AFTER three successive defeats, Darlington Mowden Park have made wholesale changes for today's visit to Bedfordshire club Ampthill.Seven of last week's starting line-up are out and Callum Mackenzie switches from the back row to wing.Among those drafted
POLICE have arrested a third person on suspicion of attempted murder after two youths were found with severe head injuries on a Stockton footpath. Earlier today, Cleveland Police said two males aged 31 and 16 from the Stockton area had been arrested
FA Vase second qualifying round. Bishop Auckland 7 Holker Old Boys 1. Bishop Auckland’s new signing Fred Woodhouse set all sorts of scoring records when he bagged six on his debut for Bishops in the FA Vase against Holker Old Boys tonight.
A TRADITIONAL event which can trace its origins back to Medieval times opened with an evening of music, dance and light.This year’s Houghton Feast, which is delivered by Sunderland Live on behalf of Sunderland City Council, promises to spread some sparkle
AFTER SSI finally succumbed to unsustainable debts, Business Editor Andy Richardson asked why the firm wasn't helped earlier. IN its final few days SSI had run out of money to buy ink cartridges for printing out security passes. If that wasn
SSI played fast and loose with North-East and jobs and its site must be maintained to avoid environmental devastation, an MP has warned.Andy McDonald said the effects of the Thai company’s crumbled UK division, coupled with the Government’s existing steel
PUBLIC services could be scaled back if a local authority fails to salvage millions of pounds from SSI UK.That was the warning from Redcar and Cleveland Council as it revealed possible legal action to recoup unpaid business rates from the crippled steelmaker.Bosses
AMID the tragic wreckage of Teessside's steel industry, there has been a resounding consensus. And that is about the dignity of the workforce. Bosses, politicians, and commentators have all been struck by the way the devastating news about the
THE heartbreaking news that Redcar's steelworks had gone into liquidation sent shockwaves around the town despite people knowing full well the precarious condition the industry was in.Just over a week ago, more than a thousand people took part in a rally
TWO motorcyclists have died following a collision in North Yorkshire today (Friday, October 2). The two riders had been travelling in opposite directions on Suzuki motorbikes on the B1257 between Malton and Amotherby when they collided at about
DEFIANT workers are continuing to stoke the fires at Redcar steelworks in the knowledge they might never be paid a penny for their labours. The bombshell news this morning that SSI UK was being placed in the hands of a liquidator means 1,700 staff
GRAEME STORM remains in contention at the Alfred Dunhill Links after posting a second sub-par round on the east coast of Scotland.Storm, who carded a three-under 69 on Thursday, went one better when he played Kingsbarns on Friday with an impressive 68
PLANS have been drawn up to demolish what remains of a once-great factory and replace it with houses, signalling the end of an era for a town.The developers behind DurhamGate at Thinford, near Spennymoor, County Durham, want consent to pull down the last
IT’S been a busy week both on and off the pitch for Darlo. Tuesday saw us secure what turned out to be a decent point at Skelmersdale. Meanwhile, one player has arrived, two have left and another has been made available for transfer. I didn’t get
CIVIC dignitaries from across the region dined on finger sandwiches and scones, quiche and cakes for a good cause today. (Friday, October 2)Spennymoor Town Mayor Pat Lawton hosted around 30 guests for afternoon tea at Spennymoor Town Hall.Each guest paid
SNOOP Dogg the parrot has been found and returned safe and well to his owner.The African grey was stolen along with his partner parrot, Missy, during a house burglary in Middlesbrough but now both have been found and returned to their owner, Joanna Mason.The
A CORONER has warned of the dangers of recreational drugs after a man was found dead in a Darlington flat after taking poppers. The body of 58-year-old John Martin was discovered by police in the bedroom of his first floor flat in Peel Street,
A SCHOOL, which was opened the year Guy Fawkes was hiding gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament, has just had a major make-over.King James 1st Academy in Bishop Auckland, which was established 1605, officially re-opened its recently modernised former
AN application to install solar panels at a farm near Barnard Castle has been submitted to Durham County Council.The plans include the installation of 960 PV panels on land at Thorpe Farm Centre, Thorpe Farm, Great Bridge.The 0.77 hectare site currently
TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods following a raid in north Durham.Police targeted a house in Lyne Close, Perkinsville, near Chester-le-Street, after receiving information that stolen goods were being sold from the address.A
A COUNCIL boss has outlined bold plans to maintain council tax at its current rate for the next four years without cutting public services – while making £800,000 of savings.Drawn up by the new Conservative administration at Richmondshire District Council
POLICE are at the scene of an accident on the southbound slip road onto the A1(M) north of Darlington. The slip road at junction 58 (Burtree) is closed. No further details of the collision have yet been released.
