AN all-too frequent foray to the capital, we have been dining at the National Liberal Club, hung with portraits of great leaders down the ages. Almost coquettishly, Mr Jeremy Thorpe half hides behind a pillar. It's very grand, said to have Europe's largest
TOUGH-TALKING chairman Steve Gibson has insisted Middlesbrough will continue to take a zero tolerance stance on drugs after Abel Xavier's B sample failed to clear his name. After learning of the latest find, Gibson last night vowed to crack down on any
MR RIGSBY'S participation in the two-year-old selling race (1.50) at Wolverhampton brings back marvellous memories of comic legend Leonard Rossiter, who played the landlord of the same name in the TV sitcom, Rising Damp. Rossiter was a method actor known
On successive days last week, items on this page highlighted the ever more dominant role of regionalism in the affairs of the North-East - despite last year's massive vote against an elected regional assembly. First, deputy editor Chris Lloyd very usefully
An NHS dentist who performed a sex act while his patient lay unconscious in his chair has been warned he is facing jail. Lee Gaukrodger's 32-year-old victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had gone to his surgery for a simple tooth extraction
Toddlers are to be taught a language while still at nursery. Some of the children are not yet three, but they will be learning French through songs, videos and puppet shows. They will be the first in the country to learn a language at pre-school age,
DARYL MURPHY may have expressed his desire to fight for his place at Sunderland at the weekend, but Darlington hope to convince the Irish striker that a loan move could enhance his long-term prospects at the Stadium of Light. Murphy made his first senior
FIREWORKS MENACE: Listening to the racket currently going on in this street, I am wondering when the Government will have the common sense to crack down on the public sale of fireworks. Clearly the restriction of their sale to the over 18s is failing
TIME is being called on drinking on Middlesbrough's town centre streets, in a bid to make the Teesside town more welcoming. An alcohol-free zone, which has the full backing of Cleveland Police, comes into effect today and covers the Middlehaven, Gresham
KIRSTY CHANDLER is still on cloud nine after she collected an award from her former North-East college for doing what she loves best. The singer swapped sun, sand and sea views to be at the annual ceremony hosted by Darlington College of Technology. The
NEWCASTLE United's Steven Taylor aims to give Graeme Souness an added £13m selection headache. With some of his best players on the comeback trail, the Magpies boss faces selection dilemmas in both midfield and attack, but his much-maligned defence is
A North-East dale lost one of its last industrial landmarks yesterday when a 400ft chimney was reduced to a pile of rubble. The chimney has stood at cement company Lafarge's Eastgate site, in Weardale, County Durham, since the plant opened 40 years ago
A THRIVING company in the region has clinched another IT contract with an international property firm to allow its staff global access to its computer systems. Alpha Lan Systems, of Stockton, has a substantial IT support contract with the commercial division
A CANADIAN company has dropped plans to explore the possibility of zinc mining in the region because of a potential conflict between industry and landscape. Falconbridge, based in Ontario, had expressed interest in testing a site near old lead workings
For more than 100 years, native red squirrels have been losing ground to their American grey cousins. Today, conservationists launch the latest attempt to give the reds a fighting chance of survival. Nick Morrison reports ABOUT 100 yards before you get
NEARLY 2,000 jobs are to be axed at Government defence sites across the country, including some in the North-East, as part of a shake-up of repair services. Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram yesterday announced cuts across the Defence Aviation Repair
The Last Tommy (BBC1) Hannibal Of The Alps: Revealed (five) THE idea behind The Last Tommy was a simple but effective one - have the last surviving veterans of the First World War tell their stories about their experiences in the so-called "war to end
STUDENTS have been lending a hand with preparations for their school's anniversary. Darlington pupils Lauren Simpson, 14, Jenny Hunt, 14, Adam Armstrong, 15, and Andrew Finn, 15, from Hum- mersknott School and Language College, helped set up a display
PLANS to introduce a national curriculum for babies and toddlers are absolute madness, parents' groups warned last night. The Childcare Bill proposed laws requiring every childminder and nursery to teach the curriculum to children from birth until they
A MAN accused of raping an eight-year-old girl told a court he believes she was told to make up the allegation because people had a grudge against him. Edwin Christopher Shield, 42, made the statement while giving evidence on the second day of his trial
A DARLINGTON-BASED hotel booking firm could be in line for a sixth business award within 12 months. Gillian Chapple, founder of Bedsearcher, has been nominated for a category at this year's North East Woman Entrepreneur Awards. She is in line to scoop
A VILLAGE postmistress who is giving up her business has blamed online grocery shopping. Cheryl Clark has been trying to build up trade since she took over a small post office and shop 11 months ago, at Bowes, near Barnard Castle. But yesterday she said
AFTER waiting more than a century to find out, a cheery centenarian discovered yesterday that blondes really do have more fun. All her life Mary Jane Booth had always wanted a change of image but she had to wait for her 101st birthday to try out her new
TIME is being called on drinking on Middlesbrough's town centre streets to make the town more welcoming. Councillor Barry Coppinger, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for community safety and leisure, said: "It is about deterring people from making
