A BUSINESS set up by a County Durham mum to teach toddlers languages is expanding and about to export its lessons to help French children learn English. Lingotot owner Angela Sterling has revealed that the proposals are part of wider plans to expand
RESIDENTS have been outraged after vandals damaged an art installation which plays an atmospheric soundtrack inspired by the coast. Yobs attending an “organised rave” pushed over the Beach Hut at Noses Point Car Park on East Cliff Road, in Seaham
MEMBERS of a popular North-East rock and pop band have been devastated by the theft of thousands of pounds worth of music and sound equipment. Thieves broke into a panel van parked in Mitchell Street, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, between between
A FORMER boxing champion could be locked up after confessing to attacking and harassing his ex-wife. Michael Hunter admitted the charges as he was due to go on trial at Teesside Crown Court on Monday. The former British and European super bantamweight
MORE than 40 girl guiding volunteers from across the North-East have taken part in a two-day leadership course.Volunteers were given leadership training, including first aid support, during the gathering at Durham University.The training, funded by the
A MEMORIAL book containing the names of over 174,000 people from the UK and Ireland who lost their lives in Belgium during the First World War as gone on display in Durham Cathedral. Members of the public are invited to search through the book and write
AN MP has met government minister to discuss the crisis in mental health treatment facing York.Rachael Maskell MP met junior health department minister Alistair Burt to talk about the urgent need for a new mental health hospital to replace the city's
THE first batch of volunteer police cadets in County Durham is set to march into its second year of service.Twenty-six of them passed out yesterday (Sunday, July 5) after a parade inspection by Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg. They were
POLICE are investigating reports that a woman in a “bouffant blonde wig” and sunglasses tried to force her way into a home and demand money. According to local reports, a woman rang the doorbell of a home in Stokesley, North Yorkshire at 8.10pm
LEADERS of the North-East’s councils said they had held “very positive” talks with the government about plans for greater devolution to the region.Members of the North East Combined Authority – which represents seven of the region’s councils – have held
A DEMONSTRATION by a far-right group at the weekend led to one arrest.The North East Infidels, an offshoot of the English Defence League, held a march through Stockton town centre at the weekend, attracting about 150 supporters.There was also a counter-demonstration
A DANCE school has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special event while busily rehearsing its latest production.The Joanne Banks’ Dance School, of Durham Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, held a silver ball at the Radisson Blu hotel in Durham on
ORGANISERS of the Great Northern Mod and Ska festival say they have had an unprecedented demand for tickets, with more than 1,000 already sold to music fans from all over the country. The event is being held in the grounds of the north’s biggest
THE Government has been urged to separate fracking sites with six-mile buffer zones to stop rural areas becoming too industrialised. Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake has told a Houses of Parliament debate that shale gas firm Third Energy had
NOVICE rowers can test the water and give the sport a try at an annual event taking place this weekend.The Allcomers Regatta takes place on the River Wear in Durham on Sunday (July 12).Aimed at groups of friends who have never tried rowing before, the
LADIES Medal 10 1st and silver medal winner Val Hay net 67, 2nd and bronze medal winner Cath McMahon net 71, 3rd Ann Hargreaves net 72 Yorkshire B Team v Sandmoor made the most of their home advantage and won 5&2 Daily Mail 4'somes
A WEIGHTLIFTER from the region has been crowned Britain's Strongest Woman in the middleweight category.Jenny Todd, 27, originally of Hartlepool but now living at Bishop Middleham, County Durham, will now represent her country at next year's World Championships
YOUNGSTERS at a North Yorkshire primary school have made their teachers and parents proud after excelling at a school Race for Life event.Brompton Community Primary School, near Northallerton, was one of the first schools in North Yorkshire to hold a
MIDDLESBROUGH have confirmed a deal has been agreed which sees former Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste become Aitor Karanka's first signing of the summer. Baptiste trained with the squad on the first day of pre-season training this afternoon and
SCHOOL children were given a royal treat last week as a professional theatre group visited to perform a Shakespeare play.Youngsters from around the county travelled to Crook Primary School, which was hosting The Royal Shakespeare Company for the second
