THE headteacher of a Middlesbrough school has described a newly-built giant pylon as "an awful blot on the landscape" which he fears could put pupils' health at risk. The 52-metre tall pylon overlooks the playing fields of Nunthorpe School and forms part
PUPILS from an East Cleveland school have been celebrating overseas links. To mark three years of partnership with schools in Europe, a balloon race was staged as part of a week of events, at Whitecliffe Primary School, in Carlin How. Each child released
SHOPKEEPERS are being urged to stay on their guard after police issued a warning about forged currency in North Yorkshire. Counterfeit £20 notes have been tendered in various shops across the county over the past three weeks, with incidents reported from
The George Coates Trophy Round one draw: (Ties to be played on or before May 12): 1 Mainsforth v Felling; 2 Brandon v Sacriston; 3 Guisborough v Marsden; 4 South Hetton v Leadgate; 5 Boldon v South Shields; 6 Hetton Lyons v Great Ayton; 7 Eppleton v Gateshead
A FORMER Manchester United footballer has joined an appeal for a school to raise £16,000 by next Friday. Paul Bielby has joined the campaign to get special sports status for his old school, Longfield Comprehensive, in Darlington. His daughter, Helen,
HOMEOWNERS in the region who have mortgages with the Nationwide are set to receive a £200 windfall. The building society is preparing to give 400,000 borrowers in the country refunds totalling £90m after charging them a higher mortgage rate than other
A 15M-high millennium cross is to be relocated from outside Westminster Cathedral to a new site at Ampleforth Abbey and College. The cross, which will be placed on a piece of land outside St Thomas House, is clad in dark red stained timber and will have
PRIME Minister Tony Blair returned to his constituency yesterday to open a technology park to the world. NetPark, built on the site of the former Winterton Hospital, in Sedgefield, County Durham, has the capacity to create more than 1,000 jobs in knowledge-based
A LONG-SERVING Ripon rugby player is closing in on a landmark number of senior appearances for the club. Johnny Williamson, who will be 51 in July, is only ten games short of playing in a staggering 1,200 matches for his home town club. Now playing in
Fifth Fixture (Saltburn): Senior Men: 1 S Hepples (Loftus) 31.15; 2 P Lowe (Mandale) 31.20; 3 S O'Grady (New Marske) 32.46; 4 J Hunter (Loftus M40) 33.09; 5 P Welham (New Marske) 33.22; 6 J Bateman (Scarborough) 33.29; 7 I Cook (Hartlepool Burn Road M40
Transport group Go-Ahead has warned of a further squeeze on profits as air and rail services continue to come under pressure. The Newcastle-based firm runs the Thames Trains and Thameslink commuter lines, as well as bus services across the UK, and also
ENGINEERS at Scarborough Borough Council have agreed to work with the resort's civic society over the building of a controversial seawall along the Marine Drive. It follows a public protest by the society which claims that the seawall scheme, designed
Police have renewed their appeal for help in tracing a savage road rage attacker who slashed his victim's arm and face on a quiet, foggy road. Investigations into the attack nine months ago have failed to track down the crazed driver who used a four-inch
TWO special schools are joining forces to send pupils to France on a skiing trip. Youngsters from Westlands School, Stockton, and Beaumont Hill School, Darlington, are planning to go skiing next month. Teachers and pupils have been raising money to fund
PARENTS of a teenager who suffered horrific injuries in a car accident were yesterday left with nothing after gambling a £400,000 legal settlement - they lost a court battle to get it increased. Annona James was left severely disabled after being hit
Singles, second round To be played March 1 - to be played at The Travellers Rest. (MC) A Campbell, draw: A. Campbell (Boot/Shoe) v M Washburn (Trav Rest) J Wake (Trav Rest) v J. Bell (Rail Inst Shildon) M. Ja'ckson (D.ton RA) v G. Bellas (Rail Inst Shildon
NO kidding - naming four new arrivals on Teesside is causing park keepers a headache. Four pygmy goat kids - two males and two females - are settling in at Stewart Park, Middlesbrough, where they were born earlier this week. But no one can think of a
A SCHOOL is running holiday revision courses for A-level students in what is thought to be the first initiative of its kind in the region. After research by Durham School identified a lack of revision courses in the area, it decided to organise its own
Hoppers Transport's tie with Coundon Forresters had been put back several times, but it was certainly worth waiting for as Hoppers belied their league form to push the Forresters all the way in one of the reigning champions toughest games this season.
