AN Army student from Darlington has just returned from a trip to Africa where she helped villagers to build a life-saving water well. Naomi Robinson, 21, went to the aid of the Nabakoss villagers in east Uganda after she and her friends at the Tayforth
IF you thought Big Brother fever was over, think again. As reporter Adrian Worsley discovered, the lives of beautiful young things are once again getting the 24/7 camera treatment - but this time there isn't a hot tub or a Geordie voiceover in sight.
City of Durham The Dragonflies Under-8s performed very well in their 2-0 defeat against local rivals Durham County. In the Dragonflies' second game they earned a well deserved 2-1 win over Fulwell with both goals from Stephen Ramm. Man of the match was
Harrogate and District Union Executive Cup PLAYED on an extremely wet day at Harrogate golf club, members of the Executive together with Vice and Past Presidents managed to enjoy the company in spite of the weather. With 38 Stableford points, Team Captain
SO have you got them ready to go, then? If your baby's leaving home for the great exciting world of university, have you packed them off with nice new duvet, shining pans, dazzling pillows? If so, get out to the car and unpack the lot, right now. Yes,
A BILSDALE woman is preparing to go on an environmental trip to Costa Rica, where she will study the exotic insect life of tropical rainforests - and collect different types of insect droppings. Mrs Jenny Chapman, aged 52, of Fangdale Beck, will fly off
A village has boycotted a Muslim shopkeeper's store in protest at the September 11 terrorist attacks. Residents in Shotton Colliery, County Durham have shunned Pakistani shopkeeper Kaiser Choudry's two local businesses and he claims his family and 15
CHRIS Turner is planning swift talks with Gordon Watson in a bid to extend the striker's stay at Victoria Park. The former Southampton and Bradford front-man has impressed in two outings since joining Hartlepool last week. Tomorrow's encounter with Carlisle
EXPERTS are briefing charity shop workers on how to spot potential glints of gold among dusty donations of second-hand books. The overseas development charity, Oxfam, has about 60 second-hand book shops and 850 other outlets in towns and cities across
COUNCILLORS in Egglescliffe have finally lost patience over a vandalised play area, and say they will not pay for any more repairs. The community has been warned that if the roundabout at the St Margaret's site is vandalised once more, it will be taken
FIFTY-FIVE upper dales farmers had signed up to the farm business advisory scheme, Richmondshire District Council foot-and-mouth working group was told at its meeting on Monday. The scheme's project officers were appointed by Business Link, in consultation
HUNDREDS of mourners were asked to remember "the bond of love" between a mother and her 11-year-old son who fell to their deaths from a viaduct. Friends and relatives yesterday attended the funerals of Helen Rogan, 38, and her autistic son, Mark Owen
THERE were probably far better fights down the nearby Bigg Market on Saturday night than those heavyweight bouts witnessed by boxing fans at Newcastle's Telewest Arena. We didn't need any confirmation that heavyweight boxing is a farce, but we got it
A POTENTIAL solution to the world's cleaner fuel demands is a step closer, thanks to Synetix. The Teesside company has joined forces with Methanex in New Zealand to build a materials demonstration unit, which enables methanol to be produced from natural
LIBERAL Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has warned Tony Blair that meeting terror with terror would undermine democracy. In his closing speech to the party conference, he said "liberalism and fundamentalism are fearsome enemies", but "dissent, democracy
HUNDREDS of vulnerable elderly people will be forced to move as more care home businesses collapse due to financial pressures, it was claimed yesterday. Care North-East, the organisation which represents home owners accounting for 15,000 beds, predicts
A BELEAGURED Darlington hospital is on the critical list after being hit by bed blockages, staff shortages and sickness. A total of 60 elderly patients across the South Durham NHS trust have spent a month waiting to be discharged into non-existent beds
A £1.2M abattoir due to open in Wensleydale next spring has been hailed as a symbol of hope for the farming community. Mr Maurice Hall, manager of Hawes livestock mart, said the proposals on the outskirts of Bainbridge could be the key to the revival
A Hoggarth & Sons Eskvale and Cleveland League Grosmont and Boosbeck United battled out a tough game, in which just one goal was scored. Both teams pressed forward but the defensive players from both sides played extremely well with only Lever managing
REGIONAL brewer Wolverhampton & Dudley (W&DB) is on track to report a 17 per cent rise in full-year profits. Wolves, which fought off a £485m hostile takeover bid from Pubmaster, of Hartlepool, last month, also said it was on course to return
Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League It was another free-scoring weekend with each game producing at least six goals, three of the games ending 5-1 and Lingdale FC getting their first win of the season with a 4-3 win over the Bulls Head. Mickey Waterson
A HIGH Court judge declared a strike involving hundreds of North-East council workers planned for today illegal at the eleventh hour last night. The Labour-run Newcastle City Council had sought the injunction against the workers after learning that about
IT NOW looks unlikely that the £25,000 laser lights show planned at Barnard Castle Christmas parade will go ahead. The town council has plans to stage a laser display alongside the lantern procession and parade in December, but requests for grants have
ONCE upon a time all it took was a big bar of yellow soap and a poss tub - and a penny blue bag for the whites. (The last time I saw a bag of Reckitt's Blue, I think it cost the equivalent of ten bob. Does anyone still use it?) Then there was powder,
SUSPENDED police chief Ray Mallon has been told he must fund his own defence against disciplinary charges arising from Operation Lancet. The former head of Middlesbrough CID faces 14 disciplinary charges following the £7m anti-corruption inquiry into
