BOBBY ROBSON has written off Newcastle's chances of qualifying for the Champions' League. In a stark assessment of his side's prospects, manager Robson reckons the Magpies will finish outside the Premiership's top four and that they face a scramble for
A FUNERAL service will be held on Friday for a woman killed in a road accident which precipitated the birth of her grandson. Widow Kay Gillespie, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, who was 64, was visiting her daughter, Lesley Droy, at her home in Scotland
THE first stone of a £6.5m college in Consett was laid yesterday. The Lord Lieutenant of Durham, Sir Paul Nicholson, got his hands dirty to lay the first stone of a five-acre Derwentside College campus complex. The development on the site of the town's
Cherie Blair holds her hands to her eyes yesterday as she chats to Afghan women about the all-covering burkha dress. The Prime Minister's wife was hosting a gathering of women refugees at Downing Street. Mrs Blair called on the world community to help
TOMMY Widdrington insists the Third Division holds no fears for Hartlepool United. Pool entertain Halifax at Victoria Park tonight looking for their third League win in a row after victories over Hull and Exeter lifted Chris Turner's side off the foot
A CAR thief who ran over and killed a woman police constable on duty was jailed for eight years yesterday. Thomas Whaley, 19, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, denied murdering 29-year-old PC Alison Armitage - originally from North Yorkshire - but admitted
THE North-East could plunge into recession next year, according to a report published today. The report, from the economic analyst Business Strategies, predicts job losses are on the way in the region, with factory output expected to fall. But the North-East
AUTOMOTIVE parts manufacturer NSK is set to create more than 50 jobs thanks to an £11.1m expansion plan. The company plans to introduce two new production lines at its facility on the South West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, east Durham, to supply bearings
RESIDENTS of north Durham have been urged to put their names to a public declaration against domestic violence. A large white board bearing the message Say No To Violence Against Women has gone on display at the Civic Centre, Chester-le-Street. Campaigners
A Kosovan refugee was in a critical condition last night following a brawl with a group of white men. The 30-year-old man, who was with another Kosovan in his 20s, suffered serious head injuries in the fracas in Middlesbrough town centre. It began inside
THE importance of child safety in cars was graphically illustrated yesterday by a play which recreated a road crash. The Risky Things Theatre Group was at Norton Community Primary School, near Malton, North Yorkshire, to drive home the safety message
AN INFANT school is celebrating after receiving a glowing report. Harrowgate Hill Infant School was described by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education as a good school, well managed, where teachers are committed and pupils can develop
POLICE say they will continue to take a hard line with passengers who make false bomb threats following an incident yesterday at an airport. Paul Bright, 37, of Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was arrested after allegedly telling check-in
A MAN systematically raped a young girl over a period of four years, a court heard. Stephen Simpson, 38, raped the girl on "many, many occasions" over that period of time, it was alleged at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard that during some of the
A special needs teacher who physically and verbally abused autistic children left in his care could be facing jail. Malcolm Phillips, 51, was yesterday found guilty of nine charges of child cruelty relating to four youngsters aged between ten and 15.
LET'S just consider what we're up against. Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorist network have been the "guests" of the Afghanistan Taliban for several years. The Taliban were good friends to Osama and they refused repeatedly to hand him over to the
THE headline figure, as the financial marketeers would say, is £27 for Sunday lunch. That's not £27 for two or multiples thereof, not £27 inclusive of as much red wine as might reasonably be assimilated, of the services of Polly the pole dancer or of
Darlington boss Tommy Taylor today completed the loan signing of Newcastle defender Gary Caldwell. The 19-year-old, who has represented Scotland at under-21 level, has been drafted in for a month after Adam Reed was ruled out for the next 4-5 weeks with
AUTHORITIES in the region will get more than £1m to improve housing support services for vulnerable people. The Government announced the boost as part of the Supporting People initiative, aimed at providing high-quality, cost-effective housing-related
DESPITE niggling injury problems, Martell Grand National winner Red Marauder remains on course for a possible defence of his crown at Aintree next April. "Red Marauder's health is our first priority, but we're nursing him along slowly and if all is well
THE North-East branch of the Prince's Trust has promoted one of its longest-serving employees for the fourth time. Tracy Richardson, 33, who lives in Jarrow, started her career with the youth development trust 11 years ago in a secretarial role and has
