ONE person was rescued and taken to hospital after a flat fire in Middlesbrough. Cleveland Fire Brigade sent three fire engines to the property on Belle Vue Grove at 9.37pm tonight. A spokeswoman said one person was rescued and taken to hospital
ICONIC rave group The Prodigy tonight performed to a sell out audience at Newcastle's O2 Academy.The band's new album - their first for six years - The Day Is My Enemy, was released on March 30.
THE Labour Party has gone on the attack over the future of the NHS as they release figures showing health trusts up and down the country are struggling to cope with budgetary constraints. They have released the figures from a leaked document outlining
WES BROWN played for the opening 45 minutes as Sunderland’s development side claimed a 1-0 win over Everton in front of a watching Dick Advocaat. Brown, whose last senior appearance came in March’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham, showed no ill effects
Norton manager Andy Campbell quit soon after they won the Ernest Armstrong Cup today by 2-1 against neighbours Billingham Town. Campbell, who has been in charge for three seasons, has also taken Norton to promotion after just missing out last season
A NOTE left by the former chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, joking there was no money left has been used by the Tories to highlight the profligacy of The Labour Party before it left office.But the Coalition’s pledge to eradicate the budget
A FUNDRAISING dog and horse show in aid of stables that were burnt down last month took place in Spennymoor today (Monday, May 4).The fire killed five horses at Station House Stables in Sunderland, and left farm owners Judith and Dean Mould devastated.Nikki
HUNDREDS of people have attended the launch of a £140,000 fundraising campaign to save a 14th century church tower from being destroyed by its five tonnes of bells.Church supporters, including the Marquis of Zetland and the Mayor of Richmond, turned out
BAD weather forced the Royal Navy's largest warship to leave its adopted city a day early today (Monday, May 4).HMS Ocean had been due to stay in Sunderland until tomorrow (Tuesday, May 5) following its arrival on Friday.However it departed tonight, waved
WHEN Durham came into the first-class game people used to wonder what Geoff Cook was on about when he spoke of the vagaries of cricket. They know now.Rarely has the game seemed so inexplicable as at Lord's yesterday, when Chris Rushworth began by comfortably
CHRIS Rushworth's amazing run of form continued with his fifth five-wicket haul in successive championship matches on a remarkable day at Lord's.The Durham seamer's three this season have all come in the second innings and after winning their first two
THE experiences of men serving in the First World War will be recalled at a festival in a market town.Most of the men from Yarm and surrounding district who fought during the war joined the 4th Yorkshire Battalion and were posted to the front line between
A FESTIVAL will see an array of hot air balloons take to the sky in a North-East park.Balloons and Tunes Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place at Stewart Park in Middlesbrough at the end of May.It will feature a variety of special shaped and competing
A COMMUNITY event to mark the 30th anniversary of an environmental regeneration charity in the North-East has been held today. (Monday, May 4)A car boot sale and family fun activities were held at The Greenhouse, Groundwork’s eco-building, in Annfield
THOUSANDS of visitors enjoyed the Spring Steam Gala at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon over the Bank Holiday weekend.The annual event gives enthusiasts a chance to see guest engine, the Darlington-built LNER Class D49 Morayshire, which
THE grand-daughter of a much-loved trader who led a Dales business dynasty has been inspired by her grandmother to open her own grocery shop.Greengrocer Joan Rutherford, 78, who ran and lived at her shop, Woodhall's Greengrocers on Front Street, Stanhope
STUDENTS at Teesside University have organised a speed dating event to raise funds for the Retinal Development Appeal at The James Cook University Hospital.The student-only event takes place at O’Connell’s Irish Bar in Bedford Street, Middlesbrough, tomorrow
FIVE 19th century sketchbooks, usually stored in carefully controlled conditions at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, have gone on display at Kiplin Hall near Richmond. The sketchbooks are the work of the Egyptologist, Sir John Gardner Wilkinson (1797-1875
A SUPERMARKET is searching for a charity to adopt for 12 months.Sainsbury’s Sedgefield hopes to identify a local good cause to support through the Sainsbury’s Local Charity of the Year scheme.Charities that want to be considered should register their
A PIECE of history has been restored and preserved after a parish council came to the rescue.The oak bench at the top of Aiskew Bank, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, could have been consigned to the tip after it fell apart. But local historian Brian Hall
