Darlington manager Martin Gray has signed giant striker Mark Beck. The 22-year-old 6ft 5 front man was freed by Yeovil at the end of last season, after joining them for Carlisle in 2015 and Gray sees him as a very important signing. “I’ve been
A BRILLIANT record stand between two men who thought they might be playing their last Twenty20 game for Durham gave them another chance on a night of drama at Emirates Riverside.Mark Stoneman and Calum MacLeod put on 141 as Durham's 193 for two proved
THE driver of this car was well and truly caught by the bollards after failing to outwit tailing police interceptors. Earlier this evening, police tried to stop the Fiat Punto in the Brambles Farm area of Middlesbrough. There was a short pursuit
A FORMER minister admitted for the first time today that he had wrapped his legs around an 18-year-old who was performing community service work at the church.Cross-examined on the fifth day of his trial at Durham Crown Court, where he denies six counts
BURGLARS broke into a primary school and used a stainless steel trolley to make off with thousands of pounds worth of projectors and electrical equipment.A Northumbria Police spokesman said Shiney Row Primary School in South View, Shiney Row, near Houghton-le-Spring
A GROUP of parents are making their final preparations before attempting to swim the English Channel to raise money for their children’s primary school.The team of Jenny Search, Jacki Patrickson, Libby Unsworth and Michael Sykes, who all have children
POLICE are searching for 71-year-old David Seaman from the Middlesbrough area.The pensioner left an address on Oakfield Court in Marton at around 9.20am this morning (Friday 29th July) and has not been seen since. He is vulnerable due to requiring medication.Mr
A MOTORCYCLIST who came face to face with death when his bike crashed and burst into flames has met the air ambulance crew who flew to his rescue.Dick Allaker had to be dragged clear from the flaming wreckage of his bike which collided with a car on the
LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the 2,700 teaching assistants fighting the imposition of term-time only pay contracts. On the eve of his friend Davey Hopper’s funeral in Durham City yesterday, Mr Corbyn
A WOMAN has been airlifted to hospital after a serious accident on the A1(M) southbound in North Yorkshire.The motorway is shut between J49, towards the A168 to Dishforth and J48 and the A168 towards Boroughbridge, after the crash at around 2.50pm.Firefighters
A SUNFLOWER Memory Garden has opened to help families pay tribute to lost loved ones.The garden, in Centre Square, Middlesbrough, features a Memorial Wall bearing the names of 350 treasured friends and family who have been lovingly remembered by Teesside
A COUNCIL has been honoured for its work supporting young people who act as carers for a parent, grandparent or sibling.Durham County Council has been presented with the Young Carers Charter, developed by Family Action.Council chief executive, Terry Collins
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the region’s most respected photographers, who has died suddenly at the age of 54.Kippa Matthews worked from York for some 35 years, as a freelance news photographer as well as an artist.His pictures of a wide and diverse
A STUDENT is preparing to jet off on an African adventure to help people in one of the most deprived nations in the world.Adrian Gray, a Level 3 Carpentry apprentice at Hartlepool College of Further Education, has spent the last three years picking up
A BODYBUILDER is preparing for a second world championship dream after he took a year out to up his game and be an even bigger success than last year. James White, from Brough St Giles, near Catterick Garrison, came fourth in his first world championship
A FOOTBALL team whose ‘tough tackling’ prompted opponents to refuse to come out for the second half say they feel it was a “storm in a tea cup”. Spennymoor Town abandoned the pre-season friendly at half time on Tuesday over fears they would be
PLANS to build a 125 space car park as a “gateway” to one of North Yorkshire’s market towns have moved a step closer. A planning application for the scheme in Bedale has now been lodged with officials at Hambleton District Council and is expected
EIGHTIES pop star Marc Almond is to perform at a charity event to raise money for a cause close to his heart.The Soft Cell singer will appear at a Willy Wonka-themed ball to raise money for brain injury charity Headway.The WonderLAN Ball, organised by
A SPECIALST domestic abuse charity has organised its first golf day to raise essential funding.My Sisters Place, based in Middlesbrough, hosted the event at Eaglescliffe Golf Club when teams from Teesside businesses took on each other.Michelle O’Rourke
