On March 16, the European Court published its judgment in the latest "rolling up" case. The practice of rolling up holiday pay - in which the employer pays an enhancement to the employee's hourly rate of pay and then makes no payment during holiday absences
Since the prospect of age discrimination legislation first loomed, employers and their lawyers have been curious about how the calculation of redundancy payments would be affected. The present regime, under which employees receive a week's pay for
On Valentine's Day, Parliament voted to ban smoking in the workplace (apart, surprisingly, from the Palace of Westminster). The ban, which is due to be implemented in summer next year, has been hailed as a positive step by employers and employees, with
Most people involved in employment tribunal proceedings - whether as a party, witness, advocate or observer - find the experience challenging to some degree. Some find it stressful, others exciting, others nerve-racking, while some find it downright terrifying
The recent decision by the Co-operative Group to close its final salary pension scheme, following the decision by Rentokil Initial to do likewise only a couple of weeks earlier, has proved to be an early New Year wake-up call for employees and trade unions
Northumbria Police's recent "The Party's Over" campaign, clamping down on anti-social behaviour by drunken revellers, has been hailed a success - just as the office Christmas party season is upon us. The combination of free booze, over-excitement and
ON December 5, a new Disability Discrimination Act comes into force. Disability discrimination remains a complex area of law. Perhaps the most complex aspect is precisely what constitutes a "disability" for the purposes of the legislation. Being "disabled
A recent online survey carried out by Personnel Today magazine has confirmed what overweight people have suspected for years - that it is a handicap in the jobs market and that personnel officers and recruitment agencies are, in general, more likely to
Doctors' sicknotes have long been seen as a weak link in employment law, with many employers believing that harassed and overworked doctors routinely issue unjustified sicknotes to those asking for them. Perhaps they think doctors do this because they
Now that we are well into the school summer holidays, it is likely that many employers - particularly those in retailing and manufacturing - will have been approached by schoolchildren looking to make a few pounds before they go back to class in September
The DTI finally published its draft regulations outlawing age discrimination this month. The regulations, due to come into force in October next year, are now subject to consultation and, no doubt, amendment - a process due to last until this October
Spanish wine from an increasingly popular area this week. It has an attractive medium depth ruby red colour with a bouquet that's pleasant but not pronounced of a blend of red berry fruit and a slightly scented nose. The taste is fruity (black cherries
This week's wine has a rich violet colour and an earthy black pepper aroma. On the palate there's fruit flavours of cassis integrated with soft tannins with an oaky background. This is a full-bodied wine ready to drink now or to mature for a further
A BOYS football team is celebrating winning a major competition. Annfield Plain Junior School beat teams from all over the North-East to win the Ty McGurk trophy. Headteacher Lynne Tullett said: "When they were given the trophy, they were told they were
A PRIMARY school has been graded as outstanding and is among the top five per cent of schools in the country. Green Lane Church of England Primary School, Barnard Castle, received the accreditation during a recent Ofsted report. Inspectors said that "
TEACHERS from Europe have enjoyed a flavour of English school life during a five-day visit. Seven teachers from Germany, Poland and Denmark shared lessons at Crook Primary School through the Comenius international exchange project, sponsored by the British
A NEW cafe has opened high in the Yorkshire Dales. The Dalesview Cafe is above the Gift Shop in Reeth. It is run by husband and wife team Karen and Garry Atkinson, who also own the gift business. Mrs Atkinson said: "We opened last week and it is going
FIVE drop-in sessions have been arranged for residents to give their views on open spaces, sport and recreation. Ryedale District Council has recently appointed specialist sport and leisure consultants to undertake an assessment in the area. The study
YOUNGSTERS will be able to get involved in an art event with a difference later this month. The Forestry Commission is running welly dressing sessions in Dalby Forest. The events are a modern take on the ancient tradition of well dressing, a ritual thought
TWO weekend attacks on Arriva buses saw services suspended to an isolated east Durham community. Although services have resumed, the company has warned that any further incidents will result in Arriva's public transport links to Thornley being halted.
