The day after Jonny Wilkinson lived out millions of schoolboys' dreams by winning the World Cup with a drop-goal in the last minute of extra-time, the England fly-half was confirmed as officially the best player on the planet. England's ice-cool points
GHOST SHIPS: A FRIEND asked my opinion on the front page article about the ghost ships (Echo, Nov 14). I explained to him a rumour was spinning around Priestgate that periodically the editorial team sat around the table undecided on the format of the
A TURKISH musician, who gave her first public concert on radio aged six, will be performing on Teesside with local violinist Laura Barber. Pianist Gulsin Onay has performed in 47 countries with the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin and
Matt's Old Masters (C4): Every time Channel Four wants someone to talk about art in a heavyweight but approachable way, they call on Matthew Collings. There is no denying that, as a critic, Collings knows what he likes - he calls it painterly paintings
A COURT hearing to publicly examine Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds about his business affairs is expected to be adjourned because he is said to have been suffering from depression. Mr Reynolds was due to appear before a judge at Teesside
VICTIMS of disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale are joining forces with other protest groups to campaign for better healthcare. Supporters hope that by banding together, wronged patients can change the way medicine is policed in the UK. The 250-strong
MORE than 1,700 jobs in the North-East face the axe if the Government blocks the merger of two mail order firms, it was claimed yesterday. Trade unions have called for March UK (Littlewoods) to be given the go-ahead to buy GUS Home Shopping, including
The relentless rain in Colombo left England with nothing from their one-day series defeat against Sri Lanka - not even a wicket. Another torrential downpour an hour before the scheduled 2.30pm start of yesterday's third and final day-night match meant
An arts programme which cuts across cultural and linguistic boundaries will be celebrating its success with a live performance at the International Centre, in Middlesbrough, on Friday, December 5. There will be two weekend workshops before Urban Fusion
WARGAMER Tom Davidson is soldiering on in the face of personal tragedy. It was 22 years ago that he and fellow wargame and model making enthusiast David Clemmet first launched an exhibition for military model enthusiasts on Teesside. Held every November
A SCHOOL has collected enough gifts to fill 200 Christmas boxes to be sent to eastern Europe. Staff at Haughton Community School, in Darlington, have been overwhelmed by the response to the Operation Christmas Child appeal, which they launched at the
POLICE are using a sting operation to target criminals who steal from cars. Darlington police have been placing vehicles with items on view in areas of the town that have high levels of car crime. Officers then keep the vehicle under surveillance in the
PEOPLE took the chance to run the rule over the pride of the Royal Navy yesterday. HMS Ark Royal, Britain's flagship in the recent campaign in Iraq, is renewing affiliations during a shore run on the River Tyne. The Ark Royal - the last aircraft carrier
A capacity crowd turned out on Friday to hear acoustic sets from Eskimo, Morgan and Dave Relton, organised by The Northern Echo's music website Revolution. Virtually all tickets had been reserved before the doors opened for Revolution's first Platform
POLICE are continuing to investigate allegations that a sergeant major bullied recruits at an Army barracks. Andrew Gavaghan, a former welfare officer at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, was sensationally named by BBC TV's Panorama as a bully who
FIRE experts were sifting through the remains of a print factory yesterday in a bid to discover the cause of a major blaze. Sixty firefighters in 12 appliances were involved in tackling the blaze, which destroyed one of two units at Reed Print and Design
THINK of Ricky Gervais and his toe-curlingly funny comic creation, David Brent, immediately springs to mind. But the 41-year-old behind Brent and award-winning comedy The Office seems almost the complete opposite of the character - self-deprecating, serious
A LEADING drama school is hoping to make Billy Elliott-style dreams come true for budding young North-East actors. The Guildford School of Acting (GSA), in Surrey, is holding an audition in Durham City that will lead to one boy and one girl winning free
THREE weeks away at the World Cup have obviously done Darlington flanker Del Lewis no harm. He had to settle for watching the final on television then produced a lively display, culminating with the late try which gave the scoreline an accurate look.