A CHARITY is looking for volunteers to support families and children visiting inmates at a North-East prison.Nepacs, which runs the visitors’ centre at HMP Holme House in Stockton, is searching for people who will give up time to help in the visitors’
A TEESSIDE student has addressed teenage delegates at an international conference in Russia.St Michael’s Catholic Academy pupil Ross Beall was one of only two students to be chosen to represent the UK at the UNESCO Youth Forum in St Petersburg.The 15-
A PENSIONER has been recognised for his efforts after notching up an impressive 1,000 hours as a walk leaderDave Scott, 73, volunteered for the council’s Walk About In Hartlepool programme when it began in 2011 and since then has led hundreds of walks
FOOTBALLERS gathered to play a match to raise funds for two charities close to the hearts of people from the local area.A team from the Roundel pub in Thornaby, near Stockton, represented the Gary Parkinson Trust, a charity set up for the Thornaby-born
A COUNCIL which is looking to cut £167m from its budget has been criticised after failing to correctly bill a disabled pensioner who is desperate to pay for her care.The family of sheltered housing resident Joan Hunter said they have been left frustrated
A ROYAL Navy veteran is trying to trace a former shipmate who hails from the North-East.Doug Munro, from Scotland, served with Kevin Wright, on HMS Fearless between 1976 and 1979.Mr Munro said: "Kev was originally from Hartlepool and his parents'
THE North East Ambulance Service has unveiled six new apprentices.Paula Nanson, Kyle Peebles, Chris Armstrong, Sam Miller, Adam Wallis and Jay Young have started in the NEAS NHS Trust’s Patient Transport Service (PTS), which employs around 450 staff and
DARLINGTON’S night life is set to welcome back one of its most prominent girls' nights out – as female fundraisers take to the moonlight to raise money for charity.The annual St Teresa’s Hospice Midnight Walk returns to Darlington on Friday, June 19,
AN up and coming North-East band are preparing for a UK tour after being signed by a Miami-based label.The Silence, made up of brother and sister, Max and Livvy Griffiths, as well as friends Liam Slack, 21, Guy Taylor, 24, and Nathan Keightley, 21, have
STUDENTS had a taste of what a future in the military might involve, when the army arranged for them to take part in a series of team-building exercises.Students studying for qualifications in Uniform and Public Services at Bishop Auckland College headed
A NATIONAL charity based in the North-East which is trying to develop a new GCSE in British Sign Language is asking for help.Durham City-based charity Signature is urging people to get voting after entering a competition that could see it receive a £250,000
ONE of the region’s largest hospices has launched a new initiative to help fund care at the hospice, coinciding with its celebrations of providing specialist round-the-clock support to the community for 20 years.The initiative encourages individuals and
A NURSE who shed ten stones in weight has run her first marathon in aid of a medical charity.Vicki McLean had a gastric bypass in 2013 and took up running to get fit. She completed last Sunday’s (April 26) London Marathon in six hours, five minutes and
MORE than £33,000 was raised to support young people with autism and their families at a charity ball.The 10th annual lobster charity ball at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, County Durham, raised the money for Stockton-based charity Daisy Chain.The black
WALKERS are needed to take part in the Sunset Summit challenge to raise vital funds for a specialist hospital unit.The Trinity Holistic Centre at James Cook University Hospital is searching for volunteers to walk up Blencathra in the Lake District to
AN outdoor activity centre is inviting climbers to test themselves on its climbing wall and donate funds for the Nepal earthquake appeal.Instructors at Carlton Lodge, Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk said they would offer their time for free on Friday (May
ALL six election candidates appeared for a hustings debate at Redcar & Cleveland College to discuss a range of issues including the economy, local industry, education, health, climate change and immigration.Several students took part in the debate, including
ONE of the best preserved cold war bunkers in the country is set to mark the 70th anniversary of the creation of nuclear weapons.The former Royal Observer Corps’ headquarters in York, which was mothballed until English Heritage took on the site in 2006
HUNDREDS of residents of a village which suffered high losses during the First World War joined soldiers and veterans at a ceremony to honour its fallen soldiers. The commemoration event at Helperby and Brafferton War Memorial marked the centenary
