Archive

  • Bobby's book published posthumously

    A VILLAGE policeman's dream will be realised after his death after his friends decided to publish his memoirs. Norman Leslie Barningham served on the beat in Northallerton and Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, for 26 years, during which time he made lengthy

  • Army recruit who died in helicopter crash is named

    AN Army recruit who died in a helicopter crash in North Yorkshire has been named. The Daily Record newspaper has reported that he is Sean Tait, 17, from Glasgow, who joined up just four weeks ago. His parents Colin and Margaret Anne were at his side

  • Cannabis farm investigation: man arrested

    A MAN has been arrested in connection with a cannabis farm discovered by police in County Durham. Thousands of pounds worth of cannabis plants and equipment were seized by police in the raid on a terraced house in Wesley Street, Willington, at about

  • Storm falls down the USPGA leaderboard

    Graeme Storm might have enjoyed the steadiest and most memorable of opening rounds on Thursday, but his second round was a bit more dramatic. Five under par and overnight leader, Storm was the only player not to drop a shot in the opening round. But

  • Third death following helicopter crash

    A THIRD person has died after a military helicopter crashed in North Yorkshire. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the soldier, who was from the Infantry Training Centre, at Catterick garrison, about three miles from the crash site, died today as

  • From the Big Apple to the Big Easy

    Finally, after endless hours of traveling the team has arrived from the Big Apple. Earlier today, at around 11am local time, we finally got a glimpse of England's young superstars arriving in their very stylish tracksuits before being whisked away

  • In at the deep end

    A lot can be gained from a victory they say, but even more from a defeat. This was certainly the case today. Last night the group draws were made. Team England was drawn into pool B with USA, Thailand, Spain and Austria. The team played the opening

  • Championship wide open as Superbikes return to Croft

    BRITAIN'S premier motorsport series returns to the North-East when round ten of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship come to Croft this weekend. Just 12 points separate the top two riders in the standings following a dramatic couple of rounds

  • Back to form

    IT was back to form for the Swale during the Northallerton and District AC John Grainger Trophy when the chub went on a feeding frenzy and the top 2 competitors shared over a ton'. The Upper reaches at Scruton were fining down to a normal summer

  • Bays move over for Boro

    SPEEDWAY action moves to a new time this weekend when the Cleveland Bays host Derbyshirebased outfit Buxton Hitmen in a Conference League encounter at South Tees Motorsport Park. Due to Middlesbrough FC playing at 3pm the meeting has been put back

  • Wait over as Birtley return to league

    BIRTLEY Town play their first Northern League game for 117 years with a tough opener at Marske United tomorrow. Birtley won the Wearside League last season and had their ground passed by Northern League inspectors, giving them the green light to

  • Rea fastest at Croft

    JONATHAN Rea ran fastest throughout free practice ahead of the tenth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Croft. Rea intends to move ahead of his HM Plant Honda team-mate, the series leading Ryuichi Kiyonari, in his pursuit of the

  • Red Line pick up RAC award

    THE Red Line Racing team from Stockton-on-Tees has been named RAC team of the weekend for the third time for their performances at the 13th and 14th rounds of the 2007 Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Snetterton. Red Line Racing collected the award,

  • Boro recruiting teams for youth league

    MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club in the Community are currently recruiting teams for the new season of the popular Box Clothing Youth League. After a highly successful 2006/07 season a number of new teams are required to ensure the ongoing success

  • England star in region for soccer camp

    ENGLAND star Sue Smith will join the girls at Teesside Athletic FC for their girls only soccer camp. In recognition of World Cup Week North Riding County FA has launched a Girls Soccer Skills Road Show at different venues around the county. Delivered

  • North-East youngsters fulfill Wembley dream

    A NORTH-EAST football team rubbed shoulders with England boss Steve McClaren and 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst at Wembley Stadium earlier this week. Youngsters from Chester-le-Street fulfilled their childhood dreams when they graced England's

  • Council's £250,000 US trip to improve kids' lives

    A COUNCIL has been criticised after sending 35 council staff on a £250,000 'fact-finding mission' to the United States. Twenty-seven teachers and eight council representatives attended the two-week 'emotional resilience' programme in Philadelphia. Bosses

  • Mother and boyfriend found guilty of girl's murder

    THE mother of four-year-old Leticia Wright was today found guilty of her murder. At the end of a four-week trial, a jury of six men and six women at Bradford Crown Court took less than five hours to find Sharon Wright, 23, guilty of her murder. Wright's

  • Photographer selected for Tate exhibition

    A PICTURE taken by a North-East photographer has been selected by a panel of experts to feature in an exhibition at Tate Britain, in London. Lizzie's Wall, by 35-year-old Jason Hynes, from Middlesbrough, is one of 40 winners from a total of 3,300 entrants

  • Scot Anderson excited by fresh challenge south of the border

    TWELVE months ago Roy Keane was on holiday when he got the call from Niall Quinn, the chairman at the Stadium of Light, asking him to become the new manager of Sunderland. Almost a year on, Keane was doing the dialling, interrupting holidays in

