TRADERS were yesterday warned to stay on their guard after a series of opportunist raids. Darlington police say there has been an alarming increase in thefts of cigarettes and alcohol from shops. Chief Superintendent Michael Banks said there had been
FORTY young actors and musicians from a Darlington school are to get a taste of Broadway. The GCSE music and drama students from Branksome Comprehensive School are heading for New York because they have tickets for the Broadway version of the musical
THE boss of a pub in North Road, Durham, is appealing against a decision to take away his licence after allegedly ignoring complaints from police and residents. Police say they applied to have the Lacuna Lounge's licence revoked as a last resort after
SCHOOLBOY Peter James got one of the biggest shocks of his life when he went to investigate the mysterious object in his family's vegetable patch. The six-year-old had spotted the strange bundle at the bottom of his garden when he looked out of his bedroom
THE Mayor of Spennymoor visited a company in the town which boosts employment opportunities for disabled people. Mayor Councillor Ross Hawkes called at Remploy in Spennymoor, to raise a flag marking 2003 as the European Year of Disabled People and to
SVEN-GORAN Eriksson and Tord Grip have been busy men since England's last encounter. And, after much deliberating since the 2-2 draw with Macedonia in October, when Eriksson announces his squad for this week's friendly with Australia tonight there will
POLICE are warning elderly people in Teesdale to be vigilant after two bogus officials stole hundreds of pounds worth of cash and jewellery from two pensioners. The warning came after the men tricked an elderly man and woman, who live in the Green Lane
MICHAEL RICKETTS is ready to turn up the heat on under-fire Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier when he makes his Middlesbrough bow at Anfield today. Striker Ricketts is poised to partner fellow Boro debutant Malcolm Christie as manager Steve McClaren unleashes
A MAN who waved an unloaded imitation gun in the street was jailed for nine months yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard that Jamie Cook, 22, was attacked by yobs after he moved into a flat. He had bought the gun, which fired ballbearings, from an Army
A CRACKDOWN on untaxed vehicles netted 60 dodgers and raised £1,200 in fines in its first month. Wear Valley District Council teamed up with police and the DVLA in December to target abandoned cars and motorists not displaying road tax discs. Offenders
VETERAN rockers Status Quo are going green. The band have confirmed they will be rockin' all over the forest later this year. They have announced a series of concerts at forest venues in June - including one in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire
A soldier providing cover during the fire strikes could face a spell in military prison after making two hoax 999 calls to his own unit. The serviceman, who has not been named, was stationed in the temporary fire station in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
POP music has an amazing talent for creating controversy and publicity - the two go hand-in-hand like a pair of young Russian lesbians. And, if you haven't noticed, a pair of young Russian lesbians are No 1 in the charts. The BBC is refusing to play their
CHILDREN'S charity staff are celebrating after receiving a £500 donation. Capital Shopping Centres, which owns the MetroCentre, donated the sum to Childline in the North-East and Yorkshire. The branch is one of seven operated by Childline in the UK, providing
FATHER and son combination Ted and Ruby Walsh are a potent force when they team for big races such as the £120,000 Tote Gold Trophy. A race in which their representative Atlantic Rhapsody (3.05) holds an excellent each-way chance. Ted does the training
FORMER council boss Rodney Hills has been questioned by police over the death of his wife more than two years ago, it emerged yesterday. The sensational new twist to the long-running controversy surrounding Councillor Hills was revealed by the college
A NEW fertility centre which aims to treat up to a thousand families a year has opened in the region. The Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre is based at the private Woodlands Hospital on the edge of Darlington. It replaces the Cromwell unit at the Washington
RESIDENTS across the county could face dramatic increases in their council tax bills, with the cost of police services alone likely to rise by 76 per cent. Over two days next week, the police authority and the county council are both holding meetings
A website has been launched for servicemen and women and their families, where ever they are in the world. MoD Oracle gives up-to-date information on military matters as well as the latest news, chosen to appeal particularly to anyone serving in the Army
A TEENAGER who had never been on skis until three years ago has qualified to teach on the slopes of Europe and the US. Georgina Maxwell, of Reeth, North Yorkshire, was among a group of six successful Sport, Leisure and Tourism students at Darlington College
A WOMAN was left shaken after fighting off an attacker who dragged her into bushes as she walked to work. The 32-year-old woman had been making her way to a nursing home near County Hall, in Durham, just before 9.30pm on Wednesday when she became aware
THE winner of Superbrain 2003, the North-East's toughest trivia quiz, is a 22-year-old toolmaker. Neil Teasdale, of Ferryhill, County Durham, got 342.5 points out of a possible 350 and was adjudged the winner of The Northern Echo's traditional competition
ANTI-WAR protestors stormed the Labour Party's northern headquarters yesterday as Prime Minister Tony Blair visited the region. About 30 demonstrators filled the lobby of the building in North Shields, North Tyneside, protesting against the Government's
A PUB company launched from scratch in 1999 featured highly in the UK licensed trade's top awards ceremony. New Century Inns, which owns 40 ale houses in the North-East and Yorkshire, collected a silver in the Pub Company of the Year 2003 Awards (11 to
PASSENGER numbers at Teesside International Airport in January were up 20 per cent on the previous year. A total of 39,340 flyers passed through the airport last month compared with 32,621 in January 2002. The announcement came as the airport management
