Writing columns as diverse as these, it would be possible with some justification to subscribe to at least two dozen specialist publications (if unlikely that the company would cheerfully meet the paper bill.) In the event, the only one which regularly
A TEESSIDE football legend opened a gym yesterday. Former Middlesbrough and England defender Gary Pallister formally opened Oxygym Health and Fitness Club, in Billingham. The gym is owned by Glyn Amos and Dave Robinson, who were both made redundant from
A father has been left heartbroken after the mother of his twin daughters was given the go ahead to take them to her native Argentina to start a new life. Veronica Gurney, 47, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was refused permission to take the twin girls
Andre Agassi paid tribute to Roger Federer after suffering a comprehensive defeat at the hands of the defending champion in the Australian Open. Federer extended his winning streak to 26 matches with a surprisingly one-sided 6-3 6-4 6-4 quarter-final
POLICE have recovered £500 worth of drugs following a series of raids. Gateshead West Community Team carried out the raids in Cedar Grove, Ryton. The raid followed concerns raised by people about increasing disorderly behaviour and drug dealing. Officers
A TASK force of long-term unemployed people has been set up to help parish councils with minor maintenance jobs. The scheme, which is being run by North Yorkshire County Council's employment training services, involves 30 unemployed people. Parish councils
A MAN is hoping to resurrect a band that brought music to a former pit village. Keith Allen, who played bass drum with the Shotton Colliery Band, is trying to recruit musicians to revive the ensemble. The once-popular band had been playing for more than
A MAN is hoping to resurrect a band that brought music to a former pit village. Keith Allen, who played bass drum with the Shotton Colliery Band, is trying to recruit musicians to revive the ensemble. The once-popular band had been playing for more than
A NORTH-EAST councillor is calling for funding to be withdrawn from an unelected regional body - in the wake of last year's vote against the creation of a regional assembly. The move by Durham county councillor John Shuttleworth could jeopardise the future
AN initiative involving Cleveland Police and the Great North Air Ambulance Unit has taken off. Police who become involved in firearms operations will now be assured of medical support and backup, with the air ambulance ready to respond. The joint project
NEALE Cooper won't talk about promotion but, the way his team is going, it may soon be a big issue at Victoria Park. Pool, on the back of a ten-game unbeaten run, travel to Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend. Since losing at Walsall
England captain Michael Vaughan last night doused Ashes expectations despite his team's rewriting of history in South Africa. Vaughan's men became the first English touring side to win here for 40 years after closing out a draw on the final evening of
DURHAM scientists are helping a company become a world leader in satellite tracking. Next month, GlobalPoint Technologies will unveil a tracker 1,000 times more sensitive than any other product on the market. It uses military technology previously unavailable
TONY McCOY paid a rare visit to Sedgefield yesterday, but it proved to be in vain because his sole mount on the card, Red Flyer, failed to justify 13/8 favouritism when trailing in third to Sue Smith's Pebble Way. "He got bogged down in the heavy ground
Violence against NHS nursing staff is "a national disgrace," according to the president of the Royal College of Nursing. Sylvia Denton denounced rising levels of attacks on hospital staff during a two day visit to the North-East. "One in six nurses have
POLICE said last night that an appeal for men who visited suspected brothels to come forward had proved successful - but warned that others could still face embarrassment. Hundreds of men are known to have visited properties in Darlington that police
AN arts project which promote walking and cycling has been awarded a £20,000 grant. The award, for North Yorkshire County Council, was one of a number of grants announced by the Arts Council yesterday. The council will use the money to pay an artist to
Alan Titchmarsh. Wasn't he the man who urged the nation to enhance its gardens with decking, that crazy late-20th century equivalent of crazy paving? Yes he was. I remember watching in astonishment the TV programme in which Alan first nailed down his
A BUSINESSMAN and former candidate for the European elections has been petitioned for bankruptcy by the Inland Revenue. Peter Troy, chairman of the Darlington branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, has had a bankruptcy order served on him at the
Writing columns as diverse as these, it would be possible with some justification to subscribe to at least two dozen specialist publications (if unlikely that the company would cheerfully meet the paper bill.) In the event, the only one which regularly
Secondary schools in two less well-off areas of north Durham are looking forward to a rich future after achieving 'specialist' status. Deerness Valley School, at Ushaw Moor, near Durham, has become the country's first 'business, technology and enterprise
Ellington colliery in Northumbria, the last pit in the North-East, is to close with the loss of 340 jobs, owners UK Coal announced today. More to follow.
