HOMES in the village of Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, have been evacuated this evening following the discovery of "suspicious items". Police said the find was made at a housing association property in Moor Court. The tenant was not at
Ferryhill's Annual Art & Photography Exhibition takes place during the month of August. The exhibition runs from 2nd – 15th of August in the upstairs room of the town hall. Residents and visitors alike are invited to view the exhibition and choose
Ferryhill Town Centre Shops have an above average occupancy despite the current economic climate. Vacancy rates for shop premises in the town have reduced in stark contrast to many other local towns. A recent survey compiled this year revealed that
THIS HAS been a very sad week for gamers in the North-East. There has been a death in the family. Britain's biggest independent video games retailer - Middlesbrough-based Chipsworld - has gone into liquidation. The move means the closure
POLICE are investigating an incident during which a man was shot this afternoon. The unnamed 26-year-old male sustained a gun shot wound in Wensleydale Square, Bishop Auckland, just before 1pm. It is believed the man, who is thought to live locally,
IF you go down to the woods next weekend, you're in for a big surprise. For the annual Nightwatch is set for Dalby Forest on Saturday, August 7. People are invited to take a view stars, bats and owls in the 8,600-acre wood near Pickering.
A teenager was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation yesterday to a schoolboy for an unprovoked attack that left him with horrific mouth injuries. Daniel Macauley's single punch left his 14-year-old victim minus four front teeth and needing eight stitches
POLICE investigating an attack on a man and a spate of vandalism in a market town have made three arrests. A 39-year-old man suffered facial injuries after being attacked by a gang of youths in Finkle Street, Thirsk, in the early hours of July 19. The
WHAT does a Sunday lunch favourite, a traditional cuppa, and a pint of beer have in common with James Bond’s boss, a long-dead explorer and Monty Python? According to a new survey the answer is a geographical one - and they are some of the best things
I am disturbed to report that over the last week I have learnt of four young men who have committed suicide, all by hanging, and this is extremely worrying. Two of the men, discovered in woodland, who I understand were close friends, took their
THE Hambleton Forum in Northallerton will become a cinema again next week. Two films will play there on August 6 - as part of the First Friday programme run by Hambleton District Council and the local Rotary Club. First up at 5.30pm is Nanny McPhee
THE long wait was finally over for the people of Whitby today when the town was re-united, nine days after it was split in two. The century-old swing bridge linking the resort across the River Esk, which had been jammed in the open position, was finally
A BUILDING society is well positioned for the future despite reporting a small loss for the first six months of the year, its chief executive said. Jim Willens of Newcastle Building Society said he was "comfortable" with the loss of £900,000
Will Roberts talks to a former computer programmer who is helping to put phobia sufferers on the right track. "I HAVE worked with people who have had ten years of NHS therapy and within ten minutes of my system what they had has gone.” Tim Phizackerley
There’s cash to be made if you act before the bank takes an extra bite out of your savings. IF you’re a saver, I want to show you how to urgently accelerate your interest. The big warning is for anyone with fixed-rate savings. More than half a million
How Not To Live Your Life (BBC2, 10pm); EastEnders: The Murders of Lucas Johnson (BBC3, 8.30pm); One Under (C4, 7.30pm); THERE’S no such thing as a simple day for neurotic 20-something singleton Don Danbury in How Not to Live Your Life. It’s
OSCAR-WINNING American director Oliver Stone has been temporarily distracted from discussing his new documentary film about South American presidents – by ladies’ underwear. The day is swelteringly hot and the air conditioning is failing to lower
YOUR report, “Work on schools could begin in two years, MP told” (Echo, July 27), was overly optimistic. I met with the minister responsible for the Building Schools for the Future scheme so I could raise my concerns about the axing of more than
ANY person who has a care for health and wellbeing would support North-East chest physician Dr RJ Allcock’s plea that the ban on point of sale tobacco advertising should be maintained (HAS, July 26). An experiment revealed a significant amount
VOLUNTEERS and committee members are busy organising summer events, many of which will need support from County Durham’s Safety Advisory Groups (Sags). These groups, consisting of police, fire and rescue, and ambulance services, and county council
RE the decision by Durham County Council’s cabinet to close seven of the authority’s care homes (Echo, July 22). Surely the main priority should not be to “close them down”, but to “find ways and means of enabling the people to stay where they
THE silly season is here again, as signalled by animal rights campaigner Norman Wall (HAS, July 26). He burbles about grouse as “intensive-bred gun fodder” due to be massacred on the Glorious Twelfth, and claims most shot birds are just dumped.
