Full-time: Everton 3 Newcastle United 2 YOHAN CABAYE emerged from the bench to breathe life and resilience into Newcastle United at Goodison Park, but what happened before that should have the whole of Tyneside worried. By the time substitute
CALLS are growing for the Lindisfarne Gospels to be returned to the North-East, after a hugely successful three-month loan ended tonight (Monday, September 30). Campaigners said the 100,000 visitors to this summer’s Durham exhibition emphatically
THE death of a renowned Yorkshire Dales landlord signals the end of an era, friends say. Ralph Daykin, who with wife Pat ran the Victoria Arms, in Worton, near Askrigg, since 1956, is believed to have been one of Britain’s longest serving licensees
A MAN was robbed of a bag of cash while at a Stockton petrol station. The incident happened around 4.10pm at the site on Norton Road. A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "A man was robbed of a bag containing cash by an unknown man who
YOHAN CABAYE and Papiss Cisse have only been named among the substitutes for Newcastle United's visit to Everton tonight. Manager Alan Pardew is looking for a positive Premier League reaction to the home defeat to Hull City in their last outing
Supplying addicts with drugs such as heroin on the NHS – an idea supported by Durham police chief Mike Barton – is nothing new. BARRY NELSON and STUART ARNOLD report. BETWEEN 2006 and 2011 the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, took part in
The North-East argued long and hard for the Lindisfarne Gospels to be returned to their spiritual home in Durham City - and the region has shown conclusively that it is capable of doing them justice. The Gospels have generated huge interest, attracting
A HAPLESS burglar who stole a kayak in an ill-fated bid to start a new life in France was back in familiar surroundings last night - behind bars. Paul Redford, 46, was wanted for crimes in Darlington and Blyth, in Northumberland, when he took the
DEVELOPERS behind plans for a multi-million pound leisure complex for Darlington have reaffirmed their belief in the project following public scepticism. A planning application was submitted last week for the Feethams Leisure scheme, on the site
RYEDALE is holding its second Book Festival with stories written, spoken, sung or illustrated in a series of events across Malton town centre on October 19 and 20. The event was so popular last year organisers decided to repeat it. For more information
The Pittington Brass Band will perform at St Cuthbert’s Church in Shadforth, near Durham City, at 7pm on Thursday, October 3. Admission is £5, including refreshments. OUTDOOR SESSIONS: Youngsters can explore the great outdoors during new sessions
A GRANDMOTHER died after she tripped over the remains of an old street sign just days after a safety inspection failed to spot, an inquest was told. Audrey Foster, 79, died in Sunderland Royal Hospital five days after breaking her hip in the fall
FESTIVAL revellers raised more than £17,000 while celebrating the tenth anniversary of one of the region’s most popular events. The annual Oyster Festival, at Hardwick Park in Sedgefield, County Durham, raised funds for Daisy Chain, a charity based
AN annual autumn charity shopping event reaches a landmark later this month. Durham Shopping Extravaganza is to celebrate its 25th anniversary at a new home venue, with a familiar voice to national radio listeners set to officially begin proceedings
A PERVERT hypnotist who turned a married mum into his sex slave when she went to him for weight-loss treatment was today jailed for 18 months. Timothy Porter was told he had devastated the life of his victim, who has had to give up work, has trouble
MEMBERS of a keep fit class are turning heads on the streets of a market town. Gym instructor Jackie Walker’s Wednesday morning group at Bedale Leisure Centre have ditched their gym to experience exercise in the open air. Members of the group
A FREE health and safety event is being held for farmers and farm workers. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will give information on the main hazards facing workers in the sector at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, October 8. Practical demonstrations
TWO men jointly accused of the murder of a 49-year-old man have appeared in court. Newcastle Crown Court heard how a third man, Paul Ian Tate, was found dead in his prison cell on Friday morning. Mr Tate, 49, of Cambridge Road, Silksworth,
PROTESTERS demanding an investigation into decisions made by Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee handed in a 2,500 signature petition today (Monday September 30). The petition, organised by the Save Stockton South group (SSS), and handed
A MILITARY wife who plans to help wounded soldiers has been shortlisted for a prestigious prize. Sign language student Leanne Hipkiss-Walker, from Darlington, has been nominated to receive an award in the national 2013 Signature Annual Awards.
