BREAKING NEWS: A BADLY burnt man was taken to hospital after an explosion ripped apart a house in Blyth, Northumberland, tonight. Police said it is not yet known how seriously the man, believed to be in his 30's, is injured. It is undestood the blast
A GUNMAN opened fire at a hall of residence and a classroom at a US university today, killing 31 people in the deadliest campus shooting in the country's history. The gunman was killed but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life
THERE is a time in every person's life when they officially become grumpy. They have seen the world, they have done a bit, they have formed their own opinions on just about everything and feel comfortable voicing them even when no one else
Price: £19,695 IT ALWAYS strikes me as faintly ridiculous that we Brits buys more soft-tops than any other country in the whole of Europe. I mean, why bother when our overcast weather is so damn miserable for such a large part of the year? Canvas
POLICE investigating an alleged rape in a seaside town have arrested a man. The incident is said to have taken place in Redcar, east Cleveland, around 6.30pm on Friday. Police said an 18-year-old woman was near to Redcar Train Station, on West Dyke
AN armed robber was left without any dough after a brave bakers shop assistant refused to hand over cash despite being threatened at gunpoint. The raider turned on his heels and walked out of the Crusty Loaf in a busy shopping street after the woman
A TEENAGE girl has died of heart failure after a late-night house party. Sixteen-year-old Rochelle Rushford was pronounced dead in hospital after the party at a flat in the Hexham House tower block in the Walker area of Newcastle. Police were called
A MAN has had his ear severed after he confronted a gang of youths who were smashing bottles in a County Durham park. The 30-year-old suffered the horrific injury after being attacked as he reprimanded youths in Dalton-le-Dale Park, near Seaham, on Saturday
A DANGEROUS sex attacker was today jailed indefinitely and told he will be released only when he is no longer considered a risk to women. Michael Dodd could spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted for the second time of trying to
Sunday April 15th 2007 will be not be remembered as one of the happier dates in the emerging story of the Redcar Bears speedway club. For the match at Glasgow ended not only in a 56-37 Premier Trophy North defeat but more importantly the injuries to
THIS is the German film that, to the surprise of many observers, scooped the best foreign language film Oscar this year from under the nose of expected winner Pan's Labyrinth. It's all the more surprising as Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's directing
AS action thrillers go, Shooter is bang on target. Like its sniper hero, it does what it needs to do with precision and an eye for detail. Only a reluctance to end 30 minutes earlier means that it lingers long enough for us to ponder the holes in
THE trailer for this alleged comedy about four friends on a midlife crisis road trip makes it looks crass, crude and a four-letter word beginning with c' that rhymes with map. The movie lives up - down? - to that impression. The actors look as though
TAKE Dynasty set in the 10th century Later Tang dynasty. Add a Shakespearean tragedy like Macbeth. Then mix in an Asian action movie full of balletic fight scenes and gravity-defying punch-ups. Combine this menu and you have the sumptuous Chinese
I DON'T understand why we are still in Iraq. You cannot and will not change the mental attitude. Day after day, ordinary people in the street are being killed. Does this not tell the powers-that-be that we are not wanted and never have been? JM Gowland
WE are looking forward very much to seeing the Durham Cricket supporters at the county match in Horsham, Sussex, on July 13-16. You can be assured of a warm welcome in this picturesque market town. What an exciting prospect this four-day match
I AGREE with E Rowe (HAS, April 7) that parish councils are a waste of time and money, an unnecessary extra tax tier for voters. A parish council has to ask a district council if something needs doing, so if you have a parish and a district councillor
I HAVE a very simple question for Tristan Mackie of Cornwall Light and Power which is proposing to build a windfarm at High Sharpley near Seaton, Seaham (Echo, April 7). It requires an equally simple yes' or no' answer. If your company's proposed
THE blend of humour, warmth and wisdom Allene Norris stirred into her book Grannies Like Us obviously struck a chord and it became a local bestseller. Now the grandmother of four, who lives in Darlington, is amazed to be receiving requests for
