There could hardly have been a starker contrast... In Middlesbrough today, hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects to Corporal Andrew Roberts, who lost his life serving in Afghanistan. A letter read out on behalf of his three
A SPORT rehabilitation practitioner from the region is set to transform his industry after creating a cutting-edge piece of clinic room computer software. Ben Snook of Darlington is the brains behind Mobile Patient Notes, designed to be a new, faster
A NORTH Yorkshire store is pulling out all the stops for a fund-raising venture, after an employee was diagnosed with cancer. Vic Ison, manager of CB Furnishings in Northallerton decided to hold a charity fund-raising day for Cancer Research after staff
A COUNCIL has launched a consultation exercise on changing the opening hours at three tips. Durham County Council’s consultation on new opening hours for household waste recycling centres at Coxhoe, Horden and Thornley began on Thursday and continues
A TEAM of paramedics are cycling through the region on a mission to visit all the hazardous accident response bases in the UK. The four cyclists from the London Ambulance Service (LAS) today travelled through North Yorkshire and the North-East on their
THE interim board of Darlington FC 1883 last night warned fans that the hard work to rebuilt their club was only just beginning at the club awaits news on which league it will play in next season. The Football Association will decide on Friday
A TEAM set up to promote Bishop Auckland is urging everyone to get involved to improve the ailing town centre. The Bishop Auckland Town Team events group is working on a series of events for the Diamond Jubilee, Olympic torch relay and projects
PEOPLE across County Durham are being urged to show their support for the roll-out of high-speed broadband. Durham County Council has been promised almost £7m by the Government to provide broadband across the county and a superfast provision
A CROSSING in Newton Aycliffe is to receive a revamp in an effort to improve safety for school pupils. The zebra crossing on Central Avenue, which links a number of footpaths in the area, is being transformed into a pelican crossing thanks to funding
National Treasures – Jubilee Special (BBC1, 9pm) House Special: Swan Song (Sky1, 8pm) Freddie Flintoff Goes Wild (Discovery Channel, 9pm) WE don’t know if anyone’s mentioned it, but 2012 is something of a historic year for Britain. Not only
Children and staff at a Bishop Auckland nursery are celebrating after being hailed outstanding by inspectors. Etherley Lane Nursery has received an the top grade for aspects of its work. Inspector Jayne Utting said: “Etherley Lane Nursery is an outstanding
A FEMALE priest from County Durham has compared the Church of England to an abusive husband following controversial last-minute changes to plans allowing women to be bishops. The Rev Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, interim principal of Durham
Out in the cold at Windy Hill Lane, the column takes in its first cricket match of the season ON a day as grey and as cold as the German Ocean out the back, Yorkshire II played Durham II at Marskeby- the-Sea. It was the column’s first cricket match
WHAT a mess Britain is in. The health secretary couldn’t find time to visit the wonderful Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, having cancelled two proposed visits because of Parliamentary commitments (Echo, May 18). I think he didn’t want to face
FATHERHOOD comes with the requirement to be skilled at many jobs: nurse-maid, teacher, cleaner, sports coach, relationship counsellor, and taxi driver to name but a few. I can now add “removal man” to the list after spending the whole of Saturday
REGARDING the suggestion that Bishop Auckland should offer free car parking to encourage more shoppers. I would like to suggest to some of these do-gooders that they actually visit some of the shops that are left. Do not get me wrong, I do love
THE Northern Echo’s editorial welcomed the fact that the Queen’s first grandchild regardless of sex will be a successor to the throne (Echo, May 23). How can replacing sexism with ageism be a step forward? Both are illegal and, as the third child
ANYONE who joins a political party automatically sacrifices the freedom to publicly express their true opinions. Party decisions are made and acted upon a majority vote, but what of those in disagreement? They are gagged. Party loyalty is sacrosanct
GOOD news for Britain – 48,000 tons of British-made steel is on its way to Thailand (Echo, May 16). Why do we buy our ships from foreign dockyards when they would be made in Tyneside and Wearside? The Government should have all our ships made
EVERY time I pick up The Northern Echo I read the same things. It is a bit worrying knowing that we are surrounded by paedophiles either grooming youngsters for sex or watching and downloading child porn. Other stories are violent attacks on
I RECENTLY received Durham County Council’s “news” magazine. The front page promises an Olympic celebrations eight page guide to draw the reader in. Unfortunately, within the whole publication, sport barely features with only a reference to a
