FORMER Darlington midfielder Tom Portas has joined West Auckland. He was told last week that he would not be offered a new contract by Quakers, with whom he had played since 2014 and made 128 appearances, and tonight West announced he will be playing
VILLAGERS can vote on whether their parish council should set up a parish plan.At a parish meeting for Cornforth on May 4, a poll was demanded on the following question– “Do residents of Cornforth and West Cornforth want Cornforth Parish Council to establish
COUNCILLOR Graeme Miller has been confirmed as the new leader of Sunderland City Council.The Washington South councillor, who was previously the council’s portfolio holder for health, housing and adult services, was elected leader at a full meeting of
JOHN QUINN has a star sprinter on his hands after El Astronaute finally overcame the ‘luck of the draw’ to land the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Stakes on Dante Day at York.The five-year-old sprinter has been knocking on the door this season, but
IN 2015, the John Gosden-trained Golden Horn became the last horse to follow up a success in the Betfred Dante at York with a victory in the Investec Derby. Three years on, and Gosden will be hoping that lightning strikes twice. Same trainer, same route
A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been set up to support the families of two rugby players who died while on tour in Sri Lanka. Thomas Howard, 25, and Tom Baty, 26, who are both from Durham, fell ill on Sunday after returning from a night out. Mr
A TEENAGER has been sentenced for leading officers on what could be one of the slowest police chases to end up in court.On Thursday, April 19, Owen Collinson failed to make a get away after taking a tractor from his grandfather’s farm, where he lives
A COUPLE had to get a lift home in their swimwear after a thief broke into lockers at a leisure pool and stole their clothes and car key.Other customers at Splash in Stockton also had belongings – mobile phones, keys and money – taken by Adam Greener
INVESTMENT in North East transport links will send a message that the region is a strong place to do business, Transport Minister Chris Grayling has said.The Secretary of State for Transport officially opened the A1 Leeming to Barton stretch of motorway
Paralympic basketball hero Ade Adepitan has inspired thousands – now he’s keen to bring his motivational message to the next generation. He tells Hannah Stephenson about his kids’ books Ade Adepitan has an exciting summer ahead; he's got his wedding
Be creative and save money by growing your own flowers for cutting Harvesting flowers that you have grown yourself is much more rewarding than buying a bunch from the supermarket. Together with another apprentice, I’ve just finished harvesting
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare to move into their new marital home in Kensington Palace, Ruth Campbell enjoys a private tour and finds out what it’s like to be treated like a princess for a few days THE first Royal inhabitants of Kensington
Sci-fi thriller Anon sees Clive Owen as a detective in a near-future where everyone’s life is recorded. He asks Georgia Humphreys if the world the film portrays is that far from our ownClive Owen has a theory about being famous. The actor, 53, argues
A TEAM of sixth form footballers has won a trophy in its first season together. The boys from King James I Academy Sixth Form, in Bishop Auckland, had led the North East Colleges’ Development League for much of the season but, with just two league losses
A Very English Scandal marks Hugh Grant’s first return to the small screen since the early 90s, and the self-professed panicker has gone all out to impress viewers, he tells Gemma Dunn HUGH GRANT is about to tick off, what he calls, 'part three
MARKETS are showcasing all they have to offer as part of a national fortnight celebrating the benefits they bring to communities. Starting in Durham’s Market Place between 4pm and 9pm today, the Full Moon Market brings some of the finest street food chefs
YORK Minster is to host a live screening of a special service on May 22 to mark and reflect on the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack.The National Service of Commemoration at Manchester Cathedral will welcome a congregation including
A ‘PROFESSIONAL’ shoplifter was jailed for three years for threatening a store guard with a knife.Wayne Thomas, who has 68 convictions for 149 offences, left TK Maxx, on Dragonville Retail Park, in Durham, with £209-worth of perfume on September 14, last
A MAN hit a takeaway owner over the head with a dinner plate in a row over unpaid rent. Michael Baldwin, of Parmeter Street in Stanley, admitted one charge of common assault after following the victim into his takeaway kitchen after they'd argued
A MAN is free to enter a city again after he overturned his conviction for sexually molesting a woman at the city’s railway station.Kyler John McLoughlin, from Durham, described his conviction as “disastrous” during his appeal.The 23-year-old had been
A POTENTIALLY life-saving service has been targeted by vandals in Crook.Police are appealing for information after a data wire on the NHS Breast Screening Trailer was damaged at the Medical Centre, on Hope Street.Damage was caused sometime between Friday
REECE STYCHE'S looping swan dive into a tightly-packed drift of snow was certainly a moment to remember. The leap was after the Darlington striker had blasted the ball into the roof of the net to give his side a 1-0 lead over Chorley at Blackwell
