A MAGISTRATES' courts committee has taken over the responsibility from police for executing warrants against fine defaulters and people who breach community sentences in County Durham. The Durham Magistrates' Courts Committee said that the move will allow
A report launched this week has recommended the use of a so-called "surfing proficiency test" to help youngsters get more out of the Internet. The idea is that children will be able to take the test to qualify for unsupervised use of the Internet at school
WITH election fever bursting out all over, politicians' minds should now be turning to how they harness the power of the Internet. While all the major parties want to be seen to be a part of the online world, none have yet demonstrated any great ability
GHOSTS, ghouls and things that go bump in the night are usually a subject reserved for Halloween but a retired teacher believes they are far more common than previously imagined. Dave Shotten, who lives in Belmont, near Durham City, became interested
THE year is already shaping up to be a very good one for a company which has just enjoyed the best month in its history. Record-breaking figures in March saw Brulines, the Stockton company behind the revolutionary draught dispense information service
WITH just a week to go until Valentine's Day, perhaps the Internet can help you find that special something. Plenty of websites offer some amour online and the world wide nature of the web can be found at www.valentines.com where they have been thinking
HER emotions stretched to the limits, we have had a call from Mrs Joan Bates. One recent eating experience was "absolutely tremendous", she says - so special she was tempted to keep it secret - the other so "utterly dreadful" that she wrote to the manager
ALEN Boksic is ready to revive his international career - but only when Middlesbrough's relegation issues are resolved. The £2.5m striker has responded to pleas from Croatia by agreeing to rejoin their World Cup campaign. But Boksic has declined to link
A SURVEY of residents' views is helping council officers to develop a community action plan for Darlington's Whinfield estate. Hundreds of responses have been received from 2,500 questionnaires asking people about their problems and priorities for the
NORTH-EAST industry suffered a second blow in two days last night with the closure of one shipyard and job losses at another. Receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers said 170 North-East workers would lose their jobs as part of the shake-up at troubled Cammell
A MILITANT fuel protestor has warned there could be a repeat of last autumn's crippling fuel blockades if fears of a widespread rise in fuel costs prove correct. Shell yesterday put up the price of petrol by a penny a litre blaming the increase in the
PERMISSION has been granted for a £2.4m bar and restaurant development on a cinema site, despite police warnings about possible disorder. Luminar Leisure, which already runs the Chicago Rock Caf and Liquid nightclub, in Middlesbrough, asked Middlesbrough
DON'T write off Shane Warne. That was the message from Durham's new overseas player Martin Love yesterday as he looked forward to watching his countrymen in action in the Ashes series. "I hope to get to one or two days' play if my Durham commitments allow
THE demolition of a former cinema has revealed more secrets from an 18th Century banqueting house. Archaeologists discovered that a pillar and two lintels at the front of the derelict building in Trimdon Village originally came from the house in Hardwick
POLICE in east Cleveland are asking dog owners to be aware of their animal's whereabouts after sheep were killed in two separate attacks. Two Alsatians and a terrier attacked and killed four sheep at a smallholding in Liverton village, near Loftus, on
Darlington yesterday received a massive boost when classy French defender Alex Jeannin signed a three-year deal. Jeannin arrived at Feethams just before the transfer deadline last month and after watching him in training for only a couple of days, manager
TOMORROW is Comic Relief's Red Nose day and the Internet has the chance to bring you some laughter while changing the lives of people around the world. The official Comic Relief website provides plenty of fund-raising inspiration and gives readers lots
A RUSSIAN scientist who has pioneered a controversial "cure" for asthma is to visit the North-East. British followers of Professor Konstantin Buteyko claim that his unconventional approach to treating asthma could help millions to live without inhalers
ACCORDING to one of the definitions in the Oxford English dictionary, a virus is "a harmful or corrupting influence". And that influence could mean you will never get to read this article because rumours abound that there is a Valentine's Day virus out
