The lowest gate of Darlington's season turned up for last night's game with Luton Town, but those that stayed away missed out the most thrilling game that ended in high drama and a penalty save that denied Quakers an injury time win. Inside
It is very difficult to get away from the chances of Sizing Europe (3.20) in today's feature, the Champion Chase, and he looks sure to go off a warm order to retain his crown. Eight go to post and although he might have to make his own running (unless
Sunderland RCA stayed on course for a league and league cup double when they won at Dunston in the league cup last night. There were plenty of chances in the game, and it was finally decided by a strike from Steven Jones deep into extra time against
A NORTH-EAST man has won a telelvision weight-loss contest tonight after losing 40 per cent of his body weight. Kevin McLernon, 38, from Sunderland, shed 12st 12lb during the almost six-month process - equivalent to nearly 82 bags of sugar -to win ITV1s
A MAN has died following an accident on a farm at Huby near Easingwold. North Yorkshire Police confirmed tonight that they were called to the farm, near the Burn Hall Hotel, late this afternoon. A force spokesman said there had been an accident and
SEAT has had an end-of-season sort out. The Leon has been around for a bit so bosses have rummaged through the parts bin for some extra goodies while at the same time giving the range a good shake up. As the sportiest model in the range the Leon always
THE 'pay peanuts and you get monkeys' argument is inclined to come to the fore in the debate about public sector executive salaries. A public sector organisation such as Durham County Council has huge and expensive responsibilities and, therefore, requires
AUDI is set to extend its rivalry with BMW into the motorcycling world if audacious plans to buy Ducati come to fruition. The German giant is in talks to snap up the ailing Italian motorcycle manufacturer in a deal that would see it go head-to-head
A WOMAN is to be questioned by police after an armed stand-off lasting more than eight hours came to an end. The incident concluded just after 7.20pm when the 40-year-old woman was arrested under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
A COUNCIL which has managed to double the number of people training to be foster parents in the past year has signed up to its first charter with foster carers. Civic leaders, including Darlington'sMayor Lee Vasey, and Darlington Borough Council's
Threadbare Darlington can name only three substitutes for this evening’s game for Luton Town for which they make three enforced changes. Rob Ramshaw (suspended), Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Scott Harrison (both injured) drop out of the line-up
HAND bell ringers have raised more than £2,300 for charity. The group from All Saints' Church, in Blackwell, Darlington, raised the money for Make A Wish as part of its Christmas carol ringing. A cheque was presented to Marie Wray, a
A BUILDING society has given its backing to a special school’s drive for new buses. The Oaks Secondary School, in Spennymoor, has made an appeal to local businesses for funding for two buses to replace its old and dilapidated vehicle. Now Darlington
A CORDON was put in place around a hotel after reports workmen had uncovered an explosive device. North Yorkshire Police were called to the Talbot Hotel, in Yorkersgate, Malton, at about 4.25pm. Officers put a 200m cordon in place as
A MAYOR has called for patience following criticism the council is doing little to boost Bishop Auckland's prospects. Bishop Auckland Mayor Councillor John Lethbridge said a lot of work is taking place behind the scenes to improve and celebrate events
A COMMUNITY forum which lets residents help decide the local issues and priorities is looking for members. The Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership (AAP), formed alongside 13 others in 2009 by Durham County Council, aims to engage with
ROAD improvements on a dual carriageway are expected to cause disruption, particularly for commuters at rush hour periods over the coming fortnight. Resurfacing work takes place on a section of the A690 Durham to Sunderland road, from Monday. Motorists
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Channel 5, 9pm) The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (BBC2, 8pm) Alcatraz (Watch, 9pm) CHEERS fans rejoice – Ted Danson joins the cast of top cop drama CSI as it returns for a 12th series. He plays the team’s new
YOU have to hand it to these opera boys, no subject is sacred or taboo and Handel’s baroque epic about Cleopatra’s seduction of Julius Caesar touches on lust, love, incest, betrayal, sexual assaults, plotting, counter plotting and murder. A comedy
SEVERAL cracks have been discovered in Middlesbrough's iconic Transporter Bridge. The structure will be closed for several weeks to allow what is being described as "urgent and essential" repair work to be carried out. "While undertaking a detailed
A CAFE which was opened by a popular pie-makers two years ago has been named as the eatery which serves Darlington’s best builder’s breakfast. Taylor’s Cafe in Lingfield Way has won the competition run by staff at kitchen and joinery company Magnet
