GIVEN their position at the foot of the Aviva Premiership table, two points are not to be sniffed at for Newcastle Falcons. But after a wonderfully committed display against league leaders Harlequins at Kingston Park, Gary Gold's side will be pondering
I’VE been struggling for inspiration. Normally, during a test of a car, something will happen that will give rise to a theme for the week. It is rare that seven days pass by without an occurrence of sorts. And even if that is the case, then there
THE Kia Picanto is the motoring equivalent of Joe Pasquale – but without the annoying voice. Small, quirky looking and always trying hard to make you smile, it is the epitomy of the cheeky chappie. Starting with a completely blank piece of paper
SOMETIMES there are benefits to turning up late to a party. You miss all the early hullabaloo and when the dust has settled, quietly walk in and steal the show. The Q3 is a case in point. Audi’s classy crossover may not be breaking new ground
SOMETIMES there are benefits to turning up late to a party. You miss all the early hullabaloo and when the dust has settled, quietly walk in and steal the show. The Q3 is a case in point. Audi’s classy crossover may not be breaking new
IN the world of crossovers and off roaders, the Vauxhall Antara is the motoring equivalent of the Beast of Bodmin. We are told it is out there, but just how many of us have seen it? At least the beast is reckoned to have left some footprints. Seriously
A NORTH Yorkshire policewoman was left inconsolable after training sessions where she was bullied, belittled and humiliated by senior colleagues, a tribunal heard today. The former firearms officer, identified as Miss M for security reasons
A CUTTING from a newspaper led to a sex offender spending an extra four-and-a-half months behind bars in a North-East jail. The picture story about child pole dancers from a national tabloid paper was found in Stephen Turner’s back pocket, during a cell
CHILDREN who are struggling in mainstream education were given a lesson in the value of reading as part of World Book Day. Coun Cyndi Hughes, the cabinet member for children and young people, visited the Phoenix Centre, a pupil referral unit for youngsters
SOME of the best construction industry will be competing in Durham this summer. New College Durham has been chosen to host the regional heat of the national competition SkillBuild on June 13 and `14. The competition is run by CITB-ConstructionSkills
A PUBLIC meeting is being held in east Durham in response to concerns over people getting into financial difficulties in the current economic climate. As Government cuts and high levels of unemployment begin to bite, the threat of illegal money lending
A NEW project which hopes to develop the football stars of the future while inspiring their academic studies has been started in two Darlington schools. Former Quakers player and assistant manager Martin Gray is working with Longfield Academy of Sport
FOOTBALL legend Jack Charlton is recovering after breaking his hip in a fall, his son said tonight. John Charlton said his father underwent a hip replacement operation at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary this morning and was recovering from the effects
A CONCERT is being held tonight (FRI) to raise money for a feature film which is being shot about the trials and tribulations of a Darlington FC fan. Local blues band, The Vast Majorities, is playing at the concert at St Augustine’s Church hall, which
A STATE school which was founded in 1555 has been officially rated “outstanding” for the first time in its history. Ofsted inspectors concluded Ripon Grammar School’s 854 pupils were “well-rounded, confident individuals” and that they received “challenging
A PIONEERING peat preservation project that has seen thousands of acres of moorland become one of the country's top weapons in the fight against climate change is in the running for a national award. The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural
DEVELOPERS hope to have a supermarket signed up to move onto a new site in a south Durham town within the next two months. Having secured outline planning permission for a store in the centre of Willington, Lincolnshire-based Limes Developments said
CHARITY and community groups are being offered free Christmas decorations. Staff at Tesco, Bishop Auckland, have lots of Christmas decorations left over which they want to give away. They are being offered free to local groups who want to use them or
STAFF at an award-winning museum are celebrating as more than 200,000 visitors passed through its doors in a record-breaking year. The Locomotion, the National Railway Museum, at Shildon, has seen high visitor figures in recent years. Visitor numbers
A RUNDOWN former club has been transformed into a nursery and offices by an expanding care home company. Gainford Care Homes has spent £3.2m remodelling the old Greenbank WMC, in Picktree Lane, Chester-le-Street, which closed two years ago.
