Archive

HAVING followed last Saturday’s 4-2 win at Brackley with Wednesday’s scintillating attacking display against Blyth Spartans, Darlington would like more of the same when they travel to Kidderminster Harriers today. Manager Tommy Wright hopes by naming

A MAN who raped a woman and repeatedly punched her as she held a young child has been jailed. Scott Findlay subjected his victim to a “prolonged and harrowing” attack. At York Crown Court, Judge Simon Hickey sent the 27-year-old, from Ferryhill

MOVING to a new club heralds a fresh start for any player, though for Alex Henshall signing for Darlington not only represents a new beginning, it comes at a time when his life is changing significantly for the 24-year-old. The winger joined in

IT is often said that if you wear Newcastle United’s number nine shirt, you carry the hopes of an entire city on your shoulders. For Salomon Rondon, however, a high weight of expectation is nothing new. From the moment he left his Venezuelan homeland

A SUPERMARKET employee has pleaded guilty to fraud after taking thousands of pounds from his employer. Stephen John Elliott worked at two Sainsbury's stores in West Auckland and the Arniston Centre, in Durham, where he committed the crimes. Elliott

A PENSIONER has sustained a broken ankle and a broken rib after being punched and kicked by two men. The 67-year-old man was assaulted in broad daylight after being approached at around 5pm on Monday, August 13. He had been walking along Murray

IN August 1958 The Northern Echo announced that Seamus O'Connell had decided to join my team Crook Town, and even though I was only 8 years of age, I thought it was brilliant news, writes John Phelan. After an Amateur Cup quarter final defeat to

A MAN has been left counting the cost of selling illegal counterfeit cigarettes to trading standards officers on three separate occasions. Richard Kelly also had more than 2,000 counterfeit cigarettes stashed in a footstool at his home in Sunnybrow

HOUSE OF FRASER collapsed owing creditors such as Armani, Diesel and Prada a total of £484m, new documents have shown. The department store chain was bought out of administration by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct last week, but the retail tycoon is

POLICE are looking for a man in connection with an assault in Peterlee. They were called just before 10am on Friday to an incident of domestic assault and criminal damage.  A number of officers are in the town as they look for a man in connection

VICTIMS of hate crimes are being urged to report incidents after a Muslim woman was abused in the street. The incident happened last Thursday in Gateshead when she was walking with her family in the town centre. She was approached by someone

A RAILWAY carriage which survived over six decades as a house and a steam locomotive that helped to win the Second World War are returning to service this weekend. Both launches are taking place at Tanfield Railway’s Mining Heritage Weekend, which

PAUL CHUCKLE carried his brother Barry's coffin as close friends and family attended the funeral of the veteran entertainer in their Rotherham home town. Rotherham United and Chuckle Brothers fans also lined the streets outside the New York Stadium

A THANKSGIVING event has been organised by Middlesbrough’s Hindu community to honour members of the Armed Forces. The Hindu Cultural Society has invited military personnel to join them for their Armed Forces Raksha Bandhan Day on Monday, August

PHONE scammers posed as police officers in a bid to trick householders into handing over their bank details. Durham police said that twice, in the space of 15 minutes at lunchtime today, scammers tried the tactic during calls to homes in the Bishop

WITH only around a year to go until the PPI deadline, now's the time to decide whether you want to make a claim. Vicky Shaw has the low-down. August marks the one-year countdown to the deadline for making a PPI claim - and with millions of policies

INVITED guests enjoyed a garden walk, talk and supper with Tom Stuart Smith at Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas. The renowned landscape designer recently transformed the Grade II* listed kitchen garden on the North Yorkshire Georgian country estate

A TOWN centre street has been cordoned off by police after a man was assaulted in the early hours of the morning. Police have taped off part of Gladstone Street in Darlington to carry out enquiries following the incident. The man was taken

THE colours of the rainbow flowed through Darlington’s centre on Monday, as the town’s first Pride march was held. Hundreds took to the streets in a lively show of solidarity, vibrant with glitter, glamour and confidence. The march saw people

WITH lots of town centre shops closing, it made me want to write to you about Bondgate Methodist church cafe. I am a regular user of the cafe but unfortunately it is to be closed at the end of August, after serving the public for 25 years.

