A CONTROLLED explosion was carried out on the beach at Tynemouth tonight (Sunday, March 29) following the discovery of a rusted hand grenade.The discovery was made by a member of the public who reported it to Northumbria Police just after 5.50pm.Officers
A CONTROVERSIAL out-of-town retail park is trading so well there are plans for businesses to expand into the high street.When plans for the development at St. Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, were announced they were met with fierce criticism from
TICKETS for an annual music festival are now on sale.This year, Crookfest, held in the grounds of Crook Town Football Club, Millfield, Crook, features a jam-packed programme of live music on Bank Holiday Sunday, May 3.Rock cover and tribute bands will
TWO veterans organised a remembrance service this weekend to remember those who lost their lives in Afghanistan.Pete Molloy and Alan Gardner arranged the special service in Spennymoor town centre at the cenotaph on Saturday (March 28).More than 100 people
A LIFE-SIZED bronze sculpture of Alf Wight, the man behind the James Herriot books, has been unveiled in North Yorkshire.The official installation of the life-like statute took place at The World of James Herriot museum in Thirsk yesterday (Saturday,
A CHARITY which offers vulnerable young people safe places to stay is looking for volunteer hosts.Nightstop North-East helps people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of becoming so by offering a safe place to sleep, washing facilities and breakfast
POLICE have arrested and questioned a 16-year-old boy following an assault in Sunderland that left a teenager needing hospital treatment.The incident happened between 11.15pm and 11.30pm on Saturday (March 28), in Tanfield Road, in the Thorney Close area
Darlington Mowden Park 12Rosslyn Park 24MOWDEN Park were left in no doubt on Saturday that they need some extra muscle if they are to fulfil their aim of competing at the top end of National One next season.They weren't helped by not having a fit replacement
A MENTAL health charity has been recognised for its ICT training.Darlington Mind has been awarded Grade A status by the Chartered Institute for IT for the 13th year running.More than 1,000 people with mental health issues have obtained qualifications
THE Archbishop of York has criticised a decision by major supermarkets not to sell Easter eggs with a religious message. A decision by supermarket giants not to sell a chocolate product entitled The Real Easter Egg, which celebrates the origins of Easter
A NORTH-EAST mother who has spent 17 years caring for her autistic son has launched a tasty business venture – a cake shop.Laurie Dobson, of Darlington says she is 'testing the water' with her business, Mrs Palmer's Pantry, in the town's Clark's Yard.Although
A MAJOR scheme to revamp a rundown estate has taken its next step forward with the completion of 35 affordable new homes.Erimus Housing, part of the Thirteen Group, has completed the next phase of the facelift of Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, where hundreds
A DARLINGTON schoolboy’s love of wildlife has netted him a national prize.Rydal Academy pupil George Stephens, 11, designed a bird-box fit for king(fisher)s recently.His imaginative design – featuring a swimming pool for birds - came out top in a nationwide
A GROUP of young workers s are helping to build a stronger workforce for the future for the region’s biggest local authority.Over the last six months Durham County Council has recruited 20 apprentices to work in a range of front line services, including
A CAMPAIGN has been launched as warmer weather starts to bring out more and more motorcyclists onto the roads.Members of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operation Unit (CDSOU) are urging bikers to stay safe on roads across the two force areas.Throughout
DURHAM and Darlington police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg has penned an open letter to candidates in May’s general election.The former senior police officer, who is the first person to hold the post in the Durham force area, wants to explain to parliamentary
TEN treasures worth an estimated £10m are to be sold by Castle Howard in a bid to secure the financial future of the historic home.The items from the North Yorkshire estate are to be sold by Sotheby’s and come from the Howard family's collection – which
A BRAVE youngster will learn in the next month if she is winning her fight against cancer. Charlotte Watson, five, of Stanley, County Durham, has undergone pioneering proton beam therapy in the US and gruelling chemotherapy sessions at the RVI
TWO of Middlesbrough’s longest serving councillors have been honoured for their commitment to the town.Councillors Bob Kerr and Garry Clark have been elected members of the authority for more than three decades each but will stand down at the forthcoming
A COLOURFUL array of crosses has been created to mark the beginning of Easter celebrations at a Darlington church.Knitted crosses of all shapes, colours and sizes are currently displayed on the railings surrounding St Matthew and St Luke’s Church, in
A CONSTRUCTION firm wants to expand its headquarters and build more homes on a former asbestos factory site.Esh Group, which has a 1,000-strong workforce including 600 in the North-East, wants to expand its head office at Bowburn, near Durham, creating
Durham manager Lee Sanders praised the early impact of Rebecca Beech as her goal set the Wildcats on the way to their first FA Women’s Super League 2 victory of the season against Oxford United.They won 3-0, Beech opening her team's account for the season
