POP impresario Pete Waterman has returned to his North-East roots for a broadcast of Songs Of Praise to be aired on Boxing Day. Record producer Waterman, who was responsible for turning Kylie Minogue into a pop phenomenon, will play a different style
THE arrival of the festive season has failed to bring a thaw in the long-running pay dispute at BPI's Stockton plant, as unions announced further strike action to begin in the New Year. Union officials are following up three days of strikes this month
MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson will be asked to loosen the purse strings when the transfer window opens in eight days time - with a new midfielder the priority. The club's injury crisis took another turn for the worse yesterday with George Boateng
THE REGION'S over-40s have been asked to rally to the rescue of the North-East Veterans' Athletic Association, which is in danger of folding through a lack of officials. The Association needs a new secretary, treasurer, team manager, news letter editor
WHEN it comes to blooding teenagers in the Premiership, few do it better than Middlesbrough. And, for England under-18 coach Dick Bate, it's a scenario which can only be for the good of the game. Boro have blooded a welter of teenagers this year and it
Hopefully, Santa will be bringing you a stack of gaming goodies tonight, but what happens if he's stocked up on socks and selection boxes instead? Fear not, because The Northern Echo has teamed up with Chips - the North-East and North Yorkshire's biggest
THE region is bracing itself for snow, ice and more high winds over the weekend. Gusts of up to 60mph caused chaos on the region's roads yesterday. And forecasters are predicting further bad weather. A Highways Agency spokes-man said: "The weather forecast
LLOYDS TSB has agreed to buy a portfolio of loans worth £1.5bn. The purchase, from Danske Bank, of Denmark, includes loans to 110 UK companies, 40 of which had no previous contracts with Lloyds. Although the bank did not put a price on the deal, it is
A YOUNG travel agent is looking forward to her first taste of fame when she stars in a television commercial. Laura Bryson will appear in an advertisement for Hays Travel which will be broadcast for the first time tomorrow. The 21 year-old, who works
TELEVISION Corporation is selling the outside broadcast unit that supports coverage of major sports events such as Premiership football. The group has agreed a £16.8m deal to sell Visions to NEP, a US provider of mobile production facilities, large video
TWELVE months ago, Hartlepool United went into the Boxing Day programme with a long and proud unbeaten home run. They lost to Barnsley that day, their 29-game stretch being ended by a two-goal Kevin Betsy salvo. And with the striker now in the Oldham
STORE chain John Lewis was hoping for a late Christmas rush yesterday after revealing sales last week had been two per cent lower than last year's record. The group, which has 26 outlets in the UK, said early discounting by high street rivals had led
FROM this newspaper 150 years ago. - Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway: At an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held at the town hall Guisborough on Thursday, December 21, Henry Pease Esq. in the chair, the following resolutions were agreed
A HIT movie by a local filmmaker has been sent to shops, but shelves are emptying quickly. After a sellout show at Middlesbough's UGC multiplex cinema, A Century In Stone has been released on video. Teesside's iron-mining and steel- making glory was captured
Absent friends, deaths in 2004: Tommy Blenkinsopp, post-war Boro favourite and Witton Park lad. Enjoyed two raw eggs and two sherries in the Empire before games but insisted reports of his capacity were exaggerated. Aged 83. Former Middlesbrough footballer
Hopefully, Santa will be bringing you a stack of gaming goodies tonight, but what happens if he's stocked up on socks and selection boxes instead? Fear not, because The Northern Echo has teamed up with Chips - the North-East and North Yorkshire's biggest
A BANNED motorist who crashed into a car carrying a baby during a police chase was yesterday warned he faces a likely prison sentence. Six people were injured when a Ford Fiesta, driven by Terence Mark Simpson, hit a police stinger device, designed to
A PLAN to build a multi- million pound shopping complex in Darlington town centre was back on track last night - with four developers bidding to win the contract. The future of the £90m Commercial Street/Queen Street scheme was thrown into doubt in September
