FERRYHILL Town Band will be playing with guest celebrity bass player Joe Cook of the Black Dyke Band next week. Mr Cook, who is originally from Boldon, has been a member of the renowned Black Dyke Band for two years and is an international soloist appearing
PUPILS at a Darlington school are celebrating after their musical talents earned a £1,000 prize. Children from Alderman Leach Primary School emerged victorious in a Christmas carol competition, staged as part of a spectacular festive show in the town's
FOUR men are being hunted by police following a violent attempted raid on a garden nursery in North Yorkshire. The four were disturbed by the owners of Ravensworth Garden Nurseries, near Richmond, at around 4am on Saturday. And in their effort to escape
THE harvest season is extending into Christmas for pupils from a Bishop Auckland school who are sharing their celebrations with children across the world. Cockton Hill Primary youngsters have collected 57 boxes of presents to send to needy boys and girls
CHURCH leaders have welcomed the opening of a newly refurbished community centre after a lengthy fundraising campaign. About £150,000 has been spent revamping the Willow Road centre, in Darlington, to provide an information technology suite and other
THE Pioneering Care Centre, at Cobbler's Hall, off Burn Lane in Newton Aycliffe, will be offering a series of new courses in the New Year. From January 2003, courses in family history, holistic therapies, deaf awareness, map reading, beginners' Spanish
PLANS to amalgamate two Teesside markets look set to be given the go-ahead. The Billingham Friday market is running on a trial basis in a bid to determine whether it can be viable. It began with 20 stalls, but has now been reduced to ten with the majority
THE future of a community bonfire could be in doubt after vandals threw a memorial bench onto the hot ashes. The RAF memorial seat was stolen from Bedale churchyard and thrown onto the embers of the village bonfire in Bedale Hall park on November 2. Fireworks
DIABETICS in Hambleton and Richmondshire have spoken out on the strengths and weaknesses of the services they receive. With the help and support of local GPs and their staff, Northallerton Community Health Council sent out 1,234 questionnaires to local
COUNCILLORS have defied police advice by voting in favour of creating a children's play area in open countryside near Boroughbridge. Members of an area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council overwhelmingly voted to back the scheme on the fringe
A NORTH Yorkshire college has taken a step into the future with the completion of a £1m expansion programme. For the past 15 months an intensive programme of building work has been under way at Northallerton College. The project has given the college
A BEACON school is heading a rescue package to help a troubled comprehensive to improve its results. A month ago, Eastbourne Comprehensive in Darlington was rocked by the sudden resignation of headteacher Richard Appleton after seven years at the school
THE threat of top-up fees and increased debt could put many people off from going to university, according to one of the region's top academics. Professor Derek Fraser is the vice-chancellor of Tees-side University and he made his comments during the
THE open-air ice rink at Victoria Park, Middlesbrough, opens tomorrow at 2.30pm. Abba tribute band Bjorn Again will open the rink, which is expected to attract 20,000 skaters and 60,000 visitors this year. Former British ice skating champion Gina Fulton
A NEW nightclub for youngsters aged 11to 16 is to open in Newton Aycliffe.. The Meltdown nightspot will be based in Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre and will play house music, R 'n' B, hip hop and dance. A bar will sell non-alcoholic drinks. The idea for
COCKERTON Band is appealing for help to keep going. The Darlington brass band, which has been going for more than 100 years, needs to raise money to carry out repairs to its band room and to buy new instruments and uniforms. The cost of transporting 30
A DESIGN has been chosen for the £19m National Army Museum North at Catterick Village. Five groups of architects were asked to tender for the design which has now gone to the firm Austin-Smith: Lord. Their design was considered to be responsive to the
CARING teenagers have joined forces to stamp out bullying in their school. Ear To Help is a group of 16 pupils at Bishop Barrington School, Bishop Auckland, who have volunteered to run a support group for victims of bullying. They launched the group with
A SMALL band of loyal worshippers are working against the clock to fund costly roof repairs for their 132-year-old chapel. The 20 members of the congregation at Tudhoe Methodist Church, near Spennymoor, need to raise £26,000 to pay for new tiles and joists
