In typical Shane Warne fashion the end was mired in controversy. When 41-year-old Warne went into the final competitive match of his career yesterday, for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, he did so having been fined
Lewis Hamilton is in no rush to commit himself to McLaren despite this year witnessing his two main rivals pledge their long-term futures to their teams. In signing new contracts with Ferrari and Red Bull respectively, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel
DURHAM will move into second place in the LV County Championship by wrapping up their third win at Worcester today. They might even be top if Lancashire are denied by Yorkshire, or the weather, but on current form Durham look the most likely challengers
Joe Sayers and Andrew Gale have given Yorkshire hope of a draw going into today's final day of the Roses match against Lancashire at Liverpool. Aided by three-and-a-half hours of rain during the afternoon and evening sessions of yesterday's third day
THREE young girls were lucky to escape after ignoring expert advice when they were cut off by the tide on the North-East coast. The three youngsters, two aged 12 and one aged ten, got into trouble at about 5pm when they were cut off by the tide at Marsden
A ROAD was closed for two hours this evening after an accident involving two cars. The accident happened at 5.40pm on the A19 at the junction with the A690 in East Rainton, near Sunderland. A Vauhall Meriva travelling north left the carriageway before
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy is in hospital after he was knocked over in Darlington this evening. The accident happened at about 7.05pm on West Auckland Road in the Cockerton area. It is understood the boy, who was with his mother, was struck
POLICE have tonight confirmed that a body found on grassland near a North-East community centre is that of missing man Darren Waller. The 36-year-olds body was found in Ainderby Walk in the Central Estate area of Hartlepool just after 7pm on Wednesday
NEWCASTLE Falcons have strengthened their scrum-half options with the capture of Will Chudley from Championship side Bedford Blues. With Micky Young having moved to Leicester Tigers, Jordi Pasqualin is expected to start next season as Falcons' first-choice
TEENAGE crime, pregnancies and anti-social behaviour could rise after play projects missed out on more than £1m funding, youth workers have warned. Five programmes aimed at children aged from five to 13 have been hit after applications for funding
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after burglars stole sporting equipment and other goods from a house. The crooks struck at Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, between 10.30pm on May 19 and 12.30am the next day when an outhouse was broken into. They took
SHOCK tactics have been used as part of a hard-hitting exercise to stop children from playing with electricity. Youngsters from St Joseph’s Primary School, Bishop Auckland, took part in the Stay Away, Stay Alive campaign. The scheme is being led by
DOING without Bishop Auckland's town centre manager would be like "sailing a ship without a captain", a town businesswoman has declared. Bernadette Rush, of Lady B Wear in Newgate Street, joined the town's mayor, Lesley Zair, in urging Durham County
The Saxon word “aelfet-ee”, meaning “swan island”, has become corrupted over the years until it is now “Elvet”, and refers to the area of land across the River Wear, due west of the peninsula, on which Durhams cathedral and castle stand. There
WITH Wembley Cupfever very much in the air following the weekend’s successes for Darlington and Whitley Bay, Emeritus Professor John Coulthard, of Teesside University, sends in this picture of the FA Amateur Cup in the hands of Crook Town
ONE of the items for sale at Saturday’s D a r l i n g t o n Book Fair is Pip’s Annual, a 1929 collection of cartoons that appeared in the Northern Despatch newspaper. The Despatch was an evening paper started during the First World War to complement
Your house is on fire. All your worldly goods are going up in flames and the roof over your head is burning down. You’ve raised the alarm. You’ve dredged all the water out of the local well to throw on the flames and you’ve even flung on your milk
HARRY POTTER fans had a magical experience as a star from the world of Hogwarts steamed into the North-East. Young and old fans of the boy wizard strained to see as the Hogwarts Express slowly pulled into the Locomotion Museum, Shildon, today
DURHAM were held up by Worcestershire’s two most talented batsmen this afternoon as the hosts reached 149 for two at tea after following on 370 behind. Vikram Solanki was on 51 and Moeen Ali had made 30 after both openers were removed by Ian Blackwell
BACK in 1988, a battling Middlesbrough side beat Chelsea over a two-legged play-off final to reach the Old First Division. Unlike the present day format, the team which finished fourth from bottom in the First Division was entered into a serious
The discovery of x-rays by the German Wilhelm Konrad Rontgen in 1895 caused a sensation in scientific and medical circles and created interest in the subject across the world, even in the unlikely setting of the small coal-mining town of Tow Law