Unique one-man show at Barnard CastleA NEW one-woman show in music and words takes place at The Witham in Barnard Castle next week.Lada Valešová is a well-known name in the world of classical music. She appears regularly on BBC Radio 3, has performed
A ROTARY club has honoured its four surviving founder members, as it celebrated its 40th anniversary.The Rotary Club of Durham Bede held a special Founders’ Day lunch in honour of its “founders” Bob Robson, Alick McWilliam, Tony Elliott and Jim Freeley.The
Folk Awards winners in North-EastTO WIN the Best Duo category at the 2015 BBC Folk Awards is quite an achievement at any stage of an artists’ career. But just two years prior to this accolade Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker were virtually unknown on the
MICHAEL DODS will walk the course at Longchamp tomorrow before deciding whether to let star sprinter Mecca’s Angel take her chance in Sunday’s Prix de l’Abbaye. Having claimed the biggest win of her career when she trounced a top-class field to
MARY Butterwick, founder of the Butterwick Hospice movement in the North-East who died this week at the age of 91 will be laid to rest at a service in Stockton next week. Mrs Butterwick's funeral will take place on Friday, October 9, at Stockton
A PROFESSIONAL musician and former Durham County Councillor got more than he bargained for when he ordered an eye-catching hat to wear on stage. Phil Graham, of Park View Terrace, New Coundon near Bishop Auckland, is making a remarkable recovery
A NOT-FOR-PROFIT initiative that helps disabled people learn woodwork skills has supported more than 130 in its first year.The Wood Pile Community Interest Company (CIC) salvages waste wood to create and “upcycle” furniture, at its base in Dragonville
A COUNTY council is celebrating the vital role played by older people in communities after marking UK Older People's Day on October 1.North Yorkshire County Council is making supporting older people a priority as by 2020 almost a quarter of the county's
THE agency responsible for promoting business in Darlington town centre has announced a line-up of events for 2016.A car rally, a fashion show and plans to shine a spotlight on the town’s food producers are among the treats Distinct Darlington has in
DOZENS of ukelele players twanged their instruments to entertain guests – including the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham – at an event to celebrate national Older People's Day.Members of Age UK Darlington performed at Darlington Community Fire Station
WHO needs Tesco when we’ve got neighbours like ours? This morning there was a carrier bag full of apples on the front step, a present from a friend. Another friend turned up with some apples and a box of blackberries from her garden. Then, delivering
POLICE believe a fire at a flat that they say could easily have ended in tragedy may have been started deliberately.The emergency services were called to a flat on Front Street, Sherburn Hill, near Durham City at about 2am on Saturday, September 27, following
A RAPIST whose terrified victim fled his clutches twice, only for him to drag her back through the gravel and continue his attack has been jailed for 16 years. Drug-crazed Shaun Elliott Paul, 25, raped the woman, who made desperate attempts to
ONCE again Jeremy Corbyn has announced that a future Labour government would renationalise the railways.In his letter (HAS, Sept 28), Jim Harper rightly points out that in Germany and France the railways are (mostly) state run. But both have missed the
WITH reference to the “pre-match walk” letter by H McLaren (HAS, Sept 22) and what he refers to as the “good old days” of the Newcastle United team. As I remember, Newcastle FC were at their zenith during the 1950s, vanquishing their opponents
CARL MAGNAY, the Hartlepool United player, has been banned for six games by the Football Association – after being found guilty of spitting. Magnay was sent off for violent conduct in the closing minutes of Pools’ defeat at Wycombe last month,
DURING the Second World War my aunt served in the ATS. In her diary, she describes “intense and ferocious” German air raids on Devonport in 1941. “Such destruction,” she wrote, “could hardly have been imagined – it needed to be seen to comprehend
The Northern Echo’s very fair and balanced editorial on Jeremy Corbyn (30 Sept) posed the question of his credibility based upon the key issues of economy and national security. Sooner or later the honeymoon would be over it stated. I think we might
THE bulldozers have been at work in Darlington’s Northgate, bringing down a 1930s garage and revealing a name from the past – well, half a name at least.The fancy paintwork on the brickwork reveals the top half of “Atkinson’s”, which is a name a lot of
