THE Darlington-based Quakers Running Club, awarded a Lottery grant of £3,705 for the purchase of specialist athletics gear, has had the last piece of equipment delivered to its taining base. As part of the submission made by the club for the grant, the
TWO streakers who dashed on to the pitch during the England cricket match at Chester-le-Street will not be charged. The two men bared all last Saturday when England beat the West Indies at the Riverside Ground. The pair, who drew cheers from the 16,000
THE crisis in the North-East's clothing industry has grown deeper with another 33 jobs lost in the face of cheaper overseas producers. Workers at ladieswear manufacturer Varahwear were left devastated after being told the firm's factory at Willington
AN EX-Luftwaffe pilot has come to the North-East with a message of reconciliation. Former German bomber pilot Heinz Mollenbrok, 80, told young air cadets at Redcar that the key to the future was friendship and cooperation with other countries. The pensioner
TWO young soldiers from Stanley were part of the Army's task force helping to keep the peace in Northern Ireland during the recent Orangemen's parades. Privates Simon Owen and Wayne Jenkinson of the 1st Battalion the Light Infantry, were helping to support
CROFT motor racing circuit was the unusual setting for the first Pitstop 10k road race organised by Darlington Harriers. The runners had the luxury of a traffic-free course and the almost flat and excellent road surface led to some fast times for the
POLICE in Derwentside are appealing to the public to help them clamp down on youngsters vandalising schools in the summer holidays. Consett and Stanley police are this week distributing leaflets to every house near schools in the Derwentside area before
Dignatories from opposite banks of the river will meet on top of the Tyne Bridge span today - for the first time since the two halves of the structure were joined during its construction in 1928. The historic meeting has been made possible because the
YOUNGSTERS at a school on Teesside are in a class of their own. Ravensworth Primary School at Normanby, Middlesbrough, have become the first recipients of an award named after one of Boro's past skippers. Middlesbrough Football Club had no hesitation
Just two months after clinching a Queen's Award for Enterprise, staff at TNT's Durham depot are celebrating the company's most recent success - winning the 2000 Motor Transport Award for Customer Care. At a recent gala presentation evening held at the
FIRE ripped through a garage on a County Durham industrial estate yesterday afternoon. The blaze, at Lawson's Commercials, on the Mainsforth Industrial Estate, Ferryhill Station, took hold at about 2.40pm. About half of the roof collapsed and black, billowing
A CHILD'S grave has been vandalised for the second time, just weeks after the second anniversary of her death. Emma Louise Holstein died at the age of 11 months, after she became trapped between the side of her cot and the base two years ago. But yesterday
A SCHOOL that teaches blind and partially sighted youngsters alongside sighted pupils has won praise from inspectors. An OFSTED team des-cribed Belmont Church of England Junior School in Durham as 'very effective' and praised the way it helped all pupils
PLANS to demolish a former railway bridge in Station Road, Stanley, to make way for new access roads have been approved by councillors, despite residents' protests. Speaking at a Derwentside District Council planning meeting, home owners argued that the
A MAN who went into hospital for a routine operation died after contracting an antibiotic resistant 'superbug.' An inquest heard that Alan Young, 64, picked up the infection MRSA after an operation to remove a gangrenous toe. He was admitted to Darlington
The North-East was yesterday established as the heart of basketball development in Britain when Newcastle Eagles unveiled new boss Tony Garbelotto and announced a ground-breaking coaching partnership with the sport's National Academy in Durham. Garbelotto
POLICE who raided a house in Billingham have seized hundreds of what are thought to be counterfeit computer games and music CDs. Forensic tests are currently being carried out on the items. A man and a woman were arrested at the house and are on police
A GUIDED walk through the birthplace of the industrial revolution promises to take the public on the journey of a lifetime this weekend. The tour through the Gaunless Valley, County Durham, will take visitors to a series of landmarks that sprung up during
GRANTS of £20,000 have been awarded to help people in South Stanley to start up businesses. The Rev Judith Atkinson, of Gateshead, has been employed by the area's Bungalows Residents' and Neighbourhood Watch Association to oversee the grant distribution
