Collier Hill (2.45) bids to keep this afternoon's Yorkshire Cup on home soil for his North Yorkshire trainer, Alan Swinbank. The remarkable eight-year-old, trained at Melsonby, near Richmond, has mopped up over £1 million in prize money during one
Godolphin unleash one of their latest recruits at York this afternoon when Palace Episode (2.45) sports the famous all-blue colours for the first time in public. Purchased privately out of Kevin Ryan's stable at the end of 2005 by Sheikh Mohammed and
Just about everything that Aidan O'Brien touches turns to gold, so backing against the Irish maestro at York's eagerly-anticipated first fixture of the season may prove unwise. O'Brien is sending over a couple of his big guns for the three-day festival
Miserably wet weather at Redcar yesterday produced a series of shock results as the constant heavy rain penetrated deep into the ground, writes Colin Woods. Out-of-pocket punters found themselves on the back foot from the word go as Howard Johnson's
YORKSHIRE director of cricket David Byas has dismissed speculation Michael Vaughan will make his long-awaited comeback from injury this week. The England captain has not played since being forced home from the tour of India in February by a persistent
DARLINGTON are in danger of ending the season with three successive defeats when they complete their National Three North programme with the rearranged visit of champions Bradford and Bingley tomorrow. The Bees, who made sure of the title by winning
DURHAM'S C & G Trophy match at home to Warwickshire tomorrow has come just too early for Steve Harmison but he could make his comeback in the championship game against Middlesex, starting at Riverside on Wednesday. Durham are reporting the paceman's
STEVE Harmison has been given the all-clear to make his comeback in the Durham team to play Middlesex in the four-day match starting at Riverside today. The paceman missed the third Test in India and the one-day internationals because of a shin injury
Yorkshire v Lancashire (County Championship) : Day Two YORKSHIRE did better with the second new ball in the Roses match at Headingley yesterday but Lancashire still managed to reach 417 for nine before declaring. Bad light and then rain restricted
Yorkshire v Lancashire (County Championship) : Day One A DOUBLE gamble by Yorkshire failed to pay off on a rain-hit first day of the Roses match at Headingley yesterday when Lancashire closed on 228 for three off 53 overs with Mal Loye unbeaten on 113
Yorkshire v Northamptonshire (C & G Trophy) A THRILLING match full of twists and turns ended with victory by two runs to Yorkshire over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road yesterday in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy. Rarely, if ever, have Yorkshire
A CLIMBER from the North-East has frozen to death hours after realising his ambition to conquer Mount Everest. Several other mountaineers reported seeing the stricken figure of David Sharp trying to work on his oxygen system - but were powerless to help
SUNDERLAND are unwilling to listen to any offers for Jon Stead while question marks remain over who will be running the club next season, writes Paul Fraser. Sheffield United, who will swap places with the Black Cats in the Premiership, are preparing
AN inquest into death of a young woman who was stabbed with a Samurai sword and then run over by a car was opened this morning. Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle began the investigation the death of 21-year-old Carie Burns who died on the morning of May 12
CRIMINAL charges brought against the owners of the shop at the centre of an inquiry into one of Britain's worst food poisoning outbreaks have been dropped. The decision to discontinue the case against the owners of Robson Fresh Foods makes it unlikely
A FAMILY doctor who forged patient prescriptions to satisfy his addiction to strong painkillers has been cleared to work again as a GP, it has emerged. Dr Robin Wade escaped being struck off by the General Medical Council (GMC), despite admitting four
PETER'S parents were at their wits' end when they first heard about the strangely named clinic which helped change their lives. At the age of seven their son had been diagnosed as suffering from ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Doctors
A FUTURE Miss World could be crowned at a North-East race track later this month. Sedgefield Racecourse is hosting the third Miss Durham Beauty Contest - a qualifier for the Miss England event, the winner of which goes on to Miss World. Last year's Miss
A CLIMBER from the North-East has frozen to death hours after realising his ambition to conquer Mount Everest. Several other mountaineers reported seeing the stricken figure of David Sharp trying to work on his oxygen system - but were powerless to help
THREE sisters narrowly avoided jail for their part in what a judge described as "an unpleasant and unattractive" drunken attack on an innocent woman. Twins Natalie and Naomi Vasey, 31, were both ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work for the community
DAYS after receiving confirmation that it was among the survivors of a nationwide cull of local health service providers, Darlington's primary care trust (PCT) has announced a severe cost-cutting programme. There was understandable jubilation in Darlington
COLLIER HILL (2.45) bids to keep this afternoon's Yorkshire Cup on home soil for his North Yorkshire trainer, Alan Swinbank. The remarkable eight-year-old, trained at Melsonby, near Richmond, has mopped up over £1 million in prize money during one of