  • Man dies after street row

    A MAN has died after suffering head injuries in a street row. The 34-year-old man suffered a blow to the head during an altercation in Sunderland in the early hours of this morning and was taken to the city's Royal Hospital, where he died. Five men

  • Black Cats can do more than survive

    A YEAR ago the names of David O'Leary, Alan Curbishley, Martin O'Neill and even Peter Reid were linked with the manager's job at the Stadium of Light. Roy Keane had just retired from football after a short spell at Celtic and the former Manchester

  • Confident Keane is ready for mind games

    TWO years ago Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy geared up for the club's return to the Premier League by insisting nerves wouldn't be a problem. Ten months, and just 15 points, later Sunderland were back in the Championship, McCarthy was out

  • Home-coming White aims to put his experience to good use

    DAVE Penney's firstchoice centre-backs may both be the wrong side of 30 but one half of Darlington's new defensive partnership says the key to success will be the valuable experience the pair have gathered during a decade in the business. Alan

  • Wary fans have seen it all before

    DARLINGTON have signed a boatload of players, the chairman wants promotion and the fans are full of expectation - it must be August, then. It's customary for football fans to suffer from an annual bout of optimism at this time of year but Quakers

  • Relaxed Penney does not feel the pressure

    THE only pressure on me is the pressure I put on myself to be successful. External pressures don't really be bother me," says Darlington manager Dave Penney. Just as well then, because from 3pm tomorrow Quakers must be in contention for promotion

  • Moore hopes Pools switch will see him back among the goals

    AS the great Leeds United meltdown continues, Ian Moore has happily swapped the carnage of Elland Road for a more sedate footballing life at Hartlepool United. But there's no way the striker views a move to Victoria Park as a step down; it's the

  • A proven squad can prosper in return to League One

    ENTERING League One four years ago, Hartlepool United acted as if they had been there all their life. It didn't seem like the first time Pools had been out of the bottom division in almost ten years as they finished sixth to reach the play-offs

  • Wilson lets his players do all the talking

    HEN it comes to making brash and bold predictions for the new season, Danny Wilson is more than happy to stand aside and let others talk. The Hartlepool United boss is about to start his 13th full season as a manager. He's experienced enough

  • Smith and Viduka are re-United

    AFTER talking to Sam Allardyce and agreeing to move to Newcastle United, it was made clear to Alan Smith that he will be asked to play a variety of positions at St James' Park. Bought as a replacement for Kieron Dyer, Smith accepts there could

  • Allardyce can lead a revival - given time

    WHEN it comes to Newcastle United, things rarely happen in halves. So when the club decided to go in for a spot of re-structuring this summer, it was perhaps inevitable that they wouldn't stop with a lick of paint for the dressing room doors.

  • Sam’s arrival ensures changes at St James'

    SAM ALLARDYCE is a self-confessed pessimist and his first summer as Newcastle United manager has done little to convince him otherwise. But despite a failure to land a couple of his top targets, namely Tal Ben Haim and Sylvain Distin, Allardyce

  • Storm front in America

    A blistering opening round put Hartlepool's Graeme Storm top of the leaderboard at the USPGA in Oaklahoma. Storm ended the day five under par, to enjoy a two-shot lead after the best round of his life. The Wynyard Club member, starting on the tenth,

  • New boys offer Boro an attacking impetus

    MIDDLESBROUGH supporters have long lived with the boring Boro' tag, but after several years of mediocrity, that could be about to change. When Steve McClaren accepted Steve Gibson's invitation to take over from Bryan Robson in 2001 his brief

  • It's all change in the Premier but top four to stay the same

    Clubs across the land have been tinkering with their squad this summer with the aim being to better last season's efforts. Champions Manchester United and runners-up Chelsea have taken contrasting approaches to the transfer market but every club while

  • The North-East can be relied upon to deliver the unexpected

    ONE title, one promotion, three managerial changes, two changes of chairman, two supporter demonstrations and three players dropped for missing the bus - last season was just another nine months in the weird and wonderful world of North-East

  • Crutch plea as hospitals look for support

    ACCIDENT and emergency staff at two Teesside hospitals have declared a crutch amnesty due to falling stocks. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust lends about 5,000 pairs of crutches out each year and the situation has become critical, particularly at

  • Man phoned police to say he was armed

    A MAN telephoned police warning them that he was armed and 'going to do something serious'. Jordan Francis was looking for some people who had attacked him during a night out in July this year. The 20-year-old had drunk 12 pints of beer and 12 shots

  • High Court decision does not go far enough on Alzheimers

    A HIGH Court decision on the future of NHS funding for Alzheimers drugs does not go far enough, campaigners said today. Mrs Justice Dobbs, sitting in London, ordered that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which is responsible

  • Council accused as crossing plea falls on deaf ears

    A COUNCIL has been accused of not pulling its finger out after calls for a zebra crossing to be installed outside a village school have fallen on deaf ears. There have been repeated calls for Durham County Council to install a crossing to reduce the

  • Man suffers burns after smoking in bed

    A MAN was rushed to hospital with burns to his back, following a house fire on Teesside, early today. The man, who is in his 20s, fell asleep while smoking in bed, after a night out. The fire was discovered when his house mate went to check on him shortly

