WAREHOUSEMAN Matthew Dolphin's opportunist theft of a bus driver's cash bag and drunken antics in a hospital casualty department got him a dressing down from a court at Harrogate yesterday. Presiding magistrate Brian Pattyson told Dolphin, of Inman Grove
A Jody Craddock own goal and a second half strike from Marian Pahars handed Southampton the points against Sunderland on Saturday. With Claudio Reyna making his debut, Peter Reid's side were bidding to add to Saints' miserable record at their new St Mary's
STILL trying to find something a bit different among all the crowded High Street shelves? Why not go to a gallery or museum? Not just for the pleasure of it - though it's probably a good idea to give yourself a nice de-stressing half-hour in the middle
A JUDGE has agreed to give health campaigners more time to put their case for a public inquiry into the Richard Neale scandal. Lawyers representing victims of Mr Neale, the former gynaecologist in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, struck off for botching
Reviews: Rally Trophy. Format: PC CD-ROM. Publisher: JoWooD Productions. Price: £29.99. IT'S NEARLY Christmas and the shelves of electrical stores are positively groaning with driving sims. Unfortunately, for every Gran Turismo, there are dozens of Carmageddons
AN innovative new packaging material could lead to the creation of dozens of jobs in County Durham. Packaging group Ivex is planning to create about 45 jobs at a new manufacturing facility at South Church Enterprise Park, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham
UNITED States skipper Claudio Reyna could find himself sitting on the substitutes' bench at Southampton this afternoon as Sunderland manager Peter Reid keeps faith with a young player who has come through the ranks. Tynesider Paul Thirlwell only kept
Businesses in Hartlepool have been praised for supporting a major clean-up campaign. More than 40 have applied for awards through the Tidy Business Charter, a joint venture between Hartlepool Borough Council's Pride in Hartlepool team and the Tidy Britain
A classroom was left with smoke damage after a fire broke out at a school in Middlesbrough this morning. Fire fighters were called out to the blaze, in an art room at Acklam Grange School, Lodore Grove, Middlesbrough, at 7.36am. The flames were quickly
A dales community was today celebrating a £50,000 windfall which will help give a major facelift to its town hall. The Newcastle-based Northern Rock Foundation has offered the money for the refurbishment of the hall at St John's Chapel in Weardale. Last
THE police force that serves County Durham is undertaking a major review to determine how it can better serve its communities. Starting in the next few weeks, Durham Constabulary will begin an in-depth look into the force's staffing and structure. It
Dozens of motorists have taken advantage of the chance to ensure they do not dazzle too much this Christmas. Road safety experts from Scarborough Borough Council set up headlight testing equipment at Morrisons and Safeway supermarkets to give drivers
Newcastle staged a second half fightback on Saturday to turn around a 1-0 deficit and move into third spot in the Premiership. A strangely lethargic start form the Magpies may have been caused by Wednesday nights exertions at Chelsea in the Worthington
EXPRESS Dairies plans to close its dairy at Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, on Teesside with the loss of 118 jobs. The closure is a result of on-going rationalistion of supply in the retail sector of the milk market. Only last month, Express announced the loss
YOU know in the queue at the checkout there's always an old lady who traps you with her trolley and tells you that when she was young she could feed a family of ten on fourpence three farthings a week on scrag end and potato peelings? Well, I'm turning
The Land Rover driver who caused the Selby rail disaster was facing jail last night - as The Northern Echo discovered that virtually nothing has been done to prevent a repeat tragedy. Builder Gary Hart, who fell asleep at the wheel before plunging down
PUPILS from a Durham prep school have brought Christmas cheer to youngsters in hospital. A group of 24 choir boys, from Bow School, in South Road, visited youngsters on the children's ward at the city's University Hospital of North Durham. They performed
THE police force that serves County Durham is undertaking a major review to determine how it can better serve its communities. Starting in the next few weeks, Durham Constabulary will begin an in-depth investigation into the force's staffing and structure
STUDENTS in Darlington donned fancy dress for a crazy obstacle race to raise money for needy families. The teenagers from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College organised the event to raise money for the Darlington Giving Tree Appeal, which aims to provide
CHILDREN at a Teesside refuge may have to go without Christmas presents this year after they were stolen by burglars . The presents had been donated to the Women's Refuge, in Middlesbrough, so that children spending Christmas there and former residents
Motorists have taken advantage of the chance to ensure they do not dazzle too much this Christmas. Road safety experts from Scarborough Borough Council set up headlight testing equipment at Morrisons and Safeway supermarkets to give drivers a free check
A STORE expansion in Darlington will have a massive impact on the town if it is approved, according to a marketing expert. Safeway wants to extend its Victoria Road store, transforming it under its Megastore brand to offer a wider variety of merchandise
THE flags were flying at Durham Castle last night as Mandy Scott was named North-East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Mandy, a single parent, established AA flags in 1992 with a little financial help from her father and Derwentside Industrial Development
