AFTER being cut down by Melvyn Betts last week, Durham will be anxious to avoid embarrassment at the hands of Michael Roseberry over the next few days. In his two seasons back at Middlesex, Roseberry has averaged 24.15 and 24.11 in the championship, which
GARDENERS have been putting the finishing touches to Darlington Borough Council's display for this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Sponsored this year by Whessoe International Skanska, the display was carefully parcelled up yesterday, ready for the long journey
Homebuyers will now be able to get information about potential property risks thanks to a new Internet service. The UK's number one homes website, Fish4homes, has broadened its range of services by allowing prospective home buyers to access detailed risk
Liverpool secured a unique cup treble amid amazing scenes in the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund. No one had been expecting a thriller, but the final against Alaves in Dortmund turned into a quite incredible spectacle. There were four goals before half-time
A WOULD-be Green Party councillor has withdrawn his nomination and joined the Liberal Democrats. Student Paul Leake was to have contested the Elvet Ward in Durham City in next month's elections for Durham County Council. He is now helping Liberal Democrat
A WOULD-be Green Party councillor has withdrawn his nomination and joined the Liberal Democrats. Student Paul Leake was to have contested the Elvet Ward in Durham City in next month's elections for Durham County Council. He is now helping Liberal Democrat
SIX heavyweight three-year-olds flex their muscles at York in this afternoon's 145,000 Dante Stakes, normally regarded as a natural stepping stone towards next month's Epsom Derby. Predicting just who will be trading punches at the end of the extended
SHOPKEEPERS have received a pat on the back - for not breaking the law. Nine traders were put to the test when Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council sent an 11-year-old into premises in east Cleveland to make a test purchase of cigarettes. No one would
An extra 248 jobs are being cut at shipbuilder Cammell Laird by receivers. The troubled Merseyside-based company is already shedding 320 jobs with the closure of its Teesside yard. Receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers, which took over the firm last month,
VILLAGE PC Keith Todd is in for a hair-raising experience at Sedgefield Medieval Fair this weekend. He has agreed to take part in a charity head shave to raise money for fire-damaged Hardwick Primary School. The school was devastated by an arson attack
COLD-blooded killer Albert Dryden has broken his ten-year silence over the shooting of a senior council official. But last night, the family of his victim, Harry Collinson, reacted angrily to his claims that he should be freed - and to messages on the
STAFF at a council-run sports centre followed the usual procedures when a stranger turned up to use their athletics track. But the athlete who paid up for the privilege of some exercise at Darlington's Eastbourne Leisure Centre, turned out to be none
The jobless total today fell to its lowest since August 1975. There were 10,200 fewer people out of work and claiming benefit last month, taking the jobless total to 975,800. The drop, which was almost double the number analysts had expected, is a boost
EVEN by this column's circuitous standards, it is hard to know how we came by penguins - "flightless birds of peculiar structure", says Chambers Dictionary. It is there, nonetheless, that we take off. There'd been penguins in Darlington's South Park,
EVEN by this column's circuitous standards, it is hard to know how we came by penguins - "flightless birds of peculiar structure", says Chambers Dictionary. It is there, nonetheless, that we take off. There'd been penguins in Darlington's South Park,
POLICE in east Durham have joined forces with a supermarket to help protect residents from bogus callers. Staff from the Peterlee branch of Asda are teaming up with officers from the crime prevention unit to highlight the problem of conmen callers. Two
HARTLEPOOL United and the play-offs just don't go together. For the second season in a row, Pool have suffered end of season agony - last year Darlington, this time around it was Blackpool's turn to inflict play-off pain on Chris Turner's side and you
STUDENT Laura Spence was engulfed in controversy when she was rejected by Oxford University last year. But a new league table suggests she would have been better off applying for a course closer to home. The Times Good University Guide, which is being
