ONE half of a troubled car parts manufacturer that went into administration last month has been saved, along with 125 jobs. Southern investor Vincent Bootes has purchased the Tolwood side of Vickers Pressings Tolwood Automotive (VPTA), in Newton Aycliffe
BEFORE being elected MP for South Shields in 2001, David Miliband was a No10 policy-wonk, dreaming up schemes behind-the-scenes. Now he's made it on to the frontline, but his Cabinet portfolio is arguably the least sexy-sounding of them all: Minister
Where does the North-East economy go from here? Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North-East, looks at thow our knowedge can take us into the digital age of manufacturing. TO coin a current, well-used phrase, One NorthEast is passionate about progress
A RETIRED company director accused of murdering his wife 15 years ago was yesterday granted bail. Teesside Crown Court was told Peter Heron "vehemently denies" killing his partner, Ann, in August 1990. Last Friday, Mr Heron was remanded in custody when
Little Britain (BBC1) The Worst Week of My Life (BBC1) YOU knew they were wearing fat suits, but there was still something gross about it. Rubber they may have been, but the sight of rolls of skin bouncing around as they wrestled to the floor would have
A monk is facing prison after admitting 20 counts of indecent assault on young boys at a preparatory school, which sends pupils to the country's leading Roman Catholic boarding college. Father Piers Grant-Ferris, 71, a Benedictine monk at the Ampleforth
THINK of the North-East and images of canoes and canapes may not be the first things that spring to mind. But marketing campaigns are not voted the best in the world because they feature the first thing that comes to mind. On Sunday, in the plush surroundings
TONY Blair should think about his own constituents when it comes to banning smoking in the workplace, according to one of the UK's largest unions. Sedgefield, the PM's own seat, tops the North-East league for deaths per year directly linked to lung cancer
Developments on the quaysides of Newcastle and Gateshead are the most visible manifestations of culture-led regeneration in the North-East. The new music centres and art galleries are so big that they dominate the skyline of the Tyne, but it is not just
DESPITE entrepreneurs such as Duncan Bannatyne soaking up the limelight on national television and promoting the high-life, the rate of business start-ups in the North-East still remains at a historic low. Add to that a cocktail of skills shortages, productivity
NEW recruit Dean McDonald is likely to make a quick Hartlepool United debut tomorrow. After yesterday completing a one-month loan move to Victoria Park, the Ipswich right winger-cum-striker should make his bow at Gillingham. McDonald joined Ipswich in
THERE are still too many people who live south of Watford who think the North-East is a giant slag heap," says George Cowcher, chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce. It's almost unbelievable, 20 years on from the mining strikes, the decline
FIFA 06 Publisher: EA Sports. Formats: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, GameBoy. PSP. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Yes. THE years roll on and games consoles come and go but one thing is as certain as Christmas Day: that Electronic Arts will have an updated
JOEY Hutchinson may be forced to put his Darlington return on hold after his latest setback. The 23-year-old influential defender is struggling to be fit in time to face Macclesfield Town tomorrow after picking up a calf injury. Hutchinson has missed
ON the day the region stages the North-East Economic Forum, let us start on a positive note. This is a truly great region. It has people with character, passion and fortitude. It has outstanding countryside, vibrant cities and iconic landmarks. It has
Four days after beating Tiger Woods in Shanghai David Howell yesterday did something else he has never done before - sign for a round of 59. Not that the 30-year-old achieved the feat on his own. Howell had Luke Donald as his partner and the score came
ONE half of a troubled car parts manufacturer that went into administration last month has been saved, along with 125 jobs. Southern investor Vincent Bootes has purchased the Tolwood side of Vickers Pressings Tolwood Automotive (VPTA), in Newton Aycliffe
PARISH councillors at the centre of a land dispute are to take their claims to the Land Registry. Dene Valley Parish Council says it now has a strong case to reclaim a former recreation ground in Auckland Park after the Charity Commission agreed to make
A DARLINGTON woman gave her ex-partner's new girlfriend a black eye in a drunken fight, a court heard. Celia Mason, of Beaconsfield Street, is starting a six-month supervision order after pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. The 25-year-old
A service offering advice and support to people who use social services in Darlington has been launched. Advocacy Together Working for Well-Being, Darlington, is an independent service for people who use the borough council's social care services and