VERTIGO suffer and Northern Echo reporter Richard Barker faced his greatest fear at the weekend to raise money for The Giving Tree Appeal. He managed to overcome his nerves long enough to abseil 90ft from the roof of Darlington Memorial Hospital on Sunday
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Ward clerk, Middleton St George, 20hrs pw, must be computer-literate with experience of office procedures. Ref: DAE 28078. Head waiter/ess, Crook, 25hrs
TWO South Durham community projects have helped celebrate a £1m milestone. Cockfield Youth Group and Working With Waders, in Rookhope, Weardale, both received grants from a small projects fund which helps small-scale and voluntary regeneration projects
THE Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Business Link (Tyne and Wear) have turned to a former apprentice at the National Glass Centre to design and produce prizes for an upcoming Investors in People awards night. Colin Brown, 20, from Sunderland, was
YOUNG people are being recruited to form a touring choir. Professional musician Ed Milner is to hold a series of singing workshops on Teesside to teach 11 to 18-year-olds a variety of vocal techniques and different musical styles, including jazz, gospel
A WOMAN has presented a cheque to hospice staff after completing a six-peak climbing challenge. For the past two years, Anne Harland, 62, of Newton Aycliffe, has been a staunch supporter of the Butterwick Children's Hospice, in Stockton, raising almost
A NIGHTCLUB joined forces with a fire brigade last night to highlight safety issues. The crew and appliance of Cleveland Fire Brigade's Red Watch mingled with revellers at Club Millennium, at Teesside Park, for the promotion, organised as part of Teesside
A PARTNERSHIP project has helped 1,100 Middlesbrough people return to work since May last year. Working Links is the public-private sector company that runs nine of Britain's 15 employment zones. Middlesbrough zone director Brian Bell said: "Working Links
A WOMAN has presented a cheque to hospice staff after completing a six-peak climbing challenge at the age of 62. For the past two years, Anne Harland, from Newton Aycliffe, has been a staunch supporter of the Butterwick Children's Hospice, in Stockton
POLICE have raised concerns following a spate of burglaries by thieves posing as good neighbours. In recent weeks, Cleveland Police have dealt with about five such burglaries in the Marton and Acklam areas of Middlesbrough. Those responsible have knocked
BUSINESSES and local authorities have joined together to promote art and creative talent in the region. They have put together an exhibition to show the importance of art in economic development, regeneration, and social inclusion. Art and Design Means
CUSTOMS officers issued a warning last night after black market cigarettes - that may be contaminated - were recovered in the North-East. It is feared children may have taken some of the oil-soaked cigarettes before HM Customs and Excise reached the scene
THE relatives of the North-East's only known victim of the September 11 terror attacks may be eligible for up to £27,000 compensation. Last night, the family's police liaison officer, Paul Rogerson, said victim Gavin McMahon's family was too traumatised
A FOAM factory was destroyed in an hour yesterday when fire ripped through the building. Crusader Foam, which makes cushions for upholstery specialists, caught fire at the Durham Lane Industrial Estate, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, at 1pm. An employee
NORTH-EAST airport chiefs are hoping to secure another major carrier after signing a deal with British Midland, it emerged last night. Negotiations with Dutch carrier KLM have been going on for several weeks. The airline already operates a regular service
A TEENAGER has fulfilled her lifetime ambition by joining the Army. Since she was old enough to walk and talk, Darlington-born Michelle Nicholson knew she wanted to do the same job as her father. After 21 weeks of intensive training, Michelle, 21, achieved
A SERIES of concerts is taking place to help promote businesses in the Richmond area. Richmondshire Subscription Concerts, which will be held monthly until March next year, is using grants from the district council to help raise the profile of many of
POLICE have asked travellers not to take the law into their own hands following the acquittal of two men accused of attempted murder after a Romany wedding. York Crown Court heard during a week-long trial that a long-standing feud among gipsies sparked
AN MP has spoken of his determination to pursue allegations of cronyism within the region's health service. As Angela Ballatti, the new chairman of North Durham Health Care NHS Trust started her job yesterday, Durham North MP Kevan Jones warned that he
HUNDREDS of seagulls were found dead and covered in oil off the North-East coast yesterday. The Environment Agency, the RSPCA and the Coastguard have been swamped with calls about dead birds along the shore. And fishermen have reported seeing hundreds
GEORDIE singer Sting is reported to be adding to his string of homes by showing an interest in a £1m penthouse overlooking the River Tyne. And one of his neighbours would be fellow North-East rocker Jimmy Nail. The flat, a redeveloped printworks in his
