AN 11-year-old boy destroyed a school’s £11,000 climbing frame after using petrol to start a fire, a court heard. The wooden equipment in the playground of Crook Primary School was incinerated in the resulting blaze on November 30 last year.
A CLOSE aide to Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned over allegations involving child abuse images, Downing Street said. Patrick Rock, a special adviser on policy, was arrested by detectives from the National Crime Agency (NCA) over a potential
THE college where a teenage car crash victim was studying has expressed its sympathies to his loved ones. Jed Johnson, aged 17, from Toft Hill, in County Durham, sustained fatal injuries after crashing his car on the A688 near Oakley service station
Every now and again, something happens which makes it all worthwhile... I've just got round to today's post and read a letter from Paul Conway, of Norton, near Stockton-on-Tees. It's one of the nicest letters anyone has sent in my 15 years as editor
IT’S easy to become blase in this job, but every now and then there comes a car that makes you appreciate just what a privilege it is. The new Range Rover is just such a car. On the road: I AM naturally mistrusting of superlatives. It's the
OVERSEAS youth workers on a return visit to the North-East helped plant fruit trees on the first day of their trip. The visitors, from Bulgaria, Turkey and Denmark, are visiting Barnard Castle as part of the Youth In Action project, for a week
A FLAT fire in Wheatley Hill was dealt with by firefighters on Monday. Crews were called around 4pm to the property on Wingate Lane. The bedroom of a flat above a shop was involved.
It was, of course, a mere formality that the Football Association would charge Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew with improper conduct. How hard will the book will be thrown - that's the real question. Pardew has to face punishment that is meaningful
CRAIG Hignett has left his position as assistant manager at Hartlepool United to return to his former club Middlesbrough. The former Boro striker and Academy coach was Colin Cooper's right-hand man at Victoria Park after the pair were appointed
THE jury at the trial of a man accused of the murder of a North-East policeman has been told some of those who are due to give evidence took part in the attack and some have even been paid for their co-operation. Nearly 30 years after Pc Keith
PRIMARY and secondary schools in a County Durham town have united to tackle congestion, dangerous parking and speeding outside their gates. The Great Aycliffe Road Management and School Safety group will meet every half term to report incidents
THERE’S an old Chinese proverb which says: “The person who says it cannot be done, should not interrupt the man doing it.” Plenty of people said it couldn’t be done when SAIC Motor (the Chinese company formerly known as the Shanghai Automotive
THE parents of a woman killed in a house fire at the weekend have paid tribute to their beloved daughter, saying their lives will never be the same again. Louise Hardisty was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze in Brunton Street, Darlington
PROTESTERS gathered outside Middlesbrough Town Hall tonight to express their disappointment at the town council’s plans to cut nearly £15m from its budget. Anti-cuts campaign group, Teesside People's Assembly against Austerity, are determined to
POLICE are trying to trace the driver of a vehicle believed to have been responsible for an accident that closed part of a busy dual carriageway for more than two hours today (Monday, March 3). Officers are looking for the driver of a black 4 X
POLICE are appealing for witnesses and information after a 26-year-old man was attacked by a gang of three. The attacked happened in Whitby, at about 3am last Saturday, March 1, as the victim, a local man, walked along Church Street. Three
ONE of the region’s oldest amateur dramatics societies is staging the northern premier of a classic tale. The Stockton Stage Society is currently rehearsing Disney’s My Son Pinocchio, Geppetto’s Musical Tale at Billingham Forum theatre. The
A TRAINEE chef is a step closer to cooking at sea after completing his first stage of Royal Navy training. Calum Vickers, 21, of Darlington, has passed a ten-week intensive training course at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall in which he learnt to handle
A STUDENT film has been honoured at a regional TV awards ceremony. The Durham Story documentary tells the city’s 1,000-year history through the drunken antics and late-night high-jinks of its students. It was nominated for the best non-broadcast
DURHAM University has defended its treatment of animals used in scientific experiments, in the face of fierce criticism from an anti-vivisection campaign. The Anti-Vivisection Coalition (AVC) claims animals have died, been seriously injured and
SHOWS, workshops and complementary therapy sessions will be taking place across York for International Women’s Week. More than 60 events are lined up to take place in the city between Saturday, March 8 and Saturday, March 15. The Lord Mayor of
A MAN was remanded in custody today (Monday, March3) after appearing in court in relation to a suspected stabbing in Guisborough on Saturday night. Julian Mark Bunny, 32, of Woodhouse Road, Guisborough, appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court on
ACADEMICS in the North-East have protested at being forced to spy on their students in a Government immigration crackdown. The university leaders say they are being ordered to engage in “monitoring and surveillance”, to prove their students have
