Archive

  • At Your Service: Worship in a very high frequency

    The pews are packed at a Darlington church for a May devotion which has clearly captured hearts and minds. BUILT for £5,800 in 1876, the Anglican church of St James the Great is on Albert Hill, a generally working class area of Darlington. For Albert

  • Doing the business

    THERE'S no business like showing business on TV at the moment. Property programmes may be losing their value and Big Brother threatens to become like an unwanted relative at a wedding, but a new breed of reality show is doing the business in the ratings

  • Sex slave leader claims he slept with child killer Allitt

    A SLAVE "master" was last night at the centre of a media storm, talking to Sunday newspapers about his revelations as his claims became ever more lurid. Lee Thompson, from Darlington, now says he has a criminal record for sexual offences and even

  • Shop wins two-year fight to fly county flag

    A SHOPKEEPER is celebrating after he won a two-year planning battle to fly the Yorkshire flag outside his store. National planning officials have granted the Ken Warne supermarket, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, permission to fly a flag featuring the traditional

  • Moor on trail of fourth victory

    Fosters Durham Senior League: Burnmoor will be looking to register four straight wins this afternoon when they make the short journey to Philadelphia. The game will herald a return to Bunker Hill for Brett Pelser, who played there last summer. The South

  • Moor on trail of fourth victory

    Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Sacriston, who have a narrow lead at the top, visit Annfield Plain in the match of the day. The visitors will need to claim the wickets of Pakistani Rehan Rafique and former Durham County player Martin

  • Soviet Song a danger to Stoute's star duo

    SIR MICHAEL STOUTE holds a strong hand in this afternoon's Group 1 Lockinge Stakes with both Peeress (2.40) and Rob Roy poised to take a leading role in the £200,000 showpiece. After yet another big winner at York this week, an arguably ill-prepared TV

  • Olympians sign up for race

    MARATHON stars Tracey Morris and Liz Yelling are to compete in the North-East's Great Women's Run. The British Olympians will line up with hundreds of women in the inaugural 10km race, which will be held at Seaburn and Roker, along Wearside's coastline

  • McCarthy hopes fading as Charlton move for Davies

    MICK McCARTHY'S hopes ofmaking a swift return to Premiership management appear to be hanging by a thread. The former Sunderland boss has been given a date next week for a second interview for the vacant manager's job at Charlton after their top target

  • Authority hits back at watchdog's criticism

    A COUNCIL criticised by a Government watchdog for not launching enough benefit fraud prosecutions says it wants to avoid punishing genuine mistakes. The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate carried out a six-week review of Durham City Council because only six investigations

  • Rail firms 'driving customers off trains'

    TRAIN operators were last night accused of driving passengers off the railways with exorbitant fares and chaotic ticketing structures. A damning report by MPs said the companies had brought the industry into disrepute with their "single-minded" pursuit

  • 'Safer NHS' review is ready - health chief

    A LONG-AWAITED review of medical regulation, which could pave the way for a safer NHS has been completed, The Northern Echo can reveal. It means that the onus is now on the Department of Health to come up with a response to a series of medical scandalsm

  • MP warns Blair about 'massive' nuclear costs

    AN MP from the North-East who has studied the "massive" cost of nuclear power stations has joined a campaign to fight Tony Blair's plans for new plants - including one in the region. Helen Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, County Durham, warned

  • Lyons hoping to roar after a timid opening

    Northern Rock ECB North-East Regional Premier League: It has been a baptism of fire for newly-promoted Hetton Lyons, who will attempt to prevent an early-season double when they meet Durham Academy at the Riverside this morning. The Lyons roared to the

  • Hairdresser caused £20,000 damage after ticking off

    A HAIRDRESSER went on a £20,000 wrecking spree at his employer's salon after he was told off at work. Nineteen-year-old Nicky Cranston smashed stock, left fixtures and fittings strewn across the floor and ripped water heaters from the wall at McAuliffe's

  • Moulding Clay

    WHEN he received a phone call asking: "Would you be interested in working with Woody Allen?", Jim Clay thought it was a wind-up. His scepticism was understandable. Why would an American director who'd spent his film-making life in his beloved New York