TEAMS of firefighters and police officers have taken up a fire walk challenge in aid of a local hospice. The Fiery Firemen and Bobbies on the Heat will join the Hospice Hoofers for the event at Aykley Heads Police Headquarters, Durham, from 6pm to 8pm
A PILOT scheme to encourage people in County Durham to eat more fruit and vegetables has been hailed a success. The Take Five project, which has covered the Dales and Darlington during the past year, urged people to eat at least five pieces of fruit and
Tickets to see singing sensation Zoe Birkett play Newcastle as part of her first UK tour have sold out in less than a day. Teenager Zoe will be starring at the Telewest Arena with the other finalists from ITV's Pop Idol on Wednesday April 3 and April
NORTHALLERTON. - Tues. Fatstock fwd: 33 cattle, 363 sheep. Med steers to 99.5p av 91.8p; heavy to 99.5p av 91.3p; med bulls to 99.5p av 88.5p; heavy to 98.5p av 86.2p; med hfrs to 101.5p av 90.5p; heavy to 102.5p av 90.2p. Std hoggs to 106.4p av 90.1p
NFU President Ben Gill paid tribute to Britain's farmers on this week's first anniversary of the catastrophic outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. But he said it was a travesty that the Government had still done little to tighten controls on illegal imports
TV vet Trude Mostue's serial stalker is facing life in jail unless he can be cured, a judge has said. John Maynard rang the star of television's Vets in Practice at work and asked her: "How would you like your vagine slit?" The star killed the call, which
MUSEUMS in Stockton are among the top 25 per cent in Britain, according to national figures just published. Stockton Borough Council's museums service was placed among the top local authorities in England for the number of visitors to its facilities in
Magnet League Darts pairs knock-out The second round will be played tonight. Deadline 8.30pm, substitutes not allowed. Draw: C Swainston, T Bell (Navy Club) v A and T Clarke (Rolling Mills); G Paley, J Sheridan (R Mills) v G Geldard, W Appleton (Navy
Durham and District League Durham Woodman put up a good display to take five points out their hosts at the unbeaten leaders, Durham Snooker Club. Bowburn oak Tree B were able to close the gap when they only dropped two points at Broom Park Loves but trail
Cleveland League Tony Eccles reached the finals of the Scottish Open. Unfortunately he lost 3-2 in the Final. He had over a 30. Average per dart. Also to Babs Evans and Karen Helmore on reaching the last 16. Ladies Super League League leaders The Brown
REDCAR and Cleveland councillors are holding surgeries in the following wards: Tomorrow: Longbeck, New Marske Sports Club, 11am-noon; Brotton, Brotton Library, 10.30-11.30am; Guisborough, Guisborough Library, 11am-noon; Kirkleatham, Larkswood Community
HIGHWAY chiefs are to mount a further round of exhibitions outlining progress on plans for the £7.6m Chilton bypass. The move follows a public consultation exercise last year when 2,000 questionnaires were issued to households in the Chilton area. The
A CONTROVERSIAL sculpture, withdrawn just months after it went on show on a North-East river, is to help promote the Commonwealth Games. Ambit, a stainless steel sculpture, cost more than £200,000 when it was floated on the Wear in Sunderland in October
THE North-East's newest adventure park looks certain to be allowed to stay. Diggerland, the park where children and their parents can use JCBs, has applied for its temporary planning permission to be made permanent. Derwentside District Council seems
CHILDREN were introduced to an astronaut on work experience, a monster and a robot when Magic Carpet Theatre performed Moon Magic at the Hambleton Community Centre in Northallerton. The interactive show, with an educational message, mixed fun with learning
WHEN the Magpies jog on to their home pitch they can usually expect to be bowled over by a roar from 52,000 fans. Last night they could look every spectator in the eye. For one night the Premiership title chasers swapped the bright lights of St James'
BOXERS searching for new premises are pinning their hopes on council help. Shildon boxers turned to their town council for help after they found themselves with nowhere to train at the beginning of the season. However, plans for a permanent new facility
Police are investigating the sudden death of a North-East man. It is thought Walter Bell, 55, of Easington Lane, Gateshead, died as a result of injuries sustained after being hit by a motorbike near his home. Mr Bell, who died on Saturday, did not seek
RURAL areas in the region will suffer if plans to break up the postal monopoly go ahead, it has been warned. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believes uncertainty about the efficiency of postal services will discourage businesses from relocating
AS the world races along the information superhighway it's fair to say there's more than one of our community groups left at the starting block. That's why The Northern Echo has teamed up with BT Community Connections to award ten multi-media Internet-ready
COUNCIL tax in North Yorkshire will rise by 9.75pc in April - but councillors have pledged not to cut services. The increase means an average Band D property will pay an extra £1.25 a week in council tax, up from £667.74 to £732.85 a year. County council
A NORTH Yorkshire theatre announced details of its new season - but not one of its productions will be held at the playhouse. Contractors are expected to start work within weeks on a £1.1m restoration of the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond. In the
A HIGH profile scheme with £1.6m to help disadvantaged young families in Darlington is being rolled out to five new areas. At present Sure Start, which aims to give children under four the best possible launch towards adulthood, covers the North Road
THE skills section of Darlington Borough Council is threatening industrial action if its 250 employees have monthly pay foisted on them. The changeover from weekly pay packets is identified in the authority's present budget as a way of saving £26,000.
