Archive

  • Man saved from blazing home by fire-fighters

    A MAN was saved from his home by fire-fighters after a blaze broke out in his living room tonight. Neighbours desperately tried to get into the detached house in Hartington Way, Darlington, to reach the man after being alerted by his smoke alarm. After

  • Bomb disposal experts called to North-East village

    BOMB disposal experts were called to a North-East village after a man believed he had found an unexploded shell, in a garage. Maurice Hunter, 72, was looking around the garage at Hunter Brothers in Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, shortly after

  • Laborie Chardonnay 2004 from South Africa

    This is a new world, lightly oaked chardonnay with a light golden colour and a nose full of citrus fruit flavours. It's a medium-bodied well-balanced wine of 14 per cent alcohol. The taste is of peaches and tropical fruit with vanilla background and

  • Youth crime costs region £83m

    A JOBLESS generation of young people is costing the North-East hundreds of millions of pounds in lost earnings and crime, a groundbreaking study has revealed. Youth crime is costing the region £83 million every year while educational underachievement

  • Mother has the solution to help businesses

    A MOTHER is using 24 years of sales experience to start her own telemarketing company in the region. Kim Karwat, 39, originally from Welling, in Hertfordshire, has set up Delta K Solutions at her home in Aiskew, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, to

  • VW Touran

    SOME cars require more analysis than others to reveal their true charms and abilities. Get something a bit sporty or posh and the appeal is obvious. Then there are those cars that have to work for a living; the kind of middle- ranking plain-Janes

  • Citroen C4 Grand Picasso VTR

    Price: £19,795 WITH a line-up of people- carriers that's second to none, Citroen has taken over the mantle of MPV purveyor to the masses' from its French rival, Renault. The company has spent years researching family transportation needs and

  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice For All

    Publisher: Nintendo Format: Nintendo DS Price: £29.99 Family friendly? 12+ THERE aren't too many games around that entice gamers into buying them on the premise of playing a defence attorney

  • Virtua Tennis 3

    Publisher: Sega Format Reviewed: PS3 Price: £39.99 Family friendly? 3+ FANS of the Virtua Tennis series will know by now what to expect from these games - an extremely polished, near-perfect

  • Satnav: the way to go

    If you spent most of the Easter weekend arguing about which way to go, maybe it's time to invest in satnav. MOTOR accessory stores UK-wide have reported booming sales of satellite navigation (satnav) systems - alongside the good news that prices

  • Safety tips, and what to do in an emergency

    FIRE brigade station manager Carl Boasman said: "There are many things parents can do to make their homes safer. "Keep matches and lighters out of reach and out of sight, keep candles well away from children and their clothing, use a child-proof

  • Bears aim to top table

    After two away victories at Edinburgh and Berwick with a double for the bonus point against the latter Borders side - the Redcar Bears face the Monarchs from the Scottish capital on Thursday evening at 7.30pm looking for another double and a further bonus

  • April 4, 2007

    Solutions ACROSS 1 Cardinal. CA(R+D)IN+AL 5 Pop art. P(OP)ART 9 Retainer. RETAIN+ER 10 Hector. (two meanings) 12 Electrode. ELECT+ROD+E 13 Scree. S(C+R)EE 14 Acme. AC+ME 16 Examine. EX(AMIN)E 19 Adamant. ADA+M+ANT 21 Shed.

  • April 4, 2007

    Cryptic Clues ACROSS 1 Important Biblical figure crosses right in front of dead man (8) 5 Warhol made it work inside (3,3) 9 Keep ahead of queen's servant (8) 10 Bully a Trojan hero (6) 12 Choose to stick with European conductor (9) 13 Look round

  • Drug treatments

    REGARDING your recent stories about Kathleen Devonport of Chilton, who has been denied the drug treatment she needs for her cancer and also people who have Alzheimer's who are denied the drug that would help them. Where on earth has this country

  • Deodorant wafts

    ANTI-PERSPIRANT deodorants sting the nose and reduce the sense of smell. In so doing they prevent enjoyment of flavour in their vicinity. Users of these unnatural products should therefore be barred from locations where others congregate to enjoy

  • Gordon Brown

    YOUR Comment column (Echo, Apr 3), while rightly highly critical of Chancellor Gordon Brown's involvement in the great "Pensions Grab", finishes by complimenting him on his stewardship of the economy. My view is that history will judge him far

