Archive

  • The youngest boy to die in justice system

    CAMPAIGNERS last night demanded a public inquiry into the treatment of children by the criminal justice system after a 14-year-old became the youngest person in the country to die while in custody. The call came after Adam Rickwood was found hanged in

  • Job-loss firm's bridge over troubled waters

    A BELEAGUERED North-East engineering firm has finally found something to celebrate - the opening of one of the world's longest cable bridges. Cleveland Bridge, which recently pulled out of the Wembley Stadium project and last week axed 95 workers, helped

  • Liddle on target as Quakers stage fightback

    A goal from Craig Liddle earned a deserved point for Darlington after they recovered from going behind to an early goal at Yeovil Town last night. Last season it took Darlington 15 attempts to bring home all three points from an away fixture but it shouldn't

  • If Henry can do it...

    HENRY Allingham insisted on standing on his own two feet. How unlike Mike Blake. Mr Allingham is 108 years old, the oldest survivor of the World War I soldiers. At the ceremony last week to mark the 90th anniversary of the start of the war, Mr Allingham

  • Forest track is axed for rallying after death

    A STRETCH of forestry track used during national rallying events is to be abandoned after the death of a competitor, an inquest heard. Driver and navigator Christine Francis, a 45-year-old mother-of-two, died from multiple injuries in an accident last

  • When it rains it pours

    HOMES and businesses across the region battened down the hatches yesterday to shelter from the lashing rain - and the bad news last night was that the wet weather is set to linger over the North-East for the rest of the week. Emergency crews in North

  • Waders thriving on grouse moors

    THE North Pennines grouse moors help provide an important stronghold for rare upland wading birds, a survey has revealed. Studies by the Game Conservancy Trust (GCT) shows that management of upland moors for grouse has not only helped to retain heather

  • End of an era as Co-op agrees sale of dairy to farmers' group

    history came full circle yesterday with the announcement that a company owned by farmers was buying the Co-op's dairy operation for £75m. The Co-operative movement began in the 19th Century with the formation of a number of societies, each striving to

  • Businesses asked for flight details

    TEESSIDE Airport yesterday urged business leaders to play a key role in developing its network of flights. Officials have drawn up a list of destinations, both domestic and international, that they believe the local business and leisure community would

  • Thriller in spotlight

    THE classic thriller Dial M For Murder opened to audiences at Darlington Civic Theatre last night. Former Neighbours and Home and Away star Richard Grieve is in the cast of the 1950s tale by Frederick Knott. Brookside actor Steven Pinder plays retired

  • Cats have a liking for home comforts

    SUNDERLAND built last season's promotion campaign on their fine form at the Stadium of Light and, if last night's 3-1 win over Crewe is anything to go by, home comforts could be crucial to their latest Premiership push. Goals from Carl Robinson, Marcus

  • The youngest boy to die in justice system

    CAMPAIGNERS last night demanded a public inquiry into the treatment of children by the criminal justice system after a 14-year-old became the youngest person in the country to die while in custody. The call came after Adam Rickwood was found hanged in

  • Arla Foods in Scottish move

    DAIRY business Arla Foods last night announced plans to open a Scottish dairy early next year. The business, which has processing plants in Northallerton and Newcastle, is opening the dairy at Lockerbie, in Dumfriesshire, in a joint venture with its partner

  • Gadfly: Formula for the perfect feature

    THE Lady of This House observed in one of her columns last week that there is a new breed of "Ask Me Another" text message, quid a query. A similar "Ask Jeeves" service exists on the Internet, www.ask.co.uk. The day before Sharon's piece appeared, Peter

  • Rok reveals a solid performance

    PROPERTY services provider Rok announced a 26 per cent rise in pre-tax profits last night. The company, which recently opened offices on Teesside and in Newcastle, said the North-East bases had contributed to the group's overall strong performance. Area

  • Echo Memories: Quaker ties brought orphan prosperity

    ARCHITECT John Middleton was only connected to south Durham for a decade, but he left a string of railway stations that have recently been revived in Weardale and a pair of buildings that still dominate Darlington. Middleton was born in August 1820, the

