AN investigation has been launched after an inmate was found hanging at a North-East prison that once topped the league for suicide deaths. Parema Rathnam Poonan was on remand in Holme House Prison, in Stockton, when he was found on Sunday morning. The
Durham Tees Valley Airport has made a number of appointments. ED HEATLEY has been appointed as financial controller, after working for the airport on an interim project and an internal audit. JENNIFER COOK has returned from six months' travelling around
Two young friends are believed to have perished together in a blazing barn. David Greenyer and Jonathan Mahoney, both 14, had built a den in the centre of a 500-ton stack of hay bales. Somehow, the barn was set alight while they were inside, trapped and
A quarter of people believe a woman is partially responsible for being raped is she wears sexy clothes or is drunk, shocking new figures have revealed. Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings asks: can perceptions of rape ever change? IT is 11pm. A woman, aged
The Archbishop of Canterbury is on his way to Pakistan. As he packs, he says: "This is also a very important time for Pakistan's faith communities - the good relations between Christians and Muslims in many parts of the UK and in Pakistan provide a platform
Wild seas and desolate landscapes have provided the inspiration for a major exhibition of North-East art. Nick Morrison speaks to one of the artists about how running helped him find his distinctive voice. PETER Hicks has only been down in London a few
TOP CLASS SPEEDWAY racing is to make a roaringcome back in the North-East for the first time in a decade. Redcar and Cleveland Council has given the green light for a new purpose-built track at the South Tees Motorsports Park at South Bank, which should
WORK will start next week on County Durham's first "quiet lane"- a new creation of highway designed to be shared equally by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and motor vehicles. Pontop Pike Lane, an unclassified country road close to Leadgate, near Consett
RESIDENTS in the County Durham area are being given a seasonal opportunity to remember their lost loved ones and help raise money for charity. Co-operative Funeralcare, in Sherburn Hill, is providing a memorial Christmas tree and inviting relatives and
A TAKEOVER of car dealer Reg Vardy looked imminent last night as speculation mounted that the Vardy family has approved a 750p-a-share offer from larger rival Pendragon. A national newspaper reported that Reg Vardy had agreed the terms of the bid approach
Council tax payers will ultimately foot the bill for a council mistake that resulted in allotment-holders losing their vegetable plots. Hartlepool Borough Council could be forced to find as much as £117,000 to reinstate the sites after the Local Government
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep rural green space across England have lodged objections to a housing development. Residents in Ingleby Barwick have been given a one-week extension to voice their opinions to plans for 19 homes on the Round Hill estate. The
A coach trip to Catterick Racecourse Market this weekend has been organised by volunteers from the Pelaw View Centre, in Sherburn Road, Durham City. The bus leaves the centre at 9.15am on Sunday and returns at 2pm. Tickets cost £4 and more information
AN EXPERT in cyber crime is helping to make the criminology department at a North-East university among the best in the country. Dr Sheila Brown has been appointed senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Sunderland - and her expertise is expected
Much excitement in east Durham: the Baldasera Cup has been resurrected, restored and stands atop Dave Hastings's television. Though contested only by primary schools in Wheatley Hill and Thornley, the cup engendered all the passion of Sunderland v Newcastle
THE chairwoman of the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT), Lady Ann Calman, has been re-appointed to the post to serve for another two years. Lady Ann, who is the wife of Durham University chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman, a former Government
TWO of the region's chief constables have gone head-to-head in a public debate about the future of North-East policing. Sean Price, of the Cleveland force, and Paul Garvin, of the County Durham force, both believe their ideas would be best for the region's
A GAMEKEEPER who helped restore an overgrown moor has won a national award. Jimmy Shuttlewood, head keeper at Snilesworth Moor, near Hawnby, was given a special accolade in the Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation. He was presented with a cheque for
THE family doctor accused of murdering three of his patients has declined to give evidence in his own defence. Dr Howard Martin is on trial charged with murdering three seriously ill men under his care. But his barrister told the jury Teesside Crown Court
BAN FIREWORKS: SINCE Nov 5 there have been a number of letters in The Northern Echo regarding fireworks. I am surprised that no-one was complaining about the fireworks being set off weeks before the 5th and, of course, since the 5th. Every evening and
THE region is being warned to batten down the hatches with the first serious snows of winter expected before the weekend. Gale force winds, falling temperatures and up to four inches of snow are predicted during a three-day cold snap starting on Thursday
