Archive

  • Ashton defends England actions

    England wing Chris Ashton has defended the decision made by some players to go drinking in a bar that was holding dwarf racing. Ashton was among a group of England World Cup stars who were photographed enjoying Sunday night in Queenstown's Altitude Bar

  • Dynamite debut for Tyke Bairstow in England win

    Jonny Bairstow made a startling international debut to help England complete a taxing run chase and 3-0 NatWest Series victory over India in Cardiff. Twenty-one-year-old Bairstow and Ravi Bopara finished what Alastair Cook (50) and Jonathan Trott (63

  • Blake relishes Bolt battle

    Yohan Blake warned Usain Bolt he will be gunning for his Olympic 200 metres crown in London next year after storming to the second fastest time in history at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels last night. The 21-year-old upstaged his fellow Jamaican

  • American Kemmer powers to victory at Hunley

    Dodge Kemmer became the first American to win on the PGA EuroPro Tour after he powered to victory in the Integral Collection Classic. California-based Kemmer, 24, won the event, the penultimate one of the season, as he finished five shots clear of Jon

  • Croft to stage British Rallycross

    TOP-CLASS rallycross will return to the region later this year after Croft Circuit was selected to host the prestigious British Rallycross Grand Prix on Sunday, November 6. The event will mark the popular sport's return to North Yorkshire after a two-year

  • Search teams find fourth miner in flooded colliery

    THE body of the last of four miners trapped in a flooded mine near Swansea has been found, police said tonight. Phillip Hill, Charles Breslin, David Powell and Garry Jenkins went missing when Gleision Colliery near Swansea became flooded. Peter Vaughan

  • Middlesbrough sign Man City striker

    MIDDLESBROUGH have signed Manchester City striker Alex Nimely on a three-month loan. The 20-year-old will go straight into Tony Mowbray's squad for tomorrow's Championship away game at Crystal Palace. A prolific goalscorer at youth and reserve-team

  • Police force unveils newest recruits

    THE youngest - and cutest- new recruits at North Yorkshire Police have been unveiled by the force’s dog handling team. The three puppies are Tyke, a three-month-old German Shepherd, and Toby and Sam, who are both 14-week-old Springadors, who

  • Darlington soldier latest Afghanistan casualty

    A SOLDIER shot dead in Afghanistan was from the North-East the Ministry of Defence confirmed today. Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay, 33, from Darlington, deployed to Afghanistan in June 2011, having recently qualified as a Bravo Mortar Fire

  • Extra blues

    Kent DuChaine, Adrian Edmondson and the Earthbeat Theatre Company are all bringing tours to the North-East. US musician Kent DuChaine is helping to put Blues At The Bay events at the Cleveland Bay in Eaglescliffe on the map with an appearance

  • A love match

    YOU have only to look at the headlines in Soapland’s periodical Inside Soap to know there’s a crisis – Frank Attacks Carla! Peter’s Revenge! Darren Jilts Jodie! Nicola and Jimmy Together Again. But domestic abuse, discarded brides and reassembled

  • A mother’s place is in the wrong

    THE good thing about babies is that they’ve never read the surveys. Maybe it would be better if their parents hadn’t either. The latest heart-sinking bits of research – almost literally – claims that we spend more money and less time on our

  • Top rate tax cuts

    THE Government should be helping the low and middle class with tax cuts instead of thinking about the high earners who will survive without cuts and will find a way to deal with it. The Tories still have the stigma of helping the rich with no

  • Nursing care

    I AM a nurse who qualified in 1954 and I am concerned about the demise of the “care component” in nursing. Various reorganisations and restructures have occurred since 1966 to supposedly improve the service. A few years ago, state enrolled nurses

  • Not cricket

    AS the cricket season draws to a close, unlike the tenure of the Government, let us make a reflective comparison. After recruiting some nonleague players our captain promptly changed the rules. This evening there would be no early declarations

  • Priests

    I WISH to correct the false impressions given by R Meggs recently (HAS, Aug 13). His blanket scurrilous remarks about children and priests at the Madrid youth meeting were completely unjustified and don’t acknowledge their exemplary hard work

  • Hospital worker takes on Great North Run for the seventh time

    A HOSPITAL worker is to tackle the Great North Run for the seventh time to raise funds for a charity close to her heart. Judith Masterman, 51, from Northallerton, will be raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society when she runs the half-marathon with

  • Multiculturalism

    WITH regard to Peter Sagar’s letter (HAS, Sept 12) many people would like to get rid of multiculturalism. It was imposed on us without the consent of the English people. I was a young woman in the Fifties. I never saw the police in riot gear,

  • Hear All Sides

    I HAVE no wish to be drawn into the furore regarding Christopher Wardell’s contributions to these columns. Suffice to say, critics of this gentleman should remember the page is devoted to hearing all sides and Mr Wardell makes a valuable contribution

