain for half a century has been temporarily taken off the lines for repairs. Tornado, which was built in Darlington, is in engineering works in Hither Green, London, for repairs to a leaking boiler
When a new client tells you that he’s come to see you because he has always viewed you as his family solicitor, your eyebrows rise. When he then tells you that you divorced his grandfather and then his mother, you know you’ve attained a certain age!
NITA WHITTAKER is trying to find relatives of her mother who emigrated to Australia. She was Minnie Richardson, who was born in 1905, in County Durham. In 1926, she worked in Stockport, Cheshire. Her daughter Nita was born in Manchester in June 1939
TWO fun days will be held in neighbouring villages this summer to entertain families and help bring communities together. The events will take place at Redesdale Court Park, in Trimdon Grange, and Grosvenor Terrace Park in Trimdon Colliery. Dance
PUPILS are reaping the rewards of their green-fingered outdoor work in their school dinners. Youngsters from Etherley Lane Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, have spent the last few months tending to an allotment in their school grounds, growing an
A MOTHER and daughter have organised a charity day to raise money and awareness of a condition they both live with. Christine Gibson and 15-year-old Carey-Beth Latcham both have ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) which is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome
TENANTS should benefit from a housing association’s internal reorganisation which could see it move into new premises. Most of the changes at Sedgefield Borough Homes are internal and designed to meet tenants’ needs and aspirations and national
THREE teachers who clocked up nearly a century of teaching between them are leaving a Bishop Auckland school. Judith Bainbridge and Carol Heslop are retiring from Cockton Hill Infant’s School, and Deborah Tomkinson is leaving her full-time post, but
Ferryhill residents are being asked for their opinion on a new piece of artwork to be installed in the town’s park. The piece of work called ‘Viewing Tower’, is based on the towns historic mining industry. The work will be part of the regeneration
A BOOK cataloguing the region’s rich heritage of bird-life is to be produced following a lottery grant. The Birds of Durham Heritage Project has been awarded £30,000 over the next two years from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project, which is being
THREE hundred cannabis plants have been seized by police during a house raid. Police raided the house in Grey Street in the Albert Hill area of Darlington this morning. Officers executed a warrant at the property in the early hours. The plants range
PLANS to rebuild a primary school on a new site have been approved by councillors. Durham County Council’s cabinet agreed a £6m scheme to rebuild Greenland Primary School, in South Moor, near Stanley, on a site opposite the village war memorial, at a
A SENIOR Labour figure has slammed his council over its handling of a former school building in his community. Councillor Joe Armstrong, chair of Durham County Council’s overview and scrutiny management board, said the authority’s estates department
A POLITICAL row has broken out over the future of three city secondary schools. The dispute comes after plans to create a £25m academy by merging Belmont School Community Arts College and Durham Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre and build
DURHAM added 38 runs in 11.4 overs in the afternoon for the loss of Dale Benkenstein before the rain returned with the score on 96 for five. They still needed 99 more runs to avoid the follow-on, which will be crucial in the battle to avoid defeat.
