TWO of the region’s training providers have joined forces to equip more young people with practical workplace skills. South West Durham Training (SWDT), in Newton Aycliffe, and Bishop Auckland College have announced plans to unite. The partnership
A MAN smashed the back window of a disabled man’s car in order to steal £15 in loose change, a court heard today (Thursday, August 21). Kieron Wynn, of Church Lane, Ferryhill, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court charged with theft from
The forecast rain did reach the Knavesmire on Thursday with the ground easing to Good, although the time for the first race suggested it was still on the fast side of good, after conditions that resembled the A64 on the opening day. You would need
A GENTLE breeze whips through the trees surrounding Rockliffe Hall’s perfectly manicured course, while golfers in brightly coloured jumpers make last minute adjustments to their swing.Buggies weave their way through the stragglers, laden with golf
A GCSE student promised a £1,000 if he got an A* in English Literature is laughing all the way to the bank.Francis Walton, 16, of Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough who studies at King's Academy in the town, is going to save up to buy a car after
POLICE found drugs with a street value of more than £130,000 after watching a man struggle with a huge heavy-looking bag. Christopher Norton was followed from his parents' house to his own home nearby when he was seen putting the carrier in his
A CHILDREN’S book chronicling the adventures of the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s latest recruit could soon appear on the shelves of a future king.Katie the Bear followed in the footsteps of future East Anglian Air Ambulance pilot Prince
STUDENTS at St Michael’s Academy, in Billingham, have celebrated their latest GCSE results with a host of star-studded performances.Up to 95 per cent of all students achieved five A* to G including English and maths. Under the government’s
A TEENAGER went out looking for someone to mug after getting into debt with his drug suppliers, a court heard. Anthony Evans armed himself with a plank of wood and picked on a 13-year-old in Stockton town centre and stole his mobile phone.
A LOAN shark attacked one customer with an extendable baton and threatened another with it when he thought they still owed him money.Joaqim Boal kept such poor records of his deals that he did not know when people were paid up, Teesside Crown Court heard
A MAN saw red when a bailiff turned up at his house, accompanied by two police officers, seeking payment for an unpaid fine.The enforcement agent left with cash covering the outstanding amount, money which aggrieved householder Christopher Elliott was
SAXOPHONIST Tom Joashi’s school days reached a crescendo after he achieved 10A*s and As.The Grade 8 musician celebrated with friends at Barnard Castle School joining an elite band of star pupils.Tom, 16, of Hudswell, Richmond, dreams of one day
IT’S the biggest meeting of the season for the Ascot of north - but not all eyes are necessarily on the racing. The Ebor meeting is traditionally the biggest and most glamorous event in York’s racing calendar, attracting superstars of the equine
DESPITE what is thought to be the biggest drop in English grades in the history of GCSE there has been a slight increase in the number of candidates who scored an A* to C pass.That was borne out across the North-East and North Yorkshire with many schools
PLANS for a North-East helicopter museum combined with a ground-breaking venture in the rehabilitation of disabled former armed forces personnel have taken a step forward. An application has been submitted to Durham County Council seeking permission
A KNIFEPOINT robbery took place at a Sainsbury’s store in Redcar in which a thief stole cigarettes and a quantity of cash.Cleveland Police said no one was hurt in the incident but staff had been left shaken after a man entered the store at about
A PENGUIN chick which suffered splayed legs after his parents squashed him is on the road to recovery after being fitted with tight-fitting trousers. Staff at Scarborough Sea Life Centre discovered the problem that can result in a disability when
A TEENAGER has achieved an A* in English Literature despite not learning to speak until he was five-years-old and struggling with literacy as a child.Adam Foakes, 16, was thrilled to discover he had been awarded the top grade when he opened his GCSE results
A TEENAGE dancer who deferred a place at university to pursue his dream to be a dancer has gained a place on a national TV search semi-final.Ashley Crewdson, 19, from Maunby, Thirsk, has been dancing since he was eight but at a dance competition earlier
