POLICE crashes by the North Yorkshire force have amounted to a repair bill of almost £500,000 in the last two years. And the most common place for staff to have accidents over the two years was in police station car parks or close to offices. Officers
AFTER a sequence of three matches against relegation fodder, Darlington face a sterner test today when they meet the side which has suffered the fewest defeats away from home in the division. Brackley, who are ninth, make the 400-mile round trip to
FOUR men were behind bars tonight for a series of sex offences against children going back decades.The case centred around homosexual activity in the public toilets at Burn Valley Gardens in Hartlepool in the late 1970s and 1980s.The men - now all in
VISITORS to a popular attraction can step back in time to enjoy afternoon tea, Edwardian style.Starting on Sunday, Beamish Museum is to offer traditional afternoon teas, with sandwiches, home-made scones with clotted cream and jam and sweet treats from
A BEREAVED man has spoken of the kindnesses shown in the North-East as he continues his near 900 mile journey without spending a penny on travel or shelter. Steve Hallett lost his mum to a raft of medical complications as a teenager and faced living
A DECISION on controversial plans to build a new house in a Teesdale village is set to be made by Durham County Council’s Area Planning Committee.Residents in Cockfield, Teesdale, previously objected to Andrew Bowman’s plans to build a family home on
A POPULAR lambing watch event is returning to an agricultural college.East Durham College's Houghall campus, on the outskirts of Durham city, is inviting the public to the event on Sunday. People will have a chance to meet the new arrivals at the
BUILDINGS across North Yorkshire are being recognised in the finals of the The Royal Institute of British Architect (RIBA) awards scheme.Four buildings in York, from a historic theatre to a redeveloped public toilet site, have been shortlisted for RIBA
A DRUG addict who went on a six-month spree in a North Yorkshire town has been jailed for five years.Ryan Mulvaney, from Harrogate, was sentenced for 16 offences when he appeared at York Crown Court.The 41-year-old committed so many offences in a short
I HATE to say this about a fellow newspaper editor but I really hope that George Osborne fails miserably in his new job at the London Evening Standard. This is not a job for an enthusiastic amateur who thinks he can combine it with myriad other responsibilities
A MUSEUM which was saved from closure in 2000 hosted a special lunch event to celebrate 80 years of Art Fund support today.The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, held the celebration led by Chris Smith who helped secure its future as Secretary of State
A NEW drug which could tackle the highly aggressive “triple negative” breast cancer has been developed, thanks to work by a North-East researcher. Dr Ahmed Faheem, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutics at the University of Sunderland, has been working
A SECOND man from County Durham has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged bank raid. David Declan Hanley, 26, of Crook, appeared at Dumfries Sherriff Court this week accused of theft of motor vehicle, the Explosive Substances
THE number of workers in the North-East on zero hours contracts has rocketed in the last year, new figures show.Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which have been analysed by the GMB Union, show the number of people on the controversial
THE life of a violent prisoner and boxer who eventually found God but died destitute has been detailed in a new book by a North Yorkshire author. Jamie Boyle, from Northallerton, has brought out a book about the infamous character Paul Sykes, which looks
A 12-DAY beer festival begins in two Darlington pubs on Wednesday.Award-winning beers from UK and overseas breweries will be on offer.The Tanners Hall in Skinnergate and The William Stead in Crown Street, both in Darlington, as well as The Ironstone Miner
HUNDREDS of people turned out to pay their last respects to the UK’s tallest man and Game of Thrones actor Neil Fingleton. Mourners filled the nave of Durham Cathedral to remember the “short yet remarkable life” of a man who was polite and gracious
A SINGER-SONGWRITER from Darlington is gearing up to perform at a County Durham community arts centre.Hayley McKay will play The Witham, in Barnard Castle, at 8pm, on Saturday, March 25. Ms McKay plays with a full band and offers a new music genre with
THE Mayor of SEDGEFIELD has set himself a marathon challenge on his doorstep to raise funds for his chosen charities.Cllr Chris Lines will participate in the weekly parkrun at Hardwick Park on Saturday, April 1, before continuing to run an estimated 17
WE all love to relax in the garden in the summer, but what looks like lovely green grass can, on closer inspection, be a depressing mix of moss and weeds. If you are determined to have a lush lawn for the summer, now’s the time to start. Here are