MORE than 100 people attended the funeral on Monday of a community figure who dedicated her life to helping others. A service was held at St Matthew and St Lukes Church in Darlington for Norma Town MBE, a former Darlington councillor and volunteer extraordinaire
WHEN the redoubtable, nay indomitable, Delia Smith, the best and sanest culinary diva of all time, writes a full page in a national newspaper to protest about the persecution of Christians, it’s time we sat up and noticed. I have written many
IT IS to be a column with a marked whiff of the First World War, a battle front, and first to the remarkable story of the old rugged cross that for years stood, little noticed, in a corner of Tow Law parish church. Far from cherishing it, as the
A COUNCIL has come under fire after it emerged proposals to axe a single senior management post would save £175,000 a year. Durham County Council, facing nearly £190m of cuts between 2010 and 2017, is set to trim its top team from seven to six, saving
NEW farming techniques have done wonders for some farmers. I am thinking of such things as wind farms and intensive animal farming in large buildings. Unfortunately, these new methods can create problems for people living in the vicinity, such
I RECENTLY watched David Cameron’s claim that the current crop of politicians would be judged on whether they kept their election promises or not. After the Conservative Party political broadcast, I switched TV channels to watch North East Tonight
CHILDREN from across Darlington are set to compete in two swimming galas, in an inter-school competition. More than 200 children from different primary schools will take part in individual and relay races, in freestyle, backstroke and medley races.
I READ with great interest the recent article on the Durham Light Infantry in the Second World War (Memories, Mar 7). By coincidence we had returned the same day from Singapore where we visited Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery which contained
MICHAEL BALDASERA (HAS, Mar 10) should distinguish between the atheist tyrannies which tried to eradicate religion through repression, and secular democracies which protect the rights of people of all faiths and none by denying special privilege
REGARDING Chris Greenwell’s letter about football (HAS, Mar 7) I agree with his sentiments completely – if I never heard the word “football” again, I wouldn’t mind. One word springs to mind: “hooligan”. The players get paid ridiculous wages for
WHILE in absolute agreement with the vigorous campaign against the dangers of cigarettes, there is no magic pill on the market that is available to stop this addiction – only will power. What is of great concern to me is the rather less vigorous
A WIDOW whose husband died from cancer will carry his ashes on a charity walk. Lynn Anderson and her friends will carry husband Neville's ashes around an 11-mile route through Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland. Mr Anderson, of Oakenshaw, near
NOT only does Mark Anderson bellyache about bikes, he is now bleating about sheep (HAS Mar 8). Scanning the farmers auction notices and livestock reports, there are several references to rams but none to “tupps”. Are we to assume that farmers
A TELFORD wrote an interesting letter about famine appeals (HAS, Mar 12). Obviously his experiences have been different from mine and led him to different conclusions. When I was in the Armed Forces I served in Sudan. There I saw the dreadful
I AM writing after reading the article about Priory Hurworth House, a special school in Hurworth (Echo, Mar 6). The article contained criticism of vulnerable adults with learning disabilities. As a mother of a special needs client myself, I think
RAILWAY fans can view the story of the first steam locomotive built in the UK for nearly half a century. The Tornado Story is to be held at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon from Saturday, April 21. The exhibition examines the story
HISTORY lessons became a lot more real when builders working on a school extension stumbled across a rare relic from the ancient past. Work on the project at Norton primary school in North Yorkshire came to a halt when workmen uncovered a Roman kiln
THE tragic and disturbing case of Tony Nicklinson embodies one of the biggest dilemmas facing society: how to balance the sanctity of life against the right to die. We have every sympathy for 58-year-old Mr Nicklinson, who has “locked-in” syndrome
WHEN Angela Gill takes a photograph, chances are the image will contain something that cannot be explained. She visited the North-East Aircraft Museum, at Washington, Wearside, late last summer and her photographs of one of the aircraft contained
THE family of a woman who bled to death in a volunteer driver’s car will not be taking legal action. Kidney patient Carol Metcalfe, 65, of Kendrew Close, Bedale, North Yorkshire, died in 2010 on the way to a dialysis session at Darlington Memorial
PERFORMANCES of a Durham writer’s play will boost the funds of a hospice. Tom Casling’s Tipp the Taxi Driver will be staged at the Customs House, South Shields, and some of the proceeds will go to St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow. He will
A PROJECT to build 29 houses on a former school site is just what a village needs, councillors heard today. Gleeson Homes and Regeneration’s plans for the former Ushaw Moor County Infants School site, on Temperance Terrace, in Ushaw Moor, were unanimously
