MOURNERS attending the funeral of former MP Roland Boyes heard yesterday how research into the disease which claimed his life is now to be centred in the North-East. Mr Boyes, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers eleven years ago, had seized the time
MOURNERS attending the funeral of former MP Roland Boyes heard yesterday how research into the disease which claimed his life is now to be centred in the North-East. Mr Boyes, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers eleven years ago, had seized the time
ONE of Europe's largest travelling funfairs is opening to the public tomorrow. Thousands of people are expected to visit the Hoppings on Newcastle's Town Moor, which has a mix of white knuckle rides and traditional stalls. It dates from 1882 and was
A woman accused of murdering her partner has been granted bail by a crown court judge. Terri Milburn, 32, is accused of killing Philip Hewitt, 32, whose body was found lying at the bottom of the stairs of their home in Bede Avenue, Sherburn Road
TWO people have appeared in court in connection with the alleged rape of a woman at a flat. A provisional trial date of October 23 was set for Karwan Zardah and Sabor Timori at Teesside Crown Court. Before that, the pair, originally from Afghanistan
Arriva bus drivers are to strike on Monday, 3 July, union bosses announced today. The Transport and General Workers' Union has told the company that bus drivers in Teesside and County Durham will take industrial action for one day. The decision
I START today's diary with a confession. I got a lift into work this morning. I do have three very good reasons for leaving the bike at home today, following my enthusiasm as I penned my sign-off last night. Well, definitely two. Firstly, I have
BOSSES at The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, are hoping changes to the interior of the building will increase visitor numbers and create more space for exhibitions. At the moment, the museum's facade is covered in scaffolding while work is carried out
TWELVE students from Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, have picked up qualifications which will allow them to coach young children. The group attended a one-day course held by PE teacher and Football Association tutor Carl Lander. The year ten and 11
A CYCLE marathon raised £387 for a cancer charity. Three cyclists clocked up 100 miles on exercise bikes at The Gates shopping centre, in Durham City, on Saturday. The riders, including Durham University library staff Sarah Maskill and Jodie Fenwick
RESIDENTS will get a different outlook on their village as it celebrates its history this weekend. The tower roof of St Mary's Church, in Gainford, will be opened as part of an ongoing heritage project. It forms part of a Victorian-themed weekend, marking
PUPILS are to help clean up the environment around their school. The youngsters from Oxclose Community School, in Washington, have volunteered to take part in Sunderland City Council's Just Bin It campaign in a bid to smarten up their neighbouring area
VILLAGERS have resurrected their carnival more than 20 years after the tradition was ended. Residents living in Dene Valley villages are expected to turn out in force to celebrate the new-look carnival on the recreation ground opposite Brockwell Court
MEDALS awarded to three generations of the same family who served with the Green Howards have gone on display. Jack Riordan, 76, from Brompton, Northallerton, handed over his campaign medals and MBE to the regiment's museum in Richmond yesterday. The
PLANS for a sports and leisure centre on green land at Ingleby Barwick have been turned down following an eleventh-hour safety report. Scott Leisure hoped to build a Mister Twister's complex on the corner of Ingleby Way and Thornaby Road. Planning officers
TWO brothers have both won medals in a national tae kwon do competition. Jake Crawford, ten, and Daniel, seven, from Stanhope, won a pairs bronze medal in a Kim Chung Do Kwan invitation event held at Darlington. Daniel also won gold in an individual poomsae
SHOPKEEPERS near graffiti hotspots could face heavy fines after selling spray paint to under-16s. Durham Police identified graffiti as a major reason for people believing the county was not safe to live in when it launched a StreetSafe clampdown on anti-social
PUB landlords face fines and losing their licence if they are caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers, police warned yesterday. A major covert operation is being run across Ryedale with the aim of cracking down on pubs serving drinks to underage customers
SHOPKEEPERS near graffiti hotspots could face heavy fines after selling spray paint to under-16s. Durham Police identified graffiti as a major reason for people believing the county was not safe when it launched its StreetSafe clampdown on anti-social
THOUSANDS of flowers are brightening up a dales village for a weekend festival. A parade of vintage tractors and a scarecrow competition are included in the Rookhope in Bloom festival, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday. A dance with band Feel
PLANS to merge revenues and benefits services at two councils have been given the go-ahead. The new partnership brings together the council tax, business rates and benefit teams of Hambleton and Ryedale district councils to deliver a combined service.