A SOLDIER who admitted to a violent assault which left a man needing almost £5,000 of dental work is to be sentenced next month.Northallerton Magistrates’ Court heard that Darren Davis, 20, punched and kicked his victim’s face as he lay on the ground
SHOCKED councillors have slammed the brakes on a crucial car park designed to bring visitors into a market town after the cost soared by 250 per cent - to £1.5mThe Gateway car park was due to be built on the edge of Bedale to encourage visitors into the
A DANGEROUS driver led police on a three-mile, high-speed chase near Bishop Auckland this week, only stopping when police burst his tyres. Lee Anthony Chapman, of River Walk, Bishop Auckland, admitted charges of dangerous driving, having no insurance
CONSERVATIVE MP James Wharton has accused the Labour Party of wanting to amalgamate Yarm with Middlesbrough, in a letter to constituents.The Stockton South MP also claimed “Labour wants to split Yarm and Eaglescliffe apart” in the letter, sent out at
PEOPLE in Durham have voted in favour of creating a new council for the city.Voters living the unparished areas of Durham city were asked last month whether they wanted a parish council, with two thirds agreeing to the new authority.Durham County Council
TALKS exploring the history of Teesside and the surrounding area will resume again in May at Preston Park Museum, near Stockton.The first will follow in the footsteps of the Cavaliers and Roundheads and explore the fight for control of the river crossing
A NEW exhibition has opened celebrating the 250th anniversary of the renowned Terry’s of York opens today at York’s Chocolate Story.The exhibtion at York’s Chocolate Story attraction showcases a selection of the most interesting Terry’s products - from
FORMER professional footballer Clarke Carlisle is supporting emergency service workers overcome mental health issues.The 37-year-old former England under-21 is speaking at a Blue Light Network evening in Newcastle on March 31.Tyneside and Northumberland
A DURHAM County Councillor has raised more than £900 for charity after swimming to 'France'. Councillor for Evenwood, Heather Smith, completed 2428 lengths during a sponsored swim to raise funds for the North East Disability Resource Centre and
A DIAMOND wedding couple say working together is the key to a long and happy marriage.Dennis and Connie Elmes, of Crook, County Durham, celebrated their 60th anniversary on Thursday.Mr Elmes, 84, was on leave while serving in the RAF when he met his future
A UNIVERSITY has announced it is to sponsor the country’s biggest light festival.Durham University has agreed a £100,000 sponsorship of the four-day Lumiere festival, when it returns in November.The university will also offer support in the form of staff
AN APPEAL to install MRI scanners worth £2.5million at two County Durham hospitals has been launched.Campaigners gathered outside Bishop Auckland Hospital today (Friday, March 17) to appeal for the state-of-the-art scanners to be installed at the hospital
FILM fans can enjoy a blockbuster movie in the great outdoors this Easter.JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be screened at a pop-up cinema in North Yorkshire’s Dalby Forest on Saturday April, 15.And organisers have now introduced
HUNDREDS of servicemen from Bishop Auckland will be remembered in the very spot that marked the start of their journey into war.The town’s railway station is now the proud home of a plaque commemorating its residents who have set out from the platform
YOUNG rugby players are hoping to convert a hat-trick of cup final appearances into three pieces of silverware this weekend.Boys from Ripon Grammar School have qualified in all three Yorkshire Cup finals at U18, U16 and U14 levels, a feat the school has
A MARKET town which was down to just one free cash machine following the closure of a high street bank is to soon have a second machine installed after a campaign by a local councillor.Cllr John Blackie said that since the closure of the HSBC last year
A YOUNG cricketer has a bright future in the sport after winning a place on the Emerging Players Programme at Headingley.Sophie Richardson, 16, only started playing cricket three-years-ago years ago when she joined her older brother Mark at coaching sessions
A SMALL, independent record store is supporting a local band by hosting the group’s record launch in their shop. Better Daze, based on Zetland Street in Northallerton, will be hosting Bedale band The Doubtful Bottle on Saturday, April 1, who will be launching
ROTARIANS have planted thousands of purple crocus bulbs around Northallerton as part of a worldwide campaign to eradicate polio. Members of Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Club have planted around 3,000 bulbs outside the Friarage Hospital and on the Lees
A WOMAN'S hair extension was held "as a trophy" following a fight on a train, say police. The incident happened on board the 6.33pm Manchester Airport to Middlesbrough Transpennine Express Service on Saturday, February 25. "A fight broke out on
IT’S hard to ignore the new homes that seem to be being built left, right and centre across our region.Of course, this is great news for some people. Many new housing developments come with a range of homes to suit all pockets, from the first time buyer