COUNCILLOR Mick Stanley has been chosen to serve as Mayor of Ripon for the third time in the last four years. The mayor-making ceremony will held held in the town (corr) hall on Tuesday, May 6, which will be followed by a service in the cathedral on
THE new Bishop of Durham has taken his seat in the House of Lords. The Right Reverend Paul Butler, 58, appeared flanked by his supporters the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu, and the Bishop of Chester, the Right Reverend Peter
A VIOLENT offender who sparked a manhunt after breaching the terms of his prison licence has been returned to jail. Christopher Hugill, of Skeeby, near Richmond was arrested in Catterick at 8.45pm on Friday. A North Yorkshire Police spokesman
THREE men will tomorrow (Tuesday, March 3) set off on a record attempt to raise money for charity by dribbling a football 1,966 miles to the World Cup. Adam Burns, David Bewick and Pete Johnston will set-off from a football stadium in Mendoza,
THERE is still time to apply for a share in a £20,000 pool set up to help make the Yorkshire Dales section of this year’s Tour de France as smooth as possible. Richmondshire District Council set up the fund five months ago to help support the many
AN explosion which destroyed a car in a quiet cul-de-sac is being treated as suspicious. Shocked residents of Skipton Close, Newton Aycliffe, looked on in horror as the Land Rover Freelander was engulfed in a ball of fire shortly after 9pm last
DURHAM Rambling Club will do two walks, of nine and 12 miles, in the Allendale area of Northumberland on Sunday (March 9). A coach will pick up around Durham. The cost is £12 per person. New members are always welcome. Call 07706-871-812 or 0191-373
AS DEFENDING champions Morpeth tightened their grip on the First Division team trophy former North-East Harrier League front-runners Sunderland are faced with a last-ditch fight for survival after another disappointing performance in the penultimate fixture
A JAZZ ensemble featuring young musicians from across the region will be in concert this weekend (Friday, March 7). Jazz In My Pants is a nine-piece group of 16 to 19-year-olds who play jazz tunes and give new songs their own twist. The group
STARS of the region’s hospitality industry have been rewarded for their efforts. Hundreds of entries were made into the fourth annual North East Hotels Association (NEHA) Excellence Awards and the winners have now been celebrated in a ceremony
FAMILIES and friends of North-East prisoners are being given the chance to have their say on how prison services they use can be improved. The Visitors’ Voice event will take place on March 31 in Middlesbrough and has been organised by NEPACS,
A MYSTERY object from the First World War has come to light. What appears to be a grave marker relating to the so-called Old Contemptibles who were regular soldiers involved in early battles in the war, has been handed in to the Heugh Battery Museum
CAMPAIGNERS trying to prevent thousands of new homes being built in their community claim a high-level debate on the issue has been “hijacked” for political reasons. The Save Stockton South group has forced a debate at Stockton Borough Council’
A picture-perfect home decorated by a leading designer is beyond the pocket of most of us. Gabrielle Fagan asks three industry experts – Kelly Hoppen, Tricia Guild and Nina Campbell – to reveal their secrets so you can make that stunning interior a
INVESTIGATIONS are underway into two serious car crashes in County Durham. Durham Police are appealing for information about the causes of two separate collisions, which occurred in Bishop Auckland, at 3.15am, yesterday (Sunday), and Ferryhill,
A NEGLECTED building is set to have a £2m refit as Housing Hartlepool plans to move its central base to a town centre location. The housing association will create a new customer access hub on the ground floor of Titan House in York Road, after
Following its new status as a designated Dark Sky Park, Northumberland is one of the best places in the world to look at the night sky. Ruth Addicott explores the opportunities for star-gazing IMAGINE looking up at the night sky and seeing a galaxy
BUS passengers can find out how they will be affected by drastic reductions of £2m in bus subsidies across North Yorkshire with a new reference guide produced by the county council. The information is available at www.northyorks.gov.uk or through
Flood victims across the UK got aid from an unexpected source last week – complete strangers volunteering practical help via the internet, as Giles Turnbull reports THE Flood Volunteers (floodvolunteers.co.uk) website was put together in a matter
American magician Handsome Jack is bringing his amazing tricks to Tyneside. Steve Pratt reports ‘IT took a while before I could admit it out loud,” says Handsome Jack, sounding as though he’s speaking to an addiction counselling gathering. What
ELDERLY people who have chronic muscle pain are at a significantly increased risk of having heart disease, North-East researchers have found. Almost half of elderly people who have suffered chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) go on to suffer cardiovascular
MasterChef’s John Torode heads home for his latest cooking series. Here is one of his recipes for you to try. Ingredients: Serves Two 200g baby aubergines, quartered 2 duck breasts 2tsp five spice powder 1 red chilli, finely
AN evening with the Marske Fishermen’s Choir will take place at the Marske Social Club (Workingmen’s Club) on Tuesday, March 11 at 7.30pm, with all proceeds going to the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland’s Charity Fund in aid of The Mike Findley Motor