A FOOTBALL league for the disabled is on the look-out for new teams. The North-East Ability Counts League caters for adults and children - male and female - who have a variety of conditions. The adult male section has seven, six and five-a-side
Depleted Darlington will require a head count before picking a team for this evening's game, though opponents Luton Town are also struggling for numbers. Play-off chasing Hatters head for The Northern Echo Arena expected to overcome relegation-threatened
A SPILT drink may have escalated into a mass street brawl involving more than 30 men. Metal bars were used as weapons and glass bottles were thrown around during the disturbance between two groups in Yarm Lane, Stockton. The Northern Echo understands
ONE of the great centres of the racing industry is locked into an altogether different contest - and it needs the public’s help to win. Middleham in Wenleydale is internationally known for training some of the finest racehorses in the world
ROADWORKS are to start on a busy commuter route next week. Resurfacing work on the A690 between West Rainton and Carrville, on the outskirts of Durham City, is to start on Monday, March 19 and last for around two weeks. Drivers are being warned to expect
AFTER witnessing Newcastle United succumb to a late winner from Arsenal which sparked unnecessary scenes at the Emirates, Alan Pardew last night dismissed suggestions his players deliberately time-wasted in a bid to see the game out. The Gunners
PLUCKY Catherine Wardroper has just returned from the trip of a lifetime - trekking across Rajasthan to raise to improve the lives of working animals. Catherine, from Thirsk, took on the task of covering 125km on horseback, along with her sister Hester
YOUTH-related anti-social behaviour is on the way down in North Yorkshire in the wake a partrnership approach adopted by police and housing chiefs. Statistics show a significant decrease in reports of such behaviour over the last two years with the
A GROUP has been set up to help an ailing town centre have the chance to benefit from a share of £1m worth of improvements. Residents and business owners are teaming up with Bishop Auckland Town Council to create a town team. More than 50 people turned
THE bookmakers are running for cover ahead of the start of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, writes Steve Carroll. Three odds-on favourites carry the hopes of punters as the showpiece meeting of National Hunt racing gets underway, with Sprinter Sacre
A NORTH-East design firm has played an integral role in the latest chapter of a cult science fiction epic that 35 years after its launch as a film is still drawing a massive following. Keltie Cochrane was chosen by Lucas Film Ltd to design the cover
A NORTH-East college has formed a partnership with one of TV's dragons to teach people how to start a small business. Sunderland College has been granted hub status by the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. Mr Jones, who become a multi-millionaire through
Black & Decker may be a global name but most of its products start life in the minds of designers on the outskirts of a small County Durham town, as Business Editor Owen McAteer discovered. "We are the best kept secret in County Durham - the things
A COUNCIL says it is working hard to keep Durham city centre free from graffiti. Durham County Council says its ‘Clean and Green’ teams are targeting graffiti hot spots early on mornings, before workers and visitors arrive. They are
A 24-YEAR-old man was remanded in custody today accused of attempting to murder two teenagers who were struck by a van while camping. Benjamin Allerton made a brief appearance before York magistrates accused of the attempted murders of a 16-year-old
TWO sisters who lost their parents to brain tumours are holding a charity event in their memory. Nicola Naisbett, 28, and Laura Bailey,24, from Houghton-le-Spring, will raise money for Brain Tumour UK with an afternoon tea party at St Cuthbert
REBEKAH Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband are among six suspects arrested today by detectives investigating phone hacking at News International. The former News International chief executive and Charlie Brooks were arrested at their Oxfordshire
First-time buyers struggling to get on the property ladder can now get a government-backed mortgage via the NewBuy Guarantee scheme. Under NewBuy, the builder pays 3.5 per cent of the sale price into a special account held by the lending bank
NISSAN is among the major employers attending a recruitment event which could offer a lifeline to workers facing redundancy at the Rio Tinto Alcan smelter in Northumberland. On April 3 the factory will open its doors to businesses looking to expand
A LEADING computer game retailer was last night on the brink of collapse after suppliers refused to send it the latest blockbuster titles. Game, which employs 10,000 people, warned shareholders their equity in the firm could be worthless as it prepared
A PARTNER and head of the construction and engineering team at Muckle LLP has been elected President of Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society. The appointment of Rob Langley recognises his national reputation as a solicitor in the region.
