Sir, - I read with interest the excellent article relating to Carol Lewis (D&S, Jan 18), who has recently been working for the Two Dales Partnership as a community development worker in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. This partnership has worked hard
Singing sensation Zoe Birkett delivered a blunt message to ailing pop band Hear'Say last night: "I'm not interested in joining you." Hear'Say was formed through ITV show PopStars, the forerunner to Pop Idol, but it is now in crisis after it was confirmed
LESSONS were magic for pupils of two Wensleydale primary schools who had the chance to learn the tricks of the trade from a master. International magician Mr Johnny Hay performed a special show for more than 100 youngsters from West Burton and Askrigg
BCTG. - Jan 28: Dressage clinic with Patsy Bartram (subsidised for members), open to non-members, tel 01325 332685 for details. For membership details, tel Hilary on 01325 326262. Bedale & West of Yore PC. - Feb 9: Ceilidh, 7-11pm, Bedale Hall, anyone
After two commanding displays, Gary Pearson may have secured a regular place in the Darlington side, although not in his usual midfield berth. With Craig Liddle and David Brightwell in the treatment room, Pearson was paired with Paul Heckingbottom at
A SHOPKEEPER who claims tobacco smuggling costs him £2m a year is embarking on a cross-Channel mission to show how the trade is destroying local shops. According to Customs and Excise, the black market is costing the country £4bn a year in lost revenue
THERE was an interesting performance from Richmond MP William Hague on BBC breakfast television yesterday morning. It was not so much what he said (on his successor, Labour's record on the NHS and life after the Tory leadership), but the way that he said
AN eleven-year-old Barnard Castle rider is forging his way up the British Show Jumping Association rankings after a string of successes. Adam Valks won the 90cm open on his pony Diego III at Holmeside last Saturday and also the small pony open class.
A MILLION-pound drive to eradicate fuel poverty in Chester-le-Street has been declared a success by council bosses. Four years ago the Government told local authorities to eliminate fuel poverty by 2010, but Chester-le-Street District Council hopes to
PALE pandas and teddies with temperatures can be checked into a hospital's Well Teddy Clinic. Children can take along their toys to nurses at Bishop Auckland General Hospital's accident and emergency department for a check-up on Sunday. The aim of the
A PAIR of teenage sweethearts who met in their local park are celebrating 60 years of marriage. George and Hilda Colling, both 78, now live in Redcar, Teesside, but met when they were both 16 in their local park, at Stanley, Crook. "She was on the swings
FORMER police chief inspector Bob Young, 81, of Newcastle Road, Chester-le-Street, died on Monday at the Willow Burn Hospice, Lanchester, from cancer. Mr Young, described as "an officer of the old school" by Durham Constabulary, leaves a widow, Mary,
MORE than 40 people turned up on a damp and windy morning to join in the launch of a health walks initiative in Newton Aycliffe. Despite the weather, the participants enjoyed the 30 minute walk to and from the Pioneering Care Centre, which took in parts
A nightclub worker who was caught with £12,000 worth of cocaine in his home was told by a judge yesterday that he would be going to jail for years. Neil Naylor, 38, claimed at Teesside Crown Court that the cocaine must have been smuggled into his home
Letters from The Northern Echo EUROPEAN UNION GUS O'Donnell, the Treasury official in charge of the Government's five euro tests, recently said that there can never be a "clear and unambiguous" economic case for Britain to join the euro and that it would
The Government are worried that too few women are taking up public appoinments and is taking steps to change the situation. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. MARGARET Thatcher proved that you don't have to be a man to get to the top in public life
FAST food fans in a remote North-East village are celebrating the return of fish and chips - after a 50-year hiatus. Caf owner Gordon Witton couldn't believe the residents of Rookhope, in Weardale, County Durham, hadn't savoured the taste of deep fried
EFFORTS will be made to turn the first-ever Dales Festival of Food into a major regional event. Financial backing for the Leyburn festival is already pouring in from local councils, businesses and organisations. Gerald Hodgson told Leyburn Town Council
FORMER Tory leader William Hague is to argue in Parliament for a public inquiry into the Richard Neale scandal. The Richmond MP will use an adjournment debate in the House of Commons to call for a public inquiry into how the NHS handled the case of the
ARCHIVED maps and prints of Durham normally only available for viewing in libraries can now be seen at the touch of a button. Pictures in Print, a joint project between Durham University, Durham County Council and Durham Cathedral, features historical
