EMU poo, green scrambled eggs and near misses – Duncan Bannatyne got up and close with some birds in the jungle (of the winged variety) and narrowly avoided elimination. Duncan may be a successful entrepreneur but in the jungle he held the role
THIS WEEKEND saw the club take the long trek up the Northumberland coast to Druridge Bay for the third North East Harrier League cross country fixture. After the punishing conditions of last week’s race at Aykley Heads in Durham, we were hoping for better
THIS WEEKEND saw the club take the long trek up the Northumberland coast to Druridge Bay for the third North East Harrier League cross country fixture. After the punishing conditions of last week’s race at Aykley Heads in Durham, we were hoping for better
A SIZEABLE number of the region's MPs are opposed to the Government extending RAF bombing missions against Islamic State terrorists from Iraq into Syria. However, another group of mainly Labour MPs are still considering their position ahead of
A GANG of smash-and-grab raiders is behind bars today (Monday, November 30) after a dramatic cashpoint machine theft using a JCB. This daring early-morning theft was caught on security cameras at the Co-op in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire.
PLANS have been submitted to re-open a petrol station in Weardale which has been closed for the last five years. Applicants James Hall and Company want to redevelop Mill Garage in Wolsingham and reopen it as a filling station with four pumps, a convenience
HARTLEPOOL UNITED are one of three clubs in the Football League to be revealed as not paying a single penny in agents’ fees over the last year.The League Two club, along with Bury and Accrington Stanley, had a policy under previous owners Increased Oil
AN unqualified accountant who was part of the country's biggest ever mortgage fraud has walked free from court.Four other people were jailed as a result of Operation Bamburgh - a seven-year probe into the £300m con.But Peter Wardle, from Witton-le-Wear
PUBLIC views over proposed design changes to a busy road junction must be submitted this weekend (Sunday December 6).A three-week consultation period over potential alterations to the junction of the A690 Durham to Sunderland dual carriageway, at Stoneygate
A FORMER Labour councillor is refusing to stand down as a ward member after quitting the group in frustration.Cllr Billy Wells was elected to represent the Newcomen ward in May's council elections but decided to resign from Labour amid claims that he
JEREMY Corbyn had wanted the Labour Party to adopt a policy of opposition to air strikes in Syria – but he is rapidly discovering that leadership is not as straight-forward as that. It is certainly not that straight-forward when it comes to a decision
A HELICOPTER pilot who had flown many missions with both of the region's air ambulance services did not deliberately breach air clearance rules when he clipped a crane causing a fatal crash. An inquest heard, however, that 50-year-old Peter Barnes
MASKED men are being hunted after they robbed a petrol station.The robbery happened at the Jet garage in Bowburn, near Durham, at around 12.15am today (Monday, November 30). A female shop worker was at the rear of the premises when she was confronted
A MAN who attacked three members of his ex-partner’s family in a domestic row was jailed for three-and-a-half years.Kevin David Hope was branded, “an appalling bully”, by a judge who was told of his angry reaction in a confrontation with his former partner
A MOTHER whose careless driving caused the death of a young teacher has been spared jail.Gary Dodd and his girlfriend, Gemma Kay, were thrown from a motorbike after colliding with Laura Wright’s Vauxhall Meriva at the junction of Inkerman Road and Heworth
SANTA Claus was out in force at the weekend when more than 30 bikers decked out in Father Christmas outfits full-throttled their engines for Butterwick Hospice.The charity motorbike ride between Wolviston village on Teesside and Auckland Castle in Bishop
AN online auction held in memory of football legend Sir Bobby Robson raised almost £170,000 for charity.The annual Sir Bobby’s Online Auction ended last night (Sunday, November 29) raising £169,500 for charities connected with the former Newcastle United
THE Venerable Christine Hardman was consecrated as the Bishop of Newcastle, at York Minster, today (Monday, November 30)Her consecration service was conducted by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, elevating the former Archdeacon of Lewisham and
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build blocks of flats on riverside land have been given the go-ahead.Homeowners on Hammond Drive, in Skerne Park, Darlington, were told planning permission was passed to build 18 apartments – despite widespread objection.A petition
THOUSANDS of people have already used a loan shark this year and with Christmas on the way a North-East council is backing a campaign highlighting the risks.The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) has today (Monday November 30) launched a social