PEOPLE in Darlington are being encouraged to have their say about rural rights of way. A borough council survey has been launched to evaluate the present state of the network, and identify improvements. All local authorities are required to carry out
A DRUNK man attacked doormen working at a pub's gay night after hurling homophobic abuse at them. Paul Noble, 31, of Esk Road, Darlington, swung punches at two men, and headbutted one of them, at Berlins, in Darlington, on August 30. He was so drunk he
HUNDREDS of soldiers from across the region will be spending Christmas away from home this year - many helping rebuild war-torn Iraq. Although the troops will eat turkey, sing carols and open cards and parcels from their relatives and friends, Christmas
A GROUP of teenagers bridged the age gap when they laid on Christmas celebrations for elderly residents of Durham City. About 30 people from the Gilesgate area of the city attended a party organised by Lads On Cue, a group of year ten students at Gilesgate
STAFF at a Teesdale health centre are preparing to move premises to clear the way for construction of a community hospital. Staff from the Teesdale Community Health Centre, in Barnard Castle, will begin moving into newly-prepared rooms in the Richardson
A COMPUTER hacker has wrecked any chance scores of abandoned pets had of finding a new home over the Christmas holidays. About 50 of the 70 dogs being cared for by members of Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara) feature on a rehoming page on the
CELEBRATING their diamond wedding yesterday Durham couple Alexander and Edna McKechnie attributed their successful marriage to a lifetime of teamwork. They held an open house at their Framwellgate Moor home and guests were shown a congratulatory card
HUNDREDS of soldiers from across the region will be spending Christmas away from home this year - many helping rebuild war-torn Iraq. Although the troops will eat turkey, sing carols and open cards and parcels from their relatives and friends, Christmas
A MAN who died in a fireball car accident was more than twice the drink-drive limit, an inquest was told. Hours after arriving home by taxi from a night out in Middlesbrough, Robert Burns drove himself back into town. Witnesses saw his Citroen Saxo travelling
POLICE tackling crime in remote rural areas have received a boost. About two-thirds of the 300-plus farms across the district have signed up to Durham Constabulary's Farmwatch scheme, in Derwentside in less than six months. It links farmers to each other
More than 50 members of Middlesbrough Bridge Club joined in a Christmas Chicago bridge drive, which was won by Andrew Welsh and Roger Mosley. The club runs sessions throughout the year on Tuesdays and Fridays as well as playing bridge on Saturdays and
CHILDCARE students have designed a uniform to wear for work experience. The students at Stockton Riverside College hope the uniform will give them a clear identity while at work. Staff at Elizabeth's Embroidery helped design the uniform, which includes
HUNDREDS of soldiers from across the region will be spending Christmas away from home this year - many helping rebuild war-torn Iraq. Although the troops will eat turkey, sing carols and open cards and parcels from relatives and friends, Christmas Day
CHRISTMAS has come early for a family who scooped £250,000 on the National Lottery. Darren and Claire McKeown, of Ripon, North Yorkshire, can look forward to a happy New Year after winning the jackpot on last Saturday's Thunderball draw. The win comes
A TOWN'S sports facilities could receive a boost if a housing development is given the go-ahead. Richmondshire District Council has received a planning application from George Wimpey North East to build 32 apartments and 16 houses on the convent hockey
AN exhibition on the history of tattooing will be staged in the North next year. The display will be staged at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Exhibitions officer Dr David Thomas said the exhibition, developed by the National
CHRISTMAS arrived days early for great-grandmother Dorothy McMillan - in the shape of a new car. Santa Claus presented the 66-year-old with the keys to a Fiat Punto after her entry was selected from hundreds in a prize draw at the Reg Vardy dealership
POLICE tackling crime in remote rural areas have received a boost. About two-thirds of the 300-plus farms across the district have signed up to Durham Constabulary's Farmwatch scheme, in Derwentside in less than six months. It links farmers to each other
