A GUITARIST struck down by a rare illness which left him paralysed from the neck down will rejoin his band as lead vocalist for his musical comeback later this month. Philip Graham will return to the stage with folk rock band Man with The Stick
WHAT has happened to this once green and pleasant land? Recently, we were on a walk with Age UK around the outskirts of Darlington and the amount of rubbish that was dumped in the hedgerows or just at the side of the road disgusted me. We saw
THE family of a baby born with a serious lung condition has raised more than £1,500 for the hospital which saved her life. Complications at birth led Layla-Rose Kelly, of Ferryhill, County Durham, to be born with a punctured lung and life threatening
More than 600 people boarded the Farmyard Flyer for free when it visited the Sunday People's Market in Darlington town centre today as an added attraction (March 8).The double decker - containing an array of farmyard animals, including goats and a pig
TEESSIDE sprinter Richard Kilty was left beaming in Prague after proving he’s far from a one hit wonder by landing European Indoor Championship 60m gold. Kilty, who was a surprise sprint winner of last year’s World Indoor Championships, was relieved
FROM slimy slugs to lovely ladybirds, a new £500,000 project aims to shed light on the unsung stars lurking in the undergrowth.Cold-blooded and Spineless will see The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership bring invertebrates to
SHE’s mastered the choreography and is revelling in the sequins and spray tans but as one of the inspirational contestants on the first ever People’s Strictly for Comic Relief, Anna Kennedy is most thrilled that her two autistic sons are proud of her
A CHARITY is offering free neutering of bull breed dogs whose owners are receiving benefits.Throughout March, the Dogs Trust is offering to neuter bull breed dogs (excluding French and English bulldogs) for free if their owners are in receipt of means
A ONE-day workshop will focus on Durham’s heritage status.Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) will host a workshop titled ‘Revisiting Durham’s World Heritage’ on Thursday (March 12).Sessions will focus on the social and economic impacts
THE multi-million pound redevelopment of a leading hotel will include a room fit for a president, its owners say.Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, is undergoing a £16m revamp including a new golf course, 47extra bedrooms and a spa.The Cathedral golf course
A PHYSICS graduate has been honoured for his voluntary work.Tim Wiles, who recently graduated from Durham University, was awarded the 2014 Institute of Physics (IOP) Branches Prize at the IOP North East Branch annual dinner.The prize recognises IOP members
A PROPERTY developer who conned people into investing more than £1m in a fake Greek property scheme has been jailed for seven years.Bradford Crown Court was told Ralph Christie, of North Road, Ripon, used more than £600,000 from the frauds to fund his
Goals: 0-1: Leadbitter (27, sent over a lovely cross to the back post and it took a deflection and hit the woodwork before dropping over the line)1-1: Gardner (34, afforded the space on the edge of the area to side-foot a lovely curled finish high in
TWO armed men have held up a betting shop.The men robbed Chisholm Bookmakers, on Fielding Court, South Shields, South Tyneside, shortly after 9pm on Saturday (March 7).They entered the store both wearing decorating suits. One, in a blue suit, was armed
TELEVISION presenter Denise Robertson will reflect on 40 years as an agony aunt in a talk later this month.The Sunderland-born broadcaster will give a talk titled ‘The Changing Face of Agony’ at the Murray Library lecture theatre, Sunderland, on Wednesday
HENRY VIII led youngsters on a royal procession to school as part of a campaign to promote sustainable transport.Children played princes and princes during the walk to St Francis Junior School in Newton Aycliffe organised by Durham County Council’s Mega
TRAIN passengers and rail enthusiasts enjoyed a rare delight yesterday (Saturday, March 7) as two classic steam locomotives steamed through northern England. The 'Lancashire Fusilier' and 'Leander' are pictured hauling 'The Hadrian' train over Durham
THE organisers of a four-day Mod and Ska festival have dismissed criticism that it is not the first event of its kind after being inundated with bookings. Mike Jinks said within 48 hours of tickets going on sale for the Great Northern Mod and Ska
A LABOUR parliamentary candidate in the North-East's most marginal seat has accepted a financial donation from Tony Blair.Louise Baldock, who hopes to win the Stockton South seat currently held by Conservative James Wharton, accepted £1,000 from the former
PLAYERS from a junior netball club are a big step closer to touring South Africa after a marathon fundraiser.Fifteen members of the Durham Palatinates Junior Netball Club hope to spend 11 days in South Africa in August, coaching, volunteering and playing
AFTER THE recent freezing temperatures (and frozen lakes) the weather was favourable and quite mild for Witton Castle Lakes’ 2015 season opening weekend. A total of 27 visiting anglers for Saturday alone dusted off their fishing tackle in anticipation
A RANGE of designer wedding dresses worth thousands of pounds have been sold for charity.YAP Bridal Boutique in Newcastle donated the dresses, that were sold to raise money for Cancer Research UK at the charity’s Durham City today (Sunday, March 8).Joanne
MUSEUM visitors threw brightly coloured powder over one another to celebrate the arrival of spring.Durham University’s Oriental Museum hosted a celebration of the Indian Holi Festival today (Sunday, March 8), which saw visitors taking part in the traditional
A CHESTER-le-Street family has been honoured for raising more than £130,000 for charity since their daughter died of epilepsy.The Doyle family received their volunteer of the year award from the national charity Epilepsy Action at a ceremony in Leeds.
