ALAN PARDEW wanted to smooth things over with Newcastle United’s supporters at Selhurst Park, so in many respects a pretty uneventful scoring draw was the most suitable outcome – for him.For the second match in a row his successor John Carver missed a
Shildon suffered a blow to their ENL title hopes when they lost 2-0 at Newcastle Benfield tonight. There were chances at both ends with both keepers doing well. Shildon keeper Kyle Hayes saved a Paul Brayson penalty, awarded for a foul by Darren
THE captain of the Costa Concordia luxury liner was last night sentenced to 16 years in jail following the capsizing which led to the deaths of 32 passengers and crew. Francesco Schettino was convicted of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck
THE five Tees Valley councils are to press ahead with plans to establish a combined authority after a majority of the public voted for the move.Sixty five per cent of more than 1,900 responses received during a seven-week long public consultation were
A PRIMARY school with just 18 pupils has raised enough money to fund seven toilets in the Ebola-hit country of Sierra Leone.Pupils from Wearhead Primary School in Weardale were set a target of £180 which would fund three toilets and training on sanitation.The
FORMER Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says he holds “no grudge” towards the fans who wanted him out at St James’ Park ahead of being reunited with them for the first time at Selhurst Park tonight. Pardew, writing in the Crystal Palace match-day
MUSEUM bosses have warned they may need make drastic changes to cope with shrinking public sector subsidies.The proposed City of York Council budget includes a £500,000 cut in the annual grant for York Museums Trust.Now the chief executive of the trust
DURHAM Police clocked a motorist doing 111mph on a 70 mph stretch of the A66.The incident, in Barnard Castle, was included in a survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists which asked police forces for their worst examples of excessive speeding caught
A CHOIR is set to test the adage that couples who play together stay together to mark Valentine's Day.Rock Choir leader Steve Brown who runs weekly sessions in Northallerton, Malton and York, has invited couples to attend a free taster session.The Northallerton
PARENTS are being told to warn their children of the dangers of electricity this February half term.Northern Powergrid, which is responsible for the region’s electricity network, said parents should take five minutes to speak to their children and advise
TEESSIDE High School is hosting the BBC flagship political programme Question Time next week. The show is being broadcast on the evening of Thursday February 19, with the recording taking place earlier that evening. TV legend David Dimbleby will host
NHS campaigners nicknamed the ‘Darlo Mums’ have called for a campaigning day of action on Valentine’s day.The campaign, 999 Call for the NHS, organised the Peoples March for the NHS last summer and would like people to stand up for their health service
THIEVES escaped with thousands of pounds worth of stock after they raided a hair salon.The burglars smashed the door of Bang hair salon in Low Petergate,York, at about 12.30am today, February 11, and took products - including hair straighteners and irons
MEMBERS of an east Durham scout group have been left devastated after raiders broke into their hut and made off with thousands of pounds worth of equipment.Burglars struck at the base of the 1st Peterlee Scout Group in Lowhills Road, in the Acre Rigg
POLICE are appealing for information after attackers broke a man's jaw.It happened at 2am on Friday (January 30) on a patch of grass at Woodwynd, on the Leam Lane Estate in Gateshead.The 28-year-old victim was walking along the street when he was approached
RIGHT hand turns could be banned at a busy road junction which has become an accident black spot in recent years.Road-users, local residents and businesses are to be asked for their views on the proposed alterations to the Stoneygate junction, on the
A STUDENT is looking to the past to secure a bright future after being offered a place at one of the world’s top universities.Richmond Sixth Form College student Grant Dalton has been offered a place to read history at University College, Oxford.The 17
A MOTHER has spoken out after being told she has to pay the bedroom tax on a room used by her soldier son. Beverley Curtis is having to find £12 a week because officials claim she could make do with a single-bedroom house — despite her son, Kyle
THREE pupils from the same school have triumphed in a regional photography competition.Youngsters at the North East Centre for Autism in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, entered the photography competition to express their creativity and engage with the
POLICE are hunting two men who threatened the occupants of a house with a rusted hand axe before stealing a small amount of cash and mobile telephones.The aggravated burglary took place at an address on Dorothy Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough at
