Archive

  • Town prepares for arts

    A NORTH-EAST market town is preparing to host its first arts festival at the end of this month. The three-day festival takes place in Barnard Castle Methodist Church, County Durham, from Saturday to Monday, May 29 to 31. The festival is called Teesdale

  • Town prepares for arts festival

    A NORTH-EAST market town is preparing to host its first arts festival at the end of this month. The three-day festival takes place in Barnard Castle Methodist Church, County Durham, from Saturday to Monday, May 29 to 31. The festival is called Teesdale

  • A fresh start as pair arrive

    IT will be almost like starting afresh for Durham tomorrow when they face Somerset at Taunton greatly strengthened by having Paul Collingwood and Shoaib Akhtar in the team. Collingwood was in the nets at Riverside yesterday, when the match against Essex

  • Interest grows in Gospels replica

    INTEREST is mounting as a replica of a symbol of a town's history went on public display yesterday. The Lindisfarne Gospels spent 110-years at Chester-le-Street Parish Church before being carried with the remains of St Cuthbert, by monks fleeing the Vikings

  • A fresh start as pair arrive

    IT will be almost like starting afresh for Durham tomorrow when they face Somerset at Taunton greatly strengthened by having Paul Collingwood and Shoaib Akhtar in the team. Collingwood was in the nets at Riverside yesterday, when the match against Essex

  • The original domestic goddess

    As part of an exhibition highlighting the roles if 18th century women in stately homes, Castle Howard is staging a specially-commissioned dramatisation. Sarah Foster reports. IT might be a conversation between any two women. Huddled over cups of tea,

  • Protest call over Iraq prisoner abuse

    ANTI-war campaigner Yvonne Ridley is calling on the Middle East to withdraw its diplomats from the US. The former Northern Echo journalist, who was captured in Afghanistan at the beginning of the war, is a co-founder of the political lobby Respect. Yesterday

  • Alfred crowns a great day for moggies

    A SIX-year-old cat saved from the hands of cruel youths by an animal rescue charity has proved that a humble moggie really can be the cat's whiskers. Judges at one of the country's top cat shows, the Manchester and District Cat Club annual show, picked

  • Tourism strategy delayed until October

    A VITAL strategy to promote tourism across the region is facing a five-month delay, it was revealed today. Regional Development Agency One NorthEast (ONE) wrote to small businesses in January, promising it would have a strategy in place by April.But agency

  • Stepping out to raise funds for diabetes

    MORE than 200 walkers are expected to take part in a North-East country walk in an attempt to raise about £200,000 for charity. The gathering at Hardwick Country Park, Sedgefield, County Durham, is one of 61 walks to be held this year by Diabetes UK as

  • It's not quite Children's TV

    CHILDREN'S television favourite Danielle Nicholls is to shock her young fans by performing a sexy pole dance routine in a nightclub. Daring Danielle shed her inhibitions - and her clothes - as a pole dancer for a risque new television show. Danielle,

  • Titanic: The Musical, York Theatre Royal

    WHATEVER the merits of the production, York Musical Theatre Company deserves full marks as well as full houses for its enterprise in presenting the UK premiere of this show. The idea of a musical based on the tragic sinking of the Titanic on her maiden

  • Vintage rally promises fun for everyone

    AN annual vintage and classic vehicle rally will be held this weekend. The Northern Vintage Transport Association event is at Witton Castle, near Bishop Auckland, County Dur-ham, on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the 300 vehicle and machinery entries

  • Doriva is keen to remain

    SIDELINED Brazilian Doriva wants to step up negotiations with Middlesbrough in a bid to remain at the Riverside next season. The midfielder has been out of action since hobbling off at Everton on April 27 and groin surgery means he is also ruled out of

  • 11/05/04

    HEALTH POLICY: I WOULD very much endorse the spokesperson for the Public Health Group North-East in urging both individuals and organisations to contribute to the Government's 'Choosing Health' consultation (Echo, Apr 30). At a recent event organised

  • A whistle-stop tour for assessor Ridden

    If not exactly born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Ken Ridden's arrival merited a silver rattle - with an ivory handle at that - from the Mayor of West Hartlepool. It was Silver Jubilee Day, 1935. The day after his 69th birthday he was back in the