A FORMER town mayor who devoted his life to the community has died at the age of 52. David Newell, from Ferryhill in County Durham, died on November 23 after being diagnosed with cancer in May.Mr Newell, who was a councillor on Sedgefield Borough Council
A FIRM that provides mobility equipment for the elderly and disabled has launched a Christmas gift drive after discovering that many elderly people will spend the festive season alone.One Care Mobility, based in Northallerton, is appealing for Christmas
DARYL JANMAAT has described his embarrassment at being named the North-East's best footballer during a year when Newcastle United have faced a constant struggle to fight against relegation.Janmaat was crowned the North-East Football Writers’ player of
AIRLINE bosses have hatched a bold plan to restart scheduled flights from Durham Tees Valley to an RAF base near London. Flybe is urging the Government to consider opening up RAF Northolt to twice-daily return services services from regional airports,
ONE of the region’s businesses is celebrating after being named Best Indian Restaurant in the North-East.Zak Ahmed, manager of Spice Island, in Barnard Castle, joined staff and customers at a special ceremony in London recently after being nominated at
A DRIVER who ran away from the scene of an accident is being sought by police.A blue Vauxhall Astra and a blue Mazda 323 crashed at the junction of Blakelock Gardens and Brinkburn Road in Hartlepool on Sunday at 3pm.Both drivers got out of their vehicles
A CATHEDRAL stonemason has been commended for his paperwork.Steve Mann, who works at Durham Cathedral, was awarded the York Guild of Building Medal for outstanding written work while training.Mr Mann, from Ushaw Moor, near Durham, said: “It was a great
HIGH-ACHIEVING pupils from Carmel College have been recognised for their academic endeavours and commitment to hard work.The Northern Echo’s editor Peter Barron compered a year 11 presentation evening at the college where pupils received their GCSE certificates
A STILLBIRTH charity will hold a memorial service next week (Friday, December 4).The Durham and Wearside branch of Sands, a stillbirth and neonatal death charity, will hold a Lights of Love service at St Barnarbas’ Church, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street
A WORKING taxi driver stopped by police in the Northallerton area at the weekend has been released on bail, after being arrested on suspicion of drink driving. Two special officers with North Yorkshire Police stopped the driver of a Citroen Berlingo
CCTV helped catch three flytippers dumping rubbish on two separate occasions at the same spot.Durham County Council’s covert cameras caught Ashley Lodge and Martin Corrigan, and in a separate case, Craig Mitchell, in the act at Warren House Gill in Horden
AITOR KARANKA has called for his players to remain focused on the task at hand amid fears that Middlesbrough are ‘over-confident’ ahead of Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup quarter-final. Premier League side Everton head for the Riverside Stadium
HOSPITAL fundraising campaigners are appealing for people to dig deep this Christmas to help them reach £2m for an MRI scanner.Northallerton's Friarage Hospital is approaching its final stage in its fundraising goal and hopes to see the scanner become
BUDDING newshounds from a school in Bishop Auckland have honed their journalistic skills to help raise awareness of road safety.Years 5 and 6 pupils from Etherley Lane Primary School have produced a community newspaper entitled ‘The Etherley Lane Safety
DETECTIVES are investigating after a couple were threatened with a knife in their own home by an intruder. The terrifying incident happened in the village of Craghead, near Stanley, County Durham, at 5.10pm on Friday. The couple, who are both
A RETIRING marketing manager has been rewarded for his dedication to grass roots cricket.David Copland, retiring general manager of marketing and communications at Darlington Building Society, was honoured at the recent NYSD Cricket Awards 2015. He was
AIRMEN who provided airfield protection in Afghanistan have been in action again – putting their skills to the test in preparation for future operational commitments.Number 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, based at RAF Leeming, was one of the last squadrons
A POLICE chief has called on all forces to tackle so-called “troubled families” to stop the “generational inevitability of crime”.Ahead of the first national police Troubled Families conference in Durham, Durham Police Chief Constable Mike Barton spoke
Labour MPs are to be offered a free vote on David Cameron's proposals for air strikes against the Islamic State terror group in Syria - a move that clears the way for David Cameron to put the case possibly as soon as Wednesday. After a weekend
Food artist Prudence Staite has recreated the nativity scene entirely out of cheese. Prudence, from Gloucestershire, used 40 kilograms of cheese to produce her masterpiece.
