IF you have seen one Hartlepool United away defeat, you have seen them all. In losing at Dagenham last night, the performance and outcome followed the script previously on show at Portsmouth, Bury, Shrewsbury and Wycombe of late. Pools can
Match Ratings and stats from Middlesbrough's win over MillwallGoals1-0: Bamford (26 – Powered his shot into the top corner after Kike dummied Tomlin pass across the box)2-0: Kike (30 – scrambled home from close range following good work by Bamford inside
Middlesbrough 3Millwall 0THE Championship rollercoaster has plenty of twists and turns left in it yet, but Middlesbrough got their promotion push back on track with a convincing win over Millwall last night.The panic is over – at least for now – and Boro
Holders Shildon held on against strong second half pressure to beat Spennymoor 2-1 and reach the Durham Challenge Cup final. The Northern League team stunned their opponents from a league higher by taking the lead after 6 minutes. Marc Doninger
Holders Shildon held on against strong second half pressure to beat Spennymoor 2-1 and reach the Durham Challenge Cup final. The Northern League team stunned their opponents from a league higher by taking the lead after 6 minutes. Marc Doninger
COUNCILLORS have given their backing to a series of measures to support the development of a North-East rugby ground.Darlington Borough Council has been working with Darlington Rugby Football Club (DRFC) and Darlington Football Club on the development
COUNCILLORS have chosen not to ban cycling in Darlington’s pedestrian heart following a tragic accident which left a grandfather with life-changing head injuries.Businessman Brian Coates, 74, suffered serious head injuries and has lost the ability to
A FORMER model turned television presenter and DJ will entertain the ladies at a North-East racecourse this summer.Vernon Kay will perform a live DJ set at the annual Rowflow Ladies Evening at Sedgefield Racecourse in Count Durham on Thursday, August
BARNARD Castle residents have voiced their fears over plans to build a multi-million pound emergency services “quad” station in the town.A special meeting was held by Barnard Castle Town Council last night (March 2), where residents said they were being
NICKY Featherstone makes, as expected, a return to the Hartlepool United side for their trip to Dagenham. After Michael Woods suffered a leg break at the weekend, Featherstone starts in central midfield. David Mirfin starts in central defence
WES BROWN has retained his place at the heart of the Sunderland defence as Gus Poyet looks to end a run of four matches without a win at Hull City. Brown had the red card he received in Saturday’s defeat at Manchester United overturned on Monday
PARKING is now free for the first hour in Stockton town centre's short stay car parks in an attempt to encourage more shoppers to the town. Stockton Borough Council has invested £20m in the town centre and a grand re-opening of the centre is planned
THERE has been no shortage of dishonourable characters who have featured in the proud but turbulent history of Darlington Football Club over the years. But there have also been plenty who have acted in the best interests of the Quakers. Harvey
NEW and ambitious plans to slash smoking rates to just five per cent by 2025 have been backed by North-East health and local government leaders. It is claimed that the move would save thousands of lives and an estimated £100 million a year.
TRIBUTES have been paid to a leading North Yorkshire Conservative, church stalwart and hospital fundraiser, who has died aged 89.More than 100 people gathered at St Peter's Church, Dalby-cum-Skewsby, near Ampleforth, to honour Peter Hollier, who served
DARLINGTON students have been to the heart of American politics.A group of politics students from the town’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College took their studies a step further by travelling to Washington DC.A tour of Congress allowed the 21 A-level
BOYZONE will be returning to North Yorkshire this summer.The band will be appearing at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Saturday, June 13, following a sell-out show at the venue last summer.They will be performing tracks from their new album, as well as
COUNCILLORS have voted for a reduction in council tax for the first time in Redcar and Cleveland’s history. The one per cent drop was the idea of the newly created Independent and Liberal Democrat coalition, which was set up after Labour lost control
DARLINGTON-born David Harker, who was awarded an OBE and CBE during an accomplished career, has died aged 64.Mr Harker took on many roles during the course of his career, including chief executive of Citizens Advice, the national body for Citizens Advice
A TWO-day celebration is planned to mark the feast day of one of the region’s best loved saints.St Cuthbert’s Day, March 20, falls on a Friday this year and a range of events are planned for the day itself and the following Saturday. Durham Cathedral,
THE sights and sounds of a city’s past, present and future will be the theme of a free family event later this month.Ripon’s Workhouse, Prison, Police and Courthouse museums will all be taking part in the event from 11am to 4pm on March 14.And events
SPORTS fans using a football academy opened by a former Darlington and Middlesbrough player can now access gym facilities there. Verso Fitness has opened a facility at the Alun Armstrong Sports Centre, in Shildon. The centre will feature a