A BUSINESSMAN has returned to the North-East from Africa to answer an allegation he took part in a £51,000 fraud involving stolen telephone payment cheques. John Saunders came before Durham Crown Court yesterday, on a bench warrant issued after failing
A magistrate spoke last night of her relief as her suspension from court duty was lifted. Pat Simpson also talked for the first time of the shock of receiving - ten months ago - the request from the Lord Chancellor's office to stand down pending an investigation
AN intrepid Consett Phd student is finding out about education on the other side of the world - as a teacher in a rural village school in Central America. Paul Whillis, 22, from Consett, is taking part in a five-month expedition to Belize with the conservation
AN expanded bus service is aiming to reduce congestion in one of England's most scenic landscapes. A fleet of coaches and minibuses will begin operating in and around the North York Moors National Park every day from Sunday. The park's bus services were
EVEN when smoke filled her burning bedroom, teenager Mandy Walker remembered the fire safety lesson she had been taught at school. She gained herself a few extra seconds until rescue came by calmly dropping to the floor where the air was clear - just
PROPOSALS to reinstate a railway line which closed in 1965 would cost millions, acc-ording to a report. A feasibility study carried out by consultants Mouchel has put a price of £19m on recreating the Malton to Pickering line. The line could provide a
IF there is something baby Reece Gales won't be needing for Christmas, it's his two front teeth. For the baby has surprised parents and doctors by being born with three teeth already grown. His father, Anthony, 25, of Spen Street, Stanley, County Durham
A TRAINING centre set up in Chester-le-Street has been praised by the town's MP for helping people log on to the world of computers. The Consett-based Derwentside College opened its Information Technology Centre in the town's former Mechanics Institute
DURHAM County Show has been counting the cost of relocating to Washington as takings were significantly down on recent years. Organisersblamethe show's move from its usual pitch near Chester-le-Street as the principal reason for the public's poor attendance
CHESTER-le-Street could be up to £4m better off after last weekend's cricket internationals. As the clean-up operation began to tidy up the town after 28,000 visitors in two days, hoteliers, pub landlords and shopkeepers were happily counting the weekend's
A SINGLE mother claims NHS confusion prevented her daughter from receiving medical treatment for more than an hour. Gillian Raine of Dipton, near Stanley, said her 11-year-old daughter, Pamela, was suffering from a severe asthmatic attack, which needed
DURHAM'S MP is urging English Heritage to release cash to fund the upkeep of an ageing city landmark, to prevent 'vandalism by inaction.' Durham Castle needs up to £4m for restoration work, but suffers in bidding for grant aid as it is a university-owned
ADULTS with learning difficulties could soon benefit from a new day service in Chester-le-Street. Work is due to start on the centre, on the site of the former Clarence Day Nursery in West Lane, and it is hoped to have the scheme up and running by the
FOLK fans are gearing up for a weekend of song and dance in Durham City. The 11th Durham Folk Party will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various venues in the city. The main one will be Durham Rugby Club where singarounds will be held on Friday
CRIME across County Dur-ham has fallen 3.2 per cent in the face of a national increase in offences, according to Government figures. There were 48,796 offences reported to the county's police in the year from April 1999 to March of this year - compared
EVERY year, tens of thousands of pilgrims make the annual trek to see one of the wonders of the natural world. The daffodils carpeting Farndale in the North York Moors have proved such a springtime hit that special buses have to be laid on to ease congestion
BEST-SELLING children's author Terry Deary took centre stage as he received a special accolade in his home city. The man behind the popular Horrible Histories books, now living in County Durham, returned to Sunderland to receive an honorary degree from
A YOUNG man was locked up yesterday after he bit the ear of a man who had attacked him 36 hours earlier. Jamie Boyle launched his revenge attack on John Roberts when he saw Mr Roberts involved in another fight in August. Yesterday Boyle, 20, of Aire Street