A TURKISH musician, who gave her first public concert on radio aged six, will be performing on Teesside with local violinist Laura Barber. Pianist Gulsin Onay has performed in 47 countries with the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin and
A capacity crowd turned out on Friday to hear acoustic sets from Eskimo, Morgan and Dave Relton, organised by The Northern Echo's music website Revolution. Virtually all tickets had been reserved before the doors opened for Revolution's first Platform
THE Darlington and Dales Youth Orchestra is organising audition schedules. Musical director Jacqui Inglis said: "The closing date for applications will be early December and we really want to ensure anyone of grade six playing standard and above has the
EMPLOYEES from a Newton Aycliffe factory completed a gruelling bike ride to raise almost £2,500 for a school for children with special needs. The 12 staff from the 3M factory in Aycliffe covered a 140-mile coast-to-coast route in aid of Rosebank School
CANCER patients and their carers are being urged to come forward and help improve health services in the region. They are needed at what is thought to be the largest cancer event to be held in the region tomorrow. The aim is to bring together patients
SHOPPERS were entertained by a local youngster at a Spennymoor store on Saturday, when it held a fundraising show for the BBC Children In Need appeal. Kelly McWaters, from Chilton, was invited to the Asda store in Spennymoor to sing songs to customers
TWO North Yorkshire causes are celebrating a sounder financial future thanks to grants from the Local Heritage Initiative (LHI). The Fulford Battlefield Society, which is pledged to spreading awareness of the Battle of Fulford in 1066, has been awarded
Troubled telecoms group ntl is set to cut 2,000 jobs over the next three years, it emerged last night. Chief executive Simon Duffy said the company would have to reduce its staff from 14,000 to 12,000 in the next three to four years to bring numbers in
When director Peter Weir wanted to find out about life at sea for his lastest film, Master and Commander, he headed for the Endeavour, the replica of Captain Cook's famous ship. Christen Pears follows his footsteps. AT 3am I was woken up by a finger prodding
People living in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are being asked for their views on a project. A joint advisory committee, involving Ryedale and Hambleton district councils and North Yorkshire County Council, has been set up to
Jonny Wilkinson may have found his feet in front of the posts in Australia on Saturday, but back in his adopted North-East of England homeland both Middlesbrough and Liverpool were desperately in need of his golden boot. Boro, ironically, have had the
COUNCIL officials have hailed the creation of an 86-acre business park as a big step forward for Darlington. Outline planning permission has been approved for the Faverdale East Business Park on greenfield land next to the industrial estate. Phase one
SECURITY services are said to be hunting a cell of the Al-Qaida terrorist group which could be preparing to strike in the North of England. Weekend reports, attributed to "security sources", suggest that groups of up to ten terrorists originally from
FERDY MURPHY'S stable continued its recent good run at Catterick on Saturday when Looking Forward captured the feature race on the card, the Watt Racecourse Supplies Handicap Chase. In a dramatic finale to the contest, Ferdy's seven-year-old appeared
FERDY MURPHY'S stable continued its recent good run at Catterick on Saturday when Looking Forward captured the feature race on the card, the Watt Racecourse Supplies Handicap Chase. In a dramatic finale to the contest, Ferdy's seven-year-old appeared
A RUGBY stalwart who has honed the talents of many of England's top players in their student days, watched the World Cup triumph with pride on Saturday. Long-standing Durham University coach Ted Wood modestly claimed to have played "only the smallest
PEOPLE took the chance to run the rule over the pride of the Royal Navy yesterday. HMS Ark Royal, Britain's flagship in the recent campaign in Iraq, is renewing affiliations during a shore run on the River Tyne. The Ark Royal - the last aircraft carrier
REGIONAL Development Agency OneNorthEast has appointed Northumbrian Water managing director John Cuthbert to its board. Mr Cuthbert, 50, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will earn £7,775 a year for working two days a month. He will take up his three-year
THE group that represents all 25 councils across the region last night pledged to fight on for more cash after branding the Government's allocation of grants as unfair. Councils across the North-East will receive, on average, a 4.3 per cent increase from
DEPRIVED areas of the North-East - among the worst in the UK - could lose out on Government funding under new counting methods. Councillors representing all five of the boroughs in Tees Valley - Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool
ALTHOUGH millions of English rugby fans remained on cloud nine yesterday, few people could truly know how it felt to be part of a team crowned champions of the world. For Jack Charlton, watching England's Lionhearts emerge triumphant from their titanic
ENGLAND are world champions. How sweet that sounds. Not since 1966 has our nation won a global team event of any sporting note. And fittingly, our rugby triumph in Sydney on Saturday mirrored the drama of our football triumph at Wembley 37 years ago -
