NEWCASTLE UNITED hit a dramatic late winner to reach the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup at the expense of North-East neighbours Middlesbrough at the Riverside.The Magpies had earlier taken the lead in the tenth minute when Jamie Cobain was on hand three
A MAN has died tonight after falling from the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle. Police were called at around 7.50pm and a section of the road on Akenside Hill was closed while emergency services responded. The man was taken to the Royal Victoria infirmary
A MAN is tonight in custody after police found a number of suspicious chemicals inside his home. As a precaution the bomb disposal squad were called to the address in Cramlington, Northumberland, where they carried out checks on the liquids.
A MAN attracted to images of boys being abused was spared an immediate prison sentence to ensure he receives the necessary sexual offender treatment.Police seized a computer and memory stick containing the offending material from Norman Frank Fletcher
REJECTING plans to build 130 homes on the edge of Saltburn has been welcomed by the town’s MP after councillors went against officers’ advice and refused the controversial development. Taylor Wimpey was seeking outline permission to construct a
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew insists his turbulent relationship with Newcastle fans had no bearing on his move to Selhurst Park but said it was the right time - both for him and the Magpies - to leave the club. Supporters on Tyneside called
A CONSULTATION is underway to merge two schools for primary pupils. Shotley Bridge Junior School and Shotley Bridge Infant School are to amalgamate under the plans, but will continue to use both sites. Durham County Council intends to
URBAN and contemporary art inspired by the streets and people of the region feature in a gallery’s first exhibition of the year.With Showcase 2015, The Bob Abley Gallery at Spennymoor Town Hall, in Spennymoor, County Durham, will shine a light on the
THE North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership (AONB) is encouraging people to make walking in the countryside their New Year’s resolution.The AONB’s Simon Wilson said the North Pennines was the ideal place to get fit and get out more
A GOVERNMENT minister has been accused of "snubbing" Hartlepool after declining the chance to hear concerns about the future of the town's hospital.There have been long-running worries over the future of the University Hospital of Hartlepool
DURHAM Tees Valley Airport has begun a marketing drive to highlight its links to more than 200 global destinations.The campaign includes a new website at www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com Under the banner It's a Small World, it points out that hundreds
A BAR manager stole alcohol and furniture from his employer because he was angry his boss was thinking of handing the premises over to a new landlord. Wayne Allinson, 35, of Westfield Road, in Bishop Auckland, was the bar manager at Bar 56, on
THE leader of the House of Commons has appeared to show his support for giving Gary Verity a knighthood for the staging of the Tour de France in Yorkshire. William Hague, whose Richmond constituency featured heavily in the last year's Grand Depart
"RACIST" words used on Facebook by a councillor have been slammed by fellow politicians who are calling for her to apologise or resign.Middlesbrough Councillor Joan McTigue was blasted for using derogatory phrases including ‘Paki’, ‘wop’,’ Iti
NOW that a third football club – Oldham Athletic – has bowed to public pressure and stepped away from signing him, convicted rapist Ched Evans has finally expressed some remorse. In a carefully-worded statement, no doubt scripted by a lawyer, he
TRIBUTES have been paid to a devoted mother and grandmother who helped hundreds of pupils during her two decades working in a Darlington school.Ellaine McCoy, 57, joined St Bede’s Primary School as a volunteer teaching assistant in 1991 but such was her
A NEW service allowing people with breathing disorders to be treated with intravenous antibiotics at home has been launched in North Yorkshire.The Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group is piloting a community-based IV service following a year-long
QUARRY bosses hope to have dispelled some of the myths and concerns held by residents about their bid to extend the life of a County Durham site.Lafarge Tarmac will ask Durham County Council to allow it to keep extracting stone from part of its Thrislington
