Archive

  • Eight-year wait for fertility treatment

    Health bosses have warned childless couples they may have to wait until 2011 for fertility treatment. The number of couples from North Durham referred to the Newcastle Centre for Life for IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment has increased so rapidly

  • Milk bar could see fluoride added to school drinks

    A PILOT scheme to give fluoridated milk to selected Darlington infants could be under way shortly. The scheme, being looked at for an infants' school in one of the town's most deprived areas, would probably see the creation of a milk bar using milk with

  • Battling pensioner's care home triumph

    A DEFIANT last stand by an 89-year-old pensioner has thrown North-East care home closure plans into disarray after a landmark ruling in the High Court. And if frail Lavinia Worley succeeds in her battle to remain in the council-run home where she lives

  • -No consultation' claim on four-week road closure

    GREAT Ayton villagers and parish councillors were incensed to learn that the Great Ayton to Guisborough road was being closed for essential resurfacing work for four weeks, from Sunday. Sections between Newton under Roseberry and Pinchinthorpe are being

  • Rats worry after bin bags dumped in hall grounds

    HOUSEHOLDERS who dump black bin bags full of domestic waste in the grounds of a community centre have been warned they face prosecution. For the past few months, centre managers at the Grange Community Centre in Hurworth have seen an escalation in the

  • Scrap 20-day rule, vets told

    FARMERS lobbied Government chief vets last week in their campaign to have the 20-day standstill restriction on livestock lifted. Delegations from Northumberland and Durham visited the animal health offices at Kenton Bar, Newcastle, on Friday while others

  • Games: Tindale climb to second position

    Bishop Auckland and District CIU Winter Tindale Crescent moved into second place in the darts section, nine points behind Cockton Hill but with a match in hand, after they won by the odd point at Evenwood. Mick Holmes won for the home side, who also took

  • Anger as village green is concreted for sewage scheme

    A £300,000 sewage treatment scheme at Skipton on Swale, near Thirsk, is nearing completion - but the project, which will take waste water from the village, has upset many locals. They are angry that an access road has involved concreting part of the village

  • Stairlift manufacturer turns its back on Far East option

    A MANUFACTURING firm which makes the lives of thousands of pensioners easier is to invest £1m at its plant in Consett, County Durham. Bison Bede announced production of its latest stairlift will be kept in this country rather than going to a cost-saving

  • Ice Hockey: Tomahawks are comeback kings

    Junior round-up A thrilling comeback by Sunderland Tomahawks in their English Under-19 North A League against Whitley Braves gave them their first points of the season. Trailing 1-4, five unanswered goals in the final period brought them a 6-4 win and

  • Burton's Bytes: Search out new helicopter rescue game

    Search and Rescue 3 Format: PC CD-ROM. Publisher: Just Flight. Price: £19.99 IF you take Microsoft's mighty Flight Simulator out of the equation, most computer recreations of flying a plane or helicopter are usually combat-based - cyberspace flights of

  • Junior Football:

    Rohm and Haas JOC Hetton Youth League Two sides were schedule to play the semi-final fixtures for the Durham County Youth Cup but the weather was responsible for Herrington's tie with Consett being called off. The Lumley game with Redheugh though, went

  • Basketball: Mohawks are five stars

    TVL Teesside Mohawks became five stars on Sunday when they clinched their fifth consecutive National Trophy. The Teesside stars took the title - basketball's equivalent of football's FA Cup - in Birmingham on Sunday with a hard-earned 84-76 win against

  • Lock-up raided

    POLICE have recovered replica guns in part of a massive haul of stolen property found during a raid. Officers, acting on intelligence, raided a lock-up to the rear of Union Street in Guisborough on Tuesday. They found the garage packed to the rafters

  • Northallerton and District League

    Dominoes Division One: Wheatsheaf played 15, pts 39, Green Tree 15, 37; Football Club 15, 36; Duke Wellington 15m, 35; Nags Head A 15, 33; Cricket Club b 15, 31; WMC A 15, 31; WMC A 15, 31; County Arms 15, 30; Masons Arms 15, 27; Elders A 15, 27; Sportsmans

  • Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor unday League

    A Jason Greenland goal earned Victoria a priceless win in Division Two as they jumped from eighth to fifth in the table. The league's fixture programme was a victim of the bad weather last week, with only two games going ahead. And Victoria took advantage

  • Cycle initiative is a wheely good move

    CYCLISTS in Guisborough are set to enjoy new cycle routes and mountain bike activities, with help from Laurence Jackson School. The school now has special sports college status and is assisting a number of forward-looking initiatives. Young and old cyclists

  • Wellock's World: WMDs and LOBs

    WITH rather more weighty matters such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) on his mind, Tony Blair must wish he had never heard of a London Olympic bid (LOB). In fact, he probably wishes he could lob a WMD into the whole idea. And who can blame him? Apparently

  • Ward lifts trophy after narrow win

    COLIN Ward, riding his Sherco to good effect, won Sunday's Seaton Delaval centre trial for the Johnson trophy by just one mark from best intermediate James Harland on a Beta. A-class youth Michael Lee also rode his socks off on a Sherco to finish on the

  • WMDs and LOBs

    WITH rather more weighty matters such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) on his mind, Tony Blair must wish he had never heard of a London Olympic bid (LOB). In fact, he probably wishes he could lob a WMD into the whole idea. And who can blame him? Apparently

  • Bowls: EIBA national competition, area three

    Under-25s singles area final: M O'Riordan (Thornaby) 21, C Higgins (Hartlepool) 20. Triples: P Heath (Spennymoor) 12, J Wells (Hpool) 20; P Hartley (Hpool) 18, A Bousefield (Darlington) 10. Over 50s Triples (semi-finals) D Roberts (Gt Aycliffe) 13, B

  • Region's reserves prepare for war in Iraq

    RESERVISTS from throughout the North-East are preparing for a possible conflict in Iraq. The commanding officer of the Newcastle Royal Marine Reserves Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Parsons said 18 of his personnel had been mobilised. He said: "This represents

  • Photograph from Crimea guides repair of war relic

    IT was made to protect a Russian officer in the Crimean War, but instead protected an Englishman from the bitter cold of that campaign. Almost 150 years later, the thick serge Russian greatcoat is being repaired for the first time - with the help of a

  • Prize birds stolen from garden

    PRIZE pigeons worth £6,000 and recently imported from Belgium and Holland have been stolen from a fancier's loft. Mike Fitzhugh, a leading pigeon fancier for 40 years, had travelled abroad to buy the birds. The enthusiast, from Marske, near Redcar, east