BORN-again rock star Leroy Leonard believes he has got it all when he becomes Lord on the Manor at the picturesque Cornish village of Shawlworth, but he is anything but a hit with the locals. Raising the rents, banning the hunt and plans for open-air
PORTLAND homicide detective Catharine Hobbes is one hard-headed honey and she pulls no punches in the hunt for the killer of the cousin of Los Angeles mobster Hugo Poole. But a tough assignment becomes even tougher as the body count rises, and
A BLOOD-spattered cover tells you all you want to know about this crime thriller, which is as gory as they come. Det Sgt Alison Dexter had been instrumental in ending the violent career of the Garrod Brothers, East End butchers turned killers, but
PEACE is about to break out between Ancient Egypt and Libya when three of the leading scribes of the Pharcah Hatusu (Hatshepsut) are poisoned in the temple of Ptah as the peace treaty is about to be signed. Chief Judge Amerotke is assigned
Miles Salter enjoys some entertaining ruminations on the reality of the North/South divide. THERE are so many differences, real or imagined, between life in the North of England and life in the south, that it's hard to know where to begin. The
I WAS most unhappy to read of the reception given to John Saxby, the chief executive of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, at Bishop Auckland Hospital (Echo, April 4). Such loutish behaviour towards a man who has successfully run a large
THE Northern Echo should be ashamed of itself. Hurworth School has an excellent reputation. The staff have voluntarily and in their own free time provided a package of activities for the benefit of pupils. These include excursions, games activities
TWO men are being quizzed by police in connection with a stabbing incident in a County Durham town last night. Police were called to Bessemer Street, in Ferryhill, at about 7.30pm responding to reports that a large number of people had gathered in the
FOOTBALLING treasures will come under the hammer at an auction raising money in aid of children's hospice Zoe's Place, which is based in Middlesbrough and Liverpool. A Sunderland programme signed by former goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery and a signed photograph
THE caring community of Coundon has started work on the final phase of a £350,000 restoration of its parish church. Four years after they started raising money, the congregation of St James is close to completing its Under the Roof Appeal by building
A TWO-WEEK beer festival is to be held in the region. Ales from across Europe will be on offer at The Company Row, in Victoria Road, Consett, County Durham. The range will include six award-winners, seven beers not brewed before this year, fruit, coriander
Pupils of music tutor Terence Lawson, of School Aycliffe, hit the right note when they took part in Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations. On the piano, Sarah Bedwell achieved grade one with merit, Joseph Bryon achieved grade three
ORGANISERS behind an art and photography exhibition are hoping to build on the success of last year's event. Ferryhill Town Council and the Ferryhill 2000 committee are inviting artists to display their work during a two week exhibition in Ferryhill Town
A TALK about the life of preacher and hymn-writer Charles Wesley will be held in Bishop Auckland next weekend. Professor Dick Watson, former professor of English at Durham University, will give a lecture in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Wesley's
ONLY Wear Valley's two new town councils are holding elections on May 3, with all seats on the district's other six parish authorities uncontested. Nineteen candidates will contest nine seats on Greater Willington Town Council, while 21 are contesting
THE founder of a car club that enables people to give up car ownership says he is delighted with the interest that the project has attracted. The Option C Car Club, based in Durham City, is a membership scheme that allows people to book one of its two
AN outdoor survival group has been on its first road trip after being given a minibus.The Pilgrim Club, which meets at The Resthouse, in Hackworth Park, Shildon received the bus from local firm, DA Taxis.On Friday, they returned from their first trip
POLICE motorcyclists were out in force yesterday as hundreds of bikers started their summer "circuit" of the dales.Durham Police's motorcycle unit launched a weekend blitz on the roads of Weardale and Teesdale, where some local drivers say they are too
