A GANG of bullies left a girl of 13 close to death by forcing her to remain waist-deep in the icy sea for two hours. She had to be rushed to hospital suffering from hypothermia after her ordeal. Lifesavers warned the youngster could have died if she
A MOTHER sobbed in court as she admitted killing her 22-month-old son and faced up to a life behind bars. Gemma Fennelly pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of little Mitchell Bate by gross negligence. Her partner, Mark Bate, faced the same charge, but
THE driver killed in a head on smash in Knaresborough has been named by police. Lee Simon Barrett, 33, of Allerton Park was killed in a head on smash at 9.50pm on Monday. He was driving a blue Mini Coupe which was in a collision with a Ford Fiesta
THREE men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder following a drive-by shooting. The men, aged 31, 30 and 29, have been taken to Middlesbrough Police Station where they will be questioned by police later today. Armed police were called
ALBERT Nugent has been re-elected as the leader of Durham County Council following a vote by Labour party members at County Hall this morning. Councillor Nugent, who represents the Deneside ward in Seaham, had faced a challenge from three other councillors
Controversy has flared over a top-performing school's decision to impose sanctions on a model pupil because her parents refused permission for her to attend extra lessons in the run-up to her GCSE examinations. It is a debate which goes to the heart
I took a trip to my old school, Teesdale Comprehensive, last week. Part of the job now, you see, and so I'm often there covering everything from school plays to teenagers with enormous feet. I haven't quite got used to being back in the corridors that
POLICE, housing and community groups have signed an agreementwhich aims to drive anti-social behaviour out of Hartlepool. Housing Hartlepool signed the Respect Standard for Housing Management scheme as part of its commitment to the Government's Respect
A BRAZILIAN photographer is bringing Latin inspiration to the Stockton International Riverside Festival. Gilmar Ribeiro captured the colour of last year's festival and gave the event's organisers hundreds of images. They were so impressed that they asked
THE Early Support Service, in Stockton, has been praised by Ofsted inspectors as an example of effective practice. The scheme, which provides support for pre-school children with complex needs and their families, has made important steps in providing
A FIRM in the North-East hopes to break into the lucrative US market and push turnover through the £10m mark. Subsurface imaging specialist ffA is a world leader in the development of 3D seismic image processing and analysis technology for the oil and
A DRUNKEN row over damage to a car left a man badly hurt and three others in the dock at crown court. Stuart McGeachie was knocked out when he was beaten in the street after asking the vehicle's owner what had happened. The 32-year-old victim suffered
RESIDENTS living in Middlesbrough are being asked to take part in a survey to find out their opinions on the town's becks. The Environment Agency wants to know what people like about the beck areas, how they use them and if they are aware of any causes
MOBILITY is a big theme in IT - having access to email and business data on the move is becoming a "must have" for most. It is fascinating how quickly things are developing - you can now use a laptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) like an iPod or
AN important policy document came into effect at the start of this month, which will influence how local councils view new housing developments and how they consider present and future housing needs in their areas. Many people recognise that one of the
IT is 3am on a Monday and the maze of duty free shops at Dubai International Airport is heaving with travellers searching for a bargain or killing time ahead of flights to a host of destinations. The air is thick with noise as languages of all kinds are
So, what did you do with your long weekend? After another frantic end to the tax year, I was happy to spend most of my time relaxing. If, however, my local B&Q was anything to go by, a large number of people spent their weekend either catching up on
I am sure I wasn't the only keen gardener to notice the unusual appearance of daffodils across the region in February, a sight not usually prevalent until early spring. Changes in climate are the cause of these small but significant alterations to the
COMPANIES should take a stand against debt and use the law to take action against persistent late payers, a leading North-East law firm has advised. Dickinson Dees, which has offices in Newcastle and Stockton, said it was unacceptable for businesses