  • The Lifeblood Appeal

    THE Northern Echo has launched its Lifeblood campaign to encourage more people to give blood. These are some of the donor sessions planned for the coming week: TOMORROW: Community Centre, Low Grange Avenue, Billingham, 3pm-7pm. Room 2, 10 Salem Street

  • Ant and Dec open airport extension

    Geordie duo Ant and Dec returned to their home city today to unveil a new extension at Newcastle Airport. The top TV entertainers were invited to the official opening of the £7 million redevelopment of the terminal which now boasts an internet lounge

  • Hero of river rescue dies

    A MAN who saved a child's life in a dramatic river rescue has died. Peter Cannon, of Aysgarth Close, Kendal, Cumbria, died after he plunged into the River Kent where a child was being swept away. The 28-year-old fought the current to carry the youngster

  • Smart money on bumpy ride at Croft

    SCOTT SMART is expecting a bumpy ride when he brings his British Superbike to Croft this weekend. But the Hawk Kawasaki rider, who currently occupies third place in the British standings behind Michael Rutter and championship leader John Reynolds, is

  • Filling station scheme criticised

    PROPOSALS to redevelop the site of a filling station and garage in a village near Darlington have been criticised by local councillors. Members of Middleton St George Parish Council decided to object to plans to build five town houses in the centre of

  • New hope for disabled African girl

    A YOUNG girl who has bravely battled all her life with one leg is being given new hope thanks to the generosity of Darlington's market traders. Stallholders in the town have raised £200 to buy a prosthetic limb for ten-year-old Debora Lazore, who lives

  • Children hear domestic violence message

    A GRAFFITI artist, a disc jockey and theatre performers have helped raise awareness of domestic violence for Darlington youngsters. Comfort Zone - Looking at Healthy Relationships was held at Branksome Community Centre yesterday. The acts used art, music

  • Man made threats to kill ex-partner

    A MAN threatened to kill the mother of his son in a text message after hearing she was seeing another man, a court heard yesterday. William Tomlinson, who has a personality disorder, sent Clare Hall four messages, which left her fearing for her life.

  • Stage set for walking festival

    THE first Darlington Walking Festival will begin later this month. It will take place over the weekend of August 21 and 22, and will include routes for walkers of all abilities. On offer are a family treasure hunt, guided town walks and a ten-mile walk

  • Plea for return of estate buses

    PEOPLE are petitioning a bus company to reinstate two routes. Branksome Residents' Association, in Darlington, collected 300 names supporting the return of the numbers 25a and 25b services two years after they ceased. Copies have been sent to Prime Minster

  • Economists predict further interest rate rises

    EXPERTS have forecast more interest rate rises, despite a fall in inflation. Further rate rises are expected, even though official figures showed the Consumer Price Index falling by 0.2 to 1.4 per cent last month. Falling petrol, seasonal food and household

  • £4.8m centre of learning project gets back on track

    AN innovative education project that hit financial problems last month is back on track. The £4.87m scheme to create an education centre on the Skerne Park estate, in Darlington, ran into problems last month, when it was revealed the project was over-budget

  • Market traders in talks

    TRADERS who attend Barnard Castle market are to meet council officials today after an anonymous letter was circulated in the town. About 25 stallholders have been invited to the council offices to discuss stall rents and any other issues they wish to

  • Opera singer backs arts project

    AN opera singer has backed a project to encourage creativity in Teesside youngsters. Soprano Suzannah Clarke, of Middlesbrough, has agreed to advocate the work of the Government-backed Creative Partnerships organisation. The organisation will continue

  • Nine-month-old Aaron prepares for his next operation

    A BABY, who weighed only 29oz at birth and survived four life-threatening illnesses, is gaining strength to prepare for surgery. Nine-month-old Aaron Cook overcame a blood infection, MRSA, meningitis and fluid on the brain. He was born three months early

  • Seeking out the past

    A YOUTHFUL Time Team are being taught 2,000-year-old techniques to update information on one of the region's largest Roman forts. Ten teenagers are working at Binchester, near Bishop Auckland, where a defensive rampart and part of the fort survive, but

