SHE was sitting next to me on the sofa, smelling all fresh from the bath and wearing her dressing gown and a wanton look. "Gorgonzola cheese and apple strudel with spiced pickled pears," said my wife, softly. "Sorry?" I said, trying to keep one eye on
A mother who torched herself and her two children in the family car had almost £20,000 in cash stashed in the boot. Plastic bags stuffed with used bank notes were among a bag of washing, which had been dowsed in a highly flammable fluid in the back of
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 Rev Philip Greenhalgh has warned that unless villages learn to pull together, there is a real prospect
ONE of the country's greatest ever amateur football clubs has started the year facing a cash crisis. Officials at ten times FA Amateur Cup winners Bishop Auckland say they will struggle to survive now that the plug has been pulled on their major source
A £2m programme to smarten up a rundown shopping centre started in earnest last week. Supermarket giant Asda is treating the Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, to a major facelift following its move last November to a £15m new store at the opposite end
The tax man has warned North-East staff they could be fired for dipping into celebrities' computer records. The Inland Revenue has issued the warning to its 74,000 employees nationally after an investigation revealed that some delve into the files of
Rumours were rife last night that two major UK cable operators were manoeuvering into position for a merger. Telewest and ntl, both strongly based in the North-East, are digging themselves out of separate financial crises. But business experts feel they
A NEW programme of easy mile-long walks around the centre of Bishop Auckland starts on Monday. The walks will set off every fortnight from the Four Clocks Centre, in Newgate Street, at 10am. They are organised under the Wear Walking for Health Programme
A mother who has undergone controversial IVF treatment to create a baby genetically similar to her four-year-old son, is now several months pregnant. Michelle Whitaker and her husband Jayson, who have family in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, were desperate
A SERIES of events is taking place at Elm Ridge Methodist Church, in Darlington, this month. Alpha courses, exploring the Christian faith and designed for people who are new to the church, start on Monday, at 7.30pm. The sessions start with an evening
THE Firthmoor estate in Darlington celebrated an historic moment yesterday, with the opening of its new school. Children took part in a short procession from the old Firthmoor Primary School to the new building, on the other side of Highmoor Road, as
A WALK on the wildlife side, last week's sponsored hike with Wolsingham School proved - for most of us, at any rate - an exhilarating experience. In Darlington the weather was dismal, in white capped Weardale it was simply wonderful. With around 200 pupils
MARK Waugh is among the players Durham are considering as a temporary replacement for Martin Love at the start of next season. Following his selection for the last two Ashes Tests, there is every chance that Love will be in the Australian squad to tour
SHOPKEEPERS say gipsies have been causing havoc on a Teesside industrial estate. About 25 caravans converged on Portrack Lane Industrial Estate, in Stockton, at the weekend. Police believe the gipsies had travelled to Stockton for either a wedding or
A SEDGEFIELD teacher has won a national award for piloting a scheme to introduce martial arts into the school curriculum. Darren Langthorne, a teacher at Sedgefield Community College, came up with the idea when the school was awarded specialist sports
A FERRYHILL A-level pupil has won a car as part of a scheme designed to encourage more youngsters to continue their education after the age of 16. Andrew Wing has won a Smart Car and a package of BSM driving lessons as part of the Connexions Card scheme
PEOPLE living and working in a County Durham conservation area are being urged to take advantage of a grant scheme to carry out repairs to their property. The grants are available as part of the Cockfield Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme, which helps
A JOBCENTRE has celebrated helping more than 33,000 people find work in its first ten years. Former managers of Sunderland JobCentre and 28 of the 70-plus staff who have been at the centre since it opened in John Street, in 1993, were among the first
Durham's Gala Theatre celebrates its first anniversary tomorrow but it hasn't exacactly been theatrical Viagra. Sarah Foster asks what's in store for its future. THE opening scene did not look promising. The curtain went up with a fanfare, but the stars
DEVELOPERS have been forced to go back to the drawing board over plans for a multi-million pound footballing school of excellence to be built in the North-East. The former Cummins Engines factory, in Yarm Road, Darlington, has been chosen for a JJB Sports
Basketball showmen the Harlem Globetrotters bring their skills to the North-East as part of their first national tour in almost ten years. Newcastle's Telewest Arena stages the American ball-playing wizards who mix the skills of basketball with showbiz