Ferryhill Stage Society, based at Mainsforth Community Centre, hopes to recruit young singers, actors and behind the scenes workers, for a production of Guys and Dolls in October. Call chairman Neil Gargett on (01740) 654094
A THREE-YEAR programme of road safety education is being launched in three schools to help reduce accidents. An audit of statistics found that child casualties in the vicinity of Brougham, St Helen's and Golden Flatts primary schools, in Hartlepool, were
Darlington could move within a point of the play-offs tonight, providing their game at Rochdale gets the go-ahead. The Spotland pitch will be inspected by referee Rob Lewis at 3pm following heavy rain. If the surface is deemed unplayable it will be the
A MAN who had become jealous over his girlfriend's lesbian past throttled her in a bid to kill her, a court heard. Steven Wallace flew into a rage with Wendy Brown after telling her that their relationship was over. The defendant had befriended Ms Brown
HORSERIDERS, cyclists and walkers will benefit from £14,000 improvements to a bridleway in Guisborough. A mile-long stretch of the route, between Margrove Park and the national park, has been cleared, drained and resurfaced and gates and signs were erected
A singing sensation returned to the stage of her hometown theatre last night. Pop idol finalist Zoe Birkett stars in the musical extravaganza What A Feeling! at Darlington Civic Theatre this week. Alongside her in the two-hour production, which features
PENSIONERS whose homes have been without hot water for more than three months will have their supply returned to normal within weeks, officials pledged last night. Up to 15 houses at the Sir ED Walker Homes development, in Darlington, have been affected
ARTHUR MAUGHAN has lived in the village of Lanchester since he married nearly 50 years ago. When he retired as a computer services manager with Northumbrian Water, he decided to not only stay, but to put something back into the community. He took on a
THE Yorkshire coast's economy needs to diversify to create jobs other than in tourism, says a new blueprint on the future of the area. The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, which is producing a draft regional strategy, is to be told that Scarborough needs
A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of race hate victim Lee Phipps. Lee Trevor Nicholls, 20, of Borough Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, has been charged with the murder of Lee Phipps, 31, whose mother was of Somalian descent. Nicholls
PUB operator Definnitive Leisure yesterday announced the first phase of a £500,000 refurbishment scheme. The owner of The Wessex Taverns chain, based in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, has appointed David King and his interiors firm Fluid Design Solutions
A SALESMAN claims he was hauled off a plane amid fears he was a terrorist - after suspicions were raised over his choice of music. Harraj Mann had boarded the Bmi Baby aircraft from Durham Tees Valley Airport to London Heathrow when plain-clothes officers
VANDALS are being urged to give themselves up for their own good after they coated themselves in potentially lethal asbestos dust while on a wrecking spree. Police want the youngsters who broke into nine condemned houses to come forward to have themselves
MANUFACTURERS continued to cut jobs last month as companies failed to mirror signs of recovery by counterparts in Europe. The sector grew at its slowest rate in seven months during March, while rates of growth in production and new orders cooled, the
ONE of the North-East's most decorated soldiers of the Second World War has died aged 86. Major Ian English, of the 8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, was one of only 24 soldiers to win three Military Crosses for bravery, and his exploits during
GLENN Roeder has urged Shola Ameobi to ram his numerous critics' words right back down their throats after claiming the much-maligned striker is the victim of a witch-hunt. Ameobi has divided opinion on the St James' Park terraces ever since he made his
TWO lucky readers of The Northern Echo have won televisions in a newspaper competition. Marion Drenon, 78, from Brandon, County Durham, and Joan Lewis, 65, from Darlington, won 27in LCD television sets in the Scratch and Match competition run by The Northern
Coats Crafts UK, which is based in Darlington, has appointed a marketing manager. CLARE WATSON will join the senior management team and oversee a marketing team of 12, responsible for household knitting and crafts names such as Sylko, Drima, Anchor and
Lawrence Dallaglio is ready to miss England's two-match tour to Australia this summer to boost his chances of making the team for next year's World Cup. The former England captain needs to have a four-inch metal plate removed from the ankle he fractured