RESIDENTS fear proposed flood defence work could unearth long-buried animal carcasses likely to be still infected with anthrax. The Environment Agency has submitted plans to widen Turker Beck, in the Bullamoor Road area of Northallerton, following
A MOBILE meals service is taking off in East Durham thanks to funding for a new set of wheels. The East Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) forum raised concern about isolated individuals in need of a hot meal, social interaction and a caring
MasterChef’s John Torode heads home for his latest cooking series. Here is one of his recipes for you to try. Ingredients: Serves Six 1 yellow pepper 1 red pepper 1tbsp olive oil 8 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed 1
THIS week’s recipe isn’t necessarily in line with our particularly British stance at the restaurant, but it’s something I make at home and is surprisingly quick, easy and tasty. I’ve used salmon and monkfish here but, because the fish is chopped
Durham County Council planners are being asked to approve a planning application for a detached bungalow and garage to be built in Blind Lane. Chester-le-Street. Home plan: A planning application has been submitted to Durham County Council seeking
A CHILDREN’S author and a humourist are appealing for Tour de France memorabilia to use in a touring show for children about the world’s largest annual sporting event. All Teachers Great and Small author Andy Seed and Private Eye cartoonist Mike
APPRENTICES and employers across Darlington are being encouraged to enter the 2014 National Apprenticeship Awards. The awards, which are run by the National Apprenticeship Service, are now open for entries to compete to be named ‘the best of the
EVERYBODY was kung fu writing - as primary school children took part in a literacy day at a North-East academy. Year five students combined martial arts with punctuation in a day-long initiative at Darlington School of Mathematics and Science designed
MOTORISTS are facing delays following an accident on a busy dual carriageway in east Durham. A Durham Police spokesman said both lanes of the northbound carriageway of the A19, near the Hyundai garage at Peterlee, are blocked after a collision
WITH just weeks before it’s due to reopen following a major refurbishment the Black Bull at Moulton, North Yorkshire, has appointed two key members of staff. Ian Pilcher is the new general manager, and Luke Taylor, head chef. Ian, previously worked
A YOUTH club is producing a film to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The documentary will mark the golden anniversary of Brandon’s Carrside Youth and Community Project. An open day for anyone with past or present links to the club will be held
FILMAKERS who have brought a tragic event in North-East history to life are planning to show their work at the Cannes Film Festival. North-East based PIMM Productions has finished filming An Unfortunate Woman which tells the story of Darlington-born
At times of recession we realise how much we’ve got used to the luxuries of life THE debate about food banks bothers me. It’s a very emotional subject, rightly so, but there are aspects of the whole food bank subject that make me uncomfortable,
A NORTH-EAST airport has started a new service to Belgium. BMI Regional is running twice-daily flights from Newcastle International to Brussels, which bosses say is the only direct flight to link the two cities. The first aircraft was yesterday
PUPILS at Chester-le-Street’s Park View Academy have reached the regional final of a German spelling competition. The youngsters, who are in year seven and have only recently started learning the language passed the test of learning to spell 50
A WOMAN has admitted stabbing a former partner several times in a domestic incident. Michelle Hopper was warned a prison sentence will be the most likely outcome when the case concludes at Durham Crown Court next month. It follows her ‘guilty
DURHAM Constabulary has launched a new information pack aimed at helping victims of crime and anti social behaviour. The pack, launched today (Monday, March 3), includes information on the steps taken after a crime is reported and detective chief
ALAN PARDEW has been charged by the Football Association with improper conduct for shoving his head in to the chest of former Sunderland midfielder David Meyler in Newcastle United's match with Hull City on Saturday. The Newcastle boss, who now
Lizzie Anderson tries CrossFit, the allinclusive strength and conditioning programme that is taking the UK exercise scene by storm FROM the outside, a County Durham business unit looks like a typical industrial warehouse, but step inside and you
PERFORMING arts students from a Middlesbrough school will be taking to the stage as the opening act at a new music venue. Pupils from Middlesbrough’s Unity City Academy will perform at TFM Soundworks as part of their school coursework. As the
Tyra Banks, model, businesswoman and host of hit TV show America’s Next Top Model, talks to Abi Jackson about self-respect, why the fashion world isn’t reality, and why she doesn’t do diets THE TV show America’s Next Top Model offers tears, tantrums
FIREPLACE manufacturer CVO Fire, based at Newton Aycliffe, has become the sole UK supplier of a new designer fire by an exclusive Italian company. Italkero is one of Europe’s leading fireplace manufacturers and CVO Fire exclusively supplies its
PARKING problems linked to a car garage will be discussed at a residents’ meeting next week (Monday, March 10). Dealership Stoneacre has been involved in a lengthy parking wrangle with its neighbours over its site on Sawmills Lane, Brandon, near
