YOUNG Mike was spending his birthday at school when his teacher wheeled a TV set into the classroom. The news channel was reporting on a piece of history that he felt his pupils should witness. They saw the twin towers of the World Trade Centre collapse
DRIVING back from the Lake District yesterday morning, the A66 was its usual wonderful self. There were wide open spaces on the dual carriageways over the summit of Stainmore - one of the most spectacular stretches of major road in Britain - where cars
NEVER have Durham profited so handsomely from left-handers as they did on a rain-interrupted third day against Essex at Colchester. The Pratt brothers and Ashley Thorpe all scored half-centuries to build a second innings total of 323 for eight, giving
LOW fares airline bmibaby plans to establish a third UK regional base in 2003. And the North-East's two airports, Teesside and Newcastle have not ruled themselves out of the running. Bmibaby has only been operational since the early part of this year,
THE case for dualling the A66 was graphically illustrated yesterday when five people were injured on what has become known as Britain's most dangerous road. The incident came only 24 hours after the Government confirmed it was to invest more than £140m
GIRLS from Darlington's Polam Hall School are celebrating exceptional grades for their GCSE results. Among the school's high achievers were 16-year-old Helen Earle, from Bolton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire, who was awarded ten A* grades and two A grades.
FOUR years after a dream holiday in South Africa, Margaret Hoyle Fox still bears the scars. On a visit to the Cango Wildlife Ranch, in Oudtshoorn, she was encouraged to stroke a cheetah by a tour guide who compared the animal to a domestic cat. But just
A WOMAN who has worked in a cat rescue centre for 25 years has moved to Darlington with the hope of setting up a boarding cattery. Muriel Marshall, of Whessoe Road, hopes to convert buildings near her home into the ten-run cattery, and also add other
Manchester City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd: Former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan was celebrating today after his stylish Mancunian outfit proved just too good for Sir Bobby Robson's Magpies. In a battle of the former England bosses Keegan won the tactical confrontation
THE reward on offer for information leading to the identity of a driver who left a cyclist dying in the road in North Yorkshire a year ago yesterday increased to £6,000. The family of Stefan Forge have put up a £5,000 reward for information that will
NURSES' ideas on improving patients' experiences in hospital are being promoted in a good practice guide. More than 50 ideas from senior nurses at the University Hospital of North Durham, ranging from simple information leaflets to nurses taking on extra
MILITARY enthusiasts have promised to support plans to reopen a former prisoner of war camp as a tourist attraction. Members of the Military Vehicles Trust recently travelled to Harperley POW camp, near Wolsingham, in restored wartime vehicles. Jon Kerr
AFTER losing 400 trolleys from its Harrogate store since January, Asda has launched a campaign which it hopes will lead to the return of many of its lost grocery carriers. Staff will be holding a trolley amnesty day at the Bower Road store on Wednesday
DESPITE the problems faced by fashion chain The Designer Room, the Hartlepool store has a positive future, experts said yesterday. The chain, which has 46 outlets nationwide, went into administration in June with 18 of its stores having to close. However
"SUPERGRAN" Grace Wright is bowing out in style - with the help of hundreds of teddy bears. The 88-year-old earned her nickname for her years of unstinting charity work in her home town of Northallerton. But after 20 years of unceasing fundraising she
A THEATRE group made up of people with learning disabilities will perform in Darlington next month. The Earthbeat Theatre Company will put on their version of West Side Story at Darlington Civic Theatre on Friday, September 6, at 7.30pm. Director Jan
COMMUNITY caretakers in west Middlesbrough have moved to new premises in Cannon Park to help improve the life of local residents. The scheme, funded by the West Middlesbrough New Deal for Communities (NDC) Partnership, is designed to cut crime. The caretakers
GIRLS from Darlington's Polam Hall School are celebrating exceptional grades for their GCSE results. Among the school's high achievers were 16-year-old Helen Earle, from Bolton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire, who was awarded ten A* grades and two A grades.