THOMAS Sorensen has admitted that he fears for Sunderland's plight unless his former club win every game between now and Christmas. The Denmark international, who made 197 appearances for the Black Cats during a five-year spell, returned to help Aston
MYSTERY continues to surround the case of a Roman Catholic parish priest a year after he was suspended from his church. Supporters of Father Michael Higginbottom last night branded the length of the suspension disgraceful and called on church authorities
GUY Wilks has been offered a new deal to remain with Suzuki after he led the team to the brink of the Junior World Rally Championship. For the second year in a row the Darlington rally driver was pipped at the post as he sought to lift the title for the
PLANS for the incredible courage of war hero Andrew Mynarski to be recognised in his home country of Canada could take a step forward next month. The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that a statue of the Second World War airman, similar to that which
CAMDEN BELLA (12.30) possesses the perfect credentials to keep favourite backers happy in Sedgefield's opening Mares Only Maiden Hurdle. Leading jockey Tony Dobbin rarely leaves the course empty-handed, a situation likely to remain unchanged after he
Yorkshire have added significant firepower to their attack next season by signing paceman Jason Gillespie, who ranks fifth in the list of Australia's leading Test wicket-takers of all time. Although Gillespie was dropped by Australia during the Ashes
A TEENAGER has told how she escaped with cuts and bruises after her car was dragged 170 metres down the motorway underneath an articulated lorry. Faye Goodwin and her friend Natalie Bones, both 19, were told by emergency workers they were lucky to be
PEOPLE with visual impairments are invited to an open day to find out about some of the products available to make life easier. Vane House Sensory Resource Centre has invited HumanWare to showcase some of its products on Thursday. The company will be
NETBALL players from a Darlington school will be kitted out in style for their Australian tour after a donation of sports equipment. Girls from Polam Hall School, in Grange Road, have been given items including ball carriers and water bottles by the RAF
POLICE are investigating a knifepoint robbery at a village store. A man wearing a black wool hat and a blue scarf covering the lower part of his face entered the Spar store in Willington's Commercial Street on Sunday. There were only two female members
CHILDREN in Darlington have been getting to grips with cultures from around the world. To mark national equality and diversity week, staff at Darlington College Childcare Centre have been helping youngsters explore and understand other cultures by putting
POLICE are investigating a knifepoint robbery at a village store. A man wearing a black wool hat and a blue scarf covering the lower part of his face entered the Spar store in Willington's Commercial Street on Sunday. There were only two female members
A PUBLIC debate on the future of rural ambulance services will take place tonight. The 7pm meeting at St John's Chapel Town Hall, in Upper Weardale, County Durham, will give residents the opportunity to hear first-hand from ambulance trust officials about
HUNDREDS of soldiers are being prepared for war, supported by artillery and tanks. Their chosen battle ground is Stockton, but there is no reason for residents to be alarmed. The battalions being assembled are all table-top armies of miniature model soldiers
RESIDENTS are to be asked for their views on the future of waste disposal. The York and North Yorkshire Waste Management Partnership is about to begin a public consultation that will establish how residents think their waste should be managed. In the
THREE youths have been arrested in connection with a spate of burglaries and criminal damage at a school. Conyers School, in Green Lane, Yarm, has recently been subjected to repeated attacks of vandalism and break-ins, leading to a repair bill for Stockton
A TALENTED youngster has been warming up to take centre stage during Redcar's Christmas lights switch-on, in the High Street. The winners of Talent 2005, organised by Redcar Town Centre Management, get the chance to perform their winning routines during
A TEENAGE burglar who stole nearly £5,000 worth of jewellery has been warned she faces jail. The 17-year-old from Shildon appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday and admitted breaking into a house at Lime Grove in Shildon. She also admitted
MORE than 12,000 rapes were recorded over the past year. But no-one really knows how many rapes are committed because only a fraction of sex attacks on women are ever reported to the police. And is it any wonder given the findings of an Amnesty International
A RUSSIAN day centre for children with Down's syndrome will benefit from a Christmas concert. The Harp Singers will perform a carols by candlelight event at the Bolton Arms, in Leyburn, on Wednesday, December 21. The singers, dressed in Victorian costume
NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch bosses are urging people to buy light timer switches to deter burglars. The switches are available from the Neighbourhood Watch office in the community safety department, central house annex, Gladstone Street, Darlington, costing £1
A NEW campaign targeting young binge-drinkers could help develop closer links between the police and taxi drivers. Tony Brimm, who owns Travel 6 taxis in Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, has been exploring the possibility of forming an organisation