THE horrors of the First World War were brought to life when the Thornaby Needs You exhibition went on display. People were able to learn all about war in a day packed full of drama performances, readings and activities. Throughout today (Monday
A 188-YEAR-OLD Army regiment has thanked the residents of a city for their support after leaving its barracks for the final time. Major Mike Treffry-Kingdom has presented the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Mick Stanley, with a 15 Field Squadron (Search
A LIFE enhancing award scheme has been extended so more young people can take advantage of the opportunities and experiences it offers. Spennymoor regeneration scheme DurhamGate has joined forces with Durham County Council to extend its Duke of
AN AWARD-winning chef who has run restaurants across North Yorkshire and North-East since 1976 has been declared bankrupt. Eugene McCoy, 63, who used to own and run the famous Cleveland Tontine, filed for bankruptcy at Middlesbrough County Court
Indeed Labs new Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask is available exclusively in Boots stores nationwide and boots.com. This sheet face mask is enriched with time release hyaluronic acid, which penetrates deeper into the skin to promote a smoother, plumper
THE annual meeting of Darlington Flower Club will be held on Wednesday (March 5), at 11.30am in St Cuthbert's Church Centre. This will be followed by a faith lunch. Bob Harris will give a demonstration, entitled Seeds of Creation, at 2pm.
THE family of missing student Megan Roberts have thanked all those involved in the quest to find her after the uncertainty over her fate came to a tragic conclusion. Police have now confirmed that a body recovered from the River Ouse near York
A CHARITY duck race returns later this month (Saturday, March 15). The Annual Durham Duck Race, organised by Durham University Charities Kommittee (Duck), will begin at Elvet Bridge, Durham, at 2pm on Saturday, March 15. Ten thousand rubber
BIGFIRE is a new company offering beautiful, robust and unique products for home and garden. All products are inspired by fire and outdoors living and each fits the Bigfire criteria of quality, functionality and comfort. Bigfire’s flagship
A FREE workshop to help young wheelchair users improve their capabilities is taking place this weekend. The national charity Go Kids Go is running the wheelchair skills workshop at St Leonard’s RC School in Durham, on Saturday (March 8). As
NORTH-East tourism bosses are asking people to celebrate the area’s claims to fame by nominating them for a place in a new hall of fame. Visit England is launching a hall of fame to showcase what England has given the world and the Northern Tourism
Richmondshire district councillors Clive World and John Robinson will be holding their monthly advice surgery for Richmond Central ward on March 6 between 6pm and 7pm at the Communal Lounge, Greyfriars.
THOUSANDS of housing association tenants are being asked their views about two landlords’ plan to join forces. The Isos Housing Group has 12,000 homes between Berwick and Stockton and Cestria Community Housing runs 4,000-plus properties in Chester-le-Street
YOUNGSTERS have taken part in a world record bid to have the largest number of people using Play-Doh at the same time. Pupils at St Charles Primary School and King Street Primary School, both in Spennymoor, took part in the challenge. They
With influences as diverse as Second World War code-breaking machines to African dress, designer Kate Gorman’s striking jewellery is winning fans across the country. Now she’s urging other women to follow their dreams KATE Gorman describes her
A coffee morning will raise money to help young patients at the Friarage Hospital’s children’s ward. The event is at the Methodist School Rooms, Ashdale Road, Helmsley, on Saturday 22 March from 10am to 1pm for refreshments. There’ll be a range of
British Museum lecturer Denise Heywood will give an illustrated presentation about Laos culture on Monday (March 10) as part of the Darlington Lecture Association series. The presentation; Laos, the last Paradise, takes place at Carmel College
THREE leading actors will be appearing on stage in support of the fundraising appeal of a historic North Yorkshire theatre. Geraldine McEwan, Edward Fox and Dame Eileen Atkins will be appearing at Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal for three separate
CROOK TOWN V BISHOP AUCKLAND - FEBRUARY 1957 ARNOLD ALTON was a tough, nononsense centre half who followed famous amateur names like Ray Tate, Bobby Davison and Colin Bainbridge in wearing the number five shirt for both Bishop Auckland and Crook
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a two-in-one burglary in North Yorkshire over the weekend. Sometime between 4pm and 8pm on Saturday, March 1, thieves broke into a property on the Avenue in Ruswarp, near Whitby, and took jewellery,
ADISPUTE about the price of gas in Upper Teesdale led to street lamps being turned off in Middleton for several weeks early in 1885. Some village residents were peeved when they heard their bill for lighting the roads was higher than the one for
A MAJOR North-East river crossing was targeted in a protest against road tolls. Members of UKIP, the UK Independence Party, protested near the Tyne Tunnel today (Monday, March 3). Campaigners with a Scrap the Tolls banner stood on a bridge
NOW, before the grass begins to grow, is as good a time as any to pull on your boots and go climbing on Bishopton hill. A few miles north-east of Darlington, it is a peculiar man-made hump that rises out of a “plashy meadow” beside a beck.
