Archive

  • Campaign to increase glass safety levels

    TRADING standards officers have launched a campaign to prevent people being injured in accidents involving glass in their homes. Sunderland trading standards department has sent advice to all the firms in the city that supply double glazing and conservatories

  • Strategy aims to cut number of teenage mothers

    A strategy aimed at reducing the number of teenage mothers in County Durham is being launched this week. The £250,000 project, funded by the Department of Health's Teenage Pregnancy Unit, will offer sex and relationship education, advise on contraception

  • Witnesses sought as five die during a day of accidents

    FIVE people died and another three were seriously injured in three separate accidents on North Yorkshire's roads in less than 24 hours. The drivers of a BMW and a Vauxhall Astra were pronounced dead at the scene after the two cars collided on the A165

  • Thanks to you, sick Sophia can see expert in America

    A SICK toddler is flying to the US for treatment - largely thanks to generous readers of The Northern Echo. Little Sophia Carter suffers from continuous, unexplained epileptic seizures. Michigan doctor Harry Chugani, the world's leading specialist in

  • Detectives probe fresh home raids

    A SERIES of burglaries in an area of Darlington has continued with four more houses being raided. In yesterday's edition of The Northern Echo, it was reported that the past week had seen a number of attacks on homes in the Denes area. It is believed most

  • Lee gets back with the juniors

    ROBERT LEE has been reduced to training with the kids again at Newcastle - but it's nothing sinister. Former England midfielder Lee, who had a shock transfer request rejected just over two weeks ago, trained with United's youngsters on Tuesday in an echo

  • A giant leap of faith

    THE seasons can't come round quickly enough for Birmingham Royal Ballet's well-known artistic director David Bintley. Two years of building work on the company's £30m Birmingham Hippodrome performing base is hitting finances and Bintley admits he's cutting

  • Bankruptcy rescue saves hundreds of Kvaerner jobs

    THE jobs of hundreds of engineering workers in the North-East have been saved. Anglo-Norwegian group Kvaerner, which employs 1,500 people on Teesside, confirmed yesterday that a deal to save it from bankruptcy had been agreed at the last minute. Crisis

  • Triathlon invitation to athletes and coaches

    NEW and experienced athletes and coaches in the North-East are invited to take part in a triathlon workshop at Northumbria University. Experts, including Great Britain coach Ian Oliver and Scottish triathlon champion Jack Maitland, will demonstrate and

  • Plans to tackle car dumping welcomed

    A PIONEERING town has welcomed a Government crackdown on the problem of abandoned cars. The new measures include moving dumped cars within 24 hours rather than posting a seven days removal notice, using DVLA powers to clamp and remove unlicensed vehicles

  • Cadets' cash parade

    A GROUP of junior soldiers will be on hand on Saturday to make sure Darlington's fireworks show goes with a bang. The team of youngsters from 14 Platoon will be helping to raise money on the night for the South Park Restoration Fund, as well as carrying

  • Enjoy a great night in safety

    POLICE and fire services in Durham are once again joining forces to stage a bonfire and fireworks spectacular. Both services have advised the public against organising private events and instead urge people to go to the joint display, in the grounds of

  • Great fun - and it's free

    THE skies will be lit up on Saturday night as east Cleveland's biggest fireworks event gets under starters orders at Redcar Racecourse. More than 4,000 people are expected to flock to the racecourse for a massive fun and fireworks event organised by The

  • Parents win bus belts victory

    BUSES transporting primary school children in the Darlington area will all have seatbelts next year following a parents' boycott. Some parents with children at Hurworth Primary School, near Darlington, have banned them from travelling on school outings

  • Dragon's sparkling debut

    THE traditional burning of Guy Fawkes has been swapped for the slaying of a dragon as a town celebrates bonfire night this week. Youngsters from Crook have been working with artist Malcolm Smith at the town's Elite Hall, to create a dragon sculpture out

  • Partying into the space age

    THE bonfire night party in Darlington has taken on a intergalactic theme this year. The fireworks spectacular at South Park on Saturday; Century 2001 - A Space Oddity, will include fun and music with the event sponsors Century FM, organised by Darlington

