THE best music knows no barriers of language, as North-East child prodigy 12-year-old Sarah Jane Burn has found out. Percussionist Sarah, of Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, has been asked to fly to Paris to star in the city's New Year's Eve
SEVEN young music students of a County Durham teacher have passed piano exams. The pupils of Audrey Vickers, who teaches in South Church, Bishop Auckland, have all achieved gradings in Royal Schools of Music exams. Stephen Williams and Caroline Hellens
A CANDLELIT procession and inter-denominational service is to be repeated on New Year's Eve at Durham Cathedral. It follows the success of a similar event, intended as a one-off to mark the onset of the new Millennium, last year. All-comers are welcome
POLICE are continuing their investigation into the death of woman in a road accident involving a bus. The accident happened as the 36-year-old, who was last night identified as Julie Turner, of Garth Walk, Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, was crossing the
MONTHS of careful planning are keeping South Durham hospitals off the sick list as health trust bosses gear up for the worst the winter months can through at them. South Durham Health Care NHS Trust has been working closely with health and social service
HOMOSEXUALS in the region have welcomed a new advertising campaign featuring two women kissing. But lesbian group Women on Women believes the gay community still has a long way to go before it can become as publicly open in everyday life as the advert's
DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett is hoping that the Feethams injury crisis will ease before Quakers set off for Exeter this morning. Bennett, who went into the Chesterfield game on Tuesday without three injured players, has midfielder Martin Gray and striker
THE star appears in the West rather than the East this Christmas. Istabraq, arguably the biggest name in jump racing at present, has his first run of the season at Leopardstown in Ireland today. If the meeting passes a 7am inspection, it will be his first
ONE of the region's worst cooks got a little help from her friends this Christmas - six copies of the same recipe book. Louise Preston, 32, of Skipton, North Yorkshire had made a New Year's resolution to learn to cook, and her family and friends thought
A struggling author was arrested yesterday after sparking a royal security alert by paragliding into the grounds of Buckingham Palace in a bizarre attempt to secure a publishing deal. Brett De La Mare, 36, from Darwin, Australia, said he was "desperate
A DEVASTATED father who lost his wife and son in a double tragedy spoke yesterday of his determination to carry on for the sake of his young daughter. Robert Veitch, 30, saw his son Robert, nine, die after slipping on the path of his home. His wife Christine
SKATERS were making the most of an outdoor ice rink yesterday, in the last days before it is dismantled. Since it opened on November 20, the rink at Victoria Gardens, Middlesbrough, has attracted visitors from all over the region. A number of special
NEW warnings that the North-South divide is in danger of developing into a chasm prompted new calls for Government action last night. According to separate studies published last night, the region's town centres are in steep decline and higher numbers
A fleet is wrecked near Adriatic sea Lifted by earthquake, dropped upon the land Egypt, a-quake the Muslims' spread to see An envoy sends, surrender in his hand SINISTER words, prophetic words, the vision of a clairvoyant, or the ramblings of a crank?
HELP is on hand for smokers in Teesside who plan to make a New Year's Resolution to kick the habit. The Tees Smoking Cessation Service, supported by Teesside Health Action Zone, offers a variety of options for people who have decided to stop smoking,
A NEW book has been published for people hoping to enjoy a walk in the fresh air around Sedgefield borough. The 64-page Walks Around Sedgefield has been produced by Sedgefield Borough Council's countryside officer, Graham Clingan. Not only did he write
A PROGRAMME designed to help homeless people in north Durham has received a prestigious national award. The Life Skills programme, backed by Durham County Council and charity Single Homeless Action Initiative Derwentside (SHAID), has been awarded Investing
As the year 2000 draws to a close it is time to look at what lies in store for the World Wide Web in the year 2001. The past 12 months have prompted some pessimistic responses to the Internet - not least from the mighty stock markets. High-profile names
IN his relatively short spell at the helm of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy has proved himself to be a shrewd and accomplished politician. Courageously, he has stuck to his guns on the issues of tax and Europe, and earned credit from the general
THOUSANDS of manufacturing jobs will be lost every month in the coming year unless there is an unexpected recovery in the sector, the leader of the TUC warned yesterday. In his New Year message, general secretary John Monks said that the state of the
Detectives investigating a North-East murder believe vital witnesses have not come forward for fear of prosecution. Known criminal Kevin Mawhinney was stabbed to death in a street brawl during the early hours of Boxing Day. The 33-year-old was found by
HIGH-PROFILE athletes from all over the world are heading to a County Durham town to compete in a cross-country race. However, Consett's own leading runner Stuart Bell has had to rule himself out of Saturday's International Cross Country race, based in
A museum dedicated to the Venerable Bede is holding an exhibition of work by a local artist. The display at Bede's World, in Jarrow, is called Saints, Singers and Saxons and is by Beryl McCartney, who is better known for her teddy bear illustrations.