A PAIR of burglars were caught when they stopped to report a house fire while fleeing a raid. Peter Harrison, 22, and Ricky Milner, 18, had stolen more than £5,000 worth of jewellery and property - which they stashed in pillowcases - from a house in Park
DARTS players hope to hit the bullseye with an end-of-season charity night, which is becoming a regular annual fixture. Tickets are selling well for Durham and District Ladies' darts team charity night, at Ushaw Moor Catholic Club, on Thursday, September
A SKIVING doctor given compassionate leave after claiming his sister died in the September 11 terror attack on New York, was yesterday suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC). Dr Sidharth Sahni, a senior house officer in plastic surgery, was suspended
GOLF professional Ernie Wilson is changing clubs. Mr Wilson, 40, has been the professional at Woodham Golf and Country Club, Newton Aycliffe, for ten years. He is moving down the road to Great Aycliffe Town Council's Oak Leaf Sports Complex, where he
Such overwhelming images of public grief have not been seen since the death of Princess Diana five yers ago. Linsay Jennings looks at the public response to the death of two little girls. THERE have not been scenes like it in Britain since the death of
ENVIRONMENTALISTS have condemned the Government's decision to invest millions of pounds in a new dual carriageway across the Pennines, claiming an upgraded A66 could herald a new surge of road-building across the UK. Transport Minister John Spellar confirmed
NORTH-East pop hopeful Aaron Bayley is looking forward to playing his second outdoor concert in the region tomorrow night. The Geordie singer, who found fame as the cheeky train driver searching for stardom on ITV's Pop Idol, will be among a host of acts
A YOUNG goalkeeper whose death led to landmark allegations of rough play during a game, is lying in an unmarked grave in a North-East cemetery. Sunderland keeper Jimmy Thorpe died at the age of 22 following a home game against Chelsea, in 1936, described
PLANS to regenerate an area which has been blighted by vandalism, are to go on display to the public. City of York Council and the Tees Valley Housing Group are to stage an exhibition in the Chapelfields area next month. The exhibition will be showing
A LONG-RUNNING battle to build a children's nursery on an industrial estate looks set to reach a conclusion next week. Despite fears from local councillors that a business park is the wrong location for a nursery, Looby Lou's Day Nursery is about to expand
A POPULAR tourist attraction is closing over the Bank Holiday to allow for essential maintenance work. Sunderland's Winter Gardens needs work doing after one of the two-metre aluminium strips that hide wiring in the steel rotunda fell off into the plants
A MAN has appeared before magistrates in Newcastle accused of trying to abduct a four-year-old boy in the city's Exhibition Park, on Wednesday afternoon. Kevin McMullen, 49, of Derwentwater Road, Gateshead, was charged with detaining a child under 16,
People interested in finding out more about bats are invited to take part in a bat walk on Thursday at Margrove Park, near Charltons, east Cleveland. The walk, led by Steve Ashton and Liz Arnold, from the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, will start at 8pm.
A TALENTED young rugby squad is celebrating after returning from a successful tour of South America. The squad of 28 boys from Barnard Castle School, won all four of its full tour matches, and even defeated a club side during its travels. The school put
A VILLAGE social club will travel back in time tonight to celebrate its humble beginnings. Waldridge Fell Workingmen's Club, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, started life in August 1902 in a hut next to the drift mine where most of its members worked
A THEATRE group made up of people with learning disabilities will perform in Darlington next month. The Earthbeat Theatre Company will put on their version of West Side Story at Darlington Civic Theatre on Friday, September 6, at 7.30pm. Director Jan
GEORGE and Ruby Scott, of Blackhall, near Peterlee, have been reading The Northern Echo all their married life. But this week they are making the news by celebrating their diamond anniversary. Mr Scott, 81, originally from Trimdon Colliery, met his bride
EXPERTS will have the ancient art of lace-making all sewn-up at a North-East museum today. Beamish Open Air Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, is holding a demonstration of the craft and the attraction's own collection will be on display. The two-day
A TEAM of bobbies will put their best feet forward when they take part in a 24-hour charity relay event. Twelve officers of all ranks from Whickham police station, Gateshead, have signed up for Cancer Research UK's Relay for Life, at the Monkton Stadium
