POLICE are investigating an apparent suicide pact after two young men were found hanged in woodland. Officers said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths of the 19 and 20-year-old. An elderly dog walker made the grim find
THE NEW programme controller of a local radio station is looking forward to a quieter life – after recently returning home from Afghanistan. James Horspool is a major in the Territorial Army and was deployed with a combat camera team in Afghanistan
DARLINGTON have won the race to land experienced defender Kevin Austin and he makes his first appearance tonight. The 37-year-old has been mulling over an offer from The Northern Echo Arena since last week and has also been weighing up an offer from
MORE than £1m worth of lottery funding has been earmarked for deprived neighbourhoods in Bishop Auckland. The Big Lottery Fund is providing the funding from its Big Local Trust programme, which aims to invest £200m over the next ten years to help improve
COUNCILLORS have given their backing to a controversial scheme to create a megastore in a former industrial town. Retail giant Tesco has won the backing of Durham County Council for its proposed development on the former steelworks site in Consett.
A TOWN centre was brought to a standstill when a teenager was spotted sitting on a ledge at the top of a multi-storey car park. Police were called by a 19-year-old man who was sitting on the edge of the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre car park, in Hartlepool
A CHARITY boss is warning the future of their service, which helps otherwise housebound people, is under threat because of proposed council cuts. Vivienne Bailey, chief executive of Darlington District Youth & Community Association (DDYCA),
Crowds gathered inside and outside York Minster today for the funeral of local war hero Marine David Charles Hart. Marine Hart, from Poppleton, died while on foot patrol in Afghanistan's notorious Helmand province on July 8, the eve of his
POLICE hunting the killer of a man found battered to death in his own home have renewed their appeal for information. Detectives in County Durham are sifting evidence that could lead them to the murderer of Fred Shipley. The 59-year-old, who lived alone
ALMOST 400 people had a day out with a difference when they attended a public open day at a North Yorkshire sand and gravel quarry. Lafarge’s Marfield Quarry near Masham is currently proposing to extract aggregate from an area to the west of current
CATTERICK is keeping me well supplied with interesting tales, and I reckon I'm on to a fascinating one concerning Gatherley Castle which was once beside the A1(M) - or Dere Street, as it was originally. The only problem with Gatherley Castle
A DAY of Gregorian chanting is being planned for later this year. The event will take place at St Chad’s College, Durham, and conclude with the singing of Monastic Vespers. Teaching will come from Philip Duffy, an expert in Gregorian chant, while the
SCHOOL pupils have given their backing to a new tree planting campaign. Youngsters from St Joseph’s RC Primary School, in Durham, donned leaf masks to show their support for the More Trees, More Good campaign, run by the Woodland Trust charity. The
A COUNTY’S youngsters have completed the equivalent of a whole year’s volunteering. Young people from across County Durham were honoured for their voluntary sports work in an event at New College Durham, earlier this month. Between them, the youngsters
A CLERIC who caused bitter controversy at one of the region’s great cathedrals has died at the age of 62. John Methuen was the Dean of Ripon for ten years until he was forced to resign in 2005 following allegations of unseemly behaviour. He died last
CHILDREN’S charity Barnardo’s has opened its first specialist children's shop in the region, in Bishop Auckland. The shop, in Newgate Street, was recently dedicated to children’s items as they have always been the most popular range. Manager Karen Billing
TRIPPERS headed for the beach this weekend will be able to watch the life-savers of the RNLI demonstrate their skills. Water-based rescue demonstrations and beach safety talks will be taking place on Sunday at 3pm on beaches in Whitby, Scarborough and
STUDENTS who played the numbers game triumphed in a maths contest. For the first time in six years, Sedgefield Community College competed in the Durham County Maths Challenge at Wellfield Community School, in Wingate, earlier this month. Two teams represented