ENGLAND captain Joe Root has announced Ben Stokes will return for the third Specsavers Test after being cleared of affray at Bristol Crown Court. Stokes, who was acquitted just three days ago after a case which began almost 11 months earlier following

A COMMUNITY art centre's funding campaign has got off to a flying start. Bosses at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, launched their Investing in the Witham appeal earlier this month in a bid to protect against closure fears. The centre, which needs

YOUR reporting of research findings indicating that certain game keeping activities benefit endangered upland bird species like the curlew ‘Upland bird populations are reliant on moors protection’ (Echo, Aug 14) failed to tell the whole story when

DEANDRE YEDLIN will not be involved in Newcastle United's game at Cardiff City tomorrow. Yedlin damaged his knee in the closing stages of last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Totenham at St James' Park. Scans have shown that the American full-back

(CHRIS Moncrieff's) column never fails to amaze me (Echo, Aug 14). Firstly he talks about Boris just taking the mickey. If he took that further and checked the meaning and origin of the word he advocates taking the p*** out of religion, which

KARL Burke believes Laurens is in the form of her life ahead of her bid for glory in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday. The daughter of Siyouni bids to complete a Group One hat-trick, having landed the Prix Saint-Alary and the Prix de Diane

A £63,000 play park remains padlocked shut because a council says it cannot afford to open it on a morning. The children’s play park just off Fulbeck Road in Netherfields, Middlesbrough, was opened in August 2010 by the then Middlesbrough mayor

It’s first against second and third against fourth in the Dukes ECB North East Premier League. Chester-le-Street sit in second and if they are to have any hopes of winning the title they have to see off leaders South North at home today. Skipper

WOLVES could hand a debut to club-record signing Adama Traore when they make the short trip to Leicester for their Premier League clash on Saturday. The former Middlesbrough winger came in on the eve of the transfer deadline and did not feature

There are just five games remaining, and the title race is still wide open as just 27 points divide the top three. Great Ayton lead the way with 288 points and welcome Middlesbrough to Leven Park. Skipper Jon Grainge said: “I was pleased to retain

POLICE investigating a series of alleged thefts from vehicles are appealing for anyone with CCTV to come forward. The alleged incidents happened between midnight and 4.30am on Tuesday, August 14 in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton. Officers would

A TEAM of military men from the region and beyond is taking part in a sponsored bike ride from London to Paris to raise money for charity. Six men are getting ready to saddle up for the four day challenge clocking up to 130km a day on two wheels

FOUR men have been arrested in connection with an investigation into the theft of thousands of pounds from a 74-year-old woman. The incident happened at an address on Fulthorpe Road in Norton, near Stockton, at around 1.30pm on Tuesday, August

NEW recruits can join two firefighter cadet groups which equip young people with important life skills. Weardale Area Action Partnership gave £10,000 towards uniforms and specialist hoses and equipment for Wolsingham and Stanhope Fire Cadets.

INTERSERVE has won a £105 million contract for two new facilities at Durham University. The outsourcer will design, build, finance and operate two new campus facilities over a 51-year period, acting as part of a consortium that includes Equitix

MOTORISTS are warned to expect delays and parking restrictions when 16 weeks of work to replace ageing gas pipes starts on Monday. Northern Gas Networks will invest £150,000 to upgrade the distribution network in and around Cockton Hill Rod, Bishop

A PROPERTY developer at the centre of a controversial planning application has said he wants to preserve an Edwardian school’s ‘natural architectural beauty’. Bashar Al-Issa’s recent plan to create a 109-bed hostel in the former Greenland Community

A POLICE officer has slammed vandals who left a grieving mother devastated after they damaged a bench installed in memory of her late daughter. The bench was installed in Saltwell Park, Gateshead, after the death of 13-year-old Grace in 2015.

