DISCARDED household goods which would have been destined for landfill tips are being put to good use in a recycling venture. Despite being only six months old, East Durham Furniture Re-use Project has given a new lease of life to an estimated 600 tonnes
A COMPANY set up to run a city's council housing has converted a former post office into apartments for sale. The Sunderland Housing Group owns and manages the city council's stock of rented homes. It has now created 32 one and two-bedroomed flats in
A FREE fun day for all the family is being held to help shed festive pounds. Family Fun and Fitness Friday, at the Ragworth Neighbourhood Centre, in Stockton, next Friday, will offer fitness classes such as Pilates and bums 'n' tums and visitors can try
A COUNCIL has paid tribute to an east Cleveland man who dedicated his time to his town. Community-minded Norman Bainbridge, the founder member and chairman of the Friends of Saltburn Pier, died on Friday. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet
A MODERN five-storey apartment block could be built on the banks of the River Tees in the middle of an industrial area. Plans have been submitted to Stockton Borough Council to develop land in Thornaby Place, next to the Victoria Bridge. Future residents
A FESTIVE fundraiser has secured £5,100 for local charities, thanks to the Santa's grotto run by the Rotary Club of Middlesbrough. Over five weeks, the club raised the cash by collecting in The Mall Middlesbrough shopping centre. From his arrival with
A YOUNG performing arts student has won tickets to a West End show. Six-year-old Megan Lundberg, from Arkengarthdale, received the tickets after winning first prize in Stagecoach Theatre Arts' design a Christmas card competition. Her card, featuring Rudolph
A FATHER is putting his best foot forward to raise money in memory of his stepson who died earlier this year. Dean Smith is to run in this year's London Marathon, despite never having run a 26-mile race in his life and not having set foot in a gym for
A HORSE trainer is considering appealing against a council's decision to refuse permission for her horse schooling area. Ros Seagrave, of Gill Beck Stables, in Ramshaw, Teesdale, says she is angry at Teesdale District Council's handling of her application
NORTHUMBRIAN Water is warning thousands of south Durham residents that their drinking water might be affected by maintenance work over the next few weeks. The company starts work on mains pipes in Bishop Auckland and Witton Park on Monday and expects
A YOUNG drama group is to take to the stage for its annual pantomime at the end of this month. Shildon youth dance and drama group The Tearaways will perform Sleeping Beauty at the Shildon Civic Hall, on Friday, January 20, at 7.30pm followed by two further
HEALTH service workers are being encouraged to brush up on their English and maths skills by taking part in a series of roadshows. The project, which gives information on basic skills courses available, is designed to boost literacy and numeracy levels
THE North-East's first consumer advice call centre is preparing to go live across the region next month. Twenty new advisors for Consumer Direct have been undergoing intensive training for the centre, which will be launched on Monday, February 20. Consumer
A SCHOOLBOY has won a competition for designing a poster to raise awareness of mental health. Eight-year-old Ryan McKenna, from Holy Trinity Primary School, Hartlepool, came out on top in the competition, organised as part of the recent World Mental Health
A HUGE Christmas tree, which stood at the heart of a shopping centre over the festive season, was taken down and blessed yesterday. Scores of people left messages for loved ones on the St Teresa's Hospice Giving to Life tree, which was set up in the Cornmill
AN inmate was pressured into acting as a drugs mule when she returned to a women's prison from weekend leave, a court heard. Sharron Elizabeth Nuttall was urged to secrete a package containing a cocktail of class C drugs while reporting back to Low Newton
STUDENTS have created healthy dishes that could be included in their school's menu. Year nine pupils at Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College were challenged by catering company Scolarest to come up with school meals as part of their food technology
HOWARD JOHNSON'S excellent Musselburgh record looks set to be maintained by Estepona (12.40) in the opener at the Scottish track. Like so many of Johnson's jump recruits Estepona was a fair tool on the Flat, rated 86 at best over middle-distances when
DAVID HODGSON last night fired an angry broadside at Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu after the striker went back on his word by walking out on Darlington to join Championship side Cardiff City. While four players have agreed to extend their contracts until the
UNIONS have criticised plans by two of Britain's biggest employers to scale back their pension schemes. The Co-operative group is to scrap its final salary pension, while fashion group Arcadia has told workers they must work another five years for theirs
Two men have been arrested after the discovery of a 32-year-old woman found dead in her bed at a house on Teesside yesterday. One man has been released on police bail while a further remains in custody today as officers continue their probe in to the
A MAN'S body was found last night hanging near the spot where a six-year-old girl was snatched from her bath. Neighbours said the dead man matched the description of the abductor given to police by the girl. And officers towed away a red hatchback car
Three Men In A Boat (BBC2) MATTERS didn't begin promisingly with Rory McGrath yelling, "Keep the dog away from me". Not a good omen when you're going to be confined to a small boat for a week with the aforementioned canine Loli, as well as two other performers
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE Publisher: Buena Vista Games. Formats: Xbox, PS2. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Yes. WITH the White Witch of Narnia casting her icy spell over the cinema box office this Christmas it looks
a businessman nicknamed "Tinsel Tommy" after manufacturing tinsel for nearly 30 years has closed his factory because of competition from the Far East. Just before Christmas, Tom Baker made 17 of his remaining 20 staff at the Creative Christmas Company
THE modest Brussels sprout was continuing to raise money for charity last night. After the sale of a leftover Darlington sprout raised £99.50 for Christian Aid charity, Tearfund, the baton of the new Internet craze was taken up by a man from Stockton.
