LIKE the United States of America, the Methodist Church is led by a president and vice-president. Unlike the US electorate, the Methodists don't usually rue their folly within about three days of the vote. Nor, so far as may reasonably be ascertained,
INTERNATIONAL law does not emerge with much credit from the Gary Glitter child sex case in Vietnam. Three years ago, in introducing the Sexual Offences Bill, Home Office Minister Hilary Benn, announced that new legislation provided an opportunity to tighten
MADE IN JAPAN (3.15) is not a bad place to start in the search for an answer to the 18-runner £100,000 Vodafone Gold Cup. Trainer Philip Hobbs nabbed the Newbury showpiece 12 months ago with Supreme Prince, but although that horse turns up again he's
A FREEZING March night and two bobbies are standing in the middle of a small parade of shops, all but one of which have their steel shutters closed. There is not a lot happening, most people are at home and there is just the occasional visitor to the
GLENN Roeder will today come face-to-face with a man who could eventually become his boss. Roeder has always insisted he will be happy to carry on looking after Newcastle United's first-team affairs in a caretaker capacity until chairman Freddy Shepherd
KELSO desperately need temperatures to rise, but if their prayers are answered and the Borders' National goes ahead, then a topical tip like Snowy (3.55) might not be too wide of the mark in the four-mile lung-buster. Once a potent force in the north,
TALKS have begun over a £20m plan to revive a rundown North-East town centre. Derwentside District Council is in talks with a property developer and businesses over the plan for Stanley, in County Durham. Suggestions include demolishing properties at
A NORTH-EAST navy man has told how he helped rescue six sailors from a sinking motor vessel in the eastern Caribbean. Ash Hinds, 22, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, winched the stricken crew members, all of Guyanan origin, to safety after receiving
A PROJECT to restore one of the country's most complete examples of 19th Century stained glass has won a £41,000 grant. St Martin on the Hill, in Scarborough, is one of eight churches in the North-East and North Yorkshire to be given funding by English
MICHAEL Hunter's first defence of his European crown was short and sweet. With just 100 seconds of the second round gone he successfully disposed of Kazakhstani challenger Yersin Jailauov last night. The Hartlepool boxer, who is also the Commonwealth
WITH Premiership survival little more than a theoretical possibility, Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has warned his players they are playing for their footballing futures in the final 11 games of the season. The Black Cats travel to Manchester City tomorrow
ENVIRONMENTAL managementcompany Graphite Resources has secured financial backing to develop the region's first multi-million pound recycling facility that uses steam. Graphite, of Newcastle, has secured an undisclosed amount from Allied Irish Bank to
THE full horrific story of how 29 animals were left to starve to death in a North-East stables has finally been revealed. Yesterday, the man at the centre of what has become one of the country's biggest animal cruelty cases was told he could be facing
There was delight among skiers and boarders on Thursday when enough snow fell in their corner of Upper Teesdale to let them zoom down the 300-yard piste. They were desperate for this bit of luck, after being able to enjoy their sport for only two days
MARK PROCTOR has delivered a frank assessment of Darlington's fading play-off hopes by admitting any further ground lost on the top seven would consign Quakers to another season in League Two. Three straight defeats have thrown promotion plans into disarray
A FURNITURE manufacturer announced the first of 30 redundancies yesterday. County Durham's Europa Sofabeds and Brundellwood Upholstery is shedding 19 jobs within the next week. It is expected to announce further cuts as it reduces the number of factories
A MANUFACTURER has won orders worth more than £100,000 after taking part in a project to make it more productive. Faraday Printed Circuits Limited, which has an annual turnover of £4m and 60 staff at its base in Washington, Wearside, has won work in Scotland
A DISTRAUGHT husband accused of murdering his wife told his brother, "I love her", minutes after the killing, a court heard yesterday. Stephen Luke said his brother Michael, 45, had tears in his eyes as he said: "I love her, I did not mean to do it. Please
THE full horrific story of how 29 animals were left to starve to death in a North-East stables has finally been revealed. Yesterday, the man at the centre of what has become one of the country's biggest animal cruelty cases was told he could be facing