AN urgent appeal has been issued to try and trace a 22-year-old man who has vanished after a night out. Ben Clarkson was last seen at 3.30am on Sunday, outside Fibbers nightclub on Stonebow, York. Officers are growing increasingly concerned
A GROUP of north Durham slimmers are hoping to lose weight while raising money for good causes in their community. Members of the Chester-le-Street and Stanley Slimming World groups are taking part in the Slim for Good campaign. Vickie Gallagher
A CHESS championship for visually impaired players is to take place in North Yorkshire next weekend. The Braille Chess Association is hosting its general meeting and chess congress at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate from Friday, March 7 to Sunday
A TEAM of North-East trekkers have climbed Africa’s highest mountain to raise money for an international children’s charity. Fifteen charity supporters reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last month and raised at least £3,000 each for
A CONSTRUCTION contractor that launched a competition for community groups across the North-East to win a DIY-SOS style makeover is urging more people to apply. JDP Contracting Services, at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is offering charities
A CASH-strapped community radio station is down to just £2,000 in the bank – despite success on the airwaves. As well as tuning in by traditional means, more than 25,000 people from across the region log on to Barnard Castle-based Radio Teesdale
A FITNESS and wellbeing expert has been put through his paces after a visit to the Royal Dragoon Guards regiment in Catterick Garrison. Jessie Pavelka, a US health and fitness coach who has presented Sky Living’s Fat: The Fight of my Life and appeared
A 58-YEAR-OLD business consultant is set to attempt to climb Mount Everest, five years after taking up mountaineering. David Bradley said even if he did not reach the 29,029ft summit, the 64-day expedition would see him achieving his dream of climbing
GUIDED WALKS: A free information pack of walks around Hartlepool is being handed out to residents and visitors. Hartlepool Council’s Parks and Countryside team has produced the guide, which contains pull-out maps for nine walks around the borough
DETECTIVES investigating a serious sexual assault in the early hours of this morning have arrested a man. Police launched a major investigation after a woman in her 20s was attacked on steps by Skeldergate Bridge in York shortly after 1.30am today
WOMEN are being invited to sign up for the St Teresa’s Hospice Midnight Walk which returns to Darlington's South Park this summer. The popular event attracted more than 250 people last year - raising over £20,000 for the hospice - and the 2014
RETAILERS are being invited to a special conference to help them benefit from major projects planned for their town centre. Darlington Borough Council and Distinct Darlington – the company behind the Business Improvement District (BID) – have organised
What a lot of fuss over six steam engines! About 120,000 people visited the six surviving A4s at Shildon’s Locomotion museum last week – nearly double the anticipated number AND everyone that Memories has bumped into during the past seven days
A CALL has gone out for former pupils of Richmond School who want to help the current crop of students. The school is one of more than 500 across Britain registered with the charity Future First to set up networks of former students or alumni.
