A SPORTS teacher has been sacked and questioned by police over an affair with a student. Chris Bell began the fling with the girl shortly after she started at his sixth-form. They enjoyed secret dates and went to Spain for a sunshine break with the girl
WILLIAM HAGUE is back in charge of the Conservative Party today after a five-year gap - as its leader David Cameron started a fortnight's paternity leave. The MP for Richmond, in North Yorkshire, who quit the leadership after the Tories' disastrous 2001
A nurse who dropped a patient's glass eye in a colleague's cup of Pepsi Max and drew a smiley face on an MRSA victim's hernia is to hear her fate today. Christine Mitchelson, 53, is said to have shocked staff with her sick pranks and racist jibes while
No doubt orchestrated from Downing Street (Nos 10 & 11), Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have apparently got the Succession Question sorted to their satisfaction. They are now running a dual premiership until Brown takes over. It doesn't say much for
MIDDLEHAM'S Andy Crook despatches Matmata de Tendron (4.10) to Leicester with high hopes of victory in the A&A Racing Handicap Chase. The former Flat jockey turned trainer is a tad short on firepower, low numbers that hardly reflect his true ability
Peterborough defender Mark Arber had not scored all season before last night, but his brace broke Darlington hearts at London Road last night. Just hours after meeting his new team-mates, Andy Cooke had given Quakers a 27th minute lead after signing on
THREE games, three clean sheets and five points in the bag - Hartlepool United are enjoying their love-in with Paul Stephenson. Since their messy divorce from Martin Scott, temporary boss Stephenson has got Pool enjoying their football again. A goalless
CALL centre operator Garlands last night announced the creation of 150 jobs across the Tees Valley as it opened the next phase of its new development. Garlands opened the second building at its contact centre "village" yesterday, on the Preston Farm Industrial
Selling Yourself (five) Love In A Foreign Climate (ITV1) ANYONE who's ever experienced a terrible job interview would have watched Selling Yourself with glee as five would-be estate agents were ritually humiliated. This is Dragon's Den crossed with The
BRITAIN'S first surviving heart transplant baby raised awareness of the need for children's organs at a reception at the House of Commons yesterday. Kaylee Davidson, now 18, from Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, met MPs at the event organised by national
WORKERS at a North-East depot have been made redundant after a haulage firm went into administration. The cuts are the first to be confirmed in the region following the appointment of administrators at haulage firm Harrier Logistics. The Milton Keynes
They have been dubbed the new superheroes, coming to the rescue of sea mammals across Britain. But members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity have also had their share of death threats, they tell Lindsay Jennings. SIMON and Bev Drayton were
THE owner of mobile phone operator Orange last night made assurances it would not be reducing jobs in the UK. State-owned France Telecom yesterday said it would cut 8.5 per cent of its 200,000 staff worldwide - or 17,000 jobs - by the end of 2008. However
SMOKING will be banned in all pubs and members-only clubs within 18 months after MPs last night inflicted a stunning defeat on Government attempts to allow exemptions. In a landmark Commons vote, MPs overwhelmingly threw out a proposal to exempt pubs
SEVENTIES TV heart-throb David Soul has battled on in secret with a semi-paralysed right arm during his new play. The star, who was catapulted to international fame in Starsky and Hutch, is touring the country in Mack and Mabel prior to a West End run
POLITICS is a strange business indeed. We have a Government which made a manifesto pledge for a partial smoking ban in pubs and clubs, a Cabinet which could then not decide whether that was the right policy, and a Prime Minister who ended up voting against
SMOKING will be banned in all pubs and members-only clubs within 18 months after MPs last night inflicted a stunning defeat on Government attempts to allow exemptions. In a landmark Commons vote, MPs overwhelmingly threw out a proposal to exempt pubs
HEALTH and social care bosses have been charged with overcoming the taboo surrounding breastfeeding in Darlington to ensure children are given the best start in life. The findings of a two-year study were handed over to Darlington Primary Care Trust (
A PARENTS' group aimed at teenage parents has been launched in Shildon. The Tots and Teens group opened its doors at the Jubilee Centre in the town yesterday and will be open to parents aged 13 to 19 from the area. The group has been set up by health
A LIFE-SAVING machine which is as small as a laptop computer has been bought for heart and stroke patients at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. Supporters of the British Heart Foundation, including people who took part in the Great North Walk, contributed
A MAN accused of leading a revenge attack said he was having a meal with his family at the time of the incident, a court heard. Durham Crown Court was told that the 23-year-old victim was attacked in the Framwellgate Moor area of the city on the afternoon
RESIDENTS who have been fighting to have the back streets behind their homes brought up to standard have been given a glimmer of hope. Dene Valley Parish Council, Wear Valley District Council and Durham County Council are now working together on exploring
Ian Blackwell is shaping up as Ashley Giles' Test replacement in India after convincing the management he is looking after himself. Criticised in the past for his weight and general fitness, Somerset's Blackwell, 27, came back to favour with England at
A SCHOOL meals catering company brought a delicious array of tempting healthy foods to east Durham primary school pupils yesterday. All 500 children at Easington Colliery Primary School were given the chance to sample different varieties of fresh fruit
RESIDENTS across Darlington are being urged to sign up to a free 24-hour service designed to help protect homes - and lives - against the dangers posed by flooding. The Environment Agency's flood warning service tells people living near rivers or the