THREE North-East councils are locked in a race to build the country's first Las-Vegas style "super-casino" offering unlimited jackpots, it was confirmed today. Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland are among 27 councils bidding to open a so-called "
THE hit-and-run killer of a six-year-old girl was today jailed for four years for more motoring offences and a ram-raid. Colin Meek who was locked up in 2002 for causing the death by dangerous driving of Leonie Shaw in Bishop Auckland, County Durham targeted
IT would be wrong to suggest that all teenagers are dangerous drivers, but new figures showing an increase in the number of youngsters dying in motoring accidents is clearly a cause for concern. Statistics from the AA Motoring Trust show that young driver
DESIGNER outlet developer and owner McArthurGlen is investing more than £5m in one of its centres in the region - creating 50 jobs. The London company, which has 14 outlets in the UK, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Italy, is redeveloping its York
Residents of Willington Quay said they were delighted someone had been arrested. Ian McGillis, 39, said: "It is about time the police got some for this. "It has been about four months and that is just too long for a crime like this. "It is normally a
FOOD and drink company Del Monte is investing more than £1m upgrading a factory in the region. The global group, which bought the former Fisher Foods plant in Skelton, north of York, out of administration in 2002, said it would be investing in improving
SOMETIMES you just can't get that tune out of your head. For the last few days - goodness knows what brought it on - I've been haunted by that little song, "Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler?" from Dad's Army. Actually, during the Second World
ALL protestors entering the region's two US military bases will be treated as "potential terrorists" - and face up to 51 weeks in jail. A little-noticed clause in the law creating a British "FBI" makes it a criminal offence to trespass at Fylingdales
GARLANDS Call Centres has appointed MARK CHESHIRE as operations director and member of the company's executive team. Mr Cheshire will be responsible for developing the company's contact centre operations and will work with the executive team to develop
MORTGAGE bank Northern Rock announced yesterday that it was on target to meet growth expectations for the year. The Newcastle lender is forecasting a rise in profits of about 15 per cent and an increase in assets of about 20 per cent in the year. Britain's
CAR satellite navigation systems are driving motorists crazy - in a place called Crackpot. The "sat-navs" are sending unsuspecting motorists on terrifying detours along unclassified tracks in the Yorkshire Dales. Cars, minibuses and even large delivery
BIG Brother winner Anthony Hutton was taken to hospital after being beaten up on a night out. The 24-year-old reality television star was partying at Manchester's trendy Baby Grand nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning when the brawl broke out
HARTLEPOOL United's injury jinx has struck again, with the news that Joel Porter will be ruled out for a fortnight. The Australian striker made his first start of the season a little over two weeks ago, but he suffered a hamstring strain in last Friday's
ALL protestors entering the region's two US military bases will be treated as "potential terrorists" - and face up to 51 weeks in jail. A little-noticed clause in the law creating a British "FBI" makes it a criminal offence to trespass at Fylingdales
Friday, 4pm. Brooks Mileson is sitting on the step of what may be Britain's poshest Portakabin, for all the world like they did back home in Sunderland at the end of another hard shift in the shipyard. On one side there's a sort of nesting box for dog-ends
A TINY village has kick-started its efforts to enter the Northumbria in Bloom competition for the first time. Residents of Bradbury, near Sedgefield, held a litter pick and clean-up on the outskirts of the village on Saturday. Ten volunteers from Bradbury
A DEBT collector who sexually abused the young daughter of one of his customers was jailed indefinitely for the protection of the public yesterday. James Graham, 59, would take the opportunity to pounce on the youngster when her mother had gone to make
A MAN suffered a fractured skull after he was beaten with a piece of wood when intruders burst into a house where he was sleeping with his girlfriend. Kevin Puttuck was said to remember nothing of the attack, which the prosecution at Teesside Crown Court
COMMERCIAL property company Browns Commercial has appointed JULIE ANDERSON as senior negiotiator. Browns commercial department is in Innovation Court, Stockton.