  • The original domestic goddess

    As part of an exhibition highlighting the roles if 18th century women in stately homes, Castle Howard is staging a specially-commissioned dramatisation. Sarah Foster reports. IT might be a conversation between any two women. Huddled over cups of tea,

  • Eating Owt: Life of Pie

    WITHOUT offence to the present artful incumbent, three pieces of legislation will receive top priority when the column assumes the keys to 10 Downing Street. The first will involve the ritual evisceration, preferably with a ceremonial strimmer, of anyone

  • HIV musician 'launched a tirade against women'

    AN African asylum seeker accused of infecting four people with HIV through sex launched a tirade against women - including his mother - after being told he had the virus, a court was told. Musician Feston Konzani made the outburst during a meeting in

  • Warning over scam e-mail phishers

    BANKS have vowed to track down and prosecute those responsible for a growing Internet scam known as phishing. Unsolicited e-mails are being sent to people across the region claiming to be from their on-line bank asking them to input their account details

  • Organisers see the light after art show complaints

    RUFFLED feathers have been smoothed in a village about to stage an exhibition by artists from around the world. Former Turner Prize judge Greville Worthington is promoting Some Versions of Light at the former telephone repeater station in Brompton-on-Swale

  • County looks at its waste

    TEAMS of researchers are getting to grips with household refuse in a bid to improve the county's recycling efforts. The teams are working throughout North Yorkshire as part of a new scheme to find out exactly what is still being thrown away by householders

  • Confidence is all that lies between boom and bust

    INTEREST rates were increased to 4.25 per cent last week. In a bizarre sequence of events, the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) has managed to increase rates in advance of the quarterly inflation report for the third quarter in a row.

  • A modern Jack the Ripper

    Murphy's Law (BBC1); Mandela: Beneath The Halo (C4): The most dangerous thing you can do in a detective series is fall in love with the leading man, especially if his name features in the title. The minute you start getting all lovey-dovey with the top

  • Life of Pie

    WITHOUT offence to the present artful incumbent, three pieces of legislation will receive top priority when the column assumes the keys to 10 Downing Street. The first will involve the ritual evisceration, preferably with a ceremonial strimmer, of anyone

  • Football club facing its most crucial fixture of the season

    These are anxious days if you are a fan of Darlington Football Club. The Quakers may have avoided relegation, but financial worries still cast a cloud over the season. The club has been in administration since Christmas when chairman George Reynolds sought

  • Inquest held into death of woman

    A PENSIONER who fell 12ft from a window at a residential home told people who went to her aid: "I won't fight it any more." Confused Florence Coles continually tried to leave her residential home and return to her former home, an inquest was told. The

  • Chris looks for a change of environment

    WHEN Dr Chris Spray joined Northumbrian Water 13 years ago, the idea that business could act as a champion of wildlife was still in its infancy. As he prepares to leave for a new challenge in Scotland, the concept has made dramatic strides forward and

  • Fans queue four days to see Daniel

    FANS of Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell have snapped up tickets for two of his shows in the North-East after they queued for up to four days. About 20 admirers spent four days outside Harrogate International Centre, North Yorkshire, to make sure of their

  • Pre-school group boost

    A FERRYHILL pre-school initiative has achieved a status that will allow it to offer free nursery education for three and four-year-olds. The pre-school group, at Ferryhill Leisure Centre, has achieved Nursery Education Grant Funded Provision status. Pre-school

  • Store staff seek work

    SUPERMARKET workers are hoping to make a difference by getting involved in community projects. Staff at the Asda store in Bishop Auckland are looking for a community-based scheme that needs help with a new project, so they can volunteer their support.

  • Congregation looks to keep parish hall

    CHURCHGOERS will today request that a burial site and parish hall are excluded from any possible development deal. Members of the congregation at St Thomas' RC Church, Wolsingham, met at the weekend to discuss a proposal that the parish hall, an orchard

  • Computer watch on the roads

    MINI computers will soon be helping a council to speed up its road repair programme. Four pocket-sized computers, costing £6,000 in total, are to be issued to Darlington Borough Council's team of highways inspectors to help them deal more efficiently

  • Vets staff backing cancer charity

    A VETERINARY practice in Darlington is holding a sponsored dog walk this month to raise money for a cancer charity. Staff at the Stanhope Park Veterinary Practice will take part in the nine-mile round walk from Darlington to Walworthgate in aid of the

  • Monkey business is a thriving enterprise

    MONKEY Business is serious stuff for students at Greenfield School Community and Arts College, who enjoyed double success in an enterprise contest. A team from the college, in Newton Aycliffe, won two awards in the Young Enterprise Durham area final.