A DRINKER accused of attacking another reveller after following her into the ladies' toilets of a packed pub has been cleared by a jury. Michael Eddy was today unanimously acquitted of a charge of sexual assault at the end of a four-day trial
PLANNING officers are advising councillors to a reject a multi million application to create a superstore on a former steelworks. Retail giant Tesco wants to develop the former industrial site in Consett, claiming it will create 250 jobs and safeguard
SCHOOL transport, concessionary fares and travel schemes will be among the first council cuts to be made in Darlington. Twenty redundancies will be made and 13 vacant posts will remain unfilled, as Darlington Borough Council draws up its plans
A SCHOOL that was placed in special measures last year has been praised for the second time this year by Government inspectors. Ofsted has reported that Mount Pleasant Primary School, in the Branksome area of Darlington, has made good progress since
THE original idea for this column was to put forward the idea that it might be worth an English club, like Middlesbrough, linking up with one from the League of Ireland. Athlone Town, I was informed on Monday night, would love to become a feeder club
DURHAM were saved by the rain this morning after crashing to 58 for four in the face of some outstanding bowling from Jimmy Anderson and Glen Chapple. Resuming on 27 for one, Paul Collingwood got off the mark by edging the fifth ball he faced for
EXCLUSIVE: Stockton may know next week if it’s won a £1m Olympic celebration event for 2012. STOCKTON is on the verge of pulling off a commission to create a £1m celebration for the 2012 Olympics, which might be invited to the London event itself
Entertainment Editor Viv Hardwick looks for the Stockton International Riverside Festival highlights with organiser Frank Wilson. IN addition to the wonderful costumes, headdresses, floats and music in the Stockton Carnival Parade on Saturday,
Running time: 94 mins CATHERINE Zeta Jones knows a thing or two about being married to an older man (Michael Douglas, in case you don’t know), but her new film comedy The Rebound reverses the situation. She plays 40-year-old yummy mummy
Steve Pratt doesn’t mind holding the baby when it comes to discussing the success of Toy Story 3 with director Lee Unkrich. DIRECTOR Lee Unkrich left me holding the baby. Big Baby, one of the new characters in the record-breaking animated movie
NEWCASTLE United have today confirmed the signing of Dan Gosling, with the young midfielder signing a four-year contract at St. James’ Park. The 20-year-old becomes the Club’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of James Perch from Nottingham
7DAYS spends five minutes with JLS, the X Factor runners-up, who have become top entertainers, selling out arena tours across the UK. AS JLS prepare for what is likely to be two sell-out nights at the MetroRadio Arena, Newcastle, in December
The Eighties are back and Raileasy is offering a big prize of a meet and greet with singer Tony Hadley. TONY Hadley has just finished a reunion tour with Spandau Ballet and is midway through The Real 80s Summer Party gigs which reaches Manchester
THE MetroRadio Arena is now officially in tenth place as one of the world’s busiest venues, ranked by paid attendance figures published by Pollstar magazine, with well over quarter of a million visitors to the venue for the first six months of 2010
WHAT’S ON: Jazz North-East’s tribute to Chris Yates featuring Alan Barnes, Steve Waterman, Tim Garland and local musicians, Corner House, Newcastle, Sunday afternoon, 0191-263-9602. CD REVIEWS: Odean Pope/Odean’s List (In & Our Records IORCD771022
REVIEWS: Maria’s Song: Sinikka Langeland (ECM New Series 271 7097) Norwegian singer and kantele player Langeland weaves folk melodies in between the timeless strains of JS Bach, drawing on the Gospel of St Luke for her images of the Holy Mother.
IT’S hard to believe that the Great North Country and Western Festival is 20 years old, surviving two changes of venue and battles with gale force winds and flood conditions. Congratulations go to John and Margie Tallon and their family and helpers
DESPITE our dyed-in-the-wool folky reputations, a lot of us on the UK scene, performers and audience alike, have an astonishingly wide range of taste in music, and many of us will be interested in the Summertyne Americana Festival that starts
Sell-out stand-up John Bishop is now being let loose on BBC with his own show. It’s an incredible rise to fame for the man who quit his job and saved his marriage. Viv Hardwick reports. COMEDIAN John Bishop’s The Sunshine Tour has almost sold
AN appearance by The Doves at Scarborough’s new Open Air Theatre on Saturday, August 7, has expanded into an all-day event. Guests now include Newton Faulkner and The Futureheads from Sunderland as the 6,500-seater venue throws open the doors at 1pm
