AT the age of 73, cutlery king Bert Draycott has developed a top secret new move to help him retain his world title. For the pensioner has been the undefeated World Champion Spoons Player for the last 30 years and proudly signs his name with the initials
East Rainton had no difficulty maintaining pole position in Division One when they defeated fourth from top Wearmouth. Batting first Wearmouth were restricted to 129 as Ian Kitching took five wickets for only 37 runs in 11 overs and Roy Richarson had
A 150-year-old regatta is to have a beauty queen after all. After only one girl entered the contest in Whitby last year, the regatta committee was preparing to axe this year's event until 18-year-old Helen Clarke stepped in. Helen, of John Street, Whitby
ONE of Britain's leading energy experts is to spell out his vision of the future in a North-East dale that has been chosen for renewable power projects. Professor Ian Fells will explain at a meeting organised by the influential Weardale Society, in County
A TOURISM expert is to visit part of the North-East to try out local attractions and advise how the area should be marketed overseas. Sir Michael Lickiss, the man charged with promoting Britain abroad, is to sample the best the Tees Valley has to offer
KIDNEY patients Kathryn Allen and Keith Blakemore have been invited to turn the first sod of earth at the start of work on a dialysis centre. The centre, at the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, will allow patients from North Tees, Hartlepool
MARK Buckley has his squad in good form and his Peyto Princess looks an interesting runner in the E B F Fillies Showcase Handicap over six furlongs at Pontefract this afternoon. The trainer has already been on the mark with sprinters Armagnac and High
A choir of 55 children from 11 primary schools in the Eston Education Action Zone will give two performances today of the musical Footprints On The Moon, which is based on Neil Armstrong's moon walk. The performances take place at the City Learning Centre
DARLINGTON skipper Craig Liddle returns with the rest of Mick Tait's depleted squad for pre-season training today confident of welcoming some new faces in the coming weeks. After seeing eight players depart in the summer, Quakers boss Tait has so far
ONE of Britain's leading energy experts is to spell out his vision of the future in a North-East dale that has been chosen for renewable power projects. Professor Ian Fells will explain at a meeting organised by the influential Weardale Society, in County
Boroughbridge lost a key top-of-the-table clash to Harrogate Racquets in Division One of the Slazenger Harrogate and District Tennis League, but still cling to the leadership by a single point. Borougbridge went into the clash without key players Ian
The FA has cut the amount of prize money in the early rounds of the FA Cup this season. And it looks as if the days of clubs making over £40,000 by battling through all the qualifying rounds are over at least for the time being, while the hard up FA reshapes
CLASSICAL concerts at Kirk-leatham, near Redcar, are one of the region's best-kept secrets. What started as a one-off experiment with a concert pianist from Lithuania five years ago has developed into a leading concert venue. In five years, the trustees
COINCIDENCE is an odd thing, but recently I was chatting to a friend in a quiet village when a mongrel trotted past. There was nothing remarkable about the dog except that it had a brown eye and a blue one. The odd thing was that we were standing close
STANLEY Youth Centre's summer playscheme will have an international flavour this year, with the arrival of volunteer helpers from Turkey, Poland, Hungary, the US, Japan, Korea, Spain, Belgium and France. The visit has been arranged by Youth Action for
A NORTH Yorkshire firm is offering a rubbish day out this week - literally. Yorwaste is responsible for waste management across the county and on Friday it will welcome visitors who would like to see its recycling operations at Harewood Whin, near York
The Readers' Durham League: Tudhoe extended their lead at the top with victory at Brandon, where runs were always at a premium. Despite scoring only 106 they had 36 runs in hand as Brandon struggled to just 70 all out. Conditions suited bowlers and Shahid
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: West Indian Test star Reon King and Durham County's Neil Killeen combined to keep South Northumberland in pole position. Their performances were crucial in the comfortable victory over Blaydon, who are
Durham Coast League U18s: Oone game went ahead because of the inclement weather and Seaham Park easily had the better of Castle Eden. Batting first, they realised a healthy 122 for seven which included 52 by Asam Akhtar and 22 by David Morton. Chris Tudball
A North-East hockey team are officially the best in the country after destroying the opposition at two prestigious National competitions. In the space of a few weeks the Durham Destroyers lived up to their name as they took on all-comers at an international
