Billingham Town striker Carl Chillingsworth gave his side a perfect boost ahead of their FA Vase tie on Saturday in a resounding 6-2 win over Tow Law. Chillingsworth scored a hat trick as Town hit top form ahead of their game at Gorleston this Saturday
The killer of a hard-working father, who was stabbed with what is believed to be a samurai sword in front of shoppers and children, was being hunted last night. Witnesses spoke of a row between 31-year-old scaffolder Robert Dunne and a gang of youths
TROUBLED French star Laurent Robert could have signalled the end of his Newcastle United career after claiming there is a 'conspiracy' against him in the Magpies dressing room. The temperamental £9.5m winger who just two weeks ago pinned North-East journalist
DARLINGTON are getting used to the sight of red and yellow cards at Blackwell Meadows and for the second successive match it worked in their favour. Both sides saw yellow, then red, before another red was brandished at visiting prop Kahn Rudolph, a New
As the nation waits to see whether the serial killer of Weatherfield will be caught, TV Writer Steve Pratt explains why he thinks the Coronation Street storyline should have been buried long ago. RICHARD KILLS AGAIN! scream the previews of tonight's Coronation
By the end of this month, the Government will decide whether to back a bid to bring the 2012 Olympics to Britain. Nick Morrison asks if success would make us the envy of the world, or land us with a financial albatross. IT'S the greatest show on Earth
MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is bracing himself for a return meeting with Southampton hot-shot James Beattie when Australia face England at Upton Park next month. Schwarzer was on the receiving end at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday as Beattie
A VETS' surgery has been inundated with offers of help after two dogs were left to starve to death over Christmas in a stable on an allotments near Stanley. The plight of the 17-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier and four-year-old Doberman horrified
It's a big week for Yorkshire trainer Peter Beaumont, whose Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Hussard Collonges is an intended runner at Haydock on Saturday. His progressive eight-year-old looks the best ante-post value on offer for the Gold Cup at a top-priced
DETECTIVES investigating the death of a mother and her two young children in a smoke-filled car believe she lit a fire in the footwell herself. However, relatives of Nabeala Hussain cannot believe that she would do something so irrational. They spoke
JERMAINE JENAS was delighted to hit his first Premiership goal, but according to fellow goalscorer Craig Bellamy he could have been an even bigger hero on Saturday night. Jenas cracked a super 20-yard volley to bring the scores level at Upton Park after
THOMAS SORENSEN believes the knowledge he has gained from his watching brief for "three long months" can help Sunderland in their relegation battle. The goalkeeper, recalled at Jurgen Macho's expense on Saturday, insists he has learnt much about the side
A DARLINGTON post office is threatened with closure this year as part of a national programme that will see many urban branches shut. The Post Office is proposing to shut Firth Moor Post Office, in Brignall Moor Crescent, in March because too many branches
THE approach of his 50th birthday led Phil Moorhouse up one of the world's highest mountains in aid of a good cause. Mr Moorhouse, finance director for Darlington holding company Northgate, raised £11,000 after a sponsored climb up Mount Kilimanjaro,
DURHAM Citizens' Advice Bureau will take its service out and about this week. People can drop in at the sessions or call 0191-383 2885 to book an appointment. Sessions will be held today at Bearpark Community Centre, from 10.30am to 11.30am, and at Deerness
CLARE Short has a reputation for saying things which others are merely thinking. Towing the party line is not her strong point. And in spelling out Britain's "duty" to restrain George Bush from unilateral military action against Iraq, the International
A FORMER railway line is the latest part of County Durham's expanding cyclepath network. The Harelaw Wagonway, between Flint Hill and Tanfield Lea, near Stanley, has been converted thanks to County Durham Environmental Trust (Cdent) funding. The route
FOSSILS will be going on a tour of the coast this year stopping at libraries along the way. As part of the Dinosaur Coast project, libraries along the Yorkshire coast have joined forces with Scarborough Museum and Gallery and Whitby Museum to develop
A PROJECT dedicated to saving traditional North-East music from extinction has gone on-line. The Northumbria Anthology, which has produced two CDs of folk and music hall songs from the 19th and early 20th centuries, has set up its own website. The project