ONCE a week Peter Mullen steps into the arena to entertain us. Sadly, he never fails to show his ignorance and to parade it as intelligence. Step down Peter, enough is enough. He stoops to personal attacks against anyone who opposes his own
B BATES (HAS, Sept 25) accused me of smugness but omits to state the grounds upon which he bases this allegation. Hardly surprising as his whole letter is a bundle of such irresponsible and unsubstantiated slurs and inaccuracies. And while on the
MAY I, through your columns, thank the many people of Sunderland who have been supporting the work of Sunderland and County Durham Royal Society for the Blind by shopping in our nearly new charity shop in Waterloo Place, Sunderland. The shop has
I EMBARK upon a voyage of discovery when I compile this column, but this week I admit I have hit the rocks. My journey began quite well, as when the VW scandal broke, I discovered that I drive a diesel car which is named after Rudolf Diesel.
LAST week The Northern Echo ran a series of features on the plight of refugees. Today we ask two of our region’s community leaders, who have strong opinions on either side of the debate, if more migrants should be allowed to find sanctuary in the North-East
CONFIDENCE BOOSTER AHEAD OF GOOD RUN OF GAMES The indicators are on, but will Newcastle United finally turn the corner after a morale-boosting display against Chelsea last weekend? Tomorrow's trip to the Etihad Stadium could well determine
FUNDRAISING students have made a difference to the lives of hundreds of people across the North-East and Africa after raising more than £60,000 for three charities.Pupils from The King's Academy, Middlesbrough, presented cheques of £1,800 each to representatives
DICK Advocaat has left talk about his future unclear amid speculation that he will quit Sunderland if he fails to oversee a first Premier League victory of the season against West Ham on Saturday. The experienced Dutchman, speaking in a feisty
A MULTI-MILLION pound housing development in Chester-le-Street is opening its doors to members of the public this weekend with two opens days taking place.Cestria Community Housing’s new assisted living scheme The Elms features 52 apartments and six bungalows
A SOCIAL club has teamed up with a community interest company to provide a warm friendly place for people who are struggling or home alone to get a free hot meal and to socialise.The ALT Group held the first of a series of weekly community meals at the
TWO CONCERTS will mark the unveiling of a new artwork inspired by the unique landscape of the North York Moors.Work commissioned for the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival will be unveiled at the Inspired by... gallery in Danby on Sunday, November
COMPETITORS and spectators are invited to experience one of the county’s most traditional skills in action at the annual hedge laying competition. Hedge layers of all levels are being invited to take part in this year’s Durham Hedge Laying Competition
A POLICE force which has received reports of 480 web-based offences this year has launched a campaign to tackle online crime.In addition to fraudulent sales, identity theft and child sexual exploitation, there were 844 reports made by North Yorkshire
THE Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership has begun work replacing stiles with gates along the Teesdale Way in a ‘Donate a Gate’ scheme. The first two gates at Gainford have been donated by the Darlington Countrywide Holidays Association & Holiday Fellowship
FILMING of a new horror movie is about to start in the North-East.Sinema: The Movie is the brainchild of Newcastle writer, Rod Glenn, and County Durham director, Kev Harte.The movie has been adapted from the best-selling novel, Sinema: The Northumberland
DARLINGTON is gearing up to welcome the New Zealand All Blacks with a host of rugby-themed town centre events to complement their stay. The defending world champions are basing themselves in the town as they prepare for their Pool C match against
NEW part-time 20mph speed limits will be rolled out around 33 of a county’s schools from next week (Monday, October 5), much to the joy of road safety campaigners. Pressure has been growing for some years for lowered limits to be imposed outside
THE experiences of domestic abuse victims will be used to train police to better deal with the issue.Durham Police is working with Durham University to improve its response to domestic abuse, particularly incidents where an offender is behaving in a coercive