Drop The Celebrity (ITV1, Saturday) Fortysomething (ITV1, Sunday) Reality TV has a lot to answer for - it makes the man on the street think he can be a star and gives has-been celebrities a chance to rekindle their moment of fame. There is a reason some
Foster's Northumberland League U15s: Tynedale had 36 runs to spare in their home fixture with Ashington. Batting first, Tynedale ended on 139 for six which included 78 not out by Dan Kirkup while for Ashington, McTaggart claimed three of the six wickets
A LEADING judge has angered victims' families by claiming North-East child killer Mary Bell was treated "too harshly" by the justice system. Dame Elizabeth Butler Sloss, head of the High Court family division, said Mary Bell - and the killers of Merseyside
The tournament season continues during the close season and Sunderland were represented at the Peterborough U14 tournament at the weekend, Commanches participating in the eight-team event at the Planet Ice Arena. Commanches finished fifth and also had
Middleton St George made it nine wins our of nine and maintained their position at the top of Division A. Their victory came at home to Heighington who they bowled out for 112 after posting 207 for four. Runs were at a premium when Heighington batted
MORE THAN 10,000 fans turned up at Headingley last week to watch Yorkshire's Twenty20 Cup match against Nottinghamshire - even though it was almost certain that neither side would make it into the semi-finals. If a similar number attend tomorrow's one-day
Durham League: Crook Glenholme took over the top spot when they beat the former leaders, Ever Ready/Craghead by six points to move five clear. The Crook side won by 85 shots to 65 with the rinks scores (Glenholme names first) D. Chard 25 M. English 10
POLICE have completed inquiries into an alleged disturbance that marred a party for school leavers from a top-performing North-East state secondary. The incident flared after a teacher appeared to take exception to remarks made by a sixth-former in a
Worthington CIU Team Knock Out: Tow Law A from the Third Division created the shock of the First Round when they travelled to Newhouse and beat the second placed team in the First Division by 46 points. The Lawyers received 59 points start but lost the
GORDON Muchall's third first-class century was his least fluent, but its value was underlined by another Durham collapse at Riverside yesterday. The wiles of two India A spinners prompted a slide from 175 for one to 244 for seven before Ian Hunter brought
HUGE crowds lapped up the sun, strawberries and champagne while taking in some high-class racing at one of the North-East's big social and sporting occasions. Newcastle Racecourse was awash with colour as the Northumberland Plate meeting enjoyed an improvement
A FORMER Sunday School teacher celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday. Gladys Taylor, of Craig Street, Darlington, attended morning worship at Holy Trinity Church, in the town, followed by an informal celebration. Later, she had a family lunch and was
MEMBERS of a martial arts club with branches throughout County Durham struck gold at a competition. Phoenix Tae Kwon Do, which has clubs in Willington, Langley Park, Bear Park and Sacriston, continued its success in the Welsh Tae Kwon Do Championships
MEMBERS of a martial arts club with branches throughout County Durham struck gold at a competition. Phoenix Tae Kwon Do, which has clubs in Willington, Langley Park, Bear Park and Sacriston, continued its success in the Welsh Tae Kwon Do Championships
AN annual steam festival in Weardale at the weekend held a special significance this year. The Weardale Railway Steam and Transport Festival, which took place in Stanhope throughout the weekend, marked the 50th anniversary of the last passenger train
AN annual steam festival in Weardale at the weekend held a special significance this year. The Weardale Railway Steam and Transport Festival, which took place in Stanhope throughout the weekend, marked the 50th anniversary of the last passenger train
NEW CURATE: The Reverend Rob Brown is to become curate in Weardale. He and his wife, Adele, with children Emma, Jamie and Megan, are moving into the vicarage at St John's Chapel. SPECIAL EVENT: How your church operates in the community is the central
A SCHOOL which held a mathematics challenge for its feeder schools is hoping to make it an annual event. Hurworth Comprehensive School, near Darlington, which is to become a specialist maths and computing college, invited teams from Sadberge, Middleton
THE carnival season was in full swing at the weekend as the sun shone for Darlington's 21st annual community carnival. The carnival, which ran throughout the weekend, incorporated a parade with floats bearing a European theme, including a 12-ft long wedge
CARNIVAL DATE: Organisers have worked hard to make next Saturday's Crook Carnival one of the biggest ever. The procession starts at 10am from the Civic Centre, while the Peases West Sports Ground will be open from 9am. PUBLIC MEETING: People in Howden-le-Wear
SOLDIERS and civilians joined forces on Saturdayto clear up one of the main recreational centres in Europe's biggest Army base. A large group of volunteers set about cleaning up Coronation Park, in Catterick Garrison, as part of an annual Community Work
