THERE has been much correspondence of late in HAS on the subject of fly tipping. Living in Bishop Auckland, I've seen a lot of the results of this odious practice first-hand. The Dam Head area in Bishop Auckland used to be a bit of a beauty
AS a constituent of the Easington district I would like to convey a message of thanks to my MP, Grahame Morris, for his support of those workers who took part in industrial action on July 10 over pay. Mr Morris made it very clear he supported the
I WAS a little surprised to see that the Redcar's MP, Ian Swales, has decided not to contest the forthcoming General Election for personal reasons. You might find it a little strange that I am sad to see him go, but I was looking forward to debating
A PRESS cutting from February 15, 1968, solves the mystery of who opened Bishop baths. Sadly, it was not Diana Rigg. The ceremony was carried out by Alderman J Middlewood on February 8, the baths having opened to the public on October 19 1967.
IN the report (Echo, Jan 21) about Colin Race's switch to Ukip while a member of Bishop Auckland Town Council, he is reported as asking: "How are my kids meant to get a job when our political class supports open-door mass immigration from 27 other
THIS is an open letter to Roberta Blackman-Woods, the MP for Durham. As one of your constituents I feel you need to ask secretary of state for education Nicky Morgan why she has acted extremely hastily on her decision to punish the Durham Free
WITH the Oscar ceremony coming up Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his favourite film is Lawrence of Arabia. An apt choice, as his party have turned many parts of Britain into a barren desert. His deputy Nick Clegg lists Kung Fu Panda
The NHS, is stretched, that is a fact. The NHS receives a lot of negative publicity - again, a fact. I have just spent three days and nights on ward two of the University Hospital of North Durham. The staff on this ward were absolutely
I CRINGED at the reasons given by Bishop Auckland councillor Colin Race for defecting from Labour to Ukip (Echo, Jan 21). He proclaims his continuing support for working families yet he joins Ukip. He is clearly unaware that there is already
A TEENAGER aiming to win Miss England is seeking public votes to help her win a place in the semi-final of the competition. Student Kaitlyn Hemmings, 17, of Lumley Crescent, Ferryhill, in County Durham, aims to secure the title as a first step
A FORMER North Yorkshire councillor has been selected to contest a parliamentary seat in the West Midlands. Wendy Morton has been chosen as the Tory candidate for the safe Conservative seat of Aldridge-Brownhills, near Walsall. Mrs Morton,
A BOY who was hit by a bus on his way to school in York is doing well in hospital, police have said.The 11-year-old, who was riding his bike to a nearby secondary school, was hit by the number four service on Tadcaster Road near to the junction with Pulleyn
A NORTH-EAST runner has told of his pride at taking the GB team captain's armband from Mo Farah.Middlesbrough's Jonathan Taylor took Farah's place as captain of Team GB at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country race earlier this month and went on to finish
THIEVES stole ten chickens in a fowl incident this weekend. Police are appealing for information following the theft of the Black Rock chickens, taken from an allotment to the rear of Middleton Lane in Middleton-St-George, Darlington. It is
EIGHTY jobs are set to be axed at two York businesses as managers strive to cut costs and address trading challenges.The potential redundancies are looming at Portasilo and Portastor, two sister companies based at Huntington and employing about 250 staff.A
A WELL-respected journalist who was responsible for establishing Yorkshire’s regional news programme, Look North, has died aged 81.Bill Greaves was editor of Look North when the programme began broadcasting under in 1968, based in an old church hall in
A GUEST locomotive is heading back to a museum to take part in a Railway Children themed Winter Steam Gala.Staff at Locomotion: The national Railway Museum at Shildon will welcome back Joem which is owned by the North-East Locomotive Preservation Trust
A ROW has broken out after a Question Time-style political debate was cancelled at a university because it's thought that organisers failed to abide by Charity Commission rules.Labour Society members tried to organise the debate at Teesside University's
ANDY MURRAY extended one impressive streak and will need to maintain another to keep his bid for a third grand slam title on course in the Australian Open.Murray secured his 16th consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearance yes with a rollercoaster
FOOD poverty doesn’t just affect people, according to a dog warden.Darlington’s Dog Warden team is appealing for donations of pet food in an attempt to help struggling families.The team has distributed donation boxes at shops throughout Darlington and
GRAFITTI artists have created a huge glowing artwork on the side of a former school.The spectacular street art, which took a week to create, uses special ultraviolet paint that is illuminated at night to give it an ethereal blue glow.The two storey high
