Archive

  • Match Report: Scotland 1 England 3

    Full-time: Scotland 1 England 3 WITH the 2016 European Championships expanding to feature 24 teams instead of the usual 16, perhaps England have stumbled across a formula to end their lack of tournament success. Get drawn in a group that resembles

  • Sunderland boss weighs up transfer targets including Bruma

    GUS POYET is considering Sunderland’s options on the transfer front ahead of an important January when he is desperate to strengthen his squad further.The Black Cats have endured an indifferent start to the Premier League season but have shown signs of

  • North-East duo start for England against Scotland

    NORTH-EAST duo Fraser Forster and Stewart Downing have both been named in the England starting line-up for this evening's friendly with Scotland at Celtic Park. The pair are part of five changes that Roy Hodgson has made to the starting XI that

  • Boro boys desperate to play for England at the Riverside

    BEN GIBSON is dreaming of pulling on an England shirt at the Riverside next March.Gibson, who has been on international duty with the Under-21s in France this week, has become a key member of Gareth Southgate’s squad.And he hopes to continue his impressive

  • Housebuilder's job aims in military scheme

    A HOUSEBUILDER has officially launched a scheme to deliver hundreds of jobs for ex-forces staff. Persimmon, based in York, is retraining former military personnel to work on its sites. Bosses say they hope to create up to 500 posts a year.

  • Funding is music to pupils’ ears

    TEESDALE School pupils were hitting the decks at Radio Teesdale today (Tuesday, November 18) after receiving a grant from the Teesdale Area Action Partnership’s (TAP) newly launched Small Grants Scheme for Children and Young People.Lizzie Francis, 18,

  • Boro hoping Omeruo stays fit ahead of Nigeria return

    NIGERIA boss Stephen Keshi runs the risk of upsetting Middlesbrough if Kenneth Omeruo suffers a negative reaction to his groin problem during a must-win Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday night.Omeruo was ruled out of his country’s equally important

  • Combined authority would keep Tees Valley in "premier league"

    THE creation of a combined authority would keep the Tees Valley in the "premier league" and hand the area the "major prize" of devolved powers, councillors will be told. A report passed to the five local authorities looking to form a combined authority

  • Your chance to help create a Mowden mascot

    PRIMARY school children have created some promising entries for a rugby club's mascot competition.Youngsters from Hurworth Primary School, near Darlington, visited Darlington Mowden Park rugby club on Tuesday (November 18), to work on their designs.The

  • 'I like a home that's lived in'

    THE youngest of six children, interior designer Lucy Thompson grew up in a large, characterful town house with a stylish and creative mother who made everything from clothes to curtains on the sewing machine at home.It's a background that informs Lucy's

  • Redcar faces greet railway passengers

    RAIL users will be greeted by a collection of well-known personalities and unsung heroes as part of a new exhibit when they arrive in Redcar by train.The Redcar Faces project is made up of 21 portraits of people who have made a positive impact to the

  • It's a magic carpet ride of a panto

    REHEARSALS are underway for a theatre’s Christmas pantomime.Aladdin will open at the Gala Theatre, Durham City, on Thursday, November 27, starring Gala regulars Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley as the evil Abanazar and daft laundry lad Wishee Washee, respectively.Chris

  • City hit by power cut

    THE region’s tourism capital was hit by a massive power cut earlier today, November 18,Power was lost at just after 9am to 26,943 properties across York, including city centre businesses, as well as traffic lights and the city’s railway station.More than

  • Whizz bang! Young chemists win schools contest

    A SCHOOL has won a regional chemistry contest.A four-strong team from Durham School triumphed in the regional heat of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Top of the Bench competition.The squad will compete in the national finals in the spring. There

  • Closures planned for A64

    WORK on a £3.3m scheme to improve journeys on one of North Yorkshire’s main routes will begin this weekend.Seven sections of the A64 from Barton Hill crossroads, between York and Malton, to the Eastfield roundabout, near Scarborough, are to be resurfaced

  • Weapons amnesty proves a success

    A GUN amnesty has seen a mix of weapons handed into Cleveland Police.During the two week campaign, there was 32 firearms, including 21 pistols, six air rifles and five shotguns, and 1,500 rounds of ammunition dropped off in secure bins around the force

