AN author met some of her readers ahead of a major book event. Ali Lewis’ debut novel, Everybody Jam, has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal children’s book award. Yesterday, the former Northern Echo reporter visited Allertonshire School
A TEENAGER with the mental age of a five-year-old was locked on a bus in a depot for 45minutes after the driver forgot she was on board. The driver has been suspended and a council escort who should have been with her has resigned after the incident
ROAD safety figures have revealed that no one has been killed on Middlesbrough's roads during the past two years. The latest report by the Regional Road Safety Resource Unit also show that accidents across the town have fallen by 43 per cent over
PLANS for a £350m, 845-home development near Eaglescliffe suffered a setback yesterday. However despite Stockton Borough Council's planning committee's eight to four vote against the plan for the former Ministry of Defence site, planners will discuss
POLICING in North Yorkshire moved a step forward yesterday with the opening of a multi-million pound new station. The ultra-modern station will serve Harrogate and the surrounding area and has been built on Beckwith Head Road at a cost of £18m - £2.8m
MORE cash is being made available for community-led projects on the North York Moors. The National Park has been awarded an additional £280,000 by Defra as a result of its achievements on such projects so far. And applications to fund new community-led
WILLIAM Hague has added fuel to the fight to save children’s services at Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital by urging clinicians to “consider the full spectrum of alternative solutions.” The Richmond MP expressed his concerns at the distances some patients
THE torrential rain may be causing localised flooding - but overall it has been good for the water supply. Record breaking levels of rainfall in April, supported by the downpours of May, have replenished Yorkshire Water's borehole stocks which
I WAS interested to read how Northumbria Police intend to deal robustly with the person who snatched a charity bag (Echo, May 7). Quite rightly so. However, in a recent factual cops and robbers television programme, a CCTV operator focused on
WHEN it was announced on BBC Radio 4 recently that the Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King, would be speaking about the economy, I braced myself for some unwelcome news, but was pleasantly surprised with what he had to say. He spoke
THE decision by the Sports Arbitration Court to allow convicted drug cheats, such as Dwain Chambers, to compete in future Olympics is a retrograde step (Echo, May 2). A two year ban is a feeble substitute. The mentality of the drug cheat has always
I WOULD like to urge readers to write to the American embassy in protest at the persecution of a decent and honourable man, the eco-activist Dan McGowan. The background to Dan’s case is the ongoing devastation by logging companies of the wonderful
REGARDING the consultation over plans for a new town council in Crook (Echo, Apr 14). Why should people have to put up with yet another council? The only people to benefit from councils over the last few years were the councillors. Not only are
JIM TAGUE (HAS, May 8) analyses progressive taxation, identifying a small number of rich guys making huge tax contributions. Jim regards the implicit inequalities in wealth and income with an equanimity that is unlikely to be shared by the increasing
A RECENT article in The Northern Echo claimed 12 pubs were closing every week (Echo, May 1). As usual, the blame for this so-called tragedy was placed on the taxes imposed on drinkers by the Government. While I am no lover of the present regime
A reckless teenager has escaped a jail sentence after she drove around with two friends clinging to her bonnet - and filmed it on her phone. Careless Katie Bough, 19, has been banned from driving for 15 months for the dangerous stunt which could
Friday's evening meeting at Ripon has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track. The North Yorkshire circuit has been hit by substantial rain over the past 24 hours and after staging a 3pm inspection, clerk of the course James Hutchinson has been left
A RIDING centre is desperately seeking volunteers to help disabled members. Wear Valley Riding for the Disabled Association at Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, is looking for assistance with disabled riders and carriage drivers. Instructor Christine
15.16pm About 42 per cent of JobCentre staff were on strike, according to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). But the action failed to close any of the region’s JobCentres - the only closures being reported in Scotland - with managers
A NEW play area will be opened in a village near Bishop Auckland next week. The facilities at Escomb recreation ground, which will include an outdoor gym, have been built following a £50,000 investment from Playbuilder and £45,000 from Community Spaces