A North-East youngster is about to make his television debut. Jed Riddell, of Spennymoor, County Durham, beat hundreds of children to win a role in an advertisement for Nestle All Stars sweets. The talented 12-year-old and five other youngsters will be
Pupils listed alphabetically S Adams 8; J Addison 9; A Alderson 10; P Alderson 1; S Ambery-Smith 10; L Anderson 10 (1); M Armstrong 10; A Ayling 10; J Banthorpe 7; L Banthorpe 10; A Baragwanath 10 (5); G Barker 9; L Barker 10; R Barker 10 (2); J Barley
THE proposed new Hartlepool Local Plan will be discussed at a council meeting next week. The environmental stewardship and regeneration scrutiny forum will consider a number of key non-housing issues at the Civic Centre, on Tuesday, at 10am. The public
BUILDING contractors are planning to use a helicopter as a giant dryer, in a gamble to get workers back on a North-East site. Britain's poor summer has taken its toll on the development of a 230-acre business park, with standing water causing construction
SPORTING legend and keen fundraiser Ian Botham is swapping his bat for a set of clubs and pitching in to support this year's Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Two charities, Hartlepool District Hospice and tfm's Make a Child Smile, are "on par" to receive
THE introduction of breast screening has led to a drop in mastectomy rates, not an increase, as some scientists have suggested, according to a new study. Researchers, who studied almost 60,000 women, found the rates of breast removal surgery fell by almost
Pupils listed alphabetically S Abbey 10; M Adamson 10; J Allen 10; M Amlin 10; R Anderson 10; C Ardley 10; J Arkless 10; J Auton 10; M Aylott 10; P Bakewell 10; S Barker 10; S Barnbrooke 10; J Barnes 8; R Barnett 10; S Bell 10; J Blackman 10; E Bonnar
ARTIST Derek Mosey hopes his latest work will grow on visitors to a seaside town. He has created several willow sculptures around the Victorian resort of Saltburn in east Cleveland. His work includes a horse and cart, a fisherman and a Victorian man and
ONLY one place remains to be filled for the Chariots of Fire-style race around Durham's Palace Green. There is already a line-up of seven invited athletes for the event, at midday on Monday. One of the two wildcard places has been taken by Army runner
STARTING ON Monday, 90 young people from across the North-East will work with professional performers and teachers at Durham's Gala Theatre to put together a performance in a week. The show, featuring songs from West End musicals such as Copacabana, The
POLICE last night stepped up their presence in a North-East town centre amid what they described as "heightened tension" between rival gangs. Riot vans and uniformed police patrolled the streets of Darlington in a high-profile visibility exercise to alleviate
COUNCILS on Teesside continue to tighten the noose on rogue private landlords. Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson yesterday unveiled The Hartlepool Voluntary Landlord Registration and Property Accreditation Scheme aimed at promoting higher standards within
YOUNG Mike was spending his birthday at school when his teacher wheeled a TV set into the classroom. The news channel was reporting on a piece of history that he felt his pupils should witness. They saw the twin towers of the World Trade Centre collapse
GLOBAL warming has plenty to answer for these days. Just ask the executive at Redcar, forced to abandon their two-day weekend fixture earlier this month thanks to some of the worst summer flooding witnessed this century. Fortunately the weather has been
SIR BOBBY ROBSON has saluted Kevin Keegan for "rousing the sleeping giant'' at Newcastle United. Robson's Magpies face one-time boss Keegan when Premiership football returns to Manchester City today. The clash is also one of eight that both men must undertake
Pupils listed alphabetically C Armstrong 9; J Avery 9; J Aylesbury 10; A Balfour 10; M Barber 10; S Barr 8; P Bartlett 7; L Basquil 10; L Best 10; L Bewley 10; S Bidnell 10; M Bishop 10; A Blakeborough 10; C Bolton 10; L Bowey 10; A Bowtell 10; H Brookes
A CAREER in showbusiness beckons for Big Brother's Jonny Regan, who has landed a role in pantomime. The 29-year-old, from Trimdon Station, County Durham, is returning to the jokey ways that made him so popular on the Channel 4 show. A firefighter in Peterlee
South Northumberland's stunning victory over Chester-le-Street last weekend has thrown the race for the championship wide open and with just four games to play Benwell Hill's lead is now a precarious three points. Only a week ago the Hill were firm favourites
THE advertising department will like this bit. Improbable among the steak houses and show houses in our TV and entertainments section 7Days - the other week - was a simply worded ad for something called a "continuing" Anglican church. It worked - a 33
