HIGH winds caused chaos across the North East tonight, with weather experts predicting they would continue throughout the night. A 20 mile stretch of the A1 between Bradbury in County Durham and Gateshead was closed after multiple accidents, mainly involving
Chelsea 1 Newcastle United 0 NEWCASTLE UNITED came within 16 minutes of earning an incredible point from the home of the Premiership champions last night. But Didier Drogba, on as a second half substitute, arrived at the near post to turn in an Andriy
AN ARMED robber who threatened a female assistant at a travel agents with what appeared to be a gun was tonight being hunted by police. The man struck just before 2pm today at the the Travel Care Co-op Store in York Road, Hartlepool, when he confronted
NO-ONE will face criminal charges following the death of 14-year-old boy on a school caving trip, police say. Joseph Lister was part of a group from Tadcaster Grammar School who were learning the basic principles of caving in Upper Nidderdale, North
A PENSIONER has been burgled by a stranger who befriended her during a shopping trip. The thief spent two hours with her victim, taking her for a drink and accompanying her home, before stealing around 100 in cash. Police are now warning elderly shoppers
WEST Ham have confirmed former player Alan Curbishley as their new manager. Curbishley, who began his playing career with the Hammers, held further talks with club officials on Wednesday morning following discussions with new chairman Eggert Magnusson
THE first thing to be said about Nancy Myer's romantic comedy is that it is very long. More than two hours long. The second thing to say is that it's neither romantic nor funny. It is just tedious. Winslet and Diaz play unlucky-in-love women who swap
DIRECTOR Catherine Hardwicke turns from gritty tales of American teenage angst in Thirteen and Dogs Of Lordtown to tell the story of Mary and Joseph in a movie following their journey to Bethlehem and a very important birth. The movie had its premiere
YOU might expect a movie about tap-dancing penguins to come from Disney or Pixar, not the man who directed Mad Max and The Witches Of Eastwick. But George Miller was also producer and writer of Babe so he has experience of talking animal pictures.
Solutions ACROSS 1 Straight. (two meanings) 5 Reward. REWARD (drawer rev.) 9 Art house. (anag.) 10 Panama. (two meanings) 12 Farah. FAR+A+H (RAF rev.) 13 Identical. IDE(NTI+C)A+L (tin anag.) 14 Organisation. (anag.) 18 Alice Springs
Cryptic Clues ACROSS 1 All debts repaid by Frank (8) 5 It is given in recompense for service of retiring artist (6) 9 A cinema which doesn’t show popular films gets share out by arrangement (3,5) 10 Hat found in canal (6) 12 Girl in service returns
THE mother of murdered North-East prostitute Vicky Glass said today that she remains haunted by her death. Debbie Goodall revealed that the discovery of five prostitutes' bodies near Ipswich has brought the painful memories flooding back - adding that
A HIGH street fashion retailer is opening its latest store in Darlington. Peacocks is planning to open in the former Primark store, in Northgate, Darlington, early next year. The store, is being refitted ready for its March opening date, is expected to
A BURGLAR broke into a house while its owner was asleep and stole more than £3,000 of property. The thief entered the house in Tweed Road, Spennymoor, on Monday night and made off with items including an extensive collection of 12-inch vinyl dance records
AN artist is being sought to fill a space on the wall of a Georgian building in Bedale. Bedale Hall, a former country house now used as offices and a community centre, has two large picture spaces on either side of the fireplace in the ground floor ballroom
POLICE are urging Christmas shoppers in Chester-le-Street to protect their cash and credit cards from thieves who have been targeting the town centre. The warning comes following a spate of purse snatches during the past few weeks in which elderly people
WORN road markings which have led to chaos in parts of Bedale market place are to be tackled by the county council. The move follows complaints that one end of an access road for delivery drivers, on the western side of the street, is being blocked by
REDCAR and Cleveland Borough Council is backing a seasonal anti-drink drive campaign by Cleveland Police. Its road safety team is touring the borough, with the fire brigade, highlighting the dangers of drinking late into the night and being
A BUS service has been launched to help people living in isolated rural communities. The Community Lynx service is funded through the Government's Rural Bus Challenge scheme and operated jointly by Hartlepool Borough Council and Stockton Borough Council
VILLAGERS have spoken of their sadness after it emerged a Wear Valley church dating back more than 120 years is facing closure. Falling attendances mean the church of St Mary the Virgin, in Howden-le-Wear, could close within 12 months. Sunday services
THE futures of a disabled man and a young family are secure after national park members yesterday approved their planning applications for a second time. Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority officers recommended rejection of the two schemes because
PROPOSALS to strengthen Malton's shopping sector have been submitted to planners. Ryedale District Council is being asked to approve the redevelopment of a former Kwik Fit garage, in Horsemarket Road. Fitzwilliam Estate wants Derby House, an equestrian
A SCHEME set up last year to encourage the growth of grassroots football in Hartlepool continues to flourish. David Burns was appointed as the town's first football development officer in February last year, as part of the Grayfields Football