SCOTSMAN John Bogie made sure he wasn't denied his second victory in less than a month when he led the Jack Frost Stages Rally from start to finish in the Darlington and District Motor Club event at Croft last Saturday. The Dumfries driver and his co-driver
TWO hard-up North-East councils are locked in a £12m winner-takes-all "divorce" row that is destined to end in a costly legal battle. And local council tax payers - already facing double figure increases this year - will have to foot the loser's huge
A reunion is being planned for former employees at one of the region's largest power stations. The Wilton Power Station, near Redcar, east Cleveland, has been owned and operated by Enron Teesside Operations Limited (Etol) since 1999. Before that it was
DURHAM Police are looking for a new chief constable after George Hedges announced he will retire in the autumn. Mr Hedges, 60, who has held the post for five years, plans to end his 43-year career, which started as a cadet in Oxfordshire, at the end of
HEAVY lorries in Hutton Rudby have gouged deep tyre tracks on the village green and smashed a new footpath sign, the parish council believes. A coal wagon has been blamed for churning up the green along nearly the whole length of North Side, leaving deep
THIRSK farmers are so angry at being blamed for the spread of foot-and-mouth disease that they are taking their case to the House of Lords. They claim their names were been unfairly blackened by ministers in the House of Commons. Mr Robin Bosomworth,
National park chiefs are being urged to revamp their network of visitor centres if they want to attract more visitors to the Yorkshire Dales. A report by inspectors called in under the Government's Best Value initiative claims not enough is being done
MANY of the University of Teesside's short part-time courses are now offered in local community centres. Among those to benefit from this flexible approach to learning is 88-year-old Bob Walker, who gained his university certificate in professional development
ONE of the rarest birds to be seen in Britain since the extinction of the great auk two centuries ago has been accepted on to the country's most endangered list after a sighting in the North-East. The slender-billed curlew was spotted among a flock of
POLICE interviewed residents on a Stokesley housing estate this week after a family was apparently targeted in an arson attack. Fire swept through the Allen Grove home of Mr Richard Wilson, partner Mrs Pat Gunn and her nine-year old daughter, Jodie, early
A PAIR of teenage sweethearts who met in their local park are celebrating 60 years of marriage. George and Hilda Colling, both 78, now live in Redcar, Teesside, but met as 16-year-olds in their local park in Stanley Crook, near Crook, County Durham. "
A CLERGYMAN has been charged with rape and indecent assault against teenage boys more than 20 years ago. The Rev Neville Husband, 64, a minister in the United Reformed Church, is alleged to have committed the assaults while working on the catering staff
A MAN charged with robbery made a brief appearance at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. Anthony Whittaker, 19, of Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, spoke only to confirm his name. The case was adjourned until March 22 for a plea and directions
COLLABORATION between environmentalists has brought a £22,950 grant to aid research into the archaeological secrets of the Nidd Gorge, between Harrogate and Knaresborough. Bilton Conservation Group, Knox Valley Residents' Association and Knaresborough
A ROBBER who struck at a betting office was jailed for two-and-a-half years yesterday. Paul Boaler, 23, of Bruce Street, Hartlepool, admitted robbing John Joyce Bookmaker, in Winterbottom Avenue, Hartlepool, on April 30 last year. Greg Purcell, prosecuting
DETECTIVES investigating a robbery in a County Durham town are keen to establish how a distinctive jacket similar to one worn by one of the robbers mysteriously turned up close to the crime scene. Police said a red padded jacket with Eisenegger on the
Darlington and District League - DTTC B began the second half of the season with an impressive 7-3 victory over previously unbeaten, leaders, Henknowle Community Centre. The B team comprising Andrew Leighton, David Meads and Mark Simpson, are the only
WHEN the snow lay on the ground, and when the earth was frozen but devoid of snow, we made sure our bird-feeders were replete with suitable food and our birdbath was full of water and ice-free. The rewards were excellent. The variety of birds which came
NO goals, but a satisfactory point at Cheltenham Town on Wednesday night brought an end to Darlington's hectic spell of three games in five days. It was a good result against a team who had lost only once at their Whaddon Road ground this season and Quakers
A YOUNG swimming star recorded two personal bests during her international debut at the weekend. Stephanie Proud, 13, of Durham, made history by becoming the youngest ever to represent Britain in the Fina Swimming World Cup in Paris. The teenager, who
Sir, - I read with concern of Ms Morton's plan to recruit several fellow councillors to support the plan to pass a by-law for the centre of Leyburn to ban the drinking of alcohol there (D&S, Dec 21). I have spoken to local police about this, and was