THE new Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police says officer numbers will reach their highest level in years within months. Lisa Winward was formally approved as Chief Constable on Wednesday, after taking on the role temporarily when Dave Jones

We had few surprises in the opening weekend of the Premier League season with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool impressing and Manchester United and Spurs more workmanlike. Bet Victor Brand Ambassador Michael Owen again shared his thoughts

HOUSE of Fraser has apologised to customers after cancelling all orders placed online. The beleaguered retailer said it had wiped all orders that had not already been sent to customers and would be issuing refunds. The move comes after the

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley wants his players to bounce back at home to AFC Telford United in the Vanarama National League. Moors are without a win this season in four league games after losing at Bradford Park Avenue on Tuesday night on the

Shildon manager Danny Moore is hoping that new signing Keith Graydon can provide them with some consistency as they prepare to face Newcastle Benfield at Dean Street today. Graydon is a former Spennymoor team mate of Moore when they won the Northern

FLOWER beds in a Newton Aycliffe park have been vandalised, leading to an angry reaction on social media. Great Aycliffe Town Council said plants were pulled up, thrown around and the beds were "severely trampled" in St Oswald's Park, off Wren

Richmond Town Football Club RICHMOND Town made it three wins from their opening three games with a convincing 5-0 win at Earls Orchard with Sam Bainbridge and Ryan Booth both scoring their first goals for the club either side of a Scott Ryan hat

A JUNIOR athletics team cleared a host of injury hurdles to compete finish in the top five of a national competition. The team from Northallerton School finished fourth in the English Schools’ Athletics Championships in Hull. Head of sports faculty

FRIDAY afternoon saw the British Pony Team, competing as Team LeMieux, take the Team Gold at the Pony European Championships at Bishop Burton. The Brits came into the team competition in a strong position after two riders returned home with clears

AN AMATEUR horse rider has secured her place in a prestigious show celebrating equine excellence. Caitlin Gill has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show aged just 13 by winning the national SEIB Search for a Star working pony class. Caitlin

MARK Smith, a commercial dairy farmer from Winterburn, took the champion and reserve championship with two near all-white home-bred newly-calven heifers at the August Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton mart on Monday (13). Both were by the all-white bull

AN ORGANIC veg box business has pledged to introduce home compostable packaging by the end of 2020. Riverford Organic Farms, which has a farm at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, has spent months researching more sustainable packaging options out

THERE was an early wedding present for farming partners Ian Moorhouse and Laura Hammond when they secured first prize in the annual Beltex-cross lambs show at Skipton Auction Mart. The couple, of Fouldshaw Farm, Dacre, who are due to marry today

A SHEEP breed society is returning to its roots when it stages its national show in Northumberland. The English National North Country Cheviot show will, for the first time, be held at Glendale Show in Wooler on August Bank Holiday Monday. Each

ALL is set for the 121st Kilnsey Show in which competitors will vie for 80 trophies and more than £17,000 in prize money. The show and sports take place on Tuesday, August 28, in the shadow of Kilnsey Crag in Upper Wharfedale, and features more

AN award winning preserve maker has proved she has the cream of the crop. Rosalind Waugh, of Rosalind’s Larder from Middlesbrough, was awarded a one-star Great Taste award, for her Piccalilli, which was described as 'fresh, well balanced and zingy

A STOKESLEY company whose ground-breaking technology keeps submariners alive has been praised by Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond. Analox Military Systems (AMS) keeps military personnel safe with their unique gas monitoring systems and solutions.