BEAUTIFULLY situated in a secluded location in the attractive village of Battersby, near Great Ayton, Maple Lodge is a large four-bedroom home with a two-bedroom annexe offering superb accommodation for a growing family. Built in 1913 for the former Middlesbrough
A CHARITY that provides vital care services for the vulnerable is calling on the community for support. Thirsk Community Care is contracted by North Yorkshire County Council to provide a range of services such as meals on wheels and respite for
A CHEESE maker and tourist attraction in the Yorkshire Dales has teamed up with an award-winning pastel artist due to host an exhibition in its visitor centre.The Wensleydale Creamery, in Hawes, will feature artwork from Brompton-on-Swale artist Lucy
PEOPLE turned out in force to tidy up their community, as they took part in the national Great British Spring Clean campaign. Over the first week of March, staff and councillors with Hambleton District Council joined residents in turning out to clean
YOUNG rugby players are hoping to convert a hat-trick of cup final appearances into three pieces of silverware this weekend.Boys from Ripon Grammar School have qualified in all three Yorkshire Cup finals at U18, U16 and U14 levels, a feat the school has
ACCLAIMED photographer John Illingworth is hosting a one-off exhibition of photography at the Helmsley Arts Centre.Focusing on landscape photography from across the world, including imagery from Scotland, Yorkshire, Iceland, Venice and more, the exhibition
REGGAE Sauce star Levi Roots has been announced as the headline chef and music act at a North Yorkshire food festival. Levi, who won over the BBC hit show Dragon’s Den in 2007 with his Jamaican sauce invention will be heading up the Malton Food Lovers
STAFF at a North-East call centre are taking part in Comic Relief next week.Over 100 npower employees will be volunteering their time to man 70 dedicated phone lines, taking donations throughout the entire live event. Red Nose Day will be returning to
THREE people have been charged with supplying class A drugs in relation to an incident in Easingwold earlier this year. Two men in their twenties and a 17-year-old teenager are all facing prosecution following the incident in the North Yorkshire market
A TEENAGER is being treated in hospital after being thrown from a motorcycle in Darlington last night. The 16-year-old boy was a passenger on the bike which collided with a Nissan Micra at 6.40pm on Bramall Lane in Red Hall. The teenager suffered
A ROGUE tradesman who conned a woman into paying hundreds of pounds for shoddy and unnecessary work to her home and garden has been jailed. Lawrence Crossling, 33, approached the woman at her home in Horden, Peterlee, and charged her for work to the
STEVE Agnew has given his first press conference since taking over from Aitor Karanka at Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough's interim manager Steve Agnew shakes hands with a member of the media. Picture: North News Joe Jordan appointed
A 6FT 6ins car dealer who drove a small convertible while sitting on the headrest, steering with with his knees and waving to other drivers has narrowly escaped jail, a judge said. Adam Elliott, 26, was also stood up at times as he drove the Ford Ka
IT was one of the most vivid sports images of 2016, Darlington RA footballer Mike Colman lying on the pitch with a double leg fracture, protected by a pile of coats and an umbrella. An ambulance took almost two-and-a-half hours to arrive – from
Semi-conscious once again, the Railroad to Wembley nears its destination The train from Darlington to Birmingham, that being the penultimate stage of this season’s Railroad to Wembley, has lots of notices about respecting other passengers and keeping
EASTER eggs for families who might be struggling to afford them are being collected by a financial services store.Virgin Money Darlington is collecting eggs from the public, on behalf of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in the town.Anyone can donate an
Bishop Auckland could have a major say in the EBAC Northern League title race today, as the club backs manager Steve Riley. Bishops take on league leaders North Shields, who are fourteen points clear of their cross river rivals South Shields, and
There will be a capacity crowd inside Mariners Park on Saturday afternoon hoping to see South Shields beat Coleshill and reach the final of the FA Buildbase Vase. Shields won the first leg of their semi final away from home last week thanks to
A SINGER who wrote a Formula 1 anthem has seen his home wrecked by a speeding car. Fame Academy star Alistair Griffin penned Just Drive, which became the theme song for F1 coverage on Sky Sports. But he was left wishing he had written "just
TWO champions of grassroots sport have been honoured for their decades of work. Alan Watson, from Framwellgate Moor, and John O’Connor, from Shotley Bridge, have been awarded the Chairman’s Medal – Durham County Council’s highest honour.
