Archive

  • Directors of debt-ridden rail trust battle to stay on board

    VOLUNTEER directors of a trust supporting a debt-ridden railway face a challenge for their posts for the first time in years today. Eleven members of the Weardale Railway Trust are standing for six vacant positions on the board at what could be a stormy

  • 18th Century mill restored

    AN 18th Century mill that featured in a television series will soon be open following a £1m restoration project. Gayle Mill, near Hawes, North Yorkshire, was in the final three of BBC2's Restoration series last year. It was pipped at the post for a £2.5m

  • New mosque designed to promote peace and harmony

    A MILLION-POUND mosque to promote peace and harmony in communities was unveiled last night. The Supreme Head of The Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community attended the ceremony to officially inaugurate the mosque in Hartlepool. Civic dignitaries, including

  • Kandol's goal mission

    TRESOR KANDOL will make his Darlington debut this afternoon with a simple brief from new manager David Hodgson - keep on scoring. The 24-year-old has netted six goals for Dagenham & Redbridge in the Conference this season and was on target against

  • Wilkinson's late show not enough to rescue Falcons

    JONNY Wilkinson is back, but the mystery of Newcastle Falcons' home form deepened last night with their third defeat of the season at Kingston Park. It left them next to the bottom of the Guinness Premiership, despite Wilkinson kicking four second half

  • Insomniac sparked police chase

    AN INSOMNIAC sparked a high-speed police chase after he went for a drive because he was unable to sleep. Darren Brooke, 39, was asked to pull over by officers who spotted him driving his red Citroen, in Sunderland, in the early hours of May 21. But Newcastle

  • Project to save rare grassland on verge

    A CONSERVATION group is working to preserve one of the UK's rarest types of grassland, on the verge of one of the North-East's main highways. The MAGical Meadows Project, in part overseen by Durham Wildlife Trust, aims to restore and help magnesian limestone

  • Free house alarms for residents

    ELECTRONIC housesitters are being installed to give residents peace of mind while they are in hospital or respite care. The free monitored house alarms are being fitted to a number of homes across Middlesbrough. Crime Reduction Officer Sergeant Glynn

  • Store donates cash to charity

    A SUPERMARKET chain has given various grants to support local charities. A donation of £500 was awarded to the Talking Newspaper by the North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend fund, to enable the charity to provide the service on CD. The

  • School crossing patrol approved

    A NEW school crossing patrol is to be placed on a busy road after pleas from parents. Councillor Robbie Payne, Hartlepool Borough Council's transportation portfolio holder, has given the go-ahead for the crossing in the town's Throston Grange Lane after

  • Catching a ride on threatened bus route

    GETTING the bus isn't a bad way to travel, but in County Durham, at least, it looks likely to get more difficult. The county council is taking an axe to its budget for subsidised bus services in an attempt to stem a possible overspend of £700,000. Most

  • Free weekend to launch park and ride

    DRIVERS are to be given free use of a park and ride project on the first weekend of its operation. Durham County Council's £10m scheme is to keep long-stay vehicles out of the centre of Durham City by building 1,100 parking spaces on the outskirts that

  • Remembered all over the world

    A first World War soldier was yesterday remembered at both ends of the Earth for the first time in 87 years afer the mystery of a forgottne name on an Australian war memorial was solved. Chris Lloyd traces the poignant story of Jim Buddin. From Doggy

  • Approval given for phone tower

    CONTROVERSIAL plans for a telecommunications tower at a town football club have been given the go-ahead, despite objections from residents. People living near Shildon Football Club's Dean Street ground yesterday urged members of Sedgefield Borough Council's

  • Mothers back weapons amnesty

    TWO mothers whose sons were stabbed to death are backing a two-week weapons amnesty. Barbara Dunne was the mother of 31-year-old Robert Dunne, who was stabbed with a samurai sword yards from his home in West Lane, Middlesbrough, in January 2003. Theresa

  • Christmas cards that support good causes

    TOURIST information centres in Hambleton are selling Christmas cards which benefit more than 25 major charities. The centres, in Northallerton and Thirsk, are in a national network of shops stocking Cards for Good Causes. Charities receive at least 81p

  • Fears grow as Brandon struggle on

    THE future of Brandon is again in doubt as they prepare for their home game with Shildon this afternoon - but they have vowed to keep going. After deciding to continue following a crisis meeting during the summer, the club, which won the league three

  • Threat of boycott over lack of disabled parking spaces

    A DISABLED driver has hit out at the lack of disabled parking spaces in a busy town centre. Mike Edser, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, said Northallerton High Street has only a quarter of the spaces it should have. He claims that disabled people

  • On the run to the national biathlon

    SPORTS-mad teenager Jennifer Crewdson is having a run of success after qualifying for the National Biathlon. The Northallerton College student won through to the biathlon championships in Sheffield at the Yorkshire region qualifier, staged at Queen Margaret's