RELATIVES of a pedestrian killed on an unlit bypass are calling for urgent safety improvements after another man was seriously injured on the same road at the weekend. The 51-year-old man from Middlestone Moor was crossing the A688 near Low House Farm
Brave little Alex Herbert made his first tentative steps into the outside world yesterday since undergoing a bone marrow transplant to cure a rare genetic disorder. The four-year-old from Barnard Castle has spent much of the last six months being treated
Willington League - Howden Australian held on to second place in the table after they beat the visiting Willington Commercial by three points. The visitors got away to a great start and looked likely to cause a major upset when they had wins from Robert
A TWO-YEAR extension to the east coast main line rail franchise will involve private sector investment of £100m, it has been revealed. GNER, the existing franchise holder, and its partners will foot the bill for improvements to train services and rolling
A QUARTET of talented rugby players from Northallerton college have been selected to play at county level. Three of them - Dan Bird, Mark Robson and Chris Dixon - were chosen for North Yorkshire after attending a trial in York. They represented the county
THE village green at Staindrop is being regularly churned up with tyre marks by a policeman "who should know better", according to his local council. Det Con Geoff Wall, who is based at Barnard Castle, parks his car on North Green and also puts out cones
HEALTH secretary Alan Milburn has approved the establishment of two new primary care trusts in the North-East. The trusts, in Gateshead and South Tyneside, will be established from April and will be independent NHS organisations responsible for delivering
The girls team at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington has qualified for the finals of the National Schools' championships at Crystal Palace on February 8 and 9. The Under-19 team, who are Ruth Fay, Angela Winstanley-Smith, Jill Hunter and
Campaign groups have welcomed a proposed change in the law allowing police to take blood samples from unconscious drink drivers. The move is being introduced under David Blunkett's police reform bill. At present drivers suspected of being over the legal
Frankland extended their lead at the top as a full set of fixtures finally were played this week. They entertained lowly Darlington and ran out comfortable 6-1 winners. Ian Gibson led the way with a hat trick whilst Phil McVay, Malcolm Penney and Peter
CASH-strapped Durham County Council has been attacked for selling a mothballed Victorian former nursing home "on the cheap". The authority is facing questions over its dealings in respect of Holmfield House, Crook, which closed as part of a shake-up of
A MAN has been charged with assault after the daughter of former Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson was hurt in an incident in Durha City. Claire Louise Robson, 21, who lives in the Chester-le-Street area, suffered a gash to the head and needed stitches
A WHITE cashier who was driven from her job on Teesside and replaced by Asian workers has won her claim that she was a victim of racial discrimination. In a comparatively rare case, petrol filling station worker Janet Rowntree took her former bosses to
THINK Scottish food and the first thought is probably a deep fried Mars Bar and a pint of heavy. But as it's Burns' Night, let us be a mite more traditional... We have a strange attitude to our neighbours north of the border. Supermarket shelves groan
FURY erupted last night in a village threatened with unemployment as multinational conglomerate Lafarge announced sales figures of more than £8bn. The news came hours after the company said its Blue Circle cement plant in County Durham was to close, with
HAMBLETON'S flagship tourist attraction could have the number of days it is open cut to save money. The World of James Herriot centre in Thirsk was hit hard by foot-and-mouth disease last year, which saw visitor numbers plummet by 30pc. Income at the
TWO schemes are to be flagged up to improve Barnard Castle in what has been described as the best opportunity the town will ever have. As the result of discussions with Mr David McKnight, co-ordinator of the Market Towns Initiative, it was suggested that
AS the majority of North York moors footpaths reopen this weekend, an Osmotherley farming couple have called for additional up-to-date signs to notify walkers about any remaining short diversions. While walkers can again enjoy much of the Cleveland Way
THIEVES, who stole two 19th Century wooden doors from a disused mortuary have been condemned by local officials. The large arched green doors have wrought iron ornate handles and strap hinges. They are thought to be worth more than £400 and were taken
POLICE are warning football fans to take extra care on Saturday when York City compete in the fourth round of the FA Cup. A capacity crowd is expected at Bootham Crescent for City's match with Premiership big-spenders Fulham. Chief Superintendent John
