West Auckland stayed in third place in the ENL First Division when they beat Seaham Red Star 2-1 last night. After a quiet first half, West took the lead on 52 minutes when Ross Colquhoun and Anthony Bell set up Adam Mitchell, who fired home, but
DARLINGTON are taking votes for this season’s player of the year poll, the winner of which will be announced at the club’s awards night next month. Staged at the Mecure Kings Head Hotel in Darlington, it takes place on Friday, May 4 starting at
Spennymoor Town 1 Kidderminster Harriers 1. Spennymoor collected a deserved point from their third home game at Harrogate in a 1-1 draw against fourth placed Kidderminster. Moors deserved a point against fourth placed Kidderminster who have
GARY ROWETT admits Saturday’s showdown with Middlesbrough is probably ‘make-or-break’ for Derby County’s hopes of claiming a place in the play-offs. The Rams dropped out of the top six for the first time this year as they suffered a 3-1 defeat
THE treatment of the Windrush generation by the UK government is nothing short of a scandal. Theresa May’s apology to Caribbean leaders for the deportation threats to people who have been living and working in this country for decades is as hollow as
A TEACHER who amassed a large collection of downloaded paedophilic images quit his job before his internet activities came to light, a court heard. Andrew Charles Collins, who previously worked at a County Durham primary school, also shared indecent
SECURITY footage has been released of two attempted robberies. They both took place at RSK Convenience Store on Staithes Road in Dormanstown, near Redcar. The first incident happened at around 5am on Sunday, February 4 when a man entered the
A JUDGE issued a warning to others as he jailed a man for buying a stun gun and a police-style baton on the internet.James Flounders's barrister told Teesside Crown Court there is a "sweeping ignorance" that the weapons are illegal.But jailing
MORE than 1,200 jobs are being axed at Lloyds Banking Group under plans to shut another 49 branches in a further blow to Britain's high streets. The banking giant said 1,230 jobs will be cut across its branch network and some central functions
IT’S obvious from the plight of our streets and countryside regarding the amount of rubbish dumped that some drastic action should be taken.People who use their cars to dump rubbish should have their vehicles taken off them to be crushed. Anyone using
TONNES of stone from the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is being transported to London to add authenticity to a Chelsea Flower Show garden.The 50 tonnes of of walling stone and glacial boulders have been loaned by the Bolton Estate in Wensleydale to build
REGARDING the report headlined “Plans for home in garden approved” (Echo, Apr 13).It’s not at all surprising that this has been approved, as this is all Durham County Council think of – making money. And that all it’s about, because they know in the long
I DON’T believe that the Syrian government of President Assad used chemical weapons against civilians in a Damascus suburb last week. Assad’s forces are winning the civil war by conventional means, so why upset the apple cart by committing such an atrocity
AS for President Trump’s “mission accomplished” with regard to the recent attack on Syria. The last time that statement was used it was the prelude to something even worse.Let’s hope history is not about to repeat itself.Terence Fineran, Darlington
I THINK it’s about time the giving of percentage pay rises should be scrapped – it’s very unfair.A worker on a low wage gets less than a worker on a higher wage, i.e. five per cent is less on £5,000 than five per cent on £10,000. A tradesman will get
A 20-year-old man was stabbed to death after he confronted teenagers he suspected of dealing drugs outside his home, a court has heard.Omid Saidy chased down two males from outside his house near Parsons Green in south-west London but was knifed in the
GEOFF Gregg (HAS April 14), suggests that sat navs should be sound-only as he believes that the visual display is a dangerous distraction.Sorry, I disagree. As one who has used satellite navigation since the ones that just gave latitude and longitude,
BURGLARY is in the news at the moment and in my book it is one of the most heinous of crimes. Stealing from someone’s house is the lowest of the low and I think the householder should be allowed to defend themselves and their property in any way at all
SIR Mo Farah has revealed he has gone all out in his training in an attempt to win Sunday's London Marathon. The four-time Olympic champion is competing in this weekend's 26.2-mile race having retired from track running last year. Farah, 35
TRIALS for the next generation of talented footballers will be held this week for young athletes to test out their talent on the pitch.Darlington Football Club announced earlier this month that it will deliver a training and schooling programme for teenagers
PUTIN, Trump, and Jong-un are only three of the power-mad leaders of the world who with the flick of a switch can end all of our dreams of a long and happy life.How on earth have we allowed this to happen? If it’s not sorted out soon we will all be history.John
