FRAIZER Campbell continued his pre-season goalscoring spree to help Sunderland secure a narrow victory over Leicester City this afternoon. Campbell gave another convincing case for his inclusion as a strike partner for Darren Bent this season when
Strange going‘s-on in the village as we appear to have a new craze! A couple of weeks ago I noticed that a pair of trainers - of the Nike variety - had been tied together and thrown over a power line right opposite the entrance to Manor Grove. It
JULY came in like a lion for Durham and didn’t so much go out like a lamb as very quickly turn into a limp lettuce leaf. At the height of summer in this crazy season they have played hardly any cricket, yet from August 3 they have to cram in 33 days
DARREN Bent returns to the Sunderland starting line-up but an injury to Trevor Carson has futher exposed Steve Bruce's goalkeeping resources. Belgium Under-21 keeper Simon Mignolet starts at the Walkers Stadium today with youngster Ben Wilson called
DAVE Dale and Peter Livingstone – football men of pride, passion and no payment whatsoever – have produced a wonderful volume of potted biographies of notables who’ve played in the Ellis Cup. Notable, indeed. Founded in 1889, the competition
RUNNING red hot in the London gangster stakes, Dreda Say Mitchell has come up with another East End sizzler featuring bright young lawyer Daisy Sullivan, whose past seeks to keep her in its criminal tentacles. Death shatters the safety of her legal
Jim McTaggart discovers a Scottish retreat that was once a rival to Balmoral. ROBERT BURNS was so enchanted by the scenery around Scotland’s oldest inn when he stayed there in 1787 that he wrote a 28- line poem in pencil on the wall above the
IT was 25 years ago when American novelist Bret Easton Ellis made his debut with Less Than Zero, a story of apathetic twentysomethings in Los Angeles and their shocking lifestyles of coke-fuelled and sex-infused parties and hedonistic ways. Fast-forward
WRITER Pearl Buck was the first person to try to explain China to the West and the first American woman to win the Nobel prize for literature. The daughter of American missionaries, she grew up in an imperial China unchanged for thousands of
THERE is no rest for the weekend and even on holiday in the sunshine state of California, Yorkshire detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is affected by dark and dangerous clouds from home. And this time it is very personal. His colleague, Detective
It took a heart scare to make a comedian change his life for the better, he tells Viv Hardwick. IT’S entirely excusable that Geordie comic Jason Cook is heading for Stanley’s Lamplight Arts Centre with a pre- Edinburgh fringe show called The
DURING an afternoon drive around the North Yorkshire countryside recently, I couldn’t help but notice the number of pubs that have closed and are up for sale. I blame the breweries for this, as it is they who set the prices behind the bar in most
HE enjoys fame and success, but Hollywood star Will Smith constantly reminds himself that family is more important than big box office or winning awards. The star of Men In Black, Independence Day and Ali is surrounded by his family as he says
The new man’s long-awaited and much welcomed. It’s only the angles which are obtuse. WHEN the monarch dies – unless in one or two of the more obstreperous African nations – the heir is, as it were, apparent. In matters of succession, as in much
WE are being continually told that Durham County Council, due to the current financial crisis, has to make substantial cuts in its spending. Well here’s a surefire suggestion that will save pounds and pounds. All it has to do is abolish its planning
TOM Seale’s comments regarding snooker player Alex Higgins (HAS, July 29) are utterly worthless bar the first nine words of his opening sentence. His statement that the press resorted to flattery after Higgins’ death shows either Mr Seale’s ineptitude
THE problem with our education system is that academic GCSE subjects have been made easier over many years because the politicians, both Tory and Labour, know that middle-class parents want their children to achieve top grades. Exams regulator
TONY Kelly’s approach to how history should be taught (HAS, July 28) takes me back to how it was presented when I was at school which I regarded as boring. The milestones of history were English Kings, their reigns and battles fought, mainly with
WHITBY has many landmarks, from the jawbones that frame every photograph on the west to the craggy abbey and the rather creepy church high on the headland to the east. I’d never considered the swing bridge in the middle before, mainly because
As the Yorkshire Museum reopens its doors after a £2m makeover, Steve Pratt gets to grips with the jewel in the crown of the exhibits, tackles the weighty problems of prehistoric creatures and walks along the Roman way. I DIDN’T know whether to admire
RECENT objections to the proposed redevelopment of Barnard Castle’s Witham Hall (Echo, some editions, July 26) should be given due consideration, but should not deter the hall’s trustees from proceeding with their plans. The town and the wider
I WAS pleased to read of the landmark vote to ban bullfighting in the Catalonia region of Spain (Echo, July 29). This is a big step in the right direction to stop this barbaric animal cruelty. I also propose that holiday insurance companies make it
IT is hard to believe that it is a year today since the death of that wonderful County Durham lad, Sir Bobby Robson. Time has flown quickly since then. It was a day we all knew wasn’t far off but which still came with a national sense of
