The US box office success of Finding Nemo has cemented the recent supremacy of computer-generated animation over the more traditional style. As Pixar's latest film opens in the UK, Steve Pratt looks at the future of animation The lion is no longer king
BEREAVED families are being offered advice in a council handbook. Community services staff at Wear Valley District Council have compiled a comprehensive range of material for the booklet, which is due to be circulated next year. Members of the community
DESIGNS have been finalised for a secondary school to replace a cramped and oversubscribed building from the 1960s. If everything goes to plan, children from St Francis Xavier School, in Richmond, could transfer from the old premises to the new ones in
OUTDOOR enthusiasts were given reason to celebrate yesterday with the opening of a new cycle route stretching over more than 80 miles. The Moor to Sea route gives people the chance to explore the delights of some of the region's most spectacular countryside
ASPIRING young football goalkeepers, both boys and girls, are being given the chance to improve their skills. Katz, a Nottingham coaching company which runs courses for would-be goalkeepers, is to hold its first residential programme in the Thirsk area
GUARDIANS of Britain's birdlife last night urged American authorities to think again over plans to dispose of condemned US warships in the North-East. Concerned that two chemical contaminated vessels are already on their way to Hartlepool, the Royal Society
A NORTH-EAST woman is taking over the UK's most listened to radio station. Lesley Douglas, who was born in Newcastle, will succeed Jim Moir as Controller of BBC Radio 2 in January. She will also be responsible for the BBC's new digital music station,
THERE'S not a lot of Hutton Magna: pub, church, village hall, part-time post office and around 150 friendly folk. If ever it existed, Hutton Parva - the small time Latin opposite - seems to have disappeared down a fold in the map. It was a big occasion
GIRLS Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy promised to "finish the job" moments after punch-ing a nightclub toilet attendant in a row over a handful of lollipops, a court heard yesterday. Miss Tweedy allegedly made the comments in the club's VIP area, where she
A TEENAGE soldier from the North-East has been discharged early from the Army after claiming he could not tolerate being bullied by an officer. The 16-year-old, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, became suicidal after his superior allegedly turned against
DETECTIVES have issued a fresh appeal for help to find a man a year after he disappeared. Robert Scott Clive, known to his friends and family as Scotty, was last seen on October 10, last year. Since then, there has been no contact from Mr Clive and no
A DOMESTIC violence counsellor and former magistrate yesterday denied being "obsessed" with the woman he is accused of assaulting. Former Darlington councillor Paul Geldart told Durham Crown Court he had "fallen" for Melanie Lumsden but claimed it was
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Andrew Davies made his debut for the Under-21s last night but a lapse of concentration from the centre-back was a factor in England going down to a goal after only 90 seconds from Fatih Sonkaya. Newcastle United's Jermaine Jenas was handed
THERE was a "glimmer of hope" last night for former workers of a North-East chipboard factory which went into receivership earlier this year. Although a team of 30 Austrians were yesterday dismantling the plant and machinery at former kitchen top manufacturer
THERE'S not a lot of Hutton Magna: pub, church, village hall, part-time post office and around 150 friendly folk. If ever it existed, Hutton Parva - the small time Latin opposite - seems to have disappeared down a fold in the map. It was a big occasion
WORKERS leaving a North-East textile factory for the final time last night said the loss of 350 jobs had left many of them bitter. Workers at Sara Lee Courtaulds, in Bishop Auckland, accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of letting them down. They also hit
Luckless Sunderland midfielder Matt Piper is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after receiving a boost from Mick McCarthy. The 22-year-old, who has started just ten games for the Black Cats since his £3.5m move from Leicester
BARCELONA have confirmed they will listen to offers for Patrick Kluivert as Newcastle United line up a New Year swoop. Nou Camp president Joan Laporta insists the Dutch striker's immediate future lies in the hands of coach Frank Rijkaard. Kluivert is
AMID the rancour and recrimination of the Rio Ferdinand affair, one quality of character has been glaringly lacking in the England camp: leadership. Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's inertia was fresh evidence of his laissez-faire attitude to the job - remember