PRODUCTION at Nissan's Sunderland car factory has been temporarily halted costing the company thousands of pounds. Staff returned from the annual two-week summer shutdown to be told maintenance work had taken longer than expected and the press
A PASSENGER badly injured in a road smash urged magistrates to ban the driver after she showed no remorse. Pauline Squire failed to give way at a crossroads - having ignored five road signs - and pulled straight out into the main road, a court
A BODYBUILDER will be flexing his muscles in a bid to claim a Mr Universe title at the age of 52.Don Learoyd, from Darlington, has reached the final of the National Association of Amateur Bodybuilders’ Association iconic Universe competition made
A NEW children’s soft play venue due to open in Darlington next month has launched a competition to find a youngster to cut the ribbon.Magic and Mayhem Soft Play will officially open for business on September 20 in the former Majestic cinema building
AN EVENING or champagne, big hats and stylish dresses will bring extra glamour to a North-East racecourse next week. The Roflow Ladies Evening, at Sedgefield Racecourse in County Durham, has become one of the highlights of the racing calendar and
A POLICE dog is to be destroyed a month after savaging a pensioner who died a few days later.Conformation of the decision came as it emerged that another Cleveland Police dog has been put down after biting a handler.Irene Collins, 73, was savaged inside
DETAILS of changes to a plan for a 500-home extension to a market town are set to be unveiled.Malton landowners, the Fitzwilliam Estate, will hold a public consultation event to detail its latest blueprints for High Malton, which it says would be built
NEWCASTLE UNITED have been boosted by the news that Siem de Jong is fit to tomorrow’s game at Aston Villa, although Cheick Tiote remains out. De Jong missed last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City because of a calf injury, but he has recovered
THERE is still time to get up close to the work of the celebrated pitman painter Norman Cornish.An exhibition of the late miner’s work will remain on display at Greenfield Arts Centre in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, until Wednesday, September
A PLAN to create a large scale wedding venue and restaurant able to cater for up to 1,000 people at a time has been approved.The decision came despite officers recommending Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee reject the application to
TICKETS are still available for Philadelphia's annual dinner to be held in the Chilton Country Pub and Hotel on Thursday, September 4. The speaker is the former Leicestershire and England player Jonathan Agnew, a member of the BBC's Test Match
LANGUAGE proved to be no barrier for a Polish student who secured some top GSCE results, despite being able to speak no English when he started school.Piotr Toczyski, of Haughton Academy, in Darlington, achieved an A, two Bs and three Cs, a major feat
CYCLISTS have has their bikes marked in an attempt to protect their property from thievesPolice officers stamped bikes with security details at Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre on Wednesday.The event formed part of Durham Police’s Operation Spoke
Vacuum cleaners are rather like hi-fi systems - the more power you've got the better they are. But not any more. From next month customers won't be able to buy vacuums with the greatest suction. New EU energy rules that restrict motor sizes
POLICE are appealing for help to p-p-pick up a penguin wanted in connection with a shop theft. The monochrome thief entered the Sainsbury’s Local store, on Collingwood Street, in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, late on Monday (August 18) night and
A CHILDREN’S doctor is doing the Great North Run for charity in honour of his father. Stephen Cronin, a Durham-based paediatrician, will tackle the Tyneside half-marathon in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society. The 56
DOZENS of vintage Volkswagens will descend on the world’s oldest railway this weekend. Tanfield Railway, which dates back to the first half of the 17th Century, will play host to selection of classic cars on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August
PARENTS could be banned from smoking in play areas under a tobacco crackdown.The County Durham Tobacco Alliance is consulting on making all 178 outdoor play areas owned by Durham County Council smoke-free zones.Posters and stickers would be put up encouraging
ONE of the region’s ancient places of worship is responding to the current crisis in the Middle East by holding night of prayer for Iraq.It will include the chance to sleep in Ripon Cathedral on August 29 to spend a night in solidarity with Iraqi