  • Dawin's theory

    WHAT complicated rigmaroles some "experts" come up with to explain away anything that disproves or casts doubt on Darwin's theory ("The ugly truth about beautiful people's DNA", Echo, Mar 28). The professors, it seems, have come up with their own

  • Stake victim

    ERIC Gendle was invited to name one scientist burned at the stake for saying the Earth goes around the sun, and the name he comes up with is "Bruno Giordani" (HAS, Apr 3). Giordano Bruno, if that's who he means, was not a scientist but a philosopher

  • Slave trade

    THE 200th anniversary of the ending of British involvement in the slave trade, by British parliamentary edict, subsequent to the campaigning efforts led by William Wilberforce (an Englishman) should, as columnist Peter Mullen says (Echo, Mar 27

  • Local democracy

    IT is still vivid in the minds of those who campaigned against the threat to local democracy - the sight of Labour's Tony Blair and the then Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, standing shoulder to shoulder supporting the North East Assembly

  • Immigration

    IN reply to John Riseley's letter on immigration (HAS, Mar 31) I wish to make the following points. Firstly, we have an ageing population. More people are living into their 80s and 90s with fewer children being born. If this continues, we will

  • April 10th, 2007

    COAL SLAVES The miners went on strike to get more pay, Pit life was dire in Queen Victoria's day, Hour after weary hour with pick and spade, Industrial slaves, no harder job was made. It was work or starve, no social justice then, The pit was the only

  • Innovative heart cushions aid recovery of cardiac patients

    CARDIAC patients are urged to hug a heart to help their recovery in a pioneering scheme believed to be the first in the UK. Patients attending Darlington Primary Care Trust's cardiac rehabilitation scheme are being given a huggable foam cushion designed

  • Town sites handed over to builders

    THE redevelopment of two sites in Hartlepool has moved a step closer. Hartlepool Revival has officially signed over the projects to builders Yuill Homes. The handover marks the next step forward in the completion of a multi-million

  • Housing group's multi-skills quest

    IMPROVEMENTS are likely for residents thanks to an innovative new scheme at Erimus Housing. Tradesmen working for its building services team are undertaking courses at Redcar and Cleveland College to give them the necessary attributes so they can be classed

  • Facing fears

    The Panic Room (BBC3, 9pm),The World's Worst Sex Change Surgeon (C4, 10pm). I couldn't help thinking of Corporal Jones's cry of "Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring" as the victims - sorry, phobics - stepped into The Panic Room. This BBC3 series is like a game

  • Easter - you couldn't make it up

    Easter in the City of London is rather different from the Easters I enjoyed when I was a Yorkshire country vicar. There was a routine about the season up there that never varied. On Good Friday morning dozens of villagers would turn out and give the

  • Draw is fine for Callan

    MELALCHRIST'S draw in stall number two provides a significant advantage for Neil Callan's mount at Pontefract in the Annual Badge Holders Handicap. Traditionally the runners stick limpet-like to the far rail, which means Callan can steer Melalchrist (

  • DJ Mike on 500-mile charity feat

    DJ Mike Read took the words of the Comic Relief single 500 miles literally when he started an epic charity walk and cycle ride. The former Top of the Pops presenter set off from Edinburgh Castle on Good Friday to raise funds for the charity. Now a presenter

  • Solid effort not good

    Padraig Harrington had the fewest putts of anybody in the Masters - by one from Justin Rose and Lee Westwood. But little good it did any of them. After a double bogey at the 17th, Rose fell from second to fifth. By going in the water at the 15th three

  • Quakers warned to play for their futures

    Darlington 1, Lincoln City 1. DAVE Penney may be finally resigned to League Two football for another year, but the Darlington manager has warned his players there is still plenty to play for this season. Penney's men can forget about any outside chance

  • Walsall, Swindon

    The top three in Coca-Cola League Two - Hartlepool, Walsall and Swindon - remain firmly on course for promotion. Walsall edged to victory against Hereford, taking 83 minutes to score the only goal. Hereford had Dean Beckwith sent off after 79 minutes

  • Church plays host to US congregation

    Corporation Road Baptist Tabernacle in Darlington is set to welcome a team of visitors from Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, from April 21-29. The visitors will be in the UK accompanying their senior pastor John D Morgan who will be speaking