A DEVASTATED farmer has labelled ministry officials as "incompetent and insensitive" after telling him his sheep would have to be inspected - three weeks after they were slaughtered. Major Malise Graham, of Holme House Farm, Piercebridge, near Darlington
THE picture could be one of a million nursing homes. The elderly residents are busy watching television and hardly seem to notice the special visitor who has entered the room. "Tea's up," trills the diminutive pop star Geri Halliwell as she carries in
POLICE are hunting a man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in a city centre. The 18-year-old victim was grabbed in Cowan Terrace, Sunderland, at midnight on Sunday, and dragged into the civic centre car park. The victim was "extremely traumatised"
A PACKED courtroom watched in horror yesterday as a defendant pulled out a razor blade and began slashing himself as he gave evidence. Robert Smith, 44, who is facing charges of burglary, had been defending himself during his trial at Newcastle Crown
AN east Durham town's anniversary twinning visit is to go ahead despite earlier fears that it might have to be scrapped because of foot-and-mouth. This week, Peterlee Town Council confirmed the visit in July by guests from Peterlee's German twin town
Letters from The Northern Echo PASSIVE SMOKING IT may excite the anti-smoking lobby but the news that a barmaid in Australia has been awarded damages for allegedly developing throat cancer from years of passive smoking is hardly the breakthrough it is
The Tories were at the centre of a row over "negative campaigning" last night, after the release of their first party election broadcast. The bleak, documentary-style film said dangerous criminals released early from prison under Labour have raped twice
A DRINK-driver sped through a built-up area at up to 70mph in a bid to shake of a patrol car, a court heard. Craig Wilkins, 22, careered on to the wrong side of the road before crashing into an embankment, said prosecutor Ann Mitchell. She told Teesside
COMMUNITY groups across Derwentside have been invited to a seminar to hear how they could benefit from the Coalfields Trust Community Chest grant scheme. Grants of between £250 and £5,000 are available to groups with an annual income of less than £10,000
A PRISONER in a top security jail set his cell alight after hiding a lighter inside his body. Michael Pompeo, 29, started the blaze in the segregation wing at Durham Prison after he was sent there for attacking his paedophile cellmate. Newcastle Crown
CLEVELAND Police are launching an operation to rid a town centre of a growing number of beggars. Police said a hard core of up to a dozen beggars were preying on people in Stockton High Street to get money to feed their drug habits. Operation Oliver,
ELEVENTH hour moves are under way to try to save an east Durham doctor's surgery from closure. But the attempt to stop the closure of a branch surgery in the village of Haswell was last night looking increasingly unlikely to succeed. Dr Mohammad Quasim
THE eerie sound of a single drum will echo around Richmond's historic market place once more next month, evoking the local legend of the young boy who vanished underground. It is said the drummer boy of old was once ordered to walk the length of a mysterious
WELL, pet, how are you? OK, my love? Or perhaps you prefer Good morning, madam, Thank you sir? Tesco thinks you do. They've banned staff from using colloquial familiarities and have told them they have to be all formal instead. Shame. Well, yes I know
WELL, pet, how are you? OK, my love? Or perhaps you prefer Good morning, madam, Thank you sir? Tesco thinks you do. They've banned staff from using colloquial familiarities and have told them they have to be all formal instead. Shame. Well, yes I know
SUPER Sid Arrowsmith celebrated his 100th birthday in style last night - when he became Britain's oldest lifeboatman. Fundraiser extraordinaire Sid was made an honorary crew member of the RNLI lifeboat station at Redcar. It is the first time in the history
Former MI5 agent David Shayler today lost the first round of his pre-trial legal battle. Middlesbrough-born Shayler, 35, wanted to defend his revelation of state secrets by arguing that he acted in the public interest. He had claimed his human rights
A CARAVAN of art is one of the attractions that should help entice people back to an area badly hit by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Its appearance is ordinary, but inside are pictures, music and text portraying life in the North Pennines, from drunken
A CHARITY'S efforts to help older people stay in their own home has proved so successful that they are now looking for more volunteers. Northallerton's Chopsticks was originally set up to create work-orientated day care for people with learning difficulties