A BOWLS club has boosted the fundraising efforts of a group trying to raise £21,000 for an adapted school minibus.More than 40 players enjoyed a bowling day at Westend Bowling Club in Hartburn to help raise funds raising their chosen charity for 2016,
VANDALS have again targeted a popular country park leaving broken bottles and rubbish in their wake.Staff at Summerhill Country Park and Visitor Centre have spoken of their ‘shock and disappointment’ after an area was vandalised.A number of trees in an
A PARALYMPIAN footballer is set to take to the pitch in Rio with a pair of specialist boots thanks to the generosity of a local firm.Matt Crossen, from Stockton, is a member of the Paralympics GB 7 A-Side CP Football team.The 26-year-old, who was part
TICKETS are about to go on sale for the annual Countryside Live rural show.Thousands are expected to descend on Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground for the event on October 22 and 23.Sometimes known as the little sister of the Great Yorkshire Show,
A TEAM of architects have unveiled grand plans which they think will revitalise Northallerton town centre and safeguard its future as a vibrant market town.Hansom Architects, headed by Roger Hansom, have been working on the plans for almost two years
A WOMAN has been airlifted to hospital after a serious accident on the A1(M) southbound in North Yorkshire. The motorway is shut between J49, towards the A168 to Dishforth and J48 and the A168 towards Boroughbridge). Firefighters and ambulance
YORKSHIRE is set to be represented either by a flat cap, a Yorkshire pudding, a Yorkshire terrier, a white rose or a teapot in a cosy on phone keyboards around the world. Broadband provider Plusnet has unveiled the themed emoji to mark Yorkshire
HOSPITAL admissions for poisoning by illicit drugs have risen in York.There were 346 admissions for poisoning due to drug taking in the city in 2014-15 – amounting to 172 admissions per 100,000 of the population.The figure is up from 149 on the previous
PEOPLE wanting to raise money for Butterwick Hospice are being urged to pick up a distinctive floral tribute.The Butterwick Blooms are handmade ceramic flowers made to order by local pottery Daisy Doodle.Each flower is being individually numbered and
POLICE are hunting an elderly man who was making racist comments while travelling on a bus between Stockton and Middlesbrough.The alleged incident took place on a number 37 Stagecoach bus on Stockton High Street at about 9am on Wednesday, July 27, made
ST TERESA’S Hospice has been named as the first charity to benefit from this year’s fundraising activity at the new Feethams Darlington development.As the nominated charity for the year, St Teresa’s – which provides hospice services across South Durham
TWO more dates have been added to a scheme that allows patients to express their views on health services in the region.The NHS Better Health Programme looks at ways in which the NHS can best provide services across Darlington, Durham and the Tees Valley
POLICE have responded to some criticism that a pensioner who went missing in Darlington should have been found sooner after early sightings of him were reported.Archie Campbell was found at the foot of an embankment near the A66 at around 7pm on Thursday
BOWLING events at a Durham club just got a lot tastier thanks to a brand new kitchen.The Vane Tempest Bowling Club, in Gilesgate, got funding from the County Durham Community Foundation [CDCF] to replace its out-of-date kitchen, which means it will now
A FOOTBALL club and pub in Newton Aycliffe are preparing to stage a mini-festival as part of their pledge to help a cancer support group. The Locomotion Number One, at Heighington Station, and Locomotion FC have joined forces to bring what they
FAMILIES can learn to cook a host of tasty and nutritious meals together this summer.Dale & Valley Homes has organised a series of two-day cookery courses at its community hubs next month to help residents improve their culinary skills.Wellbeing for Life
AN author will discuss the role of the region’s railways during the First World War at a lecture taking place next week.Rob Langham, author of The North Eastern Railway in the First World War, is to deliver a talk at Durham Cathedral on Thursday, August
DURHAM is set to host a summer cultural programme which is set to provide a multi-million pound boost to the economy and to showcase the county’s history and heritage.Events and exhibitions range from Kynren - an epic tale of England, in the shadow of
Summertyne Americana Festival, Sage GatesheadTHIS year’s SummerTyne Americana Festival may not have been bursting at the seams with exciting new acts, but thanks to a bunch of performers more determined to make a name for themselves it was another huge