MORE volunteers are needed to give help and support to families with children under the age of five across Teesside. Home-Start Volunteers give their time to work with people who could be going through difficult periods in their life such as a divorce
PANTOMIME stars Danny Prested and Holly Robinson saw some familiar faces in the audience recently - about 200 fellow school pupils. The ten-year-olds from Cheveley Park Primary School, in Belmont, Durham, are featuring in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
A COUPLE who traded from a barrow at the MetroCentre for ten years are celebrating opening their first shop. Xtras, in the Gateshead complex's Forum area, sells costume jewellery and accessories and is run by Mark and Linda Redfern, of Whitley Bay. They
AFTER more than half a century the region's premier toy fair is trading under a new name following a revamp. With a successful relaunch on Saturday, 1st! Fair Harrogate - formerly the Harrogate Toy Fair - has seen hundreds of people pass through its doors
HORDEN tuned up for Saturday's trip to Lymm in the last 16 of the Powergen Intermediate Cup with a 22-13 home win against Stockton, writes Tim Wellock. Their forwards adapted to the heavy conditions better than their bigger opponents and 17 points for
A COUPLE were surprised when a silver ring fell out of the pages of a 65-year-old Northern Echo they discovered in the loft of their house. The special edition copy of the Echo marks the abdication of Edward VIII on December 11, 1936, and was found when
CONTAMINATION experts are to investigate a site known to contain victims of anthrax. Persimmon Homes is demolishing old farm buildings at Quarry Farm, Ingleby Barwick, to make way for a golf course and restaurant. But before the site can be fully excavated
The University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, starts a series of short courses in English, design, information technology and forensic investigation next month. Foundation degrees in health and social care are also on offer, in addition to BA (Honours
POLICE are hunting a man who attacked and robbed an 82-year-old woman. She was taken to hospital for treatment after the incident in Seamer Road, near Westbourne Park, Scarborough. The man grabbed her handbag and knocked her to the ground, taking the
A VOLUNTEER has been recognised for helping those in need. Jackie Ward, 34, of Murton, County Durham, received an award from SOVA, a leading organisation helping more than 15,000 people in need in England and Wales, including prisoners and offenders.
A MYSTERY man could hold the key to the bogus caller burglary that led to a widower's death. Detectives are urging the man to come forward after telling a police officer he knew the identity of the culprit. George Sharpe, 82, died of a heart attack on
MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club chairman Steve Gibson has received an award from the Show Racism the Red Card campaign for work done by the club. The award was presented on the Riverside pitch before Saturday's home game against Southampton by members of
THE traditional cup of tea is still the favourite first drink of the day in the North-East, a survey has revealed. Research by Morphy Richards has revealed that people in the region are more than four times as likely to start the day with tea rather than
A MAN living alone arrived home to find three fire engines outside his house after electrical wiring started a blaze. Firefighters smashed their way into the property, in Brenda Road, Hartlepool at 4pm on Saturday, believing someone could be trapped inside
ORGANISERS of an environmental award are hoping for a bumper crop of entries. The County Durham Environmental Award attracted 55 entries last year and Durham County Council hopes it will attract more this year. The award has inspired and recognised large
PLANS for an industrial incinerator at Seal Sands is top of the list of concerns for a new residents' group. Impact, an independent organisation for Teessiders which wants to do more about the problems of living beside industry, was formed at a meeting
ORGAN builder Herbert Prested, who supplied, repaired and tuned instruments in churches and chapels throughout the region, has died. His great grandfather set up an organ building business in London, where his grandfather worked for a time. Mr Prested
TWO marathon runners have raised money for a project designed to give young people access to sports facilities. Shayne Brown and Stacey Bellamy, from the Moving On, a charity based in Durham for homeless young people, have collected more than £300-worth
THE Government's top safety watchdog said last night it would "not rule out" forcing landlords to fit carbon monoxide alarms in rented properties. The Health and Safety Executive, which says that it is enforcing tougher safety rules, said it may consider
