Archive

  • Water safety warnings follow drowning tragedy

    SAFETY campaigners last night warned against the dangers of swimming after the death of a five-year-old boy who was swept out to sea. Police said Lewis Ashley was plucked unconscious from the water in Northumberland but died later in hospital. Attempts

  • Cooper wants new recruits ready for the Posh

    NEALE Cooper's newest recruits are being primed for the big kick-off on August 9. While the new boss made a winning start to his Hartlepool United managerial career on Tuesday with a 6-0 success over Dutch side Top Oss, it's the condition of his players

  • Parents' crusade in girl's memory

    THE family of a North-East youngster who died of cancer shortly before Christmas is launching a charity campaign on what would have been her fifth birthday. For almost two years, Katie-Leigh Tones repeatedly amazed doctors by battling against the disease

  • North bases in critical report

    TWO of the region's Army bases have been included in a Ministry of Defence report which criticised training for young recruits. Catterick Garrison and Harrogate Army Foundation College, both North Yorkshire, were among a number of training facilities

  • Durham Memories: Tranquil reminder of turbulent times

    Durham Memories goes in search of the link between a troublesome bishop, the Tower of London and a city landmark. The earliest of Durham's bridges was known until the 16th Century as Old Bridge. This was Framwellgate Bridge, built by Ranulf Flambard,

  • Sleeping with baby defended

    A NORTH-EAST sleep expert has spoken out after a coroner warned of the dangers of parents sharing a bed with their baby. Dr Helen Bell, director of the parent-infant sleep lab at the University of Durham, said half of new parents want to sleep with their

  • Anger at inquiry 'threats' as homes rejected again

    A RESIDENTS' action group was celebrating on Wednesday after convincing councillors that the design and density of 57 proposed homes was unsuitable for the neighbourhood. Teesdale District Council planning south committee debated the latest submission

  • Mining memorial ready for unveiling

    A MEMORIAL to the workers of a former village colliery has been installed ready for its unveiling tomorrow. The Fishburn Millennium Group Memorial, on the village green, will be unveiled by Dr Keith Beveridge at 11am, and blessed by the Reverend Susan

  • Fears over arrival of 'ghost fleet'

    CONCERNS have been voiced over the recycling of a so-called US "ghost fleet" in the North-East. Able UK is due to finalise a deal with the US Maritime Administration within days which would see 13 obsolete warships towed across the Atlantic to Hartlepool

  • £1/2m upgrade for Dolphin Centre debated

    COUNCIL chiefs are looking to pump more than £500,000 into upgrading the Dolphin Centre in Darlington. Last year an Audit Commission report criticised the local authority, saying facilities were lacking and particularly criticising outdoor sports areas

  • 'Council to blame for trees damage'

    A VILLAGER is demanding compensation from Darlington Borough Council after accusing the authority of destroying trees. Parish councillor Mike McBride told a meeting in Middleton St George this week that several trees along the riverbank at Middleton-

  • School hosts art sessions

    A NEWTON Aycliffe school starts a full programme of events for younsters aged four to 16 as the summer holidays begin. For four weeks, Greenfield School Community and Arts College will be hosting a range of workshops. The programmes include dance, visual

  • Massive survey gets under way

    RESIDENTS are to be asked what they think of life in one of the region's biggest towns. More than 8,000 doorstep surveys are to be carried out across Middlesbrough, with people asked for their views on crime, health, environment, jobs and training, education

  • Premiere of movie made by children

    PUPILS travelled in stretch limos to the premier of a film in which they starred. Twenty youngsters from Hummersea Primary School in Loftus, were taken to the town hall to see the "The Accident," a black and white silent movie about a mining accident,

  • Learn good business sense

    ENTREPRENEURS wishing to start up a new business in east Cleveland will soon be able to take a course in becoming self-employed. The part-time evening course, which starts in September at Redcar and Cleveland College, will provide successful students

  • Woolly thinking brings customers flocking in

    THERE is a new hand at the helm of a traditional Swaledale firm inspired by the old lead miners. In Elizabethan times, families from the area would supplement their income by knitting and selling hard-wearing woollen stockings, which were even favoured

  • Pupils write a wrong

    SCORES of children are writing letters to residents asking them to keep an eye on their school during the summer holidays. Detective Sergeant Martin Shallow, crime reduction manager at Stockton, said: "It is distressing for many pupils to hear that classrooms

  • Housing protestors vow to continue despite set back

    PROTESTORS have vowed to press on with plans to save a green space, after a developer won the right to build houses on it. Strathmore Homes has won planning permission to build about 90 executive houses on the site of the old Derwentside College, in Consett

  • Mastiff mauls boy, 12

    A BOY is recovering after a new neighbour's dog mauled him when he went round to greet them. The 12-year-old needed 34 stitches after the bull mastiff lunged at him. David Gash had been living with his dad John, 51, in Consett, but has moved to his mother's

  • Cycleway will be built over busy road

    CYCLISTS will soon be able to cross a busy stretch of road on a cycleway. The Highways Agency, in partnership with Stockton Borough Council, is to help fund and build a dedicated cycle track over the A19, near Billingham. The track, which will link into

  • Runners join the fun

    MORE than 200 people took part in the annual Yarm Fun Run last weekend, organised by Yarm District Lions and Conyers School. Two new trophies were introduced for the three-mile run from Conyers School to Snaith Field, Yarm, this year. Craig Aitkin won

  • Army recruits join special on-air service

    TROOPS have answered an SOS plea to keep a hospital radio service on the airwaves. Harrogate District Hospital's radio service faced a crisis when several presenters had to leave for varying reasons. But now troops based at Harrogate's Army Foundation

  • School is rescued by Lotto donation

    A PRE-SCHOOL which was preparing to close its doors for good has been saved and will now be bigger and better than before. Romanby Pre-school, based near Northallerton, has 60 children on its register and a staff of 11, mostly part-timers. But due to

  • Pupils create colourful castle murals

    ART students who have just sat their exams returned to school for a day to help younger pupils create murals. The GCSE pupils from Greencroft School, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, helped 120 children from the primary schools of Annfield Plain, Burnhope

  • Grassroots: Derwentside

    AMERICAN CHOIR: The Orange Grove Gospel Choir, from North Carolina, in the US, appears at Consett Empire Theatre on Saturday, July 26 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and £3. CUMBRIAN WALKS: Mem-bers of Consett and Vale of Derwentside Naturalist Field Club will

  • Plan now for major move in goalposts

    BEEF and sheep producers have been urged to use the next 18 months to plan how to adapt their businesses for the new single payment system from 2005. Duncan Sinclair, MLC beef economist, said English producers now knew the new payment would be based on