Patients who feared the Ferryhill and Chilton Medical Practice, in Durham Road, Chilton, was to move have been told the surgery is staying put for now. Doctors say they had been considering moving the surgery to a new site in Windlestone, but that has
Aussie Paul Okon reported for training at Middlesbrough yesterday and revealed he wants to be part of the club's first major triumph. The Bosman signing from Fiorentina is a mystery man, virtually unknown in England despite a high-profile eight-year career
THERE was never any doubt that Richard Neale would be found guilty of being an incompetent surgeon whose arrogance, deceit and sheer ineptitude left a trail of misery and pain. He has been exposed as a highly dangerous liar who performed operations without
Bollin Roberta, who is shaped as though coming to hand of late and hails from the in-form stable of Tim Easterby, looks the one to be on in the Countrywide Freight Handicap over a mile at Pontefract this evening. A winner over seven furlongs at Musselburgh
TWO Darlington schools are celebrating their last week of independence with a day of fun. Alderman Leach Junior and Infants schools are being amalgamated as part of a school re-organisation programme. The local education authority decided that the merger
A PERSISTENT drinker who has made scores of nuisance 999 ambulance calls while under the influence, is to remain behind bars for at least another fortnight. John Newman, 35, was given the first anti-social behaviour order in County Durham last month due
UNION leaders have described plans to close five Darlington residential homes for the elderly as 'premature.' Darlington Borough Council has decided the closure of the homes is necessary because it cannot afford the £4.5m needed to bring them up to standard
A CASE worker has been appointed to help Richmondshire citizens' advice bureau take its services out to people in remote areas of the Yorkshire dales. David Andy, who has moved from south Yorkshire, is based at the organisation's offices in Newbiggin,
CRIME across County Dur-ham has fallen 3.2 per cent in the face of a national increase in offences, according to Government figures. There were 48,796 offences reported to the county's police in the year from April 1999 to March of this year - compared
RESIDENTS are appealing for council action to force drivers to slow down as they speed through a village. People living at Carlin How, east Cleveland, are demanding traffic calming measures on the A174 where it runs through the built-up area. A protest
A MOTOR parts dealer began supplying spares from vehicles stolen across the North-East, a court heard. Stephen Grundy ran a legitimate business specialising in used Peugeot spares at the Old Colliery Yard, in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street. Durham
THE car park made famous by cult gangster film Get Carter is being consigned to cinematic history. Gateshead Borough Council's planning committee yesterday voted to accept outline proposals to knock down the dilapidated building and regenerate the town
COMPETITORS from day centres across County Durham vied for honours on the sports field in what has become an annual fixture. More than 150 sportsmen and women representing ten centres for adults with learning disabilities competed in a range of events
ANDREW Taylor cruised to victory in Crook's President's Day with 45 points. Alan Smith took the July medal with a gross 74 (nett 65). Ian Heslop triumphed in Division Two (gross 88, nett 66). Meanwhile, the Crook team hammered High Throston 9-1 to record
IF there is something baby Reece Gales won't be needing for Christmas, it's his two front teeth. For the baby has surprised parents and doctors by being born with three teeth already grown. His father, Anthony, 25, of Spen Street, Stanley, County Durham
A team of insurance brokers from BIB (Darlington) are hoping that they won't have to fall back on their own policy at a charity event. A team from the firm, which is based in Northgate has entered the Darlington Operatic Society Knockout 2000 competition
A UNIVERSITY counsellor made a frenzied knife attack on his former partner in a pub during a row over custody of their child, a court heard. Samantha Davidson, 38, suffered multiple stab wounds, one of which punctured her lung. She was saved by martial
Newcastle United were celebrating last night despite throwing away more than £1.5m. Silvio Maric, who cost United £3.65m only 16 months ago, completed a £2m move to Porto. But manager Bobby Robson believes it was worth every penny of the loss to get rid