A VILLAGE is to hold its annual assembly next week.Hurworth’s Annual Assembly will be held at Hurworth Grange on Wednesday, May 23 at 7pm.Residents are invited to have their say on subjects relating to the parish, and there will also be a free buffet
A COLLEAGUE described the Mayor of the Tees Valley as being “cock-a-hoop” when he was able to disclose that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement with airport owners Peel in time for his first anniversary press conference. It could have been
A DECADE-long project to conserve and restore the country’s largest expanse of medieval stained glass has been completed. The work on the 600-year-old Great East Window of York Minster has been an enormous task for the cathedral’s team of experts
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Jessica Patel. Cleveland Police have confirmed a 37-year-old man has been arrested in the West Yorkshire area. Jessica Patel, originally from the Leeds area, died in her home on The Avenue
WEST HAM UNITED are willing to pay the £6m release clause contained within Rafael Benitez’s contract if the Newcastle United manager agrees to leave St James’ Park in order to take over at the London Stadium. Having already spoken to Shakhtar Donetsk
WEDDING bells have rung out for the daughter of an African Chief after finding her dream dress 4,000 miles away in a charity shop. Edrin Dafiaghor, daughter of Chief and Mrs Jimmy Dafiaghor and second youngest of 21 children, celebrated her big
AN ADVENTUROUS North-East father-of-two has made it to the summit of the world's highest mountain. Self-employed heating engineer Steve Graham, from Darlington, reached the summit of Everest at 11.22am on Wednesday, with his family receiving the
'FIRE doesn't discriminate - neither do we'.That's the message from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue who have just unveiled this special fire engine which will be taking part in the York Pride parade on June 9. The designs were produced
A PRIDE event has been given the go ahead to play music following complaints from people living near the venue. The event in Durham is due to take place on Sunday, May 27 at The Sands, in the city centre.A licensing committee at Durham County Council
PEOPLE living and working near the scene of a major scrap yard fire in Sunderland earlier this week are being advised to take care and avoid the smoke as firefighters remain at the scenePublic Health England issued the caution following the fire at the
THE two recent writers who despise pigeons and seagulls, amongst many other creatures, and those who care about them, seem to have conveniently forgotten the huge part that gentle pigeons played in winning the First World War. Many were injured and killed
SCOTTISH Widows (insurance company) recently issued a report forecasting that many of tomorrow’s pensioners will never get on the property ladder and in retirement will have insufficient income to pay the ever increasing rent of private landlords. Their
IT WAS good to see a timely call for more male teachers in the early stages of education off the back of the recent National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) annual conference. As a male teacher myself, I was surprised to learn that we make up such
I AM appalled that you should publish such a hate-filled letter as that in today’s Echo (May 15) regarding the Royal Family and, especially without revealing the writer’s name. I deplore this practice. I am a monarchist although I realise that there are
HELEN Goodman MP says about meeting with a government minister in regards to Whitworth Park School in Spennymoor that: “This is a step in the right direction to protecting our education in Spennymoor.”I think Helen needs to go to County Hall and have
I DON’T normally agree with HAS correspondent John Cumberland especially when he has a go at my beloved Durham County Cricket Club but, I have to agree with him (HAS, May13) when he says “We are despised by the EU” so therefore have no chance whatsoever
NEWBY Hall’s Grade I listed 18th century Orangery has been formally reopened following a £500,000 restoration programme. Part funded by a grant of £90,000 from the Country Houses Foundation, an extensive reclamation programme started on the 18th
GARETH SOUTHGATE has claimed Jonjo Shelvey’s style of play was the key reason he was not included in England’s World Cup squad, rather than any worries over his disciplinary record. Southgate named the 23-man squad that will travel to Russia on
A DRINK and drug driver who was jailed after a crash which killed his friend has died in prison. Investigations are underway into the death of Tyrone Quinn, who was jailed for six years in 2016 after he admitted to causing death by dangerous driving
HARTLEPOOL UNITED’S retained list has been announced – with new boss Matthew Bates looking to drastically reshape his squad. Six players under contract have been made available, with three released. New deals have been offered to three players,
MEGHAN Markle's father will not be attending her wedding to Prince Harry, the American star has confirmed. In a statement released by Kensington Palace, the bride-to-be spoke of her sadness that Thomas Markle would miss her big day. "Sadly,
