Moors are through to the last eight of the Durham Challenge Cup after beating Sunderland RCA 3-0 at the Brewery Field. Moors, who gave former Lincoln midfielder Jamie Clarke his debut, took the lead after 15 minutes when Nathan Fisher cut inside
Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon had a happy return to West Auckland when his side deservedly won 3-0 against the league leaders. West had the better of the early play. Steve Richardson had an effort cleared off the line, and also put an easy
A NEW primetime TV series will be filmed in the North-East after it got the go ahead today (Tuesday, January 6). The ITV drama, called Beowulf, is based on the Scandinavian legend and is being lined up for Saturday night viewing. The show will
Police are appealing for the public's help to trace a missing Newcastle man. Mohamed Gaber Ibrahim, 47, was reported missing on Tuesday, December 30 after last being seen at an address at Berwick Court. The police are concerned for his welfare
A SEX offender is facing a further stint in prison after admitting breaching a restrictive order placed on him following a previous prosecution.But a recent partner of Gordon Ross Taylor may also be jailed after admitting “aiding and abetting” him to
ORGANISERS at a community food bank are thankful for a huge 230kg donation of goods which will help its users through January.The food bank, based in the Willington Community Action (WCA) centre, near Crook, usually receives a few carrier bags of food
A WOMAN has been found safe and well after going missing in Middlesbrough earlier this afternoon. Police issued an appeal after Deborah Seddon, 48, was last seen heading towards Albert Park, at around 3pm. A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police
THEIR sound may have roots in the past, but siblings Kitty, Daisy and Lewis should have a big future. The London trio have been around music their whole lives – their mother is a former drummer who now helps out on bass – and all sing and play
A MOTORIST suffered serious injuries when he crashed into a tree after losing control at high speed on a dual carriageway. Richard Gilderoy suffered a double fracture of both legs, broken bones in his feet, bruising to the brain and a punctured
HOSPITALS across the region have cancelled non-emergency operations and called in extra staff to deal with the crisis engulfing A&E departments. As early as New Year’s Eve an internal bulletin headlined “Urgent Site Pressures” was sent to senior
IN the midst of all the statistics, the targets, and the league tables surrounding the NHS, there are real people: doctors and nurses trying to cope with ever-increasing demands; patients experiencing the consequences of a service which is at breaking
Incumbent Test opener Sam Robson and hopeful Adam Lyth both made centuries before retiring in England Lions' first-day run-fest of 361 for four against an inexperienced Gauteng Invitation XI.In a match also notable for Jonathan Trott's first return to
England outcast Kevin Pietersen helped to set up a Super Over Big Bash win for Melbourne Stars, and left Andrew Flintoff voicing wonder that his former international team-mate is surplus to World Cup requirements.Pietersen (54) hit his second half-century
Sir Bradley Wiggins has signed a short-term contract extension to remain with Team Sky until April, the team has announced.The new deal will keep Wiggins with Sky until after Paris-Roubaix, which he has made a major target for the coming season.After
TROUBLED Durham Free School will be shut down unless it quickly solves its problems, Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt threatened. The school has been ordered to improve by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and is locked in an extraordinary
Andrew Gale insists now is the time for English cricket to take the bull by the horns and incorporate a Twenty20 franchise competition into the domestic schedule.The Yorkshire captain is one of many admirers of Australia’s ongoing Big Bash League, where
Unity City Academy (UCA) on Ormesby Road in Middlesbrough has been named as a lead school in the National Network of Excellence for the Teaching of Computer Science.The accolade, which is only presented to a number of schools for the teaching of computer
RECOVERING from major surgery gave me the opportunity to reflect on the state of our leading public services.So far as the NHS is concerned, I was impressed by the facilities, the professional skills and the caring and kind people at Middlesbrough’s
GREAT stories of how people have transformed their lives through adult education are being sought by the organisers of next year’s Adult Learners Week Awards.Successful applicants from the North-East could win learning vouchers worth up to £1,000.The
STUDENT barbers at Sunderland College swapped their close shaves for close-up shots to create a 2015 calendar in aid of the Movember initiative.The vintage-inspired calendar was the brain child of barbering lecturer, Mark Sowerby, who enlisted the help
A PRIMARY school has won recognition for the extra help it offers children who look after a parent, sibling or family member. Reid Street Primary School has become the first in Darlington to be awarded Young Carers' Charter status by DISC, a charity backed
FRIENDS of a much-loved musician who took his own life are holding a charity concert in his memory.The second 'Robfest' music concert - held in honour of Robert Brown, who died aged 27 - will be held at Stockton's Georgian Theatre on Saturday, January
MILES of key traditional features of the North York Moors are set to be restored after grants totalling £64,400 were awarded to farmers and landowners.The National Park Authority’s Traditional Boundary Scheme funding will support the restoration of over
CAT lover Brian Bowes claims he is able to find lost pets using a sat nav, a photograph and a crystal pendulum.The father-of-two from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, is regularly contacted by worried owners asking for help and says the process has been