POSITIVE REPORTING: I VERY much enjoyed reading Olivia Richwald's articles on British soldiers in Iraq (Echo, Feb 20-23). Her reports gave a good and positive account of what life is really like for our servicemen. Despite the difficulties in Iraq, the
TAXIS in Darlington could be allowed to use bus lanes in the town within the next few weeks. Drivers have spoken of their relief after finding out a safety survey into the use of bus lanes by taxis has now been completed. There had been fears, which proved
The Methodist Church vice-president took a leaf out of the American vice-president's book at Durham recently... and came out with both barrels blazing. LIKE the United States of America, the Methodist Church is led by a president and vice-president. Unlike
SCHOOL campaigners and a political group have criticised Darlington Borough Council for publishing "propaganda" in the Town Crier. This month's edition of the 32-page magazine, which is delivered to every home in the borough, carries four pages of news
YOUNGSTERS at a Teesside school enjoyed a theatrical distraction during their lessons after a creative pupil won a writing competition. Konflux Theatre in Education spent the day at Huntcliff School, Saltburn, giving the students the opportunity to try
BUS users are being invited to air their views on local services at a surgery. Bus operators, transport managers and campaigners are inviting residents to a surgery at Peterlee Bus Station, on Friday. The event, the first of its kind in the town, takes
PATIENTS at one of North Yorkshire's major hospitals are to benefit from the work of local volunteers. The Friends of the Friarage Hospital have donated more than £13,000-worth of medical equipment for use in the theatres at the Northallerton hospital
A SCHOOLTEACHER stepped out of the classroom to give a science and technology lesson in the Houses of Parliament. Madeleine Walton, key stage four science co-ordinator at Woodham Community Technology College, in Newton Aycliffe, was principal speaker
TWO businessmen whose expansion plans have been held up by a village planning wrangle say they are impatient to go ahead. Marquee company boss James Fletcher and haulage contractor Peter Monkhouse are hoping to move into bigger premises on the Sawmills
PRINCES, princesses and queens mixed with Harry Potter and the Tin Man as primary school youngsters let their imaginations run riot at a sponsored bookathon. Hartside Primary School, in Crook, was transformed into a magical world as the children arrived
TWO sixth form pupils from the same school have been chosen to represent their country at an international conference. Hannah Harvey and Jack Skinner, both from Polam Hall School, in Darlington, are to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference, this
YOUNGSTERS who helped clean up their town have had their handiwork rewarded. Seven pupils from George Washington Primary School, in Washington, won a competition to design a poster on the theme of Cleaning Up Our Community. The competition was organised
A DRIVER has died after losing control as he tried to overtake. The unnamed 47-year-old was cut free from his car after the crash on Thursday night and was rushed to hospital, but later died of his injuries. The accident happened at 8.35pm on Lintzford
REPAIRING bridges, walls and roads, destroyed in last summer's freak floods and storms in the North York Moors National Park has cost more than £3.5m. North Yorkshire County Council's (NYCC) executive was told this week that road repairs alone cost more
A VILLAGE post office is to close next month, although managers insist they will look for replacement premises. The sub-postmaster of Bearpark Post Office, in Auton Stile, in the village, has resigned and the premises will close at the end of next month
A BOROUGH'S pensioners will soon be able to enjoy a free ticket to ride across the length and breadth of Teesside. An agreement between Stockton Borough Council, local bus operators and neighbouring councils means that, from April 1, concessionary pass
FUNDING totalling £19.2m has been awarded for the redevelopment of a North Yorkshire secondary school. The Government grant will allow Richmond School to renovate its Darlington Road campus. The lower school, in Station Road, will then be closed, meaning
THE proud father of a leap year baby born 50 years ago has appealed for information on six other children who arrived on the same day. The seven babies made front page news when they were born at the Greenbank Maternity Hospital and Coniscliffe Nursing