HEALTH bosses have defended the record of the North-East's NHS heart units. More than 2,000 heart bypass operations are carried out every year at Middlesbrough and Newcastle hospitals. But according to a guide published by The Times, the North-East centres
CHARTERED quantity surveyors, RNJ Partnership, has secured contracts in West Yorkshire worth more than £2.5m, thanks to a new partnering philosophy. The aim of partnering is to bring together all of the various groups involved within the construction
A YOUNGSTER is celebrating after winning her school's Design a Christmas Card competition for the second year in a row. Charlotte Simpson, 12, beat off competition from more than 500 pupils at St Michael's School, in Billingham, to win the prize. It is
THE line-up for the national radio current affairs debate Any Questions? broadcast live this week from the North-East, has been confirmed. Durham Union Society's debating chamber on Palace Green, between the city's cathedral and castle, stages the BBC
A TEENAGER has been maimed for life after she lost the sight in an eye in an airgun attack. Nicola Distin, 15, was left screaming in agony when a pellet went through her eyelid and lodged itself in her skull. The schoolgirl was out with friends on Friday
BUILDING group John Laing is to follow the sale of its troubled construction arm by offloading another division. Talks are under way to sell Laing Property as part of an ongoing campaign to generate up to £120m from a series of asset sales. Laing wants
A NEW business association is helping to shape the future of occupiers at Teesdale Business Park in Stockton. The Teesdale Business Association is the result of an initiative led by lead developer on the park, Terrace Hill. Philip Leech, its director
THE North-East winner of this year's Prince's Trust Business Awards will be announced today. Dr Bob Dobbie, regional director of the Government Office for the North-East, will present the region's winner with a cheque for £500 and a place in the national
A MURDER investigation was under way last night after the gruesome discovery of a woman's body inside a bloodstained suitcase. The large case was found by a passer-by dumped in a hedge beside a country lane not far from the busy A64 in North Yorkshire
PLANS for a £55m leisure scheme which will transform derelict land and create 2,500 jobs were unveiled yesterday. The scheme will rejuvenate the former National Garden Festival Site in Gateshead and feature a railway heritage and education centre linked
GOALKEEPER Mark Schwarzer yesterday shook Middlesbrough by admitting that his ambition is to leave the club and join one of Europe's elite sides. Ahead of Australia's World Cup play-off first leg clash with Uruguay in Melbourne, Schwarzer told the Sydney
The attacker of a schoolgirl who tried to kill herself after the assault was yesterday jailed for two years. The 14-year-old victim was admitted to Hartlepool General Hospital when she took an overdose. The youngster, from east Durham, recovered and named
IT is disturbing that the United States's efforts in Afghanistan appear to be concentrated exclusively on hunting down Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida cohorts. While bin Laden should be brought to justice, this objective must not be the sole purpose
SHOULD anyone ask if a church is big enough to seat a symphony orchestra, the answer must be yes it Can Can. The musical sequence from Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld is to be performed, minus dancers, in the parish church of St John the Evangelist
A HEROIN user died after taking a cocktail of drugs and alcohol just four days after he had been released from prison, an inquest heard. Geoffrey Snaith, 24, of Fulbeck Road, Netherfields, in Middlesbrough, fell into a coma after injecting himself with
REPUBLIC of Ireland international Jason McAteer believes his former Blackburn boss, Graeme Souness, did him a huge favour allowing him to move to Sunderland in a £1m deal. At the time McAteer wasn't too pleased to be shown the door at Ewood Park, but
ART students are using an exhibition to highlight the area as a having huge business potential. As part of a drive to dispel Tees Valley's downtrodden image, Cleveland College of Art and Design is staging Art and Design Means Business, at Middlesbrough's
TWO children could have contracted the HIV virus after being scratched by needles discarded by drug abusers on a North-East estate, their parents have been warned. The youngsters - who are aged three and five - were tested for HIV and the liver disease
WHEN they were children, Albert and David Smith barely knew each other. Their childhood on the streets of London was brought to a halt during the blitz. During a night-time raid, a bomb from a Luftwaffe aircraft exploded inside their home. When the family
THE ARC IT is sad to see Stockton Arc closing through lack of money. Most businesses which start up probably need more than three years to break even. This place is really a public amenity and should be subsided to a certain extent. - FM Atkinson, Shincliffe
MOST directors got average pay rises of four per cent last year, dispelling stories of "fat cat" salary increases, according to a report published today. A poll of 4,500 company directors found that their pay increased in line with other workers over