TV producers are looking for people who would like to receive a free makeover of their garden or on a room in their house as part of a new television programme. Yorkshire-based independent production company NMTV is to begin filming Style File, for the
ORGANISERS of a rural music festival have pledged that the show will go ahead, despite the epidemic. Preparations are still being made for the annual Swaledale Festival, which is staged in the most northerly areas of Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale
ONE of the biggest agricultural shows in the region has been cancelled because of the crisis. The showground for Egton Show, in the North York Moors, is in agricultural land and is out of bounds because the disease has spread to the nearby village of
A businessman has been charged with obtaining £7,000 in housing benefit for a house he did not own. Benefit fraud investigators claim property developer Jagmohan Malhotra continued to keep benefit of his former tenant of a house in Wallsend, two and a
THE region's own Star Wars is about to be played out when an £8m multi-screen cinema opens later this summer. A string of Hollywood box office flops have failed to dampen enthusiasm for the movie-going experience. Audiences in the region have more than
A MECHANIC who sparked police chases through a busy city has been jailed for stripping down stolen cars and selling them for parts. Robert Sampson, 38, of Oaklands Crescent, Southwick, Sunderland, was arrested following police surveillance at his vehicle
GREEN-FINGERED students have changed the face of their school with a planting project. A group of year 11 science students at Sunnydale School, Shildon, have planted about 40 shrubs on the main pedestrian approach to school. The students grew the shrubs
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
A MAGISTRATES' courts committee has taken over the responsibility from police for executing warrants against fine defaulters and people who breach community sentences. The Durham Magistrates' Courts Committee said the move will allow the courts to give
A MOUNTAIN of topsoil has been delivered to villagers to help them dig deep to improve the landscape. The first of two 30 tonne loads have already been delivered to Oley Meadows at Shotley Bridge, near Consett, to help create a nature area on the site
DARLINGTON has a proud record as a pioneer of transport, and for many people there is no prouder name in its history than that of Scott's Greys. Everyone knows that in 1825 Darlington gave birth to the first proper passenger railway, and nearly everyone
A SHOPPING centre's recent multi-million pound expansion is building bridges with City financial institutions. The Bridges, in Sunderland, is bucking the trend in regional retail ratings, according to visiting Stock Market experts. Twelve City of London
LIKE Wally or Herbert, for example, the name Nigel now has undertones, slightly giggly and wholly inexplicable. At least two Nigels work in this office, both perfectly good eggs. One of the Arsenal's legendary back four was a Nigel, Nigella Lawson's old
A NORTH-EAST council worked alongside the agency hoping to build a deeply unpopular bail hostel - despite publicly backing the campaign against it, it was claimed yesterday. Last year, Chester-le-Street District Council threw out controversial Probation
THREE course Sunday lunch at the George in Piercebridge is £13.95, which may explain why a couple inquired, conferred and ordered two packets of plain crisps instead. It's a bit steep for a north countryman is that, worse still for a Yorkshireman - within
POCO is Italian for tiny, Caf Poco abundant proof of what they say about good stuff and little bundles. It's in Wolsingham, one of those eating places - there are too few - which doesn't just help put in the day but positively enhances it. Though the
AS a home to thriving colonies of birds, from ducks to waders, there is nothing to suggest the lake has not been there for generations. Just below the top of the moor, it provides a seemingly-perfect natural stopping off point for its feathered visitors
THE period of breast beating and atonement upon which the railway companies must surely soon embark appears to have begun rather early. A red carpet had abased itself almost exactly where we stopped from the train at Newcastle Central station; a flower
DEAR reader. When did you last write a letter? Unless you are in love, in dispute with the gas board or writing to complain about something in these pages, the chances are that it was some time ago. If you are under 30, it could well not be since your
NOT particularly early doors, the Breakfast Club assembled unannounced at the Kings Head in Richmond. Probably it was about 9.15, though many of the hotel's handsome old clocks put a different face on it. Though the clocks were monthly maintained, said