  • Consultant's fury as waiting patients cost hospitals dear

    A LEADING consultant has made an outspoken attack on waiting list targets and the star rating system. Her comments follows a decision to downgrade the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust from three to two stars after inspectors found that 127 patients out of

  • Anti-smoking pantomime in the spotlight

    A TOURING pantomime which sends a No Smoking message to dales youngsters has won a runner-up spot in a national award. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) production was nominated for the Association of Health Care Communicators award in the Health

  • News in brief: Opposition to farm plans

    Middleton St George Parish Council is opposing a plan to convert Low Middleton Farm into a house. Councillor Doris Jones told a meeting: "I would recommend we object to this application because we have run out of brown- field sites. It is agricultural

  • News in brief: Opposition to farm plans

    Middleton St George Parish Council is opposing a plan to convert Low Middleton Farm into a house. Councillor Doris Jones told a meeting: "I would recommend we object to this application because we have run out of brown- field sites. It is agricultural

  • Ant's agony

    Adam Ant: The Madness Of Prince Charming (Channel 4) THE media had a field day when Stuart Goddard - better known as 1980s pop icon Adam Ant - was detained for his own protection in a mental ward last year, after a violent incident in a London pub. There's

  • Up, up and away for new skateboard park in school grounds

    STUNT cyclists, skate-boarders and in-line skaters are heading for a comprehensive school after it took delivery of new equipment. A partnership involving young enthusiasts and youth workers has resulted in the installation of ramps, pipes and other skating

  • Charity day tribute to school worker

    PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school held a charity fun day in memory of a teaching assistant who died this year. Jenny Wall started working at Woodham Burn Junior School on a voluntary basis, before becoming a teaching assistant. She continued as a volunteer

  • Dancing given a cash boost

    A GROUP which organises dance sessions for children with special needs has been given £1,500. Darlington-based Charity Productions, which hires Royal Academy of Dance teachers to hold workshops for youngsters in the North-East, was given the cash by the

  • News in brief: Appeal follows car crash

    A driver was being sought last night after a car crashed into a telegraph pole. Police were called to Tunstall Hope Road, Sunderland, at 2.30am yesterday, and found an abandoned blue Volkswagen Passat that had collided with the pole and caused the wires

  • Star turn for Harriet

    A YOUNG musician has won the chance to perform in concert alongside Julian Lloyd Webber this weekend. Cellist Harriet Bradshaw, 12, auditioned alongside 16 others to become one of six people accepted for the musical extravaganza taking place at the Tees

  • Shop Talk: What's in a name?

    A number of celebrities have lent their names to ready-made sauces, salad dressings and other foods, but do they pass the taste test? WHAT does Frankie Dettori know about pizza? Probably more than Postman Pat knows about spaghetti. What's in a name? About

  • School earns special status in two fields

    A SCHOOL at the forefront of preparing the region's next generation of scientists and engineers has reaped its rewards. Tanfield School, near Stanley, is the only education centre in the UK this year to be awarded combined specialist status for science

  • News in brief: Appeal follows car crash

    A driver was being sought last night after a car crashed into a telegraph pole. Police were called to Tunstall Hope Road, Sunderland, at 2.30am yesterday, and found an abandoned blue Volkswagen Passat that had collided with the pole and caused the wires

  • Dramatic escape for car smash couple

    A COUPLE escaped with only minor injuries when their car left a busy dual carriageway and somersaulted into a tree. The car, a white Peugeot, left the eastbound carriageway of the A64, outside The Buckles Inn, near Bilbrough. The man and woman in the

  • All change on the buses as contracts are approved

    CHANGES to bus services across County Durham come into force on Sunday. Every four years, Durham County Council renegotiates contracts for its services with bus service operators. The authority spends £3.7m per year on subsidising services that would

  • News in brief: Guided tour of countryside

    The latest in a series of Stockton Borough Council's guided cycle rides takes place tomorrow. The ride is 18 miles of mainly country roads, heading south from Preston Park, visiting Hutton Rudby, Seamer, Hilton and Ingleby Barwick. It will be led by a

  • Allendale bull is Limousin sale leader

    BURNDALE Sergeant from J E Henderson, Burn Tongues, Allendale, Hexham was the Limousin sale leader at 4,600gns at the Limousin Society's end of summer bull sale at Harrison & Hetherington's Borderway Mart, Carlisle, last Friday. This shapely December

  • Homes ballot deadline is approaching

    TIME is running out for council tenants who have not yet voted to decide the future of their homes. Hartlepool Borough Council has been consulting tenants on a proposal to transfer all its homes to Housing Hartlepool, a new, independent, not-for-profit

  • Sports minister opens £2.1m activity centre

    MINISTER for Sport and Tourism Richard Caborn has officially opened a £2.1m activity centre. The minister unveiled a commemorative plaque at Hartlepool's Summerhill Centre before taking part in a archery demonstration with centre experts, joined by Olympic

  • Bridge treat for ever-present schoolboy

    A PUPIL received a unique reward after not missing out on a day at school this year. Thomas Vaughan, of Joseph Swan School, Gateshead, got to tilt the town's Millennium Bridge in return for his 100 per cent attendance during the past school year. The

  • News in brief: Display team to drop in

    A PARACHUTE display team will drop in on a passing out parade at Catterick Garrison today. The Red Devils are expected to land on the parade square at Helles Barracks to mark the end of training for young recruits from 682 (Oudna) and 682A (Arnhem) Platoons

  • Scottish success for young rider

    NINE-YEAR-OLD Helen Smallwood, from Trimdon Station, won her show jumping final at this year's Royal Highland Show. Helen was competing in the 128cm final and was one of the youngest competitors to have qualified. She and her pony, Metric, delivered the

  • Fair tradition rememberd in village parade

    THE village of Seamer, near Scarborough, remembered its 750-year-old fair as the town crier toured the village on horseback, reading from a Royal Charter. The ancient village was granted he right to hold a fair under a charter of 1382. While the fair

  • Hip surgeons' anger over 'political targets'

    PATIENTS in need of urgent hip replacements are being overlooked by consultants trying to meet waiting list targets, according to a report published yesterday. One in ten consultants who carry out hip replacement operations give precedence to people who

  • Rural plan is put under spotlight

    AN action plan set up to boost the fortunes of the North-East's rural economy was placed under the spotlight at conference yesterday. More than 200 delegates from across the region attended the annual North East Rural Affairs Forum conference in Newcastle

  • Excellent results add up to a great year for teenage player

    DAVID Meads, 13, from Gainford, should have no need to worry abut GCSE mathematics in a few years' time if the statistics concerning his table tennis achievements this year are anything to go by. As a cadet player at under-15 level, David is now ranked

  • 350-flats plan raises standstill traffic fears

    RESIDENTS living near a proposed 350-apartment development at the Tall Trees site near Yarm fear it will create a major traffic problem. Owner Javed Majid has submitted an outline planning application to Stockton Council for the £80m development. The