A CONSETT beer brewer and pub landlord reckons he has blended the finest ingredients in just the right way to make the perfect pint - but he can't think of a name for it. Paul Conroy, of The Grey Horse, is asking his regulars and the people of the county
THE arrival of a famous warship in the North-East will also result in a family reunion. HMS Invincible is due to sail into the River Tyne at Newcastle today. On board will be John-Paul Holt, a 19-year-old chef, who only joined the ship last week. He will
Sunderland manager Peter Reid will have to become involved in a multi-million pound auction if he wants to land Aston Villa's Ugo Ehiogu, writes JACK LESLIE. Manchester City have raised the stakes by putting in a bid of £7m for the 27-year-old, who is
Bryan Robson yesterday stepped up his efforts to end Juninho's nightmare at Atletico Madrid. The Middlesbrough boss revealed he still wants the £6m-rated Brazilian at the Riverside and has again asked Atletico to start talks. "We've been in touch and
CRUMBLING historic buildings throughout North Yorkshire have been given £2.2m in grants towards their restoration, but more needs to be done, say experts. "The problem is not always obvious unless you are looking for it," says Douglas Campbell, of the
WORRIED residents say anti-social behaviour has increased in their former mining village because so-called absentee landlords are indiscriminate about who they allow in their homes. Residents in Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, say their village
VOLUNTARY schemes which transport patients to and from hospitals may have to be reduced if petrol prices continue to spiral, an ambulance service manager has warned. His comments came after claims by union leaders in the region that rising fuel prices
FANS of police drama The Bill who fancy themselves as a bit of an actor have the chance to test their talent. For police trainers are looking for volunteers from all walks of life to play burglars, drunk drivers, yobs and crime victims. Rookie officers
A LONG-SERVING policeman has died aged 83. Kenneth James joined the police force in 1938 and served for 30 years, spending ten years as sergeant in charge at Sedgefield. He served at several stations in the region before joining Sedgefield and settling
THE number of drug dealers convicted in Darlington has more than doubled in just five years, latest figures have revealed. A Northern Echo investigation has uncovered the shocking extent of the town's drug problem, especially the highly-addictive and
A BUSINESS to business (B2B) Internet service launched by Blue Circle and Just2Clicks has cemented its future after agreeing an investment deal with an Italian firm. Italcementi, Italy's largest cement manufacturer, has bought a 37.5 per cent stake in
A WOMAN is searching for the father she has not seen since she was a child. Stella Smith's father, Henry Day, left home in the early 1970s after splitting up with her mother, Linda. She is now trying to trace Mr Day or any of his relatives, who she believes
UNEMPLOYMENT in Hartlepool has fallen. Figures for June show 8.6 per cent of the population was unemployed, or 3,244 people. This is almost a three per cent drop on the 11.4 per cent figure for the same period last year. More than nine per cent of the
THE third race in the Durham Fell Challenge Series, the four-mile Chapelfell fell race at St. John's Chapel, Weardale, organised by the Darlington-based Quakers Running Club, saw Michael Mallon, of Crook, lead the 39 finishers home recording a time for
VILLAGERS in Ebchester, near Consett, celebrated more than 2,000 years of history last weekend. Organisers of the special Millennium events at the village, which dates back to Roman times, concentrated on its history. Members of the Ebchester Community
George Reynolds was feted as a hero when he saved Darlington Football Club from the brink of bankruptcy just over a year ago. The club was close to extinction when Reynolds stepped in to save the day. In just months, he paid off the club's debts of just
THE Consett ASC girls' nine year relay team of Beth McPherson, Lisa Maughan, Sarah Hilditch and Emily Byrne were double winners at the Richmond Dales Open Graded Meet, held in Darlington's Dolphin Centre Pool. The Consett girls romped home to win the
Under the constant threat and stomach-churning drone of provocative military aircraft swooping overhead, we played football with laughing, joyous children from a displaced river-side community in the heart of the Colombian jungle. The game was played
NORTHERN Rock declared its commitment to the region yesterday after reporting record lending for mortgages and loans in the last six months. The Newcastle mortgage bank's half-year results showed the effect of the booming property market, with continued