RESIDENTS in Darlington have been warned not to pick up rubbish dumped in the street by fly-tippers. Darlington Borough Council's community wardens, who are responsible for investigating complaints of fly-tipping, has urged householders not to clear up
A BEER with no name was launched last week in aid of an air ambulance service. The brew will be on draught at pubs across the region and officials from the Great North Air Ambulance hope it will boost their fund-raising efforts. The charity beer went
IT'S panto time again and this year Darlington Civic Theatre presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring husband and wife team Linda Lusardi as the Wicked Queen and Sam Kane as The Prince. This will be their sixth pantomime season together. Joining
RESIDENTS are calling for urgent safety measures at the scene of a fatal car crash. A man was killed on Wednesday night when his van collided head-on with a car and burst into flames on a bend on the A67 near Teesside Airport. Farmers whose homes overlook
THE future of a well-used church hall has been guaranteed - thanks to a major contribution from the National Lottery. Villagers in Sowerby have been given reason to celebrate with the announcement of a £100,000 grant from the Community Fund. It will enable
A CHARITY calendar featuring amateur artists' impressions of Darlington has gone on sale. The 2003 calendar was produced by the Art Shop, in Bondgate, after it invited customers to enter a competition to paint their favourite part of the town. It includes
TRADERS in a shopping centre have vehemently denied rumours that the centre is to close because a leading supermarket chain has moved out. They fear the rumours could harm trade if they persist, and insist it is business as usual at Bishop Auckland's
PEOPLE are invited to attend a night at the races to raise money for charity. Darlington Business Club has organised the event at Central Hall, Darlington, on Tuesday, December 3, to raise funds for St Teresa's Hospice. The fun starts at 7.30pm and there
GROUP of youngsters from South Durham are embarking on a wildlife project in Newton Aycliffe. The Newton Aycliffe RSPB wildlife explorers will be making time to help local wildlife by planting trees and shrubs at the town's nature park on November 23
Home-grown and home-made produce will be on sale at a Christmas farmers' market in Bishop Auckland next month. Stallholders including soap maker Maggi Dearmer, who runs her Touch of Class company from Burnhope, and the buffalo farmers the Langthornes
SHOPPERS in Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor town centres are in for a festive treat because there will be free entertainment provided throughout December. Leading the way is a free family show by Silly Billy Productions. The company will perform four hours
FOOTBALL hero Peter Beardsley thrilled a community when he launched a street wardens scheme in Bishop Auckland yesterday. The uniformed wardens are taking to the streets in St Helen Auckland, Woodhouse Close Estate in Bishop Auckland, Coundon and Leeholme
TRADERS in a shopping centre have vehemently denied rumours that the centre is to close because a leading supermarket chain has moved out. They fear the rumours could harm trade if they persist, and insist it is business as usual at Bishop Auckland's
A CHRISTMAS lunch is being held next week for members of a council exercise programme. Organisers of Darlington Borough Council's Get Everyone Motivated (Gem) scheme have organised the party for more than 200 people. Gem is a social and exercise class
GUITARIST Paul Croft will perform music from Spain and South America at a concert in Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, on Saturday, November 30. The concert is in aid of the Witham Hall's development fund, and will begin at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 and are
PEOPLE in Darlington have been warned not to pick up rubbish dumped in the street by fly-tippers. Darlington Borough Council's community wardens team, which is responsible for investigating complaints of fly-tipping, has urged people not to clear up waste
A LAST-MINUTE offer which would increase fire fighters' pay to more than £25,000 will be put to union leaders this morning in a desperate attempt to avert an eight-day strike. Local authority employers were last night working on a surprise 11th hour pay
Steve Waugh has stoked the traditional Australia-England rivalry for the second Test by claiming the tourists only have themselves to blame for the catalogue of injuries which have hit their Ashes preparations. The Australian captain usually stays away
HIGH achievers at Branksome Comprehensive School, in Darlington, have had their efforts recognised at an awards ceremony. All the subject prizes in the presentation were sponsored by local firms, including Cleveland Bridge UK, Sherwoods Vauxhall, Sanderson
