TWO new exhibits illustrating John Bowes' passion for horse racing have gone on show at the Bowes Museum. The first, a picture, came to light after a visitor saw the Hidden Treasures exhibition at the museum, near Barnard Castle, County Durham. Several
FRENCH international Lilian Laslandes is heading for a show-down meeting with Sunderland manager Peter Reid after being left out in the cold for the last Premiership game against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light. The 30-year-old £3.6m summer signing from
A TRAVEL plan aimed at curbing staff car use must be agreed by council officials before a development can go ahead near Ripon city centre. Ripon Council for Voluntary Service has been granted planning permission by Harrogate Borough Council planning officers
INDUSTRY and union leaders have drawn up plans to tackle the UK's "substantial" productivity gap with its major competitors. The TUC and the CBI have set out priorities for raising skills and increasing investment. The two sides of industry agreed that
WE must not exaggerate the scale of the problems caused by asylum seekers. Equally, we must not be complacent in seeking to tackle problems where they exist. While we must examine the full details when they are published before passing final judgement
DARLINGTON Mowden Park have suffered another blow in their build-up for Saturday's Senior Knockout Cup fourth round tie at home to Manchester. Tight head prop Dave Sinclair has been handed a one-match ban after receiving three yellow cards this season
THE partner of a North-East SAS hero killed in a jungle rescue raid in Sierra Leone has been offered a £250,000 payment from the Ministry of Defence. Anna Homsi, 31, mother of SAS trooper Brad Tinnion's 11-month-old baby, is to receive the ex-gratia payment
THE closest Valerie Everson came to royalty was when the Queen swept past in her chauffeured car on a visit to Newcastle in the 1970s. But the mother-of-three, who was born on the day when Her Majesty took the throne in February 6, 1952, will get a chance
A SERIES of seminars has been organised to help voluntary workers manage their money better. The Teesdale Village Halls Consortium has organised the free seminars to give advice and guidance to voluntary workers from village halls. The seminars will be
Tommy Taylor got off to the worst possible start as the new Darlington manager when, in his first game in charge, his side crashed out of the LDV Vans Trophy at Scunthorpe United on Tuesday night. In front of just 1,626 fans - 87 of those making the trip
THE new film by Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall had its regional premiere in Newcastle last night. Sean Landless, the 15-year-old Sunderland schoolboy star of Gabriel And Me, was among those attending the special screening at the Tyneside Cinema. He was
A MAN accused of murder told emergency service workers "it was self defence" after they found his partner stabbed to death, a court heard today. Simon Keogh is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering teacher Lesley Grant on November
A patient of an osteopath accused of indecently assaulting eight patients today told a jury she felt "totally humiliated" after he touched her breasts during a consultation. Terence McBrien, 48, of Stott Street, Alnwick, Northumberland, denies 13 charges
Last Sunday, gunmen armed with machine guns burst into a church in Islamabad and started killing Christians at worship. I'm afraid there are going to be a lot more incidents like this while the war goes on. That is not, however, a reason for ending the
THE 2002 Good Beer Guide, as indispensable as most of the alien ale is indistinguishable, appeared, unsurpassed, last week. Published by the Campaign for Real Ale and still wonderful value, its only problem is that it has the approximate gestation period
AT least five dogs have been saved from a death sentence after animal lovers bombarded a council compound with calls offering them good homes. The story of an abandoned dog facing death, featured in The Northern Echo on Saturday, touched the hearts of
REMEMBER those innocent little road signs directing strangers towards Shildon's football ground? Yesterday they all came down again. In their place, 30 temporary signs appeared all over the town "apologising for any inconvenience" caused by the orders
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Insurance sales advisor, Darlington, £8,500 to £10,200 dep on exp, 9am to 5.30pm Mon-Fri, alternate Saturdays, must have minimum six months experience
A HEROIN user who committed a string of thefts to feed his addiction has been told he faces prison if he breaches a court order to seek treatment. Christopher Weir admitted thefts involving thousands of pounds worth of goods, from stores in his home town
AIRPORTS operator BAA said it was still too soon to predict the future for aviation, as it warned increased security following the September 11 attacks on the US would cost it about £10m this year. BAA said passenger traffic through its airports was 12