OUR recent Teesdale tour took in Stubb House, which is about a mile to the west of Winston, and about which we know very little – although it may well be haunted.It sits just off the A67, screened by trees, near Whorley Hill reservoir. It has a grand
OUR tour of Teesdale recently inspired Kathleen Linton, of Pity Me, Durham, to send in this magnificent view of Barnard Castle taken from the Startforth side of the river.“The low building in the foreground was a small smithy,” she says. “I remember my
FAME can be a fleeting thing and musical tastes fickle. But the popularity of Irish singing superstar Daniel O’Donnell has endured, with his blend of sentimental ballads and warm humour attracting a fiercely loyal army of fans. The singer spoke
RECENTLY we established that there was a foundry next to the workhouse in Crossgate in Durham. It was probably established by the Pepplo family but in the 1840s it was taken on by William Coulson, the mastersinker of collieries. Coulson, who was born
A CRUNCH meeting to decide the future of the region’s politics has been suspended as councils scrabble to find a deal which will allow them to continue to work together – despite a split in the region. Council leaders were expected to vote
A SUNDERLAND fan whose car was written off in Darron Gibson's drunken crash said he has not had an apology from the player. The 21-year-old, who asked not to be named, has been without a car since the March 17 collision saw his parked Seat Ibiza
OBSERVERS of the European Tour will know how the Czech Republic has been back on the circuit for the last four years, after spending a couple of seasons out of the limelight. The return is part of a drive within the country to showcase some spectacular
COUNCIL workers have been hailed as heroes for preventing a potentially fatal accident by rounding up escaped cattle into the front garden of a house in Darlington. But the woman who lives in the house where the animals were gathered outside has
HOTEL owners behind the £1.5m refurbishment of a former Sedgefield pub have faced objection over a licence which would allow them to serve alcohol, host sport events and a range of entertainment until late. Ramside Estates, the company behind nearby
THE big news in the world of post boxes is that John Wornham Penfold has been named as one of the most influential surveyors of all time by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Echo, March 22). Mr Penfold designed the hexagonal pillar box
THE family of a great-grandmother killed after a bus crash in Darlington town centre have urged Arriva to accept some responsibility for the tragedy. A statement from Eileen Brennan’s family reveals the heartbreak they have faced following the
AIDEN MARKRAM will not be resting on his laurels as he prepares to make his Durham debut, and the South African is determined to lean on the teachings of compatriot Dale Benkentstein as he prepares for a four-game stint at Emirates Riverside, writes
PLANS have been lodged with Durham County Council to repair a footbridge at Shildon over the trackbed of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Normally such plans would be welcome, as we need to repair and restore all of our railway artefacts
A FORMER Army instructor has gone from training soldiers to playing with them in his own games shop.Ken Hawkins has opened The Brigade HQ on Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland.Mr Hawkins worked for the Ministry of Defence for 25 years, in the training centre
PAUL DRINKHALL hailed a “fantastic achievement” after he won the second Commonwealth Games gold medal of his career – but also rued the costly lapse that deprived him of a chance to go for a singles medal.Drinkhall and partner Liam Pitchford clinched
FORMER Sunderland footballer Darron Gibson has been told he faces jail after admitting a second drink-drive charge in less than three years. The 30-year-old was three times over the limit when he smashed his Mercedes 4x4 into parked cars on St
A TALENTED chef has battled against some of the finest rising stars in the North East to be crowned one of the winners of the Great North Menu Challenge 2018. Louise Harbottle from Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, impressed the judges to win the
THE BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier, brought a programme of music packed with drama to Sage Gateshead. Tortelier set out his stall with a solid performance of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, charting the rise and
TV presenter Ant McPartlin has said he was "ashamed and mortified" after crashing his car while drink-driving with his mother in the passenger seat. The 42-year-old was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £86,000 after pleading guilty to
NAMED a hedgehog champion by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds – an organisation clearly spreading its wings – transport secretary Chris Grayling is considering road signs wordlessly urging greater care. Barningham’s beaten him to it.