AN event aimed at supporting sufferers of mental ill-health, while promoting well-being and recovery, takes place next week. The support and activity day, at Belmont, Durham, is being staged to coincide with World Mental Health Day. Developed
A TOTAL of £3.3m has been secured from the Government to improve traffic flow in Stockton. The funding which was announced by Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, and will be paid to Stockton Borough Council
AN intimate North-East gig previewing a stand-up comedian’s forthcoming arena tour sold out within a minute of going on sale today (Monday, September 30) Fans who missed out on the chance to see Russell Howard perform at the Funny Way To Be Comedy
A WOMAN who had her handbag stolen from the back of her car has appealed for the return of treasured photographs that were inside it. Collette Thurlow left her handbag and some shopping in the back of her car while she went to visit the church
STARS from two of the nation’s best-loved soaps will tear up the tarmac in what is set to be the most competitive British Rallycross Championship finale and Grand Prix ever to be held at Croft Circuit. Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden in
A BASIC training course for referees will be held in Bedale High School during October. The cost of the course run through the North Riding County Football Association is £100 with £16 for an FA, CRB qualification. For more information contact Caroline
JOB FAIR: Richmond Town Council and Job Centre Plus are holding a job fair in the town hall on Tuesday, October 8 between 10am and 2pm. The fair is open to anyone who would like to meet employers and training providers offering real jobs and opportunities
A LOLLIPOP lady who has helped generations of children get to school safely – and played a part in appointing their head teacher – marked her retirement today (Monday, September 30). Janet Hughff, 63, served as lollipop lady for Pittington Primary
AN OPEN evening aims to attract new hosts and donors for Chernobyl's children. Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, based in Northallerton, are looking for new families to host a group of children coming to the town next year. This follows the
A CHAMPION Thai boxer who came out of retirement for one last fight has donated his winnings to the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA). Sam Bainbridge, of Willington, won the North-East area title at 69 kilograms at the Unity Thai Fight Night at
A PIG farming business has been fined for safety failings after a worker was struck and seriously injured by a feed hopper that fell from the forks of a loader. Imogen Simpson, 45, of Easington, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, sustained two skull
CHRISTOPHER Burrows, assistant organist at St Oswald’s Church, Church Street, Durham City, will give a recital celebrating 25 years of the church’s Peter Collins organ on Saturday (October 5) at 7.30pm. The programme is devoted to the music of JS Bach
INTRODUCING a screening of his new film Sunshine On Leith, director Dexter Fletcher warned the audience to watch out for him make a brief appearance on screen. And there he is briefly looking like a down-andout staggering out of a pub early in the
A CONSULTATION session to discuss possible changes to parking restrictions in Cockerton will take place later this week. Darlington Borough Council announced details of a wide-ranging parking strategy for Darlington last month, which raised the
AS I trek through the rainforest, the sound of river water gently lapping my feet breaks the silence. In the distance, I hear the whistling call of the chachalaca, one of Tobago’s national birds. I munch on a ripe guava fruit, picked fresh from
FOUR call centre workers have left the North-East to climb Africa’s highest mountain for charity. Chris Harrison, Caroline Fisher, Patrick Dinsmore and Noz Islam – who work at npower’s customer service contact centre, near Houghton-le-Spring –
AS the waitress liberally pours whisky over the large slab of cake in front of us, we don’t feel a pang of guilt – because we know we’ll be walking it all off tomorrow. It’s the third day of our week-long walking holiday along the Catalan coast
A BOY has been taken to hospital after a collision involving a double-decker bus. The boy, who has been taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, has head injuries. The collision happened near The Rings, Ingleby Barwick, at
A CHESTER-le-Street concert raised £2,500 for a children’s cancer charity. Local choir Agape and the Durham Miners Association Brass Band performed at the Salvation Army Citadel on Saturday (September 28) to raise money for Sara’s Hope Foundation
Grand Theft Auto V, PS3, £34.99 ROCKSTAR (and the media) have been making all the right noises about GTA V delivering the ultimate sandbox gaming experience, and in this instance, it more than delivers. Its ambition is matched by its execution
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenage woman was sexually assaulted. The 19-year-old is believed to have bitten her attacker during the incident on Spout Lane, in Washington in the early hours of Saturday. She was attacked at around
HANDBALL and water polo are now on offer at County Durham sports academy thanks to an £8,000 grant from Children in Need. Woodham Academy, in Newton Aycliffe, applied to the children’s charity for funding to extend the activities on offer at its
