MIDDLESBROUGH-born football pundit Chris Kamara is not concerned hooliganism and racism will blight the Euro 2012 tournament, but said the highest sanctions should be given if fans turn to violence. The black former player said the world is now different
FACEBOOK shares are being offered to the public for 38 US dollars (£24) in one of the biggest ever US stock flotations. The social media giant is now valued at more than $100bn dollars (£66bn) and stands to reap up to $18.4 bn dollars (£11.6bn
YORK should have a new John Lewis store within 18 months and a new stadium within three years, after councillors backed one of the city’s biggest ever developments. Proposals by developer Oakgate to build a new community stadium, John Lewis and Marks
WORLD champion Casey Stoner revealed a loss of passion for bike racing lay behind his shock decision to retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 season. The Australian, 27, had denied rumours he was to quit the sport at the previous round
A ROOM has been dedicated to Darlington's Citizen of the Year. The Kingfisher Room, part of Firthmoor Community Centre, will now be known as the Roddy Francis room. He has also been made Honorary Chairman of Firthmoor & District Community Association
Jeremy Gates looks at the nation’s money issues and reports on the pros and cons of investing in the latest tech bubble THE plunge in stock markets across Europe this week – after voters in France and Greece rejected austerity measures - hardly
HIT comedy The Inbetweeners Movie gave Channel 4 a boost and helped mask a slump in its profits, the broadcaster revealed yesterday. Last year’s cinema spin-off from the TV series, which charted the misadventures of the teenage friends on holiday
A CULTURE group has urged people to continue to use Darlington Arts Centre while it is still open. A tea dance and a Queen's Coronation party are among several events at the arts centre which have been cancelled in recent months. Members
There is widespread concern about public sector cuts - the loss of millions of jobs and the impact on services. But, at the same time, there is also resentment over the extraordinary levels of reward at the top table of the public sector.
A LAW firm is bucking the trend of suspended training programmes by continuing to develop the solicitors of the future despite the recession. Beecham Peacock, in Newcastle, has taken on a new trainee – just as another finishes her training and
ECONOMIC uncertainty and a double-dip recession has left many law firms struggling, but one North-East practice has bucked the trend and created 14 jobs. In the past six months, Punch Robson Solicitors has expanded its workforce by a fifth after
WATSON Burton has welcomed two of the firm’s most promising lawyers into its partnership. James Harrison and Jacqueline Turner have been promoted after a number of years with the firm, in the construction and employment groups respectively.
IN what would have been a perfect compliment to Lady Gaga’s infamous raw meat dress, a York race-goer stepped out in a Yorkshire Pudding and asparagus outfit yesterday. Nobody could argue that Rhonda Morritt’s dress was not the latest season
A NEWCASTLE United player has been called to appear before a court next month - to do jury service. While other millionaire players are sunning themselves at expensive resorts or preparing for the Euro 2012 tournament, Newcastle's cult hero James Perch
A CRAFT tour that focuses on artists who combine modern technology and traditional skills is visiting Weardale and Teesdale. The Highlights Contemporary Craft Tour, called Vanguard - Progressive Craft, opens in Stanhope this weekend before heading
COMMUNITY stalwarts have been recognised for the neighbourly deeds they carry out in communities and for those living near them. Kath Morton, from Coundon, was crowned Dale and Valley Homes Good Neighbour of the Year during the housing company's annual
A NEW mobile website has been launched to promote a county’s tourist offer. The site, launched by Visit County Durham, includes lists of attractions, events, Durham Deals, online booking facilities for accommodation and more. It has been designed for
TEN years ago, young mum of three Louise Roche went to see a musical at the theatre and came home thinking “I can do that!” The result is a runaway hit in this country and the US, packing in mainly female audiences for an evening of sisterly
Long Lost Family (ITV1, 9pm) Tales of Television Centre (BBC4, 9pm) Battle of the Brides (Sky Living, 9pm) DAVINA McCALL and Nicky Campbell unite in Long Lost Family to reunite people with, well, their long-lost family – and it’s proved to be
ROSCOE, the 13-year-old, gave me the fright of my life last week. Or, to be more accurate, he gave me an additional fright to add to all of the others. This is the third time I’ve had a nail-biting journey to hospital with him in an ambulance
The Northern League had Wembley all to itself last Sunday. Passionately dispassionate, the chairman jumps aboard the spiced cider gravy train THE Railroad to Wembley has once again reached its intended destination, and for the first time with
