COUNCILLORS have voted in favour of closing the library that was gifted to the townspeople of Darlington by railway pioneer Edward Pease. Despite campaigners speaking passionately in favour of the library, and a packed public gallery of objectors
WITH just 99 days until the return of Kynren, Lizzie Anderson discovers what is in store this year. In a field on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland, a young woman rides her horse purposefully past a group of excited onlookers. With a striking
A FORMER council boss accused of creating a “laddish” culture said a Nazi salute made at a meeting was “more Dad’s Army” than anything remotely fascist. Mike Robinson, previously chief executive at Middlesbrough Borough Council, also denied he
CANINE carers at North-East kennels have called on owners to train their dogs after receiving 580 calls to rehome mischievous pets. Research carried out by Dogs Trust Darlington has revealed that 61 per cent of owners of badly-behaved hounds have
A NORTH Yorkshire market town is to become the latest in the region to lose a bank branch. NatWest bank in Thirsk, based in the centre of the town overlooking the Market Square, will shut on October 5.Branches of NatWest in Knaresborough and Haxby on
A GRIEVING mother’s promise to honour the memory of her teenage son who died in his sleep will see her helping hundreds of the North-East’s young generations.Despite appearing fit and healthy, Karen Campbell’s 16-year-old son, James, died as he slept
NEWCASTLE FALCONS have signed Lyon prop forward Sami Mavinga and Jersey Reds flanker Gary Graham as they firm up their plans for next season. Prop Jon Welsh and centre Chris Harris have also signed new contracts at Kingston Park as Dean Richards
10:01pm And finally, here's a link to the full story from the meeting: Library closure agreed by council but branded
INDEPENDENT retailers have called for more to be done to help business thrive in Darlington town centre.Business owners were asked to give their views on how Darlington Borough Council can improve the town at an event earlier this week.The Town Centre
DARLINGTON’S match with Bradford Park Avenue has been rearranged for Wednesday, March 29, meaning three of their players are now ruled out of contention for a charity game representing the National League North. Chris Hunter, Gary Brown and Josh Gillies
SENIOR staff at a library have been caught fiddling their readership figures to get more funding. Several bogus readers were discovered at East Lake County Library in Florida after its readership figures went up by four per cent, leading to a bigger
A DRINK driver who crashed his car into a pub has been fined. Adam McGurk, 24, had 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath after crashing his Vauxhall Astra into the Bay Horse Pub, in Wolsingham, in the early hours of March 10.
A MULTI-million pound deficit expected to impact funding for Darlington’s schools and its pupils has been raised with the Secretary of State for Education.Darlington MP Jenny Chapman has penned a letter to Justine Greening outlining concerns from parents
A BUS driver accused of causing the death of an elderly cyclist by careless driving is to undergo a re-trial later this year. It follows the original trial jury’s failure to reach a verdict in the case of James Cox, at Durham Crown Court, earlier
AN INQUEST has been opened and adjourned into the death of a 16-year-old who died in a police car chase in Teesside last week. Brandon Morris – described by his family as a “much-loved son and brother” – was killed in the crash at the junction
A WOMAN who fraudulently claimed more than £5,000 in benefits has been fined.Sherree Baines, 28, admitted two charges of dishonestly failing to notify both Darlington Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions that she was living with her
OPEN spaces campaigners fear rights of way across North Yorkshire could be lost due to new plans to categorise public paths.The Open Spaces Society (OSS) has expressed concerns over a North Yorkshire County Council consultation on its plan to put pathways
A NEW work of art has been unveiled as part of project to turn an eyesore into a garden for employees at one of the region’s largest organisations.Three Men in a Shower, created by County Durham sculptor Graeme Hopper, was unveiled at Northumbrian Water
A NORTH-EAST man has been left completely unable to feel fear after an operation to cure a rare condition. Jordy Cernik has skydived from 17,500ft, scaled the outside of a 400ft building and even auditioned for the X-Factor in an attempt to scare himself
THE A1 has reopened after a collision involving two HGVs resulting in the northbound carriageway being blocked. One man is believed to have been injured following the incident just south of Scotch Corner and north of Catterick on Thursday.