TWO teenage girls were left ‘shocked and distressed’ after a man exposed himself as they walked along a public footpath. The incident happened at 1.15pm at Hylton Castle Dene, Tollerton Drive, near Sunderland on Saturday, September 28. The man,
DURING the summer the alpines take a breath to recharge, and now autumn is here there are splashes of colour appearing everywhere as the autumn bulbs begin to flower. You think of crocus as a spring flower, but there are several that flower in
WHETHER your preferred home style is modern or traditional, a splash of neon can instantly brighten the mood and change the tone of a room. Designers have discovered they can highlight areas, create shadows and add interest when these contemporary
WRITER Mike Kenny wanted Blood and Chocolate to be a play rather than an event. That could all too easily happen as the production involves moving nearly 500 people – both cast and audience – along a route in York with the performance happening around
AN OPEN day is being held at Redcar Primary Care Hospital as part of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s nursing recruitment drive. In a bid to attract both new and returning qualified nurses, the event, which is being held tomorrow (Tuesday
ALAN LANE is taking the hole in the road in his stride. He’s walking round it. As will 300 audience members, 180 community cast performers and four professional actors. Inevitably, there are problems to solve and obstacles to be overcome (or gone
A PIONEERING scheme encouraging people to be good neighbours is being launched in Darlington tomorrow (Tuesday, October 1). The Good Friends project, run in partnership with Age UK Darlington, Darlington Police, and Darlington Neighbourhood Watch
YOUNG sports stars can apply for a bursary from Sedgefield Village Games committee to help them to develop their skills. The group has a pot of money which it will share among sports players who are either from Sedgefield or who are members of
A NEW smartphone design could reduce the electronic waste mountain caused by people constantly updating and upgrading their personal devices. Too often, people throw away an older gadget even though many – or most – of its parts are still working
WORK has begun on the latest phase of a £9m regeneration scheme that aims to breathe new life into a once run-down part of Hartlepool town centre. Building work is underway on 83 new family homes predominately for sale to replace 199 older terraced
ALEX WALDMANN knows his way around the ring thanks to boxing training, but the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) actor admits he finds the wrestling scene difficult in As You Like It because it comes within the first 20 minutes of the play which arrives
A FUNDRAISER is holding a charity night in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of her dad, who died from heart disease. Kim Gibson, of Spennymoor, is holding the event at Spennymoor Working Men’s Club on Saturday. (October 5) Her
KIRK Merrington Women’s Institute is holding a whist and dominoes drive at the village hall at 2pm on Saturday, October 5. Admission is £2, including refreshments. HISTORY TALK: Mark Hardy will give a talk on the history of the port police at Aycliffe
CHILDREN and young people are being bombarded by alcohol ads whilst watching family blockbuster films in cinemas across the region, a new study has shown. Balance, the North-East Alcohol office, carried out the study in cinemas across the region
VICTIMS should be given more power in sentencing decisions, according to a North-East academic. Dr Thom Brooks, from Durham Law School at Durham University, suggests the current restorative justice process does not go far enough in improving public
THE emotions of Pamela Jackson’s loving family finally boiled over in the public gallery of Newcastle Crown Court today (Monday, September 30) as her killer was led away to start an 18 year sentence for manslaughter. Relatives heard Judge James
DRAGON’S Den star Duncan Bannatyne has denied that he criticised his own customers in a newspaper interview, claiming that his comments has been taken out of context. In an interview given to a Sunday newpsper the Darlington-based businessman,
A NEW project has been launched to help vulnerable households in Hartlepool, especially those on benefits, buy furniture. Called the Furniture Solutions Project, the scheme has been devised by Hartlepool Borough Council and is run under contract
Whether you struggle to make toast or boast impressive kitchen skills, we could all learn a thing or two from Gordon Ramsay. The TV star might be more famous nowadays for swearing at restaurateurs and hotel owners, but don’t forget he’s also one of
MOST people wouldn’t give the blood vessel on the end of the child’s nose a second look, but to the nine-yearold concerned it’s the end of the world. Another patient reveals she has never worn skirts in decades because of what she feels are unsightly
MORE than 100 workers have lost their jobs at a food delivery company. David Price Food Services, which has headquarters in Wallsend, near Newcastle, has gone into administration. The company delivered chilled and frozen products to airports