  • Hunt for elusive mouse

    Mammal expert Darren Smith, from Hexham, goes on the trail of the elusive dormouse in a television wildlife series. He tells Wild North presenter Kim Inglis that records of dormice colonies in the region are few and far between. He hopes to track down

  • Woman stole from employer

    A BOOKKEEPER admitted stealing from her employer when she appeared before magistrates in Richmond yesterday. The court was told 26-year-old Anthea Sutcliffe's life collapsed after her partner went to prison in 2000. Ending the relationship when he was

  • School told to raise an extra £5,000 for sports college bid

    A DARLINGTON school which raised £50,000 to become a specialist sports college has been told it must now collect even more. The Northern Echo supported Longfield School's campaign to raise £50,000 last year to submit its bid to the Government for sports

  • Diseased tree crashes into garden

    A COUPLE had a lucky escape when a 70ft tree crashed down into their garden. Sheila and Les Craggs, of Low Willington, arrived home on Wednesday to find the beech had uprooted across their land. Although the tree brought down some fencing, it missed their

  • Residents unite with cash pledge to build village shop

    VILLAGERS who lost their local shop and post office two years ago have pledged to dip into their own pockets to help build a new outlet. Hundreds of people living in villages and farms around Newsham, between Barnard Castle and Richmond, were affected

  • Mother wins custody battle after four years

    A MOTHER vowed to begin a new life with her son yesterday, after winning an international battle for her parental rights. Allison Williams flew back from California in the US, after she won her legal fight for custody of seven-year-old Daniel, ending

  • Hunt for pizza man's attacker

    A PIZZA delivery man suffered face and leg injuries when he was attacked on a North-East housing estate. The man had stopped his car in Moffat Road, Hartlepool, ready to deliver an order when the attacker opened the vehicle's door. He was punched twice

  • Children put their hearts and soles into setting up shoe shop

    NURSERY children, above, have taken the first steps towards setting up their own shoe shop enterprise. The youngsters at Kids & Co Nursery, in Darlington, are painting the walls of the shop area - as well as their feet. Inspired by the Elves and the

  • Gipsy leader to get police escort

    A Leader of the gipsy community will be provided with a police escort when he visits a travellers' camp in the region, because of fears of fanning the flames of an already volatile situation. Hughie Smith, 73, president of the National Gipsy Council,

  • Drink-drive test costs man his licence and job

    A MECHANIC lost his licence yesterday when he pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Simon Watson, 35, of Rainsford Crescent, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, told magistrates in Richmond, North Yorkshire, that following a row with his girlfriend on Wednesday, January

  • Wheels in motion for transport funding

    PARISH councillors are hoping a scheme to provide villagers with better access to transport will be operating by the start of next month. Dene Valley Parish Council has been given a £10,000 grant from the Countryside Agency, which will be available to

  • New strip stirs fond memories for Spenny

    SPENNITHORNE and Harmby FC, who play in the Wensleydale Creamery League, have returned to their traditional amber and black colours this month, thanks to the sponsorship of a local firm. The team wore amber and black striped shirts, with black shorts

  • New minibus enhances centre service

    A TOWN'S senior citizens are looking forward to more day trips and easier access to a popular day centre thanks to a new minibus. Every week, more than 100 elderly people visit Helen McArdle Care's Westerleigh Day Centre, in Stanley. Because of the rise

  • Drink-driver loses licence

    A MECHANIC lost his driving licence yesterday after pleading guilty to drink-driving. Simon Watson, of Rainsford Crescent, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, told magistrates in Richmond, that he argued with his girlfriend and on the spur of the moment decided

  • News in brief: House move led to lost post

    A DARLINGTON man told magistrates yesterday that moving house meant he missed his usual reminder about car insurance from his brokers. But, although the Bench at Richmond, North Yorkshire, told 40-year-old Ian Donaldson, of North Road, they were giving

  • Credit Union opens first village collection point

    A credit union for the Durham area has opened its first collection point in a former pit village. People can join the Durham City and District Credit Union and make deposits at Community House, Holly Park, Ushaw Moor, on Wednesdays between 10am and 11.30am

  • Hall plans are approved

    PLANS to replace a community hall with one almost twice its size have been approved, despite objections from residents. When they were advertised, the plans by Dalton-le-Dale Community Association for the hall in Dene Road, Dalton-le-Dale, divided local

  • Pub will be IT hub

    PIE AND CHIPS with a difference could be the order of the day as customers at pubs across North Yorkshire order an internet connection while they enjoy a drink. So far 15 pubs have signed up for the Locals On-line project, which aims to develop a network

  • Parks partnership gets skates on to find sites

    ENTHUSIASM is mounting for skate parks proposed for sports centre sites. A public meeting outlining proposals for three parks suitable for BMX bikers, skateboarders and in-line skaters, attracted a big turn-out at Meadowfield Sports Centre, near Durham

  • Vote on paintballing deferred

    CHESTER-le-Street councillors have deferred their decision on whether to allow paintball games in an area of tight security near judges' lodgings. Plans have been submitted to increase the number of paintballing games played in woodland near Plawsworth

  • News in brief: Competition judges in town

    Hartlepool Borough Council has been shortlisted for the Local Government Chronicle's Council of the Year award. Judges will tour the town today and talk to council representatives. The authority is competing against Derbyshire County Council, Hammersmith

  • Business still divided over euro

    HALF of UK businesses want the Chancellor to wait and see how the euro develops before joining, according to a business survey. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said 35 per cent of firms would give him the immediate go-ahead, while 13 per cent say

  • Venture capitalist weathers the storm

    VENTURE capital specialist Northern Venture Managers invested more than £26m during last year. NVM, which has offices in Newcastle, Reading and Edinburgh, has now invested more than £70m since the start of 2000. Eleven new investments were made last year

  • Paranoid man knifed brother

    A MAN who knifed his brother could spend his life in a secure hospital, a court was told yesterday. Craig Hart, 28, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia which tends to be a lifelong illness, said Dr Richard Pyett, a consultant forensic psychiatrist. Hart

  • Agency takes advice out of the office out of hours

    AN ENTERPRISE agency based in Bedale has almost doubled the size of its operation as it explores new avenues to get its message across in the world of small businesses. Business Solutions Bedale, which covers Hambleton and Richmondshire, has taken on

  • Richmond League

    Half Moon (Barton) 4 The Crown (Brompton) 4; Comrades Club A 3 Croft WMC 5; The Ship Inn 1 Comrades Club B 7; Cricket Club 3 Bay Horse (Middleton Tyas) 5; The Board Inn 2 King William (Brompton) 6; King William (Barton) v bye Stokesley and District League