  • Smoking ban

    IT is very good news that the new law prohibiting smoking in all enclosed public places is meeting with close on 100 per cent compliance (Echo, Aug 4). The measures taken have been accepted and are having a beneficial effect. This success is due in

  • Transport

    I AM against free transport for pensioners. We were quite content to pay half-fare. The people who should have been given half-fare are students and people on low wages who don't stand a chance of owning a car. All the recent talk about raising

  • Democracy

    JOHN Heslop's reply (HAS, Aug 6) to my letter (HAS, Aug 1) on the subject of democracy seems to make assertions. 1) That I advocate everyone voting on every issue. I never stated that. I just pointed out that once an elector gives away his vote

  • Government

    AGAINST the wishes of the large majority who voted to retain the district councils in County Durham, North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong is in favour of a single unitary authority. So much for the campaign by the Government to encourage people

  • State of Britain

    FURTHER to my letter (HAS, Aug 7) about this country going to the dogs - as indicated through events at Newcastle Airport and Saturday night anti-social behaviour on the Metro on returning from a holiday in Cyprus - may I add that the contrast

  • BNP punch-up

    AS a BNP member I wish to apologise to The Northern Echo for the BNP press officer's description of your newspaper as "disgusting", if that is what he said, in your report of a punch-up between former parliamentary candidate Andrew Spence and two

  • Multiculturalism

    WHAT leads Malcolm Stubley (HAS, Aug 2) and Ralph Musgrave (HAS, Aug 6) to think immigrants are not required to abide by our laws? Apart from a few trivial exceptions alluded to by Mr Stubley - eg, Sikhs wearing turbans are exempt from wearing

  • Consultation

    IN their response (HAS, Aug 2) to my letter (HAS, July 28), Labour councillors Paul Taylor, Bill Kellett and Maggie Robinson again fail to confirm what their views are on a unitary council, and instead attack the Liberal Democrats on planning matters

  • European Union

    IN each of five years up to and including 2006, a cross-section of 100-plus people has been asked questions about the EU. Very few had any depth of understanding of its functions. Ten per cent were very strongly against it. About 30 per cent thought

  • Family pays tribute to airman

    THE family of an airman killed when an RAF helicopter crashed in North Yorkshire have paid tribute to him. Crewman Sergeant Phillip Taff Burfoot, 27, died alongside aircraft captain, Flight Lieutenant David Sale, 28, when the Puma helicopter they were

  • New disease scare

    A FARMER at the centre of a suspected new foot-and-mouth disease outbreak says he is confident his cattle do not have the disease. It was announced this morning that there is a "clinical suspicion" of a new outbreak in Surrey - outside the existing surveillance

  • Time to open the farm Gates

    To suggest that English international footballer Eric Gates was a bit of a Jack the Lad - a term which he uses to describe himself - is to risk a defamation writ from solicitors acting for Jack. "I've made mistakes, done things I'm embarrassed

  • Growing trend

    If you've fancied growing your own vegetables, here are some tips on how to choose the right allotment LAST week I had the honour of undertaking the mountainous task of judging a local village allotment competition. I approached the mission with

  • Garden to mark Scouts centenary

    A SCOUT group has made a special centenary garden to mark the beginning of the scouting movement. Staff from the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, designed the garden and members of the Friarage Scoutlink Group created it. The Scout group wanted to

  • MP wastes no time in backing eco project

    RECYCLING contractors have landed a high-profile client as their first for a new service operating in the area. Newly elected MP for Sedgefield, Phil Wilson, has engaged Stiller's new EcoLogic system for his constituency office in Newton Aycliffe town

  • Leading way in recycling drinks cartons

    A COUNCIL is taking the lead in reycling with the launch of a drinks carton scheme at sites in the district. Wear Valley District Council is one of the first local authorities in the country to trial such a programme, which is to be run in conjunction

  • Hear All Sides

    CARELINK IN response to Councillor Elizabeth Wood's letter regarding the Carelink service (HAS, Page 11, Aug 8), the Liberal Democrats' motion was fully debated by Sedgefield borough councillors at their council meeting on Friday, July 27. A full and

  • Why we need more heroes

    The stories of ordinary people cast more light on our times than those of the famous. I was thinking this as I was reading the obituary of a man called Derek Mather. You've probably not heard of him before - I certainly hadn't, which is a shame as he

  • Anti-social behaviour is at a turning point, say police

    ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour in Darlington is decreasing, according to new figures - although there are still more than 30 incidents a day. Police have said the decrease marks a turning point in the town's campaign against unruly behaviour. But councillors have

  • Surgery aims to extend premises

    THE Rockliffe Court surgery, in Hurworth Place, has applied to build an extension to its pharmacy. The pharmacy, a separate building next to the surgery, will be extended to include a store room and rest room if planning permission is granted. If approved

  • Church sets up prayers helpline

    A CHURCH has set up a helpline with a difference. Northallerton's New Life Baptist Church is manning the phone line, which allows callers to pray with the person at the other end or ask to be prayed for. The church is the latest centre to take part in

  • Gates are open for villagers to have some fun

    VILLAGE residents are trying to think up amusing ways to decorate their garden gates in time for their annual fair. After several years of making scarecrows for the fair in Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, they have been asked to switch their attention

  • When you go down to the castle today. . .