Two goals in the last minute from Fulham, spoilt Middlesbrough's record buy as Maffimo Maccarone's home bow at the Riverside this afternoon. Maccarone, an 8.15 million pound buy from Italian side Empoli, struck two fine goals but they proved not enough
A TINY North-East snail will next week take centre stage at the most important environmental gathering the world has seen in ten years. The only English site for the round-mouthed whorl snail, which is only half a millimetre across, is on damp hillsides
Darlington today go into their toughest challenge of the season so far, but boss Tommy Taylor insists it's not time for the alarm bells to start ringing yet. A reverse at Rochdale would leave Taylor with just four points from a possible 12 and Quakers
THE family of a nine-year-old girl killed in one of Britain's most notorious child murder cases have broken their silence to call for the reintroduction of the death penalty for child sex killers. Speaking 16 years after Nicola Fellows and her friend
MILITARY enthusiasts have promised to support plans to reopen a former prisoner of war camp as a tourist attraction. Members of the Military Vehicles Trust recently travelled to Harperley POW camp, near Wolsingham, in restored wartime vehicles. Jon Kerr
THE Chester-le-Street Theatre Group is to perform The Haunting of Hill House, a stage version of the blockbuster film The Haunting. It will be staged at Chester-le-Street Community Association's centre on Newcastle Bank, from Wednesday to Saturday, September
AN open day is to be held at a Darlington childcare centre. Staff at the centre at Darlington College of Technology will be opening their doors next Saturday, from 10am to 1.30pm. The centre provides full-time day care for children aged up to five and
PLANS to restore Weardale's historic railway line are gathering pace as applications are sought for the post of project leader. Weardale Railway Trust, which intends to re-open the redundant line, hopes the post will be filled by the start of next month
AN extra week of schooling added up to a lot of fun for youngsters preparing to move to secondary school. The 22 former pupils of Witton Gilbert, Edmondsley, Langley Park and Sacriston primary schools took part in a maths summer school at Fyndoune Community
A day centre for people with learning disabilities opened in Darlington yesterday. Dr Will Elliot, of Whinfield Surgery, in Whinfield Way, performed the opening ceremony for the Ruby Centre yesterday. The building is in Pease Street, with an entrance
RESIDENTS whose lives are made a misery by unruly youths may soon have some peace if plans for a barrier are given the go-ahead. For the past two years, people living in Marion Avenue, Eaglescliffe, Teesside, have put up with youngsters hurling abuse,
A RED-FACED navigation expert was left high and dry when he sailed his yacht too close to the shore and ran aground on a mudbank. Captain Peter Mitchell, a former lecturer in marine navigation, was stranded for seven hours and had to be rescued by lifeboat
ROADWORKS which have brought chaos to Richmond's roads over the past few weeks have been removed in time for the bank holiday. Negotiations with Transco have secured an agreement which has seen the temporary lights at the foot of Gallowgate switched off
A TEENAGER who cashed pension vouchers which had been taken in a burglary at the home of a war veteran, walked free from court yesterday. Kristopher Butler, 19, agreed to forge signatures on retirement and war pension books which were taken from Gerald
HUNDREDS of visitors are expected on Wearside this weekend for an annual regatta. Following a drop in interest, the Roker Regatta has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, with more and more families arriving to enjoy both fun and serious events
EXPERTS believe at least four chicks have been bred by a rare pair of birds nesting in the region, exceeding all expectations. The pair of bee-eaters are the first to successfully raise a family in Britain for almost 50 years. The fledgling chicks are
INCREASING numbers of applications for places at the University of York are creating a "tremendous pressure" for further expansion, according to bosses. Applications to the university are up by 16 per cent this year, despite a background of national decline
A TEENAGER who raped a paralysed woman while he was high on cocaine was ordered yesterday to be detained for seven years. Adrian Thwaites, 17, had smashed his way into the 43-year-old stroke victim's home at 2am and raped her. Police found the woman,
THE region's airports look set to be extremely busy over the bank holiday weekend, with many people taking advantage of an extra day off work. Every aircraft flying out of Teesside Airport is full, with destinations including Arrecife, Faro, Ibiza, Mahon