MIDDLESBROUGH favourite Tony Mowbray is in the running to become the next Hartlepool United manager. With Colin West set to turn down the manager's job at Victoria Park and follow Chris Turner to Sheffield Wednesday, Pool are likely to be seeking a new
THE open-air ice rink at Victoria Park, Middlesbrough, opens tomorrow at 2.30pm. Abba tribute band Bjorn Again will open the rink, which is expected to attract 20,000 skaters and 60,000 visitors this year. Former British ice skating champion Gina Fulton
CHRISTMAS came early for one garage customer who won the star prize in a competition. Richard Robson, from Thornley, won £1,000 of high street vouchers in a competition organised by Jennings Ford, at Carrville. He was presented with the prize by sales
A RIDING centre is appealing for a breed of horse with a difference - a pantomime one. The Riding for the Disabled Unicorn Centre, in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, is staging a Christmas pantomime, Robin Hood and His Jolly Jumpers, involving 19 horses and
MOUNTED police are returning to a town in a bid to crack down on Christmas crime. Northumbria Police launched Operation Lapland in Gateshead yesterday. Horseback patrols will be supported by plain-clothed officers. There will also be more officers on
TWO women whose lives have been touched by cancer have joined forces to organise a fundraising event. Margaret Sim, from Elwick, near Hartlepool, and Sue Marshall, 55, from Newton Hall, Durham, are holding an art and craft fair to raise money for Cancer
MEMBERS of Yarm District Lions Club have raised £300 for the North-East Kidney Patients Association. Gordon Nicholas, from the association, attended a Lions meeting last week to explain the work of the charity. As a result of a sponsored windscreen wash
SENIOR officers at a North-East fire brigade are refusing to hand over vital fire engines to the Government in a legal row over public liability. Only a day before firefighters are due to walk out again, it emerged that Cleveland Fire Brigade is refusing
YOUNG musicians from around the region took part in annual competition earlier this month. The ninth Young Musician of the Year competition, organised by the Rotary Clubs of Darlington and Northallerton, took place at Polam Hall School in Darlington.
RESIDENTS are continuing their fight to protect land used as a park for decades, from a housing developer. Since the summer, people in Blackhill, Consett, have been locked in a struggle with local developer Strathmore Homes, which wants to build executive
Newton Aycliffe sisters Kayleigh and Charlotte Edge have come first and second respectively in the national Young Environmentalist of the Year awards in London. Nine-year-old Kayleigh and eight-year-old Charlotte both attend Woodham Burn Primary School
RECENT migration reports mainly involve winter visitors arrivals so there has been very much a feeling of autumn fading fast. The range of species sharing our shortest, coldest days may be smaller than in summer, but still a great incentive to head out
BISHOP Auckland cricket club is celebrating its 150th anniversary next year with several special events. There will be a match against a Durham County XI, an anniversary dinner, attended by the athe Bishop of Durham and a party for all club members. The
BOSSES at global manufacturing giant Black & Decker have been branded tight-fisted Scrooges after cancelling a long-standing Christmas handout for ex-employees. For more than 20 years the American-owned company has brightened up the festive season
STYLISH outfits from some of the world's most famous fashion designers are gracing the catwalk of a remarkable fashion show in Bishop Auckland this week. All the clothes modelled by Bishop Auckland College students in the Belvedere Club tonight, at 8pm
MILES of rough back streets could be transformed under an innovative jobs scheme being considered by council bosses. Wear Valley regeneration officers hope to tap into European funding so that unadopted lanes around the district can be brought up to standard
THIS year Darlington Civic Theatre presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring husband and wife team Linda Lusardi as the Wicked Queen and Sam Kane as The Prince. Plus there are the Seven Dwarfs, of course, Danielle Smith as Snow White and Sooty
WORK started on Monday on a new £150,000 phase of a three-year scheme to brighten up the historic heart of Wolsingham. Improvements to Wolsingham Market Place were agreed by Durham County and Wear Valley District Councils in an attempt to boost the flagging
CHRIS Surtees, of Hunwick and a pupil at St. John's RC comprehensive school in Bishop Auckland, set a new championship record in winning the senior boys' 100 metres butterfly title at the English Schools' national swimming championships in Sheffield.