  • Producers' quest for the next Billy Elliot

    Workshops for a musical based on hit movie Billy Elliot begin in London next week. Actors will work with the film's director Stephen Daldry on developing the show, which has songs by Sir Elton John. Original writer Lee Hall, from Newcastle, has penned

  • School trip pupils saved from the sea

    A GROUP of teenagers on a school outing almost drowned yesterday attempting to rescue two of their friends who had been swept out to sea. An inquiry was last night under way after 12 of the party formed a human chain to try to reach the stricken pair

  • Postcode dilemma of rape victims

    RAPE victims face a postcode lottery in the way they are dealt with after an attack, according to a report published today. A women's equality group, the Fawcett Society, said latest Government figures showed only 5.8 per cent of rapes reported to the

  • Plans to tranform prisoner camp into museum agreed

    A FORMER prisoner of war camp is to become a visitor attraction after plans were approved to transform it into a museum. Harperley PoW Camp near Wolsingham, in Weardale, County Durham, will now be turned into a Second World War museum. Many of the camp's

  • Berry has pick at Carlisle

    Alan Berry has had his share of adverse publicity in recent times but the Cockerham trainer can make the headlines for all the right reasons by landing a double at Carlisle this afternoon. For Berry can be on the mark with both Laurel Dawn in the Kingmoor

  • Mayor's beggar pledge is renewed

    BEGGARS will be cleared from the streets of a town within a year, the mayor has pledged. A year after Ray Mallon was elected and promised to rid Middlesbrough of the problem, the number of people begging has been cut from 24 to four. And at a briefing

  • Glory days for Bedale golfer

    RECORDS tumbled last week as a Bedale Golf Club member produced some amazing form to capture national and local prizes. Gillian Petrie first travelled down to Denham Golf Club in Buckinghamshire a week last Monday to compete in one of four Ladies Golf

  • Theatre greats support school's dramatic bid

    TWO of the region's leading figures from the theatre world have pledged their support to a North Yorkshire school's effort to become a centre of performing arts. Playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn and actor Ian Carmichael are giving their backing to the bid

  • Magpies plan £1m move for Bridges

    NEWCASTLE will make a £1m bid for striker Michael Bridges before next month's transfer deadline if he proves his fitness with Leeds in pre-season. The Magpies will be represented during Leeds' warm-up games ahead of their Premiership opener at Elland

  • Bishop's Court lands Chester race for second year

    THE tight turns of Chester found Bishop's Court in his favourite spot as the Lynda Ramsden-trained gelding repeated last year's success in the Listed City Wall Stakes. Paul Fessey deputised on the winner as Fergus Sweeney fell and was later discovered

  • Towns' fresh start moves up a gear

    THE regeneration of a run-down former mining town is gathering pace, with plans to overhaul two of its eyesores. Planners have agreed proposals for 114 houses on the former Murray Park greyhound stadium in Stanley. And managers at Derwentside District

  • Store staff pick up litter award

    STORE staff have become the first to win a new certificate for keeping litter off the streets. The Consett North Partnership set up the Keep Consett Clean scheme to tackle the problem earlier this year. Member Mary Westgarth worked with Derwentside District

  • Young actors given star treatment for premier

    CHILDREN from a Loftus school were chauffeur-driven in limousines on Monday to the premier of a film in which they played all the leading roles. Twenty youngsters from Hummersea Primary School in Loftus were taken to Loftus Town Hall to see the The Accident

  • The Word is captured on CD

    A BAND has created a master CD of its music after winning through to the finals of a Battle of the Bands contest. The Word members Chris Ramshaw, Andrew Donaghy, Ged Robinson and James McDermott took part in the contest at the Lamplight Arts Centre in

  • Letters: Half the story

    Sir, - Mr Lonsdale (D&S, June 27) purposefully tells only half the story. All archaeology in Nosterfield Quarry is subject to proper investigation and recording. Work is on-going, and a final report is not due until six months after all fieldwork

  • Sage sets its sights on the Oregon trail

    ACCOUNTANCY software group Sage is hoping to expand its share of the lucrative US market after putting in a £63.9m bid for Oregon, firm Timberline. The Newcastle IT firm has agreed a deal with the US company but still needs shareholder backing. The offer

  • Heart surgeon will be with medical team at Grand Prix

    A NORTH-EAST heart surgeon will join 44 doctors from around the country to form the British Grand Prix medical team this week-end. Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and racing enthusiast Steven Hunter will be working at Silverstone while the event is

  • Cow fat power plan faces first test

    A COMPANY that wants to burn cow fat to create "green" energy has begun the task of persuading the authorities to approve use of the controversial fuel. SembCorp Utilities Teesside, which operates Wilton Power Station, wants to use tallow - rendered fat

  • Evenwood appeal for help to save league status

    EVENWOOD Town FC have launched an appeal for help to raise £4,000 for new floodlights by the end of August. The club face relegation from the Northern League unless they can find the money and manager Ken Houlahan said: "This is a potentially devastating

  • Captain sees chances for Quakers' youngsters

    Darlington skipper Craig Liddle believes the current deadlock in the transfer market could provide an opportunity for some of the club's young guns to prove themselves. Quakers boss Mick Tait has so far failed to make a single summer signing with the

  • Students protest at shake-up

    DURHAM University has confirmed a controversial shake-up despite protests from students. A small group of students staged a silent protest on Tuesday before the university's council approved the blueprint. The university plans to close its East Asian

  • Road safety move attacked

    MORE people could be killed or injured because of plans to reorganise road safety watchdogs, a councillor says. Coun George Dunning, leader of the opposition Labour group on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said a council plan to scrap area road

  • Prices at the markets

    BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,148 sheep. Std lambs to 118p av 115.8p; med to 123.4p av 116.2p; heavy to 112.9p av 112.4p Cast sheep: Leics to £55.50; Mule to £50; Suff to £48.50; Swale to £36. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 244 cattle, 1,266 sheep

  • Port reaches green standard

    THE Port of Tyne has achieved a new European environmental standard. The port is only the third to be awarded the Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification, developed and validated as part of the EcoPorts Project. The project, funded by the

  • Birth of British prom could be the death of dressing down

    THE United States discovered teenagers a long time before they arrived on these shores, as the magazines our Stateside friends and relations used for wedging things firmly into their generous food parcels showed our strictly rationed world. These alien

  • Biker dies and stepson hurt in road accident

    A MAN has died and his stepson is in hospital following a motorcycle accident on the A66. Robert William Williams was travelling with his step-son on a Suzuki bike along the westbound carriageway near to the Bowesfield Bend, Stockton. It is thought the

