A PUB landlord has sparked outrage with a sign stating that he would not serve gays in his bar. Ronald Ware, the licensee of the Balaclava, in West Cornforth, County Durham, has put a hand-written sign behind the bar saying: "No homos or perverts that
ONE of the North's leading information security specialists plans to become a top national and international player following a major cash injection from specialist IT investors. Stockton-based Sapphire Technologies is set to create 40 jobs, allowing
GEORDIE actor Jimmy Nail is said to be working on early drafts of storylines for a new series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. The hit comedy-drama of the 1980s followed a gang of British builders on the sites of Germany and Spain. The show made stars of Nail,
IT IS that time of year again. Barely have the Christmas decorations gone up in the shops offering the promise of cheer and goodwill - and increased takings for the traders - before the police start depressing us with the carnage of an anti-drink driving
TWO women and a teenager are facing sentence in three weeks time after police discovered two children in an attic in Hartlepool. Yesterday, the teenage boy appeared before Teesside Crown Court and admitted cruelty to two children, a boy and a girl, between
Newcastle's defensive crisis deepened yesterday in the wake of news that French defender Alain Goma has demanded a transfer. The £4.5m defender has been told he can quit the club if the Geordies recoup the cash former boss Ruud Gullit splashed to buy
Former England coach Don Howe yesterday predicted the arrival of Terry Venables would create a managerial dream team for crisis-torn Middlesbrough. Howe was part of the Euro 96 set-up that guided England to the semi-finals under the leadership of coach
BRAZILIAN defender Emerson Thome believes he can take a huge step towards fulfilling his ambition of playing in an English cup final if he can help Sunderland beat mighty Manchester United in tonight's Worthington Cup Fourth Round tie at the Stadium of
IT'S official, as if you couldn't guess - England and Wales have the wettest autumn since records began almost 300 years ago. But as forecasters confirmed the grim statistics, another unseasonal weather twist was predicted for today, with temperatures
A FORMER North-East schoolboy who emigrated to the US with just $200 to his name has retired a wealthy man - thanks to the humble Post-it note. The ingenious invention, which covers office walls, desks and computer screens around the world, is 20 years
THE Government yesterday outlined its vision for the future of UK ports in a White Paper designed to make them safe, green and competitive. Transport Minister Keith Hill, who launched the paper said: ''We see our ports as a major component in integrated
In the basement, appropriately, of Middlesbrough's best known restaurant, a do on Thursday night launched the Boro fans' second annual. In the Purple Onion they were almost crying in their beer. The atmosphere, like the lighting, was subdued. Not even
WORK is starting to transform one of Grainger Town's run-down buildings into residential apartments for visitors to Newcastle to live in during extended visits to the City. Chu Yuk Fun Enterprises, the owners of Murton House on Grainger Street, is redeveloping
A SMALL piece of sporting history will be going under the hammer next week - to help save lives in North Yorkshire. A square of Wembley turf will be among items at an auction in aid of the intensive care unit at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital. The
TRAINEE hair designer Ashley Gill has won first prize in a competition held at a Darlington salon. The challenge, between junior staff at the Workshop Hair and Beauty Salon, in Grange Road, was to a create a make-over with instructions to be as outrageous
A PSYCHIC artist who paints through the power of spirit says the success of her first art show has encouraged her to consider a further exhibition. Flower paintings by Maggie Lambert, who lives in Darlington, were on display for the first time at the
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have started digging on the site of a proposed £7m leisure development in Darlington. The two-day dig in the Feethams area of the town is aimed at finding any items of historical interest before building work starts. Outline planning permission
THE story of an elderly pony's search for a home has had a happy end. Twenty-year-old Millie is now living with new owners in North Yorkshire, where she is enjoying her role as companion to other horses. Crippled from an early age and badly neglected,
FIGURES so far suggest Pudsey Bear's 21st birthday is going to be one to remember. The BBC's Children in Need Appeal celebrated the milestone with a seven-hour broadcast on TV and radio a week ago - and, at £12m, the total so far beats 1999 by a cool
CITY leaders in Sunderland insist a multi-million pound bridge for the River Wear remains a priority, following the success of Tyneside's Millennium Bridge. The £22m "blinking eye" bridge, at Gateshead, won Millennium Commission funding months after a
THE Mayor of Middlesbrough will today launch the town's contribution to a national environment campaign. Middlesbrough's Slim Your Bin project is part of the Government's Doing Your Bit campaign to cut down on unnecessary waste. Slim Your Bin aims to