THE feeling of camaraderie is one of the nicest things about writing this column. No sooner had I described how I'd nearly frozen to death helping my 12-year-old son on his paper round, than messages of support and advice started to pour in from other
STUDENTS in Hartlepool had a visit from Anne Frank's step-sister yesterday. Eva Schloss, whose step-sister Anne wrote her famous diary during her years in hiding from the Nazis, gave a talk to students from the town's Manor College of Technology and Sixth
PEOPLE in Hartlepool can hear more about what is happening in the area from the town's mayor at an event next week. In Hartlepool's very first State of the Borough Debate, Stuart Drummond will talk about issues affecting the borough and what is being
A SOCCER-mad policeman has set new goals for youngsters on estates plagued by bad behaviour. Seeing that youngsters on his own Easterside Estate, in Middlesbrough, had nothing to do, beat bobby Nick Lynch organised a football team and got youngsters on
A YOUNG soldier who returned to the North-East to man Green Goddesses during the firefighters' strike died in a crash at the end of his duties, it emerged yesterday. In a bizarre twist of fate, the fatal accident was passed by one of the victim's senior
A 20ft-high Christmas tree erected in Ripon Market Place has been removed after a local councillor described it as being puny and not worthy of the city. The tree, installed by Harrogate Borough Council in front of the town hall, incurred the wrath of
MORE than 100 mothers and mothers-to-be met last night to voice their anger over the closure of a much-loved maternity unit. The Mums' Army, protesting against the closure of Guisborough Maternity Unit, heard from former staff of the popular unit about
HOSPITAL staff yesterday took delivery of a potentially life-saving piece of equipment. The bicycle ergometer with integral blood pressure monitor was presented to the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton by the British Heart Foundation. The large piece
A PUB has introduced a winter menu for its feathered friends. Staff at the Church Mouse, in Great North Road, Chester-le-Street, are backing the RSPB's Time for Birds initiative, aimed at educating people about caring for birds during winter. Landlord
POLICE action in a crime-hit community is reaping rewards. Northumbria Police's community police team in Hetton-le-Hole, near Washington, has got off to a good start, seizing drugs and tackling disorder. The team consists of five constables, headed by
A POPULAR living landmark which records part of the region's mining heritage is to be given a winter trim this weekend. Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, is appealing for volunteers to help cut back the Jolly Drover's Maze, on the site of Eden
STORE WIN: Joshua Camsall, five, won the Lilo and Stitch competition at the Stanley branch of Asda. Kirsten Temperley, eight, won the George Design a T-shirt competition and Adam Declan Piper won the Rocket to the Stars competition. WRITE STUFF: An exhibition
More than 200 lots go under the hammer at an auction of promises at the Allertonshire School, Northallerton, tomorrow. The fundraising event in the West House hall is open for viewing from 6.30pm and starts 30 minutes later, conducted by local auctioneer
THREE men stole a cast-iron patio table, four chairs and a parasol from a garden in Westfields, Stanley, on Sunday night. The trio were seen loading them into a vehicle and driving off. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on (01207) 232144
A YOUNG drummer got his first taste of playing alongside professionals in front of a 200 strong audience. Barrie Kirtley, of Spennymoor, joined the Drum Centre House Band for a special event at Live Theatre in Newcastle, to encourage young musicians in
St Helens Women's Institute THE annual meeting, which was held on November 4, was attended by the federation representative, Ann Eynon. The meeting began with minutes and correspondence. Then the evening was placed in the capable hands of Mrs Eynon, who
THESE schoolchildren took part in one of many charity events held in the area to raise money for this year's Children in Need appeal. Nine girls from St Anne's CE Primary School, Bishop Auckland, raised more than £150 for the charity by swimming 35 lengths
MORE than 250 skateboarders from all over North Yorkshire rolled into Northallerton last week for the county's first-ever Skate Fest. Organised by North Yorkshire County Council's Connecting Youth Culture arts project in partnership with Northallerton's