YOUNGSTERS are hoping to pick up tips when players from rugby league side Gateshead Thunder join in their training session. Durham Tigers are to host Gateshead Thunder at their ground at Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre, on Middridge Lane, on Saturday
DOCTOR Andy Simpson, clinical director for A&E at North Tees and Hartlepool, said the current crisis engulfing emergency departments is “the worst I have ever seen” in 25 years. Dr Simpson qualified as a doctor 25 years ago and has worked as
AFTER the growth of food banks, a clothes bank is now due to be opened on Teesside by an anti-Government organisation. Teesside Socialist Clothing Bank will open its doors this Saturday, at the John Paul Centre in Middlesbrough after organisers
AN ENERGY efficiency scheme is urging North-East residents to find out how they could benefit from energy saving measures this year.Launched in 2013, Warm Up North is tackling fuel poverty in the region by making homes more affordable for residents to
CHILDREN took a ride on a virtual roller-coaster today (Tuesday, January 6) as part of a larger study into how bullying can be linked to biological factors.Nicholas Thomson, a doctoral candidate at Durham University, is investigating whether brain function
THE STORIES of men and women during the First World War are to be remembered as part of a project involving young people in County Durham. Pupils at Park View School, in Chester-le-Street, began taking part in the Into The Trenches education programme
A NEW headteacher has been appointed at an independent school in the region.Andrew Wilson has now taken over as head of Teesside High School in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton-on-Tees after moving from New Hall School in Chelmsford, Essex, where he was vice
WORK is underway to create a new nursery building in north Durham.Shotley Bridge Nursery School, which has been open almost 25 years, is expanding and has moved into new premises.It is currently in The Old Town Hall in Shotley Bridge, but will be moving
A MAN who pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order must wait to be sentenced after a court agreed to the preparation of a psychiatric report on him.Teesside Crown Court was told Simon Evans, whose sexual offending dates back to the
A SALVATION Army volunteer has gone on trial accused of a series of historic child sex offences.Raymond Bennett, 64, denies five counts of indecent assault, two of indecency with a child and a single count of rape.The alleged offences concern three different
I CANNOT chart the sequence of distasteful events that took place in the hotel that night, but I do know the verdict of the court: Ched Evans was found guilty of rape. Was it really rape, or was it rough, drunken sex? Certainly there have been
RICHMONDSHIRE Council leader John Blackie has thrown his name into the race to stand as a parliamentary candidate for Richmond MP William Hague's seat when he stands down in May. The leader of Richmondshire District Council, North Yorkshire County
PARENTS have spoken of their fear that a village primary school would be targeted by Islamic extremists after its website was hacked by people claiming to be Muslim anarchists.North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire County Council moved to calm parents
A SON who battered his “violent, nasty drunk” of a father with a lump hammer after going to the defence of his mother has been jailed for six years.Benjamin Wilson, 22, left Craig Wilson with a smashed, misshapen jaw, while paramedics who attended the
THIS is the future of executive motoring, as prophesied by Mercedes.The F015 Luxury In Mo, I guess LIMO for short, is a car that's capable of driving itself and designed not only as a means of getting from A to B, but also as a kind of hi-tech mobile
A FORMER landlady who had to give up her pub for health reasons has found solace in painting alternative images of Dales animals and characters.Jackie Stubbs used to run the George and Dragon community pub in Hudswell, near Richmond, with her mother Margaret.But
A WOMAN has been bailed after admitting producing a quantity of cannabis at her home.Chelsea Jack, 21, of Coleridge Avenue, Hartlepool, appeared at Teesside Crown Court to admit the offence on July 6 this year.Her legal representative Andrew Teate said
POLICE are dealing with a spate of thefts from vehicles.The number of incidents reported in the Houghton-le-Spring, Fence Houses and Chilton Moor areas has risen in the past month.Thieves have mostly forced locks to steal goods such as sat navs. Officers
A CHARITY run is planned for the region this spring.The Stroke Association is inviting runners to tackle the Resolution Run at Herrington Park, Sunderland, on Sunday, March 8.Participants can run 5km or 10km.The event is one of 20 Resolution Runs taking
MOTORISTS are reminded if they, “leave it on show, it will go”, following a spate of thefts from vehicles in neighbouring communities in recent weeks.The police warning comes in the wake of an increase in vehicle interference crimes in Houghton-le-Spring
RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say over potential council tax rises for police and fire services across North Yorkshire.Emergency services have asked the public to get involved in consultations over whether taxes should be increased by up to
TWO rescue puppies were on hand to welcome panto stars who visited a rehoming centre to highlight the good work staff and volunteers do. Lurchers Adam and Eve were brought to the Dogs Trust Darlington along with their sister, Noelle, five days before
SCHOOLPUPILS were transformed into young witches and wizards yesterday (January 5), after their school launched a term themed around Harry Potter.More than 200 children from Green Lane C of E Primary School, in Barnard Castle, were sorted into their Hogwarts
THE North-East’s biggest council expects to have to cut its spending by more than quarter of a billion pounds by 2019, it announced today (Tuesday, January 6).Financial experts at Durham County Council have been frantically crunching the numbers since