  • No charges over rooftop arrest

    A MAN arrested after climbing onto the roof of a historic library close to Durham Cathedral will face no charges, police have said.The emergency services were rushed to Durham University’s Palace Green Library, in Durham, in the early hours of Thursday

  • Police work to identify body in river

    AN investigation has been launched by North Yorkshire Police after the body of a man was discovered in the River Foss at York.The body was recovered from the river, near Layerthorpe, by fire crews who launched a boat after a member of the public alerted

  • Back from Belize - teen's life-changing gap year

    A NORTH-East student says she learned invaluable life lessons during a year volunteering overseas.Catriona Duffy, a Durham University student from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, spent a year teaching music and helping with youth work in Belize City. The

  • Winter cold? Don't bother the doctor, say NHS chiefs

    NHS bosses are urging people to leave doctor’s appointments for “those who really need them” this winter.Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the North-East launching their annual winter health campaign say many common ailments can be treated at

  • Stepping out with cast of Dirty Dancing

    PERFORMERS of a stage production of Dirty Dancing gave a masterclass of steps from the acclaimed film.The Sunderland Empire will be hosting the production from January 27 to February 14 and actors and dancers went to the nearby Sassy Girl Fitness promote

  • Putting on the style - the lucky ones who struck it rich

    IT’S been 20 years since the National Lottery held its first draw, giving people across the country the chance to dream of a life of luxury.In that time some 3,700 people have seen their dreams realised, becoming overnight millionaires on the strength

  • Marketing theme for tourism summit

    NEARLY 100 tourism professionals gathered for an agency’s autumn conference.The Visit County Durham summit attracted 91 delegates to Durham County Cricket Club in Chester-le-Street.The title was ‘Marketing!’ and the speakers included Anke Monstel, from

  • Letting the train take the strain on trip to Edinburgh

    IF things had gone differently a couple of months ago, then an overnight trip to Edinburgh could have involved all manner of practical difficulties. Happily for me and my seven-year-old son, the Scots voted that we are indeed, Better Together,

  • Councillor to fight for Commons seat

    A LOCAL councillor has been chosen as the Liberal-Democrat parliamentary candidate for the Thirsk and Malton seat.Di Keal has been at the forefront of local politics for more than a decade and serves on both Ryedale District Council and on Norton Town

  • NHS urges everyone to 'keep calm' this winter

    THE NHS in the region is urging North Easterners to "keep calm and look after yourself" to combat the usual winter ailments that are common in usually healthy people.GPs, who are now in charge of most NHS budgets, are reminding people that many

  • Do not adjust your spectacles...

    CUSTOMERS at an opticians were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief as staff staged a 1970s day for charity.Workers at R Young Opticians on Clifton Road, Stanley, County Durham, donned flares, kaftan tops, loud shirts and big wigs to get into the spirit

  • Women: think before you drink, say police

    POLICE are urging women to think twice about how much they drink.As part of Alcohol Awareness Week, Durham Police is working with Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, to provide help and education for anyone worried about their drinking. There will

  • Council consultation about enforcement

    A COUNCIL is asking businesses and residents for their views on how it offers advice and carries out enforcement of regulations.Durham County Council has began online consultation about its proposed environment, health and consumer protection enforcement

  • Mocktails on offer at event about older people and alcohol

    NON alcoholic cocktails such as elderflower mojitos and mock champagne will be served during an event to highlight the impact of drinking on older people.Age UK County Durham has organised next month’s event which is aimed at the over 50s.The event is

  • All aboard for The Polar Express

    A COUNTY Durham train station will become a portal to the North Pole this month, as The Polar Express rides return to Weardale.Inspired by the hit Warner Bros. film, The Polar Express, and book by Chris Van Allsburg, the officially licensed train rides

  • Farm Watch hailed success after four arrests

    THE latest Farm Watch operation has been hailed a success by police after four people were arrested on Thursday night (November 13).More than 40 volunteers gathered to take part in the rural operation which saw four arrests for three separate incidents

  • Drugs hidden in sandwich costs Bishop Auckland man his liberty

    A VISITOR tried to smuggle drugs into prison inside a sandwich for a friend who was struggling to cope with life behind bars.Mark Wright took a bite from the snack before hiding two buprenorphine tablets inside, Teesside Crown Court was told.The 41-year-old