IN Memories No 28 (April 14), we told how Katherine Pease fled the rather restrictive Quaker life of Darlington and became the first archaeologist to make a meaningful study of the statues of Easter Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
THE wife of a doctor who survived a 200ft fall down a cliff with his dog said today he "shouldn't really be alive". Chris Babbs, 53, plummeted from Little Cliff near the village of Cloughton, near Scarborough, when he tried to rescue their pet Labrador
IT IS a Hillman Husky. The calls and emails about the 1965 “mystery car” started at 7.44am last Thursday and have hardly stopped since. Many thanks to all; their volume proves beyond doubt the type of car parked in Laburnum Avenue, Durham
Beyond the occasional rampaging wild boar, Ferryhill’s history is full of industrial smoke, railway engines and coal mines. So why is this weekend’s local history open day being held in a chapel dedicated to a Duncombe – a name that conjures up
DURHAM didn’t really need any assistance this morning in their one-sided contest against Worcestershire, but before a ball was bowled the hosts lost one of their overnight batsmen. Adrian Shankar, a former Lancashire second X1 player who was signed only
Dirk Gently (BBC2, 9pm) Tangled Up With Dylan: The Ballad of AJ Weberman (BBC4, 10.55pm) Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers (Five, 8pm) AFTER its BBC4 premiere, Dirk Gently gets a screening on BBC2 tonight, following news that more episodes featuring
A 150-YEAR old North-East building society is the first in the UK to launch an iPhone app for its customers. Darlington Building Society has beaten bigger rivals to become the first to offer the service, which will allow customers to use their
ONE of Yorkshire’s largest employers has launched a search for 11 apprentices. Yorkshire Water launched the scheme last year, taking on ten apprentices in a variety of roles. The firm is advertising the vacancies on its website and has also contacted
TWO of the world’s best Salvation Army bands are to perform concerts in the North-east as part of a UK tour. The Chicago Staff Band are to perform in Durham Cathedral and also Consett, the town where the world’s first Salvation Army band was founded
NORTH-EAST property firm Grainger has unveiled rising profits, boosted by a string of acquisitions. The Newcastle-based business, which is Britain’s biggest residential landlord, said its operating profit rose from £48m to £59.4m as it took over
A DELEGATION from the Swedish renewable energy industry is to be introduced to firms working in the North- East supply chain next week. As part of the visit, Durham City-based energy business development organisation NOF Energy has arranged a
SHOOTING starts in the region this week on a new feature film, thanks to a £150,000 investment from the Finance for Business North-East Creative Content Fund. The movie, January, is the latest production to receive backing from the fund, which
THE London market shrugged off mixed data from the US yesterday as firmer metal and oil prices helped commodity-based stocks make headway. While the top flight was off highs for the session, the FTSE 100 Index still closed up 32.5 points at
THE story of a village in the North-East has been depicted in stained glass. Pelton Fell Community Partnership (PFCP) is celebrating its heritage with an art project that features its past, present and future. Community groups including the local history
CHRISTOPHER KIRK is trying to find two families whose names are in a bible dating back to 1790. The bible no longer exists, but Mr Kirk has a page on which details a number of births to families for the Bulcocks and Inghams, who appear to be related
WORK is underway to create a new home for wildlife next to a planned play area. Around 35 residents planted wetland seedlings on the banks of the stream and looked for signs of water voles at the site in Shadforth, near Durham City. Members of Durham
CHRIS HUHNE, the Energy Secretary, has announced steps to cut Britain’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by an incredible 60 per cent over the next 20 years. There will be Government subsidies for a huge expansion in wind energy, solar panels and
I THINK the Government needs to look at the tax it is charging pensioners. People work hard and pay their taxes up to retirement age. Then, instead of being left to enjoy their retirement, the Government taxes their pensions as well. It is ridiculous
I MUST commend G Bulmer’s recent letter (HAS, May 19) concerning the Queen’s visit to Ireland. During this trip much was made of the long relationship between Britain and Ireland. However, due to people’s attitude towards the Irish many people
Relax, and enjoy your children. In the end, they will turn out the way they will turn out. RELAX. Remember the Tiger Mother? You know, the one who thought mothers were utterly feeble if they didn’t make their children practise the piano for at
WHY are we giving £650m in aid to Pakistan when we know it offers a home to terrorist training grounds? It is time all foreign aid was stopped. Remember, charity begins at home. JM Gowland, Heighington.