HARVEY Madden, who died this week, was a passionate sportsman, an honourable businessman, and a true gentleman. Norton Cricket Club, Stockton Hockey Club, Yarm Tennis Club and Dinsdale Golf Club have all been enriched by his presence over many
A SCHOOL is to mark its 25th anniversary by helping some of the world’s poorest children.Staff and students at Emmanuel College, in Gateshead, aim to raise £25,000 to mark its silver anniversary and start what is hoped will become a chain of schools in
THE FUTURE of some of Darlington’s prized assets was discussed at a council meeting.A presentation given at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s efficiency and resources scrutiny committee outlined plans for some of the town’s most well-known sites.Budget
THE majority of parents in North Yorkshire are seeing their children educated in the schools of their choice, new figures show.Nearly nine out of ten parents in the county – some 89 per cent - secured their first secondary school preference for their
A PRIVATE music teacher has raised concerns after he was charged by a primary school to teach on the premises in school time.Stuart Ellerton, who used to teach at Whinstone Primary School in Ingleby Barwick, says he is worried that music teachers being
A NAZI-AFFILIATED hate website has appealed for the personal information of members of the public, after publishing photos of people who took part in Saturday's ‘Newcastle Unites’ march. Redwatch carries the slogan “Remember places, traitors’ faces
RESIDENTS can have their say on devolving more power to the region’s politicians at a series of meetings starting next week (Thursday, March 12).The North East Combined Authority (Neca), which brings together the seven councils covering the area from
TWO Army cadets are swapping combats for the catwalk to help raise money for charity.Brothers Bradley and Lewis Knight have agreed to pose as models for a fashion show at Stanley Civic Hall.Sergeant Bradley Knight, 17, is a student at New College Durham
A CONTROVERSIAL growth plan for the region - rejected by an inspector - received a boost tonight (Tuesday, March 3), when a Government minister said: “The ambition is right.” Answering a Commons debate, Penny Mordaunt distanced herself from the
A VITAL North-East rail link will “sing” under its new operator, by delivering new jobs and better services, Sir Richard Branson last night vowed. The Virgin tycoon said the East Coast Main Line will be revolutionised after a five-year spell under
POLICE are hunting a man who tried to rob an elderly woman by grabbing her handbag.The attack happened in on Manor Way in Peterlee, County Durham, at 2.20pm.A spokesman for Durham Police said: “It took place just up from the Labour club and the female
A BUDDING photographer has so impressed one of the region’s leading professional galleries that his work has been selected for a special award.Seven-year-old Miles Boasman took a photograph of All Saints Church in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, as part
A VILLAGE cricket club’s plan to fund vital improvements to its ground through a housing development has been hit for six.The scheme at Shotley Bridge, near Consett, has been turned down by councillors amid concerns about the impact on wildlife and an
HISTORY buffs can play the part of a medieval bishop and take tea in an 11th century palace.Durham Castle, once home to the Prince Bishops, is launching Afternoon Tea Tours, offering visitors a tour and afternoon tea in the Senate Suite.The castle is
A MAN born in the North-East is trying to trace four sisters he has not seen for 36 years.Andrew Winter was born in a caravan on a farm in Burnopfield, County Durham, to Robert Winter and Muriel Brown in 1976.His father was a pool attendant at the swimming
A STUDENT’S paintings of Syrian refugees have gone on display in an historic venue.Durham University Arabic and History student Hannah Rose Thomas’ paintings depict refugees she met while living in Jordan last year.The resulting exhibition has gone on
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER Millicent Seargent has been celebrating her 100th birthday today (Wednesday, March 3).The grandmother of four and great-grandmother of four, celebrated her big day with family at Field View Care Home in Blackhall Colliery, near Peterlee
A CHARITY which offers work to adults with learning disabilities has taken to the stage with a successful fundraising pantomime.Northdale Horticulture staged its seventh annual pantomime, Robin Hood and His Merry Women recently. The show, at Sacred Heart
PEOPLE are invited to become involved in a farm heritage project and record some of the history of the Yorkshire Dales.A drop-in workshop will be running this weekend which aims to show people how they can work alongside existing volunteers in the Upper
A COUNCIL has won an award for its helping young people develop their careers through an apprenticeship scheme.North Yorkshire County Council's Real Start programme offers apprentices £105 a week for the first six months and the chance to develop transferable
AIRMEN and women put themselves to the test in an exhausting 12-hour spinathon for Comic Relief.Personnel from RAF Leeming teamed up to compete in the event, which started at 8am and had 11 teams working on hourly rotations throughout the day. And to
ANIMAL welfare workers in the North-East believe someone could be deliberately targeting a colony of swans with deadly lead powder.They fear one of County Durham's largest colonies could be wiped out after a spate of deliberate poisonings.The group of
