Archive

  • Glen Robertson Previews Sports personality of the Year

    BBC Sports Personality of the year is just over a month away and here at rE-view we are going to look at the possible candidates for the award. Just like last year, Britain has not been overly successful in the sporting world which means the award is

  • Hundreds of children evacuated after fire at school

    AROUND 300 children were evacuated after a blaze broke out at their Newcastle school this morning. Two fire-engines attended Ponteland County High School in Callerton Lane after a fire started in a workshop dust extraction unit at 11.34am. No-one was

  • Teenager arrested over attempted post officer robbery

    A 17-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with an attempted armed robbery on a County Durham post office. The arrest followed an operation by armed police officers in the Barnard Castle area on Sunday morning. The attempted robbery took place

  • Cyclist dies in crash

    A CYCLIST died today following an early morning collision with a van. The 21-year-old was cycling just beyond the A1 flyover on the A6055 between Boroughbridge and Minskip, North Yorkshire, when he collided with a white Mercedes refrigerated box van

  • WHEELER TWO GOOD FOR ST FRANCIS

    WHEELER TWO GOOD FOR ST FRANCIS challenge cup under 10's allstars 3 v 0 st francis c m.o.m danny wheeler Report; Allstars scored after 5 minutes when callum beagle passed to danny wheeler who fired it into back of the net,constant pressure through

  • Grant to pay for fitting detectors

    CARBON monoxide detectors are to be distributed to homes in former coalfield areas, between Durham and Sunderland, thanks to a council grant. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has received £12,000 from Sunderland City Council's strategic initiatives

  • Pupils track litter monster

    CHILDREN have been hunting down a litter monster in a programme to make them more aware of their environment. Children from Annfield Plain Junior School, near Stanley, had to catch and convict a litter monster who was in the area. Margaret Willey

  • Mental health hospital backed by councillors

    PLANS for a multi-million pound psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of a city have been backed by councillors. The Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust wants to build three 20-bed in-patient wards, offering mental healthcare facilities, and a

  • Survey results helping police to tackle concerns of public

    POLICE in Derwentside have carried out a survey to find out what issues affect people most. A questionnaire was sent to people identified as having a good knowledge of local issues. The results identified three priorities for police. In Stanley

  • A chap has only to die once – soldier’s last letter

    Private Edward Hope EDWARD Hope was the community's only soldier to have won a Distinguished Conduct Medal. Villagers were so proud of him, they raised £30 in a few days and were planning to present a gold watch, valued at £25, on his return

  • Research into history behind the names on war memorial

    THE war dead behind the names on a community's war memorial have been brought to life by the work of a local historian as villagers prepare to rededicate their cenotaph. Clive Bowery, who has spent years in research, presented a talk at the weekend

  • Remembrance service for hero RAF pilot

    A MEMORIAL to a Second World War hero who sacrificed his life over the skies of of a North-East town was rededicated at a service on Saturday. Pilot William Stuart McMullen was killed in January 1945, while steering his stricken Lancaster aeroplane

  • Book of Remembrance

    On Remembrance Sunday people across the region will be paying their respects to the men and women who gave their lives serving their country during two world wars and more recent conflicts. As well as the national service taking place at the cenotaph

  • Club stewardess stole £28,000, court told

    A CLUB stewardess who stole over £28,000 walked free from court today - because she owned up immediately. Wendy Horsley, 44, who was stewardess of Belle Vue Social Club in Hartlepool, had also waited two years to be sentenced, said the judge. She had

  • Five vehicle smash closes A19

    THE A19, near Billingham, was closed this morning after a five-vehicle smash. The incident took place on the southbound carriageway at the junction of the A489 at around 9.15am. A woman was taken to James Cook Hospital with head injuries, which are

  • Asbestos scare for Christmas lights plan

    CHRISTMAS celebrations in a North Yorkshire market town were thrown into jeopardy when festive lights were found to be covered in asbestos dust. Ryedale District Council discovered the dust as part of a regular inspection of the town hall, in

  • Arsonists attack newsagents shop

    POLICE are appealing for information after an arson attack on a newsagents shop. The premises in High Street, Tow Law, sustained smoke damage after a glass bottle containing a flammable liquid ignited as it was thrown at the shop door on Thursday night

