SETTING the Derby to one side, the remainder of the card at Epsom presents plenty of alternative betting opportunities, none more so than Nicobar (3.05) in the Group 3 Vodafone Diomed Stakes. Ian Balding's much-improved miler has already won twice in
Kieron Fallon will miss today's Derby - a particularly bitter pill for him to swallow. Fallon failed in his appeal to the Jockey Club this week following a suspension received at Ayr last week when he was found guilty of irresponsible riding on Distinctive
Middlesbrough are expected to unveil Steve McClaren as their new manager on Tuesday. The Manchester United assistant returned from a family holiday on Friday and Riverside officials hope to tie up his move over the next 48 hours. McClaren's anticipated
A PENSIONER trapped next to his dying wife in their wrecked car after a joyrider ploughed into it begged police rescuers not to let her die, a court was told yesterday. Joseph Proffitt, 75, spoke of his 71-year-old wife Annie: "We've been together for
TRAFFIC calming work has been halted while a town deals with the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Regeneration group Groundwork West Durham is introduing traffic calming measures along the A68, through Tow Law, in Weardale, and adding greenery
YOUNGSTERS are celebrating after their school breakfast club was given a financial boost to help it expand. Tollesby School, in Middlesbrough, is one of 58 schools around the country to be given £2,500 through the breakfast club awards scheme. The school
DRUGS officers have seized what they believe to be the biggest haul of Ecstasy found in County Durham. Officers in Chester-le-Street recovered drugs with an estimated street value of at least £100,000, including 9,000 Ecstasy tablets, 3.5kg of cocaine
DRUGS officers have seized what they believe to be the biggest haul of Ecstasy found in County Durham. Officers in Chester-le-Street recovered drugs with an estimated street value of at least £100,000, including 9,000 Ecstasy tablets, 3.5kg of cocaine
A BEDRIDDEN man who was nursed by his wife for ten years died after a fall, an inquest heard. The inquest into the death of Harold Tate, 84, from Cumberland Street, Darlington, was held at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday. Mr Tate's wife,
PROTESTS by residents forced council officials yesterday to ban drivers of foot-and-mouth lorries from stopping in their communities. Livestock carcasses from the Settle area and elsewhere are being taken to an incinerator set up on Hipswell Moor, near
Crook Town have gained a major face lift in their bid to regain former glories - starting with trying to regain a spot in the top flight of the Albany Northern League at the first attempt. Newcastle-born Dave Buchanan has accepted the job of general manager
THE Churches Conservation Trust produces a booklet called An Inspiration of Churches. As a collective noun - a glory, a shrine, a kingdom? - it's hard to beat, as an indicator to St Stephen's Old Church at Fylingdales, it's perfect. Fylingdales is the
THE Churches Conservation Trust produces a booklet called An Inspiration of Churches. As a collective noun - a glory, a shrine, a kingdom? - it's hard to beat, as an indicator to St Stephen's Old Church at Fylingdales, it's perfect. Fylingdales is the
Durham and District League - MURTON gained a massive home win over Fishburn Club to move into second place in the Third Division, five points behind the leaders, Newton Hall but one point ahead of third-placed Wolsingham. The Murton results (home skips
KIERON Fallon will miss today's Derby - a particularly bitter pill for him to swallow. Fallon failed in his appeal to the Jockey Club this week following a suspension received at Ayr last week when he was found guilty of irresponsible riding on Distinctive
A magnificent display of sheer effort and desire saw Byers Green Under-10s Haze defeat League champions City of Durham Bees in the Russell Foster League Cup Final. Byers won with a solitary Reece Ellis strike midway through the first half during which
Newcastle chief Freddie Shepherd today blasted Kieron Dyer's agent Jonathan Barnett. The Toon chairman was outraged after Barnett said Inter Milan, AC Milan and Barcelona were battling to sign the England star, 22. Furious Shepherd told the Newcastle
Jack Straw replaced Robin Cook as Foreign Secretary in a wide-ranging Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair last night. David Blunkett's much-publicised move to the Home Office was officially confirmed. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott
A PENSIONER had her handbag snatched in an early evening attack. The robbery, in Victoria Embankment, Darlington, was the latest in a string of attacks in the town, some of which have left victims injured. As the 77-year-old woman was walking along Victoria
A DEVOTED father died days after being allowed out of hospital to celebrate his son's sixth birthday. A1though gravely ill, David Palmer insisted doctors let him go home to enjoy the occasion with his son, also called David. The 30-year-old keep-fit enthusiast
THE Tory Party was last night facing the prospect of another prolonged bout of bitter in-fighting after the shock decision of William Hague to quit in the wake of his crushing election defeat. As Labour celebrated winning a majority of more than 160,
South West Durham Association - Hopetown extended their lead to two points at the top of the First Division after whitewashing their hosts Old Shildon. Second placed Albert Hill dropped a point at Harrowgate Hill, while Darlington Cricket Club moved up
A NATIONAL charity is challenging the region's welfare chiefs over their methods of care of vulnerable youngsters. Children's charity Barnado's will be throwing down the gauntlet to North-East experts asking them: "Do we really know what works best for
CHILDREN will focus on creatures great and small during the first RSPCA Education Week. The animal charity's school liaison officers will visit schools in the North-East and Yorkshire next week, giving talks and leading activities. Schools will suspend