A NEW free exhibition is set to explore the mysteries and reality of pirates.Called ‘Pirates! Fact and Fiction’, it’s at the Museum of Hartlepool at Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience until Sunday, June 28.This touring exhibition from renowned film, television
ELECTRIC bikes will soon be available up and down the Durham Dales as The North Pennines Electric Bike Network expands its reach with five new hire points.The network, which is run by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership
PEOPLE travelled from across the world to visit a major theatrical festival in a North-East town at the weekend.Organisers of the Jabberwocky Market say this season’s event, in Darlington, was the strongest one yet as performers and visitors enjoyed four
A HAPLESS Sunday league team narrowly avoided being named worst in the country – netting themselves a lucrative sponsorship deal in the process.This season, Darlington’s Red Hall Tigers made a name for themselves as possibly the worst team in the country
TWIN girls are flying the flag for the North-East in Hollywood after a blockbuster Disney movie they star in hit the big screens. Harley and Madison Preston, from Darlington, play Cinderella as a baby in Sir Kenneth Branagh's live action version
TOMORROW night's England Under-21 game at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium could set a new record for the largest attendance at an Under-21 match away from Wembley. The record gate currently stands at the 33,184 who watched England play Holland
A DEVELOPER is to be urged to increase the size of flats planned for the centre of Consett.Sterling Developments wants to revamp a prominent building in Trafalgar Street, near the town’s bus station.The company wants to convert the upstairs from commercial
A GROUP of students will be spending their Easter holidays helping to build homes in a poverty stricken area of Mexico.Six students and two teachers from The King's Academy, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, will spend five days constructing a house for a
NEWCASTLE UNITED forward Adam Armstrong has revealed how a pep-talk from England captain Wayne Rooney inspired the national team’s younger generation to success.Armstrong, along with Middlesbrough’s Harry Chapman, was part of the Under-18s brilliant 6
A MARKET town is set to benefit from a business boost after being named as the first Food Enterprise Zone in Yorkshire.Malton, in Ryedale, was nominated by Ryedale District Council and the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership
A BARREL-rolling journey to raise cash for Help for Heroes has made a scheduled stop at Phoenix House recovery centre, Catterick Garrison, to meet people who benefit from the charity.Fitness expert Rob Edmond is leading a team rolling a Bell’s whiskey
RUSS WILCOX could not hide his pride after ten-man York City strengthened their chances of Football League survival by dragging Mansfield Town further in to the mire at Field Mill. After York had taken a stunning two-goal lead through Keith Lowe and Shaq
STAFF at a North-East cinema are celebrating receiving two worthy accolades.The Odeon cinema, in Darlington, has been named Band C cinema of the year and charity cinema of the year in the nationwide chain's in-house awards.Cinema manager Nathan Calderwood
A CHARITY will join thousands of Hartlepool United fans who are hoping the team will avoid relegation this season, after a bet was placed on them staying up.Richard Royal, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hartlepool, was invited to visit the local
FORMER pupils were reunited after decades apart as they paid a nostalgic last visit to their old school. More than 100 people, mostly in their fifties and older, were allowed into the fenced-off grounds of Roseberry College and Sixth Form at Newfield
A CHARITY race is set to bring a splash of colour to the River Tees next month.The Powerhouse Dragonboat Race Club (PDBRC) will see ten teams from local charities, companies and organisations taking part in this fundraising event on Saturday, April 11
A BRONZE Age gold torque has been handed back to a stately home after being on long-term loan to a town council for 50 years.Richmond Town Council held a special ceremony to officially return the historic bracelet to Kiplin Hall after a long-running battle
A GROUP of Primary School pupils have won a county wide netball competition after entering for the first time.The team, from Witton-le-Wear primary school, played a total of eight games before they scooped joint first place with a private school in Durham.The
A SPECTATOR was killed and several injured when Darlington-born driver Jann Mardenborough crashed during a race. The renowned racing driver was competing at the VLN Endurance Championship in Germany when his sports car left the track and landed
OPENING hours at recycling centres in County Durham are being extended throughout the summer.From Wednesday until September 30, recycling centres at Annfield Plain, Potterhouse Lane, Tudhoe, Seaham, Heighington Lane, Romanway and Middleton-in-Teesdale
A TOURIST attraction used a giant edible chocolate billboard to advertise its latest attraction – and found it was eaten within a day.The York Dungeon launched its pop-up show, Death by Chocolate by promoting it with a 6ft by 7ft edible advertising board.About
NORTH-East darts fans were given a world class demonstration by four masters led byPhil ‘The Power’ Taylor .The 16-times World Champion was on show at The Benfield Nissan Darts Masters on Saturday (March 28) at a packed Nissan Sports and Leisure Complex