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Northern Echo journalist who went on to carve out a career as a respected television presenter and author. Eileen McCabe, 69, passed away at her home in Whitburn, Sunderland, after a three-year illness following
THE oil industry crisis has intensified after prices fell to a near six-year low, prompting worries over the potential impact on thousands of North-East jobs. Figures show Brent crude is now close to 51 US dollars a barrel (£34), nearing a level
A RESIDENTS’ forum has disbanded after ten years due to a lack of volunteers.Sedgefield Residents’ Forum was set up in 2004 to provide a platform for members of the community to air their views and work together to resolve issues.Since then, it has represented
THERE’S a hint of Doves in this album and it’s not surprising really as Black Rivers are two-thirds of the iconic Manchester band. However, it would do brothers Jez and Andy Williams a great disservice to say they were mere soundalikes. The
A town’s mayor has notched up an impressive centenary after donating his 100th pint of blood to the transfusion service.Mayor of Northallerton, councillor John Forrest is encouraging other people to do the same in the hope of boosting donations.Cllr Forrest
DARLINGTON Borough Council has called on residents to complete a short survey giving their views on proposals to create a combined authority for the Tees Valley. Consultation on the plans to create a legal body jointly representing Darlington, Stockton
A GROUP of motorcyclists have taken to the countryside to raise money for charity while at the same time demonstrating their right to use low-grade roads.Organiser Peter Jennings said he and more than 50 other Enduro motorcyclists met at Tennants Auctioneers
DETECTIVES are hunting a two thieves who convinced a woman they could sense 'black magic' around her presence and promising to cure it before stealing her jewellery.The two suspects approached a 40-year-old woman as she was shopping in Middlesbrough town
RHYS WILLIAMS has undergone surgery today as he looks to begin his latest road back to recovery with Middlesbrough.The Australian defender has ruptured his Achilles for the second time in just under a year, although a scan has revealed it is unrelated
PLANS have been submitted for a new building for a Coundon primary school.The Secretary of State wants permission from Durham County Council to provide a new single-storey block with new entrance and car park at St Joseph’s RC Primary School, on Victoria
A BODY found floating off the North Yorkshire coast has been identified – a quarter-of-a-century after it was pulled from the water.A cold-case investigation – and major advances in DNA profiling – have finally given a name to a man who drowned in Scarborough
A STUDENT has won a prestigious award from a housing organisation.Charlotte Hope won the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Partnership Prize for the exam results she achieved while studying for a Foundation Degree in Housing and Communities at New
STING'S Broadway musical The Last Ship is set to close just three months after opening its doors. The show, inspired by the singer's memories of growing up in the North-East, opened in late October to mixed reviews and has struggled at the box
INVESTIGATORS have found it took a police force ten months to react after being passed intelligence about 25 suspects over online child abuse. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said preliminary inquiries had revealed one of the
CROSSINGS on the remodelled Darlington inner ring road are "an accident waiting to happen", according to a frustrated pedestrian. Since the £3.7m roadworks project on the A167 St Cuthberts Way, pedestrians waiting to use the new crossings are having
The Lithuania's Got Talent live show ended in bloody disaster when the world's worst knife-thrower hit his assistant's hand. The contestant was aiming at a melon on his partner's head but drew blood with a particularly wayward shot. The audience
STUDENTS are being given new officiating and coaching opportunities after their school has been recognised with leadership academy status.St John’s RC School and Sixth Form, in Bishop Auckland, is one of only a select group of schools to receive the sports
A TEESSIDE council has backed a campaign to increase social housing which would allow it to borrow more money to build.Hartlepool Borough Council has pledged support for Social Housing Under Threat (Shout), a cross-party campaign to increase the number
POLICE are seeking a motorist who got out of his car and punched the windscreen of another vehicle after a row. Around 5.15pm on Thursday, December 18, a red Peugeot 206 and a grey Vauxhall Corsa were involved in an incident near to the roundabout
DUNCAN Bannatyne has appointed a new executive to fill the vacancy left by the arrest of his former finance director.Accountant Ken Campling has stepped into the role at the Darlington-based Bannatyne Group, replacing Christopher Watson who is being investigated
STEVE McCLAREN has ruled himself out of the running to be Newcastle United's new head coach and publicly insisted he will not be leaving Derby County. McClaren had been the favourite to replace Alan Pardew at St James' Park, with a number of influential
First column of 2015, here’s hoping this year brings about a Darlington promotion. I’m pleased to be back writing a column after a couple of weeks break. I have a friend in Australia who is on at me every day: “Where is your column, Busted? Why haven
With Middlesbrough due to travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round, a debate has started over whether a protracted cup run is a help or hindrance to a Championship side targeting promotion. Michael Ramsay assesses both sides of the debate
A MUSEUM in the region has become one of the first in the country to put details of its collection on-line for all to access at any time.The Yorkshire Museum Trust in York has put details of 160,000 objects on-line – 50,000 complete with photographs.It
