Archive

  • Changes planned for air ambulance service

    A NEW air ambulance could soon be serving the region, if sufficient money is raised. Outlining their vision for the future of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), bosses said that the existing helicopter in Northumberland will be replaced if

  • Union anger over Remploy PR cash

    UNION leaders have called for a Government investigation into why a public relations firm is being paid to advise a company considering the closure of factories employing disabled workers. The GMB today called for answers about how much Portland had

  • Gravel turn-on for salmon

    THOUSANDS of tonnes of gravel are being tipped into a river to encourage salmon to breed. Fish have already been seen spawning on the first batch of 1,000 tonnes put into the River Balder, in Teesdale, County Durham, under an Environment Agency action

  • U10 players wanted

    New players required for all positions, preferably with Division 1 experience, for Norton & Stockton Ancients U10A team. Please call Phil on 07740 879345

  • Girl Players wanted

    to compliment the already successful team. Due to losing players to the local academy a great opportunity for serious football girls has arisen. All positions required including goalkeepers. Norton has an enviable girls and ladies section and are committed

  • One in 20 deaths drink related, report

    ONE in 20 deaths in the North-East are now related to alcohol, according to a shock new report. The Association of Public Health Observatories report reveals that the gap between the hard drinking North and the South is getting bigger. For example,

  • Film star to visit air show

    A 55,000lb film star will make a guest appearance at a popular air show this weekend. The star of 1990 blockbuster, Memphis Belle, will appear at the Yorkshire Air Show at Elvington, near York. Memphis Belle, starring Harry Connick Junior in his film

  • Man attacked in city centre

    A MAN was attacked and sexually assaulted by two others as he walked along a city centre street in the early hours of the morning. He was pushed into an alleyway, physically and sexually assaulted and robbed of his wallet in the incident early on Sunday

  • Owen to make Magpies comeback tonight

    Due to high demand in anticipation of Michael Owen's appearance, Newcastle Blue Star FC has confirmed that cash turnstiles will be in operation for tonight's friendly match against Newcastle United at Kingston Park (kick-off 7.45pm). The match sees Owen

  • Parking fine anger

    AN incensed law lecturer used his own appearance in the dock to rail against a £70 fine for forgetting to display a parking disc. Robin Crowther, 66, of Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to failing to have a disc on show when his car was parked

  • Second man arrested in murder hunt

    A SECOND man has been arrested following the death of an amateur rider outside a North-East nightclub. Michael Parkin, 30, died outside The Deck nightclub, near Redcar seafront, east Cleveland, in the early hours of July 29. A 41-year-old Redcar man

  • Child 'lucky to be alive' after house blaze

    A CHILD and his mother were lucky to escape a house blaze in which a front room became an inferno, this morning. Fire fighters say the television, fixtures and fittings simply melted in temperatures of between 600 and 700 degrees as fire raged in the

  • Girl, 13, found hanged in her home

    A 13-year-old County Durham girl, described as bubbly and well liked, was found hanged in her bedroom, by her step-father yesterday. Kelsey Jade Winter, from Marwood Drive in Barnard Castle, lived with her mother Carolann, 29, step father Mark Winter

  • Stockton Summer Show to go ahead

    INSPECTORS have given the go-ahead for a hugely popular summer show at the end of this month. The recent dry weather has resulted in Preston Park in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, being almost dried out, and Stockton Council's grounds maintenance team have

  • Food for thought II

    FURTHER to my letter offering thoughts to chew over (HAS, July 2) I submit another half-dozen for consideration. 1. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one? 2. "I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be

  • Couple take 'wrong turn' into sea

    THREE people were rescued by lifeboat after a holidaying couple drove into the sea - not realising Holy Island was a real island. The couple, in their 60s, were driving North when they got lost during the night and took a wrong turn, then found themselves

  • Gas detectors

    AFTER reading a recent article in The Northern Echo regarding carbon monoxide detectors, I feel I would like to clarify this, and, more importantly, allay any fears Durham City Council residents may have in this respect. After waiting for some

  • Flood risks

    LIBERAL Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell recently talked a lot of sense about flood risks and the threat from too many new housing developments. I find that the flood risks to old terraced properties are increasing. This could be because of

  • Social evils

    IN 1904, Joseph Rowntree transferred a substantial part of his wealth, acquired from his famous confectionery company, into three trusts bearing his name. He wanted his money to be used to tackle the root causes of social evils, rather than treating

  • NHS

    HAVING had recourse to the National Health Service several times over the last few years, I decided to use my latest experience as an objective exercise and try to make sense of the invariably bad publicity handed out on a daily basis. My GP made

  • You can fool some people...