A NEWLY formed residents’ association is gearing up for a fight to save greenbelt land from housing development. Developers Carillion and Arlington Real Estate are working on proposals to build about 40 homes on part of the Durham City greenbelt
A FISH and chip restaurant can claim to be among the country’s elite after being handed a national award. The Fox Hall Inn, on the A66 in East Layton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, was handed the The National Federation of Fish Friers’ Fish and
THE Beckhams partied together in matching black tuxes, Cate Blanchett provided the Hollywood glamour and One Direction’s Harry Styles proved himself to be a front row regular. London Fashion Week has well and truly found its (designer-clad) feet
A CLEAN-up on a North-East beach recovered the largest number of UFO’s – unidentified floating objects - following a nationwide campaign. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) took part in the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project to tidy up beaches from as
A DARLINGTON hair salon has raised more than £500 for a national cancer charity following a week of fundraising. Head 2 Toe salon, in Nightingale Avenue, Darlington, hosted a number coffee mornings and raffles throughout last week which raised
A SENIOR Durham police officer hopes that a new crime-fighting system will help “disrupt, dismantle and destroy” organised crime networks in the region. Durham Constabulary is one of two police forces in the country to kick-start a crackdown on
York’s Mark Addy is delighted with his mythical role of Hercules for BBC1 series Atlantis. Steve Pratt reports HE’S played Fred Flintstone on the big screen and a stripping steelworker in The Full Monty. Now York actor Mark Addy adds strong man
DURHAM’S championship winning cricketers were honoured by their county council today (Monday, September 30). Captain Paul Collingwood and his teammates at Durham County Cricket Club were awarded the Chairman’s Medal by Durham County Council chairman
A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with robbery and remanded in custody ahead of his appearance at crown court. Dean Ludwell, of Grasmere Drive, Weston-super-Mare, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court today (Monday, September 30) charged with
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl brought glory to her family at one of the area’s biggest agricultural shows this week – more than 30 years since her beloved aunt did the same. Melody Fife, of Guisborough, was overall winner of all the children’s categories
FOOTBALL matches between local rivals Crook Town and Stanley United in the 1950s and 1960s were often a “blood and thunder” event, with no quarter asked and none given. Some games were given added spice because of the migration of certain players
WHEN farmer Robert Snowball went into a hostelry for a drink on a New Year’s Day, he was asked what he thought about his new housekeeper, Jane Barron. He replied that she was “a decent, useful lass”. But some hours later he was bludgeoned to
YOUNG people are being invited to a special town centre drop-in event that could help boost their future. The Know your Money, Keep the Change (KYM) scheme is hosting a multi-agency event that will give young people the chance to speak to a variety
ARMED police officers were called to the aid of a fellow policeman threatened by a man believed to be carrying a knife earlier today (Monday, September 30). Police were making what was described a routine enquiries in Brabourn Gardens, Hemlington
IN Memories 141, there were some photographs of a country fair at Wynyard Hall in June 1968. One photo featured an angler dangling his line into the lake. It was Jack Holywell, now 93, the former landlord of the Stanwick Arms, in Aldbrough St John
WORKING for some of the world’s leading fashion designers is a dream come true for most students, even when the glamour gives way to sleepless nights and shifts that roll into 16-hour days. The hard graft hasn’t deterred 23- year-old fashion graduate
AN ambulance service which has faced criticism after falling far short of national response target times in rural areas has launched a scheme to help paramedics find remote properties more quickly. Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said map-making
FOUR North-East mothers have started a national tour to raise awareness of Tourettes Syndrome. Eileen Darling, Donna Emmerson, Liz Mielnik and Jac Campbell, all of whom have children with the genetic condition, are visiting 52 English cities over
A man's body has been found in a river by a passer-by. The body was discovered shortly after 11am today (Monday, September 30) in the River Ouse, in York. A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the body had been found in water downstream
Love them or hate them, free schools are slowly spreading across the North-East, but are they really necessary? Susan Percy, principal of the new West Newcastle Academy free school, explains why wanted to become an educational pioneer and why she thinks
A HARTLEPOOL youth project is urging schools to head for the great outdoors to help pupils get the most from their learning. The invitation comes from the West View Project (WVP) - a not-for-profit organisation which runs a host of outdoor learning
A FIRST novel, penned by a Sunderland student, has hit the shelves a year before she has even finished her degree. Having written the book throughout her second year at Sunderland University, Amy McLean hopes to follow in the footsteps of Carolyn