POLICE investigating the abduction and assault of a six-year-old girl taken from her bath have arrested a man. The 34-year-man was arrested at an address in Blyth, Northumberland, on suspicion of abduction and serious sexual assault. He was being questioned
BUILDING firm Hall Construction Services has won more than £25m of work since the start of the year. The County Durham group, which is working on projects around the region, including Durham Tees Valley Airport, expects turnover to rise to £50m this year
IAN LEE has been appointed as investment planning manager with RMT financial management. His appointment reunites a team of financial managers that last worked together 20 years ago. He joins former colleagues Kevin Walker, Richard Blackett and Linda
TOP balloonist Per Lindstrand hopes his plan to give tourists the view of a lifetime over a city in the region will be up, up and away by Christmas. Mr Lindstrand, who has captured numerous world records for hot-air balloon flights, revealed last November
A NORTH-East family has described its devastation at the loss of a father and husband in the Bahrain boat tragedy. Father-of-two Christopher Langan, 52, died in the disaster. He had lived in the Middle East for ten years, where he worked as an industrial
THE GODFATHER. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Formats: PS2, Xbox, PC, PSP. Price: from £29.99. Family friendly? No. HAVING thoroughly exploited most current movie franchises, video games creators are now thumbing through the Hollywood back catalogue. We've
DARLINGTON'S game at Rochdale tonight will go ahead after passing an inpsection this afternoon. After heavy rain the rearranged fixture was in serious doubt, but referee Lee Mason passed the Spotland pitch fit at 2pm. With no rain today, groundstaff have
Two tables are left at an Easter craft fair at The Forum, in Darlington. The price of a table is £15, or £10 if you bring your own. It runs from 10am to 4pm and admission is free. For more details, call (01325) 480370.
COUNCILLORS will visit a disused church before they decide whether to approve plans to convert the listed building into a health and fitness centre. Members of Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee agreed to make a site visit to St
Tyne and Wear Development Company has appointed SARAH GIBSON as marketing officer. The 28-year-old, from Durham, joins the agency from Filtrona Filters, where she was a marketing executive. She has more than six years of marketing experience, having worked
WEARSIDE Jack John Humble has received a letter in prison from the Yorkshire Ripper, blaming him for the deaths of his final three victims, it was claimed last night. Peter Sutcliffe, 59, sent the correspondence after Humble, of Sunderland, was jailed
TWO Castles Housing Association has promoted JOHN HAY to development director. Mr Hay has more than 20 years experience in the construction and development sectors in commercial and project management. He was previously development and asset manager at
A SUSPECTED hitman yesterday denied being involved in the revenge shooting of a club doorman. Thomas Dalton admitted he had sold the jeep used in the shooting of John Ormston to an unidentified man in the days leading up to the incident. But the father-of-three
VILLAGERS are practising their egg-rolling skills in time for an Easter event. The Great Village Egg Roll, in Galphay, near Ripon, is its third year, and will be held on Saturday, April 15, from 10am. It is open to everyone in the surrounding villages
A MOTHER and daughter who plan to walk part of the Great Wall of China this year have arranged three events to raise funds to help a hospice. Carol Heaviside and her daughter, Laura, of Dickens Road, Barnard Castle, will spend nine days in September on
TWO care facilities have been hit by sickness bugs in the past week. Patients at the Rutson Hospital in Northallerton and residents at The Orchards extra care housing scheme in Brompton have come down with vomiting and diarrhoea. The Rutson Hospital,
MORTGAGE bank Northern Rock said yesterday it was on target to meet growth expectations for 2006. The Newcastle lender is on track to increase profit by about 15 per cent and assets by about 20 per cent in the year. Britain's eighth biggest listed bank
A COUNCIL is launching its own Oscars to reward staff who make a difference to people's lives. Councillor Eric Empson, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet chairman, said: "We want to put the pride into Redcar and Cleveland and really celebrate
