I have a confession to make. I am a coward when it comes to the dark. I like to know where I am and I feel safer if I can see the horrors that lurk behind every tree, dustbin and shadow-filled corner. As children, my brother and I were the only ones who
UP to 70 redundancies are on the cards at a County Durham manufacturing firm because of pressure from Asia. The entire workforce at Warner Electric, in Bishop Auckland, was told yesterday that the firm was entering a consultation period to review its
A BANK call centre employee, who tried to divert money from customers' accounts to pay off his debts, yesterday successfully appealed for leniency from a crown court judge. Coleman Hessian, 26, who admitted attempting to obtain money transfers of up to
A COUNCILLOR has condemned bogus water company officials who tricked a pensioner out of £200. The victim, an 87-year-old woman from Chilton, was visited at 5.30pm on Monday by a man claiming to be from a water company . He gained entry on the premise
THE length of time it takes Sedgefield Borough Council to process benefit claims is continuing to fall. A report to the council's scrutiny committee next week will update the progress made under the Benefits Service Improvement Plan (SIP). The plan was
FEARS for the future of a primary school's crossing patrol have brought road safety protests from parents and governors. Councillors have also called on Durham County Council to think carefully before withdrawing what they say is a service which is crucial
YOUNGSTERS are celebrating a clean bill of health after winning an award. St Hild's College CE Aided Primary School, in Gilesgate, was presented with a Healthy Schools Award for promoting good practices among pupils. The award followed an audit, in which
STRIKING firefighters were last night accused of "holding a gun to the Government's head" as the pay dispute turned increasingly bitter. Union anger, previously focused on the local authority employers, turned fully on the Government with Deputy Prime
EMPLOYEES at a Newton Aycliffe factory have been rolling up their sleeves to help local charities and other groups. They are taking part in the 3M 4Good programme, being run to mark the company's centenary this year. The scheme offers 3M Aycliffe employees
ONE Father Christmas was not enough for a group of pensioners preparing to enjoy their Christmas party, so they have come up with 16. More than 200 members of Get Everyone Motivated (Gem), a scheme run for elderly people by Darlington Borough Council's
Hostelry group Pubmaster said it had successfully raised £535m towards paying off loans linked to a major acquisition earlier this year. The Hartlepool pub chain firm staged its largest bond issue to raise the funds following its deal to buy Inn Partnership
A THOUSAND students from Northumbria and Newcastle universities are gearing up to battle it out in the year's biggest sporting contest between the two institutions. The rivals will compete in 16 sports ranging from fencing and tug-o-war to water polo
THE father of a North-East soldier who died in mysterious circumstances at Deepcut Barracks has dismissed an announcement over its possible closure as a "diversionary" tactic to draw attention away from the real issue of a public inquiry. Geoff Gray,
A MAJOR appeal aimed at bringing festive cheer to needy and vulnerable people is launched today - and organisers are hoping for a record-breaking year. The annual Giving Tree Appeal is now up and running in Darlington, with widespread support from across
MIKE Newell's first full day in control of Hartlepool United started on the road, sitting on board the team bus for six hours. It was ironic, really, after what Gordon Watson said a couple of weeks ago. Pool headed off to Leyton Orient yesterday aiming
THE cast of a Mother Goose pantomime started rehearsals this week with more than 15,000 tickets already sold. Sales are up 3,000 on this time last year, at the Customs House, South Shields, according to the show's writer, director and co-star Ray Spencer
YOUNGSTERS were given an insight into pop music when their school hosted a national tour this week. The tour, organised by instrument maker Yamaha and the BBC, called at Dene Community College, Peterlee, in a bid to encourage pupils to make their own
REPRESENTATIVES of adult day centres made a splash in an annual swimming contest this week. About 75 competitors from eight day centres for adults with learning disabilities from across County Durham took part in the competition, held at Peterlee Leisure
TWO colleagues are celebrating after they received awards for their hard work and commitment to the travel industry. Thomas Cook travel agents recently held an awards ceremony for more than 300 staff working across North Yorkshire and Teesside. The company's
A REPORT into the economy of Yorkshire and Humber has revealed it supports 71,000 environmental jobs. Ian Deans, regional director of the Countryside Agency, presented the figures to Yorkshire Forward's sustainable development conference, in Harrogate
A NEW location for the salt pile used to grit roads in upper Wensleydale is on the point of being secured. The heap will move from its location at the Bainbridge depot when the land is sold to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority for its new northern
ARMY chiefs last night issued a plea to the public not to hinder the work of stand-in fire crews by making hoax calls. Major Ollie Nurton, of the Light Dragoons, who have been drafted in to provide cover in Cleveland, said it was important hoax and nuisance
A WOMAN who bludgeoned her frail father to death is to appeal against her life sentence. When Ann-Marie Pyle was sentenced for killing her 77-year-old father, Bill, it was ruled that she would not be considered for parole until she had served at least
THE new national policing plan could have a high local price tag for council tax payers in North Yorkshire. The county's police authority has given a cautious welcome to the plan, which was unveiled by Home Secretary David Blunkett at a conference in
A FREE Braille Christmas card service will be operating in Stockton again this year. Well-wishers wanting to send Christmas cards to blind people can take an ordinary card to the Open Technology and UK Online Centre, in Stockton's Central Library, where
A SECOND specialist surgery for asylum-seekers is opening in the region in an effort to ease pressure on GPs. Last month, the Haven Medical Practice became the first surgery of its kind in the North-East when it opened its doors to new asylum-seekers
