IT is the dream a film was made of. A young Durham batsman proudly strides out of the pavilion on his home ground to play for England. This scene of reverie featured in a video first shown in January 1990, as part of Durham's application to become the
MUCH is being made of Riverside becoming England's first new Test ground for 101 years, but the difference is that Chester-le-Street is expected to become an established venue. Bramall Lane, Sheffield, staged only one Test against Australia in 1902 and
A NEW initiative aimed at tackling graffiti in Hartlepool is to be launched today. An anti-graffiti squad, comprising offenders from Hartlepool on Community Punishment Orders, has been set up Hartlepool Borough Council in partnership with the Teesside
THE North-East is both a winner and a loser today. It is a winner because the Riverside at Chester-le-Street becomes the world's newest venue for a cricket Test match when the gates open at 10.45am. This is wonderful news for the region and we applaud
TONY BLAIR was last night struggling to contain the political storm over Iraqi weapons after one of his senior ministers accused "rogue elements" in the intelligence services of briefing against the Government. The accusation by the Leader of the Commons
PRO-EUROPEANS told Darlington MP and Health Secretary Alan Milburn yesterday that if Britain rejected the euro, the North-East would pay the price. Mr Milburn and the rest of the Cabinet have until Monday to decide whether Britain is ready to join the
UP to 600 teachers could lose their jobs under a raft of school closures and amalgamations planned in County Durham, unions warned today. The National Union of Teachers said it was demanding talks with the local education authority which has announced
THE UK's leading supplier of antique and traditional furniture has shed the industry's dusty image by opening an online trading site on the Internet. Tomlinsons of Tockwith, near York, was inundated with 40,000 visitors to its website www.antique-furniture.co.uk
IRONICALLY, Castle Howard, in the beautiful Howardian Hills in North Yorkshire, owes its name only to a statement of status and not for actually being a castle. However, in the grounds of this impressive home, near Malton, archaeologists are uncovering
CATALYST business Synetix has changed its name. The business, acquired from ICI by Johnson Matthey in November, 2002, has been rebranded as Johnson Matthey Catalysts. The rebranding was unveiled at the Chemspec exhibition in Manchester, yesterday. Despite
Children as young as 12 are being sold bootleg cigarettes from unscrupulous ice cream vendors outside the school gates, it emerged today. The shocking situation came to light in a survey which showed that some youngsters in a North-East town had levels
Gavin Hamilton marked his return to Yorkshire's team after a year's absence with a career-best 143 not out on the first day of the three-day match against Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence at Bradford Park Avenue yesterday. There was also
Despite being the bookies' favourite, Newcastle-Gateshead yesterday lost its Capital of Culture bid. Gavin Engelbrecht looks at where North-East culture goes from here. THE mounting tension is palpable as civic leaders wait for the news. Riding high on
POLICE investigating a string of distraction burglaries have arrested a couple in their twenties. They are in custody for questioning about offences in Hartlepool where elderly or vulnerable people have been targeted. The woman has been questioned about
A SCHOOLBOY had a nightmare end to his holidays - when he was flown to the wrong airport. Billy Brown, 12, thought he was disembarking at Leeds-Bradford airport after his half-term treat, but he had actually landed at Teesside. And his mother, Claire
It's summertime! Time to relax in the garden with a tall glass of Pimms and a good book and let the everyday stress melt away to the sound of birdsong. Sounds great, doesn't it? In actual fact, the time I've spent in my garden over the last six weeks
A DISABLED man said he had to be carried off a train by another passenger after rail staff were not available to help him. Robert Earle said he was appalled by his treatment at the hands of GNER workers on a late-night trip from York to Darlington. The
POLICE have performed a U-turn on their decision to close Middlesbrough train station on the night the town is flooded with thousands of international football fans. British Transport Police deny bowing to public pressure after their announcement to halt
TALENTED Lawrence Staley is in big demand, day and night, thanks to his two special but contrasting skills. On most days, he is out on farms and moors of County Durham building sturdy dry stone walls that will last for up to 100 years. But at night he
COMMUNITIES affected by a £300m shake-up of education yesterday learned where the axe is likely fall. Initial plans have identified 23 schools which should be considered for closure and a further 94 which could be merged with others nearby. Families and
MAY 20, 1999 PAKISTAN v SCOTLAND PAKISTAN'S 94-run World Cup victory over Scotland was a showcase for the emerging talents of paceman Shoaib Akhtar and rising batting star Yousuf Youhana. The exploits of both helped Wasim Akram and Co continue a 100 per
