Valentine's Day 2006 should go down in history as the day in which the country's MPs showed they really cared about Britain and its health. The historic decision to ban smoking in public places will save more lives and do more to improve the health
Publisher: Codemasters Formats: PS2, Xbox, PC Price: £34.99 Family friendly? 12+ GAMERS have been spoilt for choice for arcade racing games the past six months but hard-core simulations seem to have fallen out
Publisher: Electronic Arts Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 Family friendly? 3+ RUGBY is the latest international sport to hop aboard the Electronic Arts merry-go-round and be rewarded with an annual up-date. Unsurprisingly
Publisher: THQ Formats: PS2, Xbox, Game Cube Price: £29.99 Family friendly? 3+ TO date there have been three Tak adventures and the pint-sized sorcerer has garnered a wide fan base of young and old gamers alike
IN his book Essential English, the former editor of this newspaper, Harold Evans, laments the growth of the cliche. "Perhaps we can define a cliche as any phrase so hackneyed as to be knock-kneed, " says the great man, whose youthful photograph looks
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
ONE of the great joys of Holy Island is seeing the tide creep over the causeway. When the tarmac is covered, that's it - there's no way out. The mobile phone can ring and ring, but there's no point answering it. And, of course, there's no way onto
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
A TEENAGE drug dealer, allowed to walk free by a judge who said jails were overflowing, has been jailed by the nation's most senior judge. Thomas Scarth, 19, who was filmed by police stashing drugs behind the bumper of a car, escaped a prison sentence
NORWICH Union owner Aviva yesterday put pressure on rival insurer Prudential to come to the negotiating table by revealing the terms of its proposed £17bn takeover. Aviva said it was only prepared to press ahead with the all-share deal to create a £34bn
MOTOR dealer Lookers yesterday reported a record year days after rejecting a £258m hostile bid by rival Pendragon on the grounds that it was too low. Lookers said pre-tax profits were up 28 per cent to £18m while turnover was up 13 per cent to £1.23bn
A POLICE investigation spanning three decades will come to an end today when the man behind the infamous Wearside Jack hoaxes is jailed. John Humble will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for diverting the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry to the North-East and
Newcastle Building Society has appointed BOB MOTTERSHEAD as head of retail sales. Bob will have responsibility for overseeing the branch network, Newcastle Financial Services Ltd (NFSL) and the investment division of the Society's contact centre. He will
A TAXI driver was involved in a series of minor collisions after agreeing to take two women home from a night out when he had been drinking. Richard Davidson struck two parked cars, as well as another vehicle he forced to mount the kerb, and collided
ASPIRING knights have gone into battle for farmers in the Developing World. Re-enactment group the Knights of the Black Phoenix staged jousts on horseback and displays of medieval weaponry to mark Fairtrade Fortnight, in Hartlepool. Martin Green, chairman
ROB Andrew yesterday launched another blistering attack on the RFU after the belated discovery that his Newcastle Falcons prop David Wilson suffered a broken jaw playing for England Under 21s on Friday. While decrying the fact that Wilson was allowed
WHEN Tony Blair famously declared in the heady, optimistic days of 1997 that new Labour would have to be "whiter than white", there was always a danger that his words would come back to haunt him. And so they have. It was a bold declaration to underline
WORK has started to landscape the entrance of one of the region's best known business parks. Alan Capper, founder of landscape architects Kent Design, in Newcastle, has created a bold design for the A689 roundabout at the entrance of Wynyard Park. Mr
A SHAKEN motorist described the moment flames covered his car after a teenager threw a petrol bomb. Scorch marks were left on the road at the spot where Lee Wilkinson and his wife, Lisa, were targeted by three youths on Sunday. Cleveland Police's Priority
MANUFACTURER Berger Closures has secured two deals which it hopes will safeguard jobs and create more positions in the future. The County Durham company, which manufactures industrial fasteners and metal clamping rings, has signed a contract to supply
A business park in Darlington - which is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs when complete - has attracted a firm of architects. FaulknerBrowns is the final occupier of Lingfield Point's Beehive development. The nationally-recognised firm of architects
A 17-YEAR-OLD who murdered a disabled man in an alley by stamping repeatedly on his head is starting a life sentence today. John McCallum was left dripping in blood after his apparently motiveless attack on Stephen Humphries. A passerby saw McCallum beating
THE OUTFIT, Publisher: THQ, Format: Xbox 360, Price: £49.99. Family friendly? 15: IN the short while it has been available, the Xbox 360 has become the default home for war-based action games. Thankfully The Outfit isn't yet another first person shooter
Waterfall Spa, the North's only women-only retreat, offers serious pampering in a stylish setting. Women's Editor SARAH FOSTER took her mum. NOTHING beats a spa day for pure decadence, so it was with eager anticipation that I made the journey to Waterfall
SINGING duo Journey South celebrated the launch of their first album in the region yesterday during a whistlestop tour of the UK. Hundreds of fans welcomed home the region's X Factor finalist as they journeyed south to coincide with the release of their
NICK'S CHOICE (4.10) looks the pick of the bunch at Warwick in the Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle. Dai Burchell's ten-year-old is being whipped out again double-quick, having routed a much stronger field on a highly profitable weekend trip to Newcastle.