OLD met new when a founding member of a military unit paid a call on serving personnel - 67 years after he joined the corps. Peter Gannon was just 18-years-old when he joined the newly formed 34 Squadron, RAF Regiment, which almost immediately deployed

A DALES bowling club is to hold a 24 hour marathon helping to raise money towards building a new clubhouse. An eight strong team from Leyburn Bowling Club hope to complete round the clock with at least one bowler on the green at any one time between

THE 21st Saltburn International Festival of Folk Music, Dance and Song took place at the weekend. Events began on Friday afternoon with a Singaround and then Backshift and friends, hosted a lively Musicians’ Session upstairs in Saltburn Conservative

Chris Lloyd tells the story of the Battle of the Standard, which is being remembered over the next week in Northallerton IT is 880 years since a quiet triangle of North Yorkshire countryside was a tumultuous battlefield, the air filled with arrows

BEEN on your hols to the Mediterranean this year? Hannah Stephenson offers 7 ways to bring a touch of the Med to your own garden. So, we're having a Mediterranean summer, with long, sunny days and hot, balmy nights - perfect for enjoying evenings

BEN Mitchell and his clan give it a go on a nature weekend at the Haven Perran Sands holiday park. Marie gives out a squeal of delight as the sparks fly when she makes a ball of cotton wool burst into flames. We have just learnt our first survival

IF THERE'S one way to let the outside in and make a room look amazing, it's with bi-fold doors. Choosing the right ones for you needs can be difficult, though, as there are so many things to take into consideration and so many products to choose from

By Martin Williamson, pictured, head of residential property at Latimer Hinks Solicitors BUYING a home is likely to be the most expensive purchase we ever make. However, one in five buyers choose not to have a building survey on a property they're

TAYLOR Wimpey North Yorkshire raised more than £1,100 for Dogs Trust in Sadberge and Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland recently when it auctioned off furniture, paintings and decorations from its Millfields show homes in support of the admirable

TO CELEBRATE the opening of its two new showhomes at Regency Manor, part of the exclusive Wynyard Homes development, Bellway is laying on a mobile Prosecco bar over the Bank Holiday weekend and will be offering visitors canapés and providing entertainment

IF IT'S true, as Kirstie and Phil would have us believe, that 'location' should be at the top of every house hunter's list of priorities, then those looking for a home that allows them to get away from it all need look no further. Gill Head, a grade

FUNNY Way To Be Comedy has unveiled details of its 2018 autumn comedy programme for Barnard Castle. The roster of shows from September to December features top comedy names and outstanding tour shows. There will be nine shows at The Witham and an

THREE members of the Northallerton Camera Club have scored hits in some of the world's top international salons of photography. Pauline Pentony has had 46 acceptances, 3 gold medals, a bronze medal and 3 honourable mentions with five photography

A YOUNG artist has overcome his colour-blindness to create a kaleidoscopic portrait of an English music icon. Tom Leeming has earned himself a week’s exhibition space in one of the country’s most-loved galleries after leaving Barnard Castle School

FROM murder in the library to jealous bridesmaids and deathly magicians, one former journalist who turned her talents to scriptwriting is seeing the fruits of her creative labour. Sara West writes all her murder mystery scripts from her home in

A TEAM of colleagues from a leading Thirsk business raised almost £10,000 for Macmillan after conquering the Three Peaks Challenge. The 14-strong team from Langver Engineering raised £9,829 by completing the challenge which involves scaling Britain

This summer, the 250th anniversary of the start of the first of Captain James Cook’s three historic voyages is being commemorated in communities connected to him around the world. Jan Hunter traces his rise from humble beginnings to global fame

MAN’S best friends are the undoubted stars of a dales agricultural show in 2018, the Chinese year of the dog. Having being on the go since 1892 the Wensleydale Show has seen it all. Although a traditional agricultural show it always features

A FORMER Olympic canoe coach who is using his love of the water to raise awareness of climate change is now trying to get the royal family to support his campaign. David Train, who was born in Stockton, is calling on world leaders to sign his Paddle

CONTINUING a glorious summer, the 117th Kirkby Fleetham Feast was fortunate to enjoy the sunshine too at all its events during Feast Week and on the day itself. Football, Quoits and the Fun Run all enjoyed a good turnout of participants, without

A WENSLEYDALE village famous locally for a strange ceremony is to hold a weekend-long feast. The Burning of Bartle" takes place in West Witton on Saturday nearest St Bartholomew's Day for more years than can be remembered. It’s not clear if Bartle