Police have warned that three masked men who viciously attacked a postmaster could strike again. They forced their way into a Helmsley post office, North Yorkshire, with a chainsaw, on Tuesday. Postmaster Geoff Simpson was taken to the Friarage Hospital
GREEN-fingered youngsters will plant 10,000 bulbs today to make sure that spring is full of colour. Pupils from Hillrise School and St Joseph's School, in Washington, will plant the daffodil and crocus bulbs on Washington village green. The Washington
A BUS equipped with computers is the latest weapon in the fight against drugs in the villages around Durham. The single-decker will tour the area, visiting known drug hot spots, to give out the anti-drugs message and provide activities for youngsters
A unit set up to tackle anti-social behaviour in Hartlepool has been hailed a success after dealing with more than 200 cases in its first year. The Hartlepool Anti-Social Behaviour Unit was launched by Hartlepool Borough Council in November 2001 and has
A TEENAGER has been put behind bars - at his own request. Nathan Patton, 16, was sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order by a judge on Teesside for three breaches of an anti-social behaviour order imposed last October, and additionally, for
THOUSANDS of pounds are being spent in Darlington to rid the streets of a sticky problem. Darlington Borough Council are conducting trials to find the best way to remove chewing gum from the town's main shopping areas. Various contractors and systems
AN accomplished conductor returned to his old stamping ground yesterday to be honoured for his achievements in music. Richard Hickox, considered one of Britain's leading conductors, made his name leading the Northern Sinfonia from 1982 to 1990. His stint
METAL detector enthusiasts did their civic duty to unearth their mayoress's medal lost in the sands during a Boxing Day dip. Brenda Forster, mayoress of Redcar and Cleveland, lost the medal from her civic chain along with her glasses, when she fell over
THE Government is likely to allow the US to use the RAF Fylingdales radar station for its controversial missile defence programme. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the Commons that his preliminary conclusion was to agree to a US request to upgrade the
A DRIVER who pulled out into the path of an oncoming car had little chance of surviving even if he had been wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard yesterday. William Bunting, of Piercebridge, is thought to have been delivering firewood to a friend when
COUNCIL chiefs are continuing to press for the upgrading of the A66 around Darlington. Enhancing the single-carriageway bypass is seen as a key part in the economic regeneration of Darlington and the Tees Valley, say members of Darlington Borough Council's
AUDITIONS for the chance to star in a film by the director of a hit Hollywood film are to take place soon. Peter Howitt, who wrote and directed the 1998 romance, Sliding Doors, with Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah, is to hold auditions for the lead role
FIVE schools are taking part in one of the last events to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee year. The Late, Late Jubilee Show is a celebration of Darlington life during the 50-year reign of the Queen being presented by two raconteurs supported by the
RETAIL pioneer and author David Hughes will lift the lid on the Co-op in a talk this month. Mr Hughes, 77, rose from shop boy to become the Co-op's chief executive officer and is credited with bringing self-service to the North-East and the first cut
THEATRE and science come together in a multimedia production at the Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle, on January 25. Stone, Paper, Scissors is presented by Northern Stage Ensemble and the University of Northumbria psychology department. The one-off event
THEATRE and science come together in a multimedia production at the Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle, on January 25. Stone, Paper, Scissors is presented by Northern Stage Ensemble and the University of Northumbria psychology department. The one-off event
A ROBBER who posed as a customer to raid five stores was caught each time on security cameras, a court was told yesterday. The raider, who did not wear a mask, was armed with a knife and left female assistants terrified as he snatched bundles of notes
Pensioners and those on benefits who suffered below-freezing temperatures earlier this month are to receive £8.50 from the Department for Work and Pensions. The one-off payment will be made automatically to those living in the postcode areas DH8 (Consett
A CHARITY has received a cash boost from visits to see Father Christmas. Middlesbrough's Hill Street Centre organised a free Santa's grotto but parents were asked to give a donation to the Zoe's Place Trust, which is planning to open a hospice for special
It was supposed to be the honeymoon of a lifetime but it turned into a holiday from hell for all the family. Julia Breen reports. AS her plane took off for the sunny climes of Tenerife, newlywed Joanne Hackett breathed a sigh of relief. True, her honeymoon
