A CHILD around the age of 12 is being sought after a woman was punched in the face in Hartlepool. Cleveland Police said: "The incident occurred on Friday, November 25 sometime between 5.50pm and 6.15pm when three male youths approached the victim
One of Darlington’s finest Victorian buildings, designed by the town’s greatest architect, has just been converted into a cocktail bar. Callers to the Memories desk have been asking about the history of the characterful construction which as the top
CASH, safes and gadgets were stolen when thieves targeted a parade of shops early on Thursday. A number of businesses were boarded up following five break-ins and one attempted burglary at the Orchard shops on Durham Lane in Eaglescliffe. Police
A PARAMEDIC car on the way to an incident has been involved in an accident in Newton Aycliffe. The BMW collided with a Renault Clio at Cobblers Hall roundabout around 12pm on Thursday. The scene of the crash. Picture: Katie Richardson
TRAINS had to be halted after council contractors damaged a gas pipe while carrying out work on a new footpath.It is the second time this year that engineers from Northern Gas Networks have had to do emergency repairs to pipes close to Durham Train Station
11:13pm Thank you very much for joining us for another incredible Local Heroes Awards ceremony, celebrating all the successes
A NORTH-East MP has called for the England Cricket Board (ECB) to explain the harsh sanctions placed on Durham County Cricket Club after claiming leaked documents show it ignored its own regulations. North Durham MP Kevan Jones also called for
A NORTH-EAST racecourse is set to welcome a new partnership with a British brewery for a mini ale festival today (December 2).Sedgefield Racecourse is hosting the event from 11am within the Paxton's stand where punters can choose from six of Marston
A DARLINGTON band’s take on a Wham Christmas classic will be used to help a hospice. Indie act Apex will launch their take on 80s hit 'Last Christmas' at a gig taking place on Tuesday, December 13. Sales of their festive single will be used
MEMBERS of an RAF riding club are riding high after being named Saddle Club of the Year by the air force.RAF Leeming Saddle Club have been given the title at the first awards dinner of the RAF Equitation Association, just over a year since being re-established
VICTIMS of modern slavery in the region are being urged to use a dedicated phoneline to seek help.Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Barry Coppinger, and Cleveland Police specialist detectives are urging victims to use the helpline which has been launched
A MAN at the wheel of a car which crashed, seriously injuring both himself and his girlfriend, is said to have no memory of the incident. William Edward Bentham was driving a Ford Fiesta which left the A691 Framwelgate Peth, approaching Durham
POLICE officers who tackled a gunman following a dramatic town centre stand-off have been commended for their bravery. In August, Daniel Shields was shot with a baton by Cleveland Police officers after roaming the streets of Middlesbrough armed
A PUBLIC event to celebrate a museum’s acquisition of a rare painting will be held on December 7.The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, recently announced it has acquired Bouts’ painting, St Luke Drawing the Virgin and Child.A programme of free events on
THE FESTIVE rush of cards, parcels and gifts has already stepped up a gear across the region, and Richmond MP Rishi Sunak has visited one of the district's offices to oversee the Christmas post operation.Mr Sunak was shown around the Richmond office
YOUNGSTERS can embark on a magical journey to meet Father Christmas this weekend.Etherley Methodist Church will host its popular Santa Journey for the third year running on Saturday.It will see young people from Enter CIC, a Ferryhill-based performing
THE Government has done everything it can to help rebuild Teesside after a steelmaker’s collapse, an MP last night claimed. Sajid Javid told The Northern Echo Downing Street has acted decisively in addressing the fall-out from SSI UK’s liquidation
THE curtain has gone up on a theatre’s fastest-selling pantomime.Sleeping Beauty opens at Consett Empire on Friday and runs until New Year’s Eve.Theatre managers say the show, the fifth in a row to be produced and directed by Leah Bell, is the fastest
RESIDENTS are being offered the chance to swap their old electric blanket for a free new one in a bid to cut the number of fatal house fires.Old and unsafe electric blankets can be traded for new ones in an event taking place in Stanley on Friday, December
YOUNGSTERS have been praised for rushing to the aid of a woman they found collapsed in the street as they walked to school. A group of year seven pupils were heading to Whitworth Park School, in Spennymoor, County Durham, on Wednesday when they
OLYMPIC silver-medallist Zoe Lee has returned to her former secondary school to inspire pupils to reach for their dreams.The former St Francis Xavier School in Richmond student returned to celebrate a rewarding year – notably winning silver as part of