She's till best known for her role as Servalan in the cult TV series Blake's 7, but Jaqueline Pearce actually has no interest in science fiction, she tells Steve Pratt JACQUELINE Pearce had decided not to dress for our interview. Instead, she was residing
A CLEVELAND breeder fascinated by miniature horses has qualified two for next week's Horse of the Year Show. Mrs Jill Robinson from New Close Farm, Norton, will stand out at the Wembley event when she unloads the scaled down show horses alongside her
Bishop Auckland, who reached the final of the UniBond League cup last season, lost their first group game in this season's competition when they were beaten 4-1 at Blyth on Tuesday. Bishops got off to a good start after 35 minutes when Lee Ellison scored
CHANGES to the Race Relations Act, with sweeping implications for British service personnel serving abroad, could result from a case brought by an officer who served at Catterick Garrison. Although an industrial tribunal dismissed Lt Col Surinder Saggar's
AN orphaned baby hedgehog found a cosy bed for the winter after kind-hearted children rescued it from a roadside in Reeth. The young members of the Hall family, who live in the village, tucked the tiny creature in a makeshift bed by the kitchen fire and
The man they call Mad Dog yesterday celebrated 25 years in the high risk business, a quarter of a century of flying by the seat of his pants. It was neither noon day nor sunny - just the opposite - but speedway rider Martin Dixon admits that the soubriquet
THE personal heartbreak of suffering a miscarriage has spurred a police officer to go one better than Olympic athletes. PC Lisa Rooney, 35, had a miscarriage last December and lost the baby girl she was carrying. In memory of the daughter she never knew
Mandale Harriers THE club's junior men's team rounded off their season by finishing second in the play-off match at Derby to gain promotion for the second time in three years under the guidance of Rick Betts and will contest the National Premier League
A party of 50 cubs and scouts from the 1st Barnard Castle group stayed at the Once Brewed Youth Hostel, in Northumberland, to learn about Roman history at Vindolanda and the Army camp. One day was spent in Carlisle, enjoying bowling and a cinema trip.
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has added his support for a "yes" vote in a referendum to decide if the Sedgefield borough should have an elected mayor. Mr Blair and Derek Foster, the two Labour MPs for the borough, are urging everyone to take part in a postal
THE people behind an appeal to cover the costs of a little girl's trip to Disney World will be celebrating success at a party tonight. An incredible £10,000 has flooded into Emily's Disney Dream Fund in just three weeks. She will be leaving from Manchester
PEOPLE had the chance to tell a bus company what they thought of its service yesterday. Go North East held a surgery on one of its single-deckers at South Burns, Chester-le-Street. Passengers had the chance to put questions or comments about services
AN adult learning scheme is offering dyslexic people in the region the chance to overcome their condition. The Government-run initiative is aimed at adults who are frustrated or embarrassed by the problems they are experiencing with spelling, reading
TWO men are to appear at Newcastle Crown Court charged with the attempted murder of a man found in a pub toilet with severe burns. Dominic Younger, 29, and Robert Iley, 52, both of Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, appeared before Peterlee magistrates
NEWCASTLE United striker Craig Bellamy has warned that wing wonders Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano are ready to "tear teams apart''. Robert, signed from Paris St. Germain for £10m in the close season, produced another impressive display in the home
MIDDLESBROUGH striker Brian Deane last night admitted that Steve McClaren has rescued his career after a period of torment under Terry Venables. Deane has only one more season on his contract but insists he would love to spend the rest of his playing
A NEW man has been appointed to head a review into Operation Lancet following the death of Sir John Hoddinott. Bill Taylor, a former Scottish Chief Inspector, takes over the role after Sir John, the former Hampshire chief constable, was found dead in
FEARS the consumer boom could be slowing have been fuelled by figures showing new mortgage loan approvals by major banks fell last month. The British Bankers Association (BBA) said loans approved came to £6.88bn in August, eight per cent lower in number
SUPERMARKET giant Asda increased the pressure on the high street yesterday by launching thousands of products bought with the help of American parent Wal-Mart. Asda said about 5,000 products would be available at its 247 UK Asda stores that had been sourced
ACROSS-THE-BOARD improvements in pupils' Key Stage Test results have delighted education officials in Hartlepool. Provisional results for the tests sat by all seven, 11 and 14-year-olds reveal that increasing numbers of youngsters are achieving the levels
PEOPLE are being invited to try their hand at making sculptures. The 16th Gateshead Family Sculpture Day is being held in Saltwell Park, from 11am to 4pm, on Sunday, October 7. All would-be sculptors need to bring along to the free event is a hammer and
BRILLIANT young violinist Boriana Nakeva will be making her first trip to the North-East next month. She will be performing at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, accompanied by amateur musicians from the region's Cobweb Orchestra. A spokesman for the town hall
A REVIEW group says priority must be given to creating an IT centre at the Crown Street art gallery in Darlington. The final report submitted by a working group from the council's lifelong learning committee was given a stamp of approval by members on
A DARLINGTON animal sanctuary is looking for a home for two young dogs which have fallen victim to changes in their owners' circumstances. Sam and Sally are two-year-old Jack Russell terriers being cared for by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League