    HUNDREDS of children took their teddy bears out into the sunshine at Bishop Auckland. The teddy bears picnic, in the grounds of Auckland Castle, proved to be one of the best ever. Circus skills workshops, kite making, magic shows, face painting and samba

  • Walk highlights Roman links

    MEMBERS of the public followed in the footsteps of the Romans in a guided walk through ancient parts of a town this week. Local historian Gordon Henderson, of Leasingthorne, led about 15 people from North Bondgate through to Auckland Castle, in Bishop

  • Allotments show expects bumper entry

    THE 47th annual Harrogate Allotment Show is expected to be the biggest ever held. The event, between 11am and 4.30pm on Sunday, August 19, at the Sun Pavilion, in Valley Gardens, is being jointly organised by Harrogate District Allotments

  • Housekeeper wins top award

    A HOUSEKEEPER at a care home has won top award from a local college. Lorraine Ulliott, housekeeper at St Cecilia's care home, in Stepney Road, Scarborough, is profoundly deaf and the award recognised her achievement in completing a distance learning course

  • Shopping centre enters the virtual world

    PEOPLE can now pay a virtual visit to one of Teesside's longest-established shopping centres. Dundas Shopping Centre, in Middlesbrough, has launched a website - www. dundasshopping.co.uk - to help customers window shop, plan their trip and be first in

  • Parking meters 'will help stores'

    PARKING provision in Stockton town centre will change next month with the introduction of parking meters. Council officials said the pay and display meters will help local shops and businesses by increasing the turnover of spaces available for customers

  • Band member Beccy to help rescue hall

    A MEMBER of a nationally acclaimed band will give a one-off charity performance to help a village hall. Beccy Mills, from Waking the Witch, is hoping to raise money for the village hall in Newton-on-Rawcliffe, near Pickering, North Yorkshire. The band

  • Indian takeaway

    All Saints (BBC1, 3.35pm), The ONE Show (BBC1 7pm), Ganges (BBC2, 9pm). An awful lot is going on in All Saints, the daily Aussie import that I'm sure the BBC would love to be popular enough to fill the gap left when Neighbours moves to five. I doubt this

  • Cannabis farm was found in bedroom

    A MAN who grew cannabis plants after buying seeds and equipment over the internet was yesterday ordered to carry out unpaid work for the community. Police raided Paul Jameson's home in Middlesbrough and found a "fairly sophisticated" cannabis farm, with

  • Football star to appear at skills session

    ENGLAND star Sue Smith will join girls at Teesside Athletic FC during a football camp. North Riding County FA has launched a Girls Soccer Skills Road Show in the build up to the Women's World Cup Week. The camp, which is open to all ages, aims to develop

  • Major role for long-serving officer

    THIRTY years of service in the Salvation Army has been rewarded for a woman who has been made a major recently. Linda Watson, 48, from Auckland Park, started working with the Salvation Army as a teenager and was appointed an officer in 1982. During her

  • Event promises musical feast

    A NINE-hour music festival returns this year after a successful launch last summer. The Party in the Park will be at Newton Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane, on Bank Holiday Sunday, August 26, from 2pm. A variety of music will include indie, rock, brass

  • Providing a guide to greener lifestyle

    A BUSINESSWOMAN has devised a guide to cleaner, greener living. The Green Guide to Harrogate, written by Jane Barrett, contains useful hints and advice on how to reduce waste and reuse and recycle items. Ms Barrett came up with idea after experiencing

  • Homes planned for site of destroyed coast landmark

    NEW terraced homes could soon stand on the site of a former landmark hotel. The Station Hotel once dominated the skyline on the coastal strip between Easington Colliery and Horden. Built between the wars, it was a popular bar and residential hotel and

  • Chasing an Olympic dream

    TWO young athletes are aspiring to greater things after good results in a national competition. Sprinter Ruth Hill overcame a serious injury to win a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay. Fellow Northallerton College student Douglas Roberts proved he was

  • Hundreds expected at traditional brass event

    HUNDREDS of musicians will gather in the Yorkshire Dales next month for one of the UK's longest-running brass competitions. Organisers of the Hardraw Scar Brass Band Festival have secured sponsorship for the event from estate agents Charlton's and brewers

  • Dad faces his fears in bid to help son

    A GUTSY father has conquered his fear of heights for the love of his son.Ian Roberts faced up to his phobia by abseiling more than 200ft down Teesside's iconic Transporter Bridge, which towers over the River Tees.He was motivated by his son, Craig, who

  • Pair in Thames trip book launch

    A MOTHER and daughter enjoyed a trip down the River Thames when they attended a book launch in London. TV celebrities Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford read extracts from the limited edition, puzzle-filled book, Where Did The River Go? Two characters from