THERE are still four months to go and the election campaign is already heading down a well-worn path. The Tories say Labour can't be trusted with public spending, while Labour says the Tories can't be trusted with the National Health Service.Ed Miliband
Two former soldiers talk candidly about their battle to adjust to civilian life after the traumas of military service. Philip Buckingham reports “IF I’D have put a foot wrong, I wouldn’t be here.” A veteran of 12 tours of Northern Ireland between
A TEACHER who demonstrated a "seriously flawed" understanding of his professional responsibilities by driving a schoolboy to a farm field for sex has been banned from teaching. A National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) panel said it
WORKERS at a wax jacket maker are continuing strike action as they battle with management over contract changes. More than 60 warehouse staff at J Barbour and Sons, in Gateshead, have walked out, claiming the firm has cut unsociable hours payments
POLICE believe do not believe a primary school whose website was hacked by apparent Islamic extremists was deliberately targeted. The homepage of Sowerby Primary School, near Thirsk, was replaced by a message purporting to come from an Islamist
THREE officers have received a top honour following an investigation which led to the jailing of a sex offender for 19 years.The trio - Detective Sergeant Ian Haddick, Detective Constable Olwyn Edgar and PC Anna Mitchell – all members of the force’s safeguarding
IN its first ruling of 2015, the North East Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to hold interest rates as the Bank of England gears up for an interesting year, with rates expected to increase.Interest rates have remained at the historically
NORTHUMBERLAND group The Unthanks return with their first album in four years. Based on the themes of a one-verse traditional song from a book of tunes from Dorset, the album is written by pianist, producer and husband of singer Rachel Unthank,
THE Archbishop of Canterbury and former Bishop of Durham Justin Welby will return to the region to receive an honorary degree from its top university later this week (Friday, January 9).The 59-year-old leader of the worldwide Anglican church, who was
A CHARITY is asking people to help struggling members of their community this year.Lifeline Community Action is urging those who listed charity work among their New Year’s resolutions to consider supporting its Helping Hands project.The project arranges
ONE of the region’s housing groups is celebrating after being named as one of The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-for-Profit Organisations to Work For.North Star Housing Group, based in Barnard Castle, has been awarded Best Companies 3 Star Accreditation, the
A HUGE water turbine has started generating electricity from the River Wear.A 13m-long, 20-tonne Archimedean screw was installed alongside on river in Durham city centre last May, as part of the £27m redevelopment of Durham’s former ice rink site – previously
A FORMER footballer whose life spiralled into bouts of heavy drinking died due to a combination of drink and prescription drugs, an inquest heard.Martin Garratt, who played for York City, Mansfield Town and Lincoln City, died at a house in Middlesbrough
PLANS for a private gypsy site have been refused by planning officials. The application included plans for two two mobile homes, two touring caravans and an amenity building on land at Aycliffe Lane, in Brafferton, on the outskirts of Darlington
BLACKADDER star Rowan Atkinson is to star in hit TV show inspired by a North-East author - this time as Henry VIII. The actor has signed up to guest star on the hit children's sketch TV show Horrible Histories. Ben Miller and Sanjeev Bhaskar
HOUSE of Fraser has reported a record Christmas boosted by a strong performance from Black Friday promotions at the end of November.The department store chain, which includes Binns in Darlington and branches in Middlesbrough and Gateshead Metrocentre,
A MUSEUM that is home to an iconic public urinal has taken delivery of an outside toilet door. Beamish, the open air museum that records the region’s industrial heritage, houses the famous Westoe Netty, which featured in a well-known painting by
THE Methodist chapel in my village closed last Sunday. A notice outside might well have had the chapel’s founders turning in their graves. “Parking – All Three Pubs”. Yes, the trio of alcohol purveyors, probably the unholiest of Trinities to the chapel
THIS month’s Jack Frost Stages Rally, organised by Darlington and District Motor Club, looks like getting the 2015 motorsport calendar off to a flying start with more than 80 crews already confirmed.Some of the leading names in the country will join a
Further to the letter by Tony Pattison regarding bin collection changes over the Christmas and New Year period (HAS, Jan 2). The official Darlington Council website carries on its opening page a link to the revised collection days. This can be
IT is good to see Charlotte Bull (HAS, Jan 3) wanting to discuss the funding of Ukip. I made a quick search on Google and it quickly became apparent that Ukip is indeed reliant on wealthy benefactors like Jon Moulton as I suggested in my letter
Abattoir stench AS we reflect on our Christmas and the good times we had, spare a thought for the people of Boosbeck who lost their Christmas in the stench of death and disembowelled bodies that pervaded their village (Echo, Jan 5). At this time
BY common consent Phil Neville, the former England and Manchester United player, wasn't a great success as a commentator during the 2014 World Cup. But fear not because in 2015 his rehabilitation is in full swing. In the weekend just gone he
I FULLY realise I am covering old ground and understand I won't make a lot of difference but every time I pass Bishop Auckland Hospital my heart bleeds due to the sheer waste of facilities and resources. The running costs such as heating, maintenance