  • Chilly knights at the castle

    IT is usually locked up during the winter months, but a castle opened its doors for four visitors yesterday. The 12th Century history of Knaresborough Castle, North Yorkshire, is the focal point for the play, Four Nights in Knaresborough, which is to

  • Taxman cracks down on 'celebrity browsing'

    TAX workers in the North-East have been told 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

  • Awards for top young journalists

    THE cream of new journalists have been rewarded for their efforts. About 90 editors, senior journalists, trainers and trainees attended the awards night, in Darlington, which was sponsored by the National Council for the Training of Journalists' North-East

  • Barmy Army live to tell the tale

    With no worse battle scars than a collectively bad head, the Barmy Army is home from the antiopdean Waughs. Mad for it? "The trip probably cost £3,500 and was worth every penny," says Martyn Brown, aged 40 and known as Big Joe for reasons to do with armies

  • Sinatra tribute

    Tony Jacobs will perform a tribute to Frank Sinatra at Durham's Gala Theatre on Thursday starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £11.50 and £13 and are available from the box office on 0191-332 4041.

  • Echo Health: Tackling a stumbling block

    Too many elderly people are suffering preventable falls. Barry Nelson hears a common-sense call for changes which could reduce the grim toll of death and injury and save the NHS some much needed cash. ELDERLY people who fall and hurt themselves spend

  • Support on wheels

    THE Yorkshire Agricultural Society has given a helping hand to a leading charity in its support of farming in the North of England. Chris Andrews, regional officer for The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, is seen, above, receiving a new car,

  • Grassroots: Washington

    SAND PLAY: DIY stores B&Q and Homebase, in Washington, have donated sand for the play area in Barmston Out of School Hours Club. The two stores also presented a decorated Christmas tree to the group. NAMES AND ART: Yashmin Stringer, of Albany Primary

  • Abandoned dogs seek home after being left by roadside

    TWO dogs, which were cruelly dumped on the side of a road, are looking for a new home. The black and tan collie crosses were left on Hill House Lane, in Sadberge, near Darlington. A passer-by saw the dogs wandering near the busy road and called staff

  • Welcome weather to clear the tubes

    ONE of Spectator's colleagues, suffering from the inevitable winter blues, drew comfort from feeling like his screen hero Clint Eastwood during the early part of last week. For days he had been struggling to shake off a cold which he firmly believed was

  • Service marks its tenth year

    A TEESSIDE conciliation service is ten years old this year - and busier than ever. A sharp increase in companies in trouble nationally is being reflected across the region and demands for the services of the Middlesbrough- based mediation service, Unite

  • Trains to use scenic route for first time in 50 years

    MORE than half a century after the last passenger train services ran on a scenic rural branch line, rail enthusiasts say they are at last on track to restore public routes. Already years behind the original timetable for reopening the Weardale Railway

  • College put 'in jeopardy' by sixth form plan

    A NEW sixth form could jeopardise the future of a premier education establishment, educationalists have warned. Nearly 90 per cent of 2,000 pupils, teachers, parents and members of the public in Nunthorpe agree with creating a sixth form centre in the

  • The UniBond League

    Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley admitted his side deserved to lose against Dunston in the Durham Challenge Cup tie on Tuesday. Moors were on the end of a shock, the Northern League side winning 3-0 to give them a place in the semi final. Ainsley said

  • Looking Back

    From this newspaper 100 years ago. - Football. Vale of Mowbray v Thirsk. On Saturday at Leeming Bar in rain. The homesters won the toss and kicked the leather with the north wind. A free kick fell to Thirsk but the homesters took several long shots, which

  • Call for building decision rethink

    A HISTORIAN has made a final plea to Stockton Borough Council not to rubber stamp plans for a £25m development on open land. The Government has given permission for the business and homes park at Bowesfield, in Stockton, which it is hoped will create

  • Cattle Mart pick up another victory at Stanley

    Tow Law Bass League Tow Law Cattle Mart managed to win by the odd point at Stanley Earl Derby to stay in third place in the table but seem to have no chance of overtaking the second placed Newhouse Club, who are 30 points ahead of the leaders, Tow Law

  • Badminton:

    Darlington and District League Division A mixed St. Teresas A lost to Harrowgate Hill A 1-8, 3-11; Tudhoe Grange beat St. Teresas 5-4, 13-11; Richmond A lost to Wensleydale A 4-5, 8-11; Wensleydale A beat Oakleaf A 6-3, 15-8; Larchfield A beat Tudhoe

  • Search out new helicopter rescue game

    Search and Rescue 3 Format: PC CD-ROM. Publisher: Just Flight. Price: £19.99 IF you take Microsoft's mighty Flight Simulator out of the equation, most computer recreations of flying a plane or helicopter are usually combat-based - cyberspace flights of

  • Phone stolen from man who collapsed

    A woman is appealing to a thief to return a mobile phone he stole from her dead partner. A mobile phone and wallet may have dropped out of the pockets of Kevin Humphries as he staggered, dying, along a street or after he collapsed in a roadway. The 50

  • Police comb scene of conman's crime

    Officers hunting a conman who struck at a pensioner's home, prompting his death, spent yesterday at the scene of another of his suspected crimes. George Sharpe, 82, died three hours after a man claiming to be carrying out draught proofing for the local

  • Waving goodbye to the joys of a stroll along Marine Drive?

    IN common with most of the thousands who enjoy walking in Yorkshire, my steps usually take me to the county's high and wild places. But every now and then my wife and I do a particular walk that embraces not an inch of our native county's wonderfully

  • Youth workers back on streets

    YOUTH workers have taken to the streets to help a town's teenagers. The workers - four part-time and five full-time volunteers - have promised to be a "megaphone" for the views of young people in Northallerton. They are the first youth workers to go out

  • It's Plan B for villagers as hall suffers second setback

    HUTTON Rudby Village Hall supporters are altering development plans, after a second lottery grant setback. They have raised £112,000 and have numerous plans for additional fundraising. If the new plans succeed, building work on a modified hall will start

  • Pony dates

    Braes of Derwent PC. - Jan 25: Indoor dressage, Holmeside Park, all classes. Send sae for schedule to Sue Forster, Derwent Dene House, East Law, Ebchester. BSPS Area 1A. - Jan 26: Winter qualifying show, Dalton Piercey, sae for schedules to Mrs M Neesam

  • Hodgson fires in late leveller for Quakers

    A SUPERB late strike by Richard Hodgson earned Darlington a creditable draw at promotion-chasing Oxford United on Tuesday night. The point and the performance at the Kassam Stadium was a good response after Quakers' FA Cup defeat by Farnborough Town,

