Newcastle Benfield have tonight appointed Steve Cuggy as their new assistant manager. Manager Perry Briggs moved quickly to appoint Cuggy when his previous assistant decided to leave the club, and he said: "I#m very happy that Steve has accepted the
A computer software developer, nicknamed Run Geordie Run, who runs across continents for charity, tells Gavin Havery how the roots of his punishing running schedules lie in the North-East’s famous half-marathon THE sight of thousands of
MORE than 30 international artists will set up camp in a Weardale town this week to get inspiration for their next projects. The artists will live and work in camper vans, caravans, marquees, a converted police bus and even an adapted milk float during
RESIDENTS living in a block of flats in Darlington can look forward to a more peaceful life in future, after a property used for the suspected dealing and misuse of Class A drugs was boarded up. The property, in Richard Pease House, in Darlington’s
AFTER six months of turmoil in charge at Darlington, Craig Liddle admits he is relishing the prospect of working at Sunderland after it was announced he will become part of the coaching set-up at the Stadium of Light. Liddle will join academy
A ROYAL Mail worker was left shaken up but uninjured after his van was attacked by yobs. The 7.5tonne vehicle had a brick thrown at its windscreen in Stanhope Road, in Darlington, at about 11pm, last night. Eyewitnesses said the glass in the windscreen
THE leaders of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have had a cabinet shake-up following their annual meeting. The main changes made by the ruling Labour group are that Councillor Olwyn Peters will complete her year as mayor and move on to be cabinet
A DEVELOPMENT brief for replacing a landmark office block, said to be a blot on a city’s landscape, is set to be agreed by councillors next week. The brief for Milburngate House, on Framwelgate Waterside, in Durham, is to go before Durham County Council
A RECRUITMENT drive is being held to encourage more foster parents to come forward. The number of children in care who need foster homes has risen over the past five years. It is estimated that nearly 9,000 new fosters carers are needed to meet demand
TRAIN fans can climb aboard a steam locomotive and also drive it for 30minutes at a popular museum. Visitors to Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon will get the chance to drive the engine as part of the Cab It event. Sessions cost £50
A NEW scheme has been launched for the recycling of low energy lightbulbs. Stockton Borough Council has installed a number of specially designed containers for members of the public to drop off their old bulbs thanks to a collaboration with recycling
A KIND hearted fundraiser has handed over £3,000 to help the work of two popular and good causes. Councillor Ken Campbell has raised the money for charities throughout his time as the mayor of Ferryhill over the last year. The Ferryhill Town councillor
WORK on a £1.7m project to transform a disused factory into a sport and leisure complex is expected to start within weeks. The Soccer Factory will create 30 jobs and breathe new life into the former Thrislington Partitions site in Durham Way
FIVE cars were damaged when arsonists left an early morning trail of destruction through a town. Residents in five houses in South Stanley, in County Durham had to be evacuated this morning when an exploding fuel tank from a burning vehicle
FIVE cars were burnt out when arsonists left an early morning trail of destruction through a town. Residents in five houses in South Stanley, in County Durham had to be evacuated today when an exploding fuel tank from a burning vehicle threatened to
AFTER gaining only one batting point from five games, Durham already have two here and should go on to pick up the maximum of five. They are 264 for two, with Will Smith reaching a 193-ball century in the over before tea and Ben Stokes racing to 23,
MORE than 300 mourners attended the funeral of a schoolboy who drowned after being swept away by a river. And about 80 people had to listen to the service outside as St Stephen’s Church in Willington was full for the funeral of Ian Bell this morning
A POLICE officer was injured after his patrol car hit a family’s home while responding to a robbery. Sharon Dean was watching television with her son, Peter Smeatham, and boyfriend Norman Ayre, when the squad car, which was responding to a
Eurovision Song Contest: Semi-Final One (BBC3, 8pm) Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls (BBC4, 9pm) My Big Fat Fetish (C4, 10pm) Later Live – with Jools Holland (BBC2, 10pm) IT’S that time of the year again when
DURHAM appears split over plans to create a new town council, following a public meeting to debate the issue. Around 80 people attended a debate on the proposals during a meeting of Durham’s Area Action Partnership in Durham Town Hall on Monday night
Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest, the remarkable story of how Gerry Dorsey made a name for himself in Darlington ENGELBERT Humperdinck, a 76-yearold for whom the Last Waltz really does seem to last forever, will again hold the floor in this
I WONDER how many drivers think as I do. With the fantastic amount of tax the Government receives in fuel duty it should abolish road tax. After all very little is spent on the roads. Instead, there should be a concerted effort to make more
MY company sends pallets of refurbished cast iron radiators around the country, mainly to private houses,. During the Olympics, however, we will struggle to complete any orders for customers in the London area. Apparently all deliveries during
