A FIREFIGHTER suffered burns and a suspected concussion in a minor explosion at a transport haulage company. The crew member was injured while responding to the serious blaze at the Ramshaw Removals premises on Swan Street, in Evenwood, near Bishop
DARLINGTON are on the verge of making their third summer signing and it should be completed this weekend.Manager Tommy Wright is close to adding a forward to his ranks, a player who can also play on the left-wing and previously played for him at Nuneaton
THE great rail timetable fiasco has claimed its first victim with the resignation of Charles Horton, chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). At the time of writing, he is the only senior rail official to have fallen on his sword after weeks
THE British Touring Car Championship – the UK’s biggest motorsport series – is Yorkshire-bound next weekend (June 23-24) as the country’s fastest drivers rev into Croft Circuit, near Darlington. Fancy a slice of the high-octane action? Then read on
A CRIMINAL caught in the street with a knife tried to claim he had dropped it during a house move.But a judge told Adam Lee – convicted twice before for having a blade in public as well as two firearms offences: "I find it hard to accept given your
A PENSIONER has told how a mugging attempt at a cashpoint machine has had a devastating impact on her life. The 74-year-old struggled with Gary Innes as he tried to grab £140 from her hands outside of a shop in Hartlepool town centre. Innes
WITH a smile and a little laugh, Josh Kelly was keen to paint the picture that he doesn’t actually deserve to live up to his “pretty boy” nickname. “I don’t wax my eyebrows or anything like that, that’s not me!” he said. That seems to be the message
THERE has been a King's Head in the centre of Darlington ever since the king lost his head in 1649. The King's Head has been celebrating its 125th anniversary – a landmark for one of the town’s finest landmarks. The existing building opened on
BOYZONE will be performing in the North-East as part of their farewell tour.The Irish pop stars saying Thank You and Goodnight with a new album and tour after six number one singles, five number one albums and nearly three decades together.The band burst
STEWART DONALD remains confident Sunderland will successfully remodel their squad this summer, despite having suffered a frustrating start to the transfer window. The Black Cats had hoped to have made considerable progress in the last couple of
Joint Dukes ECB North East Regional Premier League leaders Chester-le-Street travel to Eppleton, with skipper John Coxon delighted with his team’s performance in last week’s win over Stockton. He said: “Stephen Cantwell was particularly impressive with
A TEACHER has pleaded guilty to charges related to possession of indecent images of children and engaging children in sexual activity.Richard Clark, 29, from the Thirsk area, appeared at York Crown Court on Friday morning, June 15, charged with two counts
WHEN Stuart Hall returns to the ring in Newcastle tonight there will be two things driving him on. First he would love to prove that at 38 there is life in the older hands yet, but secondly the mention of the McDonnell name still gets him going.
A FIRST World War hero who was awarded the highest military medal for bravery 100 years ago was honoured in his home village today. A memorial paving stone commemorating Victoria Cross holder, Second Lieutenant John Scott Youll, was unveiled during
AN Ofsted inspection at a £9m free school found a hard core of pupils displayed “riotous behaviour” and roamed the premises in a “predatory manner”.The Discovery School in Newcastle, which hit the headlines after losing a pupil on a trip to London, announced
NEWCASTLE UNITED are keen to re-sign Andros Townsend, but the Magpies will have to finally break their long-standing transfer record to prise the winger from Crystal Palace. Townsend left St James’ Park in the summer of 2016 when Palace triggered
QUEUES formed at Boro’s club shop yesterday morning as fans waited to get their hands on the team’s latest kit.At 6.30am, season ticket holders were already waiting outside the Riverside Stadium’s shop in anticipation of the kit’s release.Teesside celebrities
A POPULAR former teacher with a thirst for knowledge and the ability to inspire his students with his enthusiasm for learning has been laid to rest.Ian Strachan Hughes, 69, died peacefully at home on June 3 surrounded by friends, after a long illness.Hundreds
AN international spotlight continues to shine on County Durham as some of the region’s most famous artworks extend their first foreign tour. Francisco de Zurbarán’s life-size paintings of Jacob and His Twelve Sons, which are usually found in Auckland
CONSTRUCTION has started on a development site injecting £12m into the area. Housebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has begun work in Darlington transforming a former stable site. More than 80 homes are being built in Red Hall, including two and three-bedroom
LESLIE GRANTHAM was known to millions of viewers for his role as adulterous Queen Vic landlord Dirty Den. More than 30 million viewers tuned in to see Den Watts serve divorce papers to wife Angie (Anita Dobson) in the famous episode on Christmas Day
AN MP has expressed his frustration about delays to the completion of works on the A1 upgrade scheme in North Yorkshire.More than two months after the final section of the three-lane motorway section opened near Catterick, work is still continuing on
Entries are invited for the annual Bottoms Up Cup, which is arranged by Washington Running Club. The 5k race takes place at 11am on Sunday, July 8 at St Robert’s School in Washington and is a mixture of trail and path in and around Princess Anne
THE World Cup is well and truly underway in Russia and Bet Victor brand ambassador Michael Owen has again shared his thoughts with The Northern Echo on who he feels will be lifting the trophy in Moscow next month. Who will win the World Cup?In recent
A MOTORBIKE racer has had a meeting with royalty during a successful week at one of the biggest events on the calendar. Daley Mathison, who lives in Stockton, finished second in the TT Zero Race, part of the 2018 Isle of Man TT Festival which took
ACTOR Leslie Grantham, who played "Dirty" Den Watts in EastEnders, has died aged 71. A statement from his representative said: "We formally announce the loss of Leslie Grantham, who passed away at 10.20am on the morning of Friday 15 June 2018.