TRAFFIC calming measures could be introduced to cut the number of road accidents in a housing area. Members of Middlesbrough Borough Council will meet next week to discuss plans for the Brambles Farm area of town. They were drafted after a spate of accidents
PICTURE the scene. It's not even 4am on Christmas morning and I'm hiding behind the sofa in the living room with the camcorder aimed at the door. Once they start ripping open their stockings in their bedrooms, I know I have about four minutes to get downstairs
DAZZLING morning sunshine may have contributed to a spate of traffic accidents in County Durham yesterday. In the space of one hour there were four separate accidents on the southbound carriageway of the A19. The first accident involved a heavy goods
A FLOURISHING business is proving the key to its success is keeping its roots firmly in the North-East. Sunderland-born businessmen Mike Coombs and Steve Woolston returned to Wearside last year to open a regional office for national computer company,
A PROJECT aimed at providing support for drug addicts in parts of Teesside is to begin in April. The scheme will have a centre in South Bank and one in Middlesbrough. It will provide support for about 500 people in South Bank, Eston and Grangetown. The
A SUNDERLAND University graduate has won a national award for the tablet dispenser he invented. Jonathon Southgate, 28, scooped top prize in the Institution of Engineering Designers' annual competition to find the best student project. He designed a gadget
STORE bosses and council chiefs in Hartlepool have joined forces to hammer home an anti-drink drive message. Hartlepool Borough Council is one of a number of local authorities promoting a poster campaign in partnership with Asda and North-East police
Newcastle Jesters lost their second match in 24 hours, going down 3-0 in a bad tempered encounter with the London Knights at the Telewest Arena last night. Jesters had earlier been beaten in Scotland against the Ayr Scottish Eagles when three goals in
PEOPLE are being offered the chance to start 2001 on the right foot by joining a nine-mile guided walk. Voluntary Countryside Ranger Steve Shippen will lead the New Year's Day trek around Dipton and Pontop Pike, near Stanley. The walk is graded "medium
Juninho is at the centre of a new year transfer scramble after an outstanding first half of the season in Brazil. The little playmaker, rejected by Middlesbrough at the end of last season, is now a target for clubs in Spain and Brazil. Juninho left Atletico
Defence dates for the diary THE Northern Defence Initiative (NDI) has unveiled its upcoming seminar programme to give members the chance to gear themselves up for 2001. The organisation is a non-political, not-for-profit body which exists to enable its
COMPANY managers will be accused of paying "lip service" to the idea of working in partnership with their staff in a new survey to be published in the New Year. Research among more than 2,000 senior workplace union representatives has shown widespread
A teenage boy who has repeatedly caused trouble on the streets of South Shields, South Tyneside, has been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order. The 15-year-old, from Simonside, was taken to court by Northumbria Police and South Tyneside
Council officials are hoping an as yet unidentified firm will take over an industrial unit in an unemployment blackspot and create much-needed jobs. South Tyneside Council says the firm is planning to move on to the site of the warehouse at Hebburn run
PEOPLE stuffed with turkey and chocolates can walk off the Christmas excesses with a stroll around Durham City today. The local branch of the Ramblers' Association has organised the four-mile trek as part of its winter walks programme. Walkers will set
A NORTH-EAST university has disputed national figures which put it near the bottom of the league for attracting students. It was reported yesterday that the number of students enrolling at Sunderland University dropped by 16 per cent in autumn, compared
ALAN Shearer set out yesterday on his mission to beat a comeback target set by Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson. The United boss and medical experts expect Shearer to be out for three months following surgery on his knee injury. But Shearer hopes
FORECASTERS last night predicted snow to sweep across the region today as Arctic conditions continue to grip the country. Heavy falls were blown in off the North Sea yesterday afternoon, with coastal towns such as Redcar and Whitby among the first to
A PARK will blossom in the new year thanks to a campaign's donation. The Thornaby Football Club Community Project, at Teesdale Park, has been awarded £1,500 by the Shell Better Britain Campaign. It will go towards the purchase of tools, trees, shrubs