FOOTBALL rivals will unite for an eve-of-season charity race day.Newcastle Racecourse is to hold a special football-themed race day on Friday, August 12 to raise funds for Sunderland AFC’s community charity the Foundation of Light and the Sir Bobby Robson
THE owner of a fishing boat is to go trial on charges linked to the deaths of two crew members from carbon monoxide poisoning. Victims Mark Arries, 26, and Edward Ide, 21, from Northumberland, died on the Eshcol while using a stove to keep warm when
AN authority has been accused of withholding key information during a public consultation.Durham County Council is currently holding a consultation on its draft sustainable transport strategy for Durham City, which includes proposals to improve public
AN arts initiative has been launched in Darlington to bring creative people together and boost the town’s cultural offering.Arts organisation Darlington for Culture (DfC) has launched the Hot House scheme which it hopes will facilitate new creative partnerships
WORK will start next week on safety improvements at an accident blackspot.Construction will start on Monday to change the lay-out at the A690 Stoneygate junction near Houghton-le-Spring, with work expected to take six weeks.Since 2011, there have been
WORK is about to start on the first phase of a new 60-home development in Helmsley.The new development at Swanland Road will comprise of a mix of two to five-bedroom homes – and six will be sold at a discounted rate to allow local young people to get
THE very best in Yorkshire tourism will be honoured at a glittering awards ceremony in a brand new £11m venue.The sprawling new hall at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate will host the annual White Rose Awards on November 21.Hosted by Welcome to
YOUNG people are being encouraged to get involved with policing in their area to make a positive difference to their community. North Yorkshire Youth Commission on Police and Crime is looking for young people aged 14 to 25 to be part of the Youth Commission
A PIONEERING scheme for looked-after children looks set to revolutionise the way young people are cared for by local authorities.Councils in the UK are being recommended to adopt North Yorkshire County Council’s innovative No Wrong Door programme in a
A BODYBUILDER is preparing for a second world championship dream after he took a year out to up his game and be an even bigger success than last year.James White, from Brough St Giles, near Catterick Garrison, came fourth in his first world championship
MORE than 6,300 homes in Teesdale can now enjoy the benefits of high-speed fibre-based broadband thanks to the multi million pound Digital Durham partnership.Engineers from Openreach, BT’s local network business, began upgrading the first BT exchange
AFTER Memories' recent visit to Crook Local History Society, Tony Callan asked whether The Northern Echo's photo-archive might contain a picture of the town's Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Cuthbert before the tower was added. The church
A TEAM of architects have unveiled grand plans which they think will revitalise Northallerton town centre and safeguard its future as a vibrant market town. Hansom Architects, headed by Roger Hansom, have been working on the plans for almost two
RICHMOND Live has been one of the highlights of the town’s social calendar for the last 18 years and attracts big name acts including the Bootleg Beatles, From the Jam and The South – and this year organisers decided to pull another hit out of the
A POPULAR principal was given a swansong to remember after transforming the fortunes of a primary school over the past 20-years.Catherine Thompson, principal of West Park Academy, Darlington, is retiring after working in the profession for 40 years.The
The Damned are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut single release, The Rose, with a massive UK and Irish tour which takes in 30 towns and cities, including York and Newcastle.One of the most entertaining of the original punk bands, The Damned
BARCLAYS has seen profits fall and warned the Brexit vote could impact its future. The lender says pre-tax profits dropped 21 per cent to £2.06bn in the first half of the year. It said the increased risk of recession, with lower growth, higher
Greg Davies will play York Barbican on November 2 NEXT year (2017) on his You Magnificent Beast tour, his first stand-up show in four years.The 6ft 8in comedian with the size 13 feet and a past career in teaching has starred as irascible teacher Dan in
Hayley Soraya Tamaddon shot to fame thanks to playing notable ITV soap characters Del Dingle, on Emmerdale, and Andrea Beckett, with Coronation Street. Her theatre roles have included Frenchie in Grease, Diana Morales in A Chorus Line, the Lady of the