  • Mart scheme would benefit upper dale

    REDEVELOPMENT of Hawes auction mart to boost the upper Wensleydale economy is the subject of a £100,000 feasibility study to be launched next week. The project will examine ways in which the site could be developed to improve the livestock auction side

  • Stop this Trojan Horse of terrorism

    THE depressing events of recent days provide a stark indication of the radical changes required if we are to effectively police the streets and computers of Britain in the 21st century. The threat posed by international terrorism, criminals who pose as

  • Friends pay tribute to dedicated teacher

    FRIENDS and colleagues of a former teacher have paid tribute to his enthusiasm and dedication to his pupils. Both past and present teachers at Teesdale Comprehensive School have spoken of their respect for former history teacher John Olaman, who died

  • Wetherby set for first action of the year

    WETHERBY racecourse attempts to make a belated start to the 2003 campaign with a meeting on Monday, when racing is scheduled to begin at 12.45. The longest and most valuable race on the programme is The Rocom Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong

  • 17.01.03

    WAR ON IRAQ: THE British Prime Minister's obsession with getting rid of Saddam Hussein, despite the British people (the people who elected him to office) saying no to war, makes a mockery of our democratic system. Not only that, but we have here a man

  • Letters: Mast madness

    Sir, - It is hard to believe the Government allows mobile phone companies to erect masts that emit up to ten times more radiation than those in other countries. When it comes to health and safety matters in this country we always seem to put profit first

  • Allan's Antarctic trip

    WORKING in a freezer at a creamery every day simply is not cold enough for Allan Thomas - that's why he's off to spend two-and-a-half years in the Antarctic. The 31-year-old has left his job at Express Creamery in Northallerton to work at the British

  • A Hoggarth and Sons Eskvale and Cleveland League

    A Hoggarth and Sons Eskvale and Cleveland League Goldsborough Utd v Whitby Fishermans: Goldsborough started the better team in the only league game to survive the bad weather. Good work by Dent and Butler put the Fisherman's defence under constant pressure

  • Letters: We need racing

    Sir, - Although a newcomer to Middleham - seven years only - I am willing to endorse the points made by Nancy Murgatroyd (D&S letters, Jan 10). I feel privileged to live in such a beautiful part of Yorkshire and to be part of Middleham's diverse community

  • Stag's Head at the double to move secod

    Tow Law Area League Esh Stag's Head made the fullest use of their doubles skills to win at Tow Law New Market A, who are now in fourth place. The New Market had singles wins from Gary Parker, John Parkin and Kenneth Atkinson, whilst the Stag's Head levelled

  • Women's Football

    Chester-le-Street Ladies Playing against Rutherford Ravens, in a match that was switched to Moor Park, both sides had to contend with a heavy pitch. Their first match since November, Chester opened the scoring through Rachel Furness, with further goals

  • Games

    Magnet League Fives and Threes Division A: Navy Club 5, Busters 3; Rolling Mills A 5, Bank Top A 3; Cumby Arms 3, Albert Hill WMC 5; Bank Top B 5, rise Carr WMC 3; Hole in the Wall 4, Rolling Mills B 4. Division B: Havelock B 5, Archdeacon 3; Caledonian

  • Athletics: Millar is Quakers' first

    Quakers: On Sunday, December 29 a good turnout ran at the Jolly Holly Jog at Ripon. In extremely muddy conditions Nick Millar finished first for the club finishing 26th overall in a time of 40:13, followed by Graham Park in 27th with a time of 40:15.

  • Sergeant interviewed in Deepcut enquiry.

    A sergeant major named on television as the man at the centre of bullying allegations at an Army camp has been interviewed by police. Sgt Major Andrew Gavaghan, an Army welfare officer at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, was portrayed by BBC TV's

  • New national park for Durham?

    THE creation of a national park in the North Pennines could go some way to boosting the fragile economy of Teesdale and Weardale. The idea of a national park has been mooted as part of a plan being developed by Northumbria Tourist Board for the future

  • Junior Football Darlington

    Darlington 21st Allstars: Once again the weather played a big part in this weekend's fixtures. Only four matches were played in terrible conditions. The Under-9s were at home to Cumby Rovers in the league and came away the victors. The Allstars started

  • Durham County Pool

    The Durham County teams opened out their programme in the Region One Inter-Counties Championship when they entertained the very strong South Yorkshire sides at Chester-le-Street and were rather unfortunate to finish with only one victory from the three

  • Police vow to get tough as operation launched

    QUICK, to-the-point and devoid of emotion, the pre-raid briefing is clearly work-a-day stuff for Sergeant Jim Mason. Deadpan, he goes through the drill: "Expect up to six crack-cocaine addicts and drug dealers in a terraced house, a barricaded door, oh

  • Bedale

    A well supported meeting held in the clubhouse for the section which deals with the affairs of a large number of the active elderly members of the club. The secretary John Ward, opened the meeting and referred to the previous years minutes which were

  • Environmental rewward scheme explained on Teesdale farm

    NFU AND Defra officials met at a Teesdale farm last Friday to discuss the new "broad and shallow" or "entry level" pilot scheme, rewarding good environmental practice, which opens in May. Barnard Castle has been chosen as the upland area for the pilot

  • Boast busts drug dealer

    BIG-HEADED Raymond Casling could not resist bragging about his successful career to former school pals. He used the Friends Reunited web site to tell them he was now coining it in - as a drug dealer. "I'm doing very well. I'm selling a lot of Charlie

  • A tale of birds, mice and men

    LIKE so many other people, I have established bird feeding stations in our garden and these will be maintained over the winter months with nuts and seeds, along with fresh water in the bird bath. Because I had a good supply of nuts and seeds left over

  • The myth that the North is always colder in winter

    UNSETTLED weather had dominated November and with the air-flow from a southerly quarter for virtually the entire month, it was mild, wet and with no sign of winter. This continued for a few days in December with frontal systems crossing the country from

  • Horden take big following in bid to reach last eight

    IT could be a case of "last out turn off the lights" when the good folk of Horden depart for Cheshire tomorrow morning. Some are going with the rugby team tonight, bound for Lymm, where a tenth successive win will put them in the quarter-finals of the

  • Doubts cast over economic viability of rail line re-opening

    DESPITE long-running talk of re-opening the Guisborough branch railway line, an economic survey by East Cleveland transport experts has cast doubt on the idea. The economic justification for relaying the Guisborough line is not strong, it was said this

  • Five-a-side: Darlington are five stars....