DOZENS of young athletes turned out in the sun yesterday in memory of a talented teenage sprinter who died five years ago.After Anne-Marie Readshaw lost her life while swimming in September 2001, Shildon Running and Athletics Club named their annual track
We're all familiar with the concept of using dogs to help the blind, but what is not so widely known is that they also help the deaf. Women's editor Sarah Foster meets Averil Collinge, whose hearing dog is well and truly her best friend. IT is a well-rehearsed
The Lives Of Others, a film about the East German Stasi, won film-maker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck an Oscar. Steve Pratt speaks to him about his inspiration. The film won him an Oscar and five-star reviews about which most film-makers can only dream
As part of The Northern Echo Lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region: TODAY Van Tempest Social Club, New Drive, Seaham, 2.45pm-7pm Church Of The Ascension, Penrith
THERE won't be an editor in the country who hasn't faced the same cutting accusation: "You're only doing it to sell more papers." It comes up time and time again when people have a gripe against a story that's been published, and it really is a curious
VILLAGE campaigners say they have raised enough cash to remove an unwanted phone mast - but its operator is refusing to change its stance. Residents of Sheriff Hutton, between Easingwold and Malton, were angeredwhen the 15-metre mast was put up in their
ROAD chiefs have pledged to introduce double white lines on a road that claimed the lives of two bikers last month. The B1257, between Stokesley and Helmsley, is known locally as the Yorkshire TT after the famous road race on the Isle of Man. Last month
After being sacked as editor of The Miror, Piers Morgan dived headlong into the world of celebrity. He talks to Emma Pomfret about his second book, Don't You Know Who I Am?, in which he dishes the dirt on some of the most famous people in the world.
AN auction company has welcomed a new expert. Sarah Hardy has joined Tennants Auctioneers, in Leyburn, as head of jewellery. She moved to the company from a retail jewellery background and is available for valuations for sale or insurance at the head
PEOPLE in north Durham who oppose plans to excavate 450,000 tonnes of coal from the countryside are forming an action group. Thirty-eight people attended Dipton Community Partnership's meeting at the village community centre on Saturday. It was called
A GANG of men used forged receipts to get refunds on expensive goods at a north Durham supermarket. Tesco staff handed over more than £500 to the men, who separately went into the store at Dragonville Retail Park, in Durham. The scam took place on January
CHILDREN from across Darlington came together yesterday for a multi-cultural football event. At least eight nationalities were represented among the 143 children taking part in the event at Eastbourne Sports Complex. As well as English and Scottish participants
THE founder of a club that helps people to give up car ownership says he is delighted with the interest the project has attracted. The Option C Car Club, based in Durham, is a membership scheme that allows people to book its two Ford Fiesta 1.4 diesels
A COMMUNITY group from north Durham has won a national award for tackling anti-social behaviour. Consett South Community Safety Forum is being given a Respect Award for its Taking a Stand initiative. Members of the group will receive the award from Louise
AMID fierce opposition from residents, Darlington Football Club has defended its plans to stage large-scale outdoor events at the TFM Arena. Plays, boxing and wrestling could be added to the existing license, whilst further plans would see an extension
PLANS to set up a panel to solve disputes over a new waste collection service will be discussed tomorrow. The alternate weekly collections were launched in 60 per cent of Richmondshire last October. A policy governing the service has been published, but
THE county's fire and rescue service has received a glowing report in an audit. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is performing strongly, according to assessors from the Audit Commission. A team of staff, picked from other fire and rescue authorities
POLICE are confiscating alcohol from underage drinkers. Officers in Ryedale will be cracking down on under-18s caught with alcohol as part of their Changing Lives, Making Communities Safer campaign. Acting Sergeant Anna Rees said neighbourhood police
One of Darlington's oldest residents celebrated her 104th birthday at the weekend with a glass of her favourite tipple - Guinness. Nora Blenkinsopp has always lived in the town, and moved into Eastbourne Care Home just after after her 100th birthday.