DARLINGTON Civic Theatre's £12m transformation into The Hippodrome, while adding The Hullaballoon children's venue right next door, isn't just demanding The Full Monty from contractors Willmott Dixon. Operations manager Sean McNicholas, from
A COMPANY behind electric vehicle parts is creating jobs as it expands into the UK’s motorsport capital. Sevcon has opened an office at Milton Park, near Oxford. Bosses say the site puts Team Valley-based Sevcon right at the heart of stellar
THE LARGEST ever act to take to the stage at York Barbican was the 800-strong Rock Choir in a fundraising night for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The group had the audience on their feet to the sounds of well-known pop anthems including Don’t Stop Me
NINE new officers have been welcomed to the ranks of the police in North Yorkshire. The new recruits were awarded their Certificate of Knowledge in Policing by Superintendent Mike Walker at a passing out ceremony held at police headquarters in
PHYSICAL trainers and fitness businesses are uniting to attempt a world record and raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder among military veterans. North Yorkshire residents are being urged to meet at Thirsk School and Sixth Form College
DISCOUNTED tickets for Darlington’s new Vue cinema are among the deals up for grabs in the latest Little Book of Offers.The books are the brainchild of business improvement district company Distinct Darlington and contain discounts and promotional offers
MY step-daughter (aged 26) recently visited us for Sunday lunch. It was a wonderful afternoon but I noted her looking a little troubled as she perused her mobile communication device. When I enquired what was troubling her she told me that there
Echoes Of Light exhibition, The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, opens on Saturday, runs until October 30 The Northern Branch of the Guild of Glass Engravers is the foremost group of glass engravers in the North of England. The aim of the exhibition
WHILE I wholeheartedly agree the £100 million cultural investment (Echo, July 27) in Bishop Auckland is the best thing to happen to the town and local area for generations, it seems the council does not back this up with actions of its own. While
I FIND the comment by Geoff Gregg referring to teachers ( HAS, July 25) as “arrogant, toffee-nosed part-timers” very disturbing. He obviously has no idea what he is talking about. I have two relatives who are teachers and I know that their
Jeff Saunders has a new manager after signing up with Steve Wraith. Saunders, who debuted in April 2015 at the Metro Radio Arena with an impressive first round stoppage of Sandor Racz, has blazed a trail in the lightweight division over the past
IT was interesting to see the recent set of GDP figures and what they tell us about the state of the UK economy in the months leading up to the EU referendum. However, I want to highlight another set of figures released this week (July 26) which
A HATRICK of Darlington’s parks are flying the Green Flag Award after reaching excellent standards of maintenance and facilities.South Park, West Park and the West Cemetery are among a record-breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces nationally that have
THE Government has this week released details of on-farm inspections from 2015, and they make depressing reading. Of the hundreds of thousands of animal farms across Great Britain, just 1,681 were inspected throughout the whole year. Although
I FEEL I must write to express my anger at the decision of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to take my son’s mobility car away from him. He was born with cerebral palsy and has endured numerous operations on his legs, so walking is very
GOVERNMENT energy policy in recent years has been a shambles and we are forced to pick up the bill. Part of the problem stems from three days after becoming Prime Minister when David Cameron declared his intention to lead the “greenest government
FIRE crews cut a woman free from her car this morning after a crash in Ferryhill. A Citroen C3 driven by the woman, who is believed to be in her early 30s, collided with an embankment on Mainsforth Road near the town's cricket club. Fire crews
HUNDREDS of mourners turned out to pay tribute to Dave Hopper, hailed as a “true working class hero” and stalwart of left-wing politics. The funeral, held at Miners’ Hall in Durham, was attended by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, trade unionists and
MIDDLESBOUGH have confirmed the signing of Brad Guzan on a two-year deal. CONFIRMED | #Boro have agreed a deal to sign United States international Brad Guzan - https://t.co/8BNZMbtXoI #UTB pic.twitter.com/SuT9MuzH3W — Middlesbrough FC (@
A PLAN to expand a village by more than a third has been rejected by councillors.But Stockton Borough Council’s unelected planning officers have decided to ‘invoke a protocol’ - which means the scheme to build up to 145 homes and new village green at