A COATINGS firm’s largest shareholder has urged bosses to start talks after they snubbed a second takeover offer worth £19.5bn. Causeway Capital, which owns a 6.8 per cent stake in Dulux maker AkzoNobel, wants negotiations to begin with paints
UNUSUAL aspects of medieval and renaissance culture, including alchemy and magic, are set to be explored in a community course.Durham’s Medieval and Early Modern Student Association said it would also provide an introduction to subjects such as astronomy
OVERNIGHT road closures will be in place while final resurfacing works are carried out at Thinford roundabout.The A688 will be closed to east and westbound traffic between the roundabout and Metal Bridge from Thursday, March 30, to April 1.The closures
PLANS for Middleton-in-Teesdale’s 2017 Christmas Lights have been agreed and a new committee elected.Following the group’s AGM, new chairman John Boocock thanked out-going chairwoman, Christine Mitchell for all her work at the helm .He said: “It’s just
SUPPORTERS of a North-East football club have to spend almost a quarter of their weekly wage to watch their team, a tickets firm has claimed. Middlesbrough FC fans would need to spend 24 per cent of their weekly pay packet to enjoy a “full match
FOOTBALLERS joined residents at a care home to celebrate its 25th anniversary and found one with a special connection to their club.Spennymoor Town FC’s James Curtis and Jamie Chandler visited Lothian House Care Home, in Spennymoor, where they heard stories
POLICE in Bishop Auckland are appealing for owners of garden items after recovering more than a dozen. Among the haul of 17 items are garden ornaments and stone water features. Officers are appealing for anyone who may have had items snatched
NORTHALLERTON driver Paige Bellerby continued where she left off last season as she claimed victory in the SuperNational class at the opening round of the British Rallycross Championship at Croft, writes Larry Carter. Driving a Lotus Exige, Bellerby
POLICE are appealing for witnesses, information and dash-cam footage after a terrifying robbery on the North Yorkshire coast. Three robbers entered the One Stop Shop on North Leas Avenue in Scarborough, brandished knives and made off with a quantity
NORMALLY, an England manager spends the first six months of his reign indulging in jingoistic bravado. “We’ve got the best players in the world.” “Everyone will be afraid of facing England.” “Our target is to win the next World Cup”. Gareth Southgate
A HOTEL has raised thousands of pounds for the charitable arm of Middlesbrough Football Club.Rockliffe Hall has raised almost £4,000 for MFC Foundation through the sales of afternoon teas.From September to January, £1 from every tea sold at the five-star
THE world of Darlington’s rich railway heritage will be open to autistic visitors to the Head of Steam museum.A guide has been launched for the site which includes visual guides, lighting levels, sounds and smells to expect on visits to the museum and
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC is hoping to get his season back on track by starring for Serbia in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier in Georgia. Mitrovic is set to lead the line in Tbilisi, with Serbia currently sitting in second position in Group D, two points
Columnist Peter Barron explains why his wife has been getting all excited lately... MY wife could hardly have been more excited if George Clooney had turned up in the garden, winked, and beckoned her into the foliage. “Quick, look,” she whispered
THE PRINCE of Wales has paid a visit to a North Yorkshire army college, to meet junior soldiers embarking on the first stage of their career.The royal visitor was given a tour of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, which is the only junior entry
HISTORIC bells have been removed from a Richmond bell tower to make way for new ones to be installed in May.The tower at St Mary’s Church, Richmond, has also been prepared with the removal of some key timbers from the 1894 frame to make way for a new
A YOUNG cycling enthusiast with a promising future in triathlon has been sponsored by a Richmond bike centre for 2017. Matty Cole, 12, is a member of Richmond Triathlon Club in the Junior Progression group, and regularly rides out with his dad
A HOUSING association is creating four apprenticeships following the successful launch of its training scheme. Broadacres Housing Association launched its first formal apprenticeship scheme a year ago, which saw six young people being offered various