    On Saturday the Darlington Primary School football team won the Durham County five-a-side football championships at Consett. The youngsters achieved success winning four and drawing one of their five matches against South Tyneside, Peterlee, Felling,

  • South Cleveland Garages Teesside League

    Division One Fishburn Park 0 v 2 BEADS FC Whitby side Fishburn were looking to get back on the winning trail, having only played two matches over the last seven weeks including this weekend's, and two defeats including this one and their 2-0 defeat on

  • Tennis: Kiernan's final conquest

    DANIEL Kiernan, from Ebchester near Consett, reached the men's singles final in the Hastings Direct Tour tournament in Birmingham at the weekend. It was first stop for the 22-year-old as a full-time competitor on the British circuit since returning from

  • Eustace signs on

    MIDFIELDER John Eustace's arrival at Middlesbrough could be the first of three before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Boro yesterday tied up a one-month loan deal for Coventry club captain Eustace with a view to a permanent move, as

  • Mystery of money found in blaze car

    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

  • Stardom beckons for young driver

    A NINE-YEAR-OLD tipped as a Formula One star of the future has won two major championships in his first season. Ryan Tebbs, from Eastgate Farm, Longnewton, will collect the trophies for the Warden Law Kart Club and the South Yorkshire Kart Club championships

  • Runners set for event

    THE Redcar Half Marathon 2003 was officially launched this week at sponsors Somerfield Supermarket on the town's West Dyke Road. Shop staff are already in training for the race on March 21, which is part of the North-East Championships and is expected

  • Angling

    Dirty water from the Skerne lifted the Tees by a foot and anglers again failed to catch below Croft during the Thornaby AA Robert Buttery Memorial, writes Jeff Herbert. The higher numbers towards the end of the Hurworth end of the match length once more

  • Darlington Monday Night League

    Round two knockout results, January 6: Railway Inst bt Darlington Snooker B; Railway Athletic bt Hopetown; Darlington A bt Darlington Snooker C; Darlington CC bt Northgate on aggregate team score. Round three knockout draw, semi-finals February 10: DSCA

  • Shop Talk: Why a bit of culture does you good

    Yoghurt can do wonders for your health, but that's no good it it tastes revolting. So which yoghurts should you pick up and which should you leave on the shelves? YOGURT is good for you. Ever since the ancient Assyrians 4,000 years ago apparently first

  • The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

    In the only game to beat the weather in the last fortnight, Sherwoods got their year off to a good start as they collected all three points in their game against Smith & Allan. In sub-zero temperatures Sherwoods took a 2-0 first half lead thanks to

  • Success for students

    ELEVEN students from Prior Pursglove College have been offered places to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities. This is the second time in three years that the number of A Level students at the college in Guisborough accepted for Oxbridge has reached

  • Disciplined surgeon 'ignored restrictions'

    A surgeon who pressed on with an operation even though his patient was conscious has been hauled before watchdogs for continuing to operate unsupervised. Tough restrictions were imposed on Nalini Senchaudhuri in 2001 after a series of disastrous errors

  • Warning of crowding on rails

    PASSENGER groups last night warned of increased overcrowding on some services following cuts to the rail network. The North-East escaped relatively unscathed as 104 daily services across the country were slashed by the Strategic Rail Authority to cut

  • Recycling figures were out of date, says council

    A TEESSIDE council has been named as having one of the worse recycling records in Britain. But Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council claims the statistics are out of date and have dramatically improved. Friends of the Earth has said the council only recycles

  • Opening day at learning centre

    A £224,300 learning centre will be opened today by Redcar and Cleveland Mayor Eric Jackson and Mayoress Brenda Forster. Classes have been running at Kirkleatham Local Learning Centre, attached to Green Gates Primary School, in Redcar, since September

  • Business boss accuses agency over site plan

    DEVELOPMENT agency One NorthEast was last night accused of turning its back on plans to create hundreds of jobs at the former Blue Circle cement works. Businessman Terry Simmons said he had wasted five months trying to persuade officials to allow him

  • Prize birds stolen from garden

    PRIZE pigeons worth £6,000 and recently imported from Belgium and Holland have been stolen from a fancier's loft. Mike Fitzhugh, a leading pigeon fancier for 40 years, had travelled abroad to buy the birds. The enthusiast, from Marske, near Redcar, east

  • Student gains six distinctions

    PART-time student Jacqui Thompson is celebrating after winning a national award. The 37-year-old, a student at Darlington College of Technology for the past 18 months, gained six distinctions in the Institute of Operations Management (IOM) diploma exams

  • Farewell to legend of racing world

    ONE of the great characters of the Yorkshire Dales has died at the age of 86. Roger Murray was a wartime hero who became a legend of the racing world, a natural who had the love of horses in his blood. As stud groom he worked with some of the great names

  • 'I'm innocent' Kelly back on stage

    TV presenter Matthew Kelly last night defiantly went back on stage after declaring his innocence of the sex allegations against him. The 52-year-old Stars in Their Eyes host was released on bail earlier yesterday after being questioned by Surrey Police

  • UN team uncovers Iraqi chemical warheads

    UN weapons inspectors yesterday uncovered a cache of empty chemical warheads in Iraq which were not mentioned in Saddam Hussein's supposedly complete declaration of his weapons of mass destruction programmes. The inspectors said the warheads, discovered

  • 'Blackout' crash man disqualified

    A MAN who crashed his car after blacking out at the wheel was disqualified from driving yesterday. William Leafe, 66, of Otterburn Close, Darlington, had previously pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance in October

  • Stars support network

    A FORMER Likely Lad will be among the guests when one of the region's oldest theatres launches a friends network this evening. Rodney Bewes is one of a host of stars who have agreed to be patrons of the Friends of Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal. He

  • The cures that could make you sick

    Long before the days of pills and ointments, there was another way of curing common ailments. Gavin Havery looks at some of the more unusual, and sometimes unpleasant, remedies of times past. FEELING under the weather? Sore throat? Runny nose? What you

  • 'Wonderdog' joins soap cast at charity awards

    A DISABLED North-East woman and her "wonderdog" will be joining the cast of Emmerdale and dog training expert Jan Fennell in a ceremony next week. National charity Dogs for the Disabled is holding the event for its members and fundraisers, in Leeds. Carol

  • News in brief: Driver did not have insurance

    A DARLINGTON man told magistrates yesterday that moving house meant he missed his usual reminder about car insurance from his brokers. But, although magistrates at Richmond, North Yorkshire, told 40-year-old Ian Donaldson, of North Road, they were giving

  • Two ladies with a lamp

    JESSICA Benford will be playing Princess So Shi and Claire Phillips will be Aladdin in Northallerton Variety Company's pantomime. Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp will open at the Hambleton Forum, Northallerton, on Sunday, with a matinee performance at

