Archive

  • Pantomime breaks record at theatre

    TICKET sales for a popular pantomime have broken a theatre's record, with 6,000 seats being snapped up in three days. Almost 200 tickets for York Theatre Royal's pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, have been sold for every hour that the box office has been open

  • 'Allegations of sex acts have ruined my life'

    A MAN accused of a series of sex acts against two young girls more than 20 years ago told a court that the allegations had wrecked his life. Peter Large, 51, of Bisley Court, Darlington, was giving evidence during his trial at Teesside Crown Court. The

  • Football shirt is a winner

    A SIGNED Newcastle United football was raffled at a school Easter fair. The event at Red Hall School, in Darlington, raised £97 for school funds from the football draw alone. School charity fundraiser Rachel Hudson arranged for the signed ball from the

  • Emergency alarms charity given cash lifeline

    A CHARITY that faced an uncertain future after district council cutbacks has been handed a lifeline by Durham County Council. The Durham Community Alarms Trust had its funding reduced by almost a fifth when Teesdale District Council announced in February

  • Newell's return heralds final chance for Pool

    HARTLEPOOL United have the perfect - and possibly final - opportunity to reach for the play-offs this week. Luton and Bournemouth, both rivals for a top-six slot, visit Victoria Park in the space of five days. On the back of successive defeats at home

  • Schools ban on fibreboard to be lifted

    A BAN on the use of medium density fibreboard (MDF) in Darlington schools is to be lifted after six years. Darlington Borough Council imposed the ban on using the controversial material in design and technology lessons in 1998, in response to concerns

  • Eggs appeal a huge success

    AN appeal to spread Easter cheer among needy children in Darlington has been declared a success. The Eggstravaganza initiative, run by Darlington Borough Council's social services department and St Teresa's Hospice, has seen hundreds of Easter eggs donated

  • Council apologises for letters to dead man

    A WIDOW has received an apology from her local authority after it sent council tax letters to her late husband. Addressed to Mr Alfred Shelley Deceased, the correspondence left his widow, Rene, angry and shocked. The letters, from Redcar and Cleveland

  • Deprivation statistics may be long out of date

    OUT-of-date statistics are being used to base funding decisions, it has been claimed. Councillor John Marshall said that Hartlepool Borough Council was making decisions on statistics which may be long out of date. He was referring to figures presented

  • Tourism chief praised after board demise

    TRIBUTE has been paid to a regional tourism chief following the demise of his organisation. The Northumbria Tourist Board's role was taken over last week by the regional development agency One NorthEast. The agency's staff and assets have been transferred

  • Play areas receive £1m windfall

    £1m has been invested in children's playgrounds in east Cleveland. All 21 play areas have had safety surfaces installed and many sites have had new pieces of equipment, including climbing frames, swings, roundabouts and seating. The equipment was chosen

  • Sexy undercover operation

    ASPIRING models sent temperatures soaring when they queued for the job of a lifetime modelling sexy underwear in the tropics. The women hoped to secure a job with lingerie company Victoria's Secret, which was offering a £28,000 salary and luxury apartment

  • Decision day for pub's later weekend opening hours bid

    COUNCILLORS will today decide whether a Chester-le-Street pub will be granted a late licence extension despite protests. The manager of GW Horners, in Front Street, wants it to stay open an extra hour until 1am from Thursday to Saturday. It already opens

  • Spring event to help community spirit

    A SPRING clean has been organised on the region's biggest private housing estate. The Ingleby Clean Up Day, at Ingelby Barwick, near Stockton, is the idea of Ingleby Community Church. It follows the success of Santa's Sleigh, which toured the estate last

  • Entrepreneur grabs US opportunity

    MANAGEMENT consultant John Glass is hoping to corner the railings market after discovering an opening while on a trip to the US. He has set up Easi-Fit Railings, at Armstrong Industrial Estate, Washington, which he believes is the only railings company