  • Two church traditions, but joined in one common goal

    At Scatriston, two churches have come together to build a new church to be used by both congreations, Anglican and Methodist. The joint project solves the problem of maintaining two elderly buildings. Gavin Engelbrecht reports that both congerations will

  • People given the chance to have say on future of town

    RESIDENTS are being asked to help draw up plans for their town's future. Consultants have been appointed to carry out 1,000 telephone interviews with people in Redcar and the rest of east Cleveland, and to canvas the opinions of 300 high street shoppers

  • Shredder plan praised for cutting crime

    TOWN hall officials have won honours in their attempts to thwart identity thieves. Judges have praised Middlesbrough Council's scheme to sell more than 1,000 cut-price shredders to people living in areas at risk. Identity thieves open bin bags looking

  • Andrea celebrates after course success

    A TEENAGER is celebrating after she secured a job in a traditionally male career. Andrea Danks, 19, has secured a job with Hammal Cabinet Makers, based in Stockton, after she completed an NVQ level two in joinery and received a construction award. Staff

  • One last chance for Boro's foreign legion to make finals

    MIDDLESBROUGH'S foreign legion will be out in force this weekend as they make eleventh hour bids to reach the World Cup Finals in Germany next year. Three Boro players will be playing in first-leg play-offs, with a fourth a more than interested spectator

  • MP backs move for murder retrial

    AN MP last night welcomed moves for the Court of Appeal to decide if a labourer accused of murder 14 years ago should be re-tried. Frank Cook, MP for Stockton North, said it was "an important step forward on a very long journey" after the Crown Prosecution

  • Standing silently to pay respects

    DURHAM came to a standstill yesterday at 11am as people stopped to remember the men and women who gave their lives in wartime. About 200 people observed a two-minute silence in Durham City Market Place at 11am that was heralded by buglers playing from

  • Davis takes criticism on the chin

    SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Kelvin Davis has admitted the boos of the home fans are the price you pay for under-performing at a club with such passionate support. The 29-year-old believes if players are more than happy to take plaudits when they're performing

  • Winning run is reward for players' hard work - Scott

    SO much for a disappointing start to the campaign at Hartlepool United. After four successive victories - three in League One and one in the FA Cup - Martin Scott's side is within sniffing distance of the top six. Pool stuttered into gear in the early

  • Desperately seeking Santa

    WHEN I was given the opportunity to visit the real Santa Claus in his magical home in Lapland, I thought all of my Christmas wishes had come true. So what if I am 27? The magic of Christmas lives on and my bags were packed quickly in case they changed

  • Beckham endorses Terry as England's skipper-in-waiting

    David Beckham has revealed his dream to lead England to World Cup glory next summer while identifying John Terry as a future England captain. Beckham will lead his country for the 50th time in today's friendly international with Argentina and has revealed

  • Southern is biggest care firm in the UK

    Southern Cross has acquired the Ashbourne Group for an undisclosed sum, making it the largest care company in the UK. The Darlington-based company said it would continue to make acquisitions in a bid to consolidate the sector. Its national workforce has

  • Souness pleads for patience

    REALISTIC Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has warned fans that he may never have all of his first-team squad available at one time, and pleaded for patience as he tries to get as many of his players back to full fitness as possible. The news of Albert

  • The clan of the county

    IN front of what may prove to be Sunderland's biggest crowd this month, unless things at the Stadium of Light much improve, the Reverend John Roland McManners was licensed on Sunday as priest-in-charge of St Gabriel's, Bishopwearmouth. He is 59, and quoted

  • Festival will boost local economy

    The Northern Lights Film Festival is all set to generate more than £250,000 for the region's economy later this month. The event, taking place at sites across the region between next Thursday and Thursday, November 24, will attract hundreds of visitors

  • Ex-boxer attacked girlfriend

    A FORMER boxer was jailed yesterday for assaulting his girlfriend at their North-East home. Teesside Crown Court was told that Andrew Gardner left Lynne Reynolds, 24, needing stitches in her face after he attacked her at their flat in Bishop Auckland,

  • Damian has a supercasino chance

    THE three casinos competing for the chance to operate a supercasino in the region were named yesterday. Las Vega Sands - bidding in partnership with Middlesbrough Football Club - Isle of Capri, and Aspers, led by Damian Aspinall, of the Aspinall's gambling

  • Husband 'totally denies murder'

    FORMER businessman Peter Heron "totally denies" murdering his wife 15 years ago, his solicitor told a court yesterday. The family of Ann Heron were in court yesterday as her husband appeared before magistrates, charged with her murder. Mrs Heron's throat

  • Brigade safety campaign fires youngsters' imagination

    FIRE chiefs have been looking for a youngster with the skills to design a safety message which will be understood by other children and could save lives. There has been a substantial reduction in the number of deliberate bonfire incidents throughout the