AN exhibition by a Dutch artist has gone on show in the North-East. The show, Subjective Realism, has been put together by Maaike Draper-Albers, who moved to Darlington more than 13 years ago. She turned her painting hobby into a way to make money six
AN exhibition by a Dutch artist has gone on show in the North-East. The show, Subjective Realism, has been put together by Maaike Draper-Albers, who moved to Darlington more than 13 years ago. She turned her painting hobby into a way to make money six
A TEENAGER appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with murdering a man with a samurai sword. Jason Benjamin Kelly, 18, of Outhwaite Lane, Middlesbrough, appeared before Teesside magistrates, speaking only to confirm his name and address. He is
THE North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust has been praised for improving the working lives of its staff. The trust has achieved the Improving Working Lives (IWL) practice award after demonstrating a range of projects to enhance working life for its 4,700
TWO police officers were asked to strip after being mistaken for kiss-o-grams in a comedy sketch-style mix-up. The confusion came about after a woman whose son was celebrating his 18th birthday contacted two kiss-o-gram firms to make inquiries. She booked
REFEREE John Murray is determined not to blow the final whistle on being an official - despite being well past retirement age. Mr Murray, who is 75, has decided he will not hang up his whistle until next season when he will have been taking centre stage
SOME of the region's most vulnerable people are each to get an £8.50 boost to help cope with the cold after a week of below-freezing temperatures. Cold Weather Payments of £8.50 a week are made automatically - with no need to claim - to many pensioners
GREEN-fingered youngsters will plant 10,000 bulbs today to make sure that spring is full of colour. Pupils from Hillrise School and St Joseph's School, in Washington, will plant the daffodil and crocus bulbs on Washington village green. The Washington
EXPERTS ran their eyes over guns, fishing tackle and military memorabilia from across the region at an antiques valuation. Valuers from auction house Holt's were on hand in Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street, to look at a range of old firearms and angling
A CANCER survivor with a fear of heights is getting ready to tackle a 100ft drop from Newcastle's Tyne Bridge, to raise money for charity. Victoria James, 44, a district nurse from Tynemouth, North Tyneside, is taking part in a sponsored abseil for Cancer
A bridge partially washed away by freak floods more than two years ago is at the centre of a new storm of protest. Eight months after a Government department stepped in to decide whether the bridge at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, could
PEOPLE may soon be able to walk freely across some of the wildest and most remote parts of the Yorkshire Dales. More than 4,000sq km of land in the north-west dales could be opened to the public under new access rights. The Countryside Agency is holding
TWO police cars were badly damaged when they collided and then hit two other cars while on their way to an incident. The accident happened as officers in two Vauxhall Astra vehicles were responding to a report of a theft in progress in Wingate, County
POLICE watchdogs are to investigate the death of a man eight weeks after he was arrested by officers in North Yorkshire. The Police Complaints Authority will be examine the circumstances that led to the death of 33-year-old Patrick Lowther. Mr Lowther
Householders in Hartlepool have been praised for doing their bit for recycling. More than 400 Christmas trees were put out for Hartlepool Borough Council's recycling scheme during the first two days of a kerbside collection initiative. Collections began
A hospice is offering a second opportunity to look round the Durham Cathedral after twilight. The sell-out Jolly Up January evening tour, organised by St Cuthbert's Hospice, in Durham, will be repeated on Thursday, January 27. Places are limited to 60
VILLAGERS say they are being left in the dark about problems with their electricity supply. Members of Dene Valley Parish Council say they are regularly affected by power cuts. Council chairman Chris Foote Wood said: "Several members have confirmed that
A PROGRAMME of mile-long walks in Bishop Auckland starts on Monday. The walks will set off every fortnight from the Four Clocks Centre, in Newgate Street, at 10am. They are organised under the Wear Walking for Health Programme and are free. There is no
POLICE are looking for strong-armed thieves who stole a 250kg headstone. They took the stone, a display model, from outside Murray Memorials, in Deneburn Terrace, Consett, County Durham, overnight between Wednesday and Thursday last week. The £700, heart-shaped
THE funeral of the six-year-old girl killed by a banned driver in a hit-and-run car crash on New Year's Eve takes place tomorrow. Rebecca Sawyer died when the family saloon she was travelling in was hit by a stolen car, in Ashington, Northumberland. Friends