HUNDREDS of walkers are expected to take part in a septennial tradition of marking the route of the ancient boundary of Richmond. The Richmond Boundary Walk, on Wednesday, August 29, is believed to date back to 1575 and the charter of Queen Elizabeth

MENTAL health and abusive relationships are among the key policing priorities among young people in North Yorkshire, a study found. More than 3,300 youngsters contributed to a major new report by the North Yorkshire Youth Commission on young people

A PLUCKY pensioner is determined to complete the Great North Run next month, three years after a cancer diagnosis thwarted his initial pledge. Jim Dale of Northallerton was diagnosed with prostate cancer three-years-ago at the age of 70 and he planned

IRATE householder Tony Webster has blasted highway planners for acting like “Monty Python sketchwriters” after white road markings were repainted but long neglected potholes ignored. “I just couldn’t believe it, the one job that desperately needed

TONY PULIS claims that it is not just him demanding more additions before the closure of the Football League loan window – Middlesbrough’s players are also hoping to see some fresh faces come through the door. Boro failed to make any additions

A MAN has been charged with murder following the death of Barbara Davison in Redcar. Paul Plunkett, of Station Road, Redcar, has been charged with murder following the discovery of Ms Davison's body at a property on William Street on Wednesday.

DURHAM have announced the signing of Australia opener Cameron Bancroft for the 2019 county season following his suspension earlier this year for his role in a ball-tampering scandal. Here, Press Association Sport looks back at how events unfolded

AUSTRALIA batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was suspended in a ball-tampering row earlier this year, will play for Durham in 2019. The 25-year-old, along with Australia captain Steve Smith and fellow batsman David Warner, were sanctioned by Cricket

WHAT goes up must come down is the message highlighting the irresponsible release of balloons and Chinese lanterns. With irrefutable evidence that plastics clutter our countryside, oceans and beaches, litter surveys show that the number of balloons

A YOUNG couple from Australia chose a picturesque village hall in the Yorkshire Dales to tie the knot. Walter and Chantell Sives who hail from Cronulla near Sydney in the Australian state of New South Wales flew the 10,500 miles to the Coverdale

POLICE have released images of three bikers they would like to speak to about an incident on the A172. The trio were riding BMW RR motorcycles along the A172 North of Stokesley at 6.05pm on Sunday, August 12. North Yorkshire Police have launched

A HIT-AND-RUN crash involving five cars on Thursday night is under investigation. Emergency services were called to Lead Road in Greenside, Tyne and Wear at around 6.30pm. The accident happened near to The White Swan pub and one of the drivers

A VEHICLE overturned after colliding with a taxi. The incident happened at the Hart Lane Hartlepool junction with Jesmond Road. The 4x4 ended up on its side in the middle of the road and there are numerous unconfirmed reports circulating on

OUR pick of tonight's TV Extraordinary Rituals (BBC Two, 9pm) PICTURE the scene: you're a few seconds old and are handed over to professional sumo wrestlers, who will then compete to make you cry. That's a 400-year-old Japanese ceremony

A FARM worker who left pig carcases in the same sheds as live ones and neglected more than 1,700 pigs to the point where some had to be put down has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Thomas Betney was responsible for the pigs at his family's

Super PACT POLICE will host a ‘Super PACT’ (Police and Communities Together) meeting on Friday, September 14 at Morrisons on North Road. Members of the public are invited to meet officers and voice their concerns about issues in the area between

A PROJECT to help women and children affected by domestic violence will include specialist family support and school workshops. Spennymoor Area Action Partnership provided £10,554 for The Cornforth Partnership to deliver the Chrysalis programme

AN inaugural rum festival delighted drinkers on the quayside of a North-East town last weekend. Organised by The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) Hartlepool, the festival was attended by hundreds of visitors who sampled a wide variety of

A SCHOOLGIRL who lost her grandma to cancer has raised more than £200 for charity in her memory. Laura Bauwens, 11, from Pickhill, near Thirsk, put her creative skills to good use by hand-making dozens of cards to sell to family, friends and neighbours

