EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 SO what does £80m buy you then? On this evidence, it doesn’t guarantee a striker capable of scoring or a defence with the ability to keep the ball out. A night that was supposed to be the start of a great new era
South Shields pulled off a surprise when they beat Gateshead 3-2 in the Durham Challenge Cup tonight. Shields took the lead when Gateshead defender Matt McCarthy put a Wayne Phillips corner into his own goal, but Michack Kanda levelled for Gateshead.
THE C1 is a joint enterprise between Citroen, its sister company Peugeot and Toyota. Even so, it doesn’t look like a car designed by committee.Unlike the decidedly wacky Toyota Aygo – which looks as though it was styled by the Power Rangers – the new
I KNOW I wrote about the ill-fated Triumph TR7 only last month, but I make no apologies for returning to this fascinating motor car.As Triumph’s last model, and British Leyland’s last two-seater sports car, the fate of the TR7 has been endlessly analysed
THE RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat was dumped outside one of its centres.Admiral, as he has now been named, was found outside the gates of Great Ayton Animal Centre, near Middlesbrough, this morning (February 3).The centre’s deputy manager
ANDROS TOWNSEND will make his Newcastle United debut in this evening's Premier League game at Everton. But in an unexpected move, Steve McClaren has dropped Aleksandar Mitrovic and will start with Ayoze Perez up front. In total, McClaren has
DETECTIVES investigating two separate knifepoint robberies in Durham City have arrested a man.The 35-year-old suspect was arrested in Consett this afternoon (Wednesday, February 3) following a second attack last night, not far from where the first took
A brave but emotional mother stood in front of the ranks of police and press on Wednesday and told them how she was repeatedly sexually abused as a child. Chris Webber spoke to her FOR more than three decades Di Ellis kept her silence about the
AMBITIOUS plans to create a £3.5 million sausage factory will include the creation of a “Sausage World” to give people a unique insight into the humble snack.Heck! Food, currently based at Leeming Bar Industrial Estate in North Yorkshire, is one of the
A MAN accused of being a serial abuser of children, including five boys, told police he saw himself as a “dad figure”, but denied anything inappropriate took place with any of them.Stanley Simpson agreed that he took boys under his wing, even allowing
THE Government has rejected an MP's claim that the decision to axe plans for a new ‘super’ hospital is contributing to staffing shortages at a hospital trust.North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust was told by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission
HUNDREDS of parking spaces will open to visitors and commuters in the heart of Darlington this week.Traders and business owners gathered in Feethams Car Park to see its barriers operate for the first time ahead of Friday's (February 5) official opening.The
“THE savings from back office have been taken. Things we’re going to have to do (in future) will be more visible to the public.”That was the stark warning from Terry Collins as he started work as chief executive of Durham County Council.The 55-year-old
SOME of the work funded by the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has been visited by his family ahead of World Cancer Day tomorrow (Thursday, February 4).Lady Elsie and their sons, Andrew and Mark, were recently the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at Newcastle's
ANIMAL lovers have been urged to help a rescue centre fund its repairs following the festive floods.More than 140 animals had to be evacuated from the RSPCA’s Landing Lane site in York during the crisis.Although many of the animals have now been returned
A TEENAGE exchange student from Norway has died suddenly after being taken ill in York.The 17-year-old girl was taken ill at her home in York and died in hospital on January 26. As inquiries are ongoing into her death, the Norwegian authorities have asked
SHE usually performs for pennies outside a North-East pastie shop. But this weekend an unemployed teenage busker will perform in front of the stars - and millions of viewers - on a television talent show. Nineteen-year-old Chloe Castro, who
TWO dog walkers are warning fellow pet owners to be vigilant after one of their animals was caught in an illegally-set deer trap.Friends Christine Kipling and Michelle Hobbs were walking their dogs at Brussleton, near Shildon, on Tuesday evening when