A BID to build a nightclub and caf bar on the site of a derelict bingo hall has been stopped in its tracks by councillors. Proposals for a 1,000 capacity club, at South Burns, near Chester-le-Street town centre, County Durham, were turned down at a planning
BORO stars Geremi and Joseph-Desire Job have helped launch Middlesbrough Football Club's latest community initiative with a cake cutting ceremony at the Cellnet Riverside Stadium. The Enterprise Academy is a three-year scheme aimed at introducing 11 to
Children have been treated to a behind-the-scenes look into the workings of a town hall. Councillor Ken Hall, Middlesbrough Council's Speaker, has been meeting some of the town's youngsters, with pupils from The Avenue Primary School and Newham Bridge
A PANEL of ordinary citizens have come up with radical ideas which could dramatically reduce falls among the elderly. After taking advice from experts, the 13-strong "citizens jury" has recommended sweeping changes in the prevention, detection, treatment
POLICE have released an e-fit of a man wanted in connection with an indecent assault on a 30-year-old woman on New Years Day. The attack happened in Broadwood Road, Scotswood, Newcastle, at about 3.30am. A police spokesman said the victim was walking
A CORONER recorded a verdict of accidental death on an Ovington man who collapsed in a hotel bathroom in India. An inquest at Richmond Town Hall yesterday was told Terrence Morris, of Ovington, had been unwell for a couple of days while staying with his
A HALF-A-MILLION pound investment plan that involved moving to Carrville, in Durham, has paid off for Jennings Ford. Just over a year ago, Jennings Ford relocated from the group's former Neville's Cross branch in Durham to a new car showroom at Carrville
THE UK's largest ice cream products manufacturer has completed a more than half-a-million pounds investment programme in North Yorkshire. Richmond Ice Cream, of Leeming Bar, has upgraded its warehouse facilities for both packaging and raw materials. The
COUNCIL Tax in Derwentside will not rise by more than the rate of inflation. A Government review of how much money Derwent-side District Council should receive has resulted in extra funding of about £600,000 for the next financial year. Authority bosses
The Queen's Head pub in Tubwell Row, Darlington, was refused a public entertainment licence yesterday. The pub's licence was due to expire in April, but Darlington Borough Council officers said electrical work needed to be completed before the licence
RESIDENTS tired of Council Tax increases are about to become the country's newest political party. The Durham Taxpayers Alliance has registered itself as a party with the Electoral Commission. The alliance, set up by after last year's 14.8 per cent increase
Yorkshire chief executive Colin Graves has delivered a stinging attack on the Government for forcing the England and Wales Cricket Board to decide if the World Cup match in Zimbabwe goes ahead - despite heated opposition and protests. Graves said that
A NEWTON Aycliffe centre is to run a course teaching people how to design their own web site. The Pioneering Care Centre, in Cobblers Hall, is offering an 11-week course from Tuesday, January 21. There is no formal entry requirement but previous knowledge
SHE was sitting next to me on the sofa, smelling all fresh from the bath and wearing her dressing gown and a wanton look. "Gorgonzola cheese and apple strudel with spiced pickled pears," said my wife, softly. "Sorry?" I said, trying to keep one eye on
POP hopeful Zoe Birkett could miss out on chart success because shops in her home town have run out of copies of her debut single. Zoe's record Treat Me Like A Lady was released on Monday and fans in Darlington rushed to buy it. But 24 hours after it
WORK to improve the riverside in Darlington's town centre has been completed. The £50,000 project, funded by the Government's Single Regeneration Programme has involved work being carried out on a 130-metre stretch of the riverside between Leadyard Bridge
National Gipsy Council president Hughie Smith will need a police escort when he visits a North Yorkshire travellers' camp, because of fears of fanning the flames of an already volatile situation. Smith, 73, was ordered by magistrates at Harrogate today
PASSENGER groups warned last night of a threat to fares if a new safety charge is imposed on train operators. The Government is proposing a single levy to pay for the work of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) railway inspectorate - potentially costing
PUB customers dug deep into their pockets to raise money for terminally-ill children. Punters partying at The Kingfisher Pub in Spennymoor donated money as they entered the venue on New Year's Eve and raised £1,000 for the Sergeant Cancer Care for Children
DERBY COUNTY have confirmed Middlesbrough are still in the driving seat to sign striker Malcolm Christie. Leeds United are understood to be preparing to launch an 11th-hour bid for the highly-rated young marksman. But no firm offer from the Elland Road