FOR naked cheek you can't beat our beloved politicians. First they admit that all their parties have rewarded donations and loans with peerages. Then they say that if this scandal is to be done away with, then they will have to have their electioneering
The Chatterley Affair (BBC4) The Seven-Year-Old Surgeon: Extraordinary People (five) 'YOU may think," said the prosecuting counsel, "that sex is dragged in at every opportunity." This isn't, of course, an accusation that could ever be levelled at this
PAUL STEPHENSON is reaping the reward of taking Hartlepool United back to basics. After taking control seven games ago, Pool have conceded just five goals. That run includes clean sheets in his first three games. On Saturday, play-off hopefuls Barnsley
A CAR park nuisance who tried to obscure security cameras by licking the lens has been banned for harassing drivers. Keith Farran, 27, of Wellington Street, Middlesbrough, was a prolific offender linked to aggressive begging in Stockton and Middlesbrough
The revelation of John Humble as Wearside Jack marks the end of an eight-year campaign for justice for The Northern Echo's former crime correspondent, Patrick Lavelle. He describes the part he played in solving one of Britain's biggest criminal mysteries
James Anderson's Midas touch in the final Test put an added gloss on England's attempts to level the series against India. Anderson enjoyed his best day in Test cricket to date to help the tourists end the third day at the Wankhede Stadium 152 runs ahead
PORTAKABIN subsidiary Yorkon has made three appointments to strengthen its management team. The off-site construction company, based in York, has promoted ANDREW SIMPKIN to operations manager. A member of the Chartered Institute of Building and a graduate
A COUNCILLOR has hit back at claims that part of Darlington is "particularly unpleasant and full of unpleasant people". The claim was made by solicitor Laura Saunders-Jerrom, while representing a client in court. Peter Henry Taylor, 57, of Pierremont
UNIVERSITY students are helping a Durham charity dedicated to looking after the blind and partially-sighted. They are working through Durham University Student Community Action on projects run by the County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially-Sighted
A CHARITY health care centre is extending its services to offer treatment to people with long-term neurological conditions. The Pioneering Care Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, offers neuro-physiotherapy in its natural therapy suite for people coping with
YOUNG people joined volunteers and council staff to brighten Saltwell Park over the weekend by planting flowers in a new bird-feeding area. The flowers were the finishing touch to the area, which has been created by Gateshead Council with help from Gateshead
RECKLESS bikers who ride around estates, school grounds and footpaths could have their machines confiscated. Councillors at Woodhouse Close, in Bishop Auckland, are calling on police to take tough action against quad bikers and riders of unlicensed motorbikes
EFFORTS to improve a school's grounds were given a boost yesterday with a cash donation from a supermarket. Chilton Primary School has created a garden in a courtyard area to make playtime more fun for pupils. It will be used to help them learn about
AN aspiring lawyer is teaching others to ride at a centre for disabled people. Emma Harbron, who is in the final year of the LLB (Hons) law degree at the University of Teesside, is sharing her love of horse riding to inspire local disabled people take
A PARISH Council has paid tribute to the work done by a local youth. Middleton St George Parish Council presented a letter of congratulation and certificate to Steven Howden, 18. The council decided to make the presentation after Steven won The Northern
A PENSIONER who admits to being a "plain cook" saw her dream come true when she met celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott. Ruth Holmes, from Haughton, Darlington, won a competition in The Northern Echo to have lunch with the presenter of BBC's Ready Steady
THE Darlington Town Mission has held its annual meeting. The Venerable Granville Gibson was elected as chairman, the Reverend John Platts as vice chairman, Margaret Senior as secretary and Derek Mills as treasurer. The mission was formed in 1838 to help
HUNDREDS of homes in a problem-plagued community could be demolished under a council blueprint announced yesterday. Officials from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said they were committed to rebuilding a better community in old South Bank, near Middlesbrough
YOUNG carers are raising awareness of the help they give to sick relatives through artwork. Images portraying the supportive role played by the youngsters are being produced as posters to display in public places. More than 20 young carers from across