DANNY COLLINS fears he could lose his place in the Sunderland starting line-up at Everton this weekend - and the young centre-back has talked up the Black Cats chances of winning the FA Cup fourth round tie. Collins along with namesake Neill has formed
A LOCAL authority has warned a scheme to shape the development of the North-East could have devastating consequences for rural areas. Teesdale District Council said the North-East Assembly's draft Regional Spatial Strategy could lead to rural and urban
GRAEME Souness last night claimed midfielder Amdy Faye would be a "valuable addition" to Newcastle's ranks after completing a £2m move from Portsmouth. The Senegal international finally put pen to paper on a four-year deal yesterday after completing a
NEALE Cooper won't talk about promotion but, the way his team is going, it may soon be a big issue at Victoria Park. Pool, on the back of a ten-game unbeaten run, travel to Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend. Since losing at Walsall
An angry motorist was arrested today after trying to drill a wheel clamp from his car. The VW Golf owner had been clamped for not having road tax as part of a joint operation between Durham police and the DVLA. The man, in his thirties, was arrested on
Hooray for Bill Gates. Let's hope he's a trendsetter. OK, he's not exactly short of a bob or two - $48bn at the last count - but he has just given £400m to ensure children in developing countries can have life-saving vaccines. Best of all, he says this
AFTER clinching their first series win in South Africa for 40 years, Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson looks at how England and Australia shape up ahead of this summer's battle for the Ashes. ENGLAND Marcus Trescothick: There is no middle ground with the
HOPES of setting up a base for dismantling so-called Ghost Ships in the North-East received a boost yesterday when the Government said it was keen on the idea. The Department for the Environment also revealed it had ordered a study to find out where a
BOSSES have said the future of maternity services at one of the region's smallest hospitals are in grave doubt. New limits on the working hours of junior doctors are having an impact on hospital services across the country. But smaller centres, such as
Police have released details and photographs of a six men they want to talk to about a variety of offences on Teesside. Local people are being asked to be the "eyes and ears'' of Cleveland Police who are appealing for their help in tracking the men down
NEWCASTLE are desperately trying to find a buyer for Craig Bellamy, but club officials are already drawing up a contingency plan in case nobody wants to take him off their hands. The under-fire striker trained away from most of his colleagues yesterday
AN Asian business organisation has challenged its members to raise £2,000 a week for a year in aid of tsunami relief. The Asian Business Network, based in Newcastle, has set up the Tsunami Promise challenge. Network chairman Fazal-ur-Rehman said: "The
Writing columns as diverse as these, it would be possible with some justification to subscribe to at least two dozen specialist publications (if unlikely that the company would cheerfully meet the paper bill.) In the event, the only one which regularly
THE fate of the last deep coalmine in the North-East is hanging in the balance following flooding that has halted production for the past fortnight. Findings of an engineers' report into the problem at Ellington Colliery, Northumberland, will be revealed
PLANS to unite two North-East towns into a single city were unveiled yesterday. If it goes ahead, the 20-year scheme, described by organisers as one of Europe's largest regeneration projects, would mean Stockton and Middlesbrough are combined into one
Durham Wildlife Trust has teamed up with local authorities throughout the region to help raise public awareness of the threats facing the endangered water vole. And as part of its campaign an interpretation panel was unveiled yesterday at Wapping Burn
NORTH-East based Tracerco has opened its 12th office, increasing its customer base in the emerging oil and gas market in South-East Asia. Tracerco, which is part of the Johnson Matthey group, has opened an office in Perth, Australia, to take advantage
MORE than 30 enthusiasts gathered for a quilting bee yesterday to start creating three traditional bedspreads based on designs that are more than 100 years old. Eight men and 24 women spent three hours working on the project at the Farmhouse Kitchen on
ELEVEN North-East schools, including six in County Durham, will be designated as specialist schools today. They will focus on raising standards in their chosen subjects and develop centres for excellence. To do this the Government gives them £100,000