HUMMERSKNOTT Academy students can now work at being multi-lingual thanks to the introduction of an innovative learning programme. The Darlington school has acquired the Rosetta Stone language package which gives students the chance to independently
A TENNIS club for the visually impaired is competing in a national tournament this weekend thanks to a generous donation from the Adderstone Foundation. The Foundation – set up by Newcastle-based property developers Adderstone Group – gave £1,672
Long Sir Thomas was a great dandy of his day. He loved fine arts and good company; his balls and parties were legendary in London where he was regarded as the very arbiter of good taste AMONG his many fashionable interests was Ranelagh Gardens,
THE police chief who has called for the decriminalisation of hard drugs says he wanted to start a debate on the issue. County Durham and Darlington Chief Constable Mike Barton wrote in The Observer on Sunday that he believed the war on drugs had
WALTER Greenwood, one of the foremost experts on journalism law, has died at the age of 87. Mr Greenwood - who for more than 30 years was co-author of McNae's Essential Law for Journalists - died at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, yesterday evening
BUSINESS leaders have been invited to hear how a new £38m innovation aims to put the region at the forefront of breaktrough medicines. Dr Chris Dowle, director of The Centre for Process Innovation’s National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington
THE Crime Commissioner for Cleveland is keeping residents updated with a new online newsletter. Members of the public can now sign up to the newsletter from Barry Coppinger. Anyone wishing to subscribe to the newsletter or to download a copy
A DRYSTONE waller who killed his former girlfriend and buried her body in a shallow grave has today been jailed for 18 years. Adrian Muir, 51, from Halifax, was cleared of murdering Pamela Jackson, 55, from Chester-le-Street, whose battered body
PRIZES: Winners are being called on to claim their prizes following a successful Macmillan coffee morning in Croft village. Two winning raffle tickets, blue 343 and 342, have not yet been claimed and a Dorothy Watt won the sweepstake but left no contact
LIFEBOATMEN went to the aid of three people aboard a 30ft motor cruiser after the boat’s engine failed on Saturday, September 28. Hartlepool RNLI was alerted at 2.40pm by the Coastguard that the cruiser was in trouble near the Heugh breakwater.
BUSINESSES in the region can get advice on how to secure a slice of the Government's flagship enterprise scheme at an upcoming event. Round 5 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) will open on Friday October 11 with a briefing at the Royal Station
GOVERNMENT proposals to allow barns to be turned into homes without planning permission could result in a sea of second homes - destroying landscape, national park park authorities have warned. There are fears that second homes and holiday homes
A GROUP of electricians are celebrating today after scooping almost £300,000 on the EuroMillions. The 30-strong syndicate, who all work at the SSI steel plant in Redcar, only realised they had hit the jackpot four days after the draw on September
BOY HURT: Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision which resulted in a 12-year-old boy sustaining a broken arm. The collision took place last Thursday, September 26 at around 8.30pm near the Rainbow Leisure Centre at Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough
A 12-YEAR-OLD Darlington girl raised £270 for charity by baking and selling cakes and holding a street coffee morning. It was the second year Jessica May, a keen baker, set up a stall on Langholm Crescent for Macmillan Nurses’s Big Coffee Morning
The Eric Clapton tribute show Classic Clapton – led by Durham-born singer/guitarist Mike Hall –will play Whitley Bay Playhouse on Thursday ( October 3) at 8pm. Tickets cost £15 (concessions £12.50) from the box office on 0844 248 1588 or on-line at
Northallerton Silver Band will be holding its annual Last Night at the Proms concert at Northallerton Forum on Friday, October 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6 and are available from Greensleeves music store in the town’s Central Arcade, or on the door
Durham Rambling Club will do two walks around Brough – nine and 12 miles - on Sunday ( October 6). Travel by coach, with pick- ups around Durham, costs £12. New members are welcome. For further details and to book a seat, phone/text 07706-871812 or
NORTH Yorkshire residents will have their chance to put their questions to a senior police officer. Tomorrow (Tuesday, October 1), Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy will be hosting a live webchat to mark his first month in the job. Mr
A PENSIONER had her handbag with hundreds of pounds inside stolen while she shopped at a supermarket. The women, in her 70s, had taken out a large amount of money from a cashpoint at Morrisons Supermarket in Clarence Road, Hartlepool, and put it
POLICE carried out spot checks on lorries carrying hazardous goods as part of an operation last week. Officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit carried out checks on more than 20 goods vehicles along the A19 southbound near