THE wise head of Christian Bassila has attempted to defuse any unrest at Sunderland by trying to compare the club's perilous Premiership position to that of escaping a blazing family home. The philosophical Frenchman, due to return from injury for the
THE first resident has moved into an affordable housing scheme in Richmondshire. Fran Bateman, who has lived in Colburn for the past 45 years, said she was delighted with her two-bedroomed bungalow. It has been built, along with another, on the site of
TRADERS in Chester-le-Street are being urged to support a plan that will literally put them on the map to boost business. The Business Association is drawing up a blueprint that will pinpoint shops, so visitors can locate them quickly, on shop locator
A SPECIALIST science college has been officially designated as outstanding. Framwellgate School, in Durham City, is the first secondary school in the North-East to gain the highest accolade under new short-notice Ofsted inspections. Only a very small
Detectives investigating one of the region's longest running murder cases have this morning arrested a man after raiding a house in Scotland. Housewife Ann Heron, 44, died at her isolated home at Middleton St George on the outskirts of Darlington in August
A PRIMARY school football team has kick started half term sporting new strips. Coundon St Joseph's RC Primary School has smartened up its act with the strip, a present from the parents of one of the players. Alison and Chris Matthews, who run Kurlisees
BARRY Johnson, double Scottish champion and winner of the inaugural event following the return of rallying to Hamsterley Forest two years ago, heads a 100 car capacity entry for Sunday's SG Petch Hamsterley Forest Stages Rally. The Shildon businessman
A NEW radio station could be on the air by next summer, after Ofcom announced the winner of a commercial licence. BTN FM has been awarded a 12-year licence to broadcast to Northallerton, Thirsk and Bedale. The station is now looking for premises in Northallerton
NEWCASTLE United's Steven Taylor aims to give Graeme Souness an added £13m selection headache. With some of his best players on the comeback trail, the Magpies boss faces selection dilemmas in both midfield and attack, but his much-maligned defence is
DEDICATED football fans could be experiencing fame this week after their supporters' CD entered the music charts at number 26. Poolie Pride, performed by the Monkey Hangerz and featuring Hartlepool band the Passion Killers, outsold Madonna's new single
A NEW radio station could be on the air by next summer, after Ofcom announced the winner of a commercial licence. BTN FM has been awarded a 12-year licence to broadcast to Northallerton, Thirsk and Bedale. The station is now looking for premises in Northallerton
NEWCASTLE Falcons captain Colin Charvis will be available for Friday night's televised match at home to London Irish after being released by Wales. Charvis played in the heavy defeat by the All Blacks on Saturday, but as that match fell outside the agreed
A FAMILY haulage firm which started in 1924 distributing coal by horse and cart has gone into administration with the loss of 30 jobs. Dunns Shildon Limited has been a major employer in the County Durham town for more than 80 years. Administrators Tait
Police have been given a mobile camera unit to film trouble spots and gather evidence about unruly conduct in a rural part of the region. The closed circuit television (CCTV) vehicle will be used for the first time this week in Barnard Castle, County
POLICE forces in the region were under fire last night for hoarding £125m in reserves - enough to pay for 2,500 extra officers. All four forces boast a "rainy day fund" far in excess of official guidelines, which require them to set aside a total of only
MYSTERIOUS mobile phone texts could hold the key to what happened to missing shopworker Jenny Nicholl. Police last night urged members of the public to help trace the sender of the messages. Police suspect that the texts from Miss Nicholl's mobile phone
Our grown-up kids may still be at home, but tempting as it is, we shouldn't smother them ARE you a helicopter mother? If so, it might be time to whirr off. Helicopter mother is the new name for mothers who constantly hover over their children's lives,
MISERABLY wet and windy weather at Sedgefield couldn't dampen the spirits of trainer Keith Reveley, sending out his first winner at the course via Ungaro in the Betfred Poker Handicap Hurdle. "We won the final of the series with Rambling Minster at Newcastle
WHEN Tony Blair swept to power and memorably declared that "education, education, education" was his top priority, we backed him all the way because education is at the core of the country's future prosperity. And the feedback we receive from teachers
A MAN accused of sex offences involving two young girls, including the rape of one, was today cleared of the last two of the charges. Edwin Christopher Shield, who has been in custody since the complaints were made in early February, was free to return
FAMILIES who formed an action group to improve their neighbourhood have secured cash for two facilities for local children. A play area and a sports court are to be created on a disused playing field at Middlestone Moor, in Spennymoor. Sedgefield Borough
AN all-too frequent foray to the capital, we have been dining at the National Liberal Club, hung with portraits of great leaders down the ages. Almost coquettishly, Mr Jeremy Thorpe half hides behind a pillar. It's very grand, said to have Europe's largest
COUNCIL workers angry about equal-pay proposals that could see some face major cuts, may be considering industrial action, a union official has warned. Members of the GMB union who work for Sunderland City Council have voted by 89.4 per cent to reject
A CANCER sufferer allegedly murdered by his doctor was described as "failing" in the hours before potentially lethal doses of morphine were given to him. But the jury in the case of GP Howard Martin was told yesterday that Frank Moss did not appear to
