A FIRE sparked by an oven has wrecked the kitchen of a home in a village near Sunderland.Fire crews from the Houghton le Spring and North Moor attended the blaze at a semi-detached property in Gregory Terrace, Fence Houses at 4.15pm today.A Tyne and Wear
HUMAN errors happen and, when they occur in the health service, there can be tragic consequences. Such was the case with 57-year-old Diane Priestley, of Shildon, County Durham, who died after emergency call operators failed to recognise her life
A DISABLED pensioner forced to leave his home after a mugging has picked up the keys to his new house paid for by well-wishers. Frail Alan Barnes suffered a broken collarbone in the attack in January which left him fearful to return to his Gateshead
KID Creole and the Coconuts will headline the North-East’s annual fiesta of Latin culture.The 1980s hitmakers will top the bill at the 2015 ¡Vamos! Festival on Tyneside in June.Mexican wrestlers, Peruvian street artists, Mardi Gras party-goers, world
A WAR hero was lauded on what was an emotional night in which his moving story was told on screen. Eddie Straight, 94, of Saltburn helped liberate the Nazi-run Belsen concentration camp almost exactly 70 years ago and was featured this week in
WITNESSES are being sought after a driver failed to stop at the scene of an accident.North Yorkshire Police are appealing for information on the incident, which happened on Tuesday (April 14) on the A66 between Scotch Corner and Barnard Castle.At about
A TRAINING school for strippers has been closed down after neighbours complained about the noise. The school was based in a mansion on Florida’s Gulf Coast, next door to an exclusive gated community. Home-owners grew tired of the booming music
PLACES are on offer for two half-day seminars which will offer face-to-face advice on all aspects of moving to Australia or New Zealand.The seminars are being hosted by The Emigration Group which has assisted more than 12,000 Britons to secure a visa
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Durham City and British Lions rugby star said to be one of the greatest hookers of his era.A one-club man, Stan Hodgson played for Durham into his late 50s, was capped 11 times by England and represented the Lions in South
THE sun shone on residents and staff at a retirement village as they joined an Italian cricketer on an epic charity walk.The keen walkers from Middleton Hall Retirement Village, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, joined Alessandro Sabelli on a leg
A PUB landlord is hoping drinkers will sink a few pints after brewing the official beer for Darlington Arts Festival.Alan and Susan Hogg, of The Surtees Arms and the Yard of Ale Brewery, on Chilton Lane, Ferryhill, County Durham, brew beers on site.Mr
NEWCASTLE University is part of a pioneering multi-million pound collaboration focused on the development of a treatment to help patients with schizophrenia.The £3.3 million research project, involving Newcastle, Manchester University and drug company
AN investigation has been launched after a man died on a rail track in North Yorkshire.The dead man, who has yet to be named, was killed when he was struck by a train near the Crimple Valley viaduct in Harrogate.The incident happened shortly after 1.30pm
THE RMT rail union is to kick off a series of fresh protests as part of its campaign for a publicly owned ‘People’s Railway’ in the North.The union is opposing the re-franchising process for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express rail franchises.It
EAST Durham College barbering lecturer Alison Scattergood received a very special phone call asking her to go along and help out one of the world’s top barbers. Alison was invited along to Catterick Garrison to help out at a Help for Heroes event by Wahl
WITH all the manifestos published and digested, there was time to examine which policies were a hit with the voters – and whether any party can get that elusive ‘bounce’? The first poll contained some cheer for both the Conservatives and Labour
BEREAVED families have voiced their anger that the gates to two town cemeteries are now left unlocked at night.Spennymoor Town Council, in County Durham, said it decided to stop locking both its cemeteries during the hours of darkness following calls
A WOMAN assaulted two police officers while drunk, a court has heard.Lori Beattie, 32, plead guilty to two charges of assault on PCs Lesley Nixon and Kathrine Wright, one of obstructing/resisting PC Nixon in the execution of her duty and being drunk and
A DEDICATED group of young volunteers have helped to spruce up a popular community arts venue.The group of ten 16 to 18-year-olds spent a day at The Bridge Centre for Visual Arts, in Yarm Road, Darlington, as part of their National Citizen Service (NCS