AFRICAN rhythms will reverberate around a corner of Teesside. Pupils from Our Lady and St Bede's School, Stockton, and Stockton Riverside College are to perform with the UK's first post- modern African dance company, Sakoba Dance, at the Arc, in Stockton
POLICE have launched an urgent recruitment drive - and the hairier the applicants, the better. The would-be cadets should have wet and cold noses and be prepared to dole out some "wuff" justice. And four legs are absolutely essential. North Yorkshire
DARLINGTON restaurants are not taking advantage of a free guide about where to eat in the town. Darlington Borough Council's Tourism staff have been contacting every eating establishment in the town offering them the opportunity of a free page in the
FIREFIGHTERS have issued a warning about the dangers of using candles in the home after eight house fires in the past two months. Two of the blazes took place in Northallerton within two weeks of the New Year. Both were caused by people leaving candles
A SCHOOL has been presented with two awards for its excellent use of computer technology. Longfield School, a specialist sports college, was presented with the awards by Darlington MP Alan Milburn. The school is one of the first schools in the country
COASTGUARD teams helped retrieve the body of a man found on a North-East beach on Thursday. Stephen Scott McEwan, 35, had been seen at the top of cliffs close to the picnic site at Blackhall Rocks, in east Durham, by a man walking his dog at about 10.30am
PATIENTS registered with a Chester-le-Street GP practice are to announce their arrival for appointments by using their fingerprints. Bridge End Surgery has been using a touch screen arrival system since it was installed last month, and so far it has been
A VILLAGE of Burmese lepers has pumped water and electric lighting, thanks to the efforts of a former Durham police inspector. Fred Farley, 67, of Coxhoe, who became an aid volunteer after retiring from the county's force, spent ten days in Burma, now
WHILE Wednesday night's 2-1 win over Uruguay proved little other than England's enduring inconsistency, the Anfield friendly should finally have settled the debate over whether Jermain Defoe or Darren Bent should be on the plane that flies to Germany
A BUSINESS advisor has admitted pocketing about £150,000. David John Hodgson took the money from clients who believed he would invest their money. The 43-year-old appeared before Gateshead magistrates yesterday charged with 12 counts of deception. The
Bishop Auckland's hopes of avoiding relegation rest on their next two games which are both against fellow strugglers Warrington. Bishops are currently bottom of the First Division, seven points behind second-bottom Warrington, having played two games
Marks & Spencer's suppliers were yesterday being asked to increase their discounts to help the chain meet the bill for its multi-million-pound advertising campaign. Celebrity models Twiggy and Erin O'Connor star in the latest television commercials
AIYEGBENI Yakubu has pledged his long-term future to Middlesbrough, whether they are in Europe next season or not. The Nigerian striker has scored 18 times for the club so far this term and, with 13 Premiership goals, he is well on his way to becoming
GLENN Roeder will today come face-to-face with a man who could eventually become his boss. Roeder has always insisted he will be happy to carry on looking after Newcastle United's first-team affairs in a caretaker capacity until chairman Freddy Shepherd
AS Crook Town prepare for the biggest game of their recent history, their best-known former player has wished them luck. As an 18-year-old, Frank Clark played for the County Durham side at Wembley in the 1962 Amateur Cup final before embarking on a career
A MANUFACTURER of nutritional drinks and protein snacks for athletes has been acquired by international food group Glanbia for £5.8m. Glanbia, of Ireland, has bought Pro-Fibe Nutrition, based at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough, and renamed the business
Stars at Hollywood's night of the year are well advised to keep their cinematic sins under the red carpet for fear of tarnishing their Oscar hopes. Steve Pratt looks at the past they'd rather keep under wraps. The odds are in George Clooney's favour to
A BUSINESS advisor has admitted pocketing about £150,000. David John Hodgson took the money from clients who believed he would invest their money. The 43-year-old appeared before Gateshead magistrates yesterday charged with 12 counts of deception. The
HOME Secretary Charles Clarke last night began the final countdown towards a massive North-East super police force. Mr Clarke gave formal notice of the intention to merge the Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria forces, believing this to be in the best interests