A DEVELOPER was questioned by angry residents last night over plans to build more homes on Europe's largest housing estate. Homeowners have called for an end to builders adding more homes to Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, following another planning application
ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour in Darlington is not a major problem and young people have an undeserved bad reputation, the head of the town's youth service says. Mervyn Bell also praised the town's facilities for providing activities for youngsters, and said
AN innovative method of curbing underage drinking in a Teesdale village has seen a drastic reduction in the number of anti-social behaviour complaints. Police in Evenwood have taken to marking bottles and cans in the village's off-licences with invisible
THE British Heart Foundation's anti-smoking campaign gained support when it visited Newton Aycliffe yesterday. Health staff and volunteers from the Sedgefield Primary Care Trust area vowed to back the Under My Skin Campaign when it visited the Pioneering
MICK McCarthy has urged Sunderland's boo-boys to lay off his players ahead of tomorrow's crucial home game with Aston Villa and asked them to direct their insults at him instead. The Black Cats' last outing at the Stadium of Light ended acrimoniously,
STAFF at Cleveland Fire Brigade are racing against time to fit as many smoke alarms as possible to raise money for the BBC Children in Need Appeal. Firefighters at every station in the brigade, along with off-duty staff, are being sponsored to carry out
STAFF at a Darlington caf worked up an appetite by taking part in a gruelling road run for charity. Six employees from Caf Gulp, in Priestgate, completed the town's 10k Road Race for the third year. Their efforts raised £417 through customer donations
AFTER more than 30 years of dealing with 999 calls, Pauline Morritt is going to take things easy. She has just completed her last duty shift in the control room of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. She has served for 31 years and in that time
A TAKEOVER approach for car dealer Reg Vardy could receive the backing of key stakeholders, it was rumoured last night. Rival Pendragon plc - which owns car retail chain CD Bramall - has made a £422m takeover approach for the Sunderland-based company.
AN under-threat Christmas lights display is to go ahead after councillors agreed to release more funds. Barnard Castle Town Council has agreed to spend an extra £2,000 to upgrade its lights. The cash was needed after health and safety checks revealed
A REVIEW of power cuts that affected hundreds of homes earlier this year has called for the electricity supplier to improve its communications. The Richmondshire District Council study concluded that villagers found it difficult to get up-to-date information
A COFFEE morning to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief takes place next week. The event, organised by the Lanchester and District Committee of the charity, takes place at The Derwent Manor Hotel, at Allensford, near Consett, from 10am to 1pm next
The first North-East Economic Forum is held today at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham. Organised by Sovereign Strategy and Northumbria University, the high-powered speakers and discussion groups will hope to plot an economic future for the region
MANAGERS of a number of east Durham community buildings have turned to high-tech systems to help beat the burglars. The bosses of the units in the Eden Hill area of Peterlee have resorted to the DNA-based deterrent SmartWater to help deter thefts at their
MORE businesses are joining forces in a bid to thwart a killer. Smoking is described as Middlesbrough's biggest killer - one person dies every day from a smoking-related illness. Lung cancer, heart disease and strokes are higher in Middlesbrough than
EMPLOYERS are being urged not to miss an event next week which highlights the benefits of employing people with disabilities. Called Taking the Dis' out of Disability, the free seminar will be on Tuesday, in the Baltic Suite of Hartlepool's Maritime Experience
AN instrumental group from the southern Appalacian region of the United States will be appearing in north Durham next week. Chester-le-Street District Council's arts development team will be hosting a music and dance performance by Appalachian Roots at
THE taste of summer is back in North Yorkshire today to help the BBC Children in Need appeal. Strawberry teas are being served up at the Springboard Business Centre, on Stokesley's industrial estate. Staff will have the kettle on from 3pm to welcome as
TICKETS have gone on sale for an annual concert to raise money for a cancer charity. Belmont Ladies Choir and Pittington Brass Band will perform at the event, which will be held in St Nicholas Church in the Market Place, Durham City, to raise funds for
STEVEN Taylor has claimed that Newcastle have the resources to spring a surprise at Chelsea tomorrow, despite the absence of both himself and skipper Alan Shearer. Shearer had been hoping to feature against the Premiership pacesetters after undergoing