It was arguably the game of the day Coundon Forrester's and East End WMC faced each other in a game between the first and third placed teams in Division One at the start of the days play. Coundon managed to take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a well-taken
LITTLE appeared to have been done to prevent foot-and-mouth entering the country again, said the NFU this week in a damning report on the government's handling of the world's worst outbreak. The NFU blamed the crisis on a catalogue of failures, from import
Maps dating back hundreds of year can be viewed on computer thanks to a new venture in County Durham. Pictures in Print, a joint project between Durham University, Durham County Council and Durham Cathedral, brings the collections of the three to a world-wide
A RASH of green road markings has appeared in Darlington. The green patches which sprang up in the Denes and Cockerton areas of town mark out an advised cycle route from West Auckland Road to the town centre. But as they appear at both kerbsides and in
Crook League - Crook Belle Vue Club maintained their top position in the First Division with an odd point win over the visiting Crook Travellers Rest A. The Club made their win in the singles where they had points from Jack Walker, Ivor Phillipson, John
LOAN ranger James Coppinger is poised for a return to Hartlepool United. The Newcastle United forward enjoyed a loan stint at Victoria Park almost two years ago when he helped Pool make the play-offs. And now Pool boss Chris Turner is hoping for similar
LOCAL schoolchildren are working hard to clear their school pond of litter before the end of winter. Pupils from Norton School are working with the Tees Valley Wildlife trust to clean up and restore the school pond, which is used to study ecology and
AN exhaustive air sea rescue search was launched yesterday when a kite from a surf board was spotted floating out to sea. Four lifeboats, two helicopters and two coastguard teams searched sea and shore in the Redcar area in vain for two hours, yesterday
TRIALS growing willow and poplar coppice have been extended for a further three years. Forest Research has been monitoring a site at Thorpe Thewles for seven years as part of research into using wood as a source of energy. The coppice is cut every three
A quest to unravel an art mystery involving one of the region's best known artists has come to a happy end. A children's circus painting donated to the children of her home town of Chester-le-Street by Sheila Mackie in 1958 has finally been returned to
SINGING sensation Zoe Birkett has been praised by the latest Pop Idol hopeful to leave the ITV show. Hayley Evetts, 25, left the show on Saturday leaving Darlington teenager Zoe as the only girl in the last four of the competition. Hayley said: "Zoe really
THE future of Hartlepool will come under scrutiny at a business forum today. The town has been transformed during the past few years, but business leaders want to explore how it can be improved further. Leading figures in the town will speak at the Historic
IN the good old days, before smoothflow beer and mobile phones were invented, the only things which needed launching were ships. Nowadays everything from books to world heavyweight title fights has to be launched, with a flotilla of PR and marketing people
IN the good old days, before smoothflow beer and mobile phones were invented, the only things which needed launching were ships. Nowadays everything from books to world heavyweight title fights has to be launched, with a flotilla of PR and marketing people
IF your PC is a few years old and you spend long periods of time connected to the Internet, the chances are you have been exposed to a virus. Don't believe me? Get yourself a firewall and see how many times someone tries to access your system when you
THREE Darlington youngsters got the chance to find out how government works when they visited the Houses of Parliament this week. Gillian Lloyd, Richard Taylor and Adam Ferguson, who is visually impaired, from Hummersknott School and Language College,
LOCAL people are being urged to attend a vital consultation exercise on budget pressures facing North Yorkshire County Council and police covering England's largest county. Senior councillors and officers will outline the county council budget for the
BRITAIN'S manufacturing slowdown is hitting the service sector where export sales and orders have reached "rock bottom", a survey said yesterday. The quarterly survey, by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), showed service firms' export sales plummeted
BELGIAN airline DAT is to increase its services between Newcastle and Brussels. The company said it was introducing an extra daily flight from Sunday. They will operate every day, giving four flights on Sundays and three on Saturdays. The new flights
Spennymoor's failure to hold on to a three goal lead against Gretna in midweek cost them a place in the Presidents Cup quarter-finals. Moors were looking good for a financially rewarding away trip to Barrow on Saturday, but poor defending allowed Gretna