A BUS driver will be sentenced today for causing the death of an 85-year-old woman when his single-decker hit her in Darlington town centre. Update: Bus driver given suspended sentence after fatal Darlington crash Michael Gilbert, 53
A THREE vehicle crash on the A1 caused rush hour traffic delays this morning. The collision occurred on the A1 southbound near to Coal House Roundabout, near Gateshead, around 8am. Northumbria police said traffic was heavy in the area but the
A DOG had to be pulled to safety by fire and rescue crews after he got stuck down a rabbit hole. Tinker ran down the burrow on the banks of the River Wear near Chester-le-Street Cricket Ground yesterday afternoon. A crew from High-Handenhold
RUMOURS of an attempted abduction at one of the region's busiest shopping mall yesterday have been dispelled by police. Northumbria Police said it was aware of fears that such an incident had occurred at intu Eldon Square, in Newcastle, but the
MOTORISTS heading to North Tyneside this morning are warned of possible delays due to a broken down vehicle. Northumbria Police said the vehicle is on the northbound carriageway of the A19 between the Silverlink and Holystone roundabouts. Just
POLICE investigating a suspected burglary in Stockton town centre found a cannabis farm. While on patrol in Stockton Town Centre officers were called to a property where it was believed a burglary was taking place. When they arrived they found
A MAN had a lucky escape after he started cooking but fell asleep drunk, leaving a chip pan to ignite. A neighbour who heard a smoke alarm attempted to wake the householder in Alexandra Street, Pelton, but when they couldn't stir them raised the
A CAMPAIGN to protect the NHS will be launched by activists who raised more than £700 with the help of a legendary filmmaker. Last Monday, I, Daniel Blake and Kes director Ken Loach visited The Forum in Darlington to speak at an event staged in
MATTHEW Bates has been praised for taking Hartlepool United back to basics in the battle to avoid dropping further down the football pyramid. A victory for Pools at Victoria Park tonight will guarantee National League North status for a second
AHEAD of a weekend when Sunderland could be consigned to League One, Chris Coleman is desperate to keep his players focused on the survival fight despite fresh talk over the club’s future. As much as he would like to still be in charge next season
MATT RITCHIE has described how crucial Rafa Benitez’s influence has been to Newcastle United’s successful first season back in the Premier League and how there is a desire to ensure they build on it. Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal took the Magpies
Stephen Lambert asks why are the region's boys trailing further behind girls at school? THIRTY years boys did better at school than girls. Now, it’s the boys who are the under-achievers across the North-East according to the report published last
THE anxious wait for families across the region has ended as they found out which primary school their child will be attending. For many the day brought joy while others faced coping with disappointment with what is commonly known as National Offer
A LONG-ESTABLISHED and much loved business in a North-East town centre took to social media to ask people not to forget about independent traders. Three Squares Café, on Skinnergate, Darlington, said on Facebook that the street had become “very
A MOTOR club was driven to the brink of bankruptcy by a thieving official whose dishonesty led to rows, rifts and resignations. Elizabeth Russell plundered £58,500 from the funds of Richmond Motor Club and a further £8,350 from a local church council
BEDALE Community Library is recruiting the youngest possible readers with a new scheme for babies and toddlers up to four.Rhyme Time was launched as part of the first anniversary celebrations after running of the library was taken over by volunteers.
A DEVELOPER is hoping to build up to 170 houses on a field in a village near Durham. House building company Taylor Wimpey has put forward a planning application for the scheme for Bearpark. It has proposed a scheme made up of two, three and four bedroom
A DEVELOPER is honouring a scout’s promise to help a community troop beat the vandals.A series of break-ins has seen over £5,000 of damage done to the 5th Birtley Scout Group hut, which is just off Ruskin Road in the town.But now, Linden Homes, Galliford
A NEW extended play area has been opened in the village of East Harlsey, near Northallerton.Richmond MP Rishi Sunak cut the ribbon to declare the play park open at a social evening attended by more than 60 villagers.The park is now larger and has additional
DISABLED activists and North West Durham’s Labour MP Laura Pidcock are due to meet the Government’s minister for disabled people, health and work today.They plan to raise ongoing concerns with Sarah Newton surrounding the Personal Independence Payment
ONE of the North-East most famous heritage sites is trying to raise awareness about its need for money to maintain it for future generations. Durham Cathedral is holding a “giving day” to try and raise money for its Foundation 2020, a public fundraising
THE classic BBC TV comedy Steptoe and Son is being brought back to life on stage.The sitcom has been adapted for the stage by John Hewer, of Hambledon Productions, for a UK tour, which ends at The Customs House, in South Shields, on Sunday.Northumbria
A DOG found wandering the streets in Bosnia has a new lease of life following an operation in North Yorkshire. Dotty was discovered as a three-month-old puppy by a couple who had gone out to Bosnia to help set up a rescue centre for stray dogs. She had
RESEARCH into the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease will be given a boost thanks to a concert in Sedgefield. Pianist, composer, music producer and parish church organist Alex Ord will perform at Sedgefield Parish Hall on Tuesday, May 22, along with jazz
A MOVE to introduce a mineral to the water supply in a town where more than a third of five-year-olds have one or more decayed, filled or missing teeth has been revealed. Some 63 years after being invited to take part in a five-year trial to test