  • Future developments to embrace public artwork

    ANY development projects proposed for Durham will in future have to make money available to improve the city by creating public art. Durham City Council yesterday approved the policy which, it says, will ensure that the whole city benefits from any such

  • Young sailing students make the most of the wet weather

    DETERMINED youngsters on Teesside were messing about on the river despite heavy rain yesterday. Teenagers and younger children from across the borough of Stockton are learning sailing skills on the River Tees during the summer holidays. The Castlegate

  • Protest over sweatshop workers

    NORTH-EAST campaigner Carolyn Blyth joined an international protest against what she described as sweatshop conditions in sportswear yesterday. Ms Blyth, from Sunderland, arranged for a group of activists to pose at sewing machines on a rooftop in the

  • Mendieta aiming for international recall

    Gaizka Mendieta aims to push himself back into the international reckoning by showing the Middlesbrough fans exactly why Lazio paid £29m for his services. The former star of the Spanish and Italian leagues was seen as one of the steals of recent years

  • Harvey ready for the Kenyan challenge

    AUSTRALIA-born Natalie Harvey, who has switched her allegiance to Great Britain, will be challenging top Kenyan runners in Sunday's sixth Auckland Castle 10K. Harvey competed in the last Commonwealth Games for her native land, but has since made a permanent

  • News in brief: Help repair public footpath

    THE British Trust for Conservation Volunteers is looking for people to help out with a project to repair a public footpath. The site, near Roseberry Topping, near Guisborough, is popular with walkers and the work will involve building an edging board

  • Warning over dinghy dangers

    LIFEGUARDS have warned of the dangers posed to youngsters using inflatable dinghies. They were speaking after an incident on the sands at Majuba beach in Redcar, east Cleveland, in which two boys were ordered to bring an inflatable back to shore. They

  • Charity in search of new friends

    A CHARITY that helps the blind is looking for "friends'' who can help it develop its services. The County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, in North Road, Durham, helps the county's visually impaired people with services including talking

  • Successful outcome to drugs training course

    A GROUP of Durham residents have passed a drugs and alcohol training course. Their achievement will enable them to take an active role in tackling drug and substance abuse at community level. The six residents, who have all lived with some form of substance

  • Health services make progress after listening to their patients

    HEALTH officials are learning from concerns raised by patients, according to research by a primary care trust (PCT). Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT has analysed how it deals with its Patient Advice and Liaison Service (Pals) and its complaints procedure

  • '95 per cent of county homes have a garden'

    There are more houses in County Durham with gardens than in any other area of the North-East and North Yorkshire, a survey has revealed. Almost 95 per cent of homes in County Durham have a garden, compared to 89.5 per cent in North Yorkshire, and 69.9

  • Lavatories vandalism targeted

    FERRYHILL Town Council has taken measures to stop vandals damaging public lavatories. A number of incidents of vandalism have taken place at the Ferryhill Station lavatories, which have recently been refurbished, including smashing the windows and the

  • Expert animal tips

    TWO animal trainers from Teesdale are to give a talk about training dogs and horses using positive methods. Aileen Clarke, from Fellandale Dog Training, and Maggie Murray, from TTeam in the North, are to give the talk on August 31, at Park House Farm,

  • Tests on offer at pharmacy

    PEOPLE can have their blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels tested during a Health Awareness Day tomorrow. Bellpharm Pharmacy, in Lealholm Crescent, Middlesbrough, will hold the event from 10am to 4pm. Tests cost £2.50. A representative

  • New library to offer variety of services to community

    A NEW library will provide a lot more than just books to the local community, say councillors. The new facility in Colburn will include eight computer terminals with broadband Internet access, a caf, enlarged children's section, plus district council

  • Residents and staff celebrate refurbishment of care home

    RESIDENTS at a revamped care home are enjoying their new surroundings. The Beeches is now a 31-bed nursing care home for the elderly, near the village of Kelloe. It provides 21 residential and ten nursing beds on the site of what was the former St Helen's