AS chairman of Darlington and District Private Landlords Association I attended a meeting at the town hall where the tip in Whessoe Road was discussed. I was not surprised to hear that incidents of fly tipping have already increased sufficiently
PETER SIMPSON, former chief executive of Hambleton District Council, was sent home on garden leave in February after what were described as “serious management issues” (Echo, May 16). I wondered where the term garden leave came from? As Mr Simpson
BRITAIN'S biggest banks suffered more pain on the markets today after Spain fuelled the flames of the eurozone crisis with more economic woe. Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland all saw their shares slide about three per cent as
READING Stephen Dixon’s letter on parenting skills (HAS, May 15) I thought he was going to make some valid points. After a reasonable attempt he reverted to type and began his usual diatribe of attacking the Conservative-led Government. While
AS global warming has bypassed the UK, can we now rev up our 4x4s, put our patio heaters on full blast, use real coal on our fires and ban the sale of low emissions cars? Could we also arrest and imprison the “expert” harbingers of global
MIKE AMOS complained about the cost of a return ticket from Leeds to Darlington (Echo, May 15). On our return from holiday recently, my husband and I missed our train from King’s Cross to Darlington. We had pre-booked our tickets but, through
I WOULD like to thank the disgusting person who vomited all over the cash machine outside Lloyds Bank in Darlington over the weekend. Vomit was on the keys, the wall and the pavement. I had put my card in before I noticed the dried-on mess. Perhaps
WE are writing on behalf of the Peacocks store in Darlington to thank all of our loyal customers for their support over the past few months. We are delighted that Peacocks has recently been bought by The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group. A big thank
GAY people were wooed with flowers and chocolate, proposed to on bended knee and led up the aisle to music – only to be jilted, cruelly, at the altar. That is the only logical conclusion to be drawn from David Cameron’s failure to follow through
In last week’s Queen’s Speech the Government announced new targets for adoption. Sarah French meets the director of a century-old North-East agency that has finding families for children at its heart YOU’VE gone through the soulsearching, planning
IN some ways it’s rather reassuring that David Cameron sends apparently impulsive and informal mobile phone texts. Comforting in a way, but it does show a degree of human frailty and I can’t imagine Harold Macmillan would have indulged in such
REGARDING the article about Darlington’s Covered Market and how stallholders are calling for the council to make improvements to increase their trade (Echo, May 14). For many years I have tried to have the indoor market made more accessible for
WHEN we first encountered the Rt Rev Justin Welby as he took up his post as Bishop of Durham last year, he told us that one of his priorities was to place the Church at the heart of the regeneration of the North-East. The Bishop has stayed true
A CHILDREN’S hospice is appealing for help raising money during one of the busiest days of the year. Grace House, which plans to open a children’s hospice in Sunderland, has been granted permission to hold a street collection in Durham City during the
LIVERPOOL owners Fenway Sports group last night sacked Kenny Dalglish after losing faith in his ability to deliver the progress they were looking for. Just a month ago chairman Tom Werner, after relieving director of football Damien Comolli
ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson insists he has no concerns about the commitment and ability of Andy Carroll after naming the controversial Liverpool striker in his Euro 2012 squad. Carroll has largely been seen as a flop since his £35million
A MAGICIAN who is allergic to rabbits had to hold back the tears yesterday as he faced his worst nightmare – a room full of fluffy bunnies. Entertainer Ian Wragg normally stays as far away as he can from his furry sidekicks – when he is not
AN Olynmpic gold medallist will lead the field when a high-drama cycle race returns to the streets of a North-East city tonight. Ed Clancy, who won gold in the team pursuit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will compete for the Rapha Condor Sharp
AN open day to come up with ideas for the 30th annual Darlington Community Carnival is to be held for the volunteers who work to make the event a success. Volunteers and group leaders can attend a drop-in day at Darlington Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace
A LOCAL history centre is looking for old photographs celebrating previous Royal celebrations to add to its collection. The Darlington Centre for Local Studies, based in Crown Street Library, in Darlington town centre, holds a large collection of local