WHILE rising inflation is bad for borrowers and may trigger another rise in interest rates soon, savers with Index Linked Savings Certificates from National Savings (NS&I) take a more benign view. The higher inflation goes, the better the return on their
POLICE in Durham are warning gardeners that good weather brings out thieves on the look-out for plants, ornaments and equipment. Two conifers in pots were stolen from the garden of a house in Scargill Way, Belmont, during the holiday weekend. Inspector
A YOUTH worker from North Yorkshire addressed 450 delegates at the YMCA national assembly at Warwick University. Jenny Stabler, 19, who is based at Richmond YMCA, spoke about the portrayal of young people in the media. For Miss Stabler, an apprentice
TEENAGE sweethearts Andrew and Evelyn Rhynas celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary yesterday. And they had a lot more to throw a party for, because both turn 90 within a few weeks of each other and their 70th wedding anniversary. The two met
VILLAGERS gathered to pay tribute to a hard-working civic figure who did much to help her community before her husband's death last year. The re-naming of the main room at the community centre in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, in memory of Christine
BATHROOM design company Premier Living has plans to expand across the North-East - even before opening its first showroom. The small business, which has been operating for less than a year, has plans to grow quickly by adding six members of staff to
A MASTERPLAN could be drawn up to help revamp two struggling town centres. Sedgefield Borough Council has identified Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor town centres as being in urgent need of regeneration. Over the next year, the authority will use the local
A driver pursued a 62-year-old pedestrian into a bakery and punched him in the face, a court heard. John O'Connor, of Larkin Close, in Crook, punched the man two or three times, knocking him onto a food display, Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court was
HURWORTH and Middleton St George will have their most competitive parish council elections in years next month. Of Darlington borough's 12 parishes, nine will not need elections, due to a shortage of candidates. But Hurworth, Middleton St George, and
A £250,000 children's activity centre opens in the county today, offering parents a new attraction for young children. The 4,000sq ft Twiggys centre, on Thirsk Industrial Estate, offers youngsters aged ten years and under a fun area in which to play
A SCHOOLBOY crush turned sour when a 22-year-old man caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to a property. Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Nathan Adam Lawson was friends with the Darlington girl when they were younger. "It's
A TOWN boxing club says it has an exciting line-up for its show this month. Spennymoor Boxing Academy will face an Irish Amateur Boxing Academy select squad at the town's leisure centre on Friday, April 20. The Irish team are the latest international
TEESSIDE crane company RS Industrial Services is investing more than £500,000 in the business as part of a major expansion programme. The firm, which began life as RS Cranes in 2002, has progressed quickly over the past five years, and is now looking
DOZENS of ramblers gathered to celebrate the opening of a footbridge built in memory of two walkers. Members of the Ramblers' Association in Ripon joined Roger and Elizabeth Parker, son and daughter of the late Kenneth and Betty Parker, who had been active
A MAN who was caught driving without a licence or insurance after he popped to the shop for ingredients to finish off a meal appeared in court yesterday. Darrell James Seed, 34, pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance or licence at Darlington Magistrates
MEDIA student Ian Jackson never dreamed he would get the red carpet treatment when he secured work experience at a TV company. But that's exactly what he got - in a fashion - after being sent to find a red carpet for a show. "I was sent out to try and
GANGS of drunk youngsters are making life a misery for people in a quiet north Durham village. Groups of up to 20 young people are drinking in and around Edmondsley, near Chester-le-Street, and causing damage. The windows of the Village Welfare Hall,
THE region's economy could pay a high price if interest rates continue to rise to dampen overheating in the South-East, according to a report today. The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) said relentless growth in the region had eased back, after evidence
TWO charities have been left counting the cost after being hit by crime over the Easter weekend. First, a new charity shop was vandalised within days of it opening. The Butterwick Hospice Care shop in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, opened less than