VILLAGERS have formed a protection group and hope to raise thousands of pounds every year to help save their parish church. Residents of Sutton-on-the-Forest, near Easingwold, have launched a Friends of All Hallows' society in order to raise sufficient
ACTOR David Griffin was keeping up appearances at Darlington College at Catterick on Saturday as he launched a charity balloon race. He took time off from appearing in It Runs in the Family, which finished its run at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday
A PUB landlady is swapping beer pumps for pumping iron in a European power-lifting competition. Joanna Banks, who runs Jennings Brewery's Three Coopers' pub, in Bedale, with husband Jonathan, was recently crowned British Masters Champion in an over-40s
student Keren Adams has won £1,000 in a national ice cream contest. The competition was launched to celebrate Ben and Jerry's 25th anniversary. It required entrants to create a new way of promoting the ice cream maker's free cone day. Ms Adams, 20, proposed
PRIMARY school pupils in a former colliery town will take an imaginery trip to the Pacific in a joint arts project that starts today. The children from five schools in Seaham will also be preparing for a dramatic production to be staged next week. Storytellers
AN organisation that encourages young people to consider engineering as a future career has given them some tools of the trade. Derwentside Engineering Forum has bought tools and equipment worth about £9,000 for six secondary school in the area. The tools
Rocket launches, drag car racing and fashion shows were some of the highlights of an event to celebrate the potential of teenagers living in the Tees Valley. The Celebrating our Potential show was held at the Oakwood Centre, Eaglescliffe, on Friday As
A SCHOOL'S measures to combat boredom and bad behaviour at break times have resulted in a £2,000 reward. English Martyrs RC Primary School, in Southwick, Sunderland, took first prize in the London Electricity School Grounds Awards 2003. The competition
RESIDENTS have lost their fight to stop seven properties being built in their village. People living in Edmundbyers, near Consett, had accepted that there would be a development at The Closes, next to the village green, but said that plans to build seven
A REPORT on potential solutions to Northallerton's flooding problems is to be looked at by the local authority. Members of the Hambleton Flood Forum have already had a chance to study the detailed document - and were warned by North Yorkshire County Council's
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: WHEN it comes to the referendum on regional government I will certainly vote against it as it stands. I cannot see how the powers of the Regional Assembly will make any difference to the region, because it will not have any legislative
PLANS have been unveiled to turn a railway museum into one of the North-East's premier tourist attractions. Staff at the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, in North Road Station, which dates from 1842, are putting together a bid for Heritage Lottery
A well-known television presenter dropped into his old school at the weekend to pick up a cheque for charity. BBC Look North's Harry Gration was presented with a cheque for more than £2,000 when he visited St Peter's School, York. The money will be donated
EVEN those in wheelchairs can enjoy much of the Middleham Festival, including some of the gardens, thanks to a couple to whom freedom for the disabled and beautiful surroundings are very important. More than ten years ago, Keith Murgatroyd's life dramatically
MORE than 100 visitors enjoyed a gardens open day and scarecrow trail yesterday. It was held at Newsham, between Richmond and Barnard Castle, County Durham. Twelve gardens went on show, raising at least £400 for the village hall. Visitors cast votes for
PLANS for a hotel and leisure complex on the site of a disused quarry have moved a step closer after more than ten years of delays. There have been a number of applications to develop the former Church Quarry site, near Aycliffe Village, since 1993, but
PEOPLE in a North-East town experience some of the worst levels of ill health in the country, according to local health experts. Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust says heart disease and diabetes is significantly higher than national levels. It has organised
CROWDS were drawn to Preston Park, near, Stockton, at the weekend to see a display of vintage vehicles. Cars from bygone days were on show at Stockton Borough Council's Vehicle Rally. More unusual modes of transport included a 17th Century fire engine
A FUTURISTIC building designed to help nurture fledgling companies is to be developed on a North-East business park. The Incubator will be built as part of the NetPark project, which is being developed at the former Winterton Hospital site, near Sedgefield
DOG owners in Middlesbrough are being warned they face a £50 on-the-spot fine if they allow their pet to foul in public places. The warning from Middlesbrough Council coincides with National Poop Scoop week, which starts today, to encourage people to