  • Absolutely flabulous

    BIG is beautiful according to a North-East housewife, who has nominated her husband as Britain's sexiest fat bloke. Taxi driver Lee Dent, of Ruby Street, Shildon, County Durham, is the greatest, according to his wife, Marie, who sent his picture to a

  • Gardener digs in

    A drop of rain wouldn't go amiss for Head Gardener prior to the opener at Sedgefield this afternoon. Ideally Richard Lee's Welsh raider would prefer a little more give in the ground for the Bradbury Amateur Handicap Hurdle, although even if the weather

  • 'Man's game going soft' - claims Ince

    MIDDLESBROUGH skipper Paul Ince yesterday accused the FA of wanting players to "walk out with handbags and wearing lipstick''! Ince's outburst followed the failure of his appeal against the red card he received for pushing Sunderland striker Niall Quinn

  • It's all systems Go for airline

    BUDGET airline Go could increase flights from the North-East following the phenomenal success of its new Newcastle to London Stansted service. The independent operator has taken 20,000 bookings in four weeks for the service since stepping in to replace

  • Second chance to shine for Sue

    NORTH-EAST comedienne Sue Sweeney will appear on national television next week. Sue, who presents a Sunday lunch time show on BBC Radio Cleveland, recently starred in ITV's documentary series Soapstars, auditioning for a role in Emmerdale. She was not

  • Comment from The Northern Echo; Peter's piper calls the tune

    SIR Peter Bonfield earns a basic salary of £820,000 a year. In the past five years he has earned in a year what many people cannot dream of earning in an entire working lifetime. Now, at 57, he can look forward to a very happy retirement, thanks also

  • Decision delayed on flats plan

    WORRIES over potential parking problems and lack of on-site parking has put on hold plans to convert two large homes into eight flats in Ripon. North Yorkshire County Council Highways Department wanted the application by Leeds Federated Housing Association

  • No rocket for lawful traders

    TRADERS are being congratulated by trading standards officers after refusing to sell fireworks and cigarettes to youngsters. Two 12-year-old volunteers visited 21 shops during a two-day period in South Bank, Normanby, Eston, Guisborough and Saltburn -

  • Mellanby boost for Quakers

    IN the aftermath of the morale-sapping defeat at Scunthorpe United in the LDV Vans Trophy on Tuesday, Danny Mellanby gave Darlington a much-needed boost when he revealed he won't be out of action for as long as first feared. New boss Tommy Taylor has

  • Tourist spot to tackle traffic

    A POTENTIAL shake-up of the traffic system in Helmsley could see part of its market place pedestrianised and action taken to curb the problem of heavy lorries thundering through its centre. The town council heard this week that a traffic management study

  • Whisk away from glory

    LYN Pearson may have finished second in the School Cook of the Year competition, but she is still number one in the eyes of the many youngsters she feeds every school day. The mother-of-three, from Wolsingham, in Weardale, was beaten by one point yesterday

  • Not quite what the doctor ordered

    ALREADY on a pedestal after her masterwork on netties, Wensleydale author Dulcie Lewis has turned her investigative attention to old cures - alternative medicine, it might almost be said, except that not too long ago there might not have been much alternative

  • Anguish is over as deal saves jobs

    THE jobs of hundreds of North-East engineering workers have been saved. Anglo-Norwegian group Kvaerner, which employs 1,500 people on Teesside, confirmed yesterday that a deal to save it from bankruptcy had been agreed at the last minute. Crisis talks

  • AA patrol honoured for rescue

    A THREE-MAN AA patrol has won an award for helping to save the lives of elderly residents trapped in a snow-bound nursing home. The team was awarded the citation after it battled through blizzard conditions to restore power to the home where residents

  • Blackmail charge denied

    A MAN alleged to be at the centre of a plot involving a priceless Nazi chalice and a boxer dog has appeared in court to deny blackmail. Derick Smith, 50, is said to have held the dog to ransom, demanding the owner hand over the vase, believed to have

  • Antarctic voyage for N-E soldiers

    TWO North-East soldiers are setting out on a trip of a lifetime to Antarctica. Sergeant Stephen Ayers, from the 15 Signal Regiment, and Captain Harry Scrope, of the Coldstream Guards, are joining a team for an expedition over Christmas and New Year. The