POLICE investigating a Newcastle shop theft have released a CCTV image of a man they need to speak to. It happened around 8am on Saturday, November 29, when alcohol was stolen from Sainsbury's at Newburn Road in Throckley. Anyone who recognises
A SERIES of early morning raids have been carried out across two North-East towns as suspected Class A drug dealers were targeted. Cleveland Police forced entry to six addresses in Middlesbrough and Darlington as officers targeted people suspected
MEMBERS of the Darlington Women's Club heard about the interesting history of many of our favourite Christmas carols at their most recent meeting. James Mitchell of the National English Opera Company attended the meeting to give a talk and also led members
POPPY appeal organisers in Bedale, Aiskew and the surrounding area say they’ve been overwhelmed by the response to this year’s event with the final total over £10,000.Organiser Mike Lowe said it was the highest amount ever raised, up over 30 per cent
GROWTH in the UK’s services sector has slowed with new business rising at its weakest rate for more than a year-and-a-half, a report has revealed.A Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index said the industry recorded a figure of 55.8 in December, down from
NINETEEN years after its innovative, trail-blazing debut, pathology and forensics drama Silent Witness returns for five two-part stories. Emilia Fox who plays Dr Nikki Alexander agreed to be examined about her ten years in the series. What initially
A FIRE engine had to take an elderly woman to hospital and ambulances have been queuing outside A&E, as the immense pressure at York Hospital shows little sign of easing. Many non-urgent operations continue to be postponed and a major incident
AN organic dairy is exploring pastures new as it takes its green ethos to the supermarket shelves with a rejuvenated look.Acorn Dairy has put its pin-up milkers Ruby, Matilda and Katy out to grass after serving the brand since 2009.Acorn products and
A MAN with no criminal record went on a “silly” spree trying to take vehicles, a court was told.Steven Mark Linn, 21, admitted one charge of attempted robbery and three of attempted theft, all relating to different vehicles.The robbery attempt was a bid
ONE of the country's leading full service mailing houses is creating at least 10 jobs including two apprenticeships after continuing to grow the business.MetroMail already employs 220 people at its facility on Fox Cover Enterprise Park in Seaham, County
THE number of first-time buyers climbing onto the property ladder jumped by more than a fifth last year to stand at a seven-year high, figures today revealed.The Halifax First Time Buyer Review said the number of buyers joining the UK property market
MIDDLESBROUGH crashed out of the Under-21s Premier League Cup after they were made to pay for an awful start against Stoke City at Victoria Park. Boro had Bradley Fewster, who has returned early from a season-long loan at Preston, and Hartlepool-born
FANS of the classic children’s story The Railway Children can meet the steam engine stars of the TV and film versions of the tale.Staff at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum in Shildon will host a winter gala based round Edith Nesbit’s story.Among
A COALITION of 30 groups, ranging from English Heritage and Natural England to local history societies, will learn late next year if lottery bosses approve its action plan to highlight the impact an explosion of industrialisation had on the North York
ORGANISERS of the third Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon say they expect the final places in this year's 26.2-mile challenge around York to be taken shortly after they go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday, January 7).The event, which will be staged on Sunday, October
A BIG fall in the number of apprentices across the region embarrassed the Government yesterday (Monday, Jan 5), as the general election starting gun was fired. Only 34,040 people started a Government-backed apprenticeship scheme in 2013-14, a decline
PUPILS switched schools for a day to take part in a computing day following a recent curriculum change.Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, which is a lead school in the Computing at School’s Network of Excellence, showed their Year 5 and 6 guests from
A YOUNG fashion designer inspired by the likes of Alexander McQueen and Versace has showcased his debut collection at a London fashion show.Seventeen-year-old Isaac Hall Nixon from Crook, County Durham, as invited to the Pullman hotel on Euston Road,
POLICE are trying to trace diners who walked out of a restaurant without paying for their meals.It happened between 6.30 and 7.30pm on Thursday, December 18, when a group of five women left Pizzeria Francesca, at Manor House Road in Jesmond, Newcastle
A MAN suffered a head injury and a pub and car were damaged when trouble flared following Sunderland’s FA Cup victory over Leeds United.Police were called to reports of a fight between Sunderland and Leeds fans outside the Wheatsheaf pub in Roker Avenue
AN investigation is underway after a rock was thrown through the rear window of a house on New Year’s Eve.The damage was caused to a property on Aged Miners Homes, Willington, County Durham, overnight between Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January
VETERAN comedian Arthur Smith will bring his new show to the region later this month (Friday, January 30).The compere, playwright, comic and star of radio’s Loose Ends and The Smith Lectures and television’s Grumpy Old Men will take his The House of Fun
A CHILD abuser who carried his guilt for years before confessing to police was last night starting an eight-year prison sentence. John Plews initially broke his silence after contacting a mental health crisis team and telling them he was suicidal
A MIDDLESBROUGH sailor has celebrated his formal commissioning as a Royal Navy Officer on parade at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC).Midshipman Michael Kilgallon was one of about 130 officer cadets who took part in the parade, watched by their families