NISSAN last night dismissed talk of job cuts at its Sunderland plant, describing it as nonsense. The car manufacturer responded after reports that production of the next Primera model could be moved from Wearside to France. A spokesman for Nissan Manufacturing
NORTH-East based Tracerco has opened its 12th office, increasing its customer base in the emerging oil and gas market in South-East Asia. Tracerco, which is part of the Johnson Matthey group, has opened an office in Perth, Australia, to take advantage
A SUPPORT service to help private tenants is to be extended across the Tees Valley. The Hartlepool Floating Support Service, established by the Endeavour Housing Association and Hartlepool Borough Council, has been hailed a success. A similar scheme for
MORE than 3,000 tree saplings are being planted at Pontburn Woods in the Derwent Valley, following a scheme that encouraged people to recycle their aluminium cans and foil. A tree will be planted for every tonne of aluminium packaging reused in the region
COUNCIL staff will soon be able to develop added skills thanks to the introduction of an advanced learning system. Easington District Council is this week opening a Learn Direct centre at its Seaside Lane headquarters. In partnership with East Durham
AN annual search for talented musicians is again under way in Chester-le-Street. The rotary club, working with the James Etherington Music Trust, is inviting youngsters living in the Chester-le-Street and Durham areas to apply for an award. The first
A PLEA for temporary planning permission to use a farm building for killing poultry and game as well as processing meat has been approved. P Hutton Ltd secured permission from Harrogate Borough Council for the business at Rougham Farm, Arkendale, between
COUNCILLORS are being urged to approve a planning application to build 46 houses in north Durham. Members of Derwentside District Council's development control committee will consider the proposal at Genesis Way, in Consett, tomorrow. They previously
POLICE found a handgun and ammunition when they searched the home of a man banned from firearms possession after his release from prison. Durham Crown Court was told how Joseph Trevor Hunt, now 48, was given a ten-year prison sentence for an armed robbery
THE dismantling of old ships may be an unpleasant enterprise. But it is a necessary one. And it is surely preferable that such complex and potentially dangerous tasks are conducted by skilled people in fully-equipped yards. The controversy which followed
HEALTH chiefs want to redevelop services in the Stanley area by building two medical centres. Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) hopes to demolish the town's surgery and replace it with a more modern centre. This will provide services to help people
Role models: Members of the Yarm group of the National Women's Register meets on alternate Tuesdays and the next meeting is on February 1, at 7.45pm. The topic will be Female role models or heroines - who are yours? NWR, a registered charity, and most
AN annual search for talented musicians is again under way in Chester-le-Street. The rotary club, working with the James Etherington Music Trust, is inviting youngsters living in the Chester-le-Street and Durham areas to apply for an award. The first
As part of The Northern Echo's Lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region: Tomorrow Bishop Auckland Masonic Hall, 26 Victoria Avenue, Bishop Auckland 2.45pm-7pm Methodist
A SOLDIER has won a distinction for her physical training after spending only 17 weeks in the army. Private Carley Watson of the Royal Logistic Corps, a former pupil of St Bedes RC school, in Peterlee, was awarded a trophy for the top performance in physical
As the richest man in the world gives away some of his millions, will he start a trend among celebs for conspicuous charity? Hooray for Bill Gates. Let's hope he's a trendsetter. OK, he's not exactly short of a bob or two - $48bn at the last count - but
A NORTH-EAST college has been named one of the country's top centres for adult learning. The Adult Learning Inspectorate praised Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, putting it in the top 17 per cent of centres inspected. The college was
A club of self-employed people and owners of small companies has opened in Shildon. The Connect club was founded by a group of business people and is based in the town's Business Centre. It provides members with a support network and opportunities to
GOVERNMENT Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong recruited one of her youngest constituents to help launch a child savings scheme. Families should soon start receiving information on the Child Trust Fund, which offers parents £250 for each child born after September
REPORTS of a possible visit by an alien life-form to the North-East have been revealed in Britain's version of the X-Files. Classified documents published to comply with the Freedom of Information laws contain observations of unidentified flying objects