FOR shopkeeper Phillip Holden, the days of leaving doors unlocked and goods on display are long gone. These days, he has his windows barred and lives in fear of finding his premises broken into. His shop has been burgled 14 times during the past 20 years
A SOW at a community farm in Middlesbrough has surprised owners by giving birth to 13 rare piglets. The British Saddleback, known as the Grange Farm Duchess, is one of only 200 left in the country. They are easily identified by their black bodies with
A VICAR has called on communities in a job-starved dale to forget centuries-old rivalries and work together to create a new industrial heritage. The Reverend Philip Greenhalgh has warned that unless villages learn to pull together, there is a real prospect
SUNDERLAND midfielder Stefan Schwarz was arrested following an alleged incident involving youths throwing snowballs, it emerged yesterday. The Swede was questioned over an allegation that he was involved in a row with two youths in a residential area
THERE was one main event at Upton Park on Saturday, but the clash between two England midfielders, both given the captain's armband in the absence of their more illustrious colleagues, wasn't bad for an undercard. Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer may not be skipper
A PLAN to build two semi-detached cottages which had been previously refused, has been given the go ahead by councillors. The plan will see two homes built east of Hallgarth View, Hutton Conyers, in a small gap between Hallgarth View and West View. Planning
THE Yorkshire Dales Access Forum meets in public for the first time at the Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes, onFriday, at 1pm. The forum advises the national park authority on providing access to the countryside under the Countryside and Rights of Way
TWO marathon runners have raised money for a project designed to give young people access to sports facilities. Shayne Brown and Stacey Bellamy, from the Moving On, a charity based in Durham for homeless young people, have collected more than £300-worth
COUNTY Durham's registration services is offering a non-religious baby-naming ceremony, from its offices in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Durham, Peterlee and Stanley. Families can also hold the ceremony at one of more than 20 sites approved for civil
TWO marathon runners have raised money for a project designed to give young people access to sports facilities. Shayne Brown and Stacey Bellamy, from the Moving On, a charity based in Durham for homeless young people, have collected more than £300-worth
A MAN sustained a broken arm and severe bruising after he tackled two youths who he thought were trying to break into his car. The 43-year-old, who does not wish to be identified, confronted the youths in Holt Street, Hartlepool, at 2.50pm, on Saturday
The Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is organising a rural coach trip on Friday, February 17, leaving the town's market place at 7pm. To book a place, which costs £5 for members and £7 for guests, contact Malcolm Dunstone on (01325
THE mother of Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy leapt to her defence yesterday, saying: "My girl is no racist." Cheryl, 19, was held in a police cell for ten hours after allegedly punching nightclub toilet attendant Sophie Amogbokpa in the face. Mature student
A CONTROVERSIAL author and broadcaster will talk about the execution of three DLI soldiers during the First World War, this week. Julian Putkowski's talk on Saturday marks the 86th anniversary of the shooting of Sergeant Will Stones, of Crook, County
Records of residents' objections to the closure of a well-used footpath have been misplaced, which means they will have to register their objections all over again. Residents in Sowerby, near Thirsk, have been campaigning for nearly five years to have
YOUNGSTERS in Helmsley have been inspired by a television show to help people in the Third World. Pupils at Helmsley Primary School are raising money for Blue Peter's water appeal. The pupils organised a bring-and-buy sale at the town's Black Swan Hotel
A SEARCH and rescue team is will be one of the good causes to benefit from the charity efforts of dog owners. A walk in Raby Castle's grounds, near Staindrop, has been organised by Barnard Castle dog training club. The group's second Great North dog walk
DARLINGTON pop princess Zoe Birkett is keeping her fingers crossed for a top ten spot as she releases her debut single today. Zoe's disco track Treat Me Like a Lady goes on shop shelves throughout the UK from this morning, making the 17-year-old's single
