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30th May 2016    1st June 2016

  • Thousands line streets of Durham for cycling tour series

    THOUSANDS of spectators lined the streets of Durham to watch the thrills and spills of a fast-paced cycle race. The city was filled with pumping music, claxons and lots of lycra as the Pearl Izumi tour returned to Durham on Tuesday, May 31 for

  • Gillespie staying put with Yorkshire

    Jason Gillespie is staying at Yorkshire for the foreseeable future after turning his back on the chance to become Australia’s new bowling coach.Gillespie yesterday confirmed that he met with Darren Lehmann in Leeds on Sunday night to discuss the possibility

  • ATHLETICS: Quakers Running Club Report w/e 29 May

    THERE WAS plenty for Quakers to choose from last week with both league and championship races on the calendar. The latest 10K league race took place at Melmerby, near Ripon. Paul Dalton completed the run in 36:23, followed by Dave Jones (39:55), Dale

  • Mountainous seas batter the North-East coastline

    MOUNTAINOUS seas battered the North Sea coastline in County Durham today (Tuesday, May 31), with explosive waves smashing against the harbour wall of Seaham.The waves were swept in by a storm coming from Europe, bringing torrential rain and thunderstorms

  • Teesdale visitor centre volunteer to host art exhibition

    A VOLUNTEER is set to host his first art exhibition at the visitor centre where he helps out.Semi-professional artist and wildlife enthusiast, Martin Rogers, will be giving visitors to the Bowlees Visitor Centre, in Newbiggin, Teesdale, the chance to

  • Lottery launched to land last Lego piece for cathedral model

    A LEGO lottery has been launched with the honour of placing the final brick on a model of Durham Cathedral as the prize.Almost three years since a fundraising drive began to build the scale model replica in Lego bricks, the end is in sight.It was launched

  • Family fun day planned for village

    PREPARATIONS are underway for a family friendly community celebration, which will include a variety events.Sedgefield Day will take place on Saturday, June 11 on the village green, in St Edmund’s Church, the parish hall and in and around Ceddesfeld Hall.As

  • Children enjoy Indian storytelling in Barnard Castle

    CHILDREN enjoyed storytelling with a twist today (May 31) after a restaurant owner teamed up with a community arts centre to share some traditional Indian tales.Zak Ahmed, of Spice Island, in Barnard Castle, donned traditional Indian dress as he hosted

  • Could you foster a 'golden oldie'?

    A DOG rehoming charity is appealing to North-East residents to consider fostering a ‘golden oldie’.Dogs Trust Darlington is calling on local dog lovers to help older homeless hounds in need of a little extra TLC and a comfy sofa, by providing them with

  • Pub launches contest to find the worst Euros team

    A DARLINGTON pub has revealed it will be hosting a fantasy football league with a difference ahead of this summer’s European football tournament.Brinkburn Flaming Grill on Lady Kathryn Grove is appealing for local football fanatics to join its Not So

  • Rich Hall brings his scathing wit to stage

    COMEDY fans are in for a treat when American stand-up legend Rich Hall performs at Stockton’s ARC in November.Tickets are now on sale for the grouchy deadpan comic who is loved by millions of comedy fans thanks to a string of top TV credits including

  • Rowers ditch oars for pyjamas

    THREE of the women from the record-breaking Yorkshire Rows will be taking on their next challenge in their pyjamas.They have signed up to take part in St Leonard’s Hospice Midnight Walk in York on June 4.The Yorkshire Rows team completed the Talisker

  • Gardens open to help hospice

    PRIVATE gardens across North Yorkshire are to be opened to the public to raise money for a charity which provides home-based hospice services.The gardens, in Sowerby , near Thirsk; and Caldwell, near Richmond, will be opened on Sunday 19th June 19 and

  • Cyclist attacked by gang of bike thieves

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses and information after a cyclist was attacked in an attempted robbery.The incident happened at around 5.20pm on Monday, May 30, along the bank of the River Ouse near Scarborough Bridge in York. The victim, a local man

  • Rievaulx Museum reopens after major works

    A MAJOR historic site in the region has reopened following an extensive refurbishment to its museum and facilities.Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley in Ryedale, is one of English Heritage’s most significant and well known sites in the North – and has had