    THE world has gone mad while I've been away on holiday. Every time I bought an English newspaper while I was in Spain, there was another front page story about Great White Sharks lurking off the coast of Cornwall. The Sun, desperate to have more bite

  • Be eager for the Beaver

    Windsor stage their customary evening fixture, with Beaver Patrol standing out as the best punting proposition on a tricky card. Eve Johnson Houghton's tough and reliable sprinter has been keeping some lofty company since beating 28 rivals at Newmarket

  • Scandal of filthy hospital kitchens

    Nearly half of all hospital kitchens and canteens in England could be failing to meet basic standards of cleanliness and hygiene, it was revealed yesterday Vermin, cockroaches and mouse droppings, medical waste on food handling equipment and poor personal

  • Conn stretches the lead

    Burnmoor stretched their lead from 18 to 24 points as they headed closer still to landing the championship prize with just five games remaining. With their main rivals, Whitburn, held by third-placed Boldon it was a good day for the leaders to show their

  • Murton back in frame

    Champions for three of the last four years, Murton are back in the title frame after a vital win which saw them leapfrog two of their rivals to move ominously closer to leaders, Castle Eden. The Castle were surprisingly held to a draw by bottom club Peterlee

  • Kimblesworth forge ahead with easy win

    Kimblesworth are back in pole position for the championship, having made their match in hand over rivals Esh Winning count in no uncertain terms. With Esh having a free day, the new leaders romped to a ten-wicket win over bottom club, Langley Park, after

  • Hubber's efforts in vain as Tynedale win

    THERE was no change at the top as the four teams separated by three points all won. Tynedale retained their one-point lead, beating struggling Sacriston by five wickets. Stuart Graham (4-50) limited Sacriston to 180-8 before Scott Kay (70) top scored

  • Hear All Sides

    PUBLIC MEETING DOUBTS have been raised regarding a public meeting organised by Crook Community Partnership (CCP) to consider a possible town/parish council for Crook. The meeting will go ahead on Thursday, September 27, at 7pm in St Catherine's Community

  • Respect for our elders

    OUR front page story today about the urgent inquiry into abuse at a North-East care home is a disturbing case of vulnerable and confused elderly people being treated badly. Hopefully, there will be a thorough investigation and the appropriate action taken

  • Council under fire over zebra crossing

    A COUNCIL has been accused of not seeming to care, after ignoring calls for a zebra crossing to be installed outside a village school. There has been pressure on Durham County Council to install a crossing to reduce danger for pupils at the primary school

  • Shooting range targeting archers from near and far

    ARCHERS can experience the thrill of hunting without harming live animals at a shooting range. Buttfield Bowmen is building a hunting range on farmland near Thirsk. The Stonebow Field Archery Club will allow archers to hunt in a wooded area to find and

  • New date for charity ride

    A YORKSHIRE motorcyclist has been forced to reschedule a charity fundraiser due to flooding. Mick White, of Lawrence Street, in York, plans to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation. He is to use the annual Louis Motocross Club Race Meeting

  • Residents urged to report fire starters

    SPENNYMOOR residents are being urged to report youngsters playing on an empty factory site, after firefighters were called out three times in 12 hours. All three fires in the old Watson's warehouse, at Green Lane, overnight on Saturday, were started deliberately

  • Police hunt man after vacuum cleaner theft

    POLICE have released this picture of a man who stole an expensive vacuum cleaner from the B&Q store in Bishop Auckland. The man went into the store, on Hardisty Drive, at around 4pm on Saturday, June 23. While the checkouts were busy, he walked past with

  • Wartime veterans seek old friends for reunion

    FORMER members of a wartime youth squadron are being sought for a reunion dinner. Members of 1463 Squadron Air Training Corps and 320 Squadron Girls Training Corps trained at Broom School, Ferryhill, between 1941 and 1947. Glenys Rowe, nee Stoddart,

  • Hear All Sides

    FOOT/CYCLE PATH SO the decision on the cycle track/footpath along the River Skerne has been made. I question the independence of a council which sits in judgement of its own proposals. "Have your say" Darlington Borough Council tells us. This means we