HOUSE prices in the North are increasing at about three times the rate of those in the South, figures showed yesterday. Britain's biggest mortgage lender, the Halifax, said annual house price inflation was running at 38 per cent in the North during the
AN unemployed teenager who was setting up her own business with help from the Prince's Trust was jailed yesterday for drug dealing. Rebecca Diane Lee, 19, from North Ormesby, had an approved business plan and was looking for shop premises in nearby Middlesbrough
A HUNT supporter is threatening to ride naked through Tony Blair's home village during a mass protest against Government proposals to outlaw foxhunting. More than 1,000 supporters and 300 horses from hunts around the region are expected to take part in
'IT'S terrible when you've lost the plot," announced my wife as she woke up to seek a progress report on a programme she dubbed Sparking Arsenic. "Don't you mean Sparkling Cyanide (ITV1, Sunday)?" I replied helpfully. "Oh, what does it matter, it's all
A CLEVELAND rowing club has scooped two trophies in a competition in Holland. Tees Rowing Club won the two sporting cups in the Amsterdam Masters Regatta on Saturday, October 4. The club sent men's and women's crews to the event, on the Amstel, and, despite
A PARISH priest is fighting against vandalism and arson attacks in an attempt to create a peaceful spot for the community. In the past year, the churchyard at Christ Church, in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, has been the target of arson attacks
SAFETY response teams have been placed on alert for illegal bonfires in east Cleveland in the run up to November 5. Community safety wardens from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the police and fire brigade will inform the area's security camera
HARTLEPOOL United's long and proud unbeaten home run goes on; last night the manager who started it off couldn't break it. Chris Turner was Pool chief last time they lost at home, way, way back on September 28, 2002. Last night his Sheffield Wednesday
MARK PALIOS seems to be keen to make his mark as FA chief executive. Well, it's OK him making his mark, but if England are beaten in Turkey and are ultimately knocked out of the European Championships because of some of the decisions made this week, are
NEWCASTLE Falcons go into the first of three successive games against the teams above them in the Zurich Premiership when they visit Harlequins today. After winning their first three games, Quins were toppled from top spot when they lost 39-33 last week
Built from granite and steel, The Tyne Bridge has come to symbolise all that is best about the North-East industrial tradition. Gavin Englebrecht looks at its place in history on the 75th anniversary of its opening. SEEN by millions around the world at
POLICE are cracking down on unruly youths in Middlesbrough in an attempt to rid the streets of bad behaviour. Up to 115 teenagers have been returned home for causing a nuisance or letters sent to their parents, in the past fortnight in Eston, Middlesbrough
A HOSPICE has a good reason for banking on the success of its fundraising appeal. The Yorkshire Bank Charitable Trust has presented the Teesside Hospice Care Foundation, in Middlesbrough, with £250 to cover the cost of designing and printing a range of
LAST weekend, tens of thousands of football supporters were expected to greet as heroes the players running out in front of them, and to clap and cheer those players on to even greater efforts. Yet the club which sent those players out onto the pitch,
ONLY days after beginning her first term at Durham University, an 18-year-old student was fighting for her life last night after being crushed by a runaway van. The fresher was walking with a group of fellow students when the vehicle rolled 30 yards into
A FORMER pub landlady who was one of the region's oldest residents has died at the age of 103. Staff at Lothian House, in Spennymoor, County Durham, where Lizzie Hall spent her final years, have paid tribute to her love of life. Mrs Hall was born in Seaton
Retailers will continue to dominate the corporate arena next week when companies ranging from Debenhams to Body Shop issue trading updates. Retailer WH Smith is due to report a fall in full-year profits on Friday, although investors will have to wait
A BRACE of big-field handicaps just about hands the overall advantage to the bookies at York today, but wide-awake punters can still draw first blood by backing Philharmonic (1.40) in the opening Rockingham Stakes. Last time out at Ripon, Philharmonic
THE UK's largest independent health club operator has invested a further £400,000 in its home town centre, making it the company's largest in the North-East. Bannatyne Fitness has began extending its Darlington complex in Haughton Road, which will provide
THE future chairman of One NorthEast believes a new concept in business services could change the face of business support in the area. Margaret Fay, director of Tyne Tees Television, who steps into the new role at the regional development agency next