  • Businesses asked for flight details

    TEESSIDE Airport yesterday urged business leaders to play a key role in developing its network of flights. Officials have drawn up a list of destinations, both domestic and international, that they believe the local business and leisure community would

  • Play area memorial tribute

    A LASTING memorial will be unveiled to a seven-year-old girl "with a marvellous smile" in one of her favourite playgrounds. Rose Jeffries died suddenly on November 5 last year from a rare stomach condition shortly after being taken ill. Her parents, Steven

  • Music festival celebrates 80 years

    VETERANS from one of the region's most respected music competitions will be reunited next month to mark eight decades of success. Consett Music Festival celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. The group was formed in 1924 as Consett began to modernise

  • Off-road motorcyclists may have machines confiscated

    OFF-ROAD motorcyclists risk having their bikes confiscated if they continue to ride across a private piece of land. Police are stepping up patrols to combat nuisance and potential danger of young bikers using a large grassed area off Broomside Lane, Belmont

  • Knocking on Mallon's door

    He's an aspiring Labour MP, but that hasn't stopped Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon from being courted by politicians of all shades. Political Editor Chris Lloyd looks at the Mallon phenomenon in action. "I HAVE heard the officer talking about human rights

  • Concern over proposal to relocate mental health unit

    CONTROVERSIAL proposals to relocate a psychiatric unit have been published. Mental health bosses want to close a five-bed psychiatric intensive care unit in Durham and transfer the facilities to Darlington. Officials describe the proposal, which is going

  • Forest track is axed for rallying after death

    A STRETCH of forestry track used during national rallying events is to be abandoned after the death of a competitor, an inquest heard. Driver and navigator Christine Francis, a 45-year-old mother-of-two, died from multiple injuries in an accident last

  • Comment from The Northen Echo: Prisons are not the answer

    MICHAEL Howard was back on familiar political territory yesterday. As Home Secretary, he made his reputation with a no-nonsense, hard-line approach to criminals. As Leader of the Opposition, and potential Prime Minister, he remains a keen advocate of

  • Double fatal crash driver was over limit

    THE driver of a car which hit a railway bridge killing himself and a friend had been drinking and also had traces of cocaine in his blood stream, an inquest was told. Jonathan Fishwick, 18, and David Welch, 27, who both lived in Yarm Road, Darlington,

  • A damp squib for Tykes

    Groundsman Andy Fogarty and his dedicated staff transformed Headingley from a swamp into a field on which a 17-overs-a-side totesport League match could be played last night but his efforts were all in vain so far as Yorkshire Phoenix were concerned.

  • Liddle on target as Quakers stage fightback

    A goal from Craig Liddle earned a deserved point for Darlington after they recovered from going behind to an early goal at Yeovil Town last night. Last season it took Darlington 15 attempts to bring home all three points from an away fixture but it shouldn't

  • No room in Dales for park cowboy

    A COWBOY may have to "leave town" after his dream of opening a Wild West school in the Yorkshire Dales was shot down by planners. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has been on the trail of Django the Hungarian cowboy ever since he unsaddled

  • Management buyout saves scaffolding jobs

    SIXTY-FIVE scaffolding jobs have been saved in County Durham after a management buyout. Bow Scaffolding Group North-East, in Peterlee, County Durham, went into receivership in June with its Essex-based parent company. A new company, North-East Scaffolding

  • Wilkinson looks forward to making a fresh start

    JONNY Wilkinson has promised to play with a smile on his face this season after admitting that his rugby union career almost came to an end in March. The Newcastle Falcons fly half damaged a nerve between his spine and shoulder as he steered England to

  • Recruitment group targets Tees Valley

    NORTHERN Recruitment Group (NRG) said it would make the Tees Valley a major target for business in the coming year as it announced a doubling of profits. NRG, which is based in Newcastle and has offices in Darlington, York and Middlesbrough, announced

  • Scientists to carry out stem cell research

    A team of North-East scientists have got the go-ahead to carry out pioneering research to create stem cells from unfertilised human eggs. The decision puts the UK at the forefront of global research in this very promising area of medicine and confirms