The region's own Miss Great Britain is branching out into TV work after featuring in love scenes in a music video. Preeti Desai, 25, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, will be seen by thousands of TV viewers across the country when Leon Lopez's new single
TWO guests will be giving talks to a wildlife group later this month. Rainton Meadows Wildlife Group will be holding its monthly meeting on Thursday, at 7pm, when the director of Durham Wildlife Trust, Jim Cokill, will give a presentation. Linda Charlton
INTERNATIONAL support for The Northern Echo's Protect our Children campaign has strengthened calls for the law to be changed. In only five days, the petition has received almost 200 signatures, from as far afield as Estonia, Belgium and Holland, as well
CERVICAL Screening Awareness Week is being launched today by County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT). Health chiefs have noticed a downward trend, particularly among younger women, when it comes to regular cervical screening tests. Doctors are concerned
FUNERAL director John Whitehouse has won two national awards. The Darlington man, managing director of Whitehouse Funeral Service, was awarded UK Funeral Planner of the Year 2007 and North of England Funeral Planner of the Year. Mr Whitehouse and his
ECO-FRIENDLY residents yesterday celebrated the best of Darlington's countryside. In the second annual green fair, visitors to South Park were treated to a wide range of activities in glorious sunshine. The day started with a three kilometre walk around
WORK is continuing apace on the Pedestrian Heart scheme in Darlington. Builders are paving around the corner from West Row onto Blackwellgate. They are also continuing to lay the sandstone paving along High Row and constructing the steps between the third
A DARLINGTON man has told of his despair at losing £450 following the demise of Williams music shop. Leroy Francis, from Darlington, bought a £450 piano from Williams music shop, in Houndgate, Darlington, on February 6. Despite staff assurances, the
A RECENT Mori poll found that only 15 per cent of people think their local council does a good job. Two thirds confessed they knew "hardly anything" or "just a little" about their council. People will have the chance to register their satisfaction when
A CHURCH will launch its own drop-in cafe later month with an international visit. The Baptist Tabernacle, in Corporation Road, Darlington, will open the cafe on Thursday, April 26. Organisers hope the cafe will enable people from diverse ethnic cultures
A TWO-WEEK beer festival is to be held in a Derwentside pub. Ales from across Europe will be on offer at The Company Row, in Victoria Road, Consett. The range will include six award-winners, seven beers not brewed before this year, fruit, coriander, ginger
MOTHER-to-be Helen Hooper is having to foot the bill for a £302 baby scan - which is carried out free of charge in other parts of the country. Because she is over 35, Ms Hooper, from Durham City, was advised by her hospital doctors that she should consider
THE parents of murdered shopworker Jenny Nicholl have reassured wellwishers that the investigation into their daughter's disappearance still goes on. Brian and Ann Nicholl say many people have been asking them for information about the murder hunt. Speaking
PLANS have been drawn for a leisure park near Darlington. Derelict land at a former brickworks near the TFM Arena could be revamped by Darlington developers Ward Hadland Associates. The 12-acre site in Skipbridge, near Hurworth, could be transformed with
STEWART Downing has admitted that his Middlesbrough team-mates cannot afford to assume that their Premiership status is assured, and the winger has claimed that an improvement on last season's 14th-placed finish is the minimum requirement. Saturday's
Milton Keynes Dons 1, Darlington 0. DARLINGTON'S season may be petering out into a less than spectacular climax, but in ensuring his side will be playing League Two football next season, Dave Penney has successfully completed his first task as Quakers
Identical twins Paul and Craig Shepherd have swapped their rugby boots for dance shoes in an attempt to raise funds for a North-East hospice. Friends of the 22-year-old practical jokers decided to get their own back by entering them in Hartlepool Hospice's
Middlesbrough 1, Aston Villa 3. MARTIN O'Neill is developing a fondness for deflating the optimism of Middlesbrough supporters. Ten months after declining the opportunity to succeed Steve McClaren despite being most people's overwhelming favourite for