A LITTLE girl is having her hair cut off for charity.Eight-year-old Katie Kyle is donating her locks to The Little Princess Trust to help youngsters being treated for cancer.Hairdresser Liam Chatt Morley, from Consett, is doing the honours at her mother
KIND-HEARTED youngsters at a North-East school have helped raise more than £1,500 towards the Nepal earthquake relief effort.Students at the Federation of Abbey Schools, in Darlington dressed in blue and red to symbolise the Nepalese flag in a fundraising
A UNIQUE North-East business which reunites people with lost valuable and sentimental items is attracting headlines around the world. Lostbox is making an innovative use of social media to provide a lost and found service which returns items to
A FATHER-OF-TWO is getting on his bike to raise money for the hospital ward where he was treated after developing a blood clot in his arm.John Davison, 55, of Yarm, spent three weeks in James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, last summer.Now, to
WHEN football superfan Daniel Pentland began his quest to visit all 92 league grounds, he was unaware exactly what adventures lay ahead.Over the past 14-and-a-half-years, the York City supporter, who lives in Darlington, has endured last-minute postponements
A TOWN came together to stage a charity football match in memory of a teenager killed in a car accident.Jordan Dowson, 19, died when the car in which he was a passenger was involved in a three-vehicle accident on the A174 Brotton bypass in February last
BOWES AND Willington WMC met in the final of the Weardale cup for a second consecutive season. Willington were the holders but it was Bowes who came out on top in todays clash at West Auckland. Tommy Hutchinson opened Bowes account on twenty minutes
A FABRICATION firm in the North-East has landed a seven figure contract involving seabed excavation, trenching and boulder clearing.County Durham-based MASfab is teaming up with a leading Scottish subsea technology firm as part of the undisclosed deal.It
STUDENTS have come face to face with the potential perils of social media in a series of hard-hitting workshops designed to keep them safe.Cyber safety experts spent the day at Darlington School of Mathematics and Science (DSMS) highlighting the potentially
A GIRLS football team is has been kitted out with a brand new strip thanks to an FA initiative supported by McDonald’s.The Spraire Lasses under 12s received their McDonald’s-sponsored kits from the FA in recognition of the club reaching the highest standard
SOME swam, some ran, some sang and others walked miles – but the hard work paid off for staff and residents of a retirement village who have raised more than £11,000 for a leading dementia charity.Fundraisers at Middleton Hall Retirement Village, near
STUDENTS from two North-East colleges came together to compete in a sports tournament in memory of a popular teacher and coach who died of cancer last year.The Hedley Cup was held in honour of 34-year-old Wayne Hedley, who spent time working at both Sunderland
A FURIOUS row has erupted between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats after a senior Lib Dem accused David Cameron of "lying" over claims the Tories were close to winning an outright majority in the General Election on Thursday. The Lib Dem
A RETIRED member of the Probation Service was welcomed as the latest member of Darlington Rotary Club at its latest meeting.Senior vice-president David Heaton had the pleasure of inducting Kevin Robinson, whose membership was proposed and supported by
A FACILITY which allows people space to recover from mental health problems and enrol on courses aimed at improving their wellbeing is expanding.Arch Recovery College, run by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, is based at St Margaret’
SO the game wasn't meandering towards a draw after all. Stalemate seemed certain when nightwatchman Chris Rushworth lasted for 95 minutes this morning, then 13 wickets went down in 30 overs. There has been no discernible change in conditions, but
SANTA has made a late but very welcome delivery to a North-East children's hospice.Members of the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group called into Zoe's Place at Eston, Middlesbrough, to hand over a cheque for more almost £30,000 after collecting all the money
MIDDLESBROUGH’S players have flown to Spain for a warm-weather training camp that will act as a somewhat unorthodox preparation for Friday’s play-off opener at Brentford. Aitor Karanka and his squad flew to Marbella this morning and will base themselves
THE GUY trophy, sponsored by Anne Guy, for ladies with hcp 20 and below was played along with the Shoppee salver for higher handicaps as well as with medal no 4: 1st Paula Hamer net 70 and winner of the medal 2nd Rachel Miller net
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have called their new baby daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace has announced.
