Archive

  • Sunderland Granted further daylight in promotion race

    Sunderland 2 Queens Park Rangers 1 FOR the second game in a row, local hero Grant Leadbitter delivered a stunning winner for Sunderland to strengthen their arm in the race for the Premiership. Leadbitter, brought up a couple of miles away from the

  • Magpies' Wings Clipped On Travels

    Portsmouth 2 Newcastle 1 Newcastle United failed to extend their unbeaten run to three games when they crashed to defeat at Portsmouth. Goals by Benjani (7m) and Matthew Taylor (59) sealed the victory at Fratton Park with Emre replying from the penalty

  • Pools celebrate promotion to League One

    RICHIE Barker's goal secured another win for Hartlepool and ensured promotion to League One in the process. Just a year after dropping into League Two, Pools have hit back at the first attempt. With three games to go, Pools are two points clear at the

  • Platt sinks Darlington

    MK Dons 1 - 0 Darlington CLIVE Platt's second half strike was enough to put the final nail in Darlington's season at the National Hockey Stadium. However, Dave Penney's side were unfortunate not to come away from their first ever visit to Milton Keynes

  • Plan to buy 140mph trains for rail route to London

    A RAIL company could use Chinese high-speed trains to shave at least ten minutes off journey times to London from the North-East.Grand Central Railway (GCR) plans to place an order - potentially worth between £25m and £30m - for the Polaris trains, capable

  • Plan to buy 140mph trains for rail route to London

    A RAIL company could use Chinese high-speed trains to shave at least ten minutes off journey times to London from the North-East. Grand Central Railway (GCR) plans to place an order - potentially worth between £25m and £30m - for the Polaris trains,

  • Bullying

    HAS anyone felt that they have been bullied at any North-East colleges over the years if they are a disabled student or a worker? Has anyone been invited to the Disability Equality Policy meetings, originally known as Disabled Equality Scheme,

  • The A1 (M)

    HGVs are now restricted to lane one on two sections of the A1(M) southbound from Chester-le-Street to Darlington. I am surprised by this move because trials on this system have been in place on the M42 for some time. I wonder what the results of

  • Playshak

    IT IS hard enough to be in business these days without the added stress of people spreading rumours that your business is to close. Here at the Playshack in Shildon, a multi-level play area for children up to 12 years old, we have many children

  • Global warming

    I HAVE up until this winter been a global warming sceptic. However, I am becoming a believer not in the "global warming" but "climate change". To many people this fine weather is great. However, to some of us it can be fatal - particularly those

  • NHS funding

    IT is misleading to suggest, as A Parkin appears to do (HAS, Apr 10), that there is no money for the treatment of the needy who have "paid into the NHS" while asylum seekers with life-threatening diseases are "given treatment immediately". The

  • Irish hopes

    ONE of Tony Blair's achievements as Prime Minister has been to steer a road to peace in Northern Ireland. It has always been a desire, but the hope of achieving stability has always depended upon the most unlikely becoming possible. Bringing together

  • Iraq

    I MUST congratulate The Northern Echo for its front page on Friday, April 6 headlined "Homecomings". The poignancy of the accompanying photograph helped emphasise the dire consequences of brave young people participating in a legally unsanctioned

  • The Quakers

    THE time has come for Dave Penney to be relieved of his duties as manager of Darlington Football Club. He took over last October with Darlo in tenth place, and was set a target of finishing in the play-offs at least. Now 26 games and only ten

  • Cup ties

    Valencia becomes the focus of world attention this summer as it plays host to the America's Cup. Andrew White explores the Spanish city and finds it has much to offer landlubbers too. IT is 1am and I have been listening to Senor Emiliano Garcia, proprietor

  • Advice for tenants in deposit disputes

    NEW rules designed to protect cash deposits made by private housing tenants are being highlighted in the Hambleton district. The area's Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) is raising awareness of a scheme which was set up to help resolve disputes at the end

  • Easter balloon fun goes off with a bang

    LEYBURN Tennis Club ended its pre-season junior coaching course with an Easter party. Junior players played games with balloons and Easter eggs, and younger players took part in a fancy dress competition, which was won by five-year-old Luke Morland.