THE family of jailed deaf charity worker Ian Stillman reacted with hope yesterday that the Indian President could be about to set him free. In an interview in London on Thursday, the Indian Dep-uty Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, said the President
MOBILE phone company Orange has launched its new photo messaging service which it hopes will herald a new era in the industry. The new technology allows people to take digital photographs with a camera clipped on to their handset and send it to other
A CONSERVATION volunteer flies to America next month to help with research into the effects modern society is having on killer whales. The marine predator is in decline and scientists are trying to establish if changes in human behaviour could affect
ANIMAL-loving TV presenter Claire Montgomery found herself making news instead of reporting it yesterday. Montgomery, who has been a news presenter with Tyne Tees TV for five years, opened the new People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) shop at Yoden
WORKERS have stumbled on the first medieval pottery site to be found in the Yorkshire Dales. A team from Yorkshire Water, working on a £1.8m water pipeline, made their discovery at Healey, near Masham, North Yorkshire. Small fragments of pottery were
A report from the TUC claims workers in the region receive the lowest amount of holidays in Western Europe. It says 38,000 people in the North-East are losing out on holidays due to a loophole in the Working Time directive, while a further 21,000 are
RESIDENTS fear for their children's safety because drivers are using a back lane as a rat run. People in Bow Street, Slater Place and The Leases, in Bowburn, are calling for action before a child is seriously injured or killed. They say motorists drive
A DRINKS firm hopes to put some pep into a seaside skate park. Pop manufacturer Sprite is behind a "substantial'' investment in Redcar's R-Kade Skate park. The money has been put into the commissioning of a spined mini-ramp designed in collaboration with
CHILDREN have been invited to Fairfield Library, Stockton, on Tuesday, to find out more about the world of wildlife. Expert Rob King will give a talk with a colour slideshow to educate and entertain the youngsters and there will be free wildlife craft
TWO Durham schools followed up high ranking A-level results last week with notable achievements at GCSE level this week. Durham High School for Girls learned that two of its chemistry students - Rachael Ibbott and Jane Hornsby - were rated among the top
A VILLAGE church is to be transformed into a spectacular riot of colour over the bank holiday weekend. St Mary's Church at Carlton Husthwaite will be the focus for the village's flower festival. The interior will be decorated on the theme of a Melody
GAS company Transco has hit back at claims that it is to blame for delays to vital flood defence work. Residents of Norton, in North Yorkshire, were sent letters last week explaining why work had yet to be completed on the Mill Beck pumping station. Local
PEOPLE with learning difficulties had the chance to shine on stage, thanks to a new summer school. An audience of parents and carers gathered in Stanley, County Durham, for a special performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, Joseph and His Amazing
HE STOOD with eyes closed and watched by millions of people - yet in a world of his own as he remembered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. For Manchester United football star David Beckham, the minute's silence at last night's match with Chelsea had special
A WOMAN who has worked in a cat rescue centre for 25 years has moved to Darlington with the hope of setting up a boarding cattery. Muriel Marshall, of Whessoe Road, hopes to convert buildings near her home into the ten-run cattery, and also add other
Pupils listed alphabetically M Ahmad 10 (10); A Ahmad 10 (10); J Amer 8 (3); D Anderson 10 (10); J Atkinson 11 (11); HJ Baek, 8 (7); H Bahia 10 (10); C Baldwin 8 (8); D Blackburn 10 (9); N Bolt, 10 (10); C Booth, 10 (10); IK Choi 10 (10); K Clark 9 (9
A TALENTED young rugby squad is celebrating after returning from a successful tour of South America. The squad of 28 boys from Barnard Castle School, won all four of its full tour matches, and even defeated a club side during its travels. The school put
A SCHOOLBOY who groped girl classmates during lessons was last night placed on the sex offenders' register after being found guilty of ten charges of indecent assault. The 15-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, showed no emotion as magistrates
THIEVES escaped with thousands of pounds after forcing their way into the grounds of a Wensleydale castle. The intruders forced their way into Bolton Castle's gift shop and broke open the safe. The shop's tills were also targeted. Anyone who saw anything