The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League - After managing to complete all of the league programme, attention turned to the remaining league cup and in an all-First Division final Spraire Lads took the honours with a 3-0 win against Springfield
A BED-AND-BREAKFAST landlady who became a valued confidante of William Hague described his resignation yesterday as a real loss to British politics. Doreen Whitehead, who won fame for dispensing down-to-earth Yorkshire common sense to Mr Hague at her
KENYAN Julius Kimtai will be chasing a first prize of £1,000 as he tries to complete a hat-trick of victories in tonight's biggest-ever Blaydon Race. Kimtai, who set a course record of 26 mins 35 secs for the 5.7-mile event last year, will be at the front
A NEW museum devoted to local engineering history is a real family affair for proud owner Malcolm Gill. For the new attraction by the restored watermill in Crakehall, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, is devoted to the work of a foundry which was once run
DURHAM will have to bat even better today than they did last Saturday if they are to record their second successive championship win. They go into the final day at Derby 272 behind and the hosts still have four wickets standing, giving them a ticklish
FOR Rose Stubbs, her first venture into political activism was not a success. But then, one setback in more than 40 years is not such a bad record. Ever since that fateful campaign, when naval hero Commander John Kerans won Hartlepool for the Conservatives
THE Prince of Darkness enjoyed a rare break in the clouds over Hartlepool yesterday as he made a victorious tour of his adopted homeland in an open-top jeep. Re-elected Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson was celebrating his stunning victory at the polls, having
STORMING HOME, currently best priced at around 14-1 with the leading layers, represents superb each-way value in this afternoon's Epsom Vodafone Derby worth £580,000 to the winner. Of the confirmed 12 runners, Storming Home (3.50) is the sole contender
Danielle Hazell is making teams in The Readers Durham County League Under-13 Division sit up and take notice of her batting and bowling performances. The 13-year old, who attends Deerness Comprehensive School, has played five matches for Esh Winning.
A SEX attacker who assaulted a teenage schoolgirl was being hunted by police yesterday. The man struck in mid-afternoon as the girl was making her way along an alley in Richmond,which runs from Gordon Crescent to Gilling Road. She was grabbed from behind
FOUR years ago, when Labour swept to power, there was an amazing sense of elation, excitement and euphoria at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre. On Thursday night, with the eyes of the nation once again focused on the small County Durham town where the Prime
The survival horror genre has taken on a new dimension with a new Gallic game which is guaranteed to give you nightmares REVIEWS 18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker. Publisher: Sega. Format: Dreamcast. (£29.99) NO matter how great the graphics achieved by
An annual invitation, the Crook Games League's annual presentation was made yet more pleasurable by bumping into our old friend Doug McCarthy, long time England darts international and former world number 13. We'd last met at Christmas 1999 when Doug,
LEADING blue-chip companies will be out of the spotlight next week as the focus switches to some of the London market's smaller stocks. First Choice Holidays, the UK's fourth-biggest tour operator, unveils its interim results on Tuesday after a strong
Letters from The Northern Echo CARERS WEEK ONE in eight of you will be carers - that is people who care, unpaid, for a relative, partner or friend, or for a child with a disability. During our special awareness week, Carers Week, June 11-17 - when we
PUB group Yates, owner of the Yates's Wine Lodge chain, is in takeover talks. The Bolton-based group confirmed that it was in "preliminary discussions regarding a possible offer." The group is one of the country's oldest pub operators. Yates owns 113
WRITER Douglas Maxwell received advice from an unwanted critic at the first night of his play Decky Does A Bronco, at the Edinburgh Festival last year. Two minutes into the production, a man on a bicycle shouted out, loud enough for the audience to hear
Luke Smallman followed his father's tracks into speed skating and has now surpassed him by becoming a British Champion. The Hartlepool 13-year-old took the pee-wee category (Under-14) title in Nottingham where he came up against opposition from across
Q: If I move in with my ageing parents how will it affect their Housing and Council Tax Benefits? I am self-employed making about £15,000 a year gross. A: It really depends on their circumstances as well as yours. Generally the council will assume that
Galileo today stormed to victory in the £1 million Vodafone Derby at Epsom. The Queen and Queen Mum looked on in admiration as Michael Kinane rode the 9-4 joint favourite to triumph in a 12-horse field in the 222nd Derby. Top trainer Aidan O'Brien, 31
AN animal burial site is to be investigated by European commissioners after claims that it is in breach of European laws. North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes has backed a bitter battle at Tow Law, County Durham, to close a foot-and-mouth disposal site which
A SHINY white sink and gleaming taps, a spotless bowl, and fresh cut flowers, Crabtree and Evelyn soap and walls decorated with the most exquisite marquetry, can this really be a railway carriage toilet? It may be the smallest room in the carriage but
FOUL tempered and foul mouthed, he is not exactly the country's favourite royal. He's as infamous for his gaffes as he is famous for being the Queen's other half. And, in the public mind, the only thing he is any good at is driving horse-drawn carriages