HEALTH staff have been rewarded for their long service at an awards ceremony. Fifty-five employees of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust were presented with a specially commissioned long service badge, an engraved plaque celebrating the number
NINE young students have been excelling in courses, of the mouth-watering kind. The youngsters, pupils at the King's Academy, in Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, are benefiting from a scheme that allows them to swap their classrooms for the kitchens
HOUSING officers are on the look out for residents for a development of affordable rented homes in Thirsk. The scheme, in Station Road, Sowerby, will be made up of two and three-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments for rent. There will also
TALKS are to be held over future housing numbers in a North Yorkshire district. Hambleton District Council and the North York Moors Planning Authority are to discuss the strategy development plan, which suggests building ten affordable homes a year in
YOUNGSTERS who show respect for others are to be rewarded by a community. The West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust is introducing a new category Young Person of the Year in its third annual Community Awards event. Trust chairwoman Joan Ford said: "There
IT was June 26, 1979, when a recorded message lasting two minutes and containing 257 words was played to the world. The head of the Ripper Squad, George Oldfield, was convinced the taunting tape was the work of the serial killer he had been hunting for
YOUNGSTERS have named a youth centre being opened in Barnard Castle. More than 50 names were put forward for the YMCA cafe in Galgate, Barnard Castle. A vote to find the top five created a shortlist of Nosh/ Nosh, Unlimited, Graffiti Bar, Psycho Bar and
A POLICE investigation spanning three decades will come to an end today when the man behind the infamous Wearside Jack hoaxes is jailed. John Humble will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for diverting the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry to the North-East and
VOLUNTEERS aiming to restore a North Yorkshire railway station say there are still challenges to overcome - despite the fundraising drive continuing at pace. The community has now raised about £135,000 to transform Richmond Station into a community and
NATIONAL park officers have vowed to continue a campaign against illegal off-road drivers and motorcyclists. Staff at the North York Moors National Park Authority have held a number of action days with police in a bid to combat the problem. At the most
ONE of the team who helped take North Yorkshire into the 21st Century is retiring at the end of this month. Mike Moore, North Yorkshie County Council's corporate director of environmental services since 1996, will step down on March 31. He became a chartered
A TRAINEE police officer, who jeopardised the career he had always dreamed of when he was caught speeding, escaped a driving ban yesterday. Magistrates in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, heard how disqualification for 32-year-old Abdul Ghafoor, who joined
THE OUTFIT Publisher: THQ Format: Xbox 360 Price: £49.99 Family friendly? 15 IN the short while it has been available, the Xbox 360 has become the default home for war-based action games. Thankfully The Outfit isn't yet another first person shooter (FPS
PETER RAMAGE is in line to be handed a rare chance to prove his credentials as a centre-back at Chelsea tomorrow night, as Newcastle United look to claim an FA Cup semi-final place for the second year in a row. With Jean-Alain Boumsong suspended, if Ramage
Michael Bridges may have served a painful reminder of what Darlington have sorely missed this season, but David Hodgson refused to dwell over the one that got away. Bridges demonstrated his undoubted qualities in scoring Carlisle's third in Saturday's
A CELEBRATED RAF fighter pilot who helped foil one of the largest Luftwaffe raids on the North-East has died. Wing Commander Christopher "Bunny" Currant, who died aged 95, was twice awarded the DFC during the Battle of Britain when he was one of the RAF's
West Auckland manager David Bayles wants his players return to form in their ANL cup tie at Morpeth tonight. West lost 2-1 at home to Tow Law in the league last Saturday, and Bayles said: "That was one of our worst performances of the season." Striker
NICK'S CHOICE (4.10) looks the pick of the bunch at Warwick in the Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle. Dai Burchell's ten-year-old is being whipped out again double-quick, having routed a much stronger field on a highly profitable weekend trip to Newcastle.