  • Crucial role in Gulf for Navy reservist

    A ROYAL Naval Reservist (RNR) from Durham is achieving an operational first in support of the Royal Navy. Leading Seaman Kevin Jackson is one of 12 reservists from the UK spending four months onboard Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Sir Bedivere in the Northern

  • Grumpy Arthur to visit theatre

    COMEDIAN and Grumpy Old Man Arthur Smith will visit the region as part of a UK tour. He will perform at the Gala Theatre, Durham, at 7.30pm on Friday, April 20. He has been amusing audiences for years at the Edinburgh Fringe and around the country with

  • Sadness for bridge at

    A former railway bridge will be demolished without planning consent, despite a protest campaign by people living nearby. The British Railway Board (BRB) wants to demolish the Hurrell Lane rail bridge at Thornton-le-Dale, near Malton. Local people have

  • Krazy youngsters find abseiling is money for old rope

    TEENAGERS have been scaling new heights, thanks to the backing of a council-funded initiative. The 15 daring youngsters, from Kirklington, near Bedale, travelled to High Adventure, in Cowling, near Skipton, to try extreme sports. The two-day extravaganza

  • Crucial role in Gulf for Navy reservist

    A ROYAL Naval Reservist (RNR) from Durham is achieving an operational first in support of the Royal Navy. Leading Seaman Kevin Jackson is one of 12 reservists from the UK spending four months onboard Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Sir Bedivere in the Northern

  • Grumpy Arthur to visit theatre

    COMEDIAN and Grumpy Old Man Arthur Smith will visit the region as part of a UK tour. He will perform at the Gala Theatre, Durham, at 7.30pm on Friday, April 20. He has been amusing audiences for years at the Edinburgh Fringe and around the country with

  • Ferdy hoping National dream comes true

    With Joes Edge starting as the Grand National favourite this afternoon, Scott Wilson spoke to his trainer, Ferdy Murphy, and discovered the handler boasts an Aintree love affair that has lasted more than 50 years. MARCH 1956, Aintree, and almost 100,000

  • Developer unveils vision for former nightclub site

    A LARGE student complex could soon dominate the skyline in Middlesbrough town centre as part of a £30m development. Mandale Properties hopes to build an 18-storey tower block on the site of the former Jumpin' Jaks nightclub, in Corporation Road. The

  • Smith backing Thornton to give big race a local flavour

    Grand National-winning racehorse trainer Denys Smith has tipped a North-East jockey for success at today's meeting at Aintree. Smith trained more than 1,700 winners over almost half a century, most famously Red Alligator, who won the world's greatest

  • New courses put learning on the agenda

    MODERN art, foreign languages, computing and local and family history are on offer in a series of courses about to start. The programme at the Clayport Library, in Durham City, has been organised by library staff, working with Sunderland University and

  • New courses put learning on the agenda

    MODERN art, foreign languages, computing and local and family history are on offer in a series of courses about to start. The programme at the Clayport Library, in Durham City, has been organised by library staff, working with Sunderland University and

  • Scholarship helps with lofty ambition

    A TALENTED air cadet has been awarded a flying scholarship. James Hooton will benefit from 12 hours' flying time, which will help in his quest to one day join the RAF. Each year, cadets collect for the Wings Appeal, organised by the RAF Association (RAFA

  • Watch out for spring criminals

    POLICE have repeated a warning for people to beware of a rise in burglaries and thefts of gardening equipment. Warmer weather and lighter evenings are bringing out criminals, as well as gardeners, and police are urging people to increase security. Police

  • Checks to be carried out on gravestones

    UP to 6,000 gravestones could be laid flat in Stockton as part of a safety inspection programme. New Health and Safety Executive guidelines require Stockton Borough Council to inspect all 25,000 cemetery and churchyard memorials. A quarter are thought