All nature was smiling and gay On a beautiful morning in May, When we started for Albalanda And drove down the Old Roman Way IT was at the crack of dawn on May 26, 1896, when our journey began in Piercebridge with a poem. It stretched up Dere Street
A RECENT Northern Echo front page from 1967 published in Echo Memories (Sept 20) carried an advertisement for Crown Toppers. This bought back amusing memories for me. Crown Toppers were immensely popular in the 60s and were then the latest thing
THANKFULLY the Labour Conference has ended. We have all been particularly enlightened by it. I always thought that bribery was a criminal offence, but apparently not. Vote for us, they said, and we’ll repeal the (wrongly titled) bedroom tax. Vote
REGARDING the decision to sell off the Royal Mail (Echo, Sept 13) I believe it is yet another example of the effect that EU legislation is having on our country. Many will not realise that the nails were firmly placed in this particular coffin
AS Halloween approaches, shops will be filled with blockbuster movies featuring mad scientists and serial killers. We can expect countless documentaries broadcast on television retelling stories of the likes of Jack the Ripper etc. The shelves
ROLL up, roll up, the circus is back in town. Sit back and enjoy a feast of stand-up comics the like of which you have never seen. Be gobsmacked by classic oneliners, rib-tickling gags and comical storytelling. Yes, it’s party conference season
I WORKED in the coal mines for 35 years and, because of pit closures, I worked at various coal mines in the North-East including Thrislington, Mainsforth, Blackhall and Easington. I was employed as a coal cutter operator at Thrislington Colliery
EXERCISE CLASSES: A series of cardio workouts are to take place at Chilton Community College featuring circuits and Metafit sessions. A free taster session takes place on Monday (October 7) between 6pm and 7pm and on Saturday, October 12 from 10am
THE Daily Mirror has relaunched itself with a new design and the risky boast: “We are the intelligent tabloid.” Clearly, some of the sharpest marketing brains have been employed at great cost. In the launch edition, pages two and three were
West Auckland have been handed the toughest possible draw in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. West have been at their best to dispose of Whitby and Skelmersdale in the last two rounds, and they’ll have to reach the same standard again
A fell runner who killed his girlfriend in a row then buried her body in a shallow grave on bleak moorland will be sentenced today. Adrian Muir, 51, from Calder Terrace, Halifax, West Yorkshire, was cleared of murdering Pamela Jackson, 55, from
Bill Kenwright leads a double life as chairman of Everton and a top theatre producer. He tells Steve Pratt about scoring a longrunning success with his “proudest creation”, Blood Brothers I DON'T know if Bill Kenwright cries at football matches
IT takes a brave chief constable to call for an end to the war on drugs. Richard Brunstrom, the chief constable of North Wales, faced a barrage of criticism for daring to suggest decriminalisation six years ago. And the Government’s drugs tsar
ED MCMAHON appears to have found Emjayem the perfect opportunity to complete a hattrick in the BBC Radio Bristol Handicap at Bath. A moderate fourth on his racecourse introduction on the Wolverhampton all-weather in April, the three-year-old gelding
HOUSING workers in a North-East town have said recent welfare reforms are exacerbating the problem of youth homelessness. More young people could be left without a roof over their heads as welfare reforms begin to bite, according to housing charities
COMMUNITIES that will be playing host to thousands of cycling enthusiasts next summer have been given the opportunity to benefit from a share of £20,000 to boost tourism. Parish councils and community groups across Richmondshire can receive up
A POLICE and Communities Together (Pact) meeting for the Park West ward of Darlington will be held on Wednesday, October 2 from 6pm at Harewood House, Harewood Grove, Darlington. Representatives from the local neighbourhood police team will be on hand
A CRAFT market will be held in Heighington Village Hall this Saturday, October 5 from 10am to 3pm. The annual event, organised by the Heighington Village Hall Association, is free and will feature a number of different craft stalls, as well as
A CHILDHOOD dream of becoming a train driver was realised for many rail enthusiasts at a North-East museum on Saturday. Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon, in County Durham, offered the Driver for a Fiver experience as part a volunteer
A BIG-HEARTED gesture from Darlington rugby club has given a new lease of life to one of its biggest fans. The club has donated a mobility scooter to 69-year-old Jennie Oselton, meaning she can continue to watch the team she has been devoted to
MEDIEVAL activities have been held in the North-East over the weekend. A Knight In Durham was staged by Get Dressed for Battle in the city’s historic Market Place on Saturday. There was a mock medieval tournament at midday as knights donned
A MUSIC festival took over a town centre when more than 100 acts performed at Middlesbrough Live. Thousands of revellers were entertained by musicians, singers, rappers and comedians at various locations, including bars and an art gallery.