A investigation spanning three decades will end today when the man behind the infamous Wearside Jack hoaxes is jailed. John Humble will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for diverting the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry to the North-East and sparking a probe
THE millionaire boss of Darlington's biggest employer was last night named as having loaned the Labour Party £1m. Rod Aldridge, the Sussex-born executive chairman of Capita - which delivers a range of services on behalf of central and local government
INFORMATION about two leap year babies born 50 years ago has been unearthed with help from The Northern Echo. Ron Ashbridge, 81, of Lyons Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, asked for help to find six babies captured in a photograph alongside his own son
RAY Parlour is backing Mark Viduka to fire Middlesbrough into the last four of the FA Cup as the Teessiders look to gain more than a measure of revenge against Charlton on Thursday night. Boro went down 2-1 to the Addicks when the sides met in the Premiership
MR Harry Whitton, a gentleman of Thirsk, has left me £500. We'd not met: rather it was a token of what, on a good day, may exist between columnist and reader. It was decided to spend the legacy on a short break in north Northumberland - a Whitton weekend
THE region has some of the best and worst hospitals in the country, according to a survey. Research carried out by Saga, the UK's leading provider of products and services to people over 50, rated English hospitals according to red, green or amber ratings
A KOREAN war hero was buried yesterday - 50 years after his pals paid their last respects. Friends and family thought Major Michael Newcombe had died during the Korean war when the Army mistakenly listed him as killed in action. The Major, known to his
A Woman is anxiously awaiting the results of hospital tests on her husband, who is believed to have been twice run down by a car driven by thieves. Company director Chris Hields suffered a fractured skull, eye socket and broken bones in the incident in
Mick McCarthy regrets, but he was unable to attend the English premiere of I Keano, which finished its run last weekend. "I think he may have had other things on his mind last week, " says Rob Allen of the Lowry Centre in Manchester. "The timing was a
GENTLE giant Stephen Humphries was a man with everything to live for when his life was cruelly ended. Known as someone who loved life, his future looked particularly bright. After spending most of his life in care homes after being given up by his father
Former North-East boxing champion Gary Hodgson married Karen Seedhouse in Spennymoor on Saturday. The bride looked delightful, the gentlemen of the party looked (as someone observed) as if they'd escaped from Doggart's window. Gary's father is, of course
A KOREAN war hero was buried yesterday - 50 years after his pals paid their last respects. Friends and family thought Major Michael Newcombe had died during the Korean war when the Army mistakenly listed him as killed in action. The Major, known to his
SENIOR CITIZENS: IN answer to the letter on pensions (HAS, Mar 18), I would like to reply. Most pensioners today lived through the war years and we paid our dues without help. We do not want handouts. We were brought up the hard way: do without and/or
PROPOSALS for an £89m overhaul of secondary education in part of the region will be in the spotlight this week. Durham County councillors will be asked to approve a scheme that would involve a £25m school on the site of Shotton Hall School, in Peterlee
* See the interview with Humble as West Yorkshire Police ask him to repeat his hoax claims HOAXER John Humble was today jailed for eight years for what a judge described as the most serious form of perverting the course of justice. The man, who became
TOP-level management changes have taken place at Teesport operator PD Ports to enable the group to concentrate on plans for a £300m container terminal. The Australian investment group which bought out PD Ports earlier this year has switched management
IF anyone thinks Sunderland's players wash their hands of the club's troubles once they leave the pitch, they should speak to Tommy Miller. As the Black Cats lurch towards becoming the Premiership's worst-ever side, the midfielder has insisted any suggestion
JOB losses in the manufacturing sector are almost unavoidable as North-East companies look to improve productivity and become more efficient, an industry expert said yesterday. Alan Hall, regional director of the engineering employers' federation (EEF
In her first book My Mother Is A Troll, Helen Limon takes a light-hearted look at how teenage girls perceive their mums. As Mothers' Day approaches, she tells Women's Editor Sarah Foster about her colourful life - and why she doesn't think of herself
ROB Andrew yesterday launched another blistering attack on the RFU after the belated discovery that his Newcastle Falcons prop David Wilson suffered a broken jaw playing for England Under 21s on Friday. While decrying the fact that Wilson was allowed
