TWO North-East social workers are under investigation over claims they allowed two young sex abuse victims to get drunk on a night out in Scarborough. Ann Pennels and Michael Boyle, who both work for Darlington Social Services, have been suspended indefinitely
Emerson Thome caused a bit of a stir yesterday - by not having a go at Chelsea. Instead he predicted that Sunderland had everything in place to be the greatest club in Britain. Luca Vialli claims that everybody hates the Blues but Thome sidestepped the
THUNDERBIRDS are go again. The International Rescue team is to return to our TV screens in a re-run of the original series. Set in the year 2065 and first screened in 1965, the cult science fiction series follows the fortunes of the Tracy Family who run
A FORMER brewery director yesterday lost his appeal against a jail sentence for two offences of-drink-driving. It was pleaded that David Beecroft, 41, had suffered extra punishment by being sacked as a £68,880-a-year director of Castle Eden Breweries
Yorkshire yesterday decided not to appeal against the eight points they have had deducted by the ECP Pitches Panel because of the 'poor' preparation of the Scarborough pitch for the current game against Championship leaders Surrey. But after lengthy talks
FOOTBALL-MAD Marshall Lawson can lay claim to being the oldest winger in town after turning out for his Sunday league team at the age of 66. The grandfather played for his local side, Annfield Plain, in County Durham, in their 8-2 away drubbing at Marske
THE hunt for a savage late-night rapist is being stepped up - a year after he put a young woman through a terrifying ordeal. Detectives are renewing their appeal for public help in tracking down the man, 12 months after he struck in Colburn, near Catterick
England coach Kevin Keegan has defended his decision to axe Michael Owen in favour of Andy Cole as he reverts to a one-striker formation for the first time against World and European champions France in Paris tonight. Keegan heaped lavish praise on Owen
Tow Law look set to fail in their audacious bid to bring former star Chris Waddle back to the club. The former England International, who has 62 caps, started his career at Tow Law, before moving on to make his name at Newcastle United, Spurs and several
TEACHERS will be relieved that Marjorie Evans has been cleared of assaulting an unruly pupil. The High Court judge ruled that she had "administered the entirely appropriate form of restraint hold". Teachers have been given guidance by the Department for
A TEES VALLEY marketing firm has entered the Best New Business in Tees Valley Awards. Billingham-based Talk Marketing provides a diverse range of marketing, public relations and education services and has entered the best service award category. The competition
A MASSIVE sewage treatment project designed to process waste from the equivalent of almost half a million people in East Durham should become fully operational later this year. The multi-million Northumbrian Water scheme consists of two projects, one
A MAN was jailed yesterday for attempting to pass drugs to his common-law-wife in prison. Stefan Edmund, 35, was told he was to be searched after using the lavatory while visiting his former partner in Low Newton Prison, a women's jail on the outskirts
Newcastle's new hit Daniel Cordone has been stunned by the size of crowds in the Premiership. The Argentinian striker said: "I was told what to expect at Manchester United but I have been amazed that we got more than 50,000 for games against Derby and
UTILITY giants and high technology firms will be in the spotlight next week as the reporting season gets into full swing after the summer break. Plans by international exploration group BG, the business formed by the demerger of British Gas in 1997, to
A SCHOOLBOY who attacked and attempted to rape a sixth form girl was sentenced to four years behind bars yesterday. The 16-year-old girl was left battered and bloodstained after a night out celebrating the end of GCSE exams. Glen Coltman, now 15, was
DURHAM County Council is to produce a guidance document on radio masts in schools. The siting of masts has provoked controversy in recent weeks over the possible health effects of radiation emissions. Now cabinet members have asked the council's policy
A MERGER deal between two of the biggest names in the region's caravan sector will see the loss of 130 jobs in County Durham. The announcement yesterday by the Explorer Group was followed by a further redundancy blow for the county with 57 jobs going
WHAT is known in cricket Press boxes as an SOTI brought an abrupt halt to Durham's encouraging progress against Hamphire at the Riverside yesterday. They had reached 246 for four when lunchtime rain turned into a Storm Of Tropical Intensity, ending hopes
DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett is hoping to turn Feethams into a fortress and keep the club on the winning track at home to York City today. Quakers lifted everybody's spirits with a battling but deserved home win over Plymouth on Tuesday, which stretched
HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner last night laid out the Victoria Park welcome mat for Chris Freestone. The striker left Victoria Park on a free transfer during the close season and makes a quick-fire return with his new club Shrewsbury this afternoon
Bishop Auckland manager Tony Lee is forced to break up a winning side at home to Marine today. Bishops have won their last two matches, but midfielders Andy Howarth and David Gallagher, as well as defender Mark Salmon, are all unavailable. Lee will call
A SELF-confessed killer has outraged his victim's family by appealing against his six-year jail sentence for lying to two murder trial juries. Labourer Billy Dunlop, 37, escaped the full weight of the law for killing pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg after
A TEENAGER from East Durham has been taken to hospital after being stabbed in the stomach. The victim was left with a stomach wound after being stabbed with a small knife during the incident in West View, Murton. He was taken by ambulance to Sunderland