  • Policing reforms will see civilian jailers

    The traditional police identity parade will be replaced by a video line-up as part of a forthcoming package of police reforms, Home Secretary David Blunkett confirmed today. In a move to slash the amount of time officers spend on red tape, there will

  • Community shop opens longer

    A SHOP which gives Sunderland residents better access to information about services and courses in the area has extended its opening hours. The Villette Road shop is an extension of the Community Link service and is open to people living in the East End

  • Charity on the move

    A CHARITY which helps autistic people and their families is moving. Autism Northumberland and Tyneside is moving from Nile Street, North Shields, to the Linskill Centre, in the town from November 12. The group's next meeting is on Wednesday, November

  • Patients welcome MS drug trials

    MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferers in the region yesterday welcomed Government plans to introduce trials of the drug beta interferon. The drug has been widely lauded for slowing down the debilitating effects of MS in some sufferers, but the treatment has been

  • Worker found woman in bush

    POLICE are trying to piece together how a woman regained consciousness in a bush, miles from her home. A shift worker gave the woman a lift home to Acklam, Middlesbrough. All the woman can remember is becoming separated from a friend on a night out. The

  • Pact ends two-year stalemate over superstore scheme

    A WRANGLE over a small strip of land which stalled a scheme to build a £15m superstore, finally ended yesterday. The "amicable conclusion" between Safeway and Teesdale District Council ends a two-year stalemate over the vital piece of land, measuring

  • Forum launches blueprint for city

    TRADERS and business leaders have mapped out plans for a prosperous future for a city centre. Durham City Forum has launched the blueprint for what it hopes will lead to successful trading over the next three years. Spearheading the drive to draw people

  • Villagers angry as drainage works cause road closure

    A HOLE in the road is proving a thorn in the side for a North Yorkshire village, and some residents are demanding answers from County Hall. East Cowton residents had reluctantly accepted that work on the drains was necessary if the risk of more flooding

  • TV a turn-off says library users survey

    A SURVEY of library users has revealed that they would rather read a good book than watch television. The Darlington library survey interviewed 500 regular readers about what kind of books they like. A total of 87 per cent said they read more now than

  • A box of surprises for young animal carers

    A FAMILY has increased its menagerie of pets by seven, after some unexpected guests dropped in. Rebecca Lowther, ten, her brother Thomas, eight, and their friend Michael Ditchburn, ten, went to feed their rabbit, called Muppet, and guinea pig, Dimples

  • Hear all sides

    WAR ON TERRORISM ANN Hodgson (HAS, Oct 25) describes Peter Mullen's article as "vile, poisonous rhetoric". Does she not realise that bin Laden's attacks on America were deliberately designed to force the West into war, a war he has been planning for years

  • Arsonist receives three-year sentence

    A SERIAL arsonist, nicknamed Firelighter, was yesterday locked up for three years for burning down a telephone exchange and causing almost half a million pounds worth of damage. Not only that, York Crown Court heard, Martin Pattison, 20, torched the uninsured

  • On course to bag success

    A SPORTS equipment manufacturer is hoping to strike a hole in one by breaking into the lucrative European market. The Sporting Stand Company, on the Forest Road Industrial Estate in South Shields, designs and manufactures a range of sports goods. Since

  • Health chiefs to increase hospital capacity

    NEW statistics have underlined the challenge faced by a new hospital built with too few beds. Bosses at the £97m University Hospital of North Durham have revealed that day-time bed occupancy rates are running at more than 100 per cent. When the Durham

  • One man and his dog hailed rail heroes

    A MAN and his dog have been hailed as heroes after they averted a possible major rail tragedy. Geoffrey Gregg, 54, was out for a walk, when his dog, Patch, sniffed out a huge hole underneath the tracks on the East Coast Mainline, between Ferryhill Station

  • Great fun - and it's free

    THE skies will be lit up on Saturday night as east Cleveland's biggest fireworks event gets under starters orders at Redcar Racecourse. More than 4,000 people are expected to flock to the racecourse for a massive fun and fireworks event organised by The

  • University for older students

    MATURE students are the key to the establishment of a university campus. The University of the Third Age (U3A) is planning to establish a seat of learning in the Easington district and needs over 50-year-olds to get the venture under way. Age Concern,