SO far, Bill Broad has a pretty good record - 106 successes and just one failure. There are good reasons for the failure, of which more later, and he has reason to be satisfied with his performance. "I'm more experienced, and perhaps I have a bit of a
DETECTIVES hunting the killer of a man who was found lying on a country road began a mass DNA testing programme yesterday. Police have asked for all men over the age of 14 in two neighbouring villages to provide DNA samples as they try to close the net
A woman's body which was discovered in a suitcase dumped in a hedge had been bound and gagged, detectives investigating the murder said today. The suitcase was discovered on Sunday night by a man out walking near the village of Askham Richard, North Yorkshire
A ROCK guitarist and singer has signed a deal with one of the world's leading record companies. County Durham's Pete Shoulder, who has just turned 18, put pen to paper in London on a six-album contract with Sony. He said: "I'm delighted. I just can't
A GROUP of 14 writers from Darlington have produced an anthology of their work. The Bennet House Writers meet once a week at Bennet House, in Darlington's Horsemarket, to discuss their ideas and encourage each other to try to get their work publish. Members
A SUNDERLAND scheme that helps local people get into making music has been given a cash boost by the Northern Rock Foundation. Greenhouse Music, a voluntary project in Pennywell, is getting £45,203 from the foundation over the next three years. The project
DARLINGTON'S town centre library is to be converted to provide access for disabled people. Darlington Borough Council has applied for planning permission to install a lift at the town's main library, in Crown Street, which is a listed building. Access
ANGLERS have been left reeling at news that popular piers will be out of bounds in the New Year. As part of relocation plans Seaham Harbour Dock Company is suspending angling passes to the town's piers from January 1. The dock company said the multi-million
It's been inevitable since signing for Darlington last Friday. Ian Clark was destined to score the winning goal on his debut and so he did as Darlington beat Rochdale at Feethams on Tuesday night. He turned in a man of the match display during which he
A NORTH Yorkshire village is hoping a sizeable investment in road safety packages in the area could bring relative peace and quiet after decades of noise and disturbance caused by heavy traffic. Catterick, in particular, has been plagued by lorries on
AN initiative to encourage people to think green has been launched with the help of Pete, Hambleton Council's plastic recycling mascot. His visit to Northallerton came as the council announced that two plastic recycling banks, one in the town and another
A TRAINEE at Darlington College of Technology has won a bronze medal for carpentry in a national competition for the construction industry. Lee Fawcett, 20, from Middleham, in North Yorkshire, battled against young trainees from across the UK in the finals
SUITS were swapped for panto outfits yesterday as managers got in the spirit for Christmas fun. Sunderland's city centre manager Peter Gouldsbro, Phillip Steele, manager of The Bridges shopping centre, and Carol Squance, manager of the city's Marks and
HEADED "Pleasures of the Non-League game", an instructive letter from Evenwood Town chairman Craig Latcham appeared in the Non League paper on Sunday. For "pleasures" read "perils", an' all. Craig - owner of discount stores in Billingham and Bishop Auckland
GORDON Watson is lightning up Victoria Park with his personal goal of the season competition. His goal in Tuesday night's 3-0 win over Halifax was his eighth of the season, his fifth in four games and his third spectacular effort in as many home games
Darlington go into tonight's tough encounter against second-placed Rochdale with two new signings in the ranks and another in the pipeline. Having bought Ian Clark for £10,000 from Hartlepool last week, Tommy Taylor yesterday secured striker Dan Chillingworth
THE traditional Christmas Eve tour of Newton Aycliffe by Father Christmas could be in doubt this year, unless extra transport can be found. For more than 30 Christmases, Santa has visited every street in the town, handing out sweets to children. The tour
A CONSORTIUM of traders has been established to launch a venture aiming to transform the North York Moors into a national conference centre. The Purple Patch initiative was drawn up by hoteliers and bosses at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in the wake
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Packers, Thirsk. £4.25ph, 37hrs pw, temporary until Christmas, poss New Year. Must be 18-plus. Experience preferred but not essential as training available
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. HGV Class 1 driver, Hartlepool/nationwide. £5.25ph, 40hrs pw. Must be qualified HGV Class 1 driver. Experience in carrying steel plates preferred but
Cook, Medomsley. 40hrs pw, split shifts. Required for public house. Experience and food handling and hygiene certificate essential. Ref: CON 14274. Process operative, Consett. £172.17pw plus bonus, 40hrs, three-shift system. Required for glass tempering
TALENTED students from colleges across the region are to go head-to-head in a national competition. Pupils from North-East colleges are taking part in the Target 2 Point 5 challenge at the Centre for Life, in Newcastle. The competition is being staged