STEVE CALDWELL has reassured Sunderland's supporters that there will be no Christmas hangovers on the pitch when Leeds United arrive at a festive Stadium of Light on Sunday. The Scotland international has his family from north of the border coming to
A TEAM set up to help build workers' skills has donned fancy dress to send a festive greeting to its clients. The staff from the Derwentside Training for Industry Unit (DTIU) dressed up in seasonal costumes, donated by Fantasia's Fancy Dress Shop in Blackhill
FOSTER carers and their families from all over the county have received a Christmas treat. More than 270 foster carers and foster children enjoyed some festive fun at Flamingo Land, near Pickering. The event came about after the county's High Sheriff,
FIREFIGHTERS in Bedale have been doing more than tackling blazes and rescuing people this year. During the past 12 months, the town's 999 crews have raised a total of £4,000 for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund. The fund provides welfare support
A GROUP of youngsters blamed for anti-social behaviour have offered to make amends following a meeting with their community police officer. An apology and pledge to stop the behaviour that has angered the community in Masham, near Ripon, came after a
HEAVY vehicles are to be banned from Whitby's cobbled Church Street, used by thousands of tourists on their way to the 850-year-old parish church of St Mary's and Whitby Abbey, because of the damage they are causing. Mike Moore, North Yorkshire County
HUNDREDS of soldiers from across the region will be spending Christmas away from home this year - many helping to rebuild war-torn Iraq. Although the troops will eat turkey, sing carols and open cards and parcels from their relatives and friends, Christmas
It's been a case of planes, trains and automobiles this past fortnight as various appointments have taken me the length and breadth of the country. Mainly, it's been to meet developers interested in setting up in the North-East, but the travelling has
SANTA has brought a North village the best Christmas present local people could wish for -the re-opening of the railway station. Finghall, in the Yorkshire Dales, has become the fifth station to reopen on the 17-mile Wensleydale Railway line, which was
RAILWAY bosses facing a cash crisis have secured enough funds to pay their staff in time for Christmas. After two days of talks, funding partners at Weardale Railway, in County Durham, have managed to come up with a package that will ensure all 34 workers
A FORMER prime minister took his title from it, pilgrims flock from all parts of Europe to admire its ruined abbey - and it's a place where love blossoms. That's the tiny village of Rievaulx which, despite its size - it has only 15 homes yet five councillors
It's been a case of planes, trains and automobiles this past fortnight as various appointments have taken me the length and breadth of the country. Mainly, it's been to meet developers interested in setting up in the North-East, but the travelling has
ANGLO-Dutch steelmaker Corus has been accused of driving a wedge between its Dutch and British operations following the resignation of the managing director of Corus in the Netherlands. The group, which employs 1,700 people on Teesside, said Peter Jongenburger
TWO academics from the University of Teesside have won top awards for academic research in entrepreneurship. Philip Wickham and Professor Ted Fuller between them won more than £1,000 in prize money. Mr Wickham, a senior lecturer at Teesside Business School
ANYONE fed up with turkey and tinsel can take part in what is billed as the perfect antidote to Christmas - a walk through centuries of death, dirt and disease. Archivist and historian David Butler is giving up his Christmas Day to lead a walk through
Next year sees England take on Australia - it's the best chance England have had of winning back the Ashes for over 20 years and Steve Harmison is a bowler the Aussies fear, as Ahmer Khokhar discovered. England bowling coach Troy Cooley is the latest
A POLICE force has hit back at criticism published in a national report. The Audit Commission this week revealed only 17 of the 43 forces in England and Wales are recording crime to National Crime Recording Standards. Under the Commission's 'traffic light
THE Bishop of Durham has dismissed the international best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code as a "great thriller" but a "lousy history". The book, which questions the origins of Christianity, has sold more than seven million copies worldwide and is to be