  • Caravan park plan facing refusal

    A MOVE to use an area for touring caravans to accommodate more static caravans at a holiday park would have a detrimental impact on the landscape, it is claimed. The scheme at Winksley Bank Holiday Park, Winksley, near Ripon, will be recommended for refusal

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Team member, Darlington £4.20 to £4.50ph, 30hrs pw, must be 18 plus, no experience necessary as training given, must have good communication skills. Ref: DAE 38101. Cleaner, Darlington, £5, 15hrs pw 8-11am Mon-Fri, experience preferred but not essential

  • Priory prayer walk opens as memorial to monsignor

    VISITOR numbers are expected to rise at an ancient priory following the opening of a prayer walk. The 500-yard path is on a hill overlooking the Lady Chapel, which lies on the Cleveland Hills, above Mount Grace Priory, Osmotherley, near Northallerton.

  • Studies look at condition of coastline

    NEARLY £300,000 is to be spent by Scarborough Borough Council on studies to assess the condition of its 67km coastline. In a report, head of engineering services John Riby says the "soft" geology of cliffs in some areas has resulted in ground instability

  • £15m shops plan 'will ruin view of cathedral'

    A FAMOUS view of Ripon Cathedral will be ruined if a £15m city centre development goes ahead, according to English Heritage. The group has lodged an objection to plans for the shopping development near Ripon market place, which planners believe will bring

  • Gas alert message aims to save lives

    OWNERS of thousands of holiday homes across the region are being given a seasonal safety message which could save lives. British Gas and travel guide VisitBritain sent out the alert to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, a "silent

  • Easter activities offered at trust

    A RANGE of Easter-related activities are on offer at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Washington, Tyne and Wear. Throughout the Easter holidays, children can take part in an egg hunt and prize draw. Crafts such as making Easter cards and baskets will

  • Back to reality after TV filming

    IT'S back to reality for Jill Campbell after filming for television's latest fly-on-the-wall show came to an end. Ms Campbell was back at her desk at the T-mobile call centre, in Doxford Park, Sunderland, yesterday after a week in London. But the 25-year-old

  • Equestrian extras

    TWO friends who set up a livery business have branched out into buying and selling horses. Victoria Goodall, 22, and Rhona Smith, 25, of RV Equine, in Romaldkirk, Teesdale, make regular trips to Ireland to find horses for their business. RV Equine was

  • Equestrian extras

    TWO friends who set up a livery business have branched out into buying and selling horses. Victoria Goodall, 22, and Rhona Smith, 25, of RV Equine, in Romaldkirk, Teesdale, make regular trips to Ireland to find horses for their business. RV Equine was

  • Collection confusion

    A CHANGE in bin collection dates caused confusion at the weekend. Many people did not realise rubbish would be collected two days early - on Saturday instead of yesterday - so failed to put out their bins. Darlington Borough Council told people about

  • Children on Easter treasure trail

    MORE than 60 youngsters followed an Easter trail in search of their favourite storybook characters yesterday. The Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland organised a two-hour fundraising event in the walled garden and Bobby Shafto's Playbarn at Whitworth

  • Samaritans appeal for telephone volunteers

    DURHAM Samaritans are appealing for volunteers so they can bring their service back up to full strength. The charity is having to close its local lines at times - a national line is always available - because it has not got enough volunteers to answer

  • Arty benches in use

    TWO pieces of artwork, created with the help of schoolchildren, have been unveiled. Sculptor Phil Townsend was commissioned to produce two stone and timber benches by the Haswell and Haswell Plough Regeneration Partnership. The benches have been designed

  • MetroCentre openings

    Shops at the MetroCentre, in Gateshead, will be open from 10am to 6pm on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and between 9am and 7pm on Saturday. Shops will be closed on Sunday, but some restaurants and leisure attractions will be open.