  • Volunteer reading group needs members

    A VOLUNTEER group that helps children learn to read needs more members. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Partnership (RSVP), based in York, sends helpers into schools one day a week. The group has 500 members, with about 40 in Hambleton and Richmond

  • Learning centre opens after four-year wait

    A VILLAGE is celebrating after the opening of a £170,000 learning centre which will benefit adult learners. The learning centre, in Gilling West near Richmond, was officially opened on Saturday, by Richmond MP William Hague. The centre will specialise

  • MP hears community fears about anti-social behaviour

    RESIDENTS voiced concerns about anti-social behaviour in their town to a local MP at the weekend. More than 20 people attended a coffee morning at Tow Law Community Centre on Saturday, arranged by Hilary Armstrong, MP for North-West Durham, to

  • £500k upgrade of school’s facilities officially unveiled

    A SCHOOL has unveiled a series of facilities that should benefit its pupils and the wider community. Sunnydale Community College, in Shildon, has spent almost £500,000 upgrading its dining, computing, music and sporting amenities. They were opened

  • Nursery cooks up a top-class service

    A DARLINGTON nursery has come up with the recipe for success after scooping a five-star award for its food hygiene. Darlington College's childcare centre has become one of the first nurseries in the area to receive the Tees Valley Food Hygiene

  • Building society staff race to help cancer charity

    A CHARITY is more than £1,000 better off thanks to the efforts of building society staff in Darlington. Darlington Building Society entered a team of more than 30 employees, friends and children in this year's Race for Life, which was held in

  • Young cricketer heads for UAE

    A TEENAGE cricketer from Darlington is to head to the Middle East with the county under-15 team. James Dobson and members of the under-15s are to travel to the United Arab Emirates in December for an international cricket tournament in Dubai,

  • Number of pupils missing class falls

    TRUANCY rates at Darlington schools have fallen faster than the national average, council reports have revealed. Official figures for the past academic year show that the number of pupils missing classes at town schools has fallen by 1.4 per cent

  • Grant of £250 awarded to food co-operative group

    HOUSING Hartlepool has started a grants scheme to help local community and volunteer groups. Among the first to be awarded £250 towards its running costs is Burbank Food Co-operative. It was set up 18 months ago and operates from Burbank Community

  • Practice unveils proposal for £2.75m village health centre

    PLANS have been unveiled for a £2.75m health centre in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton. P+HS Architects has submitted a planning application to replace the Eaglescliffe Medical Practice, in Sunningdale Drive, with a building designed for the practice

  • Event to attract young people to politics

    YOUNG people in Hartlepool took part in a weekend event to encourage them to take an interest in local politics. Children's charity Barnardo's, working in partnership with the Electoral Commission and Hartlepool Borough Council, organised the

  • Tenants asked for views on merger of landlords

    TENANTS of a social housing landlord in Middlesbrough are being asked for their views on a possible move to join forces with another of the town's housing associations. All Erimus Housing residents are being invited to have their say on the proposal

  • The Lifeblood Appeal

    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 Civil Hall, Derwentside District Council, Medomsley Road, Consett, 2pm-7pm. Barracuda

  • Semple goes for double

    ABBONDANZA makes a quick reappearance at Wolverhampton today and he is certainly one to follow as he bids for a course-anddistance double. Ian Semple's recruit was a winner at Dunstall Park on Friday and connections are obviously keen to capitalise

  • Green lighthouse is world's first

    A NORTH-EAST business has scored a world first by designing a fuel cell to power one of the region's lighthouses. The historic South Gare lighthouse, at the mouth of the River Tees, leads to one of the busiest ports in the UK and is an exposed and

  • Hope in defeat for improving Darlington

    Darlington 8 Westoe 10. THERE was at least hope for Darlington, who could have snatched only their second win of the season with the final kick. Alex Lineton's well-struck 42- metre penalty drifted just to the left, but it was a huge testament

  • Arngrove Northern league: Cestrians stun champions

    Chester-le-Street manager Stuart Sherwood paid tribute to his young team's character after they stunned league champions Whitley Bay with a 2-1 win at Hillheads. Chester have been nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation battle so far