Evenwood Road RunnersEvenwood Road Runners and supporters travelled to Cumbria on March 1 to compete in the Haweswater Half Marathon. On a scenic but undulating course in cold conditions new member John Clifford was 1st back for the club for 3rd position
Michael Brandon discover he has quite a few surprising points for Viv Hardwick on his Arthur Miller debut 'HI, it's Michael," comes the familiar Brooklyn drawl. My first reaction of saying, "Michael who?" was quickly replaced with the realisation
AN ARMY regiment will be exercising its right to parade through Hartlepool later this month.Soldiers of 3rd Battalion The Rifles march through the town on Saturday, March 21.The locally-recruited regiment and its reservists are parading as part of the
BAR staff have been given extra training in an effort to prevent further river deaths.A group of 24 barmen and women learned about alcohol legislation and how to spot and deal with drunks, in the latest City Safety Group bid to prevent any more Durham
A PHOTOGRAPHY club is holding a special exhibition to attract a new generation of snappers.Bishop Auckland Photographic Society will showcase the diverse interests and talents of its members at the exhibition, which opens at the McGuiness Gallery at Bishop
YOUNGSTERS from six Bishop Auckland primary schools showcased their best moves at a dance festival today (Tuesday, March 3). More than 150 children took to the stage during the Bishop Auckland Schools Primary Dance Show at Bishop Barrington School
A ROYAL Navy recruit from Darlington has set sail on a new career and completed the first phase of his training at HMS Raleigh.Trainee Seaman Specialist Aaron Clarkson, 23, arrived at the Royal Navy’s training establishment, in Cornwall, last November.He
POLICE want to speak to this man, pictured, over a serious Black-Eye Friday assault.A 54-year-old man from the Durham area suffered a large cut to his head and damage to his teeth during the attack near the Pizza Time takeaway on North Road, Durham, in
A DOCTOR smirked and got an erection as he groped a teenage schoolgirl patient’s breasts during a GP appointment, a court heard today (Tuesday, March 3). The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Durham Crown Court that her encounter
A NEO-NAZI group is set to bring its race war to the streets of the North-East. The Hitler-worshipping National Action (NA) group is bringing its White Man March to Newcastle on Saturday, March 21. The growing far-right group is notable for
MODEL railway enthusiasts will show off their work with a display of steam and diesel engines.The GL5 Association exhibition at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon will be the group’s first ever display of five inch gauge railway models
JOHN CARVER will consider looking at a free transfer should Newcastle United’s injury problems increase in the next few weeks. Carver only has three defenders to choose from ahead of Wednesday night’s home game against Manchester United, with left-back
BOWLS players from around the British Isles are coming to a County Durham town for an international tournament. Stanley Indoor Bowls Club, above Asda, at the top of Front Street, is hosting both the International Series and the British Isles Series
A DRIVER who was trapped in his wagon after it overturned near Bowes, in Teesdale, this afternoon, has escaped uninjured.A fire brigade crew from Barnard Castle released the man at about 1pm today (Tuesday, March 3) after the articulated tipper lorry
HAVING only just watched the film Boyhood, since it came out on DVD, I was rooting for Patricia Arquette to win best supporting actress in the Oscars. The film, about a young boy growing up from the age of six to his 19th birthday, could just as
THREE North-East galleries are to become permanent homes to paintings and drawings by one of Britain’s greatest contemporary artists Frank Auerbach.Works from a collection amassed by Auerbach’s friend and fellow artist Lucian Freud will go on permanent
BUSINESSES in Darlington have saved more than £30,000 on services and utilities thanks to a new procurement initiative.The town centre retailers are all independently owned and lie within the business improvement district (BID) overseen by Distinct Darlington.Distinct
MOTORISTS are being warned of lengthy diversions for six weeks, and farmers and hauliers for 16 weeks, ahead of a £197,000 scheme to bolster a historic bridge over the River Swale.North Yorkshire County Council said work would start on Monday, March 23
WORK to build a £1.4bn household waste incinerator plant has started, following years of wrangling over the scheme.North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council and waste management company AmeyCespa have held a ground-breaking ceremony at the
THE largest provider of land-based further education in England has been accused of harvesting grants for isolated areas before launching moves to close a rural campus by stealth. Askham Bryan College, which has centres stretching from Hexham to
CONSTRUCTION work on a new £34.5m bypass is officially underway after the first sod was cut to signal the start of the 18-month project.The three-mile long Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar bypass will take the main A684 road into the Dales around the communities
HOUSING plans revised following a public outcry are worse than those submitted originally, an MP has said.Story Homes, which wants to create a new development on the outskirts of Lanchester, has reduced the number of homes from 151 to 149.But Pat Glass