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former football club director and prominent businessman who died this week. Brian Hadley, vice-chairman of Darlington Football Club for almost 15 years, died from a heart-attack at his home on Tuesday, aged 74. Darlington-born
THINK Scottish food and the first thought is probably a deep fried Mars Bar and a pint of heavy. But as it's Burns' Night, let us be a mite more traditional... We have a strange attitude to our neighbours north of the border. Supermarket shelves groan
A JEWISH man whose relatives were murdered in Nazi concentration camps shared his horrific memories of the Holocaust with school children this week. Retired engineer Mr George Lobel, aged 75, talked to pupils at West Redcar school who are studying the
AN art gallery sales assistant was so obsessed with her job that she would become upset if a painting was sold without her knowledge, an industrial tribunal heard yesterday. Angela Davis, 42, also came into work on her day off, frequently turned up unannounced
Despite the unsettled weather it was nice to get back to normal with matches now on all of the region's rivers, writes JEFF HERBERT. Middlesbrough AC staged their first match since last January's Zetland Trophy so expectations for 2002's Zetland event
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. Eaglescliffe Harriers: After the weekly run on Tuesday night a smoker was held at Mr Chesney's Pot and Glass Inn, at which there was a good company present. Mr C E Faber, president of the club, presided and presented
A CLEVELAND girls' hockey team has reached third place in a national schools competition. The Red House school under-16s team from Norton qualified for the British National aerospace knockout competition in Leeds after a fantastic season. They were Stockton
A RECRUITMENT agency has warned its drivers to be aware of tiredness at the wheel in the wake of the Selby rail disaster. LMR, in Newton Aycliffe, has a team of temporary truckers who carry out driving assignments for local businesses. Branch manager
WE have many visits to school. We welcome visitors who teach us so much. In June, it was Food Safety Week. Mr Carter, of Sedgefield Borough Council, came to teach us about care with food. He taught us how to wash our hands correctly. The Durham County
THE Army is establishing a temporary recruiting office, in Consett, as part of a recruitment drive. The office, which will be in the precinct in Middle Street at the junction with Wesley Street, will be staffed by a team of recruitment officials who will
The afternoon when referee Alf Grey backed himself forever into one of football's most infamous corners will be recalled at a book launch next Thursday. Grey had charge of the FA Cup fifth round tie between Wrexham and Blyth Spartans, the Northern League
The afternoon when referee Alf Grey backed himself forever into one of football's most infamous corners will be recalled at a book launch next Thursday. Grey had charge of the FA Cup fifth round tie between Wrexham and Blyth Spartans, the Northern League
WE are told that our local authorities are contemplating tough choices between raising council taxes well above the rate of inflation and cutting services; or both. In these tough times, therefore, we can understand Durham County Council's and Darlington
Darlington RA borrowed Darlington's team coach for the long-trip to Windscale last weekend, but it didn't bring them much luck. The RA had been defeated just once in their previous 12 games - and that was on penalties in a Cup match - but on Saturday
THE Army is setting up camp in Barnard Castle as part of a drive to encourage young people to take up forces careers. A team of soldiers will set up a recruiting office at the Galgate car park and will be available to answer questions about the training
SEDGEFIELD Borough Council is seeking an independent member to sit on its standards committee. The successful applicant will be required to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members, advise the council on the adoption or revision of the
CONCERNS about litter left behind by camping travellers have been raised by Sedgefield borough councillor Gloria Wills. The council's environment team had been called out to Beacon Lane, Sedgefield, at least three times in as many months to clean up after
THERE is a saying for people who are often away from home - throw your hat in first when you get back to see if you are welcome. Coun Herbert Tindall wears so many hats, and is away from home so often, he would be hard put to know which one to throw in
AMERICAN retailer Wal-Mart is on track to earn more than £150bn this financial year, unseating oil conglomerate ExxonMobil as the world's biggest corporation. "Everyone needs toilet paper and toothpaste, and they are the most efficient at selling it,"
A DERELICT factory could soon be given a new lease of life by a mystery buyer, who is understood to be about to complete a £650,000 deal. The Camus plant, adjacent to the A1 at Brompton-on-Swale, in North Yorkshire, has been empty for years. Horses were
Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards is about to make a leap of faith - by fronting Songs of Praise in May. The triple jump hero, a committed Christian, will present the programme from his home city of Newcastle in March. He has often spoken of how