DARLINGTON and Hartlepool's games this afternoon have been postponed due to frozen pitches. Following a 9.30am inspection, referee Rob Lewis deemed conditions unplayable at Rochdale with temperatures still as low as -3 this morning. And, as expected,
AS if Sunderland fans have not witnessed enough bad jokes this season, tomorrow's trip to Manchester will subject them to the return of "Little and Large". Fans of family-friendly 1980s comedy should not get too excited, though, as this weekend's Premiership
STEVE McCLAREN last night told Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka to be ready, willing and able to take any chance he receives to prove his critics wrong after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the striker's future. Viduka could be handed an opportunity to revive
Snow - any colour except white. Palest lilac or creamiest peach, startling violet or brightest cerise. A setting sun casts long dagger-like shadows of skiers swooshing by. Aching legs, face a-glow, a feeling of achievement and of realising a dream. I
AN earthmover rolls slowly across the grass. Almost sorrowfully, it holds out its long arm. In its bucket, it tenderly cradles the lifeless remains of a crush barrier, the barrier's black legs hanging limply over the sides. When human, this is a television
Crook manager Alan Oliver wants a partisan Millfield crowd to be an extra man when the Northern League second division club chase a semi-final place in the FA Vase at home to Bury Town. Crook's run to the last eight has captured the imagination of the
THE career paths of Glenn Roeder and Paul Stephenson have crossed on more than one occasion in the past. As players they both made names for themselves in the Newcastle United side of the mid-80s. Now the pair are impressing in their roles as temporary
Q My wife, aged 77, has recently received a winter fuel payment of £200, an age-related payment of £50 and a cold weather payment of £8.50. Despite my letters to the Pension Service, they have not made any such payments to me, even though I am 77 as well
AS Blaydon prepare to go all out for promotion from National Three North they are worried they might face a three-week wait for a play-off for which skipper Dave Guthrie would not be available. Rivals Nuneaton have succeeded in having next week's trip
STEVE McCLAREN last night told Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka to be ready, willing and able to take any chance he receives to prove his critics wrong after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the striker's future. Viduka could be handed an opportunity to revive
THE thing about cliches is that they are grounded in truth. So while it might sound patronising to say that Aiyegbeni Yakubu always dreamed of playing professional football, as he kicked a ball, barefoot, in the backstreets of his Nigerian homeland, it
FOUR staff at a Darlington supermarket have been recognised for accumulating 100 years of service between them Linda Denham, Vicky Knight, Phil Littlefair and Carmel Smith who work at the Morrisons store in North Road were given company shares after working
HUNDREDS of taxi drivers turned out to say goodbye to the founder of one of Darlington's biggest cab companies yesterday. Shaun Bainbridge helped set up 1AB Taxis in 1984. He died last Friday, aged 47, after losing his battle with cancer. He had been
A DRUG dealer who "sang like a canary" when he was caught by police was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday. Thomas Welch, 22, had seven wraps of cocaine hidden near his Renault Clio's handbrake when was stopped by police. When his home in Darlington
A 16-YEAR-OLD Darlington girl was warned she could face a custodial sentence if she re-offends. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a 12-month supervision order, after she admitted assaulting another girl. But magistrates warned
A COMMUNITY garden in Darlington has been given a £5,000 Lottery grant. Awards for All has given the money to improve the garden at North Park. North Road Community Partnership has teamed up with the Friends of North Park and schools to work on the garden
PLANS for a £70m modern college on Teesside have moved a step closer - despite concerns being raised about the safety of the site. The Middlesbrough College will be part of the Middlehaven regeneration plan. The five-storey building will have the capacity
PARISH councillors have vowed to get back to business after nine months of rowing over the sacking of their clerk. Stanhope Parish Council agreed this week to pay Val Ward the £2,686 awarded for unfair dismissal by an employment tribunal in Newcastle.