  • Flower show

    THE Sedgefield and District Rose Society is urging growers to enter their annual flower show. The event will take place in the Golden Lion on Saturday, September 1. There are classes for dahlias and chrysanthemums, as well as sections for young people

  • Charities will benefit from duck race

    A TOTAL of 6,000 plastics ducks are being prepared for a charity duck race later this month. Members of the Rotary Club of Darlington and Darlington Lions Club got together in All Saints Millenium Centre, to sort and clean 3,000 yellow plastic ducks

  • Four compete for award

    JUDGES are to visit four villages in the Tees Valley as they compete for the title of village of the year. In the competition, organised by Tees Valley Rural Community Council (TVRCC), the villages of Sadberge, Thorpe Thewles, Middleton St George and

  • Scouts celebrate their centenary with gift of greenery

    SCOUTS have marked the centenary of the movement by helping to develop a hospital garden.The Friarage Scoutlink group has marked Scouting's 100th birthday with the garden at the entrance to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.The group, for youngsters

  • Old school reduced to rubble but material can be recycled

    A CENTURY of village history was wiped out in less than a week, when bulldozers turned an empty primary school into a pile of rubble.It is a year since the last children moved out of Eldon Lane school, in Coronation, to start afresh in a new building

  • Families in legal action over hotel hygiene

    HOLIDAYMAKERS from the North-East have been caught up in an outbreak of food poisoning at a luxury hotel in the Dominican Republic.In a statement released over the weekend, the country's public health minister, Bautista Rojas, confirmed that the presence

  • Father-of-two savaged by dog during dispute

    A FATHER-OF-TWO was savaged by a dog as he tried to settle a neighbourhood dispute.Michael Hall, 47, had his arm bitten to the bone by a bull mastiff as he tried to settle an argument for a friend.Speaking at the weekend, he said: "It had a hold of my

  • Milly, four, to have pioneering surgery in Switzerland

    A YOUNG girl is travelling to Switzerland for pioneering surgery after her crippling condition baffled UK experts.Milly Maddison, four, whose thigh bone is held in place only by muscle, will have a new hip built entirely of pig bone.Her condition is so

  • Centre draws on flower power

    YOUNGSTERS from primary schools across Stockton have helped the town's efforts to win back-to-back Northumbria in Bloom titles by brightening up a shopping centre with floral paintings.Every year, the Wellington Square shopping centre goes to town in

  • Youngsters set off on trip of a lifetime

    TEN young people have set off for southern Africa on the trip of a lifetime.The youngsters from the Cockerton area of Darlington flew from Durham-Tees Valley Airport yesterday on the first leg of their journey to Lesotho to look at the impact Aids has

  • Rural theme for street art season

    THE summer street art programme in Darlington town centre had a rural edge to it at the weekend.The street theatre and comedy act Artizani staged a Farmer Giles performance in Joseph Pease place on Saturday.The Street Art continues today, when Ian Wragg

  • Football club looking for new head groundsman

    A NEW groundsman is being sought to look after the pitch at the 96.6TFM Darlington Arena. Darlington Football Club has invested £150,000 in the playing area, by importing a previously established pitch and installing it into the stadium for the forthcoming

  • Tykes keen to find Younus replacement

    Yorkshire, having suffered a record Roses thrashing at Headingley on Saturday, are searching for a replacement for Younus Khan in a bid to boost their challenge for the Championship. Younus starts his last match in the competition against bottom club,

  • Fun and games at family event

    THE grounds of Kirkleatham Museum, near Redcar, saw some real fun and games at the weekend.Nearly 5,000 people flocked to the two-day family fun event, which featured a craft fair with 30 stalls, a bouncy castle, face painting, live music, miniature steam

  • Group hoping to find Fame

    THE cast of an amateur dramatic group met for the first time at the weekend, to start rehearsals for a show to be performed in Durham this month.Dionysus Theatre Group is getting ready for Fame The Musical by practising at Broom Junior School, in Ferryhill.More

  • Rail's missing link goes on show

    ONE of rail history's most mysterious treasures was the star of thousands of models on show at the weekend.Only 30cm high, the 200-year-old brass and copper Sans Pareil is one of the oldest model steam locomotives in the world.Experts think it could be

  • Golden celebration for sweethearts

    CHILDHOOD sweethearts who met at a youth club yesterday celebrated half a century of married life.Gordon and Betty Wilkinson met at Mount Pleasant Youth Club, in Spennymoor, and became dance partners in ballroom competitions across the region during their