A NORTH-EAST conductor who has achieved global acclaim will be returning to his hometown to explore America and the evocative music of its states.John Wilson’s latest appearance with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, at Sage Gateshead, at 3pm on Sunday (January
A DISTINCTIVE and valuable dinner set was stolen during a New Year’s Eve burglary. The break-in happened at a house on Oakley Green, in West Auckland, between 8.20pm and 10.50pm.The Imari Crown Derby crockery, which is valued at about £3,000, was taken
A MAN at the wheel of a car taken without authority carried on despite driving over a ‘stinger’ device deployed by police in a bid to deflate his tyres.Hayden David Bowers was in an Audi A4, previously reported as being taken from an address in Butterknowle
A CHURCH-GOER has stolen an 87-year-old worshipper’s purse as the congregation took their seats for a service.The victim, who had left her handbag unattended and open on a pew at the United Reformed Church, in Whitby, had brought a few pounds of her pension
STUDENTS can take a big step on the career ladder with a new apprenticeship.New College Durham, in Durham City, has become one of the first colleges in the UK to run a podiatry apprenticeship.Would-be podiatrists hoping to get a foot in the door can study
A STUDENT is planning on swapping the stage for the courtroom as he enters the final year of his law degree.Singer Chris Tame is currently combining study with his singing career, which has evolved from social club gigs as a teenager to corporate events
A FACTORY worker whose horse was so weak it had to be euthanised has been banned from keeping equines for five years.The male piebald cob, named Little Gangster, was rescued by the RSPCA from a field it shared with about a dozen other horses in Shildon
A CAMPAIGN to reinstate former Heart North East radio presenters Gary Philipson and Lisa Shaw has attracted more than 2,000 supporters on Facebook.Father-of-three Shaun Hope, from Willington, County Durham, launched the campaign after the popular breakfast
A FORTY-STRONG team will tour two North-East towns this weekend in an innovative fundraising initiative. For the fifth year members of Darlington Rotary Club will collect redundant Christmas trees from homes around Darlington and Newton Aycliffe in return
A MUSEUM that is home to an iconic public urinal has taken delivery of an outside toilet door.Beamish, the open air museum that records the region’s industrial heritage, houses the famous Westoe Netty, which featured in a well-known painting by artist
THE people of Thornaby could be asked if they want to leave Stockton Borough Council in a postal vote to be held as early as next month.The poll will be organised and paid for by Thornaby Town Council at an early estimated cost of about £18,000 and the
The search has begun for the new leader of the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live. The show has now become the biggest agricultural event in England and one of the most important in Europe and applications are now being
A SCOUT group is celebrating after a receiving funding to pay for a new laptop to record their activities and achievements.County councillor Charlie Kay donated £500 from his members’ initiative fund to pay for the new technology for the 1st Leeholme
A GOVERNMENT planning inspector has ruled that a supermarket can erect a brightly-coloured totem pole-style sign at its entrance, despite councillors saying it would spoil the look of a nearby conservation area.Asda said it was pleased Hambleton District
NEWCASTLE UNITED are drawing up a four-man shortlist in the search for Alan Pardew’s successor – and are keen to land a progressive and relatively young head coach.The Magpies have considered a number of options since allowing Pardew to move to Crystal
A RUNNING club is seeking 100 athletes to take part in a centenary parkrun.A five kilometre parkrun takes part at Hackworth Park, in Shildon, County Durham, every Saturday from 9am.The 100th parkrun at Shildon takes place on Saturday, February 7 at 9am.Normally
When a woman is feeling down there is nothing quite like a get together with the girls to lift her spirits. Whether it is setting the world to rights over tea and cake, swapping craft tips or lending a sympathetic ear – friendship is often the best form
TRIBUTES for a North Yorkshire businessman who was part of the “fabric of his community” have been pouring in since his death last week. Richard Preston, founder and chairman of Prestons of Potto haulage firm, died on December 30 aged 81 following
PLANS to erect two electronic advertising screens at a historic railway station are at risk of hitting the buffers.JCDecaux UK wants to install one 2.3m-high digital advertising screen near each of the two platforms at the 1857-built, Grade II-listed
A COMMUNITY centre may be forced to turn children away from its youth clubs after its latest fundraising bids were unsuccessful.Trimdon Station Community Centre will no longer be able to allow children without subs to take part in its youth sessions after
THE understanding most people have of online sexual abuse of children is like the activity itself - distant, intangible, even other worldly. Hearing from a father who learned that his 13-year-old son had been groomed online then sexually assaulted
PLANS for a new housing estate have been condemned by neighbours and councillors who warn access onto the site will be “horrendous”.Hambleton District Council's planning committee is set to approve the estate of 41 new houses at Aiskew, near Bedale, despite
VISITORS to a Victorian Park will see the first tangible signs of a £3m restoration project this weke, when workers move in to pull down a park keeper’s house.Demolition of the structure at Durham City’s Wharton Park is expected to take two weeks, with
WORK is to begin on creating a new 300-job superstore in May. Morrisons won planning permission to open a new 6,000sq metre food store at Durham City Retail Park, in Dragonville, Durham City, in October and hopes to be open by next Christmas.