CITY ACADEMIES: THERE has been much discussion about Darlington Borough Council's bid for a city academy. In the interests of informing the debate, I would like to explain some key points about the council's intentions. We want to provide a £20m school
PLANS for a development of new flats at an eyesore site in Darlington have been backed by councillors. The borough council's planning committee approved the proposals put forward for Mowden Terrace by Bath-based Circus Investments. The land, formerly
A MOTHER-OF-TWO stole cash from her elderly grandmother and disabled uncle to buy drugs. Victoria Hawley, of Wordsworth Crescent, Gateshead, took more than £3,000 from 84-year-old Elizabeth Nichols, and pocketed more than £1,000 belonging to her son James
WHEN his sister was jailed and his uncle was told he had terminal cancer, 24-year-old Matthew Chandler wanted to drown his sorrows, a court was told yesterday. But, as he later told police, he was ''skint.'' So he walked out of a supermarket in Knaresborough
A NEW book on the history of Blackhall will be launched this morning at the village library. Blackhall Between The Wars Part Two has been compiled by the village's local history group. The first volume of the book, released last year, has now almost sold
THE cause of a house fire which took five hours to bring under control was being investigated yesterday. The terraced property in Fearby, near Masham, was badly damaged in the blaze. Firefighters were called at about 1am on Wednesday and remained on the
THE Royal Mail yesterday reported a 20 per cent increase in profits but revealed that the number of letters it was handling had fallen, only weeks before the industry is thrown open to full competition. Operating profits for the first half of the financial
A POLICE search for a miner who disappeared three years ago took a dramatic twist yesterday when three of his relatives were arrested. They are believed to be the missing man's sister, his niece and his niece's husband. Former miner Edward Donnelly vanished
THE boss of an amusement park has appeared in court over the death of a young woman on a rollercoaster. Gemma Savage, 20, died when two cars collided on the Treetop Twister ride at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, in June 2001. Park director
MORE details have emerged on a sex attack in a city centre churchyard. Police revealed yesterday that the victim of the assault was deaf, had a speech impediment and was unable to scream for help during the assault. And it also became clear that a group
Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Ian Blair's call for a national debate on the kind of policing we want to see in Britain should be applauded and heeded. It is time for the country to decide what it expects of the police and for politicians to ensure those
Britain is the fourth richest country in the world, but it seems the only way it can afford its pensions bill is to raise the retirement age to 67. Nick Morrison looks at why it means only the less well-off will end up working longer. MORE than one million
Britain's top ten most wanted criminals were listed on a new FBI-style website from yesterday in a bid to help police catch the most dangerous on-the-run offenders. The Most Wanted site will use sophisticated criteria to automatically select the ten from
FIFA 06, Publisher: EA Sports. Formats: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC, GameBoy. PSP. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Yes. THE years roll on and games consoles come and go but one thing is as certain as Christmas Day: that Electronic Arts will have an updated
HAT-TRICK seeking Tee-Jay (3.00) is still at the right end of the weights for Kelso's John Sale Handicap Chase over 3 miles. If you happen to dig staying chasers then this is your bag since not one of the nine closely- matched contestants can be dismissed
A RETIRED company director accused of murdering his wife 15 years ago was granted bail yesterday. Teesside Crown Court was told Peter Heron, 70, "vehemently denies" killing his partner, Ann. Mrs Heron's body was found on August 3, 1990, at their home,
A plethgora of strategies and schemes could be holding back both the Morth-East economy and social justice in the region, says John Adams, director of research at the think-tank ippr north. REGIONAL economic policy matters. Without a strong regional economic
THE North-East was last night warned to avoid "fading into parochialism" following last year's enormous No vote against a directly-elected regional assembly. On the eve of today's inaugural North-East Economic Forum, Darlington MP Alan Milburn warned
POLICE are warning witnesses to a North-East murder to expect a knock at the door as their painstaking inquiries continue. The funeral of David Cutts takes place today and detectives leading the investigation into his death are determined to piece together
THE YOUNG victim of an horrific rape has described her ordeal in a bid to help police track down her attacker. The 21-year-old woman was forced to the ground and raped at about 2.30am on Sunday as she walked home from the Trades Nightclub in Consett,