  • Show rides body blow of foot-and-mouth

    ONE of the region's first agricultural shows since the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak has been hailed a success by organisers.The 154th annual Sedgefield and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show took place in the County Durham village on Saturday.Large

  • Hepples' absence allows Scaife an easy win

    GREAT Britain international Martin Scaife maintained his unbeaten record with a runaway fifth victory in the Darlington 10K yesterday. The 35-year-old sports shop manager admitted afterwards: "It was like a training run for me." In the absence of defending

  • Youngsters are united thanks to football and friendship

    YOUNG footballers in Darlington welcomed their foreign counterparts to the town as they played host to players from across Europe.Teams of 14-year-old boys and girls from Finland, Poland and Germany, competed alongside home-grown talent for the Oval Trophy.Darlington

  • Noon stakes big claim for place in World Cup squad

    England 15, France 21 NEWCASTLE centre Jamie Noon left his World Cup calling card all over Twickenham, despite France recording their biggest away win against England for 32 years. Noon delivered a performance of stature to emerge with a powerful run

  • Students fly high after design win

    CREATIVE students will be reaching for the skies after they won a competition to design outfits. Pupils from the Yorkshire Coast College entered a competition to design outfits for a charity ball. The theme of the ball was Flights of Fancy, and the winning

  • Openers' solid start in pursuit of 500

    England's batsmen cleared the first hurdle of their challenge as they attempt to deliver an overdue performance and prevent India sealing their historic series triumph with victory in the final npower Test. Any hope of preserving an unbeaten home Test

  • Residents aim to secure new village green

    ALMOST 150 people have signed a petition calling for a piece of open land to be declared a village green. A committee of Witton Park residents has also collected 75 witness statements from people who remember the land being used for recreation for the

  • England have it all to do

    Fast bowler James Anderson admits England will need luck on their side to preserve their status as the world's second-best Test side today. Michael Vaughan's team headed into the final Test against India needing victory to extend a six-year unbeaten record

  • Brothers say thanks with one-off performance

    A BAND billed as the next Coldplay performed at a north-East music venue last night, to thank a radio station for its support. Ben's Brother were at The Forum, in Darlington, ahead of their appearance at next week's V Festival. North-East radio station

  • Stevens has Durham on hop with a winning one-legged assault

    AN extraordinary innings by Darren Stevens condemned Durham to a three-wicket defeat in their NatWest Pro40 League match at Canterbury yesterday. After throttling the Durham innings by taking three for 15 to restrict them to 203, Stevens thrashed an unbeaten

  • More people making effort to quit smoking

    STOP smoking experts in County Durham and Darlington have reported a slight increase in people taking up help to quit. Summer weather is contributing to smokers' habits, as it is still easy enough to smoke outdoors, they say. Darlington and Durham Dales

  • Bag pack raises cash for charity

    YOUNGSTERS have raised hundreds of pounds for a developing world charity by taking part in a bag pack. Eighteen young people, aged between 14 and 25, helped with the bag pack at Morrisons on North Road, Darlington. The volunteers, from Darlington and

  • Bag pack raises cash for charity

    YOUNGSTERS have raised hundreds of pounds for a developing world charity by taking part in a bag pack. Eighteen young people, aged between 14 and 25, helped with the bag pack at Morrisons in North Road, Darlington. The volunteers, from Darlington and

  • Narrowing the generation gap

    AN information pack to help build relationships between different generations has been produced in Darlington. The Intergenerational Project brought together residents from the borough's community partnerships, young people from the Darlington Borough

  • Volunteers can find help with paperwork

    VOLUNTEERS who want to work in County Durham schools next term are being urged not to be put off by paperwork. Support organisation 2D, which covers Teesdale and the Wear Valley, fears the security process volunteers go through might be too daunting for

  • Three die in weekend crashes

    A PEDESTRIAN has died after she was hit by a car which had left the road following a collision with another vehicle. Cindy Jones, 62, from Ashford Drive, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was pronounced dead at the scene of Saturday's incident. A second pedestrian

  • Devil worship

    Little Devil (ITV1, 9pm), My New Home (C4, 9pm), Kitchen Criminals (BBC2, 6.30pm) THE rule that children should be seen and not heard is ignored by Tim Loane, writer of the new comedy-drama Little Devil. The whole thing is told through the eyes of Oliver

