I ALWAYS remember one particular lecture from my student days. It was one of those role-playing, brainstorming type of lessons. Normally I hated these as I was painfully shy and introverted in my younger days (I always did the illustrations for group
The woman behind The Tube and Byker Gove is coming back to her roots to help boost TV talent in the North-East. As Ethel Merman appears on the TV screen singing There's No Business Like Show Business, Andrea Wonfor freshens up her lipstick and leaves
A huge street party welcomed the arrival of the Queen's Jubilee Baton to the region. Crowds lined the streets of Middlesbrough on Saturday to watch the baton - which carries a special message from the Queen to be read out at the opening of the Commonwealth
IPSWICH chairman David Sheepshanks has rejected suggestions that Middlesbrough are tracking Matt Holland. The £10m-rated Republic of Ireland international is among a number of midfielders linked with a move to the Riverside. Relegated Ipswich are aiming
Boro fans have reacted with dismay to the news that boss Steve McClaren could desert the club for Leeds United. Reports that the Yorkshireman is ready to quit Boro to take over at Elland Road have yet to be confirmed. But yesterday, while McClaren holidayed
DURHAM coach Martyn Moxon yesterday pleaded for patience as he pursues what he remains convinced is a very bright future for the club. In his second season with Durham after quitting Yorkshire, Moxon has reached the halfway stage with his team propping
A leading wildlife campaigner has called for an end to the persecution of badgers in the region. Dr Elaine King, executive officer of the National Federation of Badger Groups, told a meeting at Houghton-le-Spring on Wearside that snares and illegal badger
Cracked pavements are costing the region's tax payers tens of millions of pounds in compensation. With every council facing hundreds of claims every year - costing an average of just under £2,200 per claim - the region's poorly maintained paths are taking
AN emerging pop star has rejected the chance to perform with Brit award winners Blue in front of a crowd of thousands so that she can play in a small North-East town. Rebekka Gayle, who has already supported singers including Ronan Keating and Beverley
TRAINEE accountant Steven Hepples just failed to complete a hat-trick of AAA national 5,000m titles after finding himself in a race against the clock before the championships began. The reigning North Yorkshire and South Durham Harrier League champion
Five people including a two-year-old girl with a fractured skull were taken to hospital following a head on smash on a village road. The child, who has not been named, was a back seat passenger in one of two vehicles which collided in High Coniscliffe
A ROW has broken out in a North-East village over plans to build a bigger incinerator for burning animal carcasses. Some residents claim the furnace would create excessive noise, smell and traffic in the village of Charltons, near Guisborough. But Ted
THERE'S been a gas leak in our street this week. It's made sensational viewing and, having interviewed numerous shell-shocked eye-witnesses, I can now reveal how the drama unfolded. First, some men turned up and created a tiny pile of soil by digging
It was back home where it belongs. The flag that unfurled before a TV audience of millions during the World Cup in Japan and Korea was finally flown with pride in its native Weardale. After following the fortunes - and misfortunes - of England in the
HARTLEPOOL United's annual celebrity-am welcomes football and entertainment stars from across the country tomorrow. The competition has swapped venues this year from Seaton Carew to Hartlepool Golf Club and starts at 10am, with the final pairs teeing
Norton, who upset the form book in a big way when they defeated Chester-le-Street last weekend, aim to produce another winning performance today against third-top Gateshead Fell and move off the bottom of the table in the process. It was a struggle for
CHILDREN from seven schools cheered up rain- soaked shoppers yesterday when they added the rhythmic samba beat to a colourful carnival parade. A morning downpour failed to dampen the spirits of the dozens of youngsters who danced and sang their way through
BUSINESS leaders in the North-East are calling for an early start on the construction of an additional Tyne tunnel. The Department of Transport is considering plans for a second tunnel, which has been lodged with the Government. Normal planning rules
A PRIMARY school teacher faces a possible prison sentence after admitting downloading child pornography on his home computer. Martin Andre Pauc's career is in ruins after his arrest late last year when police investigators found images under such headings