POLICE are urging people to be on the look-out for gardening equipment stolen in a hospital burglary. Burglars struck at Monkwearmouth Hospital, in Newcastle Road, Sunderland, between 2pm on Tuesday (August 19) and 8am on Wednesday (August 20),
A CHARITABLE foundation has recruited five new staff.The five will all help the County Durham Community Foundation in its charitable grant-making – the body having distributed £25m since its founding in 1995.Jo Dalton has been appointed as
A MORTGAGE advisor from Darlington is getting ready to pull on her hiking boots for a charity walking challenge.Karen Mitson, 46, works as a mortgage advisor at Yorkshire Bank in Darlington.She and colleague Julie Cook, 48, from Bishop Auckland, will
TWO North Yorkshire schools celebrated their GCSE results after a pioneering partnership helped produce star performances.Pupils at Northallerton College and Risedale Sports and Community College, who form part of the Northallerton and Catterick Federation
NEWCASTLE United fan Liam Sweeney was "a gentle giant" and a "family man", the funeral of the first British victim of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 to be identified was told today (Thursday, August 21). Hundreds of mourners joined his family and
CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a former corner shop in a residential street into a takeaway look set to be rejected.An application has been lodged to turn the boarded-up shop in Belvedere Road, Darlington, into a Thai takeaway.Similar plans were turned down
A RELIGIOUS text inspired by the Lindisfarne Gospels has gone on display at a Darlington church.The Darlington Gospels, which spread messages of hope for the future from each of the Anglican churches in the Darlington deanery, will be at St Matthew and
AN artisan cheesemaker is celebrating its 25th anniversary in true style – after winning another clutch of awards.Shepherd’s Purse, based near Thirsk, has added to its trophy cabinet following major success at the Great Taste Awards.The Great
CONTROVERSIAL comedian Chubby Brown has landed himself in hot water again – after being spotted reading a newspaper at the wheel of his luxury car. The colourful comic was caught on camera while perusing The Sun at the same time as he drove
A SECTION of the A67 at Darlington will close for resurfacing next week.The A67 between the Morton Palms A66 roundabout eastwards, and the roundabout with Sadberge Road at Middleton St George, will be closed from Tuesday (August 26) until Friday, September
AITOR KARANKA wants to have his Middlesbrough squad finalised before the transfer window closes on September 1 as he waits to hear if two of his targets have accepted a move to the Riverside Stadium. The Boro boss, whose side have no fresh injury
THE selfie phenomenon has reached Durham Cathedral.The 900-year-old wonder is encouraging photographers at its annual open evening to take a selfie, a picture of themselves, and share it on Twitter using the hashtag #dcathselfie. Photographers will also
ALEX Hassell is being hailed as one of the rising stars of the Royal Shakespeare Company and even teaching main attraction and veteran actor Antony Sher a thing or two about improvisation as the pair portray the roguish relationship between Falstaff
THE Black Bull used to be our special birthday and anniversary dining place. From Irish Jim behind the bar to the railway carriage restaurant, it had a special atmosphere, and the food was a special cut above everything in the area. Suddenly, in
MARTY ROBBINS – 20th Century Drifter The MCA Years is a new compilation release from Humphead Records. It’s hard to believe that the purveyor of gunfighter ballads in the early 1960s died 32 years ago in 1982. From A White Sport Coat and a Pink
I’LL hopefully be back from my current Canadian trip to play at a concert on the final day of this year’s Whitby Folk Week tomorrow. Whitby has been a highlight of the festival season for many decades and for many people, and by all accounts, this
CD REVIEWS: Mozart Arias: Emma Matthews (ABC Classics 4810776) Coloratu soprano Emma Matthews showcases her voice’s incredible agility in this recital of Mozart arias. Joined by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marko Letonja, she
CD REVIEWS: Gene Krupa/Second Set (Avid AMSC1134) THIS crammed 2CD set features more small group sessions by the drummer, most featuring multi-instrumentalist Eddie Shu. To provide variety Shu is also featured on trumpet, clarinet and harmonica
THIS year’s line-up for Durham Streets Festival promises a feast of fun. The line-up includes the Space Cowboy, the only person to have won the Street Performance World Championships more than once. Fatt Matt, the winner of 2012’s Durham Streets People