A LARGE area of lowland heath in the Vale of York is to be restored thanks to a £347,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The award is part of the nationwide initiative Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage, run jointly by the HLF and English Nature
A SEARCH and rescue team is will be one of the good causes to benefit from the charity efforts of dog owners. A walk in Raby Castle's grounds, near Staindrop, has been organised by Barnard Castle dog training club. The group's second Great North dog walk
THE family of a pensioner who died hours after being burgled made an emotional appeal for information today. Sue Hutchinson, 72, the sister-in-law of George Sharpe, spoke on behalf of the family at Peterlee Police Station, where an investigation into
ANGRY residents have turned to their village's police officer and councillor to rid their streets of a dangerous hobby. People living in West Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, are worried that someone could be hurt if quad bike owners continue to ride in
POLICE are hunting would-be robbers who fled empty-handed from a shop. Two men, one armed with what is thought to be a baseball bat, went into Top Shop in Fines Road, Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham. A police spokesman said that the pair demanded
Tony Lee could be in line for a return as Spennymoor manager this week. Lee left the Brewery Field on a point of principle on Thursday and missed Moors' 2-2 draw at North Ferriby. But Lee is going to hold talks with club owner Benny Mottram this morning
A RESIDENT says she is stuck on a housing estate because conditions are so bad no estate agent will sell her home. Chris Grimwood liked life as a tenant on the Whitehill Estate in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, so much that, with her husband, she
Redcar Town pulled off a surprise win at top of the table North Shields in one of only two league fixtures that survived the winter freeze in the Wearside League. Good chances were at a premium in the first period although Shields's David Little was unlucky
A VILLAGE school has won top marks from Government inspectors. Lockwood Primary School, Boosbeck, "is an effective school that provides a good education for its pupils," said an Ofsted report. "The leadership and management of the school are very good
DEAN WINDASS will today rejoin Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal. The Middlesbrough midfielder, who had won praise after leading the line as a stand-in striker in the FA Cup third-round defeat at Chelsea
They didn't die laughing. KEN Stott smiling on screen is as likely as Walford's Slater sisters talking quietly. Gloom and doom seem to follow this superb actor around. How we loved to see him suffer as a tormented detective in The Vice, and now again
WORKING in a freezer at a dairy every day is simply not cold enough for Allan Thomas - which is why he is off to the Antarctic for two-and-a-half years. The 31-year-old has left his job at Express Creamery, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, to work at
A PENSIONER's bungalow exploded when he turned on the toilet light - but incredibly he walked away unscathed. The blast sent rubble from the front and back walls of 70-year-old Albert Sotheran's bungalow flying, damaging nearby homes and leaving shards
TWO men and two youths have pleaded guilty to their part in a vicious attack on an off-duty police officer who was stabbed after confronting a gang of youths. PC David Myers, 31, a Metropolitan police officer, was visiting relatives in Hartlepool in July
COUNCIL tax payers in Middlesbrough could be about £23 a month worse off from April because of the urgent need to invest more in the town's social services. Budget forecasts suggest an average band D householder will have to pay an extra £132 a year more
Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the murder of a popular father feared to have been stabbed with a samurai sword. A 19-year-old walked into a Middlesbrough police station following the brutal killing of 31-year-old scaffolder Robert
METRIC MARTYRS: THE Government is quite right to crack down on these so-called Metric Martyrs. It is disgusting that they should sell bananas in pounds and ounces. The police should also be taken to task for describing any suspect as being five foot six
NORTH-WEST raider David Hunter upset the odds by beating pre-race favourite Carl Thackery as he made a winning half marathon debut in yesterday's Morpeth-Newcastle road race. Former World Half Marathon Championships bronze medallist Thackery was expected
THE Wombles helped launch a recycling scheme in Wear Valley, Teesdale and Derwentside at the weekend. About 80,000 homes in the districts will be targeted by the initiative as part of a commitment to meeting international standards on recycling. Households