  • Time for simple Simon

    THE television version of The Saint celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. Of course, the TV series was based on books written by the author Leslie Charteris, first published in 1928. The TV show starred Roger Moore as Simon Templar, after

  • Slip up

    THE Northern Echo, September 12, featured a review of the performance by Middlebrough’s Amelia Lily of Beverley Knight’s Little Piece of my Heart on XFactor. This song was first sung by possibly the greatest white urban blues and soul singer of

  • A birthday for us to remember

    FOR organisations as well as people, it’s all too easy to take a wrong turning. It’s no good moaning about missed opportunities – humans will never have perfect hindsight. It’s also important to remember that you can learn from your successes as

  • Youth theatre expands into rural areas

    A POPULAR youth theatre is to extend into the Yorkshire Dales to give more young people the chance to learn behind the scenes skills. The Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, has taken over the Youth Theatre in Wensleydale, formerly known as WeSPA.

  • Violence in focus

    THE savagery of a street attack in Darlington is highlighted by a video which can been viewed on The Northern Echo’s website. We thought long and hard about whether it was right to show the disturbing CCTV footage which was obtained from Durham

  • Serious crash closes A1 southbound

    THE emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash on the A1. The collision, which involved a dark silver Mercedes Benz, happened at 12.45pm on the southbound carriageway near Wetherby. The car, which contained three men believed

  • Risky business

    The arrest yesterday of a man allegedly responsible for a £1.3bn loss at Swiss bank UBS is just the latest in a string of high-profile rogue trader cases. Stuart Arnold reports. IT’S unthinkable to most of us, but a few select individuals gamble

  • Mental health roadshow comes to town

    A RECRUITMENT campaign to encourage members of the public to sign up as member of a health trust will start at an information roadshow about mental health services in the region. The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) will have staff

  • Mackay and Shandran tied on 10

    Consett's Michael Mackay and Bedlington's Anthony Shandran are level at the top of the first division goalscoring charts with 10 goals apiece, closely followed by Bishops' Andy Johnson. Mark Brishuck's hat trick for Brandon against West Allotment on

  • Enterprise Arcade offers ideal start for new firms

    CHRISTMAS could come early for new retailers who are being offered shops rent free in a prime town centre location. The former Burton's store in Stockton High Street - revived as the Enterprise Arcade - will become a base for five entrepreneurs who

  • University students get financial boost

    ACADEMIC bright sparks have been given a helping hand as they embark on their university careers. Five students have been awarded a £500 voucher through a bursary set up in memory of the founder of an organisation which provides support services to

  • Soldier peddled designer drug

    A DRUG-DEALING soldier escaped a prison sentence after a judge heard the substance he was selling had been made illegal only a fortnight before he was caught. Jack Harkess started peddling naphyrone when it was a legal high, available on the internet

  • Chance to find out if you have X Factor

    BUDDING pop stars and musicians can see if they have the "X Factor" by playing in a sound booth. Taster sessions are being held next week at Tees Valley Music Service, in Bishopton Road West, Stockton. People of all ages can play in its sound

  • Sailing club welcomes donation for disability access dinghy

    MEMBERS of a sailing club have thanked local fundraisers after receiving a donation for a dinghy that will allow young people with disabilities to access the water. Scaling Dam Sailing Club, based on Scaling Dam reservoir, on the A171, was presented

  • Shops still shut

    PART of a town centre remains sealed off after a shop partially collapsed yesterday. The back wall of the Mothercare store, in Bishop Auckland, collapsed and brought down three floors at around 2pm yesterday. Shoppers and staff managed to escape the

  • Last-ditch bid for Colonial

    Colonial can make a last-ditch bid to feature in some of the bigger autumn races with victory in the Dubai Duty Free Cup at Newbury. The four-year-old is entered in the Group Two Challenge Stakes at Newmarket next month but he still has a fair

  • Full steam ahead for rail weekend

    VISITORS to two sister museums that are 60 miles apart will be linked by rail for the first time this weekend. Steam locomotives will run between the National Railway Museum, in York, and Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, in Shildon,

  • Luxuries count for nothing, says Wood

    Tom Wood has warned England their five-star existence will count for nothing in Sunday's World Cup clash with a Georgia side ready to take them "down a peg or two". Wood is as grounded as they come in the England squad and he still approaches

  • Fears for future of Wise Drive programme

    A CASH crisis could put the brakes on a drive to put young people on the road to lifelong motoring safety. About 12,000 teenagers have undergone road safety training on Durham Police’s award-winning Wise Drive – Drive for Life programme, at

  • Strong start for GB&I

    Great Britain and Ireland captain Paul McGinley warned his players not to get carried away after a dream first day of the Vivendi Seve Trophy at St-Nom-La-Breteche saw them take a 4-1 lead over Continental Europe. The Europeans were in dominant