  • Children's enterprise aids clinic

    CHILDREN have helped to provide vital monitoring equipment for the antenatal clinic at their local hospital. Thanks to the youngsters from Allertonshire School, in Northallerton, mothers-to-be visiting the Friarage for checks-ups will benefit from a new

  • Public school head resigns

    THE headmaster of a North-East public school has resigned following a prolonged leave of absence. Michael Featherstone, of Barnard Castle School, County Durham, took leave just before Christmas and letters have been sent to parents this week informing

  • Cocaine case PC resigns

    A POLICEWOMAN facing the sack after she was found with cocaine in a nightclub has resigned. PC Anna Jakubowiak handed in her notice before her bosses at Durham Police had completed misconduct proceedings against her. Ms Jakubowiak, 27, who worked in Darlington

  • Wearing wrong trousers changes hospice fortunes

    A CHARITY inspired by the animated characters Wallace and Gromit is donating £9,200 to a North-East children's hospice. Thanks to thousands of people wearing the wrong trousers last year, the Butterwick Children's Hospice, in Stockton, is among 23 projects

  • Engineering companies win rail track renewal contracts

    ENGINEERING companies Balfour Beatty and Carillion will help to modernise the UK rail network after winning two track renewal contracts. The groups have agreed five-year deals with Network Rail and will begin work to upgrade sections of track, switches

  • 999 service defends its response time

    AMBULANCE chiefs have defended their emergency response times, despite taking nearly 20 minutes to reach a patient who collapsed in the middle of Richmond. The woman, who was thought to be a diabetic, fell on to the road on King Street shortly before

  • Crash ends Barry's rally bid

    Shildon driver Barry Johnson was forced to retire from the Astra Stages Rally in Wales at the weekend and, as a consequence, the KUMHO National Rally Championship. The Subaru Impreza WRC driver smashed into a tree on the second stage of the event in Llangollen

  • Mum seeks tougher driving laws after son killed

    A mum whose son was killed by a speeding motorist while out jogging is calling for tougher driving laws. Ida Woodward' son, Nick, a 22-year-old lance corporal in the military police, died in 2002 when a car mounted the pavement and hit him. The driver

  • From the tired to the troubling

    The Second Quest (ITV1); England Expects (BBC1): THERE'S no doubt which of last night's big new dramas will have pulled in most viewers. A David Jason vehicle versus a two-hour piece about racism - no contest for most people, I suspect, giving The Second

  • Civil war fear as Iraq battles leave 60 dead

    IRAQ stood on the brink of anarchy last night as the US vowed to arrest a radical cleric after more than 60 people died in battles between his supporters and coalition forces. Despite British attempts to find a peaceful settlement, the US appeared bent

  • Mother of murdered backpacker to marry her soulmate

    THE mother of the teenage backpacker whose murder two years ago shocked the nation is to marry the man who helped her through the crisis. Marjorie Stuttle, 55, said it was only the support of soulmate David Marks that stopped her from taking her own life

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Branch manager, Thirsk, £18,000 pa includes bonus. 45hpw, 5 days over 7, between 6am-6pm shifts Mon-Sun incl weekends. Must have retail or customer service managerial training, ideally gained within a similar role, however training will be given for running

  • Agency boss adds the finishing touches at business park

    The latest phase of Cobalt Park - a project that could generate 2,000 jobs for the region - has been completed. The three new buildings are Cobalt 1, Cobalt 2 and Cobalt 15a, which are 44,000sq ft, 102,500sq ft and 30,000sq ft respectively. When complete

  • Trucker jailed for having sex with girl of 14

    A TRUCKER who had sex with a 14-year-old schoolgirl in his cab has been jailed for three months. John Axford, 38, of Whitby Way, Darlington, was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for a minimum period of seven years. At Carlisle Crown Court, Axford

  • Loco gives museum a flying start

    THE Flying Scotsman is to be one of the star attractions at the opening of a multi-million pound railway museum in the North-East The world's most famous locomotive will appear at the launch of the railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, in September