A HISTORIC locomotive that has set two world records for steam traction is set to make its official return to the tracks later this month following a decade-long £4.2m restoration project.Flying Scotsman, which became the first steam locomotive to be
THREE men from the North-East have appeared in court accused of conspiring to supply illegal drugs worth around £4 million.Jack Vose, 62, of Backworth, Newcastle; Daniel Thompson, 27, of South Shields; Neil Stuart, aka Neil Acourt, 40, of Eltham, London
ABOUT 300 runners are under starter’s orders for a seaside half marathon.Entries are now open for the fourth annual National Trust Durham Coast Half Marathon taking place on Sunday, June 4.The race covers a 13.1-mile route along the County Durham coast
A MAN has admitted stealing vodka and gin from a Darlington supermarket.Antony Steven Osborne, of Sherburn House, Durham, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court today (February 3).The court heard the
A RECENTLY retired Dean has been appointed to an honorary role at his old cathedral. The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, who retired as Dean of Durham in September after 12 years in the role, has been appointed Dean Emeritus of Durham. The
FOUR candidates have thrown their hat in the ring in a town council election. The poll to decide who gets a position representing the Spennymoor ward on Spennymoor Town Council will be taken between 7am and 10pm on Thursday, February 18. The candidates
PEOPLE in Sedgefield are being invited to help shape the future of where they live, work and shop.Durham County Council has launched a consultation on a new character appraisal produced for the historic conservation area.Cllr Neil Foster, the council’
A SUPPORT group which offers help to people affected by cancer is celebrating its second anniversary.The Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group has gone from strength to strength since it was set up - with membership more than doubling in the last year alone.Allison
A PROJECT to boost tourism in the North-East was worth £109 million and supported more than 2,000 jobs, according to new research.The Growing Tourism Locally campaign, backed by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, ran from 2012 to 2015 and aimed to
SCHOOL bouncy castles could help to tackle a mental health crisis affecting hundreds of children in Darlington. Almost 600 of the town’s primary school children and 850 secondary school children are living with mental health disorders, research
POLICE commissioner Vera Baird has called for a pro-rape campaigner to be banned from the UK after he organised rallies of his extreme anti-female followers across the world.Newcastle is one of the cities chosen by American blogger Daryush Valizadeh -
AIRBORNE lifesavers are to buy a second new helicopter to whisk them to the scenes of medical emergencies - at a cost of around £5.7m.The new aircraft will complement the state-of-the-art new Airbus H145 that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance announced last
VILLAGERS will be able to watch a demonstration of new flood defences at a special community event.The Environment Agency will be holding a live flood warning siren test and showing off the defence network designed to protect the residents of Skinningrove
POLICE could be better off visiting busy pubs and clubs than staging community meetings in quiet village halls, says a Darlington inspector.A restructuring of the PACT (Police and Communities Together) initiative could see some meetings dropped and replaced
A DEBATE on controversial plans to build more than 400 homes in a village was postponed after hundreds of protestors packed a council meeting.Darlington Borough Council's planning committee was due to discuss two separate applications for homes on two
HORSEOWNERS are being asked to help an overstretched charity by fostering an animal. The RSPCA currently has more than 500 horses and ponies in its care and more being rescued every week, many being looked after at the charity’s Felledge Equine
A BARNARD Castle community drama group is gearing up for its summer production.The Castle Players, is preparing for this year’s production of Henry V - Shakespeare’s epic play about Henry’s campaign against the French and his famous victory at Agincourt
A STORAGE and distribution firm, whose wagons ensure millions of people have food on their table every day, is extending its vast headquarters to take on more work.The Reed Boardall Group will build a 110,000sq ft extension to expand a cold store.The
A GOLF club has been recognised for creating the best environment project for its living wall at the Golf Environment Awards. Richmond Golf Club’s greenkeeper Anthony McGeough and his team has scooped the prize at the recent STRI (Sports Turf Research