MUSICIANS from across the North-East showcased their talents at a long-running performing arts festival.More than 150 people of all ages descended on Hummerknott Academy, in Darlington, on Saturday (March 7) for the musical section of the Darlington Festival
A POLICE commissioner met former addicts to learn about the work of a drug recovery team. Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg met prisoners who have successfully quit alcohol and drugs, and he talked with their families, to learn about
A NEW partnership has been established to improve the wildlife and landscape along a North Yorkshire river. A number of organisations have joined forces in a project to create a living landscape around the catchment of the River Skell. The river runs
FOSTER carers have been honoured at a ceremony for helping to turn vulnerable children's lives around.They received praise at the annual Foster Carer Awards Evening staged by Hartlepool Council’s Fostering and Adoption Team in the town’s Grand Hotel.Sixteen
A MAJOR project to help protect and conserve one of Stockton borough’s much loved country parks is a step nearer completion. Stockton Council has been working in partnership with the Forestry Commission on a scheme to encourage Wynyard Woodland Park’s
TRADERS have moved to ensure a bright future for a Victorian hall on a winding narrow street which was built to encourage abstinence from alcohol.The Temperance Hall, on Duck Hill, Ripon, is fully occupied for the first time in years, following uses as
YOUNGSTERS and their families got creative with watercolours.Visitors to The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts, in Yarm Road, Darlington, were taught watercolour painting techniques by local artist Paul Dillon at a family arts session on Saturday (March 7
A PUBLIC inquiry is set to decide whether a leading Conservative Party figure can stop an historic coach road around his 17th Century property becoming a public footpath.Alan Lewis, who has served as vice chairman of the party, and some of his neighbours
RACING legend AP McCoy will be on Tyneside this summer to headline a tribute dinner that is being held to honour his career. McCoy will retire from racing in the next couple of months, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable career that has seen
THE latest volunteers to pass the test to drive for an Upper Dales bus service have been added to the 35-strong team.The Little White Bus, serving both Wensleydale and Swaledale, aims to prevention isolation in the deeply rural communities by providing
A SCHOOL has rounded off its Reading Week with a fancy dress competition.Pupils at Durham School were challenged to attend classes dressed as their favourite book character.Entries included Bart Simpson, the Jamaican bobsleigh team from Cool Runnings,
AN author with a penchant for gothic literature discussed her debut novel with avid readers as part of a campaign to bring writers and bookworms together. Lauren Owen was grilled by book fans at Newton Aycliffe Library in County Durham on Friday (March
BRADLEY SAUNDERS has geared up for next month’s Commonwealth title shot by claiming the ninth stoppage of his 12-fight professional career.And the Sedgefield light welterweight thinks stopping Stephane Benito in the fifth round in Hull on Saturday night
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S board have defended the club’s policy regarding the cup competitions, and insisted they did not influence John Carver’s selection for January’s FA Cup third-round defeat at Leicester City. With the board having previously admitted
DANCERS put their toe-tapping skills to the test as they took part in the first ever Comic Relief Danceathon.TK Maxx, in Darlington, became an impromptu dance floor as line dancers and belly dancers showed off their moves to raise money for Comic Relief.The
WHILE some Britons were basking in temperatures higher than Mediterranean hotspots such as Barcelona, Rome and Athens, the signs of Spring were even felt in Hawes, North Yorkshire - which just five days ago was still covered in a blanket of snow.The mercury
Braintree 1 Gateshead 0Gateshead’s lingering play-off hopes continue to diminish, the Heed having lost 1-0 at Braintree Town on Saturday.Gary Mills’ side are now 12 points adrift of the Vanarama Conference’s final play-off place after Kenny Davis’ second-half
SCHOOL pupils from across the North-East are travelling to the Western Front to pay their respects to those killed in the British Army's first major World War One offensive 100 years ago.The centenary of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle will be marked at