IT MAY be known as the World Wide Web but how truly world wide is the Internet and the opportunities it has to offer? As the developed countries get more and more economic clout from technology, the so-called digital divide increases so that developing
MORE military services are to be sold to the private sector in the latest efficiency move by the Ministry of Defence. Fire and crash services at 96 British military air bases around the world - including the fighter base at Leeming, North Yorkshire -
MOTHER'S Day won't go by unnoticed on the Internet this Sunday. Whether you're a mum looking for some fun or a son or daughter looking for a gift, the Internet can help you out for Mother's Day. If you are a mum looking for the chance to chat to other
AN organisation is aiming to make every County Durham resident aware of its goldmine of information on health, disabilities or family matters. Directions was set up six years ago to create a database of local and national information on everything from
ALLEGATIONS that children as young as three are running riot near Prime Minister Tony Blair's North-East home have been rejected by a housing association. It had been claimed that cars and houses were regularly attacked, and elderly residents harassed
A WOMAN patient was questioned by police yesterday after a nurse had her wrist broken in an early morning incident in a hospital casualty department. Violence flared as the patient was about to leave the accident and emergency unit at Bishop Auckland
THOSE with an O Level in Religious Education (or Religious Knowledge, or Scripture or whatever these doubtful days it has become) may be familiar with the parable of the centurion's daughter. So great was the Roman's belief that he urged Jesus not even
ST Valentine's Day: a solitary two-course lunch consumes just 12 minutes in the caf at Darlington Covered Market. Romance may not be in the air, but there's plenty of tobacco smoke. Music, food of love, appears to be Radio 2 with mufflers on. Vegetable
DJ Marc Henry will be hitting the airwaves in his new position on Metro Radio's lunchtime show. Marc has taken on the 10am to 2pm weekday slot on one of the region's most popular radio station after moving to Gateshead from Reading, where he worked on
A LITTLE lovelorn, last week's column dwelt upon an unaccompanied February 14. Last week the lady returned, gingerly, to her feet. "Take her to Valentine's," suggested Tom Dobbin from Durham and, belatedly, we did. Though he considered the food very enjoyable
SHEENA Lawson likes the column, anyway. Beset by Hear All Sides correspondents alleging more froth than a pint of Whitbread, it is good - like Lady Windermere - to have a fan. To the point, the carpists claim to suffer from indigression - more Two Ronnies
BACK to school, or to the schoolroom anyway, we dined at the Bridgewater Arms in Winston - recently kitted out to reflect its formative years. Though they still have lessons to learn, chiefly in addressing the puddings (D-minus, unfortunately) and the
FEW may remember the Ballad of Bethnal Green, nor even Paddy Roberts, the chap memory suggests who many years ago recorded it. Heaven knows why it should have been Bethnal Green. Why not Tooting Bec, or Shepherds Bush or even the Elephant and Castle,
A GENERATION of cats are in desperate need of homes, says an animal charity. The pets, aged from four years, have found their way to the Teesside Cat Protection League, Stockton, and are in need of permanent homes. David Williams, of the charity, has
The activities of Prince William have been well documented in the media over the past few days and nowhere more so than the Internet. But his high-profile appearances as a volunteer worker in Chile are not reflected in the official online coverage of
Next week sees the annual day set aside to help smokers give up the evil weed. And smoking surfers are not left out, with plenty of useful advice, help and information provided online. The official No Smoking Day site at www.nosmokingday.org.uk was still
With the bad weather, the foot-and-mouth crisis and a possible election on the way, perhaps it's time to leave the country. Why not click on a holiday? There are plenty of bargains on the World Wide Web and just about all the major travel companies offer
CRUMBLING schools in the region are to get almost £13m for major rebuilding work and to create modern facilities. Schools in Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland will receive a share of the modernisation package announced by School Standards Minister