A PRINTING company that has quadrupled turnover to £1m in the past three years expects to see it jump to £2m by 2009. When John Hutchinson bought Castle Print, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, in 2002, he said the company was "stuck in the Dark Ages". "It
POLICE forces across the UK are being urged to review how they transport prisoners after a man fell into a coma in a police van taking him to cells. An inquest jury yesterday returned a verdict of misadventure on traveller Patrick Lowther, of Stockton
AN open day for ethnic minority groups will be held on Sunday, November 20, in the Darlington Dolphin Centre's central hall, from 2 to 4pm. There will be information for people from ethnic minorities, with representatives from Darlington Associaton on
PARENTS of unruly school children in Darlington could be made more responsible for their actions in the classroom. Mothers and fathers could be made to sign contracts to ensure that their children behave. Darlington Borough Council has agreed to introduce
SCHEMES to help older people live independently for longer have won £3m from the Department of Health. The funding, which will be spread over the next two years, has been awarded under the department's Partnerships for Older People Projects (Popp). North
A SCHOOL was given a boost in encouraging physical fitness yesterday, with the arrival of a large amount of playground equipment. The Corporation Road Primary School students collected 51,494 Active Kids tokens for equipment, including skipping ropes,
CHILDREN were inspired to pen their own novels when renowned author Alan Gibbons paid them a visit. The writer, who was the first winner of Blue Peter's Book Award for his gem, The Shadow of the Minotaur, spent the day at Egglescliffe Secondary School
SWIMMING pool staff put on some extra clothing before taking the plunge and raising £200 for charity. The eight female members of the team at Thirsk pool all donned their bras to swim 532 lengths of the pool. As part of breast cancer awareness month,
THE region's bathers are swimming in the cleanest seas for decades, a Government report has revealed. From Bamburgh to Scarborough, all but two of the region's beaches met the European Union's tightest bathing water standards. At Crimdon, in east Durham
THE innovative DigitalCity collaboration has taken on board its newest member - a 3D visualisation expert. The regeneration project, which is partnered by Middlesbrough Council, funded by One NorthEast and managed from within the University of Teesside
PLANS for a late night take-away stall on Teesside have met with opposition. Police and retailers have complained about proposals to site a fast food stall in Stockton High Street, from 8pm to 3am, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Siavash Hassanzadeh
TODAY is a Father's Day in Middlesbrough - with a difference. The town is host to a conference on the role of dads in families. Mark Collins, who works with fathers in SureStart projects in central Middlesbrough, said: "It is an opportunity for people
THE friends of Durham Cathedral are preparing for two major fundraising efforts in coming weeks. Members of the group at their recent 72nd general meeting approved grants totalling £246,000 towards the upkeep of the Norman-built World Heritage site. Its
CHILDREN at a primary school are learning a serious road safety message in a fun way, thanks to equipment donated by a firm of solicitors. Neville's Cross Primary School, in Durham City, has taken delivery of role-play road-crossing equipment which was
THE £35m redevelopment of a rundown area of Durham City has taken a step forward with the completion of a block of 35 apartments. The one and two-bedroomed apartments, which sold out quickly when they went on sale in August, despite the £245,000 price
A LOCAL authority has launched an online register for job applicants. North Yorkshire County Council says it is leading the way in developing new initiatives to recruit staff using technology. Applicants can submit their qualifications, experience and
BUS services are likely to be axed or reduced as Durham County Council tries to stem the rising cost of subsidising operators. The Labour-run authority's cabinet will be recommended tomorrow to cancel ten services and cut back more than 60 others - mainly
MARKS & Spencer likened its falling out with George Davies to a lovers' tiff last night as it welcomed the designer back into the fold. Announcing profits at the top end of hopes after an overhaul of stores and clothing ranges, M&S said Mr Davies
A RECRUITMENT agency specialising in finding work for ethnic minorities yesterday marked the opening of its new head office with a pledge to drive forward a project in the North-East. Middlesbrough-based Talent will work with voluntary organisations and
Martin Corry has adopted a 'winning is everything' approach ahead of England's season opener against Australia as the world champions try to forget their Six Nations debacle last term. With the imposing All Blacks looming large, England cannot afford
Our grown-up kids may still be at home, but tempting as it is, we shouldn't smother them ARE you a helicopter mother? If so, it might be time to whirr off. Helicopter mother is the new name for mothers who constantly hover over their children's lives,
A MAN ran up a railway line to alert a train driver to stop after his friend was beaten and thrown on to the track. The incident happened on the southbound platform of Tynemouth Metro station, on Sunday, at about 11pm. The victim, a 38-year-old man from
MARK Viduka wants to forget about his new role as a Premiership substitute and concentrate on helping his country end 32 years of World Cup heartache. Viduka, who has not started a league game for Middlesbrough since the defeat to Sunderland in September
A man accused of a string of animal cruelty charges after almost 30 dead animals were discovered at a run-down stables today denied all of the charges. Lee Howard made a brief appearance at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court, in County Durham, where he