  • Teesdale cheesemakers triumph at World Cheese Awards

    A COUPLE who set up an artisan cheese business as a retirement venture have received another top award.Brian and Esme Dedman started making cheese at their farm on the outskirts of Hilton in Teesdale, County Durham, as a hobby in 2011.However, their creations

  • Regional firms receive apprentice praise

    A NUMBER of North-East firms have been praised as some of the UK’s best apprentice employers.The National Apprenticeship Service has highlighted 100 companies for their contribution to apprenticeships.Its list includes accountancy practice Mitchells Grievson

  • Business leaders announced as housing association bosses

    FOUR high-profile business leaders have joined housing association Thirteen Group as board chairs.Julie Clare, a senior lecturer at Northumbria University, will be chairwoman of Housing Hartlepool with Brian Dinsdale joining Erimus Housing, which has

  • Missing Spennymoor teen found safe and well

    A TEENAGER who was last seen at a bus stop in his home town more than a week ago has been found safe and well.Callum Bartlett had been missing from his home in Middlestone Moor near Spennymoor, County Durham, since Sunday, November 9.Police appealed for

  • More new homes for Stillington, near Stockton approved

    A PLAN to build 39 homes in a village near Stockton has been approved despite opposition and fears that it could lead to flooding. The homes will be built on what are currently allotments on 2.7acres of land in Stillington north of South Avenue

  • Young footballers kick out bullying

    YOUNG footballers are showing the red card to bullying by taking part in an awareness campaign.Youngsters from under-7s to under-18s with the North Riding County Football Association are being urged to wear wristbands to show they are standing up against

  • 7,000 new homes to boost Middlesbrough's falling population

    PLANS for more than 7,000 new homes to reverse Middlesbrough's long-term population decline have been approved by the Government.The endorsement of Middlesbrough Housing Local Plan - its largest housebuilding programme for 40 years - is the latest stage

  • Renovation mistakes to avoid

    THIS week, Julia Gray reveals the things you might not want to do when renovating your home. 1. Don't cut corners Don't take on a big project unless you can afford to do it properly. If you're going to spend money on building work, ensure you

  • Building up a business

    ONE of my sisters used to be a teacher; an honourable profession for which she underwent a thorough training, was tested in exams and given on-the-job experience before being let loose within the well-ordered structure that is a school. It’s not

  • 'I want to be less brilliant'

    Newly engaged Benedict Cumberbatch plays brilliant codebreaker Alan Turing in biopic The Imitation Game. He tells Steve Pratt why this Bletchley Park genius is nothing like Sherlock BENEDICT Cumberbatch wants to act stupid. The actor who’s found

  • Culture of calligraphy

    Calligrapher Lord Richard McLeod has drawn on his experience as an asylum seeker to create the first Western/Arabic script, named after the Queen. He talks to Sarah Foster THERE’S no doubt that being a lord opens doors, and, for Lord Richard McLeod

  • OAPs 'too embarrassed' to talk about getting older

    MORE than half of North-East pensioners worry about losing their independence in old age but fewer than one in five have talked about it with relatives, according to new research.A study for Age UK County Durham found 58 per cent of today’s over-65s in

  • Hot topics up for debate by North-East teenagers

    SPORTS stars as role models and the purpose of the European Union will be argued by teenagers who will be grilled by academics and North-East cultural representatives.The qualifying rounds of the Institute of Ideas Debating Matters Competition are being

  • Pub hosts sparkling charity night

    A PUB raised almost £1000 for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation with a family charity event.The evening, held earlier this month at The Miners Arms, in Medomsley, near Consett was attended by Sir Bobby Robson’s widow Lady Elsie, who said she was overwhelmed

  • Man attacked near nightclub

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted outside a Northallerton nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, November 16.The 23-year-old victim was punched in the face near Club Amadeus sometime 3am and 3.30am. He suffered bruising and

  • Handyman scheme set to continue

    A SCHEME that helps make the homes of elderly and disabled people safer has reached an important milestone. The Durham Handyperson Service, which is run by housing provider Four Housing and funded by Durham County Council, has completed its 13,000th