A POLICE authority chairman is backing key objectives set out by Home Secretary David Blunkett in his National Policing Plan. The priorities are anti-social behaviour, street crime, drug-related crime, burglary and car crime. Councillor Ken Walker, chairman
CLEVELAND Police have reviewed their working practices to ensure ethnic minorities are treated fairly on Teesside. Everything from 999 calls to assisting victims of violent incidents and domestic disturbances has been looked at, along with the force's
Something strange comes over Wendy Pilmer when she hears the familiar theme tune from radio's Sports Report programme - she has to stand up and salute. This is not a Masonic-like requirement of her new post as head of regional and local programmes for
More of the same is the order of the day as Darlington travel to Shrewsbury looking to build on last week's impressive FA Cup win at Wrexham. Quakers return to league commitments this afternoon in search of much-needed points and, after a thoroughly deserved
HOWARD Wilkinson warned last night that he will have no qualms about ordering his side to replicate Anfield's heroic defensive effort as Sunderland strive to save their Premiership skin. Wilkinson remains defiant following the greatest rearguard action
EXACTLY ten years after the Church of England voted to allow women to become priests - "Vicars in knickers" as the Sun perhaps unforgettably put it - a large congregation gathered in Ripon Cathedral to celebrate emancipation. Among them were 23 (or so
ONE NorthEast last night pledged £4.7m to help create up to 100 science and technology jobs in the region amid fierce criticism that it is massively under-performing. The promise came on the day a County Durham manufacturing firm warned as many as 70
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has presided over a crisis summit with his strikers in an attempt to find a solution to their goal famine. Boro have scored only three goals in their last five Premiership games - and two of them have come from centre-back
THE Northallerton branch of the National Farmers' Union will be holding a charity dance and supper on Saturday, December 7, to raise money for Macmillan Nurses. Music will be provided by the Swale Valley Stompers and there is a buffet. Tickets cost £10
A MULTI-MILLION pound eco-friendly primary school is to be built following a Government grant of more than £2m. Staff and pupils at Pelton Junior and Infant School, near Chester-le-Street, have been waiting for a new school for some time. Their school
DOZENS of youths have been given a stern warning by Darlington Police as part of a crackdown on vandalism and anti-social behaviour. A team of Special Constables and Neighbourhood Wardens launched Operation Wilmington in the run-up to Bonfire Night to
ONE Father Christmas was not enough for a group of pensioners preparing to enjoy their Christmas party, so they have come up with 16. More than 200 members of Get Everyone Motivated (Gem), a scheme run for elderly people by Darlington Borough Council's
A CLUB to give male family members the chance to spend more time with their children holds its second session in Chilton Community Centre tomorrow. The club, which is part of the Sure Start programme, is geared to children under-four. It meets fortnightly
REPRESENTATIVES of adult day centres made a real splash in an annual swimming contest yesterday. About 75 competitors from eight day centres for adults with learning disabilities in County Durham took part in the competition, which was staged at Peterlee
A PUB will open at a former building society, despite rumours of a possible change of location, it was confirmed yesterday. In September, JD Wetherspoon was granted a provisional 12-month licence to convert the former Cheltenham and Gloucester Building
ALAN SHEARER has challenged Newcastle's young stars to become the new Manchester United. The Magpies' skipper threw down the gauntlet on the eve of today's mammoth clash at Old Trafford. Shearer snubbed the chance to be a pivotal figure in the Red Devils
A NETWORK to improve performance in the UK construction industry is to have a base in the region. Durham County Council is providing space at County Hall, Durham, for the headquarters of the Rethinking Construction North East Network (RCNEN). Partners
Dynamic businessman Iain Dale was rewarded with a CBE from the Queen in recognition of his services to industry. The Filey businessman is the only Yorkshire-based ambassador for British business appointed by the Foreign Office. He is also chairman of
QI worked full-time for 45 years, while my wife did 40 years, mostly part-time. How come her state pension is £86 while mine is only £80.93? ALook at how your pensions are made up. How much additional pension is included? The maximum basic state pension
MULLED wine, mince pies and roast chestnuts are all on the menu at a brewery fair in the Dales. Christmas has begun in Masham, where the Black Sheep Brewery is holding one of the most popular events in its calendar. The Victorian Christmas Fair has more
A MAN who led a vicious attack on a friend - described as little short of a planned lynching - yesterday failed to win a cut in his sentence. Leslie Hope, 37, of Newfoundland Street, Darlington, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years at Teesside Crown
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the wellbeing of a woman who has been missing since Tuesday. The search for 39-year-old Jo Paines, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, heightened yesterday with teams of officers scouring the hamlet of Fiezor,
THE handling of the firefighters' pay dispute has not been an object lesson in industrial relations. Talks to reach a settlement ended in farce in the early hours of yesterday morning, leaving behind bitter recriminations which will not further hopes
HOME Secretary David Blunkett has this week begun to unpick the mess of laws that were created amid a fuss whipped up by The Northern Echo's most famous editor. That editor was WT Stead, who perished on the Titanic. Stead, from Alnwick, established his
PUPILS and teachers in Hartlepool are to be rewarded for their hard work and achievement during a ceremony in the town. Hartlepool Borough Council's education department is organising the Celebration of Success event as part of its Excellence in Cities
PRIMARY school pupils have been helping to make their neighbourhood more attractive by planting daffodil and crocus bulbs. The bulbs have been planted outside Newport Primary School, in Union Street, Middlesbrough, to replace a number of overgrown shrubs