MIDDLESBROUGH'S rising teenage talents have been told by Ray Parlour to keep their feet on the ground if they intend to become even bigger names on the Premiership stage. Defender Matthew Bates followed James Morrison when he yesterday signed a contract
A TINY owl has gained a whole class full of new friends after he was found dazed and confused in the middle of the road. Pupils from Wolsingham School and Community College have taken the little creature under their wing while he recovers. Pablo was discovered
As the richest man in the world gives away some of his millions, will he start a trend among celebs for conspicuous charity? Hooray for Bill Gates. Let's hope he's a trendsetter. OK, he's not exactly short of a bob or two - $48bn at the last count - but
Golfers and their partners danced the night away and raised £400 towards a garden project at a residential home. Alan Waller and his Orchestra performed at Saltburn golf club and entertained guests with his saxophone. The money raised in aid of Marske
FREE admission is being offered to the North-East's Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust site on Sunday and Monday. The trust's reserve, in Washington, Wearside, will waive its usual charges from 9.30am to 4.30pm on both days as part of its celebrations for World
TRADITIONAL meals will take pride of place on the menu of a cafe at a prize-winning garden. Mother and daughter Hazel Barker and Caroline Bentham are reopening Ripon Spa Garden's Sun Parlour. The cafe will be reopened on February 5 by Ripon Mayor Stuart
AN emergency meeting is being called as a community pulls together to save its swimming pool. Campaigners have vowed to fight last week's shock decision by Sedgefield Borough Council to close Shildon's community pool. Members of the town council expressed
Darlington skipper Craig Liddle is ready to put his injury nightmare behind him at York City tonight. Liddle has not played November's 2-0 win at Cheltenham Town. However, after returning to full training last week, the defender is ready to step up his
A QUARTER of boys in England and Wales aged 14 to 17 are prolific or serious offenders, Government research revealed yesterday. The youngsters were either involved in serious crimes such as robbery, burglary, dealing hard drugs and assault, or had committed
TONY McCOY paid a rare visit to Sedgefield yesterday, but it proved to be in vain because his sole mount on the card, Red Flyer, failed to justify 13/8 favouritism when trailing in third to Sue Smith's Pebble Way. "He got bogged down in the heavy ground
A FORMER Winter Olympian has had two high-speed racing toboggans stolen. They were taken from outside the home of millionaire retired businessman Keith Schellenberg, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, on Saturday night. Mr Schellenberg was a member of the
COAL MINING: HERBERT Harker (HAS, Jan 21) stoutly defends Durham County Council's policy of reclaiming old colliery sites. He ignores the fact that it robbed the communities affected of their industrial history and archaeology. True, the old pit heaps
MORE than 30 enthusiasts gathered for a quilting bee yesterday to start creating three traditional bedspreads based on designs that are more than 100 years old. Eight men and 24 women spent three hours working on the project at the Farmhouse Kitchen on
As part of The Northern Echo's Lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region: Tomorrow Bishop Auckland Masonic Hall, 26 Victoria Avenue, Bishop Auckland 2.45pm-7pm Methodist
The Afternoon Play (BBC1): WRITERS often bemoan the death of the single play, replaced by soaps and series in the TV schedules. So we should welcome the second batch of The Afternoon Play, five single plays being stripped across the schedules in - and
A SHARE of a £65m national pot to improve housing markets will come to the Tees Valley, it was announced yesterday. Resources from the Regional Housing Board and English Partnership has been granted to Darlington, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool
A LOCAL authority has warned a scheme to shape the development of the North-East could have devastating consequences for rural areas. Teesdale District Council said the North-East Assembly's draft Regional Spatial Strategy could lead to rural and urban
FANS and players at one of the region's most famous amateur football clubs vowed to team up and save the club after its chairman stepped down last night. Spennymoor United's chairman Benny Mottram said farewell to the club after its 4-1 home win against
ELEVEN North-East schools, including six in County Durham, will be designated as specialist schools today. They will focus on raising standards in their chosen subjects and develop centres for excellence. To do this the Government gives them £100,000