  • Artist enjoys her show moment

    FOUR miniature paintings by a Richmond artist have been included in a London exhibition. The pictures of blue and white china by Kate Green are among 600 miniatures on display at the 17th annual A Million Brushstrokes show at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery

  • End of three-year struggle to create village play areas

    CAMPAIGNERS who fought a three-year battle for children's play facilities are celebrating securing the last piece of the funding jigsaw. This week, Sedgefield Borough Council has awarded £39,655 from its local improvement programme to Middlestone Moor

  • McKelvey has ingredients

    WELSH training wizard Peter Bowen could taste Grand National glory for the first time if, as expected, McKelvey is involved in the climax of Aintree's world-famous steeplechase. When it comes to selecting a National fancy, three key factors immediately

  • Leisure chiefs say 'disgusting' pool could get huge revamp

    SWIMMERS in Ripon are keen to see a new pool fitted as part of a major leisure upgrade. Harrogate Borough Council has allocated an initial £500,000 to upgrade its leisure facilities - that figure could eventually rise to £1.5m. No firm decisions have

  • Clinics to deal with area's industrial illness legacy

    A NEW service is being launched to provide support for people suffering from respiratory diseases in one of the worst affected parts of the country. The new service, to be launched in Derwentside later this month, will include education programmes, nurse-led

  • Fact-finding days for dale residents

    A SERIES of promotion days in Teesdale will allow people to find out more about council services. Teesdale District Council's new customer services team has organised events across the dale for people to find out about services, recycling, volunteering

  • Runners gear up for annual road race

    ORGANISERS behind an annual road race are hoping this year's event will be bigger and better. The Newton Aycliffe annual 10k road race will take place on Sunday, June 17, with £1,000 worth of prizes to be won. Almost 250 runners took part in last year's

  • Register to vote

    THE deadline is approaching for people wanting to register to vote in the forthcoming elections next month. The deadline for registration, said Stockton Borough Council, is next Wednesday, and failure to register means people will not be able to cast

  • Regeneration group moves ahead with town centre plans

    A GROUP formed to help shape the future options for regenerating part of Darlington town centre is to hold its third meeting. The Feethams and Markets Working Group was established after Darlington Borough Council decided not to allow supermarket company

  • Pensioner gets jail sentence for assaults 20 years apart

    A 76-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for three years after he admitted sexually assaulting two seven-year-old girls nearly 20 years apart. Pensioner Colin Brunskill originally faced one charge of indecent assault when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates

  • In memory of town's fallen hero

    THE annual graveside ceremony to commemorate the only holder of the Victoria Cross to be buried in Darlington will be held tomorrow at noon. Sergeant Michael "Spud" Murphy was awarded the VC in 1858 for his heroics serving under Sir Henry Havelock, of

  • Councillor admits he did not tell the truth

    A COUNTY councillor has admitted not telling the truth about the way he voted at a meeting to discuss the future of local government. North Yorkshire County Councillor Bill Barton, who represents Sowerby, took part in the vote at County Hall, in January

  • Alcohol campaign

    POLICE are targeting under-age drinkers and confiscating their alcohol. Officers in Ryedale will target under-18s caught with alcohol during April, as part of the Changing Lives, Making Communities Safer campaign. Acting Sergeant Anna Rees said police

  • Windbags will breeze in for May Day fun

    PLANS are under way for a gala May Day festival in an east Durham seaside town. Seaham Town Council is staging the event on Bank Holiday Monday on May 7 at Deneside Park. The day will be held between 11am and 3pm. It will include entertainment by Mr Lido

  • New agreement proposed to speed up regeneration

    PLANS to give a rundown town square a multi-million pound facelift could be about to take a step closer. Semi derelict St John's Square, in Seaham, is scheduled to be refurbished thanks to an agreement between councils. In January, Durham County Council

  • Reveller is jailed by court after fatal punch

    A JUDGE yesterday criticised Britain's binge-drinking culture as he jailed a reveller who killed a man with a single punch. Andrew Pearson, 23, suffered a fractured skull and swelling to his brain when his head hit the ground after the punch by Thomas