  • Shake-up links up social and health services

    HEALTH and social services will be made available under the same roof after a shake-up across the Durham Dales area. Four teams covering Bishop Auckland, Willington and Crook, Weardale and Teesdale, will be made up of health professionals and workers

  • Opportunity to purchase historic hall

    A HISTORIC hall which has been transformed into a romantic setting for weddings is up for sale. Beamish Hall next to the Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham,has been put on the market by Beamish Hall Limited. Durham County Council agreed to sell

  • Katie Barlow

    AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy has died after being knocked down on a pedestrian crossing in Hartlepool. Ashley Orley, from the Throston Grange area of town, was killed after being struck by a Jaguar on the A179 Hart Lane, approximately 300m north of Tarnston Lane

  • Cathedral plan for chapel of peace

    A CATHEDRAL surrounded by the biggest concentration of military bases in Europe is pressing ahead with plans for a chapel of justice and peace. The chapel will be created in the north aisle of Ripon Cathedral to cement strong links between the minster

  • Better days on the buses

    BUS journeys across Teesside have become more enjoyable thanks to a drive to stamp out vandalism and bad behaviour. Stockton police community support officers have been working with Stagecoach, travelling on the buses in an attempt to combat anti-social

  • Fire bakery on course for re-opening

    A BAKERY hit by a major fire is on course to meet a tight target for reopening later this month. Production ceased at Peter's Cathedral Bakers following the blaze that gutted its Dragonville Industrial Estate headquarters in Durham on April 25. The fire

  • Tickets in demand for football club play-offs

    FANS were yesterday flocking to snap up tickets for Sunderland's play-off game against Crystal Palace. The Black Cats hope to make an immediate return to the Premiership, following relegation last season, after finishing in third place in Division One

  • Healthy drinks and deli bar prove a hit

    A healthy drinks bar is proving a hit with pupils at a north Durham school. The dining hall at Greencroft School, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, has been revamped as part of a drive to provide more healthy meal options. Fizzy pop has been taken off

  • Police team on the beat at school

    THREE County Durham police officers are going back to school in an attempt to combat crime. The Beat Team has set up shop in Eden Community Primary School, Peterlee, in the hope of nipping potential problems in the bud. The Edenhill area of the town is

  • Survey finds new homes had few security provisions

    Homes being built in York only contain a minimum of security provisions a survey carried out by trading standards officers has revealed. Officers from York City Council's Trading Standards Service visited show homes and building site offices posing as

  • Valuable addition to shopping mall

    SHOPPERS at the North-East's largest shopping centre have noticed that the newest store to the malls is a real gem. Market Cross Jewellers, which has opened in the Green Mall, is a well-established chain of high street jewellers originally from Guisborough

  • Prices at the factory gate reach new low

    PRICES of goods at the factory gate have reached their lowest level since November last year, figures have shown. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed manufacturers were absorbing some of the cost of rising raw material prices. Higher oil

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Assistant quantity surveyor. 35-40 hpw, Mon-Fri. Up to £25,000pa. Must have experience on the contractor side although training will be given. Ref: DUR 40528. Window fabricator. 40 hpw, 8am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri. Exceeds NMW. Must be fully experienced with

  • Cracking down on illegal tipping

    A £100 reward is being offered to anyone in Stockton who supplies information about fly-tippers that leads to a successful prosecution. People are urged to help combat fly-tipping and fly-posting, which blight neighbourhoods. The request follows a successful

  • UK troops accused of shooting civilians

    BRITISH forces in Iraq have shot and killed civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, according to a report released today. Amnesty International claims the killings were in situations where UK troops were not under threat and that many of the cases