RECEIVERS at shipyard operator Cammell Laird are close to completing the sale of its overseas operations. But they fear that the UK yards, including those on the Tyne and the Tees, could close unless new work or buyers are found in the next few months
A GROUP of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities were treated as first class passengers on a special flight yesterday. The students from Stockton and Billingham College were checked into a model aircraft by trainee cabin crew students from
PETER REID'S hopes of securing the services of giant Czech striker Jan Koller are receeding after he admitted a move to Borussia Dortmund was an appealing proposition. Koller is for sale and valued at around £8m by Anderlecht, and Sunderland and Fulham
Darlington manager Gary Bennett is hoping to speak to Middlesbrough player Neil Maddison after freeing six members of his first team squad yesterday. Darlington-born Maddison is available on a free transfer after hardly figuring for them since he signed
ENQUIRIES are being generated from the other side of the world by a specialist food company after branching into e-commerce with the help of Business Link North Yorkshire. First Choice Expedition Foods has received orders from Australia, Brazil, South
RICHMOND councillor Jane Metcalfe has been elected the new chairman of the district authority. She takes over the role from Scorton's Councillor Michael Heseltine, who steps down after a year in office. Coun Metcalfe has promised her priority will be
REAL ale campaigners are objecting to plans to close a pub on the outskirts of Darlington. The Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is opposing proposals to change The Raby Hunt pub into private accommodation. Members of the campaign
YESTERDAY'S manifesto launch gave new impetus to the Liberal Democrat campaign in the North-East, which has been hopefully looking at signs of support in council elections to show that the party is gaining ground. "People were actually stopping their
GLOBAL warming may change the entire face of the North-East in coming years unless the authorities act now, delegates to a major climate change conference were told yesterday. Significant stretches of land could be submerged by rising seas, more cliffs
SELECTED footpaths in an area free from foot-and-mouth are to reopen. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council announced yesterday that the footpaths and woodland walks would be back in business after a series of risk assessments and advice from the Ministry
A project has been launched to help disabled people find employment. The Northern Rock Foundation awarded £51,000 to Finchale Training College, in Durham City, to set up an employment advocacy scheme. Richard Harbottle, the foundation's chairman, visited
SUPERMARKET chain Asda plans to create 10,000 jobs as part of a massive recruitment drive across all its stores. The chain, which has 244 stores, plans to add between 30 and 50 staff at each of its outlets. It will mean a massive boost for employment
Tony Blair today unveiled Labour's election manifesto - and vowed to transform public services over the next 10 years. The 44-page document called Ambition for Britain sets out a "radical agenda" for another two terms of Government. The Prime Minister
An extra 248 jobs are being cut at shipbuilder Cammell Laird by receivers. The troubled Merseyside-based company is already shedding 320 jobs with the closure of its Teesside yard. Receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers, which took over the firm last month,
An extra 248 jobs are being cut at shipbuilder Cammell Laird by receivers. The troubled Merseyside-based company is already shedding 320 jobs with the closure of its Teesside yard. Receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers, which took over the firm last month,
ACCORDING to his name this tiny terrier is a right Charlie, but he would make a lovely family pet. The one-year-old tan cross terrier has been given a temporary home at vet Paul Wilson's surgery, in Tenters Street, Bishop Auckland, while staff try to
A REGENERATION action plan to breath new life into Weardale has been completed. The results of the eight-month study into some of the economic and social problems facing communities in upper Weardale went before residents yesterday, at a meeting at St
BEATEN FA Cup Finalists Arsenal failed to complete a double over Newcastle but left Tyneside happy with a point which guarantees their place in the Champions League next season. But the Gunners, who beat United 5-0 at Highbury in December, had more than
STAFF at a North-East community centre are celebrating after winning a competition. Trimdon Grange Community Centre has been placed first in Durham County Federation of Community Organisations' Centre of the Year contest. The centre was almost derelict