THE BELL RINGERS of Marske have published a new book describing the history of the church bell and the bell ringers over the last 100 years.The story of the big fire of 1902 which destroyed the tower and church clock is illustrated with contemporary photographs
THE Government must stop talking and start delivering to stop its Northern Powerhouse petering out, a North-East MP has warned.Tom Blenkinsop says Chancellor George Osborne must use tomorrow’s (Wednesday, June 8) Budget to begin backing up his vision
A FESTIVAL celebrating multiculturalism is set to bring a splash of colour to the streets this week.The sixth Middlesbrough Nagar Kirtan is a Sikh festival celebrating love, happiness, and peace, from people from all backgrounds and religions.Nagar Kirtan
AN iconic steam engine in an iconic setting made a memorable sight for train enthusiasts in the North-East.The Darlington-built £3m A1 Peppercorn class locomotive Tornado crossed the River Tyne on route to York today (Monday, July 6).Fresh from a recent
MIDDLESBROUGH Council spent thousands on private detectives to chase debtors, a Northern Echo investigation can reveal.Figures from a Freedom of Information request show that the local authority has paid almost £17,000 to private investigators since 2010
ONE of Britain’s best-known actresses has been honoured by a North East university.Former Coronation Street star Anne Reid MBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by Sunderland University today (Monday, July 6).The Redcar-born actor, starred in
PIE in the sky the sky, or the key to safeguarding and creating thousands of jobs in our region?After approval was given last night to sink a £2bn mine on the North York Moors, a major plan will be unveiled this morning that could clean the air of industrial
CARLTON FAIRWEATHER hopes his Sunderland side can take full advantage of England’s success in the World Cup when the Women’s Super League kicks off again this weekend.Although they had no representatives for England in Canada, Steph Houghton, Jill Scott
I am certainly not a fan of women's football, but I feel I must congratulate the England ladies team for almost reaching the World Cup final. What shone out for me was the effort, commitment, belief and most of all, a smile on their faces, to overcome
A HUNT is underway for a "vulnerable" missing man. Lee Ray, 32, was last seen in the area of Redcar High Street at about 10.30am this morning and it is believed he could still be in the Redcar & Cleveland area. He is described as being
IT is with great sadness that we report the death of 14-year-old Cameron Gosling who drowned in the River Wear, near Bishop Auckland, at the weekend. There have been far too many river deaths in recent years and The Northern Echo had no hesitation
RICHARD III was brought back to life for history enthusiasts at the weekend (July 3 to 5) as a town held a weekend of activities inspired by the monarch.The Northern Dales Richard III Group joined forces with Barnard Castle Town Council and The Bowes
THE public is invited to voice its views on the best ways of dealing with potentially-contaminated land. Durham County Council has begun an eight-week consultation over revisions to its Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy. It is almost five
FORGOTTEN man Charis Mavrias wants to use pre-season to finally show Sunderland what he is capable of.The winger was a Roberto de Fanti signing from Panathinaikos in 2013, but spent a chunk of last season on loan back at the Greek side, and is yet to
A MYSTERY surrounding the theft of items of underwear left by skinny-dippers at a beauty spot has finally been solved. Boxer shorts, Y-fronts, knickers, bras and socks kept going missing from beside a lake in Angus in Scotland. A local gamekeeper
A CHILDMINDER who has been looking after children for 30 years has been rewarded for her dedication and hard work.Cath Park, 79, from Bishop Auckland has cared for more than 100 children and has now been rewarded with a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.Over
A SECOND defibrillator has been installed in Weardale thanks to a family-founded memorial fund.The life-saving equipment was paid for by the David Nelson Memorial Fund which was launched by the builder's family and friends after he died waiting for an
A STUDENT is heading off to the Amsterdam Fashion Institute to help develop her creative skills.Hannah Sutherland will be studying for a degree in fashion design after learning her craft in her hometown.The 23-year-old, from Middlesbrough, has just completed
A THIRD generation removals company helping people move across Europe is creating North-East jobs.Pearson, based at Riverside Park, in Middlesbrough, says it is taking on drivers to meet demand.The move comes after Pearson, founded in 1917 by Edwin Pearson
HARTLEPOOL UNITED have landed new signing number eight after persuading winger Kudus Oyenuga to join the Ronnie Moore revolution. Oyenuga, 22, has been looking for a club since being released from Dundee United at the end of last season. He spent
BRADLEY SAUNDERS is targeting a return to the ring in September and wants to make up for lost time when he does eventually fight again.The unbeaten light-welterweight boxer claims to have fully recovered from the injury which kept him out of a Commonwealth