Killingworth Arms are once again top of the Premier, they won 2-1 away to Penshaw. Paul Hodgson shot Killingworth into the lead only for Forster to level. The restart saw Killingworth having the edge and Hodgson scored his second to give Killingworth
FANS of teenage singing sensation Zoe Birkett will soon be able to see their pop idol perform in the North-East. The 16-year-old, from Darlington, will be performing at the Telewest Arena in Newcastle as part of the Pop Idol nationwide tour. When the
A DARLINGTON woman who married the boy next door has celebrated her diamond wedding anniversary. Effie Sinclair, 81, married childhood sweetheart Walter, 81, a retired railway worker, after they became neighbours and fell in love. The couple, of Emley
THE head of a Sunderland school which has won consistent praise from Ofsted inspectors, is to retire. After 14 years running Pennywell School, David Wilkinson is leaving because of health problems. He will step down in May and retire formally in the summer
Worthington CIU Winter League A final frame comeback saw Hunwick B defeat the Second Division visitors from Langley Park by just 19 points. The home side received 21 points start but Paul Nord changed this to a lead for the visitors by 15 after the first
From this newspaper 100 years ago. On Monday in Brompton, a young hopeful, one of those who the Great Bard describes as "with shining morning face, creeping like a snail unwillingly to school", was disporting himself upon the ice which had mantled the
AUCTION marts across North Yorkshire were back in business this week, a year after foot-and-mouth blighted the livestock industry. Northallerton mart opened its doors on Tuesday, exactly 12 months after confirmation of the first outbreak of the virus
YOUNGSTERS are gearing up for the first Redcar Junior Fun Run on Sunday, March 10. The run will start at the Kirkleatham Showground and go through the woodlands at Kirkleatham with marshals from New Marske Harriers all around the course to make sure there
Darlington Albion Albion Under-13s entertained Spraire Lads at home. As to be expected of a derby, the competition was very fierce between both teams, resulting in the most electrifying match of the season for the home side. Spirits were high for Albion
A referee officiating a Sunday League football match created history at the weekend, but the feat wasn't anything to do with any of the whistle-blowers' decisions. At Carmel School, Darlington Lynn Briggs became the first woman in black to take charge
THE Territorial Army has been praised for the part it played during the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Nigel Sherlock, HM Lord Lieutenant for Tyne & Wear, presented 21 certificates to members of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, Territorial
IT is the moment most parents dread. Last night, my ten-year-old uttered those spine-chilling words: "Mum, I need help with my maths homework." He was working out fractions of litres, kilograms and metres in millilitres, grams and centimetres. Thankfully
The finalists were just five miles apart, their three games even closer. Bishop Auckland v Crook Town, FA Amateur Cup final 1954, ran for 330 minutes, was watched by 200,000 spectators, raised arguments still chewed over - and spat out - today. Meanwhile
WELL-known Thirsk business couple Eric Pullan, 81, and his wife, Gene, 80, are celebrating 60 years of marriage. The couple, who live at St Mary's Walk, both hail from Bradford but met in Thirsk when their families both set up businesses in the town On
A YOUNG scientist has been awarded a national prize for being the best student on her university degree course. Sarah Solan, 21, from Spennymoor, won the Society for General Microbiology award for being the top second year student on a microbiology degree
GRAND National hero Red Marauder won't make a repeat bid this year. He had his first piece of serious work, a good gallop, last Friday, but Norman Mason's stable star had some heat in his leg next day and will be rested. The Brancepeth permit holder has
MORE services than ever before are to be made electronically available to people who want to enjoy the Yorkshire Dales after national park managers secured a major cash award. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has been awarded a £200,000 Government
BUILDING experts in Hartlepool are warning residents who have loft conversions that they may be looking at potential death traps. Hartlepool Borough Council's principal building control officer Dave McCullogh also said many households are failing to get
Stanhope Town moved up to joint top after a draw at Crook Wanderers. Stephen Emery gave Wanderers the lead but Stanhope equalised just before half time through Rob O'Dell. Two goals from Darren Fletcher saw Stanhope into a 3-1 lead but Barry Thompson
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has intervened in a David and Goliath battle between the world's biggest cement company and 147 of its workers due to lose their jobs at a North-East plant. Mr Blair took time out of a busy schedule yesterday for a meeting with
YOUNGSTERS from Richmond could be the next in the region to be celebrating the opening of a skateboard park. Northallerton and Norton in North Yorkshire have both agreed sites for similar facilities with Thirsk and Pickering among those also hunting a
COUNCIL officials in Hartlepool have praised local people for their commitment to recycling. Statistics show that many households heeded the environmental message when disposing of their Christmas rubbish. And this has helped to send the percentage of
IT isn't every day you can see Mongolian Opera in Spennymoor, but yesterday some of China's most talented performers took to the stage at the town's leisure centre. Tibetan dancers and Chinese jugglers took their Year of the Horse show to the town in
'IF we want sustained investment in the National Health Service over a period of time, we are going to have to pay for it." With that confession during a live television debate on Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister sent out a clear signal that taxes
RESIDENTS facing the prospect of their homes being demolished are "sick with worry", according to a councillor. For the past three years, residents of Thornlaw North Estate, in Thornley, east Durham, have had the threat of demolition hanging over them
POLICE are warning householders to be on their guard after a spate of complaints about salesmen touting alarm systems around Richmond and Northallerton. One firm in particular is claiming to have the backing of either the North Yorkshire constabulary