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of burglary following an attempted ram-raid on a pawnbrokers, which caused about £30,000 worth of damage. A stolen black Kia Sorrento was captured on security cameras reversing into the Ramsdens shop window, in
A GARDEN aimed at creating a learning resource for children while helping strengthen links between the generations in a north Durham community is starting to take shape. Ushaw Moor Action Group has got the keys to Ushaw Moor Community Garden in the
A CHARITY event in honour of a soldier who died in Afghanistan has been held. Colin Richardson, who was a friend of Daryn Roy, held the event at the Salvation Army Hall on Sherburn Terrace in Consett. He sold t-shirts, badges and car stickers to raise
The Jar Family, who hail from Hartlepool, have been confirmed as main support for legendary guitarist Steve Cradock's show at the Newcastle O2 Academy on Sunday. Fresh from touring the UK with Alabama 3, The Jar Family’s ascent to stardom continues
The Mad Bad Ad Show (C4, 10pm) The Joy Of Disco (BBC4, 9pm) My Life In Books (BBC2, 6.30pm) THERE’S an old saying in the advertising industry: “We’ll entertain you for 25 seconds if you take note of our products for five seconds.” And given the
LOOK pet, hinny, love, dear, my duck, let’s get our priorities straight. Using such endearments when dealing with old people shows a lack of respect, says a commission on care and the elderly. Maybe, maybe. But it’s a lot better than being called
PLANS for parking permits in a busy street look set for approval despite a taxi firm’ objections. Durham County Council wants the control for South Burns, alongside Chester-le-Street’s market place. Access is restricted to buses, market
AMBULANCES operated by a private firm are being used to respond to 999 calls in North Yorkshire. Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has employed Malton-based North of England Ambulance Service to provide two vehicles to answer emergencies
PROFITS soared at Northern Rock's so called bad bank, run by the Government, last year. Underlying profit before tax at Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM) rose to £789.9m, compared with £191.3m in 2010. It enabled the bank to pay
THE Duke of York has again shown his support for the restart of North-East steelmaking during a visit to Thailand. Prince Andrew met Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) president Win Viriyaprapaikit and representatives of the company at its offices in
THE North-East's largest building society returned to profit last year, as its outsourcing services to other firms continued solid growth. Newcastle Building Society recorded an operating profit of £9.2m in 2011 compared to a loss of £300,000
THE North-East enjoyed the greatest level of economic growth outside London during One North East's tenure, documents released today show. The legacy documents, released ahead of the regional development agency's closure at the end of the month, highlight
SOME months ago my niece was “cashiered” into a “work for nothing” scheme. She had been gainfully employed since she left school and had plenty of work experience until she was made redundant, so why the need for more experience? If we need to
PETE WINSTANLEY (HAS, Feb 29) says that in my letter of February 23 I had “difficulty in grasping the concept of British identity”. Now that’s strange because I set out no views as to what British identity consisted of. I just said that various
A FORMER BBC and ITV presenter from the North-East has been jailed for six years after admitting a string of sexual assaults on teenage girls. Peter Rowell, 53, used his position as a DJ on a local radio station to groom and abuse impressionable young
I HAVE just filled in Durham County Council’s library consultation and, on reflection, wish I hadn’t. I suspect I’ve been conned. The consultation offers relatively minor choices set against a backdrop of major decisions already taken. My involvement
REGARDING the letter criticising the number of Darlington council staff who earn more than £50,000 (HAS, Feb 27). The letter suggests the number of such staff has been increasing. This isn’t the case. The quoted figures include some
WHAT is the use of a court if when a criminal is found guilty, then won’t pay up? My daughter was walking her dog on a lead, when it was attacked by another dog, not on a lead. Her dog required an operation costing £700 and, because she is
YOUR report “Ministers drop benefits threat to jobless youngsters”, is welcome news (Echo, Feb 29). This sits well with the abrupt disappearance from the scene of David Cameron favourite Emma Harrison, the A4e welfare to work executive, who pocketed
THE death of PC David Rathband is truly tragic. When he was shot in the face by Raoul Moat in July 2010, he lost more than his sight. He lost his job, his way of life, his marriage and the future he had imagined for himself, and he lost the person
I DO enjoy the photographs that are sent in by readers of The Northern Echo which are now being published in HAS. There have been some stunning shots recently, particularly the photo by Chris Kemp of the Priory up in Tynemouth on a cold and
ASK someone what the biggest threat to the country is and their first reaction would probably be one of the big issues - war, terrorism or environmental or economic meltdown. Maybe it’s my awkward streak, but my answer would be different. I
The late David Rathband was an ordinary traffic officer who loved his job, until one fateful night on July 4 ,2010, changed his life forever. Stuart Arnold reports BLASTED at close range by a shotgun wielded by killer Raoul Moat, PC David Rathband
KAUTO Star is only ‘‘50-50’’ to make the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup after a fall when schooling last week, according to trainer Paul Nicholls. Nicholls said the dual Gold Cup winner took a nasty tumble at his Ditcheat yard under Ruby Walsh.