WORK has begun on the first speculative development at Team Valley Trading Estate for almost a decade, heralding a flurry of building activity on the landmark business park. Owners UK Land Estates say the new industrial unit at Queens Court signals
A PASSENGER who died when the car he was travelling hit a lamppost over the weekend has been formally identified. Shaun Storey, aged 27 from Connolly Terrace in Blackhall Mill, near Chopwell, was killed on the A692 in the Moorisde area of Consett
AFTER William Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll is the most quoted author in the English language, and it is 150 years since the first publication of his most quoted book, Alice in Wonderland. The story came into being on a dreamy day, July 4, 1862, when
A ROYAL Marines musician has been rewarded for her exemplary service with a Long Service Good Conduct medal.Colour Sergeant Jennifer Coupland, who is from Redcar, joined the Royal Navy in 1999 aged just 16. Now 32, she has travelled the world as part
SEVERE weather brought a halt to a Reindeer Parade in Middlesbrough at the weekend - but gale force winds and driving rain didn't dampen the festive spirit.The annual parade and community carnival were due to take place on Sunday afternoon before the
A COLLEGE is working with an oil and gas firm to develop the next generation of engineers.Redcar and Cleveland College has teamed up with Swagelok in a bid to get more youngsters into the energy sector.The move comes after the college was named as a national
A THEATRE’S annual pantomime has opened for a six-week run.This year the Gala Theatre in Durham is staging a production of the ever-popular fairytale Cinderella, written, directed and starring Gala panto regulars Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley.Many of
A RUNDOWN bus depot transformed into a £2.9m affordable housing scheme for working people in Richmondshire has welcomed its new residents. Priory House, a 24-home development built by Broadacres on the site of the former Arriva bus depot next to the Station
RESIDENTS of two of the region’s towns have been asked how they would like to see some of their county council’s money spent. Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership (BASH AAP), which receives about £120,000 per year from Durham County Council
A LORRY driver has died working on his vehicle in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Police are preparing a file for the coroner following the death of the man who has been named locally as Peter Wilson, 54. The incident happened on the driveway of
A CAR was extensively damaged when part of the gable end of a building was ripped off in high winds yesterday (Sunday, November 29).The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the incident in Station Road, Ushaw Moor, near
VISITORS to the Cornmill Shopping Centre will have the opportunity to dress to impress this Christmas with the arrival of a new pop-up boutique.Poppy Bridal, an occasion dress specialist, has a flagship boutique in Darlington’s Duke Street but has opened
A NORTH-EAST medical firm behind custom prescriptions is expanding into Germany to strengthen its European presence.Quantum Pharma, in Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, has agreed three licensing deals through its Lamda division.Bosses say the
HUNDREDS of schoolchildren from across 17 primary schools in Stockton have been invited to a police event to promote safety. The event will be hosted at Harrowgate Primary School, Hardwick, in Stockton, from today (Monday, November 30) to Friday (December
MORE than 40,000 fans were at the Stadium of Light on Saturday as Patrick Van Aanholt and Duncan Watmore fired Sunderland to their second win in a row and out of the relegation zone. View all the fan pictures from Sunderland v Stoke City
CHANCELLOR George Osborne has confirmed that former Director General of the CBI, John Cridland will lead Transport for the North (TfN), a new body created to help revitalise transport links.The news comes just days after the Chancellor announced £200m
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an accident which left two pensioners needing hospital treatment.A black Renault Captiva, a red Hyundai and a silver Citroen Crosser crashed on the A19 northbound at the A1027 slip road in Stockton at 4.50pm
A STRONG global agreement to tackle climate change is vital to the development of long term, sustainable industries and jobs in Teesside and across the UK economy. This was the message from Teesside Collective in advance of the world’s 176 governments
Reinvention is the name of the game at Peppercorn House, a cornucopia of bespoke and individual pieces for the home. Jenny Needham talks to owner Nikki Thompson WHEN it comes to furnishing your house, one thing to ask yourself is do you want it
Having learned how to dye leather working for a sofa company, Simon Bourne has launched his own, wholly individual business supplying hand-dyed shoes. Sarah Millington meets him VISITING the website for Simon Bourne’s business, The Hand Dyed Shoe
Near the shores of one of the Lake District’s largest lakes lies a cosy little retreat that’s perfect for winter getaways. Jenny Needham shoots off to The Pheasant The Lake District may be beautiful, but it does suffer from a lot of “weather” and