A DRIVER’S frustration at being behind a slow-moving tractor had “devastating” consequences when he pulled out to overtake, York Crown Court heard. Scott Maider, 26, hit motorcyclist Colin Young, 50, head-on on the A170 at Aislaby near Pickering, on June
THE Leyburn Arts and Drama Society has given out awards to members who have been outstanding this year. Sue Smith was named best actress, Emma Towning took an award for promising newcomer, Martin Crowson for best actor and Ron Smith was honoured for all-round
THE FIRST community-led housing scheme in North Yorkshire is to be built in Hudswell, near Richmond.The village, famous for its community pub, also has a local charity that provides housing to local residents in housing need.Hudswell Community Charity
TWO men have been fined £1 each after attempting to steal a bike in Newton Aycliffe on March 2. Christopher Thomas Duce, 22, and Connor Raine, 22, were caught red-handed trying to remove the security lock on the £1,000 bike belonging to a night-shift
A SHEPHERD at a farm attraction has scooped a prestigious agriculture award.Richard Darlington, 25, who works and lives at Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, has been named the Northern Young Farmer of the Year for 2017.He said: “I am thrilled to have not
COUNCILLORS are to discuss plans to turn a former care home into a hotel next week.If approved, Hotel 52, in Joicey Square, Stanley, will have 25 bedrooms, a licensed restaurant for hotel guests and customers from the area, a coffee shop and meeting facilities.Proposals
A MOMENTOUS day in the construction of Sunderland's new river crossing is nearing, as engineers prepare to launch the 300m deck out across the Wear. Progress on the New Wear Crossing is moving at a pace on both sides of the river, with the team
MOTORISTS have been advised to expect delays as engineers carry out an emergency gas repair on a busy main road. Northern Gas Networks began to carry out the gas mains repair on the A693 Chester Road, in Stanley, today. Work is expected to
THE family of a man left paralysed in a crash are planning a campaign for increased sentences after the "lunatic" banned driver was jailed for just three years and four months.Alex Everington, 29, suffered devastating injuries when an uninsured
AN Army veteran from Darlington, who was among the first on the scene of the Westminster attack, has told how he tried to save the life of murdered police officer Keith Palmer. Tony Davis, who served 22 years in the military, is now a GB Boxing
A MICROELECTRONICS factory takeover can be a catalyst for new jobs and longterm stability at the site, it has been claimed. Kaiam Corporation is expanding into Compound Photonics’ base at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The deal, revealed by The
A DRAINAGE company is being taken over in a £28m deal. Metro Rod Limited has been targeted by Franchise Brands. Metro runs services across the North-East, with a depot in Middlesbrough providing emergency drainage works and maintenance to customers
A HOUSEBUILDER has begun a fresh search to find its next generation. Barratt Developments North-East has launched its 2017 apprenticeship programme. Bosses say they aim to recruit six youngsters through the business’ Future Talent schemes,
TWO kittens and two cats found dumped in a litter bin has been described as an “abhorrent” and “unthinkable” act by the RSPCA. Two six-week-old kittens and a male and a female cat were rescued by RSPCA inspectors after the animals were left in
A VAN driver had to be rescued from floodwaters as residents were advised take "immediate action" against rising water in North Yorkshire. RESCUE: The van in the water. Picture: NORTH YORKSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE Following overnight heavy rain,
BEER-LOVERS have dipped into their pockets to launch a new community brewery in the county town of North Yorkshire.The Northallerton Brewery has been established in the promises of the town’s former Walls Brewery, which closed last year.The new enterprise
THE power of food to bring people together is working its magic in Willington. Age UK County Durham’s Come Eat Together lunch clubs are held across the county and provide opportunities for people aged 50 and over to make new friends over a hearty,
MAJOR plans for new housing and services will be considered for Durham Tees Valley Airport next week, in a development which one local councillor said "sounded the death knell for the airport". While airport owners Peel Holdings describe the plan