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Insurance sales advisor, Darlington, £8,500 to £10,200 dep on exp, 9am to 5.30pm Mon-Fri, alt Sats, must have minimum six months experience in Personal
DARLINGTON Football Club boss George Reynolds was on hand at the weekend to mark the opening of a newly refurbished travel store. Mr Reynolds took time out from the club's preparations for its match with Hull to open the Travelcare branch in Morrisons
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Trainee customer support assistant, Thirsk. 8.30am to 5.30pm, Mon-Fri. Must be computer literate with full clean driving licence. Ref: NOE 14983. Domestic
VILLAGERS are calling for a clean up of two derelict houses they say are blighting their street. They say the empty homes at the end of Hillside Road, in Coundon, are dangerous and an eyesore. One was already boarded up when fire swept through the other
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Joiner, Hartlepool. Full-time. Must be time-served to undertake 1st and 2nd fix joinery work with experience working on building sites. Ref: HAQ 18608
CHURCHGOERS in east Cleveland are being invited to meet the Bishop of Whitby and the new Archdeacon of Cleveland next week. The Bishop, the Right Reverend Robert Ladds, and the Archdeacon, the Venerable Paul Ferguson, will meet par-ishioners from across
LYNNE Baker reckons she may never be able to go near a bowl of custard ever again. The check-out girl and her friend, Lynne Robson, agreed to bathe in the yellow goo for five hours yesterday in the Asda store, in Stanley, to raise money for BBC Children
FRUSTRATED Chris Turner has warned his players that the club could face the daunting prospect of a "long, hard season" unless they start to work harder. The Hartlepool boss's warning came following his side's home defeat by Oxford on Saturday. Pool have
A WOMAN who was abandoned in a phone box as a two-day-old has launched a poster campaign in an attempt to trace her mother. Jane Doe was found in Darlington, County Durham, on July 26, 1951, in a phone box at the junction of Brinkburn Road and Major Street
"He is a menace to every patient that he touches... he should never be allowed to practise" - gynaecologist Dr Eldon Lee, who worked alongside Richard Neale in Canada in the late 1970s. FORMER Friarage Hospital gyneacologist Richard Neale was struck off
MIDDLESBROUGH'S worst fears have been confirmed as the FA have informed them that skipper Paul Ince had lost his appeal against his sending-off in the derby clash with Sunderland. Referee Mark Halsey dismissed Ince for violent conduct after he pushed
A DRUNKEN nuisance who keeps breaching an anti-social behaviour order was last night beginning his fortieth prison sentence. John Newman, 36, was made the subject of the order by Durham magistrates in June last year for persistently appearing drunk in
THOUSANDS of people in Richmondshire could lose their right to vote in elections if they do not return forms distributed by the council, by the middle of next month. The authority sent forms to 21,000 homes in the area as part of an electoral registration
CHAMPION jockey Kevin Darley was presented with a special Waterford crystal trophy at Redcar Races yesterday on Tuesday for being the top jockey in Yorkshire this season. He said he was really pleased with the award and was enjoying basking in the sunshine
TOUGH-tackling Andy Griffin is aiming to put a training ground bust-up behind him in a bid to force his way back into the first team reckoning at Newcastle. The 22-year-old full back had a spat with French international Laurent Robert on Friday. Teammates
Organisers of Darlington and District Radio-Controlled Car Club fear it will close after 15 years unless more enthusiasts join. The club, which holds weekly race nights and takes part in competitions across the country, prides itself on giving youngsters
FOR hotelier Gary Wilson, the outlook appears bleak. His High Force Hotel, in Teesdale, County Durham, which attracts ramblers and tourists visiting the nearby High Force waterfall, saw bookings drop by 90 per cent in the early days of the foot-and-mouth
NEW conservation measures aimed at safeguarding fish stocks could endanger the lives of fishermen, a skipper has warned. The measures, for the area off Yorkshire Coast, could also mark the demise of the fishing industry, Fred Normandale, chairman of Scarborough
THE chance of a place in the spotlight proved irresistible to dance-mad youngsters from across the North-East. More than 200 boys and girls, accompanied by their parents, turned up at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland, for a chance to dance in the pantomime
ANYONE interested in Richmondshire District Council's housing policies is welcome to attend a meeting at Hunton Village Hall this evening. With the foot-and-mouth crisis easing, the authority's housing committee has gone back on the road, travelling around