  • Another defeat for managerless RA ensures slump goes on

    Darlington RA are in the bottom five of the second division after they lost 3-1 to Sunderland RCA. Gary Shields opened the scoring for the RCA from six yards out, then he ran through and fired the second. It was all over for the RA when Lee Bell's shot

  • Happy days watching Boro at Ayresome

    My love affair with Middlesbrough Football Club began in 1967 when my dad and granddad introduced me to the delights of watching the local football team from the Holgate End at Ayresome Park. Back in the 1960s, football was still a cheap form of Saturday

  • City threaten backlash

    Croatia defender Vedran Corluka believes Manchester City owe their supporters a big performance at Eastlands tonight when they face Sunderland. Despite the Carling Cup victory against Bolton in midweek, he is still hurting from the mauling by Chelsea.

  • Arsenal will keep it up, pledges Fabregas

    Arsenal 2 Manchester United 2. Cesc Fabregas insists Arsenal have both the heart and the legs to mount a sustained assault on the Barclays Premier League title this season. The Gunners produced another late, late show to earn themselves a 2-2 draw against

  • Megson full of hope

    West Ham United 1 Bolton Wanderers 1. Gary Megson admits it will take time to emerge from the shadow of Sam Allardyce at Bolton but he believes the stoppage-time equaliser at West Ham proves his players are willing to fight for the club. Megson is almost

  • Lampard sinks Wigan

    Wigan Athletic 0 Chelsea 2. Wigan manager Chris Hutchings hailed the killer instinct of Frank Lampard after he struck for the fourth time in two matches to help Chelsea to a 2-0 win at the JJB Stadium. But Hutchings admitted his frustration after warning

  • Cureton impresses new boss Roeder

    Norwich City 2 Ipswich Town 2. Norwich manager Glenn Roeder praised Jamie Cureton's ''Premier League finishing'' after the striker's deft lob gave the Canaries a 2-2 draw against deadly rivals Ipswich in his first Coca-Cola Championship game in charge

  • Don't expect more wonder goals from cool hand Luke

    LUKE Young has warned Middlesbrough's supporters not to expect a repeat of Saturday's long-range wonder goal, and claimed he was more surprised than anyone to see his 52nd-minute strike scorch into the top left-hand corner of Paul Robinson's net.When

  • Angry White determined to put it right against Shrews

    After Saturday's humbling at Hereford, Darlington defender Alan White admitted he was an angry man but said there were no post-match reprisals among team-mates in the dressing room.Instead, says White, only manager Dave Penney did the finger pointing

  • Boss expects rival bosses to be Keane on Kenwyne

    ROY Keane has admitted that he faces a battle to hold on to leading scorer Kenwyne Jones when the transfer window re-opens at the start of January.Jones will look to make it four goals in four games when he travels to Eastlands to face Manchester City

  • Shocking defeat leaves Butt stunned

    NICKY BUTT was lauded in the build up to the visit of Portsmouth for the way he speaks his mind in the dressing room when mistakes have been made. On Saturday, however, the stand-in Newcastle United captain was left speechless. The 32-year-old was as

  • Wilson hails spirit

    DANNY Wilson hailed his side's character after a second clean sheet in three games secured victory for Hartlepool United.After a record breaking 25 shut outs last season, Pools have not been so mean this season. But Saturday saw a second clean sheet in

  • Redcar lose 40-17 at home

    Redcar's attempts to buy their way out of Yorkshire One continue to prove fruitless, with prop Craig Chapman opting to return to Middlesbrough. They lost 40-17 at home to Malton and Norton, despite tries from No 8 Neil Young and centre John Pope

  • Error-strewn game at Ryton

    Stockton drew an error-strewn game 27-27 at Ryton after fly half Jeremy Good kicked five penalties for a 15-10 interval lead. The hosts moved ahead through a penalty and a try when Stockton lost control of their line-out ball, but when Ryton dropped

  • Durham City win at Old Crossleyans

    Durham City remain third after a 24-10 win at Old Crossleyans, despite scrum half Ben Stevenson being unavailable and his brother Arnie injured. Former skipper Jeff Roberts played at No 9 in his first game back after a summer operation, but was