TRAVEL writer Sarah Woods has cycled the globe compiling a list of the 50 greatest bike rides. A trek across the Yorkshire Dales is among her favourites. We have 3 copies of the book to give away to readers. Email matt.westcott@nne.co.uk with
A DIVERSE art exhibition is on display at a creative hub in Newton Aycliffe.Greenfield Arts, on Greenfield Way, is hosting its annual Open Art Exhibition featuring works including poetry and film.Visitors are promised an “array of colour and texture”
A FUND manager has sold a stake in a North-East animal tagging company for £70m. Epiris has offloaded Electra Private Equity’s remaining holding in Allflex Corporation to an existing shareholder. Allflex, which runs a base out of Greencroft Industrial
A FAMILY-RUN wholesaler has set a £1.5m sales target after expanding its presence in the region. Bondgate Electrical Distribution has set up base on Abbey Road Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of Durham City. The company, which opened its head
WHILE clearing out boxes of paperwork under my older boys’ beds, I came across an intriguing item, headed ‘101 Things I Love About You’, sent to one of my sons from his girlfriend many years ago. Of course, it was personal and certainly none of
WITH the clue that one of the opposing side was playing in the FA Vase two days later, last week’s column invited readers to recall Manchester City’s record Premier League defeat. It came on the final day of 2007-08 at the Riverside Stadium, City
HERE’s the intro to the column’s report on Bedlington Terriers’ appearance in the FA Vase final, May 1998:“Wembley was as clement as ever. If Wasdale in the Lake District is England’s wettest location – as always we were taught in O-level geography –
A SIXTH death has been linked to a bad batch of heroin being distributed on Teesside with three arrests being made in connection to the drug’s production. A man in his early forties is the latest victim believed to have taken the low-grade class A
IN this co-production by Leicester’s Curve and the Rose Theatre Kingston the company of seven demonstrates something of what it takes to be a modern day performer. The multi-skilled ensemble not only acts, sings and plays musical instruments but also
PLEASE may I thank the ladies who sat with me when I tripped outside the Darlington Building Society on Tuesday (March 21). They were so kind. And also the fire brigade who hauled me to my feet! I really must lose weight. Thanks to all.
MARTIN MCGUINNESS, once of the IRA and the recent former Deputy Northern Ireland Minister, has passed away at the age of 66 (Echo, March 22). I am not sure how this Northern Ireland politician will be remembered. Did McGuinness go from a man of
VJ CONNOR may not have it on his TV, or maybe he is not aware that many people use it, but his letter has made watching Vera on catch up TV this week pointless. I normally read his letters as they can be of interest but will look for his name now
BEING old, and of a suspicious mind, I think the current war on diesel car owners is a prelude to a tax hike on these particular motorists. There is never a mention about pollution caused by trains, buses, ships, trucks, farm machinery, the building
I CANNOT understanding the logic of JW Bearby (HAS, FEB 21) claiming the Remainers are all rich people. Some 48 per cent of those who voted can’t all be rich, but Ukip was financed by a multimillionaire and Nigel Farage is a millionaire. I
'IT is business as usual' - that was the message from Durham Police following the terror attacks in London that led to deaths of four people. Police Officer Keith Palmer, a woman in her mid 40s and a man in his mid 50s died in the incidents on Westminster
I SIMPLY had to comment on H Davies’ letter in the March 21 edition as I agree wholeheartedly with what he said about the so-called Common Market. Cabinet papers released have confirmed the fact that we were lied to by all politicians involved.
HOMELESS thief Stephen Whitworth is probably on most people’s minds as the most despicable of men. I can only imagine some people would like to do with him after his dreadful act of stealing a collection box meant for little cancer battler Bradley
WORKING here, you can always tell when something of grave consequence is happening. The Northern Echo newsroom becomes hushed. One person starts watching the 24- hour news screen in the office while others listen, as they type away at their work.