IT goes without saying, but Newcastle Falcons desperately need some points if they are to avoid relegation this season. However, there is another commodity that would be equally useful, and it too is in short supply. Time would be of benefit to
THE special Metro train service from Sunderland to Newcastle Central Station was due to depart at 10.13am on Sunday morning but will now go at 10.12am. The train will run non-stop and the return journey to Wearside will set off at 3.26pm. There
Beamish Museum will hold the North-East’s Paralympic Torch Relay Flame Celebrations this summer. The flame will visit the open air attraction, near Stanley, County Durham, which is dedicated to the region’s industrial heritage, on Friday August
POLICE have named the man whose body was found in a Darlington park yesterday morning. He has been identified as Simon Harvey, 42, of Hutton Avenue in Darlington. A post mortem examination has been held into his death and police confirmed
A NEW search is to be launched to find gas reserves under one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country. Egdon Resources is seeking planning permission to sink an exploratory borehole on the North York Moors by Westerdale, near Whitby. The
DIESEL costs more in a rural North Yorkshire district than anywhere else in the country, a study has found. The Countryside Alliance found that motorists in the southern North York Moors area of Ryedale are paying 146.9p per litre, 7p more than drivers
JOHN Carver has plenty of Tyne-Wear derby experience and is keen to ensure his head rules his heart when Newcastle United face Sunderland on Sunday. Carver was born on Tyneside, played for the Magpies and has had two separate spells as assistant
SUNDERLAND midfielder Craig Gardner insists he is relishing the prospect of walking out into the “hostile” atmosphere at St James’ Park and believes there will be fireworks when Martin O’Neill’s men take on Newcastle United. The rivals meet on
POLICE are urging van drivers to be on guard after spare wheels were stolen in a series of overnight thefts. Three thefts were reported in the Consett area between the evening of February 29 and the following morning. In each case, spare wheels were
THE search is on for a man or woman to be awarded one their hometown’s greatest honours. Northallerton Town Council is seeking nominations from local people for somneone to be granted honorary citizenship. Nominations can be made for anyone who has
STUDENTS will be able to live the Olympic dream after being selected to help out during the 2012 games. Risedale Sports and Community College students and another from Richmond School were chosen from thousands of hopefuls who applied. And now they
A WOMAN convicted of more than 100 offences was given a suspended sentence for stealing groceries - while she was on licence for a drug dealing offence. Colleen Dresser, 38, who is claiming job seekers allowance, had spent a year in prison for supplying
A LARGE North-East dairy has gone into administration, placing 88 jobs at risk and hitting hundreds of farm suppliers. Rock Farm Dairy, in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, has suspended trading with immediate affect. The company, which
COUNCILLORS in Darlington have agreed millions of pounds of cuts to services and facilities, including the loss of the town’s Arts Centre, as they confirmed the budget for the coming year. The leader of Darlington Borough Council, Bill Dixon
THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has urged the Government to look abroad for imaginative solutions to financing economic growth. In a new report 'Alt+ Finance: small firms and access to finance', the FSB is calling for alternative forms
AN AMBITIOUS scheme to bring more than a thousand new jobs to the region was last night handed a major boost by the Government. The Tees Valley Enterprise Zone is the first in the country to have its bid for fast-track planning rules approved by Communities
PLANS to secure the future of a popular multi-use centre as a community-run venue will get a public airing this month. Local people are to be updated on efforts to transfer the running of Hambleton Forum, in Northallerton, from its owners, Hambleton