A SINGLE outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Devon last weekend triggered the slaughter of 12,000 animals on the infected farm and its 15 neighbours. From space, North Cumbria, overhung with a pall from its grim animal funeral pyres, now ranks second only to
Sharpen the guillotine and prepare to let those heads roll. Sir Alex Ferguson should carry out Roy Keane's threat to make some Manchester United players a few inches shorter after they were dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich. Despite
THE Government was last night facing determined opposition from many farmers and food producers to plans for a limited vaccination programme to ''dampen down'' foot-and-mouth in the worst-hit parts of Britain. After lengthy meetings with Government scientists
HOLIDAY CLUB AS one of the churchwardens of All Saints' Church, Preston-on-Tees, I would like to congratulate you on your story and picture of our Easter holiday club (Echo, Apr 14). It was really good to see you printing such a positive story of our
With the persistent rain in the Newmarket area yesterday it now seems unlikely that Marcus Tregoning will let the current Guineas favourite Nayef, who looked to hold outstanding claims, take his chance in today's Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes. Tregoning
FROM diaries about their lives to online performances, celebrities are embracing the Internet like never before. It is now possible to read how Hollywood actress Melanie Griffith tackled her addiction to pain killers in a sugary online journal at www.melanieonline.com
A DOZEN young people received certificates yesterday at the end of a community sports leadership course. Darlington leisure services and community education has been running the course as part of efforts to promote leadership and organisational skills
WHEN there are finite resources, it is always difficult for education authorities to determine priorities. But surely there can be no greater priority than the health and safety of our children? When parents hand over responsibility to authorities for
MUSEUMS in east Cleveland had a record-breaking Easter weekend. There was double the number of visitors at Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, and Margrove Heritage Centre, at Margrove Park. Officials from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said visitor numbers
A TEENAGER who had plastic surgery as a child is doing her bit to help hundreds of disfigured people in the developing world. Rachel Burnett, 17, has raised £1,101, towards a mercy mission to Sri Lanka. The cash will be used towards the costs of corrective
STAFF at a rural tourist information centre in County Durham will be putting on a brave face when they celebrate its first anniversary tomorrow. Despite the foot-and-mouth crisis crippling local tourist spots in the area, staff at the Middleton-in-Teesdale
ONE of the biggest agricultural shows in the region has been cancelled because of the crisis. The showground for Egton Show, in the North Yorks Moors, is in agricultural land and is out of bounds because the disease has spread to the nearby village of
A woman was mortified when told she kicked a police officer in the testicles during a drunken rampage, said her lawyer yesterday. Catharine Doyle, 35, was ordered to pay Cleveland PC Scott Spitty £50 compensation yesterday after she pleaded guilty to
A BUILDER denied assaulting a colleague and damaging a metal chain, before Bow Street magistrates, London yesterday. John Barclay, 42, of Chatham Road, Hartlepool, was bailed to appear in court on May 25. He is accused of grabbing Matthew Harlow around
DOUBT was last night cast on the theory that the outbreak began on a Northumberland pig farm. The virus may have been in Britain three weeks before it was spotted in this area, it was claimed. Sheep exported to France from south Wales allegedly showed
CHINESE restaurateurs have invited agriculture minister Nick Brown to dine in Newcastle's Chinatown, in an effort to allay public fears. Restaurants in Stowell Street have lost 40 per cent of their business since allegations that it was contaminated waste
THE Ministry of Agriculture has ditched plans to burn animal carcasses near a village, after bowing to pressure from objectors. Many Tow Law residents have opposed proposals to dump diseased cattle on a former opencast quarry, half a mile from their village
A BUILDER denied assaulting a colleague and damaging a metal chain, before Bow Street magistrates, London yesterday. John Barclay, 42, of Chatham Road, Hartlepool, was bailed to appear in court on May 25. He is accused of grabbing Matthew Harlow around
DURHAM Police have overhauled their corporate development by enlisting a new head of department. Superintendent Derek Hall, who worked as divisional commander at Sedgefield for four years, will be head of the department that monitors demands and changes