EIGHTY students and school staff have added the finishing touches to their Christmas pantomime. Students from Belmont School Community Arts College, in Durham, have been rehearsing Sleeping Beauty since September. Performances will run every evening
NORTH Yorkshire County Council has been highly praised for its children's and educational services. An Ofsted report labelled education outstanding and other children's services good. The county underwent two inspections by the team, which said a high
A MAN who put up fly posters and refused to pay an £80 fixed penalty has been ordered to pay more than six times the amount by a court. Terry Blackburn, 23, of Knitsley Walk, Stockton, was fined £300 for five separate offences, plus prosecution costs
A NEW charity calendar promises to be in the best possible taste because it features ten real ale pubs. Councillor Eddie Murphy, chairman of Wear Valley District Council, launched the calendar at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, in aid of his nominated
MUSICIANS from a village brass band are to perform a free concert for the residents that have supported them. Fishburn Brass Band, based in Fishburn Village, recently took part in a brass band competition at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Billy Elliott
A COUNCIL leader could be investigated by a local government watchdog after a complaint was made about him. Councillor John Williams, the leader of Darlington Borough Council, has been criticised for taking part in a debate about controversial plans
DURHAM University says it wants to work with residents opposing the loss of green space as part of a multi-million pound riverside redevelopment. The university and city council are behind plans to build 90 apartments and 25 houses at Elvet Waterside,
A PET cemetery is to be created in Derwentside if the scheme is approved. Murray Memorials in Deneburn Terrace, The Grove, near Consett, wants to use nearby land and has applied for planning permission. Yvonne Wilson, who owns the business, said: "The
BEAMISH Museum is bringing a touring collection of artefacts and photographs to the Crown Street Library, in Darlington, on Friday. Items to be shown will include mining and domestic items from the 19th and 20th Centuries, as well as old photographs of
THE winner of the second Christmas Cracker prize draw in Darlington collected her prize yesterday. Marion Fallen, of Darlington, won a £1,000 Omega watch from Bramwells the Jewellers, in Post House Wynd. This week's draw is tomorrow at 7pm at the Christmas
The Real JFK: Revealed (five) Unknown White Male (C4) IMAGINE waking up and not knowing who you are. It happened to Englishman Douglas Bruce, although he didn't know that was his name when he opened his eyes on a New York subway train three years ago.
A WOMAN dubbed an "evil slavemaster" is appealing against her conviction. Antonia Pearson-Gaballonie, 35, made her sister-in-law, Veronica Sandeman, clean while naked and eat dog food over a number of years. The mother-of-six whipped the 26-year-old with
DOWN near the foot of Britain's first "yob league table", which ranks towns according to the community's anxiety about anti-social behaviour, is Middlesbrough. Drawn up by the National Audit Office, which monitors Government performance, the table pinpoints
The star of a new TV drama tells Steve Pratt about her amazing trip to India MAKING the two-part ITV1 drama Losing Gemma in India meant the cast went on a real journey together. The thriller - about two ordinary young women, Esther and Gemma, thrown together
RAIL LINKS THINKING of taking advantage of The Northern Echo offer of reduced price trips on GNER I looked at the timetable for connecting trains from Bishop Auckland to Darlington. I was disappointed to see that while the first train is at 7.21am, the
MENTAL health care provision could return to the former site of one of Europe's largest psychiatric units. Plans to develop a secure hospital on part of the old Winterton Hospital site, in Sedgefield, County Durham, went on display during a public consultation
BUS operators and passenger groups last night broadly welcomed Government plans which will see councils take back control of services and fares. Proposed changes will allow councils to take control of bus services by awarding a contract to a single firm
After the thefts of seven cash machines in the past two years, police yesterday raided 11 County Durham homes. AT 6.10am on Tuesday, December 12, Witton Park, a former pit village three miles west of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, lies quiet. Curtains
A SERIES of dawn raids netted eight suspected crack cocaine dealers in Middlesbrough yesterday morning. The co-ordinated strikes saw 150 Cleveland Police officers deployed to hit the eight targets simultaneously. The raids, part of Operation Sabre, were
KERSTINO TWO (2.25) bids to confirm he's one of the most improved National Hunt horses in training by nabbing Newbury's totesport Handicap Chase. Jamie Snowdon's mount began the season by scoring off a mark of 92 at Ludlow, but that was just for starters
Kevin Pietersen believes England's disappointing start to the Ashes series underlines Australia's strength and highlights just how impressive last year's victory over them was. Victories in Brisbane and Adelaide have put Australia in pole position to
ROY KEANE will return to Manchester United to ask mentor Sir Alex Ferguson if he can recruit the services of former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Sunderland boss has made no secret of his desire to land a new striker in the January transfer window