  • Youngsters building for their future - thanks to local developer

    YOUNGSTERS are putting their imaginations to work – with the help of building materials donated by a local developer.Dens, a mini-beast hotel and a planting area are just some of the things that children at Sowerby primary school have created with materials

  • 109mph - with two children in the car

    A TEENAGER has been caught after driving at 109mph on one of North Yorkshire’s busiest routes - with two children in the car.The 18-year-old was driving a modified Volkswagen Golf when he was stopped on the A64 at Whitwell Hill, near York, on Saturday

  • Season tickets at Pools reach early landmark

    Season ticket sales at Hartlepool United have today past the 500 mark, on the day the club announced that sales have now also moved online. Pools have introduced a new season ticket card for the forthcoming campaign and they can now be bought online

  • Chief Constable Mike Barton takes the plunge for charity

    DURHAM'S Chief Constable Mike Barton is taking a leap for charity, by jumping out of a plane.He will take part in the tandem skydive with the Red Devils to raise cash for Police Treatment Centres, which look after thousands of injured and ill police

  • Nottinghamshire v Duham (close)

    ONLY four overs were bowled in the afternoon before the expected rain arrived and the match was abandoned at 3.30. While Nottinghamshire would have been prepared to have a crack at bowling out Durham in 60 overs, once an hour had been lost a resumption

  • In Depth: England's 23-man squad for Euro 2016

    An in-depth look at Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad that's heading to France for Euro 2016. GOALKEEPERS JOE HART (Manchester City, 19/04/87, 58 caps, 0 goals) England's established number one and an experienced campaigner, Hart has been at the

  • Darlington bodybuilder’s Mr Universe bid

    A DARLINGTON bodybuilder has won the right to compete for the Mr Universe title. Paul Hildreth, 41, won the Mr Britain Over 40s Trophy, which allows him to enter the NABBA Mr Universe competition later this year, at the weekend. Mr Universe

  • Four hunted after supermarket booze thefts

    POLICE are hunting a gang of thieves who stole alcohol worth £1,500 from two North Yorkshire supermarkets. On Monday, May 23, shortly before 6pm, four men entered the Co-Op on Langbourne Road, Whitby, and loaded over £800 worth of alcohol into

  • Newcastle's Paul Dummett fails to make Wales squad

    NEWCASTLE defender Paul Dummett has missed out on a place in the Wales squad at Euro 2016 after an injury-hit season. The left-back, who can also play in central defence did not make the cut in manager Chris Coleman's 23-man squad. A hamstring

  • Jewellery taken from Durham home while owner on holiday

    Jewellery and cash were stolen after thieves broke into a Durham house while the owner was on holiday. The break-in, which happened in the Stonebridge area between Thursday, May 26 and Saturday, May 28, was discovered when the owner returned home

  • Tank you for the music

    THE world's first underwater band have performed a concert in Rotterdam. Between Music, a five-piece band, have learned to sing and play special instruments while submerged in glass tanks. Vocalist Laila Skovmand learned her technique by practising

  • Body found during search for missing woman

    POLICE searching for missing Colleen Jarvis have found the body of a woman.Officers cordoned off an area of St Nicholas Fields in York following the discovery at about 8pm on Monday.Police had been searching for Colleen Jarvis, 55, after she went missing

  • Churches mark special holy day with a party in the park

    THE Bishop of West Yorkshire and the Dales, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, helped host a special day of Praise in the Park in Bedale.The event, held to celebrate Pentecost, started with games and activities for children including a tag rugby game. Music was

  • Cash boost for North East Growth Plus Fund

    AMBITIOUS businesses are being urged to tap into a growth fund which has received a £3.75m cash boost.The North East Growth Plus Fund has already invested £20.5m and helped create or safeguard more than 1,000 jobs since being set up in 2010.The fund is

  • Dales artist's work included in London exhibition

    AWARD-winning Dales artist John Hunter is celebrating after once again having all of his submissions accepted for display at a prestigious London exhibition.Mr Hunter, who lives in Grinton, near Reeth, and is also a musician, has been exhibiting at the

  • Yorkshire v Lancashire (day 3, lunch)

    LANCASHIRE have struck four times this morning, but Yorkshire remain the most likely winners of the ongoing Roses clash at Headingley. They have reached lunch on day three at 154-7 from 62 overs in their second innings, a lead of 266. The Red