A Funeral director has been arrested by police investigating allegations that he faked his own death. Christopher Westcott owns Durham City-based Cathedral Funeral Services. It is understood that the 37-year-old businessman has been questioned over allegations
A DOG found abandoned on a windswept road is in need of a new owner. Durham county councillor Phil Graham discovered the animal on Wednesday, on the Leeholme to Westerton road, where it had been tied to a fence so tightly it could not sit down. The animal
Darlington Spraire Lads and Lasses Pride of place this week goes to the Under-14 B team, even though they lost in the semi-final of the Durham cup against a good Fulwell team. Fulwell drew first blood but Spraire battled back to equalise before half-time
The deaths of two North-East oil rig workers nearly four years ago could have been prevented, according to a fatal accident report published today. Richard King, 56, from Jarrow, South Tyneside, and Roland Duffell, 40, Alnwick, Northumberland, died in
FORMER Mintex national champions Steve Petch, from Scorton, and Northallerton co-driver John Richardson claimed their second successive victory by winning the Kall Kwik rally last Sunday. Driving their ex-Kenneth Eriksson SGP Motorsport Hyundai Accent
A NUCLEAR physicist has told a tribunal of terrifying safety lapses at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria and described how conditions there reduced him to tears. Ronald Hanas, who quit his job at BNFL Instruments in November 2000, claimed management
THE British Horse Society has applauded the fact that all horses and ponies in England and Wales are to be given a unique registration number and a passport for life. By December 31, 2003, they and donkeys will need to have a passport, bringing the country
A MAYORAL candidate's decision to take his claims of a dirty tricks vendetta to the top has surprised a police authority chairman. Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said he found it "quite staggering'' that former senior detective
TWO special schools are joining forces to send pupils to France on a skiing trip. Youngsters from Westlands School, in Stockton, and Beaumont Hill School, in Darlington, are planning to go skiing next month. Teachers and pupils at the school have been
HARTLEPOOL United's walking wounded have been given a clean bill of health ahead of tomorrow's game with Southend. Pool are back at Victoria Park following three games on the road and boss Chris Turner is delighted influential trio Micky Barron, Chris
A SERIAL obscene caller who made a multitude of phone calls while high on drugs yesterday failed in a bid to have his sentence slashed at London's Court of Appeal. Gavin Wayne Waters, of St Anthony's Road, Walker, Newcastle, used his mobile phone and
Police have halted their investigation of an reported attempted child abduction outside a Redcar primary school last Saturday. The incident, which involved a nine-year-old boy claiming a man tried to entice him into a car outside St Alban's Primary School
NEV Pybus came out on top in Guisborough Motor Club's northern group centre trial at Birk Brow quarry last Sunday. With parking space limited, the club set a maximum entry of 80 riders for the event. Clerk of the course Brian Overy and his team found
ALL options to re-house Richmondshire district council in better office accommodation should be investigated, members have decided. A working group is likely to be set up to oversee any move, but the resources committee was warned not to allow the process
A PUBLIC transport service taking visitors through the scenic beauty of the North York Moors saved hundreds of thousands of miles of car travel last year. A study of passengers on the national park authority's Moorsbus network showed that a third of people
A TEACHER charged with possessing indecent photographs of children has been ordered to stay away from the school where he works. Martin Andre Pauc, 56, appeared before Houghton-le-Spring magistrates yesterday accused of ten offences, alleged to have taken
A GRANT of £1,000 will be used to help make an east Cleveland beauty spot accessible for people in wheelchairs. The money has been given to the Friends of Hazelgrove by Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council. Tony Lynn, from the group, said it
PRIMARY school youngsters have formed their own environmentally-friendly committee to tackle green issues. Children from Copeland Road Primary School, West Auckland, have launched the Eco-Club which concentrates on the three Rs. Reduce, Recycle, Re-use
STEEL unions have pledged their support to workers furious they will not be getting a pay rise this year. Last week, Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus said it was freezing the pay of UK staff while giving Dutch workers a seven per cent rise. The move was
ELEVEN primary schools from Stockton have joined forces to commit to the Investors in People programme. The commitment means that the schools will work and support each other throughout the investors process. The Investors in People standard is a nationally
FOOTBALLERS from around the North-East gathered to pay tribute yesterday to a player who died following a road collision. Edward Sharp, 23, lost his fight for life in Newcastle General Hospital a week after his car was involved in an accident near his
RICHMOND could soon have a town centre manager to take forward projects drawn up by the town centre forum. Councillor John Harris told Richmondshire district council resources committee that the forum was disappointed when a candidate offered the job
COLOURFUL LIFE (1.45) will be a hard horse to beat in the opening Coral Eurobet Showcase Handicap Hurdle at Kempton this afternoon. Mary Reveley's rangy chestnut started the season over fences, picking up a novices' chase at Uttoxeter from a half-dozen
A FAMILY of four has been jailed for a total of 11 months after being caught smuggling more than 130,000 cigarettes into Britain. John and Jennifer Robinson, of Acre Rigg Road, Peterlee, County Durham, their son Craig Alexander Robinson, of Franklyn Road
A SCHOOLGIRL from Darlington has been selected to carry the jubilee baton in the town as part of the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games. Fifteen-year-old Andrea Jenkins was nominated to carry the baton by the head of PE at Branksome School, Anne
POLICE are no nearer to catching thieves who stole specialist circuit boards from a university. In December and early January, thieves struck three times at computer rooms at Durham University. On one occasion, they got away with four valuable circuit
Sir, - I refer to your report: "Scrap metal" statues will help town break free of the past and turn to the future (D&S, Feb 15.) Firstly, the "statues" will do no such thing. Secondly, I want to comment on points in that article. Mr Johnson, one of