CONSERVATIONISTS and police have condemned criminal attacks on a national nature reserve. Poachers and vandals are targeting the Teesmouth Nature Reserve, near Hartlepool. They are using dogs to hunt down brown hare and deer, crashing through the sensitive
AMBULANCE crews in the region have voted to be balloted on taking industrial action - including strikes. It comes after talks between Unison, representing 1,000 employees of the Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas), and ambulance bosses
MISTAKES by police and prosecution lawyers are blamed today for the last-minute cancellation of one in every six trials in magistrates' courts in the region. North Yorkshire's criminal justice service has one of the worst records in England for "cracked
FIRSTLY today, Mr Ivor Wade in Darlington invites readers to peruse the following. "This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain, you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact
THE ANGEL of the North, the Penshaw monument, horses racing in slow motion across Bamburgh beach and the might of High Force plunging 21 metres into the River Tees - the region's first television commercial is not short of great images. During the next
PLANNING chiefs say a controversial application to extend a quarry near the site of 5,000-year-old monuments should be thrown out. Officers from North Yorkshire County Council recommend that Tarmac Northern's plan to expand its Nosterfield Quarry, near
MICK McCARTHY is ready to turn to bargain buy Daryl Murphy in a bid to cure Sunderland's profligacy in front of goal. The Black Cats boss is hoping the former Waterford United striker will thrive on the big stage and help close the gap on the teams above
A DRIVER who was disqualified in 2002 for dangerous driving, which led to the death of a girl, has denied being the getaway driver in a department store ram-raid. Colin Meek allegedly drove the powerful Saab at high speeds during a police pursuit after
HOUSE prices are on the increase again. For some strange reason, this makes the experts cheer. Why? Maybe the experts don't have small children. Many mothers no longer take their full entitlement of maternity leave, said a recent report, because they
FIRSTLY today, Mr Ivor Wade in Darlington invites readers to peruse the following. "This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain, you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact
THE HOLE TRUTH : Re my previous letter (HAS, Jan 25) which opened up the Crook holes in the road saga. It was gratifying to read Dan King's article on the current roadworks in our town. However, it is unfortunate that Mr King concentrated on the regeneration
MISTAKES by police and prosecution lawyers are blamed today for the last-minute cancellation of one in every six trials in magistrates' courts in the region. North Yorkshire's criminal justice service has one of the worst records in England for "cracked
STEVE McCLAREN'S preparations for the crucial UEFA Cup first leg with Stuttgart have been severely hit by news neither Gaizka Mendieta nor James Morrison will be boarding this morning's flight to Germany. The pair's withdrawal from the squad means McClaren
A CAR dealership is hosting a ladies' night to help pamper the town's women while they choose a new motor. Aimed at helping women feel more comfortable in a car showroom, Sherwoods Chevrolet, in Chesnut Street, Darlington, is hosting the New You New Car
A CARE worker stole money from the pocket of an elderly, vulnerable patient while he was putting him to bed, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates heard how Simon Nicholls took £90 from the trouser pocket of Parkinson's disease sufferer Herbert
FOUR information points for tourists are to be closed as district councillors strive to cope with their financial capping by the Government. The volunteer-run offices will be shut down as Hambleton District Council attempts to claw back £25,000 from its
TWO running colleagues will be crossing the line together at next month's Tees Valley Half Marathon. But the photo finish will not be because of their matched running abilities - it is the bond between blind athlete 67-year-old Joe Elsender and his "eyes
A COUPLE are calling for an tree outside their house to be cut down after a branch fell on their son. Martin and Astral Blanchard, of Colburn Lane, Colburn, say they have suffered three years of anxiety because of the oak. Their six-year-old son, Ethan
A PARTNERSHIP approach has brought peace and quiet to a troubled east Durham estate. Elderly residents living in the Beverley Way and Morton Square areas of Peterlee have been plagued by youth disorder and anti-social behaviour for months. With complaints
MORE misery is on the way for motorists on Teesside, who can expect more than a year- and-a-half of contra-flow. Cones will be set in place on the A66 in the new few weeks, when work begins on the removal of a bridge. The Surtees Bridge, which carries
BURGLARS have broken into a traditional horse-drawn caravan and stolen a number of items. Police are investigating an incident over the weekend in which thieves broke into two garages at the rear of a terraced property in the village of Holmside, just
CALL centre operator Garlands last night announced the creation of 150 jobs across the Tees Valley as it opened the next phase of its new development. Garlands opened the second building at its contact centre "village" yesterday, on the Preston Farm Industrial
HOUSE prices are on the increase again. For some strange reason, this makes the experts cheer. Why? Maybe the experts don't have small children. Many mothers no longer take their full entitlement of maternity leave, said a recent report, because they
NEWCASTLE UNITED will not consider granting any Birmingham City wish to send back out-of-sorts midfielder Nicky Butt to Tyneside - regardless of how bad his situation gets at St Andrews. The Magpies are already preparing for the return of the former Manchester
MIDDLESBROUGH have told European football's governing body to enter them in next season's much-maligned Intertoto Cup - with North-East rivals Newcastle United expected to follow suit, writes PAUL FRASER. The deadline for clubs wishing to enter the competition
Darlington FC supporters are fighting to save a wall of fame erected at the clubs former ground. In 1998 the club announced it would build a wall of fame as part of the redevelopment at Feethams. But when the club moved to its new 25,000 all-seater stadium