A YOUTH football team is campaigning for votes from the public after being nominated to win a £2,000 community prize. Spraire Lads and Lasses have been nominated by the Darlington branch of Magnet Trade for the company's Community Champions campaign.In
CHILDREN sang their hearts out with Durham Cathedral’s Boy and Girl Choristers on Saturday, (February 28) when the group visited Barnard Castle.Ten children, aged between six and ten, took part in the Come and sing with Durham Cathedral Choristers event
POLICE have warned they will deal robustly with any social media users who identify the victim of an alleged sexual offence involving a Premiership footballer. The caution was given today (Wednesday, March 3) in the wake of the arrest of Sunderland
A CYCLIST broke his spine after a collision with a car in Middlesbrough. Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision involving a Ford Focus, on Borough Road at the junction of Linthorpe Road at about 8.40am on Friday, February 27. The 43-year-old
CONTROVERSIAL plans for what has been described as a "two tier" schools admissions policy for Ingleby Barwick have been abandoned.Stockton Borough Council's proposal to create a Zone B, or second priority, catchment area in The Rings and Broom
THE 128-year-old history of Darlington FC almost came to an abrupt end during the first few weeks of 2012. The club had been placed into administration for a third time in less than ten years. Supporters, staff and players feared the worst as owner
NORTH-EAST coal miner Banks has made a multi-million pound investment in its regional operations through the purchase of new trucks.The County Durham-based family firm has taken delivery of three Caterpillar 777G off-highway dump trucks, which are being
The UK’s first transgender comedy series, filmed in the North-East, will be screened this year. Gavin Havery spoke to BBC chief Peter Salmon about how the area has benefitted from a decision to move to a new base in Salford FOR the first time in
I REALLY enjoyed last weekend. I felt so reassured, so much at peace with myself and the world. This reassurance was provided for me by our wonderful BBC, peace be upon it, which cheerfully announced that 75 per cent of British Muslims oppose violent
EAST Durham College’s hair and beauty department are preparing for a national contest after coming out on top at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists regional competition.Students travelled to Gateshead’s Federation Brewery for the event, which
STUDENTS have been revamping the outside area of a local primary school as part of National Student Volunteering Week.Teesside University volunteers spent time at Breckon Hill Primary School sprucing up the playground tunnels, planting new raised flower
A COLLEGE’S star performers have won high praise in a national awards scheme that recognises outstanding academic and civic achievements.Carmel College students Liam White and Robyn Errington-Coates were highly commended by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan
NORTH-East comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer have confirmed their first tour in 20 years. The House Of Fools stars will mark 25 years of performing together with the live show, which they promised would feature "some uplifting moments ...
A NEW 160-room hotel has opened opposite Newcastle Central station. Hampton by Hilton is managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts on behalf of Baron House Hotel Limited. "Newcastle is renowned for its entertainment industry, bringing thousands
Categorical should go well in the Close Brothers Business Finance Handicap Chase at Newcastle.Keith Reveley's 12-year-old knows this terrain well, having won at Gosforth Park four times in his career, and warmed up for this with a pleasing spin at Doncaster
Henry de Bromhead is no nearer to deciding whether to let Sizing Europe return to Cheltenham for another tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase.The 2011 champion chaser brought the house down on his first start of the campaign when winning the PWC Champion
THE first ten years of Clive Leach's reign as Durham chairman brought five trophies, but at 80 he has no intention of quitting.Having been head-hunted to take on the role in 2004, a season when Durham collected their fifth wooden spoon, the former chairman
NEW-KIDS-on-the-block Tyne Bridge Harriers virtually clinched the Start Fitness North-East Harrier League senior men’s and senior women’s Division One team titles in the fifth and penultimate fixture at Alnwick.The Newcastle-based club – only founded
Billy Vunipola insists England must draw inspiration from Wales' recent revival as they seek to rebuild their own RBS 6 Nations title aspirations.A 19-9 defeat to Ireland in Dublin will be causing Stuart Lancaster and his Red Rose coaching lieutenants
Meet The Head: Alan Stevens, Barnard Castle School With his country tweed jacket, professorial air and book-lined study Alan Stevens looks every inch the minor public school headmaster. Follow the Teesdale team on Facebook and get breaking Barnard
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley is still undecided whether to play an under strength team in tonight’s Durham Challenge Cup semi-final against Shildon. Should Moors gain revenge for last season’s final defeat against the same opponents, then the
A NORTH-EAST broadband technology company has revealed it will make redundancies as part of a cost cutting drive. Filtronic, based at Netpark Sedgefield, County Durham, which employs about 85 North-East workers, this morning warned that revenues from