GATESHEAD will host Wrexham in an FA Trophy third-round replay on Wednesday after drawing 1-1 in North Wales. Newcastle United loanee Adam Campbell made it three goals in the space of two games as he broke the deadlock at the Racecourse Ground
A HEADTEACHER of a secondary school has said she is pleased after her school was rated 'good' by Ofsted inspectors.Freebrough Academy, in Brotton, east Cleveland, which only opened in 2010, was was commended for its high expectations, positive behaviour
YORK CITY were denied a second home victory of the season when promotion-chasing Burton Albion grabbed a dramatic late equaliser through substitute Adam McGurk. McGurk scored with two minutes remaining to cancel out York’s 70th-minute opener, which
A GRANDMOTHER originally from Redcar believes she may be executed by firing squad in a matter of weeks for drug smuggling.Lindsay Sandiford, 58, was convicted of smuggling cocaine in Bali in Indonesia in 2013 has now been asked to sign a court document
AN online petition has been launched to fight plans for a new housing estate which protestors fear will overwhelm their community.The petition Keep Bedale Beautiful has been set up on the Change.org website and has already been signed by people from as
FUNDRAISERS made a splash during a charity event in aid of ‘locked-in’ Ken Longstaff.A swimathon held at the Education Village in Haughton today (Sunday, Jan 25) was organised in a bid to support the Darlington man and his family.In 2012, Mr Longstaff
A PAIR of Chelsea Pensioners have been invited to enjoy a North Yorkshire cooked breakfast at a fundraising event next week.Anna Lupton and husband John Peckitt, from Carr House Farm Bed and Breakfast, in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, are hosting two morning
DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK maintained their 100 per cent start to 2015 as they edged out mid-table rivals Esher in a game that exploded into life in the second half at The Northern Echo Arena. Mowden ran out 30-22 winners in a game that saw all six
Goals: 0-1: Bamford (53, chased down a loose ball to help Fernando’s attempt to clear over the line after Adomah had forced a weak back pass beyond Caballero)0-2: Kike (90, latched on to Bamford’s clever pass before applying the fine low finish) Bookings
DANGEROUS drivers who put lives at risk by using mobile phones while behind the wheel are being targeted in a major police crackdown.Officers from Durham and Cleveland police forces plan to reduce the menace which causes fatalities on the roads.Last year
THE FIRST woman bishop is to be consecrated at York Minster tomorrow (Monday, January 26) by Archbishop Dr John Sentamu.The landmark event will see The Rev Libby Lane, currently Vicar of St Peter’s in Hale, and St Elizabeth’s in Ashley, near Chester,
ALMOST ten per cent of Yarm School’s A-level students have secured places on courses at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.Nine students from a year group of 99 has been offered the chance to study at two of the country’s most recognised universities.Students
A TEENAGER has passed on her long-held gratitude to a hospice which cared for her mother prior to her death.Becky Clark said her family appreciated the compassionate treatment given to her mother, June, by the staff at Willowburn Hospice, at Maiden Law
NEWCASTLE FALCONS will take on Exeter Chiefs in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup after successfully claiming a maximum five-point haul from their weekend trip to Romania. Falcons needed just 34 minutes to claim the four-try bonus
THE heroics of Middlesbrough’s Championship’s high-flyers at Manchester City in the FA Cup yesterday is one of the Teesside club’s greatest results of the Premier League era. The fact that Aitor Karanka’s side, pushing for promotion in the second
BOUNCING bunnies were hopping to victory at the 93rd Rabbit Show Jumping Grand Prix this weekend. The largest event in the small pet calendar, the Burgess Premier Small animal Show at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate, took place this weekend
FREE courses to help job hunters apply for a position at a North-East train builder and improve their employability prospects are being offered.The session will give people access to Hitachi’s online job portal and to practise the company's online application
POLICE wearing riot shields were called to remove a man from a guest house on Saturday (January 24). Cleveland Police were responding to concerns about the man's behaviour at Beech Guest House on Borough Road, Middlesbrough, and officers arrived at 10.45am
A NORTH-EAST sixth former who has been officially named as the country's best public speaker will have the honour of speaking at the Winston Churchill remembrance service this week.Nathania Ewruje, a student at Stockton Sixth Form College, represented
BORO’S SIX OF THE BEST THE heroics of Middlesbrough’s Championship’s high-flyers at Manchester City in the FA Cup is one of the Teesside club’s greatest results of the Premier League era. The fact that Aitor Karanka’s side, pushing for promotion
INSPECTORS have rated the care provided by a North-East baby hospice as “outstanding”.Zoe’s Place in Middlesbrough, which provides care and support for young children with life limiting illnesses who have complex needs, is one of the first social care