SOME of the region’s farmers are celebrating after being recognised at the annual Farmers Weekly Awards last night (October 1).Tom and Kay Hutchinson, a farming couple from Bail Hill near Mickleton, in Teesdale, along with filmmaker Magali Pettier were
HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned of ‘doorstep’ sellers on the look-out for easy pickings.The alert from Trading Standards chiefs in Middlesbrough follows after a complaint from a resident called at home by a man trying to sell kitchen cloths, sponges and
PEOPLE in the poorest communities are being encouraged to become more active after more than £160,000 was secured through Sport England.Residents across the Redcar and Cleveland borough will be able to take advantage of discounts on a variety of fitness
A FURNITURE recycling charity has teamed up with a training company to run work experience and courses that will boost unemployed people’s job prospects.The County Durham Furniture Help Scheme was founded in 1970 to recycle household items and sell them
A MAN is to have his head shaved and legs waxed for a cancer charity in memory of his uncle who died from the disease.John Moore, 23, will have the all-over hair-lift on November 6 - the same day his uncle, Fred Smith from Crook, passed away eight years
Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, Live Theatre, NewcastleADAPTED from Alan Warner’s novel The Sopranos, Oscar-nominated Lee Hall (of Billy Elliot fame) brings us a rambunctious tale of six Catholic school girls on a trip to Edinburgh for a singing competition
THE owner of a restaurant and hotel hit by a devastating fire has thanked fire and rescue crews who saved his business.Sean McCourt, the owner of the Black Swan at Fearby, near Masham, has been speaking for the first time about the blaze which almost
SUNDERLAND and England footballer Adam Johnson has appeared in court on child sex charges. The 28-year-old attended Bradford Crown Court for a 90-minute pre-trial review hearing on Friday. He has previously denied three counts of sexual activity
The Tempest, Northern StageTHE brave new world of this thrilling co-production is utterly captivating. Shakespeare’s late, great masterpiece about a refugee Duke making right the wrongs done to him and by him gets a thorough laundering in this co-production
PEOPLE caring for someone with dementia are being offered the chance to learn more about the disease and how it affects the individual in a series of courses.The courses, being run by Alzheimer’s Society in Darlington, aim to help carers understand more
The Biters in Newcastle TUK, the lead singer from The Biters, a new hard rock/punk band from Atlanta, Georgia, talks to Mick Burgess about the band's visit to The Think Tank, Newcastle, tonight (October 5). What sort of show can we expect from
Liquidation - what does it mean? While the exact procedure can vary liquidation generally involves the sale of a company's property and holdings, followed dissolution and closure. Creditators are paid from the proceeds and the company ceases
Thai firm SSI, owners of the Redcar steelworks, is to go into liquidation, sources told the The Northern Echo. LIVE: Reaction to news that has ended hopes of rescue at Redcar steelworks ANALYSIS: What does liquidation mean PHOTOS: Modern
AN evening of sparkle and stars is set to raise thousands of pounds for a North-East hospice.The Champagne and Pearls Ball, on Saturday (October 3), is the 19th black tie and ball gown extravaganza in aid of St Teresa's Hospice, Darlington, and hundreds
THE DURHAM Singers launch a busy autumn concert season by welcoming other singers from the North-East to join them in singing one of Haydn’s best loved works - his choral masterpiece, The Creation.Members of other local choirs and anyone else who enjoys
LEEDS UNITED have completed the signing of Sunderland winger Will Buckley for the rest of the year. Buckley has struggled to break in to Dick Advocaat’s first team plans and he was not even named in the Dutchman’s 25-man Premier League Black Cats
Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon wants the FA Cup attitude from his players when they take on Barnoldswick in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase today. Aycliffe held National League North side North Ferriby to a draw in the FA Cup last
Shildon could go ten points clear at the top of the EBAC Northern League today if they beat Consett and other results go in their favour. The Railwaymen face the Steelmen at Dean Street, where Shildon have lost only once in eight league matches