A WOMAN fatally stabbed her brother when he got so fed-up with her threats that he handed her a kitchen knife and said: “Go on, then.” “Very sadly, that’s exactly what happened,” said Mark Giuliani, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court yesterday
MEDICAL journal The Lancet today publishes “unequivocal evidence” that metal-on-metal hip implants are failing at a much higher rate than other types. The revelation has led to researchers in the UK and US calling for a ban on the use of such
NEGOTIATIONS over a compensation deal have begun between a council and its award-winning chief executive, who was sent home on gardening leave. Hambleton District Council is trying to reach a settlement with Peter Simpson after forcing him
CHURCH leaders have backed a plan to create a super diocese to enable them to relate to their parishioners more effectively and with more authority. The move would see the dissolution of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield dioceses, and clergy
A SERIAL sex attacker accused of violently raping a stranger on Christmas Day nearly 25 years ago was traced through his DNA, a court heard yesterday. Antoni Imiela, 57, who grew up in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is accused of the “terrifying
Claims of a imminent skills shortage in engineering has been backed by two of the Tees Valley's major manufacturers. Andrew Nelson, managing director of Darlington based Henry Williams Ltd, said it had taken him almost a year to fill a vacancy for a
A DETERMINED businesswoman is hoping its a case of third time lucky in her bid to be named the North East's most promising entrepreneur. Vicky Lloyd said entering The Northern Echo's If We Can You Can Challenge (IWCYC), run by The Entrepreneurs' Forum
FAST-GROWING North East firm Square One Law helped secure the £5m sale of Yorkshire-based software business Atlantic Global in record time. After previously advising on its AIM flotation Square One Law’s managing partner Alan Fletcher was asked by Cleckheaton-based
DISABLED people in the North-East are first in line for a benefits shake-up that has made many “really scared”, according to one leading campaigner. The personal independence payment (PIP) will replace disability living allowance (DLA) in this
THE manager of a car showroom destroyed by fire has told how staff wept as flames tore through the building – but vowed the business would “rise from the ashes”. About 100 cars were parked at Evans Halshaw, in Gilesgate Moor, Durham, when a
A CURIOUS combination of sun, sea and woolly Olympic athletes has provided a huge tourism boost for a North- East seaside resort. The creator of the imaginative 50 metre-long scarf knitted onto Saltburn pier remains unknown, but whoever is responsible
Hartlepool United chiefs could gain ownership of their football ground for free as part of efforts to regenerate the town. The club had offered £300,000 several years ago, and then £50,000 after making investments, to Hartlepool Borough Council
FOLLOWING a welcome clean sheet, Scott Flinders has been described as 'outstanding' by his boss. Neale Cooper heaped praise on the Hartlepool United goalkeeper after Pools drew 0-0 at Walsall, a game of little incident but one in which Flinders was on
MIDDLESBROUGH'S knack of avoiding back-to-back defeats must continue if they are to maintain their push for promotion into the Premier League, believes Matthew Bates. Boro suffered consecutive defeats in January as their form suffered an alarming
Captain Andrew Gale says one of his main aims is to work his bowlers during Yorkshire's two week tour of Barbados, which starts today. The skipper will take to the field for the first time since August on Thursday when he leads one of the two teams in