HARTLEPOOL United's promotion-chasing players could be given a big end of season boost if chairman Ken Hodcroft has his way. Pool, who tackle Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground this afternoon as they bid to put last week's defeat to Luton behind them
THE deer park at Whitworth Hall Country Park has been reopened in time for Christmas. The park, between Brancepeth and Spennymoor, County Durham, has been closed since March as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease, but people are now free to walk
Leeds United soccer star Jonathan Woodgate was yesterday found guilty of affray but cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent over a brutal street attack on an Asian student. His team-mate Lee Bowyer was cleared of causing GBH with intent and
A STUNNING light display featuring festive music and images will bring a market town alive on Saturday evening. The show will be the highlight of Barnard Castle's Christmas Festival and will be the first event of its kind to be held in the County Durham
A decision on the preferred route for a long-awaited bypass scheme is expected early next year, the Highways Agency has announced. Plans to re-route the notorious A64 away from Rillington will result in a substantial reduction in traffic passing through
The family of missing war veteran Robert English has refused to give up hope of finding him alive, almost three weeks after he disappeared from his home. The former prisoner of war, who spent three years in a German camp after being shot down over France
FED-up civil servants are keen to say bye-bye to a feisty blackbird that is wreaking havoc in their car park. The testosterone-charged creature, which lives in the park around the Southfield House land registry office in Durham, has embarked on a vendetta
WINNING new business is no laughing matter for Internet development company Spacestore Creative. The firm, based at ezone in the Team Valley, Gateshead, is winning lots of new business thanks to the launch of the JokeVote comedy service assessed through
Darlington are today hoping to secure the services of Gary Caldwell for another month. The centre-half has been an impressive acquisition since arriving in a temporary transfer from Newcastle a month ago, but the loan expires after tomorrow's match at
FOOTBALLER Jonathan Wood-gate was last night facing up to a legal bill of £1m after being found guilty of affray during a brutal street attack on an Asian student. The player, from Middlesbrough, was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm along with
HIGHWAY chiefs have called on the Government to issue urgent guidelines to clarify who is responsible for funding much-needed work to protect unsafe bridges over railway lines. The appeal from Durham County Council comes ten months after the Selby crash
PENSIONERS willingly went behind bars for a festive taste of prison life, courtesy of a group of women inmates. Almost 60 senior citizens were invited to Low Newton, a women's prison on the outskirts of Durham, for a Christmas party with a difference.
TWENTY years ago the Waltons said "good night" for the last time. The lights in their house in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia dimmed for good as the sentimental series came to an end. Now the Walton children are being reunited by Tyne Tees Television
MILITANT countryside campaigners caused chaos yesterday as they blockaded every major route between Scotland and England. The Rural Rebels drove tractors, trucks, vans and cars at a snail's pace, leading to huge tailbacks. The action was a protest at
A £50,000 arts sponsorship scheme designed to boost arts participation in the region has been launched. The Arts and Business organisation worked with Newcastle soap company Proctor and Gamble to design a discount card for the company's 2,240 staff and
Darlington tackle on-song Plymouth Argyle this afternoon but Quakers' chief Tommy Taylor isn't worried about facing the leaders, who are in a rich vein of form. Argyle are unbeaten in 11 matches, they haven't tasted defeat at Home Park in the last nine
Darlington can consider themselves extremely unlucky not to have beaten Plymouth who claimed all three points thanks to a late winner. David Friio notched the 82nd minute goal to send Darlo on the long journey home pointless. The Quakers had more than
A ROADSHOW with tips on enjoying a healthy Christmas will be in action next week. The Hambleton District Council campaign will be visiting four towns to hand out advice to shoppers. Cabinet spokesman on environmental health, Councillor Arthur Barker,
POST Office union chiefs were locked in talks with Consignia last night over the future of the work force. Senior members of the Communications Workers' Union, including deputy general secretary John Keggie, met with the Consignia board to discuss possible
OLYMPIC hopeful Angie Winstanley-Smith has collected an honour for her sporting prowess. Angie, 16, from Newton Aycliffe, was named North-East winner in the OCS Group Young Sportsperson of the Year awards. She has had a very successful year, winning the
TRADERS in Darlington have been urged to beware of rogue mailshots. Some received a letter from an agency in Southport asking for £111.63 to register under the Data Protection Act 1998. But trading standards officers say not all businesses are required
HAVE the makers of the Lord of the Rings film no heart? Just a few weeks ago, most of the nation's children were Harry Potter mad, writing begging letters to Santa Claus and pestering their parents to rush out and buy up all the expensive Potter merchandise
A yachtswoman stranded off the coast of Italy managed to summon help by calling a friend in the North-East on her mobile phone. The woman on board the stricken yacht Camomile did not have a radio on board. The only means available to her was her mobile
Letters from The Northern Echo THE BEATLES VERY seldom do I disagree with the viewpoint of Peter Mullen's column. In fact, I take great delight in the days that follow publication, in looking out for the regular critical correspondents of his column.