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, is lucky
TWO bars in the region face an uncertain future after nightclub operator Luminar yesterday called time on its ownership of its Chicago Rock Cafe and Jumpin' Jaks chains. The company said it would sell or demerge its entertainment division after it was
A CO-OPERATIVE of farmers' wives whose members have become trained miliners is celebrating 21 years in business. Get Ahead Hats has grown to 22 outlets - to be found from Devon and Kent to North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear - with an annual turnover of
HOPES that workers at MFI's North-East factory might save their jobs have been dashed. The troubled furniture manufacturer said last night its factory on the Preston Farm Industrial Estate, in Stockton, Teesside, would be closing next week. The company
COMPANIES plagued by water shortages in the South are being encouraged to move to the North-East. A campaign by inward investment agency Tees Valley Regeneration (TVR) has highlighted the assets at a time of growing water shortages in the south. More
THE confusing saga surrounding James Milner's future at Newcastle United could be finally resolved today. Manager Glenn Roeder is meeting with chairman Freddy Shepherd this afternoon to discuss plans for next season. The future of several United stars
Mountaineer Alan Hinks traces the route taken by David Sharp and says there was nothing other climbers could do to save him from his fate on Everest's infamous North Face. Ian Noble repors. AT least 180 people have died whilst climbing Mount Everest since
A WOMAN who helped steal two throws from a Darlington shop has escaped a jail term. Darlington Magistrates' Court heard how Rebecca Jayne Raper, with two associates, stole two throw-over rugs worth £45 from Matalan, in Neasham Road, Darlington, on August
SEX SLAVES: CAN we be assured that no social service or housing benefits are being used to support Darlington's Kaotian fantasists? - Name supplied, Heighington. I AM shocked to learn that there are female sex slaves in Darlington, and young women being
THE new mayor of Ferryhill is asking for help in choosing his charity. Councillor Ron Greenwell, from Dean Bank, Ferryhill, has recently taken over from Councillor Julie Bainbridge. He has chosen Macmillan Nurses as one of the charities he will support
A TEENAGE girl has admitted she might have accidently ran over a huge rabbit that was plaguing her village. Villagers living in Felton, Northumberland, have been terrorized by the bunny, said to be a cross between a rabbit and a hare. It left prints the
A TEENAGER who hacked his father to death with a 14in knife has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Shaun Leckenby, 18, murdered Ronald Leckenby during a sustained attack at the home they shared in the early hours of January 14. Newcastle Crown Court
A COUNCIL has hit out at mindless vandals who have covered a town's skate park with obscene graffiti. Workers from Shildon Town Council spent yesterday afternoon cleaning the writing off equipment, following the discovery of the obscene messages earlier
A FORMER police chief has died after a battle against cancer. Chief Inspector John Bright, who served with the old North Riding Police for 32 years, died at home on May 1, aged 83. Although he lived at Great Ayton for 30 years, Mr Bright was born at Thornaby
A FOOTBALL league to test the skills of Northallerton school teams was hosted by Allertonshire School. The Town Schools Football League was held over three consecutive Tuesdays before the Easter break. All the matches were keenly contested, but the eventual
STUDENTS swapped the lecture hall for the football pitch yesterday as they went head to head in a charity tournament. Students from the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, organised the football competition to kick-start their fundraising for Cancer
A TOUCH of French flair came to Bishop Auckland's market place yesterday, as traders from Normandy set up stall. The Marche de France joined regular traders at the town's Thursday market, bringing 17 stalls and hundreds of products. It was the first time
YOUNG scientists and engineers of the future gathered at Bedale High School for an annual event yesterday. The school hosted its third science, technology, engineering and mathematics fair, attended by about 150 pupils from feeder primary schools in the
A SEMINAR designed to encourage over-50s to improve their driving skills is being held in Northallerton. It is one of three taking place, aimed at keeping more mature car drivers safely on the road. The free event is being organised by North Yorkshire
FUNDING of nearly £80,000 may be invested in a hostel for youngsters in Thirsk. The Endeavour Housing Association is hoping to create a young persons' supported housing project and base it in the Broadacres Housing Association's hostel for the homeless
A NEWSAGENT has been fined following the sale of alcohol to a child. A Trading Standards operation, using an underage volunteer, on September 21 last year resulted in Joseph Vincent, the licensee of a convenience store in Chatham Road, Hartlepool, being
ORGANISED your summer holidays yet? What about insurance? I know, I know, travel insurance is so-o-o-boring...Until you have a car crash in Ibiza....or a tooth infection in Florida....or you break your ankle in Portugal...get your bag stolen in Paris.