LOVE Island star Chris Hughes is ready for the biggest challenge of his life when he rides in the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan Ride of their Lives at York on Saturday.The popular celebrity has a long-held love of horses and went to school with the
IF there’s one thing my teenage sons have always hated, even more than being forced to get up before lunchtime, having their headphones removed from their ears or being made to change their socks and underpants, it’s shopping. Particularly shopping
Columnist and trained counsellor Fiona Caine offers her advice to a grieving widow, and a woman whose father and boyfriend don’t get on.MY dad has never liked my boyfriend. In the first few months of our relationship, things gradually went from bad to
TERRY TUCKER (HAS, June 11) blames doctors and solicitors for the pittance Durham Miners received from the compensation scheme set upon their behalf. Miners should have received all of their entitlement.Durham NUM referred thousands of miners to a local
IMAGES of four potential witnesses to a suspected manslaughter investigation following the death of a woman. Cleveland Police want to speak to them in connection with the death of Hilary Simmons - known to her colleagues as 'Tesco mummy' following
I AM not sure whether Chris Moncrieff believes anything he writes or does it to agitate the Echo’s more sensible readers.It is clear that he is a Boris the Buffoon sycophant but for him to believe (Echo, June 12) that Johnson’s latest ‘leaked’ Brexit
It’s derby day for the majority of teams, as the top flight enters the ninth round of games. The biggest rivalry comes at Park Drive, where Hartlepool take on Seaton Carew, in a huge game for both clubs as they try to push themselves away from the relegation
A STAR Wars themed coffee shop will bring a touch of New Zealand style cafe culture to Darlington. Opened on Clark's Yard earlier this month, Echo 3 has a name inspired by the owners' love of Empire Strikes Back and a range of coffee inspired by
A FORMER council chairman will face no further action following a complaint about how he ran a meeting. Ferryhill Town Councillor John Lindsay was accused of failing to behave reasonably and respectfully and of being potentially intimidatory at
Here's a few ideas of what to do this weekend Decostruttori Postmodernisti, Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, on Saturday, 7.30pm Decostruttori Postmodernisti (or DP if you prefer) will be performing well-known contemporary and classic pieces
MARK Cavendish will fine tune his Tour de France preparations by competing at the forthcoming 2018 HSBC UK | National Road Championships in Northumberland, British Cycling has announced. The Dimension Data rider will compete in the road race on
AN Ofsted inspection at a £9m free school found a hard core of pupils displayed "riotous behaviour" and roamed the premises in a "predatory manner". The Discovery School in Newcastle, which hit the headlines after losing a pupil on a trip to London
A MAN had a corrosive substance thrown at him by a couple in a street attack. Around 2am on Saturday, June 9, the man in his early 20s was assaulted on Front Street, Consett. "He was stood on the pavement between Chaplains and The Whistle Blower
WHO has come up with the idea of removing the present bollards situated in Bishop Auckland from theatre corner down the whole of each side of the Newgate Street into the market place?My family and all of our friends are appalled at their removal without
BINNS, Marks and Spencer’s, BHS, Woolworths etc. closures are due to the public not having wages to pay the high prices they charge.I’m sick of Brexit being blamed for something that’s been happening since I remember. In the 1980s/1990s Walter Wilsons
I AM saddened to hear of the death of North-East football hero Stan Anderson.I remember Stan best for delivering the goods as Middlesbrough manager, on 16th May 1967, when Boro won the greatest game I ever witnessed at Ayresome Park. Of course, I refer
IT is to be hoped at the forthcoming judicial review, being held next week in Leeds, moves in favour of the library staying where it is in Crown Street. In recent weeks so many changes are happening in our town centre with news of our large national stores
Michelle Castles’ creative talent was spotted at her final degree show at Sunderland. Now she has a growing reputation as a sculptor across the country and further afield MICHELLE CASTLES' dynamic creations have been exhibited across the UK, from
MIDDLESBROUGH and Sunderland have been handed home draws in the first round of the Carabao Cup.Boro will entertain Notts County after they were drawn with the League Two side in yesterday's draw, which was staged in Vietnam.Sunderland will host Championship
THE next meeting of Barnard Castle Town Council will be held at the council offices in Woodleigh, Barnard Castle, on Monday, June 18. The Planning Committee will meet at 5.30pm followed by a full council meeting a 6pm. Members of the public are invited