Spennymoor face a tough opening tie in the FA Trophy when they go to Glossop in the preliminary round. Glossop lost in the final of the FA Vase last season on their way to promotion from the North West Counties League, and they’ve slowly battled
AN £80m emergency funding pot has been made available by the Government to help Tees steelworkers and their families. With more than 2,000 jobs at risk ministers have put together the fund to help workers retrain and start their own businesses
TWO suspected burglars are in custody after police chased a stolen car. The vehicle was taken during a house burglary in Billingham overnight. Officers from Cleveland Police road policing unit spotted the vehicle in Harrowgate Lane, Stockton
A MOTORIST has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after swerving across the road, wiping out a signpost and then crashing while being followed by police. The incident occurred in County Durham on Thursday night. It is understood the
RONNIE Moore has suffered a few frustrations in trying to add to his Hartlepool United squad this week – but has the perfect example of what can be achieved with loan players. Following Tuesday’s woeful 3-0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers, Moore has made
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC insists he has learned a valuable lesson from the truncated start to his Newcastle United career, and is confident his first season in English football will not be blighted by a succession of disciplinary problems.Having arrived from
A BITTER struggle for the future of steelmaking on Teesside is taking place after rescue attempts in the UK were thrown off course by SSI’s banks. The troubled firm’s Thai lenders refused to put off loan payments of more than £400m and have drawn
The Kennedys (BBC1, 9.30pm)THE Kennedys is a multi-generation 1970s family comedy loosely based on actress Emma Kennedy’s memoirs The Tent, The Bucket And Me. Each episode is introduced by Emma played by Lucy Hutchinson, a ten-year-old Star Wars obsessed
AITOR KARANKA has revealed why he is happy for Jose Mourinho to help out Reading this season – even if the rivals for promotion face Middlesbrough tomorrow. The Royals, sitting third in the Championship and five points behind the Teessiders, are
MICHAEL GRAY thinks Sunderland’s failings should not be continuously blamed on the manager and has backed Dick Advocaat to lead another successful survival charge.Gray, who has apologised to the club’s owner Ellis Short for calling him a “liar” in a radio
A GARAGE owner and his partner who committed a series of frauds and tried to pay for stays in plush hotels with counterfeit cash will pay back just £5 each. David Soulsby earned £83,132 from his criminal misdeeds and Aimee Felton £32,522, a judge
A TEENAGER saved from the wheelchair by a life-changing operation is in training for a special ten-mile run through Minneapolis.Aged 14, Sally Hughes was a promising young swimmer when her coach noticed she was starting to slouch.Medics diagnosed scoliosis
A WOMAN whose drugged-up boyfriend smashed her car into a house at over 50mph, after saying he was going to kill them both, said last night "it's left my life in ruins". Peter O'Neill was high on alcohol, heroin and glue when he smashed Lauren
THERE is a line of thinking around English rugby that suggests the national team is always at its best when it is keeping things simple, relying on power rather than finesse in all areas of the field and attempting to bludgeon its way through the opposition
A CAR overturned at a Darlington roundabout tonight after the driver was dazzled by the low sun. The incident took place at the roundabout where Coniscliffe Road and the A67 meet, at Elm Ridge. A green Ford Focus hit a lamppost and ended up
A TRANSGENDER beauty queen is hoping to become a mother using sperm she had frozen before her sex change. Fay Louise Purdham, 28, is now searching for a woman to be a surrogate mother to carry her future child. She plans to raise her baby as
A FOUR-year-old boy has undergone emergency surgery after being involved in a car crash on Wednesday morning (September 30). The child, who has not been named, was the only passenger in a Ford Ka which collided with a Citroen C3 on the busy A167
CONCERNS have been raised about an Irish-based dog training company by two North-East families with autistic children. Chris Ball of Bishop Auckland and Mark Austin of Shildon, ordered service dogs from Service Dogs Europe (SDE) to help guide and
AS A youngster, I looked forward to episodes of How 2, presented by Fred Dinenage, Gaz Top and Carol Vorderman, giving us hints and tips on how to live a better life. Vorderman’s advice on how to change a duvet cover – by turning it inside out