TEAMS are being urged to sign up for Northallerton annual “Footy Fest” which is due to kick off in May. The free-to-enter five-a-side tournament is being run by Actdivertz, a group of agencies including the police and Broadacres Housing which organises
PROPOSALS to build a 90 home extra care development as part of a larger housing scheme will go before planners this week. The plans involve the creation of a three-storey building with 64 apartments, along with retail and cafe facilities and 26
ALMOST 2,000 people contacted council chiefs to say they are at risk of homelessness in the last year, it has been revealed. The figures, reported by Councillor Veronica Copeland at a full meeting of Darlington Borough Council, represent an 11
A TOWN'S Fairtrade status is being celebrated with two events in the community. Stokesley residents are invited to sample fairly traded foods and hear how the initiative helps producers in developing countries at events staged by the town's Fair
Millions of men lost everything during The Great War. Private William Bailey, from Thornaby, lost a leg – but went on to live the fullest of lives At 2am on August 4, 1916, Private William Bailey, rose up out of his trench and launched himself
THE BBC has taken some stick lately, but when it does decide to spend money on programmes, rather than executive pay-offs, it really does make quality TV programmes. Rather like buses, however, they tend to come along in pairs. At the moment
DURHAM County Council – has voted to increase council tax which I find very hard to fully understand (Echo, Feb 27). Is it not the case that services have been cut to the bone, police numbers reduced, fire cover cut and other vital services cut
I WOULD like to comment on proposals by the Labour Party to merge all the police forces in the North-East and to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). I support abolishing the PCCs, as they were a compete waste of time and money and 85
I SYMPATHISE with the family of soldier Lee Rigby, who was so brutally killed by two uncontrollable animals. Is it right that these evil creatures should be locked away to live their lives in comfort and in receipt of medical care,while they remain
I WORK for Vitalise, an amazing national charity that provides essential respite breaks for people with disabilities and carers. We believe in giving our guests not just a holiday but an experience, and thanks to the invaluable help of our volunteers
NOW it’s over, we can reflect on what a splendid spectacle the Great Goodbye at Shildon’s Locomotion Museum was and the amazing attendance it had. Tens of thousands of people turned up to see six splendid locomotives from a stylish age of speed
I AM disappointed to read about the blatant efforts of the Daily Mail to smear the name and reputation of deputy leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman. Ms Harman has been a tireless campaigner for women’s and children’s rights for decades
CONGRATULATIONS to The Northern Echo for lampooning the RBS bank, which made an £8bn loss and then rewarded its senior employees with millions for the brilliant job they’ve done (Echo, Feb 28). However, sorting out this shambles requires an understanding
AT 82, my mum likes a good rant and thesubjects which have had her spitting mad over the past week have included tattoos, nose-rings, and Wayne Rooney. She wasn’t at all happy after seeing a man covered from head to foot in tattoos, and with
At the start of National Apprenticeship week, which begins today, Stuart Arnold discovers that demand for apprentice vacancies is continuing to outstrip supply APPRENTICESHIPS. There’s an awful lot to commend them. According to the National Apprenticeship
SO far the West’s response to Vladimir Putin’s blatant land grab in Ukraine has been nothing short of lamentable. While Russian soldiers consolidated their grip on Crimea over the weekend, the West was collectively wringing its hands about what
RAVI BOPARA kept his cool to get England over the line at last for just their second victory in 15 matches this winter. In his 101st one-day international, he saw the job through for a nervy threewicket win which levelled the series against West
WORK on a new £375,000 scout and guide centre has been completed after years of fundraising. Bedale Beckside was years in planning as the money was raised to finally replace the existing dilapidated scout and guide hut. The centre has been
POLICE have named a teenager who died when his car crashed on Friday evening. Jed Johnson, aged 17, from Toft Hill, in County Durham, sustained fatal injuries in the accident, which occurred on the A688 Staindrop Road, near the Oakley service station
A NEW website which aims to increase tourism and support local businesses in a North-East village has been launched. Gainford and Langton Parish Council has created the online facility to showcase their village’s natural beauty and history and
MANUFACTURERS are creating jobs at their fastest pace for nearly three years as the sector continues its resurgence. Companies are taking on more workers to meet rising demand, with production levels increasing for an eleventh successive month
MOWDEN had to dredge the depths of their resolve to tame the Tigers and stay on course for promotion from National Two North. The Manchester-based visitors, one place below their hosts at the start, proved to be the best team to visit The Northern
PRIMARY school children were encouraged to become chatterboxes for the day in an initiative designed to boost communications skills. Reception classes at Reid Street Primary School, Darlington, spent weeks learning the words to four songs, which
Full-time: Hull City 1 Newcastle United 4 THERE’S never a dull moment where Newcastle United are concerned. This should be a game remembered for a comprehensive away victory, a convincing performance and a four-goal haul thanks to some scintillating
MORE young people are choosing engineering apprenticeships over degree courses, a report has revealed. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) says 66,410 youngsters started engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships last year, compared
A HOUSE fire in which a 32-year-old woman died has been deemed non-suspicious following an investigation. Police this morning confirmed the identity of the woman killed in the blaze, which started at about 10.30am on Saturday (March 1), in Brunton
DURHAM City extended their unbeaten run to six matches when they denied title-chasing West Auckland in a 1-1 draw at the Seagrave Stadium. The point was even more deserved from Durham’s perspective considering that they had to change their team
A PUBLIC meeting to give residents the latest information on a project to secure the future of Middlesbrough’s only Grade 1 listed building takes place this week. Mayor Ray Mallon and Neil Whittingham of developers Acklam Hall will provide an update
A CHURCH in north Durham is celebrating 50 years of serving the surrounding community. Bearpark Methodist Church, near Durham, was opened on February 29, 1964, after residents raised money and secured charitable donations. A celebration service
Anthologies: Passionfood edited by Neil Astley (Bloodaxe, £9.99) NOTHING as simple these days as a straightforward “collection”. So the 100 love poems offered here are served up as Passionfood...a “feast of classic and contemporary poems..