A BID to create five football pitches and an extra cricket pitch on the fringe of Ripley village, between Harrogate and Ripon, has been kicked into touch. A plan put forward by Ripley Cricket Club, which had the support of Sir Thomas Ingilby, of Ripley
CAMPAIGNERS have scored a second victory in their battle to prevent a developer from replacing two large homes in Eaglescliffe with flats for the elderly. An application by McCarthy and Stone to demolish Glenrea and The Bungalow, in The Avenue, and build
A PUBLIC meeting over the future of Weardale's ambulance service, which was due to be held in St John's Chapel tomorrow night, has been cancelled. Organisers at the Durham Dales PPI Forum say it will be rearranged once a formal consultation document
WITH World Cup fever gripping football fans, a Teesside school joined in the international spirit through a series of art workshops. Youngsters from Grange Primary School, in Hartlepool, have been learning about the cultures of different countries across
TRY YOUR HAND AT A RACKET: ACKLAM TENNIS CLUB is offering free tennis sessions on Saturday, July 1, from 10am to 2pm. The Lawn Tennis Association's Play Tennis initiative offers everyone a chance to try tennis in a free day at clubs across the UK. The
FOOTBALLERS from a north Durham team came close to victory in the English Schools FA (ESFA) Cup. The team from Chester-le-Street District Schools' Football Association finished fourth out of more than 4,000 teams in the Under-11s Sainsbury's ESFA Cup.
A COUPLE will open their award-winning garden to the public on Sunday to raise funds for Macmillan nurses. The countless hours of work put in by John and Helen Charlton on the garden at their Bleach Green Farm home, at New Brancepeth, paid off when it
A SERIES of roadshows designed to cut the fear of crime is to be spread out across Durham City following the success of a pilot project. Emergency services, local authorities and community groups came together on Monday at Deerness Leisure Centre for
A YOUNG child was saved from drowning at Castle Howard, near Malton, in a dramatic rescue by a fire crew. The youngster struggling in the castle's Great Lake was pulled to safety by a specially-trained team. In reality, it was a staged rescue during a
MUSIC lovers can catch two artists during a one-night break from their national tours. Acoustic musicians Dan Aborise and Roger Davies have performed around the world, but will arrive at Rural Arts, in Westgate, Thirsk, for a one-off concert, on Wednesday
A COUPLE have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Fred and Beryl Charlton, of Pool Court, Pickering, North Yorkshire, moved to the town in 1976 after Mr Charlton, now 88, retired after a long career in the civil service. Born at Penshaw, near Sunderland
TWO motorcycling friends have returned home after a day-long trip to raise money for a children's hospice. Rod Allen and Phil Hooper rode for 15 hours on Monday, from Land's End to John O'Groats. The Darlington duo were raising money for Butterwick Children's
A COUPLE have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Fred and Beryl Charlton, of Pool Court, Pickering, North Yorkshire, moved to the town in 1976 after Mr Charlton, now 88, retired after a long career in the civil service. Born at Penshaw, near Sunderland
A nature haven and community centre has opened for Army personnel and civilians. Hipswell Habitat has been created by the Army Welfare Service, at Hipswell Lodge, in Smuts Road, Catterick Garrison. The development includes Bluebell Wood Natural Habitat
A COURSE for motorists who feel intimidated driving alone starts next month. The lone driver course is particularly aimed at mothers with young children or lone females. Advice will also be given to other motorists on how to stop and offer help to stranded
A COUNCIL plans to close three footpaths in a bid to stop gangs of youths causing a nuisance to residents. Hartlepool Borough Council has taken the decision to close two paths on the town's Fens estate, between Aldeburgh Close and the Black Path, and
YOUNGSTERS helped launch three refurbished tennis courts at a park yesterday - as the Wimbledon fever starts to build. The revamped courts at Ropner Park, in Stockton, have opened again, and children from the town's Oxbridge Primary School were the first
NORTH Yorkshire members of a national agricultural charity have been honoured by their peers. The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (Rabi) named North Yorkshire as the most innovative of its county committees over the past year. Among events it
LICENCE-dodging drivers are to be dealt a crushing blow in a police clampdown. Anyone caught driving without insurance or a licence on Teesside now faces having their vehicle sent to the crusher. The ultimatum has been made by Cleveland Police, which