AFC Wimbledon 2 York City 1YORK City’s relegation battle suffered another blow when they were beaten by a last-minute goal at AFC Wimbledon.Jack Smith’s 90th-minute strike gave the Dons a 2-1 win after Jake Hyde had earlier levelled the scores on 42 minutes.Adedeji
AN inmate was taken to hospital with head injuries after a riot lasting several hours at a North-East young offenders institution. The major disturbance at Deerbolt prison, on the outskirts of Barnard Castle, in County Durham, saw the intervention
THE millionth Great North Run finisher has completed the New Zealand race that inspired it. Tracey Cramond, an NHS worker from Darlington, made history when she became the millionth person to cross the Great North Run finish line in South Shields
HERITAGE hunters toured a restored blacksmith’s shop at the weekend (Saturday, March 7).The Hetton Smithy was saved from near collapse and fully repaired, allowing owner John Guy to start holding open days.Such sessions are now held monthly, with Mr Guy
A NORTH Yorkshire stately home has completely renovated its double herbaceous border – already one of the longest in the country – in a four-year project.Gardens at Newby Hall, near Boroughbridge, measure up at 172m and although they are enjoyed by visitors
DOUGIE FREEDMAN has tipped Middlesbrough to win the Championship promotion race despite Nottingham Forest stopping the Teessiders in their tracks at the City Ground. Forest came from a goal behind to claim three points against Boro which saw Aitor
DON’T be a “dead drunk” – that’s the stark warning police were giving shoppers this weekend.Police figures show 63 pedestrians across County Durham and Darlington were injured in road accidents while under the influence of alcohol between 2011 and 2013
A MOTHER-OF-FIVE who falsely claimed more than £68,000 in benefits over four years was spared prison after a judge was told there was no-one to care for her kids. Judge John Walford accused Tracey Grey of “sucking money” from the vulnerable and
TRIBUTES have been paid to a revered theologian, author and historian, who has died months short of his 100th birthday.The Reverend Professor Charles Cranfield was described by Tom Wright, a former Bishop of Durham, as one of the leading British New Testament
UNHAPPY residents have accused a council of environmental vandalism after twelve mature trees were cut down near their homes without consultation.Durham County Council felled 12 tall poplar trees behind St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Vart Road, Bishop
A GREAT-grandmother has celebrated her 100th birthday with afternoon tea with her family. Ivy Egglestone was born in Ferryhill, County Durham, on March 7, 1915. She was married to John, a mechanical engineer for the National Coal Board, who
LEADERS of a Christian free school have admitted defeated in their battle to save it from closure.Durham Free School (DFS) has been facing the axe since a damning Ofsted report led Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to announce she intended to withdraw
POLICE have raided the homes of former Home Secretary Lord Brittan, six weeks after his death. Detectives executed a search warrant at the late Tory grandee's property outside Spennithorne, near Leyburn as part of Operation Midland, which is looking
A LONE walker who lay injured for about three hours after falling down a steep embankment was rescued by Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team. They were called at around 6pm on Saturday to go to the aid of the 28-year-old man - who suffered suspected
West Auckland manager Steve Skinner says that they’re not out of the title race in a bizarre day at the top of the Northern League. Second placed West lost 3-1 at Jarrow Roofing, on a day when the top five all failed to win. “I think the title
Droylsden 0 Spennymoor Town 0 Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley was furious with Chris Mason’s sending off at Droylsden – but they still almost pulled victory. The skipper was dismissed for a professional foul on the half hour mark, but the
SOUTH WEST Durham League Division 1 Fixtures (Monday Nights) 27/04/15 Away V Mainsforth 05/05/15 Away V Leeholme 11/05/15 Home V Spennymoor A 18/05/15 Home V Cockton Hill 25/05/15 Away V Glenholme 01/06/15 Away V Leeholme (knock-out) 08/06/15
FOUR primary schools could be turned into two under a new council proposal. Durham County Council has drawn up plans to amalgamate Bowes Hutchinson and Startforth Morritt Church of England Primary Schools in Bowes and Barnard Castle together with