FOR A very expensive book on small objects, you could look at Wine Labels 1730-2003, edited and co-authored by John Slater (Antique Collectors' Club £85). Prof Slater is a past president of the Wine Label Circle, which I think must be a cover for some
Shameless Christmas Special (C4): X-Rated: Sex In The Living Room (five); MOST Christmas specials content themselves with a bit of tinsel, a few sprigs of Holly and lots of festive jollity. Above all, nothing's included that could offend anyone. Shameless
Four trees planted by Sue Prytherick seemed to be settling in well when I looked around the village green at Barningham this week . These are in place of specimens which were due to be put in a year ago but failed to arrive from Holland. The foursome
THE days will certainly be merry and bright for the England cricketers, happily donning their whites for Christmas on the back of a record run of eight Test wins. They are in steamy Durban, and would no doubt sing "let nothing ye dismay" to the folks
PATIENTS at a North-East hospital will receive an improved radio service thanks to a donation from The Northern Echo. Darlington Memorial Hospital's Radio Skerne has received £1,000 from the Gannett Foundation, a charitable trust set up by the newspaper's
A DEDICATED mother-of-five is giving up a family Christmas to travel to the Ukraine to monitor the country's Boxing Day election. Redcar and Cleveland Council's head of democracy and civil registration Zohrah Zancudi is one of 90 UK volunteers who will
UNEMPLOYED sports fans in the region are being given the chance to qualify as coaches as part of a new scheme. So far, 70 people have begun working towards becoming a qualified coach in a sport or activity of their choice. It is hoped that the project
The Northern Echo's Tim Wellock recommends a trip to the opposite corner of the country for a golf tour which offers wonderful variety and surprising value for money. IF YOU think Devon is too far away for a golfing break, think again. Your trip will
TWO North-East inventors say they have had worldwide interest in their device that combats wrinkles. As exclusively revealed in The Northern Echo, the two inventors, eye surgeon Jim Haslam and GP Gordon Dougal, believe they have found a way of making
WHEN an enterprising salesman posted a holiday brochure to the Sharp family, the travel industry was still in its infancy. The brochure, advertising luxury cruises, with prices starting from £1, was posted from Middlesbrough, on March 1, 1933. Twenty-one
Nurse Barbara Wingrove is making a big difference to the lives of isolated MS sufferers. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson reports. NO-ONE knows why parts of the North-East have higher than average levels of multiple sclerosis. In Weardale, the MS rate
AN airborne 999 service celebrated a boost to its lifesaving work yesterday after it took delivery of a new helicopter. The Great North Air Ambulance's Teesside-based trauma team will now operate from a McDonnell Douglas 902 Explorer, putting the service
DARING animal lovers and their dogs will brave the North Sea on New Year's Day in an annual sponsored splash. Hardy members of Saltburn Animal Rescue Association will make the dip at Saltburn beach. The fundraising event has grown more popular over the
POP impresario Pete Waterman has returned to his North-East roots for a broadcast of Songs Of Praise to be aired on Boxing Day. Record producer Waterman, who was responsible for turning Kylie Minogue into a pop phenomenon, will play a different style
A DEAL to create the UK's second-largest caravan park business was finalised yesterday. The £165m deal saw private equity buyer ABN Amro Capital take charge of Park Resorts and GB Holiday Parks, which owns six sites in the North-East. Managers, led by
MEMBERS of an annual Boxing Day hunt have urged supporters to turn out in force. This year's Boxing Day Braes of Derwent Hunt meeting, in County Durham, will be staged on Monday, December 27, because its members do not hunt on Sundays. With uncertainty
In his seasonal message, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Dr Tom Wright, contrasts the conspiracy theory of the Da Vinci Code with the stranger-than-fiction truth of the Christmas story. THE 'hoax' theory about Jesus is big business right now. The Da
A COLONY of pregnant bats is facing homelessness because of worshippers. The natterers bats are due to be evicted from a North Yorkshire church, but parishioners have hit a snag because, under current legislation, bats cannot be removed from a church.