Heath Streak Captain, age 29, Tests 53 Reappointed captain last September less than a year after resigning because form deserted him during his leadership. Dealt with the responsibility at the World Cup admirably as Zimbabwe profited from England's forfeit
MASSIMO MACCARONE is facing a make-or-break season with Middlesbrough. The Italian international striker, Boro's £8.15m record buy, knows he must improve on the meagre nine goals he managed in his first term at the Riverside. Manager Steve McClaren needs
EDUCATION chiefs have announced that as many as 23 schools could close in a shake-up of the education system in County Durham. The schools were identified this week in a wide-ranging appraisal report published by Durham County Council, which is intended
A TEENAGE father-to-be was stabbed to death after helping a friend protect his home from a gang of youths. Seventeen-year-old Chris Cave died in the early hours of yesterday morning after the knife attack on the Lakes Estate in Redcar. He had been watching
A PANTOMIME promoting food hygiene is being performed by local youngsters. Pupils from Durham High School for Girls are staging the show at primary schools throughout the area after winning a competition set by Durham City Council's environmental health
CAPITAL OF CULTURE: THE people of Newcastle-Gateshead send our warmest congratulations to the people of Liverpool on winning the nomination and wish them the very best as they begin the work towards 2008. The competition has had a phenomenal impact on
THE start was delayed by an hour at the Rose Bowl yesterday, and shortly after play began Durham had yet more cause to reflect that it never rains but it pours. Michael Gough didn't travel to Hampshire because of a family illness, Vince Wells had still
The Terry & Gaby Show (five); Bad Girls (ITV2) Good things come in pairs, so they say. Terry and Gaby - as in Wogan and Roslin - is the latest attempt by Chris Evans' production company to find a winning formula, and they can hardly go wrong with
A conman on crutches who tricked cash out of hospital workers and taxi drivers was jailed for five years yesterday. Sneak thief Shaun Herrington, 35, was caught by a security officer as he raced through a Teesside hospital with the crutches under his
Was it too ambitious or did Tyneside suffer from being odds-on favourite to win? Arts Editor Viv Hardwick asks what went wrong with our bid for Capital of Culture 2008. DEFEAT in the European Capital of Culture bid for 2008 faces Tyneside with the loss
A TEENAGER with a long record of motoring offences was back behind bars last night - but not before a plea to a court to lock him up somewhere close to home so his sick mother could visit him. Robert Thompson from Darlington was sent to a young offenders
A man has appeared at crown court in connection with the death of a horse and trap driver in a crash. Wayne Walker, 33, died and his horse had to be destroyed after a collision with a Honda Accord. It happened as he was trotting his horse along the A182
ARTISTIC children and teachers have helped their school to pick up a national accolade. Abbey Junior School, in Darlington, is celebrating after receiving the Artsmark Gold Award, the top honour in a scheme run by Arts Council England. The award covers
THE brother of a murdered Leeds United fan has appeared before North-East magistrates charged with threatening behaviour, a public order offence that allegedly took place prior to the recent England game against Turkey. Andrew Stuart Loftus, 32, of Leeds
EDUCATION chiefs last night dealt a blow to communities by announcing that up to 23 schools faced closure. The closures, together with dozens more school mergers, were identified in a report mapping out the future for more than 300 schools in County Durham
A MULTI-MILLION pound supermarket is to open in Chester-le-Street town centre by the end of the summer, creating jobs for more than 200 people. Following years of delay, the Tesco store is expected to be completed by the end of August or beginning of
AN INQUEST opens today into the death of a teenager at the wheel of a car which left a road before colliding with two brick gateposts. Lee Hutchinson was driving his white Vauxhall Corsa between the villages of Ludworth and Thornley, east Durham, when
UP to 1,500 jobs are to be axed in the UK by ailing telecoms firm Cable and Wireless. The group also plans to pull out of the US to protect itself from "difficult market conditions". The restructuring plans, which include suspending the shares dividend
A SHOPPING centre is supporting youth sport by providing more than £3,000 in sponsorship to teams from the area. After appealing to schools and community groups to take up its offer to sponsor a team for a year, Hillstreet, in Middlesbrough, was so overwhelmed
ASPIRING artists are being offered the chance to brush up on their skills in Hartlepool this weekend. The water colour taster session is being held on Saturday, from 9.30am to 12.30pm in the visitor centre at Summerhill, off Catcote Road. A number of