A NEW artist is being supported by a Richmond gallery after it agreed to support her framing costs.Megan Watling is showing her equestrian acrylics at the Station, Richmond, until early January as part of the charity’s Art of Christmas Present exhibition
A TIME capsule will give future generations a glimpse of health care in 2016.Medical equipment, bandages, photographs and booklets were among items buried during the construction of a new hospital in Middlesbrough.The multi-million pound private medical
A KIND-HEARTED joiner who devoted his life to his family and the village he loved has died at the age of 69. Dave Quinn lived in Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, his entire life and played such an active role in the community that many dubbed him ‘Mr
THE Open University has presented Sir Gary Verity with an honorary degree for his fundraising and sports work which put Yorkshire on the global stage. The chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire was presented with the title of Master of the University
AN armed robber made off with cash after threatening shop assistants in Guisborough. Police are appealing for information after the robbery at McColls on Howlbeck Road on Sunday. "The incident occurred at around 9.10pm when a man entered the
PLAY parks in a County Durham village were targeted in a spate of “disgusting” vandalism that saw glass embedded in the handles of a toddlers’ slide. A trail of destruction was left through the children’s play areas in Memorial Park, in Trimdon
DARLINGTON X Factor finalist Katie Coleman is releasing her first single this month and supporting Saltburn chart-topper James Arthur on tour,Ms Coleman's single, Illusion, will be available for download on December 16.She is also performing three
UNEXPLODED bombs suspected to be from a World War Two home guard centre have been discovered under a driveway in Malton. Bomb disposal experts have been called to the Ryedale town after workmen found the two unexploded munitions under a veterinary
A HOUSING group campaign aims to prevent tenants being left out in the cold.County Durham Housing Group’s winter warmers promotion offers tips for around the home on how to keep fit and well during the colder months and also signposts other advisory services
DETECTIVES have launched a full investigation into claims of historic child abuse at Newcastle United in the 1980s and 90s.Northumbria Police has met with club officials following a series of high-profile allegations of historic abuse in football and
THE tranquility of two North Yorkshire villages was shattered after a turf war broke out between two takeaway owners, a court heard. As a battle for customers between Thornton-le-Dale pizza boss Batal Bolakar and rival Vedat Eroglu, of The Cabin
A CHARITY is hoping its latest Christmas fundraising initiative will bring a touch of festive magic this year. Herriot Hospice Homecare is offering parents the chance for their children to receive a personalised letter, either hand-written or typed, from
A LARGE-scale model of an iconic Darlington export has been restored to its former glory by a team of apprentices.A four-metre model of the Severn Bridge had been displayed on the town centre’s roundabout at Freeman’s Place before the inner ring road
ROCKLIFFE Hall’s Head Concierge has won the title of Concierge of the Year at the Hotel Cateys 2016 Awards.Anton Coburn was the only concierge outside of London to be shortlisted for this top accolade and attended a glittering ceremony at London’s Park
A CHRISTMAS remembrance service for lost babies will be held this weekend.Those affected by the loss of a baby are invited to the event, taking place at the Grove Hill Methodist Church in Middlesbrough on Sunday, December 4.Led by James Cook University
TWO fundraising friends threw an 18th birthday party with a difference.Joanne Baker and Alison Hedley had organised an event in February in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service.They enjoyed planning and hosting it so much that they wanted to hold
I AM stroking my chin as I write this. It has a couple of days’ stubble left on it in honour of Gareth Southgate’s appointment on Wednesday as the first of England’s 19 national football managers to have a beard.Going right back to the first England manager
FOUR people have been convicted of their part in the brutal killing of a vulnerable man.Disabled Lee Irving, a 24-year-old who suffered profound learning difficulties, was repeatedly attacked over the space of a week by James Wheatley.The victim suffered
RAFAEL BENITEZ insists there has been no approach from Heart of Midlothian for Newcastle United’s assistant coach Ian Cathro – yet. It is expected to be confirmed at some stage today that Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is leaving to take over at MK
A PIZZA chain has camouflaged its latest outlet to honour a town’s local army community.Set designers spent more than five hours turning the new Domino's store in Catterick Garrison "invisible", wrapping the premises in 100sq metres of netted