  • Bruce unhappy as damaging defeat ends with brawl

    Barnsley 1, Birmingham 0. Steve Bruce pointed an accusing finger at Barnsley assistant manager Ryan Kidd after an ugly post-match brawl overshadowed Birmingham's 1-0 defeat at Oakwell. Daniel Nardiello's 52nd-minute strike settled an absorbing encounter

  • Generation of jobless youths cost millions

    A GENERATION of jobless young people is costing the region hundreds of millions of pounds in lost earnings and crime, a study reveals. Youth crime is costing the region £83m a year, while educational underachievement costs £945m in lost earnings. About

  • Boro star earn boss's backing

    GARETH Southgate has reassured teenage winger Adam Johnson he has a bright future at the Riverside, despite England international Stewart Downing apparently standing between him and a regular place. The 19-year-old was handed a rare start against Watford

  • Aussies best still to come - Ponting

    Australia captain Ricky Ponting has ominously warned the rest of the World Cup hopefuls they are saving their best until last. Reigning champions Australia are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive title in the Caribbean and extended their winning

  • Roeder proves a match for more illustrious opponent

    Newcastle United 0, Arsenal 0. ARSENE WENGER remains a manager Glenn Roeder admires. At St James' Park yesterday, the Newcastle United boss proved more than a match for his hugely acclaimed counterpart. In both the Magpies' encounters with Arsenal this

  • Western outpost tamed at last

    The Arngrove Northern League, which for the past 11 eventful years I've had the great privilege of chairing, stretches from Alnwick up't top to Stokesley and Northallerton in the south and in the wild west to Penrith. There were 43 clubs when last we

  • Fletcher launches defence of his under-fire skipper

    Coach Duncan Fletcher has given his full backing to captain Michael Vaughan and is confident he can emerge from his latest slump to finally become a force for England in one-day cricket. Vaughan's struggles with the bat in limited overs cricket are a

  • Warning sign is not enough

    WHEN the Government introduced tougher flammability requirements for children's clothes 20 years ago, boys pyjamas somehow slipped through the net. Girls nightdresses, dressing gowns and similar garments must be treated with chemicals to make them fire

  • Fears over safety of derelict building

    DEVELOPERS who own a derelict former school and nursing home on the outskirts of a Teesdale village have until the middle of next month to tidy it up. Teesdale District Council wrote to Kebbell Homes and Blackthorn Homes to tell them to carry out repair

  • Villagers prepare for visit by competition judges

    THE village of Stillington is putting the finishing touches to its presentation for the first round of the Calor Village of the Year for England competition. The village has already submitted a written entry to the event and this will be the residents

  • Residents urged to take pride in town

    HARTLEPOOL is about to under-go a spring clean with a blitz on dog fouling as one of its priorities. Spring Clean Hartlepool, which is part of the council's Pride in Hartlepool campaign, is running throughout this month and next month. It aims to raise

  • Starting date to build bridge over blackspot

    WORK could start within months to build a bridge over an accident blackspot on the A19. The Highways Agency plans to begin building a flyover at the Black Swan crossroads between Ingleby Arncliffe and Crathorne by the end of the year. The cost of the

  • Fame Academy owner's £1m plan for former drug den

    THE owner of the second biggest London residence after Buckingham Palace will invest £1m in one of the North-East's most deprived estates. Admiral Estates, which is believed to have links with the rulers of Syria, will begin work this week on redeveloping

  • Awards for litter pickers

    COMMUNITY-spirited residents have been recognised for their contribution to the environment. A ceremony was held to present 18 people with environment awards from Heighington Parish Litter Group in honour of the work they have done to protect and improve

  • Healthy living project plea

    A scheme to encourage families to make healthier food and lifestyle choices would like to hear from groups in Darlington. The leaders of the Healthier Communities Nutrition Project are aiming to develop community- based schemes such as food co-operatives

  • Smugglers centre reopens

    THE fascinating story of smuggler John Andrews features during the reopening of the Saltburn Smugglers visitor centre. The three-room Heritage Centre invites people to relive the sights, sounds and smells of the smuggling trade from more than 200 years

  • Trust helps smokers give up habit

    MORE than 2,000 people in North Yorkshire gave up smoking with the help of the NHS this year. Figures published by the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust show that the trust's Stop Smoking classes helped 2,242 people quit the habit between last