A MAN is seeking help to trace a half-sister he has never met.Eight months ago, Paul Treadaway discovered he may have another sibling living in the Spennymoor area, and he now is appealing to anyone in the area who may be able to help him to get in touch.His
A GREYHOUND rescue charity has made an urgent appeal for people to provide welcoming homes for the loveable breed. Billie Jo Duncan of Greyhound Rescue NorthEast made the call as the centre finds itself looking after more retired racers and abandoned
PARENTS have spoken of their disgust after children were separated from a school’s Father’s Day event because they had no male role model with them. They said their children came home upset and distressed following the special lunch at Cockfield
A TEMPORARY building has divided opinion in a town after being put up to house a garden centre which had been destroyed by fire. Strikes Garden Centre, on the outskirts of Stokesley, was hit by a ferocious blaze in April this year, which destroyed
MORE than 20 million people could suffer hay fever this summer as unusually high levels of pollen sweep across the UK. Grass pollen, which is the worst culprit for causing symptoms and affects 95% of sufferers, is set to reach its peak. The
Predicted to attract up to one-and-a-half million visitors this summer, it’s hoped the Tall Ships Race will help cement Sunderland’s resurgence. Sarah Millington meets project director Michelle Daurat IT’S a sunny morning, and the view from the
DARLINGTON'S Dance Festival will continue with a performance focusing on male mental health.The Darlington Dance Festival Association is working with Hit the Ground Running and several dance schools to stage Macho, an all-male performance aiming
Nargisse Benkabbou is kick-starting Britain’s modern Moroccan food revolution, and it’s about far more than just tagines, the food blogger tells Ella Walker YOU might think you know what couscous is, but Nargisse Benkabbou is about to change all
The model and mother Twiggy speaks to Gabrielle Fagan about life, love, health and standing up for herself as a shy teenager in the Sixties SHE'S the iconic model who will forever be known as the 'face' of the Sixties, but in the five decades since
NEWCASTLE It has become increasingly clear that Rafael Benitez will not have a huge pot of money at his disposal this summer, with Mike Ashley adamant he will not increase Newcastle United’s current debt level while he remains keen to sell the
If you're after your next good read, Zoe Ball is here to help. The radio presenter and TV host is launching her very own book club with a little bit of help from some of her celebrity friends. She tells Kerri-Ann Roper why she's so passionate about
DEVANTE Rodney has become the third player in a week to leave Hartlepool United, after he signed for Salford City. As The Northern Echo revealed last weekend, the attacker has signed for the newly-promoted National League side with Pools picking
A PETERLEE schoolgirl who has been sent straight through to the live shows on America's Got Talent said the experience "felt like a dream". Courtney Hadwin, 13, of Hesleden, east Durham, wowed judges on the show and became a social media sensation
Ditching some of those ultra-toxic formulas for something more natural doesn't have to be a huge chore, as Abi Jackson finds out. Want a clean, sparkly home - but keen to avoid harsh, overly toxic cleaning products? There are certain environments
RECORD numbers of schoolchildren took on a country park and hilly city streets in the finals of an Olympics-inspired sports initiative. More than 1,200 youngsters made it to the finals of the 2018 Warrens Sedgefield Dash! and Durham Dash! this
Himalayan poppies grow in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world – which is why they thrive in Yorkshire winters AT this time of the year if you take a walk along the lower section of the sandstone rock garden and streamside at Harlow
Long-awaited Pixar sequels, nail-biting action movies and the all-female Ocean’s 8 - plenty of exciting blockbusters arrive in cinemas in the next couple of months. Georgia Humphreys has the low-down It's been a year brimming with box-office successes
Two of the nation’s favourite comedians tour some of the UK’s finest riverbanks in their new show, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. The old friends talk to Georgia Humphreys YOU might wonder how a programme about fishing could be particularly
GARY Ballance set up Yorkshire with a Royal London Cup semi-final showdown against Hampshire on Monday courtesy of a match-winning innings that knocked the wind out of Essex’s sails.The Vikings’ 259 for seven was underpinned by a fifth-wicket stand of
JUNO-award winning, Prince Edward Island based The East Pointers release the video for their latest single, “Two Weeks”. The single appears on their sophomore LP What We Leave Behind, out now. The band had this to say about the making of the “Two Weeks
I WONDER what a venom spitting, establishment bashing Johnny Rotten would have made of the prospect of a 40th anniversary tour back at the height of the foundation shaking explosion of the Sex Pistols back in 1977?The Pistols may have flickered very brightly