WITH just four goals scored in their last eight league games it's not difficult to determine why Darlington are now out of the play-off race. But rather than point the finger of blame at his strikers, manager Dave Penney has been critical of the service
Gordon Elliott may be struggling for a winner in Ireland, but the 29-year-old struck on the biggest stage of all when saddling Silver Birch to victory in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree. The County Meath handler - the youngest trainer in the
BILLINGHAM Town manager Micky Watson reckons that his side still has an outside chance of the title after beating bottom club Horden 2-0. Victory put them to within two points of leaders Whitley Bay, but they have played more games than both Whitley
Everton 2, Charlton Athletic 1. Everton moved into fifth place in the Premiership - and within touching distance of Europe - thanks to James McFadden's first goal for the club since December. But it left relegation-haunted Charlton in despair, after the
Joes Edge, one of three co-favourites in the John Smith's Grand National, is recovering well after pulling up lame in the big race. The ten-year-old was sent off the 8-1 market leader, along with Monkerhostin and Point Barrow, but jockey Graham Lee called
Wycombe Wanderers 0, Hartlepool United 1. FOUR years ago Hartlepool United and Ritchie Humphreys celebrated promotion with all the enthusiasm of a team who had just been consigned to relegation. Losing 4-0 to Scunthorpe at Glanford Park in April 2003
THE disappointment of Orrell's failure to turn up on Saturday turned to agony for Darlington with the news that West Park St Helens had gained the one point they needed to ensure survival. Despite losing 38-29 at home to Preston Grasshoppers, West Park
AS he stood on the Adams Park pitch, watching his players take the plaudits from their supporters, all Danny Wilson afforded was a smile and a swift return of applause to the crowd behind the goal. Wilson isn't the sort of manager to let his emotions
MANY clubs will be grateful the season is ending as hard grounds took their toll on Saturday. But Sunderland will have to find an alternative venue for their home play-off against York for promotion to North Two East as Ashbrooke is required for cricket
AN 80-year-old woman has died after a three-car smash in a residential area. The pensioner died yesterday morning after her Austin Mini car was involved in the collision just after 8am on Saturday in Durham Lane, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton. A 51-year-old
Lewis Hamilton ensured his place in Formula One history after claiming his third successive podium finish in the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday, then warned his rivals that McLaren are going from strength to strength. The young Briton writes a new chapter
Steve Harmison warmed up for the first Test against West Indies next month with another spell full of venom and menace for the MCC, but Sussex were left to rue the damage the England paceman inflicted on their all-rounder Michael Yardy. With Yardy on
Ricky Ponting is preparing Australia for their toughest test of the World Cup so far today - against a Sri Lanka team who will almost certainly be without key strike bowler Lasith Malinga. Ponting identified Australia's penultimate Super Eight match at
AN ANGRY Glenn Roeder has hit back at comments made by Harry Rednapp prior to Newcastle's trip to Portsmouth. The United boss made it known he was not happy with the Pompey manager's suggestion that Roeder's team was underachieving. Redknapp's comments
Leicester boss Pat Howard admitted to being ''extremely confident'' the Tigers can clinch an unprecedented treble after their thrilling 41-35 EDF Energy Cup final win over the Ospreys. Leicester stormed into a 28-9 half-time lead with four converted tries
FA Cup semi-final (at Old Trafford) Chelsea 2, Blackburn Rovers 1. Jose Mourinho exchanged a congratulatory embrace with Roman Abramovich at Old Trafford in the first sign of a thaw in the frosty relationship between the two men that threatens to end
Kevin Pietersen is determined not to be distracted by his long-running feud with South Africa and concentrate on steering England into the World Cup semi-finals. The Hampshire batsman is well aware that he will be the centre of attention when England
Chairman of selectors David Graveney insists captain Michael Vaughan's place in England's World Cup team has never been under threat. The Yorkshire batsman will lead his side into tomorrow's showdown with South Africa needing to rediscover his form if