Further to Tuesday's blog about the public relations disaster surrounding Judges Country House Hotel, near Yarm... To recap, last January, Annette Bainbridge and Paul Teece booked their wedding at the hotel. It was due to take place in November
Clash Of The Titans, 12(101 mins, Warner, DVD £19.99/Blu-ray & DVD Combi-pack £26.99) Stars: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Pete Postlethwaite. AS a baby, Perseus (Worthington) is rescued from the
NOT content with identity theft and sleeping with a pupil, teacher John Stape adds murder to his CV in Coronation Street (ITV1). An accidental killing maybe but hey, he’s still got a body on his hands. John was so desperate to return to the classroom
WE went back to Ireland for a family wedding last week. I think I’m getting more emotional at marriage ceremonies as the years go on. It’s all that young love, hope and optimism, a fresh-faced, fledgling couple with a new life together stretching
The home fires burn still in Reeth, a wartime headquarters for soldiers whose motto was ‘Only the enemy in front’. REETH’S tranquil in the seductive summer sunshine, a chimney or two gently smoking skywards, the dray wagon assuaging the Buck Inn
BRIAN CLEMENS is probably best known for his TV creations which include The Avengers and The Professionals, both hugely popular and not entirely based on real life. Inside Job continues in the same vein. The plot has so many twists and turns
TWO alleged accomplices of killer Raoul Moat have made their first appearance at Crown Court. Karl Ness, 26, and Qhuram Awan, 23, were originally thought to be Moat's hostages during his days on the run after murdering one person and shooting another
A MAN armed with a samurai sword and baseball bat had to be coaxed out of a house by police after he was believed to have assaulted a woman. Police were called to Grey Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham late last night after reports of
SO HERE I am, almost 40 years on, joyfully intoning along with the classic Python insult “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries”, which brings King Arthur’s quest for the grail to a shuddering halt at the hands of
MEMBERS of the Bolam Area Action Group (BAAG) are delighted with RWE Npower Renewables’ statement that it will not be proceeding with its proposed wind turbine development at Bolam, near West Auckland, County Durham (Echo, July 19). At this stage
The Hotel Inspector (Five, 9pm); Location, Location, Location (C4, 8pm) IF you’re missing Mary Portas sorting out the country’s ailing small businesses in the now-finished BBC2 series, here comes another strong woman with a good business head to
WHAT sort of checks are made on public purchasing? Are we paying for bad work on our roads and paying over and over for repairs? Many busy roads and motorways were unaffected by the winter weather while people had to pick their way through a
THE Guide Dogs for the Blind Association really is very grateful to all our volunteers who help us raise vital funds as we rely solely on donations and legacies. We receive no funding, and if it wasn’t for the generosity of the public we wouldn
DAVID Cameron has defended his NHS revolution – which includes sacking at least 4,000 staff across the region – by declaring war on “bureaucrats”. The Prime Minister knew he could score an easy hit by arguing he is simply taking out a tier of
WITH the World Cup behind us and the summer holiday season now in full swing, NHS Blood and Transplant would like to thank everyone from the North-East and North Yorkshire who took time to donate blood over the past few weeks. During the 2006
CONSERVATIVE councillor Alan Coultas’ letter about Labour’s legacy (HAS, July 19) contains some inaccuracies. He claims that Labour borrowed more and more and misled the nation “that the day would never arrive when we had to pay it back”. I recall
ALTHOUGH I am greatly disappointed that Belmont School Community Arts College, Durham, will no longer be receiving Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding, I and many other parents, pupils, staff and members of the local community are thrilled
RE your article, “The day a town mourned” (Echo, July 1), about the 60th anniversary to the day of a gas leak that killed 11 workmen at the former Consett Iron Company, which was sent to me by relatives in Spennymoor. I was approaching 20 and
George Callander wants to help grieving animal owners come to terms with the death of their beloved pets. He tells Steve Pratt about raising the profile of pet bereavement counselling and starting a support group in the North-East. GEORGE CALLANDER
THE emotions involved in yesterday’s decision by Durham County Council to close seven residential care homes are not to be underestimated. And it would be easy for us to condemn the decision as heartless because removing elderly people from their