A 96-year-old man has urged a council to reject a plan to offer live music 16 hours a day and serve alcohol 24 hours a day at a historic town centre inn. The elderly Richmond resident, who has not been named, has written to Richmondshire District
THE Teesside 500 Group are organising their annual Vintage Bus Running Day to be held next weekend.This is to be the nineteenth such event which the Stockton based group of bus enthusiasts have organised since its inception in 2000.The event is based
A CHURCH rich in history has been given a grant to help it explore how to be used more by the community and extend its opening hours.St Cuthbert's Church, in Darlington town centre, has been handed £5,600 from the National Churches Trust to put together
A SPECIALIST centre offering sensory experiences is set to benefit from the sponsorship deal for this year's Northallerton 10k on Sunday May 27.Simon Bailes Peugeot is handing over all entrance fees and monies raised go to Pendragon Community Trust.The
PLANNING permission is being sought to build six houses on the site of a former working men's club in trimdon Grange. Proposals for the detached homes development have been submitted for land west of Beech Grove. The site was previously home to the
WE are up to our neck in it, and sniggering like a schoolboy. We’ve found evidence of things called Detritus Tanks, Effluent Carriers, Percolation Filters, Humus Tanks and Sedimentation Tanks. And then there were the Sewage Screens which had “electrically-driven
A HOSPITAL trust is offering advice to patients with a frustrating eye condition.An awareness day is taking place at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for people suffering with age-related macular degeneration - one of the leading causes of sight
FIVE years ago this week, the Queen led mourners at the ceremonial funeral of former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher in St Paul's Cathedral, as thousands lined the streets of London.Lady Thatcher, who had died the week before aged 87, was given full
A LUXURY hotel is celebrating the release of a James Bond-themed ten pence piece by offering a 10p vodka Martini to people lucky enough to find one of the coins.The Royal Mint has launched a ‘Quintessentially British A-Z’ of new coins with each representing
A MULTI million pound project to conserve and celebrate part of the North Pennines can progress after receiving its first National Lottery handout. The FellFoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme, which is led by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding
THE largest celebration of sports cars in the North returns to Newby Hall near Ripon on May 6 for the 10th time.Sports Cars in the Park attracted more 876 sports cars and 5,000 visitors in 2017. This year’s event is being held on Bank Holiday Sunday and
THE Prime Minister has been facing prolonged and angry criticism for not involving Parliament in the decision for the UK to join the USA and France in air attacks on Syria, following President Assad’s alleged illegal use of chemical warfare on his own
RESEARCH has revealed house prices have soared in a market town with a new £42m bypass - and dropped in an area where a waste recovery plant has been built. The North Yorkshire Price Index reveals detached houses in the Bedale area rose by 21 per
A RARE chance to delve into history for people and communities is on offer in libraries throughout North Yorkshire.Facts and figures going back hundreds of years on a huge range of places and people can be delved into through a month long campaign. Libraries
CUTS have been blamed for a police force’s officers and staff banking more than 10,000 rest days between them. At the end of last month there were 10,792 rest days at Durham Police which had been cancelled, were outstanding or were waiting for
A MEMORIAL fund which installs defibrillators throughout Weardale has had a boost of £2,868.The David Nelson Memorial Fund, held a fundraising dance night and raffle at Frosterley Village Hall last month to raise the funds.The David Nelson Memorial Fund
DURHAM Wildlife Trust is urging the people to increase their activities to help wildlife. In conjunction with the People’s Postcode Lottery, the trust is seeking to collect 10,000 pledges which will demonstrate public support for a greener Wearside. The
GREEN issues have been top of the agenda for one County Durham village.Durham County Council’s Community Action Team (CAT) has just begun an 11-week project in Dean Bank, near Ferryhill, which will see it addressing concerns raised by local people and
MOTORISTS are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys as road resurfacing work takes place in County Durham.Durham County Council is carrying out resurfacing on the westbound carriageway of the A689 Sedgefield bypass.The work is being carried
A NORTH-East university has launched a campaign to tackle attitudes towards hate crime, harassment and violence. Created by Sunderland University graduates Zoe Cooper, 24, and 22-year-old Daniel Hepple, it was created following a national call
COUNCIL proposals to ensure a 500m buffer zone between homes and fracking rigs has received provisional endorsement from the planning inspector, but gas and oil companies continue to oppose the potential restriction. Local authorities in North Yorkshire
A MAN has been fined after a stash of counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes was discovered under the floorboards of a shop by trading standards officers.Magistrates at Newton Aycliffe heard that more than 5,000 cigarettes and almost 1.5kg of rolling tobacco
THIS week, 15 years ago, a North-East student scoped £163,191 after placing a £4 bet at his local bookies. Mature student, Norman Evans, 46, won the cash after finding six winners on selected televised races. He said: "I'm not a big gambling
IT is hard to believe that almost 25 years have passed since the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence by a racist white gang on the streets of London. Over the last quarter of a century, the dignity and strength of the teenager’s parents shone