YOUNG people are being reminded they need to act fast if they want to bid for grants of up to £3,000 to help them organise activities or events.A limited amount of funding is on offer from Hartlepool Council’s youth support service and must be used to
MEMBERS of the Barnard Castle Rugby Union Football Club are welcoming in the New Year with a cash boost that will allow them to improve their outdoor space.The club, on Birch Road, can now look into plans for the work after they received a £4,000 grant
ENGLAND’S chief inspector of hospitals is urging people to tell his inspectors what they think of the services provided by a North-East mental health trust.The plea from Professor Sir Mike Richards was made ahead of a week-long scheduled inspection of
FASHION retailer Bank, which operates 84 stores and employs 1,555 staff, has gone into administration, Deloitte said today. The struggling retailer was offloaded by JD Sports in November. A further sale is still possible and several parties have
A CHARITY boss has thanked kind hearted people for raising funds for them after their vehicle was badly damaged in a hit and run incident. The eight-seater Citroen car belonging to Zoe’s Place, in Normanby, Middlesbrough, was parked up on Headlam
A HAVE-a-go hero suffered facial injuries when he was jumped by a gang for trying to protect his friend. The 21-year-old from Durham was waiting at a taxi rank near Newcastle railway station with his girlfriend and another friend when a group of
POLICE have arrested 11 people and seized drugs and cash worth more than £140,000 in a campaign against organised criminals. Since Operation Boomerang was launched in October in the Consett and Burnhope areas, eight magistrate's warrants have been
A NEW vicar for two Darlington parishes has been appointed by the Bishop of Durham. The Rev David Railton will take over as vicar of Blackwell All Saints and Salutation and Coniscliffe in April, replacing The Very Reverend John Dean who left the post
A LANDMARK church needs to raise about £50,000 for a new boiler system - and members are calling on the community to help.St Cuthbert’s Church in Darlington has not had its heating system updated since 1976 and at times it has got so cold that services
Broadchurch (ITV, 9pm) ORIGINALLY, there seemed no way back for David Tennant and Olivia Coleman as detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, with the former suffering ill-health and the latter facing the prospect of starting a new life because the
A HOSTEL for homeless people waiting for permanent accommodation has opened its doors after a £90,000 refurbishment.Richmondshire District Council's George Nickling House in Colburn was officially re-opened by chairman of the council, Cllr Russell Lord
DETECTIVES have appealed for details about cold callers offering to carry out work over the New Year period, following a string of burglaries in Ripon and Knaresborough.Police said on January 2, a house on Park Gate, Knaresborough was broken into and
ARMED police, dogs and a helicopter were called in to deal with a suspected stabbing in a quiet rural village last night (Sunday, January 4). Armed response officers attended a house in the usually peaceful community in Esh Winning, County Durham
A BUSINESSMAN whose boarded-up former pub has been described as a “glaring eyesore” has confirmed it has been sold.Walter Cook said Darlington Borough Council had been unhelpful in his efforts to revamp The Speedwell pub, which closed three years ago.The
TWO young musicians can be forgiven for blowing their own trumpet after achieving the highest grade possible early in their careers. Fellow band members, and students with Durham Music Service, Matthew Robinson and Shannon Webb have each achieved
PATIENTS who failed to turn up for their hospital appointments cost the North-East NHS an estimated £7.8m in a single year, according to new statistics.In a 12 month period up to September 2014 a total of 65,373 patients failed to turn up for their first
A NEW service is available for anyone in County Durham that needs someone to talk to.Silver Talk has been launched to provide free social chat to anyone aged over 55 living in the region.A volunteer will make a call to the person on a set day and time
LITERACY charity Beanstalk has issued an urgent call for volunteers to help more North-East children learn to read this year.Each Beanstalk reading helper works with three children within their community and sees each child for two 30 minute sessions
A TEENAGE apprentice who was named a county’s first tourism superstar is now in the running for the national award.Matthew Henderson beat off competition from much more experienced and high-ranking tourism professionals to claim the title of Visit County
A UNION official has said hospital staff are "at breaking point, with queues of ambulances expected outside hospitals. Unison Yorkshire regional organiser Ray Gray said ambulances were likely to queue outside Scarborough Hospital later today but
THE links between 21st Century Teesside and ancient Finnish mythology is being explored in a new book released two Middlesbrough writers.Named after the Holy Grail of Finnish legend, Andy Willoughby and Bob Beagrie's book "Sampo: Heading Further
A RECYCLING company is creating jobs as it continues to expand.J&B Recycling says it will strengthen its workforce and target new contracts after extending its Hartlepool headquarters.Bosses say the firm has cleared a neighbouring nine-metre high rubbish
NORTH-EAST businesses are going into 2015 with renewed optimism, a report has claimed.The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) says its final 2014 Quarterly Economic Survey shows more firms are operating at full capacity and creating jobs.The chamber