A SCHOOLBOY who was diagnosed with cancer on his ninth birthday has designed a winning poster for a fundraising Christmas musical event.Now aged 11, Jack Nugent, from Consett, in County Durham is still undergoing treatment, but has been able to go back
AN attempt to oust the Labour Mayor of Middlesbrough was heavily defeated during a council meeting. Two Independent councillors, Terry Lawton, who was kicked out of the Labour party earlier this year, was joined by Jon Rathmell, when they called
IT was an emotional farewell at one Teesdale Primary School on Wednesday as the whole community came together to share their memories before it closes its doors for the last time.Startforth Morritt Memorial CofE Primary School at Startforth, near Barnard
A THREE-day Christmas festival featuring markets, fire eating, a lantern procession and carols is starting tomorrow (Friday). Hundreds of market traders are selling crafts, gifts, food and drinks at markets around Durham. The festival features
A FORMER Newcastle United striker has become the latest footballer to tell police he was sexually abused in the sport. David Eatock, now 40, has said that after he joined Newcastle at 18, George Ormond, a former club youth coach, indecently assaulted
A PROMINET figure in the region’s property market has launched a new venture. Barry Miller, former managing director of Bellway North East, has acquired Hartlepool-based Seneca Homes in a seven-figure deal. The buy-out, which was completed
TRAIN services on the East Coast Main Line have resumed after a gas leak near Durham Railway Station. A gas leak near the station caused a number of services to be diverted or cancelled, with delays of up to 40 minutes on trains between Newcastle
Malcolm Warne returns to Yarm’s Uno Ristorante for a second attempt at Italian fare REWIND five weeks. You may recall a visit to Uno Momento in Darlington which was in lieu of a visit to Uno in Yarm, a relative newcomer to the trendiest High Street
JUST OFF Newcastle’s busy high street is St Mary’s Place, a quiet road connecting the city’s two universities, where Norman Cornish’s work has been exhibited for more than 50 years. Now a new exhibition at Gallagher & Turner is set to bring
Just over a year ago, musician Frank Turner was left devastated after hearing his friends had been caught up in the Bataclan massacre. He tells Joanna Morris how important it was to get back onto the road LAST November, 130 music fans were killed
A WATCH made to be used in a James Bond film will be sold at auction in a bid to provide elderly residents of County Durham village with a wild flower meadow. The watch, a Seiko H558-5000 model, can clearly be seen in a deleted scene of ‘A View
Peter Mann finds the North-East’s Ubeat Awards are ready for an academy extravaganza THIS week sees the region's Ubeat TV Music awards arrive at not only its biggest stage in its second year, but preparing for a national burst as host Dan Charles
DESPITE Roxy's misgivings, Ronnie and Jack push ahead with plans for the move in EastEnders (BBC1), even visiting a potential new school for Amy. But just as Ronnie is about to accept a generous offer on No 27, her sister reveals that she thinks something
GROWTH in Britain’s manufacturing sector slowed last month, as companies were hit by the falling pound driving up costs, according to a report. The latest Markit CIPS UK Manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) showed output was 53.4 in November
A mum has been summoned into school because her five-year-old daughter can't stop giggling at the name of her teacher. Priscilla Terumalai has been told to stop daughter Annalise from bursting out laughing at Miss Butt who teaches at the Mayville
INDELIBLY recalled as the last time that Newcastle United won anything, the 1969 Inter Cities Fairs Cup final in Budapest was also memorable for the way in which Bob Cass got to see the match.The great sports journalist, who died last week, found himself
UKIP supports Donald Trump’s anti-globalism policies and his promise to bring American firms back to the US. But relocating firms from China and Mexico won’t solve America’s unemployment problems. It’s an overly simplistic answer which ignores
I COULD not disagree more with your editorial “The Scandal of our Navy” (Echo, Nov 30). A real scandal would occur if billions of pounds were spent replacing the Royal Navy’s ageing ships, as recommended by the Parker review. Firstly, businessman
AS a former BT Openreach employee I am not in agreement with the decision by Ofcom to open up the network to other telecom suppliers. At present we may have some problems with BT as our broadband supplier, but to open up the network will not solve
REGARDING the article in Monday’s edition of The Northern Echo about Darlington Borough Council’s decision to invest £10m into a speculative joint venture investment scheme (Councillors criticised for not reading report). I understand reports sent
A NEW leader of Ukip has been elected to one of the hardest jobs in politics today and Paul Nuttall MEP is, I hope, the man to do it. The many issues following the party’s success in the Referendum campaign have been well-chronicled, albeit in