STAMINA is required by punters as it is day five of Glorious Goodwood, but it’s speed the horses need in the cavalry charge that is the Bluesq.com Stewards’ Cup, due off at 3:40pm. Twenty-eight top-class handicappers face the starter, among
ANDREW Sullivan insists yesterday’s team bonding trip to London’s Olympic Park can give Britain’s basketball stars the boost they need ahead of this summer’s vital Eurobasket qualifiers. The Team GB skipper and Newcastle star leads his side
JENSON Button has revealed he will quit Formula One if team orders are reintroduced into the sport. Sunday’s controversy in the German Grand Prix, in which Felipe Massa was forced to give up the victory in favour of Ferrari team-mate Fernando
MARK Johnston’s annual pilgrimage to Glorious Goodwood had started to become a disappointing one by his usual standards until Sea Lord came to the rescue in the totesport Mile. Crowned the top trainer at the meeting seven times already, Middleham-based
A year to the day since Sir Bobby Robson finally lost his battle with cancer, St James’ Park will be a special place as two of his former clubs meet in an emotional friendly. Chief football writer Paul Fraser looks back on Robson’s two spells in charge
THERE will be a special presentation just prior to the kick-off of Newcastle United’s friendly match with PSV Eindhoven at St James’ Park today. Stan Valckx, Sir Bobby Robson’s captain during his first successful spell with the Dutch side in
CHRIS HUGHTON’S determination to show loyalty to the players who helped Newcastle reclaim their place in the Premier League prompted him to overlook Sol Campbell’s claim for the captaincy. Campbell may have skippered his country, but that has
FOLLOWING the traumas of last weekend, Chester-le- Street will not be relishing their trip to Jesmond this morning when fate decrees they will be taking on the bottom club for the second week running. After suffering their first league defeat
Billingham’S battle to avoid the relegation traumas of last season gathers pace this weekend when they entertain Richmondshire. For much of 2009 the club looked doomed to drop into Division One but in one of the most dramatic last day’s in
“YORKSHIRE are in Europe, get your passport.” That was the message I got on the day this season’s fixtures were announced. As my mind wandered to a sunny beach in Greece, my boss quickly added, ‘you are going to Schiedam, near Rotterdam, for
MARSDEN have once again brought in a new recruit as they search for the formula that will rescue them from their plight at the foot of the Durham Senior League. Ex-Eppleton skipper John Leslie has joined them with the talented all-rounder likely
JAMES Anderson took five for 49 as England ripped through Pakistan on a day laden with wickets for the pace bowlers at Trent Bridge. Mohammad Asif (5-77) was the first to make the most of conditions in an England collapse from an overnight
CLEVELAND table tennis player Paul Drinkhall insists it is high time he started taking his chances as he bids to break back into the world’s top 100 before the year is out. The 20-year-old reached a career-high 90th back in March, but he has
DAVID Haye’s hopes of facing one of the Klitschko brothers before the end of the year are effectively over after the Ukrainian heavyweight champions lined up alternative opponents. After former world champion Shannon Briggs claimed on Thursday
CHRIS Tomlinson took his season to new heights at the European Championships last night – but the Middlesbrough long jumper insists his best is yet to come in Barcelona. The 28-year-old has been battling the doubters for the best part of a
SCOTTISH 3,000m steeplechase champion Emma Raven, from Chester-le-Street, has set a new Scottish native record for the event – but she is resigned to missing out on a Commonwealth Games call-up. “It is very frustrating to come so close,” said
TOMASZ Kuszczak is determined to prove in the coming campaign he can replace Edwin van der Sar once the Dutch goalkeeper retires. Van der Sar will be 40 in October and next season could be his last for Manchester United after he agreed a oneyear
MIDFIELDER Paul Terry believes Darlington has everything in place to stage a successful assault on promotion from the Blue Square Bet Premier League this season. The elder brother of England and Chelsea international John is expected to sign
FRUSTRATED Egyptian striker Mido is ready to stand firm and see out the remainder of his Middlesbrough contract after demanding a payoff from the Teesside outfit. Mido has another season remaining on his existing terms, believed to be worth
DAVID James opted for the chance to play first-team football over remaining in the Premier League in making the surprise move to Bristol City. The England goalkeeper, who will celebrate his 40th birthday tomorrow, has signed a one-year contract
HARTLEPOOL United finally completed the signing of Evan Horwood last night, persuading the defender to join his hometown club ahead of Aberdeen. Horwood, on loan at Darlington in 2006-07, has become the first new outfield signing of the summer
BRITAIN’S Jessica Ennis will take a 110-point lead into the second day of the heptathlon in the European Championships in Barcelona today. World champion Ennis led by 134 points after winning the 100m hurdles and high jump, but was trailing
FORMER Newcastle United winger Charles N’Zogbia has encouraged Sunderland to make a bid for his services after admitting he could move on this summer. N’Zogbia has been under serious consideration by Black Cats boss Steve Bruce this summer,
JAMES Anderson had plenty to celebrate in the end on his 28th birthday thanks to a fivewicket haul which put England in control against Pakistan at Trent Bridge. Anderson took five for 49 but had earlier been out for a golden duck after playing