SOUTH African prop Marius Hurter will play his last game for Newcastle Falcons in Monday's Zurich Premiership match at Leeds. The 34-year-old tight head is returning home early in the New Year to pursue a career in law, although he has lined up one final
The Empire Theatre's first professional pantomime production, by Stage Further, grasps the key principles of panto. It is frenetic, funny and there is plenty of audience participation. Stefan Booth as Jack Trott is a strong lead and wisely plays it for
A PIZZA shop worker was subjected to a torrent of racial abuse after he refused to take a £20 note ripped in half. After a night's drinking, Ian Harrison, 30, of Cobden Street, Darlington, went into the takeaway and asked for Sellotape to fix the note
CHRISTMAS is always a time for double celebrations for a couple who celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary yesterday. Arthur and Ethel Shepherd, from Leeholme, who married two days before Christmas Day 1944, are enjoying a week of parties and family
FREE-WHEELING Lord Transcend (1.15) will be a hard horse to peg back if as expected he adopts front-running tactics in Wetherby's feature, the £50,000 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. The dashing grey has always been the apple of trainer Howard Johnson's
A COURT usher hung up her gown for the last time this week. After almost 14 years as a court usher for South Durham Magistrates' Courts Ann Johns retired on Wednesday. Mrs Johns began her court career in March 1991, after serving in the Wrens, and has
A DRUNKEN caravan dweller was arrested after firing a tirade of racial abuse at a convenience store owner. The row developed between William Robert Roache and the Asian shopkeeper after an argument over the price of cans of lager. Durham Crown Court heard
A Teesside adoption charity is celebrating a successful appeal to find would-be adopters. NCH Adoption appealed for potential applicants who could offer vulnerable children a loving home. Eleven people came forward to inquire about the opportunity to
PEOPLE at a hospice suffered heartache yesterday when it was burgled only 48 hours before Christmas. Staff at St Cuthbert's Hospice, in Durham City, arrived at work to find thieves had broken into a garage, vandalised the minibus used to provide transport
A MAN was involved in a struggle with police after he objected to them keeping watch on his girlfriend in a toilet with a broken door, a court was told yesterday. Andrew Evis was woken by his girlfriend shouting at officers who had arrested her after
STEVE McCLAREN is confident his Middlesbrough squad have the mental strength and character to bury the club's tag of half-season wonders. The Boro boss believes he now has the players capable of sustaining their position near the top of the Premiership
HUNDREDS of soldiers from across the region will be spending Christmas away from home this year - many helping to rebuild war-torn Iraq. Although the troops will eat turkey, sing carols and open cards and parcels from their relatives and friends, Christmas
AN auction held last month has raised £2,400 for a project that helps adults with learning difficulties. Sharon and Geoff Cutting, landlords of the Dun Cow pub, in Durham City, staged the auction in aid of the Durham Centre Attenders Committee and presented
A CIVIL servant accidentally hanged himself, an inquest has ruled. Clifford Thompson, who was born in Darlington, was found hanged at his home in New Marske, east Cleveland, in July. The 32-year-old motorcycle enthusiast had no history of depression,
A CONMAN cheated an elderly woman out of £20,812 after calling at her home offering to help with building work. Michael Edward Hogg, 23, was jailed yesterday for two years and six months after Durham Crown Court heard that he spent the money on gambling
THE winners of The Northern Echo's Christmas competition celebrated as they collected their prizes. They won the prizes after taking part in a festive contest which the newspaper's classified section has run for the past 14 years. Their names were picked
EMPLOYEES of Richmondshire District Council have been honoured for their long service. Thirty members of staff, who have accumulated 555 years combined employment, gathered for a reception at Swale House, in Richmond. Swimming teachers, community office
DESIGNER Ingrid Sylvestre found a subject she could really get her teeth into when Nigel McMinn won his wife an opportunity to appear in a series of children's books. Ms Sylvestre, renowned for her giraffe paintings and cards, based her latest character
BUSKER'S VOW: Redcar's charity busker Norman Evans is aiming to give a Christmas present to charity shops in the town. He has pledged to raise £100 each for shops including Age Concern, Kidney Research, Heart Foundation Oxfam and Red Cross, along with
DESPITE the gloom and despondency which so often dominate the headlines, we look forward to Christmas with a sense of hope that important strides can be made towards peace in the world. It is easy to submit to pessimism when the killing goes on almost
Youngsters on Teesside are being encouraged to think about working in sports sponsorship and marketing when leaving school. More than 40 business studies students from Billingham's Bede College attended a presentation by National Premier Tennis League
MOTHERS were in fine voice for a series of carol concerts in Darlington. Mothers attending SureStart's Wave 5 scheme entertained crowds at Branksome Community Centre, Branksome Hall sheltered housing scheme and Branksome Luncheon Club. SureStart development