THE shallow nature of the Brexit debate shows no sign of abating as the comments in today's HAS (May 14) demonstrate. No facts, no figures, just entrenched camps. We won, you lost, get over it, is the standard cry from Leavers. Remainers and businesses
THE hunt is on for a young female performer to star in professional theatre performances across South West Durham this summer.Northern Heartlands, the Durham Great Place Scheme, is looking for a budding young female performer to share the stage with professionals
A MAN turned up at a distant cousin's home shouting homophobic insults and inviting him on to the street for a fight, a court heard. While David Robin Ellerton, 53, of Raby Road, Ferryhill, admitted the public order offence, he denied his motivation
CHILDREN at a Teesside primary school have created a display worthy of a Prince ahead of the Royal wedding. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry in Windsor on Saturday. The pupils at Captain Cook Primary School on Stokesley Road, Marton have
FIVE people appeared in court today charged with the murder of a man who was found dead at his home in Middlesbrough. The body 27-year-old Steven Willis, who is also known as Pickering, was discovered at Meadowcroft Drive in Normanby on April 16
ONE of the most captivating musicals of all time, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice’s Evita is returning to Newcastle Theatre Royal this month 22-26 May. An epic tale of love and ambition in 1950s Buenos Aires, Evita tells the story of Eva Perón
John Finnemore gives What's On 60 seconds... So, what actually happens in a Flying Visit? No actual flying, sadly. It’s me and the entire cast of my sketch show John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme performing some of our favourite sketches from
Gavin Havery discovers a bistro where quirkiness is high on the menu FED up of standardised chain restaurants, generic gastro pubs and samey takeaways?Me too. So when I heard, from more than one person, that Miss Nancy’s Bistro in Houghton-le-Spring was
FROM the moment a woman gives birth, she takes responsibility for all those things new parenthood is likely to entail. From feeding to story-telling and nappy changing, she may have spent months, if not years, preparing for it. But baby care manuals
A TAXI driver was robbed and punched after he picked up a fare. The Chevron Taxi driver who picked up a passenger in Horden, near Peterlee suffered a black eye and swelling to his face following the assault which happened in the Crimdon Dene area
Before its run at London’s Park Theatre, new comedy Monogamy can be seen in the region Monogamy, a new comedy by Torben Betts, can be seen at York Theatre Royal later this month as part of a short tour ahead of a London run. Olivier and Evening
Peter Mann catches up with arguably Britain’s biggest modern-day country acts, The Shires THEY are the first British act to ever win a prestigious Country Music award in Nashville, they have two Gold certified albums (and who’d bet against number
LEGAL staff have been discovering their inner chi in an initiative which ties them closer to a much-loved hospice.Close Thornton Solicitors practice in Darlington has supported the efforts of St Teresa’s Hospice for many years joining activities and raising
EMPEROR penguins huddle on an Antarctic ice sheet, metres from a perilously large crack in the surface.In Asia, there are floods and there are droughts, with their devastating effects on human life, with tens of millions of people to be made homeless
Durham band Edenthorn have just released their second album Exist. Mick Burgess chats to the band How long have you been playing music? We've all being playing music for a long time, especially me and Dylan. We have been playing since we were
IRISH dance has come a long way since Michael Flatley first launched it on the Eurovision stage back in 1994, and its popularity shows no sign of abating. Last night, Newcastle Theatre Royal welcomed back one of the most spectacular incarnations
IT'S the day of the royal wedding, which should be the perfect excuse for an old-fashioned cockney knees-up in the Vic (EastEnders, BBC1), even if Linda is refusing to let Mick show the FA Cup as well. Instead, tragedy strikes when two of the Square's
A FAMILY had quite a surprise when they were unpacking after returning home from a dream Disney holiday - when a tree frog leapt out of their swimming shorts as they opened the suitcase! The Woods family, from Holystone, North Tyneside, had been
THERE are problems even before the curtain has risen with Trevor from the production team searching the auditorium for missing dog Winston, a key player in Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s ambitious - some might say, justifiably, over-ambitious
A WOMAN who feared she would lose her foot after falling from her horse has thanked the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who came to her rescue. Caroline Baker, 27, from Hamsterley, County Durham, was horse riding through a field near
A SON threatened to 'f******' kill his mother on Christmas Day after wrongly believing she had taken his Xbox, a court heard. Alan Bryan Bowers, 44, of St Margaret's Garth, Durham, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and to a public order offence
Newsham's (Richmond) annual carnival week starts on Sunday 27th May. Sunday 27th May Tractor Rally. Entrance fee £15.00, includes bacon bum on arrival. Meet at Newsham Village Hall car park at 9:00am for a 9:30am start. Teas and bacon buns