A CALL centre company is creating 100 new North-East jobs. Call Connection is opening a £1m call centre in Pandon, Newcastle, in November, which will be fully operational in January. Bosses say they will recruit an initial 25 workers, and create
AFTER a bright start on a glorious day, gloom quickly descended on Tynedale. The depleted team struggled to compete and the battle of the dalesmen was far more onesided than the score suggests. Wharfedale began like headless chickens and, despite
Bank of England policymaker Professor David Miles had some reassuring words for the North East on a recent fact-finding visit. Business Editor Andy Richardson asked some pertinent questions THE Bank of England will wait until the North-East economy
FOR years, Richard Ayoade has been one of Britain’s finest creative talents – an actor, director, writer and presenter, who has been quietly working away, producing and performing in what some may regard as mini-masterpieces. Some may know him
NOBODY will fancy playing West Auckland in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after they destroyed Skelmersdale 5-0 at the Seagraves Stadium. Skelmersdale play two divisions higher in the Evo-Stik Premier but, just like Whitby in the previous
BROADMOOR prison is approaching a significant anniversary, having been home to Britain’s most notorious killers for 150 years. The two-part documentary Broadmoor: The Inside Story explores the history of the place from the Victorian era to the present
AS he proved during his memorable turns as a guest on the everengaging pop quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks a few years ago, Russell Howard is quick off the mark when it comes to waxing lyrical – pun intended – about music. He is back as the host today
AN afternoon tea will be held in aid of Breast Cancer Care on Wednesday, October 30 at The Croft Hotel in Croft, near Darlington. The event, taking place from 2pm until 5pm will feature a live recipe demonstration from The Pampered Chef and a performance
Final Score: Hartlepool United 1 Oxford United 3 JEREMY Simpson left the Victoria Park pitch surrounded by Hartlepool United players and booed by their supporters. Pools had lost 3-1 to a welldrilled Oxford United side, the slickest outfit
A NOMADIC scout group left without a home after their hut was condemned are fundraising to build a new one. The 1st Middleton St George Scouts moved into the youth club room at the village’s community centre when their hut on Neasham Road was earmarked
IS West Side Story really the greatest musical of all time, as it has been labelled on more than one occasion? That, of course, is very much a matter of musical taste. And this is serious stuff, as written by Leonard Bernstein (music), Stephen
DEFENDER Alexander Buttner insists there is no crisis at Manchester United. A troublesome start to David Moyes’ tenure took a sharp downturn on Saturday as West Brom recorded their first win at Old Trafford since 1978. It was United’s third
HUNDREDS of runners pounded the streets at the 31st Redcar Half-Marathon. Yesterday’s event saw Paul Pollock, from Belfast, in Northern Ireland, win the men’s race, with Shona Fletcher, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, coming first in the women
AN African children’s choir wowed crowds in the North-East on Saturday. A busking session by the Pearl of Africa Children’s Choir brought Sainsbury’s store in Victoria Road, Darlington, to a standstill. Shoppers were captivated by the choir
CONFUSION over a bill reference number led to bailiffs turning up at a Darlington cafe to seize kitchen equipment. The bailiffs were operating for Distinct Darlington - a town centre improvement company funded by traders – which identified cafe
CUSTOMERS who regularly use a cafe staffed by people from an adult day centre have spoken of their disappointment as it is due to close next Friday. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council decided to close Upsall Hall in July claiming that dwindling
THE body of a woman shot dead in Turkey has been returned to the UK and an inquest into her death opened and adjourned. Catherine Bury, known to friends as Anne, was shot as she celebrated her 56th birthday while on holiday with her family at her
ROBERTO MARTINEZ has paid tribute to Gareth Barry on the eve of a game which is likely to see the Everton midfielder join the elite band of players to have made 500 Premier League appearances. Should, as expected, Barry feature for the Toffees
A DEVELOPER has rejected claims that a leaflet published to promote a proposed housing estate on the edge of a village includes misleading information. The proposed development of 250 houses in a field on Sadberge Lane, on the outskirts of Middleton
THE chairman of an anti-litter campaign has thanked volunteers in Darlington for their time and effort to clean up the town’s open spaces. LitterFree Durham, which covers County Durham and Darlington, organises mass community litter picks each
KEVIN BALL expects to find out later today if he will still be in charge of Sunderland's first team for this Saturday's visit of Premier League champions Manchester United to the Stadium of Light. The caretaker boss' second game in charge since