BUILDING services group Northern Bear is on the takeover trail after raising £2.4m by floating on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim). The Chester-le-Street company, which was set up this year, will be valued at £10m when it becomes the region's
PLANS for a £56m expansion of Durham Tees Valley Airport have gained the backing of a second council. Darlington Borough Council's planning committee unanimously approved proposals to expand the airport's runway and extend and revamp its terminal building
ACCORDING to official estimates, there are around 80,000 prostitutes in Britain - four out of five of them women. And the dangers faced by those involved in the sex trade are underlined by the tragic developments in Suffolk, where police have now found
Twickenham supremo Francis Baron has rejected calls from Sir Clive Woodward to step aside as Rugby Football Union chief executive. Woodward fired a broadside at Baron and RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew, blaming them for the current state of English
APPRENTICES working in the chemical industry have been told to keep training - they have a bright future ahead of them. The words of encouragement came from Stan Higgins, chief executive of the North East Process Industries Cluster (Nepic), which represents
A BUILDER'S merchant accused of killing and burying up to 10,000 greyhounds on land behind his home will face court in the new year. David Smith received death threats this year when he was accused of slaughtering thousands of animals using a bolt gun
ALUN Armstrong is hoping Darlington's recent dip in form doesn't force manager Dave Penney into wholesale changes for Saturday's visit of Notts County. The striker has started Quakers' last four league games but, after the new manager's impressive start
A POLICE force was accused of a cover-up last night after clearing its chief constable of wasting nearly £30,000 of public money on a shower. North Yorkshire Police came under fire for paying £28,379 for the facility for its chief constable. But following
JONATHAN WOODGATE'S outstanding form for Middlesbrough has not alerted parent club Real Madrid - yet. Woodgate is not due to return to the Bernabeu until the end of the season when his loan deal expires but he remains the centre of speculation. The 26
MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club has been given planning permission to build Europe's longest golf course and a luxury hotel complex. The project will see the restoration of the grade II-listed Rockliffe Hall, a former hospital next to the club's training
England chairman of selectors David Graveney admits Monty Panesar is ''desperate'' to play in the Ashes but insists the decision over his inclusion is with coach Duncan Fletcher and captain Andrew Flintoff. The Northamptonshire left-armer has been overlooked
ONE of the biggest manhunts since the Yorkshire Ripper case was under way last night for a serial killer thought to be responsible for five murders. The discovery of the bodies of two more prostitutes yesterday confirmed detectives' worst fears - that
HE might be facing the "worst injury crisis in Newcastle's history", but Glenn Roeder has insisted that his patched-up squad are capable of springing one of the surprises of the season when they travel to Chelsea tonight. Despite Nicky Butt shaking off
GIVEN that he had promised to set his sights high when the transfer window reopens in January, it was perhaps inevitable that Glenn Roeder would begin his search for striking reinforcements with beanpole frontman Peter Crouch. While the Magpies manager
NISSAN plans to become the latest car manufacturer to improve its green credentials by launching a hybrid vehicle by 2010. The car maker, which employs about 300 people at its Wearside plant, said it wanted to develop its own hybrid technology - only
ROY KEANE will return to Manchester United to ask mentor Sir Alex Ferguson if he can recruit the services of former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Sunderland boss has made no secret of his desire to land a new striker in the January transfer window
TEN people were in custody last night after a series of dawn raids by police on the trail of bank robbers. Nearly 300 officers took part in the raids in County Durham, targeting people who are believed to have stolen up to £500,000 from cash machines
WE catch up with the 'Godfather of columnists' - as he has been described more than once by various judges and such like - in a hotel, the presentation of his MBE fresh in the mind. "It was a great occasion," says our own Mike Amos, who yesterday received
ENGINEERING company CTC Marine Projects is planning to treble its turnover to £100m and create 50 jobs. The firm, which was recently acquired by a Norwegian company for £70m, has begun an expansion programme, which has already seen its workforce grow
WELL, that's it. The relentless commercialisation of Christmas has plunged to new depths. Another tradition has gone to the dogs. It's the beginning of the end. Supermarkets are selling costumes for nativity plays. Can you believe it? No more shepherds
A MAN was left with face and leg injuries after being knocked down by a car and then beaten by two men. The incident happened in Mandale Road, Middlesbrough on Monday. A spokesman for Cleveland Police said that the man was struck by the vehicle between
A COUNCILLOR who swore and lunged at another member was restrained and led from the debating chamber as a council meeting descended into chaos. Tempers flared as Richmondshire District Council discussed issues connected with allegations of bullying of