A WASTE management officer is to be employed by Sedgefield Borough Council to help community groups to develop their own recycling schemes. The council made a successful bid for £54,700 of Government money to run a community recycling project. The scheme
THE conman who stole from a pensioner who later collapsed and died may have struck again, police revealed last night. Detectives investigating last Wednesday's theft of £200 from 82-year-old George Sharpe's home, in Haswell, County Durham, believe the
MILLIONS of pounds were earmarked last week for a flood defence scheme to protect hundreds of home in two flood-hit communities. Rising costs for new measures along the River Gaunless, near Bishop Auckland, have meant an extra wait for families in South
The government is facing renewed pressure over the Euro amid fears for future production at Nissan's North-East plant. The Northern Echo revealed earlier this week that a car that may have been built at Sunderland had been cancelled. Bosses branded the
NEWCASTLE United defender Titus Bramble has warned Sir Bobby Robson that he is still in need of more match practice before he can return to the first-team scene. Bramble made his comeback in the Reserves' 3-2 defeat at Manchester City on Tuesday night
WAR ON IRAQ: IT'S quite hypocritical for both George Bush and Tony Blair to speak about War on Iraq or any War on Terrorism when here we are once again, compliments of our own Government, giving cordial reception in the UK to the regime of Yasser Arafat
HUNDREDS of youngsters stepped out to bring their school thousands of pounds closer to achieving a performing arts dream. Wolsingham School and Community College needs to raise £50,000 before March so that it can bid for specialist status as a performing
The Government is facing increased pressure to scrap the public-private schemes which build new schools and hospitals following a damning report. The Audit Commission says in its report that schools built under the flagship profit-making schemes are "
I've spent the last week fulfilling a long-held ambition by visiting some of the incredible historical sites in Upper Egypt. Looking at reports of weather back home, you won't thank me for telling you that daytime temperatures here have been around 85
A PANDA adds a touch of animal magic when a traditional panto takes the stage in Darlington next week. A cast of 40 from St Augustine's Repertory Society (Stars) is busy putting the finishing touches to The Sleeping Beauty, which producer Malcolm Frank
TV presenter Matthew Kelly was arrested last night by police investigating allegations of sexual abuse against young boys. The 52-year-old Stars in Their Eyes host was arrested by Surrey police in Birmingham and was last night being held in connection
SIMMERING tensions between drinkers at two rival pubs erupted in violence that led to the death of a family man during a bar room brawl, an inquest heard yesterday. David Willis, 51, of William Street, Darlington, died five days after he was admitted
THE thrills and spills of one of the all-time pantomime favourites, The Sleeping Beauty, takes centre stage in Darlington next week. A cast of 40 people from St Augustine's Repertory Society (Stars) is busy putting the finishing touches to the magical
JRR Tolkien's classic novel The Hobbit is turned into a stage play in a production at Darlington's Civic Theatre between Tuesday, February 18 and Saturday, February 22. For information and tickets phone the box office on (01325) 486555.
SO-CALLED "good things" in handicaps have a nasty habit of getting turned over, but it's hard to see why Royal Beluga (2.20) shouldn't justify an anticipated avalanche of cash in the Moore Scott Chase at Ludlow. Ridden with sublime confidence by Davy
A FORMER North-East councillor has been charged with fraud following the collapse of a charity. Charles Smith, who used to be chairman of the Darlington Borough Council finance committee, was arrested following a police investigation into the affairs
JULIO ARCA last night insisted he will not be Sunderland's saviour and told fans: "I'm not a hero - I'm not a Maradona." Arca's return to the Sunderland side has been met with widespread acclaim from supporters desperate to cling on to any scrap of hope
RESIDENTS and councillors are gearing up to fight to save a Darlington post office, which could face closure in spring. Firthmoor post office, in Brignall Moor Crescent, could close by March as part of a national programme that will see many urban branches
TWO years of leading a new scheme to train members of the public to act as life-saving teams has earned a County Durham woman a national role. Barbara Broadbelt, from Fishburn, has been appointed by Lifesavers, the Royal Life Saving Society UK, to co-ordinate
A CRACKDOWN on the misuse of parking badges meant for disabled drivers has been hailed a major success by council officials. The joint venture - launched by police, the borough council and Darlington Association on Disability - aimed to address concerns
A motorist has been awarded more than a quarter-of-a-million pounds after a road accident which almost cost her her life. Part-time counsellor Jean Rose, 56, suffered "catastrophic" injuries when her Fiat Tipo was hit by a vehicle transporter on the A19