  • Pledge to support volunteers in North Yorkshire

    THE new chair of North Yorkshire County Council has pledged to continue the work to champion the role of volunteers across the region’s communities.Val Arnold said her focus for the year ahead was to continue to support volunteers “who give such a tremendous

  • Nottinghamshire v Durham (day 4, lunch)

    DURHAM suffered a second bowling casualty of the match at Trent Bridge when Graham Onions limped off after two balls of his fourth over this morning. The only consolation of having both Onions and Brydon Carse injured is that neither is in the

  • Decomposed dead whale washes ashore on Marske beach

    THE carcass of a dead whale has washed ashore on an east Cleveland beach this morning. Missing its head and fin, the animal is being watched over by HM Coastguard whilst awaiting the arrival of specialists to remove the body from Marske beach.

  • Bike ride raises cash for Cancer research

    A WELDER who got on his bike to help his family cope with a devastating and incurable bone cancer has raised over £2,000.Darren Kirkbride, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, pedalled 500 kilometres from London to Paris with a group of other dedicated fund

  • Star power not what is needed

    AT THE risk of sounding sexist, I’d say that Angelina Jolie Pitt is rather better looking than William Hague. They do have something in common, though: both have been appointed visiting professors at the London School of Economics. I know little more

  • It was worth setting the alarm clock for this photo

    NORTHERN Echo Camera Club member Michael Atkinson set his alarm clock to catch this sunrise over Bamburgh castle on the Northumberland coast. If you would like to see your images in print why not join the club? Membership is free and open to anyone

  • Campaign is on right page

    IT is one of the unwritten rules of journalism that you should only launch campaigns which you expect to win.We believe, however, that this is one of those rules more honoured in the breach than in the observance.Among the Echo’s most notable successes

  • GOLF: Catterick Golf Club

    CATTERICK GOLF CLUB RUNS AWAY WITH SPEEDGOLF COMPETITION    Catterick Golf Club hosted the first SpeedGolf competition to be held in the region.  This exciting new game combines running and golfing expertise as competitors aim to get around the

  • Sweet, dapper... 42 years a lag

    Writer and former Northern Echo journalist Beezy Marsh got to know one of Britain’s most notorious criminals and his family for the biography Mad Frank & Sons, published by Sidgwick & Jackson on June 2. She talks about his getting into gangland

  • The queen of crafts

    Having set up Crafter’s Companion while still a student, Sara Davies has taken the crafting world by storm – and this weekend she’s opening her first store. She talks to Sarah Millington IT was such a simple idea, as so often is the case with brilliance

  • Fashion’s favourite fetish

    Powerful? Practical? Crippling? Comfy? Whatever your taste in footwear, it’s certain to be reflected in The Bowes Museum’s major summer exhibition HOT on the heels of the acclaimed Yves Saint Laurent exhibition, The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle

  • Dramatic flight of fancy is caught on camera

    NORTHERN Echo Camera Club member Keith Rowland took this picture dramatic during the Skylive Airshow at Durham Tees Valley Airport at the weekend.If you would like to see your images in print why not join the club? Membership is free and open to anyone

  • Is your hair holiday ready?

    Sarah French talks to leading hairdresser Wilson Derbyshire about the best way to prep your hair for sunshine, sea and sand THE promise of sea warm enough to swim in and long days of sunshine makes planning a holiday almost as much fun as the trip

  • Back to Wonderland

    Tim Burton’s not in the director’s chair, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s joined the star-studded cast – but the second Alice movie is just as fantastical as the first. Keeley Bolger meets new helmsman James Bobin, and the film’s leads, to find out more

  • Chris and co change gear

    If you believe the rumours, the reformatted Top Gear has been besieged by drama behind the scenes – but will it all have been worth it? Susan Griffin pulls the new hosts over for a quick chat IT'S almost a year since Chris Evans was confirmed as

  • Too explicit? We're not worried

    It cost £20 million to make, and yes, it’s very raunchy. But, as Versailles’ creators tell Kate Whiting, they couldn’t have made it any other way MORE than six million tourists each year flock to Versailles to marvel at King Louis XIV's opulent

  • Stock check

    If you’re interested in growing your own cut flowers, then consider one that’s fallen out of favour IN the main entrance conservatory at RHS Garden Harlow Carr we have been growing beautiful Brompton Stocks in containers. This plant seems to have