THE latest NHS trust to announce job losses has said it needs to cut spending by £2.3m to keep within its budget. Only days after it survived an extensive Government cull of primary care trusts (PCTs), Darlington Primary Care Trust confirmed it was introducing
A SET of new wheels has been bought to help improve links between secondary and primary schools in Darlington. The 17-seater minibus has been bought by Hurworth School Maths and Computing College and Eastbourne Comprehensive as part of the Darlington
A LOCAL authority is facing the prospect of paying its workers an extra £2.5m a year. A pay evaluation of all Darlington Borough Council's staff has recommended nearly 60 per cent of the workforce is given a pay increase. However, it has also recommended
A MAN who borrowed his brother's car without permission, crashed it into two parked cars and fled the scene appeared in court yesterday. Jason Terence Lough admitted at Darlington Magistrates' Court taking the Citroen Xsara from his parents' house on
CHILDREN got a behind-the-scenes look at Darlington's changing town centre when they toured the Pedestrian Heart works this week. Year six pupils from Mowden Junior School were shown the health and safety equipment worn by labourers and site managers,
A DILAPIDATED snooker club is being turned into a £1.5m business centre. The building, in the Sunniside area of Sunderland, is being given a new lease of life as part of a multi-million pound city centre regeneration. When the Argent Business and Conference
A WORKER told an inquest yesterday how part of a digger, which he was not qualified to operate, fell and killed a colleague instantly. Kevin Bradshaw, 31, of West Auckland, County Durham, died when he was struck on the head by the arm of a bobcat on December
A BOGEYMAN horror video could help save householders from becoming victims of doorstep crime. Hartlepool Borough Council is clamping down on doorstep crime and sneak-in burglars with a short film, called Beware the Bogeyman. The video is produced by the
A TEENAGE girl has died after a high-speed train struck her on the East Coast main line near Darlington. The 17-year-old, believed to be from Darlington was hit by the train, close to Geneva Road, just after 10.30pm last night. She was later pronounced
GNER was condemned today for keeping plans for inflation-busting fare increases - the highest in the country - secret from a committee of MPs. The all-party transport committee branded the rail firm "irresponsible" after it failed to tell its inquiry
A £230,000 project has been launched to look after hay meadows in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). One of the first farmers to join is Richard Spry, who has a rare sub-species of Lady's-Mantle in a meadow at Newbiggin-in-Teesdale
WITH its state-of-the-art graphics, realistic engine sounds and fully operational driving controls, it could be described as the ultimate computer game. But this is no mere toy for techno-nerds - it's a deadly serious, multi-million pound piece of kit
MULTI-millionaire former car dealer Sir Peter Vardy has launched a venture to support growing companies. Just three months after selling his stake in motor dealer Reg Vardy plc, Sir Peter has launched Vardy Venture Capital. The £50m fund is ready to invest
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson will have a significantly-increased transfer budget for next season to help with a promotion push, the club's chairman pledged last night. George Houghton said the money made available to strengthen the squad will be "
The sinking of the SS Ceramic was one of the many tragedies of the Second World War, But for John Dean, uncovered the details of its fate also meant solving a family mystery. IT was a terrible incident that illustrated the human and inhuman side of war
THE first deliveries of short rotation coppice to fuel the wood burning power station on Teesside are under way. The Wilton 10 biomass power station, built and operated by SembCorp Utilities UK, is expected to come on line in summer 2007. It will consume
POLITICIANS on a fact-finding mission dropped in on a North-East school yesterday. The Education and Skills Select Committee spent four hours in Darlington looking at all aspects of the newly-opened Haughton Education Village. The group is to write a
A DILAPIDATED snooker club is being turned into a £1.5m business centre. The building, in the Sunniside area of Sunderland, is being given a new lease of life as part of a multi-million pound city centre regeneration. When the Argent Business and Conference