A SCHEME to bring an all-weather sports pitch to a Northallerton school has been criticised by councillors. Hambleton District Council's leisure department is applying for planning permission to build a £200,000 floodlit pitch and storage room at the
A BUSINESSMAN and artist who has continued a 1,300 year tradition of glass-making in the region is quitting Sunderland's £16m National Glass Centre in protest. Roger Tye is to remove his business from the centre after claiming directors wanted to create
OWNERS of what planners describe as a neglected building in Knaresborough High Street could soon be ordered to carry out repairs to the Grade II listed structure. Conservation officers at Harrogate Borough Council are recommending members of Knaresborough
A LOCAL authority is allowing planning applicants to speak at council meetings for the first time. Chester-le-Street District Council decided that people with an interest in planning applications should have the right to speak at meetings in the Civic
THE anniversary of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth on Wednesday this week was an opportunity to look back at the terrible events of 2001, but also to look forward. While much coverage in newspapers and television has been rightly given to the impact of
THERE used to be a tradition that today was the first day of spring. I am sure that was connected with the lengthening days, the warmth that can be generated by the sun if we are lucky, the appearance of new shoots among a variety of our plant life and
LIVES could be saved if a surprise proposal for a mobile heart unit are backed by health bosses. This week, Professor Ara Darzi delivered a report on the future of acute hospital care in County Durham. While most attention was on his plan for more integrated
PEOPLE living on Teesside are to pay more for their police service in future. But the increase in the precept, which will see thousands of residents paying £64.08 a year for Cleveland Police, was dismissed last night as "paying coppers for coppers". Under
BCTG. - Feb 25: Patsy Bartram dressage clinic, open to non-members, tel 01325 332685. BSPS Area 3a. - Feb 24: Winter show, Yafforth. Mar 24: Winter show, Yafforth. Tel: 01642 452439. Cleveland Hunt PC. - Feb 24: Junior rally at the Unicorn centre with
Sir, - In the Nicholas Rhea column last week, I noted the request for information about the Dales phraseology for Coverdale. I was born in Marske in Swaledale and lived there among generations of farmers, until we moved to Carthorpe near Bedale. When
The North's biggest Angling Event of the year the RSPS Tek Neek Team Masters thankfully went ahead following a month of gales and floods that consistently pushed the Swale into the surrounding fields, writes JEFF HERBERT. Saturday's entry of 22 teams
riders from County Durham, North Yorkshire and Cleveland have won places in the British Show Jumping Association's Blue Chip championships at Solihull in April. Seniors. - Donna Mews, Durham; Robert Shields, B Auckland; Pauline Dodds, Stanley; Charlotte
A MAYORAL candidate's decision to take his claims of a dirty tricks vendetta to the top has surprised a police authority chairman. Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said he found it "quite staggering'' that former senior detective
BLAKEY BRIDGE in Sowerby looks as though it could replicate the saga of Creet's Bridge at Kirkby Malzeard, where the county council is locked in confrontation with English Heritage. The county wants to re-build both bridges and make them wider to cope
OVERGROWN, windswept and hidden from view, the graves of the 168 men and boys of the North-East's biggest-ever pit disaster lay almost forgotten. Forgotten until the day a few locals took some photographs to the church yard and worked out where the men
A group of young adventurers have launched a fundraising campaign to help them educate youngsters thousands of miles away. The 15 and 16-year-old pupils, from Ryton Comprehensive School, Gateshead, are organising a four-week expedition to Namibia, in
Bishop Auckland's First XV put up a brave fight in the Durham Challenge Trophy Semi-Final but they were never able to contain the heavier, well organised pack. Seaton Carew opened the scoring with the first of many tries conceded by Bishop. Sayer made
HOUSEBUILDER Haslam Homes has chosen Newton Aycliffe as the location for its first new development of the year. The site, a mile from the town centre, received planning permission just before Christmas, with the final seal of approval coming last week
Sir, - On January 30, in tragic circumstances, my wife Susan died. As subsequent days unfolded, it became increasingly apparent to her grieving family of husband, daughters Liz and Jen and younger sister Christine, herself recently widowed, that the loss
Medal of Honour: Allied Assault. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Format: PC CD-ROM. Price: £29.99. Min specification: PII 450; 128MB RAM; 16MB 3-D card. MEDAL of Honour was the best first-person shooter on the PlayStation. It's also the best of its genre
Northern League chairman Mike Amos has denied that the league will definitely be operating with at least one extra club next season. The league is coming under pressure to increase its second division , to give ambitious outfits West Allotment, Newcastle
STUDENTS from four south-west Durham comprehensive Schools are to form their own mini-construction companies as part of a redevelopment challenge. The gauntlet has been thrown down to the teenagers by South Church construction company M&M Plasline
A MULTI-PURPOSE sporting facility could provide the answer for homeless boxers who are searching for a new venue. Shildon boxers turned to their town council for help after they found themselves with nowhere to train at the start of this season. But plans
A CONSORTIUM that has pulled about £2m into Teesdale over the seven years it has been in operation is struggling to survive in its present form, due to changes in funding. But at a meeting of Teesdale Village Halls Consortium at Barningham Village Hall
VOLUNTEERS are needed to stop toads being squashed by traffic on a moorland road near Osmotherley. Hundreds of migrating toads are killed every spring on the road past Cod Beck Reservoir, as they make their way to spawn. It is an important site and the
There was a double Junior British League triumph for Darlington at Stoke On Trent last weekend when both boys and girls lifted their respective Second Division division titles. Having already tasted title success representing Durham County at both junior