  • Rumours of brewery takeover bubble up again

    SHARES in brewer Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) began to recover yesterday after falling on the back of rival group SAB Miller quashing speculation of a possible takeover. S&N, which makes the iconic Newcastle Brown Ale on Tyneside, saw its share price

  • Premier Commentary

    WITH three English clubs in the last four of the Champions League and three Spanish outfits making up the numbers with Werder Bremen in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, few could disagree with the argument that the Premiership and La Liga are the best

  • Remembering 30 years' service

    THE funeral of a policeman who served the public for more than 30 years will be held next Friday. Superintendent John Tyrrell, who spent most of his career as a dog handler, moved to the region from Surrey in 1977. He transferred to Durham Constabulary

  • Falling concrete was cause of gas cut-off

    THOUSANDS of families were left without gas for up to a week because a lump of concrete fell on to a supply pipe, The Northern Echo can reveal. About 6,500 homes in the Crook area of County Durham had their gas supply cut off in February after a major

  • Fundraising effort wins backing

    A SCHOOL has received cash to help its bid for specialist status. Villa Real Special School, near Consett, was awarded £1,000 by the Northern Region of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association. Deputy headteacher Gill Stringer received the

  • Water under Bridge for Huth

    ROBERT Huth insists he has no regrets about leaving Premier League champions Chelsea for Middlesbrough. The Blues have already claimed the Carling Cup this term and are still on course for an unprecedented quadruple should they win the Champions League

  • Harper ready to re-name 'Lazarus'

    STEVE Harper says he'll have to find a new nickname for Shay Given following his latest injury setback. Newcastle United's first-choice goalkeeper suffered a recurrence of a groin problem which has plagued him ever since he sustained a stomach injury

  • Police put closure order on drugs case house

    A HOUSE where drugs were allegedly dealt to young people was temporarily closed by police last night. The closure notice was pinned to the door of the mid-terraced rented housing association property in Langley Park, near Durham. Tenant Angela Mary Watson

  • Plan to buy 140mph trains for rail route to London

    A RAIL company could use Chinese high-speed trains to shave at least ten minutes off journey times to London from the North-East. Grand Central Railway (GCR) plans to place an order - potentially worth between £25m and £30m - for the Polaris trains,

  • Old soldiers, old values

    TODAY we mark the passing of Philip Mayne, the last surviving First World War soldier from this region. Mr Mayne died peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home in Richmond, North Yorkshire, aged 107. That gave him the added distinction of being the region's

  • Stadium to host classical music night

    ONE of the region's football "cathedrals" will echo to the sounds of classical favourites this summer. Long after the last ball is kicked this season, Sunderland's Stadium of Light will host its first major music concert. The Summer Music Spectacular

  • Furniture specialist feeling the heat

    SOFA specialist ScS yesterday warned that trading over the Easter weekend had been "very disappointing" and blamed the recent warm weather for a fall in sales. With households staying away from the shops during the sunny spell, the North-East plc said

  • Store boss criticises vandal's £80 fine

    A BUSINESSMAN has criticised police after a vandal who smashed his coffee shop window escaped with a fine. Chris Pugh said he had been left with a £400 repair bill for the damage to the window of Sip, in King Street, Richmond. The businessman is angry

  • Polish workers 'at risk of being exploited by bosses'

    A LEADING union has warned that Polish workers in the region are at risk of being exploited by their employers, according to a report out today. TUC Northern has published a study into the employment patters of Polish immigrants in the North-East and

  • Barker relishing winning feeling at Victoria Park

    WHEN Richie Barker moved to Hartlepool United in January, his aim was clear. The striker moved from Mansfield and was targeting something to celebrate come May. Those celebrations could arrive this afternoon, as Pools look to make mathematically certain

  • Penney looking to swap favours with rival Wilson

    MILTON Keynes failing to beat Darlington at the National Hockey Stadium this afternoon would confirm Hartlepool United's place in League One next season. And last night Dave Penney called on Pools counterpart Danny Wilson to return the favour by keeping