  • Young swimmer scoops medals

    A TALENTED young swimmer has scooped double silver after taking on the best of Yorkshire. Thirsk White Horse Swim member Greg Ient won the medals at the recent Yorkshire Championships. The 13-year-old was second in both the butterfly and freestyle races

  • Rank change to go before council

    PLANS to move a taxi rank to improve parking will go before councillors on Friday. Members of Hambleton District Council's licensing and environmental protection committee will be asked to back plans to relocate the current rank in Elder Road, Northallerton

  • Residents' group gets Home Office award

    RESIDENTS of a north Durham village, who banded together to tackle anti-social behaviour on a council estate, are celebrating the award of a national prize. Members of the Lilac House Tenants and Residents' Association in Sacriston, will be presented

  • Landmark revamp for housing association

    HOUSING Hartlepool is marking its third anniversary with the completion of its 2,500th refurbishment. The housing association has invested £41m in improvements since it was formed in April, 2004. So far, 6,300 of the 7,000 properties in its ownership

  • Proposals unveiled for sixth form

    PLANS have been unveiled for a shared £1.5m sixth form building. The facility would be built for Ripon Grammar School and Ripon College, to encourage young people to stay on at school and study in the city. The two-storey, 1,000sq metre building would

  • Musicians compete for cash prizes

    FINALISTS in a competition to find a leading singer or instrumentalist are preparing for a musical showdown. The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street, working with the James Etherington Music Trust, have now reached the final stages in the search

  • Sports events for youngsters

    YOUNGSTERS from across east Durham are being offered a range of activities to help them improve their fitness levels. Events are being organised by the Active Easington Team and any child aged from four to 16 living in the area can take part

  • Councillor calling for police to evict gipsies

    A COUNCILLOR has called for police to take action over a group of travellers who, he says, have caused damage to the site of a former coke works. Sedgefield District Councillor Kestor Noble says that many locals in his ward of Fishburn, County Durham,

  • School development plans to include wind turbines

    A MAJOR redevelopment of a secondary school could see 11 wind turbines built to provide a fifth of its energy needs. Detailed plans for the future of Richmond School have been unveiled. The £32m scheme will include a combination of new buildings and

  • Cash boost for communal hall association

    VILLAGERS who have taken over the management of their communal room are celebrating a £10,000 National Lottery award. The Lottery Fund Awards for All cash was given to the Communal Room Association, which is responsible for the upkeep of the Dene Court

  • Village gets ready for competition

    A VILLAGE is putting the finishing touches to a presentation for a national village of the year competition. West Cornforth, near Spennymoor, will present to a panel of judges in the first round of the Calor Village of the Year for England. Judges will

  • Family group is awarded quality status

    MIDDLESBROUGH'S Children and Family Information Service has gained national recognition for the quality of its service. The Matrix Quality Standard Accreditation was awarded to Childcare Plus for its services to the public and the way it trains and develops

  • Green with envy at eco-vehicle

    A SEDGEFIELD Borough Council officer has decided to practice what she preaches by investing in a super-green car. Karin Johnson, Sedgefield Borough Council's sustainable communities team leader, has become the first borough council employee to have a

  • Waterfront apartments unveiled to the public

    THE final piece has been put in place at a landmark £7.2m regeneration scheme on Durham's waterfront. The last few apartments have now been completed at the Clements Wharf development. Developers say the pathfinding project by regeneration

  • Students win computer prizes

    TWO students at the University of Teesside have won new laptops in an online competition.To enter, Deborah Flanagan and Kevin Robinson wrote a few details into the university website.The students were selected from nearly 5,000 entries.Mother-of-three

  • Lin finished jungle trak - despite broken metatarsal

    A PLUCKY North-East civil completed a jungle charity trek with a foot injury which has become the curse of English footballers.Despite fracturing her left foot halfway through the 50-mile trek in northern Thailand, Lin Houston insisted on finishing the

  • Beachcomber Ben, eight, left shell-shocked by find

    AN EIGHT-year-old boy got more than he bargained for while out beachcombing with his grandfather.For little Ben Taylor found what police believe may be an unexploded bomb - a discovery that led to sunseekers being evacuated, a beach being cordoned off

