Spennymoor Town 1 Farsley 0 Nathan Fisher kept Spennymoor’s play off hopes well and truly alive with a superb winner against fellow play off chasers Farsley at the Brewery Field last night. It needed something special to break the deadlock
Marske revived their ENL title chances by beating nine man Consett 2-1 at Mount Pleasant. There were plenty of chances in the game, and Consett took the lead on 7 minutes when they broke away on the counter attack and scored through Michael Mackay
FIREFIGHTERS used muscle-power to haul a sedated horse to safety after it had become stranded in a steep-sided beck. A special animal rescue unit from Bishop Auckland was called to the paddock near Headlam Hall, between Gainford and Ingleton, at
THE new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster are rightly re-examining what went wrong 26 years ago when watching a football match was a very different experience. But, although today's Premier League matches are played in modern all-seater arenas
ELVET STRIDERS are always guaranteed to be well represented at parkruns throughout the country and often internationally and this weekend was no exception with some great performances. There was purple to be seen in Manchester, Bedford, Carlisle, Sheffield
Viv Hardwick catches up with the rising fame of TV, film and singing star John BarrowmanTHE collapse of the recording industry meant that singers such as John Barrowman were dropped as an artist, in spite of releasing top twenty albums. It’s typical of
WHEN so many things are wrong with the world, it's worth reflecting on how far we've come. The Northern Echo Schools Awards were presented in Newton Aycliffe today and it was a chance to shine the spotlight on the inspirational achievements of
THREE of Darlington Mowden Park's contingent in the England Women squad will run out at their home ground on Friday night.Skipper Katy Mclean and vice-captain Tamara Taylor have both been given the nod for the match against Scotland at The Northern Echo
AFTER an unprecedented year of sporting success the pupils of Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form have won the title of school of the year in The Northern Echo School Awards 2015. The Spennymoor school scooped one of the most prestigious titles
WHEN so many things are wrong with the world, it's worth reflecting on how far we've come.The Northern Echo Schools Awards were presented in Newton Aycliffe today and it was a chance to shine the spotlight on the inspirational achievements of pupils and
MORE than 40 staff at a North-East subsea firm have lost their jobs. Reef Subsea UK, in Thornaby, near Stockton, has made 43 people redundant. The move comes only a month after bosses played down fears over workers’ futures when its Norway-based
GAS engineers have disconnected a suspected illegal fuel supply to a house in the North-East.Police and staff from the Northern Gas Network arrived in Burnhope, near Stanley, in County Durham, this morning at around 9am.A 29-year-old man who lived at
BUS routes are under threat after a small operator announced it was closing due to insurance costs trebling. Leven Valley Coaches said its insurance premiums had risen from £54,000 to £154,000 a year due to the compensation culture - and said one
A FUNDRAISING campaign for a vital heart scanner will be launched this weekend in Boots stores throughout the North-East.Up to £500,000 is needed to upgrade James Cook University Hospital’s specialist scanner and Rotary Clubs across the area are supporting
THE Government has been accused of attempting to profit from injured people and putting a “tax on justice” after a hike in the cost of issuing some civil court claims came into force.Anyone attempting to claim more than £10,000 through the civil courts
YOUNGSTERS have designed a flag which may fly at the Houses of Parliament to help mark the 750th anniversary of the modern British parliament. Ferryhill Station Primary School is one of 650 schools involved in the Government’s Parliament in the
ONE of the region’s most talented young musicians has added to his achievements by passing a highly-regarded exam and winning a place at a prestigious music college.Alexander Bone, an 18-year-old saxophonist from Darlington, won the inaugural BBC Young
A WADDLING group of holidaymakers’ favourites are returning to their rightful home tomorrow (Wednesday March 11).The penguin colony from Scarborough’s Sea Life Centre are being moved back into their newly-refurbished home.The 12 Humboldt penguins have
A NATIONAL parks charity is calling for a public inquiry into plans to develop a potash mine on the North York Moors.The Campaign for National Parks (CNP) has asked Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to call in the planning application for the York Potash
LANDLORDS in the Tees Valley are being invited to an event to find out more about renting their properties.The annual Tees Valley Private Landlord Forum will take place on Thursday, March 19 in the Legend’s Suite at Middlesbrough Football Club from 1pm
AFTER an unprecedented year of sporting success the pupils of Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form have won the title of school of the year in The Northern Echo School Awards 2015.The Spennymoor school scooped one of the most prestigious titles on offer