  • Concert will help newspaper for blind

    YOUNG musicians will join forces to raise money for a talking newspaper for the blind. Ouston Junior School Choir and Chester-le-Street Salvation Army Young People's Brass Band will be in concert at the Salvation Army Hall in Low Chare, Chester-le-Street

  • Trade park welcomes first tenant

    A North-East trade park has been launched with the arrival of its first tenant. UK Land Estates announced the first tenant at the Tyne Tunnel Trade Park is plumbing merchants Plumb Center. It is part of Wolseley UK, whose brands Plumb Center, Build Center

  • Intrepid cyclists set an example

    THREE intrepid Americans on a marathon cycle ride from Glasgow to Athens called in at a Middlesbrough hospital. Brad Kennedy, Dan Sheret and Mitch Reinitz, all amputees, are taking part in the 32-day, "seize the day" discovery tour sponsored by Otto Bock

  • It only takes a hour to give that valued help

    JUST An Hour is the most obvious example of Northumbrian Water's commitment to putting something back into the community. The scheme, introduced last year, allows staff to use an hour's paid work time every month to do voluntary work and, at the last

  • Grants for groups helping sensory impaired people

    GROUPS who work with people with sensory disabilities across the North-East are being urged to apply for grants. Orange Community Futures is a grants programme recognising and rewarding grassroots projects organised by small voluntary or registered charitable

  • Esther's plea to tackle the bullies

    CHILDLINE chairwoman Esther Rantzen yesterday made a heartfelt plea for an end to the schooldays scourge of bullying. She likened the problem to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, saying the horrifying images in the media showed just how easily the vulnerable

  • Firm wins its third health contract

    A specialist hospital unit serving south Durham will be the third major health project for one of the region's companies. The £1.3m cardio-angiography unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital is expected to reduce waiting times and improve treatment for heart

  • Father admits responsibility for son's death

    A FATHER has admitted being responsible for killing his son. Paul Marshall, 56, was due to stand trial yesterday for causing the death by dangerous driving of his 20-year-old son, Scott. But a hearing that was scheduled for two weeks was brought to an

  • Namid win is a tonic for Duffield

    Ann Duffield provided her husband George with a welcome tonic when she sent out Prince Namid to win the Crows Nest Restaurant Novice Median Auction Stakes under Steve Carson at Redcar yesterday. Prince Namid made virtually all, asserting from the furlong

  • Death of JP 'a tragic loss to community'

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a senior magistrate whose death has been described as a tragic loss to the community. Family and colleagues described Sheila Singh-Toor, of St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, as a kind and generous woman

  • Stand-up and be counted

    He's much-abused Manny in Black Books, and team captain in Never Mind the Buzzcocks, but it's as a stand-up comedian that Bill Bailey is happiest. But it wasn't his first choice of profession, as Nick Morrison discovers. IT'S the afternoon after the night

  • Sir Bobby:I'd never condemn the fans

    NEWCASTLE United boss Sir Bobby Robson last night issued an impassioned rallying call after a TV gaffe sparked anger among fans. The 71-year-old Magpies manager found himself embroiled in controversy after off-the-record comments about supporters were

  • Senior detective looks again at evidence in Neale case

    THREE years after a police investigation into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale ended, a senior detective will re-examine the evidence. The move has delighted the 300 members of the support group set up by victims of the former Northallerton surgeon. Detectives

  • Asian links may bring manufacturer to region

    A major steel manufacturer is considering investing in the region, a move that could bring up to a hundred jobs and thousands of pounds' worth of investment. Viraj Alloys, part of the Viraj Group - an Indian company with an annual turnover of more than

  • Passenger hurt after hooligans hurl block

    A TEENAGE girl who was injured when thugs hurled half a breezeblock through a bus window was lucky to escape serious injury, police said last night. The 17-year-old, who has not been named, was travelling on a Go North-East service from Durham City to

  • Sir Bobby: I'd never condemn the fans

    NEWCASTLE United boss Sir Bobby Robson last night issued an impassioned rallying call after a TV gaffe sparked anger among fans. The 71-year-old Magpies manager found himself embroiled in controversy after off-the-record comments about supporters were