A SCIENTIST from the North-East who played a part in the first moon landings has had his life's work recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). Jim Hambleton, from Ebchester, County Durham, is 80 years old but still works full-time running his
CAN food make you fit? As we struggle to get over our festive excesses, it's a nice thought. We all know that eating the right food can help keep us healthy, but now we also have a range of new foods to choose from, the so called "functional foods". These
FEARS are growing for the safety of a missing woman. Patricia Ann Yates, 51, was last seen at her home in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on Tuesday night. Police have conducted house-to-house inquiries and were yesterday searching woods. She is
A MAN celebrating a £1,000 compensation payout with a trip to Rome never left the ground after getting drunk and abusing airline staff, a court heard. David Burns, 62, not only lost out on his £600 holiday but was yesterday ordered to pay a total of £552
A FAMILY doctor accused of issuing a bogus sick note has said he will "strongly contest" the allegations against him. Dr Anand, a Newcastle GP and advocate of complementary medicine, is one of five GPs to face fitness to practice hearings next week before
TRIBUTES were last night being paid to Alastair Wilson, former managing director of Newcastle Breweries. The 64-year-old father-of-three, who was also communications director at Newcastle United football club for a time, died unexpectedly early yesterday
AN inquiry has been launched after a man in his 40s died in a North-East police station. The man had been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in Gateshead and is believed to be local. Northumbria Police arrested him late on Wednesday afternoon and took
So called 'functional foods' claim to boost our health by actively working to help our bodies, but are they really wirth trying? Shoptalk investigates. CAN food make you fit? As we struggle to get over our festive excesses, it's a nice thought. We all
After weeks of speculation, LibDem leader Charles Kennedy yesterday threw down the gauntlet to his critics. But, on the back of his party's best election result in 80 years, why have they got it in for him at all? Nick Morrison reports. CHATSHOW Charlie
A STAGGERING £10m was donated by people across the region to ease the suffering of communities devastated by the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004. A year on from the disaster, figures released by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) yesterday revealed the
ONE of the North-East's leading consultants has called for an increase in alcohol prices to stop people drinking themselves to death. Professor Mike Bramble, a consultant gastro-enterologist at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, made his
HOWARD JOHNSON'S excellent Musselburgh record looks set to be maintained by Estepona (12.40) in the opener at the Scottish track. Like so many of Johnson's jump recruits Estepona was a fair tool on the Flat, rated 86 at best over middle-distances when
A FARMER has told of his devastation after 26,000 day-old chicks were killed in a shed blaze. The poultry died from inhaling smoke just hours after being delivered to Crakehill Farm, in Crakehill, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Around 15 firefighters battled
There was a lot of football played over the festive break - but after watching some on television it wasn't goals, saves or even the petulance of players that left its mark on me. The abiding memory was the number of stadiums which seemed half full. The
MIDDLESBROUGH are in the hunt for one of Wigan Athletic's star performers in an outstanding first season in the Premiership, Jimmy Bullard. Having been told there is little money available in this month's transfer window to strengthen, unless the wage
ELDERLY people are eating their way to good health thanks to the success of a pioneering project. Dietitians have come up with a scheme to maximise the number of calories in the food served to residents of care homes in Darlington and County Durham. Focus
HOAXERS who say they are selling a struggling Premiership football club on internet auction site eBay have had their listing removed for the second time. The advert claims to offer Sunderland Football Club for sale, with bids opening at £10m, and appeals
A MAN has been banned by a court from seeing his elderly mother after he beat her up because he believed she was poisoning him. Mark Stephenson flipped and attacked his 83-year-old mother Mary, putting his arms around her neck and throwing her to the
A COUPLE'S struggle to bring up their two disabled children in cramped conditions could be brought to an end next week. Helen Blackburn and Alistair Howe, from Frosterley, are hoping that plans for a purpose-built bungalow will be given the go-ahead when
ELDERLY people are eating their way to good health thanks to the success of a pioneering project. Dietitians have come up with a scheme to maximise the number of calories in the food served to residents of care homes in Darlington and County Durham. Focus
CHARLES Kennedy last night confessed he had a drink problem and challenged his critics within the Liberal Democrat party to face him in a leadership battle. In a dramatic statement, Mr Kennedy claimed to have beaten his secret battle with alcohol. But