A SIXTH form college that withdrew from a town centre redevelopment plan has applied for money to help expand its current site. Bede College, Billingham, is submitting a bid for Learning and Skills Council cash to enable it to improve and expand its Marsh
FOUR young fighters have proved they are among the toughest in Europe after medal-winning performances at a martial arts contest. The four, all students at the Phoenix UK Tae Kwon Do Association, in Langley Park, near Durham, competed against youngsters
ANGLERS are being urged to renew their club membership as quickly as possible. Durham City Angling Club has carried out a recruitment drive and membership has reached 250. Membership secretary John Hepworth said: "So far, recruitment for the new year
PORCELAIN masterpieces from the largest private collection of its kind in the world have gone on display. The Charles Norman Collection celebrates the output of one of Britain's most prestigious ceramics firm, which was "crowned" by King George III and
THREE schools have won their fight to prevent an 85ft mobile phone mast being erected in their area. The headteacher of one, which has 1,300 pupils, has welcomed the decision by planners to refuse permission. Jonathan Edwards, head of Granby High School
HUNDREDS of people gathered in the sun for a family fun day that brought to an end a week of events. Northallerton's New Life Baptist Church's Event in the Tent centred on a huge marquee in the town's Bullamoor Park. Events during the week included a
THE Government has confirmed it will provide cash to help meet expenses incurred after flooding in August. The costs arose after the southern part of Scarborough Council's area was hit by a torrential downpour. The council is expected to meet the first
The Breathe Easy Teesside group is holding a march on Saturday, June 14, in a bid to raise the profile of lung disease in the area. It starts at the Victoria Gardens, opposite Middlesbrough Town Hall at 12pm, finishing at St Mary's Centre, Corporation
PEOPLE are being encouraged to put their rubbish to good use as part of a recycling initiative. To encourage people to recycle their green waste at home, councils in County Durham are offering free trials of home composters. The scheme is aimed at enabling
A CHOIR from Yarm will perform this weekend to raise funds for a radio station run by volunteers. The Levendale Singers will perform at the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, at 7pm on Saturday to help fund the refurbishment of the Radio North
YOUNG actors will put a new twist on an old story this weekend. The Turrets and Jackass Youth Theatre, in association with Busy Ape Arts and Jack Drum Arts, will perform The Flood, a modern version of the story of Noah's Ark, in Blackhill and Consett
A FLOWER festival to mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, will be held later this month. The Methodist Church, in Consett, will host the festival called The World is My Parish, from Friday to Sunday, June 27
A golf club in Durham has taken on its first teaching professional in more than 40 years. Chris Calder, 42, has joined Mount Oswald from the Down Royal club in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He will be introducing a service that will match golfers with the
FRANKIE MCDONALD is fast making a name for himself within the apprentice ranks grabbing every opportunity to outshine the senior jockeys. McDonald was on the mark at Bath yesterday producing Amelia to win right on the wire, and followers of Frankie's
BUILDERS have started work to improve a village primary school for its youngest pupils. The Secretary of State backed plans to redevelop St Helen Auckland Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, which is a grade II listed building. A single-storey 25m x
DARLINGTON'S youth offending team has come out top in the area in a national performance table. The performance table is based on figures from 155 youth offending teams across the UK. It ranks the youth offending teams according to a number of criteria
A chapel will re-open to visitors from Sunday. The Grade I-listed chapel at the Sir William Turner Almshouses, at Kirkleatham, near Redcar, will be open to visitors until the end of the summer school holidays. It was built in 1676 and has not been changed
FERRYHILL Town Council has appointed a projects assistant following a huge response to an advertisement. More than 100 people applied for an information pack after the job was advertised in The Northern Echo. Seventy-five forms were returned and from
A PROJECT that teaches children about environmental issues has begun in Sunderland. Over ten days, 1,700 pupils will take part in the award-winning Eco Rangers, now in its fifth year, at Herrington Park, near Penshaw. The youngsters are invited to tackle
AFTER a three-year wrangle, traffic will once again be rolling across a historic North Yorkshire bridge by the end of the year. Next week, work will finally start on the rebuilding of Creets Bridge, at Kirby Malzeard, near Ripon. The bridge dates from
OVER the next five days around 60,000 spectators are expected to be at the Riverside, providing a multi-million pound boost for the local economy. For Durham County Cricket Club alone, the match will generate an extra £250,000 in much-needed revenue.