  • Eight wins from eight for West Hartlepool

    West Hartlepool made it eight wins from eight in North Two East when they won 16-0 at home to York without reaching recent heights. They again dominated the scrum but failed to add any tries to first half efforts by Phil Henderson and Andrew Hare

  • Middlesbrough enjoy 41-5 home win against Altrincham-Kersal

    Winger Ross McNeill scored a hat-trick for Middlesbrough as a 41-5 home win against struggling Altrincham-Kersal took them into sixth place in North One. Lack of size counts against Mc- Neill in tight situations, but he showed how well he can finish

  • Tynedale lose to improving Rugby

    Tynedale lost their 100 per cent record when they went down 22- 10 away to improving Rugby Lions, who landed three penalties after seeing a 13-0 lead cut to 13-10 at half-time. Following tries by winger Ben Duncan and lock Tim Swinson, Tynedale

  • 40-20 defeat at Bradford and Bingley

    Darlington Mowden Park's good run ended with a 40-20 defeat at Bradford and Bingley, which saw them slip two places to sixth in National Three North. South African lock Naude Pretorius did well in his first game back for Mowden and hooker Shaun

  • Veteran Bell again gets the better of Wilkinson at Gibside

    FORMER Great Britain international Stewy Bell was made to fight all the way for his seventh victory in yesterdayfs Blackhill Boundersf Gibside Trail race. The 40-year-old Chester-le- Street athlete, whose mother, Joy, organises the seven-mile

  • Big guns on the way back for Newcastle

    Newcastle Falcons 29, Newport 24 JONNY Wilkinson is likely to be given another week to recover from his ankle injury. After the England fly half missed Saturday's 29-24 win against Newport at Kingston Park in the EDF Energy Cup, Director of Rugby

  • David slays Nadal

    IN-FORM David Nalbandian claimed his second Masters Series title in a fortnight when he destroyed Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the final of the Paris tournament. The Argentinian, ranked 18th in the world, was in rampant mood as he swept past

  • Harmison hits out

    DUNCAN Fletcher insists he was right to expose Andrew Flintoff's drinking antics during the last Ashes tour. The former England head coach has come under fire for revealing the country's premier all-rounder had turned up to practice during the

  • Rose wins three-way play-off to claim Order of Merit title

    JUSTIN Rose is European golf's new No 1, eight years on from looking like he might never make it as a professional. Rose survived a dramatic roller-coaster ride to win the Volvo Masters at Valderrama yesterday. He went from four clear to one

  • Calzaghe demands a Hopkins showdown

    JOE Calzaghe hurled out a challenge to Bernard Hopkins after being crowned undisputed world super-middleweight champion with a magnificent points win over previously-unbeaten Dane Mikkel Kessler. The 35-year-old Welshman is desperate to end his

  • Radcliffe digs deep to shake off old rival Wami

    BRITAIN'S Paula Radcliffe won the ING New York City Marathon yesterday, defeating Ethiopia's Gete Wami with a dramatic finish in Central Park, two years after competing in her last marathon. Radcliffe, who gave birth to daughter Isla in January

  • Storm’s hopes dashed

    GRAEME STORM'S dreams of climbing ahead of Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the Volvo Order of Merit and gaining automatic qualification into next year's US Open disappeared yesterday. The French Open champion brought the curtain down on a memorable

  • Sage appointment

    IAN MASON has been appointed to software company Sage Group's board with immediate effect. He will serve on the Newcastle PLC's audit, remuneration and nominations committees. He is also chief executive of FTSE 250 company Electrocomponents PLC

  • Turnover to hit £5m, says architect BSB

    ARCHITECT Browne Smith Baker (BSB) is predicting its turnover will hit a record £5m this year after significant expansion over the past 12 months. The Darlington firm, which also has offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Hull, has taken on 27 people

  • Interest in family firm received

    A FAMILY-OWNED garage businesses has gone into administration, threatening 42 jobs. Keith M Watson Ltd, which trades as Watson Ford, called in administrators last week, blaming the economic squeeze for taking its toll on demand for new and second-hand

  • Invitation to join Brazil trade delegation

    BUSINESSES can see the opportunities on offer in Brazil as part of a delegation to the country next year. As part of its programme of market visits, UK Trade & Investment will organise a trip to the South American country to enable companies to