A MEDICAL centre is celebrating after being rated outstanding. Shinwell Medical Centre, which is based in Horden, Peterlee, was awarded the accolade by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection carried out in January. Inspectors rated
MIDDLESBROUGH have appointed Joe Jordan to assist Steve Agnew ahead of Sunday's home game with Manchester United. Jordan, who has been working alongside Agnew at the Rockliffe Park training ground this morning, will be in the Riverside dug-out
A PROJECT aimed at raising awareness of loan sharks has been given a cash boost from the proceeds of crime. Shotton Colliery Community Centre, based in the village’s Bridge Road, was awarded £3,000 following members’ hard work during Shotton Colliery
HARRY Potter always was dangerous, of course. I was never sure about Topsy and Tim or the Gruffalo.As for Peppa Pig – such smug, pink middle-classness is enough to topple any Communist state.Which is what’s worrying China at the moment.The Chinese Communist
THE pub landlord was always the centre of the community. Everyone knew the name of their local pint puller. These days a great many pubs are run by managers and it's hard to put a name to a face. We've put together a gallery of landlords
A SCHOOL has installed its own pillar clock giving students no excuse for being late.The pillar clock stands at the top of the drive to Barnard Castle School, in Teesdale.The illuminated clock was purchased by the Barney Friends, who raised £11,000 following
CONGRATULATIONS go to Conservative Chancellor Philip Hammond for doing a screeching U-turn on increases in National Insurance contributions pencilled in for the self-employed. Or is it more like an inept Chancellor of the Exchequer who failed to
WATCHING comedian Ken Dodd creak down to receive his knighthood from Prince William reminded me of a brilliant quip from Sir Peter Ustinov who was Chancellor of Durham University when he was at Congregation at Durham Castle awarding students with their
DARLINGTON councillor Nick Wallis states “there was a compelling argument to approve the (Crown Street) library plans”. Equally the people in opposition, and there are legions of us, have compelling arguments not to proceed. Our views have
AN award-winning food blogger has launched his first cookery book. Dan Toombs, better known as The Curry Guy, has created a recipe book with more than 100 British curry favourites. The chef, who runs his food website and blog from his home
I’M sick of the squabbling as to whether or not Scottish people want another independence referendum. Politicians have vested interests and pollsters are frequently wrong. Let’s settle it once and for all (unless circumstances materially change
NIGEL BODDY praises the House of Lords for voting to allow EU citizens the right to remain in the UK. But unfortunately the House of Commons says the opposite and we still have many people who are left in limbo. Many of these people are married
IN the lead up to the EU referendum disingenuous ideals were being told as facts by politicians on both sides of the European debate. Trade was one of the many things discussed. The debate elicited a sprinkling of the truth about trade from sources
A TENANT who threatened to kill a housing officer during a meeting about his untidy property has been jailed. Joseph Holdsworth was on a suspended jail sentence for harassment when he told the frightened official: “I’ll stop you dead.” Holdsworth
I RECENTLY contacted Royal Mail to have our post redirected to our new address. I was told that apart from the normal fee, an additional fee of £20 would be charged if I did it on the phone and paid by credit or debit card. No fee, however, would be
NORTHERN Echo Camera Club member Darren Owen took this dramatic image of a canoeist negotiating the rapids at Low Force, in Teesdale. If you love taking photos and would like to see your work in print why not join the club? Membership is free
STEVE GIBSON insists Steve Agnew will be given every opportunity to earn the head coach job at Middlesbrough on a permanent basis. Agnew was installed as interim boss following Aitor Karanka’s dramatic departure yesterday, and will take charge of Sunday
A MAN carrying a handgun escaped with cash after holding up a store in Peterlee. The incident happened on Friday, February 17 between 5.15pm and 5.20pm at Oddies store in York Road. "He threatened the female member of staff with what looked