Turn the page on seasonal stress and give a loved one a good read this December 25. Hannah Stephenson leafs through her top picks SO many books, so little time – but if you give a book this Christmas, you can be guaranteed your loved ones will
Going on and on and on constantly may be a good idea. Particularly for the Sunday lunch I DON’T have an Aga; never really wanted one – although I’ve always loved them when I’ve found them in other people’s houses on a cold winter’s day. But even
The beautyberry is one of the must-see bushes AFTER a very mild and damp few weeks, the stunning colour brought to us by autumn leaves seems to have crept up on us, then disappeared as quickly as it arrived. The blustery weather may have blown
Carol may be a story of forbidden love, but for captivating lead Cate Blanchett, her character's gender holds no relevance. The multi award-winning actress talks female empowerment and the pull of motherhood with Gemma Dunn IT'S been touted as
He may be a familiar face on TV, but James Martin has no appetite for showbiz lifestyles. Chefs should stick to cooking, he tells Gemma Dunn TV presenter, restaurateur, bestselling chef and one-time Strictly semi-finalist, blue-eyed-boy James Martin
Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke has won plenty of laughs on the contest with a string of celebrities from Ann Widdecombe to Judy Murray, but the Glitter Ball trophy has remained an impossible dream. He talks to Gabrielle Fagan Anton du Beke
THE boss of an online training company had a very personal reason for moving to new offices at the Business Central development, in Darlington. Elamb, founded by Mark Wilson in 2007, creates and delivers eLearning and online assessments and his
What struck me most about George Osborne’s Autumn spending review last week was not the Government's many changes of course, also known as U-turns. They were sensible because it is not good politics to fly in face of public opinion. I do believe, however
MIDDLESBROUGH football fans are planning a poignant tribute tomorrow night (Tuesday) to BBC commentator Ali Brownlee after "The Voice of the Boro" was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Ali has commentated on the Boro for 33 years and a tribute is planned
A SUNNY day blessed the assembled members of the Green Howards along many others this week to witness the unveiling of a memorial to CSM Stan Hollis VC in his home town. As the citation was read out by his granddaughter it brought home to all what
NORTHGATE United Reformed Church is now running the Work Club, formerly run by Evolution. We opened on Monday, October 5, with a team of volunteers under the direction of Graham Irving who ran the club at Evolution. We are trying to publicise
OUR prime minister’s latest call for us to bomb the terrorists in Syria leaves me puzzled. How can killing terrorists in Syria stop our own homegrown variety from acts of insanity here? They will be massively helped by the supine way Jihadist
My 88-year-old mother was admitted to Darlington Memorial Hospital on Friday, November 13, after breaking her hip following a fall at home. The ambulance crew were brilliant, as were the staff at the A&E department. She received outstanding
ALL our political parties contain a few members who are fanatics or obnoxious or crazy, and in some cases a combination of all three, but the Labour party seems to have a plague of these types at the moment. I have come to feel some sympathy with decent
FOR so many years, Great Britain was a joke in the tennis world. We were perennial losers, unable to make our mark, while other less wealthy nations outshone us.Not anymore. Great Britain are the world champions of tennis after winning the Davis Cup in
EVEN in the context of 35 years in journalism, last week was extraordinary. Graves being desecrated and skulls stolen, in apparent retribution for stolen lorries being rammed into Darlington houses, along with a petrol bomb attack, is certainly
A MOTORIST was seen crawling out of this wreckage after a crash in Guisborough Road, Nunthorpe, overnight. The Honda Civic collided with street furniture in the early hours of the morning. A spokesman for Cleveland and Durham road policing
TRAFFIC is returning to normal following an accident on the A1. The accident on the A1 northbound between J59 A167 (Aycliffe) and J60 A689 (Bradbury) caused some delays. Lane one remained open but lane two was closed while a vehicle was recovered
DAVID Cameron went to the Artic to hug a husky and came back to proclaim the Conservative Party was now the new ‘Green’ Tory Party. Sometime later he said the government should “forget the Green crap”. Last week, the chancellor George Osborne
A NEW formation, a new line-up and some new players in the ranks. But for Hartlepool United it ended in the same old story. Pools altered their outlook against Oxford, but ended up suffering another home defeat. There’s been far, far too many at Victoria
SALFORD CITY could be without their management duo for Friday’s FA Cup tie with Hartlepool United. Joint managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson were sent from the technical area to the stand during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Grantham Town.