A SENIOR North Yorkshire politician is appealing to the public to help make this year's Poppy Appeal one to remember. The 2000 total broke records with more than £20m raised in the UK. However, with British forces facing action in Afghanistan and the
REAL ale enthusiasts have named an old favourite as the North-East's best traditional beer of the year. Cameron's Strongarm narrowly beat off competition from two newer brews, Wylam Gold Tankard and Durham Magus, after taste tests by a panel of "experts
TRAIN company GNER has strengthened its corporate affairs team with the appointment of PHIL BUSTARD to the post of public relations manager. The post has been newly-created to develop closer links with local authorities, development agencies and regional
A North-East design and project management practice has been chosen to refurbish a Cotswolds hotel. Following its success at Seaham Hall, County Durham, Ward Robinson, of Newcastle, has been commissioned for the £600,000 project to create a luxury hotel
ONE of Darlington's most successful businesses has moved into new offices to cope with the growing demand worldwide for its products. The Barcode Solution Centre, which helps businesses to automate and streamline their manufacturing and distribution processes
FLOOR company Trade Sales UK has moved into new premises as the business goes from strength to strength. The move has been backed by South Tyneside Council's economic development team, which has helped the company to secure funding to relocate and find
A WOULD-BE car thief who stabbed an off-duty policeman five times was jailed for 15 years yesterday. Brett Wight, 24, of no fixed address, was cleared of the attempted murder of PC Robert Aynsley, but was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause
CENTRE-BACK Steve Vickers was locked in further talks with Crystal Palace last night over a £1m move from Middlesbrough. Vickers was absent from the 3-2 victory over West Brom on Sunday that pushed Palace briefly to top spot in Division One until Wolves
burglars are to be given a chance to turn their back on crime, thanks to an initiative in Hartlepool. The Dordrecht Scheme, which was pioneered in Holland, is a partnership between the police, probation and health services, which aims to break the cycle
A COUNCIL will face no further action after being investigated for its handling of complaints about noise from a motor racing circuit. The Local Government Ombudsman was called in when it was alleged that two councillors on Richmondshire District Council
A VETERAN peace campaigner spent a night in a police cell after getting too close to one of the American bases she wants to see closed down. Lindis Percy, 59, was arrested at the US base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, on Sunday night and held until
A decorated American servicewoman and chapel worker was caught drink-driving twice in six weeks, a court heard. Penny Ann Portivent, 35, who is based at the US spy base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, admitted both charges. Simon Berger
Traders have sent a message to their community - use your town, or lose it. Stanley Chamber of Trade has issued the warning just days after Derwentside District Council said it was "taking a step back" from plans for a £100m leisure and entertainment
THE North-East's fragile economy suffered a day of mixed fortunes yesterday. About 1,500 jobs were saved after engineering company Kvaerner averted a financial crisis at the last minute. But the good news was tempered by the announcement that at least
A TEMPORARY centre ice rink will be the main attraction at a Christmas market in Spennymoor. The German-style Weihnachtsmarkt will run from Saturday, December 8, until January 6. Sedgefield Borough Council, Spennymoor Town Council and local businesses
A woman who gave birth after being involved in a road accident in which her mother died was today seriously ill in hospital, police said. 30-year-old Lesley Droy gave birth to a baby boy after the three-car crash, which happened yesterday afternoon in
PARENTS from a North Yorkshire village, locked in battle with County Hall over a school bus service, have called on their MP to intervene. The row, which has led one experienced parish councillor to resign, seemed to have been defused just before the
AMBULANCE bosses have admitted planning to use Red Cross and St John Ambulance volunteers to help with 999 calls in the wake of the terrorist attacks in America. The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), which covers from Berwick, in Northumberland, to
A GROUP of local councils has joined together to produce a comprehensive joint waste management strategy for the area. This is the first waste management strategy that the unitary authorities, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton
Darlington MP Alan Milburn has written to police in the town after receiving complaints from people about fireworks being let off near their homes. The Health Secretary has received various complaints about fireworks being used illegally in residential