RECRUITING teams will tour the North-East this week in a bid to encourage more young people to join the Army. Representatives of three local regiments - the Royal Logistics Corps, the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery and the 7th Regiment Light Infantry -
DOORSTEP con artists are prepared to travel hundreds of miles to carry out their evil trade. Research by police shows bogus callers and cowboy builders would generally not operate near their own homes. Instead, they will often travel across many counties
A HAIR-RAISING stunt has left a councillor a marked man as he goes about his duties in a village community this week. Stuart Walton conceded it would be difficult keeping a low profile after his fundraising event at the weekend. As part of a bid to develop
PATIENTS most likely to benefit from taking physical exercise are those least likely to take part in organised exercise schemes, according to research. The study, which involved 353 middle-aged patients registered with an inner-city GP practice in Newcastle
Flambe, a previous four-time winner at Southwell, is back at his favourite venue in division two of the Bet Direct Through Attheraces Amateur Riders' Handicap over a mile this afternoon. Patrick Haslam has his team in good form and, although the five-year-old
Organist Russell Holmes will perform marches, songs from the shows and light classical music at a concert at James Finegan Municipal Hall, Fabian Road, Eston, Teesside, at 2.30pm on Sunday, December 14. Admission is by programme at the door and costs
KEVIN KEEGAN acclaimed his greatest legacy to Newcastle, then posed the question no Geordie dares contemplate. Who replaces Alan Shearer when he retires at the end of next season? As the Magpies' messianic manager it was Keegan, of course, who lured Shearer
Troubled telecoms group ntl is set to cut 2,000 jobs over the next three years, it emerged last night. Chief executive Simon Duffy said the company would have to reduce its staff from 14,000 to 12,000 in the next three to four years to bring numbers in
Matt's Old Masters (C4) Every time Channel Four wants someone to talk about art in a heavyweight but approachable way, they call on Matthew Collings. There is no denying that, as a critic, Collings knows what he likes - he calls it painterly paintings
DARLINGTON Mowden Park's first away win of the season lifted them out of the bottom half in National Three North, and it was more comfortable than the 25-16 scoreline at Dudley Kingswinford suggested. Durham referee Mike Reid awarded a penalty try to
THREE weeks away at the World Cup have obviously done Darlington flanker Del Lewis no harm. He had to settle for watching the final on television then produced a lively display, culminating with the late try which gave the scoreline an accurate look.
YOUNG musicians have been equipped with special earplugs that protect their hearing but still allow their tunes to filter through. Students at Darlington College of Technology have been issued with Ultratech hi-fi ear protectors as part of their studies
MORE than 1,700 jobs in the North-East face the axe if the Government blocks the merger of two mail order firms, it was claimed yesterday. Trade unions have called for March UK (Littlewoods) to be given the go-ahead to buy GUS Home Shopping, including
Members of Eden Residents' Association, in Spennymoor, are transforming two plots at Timothy Terrace Allotments into a community garden. The group, formed last September to clean up the area, has received grants and gifts from local people, businesses
THE Darlington and Dales Youth Orchestra is organising audition schedules. Musical director Jacqui Inglis said: "The closing date for applications will be early December and we really want to ensure anyone of grade six playing standard and above has the
EMPLOYEES from a Newton Aycliffe factory completed a gruelling bike ride to raise almost £2,500 for a school for children with special needs. The 12 staff from the 3M factory in Aycliffe covered a 140-mile coast-to-coast route in aid of Rosebank School
TEN years' crime-free parking is to be marked with a double celebration at a North-East car park this week. Since opening on November 26, 1993, St Mary's Car Park, in Sunderland, has welcomed nearly eight million vehicles - not one of which has been broken
MEMBERS of Ferryhill Town Council have rejected payment for their service to ease the burden on the town's council taxpayers. An independent remuneration panel had recommended that the town's councillors should receive £600 a year for their work. Because
AT 3am I was woken up by a finger prodding my shoulder through my hammock. It was time for my night watch. Gingerly, I attempted to extricate myself without waking anyone sleeping nearby - tricky when there are only a few inches between you and your neighbour
HOME affairs editor for ITN, Shiulie Ghosh, is to be given an honorary degree by the University of Teesside at this week's graduation ceremon-ies, which start tomorrow. Miss Ghosh, originally from Marton, Middlesbrough, was a student at Teesside Preparatory
CHRISTMAS has come to Teesside a month early - with the arrival of Santa and his reindeer. Middlesbrough came to a stop for the VIP yesterday. The town centre was cordoned off to traffic to allow Santa a smooth journey to his grotto in the Cleveland shopping
Primary school pupils were rewarded at the weekend for achieving 100 per cent attendance in the last academic year. More than 900 youngsters who avoided any school absences up to the summer holiday were invited to a party at the Shiney Row centre of the