I READ with interest that grants are still available in Bishop Auckland to help businesses improve their premises in the Fore Bondgate area. I understand these were initially introduced in the wake of Asda’s arrival in the town to help small businesses
I WISH to support the concept of Ken Lavery’s letter, headed “Purge councillors” (HAS, July 24), in which he suggested reducing the number of Darlington borough councillors on cost-saving grounds. Indeed, I suggest the whole concept of councillors
GIVE DURHAM CITY A COUNCIL ONCE again a delay has been announced in the decisions on electoral boundary changes in and around the City of Durham because “new information provided by Durham County Council has shed more light on how many electors
THIS week, our MPs go off on their welldeserved summer break. Yes, my face was as straight as yours is now when I wrote those words. Maybe we need a rest, too, as no government in living memory has made so many changes in so short a time. It is
The Government has announced it plans to drop compulsory retirement at 65. But is it good news or bad news? Sharon Griffiths ponders the age-old question. HUSBAND’S face was a picture when he heard the news. The Government has announced plans to
THERE has been a need for more honesty, transparency and frankness in British politics and David Cameron can hardly be accused of “pussy-footing” around since he became Prime Minister. We can agree or disagree with his policies, but there is
From child star to actress fiancee of Britain’s most famous tennis player, Darlington girl Mary Lawson crammed an awful lot into her short life. MARY LAWSON was the railwayman’s daughter who became engaged to the greatest sporting star
BRITAIN’S Phillips Idowu is already targeting the one gold medal missing from his collection after claiming the European title with a superb performance in Barcelona. Idowu set a personal best of 17.81 metres in the triple jump final to beat
MARK HUGHES was last night confirmed as Fulham’s new manager after agreeing a two-year deal. Fulham had been seeking a replacement for Roy Hodgson and failed in a bid to prise Martin Jol from Ajax. Former Manchester City boss Hughes emerged
DAVID BECKHAM has ‘‘no interest’’ in leaving Los Angeles Galaxy for West Ham – and has not yet given up on his dreams of becoming England’s most capped player. Hammers co-owner David Gold had said he wanted to sign the 35-year-old and that
GODOLPHIN’S Cavalryman has an excellent opportunity to prove his undoubted class in the Coutts Glorious Stakes at Goodwood. The four-year-old won three times for Andre Fabre in 2009 and signed off his season with a fantastic third behind Sea
BORDERLESCOTT teed up his defence of the Nunthorpe Stakes with a characteristically tenacious victory at Glorious Goodwood. It would not be overstepping the mark to describe the eight-year-old as the most popular horse in training, as his enduring
A BOLD tactical decision last night earned Britain’s Martyn Bernard a bronze medal in the high jump at the European Championships in Barcelona. Despite the final starting in heavy rain, Bernard passed the opening height of 2.19 metres and almost
FK Rabotnicki 0 Liverpool 2 LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson felt his young team acquitted themselves well after coming through a potentially tricky Europa League test in Macedonia last night. David Ngog struck twice as Hodgson began his reign
AZEEM RAFIQ has been suspended by Yorkshire following his foul-mouthed Twitter rant at England under-19s coach John Abrahams. The 19-year-old off spinner will be unavailable for selection pending a full investigation by the club. Rafiq, left
A FREEMASONS lodge has secured a piece of its history after finding it for sale on eBay. A member of the Marquess of Ripon Lodge No 1379, which meets in Darlington, found one of its first pastmasters' jewels on the internet auction site.
YORKSHIRE Carnegie’s five-game winning streak in the Clydesdale Bank 40 came to a crushing end to the Gloucestershire Gladiators last night, beaten by 65 runs in Cheltenham. It means their opponents have now joined them at the top of group B
EOIN MORGAN is proud of a great achievement after recording his maiden Test hundred at only the third attempt. The 23-year-old Irishman shared a record unbroken double-century stand with Paul Collingwood, reaching stumps on 125 to his partner
Kendal Town 1 Darlington 2 MARK Cooper has added experienced midfielder Paul Terry, the elder brother of England international John, to his Darlington squad. The 31-year-old former Rushden and Diamonds man put in a steady performance in the
MIDO is planning another return to Middlesbrough after being told his move to Ajax is in danger of collapsing. The 27-year-old has agreed personal terms and the Amsterdam outfit had suggested this week that a deal was done. However, Middlesbrough
SOL CAMPBELL could be celebrating his 37th birthday as a Newcastle player after Chris Hughton revealed that if the veteran centre-half impresses this season he can earn himself another year at St James’ Park on top of his current 12- month deal
WORK on a £500m renewable energy plant at Teesport could start by the end of the year after a Government pledge to support the industry. Work on the development by MGT Power was delayed due to uncertainty over what support the Government would
A NORTH-EAST golf course is marking its first anniversary this month after bettering its own ambitious targets for its opening year. Despite many golf resorts suffering during the recession, Rockliffe Hall’s golf facilities have gone from strength
STEVE BRUCE’S plan to kickoff the Premier League campaign with World Cup star Cristian Riveros in Sunderland’s midfield is in jeopardy following the revelation that the Paraguay international has not received clearance to play. Even if the