THE Northern Echo reported that the tug of war at Sedgefield Medieval Fayre involved several local community groups (Echo, May 21). Unfortunately you did not note the success of First Sedgefield Scout Group, one of many across the country with
I CANNOT understand the mentality of the people in England towards clapped out singers like Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. They deserted this country years ago and went to America to avoid paying taxes. Now that America doesn’t want these
THE Northern Echo rightly gives prominence to the trials and tribulations of Darlington Football Club. I am not amused by silly jibes at Darlington FC’s expense along the lines of “an empty taxi drew up and the Darlo supporters club got out”,
I AGREE with all the antiwheelie bin sentiment people have expressed recently. Most weeks we only have a carrier bag of rubbish so it seems ridiculous to have to store one of these monsters for that amount. If black plastic bags are a health hazard
THE British people never voted to join the European Union. It is common sense to withdraw from the EU and revert to the common market. This would save us the cost of the European Parliament and the need to have MEPs. We need to trade with the
OVER the entrance to Dante’s hell were inscribed the words: “All hope abandon ye who enter here.” I feel like that every time I go into the Post Office – that’s if I can find a Post Office. It’s nothing to queue for three-quarters of an hour. People
ARDENT royalist Anita Atkinson has certainly stirred up a storm by barring three women who refused to stand for the National Anthem in her diamond jubilee-themed tea room. Standing up for the Queen should be a matter of personal choice and Mrs
THE rumour that Tony Blair is to return to frontline domestic politics gathers pace. Hovering just off stage, like Banquo’s ghost in Macbeth, he is said to believe he has a lot to offer. Let’s examine his legacy: hundreds of thousand
KEN LAVERY’S letter (HAS, May 17) indirectly referring to the unseasonable cold and wet weather caused by the obvious lack of sunshine raises an interesting point about Daylight Saving Time. The system, first introduced in Britain on May 21, 1916
Prime Ministers and pop legends were among those paying tribute to Robin Gibb, who lost his long fight against cancer on Sunday. Ray Crisp charts the Bee Gees’ incredible success WITH their perma-tanned skin, toothy smiles and bouffant hair
A GAS engineer who was among six people hurt in an explosion at a house in Gateshead last night is expected to be released from hospital shortly. Three police officers were among those injured at the property above the River Tyne in Marian Court. One
A WORKMAN was injured in an incident at the SSI steel plant in Redcar. The man is believed to have injured his leg while carrying out routine cleaning work on his vehicle at the recently re-opened site. Crews from the Great North Air Ambulance, police
ALL it needed was some sunshine. Durham won the toss at Taunton today and reached 128 without loss at lunch, suggesting that Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett and Jamie Harrison will have to wait until tomorrow for some action. The pitch had a tinge of
HUNDREDS of North-East workers are facing redundancy following the collapse of Cumbrian Seafoods. The company went into administration in December and its customer contracts and equipment were bought by rival Young's. Pete Ward, Chief Operating Officer
A DRIVER was taken to hospital this morning after a two-car crash near Consett. A Toyota Starlet and a Honda Jazz were involved in the crash on Woodside Bank, at Iveston just after 8.30am. The driver of the Honda, a 29-year-old Consett woman, was cut
TOMMY Hill is looking to cement his position at the top of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings when the competition reaches Snetterton this weekend. The Guisborough-based Swan Yamaha rider, the reigning BSB champion, currently
POLICE say 30 kitchen knives have been handed in during a six-week amnesty. Members of the public in Consett were given the chance to dispose of unwanted knives and other bladed instruments as part of a police campaign. Officers say that, although knife
SAVANNAH Marshall has vowed to follow up her historic women’s world boxing title win by claiming Olympic gold – and inspiring the rest of the 10- strong Great Britain team to believe they can do the same. Marshall became Britain’s first women
FORMER England cricket captain Graham Gooch is to be guest speaker at a dinner. The player, who is currently England batting coach, is to attend the Philadelphia Cricket Club dinner to be held in the Chilton Country Hotel, at Fencehouses, near Chester-le-Street
ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss believes his world-beating team’s famed resilience with both bat and ball allowed them to prevail in a tough first Test of the summer against West Indies. Many predicted an easy home victory at Lord’s, as stage
AN ardent royalist has barred three middle-aged women from her jubilee-themed tea room after they refused to stand for the National Anthem. Monarchist Anita Atkinson opened Royal Teas in Stanhope, County Durham, last month with friend Christine
A MOTHER who carried the lifeless body of her son into a police station after killing him has spoken for the first time about the hours leading up to the tragedy. Speaking from the hospital where she is being treated for a mental illness, Melanie
SIX men were last night being treated in hospital after being caught in a suspected gas explosion which reduced a property to rubble. Three police officers suffered serious burns after the explosion ripped through the flat in Gateshead.