  • She's got it write

    LIFE in Weardale inspired one of its residents to write a prize-winning story for a national magazine contest. Kathleen Peart's story, based on the theme of One Day at a Time, focused on the beauty of nature and the advantage of living one day at a time

  • Comment: No cause for war - as yet

    WE must not rush into judgement over the discovery of empty chemical warheads in Iraq. They fall some way short of proving beyond reasonable doubt that Saddam Hussein poses a substantial threat to international peace and security. They show Saddam and

  • Review of Soccerdome plans

    DEVELOPERS behind a multi-million pound football school project are to review the scheme. High Point Estates are hoping that a JJB Sports Soccerdome can be built on land formerly owned by Cummins Engines Company, in Yarm Road, Darlington. But, as reported

  • Artist captures infirmary's image

    A DOCTOR is hoping people will remember a Victorian hospital long after it is closed. Medical and nursing services at the North Riding Infirmary, Middlesbrough, which was built in 1864, are to be switched to the town's James Cook University Hospital in

  • Facelift for war locomotive

    A GERMAN-built First World War locomotive with a colourful military background is being restored to its original condition to carry passengers on a heritage line. A £35,000 National Lottery grant is funding the work on the South Tynedale Railway Preservation

  • Lifting the bonnet on mechanical secrets

    A course aimed at teaching car maintenance to women has begun on Teesside. Anura Amrodrigo, head of faculty for engineering and construction at Middlesbrough College, said: "It's teaching basic skills, looking for general faults and identifying them,

  • Third operation for puppy who's a sucker for babies' dummies

    Puppy Blackie is a dog with a taste for dummies. The nine-month-old mongrel has had to have three operations to remove rubber teats he has swallowed. So partial is Blackie to children's comforters that his owner, Linsey Ruddock, says she is thinking of

  • Rotary Club praises pupils

    PUPILS from a Newton Aycliffe school have had their achievements recognised by the town's Rotary Club. Greenfield Community and Arts College figured strongly in the Rotary Club of Newton Aycliffe's awards for Young Citizens of the Year. A group award

  • Still time for flu jab, says care trust

    SEDGEFIELD Primary Care Trust (PCT) is reminding people over 65 and those with health problems that it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. The national and local campaigns were completed at the end of December, but some GP practices in

  • The Albany Northern League Today

    Evenwood have strengthened their club committee and produced a strategic plan for the future as they try to build on this season's success. Evenwood are enjoying their best season for years on the field, and went into the New year with an outside chance

  • Pickaxe attack: soldier remanded

    A SOLDIER alleged to have hit his superior on the head with a pickaxe during an Army exercise appeared in court yesterday. The 17-year-old private, from Blackburn, Lancashire, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with attempted murder following

  • Children help with spruce up in preparation for bloom contest

    YOUNG and old have joined forces to brighten up their neighbourhood in time for a regional horticultural contest this summer. Pupils from Fishburn Primary School have been working alongside older volunteers to design a new look for the village. Their

  • Group expresses assembly doubts

    People in east Cleveland have reservations about joining a proposed regional assembly, a focus group has found. The group was set up at the request of Middlesbrough Council, which, on behalf of the Government, is researching the strength of public opinion

  • Woman fined for breach of order

    Juliet Mitchell, 27, of Eskdale Street, Darlington has been fined £20 for breaching a community rehabilitation order. The 18-month order was made in February last year for seven counts of theft, but Mitchell failed to attend meetings with the probation

  • News in brief: Rooftop date for Jeannie

    A WOMAN has been given the chance to put some of the finishing touches to the latest project on Gateshead Quays. Jeannie Shepherd, from Birtley, won a competition in Gateshead Council's magazine Council News to join council leader Councillor Mick Henry

  • News in brief: Rooftop date for Jeannie

    A WOMAN has been given the chance to put some of the finishing touches to the latest project on Gateshead Quays. Jeannie Shepherd, from Birtley, won a competition in Gateshead Council's magazine Council News to join council leader Councillor Mick Henry

  • Michael breezes into television debut

    A North-East actor has proved he has star quality by winning his first big television role. Michael Imerson's family in Spennymoor, County Durham, will be switching on to watch him in Channel 4's gritty new prison drama, Buried, next week. His character

  • Traffic hold-ups may prove rail link snag

    A plan to reopen a rail link in North Yorkshire will be examined in a report due out shortly. The multi-million pound plan to reopen the link from Pickering to Rillington is expected to highlight several major issues, including the effect of potential

  • Thieves break into garages

    DETECTIVES in Bishop Auckland are investigating thefts from two garages in The Slack and Pinfold Lane, both Butterknowle, in the early hours of yesterday. In Bishop Auckland, there was an attempted break-in in Woodhouse Lane and a burglary in Arthur Terrace

  • Monumental project

    CHILDREN from two primary schools celebrated the completion of a joint project this week in the unlikely setting of the village cemetery. Pupils from Evenwood and neighbouring Ramshaw gathered on Monday to mark the unveiling of a sculpture commemorating

  • Recognition for Poppy Appeal fundraiser

    AN army cadet from Northallerton has been presented with a shield as a thank you for raising almost £200 for the Poppy Appeal. Cadet Dan Wright attended an awards ceremony at the Territorial Army Centre, in Thirsk Road, and was presented with the shield

  • Longhorn Hardware Darlington and District League

    The only two fixtures which beat the weather were both first round proper Durham Minor cup ties. The Albion versus Archdeacon tie saw a very competitive first half edged by Albion who added to their one good advantage either side of half time to take

  • Shay lends his support

    AN appeal to help fund cancer care services has been boosted by support from Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given. Mr Given has agreed to become patron of Macmillan Cancer Relief's Tyneside Appeal, which hopes to raise £575,000 in two years. The money

  • North soldier killed in crash

    A soldier has been killed in a road accident in Northern Ireland. Corporal Keith Lewis, 36, from Middlesbrough, was driving a car which was in a collision with another car in Limavady, County Londonderry. Two people travelling in the second car, including

  • Letters: Clock turns back

    Sir, - I was heartened, but not surprised, to read the article about moves to form (or re-form) a pressure group in Darlington to protect the townscape (D&S, Jan 10). Older readers will recall that a situation similar to the present had developed

  • Documents missing

    DRIVING with no insurance or MOT cost a Hartlepool man £285 in fines and court costs yesterday. Roy Ritchie admitted both offences when he appeared before magistrates in Richmond. However, the court was told he believed he was insured when he was stopped

  • Man is banned for motoring offences

    A MAN, who failed to produce his driving licence to police after being stopped on three separate occasions, has been banned from driving for two years. Paul Dixon, 35, of High Northgate, Darlington, had previously been found guilty of three counts of