ORGANISERS of a six-mile run, which attracts competitors from across the North, have changed the route to protect a 500-strong herd of deer from foot-and-mouth disease. The animals roam free in Studley Royal Park at the World Heritage Site, which leads
THE family of missing war veteran Robert English has refused to give up hope of finding him alive, almost three weeks after he disappeared from his home. The former prisoner of war, who spent three years in a German camp after being shot down over France
ROBERT would be the first to admit that turkeys are not the brightest of birds. Nor are they the most graceful. But it's clear he has a soft spot for them, nonetheless. As we walk towards the enclosure which is housing about 200 turkeys, he grins as they
FOUR men have been accused of causing an affray at a flat in Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, on October 20, involving a Samurai sword, a claw hammer and a sheaf knife. Three of the men, Adam Fennings, 26, and Gary Wilson, 35, both of Oakdale Avenue, Harrogate
TRAVEL shop customers have shown festive spirit by donating gifts for underprivileged children. Residents and businesses in Chester-le-Street have given generously to the Santa's Suitcase appeal, run by the town's branch of Travel Care on behalf of Children
THE decline in passengers passing through the UK's major airports is slowing with low-cost airlines continuing to shine, BAA has revealed. The airports operator said 8.1 million passengers passed through its seven UK locations in November, 10.6 per cent
HOPES of a new year rate cut have taken a knock after figures showed shoppers were out in droves on the high street. According to data by the Office for National Statistics, retail sales volumes were 1.3 per cent above the level seen in October - the
A VILLAGE police officer single-handedly seized more than £20,000 worth of drugs and equipment when he uncovered a cottage cannabis-growing business. The loft and back bedroom of a County Durham house had been converted into a cannabis cultivation area
Tony Blair may want to encourage the creation of more faith schools, but backbench Labour MP Ashok Kumar argues they could undermine our multi-cultural society. IN the last decade there has been an increase of interest in Britain in the possibility of
A park-and-ride scheme to ease traffic congestion in Durham's city centre has won nearly £9m of Government funding. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) is giving £106m - £3.2m more than last year - in the 2002-03 financial
A STUDY by a North-East university has shown that hundreds of women may be having their breasts removed needlessly. Tom Lennard, head of the surgery department at Newcastle University Medical School, led the research into women with cancerous tumours
CAR keys and jewellery may be understandable, but false breasts and mannequins have also been found at recycling centres across North Yorkshire. A study of the items thrown away with the rubbish unearthed these, and other unusual artefacts, recently.
A QUARRY foreman was crushed to death by a skip as he attempted to carry out maintenance work, an inquest heard yesterday. Mark Armitage, 25, had been working at Hulands Quarry, in Bowes, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, in October last year when the
AN outspoken doctor who announced he was resigning from his practice has now decided to stay. Dr John Hopkins, a GP at Parkgate health centre, in Darlington, has withdrawn his resignation and will continue to treat his patients, but under a new contract
Mindless vandals are attacking public buildings in Willington, near Crook, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. The latest incident saw windows smashed at the Health Centre in Chapel Street between Wednesday and Thursday night. In recent months
Survivors of the Selby rail disaster will be making a series of compensation claims running into millions of pounds, it has been revealed. The first civil action against builder Gary Hart, who was found guilty on Thursday of causing ten deaths by dangerous
SHOP staff who were threatened with a gun while tackling an armed robber have been praised for their bravery. Three masked men, armed with sawn-off shotguns and a handgun, burst into D&H Jewellers, in Darlington, terrifying staff and customers before
PLANS to close old people's homes in the Durham area have been changed. Durham County Council had originally proposed to replace 17 of its 25 homes with six new special units and four facilities for the mentally ill, resulting in 350 job losses. But a
Tenants in East Cleveland have voted a local mum on to the board of a not-for-profit organisation being set up to manage council houses in the area. Susan Taylor, from New Skelton, takes the place of Peter Baldwin, who died earlier this year. She polled
AMATEUR thespians have brought a little festive cheer to a special youngster. Northallerton Variety Company has presented a bike to four-year-old Rosie Henry, who suffers from a rare neurological disorder which affects her movement, speech and eating.