A MACHINE which pinpoints where cancer patients need treatment has arrived at a hospital's radiotherapy department. George Summerbell was one of the first patients to be imaged on the machine at The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and joined
Throughout the summer, The Northern Echo's Tim Wellock is the only writer to follow the fortunes of Durham week in, week out. As the season reaches its halfway point, he reviews their fluctuating fortunes. AFTER the joy of last season's double promotion
AT the start of this year's NatWest Series, the side cobbled together by Duncan Fletcher had played a total of 401 one-day internationals between them. Paul Collingwood had been involved in 92 of those, so it doesn't take a genius to work out that on
STEVE Harmison is determined to make sure he has many one-day internationals and Test matches in front of him, but the Ashington Express admits there is a price to pay every time he goes out to play for his country. The 27-year-old paceman only recently
THERE was a time when Liam Plunkett would have been just glad to line up in the same Durham side at Riverside with colleagues Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood - but on Saturday the young bowler continues his meteoric rise when he steps out with his
DURHAM may have missed out on the Ashes Test they so desperately wanted - but according to chief executive David Harker, the county is now firmly established on England's international cricket scene. Riverside hosts its latest England game this Saturday
Viv Hardwick talks to panto experts The Krankies who are back on stage after a nightmare fall for Jeanette 'Wee Jimmy' Tough in 2004 forced the pair to stop clowning for months. "I thought she was dead," admits Ian Tough about the night his wife Janette
Steve Pratt gets a few tips from Sandra Bullock on time travel love and why it's worth waiting for the right man to come along. EXPECT a big tip if you ever wait table for actress Sandra Bullockp. "Anyone who doesn't treat people in the service industry
He's the quiet man of big movie launches, but Keanu Reeves has work that speaks for itself. Steve Pratt reports on an actor with an impressive list of movies to his credit. KEANU Reeves was asked what it was like working again with Sandra Bullock, 12
FAMILY reunions are guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart. Unless you live in Soapland where it's not so much hugging, kissing and tears of joy as shouting, thumping and tears of pain after slapped round the face. They might as well rename the
During years spent in Canada, he carved a career as a best selling crime writer. Now, having bought a flat in Richmond, North Yorkshire, Peter Robinson is back on home turf. He tells Women's Editor Sarah Foster how the humble whodunit has moved on. "TREADING
CASH-STRAPPED Darlington Football Club is likely to get the go-ahead for concerts at its 25,000-seater stadium - but only after agreeing to restrictions that will limit audiences to only 4,500 people.The club says it needs to host concerts and other sports
NORTH-EAST DJs will join big-name counterparts at a dance festival next month. The event, at Durham Student Union, will take place on Saturday, July 15, and features DJs such as Lisa Lashes and Galaxy FM's Streetboy. Alongside them will be up-and-coming
PARDON THEM: THE victory of the First World War achieved nothing (except to lay the foundations of the Second World War) and to condemn more than 300 men as cowards and shoot them is ridiculous (Echo, Shot at Dawn - The Fight for Justice campaign, recent
A MAN has scored a hat-trick of Internet triumphs after helping three websites to award-winning success. Stephen Gill has helped to create three sites that have been named Communigate's Pick of the Month. Mr Gill's latest project is the Rockliffe Park
Catherine sinks into the manly embrace of her gypsy-eyed lover. "Oh Heathcliffe, " she breathes, "You're such a beast..." Oo-er - hot stuff for a week night. But this is Emily Bronte's epic bodice-ripper, a story of passion and revenge on the stormy
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former North-East goalkeeper and all-round sportsman who has died aged 88. Darlington-born Bob Ferguson had the dubious honour of letting in the last league goal before the outbreak of the Second World War. He was Middlesbrough's
BUM barely back on its accustomed seat, the column's attention is caught by a report in Monday's paper listing the summer's street entertainment in Darlington. It includes Artizani - "an act featuring a lifeboat adrift on the streets" - Trash ("a junk
WORKERS at Asda have voted to strike in a bitter row over pay and bargaining, threatening one of the biggest supermarket disputes, it was announced yesterday. Workers in Asda depots across the UK, including more than 400