KIKE GARCIA has completed a permanent transfer to Spanish side Eibar – but complications with his registration mean he cannot play for his new employers until the start of next season. As revealed in yesterday’s Northern Echo, Kike was involved
COMMUNITY groups are in with a chance of winning a share of £20,000 as more than 40 businesses team up to make the cash available.The Golden Giveaway will give 15 Tees charities, community groups and schools a chance to share a cash jackpot, with the
A BARNARD Castle pensioner is appealing for thieves who stole his two mobility scooters to return them.Maurice Abrahams was left marooned in his home after the thieves took the four-wheeled scooters, keys and chargers from his garage in Cecil Road, off
AN "extremely rare" aggressive cancer which went undiagnosed in 58 visits to doctors and killed a patient was not visible in scans, a coroner has ruled. Jeanette Scully, 47, from Sunderland, suffered excruciating pain in the months before the rare
Rambert: Newcastle Theatre RoyalA few things you may not know about Rambert. Now in its 90th year, Rambert was the first classical ballet company to be established in the UK. Founded by Dame Marie Rambert, she was inspired to become a dancer after seeing
WATER bills for millions of North-East customers are to rise by an average of £7 a year.Northumbrian Water has announced its charges for the coming year which will see the company’s 2.7m North-East customers charged an average of £378, compared to £371
A TRIO of musicians who won ‘Best Group’ at the BBC Folk Awards are set to appear at Durham’s Gala Theatre.Teesside based The Young ‘uns, who consist of Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle, are embarking on a UK tour in April and will land at
THE lower oil price and China’s economic slowdown have hit impacted a chemical firm’s performance.Johnson Matthey, known for vehicle catalysts that make exhaust gases harmless, said sales were down across some of its divisions in the third quarter to
A MAGICAL first-of-its-kind festival of fire and ice will be held later this month. The six-day Fire and Ice In Durham will see flaming beacons and stunning ice sculptures lead visitors on an awesome trail around the medieval city. There will
GLAXOSMITHKLINE (GSK), one of the region's key employers, has reported a pre-tax loss of £416m compared with a profit of £531m for the same period in 2014. Sales rose 2 per cent to £6.29bn in the quarter, slightly better than analysts had expected for
A POLICE force has unveiled a £3.4m strategy to tackle crimes targeted towards vulnerable people.North Yorkshire Police said it was reshaping its priorities and aiming to develop officers' skill sets to boost its ability to protect victims of violent
A UNIVERSITY of Sunderland graduate is working to help those displaced by the terrorist group Boko Haram in his home country of Nigeria.Dr Attahiru Bello, 33, graduated last November with an MSc in Public Health. He has been working in the North-East
A SERIES of campaigns to attract visitors to the North-East generated £109m worth of additional spending in the region and supported more than 2,000 jobs, according to tourism chiefs.Three organisations, the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland
A village hall is being restored following a donation of £17,000 from quarry firm Tarmac and their Landfill Communities Fund.The hall at Kirklington and Sutton Howgrave, near Bedale, is being given a major upgrade with a full kitchen refit and an asbestos
MORE than half of the region's GP practices say patient care is deteriorating as general practice is "running on empty", a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) reveals.Just over 52 per cent of practices in the North-East, and 50 per
VALENTINE’S Day is on the way – and even the denizens of the deep are looking for love. So a leading attraction is closing its doors to the under-18s – to allow adults to explore some of the saucy shenanigans that go on under the sea. The Scarborough
FISHERIES experts have stocked thousands of fish at Darlington as part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing plans to develop and restore watercourses. The River Tees above Broken Scar saw 1,000 barbel, 2,000 dace and 2,000 chub stocked, while a further
SHOE lovers are set to be swept off their feet after a North-East museum announced a major fashion coup. The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, has revealed it will be the only UK venue outside London to stage a new exhibition Shoes: Pleasure &