IT was like something out of a horror film. It was early in the morning and I was only just surfacing from a deep slumber. I had just negotiated another five minutes of rest with my inner self, and was settling back into the pillow, when I heard my name
BOSSES at a cash-strapped hospital trust have spent nearly £150,000 on taxis - including almost £50,000 transporting pieces of paper. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, which is £13.5m in the red, paid out £48,663 ferrying patients from home to hospital
THE most important function of any Government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. So perhaps the most damning indictment we have heard of the current Government has come from the Prime Minister himself earlier this week. It is a quote worth repeating
CRIMINAL charges brought against the owners of the shop at the centre of an inquiry into one of Britain's worst food poisoning outbreaks have been dropped. The decision to discontinue the case against the owners of Robson Fresh Foods makes it unlikely
GEORGE BOATENG has warmed to the idea of staying at Middlesbrough but has delayed his final decision until after the identity of his new manager has been confirmed. Much has been made of the Dutchman's reluctance to pen the latest contract that has been
THE confusing saga surrounding James Milner's future at Newcastle United could be finally resolved today. Manager Glenn Roeder is meeting with chairman Freddy Shepherd this afternoon to discuss plans for next season. The future of several United stars
GEORGE BOATENG has warmed to the idea of staying at Middlesbrough but has delayed his final decision until after the identity of his new manager has been confirmed. Much has been made of the Dutchman's reluctance to pen the latest contract that has been
IT WAS at Trent Bridge last year that, with one throw, Gary Pratt shot to stardom, resulting in an open-top bus ride with the Ashes winners in London and a visit to 10 Downing Street. On his first visit to the Nottingham ground since that glorious moment
A CZECH man has been banned from the roads for 20 months after he admitted drink-driving. Robert Simko, 25, of Farrer Street, Darlington, also admitted driving without a licence at the Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday. He admitted driving with
A LEAFLET offering advice on all aspects of parking in Darlington has been produced to help residents and visitors. The Park Smart guide will be available from the Town Hall, Hopetown House, the Tourist Information Centre and other Darlington Council-run
CHILDREN enjoyed activities and reading at two events in Bishop Auckland. The latest of Bishop Auckland Town Hall's Twiglets sessions took place last week, with maypole dancing, stories and crafts, supervised by Sue Able and Eileen Glenton. The next session
A CLIMBER from the North-East has frozen to death hours after realising his ambition to conquer Mount Everest. Several other mountaineers reported seeing the stricken figure of David Sharp trying to work on his oxygen system - but were powerless to help
A MAN who falsely claimed more than £4,000 in housing benefit has been given a conditional discharge for two years. Anthony Stephenson, 32, of Brantwood Terrace, Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to claiming rent assistance, despite owning
A LIFElong interest in serving his community has culminated in Tom Foster becoming the new Mayor of a North-East city. A member of Sunderland City Council for the past nine years, Councillor Foster was presented with his chains of office by the retiring
TAXI firms in Teesdale have warned that fares are likely to rise after the council increased licence fees by up to 30 per cent. Three firms in Barnard Castle wrote to Teesdale District Council to complain about the rise, arguing they will not get anything
A SOLDIER who crashed his car into a parked vehicle while drunk was banned from driving for 28 months yesterday. Lance Corporal John Armstrong, 23, of Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without insurance,
A SCHOOLGIRL'S artwork will be seen across her community to promote a town improvements scheme. Lauren Davies, aged ten, a pupil at Pallister Park Primary School, came first in the Operation Cleansweep event. The competition, to promote cleaning up the
RESIDENTS have been invited to meet their local police officer at a new drop-in surgery. The surgeries for Catterick Garrison and Colburn residents will be held every two months in Colburn Library. The first will take place on Monday, between 5pm and
AN arts and community venue will stage an open day next month. The Spennymoor Settlement group of volunteers, which runs the town's Everyman Theatre, in O'Hanlon Street, will host the event on Saturday, June 3, from 10am to 4pm. It is being held in response