  • Son attacks mum over missing food

    A DRUNKEN drifter pulled his pensioner mother from her bed and dragged her around her home because he could not find his supper, a court heard. Kevin Williams was told he had behaved in a disgraceful way when he attacked the 66-year-old in her bungalow

  • Road deaths a consequence of otter revival

    A SURGE in otter road deaths is further evidence that the animals are returning to the North-East, wildlife experts have said.Durham Wildlife Trust has begun to record otter road kills and will continue to monitor the situation in case hot spots develop

  • Walking tall for his Cubs troop

    BRAVE Callum Hunter has raised £233 for his Cubs group with a sponsored walk - despite suffering from cerebral palsy.The ten-year-old cast aside his wheelchair to march from Skerne Park, on the outskirts of Darlington, to the town clock, in the town centre

  • Work to start on £30m school in next six weeks

    THE first artist's impression of what a new £30m school will look like has been released.Building work is due to start on Richmond School within weeks and the sixth form block should be complete next summer, with the rest finished by 2010.The new buildings

  • 'When it matters, we fight for bloke next door'

    A GUISBOROUGH soldier is helping to keep scores of Army vehicles in pristine condition during a six-month posting in Iraq.Lance Corporal Brian Combellack, 27, who serves in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, will return home in November.

  • Whey iRobot

    THE brave new world of incredible technology and the shrinking divide between humans and machines is showcased in an exhibition.Our Cyborg Future? at Newcastle's Discovery Museum includes a game where players spell letters out on a computer using only

  • Bus services will stop fighting, say police

    POLICE in Durham are urging weekend revellers to travel on new bus services. Go North-East has launched two services that operate on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The N20 follows a circular route between the city centre and Gilesgate Moor, Belmont and

  • Play along with orchestra in charity event

    A CHARITY orchestra is holding an open air concert in Middlesbrough this weekend. The Cobweb Orchestra will give a free performance and workshop tomorrow. The event, in Central Square, has been organised in preparation of the BBC Tees Valley Proms in

  • Dramathon challenge for children

    ASPIRING actors are being invited to take part in a theatrical adventure this summer in Northallerton. A two-day "dramathon" workshop for youngsters aged eight and over is to be held at the Hambleton Forum. Drama practitioners Simon Gibson and Katy Jenkins

  • Steam railway 'shunt' after failure to change points

    A STEAM engine on a popular heritage railway collided with carriages when the driver became distracted by visitors and forgot to change the points. The force of the impact at Pickering Station, North Yorkshire, knocked several passengers to the floor.

  • New leader for party after unrest over old regime

    WEAR Valley Liberal Democrats have changed leaders only three months after clawing back seats from Labour in one of the closest district council elections for years. Party veteran Tommy Taylor, from Coundon, was elected unopposed on Wednesday night, following

  • MP backs campaign to cut speed limit through village

    AN MP is backing a campaign to have a speed limit imposed on a stretch of main road which cuts through a village. And in a double boost for concerned residents, Durham County Council has announced that it is looking into ways of cutting speed on the road

  • Councillor defends estate after crackdown

    A COUNCILLOR has defended Skerne Park after police announced a crime crackdown in the area. Earlier this week, the Darlington Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership announced a week-long campaign on the estate, to begin on August 20. Between April last

  • Thousands caught in tax trap

    MORE than 4,000 people were successfully prosecuted in the past year for not paying their council tax, according to new figures. But about 60 people escaped without paying at all. Thousands of Darlington residents who are yet to pay any of this year's

  • Hear All Sides

    HIGH ROW REGARDING N Campling's comments about High Row, Darlington (HAS, Page 11, Aug 7). I walked along High Row last Sunday and, frankly, it was in a disgusting state. The whole project, only recently completed, is covered in dirt and stains which

  • Stars turn out to help youngsters

    STARS are lining up for a rock and comedy extravaganza in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT). It has been announced that Geordie star Jimmy Nail, comedians John Thompson and Gavin Webster, soul sensation Ruby Turner, operatic voice of sport Sean Ruane

  • Prison term for drug using thief

    A THIEF who has a lengthy record of stealing to feed his heroin habit has been jailed for 40 weeks. Carl Hudspeth admitted breaking into cars in Bishop Auckland and stealing sat-nav systems, when he appeared in court yesterday. The 26-year-old, of Walker

  • Teens can make friends through football

    AN international football tournament will be staged in Darlington, attracting young players from across Europe. Boys and girls teams from Finland, Poland and Germany will arrive this week for the competition. Organised by the Town Twinning Association

  • Football fun day

    CATCHGATE Community Football Fun Day, which was held on Saturday, July 28, on the Greencroft Playing Fields, near Stanley, raised £850. The fun day was officially opened by the chairman of Derwentside District Council, Councilor Olga Milburn.

  • Police seek two in drug farm probe

    POLICE seized thousands of pounds worth of cannabis plants and equipment in an early morning raid yesterday. Neighbours who had noticed a strange smell raised the alarm,and officers swooped on the terraced house, in Wesley Street, Willington, at 8am.