MOTHERCARE is to swing the axe on 50 underperforming stores and re-hire the chief executive it sacked just weeks ago as part of a wide-ranging shake-up. The closures, which will result in hundreds of job losses, will be carried out through a company
POLICE investigating the murder of a pharmacist found dead in her Middlesbrough home have been carrying out investigations at the chemists shop where she worked. Murder probe into Middlesbrough woman's death Jessica Patel, 34, was found
MOTORISTS are facing delays this morning after four vehicles crashed on the A19. Live traffic updates One lane was blocked southbound between A689 Coal Lane and A1027, near Wolviston. Emergency services were called to the scene
A MAN who stabbed his former partner in a terrifying attack in her home was jailed for ten years after a court heard he was "mentally fragile" because she had lied about the death of their unborn baby. Barry Gardener was said to have been suffering
TWO men were left unconscious and a woman was punched in the face during an assault in Darlington over the bank holiday weekend. The incident is believed to have taken place at around 11.30pm on Sunday, May 6 at Park Place. Three males are
HOUSE of Fraser bosses are scrambling to secure the backing of furious landlords for the retailer's radical store closure plan following a volley of criticism. The department store chain is seeking approval for a restructuring plan known as a Company
A SUPERMARKET was forced to temporarily close last night after a man was causing "alarm and distress". Workers had to close the Tesco store on Leeholme Road in Billingham, near Stockton, at around 8.25pm due to concerns over a man's behaviour.
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a car was spotted being driven 'erratically' last night. Cleveland and Durham's Road Policing Unit (RPU) noticed the car, a Vauxhall Astra, travelling on the A19 northbound
PEOPLE of all ages can share their views about whether a council should try to create a new leisure facility for residents.Chilton Town Council will hold a public consultation event about a proposed community hub this weekend.Councillors decided to investigate
CLIFFE Cricket Club is a few miles west of Darlington, scenically situated near the south bank of the Tees and thus, contentedly, in North Yorkshire. When last we were there, summer of 2015, things were pretty parlous. Both teams finished bottom
DEAN RICHARDS will send Newcastle into Aviva Premiership semi-final battle with Exeter confident they have set the bar for a fresh challenge next season. The unfancied Falcons surprised many by muscling their way into the top four to set up the
A FRUSTRATED George Friend has issued a heartfelt apology to fans after Middlesbrough’s hopes of sealing a Premier League return at the first attempt ended in deep frustration and disappointment. Without a trip to Wembley, Boro will be stay in
LAST week’s column sought the identity of the only North-East born footballer to feature among the “100 game” men invited to Arsene Wenger’s Emirates farewell. Answers ranged from Lol Brown, Geoff Strong and George Armstrong – all of whom are dead
'WHETHER it is part of a franchise change or fleet rebranding our rail refurbishment services can suit your needs.' So runs an advert on the website of a graphics firm which specialises in giving railway rolling stock a fresh coat of paint.
A DRINK driver lost control of a car and crashed after trying to make off from police with almost twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system, a court heard.Sean Hodgson and a front seat passenger had to be helped from the Ford Focus which ended on
A CALL to reconsider the funding of the Tour de Yorkshire by council taxpayers has been rejected.Councillor Eric Broadbent, leader of the Labour group on North Yorkshire County Council told a meeting of the full authority there was a groundswell of opinion
A TEENAGER accused of conspiring to kill students and teachers carried out dozens of internet searches on school shootings, bomb-making, Nazism, guns and other violent content, even after being spoken to by police, a court heard yesterday. Prosecutors
PLANS to build even more homes in part of Middlesbrough have been approved – despite fears it will make the notorious 'Marton Crawl' even worse.Councillors agreed the controversial plans at a Middlesbrough council meeting after it was deferred
A DRUG used to treat excessive blood loss from major trauma and childbirth could transform the treatment of stroke patients, a study has found.Patients receiving tranexamic acid showed a reduction in the amount of bleeding on the brain, while early deaths
ANIMALS stuck up at height are the most common callout for fire brigade rescue missions in the North-East and Yorkshire, new figures have revealed. For many fire services, such as Cleveland Fire Brigade and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
POLICE found a disqualified driver when he abandoned his van after a chase - by following his footprints in the snow. Lewis Firth refused to stop for a patrol car in Darlington and sped around residential streets and through a red light at a crossing
A FOOTBALLER and his wife who set up a charity in memory of their son are holding another charity ball to raise funds. The Finlay Cooper Fund was set up by former Middlesbrough defender Colin Cooper and his wife, Julie, after the death of their