  • The original domestic goddess

    As part of an exhibition highlighting the roles if 18th century women in stately homes, Castle Howard is staging a specially-commissioned dramatisation. Sarah Foster reports. IT might be a conversation between any two women. Huddled over cups of tea,

  • A costly talking shop that achieves little

    John Elliott, chairman of Bishop Auckland manufacturer Ebac Limited, gives his view on the regional assembly debate. If the North-East Regional Assembly follows precedents it will be an expensive talking shop that achieves very little. I know those who

  • Northern Foods announces sale of Minsterley

    NORTHERN Foods has sold its Minsterley dairy products business for £16.5m as part of a continuing drive to cut group debt. Northern, which counts Dalepak frozen foods, of Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, among its brands, said it had agreed to sell the operation

  • How we can harness heat and light

    PASSIVE SOLAR POWER: This is the simplest method of harvesting the sun's energy and relies on absorbing warmth through windows and walls, and hanging on to it. The choice of materials and building design are critical and are often used in reverse to prevent

  • When massage is a pet subject

    Holistic therapy can help treat all sorts of conditions - from arthritic dogs to women with fertility problems. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. EVERYONE likes to pet their dog - it's beneficial for both dog and owner. But imagine going that extra

  • Axe hangs over North-East's major police training centre

    THE North-East's biggest centre for new police recruits could face the axe because of a radical shake-up in the way officers are trained. The probationer training facility at Durham Police's Aykley Heads HQ in Durham City may be threatened under modernisation

  • Dark days of conspicuous consumptiuon

    I've just got back from a perfect holiday in the Algarve. Sitting in the bar before dinner every evening I got drawn into those conversations of instant intimacy. The bloke with the pipe said: "So, you're a parson then? Now what I'd like to know is what

  • Raised in the South, born in the North - the Wembley arch

    THE latest addition to London's skyline is a sight that should bring a warm glow to every North-Easterner making a pilgrimage to the nation's capital. At 133 metres high and weighing an impressive 1,750 tonnes, it is a heavyweight in every respect. It

  • Rare flower picked for county emblem

    A TINY blue flower that grows almost exclusively in Upper Teesdale has been chosen as the floral emblem of County Durham. The Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) was voted the county's favourite flower in a survey by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife

  • Art festival feast of colour

    THE first Cleveland Primary Schools' Art Festival has been described as a "marvellous display of strong colour and bold technique", by James Bustard, head of visual arts for the Arts Council North East, who opened it. The exhibition is being held at Teesside

  • UK troops accused of shooting civilians

    BRITISH forces in Iraq have shot and killed civilians, including an eight-year-old girl, according to a report released today. Amnesty International claims the killings were in situations where UK troops were not under threat and that many of the cases

  • Advice on cutting risk of tubes becoming blocked

    METHODS to prevent breathing tubes used in anaesthesia becoming blocked during operations were unveiled today. Two years after an investigation was set up to look into the problem, a set of proposals has been published. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam

  • Stand-up and be counted

    He's much-abused Manny in Black Books, and team captain in Never Mind the Buzzcocks, but it's as a stand-up comedian that Bill Bailey is happiest. But it wasn't his first choice of profession, as Nick Morrison discovers. IT'S the afternoon after the night

  • Young boy killed whilst crossing road

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a 11-year-old boy who was killed as he crossed a pedestrian crossing. Ashley Orley was struck by a Jaguar as he made his way across the crossing on the A179 Hart Lane in Hartlepool, just 300m north of Tarnston Lane. The youngster

  • Barron Knights are to ride again

    VETERANS of the stage will visit the North-East this month. The Barron Knights will bring their unusual blend of music and comedy to Durham's Gala Theatre, on Sunday. It will be something of a homecoming for one of the three surviving founder members

  • Schools may get dental surgeries

    DENTAL surgeries could be opened in North-East schools in an attempt to arrest the region's poor record on tooth decay. A recent study revealed that Middlesbrough has the highest percentage of people in the region registered with a dentist. Yet it has

  • Government changes the rules of engagement

    HISTORICALLY, there was no obligation on members of the Territorial Army and other volunteer reserve forces to tell their employers of their status - presumably because it was thought some employers may discriminate against reservists by refusing to employ