  • Music festival celebrates 80 years

    VETERANS from one of the region's most respected music competitions will be reunited next month to mark eight decades of success. Consett Music Festival celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. The group was formed in 1924 as Consett began to modernise

  • Police cars get black box recorders

    POLICE patrol cars in a part of the North-East are to be fitted with black box recorders similar to those used in aircraft. The electronic recorders, which cost a little over £300 each, record detailed information about a car's speed, direction of travel

  • Investment leads to improved efficiency

    CONSERVATORY manufacturer Amdega said yesterday that it was not a company in difficulty, despite announcing 16 job losses. The company, which is based in Darlington, shed 70 jobs last March. It now plans to make 16 joiners redundant at Christmas. Managing

  • If Henry can do it, why can't Mike?

    HENRY Allingham insisted on standing on his own two feet. How unlike Mike Blake. Mr Allingham is 108 years old, the oldest survivor of the World War I soldiers. At the ceremony last week to mark the 90th anniversary of the start of the war, Mr Allingham

  • Air ambulance team tests second helicopter

    OPERATORS of one of the region's air ambulance services will test demand for a second helicopter this weekend. Yorkshire Air Ambulance's existing helicopter, which is called out an average of 15 times a week, is based at Leeds/Bradford Airport. However

  • Blignaut misses floodlit clash

    ANDY Blignaut's chances of facing his future Tasmania teammate Ricky Ponting during Somerset's visit to Durham are looking remote because of the Zimbabwean's chest infection. Australia captain Ponting is in a weakened Somerset line-up for tonight's floodlit

  • Food bug outbreak total rises to 76

    A FOOD bug outbreak is showing no sign of slowing down, two weeks after it began. Last night, confirmed cases of the salmonella infection stood at 76, with a further 13 suspected cases. Three people are being treated in hospital. Most of the cases are

  • Mallon encourages police to break law - Chief

    Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon was today embroiled in another row with his former force after urging police to drag criminals from their beds and ignore their human rights. Sean Price, the Chief Constable of Cleveland, accused Mr Mallon of encouraging

  • Christine is half the woman she was

    A HOSPITAL cook is to feature in a national slimming magazine following her spectacular weight loss. When Christine Tonge, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, first stepped on the scales at her local slimming club, she weighed 21st 1lb and wore a size

  • Quaker ties brought orphan prosperity

    ARCHITECT John Middleton was only connected to south Durham for a decade, but he left a string of railway stations that have recently been revived in Weardale and a pair of buildings that still dominate Darlington. Middleton was born in August 1820, the

  • Eye infection threat to N-E derby

    THE threat to the Tees-Tyne Premiership opener at the Riverside on Saturday is growing, with Newcastle United ready to ask the Premier League to call off the game. The outbreak of conjunctivitis in the Newcastle camp continues to claim club staff, with

  • Mud glorious mud for Abbajabba

    RACING NORTH ten-to-follow pick Abbajabba (8.00) has conditions to suit at rain-soaked Hamilton this evening. The recent deluge has doused the Scottish track where for sure it's going to be a night for mudlarks such as Abbajabba, who is only truly happy

  • Hugh and cry as Pool let lead slip in thriller

    NO thrilling comeback this time, as Hartlepool United fell to defeat at Tranmere Rovers. After coming from behind to win the opener against Bradford, Pool lost out in a thrilling game at Prenton Park last night. A Hugh Robertson special put Pool in front

  • Britons in Austrian death crash

    FIVE people died yesterday when a tourist coach carrying British people crashed in Austria. Thirty-three people were also injured in the incident near Salzburg, which happened when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle on a main road outside the

  • Auction mart becomes visitor attraction

    A Yorkshire Dales auction mart - closed during the foot and mouth crisis - is set to be transformed into a major visitor attraction after officials gave the go-ahead for a £5m redevelopment. Hawes Auction Mart has been given planning permission to construct

  • Air travel reaches pre-9/11 levels

    Long-haul air travel has returned to pre-September 11 levels for the first time, according to airports operator BAA. The group - which runs seven UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick - handled a record 14.2 million passengers during July. * Full