FAMILY doctors are urging Darlington residents to help themselves by taking greater responsibility for their own health.Dr Jenny Steel’s plea for patients to look after minor ailments themselves rather than seek a GP appointment or visit Darlington Memorial
A COUNCIL is approaching a historic moment, its deputy leader declared today (Wednesday, February 11).Durham County Council hopes to transfer its remaining council houses, 19,000 properties across Durham City, east Durham and Wear Valley, to a new landlord
A BUSINESSMAN has pleaded guilty to carrying out teeth whitening despite not being a registered dental practitioner. Graeme Pattinson, who operated out of Ultimate Tanning and Beauty Salon, Thomlinson Road, Hartlepool, admitted unlawfully practising
AN internet predator masquerading as a member of pop sensations One Direction is preying on North-East schoolchildren, The Northern Echo can reveal. Police confirmed tonight that they were investigating the claims that youngsters are being encouraged
TWO great Yorkshire icons – beer and cricket – are continuing to forge close links. The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham has agreed a second three-year sponsorship of Yorkshire County Cricket club. And representatives of the two got together to
A ZOMBIE apocalypse hit Darlington town centre today (Wednesday, February 11) as a group of bedraggled Prince’s Trust students took to the streets to fundraise.Shoppers looked on in bemusement as the ten-strong group dressed in torn clothes adorned with
WHEN a physiotherapist comes onto the American Football pitch it is usually to treat an injured player, but in Beverley Marwood's case it is to captain the team. That's because in three months she has gone from rookie to skipper of the Great Britain
THE Conservatives appeared to write off their chances in a swathe of North-East constituencies, in a leak on the party’s own website. Eight seats in the region are described as “non target” for the May general election, suggesting little effort
AN UNEXPECTED P45 was the first a disabled woman knew of her job loss.Karen Shields has accused Darlington Borough Council of discrimination following a series of events that saw her "automatically" sacked from her swimming coach job.Former
MR Bean has gone back to university to help raise cash for Comic Relief.A statue of the comic character created by Newcastle University graduate Rowan Atkinson made an unexpected appearance at his old college today.Students were able to take a selfie
THE North-East has the second highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in England for both men and women, according to new figures.While death rates in recent years have stabilised, twice as many North-Easterners are suffering an alcohol-related death than
A NEW professor’s post is being created by a prestigious cathedral and university.The Michael Ramsey Professor of Anglican Studies will be a professor at Durham University and an ecumenical lay member of Durham Cathedral’s College of Canons.The first
A FARMER has been left counting the cost after 72 of his sheep were stolen.The breeding ewes, worth more than £11,000 in total, were taken from land near Bowburn, County Durham.It is thought they were stolen during the past three months.The theft only
STAFF and pupils are celebrating after a college was praised by the Department for Education (DfE).Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College on Merrington Road, in Ferryhill, also achieved a good rating in its latest Ofsted report.Last year the college
THE threat of sewers flooding at homes in a popular North Yorkshire resort should have been significantly reduced.Yorkshire Water has now completed a 19-week £500,000 protection project in Runswick Bay, near Whitby.Contractors have installed 250m of new
POLICE are appealing for help to trace burglars who stole 15 air rifles, two cross bows and knives valued at £10,000 during a raid on a house.Crooks targeted the empty house on Byerley Road, in Shildon, County Durham, and spent some time stealing the
A JURY was sent home by a judge for the second night running after failing to reach verdicts in a rape trial. The panel trying the case of Kristofer McLaren and Craig Whitelaw will reform tomorrow to continue its discussions. The ten men and
PRINCE CHARLES did well, coupling his visit to Jordan, still reeling with disgust and horror at the burning alive of one of its pilots by the barbaric Isis, with a warning about the danger of violent Islamism back here. He told the BBC: “This is one
One of the leading UK campaigners for a minimum unit price for alcohol has been speaking at a North-East conference. Health and Education Editor Barry Nelson listened to his passionate plea for something to be done to prevent thousands of unnecessary