HAVE the owners of Durham Tees Valley Airport finally given up on a vital part of our regional infrastructure? There is a growing feeling among residents close to the airport, a feeling shared by people across the region, that Peel’s master plan for
A bit of a tourist spot, The Friar’s Head in Wensleydale is also very much to Malcolm Warne’s taste CALL me a snob if you like but I usually avoid holiday caravan parks and their associated facilities like the plague. This may have a lot to
Harambee Pasadia, a four-day celebration of cultural diversity, returns to County Durham this spring and Dave Horsley discovers it’s bigger than ever HARAMBEE? in Swahili means "Let’s get together" and Pasadia in Spanish means "to spend the day
FOLK fans have a choice between two popular local acts tonight, when The John Wrightson Band appear at the atmospheric Beamish Mary (there’s a song about her, you know!) at No Place near Stanley, and at Darlington’s Copper Beech, good-time duo Loose
HASTE, an all-female, international physical theatre company, have revamped their multi award-winning show Oyster Boy and are currently taking it to theatres across the UK. Oyster Boy opened in London to great reviews and sell out audiences and
Viv Hardwick finds out what it takes to undress the thrills in The Full Monty for director Jack Ryder and star Gary Lucy EASTENDERS star Jack Ryder never thought that he would become the go-to guy for naked acting when he was killed off as Jamie Mitchell
Certificate: 15 Running Time: 141 mins Star Rating: 3/5 A SPRAWLING true story of discovery at the turn of the 20th Century informs writer-director James Gray's ambitious journey into the heart of darkness. Based on author David Grann's
Ed Waugh has found another 19th Century regional superstar, Ned Corvan, who has been almost forgotten like Hadaway Harry, he tells Viv Hardwick FOLLOWING his London and Newcastle Theatre Royal success about rowing superstar Harry Clasper with Hadaway
The Ward Thomas twins still can’t believe their second album went to No 1. Ahead of their UK tour, Lizzy talks to Andy Welch about their brilliant year WE'RE getting prepared for the tour. Like, really prepared," says Lizzy Ward Thomas. The admission
A MUSIC charity that raises funds for vital cancer detection equipment has received the backing of another top name in the business.Eighties' pop sensations The Blow Monkeys have become official ambassadors for the charity, following on from the support
PETER BARLOW has fallen off the wagon more times than we care to remember. Now it looks like he's about to do it again when Chloe helps drive a heartbroken Toyah back into the arms of Toby (Coronation Street, ITV). However, there is a glimmer of hope
SEVEN people have been arrested in raids in London, Birmingham and elsewhere linked to the Westminster terror attack, police have revealed. Mark Rowley, the Met's senior anti-terror officer, said six addresses were raided overnight. Five
BELGIAN Adnan Januzaj is determined to learn from his close friend and compatriot in a bid to become a Premier League sensation after a frustrating year with Sunderland. Eden Hazard is an international team-mate of the Black Cats forward, although
MOHAMED DIAME has given Rafael Benitez food for thought ahead of Newcastle United’s crucial run of April fixtures which are likely to determine their Championship future.Seven of the Magpies’ remaining eight matches will come along next month and Benitez
THE NSPCC has called for greater resources to be deployed to deal with child sex abuse cases after revealing a dramatic increase in offences recorded by the region’s police forces. The charity said reported sexual offences against under 18s – including
A COMMUNITY is rallying around a little boy who has been battling leukaemia. Little Alfie Taylor was diagnosed with the life-threatening illness last April and has been enduring gruelling treatment. Now family and friends and hoping to raise
ANDREW GALE hailed Azeem Rafiq's improved fitness and heightened confidence after the off-spinner took three wickets on day one of Yorkshire's pre-season friendly against Papua New Guinea in Dubai yesterday. Yorkshire were made to work hard for
SAVANNAH MARSHALL is set to announce her conversion to the professional ranks after formally ending her association with Team GB’s amateur set-up. Marshall informed British Boxing chiefs she did not want to be considered for the new World Class