ONE of Country Durham’s most innovative companies is expanding its research and development capabilities. PolyPhotonix has moved to a larger site on the North East Technology Park (Netpark) at Sedgefield, after securing a £200,000 invoice finance facility
The Murder Detectives (Channel 4, 9pm)REALITY TV takes one of its biggest leaps into the unknown by spending three nights showing the hunt for clues when someone is murdered.Every twist and turn of a police investigation into the horrific killing of a
SAM ALLARDYCE hopes Sunderland have taken the first steps towards recreating Peter Reid’s successful time in charge at the Stadium of Light but has warned supporters to expect his project to take years. The Black Cats have won back-to-back Premier
TWO wins in a row and three clean sheets from an opening run of six matches have secured nine points to lift Sunderland out of the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time this season.Whatever other clubs’ fans have felt about Sam Allardyce’s
A VILLAGE chippy in the North-East is getting back to normal after working flat out to feed hundreds of families left without gas. Nearly 800 homes in Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham, were left without part of their fuel supply for around a
THE manager of Darlington’s opponents on Saturday, Jimmy Ginnelly, revealed after the match that he had expected his Barwell team lose, especially due to the lack of players he had available.Injuries had depleted the Leicestershire club’s squad, now 14th
ADAM CLAYTON feels that Middlesbrough’s 2-0 win at Huddersfield in a game where they were dominated by their opponents is ideal preparation for tomorrow’s Capital One Cup quarter-final. Boro host Everton tomorrow night on the back of victory at
STEVE McCLAREN retains the faith of his employers at Newcastle United, with Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley still convinced he is the right man to turn the club around despite Saturday’s 5-1 humiliation at Crystal Palace. Newcastle slumped to their
LET’S start with a statistic. In just under two-and-a-half seasons, Newcastle United have now conceded four or more goals in a single game on ten separate occasions. Ten. So roughly one game in every nine that they play ends with them conceding at
FOR MANY of Middlesbrough’s 3,800 travelling supporters, their team’s 2-0 victory at Huddersfield will have been forgotten by the time they got to Wetherby services.We are constantly reminded that this game is a results business, which is just as well
IT was a day for only the brave at Barwell, when a hat, scarf and gloves were essential attire, and some of the players must’ve been tempted to do likewise. It was cold, wet and windy in Leicestershire. At its worst, it was like trying to play
A PASSENGER has died after a car hit a lamp post. The 27-year-old man, who has not been named but is from the Gateshead area, was the passenger in a black Peugeot 206 that hit a lamp post on the A692 at Moorside, Consett, County Durham, at about
I AM writing in response to the letter by Mr Vallance in Thursday’s edition regarding the illegal taxi touts operating in Durham city. Mr Vallance is 100 per cent correct in all he says and I have witnessed this myself on an alarmingly regular
ON BEHALF of all the members of Wear Valley Riding for the Disabled Association, which is based at Escomb near Bishop Auckland, may I thank all the wonderful ladies of the district Methodist group who spent the 12 months from September 2014 until August
EMOTIONAL scenes played out when the much-loved Darlington Arts Centre shut its doors for good in July 2012. Now a new chapter is opening for the iconic building with its sale due to be finalised this week and its conversion into apartments to
A NORTH-East town council is facing a £300,000 bill to pay off an employee who accused two councillors of bullying. Peterlee Town Council has been described as "shambolic" by one of its own members amid allegations of fraud, rows among councillors
TWO holiday coaches carrying dozens of passengers crashed on the A19 near Thirsk on Sunday. The two single-decker coaches collided near Thirkleby, south of Thirsk in North Yorkshire at about 10am this morning. None of the passengers are believed
TEACHING assistants are to step up their campaign against pay cuts of up to £5,000 a year, after hundreds packed out a series of angry union meetings.About 2,500 TAs face losing their school holiday pay, for some worth almost a quarter of their salary
THE DAUGHTER of a beloved North-East war hero who died on Remembrance Day has set up an appeal to help homeless veterans in his honour.Colour Sergeant Robert 'Bobby' Bogan, from Howden-le-Wear, County Durham, survived three assassination attempts and
FLYING Scotsman has topped a poll of the world’s best known trains and locomotives – as York’s National Railway Museum prepares to return the train to the tracks early next year. People across four continents were asked to name five trains or engines
MORE than two thirds of parents in the North-East polled for a survey say they are cutting back on spending on themselves in order to buy Christmas presents for their children.The survey, for charity Action for Children, also found that 44 per cent regularly
POLICE are investigating after a member of the public found rounds of discarded ammunition on a North-East beach. The ammunition, believed to be about 300 rounds of 5.56mm ammo, was discovered at the South Gare in Redcar at about 10am. A spokeswoman
DUNKIN’ Duncan, black eyes and jungle evacuations – electrical storms and terrifying challenges struck the camp. The morning kicked off with a rumble - sorry grumble - as “bad boys” of the camp, Duncan Bannatyne and Tony Hadley lay spread-eagled