VISITORS to a museum where the main attraction is usually underground will look to the skies next month. Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum will play host to an eagle and vulture show on Sunday August 29. The show combines flying displays
CHILDREN came up with a blooming great way of celebrating the guiding movement’s centenary in their village. Witton-le-Wear Rainbows and Brownies planted a beech tree on the village green in Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, last week. It bares
POLICE in North Yorkshire are taking to the streets to promote cycling safety and reduce injuries. This summer, they will be supporting the successful Helmet Watch scheme from the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, a charity that helps to reduce the number
A FORMER master at a top school appeared at the Old Bailey today accused of sexually assaulting pupils. Stephen Douglas-Hogg, 51, from North Yorkshire, pleaded not guilty to buggery and two offences of indecent assault on boys under 16. The charges
TWO men aged 19 and 20 were found hanged today near a clinic. Officers were alerted to the incident close to the Brockwell Medical Centre, in Cramlington, Northumberland, at about 9.15am. A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "On arrival
Chick lit queen Adele Parks has a message for would-be writers – don’t put it off… sit down and write. The best selling Teesside-born author tells Steve Pratt how she’s managed to produce ten books in ten years and the story behind her nine marriage
PLANS for new flood defences for a village that has been plagued by flooding for decades have been submitted to the district council. Residents and businesses in the Low Green area of Catterick Village have been forced to sandbag their properties in
NEWLY-discovered photographs have shed some new light on the lives of soldiers serving overseas - and it wasn’t all grim. They vividly show that as well as the predictable square-bashing, kit inspections and preparation for battle there was
The menu gets an A*. But it’s ‘could do better’ for spelling. LIKE Bishop Auckland Grammar School in the long-gone days of Cosher Ibbotson, Isaiah Bibby and Ichabod Robinson – Ichabod was biblical, meaning “the glory is departed”; poor Mr Robinson
IT was great to have Eric Taylor back playing in the area. To many he’s known simply as a singer-songwriter, but there is a lot more to him. He’s a masterful story-teller and wonderful acoustic guitarist. His shading and powerful playing style
DIRECTOR Damian Cruden and writer Mike Kenny have teamed up for another family-friendly summer theatre production – although this could hardly be more different to The Railway Children. For a start, it’s staged in the theatre not a railway
EastEnders (BBC1, 7.30pm); The Fairy Jobmother (C4, 9pm); Ship Rescue: The Devon Disaster (Five, 8pm) HAPPY birthday, Libby, although I fear that the celebrations may produce a few unpleasant surprises other than that horrible jumper your auntie
WITH all the saving the Government says we have to make, can anyone tell me how much it costs this country on politics, politicians and councillors – and could we save on this issue? George Martin, Trimdon Station, Co Durham.
THE more we learn about the decision to invade Iraq the more we realise what a terrible mistake was made. It is not only about our own defence and our international reputation, but also about our own cohesion. Even if it had been public policy
THREE cheers for Roy Walker, one of the funniest and most talented stand-up comedians you are ever likely to see. His visit last Saturday to the Spa Theatre, Bridlington, was hugely enjoyed by everyone there and I never stopped laughing. A unique
OUR politicians believe renewable energy sources can provide Britain with a very high proportion of its electricity needs. That is why huge numbers of wind turbines and roof-mounted solar-voltaic cells are being subsidised at a time when old coal-fired
I’D like to ask a question to a number of motorists who use St Cuthbert’s Way, Darlington, between Stonebridge and Freeman’s Place roundabouts. What part of the large signs that say “Traffic from bus lane has priority” do they have difficulty
WHEN the British National Party won two European Parliament seats in July last year many politicians went on record to say this was due to traditional parties no longer asking the public for their input and becoming disconnected from voters.