A FORMER A-level student from Darlington is celebrating after being recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Chetan Kotur, who studied at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington, was one of five young engineers from across the country

A NORTH-East council has been given a gold award for its work in support of the armed forces community. Durham County Council is one of only 50 employers including ten local authorities in the UK to receive a gold award through the defence employer

TALES of women whose spirit and determination shone through in the region's mining communities are being sought for an art exhibition. Residents across the North East are being asked to search their family archives for stories and pictures of women

FROM washing doorsteps to educating neighbours and reporting crimes, police are hoping a new initiative will help to instil a renewed sense of civic pride and responsibility in one Darlington community. Durham Constabulary will roll out its Mutual

A CHARITY fundraiser is doing a 28-mile swim around Manhattan Island in New York. Graham Walton, 45, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, is going to the United States to take part in The 20 Bridges challenge on August 25. He is hoping to raise

AN eagerly-anticipated multi-million pound cinema complex is in the final stages of being approved. Work to create a multiplex cinema and leisure development on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland was scheduled to begin this spring but it was set

ARMED forces charity SSAFA is using a late author’s book to raise much needed funds and keep her memory alive. Tricia Walker, from Northallerton, published her debut novel ‘Benedict’s Brother’ in 2007 after it lay in a drawer for several years following

A NORTH-EAST teenager has been selected to be part of the wheelchair basketball squad at the 2018 School Games – a national event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes. Ciaran Carrigan, a student at Middlesbrough’s Trinity Catholic College

A THRILL-SEEKING philanthropist is gearing up to take on a wacky races-style rally in the name of charity. David Rivers, from Sadberge, near Darlington, will drive across nine countries in four days, completing random challenges, all in a working

Village BBQ A BARBECUE and fundraiser will be held at the Cornerstone Christian Centre, in Evenwood, tomorrow. Helpers are needed to set out tables today and should meet at the centre at 10am. Those helping on Saturday should meet at the centre

A PENSIONER suffered a panic attack after confronting a drug addict who stole a purse and cash from her home. The 66-year-old woman ran after Robert Dunn after hearing her garden gate slam and noticing her purse missing from her handbag at her

THE dramatic efforts to save the life of a greengrocer who suffered three heart attacks features in an episode of a documentary following the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Monday night’s episode of Helicopter ER on UKTV, shows the story of John Simmonds

A TECHNOLOGY firm's County Durham site remains key to helping the business move forward. As Filtronic, which designs and makes electronic products, prepares to start work on two major new contracts chief executive Rob Smith said its site at NETPark

A VETERANS charity hopes its new base will boost the number of people accessing its services. Sporting Force is currently located on Aycliffe Business Park, in Newton Aycliffe, but will begin operating out of new premises in Darlington town centre

STUDENTS raised funds for life-saving medical equipment by throwing a tea party recently. The students, who all have learning difficulties or autism, worked together to prepare and sell a variety of baked goods to support the NHS. They raised

A UNIVERSITY academic has seen her name alongside some of today’s most prominent literary figures after winning a prize for her debut collection of poetry. Jenna Clake, a lecturer in creative writing in Teesside University’s School of Social Sciences

A TEAM of crime-fighting detectives who climbed the Three Peaks in 24 hours have raised £1,800 for a suicide prevention charity. The nine-strong squad from Chester-le-Street criminal investigation department (CID) took on the gruelling challenge

A NETWORK responsible for tackling modern slavery has endorsed two free apps to help agencies identify where the practice is taking place. Cleveland Anti-Slavery Network is getting behind the Safe Car Wash and the Unseen app, which both offer a

A MILITARY charity has partnered with a best-selling book to carry on the legacy of the late author. Benedict's Brother, written by Northallerton author Tricia Walker and soon to become a film, tells the story of a young woman, Benedict, whose late

A FARM shop from the region has been named as a finalist in the Guild of Fine Foods. Roots Farm Shop, near Northallerton, is a finalist in the Best Shop Awards by the Guild of Fine Foods. It has gone through two rounds of judging this summer,