The right-back slot is Bruno Pilatos' to lose, says Darlington manager Martin Gray. After a couple of outings in midfield as a substitute, Pilatos made his full debut in Saturday's 2-0 win at Salford City and Gray was satisfied with the teenager's performance
Final Score: Salford City 0 Darlington 2 So annoyed by his team's display in midweek, Martin Gray guaranteed an improvement when Darlington went to Salford City on Saturday. It was a bold claim that he could easily have ended up regretting
DARLINGTON Mowden Park full back Henry Robinson is the leading try scorer in National Two North with seven from four games. He didn't score in the opening defeat at Macclesfield, but has had a big hand in the three wins since, bagging a brace in
SEVERAL members of Middlesbrough's squad convened on the pitch at Loftus Road for a warm-down in the aftermath of Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers and engaged in a frank exchange of views as to where they went wrong. No fists were raised
A SCHEME employing ‘shopping spies’ which fines unknowing customers £100 a time for visiting rival stores has been scrapped following a public outcry. Last week, The Northern Echo revealed how people were charged if they parked in one area of the
A CHIEF constable's controversial call to decriminalise hard drugs such as heroin has won cautious backing from two of the region's elected police watchdogs. Durham chief constable Mike Barton claimed the war on drugs had comprehensively failed
A SEX offender breached the terms of a restrictive order by making contact with a teenage girl and downloading indecent images of children. Richard Adam Neal was jailed for three-and-a-half-years after a court heard that he stored the offending
BRENDAN RODGERS has hailed Liverpool's SAS strikeforce for keeping Liverpool in the Premier League top four after leaving managerless Sunderland defeated last night. The Black Cats turned in a much improved top-flight showing in front of more than
A TELEVISION psychic's personal assistant was left feline pretty sick when he was asked to cat-sit for a few days - and his lying boss never returned. The man spent a week and a half in the home of Sylvia Mitchell looking after her pets - but she
PAPISS CISSE has been backed to shine by his Newcastle United team-mates after breaking a five-month scoring duck but the £9m man has Yoan Gouffran threatening to take his place. Both men found the net to help the Magpies through to the last-16
AFTER 92 days, 100,000 visitors and countless priceless memories, the long-awaited Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition will close its doors for the final time tonight (Monday, September 30). The three-month attraction is being heralded as a great success
TONY MOWBRAY spoke about the futility of criticising individual players in public last week – but Saturday's poor performance at Queens Park Rangers sorely tested his reluctance as he faced the media. Mowbray felt he had been let down by his players
GEORGE Osborne will today unveil a fresh crackdown on the long-term jobless, by speeding up a US-style “work for your dole” scheme. The Chancellor will use his speech to the Conservative conference to promise to strip unemployment benefits from
MILLIONS of Britons still remain at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to figures released today (Monday September 30). Around 35 million people – more than half of the population of Britain – could fall victim to the silent killer, according
A LEISURE centre’s travel club will run trips to Christmas fairs and festivals over the next few months. The Spectrum Travel Club, based at the Spectrum Leisure Centre in Willington, has released a list of its latest trips, starting with a run
VILLAGERS are appealing for help to raise almost £11,000 to repair a memorial clock in time for the 100th Anniversary of the start of the First World War. The clock in Westgate in Weardale was installed in 1920 on the outside of the village hall
THE breathtaking geology of rural County Durham is to be featured on mainstream television – in South Korea. A film crew from the far eastern republic visited the North Pennines in Teesdale to see how the area attracts tens of thousands of visitors
SIXTIES NIGHT: The St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook, will host a 60's night with The Persuaders on Friday, October 11, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £7, and includes pie and pea supper. For more details call 01388-762046. ORGAN CONCERT: The North-East
A DECISION on a long-awaited £14m cinema plan is expected shortly. Proposals for the multi-screen cinema and leisure complex of bulky goods retailers and restaurants on waste ground next to the West Auckland bypass, in St Helen Auckland, Bishop
FORMER US Masters champion Ian Woosnam has had to pull out of this week's English Seniors Open at Rockliffe Hall. The Welshman, who pulled on the Green Jacket in 1991, had been expected to be one of the star attractions when the first round gets