BRITISH Airways has announced big cuts in the number of flights to the US and Europe in the wake of the terrorist attacks. A total of 190 services a week will be scrapped or suspended, including 36 flights to the US. BA's services between London Heathrow
A REDCAR woman is celebrating victory over global fast-food giants McDonald's. Last year McDonald's built a drive-through restaurant in Thrush Road, on the site of the old gas works, despite a campaign led by Janet Hakbilir and including people living
A Bangladeshi waiter has admitted child abduction charges after appearing at crown court. At an earlier hearing Mohammed Miah, 42, had pleaded not guilty to four separate counts of abducting a child on April 26 last year. But today he pleaded guilty to
THE skewbald Shetland stallion Butterby Express excelled at the recent Chaps UK International Show at Southview Equestrian Centre in Cheshire, holding his own among some of the best coloured horses and ponies in the country. Shown in-hand on the Saturday
SOME very young students are preparing to begin work at North Yorkshire's first "children's university". Believed to be the first in the country run by an individual school, the university will be a free Saturday morning school for seven to 11-year-olds
TWO tiers of local government which serve a North Yorkshire market town have found themselves at loggerheads over the services of a public relations consultant. Jackie Mackenzie already had a contract with Richmond Town Council when she made a successful
DRIVERS can get some cash for their old bangers under a new scheme in east Cleveland. The aim of Operation Magpie is to combat the growing number of abandoned vehicles, which has tripled over the past two years. The joint police, fire brigade and Redcar
A PAIR of border collies has provided the inspiration for a book about Guisborough Forest. The dogs, called Bob and Dylan, are regular visitors to the forest with their owners, Deborah Jefferson and Briony Serginson, who are also wardens at the Guisborough
A clampdown is planned on salmon poachers in a bid to protect the fish as their numbers increase in the region's rivers Specialist teams from the Environment Agency are to carry out extra checks along the Ouse, Ure, Esk and Tees over the next two months
UP to 800 residents have won a fight to stop a town's famous picture postcard view being spoilt by development. Objectors claimed development of nine apartments near the River Nidd would have spoilt the view of Knaresborough from the castle ramparts.
Stockton 2 v 3 Stokesley Both teams appeared evenly matched at the start of the first half despite Stockton being a player down due to illness and injury. After ten minutes Stockton took the lead when an infringement resulted in the award of a penalty
PROVIDED Redcar passes an early morning inspection, Frankie Dettori's presence at the track is major bonus, especially as most of the other top jockeys are scheduled to ride at Ascot or Haydock. Dettori has been sent north by his retained Newmarket stable
MORE farms in North Yorkshire will be subject to stringent foot-and-mouth restrictions after a fresh outbreak of the disease. Tough guidelines were imposed after another farm tested positive for the disease in the Penrith Spur area of Cumbria. Farms as
THIRSK and district chamber of trade is looking for the best businessman, shopkeeper, or assistant and the best business in town. Nomination forms will be available in shops around the market place and can be placed in the collection boxes once completed
A VILLAGE playgroup could close unless it is able to attract more children. The group, in Washington Village, was registered in August to cater for children aged two-and-a-half to school age, but so far the response has been poorer than expected. Andrea
A COLLEGE is playing a key role in the launch of a festival to celebrate the culture and lifestyle of Japan. Japan 2001, a national event supported by the Government, is designed to foster greater understanding between Japan and the UK and to forge friendship
A WOMAN celebrating her 80th birthday has asked her friends not to buy her presents this year. Marie McCormick, of Darlington, who was 80 on Wednesday, is hosting a party at the town's Masonic Hall tomorrow, to mark her special day. But on the invitations
A HOSPITAL is in talks with the firm which employs the Libyan father of sextuplets born in Britain in a bid to recover the estimated £500,000 treatment costs. Jamal Abuhelfaia, 38, and his wife Fowzia Adala, 30, arrived in the UK on July 10 after undergoing
TWO FA Cup winners' medals from the North-East have raised more than £11,000 at auction. The two 15-carat gold medals belonged to George Hedley, one of the region's most famous Victorian soccer stars. The star, from South Bank near Middlesbrough, was
A BUSINESS whose threatened demise angered people in Richmond could receive a 12-month stay of execution. A licence arrangement opens the way for the farm and garden supply centre, based in the town's former station building, to carry on until October
A SCHOOL that recently redesigned its playground has won a national health award. Abbey Road Infant School, in Darlington, is one of the first in the area to be awarded a Healthy School Standard by the Department of Education and Employment. To be eligible
A COMMUNITY office in Reeth seems more certain today, after winning more financial backing from the district council. The Richmondshire authority had already pledged £7,500 towards the redevelopment of the old Barclays Bank building this year. However
A REWARD of £5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of men who attacked an animal rights campaigner. John Gill, 53, suffered cuts and severe bruising to his face, body and legs, when three men burst into his home and
NEW College Durham's training for young people is among the best in the country. The Training Standards Council report published last week rated the college 23rd out of almost 500 training providers in the country. The report covered training for modern
