POLICE last night (Monday, August 31) carried out a search along the Quayside in Newcastle after reports of a possible body in the River Tyne. The alarm was raised at 6.15pm. Emergency services attended the Quayside carrying out a search of the
LADIES' MEDAL 15 1st Sandra Jones net 75, 2nd Carole Holmes net 76, 3rd Sue Bailey net 78 Bailumb mixed team competition was won by Vicky Iveson, Sue Bailey, Chris Suffell and Brian Hamer with 90pts
A GRUELLING fell race featuring competitors from across the North was one of the main attractions at a Yorkshire Dales agricultural show – with runners braving the slippery conditions after a day of light rain. Despite the sun failing to make an
PEOPLE from far and wide flocked to see a village’s annual scarecrow festival this weekend. A record 23 entries were submitted at Sedgefield’s fourth annual competition and it was the first year local businesses have also been involved. From
A LOYAL employee is marking his last shift today (August 31), 51 years to the day since he started his first one. Kenny Clegg was just 15 years old when he began work with the North Eastern Electricity Board on August 31, 1964. The 66-year-old
THE family of a retired police officer who died after falling from a bridge over the A19 have tonight (Monday, August 31) released a photo of him. Stephen Merryweather, who was aged 64, lived in Yarm. He was seen to fall from the Hilton overbridge
Darlington 2 Blyth Spartans 1 SIX points in three days made it a triumphant weekend for Darlington and a remarkable one for veteran defender-turned-forward Alan White. At the age of 39-years-old he has been asked by manager Martin Gray to play
AMATEUR sailors from the North-East passed under London's iconic Tower Bridge on Sunday at the start of a round the world yacht race The 40,000 nautical mile global race, between six continents, which will take almost a year to complete, is the longest
DOUBLE Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton was agonisingly denied a fairytale victory on her first ride as a fully-fledged amateur jockey at Ripon. Despite being a total novice in the saddle, the dual Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist announced in
CIVIC dignitaries have officially opened an impressive new £12m public space in the North-East.Keel Square celebrates Sunderland’s shipbuilding and industrial heritage and the celebrations began at the newly installed unique public art feature ‘Propellers
AN annual exhibition of classic vehicles has been held in the North-East.The 31st show was organised by the North-East Bus Preservation Trust and was held at Seaburn Recreation Park in Sunderland.Around 200 vehicles, including vintage and veteran cars
A MOTHER who lost her son to a rare form of bone cancer has raised over £180,000 for charity in the five years since his death.Twelve-year-old County Durham schoolboy Henry Dancer died in 2010, less than a year after he was diagnosed with a one in 10,000,000
A NORTH-EAST events firm is extending its offering after enjoying a ‘sell-out summer’.1879 Events Management, which manages three venues in Sunderland, is celebrating a record summer season, catering for capacity crowds at many of its in-house events
TWO orange sea mines and a large naval gun have taken pride of place outside Hartlepool's Maritime Experience ahead of a new chapter for the museum.The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) has committed to creating a Museum for the North at Hartlepool's
A NEW group campaigning to reclaim the name "Teesside" and ban the made-up Tees Valley region is writing to the area's MPs asking for their backing.The chairman of Teesside Together said the area needed to end its identity crisis and grasp the
AN attempt to break the world record for the most two person pantomime animal costumes to run at a racecourse has been staged in the North-East. The comical sight was staged at Newcastle Racecourse today (Monday) and featured pantomime horses,
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into two suspected arson attacks in Darlington over the weekend.As previously reported in The Northern Echo, two fires which appear to have been started deliberately broke out at Darlington Town Hall and a social services
A KIND-HEARTED charity worker has swum across a Scottish loch to help support disadvantage youngsters in Teesdale.Teesdale YMCA Chief Executive, Kev Wake, took on the Great Scottish Swim, at Loch Lomond, on Saturday (August 29).He was one of about 1,000
A PILOT project to bring back traditional street games is being trialled in Middlesbrough.Street Play is a national project which aims to give children the freedom to play actively and independently outside their own front doors - to encourage them to
THE leader of a council has expressed "bitter disappointment and frustration" over plans to focus £50m of health investment in Stockton, rather than Hartlepool.Christopher Akers-Belcher, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, wrote to health
A STANLEY-BASED company which produces play equipment for children with special needs has been awarded a national environmental award.Marmax Recycled Products fought off 500 other companies to be crowned winner of the Green Apple Environment Award in
WORK on human rights law by two teenage students is to feature in a report to the United Nations.Chelsea Reidy, head girl of Kings Academy in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, and fellow student Hafsah Adzal, will have their work on legal rights for women