YOUNG scientists are to take part in a school experiment to grow seeds from space. Children from Witton Gilbert Primary School, near Durham, have been chosen to grow 100 seeds brought back from the International Space Station. In September,
A STUFFED moose head originating from the studio of a famous Victorian taxidermist is going under the hammer in Darlington.The wall-mounted head of the largest member of the deer family has been traced to the studio of the celebrated British taxidermist
A RESEARCH project is underway to help identify which skin cancer patients are at a higher risk of the disease spreading to other parts of their body.An 18-month study is being led by Dr Rob Ellis, consultant dermatologist at James Cook University Hospital
A SERIES of training courses is to be held to enable people to boost their knowledge of bike maintenance.The courses, which have been organised by the Hartlepool Active Travel Hub, will cover gears and chains in the first session, the second will concentrate
HUNDREDS of residents are to be given a second chance to have their say on proposals to set up a new council covering their village.A suggestion to set up a new community council covering Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, is being considered.Durham
SCHOOLCHILDREN have won prizes in a competition to fund the region’s best letter writers.James Roddam, from Durham, was named winner of the Royal Mail’s Young Letter Writer of the Year competition for the North of England Region.The nine-year-old pupil
A HOMELESS cat is recovering in the care of a charity after he was found with terrible injuries to his face.The two-year-old moggy, who was found in South Stanley, was treated by vets who suspect he was attacked by a dog.His wounds had also become infected
A 64-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and other sexual assaults on a teenage girl at a school during the late 1980s and early 1990s.Police said the man, who has not been named, was arrested at an address in North Yorkshire and questioned
AN advert for a chocolate bar ranked as the UK's second best is set to be recreated to mark the treat's 40th anniversary.The retro sign for Yorkie bars, which was displayed beside the East Coast Mainline outside York Station until the early 1990s, will
A COUNCIL is still waiting to hear how much Government funding it will get for the year ahead.Durham County Council had been expected to publish 2016-17 budget figures today (Tuesday, February 2), ahead of a cabinet meeting next Wednesday (February 10
COMPOST made from green waste recycled in Hambleton and Richmondshire has achieved a national plaudit – and is now to be given away to householders.Northallerton-based Yorwaste has achieved a tough British Standards Institution standard following a rigorous
NEW loos at a village hall near Bedale were opened in spectacular style.Richmond MP Rishi Sunak pressed a button to trigger a display of pyrotechnics to mark the official opening at Hackforth Village Hall.The new facilities replaced toilets which dated
THE role of natural gas in helping meet future energy needs will top the bill at an offshore industry conference.Chemical company Ineos Group, which runs factories in the North-East, will unveil its plans on the potential of UK shale gas at a NOF Energy
DARLINGTON Council is encouraging residents to take advantage of the National Voter Registration Drive this week and go online now to register.On May 5 voters in Darlington will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Durham Police
DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK pair Pete Homan and Rob Conquest have been called up to the England Counties squad for forthcoming internationals against Scotland and France. Wing Homan and second row Conquest have also been named in the 23-man squad for
TICKETS are selling fast for Newton Aycliffe’s business awards ceremony which will be held next week.More than 200 people have already booked their places for Aycliffe Business Park’s Make Your Mark event at the Xcel Centre on Wednesday February.Sales
A JUDGE has ordered people not to turn up in court wearing their pyjamas. District Judge Craig Long has put up a sign outside his court in Pennsylvania, saying: "Pyjamas are not appropriate attire for district court." It follows Darlington
A TEESSIDE recruitment firm has reported an increase in profitability in its latest annual results.Techconsult UK, based at the Wilton Centre near Redcar, which specialises in finding candidates for highly specialised roles in the process and petrochemical