A MAJOR study is being carried out to provide a designated cycle and walkway linking two communities at the gateway to the Dales. Hambleton District Council is to plough £30,000 into employing specialists to look at creating the new route between
AS befits a club whose course was designed by the creator of Augusta, Dr Alister MacKenzie, there is an international flavour to next month’s North of England Under-14s Championship at the South Moor club in Stanley.A 12-year-old from Dong Guanin in Hong
CAMPAIGNERS will take to the streets this week to oppose further austerity measures. Protests across the country will take place on Wednesday, July 8 as Chancellor George Osbourne announces his ‘emergency austerity’ budget, expected to include
COMPENSATION paid to the family of a disabled man who died less than two weeks after he was attacked has been donated to charity. Half of the £1,000 paid out following the death of Scott Hall was given to the RSPCA because the 28-year-old was an
COMBAT environmental vandals by joining the ‘five bits’ campaign, park lovers have urged.The Friends of South Park are encouraging visitors to the Darlington beauty spot to crack down on litter louts.The group is urging people to “bag it and bin it” by
SOMETHING fishy will be happening in Darlington this month when a much loved family movie comes to town.As part of the Darlington by the Sea schedule of summertime events, a giant screen will be showing films in the town’s Market Square on Fridays July
AN armed robber threatened a barman with a kitchen knife and made off with thousands of pounds worth of cash.The staff member was cashing up at the Kings Arms Public House in Billingham on Saturday, July 4 between 12.15am and 12.35 am when the robber
RETAILER Sports Direct is creating scores of jobs in a new North Yorkshire store. The firm, founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, is opening an 8,000sq ft site, in Catterick Garrison, which will deliver at least 44 roles. The shop
A SIMPLE exercise routine has proved life-changing for a Darlington woman, after a severe spinal curve left her facing major surgery. Samantha Young, 48, was fit and healthy until the age of 44, when her GP diagnosed her with scoliosis. She
A CAR towing a caravan has been in collision with another vehicle near Staindrop, County Durham. The collision took place on the A688 this morning. It was reported at 11.30am. It involved a Nissan X-Trail and a red VW up! No serious
ENGLAND returned home from their impressive World Cup showing to be greeted by fans at Heathrow airport - with Sunderland-born midfielder Jill Scott now wanting the team's performance to continue to catch the public's imagination. Mark Sampson's
Games of Thrones star Emilia Clarke is no stranger to stripping off on screen, but baring all in the new Terminator movie gave her a giggle PLAYING heroine Sarah Connor in the latest Terminator film required a lot from actress Emilia Clarke. There
Ten years since the 7/7 bombings, a BBC drama tells of the tragedy. LIKE many of us, actress Emily Watson can distinctly remember her whereabouts on July 7, 2005, when suicide bombers coordinated attacks across London, killing 52 people and injuring
In a new book, More TV Vicar?, curate Bryony Taylor takes a light-hearted look at the portrayal of Christians on the small screen. She talks to Sarah Foster BRYONY Taylor is a little nervous about her latest sermon. It’s on Pentecost, the Christian
Entrepreneur and campaigner Heather Mills believes she lost her reputation during her divorce from Sir Paul McCartney. She tells Gabrielle Fagan how she's turned her life around A meeting with Heather Mills feels rather like being at the centre
After a slow start, plants are catching up in the hot summer sunshine This year, crops have been off to a very slow start, probably as a result of the cool spring we’ve had. Tomato plants growing outdoors have been sitting unsatisfied with the
A run-down village pub which lay empty for a year has been brought back to life by a family with young children who have also made it their home. Ruth Campbell discovers how they did it. With its peeling paintwork and dark, musty interior the old
TWO cars have collided outside a pub. The accident happened near the Kings Head pub, Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland. A red Volvo hit a light blue Toyota Auris around 10am this morning causing them both to run into posts and mount the pavement
A desire to stop taking statins lead on a man to a discovery that has changed his life, and now he plans to change the lives of people across the UK When local entrepreneur Stephen Mack came across a natural heart health product that reduces cholesterol
The revamp of a crumbling coach house into a stylish hotel and restaurant reaches its second phase. Ashley Barnard reports THE sweeping, tree-lined driveway to the sandy-coloured buildings at The Coach House Hotel, at Middleton Lodge, immediately