IT'S enough for me that the individual who created the culture of jogging died of a heart attack whilst practising it. In the karma of exercise this brings me to two conclusions: that either (a) God has a sick sense of humour or (b) the masochistic
COMPUTER users at Darlington's libraries are being warned that several facilities will be out of service this weekend. The e-library, Internet access, reservations system and catalogue facilities will not be available on Saturday as a result of essential
Desperate Housewives finale double bill (C4): THERE'S nothing like a cliff-hanger to end a series with - and two is a bonus, but three!? Pure TV heaven. And so we are left to wonder, for the next few months at least, just what it is the mysterious
President George W Bush said yesterday he would like to shut the Guantanamo Bay camp and return many detainees to their countries. But the "cold-blooded killers" would not be sent back, he said after talks with EU leaders at a summit in Vienna. He acknowledged
TWO stars of stage and silver screen went back to school yesterday to help drama students prepare for exams. Film star Chris Rankin and theatre actor Oliver Stoney shared tips with pupils at Woodham Community Technology College, Newton Aycliffe, yesterday
Striker Lee Matthews could be heading back to Darlington after leaving Port Vale. Manager David Hodgson has already signed ex-Quakers forward Barry Conlon and is now ready to turn to Matthews who scored one goal in six loan appearances for the club during
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd believes the Football Association's compensation for Michael Owen's injury is ''far too low.'' FA spokesman Adrian Bevington has confirmed the insurance policy in place for all England players will compensate the Magpies
PLANS for sporting facilities to be provided on a Darlington estate are to go before councillors next week. The proposals for the car park area of the Maidendale House community centre, on the Firthmoor estate, involve the construction of a multi-use
IPSWICH TOWN and Leeds United are monitoring the takeover situation at Sunderland before launching a bid to take Tommy Miller away from the Stadium of Light. Dependening who has overall control at Sunderland, the valuation of Miller is likely to vary
A MOTORCYCLING group has compiled its survey results from a day of action to pass on to Darlington Borough Council. Darlington and District Motorcycle Action Group (Mag) handed out questionnaires during a rally in the town centre in April. As well as
A NORTH-East student believes one of her designs could prove a hit with young people in the future. Claire Lowes, 22, from Darlington, has made a chaise-longue from old office chairs. It is one of the exhibits being displayed at Northumbria University
A PACK has been produced to prevent elderly and vulnerable people in Darlington becoming victims of doorstep crime. The pack contains information about how to deal with scams including doorstep callers, distraction burglaries and junk mail. It has been
The Northern Echo continues its campaign to persude Tony Blair to pardon more than 300 soldiers executed for cowardice during the First World War. Gavin Englebrecht examines the case of twins who died within days of each other - one at the hands of the
A JUDGE launched a scathing attack on prosecutors after kicking out a case against a woman who found a games console while rummaging through rubbish. Legislation designed to combat drug dealers and criminals involved in money laundering was used to bring
YOUNGSTERS at a Darlington school caught World Cup fever after flying the flag during a hectic fundraising day. Pupils at Firthmoor Primary School were flying the flag ahead of England's 2-2 draw against Sweden on Tuesday - decking the building out in
BUCKINGHAM Palace has nothing on one North-East city - so say the producers of a travel guide, which hails a night out in Newcastle as Britain's best attraction. Tourism bosses last night hailed the findings of the latest edition of The Rough Guide to
THE North-East's only nuclear power station could have its life extended by another ten years to help bridge an energy gap, The Northern Echo has learned. Hartlepool Nuclear Power station owner British Energy confirmed that it was looking to keep the
EMBARRASSED bank bosses withdrew tongue-in-cheek adverts starring Michael Owen yesterday after his World Cup injury. The star is pictured in one in his Northern Rock-sponsored Newcastle United shirt with a flag of St George draped over his shoulder. The
IF we are to wage a war on the basis of replacing tyranny with democracy, our actions cannot undermine the principles of justice and fairness. And the idea of holding people without trial for indefinite periods, without access to lawyers or details of
POLICE investigating an alleged North-East drug ring have arrested one of their own detectives. The female police officer was among three people arrested during co-ordinated raids carried out in the Durham City area last week. It is understood that one