NEWCASTLE'S Michael Stephenson will be hoping to show he's not just a seven-a-side specialist when the Falcons entertain Wasps in the sixth round of the Powergen National Cup tomorrow. The former England Schools full back has played mostly on the wing
TRADERS in Darlington have been urged to beware of rogue mailshots. Some received a letter from an agency in Southport asking for £111.63 to register under the Data Protection Act 1998. But trading standards officers say not all businesses are required
TEN months after the Selby train crash, railway bridges throughout the region remain in a scandalous condition - and fears are growing that a similar disaster could happen at any time. Despite widespread demands for immediate improvements to roadside
TRADERS in Darlington have been warned over rogue mailshots which have been received by local companies. Two misleading letters have been brought to the attention of Darlington's trading standards department. Several companies have recently received a
CHILDREN, the disabled and carers are among the beneficiaries of a charity's latest grants. Christ's Hospital, in Sherburn, near Durham City, a former leper colony also known as Sherburn Hospital and Sherburn House, has awarded £1.7m in grants in the
THE strength of the human spirit is sometimes amazing. It would have been easier - and certainly understandable - for the relatives of the victims of the Selby rail disaster to go to pieces yesterday when Gary Hart was found guilty of causing death by
A CHUBBY barman planning a charity parachute jump has been told he will plummet like a stone, or 22 stone, to be precise, if he does not lose weight. Jump organisers told Martin Shotton that a main parachute, capable of holding an army tank, would easily
Militant countryside campaigners caused chaos today as they blockaded every major route between Scotland and England. The Rural Rebels drove tractors, trucks, vans and cars at snail's pace, leading to huge tailbacks. The action was a protest at the Government's
STEVE McCLAREN last night allayed any fears of an imminent departure from Middlesbrough when he ruled out a return to Manchester United at the end of the season. McClaren, who broke free from the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer to become a first-time
HARTLEPOOL United's game at Bristol Rovers was abandoned on Saturday after just 12 minutes. The Memorial Ground pitch was frozen after a night of below zero temperatures the game should never have started. Around 200 Hartlepool fans made the trek and
Five crew members had to be rescued by an RAF helicopter following a blaze on their cargo ship off the North-East coast. The vessel Rose Bank, a small coaster carrying fertiliser, caught fire on Friday night seven miles from the Farne Islands, off Northumberland
HUNDREDS of elderly and disabled people may have received the wrong care during the past decade, because the Government failed to reassess them. Darlington Borough Council now faces re-assessing 212 people living in care homes and nursing homes in the
OLYMPIC hopeful Angie Winstanley-Smith has collected an honour for her sporting prowess. Angie, 16, from Newton Aycliffe, was named North-East winner in the OCS Group Young Sportsperson of the Year awards. She has had a very successful year, winning the
A MAN died from severe head injuries after walking into the path of an oncoming train, an inquest heard yesterday. The inquest at County Hall, in Durham, heard that John Walker, 47, of Esh Winning, attempted to lie down in front of a southbound train
A 60-YEAR-OLD refuse collector who went back to the classroom after 25 years' service has emerged with flying colours. Great-grandfather Bruce Bassett, from east Cleveland, is one of 14 refuse workers from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to successfully
A SPRIGHTLY pensioner celebrated her 102nd birthday with a few of her favourite songs yesterday. Annie Isabella (Bella) Gauden, formerly a Sacriston shopkeeper, sang along to a singer's special performance of birthday, Christmas and wartime songs at Langley
A TECHNICAL engineer accidently switched on drilling equipment as he stood inside a machine, an inquest heard yesterday. The inquiry into the death of James Sapsford, 21, heard how he had been changing part of a vertical boring machine at Triple T Engineering
JONATHAN Woodgate should be counting his lucky stars today. He may have a legal bill of more than £1m to pay but he has his freedom and that is priceless. His father claims that he would not have been arrested had it not been for his fame. But fame brings
A TEENAGER who battered to death a student and wedged his body between rocks at a marina was yesterday found guilty of his murder and jailed for life. Kevin Littlewood, 18, from Hartlepool, was locked up after a jury spent nearly four hours reaching its
boy bands Westlife and A1 will appear in concerts to mark the opening of a new performance venue. The bands, which attract huge teenage followings and have notched up a string of number ones, will perform in concerts to mark the launch of 510-seat Gala
Plans to create a multi-purpose venue for outdoor events in the heart of Herriot Country have been unveiled. Land in the Hillside area, near Thirsk, is on the verge of being transformed into an ideal venue for rural shows and sporting events. The Hillside