HOUSE sales in the North-East increased during March, but the number of properties coming onto the market continues to fall, according to latest figures.A UK Residential Market Survey conducted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed
DOG owners in Darlington are being urged to keep their pets under control after two sheep were chased into a river near the Redhall estate.It happened at around 7pm on Monday (April 13) when two light-coloured husky type dogs were seen to be worrying
DAVID BOND made the best decision of his life when he changed his plans for a night out in Blackpool in 1963.Mr Bond and a friend had arranged to meet two girls outside Blackpool Tower but after a waiting a while decided to head for the Tower ballroom
THE Moody Blues tour to Newcastle City Hall on June 22, just after band member John Lodge releases his second solo album, 10,000 Light Years Ago, on May 4.The vocalist and bass player has been with The Moody Blues since 1966, and has written hit songs
A SAFETY chief says the ‘fatal five’ risk factors that cause river tragedies are finally hitting home, thanks to a week-long education campaign.Firefighters have spent much of this week warning people against falling victim to the region’s fast-flowing
TRADERS have expressed anger that 170 car park spaces in a market town will be lost to shoppers during a major two-day food festival.Bishop Auckland Food Festival, which is organised by Durham County Council, Auckland Castle Trust and Bishop Auckland
TRIBUTES have been paid to a “positive, kind and compassionate” mum who overcame personal heartbreak to dedicate her life to helping children.Lynne Lawrence, from Redcar, put countless hours into Victoria’s Wish, the charity named after her beloved daughter.She
A PENSIONER was confronted in her own home by a stranger who tried to steal her purse.. The incident happened in Newlands, in the Blackhill area of Consett, at about 3pm on Wednesday (April 15). The 86-year-old victim came down the stairs of
A SPECTACULAR fireball has been seen streaking across the sky by people across the North-East and further afield. A luminescent green ball, which burned brightly for several seconds as it plunged earthward, could have been caused by an object no
A FREE financial literacy course is being offered by a housing association to help local people make the most of their money.The six-week course covers issues such as using bank accounts, budgeting and getting the best energy deals and aims to prevent
AITOR KARANKA has called on the spirit of the Wolves game on Tuesday night to lift Middlesbrough back to the top of the Championship’s promotion chasers tomorrow. Boro have flown down to Norfolk this afternoon ahead of the crucial Friday night
A MAN grieving the loss of his mother stole meat because he was having problems with his benefits, a court has heard.Neil McCormack, 35, admitted stealing £67.50 of meat from stores in West Auckland on three separate occasions last month.Vickie Wilson
There is a "right-wing threat to Britain" from the prospect of David Cameron being "held to ransom" by Ukip, the DUP and his own backbenchers, Nick Clegg has warned. Local and national election news, pictures from the campaign trails, North-East
THE North-East cancer specialist standing against David Cameron has said his National Health Action Party could play a crucial role in any coalition government. Speaking at the launch of the National Health Action (NHA) Party’s manifesto, co-leader
WORK is set to start on an £80,000 skate park – which has been designed with the help of youngsters in Shildon – to replace a run-down facility.Skate boarders and BMX bikers in Shildon have had to use a worn out facility built nearly 12 years ago in Hackworth
THE family of Donna Keogh who has been missing for 17 years have been issued with an apology by Cleveland Police over its handling of the sensitive case.A fresh review of the unsolved disappearance has been called for by Deputy Chief Constable, Iain Spittal
A NUMBER of car parks in the Hambleton district are to be closed for resurfacing over the coming weeks.Hambleton District Council will work on the Millgate and Marage car parks at Thirsk between April 21 and April 24. The closures will be alternated to
TEN community projects in Richmondshire have been allocated £123,500 between them.Funding has been awarded to projects that include the refurbishment of a community hall, improvements to play areas and a rural IT project.The money has come from Richmondshire
THE first passengers have boarded a new bus service to remote villages in the Yorkshire Dales.The new scheduled service is an extended route for the Swaledale Shuttle and takes in Keld and Reeth connecting to Richmond and Catterick Centre. It is operated
Some late Easter laughterTHE "Late" North-East Easter Laffalang tomorrow and Saturday (April 24 to 25) will have guest appearances from Humpty Dumpty, the Easter Bunny, the 12 disciples and dozens more characters in 15 original sketches.The