  • Flooding fears as silt builds up on river

    FLOOD-hit residents want action to remove a large build-up of silt which is blocking the flow of a town centre river. The build-up, measuring 10ft by 4ft, has blocked one arch of the three-span Millgate traffic bridge in Thirsk and is impeding the flow

  • Destinations bidding for tourism titles

    FOUR North Yorkshire destinations have been named as finalists in the newest category of a tourism award. York, Whitby, the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate have been shortlisted in the visitor destination of the year section of the Yorkshire Tourist Board's

  • Sheepdog trials will go ahead

    THE English National Sheepdog Trials will go ahead in North Yorkshire next week - but may be altered to meet foot-and-mouth restrictions. The trials take place at Busby Hall, Carlton-in-Cleveland, near Stokesley, from August 16 to 18. It is the most important

  • Dangerous times

    IT has been another tragic week for the British armed forces. Two more soldiers were killed in Iraq yesterday and a serviceman killed separately in the country on Tuesday was named yesterday as Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard. Hardly a week goes by without

  • Horticultural show

    The Northallerton Services Annual Horticultural Show will be held in Northallerton Town Hall on September 2. It opens to the public at 1.45pm and produce will be sold from 3.45pm. Entries are still being sought for the flower, vegetable, baking, jam-making

  • High hopes after judges visit 'vibrant' city in bloom

    DURHAM City's impressive array of flowers, plants and landscape were placed under the critical eye of judges yesterday - and they were impressed with what they saw. The judges, from the Royal Horticultural Society, were visiting the city during its bids

  • Golfer makes it another championship win

    A TEENAGE golfer has won both the junior and senior championships at his club for the second year running. Jon-Paul Gilbert, 19, from Kip Hill, Stanley, won his fourth title at Hobson Golf Club, near Burnopfield. He plays the 70 par course with a handicap

  • Six arrested as drugs squad swoops on home

    SUSPECTED crack cocaine dealers have been arrested during a police raid on a house in a village near Darlington. Drugs squad officers stormed the home in Middleton St George at 11.30pm on Wednesday night - only days after making arrests at an address

  • Warning after man's benefit fraud fine

    COUNCIL chiefs have warned people against defrauding the benefit system after a pensioner was convicted for failing to declare bank accounts totalling more than £50,000. The man, who also failed to declare income from his life assurance policy, admitted

  • On the lookout for beasties

    A SERIES of afternoon activities will take place at two nature reserves this summer. Durham Wildlife Trust is organising activity afternoons at Rainton Meadows, near Houghton-le-Spring, and Low Barns, near Witton-le-Wear. On Wednesdays at Low Barns Nature

  • Fun day will raise money for revamp

    YOUNG people are hoping to bring a new lease of life to an east Durham community garden. Members of the Positive Future programme are transforming the grounds of the Salvation Army citadel, in Horden. The group has already joined forces with Horden Regeneration

  • Deadline extended for Dutch firm in ICI takeover bid

    THE potential new owner of chemical company ICI, Azko Nobel, was yesterday given more time by the UK takeover watchdog to table its formal £8bn offer for the Dulux paint maker. The Takeover Panel has extended the deadline to allow the Dutch group, which

  • Yorkshire furniture designer opens Hong Kong office

    A NORTH manufacturer has become one of the first to be involved in an initiative to take British businesses to South-East Asia. Conference and exhibition furniture maker ABF Europe, based in Hunsingore, near Wetherby, North Yorkshire, is working with

  • Award-winning donor

    BUILDING, transportation and environmental engineering firm Faber Maunsell has won the Best Donor Acquisition accolade at the recent National Institute of Fundraising Awards. The Darlington company raises £50,000 a year for charities through employees

  • Not such a bad hair day after all

    A BAD hair day led to the creation of a booming business for a North-East entrepreneur. When a friend styled Alex Goodacre's hair with dreadlocks and it did not go to plan, his searches for a remedy revealed there was little information on dreadlock

  • Jobs lost as print firm faces insolvency

    A PRINTING company, which has traded in the region for more than 150 years, was last night placed into administration. Twenty people out of the 25 employed by Ward Philipson Group, based on Gateshead's Dunston Industrial Estate, Tyneside, have been made

  • Lurpack manufacturer chooses N-E_agency

    THE UK's leading dairy company has chosen North-East creative and digital agency Pearsons to lead its employer branding. Arla Foods UK appointed the firm to help put Arla as the main employer of choice in its sector. Arla Foods UK is part of Arla Foods

  • Skill pledge by regional academy

    A NATIONAL training academy to ease the skills shortage in the process industries sector will be based in the North-East. More than 40 businesses from the sector have contributed more than £1m to the National Skills Academy Process Industries (NSAPI

  • Cameras removed from loos after industrial action threat

    SURVEILLANCE cameras which were installed in a North-East factory's toilet blocks - prompting more than 1,000 workers at the site to threaten industrial action - were last night removed. The Northern Echo revealed earlier this week how CCTV cameras had

  • New base for youth club

    A YOUTH club which had to close because of problems with its venue has moved downstairs. The weekly club, in North Road, attracted more than 30 teenagers a week when it was held upstairs at the Northlands Methodist Church. But meetings were cancelled

  • Arise Sir Arthur!

