Charlton 3 Hartlepool United 2HARTLEPOOL United pressed League One champions Charlton Athletic all the way, but their season ended in a agonising 3-2 loss. With The Addicks being presented with the trophy after the game, they were made to work hard all
EVAN Horwood misses Hartlepool United’s final game of the season at Charlton with a twisted knee.The left-back is replaced by Ritchie Humphreys in Pools only change from last weekend’s win over Leyton Orient at Victoria Park. Adam Boyd is
A NEIGHBOUR has told of her shock after a 200-year-old oak tree crashed through a house last night. The 60ft tree damaged two properties in Paddock Wood, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, around 7.30pm. No-one was in at the time, but fire
FOCUSED searches for missing boy Ian Bell, who disappeared after falling into a river eight days ago, are being carried out this weekend. Durham police have said that efforts to find the eight-year-old, who fell into the River Wear near Willington,
Early retirement. A phrase that conjures up thoughts of sunny rounds of golf and spending more time doing the things that you really want, when you want. Many people dream of being able to retire early. Retiring from a 9-5 job is one thing, but being
A TEENAGER who faced up to five years in prison for picking up a broken toy gun in the street told last night of his relief after walking free from court. Michael Graham was warned to brace himself for a jail sentence last month when he admitted
A MAN who admitted groping four women in a town centre, some while they were with their children, has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years. Christopher Watson, 21, followed the women in Front Street and nearby thoroughfares
“FIVE years ago all I cared about was going out, clothing and looking good. I wasn’t happy. Now I have Jesus Christ in my life and I feel good in my heart.” Those were the words of Sunderland AFC star Kieran Richardson as he told a 100- strong
A SERIAL sex offender who raped a 13-year-old as he gave her a lift home from a school disco has been given his fifth life sentence. Five times in the 1980s and 1990s, part-time DJ Stephen Crawford was accused of rape. On each occasion
MORE than 1,000 tickets have already been sold by a County Durham football club ahead of its all North-East clash at Wembley. West Auckland is taking on Dunston UTS on Sunday, May 13, and tickets and merchandise are selling fast. The County Durham
A REGISTERED childminder caught with thousands of indecent images of youngsters and animal pornography was jailed yesterday after a judge told him he had left families devastated. Martin Rutland’s collection was discovered when police raided
A COUNCIL leader has suggested that neighbouring authorities could do more to provide accomodation for Gypsy and traveller communities as figures show a sharp disparity between levels of provision in the region. Councillor Bill Dixon, leader
GARY Gold has admitted it will be "do or die" when Newcastle Falcons attempt to pull off one of the greatest escape acts in rugby history at London Wasps this afternoon. Falcons go into their final game of the Aviva Premiership season with their top-flight
The Flat turf season moves on apace this weekend with the first Classics' of the year from Newmarket who had 25mills of rain on Wednesday evening turning the going soft although it is likely to dry out a little with no significant rain forecast between
The current wet weather has not helped the horses, trainers and punters alike so far this Flat season. But, it's the same for them all ahead of the first Classic of the season this afternoon, the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Among
The last-minute decision by clubs to postpone last week's opening round of fixtures means today will be the first taste of action for clubs in the Durham Senior League. The game of the weekend is today's clash at Boldon when last season's runners-up
Barnard Castle's lofty status as the early season pacesetters looks as though it will be tested to the full in a double weekend of league matches against top-level opposition. The kings of the Castle have somehow managed to squeeze out two
Yorkshire head into today's final day at Scarborough needing seven Leicestershire wickets to clinch their first County Championship win of 2012. On the day when Colin Graves announced that he would be stepping into the role of executive chairman at the
DURHAM had better step up their one-day preparations because they are not going to win the LV County Championship this year. It's hard to believe that a quarter of their programme has already gone and even more difficult to comprehend that they have