Durham Coast League: Hylton beat the weather and Dawdon to rekindle their hopes of retaining the championship. Once they bowled out their opponents for just 113 in 48.4 overs, it seemed that only further rain could dampen their march to victory and 20
A PUB which featured in the popular TV series All Creatures Great and Small may close and be converted into a house. The move to call time on the King's Arms in the Wensleydale village of Redmire, North Yorkshire, has prompted a storm of protest from
Drop The Celebrity (ITV1, Saturday) Fortysomething (ITV1, Sunday) Reality TV has a lot to answer for - it makes the man on the street think he can be a star and gives has-been celebrities a chance to rekindle their moment of fame. There is a reason some
A PARLIAMENTARY report into a steel-making crisis has led steelmaker Corus to make a commitment to thousands of job-threatened Teesside workers. The investigation into Corus by the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee began after Corus announced
Darlington boxer Argie Ward is preparing for his first fight in his hometown since turning professional with a glowing reference from a World champion ringing in his ears. With just three pro fights behind him, Ward is a relative newcomer to the pro game
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: Darlington RA produced their best performance for a long time to remove Redcar from pole position. A short while ago it would have been unthinkable for them to seriously challenge a target
RIVER police officers say a woman would have drowned had they not plunged into the water to pull her to safety. A passer-by alerted the emergency services after spotting the woman in the Tyne, near Newcastle Quayside, at about 3.30am on Saturday. The
WHEN it comes to pondering what to do during retirement, spending more time in the garden is often top of the list for many people. But whether that would be the case for Gerard Parkes is open to question, because he has brought more than 40 years of
Bishop Auckland manger Brian Honour has made two new signings as his side's pre-season friendlies loom. Honour has signed striker Ian Chandler, who has left Whitley Bay - he scored their Vase final winner in 2002 - and striker Brian Ross from Hartlepool
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Newcastle City slightly reduced Lanchester's lead at the top of the table when they claimed maximum points from their victory over Backworth. But despite needing only 148 runs, City had their work cut
WHAT price Martin Scott being appointed Hartlepool United's next manager? No-one is putting the mockers on new boss Neale Cooper, but if Scott's rise through the Victoria Park ranks and the faith entrusted in him by chairman Ken Hodcroft is anything to
Hartlepool light-welterweight Kevin Bennett chalked up another victory at Manchester's MEN Arena on Saturday night, halting Hungarian Zoltan Surman early in the fourth round to take his record to 13-3. Bennett, appropriately nicknamed 'Bulldog' was making
Q How did the oceans of the world get their names? - Emma Wilkinson, Houghton-le-Spring. A The name of the Atlantic Ocean is first mentioned in the fifth century BC in the works of the Greek writer Herodotus. He refers to the Atlantic as Atlantis and
Marne moved up a place to sixth inthe league and kept their 100 per cent home record with a massive victory over the current Champions, Urlay Nook by 163 to 154 points. A strong team from Marne was headed by their team Captain Tony Masters, who top scored
Police have accidentally stumbled across a drugs factory on Teesside. Officers found the bedrooms of a house in central Middlesbrough stripped of all furniture, the walls painted white, specialist lighting installed, irrigation systems and foil covering
Fire crews tackled a blaze in a disused building in Alexandra Road, Grangetown, Teesside, on Saturday. They spent more than an hour fighting the blaze on the first floor of the building, a former shop, after being called shortly after 12.30pm. The upper
YOUNG sportsmen and women showcased their talents in a major mass participation event at the weekend. Hundreds of competitors, aged nine to 16, came together from all parts of County Durham and Darlington to take part in a day of sporting activity. The
County Super League Bishop Auckland produced one of their best displays of the season to pull off a draw with the visiting Ferryhill. The home side two points each from Kevin Watson and Ronnie Wright whilst Ferryhill had two from Sonny Hann and Alan Blakey
A bungling burglar who was stuck head-first for six hours after trying to get into a pub through a metal shaft was today warned he was one step away from being put behind prison bars. Drug addict David Gardner was only rescued when an early-morning delivery
Darlington Building Society NYSD League Division One: Seaton Carew are ahead at the top of the table after seeing off the challenge from Redcar with ease. David Alsop again found form, taking six of the Seasiders' wickets for just 43 runs in 19 overs.