OUTPATIENT Alan Wall has put his artistic skills to good use by designing a Christmas card for a health trust. As part of his therapy, Mr Wall attends the multi-media workshops run by Darlington and County Durham Priority Services Trust. One of his Yuletide
A CONSTRUCTION worker pulled a knife from his sock to threaten a man who made advances towards his girlfriend. Keith Anderson, 19, of Barden Moor Road, Darlington, visited Mark Deighton's flat after a drinking session on August 10. Miriam Towers, prosecuting
A MAYORESS is recovering in hospital after a fall on a flight of hotel stairs. April Martin, Mayoress of Ripon, was with her husband Stuart Martin when the accident happened at the Old Deanery hotel and restaurant, next to Ripon Cathedral. The couple
NICKY HENDERSON'S Calling Brave (2.10) should be spot-on for Sunday's big race at Kempton, the £200,000 King George VI Chase over three miles, writes Colin Woods. Mick FitzGerald's mount enjoyed the perfect preparation by finishing runner-up to the vastly
The latest campaign against drink-driving warns it takes less alcohol than people think to impair their driving. Is the Government right? Joe Willis finds out. PULLING away from the kerb, the car lurches towards the centre of the road and over the white
A COMPUTER hacker has wrecked any chance scores of abandoned pets had of finding a new home over the Christmas holidays. About 50 of the 70 dogs being cared for by members of Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara) feature on a rehoming page on the
DARREN Ambrose is desperate to shake off a niggling hamstring injury - even though a return to fitness would ruin his family Christmas. Newcastle's medical staff will run the rule over the former Ipswich midfielder later today before deciding whether
THE case of a man who went on trial in his brother's name was quite remarkable, a judge said yesterday. For two days, David Readman, 44, sat in the dock at Teesside Crown Court pretending to be his older brother, Terence. He gave the false identity when
AN embattled Graeme Souness last night insisted that the threat of losing his job as Newcastle manager paled into insignificance given the "real pressures" he has already experienced in his life. Souness has only been in the United hotseat for 15 weeks
ARE you sure you've got time to be reading this? This really is your last chance to shop for Christmas. Just in case you really have left it to the last minute - or your nearest and dearest have just decided to come and stay with you after all, here are
CONCERNS about the UK economy's recent poor performance eased yesterday after revised third-quarter figures showed that gross domestic product (GDP) rose higher than original estimates. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said GDP rose by 0.5 per
THE days will certainly be merry and bright for the England cricketers, happily donning their whites for Christmas on the back of a record run of eight Test wins. They are in steamy Durban, and would no doubt sing "let nothing ye dismay" to the folks
A COUPLE who work for the ambulance service say they are dreading the Christmas holidays because of the threat of violence. Chris and Julie Allen, who work for the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service were attacked and injured after they attended
RESURGENT Darlington Football Club is hoping to have turned around its financial woes and be making a profit early next year. A year on from one of the darkest moments in the Quakers' history, chairman Stewart Davies yesterday said the future was bright
TWO homeless heroin users burgled the home of an elderly disabled man to get money for their next fix, a court heard. The October break-in was the sixth time in three months that the victim had been burgled, leaving him terrified to be home alone. Durham
DAVID HODGSON will cast an expectant eye across the terraces on Boxing Day after telling fans: "It's over to you." Hodgson has been left mystified by poor crowds at the Williamson Motors Stadium this season, despite the acquisition of several former Premiership
DESIGNER Ingrid Sylvestre found a subject she could really get her teeth into when Nigel McMinn won his wife an opportunity to appear in a series of children's books. Ms Sylvestre, renowned for her giraffe paintings and cards, based her latest character
CHRISTMAS: I WAS very upset to read that Darran Weston feels that Christmas lights (HAS, Dec 3) are a distraction. Surely, as a potential driving instructor, he should be teaching his pupils how to cope with distractions while driving: children who may
RESIDENTS in a quiet rural village were celebrating this week after a 'lawless' nightclub had its late licence revoked. Magistrates heard how Whispers night spot was at the centre of drunken violence and under-age drinking in Liverton Mines, East Cleveland
THE days will certainly be merry and bright for the England cricketers, happily donning their whites for Christmas on the back of a record run of eight Test wins. They are in steamy Durban, and would no doubt sing "let nothing ye dismay" to the folks
Leeds captain Paul Butler is warning his team-mates to be wary of the threat from Michael Bridges. Centre-back Butler and striker Bridges were team-mates in Sunderland's title winning season in 1999 and will be in opposition on Sunday when Leeds visit
TWO thugs kicked a North-East man to death then sneered at his wife down the telephone: "Your husband won't be coming home." Doting father Robin Chard was attacked by Joseph Mee and Christopher Smith as he returned from a night out. Mee, 27, later showed