NEWCASTLE United are to make Australian teenager Curtis Good their first summer signing after he impressed in a ten-day trial on Tyneside. Good, who is a defender with Aussie side Melbourne Heart, impressed in a number of sessions at Newcastle's Darsley
AS what he terms an 'average' campaign comes to an end this afternoon, Neale Cooper is ready to accept the task of turning Hartlepool United into something better next season. Since returning as Pools' boss at the turn of the year, Cooper has won just
TEN years ago, promising athlete Chantelle Handy was forced to make one of the biggest decisions of her life. The then 14-year-old, from Consett, County Durham, had been invited to take part in national football trials after impressing while
MEET the schoolboy being hailed the Mackem Messi. Charlie Smith may be only eight, but his skills have already won him comparisons with Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi, widely recognised as the world’s greatest player. The
INQUESTS into a mother and son found shot dead in a car at a golf course a week ago today have been opened. Coroner Andrew Tweddle will now investigate how and why Jean Blakey and her son, Ian, died after opening their inquests yesterday. Mr
VOTERS in Newcastle decisively rejected the idea of a directly elected mayor for the city. Sixty-two per cent voted no in Thursday’s referendum, but only 32 per cent of the electorate voted. The yes campaign polled 24,630 votes, against
FRIENDS and family of a missing boy last night released Chinese lanterns near the area where he fell into a river a week ago. Ian Bell fell into the River Wear near his home in Sunnybrow, County Durham, on the evening of Friday, April 27. Since
With Darlington FC set to move to a new ground next season, what will happen to its home for the past nine years – the 25,000 seater Darlington Arena? Stuart Arnold explores the potential options for the site on the outskirts of the town. SUPERMARKET
DARLINGTON FC 1883 (DFC 1883) has revealed plans to form a community interest company (CIC) to run the Quakers. The announcement comes after DFC 1883 bought the club on Thursday after agreeing a deal with administrator Harvey Madden.
MARTIN O'NEILL feels he could make a shock appearance as a makeshift full-back - so long as James McClean continues to operate down the Sunderland flank. McClean's sparkling performances for the Black Cats since he burst on to the scene in December as
CONNOR WICKHAM has been urged to prove he deserves to be a key component of Martin O'Neill's plans to make Sunderland a real force in the Premier League next season. Wickham has made just five starts in the league since his £8.1m switch from Ipswich
AIRLINE giant KLM yesterday pledged its unwavering support for Durham Tees Valley airport (DTV) at the launch of a major push to increase passenger numbers. Securing backing from the world's eighth biggest carrier has given airport bosses the confidence
ALAN Pardew admits Newcastle United's man-of-the-moment, Papiss Cisse, has exceeded even his own expectations since moving to the North-East in January. Pardew shelled out £9m to sign Cisse from German side Freiburg, having spent the best part of a year
THEY might be taking on the side at the top of the Premier League table, but Alan Pardew claims Newcastle United will meet Manchester City as equals when they play their final home game of the season tomorrow. Roberto Mancini's side travel to Tyneside
GARY Gold has admitted it will be "do or die" when Newcastle Falcons attempt to pull off one of the greatest escape acts in rugby history at London Wasps this afternoon. Falcons go into their final game of the Aviva Premiership season with their top-flight
JONAS Gutierrez will be involved in something of an Argentinian reunion at St James' Park tomorrow, but the Newcastle midfielder has warned his compatriots to expect a serious blow to their title ambitions. Manchester City's first-team squad features
BORIS Johnson was re-elected as Mayor of London in a surprisingly narrow victory that saw him beat rival Ken Livingstone. The Conservative polled 1,054,811 to the Labour candidate's 992,273 following a deeply personal and bitter campaign battle
HOUSEHOLDERS had a lucky escape last night after a large oak tree fell onto two houses, causing severe damage. The tree crashed down on Paddock Wood, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, just after 7.30pm. Two houses were affected, with one having its garage
Clash City Rockers will perform their tribute to Punk Rock legends The Clash at The Market Tavern, South Burns, Chester-le-Street,tomorrow. Sunday, May 6, at 4pm. Admission is free.
North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones holds advice surgeries today, Saturday, May 5, at St Mary’s and St Cuthbert’s Parish Centre, Chester-le-Street, from 9.30am to 11am, at The Library, Plawsworth Road, Sacriston, between 11.30am and noon, and at The