Richmond and Zetland HarriersWith the relays at Croft cancelled due to a double booking, large numbers of Richmond and Zetland Harriers used the local parkruns to stretch their legs. At Darlington's South Park, Liam Rabjohn continued his excellent form
The region's best and brightest were honoured today at The Northern Echo Schools Awards at the Xcel Centre, in Newton Aycliffe. View a gallery of pictures from the ceremony here
BUSINESSMEN and women and workers were counting the cost today (Tuesday, March 10) after a large fire ripped through a timber yard on a Teesside industrial estate . As previously reported in The Northern Echo, firefighters were called to a timber
THIS is something I never believed I’d write. We need to spend more on defence. Or rather, since spending will increase in the normal inflationary way of things, we need to make sure our capacity to defend ourselves is raised beyond the dangerously low
A NUMBER of sites in the North-East have been chosen to take the lead in transforming care for patients.Gateshead and Sunderland are among 29 groups of nurses, doctors and other health and social care staff from across the country who have been given
PLANS for a spa and country club outside Yarm, which would create about 150 jobs, are being considered by Stockton Council. Howson Developments is planning to open the timber building, housing a leisure centre and swimming pool on land off Leven
TWO men have been arrested following a suspicious fire that has left residents of a terraced street living in a hotel.Police have arrested two men, aged 23 and 27, from Durham City, on suspicion of arson following a ferocious blaze in nearby Sherburn
EAST Durham College’s Houghall Campus is getting set to host a lambing watch.The event will be held at Houghall Farm, in Durham, from 11am to 3pm on Sunday March 22. As well as the lambs there will be a number of other attractions available on the day
PLANS for a new car showroom on an edge-of-town business park have been approved, despite the concerns of two local councillors.Mike Pulman Holdings wants to build a new Skoda dealership with a showroom, workshop, forecourt, offices and a cafe near Durham
LAST Saturday (7th March) I was in Darlington town centre, when I realised I had lost my blue and yellow striped scarf, a treasured old friend from my college days of 50 years ago. I retraced my steps in the direction of the rail station without
RESIDENTS of a unique community in North Yorkshire are to meet with county council officials to discuss fears about changes to their way of life. Dozens of learning disabled residents of the Botton village community travelled with the co-workers, who
OUR footballers are paid incomes that are stratospheric, yet the English national team fails to perform every two years at international tournaments. This week English cricketers failed to qualify in a tournament purposefully designed so that major
I READ with disgust about six-year-old Nathan Dodd`s injuries following a hit-and-run accident in West Park, Darlington (Echo, March 9). My sympathies are also with his parents, who I feel are justified in their criticism of the way police handled
A FORMER retail worker is raising his glass to a career change after launching a real ale brewery.Graham Gannaway has set up The School House Brewery, which is based on Darlington’s Cleveland Industrial Estate.Mr Gannaway said it is already supplying
Redcar TownThe Under-12s lost 3-1 to Nunthorpe in the first division of the Teesside Junior Football Alliance.Town started brightly with some good link up play, but Nunthorpe also held the ball well and both teams produced some good attacking football.Midway
SCHOOL pupils have heard from one of football’s most influential backroom boys. Businessman David Dein was vice-chairman of Arsenal from 1983 to 2007 and has also been vice-chairman of the Football Association. He has also been involved at
VOLUNTEERS at a threatened community cafe remain confident a new home will be found, despite recent talks with the landowner proving fruitless.Last October, Durham County Council gave the charity which runs the Cubby 12 months to quit its home in Greenwell
A KEY £15m planning vote was postponed today (Tuesday, March 10), as confusion reigned following the rejection of a controversial growth strategy.Members of Durham County Council’s central and east planning committee struggled to know what policy to turn
A MOTORIST has been jailed for 12 weeks after she was twice caught driving while three times the legal alcohol level in less than half a year. Lisa Wilson, 32, of Tennyson Road, Chilton, was jailed by Newton Aycliffe magistrates after pleading
A MEMORIAL to the First World War which was hidden in storage for three years is to be displayed at a North-East museum. It was first unveiled at Washington Colliery Welfare Hall and Institute, in Washington, Wearside, in 1921. Carved in oak and given
A COUNTY'S Women's Institutes have been honoured for a century of community service.Durham County Council chairman John Robinson presented the Durham Federation of the WI with the Chairman's Medal.The presentation ceremony at County Hall was attended