  • Graduate helps cut firm's carbon levels

    AN engineering firm in the North-East has saved £15,000 and reduced its carbon footprint thanks to the help of a university graduate. Carol Mahoney, an environmental geoscience graduate from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has spent the past three months

  • Truly a National Lottery

    PAULINA had refused at the first. Conrad had hurled his rider, Captain Martin Becher, into a brook. Rust had got waylaid by spectators who didn't want him to win. Dictator had died. And so Lottery was out in front of the first proper Grand National of

  • Wildlife Trust members meet

    The Durham Wildlife Trust's Rainton Meadows Wildlife Group will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, at 7pm, at Rainton Meadows, Chilton Moor. The speakers will be trust director Jim Cokill and Linda Charlton, of the Berwick Swan and Wildlife Trust.

  • City to mark 95th anniversary of Titanic tragedy

    The world's most famous maritime disaster occurred 95 years ago today, when the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic on her maiden voyage. The subsequent sinking of the White Star Line ship early on April 15, 1912, with the loss of 1,523

  • Harry blasts Roeder record

    PORTSMOUTH boss Harry Redknapp last night launched a withering attack on Glenn Roeder by claiming that the Newcastle manager was a serial under-achiever who was hindering the Magpies' attempts to climb into the top half of the Premiership. The pair have

  • Street tipped for title

    POWERFUL Chester-le-Street will be favourites to retain their National Six Stage Road Relay at Sutton Coldfield today. The Cestrians were comfortable winners of the North of England Championship at Sunderland two weeks ago and welcome back one of their

  • Mustard turns up heat on England's wicketkeepers

    WITH England's wicketkeeping situation still in a state of flux, Durham's Phil Mustard is targeting a maiden international call-up before the end of the year. While 36-year-old Paul Nixon has performed creditably during the World Cup, either Nottinghamshire's

  • It's time for Anderson to deliver in Wold Cup

    Jimmy Anderson faces a crunch week at the World Cup as he attempts to fight off the competition and establish himself as England's main spearhead in all forms of cricket. Four years after exploding onto the international scene at both Test and one-day

  • Darlington rocked as duo join rivals

    SKIPPER Richard Snowball and prop Dan Miller will play what is expected to be their final home game for Darlington against Orrell today. Miller has agreed to join Mowden Park next season, along with scrum half Rob Stewart, while Snowball is expected to

  • Put to the test

    COUPLES are being invited to take part in a Mr and Mrs competition. Ferryhill Town Council and the Ferryhill 2000 Committee are organising the summer gala on August 18 and 19 and the Mr and Mrs event will be held on Sunday, August 19. Call 01740-652157

  • Falcons' win marred by Wilkinson injury

    Newcastle Falcons 19, Gloucester 12. GIVEN that it was Friday the 13th yesterday, it was perhaps inevitable that Jonny Wilkinson's bad luck with injuries would return to haunt the Newcastle Falcons fly-half at Kingston Park. Starting his fourth successive

  • Skaters warned: Stay out of centre or face £500 fine

    SKATEBOARDERS could be fined up to £500 each for skating in Darlington's new-look town centre. Darlington Borough Council has proposed the ban after receiving complaints from the public. Shoppers have complained that the skaters could injure shoppers

  • Put to the test

    COUPLES are being invited to take part in a Mr and Mrs competition. Ferryhill Town Council and the Ferryhill 2000 Committee are organising the summer gala on August 18 and 19. The Mr and Mrs event will be held on Sunday, August 19. To take part, call

  • Rock bands mark finale of youth project

    BANDS rocked Darlington town centre last night with an al-fresco finale to a two-day event for young people. A music concert took place in the Market Square, featuring local bands Buzzkill, Output, 2 Many Units and Salmon J' Kets. The concert was organised

  • Wonderfully wicked

    She's famous for being the superbitch of film and TV but Stephanie Beacham is all set for comedy.STEPHANIE Beacham plays the game of being one of the legendary superbitches of stage and screen so well that she had her publicity shot as the Wicked Queen