The Crystal Maze: Celebrity Special (Channel 4, 9pm)Even if you're not a footy fan, chances are you'll recognise former soccer star Dennis Wise from his time in the jungle last year.Constantly lampooned by Dec (formerly of Ant and Dec fame) for
STOBART has sacked former chief executive Andrew Tinkler from the board and begun legal proceedings against him amid a deepening rift at the top of the firm. The biomas and airports business said on Thursday that it had terminated Mr Tinkler's
CHIEF Sports Writer Scott Wilson is taking on local businesses in The Northern Echo World Cup 2018 Predictions game. Before each day's play Scott will make his predictions and we want businesses to try and beat him at his own game. For today's
TWO people were taken to hospital following a fire at a block of flats. Emergency services rushed to Wheatfield Lane in Haxby on Thursday after a fire broke out in a two-storey building. Eight fire crews were sent to tackle the flames after
VEHICLES were seized, fines issued and arrests made as police stopped more than 40 motorists during a day of action recently. Durham Constabulary has detailed the results of Operation Basingstoke, which saw volunteer officers from the Cleveland
QUEUES are forming at Boro’s club shop this morning as fans wait to get their hands on the team’s latest kit. At 6.30am, people were seen waiting outside the Riverside Stadium’s shop in anticipation of the kit’s release at 8am. Celebrities
A FIRE at a removals firm in the centre of a village has been brought under control. Emergency services including police and fire were still in attendance on Friday morning. Latest: Firefighter injured tackling incident at haulage firm
A MAN has been found dead in a property in North Yorkshire. Officers were called shortly after 7pm on Wednesday and found 39-year-old man dead at a property on Sowerby Road, Sowerby, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire Police said. A spokeswoman for
A FORMER pub landlord has appeared in court charged with five counts of sexual assault. Tony Furphy, 48, gave his address in court as Baydale Beck Inn, Gate Lane, Low Coniscliffe near Darlington, although The Northern Echo understands he no longer
CHARGES on public toilets have raised £11,000 for a district council since it was introduced in November 2017.Richmondshire District Council said income from the toilets had raised the cash in just four months.Income from the kerbside collection of green
CAMPAIGNERS will take on Darlington’s council when the battle to save a historic library returns to court next week. On Monday, the Grade II listed Crown Street Library will be at the heart of a two day hearing in Leeds, presided over by a High
A RESCUE team has taken the unusual step of helping an elderly man up an iconic hill rather than down.Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team discovered that one of their supporters, Keith Stubbs, who has raised money for the team and is a friend of a team member
NEW plans for a controversial piggery at neighbouring County Durham farms have been put forward. If approved, the application by farmer Tim Bates, for company G&M Westgarth, would allow him to keep up to 3,000 pigs at Biggin Farm and Hill House
IN a new feature we take a look at cycle shops in the area and speak with their owners. This week Steve Cowley of Cowley Cycles in Northallerton What is the name of your store and where is it located? Cowley Cycles, which is situated in Zetland
A GROUP of farmers are helping to pilot a new environmental scheme which will see them being paid for improving meadows and habitats. During the training session at Dale View Farm, at Thornton Rust, Wensleydale, this week, farmers were shown how to &
A MAJOR drink and drug driving campaign has been launched by police involving extra patrols and the targetting of known offenders.The campaign will see North Yorkshire Police officers out in force, carrying out stop checks at all times of the day including
THE 40TH North Yorkshire County Show is taking place this weekend, the first major show of the season in the area.The event will open its gates to the public on Sunday, June 17, at the Camp Hill Estate near Bedale, where it is taking place for the second
Child trappedFIREFIGHTERS came to the rescue of a woman who was locked out of her house on Ailcey Road, Ripon, while a child was inside at 8.33am on Wednesday. Crews used manpower to gain access via a first floor window to reunite the pair.Theatre fundsLADIES
THE campaign being backed by Bishop Auckland St Mary’s Juniors in conjunction with Balance, the North East Alcohol Office is truly commendable. They are using the start of the World Cup to highlight the damage that alcohol marketing can have on
MAJOR gas works are expected to bring disruption to a North-East town.The 18-week project by Northern Gas Networks in Belasis Avenue, Billingham, Teesside, is to upgrade the local gas distribution network. In order to complete the scheme safely and efficiently