FARMERS could soon have to apply for a licence to harvest crops where a dormouse may be breeding. The proposal follows a ruling by the European Court of Justice covering European protected species and their natural habitats. Until now, it has not been
BRITAIN'S biggest coal producer has urged the Government to pave the way for a big expansion of opencast mining in the region. UK Coal told a committee of MPs that an unfair market structure meant power companies were importing coal from Russia and South
A STATUE of Christ outside a church in the region has been desecrated by vandals. The fibreglass figure was torn from the cross and smashed on the ground. Father Stephen Cooper, the priest in charge of St Columba's Church, in Middlesbrough, said the damage
A RECYCLING specialist in the North-East has struck a deal for an undisclosed sum with one of the largest chemical complexes in Europe to help deal with its waste. Gateshead-based Weeco has joined forces with the Wilton Centre, in Teesside, to dispose
A BUSINESS development in the region that could accommodate up to 700 workers has received planning approval. Gladman Development is investing £28m in three new warehouse units on the Drum Industrial Estate, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. The company
A MOTHER has spoken of her anger after residents said a St George's flag on the grave of her football-loving son was inappropriate. Heather Holmes said the flag was a temporary tribute and should be left alone. Her son, Andy, died in a car crash on the
A SOLDIER who has raised thousands of pounds for charity has spoken of his surprise at being made an MBE. Captain Sean Charles Keilty was born in Stanley, County Durham, but now lives in Warwickshire. He has raised about £40,000 for the Gurkha Welfare
A HEALTHCARE development company has undergone a £1.2m relocation and hopes to expand its portfolio of care homes and centres in the North-East. After 15 years in Willington, County Durham, The Portland Group has moved into bigger offices on Belmont
INTEREST rates showed no signing in shifting after it emerged yesterday that only one policymaker at the Bank of England voted for a change earlier this month. David Walton called for the cost of borrowing to rise to 4.75 per cent when the Bank's Monetary
ENGINEERING company Whessoe Oil and Gas has created more than 150 jobs in the past year and has a bulging order book of more than £200m. The Darlington firm, which specialises in building terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage
NEVER averse to having a shy at the stumps, Middleham's Patrick Haslam goes pot hunting with Maroussies Wings (3.10) in this afternoon's Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. It's been 22 long years since Haslam last graced the winners' enclosure at the
About 60 Year 6 pupils from Mowden Junior School, Darlington, were recently given the chance to look at progress on the town's controversial Pedestrian Heart Scheme before carrying out follow-up work back in class. As part of that work some of the ten
EXCAVATOR manufacturer Komatsu UK has announced a ten per cent rise in turnover to £270m on last year and the creation of 40 jobs. The company, based in Birtley, near Gateshead, said it had also seen a year-on-year sales rise of almost
BILL GATES has given researchers in the region almost £7.4m to help develop better and cheaper treatments for malaria. Scientists at the University Of York will use the money to develop new varieties of the plant sweet Annie, which produces the anti-malarial
IT was on the aeroplane, on our way to Ireland last week, that I first noticed the three-year-old scratching his head. There were just the two of us, and when he fell asleep on my lap during the two-hour coach journey to his granny's house I was able
MYSTERY surrounds what caused three Darlington businesses' phone lines to be cut off for a week.The phone lines of three Blackwellgate premises were out of action for a week, leaving at least one business without a direct line to its security company
Sussex v Yorkshire (County Championship) : Day One Craig White promoted himself to to the top of the batting order at Arundel yesterday and the Yorkshire captain justified his decision by making an immaculate century on the opening day of the Championship
Hampshire v Durham (County Championship) : Day Two IF Mark Davies was feeling deeply depressed when his injury problems resurfaced yesterday, he could at least find reassurance in the fact that Callum Thorp's development was similarly delayed.At 31,
FORMER England striker Peter Beardsley believes recent criticism directed at Michael Owen has been 'unfair'. Owen was gradually building up his fitness levels prior to Tuesday's World Cup game with Sweden, when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