A PROJECT offering tourism businesses advice with the aim of increasing visitor numbers is being introduced in North Yorkshire. Ryedale Tourism Initiative ran for two years as a pilot project, assisting businesses with marketing campaigns and expansion
HOUSEHOLDERS in Kirkbymoorside will pay an extra 23p a week as a result of the town council increasing its precept from next April. Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Richardson said the council was budgeting a precept on the council tax of £58,000 for the year
THE results of a study into the future of renewable energy in North Yorkshire have been published. The county has been set a target of producing 194 megawatts of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. However, there is currently only about ten megawatts
CHILDREN from a local primary school will be getting their hands dirty later this month when they plant trees around a neighbourhood park. Children from Parkside Infants School, in Seaham, will help to plant the saplings in Parkside Neighbourhood Park
CHILDMINDERS in north Durham are being encouraged not to smoke as part of a drive to make the area healthier. A register of non-smoking nannies is being set up to allow parents to have their children looked after without exposure to cigarette fumes. Smoke
HEALTH service workers are being encouraged to brush up on their English and maths skills in a series of roadshows. The Test The Trust scheme has been organised by East Durham and Houghall Community College, with funding from the Learning and Skills Council
A DOG owner is seeking help in finding a border collie which ran off only hours after being collected by its new owner. The black and white bitch, called Skye, slipped its collar in Middleton Tyas, near Richmond, on Tuesday, after owner Melissa Slote
COUNTERFEIT currency was used to buy inexpensive items in a mini-spending spree at a town centre, a court heard. But the alert over the circulation of fake Scottish £20 notes was soon raised among the network of traders at Castle Dene Shopping Centre,
A PERSISTENT offender who stole cosmetics was told "nobody has come nearer to going to prison" as he walked free from court. John Dorward, 32, was caught with £134.99 worth of cosmetics he had stolen from Boots, in Barnard Castle, County Durham. Darlington
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, Publisher: Buena Vista Games. Formats: Xbox, PS2. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Yes. WITH the White Witch of Narnia casting her icy spell over the cinema box office this Christmas it looks
PLANS to build ten flats on the site of a derelict garage have been welcomed by residents. Wear Valley District Council's development control committee is expected to approve the proposal for flats on the site of the former Willington Motor Company MOT
ENDANGERED Exmoor ponies have been sent far from home to preserve the rare wildflowers of a moorland wilderness. Most breeds wouldn't touch the rough grassland of Kielder, in the north of Northumberland, but to the hardy Exmoor, it poses no difficulties
A youth MP is meeting a city council chief and other leaders in the region today. Kevin Nicholson, who represents Darlington, and members of the youth partnership and youth service, are meeting Sunderland City Council leader Bob Symonds, and Grant Hollis
A YOUNG performing arts student has won tickets to a West End show. Six-year-old Megan Lundberg claimed the tickets for Mary Poppins after winning first prize in Stagecoach Theatre Arts' annual design a Christmas card competition. Her card, featuring
THE first of a new generation of trains made its debut journey on the East Coast Main Line yesterday for final testing before entering service. The Class 185 three-car diesel made two problem-free return trips between York and Darlington, reaching speeds
UNSUNG heroes across the borough will be rewarded for their dedication to the community in the first Best of Darlington awards. The awards, launched today, are the first of their kind to be held in the borough, and celebrate achievements that took place
A MAN who assaulted his partner while under "extreme mental provocation" has appeared in court. Melvyn George Jenkinson, 33, of Westminster Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty yesterday to two charges of assaulting his former girlfriend. Toby Thomas, prosecuting
CHILD protection and children's medicine are to receive a boost in Darlington with the appointment of an expert. Darlington Primary Care Trust has appointed Dr Alex Calabro as its leading GP for both fields. The appointment comes in the wake of the Laming
A FORMER reservoir could be demolished under proposals put forward by water company bosses. Northumbrian Water is seeking permission to remove the embankments and the stone pumping tower at the site in Darlington Road, in Sadberge. The proposals have
SUNDERLAND are hoping to beat relegation rivals Birmingham to the signature of Poland international Grzegorz Piechna. Piechna, who has been one of European football's surprise success stories this season, is expected to leave his current employers, Korona