A reunion is being planned for former employees at one of the region's largest power stations. The Wilton Power Station, near Redcar, east Cleveland, has been owned and operated by Enron Teesside Operations Limited (Etol) since 1999. Before that it was
A GIANT earth dam, costing £4m, is to be built to prevent a repeat of the floods that devastated several North-East communities two years ago. Officials have given the go-ahead for an artificial lake, bounded by a 40ft wall, to hold back millions of gallons
A plea is being made for more chaplains to help meet a growing demand from visitors to a North Yorkshire tourist attraction. The Cistercian monastery of Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, founded in the 12th Century, is the National Trust's biggest paying attraction
GOALKEEPING coach George Crow has urged budding Shay Givens and Thomas Sorensens to come and join his sessions. Crow, who has helped Hartlepool United and Horden Colliery Welfare in recent seasons, has set up a training school at Sunderland's Raich Carter
THERE was some excellent mini rugby on show when Darlington Mowden Park visited West Hartlepool recently. Mowden won a close encounter at under-12 level 28-21 with their tries coming from Stephen Reeves (2) and James Park (2), all converted by Daniel
TRAINER Michael Dods is holding an open morning at his Piercebridge stables on Sunday, February 3 for anyone who wants to find out more about racehorse ownership. The trainer, who has ten two-year-olds in a string of 35 horses at his Denton Hall premises
STOKESLEY parents had an eye-opener when police played them a video recording of their children vandalising a hedge. And police are continuing to investigate bad behaviour in Great Ayton, after photographs were taken of suspected teenage vandals. The
THE British Horse Society has been invited to join the Rural Affairs Forum for England. The forum is designed to put the needs of rural communities straight to the heart of government and the BHS will ensure that the voice of the equestrian community
HAVING finished second on all three of his outings this season, Ryalux (2.30) surely deserves to get his head in front at Doncaster today. It's been a heartbreaking sequence for Andy Crook's gutsy chaser, who never fails to give anything less than 110
PHASE one of a multi-million pound business park which could create up to 1,500 jobs in Hartlepool has been given the go-ahead. Work will begin shortly on the first business units on Queen's Meadow Business Park, owned by the regional development agency
POSTER competition winners were joined by a host of celebrities for a prize presentation. Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson and players Nolberto Solano and Warren Barton, along with actors from the children's TV series Byker Grove and Newcastle-born
A MAN accused of hitting his friend on the head with the handle of a gun was cleared by jury at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. David Mossman, 20, of Grants Crescent, Seaham, County Durham, denied unlawfully wounding Jonathan Everest, on March 18, last
AN INFLUENTIAL Victorian vicar's grave at Thorpe Thewles was damaged when a decorative stone cross fell from a church roof during a gale. The Rev William Cassidi's grave is in a prominent position next to St James' church, where he was vicar for 41 years
THE son of one of Middlesbrough's sporting legends is backing a campaign to stop a club being demolished to make way for housing. Peter Hatfield told a packed public meeting that his late father Jack, an Olympic swimming champion, had donated the land
Worthington CIU Winter League - Old Shildon opened a six point gap at the top of the First Division with an odd point win at Cockton Hill. The visitors went three up with frames from Michael Pratt, Stephen Bennett and Jossie Aldworth. However the Hill
COUNTY councillors are making a last-ditch bid to save four courthouses threatened with closure as part of a cost-cutting efficiency drive. The magistrates' courts in Richmond, Whitby, Pickering and Selby all face the axe as part of proposals to save
THE Government has rejected claims that it is dragging its feet over compensation for sick miners. It accused opponents who have criticised the speed of its procedures of telling "half-truths and lies". Energy Minister Brian Wilson admitted yesterday
A FATHER and son who have appeared on the same television quiz show within 14 months of each other know exactly where they live, even if the programme makers are not so sure. Retired storeman Mr Lou Dale, of Leeming Bar, followed his son, Steve, a former
TWO Leyburn town councillors met with "man-of-the-road" Mel Bird on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of re-opening the town shelter which has now been closed to the public since September. At the town council meeting on Monday evening councillors
A NEW mobile advisory service begins next Friday, following a suggestion made by a farmer at a rural recovery seminar. Mr David Maughan, of Morton Tinmouth, who is chairman of the NFU livestock committee for Durham and Northumberland, said what was needed