ALAN PARDEW has revealed his reasons for leaving Newcastle United - and suggested his team over-achieved at times during his St James' Park reign. Speaking for the first time since he was appointed Crystal Palace's new manager last week, Pardew
A CAREER criminal who was left with multiple broken bones after being caught by his victim told a court today: "I got what I deserved." Car crook John Miles was tracked down with a stolen Nissan Juke after the owner started a Facebook campaign
A BUSINESS couple have sponsored a handyperson to do jobs around their village for free.John and Ling Valentine, of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, run the vehicle leasing business Ling Cars.Shortly after they moved to the village 18 months ago
A FORGOTTEN war grave has been discovered in an overgrown churchyard.While tidying up Quarrington Hill churchyard, in County Durham, volunteer Billy Jones came across a headstone of Christopher Walker Carlin, saying the 23-year-old fell in action in France
THE SUCCESS of an east Durham school "nails the lie" there is any air of academic defeatism in the region, Labour’s shadow education secretary said today (Thursday, January 8).Tristram Hunt was speaking during a visit to Wellfield Community
A "smartphone" for dogs has been developed to keep pooches connected to their owners. Worn on the collar, the Motorola Scout 5000 streams videos of what pets are up to, monitors their location, and allows owners to speak to them. With a year's
AN inquiry could take place into the collapse of delivery firm City Link, Business Secretary Vince Cable has said.Dr Cable said any investigation will depend on the findings from administrator Ernst and Young.A dozen remaining workers at City Link’s bases
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after almost £100 worth of painkillers were stolen from a Darlington supermarket. The incident took place at around 3.20pm yesterday (Wednesday) when two men entered the Co-op store, in North Road. One of
A DEAL has been struck to prevent the North losing out when trains are controversially swiped to serve Oxfordshire, ministers say.There was uproar, last year, after the decision to withdraw nine locomotives from the TransPennine Express franchise, which
BELEAGUERED shopping giant Tesco will no longer be creating 1,200 jobs in the North-East after announcing four of its proposed developments in the area have been scrapped. Current staff across the region are also facing an uncertain future with
A COMMUNITY charity that cooks and delivers meals to people’s homes wants to recruit a new network of volunteers to offer friendship to isolated residents.In the two years the Dinners to Your Door scheme has been running it has delivered around 7,500
TALENTED musicians descended on The Forum to win the chance to work with a major record company.Island Records, who boast the likes of Jessie J and Robbie Williams on their books, are running a national search for upcoming musical talent and a handful
IN a month when many curb their alcohol intake to reap the health benefits, a county council is publishing its own strategy for tackling alcohol abuse.The North Yorkshire Alcohol Strategy 2014–2019 has been developed by the authority’s public health team
STRIKING workers at North-East based jacket manufacturer Barbour are to stage a march and rally as part of their campaign to resolve a dispute over their employment contracts, including hours. Members of the Unite union will demonstrate in South
A NEW minister has taken the helm at a North-East Baptist church.Reverend Rodney Breckon has taken the reins at Grange Road Baptist Church, in Darlington, after 36 years at Northallerton’s New Life Baptist Church.The 61-year-old was initially appointed
DECLARING children dyslexic may harm their wellbeing and development, a conference heard today (Thursday, January 8).Simon Gibbs, from Newcastle University, said such labels may reduce teachers’ belief in their ability to help such children and be “ultimately
A POPULAR town centre pub has closed unexpectedly. The Fleece, in Richmond, which had a late licence to operate until 3.30am, shut last week after opening on New Year's Eve. Read Joe Willis' Dales Life column: The pub so good the carpet
A DARLINGTON schoolboy put his best dancing foot forward to take home three trophies at the United Dance Organisation’s (UDO) North East Street Dance Championships. Fifteen-year-old Brandon Holloway outmanoeuvred his competitors to be placed first in