THE future chairman of One NorthEast believes a new concept in business services could change the face of business support in the area. Margaret Fay, director of Tyne Tees Television, who steps into the new role at the regional development agency next
HOUSE prices in the North are increasing at about three times the rate of those in the South, figures showed yesterday. Britain's biggest mortgage lender, the Halifax, said annual house price inflation was running at 38 per cent in the North during the
A DOMESTIC violence counsellor and former magistrate yesterday denied being "obsessed" with the woman he is accused of assaulting. Former Darlington councillor Paul Geldart told Durham Crown Court he had "fallen" for Melanie Lumsden but claimed it was
A SCHOOL trip to the First World War battlefields has proved such a success that a return visit is being arranged for next year. Boys from Hurworth House School joined girls from Polam Hall School, in Darlington, for the first time for their visit to
CONCERN is growing for a teenage girl missing from home since Wednesday. Louise Tume left her home in Hurworth, near Darlington, at 12.40pm. She is slim, with a pale complexion, brown eyes and reddish-brown shoulder-length hair in a bob. When last seen
THE former headteacher of a Darlington school made a return visit yesterday to be honoured for his work. Ken Hodge took early retirement from Heathfield Primary School in summer, having taught there for more than 30 years. But both pupils and parents
A SCHOOLGIRL is suffering from concussion after a gang of stone-throwing yobs attacked a bus. A rock hit a bus window with such force it crashed through the glass and struck 16-year-old passenger Jemma Lane on the head, knocking her out. Cleveland Police
THE UK's largest independent health club operator has invested a further £400,000 in its home town centre, making it the company's largest in the North-East. Bannatyne Fitness has began extending its Darlington complex in Haughton Road, which will provide
GUARDIANS of Britain's birdlife last night urged American authorities to think again over plans to dispose of condemned US warships in the North-East. Concerned that two chemical contaminated vessels are already on their way to Hartlepool, the Royal Society
MEDICAL products group Amersham is to be taken over by US conglomerate General Electric in a £5.7bn deal, the companies announced yesterday. Buckinghamshireshire firm Amersham, which is listed on London's FTSE 100 Index, is a specialist in products for
Public toilets are to be built in the Shambles on Stockton High Street. Stockton Borough Council is seeking listed building consent to convert part of the Shambles into male and female toilets, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities. Work is due
CHILDREN have been taking part in drama workshops on the theme of communication. Pupils from Oxclose Community School, in Washington, also staged a performance during the event, organised as part of the BT Education Programme. The youngsters included
A service providing round-the-clock emergency medical aid could soon be launched in a North Yorkshire village. A meeting will be held next week to recruit volunteers for the First Responder Scheme in Kirbymoorside, which will be run in partnership with
Sven-Goran Eriksson has ducked the issue of his future as England coach ahead of the crunch Euro 2004 qualifier with Turkey in Istanbul. Further speculation about Eriksson was fuelled when a journalist from his native Sweden claimed he had signed a pre-contract
THIRTY British football fans who defied warnings not to travel to Istanbul for England's crucial Euro 2004 match faced deportation from Turkey last night. The UK nationals were detained at Istanbul Ataturk Airport earlier yesterday and would probably
AN attempt to gain a place in the Guinness Book of Records by creating the longest-ever paper train has run into trouble. The National Railway Museum (NRM), in York, had joined forces with the British Origami Society to create a paper train that was 1,550
Skiing holidays in fashionable resorts can be expensive, but there are lots of bargains out there. Jeremy Gates finds out what's coming off the piste The first ski holiday bargains - all for the first weeks of the new season running up to Christmas -
THERE will be little sympathy for Jarvis following its decision to pull out of maintenance work on our railways. Any firm charged with the task of carrying out such important work needs to have the fullest confidence of train operators and the travelling
MEDICAL products group Amersham is to be taken over by US conglomerate General Electric in a £5.7bn deal, the companies announced yesterday. Buckinghamshireshire firm Amersham, which is listed on London's FTSE 100 Index, is a specialist in products for
THE Samaritans' offices in Darlington have undergone a £166,000 refurbishment. The organisation's base in Woodland Road has been transformed into a modern facility, providing a relaxed and pleasant environment. Volunteers used a nearby office for six