SCHOOLCHILDREN have been given a taste of Africa by a group which uses storytelling with music. The Iroko Theatre Company appeared at Bournmoor Primary School, near Chester-le-Street, yesterday, before giving pupils a series of workshops in African drumming
SOLAR power has been added to the curriculum at an east Cleveland school. Coast and Country Housing has been educating young people about the benefits of sustainable energy, while giving them a taste of the world of work. The group has organised work
A CASH-STRAPPED hospice is hoping a rebranded lottery will prove a model fundraiser. Eleven balloons, each representing a successful year of the Teesside Hospice lottery, were launched yesterday by model Hannah Tranter, who will be the face of the campaign
CAMPAIGNERS behind a plan to bring a directly-elected mayor to Darlington have been collecting names for their petition on the town's High Row. The Darlington Referendum Group needs to collect just under 4,000 names to force Darlington Borough Council
A DARLINGTON man has visited Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE from the Queen. Alan Charlton was given the award in the New Year Honours List for services to the community in Darlington. He has worked with several groups in the voluntary and charitable
ARMED with a fantastic book of rides, Jamie Spencer should not leave today's meeting at Pontefract empty-handed. The reigning champion jockey gets his initial chance to shine aboard Up Tempo (2.50), fit and very much fancied after being in excellent heart
PLANS for an extension to a Yorkshire Dales hotel have come under fire from national park planning officers. The owners of the Kearton Country Hotel, in Thwaite, Swaledale, have applied for planning permission to rebuild an existing extension and build
SWIMMING sculptures will keep children entertained as they read in their new library. Pentland Primary School has opened its library with an underwater theme, with giant fish and a treasure chest. Stockton Mayor Councillor Mick Stoker opened the library
MOTORISTS who commit parking offences in a Teesside town can now view pictures of their offending vehicle on the web. Photographs of the vehicle, with its fixed penalty notice on the windscreen, are taken by car parking attendants and will be displayed
A £60,000 parking scheme aims to improve the safety of children at a Teesside primary school. Parking areas are to be established in the Stockton Road and Russell Walk vicinity of Hartlepool, with funding coming from the town's New Deal for Communities
A GOOD citizen found himself locked up in a prison cell at the weekend - at his own request. Stephen Clark, 39, asked for no special treatment when he handed himself over to the police on Friday evening for a 24-hour stint in a dark and dingy cell. The
DOTCOM company Bedsearcher has created eight jobs in less than three months as part of its growth plan. The award-winning Internet booking firm, at www.bed searcher.co.uk, plans to increase bookings from £4m to £40m during the next year. The Darlington
PUB operator Definnitive Leisure yesterday announced the first phase of a £500,000 refurbishment scheme. The owner of The Wessex Taverns chain, based in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, has appointed David King and his interiors firm Fluid Design Solutions
THE NHS: YET again the NHS is in the headlines - not for the wonderful service it offers but because it is running up a debt which is quite modest by spending standards. It is not surprising some trusts are in debt since they have spent in order to maintain
GEORGE McCARTNEY'S season has been blighted by injuries and, having returned to full fitness, he is desperate to ensure there is at least one bright spot by helping Sunderland secure a Premiership home win. Fulham arrive at the Stadium of Light on Saturday
COMPANIES and organisations from across the Tees Valley gathered at an event on Friday to celebrate achieving Investors in People (IiP) status. Schools, businesses and public sector bodies that have been awarded the accolade were invited to the event
Knowledge House has appointed MIKE WHITE as manager. The organisation promotes links between the region's universities and businesses. Mr White will be responsible for promoting Knowledge House among businesses and ensuring that university expertise in