A HIT-AND-RUN driver knocked down a a man walking his dog which needed surgery after the incident. Cleveland Police are hunting the driver of a small, dark-green vehicle which failed to stop after hitting George Hardy and Tosca, the cocker spaniel. During
A COMPETITION has been launched to find the 2006 County Durham Village of the Year. The contest, organised by Durham Rural Community Council (DRCC) and sponsored by gas supplier Calor, is looking for the village which best maintains and enhances quality
Darlington RA manager Dave Woodcock has told his players to remain focused for their promotion battle against Washington today. The RA are having a glorious season, and have climbed up to second in the table on the back of 13 unbeaten games, and, if they
The sight, the smell and the sound that greeted investigators at Bank Top Stables was unimaginable. Even people who had been involved in the mass culling of cattle during the foot-and-mouth outbreak four years earlier were not prepared for this. The smell
TWO former school sites in East Durham could be sold off to developers by Durham County Council. Murton Primary School, Murton Jubilee Primary School and Murton Nursery School are to be replaced by one school being built on the playing field at Murton
YOUNGSTERS braved the cold this week to join the launch of their school's walking bus. Fifteen of Shincliffe Primary School's 211 pupils joined the crocodile, led by volunteer parents, that walked from an old layby in Whitwell Acres to the school in Beal
LEISURE services could be cut if local authorities are forced to comply with Government pressure to issue more fines to litter louts, a council leader has warned. Derwentside District Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said it could cost up to £1m
THE story of a seafaring goat has captured the imagination of young book lovers. The Adventures of Nanny Twice tells the tale of the goat that sailed around the world with Captain James Cook on his first voyage, which set sail in 1768. The book is based
A BOARDED-UP petrol station could be taken over by supermarket chain Sainsbury's. The former Kirklee Service Station, in Victoria Road, Darlington, closed earlier this year. The site, which included a small shop and carwash, has since been cordoned off
TWO sixth form pupils from the same school have been chosen to represent their country. Hannah Harvey and Jack Skinner, both from Polam Hall School in Darlington, will attend the Global Young Leaders Conference this summer. The series of conferences,
THE thing about cliches is that they are grounded in truth. So while it might sound patronising to say that Aiyegbeni Yakubu always dreamed of playing professional football, as he kicked a ball, barefoot, in the backstreets of his Nigerian homeland, it
TWO couples who shared a wedding ceremony 50 years ago are together again this weekend for an anniversary party. Joe and Joyce Freeman were married with her brother, George Gittins, and his wife, Marjorie, in St Andrew's Church, Spennymoor, on March 3
AN 18-month arts project has united generations of village residents by teaching young people about their mining heritage. The Creative Coundon initiative, which was based at St Joseph's RC Primary School, ended on a musical note yesterday when pupils
THE first comprehensive history of a North Yorkshire market town's silver has been published. The Treasures of Richmond was written by former town clerk Alan Wilcox, who this week presented the first copy to the town council. The project has involved
A FOOTBALL fan who threw his season ticket at a manager in disgust has escaped a nationwide banning order. Mark Davison, 33, of Wheatley Hill, County Durham, appeared before Teesside magistrates yesterday after admitting entering the playing area during
HISTORY was brought alive for hundreds of children, when re-enactment experts raided a school dressed as marauding Vikings. Every aspect of yesterday's friendly invasion was videoed and recorded by youngsters at Grangetown's Caedmon School, near Middlesbrough
PLANS to build a housing estate that includes cut-price homes for local people have been approved. The application to build 68 homes on the outskirts of Sedgefield village includes ten affordable properties aimed at keeping people in the borough. Officers
A POWERBOAT championship is coming to the North-East for the first time. The Powerboat Grand Prix will take place at South Shields, South Tyneside, over the weekend of July 22 and 23. It has been organised as part of Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative's programme
THE killers of a cat which was cooked alive in a microwave oven are unlikely to be prosecuted. Police have been unable to amass enough evidence to charge any of the seven suspects they arrested and questioned. Last night, The Northern Echo discovered
ONE of the region's most respected lecturers, who has won national acclaim for his work in media law, has retired. Robin Crowther, 65, was media law tutor at Darlington College, where he helped train hundreds of journalists from across the world. In a
PETER Ramage is still relishing his role in the side as a full back despite initially being brought through the Newcastle United ranks as a centre half. The 22-year-old defender was handed his first team debut by former boss Graeme Souness in the intimidating
A FREEZING March night and two bobbies are standing in the middle of a small parade of shops, all but one of which have their steel shutters closed. There is not a lot happening, most people are at home and there is just the occasional visitor to the
It's all change for Wolviston against Harton and Westoe at Metcalfe Park. Five players are unavailable but three return as Wolviston attempt to improve on their fifth-from-bottom rating. Jonathan French is injured and Paul Roberts, Jonathan Stewart, Alex
FOR the second time in only four days, a woman has been rescued from her terraced home by firefighters. Last night, 21-year-old Lyndsey Alderson spoke of her embarrassment at having to be saved twice from her home in Portland Avenue, Deneside, Seaham,
Darlington RA manager Dave Woodcock has told his players to remain focused for their promotion battle against Washington today. The RA are having a glorious season, and have climbed up to second in the table on the back of 13 unbeaten games, and, if they