A POORLY little girl's dream came true when fundraisers sent her on a fairy tale family holiday. Three-year-old Katie-Leigh Tones enjoyed a trip to Disneyland Paris, last week and met all her favourite characters. The youngster's battle with cancer, for
THE doors have been opened for expanding trade and commerce links with one of the fastest growing markets in the world. A delegation from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has been forging new links with commercial interests in the Chinese
THE biggest event on a community's calendar returns this summer after missing a year due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. The annual Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally at Masham, North Yorkshire, normally attracts thousands of people from across the UK -
I WOULD suggest to Peter Mullen (Echo, July 2) that racism is not hard to define. It means prejudice or hostility towards someone because of their skin colour or ethnic origin. It can manifest itself as conscious or unconscious discrimination, verbal
A PENSIONER has received an award for a fact-finding mission she undertook in North America examining the images of pensioners. Shirley Ellis, 65, from Hartlepool, helped to form the campaigning Retired Resource Network in the town, in an attempt to dispel
THE bullying case at Teesside County Court raises many questions and provokes many fears. We have known for years that, as society becomes increasingly litigious, teachers - like doctors - are more likely to find themselves on the receiving end of legal
HEROIN was for sale at two adjoining houses in a street where one dealer poached his neighbour's customers, a court was told yesterday. Two undercover police officers targeting a Redcar house faced efforts to tempt them away by a dealer next door, said
THE family of a young woman who has not been home for several weeks has urged her to make contact. Gemma Louise Patterson is understood to have been in the Middlesbrough area in early June, but since then has failed to get in touch with her family in
Even by Formula One's standards this season has been devoid of real thrills. So how has the Class of '02 fared? NIGEL BURTON on the winners and losers... FERRARI The best driver, the best car and the best engine add up to one thing: total domination.
With the fixtures moving into the second half of the programme today, there is everything to play for, with no side establishing themselves as favourites. Burnmoor remain the only unbeaten side and they travel to Hetton Lyons, who lie 17 points behind
With 40 points up for grabs from the double weekend programme, Peterlee will be hoping to wrestle the leadership from Murton. "We are enjoying our most successful season in 30 years and are within striking distance," enthused Peterlee secretary Roy Simpson
Leaders Evenwood have an early opportunity to avenge the heavy defeat inflicted by Crook Town in the semi final of the League Cup on Wednesday night when the sides are again in action this afternoon. Andy Coe was Crook's matchwinner when he crashed seven
GEORDIE Pop Idol finalist Aaron Bayley has left hundreds of adoring schoolchildren devastated after pulling out of a North-East show days before the big event. The former train driver didn't even take the time out to tell fans himself that he will not
ENGINEERING firm Cleveland Bridge has won a £60m-plus contract to carry out works on the M1 over a three-year period. The contract means job security for the 400 staff who work at its Darlington base and the creation of at least 50 more jobs at the site
The death of a popular young father in a stabbing incident has stunned farming communities around the North-East. Police launched a murder inquiry after finding the body of 34-year-old John Lovegreen at isolated Baal Hill Farm, Thistlewood Lane, Wolsingham
Q With benefits my rent is reduced to £26.25 a week and my council tax to £26 a month. I have Disability Living Allowance (DLA) of £215.90 a month, Incapacity Benefit of £80.45 a week, a monthly works pension of £114.27 and £2,500 in savings. As two of
EXPERTS have confirmed what hayfever sufferers have known for weeks - that the region is under a sustained attack from high pollen levels. According to the UK National Pollen Network, the region has experienced virtually no relief since the beginning
George Lucas used it to shoot the latest Star Wars epic but it's just as useful to amateur film-makers. Steve Pratt finds out why director Mike Figgis is championing the new digital technology. TWO years ago, film-maker Mike Figgis returned to Newcastle
AFTER the Party in the Palace comes a Northern extravaganza - the Party in the Park. For the first time, the gates of Ripley Castle near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, the home of Sir Thomas Ingilby, are being thrown open to thousands of young pop fans.