FARMERS could resort to anarchy if swift action is not taken to let them move hungry livestock. The government's new system of livestock movement licences is in complete chaos, with hundreds of applications but not one licence issued. Yesterday Mr Phil
TRUSTEES of a Yarm community hall say they are battling against a constant barrage of criticism. As they celebrated a funding windfall this week, the town's Fellowship Hall committee hit out at what it claims is misleading information being put out by
THE entries are flooding in for the Local Heroes Awards 2001. Just a week after the launch of the region's biggest and best celebration of grass roots sport, it is already clear that the standard of nominations is going to be high. Names put forward so
A STALKER who followed and harassed three women was banned from a town centre library by magistrates yesterday. Bernard Costello, 59, pestered and made advances towards the women at Darlington's Crown Street library, between May 1 and May 22, the town's
In the Premier League Billingham Wanderers move into third place when they smashed six goals in without reply against Blackhall Hardwick. This derby started at a fast pace and after 15 minutes Mark Steel was tripped and Harry Davies made no mistake from
THE Health Secretary, Mr Alan Milburn, talked about a culture of inevitability when he unveiled the league tables for hospital performance this week. What he meant, we believe, is the feeling that nothing can be done among some NHS staff faced with tight
Tow Law and District League Tow Law Rose and Crown moved up to fourth place when they beat the visiting third placed Billy Row Royal George by the odd point. The home side raced away to a three points lead with wins from Stephen Todd, Chris Bowes and
A sports centre costing £1.5m could soon be developed in Skelton. The Hollybush Activity Centre will be based on an integrated sports, health and play development programme that aims to address the short, medium and long-term aspirations of people living
THE parade route for a big bike rally has been put through its paces, ready for a major event this weekend. More than 100 bikes of all shapes and sizes will be at Stockton's Preston Hall as a century of cycling innovation is marked in its biannual Bygone
DIMPRESSIVE Darlington completed the double at the Ryton Rugby Club hosted inaugural Under-12 and Under-11 Durham county 7-a-side competition. Eight teams from all over the county took part in the under 12s competition and were split into two groups,
AN EVENT to spread the anti-drugs message and raise awareness among people of all ages took place in Redcar at the weekend. Street theatre, steel bands and basketball demonstrations were some of the activities taking place in the town for the sixth annual
Wednesday was a bit special for our old friend Doug McCarthy, former world number 13 darts player, stomach cancer victim and one of the nicest men around. One clinic at the hospital told him they needn't see him for six months, another for three - and
THE third running of the Double Trigger Maiden Stakes, which honours one of Britain's great stayers in recent years, is the highlight at Redcar today. The meeting is a prelude to the course's big day of the season next Saturday, which is headed by the
SOME of the country's top horsemen and women, including Barnard Castle's Karen Dixon, compete over three days of horse trials at Witton Castle, near Bishop Auckland, at the weekend. Karen's fellow Olympian Ian Stark, from Scotland, is also among 450 competitors
TRADERS in Loftus are taking tough measures to put their town on the map. Saying they are sick of being "the poor relation" in East Cleveland, an official of Loftus business group has warned: "We intend to be a force to be reckoned with. Loftus is standing
CHILDREN across the region are being offered the chance to light up a town for Christmas. The Northern Echo has joined forces with Orange to give youngsters the chance to design Darlington's Christmas lights. The winning designs will be made up into a
DARLINGTON 21st Allstars JFC's teams saw midweek action in their first forays into this season's Teesside Alliance League Cup and whilst no fewer than seven teams went through to the next round, no team won both their games this week. The most successful
Thirsk Falcons THE Under-12s were thankful to Robbie Fountain whose brace helped his team to a 4-0 over Northallerton. Northallerton started brightly and were unfortunate not to take the lead when a header was only foiled by the home crossbar. However
A TOY library scheme is to be set up in east Cleveland to service all parts of the borough. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership plans to create the Government-funded lending system to complement the
THE largest public sector union is urging its members to vote against plans for an elected mayor in a North-East city. City of Sunderland Council is holding a referendum on the proposal for a directly elected mayor on Thursday, October 11. The referendum
AN ELEVENTH member of a gang which peddled heroin in Chester-le-Street has joined his counterparts behind bars. Carlo Fella, 28, of No Place, near Stanley, was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Durham Crown Court for taking part in the supply of the
The Chief Constable of the force which scrapped the speeding ticket of a "memory loss" policeman yesterday described the decision as "a misjudgement of monumental proportions". His comments came as the force faced heavy criticism from members of the local
THE most recent tests at a Wensleydale bull testing station are said to have shown the superb performance which can be obtained from Limousin stock under different feeding reg-imes. Despite the foot-and-mouth disease crisis, there has been a good complement
Chester's won their first match in two seasons when they beat Birtley St Josephs 3-2 at home. Birtley were ahead with a goal from Mark Perry. Chesters kept chasing the game and were rewarded with an equaliser by Glen Jackson. After the break Jackson and
IT'S something every grandparent looks forward to - a visit from their precious grandchild. It's something every grandparent dreads - their precious grandchild being rushed to hospital gasping for air, every breath perilously close to being his last.
