The world of interior design has seen its fair share of fashion trends come and go, especially since the explosion of DIY programmes that hit our screens some time around the early nineties. First came the compulsion to paint stencils on every available
A CORONER yesterday recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on a motorcyclist who died when his bike was hit by a van on a County Durham road last summer. Philip Garnett died when his Honda CBR 600cc collided with a white van on the outskirts of Spennymoor
CHEMICALS company Terra Nitrogen has restarted production at its Teesside plant after soaring gas prices forced it to partially shut down before Christmas. The firm suspended ammonia production at its Billingham plant in November after gas prices hit
BUSINESS leaders in Middlesbrough yesterday gave their backing to plans for a super casino which will bring up to 4,000 jobs. Plans for the £150m investment were outlined to more than 40 firms attending the North East Chamber of Commerce's (NECC) Middlesbrough
SO what exactly is wrong with Baa Baa Black Sheep? Children in a number of nurseries have been taught to sing "Baa baa rainbow sheep" instead. Calling a sheep "black" is said to be discriminatory. Odd. As the poor sheep has done nothing wrong, isn't a
A FORMER soldier has appealed for the safe return of his irreplaceable military medals after his house was burgled. Andrew Barnes has offered a reward for information on the whereabouts of the medals, which were taken from his house in Lawrence Street
Saira Khan shot to fame as the bolshie runner-up on TV's The Apprentice - now she's written a book inspiring others with her bulldog spirit. She talks to Sarah Foster about finding success as a British Muslim. FOR such a formidable figure, Saira Khan
STUDENTS from Darlington College hit the town this week to raise money for victims of the Asian earthquake. Members of the BTEC 1st Diploma in Travel and Tourism gathered cash donations and raffle prizes from shops in Darlington, including Morrisons,
A MAN who stamped on another man's head during a drunken attack has been spared prison. William Gareth Jordan, 20, of Haughton Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday to assault causing actual bodily harm. The court
PEOPLE in part of Darlington who are interested in making a difference to their area are invited to become involved in a local community partnership. The Skerne Park and Parkside Community Partnership wants to extend to cover all the Park East ward. The
A FRIEND of the British mountaineers who died on a Spanish mountain said last night their families were appalled by official claims the men were badly equipped. Colin Riddiough, 46 and Paul Dick, 56, both from Brotton, east Cleveland, and John Plews,
A MAN accused of attacking his former partner with a screwdriver has walked free from court. Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court found Derek Campbell not guilty of occasioning bodily harm after deciding there was no intent. Mr Campbell, 42, of Stanhope Street
A UNIVERSITY chef is celebrating after taking a gold medal at one of the world's most prestigious culinary competitions. Andrew Wood, who works at the University of York, took the top honour in the 2006 Salon Culinaire de Londres contest. Mr Wood, who
A ONE-STOP advice centre for young people could soon be created in York. A report outlining how the council is working towards an integrated youth support service lists such a centre as one of three developments that will enable the youth service to meet
VIOLENCE flared at a New Year karaoke event at a town centre pub, a court heard yesterday. David Storey, 38, was arrested after a confrontation with a doorman and a barman at the Kingfisher pub in Spennymoor, County Durham, on January 1. During his ensuing
SUPERMARKET staff have proved they are real softies when it comes to helping tiny tots at the local hospital. They held a name-the-teddy competition at the Northallerton branch of Tesco, to help the Friarage Hospital's special care baby unit. Thanks to
A BENCH has been dedicated to the memory of former Richmond mayoress Elaine Hendren, who died aged 73 in July 2004. She was a stalwarad supporter of the annual Richmond Meet festival, and last Sunday, members of the committee dedicated a bench to her
RESIDENTS are being asked to do their bit for their environment at a litter-picking event this weekend. On Saturday, volunteers from West Rainton Green Group will be cleaning up the village, and they are asking locals to lend a hand. The event takes place
DEVELOPERS hope to build almost 300 houses in two projects in a Teesside town. Planning officials at Stockton Borough Council are recommending that plans for 220 homes in the town be approved. But they say an application for 56 houses in Stillington village
A TOWN is bracing itself for the invasion of 400 actors, extras and crew if plans go ahead for the filming of a Hollywood blockbuster. Film director Joe Wright has earmarked Redcar, in east Cleveland, as a possible location for his latest film based on
ONE of the smallest but busiest shopping areas in County Durham is to get a £75,000 facelift. Work is to start later this week on the parade of shops and banks opposite Durham University's Student Union building in New Elvet, Durham City. The area is