THIS exotic parrot is a long, long way from home.The orange-winged Amazon parrot is native to South America but has been spotted in Durham City.Stan Abbott, who saw the bird in his garden, said: “We thought it was a ring-necked parakeet as there are colonies
A MAN has appeared in court charged with stabbing another man in a rural village.Sean Oliver is accused of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to a man in Esh Winning, County Durham, on Sunday (January 4), along with possessing an offensive
A GRANDMOTHER made a last-minute 200-mile dash to support her two daughters as both gave birth six days late.Doreen Worswick, of Rillington, North Yorkshire, was staying with her elder daughter, Kathryn Collins, in London to help her move house before
AITOR Karanka has revealed the Middlesbrough squad is desperate to beat Reading on Saturday and dedicate a win to injured team-mate Rhys Williams. Boro travel to the Madjeski Stadium without the Australian defender, who suffered another serious
THE North-East’s largest council has spent more than £30m since 2010 on payments for those leaving the authority, it has emerged.A document seen by The Northern Echo shows that cumulatively Durham County Council has spent £30.295m since 2010/11 on early
A FESTIVE crackdown on drink and drug driving across England’s largest county led to more than 100 people being arrested.Figures released by police show that almost 3,000 roadside breath tests were carried out in North Yorkshire last month.That is 900
POLICE want to speak to this man following allegations he may have made a racist gesture towards a player at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium. The game on Saturday, November 29, saw Middlesbrough take on Blackburn Rovers. It finished controversially
THE Wear Rivers Trust (WRT) director has won a national award for efforts to breathe new life into the river and bring together the different groups working to improve its environment.Peter Nailon was presented with the 2014 Outstanding Contribution to
APPALLED residents have criticised the council for allowing raw sewage to run down their street, despite several complaints. Soiled toilet paper and human waste can be seen strewn across Bridge Street in Cowshill, Weardale. An underground sewerage
A FORMER Army tank commander has been selected to stand as the Conservative Party candidate for Sedgefield in the general election. If elected, Scott Wood said he will fight for more investment and regeneration projects for the constituency, currently
A SALVATION Army volunteer accused of child sex crimes when he worked as a council grave digger was today (Thursday, January 8)cleared of all the charges against him.Raymond Bennett, 64, kissed his wife and hugged his sons inside the courtroom after being
A BULLYING boyfriend is behind bars for a controlling campaign of terror which left his partner terrified to speak out against him. An experienced domestic violence worker said Michael Saunders's victim was the most badly affected she had seen
INTEREST rates have been held after low inflation and ongoing economic concerns held off a hike.The Bank of England's decision means the UK is heading for six years of rates at the historic low of 0.5 per cent.Inflation is at a 12-year low of one per
DARLINGTON Borough Council has defended its holiday wheelie bin collection service as residents took to social media this week to complain about missed collections and abandoned litter.This Christmas and New Year marked the first since the controversial
FORMER Middlesbrough player Andy Townsend and lead presenter Matt Smith will not be renewing their contracts with ITV Sport once they have expired at the end of the season. It is understood both men will leave the broadcaster in the summer to pursue
THE final stage of the £20m refurbishment of Stockton Town Centre is under way and is expected to be completed by the spring. Soft landscaping is being laid around the water feature in what will be a square by the town hall on the High Street and
CONVICTED rapist Ched Evans has apologised for the events that led to his conviction for rape after his proposed signing for Oldham fell through due to the uproar that has surrounded the negotiations. Sources close to the negotiations have confirmed
MAJOR improvements to a busy Hartlepool road will start next week.Workmen will be on site on the A179 Powlett Road, between Easington Road and Marina Way from Monday (January 12).Powlett Road will be kept open but the adjoining Milbank Road will be closed