  • Boys set stage for return of the king

    PUPILS are taking to the stage with their version of the story of a Greek king returning home after a long war. Boys at Bow School, Durham, will perform the story of Odysseus in One More Journey, at Durham School's Luce Theatre tonight and on Thursday

  • Williams aims to be play-off top Cat

    DARREN Williams last night claimed that Sunderland are the number one side in the First Division play-off race - and the Black Cats full-back expects to prove as much over the final fortnight of the season. Sunderland will play the first leg of their

  • We've lost everything - Reynolds' cousin

    THE cousin and business partner of George Reynolds admitted last night that it was a mistake to take out a loan to finish Darlington FC's £20m stadium. Richie Tennick invested his life savings in the ill-fated venture. Now he stands to lose almost everything

  • Firefighters on a high after mountain mission

    A GROUP of North-East firefighters have returned safely after an assault on Mount Everest aimed at raising the flag for equality in all walks of life. Divisional Officer John Robson and Sub Officer Gary Bankhead, of Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue

  • Children help highlight the burning issue of too much sun

    CHILDREN from a North-East hospital nursery are doing their bit to protect other youngsters from sunburn. To mark Sun Awareness Week, children from the Playdays Day Nursery attached to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, wore bright

  • Horticultural show uprooted after 29 years

    DURHAM City Council has pulled the plug on the city's annual autumn horticultural show. The Liberal Democrat-controlled council, said the event, established in 1974, was attracting fewer entrants and was also costing too much. Instead, it plans to offer

  • Teamwork is the key in £1.5m college project

    WORK on a £1.5m extension to a science unit at Durham University is under way with two construction companies working in partnership. Bowey Construction, one of the region's largest building contractors, and Faithful and Gould, international project management

  • Cut price security for car owners

    MOTORISTS are being urged to take up a cut-price deal offering added security against thieves this week. Residents of Darlington will be able to buy steering wheel locks for £40, instead of the usual price of £80, at the Morrison's supermarket, at Morton

  • Call to reduce motorists' speed

    A PARISH council has voiced its concerns over the actions of speeding motorists. The authority in Neasham, near Darlington, has frequently raised fears about the problem. At its latest meeting, chairman Councillor John Weighell said: "We have again been

  • Peer support scheme seeks to promote breast-feeding

    NEW mothers are being trained to help their peers in a pioneering initiative designed to promote breast feeding. Eight women are undergoing a 12-week training course before becoming official peer support mothers. The training not only includes advice

  • Williams' play-off present

    HARTLEPOOL United's history-making season has taken on a new chapter, with the club's first international call in 40 years. Pool's bid to reach the First Division through the play-offs was boosted when Eifion Williams was named in Mark Hughes' Wales squad

  • Garden of Eden hit by pollution

    GARDENERS in Spennymoor have been rocked by the temporary closure of town centre allotments. Nearly 60 growers who rent plots at Timothy Terrace have been forced to down tools for two months after a small section of land was found to be contaminated.

  • Advice session for pensioners

    Advisors from the Pension Service local team are holding a drop-in advice surgery at the he Coast and Country Community Centre, Thrushwood Crescent, Marske, on Friday, between 9.30am and 2pm. Pensioners or their relatives are invited to call in for advice

  • Police issue warning after gang causes havoc in park

    PARENTS are being urged to keep a closer eye on their children after a night of violence at a park in Stockton. Thirteen police officers were called to Ropner Park after a gang of 50 or 60 youths began to cause mayhem. During the incident a 15-year-old

  • Windfarm opponents are backed

    CAMPAIGNERS opposing plans to build a windfarm off the North-East coast have received support from MPs and the Trades Union Congress (TUC). EDF Energy wants to build a windfarm half a mile off Coatham Sands, Redcar, east Cleveland, with 30 turbines capable

  • Bone marrow appeal

    A charity is appealing for bone marrow donors. The Anthony Nolan Trust, in conjunction with Northallerton Round Table, has organised a session to encourage people to find out how to become donors. Young people, particularly men, make the most effective

  • McAlpine celebrates a good year

    SERVICES group McAlpine said it had a good year thanks to four major contracts, including one in the North-East. The four contracts, worth £65m, included one for £21m with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to take over the maintenance of local roads