  • Railway death victim is named as college student

    A TEENAGE girl who died when she was hit by a train was last night named as college student Catherine Joanne Hodgson. The 17-year-old was struck on the East Coast Main Line near the Geneva Road railway bridge, in Darlington. Her death is not been treated

  • Pair refused bail over theft charges

    TWO men appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with a burglary at a home on Westlands Road, Darlington in the early hours of May 18. The pair were accused of stealing various goods from the home, including mobile phones, a camera

  • Public to have say over police campaign

    A CAMPAIGN to crack down on anti-social behaviour launched two years ago in County Durham will be judged by the public in the force's biggest survey. Durham Constabulary is giving 6,000 households across the county the chance to comment on issues including

  • Race fans expected to descend in their droves

    HUNDREDS of dog racing fans from all over England and Scotland will descend on the region next weekend. About 200 whippets will battle it out to win the Great Aycliffe Town Council Classic All England Whippet Derby title. The annual event, at The Oakleaf

  • New teams clean up in district

    CLEAN and Green Teams, formed by members of staff at Easington District Council's horticultural, street cleansing and enforcement units, took to the road yesterday. Each group of workers will be concentrating on specific locations and will also be relying

  • Call for vigilance after burglaries

    HOMEOWNERS across Darlington are being warned to be vigilant, following a spate of burglaries in the town. A number of homes, shed and garages have been broken into over the past few weeks. The thefts have been happening at all times of day and night

  • Enjoying a taste of Fairtrade

    THE families and friends of children at a village school had the chance to taste fairly traded food. Pupils at Kelloe Primary School spent the week learning about the Fairtrade movement and how, under other trading arrangements, producers often receive

  • An explosive performance

    GUNPOWDER and treason were re-enacted on a school stage. Four centuries after the failed bid to blow up the Houses of Parliament, senior pupils at Bow School, Durham, staged 1605 and All That, their version of the Gunpowder Plot. Described as, "an explosive

  • Registration time for annual Playscheme

    PLACES for a popular playscheme are up for grabs. Hartlepool Borough Council says registration packs for the Summer Playscheme will be available on Monday. The programme will operate on weekdays, between Monday, July 31, and Friday, August 25, between

  • Youngsters learn about recycling from TV favourite

    YOUNGSTERS in Darlington were encouraged to go green when a special visitor called at two primary schools yesterday. Children's cartoon character Bob the Builder visited Whinfield and St Bede's primary schools to launch Asda's community recycling campaign

  • Company gives £4,000 for school garden

    A CHEMICAL company is helping youngsters develop their social skills by improving a school's learning environment. Dow (Wilton) has donated £4,000 to Grangetown Primary School to help revamp its enclosed garden. The area, when completed by the end of

  • Tireless worker is Citizen of the Year

    LONG-TIME community activist Les Fawcett has been rewarded for making a big difference to his neighbourhood. The tireless worker has won Middlesbrough's Citizen of the Year award for his activities in the town centre community where he lives. After picking

  • Residents angry at prices for homes

    A COMPENSATION package for homeowners affected by regeneration plans has been agreed by Middlesbrough Council. The controversial scheme has been attacked by many people who fear they will be affected by negative equity if they are forced out of their

  • £7,500 in donations gives fresh lift to hospice appeal

    THE dream of opening a hospice extension to offer 24-hour specialist palliative care in Durham City has moved a step closer. St Cuthbert's Hospice hopes to open the ten-bed in-patient extension later this year, offering care for terminally-ill patients

  • Child sex attacker jailed indefinitely

    A child sex attacker who targeted three girls while on a treatment programme has been jailed indefinitely. During a campaign of abuse, William Seymour, 44, raped an 11-year-old, had sex with a 15-year-old and indecently assaulted a 12-year-old. Newcastle

  • Cash gets ball rolling

    A GRANT of £100,000 has been pledged to improve football facilities in a North Yorkshire village. The Football Foundation money will pay for two pitches on land adjacent to the existing playing field in Catterick Village. The project is being overseen