  • Old tars on young shoulders

    PUPILS at Saltburn have been busy making the place ship-shape ready for Britain in Bloom judges. Huntcliff School took delivery of an un-seaworthy fishing boat from Marske after Jackie Taylor from the Saltburn in Bloom group asked if they would like to

  • Film guru launches a project for youngsters

    LORD David Puttnam is helping youngsters take their first steps into film-making. The man behind the hit film Chariots of Fire met pupils from ten North-East schools at the Tyneside Cinema, in Newcastle, to launch a movie project. The scheme will see

  • Flying high from the depths of despair

    TWO YEARS after being in sheer desperation as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak and domestic problems, publican Frances Debenham is on such top form that she is celebrating with 13,500ft jump for charity. Recalling how she took only £2.08 in an

  • Exhibition draws on 19th Century life

    WORKS by the artists who captured the life of a 19th Century North-East fishing village go on display together for the first time today. Cullercoats: A North-East Colony of Artists, is on show at Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery. In the late 1800s, Cullercoats

  • Esh Group turnover increases for 13th year

    A CONSTRUCTION and development company which has outgrown the village that gave it its name has had another exceptional year. The Esh Group saw turnover increase for the 13th consecutive year and enjoyed a rise in profits. The company had to leave its

  • Records tumble in gas plant's first year under new firm

    THE first year of trading for px, the company which took over the Enron site on Teesside, has proved a record one, with production levels at Teesside gas processing plant being driven higher and higher. For the first time since commissioning in 1993,

  • Stay on guard, residents told

    A DARLINGTON councillor is urging residents to be vigilant in the wake of a Neighbourhood Watch committee's decision to disband. Bill Stenson said he was shocked to discover that the Mowden Watch committee members had decided to step down at the end of

  • When shifting the blame has to stop

    The old idea of accountability was that people at the top of an organisation took responsibility when things went wrong. The buck stopped at the president's desk. Here's a modern definition. Accountability: the process which shifts blame to the lowest

  • Campaign to protect henges is stepped up

    A CAMPAIGN to protect the setting of ancient monuments near Bedale is gathering momentum and a fighting fund has been set up. The Thornborough henges - ancient earthworks - are said to be Yorkshire's rival to Stonehenge. Following an enthusiastic open

  • Tuning up for Tees Barrage date

    SIX young cellists from the North-East have been chosen to accompany Julian Lloyd Webber in a concert tomorrow night. They will perform at the Music from the West End and Broadway concert at the Tees Barrage, Stockton. Fifteen hopefuls auditioned, and

  • Wellock's World: An extraordinary 40 minutes

    WHILE it was a crying shame that rain should interfere with an enthralling match between Durham and Yorkshire, the minor consolation in not having to rush to the cricket yesterday was to watch the BBC's early coverage of the Open. As I am one of those

  • Enjoying a splash and a chat

    As seven fit enthusiasts plunged into the pool at Teesdale Sports Centre at 7am on Tuesday it was clear that this regular early dip, coupled with another each Thursday, is doing them all a mountain of good. Stella Armstrong, a young mother of four from

  • Food agency recommends end to OTMS

    THE Food Standards Agency has recommended an end to the over 30-month rule for cattle entering the food chain. It believes the Government could allow beef from cattle born after August 1996 to be sold into the food chain from January and that beef from

  • An extraordinary 40 minutes

    WHILE it was a crying shame that rain should interfere with an enthralling match between Durham and Yorkshire, the minor consolation in not having to rush to the cricket yesterday was to watch the BBC's early coverage of the Open. As I am one of those

  • Students star in anti-violence film

    A VIDEO exploring the effects of domestic violence on children has been launched in the North-East. The video was produced by the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans and stars pupils from the town's King James' School. Lasting 20 minutes, it looks at the

  • Tranquil reminder of turbulent times

    Durham Memories goes in search of the link between a troublesome bishop, the Tower of London and a city landmark. The earliest of Durham's bridges was known until the 16th Century as Old Bridge. This was Framwellgate Bridge, built by Ranulf Flambard,

  • Lara's long-awaited return

    TOMB RAIDER: ANGEL OF DARKNESS. Publisher: Eidos. Formats: PS2, PC. Price: £39.99 SO much is riding on the success of this game, I could almost feel the burden of expectation weighing heavily on my shoulders as the disc slid gracefully into the PS2 innards

  • Local drivers blamed for rising sheep toll

    MORE than 200 sheep and lambs are killed each year on moors roads, and the number is rising. Although thousands of drivers visit the North York Moors, it is usually local people, who know the roads, who have the accidents. Motorists are being accused

  • School's seascape on glass

    CHILDREN have helped to create a 15ft by 10ft stained glass window in their school. The youngsters from John Emmerson Batty Primary School, Redcar, have worked with their resident artist, Barbara Agar to create a seascape on glass. Headteacher Pat Smith

  • Rhyme acted out in charity fundraiser

    THE Wee Willie Winkie nursery rhyme was brought to life at an east coast town. Youngsters from Gillbrook Technical College at Middlesbrough, ran three miles down the South Gare breakwater in their night clothes, into Redcar, where they dipped into the

  • Firefighters to hold a fun day

    FAMILIES are invited to join a fun day at their local fire station tomorrow. It has been organised by firefighters who want to give the community an insight into their work as well as the opportunity to enjoy summer entertainment. The event will be held

  • When shifting the blame has to stop

    The old idea of accountability was that people at the top of an organisation took responsibility when things went wrong. The buck stopped at the president's desk. Here's a modern definition. Accountability: the process which shifts blame to the lowest

  • Short-term idea agreed to keep GP surgery open

    HUNDREDS of patients were thrown a lifeline yesterday after a GP practice agreed to stay open. The Medical Group had written to 950 patients in Lanchester, near Durham, warning them that its Westlands surgery in the village was to close, due to a shortage

  • MPs hit out at threat to flights

    DIRECT flights from Newcastle and Teesside to Heathrow could be axed as airlines switch to more lucrative overseas routes, a committee of MPs has warned. Nine British airports - including Liverpool and Humberside - have already been shut out as the number

  • Disused service wings make way for pool at hall

    PROPOSALS to demolish two unused service wings and replace them with a swimming pool extension at a grade II listed house were passed with only the barest comment on Wednesday despite the regret of heritage groups. The Hon Harry Vane applied to Teesdale

  • Plea follows a very long story

    A CAR that first featured in the D&S Times two decades ago when it was rescued from scrap, is back in the news. Steve Churm, who lives at Pear Tree Farm in Shildon, has been custodian of the unique 1967 Wolseley 18/85 stretch limousine for nine years

  • Trust earns top marks

    DURHAM and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT) successfully achieved all nine of its key target areas to earn top marks in its first major ranking test. It was one of only a handful of trusts to score a three-star rating in its first assessment