A RICHMOND music teacher has won praise from Schools Minister David Miliband after reaching the finals of a national competition. Although she was not the overall winner, Gillian Ash, of Richmond Primary, was presented with a certificate for her achievement
AN annual review of the affairs of a North Yorkshire market town, which has pulled few punches in its criticism of the performance of the local authorities in the past, describes a much more positive year in 2003. The Richmond Civic Society publishes
A BRUSH with ill-health has prompted a North Yorkshire mum to raise money to help others with kidney problems. Keeley Gregory, 24, of Norton, in Ryedale, was concerned when a routine check-up suggested she had kidney problems. She had to undergo a number
WORLD cup winning rugby player Jonny Wilkinson is to be proposed for the highest honour a North-East city can give. Leader of Newcastle City Council Councillor Tony Flynn has announced that he is to propose that the Newcastle Falcons player who kicked
REGIONAL Development Agency OneNorthEast has appointed Northumbrian Water managing director John Cuthbert to its board. Mr Cuthbert, 50, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will earn £7,775 a year for working two days a month. He will take up his three-year
Tim Wellock combines a light-hearted riposte at the Pom-bashing Aussies with a serious look at how English rugby can use the triumph to reverse declining interest in the game. YOU can never find an Australian when you want one. I seem to spend my summers
A music society is hoping to provide some early festive cheer with a charity concert next month. Scorton Music Society will present an evening of Christmas music and readings at Kiplin Hall, between Richmond and Northallerton, on Friday, December 5. Proceeds
A LEADING drama school is hoping to make Billy Elliott-style dreams come true for budding young North-East actors. The Guildford School of Acting (GSA), in Surrey, is holding an audition in Durham City that will lead to one boy and one girl winning free
A police clerk has lodged a damages claim against Cleveland Police, accusing the former chief constable of using her in sex smear allegations against Ray Mallon. Jayne Thwaites, 36, alleges retired chief of Cleveland Police Barry Shaw and his former deputy
The League broke new ground on Saturday when they travelled to play Liverpool County Combination in the second round of the FA National League System Cup, a competition open to all Level Four Leagues in the Country. The winners will represent England
A MAJOR campaign is launched by The Northern Echo today aimed at saving people from the misery and heartache of doorstep crime. Doorstoppers has the backing of the police, trading standards, politicians, utility companies and organisations which look
ENGLAND'S World Cup champions will return home to a heroes' reception tomorrow - and the biggest cheer of all will be reserved for Jonny Wilkinson. Thousands of well-wishers are expected to welcome the team when they arrive from Australia after the nation's
FRANCK QUEUDRUE last night admitted his late foul on Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle could have been a penalty. The Middlesbrough defender's tackle from behind on his fellow Frenchman with nine minutes to go caused uproar on the touchline as
YOU could hear the noise before you caught sight of the pub. Chants of In-ger-land, In-ger-land competing with chorus after chorus of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. It was 8.40am on Saturday and the World Cup final hadn't even kicked off yet. New-found rugby
HUNT supporters were out in force at the weekend in a show of solidarity against a potential ban on their way of life. Dozens of hunt followers gathered for a meeting of the South Durham Hunt, in Sedgefield, County Durham, on Saturday. Earlier this month
JERMAINE JENAS insists that Jonny Wilkinson still has some way to go before he dethrones Newcastle United's Alan Shearer as the "King of Tyneside''. The goal-kicking heroics of Newcastle Falcons fly-half Wilkinson thrilled the nation as he clinched victory
Doing sex scenes in her sixties was something Dinnerladies' Anne Reid hadn't bargained for. But the Newcastle-born actress is taking it all in her stride, as Steve Pratt discovers. THE bedroom was crowded with technicians, cameras and lights as the sixtysomething
A MECHANIC has been hailed a hero by work colleagues after preventing a trailer from crushing a lorry driver and rescuers. Steve Brewster, 36, from North Skelton, pushed down on a lever during an hour-long rescue operation to save a trapped lorry driver
WE are turning into a nation of Kippers, according to the Prudential. Kippers, or Kids In Parents' Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings, are beginning to sap the life of British households by lingering on in their parental home beyond the age of 18, with
THE spectre of child poverty is returning to the North-East, according to public health experts. Researchers from Teesside University's School of Health and Social Care say that despite a steady overall improvement in the health of most people living
POLICE have renewed their plea for information about the whereabouts of a hospital patient who has been missing for almost two weeks. John Pedalty has not been seen since November 11, when he left Darlington Memorial Hospital. He is considered to be vulnerable
One of the region's biggest wind farm projects is facing growing opposition from disgruntled residents. Opponents have launched a campaign to stop the erection of 25 wind turbines between the A66 and Stang Forest, about six miles from Barnard Castle,