There is a surprising range of help - from nurseries to summer clubs for older ones This is an important warning for anyone who pays for childcare. There are major changes due to take place to the system this year – and you need to decide rather
Six months after the death of Anne Kirkbride, it's time for Weatherfield residents to give Deirdre Barlow her send-off THE news of Anne Kirkbride's death in January shocked the nation. The 60-year-old actress, known to millions as Coronation Street's
The smell of real food will always be better than any manufactured scent on the market WE’RE told, by those who understand such things, that we live in a free society. However, I sometimes question whether we’re worthy of such freedom or, more
A NORTH-EAST made vehicle has helped the number of new cars sold in the UK reach a record 1.3 million.New figures show 1,376,889 vehicles were produced in the first six months of the year, a seven per cent rise on the same period last year.The statistics
BORIS Johnson has called on the Chancellor to cut the 45p top rate of tax to 40p ahead of this week's Budget.Mr Johnson said a reduced income tax rate for high earners could benefit "the millions who might be encouraged and incentivised to work harder
POLICE officers pursuing a stolen Land Rover were forced to abandon the chase for safety reasons after the thieves drove into oncoming traffic on the A1(M). The 4x4 stolen from Fitzalan Road, Bedale, North Yorkshire, shortly before midnight on
ENL Second Division club Stokesley have appointed Craig Winter as their new manager. Craig, the son of former Premiership referee Jeff Winter, has taken over from Micky Ward, who left the club at the end of last season. Stokesley finished fourth
AN ARMY veteran who suffered depression after he was crushed by a lorry's tailgate has thanked Help for Heroes for giving him a new lease of life. Chris Yates trained as a mountain bike instructor while serving as a mechanic with 25 Regiment, Royal
WORK will get underway this week on a £3m project to restore a popular Victorian park.Contractors Esh Construction Ltd have been appointed to carry out the restoration of Wharton Park in Durham with work set to begin today (Monday, July 6)The project
CAMPAIGNERS supporting a community of learning disabled adults who are opposed to changes being introduced by the charity that runs it have reached an agreement after intensive mediation. Camphill Village Trust (CVT), which runs Botton in Danby
A MAN was taken to hospital with hypothermia after he was swept offshore in a supermarket-bought inflatable boat. He had to be rescued by lifeboat volunteers after setting out from South Gare, near Redcar - at the mouth of the River Tees - before
MOUSSA SISSOKO has emerged as a leading contender to replace Steven Gerrard at Anfield, with Liverpool preparing to lodge a £10m offer with Newcastle United. As Steve McClaren tries to focus on strengthening his squad as the pre-season programme
MIDDLESBROUGH begin their pre-season training today and, if George Friend is anything to go by, Aitor Karanka will be impressed with the condition of his players when they return to Rockliffe Park this morning. While most clubs have already returned
Idris Elba: No Limits (Discovery Channel, 9pm)FOUR speed-related challenges await man-of-the-moment Idris Elba, who starts off with his boyhood dream of tackling the famous and prestigious Circuit of Ireland race – in my day it was Monte Carlo, Le Mans
A MAN whose car was written off after an extreme hailstorm left it covered in hundreds of dents said he has ‘never seen anything like it’. OIiver Gray, of Hunwick near Bishop Auckland, was on his way to bed on Wednesday evening when he heard the
MP Anna Turley has praised pupils at St Peter's Catholic Voluntary Academy in South Bank, Middlesbrough, who have taken part in a legal competition. The Labour MP said: "I have supported the Legal Eagles, team from St Peter's as they have progressed
FORMER England footballer Paul Gascoigne has revealed how he threw a Rolex watch out of the window at the height of his struggle with drugs because he thought it was "listening" to him.The star, who played for clubs including Newcastle United
BUSINESSES in the North-East have indicated their workforce is growing at the fastest rate in 20 years. In its most recent Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) of members, the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has found that the workforce score
FIVE monster black holes that were previously hidden by dust and gas have been uncovered by astronomers from the North-East. The Durham University-led discovery suggests there may be millions more "supermassive" black holes in the universe than
A MUSIC teacher has criticised the lack of support for dementia sufferers after he was forced to reduce his hours at work to care for his elderly mother. Stephen Blakeburn from Darlington was speaking as a new report was released which reveals
A VINYL enthusiast who has been collecting records since he was a child has supplied 1950s music and memorabilia for the official Independence Day celebrations in London - attended by a host of top celebrities. Retired policeman Gary Lewis, who