Life-sized puppets have been helping to launch a summer of fun. The puppets were made from recycled materials and animated by pupils from the primary school at Thornton-le-Dale, near Pickering, North Yorkshire. Puppet-making is one of a wide range of
TWO tour operators have announced they will be flying to more destinations from the region. From next summer, Thomas Cook Tour Operations, which also runs jmc and Sunset, is offering holidays to Dalaman, Turkey, from Tees-side Airport. From next winter
MORE young people than ever in the region are being helped by The Prince's Trust. The fast-growing charity has announced its third successive record year with £4m going to thousands of needy young people in cash and support. Nine programmes, for 14 to
David Harker diplomatically did not want to talk about Headingley, yet it was impossible not to compare and contrast the Riverside with the beleaguered Leeds venue. "Headingley was unfortunate but we don't pay too much attention to the other grounds,"
Serena Williams has beaten her sister Venus to claim her first Wimbledon title. Defending champion Venus was beaten 7-6(4) 6-3 by younger sister Serena in the first final between sisters at the All England Club since 1884. The first set went to a tie-break
AN inquiry was under way last night after a widow claimed that her 81-year-old dying husband was denied privacy so other patients could watch the World Cup. Jill Calvert lodged a formal complaint against the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North
PROSTITUTES who blighted a North-East town for generations have turned their attentions to a neighbouring community. Police in Middlesbrough have been tackling the problem of prostitutes and kerb crawlers for years but, after a recent blitz on offenders
BRITAIN'S biggest nerd could be used to promote a job-starved North-East dale in the wake of a cement works closure. An unpublished consultant's report drawn up for a task force looking for ways of reviving beautiful Weardale, in County Durham, refers
Lleyton Hewitt beat David Nalbandian to claim his first Wimbledon title. The top seed swept aside the unheralded Argentine in one of the most one-sided finals in Wimbledon history -- 6 - 1, 6 - 3, 6 - 2. Victory gave Hewitt his second Grand Slam title
Darlington RA, who have struggled for more years than anyone cares to remember, visit Normanby Hall this afternoon with skipper David Eckels rallying his side on. "Keep up the form you have shown in the last six weeks and we can finish in the top half
Left-back Alex Higgans will arrive for a trial with Darlington on Monday and should feature in Quakers' first friendly of the summer against North Shields 24 hours later. The 20-year-old left-back was released by Queens Park Rangers last November where
SCHOOL governors and teachers across the region breathed a sigh of relief last night after two former pupils who claimed their lives were made hell by bullies failed in their attempt to win damages. Caroline Newby and Jamie Bright, now both 20, suffered
A BIZARRE memento of Captain Cook may have been discovered. Relatives of the explorer might be DNA tested to find out if a 220-year-old arrow is made from the adventurer's bone. Generations of schoolchildren have been taught that Cook, born at Marton,
HE'S still standing after all these years and Sir Elton John's army of fans has no intention of letting the sun go down on pop's most productive career. From youngsters barely aware of the words to his last hit single, I Want Love, to fans whose memories
An amateur golfer bagged a hole-in-one twice in three days after throwing away his glasses. Peter Davies, 50, has worn specs for 40 years and for 25 years has been a frustrated golfer. But just days after returning to the golf course following laser surgery
A LEISURE company is cashing in on the North-East tourism boom this summer thanks to a renovation of cruise ship Island Scene. North Shields-based Tyne Leisure Line is also busy with an intensive training programme through regional enterprise agency Entrust
A NORTH-EAST car dealership has come to the rescue of a champion long jumper who has had his own car stolen. Chris Tomlinson, 20, from Teesside, is Britain's number one long jumper and the country's Commonwealth Games gold medal hope. Earlier this year