  • Blanc's taste of Paris is street led

    Since the terror attacks last November, Paris has steadily been rebuilding confidence. Ella Walker joins chef Raymond Blanc on a gourmet tour of the French capital, where business is booming WHEN I last visited Paris, I was a gangly 16-year-old

  • Perfect Persian food

    Human rights campaigner-turned-Food writer Yasmin Khan is on a mission to change perceptions of Iran – and she’s starting in the kitchen She tells Keeley Bolger about the flavours and fragrances that bring Persian cooking to life YASMIN Khan is

  • Tinnitus causing distress for 'Allo 'Allo's Vicki Michelle

    Vicki Michelle, star of classic Eighties comedy show ‘Allo ‘Allo, reveals how she suffers from tinnitus. She talks to Gabrielle Fagan about her condition She found fame as sexy waitress Yvette in Eighties comedy, 'Allo 'Allo, but today Vicki Michelle's

  • Your wallet workout

    Our wallets are a treasure trove of financial information Go grab your purse or wallet. You need it next to you during the five minutes it’ll take you to read this. However, it should be lucrative. One of my party tricks is to take a look at someone

  • 'New and exciting chapter' at The Grangefield Academy

    A RECENTLY-APPOINTED principal hopes a new building heralds a fresh start for her school. Grangefield Academy’s three storey building, which has been funded by the Education Funding Agency through the Priority Schools Building Programme, can accommodate

  • Trade, yes... European superstate, no

    THE pro-EU brigade give dire warnings of the consequences of Britain leaving the EU. We have heard these predictions before and the world has not ended. As one who wants Brexit, my wish is for Britain to continue trading with Germany, Italy, Poland

  • Money not part of teaching assistants decision

    I REFER to Jeremy Whiting’s letter on teaching assistants (HAS, May 25) and why he is wrong. As a Durham county school governor I can assure him that this is nothing to do with money. The council acknowledges this. What it is about becomes less

  • Time for more mature politics

    I HAVE received and read the communications of both the remain and leave campaigns on the membership of the European Union and find both equally unconvincing. Left to me there would not have been a referendum and it is not because I’m happy about

  • Seats at Darlington bus stops would be money well spent

    WHEN the Department of Transport decides how to spend the £1 million allocated to improving green transport links across the Tees Valley (Echo, May 27), I hope they will give some thought to putting seats at all bus stops outside Darlington’s town

  • Forgive not forget

    IT’S good to see President, Barack Obama entwined in a symbolic hug of peace and forgiveness with a Japanese survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, an act which effectively ended the Second World War in the Far East. I assume it can only

  • Darlington's pavements are filthy

    I WALK daily as part of my keep fit regime, mostly in and around North Road, Darlington. During my walks I have to dodge the litter and dog excrement on the footpaths, but matters are getting worse. This morning, apart from the usual litter and

  • HGV problem for village used as A1 diversion

    WITH reference to the story regarding damage caused by heavy goods vehicles following the A1 diversion (Echo, May 27), we have a similar problem in Gilling West. Our problem is exacerbated by the speed that they pass through the narrow village

  • Memories of childhood holidays to Blackpool

    THE excellent photograph of the Blackpool Tower ballroom in Friday’s Echo by Preston Ashton reminded me of my family holidays at Blackpool in my childhood. The places I remember most are the aquarium, the zoo and the tower circus which was most

  • Stealing to survive

    I SEE Sainsbury’s sale of food was down last year and I’m pleased about that. I have not entered one of their shops or purchased any of their goods since their Darlington branch prosecuted two destitute men for stealing a sandwich each. I see

  • EU referendum

    IT MAY seem a little over-dramatic to suggest that if, on June 24, I wake up to a Remain victory then I will no longer be British but European. But there is an adjustment to be made and that is as good a time as any to make it. We can’t go on forever

  • Public will continue to be turned off politics

    HOW very interesting to read the letter ‘Sack our MPs’ in HAS on May 27. I am not sure that a cocktail of left, right and liberal politics will give us a fairer, more democratic society. Politicians can only normally be sacked via the ballot box