AFTER 51 years of marriage, Molly and David Squires know a thing or two about life - but a recent development has still surprised them. Much to their surprise, the couple have just taken the regional title of the national Grandparents of the Year competition
THREE men stole a cast-iron patio table, four chairs and a parasol from a garden in Westfields, Stanley, on Sunday night. The trio were seen loading them into a vehicle and driving off. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on (01207) 232144
THOUSANDS more people have pledged to "vote for life" by agreeing to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Hambleton District Council joined forces with UK Transplant - the national health authority supporting transplants - in a bid to get more people to
THREE men stole a cast-iron patio table, four chairs and a parasol from a garden in Westfields, Stanley, on Sunday night. The trio were seen loading them into a vehicle and driving off. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on (01207) 232144
PAul Taylor, from Newton Aycliffe, has scooped £2,000 in an online competition. Mr Taylor won the money after entering internet service provider AOL's Thanks To You competition. AOL is giving away £2,000 every day until the end of January to celebrate
FOOTBALLER turned broadcaster Eric Gates has launched a £750,000 medical scanner which is almost doubling the number of patients screened at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The former England, Sunderland and Ipswich star, who is now one of Century Radio's
TEENAGERS who completed their GCSEs this summer will be able to collect their external examination certificates next month. Former pupils at Sunnydale Comprehensive School, Shildon, are being invited to Sunnydale Community Learning Centre, on the evenings
BRASS bands, stilt-walkers and drummers will feature in this year's Darlington Lantern Parade. The annual procession from the Arts Centre to the Market Square, takes place on Friday, December 13. Children are busy preparing for the event by making the
NEW CURATE: Rob Brown, who is studying at St John's College, Durham, has been appointed curate for Weardale. He will be ordained next June and will then help the Reverend Philip Greenhalgh to minister to the seven churches from Frosterley to Cowshill.
PUPILS at a Darlington school have been collecting Christmas presents for children living in poverty and in orphanages in Afghanistan and the Ukraine. Children at Eastbourne Comprehensive School were so moved by a videotape showing the poor conditions
A CAT which lost a leg in an accident with a car needs a home. Crystal was found a month ago on the side of a road in Darlington, and was taken to Grange Veterinary Clinic, in Victoria Road. The cat, which is believed to be about six, suffered a severely
FIREFIGHTERS spent nearly four hours tackling a blaze at an unoccupied house in Hartlepool after it was targeted by arsonists. About 20 firefighters tackled the fire at West View Road, at 6.30pm, on Tuesday. The upper floor of the house collapsed shortly
Moors Murderer Myra Hindley, who died last week the most hated woman in Britain, was cremated last night after a short funeral ceremony. Twelve mourners, including the priest who conducted the 20-minute service, were at the City of Cambridge crematorium
GUITARIST Paul Croft will perform music from Spain and South America at a concert in Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, on Saturday, November 30. The concert is in aid of the Witham Hall's development fund, and will begin at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 and are
A RECYCLING drive in Hartlepool has been hailed a huge success by council officials. Blue boxes and plastic sacks have been delivered to about 28,000 homes in the town, allowing people to leave cans, glass, clothes and textiles outside their homes for
Mick Tait is confident of ending his search for a goalkeeper when he puts the finishing touches to a loan deal today. The caretaker boss faces the prospect of being without first-choice keeper Andy Collett for at least a fortnight and with Chris Porter
A TOP-CLASS sporting event is being held at the weekend. Darlington Boxing and Martial Arts Academy is staging one of its biggest events, pitting English and Thai kick-boxers against each other at the Dolphin Centre on Sunday. A crowd of about 1,000 is
FOUR people have been prosecuted by a local authority after refusing to pay litter fines. Christine Hodgson, Dawn Ashton and Shelley Ashton, of Gerald Street, Benwell, in Newcastle; and Michael Henderson, of Ladykirk Road, Fenham, Newcastle, appeared