juggling vicars and clowning clergymen added to the fun for church-goers from all over the area who gathered in Durham City at the weekend. Priests mingled with clowns, gymnasts and artists for a celebration of family life at the Ecumenical Family Fun
THE Samaritans in Durham hope to recruit more volunteers to help with their work. The charity's Mid-Durham branch based in the city needs more people to man its telephones lines. It is also developing a scheme to help young people - the charity nationally
juggling vicars and clowning clergymen added to the fun for church-goers from all over the area who gathered in Durham City at the weekend. Priests mingled with clowns, gymnasts and artists for a celebration of family life at the Ecumenical Family Fun
ANYONE with the surname I'Anson is invited to visit the Richmondshire museum free next weekend to see a display about the fabled Lass of Richmond Hill, who bore the same name. The exhibition sets out the claims of Frances I'Anson to be the lass of the
BUS and rail giants Go-Ahead yesterday saw its shares jump by around 20 per cent after revealing it had rejected a possible takeover approach from a French consortium. The Newcastle-based transport group said it had received a proposed 650p-a-share approach
AN alcoholic drifter who killed the widow who befriended him in hospital was yesterday jailed for five years. William Kilgallon battered 43-year-old Janet Frost around the head with his hands after staying at her home in Meadowfield, on the outskirts
A HORRIFIC North-East car crash has claimed a second victim as experts attempt to work out what led to the accident. Lisa Burniston, 28, died yesterday in hospital, despite treatment for 50 per cent burns. She was a passenger in a Vauxhall Calibra which
SIX weeks ago, when it was impossible to walk 15 yards without a stick and a stop for breath, a holy grail arose amid the small print on page 17. Amongst the Co Durham environmental awards for landmarks like the Cathedral, the Market Cross in Barnard
BACK to the rabbits...It was the week of the village fete. We go every year, but this time it was special. There were stalls, bouncy castles, miniature train rides and a line dancing display among the attractions. But it was the pet competition which
WORKMEN from Northern Electric forced entry into a pensioner's house over an unpaid bill for £100 only to find he had been dead for more than a year. The company had successfully applied for a magistrates' warrant to break into Leon Sushko's home in Darlington
A SIX-week programme of fun has been lined up for youngsters on a Durham estate during the school holidays. Eight to 16-year-olds on the Sherburn Road Estate will be able to enjoy a range of sports, arts and crafts funded by the area's regeneration initiative
BEST-SELLING children's author Terry Deary took centre stage as he received a special accolade in his home city. The man behind the popular Horrible Histories books, now living in County Durham, returned to Sunderland to receive an honorary degree from
PUPILS whose school was wrecked by vandals were given the opportunity to see what it would be like to put the culprits on trial. The ten to 11 year olds from Catchgate Primary School even went to Con-sett Magistrates Court so they could stage the mock
AN initiative to beat the burglar will send thieves reeling - and leave them with a big headache. For years, homeowners have been urged to protect their property. Constant nagging by police and a series of crime initiatives have paid off in Cleveland,
A CHARITY is seeking volunteers to help blind and partially-sighted people in the Durham area. County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially-Sighted runs a home visiting scheme, free talking newspapers and has a resource centre where people can try
A PRIMARY school held an afternoon of fun yesterday to say goodbye to the nun who has been headteacher for 12 years. Tomorrow, Sister Joan Conroy will say an emotional farewell to St Augustine's Primary School, Darlington, as she returns to the London
NEWCASTLE United fan and keen golfer Clive Oliphant enjoyed a 'perfect birthday,' thanks to his wife Christine. For the civil engineer's gift to mark his 44th birthday was the chance to caddie for his footballing hero, Alan Shearer, in a celebrity charity
A SUPERMARKET has introduced a charge for motorists who park at the store for more than three hours. Bosses at Safeway in Grange Road, Darlington, want to deter people who park there all day while at work. They say genuine shoppers are being denied spaces