A PRIMARY school has become the first in Darlington to join a nationwide programme of support and advice about gay issues.St John’s Primary School has announced its participation in the gay rights charity Stonewall’s ‘Primary School Champions’ programme
STUART Miller and his new wife Mel took over the reins of the George and Dragon last July, and said taking on the library was something he was glad to do.“It is great that the village still has a library, even though it is small, rather than nothing at
THE support group for Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) have been given a guided tour of another airport.The Friends of Durham Tees Valley (FODTV) were given an insight into the day-to-day operations of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which included a tour
NORTHUMBRIAN Water has maintained its title as the only water company to be added to the 2015 World’s Most Ethical Company list for the fifth year running. The company based at Pity Me, near Durham City, is also the only UK-based utility company
ELVET STRIDERS' most improved female runner of 2014, Sally Hughes was called into action for the North East in the Inter County Cross Country Championships in Birmingham at the weekend. Sally and her father Mike are active membersof the club and are
A “DANGEROUS” driver was jailed for three and a half years by a judge who said it had been remarkable no one was killed during a series of aggressive incidents .The court heard Christopher Jeffrey Thwaites, 24, of Berrygate Lane, Sharow, near Ripon, deliberately
AN EAST Durham social worker and his German wirehaired pointer named Squire have walked off with a top prize at Crufts. Seven-year-old Squire, who one of 22,000 dogs at Birmingham's NEC last week for the prestigious show presented by the Kennel Club,
VILLAGERS in a picturesque conservation area are celebrating after plans to build ten houses were rejected by councillors.Residents of Shadforth, a small village of 175 houses east of Durham City, turned out in force at County Hall today (Tuesday, March
TWO Barnard Castle School pupils are making their mark in cross country running.Stella Jones, 14, from Darlington, and India Pentland, 12, from Manfield, have both achieved success in their age range after competing in a national competition last month.The
PUPILS and teachers dressed as their favourite fictional characters for World Book Day.Youngsters at St Andrew’s Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, joined staff in fancy dress and swapped books which they no longer wanted with classmates.Competitions
DAY TWO of the Cheltenham Festival kicks off with the Neptune Novices Hurdle and Windsor Park (1.30) has something to find with both Nichols Canyon and Outlander on form from earlier in the campaign, but there are strong grounds for thinking under today
A WOMAN is planning to take on the London Marathon dressed as a superhero.Kirsty Rustman, from Langley Moor, near Durham, will be one of more than 1,400 people pounding the 26.2-mile route through the capital on Sunday, April 26, dressed as superheroes.The
TWO of the North-East’s most acclaimed writers are joining forces to chat onstage and discuss their books. Harry Pearson and Richard Milward are appearing at the Waiting Room, in Station Road, Eaglescliffe, on Sunday March 22 from 8pm. Mr Pearson
A NEW purpose-built IVF unit has opened its doors at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.The state-of-the-art facility brings all reproductive medicine services together in one place and includes its own theatre, lab, tank room, air quality
STOCKTON Borough Council is reminding residents that they have until Monday, March 16 to give their opinion on two important planning matters affecting the borough, including the Local Plan.The Regeneration and Environment Local Plan outlines the council
TICKETS are still available for a fundraising ball later this month.The event will take place at the Hall Garth Hotel, in Coatham Mundeville, near Darlington, on Saturday, March 28 to raise money for Children with Cancer UK.The event has been organised
YOUNG footballers will be able to play whatever the weather thanks to a new synthetic pitch.The 3G all-weather surface has been built at Ebac Northern League club Chester-le-Street Town FC’s ground at Chester Moor, beside the A167 road to Durham.The new
A NORTH-EAST grandmother has published the last in a trilogy of books about her traumatic upbringing.Finding Eileen recounts Anne Fothergill’s emotive attempts to track down her long lost sister after a childhood spent in an orphanage.Mrs Fothergill and
A DARLINGTON Scout group is holding its principal event next month as part of year-long centenary celebrations.The 8th Darlington Scout group is throwing open its doors and inviting the public to visit its headquarters at 80 Cockerton Green on April 11
A FEW years ago, there was going to be a new Wonder Woman television series starring Ohio-born actress Adrianne Palicki.A pilot show was filmed, which allegedly showed Wonder Woman wearing a different costume, but the show never got the go-ahead which
FORMER Middlesbrough Mayor and council leader Walter Ferrier has died, at the age of 90.He served the Thorntree ward for six decades, having first been elected in 1954 and bowing out in 2011.He also had a five-year spell between 1968 and 1973 out of office