THE UK's largest dry-cleaning chain said it will close more than a third of its stores this year in a move set to impact on hundreds of jobs.Johnson Service Group plans to close 109 of its 307 Johnson Cleaners branches as it continues a shift away from
DURHAM Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg, is asking the public to give him views on his refreshed Police and Crime Plan for 2015-17.There are several ways members of the public can submit their views including completing a short consultation online
BUDGET airline Ryanair saw shares hit an all-time high after a drive to improve its image helped attract a million extra passengers last month. The Dublin-based carrier said passenger numbers in December jumped 20 per cent on a year before to 6.02
LUXURY car company Rolls-Royce has revealed the highest annual sales in its 111-year history. The carmaker delivered a record 4,063 cars in 2014 - up 12 per cent on its 2013 total and the fifth year in a row it has increased sales. Last year's
THE Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership and the Friends of the North Pennines are working together to roll out a ‘Donate a Gate’ scheme across Teesdale and the wider North Pennines area. The idea behind the scheme is to make the area’s popular footpaths
EX-Sunderland Ladies midfielder Jordan Nobbs has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.The England international, daughter of Hartlepool United legend Keith Nobbs, joined the Gunners from the Lady Black Cats in 2010 and has since scored 20 goals
POLICE were called to check on a man who thought he had climbed into his own car to sleep.A man in his twenties, who had been out celebrating in York, climbed into what he thought was his vehicle in the early hours to have a nap, but the car, parked
A MAN has been taken to hospital after his car overturned this morning (January 5).Police were called to the incident on the A181 near Wheatley Hill, at about 9am, after the Mini Cooper ended up on its side on what locals know as the Pit Pony Roundabout.An
BRANDON ABC has only been in existence for two years, but the County Durham club is celebrating winning the inaugural awards for Tyne, Tees and Wear Club and Coach of the Year. Led by Richie Boyle Snr, the amateur club in the Deerness Valley faced
WAITING times in accident and emergency departments in England have plummeted to their worst levels in more than a decade, with just 92.6 per cent of patients being seen within four hours. NHS England released records showing it has failed to meet
A MAN called in at a police station to report a stolen iPhone - and had his bike nicked. Adam Wisneki cycled to Shakespeare District police station in Chicago to report his stolen phone but didn't have a lock with him and asked officers if he could
AN air ambulance was seconds away from colliding in mid-air with a plane performing aerobatic spinning manoeuvres that had safety equipment switched off, it has emerged. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) helicopter had been cruising at 1,519ft
THE administrators of delivery company City Link have sold more than £1m of assets to rival DX Group. DX announced it had bought scanners and cages as well as certain intellectual property for £1.125m. The firm, which floated on the London
MIDDLESBROUGH’S plans to keep Serbian Milos Veljkovic on Teesside have intensified after learning Rhys Williams will be fortunate to play again this season. The true extent of Williams’ latest injury heartache is likely to be determined in the
NEWCASTLE UNITED are drawing up a four-man shortlist in the search for Alan Pardew’s successor – and are keen to land a progressive and relatively young head coach. The Magpies have considered a number of options since allowing Pardew to move to
The UK's largest dry-cleaning chain said it will close more than a third of its stores this year in a move set to impact on hundreds of jobs. Johnson Service Group plans to close 109 of its 307 Johnson Cleaners branches as it continues a shift
TO most people associated with Sunderland, November’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace was one of the high points of the season so far. For full-back Patrick van Aanholt, however, it represented one of the darkest moments of his career. As he attempted
A MAJOR incident has been declared at a North Yorkshire hospital in response to unprecedented demand for its services. York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has urged the public to only attend the A&E at Scarborough Hospital in an emergency
WITH a new sporting year having started, a clutch of talented North-East youngsters are hoping to make their mark in 2015. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson highlights eight emerging talents who will be hoping to make their breakthrough over the course
The Northern Echo rounds up the latest transfer window news involving Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough NEWCASTLE IT started off as a long list, but it’s getting shorter by the day. Newcastle’s search for a new head coach continues apace
A LORRY and a van were destroyed in a fire on an industrial estate last night (Monday, January 5). The blaze caused several explosions but firefighters had the situation under control. The alarm was raised at 9.29pm and a fire crew from Durham
AN earthquake struck Leyburn in North Yorkshire - but fortunately the earth failed to move for anyone! Was earthquake actually a quarry blast? Doubts emerge over Yorkshire Dales tremor The British Geological Survey, said the quake,