  • Despair driving North children to run away

    Thousands of the region's children are running away from home each year, new figures reveal. Poor family relationships are the main cause of youngsters under the age of 16 leaving home, either running away or being forced to leave, says a report by The

  • Rifle find to undergo laboratory crime test

    POLICE are praising a conscientious man who handed over a sawn-off rifle unearthed by his dog. The man was exercising his labrador in Kirkleatham Woods, near the Kirkleatham showground in Redcar, on Friday, when the dog found the gun buried in undergrowth

  • Caravan site plan to boost tourism

    Businesses in a community affected by the foot-and-mouth epidemic could be given a big financial boost after plans for a 40-pitch caravan park were approved. The owners of Cragwood Caravan Park have promised to bring vital extra revenue into Ramshaw and

  • Pool proposal gets go-ahead

    A SWIMMING pool, gym and other accommodation can be built at Cowesby Hall, Cowesby, the North York Moors national park planning authority has agreed. Hambleton District Council claimed the scale and proportions of the proposal would appear incongruous

  • Partying into the space age

    THE bonfire night party in Darlington has taken on a intergalactic theme this year. The fireworks spectacular at South Park on Saturday; Century 2001 - A Space Oddity, will include fun and music with the event sponsors Century FM, organised by Darlington

  • Dragon's sparkling debut

    THE traditional burning of Guy Fawkes has been swapped for the slaying of a dragon as a town celebrates bonfire night this week. Youngsters from Crook have been working with artist Malcolm Smith at the town's Elite Hall, to create a dragon sculpture out

  • One gift-horse museum didn't look in the mouth

    AN exhibition of "hidden treasures" at a North-East museum impressed two visitors so much that they decided to donate some exhibits of their own. The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, has been running Hidden Treasures since the summer, attracting

  • Book event is new chapter for hall

    A BOOK fair planned for the weekend is already proving to be a novel experience. Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough, has been inundated with thousands of books for the first book fair it has held. Ian Brockbank, event organiser, said: "At the last count we had

  • On the right road to improving homes

    RESIDENTS determined to improve the area where they live have been drawing inspiration from award-winning improvements in Newcastle's East End. Sharon and Martin Gollan, of the Victoria Residents Association in Chester-le-Street, were given a tour of

  • Musical drama takes farm tale to the theatre

    YOUNGSTERS will be able to meet a farmer, a dragon and a group of worms at the theatre this autumn. Tyneside-based Monster Productions will perform Trouble Under Foot, a musical play for children under six and their families, at three venues across the

  • Officials reject population shift

    LOCAL governement officials have rejected figures that suggest the North is one of the worst-hit areas in Britain for people moving away. A survey of 15 member countries by the European Union suggested five British regions were among the worst hit by

  • Workers strike over pay dispute

    MORE than 300 shopfloor workers walked out of Thorn Lighting's Spennymoor plant yesterday in protest at a two per cent pay deal. Members of the AEEU engineering and electricians' union had been balloted on the offer, which would be backdated to July.

  • Man admits he caused friend's death

    A man has appeared in court and admitted causing the death of his friend. Michael Burlinson, 28, yesterday pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 30-year-old Keith Warrener, who was found with head injuries, at a house in Brandling Street, Roker, Sunderland

  • Offender who punched civil servant jailed

    HABITUAL offender Christopher Earle, whose latest offences included punching a civil servant who refused him money, was jailed yesterday. Earle, 26, Nidd Vale Terrace, Harrogate, who admitted five theft offences, assault on a Department of Social Security

  • Anger as horses die in A1 crash

    A RIDING centre boss has renewed his call for highways officials to secure a public footpath after two runaway horses were killed on the A1. The accident, near the Angel of the North at Gateshead, caused traffic chaos after the southbound carriageway

  • Husband stabbed bride, court told

    A MAN stabbed his 19-year-old bride to death while she slept - only four days after they wed, a court heard yesterday. Stephen Butters knifed Claire Cummings six times in the chest as she lay in the marital bed then tried to kill himself, a jury at Teesside

  • Goalkeeper's jersey in hands of new owner

    A GOALKEEPER'S jersey worn by Busby Babe and North-East star Ray Wood in an FA Cup final fetched more than £6,000 at auction yesterday. The former Darlington keeper was wearing the jersey as Manchester United failed in their bid to win the first English