BLACK and minority ethnic role models in the Tees Valley are to be crowned at the first awards ceremony to celebrate their achievements. The event will honour a range of individuals and groups, from organisations working at grassroots level,
EPILEPTIC Kevin Ringland is not one to allow his condition to get him down – and to prove it he is about to set off on the adventure of a lifetime. He plans a cycle ride that will take him around the world and which will take ten years to complete
A GYM will create four jobs when it opens this weekend at a new business centre aimed at encouraging fledgling firms to set up in east Cleveland. The Aspire Corporate Fitness gym opens its doors tomorrow in the B-Hive business centre, on the
A MANUFACTURER has received £200,000 to help generate further demand for its system making it easier to lift construction materials into high buildings. Xena Systems received the funding through the NEL Fund Managers-run Growth Fund, part of
SCORES of North-East call centre workers are facing an uncertain future after holiday firm TUI Travel announced plans to axe two offices in the region. The company, which owns Thomson Holidays, First Choice Holidays and Late- Rooms.com, plans
ORGANISATIONS based near to major roads are being encouraged to play a leading role in the electric vehicle revolution and bring in new business for themselves at the same time. Regional Development Agency One North East is looking for locations
A CABLE company from the Tees Valley which is becoming an international leader in its field through its work in renewable energy is preparing for further expansion by more than doubling the size of its premises. JDR Cables, a specialist in
THE circumstances surrounding the death of a man who went sea fishing in January will remain a mystery, a coroner said yesterday. The partially-clothed body of George Darbyshire, 61, of Blackhall, County Durham, was found at Horden Point a
A SAILOR from the region has been helping foil piracy and other illegal activities in the Somali Basin on board Royal Navy frigate HMS Chatham. Kirsty Wilks, of Crook, County Durham, has been on board the 5,300- tonne warship as part of the Nato
TWO men injured in a road traffic accident died within two days of each other but two months after the accident happened. Kenneth Horsman, 49, of Chester-le-Street, suffered multiple injuries when his Land Rover Freeloader veered into the path
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to prevent Tesco building a £40m superstore look to have claimed victory, after councillors throw out the application. More than 400 people attended a four-hour planning meeting yesterday at which the proposed store, in
A NORTH-EAST council is facing a compensation bill after a judge said it had “directly discriminated” against a worker with bi-polar disorder. Russell Aylott, of Yarm, near Stockton, was sacked by Stockton Borough Council in November 2006 on the
THE region’s councils could set up a shared “salt bank” in an attempt to avoid scenes such as those last winter when some roads were unable to be gritted because of shortages. Currently, individual local authorities buy in their own supplies
A GROUP of friends has been formed to help a continuing campaign to highlight a controversial work of public art – and have it declared a listed building. The formation of the Friends of the Apollo Pavilion comes a year after the structure
IT’S many miles to the nearest beach – but the delights of a seaside holiday are being recreated at one of the region’s great attractions. Sculptor Jamie Wardley is hard at work turning 20 tonnes of sand into an artistic evocation of a Thirties
AN apparently respectable family man has walked free from court despite admitting possessing more than 60,000 indecent images of children. John Kevin Hall became “obsessed” with images of children as young as one-year-old, Durham Crown Court
THE need for speed will be well and truly satisfied at a North-East racing venue when it hosts a festival of historic motorsport. Croft Circuit, near Darlington, hosts the Croft Nostalgia Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8. The event
A PENSIONER had a miraculous escape after crashing into the living room of a house, leaving it in danger of collapse. The 79-year-old escaped with only minor cuts and bruises after being cut free from his silver Kia by firefighters.
COMEDIANS heading for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are giving North-East audiences a preview of their new shows. Mick Ferry and Phil Kay are playing the Live Theatre, in Newcastle tonight, from 8pm. Geordie comic Jason Cook and Viz co-founder
ONLY a handful of the region’s top schools have applied to become academies – despite more than 30 expressing an interest. Six schools in the North-East and North Yorkshire have submitted applications to the Department for Education to opt out
THERE'S not room in my Saturday column tomorrow for this fantastic piece of trivia. It concerns Sir Gervase Beckett who was MP for Whitby from 1906 to 1922. He gets a mention along with his wife, who The Northern Echo of 1909 called the Hon. Mrs Gervase
THE parents of an 11-year-old boy who saved his little brother’s life when he was choking on gum hailed their son a hero last night. Christian and Andrew Spencer were playing in a park near their home in Coundon Grange, County Durham, when
A REFERENDUM will be triggered if any town hall tries to hike council tax by more than inflation, under government plans to be published today. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the proposal - to replace the system of capping - would give residents