    GRAHAM LEE'S presence aboard Sir Arthur (5.00) could spell trouble for the bookmaking fraternity at Sedgefield today. No mug when campaigned over middle-distances on the Flat by Mark Johnston, the four-year-old chestnut has recently been sold to Brian

  • August 10th, 2007

    THE seeds of football's madness may have been sown around the time George Eastham had the maximum wage abolished, but the game still retained a reasonable level of sanity even when Brian Clough paid £1m for Trevor Francis. However, the last ten years

  • Rugby club seals new sponsorship deals

    A SPORTSWEAR company has agreed a £25,000 sponsorship deal with Darlington Rugby Club. The three-year deal with Norwich-based Samurai International Sportswear, which runs the club shop, takes to £125,000 the value of recent sponsorship deals. The club

  • Yorkshire suffer a prickly Roses horror

    Yorkshire's hopes of lifting the County Championship title suffered a severe blow at Headingley Carnegie yesterday when they never fully recovered from one of their worst starts in the history of Roses cricket. Winning the toss and batting first in blissful

  • Man, 34, admits harassing former colleague

    A MAN has been told to stay away from a former colleague for two years after bombarding her with letters, gifts and false allegations. John Hart, 34, pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday to harassing his ex-workmate by sending her

  • England toil in vital Oval Test

    England's desire to maintain their unbeaten home Test series record was undermined by a series of missed chances as India dominated the opening day at the Oval. Needing victory to preserve an unbeaten record stretching back 11 previous series to 2001,

  • Giles forced to quit

    Ashley Giles has finally admitted defeat in his 18-month long battle against hip problems and became the first of England's 2005 Ashes heroes to quit the game. The 34-year-old left-arm spinner, who has enduring three operations in the last 18 months,

  • Botham's name is erased from the Durham record books

    WHILE his new Durham team-mates fluffed their lines, the unknown Lee Goddard yesterday all but expunged Ian Botham from the county's record book. The 24-year-old Dewsbury-born wicketkeeper hit a 32-ball half-century against Sri Lanka A at Riverside, one

  • Eggert unhappy with Magpies

    West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has criticised Newcastle over the collapsed Kieron Dyer transfer. Dyer's move fell through after Newcastle, having initially agreed a £6million fee, raised the cost of the player by £2million. Magnusson, who also outlined

  • Carson moves

    Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has agreed to Scott Carson's pleas not to have his England future ruined by a season on the bench. Carson will join Aston Villa on loan for another season away from Anfield, having spent last term at Charlton. Benitez has

  • Wise hits out at rivals

    Leeds manager Dennis Wise has questioned the motives of the majority of Football League chairmen who voted to uphold the club's 15-point penalty for breaching rules on insolvency. The 40-year-old Londoner and assistant Gus Poyet did little to hide their

  • Viduka needed a change

    MARK Viduka last night admitted he had grown "stale" in his final season at Middlesbrough, but after swapping the Tees for the Tyne this summer, the Newcastle striker has thanked Sam Allardyce for stirring his competitive juices. Despite scoring 19 goals

  • Boro want Mido to play alongside Yakubu

    GARETH Southgate last night insisted that Ayegbeni Yakubu was "not for sale", and claimed that he was pursuing Tottenham striker Mido in the hope of playing him alongside the Nigerian, rather than instead of him. Yakubu's future has been called into question

  • Gordon vows to silence to mockers after £9m deal

    CRAIG Gordon has already lost count of the number of Scottish goalkeeper jokes he has heard since signing for Sunderland. But as he prepares to make his Black Cats debut in tomorrow's Premier League curtain-raiser with Tottenham, British football's most

  • Unassuming, industrious - and lifelong best mate

    Both Shildon lads, both football fanatics, Mike Armitage and Northern Echo columnist Mike Amos had been best friends for 55 years. Mike Armitage died on Wednesday. His mate pays tribute.MIKE Armitage, one of the North-East's best known, longest serving

  • Town's market celebration sets out its stall

    A SPECTACULAR celebration of a town's market history takes place next weekend with the largest number of traders it has ever seen.Darlington's history has always been inextricably linked with that of its markets, and between August 17 and August 20 it

  • Councils to seek judicial review over unitary plans

    COUNCILS in County Durham are joining forces to fight the decision to abolish them and set up a super council providing all services across the county.Yesterday, the county's seven district authorities agreed to jointly seek a judicial review.They will

  • Stage is set for theatre's centenary show

    A NORTH-EAST theatre is holding a celebratory evening to mark its 100th anniversary.On Sunday, September 2 - the actual date of Darlington Civic Theatre's centenary - the theatre is staging 100 Years of Music and Variety in Darlington. The evening will

  • Extra £80,000 to be spent on tourism drive after flooding

    A TOURIST board is investing an extra £80,000 to entice visitors to the region after last month's floods.Yorkshire Tourist Board said tourists were put off visiting the county, believing that flooding had affected the area more than it had.The funding