LABOUR has increased its control of Durham County Council despite suffering the shock loss of former leader Don Robson's seat. Mr Robson, 65, who brought county cricket to Durham, stood down before the election, but Labour was hoping Eric Turner, a well-known
CONSERVATIVES in North Yorkshire yesterday bucked the General Election trend when they strengthened their hold on power in the county council. They kept overall control of the authority by taking 41 of the 74 seats up for grabs, one up on their total
A MAN described as a "walking miracle" will arrive on Teesside to raise money for a charity. David Patterson, 45, from Bedford, will collect for the Arthritis Research Campaign (Arc) outside Sainsbury's, in Wilson Street, Middlesbrough, on Thursday and
A factory has won an award for its promotion of health issues. Local business leaders joined employees at Walkers Snack Foods factory, in Peterlee, east Durham, to celebrate their achievement in winning Working For Health accreditation. Acknowledging
WIRED-UP women students will soon be sniffing men's T-shirts as part of a bizarre but serious study into fertility problems. Researchers at Newcastle University have recruited half of the 160 young women needed for a study which could raise serious questions
A TEENAGER who killed a man in a street fight over his young girlfriend was jailed for four years yesterday. Christopher Howard, 18, became involved in the fight in Middlesbrough after seeing girlfriend Chantelle Bielicki apparently flirting with a group
CHARLES KENNEDY faces the daunting task of capitalising on the poll success Liberal Democrats believe marks a major breakthrough for the party. The LibDem leader's formidable election campaign was rewarded with 52 seats, the largest number taken by a
SUNDERLAND are hot on the trail of French international striker Lilian Laslandes. The continuing back problems being experienced by Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn, who was forced to leave the field after only 37 minutes in Estonia, could well
SEVEN of the North-East's top businessmen have been named as regional finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2001 awards. They include Darlington's so-called richest man, health club chain owner Duncan Bannatyne. Mr Bannatyne operates
EVERY driver in a North-East police force is to face a strict test of their skills behind the wheel. Any Durham Constabulary officer who fails the 90-minute 150-point road test faces suspension from driving police vehicles, and will be forced to sit a
A pensioner who indecently assaulted four young girls has just been jailed for two years. Kenneth Mizen, 65, abused the children at his home. He admitted striking another youngster with a poker. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mizen used a belt buckle
A MOTORCYCLIST who failed to stop for police after she was spotted driving without a helmet has been cleared of dangerous driving. Emma Murray was spotted by patrol officers in Gallsworthy Road, South Shields and sparked an eight-minute police chase through
CYCLISTS taking part in a ride passing through seven countries made a pit stop in the region yesterday. Mayor of Middlesbrough Patricia Walker welcomed the group at the Bottle of Notes as they stopped en route to Hartlepool during the North Sea Cycle
NEITHER Conservative Tim Devlin nor Liberal Democrat Suzanne Fletcher expected to win. Tory Tim, pictured, who first lost the Stockton South seat to Labour's Dari Taylor in 1997, faced his latest defeat with stoicism and good humour. He said: "We have
BAR staff were ready to admonish a cheeky customer for banging on the door ten minutes before opening time yesterday lunchtime. But annoyance turned to shock when it turned out that the man hoping for an early bite to eat was former American president
TOURISM bosses have welcomed news that an £8m extension of the world famous National Portrait Gallery could be established in the region. Director of the London gallery Dr Charles Smith has revealed that Durham is the number one site for a new satellite
A CHURCH is packed to the rafters this weekend with paintings, models and other works of art created by a small dales community. The walls of St Philips and St James' Parish Church in Tow Law, County Durham, are being used as a showcase for art work created
FLOORING specialist Storey Carpets has sold its contracts division to a management buyout team. The division, which has been part of Storey Carpets for 30 years, provides carpet and flooring to commercial business. However, despite a turnover of £1.3m
A GROUP of about 60 protestors battling plans to build a road through a stretch of countryside confronted the people who will decide the site's future yesterday. The meeting of the two parties came as Darlington borough councillors made a site visit in
BEAVER Furniture is full of eastern promise after clinching a lucrative deal to supply a Japanese customer with hand crafted furniture. Hiroshi Katayama, originally from Tokyo, has placed an order with the Sutton-Under-White-Stone-Cliffe firm, near Thirsk
A MUSICAL tribute to a political legend will be performed at the Customs House next month. The courage and determination of firebrand Ellen Wilkinson, MP for Jarrow from 1935 until her death in 1947, is celebrated in the play. Red Ellen, as she was affectionately
Crook Town are hoping their batting improves when they go to leaders Mainsforth today. Crook were league runners-up last season, but they have lost three games already this season, their latest setback coming last Saturday when they failed to score 100
BRITAIN'S biggest chamber of commerce has pledged to continue its work to ensure the new Government delivers a business friendly agenda. The North-East Chamber of Commerce has campaigned since January to put the business view before all the North-East
THE dignity with which William Hague acted yesterday morning failed to mask his culpability in the Conservatives' disastrous election campaign. In playing on the fears of Europe, asylum seekers and taxation, Mr Hague appealed to the Tory faithful but