A FORMER Northern Echo sporting Local Hero had a surprise 80th birthday treat when he returned to his former football club for VIP treatment. Stormin’ Norman Sturman, from Darlington, has not played for Whitby Town Football Club since 1957 but
A SCHOOL hopes its bumper crop of talented young athletes will inspire classmates to enjoy and excel in sport.In the last academic year, Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form in Spennymoor, County Durham, saw 24 of its pupils pick up national or international
ONLINE ticket touts are damaging the music industry, according to a North-East MP. Websites flogging sold-out concert tickets at inflated prices are siphoning off money that could be better spent on supporting young musicians or small venues, Jenny
A FALL in visitor numbers over the last few years has led to the cancellation of a long-running gala in a former mining town.The Ferryhill Town Gala used to bring thousands of visitors in to the town to enjoy a host of family based attractions based around
Bookings: Rodwell (30, foul), Coates (55, foul), Buckley (86, foul) Sending Off: Rodwell (66, second yellow card, unsporting behaviour) Referee: Anthony Taylor (Wythenshawe) – Rodwell’s stupidity meant he had no option other than to send off
ANTIQUES collectors could reel in a good catch when an auction house holds s specialist sporting saleAmong the items up for auction at Addisons of Barnard Castle on February 5 is a rare 1920’s fishing reel which is expected to reach between £2,500 to
COUNCILLORS are calling for plans to increase fees for hard-up residents to be axed.Durham County Council’s budget for 2015-16 includes a proposal to raise £85,235 by increasing charges for non-payment of council tax from £30 to £35. Opposition Liberal
A CONMAN set up three companies within a matter of months and raked in thousands of pounds of goods and services credit - with no plans to pay it back.Paul Fyfe sold much of his haul and used other material to "spruce up" his home as he tried
A TEENAGER who helped a gang ransack a town pub will be electronically tagged.The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was part of a gang that burgled The Moorcock pub, in Peterlee, east Durham, in early October, Consett Magistrates
A TEENAGER was very lucky to avoid serious injury when he crashed a runaway go kart, a court heard.The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had just agreed to buy the Go-Kart from a man on a street corner for £200, Consett Magistrates’
AN animal sanctuary is making a desperate appeal for volunteers and funding so that more than 1,000 animals can finally have a new home. More than 100 different types of animals from rare pygmy donkeys to meerkats are set to be re-homed at the Thorpe
AN award winning pub landlord is celebrating being the toast of real ale drinkers.The Surtees Arms in Ferryhill Station, run by Alan Hogg, 42, and his wife Susan, 40, was named as the best country pub by the Durham branch of Camra.The couple stock real
A TEENAGER embarked on a vehicle crime spree targeting cars and petrol stations across the region to pay off mounting drug debts, a court heard.Luke Michael Boniface was spared prison by magistrates sentencing him for 17 offences on Friday (January 23
A TEENAGER badly assaulted by her boyfriend told how she feared she would be killed during the terrifying attack in their home.Paul Bradbrook was branded a coward by a judge after hearing the 22-year-old armed himself with three knives to scare his victim.The
A COUNCILLOR has said she is "extremely disappointed" that a petrol station has been granted a licence to sell alcohol despite the opposition of nearby residents. The Grange Road Service Station, operated by Rontec Watford Ltd, will be able to
SPENNYMOOR moved into the play off positions of the EvoStik First Division North thanks to Andrew Stephenson’s screamer against lowly New Mills.Moors had plenty of opportunities to make the game safe, and that meant that they had to endure a nervous end
WORLD Indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty refused to be downcast despite being disqualified for a false start at the season-opening Sainsbury's Glasgow International Match.Kilty came into Saturday’s race as favourite for the gold medal – he was the standout
YOUTH projects in Richmondshire are being urged to take up the offer of cash from a local grant scheme.Over the past seven years Richmondshire District Youth Council grant scheme has given cash to support a parks festival, help fund a youth shelter, bought
SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet has admitted that his side will have to become more creative if they are going to get the best out of new signing Jermain Defoe. Defoe made his home Black Cats debut in yesterday's goalless draw with Fulham, and while
Spennymoor Town 1 New Mills 0. Spennymoor moved into the play off positions of the EvoStik First Division North thanks to Andrew Stephenson’s screamer against lowly New Mills. Moors had plenty of opportunities to make the game safe, and that
Shildon manager Gary Forrest says that his team’s sixth successive league win at fellow title chasers North Shields could be the most crucial of the season. A second half winner by Billy Greulich-Smith put the Railwaymen into seventh place in the