NATIONAL Holocaust Memorial Day is being marked in Darlington by a performance of an award-winning play. Ashes to Ashes by the Badac Theatre Company will be at the Arts Centre in Darlington on Tuesday January 28 at 1.30pm. The play follows the relationship
Police investigating an attack on a soldier who was left fighting for his life after a pickaxe was embedded in his head, charged a 17-year-old private with attempted murder last night. Lance Corporal Conrad Bisping, 26, of the First Battalion, the Queen's
A JOBCENTRE has celebrated helping more than 33,000 people find work in its first ten years. Former managers of Sunderland JobCentre and 28 of the 70-plus staff who have been at the centre since it opened in John Street, in 1993, were among the first
OUR thoughts are with the grieving family of Detective Constable Stephen Oake, killed in Manchester while doing his job. Theirs is a terrible, tragic loss. Whether that loss could, in any way, have been prevented is a question the police have to address
Basketball showmen the Harlem Globetrotters bring their skills to the North-East as part of their first national tour in almost ten years. Newcastle's Telewest Arena stages the American ball-playing wizards who mix the skills of basketball with showbiz
TAXPAYERS will have to start funding a troubled theatre from next year, it emerged last night. Durham City Council took over the running of the £14m Gala Theatre last year after its management company, The Entertainment Team, went into liquidation. It
A horrified father discovered his son had been beheaded with a home-made guillotine he had secretly built in his bedroom. Boyd Taylor, 36, is believed to have attached the contraption to an electrical timing device. At 3.30am, as he lay beneath it on
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to do their bit for the environment by recycling their old Yellow Pages. The county council in North Yorkshire wants people to recycle their old directories as soon as the new ones arrive. The campaign is supported by the
THE Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland will meet the Mayor of Hiroshima today. Tadoshi Akiba will be guest of honour at the first Mayors For Peace forum at Leeds Civic Hall. Eric Jackson, Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, will be one of 90 mayors attending the
A schoolboy hanged himself by accident when an attention-seeking prank went wrong, an inquest was told yesterday. Thirteen-year-old Duncan Johnson was found by his mother tied to his bunk bed at his home in West End, Gayle, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire
METAL detector enthusiasts did their civic duty to unearth their mayoress's medal lost in the sands during a Boxing Day dip. Brenda Forster, mayoress of Redcar and Cleveland, lost the medal from her civic chain along with her glasses, when she fell over
OPENING hours at the public toilets in Easingwold are being cut from the weekend. The toilets in the market place, which are operated by Hambleton District Council, will only be open on Fridays until further notice. Officials say the closure is due to
PUPILS yesterday reaped the rewards of a Sedgefield Borough Council rescue package to save their school swimming pool from closure. Durham County Council announced it was to close the Shildon and Fishburn pools last year. The county council had a statutory
A DARLINGTON businessman has appeared in court charged in connection with a multi-million pound fraud. George Steen, 54, was accused of pledging loans to desperate businessmen and not paying out. The 54-year-old appeared at Southwark Crown Court with
A NORTH-EAST man jailed for a drunken threat to hijack an Australian plane promised last night that he would never fool around on an aircraft again. After emerging from prison in Australia, Tom Lilico promised that from now on "it is strictly tape over
A MILITARY psychiatric unit was criticised yesterday over the death of an Army sergeant. Sergeant James McDonald hanged himself at the Duchess of Kent Military Hospital, in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, last April - two weeks after he was admitted
GREEN-fingered youngsters will plant 10,000 bulbs today to make sure that spring is full of colour. Pupils from Hillrise School and St Joseph's School, in Washington, will plant the daffodil and crocus bulbs on Washington village green. The Washington
CHARLOTTE Sowerby is hoping 2003 will herald an end to a run of bad luck which has plagued her bid to run her own horse-drawn taxi service. Richmondshire District Council's decision to grant her a licence last May should have been the beginning of a brave
A Parliamentary committee has criticised the public spending deal which deprives the North-East of about £1bn, compared with Scotland. However, the attack on the Barnett Formula by the Lords Constitution Committee says it is the devolved administrations
REFEREE John Murray is determined not to blow the final whistle on being an official - despite being well past retirement age. Mr Murray, who is 75, has decided he will not hang up his whistle until next season when he will have been taking centre stage