FABIO BORINI has finally returned to Wearside in a deal worth £9.75m from Liverpool after he successfully passed a medical at Sunderland today. The Black Cats have confirmed that a permanent swoop for Borini has been concluded after agreeing a
A GLOBALLY recognised water conservationist - known as the Waterman of India - visited a North Yorkshire village recently, to learn about its natural flood management methods.Rajendra Singh has received international acclaim for his work in pioneering
ABOUT half a million pounds is expected to be invested in a country house hotel over the next year, after it was taken over by a new company. Classic Lodges, which owns a number of hotels in the UK, has bought Solberge Hotel at Newby Wiske between Northallerton
A FESTIVAL celebrating walking and books will this year welcome MP Alan Johnson to talk about his latest autobiographical book. The Richmond Walking and Book Festival, which takes place in the Yorkshire Dales, will kick off on September 25. One of the
Shildon’s 100 per cent record was ended when they were beaten by a late goal at home by second placed Morpeth today. Lewis Wing went close for Shildon when he chipped the ball against the bar from the corner of the box, then Gary Brown, at full
Richmond gains a theatrical Pet MonsterBlunderbus Theatre Company are visiting Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal on Saturday, October 3, at 2.00pm with its new show My Pet Monster and Me.The comedy features has lots of fun for little monsters, and their
A TWELFTH century church at risk of serious permanent damage has received more than £14,000 worth of Heritage Lottery funding to help replace a leaking roof.St Leonard’s Church, in Thornton-le-Street, near Thirsk was recently added to Historic England
A TRACTOR driver and other witnesses are being sought by police, after a female motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in a collision near Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire.Police want to speak to anyone with information about the accident, which happened
HUNDREDS of children took part in a day of swimming fun yesterday (Sunday, August 30) to raise money for local charities.Borocuda Swim School held the event at Our Lady and St Bede's School, in Stockton, which included a fun session and sponsored swim
STUDENTS will get their first lessons in a multi-million pound super school when it opens its door this week.Year seven pupils and sixth formers will be starting Consett Academy on Wednesday with the rest of school joining throughout the week.The purpose
Trolling for young theatre fansAN outrageously entertaining and deliciously dark tale from the writer of the West End hit Matilda the Musical comes to Blackhall and Washington Arts Centre next month.Our Teacher’s a Troll by Dennis Kelly features two terrible
BISHOP Auckland’s Butterwick Hospice is inviting teams to get involved in their latest fundraiser on Saturday, September 26.The charity will be hosting a Zorbing Football event at West Auckland Football Ground.The activity, which blends football and zorbing
THREE students and a barman have carried a beer barrel to the top of Britain's highest mountain so they could open a "pub" at the summit. Students Dave Cooke, Harriet Allbrook and Oscar Price, together with barman Dom Lane, all from Wiltshire,
A POPULAR hub for musicians and artists in Darlington has been given a welcome makeover by a group of teenagers.The Forum, on Borough Road, hosts a multitude of cultural events throughout the year including art exhibitions and music concerts but the ageing
DARLINGTON face a test of their promotion credentials today when they take on Blyth Spartans, a team also expected to challenge at the top end of the table. Blyth are unbeaten having started the season with four wins and a draw, and Quakers captain
Back to The Cinder PathA TOP South Tyneside theatre producer will be celebrating his tenth anniversary by presenting the world premiere of Catherine Cookson’s The Cinder Path.The show is the first book of the late author’s to be adapted for the stage
YOUNGSTERS in the North-East have been taking their favourite teds to a visitor attraction to take part in family fun activities.Bring a Teddy Day is being held today (Monday August 31) at Crook Hall and Gardens in Durham City.Visitors can bring their
THE biggest gathering of military vehicles has been on show in the North-EastThe North East Military Vehicle Rally took place over the August bank holiday weekend in the grounds of the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery.Now in its 42nd year, the event
A NORTH-EAST singer reduced judges on TV talent show the X Factor to tears with an emotional audition.Car mechanic Josh Daniel, 21, from Billingham, Teesside, sang Jealous by Labrinth, moving judges Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to tears and visibly affecting
A VALUABLE 100-year-old railway banner that has been stashed away for many years is going on public display to help celebrate a landmark anniversary.The colourful banner of the Bishop Auckland Branch of the National Union of Railwaymen will be on display
HAIRY spiders, furry chinchillas and hand-sized snails were part of the attractions at a shopping centre over the weekend.Scales n Tails Animal Encounters paid a visit to Wellington Square shopping centre in Stockton, on Saturday.Children were able to
A COUNCIL'S decision to produce no evidence against a controversial slaughterhouse has left campaigners feeling even more frustrated at the authority's handling of the problem.Residents of Boosbeck have fought for more than two years to secure the closure