  • Next stage of park work nearly completed

    THE penultimate phase of a business park that could create up to 3,500 jobs is almost finished. Spectrum Four and Spectrum Five, part of Spectrum Business Park, in Seaham, County Durham, are due to be completed by developers the Hillford Group

  • Pay dispute resolved at award-winning group

    A PAY dispute in which more than 200 workers walked out of a Queen's Award-winning manufacturing plant has been resolved. Production at the Davy Roll Company, in Gateshead, was brought to a standstill last month when employees went on strike over

  • Luke Adamson, born to act

    A TRIP to see Dame Berwick Kaler in pantomime at York sparked off Luke Adamson's interest in acting. "I said that looked like fun, I'd like to do something like that," he recalls. "The next year they advertised auditions for the children's parts

  • Future visions

    Deep Water (C4, 9pm) Visions of the Future (BBC4, 9pm) SCIENCE fiction is fast becoming science fact. Not so much Things To Come - the 1936 film of HG Wells' futuristic stroy that follows Visions Of The Future on BBC4 - as Things Just Around The

  • Delivering the message

    North-East medium, Noel Sorbie is set to tour the region. Steve Pratt talks to him THE first time someone spoke to Noel Sorbie from the spirit world, he didn't understand this was a voice from beyond. "I was four and, being such a young age, I

  • Escape from stress, the rat race... and TV

    They left the rat race to embrace an eco-friendly way of living - now Jane and Andrew Pearce are offering therapy that's green. They talk to Women's Editor Sarah Foster IT'S not the easiest of journeys to arrive at Prydale House but once you've braved

  • Between the rocks and a hard place

    On Friday night, tragedy struck the fire service in Warwickshire. The same evening, Owen Amos went on the road with Darlington Fire Brigade's Red Watch - and it wasn't short of incident IT is cold and dark and a gang of teenage boys in tracksuits are

  • It’s time to expose truth

    THE public inquiry into the apparent council negligence that exposed staff at a North- East swimming pool to dangerous asbestos over five years cannot come soon enough. Wear Valley District Council was fined £18,000 in August, after admitting breaches

  • Women

    THERE was a time in this country when many more women died in childbirth. My paternal grandfather's first wife died giving birth to a child when she was 30. Until the Abortion Act many died as a result of illegal abortions carried out in less than

  • Funky folk

    CORRESPONDENT E Reynolds wrote an interesting letter regarding the origin of names of North-East towns and cities (HAS, Oct 17). I am not sure how Darlington got its name, but I always tell my German friends it stems from the fact it has always been

  • Immigration

    AS an issue, immigration stirs deep feelings and division. It can fuel racist attitudes, something seized upon by those political parties which will capitalise on them. David Cameron's Conservative Party, with its moderate centre left "green" approach

  • Rubbish charges

    PILOT schemes letting local councils to charge extra for rubbish collections remove the direction of anger that will be generated from central government to the council office. What spineless decisionmakers we have put in power. There are no measures

  • World Cup

    GREAT news that the Football Association has announced England will join the bidding for the 2018 World Cup. Now it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of the bid. On this basis, despite England having a number of the best stadia in the world

  • Transport

    YOUR article "Government blocks bid for high-speed rail link" (Echo, Oct 31) failed to acknowledge that the Department for Transport announcement - Towards a Sustainable Transport System - does provide an opportunity for the North-East to make

  • The high price of integrity

    FOLKLORE at The Northern Echo tells of the night, in the dim and distant past, when the editor was busily trying to rewrite the front page on General Election night while sloshed on the bottle of whisky he'd brought in to see him through the early

  • Keane ready to pitch Kay into action

    WITH three potential right-backs ruled out of Monday's game at Manchester City, Roy Keane is considering handing 18-year-old novice Michael Kay a daunting debut at the City of Manchester Stadium. Greg Halford and Paul McShane are both suspended while

  • Veteran of the D-Day landings tells his story

    A SOLDIER who survived enemy fire on a Normandy beach on D-Day will tell his story online today. Watch the full interview hereDick Bowen, 81, from York, is the first former soldier to feature in Veterans' Stories - a Remembrance Day project by The Northern