Three people were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, after the car they were travelling in left a road at a roundabout. Two of the casualties had to be cut free from the vehicle by firefighters. The accident took place at
MEMORABILIA guaranteed to lift the gloom over Wearside since Sunderland's footballing demotion went under the hammer last night. The National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, staged a charity football auction to mark the culmination of its Legends of '73
A CRAFTSMAN in the making has been hailed the best joiner in the world after winning the UK's first gold medal at an international skills competition. Lee Fawcett was back in North Yorkshire yesterday after spending a week in Switzerland taking part in
AN exhibition of classic and vintage cars that drew spectators from all around the region has been hailed a huge success. Hundreds of vintage cars, vans and motorbikes drove through the grounds of Raby Castle, at Staindrop, County Durham, during yesterday's
Tow Law Area League: Cornsay Royal Oak moved one point clear at the top of the table after they only dropped three points on their visit to Tow Law New Market B. The visitors had singles points from Sonia Windsor, Tom Cairns, Joe Close and Ray Young with
ARMED police arrested a 49-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, both from Newton Aycliffe, in Darlington on Friday, after receiving reports of a driver being threatened with a gun. They also found a plastic replica weapon. The armed response unit was
STANLEY Youth Centre's summer playscheme will have an international flavour this year, with the arrival of volunteer helpers from Turkey, Poland, Hungary, the US, Japan, Korea, Spain, Belgium and France. The visit has been arranged by Youth Action for
A NORTH-East college will be the first to use a pioneering system to enable students to study online. Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, has signed a deal with a Norwegian IT company, Fronter, to create an online virtual classroom to allow
Children are being given the chance to name a life-sized imitation horse. The horse is the latest teaching aid for two courses in horse management on offer at Redcar and Cleveland College The five and six-year-olds from the east Cleveland area are also
IT'S a sport that boasts Prince William among its biggest fans and can make millionaires of top players in the sun-kissed countries that border the Mediterranean. So it may come as a bit of a surprise that water polo is now being launched with a splash
A BOOK showcasing the talents of those with mental health problems has been launched. Professor Antony Sheehan, chief executive of the National Institute for Mental Health in England and the Department of Health's head of mental health, launched Reflections
WOMEN from the region arrived in London yesterday to take part in a national vigil against the Hunting Bill. Isabel Radford, who works with the Catterick Beagle pack, in North Yorkshire, was among the crowds in Parliament Square taking part in the major
A barrister has drawn on her own divorce and her legal expertise to write a book to help others through the experience. She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears. WHEN Jody Beveridge went through her divorce, she was at bar school, finishing training
It was a hectic time on the match circuit for the first weekend of the eagerly awaited coarse fishing season and there were plenty of fixtures to choose from. In the York and District Open on the Ouse lack of flow and colour ruled out an early season
THE US doctor who has been treating a North-East mother's crippling condition says she is making good progress. Ann Teasdale returned to her home in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, recently after spending three months at the Texas clinic of Dr Donald
A choir of 55 children from 11 primary schools in the Eston Education Action Zone will give two performances today of the musical Footprints On The Moon, which is based on Neil Armstrong's moon walk. The performances take place at the City Learning Centre
Red Cross Cup No 8: Close scoring for this week's Stableford competition with countbacks being required for all the leading places apart from the top. Results: 43 points Andy Ferguson (21), 42 Terry Pratt (21), Sam Johnson (13, David Blades (10). Red
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - A mysterious suspected burglary has been reported by Mr Gibbeson, landlord of the Turk's Head Hotel, Darlington. The unexplained loss of a number of silver coins, abstracted from a desk in the inner sitting room, has
Four Quakers had an early start on June 22 travelling to Blackpool to compete in road races. David Thompson was the only Quaker to represent the club in the full marathon. He completed the 26.2 mile course in 4:11:55 to finish in an excellent position