A SCHOOLBOY who lost his older sister to cancer has raised money to thank a charity for its support.Seven-year-old Archie Smith, from Lanchester, County Durham, raised more than £600 for The Sick Children’s Trust and Bethany’s Wish after organising a
TWO men have been jailed over involvement in potential high value commercial burglaries. Stuart Harris, 36, who took vehicles from a haulage company yard, plus cigarettes and alcohol in break-ins at two filling station shops, during the three-week
A NEW £2 million scheme has been launched to breathe life into town centres.The High Street Support Scheme will provide grant funding for existing businesses and support new businesses to set up in our town centres and create jobs around the Redcar and
EAST Durham College’s annual spring show returns to its Houghall campus in Durham this weekend.The annual event featuring a range of family-friendly activities takes place from 10am to 4pm on SundayVisitors will be able to tour the college’s multi-million-pound
A COMMUNITY group has been given more than £10,000 to help run lunch clubs, befriending schemes and a gardening service to try and reduce social isolation in Durham.King’s Church Durham’s Achor community tries to reduce social isolation and build community
A VILLAGE school site will close this year amid criticisms that government funding is putting budgets under pressure. From September, children attending school in Sherburn Hill will have to travel to neighbouring Sherburn Village following a decision
FORTY-eight hours of music has seen enough money raised to carry out a full refurbishment of a hospital's chemotherapy ward.The Music v Cancer Weekender saw several bands and performers entertain crowds in Hartlepool's Grand Hotel in a bid to
A THRIVING tennis club’s upgraded facilities have been officially declared open by local MP Rishi Sunak.Great Ayton Tennis Club recently completed the refurbishment of the playing surface on three of its five courts and laid the foundations for further
A CARE worker confronted the parents of her sister's partner after a car damage incident, a court heard. Joanne Wray, 26, of Appleby Close, Darlington, was found guilty of a public order offence by magistrates and was fined £207, ordered to pay
THE winners of a historic football tournament will be crowned for the 50th time today.The Ayresome Park Cup Final will take place at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon between the under 15 boys of Middlesbrough and Stockton.The final is the 50th staging
A WAR veteran who was given less than one year to live just months after the all-clear hopes he will make it to his tenth wedding anniversary. Mark Lyle was starting to enjoy life again in September having initially fought off stomach cancer but
A MOBILE changing room is to be made available for events across North Yorkshire thanks to contributions from the county council’s locality budget.Changing places are facilities designed for people with severe or multiple disabilities. The mobile changing
MOST people approach retirement with the thought of putting their feet up – but Alan Mackinnon is marking his with a marathon trek to raise money for a hospice care charity. In June, less than a month after retiring from his job as a financial
FIREFIGHTER Chris Lazenby is taking on a challenge which will see him climbing 80 flights of stairs in full kit, in the heat of a New York summer, to raise money for charity.Chris, from Helmsley is a retained firefighter - a role which led him to visit
A FORMER councillor still campaigning to help the community has plans to stand as a Labour representative in the next election. Community centre trustee, Martin Landers is keen to reprise his role as Red Hall councillor competing in Darlington's
THREE popular youth clubs will run for at least three more years after a housing association extended funding for them.Broadacres has traditionally funded the youth clubs in Northallerton, Thirsk and Stokesley on a year-by-year basis.But after entering
ACTION is being taken to ensure the true extent of hate crime in North Yorkshire is revealed.The county's police and crime commissioner, Julia Mulligan, wants to establish exactly what the position is - and ensure there is more and better support
DARLINGTON'S town centre water feature - which was switched off two years ago due to budget cuts - will run again this summer. The Cascade, the water feature on High Row, will be switched on again as part of plans to make the town centre more attractive
SPECIAL educational needs and disabled (SEND) students will be charged for home to school transport, councillors have agreed, despite being told it would be a body blow to “the unfortunate”.North Yorkshire County Council members voted to introduce £490
A NORTH-East university has decided it will no longer employ staff on nine-month contracts. The move by Durham University follows a campaign against the casualisation of teaching staff, Jon Bryan, from the University and College Union, said
A NORTH-East authority has revealed a £30,000 plan to commemorate the centenary of the First World War by creating a light installation. Durham County Council agreed to fund two projects marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the war at a
BUSINESSES have been urged to sign up for a skills event.The seventh Tees Valley Skills and STEM event will take place at Teesside University's Olympia Building on Thursday, July 5.The event will be hosted by Tees Valley Combined Authority, in partnership