ANGLERS are being urged to renew their club membership as quickly as possible. Durham City Angling Club has carried out a recruitment drive and membership has reached 250. Membership secretary John Hepworth said: "So far, recruitment for the new year
VILLAGERS are divided over plans to build a link road - many fearing they could lose their bus service if efforts to de-rail the scheme succeed. The proposals to join Elton and Long Newton, near Stockton, with a new highway have already split both sets
A FASHION student from Stockton is celebrating after winning a £250 prize in a competition inspired by chocolate. Nicola Brooks, from Fairfield, was joint runner-up in the contest to design an outfit inspired by the new Cadbury Mighty Minis biscuit range
SOUND advice was on offer yesterday as a district council showed its support for a national campaign. An exhibition at Northallerton's Civic Centre was Hambleton District Council's way to raise awareness of the impact of excessive noise on Noise Action
TWO voluntary groups have been presented with Queen's Golden Jubilee awards marking their outstanding contribution to local communities. The Junction, in Harrogate, and York Students in Schools (YSIS) have both been honoured with the award after being
As the pace of life becomes increasingly hectic, more women are turning to transcendental meditation as a means of relaxation. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. IMAGINE being able to sit down, close your eyes and enter a deep state of relaxation
A VILLAGE hall's immediate future is secure after a committee was told it is to get a county council grant. Fears had been expressed about Aycliffe Village Hall since the start of the year when it became clear that funding was in doubt. The concerns followed
Michael Vaughan can further enhance his position as the world's premier batsman with yet another annus mirabilis in 2003. The year 2002 was by far the most productive of his Test career thus far, scoring 1,481 runs in 14 matches, a 12-month total only
A PIONEERING affordable housing initiative has won national recognition for excellence in design after landing two awards. The Poplar Tree Gardens apartments in Sixth Avenue, York, are the first outside London to be factory-built - and could pave the
Nasser Hussain (Essex, capt). Age 35, Tests 81. Now he has given up one-day international cricket, the demands on him should decrease and he hopes to extend his Test career by two years as a result. Although it seems some time ago, he produced battling
POLICE have warned parents they could face cruelty charges if they lock their children inside the car during hot weather. The warning comes after a Stockton officer, who is a father-of-two, spotted a three-year-old girl locked in her parent's car during
EIGHT more people have been arrested in connection with drug related crimes as part of Operation Dream. Three search warrants were yesterday executed in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, in a bid to crack down on hard drugs in the town. All eight suspects
THE financial catastrophe that ruined plans for a Millennium celebration of railway heritage has forced local authorities to write off thousands of pounds, it emerged yesterday. Rail 2000, the company behind the doomed Millennium Cavalcade of Steam, which
So Anouska has been evicted from the house and after just one week we have been drawn back into the world of Big Brother. With the self-confessed flirt shown the door it's hard to see what this series will have to offer with no obvious characters left
ROXY Music star Bryan Ferry is coming back to Middlesbrough after cancelling a gig because of a sore throat. He left fans disappointed in March when he pulled out of his concert hours before going on stage at Middlesbrough Town Hall. The North-East-born
WORK by an amateur painter from Durham has been selected from 10,000 entries to appear in a high-profile exhibition in London. Irene Clarkson, 84, from Belmont, has had a painting accepted for The Daily Mail - Not the Turner Prize exhibition, which opens
Family and friends have gathered to pay tribute to a 12-year-old boy who drowned while playing near a river last week. About 300 people attended the funeral of Liam Robinson at Holy Trinity Church, West Cornforth, today. Among the mourners were teachers
SECURITY staff at Teesside Crown Court were yesterday praised for their fast action in evacuating the building after an arson attack on the second floor of the building. Cases were being heard in several of the courtrooms when thick, black smoke was spotted