  • Ignore what Nigel is saying at your peril

    SCARBOROUGH Borough Council is considering closing public toilets due to the running costs. Is this what 43 years in the EU have achieved? Nigel Farage was in the North-East last week telling us how it really is. Ignore him at your peril. We

  • No fracking clue

    FURTHER to HAS in Echo 26 May 2016 and the fracking controversy, I would ask the protestors the following questions: Are you a local resident and therefore have a genuine interest? Have you actually read and understood all of the documents published

  • ATHLETICS: Crook & District AC weekly report 29 May

    AFTER THE success of last week’s North East Masters Athletics Association (NEMAA) track and field events, the men and ladies teams were hoping to maintain their positions at the top of each division.  Once again, another strong turnout saw members competing

  • We owe our beautiful countryside's existence to farmers

    IF Jennifer White (HAS, May 25) succeeds in her mission to turn everyone vegetarian, then there will be no sheep or cows in the fields. Nor any spring lambs, which are a joy to see gambolling in the fields. There would be no need for farmers

  • Abolishing the monarchy in favour of a republic

    THERE are those who would follow the historic reign of our Queen Elizabeth II by abolishing the monarchy and forming a republic. Others would skip a generation and elevate the Duke of Cambridge to the throne, or skip another to Prince George if

  • Durham's Borthwick hopes for England selection

    DURHAM'S Scott Borthwick admitted last night that he would love to add to the one Test cap he won in Australia two years ago.“I know my name keeps popping up and it's a dream to play more for England,” he said after adding an innings of 188 not

  • EU debate fueled by propadanda

    I DON’T know why David Cameron should waste his time and ours predicting family holidays will cost more the day after the referendum, assuming we have the audacity to vote to become a sovereign independent country once again. Since the sun will

  • Fat cats had mind made up ahead of fracking meeting

    HAVING been at Northallerton County Hall on the first day of the application to frack at KM8, and then returned on Monday, I naively thought “Well no rational person could possibly allow fracking in beautiful Ryedale, even if they didn’t live there

  • BBC bias in EU referendum debate

    I AM in total agreement with John Cumberland’s view on the subject of lost voices in the coming referendum (HAS, May 25). The BBC is completely biased in this matter. The “want to stays” get all the air time while those who want out are left muttering

  • Guiding light Evelyn is a star

    THE speaking circuit is an educational journey and, until I spoke in Hartlepool last week, I had no real appreciation of the vital role played by Scouts and Guides during World War Two. The Guide International Service and Scout International Relief

  • Middlesbrough ready to make a move for out-of-contract duo

    MIDDLESBROUGH are considering moves for out-of-contract duo Bernardo Espinosa and Clement Chantome as they look to continue their summer recruitment drive. Espinosa, a Colombian centre-half, is available on a free transfer after leaving Spanish

  • Borthwick makes his mark for Durham

    TWO weeks after joining an elite group of four Durham players Scott Borthwick did it again yesterday.Against Lancashire he became the fourth to score two hundreds in one match; against Nottinghamshire the 26-year-old all-rounder carved himself another

  • Tykes on top in Roses encounter

    Yorkshire’s bowlers left their Roses rivals Lancashire reeling during a memorable second day performance at Headingley yesterday, putting the champions on course for a crucial win. Steve Patterson claimed his 300th first-class wicket as part of

  • Darlington councillors fail to back campaign to save library

    AS few as three councillors have pledged their support to The Northern Echo’s campaign to save Darlington's central library from imminent closure. A poll of the town’s 50 borough councillors revealed the majority have yet to declare any interest

  • Myleene Klass of single mums

    Myleene Klass: Single Mum On Benefits (ITV, 9pm)SINGLE mum-of-two Myleene Klass, the Hear’Say singer with many strings to her formidable media bow, is turning investigator for this new documentary in which she hopes to find out what parents on benefits

  • Sam Allardyce: 'My man management skills were key'

    SAM ALLARDYCE claims his man management capabilities were a key factor in Sunderland remaining in the Premier League last season. Having inherited a side that looked all but doomed after they claimed just three points from their opening ten matches

  • Manchester United to make summer move for Sunderland star

    MANCHESTER UNITED are set to make a summer move for Jordan Pickford – but Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is ready to make the 22-year-old his first-choice goalkeeper. Pickford recently signed a new four-year deal at the Stadium of Light, but that