  • Bereavement charity may have to cut vital services

    A CHARITY which provides a vital service to bereaved friends and relatives could be forced to cancel some of its work because of a cash crisis.The Tees Valley and Durham branch of Cruse Bereavement Care has said it may have to refuse referrals from GPs

  • Casino calls in addiction experts to train staff

    A CASINO has called in addiction experts to train staff how to spot the signs of problem gambling among its customers.Aspers Casino, based at The Gate leisure complex , in Newcastle, has hired the North-East Council on Addictions (Neca) to train staff

  • Sharks' England

    A WOMEN'S rugby team is hoping to secure promotion after scoring sponsorship from a Darlington company.The Sharks women's rugby team, based at Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Football Club, have secured sponsorship from chartered surveyors and property consultants

  • 'Evil' vandals steal flowers from baby's grave

    CRUEL vandals have trashed a baby's grave shortly after the anniversary of her death.The thugs, who scattered flowers and stole lights from the headstone of Philippa Lisha Canwell, have been described as "evil" by her mother.Lisa Blanchard, 32, of South

  • Builder's effort to help little Oscar

    A KIND-HEARTED builder is hoping to raise thousands of pounds towards life-changing treatment for a youngster with cerebral palsy.Ian Wall, a builder on Darlington's Pedestrian Heart project, is raising money for three-year-old Oscar Worton, who has cerebral

  • Art lovers finding their station

    CHILDREN and adults made the most of a railway-themed art and craft day in Weardale yesterday.About 70 people went to the event at Stanhope Station. They created postcards as for a train trail - art workshops set up in rail attractions.Visitors were given

  • Building up funds for brave youngster

    A KIND-HEARTED builder is hoping to raise thousands of pounds to help provide life-changing treatment for a youngster with cerebral palsy.Ian Wall, from Eaglescliffe, is raising money for three-year-old Oscar Worton, who has cerebral palsy, a life-long

  • Young criminals defying orders

    NEARLY half of the region's young criminals placed on a flagship community punishment scheme are flouting the order.A total of 474 youngsters breached the terms of the intensive supervision and surveillance programme (ISSP) in two years, the Home Office

  • The famous ox that gave its name to many a pub

    DRINKERS up and down the country will have supped pints in public houses bearing the name of a Shorthorn bull bred in the North-East.But few know the story of the legend that was the Durham Ox, an animal so famous that it spawned its own range of blue

  • Mother's gratitude for the dedicated hospice 'angels'

    A MOTHER has described how the care her relatives got from a hospice while suffering from cancer has inspired her to join a midnight walk raise money for the charity.Joanne Sullivan, 34, of Chester-le-Street, is one of the latest people to join a growing

  • Lodge raises money for local music festival

    ONE of the oldest Masonic Lodges in England has presented £300 to the organisers of an annual music festival.Lennox Lodge, in Richmond, donated the money to Richmond Live, the free music festival held in Richmond every August.The Master of the Lodge,

  • Work on bridge over crash blackspot to begin this year

    WORK could start to build a bridge over a notorious accident blackspot on the A19 within months.The Highways Agency plans to begin building a flyover at the Black Swan crossroads, between Ingleby Arncliffe and Crathorne, by the end of the year.The cost

  • Volunteers praised for helping to support Fijian community

    TWO students from the region who spent months living on a goat farm in Fiji have been honoured for their voluntary work in the community there.Davina Thompson and Paul Davison were chosen from 25,000 volunteers to win the Gap Activity Projects' (Gap)

  • Leadbitter gem seals win to send Sunderland top

    Southampton 1, Sunderland 2.THIS weekend marked the 95th anniversary of the Titanic's ill-fated departure from Southampton but, while Sunderland's promotion push initially looked like sinking as they fell behind in the south coast city yesterday, a spectacular

  • Splashing out for Easter

    The North-East enjoyed an unseasonably warm end to the Easter bank holiday yesterday, although many people found themselves in heavy traffic as they headed home after a weekend away.And there is good news for those who fear the fine weather will be followed

  • Masterplan is set to create new vision for village life

    A VILLAGE has launched its parish plan after three years of preparation.The West Auckland Parish Plan has been produced as a guide to what residents and parish councillors would like to see improved.A questionnaire was sent to every village home. The

