THE NORTHERN ECHO editor who rocked Victorian Britain by pouring publicity on the scandal of child prostitution is given a starring role in a new Channel 4 documentary series about the Victorians. William T. Stead, is the focus of academics and writers
MORE than 100 jobs are being created at an automotive parts supplier thanks to a grant of £500,000. The grant will help brake pad manufacturer TMD Friction, in Hartlepool, increase its capacity by more than 50 per cent. The company will add a further
AUSTRALIAN international Paul Okon insists Middlesbrough fans have yet to see the best of him,. Midfielder Okon, signed last summer on a Bosman free from Italian giants Fiorentina, said: "I'm getting closer and closer to my best form with every game.
WILLIAM Hanna didn't rate himself as much of an artist, but he helped create such popular cartoon characters as Tom and Jerry, Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Scooby Doo and the Wacky Races gang. The animation pioneer, who has died aged 90, and partner
Skipper David Beckham hit a second half rocket to earn England a 2-1 victory over Finland. Beckham capped a superb display with a fierce right-footed shot to settle a thrilling World Cup qualifier at Anfield. The visitors went ahead on 27 minutes when
PROVIDED the draw does not have a profound effect on the result of today's £50,000 Lincoln Handicap, in my book Vintage Premium (3.45) is the one they all have to beat. Whichever way you look at the equation, Richard Fahey's useful four-year-old must
HEADTEACHERS in the region gave a mixed response yesterday to Government plans to introduce parenting orders to curb unruly schoolchildren. Education Secretary David Blunkett has announced plans to extend the orders, which were introduced last July, to
HARTLEPOOL United's promotion push is becoming a close cut thing for Tommy Miller. Saturday's comprehensive 2-0 win at Plymouth extended Pool's advantage to five points over fifth-placed Blackpool as the unbeaten run extended itself to 126 days. The last
Hartlepool MP and former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson put himself online yesterday to take questions from readers as part of a ground-breaking initiative. The controversial politician launched an Internet feature called The Interview-e at
Union leaders yesterday gave the Government details of last-ditch plans aimed at saving some of the 6,000 steelworkers' jobs from the axe. The Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) contacted Trade and Industry Secretary, Stephen Byers, who has urged
THE North-East has underlined its position as the animal cruelty capital of the country following three more acts of brutality. The most disgraceful act came to light yesterday after a cat was found beheaded in Darlington. It was first thought that the
DARLINGTON bowlers have suffered a double disappointment in national competitions. The Morrison Centre duo of Ann Anderson and Alan Moore went down 24-143 to their York opponents at Selby in the Inter Area Final of the National Mixed Pairs. Then, at York
A WOMAN left the country to escape a stalker who sketched a gravestone with her name on it, a court was told yesterday. Jane Tranter, 23, was a member of a Job Club working on her curriculum vitae when newcomer Gavin Smith, 28, grabbed it. He memorised
Q Our joint State Pensions are £110.45 per week and joint company pensions of £257.53 a month. We have savings of £5,000. Can we have a rebate on our Council Tax of £640 a year? A You qualify for a rebate of about £1 a week currently, but from April an
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid faces a showdown meeting this week with unhappy £1.5m striker Milton Nunez. The little Honduran has found himself out in the cold on Wearside, having made only one appearance as substitute since his beat-the-deadline transfer
After Red Nose Day, welcome to Red Face Day. The good, the great and the desperate-for-fame put on their glad rags and assemble in Los Angeles for the 73th Academy Awards Ceremony tomorrow. TV coverage of the show will be watched by millions worldwide
THE mother of a British Army sportsman kicked to death outside an Austrian disco spoke of her anger last night after members of a Serbian gang accused of his murder were freed. Police had accused five men of murdering Corporal Derek Osborne, who died
CONIFERS offer us colour, contrast and interest throughout the winter months. They are available in a wide range of forms, shapes and sizes, from the tiny bun-like mounds of the rock garden cypress to towering redwoods and scrambling junipers. Most gardeners
TELEVISION star Rowan Atkinson saved his family's life by grabbing the controls of a plane at 16,000ft when the pilot passed out, it was revealed last night. The North-East born comic, best-known for his role as the hapless Mr Bean, had chartered a private