A VILLAGE hall committee has agreed to house a defibrillator at the building after a local fundraising campaign to buy the potentially lifesaving equipment.The public access defibrillator has been fitted at Kirk Merrington Community Centre, on Front Street
ORGANISERS of a music festival that has gone from strength to strength have said the number of acts applying to take part in the event has increased dramatically after a run of successful years.Richmond Live, which takes place over the first weekend in
A CEREMONY to mark the re-interment of Richard III next month will be held in York to give residents the chance to celebrate his links to the city.The remains of the last Yorkist king were found under a car park in Leicester and despite a High Court battle
TWO men have been arrested in connection with a burglary at a Scout hut, which has been targeted three times in seven weeks. Last night, police investigating a break in at the Scout Supporters’ Association building in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
A MOTHER has told a jury how she got embroiled in an argument at a party because her son was being repeatedly attacked by a gang - saying: "I'm a mum, that's my job."Samantha Firth-Corner said she was scared when she was confronted by one of
THE new sergeant who has taken the helm at a Darlington police team has said he is looking forward to making a difference in the community. Jonathan Malcolm joined the North Road beat team, based in Gladstone Street, as sergeant around four weeks ago
A YOUNG nature lover is winning worldwide attention with his erudite musings on the flora and fauna he comes across during his daily rambles. Zach Haynes – who will be 11 at the end of this month – enjoys writing about his finds and exploits so much
THE launch night of a new charity got off to a flying start when almost £7,000 was raised at the event.Fat Lads on Bikes were joined by the Phat Lasses at Eston Labour Club to get the fundraising underway.Formed late last year, by Neal Bullock, the group
GUS POYET is certainly not afraid to cause a stir among supporters. Just weeks after raising eyebrows on Wearside for suggesting many of them were living in the past, he followed up Tuesday night’s dreadful home defeat to QPR by launching a further
COATHAM Boating Lake is on course for a successful relaunch as a £10,000 grant has helped purchase the first in a long line of new equipment.The Boating Lake Ltd, which has signed a deal to operate the lake until 2021, sailed through the process and were
POLICE in Consett are carrying out a crackdown on illegal scrap metal collectors.Local officers and their traffic unit colleagues today (Wednesday, February 11) launched Operation Whitehall with council wardens, benefit fraud investigators and officials
DETECTIVES have identified two men who allegedly threatened to behead two young female cadets – and they are Romanian nationals not Asians as first described. The two men in a Vauxhall Zafira were thought to have asked "Are you in the Army?" and
THREE years since he took charge of the family business in tragic circumstances a construction boss is on course to grow turnover four-fold. The future of Gus Robinson Developments Ltd was in doubt after revenues had collapsed from £16m to £5m
A GROUP that immerses itself in the scenes and stories of a town’s past is embracing the age of new media by launching a website.The Tudhoe and Spennymoor Local History Society has compiled a history of the town and surrounding area for the site at durhamweb.org.uk
THE wheels of the criminal justice system in this country turn agonisingly slowly. It is, therefore, telling that the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg has been made so swiftly
AN elderly driver who died after colliding head-on with a tractor on an undulating rural road has been named.Alan Willmett, 77, of Boroughbridge, sustained fatal injuries in the incident near Great Ouseburn, at 6pm on Thursday, February 5.A 76-year-old
SUPERMARKET shoppers are being asked to donate an Easter egg to local children.For the second successive year, staff at Tesco in Consett are organising an Easter egg appeal.Last year, staff members Kirsty Lawrence and Clair Gray collected enough eggs
MIDDLESBROUGH has been awarded Government funding to develop a project to help prepare young children for school.An initial grant of £90,000 under the Delivering Differently in Neighbourhoods initiative will help to kick start a new approach to school
A CHILD support agency which provides personal care to children and young people with complex needs in their own homes has been judged as outstanding.Reach Out Care Support Network Limited in Newton Aycliffe received the rating from the Care Quality Commission
A MOTHER and daughter have scooped accolades at an international cake contest after impressing judges with their attention to detail.Jennifer Lofthouse and her Sowerby Community Primary School daughter, Lilly, both received three silver medals at Cake