  • Second round starts in village flats fight

    RESIDENTS in Hurworth have started round two of their fight against plans to build a block of flats in the village. More than a dozen residents attended a parish council meeting last week to air their objections to an amended planning proposal to demolish

  • We have a plan - whether you like it or not

    THE North-East Assembly - the body which might be considered the embyonic regional parliament - launched its first annual review this week. A glossy document full of nice pictures of the North-East and vogue-ish statements about "vision", "regional strategies

  • Pony dates

    Bedale & West of Yore PC. - July 24: Senior one-day event, contact Mrs F A Blaine, 01845 526185. Pony club area J: Enquiries for Helen Crockett novice one-day event on Aug 5 to Mrs F A Blaine, 01845 526185. Cleveland Hunt PC. - Anyone interested in

  • McCann the man for prudent Moyes

    EVERTON want to take Gavin McCann back to Goodison - but only if Sunderland halve their £3m asking price. After all but giving up hope of prising Sean Davis from Fulham, Everton manager David Moyes is keen to sign McCann. But he will not pay what Sunderland

  • Comment: No time for judgement

    SCHOOL trips are an enjoyable part of growing up. From a short hop to a local seaside resort to a more adventurous journey abroad, they provide some of our fondest childhood memories. All but a tiny proportion take place without incident but, occasionally

  • Racers ready to roll at Witton Castle meeting

    ONE of the region's regular harness racing meetings takes place at Witton Castle tomorrow. The ten-race card at the UK Standardbred Racing Club meeting, organised by Spennymoor Racing Club, includes two Shetland races. The action starts at 2pm and the

  • Spark from bonfire is blamed for town blaze

    A SPARK from a bonfire is thought to have caused a major blaze which gutted an antiques workshop. The roof of the three-storey building behind York House in Richmond, North Yorkshire, collapsed at the height of the fire and, by yesterday morning, only

  • Alert staff praised as blaze hits works

    TWO men escaped with their lives after saving an engineering works from being destroyed by fire. The two unnamed nightshift workers leapt into action when they spotted smoke coming from a paint spraying booth at Middlesbrough engineering works Dowding

  • Zero rating for county ambulance service

    THE ambulance service covering much of North Yorkshire and Teesside has plummeted to a zero score in health performance tables. Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service was given a no-star rating, signifying the poorest level of performance. Last

  • Man who hit love rival may be jailed

    A MAN turned angry when he found out his wife of 13 years was seeing someone else, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates was told that Andrew Lockyer smashed his way into their home and attacked his love rival, leaving him with a six-inch head

  • Witness plea after vehicles crash head-on

    A PENSIONER was taken to hospital with multiple injuries yesterday after a head-on collision between a car and a van near Teesside International Airport. The 81-year-old woman, from Darlington, was travelling on the A67 towards Yarm in a green Citroen

  • Contest transforms terraces

    A TOWN centre neighbourhood launched its own floral contest yesterday. Householders from terraces in the Gresham area of Middlesbrough, competed for honours in the Gresham in Bloom competition. They spruced up the front of their homes and back yards to

  • Mystery of crash that killed car driver

    A MOTORIST killed in an early hours' collision may have been travelling in the wrong direction on the A1(M). Traces of three different drugs were later found in samples taken from the body of Collin Walker, an inquest heard. His red Nissan Almera was

  • Chairman quits cricket club

    DURHAM County Cricket Club was plunged into disarray last Friday only weeks after realising its dream of bringing Test match cricket to the North-East. Chairman Bill Midgley quit amid recriminations at the way his efforts to reform the club's finances

  • Grain report

    by Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture NEW crop wheat prices have firmed up on the back of lower crops in France and, in particular, Russia but also good quality in France. This opens up the prospect of significant exports to the countries which were serious

  • Samurai victim's family refute claims made in court

    RESIDENTS on an estate where a man was murdered with a samurai sword yesterday scoffed at claims that he patrolled his neighbourhood wearing a balaclava carrying a baseball bat. They told a very different story to the one painted of Robert Dunne at Teesside

  • Akhtar confounds fans after three-wicket burst

    SHOAIB Akhtar continued to confound Durham and their supporters yesterday as he took three for none in 11 balls then disappeared from the scene. After play began at 4pm at Riverside, the Pakistani's electrifying burst hauled Durham back into the game

  • Coroner records open verdict on drug addict

    AN account of how a 20-year-old drug addict came to die in his girlfriend's bed was "less than convincing", a coroner said yesterday. Police initially arrested Jayne Refail on suspicion of the murder of Scott Gillespie but did not press charges due to

  • Setback for village in quest to tackle unruly behaviour

    A VILLAGE near Darlington has been told it will not be getting community wardens to help tackle the problem of unruly behaviour. Parish councillors in Hurworth asked for warden patrols in the village after reports of youths lighting fires and causing

  • Good taste in learning

    THE heatwave which swept the country this week provided nursery children in Darlington with the perfect opportunity to start learning cookery skills - by enjoying a barbecue. Children from George Dent Nursery School were told about food preparation and

  • Hopes raised for more bloom success as judges pay visit

    JUDGES from Northumbria in Bloom dodged the rain yesterday when they paid a visit to Darlington. Judges toured the town, admiring the floral displays, before calling for lunch at Stressholme Golf Club. Organisers are hoping to make this year the tenth

  • Rhyme acted out in charity fundraiser

    THE Wee Willie Winkie nursery rhyme was brought to life at an east coast town. Youngsters from Gillbrook Technical College at Middlesbrough, ran three miles down the South Gare breakwater in their night clothes, into Redcar, where they dipped into the

  • 18/07/03

    ROAD SPEED: IT is reported (Echo, Jul 18) that a "biker" was travelling at a speed of 157mph. It may be correct that this is the fastest speed recorded by camera on a British road. However, it is certainly not the fastest road speed recorded in Britain

  • £125,000 bike routes boost

    COUNCIL chiefs are providing £125,000 for improving facilities and safety measures for cyclists. During the next year, Darlington Borough Council will spend the cash on developing the local cycle network, as well as enhancing parking in the area and at

  • Cruelty case verdict 'in two weeks'

    A FORMER teacher at the centre of an RSPCA cruelty case will have to wait two weeks before hearing the judge's verdict. Almost three weeks of lengthy legal arguments came to a conclusion yesterday as to whether Colin Shaw caused unnecessary suffering

  • Officer to help conserve valuable fossil collection

    A PROJECT officer has been appointed to help increase access to North Yorkshire's geological heritage. Dr David Gelsthorpe has joined the Scarborough Museums and Gallery team. He will be working on the outstanding geological heritage of the area, including