HORSE riders are being given a code of conduct because of the increasing numbers using a park. Herrington Country Park, in Sunderland, has produced information leaflets advising riders how to make the most of the 150 hectare site and its 5km horse walk
YOUNGSTERS have tidied a garden created at their village hall. New Brancepeth Youth Group planted holly trees and spruced the site up before holding a "winter warmer" celebration for residents in the hall. This included a buffet, bingo, and family art
PEOPLE living on a Darlington estate that is plagued by vandals are calling on the council to fit security cameras in an attempt to cut crime. This week, the Skerne Park pub was hit by vandals who daubed obscene graffiti on the walls and splashed thick
PERFORMER Bonnie Langford has sent her good wishes to an amateur group for its forthcoming show. Ms Langford, who performed her one-woman show at Durham's Gala Theatre last year, has wished Durham Amateur Operatic Society success in its production of
A FORMER bio-chemistry scientist and current councillor has been appointed as a non-executive director of the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust. Councillor John Salter, who is a member of Teesdale District Council, has been a member of Darlington and Teesdale
A COMPANY which makes carpets for the royal family has contacted Bishop Auckland College to help increase its skills. Durham's Hugh Mackay Carpets has enlisted the help of Optimum, the services to business arm of the college. Determined to secure its
A DOCTOR taking up a post as a health boss is to have a hands-on role in improving the lives of residents in Derwentside. Dr Anne Low is the new director of public health for Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT). She will work four days a week for the
ONE of the world's greatest masterpieces of choral music will be performed in Durham Cathedral next month. Durham Choral Society will present Beethoven's Missa Solemnis on Saturday, February 1, in its first concert of the season. Considered the greatest
THE leaders of one of the region's councils has called upon the local MP for support as it seeks extra funding towards a £33.6m project. An extra £7m from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is vital for the completion of coastal
THE cenotaph on Scarborough's Oliver's Mount may be moved following a graffiti attack. The Scarborough branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) is exploring the idea after extensive damage was caused last week when graffiti was sprayed on the war memorial
RESIDENTS are protesting after a property developer built a fence around woodland near their homes and blocked off a well-used footpath. Homeowners in Blackfyne, Consett, complained after they found their views of trees obscured by an 8ft-high chipboard
PARENTS wanting a civil ceremony to name babies can now do so in County Durham. The county's registration services is offering a non-religious ceremony at its offices in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Durham City, Peterlee and Stanley. David Dixon,
A SCHEME set up to ensure schools across the county promote a healthy lifestyle celebrated its success at the House of Lords. Representatives from the North Yorkshire Healthy School Scheme travelled to London to receive a commemorative plaque. The scheme
A Shakespeare play is to be performed in the grounds of the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. Now the Castle Players in Teesdale are looking for actors, stage hands or help with publicity for The Merry Wives of Windsor to be staged in July. For details, visit
A MUSEUM has launched a catalogue to accompany one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings to appear in the region. The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, has launched a full colour illustrated catalogue to represent its current
PETER Howitt apologises for sounding showbizzy as he describes how he stood on the lawns of Paramount Studios in Los Angeles wondering whether actress Gwyneth Paltrow would agree to appear in his debut film. "Gwyneth said 'why wouldn't I do it?' - and
THE Wombles helped launch a recycling scheme in Wear Valley, Teesdale and Derwentside at the weekend. About 80,000 homes in the districts will be targeted by the initiative as part of a commitment to meeting international standards on recycling. Households
CRIME STATISTICS: At a meeting of Howden-le-Wear Neighbourhood Watch PC McElhone reported that ten crimes had been committed in the area in December. They involved four cases of criminal damage and two thefts. The problem of youths causing annoyance in
CRAFT enthusiasts who have spent the last year carving their own rocking horses met up on Saturday to admire each other's handiwork. Six men and four women - including a great-grandmother - undertook the task at the William Newton Education Centre in