PEARSONS is continuing to strengthen its marketing communications division after winning an account with CTC Marine Projects. Middlesbrough-based Pearsons was chosen by the Darlington subsea fibre optics company to help celebrate the launch of its new
I HAVE a list of things I'd like to see before I pop my clogs, and one of those things is the golden death mask of Tutankhamun. The trouble is that the treasures from the boy king's tomb, discovered in 1922 by Englishman Howard Carter, rest in the Cairo
A COMPANY director was disqualified for ten years by Durham County Court yesterday, because of his misconduct in relation to four failed firms. Ralph William Shaw, of Eden Grove, Middridge, Shildon, was banned as a result of his misconduct as a director
SKIPPER Alan Shearer has told Newcastle United that he is set to miss the rest of the season. The former England captain is due to arrive back from America where he was advised by eminent knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman to rest for at least a month
DIGITAL camcorders may already be a thing of the past. Although the technology has only just taken off in this country, Hitachi has already shown us a glimpse of the future. The DZ-MV10 uses DVD discs to record sounds and pictures that can be played back
Union leaders were today finalising last-ditch plans aimed at saving 6,000 jobs ahead of two crucial meetings in the coming 48 hours with the Government and steel-maker Corus. The Iron and Steel Trades Confederation is putting together a scheme worth
PERHAPS the most instantly obvious change in Britain's churches these past 25 years has been the warmth and width of their welcome. Gone are the half-frozen handshake, the brimstone black back row bouncers. In their place, smiling faces like Anne Gilmore's
businesses and individuals on Tyneside have inundated a scheme aimed at improving the lives of people in Newcastle, with offers of support. The Newcastle Employment Bond has produced a Roll of Honour containing the names of everyone who has contributed
Reader's letters from The Northern Echo GM CROPS RECENT reports of proposed GM crop trials in County Durham add yet more worries to some farmers and others. The Government and some experts say there's no fear of GM crops affecting other crops, wildlife
A FRESH jobs blow last night hit a part of the region struggling to recover from repeated knocks. Frozen meals firm Hibernia Foods announced plans to close its factory in Peterlee, County Durham, shedding 200 workers. The Irish firm said this followed
A MAN was found guilty by a jury yesterday of biting off a piece of an opponent's ear during a late-night street fight. The jury at York Crown Court found Lea Barker not guilty of intending to inflict grievous bodily harm on Stephen Lamb, but guilty of
NEXT week, the City will be livened up by a touch of magic, jewellery and Wild Wild Racing - which will hopefully take traders' eyes off the volatile stock market. Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury paved the way for good full-year figures in November,
WHAT a gloomy week! There's nothing but carnage in the countryside and Stock Market crashes in the City. War breaks out in the Balkans and teachers go on strike in Britain. Plus Alan Shearer's out for the rest of the season. And it's been cold and damp
Furious Horden chairman Norman Stephens yesterday launched a scathing attack on the club's former manager Jim McGrath for walking out on the Second Division club. McGrath quit on Thursday saying that he wanted a 'fresh challenge', but Stephens is far
Tony Blair last night set himself a ten-day deadline to call a May 3 General Election. Mr Blair revealed his personal timetable when he was caught on camera chatting to EU Commission President Romano Prodi in Stockholm at the start of a two-day summit
BRITAIN'S farmers faced more grim news last night after an official report predicted more than 4,400 cases of foot-and-mouth disease would be recorded by June. The report came as the number of outbreaks reached 514 and Tony Blair was said to have ordered
Darlington's very own Flying Postman finally delivered the goods on Saturday. The Flying Postman - alias Darlington striker John Williams - scored his first goals at Feethams to give Quakers only their second home win of the year. Until Saturday, he had
DURHAM have offered a full-time contract to 19-year-old left-handed batsman Gary Pratt. They have also introduced development contracts as a stepping stone between the academy and the senior squad, and the first two have gone to seamer Mark Davies and
Energy minister Peter Hain has pledged to dramatically speed up payments to dying miners. Mr Hain will announce a compensation package to North-East pitmen and widows which could total £68m by the autumn when he visits Murton, County Durham. That is almost