  • Bus driver's horror over film of death

    A BUS driver described his horror at watching security camera footage of the moment he had unknowingly dragged a pensioner under his bus - only to discover the victim was a colleague's mother. Robert Harvey spoke after being convicted of careless driving

  • The Bonus King should have the edge in fitness

    PEAK fitness will count for plenty at Pontefract where The Bonus King (3.20) should have the beating of his rivals. A couple of promising spins on the all-weather circuits at Wolverhampton and Lingfield might just be enough to give Mark Johnston's four-year-old

  • The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Studio, York Theatre Royal

    THERE was debate afterwards whether children or adults enjoyed this show more. The verdict was that, probably, the older audience members appreciated it the most. One of the great things about Nicholas Lane's adaptation of Beauty And The Beast, seen in

  • Partnership aims to reduce reoffending by teaching skills

    A NEW partnership to educate former criminals could help cut down on crime in the North-East. The Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley has forged a relationship with the Probation Service to provide better help for offenders in the region who are wanting

  • TV review

    The Second Quest (ITV1) England Expects (BBC1) THERE'S no doubt which of last night's big new dramas will have pulled in most viewers. A David Jason vehicle versus a two-hour piece about racism - no contest for most people, I suspect, giving The Second

  • Tough action on speeding motorcyclists

    POLICE are launching their toughest-ever crackdown on rogue motorcyclists in a bid to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on some of the region's most picturesque roads. Bikers who use roads like racetracks will be targeted in a series of

  • Announcement to be made over future of club

    AN announcement on the immediate future of Darlington Football Club is to be made today. Administrators Wilson Field have spent recent weeks in talks with would-be owners the Sterling Consortium and the Football League, in an attempt to secure the Quakers

  • Lender's UK growth plan

    A MORTGAGE company is planning to expand its business across the UK. Amity Direct, in Darlington, is to open offices in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff as part of an expansion drive designed to increase sales by 300 per cent. The company specialises in

  • Access All Areas: Sea air and super scenery

    AFTER the winter hibernation, this certainly feels like a good time of year to get out into the fresh air. It is to encourage those of us who need extra help and support to be able to enjoy the outdoors that I recently undertook my "Wandering Wheels"

  • Resurgent microchip firms will boost Bede's order book

    X-RAY equipment specialist Bede plc believes devices being built at its County Durham headquarters will lead to big orders this year. In its first quarter trading update, ahead of half-year results on April 26, the company said its order book was worth

  • All that's wrong with ITV today

    IT comes as a shock: the Archbishop of Canterbury is no great fan of Footballers' Wives. What's more interesting though is the response of the Head of ITV to the news that the Primate of All England regards one of his most popular programmes as "a parable

  • Young musicians tune up for Disneyland performance in Paris

    YOUNG musicians are preparing to play at Disneyland Paris tomorrow. It will be the eighth visit to France for the Band of '78, from Eston, near Middlesbrough, which is led by director Kel Dennis, the Education Action Zone's music co-ordinator. The 50

  • Challenge for schoolchildren to get it write

    PRIMARY schoolchildren have been challenged to use their creativity to compete in the Write Here, Write Now 2004 awards. The awards, run by the Department for Education and Skills, ask children aged between eight and ten to complete a piece of work by

  • Widow's anger as 'no one pays' for husband's death

    A GRIEVING widow says she feels cheated after an administrative blunder means no one will be prosecuted for an accident which killed her husband. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has overhauled its procedure for dealing with fatal road accidents as

  • North guest houses listed in Britain's top 20

    THREE privately-owned guest houses in the North of England have been named among the top 20 bed and breakfast places in Britain. Inspectors visited Number 34 in Barnard Castle, County Durham, West End Guest House, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and Glenander