  • Black bream and roast veg salad

    BLACK bream is not a fish people automatically think off when planning a trip to the fishmongers. But it’s worth it with its sweet, white, firm flesh. Normally a summer-months fish when caught from boats, it’s also farmed and so is available all

  • Energy firm rejects climate protest claims

    LEADERS of a multi-billion pound project to harvest energy from undersea coal have rejected claims the scheme threatens the North-East’s heritage coast.As reported in The Northern Echo in January, Five Quarter Energy is developing plans to tap into the

  • MP reveals winner of annual Christmas card competition

    A SCHOOLGIRL has won an annual competition to design a Christmas card for her MP.City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods has chosen the winning design in a competition for primary school children in her constituency.On Friday (Nov 14) she presented prizes

  • Spiced Dorset apple traybake

    ALREADY dreading the Christmas kitchen slog? Foodie fairy godmother Mary Berry shares her festive feasting secrets. Try this one from her new book - Mary Berry Cooks The Perfect... INGREDIENTS Serves 12 225g butter (room temperature), plus

  • PCSOs earn policing honours

    FOUR community support officers have become the first in their police force to earn a special certificate.The quartet of Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) completed a City and Guilds Certificate in Policing, undertaking training in supporting

  • Seif returns for Magna Carta 800 talk

    A MAGNA Carta specialist will discuss plans to celebrate the key document’s 800th anniversary in a North-East talk.Seif El Rashidi, Magna Carta programme manager at Salisbury Cathedral, will give a talk titled Magna Carta 800: Why Should We Care? in Durham

  • Students' success celebrated at awards evening

    SCORES of students were rewarded for their endeavours at a glittering awards night.Darlington School of Mathematics and Science staged the extravaganza, which was the culmination of the school’s most successful year ever.Dozens of school leavers, many

  • NECC campaigns for cloud computing

    THE North East Chamber of Commerce has backed a region-wide plan to bring businesses together to prepare for cloud technology. A series of briefings are being held by Brewin Dolphin and Atlas Cloud with the aim of uniting different sectors who

  • Added zest helps young cook William win Great Durham Bake-Off

    YOUNG cooks rose to the challenge in a test of their culinary skills organised by their local neighbourhood police team.They were joined by staff and students from city schools, plus members of the public, in ‘The Great Durham Bake-Off’, staged at Durham

  • Dolcelatte and leek soup with parmesan crisps

    ALREADY dreading the kitchen slog? Foodie fairy godmother Mary Berry shares her festive feasting secrets. Try this one from Mary's new book - Mary Berry Cooks The Perfect... INGREDIENTS Serves 4 600ml full-fat or semi-skimmed milk 2 bay

  • Darlington athlete picked for England kettlebell squad

    A NORTH-EAST kettlebell athlete is preparing to represent England in the world championships.Steven Gordon, 26, from Darlington, is part of the 12-strong squad selected to compete at the International Union of Kettlebell Lifting Championships in Hamburg

  • Got air - inflatables help museum break visitor record

    AN exhibition of inflatable artworks has helped a museum break its own visitor records.The Generation Air show has catapulted the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery to its best ever visitor numbers for families and top overall figures for October in 14

  • Developer 'walks away' from controversial farm site

    DEVELOPER Tindale has ended its long standing interest in buying a family farm described by residents as an eyesore and health hazard.The company had hoped to create 600 new homes on the 65 acre West Musgrave site in St Helen Auckland, County Durham,

  • Balfour focused on future

    A CONSTRUCTION firm employing scores of North-East workers says its order book is flat as it continues to look to make savings.Balfour Beatty, which has offices in Newcastle, says its UK construction business is focused on making overhead reductions and

  • Tube creator talks about his rock 'n' roll life

    THE creator of iconic North-East TV rock show The Tube is giving a free talk in the region.Malcolm Gerrie brought the show to screen in the 1980s and has also collaborated with worldwide artists such as Madonna, Queen and U2, and worked on major projects

  • Hair stylist goes up in the world

    A HAIR stylist left the comfort of the salon behind – for a gruelling trek up the highest mountain in Africa.Becci Evemy, of Leyburn, tackled Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance and the Wish Tree Foundation.The 24-year-old