DEVELOPER The Banks Group will today tell a government inquiry that locally-mined coal has a crucial role to play in future industrial energy needs. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has decided that future planning policy for the North-East should
Set up ten years ago as a regulatory body with the principle aim of creating a cleaner and safer environment, the Environment Agency has been busy. It has been involved in major events such as serious flooding and the foot-and-mouth outbreak, while concentrating
AN "embarrassed" Michael Owen last night revealed he was desperate to save face by featuring in the final stages of Newcastle's season. And, while the striker remains confident of being fit for this summer's World Cup in Germany, he admitted he feared
SIR Richard Branson took his Virgin Mobile business across the Channel yesterday in an attempt to shake-up the French phone market. The tycoon has joined forces with retailer Carphone Warehouse for the venture, which will run off the phone network of
She was once the most despised woman in Britain but, as her first wedding anniversary approaches, the Duchess of Cornwall appears to be winning the hearts of the British public. Lindsay Jennings reports on how Camilla has changed in the eyes of the public
IF MIDDLESBROUGH are going to go all the way in the UEFA Cup they will have to do it without Gaizka Mendieta after the Spaniard broke his foot in a freak training ground accident. Ahead of the crucial return leg of their quarter-final with Swiss side
Paula Radcliffe will reassess her racing schedule during her enforced break after her announcement yesterday that she is to miss this month's Flora London Marathon because of a foot injury. Radcliffe, who returned early from her training base in America
A NORTH-EAST council could become the first in the country to give gipsies tenants' rights at the sites it provides for them. Durham County Council is considering a move that has been welcomed by the Gypsy Council and is likely to be followed by other
CHILDREN from a Darlington school learned about the work of a dogs charity during a visit organised as part of a new course. Darlington-based Countryside Crime Watch (CCW) and Darlington Police are working with Firthmoor Primary School on a project to
A HOSPICE has opened a paradise for retro fashion lovers. Supporters in 1940s clothing helped launch Hartlepool and District Hospice's new vintage lifestyle store on Saturday. The shop, on the corner of Furness Street and Raby Road, Hartlepool, is the
A COMMUNITY newspaper is giving safe cyclists the chance to win a bicycle. The Way Ahead newspaper, distributed in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, has teamed up with its neighbourhood policing team and health authority to encourage riders to use bicycle
THE GODFATHER. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Formats: PS2, Xbox, PC, PSP. Price: from £29.99. Family friendly? No. HAVING thoroughly exploited most current movie franchises, video games creators are now thumbing through the Hollywood back catalogue. We've
IF MIDDLESBROUGH are going to go all the way in the UEFA Cup they will have to do it without Gaizka Mendieta after the Spaniard broke his foot in a freak training ground accident. Ahead of the crucial return leg of their quarter-final with Swiss side
POLICE praised a group of teenagers yesterday for rescuing a four-year-old boy from a clifftop and saving his life. John Purvis got into trouble when he ran ahead of his mother as they returned home from nursery, and ended up on the wrong side of a safety
A TOP Army skier who lost the use of his arm in a motorbike accident has returned to the slopes to raise money for charity. Staff Sergeant Steven Hutchinson competed in skiing events all over the world before the accident last June. The 39-year-old, from
LAURA Jones has been appointed as a co-ordinator at Patterson Motor Group's contact centre. She joined the Newcastle motor retailer from a local hotel company, where she was a receptionist. Originally from Gloucestershire, she moved to the North-East
HER e-mail dated January 4 - some things take a little longer - Julie Bee wrote about Borge restaurant in Stockton, and particularly its decision to ban all smoking from New Year's Day. It's an issue which concerns us all and which certainly concerned
Help Me To Speak (C4) Extraordinary People: The Girl Who Makes Miracles (five) 'Some, some, some, sometimes I fe, fe, feel like if I didn't stam, stam, stammer, I could do anything". Eleven-year-old Joanne was explaining how she felt about her stammer