Twister have bigger things in mind TWISTER, fronted by founder, Stevie Stoker, have announced that they are headlining the O2’s Academy One on May 14, and are re-releasing EPs Refined State of Mind and Designed State of Mind as one album called
I’VE never been keen on the phrase ‘if you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve got nothing to be afraid of’. That’s because I think wrong’s an ever-shifting concept, morality’s subjective and societal norms are dependent on the society you’re occupying
NHS managers across the country are grappling with a looming financial crisis – too much demand and not enough money to go around. We know this. The Government has rejected calls for extra help and instructed regional managers to balance their
Animal-loving Britons will spend more than £250m on their pets this Christmas. Marie Carter, editor of Pets Magazine, looks at what is available for tiddles and fido INNOVATIONS in technology are giving us the kind of capabilities that used
A CYCLIST is in a critical condition after a collision which led to a car driver being arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. Police were called to a report of a serious collision at around 6.35am on Thursday morning on the A174 eastbound.
A PLEA has been made for speed reduction measures on a Darlington road blighted by crashes. Lynn Holland has lived on the A167 Croft Road between Hurworth and Darlington since 1982 and says in that time she has witnessed countless crashes and cars
Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1, 8pm)AMANDA Holden takes part in the popular genealogy documentary, in which famous faces trace their family trees. The actress and presenter looks into the rumoured French ancestry on her mother's side of the family
AFTER two straight defeats to remind Newcastle United’s players that nothing will come easy this season, goalkeeper Karl Darlow hopes there is no unhappy return to the City Ground on Friday night. The former Nottingham Forest shot-stopper will
MATTHEW BATES thinks Hartlepool United have reached a ‘critical stage’ of the season that could determine whether they are pushing for promotion or fighting another relegation battle.Defeat at Wycombe on Saturday meant Pools failed to close the gap on
AITOR KARANKA thinks the last five weeks have shown Middlesbrough’s players can handle life in the Premier League – and now he feels there is plenty more to come. Boro have collected six points from the last five fixtures and, even though there
THE Far East is a long way to travel just to miss out on one of the places that would have put you on the verge of taking the next step towards an appearance on one of the mainline tours. Narrowly missing out, though, is exactly what Callum Tarren
STRIKE action by County Durham teaching assistants has been called off at the 11th hour on Wednesday after both sides agreed to get round the table for talks aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing pay dispute. Unison confirmed it had suspended
THE Charity Commission has begun a formal investigation into a North Yorkshire-based charity after identifying a number of serious regulatory concerns about its operation and financial management. The commission – the independent regulator of charities
WARTIME graffiti buried deep beneath a French battlefield has been unearthed 100 years after it was written by North-East soldiers. Pen and pencil messages scrawled on tunnel walls by Durham Light Infantry soldiers during the First World War has
THE North-East has proven to be a breeding ground for some of the leading players in the England women’s team in recent years and now Darlington hope to produce a few of their own female footballers. They are launching an under-16s team with trials
A PLAN being put together to save a Darlington library from closing down will be determined by the council next month. A steering group made up of a number of businesses and organisations has been working to put together the scheme which would
MATERNITY services at Darlington Memorial Hospital require further improvements in order to ensure the continued safety of mothers and their babies, inspectors have concluded. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it carried out an unannounced
A POPULAR nightspot is offering free soft drinks in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to help police clamp down on drink-driving over the festive season. Cleveland Police has teamed up with The Keys on Yarm High Street as it launches its drink-driving
OUSTED I'm A Celebrity contestant Carol Vorderman was full of praise for Bishop Auckland Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt when the Countdown star was ousted from the show. Vorderman was the latest star to be asked to leave camp on Wednesday night
A NORTH-East Anglican bishop has urged the Government to carry out "a substantial review" of benefit sanctions in the wake of a damning report by the public spending watchdog. The Rt Rev Christine Hardman made the call after the National Audit