CROWDS are expected to turn out to watch pancake racers continue an ancient tradition outside a cathedral.The event, which starts with the peel of Ripon Cathedral's Lent Bell at 11am on Tuesday (February 17), will be launched by the Dean of Ripon and
POLICE are hoping to recruit community-minded volunteers to take to the road and join the fight against rural crime.Bedale’s Safer Neighbourhood Team operates a “mobile watch” scheme, which encourages people using their own vehicles to keep an eye on
A COUNCIL trying to cash in on grants and funding from outside sources is to appoint a new officer at a cost of up to £30,000.Hambleton District Council is creating a new job to help deliver the authority's ambitious £10 million economic strategy.The
HELP is at hand for retailers getting to grips with the new rules on how tobacco is displayed.From Monday, April 6, all businesses, including licenced bars, pubs and clubs, will no longer be allowed to publicly display tobacco products in their premises
UKIP has selected the party’s regional chairman to stand in his home constituency at the General Election.Richard Elvin, who lives in Hetton Lyons, will contest the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency in May, where Labour is defending a majority
OLD London Underground trains being lined-up to replace the unpopular Pacers will be comfortable for passengers and cheap for operators, says the company behind the plan. Union leaders have described the proposal to reuse tube trains as "piling
POLICE have renewed their appeal for information on an armed robbery at a city newsagent.Two young men burst into J&L News on Willowtree Avenue, on High Grange Estate, Durham City, at about 4pm on Wednesday, February 4 and threatened the lone female shop
A RENT now, buy later affordable housing development for a former pit village has won planning permission despite opposition.Prince Bishop Homes, a specially-created subsidiary of the social housing provider Derwentside Homes, runs a scheme that helps
POLICE have released CCTV footage of a knifepoint robbery at a Subway store in Middlesbrough. Two males wearing balaclavas entered the shop on the Trunk Road in Grangetown at 6.45pm on Saturday, January 17, before threatening staff and making off
AN ONLINE petition against plans to harvest energy from coal reserves buried under the North Sea has attracted nearly 8,000 signatures in just two weeks.The 38 Degrees petition protests Newcastle-based energy firm Five-Quarter’s plans for so-called deep
DRAGONS Den star Duncan Bannatyne will be on the panel of BBC Question Time when it comes to Teesside.David Dimbleby will present the topical debate from Teesside High School in Eaglescliffe next Thursday (February 19).The panel also includes former Conservative
A MAJOR scheme to prevent a section of one of the region’s main tourist routes slipping into the North Sea has moved a step closer.Balfour Beatty has been awarded the £7m contract to design and build a coastal protection scheme along the North Yorkshire
A DIAMOND couple who met at a village dance are celebrating 60-years of marriage with a romantic trip to Edinburgh.Charles and Norma Marshall, of Evenwood, met in 1952 and they married three years later.Mr Marshall, 84, who worked at Shildon Wagon Works
LABOUR councillors have set themselves on a collision course with Tory ministers after agreeing to raise council tax by the most possible without triggering a referendum. Just yesterday (Tuesday, February 10), Communities Secretary Eric Pickles
CLARINETTIST Emma Johnson captivated an audience of all ages when she appeared as soloist with Orchestra North East at Durham’s Gala Theatre. Johnson began with a fluent and vibrant account of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto - one of the first concertos
CLARINETTIST Emma Johnson captivated an audience of all ages when she appeared as soloist with Orchestra North East at Durham’s Gala Theatre.Johnson began with a fluent and vibrant account of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto - one of the first concertos written
A NEW campaign has been launched encouraging people to pick up one piece of litter a day.The Heighington Parish Pals scheme has been launched by the village’s litter group, and aims to get people picking up at least one item of rubbish every day.The scheme
A FIRE which ripped throuigh a primary school last night - barely an hour after pupils had been enjoying a Valentine’s disco - was started deliberately, police have said. Parents and children have been devastated by a fire at Burnside Primary School
DISABLED pensioner Alan Barnes who was injured in a suspected mugging outside his North-East home has been presented with £330,000 raised to help him. Mr Barnes, 67, became the subject of an appeal organised by Katie Cutler, 21, after he reported
A HOME and leisure chain has started recruiting as it prepares to open a Darlington store. The Range is looking to fill a number of senior positions for its Yarm Road outlet. Bosses are now advertising various jobs, including store manager,
