SEDGEFIELD may be better known for Tony Blair, its racecourse and even its Shrove Tuesday ball game. But it is about to take a big stride on to the cricketing map. The transformation from lowly village club to members of a premier league will be completed
A MAN has died after falling down a cliff in North Yorkshire. The man’s body was discovered at the foot of Saltwick Nab, in Whitby, this afternoon. He had severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. The inshore lifeboat
With the Premier League's top two are already out, Sunderland will fancy their chances of lifting the FA Cup and they're 9/1 courtesy of bet365 to do it. However, the Black Cats face a tough quarter final showdown at Everton, who are Betfred's 10/11
IT is a sign of the times in which we live that Dr Rowan Williams' decision to stand down as Archbishop of Canterbury should lead to a statement from William Hill, the bookmaker. The news apparently prompted a flurry of bets on the Archbishop
A CYCLING programme is being launched in Darlington for riders of all ages and abilities. Darlington Council's sports development team, in partnership with Local Motion, is running Cycle: In Darlington - a series of weekly rides in and around the
A FORMER drug addict bit two policemen after they pinned him to the ground and punched him in the face when he tried to resist them, a court heard. The ruckus broke out after officers attended John William McCabe's partner's house when neighbours
LONG-SERVING Northern Echo columnist Mike Amos has opened an ale festival. The ale enthusiast pulled the first pint of the 19-day festival, which opened on Wednesday and runs until Sunday, April 1, at the Tanners Hall pub in Skinnergate, Darlington
FROM April 1, motorists will not be able to park in any resident parking permit areas in Darlington on a Sunday, as is currently allowed. Thismeans parking in a resident parking area (without displaying a valid permit) between the hours of 8am
A DARLINGTON man is asking for help with extending an orphanage in Africa. Chris McEvoy, 22, who is studying at Manchester University and went to Carmel College, is calling on people to either volunteer at the orphanage in Tanzania, or to make
A COUPLE who pawned expensive and sentimental jewellery just hours after it was stolen during a house burglary have been spared prison. Recovering drug addict Gareth Matthews, 31, and his girlfriend Rebecca Dormer, 21, were struggling for money in the
THE fans’ company hoping to save the Quakers has published its financial projections in a bid to encourage investment. Darlington FC 1883 says it is releasing the figures to reassure public and business investors that the club would be viable
Barnard Castle YMCA say thank you to all who supported this year’s Prom Dress pop-up Shop. The shop collected 140 dresses and sold well over £500 worth in the short week it was open. The dresses were sold to students of Teesdale, Staindrop and Barnard
The last indoor Middleton in Teesdale farmers market of the season takes place on Sunday March 25th from 10:00am until 3:00pm. As well as a range of crafts and produce, the event includes Easter themed activities and competitions.
Dalton Flower Club invite you to an evening with Malcolm Hockham of Eggleston Hall Gardens, starting at 7:30pm on Tuesday 20th March in Hutton Magna village hall. Malcolm Hockham came to Eggleston in 1998 after eight years in horticultural research
Morning Readers! How has your week been? I hope you all managed to lose or maintain your weight this week. I'm pleased to say I managed to lose 7.5lb of the 9lb I gained last week. I was determined to but at the same time, it's been really
THE DURHAM Singers will perform a contrasting pair of Requiem Masses based on medieval plainchant at their next concert. Tomas Luis de Victoria’s setting was written on the death in 1605 of his patron, the Empress Maria, sister of King Philip II of
A PENSIONER has been treated in hospital after being rescued from his burning home. The 72-year-old was trapped inside the bungalow in Consett following a suspected arson attack in the early hours of this morning and was rescued by fire fighters. He
RESIDENTS in Seaham were put on alert this morning after workmen uncovered a World War II hand grenade. The discovery was made shortly before 9am, while excavation works were being carried out on a grassed area behind Hawthorn Square in the town. A
RESIDENTS of an east Durham town have been promised improved access to NHS dentistry following the re-opening of a practice. town's Station Road practice. Burgess and Hyder Dental Group have taken over the delivery of NHS services from the
POLICE are investigating a spate of break-ins at stables in east Durham. A police spokesman said equestrian and golfing equipment were among the items stolen from Edenwell Equestrian Centre at Castle Eden between 9pm on Tuesday and 8am the following
THE widow of Pc David Rathband will attend his funeral - despite being told by his brother to stay away. Darren Rathband said his twin told him he did not want Kath, 42, to be there. Mrs Rathband split from the former Northumbria Police traffic officer
The Archbishop of York has paid tribute to Rowan Williams who has announced he is to step down as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Speaking this morning, the favourite to succeed him said: “It is with great sadness that I received the news that
