FASHION-conscious Japanese women will soon be able to buy ostrich leather handbags - direct from North Yorkshire. Derwent Ostriches, of Elvington, near York, is marketing a range of the bags in the Far East following research carried out through the York
THE charity Age Concern is trying to ensure the issue of transport, and the granting of concessionary bus fares, stays high on the agenda in North Yorkshire. Paul Fisher, from the charity's Northallerton office, is working closely with the Hambleton Over
TELECOMS giant Vodafone has landed a much sought after Government contract to supply mobile communications to the public sector. The partnership gives Vodafone access to over 100,000 mobile phone users across some 200 Government departments and agencies
DURHAM will need to take a careful look at their cricket management following the decision to relieve Nick Speak of the captaincy before he had completed a full season. Speak has not been available for comment but there can be no doubt that he will be
SUNDERLAND and Middlesbrough are set to go head-to-head in an £8m battle for Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu. The one-cap England centre-back vowed to fight on at Villa Park following a summer of uncertainty over his future. But after being dumped on
PEDAL power will help supermarket shoppers get their groceries home with the launch of a pioneering scheme. From today, shoppers at Tesco in Catterick Garrison will be able to hire trailers, or hods, which fit to the back of bicycles, to carry shopping
England midfielder Paul Ince is promising his Middlesbrough team-mate Christian Karembeu a battle if the two lock horns in Paris this weekend. Ince and the French international could go head to head as England take on the Euro 2000 winners on Saturday
CHILDREN and their parents flocked to the official opening of one of North-West Durham's new super-parks yesterday. The new Annfield Plain park - refurbished at a cost of £60,000 - boasts slides and rides, a teenage hang-out area and basketball park.
GRAPHIC artist Richard Piers Rayner's wildest dreams came true when he was hired to draw super heroes and villains for the world's top comic firms, DC and Marvel. But now his illustrations are to take on a new dimension after movie mogul Stephen Spielberg
A PROGRAMME for people with arthritis is available in the County Durham area. Challenging Arthritis is a programme designed to help people manage their arthritis more effectively and is provided by Arthritis Care. The course leaders, who are volunteers
THE price of new homes is set to continue to rise over the rest of the year, despite the slowdown in the housing market, a regionally-based housebuilder announced yesterday. Persimmon plc, parent company of Tyneside's Persimmon Homes (North East) Ltd,
VILLAGERS campaigning to get the speed limit through their community halved, fear someone could be killed if action is not taken. People in Middlestone, near Bishop Auckland, have started a petition to reduce the 60mph limit to 30mph in a bid to cut the
NOT many people can claim to have an ancestor called 'Precious Self-Denial' but this was the name given to my great-great-uncle by the Chinese when he arrived in their country more than a century ago to work as a missionary. His real name was Frederick
WORKERS at a Gateshead bakery are benefiting from being given free information about their company - thanks a young County Durham law graduate. Graduate Florence Hunter, 22, from Durham, has devised a hand book setting out the firm's policies and procedures
MAJOR engineering works are due to start next month to make way for the extension of the Metro to Sunderland. Work along the 18.5km route is well under way and the £98m project is on target to open in January 2002. One of the major features of the project
A BUSINESSMAN was stunned when he was asked for his reaction to plans for a three- storey nightspot on Yarm High Street. The reason for Derek Campbell's shock was that the site earmarked for the new development is his tyre and exhaust centre. Mr Campbell
HEARTBROKEN parents are demanding an inquiry into the freak accident which killed their son in a holiday complex owned by one of Europe's regal playboys. Nick Robinson died when he was electrocuted as he tried to fix a water pump in a well on the paradise
A BREAKTHROUGH in the treatment of heart patients which could one day replace bypass surgery has been welcomed in the region. Heart specialists in America say they have found a way of reviving "dead" heart tissue by injecting seriously ill cardiac patients
ANDY Campbell last night admitted it is a "make-or-break" season for him at Middlesbrough. And the pacy striker will be bidding to show boss Bryan Robson he can "make it" starting tonight when England Under-21s take on Georgia in a friendly at the Riverside
WORK by a number of local artists is on show at a Teesside gallery. The Joint Art Societies Summer Exhibition 2000, which began last Saturday, runs until September 30 at Billingham Art Gallery. There are images from artists' travels, alongside with North-East
MANAGEMENT at a popular non-alcoholic bar for young people moved yesterday to quash rumours that it has closed for good. Wesley's, in Darlington, opened in June 1997 as a way of helping young people get off the streets. Based in the hall at Bondgate Methodist
MAGGIE Lambert denies that she is different from anyone else, but most would say she has been given a special gift. The clairvoyant and medium from Darlington says she can use the power of spirit to draw pictures and images she would never have imagined