  • Police survey on crime

    A CAMPAIGN to crack down on anti-social behaviour launched two years ago in County Durham is to be judged by the public in the force's biggest survey. Durham Constabulary is giving 6,000 households - selected at random - across the county the chance to

  • Witnesses sought after theft of motorbike gear

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the theft of £4,000 worth of motorcycle gear from a van in Teesdale. Bike jackets and helmets were stolen from the van while it was parked overnight in Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, County Durham

  • £15,000 windfall aids community groups

    Groups in Hambleton are celebrating after being awarded £15,000 from the Awards for All Scheme. Thirsk School and Sixth Form College, Hambleton and Richmondshire Carers Centre, and Stokesley and Villages Community Regeneration Group each received a share

  • Double celebrations for Jenny

    A COUNCIL care home which has been saved from closure had a double reason to celebrate this week. Jenny Henderson's 100th birthday party at Hackworth House, in Shildon, came days after a public meeting in the town heard a pledge from Durham County Council

  • Welcome boost for nature reserves

    TWO nature reserve schemes are to be developed in Newton Aycliffe to enhance wildlife habitats and open space in the town. An existing site in the town, Byerley Park Local Nature Reserve, is to be improved with the creation of a grassland sward. And a

  • Owen happy to carry the nation's hopes

    WITH Wayne Rooney looking certain to miss the first three games of England's World Cup campaign, Michael Owen has assured the country's fans he is capable of shouldering the team's goal-scoring burden on his own. Rooney will have a second scan on his

  • McGarry hoping for brighter days ahead

    Darlingon Building Society NYSD Premier League: It has been a difficult start to the season for Redcar, but skipper Shaun McGarry is confident better times lie ahead. The Seasiders face another difficult task against Middlesbrough at Acklam Park this

  • Will there be a chain reaction?

    BECAUSE the football was so forgettable, the tinkling torrent of tintinnabulation lives longest in the memory. Last week, Middlesbrough's well-lubricated supporters headed on foot to the stadium in Eindhoven to watch their team's unsuccessful Uefa Cup

  • Furniture chain reveals takeover offers

    FURNITURE store chain MFI last night revealed it had received takeover offers for "all or part" of its ailing retail business. The company said it was reviewing the interest "in the context of our developing plans", which it warned would cause it to face

  • Mugged pensioner: I'm still living in fear

    A PENSIONER who was viciously assaulted during a bus trip to care for his ill granddaughter in Germany has returned home. John Bell, 73, says the mugging has left him bruised and frightened. Police say Mr Bell, from Gilling West, near Richmond, North

  • 'Impeccable' Boro fans win praise

    MIDDLESBROUGH fans have won praise from a Uefa chief for their outstanding behaviour, despite suffering the disappointment of their team's Cup Final defeat to Sevilla. Fans were said to have behaved impeccably, when the Spanish club won 4-0 in Eindhoven

  • Moulding Clay

    He's rebuilt the interior of Number 10 for Hugh Grant, recreated 19th century Russia and a Greek island village. Middlesbrough-born Jim Clay has come a long way from building model threatres as a ten-year-old, Steve Pratt discovers. WHEN he received a

  • Trust suspends its drug action team co-ordinator

    THE NHS manager behind one of the region's most successful drug action teams has been suspended on full pay. Last night it emerged that David Cliff, County Durham's Drug and Alcohol Action Team (Dat) co-ordinator, was suspended from his position several

  • Toughest test for leaders

    Readers Durham County League: Willington, the only side with a 100 per cent record, face their sternest test so far when they line up against champions Esh Winning. Karl Brown has two unbeaten centuries to his name while Australian Chris Slattery has

  • For Your Benefit: I am at my wits' end - can you advise me?