PRIMARY school pupils were taught about the dangers of bullying and how to deal with it as anti-bullying week began yesterday. A special assembly was held at St Helen Auckland Community Primary School, where Gillian Cowburn, County Durham's anti-bullying
WORK will start next week on County Durham's first quiet lane - a highway designed to be shared by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and motor vehicles. Pontop Pike Lane, an unclassified country road close to Leadgate, near Consett, has been chosen for
ALMOST 300 shoeboxes full of presents will be sent off to Azerbaijan to help underprivileged children thanks to generous shoppers and schools. Asda's store in Spennymoor was a drop-off point for The Samaritans' Purse annual Shoebox Appeal, and hundreds
NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness will make a January swoop for unsettled Chelsea full-back Wayne Bridge in an attempt to shore up his side's leaky defence. Souness, who is desperate to sign defensive re-inforcements when the transfer window swings open,
STRAIGHT-TALKING David Hodgson last night accepted responsibility for Darlington's recent slump in results, but has vowed to rectify the situation and get their faltering season back on track. In the wake of Quakers' latest defeat at Macclesfield at the
TROUBLED shipbuilder Swan Hunter last night admitted it did not know how far over budget it would go on the contracts to build two Royal Navy ships. Admitting it was already "significantly" over-budget, the company said it was still in negotiations with
MYSTERY continues to surround the case of a Roman Catholic parish priest a year after he was suspended from his church. Supporters of Father Michael Higginbottom last night branded the length of the suspension disgraceful and called on church authorities
TWO of the region's chief constables have gone head-to-head in a public debate about the future of North-East policing. Sean Price, of the Cleveland force, and Paul Garvin, of the County Durham force, both believe their ideas would be best for the region's
GUY Wilks has been offered a new deal to remain with Suzuki after he led the team to the brink of the Junior World Rally Championship. For the second year in a row the Darlington rally driver was pipped at the post as he sought to lift the title for the
A TEENAGER who led a national campaign against bullying in schools has welcomed a mobile phone service that lets bullied children contact their parents in secret. Joanne Geldart, of Ferryhill in County Durham, has backed the PingAlert scheme, which was
THE company building the world's largest biodiesel plant said last night that crisis talks with funders were continuing. The Biofuels Corporation, which is building the plant on Teesside, announced last week that it had suspended the trading of its shares
PETER Hicks has only been down in London a few days but it doesn't take long to remember why he looks elsewhere for his inspiration. "The weather has changed considerably, but you don't see it here, you just feel it," he says. "If you live in towns and
FULL Monty firemen have been banned from stripping in their brigade uniform in aid of charity. The firefighters, who are based at Peterlee, County Durham, have been forced to cancel a striptease to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami after being
BUSINESS Link in the Tees Valley has appointed HELEN USHER as customer liaison officer. She joins the customer services team and will discuss customer needs, whether they are starting a business, or are already trading. Before joining Business Link, Ms
The shooting of two police officers in Bradford last week has reopened the debate over whether police in this country should be rountinely armed. David Blackie, a former armed officer, looks at whether this would make our streets safer, or lead to an
SCHOOLS are to receive £1m to encourage walking, cycling and bus use among pupils. Two hundred schools in North Yorkshire will get a share of the cash, each receiving between £4,000 and £12,000. The money has come from a fund set up jointly by the Department
THREE-hundred sting operations are to be carried out in the region in a bid to tackle underage drinking. Underage volunteers, under the supervision of trading standards officers, will attempt to buy alcohol as part of the crackdown. Nationwide, more than
The Taming of the Shrew (BBC1) Joined at the Head: Extraordinary People (five) KATHERINE is a talented yet waspish politician, Bianca her glamorous model sister. Katherine wants to lead her party, but realises she will have to get married first. Bianca
A DECISION on the next generation of nuclear power stations - including one in the North-East - could be made by early summer next year. Tony Blair's chief scientific advisor has urged the Prime Minister to approve the building of nuclear power stations
STEVE McCLAREN has finally pledged his future to Middlesbrough by penning a new-four year deal at the Riverside Stadium. Boro will confirm at a press conference this lunchtime that McClaren has signed the long-term contract which he initially shook hands
PROPOSALS to demolish a former factory and replace it with a building containing six flats are likely to be approved this week. Derwentside district councillors are being recommended to approve plans for the residential development at the former Hamsteels