Finding the perfect prom dress can be stressful and expensive. Jenny Needham talks to Leah Hobson, who can solve both problems at her Barnard Castle shop PICKING an outfit for the prom must be one of the highlights of school life. But it can also
DEAR DLI campaigners , you may not be aware that unless your organisation is prefixed by “student” Durham County Council will take not the slightest bit of notice. You have been told. Harry Cole, Hartlepool
I’VE received my literature on the combined authority and the questionnaire from Durham County Council and it would appear to me that this is democracy EU style i.e. we’ll keep asking you until we get the required answer. Except, of course, in the
I WAS intrigued by your item on page six of Saturday’s edition: “PCC pledges to fix diversion problem”. While sympathising with Croft and Hurworth residents, the people of Staindrop, and especially Barnard Castle, know all about this. They
IN my advanced years, I’ve come to realise politics is the art of guile and deception to get your own way. The best current example being the trick of worrying the public about the loss of jobs and economic effect if we leave the EU, and glossing
HOW very disappointing to read in The Northern Echo (Jan 30) ‘Anger at EU tariff for steel’ that the Chinese steel industry will be pleased that the proposed 1.65 per cent tariff by the European Union will be a small price to pay, and is unlikely to
I WOULD like to give a thumbs up to the Staindrop cubs of County Durham who are calling for a pavement parking ban after meeting with Christine Kay, of Guide Dogs Darlington. These young people are the citizens of tomorrow and are more caring than
Is the NHS 111 service really fit for purpose? After the tragic death of William Mead, North-East GP Zak Uddin considers the evidence.LAST week, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, apologised formally on behalf of the NHS, to the parents of William Mead
FIREFIGHTERS found a cannabis farm with plants worth an estimated £150,000 after being called to a house fire. Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade have issued a warning about the potential for cannabis farms to cause fires after the blaze
A FORMER lifeguard, a plumber and a hospital pathology lab worker are among the 10 new recruits to a new apprenticeship scheme in high-risk safety management. They fought off competition from more than 100 applicants to secure a training place with Cleveland
IT is a case of Kon'nichiwa from Washington on a visit to Japanese-owned Calsonic Kansei. The automotive component manufacturer is one of Nissan’s biggest suppliers and one of the North East’s major employers, although the name Calsonic Kansei
A £6.7m investment will help a waste management firm to expand and create more jobs. The Business Growth Fund has backed Darlington-based Total Recycling Services (TRS) to help fuel its ambitious growth plans. The firm employs about 90 people
IS that really a month of 2016 gone by? asks Mike Matthews MBE, managing director of Nifco UK and European operations officer. Like 2015, this year has raced off to a flying start at Nifco and it feels like we have barely raised our head since
IT’S more than a year since Help to Buy ISAs were launched, writes Brewin Dolphin's Jo Jackson. These savings vehicles are designed to help first-time buyers save up the hefty deposit needed to buy a home in a booming property market. The average
THE construction sector is showing signs of recovery, with companies increasingly buoyant about their prospects, according to a North-East industry boss. Jeff Alexander said businesses’ optimism is returning as a steady flow of contracts maintains
A LAWNMOWER maker is creating hundreds of jobs to meet busy summer demand, The Northern Echo can reveal. Husqvarna UK wants more than 650 staff to oversee work at its plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Like The Northern Echo's new Facebook
What unites our businesses is a desire to see the North-East go from strength to strength, writes James Ramsbotham. The North-East is a vital part of the UK economy and continues to have a consistently positive balance of trade; is the fastest growing
AN energy firm has admitted it doesn’t know when construction of a dormant Teesside factory - which left 700 contractors out of work - will restart.Air Products’ waste-to-energy plant at Billingham, near Stockton, will remain idle as the company focuses
A DEALER caught with hundreds of pounds worth of drugs outside a college was last night starting a six-month prison sentence. Kyle Banks denied selling ketamine and said he simply supplied friends with the tranquilliser. There were text messages