THE Foreign Office has detailed a multi-national plan to help free a 24-year-old pilot being held in an African jail accused of killing 18 people. Whitehall officials yesterday told David Simpson’s family they could have acted sooner after he
A RETIRED teacher who never forgot a pupil who died after an asthma attack is to cycle the length of England in her memory. Carole Jones, a 57-year-old grandmother of six boys, will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for an
THE manager of a historic hotel and restaurant has been told his job will be held open for him – despite being jailed over a £334,000 fraud. Sean Lockyear, manager of the White Swan in Middleham, North Yorkshire, was sentenced to two-and-a-half
THE new owners of Darlington Football Club have launched an appeal for fans to reinvest money already pledged to the club. Darlington FC 1883 Ltd (DFC 1883) says it needs £70,000 before the end of this month and £200,000 by the end of next month
HUNDREDS of mourners packed into a church to say an emotional farewell to a popular grandfather, car dealer and member of the travelling community. Elijah Ward died peacefully at his Darlington home earlier this month, surrounded by his family
SCIENTISTS in the North- East have made a breakthrough in understanding treatment-related leukaemia, raising hopes the disease could be prevented. Scientists working in the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences at Newcastle University
A FORMER heritage railway accounts manager denied taking advantage of the struggling firm’s financial “mess” to defraud the business. Corina Heslop is accused of diverting £36,781 from British American Railway Services (Bars) by making eight
NEARLY 900 police will be called away to the London Olympics, leaving the region potentially unable to cope with a major incident, it was claimed last night. Fifty-two forces will take part in the 105-day operation to police the games, with up
A SHAKE-UP could strip a further £22m a year from the North-East’s largest council, it emerged last night – on top of existing cuts to budgets. Councils are to be allowed to retain more of the business rates they collect. On the face of it this
AN investigation has been launched after a volunteer rail worker died when he was trapped between two trains. The 67-year-old, who has not been named, had been a volunteer with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for several years. Police
PAUL Drinkhall will discover whether he has a place at this summer's Olympic Games when Great Britain's table tennis squad is announced later today. None of Britain's table tennis players have secured an automatic qualifying spot for London
Rich Pyrah is putting the finishing touches to his recovery from a broken hand by playing for Yorkshire's second team this week. The all-rounder was one of the shining lights amid the wreckage of 2011, enjoying success in all forms of the game
THE evidence of the last year is that Durham are a fair weather team, and they desperately need to make hay while the sun shines in Taunton this week. The forecast is looking much better and on the traditionally run-laden pitch it is time for
A 45-YEAR-OLD man is fighting for his life after falling more than 20ft from the top of a staircase at an 18th Century pub. The man, who had travelled to Thirsk, North Yorkshire, with a group of friends and relatives from Langley Park, in
A MAN accused of killing his brother has spoken of nine months of torment as he battled to clear his name. Tony Marshall’s brother Michael collapsed and died of a heart attack only moments after the two had argued in a shopping centre.
A HAIRDRESSER told last night how she has been left too traumatised to return to work in her salon after being viciously attacked by a robber. Dawn Yates closed her business and lost her livelihood in the aftermath of the assault at the shop
MIDDLESBROUGH are hoping to kick off their summer transfer dealing by signing Argentinian midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma. Boro officials have held preliminary discussions with Ledesma, who is a free agent after finishing last season with League One side
MARTIN O'Neill and Alan Pardew have agreed to put their past disagreements behind them after a chance meeting earlier this month. The respective managers of Sunderland and Newcastle United were involved in an explosive encounter during the
NEWCASTLE face a battle to land one of their leading summer transfer targets after Lille boss Rudi Garcia expressed a desire to keep Mathieu Debuchy in France. Debuchy has emerged as the Magpies' preferred replacement for right-back Danny Simpson