On the road: The new i20 was designed purely with the European market in mind. Hyundai believes that what we want is “class leading space, high technology and refined design”. It’s not rocket science. One thing saying it, another delivering, however
ONE of the first arrests under new police drug laws has been made by Cleveland Police. The legislation came into force on Monday and shortly before midnight a driver was stopped on Marsh House Avenue in Billingham and provided a positive roadside
IT was a steep learning curve for the new landlord and landlady of England's highest pub on their first official day behind the bar. It was more a baptism of snow than of fire as they were left marooned when several feet of snow cut off the road
POLICE who arrested five teenagers after a huge barn blaze are investigating a photograph sent to The Northern Echo which appears to show the moment the fire started. A herd of 238 traumatised cattle had to be evacuated as 50 fire officers battled
HEAVY snow is causing problems for motorists this morning with several inches falling overnight in some parts of the region. View pictures of snowfall across the region this winter Police in North Yorkshire have warned drivers to take
SUNDERLAND footballer Adam Johnson has been questioned on suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old schoolgirl. The England international was arrested after three unmarked police cars and a van arrived at the midfielder's £1.5m house in County
Andrew Hodd has been earmarked as a potential opener for the first few games of the LV= County Championship this summer should Yorkshire’s top order be hit by early season international call-ups.Regular openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees spent the early
IN 2011, Demi Stokes travelled to America in order to pursue a career in football. Born in South Shields, and a long-time member of Sunderland’s successful academy, the fleet-footed full-back didn’t particularly want to move to the opposite side of
DARYL JANMAAT has warned his Newcastle United team-mates to beware Louis van Gaal’s tactical mastery tomorrow night, and has backed his former national team boss to return silverware to Manchester United. For all that they have been criticised
Super-powered Owls: Natural World (BBC2, 8pm)FROM the nonsense of Winnie the Pooh to the spell-binding adventures of Harry Potter, the British have always been captivated by the sight and sound of an owl – those with particularly long memories will recall
RYAN BIRD already has scored and won at Dagenham this campaign; now the Hartlepool United loanee is chasing yesterday and after a repeat. Bird netted the winning goal on his debut for Pools on Saturday against Wimbledon and this evening they go
AITOR KARANKA claims Middlesbrough’s position in the Championship is even more impressive given the club’s financial budget in comparison to others.Karanka also confirmed the club is considering making a formal complaint after Sheffield Wednesday midfielder
CHILDREN are having rotten teeth pulled out unnecessarily because of a “crisis” in specialist services in the region, MPs were told.An inquiry heard evidence that a growing shortage of paediatric dentistry specialists is forcing youngsters to undergo
DURHAM Free School has been found to have taught the horrifying fact that God created the heaven and the Earth. This is against Government education policy and the fact that, as a country, we are now a secular society. The parent of one pupil
GUS POYET admits the next two matches will play a pivotal role in determining Sunderland’s relegation fate, and concedes the pressing need for a pair of positive results means any talk of stylistic niceties will have to be shelved. Sunderland travel
A LONG-serving councillor brawled in the street for several minutes in front of children, kneeing her neighbour in the face and pulling clumps of her hair out, a court has heard. York Magistrates Court was told Richmondshire District Council's
THERE is a sense of dread about the forthcoming General Election. Political loyalties and trust are breaking down. We urgently need to read manifestos online and not simply base our voting decisions on trivialities and spin. Recent years have
MY wife and I decided to go to Middlesbrough shopping for a change to Darlington where we normally go. There were plenty of shops to look in and nice shopping malls to walk down. After about an hour I turned to my wife and said there is one
BRITISH Transport Police officers are appealing for help to identify a man who threw a smoke bomb at football fans at the Stadium of Light Metro station in Sunderland. The incident happened just after 8.15pm on Thursday, February 5 following the
A CHILD abuser whose crimes were described as "despicable, depraved and abhorrent" by his own barrister was today jailed for fifteen-and-a-half years. Retired schoolteacher and youth worker Alan Medd, 77, was said to have "lost everything" when
A NORTH-EAST family has backed calls for consistent Government guidelines urging women to avoid drinking alcohol altogether when pregnant. Linda Venus, who has a daughter with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), is supporting calls from campaigners
PARENTS across the region have had enough of paying almost £90m a year on school uniforms, according to research by The Children’s Society. A report by the charity, The Wrong Blazer: Time for action on school uniform costs, reveals families are