  • Classes offer children theatrical experience

    YOUNGSTERS will have the chance to show off their creative talents when a drama workshop opens later this month.GoAct, which is designed for eight to 16-year-olds, will come to the Hambleton Forum, in Northallerton on Monday, April 28.The weekly classes

  • Five-star food at school nursery handed award

    THE nursery at Middlesbrough College's Kirby campus has been awarded a five-star Tees Valley Food Hygiene award.Nursery cook Maureen Ridsdale received the award in recognition of the kitchen's standards of hygiene.The nursery caters for up to 30 children

  • Protest as trees are felled to make way for housing

    THE felling of trees by a housing developer has been criticised.Builder George Wimpey cut down 16 mature trees around the Thorntree Vale site, in Thornaby.Residents of Millbank Lane have demanded answers from the company and Stockton Borough Council.Ward

  • Shake-up of logistics in the Army is criticised

    STAFF say that moving a military distribution centre more than 100 miles from Europe's largest British Army base will cost more money than it saves.The regional distribution centre at Catterick Garrison, which sends supplies to Ministry of Defence premises

  • Dozens of human bones are found buried under house

    FORENSIC officers were called after a human jawbone was unearthed at the home of Vicky Ferguson.Any lingering suspicion that the mother-of-two may be responsible for a grisly crime were dropped after a further three sackfuls of human remains were found.Forensic

  • Last surviving officer of the Great War dies at 107

    THE region's last surviving First World War soldier has died at the age of 107.Of the five million British men who served their country in the Great War, only three now survive following the death on Monday of Philip Mayne.Mr Mayne - also the region's

  • Art proves good for the body and soul

    A PILOT art project has been extended for another three months because of its success.The Open Art Studio will start again next month.The drop-in initiative, based at the Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington, is open to anyone over the age of 16 with

  • Happy homecoming for burns boy Daniel

    A TODDLER scarred for life after his pyjamas caught fire has been allowed to return home after five weeks in hospital.Two-year-old Daniel Mitchard-Harrison's family and The Northern Echo are campaigning to change the law to ensure all children's nightwear

  • TV team digs in to unearth a Roman secret

    TV archaeologists Time Team have unlocked a 2,000-year secret and proved that there was more to one of the region's Roman forts than historians believed.A three-day dig on farmland at Binchester, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, showed that there

  • Respected former police officer dies

    THE funeral of a policeman who served the public for more than 30 years will be held in the North-East on Friday.Superintendent John Tyrrell, who spent most of career as a dog handler, moved to the region from his native Surrey in 1977.He transferred

  • Starting on the election trail

    GOVERNMENT Minister Harriet Harman visited Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield yesterday, to rally support for upcoming elections.Ms Harman helped launch the Labour party's campaign for district council elections in Wear Valley and Teesdale and borough council

  • Predator gets life for attack

    THE father of a nine-year-old girl who was abused after being lured into woods last night told how the ordeal has devastated his family.Following the life sentence imposed on predatory paedophile Kevin Toner, the victim's parents described the "shattering

  • Back on the road for marathon date

    A GRANDFATHER of three will run his fifth marathon this month to raise £1,000 for a cancer charity.Jim Dale, 62, has been training since the start of the year and is running about 30 miles a week. On Sunday, April 22, he will take part in the Flora London

  • Enjoy tranquillity of Joe's Pond thanks to volunteers

    A WILDLIFE haven has been given a major spring clean in an improvement project.Joe's Pond, near Houghton-le-Spring, has been dramatically improved, thanks to a project run by Durham Wildlife Trust and Sunderland City Council.The pond, located at the trust's

  • Gig Review: Bob Dylan, Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

    MUSICAL legend Bob Dylan showed he was far from over the hill with an energised concert.Affirming his status as one of the all-time greats, his audience ranged in age from 16 to 60. Dressed in a white stetson and jacket, he cut a diminutive figure on