THE most visited cathedral in the country is considering whether to introduce an admission fee for the first time. The Dean and Chapter of York Minster - already looking at the possibility of sponsorship from the US - have launched a feasibility study
POLICE are urging a man missing from home for more than two weeks to contact them. Alan Bernard Jackson, 47, of David Terrace, Bowburn, near Durham City, was last seen in the village post office on January 9. Mr Jackson, originally from Bournemouth, is
A DARLINGTON charity hopes to build a new women's refuge in the town for victims of domestic violence. The Home housing association, based in Middlesbrough, has applied to Darlington Borough Council to build the eight self-contained units plus communal
Sir, - At the meeting of the Darlington Borough Council planning committee, it was decided that Chesterfield in Stanhope Road was not designed for residential use. It was used as a house until the 1970s, part of the ground floor of the eastern half was
A KEY survey into the dangers of flooding in the Northallerton area - due next month - will not be finished until April, it was revealed this week. The Environment Agency survey, called for after the floods of November 2000, will pinpoint areas at risk
PUPILS who have waited seven months for their exam results will finally get the grades today. Exam board Edexcel has promised to issue students at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, with the marks after admitting that the tapes had
Tory MEP Martin Callanan has weighed into the debate over Newcastle's controversial "blue carpet" public artwork. Mr Callanan said the structure outside the city's Laing Gallery was "over-hyped and over budget". It was formally unveiled today, two years
RAIL passengers were last night bracing themselves for another day of disruption today as hopes faded of a breakthrough in the pay dispute crippling Arriva Trains. The train operator was yesterday forced to cancel most of its 1,600 services across the
Wolviston secretary Keith Simpson was not in the least bit suprised when Andy Clark picked up the man-of-the-match award against New Marske last weekend. Clark only came into the Wolviston team a couple of months ago but has already established himself
The last roof tile was put into place yesterday at a new community hospital being built in the North-East. The final ridge tile at Sedgefield Community Hospital was laid yesterday by occupational therapist, Angela Bannister. She has worked at Sedgefield
A GAMEKEEPER who shot himself between the eyes in an apparent attempt to take his own life miraculously escaped death. The 30-year-old man fell unconscious on his bed with a gaping head wound and woke up eight hours later, before driving to his mother's
PRIME Minister Tony Blair returned to the North-East yesterday to launch a CD-ROM on citizenship, devised by Rotary International. During the visit to his Sedgefield constituency, Mr Blair was shown how the interactive programme works. Wansbeck Rotarian
THE Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock last Saturday was amazing, especially for our area. Norman Mason pulled off another fairytale win - almost as good as last year's National - with Red Striker, the brother of Red Marauder. Our interest was chiefly in a
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren last night revealed he is still hoping to bring Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke to the club. After being gazumped in the race to sign Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan last week by United, Yorke is now McClaren's
IF your PC is a few years old and you spend long periods of time connected to the Internet, the chances are you have been exposed to a virus. Don't believe me? Get yourself a firewall and see how many times someone tries to access your system when you
BIG-HEARTED Sunderland soccer star Niall Quinn, who is handing over the estimated £1m he will earn from his forthcoming testimonial match to charity, highlights just how much football has changed over the past few decades. Footballers, even in top clubs
BIG-HEARTED Sunderland soccer star Niall Quinn, who is handing over the estimated £1m he will earn from his forthcoming testimonial match to charity, highlights just how much football has changed over the past few decades. Footballers, even in top clubs
PARKING restrictions and charges introduced at Durham Police's headquarters to cut congestion have been welcomed. All staff at Aykley Heads, in Durham, have had to pay a £2 weekly charge to park on the site since December. The money will pay for the cost
HE may only be a few days old, but big baby Deklan Crowe is already the talk of the town. Weighing in at 12lb 4oz and measuring 24ins, Deklan's size surprised even experienced midwives when he was born at Darlington Memorial Hospital last week. Proud
IT IS to be hoped that an initiative in Teesdale to generate power from renewable sources is successful. The initiative - the Teesdale renewable energy challenge - has a long term, and ambitious, target of meeting all the dale's energy needs locally.