TONY BLAIR may re-enter politics in Britain but it is unlikely that he will be able to return to a leadership role. The position of Labour leader is different from what it was when John Smith died and the Labour Party sought a leader to lead it
A VILLAGE community centre is celebrating another landmark three years after opening a £580,000 youth club. Pelton Community Centre, near Chester-le-Street, will tomorrow (Saturday May 26) officially open its new gym and community cafe. Two years
ARE you wondering where it all started to go wrong for David Cameron and the sinking British economy? My suggestion is as far back as exactly two years ago today. It was muggy on the morning of May 24, 2010, as I headed to the Treasury for the thenextraordinary
MONEY is tight in the public sector. Every pound counts as the Coalition Government drives through its austerity measures. At least that’s what we keep being told. How then can the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
THE six-year-old daughter of a fallen soldier paid tribute to her 'hero' daddy at a service held in his honour today. Hundreds of people paid their respects to Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts, who was killed in a rocket attack in the Nahr-e-Sarj
The NHS in the North-East is expanding its weight-loss surgery service to meet the growing demand from obese patients. Health and Education Editor Barry Nelson met one couple whose lives have been transformed by surgery LOOKING back, Debra Brassell
THE INTERNATIONALLY-renowned vocal group The Tallis Scholars are preparing to perform at Durham Cathedral with a programme spanning centuries of choral music up to the present day. The choir will be joined by Durham Cathedral Choir for part
DURHAM suffered their most abject collapse of a disastrous season this afternoon as their poor batting form underlined that relegation is a genuine threat. On 59 for one at lunch they led by 63 and everything looked set up for Somerset to enjoy an
AT least a third of diabetics in the region are not receiving proper care – contributing to a shocking 24,000 unnecessary deaths every year in England. And the blackspot is Middlesbrough, where less than half of diabetics receive a full nine checks
John Rutter directs a programme celebrating choral music heard on royal occasions during the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth, reflecting the choices for weddings, funerals and anniversaries. The album includes Rutter’s This Is The Day, written for
A SEASIDE town will be rocking with music and laughter this July. The three-day Redcar Rocks Festival, in Mackinlay Park, Redcar, will feature more than 100 performers on five stages from July 13 to 15. Day tickets and weekend tickets
Oliver Knussen, a champion of Alexander Goehr’s music, presents a compelling album with works spanning the composer’s career. Goehr’s orchestral evocation of Goya’s terrifying painting, Colossus, is coupled with the premiere recording of his early
ARSONISTS are being hunted after an investigation found that a fire, which destroyed a parade of shops, was started deliberately. Fire swept through the row of shops in Durham Lane, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, early on Saturday, destroying
A PICTURESQUE village has some new residents that have really got the community talking. An unusual flock of sheep and lambs has gathered in Grewelthorpe, between Ripon and Masham, North Yorkshire. All have been decorated by villagers
A SUBPOSTMASTER accused of murdering his wife has lost an appeal against his conviction. Court of Appeal judges today rejected Robin Garbutt's bid to clear his name for the killing of wife Diana at the Melsonby shop and post office the couple
THE daughter of PC David Rathband is to take her father's place in carrying the Olympic torch next month. PC Rathband was left blinded when he was shot by gunman Raoul Moat in July 2010 as he sat in his patrol car in Newcastle. Despite his disability
RUNS continued to flow on a murky morning at Taunton as Somerset declared on 400 for nine then Durham swiftly wiped out the deficit of 16 and progressed to 59 for one at lunch. Michael Di Venuto was the man out after launching the innings by pulling
AN inquest is expected to be opened tomorrow into the death of a man being held in remand in prison. Jamie Keir Smith was found hanged in his cell in Durham Prison on Monday morning. The 43-year-old was awaiting trial charged with the rape of a woman
Ardent Royalist Anita Atkinson made national headlines after she barred three women from her jubilee-themed tea room for refusing to stand for the national anthem. Reporter Helen Russell visited the cafe where the monarchy is celebrated every day
SPORTS fans are gearing up for a summer of cycling. The three-day Stockton Cycling Festival from July 6 to 8 will transform the town centre’s streets and riverside with events for cyclists and spectators alike. Yesterday, former Commonwealth
AFTER claiming a hat-trick on his home ground last year, Stuart Broad is hoping to send Trent Bridge wild once again this week. Nottinghamshire seamer Broad made the most of familiar surroundings against India last summer by removing Mahendra
RORY McILROY plays in Europe for the first time as world number one at Wentworth this week – but it is not because of the rankings that Luke Donald feels jealous. Although Donald will grab the top spot back if he becomes only the third player