A SCULPTRESS is enjoying success with her exhibition of life size clay torsos and backsides. Carolyn Corfield, a member of Darlington's Women's Business Network, first became interested in making casts of the human form after a romantic commission. She
A ROMANIAN asylum seeker accused of obtaining goods by deception from high streeet banks has been remanded in custody. Vali Costinal Maria, 32, is said to have obtained £105 by deception from the NatWest Bank, in Newton Aycliffe, on September 25. He faces
Sir, - Over 50 young people attended the recent meeting of Northallerton Town Council to listen and take part in a debate about the proposed use of the Applegarth bonfire site as a skateboard park. The youngest in our audience was just eight years of
DARLINGTON Mowden Park are determined not to meet their Waterloo when they go to Blundellsands tomorrow in the second round of the Senior Knockout Cup, which remains unsponsored. The once-proud hosts reached the cup final in 1977, when they lost to Gosforth
Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League Champions Moortown started where they left off last season with victory in their opening match in Division One of the League. But they were unable to achieve a clean sweep against Collingham, who finished fourth
A YOUNG photographer has set up in business at his Wensleydale home thanks to a grant from the Prince's Trust. Mr Neil St Quinton of Bainbridge will use the £2,500 award to buy a laptop computer for his business, Foot Films. Mr St Quinton, aged 21, approached
TRIBUTES have been paid to a retired doctor who pioneered rheumatic care for children across the world. Although Dr Barbara Ansell CBE was primarily based in London, she held combined clinics in the region for many years and treated numerous children
SHEEP farmers will receive less than £2 as the second advance payment for the 2001 sheep annual premium scheme. The NFU said farmers would be dismayed at the latest forecast, which fails to take into account the plight of the industry owing to foot-and-mouth
A BID for £2.3m to build two new schools in North Yorkshire was launched this week. North Yorkshire County Council is applying for government funding next year to replace existing primary schools in Middleton Tyas and Crakehall, near Bedale. The projects
Rohm and Haas JOC Hetton Youth League TRIMDON are keeping the pressure on leaders Herrington after they won their sixth successive game defeating Marsden 3-2. The home side, however, missed an opportunity to level when John McElroy, who had scored his
Worthington CIU Summer League Brandon continued their good run in the second half of the season and have now forced a play-off for the Second Division title with Ferryhill, who were their visitors for the final match. Kevin Sample and Owen Howarth gave
Local ace Kenny Close led four double figured weights on the middle Tees between Coniscliffe and Croft to lift Darlington BT's Bambridge Cup recording a super net of 18.8.0, writes JEFF HERBERT. The RSPS regular drew the run-out on Manfield Scar and searching
THE campaign group CO-Gas Safety says the criticisms of Chester-le-Street housing department made by the Audit Commission reflect a worrying trend. The district council came under fire for failing to comply with gas safety regulations, although it has
A CLEVELAND rider has returned in triumph from last weekend's Mercedes-Benz national dressage championships at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. Suzanne Eeles, from Stockton, won the preliminary championship with John Moorhouse's four-year-old Dutch sport horse
DARLINGTON students have brought a touch of Oriental splendour to the town to celebrate the launch of Japan 2001. Twenty-two hand-painted tubular banners have been individually designed by students on the BTEC diploma in art and design course at Queen
THERE were probably far better fights down the nearby Bigg Market on Saturday night than those heavyweight bouts witnessed by boxing fans at Newcastle's Telewest Arena. We didn't need any confirmation that heavyweight boxing is a farce, but we got it
TWO business clubs have raised £4,000 for charity at a gala dinner. The Darlington and Tees Valley business clubs entertained more than 220 businesspeople at the annual event held at Croft Spa Hotel, near Darlington. Guests were offered various ways to
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Members of Stockton Corporation assembled in business meetings under strangely different conditions this week. On Tuesday, they had the installation of electric light in the Council Chamber but last night they had
UNIONS are warning of further strike action in Hartlepool nursing homes if care bosses refuse to meet them for talks. More than 50 care workers took to the picket lines on Wednesday in a dispute over pay cuts. Residents in the Charlotte Grange, Throston
VISIONS of arrows splitting apples or flying with unerring accuracy towards a distant target often spring to mind in association with archery. As I prepared for my first experience of the sport, I resisted the temptation to wear green. The reality, of
ALPHA Airports claims the rapid development of the low-cost airline sector would help it absorb the worst of the impact of the terror attack in the US. The in-flight caterer and airport retailer, which has operations at Newcastle and Teesside airports
HORSE owners and owners of private land in Hutton Rudby have offered to pay the parish council £500 towards the cost of a new fence on land near the River Leven, where a family was allegedly chased by a horse during the summer. The offer has been welcomed
THE Church of England's decision to consider the sale of the paintings by Francisco de Zurbaran which hang in Auckland Castle has produced a predictably half-baked response from some. The 17th century paintings of Jacob and his 12 sons - and, yes, Spectator
Sir, - We are horrified to learn of Richmondshire District Council's intention not to renew Mike and Elizabeth Pattison's lease at Richmond Garden and Farm Supplies (D&S, Sept 21). Has the council any idea what it would be giving up, if it lets this
A DANGEROUS daredevil "game" played by youngsters on a Darlington estate has led police to voice fears for their safety. As buses do their rounds in the Branksome area of town, youngsters are grabbing the backs of the vehicles and hanging on for a ride