  • Mobile health initiative hits road

    A MOBILE campaign is under way in east Durham to raise awareness about cancer. A "blitz bus" will tour the Easington area for three months as part of a number of health awareness and advice days. Its next stop is at Seaham Library, in St John's Square

  • Gardeners can show their best

    GARDENERS in north Durham are being encouraged to show off their work. Blackfyne Allotment Association is holding its first annual produce show on September 1. The competition will take place at the Dixon Street entrance to the allotments, with judging

  • Homes will rid area of fly-tipping hot spot

    PLANS for nearly 100 homes would transform a fly-tipping hot spot into a thriving community, says a developer. Yuill Homes wants to build the homes on land off Black Boy Road, Chilton Moor, near Rainton Bridge Business Park. The derelict land has been

  • Plea to 'behind-the-scenes heroes'

    VOLUNTEERS who want to work in County Durham schools next term are being urged not to be put off by red tape. Support organisation 2D, which covers Teesdale and the Wear Valley, fears that the security process that volunteers have to go through, including

  • City Diary

    The recent flood of corporate results will slow this week, with Balfour Beatty and Inter- Continental Hotels among companies due to report. Balfour Beatty has seen strong trading in the first half of the year, although its performance has been overshadowed

  • Pensioner backs call for site clean-up

    A PENSIONER has joined the call for a riverside development to be cleaned up. Dorothy Fairhurst said when she moved into her flat in Rochester Court, on the Teesdale site in Thornaby, she was led to believe it was the most desirable place to be. However

  • Police against shop's plans for 24-hour alcohol sales

    POLICE are urging councillors to block a shop's plans to sell alcohol round the clock because drink-fuelled yobs already blight the area. The Boro 24-hr Shop, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, has applied to vary its licence to allow the sale of alcohol

  • Visit by village of year judges

    JUDGES are to visit four villages in the Tees Valley as they compete for the title of 2007 Calor Village of the Year. In the competition, organised by Tees Valley Rural Community Council, the villages of Sadberge, Thorpe Thewles, Middleton St George and

  • Appeal for families to tidy up after beach visits

    FAMILIES enjoying summer days out in Hartlepool are being urged to make sure they dispose of their rubbish sensibly. The appeal has been issued by Keeley Metcalfe, Hartlepool Borough Council's Pride in Hartlepool officer, who is keen to ensure local beaches

  • Man phoned police to say

    A BILLINGHAM man telephoned police warning them that he was armed and "going to do something serious". Jordan Francis was looking for people who had attacked him during a night out last month. The 20-year-old had drunk 12 pints of beer and 12 shots of

  • Row over average earnings in region

    A WAR of words has broken out over the size of pay packets across east Cleveland. According to Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Redcar, there has been a huge fall in average annual earnings in the Redcar and Cleveland area, with

  • Revamped charity shop opens doors

    A CHARITY shop has undergone a revamp, which organisers hope will make it more appealing to customers. The Teesside Hospice shop in Linthorpe Village, Middlesbrough, has had new fixtures, fittings and wall units fitted and a total re-design of the shop

  • Dusk-to-dawn curfew bid to cut play area vandalism

    A CURFEW is to be imposed on a vandal-hit play area in a bid to stem the tide of attacks. The play area at Sowerby, near Thirsk, reopened after a £78,000 refit last month. But youths soon damaged a table in a £6,000 youth shelter and left smashed glass

  • Conmen warning to elderly

    POLICE are warning elderly householders to be on their guard after three men posing as kitchen fitters stole money from a pensioner. The men, who were all dressed in blue boiler suits, knocked on the door of a house on the Hambleton Estate, in Thirsk,

  • Student in naked dash from flat fire

    A STUDENT was forced to flee his flat naked after fire broke out while he was taking shower. John Stott, 26, who lives in Claypath, Durham City, grabbed his clothes and mobile phone after seeing flames and smoke in the kitchen. He was met at the door

  • Apprentices in driving seat for career in cars

    TWO young apprentices are geared up for a career in the car industry after excelling during a work placement in Beamish, near Stanley. Jordan McConnell and Gary Moore, both 15, are studying for a young apprenticeship in motor vehicle service and repair

  • Colliery hold CA to draw in opener

    Easington Colliery were the only one of the four new sides to claim a point on the opening day of the season. They did well to hold fancied Boldon CA to a draw after conceding the lead to David Hopper who headed in at the back post on 50 minutes. Within