TODDLERS have been robbed of their play area after vandals burnt it to the ground causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Community leaders are now trying to salvage what is left of the £30,000 play area in Hackworth Park, Shildon, which was built
A nursery is hoping to help toddlers and their parents. Kids and Co Childcare Services has started classes for children aged between three and five, at Red Hall Primary School, in Darlington. The scheme offers 20 places to children in the school's foundation
BUSINESSES and residents in Darlington are being urged to help prevent arsonists start dangerous fires - by disposing of waste properly. Firefighters are asking people not to store their rubbish in an attempt to reduce the number of arson attacks. Their
A YOUNG theatre group is to put on a show for schools across the area, to help warn of some of the dangers facing teenagers. Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans (Bath), based at King James I Community College, has been enlisted by Durham Dales Primary Care
A COOK at an outdoor resource centre has been judged to make the best sausage meal in the country. Lynn Howden, from the Middleton-in-Teesdale Outdoor Resource Centre, won the first prize in a national sausage competition. The contest, organised by the
AN appeal has been issued for townspeople to support efforts to win a top award in this year's Northumbria in Bloom competition. Individuals, businesses and community groups are all being urged to do their bit to brighten up Hartlepool and make it look
IT is fitting that Kevin Ball was born in Hastings. By accepting a role as Sunderland's caretaker boss following the unexpected departure of Mick McCarthy, the fans' favourite has already underlined his fondness for a battle. While most managerial hopefuls
VISITORS to a Durham shopping centre will be able to get help giving up cigarettes today for National No Smoking Day. The Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust smoking cessation team will be at The Gates telling people about the dangers of smoking
A FINANCIAL breakthrough has been made to end a "pedestrian's nightmare" at a Harrogate railway line. There is no pedestrian access over Hookstone Road railway bridge, on the southern side of the road at Hornbeam Park Railway Station. The only pedestrian
A CONTROVERSIAL plan by a school to put up a 6ft fence to enclose its playing fields is being opposed by a borough council and residents. Harrogate Grammar School is seeking planning permission from North Yorkshire County Council to build the fence along
THE family of a young guardsman shot dead by a fellow squaddie are demanding answers after an inquest ruled he was unlawfully killed. Dean Troy Eddy, of Billingham, died from a fatal bullet wound when he was shot through the neck by a drunken off-duty
THE new owner of the North Yorkshire company which manufactures meat substitute Quorn has unveiled profits of more than £90m. Premier Foods, which bought Stokesley-based Marlowe Foods in a £172m deal last June, saw profits rise by 11.9 per cent after
ANOTHER CLUB ROYAL (2.30) looks in a class of his own for Catterick's Alan Thompson 75th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase. Ginger McCain's seven-year-old has won two of his last three starts, most recently at Musselburgh where he bravely fought off the
SO what exactly is wrong with Baa Baa Black Sheep? Children in a number of nurseries have been taught to sing "Baa baa rainbow sheep" instead. Calling a sheep "black" is said to be discriminatory. Odd. As the poor sheep has done nothing wrong, isn't a
LIKE many more residents of that fair city, Janet Murrell in Durham received an invitation last week to buy a "limited edition Durham luxury table lamp". It would cost £99.50, with a "certificate of authenticity" and 100 per cent satisfaction guaranteed
The Truth About Referees (ITV1) Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (C4) 'WHEN I get tempered I feel like taking it out on someone. I tend to hit players, swear and spit at the referee," admitted the soccer player. The sentiments expressed are bad enough, but
ANOTHER CLUB ROYAL (2.30) looks in a class of his own for Catterick's Alan Thompson 75th Birthday Novices' Handicap Chase. Ginger McCain's seven-year-old has won two of his last three starts, most recently at Musselburgh where he bravely fought off the
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a man in a possible racial attack have again appealed for help in piecing together his final moments. Lee Phipps suffered a number of stab wounds, including one through the heart, in an attack on Thursday, March
FORMER miners spoke of their outrage last night after workmen destroyed a tree erected to the memory of men who lost their lives in one of the region's worst pit disasters. Families were appalled to discover one of the 83 trees planted in memory of the
When England set out on the tour of India they would have pencilled in Mohali as their most likely place to secure a win. Last week's draw in Nagpur, which Andrew Flintoff's fledgling side dictated for long periods has increased the confidence that victory