BRITAIN’s strongest man visited a gym in Spennymoor at the weekend to throw his weight behind a strong man competition.Eddie Hall, who was recently ranked 4th strongest man in the world at the competition in Malaysia, said he was impressed with the calibre
AN EVENING of music, drama and poetry by one of Spain’s greatest writers comes to the region tomorrow (Tuesday, May 5).Theatre Sans Frontieres presents Amor en el Jardin (Love in the Garden), an original production of Federico Garcia Lorca’s tragicomic
NEARLY a quarter of a million homes are standing empty, according to think tank organisation IPPR North.It said the current housing crisis could be eased by bringing the 218,000 long-term empty homes in England back into use.IPPR North said councils should
A treat awaits North-East cricket fans on Wednesday night when Yorkshire’s first team play at Marton in a T20 challenge match designed to provide the county champions with valuable match practice ahead of the NatWest T20 Blast.Yorkshire’s opposition for
A TRAINING and employment scheme which guarantees paid work has been launched in Stanley and Peterlee.Enterprise Durham Partnership (EDP) runs programmes covering skills such as CV writing and interview techniques, training courses in customer services
IT was a page-turner worth waiting for at Staindrop Church of England Primary School after a new outdoor reading hub was unveiled to the children for the first time.The ‘Book Nook’, which aims to encourage the youngsters to read outside of the classroom
NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed that John Carver will continue as their head coach after a series of meetings at the club's Longbenton training ground this morning. Carver's position was called into question in the wake of Saturday's calamitous
A COMMUNITY centre in Bishop Auckland is encouraging local jobseekers and young people to take advantage of free IT support sessions this month.Auckland Youth and Community Centre (AYCC) will hold 30 minute one-to-one sessions throughout May to help jobseekers
SOME of the most talented young musicians in North Yorkshire are set to showcase their repertoires in a concert.Winners and some of the performers who were highly commended in last year's Ripon Young Musicians of the Year concert will perform on Saturday
With Newcastle United having racked up a club-record eight successive defeats in all competitions, relegation is now a distinct possibility despite the Magpies having been in the top half of the table as recently as mid-January. Chief Sports Writer
KEATON Jennings fell two runs short of what would have been a carefully-compiled century five minutes before lunch, while nightwatchman Chris Rushworth extended his vigil for 95 minutes. Durham added 85 in the session, taking the total to 242 for
A MOTHER-OF-FOUR who survived a heart attack due to the actions of quick-thinking Good Samaritans has applauded the 97 secondary schools for signing up to receive life-saving training.Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust staff will teach cardiopulmonary
CAMPAIGNERS have made a last-ditch bid to save their library, handing over petition with more than 2,300 signatures to North Yorkshire County Council . Bedale library is one of 20 across the county that could be axed as the authority carries out
A PLANNING inquiry is set to be held into proposals for a 226-home development on agricultural land that generated hundreds of objections before being refused by a council.A government inspector has been appointed by the Secretary of State to examine
A FORMER care home could be turned into a residential community training centre - although mystery surrounds who it is aimed at.First Point Training has said it is launching a charity, Positive Directions, which would be based at Stanfield House in Stanley.The
COLOURFUL creations by members of a thriving local art group have gone on public display.Work compiled by mainstays of Blackhill Art Club, in Consett, over the last year has been mounted for public viewing over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.The brush
UNION chiefs Len McCluskey and Matt Wrack and left-wing author Owen Jones will top the bill at this year’s Durham Miners’ Gala.The general secretaries of Unite and the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) will be joined by the firebrand Guardian columnist on the
ARTS, family fun, music and food will be firmly on the menu in Darlington at the weekendFestival goers can enjoy music and arts at a range of venues and then sample delicious food around the town centre as Darlington Arts Festival continues and Darlington
A SUCCESSFUL swimming club is celebrating a fruitful relationship with Barclays Bank that has helped it grow and develop a competition-winning squad. A scheme that matches pound-for-pound funds raised by bank employees who get involved in charity fundraising