Though goodness knows it's had its own martial moments, Catterick Village should not be confused with its more bellicose neighbour up on the Garrison. Once a Great North Road staging post, long bypassed, it is now a peaceful, still cobbled village in
CHILDREN had a star role to play in the opening of a clothing store. Pupils from Pittington Primary School band braved the cold to play outside Durham's new Adams store, in the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, on Thursday. Mayor of Durham, Councillor Eileen
A SCHOOL has received a glowing report following an Ofsted inspection. Browney Primary School, in Meadowfield, was visited by inspectors last year. Their report, published recently, describes it as a "good school with some particular strengths". It finds
A BOOK-KEEPER who stole from her employer to stave off her debts, was given the chance of a fresh start by magistrates yesterday. Anthea Sutcliffe, of Danelaw Road, Brompton, admitted five offences of obtaining money by deception at a hearing at Richmond
Two games is a long time in football. Just ask Darlington caretaker boss Mick Tait. Not so long ago talk of a last-ditch play-off push was looking like a good outside bet for a carefree Quakers side, brimming with confidence and giving the Division's
Researchers are going to bat for England's cricket team and their conclusions could not have come at a better time. Mark Foster reports FOR a research project, the timing could not have been better - but when it comes to putting it into practice will
Devolution campaigners have begun pressing for Yorkshire to be in the first wave of regions holding votes on elected mini-Parliaments. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is assessing the level of interest in England for elected regional assemblies. He
Once the playground of the rich and the royal, the countryside is finally being opened up for everyone to enjoy. Former rights of way officer Owen Unsworth looks at how a 1,000-year ended in victory THERE was a time when a walk in the country could be
North Yorkshire coroner Jeremy Cave abused the trust of his closest friends and neighbours when he stole from the estates of six dead people. Lindsay Jennings reports on the criminal path the solicitor took to keep up his comfortable lifestyle WITH his
THEATRE fans in Hartlepool have the opportunity to spend An Evening With Gary Lineker for one night only this month. Football's Mr Nice Guy will not be there, but he will still be the focal point of the play. Written by Arthur Smith and Chris England,
WELL, I am confused. I can't even begin to wonder what the plants are making of it. Earlier this week, the weather was so dry and mild that I even managed to cut my lawn. What a difference that made to the garden. It was just a tip mow, but it took away
A drive is under way to increase access to the arts across the Hambleton district. The district council is to appoint an arts development officer with financial assistance from Yorkshire Arts. The role will involve liaising with other organisations from
Life in Soapland can be a risky business. If ratings drop, or the scriptwriters run out of ideas for your character, you could face an untimely death. MARK Fowler will climb astride his motorbike and ride off into the sunset in BBC1's EastEnders next
WELL, I am confused. I can't even begin to wonder what the plants are making of it. Earlier this week, the weather was so dry and mild that I even managed to cut my lawn. What a difference that made to the garden. It was just a tip mow, but it took away
HOWARD WILKINSON would be well advised to keep the history books under lock and key if he wants to cling to a scintilla of hope that Sunderland will escape relegation. You don't need to thumb too far back through the tomes of time to see that the Wearsiders
A 72-YEAR-OLD man was left in tears after conmen stole his money, leaving him unable to buy food. However, a supermarket came to the rescue by providing him with a food hamper to tide him over. Police are appealing for information to catch the two men
JERMAINE JENAS is expected to cap a remarkable year which has seen him transformed from First Division midfielder to Premiership superstar by being named in the England squad tonight for their friendly with Australia. After a meteoric rise since moving
A COUNCIL has told parents they must take responsibility for their children's safety after complaints about a lack of school crossing wardens. Parents in Darlington have been claiming for weeks that their children's lives are at risk because of the absence
A SENIOR police officer left his post in Darlington yesterday, after more than two years overseeing major changes in the local force. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Macdonald has been crime manager in the town since November 2000. Colleagues paid tribute
A TEENAGER who started skiiing three years ago has qualified to teach in Europe and the US. Georgina Maxwell was among a group of six successful Sport, Leisure and Tourism students at Darlington College of Technology, the only establishment in Europe
A FOOTBALL-mad youngster who regularly finds himself on the sidelines for wearing glasses, will soon be unstoppable on the pitch thanks to an opticians. Durham City Blacks player, Jamie Clifford, 11, frequently finds himself travelling to fixtures only
ARTWORK by pupils at Abbey Infant School, in Darlington, has created a colourful story area in the entrance. The six and seven-year-old year two pupils created designs around a countryside scheme. They were enlarged and turned into a mural by artist Fran
SIR BOBBY ROBSON revealed his lasting heartache last night at missing out on the chance to succeed George Graham as Arsenal manager. As Robson prepared his Newcastle United team for their most important Premiership fixture of the season so far, against
AN unusual building in the heart of one of the region's cities is to take on new life as a weekly antiques market to rival London's Portobello Road. The majestic Vane Tempest Hall, in Durham City, has had a chequered history dating back to the 1860s since