  • Start of garden rubbish bins trial

    BINS to collect garden waste have been distributed to houses in Newton Aycliffe in a pilot scheme which aims to improve recycling rates. The green waste recycling trial was introduced for 6,000 properties in Woodham village and parts of Newton Aycliffe

  • Council blamed for mast impasse

    A TELECOMMUNICATIONS company has criticised Stockton Borough Council for being obstructive when considering planning applications for mobile phone masts. Community affairs manager for Hutchinson 3G Ben Strutt said the authority was not being co-operative

  • Just four staff but firm is top innovator

    A RICHMOND company with only four employees has won a major business award. Digital Markings, which has developed a revolutionary floor-based advertising and sign system, received the North-East Regional Business Innovation Award at a gala ceremony in

  • Spark from bonfire is blamed for town blaze

    A SPARK from a bonfire is thought to have caused a major blaze which gutted an antiques workshop. The roof of the three-storey building behind York House in Richmond, North Yorkshire, collapsed at the height of the fire and, by yesterday morning, only

  • NFU plans biggest-ever changes to save £2.3m

    THE NFU is to undergo the biggest structural changes in its 95-year history. The changes are expected to save the NFU £2.3m in the next financial year. They include moving its headquarters from London to Warwickshire and major changes to committee and

  • Former chef punched man in hotel outburst

    UPSET and unhappiness among kitchen staff at a top Harrogate hotel led to an unprovoked attack, a court heard yesterday. Defence solicitor Andrew Tinning said trouble at the 121-bedroom, three-star Crown Hotel had begun after a head chef was appointed

  • Judge rejects burglar's plea for leniency

    A SCHOOL burglar's plea for mercy was rejected by a judge yesterday who said his sympathies were with the school's children. Lee Stephenson, 26, was jailed for two years for burgling four schools and two specials needs centres in Middlesbrough to feed

  • Flying cabinet brings history to the people

    A DISPLAY cabinet containing museum artefacts has arrived in Northallerton during a tour of North Yorkshire towns. The flying showcase, which will spend the next six weeks in Hambleton Leisure Centre, contains items from Kiplin Hall, near Scorton, including

  • Anti-smoking pantomime in the spotlight

    A TOURING pantomime which sends a No Smoking message to dales youngsters has won a runner-up spot in a national award. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) production was nominated for the Association of Health Care Communicators award in the Health

  • DJ duo make all the right connections

    A PAIR of up-and-coming DJs from Richmond will be putting their mixing skills to the test next month after scooping the top two prizes in a regional competition. North Yorkshire County Council held a contest for up-and- coming artists from across the

  • Charity day tribute to school helper

    PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school held a charity fun day in memory of a teaching assistant who died this year. Jenny Wall started working at Woodham Burn Junior School on a voluntary basis, before becoming a teaching assistant. She continued as a volunteer

  • Garden waste scheme under way

    BINS to collect garden waste have been distributed to houses in Newton Aycliffe in a pilot scheme which aims to improve recycling rates. The green waste recycling trial was introduced for 6,000 properties in Woodham village and parts of Newton Aycliffe

  • New shop to display artists' creations

    A SHOP highlighting the talents of County Durham artists will open next week. The Pace Shop - which stands for People Accessing the Community and Environment - will be opened by Durham County Council chairman Alan Fenwick on Monday, at 11am. The shop,

  • Young cellist's concert date

    A YOUNG Darlington musician has won the chance to perform in concert alongside Julian Lloyd Webber this weekend. Cellist Harriet Bradshaw, 12, a pupil at Polam Hall School, auditioned alongside 16 others to become one of six accepted for the musical extravaganza

  • Dance group cash boost

    A GROUP which organises dance sessions for children with special needs has been given £1,500. Darlington-based Charity Productions, which hires Royal Academy of Dance teachers to hold workshops for youngsters in the North-East, was given the cash by the

  • Consultant's fury as waiting patients cost hospitals dear

    A LEADING consultant has made an outspoken attack on waiting list targets and the star rating system. Her comments follows a decision to downgrade the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust from three to two stars after inspectors found that 127 patients out of

  • Children's flying start to holidays

    PUPILS have been rounding off their year with an action-packed week of activities. Model aircraft flying, five-a-side football, tennis, cycling and golf were some of the activities arranged for the 600 students at Blackfyne Comprehensive School in Consett

  • Bid to ban hunting will be discussed in autumn

    A FORMAL report on the Government's bid to ban hunting will be debated when Harrogate Borough Council meets in the autumn. Tory councillor Mike Bury tabled a motion at a full meeting of the authority, urging fellow members to press Westminster to rethink

  • News in brief: Appeal follows car crash

    A driver was being sought last night after a car crashed into a telegraph pole. Police were called to Tunstall Hope Road, Sunderland, at 2.30am yesterday, and found an abandoned blue Volkswagen Passat that had collided with the pole and caused the wires

  • Burton's Bytes: Lara's long-awaited return

    TOMB RAIDER: ANGEL OF DARKNESS. Publisher: Eidos. Formats: PS2, PC. Price: £39.99 SO much is riding on the success of this game, I could almost feel the burden of expectation weighing heavily on my shoulders as the disc slid gracefully into the PS2 innards

  • 'Disappointed' MP is dropped from the board

    AN MP spoke of his disappointment yesterday after he was dropped as chairman of the board of the town's International Centre. Liberal Democrat Phil Willis, who represents Harrogate, North Yorkshire, took on the role when he was leader of the borough council

  • Plans unveiled to give training centre new lease of life

    A training centre is to reopen, creating jobs and training opportunities. The Training, Advice and Development (TAD)centre in Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough, shut at the start of the year when the company that ran it went into liquidation. Middlesbrough

  • Mayoress at home to young musicians

    EASTERN European young musicians have serenaded people taking part in an ancient civic ceremony. The Tiszafred Youth Wind Band, from Hungary, are visiting Durham City as part of an exchange programme. This week, the band performed outside Durham Town

  • News in brief: Guided tour of countryside

    The latest in a series of Stockton Borough Council's guided cycle rides takes place tomorrow. The ride is 18 miles of mainly country roads, heading south from Preston Park, visiting Hutton Rudby, Seamer, Hilton and Ingleby Barwick. It will be led by a

  • Car criminals still operating at airport

    POLICE have renewed calls for better security at Teesside International Airport after more vehicle break-ins. Earlier this month, police chiefs revealed that the airport was a hot-spot for car crime and improved security in the car park was needed. Yesterday

  • Grassroots: Washington

    GIVE BLOOD: A blood donor session will be held from 10am to 7pm on Friday, July 31, in the conference room of the Washington Leisure Centre. APPEAL SICCESS: Garry McCartney would like to thank the people of Easington who donated 15 cycles to the Lithuanian