CHANGES to a bus route will inconvenience passengers, say village residents. From Sunday, the 722 service from Darlington to Newcastle will operate as the 723 by Nevilles Cross, on the outskirts of Durham City. Ferryhill resident Harry Bower said: "This
YOUNGSTERS across the borough of Stockton are being rewarded for caring for their area. Last September, Stockton Borough Council joined forces with Hollywood Bowl at Teesside Park, to run a litter reward scheme around a number of school sites. Pupils
A locomotive is to be displayed on a Teesside roundabout from this weekend. The reminder of the town's railway heritage, which has undergone a restoration programme, will be lifted into position using a 90-tonne, 34 metre-high crane. Locomotive No 16
A WEB site supposed to attract tourists to Northallerton is being targeted by internet vandals. The site, www.northallertonweb.co.uk, promotes businesses and tourist attractions and offers a diary of events and a guide to eating out. An on-line guest
SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Darlington are preparing to perform in a show at the town's Civic Theatre. The Positive Young People Awards 2002 is an event aimed at celebrating the achievements of people under 18 in the Darlington area. The youngsters who
YOUNGSTERS at a Durham school have been introduced to the techniques of Oriental art by a Chinese artist. Chiu Chun-Chao, who is from Taiwan but now lives in Newcastle and teaches at Newcastle University's Lifelong Learning Centre, has been working this
A DEAF pensioner's good sense saved her life when fire swept through her home. "She has been very lucky,'' said Fire Sub-officer Steve Harll. "If she had not shut all her doors before going to bed we would have been looking at a manslaughter charge this
Roseberry Ladies Invitation League Stockton 2 v 2 Mackinlay Ian action packed start to the game Stockton appeared to have control of the game, launching several attacks on the Mackinlay defence with several near misses. The first goal finally came within
A LEGAL loophole allowed a social club treasurer who admitted making thousands of pounds worth of unapproved phone calls to escape prosecution yesterday. Donald McDermid made hundreds of calls to premium rate horse racing and other lines from Belford
Thieves take car contents THREE vehicles were targeted by thieves in neighbouring Darlington streets. Two cars were broken into in Augusta Close, between 5.45pm and 7.15pm on Wednesday. A sports bag containing personal belongings was taken from one vehicle
WORKING separately, but exhibiting together, husband and wife artist and potter, Geoff and Jenny Morten, have a shared theme for their show in the Myles Meehan Gallery at Darlington Arts Centre (to March 16). Scratching the Surface can be applied literally
FOOTBALLERS from around the North-East will gather today to pay tribute to a popular player who died following a road crash. Edward Sharp lost his fight for life in Newcastle General Hospital a week after his car was involved in an accident near his home
A talented schoolboy has died after apparently jumping from a bridge, police said today. The body of Matthew Curry, a pupil at Newcastle Grammar School, was found below the Tyne Bridge. A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said family and friends of the 16
A PILOT scheme to encourage people in County Durham to eat more fruit and vegetables has been hailed a success. The Take Five project, which ran across the Dales and Darlington over the past year, urged people to eat at least five pieces of fruit and
Newton Aycliffe The NYSD cross country race at Whitby saw the debut of Under-13 athlete James Askew, who won the club's best newcomer award recently on presentation night. James ran marvelously in his first race on the mud to finish a creditable 15th
CUP tie fever overcame a man who stole 20 tickets from a football club's shop. The man walked into the shop at Darlington FC's Feethams ground on Monday, January 14, ahead of the Quakers' FA Cup clash with Peterborough. At about 1.45pm, he bought one
A LEGAL expert warned last night that the latest plan by striking train conductors could put them in breach of contract. Conductors for Arriva Trains Northern have drawn up a new plan to hit the company by refusing to take fare payments. The move comes
A DARLINGTON school is looking to recruit coaches so it can continue running after-school sports activities. St Teresa's RC Primary School has been running netball on Wednesdays, football on Thursdays and short tennis on Fridays. The school has been running
Spennymoor have been given a boost by the news that keeper Jim Provatt will be staying with them until the end of the season. Provatt was one of Tony Lee's first signings when he took over at the Brewery Field at Christmas, and since then has been outstanding
COUNTY Durham has won £17.6m of European funding for education and skills schemes. The money has come from the European Social Fund Objective Three programme in just over a year, thanks to the efforts of the county council's eight-strong European team
Tow Law and District League Tow Law Cattle Mart threw the championship wide open when they beat the visiting leaders, Newhouse Club by three points. This allowed Esh Stag's Head, who won by five points at Esh McKennas, to move up and share the top spot
A SENIOR council officer has been cleared of alleged misconduct charges. Derek Shingleton, finance director at Chester-le-Street District Council, was at the centre of anonymous allegations by other staff members . A panel set up by the council to investigate
A GAMEKEEPER is blaming teenagers with air rifles and packs of dogs for the demise of the brown hare in the Darlington area. An appeal was launched last week by two County Durham naturalists, John Olley and Keith Bowey, to help assess hare numbers as
Darlington manager Tommy Taylor was last night hoping to secure the services of Iyesdan Christie from former club Leyton Orient. Taylor wants striker Christie on loan with a view to signing him permanently in the summer if he impresses over the remainder
THE vast majority of culled-out farmers will re-stock their farms, although many will have fewer animals. A November telephone survey of more than 1,000 farmers, carried out by ADAS for Defra, showed that only 6pc wanted to leave farming. Lord Whitty,
THE biggest single predator threatening ground-nesting birds in Upper Teesdale is the stoat. A study of the curlew population over two seasons found hardly a chick was bred because of stoats. Lindsay Waddell, head gamekeeper for the Raby Estates in Upper
THE North of England Mule Sheep Association holds its annual meeting in The Hired Lad, Penrith mart, on Monday, 7.30. Mike Gooding of Farmers Fresh; Les Armstrong of the NFU and Stuart Bell of PF&K will look at the sheep sector.