AN investigation by the police and the prison service was under way last night after a serial sex offender sent his victims lewd letters from prison. Lawrence Petch sent correspondence, including a birthday card, to more than one girl while serving his
The dad of a man murdered in a suspected race hate attack made an emotional appeal for help in catching the killers today. Lee Phipps, 31, was a "shy, reserved" man who stood up for his mixed race mum against Nazi thugs. Lee was beaten up three years
A FRIEND of three British mountaineers who died on a Spanish mountain said last night their families were appalled by official claims the men were badly equipped. Colin Riddiough, 46, and Paul Dick, 56, both from Brotton, and John Plews, 32, of Redcar
A RECRUITMENT website part-owned by The Northern Echo is attracting more job seekers than any other online jobs site in the UK. The fish4jobs site is visited by more than 1.6 million people every month, according to the Noras 2006 survey (National Online
Is there any check on the devilish appliances of science? Too little, it seems. One's blood is chilled by the news that war scientists in the US are on the verge of being able to remote-control sharks through electrodes planted in their brains. Their
LIKE many more residents of that fair city, Janet Murrell in Durham received an invitation last week to buy a "limited edition Durham luxury table lamp". It would cost £99.50, with a "certificate of authenticity" and 100 per cent satisfaction guaranteed
A NORTH-EAST firm linked to the detergent industry is to create more jobs in a move which will see it double in size. Warwick Equest - which supplies stained fabric swatches for testing -is moving from 5,000sq ft offices in Greencroft Industrial Park,
SCIENTISTS in the region have been given £200,000 to develop revolutionary technology which could lead to healthier and improved crop yields. Creative Gene Technology (CGT) was founded in 2000 by scientists working for Durham University. The company secured
MILITARY records for the first British women to serve in a combat zone are launched online today as part of International Women's Day. The National Archives, at Kew, has digitised more than 7,000 records of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), who
FROM today, anyone lighting up a cigarette outside a North-East hospital will be politely asked to move away - by a robot voice. Hospital bosses decided to unveil their new anti-smoking device on No Smoking Day, which highlights nationwide efforts to
THE York and North Yorkshire Business Environmental Forum has organised two events to help businesses with energy efficiency. The free events, on April 5 at Bainbridge National Parks offices in the Dales and April 6 at Sutton Bank National Parks offices
A FAMILY-OWNED meat and poultry supplier expects turnover to increase by a third with the launch of a new premium brand of beef. Country Valley Foods (CVF), in Hurworth, Darlington, has used a £45,000 grant from the English Beef & Lamb Executive to
A HOME has been closed by police because it was being used as a drugs den. Officers from Northumbria Police issued the notice for the home at 62 Dixon Street, Teams, Gateshead, under new powers brought in under the Anti Social Behaviour Order legislation
PROTESTING residents are threatening not to pay their council tax after a flats development was given the go-ahead in a conservation area. Home owners in Eaglescliffe are demanding answers from Stockton Borough Council over the definition of a conservation
YOUNG dancers from some of the region's schools and colleges are preparing themselves for a performance of a lifetime. Pupils from Our Lady of St Bede's School, in Stockton, Conyers School, in Yarm, Stockton Riverside College and the University of Teesside
CHILDREN have been getting their hands dirty sprucing up a recreation ground near their primary school. Pupils from Whitecliffe Primary School, in Carlin How, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, joined forces with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's parks
A FARMER yesterday urged a public inquiry to keep horse riders off a path on his land. Derek Bayles wants to stop a public right of way from being officially reclassified as a bridleway on land he owns at Osmond Flatt Farm, Lartington, near Barnard Castle
A CARE home for 63 elderly people is to be built at a historic site - if planners give the scheme permission. Shotley Park Care Homes wants to create the £2.5m u-shaped building next to the existing residential home, which was built in 1850. It used to
DANCERS are turning up the heat for fundraisers by challenging them to a TV-style finale. Dance Inferno: The Heat of the Dance is an initiative to raise funds for the Butterwick Hospice, which cares for sick children and adults. Volunteers will go to
People are invited to see right through the work of an internationally acclaimed artist. Kate Owen's stained glass window with a difference is one of a collection of works on display at Sunderland's National Glass Centre. Her work is on show in an exhibition
A SUCCESSFUL junior football club has been given a £500 award from the North-Eastern Co-op's Community Dividend Fund. Byers Green FC, which has 17 teams and is still growing, will use the money to help pay for strips and equipment. The club was nominated