  • Another minister needs a lesson on Harrogate-by-Sea

    IT was meant to be a scathing put-down to a political opponent. But Education Secretary Charles Clarke was the one who ended up with egg on his face when he described the spa town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, as having a beach. The gaffe came during

  • Staff get stuck into custard pie race

    Staff at a supermarket attempted to eat as many custard pies as they could in two minutes to raise awareness of a children's charity . The staff from Tesco, in Hartlepool, took part in the Custard Caper organised by Barnardo's. The group of five had to

  • Shops plan is rejected for town centre

    PLANS to build shops and offices between Harrogate's new bus station and the railway station have been unanimously rejected over fears they could prevent development of a transport interchange. Members of an area planning committee of Harrogate Borough

  • Dexter-ous youngster

    YOUNG Sam Hunt hasn't time to get up to mischief, he has a herd of cows to look after. And the 13-year-old plays cricket on Saturday afternoons, football on Sundays and even rugby, too, in winter. Along with homework, it doesn't leave him much spare time

  • Police under fire for evidence 'kept quiet'

    TWO men who spent nine months on remand for an armed robbery have been cleared after police were accused of suppressing evidence. A judge described the conduct of certain officers in Cleveland Police as "lamentable" and accused them of a "gross and persistent

  • Lottery win for five new nurseries

    TODDLERS in Stockton and their families will benefit from a £664,000 lottery grant to build and improve five nurseries. The money is one grant in the £1.7m total across the country from the National Lottery's new opportunities fund, and is one of the

  • You're finished, borough tells road safety group

    A ROAD safety committee which has been disbanded without notice and without consultation has called a special meeting and contacted its MP. Guisborough Area Road Safety Committee is taking action after Redcar and Cleveland Council cabinet decided to abandon

  • Outrage as steel crucible is cut up

    RESIDENTS are outraged that a housing developer has removed part of their industrial heritage. Barratt Newcastle is building an estate on Genesis Way, Consett - site of the town's former steelworks. Two giant crucibles, used in steel-making, have sat

  • Dinghy warning after rescues

    CHILDREN'S lives are being put needlessly at risk, parents are being warned. Redcar lifeboat was launched three times in 48 hours last weekend, rescuing eight children who were in danger at sea on inflatable dinghies. At 6.30pm last Friday, the lifeboat

  • Deal to bring new jobs

    A COUNCIL is promising to create at least 1,000 new jobs when its leaders sign a strategic partnership today. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is joining forces with UK company Liberata, which provides housing benefit and revenue collection, customer

  • Why the bees must be informed

    SNATCHES of overheard conversations in busy places are always fascinating and recently in Northallerton High Street one Saturday afternoon, I heard a woman say to another: "Yes, you must do that, go tell it to the bees." This was probably a relic of a

  • Police watch schools

    POLICE in Sedgefield borough are increasing patrols at schools to tackle vandalism and anti-social behaviour during the summer holidays. Operation Honolulu starts tomorrow, the day the schools break up. Sgt Ed Turner said the support of the public would

  • More job losses at solenoid factory

    A solenoid manufacturer already struggling following the closure of a neighbouring plant has suffered another jobs blow. Mechetronics was affected by the closure of Warner Electric because the companies shared the cost of two outlets in St Helen Auckland

  • Airman aids hunt for Iraq's weapons

    A NORTH-EAST airman is working alongside US troops in a bid to find any hidden weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Chief technician Nick Pounder of the Royal Air Force Regiment is serving near Baghdad as part of the UK Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical

  • Minister is guest lecturer

    A GOVERNMENT minister was guest of honour at a North-East university. Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation, delivered the first annual science and technology lecture at the University of Teesside. University vice-chancellor Professor Graham

  • NDI aims for £500,000 barrier

    AN organisation which brings defence contracts to the region believes it will have a £500,000 turnover by 2005. Northern Defence Industries (NDI) brings a range of skills from companies across the North-East and Yorkshire under one organisation for the

  • Alvis Vickers secures £200m Army contract

    TANK maker Alvis Vickers has safeguarded its immediate future by winning a £200m contract to build armoured vehicles for the British Army. The Newcastle firm fought off competition to supply the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle. Alvis Vickers will build

  • Top exporters win awards

    THE region's top exporters have been recognised at an awards ceremony attended by the Duke of York. Prince Andrew was the special guest at the North East Export Awards 2003 dinner, hosted by Trade Partners UK and the North East Chamber of Commerce. The

  • Will school trips be confined to history?

    With the rescue of a dozen children from the North Sea yesterday, the dangers in school trips have been exposed for the second time in a week. Nick Morrison looks at the safety measures in place - and why teachers are becoming reluctant to take children

  • Lottery secures future of homeless playgroup

    A ROMANBY playgroup has been saved from closure - thanks to lottery cash. Romanby Pre-school has been awarded £107,000 to pay for a new building and after-school facilities for children aged two to 11. The organisation has had weeks of anxious waiting

  • Northern Rock thrives in first half

    MORTGAGE bank Northern Rock hit new heights in the first half of the year, despite the slowing housing market. The former building society saw remortgaging jump 11 per cent to a record £3.9bn. The company's growth led to more than 300 jobs being created

  • Thousands enjoy the county show

    THOUSANDS of people flocked to the Durham County Show to enjoy a host of activities at the weekend. Attendance at the Herrington County Park at Penshaw, near Sunderland, exceeded the 60,000 who attended last year. Organisers had hoped to see the return

  • North hosts 'Popstars with cars' TV challenge

    SPECTACULAR crashes at a North-East racing circuit kick off the latest TV challenge series that has been dubbed "Popstars with cars". Racing Rivals begins the ITV1 hunt to find Britain's most promising driver on Saturday, July 26, in a six-programme contest

  • Wonderful wizard takes the stage

    A SCHOOL this week staged what is believed to be its first production in 20 years. Longfield Comprehensive, in Darlington, presented the musical The Wizard of Oz with children from Years 7 to 10 performing and doing the backstage work. They also built

  • Workers fuming over Italian deal

    ROTHMANS workers last night attacked tobacco giant BAT over a huge deal to buy into the Italian cigarette market. BAT announced it was buying ETI, Italy's state-owned tobacco company, for £1.6bn. The announcement comes in the middle of continuing talks

  • Four years for terrorising ex-lover

    A RAGING drunk who terrorised his former girlfriend and her new lover in their bed at 2.30am, was jailed for four years yesterday. Neil Ferguson, 28, downed 16 cans of strong lager before he went to Sharon Sykes' home, kicking in a front door panel and

  • Inquiry questions revival of pit towns

    MPs are to put the spotlight on former coalfield communities blighted by crime and unemployment. A Government select committee is to begin an inquiry into policy aimed at regenerating such communities scattered throughout the North-East. The committee