WITH ever-rising levels of obesity among children and the population in general, I think the coalition Government’s decision to scrap free swimming for the under-16s and over-60s is wrong. Surely by scrapping schemes such as this, which encourage
I WAS at Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday when women dressed in their fineries had a fantastic time at Gosforth Park. Many friends I know who went to the races did so for the first time and the consensus was that it was a brilliant
I FEEL sorry for the family of London paper seller Ian Tomlinson who died during last year’s G20 protests after a police officer was caught on camera striking him with his baton and pushing him to the ground. They seem to have come up against
ISN’T it sad that after manufacturing most of the world’s shipping in the early part of the 20th Century we had to turn to France to build our prestigious Queen Mary 2 in 2003? Now, in the birthplace of railways, after building rolling stock and
THIS year marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I do hope our dear Prime Minister mugs up on the history of that momentous struggle before the celebrations of our victory really get going. The other day in the US he said we are the
Thousands of speed cameras could be axed after the Government slashed funding for them. Road safety partnerships responsible for the camera network claim this will lead to more accidents. Critics say cameras were never about road safety, but revenue
GOOD company results keep on coming out, better than analyst expectations. Earnings are far exceeding forecasts. The equity bears trying to talk shares down are fighting a lost cause. Even the economic statistics point to a continued recovery
WE are regularly approached by clients seeking advice about how best to invest a large sum of money. This might, typically, be as a result of an inheritance, the sale of a business, a tax-free lump sum from a pension scheme or a divorce
THERE is clearly an extremely delicate balance to be found when it comes to leaking information about wartime operations. The need for public understanding about how wars are being fought must be weighed against the risk to the security of our
HUNDREDS of staff at bookmaker William Hill are facing an uncertain future after it was revealed the future of some stores was under review. Up to 350 jobs could go after the bookmaker announced plans to move its telephone business offshore
LEISURE and retail units in Stockton’s Cultural Quarter are now available to let following investment by property developer Jomast. Listed properties in Silver Street have undergone major renovation to provide units ranging from 500 sq ft to 850
SANDERSON Weatherall LLP has completed another deal at Teesside Industrial Estate, Thornaby, acting on behalf of UK Land Estates in the sale of a 20,000 sq ft industrial unit on Dukesway. UK Land Estates has sold the unit to Leicestershire-based
The two-year countdown begins today to the start of the 2012 London Olympics, an event which has already seen North-East businesses win work to the tune of £60m. Deborah Johnson looks at the wealth of opportunities still on offer for regional firms,
STARTING a business is a big decision for anyone and having the appropriate support can be the difference between success and failure. Business & Enterprise North East (BE-NE), which delivers a wide portfolio of support services in the region
IT HAS never been more important for businesses to broaden their horizons, seek out new markets and be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities. Business & Enterprise North East (BE-NE) delivers a comprehensive portfolio of support
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Caroline Spelman has announced the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board. It was one of a package of reforms to more than 30 of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) arm’s length bodies. She
DIGITAL media agency Orange Bus has taken on a designer to develop user experience for its clients. The Newcastle company has appointed interaction design specialist Kyle Mayne to the fast-growing team. Previously a developer for the BBC’s
A COMPUTER repair specialist has attributed a 40 per cent rise in profits to a new remote support system. Gbiz IT, a computer sales and repair shop in Marske, east Cleveland, experienced the rise in the six months to June compared with the same
THE Masham-based Animalcare Group has reported a 15 per cent growth in revenue for the year ending June 30. Revenue in its veterinary supplies business was approximately 20 per cent ahead of the same period last year following strong performances
A SUNDERLAND woman is being held by police on the Costa del Sol after she is believed to have stabbed her husband to death. The 48-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after police were called to the apartment in the Altavista complex
UPLAND farmers in the North York Moors National Park have been urged to apply for the Upland Entry Level Scheme (UELS). The scheme replaces the old Hill Farm Allowance which has ended and the national park authority and Natural England are