  • Youngsters win holiday for community crime art exhibition

    A GROUP of youngsters have received a police accolade for creating an exhibition to highlight how crime affects the community.Shannon Robinson, Georgia Robinson, Charlie Piechniczek, Jasmine Foster and Rio Pullen from Colburn, near Catterick, were presented

  • Returning passengers boost Easyjet

    BUDGET airline easyJet has reported a fourth consecutive year of record pre-tax profits.The 21.5 per cent increase to £581m for the year to September 30 was slightly ahead of the top end of group expectations.Bosses said it showed the firm was winning

  • Work underway on major energy plant

    WORK has started on a major waste to energy plant in the region.Leeming Biogas, a joint venture between developer JFS and Associates, and Iona Capital, is working on a food waste factory at Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire.Supported by a major investment

  • Warning over stolen beauty products

    FEARS have been raised that beauty products, stolen from a parked car over the weekend, could cause burns if used by unqualified people.Nail gels, polish and LED UV lamps worth an estimated £300 were among the items stolen from a grey Hyundai i20 parked

  • App is off the Radar

    CALLED Samaritans Radar (samaritansradar.org), the app from the Samaritans charity wanted Twitter users to turn their "social net into a safety net". It used an algorithm to 'read' tweets from your followers, searching for cry-for-help statuses

  • Newton Aycliffe charity celebrates true spirit of Christmas

    A CHARITY will celebrate the true spirit of Christmas by staging a festive bash for those who don't want to be alone on the big day.Lifeline Community Action’s Helping Hands team will once again serve up a free Christmas Day lunch followed by carols and

  • Paddington goes to Hollywood

    As Paddington Bear comes to life on the big screen for the first time, Kate Whiting meets creator Michael Bond to discuss his inspiration, and the adventures he and the iconic character have shared over the years Once upon a time, on Christmas

  • Resist the itch - scratching makes it worse

    As scientists reveal nothing beats a good old scratch, Nel Staveley discovers what might be causing the itch in the first place IT'S official - scratching an itch definitely makes it worse. Scientists have proven, in a study on mice, that "

  • In search of winter warmers

    THE mercury has started to tumble and the central heating is starting to kick into gear. As it’ll only get colder, now’s the time to ensure you’re set up for winter to keep the cost down and the heat up. Here’s my checklist. Locate your stopcock

  • Laughing matter

    TREVOR SHAW, stage name Seth Shildon – honest – next week marks 50 years as a comedian with a celebrity night in his laugh-a-minute honour. His funny business career began in County Durham talent contests, trod the workmen’s clubs, rounded the

  • Gig Review: Y&T, O2 Academy, Newcastle

    THIS year marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of Californian Rockers Y&T (formerly known as Yesterday and Today) and while only singer/guitarist Dave Meniketti remains from the original line-up the band shows no signs of slowing down.

  • Holmes is back on the New York beat

    Elementary, Sky Living, 9pm BENEDICT Cumberbatch has a worthy sleuthing rival in the shape of New York’s finest private detective played by English actor Jonny Lee Miller, who is also a modern-day Sherlock Holmes... assisted, until this third series

  • Rebuilding confidence in Darlington Football Club

    AFTER all that has happened to Darlington Football Club in recent years, there is only one way to rebuild trust – engage with the local community and ensure complete transparency at every step.Today, shareholders will be issued with the Quakers'"

  • Boots on the ground is a bad idea

    IT is abundantly clear that Isis needs to be defeated, the question is how this is best achieved. The more successful they are greater danger they will pose to us, but they are a greater danger immediately to communities in the Middle East. We should

  • Don't promise what you can't deliver

    WHEN I studied philosophy in Liverpool in the olden days, a particular phrase was drummed into us: “Ought implies can.” It means no one has a duty to do something which he lacks the capacity to do. It also means: “Don’t promise something you can’t carry

  • Ground breaking paves way for new classrooms

    GROUND-BREAKING work to pave the way for two new classrooms has started at a Darlington school. Skerne Park Academy was granted £350,000 from the Darlington Schools Forum towards the extension which will potentially allow an additional 15 children