BRAVE cancer battler Caroline Simpson is putting her best foot forward to tackle the Great North Run just six months after undergoing surgery.Mrs Simpson, of Woodland Road, Darlington, was diagnosed with type C breast cancer in October 2013.She described
HONOURS have been given to people in north Durham who have made a positive contribution in their community.The Stanley Town Council chairman’s awards night was held at the Civic Hall last week and all nine nominees received a certificate and an engraved
CROWDS have gathered in a North-East for the rebirth of a popular music festival.Stanley Blues Festival ended in 2007 after 15 years over problems with funding the free event.On Sunday, organised by a new team at a new venue, the festival returned to
STAGING Gilbert & Sullivan usually involves turning the topsy-turvy plots of yesteryear into reality. The second season of Harrogate-based The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company opened with the massive Harrogate International Centre car park empty
CAN politics ever be fun? I may be about to find out. The Freedom Association is to hold its Northern Festival at Harrogate on Saturday and I have been asked to give a talk. The association was formed following a meeting of Ross and Norris McWhirter
Paper Aeroplanes fly in to North-EastAFTER sell-out gigs earlier this year in Germany, London and around the UK, Paper Aeroplanes are returning to the North-East this month for gigs in Northallerton (in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Colwyn Bay 2 Darlington 4 DARLINGTON go into today’s big game with Blyth Spartans boosted by a hugely satisfactory win on Saturday, their first three-point haul on the road. A long way down the road it was too. They spent four hours on the
WHEN Carlisle scored three goals to win at Victoria Park last season it cost the manager his job. This time after the same happened, the only things Ronnie Moore was losing were his sanity and patience. Colin Cooper walked away last October after a 3-
TESCO is to tap into the rapidly growing vinyl music market this week when it sells the new album by British rock group Iron Maiden.Their first studio offering in five years, The Book Of Souls, will be released on Friday, with the triple LP format going
Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier LeagueBATTLING Seaton Carew could pull themselves off the bottom of the league for the first time this season if they can continue their magical escape from relegation this afternoon at Feethams.Their third
SUNDERLAND are working on a deal to bring Borussia Dortmund striker Adrian Ramos to the Stadium of Light before tomorrow's transfer deadline and Dick Advocaat is also banking on landing another defender.Ellis Short, the Black Cats’ owner, has given the
OVER the next 36 hours Dick Advocaat will be waiting for transfer updates, hoping to hear that two more signings have arrived at the Stadium of Light. A new striker is a priority and an extra defensive option is essential after a summer in which six new
STEVE MCCLAREN has defended his Newcastle United players and denied they are a dirty team after Saturday’s stormy 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.McClaren is still waiting for his maiden Magpies victory in the Premier League and his task was made even more
PAPISS CISSE’S Newcastle United future has been thrown into doubt after the Senegalese striker admitted he did not know whether he would still be at the club when the transfer window closes tomorrow.The 30-year-old was the subject of fresh links with
QPR are ready to offer Albert Adomah an escape route from the Riverside, with the winger keen to force through a move away from Middlesbrough ahead of tomorrow’s transfer deadline. Adomah was left out of the squad for the second game in succession
THE league can’t be won or lost in August, but speak to Aitor Karanka, and it quickly becomes clear that the Middlesbrough head coach regards the opening month of last season as a key factor in his side’s eventual failure to claim automatic promotion
A NORTH-EAST pensioner dying from liver cancer is begging the authorities to legalise cannabis.Days after the Government issued a damning response to campaigners, a terminally ill woman has backed growing calls to decriminalise the class-B drug.In response
FUNDS have been raised for two charities in memory of a tragic teenager.Cameron Gosling died after getting into difficulty whilst swimming in the River Wear near Bishop Auckland, on Sunday, July 5.More than 480 bikers escorted the 14-year-old’s funeral
A CROOK whose crime sprees stretched across four counties is behind bars today after a judge told him: "You're already building up a huge record."Luke Boniface, 20, admitted a dozen charges of theft, attempted theft and dangerous driving after
IT was a case of sunshine and smiles at a County Durham fair this weekend. The ninth annual Hamsterley Hoppings offered a Sunday Bank Holiday treat of family fun on Hamsterley village green. The event raised money for Butterwick Hospice, the
FILM-MAKERS are looking for new recruits to help create an ambitious short movie. Cinematic offering, Whiteblade – which will partly be filmed in Bishop Auckland - needs up to 200 battle-scene extras from the Bishop Auckland area to help complete
POLICE are looking at the possibility that an arsonist could be responsible for at least two of three fires started in Darlington on Sunday. Although the official cause of each fire has yet to be confirmed, detectives believe incidents at Darlington