THE text message from my wife came through at 2.30pm in the middle of a meeting at work: "Don't forget - school football tournament - 3pm." I had forgotten but I couldn't miss it. It was a parents' tournament to raise money for the school and I'd promised
SALAMI on sale in the region could contain horse and donkey meat, the Food Standards Agency revealed yesterday. The agency has announced it is to launch an investigation to analyse what goes into different makes of salami, chorizo and pastrami. The investigation
COMPUTER company Lindy has bucked the global technology downturn and announced it is expanding across the Atlantic. The Teesside firm, which specialises in connection technology, has set up offices and warehousing in Huntsville, Alabama. It will use the
WATER group AWG has turned up the heat on German bank WestLB by urging it to "put up or shut up" following four months of takeover wrangling. Anglian Water, which owns Hartlepool Water, rejected the second of WestLB's indicative offers in March but has
NASSER HUSSAIN took a sentimental trip back to Durham University this week - only to have it ruined by boozy students. "Exams have ended and there were a lot of drunken teenagers about," the England captain joked yesterday. Hussain, 35, was at St Hild
Two television actresses are taking to the stage to launch a North-East theatre's summer repertory season. Ruth Madoc, of Hi-de-Hi, and Katharine Monaghan, of Footballers Wives, will star in Soldier Beware, at Darlington Civic Theatre from Tuesday, June
Former England captain Michael Atherton will be at Riverside today in his role as media pundit. Chief Sports Writer Steven Baker caught up with him, and he was only too happy to talk about the Ashington Express, Steve Harmison. MIKE ATHERTON let out a
RIVERSIDE'S fast-track to Test status would perhaps have many, incorrectly, thinking the route has been an easy one. When the site at Chester-le-Street was an area for local dog-walkers, the thought of first-class cricket was enough to have many calling
Zimbabwe's Dougie Hondo tore through the England middle order this afternoon to put a dampener on the festivities surrounding Durham's first Test. Hondo took three wickets in 11 balls as England subsided from 146 for two to 156 for five. Mark Butcher
ZIMBABWE captain Heath Streak last night gave his Lord's flops the opportunity to make amends at the Riverside. Streak confirmed Zimbabwe will field an unchanged team in Durham's debut Test after their innings defeat inside three days last month. He said
SHOPPERS were invited to sample different kinds of water as part of a national promotion yesterday. To mark National Drink Water Day, Northumbrian Water and Asda in Peterlee organised a taste test. Shoppers were asked to sip tap and bottled water and
PLANS to build houses, staff accommodation and a hotel next to Durham's main hospital have run into opposition. Durham City councillors have deferred a decision on the outline scheme until they have visited the site. Planning officers recommended that
IT was fitting that the art critic and professional southern snob Brian Sewell was taken on a tour of Tyneside by Chris Donald, the creator of Viz comic, this week. Because the haughty, plummy-voiced Sewell, who claims the Millennium Bridge is "like an
MATRIX Securities has signed a £34m deal for a long-term lease of business space in the Cobalt Park. Highbridge Business Park, the developers of the North Tyneside office development, announced that Matrix had taken an interest in two buildings on the
MUSIC fans across the region are being encouraged to log on to The Northern Echo's music website Revolution to cast their vote in the Big Chance competition. With voting closing tomorrow, there is only one day left to have your say on who should make
A STUDENT found himself suspected by a building society of having forged money - even though it came from the society's own cash machine. Chris Wharrad, 20, who is studying law at Durham University, withdrew £300 from his HSBC bank account at the cash
MANAGER Mick McCarthy last night warned that Sunderland will be trying to win promotion "on a shoestring''. McCarthy left fans in no doubt about the mammoth task he faces in his bid to lead the Black Cats back into the Premiership at the first attempt
THE brother of a murdered Leeds United fan has appeared before North-East magistrates charged with threatening behaviour, a public order offence that allegedly took place prior to the recent England game against Turkey. Andrew Stuart Loftus, 32, of Leeds