  • Howard vows to get tough with criminal culture

    LABOUR'S electronic tagging programme - which has let nearly 68,000 prisoners out of jail early since its launch - will be scrapped if the Tories regain power, leader Michael Howard pledged yesterday. Mr Howard made possibly his most important speech

  • Protest over sweatshop workers

    NORTH-EAST campaigner Carolyn Blyth joined an international protest against what she described as sweatshop conditions in sportswear yesterday. Ms Blyth, from Sunderland, arranged for a group of activists to pose at sewing machines on a rooftop in the

  • Crackdown on drink haunts for teenagers

    SECRET hide-outs used by drunken youths are to be uncovered by councillors. Efforts will be made to clear out the water park at Middleton St George, near Darlington, where teenagers are known to hide in dens and drink alcohol. Police dogs and plain clothed

  • Food bug outbreak total rises to 76

    A FOOD bug outbreak is showing no sign of slowing down, two weeks after it began. Last night, confirmed cases of the salmonella infection stood at 76, with a further 13 suspected cases. Three people are being treated in hospital. Most of the cases are

  • Fourth candidate in running for Hartlepool

    THE fourth candidate in the Hartlepool by-election to fill the space left by Peter Mandelson will be chosen tonight. The UK Independence Party's selection will be made from a shortlist of three following a secret ballot at a town centre hotel. Former

  • Drink-driver jailed for four months

    A MOTORIST caught drink-driving three times in as many years was locked up yesterday. Lee David Hendrix, of Burnhope, Newton Aycliffe, admitted driving over the legal alcohol limit when he appeared at the town's magistrate's court yesterday. James Thomas

  • Villagers petition against housing

    VILLAGERS who are campaigning against a housing development have presented a petition to their local council calling for the plan to be rejected. About 200 people in Middridge, near Newton Aycliffe, have signed the protest petition against a development

  • Rolling out biggest bowls event

    A FORMER mining town is gearing up for the world's biggest indoor bowls event. Hundreds of leading players will descend on Stanley, County Durham, next month, for the World Bowls Tour and Professional Bowls Association UK National Qualifiers. The contest

  • Crackdown on dog fouling

    TWO councils have joined forces to declare war on irresponsible dog owners. Ferryhill Town Council and Sedgefield Borough Council are determined to ensure that all culprits are fined. A spokesman for the town council said: "This habit of not cleaning

  • Charity boost

    A CONCERT to raise money for a sick child has raised £717. Midlands band, Vida, performed at Glaxo Sports and Social Club, in Barnard Castle, for the Jake Jones Appeal. Jake, from Staindrop, has a rare skull condition. The concert and a charity auction

  • Insight into castle history

    THE mysteries of one of County Durham's castles will be revealed this weekend. Architect Dennis Jones will give an insight into the history of Brancepeth Castle during a talk at the Clayport Library, in Durham City, on Saturday. The event will also cover

  • Town praised in mystery shopper report

    A MYSTERY visitor has given the thumbs-up to a North Yorkshire market town. Town centre bosses in Richmond called in a company specialising in mystery shoppers to find out what an unbiased outsider thought of the town's facilities. After the inspection

  • Plans to revamp 'tatty and badly-designed' market

    PLANS are to be drawn up to redesign a Teesside market after it came in for criticism. Consultants Drivers Jonas hired by Stockton Borough Council last year dubbed the town's market as tatty. Now Stockton Pedestrians Group said the market is badly-designed

  • Work begins on community house project

    WORK has started on turning an old gatehouse into a centre to host community meetings, events and activities. Demolition of the old gatehouse to the former convent in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, has taken place, and the disused building will be replaced

  • Pub regulars plan charity truck pull

    PUB regulars are pulling together to help others in their community. Drinkers from the Oak Tree pub, in Catterick Village, plan to pull an 8.5 tonne truck to the nearby Bridge House Hotel and back. Proceeds will go to Balmaclellan House, a home for disabled

  • On their bikes for marathon ride to Africa

    A CYCLIST is planning to ride the length of Africa for charity. Next month, Steve McInerny, from Easby, near Richmond, will fly to Cairo ready to pedal 7,000 miles from Egypt to South Africa. Mr McInerny, 28, said: "I've been a keen mountain biker since

  • Gearing up for vintage car test

    COMPETITORS from across North Yorkshire are expected to take part in a vintage car event later this month. In total, 140 cars have entered the competition, at Harewood Hillclimb course, near Leeds on August 21. Taking part will be Bryan Gill, from Bedale

  • If Henry can do it, why can't Mike?