NEWCASTLE have failed in their first attempt to sign highly-rated Brighton winger Anthony Knockaert. The Magpies have had a bid of around £8m rejected for the 24-year-old, with Brighton chairman Tony Bloom adamant he does not want to break up the
The World Goes Round: The Stephen Joseph Theatre, ScarboroughYou can be forgiven if the names Kander and Ebb don’t ring any bells; they don’t with a surprising number of people. They’re not as familiar as, say, Rogers and Hammerstein, or Rice and Lloyd
TWO men have been charged with the manslaughter and robbery of a 50-year-old man who died after collapsing at the front desk of a police office. Lawrence French, of Alwent Road, in Middlesbrough died on May 25 this year after collapsing at the
A CAR being driven on its rims after its tyres had shedded has been seized and is heading for the crusher. This vehicle was stopped after it was seen travelling from Durham services towards A177 with sparks flying from its front wheel. The
USMAN Arshad can expect an extended run in Durham's one-day team under the captaincy of Paul Collingwood, especially with Mark Wood unavailable.As the ECB continue to monitor Wood's progress on his return from two ankle operations, he has been
A UNIVERSITY college could be on the move as part of plans to relocate around 2,000 students from another North-East campus. Durham University is due to discuss a proposal to move Ustinov College from its current home at Howlands Farm, on the outskirts
TOTO NSIALA left Grimsby for a fresh challenge, the chance to better himself. He is confident a move to Hartlepool United will help fulfil that ambition.He ended last season with two visits to Wembley; successful in the National League play-off final,
Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year (Channel 4, 8pm)ACCORDING to my other half, when I retire it will involve me investing in not just Shed of the Year, but a Shed of Every Year... I like to think I'm that popular in terms of access to the garden rather
A YOUNG mother from County Durham has told how she became a national TV and billboard star after filling in an online survey. Sharna Fittes, 24, can currently be spotted on television and cinema screens across the country in an advert for global
NORTH Yorkshire has long been known for its real ales and mineral waters. Now it is developing a reputation for a more potent beverage after being identified as the second biggest contributor to the UK’s rising premium gin sales, with 64,188 more
Having opened up about her two-year-old’s brave and ongoing battle with cancer, Danielle Johnson speaks to Flossie Mainwaring-Taylor about how the devastating illness has affected her older daughter WHEN you first meet the Johnsons, you would be
THE North-East has more manufacturing firms than last year and many have greater confidence about doing business outside the EU than their UK rivals, an industry body has revealed. EEF says the region has in excess of 4,000 manufacturing companies
A PROLIFIC offender, who currently has court fines totalling £3,219 against his name, has been urged by magistrates to turn his life around. Terence Ambrose Christian Watson admitted attempting trying to steal two kit cameras and a Galaxy tablet
A WEEK tomorrow, the eyes of the sporting world will be trained on Rio as the Games of the 31st Olympiad being. Finally, after one of the most damaging periods in Olympic history, sporting action will eclipse legal wrangling and disciplinary debate
THE often tragic life of a grandfather whose body was found in the River Tees four months after he vanished was revealed at his inquest yesterday. Teesside coroner Clare Bailey heard that much-loved David Welsh had endured much heartache with the
NEWCASTLE are adamant they will not be losing Ayoze Perez this summer, despite Spanish champions Barcelona expressing an interest in the attacking midfielder. Magpies officials are currently conducting talks that should see Cheick Tiote and Florian
A TECHNOLOGY hub aimed at developing light-based cancer treatments has moved a step closer. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is working on detailed plans for the National Healthcare Photonics Centre. CPI, based at NetPark, in Sedgefield
A HOUSEBUILDER says buyers’ increasing desire to climb the property ladder has yielded record sales. Barratt Homes North East says demand has superseded previous levels. Bosses say the success means sales have increased 74 per cent over the
BRAD GUZAN will be confirmed as a Middlesbrough player later today – and is set to make his first appearance for the Teessiders back at Aston Villa tomorrow. Guzan spent yesterday at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground undergoing a medical and