A TEENAGER has fulfilled her lifetime ambition by joining the Army. Since she was old enough to walk and talk, Darlington-born Michelle Nicholson knew she wanted to do the same job as her father. After 21 weeks of intensive training, Michelle, 21, achieved
A WOMAN has appeared before magistrates charged with stabbing a teenager during an incident at her house at the weekend. Michael Parkin, 19, was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen with a kitchen knife at Honister Square, Crook, on Saturday night. He was
A PERSISTENT thief has been spared a jail sentence to give him a chance to overcome his heroin addiction. David Tobin, 28, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates yesterday, and admitted stealing three jars of coffee from
A MUSEUM is appealing for help to create an archive of wartime memories which could be preserved for future generations. Staff at the Beck Isle Museum of Rural Life, in Pickering, North Yorkshire, are gathering First World War material related to the
AUDITORS say Durham City Council's £1m-plus computer service is poor and will not improve. The Audit Commission's best value inspection team says that users of the Labour-run council's information technology (IT) service are not satisfied with it, despite
THE top brass of the country's best loved bands gave a silver jubilee performance in a North-East leisure centre at the weekend. The Brass in Concert Championships - described by organisers as the North's own Last Night of the Proms - was won by Grimethorpe
SKATERS took their first faltering steps on an outdoor ice rink at its opening yesterday. Middlesbrough officials decided to reintroduce the attraction as part of this year's seasonal festivities, following the success of last year's rink. Based on the
SHOULD anyone ask if a church is big enough to seat a symphony orchestra, the answer must be yes it Can Can. The musical sequence from Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld is to be performed, minus dancers, in the parish church of St John the Evangelist
WORK on the first phase of a play area in Ferryhill Station is nearing completion. Contractors are putting the finishing touches to landscaping work at the Surtees play area. The first phase of the project has cost about £30,000, with most of the money
The Strategic Rail Authority is to make a statement on Arriva shortly after receiving a "significant" response on plans to fine the troubled operator. More than 100 replies were gathered by the authority in response to an enforcement order imposed last
A WASTE company has pledged it will consider other sites before pressing ahead with the development of a rubbish skips depot. The announcement follows protests from people in Wolsingham, Weardale, that Durham County Waste Management was planning to site
A PERSISTENT thief has been spared a jail sentence to give him a chance to overcome his heroin addiction. David Tobin, 28, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates yesterday, and admitted stealing three jars of coffee from
A GUNMAN who brought terror to a pub beer garden was jailed for three years yesterday. Mark Harvey, 29, who had previously argued with his girlfriend, threatened people with the pistol after an off-duty police officer refused to give him a cigarette.
A SENIOR police officer has issued a safety warning to parents who buy their youngsters motorbikes for Christmas. Chief Superintendent John Kelly, of Langbaurgh police, wants all bikes to carry permanent security markings and for bikes to be kept in secure
AN AIRCRAFT enthusiast, who was arrested by Greek authorities over spying allegations, has sent friends a message pleading for help. Andrew Jenkins was one of 12 Britons to be arrested at an air base in the town of Kalamata after spending a day looking
AN MP is to challenge the Government in the Commons tomorrow over the case of the child murderer, Dominic McKilligan. The convicted sex offender murdered 11-year-old Wesley Neailey in June 1999, after being discharged from a North-East young offenders
FUNDRAISERS have launched a scheme to raise £1m and turn a city's former workhouse into a user-friendly community house. Heading the project is Ripon Council for Voluntary Service (RCVS) which says the city urgently needs a community house, providing
A TEENAGER who claimed he has had a drink problem since he was ten was referred for treatment by a judge yesterday. Ian Colquhoun, 19, will be helped by the North-East Council of Addictions to assess his level of abuse, provide medical services, counselling
A GOURMET food company based in the region has attracted attention from some of the nation's leading food connoisseurs. Yorkshire Game was one of 100 producers recently invited to take part in the Henrietta Green's Food Lover's Fair in London. The company
FREDA McGrath and Barbara Davison both gave up their babies for adoption more than 30 years ago but, despite being friends for 20 years, neither knew about the other's experiences. They laugh about it now but it illustrates a serious point - in many cases
A GROUP of swimmers is encouraging people to join its class in a bid to keep an east Cleveland pool open. Guisborough Swimming Pool is at the centre of a campaign to have it replaced because many people believe the town needs modern facilities. But the