  • House prices on rise

    HOUSE prices leapt 12.1 per cent in the 12 months to September, marking the fastest annual growth seen since July 2007, official figures have said.The average house price across the UK stood at £273,000 in September, £1,000 lower than an all-time high

  • Jobs boost at discount retailer B&M

    DISCOUNT retailer B&M has revealed plans to create 2,500 new jobs after hailing good momentum in sales and profits.The chain, which was set up in 1978, has about 400 stores, and says it wants to eventually open 850 UK shops.In its first set of results

  • Strachan's Scots desperate to face England

    Gordon Strachan is wrestling with a selection dilemma ahead of Scotland's challenge match against England at Celtic Park on Tuesday night. The Scottish players and the Tartan Army are on a high following the 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland

  • Time to get used to criticism says coach

    STUART Lancaster has reacted to the criticism that has engulfed England midway through a disappointing autumn by admitting "we'd better get used to it". The Red Rose have experienced their worst sequence of results for eight years after defeats

  • Captain Rooney calls for cool heads

    Wayne Rooney is sure England will be able to keep their cool amid the white-hot atmosphere of Celtic Park tonight. The atmosphere inside Wembley when England beat Slovenia 3-1 In their Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday was funereal but 55,000 Scots

  • O'Neill happy to be alongside Keane

    Martin O'Neill has leapt to the defence of assistant Roy Keane after he found himself at the centre of another storm.The outspoken 43-year-old, who hit the headlines last week after an alleged incident at the Republic of Ireland's team hotel, took a scatter-gun

  • Bird flu

    WITH news of a new avian influenza, or “bird flu”, outbreak and the killing cycle that’s just been kicked into high gear in an attempt to contain it, isn’t it time we focus on the cause of these deadly viruses before it’s too late? Diseases run

  • Life on Mars

    NUMEROUS people throughout the world believe that the first NASA mission to the Moon was to retrieve technology that was allegedly left behind by aliens. These folks also claim that our astronauts got quite a shock, as the aliens were still there –

  • Gaming addict used as getaway driver

    A GAMING addict who was used as a driver for a burglary gang dodged jail - with some job advice from a judge. Ethan Roddam was told he would never make the grade as a software designer and should avoid a career in crime. Instead, Judge Lea

  • Newcastle defender steps up return from injury

    NEWCASTLE United defender Davide Santon has stepped up his training following knee surgery, but the left-back will not be rushed back to ease Alan Pardew’s defensive problems.The Italian hasn’t featured since the 4-0 home defeat to Manchester United in

  • Enough of Christmas adverts

    I KNOW it’s early days but I’m already fed up to the back teeth with all the endless and irritating Christmas adverts on television. They are going to run non-stop now until December 24 then after that we will be bombarded with endless and irritating

  • Death of the lifestyle pension?

    COULD new changes spell the death of the lifestyle pension? The chances are that if you have taken out a pension since the early 1990s, rule changes announced in the 2014 Budget mean it’s time to check that your pension is still fit for purpose

  • Pub fight was "four minutes of total mayhem", court told

    A JURY was shown film footage of "four minutes of total mayhem" as a trial opened against eight people involved in a frightening pub disturbance. Benji Bolsenbroek, who was out celebrating the birth of his child, died one-and-a-half hours after

  • Study finds wealth divide in dental health

    THE poorest people in society have eight fewer teeth by the time they reach their seventies than the richest, one of the biggest studies of its type ever undertaken has revealed.It has long been known that there is a strong link between people’s socio-economic

  • Nominate your Little Stars

    CANCER Research UK has launched its annual Little Star Awards across the North-East. Relatives and friends of young cancer patients or survivors from across the region who deserve special recognition are being urged to nominate their Little Stars

  • World war centenary

    THE centenary of the outbreak of the First World War has spawned many what-ifs or counterfactual histories. The general view seems to be that the disaster was less an inevitable outcome from the titanic forces of history and more a matter of bad

  • Ben Gibson adds to Boro's injury woes

    MIDDLESBROUGH are ready to assess defender Ben Gibson after he hobbled off on England Under-21s duty tonight. Gibson fell awkwardly on his ankle in the 16th minute of the 3-2 defeat to France and eventually was substituted three minutes before