IT has been a crazy week. Union leaders have been calling for the army to be brought in to break a strike and Conservative newspapers have been supporting secondary picketing. Britain is a country that prides itself on not being Continental, but after
EMOTIONS ran high as a packed audience of firefighters voted in favour of holding a strike ballot at yesterday's union meeting. Andy Gilchrist, the Fire Brigades Union's national secretary, was at the central Middlesbrough station, on Park Road South,
UNDER-PRESSURE Sunderland manager Peter Reid is expecting more from his star players as the team tries to battle its way out of the Premiership danger-zone. A disappointing return of only four points from the opening five games has seen the Wearsiders
COURAGEOUS child Sally Slater yesterday enjoyed the day her parents feared she would never see - her seventh birthday. But the big party was delayed until today, as she had to spend her special day at one of her routine checks-ups in hospital. Sally,
THE family of a young man who died during a routine operation faces an agonising three-month wait to find out whether a surgeon will be charged over his death. Police said Dr Pravin Chaturbhai Patel was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of manslaughter
A WATER firm criticised in the past for its record on leaks has landed a contract in Northern Ireland - giving advice on reducing leakage. Five years ago Yorkshire Water came under fire from customers who suffered repeated disruptions to their supplies
EXPLOSIVES engineer Alan Bullock yesterday denied putting people at serious risk in his failed attempt to blast an amateur rocket into space. Mr Bullock, 52, of The Ruddings, Wheldrake, appeared before magistrates in York where he pleaded not guilty to
DEVELOPERS behind the extension to The Bridges shopping centre, in Sunderland, hope it will attract more investment to the city. Thousands of shoppers flocked to the official opening of the extension yesterday, which has created 700 jobs on Wearside.
BRITONS whose freedom was saved by the allied airman in the Second World War need a lesson in history, according to a new survey. Some people were not even sure that Britain was fighting the Germans, saying instead that they thought the enemy was the
A DETERMINED dentist hopes to take to the road to help the fight against cancer. Ian Wintrip, 54, was diagnosed with prostate cancer five-months-ago. It is one of the most frequent cancers in men, and is on the increase. Dr Wintrip discovered he was one
A CHAIN around the neck of a tethered horse had cut so deeply into the animal that flesh had begun to grow round it, a court heard yesterday. When RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer arrived at Thomas Mallows' allotment he was confronted with the sickening sight
THE mother of murdered pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg has called for a meeting with Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe after the politician demanded a change in the double jeopardy law. Visiting the region yesterday, Ms Widdecombe repeated her desire
POLICE forces across the North-East and North Yorkshire are gearing up for the introduction next month of European human rights legislation into British law. The region's four forces said training was well under way for officers and civilian staff ahead
A PROSTITUTE was jailed for three years yesterday for selling two schoolgirls for sex. Carol Smith, 49, persuaded the girls to take part in sex acts with one of her regular clients. The 61-year-man, named George, who has since died, gave heroin-addict
COLIN West last night told his Hartlepool United players it is up to them to win over the Victoria Park faithful. Pool, who entertain Macclesfield this afternoon, have stuttered into League action on home turf, with just one point from three outings.
AT long, long last it appears as if the endgame of Operation Lancet is about to be played. After three years, £5m and goodness alone knows what cost to the morale of Cleveland police officers and the communities they serve, charges have been laid against
THE bulldog spirit was much in force as the region's biggest dog show got under way yesterday. Competitors, judges and spectators braved heavy showers and fuel shortages on the first day of the 32nd Darlington Championship Dog Show. Organisers said that
HOLLYWOOD star Gwyneth Paltrow, who won an Oscar for the hit Shakespeare in Love, has failed to win the hearts of North Yorkshire folk as she filmed her latest movie in the county. Gwyneth is filming a blockbuster called Possession in several parts of
WORKERS and management at a North-East shipyard have been left devastated after a £1bn Ministry of Defence (MoD) shipping order sailed overseas. The contract for six roll on/roll off (roro) ferries is heading to a German/Italian consortium ahead of South
NEWCASTLE United yesterday dismissed fans who labelled Alan Shearer the most disliked player in football. Coach Mick Wadsworth said: "It's sad and disappointing when you consider everything Alan has done for England. "But I know what the people of Tyneside
DARLINGTON boss Gary Bennett is hoping for a change of fortune as his side bid to get back to winning ways against Barnet today. The Quakers have lost their last two games against Shrewsbury and Cheltenham 1-0 after an unbeaten start to the season. But
OLD BOY Gary Walsh yesterday answered a distress call from Middlesbrough after Mark Bosnich turned down a loan move to the Riverside Stadium. Bryan Robson, faced with a goalkeeping crisis following the loss of broken thumb victim Mark Schwarzer for up
PRODUCTION at a new £5m biscuit factory on Teesside is expected to begin in the next four weeks, with the potential for 150 new jobs. Britannia Biscuits have opened the plant at the South Tees Imperial Food Park at South Bank, and the firm is the brainchild
A LITTLE girl skips into the limelight, blonde ringlets falling around her tiny shoulders, a beach towel in hand. Exaggerating her movements in a theatrical fashion she throws down the towel and pretends to put sunscreen on her smiley Australian face.
A MULTI-million pound development to provide firms with some of the most advanced business facilities the region can offer was officially opened yesterday. The 30,000sqft Innovation centre at Kirkleatham Business Park, near Redcar, after consultants identified
THANKFULLY, not all French people are like Monsieur Misery, alias fisherman leader Jose Huleux, the man behind the boat blockades in France. He showed no sympathy for holidaymakers enduring a nightmare trying to get back into Britain earlier this month