AS a previous owner of the green Austin car used in the filming of “The Other Child”, a new TV serial about young evacuees who spent the Second World War in North Yorkshire, I was surprised and delighted to see my old pride and joy used on the
I THINK the Government needs to look at the tax it is charging pensioners. People work hard and pay their taxes up to retirement age. Then, instead of being left to enjoy their retirement, the Government taxes their pensions as well. It is ridiculous
I READ with interest about the call for Darlington’s residential roads to be governed by a 20mph speed limit (Echo, May 18). While I agree in principle with this I just wonder how on earth it would work? With devastating cuts in the police and
POOR Peter Mullen living in such an uninspiring area as he obviously does, and how wrong he is with his blanket summary of the people of this country. Only two things come out of his column this week, his invention of a new word “infantilisation
I’VE not paid much attention to the debate on super injunctions. To be honest I haven’t a clue who half these co-called celebrities are, let alone why I should be interested in their private lives. Super injunctions are for the super-rich. They’
IT is disturbing news that the financial status of Darlington-based Southern Cross Healthcare, Britain’s largest care home group, has deteriorated to such an extent that it could collapse within six weeks. It is disturbing for the group’s employees
INNOVATIVE schools which share the same building are helping pupils shine only three weeks after opening. Beverley and Prince Bishop schools were funded by Middlesbrough Council's £100m Building Schools for the Future programme. A spacious light-filled
A SAFETY-conscious seven-year-old has prompted a council to reduce the speed limit in her local park. Evie Russell complained to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council about vehicles entering Eston recreation ground. She feared that a member of her family
A DNA test that claims to show how fast you’re ageing is coming to the UK. But will the knowledge send you to an early grave? Kate Whiting reports. THERE were more than a few raised eyebrows – not to mention fluttering stomachs – when Spanish company
PRESTON Hall is staging events for children over the half-term holiday. They can learn stained glass techniques and will be able to make a plastic lightcatcher to take home on Wednesday, June 1, with sessions running from 10.15am to 11am, 11.15am to
AN isolated community has been thrown a lifeline with the announcement its post office is to reopen. After being empty for seven months, High Clarence Post Office will be trialling a new service. The community is between Billingham and Middlesbrough
WORLD Cup winner Sir Clive Woodward has left his Twickenham supporters reeling after ruling himself out of a possible return to English rugby’s corridors of power. Woodward, the architect of England’s 2003 World Cup triumph, was clear favourite
CHILDREN are taking part in a pilot scheme to encourage them to become the Neighbourhood Watch of the future. Up to 40 pupils from year six at Wingate Primary School, in County Durham, are embarking on a seven week programme of activities. They cover
NOEL MARTIN’S patience was rewarded when Sam Sharp made a superb comeback to land the Win £3 Million At footballpools.com Handicap at Haydock. Martin, who is a quadriplegic, suffered massive disappointment when Jacqueline Quest was demoted after
VERINCO only narrowly failed to make all at Musselburgh last time and is the choice in Catterick’s Derek Jones 60th Birthday Handicap. The five-year-old made a bold bid from the front that day after well over three months off the track and he
SUNDERLAND full-back Phil Bardsley has thrown his support behind Steve Bruce and admits he has the under-fire manager to thank for turning his career around. The Black Cats boss has come under some criticism from unhappy fans after his side went
MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Jason Steele is expected to be named in the final England Under-21 squad for this summer’s European Championships in Denmark on Monday. Coach Stuart Pearce was set to name his final 23-man squad yesterday, but the Football
AN ardent football fan has signed up for an innovative season ticket scheme from the other side of the world. Over the past few weeks, Hartlepool United has been overwhelmed by the support to the launch of its £100 season ticket initiative. But the
YORKSHIRE may still be heading towards defeat after two days against Lancashire at Liverpool – but they yesterday gave a much improved display with the ball. Andrew Gale’s men endured a demoralising first day when they were bowled out for a
A YOUTH theatre company is preparing to take its latest production to an international festival. Windermere Productions will perform during the Prague Fringe Festival at the end of May. The company, which was founded in 2007 and run by young people
TEENAGERS will take on police officers on the football field this weekend for an ancient trophy. Defending champions East Durham Eagles under 16s will take on South Durham Police for the Webster Trophy in a match at Durham City FC’s ground on Sunday.