FOUR more police officers are to face disciplinary charges as a result of the Operation Lancet inquiry. Although the inquiry concluded earlier this year that there would be no criminal charges, some Cleveland police officers are still facing disciplinary
NOW that Christmas is over, the new computer is out of the box and you're fed up with the free games which came with it, you could be wondering where to go for the best Internet access. Whether you are a new surfer or you just fancy shopping around to
A CHURCH which faced possible closure is now less than £100,000 away from undergoing a major transformation. A few years ago, the future of St Columba's, in Darlington, looked bleak because its congregation had dwindled. But following lots of work and
The Game Tavern isn't the place for those who like Sunday lunch to offer change and a doggy bag from a fifty shilling note, nor indeed - as shortly we shall explain - for diners who prefer to be home for the World at One. With one or two slings in the
TWO former school friends are searching for their classmates - 50 years after starting their education in Darlington. Rosalind Lewis and Susan Little started at Arthur Pease Infant School, in Vane Terrace, in Easter 1951, and returned to the town to celebrate
IT WAS Lilliput, memory suggests, where the nation was divided into Bigenders and Littlenders, depending on the direction from which they assaulted their eggs. It was in the cheek-by-jowl lay-by caf on the north-bound carriageway at Scotch Corner that
THE chips may be down for the UK video games industry, but one North-East chain is pressing ahead with plans to expand. Despite the introduction of the long- awaited PlayStation 2 machine, UK publishers and stores have endured a bad time in the past six
Like the signs of a storm, or a profile of Ms Vanessa Feltz, this column is not difficult to recognise. Barry Dowson seemed to have cracked it straight away. "Either that or he's a nervous wreck," suggested Garry Gibson, former chairman of Hartlepool
THIS week saw a major step forward in the Prime Minister's campaign to get Britain online with the launch of the web portal www.ukonline.gov.uk. Rather unkindly dubbed "Pravda.com" in some sections of the media, this attempt to link up Government services
A STABLE-OWNER is resisting neighbours' attempts to take over her land. The picturesque patch by the River Gaunless in Toadpool, West Auckland is the centre of a dispute between residents of a nearby estate and landowner Anne Reynolds. Residents want
ARTISTS from across Teesside are showing off their work at an exhibition in Billingham. More than 300 works by 92 artists will be on show at Billingham Art Gallery as part of the 20th annual open art exhibition. A variety of styles and subjects, including
PLANS to introduce measures to slow traffic in an east Cleveland town have been welcomed by councillors. Loftus ward councillors David Walsh and Eric Jackson were commenting on plans to rebuild some roads in the town to make them safer. The work, which
'Hi. how are you? Thought you might like the attached image. See you soon. Have you seen our latest offers? Your shopping order has been received and will be delivered on Thursday. Thank you for your order." Fascinating reading? I don't think so, but
TO those who have seen much water under the bridge, the brewery tap will be familiar. Traditionally, it was the pub closest to the fountain-head; usually it was a turn-on. Despite fierce opposition, Vaux's in Sunderland closed last year. The White Bear
While the foot-and-mouth crisis is gripping the country, many organisations are using the Internet to keep people informed and provide the most up-to-date advice. All users are catered for - from specialist farming information to general news and advice
THE Oak Tree, known to a generation of hedgehoppers as The Twig, is officially in Middleton St George but almost on the front doorstep of Teesside Airport. Last Tuesday evening it was like a jumbo jet-load had unexpectedly parachuted in. It should at
HOLME House prison is alongside the Portrack Lane Retail Park in Stockton. Last time we were inside, the inmates shouted very rude things through the windows. "They shout very rude things at everybody," said a prison officer, by way of feeble reassurance
PROPOSALS to set up a trust to improve health care in Darlington are being published as part of a consultation process. County Durham and Darlington Health Authority set up a primary care group (PCG) in 1999 and hopes to expand the services it provides
IT COULD hardly have been more British. It poured down, we carried a copy of the Daily Telegraph - the Guardian, somehow, would not have been so stiff upper lip - and the chattering classes had gathered in cheerful congregation to talk, as Dr Johnson