The Darlington Building Society NYSD League has been boosted with the transfer from the Readers Durham County League of Sedgefield, whose first team will begin in Division Two. Their Second XI will operate in the Third Division and the third team will
A COUPLE say they have been dismissed without warning from a top North-East golf club. Mike and Barbara Heslop have been told to leave Castle Eden Golf Club, in east Durham, by the end of next month, having been appointed as steward and stewardess in
PROGRESSIVE Moustique de L'Isle (1.25) should relish the rain-softened turf at Wetherby today. Moustique de L'Isle powered to an emphatic victory on a similar surface at Towcester in October, but then was undone by a funereal early pace back at the same
The Afternoon Play (BBC1) WRITERS often bemoan the death of the single play, replaced by soaps and series in the TV schedules. So we should welcome the second batch of The Afternoon Play, five single plays being stripped across the schedules in - and
Football matches and pop concerts could be banned and people asked to stay at home if a flu pandemic sweeps the country. But how likely is it that this will happen? Nick Morrison looks at the danger lurking in chickens. BEHIND it all is the spectre of
A INTERNET company based in Darlington has launched the first phase of its expansion plan. Bedsearcher, which books everything from budget hostel rooms to five-star hotels, has opened its web link to 23 countries across Europe, including France, Spain
A FARMER who tried to stop two enraged bulls fighting in a pen was trampled to death, an inquest jury has been told. The jury, sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, heard how 80-year-old William Lax had brought all three of his bulls into a building
A HOSPITAL has closed three wards to new admissions after an outbreak of a vomiting and diarrhoea bug. Bosses at Harrogate District Hospital, took the decision to close the wards after more than 50 people, patinets and visitors, developed viral gastroenteritis
A PROVISIONAL council tax rise of 23p a week has been proposed by Hambleton District Council. The rise, which equates to £12 a year, means council tax will be £80 for an average Band D property, if the figures are agreed by councillors next month. Council
PLANS have been submitted for the multi-million pound redevelopment of Richmond's old railway station. Campaigners from the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust want to turn the 19th Century building into a business and community centre. The renovated
A NOTORIOUS stretch of County Durham road was the scene of two accidents yesterday morning. There were no fatalities in the two accidents on the A66, near Barnard Castle, but one man suffered serious leg injuries. The first accident occurred near the
COUNCIL officials in Teesside are searching for burial plots following overcrowding at cemeteries. Brotton and Loftus cemeteries in east Cleveland, will be full within a year. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is considering options to extend both
THE Government has ruled out legal curbs on directors' pay after publishing research showing that better disclosure of earnings had delivered a substantial change in behaviour. Rules introduced in 2002 giving shareholders a vote on pay deals had improved
A RADIO station based in the Yorkshire Dales has won a radio industry award. Fresh Radio, which has a studio in Richmond, has been confirmed as Radio Station of the Year for the Yorkshire and North-East region by the Radio Academy. The academy praised
A POLICE firearms expert has warned parents to make sure their children stay on the right side of the law when they use air weapons. PC Ged Haycroft, who is an armourer at Cleveland Police headquarters, said: "Times have changed and so has public attitude
Graeme Storm kicked off the European tour in fine style with a top ten finish in South Africa at the weekend. In part one of his tour diary the Hartlepool golfer talks about how his experiences in Durban have made him determined not to slip back on to
MORE than 400 Christmas trees were turned into recycled bark chippings after being collected from houses in Middlesbrough. The council's post-Christmas initiative resulted in nearly two tonnes of chippings. Refuse crews have also collected 4,328 tonnes
Ferryhill Town Council, backed by Sedgefield Borough Council, has appointed a road sweeper to keep Ferryhill tidy. The appointment of Keith Stamen sees the revival of the lengthsman role. Borough council staff previously picked litter but struggled to
Older people in the borough of Stockton are to be given a free guide to services. Clever Clogs Publishing, in Durham City, has won funding to produce a booklet for the over-60s in the borough with Age Concern Stockton. Money has come from the North-East