DRUGS SEIZED IN RAIDS ON HOMES: Police officers seized a £6,000 haul of cocaine and cannabis in two raids on Teesside. Officers from the Langbaurgh drugs unit targeted addresses in Dormanstown and Redcar in two operations on Friday night. In total, three
A SPECIAL school has achieved a hat-trick of accolades. Abbey Hill School and Technology College, in Stockton, has received renewed accreditation from the National Autistic Society, Investors in People recognition for its development programme and full
A CHRISTIAN retreat is planning to set up a specialist counselling service for young people. Holy Rood House Centre for Health and Pastoral Care, in Thirsk, is looking for funding to create a dedicated youth counselling service. It will offer help to
Keyboard player George Hetherington and company present Songs From The Shows, at Waddington Street Church, in Durham City, next Tuesday, at 7.30pm. Tickets, costing £5, which include a buffet supper and a glass of wine, are available by contacting Freda
THE development of Seaham will be the subject of an illustrated talk by an archaeologist tomorrow. Caroline Hardie will explain how the town has grown since 1828, at Seaham Library, starting at 2pm. Ms Hardie, formerly county archaeologist at Northumberland
TALENTED hockey player Stacey Lewis has been selected to play for North Yorkshire. The 15-year-old captains the Northallerton College side and will now join the county's under-16s squad. Stacey, who is from Northallerton, said: "I was over the moon when
A NORTH Durham market town will celebrate the switching on of its festive lights with a day of fun and entertainment - and the arrival of Father Christmas. The fun in Chester-le-Street will begin at the pedestrian area at the bottom of Front Street, next
THE detective leading the investigation into the rape of a 21-year-old woman last night spoke of his disappointment at the lack of response to appeals for witnesses. Detective Inspector Mick Nail, who is hunting the attacker of a woman in Blackhill Park
DRINKERS enjoying a Saturday night out at a local pub may be able to help trace a knife-wielding robber who terrorised shop staff during a late-night raid. Police are hunting the robber who escaped with hundreds of pounds after targeting an off-licence
COMMUNITY representatives have met to discuss creating a city academy. Darlington Borough Council wants to merge top-performing Hurworth School and struggling Eastbourne Comprehensive in a £25m academy on a site off Yarm Road, in the town, but there has
TWO of the region's chief constables have gone head-to-head in a public debate about the future of North-East policing. Sean Price, of the Cleveland force, and Paul Garvin, of the County Durham force, both believe their ideas would be best for the region's
STEPHEN LAIDLER has been appointed as financial advisor for the Bedale, North Yorkshire, area by Skipton Financial Services. He has more than 21 years financial services experience and has worked for Yorkshire Bank and Bradford and Bingley Building Society
THE wife of a cancer sufferer is to study genetics to help her to understand the causes of his condition. Chris Perks has endured five operations and gruelling courses of chemotherapy since he was first diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago. Over the years
TIM EVANS has been made a partner at property consultancy Knight Frank. Mr Evans helped set up the Newcastle office of Knight Frank in 1995 and is a leading figure in the city's commercial property world. Last year, he was named the "agents' agent" in
TYNE Tees weatherman Bob Johnson has been promoting an executive pensions seminar to be held on Thursday. Jonathan Fry and Company is holding the event at Darlington Football Club's stadium between 3pm and 6pm on Thursday. The briefing is free and will
A STORAGE company that opened premises in the region last year has won a contract with major food retailer Lidl. Space provided by The Storage Company has helped discount food chain Lidl's expansion in the North-East. Two stores are being built in Newcastle
AN office development that could house between 250 and 300 workers has received planning permission. UK Land Estates will build ten units on a site at Sunderland Enterprise Park. The 32,000sq ft scheme will be known as West Quay Court and is aimed at
POLICE on Teesside are bracing themselves for a boozy weekend ahead. Some 13 pubs and clubs in Hartlepool are set to stay open until 4am this coming weekend after the Government's new laws on 24-hour drinking comes into force on Thursday. Police in the
CAMDEN BELLA (12.30) possesses the perfect credentials to keep favourite backers happy in Sedgefield's opening Mares Only Maiden Hurdle. Leading jockey Tony Dobbin rarely leaves the course empty-handed, a situation likely to remain unchanged after he
HUNDREDS of sufferers from an asbestos-related condition have to wait another three weeks to learn if they are still eligible for compensation. Contamination from asbestos dust has been found to lead to an initial condition known as pleural plaques. Pleural
RESIDENTS are being given the chance to buy light-timers and night lights to help deter burglars. The devices will be available at Storm Electrical, in Whitby Street, Hartlepool, from 11am until noon on Friday, November 25. The devices, which give the
AN air service from the North-East to the heart of London will take to the skies in the New Year. Eastern Airways will launch four weekday flights from Newcastle International Airport to London City Airport, Docklands, on January 30. According to the