A JUDGE has told campaigners opposed to proposed changes to a community of learning disabled residents the High Court will not intervene - as their human rights will not be breached.Botton village, in Danby Dale, North Yorkshire, is at the centre of a
TWO dozen Special Constables have joined the ranks of the part-time bobbies pounding the beat in North Yorkshire.They were sworn in and given their warrant cards following an intensive initial training period of three months.And they will now be assigned
CLIMATE change could be affecting the quality of acorn crops from the UK's oak trees, the Woodland Trust has said.Research using data recorded by members of the public for the trust's Nature's Calendar survey of the changing seasons has found that warmer
POLICE are appealing for information after a woman was raped on a North Sea ferry. A Northumbria Police spokesman said officers were informed a 23-year-old woman had been raped on a ferry travelling from North Shields to Amsterdam, on Friday, April 10
By Graham Hardcastle Matthew Fisher has taken advice from a Division One rival as he gets ready to become Yorkshire’s youngest County Championship debutant in 15 years at Trent Bridge this weekend.The 17-year-old seamer is in line to fill the boots of
LABOUR says it can't promise to rescue the region’s crumbling schools – because any spare cash must help areas with classroom shortages instead.The party released figures revealing more than 100,000 infants across England are being taught in “supersize
ANGER over a string of controversial planning decisions has prompted renewed calls for Durham to have its own town council.Labour’s Roberta Blackman-Woods said Durham needed a stronger voice and “now is the time” to create a town council for the currently
THE daughter of the world’s most famous vet has now become a patron of the charity that bears her father’s name.Former GP Rosie Page is the daughter of Alf Wight, the late Thirsk vet who was beloved by millions thanks to the stories he wrote under the
AN electrician from North Yorkshire has returned from the run of his life; a gruelling six-day ultra-marathon through the Sahara desert.Steve Woof, from Ingleby Arncliffe, near Stokesley, has just returned home after completing the notoriously punishing
POLICE are asking for the public’s help in tracking down a man they want to speak to in connection with a series of frauds.Officers want to talk to Simon Keith Wilson, 31, about a series of thefts and frauds committed in Whitby, York, Northallerton and
A SINGLE classic car may turn the head of a motoring fan - but a whole convoy will stir the imagination of all adults and children alike.And on May 3 they will have hundreds to choose from – when Ripon Racecourse trades sound of horses’ hooves for the
A CHARITY has thanked the Freemasons of County Durham after they donated £500 to them.The 700 Club, which provides temporary accommodation and support services to vulnerable individuals, families and couples who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless
MORE than 100 pre-war and vintage cars will roar through the region as they take part in a three-day time trial.The Flying Scotsman Rally takes in 750 miles of remote roads from Leeds to Gleneagles, taking in some of the UK’s most spectacular scenery.Organised
OLYMPIC long jumper Chris Tomlinson cheered on 1,400 young runners at a sporting event designed to encourage children to turn off tv screens and tune into exercise. For more photos from Go Run For Fun, click here Primary school pupils
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a respected father-of-two shot dead outside his takeaway in South Shields said they have found no motive for the killing and that the victim had no known enemies.Tipu Sultan, 32, was killed outside Herbs N Spices
A MUSIC shop is pulling out all the stops to celebrate Record Store Day 2015 on Saturday.Sound It Out Records, in Stockton, is inviting music lovers to come together and indulge their shared passion.Stuart Willoughby, 44. who works in the store said:
Ashington have appealed to the FA about being kicked out of the Northern League Cup – but Newton Aycliffe have revealed that if the FA orders a replay, then they’ll struggle to raise a team. Ashington beat Aycliffe 3-1 in their League Cup semi
AROUND nine out of 10 North-East families have secured places for their children at their first choice of primary schools. Local education authorities in the region out-performed many other parts of England in ensuring that most children will start
THIS is the new, more fuel efficient, SEAT Alhambra.Available to order at the end of May, it features a completely redesigned engine line-up.All meet tough Euro 6 emissions standards, with the turbo-charged direct injection units up to 15 per cent more
A REMEMBRANCE service for tragic teens Kyle Hull and Tyrone Singh from Darlington was conducted twice because of unprecedented mourners.Hundreds of people packed St Columba’s Church yesterday (Wednesday, April 15) to pay their respects to the popular