  • Salvation Army's 80 years of memories

    THE Salvation Army is celebrating 80 years in a north Durham village this week. The Leadgate Corps is marking the occasion with a photographic exhibition featuring highlights of its years in the village, as well as meetings and talks. Salvation Army Leadgate

  • Woman, 82, denies murder

    AN 82-year-old woman has appeared in court and denied murdering a fellow resident at a care home. May Thrower pleaded not guilty to murdering Olive Garvie, 93, who died almost three weeks after she was found collapsed in her room at the private Coniscliffe

  • King Revo ready to rock the Knavesmire

    KING REVO'S progressive profile should ensure he gives his backers a big run for their money on day one of York's prestigious May meeting. Patrick Haslam's four-year-old, who mopped up four races over hurdles during a profitable winter jumps' campaign

  • Researchers muck in to aid county's recycling strategy

    TEAMS of plucky researchers are getting to grips with household refuse in a pungent task that could improve recycling efforts. They are picking through peelings and raking through the rubbish in a waste research project that is not for the faint-hearted

  • Learning support scheme launched

    VULNERABLE people who are looked after at home or receive residential care should soon benefit from a better service. A learning support unit is being developed within North Yorkshire County Council's social services. Social care workers will, in future

  • Health chiefs turn out to defend system

    SENIOR managers of the health service in North Yorkshire turned out in force at a public meeting to defend Wensleydale's out-of-hours system. The North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors network took over responsibility for cover at night and weekends from local

  • Closing scenes for stage actors

    A NORTH Yorkshire theatre company's successful tour of one-act plays by Harold Pinter comes to an end this week. The Pickering-based Northern Lights Theatre Company has been performing Pinter's The Lover and A Slight Ache in theatres around the region

  • MP's quest over health and housing

    AN MP is backing housing charity Shelter after new figures revealed that more than 4,000 children in the region were suffering in bad housing. Vera Baird, MP for Redcar, east Cleveland, is calling on local people to join in the Shelter campaign to end

  • Plumber Adam wins apprentice award

    AN apprentice plumber is celebrating success in a national award scheme. Adam Goodall, 18, of Brandon, was runner-up in the apprentice of the year awards run by the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE), the body for council workforces. He won

  • Concert will help newspaper for blind

    YOUNG musicians will join forces to raise money for a talking newspaper for the blind. Ouston Junior School Choir and Chester-le-Street Salvation Army Young People's Brass Band will be in concert at the Salvation Army Hall in Low Chare, Chester-le-Street

  • Athletic day for youngsters

    Schoolchildren had a sporty day with the Olympics in mind. Le Cateau Primary School, in Catterick Garrison, linked up with Sport By Design for a day of Olympic-themed events that also helped with numeracy and knowledge of the world. The youngsters tested

  • Victory is claimed in fight to save park

    CAMPAIGNERS who have fought a seven-year battle to save a playing field from being lost to development have won a final victory. Princess Anne Park, in Washington, has been registered as a village green by Sunderland City Council after the bid to block

  • Home is where the heart is for Willie

    AFTER more than 80 years in a long-stay hospital, Willie Riddle, 97, is savouring life in his own home. Mr Riddle is the first person from Monkton Hall, in Jarrow, South Tyneside, to move on to more independent living in the community. The remaining 35

  • Calls to save allotments

    RESIDENTS of Kirkbymoorside have backed calls by the local Allotments' Association for action to save their gardens through a compulsory purchase order. More than 50 people at the town assembly agreed that Ryedale District Council should be asked to buy

  • Outstanding tenant Jane wins award

    A TENANT from a housing association has won an award. Endeavour Housing Association gave the Outstanding Tenant Award to Jane Marshall, 38, of Park Road North, Middlesbrough, in recognition of her effort and commitment to her property. The award was presented

  • On TV last night...