FIRST the facts. The stage adaptation of Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King was first seen on the Broadway stage in 1997 where it’s now the highest grossing show in Broadway history. The production has now been seen by over 70 million people worldwide
THE first thing that strikes you about Elaine Paige is that she really is a tiny lady to produce one of the biggest, most iconic voices in musical theatre; the second is that she looks a good decade or more younger than her 66 years. In an era
THIS year’s theme to BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking Festival is Who’s In Control. Do workers or their bosses suffer the most stress? Has Twitter given voters power over politicians? Who is in control of our appetites and body image; of our moods and minds
Lucy (15, 89 mins) 3/5 stars DERRIERE-NUMBINGLY long films may be all the rage, but at a lean 89 minutes, Lucy, the new action thriller from Luc Besson, is all the better for bucking this Hollywood trend. And with a kidnapping, killing sprees
Locke (15, 85 mins, Lionsgate Home Entertainment UK) IVAN LOCKE (Tom Hardy) is a family man with a devoted wife Katrina (Ruth Wilson) and two teenage sons. As a construction foreman, Ivan is supposed to be channelling his time and energy into an
THE phrase “hardest-working man in show business” is overused. And more than that, it’s an impossible thing to measure. But, if there was a league table, you can bet Frank Turner would be up there. The folk-punk singer has been touring in one shape
Gareth Gates... always knew he wanted to be a performer. As a boy he was head chorister for Bradford Cathedral Choir, and performed a solo for the Queen when she visited in 1997. In 2002, Gates made TV headlines after coming through an audition
A FUNERAL in Soapland isn’t a funeral without a punch-up or someone falling into the grave. Emmerdale (ITV1) doesn’t disappoint as Donna, the sleeping policewoman, is laid to rest. Mind you, all the commotion is enough to wake the dead. Even before
Besides winning, what was your highlight X-Factor moment? Being able to perform live on TV every week You worked very closely with your mentor and fellow Geordie, Cheryl Cole – can you tell us what her encouragement meant to you? We got
Stephanie Beacham injects a touch of glamour into retirement comedy Boomers. Being a grandparent is a hoot, but youngsters today have it harder than her generation, she tells Jeananne Craig I’M not a granny, I’m a Glamma,” purrs Stephanie Beacham
Al Murray may be famed for brash comedy, but behind the laughs lies a history-geek. He tells Keeley Bolger about delving into his ancestors’ struggle with mental illness, in Secrets From The Asylum XENOPHOBIC, loutish and aggressively opinionated
In his new film, Simon Pegg plays a dissatisfied psychologist who travels the world to find true happiness. But, as the actor tells Keeley Bolger, his happy place is far closer to home WITH his thick-rimmed black glasses, carefully groomed beard
COLIN COOPER has confirmed striker Luke James has reiterated his desire to leave Hartlepool United. The striker put a transfer request in on Monday, but followed up with a second on Tuesday evening, after playing in Pools’ 2-0 home defeat to Dagenham
GOVERNMENT finances are still in worse shape than they were a year ago showing the scale of the task facing the Chancellor as he tries to meet his fiscal target.Borrowing of £764m in July - which excludes the effects of bank bail-outs and the Bank
The Great North Air Ambulance lottery draw for Wednesday, August 20, are: £200 N41948, Hartlepool; £100 N32206, Workington; N45344 Guisborough; N33086 Driffield; £25: N03472 Hexham; N04994 Stockton; N12092 Ferryhill; N31194 Hartlepool
AN engineering college is celebrating an outstanding Ofsted inspection report following a year of improvements. South West Durham Training (SWDT) in Newton Aycliffe, was given the stamp of approval under the Further Education and Skills inspection
A KNIFEPOINT robbery took place this morning at a Sainsbury’s store in Redcar in which a thief stole cigarettes and a quantity of cash. Cleveland Police said no one was hurt in the incident but staff had been left shaken after a man brandishing
A CLEVELAND police dog has been put down after biting a handler while another of its dogs will be destroyed after attacking a pensioner who died days later. A member of police staff was treated in hospital after suffering bites to his lower arm
A THIRD of employers assume job applicants are telling the truth about their degree and do not ask to see proof of their qualifications, according to new research.And many of those that do ask to see certificates take them at face value, failing to check