WORK is to begin on rebuilding a town centre amusement arcade almost a year after it was the target of arsonists. J Noble and Sons Amusement Arcade, in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, was badly damaged by the blaze in February. But plans to redevelop
Leading trainer Ferdy Murphy was yesterday fined £4,000 by the Jockey Club for comments made on the BBC programme 'Kenyon Confronts' this year. A disciplinary committee inquiry ruled that West Witton-based Murphy had breached Rule 220(iii) in that he
SIXTH formers who took part in a cultural exchange trip to South Korean found themselves the subject of national interest when they arrived. Pupils from The Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street, visited the country for ten days. They stayed with host
WRITERS and performers will gather on Saturday to help launch a new arts organisation. Derwentside Arts Network, a group which will promote arts events, will be launched at 2pm, in St Mary's RC Church Hall, in Blackhill, Consett. There will be performances
A CAT shelter is trying to find people willing to take on the responsibility for two animals with very distinctive personalities. Maria Harrison, from The Willows cat shelter, in East Boldon has had difficulty rehoming some of her cats and is looking
A SUPERMARKET creating more than 300 jobs opens in Billingham on Monday. The superstore makes Tesco one of the biggest employers in the area. Ian Backhouse, store manager, said: "It is wonderful to see people taking up a career with Tesco, the response
WRITERS are needed to help breathe new life into a community group. South Moor Writers Group is holding a meeting in South Moor Library tonight at 6.15pm. The group meets every Thursday, from 6pm to 8pm, in the library but needs more members because several
Q. Industry in the North-East is suffering badly because of the current exchange rate and business is moving to other parts of Europe where labour is cheaper. Would joining the single currency help? A. It's true that global competition is becoming tougher
A REMOTE village in the Himalayas is to get a clean water system thanks to a village's generosity. Residents and businesses in Weaverthorpe, near Malton, have raised £4,000 for the village of Landrung, a Ghurka village which is on the Modikhola River.
NEWCASTLE manager Sir Bobby Robson has been the victim of a vicious hate campaign from angry Wales fans after he prevented Craig Bellamy representing his country in Azerbaijan yesterday. Robson, who will receive his knighthood at Buckingham Palace today
THE work of a North-East television producer could be heading to the top of the pop charts this Christmas. Six years ago, Annette Bartholomew directed a video of Irish singer Enya performing a Gaelic version of Silent Night for the BBC. The singer, formerly
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to take precautions against burglars as the nights draw in with the onset of winter. The Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership - a venture led by the police and the district council - is advising people to take a number
A MAN who supplied his girlfriend with drugs on the eve of her death has denied a charge of manslaughter. Christopher Kenning, 22, admitted supplying heroin to Karen Harland on her 19th birthday in April, at Durham Crown Court yesterday. But he pleaded
PLANS to convert a former carpet shop in Stockton into a pub look set to be approved despite concerns from neighbours. Stockton Borough Council's planning committee has received an application to convert the former Bernard Povey store, in Bishopton Lane
IT'S panto time again and this year Darlington Civic Theatre presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, starring husband and wife team Linda Lusardi as the Wicked Queen and Sam Kane as The Prince. This will be their sixth pantomime season together. Joining
Thirsk Young Farmers have toasted their resurgence after foot-and-mouth disease with the club's first dinner dance for many years. More than 100 members, ex-members and friends of the club, which celebrates its 72nd anniversary this year, crowded into
FANS of a small town football team could help drink their club out of trouble. Officials from Albany Northern League club Willington AFC have managed to strike an unusual deal with a national brewery to work its way out of debt. Last month solicitors
A TEENAGE virtuoso from Darlington learned from one of the best violinists in Europe at the weekend. Clare Gale, 17, a pupil at Carmel RC Technology college, was one of three lucky members of North-East orchestra Young Sinfonia to win a chance to perform