ONCE upon a time all it took was a big bar of yellow soap and a poss tub - and a penny blue bag for the whites. (The last time I saw a bag of Reckitt's Blue, I think it cost the equivalent of ten bob. Does anyone still use it?) Then there was powder,
South Cleveland Garages Teesside League Acklam SW 6 v 0 Stokesley SC League Champions Acklam Steelworks made it nine wins from nine League games and move back to the top of the table after a comfortable win over Stokesley Sports Club. Dean Talukder gave
Haven't those people whingeing about the possible introduction of identity cards got anything more important to worry about right now? As hundreds of thousands of near-starving Afghans flee across borders, firefighters continue to search for dead bodies
EXTRADITION proceedings against a Tyneside murder suspect are expected to begin in Spain today. The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking the extradition of Lewis Ekong, 21, who was arrested by Spanish police in connection with the Millennium Day murder
A MAN has launched a fundraising campaign in memory of his wife who died recently after a brave battle against cancer. The tight-knit community of Shildon has rallied round chip shop owner Danny Scott to help him raise money for the Butterwick Hospice
THE children of staff at London Electricity cast their nets into the world of work as part of the organisation's Bring Your Kids to Work Day. A group of 28 youngsters, aged between 11 and 15 spent the day visiting the customer service centre at Sunderland's
Halfway through the summer season and Brancepeth B are top of the League after an emphatic win over the visiting Brandon Football Club. The Brancepeth won all of their single games with points scored by John Thirwell, Paul Dazely, David Newman, David
PARENTS of an Army captain have expressed concerns for their son, who is on exercise in Oman. Herbert and Jean Bowen, who run The Bay Horse Pub, at Woodhouses, near Bishop Auckland, say they are very proud of their son Christopher, who graduated from
THE Taliban last night confirmed that a message has been sent to Osama bin Laden asking him to leave Afghanistan. With speculation mounting that US coalition forces are moving closer to military strikes, Taliban sources revealed the terrorist leader was
PENSIONER Betty Mangles won royal approval for a housing scheme's effort towards a fundraising event for cancer patients. When residents of Runnymede Court, in Bishop Auckland, raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief by joining in the World's Biggest
BARRY Conlon's fourth goal of the season rescued a point for Darlington at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night and kept the Quakers neatly tucked in behind the Nationwide Division Three leaders. Gary Bennett's men have picked up seven points from their
NEXT year's Bupa Great North Run has been put back a week to avoid a clash with the rearranged Ryder Cup. The run, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 29, will now be held on October 6 after the postponement of the Ryder Cup until next year prompted
North-East Christian Fellowship League Charity Shield Second Round GARY Harkness shot Heworth Christian Fellowship into a five-minute lead at Airport Church, but Glenn Wanless tied the match on the half hour. Two minutes in to the second half Heworth
AN Air Training Corps has got a new banner, 53 years after its last one was paraded. Darlington Mayor's Charity Fund Committee paid for the new banner for the town's training corps. The squadron was set up in 1941 and photographs from the 1950s show that
SUSPENDED police chief Ray Mallon has been told he must fund his own defence against disciplinary charges arising from Operation Lancet. The former head of Middlesbrough CID faces 14 disciplinary charges following the £7m anti-corruption inquiry into
RESIDENTS have been hearing how they will benefit from a regeneration scheme. About 60 people from Hartlepool attended a meeting at the Supporters' Club, in Sandringham Road, to find out more about how New Deal for Communities is working in their area
A world-renowned parrot breeder who was jailed for smuggling rare species into Britain has been ordered to pay £150,000 made from his criminal activities. Harry Sissen, 63, now faces selling his share in a family farm in North Yorkshire and his remaining
A PENSIONER "groomed" a ten-year-old girl for sexual activity by showing her a pornographic video before indecently assaulting her. Charles King, 67, attacked the youngster at his home while her parents were away on holiday. Newcastle Crown Court heard
A CARE assistant was yesterday cleared of slapping an elderly woman she was helping to dress at a residential home. Linda Hope, 26, denied assaulting the 96-year-old dimentia sufferer, causing her actual bodily harm, in an incident in the woman's room
A COUNCIL leader has criticised a poor response to electoral registration forms. Middlesbrough Borough Council sent 61,000 forms to households across the town for people to fill in so they would be included on the voters' roll. Those not included will
DELEGATES from Wolsingham were given a real taste of French hospitality when they embarked on their first visit to their twin town. People in the town were overwhelmed with gastronomic delights on a visit to the French town of Poix de Picardie, in northern
A PASSENGER plane flying into Teesside Airport from Spain caused an alert when the captain reported its brakes were overheating. The Boeing 757 plane from Malaga, with more than 150 passengers on board, eventually landed safely. Fire crews were put on
PHOTOGRAPHS detailing a theatre project with street children in Ghana are on display at the Green Dragon Museum, Stockton. The pictures were taken by photographer Rik Walton as he accompanied his playwright wife, Kathleen McCreery, to the African country
Karin Miller is one of the 38,000 women in Britain diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Six years ago, when she was just 30, she discovered a lump in her breast as she was getting into the bath. "I'm a nurse and I had read all the leaflets. I knew
PREPARING to take life a little easier - when he is not flying through the air, is 64-year-old grandfather Percy Moss. After a long and colourful career, which has taken him all over the world, he has decided to retire. For the past 14 years he has been