ALL eyes remain on the telecom sector this week with Cable and Wireless's full year figures out today. In March the company warned that profits would fall short of analysts' expectations, citing downward pricing pressures in the US and Japan. While BT
RESIDENTS are being urged not to get down in the dumps over a build-up of bulk rubbish. A dispute with staff over working arrangements and a complete restructuring of bin rounds have contributed to a backlog of 4,000 requests to a council to shift heavy
THE Glorious Twelfth, the traditional August start of the grouse shooting season, may be another casualty of foot-and-mouth disease. The news could be just as bad for the birds as it would be for the pockets of estate owners and other rural businesses
A REGION renowned for its hard-drinking culture is hosting a conference on curbing alcohol misuse. In what is probably the largest conference of its kind in the North-East, experts from universities in England and Scotland are converging on the Customs
HARTLEPOOL United chief Chris Turner fired up his troops ahead of tonight's play-off decider with Blackpool and insisted: "Don't write us off.'' Pool start tonight's second-leg at Victoria Park two goals down after Sunday's first-leg and written off in
A CHURCH is celebrating its golden jubilee with the help of the community. St Thomas' Church is in the heart of the Pennywell area of Sunderland, and was built in 1951, at the same time as the estate. Father Paul Baker said: "The church is set in the
PARENTS are using their dancing feet and pedal power to raise money for a school expansion. St Chad's RC Primary School hopes to build a £17,000 extension to the building in Witton Park, near Bishop Auckland, to accommodate the ever growing number of
AT a social event in my village during the 1992 general election, my presence was noted as being that of "the only man in this village who votes Labour". It wasn't true. Not simply because even in the most red hot Tory stronghold more than one individual
AT a social event in my village during the 1992 general election, my presence was noted as being that of "the only man in this village who votes Labour". It wasn't true. Not simply because even in the most red hot Tory stronghold more than one individual
A COUPLE moved house abandoning their two dogs, one of which starved to death, a court was told. Pathologist Irene McCandlish said in a report to Teesside magistrates that it was the worst case of neglect she had examined in her 25 years of professional
Of the hundreds of women who experience rape or sexual assault in Darlington and County Durham each year, only two per cent report their ordeal to the police. Lynne Hinde, administrator of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre, says there are a
A GRIEVING husband told an inquest yesterday that he believed his wife died of an infection she contracted because of dirty surgical instruments used at a North-East hospital. Two weeks ago, The Northern Echo revealed how instruments used at Bishop Auckland
A rapist who terrorised a red light area was put behind bars for 15 years today. Paul Kennedy, 38, attacked four prostitutes at knife point and blindfolded two of them with tape. Police issued warnings to the 150 vice girls in Middlesbrough not to get
TWO of the UK's last remaining independent regional airlines have expressed disappointment at the Office of Fair Trading's rejection of their complaint over British Airways' takeover of British Regional Airlines group. The OFT has decided not to refer
A TEENAGER who has been in care with Darlington social services for several years is looking for a family to help support him. The 17-year-old, called Robert, has explained to local care managers what kind of home he is hoping to find. He said: "I have
THE disabled and families under pressure will be the latest to benefit from regeneration projects in Ripon. The city has already won £10m in grants, to be spent over the next four years on projects aimed at rejuvenating the local economy as well as the
A 38-year-old man has admitted having a sordid affair with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was enticed into Brian Telford's clutches with promises of marriage when she got to 16, and extravagant gifts. Telford
TWO brothers attacked a man leaving him with brain damage, a court was told. Michael Thompson's head struck a wall in an alleyway during the beating in Hartlepool, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting. He needed blood draining from his brain and he was critical