AS a Newcastle fan, I was surprised and disappointed at Alan Pardew's departure to Crystal Palace (Echo, Jan 3).Sadly he was never popular with most fans and, barring bringing some long overdue silverware to the club, I don't think that would have ever
WE’VE seen and heard a host of smears on Ukip in recent weeks, which presumably, are set to increase further in the coming months as we get closer to the General Election. The latest has come from Richard Bulmer who suggests Ukip is out to protect
A FEW months ago my wife and I became aware of a new singer constantly being played on the radio and we were struck by the quality of his voice which has a nice rich tone to it. The single being played was called “Budapest” and we were amazed to
MARGARET Thatcher abolished apprenticeships in this country and a number of years later we were short of skilled people, so the Government had to bring in foreign skilled people. With them came their wives and families who we had to provide with
I WAS very lucky to have attended the annual pensioners party at the Black Horse, in Tudhoe, and would like to thank the landlord and landlady Chris Hill and Susan Brannigan for their generosity and kindness which I’m told they totally financed themselves
Work has not dried up for North-East 'Jaws' lookalike Gary Tiplady despite the sad death of Bond baddie Richard Kiel, last year. He talks to Gavin Havery GEORDIE Jaws Gary Tiplady is a busy man, with his work impersonating the steel-toothed villain
IN the Catholic Church when we were being encouraged to support charities like Cafod and the St Vincent De Paul Society that organise food and medical relief in stricken parts of the world, we always used to be urged to “give till it hurts”. Incredible
POLITICS is in turmoil, as party allegiances, campaigning techniques, and maybe even the United Kingdom, fall apart – so why are politicians stuck in a time warp? This year should bring the most exciting and unpredictable election of modern times
It was a strange start to the New Year for us. We played some really good football when we beat Ossett Town 3-0 on New Year’s Day, even I nearly scored in the first half. Kallum scored a spectacular goal, and I almost equalled it with a diving
A RESIDENTS’ association is pulling together an action-packed programme of entertaining activities thanks to a Big Lottery grant.Horndale Residents’ Association, in Newton Aycliffe, has received just under £6,000 to provide community fun days and low
IT was when a teenaged Peter King was helping out at his local cubs group that the penny dropped about what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. “I didn’t have any aspiration to go to university when I left school at 16 and the plan was to
Peter Barron ends the year with a curious experience at a 'hidden gem' in Darlington IT was decided that 2014 should end with a family gathering for lunch. But where? I was working in Darlington so it had to be somewhere handy and my wife had heard
Ashleigh Gray talks to Viv Hardwick about turning green to play Elphaba SOMETHING Wicked this way comes. In this case, it’s a touring version of the best musical in the West End coming to Sunderland in the spring which features the award-winning
Steve Pratt catches up with the so-called good guys of Emily Tierney(Glinda) and Samuel Edwards (Flyero) Emily Tierney knows all there is to know about Glinda, who first turned up as the good witch in The Wizard Of Oz and now takes centre-stage
Helen Brown sets the scene for a historic piece of steam transport history to perform in a classic book adaptation next to Kings Cross station THE much-loved classic British story by Edith Nesbit, The Railway Children, has brought the age of steam
MARKS & Spencer has reported more dire trading for its clothing division after it was beset by online delivery problems and unseasonal weather conditions.The general merchandise division, which includes fashion, posted another quarter of declining sales
Viv Hardwick comments on the worrying plans that the Royal Shakespeare Company has for the NE THE announcement that the Royal Shakespeare Company will bring a schools’ version of Henry V to Newcastle Theatre Royal in June and, this month, starts
Foxcatcher Certificate: 15 Running time: 134 mins Star rating: 3/5 VAST wealth can buy you freedom from the shackles of debt, luxury goods, an aura of power, begrudging respect and thinly veiled jealousy from the people around you.