A PRONOUNCED, if little remarked on, paradox of our time is that while feminism has rightly brought women equal status with men, their demeaning role as mere sex objects shows no sign of abating. Indeed, it is getting worse. It is still acceptable to
WE would like to bring you news this morning about whether Darlington council has decided to sell its five residential old people's homes. This news will directly affect the 140 people who live in those homes and the hundreds more who are members of their
TOP-RANKING firefighters and specialist police crime-scene investigators are teaming up in a move to fight the growing menace of arson attacks in County Durham. The number of suspicious fires investigated by police across County Durham and Darlington
IT IS a shame that Anthea Turner feels her memories of her wedding day have been tarnished and that her honeymoon has started in tears. No one would wish that on anyone. But, in all honesty, Ms Turner only has herself to blame. She is the one who sold
A BATTLE of the bands taking place in the North-East will mark the national launch of the Government-backed Millennium Volunteers project. The project, which is being funded by the Department of Education and Employment, aims to encourage youngsters to
OLDER people are being invited to attend an information day in Newton Aycliffe to find out about crime prevention. Although statistics show that older people are not more at risk of crime than any other group, many are afraid of being a victim of crime
NORTH-East defence and transport electronics company, Joyce Loebl, is set to concentrate on its core business areas after revealing a 23 per cent growth over the last 12 months. The firm will reshape its business structure sharpening its product focus
DOGGED by a virus for much of the year, rookie trainer Jamie Osborne has had to endure a baptism of fire for much of his debut season. But time is a great healer and the bug responsible for creating havoc amongst his horses from late spring onwards now
BATTLE OF BRITAIN THE photograph of Hawker Hurricane Mk1 P2617 (Echo, Aug 19) on Palace Green between Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle has had some readers wondering why it was there. The Hurricane served in France early in the Second World War. In
Juninho makes his international comeback on Sunday with Middlesbrough still ready to make a move if the price is right. The 27-year-old midfielder is in an 18-man Brazil squad for the World Cup qualifier with Bolivia in the Maracana Stadium, his first
THE huge gulf between England's best performing ambulance service and the trusts serving the North-East and North Yorkshire has been revealed. Only half of North-East Ambulance Service vehicles (50.1 per cent ) got to the scene of life-threatening 999
PUBS and clubs across the region are being urged to take part in a community challenge and raise money for a charity or good cause of their choice. The six-week challenge will see a winning pub or club receive £5,000 for its chosen beneficiary, plus £2,500
AN unusual stage performance in which the performers are also the audience is been staged in the North-East. Newcastle Live Theatre artist in residence Paul Moss has created an art installation called Jack in the Box, which will be on display on the stage
UNLESS the new Countryside and Rights of Way Bill goes through Parliament with "sensible" amendments, there will be conflict in the countryside, a pressure group has claimed. The Countryside and Rights of Way Bill seeks to allow open access to mountain
EMERGENCY crews staged a dramatic three-hour rescue last night, to pull a stricken teenager out of a 100ft ravine. Peterlee Fire Station's specially-trained rope rescue team were called to assist paramedics and police shortly after 4.30pm after the 15
TWO women from the North-East were killed when a car ploughed into them as they walked home with friends after a night out. The victims were among a group of four women who were hit by a white BMW which mounted the pavement while being chased by police
Ten-man Darlington passed their latest test of character with a backs to the wall win over Plymouth at Feethams last night. Quakers had to play for all but a minute of the second period after midfielder Stuart Elliott was dismissed for two bookable offences
HARTLEPOOL United chief Chris Turner is keen to keep non-contract recruit James Sharp at Victoria Park. The Pool boss yesterday opened talks with the 24-year-old defender who was recruited from Andover Town in the Jewson Wessex League amid a pre-season
NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson yesterday marvelled at the mind game which is mystifying Premiership defences. United duo Kieron Dyer and Nolberto Solano have demonstrated that the power of thought is a dangerous weapon. Robson has labelled their uncanny
THREE stalwart members of a Teesside community are to be remembered in a special award. The trio, all leading members of the Whale Hill Community Association, died last year. The widows of chairman Bill Collins, vice-chairman Jack Wilkinson and treasurer
A MAN found dead in his blazing Wearside home was last night named as Alan Ridley. A post mortem examination revealed the 46-year-old died from natural causes. Neighbours tried to revive Mr Ridley following the fire, in Howick Park, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland
Three weeks ago Dwain Chambers was without a win all summer and looked like missing out on a dream trip to the Sydney Olympics but two stunning wins have put his career back on track. Chambers triumphed in the British Olympic trials and confounded his