THE parents of a little girl born with a rare condition have been overwhelmed by the generosity of a community which rallied behind them to raise £10,000 to help other youngsters.Baby Georgie Yorke needed emergency surgery as soon as she was born as her
A FORMER X-Factor contestant has signed an international management deal, must months after failing to make it through to the final stages of the TV talent contest. Bre Musiq, from Stockton, has signed a deal with Dubai-based RU Listening Ltd,
AN ex-soldier is facing an “inevitable” prison sentence, after “commissioning” a Filipino woman to lie naked with her four-year-old child over a web cam.Carl Mould arrived for the preliminary hearing at Durham Crown Court on bail - facing five charges
AN abscess, or a "poisonous pocket of pus" as my alliterative dentist described it, curtailed my coverage of David Cameron's campaign visit to Stockton South on Monday. The Prime Minister was due there at 2.30 but my tooth hurty had been going
WHEN Helen Goodman, the Labour candidate in Bishop Auckland, suggested people would be astonished at potential A&E facilities being built at Durham (Echo, Apr 1), I might respond by suggesting that it is equally astonishing to find that Bishop
BBC Newsnight presenter Evan Davis asked David Cameron why the Conservative Party had not won a general election since 1992. Every now and again, parties pick leaders because they are not somebody else. The Labour Party had a time in the wilderness
BARRIERS along the riverside in Durham City and better lighting – what nonsense (Echo, Apr 16). A sophisticated CCTV system manned 24-hours-a-day with a loudhaler warning device would not only monitor intoxicated students but would also shout warnings
WOULD the Echo consider asking all Conservative Parliamentary candidates if they wish to answer one question which is important to a lot of people? The easy question is can you tell us the exact way in which the £8bn promised for the NHS will be
I BELIEVE that charities appealing for aid for foreign countries are just plain greedy. The amount forcibly extorted from the public through taxation is more than enough. I will only donate to foundations that are used for purely English purposes
WITH the introduction of more and more fast food outlets and drive-throughs, the amount of boxes, paper bags, bottles and the like littering our streets and country lanes is reaching unprecedented proportions. In fairness, not all litter emanates
YOUR editorial, “The price of progress” (Echo, Apr 13) about the economic revival said: “With the European Union volatile, and Greece teetering on the brink, fortunes could turn in an instant and nothing can be taken for granted...” This is a situation
NOW that my wife and I are retired, other than the stream of callers with parcels for delivery around the village, we get few social visitors and so an unexpected guest made a nice change last week. I was reading and thought I saw a sudden movement
I HAVE just dropped a bag of charity goods off at the rear of a charity shop in Cockerton, Darlington. I couldn't believe what I saw – someone had actually been through what had been left the previous evening! How low can people stoop? Stealing
Scott Harrison, the Hartlepool United centre-half, has named as the Football League’s Young Player of the Month for March. The former Sunderland and Darlington defender has been given the award, which covers the entire Football League, after being
IT’S a funny old election campaign when we have the Conservatives making fantasy spending pledges… while Labour hints at fantasy cuts.Yes, the political battle has been turned on its head as the big two parties desperately grab each other’s clothes in
I WAS delighted to read your article "Ducking the issue" (Echo, Apr 13) about Ruth Jowett, of Darlington, who has secretly been leaving crocheted ducks across the region to raise awareness of blood, bone marrow and organ donation. I'm pleased to
IN my last column, I asked for examples of the little white lies parents tell their children. One reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted me with a real belter. She only realised as an adult that Easter eggs came in a whole egg shape,
Wicked dares to tread where the Wizard of Oz failed. Sarah Scott goes behind the scenes WICKED is the ultimate fan fiction achievement. It’s not the story of a brave little lady from Kansas, but of the Wicked Witch of the West and her counterpart
The name of Bonham is still big business. Helen Brown reports on Jon's sister Deborah's visit to Darlington AFTER Deborah Bonham took part in last year's packed performance at The Royal Albert Hall, as guest of Middlesbrough’s Paul Rodgers, a select