  • All that will be missing is the Tally Ho

    ONE of the region's most famous hunts will take place this weekend - but without the usual thrill of the chase. The Zetland huntsmen and women will meet in Aldbrough St John, North Yorkshire, for the first hunt of the year on Saturday but the foot-and-mouth

  • Henderson hat-trick

    KEVIN Henderson staked his claim for a first-team recall yesterday with a hat-trick in Hartlepool reserves' 5-0 win at Chesterfield. Henderson netted three and Anth Lormor and trialist Paul Smith were also on target as Colin West's side made it five wins

  • Call of the pipes lures high flier to a new life

    FED up with the pressures of life as a commercial high flier, Derek Millmoor has turned instead to the less lucrative pursuit of a lone piper. And although the move has cost him a top salary, Derek, of Station Town, County Durham, could not be happier

  • Why we must not forget

    THE war against terrorism is turning into a propaganda battle, and Tony Blair and George Bush are losing the latter while making a valiant fist of the former. An opinion poll published on Tuesday showed British support for the bombing had dropped from

  • Smallholders' voice grows

    A GROUP set up to help struggling smallholders in North Yorkshire has become a major voice for an army of enterprises in five other counties. Set up by Roger and Pat Walker at their home in Pickhill near Thirsk, the North Yorkshire Smallholders Society

  • Only some like it hotter

    CHILDREN paddling in the sea, families sitting on the beach, couples strolling barefoot in the sand, queues at the ice cream kiosks - all part of a typical summer's day at the seaside. Except this was the end of October. Instead of the season of mists

  • Calendar casts eye over times past and present

    THE changes wrought by time on the landscape of God's own county are illustrated in a new calendar produced by North Yorkshire County Council. Pictures from the past have been drawn from the portfolio of photographer Bertram Unne, who worked for the local

  • Attack outside post office

    A MAN is recovering following an early morning attack outside a post office. The 42-year-old was leaving a post office, in Cleveland Street, Redcar, east Cleveland, at 9am yesterday, when he was pushed into an alleyway by two men. He was jostled to the

  • Young artists rewarded for poster efforts

    The annual bonfire poster competition organised by Great Aycliffe Town Council was judged on October 24. The winners will receive gift vouchers from the town's mayor at the Oakleaf Sports Complex on Monday, prior to the fireworks display. Winners were

  • Matalan sees another surge in its profits

    DISCOUNT retailer Matalan has reported another profits surge, but added that sales growth had slowed in recent weeks. Pre-tax profits in the 26 weeks to August 25 rose 41 per cent to £49.4m following like-for-like sales growth of 10.1 per cent. However

  • Anguish is over as deal saves

    THE jobs of hundreds of North-East engineering workers have been saved. Anglo-Norwegian group Kvaerner, which employs 1,500 people on Teesside, confirmed yesterday that a deal to save it from bankruptcy had been agreed at the last minute. Crisis talks

  • 1,500 jobs axed at travel company

    TRAVEL company Thomas Cook is to axe 1,500 jobs in the UK and is asking staff to take a pay cut of up to ten per cent in a bid to cut costs in the aftermath of the US terrorist attacks. Half the job cuts will be compulsory as the German-owned group moves

  • More than a hit-and-run role in TV top soap

    Darlington writer Ian Fenton has won an off-screen role in ITV soap Emmerdale in a search conducted rather more privately than the talent hunt to find unknowns to play a new family in the Yorkshire-set series. While auditions for the new performers were

  • Netball star kaye is young sportswinner

    A NETBALL player has been named the Darlington Young Sportswinner for October. Kaye Waterfall-Brown, who attends Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, scooped the Orange-sponsored award for her efforts with Holliways Netball Club, at Hummersknott Comprehensive

  • Miners close to receiving compensation

    The Government has claimed an "important breakthrough" in settling compensation payments to sick former miners allowing thousands of final offers now to be made. It was also admitted compensation claims could reach £5-6 billion nationally, but coupled

  • Girl raped on night out

    AN 18-year-old girl was raped in a car at the weekend after a night out in Newcastle. A police spokesman said the girl left the Icon Club, in the city's Market Street, at 10.40pm on Saturday. She ran along a slip road to the entrance of the central motorway