VILLAGE residents fighting to prevent unreasonable housing developments have launched the first draft of a legal document designed to give them a strong voice in future planning decisions. The Middleton St George neighbourhood development plan steering
THE Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team hosted a large helicopter training exercise at the weekend to prepare for a change in helicopters.During 2015/16 all helicopter search and rescue (SAR-H) operations currently undertaken by the
LEAGUE NEWCOMERS Bishop Lacey’s booked their place in the third division cup final with a 6-1 victory at Bishop Station. Ben Hopkinson notched a hat trick with James Sleep, James Whittaker and Dale Sowerby completing Lacey’s tally. Lee Banks pulled one
DOG owners are being urged to support a charity event in aid of a North Yorkshire-based hospice.Herriot Hospice Homecare is holding a sponsored dog walk on the Camp Hill Estate at Kirklington, near Bedale, on Easter Monday, April 6.The Paws in the Park
CONSERVATIONISTS are appealing for help in their mission to restore woodland nature reserves to prime condition.The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has launched a fund-raising campaign, Wonderful Woodlands, to help make them even better for wildlife.The aim
THE world-famous York Mystery Plays will be returning next year in a month-long presentation.York Minster will undergo a spectacular transformation to host the medieval cycle of plays for the first time since the year 2000.On that occasion more than 28,000
A STUDENT welfare officer has accidentally emailed a link to a porn website to her whole university college.Rachael Boyce, the vice-president for welfare on the junior common room (JCR) at Durham University’s Hatfield College, sends a weekly update to
ARTISTS are set to stage two free exhibitions celebrating the wildlife and natural beauty of the North York Moors National Park.The Inspired by… gallery, at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby, will showcase A Fascination With Fauna, by artist Emerson
A CONVICTED paedophile serving a 17-year prison sentence for child sex crimes is on trial facing further allegations. John Pennock denies four charges of attempted rape, one of sexual activity with a child, and two of causing or inciting a child
A TOWN’S top tourist spots have teamed up to offer visitors a special ticket that will save money on entrance fees and shopping opportunities.The Richmond Town Ticket can be used to gain combined entrance to the Green Howards Museum, Richmond Castle,
A STAINED glass window which featured in Ripon's first purpose built library is set to be displayed after being restored.Colin Waite, who used the library in Skellgarths, said he had fond memories of the artwork above the entrance, depicting the torch
A FITTING tribute was paid to a North Yorkshire man with a passion for engines, when he made his final journey in life on the back of his carefully restored traction engine.George Colin West, 82, known to everyone as Colin, died peacefully in hospital
THE first apprentices in the UK have graduated on a unique new scheme to master traditional skills in an industry battling to replace more than 40,000 workers in the next ten years.The Heritage Craft Alliance, based at Thorp Perrrow, near Bedale, runs
GURKHAS marking 200 years in the British Army completed a 202-mile cross country cycle in some of the worst weather this winter.The eight man team encountered blizzard conditions and had to carry their bikes through snow drifts to reach England’s highest
THE family of a North-East soldier found dead at Deepcut barracks have called for a new inquest after they were handed thousands of pages of new evidence.Private Geoff Gray, 17, of from Seaham, County Durham, was found dead at the Surrey base in September
THE North-East has 118,000 fewer people smoking than a decade ago – and smokers are being encouraged to make this No Smoking Day (Wednesday March 11) their day to quit for good.The message comes from the North-East tobacco control office, Fresh, ahead
A GROUP which helps vulnerable people to cope has been given a £354,214 grant from the Big Lottery Fund to extend services over the next three years.The grant will help Hambleton, Richmondshire and Selby Advocacy, give free, independent and confidential
KEEN readers will get the chance to meet authors Lauren Owen and Robert Williams at Cockerton Library on March 17.Lauren Owen, who has recently written her first book, The Quick, and Robert Williams, author of books including Into the Trees and How the
CHARITY fundraiser Tony “The Fridge” Morrison is to go on trial charged with assault. The 50-year-old grandfather has made headlines by raising more than £100,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation by doing endurance runs and marathons carrying
SECURITY and utility services firm G4S has warned it still has much work to do, despite a turnaround plan leading to increased profits.The company revealed pre-tax profits stood at £148m for 2014, compared to a loss of £190m a year earlier, with profits