NEW initiatives for the North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust have helped it maintain Government targets on answering emergency calls. The service managed to answer 75 per cent of all life threatening calls last year within eight minutes. Among initiatives
A 12-year-old boy died hours after canoeing with school friends on an organised activity centre outing. James Todd was discovered on his bunk in a dormitory at the outdoor activities centre in Northumberland, on the final day of the two-day residental
NEARLY 1,000 homes are to be built in the Tees Valley over the next five years. The Tees Valley Housing Group (TVHG) yesterday announced plans to invest £75m into the area. The company, which incorporates Tees Valley Trust, Tees Valley Homes and the Banks
A DRIVER is recovering in hospital after he swerved to avoid a fox and his car hit a tree. The 46-year-old from Wearside, who has not been named by police, told officers he lost control of his Vauxhall Astra as he tried to avoid the animal he encountered
THE headmaster of one of the North-East's leading schools has condemned Government education proposals as "a national disgrace". David Dunn, of Yarm School, near Stockton, spoke out strongly against the Government's Green Paper during the lower school's
THE only correspondence parents used to have with schools was the note excusing little Johnny from PE. In today's litigious climate, schools are as likely to receive a legal writ in their correspondence from Johnny's mother and father, seeking damages
THE Government has begun proceedings to wind up several holiday clubs, some with links to County Durham, following investigations by the Department of Trade and Industry. Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, has presented petitions
TV producers are looking for people from in the North-East to take part in a BBC Choice programme called Diners. The show features people having dinner in a London restaurant while their conversation is recorded. Researcher Ryan Elterman said: "We are
A POSTMAN helped himself to money and vouchers from mail which he failed to deliver. Post Office investigators found thousands of items at Andrew Hinton's home during inquiries after customer complaints about undelivered greetings cards. Durham Crown
A GROUP of youngsters have put their artistic talents to good use and designed a walkway for their international garden. The youngsters from St Patrick's School, Thornaby, Teesside, including those above, worked with a group of parents to design the mosaic
Whatever the weather, it's going to be an Indian summer this year as East meets West in the cinema with a flurry of Bollywood blockbusters. Film Writer Steve Pratt reports. Come rain or shine, Bollywood's answer to Tom Cruise and a former Miss World are
The shortage of nurses in the North-East is being fuelled by a lack of university places, MPs have heard. Redcar MP Vera Baird urged the Government to put more money into the system to allow Teesside University to offer more training places. She said
MAJOR demolition work will signal the start in the next few weeks of a £10m shopping development in the centre of Scarborough. The former YMCA and HC Chapman auction room, in North Street, are to be pulled down, along with the KwikSave store, Quids Inn
TWO of the biggest rock bands in the world during the 1980s and 1990s will share the bill at a concert in the region. Blondie and INXS will perform at the Telewest Arena, Newcastle, on Monday, December 9. It will be the first time Australian rockers INXS
A BROTHER and sister from Middlesbrough and a 69-year-old Stockton athlete have been chosen to carry the Queen's Golden Jubilee Baton in the North-East today. Teenage sprinters John and Laura Baines, from Ormesby, will run with the baton through the centre
Union leaders are calling for an extra £45m in Government cash to close the productivity gap and boost the region's economy. The Trades Union Congress makes its appeal in its report on regional development agencies (RDAs) published tomorrow. It says action
BENFICA midfielder Luis Miguel has admitted he would love to play under Bobby Robson at Newcastle - and link up with his mate Hugo Viana. The Magpies are eyeing £4m-rated Miguel, even though Benfica insist he is not for sale. Viana, signed a fortnight
DARRYLL HOLLAND'S bank balance could be considerably swollen following this visit to Haydock, where he has choice rides aboard Mellow Park and Takamaka Bay in the two most valuable contests on the card, the Lancashire Oaks and the Old Newton Cup. Mellow