For rustic country fare with a sophisticated twist, Cartmel in the Lake District ticks all the boxes. Lizzie Anderson is in food heaven IT is a glorious sunny day when my friend Victoria and I arrive at Cartmel in Cumbria. Largely unspoilt, the
A REPUTATION can be made easily, but real achievements have to be earned on the track. At York on Wednesday, Australia proved his merit as a Coolmore champion in definitive fashion by winning the Juddmonte International Stakes. While hardly
NEW ZEALAND star Kane Williamson could still end the season with Yorkshire. As things stand, the county’s overseas batsman is set to miss the last two LV= County Championship matches against Nottinghamshire and Somerset and a potential Royal London
FOOTBALL fans are reminded of new residents-only parking scheme in streets near Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.The new permit-only parking scheme, applying to 60 streets in the vicinity of the stadium, in nearby Monkwearmouth and Southwick.It comes
GARETH Breese is hoping to bow out after 11 years with Durham by winning the Royal London Cup. Durham’s progress to the quarter-finals was confirmed by last night’s results and Breese said: “I would love to go out on a high with a return to Lord
A REGENERATION chief has toured a £27m scheme to replace Durham’s former ice rink with offices. Andy Rose, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), paid a visit to check on the progress of the Riverside Renewal Project. The
ITALIAN striker Mirco Antenucci has joined Leeds for an undisclosed fee. The 29-year-old had been at Elland Road for talks on Wednesday and tweeted a photograph of himself in front of the pitch as well as one of him signing his papers with the
JADE Jones admits a pair of major international bronze medals will act as the perfect launch pad for Rio 2016 after adding the second to her collection with a gutsy display at the IPC Athletics European Championships. Jones, 18, is just three weeks
COLIN COOPER will today sit down with Luke James to try and resolve the future of the in-demand striker. Peterborough have put a bid in for the 19-year-old, James has put a transfer request in, and it was claimed last night he has made a further
BISHOP AUCKLAND chairman Richard Tremewan took over as an emergency assistant referee in Shildon’s home game with Morpeth last night. Tremewan volunteered to run the line after match referee Lindsay Robinson announced that she was unable to continue
THE first legal distillery launched in County Durham since the reign of Henry VIII is set to expand its range. Durham Distillery has enjoyed a strong start to trading since it started in April 2013, with plans to launch a new product Durham Vodka, within
TOTTENHAM head coach Mauricio Pochettino has had a change of heart on the Europa League ahead of his managerial debut in continental competition tonight. The former Argentina international took over the reins at White Hart Lane in May, signing
IT’S not that the boys weren’t sympathetic when their dad ended up his hospital with a broken leg after coming off his mountain bike last Sunday. But, while 11-year-old Albert wanted to know if his dad would still be able to take him on that big
SHEFFIELD United, and not many may know this, played Northern League football from 1891-93. Harry Lilley and Mick Whitham won full England caps while playing against the likes of Stockton and South Bank, but the sharpest Blade of all may have been
Educating Yorkshire: One Year On (Channel 4, 9pm) THE Gareth Gates-style footage showing Musharaf Asghar finally conquering his horrendous stammer and delivering a speech in the original series of Educating Yorkshire was one of those moments in
WINTER In Eden are a five-piece Symphonic Rock band from Northern England. Since forming in 2009, they have released an EP and two studio albums. Their music builds from delightful symphonic instrumentals to crunching, aggressive metal. Their debut
IT is now almost impossible to make a Saturday train journey without being cooped – cackled? – with a hen party. This one seems to have overdosed on the Paxo. It’s the 8.30 from Darlington to Liverpool. Fairy wings, bingo wings, they’re
THE Royal Shakespeare Company is normally associated with the home of the Bard, Stratfordupon- Avon, where under this name they have brought to the stage both classical theatrical performances and modern works from new playwrights since 1961, but thanks
PREDICTABLY, events over recent weeks will have acted as a recruiting sergeant for anti- Semitism and Muslim extremism. One as yet untried route to resolution of this decades-long bitter conflict is identifying and studying the various casual factors