    HENRY Allingham insisted on standing on his own two feet. How unlike Mike Blake. Mr Allingham is 108 years old, the oldest survivor of the World War I soldiers. At the ceremony last week to mark the 90th anniversary of the start of the war, Mr Allingham

  • Formula for the perfect feature

    THE Lady of This House observed in one of her columns last week that there is a new breed of "Ask Me Another" text message, quid a query. A similar "Ask Jeeves" service exists on the Internet, www.ask.co.uk. The day before Sharon's piece appeared, Peter

  • Nursery gets glowing report from inspector

    STAFF at a council-run nursery are celebrating after receiving a glowing Ofsted report. Coppice Valley Nursery, in Harrogate, was given a "very good" rating by the inspector, who spent two days talking to the children, parents and staff. She concluded

  • Debra is first female warden

    A FORMER bouncer and security worker has become the first woman to join a squad of street wardens. Debra Boughey, 38, has joined the Wear Valley Street Wardens team, which patrols troubled communities cleaning up streets and improving safety. Ms Boughey

  • Arts and crafts to go on display

    ARTISTS and craft workers from two clubs are joining forces to put on a three-day display of their creations in a village chapel. Residents and tourists will be able to view the artists' paintings, embroidery and models at Newbiggin Methodist Chapel,

  • Chairman of health trust retires

    A LEADING manager in the North Teesside NHS has retired. Richard Nicholson, 64, was chairman of the North Tees Teaching Primary Care Trust for three and a half years. He had previously been a director of the North Tees Health Authority and the North Tees

  • Children get to grips with latest Lego

    YOUNGSTERS sheltered from the rain inside a giant Lego truck at Hartlepool Historic Quay this week. The truck was parked at the quay to give children the chance to experience innovative displays of Lego's 2004 product launches. They could see models,

  • Freemasons help church bells appeal

    AN appeal to raise money to restore the bells of a village church near Darlington has been given a boost. Charles Marshall, chairman of the Durham Freemasons' Benevolent Fund, presented a cheque for £750 to the Vicar of St Michael's Church at Heighington

  • Company fined £15,000 over hand accident

    A COMPANY has been fined £15,000 after a young worker lost part of his hand in a factory accident. Christopher Holmes was feeding a sheet of steel into a machine on his second day of work at Gigant UK, in Shildon, County Durham, when his right hand was

  • Off-shore off-licence back in business soon

    A businessman embroiled in a row with customs officials over the country's first off-shore off-licence is hoping to be back in business at the weekend. Philip Berriman was today collecting his yacht from Grimsby after a trip overseas to stock up on cut-price

  • Sting caught drug-dealing brothers

    A police sting uncovered a heroin operation run by two brothers, a court has been told. Paul Costello was said to be the fixer in the supply chain and his younger brother, Lee, the foot soldier, Teesside Crown Court was told. The pair, who were jailed

  • Salon expands to meet increased demand

    A HAIRDRESSER in a village near Darlington has expanded his business following huge salon success. Twelve Central, in Middleton St George, has recently taken on two trainees to join the cutting room. Lesley Wennington, from Darlington, and Nick Langburn

  • Region's scientists get go-ahead to clone

    Scientists in Newcastle have been granted permission to clone human embryos for medical research. The controversial move means researchers at the University of Newcastle will be the first in Britain to carry out therapeutic human cloning. They plan to

  • Wilkinson looks forward to making a fresh start

    JONNY Wilkinson has promised to play with a smile on his face this season after admitting that his rugby union career almost came to an end in March. The Newcastle Falcons fly half damaged a nerve between his spine and shoulder as he steered England to