UP to 1,500 jobs are to be axed in the UK by ailing telecoms firm Cable and Wireless. The group also plans to pull out of the US to protect itself from "difficult market conditions". The restructuring plans, which include suspending the shares dividend
THE text message from my wife came through at 2.30pm in the middle of a meeting at work: "Don't forget - school football tournament - 3pm." I had forgotten but I couldn't miss it. It was a parents' tournament to raise money for the school and I'd promised
THE Northern Echo's website has teamed up with Ottakar's, in Darlington, to give you the chance to win copies of the exciting new Harry Potter book, which will be released on Saturday, June 21. For your chance to win a copy of Harry Potter and The Order
A series of meetings are being arranged by staff and governors at schools which face uncertain futures under a £300m revamp of education in County Durham. Teachers at some of the 100-plus schools lined up for closure or mergers have told how they plan
NASSER HUSSAIN last night vowed to keep on nagging his bowlers as he prepared to lead England's most nave pace attack in living memory. Hussain has been heavily criticised by a number of former England Test stars, notably Ian Botham, all of whom have
FEYENOORD have paved the way for Brett Emerton's long-awaited move to Newcastle United by giving the Magpies permission to begin talks with the Australian international. The clubs have yet to agree a fee, but Feyenoord are willing to let £5m-rated Emerton
NOT all nannies are sweet and innocent like Mary Poppins. Those in Soapland tend to think and act like Lucretia Borgia. If they're not snogging the neighbours (think Margaret in Brookside), then they're scheming and conniving like the current crop of
A MOTHER who rang the Inland Revenue to sort out her tax credit said she was greeted with "filthy" language. Kathryn Lee, 41, of Grosvenor Street, Hartlepool, said she was kept on hold on the tax credit helpline for at least 20 minutes. When she was put
Durham chairman Bill Midgley has remained confident the county's big day would not be spoiled despite the potential threat to Zimbabwe's tour going ahead. Chief Sports Writer Steven Baker reports. IF Bill Midgley was worried that Durham's Test debut would
A man has appeared at crown court in connection with the death of a horse and trap driver in a crash. Wayne Walker, 33, died and his horse had to be destroyed after a collision with a Honda Accord. It happened as he was trotting his horse along the A182
COUNCILLORS look set to vote themselves a 13 per cent pay rise. Durham County Council's 61 members could see their basic allowances boosted by an average of £1,000 a year. The move is believed to have been backed by the majority of Labour councillors,
The cost of borrowing remains on hold following a low-key final interest rate meeting for Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George today. Rates were maintained at their 48-year low of 3.75% for the fourth consecutive month, as predicted by analysts,
AT 10.45am today this gate will open, and the cricketers of England and Zimbabwe will walk on to the world's newest Test venue. The day of celebration for the North-East will go some way to make up for the region's disappointment yesterday in losing its
A PENSIONER recovering from breast cancer has won the honour of wearing race number one in this year's Cancer Research UK Race for Life. Pauline Hustwick, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, entered The Northern Echo's competition to wear the coveted race
DURHAM'S new Mayor will support an event celebrating the work of the city's volunteers. Durham City councillor Ray Gibbon, who was elected following the Liberal Democrats' election victory, will be at Saturday's volunteers fair. The event will be held
POLICE are warning people to be on their guard against bogus callers after a council worker's identification badge was stolen. The female worker had the Darlington Borough Council photo badge, which is used to prove she is a genuine caller, stolen from
A CHARITY in Darlington is appealing for volunteers to help homeless people. Darlington Nightstop provides emergency short-term accommodation for 16 to 25-year-olds. Volunteers give accomodation in their homes for up to three nights to someone who is
THE third annual DAISY day for the over-50s is being held in Darlington's market square tomorrow. Darlington Active Independent and Staying Young (Daisy) aims to raise awareness of sheltered housing schemes in the town as well as encouraging older people