A BID to open a nightclub in Middlesbrough has been thrown out following concerns it would add to drunken, rowdy behaviour and fighting in the town centre. Residents and police raised strong objections to the plans to convert a former church into a nightclub
A family butcher's reputation is spreading beyond the village it has served for the past 46 years. Crinnion's, in Front Street, Lanchester, County Durham, has made its name through its range of quality meat products, sourced from farms across the North-East
A COUNCIL newspaper has been shortlisted for an award. Richmondshire District Council's The Curlew will compete against four publications at the British Association of Communicators in Business (Northern Region) Awards, in York, on Thursday. Entries are
A CANCER patient who endured one of the longest operations in a hospital's history has been given the all-clear. Mother-of-one Trish Morgan spent a 16 hours under the surgeon's knife as eight different consultants worked on the operation, which involved
QUESTIONNAIRES are being distributed to find out how people feel crime is affecting them. Scarborough Safer Communities Partnership will launch the survey at the town's library on Thursday. The partnership is trying to find out how people perceive crime
A NEW campaign targeting young binge-drinkers could help develop closer links between the police and taxi drivers. Tony Brimm, who owns Travel 6 taxis in Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, has been exploring the possibility of forming an organisation
WORK will start next week on County Durham's first "quiet lane" - a highway designed to be shared by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and motor vehicles. Pontop Pike Lane, an unclassified country road close to Leadgate, near Consett, has been chosen for
DANCERS from across Darlington excelled in recent dancing exams held in the town. Pupils at the Pam Tallentire Studio of Dance, held in Branksome Community Centre, took part in the International Dance Teachers' Association exams last week, and all got
RESIDENTS were given the opportunity to have their say on the future of Wear Valley at a community conference. The event, organised by the Wear Valley Community Network, saw the official launch of the Community Plan, and attracted nearly 200 people. Key
VINTAGE tractor enthusiasts took along their own piece of history when they visited an RAF base yesterday. Members of the National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club spent the day at RAF Linton on Ouse, near York. Trevor Harland, from the nearby village
PLANS for a water park in a seaside town have won the backing of swimming bosses. Sam Greetham, director of British swimming and president and coach of Scarborough Swimming Club, said the proposed 5,000sq m pool complex will help to attract international
REHEARSALS are well under way for an amateur dramatics group's annual pantomime in Sedgefield. Sedgefield Players will perform Mother Goose over four nights next month, but rather than the traditional version, it will be an adaptation bringing in well-known
A COCAINE addict plundered her grandmother's life savings on drugs for herself and her husband. Elizabeth Nichols, 84, was duped by Victoria Hawley who stole her bank card from her purse. Hawley then secretly accessed her disabled Uncle James' account
THE company building the world's largest biodiesel plant said last night that crisis talks with funders were continuing. The Biofuels Corporation, which is building the plant on Teesside, announced last week that it had suspended the trading of its shares
ONE of the region's largest hospital trusts is to apply for Foundation Trust status. If the bid is successful, the 1,000-bed County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust could become a Foundation Trust in a year. The trust, which includes Darlington
AN EXPERT in cyber crime is helping to make the criminology department at a North-East university among the best in the country. Dr Sheila Brown has been appointed senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Sunderland - and her expertise is expected
SECURITY at Europe's biggest Army base was under scrutiny last night after a civilian cook was found with an imitation gun. The 42-year-old man was arrested at Bourlon Barracks, in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, yesterday. The incident comes after
The last known veteran of the First World War's Christmas truce died yesterday, aged 109. Black Watch veteran Alfred Anderson - who was stationed at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, in 1917 and married a woman from Ripon - died at a care home in Angus
AN air service from the North-East to the heart of London will take to the skies in the New Year. Eastern Airways will launch four weekday flights from Newcastle International Airport to London City Airport, Docklands, on January 30. According to the
A FORMER undertaker, who was once described as a conman and a fraudster, is facing a second spell behind bars for stealing money grieving relatives had paid him to bury their loved ones. Christopher Westcott took from families pre-payments of thousands
A RETIRED GP accused of killing three elderly patients behaved "unacceptably" in his treatment of one of the men the day before his death, a court heard. Dr Howard Martin, 71, was said to have "jumped to an over- hasty conclusion that Harry Gittins was