MINIDRESS can give Godolphin some respite following recent woes by winning the Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood. Plenty of their runners look to have needed their initial outings, although those hailing from Mahmood al Zarooni’s yard to
IT WAS Ian Blackwell and Jamie Harrison on his first-class debut, rather than the returning ex-England men, who kept Durham afloat at Taunton yesterday. The struggles of Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett meant Durham lacked the resources to press
YORKSHIRE have been handed a boost with the news that Andrew Gale does not require an injection in his shoulder, meaning he will captain the side in today’s Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Sussex at Hove. Gale was expecting to miss tonight’s
POLICE who stopped a North-East motorist for suspected traffic offences discovered £300,000 worth of cocaine out on the car seat. Officers stopped the VW Passat as it drove along Encombe Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham , shortly before 6pm
If you prefer to create works of art on your PC and don't have the cash to splash on Photoshop then the Gimp is your app of choice. Gimp is an open-source photo/art manipulation package that's totally free. It's incredibly powerful but has a learning
FRAIZER CAMPBELL wants to show Martin O'Neill he has the ability to become one of the two 'double figure' men Sunderland are searching for this summer. O'Neill is keen to make quick strides towards strengthening his attack, even though he does
BUSINESSES are sitting on a cash pile of £64bn, which, if released, could be used to fund business growth and weather market downturns. According to research by Deloitte, this excess capital is up from £61bn in 2010 and £59bn in 2009. However, the survey
PROFITS slumped at almost half of businesses across the region over the first three months of the year, according to new research. Insolvency trade body R3's quarterly Business Distress Index showed 49 per cent of firms in the north, which includes
SPECIALIST engineering company Francis Brown Limited has underlined its growing expertise in the offshore sector by completing work for a BP oil and gas platform. The Stockton-based company developed new welding procedures to make a pair of four-metre
ENGINEERING and project management specialist AMEC is in talks with outsourcing firm Serco Group to buy its nuclear Technical Consulting Services (TCS) business. Amec, which employs more than 500 staff across the North-East, aims to raise its skill
THE death of a widow and great-grandmother after a feeding tube was inserted in her lung rather than her stomach was partly the fault of “system neglect” at the hospital, a coroner has ruled. Margaret Mary Burton, 90, a former shopkeeper, died
CONVICTED criminals have completed more than £500,000 worth of unpaid work in the communities where they carried out their crimes. Durham Tees Valley Probation Trust passed the milestone for its work in the County Durham area for the 12 months
THIS is the dramatic moment a pensioner was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a rush-hour accident caused by yobs throwing eggs. The 72-year-old woman was struck by a blue Ford Focus as she crossed Blackwell Lane near the junction
IF a golfer expects to figure in just one tournament on English soil over the course of a season, he might as well head in to it in style. And, after two successive top 30 finishes, that is the mind-set of Graeme Storm, who has arrived at Wentworth
NEWCASTLE UNITED completed their first signing of the summer in the shape of Romain Amalfitano last night and plan to return to France in the hope of adding more new faces. After initially agreeing to head to Tyneside in February, Amalfitano
A SPORTS-MAD student who was struck down with cancer during his final year at university is staging a charity rugby match in aid of those who helped him battle through. Jonathon Stanhope-Smith, a healthy and active student who captained Durham
THE eyes of the world will be on one Catterick soldier when she sings a solo in the official jubilee song outside Buckingham Palace. The song, Sing, is a pivotal part of the country’s diamond jubilee celebrations, which involved cocreators
A COUPLE have become one of the few husband and wife teams in the country to undergo weight-loss surgery together. Factory worker Dave Brassell, 44, and wife, Debra, 37, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, who each previously weighed about
A boxing club are facing an uncertain future after being told they must leave their premises - only a year after forming. WardDegnan's Boxing Club are based at The Northern Echo Arena, but they are now looking for a new home following Darlington
A 19-year-old male, who was driving a grey BMW 528 when it collided with a brick gas mains building in Briggs Avenue in South Bank, Middlesbrough, has died in hospital. A police spokesman said the accident happened shortly after midnight yesterday.
PLANS have been laid to create one of the world's biggest dark sky preserves in the North-East. Managers at Kielder Water and Forest Park Development Trust and Northumberland National Park Authority hope to attract visitors to the wild Border country