Sir, - The North Yorkshire county branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England has decided to initiate a village shop support scheme, with a pilot exercise in the Wensleydale branch. This district branch comprises 30 parishes in the southern
UNDERWATER experts are to be asked to look for bombs on the sea bed off Saltburn after live wartime munitions were washed up on beaches. Five pieces of ordnance have been recovered from the tide line in a month, ranging from a corroded artillery shell
A LONG-running skateboard saga has resurfaced with the revival of plans for a dedicated site for enthusiasts. About 50 youngsters packed into Northallerton town council to press their case for a permanent base for their sport. Currently the youngsters
Chester-le-Street District Council's housing department has been heavily criticised by inspectors. An Audit Commission report says the department is so poorly managed that it is 'unlikely to improve.' The report also accused the department - responsible
A FAMILY of baby rabbits found abandoned in Redcar has been given a new temporary home. The RSPCA is looking for information about the five rabbits, thought to be between three and four months old, which were dumped in a skip in an alley in Queen Street
A DALES community could have been forgiven for giving up on its annual sheep fair this year. Restrictions on the movement of livestock are only being lifted now, with farmers spending months besieged by foot-and-mouth disease. But the people of Masham
A University was so impressed by twins Sarah and Liz Partington they gave a job meant for one person to both of them. Sarah and Liz, 29, applied for the job of sports psychology lecturer. But when officials at Northumbria University matched up their credentials
THE fight against hooliganism and under-age drinking has a new weapon in the Consett area. Police have asked off-licences and other shops with drink licences in the town to sell alcohol to over-21s only on Friday and Saturday nights. The scheme is designed
A COUNTRYSIDE leader says the Government should be held accountable for spending £4bn during the foot-and-mouth crisis. Anthony Bosanquet, president of the Country Land and Business Association, told the annual meeting of the association's Yorkshire branch
A TEENAGE soldier died of a gunshot wound to the head while on guard duty on a military base. No one else is being sought in connection with the death of Geoff Gray, who joined the Royal Logistics Corps eight months ago on his 17th birthday. His parents
After missing four games with a groin strain, winger Neil Wainwright is back in the frame for a place in the Darlington team which takes on Rushden and Diamonds at Feethams tomorrow. The ex-Sunderland wide-man played the full 90 minutes against York City's
Primary school pupils have been voted into office following a poll among their peers. A ballot was staged to elect the first school council at St Joseph's RC Primary, in Gilesgate, Durham. Children eager to stand for places produced manifestos, leaflets
A STARK warning of the inevitability of a future foot-and-mouth type crisis was issued this week. Mr Anthony Bosanquet, national president of the Country Land and Business Association, said there was no question about it. That was why the government must
JACQUELINE Pearce had decided not to dress for our interview. Instead, she was residing in a corner of the theatre foyer, a red robe wrapped around her body, slippers on her feet and a roll-up cigarette on her lips. Not exactly the figure grew to love
A PARANOID schizophrenic who carried out a series of letter bomb attacks has been ordered to be detained indefinitely at a mental hospital. Glynn Harding was branded 'pure evil' by a judge for waging the three-month campaign of terror against people and
Durham Ranking Tournament Michael Rhodes confirmed his dominance in the event when he recorded his fourth win from the nine tournaments played and is now certain to go into the big money final event for the top ranked 32 players. In the final Rhodes took
Sharon Hill hit a darts maximum for Willington Lion and Unicorn but saw her team go down to the visiting Willington Market A by five points. Willington Club B moved up to the top spot when former leaders, Sunnybrow Brown Trout were surprisingly beaten
Willington League Willington Black Horse Inn are the only team left in the League with a hundred per cent record after they only dropped two points to the visiting Sunnybrow Brown Trout. The Horse had singles points from Shaun Parkinson, David Newton,
A PUPIL has turned teacher at Yarm school. Sixth former and violinist, Richard Gratwick, aged 16, is celebrating outstanding success in his music studies. Last week, he learned he has passed the exam to become a licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music
DETECTIVES investigating the suspicious death of a former teacher are appealing for help in tracing a pair of shoes. The body of 44-year-old Debra McNicholas was found near the children's play area and paddling pool at Redcar at 7am on Sunday, September
CHRISTMAS preparations are well under way in Guisborough. At a meeting of the Town Council last week, plans for the festivities were discussed. Last year, Westgate was decorated with lights as well as a huge tree, and it is hoped that this year's the
FEARS that a hijacked plane could cause a nuclear wipeout if it crashed into the Hartlepool Power Station have been dismissed. The International Atomic Energy Agency was reported yesterday as saying all of the country's 440 nuclear power stations were
A FIGHT to keep a telephone box in a village looks as if it has been won by local people and councillors. Members of Loftus Town Council were angry when a payphone was removed from Liverton. British Telecom said it was removing it because of work on the
COMPANIES in the region which have failed to reduce emissions have been named and shamed by the Environment Agency. A report on good and bad performance by businesses across the country has been produced by the agency to highlight those who did not work
Junior round-up WHITLEY Braves began their English Under-19 North B League season with a resounding 18-1 victory over Sheffield Scorpions at Hillheads. Braves went ahead through Dale Howey with the first attack of the game after just seven seconds. Two
THe Double Trigger Maiden Stakes, in honour of one of the country's best horses in recent years, is the main event at Redcar racecourse this Friday in a programme scheduled to begin at 2.15pm. The meeting is a prelude to the big day of Redcar's season