THE Army confirmed yesterday that more troops from the region are already in the Gulf, or on their way, as Britain and the US continued to prepare for war with Iraq. There were tears and prayers on a parade ground in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire
THE Government was accused last night of misleading Parliament and the public by using "evidence" against Saddam Hussein that was lifted from a Californian student's outdated thesis. Downing Street conceded it had made a mistake in failing to acknowledge
A £500,000 facelift that transformed a train station was unveiled yesterday. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor declared Thornaby's revamped station open, saying she felt uncomfortable in the badly lit building before the improvements were carried out. She
A 14-YEAR-OLD boy who drove a man to the brink of suicide by tormenting him, narrowly avoided a custodial sentence yesterday. The teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - carried out a seven-month campaign of terror in Eldon Lane, near Bishop
THERE is a suspicion that the United States and Britain have already decided they will launch a military offensive against Iraq, whatever other countries may think. Some critics of President Bush and our Prime Minister suggest they will resort to any
FORGIVE Frantic Tan (2.55) his diabolical display at Chepstow this week and the eleven-year-old gelding must have a terrific chance of winning the inaugural running of the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick this afternoon. Frantic Tan simply
THE Tory who organised the campaign against an elected parliament in Wales visited the North-East yesterday to call for it to vote against a regional assembly. Wales voted by just 0.3 per cent to have its own assembly and, said Jonathan Evans, it now
STAFF at a chemicals company have donated a cash windfall to Teesside charities after clocking up a million hours without a recordable injury. The excellent safety record at Huntsman North Tees meant workers were entitled to a gift, but they decided to
LATE withdrawals have seriously weakened the North-East's hopes of winning the senior men's team title in today's UK CAU Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Nottingham. The region - third last year - will be without the services of Dominic Bannister
DURHAM County Council is to continue free school travel for thousands of children. The council was looking at saving more than £1m a year by bringing its scheme in line with others in the country. Durham gives free travel for children aged eight and over
CHILDREN and charities have been rewarded for doing their bit to save the planet. Author Terry Deary, famous for his Horrible Histories series, was guest of honour at an awards ceremony at Sunderland's Museum and Winter Gardens, on Thursday. He performed
PUPILS at every primary school in Hartlepool will be given training to keep them safe on the roads. Officials from Hartlepool Borough Council are to extend their pedestrian training programme to take in all of the town's 31 primary schools. Previously
Life in Soapland can be a risky business. If ratings drop, or the scriptwriters run out of ideas for your character, you could face an untimely death. MARK Fowler will climb astride his motorbike and ride off into the sunset in BBC1's EastEnders next
A MAN armed with a machete and an air pistol "behaved like a madman" in a drunken disturbance after a row with his girlfriend. John Hewitt, who had been drinking heavily before the incident, threatened a neighbour who had previously banned him from the
A NORTH-EAST council's portfolio of property is to be maintained and upgraded by a private firm. Jarvis will be responsible for a range of services from cleaning public toilets to running security at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's buildings under
Some of the biggest names on the London market will report next week. Barclays will start the banks' reporting season on Thursday with full-year results likely to set a downbeat tone. NatWest Stockbrokers is predicting pre-tax profits of £3.60bn, a slight
FOUR years of hard campaigning finally paid off for the Royal Nation Institute for the Deaf (RNID) yesterday. Health Secretary Alan Milburn chose his Darlington constituency to announce a £94m investment to modernise hearing aid services throughout the
ASYLUM SEEKERS - JUST over two years ago, a Ugandan woman was accused of selling goods from her grocery shop to rebel forces. Two soldiers beat her son almost to death in front of her, and took him away. He has not been heard of since. She herself was
IT was a simple letter of complaint fired off to the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors (OSS) which led to the downfall of the highly-respected Jeremy Cave. A relative of the late Donald Dowson was stunned by the £6,000 bill he received from Cave
A magistrates' court has reopened after a £380,000 upgrade. Guisborough Magistrates' Court closed in November so that new cells could be built and access for the disabled installed. The court faced closure three years ago when the nearby police station
MIKE Newell admits a touch of advice and assistance from within can go a long way in his first managerial post. Newell was this week presented with the Nationwide manager of the month award for January on the back of an unbeaten run of seven games. Pool's
THE glitterati of North-East business turned out in force for the unveiling of a network of expertise given the task of increasing wealth for the region. Sir Richard Branson topped a star-studded bill of speakers and guests at the launch of the Entrepreneurs
BRAZILIAN defender Emerson Thome insists he is the man to lead crisis club Sunderland's desperate fight against relegation. Thome is set to make his first Premiership appearance since New Year's Day last year, when the rock-bottom Wearsiders today tackle
MOROCCO defender Talal el Karkouri has spoken of his anger at Sunderland's dramatic decline - before he has even kicked a ball for the Black Cats. El Karkouri, signed on loan from Paris St. Germain until the end of the season, is in the squad for the
CORONER Jeremy Cave was behind bars last night after being jailed for stealing from the estates of dead clients. The corrupt North Yorkshire solicitor swindled £155,000 over a period of ten years, overcharging relatives by as much as 250 per cent as he