STUCK for something to do in the North-East this weekend? There's some great ideas here: The Owl and the Pussycat, The Witham, Barnard Castle, on Saturday, 11am The Owl and the Pussycat are surprised when a storm sweeps them out the window,
THE body of a puppy is believed to have been placed in a bin bag which was then set alight. Police are appealing for information after the find in Newcastle. "At around 4pm on Wednesday afternoon police received a report from the fire service
A TEENAGE knifeman who claimed he was "a one-man gang" after stabbing a stranger, leaving him fighting for his life, has been put behind bars for eight years. The 36-year-old victim of Kalvin Atkin needed emergency surgery to repair the wounds after
A NORTH-EAST country house hotel is about to undergo a £350,000 refurbishment.Hardwick Hall Hotel, near Sedgefield, County Durham, will benefit from a major facelift which will see the bedrooms, bars and boardrooms redecorated, along with a new look to
WILDLIFE lovers are being given the chance to have a whale of a time with popular TV presenter Michaela Strachan on board a North Sea ship. The popular BBC presenter will be launching the 2017 season for marine preservation charity ORCA on a DFDS ferry
A BUS and a car were involved in an accident on the A179, near Hartlepool on Friday. The crash happened on the A179 westbound as it crosses over the A19. The accident caused delays for motorists, but has now been cleared and the road fully reopened
SHE’S not even five months old yet but my first grandchild, Chloe, and I have fallen out for the first time. In fact, I’m appalled by her behaviour. She’s let me down badly and I’m very angry. Don’t get me wrong, she’s very cute, her smiles are magical
GIVEN his avowed idolisation of Jose Mourinho, there was always a good chance Aitor Karanka’s first job in management would end like this. The events of the last 24 hours might have been dramatic, but it be wrong to say they were entirely unexpected.
HE was a young sailor from Shildon, thought the Falklands War into which unexpectedly he was pitched to be akin to England v Argentina at football, returned seemingly unscathed to Civvy Street. Discharged after five years Royal Navy service, Terence
AN amputee who had to wait more than eight hours for an emergency ambulance last summer has again raised concerns after a series of blunders ended in him clogging up a hospital bed for 24 hours. Frank Ridley was admitted to hospital earlier this
AN INQUEST is set to look into the deaths of three residents of a North Yorkshire care home which has since been placed in special measures by a care inspection body. Albert Pooley, James Metcalfe and Harry Kilvington all died in 2016 at Sowerby House
AT 15-years-old Scott McKenna is not old enough to drive on Britain’s roads. But the teenager from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, will make his debut racing cars in the Ginetta Junior Championships next month - the only North-East driver joining the
As European politics endures its roughest phase in recent history, French Presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron offers a rare glimpse of hope. Daniel Hobson, a Durham University global politics student, gives his personal view on what British politics
AN IT provider has moved to new premises as demand for its services continues to grow. Professional Network Technology Solutions (PNTS) has switched from Spennymoor, County Durham, to NetPark, in Sedgefield. Launched in 2015 by Paul Ashley and Mark
STEVE AGNEW will have an opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent role as Middlesbrough’s head coach after the club dramatically parted company with Aitor Karanka yesterday morning. Karanka’s three-and-a-half year reign at the Riverside came
MARCH can be seen as a risky point of the season to decide to make a managerial change. Aitor Karanka’s departure at Middlesbrough may come as a surprise to some, but with no Premier League wins in 2017 and only 19 goals all season, it’s hard to
SEVERAL landmarks across the UK were lit up in green to celebrate St Patrick's Day today (Friday).The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, pictured here, was one of the landmarks singled out by Tourism Ireland to mark that country's national day.The Coca-Cola
ARRAN WEARMOUTH may make his Darlington debut tomorrow – ten months after signing for the club. He returns to the Darlington squad for the weekend’s game with Brackley at Blackwell Meadows, after recovering a knee injury which has kept him sidelined