I WOULD just like to say well done to Andrea Huntley-Crow and her husband Dave for adopting Nelson, the one-eyed cat (Echo, July 7). As a kitten he was thrown into the sea in a sack. Fortunately, a fisherman plucked the bag from the waves – but
VJ CONNOR should not be surprised that the BBC prefers to show any sport rather than cricket. I suspect that it agreed with Mark Carney, a native of that great cricketing nation Canada, that cricket is elitist. Has there ever been such a crass
THE controversy regarding British born Jihadists returning to Britain after fighting for Islamic State (IS) in Syria has serious implications, particularly when they openly threaten to return to Britain and attack the people in all manner of barbaric
AS an impartial observer of the yes/no campaign, may I suggest that both parties adopt the “EU referendum method” of voting. By this I mean if your party does not achieve the necessary majority support in the first ballot then just repeat the procedure
MARTIN BIRTLE’S letter (HAS, Aug 11) regarding Sunderland was incorrect. The main thrust of his argument, that even Bob Stokoe was unable to get Sunderland back into the first division, is untrue. In fact, Bob Stokoe won promotion for Sunderland
“It’s actually very east to get five stars,” says Brian Whelan, who has worked in environmental health for 20-years. “Any well-run kitchen should get a five star rating. They are given everything in order to comply; there is a book with guidelines
WHEN I first came to Westminster, MPs were brought back in August after the horror of the Omagh bombing, at the close of the Irish troubles. More recently, Parliament has been recalled after the 2011 riots, at the height of the Syria crisis last
THE proportion of GCSE exams awarded at least a C grade has risen amid concerns that changes to the exam system would hit results. Just over two thirds (68.8%) of entries scored A*to C, up 0.7 percentage points on last summer, according to statistics
DARLINGTON is a friendly town. A good town. A caring town. But there were disturbing scenes yesterday when a vulnerable young man appeared on a fourth-storey hotel window ledge. A large crowd gathered to watch as police cordoned off the town centre
FULHAM’S miserable start to life in the Championship continued as they crashed 1-0 at home to Wolves. Bakary Sako’s first-half strike condemned the relegated Cottagers to a third straight defeat and left them one place off the foot of the table
2:43pm Andrew Lambert celebrating his GCSE grades REWRITING the record books was the order of the day yesterday as an academy smashed its English and maths results. English grades at Longfield Academy, Darlington
UP to one in five workers in North Yorkshire are their “own boss”, new figures show – but the North-East lags behind in the self-employment boom.Areas including Richmondshire (20.4 per cent), Hambleton (20.2 per cent) and Ryedale (24.9
ALONGSIDE coveted European Tour names such as Ian Woosnam, Mark James, Ronan Rafferty and Sam Torrance on the leaderboard at Rockliffe Hall over the next four days, there will be three locals trying to spring something of a surprise on the rest of
MIDDLESBROUGH new boy Adam Clayton insists he will take more results like Tuesday night’s win at Bolton Wanderers even though Aitor Karanka’s side left it late to claim three points at the Macron Stadium.The Teessiders came from behind to
PATRICK van Aanholt has warned Sunderland not to be fooled by Manchester United’s losing start to the season having worked under Reds boss Louis van Gaal in the past. Van Aanholt made his competitive debut for the Black Cats in Saturday’s 2-2 draw
DURHAM County Union’s high achieving team warmed up for a crack at the English Boys’ County Finals later this month with a get-together at Wynyard Golf Club.Team captain Sam Donald, Cameron Wallace, Aaron McManus, James Wilson, James Rogers
THERE’S full programme of activities for nature lovers at a North-East reserve.RSPB Saltholme, near Seaton Carew, will have events with a different theme every week.Caroline Found, Visitor Experience Manager, said: “Summer is all about getting
NEWCASTLE UNITED face losing another key player before the transfer window shuts with interest growing in midfielder Cheick Tiote. There has been speculation surrounding tough-tackling Tiote for a few weeks with some reports suggesting the Ivory
A SHOCKED couple are calling for action after a manhole cover gave way and their three-year-old son narrowly avoided plummeting into a drain. Stewart and Amy Akenhead want more checks to be carried out after young Oliver fell into a manhole in
A VETERAN of Bomber Command who feared he would miss out on a nostalgic flypast has got his wish for a ticket to the sold-out event. When former Lancaster navigator Ray Willcock, from Darlington, heard that one of the Second World War planes was