CHILDREN transformed their school into a giant experiment to celebrate its new status. A staff room at Wensleydale Specialist Science College, in Leyburn, was turned into a huge camera to take a mammoth picture of the dales scenery which surrounds the
A MAN was saved by firefighters after a blaze broke out in his living room last night. 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 spotting 3ft
A GROUP which campaigns to bring more visitors to Weardale has a new chairman. Museum manager Ian Forbes has taken over the leadership of the Weardale Visitor Network from Carolyn Ramsbotham. The network, which aims to boost tourism in the dale and help
VOLUNTEERS are needed for a project to help clean up their community. The award-winning West Rainton Green Group has organised a litter-picking event this weekend - part of a long-running campaign to improve the village, which lies between Durham city
MORE paintings of Yorkshire scenes by notable artists are to go on display at a local gallery. William Greenwood will hold his annual spring exhibition at his fine art gallery in Burneston, near Bedale, from April 21 to May 6, with a mix of 19th and 20th
TAKEOVER speculation surrounding brewer Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) has seen the company's share price jump by more than ten per cent in the past fortnight. The firm, which brews the iconic Newcastle Brown Ale on Tyneside, has been linked to a takeover
A MISSING teenager turned up early yesterday, ten days after she was last seen at her North-East home. Police said they were relieved that 18-year-old Irina Sokolova was safe and were waiting to question her. She telephoned her lodgings in Shildon, County
A MAN who was badly injured in a blaze which claimed the lives of his two young daughters was yesterday in a "critical but stable condition". John Spence, 37, suffered serious burns as he fought to rescue his daughters, Tatum, 14, and Jade, 12, from their
A TODDLER who was badly hurt when his pyjamas caught fire walked for the first time yesterday since his accident. His first steps were made as The Northern Echo launched a campaign to change the law and make all children's nightwear flame resistant. Today
TRANSPORT police are appealing for information after a dangerous schoolboy prank left a railway worker with facial injuries. A boy thought to be about 12-years-old hurled a stone at the rail signal box, in Shildon, County Durham, smashing the window and
A SELF-STYLED evangelical vigilante has been warned he will be jailed if he repeats an attack on two friends he believed needed to be cleansed of their sins. Keith Dack launched a mission to make his one-time associates see the error of their ways after
GORDON Muchall and Garry Park will continue to fight it out for the No 3 spot in the Durham batting order during two one-day practice matches at Old Trafford, starting today. Muchall began last season with a double century at Canterbury but ended it out
COUNSELLORS will be brought into a North-East primary school to help youngsters grieving for two members of staff who were killed in a car crash. Teacher Gareth Newark and teaching assistant Laura Elizabeth Quinn, who both worked at Acklam Whin Primary
While the 15 British sailors and marines snatched by Iran were held captive, demonstrators took to the streets demanding their execution. When blindfolded early in their ordeal, the captives, hearing the cocking of guns, became convinced they were about
GEOFF Harker's stable has been unusually quiet this season, so in an attempt to get the wheels rolling again he travels Mr Ex (3.40) all the way from his Thirsk base to Hereford. It's only a lowly selling hurdle in which Mr Ex competes, but from a trainers
Ian Bell is banking on England calling on the spirit of Australia to turn around their World Cup challenge and progress to the semi-finals. The Warwickshire batsman was part of the squad who confounded expectations in Australia recently to win four successive
RICHIE BARKER believes variety is vital when it comes to taking penalties. Hartlepool United's top scorer netted from the spot on Easter Monday to secure a win over Accrington Stanley and put his side within touching distance of League One. But he missed
WHEN it comes to driving up examination results, Hurworth School, in Tony Blair's constituency, has an undeniably impressive track record. Nine years ago, just 38 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades at GCSE. Now, that percentage stands at
THE cause of a major fire which lit up the skies over a North-East city remained a mystery last night. Fire investigators were yesterday unable to gain access to the partially-constructed student accommodation block in Newcastle, to start sifting through
No sooner had stumps been drawn on the final Championship match of the season against Durham last summer than Craig White broke the news that he was standing down as Yorkshire captain after three years in the hot seat. White's decision was the catalyst
Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore believes England are vulnerable. Outsiders Bangladesh have provided two of the big shocks in the tournament to date, eliminating India from the group stages and beating South Africa - who came to the Caribbean rated as the
WITH one eye already on next season, Darlington manager Dave Penney has vowed to add some quality to his squad during the summer. Despite making wholesale changes since succeeding David Hodgson as Quakers boss in October, Penney has not made as many changes
A REVIVED railway run by volunteers is gearing up for a month of steam train operations this summer.Wensleydale Railway, which has reopened 17 miles of track between Leeming Bar and Redmire for passenger services, has only seen steam locomotives on a
ARRIVA has been criticised for a second bus fares price increase in six months - despite the company enjoying huge profits.The price of some Arriva bus fares has gone up by 13 per cent in just over six months.Arriva's latest price hike came on April 1
MORE than half of on-the-spot fines handed out to yobs and drunks in a part of the North-East are not paid, new figures reveal.Only 45 per cent of fixed penalty notices issued in Cleveland last year had been paid after a 21-day deadline - the third worst
A TEENAGER born with no arm below the elbow is aiming to climb some of the world's highest mountains alongside a lower-leg amputee he met during a television show.Gareth Walton Stobart, 18, has just returned from Ecuador, in South America, where he was
A PLUMBER who spent his working life helping the flow of Newcastle Brown Ale has been made a master of his trade at the ripe age of 91.Richard Lance Welborn, who lives in a care home at Langley Park, County Durham, worked at the now-defunct Scottish and
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged he is in an extremely fortunate position to have a chairman who always backs his managers, but insists he is not going to get complacent about the luxury. Boro supremo Steve Gibson has always supported
SUNDERLAND super-sub Grant Leadbitter last night hailed Dwight Yorke's input into the Black Cats' surge to the Championship summit, and claimed the veteran midfielder's "calming influence" had enabled him to convert Monday's last-gasp winner at Southampton
Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore believes England are vulnerable. Outsiders Bangladesh have provided two of the big shocks in the tournament to date, eliminating India from the group stages and beating South Africa - who came to the Caribbean rated as the
COMEDIAN Patrick "Paddy" McGuinness is to front a £3m marketing campaign to help boost the fortunes of North-East bakery chain Greggs. The comedy actor - who became famous through his work with Peter Kay - will be the face of a national, multi-channel
STEPHEN Marshall set off from his home in Nova Scotia, Canada, armed with the names and addresses of 29 sex offenders he had retrieved from the internet, and a .45 calibre Magnum gun. It was the early hours of April 16 last year as he pulled up outside
DEVELOPER Merchant Place is behind a proposed 100-acre distribution centre in the region, which is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, The Northern Echo can reveal. The London-based property and finance specialist wants to build the UK's greenest
A GROUP of North-East football fans were escorted from a train in London after the driver refused to leave the station with them on board. The six Hartlepool United supporters, who deny any wrong-doing, were escorted from the train by British Transport
WELL, I blame it on all those Saga brochures. They have a lot to answer for. Marriage is in decline. One in three women is now still single at the age of 35. Perhaps because of careers, independence, inadequate men, plain pickiness or the incredible chew
THE better part of a page, and a leader column, an' all, last Saturday's Times chronicled Teesside opera singer Suzannah Clarke's trip to North Korea this week to perform at a ten-day festival to mark the dictator's birthday. Kim Jong is known as the
A TROUBLED council is paying its temporary chief executive £735 a day, The Northern Echo can reveal.Opposition councillors have branded the estimated £40,000 fee being paid to Jack Neal for only four months' work as "outrageous".Dr Neal started work
A MODEL pupil has been banned by her school from attending the end of year prom after her parents refused permission for her to attend extra revision classes.A school governor has quit in protest over the treatment of Kayleigh Baker, 16, a prefect who
IT might have had more false starts than the World Athletics Championships, but Michael Owen's injury comeback is finally up and running after the Newcastle striker appeared in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Scottish Division One side Gretna yesterday.Owen