  • Tolkein keeps the tills ringing

    DVD sales of the first installment of the Lord of the Rings saga helped high street music group HMV ward off an ugly Christmas trading period. Other popular titles, including Minority Report, Goldmember and the first series of The Office also alleviated

  • News in brief: Rooftop date for Jeannie

    A WOMAN has been given the chance to put some of the finishing touches to the latest project on Gateshead Quays. Jeannie Shepherd, from Birtley, won a competition in Gateshead Council's magazine Council News to join council leader Councillor Mick Henry

  • Battery case boss spared prison

    A MAN who ejected two women from a pub by lifting them by their hair has had his jail sentence reduced to a community punishment order. Stephen Anthony Spensley, 33, of Hattonsfield Farm, Potlo Hall, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was jailed for three

  • Entrepreneurs to the fore

    ONE of the region's tour operators has been presented with an enterprise "Oscar" by Chancellor Gordon Brown. Bill Goff Golf Tours was named as one of the fastest growing businesses in inner city Britain. The South Tynside firm was among 100 companies

  • Polish job for consultants

    MIDDLESBROUGH marketing consultancy Rocket Science has been appointed by paint and decorating product retailer Kalon Sigma to develop its marketing strategy in Poland. Kalon Sigma holds approximately 40 per cent of the Polish decorative products market

  • Scientists thrilled by jumbo-sized discovery

    THE modern elephant may be the biggest living land mammal on earth - but compared to its prehistoric ancestors it is positively puny. A remarkable discovery in the hot sands of Abu Dhabi has revealed just how stupendous the modern creatures' forefathers

  • Tributes are paid to 'an amazing lady'

    FRIENDS and relatives have been paying tribute to Edith Leyland, believed to be the oldest member of the Liberal Democrat party, who died on her 104th birthday. Miss Leyland displayed posters and entertained members of the party in her living room long

  • Support grows for family in barn dispute

    A PETITION criticising planning policies which denied a local family a home is to be presented to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Hawes and High Abbotside Parish Council began collecting signatures when members were outraged at refusal by

  • Expensive luxury

    RECENTLY, the North Peninnes have been marketed to tourists as "England's Last Wilderness" - an allusion to the windswept and isolated nature of the landscape. The irony of this was not lost on some residents who have enjoyed living in an area which is

  • News in brief: Competition judges in town

    Hartlepool Borough Council has been shortlisted for the Local Government Chronicle's Council of the Year award. Judges will tour the town today and talk to council representatives. The authority is competing against Derbyshire County Council, Hammersmith

  • Chemical tanker drama

    A TANKER carrying flammable chemicals caused an alert after it slipped 10ft down an embankment. Firefighters took more than seven hours to recover the vehicle, which had fallen into a ditch as it was being reversed into a parking space. A salvage unit

  • GP shortage forces closure of surgery

    HEALTH chiefs have approved plans to close a city centre surgery. But they have insisted on a phased withdrawal over six months of services from St Margaret's surgery, Crossgate, in Durham. Patients have been reassured they will not be left without a

  • Road safety consultation starts

    PEOPLE are being asked their views on plans to improve safety on a busy stretch of road. During the past three years, there have been 17 accidents in which people have been injured, including three involving pedestrians, on the A1290 in Washington. Sunderland

  • Squash: Bedale face a tough challenge

    Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League Bedale's bid to end 14 years in a First Division championship wilderness is facing a tough fight. Bedale last won the title in 1989. But Harrogate Squash, their main threat against a long-awaited comeback, took the

  • Police Sergeant collects computers for Bosnia

    YOUNGSTERS in Bosnia will have a more up-to-date education thanks to police sergeant Paul Jenkins. In April, he was transferred from his job as a custody officer at York to the International Policing Task Force in Bihac, close to the Croatian border.

  • Addict stole from parents

    A SELF-CONFESSED drug addict, already serving a prison sentence for robbery, was given another month-long jail term yesterday after he admitted stealing from his parents. Magistrates in Richmond were told that aware of their son's problems, Curtis Crawford's

  • Parishes could join forces to fund warden scheme

    INGLEBY Barwick could have two new village wardens costing nearly £40,000 and funded by tax payers, if three neighbouring parishes pay an additional £50,000 towards a joint scheme. Yarm, Preston and Egglescliffe parish councils may be approached in coming

  • Village pupils included in new school bid, but ...

    SADBERGE pupils have been included in a bid for a new school nearby after governors were forced to make an agonising decision. Last month, parents packed the village school hall to hear Darlington Council officers explain why their well-performing village

  • County told: don't scrap our flood prevention works

    NORTH Yorkshire County Council was warned yesterday against making proposed cuts of almost £500,000 in flood prevention work. The environmental services directorate of the authority, which is consulting the public on a proposed council tax rise of 9.5pc

  • Doncaster double the highlight of a busy week for Fahey

    JUMPS racing returned on Monday and a Doncaster double for Butterwick trainer Richard Fahey brought relief from his recent difficulties on the all-weather tracks. "This jumping game is a lot less hassle than the Flat," he joked, after landing the two.

  • Treasures get some intense treatment

    HOUSED in a what used to be a doctor's home, a town's art treasures are to receive some intensive therapy. Gallery staff in Middlesbrough are to spend months conserving and restoring scores of objet d'art. The important but rarely seen collections are

  • Libraries' latest winning chapter

    STOCKTON Borough Council's library service has won a place on the shortlist for a national award. The service will battle it out with representatives from three other local authorities for the title of Management Team of the Year in the 2002 Awards for

  • Trains to use scenic route for first time in 50 years

    MORE than half a century after the last passenger train services ran on a scenic rural branch line, rail enthusiasts say they are at last on track to restore public routes. Already years behind the original timetable for reopening the Weardale Railway

  • CIU Singles Championship

    First round draw: N. Smith (Glendale) v W. Hodgson (Ferryhill); D. Birchall (Fishburn) v G. Ellis (Stanley Empire); D. Johnson (Stanley Empire) v P. Neary (Horden Labour & Trades); D. Thompson (Fishburn) v J. Morland (Old Shildon); C. Simpson (Cockfield

  • Boy killed in car smash

    A 13-year-old boy died when a stolen car crashed 45 minutes after it was snatched, police said today. The youngster was killed when the Vauxhall Astra, also carrying three other boys, left the road at about 6.45pm yesterday in Station Road, West Cornforth

  • Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League

    South Bank Utd 1 v 5 St. Mary's College OB: Three league games defied the elements although it needed a switch of venue for the South Bank, St. Mary's College game to go ahead. The College moved to within two points of Thornaby Mandale at the top of the