A NORTH-EAST MP has questioned a decision by police to arrest six men suspected of terrorism after claims they acted just two weeks after a tip-off. The men, from Middlesbrough, Darlington and Seaton Carew were arrested following swoops by Cleveland and
British Energy hasn't ruled out building another nuclear power plant on Teesside, once an existing operation reaches the end of its life. The new plant, costing in excess of £1bn, could be built next to the existing power station in Tees Road, Hartlepool
THE long-running saga about a pigeon loft is set to take another twist next week. Last June Kenneth Wren, of Shepherds House Farm, Brotton, was given nine months to move his prized pigeons because their 100-foot long pigeon loft was said to be too noticeable
THE Advertiser - with its sister paper The Northern Echo - this week launches a campaign to mark the graves of the 168 men and boys who died in the West Stanley pit disaster of 1909. Back in 1995 a determined public campaign succeeded in the establishment
THIEVES who have carried out a series of raids to steal the keys to high-powered cars are being targeted in a new campaign. Police in North and West Yorkshire yesterday launched a cross-border crackdown following a spate of thefts and burglaries at homes
PUPILS at schools in the Redcar area could soon be given the chance to learn judo thanks to a cash boost for a local club. Redcar Judo Club has received a grant from the Awards for All scheme which will allow members to take the sport into local schools
DARLINGTON will have some big decisions to make if they win at Halifax tomorrow and start the countdown towards National League rugby. As the other candidates for promotion from North One, Hull Ionians, visit Darlington next week the season has reached
TONY Blair met youngsters involved in a County Durham youth activities project yesterday. The Co-ordination of Social Inclusion Programmes (Cosip) scheme, run by a range of agencies, provides free out-of-school activities including mountain climbing,
GO Nomadic, an impressive winner at Wetherby, followed up with another outstanding front-running display to take the Land Rover men's open at the Sinnington point-to-point at Helmsley last Saturday. David Atkinson's eight-year-old, ridden by Peter Atkinson
THE current "White Stuff" campaign is under threat because some dairy companies are reluctant to come up with the funding in the future. Independent quota broker and dairy industry commentator Ian Potter said that, if the present round of milk promotion
TWO traffic officers cheated death when their car overturned while answering a call to pursue a stolen vehicle - carrying two schoolchildren - as it sped down the A1M at 130mph. PC Michael Austin, 33, and PC Chris Fuller, 27, of Durham Police, were on
YOU wouldn't catch Jonny Wilkinson down on the Quayside behaving in a disorderly fashion. He knows it wouldn't help to maximise his talent. It's nothing to do with preserving a squeaky clean image and being the perfect role model for schoolboys. What
SO what happened to the corner shop? Many, of course, have long gone. The tiny old fashioned shop, dark and crowded, selling a small range of basic foodstuffs, was doomed as soon as the first supermarkets flashed its bright seductive lights and dazzled
Darlington 21st Allstars After a relatively lengthy lay-off for a number of Darlington 21st Allstars JFC teams, the better weather saw most back in action with varying degrees of success. The Under-12s moved back to the top of the Division Two table with
THE game brought together two old pals - Bishop Auckland manager Alan Shoulder and United's reserve team coach Tommy Craig, who first teamed up at Carlisle United back in 1983. Both have worn Newcastle's famous black and white shirts, although never at
YOUNGSTERS in Northallerton were celebrating yesterday after councillors gave the green light for a skate park in the town. Hambleton council cabinet approved a site next to the leisure centre at Stone Cross - and kick-started undraising for the £76,000
MORE and more people are taking to buses and leaving their cars at home saving 700,000 miles of moorland motoring. Despite the overall reduction in visitors to the North York Moors as a result of foot-and-mouth disease last year, the Moorsbus service
Thirsk defeated Morpeth 5-3 last weekend to take the second eight consolation event honours in the 2001-2 NECWL. They thus finish ninth in the competition overall and as the White Group runners-up stopped the second best team in the Red Grou. The Northumberland
Sir, - With regards to your report of my comments on the proposed code of conduct to be imposed on parish councils from May this year (D&S, Feb 8), I can assure your readers and Ian Strong, secretary of the Yorkshire Local Councils Association, that
RANDOM breath tests are to be introduced as part of a regional police blitz on drink driving this week. Officers warned last night that they intended to stop thousands of drivers as part of a 48-hour crackdown. The initiative begins at 6am today and finishes
A FAMOUS landmark unveiled its new look yesterday following a £420,000 refurbishment. The revamped Turkish baths, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, were opened for previews ahead of the official launch of the complex on Monday, March 4. Leisure chiefs are
A VILLAGE school is one of only two in Darlington with anything to smile about when it comes to children's teeth. Darlington has the unenviable record of being the fifth worst area for dental decay in under 5s in the North and Yorkshire. Only Middleton
A SCHEME to develop youth rugby in schools in Derwentside has had a major boost. Consett and District Rugby Club is receiving £10,000 for the schools programme from the Government's business sponsorship incentive scheme Sports Match, and £10,000 from
THE REGION'S tourist industry is poised to claw back the £500m lost during the year-long foot-and-mouth crisis. Over the past 12 months, thousands of people lost their jobs, homes and businesses as Government officials shut down the countryside in an
MUSICIANS in Middlesbrough will give their time for free tomorrow at a fundraising evening in aid of mediation charity Unite. Local bands Littlestar and Pidwigeon will appear alongside Radio Cleveland presenter Stewart McFarlane at the TAD centre, in
School to get improvements PUPILS at Scarborough's Pindar School are to get a new design and technology department as part of a £120,000 investment programme by North Yorkshire education authority. In addition, a learning support area is to be created
BANKING group Abbey National has reported a two per cent fall in pre-tax profits after taking a hit from its exposure to collapsed energy firm Enron. Its corporate-based, wholesale banking division wrote off £256m from its fixed asset investments, including
A FORMER mining village is set for a blossoming new future thanks to a pilot scheme. Murton Parish Council has pooled its resources with the District of Easington to help create a more attractive environment in the village. The partnership will ensure