Police have made a renewed appeal for information about an indecent assault on a woman in Sunderland Street, Newcastle, at 1.30am on New Year's Day. The victim, 35, who has not been named, bit her assailant on the left side of his face. He was described
LIKE many farmers in North Yorkshire, the Bosomworths of Felixkirk, near Thirsk, are now trying to plan their future following the foot-and-mouth crisis. Whatever decision they make, and even if it proves successful, it could be that the head of the family
POSTER competition winners were joined by a host of celebrities for a prize presentation on Wednesday. Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson and players Nolberto Solano and Warren Barton, along with actors from the children's TV series Byker Grove and
TEESSIDE is exporting live music to Europe. A festival held in Lisbon, Portugal is a world stage, with famous seaports around the globe invited to perform alongside the best of Portuguese musicians. New Orleans trod the boards at the Ports and Harbours
A North-East firm's £1.2m factory expansion was officially opened by the Prime Minister on a visit to the region today. Shower and bath firm Roman Ltd will create 52 new jobs with the extension to its premises on the Aycliffe Industrial Park, County Durham
A £60M shopping development would not be damaging to an historic conservation area, English Heritage chiefs said yesterday. The proposed Coppergate Riverside scheme would not challenge the dominance of Clifford's Tower, in York, historic buildings inspector
Tow Law Bass - Newhouse Club moved 11 points clear at the top of the table after they beat the visiting third-placed Tow Law New Market A, thanks to an outstanding run in the singles. The Market took both trebles points but then could only manage one
Cancer patients in the region will benefit from better access to experimental treatments thanks to a new network of Government-funded cancer research centres. At the moment most experimental cancer drugs are tried out in centres in the South-East. This
IN their day it was short trousers, bruised knees and conkers in the yard. Times have changed, but they all agreed - it was good to be back. Former pupils joined the current batch at Chester-le-Street's Bullion Lane Primary School to celebrate the school's
BELGIAN shepherd Bailey has been named top dog at Olympia, in the country's most prestigious agility contest. The three-year-old won the title for owner and handler Geoff Hollis, of Appleton Wiske, near Northallerton, at the international show jumping
BUSINESSES are being invited to add their backing to a new tidy-up initiative on Redcar High Street. Fifteen large litter bins have been placed around the town centre, supplied free and with a maintenance guarantee to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
THE Teesside branch of the Alzheimer's Society is looking for volunteers to join a befriending service being set up in the Redcar and Cleveland area. Volunteers are needed to work with people who have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and their
VILLAGERS being given a say in the spending of £75,000 of regeneration cash are invited to a meeting this morning. A range of funding projects is aiming to transform the former mining communities of Coundon and Leeholme, that have been plagued by crime
THANKS to a tiny microchip, a woman was reunited with her pet dog, after it was stolen on Christmas Eve and marooned in Darlington. Mrs Jackie Crofter Harris, of Bilsdale, was overjoyed when her dog was found four days after it went missing. She suspects
I BLAME their father. Like most things, it's all his fault. He and heredity have a lot to answer for - including Senior Son's latest phone call. The boys' father hates shopping. He just doesn't have the shopping gene. He's brilliant at presents but for
POLICE are appealing for the victim of an attempted bag snatch to come forward. Five men chased and caught a thief who grabbed a woman's handbag as she loaded shopping into her car yesterday. The men recovered the bag and handed it back to the victim.
Shildon have signed former Torquay midfielder Brian Healy after he was released by Darlington. Healy, who also played for Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor, played in two trial matches for Shildon earlier in the week and signed for them after the friendly
PALE pandas and teddies with temperatures can be checked into a hospital's Well Teddy Clinic. Children can take along their toys to nurses at Bishop Auckland General Hospital's accident and emergency department for a check-up on Sunday. The aim of the
New County North Durham Youth League - A couple of goals by Scott Embleton enabled Waldridge Park to finish 3-1 winners over Newton Aycliffe in the U16 division. Stephen Richardson and Mark White were other players to score a couple of goals as Felling
A CONVENIENCE store company has secured a deal to fly fresh flowers to the North-East. Mills Group has signed a £200,000 deal with Dutch company Kurt Schrama to bring bouquets into some of their 24 North-East stores, including Darlington, Stockton and
YOUR average Northerner's rite of passage might involve guzzling his first alco-pop or seeing his first football match. But for exotic visitors to the City of Sunderland College yesterday, their entry into the adult world had worldly- wise Wearsiders
A WESTERDALE school boy was injured on an Esk Valley train after apparently intervening in a dispute between younger pupils. John Lillie, aged 15, needed treatment from ambulance men and was then taken to Whitby hospital on Friday of last week. A guard
ASPIRING poets, novelists and scriptwriters are invited to join creative writing sessions at the community education centre in Leyburn from next month. The evening classes, starting on February 21, are aimed at beginners and experienced writers alike.
HUNDREDS of youngsters entered a logo competition for a Durham community's anniversary celebrations. Belmont, on the outskirts of the city, is 150 this year and is holding a weekend of events at the start of February. The committee which is organising
I BLAME their father. Like most things, it's all his fault. He and heredity have a lot to answer for - including Senior Son's latest phone call. The boys' father hates shopping. He just doesn't have the shopping gene. He's brilliant at presents but for