ASCOT’S Albany Stakes is shaping up to be one of the strongest juvenile races so far this season and Crying Lightening can give the form a further boost with victory at Sandown. Memory came home a narrow winner of the six-furlong heat and has
ANDREW FLINTOFF believes Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan is the man who can take his mantle as England’s Ashes-winning all-rounder. Such praise may not be typical from a Lancashire player to a Roses rival, but Flintoff sees enough of himself in Bresnan
ALTITUDE has affected Bradley Wiggins’ podium bid at the Tour de France and the Team Sky leader is now prepared to shelve his overall classification bid to go in search of a stage victory. Today’s 174-kilometre stage 17 from Pau to the summit
SEAMER UMAR GUL described Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat first in the second Test at Headingley as “shocking” after the Antipodeans recorded their second lowest Test total against Pakistan yesterday. Australia’s batsmen were
ADAM LYTH has already become the first batsmen in the country to reach 1,000 county championship runs this season, but he is showing no signs of slowing down yet. Once more, the 23-year-old was in imperious form for Yorkshire, reaching his 11th
DURHAM had to endure an afternoon of toil yesterday and will spend the last two days of their home match against Lancashire trying to salvage a draw. While things generally went their way last season, it has been the exact opposite this year,
A BUSY North-East road is closed following a two car crash this morning. A black VW Passat and a black Lexus collided on the A67 near Urlay Nook, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, at around 8.40am. The male drivers, aged 36 and 34, are not injured. Police
DARLINGTON have signed nine players this summer and their pre-season performances so far have been encouraging, yet manager Mark Cooper is far from finished in his squad rebuilding. Both Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday have found a resilient
CHRIS HUGHTON has hinted that Steven Taylor could struggle to be fit for the start of Newcastle’s Premier League campaign after the former England Under-21 picked up a shoulder injury last Saturday. The 24-year-old, who was ruled out of action
There is much gnashing of teeth over public sector cuts at the moment and, while The Northern Echo has expressed its concern over the pace of the cuts, there is undoubtedly waste to be tackled. For a start, you should see some of the public
Sunderland 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 SUNDERLAND’S pre-season injury hoodoo struck again last night when left-back George McCartney was stretchered off just after the hour mark in Portugal against Brighton. Steve Bruce will assess the extent
THERE are proposals doing the rounds for English clubs like Middlesbrough to link up with League of Ireland sides. Athlone Town are keen to become a feeder club for a team in the Premier League or even the Championship, and Bray Wanderers
A TELEPHONE sex pest who has stayed out of trouble with the help of his family has been spared jail. Chronic alcoholic Brian Humble, 44, made a string of random calls while drunk to women in hospitals, town halls and police offices. He faced
Bray Wanderers 0 Middlesbrough 3 MIDDLESBROUGH new-boy Kris Boyd will have a scan in the next 24 hours to discover the extent of the damage he suffered to his ankle during last night’s comfortable preseason friendly victory over Bray Wanderers
SUNDERLAND are confident of agreeing a surprise deal for England goalkeeper David James after Craig Gordon’s broken arm left the Wearsiders short of experienced cover ahead of next month’s Premier League kick-off. James’ agent Colin Gordon
IMAGES of the region’s wildlife were showcased at an awards ceremony last night. Winners from the North-East Wildlife Trust’s 2010 photography and film competition were honoured at the Great North Museum, in Newcastle. The images will remain
THE son of Sir Bobby Robson has spoken of the family’s pride at the footballing icon’s enduring legacy, as proved by the success of the foundation set up in his name. Andrew Robson, speaking as the anniversary of his father’s death approaches,
DRINKERS are unhappy after the brewing of their favourite pint was shifted 65 miles north – which, they say, has altered its taste. John Smith’s Magnet has been brewed in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, since the late 19th Century and the area’s
THE recovery challenge facing Blacks Leisure was highlighted yesterday after its sales figures took a buffeting in volatile trading conditions. The outdoor clothing and equipment retailer described the 7.5 per cent fall in like-for-like sales
A PLUMBING apprentice is receiving extra training after his firm secured £1,200 in funding. D W Bathrooms, based in Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor, County Durham, received business development assistance from the South Durham Enterprise Agency.