  • Sea air and super scenery

    AFTER the winter hibernation, this certainly feels like a good time of year to get out into the fresh air. It is to encourage those of us who need extra help and support to be able to enjoy the outdoors that I recently undertook my "Wandering Wheels"

  • Rural area celebrates crime-free week

    A rural area in the North East which has been hailed as one of the safest crime-free areas in Britain has just completed an excellent week with no thefts or vandalism. Police officers were delighted yesterday with the blank spell in Barnard Castle, Co

  • Boost for recycling business

    A North-East couple have proven there's cash in trash after announcing plans for a big boost in recycling. Jill and Martin Bacon started their business - Teesdale Rotters - as a favour to neighbours who wanted rid of garden rubbish but faced a long trek

  • Eating Owt: Lovely jumpers - shame about the food

    The column has a less-than-spectacular taste of Scotland at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Richmond SAVE for a few chips at the end, and for a diversionary dander along the byways and bridleways around Barningham, it has not - let's be honest - been a

  • Announcement to be made over future of club

    AN announcement on the immediate future of Darlington Football Club is to be made today. Administrators Wilson Field have spent recent weeks in talks with would-be owners the Sterling Consortium and the Football League, in an attempt to secure the Quakers

  • £28,000 confiscated from brothers who dealt in drugs

    ASSETS worth more than £28,000 were yesterday ordered to be confiscated from two North-East brothers jailed for drug dealing earlier this year. Twenty-six-year-old David Cairns was sentenced to eight years in prison at Durham Crown Court after admitting

  • Rugby stars say final farewell to Falcons player

    THE stars of world rugby have said farewell to Soa Otuvaka, who died of a brain tumour aged 25. Injured Newcastle Falcons and England fly half Jonny Wilkinson joined Soa's countryman Epi Taione and South Africa captain Mark Andrews to pay their respects

  • Industry looks to MPC for support

    PRESSURE for a rise in the cost of borrowing eased yesterday with the release of figures showing a surprise fall in manufacturing output. Monthly production data showed manufacturing output fell 0.6 per cent between January and February. The Office of

  • Sir Bobby, the knight, rides to Willington's aid

    A knight gallant if ever there was one, Sir Bobby Robson has come to the rescue of yet another football club in distress. At Willington last Thursday evening he spoke for getting on two and a half hours, charged his usual fee - ten times his usual would

  • Emergency alarms charity given cash lifeline

    A CHARITY that faced an uncertain future after district council cutbacks has been handed a lifeline by Durham County Council. The Durham Community Alarms Trust had its funding reduced by almost a fifth when Teesdale District Council announced in February

  • Schools ban on fibreboard to be lifted

    A BAN on the use of medium density fibreboard (MDF) in Darlington schools is to be lifted after six years. Darlington Borough Council imposed the ban on using the controversial material in design and technology lessons in 1998, in response to concerns

  • Students get sample of life as a forensic scientist

    STUDENTS turned investigative scientists for the day. The youngsters from schools in the Easington district were selected to attend a two-day forensic science class at Easington Community School. The project included working in a mocked up crime scene

  • Direct route to bus stops replaces perilous path

    RESIDENTS of Sir William Turner's Almshouses, Redcar, will no longer have to walk along a public highway to reach nearby bus stops. There are no pavements along the old country road through Kirkleatham and the grass verge narrows to only 18 inches in

  • Land is bought for sport plan

    DISUSED industrial land has been acquired as part of a sport village development plan for land near Sunderland Football Club's Stadium of Light. Regeneration body Sunderland arc, with partners the city council and One NorthEast, announced yesterday it

  • Graffiti artists jailed after vandalism across N-E

    A PAIR of prolific graffiti artists have been locked up after causing more than £70,000 worth of damage across the North-East. Christian Hemmel, 29, and Simon Kaszefko, 23, splashed paint across listed buildings and railway lines with more than 400 "tags