YOUNGSTERS in Ferryhill have been building mini-robots as part of a summer school. The sessions were intended for children starting at Ferryhill Comprehensive next term, to help them bridge the gap between primary and secondary school. The 24 pupils have
ROAD building schemes in the countryside will always draw criticism from environmental campaigners. Debate over the merits of such schemes reflect the delicate balance which has to be struck between the needs of the economy and the environment. We fully
PLANS to restore Weardale's historic railway line are gathering pace as applications are sought for the post of project leader. Weardale Railway Trust, which intends to re-open the redundant line, hopes the post will be filled by the start of next month
A BUMPER grant is a step in the right direction for a dance group. Northern Arts has given performing arts organisation Tees Dance Initiative (TDI) £60,000 to deliver a dance programme targeted on Middlesbrough. The Arts Council of England received 300
CHILDREN have been invited to Fairfield Library, Stockton, on Tuesday, to find out more about the world of wildlife. Expert Rob King will give a talk with a colour slideshow to educate and entertain the youngsters and there will be free wildlife craft
Pupils listed alphabetically M Abott 9; S Allan 11 (3); M Appleyard 9; D Armstrong 7; M Askew 9; R Aspinall 9; J Barker 10; N Beadle 9; A Beavis-Harrison 9; K Bell 9; E Bielby 10; J Binks 9; L Birchall 11 (6); R Blackburn 9; S Blackburn 9; K Bolton 8;
STARTING ON Monday, 90 young people from across the North-East will work with professional performers and teachers at Durham's Gala Theatre to put together a performance in a week. The show, featuring songs from West End musicals such as Copacabana, The
STARTING ON Monday, 90 young people from across the North-East will work with professional performers and teachers at Durham's Gala Theatre to put together a performance in a week. The show, featuring songs from West End musicals such as Copacabana, The
COMEBACK kings Paul Smith and Tommy Widdrington have been tipped to give Hartlepool United the boost they need for their weekend double header. The pair are back in contention for starting roles at Torquay this afternoon and Pool goalkeeper Anthony Williams
Guisborough, who experienced their worst couple of days for a long time when they were beaten by leaders Saltburn and by Barnt Green in the semi-final of the ECB National Knockout Cup last weekend, have a fight on their hands to retain the championship
Just like last week darlington missed several chances in front of goal which cost them points at Rochdale today. Darlington drew 1 - 1 but were by far the better side and the draw meant it was two points lost. Quakers had got off to a slow start with
Kevin Phillips had a penalty save as Sunderland slipped to a 1 - 0 defeat at home to Everton. Phillips was denied from the spot after 70 minutes by Richard Wright, who had conceded the spot kick when he barged over over Niall Quinn. The only goal of the
PETER Reid admitted last night that his frustrating Search for a Striker has sent him "bonkers". The Sunderland manager let slip his exasperation over his inability to tempt a forward to the Stadium of Light with the transfer deadline just a week away
AFTER all the hysteria that has surrounded Kevin Keegan and Manchester City's return to the Premiership, it is time for Mighty Mouse to start flexing his muscles. A 3-0 opening-day defeat at Leeds United hardly constitutes a crisis; neither would a loss
Hylton are now odds-on favourites to win the championship after their long drawn-out saga of the cancelled game with Houghton took yet another twist this week. Initially, the League decreed that the result should be a draw. Hylton protested and were awarded
THE business world has welcomed news of the A66 upgrade - but warned it should be completed as quickly as possible. Work to build a dual carriageway along its entire length is expected to speed up access between key arterial routes the A1 and M6 and bring
POLICE have netted drugs worth thousands of pounds and made several arrests in Ferryhill over recent months. Officers have staged eight major operations in the town during the past six months, focusing on people involved in supplying class A drugs. Detective
Q I am a 59 year old full time carer to my wife aged 57 who has dementia. We each get Incapacity Benefit (IB) of £70.95 a week and she has maximum Disability Living Allowance. Our council tax is reduced but is there any way of improving our benefit situation
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren last night insisted that Alen Boksic is part of his long-term plans. The Croatia striker, whose two years on Teesside have been blighted by niggling injuries, is said to be a target for European champions Real Madrid