 INDOOR CRICKET   SPECSAVERS League Willington clinched the Championship Trophy after they beat Hunwick comprehensively and picked up five batting bonus points and four bowling bonus points to end eight points clar
SNOOKER   HUNWICK A retain top spot Worthington C.I.U. Winter League Hunwick A remain in pole position after visiting Ferryhill A, where they opened with a win from Martin Perry but Ian Fawcett equalised. The
POOL   GREAT START for newcomers Bishop Auckland League The new season opened with a fine away win by the league newcomers from the Aclet, who returned from Henknowle Manor with a three point victory. The home
GAMES   WEAR VALLEY Games League Danny Longstaff of Lacey’s Bar followed his 110 finish last week with a much improved 167 checkout this week. There were two 180’s each from Brad Chapman and Davey Dodds with
DOMINOES   CROOK & District League The Australian only dropped two points at the White Swan and moved up to share the top spot with the King’s Head, who edged to an odd point win at the neighbouring Crown A.
MASSIVE WIN for County Durham The four teams of County Durham combined their victories to record a 26 points to ten home win at Willington Club against Gwent in the British Darts Organisation’s First Division.
DURHAM'S Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg will not face any criminal action over benefits he received when he was a senior officer with Cleveland Police, the Crown Prosecution service has announced this morning. Cleveland Police drop
A FORMER Army dog handler has told of his desperate struggle to prevent a gang of thieves from snatching a beloved pet on a residential street. Dog trainer Greg Flowers said he had been working on lead training with a client and her labrador-cross
Goal: 1-0: Morgan (50, latched onto a slack back pass, took his time and curled in low) Bookings: Horwood (45, foul), Byrom (63, foul), Richards (78, foul) Referee: Nigel Miller (Consett): Consistently on top of things, always in control 7
IT’S the hope that kills you they say. First the planned Hartlepool United takeover doens’t go ahead. Then last night, Pools beat Northampton at Victoria Park to close the gap at the foot of the table. Hope. Expectations rise, the belief
TWO men escaped with a quantity of cash following a robbery at a newsagents near Bishop Auckland yesterday. Police were called to Spencer Street, in Eldon Lane, shortly before 11.20am after a man forced a female shop assistant to the floor and
The Premier League has announced a staggering 70 per cent increase in the value of its British television rights for the 2016-19 seasons with Sky and BT Sports paying a combined £5.136bn to show games.The new deals will see even more money flood in to
NEW concerns have been raised about the quality of apprenticeships. Labour has drawn attention to the Business Department’s own research which found almost four in 10 firms offering apprenticeships don’t even realise they are doing so. Since
Wales star and qualified doctor Jamie Roberts believes the fall-out from the George North concussion controversy will contribute towards making rugby union a safer sport.The game's governing body World Rugby has said Wales wing North should not have remained
FIREFIGHTERS freed a woman from the wreckage of her car following an accident on the A19 last night. Two cars were involved in the accident which occurred on the northbound carriage way near Peterlee. Three fire engines attended the incident
Chris Hunter returns this evening, when Darlington head to bottom-of-the-table Padiham to play the first of their four crucial matches in hand.The fixture is one of several rearranged games due to postponements in recent months, and is one of four Darlington
Jack Leaning and Will Rhodes are the latest players to pen long-term contracts with Yorkshire, and they will now remain at Headingley until at least December 2017.They join batting pair Alex Lees and Adam Lyth and bowling pair Steve Patterson and Ryan
TEES Valley is “at the mercy” of more powerful cities and will continue to be starved of transport funds, ministers were told last night. Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald led a Commons debate to protest at the neglect of an area plagued by “appalling
FIVE horses that were killed after being hit by trains travelling between Middlesbrough and Darlington had been running loose since Friday, it has emerged. The animals were struck near Dinsdale, near Durham Tees Valley Airport, at around 7.15am
SPENDING nearly four years alongside Alan Pardew at St James’ Park has left Newcastle United’s backroom team certain that he will have a surprise in store when he takes on Newcastle United for the first time as Crystal Palace boss tonight.But Pardew might
A FURIOUS mother hit a teenage boy in the face with a brick in a bust-up at a birthday party, a court heard yesterday. Samantha Firth-Corner, 43, denies assault causing actual bodily harm on the grounds she was defending herself or her son.