YOUNGSTERS who have an interest in childcare have been taking part in a new scheme. Year ten pupils from Gillbrook Technology College, South Bank, have been given the chance to find out what it is like to work with young children, by taking part in a
A COUPLE who took the plunge by making pottery at their remote farmhouse and hawking it round potential customers are now exhibiting their ceramics to international acclaim. Eddie and Margaret Curtis bought Middle Rigg at Ireshopeburn more than 20 years
IAN Clark followed the script to perfection by grabbing the opening goal against his former Hartlepool United teammates on Tuesday night, but Mark Tinkler's equaliser spoiled the happy ending for Quakers. The points were shared in the last Feethams derby
A FAMILY of four has been jailed for a total of 11 months after being caught smuggling more than 130,000 cigarettes into Britain. John and Jennifer Robinson, of Acre Rigg Road, Peterlee, County Durham, their son Craig Alexander Robinson, of Franklyn Road
A CLOTHES shop owner appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday charged with alleged credit card fraud. Colin Donaldson, of Triads in Albert Road, Middlesbrough, was arrested following an investigation by Cleveland Police. Mr Donaldson, 38, of Newstead
HI-DE-HI star Su Pollard visited a Darlington charity shop yesterday to highlight its change of name. National cancer charities Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund have merged to become Cancer Research UK. Miss Pollard, who is appearing
A NEW centre aimed at encouraging people to learn online was opened on Tuesday by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull. The UK Online centre, in Willow Road Community Centre, Darlington, is part of a national initiative to develop
ACTOR John Thaw, star of Inspector Morse and The Sweeney, died yesterday aged 60, his family said. He had been battling cancer of the oesophagus and died at his home in Wiltshire. His wife, actress Sheila Hancock, said: "John died with his family around
Thieves take car contents THREE vehicles were targeted by thieves in neighbouring Darlington streets. Two cars were broken into in Augusta Close, between 5.45pm and 7.15pm on Wednesday. A sports bag containing personal belongings was taken from one vehicle
by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture CEREAL prices have continued their slow decline. There was a slight recovery mid-week, but this was not thought to be any significant change in direction. Trade from farms is slow at these new levels but so is the demand
HEALTH SERVICES IT is about time that the record is put straight about criticism of the new Dryburn Hospital (let's stop using the cumbersome official title - almost everyone still calls it Dryburn, including the County Council road sign department).
RESIDENTS in east Durham are to be given a chance to voice their views on a range of issues next month. The Coastal Area Forum, on Wednesday, March 13, is one of a series of meetings held regularly by Easington District Council. Residents and representatives
THE public is being urged to help raise funds to provide a dales town with an extended and improved community centre. The Witham Hall appeal has so far raised £5,000 since the fundraising drive was launched, but another £13,000 is still needed before
NINE men have been arrested and drugs including Ecstasy and heroin seized in dawn raids by police. Nine homes in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, were raided, along with houses in nearby Craghead, South Shields and the Jesmond area of Newcastle. The
THE recession-hit manufacturing sector has sounded a rare note of optimism after a survey showed that output volumes are expected to stabilise in the coming months. According to the CBI's monthly industrial trends survey for February, 28 per cent of manufacturers
A CAMPAIGN to kick thieves out of Redcar town centre has been hailed as a great success by police. At the beginning of February, a 30-strong team of officers drawn from a variety of squads got together to launch Operation Forcefield, a two-week campaign
Crook Town cricket club, members of the 3D Cricket Durham County League, have appointed 24-year old Australian all-rounder Joe Barnes as their new professional for the 2002 season. Barnes is a grade 'A' cricketer from Perth, Western Australia. A middle
PEOPLE living in an east Cleveland village are objecting to proposals for the demolition of outbuildings to make way for a bungalow. Wilton Village, near Redcar, is off limits to development because it lies in a conservation area. However, a suggestion
REMOVE the seats or demolish the whole market shelter if there is no other way of stopping Mel Bird using it. That was the advice given by members of the public to Leyburn Town Council on Monday. Several older women attended the meeting, hoping to question
FIVE people are being questioned in connection with two armed robberies. On Tuesday afternoon, two men burst into Langley Park Post Office on Front Street and threatened staff and customers with knives. They escaped with cash. Soon after police recovered
THOSE dodging council tax or business rates in Richmondshire face the threat of up to three months in prison under a new get-tough policy. The district council has launched committal proceedings at the magistrates' court for persistent non-payers. Legislation
A £1M boost to voluntary sector and council services in Redcar and Cleveland has been unveiled. The announcement was made as the controlling Labour group on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council revealed it would not be putting up council tax, for the
A TEENAGER who opened a bank account with just 5p milked it with cheques and debit card transactions to the tune of more than £3,000 in just seven weeks, a court heard yesterday. Prosecutor Michael Hammond told Harrogate magistrates how Andrew David Walker
A MARRIAGE proposal is an historic event in anyone's life, but a Richmond man made sure popping the question became part of the local heritage - for a couple of hours at least. Chris Moss made a replica of the heritage plaques seen around the town, with
OPPOSITION councillors will today propose a reduction in the council tax hike facing County Durham residents. Labour-run Durham County Council is meeting to approve a 14.8 per cent rise agreed last week by its cabinet. But Liberal Democrats will propose
Security boost for traders DURHAM City Centre's Shopwatch scheme has been relaunched. The shop security scheme is to be expanded and developed to widen its retail radio link network and exclusion notice scheme, and will hold regular meetings with police
A FOLK society will make its concert debut next month. Durham University Folk Society will welcome Brian Finnegan, of folk band Flook, and Ian Stephenson, of 422, for the event, in the recital hall of the music department, at Palace Green, on Sunday,