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy yesterday signalled his support for tactical voting with Labour to ensure there was no return to power by the Tories at the next General Election. He warned a Conservative government led by William Hague would be
JASON Gillespie produced a bail-clipping nip-back ball to non-plus Brian Lara and leave the West Indies facing another monumental defeat as Australia applied yet more pressure in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Lara offered no shot to a ball that looked
RAILWAYS I WOULD like to add my voice to the letters expressing concern about the state of the railway system. I also wonder, as did CJ Blair (HAS, Nov 21), where the 20,000 people who were recently recruited by Railtrack to check and repair the tracks
DAZZLING morning sunshine may have contributed to a spate of traffic accidents in County Durham yesterday. In the space of one hour there were four separate accidents on the southbound carriageway of the A19. The first accident involved a heavy goods
THE cry of "school dinners were never like this" was heard at a charity luncheon which brought the mothers of Darlington's Polam Hall schoolgirls back to school. A flower demonstration by Jill Harbord, of Eggleston Hall, got the event off to a flying
A COLLEGE recognised as a centre of excellence for technology training has been praised by Government inspectors. Northallerton College is said to have improved significantly since its last Ofsted inspection four years ago. The latest report says exam
A SPORTY soldier kept cool as she taught youngsters one of the most dangerous winter activities. Sergeant Donna Nevens, of Middlesbrough, went to Winterberg, Germany, to train 50 soldiers competing in the Army Novice and Junior Ice Sport Championships
A PSYCHOLOGY lecturer is suing a college for the mental trauma caused by arriving at work to find his office had been demolished. Michael Laidler claims his life fell apart after the incident five years ago at New College, Durham City. Many of his personal
GARDENER Charlie Topping is looking forward to a happy festive season after finding a job for the first time in ten years. Mr Topping, 57, had almost given up hope of ever finding work, but his success on the New Deal programme proves it is never too
A FORMER quarry could be given a new lease of life as a public recreation area as part of a council's bid to create more open spaces for residents to enjoy. Richmondshire District Council officials are hoping to be given approval to develop derelict land
BARRING a minor miracle, London's benchmark FTSE-100 Index of leading stocks will end the year today lower than it started - something that has only happened twice in its history. This time last year, the Footsie was motoring up to a record high, fuelled
CAROL singing helped raise cash to aid destitute and abused children in Sri Lanka. Singers took to the Co-op precinct, in Brandon, near Durham City, and collected £138.19 for the Project 2000 fund. A series of events has been organised by members of St
PLANS for a multi-million pound supermarket in a north Durham town, which would create dozens of new jobs, look likely to be approved by councillors. Planners at Chester-le-Street District Council have been looking for retailers to build a large supermarket
AWARD winning public relations and marketing consultancy Karol Marketing has been appointed to handle the trade and consumer launch of a new bottled, blended spirit, called Green Fairy. The drink targeted at 18-35-year-olds is the first of its kind to
A MOTHER spent Boxing Day night in police cells after two sons had a festive fall-out, a court heard yesterday. Janice McWilliams, 37, was arrested when she grabbed an officer's arm to pull him away from her feuding sons at a house in Rawlinson Avenue
A MAN was taken to hospital with serious chest injuries after the car he was driving collided with a lamppost. The accident happened on the A66 eastbound road at the Smeaton Street roundabout, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, at 2.15am yesterday. A passenger
A TEENAGER was robbed of a motorised scooter he was test driving on Christmas Eve. The 17-year-old was riding the machine in Sunderland's High Street West, at 1.50pm, when he was threatened by a man. He handed over the green Tami Venom Sports 33cc, and
TWO men accused of the kidnap and torture of a teenager were granted bail by a court yesterday. John Beddow, 18, and Anthony Greenman, 32, were arrested in Middlesbrough after the youth was taken to hospital with a broken nose and injuries allegedly caused