A DOCTOR who was threatening legal action over a health trust's refusal to give her the life-saving breast cancer drug Herceptin was celebrating victory last night. Northumberland Care Trust backed down and said it would pay for consultant radiologist
WERE you to believe the words of some commentators, you could be forgiven for thinking that manufacturing was not only dead, but also was boxed and buried deep in the annals of history. Our manufacturing sector has been written off more times than I care
ONE of the fastest growing vehicle rental companies has secured a deal with Darlington Football Club to supply first team players with their cars. Reflex Vehicle Solutions, which has quadrupled its office space at Preston Farm Industrial Estate, in Stockton
BEFORE being elected MP for South Shields in 2001, David Miliband was a No10 policy-wonk, dreaming up schemes behind-the-scenes. Now he's made it on to the frontline, but his Cabinet portfolio is arguably the least sexy-sounding of them all: Minister
ROY Keane has left Manchester United by mutual consent. In a statement on Friday, it was confirmed that the 34-year-old had left with immediate effect after 12-and-a-half years with United. Keane was critical of United after last month's 4-1 defeat at
JOEY Hutchinson may be forced to put his Darlington return on hold after his latest setback. The 23-year-old influential defender is struggling to be fit in time to face Macclesfield Town tomorrow after picking up a calf injury. Hutchinson has missed
Developments on the quaysides of Newcastle and Gateshead are the most visible manifestations of culture-led regeneration in the North-East. The new music centres and art galleries are so big that they dominate the skyline of the Tyne, but it is not just
A FARMER who shot and killed two dogs he found attacking his sheep was fined £100 by magistrates yesterday. Stephen Medd, 45, took the border collie and golden labrador to an outbuilding on his farm, where he killed each of them with a single shot to
EMERGENCY services from across the North-East and North Yorkshire staged a terror attack in the heart of the region yesterday - to test their response. More than 200 people descended on a Teesside port as police, fire and ambulance crews, played out a
DESPITE entrepreneurs such as Duncan Bannatyne soaking up the limelight on national television and promoting the high-life, the rate of business start-ups in the North-East still remains at a historic low. Add to that a cocktail of skills shortages, productivity
THE future of the world's largest biodiesel plant was thrown into doubt yesterday as the company behind it suspended trading on the stock exchange and went into crisis talks with its funders. The Biofuels Corporation, which was due to open its £21m plant
FEARS of a tough Christmas for retailers mounted yesterday after official data showed that growth in spending on the High Street has remained at post-war lows. The Office for National Statistics said cash spent between August and October rose 0.2 per
BUILDING society Nationwide lifted half-year profits by 14 per cent yesterday after improved sales in areas such as current accounts and credit cards. With the overall mortgage market subdued, Nationwide said it had been competing very effectively in
THE trouble with euphoria is it never lasts, and I'm afraid last weekend's struck me as a little over the top. Beating the Argentinian footballers is a justifiable reason for a spot of triumphalism, although not quite enough for a repeat of The Sun's
TEESPORT owner PD Ports is lobbying the Government to halt further expansion at "overheated" Southern ports to allow it to invest £300m in a deep-sea container terminal on the Tees. This terminal would allow retailers to bring in goods from the Far East
THIS winter the new black is... black. The little black dress reigns supreme, lifted into festive mood with a dash of silver and sequins, a hint of glint, embroidery and stunning accessories. But it needn't break the bank. For what will really put a sparkle
Why splash out on designer dresses with so many stunning clothes in supermarkets? Shoptalk picks out some of the best. THIS winter the new black is... black. The little black dress reigns supreme, lifted into festive mood with a dash of silver and sequins
THINK of the North-East and images of canoes and canapes may not be the first things that spring to mind. But marketing campaigns are not voted the best in the world because they feature the first thing that comes to mind. On Sunday, in the plush surroundings
A COUNCILLOR who is waging war against proposed ambulance station closures is predicting that 'hundreds' will attend a showdown public meeting. County councillor John Shuttleworth and his supporters have been out leafletting homes in the St John's Chapel
THE Royal Air Force is to leave its North Yorkshire base after 65 years because new fighter planes will be stationed in Scotland instead, it emerged yesterday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the decision not to deploy the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA
TEESPORT owner PD Ports is lobbying the Government to halt further expansion at "overheated" Southern ports to allow it to invest £300m in a deep-sea container terminal on the Tees. This terminal would allow retailers to bring in goods from the Far East
THERE are still too many people who live south of Watford who think the North-East is a giant slag heap," says George Cowcher, chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce. It's almost unbelievable, 20 years on from the mining strikes, the decline
PRIMARY school youngsters are striving to make Christmas special for children less fortunate than themselves by supporting the Shoe Box Appeal. Pupils from North Park Primary School, in Spennymoor, have managed to collect enough gifts to put together
A COUNCIL training team has been praised by inspectors for its success in helping adult learners earn qualifications and find jobs. Sedgefield Borough Council's training and employment service was awarded a grade one and classed as outstanding for its
VILLAGERS are being invited to express their views through art at three new workshops running weekly. Professional artists are working in the Dene Valley area to produce an art work bringing opinions and memories to life. Dene Valley Community Partnership
A MOTHER and son have returned from Peru after raising thousands of pounds for a cancer charity. Marjorie and Stephen Sanderson, of Wear View, Hunwick, completed a sponsored trek across the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu last month, and collected more than
AN animal charity is urging people not to buy dogs as presents this Christmas. Dogs Trust Darlington is hosting its annual Christmas fair on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4. The Rehoming Centre, at Hill House Farm, Sadberge, County Durham is open
PEOPLE with visual impairments are being invited to an open day to find out about some of the products available to make life easier. Darlington Borough Council's Vane House sensory resource centre has invited HumanWare to showcase some of its products
OLYMPIC swimming hero Duncan Goodhew has visited Darlington's Dolphin Centre to promote the 20th annual swimathon. Goodhew, a gold medallist, joined four generations of the Elliott-Lyall family, who are all taking part in the charity event. The family
THE bitter dispute over plans for a new £25m city academy in the region intensified last night as council bosses vowed to press ahead, despite school governors rejecting the controversial scheme. The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that Darlington Borough
A TRAVEL shop in Darlington is looking for hundreds of Santa's helpers to spread festive cheer to local children this Christmas. The team at Travelcare, in Bondgate, is appealing for gifts or toys to fill Santa's suitcase. All donations will be presented
A plethgora of strategies and schemes could be holding back both the Morth-East economy and social justice in the region, says John Adams, director of research at the think-tank ippr north. REGIONAL economic policy matters. Without a strong regional economic
THOUSANDS of shoppers descended on a city's new food store to get the North-East's first taste of the Waitrose experience, yesterday. Queues formed prior to the opening of the transformed former Safeway store, in Durham's Millburngate Shopping Centre,
POLICE have released an e-fit of a man they want to question in connection with the sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman. A police spokesman said a woman was walking from Newcastle towards Gateshead, across the Redheugh Bridge, at about 3.30am on Saturday
CHILDREN'S book illustrator Korky Paul proved a big draw when he visited a Durham school. The Zimbabwe-born artist, who has worked on the popular Winnie the Witch series, spent the day at St Joseph's Primary School in Mill Lane, Gilesgate, which has 110
POLICE investigating the rape of a 21-year-old woman say private security cameras could provide vital clues. The woman was forced to the ground and raped at about 2.30am on Sunday as she walked home from The Trades nightclub, in Consett, County Durham
TWO winter events have been organised at a north Durham tourist attraction. Durham Wildlife Trust's Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre, near Houghton-le-Spring, is working with Wildlife Watch, its club for young environmentalists. On Saturday
A LOCAL authority has elected a chairman and vice-chairman to its resources committee. The change at Richmondshire District Council comes after the Independent Coalition for Richmondshire was formed to take control of the authority. Councillor Yvonne
MORE than £12m is to be spent at Scarborough General Hospital for two operating theatres and an endoscopy department. Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust's director of finance, Bernard Flynn, said the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has given
A SHOPPING centre is offering quick-witted shoppers the chance to get their hands on some cash. The Prince Bishops Centre in Durham will run its Grab a Grand game on Sunday as part of events being held for the city's Christmas lights switch-on celebrations