Ten-man Darlington passed their latest test of character with a backs to the wall win over Plymouth at Feethams last night. Quakers had to play for all but a minute of the second period after midfielder Stuart Elliott was dismissed for two bookable offences
Tim Easterby put himself in the right frame of mind for Saturday's tilt at Haydock's big race as he took his seasonal tally to 50 at Ripon yesterday. The trainer reached the notable landmark when Samadilla took the Steve Nesbitt Challenge Trophy. Now
PEOPLE in Chester-le-Street and Houghton are being urged to get into the holiday spirit by enrolling at college. Next month, Washington Business College launches a two-year course in travel and tourism, which could lead to jobs in the airline business
PLANS for a piece of public art in Chester-le-Street town centre have been citicised by campaigners who saw their swimming pool closed because of a cash shortage. Chester-le-Street District Council is inviting four artists to come up with designs for
SO MOST of us are country folk at heart. In a recent Gallup poll, more than 70 per cent of people questioned said they would rather live in the country than the city. See - that's what listening to The Archers does for you. And that new Pauline Quirke
THE Government is being urged to tackle the shortage of affordable homes in the countryside. The Country Landowners Association (CLA) says the availability of homes that people can afford is key to local job opportunities and the survival of village shops
The French fishermen's blockade was spreading last night, bringing more misery to thousands of cross-Channel passengers and wrecking holiday plans. P&O Portsmouth, which had diverted Cherbourg-bound passengers to Le Havre, said it had been informed
RESIDENTS at Lovesome Hill, between Darlington and Great Smeaton, aim to raise £15,000 for improvements to the village hall. The building is more than 100 years old and was originally a school, the last pupils leaving 60 years ago. Fundraiser Mary Pearson
A POLICE scheme that helps people put a familiar face to their local beat PC has been hailed a success. Bishop Auckland Police hope future crimes will be averted through information gathered at regular police surgeries. People are using the sessions to
ACTION is being taken to solve the problem of a thick stretch of undergrowth near homes in Hartlepool, which is being used as a venue for young drinkers. People living in Haswell Avenue, Frensham Drive and Burnaby Close are worried that the dense mix
NEIGHBOURS from hell could soon find themselves evicted by private landlords if a North-East authority has its way. Middlesbrough Borough Council already evicts council house tenants for anti social behaviour, including drug dealing. Now it is urging
VILLAGE children are likely to get a safe play area under proposals put forward as part of a campaign to improve rural communities. The scheme would see a field at Bagby, near Thirsk, turned into a playground, including equipment and safe surfaces, which
TOP ranking firefighters and specialist police crime-scene investigators are teaming up in a new move to fight the growing menace of arson attacks in County Durham. The number of suspicious fires investigated by police across County Durham and Darlington
COUNCILLORS are today expected to reject plans to rebuild three cottages in Teesdale - more than 30 years after they were demolished. Planning officers will recommend that members of Teesdale District Council reject an application to build on the site
A COUPLE of weeks ago, Echo Memories illustrated a piece on Timothy Hackworth with a painting of his Royal George engine standing outside his cottage in Shildon. We did not realise it at the time, but the painting was by John Dolphin, who has countless
IT'S 185 million years BC and Whitby lies under a tropical sea. On shore is a lush land mass inhabited by dinosaurs, while huge flying reptiles circle the blue skies. The earthquakes have stopped, the volcanoes lie dormant and life abounds in the equatorial
RENOWNED broadcaster and journalist Peter Taylor will be returning to his home ground to meet some of his old school friends next month. He will be the guest speaker at the millennium dinner of the Old Scarborians Association at the resort's Royal Hotel
PLANS for a reunion of former Consett steelworkers have been given a National Lottery cash boost. The undisclosed sum will help organisers to stage a reunion of former steelworks garage depot workers on Friday, September 15. Leadgate Social Club will
TRIBUTES were flooding in last night to one of Middlesbrough's greatest ever players, Willie Maddren. The former Boro centre back and manager was admired by thousands for his courage on the pitch and off it in his battle against motor neurone disease.
ON THE 35th anniversary of this column's first intemperate assault upon journalism, it is coincidence - no more - that we return to a song about getting out of jail. The sentence has truly flown - shorter, in truth, than some of those turned shamelessly
SMUGGLERS from Durham and Newcastle were among eight people caught bringing almost 250,000 contraband cigarettes into the country during the Bank Holiday weekend. The group was caught with bootleg goods at Humberside Airport on a flight back from Tenerife
A NEW media design company is proving big news with The New York Times, thanks to a two-year contract to develop the company's website. Baryll Blue, based at the North East of England Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), in Sunderland, beat off strong