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley wants his team’s decision-making to improve in tonight’s Evo-Stik First Division North home game against Farsley. Moors dropped two points at Droylsden on Saturday, but Ainsley thought that his team should have
Northumberland & Durham County Swimming ChampionshipsThere were super performances from Billingham ASC swimmers at the recent Northumberland and Durham County Championships. Two of the club’s top butterfly swimmers were both crowned county champions in
BAMBURGH has been named by the Sunday Times as the best rural seaside place in Britain in which to live. So it’s official, then. Discerning readers will know that it’s on the north Northumberland coast, dominated by a castle that in parts is even
2:17pm One last picture of all the winners... 2:13pm And that is that...The Northern Echo Schools Awards 2015...congratulations to the winners....thanks to the sponsors
HARTLEPOOL technology company Stadium Group has reported soaring profits in its annual results driven by strong growth in the higher margin technology products and operational efficiencies. The global group, which designs and makes specialist
A DARLINGTON primary school will be closed today after a flooding incident. Cockerton Primary School has told parents the hot water boiler malfunctioned and flooded the school office on Monday night. The school said in a statement to parents
DURHAM'S safety chief has called on students to take responsibility for themselves after two more plunged into a river that has claimed the lives of three of their peers. Terry Collins, chair of the City Safety Group, said the council, police and
A MAN was left with broken bones after being attacked by a gang who also targeted his dog. The 50-year-old was walking his dog in the Cockerton area of Darlington when he was approached by around eight youths. Members of the group kicked his
Jonas Gutierrez made his comeback from testicular cancer in Newcastle United ’s defeat to Manchester United last Wednesday. Sports writer Steph Clark spoke to the midfielder about his battle against the disease and how he wants to help raise awareness
Adam Mitchell may have one eye on his own long-term future with a return to professional football a possibility, but the talented youngster insists he remains focused on gaining promotion with Darlington.He has recently been on trial with League One side
JONAS GUTIERREZ knows he has a fight on his hands to claim a regular starting place in Newcastle United’s final ten games, but the midfielder insists his main aim is to enjoy playing again after recovering from testicular cancer. Gutierrez made
THE FAMILY of a fly-tipper trading under the name Steptoe and Son has been forced to flee their home after receiving death threats, a court was told yesterday. Comment: Reaching the tipping point Waste collector Robert Carver dumped
A HOST of North-East employers have launched schemes for new trainees to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week. Northgate Vehicle Hire, which has its head office in Darlington and branches in Stockton, Wilton, near Redcar, North Shields and
SCHOOL meals providers have a problem. Since new food guidelines came into force in January kids have been turning their noses up at new recipe fruit puddings. According to the new School Food Standards school kitchens must serve puddings which
Nurse (BBC2, 10pm)PAUL Whitehouse has to face up to the difficult task of trying to be funny about mental health, dementia and Alzheimer's, without offending too many of his audience. Once again, he's adopting more personas than an Aviva series of adverts
A FAMILY-RUN North-East glass business has been bought by an investment group. Brownhills Investments says it has taken on Peterlee Glass, in east Durham. Bosses say the move, supported by £2.9m from the Business Growth Fund (BGF), will strengthen
RESIDENTS were evacuated from their homes after a ferocious fire tore through terraced housing in a North-East village on Monday. Firefighters were called to Sherburn Village, near Durham City, at around 10am, after flames from an empty property
A CONVICTED sex offender who attacked a prostitute after leading her down a dark alleyway has walked free from court. Michael Reaney later told probation officials that he got angry when he did not get his £20's worth. Follow the Teesside
A LARGE fire destroyed offices and cars at an industrial estate on Monday night. The blaze was reported at a timber yard on the Bon Lea Trading Estate in Thornaby at 10.05pm. The fire spread to a commercial car garage and a scaffolding yard
SCIENTISTS are showing off their shoes in support of a dinosaur-mad schoolgirl. Last week, eight-year-old Sophia Trow attracted nationwide attention in her quest for dinosaur shoes for girls after The Northern Echo reported her plight.
POLICE have released an e-fit of a man they would like to trace after a woman was assaulted in Darlington. The woman was walking on Eastbourne Road, near the Lawns Care home, on the evening of Thursday, March 5 when she was approached by a man,
HALF a dozen sex offenders have escaped the clutches of the region’s police including one man who went on the run after he was charged with possessing extreme pornography. Police forces were asked by the Press Association to reveal how many missing