AN MP claims town centre traders have been left “high and dry” by a council executive decision to push ahead with cuts to car parking concessions.Middlesbrough Borough Council is to end two hours free parking at the Zetland and Station Street car parks
A MARKET town will be transported back to the 1940s next week.Barnard Castle’s annual 1940s Weekend returns on Friday, June 22 and promises fun for all the family. The fun starts at TCR The Hub in Shaw Bank at 7pm on Friday, with a concert by the Vintage
A CONTROVERSIAL move by a council to save £1.4m by handing over 33 libraries to varying levels of community responsibility has been hailed a success.A review of the North Yorkshire County Council cost-cutting measure has found there had been “no significant
DEVELOPERS behind a £16m scheme to transform a former prison to a “leisure and retail destination” have asked for planners views on their scheme, ahead of a public consultation.Wykeland Group have asked Hambleton District Council for a screening opinion
THE fascinating story of how a Teesdale village lent its name to a new town in the USA is set to be revealed. That’s after members of the Evenwood, Ramshaw and District History Society discovered that their village of Evenwood had inspired the
A PIECE of music written in honour of a young soldier who died in the First World War is being premiered in his home town next week. Sunday school teacher John Edgar was fatally injured during a direct hit on a western front trench on October 5
THE chairman of an influential committee is pressing a council to consider introducing 20mph limits in side streets across a county to cut casualties.Councillor Mike Jordan, who leads North Yorkshire County Council’s transport, economy and environment
A CHARITY night celebrating Consett’s Irish connections is being held in aid of Willow Burn Hospice. Eat Drink and Be Irish is being held at The Demi Sports Bar, Consett, Durham on Friday, June 29 from 7.30pm. There will be authentic Irish
A JUNIOR football club has backed a North-East campaign urging for time to be called on alcohol sports sponsorship in time for the World Cup.Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, is highlighting the damaging influence that alcohol marketing and sports
A FREE family fun day is to take place in Richmond later this month to celebrate Armed Forces Day.Members of the Pop Up Shed are hosting the event at The Station on June 30 from 10am until 4pm to showcase the Shed’s work.The Pop Up Shed is a free scheme
THE new boss of a railway museum hopes to forge stronger community links and reinvigorate its programme of events.Locomotion in Shildon has appointed Sarah Price as its new head– the first senior appointment since moving into the management of the Science
A BAND whose annual march has delighted residents for decades is appealing for donations to ensure the tradition continues.Stanhope Silver Band marches through the Weardale town every September on its way to Stanhope Show.However, in recent years, the
A CHARITY supporting North-East veterans is moving forward with plans to safeguard its future. County Durham-based Finchale Group, which provides support to people trying to get back into work, has announced plans to move its headquarters to Belmont
PLANS to turn a family house into student accommodation were refused after councillors described them as a drain on communities.The application to convert a house in St Joseph’s Close, Gilesgate, Durham was unanimously rejected by members of Durham County
THE game Fortnite has been in the headlines over the last two weeks, from England footballers talking about how they play the game in their down time ahead of the World Cup, to parents voicing fears about their children becoming so addicted to it that
A YOUTH charity raising awareness of sexual health and the global impact of AIDS has been invited to a debate at the House of Lords.RAID will join MPs, academics, charities and those working in international development at the International Development
Travel writer Tommy Walker, aka the Wandering Walker, has spent the last six years travelling the world. In his latest article, he visits Cancun and Cuba, and argues you should experience both in one tripIT’S no secret that travel has got bigger in recent
NORMALLY a road cyclist, I have been taking the route less travelled recently. Whereas I am usually to be found traversing our A-roads and country lanes, I have instead been heading off into the wilds. For that kind of trek you need something
COUNCIL house tenants in Richmondshire are increasingly satisfied with their housing service according to a new survey.Members of the authority’s corporate board heard this week that all the council’s housing tenants were surveyed during September and
‘A-HAPPY-GO-LUCKY’ teenager who died of leukaemia will be remembered at a charity night on what would have been his 40th birthday.Wilson Whittaker, from Bishop Auckland, was 13 when he was diagnosed with the disease and tragically died just a week later