PEOPLE could be taken to court by a local authority if they refuse to pay fines for dropping litter. Sedgefield Borough Council is trying to tackle the growing problem of litter being discarded in its area. A recent scheme has centred around Sunnydale
WORKERS at Electrolux in the region look to have been spared the axe in the latest round of job cuts by the Swedish group. The group is planning to cut about 2,800 posts worldwide as part of restructuring plans. But only 100 of those jobs will go in the
The fortunes of a North-East town's Labour party were looking brighter today as it gained an extra seat in a by-election, creating a hung council. Hartlepool's opposition Labour group now holds 22 seats - the same amount as the leading Liberal Democrat-Conservative
RESIDENTS living on a steep hillside development in Knaresborough are concerned about subsidence in the area. Some gardens have sunk by 18 inches, footways have subsided and there are dips in part of the road. Garages have also been affected by the subsidence
FED-up civil servants are keen to say bye-bye to a feisty blackbird that is wreaking havoc in their car park. The testosterone-charged creature, which lives in the park around the Southfield House land registry office in Durham, has embarked on a vendetta
Sedgefield Borough Council is trying to tackle the growing problem of litter being discarded in its area. A scheme has centred around Sunnydale Comprehensive School, Shildon, and Woodham Comprehensive School, Newton Aycliffe. Environmental officers have
Darlington Borough Council staff are being invited to sample alcohol-free cocktails as part of a Healthy Workplace initiative. The sessions are taking place at lunchtimes on selected dates this month. Staff can also find out more about road safety and
CONCERNS have been raised over the impact on parking and congestion if Safeway wins approval to extend its Darlington premises, with fears that more shoppers will seek limited parking places available in the town. Under the proposals, 27 car parking spaces
PERFORMING arts students from Newton Aycliffe chose the story of the town's munitions workers as the subject for an A-Level project. As part of their assessment modules, the students had to devise a piece of work based on local history and perform it
THE family of missing war veteran Robert English has refused to give up hope of finding him alive, almost three weeks after he disappeared from his home. The former prisoner of war, who spent three years in a German camp after being shot down over France
A CHURCH is marking a milestone with a glittering festival of Christmas trees. To celebrate its 160th birthday, Holy Trinity Church, Win-gate, east Durham, is staging an ecclesiastical exhibition with a difference and has issued an open invitation to
A PENSIONER has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 79-year-old woman. The man is believed to have called the police from a home in Coronation Avenue, Sunniside, Gateshead, yesterday. The victim, who lived at the address, has been identified
A TEENAGER threw himself in front of a train the day after he crashed his friend's sister's car, an inquest heard yesterday. Neil Heaviside, 19, of Gordon Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham, committed suicide on the East Coast main Line in June. Train
The British plane spotters imprisoned in Greece were last night enjoying their first hours of freedom in five weeks. The ordeal for the 12-strong group, who had been accused of spying, ended yesterday when bail was accepted and they were released. They
CAMPAIGNERS have taken to the ice in their bid to restore a permanent rink in County Durham. Fans of the former Durham Wasps ice hockey club were joined by figure skating enthusiasts for an evening on Spennymoor's temporary ice pad. Supporters of the
AN advice centre is to receive a £2,000 grant from the district council. The Housing Advice Research Project (Harp), in Northallerton, is the only specialist housing advice agency working across North Yorkshire. It offers help and advice to people with
POLICE are increasing the pressure on criminals in Gateshead West as the year comes to an end. Operation Lookout, involving a team of officers led by Sergeant Mal Wallace, will help reassure those living and working in the area during Christmas and New
A MUSEUMS service is celebrating its most successful year to date, after attracting more than a million visitors. In the past seven months, the Tyne and Wear museums service, which manages ten museums and galleries, has seen visitor figures climb to a
Christmas came early for youngsters at a Norton day nursery when Santa Claus made a fleeting visit to their festive party. More than 85 children from The Rainbow Day Nursery received gifts as part of the festive treat organised by owners Northumbrian
A GROUP of sixth-formers ran up £2,000 for charity by taking part in the Great North Run. Students at Durham Sixth Form College decided to raise the cash for Newcastle Freeman Hospital's liver transplant unit when they heard fellow sixth-former Laura
BLACKBURN Rovers striker Matt Jansen is aiming to score the goals to condemn his boyhood idols, Newcastle United, to defeat today. The Rovers forward, who was a big fan of the Magpies as a youngster, goes to St. James' Park today determined to impress