MINISTERS have been urged not to slash spending on conservation and wildlifefriendly farming schemes. The 33-member organisations of Wildlife and Countryside Link drove home their message at a Parliamentary reception to mark its 30th anniversary
A DRIVING school business is preparing for expansion by targeting new markets. Exceed Driver Training, in Stockton, has grown significantly and as well as driving lessons, provides services including car and trailer tests, occupational training
NON-EXECUTIVE members who will continue to serve on the boards of the Regional Development Agencies before their scrapping in less than two years have been named. Graham Thrower, Professor Chris Higgins, Gill Hale, Ian Dormer, Alison Thain,
A BRAKE firm yesterday added to its UK manufacturing facilities by buying a Scottish company to work alongside its existing North-East operation. TMD Friction, which has its UK manufacturing plant in Hartlepool, has bought Eurofriction, based
THE world record price for a working sheep dog at an official sale has been shattered twice at Skipton Auction Mart. Two dogs each sold for 4,900 guineas (£5,145) to break the previous world record price of 4,100 guineas (£4,305), also set at
CLASSIC car restoration experts made redundant when the worldrenowned business they worked for closed after 35 years have set up on their own. The Classic Car Workshop, based in Dalton-on-Tees, near Darlington, has been set up by four former employees
A NORTH-EAST maintenance company has been praised for the swift completion of works to a Grade II listed bridge. Stone Technical Services, based in Darlington, carried out the repair and restoration of Sutton Bridge, in North Yorkshire. The repairs
A NEW service to help divorcing and separating couples reach a fair and lasting resolution without involving the courts is being offered by a North-East law firm. Andrea Hewitson, a partner at BHP Law, has qualified as a collaborative lawyer,
STRIKE action at a Weardale engineering company has come to an end after a longrunning pay dispute was settled, The Northern Echo can reveal. Staff at Astrum, in Stanhope, are back at work as normal after staging a one-day walk-out earlier in
ONE North East and Tees Valley are, in their own way, creating an image or brand for our area. At least they were. The Regional Development Agency (RDA), One North East, is to be abolished. While it appears the RDA’s local responsibilities are
LAW firm Gordon Brown Associates has helped a hair and beauty salon with its expansion. Newcastle-based Stars and Butterflies had outgrown its premises in Sandyford and needed legal help with the lease on its new two-floor city centre salon,
DEVELOPMENT on garden land is not new. It has been happening for many years. What is new is the Government’s reaction to the perceived problem of “garden grabbing” by amending Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) to remove private residential gardens
The Financial Services Authority (FSA)said former Northern Rock finance director David Jones had "numerous" opportunities to put things right after he misreported mortgage arrears figures ahead of the bank's collapse. Today the FSA handed Mr
AN alleged paedophile whose wife is accused of murdering their two children in a Spanish hotel denied a string of sex offences today. Martin Smith, 45, from North Shields, pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape, three of attempting to rape, four
SOL Campbell is due to have a medical with Newcastle United this afternoon. The 35-year-old defender has been out of contract since his deal with Arsenal ran out this summer and had been linked with the Magpies' North-East rivals Sunderland
AS Alberto Contador celebrates a third Tour de France title and Lance Armstrong enters retirement for a second – and probably final – time, British riders will reflect on a race which stopped short of fulfilling expectations. The Tour began on
THE Group Three Betfair Gordon Stakes is one of the key St Leger trials and Dandino can continue his remarkable rate of progression for James Given at Glorious Goodwood. Starting the season winning a maiden at Redcar he then scored in handicap
AS ALWAYS it is to be a family column for a family newspaper and, first, to the redoubtable Till clan – the name behind one of sport’s more inventive banners – from Sessay, near Thirsk. Sessay’s one of those places which still believes in true
DURHAM’S Ben Stokes is to team up with the England squad for a day’s practice at Trent Bridge tomorrow. With the first Test against Pakistan starting the following day, the 19-year-old allrounder will join in with some of the preparations and
MIDDLESBROUGH have opened talks with Estonian winger Tarmo Kink – but Dundee United’s Craig Conway remains Gordon Strachan’s leading target on the flanks. Kink has been given permission to speak to Boro officials, even though his Hungarian
THE second stage of Darlington’s pre-season programme begins this evening with the first of a series of friendly fixtures against non-league opposition. After three tough home games last week, Quakers have travelled to the Lakes, for what manager