  • Blaydon hope to absorb the lessons of Cambridge

    DESPITE exceeding financial expectations from their well-supported bonfire night on Saturday, Blaydon felt they had been taught a few lessons on and off the field at Cambridge.As they attempt to adjust to life in National Two, they found themselves playing

  • Owen 'loving' Magpies life but transfer talk no surprise

    MICHAEL OWEN last night warned off potential suitors planning a new year move for his services by reiterating a desire to prove himself at Newcastle United. With former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson keen to take Owen to Manchester City, uncertainty

  • Penney confident normal services will be resumed

    Hereford United 5 Darlington 1 Wearing their new away kit for the first time, when Darlington took to the field on Saturday they looked like a different team from the one which had started the season so well.And for the most part they played like one

  • Hope in defeat for improving Darlington

    THERE was at least hope for Darlington, who could have snatched only their second win of the season with the final kick.Alex Lineton's well-struck 42-metre penalty drifted just to the left, but it was a huge testament to Darlington's improving resilience

  • Boxing event in memory of fighter

    A MEMORIAL Thai boxing event was held at the weekend in memory of a boxing champion who died in a motorcycle accident. Lee Smith, 33, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was killed when his motorbike hit a lamppost in the town on June 3.Mr Smith had

  • Midfield pair provide Pools with substance

    Milwall 0 Hartlepool United 1 WHILE the job of a holding midfielder may be en vogue in today's game, perhaps the role isn't really all it's quite cracked up to be.Gareth Southgate hinted as much earlier this season, insisting that during the majority

  • Butt knocks down barriers using universal language

    LANGUAGE barriers may have been a problem at Newcastle United since the summer, but manager Sam Allardyce claims Nicky Butt has helped to ensure the spirit within the dressing room is rising by the week. Last weekend's defeat at Reading could have had

  • Asbestos scandal report is revealed

    THE worker who uncovered an asbestos scandal at a North-East leisure centre blew the whistle on his bosses because he did not believe they were taking the matter seriously, The Northern Echo can reveal.Wear Valley District Council was fined £18,000 in

  • Stars come out for night to celebrate theatre's anniversary

    THEATREGOERS enjoyed an evening of dance, music and comedy to celebrate the centenary of one of the region's best-loved theatres.Darlington Civic Theatre is 100 years old this year, and to mark the anniversary, some of the UK's leading entertainers turned

  • Vaughan wants fully fit Flintoff in his side

    England Test captain Michael Vaughan believes Andrew Flintoff is in the ''last chance saloon'' as far as his England career is concerned after undergoing a fourth ankle operation. Flintoff has embarked on another rehabilitation programme and is convinced

  • The natives are restless and it's a tough time for Boro

    Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 TWO weeks ago, Gareth Southgate received a message from his former Aston Villa boss, John Gregory, and wrote it on the notice board at Middlesbrough's training ground. It read: "Tough times don't last. Tough people

  • 'Armed' robber foiled after heroic struggle

    A POSTMISTRESS threw a cup of tea at a suspected armed robber when he demanded money from the till.Sheila Mulgrew was struck in the face during the struggle with the would-be robber, who fled empty handed when another customer entered the post office.The

  • Football club 'has dodged issue' of EU flag's removal

    A EUROPEAN politician has urged a football club to lower his parliament's flag in favour of one from this country.Darlington FC flies the European Union (EU) flag outside its ground on one of three flagpoles.Supporters of the club ran an online poll last

  • Sausage firm calls for fair pork prices

    AN award-winning North Yorkshire sausage company is coming to the aid of British pig farmers. Debbie and Andrew Keeble, who run the Debbie & Andrew's brand in Thirsk, will pay their pork suppliers 15 per cent above the industry average.The husband and

  • 80,000 at bonfire night party

    REVELLERS turned out in force for one of the region's biggest bonfire parties on Saturday night.Nearly 80,000 people attended the festival of fireworks at Darlington's South Park.The display featured a spectacular combination of fireworks and visual effects

  • Same old problems hinder United

    Newcastle United 1 Portsmouth 4 THE members of the foreign legion at Newcastle United may have been ordered to speak the one language on the training ground. But, with seven Englishmen in Sam Allardyce's starting line-up, it is evident the main problem