  • Terror fire attack on youngsters

    A YOUNG brother and sister were put through a terrifying ordeal by older youths who attempted to set them alight. The youngsters, aged six and four, were wrapped in wallpaper by three teenagers who then tried to set fire to the paper using a lighter,

  • Sound-bite: it's outstanding

    EGGLESCLIFFE School orchestra has won a major award at the National Festival of Music for Youth, making it the best school orchestra in the country. The orchestra won its tenth outstanding performance award in as many years at the event, with the school's

  • To sue or not to sue? That is the question

    THINGS were not going well in the delivery suite and the exhausted young doctor was struggling to cope. "It was early on Monday morning, I think I had been working continuously for the best part of a 48-hour shift and I was very tired," the doctor recalls

  • Darlington club into national finals again

    DARLINGTON Riding Club had a very successful weekend at the area qualifiers at Beamish, County Durham, with the open show jumping team qualifying for the national championships for the second year running. The team of Sara Metcalfe, Helen Foulds, Angela

  • Dairy controls its milk from cow to doorstep

    A PIONEERING organic dairy farm has taken another giant step forward and is processing all its own milk. The substantial investment in plant and machinery means Acorn Dairy now has 100pc control of its dairy products - from the cow through to the doorstep

  • Art shows reinvention of industry

    THE process of reinvention undergone by former industrial areas in the North-East will be portrayed in a work of art to be unveiled later this year A Free and Anonymous Monument, by artists Jane and Louise Wilson, is a multi-screen film installation,

  • Northallerton mart move provokes residents' protests

    A ROW has growing over plans to move Northallerton Auction Mart. Residents near the proposed site along Thirsk Road are claiming not enough information has been given out. And Romanby Parish Council says its members have been inundated with comments -

  • Jobs boost in store for Tesco

    SUPERMARKET group Tesco is to create 3,500 jobs while at the same time switching 350 posts to an IT support centre in India. Jobs in Dundee, Welwyn Garden City and Cardiff will be affected by the opening of a business support centre in Bangalore, though

  • Posters bid to trace missing town

    POLICE believe a council official who disappeared in mysterious circumstances may have changed his appearance. Last night, they issued a new image of Terry Robson in the hope of tracing him. Mr Robson, who is clerk to Spennymoor Town Council, has not

  • Daleswoman Kathryn gets a hat to get ahead in business

    A businesswoman is putting on the style by living up to the old adage, if you want to get ahead, get a hat - or at least 50 at the last count. Kathryn Hodgson is staking the success of her new enterprise on her collection of fashionable headgear, which

  • Blood disorder patient wins right to legal fight

    A NORTH-EAST man battling to obtain safer treatment for a rare blood condition has been given the go-ahead to mount a legal challenge that could help thousands of patients. If Peter Longstaff, 45, from Newcastle is successful in the High Court, it could

  • Ten year jail term for drugs courier

    A DRUGS courier said he was blackmailed into carrying cocaine by two strangers, a court heard yesterday. Gary McLoughlin was caught with a holdall full of cocaine at Darlington railway station as he left a train from London. Teesside Crown Court heard

  • Clifftop views and relics of an industrial past

    LOFTUS, the start of our six-mile walk, is of Scandinavian origin - it means a house with a loft or upper floor, a rarity in Viking times. It is mentioned in Domesday and was a manor in medieval times, but real growth came with mining, first for alum

  • Cocker sets sights on Silverstone challenge

    GUISBOROUGH teenager Jonathan Cocker will be the youngest driver ever to compete in the prestigious Porsche Michelin Supercup, support race to Sunday's British Grand Prix. Selected along with three other leading drivers from the Porsche Michelin Carrera

  • McClaren closes in on Doriva deal

    MIDDLESBROUGH were last night poised to make a transfer breakthrough by sealing the signing of Doriva. The Brazilian midfielder was at Boro's Hurworth training base yesterday for talks after a cut-price fee had been agreed with Spanish side Celta Vigo

  • Still plenty of life in famous Lyke Wake event

    THE 39th annual Lyke Wake Race went ahead last Saturday in glorious sunshine and ideal conditions for the runners and walkers who took part in the gruelling 42-mile event. The future of the race has been under the spotlight in recent weeks when it was

  • To Russia with etchings - Dales artist in St Petersburg

    DALES artist, Alan Turnbull, is taking part in the 300-year celebrations of culture and the arts in the Russian city of St Petersburg. An exhibition of his work, On the Road to Tarascon - Etchings after Van Gogh - is on show until the end of the month

  • Looking Back

    FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - At a meeting of the Pocklington Rural Council, Mr T B Bainbridge moved a resolution calling attention to the reckless speed at which motor-cars were frequently driven. He said that it should be made compulsory for

  • Girl thwarts burglars

    A TEENAGER who thwarted bogus gas officials has been praised by police. The 13-year-old girl was home alone in the North Road area of Darlington when the crooks called on Wednesday afternoon. They claimed to be officials and she immediately asked to see

  • Now the hard work

    THE market town regeneration initiative launched this week for Northallerton and Bedale was unveiled with a certain amount of caution. The officials charged with the responsibility for implementing the Yorkshire Forward-funded programme are only too aware

  • Tourism scheme swells churches' coffers

    CHURCHES in North Yorkshire have become a new tourist attraction and are earning much-needed funds. The scheme, pioneered by the Yorkshire Tourist Board and known as the North Yorkshire Church Tourism Initiative, is run by Zoe Kemp, who said: "Its success

  • Last Night's TV: Ant's agony

    Adam Ant: The Madness Of Prince Charming (Channel 4) THE media had a field day when Stuart Goddard - better known as 1980s pop icon Adam Ant - was detained for his own protection in a mental ward last year, after a violent incident in a London pub. There's

  • Survey reveals N-E workers had smallest wage gain in UK

    Figures revealing how wages are falling further behind in the North-East are fresh evidence of the north-south divide, it has been claimed. Gross weekly earnings have risen by £71.70 in the region since Tony Blair came to power - half the £144 increase

  • Solicitor warns of holiday club scam

    HOLIDAYMAKERS are being warned about a new timeshare-type holiday scam which could cost them thousands of pounds. Darlington solictors' Latimer Hinks said it had seen an increased number of clients coming to them for advice after losing money to the so-called

  • Letters: Don't discriminate

    Sir, - I would like to agree with C S Jarmain in his letter ''Unfair to Bikers'' (D&S, July 11). I would also like to point out that there is the Ridewell 2003 event at Preston Park next Sunday. This would be an ideal place and time to present any

  • Remploy team revamp school garden

    A groundbreaking community initiative has seen the gardens of a North Yorkshire special school transformed. A team from Remploy - the country's biggest employer of disabled people - took part in a Ground Force-style operation at the Dales School, at Morton-on-Swale