FLOODING and the fuel crisis have meant an overspend by North Yorkshire Police, a meeting will be told today. Extra patrols had to be deployed to escort convoys of lorries demonstrating against high tax levies on petrol in September. Officers were also
RUDOLPH the reindeer and his friends arrived in the region yesterday to join in a community carnival. The event, part of Middlesbrough's Ice Festival, attracted thousands of people to the town centre, where youngsters were also given the chance to meet
A Headteacher suspended after being accused of slapping a pupil has vowed to clear her name, her union said. Elizabeth Carey, 51, is said to be "deeply distressed" by the allegations. Miss Carey has been suspended from the ten-pupil Milfield First School
PROTESTORS fighting to stop a bail hostel being built in their town are confident the plan will be thrown out tonight. Chester-le-Street district councillors will vote on the proposal at the civic centre, as opposition to the 25-bedroom hostel continues
WITH three visits under his belt, Murphy is a veteran at giving blood. However, he does not have a little book with stamps to record each visit and, instead of a cup of tea and a biscuit, he gets a bowl of fatty meat. Murphy is a five-year-old lurcher
HUNDREDS of textile workers are facing an uncertain future after clothing maker William Baird admitted it is in talks over a possible £88m takeover offer. The group said the discussions could lead to a recommended cash offer of 75p a share, after reports
A SCHOOL is sending out an open invitation to thousands of south Durham residents to help a long-serving teacher end his career in style. Nearly 40 years in the classroom has left teacher Neville Davison with thousands of friends among present and former
A NORTH-EAST town is still hoping for a Christmas present from the Government. A decision is expected by the end of the year on which towns will get city status to mark the millennium, the Home Office said last night. Middlesbrough, on Teesside, is among
A MOTHER has spoken of her anger at being stranded in Tenerife with her two children for five days - while her husband was allowed on the plane home. Victoria Barton, of Stanley, County Durham, said she was told she could not take her Spanair flight home
AN MP could have been forgiven for saying "pull the udder one" when given details of a constituency engagement. But the request from Houghall College, on the outskirts of Durham City, to Gerry Steinberg, was genuine. The agricultural institution asked
PEOPLE have given their seal of approval to changes in disabled transport services in Tyne and Wear. Three quarters of Care Services members said they approved of changes introduced in July, according to a survey. Care Services is a non-profit making
HUNDREDS of steam enthusiasts descended on Darlington at the weekend to witness a milestone event in the birth of a new engine. The Tornado steam locomotive is being built at the Hopetown engineering works by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, and on Saturday
YOUNGSTERS who give up their spare time to care for a relative are being urged to join a group, which has been set up to provide them with respite. The Hartlepool Positive Future Project, is for young carers, aged five to 19, who care for a relative who
SCOUTS and Cubs have ensured a bright start to spring by planting 2,000 bluebell bulbs at a beauty spot. Members of the 17th St Aidan group, from Hartlepool, were at the Greatham Beck Wildlife Corridor Nature Reserve, on Saturday. They have adopted a
BALLET dancers will give a new dimension to this year's production of the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk by a North-East town's theatre group. A 15-strong troupe from the Elvet Ballet School, based in Crook and Durham City, will perform a fantasy sequence
POLICE are to step up patrols on South Tyneside in a Christmas crime crackdown. Operation Noel begins today, and involves officers working with partners in the town centres of South Shields, Jarrow and Hebburn. The main shopping areas of South Shields
IT ALL started with a tin of beans. If young Rodney Jones, 11, had not been overcome by hunger and broken into a corner shop, he would not have been challenged by a policeman at an ungodly hour in the morning; making off across Newcastle's High Level
THE black market for cigarettes, fuelled by high levels of duty on legal tobacco products, has led to a flattening in UK profits at cigarette giant Imperial Tobacco. The group, which sells brands including Lambert & Butler, Embassy, Superkings and
MODERN places like Peterlee have names given to them by government bodies or town planners. Some aren't very imaginative, which is why we have so many places called Newton, like Newton Aycliffe. Were place names of ancient times given names by official
A SET of quads, who defied the odds after being born prematurely, have celebrated their fourth birthday. Jonpaul, Hannah, Simon and Adam Moss-Carbert were the star guests at a party in Cockerton, Darlington, yesterday. Like any other youngsters of their
Darlington manager Gary Bennett is "very close" to signing striker Kirk Jackson after completing the signing of his Worksop teammate Adam Marsh yesterday. Jackson has been tracked for several weeks by Bennett, who made his move after he watched him play
WHITE-KNUCKLE ride Fami (2.10) is fancied to get back on the winning trail in the Sidney Phillips Handicap Chase at Hereford. Faultless fencing has not always been the strong point of the Venetia Williams-trained chaser, who managed to get rid of his
PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night moved to avoid the nightmare of damaging tax rises only weeks before the next General Election. The Government unveiled its "best-ever" cash settlement for local authorities and police forces in a bid to see off big
LONG-DISTANCE hauliers fear they are being put in danger of bankruptcy by strict measures introduced to stem the influx of illegal immigrants. Cross-Channel lorry drivers and operators face huge fines and the impounding of their vehicle if immigrants
LONELY divorcee Stan Young found more than the perfect bride when he answered her ad in The Northern Echo's contact column Two's Company - he discovered four half-brothers he did not know existed. As well as agreeing to marry Stan next August, Gail Burns
JOBLESS youngsters in Hartlepool are being given the chance to work in the health service. A number of people have already gained permanent posts at Hartlepool General Hospital, thanks to a scheme of modern apprenticeships. Through the project, which
THE Darlington branch of a chain of bookmakers has hit the jackpot by scooping a national award. Stanley Racing, in Cockerton, beat 620 Stanley shops across the country to win the company's prize of shop team of the year. Staff at the bookmakers won gift
POLICE are concerned for the safety of a pensioner missing from his home. David Ross, from Newton Aycliffe, who is said to be suffering from depression, was reported missing by a friend last Monday. Mr Ross, who walks with a limp, previously lived in
A NORTH-EAST pensioner was among dozens of British tourists who fled from their Spanish hotel as they were overcome by chemical fumes. Ellen Lamb, 68, from Sunderland, Wearside, said people were gasping for breath at the four-star Yaramar Hotel, at Fuengirola
JOB-SEEKERS can find out more about joining the growing ranks of call centre workers in the North-East tonight. A recruitment open evening will be held at Southwick Job Centre, Stoney Lane, Sunderland, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Banking firm Lloyds TSB is
A £25,000 window in memory of a former curate has been dedicated at a Darlington church. Father Michael Wilson was remembered in a dedication service at St James' Church, Albert Hill, conducted by the former Bishop of Beverley, the Right Reverend John
VISITORS have until tomorrow to view the pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels. Thousands of people have been to see the gospels during the book's short stay in its home region. It is only the third time the national treasure has been to the North-East since
A student parachutist plunged to his death after his chute failed to open. The man was named last night as Colin Graham, 23, who was single, of Mariners Wharf, Newcastle. Police have launched an inquiry into the accident, which happened when the man jumped
CAMPAIGNERS released 104 white balloons into the sky above Durham to highlight the problems of domestic violence. Each balloon released from the city's Market Place, on Saturday, signified the fact that, nationally, two women are murdered each week due
THOUSANDS of people turned up last night to see a local film star set Stockton High Street alight. Film sensation Jamie Bell, from Billingham - star of Billy Elliot, switched on the town's Christmas lights. A highlight of the event was when Father Christmas
A THOUSAND years of Durham county and diocese was celebrated at a millennium service attended by 300 worshippers yesterday. Durham's Lord Lieutenant, Sir Paul Nicholson, led a procession of the county's civic, academic and ceremonial figures, who were
ROYAL Marine Neal Curry has been awarded the green beret, the hallmark of commando troops. Mr Curry, 22, from Newton Aycliffe, has become a Royal Marine Commando after completing a gruelling 30-week course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Heart-throb star Robson Green is battling to win back TV audiences after viewing figures showed he is becoming a telly turn-off. Figures for his latest run of ITV dramas show that he is now attracting less than half the audience he was six years ago,
Visitors were invited to buy unusual Christmas gifts at an Oriental bazaar, at Durham University. The event, on Saturday, featured belly dancing displays, exhibitions of Arabic culture, and activities for children. The new Lottery-funded Marvels of China
Bishopton and Redmarshall Primary School, in Stockton, has joined forces with Darlington's Lifelong Learning Initiative, and Stockton's Adult Education Service, to allow adults to use its facilities. It will run courses, including basic computer lessons
The first stage in a project to improve the look of Stockton's "gateway" roads has finished. Improvements to Norton Road include work on the Red Lion Roundabout, new litterbins, new railings parallel to Oxford Terrace, and the demolition of three derelict
CROWDS of excited youngsters turned up to give Santa Claus a warm Christmas welcome to Durham. He arrived at his grotto in the city's Prince Bishops shopping centre on Saturday, on a sled pulled by huskies. He was greeted by hundreds of eager little faces
LET there be light! The Northern Echo today joins forces with Century FM to search for the brightest house in the North-East this Christmas. The winner of our fabulous Ho Ho Homes competition will scoop a year's free supply of electricity, based on the