    Murphy's Law (BBC1) Mandela: Beneath The Halo (C4) The most dangerous thing you can do in a detective series is fall in love with the leading man, especially if his name features in the title. The minute you start getting all lovey-dovey with the top

  • Vital breakthrough by N-E scientists in superbugs fight

    SCIENTISTS in the region have taken an important step forward in their battle against the threat of mutating superbugs. A team at Durham University, led by Professor Adrian Walmsley, has succeeded in isolating a protein from the micro-organism, which

  • A woman of achievement who is shaping the future of skills

    Over 18 years, Sheila Gibbin worked her way from clerical department to chief executive of Bells Training. Christen Pears meets an award-winning Woman of Achievement who still has a passion for business. BEING named Woman of Achievement at last year's

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Catering assistant, £4.50-£5ph. Must have good communication skills. Ref; DAE 39013. Bar staff, meets National Minimum Wage (NMW). Previous experience preferred, but training given. Ref: DAE 39019. Waiter/ess, meets NMW. Previous experience preferred

  • Financial crisis may mean the end of the road for car maker

    MITSUBISHI shareholders could not believe what they were hearing. Gathering in Tokyo to discover what was to be done about the company's financial woes, they had been led to expect another massive financial injection from largest shareholder DaimlerChrysler

  • Man is jailed for part in fuel scam

    A MAN involved in an organised fuel scam across the North-East and North Yorkshire has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Gary Lowes was part of a team of people who stole diesel from service stations and haulage yards to sell on the black market

  • A legacy of success left on his own doorstep

    ALTHOUGH he has travelled the world, Dr Spray, who lives in Weardale, remains proudest of projects on his doorstep, singling out several in the North-East in which Northumbrian Water has played a crucial role, including: * The Skerne Restoration Project

  • Stand up Bill Bailey...

    IT'S the afternoon after the night before, and Bill Bailey is getting ready for the second night of his national tour. His Part Troll show is something of a work in progress: it's been on the go for about nine months, but it's constantly evolving. "It

  • Museum to host sports cars rally

    A CAR rally celebrating a sporty three-wheeler takes place at one of the region's leading holiday attractions this weekend. The Morgan Sports Car Club Meet takes place at the Beamish Museum, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on Sunday. About 50 of

  • Concert tickets go on sale

    TICKETS are on sale for the Alanbrooke Concert. The concert, at Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe, Thirsk, on Thursday, May 20, will feature the Royal Artillery Band, York Philharmonic Choir, Thirsk School Band and Sowerby School Choir. Proceeds will go

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: They've still all to play for

    WE have all regretted the things we have said in the heat of the moment. Sir Bobby Robson is no exception, and whatever he did or didn't say in an unguarded moment while television cameras were still running has to be kept in the perspective of a remarkable

  • Even rain is used at Stella site

    THE most high-profile commercial building in the North-East to be fitted with renewable energy systems is the new One NorthEast headquarters, Stella House, at Newburn, Newcastle. The building uses environmentally sound systems, such as rainwater to flush

  • New library is a wow

    A NEW school reference library has impressed pupils with its cosy surroundings and wide range of books. The library has been moved and expanded from the entrance of Mill Hill Primary School in Northallerton, to a mobile classroom in the grounds. It has

  • County come calling for Conlon

    RELEGATED Notts County have confirmed their interest in Darlington striker Barry Conlon. County boss Gary Mills has identified Conlon as the man to lead his side back into the Second Division at the first attempt next season. The 25-year-old is out of

  • Solar power: The free energy source that won't cost the earth

    FREE energy is available to us all every day, all we have to do is make the best use of it. Solar energy powers the Earth, it governs our weather and gives plants the energy they need to fuel the food chain. It can even heat your hot water and run your

  • Textile industry hit by another 50 job losses

    THE region's beleagured textile industry suffered another blow last night with the announcement of the loss of about 50 jobs. The once thriving clothing market has seen thousands of jobs lost in the North-East during the past few years due to competition

  • Crisis? Remember how it was before Sir Bobby

    NEWCASTLE United are never far away from a crisis but, even given the unique role that football plays in North-East life, the events of the last 48 hours have been particularly tumultuous. Defeat in Marseille, and a home draw with Wolves that leaves the

  • Maddison aiming to turn his magic touch to the Brabazon Trophy

    JUST days after becoming the Durham County Boys champion, Tom Maddison has turned his attentions to the Brabazon Trophy. The Castle Eden golfer finished three shots ahead of Blackwell Grange's Adam Bates and last year's winner Paul Oakley (Billingham)