1 Minecraft: The Official Redstone Handbook 2 Minecraft: The Official Beginner’s Handbook 3 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Jeff Kinney 4 Paws and Whiskers, Jacqueline Wilson 5 Demon Dentist, David Walliams 6 The LEGO Movie the
A FOOTBALL fan is seeking help to discover the history of a medal which he thinks dates from the late 19th century. Norman Smith, a director of Shildon Town Football Club, bought the piece from a friend. The two inch high medal is silver with
THE last time Colin Cooper saw such a passionate celebration from Marlon Harewood his team was on the receiving end. Back in 2006, Cooper was at Middlesbrough, when they were beaten in the FA Cup semi-final by a late Harewood finish. The striker
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer (Fourth Estate, £10) 4/5 stars VANDERMEER begins his Southern Reach trilogy with this aggressively titled novel Annihilation. Given the name, I was expecting a fast-paced action story, this although this was not
What’s happening in our green and pleasant land? The weather’s getting out of hand Global warning we’ve been told Will change weather patterns known of old. Sea levels rising, land lost to tide Nature reclaiming, no place to hide Rainfall
In my garden you can see Large and proud A big oak tree Planted as an acorn Grown in a little pot When two years old and growing It went into its garden plot It’s the year 2013 now Over fifty years have gone by The oak tree Majestic
A TOURIST attraction is to undergo its most significant investment in decades. Crook Hall and Gardens has extended its opening times, taken on more staff and will get a new visitor centre. The project represents the biggest financial investment
HURWORTH Methodist Church is holding a coffee morning on Saturday (March 8), from 10am to 11am. There will be homemade cakes, admission is £1 including a coffee and biscuit and all proceeds will go to church funds. TABLE TOP: Bookings are now
Handel, Beethoven, Purcell and Grieg, Wrote their music tempos at a different speed. Mozart himself wrote many a brilliant composition Even today we, in awe, sit and listen. Strauss family wrote many a wonderful waltz Every note perfect
MARY BERRY may be 78, an age when most people are concentrating on relaxing rather than reaching the peak of their career, but she’s bigger and more popular than ever. And it’s all down to The Great British Bake Off. Nobody could have foreseen
IT’S a great week for canine lovers – Crufts begins, we reach the final of John Barrowman’s Superstar Dogs over on C4, and BBC2 offers its own search for Britain’s ultimate pooch, which is all in aid of Sport Relief. Presented by Gaby Roslin, Top
NEWCASTLE UNITED will not sack Alan Pardew, but the Magpies boss is facing a lengthy ban from the Football Association following Saturday’s bust-up with Hull City midfielder David Meyler. Pardew was involved in a spectacular incident in the 72nd
YOU would think that the opportunity to surround yourself with a bevy of scantily-clad actresses in exotic locations would be one too tempting to resist. But veteran actor Liam Neeson had a compelling reason to turn down the role of James Bond
Full-time: Padiham 0 Darlington 2 Having now strung together ten successive league wins on the road, perhaps Darlington will begin to wish they did not have so many matches remaining on home soil. The perfect ten was completed at Padiham on
A CHARITY helping marginalised young people across east Cleveland is struggling to survive due to funding cuts. DoorWays, based in Saltburn, works with locals aged 13 to 25 who are often from rural, isolated communities facing unemployment or homelessness
Full-time: Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 SUNDERLAND dared to dream and threatened to achieve the incredible in the Capital One Cup final, but in the end the attempts to end a 41-year wait for major silverware came up just short at Wembley.