  • Fat cat smudge put on strict diet

    MASSIVE moggie Smudge is a cat who got too much cream. And the heavyweight feline is beginning to feel the pinch in her waistline - because she tips the scales at a whopping one-and-a-half stone. Fat cat Smudge came into the care of animal rescue service

  • Team begins clean-up mission

    A MISSION to make Redcar and Cleveland a cleaner place began yesterday. It was launched in Eston by Redcar and Cleveland Council's new area management department, with the help of a dolly-barrow man. Steve Patchett, who has worked in Eston for three years

  • Nightclub building begins new life as place of worship

    A ONCE notorious nightclub, which was subject to several police raids, is to reopen this weekend as a place of worship. The Colosseum nightclub in Norton Road, Stockton, which has been closed since 1997, will open on Saturday as the Destiny Centre. The

  • Hospital praised in survey of patients

    THE majority of patients who had operations at one of North Yorkshire's flagship hospitals were happy with their treatment, according to a survey. One hundred patients who attended the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, for emergency or planned operations

  • Loco gives museum a flying start

    THE Flying Scotsman is to be one of the star attractions at the opening of a multi-million pound railway museum in the North-East The world's most famous locomotive will appear at the launch of the railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, in September

  • Grieving mother backs move to rid estate of bad behaviour

    THE mother of a murdered teenager is backing a residents' association attempt to stop anti-social behaviour. Theresa Cave, whose 17-year-old son, Chris, was murdered on the Lakes housing estate in Redcar, east Cleveland,volunteered to join the Residents

  • Objectors fail in bid to block homes plan

    OBJECTORS have failed to persuade council planning officials that new homes would increase traffic levels. Wear Valley District Council's development control committee approved an application by Broseley Homes to build 42 houses on land east of Old Hall

  • Mother's dedication wins her an award

    A GRATEFUL daughter has shown her appreciation by nominating her mother for an award. Anne Pennington won a WonderMum award after her daughter, Helen, wrote a letter thanking her for her help and friendship over the past 23 years. Mrs Pennington, of South

  • Back to reality after TV filming

    IT'S back to reality for Jill Campbell after filming for television's latest fly-on-the-wall show came to an end. Ms Campbell was back at her desk at the T-mobile call centre, in Doxford Park, Sunderland, yesterday after a week in London. But the 25-year-old

  • Taste of N-E helps young chefs shine

    BUDDING student chefs brought a taste of the North- East to the regional final of a cookery competition. The hospitality and catering trainees from New College in Durham won their way through to the final stages of the Torque d'or competition, held in

  • 06/04/04

    TERRORISM:FROM some recent correspondence you would think that, but for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, there would be no terrorist threat from the Middle East. What is being forgotten here is that September 11 was before those operations, and

  • Students have it figured

    FOUR students from a school in the region are to travel to London in the summer to take part in a national mathematics competition. The students from Teesdale Comprehensive School, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, won the regional final of the UK Mathematics

  • Lovely jumpers - shame about the food

    The column has a less-than-spectacular taste of Scotland at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Richmond SAVE for a few chips at the end, and for a diversionary dander along the byways and bridleways around Barningham, it has not - let's be honest - been a

  • Town gets £9.5m to spend on affordable homes

    A town has been given £9.5m over the next two years to build 210 affordable homes. Stockton Borough Council will be given the money to build housing association properties. The money, from the Housing Corporation's approved development programme, is the

  • Pensioners could boost income

    Some pensioners could boost their income by hundreds of pounds a year if they claimed all the benefits they are entitled to, according to experts from Age Concern. The charity is banking on a five-day drive called Your Rights Week to make sure that older

  • Cousins jailed after drunken brawl

    Two cousins have been jailed for a drunken brawl which left one man with a broken jaw and cheekbone and the other unconscious in hospital with a fractured eye socket. The brawl, involving Kenny and Andrew Paul Beal, who both admitted section 20 assaults

  • Can the queen and king of bling survive?