AN exhibition of mining memorabilia and artwork will be open to the public tomorrow. The Durham Miners Heritage Group is staging the event in the first floor rooms of Neville's Cross Social Club, Nevilles Cross Bank, Durham. The group, which was formed
The FA and Newcastle United are gearing up for a legal battle over England striker Michael Owen. He returned to action in a friendly behind closed doors last week after ten months on the sidelines with the knee injury he picked up on World Cup duty. The
A GRANDMOTHER from Derwentside has had her first novel published.Susannah Robinson, 57, from Westfield, Stanley, started her book in 2004 and finished it last year.The book is called Deception: The Countess of Castle Wisteria and is published by Hyena
ROYAL Mail workers are facing disciplinary action after they played a spoof Britney Spears song at work.Bosses are looking at the behaviour of some staff at the Royal Mail delivery office in Slatyford Lane, Newcastle, after they were given a communal
A COUNCILLOR born a month after the Titanic sank has announced that he is to stand down after representing his ward for 50 years.James Graham, 94, was elected to Stanley Urban District Council, County Durham, in 1957 and then Derwentside District Council
TROOPS from the region have killed eight Iraqi insurgents who were laying roadside bombs close to where four British soldiers died in blasts a week earlier.Soldiers based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, spoke for the first time last night about
Sunderland 2, QPR 1.ON Grand National day last year, depressed Sunderland fans took solace from an April fixture with Fulham that had to be abandoned after 21 minutes due to blizzards.That afternoon, as the club's loyal support departed the Stadium of
NINE years ago Grant Leadbitter was a regular at the Stadium of Light, as Sunderland stormed to a new club record of going 19 league matches unbeaten.Spanning two seasons, with the heartache of losing a play-off final to Charlton sandwiched in between
BREAKDOWNS in relationships between officers and members brought a council into disrepute, an independent report has said.The annual audit and inspection letter about the troubled Richmondshire District Council says councillors should be trained on the
York Racecourse was crawling with bug fans on Saturday when it hosted an insect extravaganza.Among the highlights of the 2007 Northern Entomology Exhibition was an innovative homing-bee race.Visitors took home a bumble bee and released it, with the first
A NORTH Yorkshire school is celebrating a successful rugby season.Richmond School has been awarded the England Rugby Development Mark.And former British Lion Jon Bentley has been helping students during coaching sessions.Meanwhile, the school's under-
A RELIGIOUS parade though a town with historic links to Christianity is under threat because authorities fear there could be an accident.Hundreds of people took part in the March of Witness in Chester-le-Street on Good Friday.A cross was carried from
GOVERNMENT plans to close hundreds of post offices are already leading customers to shun some branches, even though it is not known when the axe will fall, it has been claimed.Geoff Simpson, North-East executive director of the National Federation of
NINE volunteers collected 25 bags of rubbish during a community litter pick at the weekend.Members of the West Rainton Green Group were kitted out with high-visibility vests, sticks and black bags.They spent two hours tidying up the embankment near the
The BBC said last night it was "deeply concerned" by reports that its kidnapped Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, had been killed.Mr Johnston, originally from Scotland, was taken by masked gunmen as he returned to his apartment in Gaza City on March
A DAREDEVIL pensioner whose skydiving stunts raised nearly £10,000 for health charities has been grounded on doctors' orders.After earning nationwide admiration for his airborne exploits, 84-year-old great-grandfather George Hodgson is back down to earth
Portsmouth 2, Newcastle United 1.WHEN Glenn Roeder insisted his team had proved their critics wrong when earning a well-deserved victory at Sheffield United a fortnight ago he was kidding no-one. As much as supporters would like to believe their club
LIFE as a beauty king proved a drag for a North-East engineer, who has become the first British entrant in an international beauty contest for cross-dressers.By day, Gavin Beales is a 41-year-old suit-wearing businessman who runs a power tool company