  • Twins combine to make double trouble on pitch

    OPPONENTS could be forgiven for thinking they are seeing double when Kim and Nat Wild take to the football pitch.The girls, who both play for the Sunderland AFC Centre of Excellence girls under-16 team, are identical twins and play together in defence.Last

  • Cashing in on giveaway

    A FAMILY'S holiday is off to a flying start after landing £1,000 to spend on their summer getaway.Lea Atkinson, 31, of Trimdon, won the money in a Hays Travel competition after she entered a prize draw when she booked a trip to Portugal.Mrs Atkinson

  • Scrapbooks reveal secrets of stately home

    PERSONAL photographs, sketches and jottings charting a century in the history of a stately home have gone on show.Between the Covers - 100 years of Kiplin Family Scrapbooks looks at the stories of some of the people who lived and worked in Kiplin Hall

  • A taste of chocolate for student cooks

    STUDENTS have been learning the art of making chocolate.Darlington College Pathways students, some with learning difficulties, finished term by producing professional chocolates for their families for Easter.Darlington College tutor Paul Buxton said:

  • Graduate lands a job with a difference

    A GRADUATE has landed an unusual role as a North-East's town's first great-crested newt supremo.Rachel Jackson, who completed a Higher National Diploma in animal management, will work for a year as great-crested newt officer.Durham Wildlife Trust has

  • Bunnies are best of buddies

    TWO young rabbits that endured a difficult start in life have struck up a friendship at an animal sanctuary.The rabbits - one wild and one domestic - are being looked after at Bunny Burrows in Richmond, where they have been named after 1980s police duo

  • Full steam ahead at annual model railway exhibition

    THOUSANDS of model rail enthusiasts flocked to an annual show during the Easter weekend.The York Model Railway Show, now in its 45th year, took place at York racecourse.A total of 130 stands featuring 42 working layouts was set up in the Knavesmire stand.The

  • Keane will only celebrate once promotion a certainty

    HIS Sunderland team might be top of the Championship table for the first time this season, but Roy Keane is adamant there will be no premature celebrations until the Black Cats are back in the Premiership.Yesterday's dramatic 2-1 win over fellow promotion

  • Roeder bemoans penalty decision

    SATISFACTION was tinged with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment for Glenn Roeder last night when he insisted Newcastle United should have been rewarded with a last-minute penalty in their 0-0 draw against Arsenal yesterday.The Magpies, who continued

  • If we change law, he will be a little hero

    BLOND and blue-eyed, with a cheeky little smile and a penchant for sweets and cartoons, Daniel Mitchard-Harrison looks like a little angel.Even laid up in his hospital bed with bandages from waist to feet and a catheter tube trailing to the floor, it

  • Sunday best

    After 41 years of six-day weeks, new owners took the Bull by the horns and opted to labour on Sundays too. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God

  • 'My art is the story of my life'

    Five years ago artist Malcolm Teasdale depicted traditional landscapes and still lifes. But by turning to the industry of his North-East youth, he has found a new audience. He talks to Lindsay Jennings. IT is hard to believe that the industrial North-East

  • Job done, but Pools still keep celebrations on ice

    Hartlepool United 1, Accrington Stanley 0. HARTLEPOOL United will be playing League One football next season.Mathematically they've not escaped from the bottom division just yet, but with a 12-point advantage over MK Dons with 12 to play for and a goal

  • River-swim teenager is rescued from mud bank

    A TEENAGER sparked a major rescue operation after going missing while trying to swim across one of the North-East's most dangerous rivers.A lifeboat, coastguard and police, fire and ambulance officers were called to the River Wear, near Sunderland FC's

  • Why the law needs changing immediately

    THE Northern Echo today launches a campaign urging the Government to change a law that allows less stringent fire safety standards on children's pyjamas.Last night fire chiefs, trading standards officials and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

  • You're never too old to care

    With foster parents now coming in many differenet guises, those once excluded from the system can find a more receptive attitude. Women's Ediotr Sarah Foster talks to a mature couple who feel that grandparents lik them have much to offer children in care

  • Firefighter tells how blaze was tackled

    GROUP manager Paul Curran, of Tyne and Wear fire and rescue, tackled the fire which broke out at the Northumbria University campus last night. Speaking from the scene, he told assistant news editor, MATT WESTCOTT, just what firefighters were faced with