    The Beckhams' marriage is in the spotlight following allegations of David's affair. As they to try patch things up on holiday together in Switzerland, Women's Editor Christen Pears asks whether a relationship can survive an affair. STAND by your man and

  • Castle offers feast to whet the appetite

    THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to a County Durham castle this weekend for a food festival which is expected to become an annual event. Perfectly timed as the period of Lent draws to a close and people get ready to treat themselves for Easter

  • Dons clash as big as the Cup - Piper

    IT'S hard to think of much more of a contrast, but Sunderland winger Matt Piper insists that tonight's game at Wimbledon is every bit as big as Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Millwall. The Black Cats will swop the opulent surroundings of Old Trafford

  • Boss impressed by Bolo's rearguard action

    STEVE McCLAREN turned to Bolo Zenden to ease Middlesbrough's defensive crisis after watching the Holland star play a stunning support role to Marc Overmars in the game with France last week. Boro manager McClaren, desperate to convert Zenden's season-long

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Now we're really flying

    THE Flying Scotsman is a national treasure: a romantic symbol of a time gone by. It is therefore splendid news that the world's most famous locomotive is to be kept in this country, and even better news that it is steaming our way. The National Railway

  • Lovely jumpers - shame about the food

    The column has a less-than-spectacular taste of Scotland at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Richmond SAVE for a few chips at the end, and for a diversionary dander along the byways and bridleways around Barningham, it has not - let's be honest - been a

  • Viana still has a role to play says Robson

    SIR Bobby Robson has insisted that Portugal international Hugo Viana still has a vital role to play in Newcastle United's bid for success on two fronts. The Magpies manager may need to utilise his full squad as they end the season chasing a Champions

  • Proud to become British

    A COUPLE spoke of their pride at becoming British citizens yesterday following what is believed to be the region's first citizenship ceremonies. Dr Kamran Saeed, 39, and his wife Iram Kamran, 38, swore an oath of allegiance to the Queen and pledged to

  • Family's donation

    A family has donated £1,750 to a school. Pupil Chad Barnes, his brother Lloyd and sisters Maisie, Eva and Lottie handed over the cheque to the Mowbray School, in Bedale, which looks after children with educational needs. The family raised the money by

  • Circuit battle's 'last chance'

    CAMPAIGNERS believe councillors have one last chance tonight to act on their catalogue of complaints about the North-East's biggest motor-racing venue. Noise from Croft Circuit has been an issue ever since the track was revamped in the mid-Nineties. People

  • Carnival carrot of £1,000 to attract more floats

    ORGANISERS of the annual Whit weekend carnival parade through Richmond are offering a cash prize to tempt more entries. The Richmond Meet programme has recovered well since the dark days of the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001 - except for the number of

  • Bunny business

    A VISIT to Durham City's Crook Hall and Gardens has become a favourite Easter venue for many families. And this holiday weekend, hundreds of visitors are expected to drop in at the medieval manor set in four acres of themed gardens. The hall's Easter

  • Goalie chosen for North hockey squad

    STUDENT Sarah Hope has been selected for the North of England hockey squad - but she has to wear equipment that makes it look as if she's going into battle. For Sarah, 16, is a goalie, a dangerous role, so she needs £1,400-worth of protective gear. The

  • Dixons call centre work goes to Capita

    A GOVERNMENT contractor has won a deal to manage a call centre for electronics retailer Dixons. Capita Group is taking over the operation of Dixons' site at Nunnery Square, Sheffield, under the terms of the five-year £90m contract. It said it would handle

  • Electricity, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

    INSIDE this production there's a good play waiting to escape. Unfortunately, it's still locked inside at the moment. Murray Gold's piece centres around three decorators who've overstayed their welcome working on creating a "quiet room" in Katherine's

  • Dixons call centre work goes to Capita

    A GOVERNMENT contractor has won a deal to manage a call centre for electronics retailer Dixons. Capita Group is taking over the operation of Dixons' site at Nunnery Square, Sheffield, under the terms of the five-year £90m contract. It said it would handle