A HOTEL is cementing its long relationship with its neighbouring cricket club. Rockliffe Hall hotel, spa and golf resort will sponsor its Hurworth neighbours, Rockliffe Park Cricket Club. The relationship between the two began in 1918 when cricket
THE days of being bullied by Graeme Hick in the shadow of Worcester cathedral are long gone and Durham continued to dominate in yesterday’s sunshine. Worcestershire are the whipping boys of this season’s first division and they closed the second
WOMEN who want to try golf can have five free lessons during June at the South Moor club in Craghead. They can play in trainers and jeans, or any casual clothes, with all the equipment also laid on for free. Committee woman Viv Shield said: "Anybody
STEEL giant Tata is to axe 1,500 jobs from three of its UK factories, delivering a huge blow to the industry and the country's economic recovery, it was announced today. The Indian firm said it was proposing to close or mothball part of its
A POPULAR attraction’s plans for expansion have been given the go-ahead by National Park planners. The Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole on the North York Moors is a major draw for tourists and currently wants more covered exhibition space. The
A SURVEY of young people who use a Thirsk Youth Centre has revealed that many teenagers in the area rely on the service for advice and support. Staff at the Thirsk Clock, based in the Methodist Church Hall, on St James’ Green, asked 94 of the young people
THE coming weekend should turn out to be a gourmet’s delight for visitors to one of North Yorkshire’s market towns. Malton is hosting its third Food Lovers' Festival - and this year’s event promises to be the biggest yet. It has grown to a full weekend
WALKERS exploring the Yorkshire Dales are being urged to think about ground nesting birds over the next few months. As the birds start to incubate eggs and raise their young, dog owners are asked to keep their pets on a lead to reduce the chances of
POLICE are promising to get tough in their fight against thefts from unattended vehicles. Operation Waiter is a Safer Ryedale Partnership response to vehicle break-ins at beauty spots across the district. Officers and community support officers will
FILMING has begun on a major new TV show set in the region. Work on Eternal Law, a new series from the writers of the hit Life on Mars, is now underway on various locations around York. The series, expected to be screened next year, tells the story
IN these times of austerity the coalition government could do far worse than appoint Jools Holland, Boogie Woogie Tsar. The piano impresario's tours could become official government policy and he could be sent up and down the country spreading
IT started with Carlisle entertaining Newcastle in a pre-season friendly last July, and will end with the Magpies hosting West Brom in the Premier League on Sunday. Another season charting the weird and wonderful world of North-East football has
Stokesley are hoping to appoint a new manager soon as they start a rebuilding job at Broughton Road. The first division side achieved their highest ever league position when they finished 16th in the season just ended, but then manager Ted Watts quit
AN MP has called for an eleventh-hour rethink on controversial proposals which would see free transport to faith schools axed. Pat Glass, Labour MP for North West Durham, claims some families in her constituency will be left having to pay more
AN artisan baker has crossed the English Channel to teach disadvantaged young people the disappearing art of traditional breadmaking. The Clervaux Trust asked Philippe Bayo, 49, to swap south west France for Darlington after it was unable to find
NEW powers for local councils to curb rail fares and help decide routes were demanded in a Governmentbacked report yesterday. The study called for the Northern Rail franchise – which runs services across the North-East and North Yorkshire – to
EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the Take That tour, which begins in the North-East next Friday. The Stadium of Light in Sunderland is being transformed to host the concerts. The Take That trucks arrived after Saturday’s last home match against
A MAN is taking a local authority to court in a bid to have his father allowed to return home. For the past two years, Jim Jones has been embroiled in a legal battle with social services to have his 78-year-old father, Ron, allowed home.
OFFICERS searching the home of a man killed when a bomb exploded in his car have found a note in his flat. The contents have not been revealed, but police made it clear he did not intend to harm anyone else. David Bagley’s body was found early
A FIRM of North-East architects has completed a £1m project to transform one of the region's colleges into a state of the art business hub. Darlington-based Niven Architects, has converted buildings across the Hartlepool campus of Cleveland College
PRIVATE transport firms will soon reach breaking point unless the Government takes action to halt rocketing fuel costs, the head of a North-East taxi and coach firm has warned. New research by finance specialist Bibby Financial Services has revealed
Former Premiership star Trevor Benjamin is no longer manager of STL Second Division side Morpeth -- but he could remain at the club in another capacity. Benjamin, with former Newcastle full back Olivier Bernard alongside him as coach, took over in September
BRITAIN’S largest care home group could collapse within six weeks, raising concerns for the future welfare of 31,000 elderly residents. Darlington-based Southern Cross Healthcare, which leases the majority of its 750 homes, admitted yesterday
A HUGE cloud of black smoke could be seen across the North-East yesterday after a major fire at a scrapyard. The plume of thick smoke billowing into the sky over Newcastle could be seen from as far away as Redcar and the Scottish Borders.
ANGRY pub regulars are protesting after being denied an al fresco pint by parish councillors who ordered outdoor benches to be removed. The tenants who run the King’s Head, in Cockfield, County Durham, were told that the two benches were on the
POLICE are working closely with the family of a missing 36-year-old man after a body was found near a community centre. The remains of a man were discovered by a dog walker near Ainderby Walk, in the Central Estate area of Hartlepool, at about