AN independent review is to be commissioned into health services in North Yorkshire, where NHS organisations are facing a cash crisis. The move was revealed as an assurance was sought at the county council health scrutiny committee that there will be
SCHOOLCHILDREN have raised money to provide fresh water, toilets and trees for an African community. Year five and six pupils from Richmond Methodist School raised £210 with a charity fun afternoon and a sponsored litter pick in a lane near the school
A SHOP worker was elbowed in the face when a man reached into his till and grabbed hundreds of pounds. Cleveland Police are hunting the thief who entered the Kwik Save store in Middlesbrough through an exit door. He stood behind the male cashier at about
A DURHAM schoolgirl has won a music award at a regional competition in Newcastle's Assembly Rooms. Emily Devine, a year ten pupil at Durham High School for Girls had reached the finals of The Avison Ensemble 21st Anniversary 2006 competition. And after
A SAILING club is to hold an open day to encourage more people to get involved in the sport. The Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club is to hold an open day from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, June 3. Visitors will be able to try their hand at sailing or wind-surfing
A PIONEERING scheme to save mortgage defaulters from becoming homeless has been proposed. Housing officers at Richmondshire District Council are asking members to support a mortgage rescue pilot scheme. Residents falling behind on their mortgage repayments
A SINGLE word omitted from a council document left dozens of workers wrongly fearing for their jobs. More than 80 tradesmen who work for Durham City Council's Direct Labour Organisation (DLO), which repairs and maintains council houses, were left worried
PLANS to build two schools in east Cleveland have been approved. Work is due to start later this year on a multi-million pound integrated learning campus in Saltburn, that will see the creation of Huntcliff Secondary School. A new Saltburn Primary School
IF Thierry Henry turns his back on the Premiership this summer, he added a blot to his glorious Arsenal copybook in the Stade de France. His departure, if he is to head for Spain in the next few months, will be mourned by Arsenal fans and followers of
IT WAS a sad coincidence that in the week Matthew Hoggard became the tenth Englishman to reach 200 Test wickets, one of the two other Yorkshiremen in that elite group, Fred Trueman, was reported to be suffering from cancer. Even as he undergoes his treatment
IT was like something out of a horror film. It was early in the morning and I was only just surfacing from a deep slumber. I had just negotiated another five minutes of rest with my inner self, and was settling back into the pillow, when I heard my name
Getting the right travel insurance is absolutely crucial these days. It can make or break that longed-for holiday. ORGANISED your summer holidays yet? What about insurance? I know, I know, travel insurance is so-o-o-boring...Until you have a car crash
The only roses to bloom at Headingley yesterday were red ones until the last wicket pair of Jason Gillespie and Deon Kruis gave Yorkshire an unexpected chance of avoiding the follow-on in their Championship tussle with Lancashire, writes David Warner.
MULTI-millionaire former car dealer Sir Peter Vardy has launched a venture to support growing companies. Just three months after selling his stake in motor dealer Reg Vardy plc, Sir Peter has launched Vardy Venture Capital. The £50m fund is ready to invest
IN the first eight weeks of his planned five-year stint in charge of Darlington Football Club, George Houghton has already started planning for the future of the "sleeping giant" he believes he has taken over. The Tyneside-born property developer has
Hundreds of thousands of children are taking powerful drugs to control hyperactivity. Health Editor Barry Nelson talks to one family who weaned their son off drugs and sent him instead to a unique North-East clinic. PETER'S parents were at their wits'
CONCERNS are mounting for a teenage girl who has been missing since Friday. It was first realised that Cindy Marie Shield, 15, of Elmfield Road, Shildon, County Durham, was missing when she failed to attend school. Sergeant Steve Moralee, of Newton Aycliffe
A ROAD-rage businessman whose actions led to another motorist reversing down a motorway to escape him has been banned from driving. Mechanical engineer Richard Anthony Cromarty, 40, tried to force a Honda Civic to stop on the A1(M ), near Durham City,