A North-East MP has welcomed the banning of a date rape drug which can render victims unconscious in minutes. GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy, was outlawed by the Government at midnight when it was reclassified as a class C drug. Dealers will face up
Last weekend Snetterton Park, Norfolk, played host to the next stage in both the FORCE 5000 and the BRSCC championship. After a three week break due in part to examination commitments Edwin Jowsey had developed a thirst for racing, but four grand prixs
Durham County U18 Youth League: A further meeting in relation to the above was held on Monday May 16 2003 and due to applications received it has been decided that the association will form a County U18 League to be played on Saturdays for 2003-4 season
Eastgate Cross Keys lifted themselves into second place in the table after they beat Wolsingham Teachers, who were below full strength. The Keys got away to a great start with both Ian McDonald and Alan breeze making 25 each. They were followed by Graham
A FARMER and businessman who founded a North-East radio station has died at the age of 72. Tim Jackson, who lived in Guisborough, east Cleveland, was an active Conservative and ran a commercial property business. He died last week in Whitby Hospital after
THE new under-18 youth football Saturday league being set up by the Durham FA for next season has been given a major boost by the news that a major sponsor has been found. "The new league will definitely go ahead," said DFA secretary John Topping. Five
SHOPPERS in a North-East town centre got the chance to play a giant game of chess yesterday. Members of the public were invited to take part in a game on a huge board set up in Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough. Chess teacher Sean Marsh and Gerry Walsh
THE stars of the world of disabled sport were honoured at a special ceremony this week. The inaugural npower North-East Disability Sports Achievement Awards were held at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside stadium at Chester-le-Street. Guest of honour
THE ball skills of a 15-year-old football fan helped win him a top-of-the-range pair of boots yesterday. Michael Cook, from Seaham, County Durham, managed to juggle a ball 88 times to win the Keep-it-Uppie competition staged at the new Dalton Park shopping
A career-best 207 from Matthew Wood and a maiden century from Andy Gray helped to give Yorkshire a first innings lead of 237 at Taunton yesterday before Steve Kirby tore into Somerset for the second time in the match. Kirby, who grabbed five wickets in
AN orchestra from Luxembourg is making a return visit to the North-East. Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra played at Christ-church, Eston, Middlesbrough, last year, and returns on July 30 to play Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and pieces by Bach and Mozart
A TEAM of researchers from the North-East has beaten off strong competition to spotlight their work at an exhibition. The scientists from Newcastle University's school of biology will staff one of 20 exhibits visited by more than 3,000 people over three
A TOWN centre street is to get another takeaway outlet, despite strong protests from residents. One in seven shops in Church Street, Shildon, is a takeaway food outlet. So when nearby residents heard of plans to convert a florist into a Chinese takeaway
A TOWN centre street is to get another takeaway outlet, despite strong protests from residents. One in seven shops in Church Street, Shildon, is a takeaway food outlet. So when nearby residents heard of plans to convert a florist into a Chinese takeaway
PLANS for a hotel and leisure complex on the site of a disused quarry have moved a step closer after more than ten years of delays. There have been a number of applications to develop the former Church Quarry site, near Aycliffe Village, since 1993, but
MORE than 300 year six pupils will take part in a sports festival at Northfield School in Billingham on Wednesday. The school is appealing to local firms for sponsorship to provide prizes. Donors will be rewarded with posters or banners advertising the
TENANTS can report faults and receive information about council housing repairs under a "one-stop" shop scheme. A freephone number allows tenants to report repairs to Easington District Council's call centre from 8.30am on weekdays. The centre takes calls
THE BBC insists it was right to report the remarks of a source within British intelligence services about the Iraq dossier. At present, only the BBC is privy to the information on which its report was based. Unless that judgement is called into question