  • Storm erupts over care home protest

    CAMPAIGNERS seeking to stop plans to demolish a house and build a rest home in its place have been accused of letting prejudices get in the way of the needs of the elderly.A 3,000-name petition was given to planners yesterday protesting about plans for

  • Private companies to run GP surgeries

    TWO North-East primary care trusts (PCTs) are spearheading a revolution in general practice which could see private companies running new surgeries.Hartlepool PCT and County Durham PCT are among the first four in the country to have been selected by the

  • Hundreds of students go online for results

    MORE than 1,000 students from schools and colleges in the North-East and North Yorkshire will receive their exam results online this month.The students, who have registered for ResultsPlus Direct, will be able to view their A-level and GCSE results the

  • Police take firm but fair approach to race weekend

    POLICE are looking forward to a friendly weekend as tens of thousands of motorbike fanatics head to a North motor-racing circuit.They have promised a firm but fair approach as the Croft Circuit, near Darlington, gears up for the British Superbikes Championship.Organisers

  • 'No child to be left behind' after £19.6m cash boost

    CHILDREN'S services in Stockton will receive a £19.6m boost, the Government has revealed.Stockton Borough Council will get the cash during the next three years for early years and child care. The figure includes £6.7m for more children's centres. Dari

  • Fuel line blockage caused

    A CORRODED fuel line triggered a fuel blockage which caused a twin-engine plane to crash, killing its pilot.A report into the accident, in which 64-year-old Frank Walker died, by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) said a problem with the Piper

  • Organisers get ready for 10km road race

    ONE of the region's longest-standing road races will take place on Sunday. The Sherwoods Chevrolet Darlington 10km road race, in Darlington, is now in its 20th year, and early race entries indicate a record number of runners this year.Last year, more

  • Funeral tribute to inspirational soldier

    A SOLDIER from the North-East has been buried with full military honours.Friends, family and colleagues of Sergeant Barry Keen, from Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, paid their last respects yesterday.The service for the 34-year-old, killed in action in Afghanistan

  • Vicar hits out after posters banned

    A VICAR has hit out at a council that clamped down on posters advertising events in his church hall.Two traders have said they will not hold any more sales in the parish hall at Barnard Castle because they can no longer put up notices.The Reverend Alec

  • Bingo fan, 80, badly hurt in bus accident

    A PENSIONER heading for a bingo session was critically injured when she was hit by a bus in a rush-hour accident.Phylis McDonnell, 80, of The Gore Hill Estate, Thornley, in east Durham, suffered severe head injuries and was airlifted to Newcastle General

  • Abbott ready for debut

    ON the eve of Darlington's League Two opener, club record signing Pawel Abbott has declared himself fit to face Wrexham tomorrow. The £100,000 buy from Swansea City has been struggling with a thigh strain and there were doubts Abbott would be available

  • Tributes to victims of helicopter crash

    TWO airmen killed in an RAF helicopter crash in North Yorkshire were last night named by the Ministry of Defence.The aircraft's captain, Flight Lieutenant David Sale, and crewman Sergeant Phillip Burfoot died when the Puma helicopter they were in crashed

  • You've got mail

    Email and texts were supposes to kill the traditional hand-written letter, but, according to new research, putting pen to papers is as popular as ever. Ed Reed looks a the resurgence of writing and how to write the letters that matter. The craft of letter

  • Soap good enough to eat

    Meet the Moores, a couple whose salsa dancing passion led to a new career - making soaps THAT'S the trouble with salsa dancing, you never know where it could lead. For Kate and Phil Moores, it led to a whole new career, a burgeoning business, and an

  • Painstaking inquiry ahead of investigators may take weeks

    THE remote area where the helicopter crashed is part of a large military training area.The scrubby pasture, about four miles from Richmond, is dotted with small wooded areas, and the road beyond the hamlet of Brokes is punctuated with military warning

  • Accident had echoes of crash seven years ago

    SEEN as the workhorse of the RAF fleet, Pumas entered service in 1971 and are generally regarded as being reliable and having a good safety record.However, some concerns have been expressed about their use after a handful of serious crashes.In April 2000

  • Thieves steal handcuffs from police museum

    THIEVES are on the run after stealing two sets of historic handcuffs - from a police museum. The raiders struck at the Police and Prison Museum in Ripon, North Yorkshire making off with the antique restraints, which were in boxes and worth 25 each, and

  • Owner's shock as sheep butchered in field

    THE owner of two sheep found butchered in a field near the River Wear has spoken of her horror at discovering their mutilated bodies. The dead animals, one with its head and front leg hacked off and the other with its ears removed, were uncovered on

  • Foot-and-mouth latest: new case suspected

    FEARS that the foot-and-mouth has spread have been raised after a new suspected case of the virulent virus was discovered. A 3km temporary control zone has been set up around undisclosed premises in Surrey, outside the existing surveillance area, after

  • Foot-and-mouth latest: new case suspected

    FEARS that the foot-and-mouth outbreak has spread have been raised after a new suspected case was discovered. A 3km temporary control zone has been set up around undisclosed premises in Surrey, outside the existing surveillance area, after an inconclusive