  • 11/08/04

    HOSPITAL SERVICES: ON the face of it, the message of Barry Nelson's article about MRSA infections in hospitals (Echo, Aug 6) was reassuring. But read carefully, the article was anything but reassuring. For a start, the statement that at least half of

  • Sport classes success

    A SUCCESSFUL sports company is allowing youngsters to learn a variety of specialist activities while increasing their confidence and fitness. SportsCoach, part of the Stagecoach Theatre Arts organisation, operates in two schools during term-time, teaching

  • TV review

    The F***ing Fulfords (C4) IF you thought that people living on country estates were rolling in money and only had to worry about which of the family silver to use at dinner then think again. The Fulfords are skint. They have a 50-room mansion and 3,000

  • Stelios to offer easy phone service

    ENTREPRENEUR Stelios Haji-Ioannou announced his latest venture with plans for a mobile phone service. The easyMobile proposal from the founder of budget airline easyJet enables customers to buy SIM cards and pre-paid airtime for their handsets. The online

  • Hughes lands Le Mans spot

    AFTER impressing in the recent Spa 24-hour sportscar race, North-East driver Warren Hughes has landed a seat in the next round of the prestigious Le Mans Endurance Series at Silverstone, writes Mattt Westcott. Newcastle-born Hughes will share a TVR in

  • Man injured after 20-foot fall

    A construction worker escaped serious injury after he plunged more than 20 feet off machinery yesterday. . The 56-year-old man was working with his son on the roof of a new car showroom when he fell off a scissor lift. He fell into bushes, crashed to

  • The upper class Osbournes

    The F***ing Fulfords (C4): IF you thought that people living on country estates were rolling in money and only had to worry about which of the family silver to use at dinner then think again. The Fulfords are skint. They have a 50-room mansion and 3,000

  • Another oil find for Cairn

    OIL and gas group Cairn is celebrating its fourth major discovery at the site it acquired from Shell for £4m two years ago. Shares in the Edinburgh company made further gains following the latest announcement relating to its work in northern Rajasthan

  • Nissan rejects Japanese media's Almera claims

    NISSAN has denied reports that its Sunderland plant has won the contract to produce the new Almera. The car maker dismissed an article in Japanese trade magazine Nihon Keizai Shimbun (NKS), which said production could begin on Wearside as early as next

  • Economists predict further interest rate rises

    EXPERTS have forecast more interest rate rises, despite a fall in inflation. Further rate rises are expected, even though official figures showed the Consumer Price Index falling by 0.2 to 1.4 per cent last month. Falling petrol, seasonal food and household

  • Prison for drugs dealer caught twice in two days

    A MAN was found with £3,000 of crack cocaine and heroin in his socks a day after he had been arrested and bailed by police on similar drugs offences. Father-of-two Robert Manning, 39, was a drugs runner in Hartlepool, who had become indebted to his dealer

  • Mud glorious mud for Abbajabba

    RACING NORTH ten-to-follow pick Abbajabba (8.00) has conditions to suit at rain-soaked Hamilton this evening. The recent deluge has doused the Scottish track where for sure it's going to be a night for mudlarks such as Abbajabba, who is only truly happy

  • Experts examine old bones

    Experts on ancient skeletal remains are in the North-East proving their subject is not as dry as old bones this week. Leading figures in the world of paleopathology have converged on Durham for their 15th European meeting. Prominent personalities in the

  • Region's unemployment increases

    Unemployment has increased by 27,000 despite another fall in the number of people claiming jobless benefits, new figures showed today. In the North-East, the jobless figure is 64,000, an increase of 2,000. The rise, the biggest for more than a year, took

  • Grant help for music academy

    A MUSIC academy is celebrating a £6,256 grant that will pay for instruments. The money from the Local Network Fund for Children and Young People will be spent on six saxophones and two violins by Seaham Music Academy, which gives instrument tuition to

  • Rapist scoops £7m in National Lottery win

    A rapist serving life in prison has won £7m on the National Lottery, it emerged last night. Iorworth Hoare, formerly of Seacroft Gate, Leeds, was on temporary release from a North-East bail hostel when his numbers came up in the Lotto Extra draw last