  • Savers landed with repair bill

    MEMBERS of South West Durham's Credit Union may lose out on dividends due to a spate of vandalism attacks at the main office in Shildon.The glass of the front door was smashed in a third attack two weeks ago at the union office, in Church Street, Shildon

  • 'Carnage' leaves three hurt after car crashes

    A GRANDMOTHER told last night how she feared her husband had died after a car careered out of control in a quiet street.Oral Ives, 63, was the first person on the scene following the accident which left her husband with a fractured skull and two other

  • Film pair clinch deal with worldwide firm

    A TINY film production company that started life in a front room has clinched a deal with Japanese motor conglomerate Honda.Izon Audio Visual Limited, based on a small industrial estate in South Church, near Bishop Auckland, has been signed up to work

  • US passenger questioned by FBI after airport security alert

    A US tourist who sparked an airport evacuation on the last day of her holiday was interviewed by the FBI on returning to the States.The passenger, from Georgia, caused a major security alert at Durham Tees Valley Airport on Thursday when she left a suitcase

  • Durham waltz to victory

    Durham v Yorkshire (Friendly) WITH fellow dancer Mark Ramprakash in the opposition when Yorkshire visit The Oval on Wednesday, Darren Gough might be uncertain whether to start his reign as captain with a toss or a tango.In yesterday's 50-over friendly

  • Oliver enjoys a day with the firefighters

    CHILDREN from Darlington College were given a taste of life in the rescue services after being invited to visit the town's fire station.A group of children from the college's Childcare Centre went on a VIP tour of the fire station in St Cuthbert's Way

  • Owen dreaming of a first Gallowgate goal

    A FIT again Michael Owen has revealed a burning desire to score his first goal at the Gallowgate End for Newcastle United. The 27-year-old famously bagged a first-half hat-trick for Liverpool at the Gallowgate End in Ruud Gullit's first match in charge

  • Cash injection gives boss spending power

    AFTER holding a preliminary budgetary discussion with his chairman, Steve Gibson, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate last night insisted he would be competing in the transfer market from a position of strength this summer. While Southgate has been

  • Quinn's harsh lesson lets him appreciate star quality

    NIALL QUINN'S brief encounter with first-team management has made him realise just how much Roy Keane was made for the top job at Sunderland. When Quinn failed to persuade Keane to take the job initially in the summer, the chairman-cum-manager lost his

  • Bookmaker looks odds-on to 'revolutionise' betting

    BOOKMAKER Neville Porter is set to "revolutionise" the scale of the business after introducing technology that will allow it to run multiple pitches at some of the UK's leading racecourses. The County Durham company is leading the field in using the

  • Sweet success

    Celebrity chef James Martin is determined that food lovers should get their just desserts. His campaign includes those modern methods of propaganda - a TV series and a book. What he's worried about is the loss of a great British eating tradition, the

  • Disgraced surgeon Neale will not be prosecuted

    DISGRACED surgeon Richard Neale will escape prosecution after a second major police investigation into a catalogue of allegations against him.After advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, senior officers have decided there will be no action against

  • The son also rises

    Armed with hymn books, a group of 30 early risers gathers at Pen Hill to take part in a special Easter Sunday service UP FOR it, it has become almost an annual tradition that the At Your Service column attends a dawn service on Easter Sunday. Sometimes

  • Daughter arrested over party from hell

    THE teenager whose house party ended in a £20,000 wrecking spree was last night arrested by detectives.Shamed student Rachael Bell, who had earlier apologised to her parents for the damage caused to their County Durham home, was arrested on suspicion

  • Keane backs Boyle aims

    WITH Sunderland leading the Championship and their new sponsors talking up long-term ambitions of success in the Champions League, a reflective Roy Keane last night welcomed the rising expectation levels on Wearside.After the announcement of a lucrative

  • Straight talking

    Gillian Anderson was surprised to have been chosen to star in a British revenge movie, but as the X-files star tells Steve Pratt, the script made her want to go over to the dark side X-Files star Gillian Anderson is surprised to learn she was the reason