    Q Until my wife died in April, our council tax was £170 a year and our rent £24 a fortnight. Now my council tax is £845 a year and my rent is £125 a fortnight. I have a State Pension of £92, Industrial Injuries of £37 a week and a works pension of £37

  • Ridge to weigh in on luck

    DEDICATED followers of form cannot fail to have noticed Ptarmigan Ridge (4.15) has slipped to a potentially winning mark for Thirsk's Polar Ford Handicap. Linda Perratt's one-time smart sprinter endured a lean campaign during 2005 when, for virtually

  • Peterlee seeking repeat show

    The Sturridge Sport Durham Coast League: After recording their first win in three attempts last weekend, Peterlee are hoping for another good performance at Seaham Park this afternoon. Before the start of the season they lost Stephen McCoy, Mark Lauderdale

  • Plain sailing for Whitehaven

    Wearside League: Whitehaven will clinch the championship if they beat Annfield Plain. The Cumbrians are level on points with Stokesley SC but their only rivals for the title have just one game to play, against Ryhope CW next Wednesday. Whitehaven's goal

  • 20/05/06

    PEDESTRIAN HEART: MAY I thank you for publishing my letters about the Pedestrian Heart changes to Darlington town centre. Out of frustration I have decided to stop writing to you and the council. Early on, I asked the Director of Development and Environment

  • Judge calls for inquiries into dealer's nationality

    A LEADING judge yesterday called for an investigation into whether a Jamaican-born crack dealer should be deported. Odeon Alvin Dixon, 25, was caught in Middlesbrough with seven wraps of crack cocaine hidden in his mouth. A police drugs expert said the

  • Sevilla keen but Magpies will only sell Luque for £6m

    THE conquerors of Middlesbrough in Europe are looking at ways of trying to take Newcastle United flop Albert Luque back to Spain. Sevilla, who lifted the UEFA Cup ten days ago, are exploring ways of assembling a squad which can ensure qualification for

  • Venables remains top of Boro's wanted list

    MIDDLESBROUGH'S chief negotiators in the club's search for a new manager arrived back in the North-East last night and immediately put plans in place to step up talks with Terry Venables over the weekend. After a sojourn to Singapore, chairman Steve Gibson

  • Port Vale move pays off for Sodje

    Striker Akpo Sodje became the sixth player to leave Darlington this week when he agreed to join League One side Port Vale. The 25-year-old was out of contract and had been offered a new deal but the Valiants doubled Quakers' offer so Sodje opted for a

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: Concern over cult leader

    THERE is a clear dilemma for the authorities over Lee Thompson, the North-East man at the centre of national controversy over his involvement in a bizarre sect which treats women as sex slaves. Is he just a fantasist who is doing nothing wrong legally

  • Saturday Spotlight: Pain and glory of Keegan's dynasty

    It's ten years since Newcastle United surrendered a 12-point lead and the Premier League title. Will Scott looks back over the ill-fated 1995-96 campaign with Lee Clark and Robbie Elliott - the only two members still playing at St James' Park. I saw Rob

  • Events held to raise profile of young carers

    A WEEK of events aiming to illustrate the important role played by carers is to be held in Darlington. Carers Week takes place next month, with organisations including Carers Darlington group, the Darlington Association on Disability Carers' Service and

  • Pamela pledges to help charities

    A council chairwoman has chosen eight charities to benefit from her year in office. Councillor Pamela Anderson became the chairwoman of Ryedale District Council at the annual meeting this week. Former chairman Councillor Lindsay Burr, handed over the

  • Cocaine user confessed to dealing

    A COCAINE abuser walked into a police station to confess to supplying the drug. Kiel Johnson, 20, produced four bags of cocaine from his pocket and claimed he had been dealing in it for seven years. But Durham Crown Court heard that he made the confession

  • Public to have say over police campaign

    A CAMPAIGN to crack down on anti-social behaviour launched two years ago in County Durham will be judged by the public in the force's biggest survey. Durham Constabulary is giving 6,000 households across the county the chance to comment on issues including

  • Work begins to replace subway

    WORK has started on filling-in an unpopular subway under the A167 Durham Road in Gateshead. The crossing, near Cedars Green, in Harlow Green, will be replaced with a light-controlled pedestrian crossing over the Durham Road. Work is scheduled to last

  • Licence keeps shipyard afloat

    Swan Hunter has announced the creation of up to 200 jobs after receiving permission to dismantle ships. The Environment Agency said it was granting the comany a modified waste management licence, effectively securing the immediate future of the Wallsend