  • Historian hunts final piece in North pit disaster jigsaw

    AFTER a year of intense research, an amateur historian is just one piece of information away from completing his quest to honour the 168 victims of the North-East's worst pit disaster. Bob Drake has made a number of exciting discoveries to identify for

  • Wearside League

    Willie McGeogh has been in jovial mood all week - but he was far from happy before the start of his side's game against table-topping North Shields at the weekend. The mini bus carrying the Redcar Town team broke down on the A19. A replacement was called

  • Last Night's TV: Trust (BBC1); Battle Stations (C4)

    Trust me... Robson's great in new law show Stephen Bradley is a troubled man. His wife has packed his bags and sent them round to his office, telling him not to come home. At work, an investigation of his expenses is underway after auditors find he'd

  • Stanley and District Sunday League

    PELTON Fell inflicted only the second defeat of the season on leaders Stanley FC to boost their title hopes. Because of several cup exploits, the Fell are way in arrears as far as their league programme is concerned and this was only their fifth domestic

  • Prices at the markets

    BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,632 prime sheep. Hoggs lt to 102.8p av 92p; std to 109p av 102.2p; med to 117.5p av 104.2p; heavy to 115.2p av 100.8p. Ewes: Cont to £49; Suff to £46; Mule to £43.50; Swale to £25.80. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd

  • News in brief: Thief takes golf clubs

    A full set of Calloway golf clubs in a grey and black trolley bag, valued at £1,700, were stolen from an outhouse in Hylton Road, Ferryhill, between 4pm on Tuesday and 8pm on Wednesday. Also taken was a Black & Decker strimmer, worth £25, and a yellow

  • Hostels seen as way to attract tourists

    THE Youth Hostel Association may expand its network in Yorkshire. Richmond and Grassington have been identified as possible sites for new hostels and others could be established at Goathland, Staithes, Harrogate, Ripon and Holmfirth under a new partnership

  • Time for Hitchhiker to prove Ford has unlocked his potential

    THERE is a strong case for giving Hitchhiker the thumbs-up in this afternoon's 2-mile Showcase Handicap Chase at Musselburgh. The Sean Graham sponsored race has a weak-looking profile and in such instances it is often worth seeking out a lively outsider

  • Stop this Trojan Horse of terrorism

    THE depressing events of recent days provide a stark indication of the radical changes required if we are to effectively police the streets and computers of Britain in the 21st century. The threat posed by international terrorism, criminals who pose as

  • Athletics: Shildon

    David Judge won his first gold medal competing in the Under-17 men's shot putt at the North East Counties Indoor championships held at Monkton Stadium Jarrow on Sunday December 5. The Under-17 men's was a straight final, David's best effort of 12.63m

  • North Hockey League

    Premier Division: Harrogate 2, Ben Rhydding 3; Oxton 4, Warrington 3; Sheffield Hallam 1, Brooklands Man U 1; Southport 2, Timperley 3; Wigan 2, City of York 1. Division Two East: Bradford v Wakefield postponed; Halifax 1, Slazengers 3; Sheffield U Bankers

  • Weardale Ladies / Wear Valley Ladies League

    Results: Blanchland Sports Club 5 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell A 4; Wolsingham Mill Race 6 Rookhope A 3; St Johns Chapel Golden Lion A 3 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion B 6; St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 5 Stanhope Pack Horse 4; Westgate Hare and Hounds 6 Wolsingham

  • Sawyers say farewell to Rebecca

    The distraught parents of hit and run victim Rebecca Sawyer said a heartbreaking farewell to their daughter yesterday. Around 300 mourners packed into a tiny church to pay a last tribute the tragic six-year-old. The red haired youngster died and her sister

  • It's snow time for theatre group

    SALTBURN '53 Drama Group is staging Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen. Performances, which began yesterday at Saltburn Community Theatre, take place today and tomorrow, then again next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 23 to 25. Doors open

  • More youngsters can get on their bikes

    MORE young people in North Yorkshire will soon be able to get on their bikes for work or training. For a charity has just taken delivery of 22 new mopeds for a scheme which provides vital transport for rural areas. The latest model Honda 50cc mopeds have

  • Watson takes big step towards Hartlepool return

    GORDON Watson yesterday made his long-awaited return from injury - but boss Mike Newell insists he won't be rushing him back into the first team. Hartlepool United striker Watson has been out of action since breaking a leg in September and was back in

  • Worthington Durham County CIU Winter League

    There were two significant individual defeats last week when John Bourne of Wingate lost for the first time since joining the league over a year ago, whilst Paul Biddle of Spennymoor A went down to his first defeat this season. Wingate, the Second Division

  • Flair for the large-scale leads artist to murals

    A RICHMOND artist has turned his flair for large-scale design into a business. Gary Cox, 35, launched his mural painting business from his home in Coronation Place after completing a one-off commission in Leeds. Although he has no formal training, Mr

  • Park to take no action on tool business

    FARMERS should be encouraged to diversify and not be penalised for trying to make a living within the constraints of the farm, says the North York Moors National Park Authority planning committee. The committee has decided not to take enforcement action

  • New sponsors line up at Catterick

    CATTERICK will be hoping to finally get the course's 2003 campaign under way with a seven-race programme tomorrow, beginning at 12.35. The two feature races benefit from the first-time sponsorship at Catterick of Sky Bet, one of the country's largest

  • Special livestock sales

    DARLINGTON. - Mon. Fwd: 182 young bulls & store cattle, 1 stock bull, 1 breeding hfr, 7 rearing calves, 219 store lambs. New year show. Judge: P Newcombe, Bedale, & N Hetherington, Bishopton. Prizes: Steers: 1 BA, H Thompson £678 to K Metcalfe

  • Sporting Club on the verge

    Durham Alliance football league side, Sporting Club Sunderland, are about to enter the most important period of their short existence. Tomorrow they visit high-flying Teeside Arriva, of the South Cleveland Garages Teeside League, in a last 16 tie in the

  • Durham Alliance

    In the only league game played due to bad weather conditions Brandon Station beat Seaham Mallard winning 8-1 at home. The game was pretty even in the first half, the only goal scored was in favour of Brandon with an own goal when David Wakefield deflected

  • Grain report

    by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture WHEAT prices have improved elsewhere in the country as a weaker pound and stronger world wheat markets have improved our export values. It should be remembered that we were too expensive to export any wheats, so it is

  • Motor racing: Quality entry for Jack Frost rally

    A capacity 80 car entry has been attracted by Darlington and District Motor Club for the fourth running of The Jack Frost Stages Rally at Croft Circuit tomorrow. Utilising all of the tarmac roads around the venue, the event, which comprises qualifying