PROGRESS on the multi-million pound Redcar shops development has led to new traffic arrangements coming into force on Monday, a week earlier than expected. Phase two of the plan is timed to run until the end of November, with new traffic restrictions
NORTHERN Electric and Innogy have completed an innovative swap deal. The £1bn agreement sees Northern acquire Innogy's Yorkshire Electricity distribution business, while Innogy takes over Northern's supply operations. Northern Electric and Gas will be
HANNAH Maxwell-Jones, whose facial disfigurement prompted an appeal by The Northern Echo, is back on her feet after major surgery. The two-year-old, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, travelled with her parents and grandmother to the Arkansas Children's Hospital
Easington's Andy Wilson had a day to remember on Saturday at Norton. Wilson, signed last week from Wearside League club Boldon CA, scored the winner for his new club to give his side the three points at Station Road. Easington secretary Alan Purvis said
RESIDENTS in a village that badly flooded last winter are threatening direct action if no works are carried out to protect their homes. Villagers in Brompton, near Northallerton, are preparing for the worst this year after flooding last November. About
COMMUNITY leaders who hope to see a swimming pool built at Hawes face an uphill struggle to convince Sport England to support the scheme to the tune of £370,000. The £900,000 complex, which would serve the upper dales, would be built on land already secured
YOU can take the wolf out of the pack, but you cannot take the pack out of the wolf. Training instructor Miss Aileen Clarke, who runs Fellandale Dog Training, says the same phrase holds true for dogs. She has five of her own at her home at Romaldkirk
DELAYED discharges at Darlington Memorial and its sister hospitals have more than doubled from their normal levels in the last month. The situation, sometimes known as bed-blocking, occurs when a patient is well enough to leave, but does not have a place
RIPON ladies have made a promising start to the season after winning promotion to North National division one. Their first game was away to the Vale of Lune, Lancaster, an experienced member of the premier northern league. In a tough game, Ripon worked
Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison may not have impressed during his appearance in Newcastle last weekend - but one Darlington fighter certainly did. Michael 'Oscar' Hall was on the undercard at the Telewest Newcastle Arena where he secured the Northern
DURHAM City's Liberal Democrats have come out against an elected mayor for the city. The political party made its decision to urge the people of Durham to reject the elected mayor option in a local referendum to be held in November. Citizens will be asked
THE cash-strapped Church of England York diocese is having to reduce its number of clergy by 22 in the coming year to save about £360,000. However, the diocesan authorities hope to achieve the reduction through natural wastage in the form of retirements
AN outraged theatre-goer has submitted a petition to theatre bosses after he was sent details of an adult show. Ian Graham, chairman of the Marton Avenue Residents' Association, was appalled to read of the forthcoming Puppetry of the Penis show when Darlington
A DALES community could have been forgiven for giving up on its annual sheep fair this year. Restrictions on the movement of livestock are only being lifted now, with farmers spending months besieged by foot-and-mouth disease. But the people of Masham
GOLD and silver, both are alike to David "Dandy" Nicholls, who is making the Ayr big sprints each autumn very much his own. Friday's "consolation" race for horses balloted out of the Gold Cup, the Tote (Ayr) Silver Cup Showcase Handicap, was won by Tayif
THE REOPENING of a swimming pool just hours after a teenager died has been described as insensitive by her grieving family. Anne-Marie Readshaw, 13, was on a Saturday trip to the swimming pool at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham, when tragedy
DRIVERS in a foot-and-mouth disease blue box zone who take a back road to avoid a disinfection point have been criticised by dales residents anxious to stay clear of infection. Farms in Upper Weardale have so far managed to stay free of foot-and-mouth
AN INVESTIGATION into the Love Parade pop festival cancellation has been branded a whitewash. A report produced by a specially-convened inquiry team into the cancellation of the Newcastle music carnival has been criticised for failing to apportion blame
THERE is an old tradition that tomorrow, September 29 (Michaelmas Day) is the last day for picking brambles, or blackberries as some of us know them. One part of old folklore said the devil spits on brambles from tomorrow onwards while another said he
Fifteen players have entered the Individual League for the coming season, which will begin on Thursday, October 4 with the players divided into two sections. Players drawn in Section A are Lawrence Jones of Witton Gilbert, Heppell Hodgson of Tow Law,
A BETTER deal for the thousands of walkers who have been prevented from using the hundreds of miles of public footpaths on the North York moors this summer is being urged by the park's watchdog. The foot-and-mouth outbreak on the moors has proved the
A PAEDOPHILE is demanding compensation from Durham Police and the probation service - for being forced to move home twice. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims he was "pushed from pillar to post" by the threat of his sordid past being
NEARLY ten years after he set the Supersport 600 class lap record there, Northallerton's Paul Mackley made a successful return to the Olivers Mount circuit on the outskirts of Scarborough last weekend. Along with a host of other local riders, the 36-year-old
Bedale Hunt. - Variety show at Masham town hall. Rescheduled dates Oct 30 and 31, and Nov 2 and 3. Tickets £10 include supper. For details ring Anne White on 01325 378259. BHS Durham. - Oct 4: Ernest Dillon FBHS, show jumping for fun or glory lecture
A JUDGE has called for proof that a top North-East lawyer facing assault charges is dead. Flamboyant Barry Stewart, formerly Teesside's senior criminal barrister, jumped bail earlier this year and moved abroad to a luxury villa in northern Cyprus. It