CHILDREN will this week stage their own Eurovision Song Contest.Youngsters aged nine and ten from across the region will go head to head, singing a song in a language other than English.Last year, Escomb Primary School, from near Bishop Auckland, County
LINDISFARNE, the North-East folk rock band, has been taking part rehearsals ahead of a special summer gig in the region.The highly-anticipated concert at at Newcastle Racecourse on June 6 will mark the band’s first North East performance featuring a new
NATHAN CARTMAN cast aside any doubts about his impact since moving to Darlington by saving the best until last, scoring during Saturday’s play-off final win in what was his best performance so far in a black and white shirt. He was man of the match
HUNDREDS of Darlington supporters were unable to attend Saturday’s play-off final win, despite Bamber Bridge being unable to sell all of their tickets. Segregation was implemented and the Lancashire club, who had an average home attendance this
A TEAM ethic has played a key role in Darlington’s success, believes manager Martin Gray, who paid tribute to everyone he feels has contributed towards promotion. A 2-0 win over Bamber Bridge in Saturday's play-off final sealed elevation to the
LEAGUE titles are the pinnacle, they look good on a manager’s CV and the silverware sits well in the trophy cabinet for 12 months, but promotion via the play-offs produces raw emotion like no other pursuit of glory. Darlington can vouch for that
A WOMAN who suffered a serious gastric illness during what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday in Egypt has been awarded a £22,500 payout. Mandy Davis, from Darlington, booked a ten-day stay at the Tropicana Rosetta and Jasmine Club resort, in
THE management of grouse moors in both of North Yorkshire’s National Parks has been singled out for praise in a major study of Britain’s uplands.The Foundation for Common Land is leading a national drive to care for and protect the country’s most beautiful
MICHAEL DUCKWORTH is sure Hartlepool United can learn from their woeful season and return next time around a stronger side for it.Pools were bottom of the Football League from October to March, before propelling themselves out of the bottom two with a
ED Miliband today vows to fast-track “fair funding” to the North-East, to try to calm fears about the economic danger of a more-powerful Scotland. In an exclusive interview with The Northern Echo's parliamentary correspondent Rob Merrick, the Labour
DICK ADVOCAAT sensed Sunderland’s players were ready to deliver three crucial points in the relegation run-in and has now challenged his team to do it all over again to keep Premier League football at the Stadium of Light.The Black Cats remain a point
Match analysis: Sunderland 2 Southampton 1 IF Sunderland are going down, then they are going down fighting. While the troubles and strife both on and of the pitch at a club not too far away from Wearside has seen the threat of Championship football increase
FOR HARTLEPOOL UNITED the final day of the season was all about Three Little Birds as the supporters dressed up as Bob Marley.But it was more three little words which epitomised the club’s finale and season in general: Never Say Die. The unofficial slogan
The Stranger on the Bridge (C4, 9pm) BACK in 2008, schizoaffective disorder sufferer Jonny Benjamin headed to Waterloo Bridge, in London, intending to take his own life. But the kindness of a stranger, who stepped out from the crowds of passing
MIDDLESBROUGH have put any talk of a Wembley day out on hold until they see off Brentford in the play-off semi finals later this week.Defender Ben Gibson has revealed that Boro’s full focus will be on beating the Bees over two legs, but admitted a final
AITOR KARANKA has told his Middlesbrough players to forget about the past 46 Championship games and focus on winning the play-offs to get back into the Premier League.Boro’s 0-0 draw with Brighton saw the Teessiders finish fourth in the Championship table
NEWCASTLE UNITED are set to make an SOS call to Steve McClaren after John Carver conceded the club’s players may have “stopped listening” to him in the wake of Saturday’s calamitous 3-0 defeat at Leicester City. Carver is adamant he will not be
FABRICIO COLOCCINI has angrily denied that Newcastle United’s players have given up on the rest of the season, and claimed anyone who is unconcerned about the threat of spending the next 12 months in the Championship must be “stupid”. Saturday’
LEICESTER CITY 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 IF you pay peanuts, so the saying goes, you get monkeys. Well, if you choose to run a football club in the manner Mike Ashley has for the last three or four years, you inevitably get the kind of farcical afternoon
BUYING house is now of reach for most first-time buyers in the region, according to auditors and tax-advisors KMPG. The company says that its research shows that the minimum annual wage a first-time buyer would need to buy a home in the North-East