A WALKING and cycling business run from the back bedroom of a County Durham house is helping to bring foreign tourists to Britain. Philip Scriver was 52 when the travel company he worked for folded. His former employers had rejected his suggestions to
A CANCER survivor with a fear of heights is getting ready to tackle a 100ft drop from Newcastle's Tyne Bridge, to raise money for charity. Victoria James, 44, a district nurse from Tynemouth, North Tyneside, is taking part in a sponsored abseil for Cancer
POLICE have praised members of the public after a huge rise in calls to a confidential drink-drive hotline. Crimestoppers in the North-East received 86 calls over the Christmas and New Year period from people wanting to "shop" a drink-driver. It revealed
GIZMO the kitten sparked a full-scale rescue when she got stuck at the top of an electricity pole and came within a whisker of death. The curious kitten came to a standstill 30ft up the pole and was getting electric shocks every time she moved. RSPCA
A MAN was remanded in custody yesterday after appearing in court in connection with an incident that left another man with a metal plate in his left cheek and over his left eye to help repair a broken jaw. Robert George Hindmarsh appeared before magistrates
A PUBLIC inquiry into plans for a power substation will open later this month. National Grid International applied to Easington District Council for permission to build the substation on the former Hawthorn Cokeworks site, near Murton. Costing several
PUB company New Century Inns is on target to achieve its ambition of having 100 alehouses across the UK. The firm yesterday announced it had doubled its annual profit before tax in 2001-2002. Executive chairman Alistair Arkley said the money would be
ART COURSE: Derwentside Leisure Department is holding Painting in the Park from 10am to 11.30am for eight to 11-year-olds, and 12.30pm to 2pm for 12 to 14-year-olds, on Saturday, January 25, in Consett Heritage Park. Places can be booked on (01207) 218014
FARMERS and landowners fear the Yorkshire countryside could become a scrapyard for abandoned cars. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) says that EU legislation to reduce pollution from old vehicles could leave wrecks littering the landscape
Enthusiasts will be able to see birds at close range this weekend. On Saturday, experts from Durham University are holding a catching-and-ringing event next to a hide erected at the city's Botanic Garden. Very fine netting will be placed on the flight
PET owners in Teesside and east Durham can have their cat or dog neutered for less in an RSPCA initiative starting this month. The charity's Durham, Hartlepool and District Branch has teamed up with a the Clifton Lodge veterinary practice, in Hartlepool
A Puffin signal-controlled pedestrian crossing is to be installed on the A167 Boroughbridge Road, Northallerton, close to the junctions with Harewood Lane and Helmsley Way. Work is due to start on Monday and is expected to last for four weeks. It will
PLANS for a log cabin-style visitor centre at a Ferryhill quarry were approved by Sedgefield Borough Council on Friday. The countryside education visitors centre will be built on land provided by Lafarge at the Thrislington plantation, near West Cornforth
A COURSE to help people cope with long-term illness will begin in Sedgefield next month. Sedgefield Primary Care Trust will begin its third Expert Patient Programme at the Pioneering Care Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, on March 4. The scheme is part of a
A FLOCK of sheep have unwittingly acted as eco-warriors by munching their way through acres of meadow near a forest. The flock of Suffolk cross sheep were used as part of a scheme by the Forestry Commission and English Nature to keep grass on the 25-acre
THE faces at the top of Britain's leading Roman Catholic public school are about to change. The headteacher at Ampleforth College, Father Leo Chamberlain, is to step down at the end of the year to take up the position of Master of St Benet's Hall, Oxford
WILDLIFE experts have won a £49,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable them to implement a pioneering recovery plan for water voles. The project, by the Durham Wildlife Trust, is of enormous significance as the waterways and wetlands of east
SEVERAL hundred homes in the east Cleveland area are warmer thanks to an energy saving team. Redcar and Cleveland Warm Zone team, sponsored by Transco, have helped improve heating in almost 500 homes in Kirkleatham. The team hopes to complete improvements
FIVE starstruck children from the region have won some dream roles, working with some of the country's leading actors. The youngsters have been chosen to join the Royal Shakespeare Company's tour when it visits Northallerton, North Yorkshire. The company
Householders in Hartlepool have been praised for doing their bit for recycling. More than 400 Christmas trees were put out for Hartlepool Borough Council's recycling scheme during the first two days of a kerbside collection initiative. Collections began