COLIN Richardson, among the most successful North-East football managers of modern times, has died. He was 71, led both Whickham and Bridlington to FA Vase success at Wembley and never, ever, forgot the thrill of it. “I still say to people that
I'M not saying Albert Square is a depressing place, but there are back-to-back funerals in EastEnders (BBC1) next week. Two for the price of one, you might say. Although with Silly Billy in charge of organising both final farewells, you might guess
YORK-BASED housebuilder Persimmon said next month's General Election was making it more difficult to win planning permission for new developments.The company, however, said house buyers remained confident, reflecting an improvement in the economy and
MOTORISTS were hit by lengthy delays during the morning rush-hour after a five-vehicle crash on a major road. A silver Volkswagen Polo, a silver Honda Civic, a blue Mazda MPV, a grey X-Type Jaguar and a white Citroen van were involved in the collision
DARLINGTON have announced that their final league game of the season will be an all-ticket affair. The match is on Saturday, April 25 against with New Mills and could decide whether Quakers win the title or end up in the play-offs for the second
A NUMBER of promising North-East golfers are shaping up nicely for a hectic summer after a record-equalling day at Beamish Park Golf Club this week. A team of Durham students will head for the North of England Championships next month after battling
THE man at the centre of an eight-hour stand-off with police threatened to cut off the heads of officers and taunted them with jibes about tragic Pc Keith Blakelock. Richard Barnes twice armed himself with knives and hurled ornaments and other
TOP golfers from the UK and Ireland are expected to compete in the North of England Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship being staged for its third year in September.The World Amateur Golf Ranking event and the final fixture of the Titliest Footjoy England
BOSSES at a £6.6m business hub say they have made a significant coup after securing a new tenant.Northstar Ventures is moving into Business Central Darlington.The firm invests in ambitious North-East small and medium-sized companies, and says the switch
NORTH-EAST subsea engineering job will be safe in a £130m Chinese takeover deal, bosses have told The Northern Echo.Zhuzhou China South Rail Times Electric (CSR) yesterday (Wednesday, April 15) completed an agreement to buy Specialist Machine Developments
AT the start of the season, Adam Forshaw was hoping to finish the campaign celebrating promotion to the Premier League. Eight months on, and his ambitions have not changed. It’s just the bit in between that did not quite go to plan. Having finished
FOR SCOTT Fenwick, Tuesday was a sleepless night.The Hartlepool United striker, back in the side after a seven-week injury-enforced absence, was presented with a last-gasp chance to earn three crucial points against Accrington. Neil Austin’s low angled
Jason Gillespie has reiterated his commitment to Yorkshire after confirming his winter coaching job share with Big Bash Twenty20 team Adelaide Strikers yesterday.Gillespie has distanced himself from the full-time role of coaching South Australia’s four-day
JOHN CARVER has labelled this summer as the most important in Newcastle United’s recent history – and has called on the club’s hierarchy to spend money on overhauling their ailing squad.Head coach Carver has seen his playing resources ravaged by injury
IT started as a routine visit. PCSO Adam Grundy, 28, had good relations with the man in his 80s who he regularly saw. But something was wrong. "This guy would engage with me, but he was being evasive,” says PSCO Grundy. “He was standoffish
HUNDREDS of young people, united in a shared grief, gathered last night to remember two friends killed in separate tragedies days apart. A sombre mood hung over South Park, in Darlington, as friends and family of Kyle Hull and Tyrone Singh tried
A PROSECUTION against a supermarket giant has been dropped after a forklift truck driver told a court it was his fault a co-worker was badly injured. Darlington Borough Council withdrew its case against Aldi after warehouse worker John McKie admitted
Conservation work on the historic Thornton Bridge at Helperby, in North Yorkshire, has been halted by a rare blood-sucking fish. Full story 1,400 kids will be taking part in a 2km fun run with Olympic long jumper Chris Tomlinson at the Go Run
ONE of the region’s biggest sporting institutions and a charity foundation which has improved the lives of thousands of people will mark their 20th birthdays with a unique joint celebration.Durham County Cricket Club (DCCC) and the County Durham Community
DURHAM Police have become the first force in the UK to adopt a new weapon in the fight against child sexual exploitation, training officers to detect tell-tale signs that give abusers away. The force has adopted a programme developed in the US