ASYLUM SEEKERS: What rubbish from T Atkin (HAS, Sept 8). The people of Leicester and London are not "outnumbered by foreigners". Overall, about ten per cent of the UK population consists of ethnic minorities, by far the largest single group being of Irish
THE Samaritans' offices in Darlington have undergone a £166,000 refurbishment. The organisation's base in Woodland Road has been transformed into a modern facility, providing a relaxed and pleasant environment. Volunteers used a nearby office for six
POLICE were called to a Darlington school after a 12-year-old boy bit and punched a member of staff, a court heard yesterday. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been removed from a classroom because of his bad behaviour, when he assaulted
TWO Darlington pupils have been nominated for the Celebration of Learning Awards. Jane Bower, 13, and 17-year-old David Trenholme were nominated by their teachers at Carmel RC Technology College for the awards, which will be presented at Tall Trees Hotel
THE amount of help offered to crime victims will be cut unless Victim Support can attract more volunteers in County Durham. The warning came at the charity's annual meeting at Durham County Hall. The support organisation's training and development manager
After the huge success of the last Auf Wiedersehen, Pet series it seemed inevitable that creator Franc Roddam would want to bring the boys back for a fourth time The creator of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet says the next series, due to be screened on BBC1 next
The lion is no longer king of the animated jungle. The top cat has been deposed by a tiddler in the Hollywood pond, a colourful clownfish named Nemo. All this jostling for position among the film world's creature features has brought into focus the supremacy
A STRUGGLING moorland village pub can be converted into a private house after efforts to sell it as a going concern failed, planning officers have decided. The Moon and Sixpence, at Glaisdale, in the Esk Valley near Whitby, is one of three pubs in the
A free workshop to help community groups in Derwentside access more grants takes place in Consett Civic Centre on Friday at 10am. Derwentside District Council's funding development team will offer advice on sources of cash and completing forms. Places
THE amount of help offered to crime victims will be cut unless Victim Support can attract more volunteers in County Durham. The warning came at the charity's annual meeting held at Durham County Hall. Training and development manager, Gail Murphy, said
ABOUT 150 runners are expected to take part in a County Durham road race tomorrow. The Derwentside ten mile race around the Stanley area usually attracts about 70 entrants, but it has already passed that number in applications, with many more expected
A volunteer car scheme has been launched in east Durham in an attempt to help elderly and disabled people access local health services. The project covers the villages of Thornley, Wheatley Hill, Wingaate, Station Town and Hutton Henry. Earlier research
A GARDEN centre is trying to raise awareness among children of the importance of feeding birds during winter. Dobbies Garden Centre, in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, has said the hot, dry summer has left birds with little to eat, because a lot of fruit
A POLICE manhunt has been launched for a bank-robbing pensioner. Staff at a High Street branch of Bradford and Bingley at Stockton were held up on Thursday by someone who appeared to be in his sixties and escaped with several hundreds of pounds cash.
POLICE were called to a Darlington school after a 12-year-old boy bit and punched a member of staff, a court heard yesterday. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been removed from a classroom because of his bad behaviour, when he assaulted
David Beckham declared that the England squad would heal the rift with the nation over their strike threat by proving their passion and patriotism in winning tonight's Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey. The England captain insisted that the squad have nothing
JOBS are set to be lost from one of the region's MFI bedroom and kitchen furniture factories, it was revealed yesterday. But union leaders last night said that after talks with the company, the number of job losses at the MFI Hygena plant on Stockton's
Mick Tait last night assured Ian Clark that he is still part of his plans despite the arrival of Blackburn Rovers winger Alan Morgan. The Quakers' boss yesterday completed the signing of Rovers' reserve Morgan on a month's loan and the 20-year-old goes
JOBS are set to be lost from one of the region's MFI bedroom and kitchen furniture factories, it was revealed yesterday. But union leaders last night said that after talks with the company, the number of job losses at the MFI Hygena plant on Stockton's