AN apprenticeships expert is to help a region of China tackle its chronic youth unemployment problems. Paul Champion, managing director of the North-East Apprenticeship Company (NEAC), has been invited by the Government of the Hong Kong Special
A RICHMONDSHIRE businessman has scooped a number of awards in a national food and drink competition. William Ramsbottom, of Just Williams Preserves, claimed five prizes in the Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food and recognised
A FAMILY-OWNED builders’ merchant is planning an expansion push across the region as it continues to grow, in spite of the downturn in the sector. JT Atkinson, which is marking its 150th year in business, revealed it is looking to open several
A THERMOFORMING specialist is looking to increase turnover after investing in a second energy-efficient production line. TDX is increasing plastic film manufacturing capacity at its Team Valley Trading Estate factory, in Gateshead, by 7,000
A COMMUNITY family magazine set up by two County Durham mothers is to quadruple circulation after gaining backing from celebrities. Since being set up a year ago, Get Set Kids now distributes 10,000 copies into schools, leisure centres and
A HORSE has been left fighting for its life after being shot in the head at point-blank range. Nineteen-year-old Mr Darcy suffered a fractured skull after being shot in the forehead with an airgun on the outskirts of Durham City last week, and
THE man at the centre of a planning row has revealed he intends to sue a council for £13m. Antony Shepherd, of Albert Hill Skip Hire, in Darlington, is preparing a claim against Darlington Borough Council after his firm was prevented from operating
A SCHEME has been launched to find ambassadors to raise awareness of the Tees Valley. Launched by visitTeesvalley, the project is designed to boost tourism in the area and has received the backing of the five local authorities in the area and
A POLICEMAN left blinded after being shot in the face by gunman Raoul Moat said he was devastated, but felt good about the future as he left hospital yesterday. PC David Rathband was sitting in his patrol car at a roundabout on the A1 in Newcastle
Chris Lloyd watched the curtain fall last night on a club that was in the international spotlight as the backdrop for a famous political career. "DO you remember the act we had when Neil Kinnock opened the club in 1993?” says Peter Brookes
HEAVILY-CRITICISED six-figure bonuses for Network Rail (NR) bosses were approved at the company’s annual meeting yesterday despite rail union calls for a “no” vote. But although 37 of NR’s “members” – who effectively act as shareholders for
LABOUR failed to do enough to improve transport and housing in the North during its 13 years in power, David Miliband admitted yesterday. The front runner to succeed Gordon Brown as party leader pledged to give both issues “a higher priority”
A FORMER senior police officer has swapped villains for violets in his latest role as manager of a charity garden project. Mike I’Anson spent more than 25 years with North Yorkshire Police, reaching the rank of inspector, before leaving in
SCORES of visitors to a popular attraction had to pay £125 to have their vehicles released after a clamping company struck at the weekend. According to witnesses, about 60 vehicles were clamped on land beside the old bus depot in Richmond, North
A NOTORIOUS US bomber graced the skies of the North-East yesterday as the finishing touches were being put in place for Europe’s largest free air show. The B-52 Stratofortress, the backbone of the US Air Force for more than 50 years, swooped
THE campaign to bring train building back to the Birthplace of the Railways was raised in the House of Commons yesterday. Hitachi is poised to create up to 800 jobs directly and about 7,000 more in the supply chain by building a factory in
DURHAM County Council’s youngest representative is celebrating the achievement of a politics degree. Becky Brunskill, county councillor for Willington, says it is a relief and an honour to receive the BA honours from Northumbria University
Durham County Council’s decision to close seven residential homes will mean months of uncertainty for the elderly people, their families and care staff. Local Government Correspondent Mark Tallentire reports. “THEY’RE playing God.”
FAMILIES devastated by a cash-strapped council’s decision to axe seven residential care homes are preparing to launch a challenge to block the closures. Durham County Council’s executive cabinet agreed the closures yesterday as it was revealed
I'VE just been loaned a scrapbook containing newspaper cuttings about north North Yorkshire. I opened it up and was immediately struck by one from the Darlington and Stockton Times in 1985 - before the dear old D&S was allowed onto our computerised
THE campaign to bring trainbuilding back to the Birthplace of the Railways was raised in the House of Commons yesterday. Hitachi is poised to create up to 800 jobs directly and about 7,000 more in the supply chain by building a factory in Newton