BEN Frankland continued his remarkable run of scoring for Tynedale as they stepped up their great escape in National One with a 27-5 home win against high-flying Esher. The Corbridge men looked doomed after conceding 50 points at Blaydon just before
MANUEL PELLEGRINI is hoping Manchester City's Capital One Cup success is merely the first leg of a historic trophy treble. City claimed the first trophy of the season at Wembley yesterday as second-half goals from Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Jesus
PHIL BARDSLEY spoke of his Capital One Cup heartbreak after Sunderland were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City at Wembley yesterday. Bardsley has been one of the success stories of the season for the Black Cats after being dropped and suspended by Paolo
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has called for goalline technology after admitting that a shot from Middlesbrough's Jacob Butterfield went over the line. Butterfield's shot hit both posts before appearing to drop over the line before
DESPITE becoming the first Sunderland player to score a goal in a cup final since Ian Porterfield's winner in the 1973 FA Cup final, Italian Fabio Borini could not hide his frustration after losing out at Wembley yesterday. But the Black Cats striker
Manchester City dashed Sunderland's dreams of ending their 41-year trophy drought with a 3-1 Capital One Cup Final victory at Wembley. Here, Sports Writer Richard Mason highlights five things we learned from yesterday's final MONEY TALKS This
SO in the end, the heroes of 1973 continue to hold a unique place in Sunderland's post-war history. There will be no statue of Gustavo Poyet outside the Stadium of Light, no Borini Bar or Larsson Lounge inside it. But what a way to miss out. “Dare
GUSTAVO POYET has promised to ensure that Sunderland's Capital One Cup final defeat does not have an adverse effect on the club's ongoing battle to remain in the Premier League. The Black Cats suffered Wembley heartbreak yesterday as Manchester
Full-time: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Middlesbrough 0 THERE were two ways this match report could have gone after Middlesbrough's visit to Sheffield Wednesday. The first way would be that Boro had ended their goal drought, and that the assault on
“YOU guys make me sick.” Peter Jones is at his acerbic best. Standing at the mercy of the BBC's Dragons' Den five fiery protagonists, it's not quite the welcome North-East entrepreneurs Dr Ganesh Rao and Tim Harwood hoped for. The programme
A CASH-conscious festival that drew huge crowds to its inaugural event last summer is to return to the region this summer. The Festival of Thrift exceeded all expectations when it was launched at Lingfield Point, in Darlington, with 27,000 people
A VISION to build 2,000 homes on the edge of a small North-East town has been described as "outrageous". Residents of Sedgefield, County Durham, say the proposals would double the size of the town if implemented. Sedgefield Beacon Lane and
A NORTH-East asbestos scandal is to be turned into a documentary by a group of filmmakers from the region. Last October, cancer sufferer Caroline Wilcock, who grew up in Bowburn, became the first person to successfully sue the successors of the
TODAY is your last chance to nominate your school, your teacher or an inspirational classmate for The Northern Echo Schools Award 2014. Schools are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in ensuring the next generation is ready to
At the start of National Apprenticeship week, which begins today (MONDAY), STUART ARNOLD discovers that demand for apprentice vacancies is continuing to massively outstrip supply. APPRENTICESHIPS. There’s an awful lot to commend about them. According
POLICE say a 16-year-old boy who had gone missing has been found safe and well. Bruce Wilson disappeared from The Crescent in Middlesbrough at 10.30pm on Sunday evening. However in the early of this morning he was found safe and well in the
COMMUNITY and voluntary across the Durham Dales have benefitted from more than £30,000 support mental health and well-being. NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation responsible for planning
STUNT drivers who have appeared on Top Gear will be demonstrating their skills at a college open evening. Paul Swift and Mark Thornton will showcase their expert handling of high performance cars in the car park of Bishop Auckland College tomorrow
A FUNDRAISING page has been set up in a bid to ensure letters written by a North-East serial killer while in prison go on public display. Victoria House has been searching for someone to pay £4,000 for the eight notes penned by Mary Ann Cotton,
MINERS who broke the strike and scabbed can still expect to be blanked in the street, 30 years on. Alan Cummings, 66-year-old former NUM lodge secretary in the ex-pit village of Easington Colliery, County Durham, explained: "People have long memories
CALLS for a public inquiry into the year-long miners' strike are being stepped up as communities across the country gear up to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the start of the most bitter industrial conflict in living memory. A series of events
A COUNTY Durham housing company is celebrating after being named as one of the top three companies to work for in the country for the second year running. Dale and Valley Homes, which manages about 4,000 social homes in the Wear Valley area of
THOUSANDS of people are expected to benefit from a new £2.2m health centre. Auckland Medical Group is moving about 500metres from Cockton Hill Road, in Bishop Auckland, to a new centre on the site of the former Bishop Auckland Fire Station, on
VOLUNTEER firefighters are being sought across County Durham. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is in need of men and women who are able to provide evening, daytime or weekend cover, ready to go out to a call the moment a message
NEIGHBOURS told last night of their shock after a 32-year-old woman died in a mysterious house fire. Emergency services were called to a terraced house on Brunton Street, in Darlington, at 10.30am on Saturday by neighbours who saw smoke pouring