A TEENAGER lashed out at a neighbour while wielding a claw hammer, a court heard. The 53-year-old victim, who was said to have had difficulties with new neighbours over rubbish deposited in the street, was attacked by the 15-year-old as he was standing
TODDLERS have been robbed of their play area after mindless vandals burnt it to the ground causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Community leaders are now trying to salvage what is left of the £30,000 play area in Hackworth Park, Shildon, which
JOEL Porter and Michael Proctor get another chance to play their way into Paul Stephenson's plans. The Hartlepool United strikers will play some part of the reserve game with Scunthorpe tonight. They were both on target in the friendly win at Gretna last
A MAN accused of murdering his wife broke down in tears in court yesterday as he told of his devotion to his family. Michael Luke sobbed throughout his time in the witness box and told the jury: "I would never do anything to hurt them." Luke, 47, spent
DRUNKEN passengers who are sick in their taxis could soon be hit with a £40 fixed fine. Taxi drivers in Richmond and Catterick Garrison are proposing that a set fee is introduced for passengers who vomit, urinate or foul their vehicle in any way. Stickers
DEVELOPMENTS in the police force over the past 200 years were highlighted to a royal visitor yesterday. The Duke of Kent visited the Prison and Police Museum, in Ripon, North Yorkshire, to help volunteers celebrate the museum trust's silver jubilee. The
A YACHTSMAN who braved North Sea storms has returned from his most daunting trip yet - meeting Prince Philip. Gary Young, from Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, has completed the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award and was presented with his certificate in a
A MOTHER-of-seven who discovered her husband was having an affair began a six-month course of harassment, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates were told how advanced teaching assistant and senior youth worker Margaret Anne Ambery-Smith vented
A FORMER editor of The Northern Echo is to be immortalised in a bar next to the newspaper's offices. The Lloyds Bar, in Crown Street, Darlington, will be named The William Stead when it opens on May 15. Mr Stead, who was better known as WT Stead, was
CARLOS LOGAN will go under the surgeon's knife next week, amid fears Darlington may have seen the last of the winger this season. A double hernia threatens to bring Logan's campaign to a premature end, inflicting more woe on Quakers' fading play-off hopes
Young film makers will be at the other end of the lens today watching a screening of their work. The girls, all students at Bishop Barrington School, in Bishop Auckland, have been invited by the Royal Television Society to see a compilation of films,
CAR parking costs at two hospitals could go up again as part of a review of charges, The Northern Echo has learnt. The review at the James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and Northallerton's Friarage Hospital comes at a time of increasing concern over
KIERON Dyer has been ruled out of Sunday's Premiership clash at Manchester United. The Newcastle United midfielder returned to training late last week and was keen to make himself available for the trip to Old Trafford after making good progress following
AS science advances with increasing speed, medical ethical issues become ever more complex. Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Natallie Evans, effectively denying her the chance to have her own, genetic child. Before being left
Police hunting the killer of a mother-of-five have made an arrest. The body of Audrey Badger, 42, was found in her house in Thornaby, near Stockton, on February 11. Police said she had been the victim of a violent attack and believe she knew who was responsible
HE HAS won Spanish Cups and Super Cups, played in two Champions League finals and commanded a world record transfer fee of more than £28m but, for Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta, success in this season's UEFA Cup would represent the biggest
A TEAM of retired senior detectives is being brought in to help catch the killer of murdered shopworker Jenny Nicholl. It also emerged yesterday that the Army has been asked for its help to find Jenny's body. The retired detectives will carry out a review
Plans were announced today for a re-design of the Marks and Spencer store in Darlington. The work, which will include a cafe and in-store bakery, will begin in late March and is scheduled for completion this summer. Store manager, Elaine Smith, said:
NO CRISIS: THE article "Milburn urged to support campaign" (Echo, Mar 2) stated that Darlington CAB is urging Alan Milburn "to help with a crisis over legal aid funding". Over the last year the Legal Service Commission (LSC) has invested about £1.2m in
WITH Sunderland's board insisting they will not be rushed into appointing a permanent successor to Mick McCarthy, Rangers boss Alex McLeish has distanced himself from speculation linking him to the vacant managerial position at the Stadium of Light. McLeish