POLICE are looking for strong-armed thieves who stole a 250kg headstone. They took the stone, a display model, from outside Murray Memorials, in Deneburn Terrace, Consett, County Durham, overnight between Wednesday and Thursday last week. The £700, heart-shaped
Bylaws could soon be introduced in a park to help guarantee visitors a peaceful time. Saltwell Park, Gateshead, thought by many to be the finest Victorian park in the North-East, is undergoing extensive work to recreate its Victorian splendour. Now councillors
Bylaws could soon be introduced in a park to help guarantee visitors a peaceful time. Saltwell Park, Gateshead, thought by many to be the finest Victorian park in the North-East, is undergoing extensive work to recreate its Victorian splendour. Now councillors
A BID to build a nightclub and caf bar on the site of a derelict bingo hall has been stopped in its tracks by councillors. Proposals for a 1,000 capacity club, at South Burns, near Chester-le-Street town centre, County Durham, were turned down at a planning
IT was hard not to shout: "He's behind you, Emily," as Coronation Street's pantomime villain Richard crept up on her with a crowbar. I'm still not sure if she was dead, dozing or just watching telly when he had finished with her. With Emily's acting you
FANS of Darlington pop starlet Zoe Birkett showed their support on Monday by buying hundreds of copies of her debut single. The single, Treat Me Like A Lady, is tipped to take the 17-year-old former Carmel College student into the charts. Zoe-mania struck
POLICE have released an e-fit of a man wanted in connection with an indecent assault on a 30-year-old woman on New Years Day. The attack happened in Broadwood Road, Scotswood, Newcastle, at about 3.30am. A police spokesman said the victim was walking
LOVE will be in the air next month when Castle Howard invites the public to a romantic weekend. Opening its doors on St Valentine's Day, the house will display love letters, wedding garments and floral displays. In the gardens, visitors will be entertained
The Queen's Head pub in Tubwell Row, Darlington, was refused a public entertainment licence yesterday. The pub's licence was due to expire in April, but Darlington Borough Council officers said electrical work needed to be completed before the licence
Campaigners have won their fight to stop roadworks from shutting down a main road into a village. For years, people living in the Melmerby area, near Ripon, have been calling for a new surface on Green Lane, which leads into the village from the A61 Ripon
MOTORISTS who leave their engines running while their vehicles are stationary could soon be fined. Newcastle City Council is looking to introduce traffic orders to clamp down on people who keep their engines running unnecessarily. It is the latest proposal
BUSINESSES across the region have a new ally to provide them with advice on research grants. Beta Technology, which has an impressive record of helping companies across the UK obtain a step up with its expert knowledge and contacts, has opened an office
A THEATRE group aims to bring hope and humour to Wear Valley communities that were devastated during the foot-and-mouth crisis. Jack Drums Arts will this week visit small venues in the Dales to perform Jackie and the Beanstalk. The play, which is a twist
PUPILS at a Darlington school handled snakes and creepy crawlies during an unusual lesson last week. Zoolab, the interactive animal workshop for children, dropped in to Hurworth Comprehensive School with an array of creatures. The visit was arranged for
THE first stage of plans to replace dilapidated school buildings with a multi-million pound "eco primary" will begin this autumn. Officials hope the replacement Pelton Infants and Junior School, at Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, will be a flag bearer
TIME is running out for people in a market town to apply for grants for buildings improvements. There are just three months left to access funds for Wolsingham's Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme, which aims to restore traditional features in the
It's not just the sets that wobble AS promised, I have checked into the revamped Crossroads motel again, but I fear things haven't improved. "We have to act as if everything was normal," urged new owner Angel Samson, on finding her adulterous husband
MORE than 90 per cent of 2,000 pupils, teachers, and parents in the Nunthorpe area of Middlesbrough agree with creating a sixth form centre in the town. However, others involved in education, many of whom are from sixth form colleges on Teesside, have
RESIDENTS of Shildon and the surrounding area are invited to a day of fun, relaxation and information. The event, organised by the Pioneering Care Partnership, Age Concern Durham County, PRT Carers' Centre, and Health Promotion, will be held at Jubilee
RESIDENTS of a Wensleydale town are hoping to revitalise the local economy by converting an auction mart into an education centre. The centre, planned for Hawes, will be designed to help visitors understand the role that farming plays in the national