MOTOR dealer Lookers yesterday reported a record year days after rejecting a £258m hostile bid by rival Pendragon on the grounds that it was too low. Lookers said pre-tax profits were up 28 per cent to £18m while turnover was up 13 per cent to £1.23bn
ORGANISERS of an annual village fair have been forced to scrap the popular parade that kickstarts the event. Sedgefield Community Association has cancelled the traditional procession of musicians and decorated floats at this year's Sedgefield Medieval
PROFESSIONAL artists will work with disabled adults in a four-month arts project. Activities planned for people who use the Peterlee Day Centre include wood carving, digital imaging, singing and dancing and sculpture. Claire Johnson, from The Sage, Gateshead
A TOWN'S young people are invited to an under-18s disco which could become a regular event if it is successful. Ferryhill Town Council, local police, the E-Caf, The Ladder Centre and the Black Bull have joined forces to organise the event on Wednesday
A COUNCIL has demonstrated its commitment to cutting carbon emissions by taking part in a tree-planting ceremony. Members of Chester-le-Street District Council met with representatives of the Great North Forest, near William Terrace, Pelton Fell. They
TALKATIVE teenagers who shattered the silence of Sedgefield Community College's library have been rewarded for having the gift of the gab. Fraser Edwards, Niall Cheema, Michael Dyson and Amy Sadler represented the school in a public speaking contest held
THE demolition of former colliery houses has been put on hold because unexpected squatters are believed to be holed up in the empty homes. Easington District Council bosses have been left with no option but to delay the project after it was discovered
POLICE and council workers are carrying out a blitz on crime and litter in an attempt to restore residents' pride in their estate. The Hardwick housing estate, in Stockton, has been targeted in Operation Clean Sweep - a clean-up of trouble makers and
TEENAGERS are showing off their graffiti skills after an eight-week project. First Stop Darlington commissioned the graffiti art project as part of its youth outreach work. About a dozen children took part in the sessions to design a piece of art. Their
A policeman's stepson who mugged three young boys walked free from court yesterday thanks to his own efforts to reform his life. The sixteen-year-old Darlington boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was drunk when he robbed three 14-year-olds in
SCORES of budding footballers battled the cold weather in a football tournament at the Eastbourne sports complex in Darlington. Harrowgate Hill Primary School secured a 2-0 victory against Abbey Road Junior School in the BT six-aside community cup for
YOUNG journalists are hoping to make the news after taking part in a national competition. A group of about 30 year ten students from Northallerton College were given a taste of life in the media spotlight as they worked to hit a crucial deadline in the
A THEATRE group is celebrating after winning two awards at Richmond Drama Festival. Allerton Players, based in Northallerton, won best production and best set for their version of Henna Night by Amy Rosenthal. The festival, held at the Georgian Theatre
WORK on a major package of improvements to a North Yorkshire swimming pool is expected to start next year. A scheme to bring Thirsk Pool in line with Hambleton's three other leisure centres has been placed in next year's capital programme by the local
GEMMA TAYLOR has never felt so full of life, but she must wait a little longer to have a chance of being on top of the world. Britain's Strongest Woman must defend her title before she can achieve her ambition to be the strongest woman in the world. The
COUNTY Durham will suffer under the Government's flagship plans to rebuild the North-East economy, a committee of MPs was told yesterday. The county council's chief executive attacked the policy of concentrating efforts to win badly-needed investment
YORKSHIRE poet Ian McMillan has penned verse on topics as wide-ranging as Domestos, Wolverhampton and George Galloway. He has now turned his attention to the humble garden shed. Yesterday saw the first public reading of Sheducation, an ode urging people
A night of entertainment will take place at the New Marske Sports Club, in Gurney Street, on Friday, May 5, at 7pm. BBC Radio Cleveland presenter Stewart McFarlane will host the event, which includes entertainment from The Fettlers band. The evening is
HELP is at hand for businesses seeking to comply with new smoke-free legislation in the coming year. Every workplace, bar and private members' club must be designated as no-smoking zones by the summer of next year. In an attempt to smooth the transition
TEACHER Mandy Wilson was sitting comfortably as she read the first tale from a school's storychair. The chair, sited in the sensory garden at Brandon Infant School, was made by a local craftsman who talked to pupils about what design they wanted. The