THE Church of England could see its first black Archbishop of Canterbury following the departure of Rowan Williams from the post. John Sentamu, 62, the Archbishop of York, is widely viewed as front-runner to replace Rowan Williams when he leaves
THE Government faced open rebellion last night from rankand- file officers over plans for the most radical shake-up of police pay and conditions for more than 30 years. A review by former rail regulator Tom Winsor, which includes annual fitness
THE police officer leading the hunt for missing chef Claudia Lawrence last night pledged that his team will never give up its search. This weekend marks the third anniversary of Miss Lawrence’s disappearance, which began after she finished her
TRIBUTES have been paid to an allotment holder who died after a severe fire broke out at his shed. Ronnie White, who was thought to be in his mid-70s, died on Wednesday morning in the blaze at Rossmere Allotments, in Hartlepool. Police
A LANDMARK project to preserve green areas around a world heritage site has won the backing of a Labour high-flyer. Mary Creagh, Labour’s shadow environment secretary, visited Durham City yesterday to see how the cathedral staff and other groups
A FATHER whose careless driving led to a head-on crash in which two cars exploded was allowed to keep his licence yesterday, after magistrates heard he needs to take his seriously ill baby son on 80-mile round trips to hospital. Andrew Basham told
A COUNCIL which was criticised for spending millions of pounds on fortnightly bin collections may now bid for Government cash to re-introduce weekly services. Labour-led Durham County Council, which handed a £4.2m contract to a French company
NORTHERN Echo racing correspondent and former jockey Niall Hannity was happy to be back in the saddle at Cheltenham yesterday, in his first race since retiring. The St Patrick’s Derby charity race was the first the 33-year-old had ridden in competitively
WORKERS who were made redundant when the country’s oldest conservatory firm went into administration have won a six-figure pay out. A tribunal has awarded more than £250,000 to former workers at Amdega in Darlington because of a lack of consultation
A SINGLE parent who worked hard to support her daughters and overcame breast cancer has been named The Northern Echo’s Mum of the Year. Hazel Hall, 62, of Gilesgate, Durham City, said last night: “I feel ecstatic, it’s like something unreal.”
AN MP has warned of a return to the days of Norman Tebbit, after revealing that Jobcentre staff considered buying a bike for a North-East man – to get him to work. Phil Wilson, Labour MP for Sedgefield, attacked the move and said it was a sad
SELF-STYLED international playboy Raymond Scott had abandoned his appeal against conviction for handling a priceless stolen Shakespeare volume, it emerged last night. The flamboyant 55-year-old was found dead in his cell at Acklington Prison,
Stuart Lancaster last night described the England coach's position as his "dream job" after he recalled David Strettle into the team to face Ireland in the RBS Six Nations. Lancaster picked up the reins on an interim basis following England's World Cup
Drewe Broughton says the offer to return to senior football with Darlington was one he could not refuse and he expects the survival fight will last until the end of the season. Quakers are four points adrift of fifth-bottom Lincoln City ahead of tomorrow's
TEN businesses are being sought to invest £10,000 each to help save the Quakers, as supporters are warned that efforts to secure the club’s future are “on a knife edge”. The Ten-4-Ten scheme was announced yesterday as administrator Harvey Madden
JACK COLBACK confesses he is his own worst critic when it comes to analysing performances, but the Sunderland midfielder admits Martin O'Neill's recent praise has given him a huge confidence boost ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup quarter-final. Colback was
NEWCASTLE UNITED winger Jonas Gutierrez has warned his team-mates they must not take a win against Norwich City for granted on Sunday The Magpies have been frustrated in their last two home games, having let a two-goal lead slip in a draw against Wolves
Newcastle United legend Peter Beardsley has called for owner Mike Ashley to be given the credit he deserves for resurrecting the club's fortunes. The 51-year-old former England international, who enjoyed two hugely successful spells with his home-town
TONY MOWBRAY has refused to call defeat on dreams of automatic promotion to the Premier League, despite his Middlesbrough side's patchy form since the turn of the year. Boro ended 2011 as the Championship's top performers in the calendar year, but went
Bishop Auckland striker Andy Johnson could go top of the first division scoring charts when Marske come to Heritage Park today. Johnson is the joint leading scorer with Bedlington's Anthony Shandran in the first division with 29 league goals, and assistant
The match of the day in the second division is between two of the promotion contenders, Gillford Park and Hebburn. Gillford Park, who are third, will be at full strength with several players returning who missed the midweek cup defeat at Bedlington,