  • Quakers seek three wins from six

    DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson has set his embattled side a target of three wins from their remaining six fixtures to avoid relegation. Macclesfield's 2-0 win at York on Sunday means Quakers are just one point clear of the drop zone after their 1-0 defeat

  • Quakers boss wants three wins from six

    DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson has set his embattled side a target of three wins from their remaining six fixtures to avoid relegation. Macclesfield's 2-0 win at York on Sunday means Quakers are just one point clear of the drop zone after their 1-0 defeat

  • Criticism for bikers at nature reserve

    AN important nature reserve that is home to rare species of wildlife and flowers has been damaged by off-road motorcyclists. The Ferryhill Carrs, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, has become a favourite venue for quad bikers in recent weeks. But

  • The Bonus King should have the edge in fitness

    PEAK fitness will count for plenty at Pontefract where The Bonus King (3.20) should have the beating of his rivals. A couple of promising spins on the all-weather circuits at Wolverhampton and Lingfield might just be enough to give Mark Johnston's four-year-old

  • Lack of runs puts pressure on Read

    Wicketkeeper Chris Read could become the first casualty of England's grooming process as they consider how best to change their victorious Test line-up and make further improvements. Coach Duncan Fletcher has allowed the squad a couple of days celebration

  • Special Scout group celebrates first birthday

    A SCOUT group for children with special needs is about to celebrate its first birthday. Friarage Scoutlink, based in Northallerton, is holding a party on Saturday for all its members and people who have helped out over the past year. The group aims to

  • Escape for Boro star

    FOOTBALLER Michael Ricketts was counting his blessings last night after his Ferrari overturned on a motorway. The 25-year-old Middlesbrough striker escaped with a few bruises after the car aquaplaned in heavy rain on the M62 in Lancashire at the weekend

  • Youngsters audition for play

    CHILDREN displayed their acting skills at an audition in Darlington yesterday. Youngsters visited the town's Civic Theatre to compete for a part in a stage adaptation of Henry James' novel The Turn of the Screw. Theatre company Summer Rep Productions

  • Man, 29, charged over stabbing

    A 29-YEAR-OLD has been charged in relation with a town-centre attack in which a man was stabbed repeatedly in the street. Dale Robinson, 29, of Firtree, in Shildon, County Durham, will appear before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe today charged with wounding

  • Sea air and superb scenery

    AFTER the winter hibernation, this certainly feels like a good time of year to get out into the fresh air. It is to encourage those of us who need extra help and support to be able to enjoy the outdoors that I recently undertook my "Wandering Wheels"

  • Eating Owt

    SAVE for a few chips at the end, and for a diversionary dander along the byways and bridleways around Barningham, it has not - let's be honest - been a particularly good week. Even the Edinburgh Woollen Mill offered little grist, though doubtless they

  • Caring for the living and the dead

    A female funeral director used to be a rare sight but more women are turning to it as a career. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. MENTION the words funeral director and an image of a man in top hat and tails springs involuntarily to mind - someone

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Care assistant. £4.50ph, 20hrs pw, 4 days between 8am and 9.30pm, Mon-Sun. Must be 18-plus with caring nature. Experience desirable but training in NVQ standard provided. Post subject to enhanced disclosure check. Cost met by employer. Ref: DUR 38670.

  • Criticism for bikers at nature reserve

    AN important nature reserve that is home to rare species of wildlife and flowers has been damaged by off-road motorcyclists. The Ferryhill Carrs, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, has become a favourite venue for quad bikers in recent weeks. But

  • Family outcry after judge cuts road-rage driver's ban

    RELATIVES of a shopkeeper left severely brain-damaged after a road-rage incident have criticised a decision to cut his attacker's driving ban. Raj Garcha's father said last night his son had been let down by a judicial system that supported offenders