Three reasons why... NEWCASTLE WILL WIN Because they have the more potent strike force Goals win games, and in Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, Newcastle have a pair of strikers who are more than capable of sealing Sunderland's fate
FIREFIGHTERS were tackling a major blaze at a car dealership on the outskirts of Durham this morning. A number of vehicles are believed to have been destroyed or badly damage in the blaze which also gutted buildings at Evans Halshaw, in Gilesgate
PERSONAL details of more than 100 former staff and students have been disclosed on a university’s website. Durham University displayed the details, including the names, addresses and dates of birth, of 177 individuals on its website for six months
GADGET-loving North-Easterners are increasingly turning to smartphones and tablets to keep up-to-date with breaking news. One in three people in the region owns a wireless internet-capable smartphone or tablet device. And with the launch
THE title “the North-East” is inward-looking and provincial and the region needs to be rebranded for a global age, a respected business chief claimed yesterday. Stephen Taylor, an advisor to several governments, the International Monetary Fund
Target: £750,000 Running Total: £294,150 SHOPS are being urged to show their support for the Quakers by buying shares in the company formed to save the football club. The Shares for Shops initiative has been launched by Darlington
A GROUP of wounded soldiers has tackled Africa’s highest mountain to raise awareness of a charity that helps service personnel who lost limbs and prove that a disability does not mean an end to adventure. The team of the Pilgrim Bandits was joined
THE Carpenters may have sung about A Kind of Hush, but for residents of a North-East town it is more like a kind of hum. People living in Churchill Road, Barnard Castle, say they are being plagued by an intermittent hum – the like of which
Crook Town, who have won their last three away league matches, are at third placed Gillford Park, and if they win, could be right in the thick of the promotion race, but on the other hand, their games are running out. Manager Gary Pearson will choose
leaders Sunderland RCA will be strongly tested when they face Newton Aycliffe at Meadow Park. The RCA went one point clear at the top after winning in midweek, but they will be missing midfielder Rob Briggs who is out for the season with a broken arm,
THE circumstances surrounding a man’s death remain under investigation after his body was found in a park yesterday morning. However, police believe there was no third party involvement in the death of the man, who is believed to have connections
HERO PC David Rathband, who was found dead in his home on Wednesday night, had told friend Duncan Bannatyne that he would never give Raoul Moat “the satisfaction” of taking his own life. The Dragon’s Den star – patron of the inspirational traffic officer
West Auckland manager Peter Dixon believes that their dressing room camaraderie can carry them into the semi finals when they go head-to-head against Bournemouth in their first ever Vase quarter final today. The West squad set off yesterday afternoon
A DEAL has been struck to turn an empty building into a fire brigade headquarters – and end the scandal of it costing taxpayers more than £100,000 a month. Durham and Darlington fire chiefs have been awarded £1.8m of Government cash to make
Dunston manager Billy Irwin is hoping that the experience of playing in last season's quarter finals will be a decisive factor when they take on Peterborough Northern Star. The Tynesiders reached the quarter finals last season, only to be beaten by Whitley
Neil Wainwright has become the latest Darlington player to return to the club after signing a contract with Quakers - just over 12 years since he first joined. The winger arrived on loan at this stage of the season in 2000 from Sunderland and
THE future of Nobby Solano at Hartlepool United appears to be coming to a head, after the midfielder went awol this week. He was due to play for Pools' reserve side on Wednesday night, but failed to turn up to meet the team bus for their trip
AFTER pulling off the loan signature of Adam Hammill yesterday, Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed he is still in the market for a further addition to boost the club's promotion push. But Mowbray, who still has an interest in Liverpool's