  • Marvellous production is just the tonic

    A HEADY concoction is being stirred up at a North-East theatre as a version of a Roald Dahl classic is brought to the region. The Birmingham Stage Company company's production of George's Marvellous Medicine, which has attracted critical acclaim, is at

  • Police raid two homes in drugs crackdown

    TWO houses in east Durham were raided yesterday afternoon as part of a campaign to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs. At about 2pm, officers executed a magistrate's search warrant at a terrace house in James Street North, Murton, where they recovered

  • Adult learners' efforts are honoured with awards

    PEOPLE who returned to education and training later in life were yesterday rewarded for their outstanding efforts and achievements. Adult learners across Darlington were commended for their successes at a ceremony in the town, which was held to mark the

  • Fun and games in high street

    FAMILIES can enjoy all the fun of the fair next week as a town centre high street continues its Sunday shopping events. Stockton High Street on May 28, will feature a giant snakes and ladders game, with the players themselves taking the parts of the game

  • Man admits using stolen credit card

    A 23-YEAR-OLD man has admitted dishonestly buying goods, including cigarettes, after he stole a credit card. Richard Jenkinson, of Haughton Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to a list of charges when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday

  • Public asked to comment

    A CONSULTATION over the creation of a town gateway is to be extended until June 10. Stockton Borough Council has teamed up with Yarm Town Council to carry out environmental improvements to the junction in Yarm where The Spital meets Worsall Road. The

  • Blame it on the Big Big Boogie

    YOUNG performers are urged to take part in talent contests across the county this summer. The Big Big Boogie event, in July, is being staged by North Yorkshire County Council's youth service, Connecting Youth Culture. Last year, almost 4,000 young people

  • Thoroughly Modern stage chance

    WOULD-BE actors are being encouraged to take part in an event at a North-East theatre, to find out whether they have the ability to take to the stage. Sunderland Empire is holding its first Stage Experience event and is aiming to recruit 150 young people

  • Pre-school teachers receive accolade

    TEACHERS were highly praised yesterday for the way they help children in a small pre-school class in a rural village to learn about life. An assessor from the Learning Alliance who spent two days watching the action in the class at Bowes, near Barnard

  • Festival warnings

    POLICE have pledged to take firm action against anyone committing crime at a music festival next weekend. Thousands of revellers are expected to attend the Hi-Fi festival on land near Matfen, Northumberland, on Saturday. The party is expected to go on

  • Calls for minister to visit after flood project delayed

    COMMUNITIES hit by floods are demanding a ministerial visit after funding for a multi-million pound alleviation project was delayed. Town councillors in Brompton said residents were desperate for the scheme to go ahead and are calling for a minister from

  • Rethink on highways contract thrown out

    A BID to force a rethink over the contract for highways maintenance in North Yorkshire was thrown out yesterday. The Liberal-Democrat group on the county council had challenged a decision to extend the contract without putting it out to tender. Four years

  • Driver kicked officer in the shin

    A WOMAN assaulted a police officer who stopped her car. Janet Brown-Spalding, 44, of Station Road, Alne, near Easingwold, lashed out after being stopped by police on the A19 northbound at South Kilvington, near Thirsk. Police believed she had taken an

  • Youngsters play final on Premiership pitch

    YOUNGSTERS from Ravensworth School, in Normanby, graced a Premiership football ground with their talents this week. The team were representing Middlesbrough in the finals of the Premier League Schools Tournament at Charlton Athletic's Valley Parade. The

  • Delight that health trust is to remain

    THE Government's decision to retain Hartlepool Primary Care Trust (PCT) in its current form has been welcomed by councillors. It had been widely expected that a merger of the PCT with its counterparts in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland

  • News in brief

    YOUNGSTERS CAN WORK WITH RANGERS: YOUNGSTERS can join park rangers for one of their regular bird surveys on Bank Holiday Monday. The junior bird count will be at Billingham Beck Valley Country Park, from 10am to noon. The event is free and open to youngsters

  • Dance sessions for youngsters

    YOUNGSTERS are invited to get moving at two dance sessions this weekend. The taster sessions at Jubilee Hall, West Rainton, near Durham City, will let children try out hip-hop and street dancing. The first, which is aimed at children aged seven to 11,

  • PC crash - ambulance staff were on a break

    PARAMEDICS took 15 minutes to reach a police officer fatally injured in a car crash because the nearest crew was on a meal break, it emerged yesterday. PC Joe Carroll died when his car overturned on the A69 near Corbridge, in Northumberland, in April.