A CHARITY that works to prevent homelessness in Darlington has set up a new project to provide targeted help and support to people from the first night they end up on the streets. First Stop Darlington, based in Tubwell Row, received more than £241,000
THE new owners of Darlington FC have announced details of how fans can put their money into the club. Supporters have already begun transferring money from the previous Crowdcube funding system into the four supporters’ groups that will hold
DRASTIC measures have been taken to address the problem of the growing number of tethered and abandoned horses across Cleveland. The British Horse Society (BHS) organised a session earlier this month to geld 26 horses at Oaklands Vet Centre
SWANSEA CITY are still keeping an eye on Marvin Emnes' situation and are weighing up a summer move for the Middlesbrough striker. The Swans are armed with more money after successfully staying in the Premier League in their first season following
Hartlepool's medal hope Savannah Marshall is a victory away from sealing her place at this summer's Olympics. It had been thought a semi-final place at the World Championships would have sufficed but, after securing a spot in the last four
TO be fair to Roy Hodgson, barring a couple of glaring exceptions, it's hard to see what else he could have done. We've all seen enough recent England performances to know there is no rabbit waiting to be produced from a hat, no potential superstar
DURHAM Police and its partner agencies are continuing to surpass national targets when it comes to tackling domestic violence. Figures for the past 12 months – from April last year to the end of March – show there were 293 cases in County Durham
SHOCK new figures show the average wage for full-time male workers in the North- East fell by 8.2 per cent over the past 12 months – a pay cut of £45 a week. The figures coincided with a rise in the jobless total in the North-East, which climbed
INTERNATIONAL experts meeting in the North-East have called for all alcohol advertising to be banned and minimum drink pricing introduced. The Addiction and Lifestyle in Contemporary Europe conference - held in Newcastle this week - aims to
BOSSES from North-East-based bakery chain Greggs will meet with the Treasury today as the battle against "pasty tax" continues, warning the plans could lead to store closures. Chairman Derek Netherton told shareholders at their annual general
HOUSEHOLDERS beware: employ this man at your peril. Bernard Grainger is a convicted burglar who is now facing a prison sentence for two heartbreaking crimes against the same family. The 36-year-old stole thousands of pounds worth of
NEWCASTLE UNITED have made Dutch international Luuk De Jong a leading candidate to replace Demba Ba should the Senegalese striker depart this summer. De Jong has been heavily linked with a number of clubs after a scintillating season with FC Twente which
HAVING struck two incredible nine-dart finishes to beat James Wade in the 2010 final, Phil Taylor is hoping for a similar display when the pair meet in tonight's Premier League Darts Championship play-off semi-final. A win over Wade would put Taylor
A familiar shortcoming came back to haunt Yorkshire on day one of their County Championship match with Hampshire - an inability to kill off an opponent. This came after a magnificent century from Simon Katich helped the visitors recover from 83 for four
SUNDERLAND are preparing an approach for in-demand Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, but Black Cats officials are not anticipating a hectic start to their summer transfer dealing. Martin O'Neill is keen to make changes to his squad this summer, and
A HERITAGE railway business was in a “dire” financial situation when new owners took control, a court was told yesterday. Consultant Michael Owen made the frank assessment while giving evidence on the third day of the trial of Corina Heslop, the
SOARING home care charges in most of the region are a stealth tax on the elderly, Labour warned yesterday. The party raised the alarm over rising costs facing pensioners and disabled people who require help to get up, wash, dress and make meals
A MAN with a health condition which means he has to rely on a machine to keep him alive while he sleeps fears he may die after a job offer fell through, leaving him penniless. David Cheesmond has been too ill to work for the past four years
NEWCASTLE UNITED have made Dutch international Luuk De Jong a leading candidate to replace Demba Ba should the Senegalese striker depart this summer. De Jong has been heavily linked with a number of clubs after a scintillating season with FC
A OFFSHORE wind farm parts manufacturer has completed a landmark phase of a £23m investment in its Teesside facility. Tag Energy Solutions has finished work on increasing the size of its load-out and assembly area for the fabrication of substation
POLICE called to an address in Chandos Street, Darlington found the body of a 35-year-old man last night. Officers were called on Wednesday evening to the property. The man was found inside the house and pronounced dead. A spokesman