ORGAN builder Herbert Prested, who supplied, repaired and tuned instruments in churches and chapels throughout the region, has died. His great grandfather set up an organ building business in London, where his grandfather worked for a time. Mr Prested
FIREFIGHTERS believe a group of drug users deliberately set fire to an unoccupied house in Scarborough Street, South Bank, near Middlesbrough, at 1am on Saturday. They found old clothes, bedding and furniture alight when they arrived to tackle the blaze
A WOMAN was freed from her car by firefighters after it went in to a ditch. Her Renault Clio skidded on black ice and rolled off A689 Stockton Road, in Hartlepool, at 9am on Saturday. Firefighters forced the doors and the woman was helped out on a spine
COUNCIL tax payers in Middlesbrough could be about £23 a month worse off from April because of the urgent need to invest more in the town's social services. Budget forecasts suggest an average band D householder will have to pay an extra £132 a year more
THE people of Moscow are now able to have their blood checked for food intolerance, thanks to a North-East health firm. Russia has joined America, Hong Kong, Austria and Italy in offering food blood tests developed by York Nutritional Laboratories (YNL
THE county's attractions were highlighted in Manchester at the weekend during a Holiday and Travel Show. As well as tempting about 80,000 people at the G-Mex centre with leaflets and brochures, Yorkshire Tourist Board also offered a break at the Mallyan
PANTOMIME stars Danny Prested and Holly Robinson saw some familiar faces in the audience recently - about 200 fellow school pupils. The ten-year-olds from Cheveley Park Primary School, in Belmont, Durham, are featuring in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
MULTIPLE Sclerosis sufferers in North Yorkshire have been given new hope after gaining access to a life- enhancing drug. For years they have been battling to get NHS access to Beta Interferon - recognised as the first drug to improve MS symptoms - after
A SEARCH and rescue team found a man in a cemetery after he had been missing for about 12 hours. The 50-year-old, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, was seen leaving his home at 12.30pm on Friday. He was reported missing by his carers at tea-time when
HOMES and businesses across the county will benefit from £36m worth of flood protection work following a substantial increase in spending to tackle the problem. Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee has agreed to a ten per cent increase in the levy
SCIENTISTS have identified more signs of global warming - the region's butterflies. Researchers have discovered species that normally thrive in the region are being forced to seek new habitats further north and at higher altitudes. Conservationists fear
A WATCHFUL eye is being kept on dry-stone waller Keith Ledger by a most unusual workmate. The award-winning craftsman is accompanied by his hawk, Bomber, much to the surprise of passers-by. The duo travel the lengths of North Yorkshire, and while Bomber
A HOMELESS man was assaulted in Leeming Road, York, in the early hours of Friday. The assault took place under a railway bridge known locally as Marble Arch. The man was taken to York District Hospital with facial injuries. Anyone with information is
AN ACCOUNTANT has lost pounds after joining a slimming club and cutting out beer. Paul Johnston, from Trimdon Colliery, joined his village's slimming club last August and in less than six months has shed six stone. He has also been named Slimmer of the
IT says everything about Sunderland's plight that the loudest chants on Saturday were for a player who wasn't even on the pitch. Even Julio Arca, sitting on the bench and latterly warming up, might have felt embarrassed that the intermittent shouts of
POLICE are hunting would-be robbers who fled empty-handed from a shop. Two men, one armed with what is thought to be a baseball bat, went into Top Shop in Fines Road, Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham. A police spokesman said that the pair demanded
TWO marathon runners have raised money for a project designed to give young people access to sports facilities. Shayne Brown and Stacey Bellamy, from the Moving On, a charity based in Durham for homeless young people, have collected more than £300-worth
An independent forensic expert was today arriving at the Deepcut Army barracks to begin detailed examinations of the sites where four soldiers died in mysterious circumstances. Frank Swann will lead a small team over the next four weeks in a forensic
THERE were toys galore for children in a Teesside hospital on Friday. The young patients in the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, were overjoyed when furniture chain MFI presented the children's ward with vouchers to pay for toys. The firm