LIVERPOOL defender Jamie Carragher admits there has to be some rebuilding at Anfield but is confident they can do that and still hold on to star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. Torres is yet to return from a post-World Cup break
FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes team bosses should be allowed to call the shots as they see fit. Ecclestone was speaking following the furore that erupted at Sunday’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim when the stewards fined Ferrari
ROB SMEDLEY, Felipe Massa’s Teesside-born race engineer, joined Ferrari in 2003 after cutting his teeth at both Jordan and Stewart. He attended St Peter’s School in South Bank before going to St Mary’s Sixth Form College and lived in Normanby
DWAIN CHAMBERS wants to recreate history by winning 100metres gold at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium 18 years after Linford Christie. The 32-year-old will begin his bid to land the European title tonight at the arena where Christie won the Olympic
SUNDERLAND and Aston Villa are set for a two-way tussle over out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland. Ireland, who is currently in the United States as part of City’s pre-season tour of North America, has been instructed to
DETECTIVES investigating the rape of a woman as she slept in her home have released pictures of people they believe may hold vital information. The victim, in her late 20s, was raped after being confronted by a masked intruder as she slept on
A BANK has apologised after it mis-sold an investment opportunity costing a North-East woman nearly £19,000. Patricia Allen, 74, from Darlington, has been a customer of Barclays for more then 40 years and trusted advice given to her on a low-risk
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl has embarked on the Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast Walk to raise money in memory of her great-great-aunt, who died after spending her last years struggling with blindness. Caitlin Whitaker decided to raise enough money for
A MAN facing three sex charges and one of assault has pleaded guilty to two of the counts. Anthony Love will return to Teesside Crown Court next month to be sentenced. The 24-year-old was due to go on trial yesterday for three sexual assaults
FIVE of The Northern Echo’s photographers will exhibit work taken from their “privileged position” at the forefront of news across the region. A gallery of 18 press photographs was launched last night to an invited audience at the Darlington
A MAN took advantage of a drunken under-age girl who called at his house feeling ill, a court heard. Daniel Kenneth Lomas, 26, who had also been drinking, took the girl, who was 14 at the time, in, but later tried to engage her in sexual activity
A FAMILY is demanding justice after their sister travelled to Lourdes seeking healing from her cerebral palsy but returned with two broken legs. The family of wheelchair-bound Patricia Mitchell says she suffered the injuries when she fell out of
A COUNCIL is to review the support it has in place for domestic abuse victims after a report found there to be “fundamental problems” in its service provision. Although workers at Darlington Borough Council were themselves praised in Dr Nicole
A £60M fund to convert the region’s ports for the boom in wind power could fall victim to spending cuts, a Labour leadership contender warned. Ed Miliband said he feared the fund – announced in Labour’s last Budget – would be the next key infrastructure
A VOLUNTEER group which has raised more than £1m for a museum has celebrated its 60th anniversary. The Friends of The Bowes Museum held their inaugural meeting on July 26, 1950, when the Frenchstyle chateau, on the outskirts of Barnard Castle
A MEMORIAL garden is to be built to celebrate the life of Sir Bobby Robson. The tribute to the former Newcastle United manager will be on a site in the heart of Newcastle, only yards away from his beloved St James’ Park. The plans were announced
RAIL company East Coast has been accused of discrimination after it began a trial of cheaper tickets at selected stations. The move means that, for example, anyone wanting to travel first class to London Kings Cross can travel cheaper from Newcastle
JOSE Enrique claims he is unconcerned at the prospect of starting the season as Newcastle's only recognised left-back. While Chris Hughton continues to prioritise the purchase of defensive reinforcements ahead of the start of the new campaign
WORK has started on the demolition of a North-East multi-storey car park made famous by a Seventies gangster film starring Michael Caine. The car park, in Trinity Square, Gateshead, which featured in Get Carter, is being taken down in bitesize
COUNCIL chiefs in North Yorkshire say they have no choice but to make cuts in public transport and children’s services. North Yorkshire County Council yesterday announced a proposal to cut £600,000 from its £6.5m public transport budget. Proposed
A CLEARER picture of the impact of savage public sector cuts is beginning to emerge as the region’s councils draw up plans to slash £400m off their budgets. Councils in the region need to find savings of more than £45m during this financial year