  • Plea in hunt for thieves

    POLICE are appealing for information about the theft of a mechanical groundbreaker from the driveway of a house. Two men arrived at the house in Bourne Lea, Shiney Row, on January 23 and told the owner they were there to collect it. When the householder

  • Birtley provide shock result on Northern League return

    Birtley returned to the Northern League after a 116 year absence with a shock 2-1 win at Marske on Saturday. One of the founder members of the league way in 1889, they won the Wearside League last season, and manager Dave Smith admitted that their day

  • Middlesbrough aim to snare Mido

    MIDDLESBROUGH are looking to push through the £6m transfer of Mido early this week. Manager Gareth Southgate revealed they have completed the first stage of negotiations with the Egypt international's club Tottenham and he is hoping to meet up with the

  • Wenger hails first-game win as turning point

    Arsenal 2, Fulham 1. Arsene Wenger believes yesterday's dramatic first-day victory over Fulham could already have been a turning point in Arsenal's season. The Gunners looked to be heading for a shock defeat at Emirates Stadium, where new boy David Healy

  • Mourinho hopes to bring 100 up

    Chelsea 3, Birmingham City 2. Jose Mourinho has set his sights on a century of unbeaten league games at home after his Chelsea side defeated Birmingham to take him to 99. Chelsea set the team record of 64 with the 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge, edging past

  • Rooney injury blow

    Manchester United 0, Reading 0. Wayne Rooney looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines after Manchester United confirmed the £27m striker suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot during this afternoon's 0-0 draw with Reading. The incident

  • Davies says Rams can defy the critics

    Billy Davies firmly believes Derby can prove their critics wrong following a sterling start on their return to the big time. The Rams grabbed a deserved point from a 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at Pride Park as the curtain was raised on the new Barclays

  • Woods wins major No 13 after a glorious finale

    Tiger Woods won the 13th major of his career with a two-stroke stroke victory over Wood Austin in the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Oklahoma. The world number one successfully defended his title after a final-round 69 proved enough to hold off

  • Pools feel sense of deja vu

    Luton Town 2, Hartlepool United 1. ON the opening day of last season, Danny Wilson saw his Hartlepool United side batter the opposition and somehow end up losing the game. Twelve months on, and in a new division, Wilson's side followed the same script

  • Liddle relishing challenge of making the step up in class

    GARY Liddle is sure his Hartlepool United team-mates will take plenty of confidence from Saturday's opening day performance. While Pools lost at Luton, they controlled the game for long periods and Liddle, who was outstanding in midfield in his first

  • Joachim happy to stay with Quakers

    JULIAN Joachim insists he no longer has any desire to leave Darlington and the striker-cum-winger is now relishing the season ahead after pledging his future to the club. Quakers' record signing was expected to leave the Darlington Arena during the

  • Keane believes Sunderland possess a Premier predator

    ROY Keane has claimed that summer signing Michael Chopra is the 'predator' that Sunderland were lacking last season, and revealed that he is still hoping to make "two or three more additions" before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

  • Geremi regards skipper's armband as his greatest honour

    NEW Newcastle United captain Geremi has described being given the armband as "one of the greatest honours of his career" and admitted it would be a dream to lift a trophy as Magpies skipper. Manager Sam Allardyce surprised many by handing the captaincy

  • Fame's the name of the game

    THE cast of an amateur dramatic group met for the first time at the weekend to start rehearsals for a show to be performed in Durham.The Dionysus Theatre Group is getting ready Fame The Musical by practising at Broom Junior School, in Ferryhill.More than

  • Alice rides Rocky to first

    A YOUNGSTER from Osmotherley has won a regional Pony Club competition.Alice Barker, 12, came first in the individual junior dressage championship at the area three dressage competition, held at the Driffield Showground, in East Yorkshire.She was representing

  • Drawing on artistic talents

    AN amateur art exhibition was held in north Durham over the weekend.Members of two creative classes held at Blackhill Community Centre, near Consett, had their work on show on Saturday.The pictures were created using pencil, charcoal, watercolour, oil

  • Inquiry as elderly abused in care home

    AN urgent investigation has been launched after The Northern Echo obtained evidence showing abuse of elderly people in a North-East care home.Mobile phone footage shot at a privately-run care home in County Durham shows frail and elderly residents being