SENIOR teachers from across the region are gathering today to discuss how to best prepare young people for the world of work. The North-East has the highest proportion of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) and the lowest
PARENTS have voiced anger after learning a council has extended this year's school summer holidays to seven weeks.Families said they had been left facing increased costs, childcare issues and "children climbing the walls" after North Yorkshire
AITOR KARANKA has challenged Middlesbrough to cause another FA Cup upset against Arsenal on Sunday after watching his side go top of the Championship with a 2-1 win at bottom club Blackpool. Spanish striker Kike scored an 88th minute winner in
RESIDENTS and co-workers at a North Yorkshire village for learning disabled adults have taken part in a peaceful protest about proposed changes to their way of life.Dozens of Botton villagers and the volunteer carers they share their lives with handed
QUITTING the European Union would be “business suicide” warned the boss of a key North-East employer, as he joined growing calls for Britain to renegotiate its ties with Brussels.Some of the region’s biggest companies – including Nissan, Hitachi and steelmaker
SUSPENDED members of a philanthropic society who have spent six years trying to clear their names have told of their anger at being publicly accused of “misappropriating funds.” The allegation was made in a national meeting of the Royal Antediluvian
A CONSTRUCTION firm has secured a £7m contract to build coastal protection at a popular seaside resort.Balfour Beatty will design and build defences at Sandsend, near Whitby.The company says it will help protect 16 properties from storms and waves, including
THE Government has admitted it needs to protect a North-East airport from Scottish competition over proposed duty cuts – but has stopped short of committing to immediate action.Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin says it will continue operating a wait-and-see
A SIGN company, which made a 40-metre structure for a major North-East sporting event, wants more staff to target projects in the South.Astley, headquartered in Gateshead, is adding at least ten jobs to its 140-strong UK workforce.The firm says the roles
A FORMER Darlington goalkeeper is putting his gloves to a new use after setting up an equipment protection company.Jordan Nixon, who played in the Quakers’ last Conference match against Kettering Town at The Northern Echo Arena, has launched Northern
THOUSANDS of North-East call centre jobs will be secured in a £12.5bn telecoms takeover, a union last night claimed.The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it expects BT’s bid for EE to preserve posts.BT last week confirmed it was pushing ahead with
A CONSTRUCTION and development firm has taken on three apprentices to help deliver North-East housing projects.Southdale, which has an office in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has welcomed three bricklayers.Laura Elder, Steven Jones and Osanuyi Igbinusun
MIDWAY through our interview, Rebecca McGarvie calls out for an ice pack. A box, covered in bright yellow and black tape, is quickly delivered by a colleague, looking every bit like apparatus for an emergency. For a moment, I’m worried.
EE’s Darlington site has been a major employer for than two decades. As BT finalises a deal for the company, here's a look at the site from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's visit in 1990 to open the building, through to its time as an EE call centre
A FROZEN lake has kept us off the water, but training goes on. We're currently in the middle of our largest training block of our Olympic qualifying season. Now is the time we look to put the knife in on our opposition. There's no point waiting
A SUBSEA firm forced to shed North-East jobs is taking its fight to Westminster. DeepOcean UK, in Darlington, is pressing the Government’s for answers on the amount of work given to UK companies for offshore wind farms in British waters. The
RECENTLY in this column, we wrote about the tumbling price of oil and its impact on the economy, writes Oliver York, of wealth managers Brewin Dolphin. With no obvious end in sight, consumers continue to delight at falling prices at the pumps;