PEOPLE are being urged to put their best foot forward to support a North-East children's charity. The Children's Foundation Yellow Brick Road Appeal will hold its annual sponsored walk on Sunday, June 22, at the Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre
RESIDENTS at a Ferryhill home staged their own music hall tribute. A Tribute to Music Hall Stars was performed by people living at Durham County Care's Feryemount Residential Home. The idea for the project started around Christmas when occupational therapist
COACHES from Sunderland Football Club have been helping the sporting talents of Bedale. Forty youngsters took part in a two-day coaching course run by the club in conjunction with Bedale Leisure Centre. It was the fifth year the club has travelled to
ANGLERS are being urged to renew their club membership as quickly as possible. Durham City Angling Club has carried out a recruitment drive and membership has reached 250. Membership secretary John Hepworth said: "So far, recruitment for the new year
STUDENTS are being urged to swot up on their rights and responsibilities when it comes to noise and environmental issues. Middlesbrough Council's community protection service teamed up with the Students' Union at the University of Teesside to mark Noise
A VILLAGE which has waited nearly 40 years for a new school - and at one time feared the old one be forced to close - are finally celebrating. Prior to the half-term holidays, youngsters at Grewelthorpe CofE Primary School, near Ripon, worked in cramped
A TEAM of experts will be employed to persuade steel maker Corus to throw a lifeline to its Teesside works, The Northern Echo can reveal. The Iron and Steel Trade Confederation (ISTC) wants to build a case for Redcar-made iron and steel to be supplied
PLANS to fell a 200-year-old yew tree has sparked outrage. Residents in Cleasby, near Darlington, are furious that work has already started to pull down the tree, without any consultation. The custodians of the village hall authorised a worker to start
VILLAGERS have voiced their grievances about crime and policing in the community. A public meeting had been called to address residents' concerns that vandalism and disorder have increased in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, which they say is attributed
STUDENTS have paid tribute to their teacher, who died in a car accident, by raising money for her favourite charity. Jennifer Askew often led charity fundraising events in aid of the Butterwick Hospice, at Staindrop Comprehensive School, where she was
DURHAM breathed an enormous sigh of relief last night when anti-Robert Mugabe protestors promised not to disrupt the Riverside's debut Test. Having previously vowed to cause "chaos" at England's second Test with Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street, the Stop
PEOPLE are being encouraged to put their rubbish to good use as part of a recycling initiative. To encourage people to recycle their green waste at home, councils in County Durham are offering free trials of home composters. The scheme is aimed at enabling
A NEW initiative aimed at tackling graffiti in Hartlepool is to be launched today. An anti-graffiti squad, comprising offenders from Hartlepool on Community Punishment Orders, has been set up Hartlepool Borough Council in partnership with the Teesside
A PANTOMIME promoting food hygiene is being performed by local children. Pupils from Durham High School for Girls are staging the show at primary schools throughout the area after winning a competition set by Durham City Council's environmental health
POLICE seized cannabis resin, heroin and crack cocaine during a raid on a house in Middlesbrough. Officers from the district support unit used a warrant to search the house at 11pm on Tuesday. Two men were arrested and are being held for questioning in
DARLINGTON'S youth offending team has come out top in the area in a national performance table. The performance table is based on figures from 155 youth offending teams across the UK. It ranks the youth offending teams according to a number of criteria
A CONCERT is taking place on board HM Bark Endeavour at the weekend. The Endeavour Orchestra and Chamber Choir, based at the University of Durham Queen's Campus, Stockton, were established two years ago by students Helen Mann and Hannah Elliott, who will
A CARERS' centre has been awarded the Government's Disability Symbol for its commitment to helping people with disabilities. Hambleton and Richmondshire Carers Centre in Northallerton will be able to use the symbol on all its documents. The Department