THE number of companies failing is at its highest for three years and there are fears the figure could rise further in the next year. Financial analysis group Experian said the retail and business services sectors were among the hardest hit as corporate
DURHAM BUS STATION: AT 6:30pm myself and my wife got off the London bus at Durham after a short break in the capital and decided to wait for a bus to Chester-le-Street. While we were waiting we witnessed the following incident. A group of four teenage
A rock radio station that broadcasts to a large part of Europe from a terraced house in the North-East has plans to expand. Pipeline Radio, which reaches listeners around the world who tune in through the Internet and the Sky satellite service, recently
BUILDING contractor Surgo Construction has increased turnover by 35 per cent to £49.5m. The Newcastle company, which in the past year has been involved in schemes across Tyneside and South Yorkshire, said the contracts were new and repeat business. Managing
ENGINEERING consultancy Desco Design is recruiting 15 staff after moving to larger premises. The Sunderland company, which provides mechanical and electrical design services to the construction industry, made the move to Doxford Park after investing nearly
A JUDGE yesterday issued a warning to anyone hindering efforts to restore a stretch of North-East coastline. Judge Maurice Carr said fly-tippers found to have used beaches on the County Durham coast as an unofficial waste dump should expect severe sanctions
New Year's Day marked a significant change in the NHS - patients who are referred to see a hospital consultant are going to be offered a choice of hospitals. Health Editor Barry Nelson investigates. IN the early days of television, viewers had only one
DAVID HODGSON last night fired an angry broadside at Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu after the striker went back on his word by walking out on Darlington to join Championship side Cardiff City. While four players have agreed to extend their contracts until the
FABULOUS Flournoy has spent the Christmas break reflecting on an incredible 2005 - but the Newcastle Eagles coach is hoping a victory this evening will help make 2006 even better. The Eagles take on the Scottish Rocks in the semi-final of the BBL Trophy
IT is true that alcoholism is an illness and that being in denial is part of that illness. So should we therefore understand the difficulties facing Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, appreciate his courage in publicly admitting them, have compassion
A COUPLE whose dream home was gutted in a blaze are putting in safety measures to ensure it cannot happen again. Peter and Sue Coverdale have begun work to fit a concrete shield in the attic of their grade II-listed farmhouse. This will lie between the
THE bulk of Sunderland's squad will be taking a step into the unknown when they host Nationwide Conference North minnows Northwich Victoria on Sunday. But, for defender Danny Collins, the FA Cup third round clash will re-kindle memories of his involvement
A CONTROVERSIAL US rap superstar who survived being shot three times is to perform at the opening of a North-East nightspot next month. 50 Cent has agreed to play at the £1.5m Glass Spider, in Green Terrace, Sunderland, on Saturday, February 26, and the
HARTLEPOOL UNITED have received a bid from Luton Town for the club's prize asset Adam Boyd. At a time when manager Martin Scott was boosted by the news that Aussie forward Joel Porter has finally returned to first team training, Pool are having to contend
THE Court of Appeal could be asked to overturn a sentence on a teenage drug dealer who was allowed to walk free after a judge said jails were overflowing. The move came as a parrot dealer criticised the same judge after he was jailed for two-and-a-half-years
GRAEME Souness last night launched an impassioned defence of his position at St James' Park and claimed another change of manager was a recipe for disaster for Newcastle. Souness has been forced to fend off a barrage of criticism this week, with fans
Intermedia Web Development has won contracts worth more than £30,000 in the past two months. The Darlington company hopes the contract wins will lead to more jobs at its headquarters, doubling its workforce from 12 to 24. Among recent client wins are
A SERVING police officer is alleged to have been part of a gang which stole cash from hole-in-the-wall machines. Jason Singh, 22, is one of four men accused of plotting to raid cashpoint machines in Dunston and elsewhere in the Gateshead area. He was
AN animal charity has thanked people across the region for helping to find new homes for more than 100 dogs and 150 cats last year. The National Animal Sanctuaries Support League (NASSL), based near Darlington, helps to rehome scores of animals every
CHARLES Kennedy last night confessed he had a drink problem and challenged his critics within the Liberal Democrat party to face him in a leadership battle. In a dramatic statement, Mr Kennedy claimed to have won his secret battle with alcohol. But he
A DOORSTEP collection has been set up to encourage people to recycle their Christmas trees. In the service by Easington District Council, trees will be collected on Monday from homes in Seaham, Murton, Hawthorn, South Hetton, Haswell Plough, Easington