Midsomer Murders (ITV, 8pm)EVEN though he's been filming death-fest that is Midsomer Murders for the past five years, Neil Dudgeon says he's still surprised by the strange worlds he delves into and the bizarre murders his character DCI John Barnaby has
A TRUSTY sketchbook is never far from Simon Crowe’s side as he casts his architect’s eye over the world in which he lives and works.A piece of land, an ageing office block, or in this particular case a derelict bus depot, can and do provide the inspiration
BRIAN ELLISON is preparing Smart Talk for a tilt at the new Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival after the six-year-old claimed Saturday’s Grade Two OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster. Stepped up in grade
IN more than 30 years as a trainer, Middleham-based George Moore has experienced plenty of highs and lows. But after saddling his final runner at Doncaster last week, the stalwart of the North Yorkshire racing scene admits he fears for the future of
THERE was a real treat for sky gazers across the region lucky enough to see it awash with ‘rainbow clouds’. The phenomenon, known as nacreous clouds, is considered rare because the clouds are usually found only in extremely cold air – around minus
MIDDLESBROUGH striker Kike Garcia has been left in limbo after two separate deadline-day deals failed to result in his departure from Teesside being confirmed. The first proposed move to Wolves collapsed completely, but the second, involving Spanish
POLICE are appealing for a hit-and-run driver to contact them after a Darlington boy suffered painful injuries when he was thrown into the air. Ryan Kneale, 11, from Springwell Terrace, was hit by a silver car as he crossed Darlington's Whinbush
STAFFING shortages have been identified as an area of a concern at a hospital trust which inspectors say must make improvements. Bosses at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, which provides services for about 400,000 people across
A PART-TIME DJ who confessed to throwing his partner down the stairs and then tried to get her to refuse to speak to the police has walked free from court. James Burton told his victim's mother in a series of phone calls and text messages: "She
A DRUG addict who stole money from his grandmother was locked up for what a judge yesterday described as "a very nasty, mean offence". Gavin Maxwell forced his way in through a kitchen window after the pensioner locked all her doors when she heard
POLICE are warning of fraudulent door to door salesmen targeting elderly people in the Yarm and Eaglescliffe areas. The salesmen allege that they are reformed young offenders and are selling cleaning goods. Most of the incidents are carried
CAMPERVANS and VW Beetles joined a colourful cortege as a popular Darlington father was given a fitting send-off. Tony Varga, a former chairman of the North-East VW Club, recently died of cancer and his funeral took place on Tuesday, February 2
AN “exceptional teacher” who taught generations of North-East schoolchildren has died. Brian Hunter earned the respect of his peers and pupils after dedicating 33 years to his role as a tutor and pastoral leader at Carmel College, Darlington.
A TOWN mayor has returned to the region to donate one of his kidneys to his wife. Chris Hogg, Mayor of Kendal, is undergoing the operation at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle on Thursday, with Rachael, the Lady Mayoress of the Lake District town
SAM ALLARDYCE has hailed Jan Kirchhoff’s impressive full debut for Sunderland as ‘one of the best performances’ by any defensive midfielder in the Premier League this season. Kirchhoff, a £750,000 signing last month, was excellent in front of the
A TEAM of English filmmakers are rubbing shoulders with the stars in Hollywood – thanks to a local brick company. Stutterer, a heartfelt British drama produced by North Yorkshire filmmaker Serena Armitage, has been nominated for an Oscar, having
ROAD Angel were one of the pioneers of in-car safety technology and so it should come as no surprise that the company is now at the forefront of the dash cam revolution.Priced at £199.99, its Halo dash cam consists of two cameras - one for recording video
THE average home owner in the North-East could become debt free by the age of 57 - compared to 77 in London, a study has revealed.For people in the region tend to buy homes earlier in life, pay cheaper property prices, and take on less debt.Meanwhile,
Darlington 3 Buxton 1 DARLINGTON demonstrated their strength at set-pieces during a terrific second-half performance to claim a victory which narrows the gap on the pacesetters at the top of the division with a 3-1 win over Buxton. They trailed