A TRIANGULAR mosaic created by residents of a close community has completed the picture in their open space. After six months of hard work, the spectacular artwork is now on show at the Millennium Green community open space, behind Leeman Road, in York
A NEW crime-fighting team marked its biggest success yesterday, after a raid on a flat recovered drugs worth more than £80,000. Derwentside police's Divisional Response Unit (DRU) raided an address in West Road, Annfield Plain, near Stanley and recovered
TICKETS sales for the inaugural Test match at the home of Durham County Cricket Club rocketed this week. Extra seating has been mounted at Chester-le-Street's Riverside ground to cater for crowds of up to 12,000 during each day of the second Test. After
A GROUP of prison staff swapped their uniforms for hiking gear when they walked 28 miles to raise money for charity. The nine-strong team from Northallerton Prison walked from Ingleby Greenhow to Pickering to raise £500 for their home town's Breast Cancer
PLANS to merge two leading regeneration and investment organisations in the Tees Valley are being considered by the area's five local authorities. The plan involves the merger of the inward investment arm of the Tees Valley Development Company (TVDC)
PROGRAMMES for Middleham Festival, which runs from June 28 to July 6, are available throughout the town and from tourist information offices. The festival begins with open gardens and a plant fair. There is also a flower festival at the church at Coverham
MORE than £71,000 has been secured in grant funding to help improve the benefits service in the Richmondshire District Council area. The authority has also appointed a new head of benefits, Stephen McGinnes, who will be looking to build on existing good
POLICE are trying to trace the family of a North-East man who led a hermit-like existence. Detectives in Darlington believe the body of a man found in a council-owned flat in the town is that of Maurice Alex Kinney. They are hoping to trace relatives
THE latest graduate from a council's training programme has gained a permanent job. John Hay, 23, had been unemployed for quite a while when he took part in Hartlepool Borough Council's Work Route programme. During skills training and guidance sessions
NOT all nannies are sweet and innocent like Mary Poppins. Those in Soapland tend to think and act like Lucretia Borgia. If they're not snogging the neighbours (think Margaret in Brookside), then they're scheming and conniving like the current crop of
A THREE-MONTH roadworks scheme is due to start on a stretch of the A1(M). The £2.15m scheme, on the road between Bradbury and West Cornforth, in County Durham, starts on Monday. The work will be carried out in several phases and is intended to renew and
Ashington produced Jackie Milburn and the Charlton brothers. Now the town has a new sporting hero. Tim Wellock reports. FROM Ashington to Ashes. The story of Stephen Harmison's rise from the old Northumberland mining town to Test matches at Adelaide,
STEAM enthusiasts will have the rare opportunity to take a rail tour around the North-East this weekend. The North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) is running a locomotive out of Middlesbrough this Sunday on the first leg of a journey to
PLANS to extend a popular North-East hotel have been given the go-ahead. Councillors in Darlington have granted planning permission for work at Hallgarth Golf Country Club and Hotel, on the outskirts of the town. The hotel, which is a Grade II listed
A DECISION on a revolutionary rapid transport system linking Darlington and Teesside has been delayed until the autumn at a cost of £30,000, it was revealed last night. Consultants were this week due to make recommendations on whether a metro, trams or
ONE of the most respected figures in the prison service has died at the age of 70. Paul Whitehouse, who did much during his 25-year career to rehabilitate criminals, was a governor of Deerbolt Young Offenders Institution, at Barnard Castle, County Durham
The Terry & Gaby Show (five); Bad Girls (ITV2) Good things come in pairs, so they say. Terry and Gaby - as in Wogan and Roslin - is the latest attempt by Chris Evans' production company to find a winning formula, and they can hardly go wrong with
ANGLERS are being urged to renew their club membership as quickly as possible. Durham City Angling Club has carried out a recruitment drive and membership has reached 250. Membership secretary John Hepworth said: "So far, recruitment for the new year