FANTASY games group Games Workshop reported a slowdown in UK sales as the buzz around the Lord of the Rings trilogy began to fade. The group, which also makes the Warhammer battle game, said UK sales fell to £21m during the six months to November 28,
POLICE closed a Consett Road yesterday afternoon after a lorry hit a lamppost. Although no-one was injured, the collision left the lamppost hanging at a 45-degree angle across Benfieldside Road in Blackhill. Highways officers were called to maintain the
POLICE said yesterday that they were disappointed with the results of a week-long seatbelt safety campaign. Officers in North Yorkshire kept a special watch for drivers and passengers not wearing their belts last week. A number of check points were also
PATIENTS struggling to get to appointments at a rural hospital and doctor's surgery are demanding a regular bus route. Residents have complained for years about the lack of transport to the East Cleveland Hospital, in Brotton. Redcar and Cleveland Borough
AN Asian business organisation has challenged its members to raise £2,000 a week for a year in aid of tsunami relief. The Asian Business Network, based in Newcastle, has set up the Tsunami Promise challenge. Network chairman Fazal-ur-Rehman said: "The
THE continuing rise of the low-cost airlines hit Channel Tunnel company Eurotunnel last year. Eurotunnel carried eight per cent fewer cars on its shuttle trains last year than in 2003, company figures showed. Although the number of lorry shuttles remained
A NEWLY-APPOINTED headteacher has carried out one of her first jobs by choosing a head boy and girl. Carolyn Roberts takes up the post at Durham Johnston Sixth Form College after four years as head teacher of St Hild's C.E. School in Hartlepool. Voting
POTTERING about her kitchen with her grey hair and spectacles, grandmother Patricia Tabram cuts an unlikely figure as a drug dealer. But the sprightly 66-year-old, who prides herself on her home-made herbal cookies, casseroles and soups, has admitted
MILLIONS of pounds are being made available to help the region's businesses tackle poor staff literacy and numeracy. Employers across County Durham have been told that deficiencies in basic staff skills could cost their organisations as much as £200,000
A SUPPORT service to help private tenants is to be extended across the Tees Valley. The Hartlepool Floating Support Service, established by the Endeavour Housing Association and Hartlepool Borough Council, has been hailed a success. A similar scheme will
TWO women may be charged for illegally selling a firework believed to have been used to start a house blaze in which a pensioner died. Grandfather Arthur Lonsdale died two days after the Little Brother rocket was pushed through his letter box as he slept
A TOWN mayor's dedication to his community has earned him the highest accolade from his professional peers. Spennymoor mayor Councillor John Culine has been named the Showman of The Year by The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, which represents 5,000
Proddy mats: A five-week proddy mat making course starts at Howden-le-Wear Community Centre on Tuesday, February 22, from 6pm to 8pm. For details, call Steve Thow on (01388) 443133. Health checks: Crook and District nurses will carry out blood pressure
CHILDREN and staff at a Darlington school have turned themselves blue to help victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. The pupils at Firthmoor Primary School were asked what they thought they could do to help raise some money. Some suggested a non-uniform
YOUTHS are suspected of smashing street lights on a Darlington estate so they can hunt for foxes in the dark. Residents told a meeting in Lascelles Park that there was a problem with youths throwing stones at lights in an effort to extinguish them. Councillor
THE multi-million pound redevelopment of a Richmond school is on schedule despite fears over a shortage of steel, teachers have been told. The steel frame and concrete floors have now been erected for the £7.6m new St Francis Xavier school building. Staff
SOLDIERS and council staff will clean up a town today after declaring war on litter. A joint operation between the Army and Richmondshire District Council will see Catterick Garrison get an early spring clean after an increase in complaints about litter-strewn
Plans for a large store on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland could signal the start of an out-of-town retail boom, according to traders. The application for a 30,000 sq ft non-food retail unit in Tindale Crescent, off Watling Road, has sparked rumours
RESIDENTS can have their say on the plans for alleygates in North Ormesby. Tees Valley Housing Group (TVHG) has organised a series of meetings to outline the timetable and location for the proposed £650,000 programme. The scheme will be brought in for