A teenager has been arrested in Newcastle over claims that he hacked into websites and disrupted computer networks to illegally obtain personal and private information. The Police Central eCrime Unit (PCeU), supported by officers from Northumbria
AN author will launch his latest book at an open day for a North-East hospice. Michael Kerrigan has written Where There's a Will, which argues the importance of putting one's affairs in order before dying. Butterwick Hospice, in Bishop Auckland
REFORMING the House of Lords, creating a more flexible system of parental leave, and breaking up the banks are welcome measures included in the Queen’s Speech. Lords reform is the most controversial step taken by the Government in a slimmed-down
SO, the people have spoken on the issue of elected mayors – and, almost everywhere, David Cameron’s plan for shiny new city leaders lies in ruins. From Newcastle to Nottingham, from Bradford to Birmingham, voters delivered a raspberry to the
David Cameron’s secret weapon is a former comprehensive pupil who grew up in County Durham. Political Correspondent Robert Merrick meets David Skelton DAVID SKELTON is the bright young political brain helping to set out fresh ideas at what
A COUNCIL has reversed an unpopular decision to introduce £1-an-hour parking charges for Sunday shoppers, after it led to a drop in trade. Darlington Borough Council introduced the charges at the town centre’s short-stay car parks at the start of April
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 31-year-old man was robbed at knifepoint while out walking his dogs. The incident happened near the A66 underpass, close to Stressholme Golf Course, in Darlington, at about 9pm on Tuesday. The robbers, who
A SURVIVOR of the Holocaust has visited a group of students to given them an insight into its origins and the lessons that can be learned as part of an educational programme. Year nine students from Haughton Academy, at Education Village, took part
AN arts organisation that works to support performers and artists in Darlington has set up a new service to find venues for groups. Darlington for Culture (DfC) has set up a section on its website that puts groups and individuals in touch with venues
POLICE have released a description of a man they are trying to trace after an attempted burglary. Night staff at commercial premises in West Auckland Road, in Darlington, disturbed a man breaking into an outbuilding at 1.20am on Tuesday. The man made
A CRACKDOWN on school uniform policy at a Darlington school has led to claims from a parent that teachers allowed children who were not wearing the correct items to go home, without informing parents. The accusation has been rejected by
A SECTION of footpath on Darlington’s North Road is to be closed to the public for several weeks to allow building works to continue. The footpath on the western side of North Road will be closed between the railway bridge, near the Head of Steam Museum
A HELICOPTER carrying 14 people has ditched in the North Sea. Grampian Police said it was forced down 25 miles off the coast of Aberdeen. There are not thought to be any injuries. A police spokesman said: "We received a report that a helicopter had
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a locked car was stolen overnight. The Chrysler Voyager was taken from Taylor Street, in Consett between 9pm on Wednesday, April 25 and noon the following day. PC Kirsty Malone, based in Consett, said it was
AN online project aimed at encouraging people in Redcar and Cleveland to be more active by leaving their cars at home has been developed by a North East web firm. Yarm-based digital agency dotUK has completed the new website for Sustrans, the national
IT never rains but it pours. There was little prospect of play at Chester-le-Street today and Durham were dealt a further blow with the news that Mitchell Johnson has been recalled to the Australian squad. He will not be available to take
YARMOUTH and Goodwood both hold early inspections this morning ahead of today’s meetings, owing to the prospect of more rain. The going is already described as heavy at Yarmouth, and amounts between eight and 33 millimetres are forecast which
QUESTIONING has already had three outings this season, so ring-rustiness will not be an issue for John Gosden’s candidate in the Betfair Huxley Stakes. Any horse good enough to beat Twice Over should always warrant close scrutiny, and this one
ALAN WILLS has spoken of his pride after earning a place in his second Olympic Games for Team GB’s archery team after confirmation at Lord’s yesterday. Peterlee-born Wills, who now lives in Frizington in Cumbria, has been handed the discretionary
THE British Boxing Board of Control have warned all those involved in the impending heavyweight promotion between David Haye and Dereck Chisora will be automatically stripped of their licences. The Board are determined to come down hard on the