  • Murder trial jury told of suicide attempt

    A MAN accused of murdering his partner and then stabbing himself had a 20cm cut to his neck, a court heard yesterday. Simon Keogh, who is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering teacher Lesley Grant, was found with such a deep cut

  • Enjoy a great night in safety

    POLICE and fire services in Durham are once again joining forces to stage a bonfire and fireworks spectacular. Both services have advised the public against organising private events and instead urge people to go to the joint display, in the grounds of

  • Health chiefs hit back over MP's claim

    HEALTH chiefs have hit back after an MP launched an attack over the proposed relocation of some orthopaedic services at Stockton's hospital. Stockton North MP Frank Cook claimed that some of North Tees's orthopaedic services could be closed by the new

  • Neil's rollercoaster ride continues

    IF ever a footballer had a rollercoaster story of elation and despair to tell, it is Darlington's former youth team striker Neil Tarrant. From being dropped by his home town club as a youngster and wandering the soccer wilderness, to breaking Ross County's

  • Police look at sites for station

    discussions are taking place about plans for a new police station for Derwentside costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Police Authority has given permission for Durham Police to approach Durham County Council to start looking for sites in the

  • £211,000 boost will make streets even safer

    THE Safer Stockton Partnership has made another successful bid for money which will fund more community wardens to patrol the town's streets. The first team of wardens began work primarily the Mandale and Victoria Estates in Thornaby, and the Hardwick

  • Jobs boost as £6m aircraft deal is landed

    SLINGSBY Aviation has been awarded a £6m contract to supply training aircraft to the Royal Jordanian Air Force. The contract comes at a time when aircraft orders are suffering in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US. It will lead to

  • Partners provide learning centre

    PEOPLE living in deprived areas of east Cleveland have been handed a key to education thanks to a new centre in Loftus. The £900,000 Centre of Opportunity and Partnership, in the former Co-op building in the High Street, was officially opened yesterday

  • Funding given for cost of policing protests

    North Yorkshire Police will receive an extra £1m to cover the cost of policing protests at two military bases, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced today. The money will be given to force following protests at RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales.

  • Climbing high with pioneering cash bonus

    A LOCAL charity scaled new heights yesterday to celebrate a £30,000 grant. The Pioneering Care Partnership received the money from Lloyds TSB Foundation to support the Options Disability Initiative in Newton Aycliffe for three years. Members celebrated

  • Disco success leads to more events

    A DISCO to keep bored youngsters off the streets has proved such a hit that organisers have had to increase the number of nights it takes place. Young people in the Whitehills area of Chester-le-Street have been deprived of things to do for a long time

  • School-run parents told to buckle up

    PARENTS are being warned they will face prosecution if their youngsters are not wearing seat belts during the drive to school. To coincide with a national seat-belt campaign, police in the Richmond area plan to crack down on those mums and dads who do

  • British Telecom chief to leave with £1.5m pay-off

    BRITISH Telecom chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield is to stand down at the end of January. He will receive almost £1.5m in salary, bonus and benefits, and will also receive share awards worth £290,000 over three years. Sir Peter, who joined BT at the

  • Glass week celebrations

    THE National Glass Centre in Sunderland is celebrating National Glass Week from November 3 to 10. The centre will hold a series of events, including a talk about collecting glass by Dan Klein, of Phillips auctioneers, on Saturday. There will be University

  • Shoppers tell of distressed girl

    POLICE are keeping an open mind about reports of a child being led away screaming by a woman who was not her mother. Shoppers have told police how they witnessed a white girl in a distressed state trying to break away from the hold of a woman of Asian

  • Soldier Jenny swaps salon for the Army

    A TEENAGER from Thornaby began work as a trainee hairdresser but later switched to a career in the Army. Signaller Jenny Ingram, 18, is now back on Teesside to talk to young people about the training, travel and sporting opportunities they too could access

  • Air force club closes as numbers fall

    Membership at the Royal Air Force Association's Darlington branch stood at a proud 800 some 20 years ago. But as its numbers grew older and many died, that has now halved. Attendance at the club the branch owns in Duke Street has dwindled disastrously