POLICE have named a man who they want to question in connection with a murder. They want to talk to Michael Dixon, 33, of Walker, Newcastle, and two other men, in connection with the death of Freddie Knights, who was shot in front of his wife outside
INVESTORS are poised for a new high on the London market after a company which specialises in cannabis unveiled plans to float. GW Pharmaceuticals, the only company to legally develop and produce cannabis-based drugs, is seeking admission to the Alternative
A WOMAN lawyer sexually discriminated against by council bosses was yesterday awarded £12,000 damages by three of England's most senior judges. Margaret O'Donoghue began her marathon case against Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in 1996 after being
THE key underlying rate of inflation unexpectedly rose last month to its highest level since December as food and gas prices soared, official figures have revealed. The Office for National Statistics said the underlying rate, which excludes mortgage rate
A TREE surgeon smashed up the home of a friend who failed to honour his promises of work, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates heard how Duncan Wallace's anger erupted into a spate of damage after he became convinced he had been duped. He smashed
Doctors are hoping to save the sight of a four-year-old boy left with 70 stitches in his face after he was savaged by a dog. Curious Kristopher Hayes poked his head into the lurcher's kennel after going into a neighbour's garden. The dog leapt at him
TRANSPORT giant FirstGroup has showed how the post-Hatfield track repair programme had slammed the brakes on growth in its rail division. Revenue from its three train franchises had been well ahead but finished the financial year £6m down on a year earlier
A CONTROVERSIAL residential home for people with mental health problems has opened. Local residents had expressed concerns about the plan to turn the former Queensmead residential home in Greens Lane, Hartburn, Stockton, into a home for adults. The home
A CRICKET pitch which cost its community just £1 in a bargain land sale has been given its baptism by a village team - with a thrilling victory. Bishop Monkton Cricket Club, near Ripon, had waited years to move from its former ground off Boroughbridge
WORKMEN have been seriously inconvenienced by thieves who walked away with their toilet. The thieves stole the portable toilet from Elm Crescent, Kimsblesworth, near Chester-le-Street, over the weekend. It was there for council workers carrying out tasks
FURNITURE retailer ScS has reported record results in the first six months of the year. For the period up to March 31, the Sunderland retailer reported pre-tax profits of £3.8m, up 47 per cent on the same period of the previous year. The rise came despite
WORKMEN were seriously inconvenienced when thieves walked away with their toilet. But they had relief yesterday when the toilet was returned thanks to a sharp-eyed member of the public. The thieves stole the portable toilet during the weekend after it
IT is difficult to see what public interest there can be in a pricing structure which means consumers are paying well over the odds. There can be no justification in having such a mechanism in place for everyday drugs and medicines such as painkillers
RESIDENTS of the Headland, at Hartlepool, are being invited to help refurbish the paddling pool on the promenade below Albion Terrace, on Sunday, May 27. Hartlepool Borough Council, through its north neighbourhood forum, and Headland Town Council have
SUNDERLAND Museum has been given a £10,000 boost by some of its best friends. The museum has been closed since April 1999 for redevelopment work. When it re-opens later this year, it will have eight new galleries, improved visitor facilities and a new
SOME of the greatest names in North-East sport took on members of the public in a charity golf event yesterday. Footballing stars Kevin Phillips, Peter Beardsley and Niall Quinn were among the players at the NSPCC Charity Golf Day, at Slaley Hall, near
A TEACHER will be flying out to Costa Rica this summer to carry out scientific research with the environmental charity Earthwatch. Brenda Gray, from Brafferton, near Darlington, will work alongside leading scientists after winning a 3M environmental award
BRAVE leukaemia sufferer Joelene Kimbley is recovering after suffering a stroke. The 23-year-old was continuing to recover from a life-saving bone marrow transplant, when she suffered a minor stroke last month. She was rushed to Middlesbrough's James
THE organisers of the annual Richmond Meet have vowed the show must go on - despite anticipating a financial loss due to the impact of foot-and-mouth disease. The three-day carnival over the Whitsun weekend has only ever been cancelled twice in its 109