SOLDIERS from Darlington have visited the grave of one the area's most famous soldiers, who died in in the First World War. The soldiers from Darlington's 50 (Northumbrian) Signal Squadron (Volunteers), based at the TA centre in Neasham Road, made the
A MARKET trader, who bounced back from a heart attack, has said farewell to fellow stall holders at a North Yorkshire market after almost 20 years. Bob Barkley, known as "The Sweet Man'', suffered a heart attack six months ago, but was back at Richmond's
NORTH-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes is backing travellers who have cheap cigarettes and alcohol confiscated. The Labour MP said: "From the steady stream of complaints from constituents, I know there are genuine concerns about confiscated goods, which need
A MODERN-DAY Indiana Jones claimed last night that he had found proof that the abominable snowman really does exist. North-East crypto-zoologist Andrew Sanderson has taken plaster casts of a footprint which, he says, proves that a race of ape-men is still
CLEVELAND College of Art and Design is holding an exhibition to raise awareness of opportunities in the creative industries. The event, at the Centre North East, Middlesbrough, aims to change perceptions of art and design, develop business links and stimulate
THE Tories have gained an extra foothold in the Dales in a district council by-election - but by the narrowest of margins. Wendy Morton wrested Leyburn and Bellerby from the Liberal Democrats, although the result was subject to a recount. In the final
SHOCKING new evidence of problems inside the North-East's newest hospital emerged last night.c MPs investigating the use of private finance in the health service were told of a catalogue of troubles at the £97m University Hospital of North Durham. Giving
MUSICIANS from two Teesside schools have been selected to play at London's Royal Albert Hall. The recorder ensemble from Teesside High School, in Eaglescliffe, and Egglescliffe School orchestra have been picked to play at the Music for Youth Schools Prom
POLICE launched a campaign in Middlesbrough at the weekend in an attempt to cut down on the number of youths causing havoc with fireworks in the run-up to bonfire night. Calls to police usually increase at this time of year, but more than 40 officers
THE team charged with regenerating a run-down area in the heart of Sunderland met officially for the first time yesterday. The inaugural meeting of the Sunderland Urban Regeneration Company (URC) board was held in the city's Exchange Buildings and marked
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. RGN, Consett. £9ph, 9.15pm to 7.45am, Sat and Sun. Required for residential nursing home. Must be registered with UKCC and confirmed before submission
A POLICE officer who spends his spare time painting pictures of wildlife is to have an exhibition of his work in Newcastle. Paul Henery, wildlife liaison officer for Northumbria Police, was the inspiration for the BBC TV series Badger. He has won awards
KEVIN DARLEY'S prospects of retaining his champion jockeys' title are now pretty slim, but given the sort of ammunition he's got at Redcar this afternoon he will make table-topper Kieren Fallon go all the way to the wire. Darley's good day should begin
An initiative has been launched to help prevent council workers falling ill because of office stress. Darlington Borough Council is launching an anti-stress policy this week with a series of fun events for staff. During the week, council employees will
SENIOR officials have welcomed a report which clears a district council of wrongdoing in a long-running row over the region's leading motor racing circuit. A 14-month investigation followed allegations that Richmondshire District Council had failed people
A TEMPORARY centre ice rink will be the main attraction at a Christmas market in Spennymoor. The German-style Weihnachtsmarkt will run from Saturday, December 8, until January 6. Sedgefield Borough Council, Spennymoor Town Council and local businesses
A MURDERER'S 999 call was ignored by police for an hour and a half because an emergency operator mistakenly dismissed him as a drunken crank, a jury was told yesterday. Schoolteacher Lesley Grant was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, who then tried to
ORGANISERS of an autumn country fair which raised £2,100 for the British Red Cross are already inviting stallholders to book a place at next year's event. Visitors to Whitworth Hall Country Park, near Spennymoor, County Durham, picked fruit from the hotel's
A COMMUNITY centre garden was a hive of activity at the weekend as residents took part in Madd - Make a Difference Day. Activities at the Old Billingham Community Centre garden included a bird box building workshop, a chance to create a rockery and to
A NORTH-East museum is hosting a series of events about life in Tibet. The Oriental Museum, in Durham City, has invited painter Ang Tsherin Sherpa and photographer Mike Trickett to exhibit and talk about their works as part of its forthcoming Tibet season
TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to a former senior judge on the North-East circuit who has died aged 90. Judge Alistair Sharp served as resident judge at Durham for 22 years until his retirement in 1984. He lived on in the city with his wife Daphne, who
ASYLUM seekers will have to carry identity cards containing their photograph and fingerprint data as a replacement for the hated voucher system, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced yesterday. The Government is to build four accommodation centres to
A POSTMAN has set his sights on becoming the next world champion in ice speedway when he competes in the US later this year. Will Beveridge, of Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, will be battling on the ice on Christmas Day against riders from the US, Canada
TWO North-East men arrested in connection with a national internet child porn ring were released on police bail tonight. The pair, who have not been named, were arrested this morning on suspicion of creating and distributing pornographic images of children
VILLAGERS in east Cleveland have overturned a proposal to close a gap in the central reservation of the area's most notorious road. Birk Brow, on the A171 between Whitby and Guisborough, has a hairpin bend and has been the scene of many accidents. As
THE jobs of hundreds of workers at Kvaerner's operations on Teesside would appear to have been safeguarded by a new rescue plan. Crisis talks at the weekend between senior managers, directors, investors, banks, lawyers and the Norwegian government, would
WHEN Heinrich Richter was finally buried, more than 50 years after his death, his funeral attracted hundreds of mourners. But, although people who had never known the former Luftwaffe gunner came to pay their respects and lay wreaths on his grave, none
Darlington received devastating injury news yesterday when captain Craig Liddle was told a shin break will keep him out of action for at least three months, and possibly for the remainder of the season. But the blow was softened when Danny Mellanby was
LONG-SERVING Sunderland boss Peter Reid last night reflected on the current managerial merry-go-round and admitted he might have been sacked after relegation from the Premiership four years ago. Andy Kilner became the 20th casualty of the season when
WITH foot-and-mouth disease loosening its stranglehold on North Yorkshire, Richmondshire Ramblers has released provisional dates for its winter walking programme. Leaders have been assigned the task of picking routes which avoid areas still closed due
LOW-cost airline EasyJet has moved to bolster its financial position and capitalise on the crisis among Europe's national carriers. The Luton firm, which also bucked the trend by saying it was looking to hire more staff, will issue extra shares to raise
WITH the UK market now back at its pre-September 11 level, further progress has become more difficult, with investors weighing up the on- going politics and the prospects for an economic recession. So far, the statistics are suggesting that here in the
A SCHOOLBOY has the intuition of an experienced life-boatman to thank for his life. Twelve-year-old Chris Waites, from Redcar, east Cleveland, became trapped by the tide far from shore, near the town, while out on his bodyboard on Sunday. At exactly the
AFTER beating up two brothers with a baseball bat, a man cooked a meal and insisted his victims sat and ate with him, a court was told yesterday. And, after hearing about the curious behaviour, Judge John Bullimore said at York Crown Court: "I expect
TWO police officers plunged into the icy cold waters of the river Wear to rescue a distressed teenager. PC Peter Tate and Sergant Steve Donnelly were called to New Elvet Bridge, in Durham City, at 10.45pm on Sunday. When they arrived, they saw a girl
FOOTBALL rivalries were put to one side yesterday when Darlington FC chairman George Reynolds entered enemy territory to open a hairdressing salon. Mr Reynolds, who feared his passport might not be stamped by the guards on the road into Hartlepool, helped
A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with conning money out of a bank. Romanian Vali Costinal Maria, 32, was also charged with attempting to trick more money out of banks around Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and conning a woman out of £95. Mr Maria
INJURY-jinxed Newcastle United duo Kieron Dyer and Carl Cort are going neck-and-neck in their race to return to fitness. Neither player has figured this season, but United are quietly confident that both could be back in action by the end of next month
A BODY found hanging in woods by a child has been identified as that of a man missing from his home in Wales. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances into the death of Gary Sides, who had travelled from Wrexham. The body of Mr Sides was found
REMEMBER those innocent little road signs directing strangers towards Shildon's football ground? Yesterday they all came down again. In their place, 30 temporary signs appeared all over the town "apologising for any inconvenience" caused by the orders