ANDY Turner and Christian Malcolm further demonstrated the benefits of having Lottery funding removed as Britain won six medals on a frenetic evening’s action in the European Championships in Barcelona. Turner struck gold in the 110 metres
ENGLAND’S Ross Fisher erupted into life again with a 61 at Killarney in the Irish Open yesterday – and he needed nobody to tell him it could have been an historic 59. One of Europe’s great talents – placed 11 shots clear of Hartlepool’s Graeme
FOUR police officers have been praised after rescuing a man from a fast flowing river just as he was about to be swept over a weir. The man, who was spotted floating face down in the river, showed no signs of life but officers succeeded in resuscitating
A COUPLE grieving the loss of their stillborn son say they are gutted after thieves stole toys placed at his grave. Craig Davenport and Donna Harvey were left devastated after they lost their first son, Corey Lee, ten days before he was due to
A DRUNKEN driver who endangered parachutists and a light aircraft crew by driving on to an airfield has been spared jail. Matthew Wright could have put lives at risk when he steered his Land Rover on to the grass at Shotton Airfield, near Peterlee
A SAILOR who has trained some of the toughest people in the Royal Navy has retired after almost half a century. Ken Rutherford, who was born in Stanley, County Durham, joined up in 1961, aged 15, as a junior seaman second class. His 49-year naval
A TEENAGER who abused a younger girl and told her to “shut up” when she pleaded with him to stop was yesterday locked up for eight years. Teesside Crown Court heard how Daniel Salter carried out a series of attacks on the girl over four years,
A NORTH-EAST student has been named among the best apprentices in the country. Jack Hall, 15, was named runner-up in the young apprentice of the year category of the national Apprenticeship Awards. Jack, from Rowlands Gill, in County Durham,
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, pictured, of Newcastle Building Society, said he was comfortable with the loss of
A WOMAN who falsely cried rape for a second time has been spared jail because a judge does not want her child to be born in prison. Heavily pregnant Gemma Scoones, 27, stood before Judge Michael Taylor in the dock at Durham Crown Court yesterday
THE family of a North-East soldier has been honoured, nearly 60 years after his death. Sunderland-born Lance Corporal Eric Elliott died following a road collision while serving with the Royal Military Police in Perak, Malaysia, in April 1951
A BRAVE youngster who lost both legs to meningitis has managed to take part in a sponsored walk in aid of his recovery. Robbie Jones, from Bowburn, near Durham City, was suddenly taken ill in July 2008, aged 23 months. Initially, his
DAREDEVILS with long shoes captivated crowds with their acrobatics on the second day of the Stockton International Riverside Festival. The Strangelings featured two men and two wheels, who performed an escape stunt as part of their act in
ABOUT 65,000 families in the region will see their tax credits disappear under a draconian squeeze starting next year. The figure is the first analysis of the impact of the coalition Government’s shock decision to withdraw thousands of pounds
A QUARRY inspector travelled from the Durham Dales to the Hollywood Hills in an effort to clinch a deal for a film he has written about a US cricket team. Mike Tweddle, of Darlington, has pitched his script to Tinseltown producers and is waiting
A STAGE school is preparing for its biggest show yet. The musical version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will be the biggest production attempted by the Gala Theatre Stage School since it was founded in 2002, and one of the biggest seen at
A MAN was recovering in hospital last night after he was shot on a North-East housing estate. Police have launched an investigation into the firearms incident which took place in Bishop Auckland, yesterday afternoon. The 26-year-old
On the eve of Yorkshire Day, Mark Foster takes a look at the things that make the UK’s largest county famous. 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
A MEDAL-WINNING Chelsea Flower Show garden is just one of the many highlights in this year’s Gateshead Summer Flower Show. The Bupa Great North Run Gateshead Council garden, with its depiction of 55,000 runners on the Tyne Bridge in viola flower
A SEX attacker branded “a significant risk of harm to women” by probation officials walked free from court yesterday – sparking outrage from a victims’ group. Ian Palmer was told by a judge that he deserved to be locked up for striking twice
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has died after being hit by a farm vehicle. Police have launched an investigation into the accident at a farm in Marsett, near Askrigg, in the Yorkshire Dales. The boy, who has been named locally as Harry Sowerby, suffered
One year ago today people all over the country mourned the death of one the region's best loved sons. Sir Bobby Robson reached the top level of football management during his life, but 12 months later his legacy lives on in a different field. Gavin
SOHAM murderer Ian Huntley is to sue the Prison Service after he was attacked by an inmate in a County Durham jail. Huntley's throat was slashed at Frankland Prison in March. The 36-year-old, who murdered the 10-year-old schoolgirls
Suspicious items found in a flat in the village of Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street, were last night judged harmless by Army bomb disposal experts. Residents living close to the housing association flat in Moor Court who were earlier moved