  • Actors show their bear-faced cheek

    A DRAMA group is celebrating its tenth anniversary by performing Goldilocks and The Three Bears for the first time. Centre Stage in Shildon has brought a host of pantomimes and plays to the town over the years, but has never performed the classic fairy

  • Village gets windfall to fund environment improvements

    THOUSANDS of pounds have been promised to a Teesdale village for environmental projects. Gainford could be in line for grants worth £32,500 to fund landscaping projects in the village. Suggestions for improvements include replacing bollards on the green

  • Davies has high hopes for Quakers

    Stewart Davies' fighter jet is punching holes in the bloated white clouds over the North Sea. It is a glorious sunny day and much of the Tees Valley is visible from 8,000 feet up - but Mr Davies' friend "Captain Eagle", who has his fire-retardant gloves

  • Man killed by runaway car

    A MAN was killed when he was knocked down by a runaway car near his home. Leo Scurr, 56, of Newcastle, was making his way to work when the driverless Ford Fiesta rolled down a hill on Thursday and hit him. He was walking down Atherton Drive to catch a

  • Warm welcome for developer

    The developer that bought land at a Darlington business park were on site yesterday promising to create 190 jobs. Gateshead-based Easter Group, which has bought ten acres of land at the Faverdale East Business Park, is building 190,000sq ft of warehousing

  • Southern is biggest care firm in the UK

    Southern Cross has acquired the Ashbourne Group for an undisclosed sum, making it the largest care company in the UK. The Darlington-based company said it would continue to make acquisitions in a bid to consolidate the sector. Its national workforce has

  • Call for improved rail services

    RESIDENTS have called for rail services to be improved to tackle transport problems in two towns. North Yorkshire County Council has carried out a major study on the future of transport in Harrogate and Knaresborough. The authority sent out 45,000 leaflets

  • Takeover is a one-horse race

    THE £2bn three-way bidding contest for Europe's biggest coal-fired power station was reduced to one contender yesterday. Drax, which is near Selby, North Yorkshire, provides enough power to meet seven per cent of the UK's electricity needs. US energy

  • Damian has a supercasino chance

    THE three casinos competing for the chance to operate a supercasino in the region were named yesterday. Las Vega Sands - bidding in partnership with Middlesbrough Football Club - Isle of Capri, and Aspers, led by Damian Aspinall, of the Aspinall's gambling

  • Keep on scoring, hodgson tells new signing Kandol

    TRESOR KANDOL will make his Darlington debut this afternoon with a simple brief from new manager David Hodgson - keep on scoring. The 24-year-old has netted six goals for Dagenham & Redbridge in the Conference this season and was on target against

  • Discover darkest Peru

    A trip to the lost city of the Incas leaves John Von Radowitz breathless - and that's nothing to do with the lack of oxygen travellers experience in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. In a land of surprises, one of the strangest sights was that of guests

  • Hear all Sides

    TERRORISM BILL THE Government argues that there is a need to strike a balance between upholding the human rights of terrorist suspects and protecting citizens from terrorist attacks. There is no such dilemma - adhering to the basic principles of human

  • Winning run is reward for players' hard work' - Scott

    SO much for a disappointing start to the campaign at Hartlepool United. After four successive victories - three in League One and one in the FA Cup - Martin Scott's side is within sniffing distance of the top six. Pool stuttered into gear in the early

  • Further changes to ghost ships plan

    FURTHER amendments have been made to a bid to put an end to the ghost ships saga. Council officials in Hartlepool have received an amended planning application from Able UK in relation to the development of its Graythorp yard. The company's original application

  • Highways policy 'will put jobs in jeopardy'

    TENS of thousands of jobs could be at risk in a dispute with the Highways Agency over the region's overcrowded roads, regeneration leaders have warned. Regional development agency One NorthEast has entered the row between business leaders and the Highways

  • Bands will battle it out

    A DOZEN up-and-coming groups from the North-East are competing in a college's annual Battle of the Bands contest. The event, staged by East Durham and Houghall Community College, is taking place at the college theatre, in Peterlee. Each heat sees competing

  • Club fight teenager escapes jail term

    A TEENAGER knocked out two members of a social club committee then bit the nose of a third man in a drunken spree of violence. The incident happened at Peterlee Catholic Club shortly before last orders on Saturday, February 26, when chairman Kevin Jones

  • Pretorius returns

    AFTER playing without any recognised second row forwards in their last match, Darlington Mowden Park have persuaded Naude Pretorius to return from playing in Wales, writes TIM WELLOCK. The 6ft 7in, 19st South African, who was with Mowden last season,

  • Crowned at last

    For years she was the Queen of the Soaps, holding court behind the bar of the Vic, getting sozzled and fighting with husband, Dirty Den. Now, at last, EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, whose Angie Watts remains one of the Albert Square drama's most memorable