PRIMARY school pupils in a former colliery town will take an imaginery trip to the Pacific in a joint arts project that starts today. The children from five schools in Seaham will also be preparing for a dramatic production to be staged next week. Storytellers
HUGE crowds lapped up the sun, strawberries and champagne while taking in some high-class racing at one of the North-East's big social and sporting occasions. Newcastle Racecourse was awash with colour as the Northumberland Plate meeting enjoyed an improvement
HOW would you like to "shop" while sipping a cup of coffee, then drive round to a pick up point to collect your order - or even go home to await delivery? In the supermarket of the future, the "hub" is a caf, taking up 60pc of the floorspace, where shoppers
A GLOSSY magazine highlighting Durham City's shopping, eating and drinking venues is being distributed in a attempt to attract more visitors. The Buzz also aims to dispel what its publishers, the newly-formed Durham Marketing Initiative, says is the myth
ROADS on a Scarborough estate may soon take on a new look. The borough council is expected to agree a package of measures tomorrow to improve safety in the Eastfield area. A 20mph zone, speed cushions, humps and pedestrian refuges are included, as well
HUMAN garden statues helped to entertain visitors at one of the region's stately homes. Castle Howard, near Malton, has been showing off its roses at their best during its festival of Roses and Horticultural History. Staff and visitors marked the event
A TRIAL radio station took to the air waves at the weekend in the latest stage of its bid to win the licence to broadcast to Durham City and the surrounding area. Durham FM began broadcasting on Saturday, offering a mix of music, entertainment information
FARMERS in part of the region have proved their commitment to the environment by signing up for a green scheme. Barnard Castle, County Durham, was one of four pilot areas across the UK chosen for the Government's green farming project, called the Entry
TAXI drivers in Middlesbrough fear someone will be injured or even killed because their rank has been moved 200 yards down the road. Cabbies say their new base in Newport Road is too congested and it is dangerous for them to use a mini roundabout because
FORMER Conservative Party leader William Hague cut a ribbon with a pair of donated scissors to officially mark the opening of an extension at an Oxfam shop. The Richmond MP was in his constituency to launch the extended range of books on offer at the
MEMBERS of a martial arts club that has branches throughout County Durham struck gold at a recent competition. Phoenix Tae Kwon Do, which has clubs in Willington, Langley Park, Bear Park and Sacriston, continued its recent run of success in the Welsh
HUNDREDS of blind and partially-sighted people will benefit from a cycling marathon by one of the country's top eye surgeons and his wife. Piers and Mary Percival have cycled more than 300 miles around the North York Moors National Park and East Yorkshire
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Creelman an A Level student at Northallerton College has got back into her winning ways by taking the gold medal in the North East Counties sprint championships at Sheffield. Hannah who swims for Thirsk White Horse made the decision
Film legend Katharine Hepburn died yesterday, aged 96. An icon of feminist strength and spirit who brought a chiselled beauty and patrician bearing to such films as The Philadelphia Story and The African Queen, died in her home town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Three adults and one youth have been arrested and charged following a series of police raids across the region. Police in North Yorkshire and County Durham have worked together after a spate of High Street break-ins in five towns. The spate of break-ins
Q How did the oceans of the world get their names? - Emma Wilkinson, Houghton-le-Spring. A The name of the Atlantic Ocean is first mentioned in the fifth century BC in the works of the Greek writer Herodotus. He refers to the Atlantic as Atlantis and
MEMORABILIA guaranteed to lift the gloom over Wearside since Sunderland's footballing demotion went under the hammer last night. The National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, staged a charity football auction to mark the culmination of its Legends of '73
DARLINGTON'S anti-litter squad is increasing undercover patrols at a beauty spot which people say is being spoiled by rubbish dumping. The area near the River Tees at Blackwell, which is a popular picnic site, has become a target for vandals and rubbish
MUSIC QUESTIONS: Biddick Arts Centre holds a music quiz night on Tuesdays, in the Courtyard Bar. CHARITY JUMP: Regulars from the Biddick Inn, Fatfield, helped raise more than £2,500 for the children's cancer wards at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary
A FARMER and businessman who founded a North-East radio station has died at the age of 72. Tim Jackson, who lived in Guisborough, east Cleveland, was an active Conservative and ran a commercial property business. He died last week in Whitby Hospital after
A HUGE response to the national officer recruitment drive means Cleveland Police are having to turn away further applications. Personnel chiefs say the Could You? campaign led to their department and the force website being inundated with hundreds of
CHILDHOOD nutrition is being reviewed in a bid to improve the diet of young people. Every child aged between four and six in infant schools across County Durham is likely to be offered a piece of free fruit every day, by next year. As part of the Government's
TORIES have insisted fair play is behind a bid to oust Harrogate's Liberal Democrat MP from the chairmanship of the town's conference and exhibition centre. Phil Willis has been chairman since he was leader of Harrogate Borough Council and the authority's
YOUNG athletes from partner schools in Northallerton swept the board in the Hambleton and Richmondshire Athletics Championships for a second year running. The joint teams of 11 to 15-year-olds from Allertonshire School and Northallerton College won all
A RAIL passengers' group has called on train operator Connex to be ruled out of the bidding for a key North-East rail franchise. The French-owned firm remains one of two in the running to take over the Transpennine route linking Newcastle and York to
FOOTBALL: Billingham CGS Wanderers are changing their name to become Norton and Stockton Ancients CGS Wanderers for next season. The club have appointed ex-Sunderland star Colin Beesley as manager to succeed Ray Morton, who is to manage the Northern league
IRELAND'S newest boy band topped the bill at a street festival on Saturday. D-Side performed at Word of Mouth, a week-long youth arts festival in Hartlepool, which ended yesterday. Hotly tipped to become the next Westlife, they entertained youngsters
The key match of the week in the darts and pool sections came when Cockton Hill entertained Ferryhill. These two teams occupied the top two places in both sections and the visitors managed to edge through to odd point victories in both. In the darts section
Three sides share the leadership following Kirby Sigston's victory over East Harlsey. Maltby are the other team on the same number of points and the trio have identical clean records. The game of the day between East Harlsey and Kirby Sigston ended in
MOTHER-OF-FOUR Dianne Heneghan prepared for another Great Britain call-up with an impressive guest run in the North-East Veterans Championships at the weekend. The 36-year-old Chester-le-Street athlete, who was the first regional runner home in this month's
Federation Special Durham Senior League: Eppleton recorded the only victory of the day and as a result moved into second place. The Eppleton batsmen, Shaun Birbeck and Neil McKinney, were in rampant mood. Birbeck (16 fours) and McKinney (13 fours and
Celebrating its 100th birthday this year, the Tour de France occupies a special place in French society: at once a sporting event and cultural phenomenon. Nick Morrison looks at how a newspaper circulation war gave brith eot he most famous chcle race
In 1849, before even the 213 bus made its meandering way between those two Co Durham villages, Sedgefield played Thornley at cricket. The visitors were met at the Sedgefield boundary by a brass band and by banners, led to the Dun Cow where awaited a breakfast
Loftus maintained their position at the top of the table, but they had to work hard for victory following a low scoring game with Brotton. Runs were always at a premium and Brotton managed only 58 all out as Jeff Morrison took five wickets for 30 runs
SHOAIB Akhtar will NOT be charging in trying to bowl as fast as possible for Durham for the rest of the season. The world's fastest bowler insists he is far more interested in taking wickets and helping Durham into Division One than in breaking the 100mph
50 years ago: Bob Hardisty, more used to triumph on the soccer pitch, hits 26 not out to guide Bishop Auckland CC into the final of the Kerridge Cup. The game at Kingsway against Darlington CC was watched by a record crowd of 1,448 who paid record receipts
MEN and women from all over the region swapped their business suits for combats during an Army-style weekend. They enjoyed two days of driving military vehicles, solving problems and sleeping under the stars as part of Exercise Executive Stretch, at Catterick
She was the world's first supermodel, but Twiggy had never been on a catwalk until last year, she tells Viv Hardwick. TWIGGY, the superstar shape of 1960s British fashion, didn't need the length of a camera shutter click to accept the role of George Bernard