Whitney Houston Ultimate Edition THE world mourned for a soul diva when Whitney Houston was found dead, at the age of 48, in February 2012. As fans prepare to mark the third anniversary of this tragic date, this Ultimate Edition release, featuring
Into the Woods Certificate: PG Running time: 125 mins Star rating: 4/5 TRADITIONALLY in fairytales, the bedraggled heroine wins her dashing prince, evil stepmothers get their comeuppance and abducted children escape the clutches of
WHO said romance was dead? Michael and Gail the hamster are having a stroll, not hand-in-hand as they’ve been to the chippie and are clutching fish suppers. Now they’re walking the cobbles eating fish and chips out of a plastic container with a wooden
WHAT’S ON: Royal Northern Sinfonia Chamber: From These Isles at Sage Gateshead, at 8pm tonight. Holst Wind Quintet, Stanford Serenade and Elgar Piano Quintet. Box office: 0191-443-4661. REVIEWS: Louis Glass: Complete Symphonies Vol 1 (CPO777525
A NEW year of folk begins, and looking at the list of coming attractions for the months ahead, it looks like being another great adventure in music for local audiences over the next 12 months. Highlights this week include The Mighty Doonans, making
Willie Nelson-Willie's Stash Volume 1 (Legacy Recordings) BEFORE any doubt is thrown on the title of Willie Nelson's latest offering, the stash refers to performances of songs recorded with his sister Bobbie that they have loved playing together
WHAT’S ON: Friday, The Slowlight Quartet, Saltburn Community Hall, 01287-624-997. Sunday, Jazztones and friends, Forum Music Centre, Darlington, 01325-363-135. CD Reviews: Abdullah Ibrahim/The Song is My Story (Intuition INT34422) The renowned
SUPERMARKET Tesco has said it will close 43 unprofitable stores across the UK - a "significant proportion" of which will be local convenience shops.The firm is also shelving plans to open a further 49 new "very large" stores.Additionally
It may be one of the oldest and overused clichés in football, but Gary Brown has no problem with taking Darlington’s promising season one game at a time.Their position at the top of the table appears healthy, with Quakers level on points with Northwich
THE Melbourne Renegades succeeded where the England selectors have failed yesterday by recognising that batting is Ben Stokes's stronger suit.Following the astonishing decision to leave him out of the England World Cup squad, theDurham all-rounder was
JOHN CARVER will remain in caretaker charge of Newcastle United for Saturday’s game at Chelsea – and the former assistant has been told to work on the assumption that he could also find himself presiding over the following weekend’s home game with Southampton.Newcastle
CRAIG LIDDLE is confident Middlesbrough’s youngsters will not suffer a second bout of stage-fright when they host North-East neighbours Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup this evening.A decent crowd is expected at the Riverside,
The Northern Echo rounds up the latest transfer window news involving Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough NEWCASTLE There’s always a problem when you start writing a transfer round-up involving the North-East teams – namely, they
NORTH-EAST housebuilder Barratt will create 600 jobs across the region in 2015 as construction bosses spoke of growing confidence in an industry ravaged by recession.The Newcastle-founded company has launched a recruitment drive for bricklayers, electricians
A GRAVE digger accused of abusing two girls in his cemetery cabin and another at his home told a jury : "I don't know what's in their heads."Raymond Bennett - a 64-year-old former county councillor and Salvation Army volunteer - said he could
A NEW YEAR with a fresh start for the region’s European Tour golfers and 2015 provides one or two with perhaps more hope than the others of a savouring a little bit of glory. While last year turned out to be quite memorable for Graeme Storm and
BREAST cancer clinics are set to return to Darlington almost a year after they were controversially suspended – but at the expense of the clinic at Bishop Auckland Hospital.Bosses at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust have decided that
THE Government is being urged to improve payments to small companies after an official report found delays across the public sector.The National Audit Office (NAO) said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were paid more quickly by the government than
THE mother of a disabled girl with life-threatening health problems has revealed how delays getting an ambulance have left her facing "terrifying" waits for critical medical help. Joanne Redfearn believes her experiences show the NHS in the North-East
MANUFACTURERS have shrugged off signs of a slowdown in UK growth to report healthier domestic and export orders at the end of 2014.The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said its quarterly economic survey showed businesses were well placed to grow this
THE youngest of the three suspects being hunted after the killing of 12 people in Paris handed himself in in the early hours of this morning, according to reports in France. Police have made another six arrests, believed to be associates or relatives
DISADVANTAGED children in North Yorkshire will be given a better start in life after more funding was allocated for their education.The county has been chosen as one of just seven areas in the country to be given a head start with the Government’s new