FARMERS and other landowners will have a chance to learn about grassland management during a farm walk taking place next week. The free walk, at Harperley Park Farm, in Kyo Lane, Stanley, on Thursday, at 1pm, is led by Marian Wilby from the Farming and
WARNINGS have been made to householders of a possible spate of pre-Christmas break-ins. Burglars are on the prowl in Ryedale and people should focus on home security. Two homes were recently broken into in the Norton area by thieves who made a forced
CHURCH BAZAAR: Saltburn Methodist Church, in Milton Street, holds a bazaar on Saturday, from 10am to 2.30pm, with lunches served from 12.15pm to 1 30pm and coffee at other times. Proceeds go to church funds. CHOPPER RESCUE: A 63-year-old man was airlifted
A £110,000 attraction was unveiled with a splash at a Stockton leisure centre, yesterday. Bubble's Water World, at the Splash swimming centre, Stockton, features a 60-metre water flume named after Bubble the Dolphin, the Tees Active mascot. The entrance
UNIVERSITY students have already raised thousands of pounds for Children in Need. But undergraduates at the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, have also organised fun and games for tonight to rake in more money. Organised by the Students' Union
HOUSEHOLDERS across the Hambleton area are being warned that fly-tipping could cost them dearly. From next week, new legislation will mean that anyone found dumping rubbish - or using an illegal operator to dump it for them - will face a fine of up to
A second man has been arrested in connection with the mysterious disappearance of a miner. Edward Donnelly went missing from his home, in Fynway, Sacriston, County Durham, on March 25, 2002. He has never been found. Durham Police said a 45-year-old man
ONE half of a troubled car parts manufacturer that went into administration last month has been saved together with 125 jobs. Southern investor Vincent Bootes has purchased the Tolwood side of Vickers Pressings Tolwood Automotive (VPTA), based in Newton
DOZENS of donated boxes are heading for Romania thanks to the generosity of schoolchildren. At Grangefield School, Stockton, textiles teacher Katie Dent asked her year seven tutor group to bring in items that could be forwarded to less-fortunate children
THE best opportunity for 50 years now exists to improve the lives and health of children, according to the country's Children's Commissioner, Al Aynsley-Green. He told a conference in Scarborough that there should be more participation by children and
FROM New York to North Yorkshire - international fashion designer Ben de Lisi was in the county yesterday to launch his latest venture. Since his debut show in 1995, Ben has gone from strength to strength and his clothes adorn some of the world's famous
The first North-East Economic Forum is held today at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham. Organised by Sovereign Strategy and Northumbria University, the high-powered speakers and discussion groups will hope to plot an economic future for the region
Where does the North-East economy go from here? Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North-East, looks at thow our knowedge can take us into the digital age of manufacturing. TO coin a current, well-used phrase, One NorthEast is passionate about progress
WERE you to believe the words of some commentators, you could be forgiven for thinking that manufacturing was not only dead, but also was boxed and buried deep in the annals of history. Our manufacturing sector has been written off more times than I care
JASON Smithson, who began the season with Darlington Mowden Park, will make his first senior start for Newcastle Falcons in Sunday's match at Saracens. It seemed the 23-year-old No 8's chances of making the breakthrough at the top level had gone when
When Julie Worton gave birth to her first son, Oscar, she was over the moon. But she soon became concerned about his development. Nicola Juncar speaks to her about discovering her little boy has cerebral palsy and what it means for their future. WATCHING
SHADOW Minister for Trade and Industry Bernard Jenkin last night warned of the threat of higher taxes for the offshore industry. Speaking at the Northern Offshore Federation's (NOF) annual dinner, the MP for North Essex urged members to speak to their
A TAKEOVER approach for car dealer Reg Vardy could receive the backing of key stakeholders, it was rumoured last night. Rival Pendragon plc - which owns car retail chain CD Bramall - has made a £422m takeover approach for the Sunderland-based company.
RURAL police officers have given their assurances that a proposed merger of forces will not affect the way the countryside is policed. Their comments come as a pilot service is launched to keep people in contact with their local bobbies. Critics of a
Steve Thompson is determined to bulldoze a route at Twickenham tomorrow through the perceived wisdom that the New Zealand All Blacks are invincible. The England hooker, the 18st 11lb central axis of the biggest front row in world rugby, has this message