FAMILIES will be able to get advice on benefits, debt, housing and other issues at new regular drop-in sessions. The Citizens Advice Bureau has set up new two sessions in the Durham City area to offer free, independent and confidential advice on a range
OUR town centres are struggling to survive in the face of increased competition from retail parks. It's easy to drive to the likes of the MetroCentre or Teesside Retail Park, have everything close together, and park for free. But town centres are important
HEAVY rain which prompted severe weather warnings for parts of southern England and Wales is moving north, bringing new flood risks, forecasters said. The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for large parts of the country from south Wales
THE next landmark in the rebirth of Redcar steel works takes place on Friday when the first shipment of steel slabs are loaded onto a vessel at Teessport. SSI UK anticipate that the ship will depart for Thailand on Tuesday May 15 with its cargo
Morning Readers! I hope you got through the May Day Bank Holiday without too much damage. I'm pleased to say, I lost the 1.5lb that I gained last week. I'm quite lucky really as Bank Holidays don't really worry me. Due to my Husbands job, he
ONE of the surviving members of the last West Auckland team to play at Wembley hopes Sunday’s finalists will be more lucky than he was. Colin Summerson played centre-half for West Auckland Town when they travelled to the national stadium on
A MAN breached deferred sentence terms set by a judge, by making racist football related tweets, a court was told. Peter Copeland, 29, was yesterday given a suspended jail sentence, but told he must “pay through the pocket” for the original “despicable
THE results of a tendering process that was re-run has been announced, with the original winners coming out on top again. The Forestry Commission said Pace and the Cycling Touring Club (CTC) would take over the cycle hire shop in Dalby Forest, North
A PUPPETEER has helped celebrate the 350th anniversary of the spiky character to whom he owes his livelihood – Mr Punch. Brian Llewellyn, from Darlington, has been performing puppet shows around the region for the past 35 years. Yesterday
A MAN had part of his ear bitten off in an unprovoked attack in a takeaway. Marco Oswald, 22, had been out celebrating the bank holiday weekend with friends when he was attacked in the Urban Oven pizza shop, in Claypath, Durham City, at about 1.10am
A BUSINESSMAN frustrated with how the Goverment is handling the economy is spending £10,000 to have an open letter to the Prime Minister published in a national newspaper. The advert in today’s Financial Times features a ten point plan that
THE son of a soldier killed by the Taliban said yesterday that his father’s memory will live on for ever after an Army block was named in his honour. Colleagues of Serjeant Steven Campbell, of Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, fought back tears
A PILOT held in an African prison for nearly six weeks has been charged on suspicion of mass murder. The charges against David Simpson, from Gillamoor, on the North York Moors, relate to the discovery of 13 bodies in the Central African Republic
A TAXI driver who left his vehicle unattended while on a toilet break has criticised council officials for prosecuting him after he was fined £25 by magistrates. Mark Michael Brown said the level of fine was disproportionate to the stress he
Dunston assistant manager Tony Harrison has played a major role in their road to Wembley, and here he summarises their run match by match. Unlike West, Dunston were given an exemption to the second round proper because they reached the quarter finals
Ajmal Shahzad may be set to embark upon a new chapter of his career with arch-rivals Lancashire, but the exuberant fast bowler has revealed he is desperate to see Yorkshire secure County Championship promotion this summer. The fast bowler
EVEN the task of facing what almost amounted to Somerset juniors did not help Durham to escape the doldrums yesterday. A bowler barely old enough to drink Scrumpy, Craig Overton, took four for 38 as Durham crashed to 125 all out on what seemed
MANCHESTER UNITED were last night told to forget about holding a Premier League title party at the Stadium of Light because defeat is simply something Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole does not want to endure. Cattermole is readily aware of
LONG-SERVING goalkeeper Steve Harper has admitted Newcastle United's staying power in the pursuit of a Champions League place has surprised everyone on Tyneside. A reminder of this season's Magpies success story was further highlighted last
NEWCASTLE UNITED playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa has been backed to light up Euro 2012 after being included in France's initial list of 12 overseas-based players selected by France. Ben Arfa and Magpies team-mate Yohan Cabaye have both been included