AN EAST Durham town’s cricket pavilion is being replaced after it was destroyed by fire.Durham County Council planning officers have granted permission for a new sports and cricket pavilion in Town Park, Stockton Road, Seaham.The new home for the Seaham
A FREE bat survey training course is on offer in Barnard Castle.The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership is offering the course to volunteers on Wednesday, April 8, at 7.30pm.The course, led by Tricia Snaith from Durham Bat Group, will cover an introduction
A PROMINENT Darlington trader has pledged to bring humanity back to politics, after announcing her plans to stand for election as a councillor.Beryl Hankin, owner of Guru Boutique, in Blackwellgate, hopes to be elected to serve as an independent councillor
THE Home Secretary is calling for an external review of the controversial decision to move a police helicopter from Teesside to Newcastle.Concerns have been raised about the time it would take for the helicopter to reach operational targets in the south
THE environment secretary has announced a North Yorkshire town has become a designated food enterprise zone – giving its food and farming industry a huge boost.Malton is to become one of six new zones in England where it will be made easier for food businesses
A GROUP of pub regulars are getting on their bikes to raise money for a hospice.Twenty-one riders will pedal the 195 miles from Edinburgh Castle to the Whitehills pub in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, to support the work of St Cuthbert’s Hospice in
WAR medals were stolen in a break-in at a pensioner’s house. It happened in Park Lane, Winlaton, Gateshead, between 2pm and 3pm on Tuesday, March 17. Burglars smashed a window to break-in to the property. Sergeant Adrian Oakes, from the Outer West Gateshead
A NEW fund could help communities improve their safety and tackle crime.Projects in County Durham and Darlington could share in £150,000 from police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg and the County Durham Community Foundation’s community safety fund.Mr
A couple have tied the knot in the supermarket where they first fell in love. Rebecca Wooller and Blake Green were married in the Easter egg aisle at Morrisons in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire. The reception was held in the store cafe, with guests
BOWES WILL meet Middlestone Moor Masons Arms in the Norman Wright Cup final at Hall Lane, Willington on Good Friday. Kick off 11am. Submitted by Maurice Galley
A DIAMOND couple have said the key to a happy marriage is laughter and ‘getting on with it.’Bill and Betty Marley, who are celebrating sixty years of marriage, met in 1953 in Spennymoor.“We both used to go dancing on a Friday night at Clarence Ballroom
A HUNGER Games themed event will take place during school Easter holidays for 12 to 16 year olds. Teenagers will learn how to make and use a bow and fishing spear, how to make a fire in the pouring rain and how to make a shelter that will protect them
SHOPPERS are now able to connect to free Wifi when they are browsing in the Hillstreet Shopping Centre.For the first time people will be able to take advantage of the offer thanks to a deal between NewRiver (CORR) Retail and The Cloud that has opened
The Hare family linked strongly with Cross Lanes Organic Farm have won ‘Family Run Farm of the Year’ in the Northern Farmer Awards. This award was endorsed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. The awards presentation was held at the Pavilions’ in
A CAR ended up on its roof after a three vehicle accident in East Cleveland. This dramatic photo by Cleveland Police Road Policing Unit was posted on their twitter account on Saturday. @ClevelandRPU tweeted: "Longbeck Lane at New Marske closed
COLLEGE students are setting a shining example by cleaning up the community, says Darlington’s mayor.Councillor Gerald Lee has praised the students of Darlington’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College for doing their bit to keep Britain tidy.More than 20
THOUSANDS of shoppers and fans packed out a North-East shopping centre as baking doyenne Mary Berry paid a visit to the region. The Great British Bake Off judge was at Teesside Park, in Stockton, to perform the honours at the opening of the new
Spennymoor 3 Padiham 1. Spennymoor climbed into third in the EvoStik First Division North with victory over bottom club Padiham – and manager Jason Ainsley hasn’t ruled out their title chances just yet. Moors weren’t at their best in this game
Shildon manager Gary Forrest is trying to strengthen his squad in a last push for the title after they beat Penrith 2-1 at Dean Street on Saturday. Forrest has until the Tuesday night deadline to bolster his squad, as they prepare for their last
North Shields 2 Highworth 0 (North Shields win 3-0 on aggregate). FA Vase specialist Gareth Bainbridge returned to the team and helped fire North Shields to Wembley on Saturday. Bainbridge, who had scored 15 goals in the competition before
A THREE-LEGGED Romanian street dog has been reunited with her elated owner after spending nine months on the run around the North-East.Cross-breed Sweetpea vanished in June after slipping out of her collar during a walk at Cowpen Bewley Park, near her
THE North-East's only Michelin-starred restaurant could be about to increase its size, after the owners applied for planning permission for an extension. The Raby Hunt, in Summerhouse, near Darlington, has held a Michelin star since 2012. Its