outdoor leisure business, Robsons of Wolsingham, has announced major expansion plans for the 2000 season. These include the addition of a new range of caravans to the company's portfolio and an expansion of its mail order division. The Herald caravan,
WORK to expand an industrial park by almost 50 per cent to meet demand for new business space got under way recently. The £1.4m project - the third phase of development at Thirsk's industrial estate - has already attracted attention from 30 firms interested
VILLAGERS have raised concerns about a police spotter plane flying low over their homes. People living in Middleton St George, near Darlington, say although they support the use of the plane in catching criminals, they believe it should not need to fly
A TEAM of six swimmers calling themselves the Stanhope Park Sharks have raised more than £200 for animals in need. Veterinary nurse Mark Gent, auxiliary nurse Carole Maxwell and practice receptionist Janet Lear, from the Stanhope Park veterinary surgery
pupils from Hardwick Primary School, Sedgefield, did well in the Northumbria in Bloom schools' painting competition, which attracted well over 7000 entries. After narrowing the entries down to 110 finalists , the judges awarded a winning prize in her
TWO quick-thinking police officers are being honoured for their attempts to save an 81-year-old man. Constables Martin Blenkinsopp and Rachel Stockdale, of Sedgefield division, are to receive commendations from the St John Ambulance. The were on patrol
CRIME across County Dur-ham has fallen 3.2 per cent in the face of a national increase in offences, according to Government figures. There were 48,796 offences reported to the county's police in the year from April 1999 to March of this year - compared
NEARLY 2,000 years ago they were jangling in the purses of the movers and shakers of northern Britain. Now part of a collection of almost 2,000 coins recovered from Aldborough Roman town, near Boroughbridge, has gone on display for the first time at the
AGEISM I READ your article concerning ageism and the intended Bill presented by Labour MP Lawrie Quinn (Echo, July 12). My only problem was the reference to "the elderly". Many people reading that would recognise the unfairness, injustice, disappointment
SHOPPERS were evacuated from a shopping centre yesterday morning. The Cornmill Centre, in Darlington, was evacuated at about 9.20am, but it turned out that a glass fire alarm had been broken accidentally. A spokesman for the centre said: "All the shops
AN initiative to beat the burglar will send thieves reeling - and leave them with a big headache. For years, homeowners have been urged to protect their property. Constant nagging by police and a series of crime initiatives have paid off in Cleveland,
ANGRY residents vented years of frustration last night over a chicken farm they say is blighting their picturesque village. Cockfield nestles in rolling Teesdale countryside and would be a desirable place to live if was not for the stench of chicken waste
DURHAM could be in the market for one of Lancashire's spinners next winter after their own lack of quality in that department was exposed at Old Trafford yesterday. Michael Gough took all four wickets to fall as Lancashire piled up 299 runs to trail by
A BROTHER has told of the family's heartache after his sister's death from a gas blast on the housing estate she loved. Norma Ann Sinclair, 53, died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle, on Monday night, after being transferred there from North Tees
THE pre-rally supper held at the home of Consett Inner Wheel Club president Colleen James' home was a very friendly, happy night with a beautiful meal prepared by the district chairman's daughter who is a trainee chef. Inner Wheel members and officers
A Tyneside businessman faces jail after he conned a bank manager into giving his company a £100,000 overdraft - then spent the money himself. Slick Norman Wright, 49, convinced Midland Bank manager Nigel Bowers his clients were due to invest thousands
SACRISTON Colliery Band now has a uniform approach to its music. For, thanks to a £500 award from the North-Eastern Co-op's community dividend fund, the young members of the band have been kitted out with new uniforms. There are eight youngsters in the
CHILDLESS couples across the world could benefit from a summit to be held in the North-East. Papers on cost-effective infertility care are to be put before an international gathering of medical specialists by doctors flying in from Vancouver and Copenhagen
AN England international table tennis player is visiting Delves Lane Village hall, near Consett, to show off his talents in an exhibition match next week. Daniel Welsh, 17, from Newton Aycliffe, will take part in the match on Wednesday, to demonstrate