  • Praise from In Bloom judges

    TOWNS and villages across the county have been praised by the judges of this year's Yorkshire In Bloom competition. The results of the spring judging were announced yesterday. Entrants are given feedback, but not a set of marks. Summer judging will result

  • MP and council in dispute over marking Veterans Day

    A WAR of words has erupted between an MP and a Labour-controlled council over marking the inaugural Veterans Day next month. North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones has accused Chester-le-Street District Council of letting people down by failing to make plans

  • Ex-fire chief's tears of relief after being cleared of rape

    A FORMER fire chief wept with relief yesterday when he was cleared of raping a widow in his home. Peter Glover, 62, who has an MBE, told a jury the woman had made up the allegations after she discovered he had a regular girlfriend. Mr Glover, who ran

  • Driver in court over fatal crash

    A MOTORIST made his first appearance at crown court yesterday accused of causing death by dangerous driving. Craig Turner, 29, is accused of causing the death of 26-year-old David Harrison, known as Jack, in a car accident near Tesco, in Simonside, South

  • Jailed: thug who made student's life a misery

    A BULLY has been jailed for stealing a teenage student's dinner money. Drug addict David Ions bullied 17-year-old David Close each time he came across him in Stockton town centre last summer. David feared that jobless Ions, who he had not known previously

  • Extended services now on offer at early years centre

    FOR the first time in County Durham, an early years centre is offering combined childcare and education facilities. To showcase its wide range of services for under-fives, Haswell Children's Centre opened its doors to the public yesterday. Under one roof

  • Paddy unveils community area

    A STONE and plaque were unveiled yesterday to mark the official opening of a new community green and play area. The ceremony was the culmination of a five-year campaign by residents to transform unused land in New Herrington, near Sunderland, into an

  • At Pittington Primary, it was a sea of blue - denim

    IT WAS denim as far as the eye could see when a County Durham primary school came up with a novel way to raise cash. All 219 pupils and staff at Pittington Primary School wore denim for the fundraiser. Having two pupils with diabetes in the school, it

  • Engineer opens headquarters and raises its turnover target

    MANUFACTURING company Pipeline Engineering yesterday opened its new £3m headquarters and announced plans to increase turnover to more than £15m. The company, based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, supplies equipment and services for the international oil

  • Pervert caught having sex with horse

    A PERVERT caught having sex with a horse has been banned from going into stables and fields anywhere in Britain if they contain horses. Mark Woollen, 33, admitted a charge of intercourse with an animal after he was caught exposing himself and indecently

  • New scheme for recycling

    A KERBSIDE recycling scheme has been launched for Middlesbrough residents at the Riverside Stadium. The initiative will involve the collection of newspapers and magazines, glass bottles and jars, food and drinks cans, and textiles from about 55,000 homes

  • Footballer spared jail over headbutt in heated match

    A FOOTBALLER suffered a suspected fractured skull when he was headbutted bythe opposition's captain during a bad-tempered match on Teesside. But a court heard that the victim, Ben Hunt, was not as badly hurt as was first feared, and spent only one day

  • Hall's well that ends well after many years of planning

    A VILLAGE hall will be reopened today following a year-long £165,000 refurbishment. The Mechanics' Institute, in Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, has a new kitchen, annex, toilets and disabled facilities. The work took villagers eight years to plan and three

  • Speedy decision on Pool manager

    HARTLEPOOL United will step up the search for their new manager over the weekend. Applications for the position had to be at Victoria Park by yesterday and Pool chairman Ken Hodfcroft will sift through them today and tomorrow. As ever, Pool will keep

  • Durham make mass changes

    DURHAM have had to make a host of changes for their final match in the County Championship Shield against Cumbria at Aspatria today. With both teams having lost both their matches to date, the losers will be relegated to the plate competition. The only