  • Saturday fixtures

    Here's Saturday's Northern League programme FA Cup first qualifying round. Bedlington v Newcastle Benfield, Hebburn v Penrith, Kendal v Whitley Bay, Parkgate v Whitby, Shildon v Ashington, Spennymoor Town v Dunston. STL Northern League Division

  • Chester boss Smith in charge of first home game

    Chester-le-Street manager Anth Smith takes charge of his first home game against Whickham, and he will await fitness tests on midfielder Robbie Draper and striker Sam Renwick before he chooses his team. Whickham manager Neil Saxton could make changes

  • Second game in Bishop v RCA trilogy

    STL Northern League Division One Bishop Auckland and Sunderland RCA meet for the second game in their ten day trilogy at Heritage Park this afternoon. The RCA are seven points clear at the top after beating Bishops 3-2 in the reverse league fixture

  • Inquiry into shooting of faithful pet

    AN investigation has been launched after a cat that was a dying boy’s faithful companion was shot and had to be put down. Henry Dancer, 12, of Cornsay Village, County Durham, died of terminal bone cancer last November. His last days were brightened

  • Online gambler who lost £18,800 threatened to shoot staff

    A GAMBLER who blew thousands of pounds on an online poker site threatened to shoot people who worked there unless they handed over £31,000 to clear his losses. Michael Gallagher, from Redcar, east Cleveland, sent accusatory emails to the head office

  • Skelton makes the cut at Hunley

    Marske's Michael Skelton will take his place in the final round of the Integral Collection Classic at Hunley Golf Club today after securing a spot in the top 50 of the Europro tournament. Skelton, 27, shot four over par to be placed joint

  • Djokovic is tennis' greatest

    TWO years ago, when he won the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, Roger Federer was rightly being lauded as arguably the greatest tennis player of all time. Twelve months later, he was being eclipsed by another all-time great, Rafael

  • Durham end the season with a win

    DURHAM swiftly wrapped up their eighth win of the season yesterday, beating Worcestershire by 151 runs, and were left to sweat on whether they would finish second or third in the LV County Championship. The possibility arose of Lancashire

  • Cook wants to finish on a high

    Alastair Cook will be out to put his Twenty20 frustration behind him today when England bid to complete their unbeaten summer against India. Victory at the SWALEC Stadium would give England a 3-0 NatWest Series margin, to go with their 4-0 Test superiority

  • Cooper explains signing striker

    Darlington manager Mark Cooper has explained the reasoning behind adding another player to his forward ranks with the arrival this week of Tadhg Purcell. The Irishman has returned to the club, where he scored nine goals in 22 games during 2009

  • Meyler hoping for a return to action

    SUNDERLAND midfielder David Meyler is hoping to make an eagerly-awaited return from injury in next week's reserves game with Gateshead. Meyler has suffered a succession of injuries since breaking into the Black Cats' first team in December

  • Santon injury blow

    New Newcastle United signing Davide Santon is on the sidelines before he has even kicked a ball for the club after suffering an injury in training. Santon, who arrived from Inter Milan at the end of last month in a £5m deal, underwent a scan

  • Ainsley -- we mustn't let standards slip

    Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley has told his players that they mustn’t let their standards slip as they prepare to face Dunston in the FA Cup first qualifying round at the Brewery Field on Saturday. Ainsley was furious with a sloppy performance against

  • Trio remain wanted at the Riverside

    DURHAM hope to have Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett and Mark Davies fit and firing for a renewed assault on the County Championship next season after letting this year's title slip away. Davies is the biggest doubt as he awaits the results

  • Wadsworth urges: Do not waste good start

    SEVEN unbeaten games into their League One season and Mick Wadsworth will not let anyone at Hartlepool United ease up. Victory at Carlisle last weekend, their third in a row, was of great satisfaction to the coach on his return to one of his

  • Mowbray able to take his time in striker hunt

    TONY Mowbray continues to scour the loan market for a striker, but the Middlesbrough manager admits his side's recent attacking displays have reduced the need for an immediate addition. With Coventry City refusing to release Lukas Jutkiewicz

  • Village community will house 300 injured veterans

    PLANS to create one of the country’s first centres for the long-term care of Armed Forces veterans have been unveiled. More than 300 injured and disabled former servicemen and women will be cared for at the £27m Veterans’ Retreat Village, near Ebchester

  • Leading economist predicts manufacturing boost for North-East

    A LEADING economist said the North-East was well placed to come through the economic downturn because of its manufacturing base, although it could face some short term difficulties. Roger Bootle, a well known media commentator who was one of the Chancellor's

  • Winning mentality will benefit Magpies

    NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew says his players must go into every game believing they can win if they want to be a competitive force in the Premier League. The Magpies travel to Aston Villa today with Pardew hoping his side can continue their unbeaten start