  • Stolen bin? You must need counselling

    A MAN was left stunned after he was offered counselling to help him cope with the loss of his wheelie bin.Karim Allison, of Ormesby, Middlesbrough, said he was stunned when he received a letter from Victim Support offering him "emotional support and practical

  • Hair stylists warm up for 390km bike ride

    STAFF at a hair salon are training for a charity bike ride to raise money for women and their babies around the world.Wendy Buttleman, Tinneke Castro, Catherine Gill and Lisa Walton, from Toni and Guy, in Durham, will take part in Cycle India 2007 in

  • Extra 8,000 technology graduates are needed

    MORE than 8,000 extra science and technology graduates are needed in the North-East in the next eight years, business experts have warned.The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said science, technology, engineering and maths students should be given

  • Inquiries after claims £12.5m road breaks planning rules

    AN investigation has been launched after claims a multi-million pound road scheme has breached planning regulations.Residents called Darlington Borough Council after they saw its £12.5m Eastern Transport Corridor was being built higher than plans allowed

  • Shocking abuse of elderly 'just the tip of the iceberg'

    An increase in reported incidents of elderly people being abused may be symptomatic of an under-funded and devalued 'Cinderella' service. Mark Tallentire reports.ABUSE of elderly people in the region's care homes may be much more widespread than previously

  • Council banks on recycling

    HOUSEHOLDERS are being given the chance to recycle more with the installation of five recycling banks in the Hambleton district.Paper-based cartons are used for a wide variety of sauces, fruit juices, milk and foodstuffs, and it is estimated that nationally

  • Caring couple's gift to hospice charity

    A COUPLE celebrated their golden wedding by supporting a hospice charity.Colin and Shirley Donaldson, from Bedale, used their anniversary to raise money for Herriot Hospice Homecare.Instead of gifts, their friends and family gave donations, which were

  • PM's choice of art raises eyebrows

    PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has chosen to adorn the walls of his Downing Street flat with a landscape painting depicting the backyard of one of his political opponents.The newly ensconced leader is allowed to choose a number of works from the Government's

  • Dyson savours moment after a superb finale

    NORTH Yorkshire's Simon Dyson capped his first US PGA Championship with a round to remember at Southern Hills. The 29-year-old from York had not played in a major yet this season but looked to be in prime position for a top-10 finish after a six under

  • Air crash victim only joined Army a month ago

    TRIBUTES have been paid to the third person to die following last week's military helicopter crash.Private Sean Tait died in hospital on Friday from injuries sustained in the tragedy last Wednesday near Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire.Pilot Flight

  • Traveller's tales

    That man with the umbrella is on his travels again - this time recreating famous trips around the British Isles. Nick Crane talks to Steve Pratt about his love of the landscape and being a reluctant TV star As geographer and writer Nick Crane prepares

  • Kiyonari stretches superbike lead over Rea with Croft double

    RYUICHI Kiyonari extended his lead over Jonathan Rea in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike crown with a winning double in the tenth round at Croft Circuit, near Darlington.It was also an afternoon that saw Tom Sykes enjoy his first podium finishes

  • Hard-knock life is Annie's inspiration

    When Annie Wilkinson started writing it was the tales her grandmother told her - about her less-than-glamorous life against the backdrop of Durham mining that proved the ideal subject matter. She talks to Women's Editor Sarah Foster THE key ingredients

  • Opening partnership of 137 helps Boro narow the gap

    Just two points again separate the leaders, Northallerton and Middlesbrough, with Great Ayton staying firmly in the race for the championship.Boro and Ayton both enjoyed impressive victories and while Northallerton were again unable to kill off their

  • Wild thing

    Explorer Bruce Parry has visited some of the remotest tribles on Earth. He talks to Steve Pratt DEEP in the Amazonian rainforest, a man is being whipped, having stinging sap dripped into his eyes and his system purged with frog poison.This may sound

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    IF there is one regret that Sir Mike Darrington has after a lifetime at the sharp end of commerce, it is that he has not spent enough time with his children. "I have been a bad father," Sir Mike admits. "I was so committed, enthusiastic and passionate

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    THOUSANDS of pounds are expected to be raised for charity as record numbers of runners took to the streets in one of the region's longest-running road races.More than 1,100 athletes took part in the Sherwoods Chevrolet Darlington 10k yesterday, with many