LABOUR has regained control of Great Aycliffe Town Council after a by-election today. The authority had been hung following May's local elections. The by-election was called when independent, Brian Coglan, resigned through ill-health in the summer leaving
RESIDENTS living along the North Yorkshire coast were last night bracing themselves for flooding after warnings from the Environment Agency of a tidal surge. Flood warnings have been issued for Sandsend, near Whitby and Scarborough. The surge was expected
AN elderly woman was hit across the back of her head and had her bag snatched. The 78-year-old woman was at the junction of Saltwell Road and Trevethick Street, Bensham, Gateshead at around 11.45am on Wednesday when it happened. The bag the woman was
MOTORCYCLISTS are urging pubs across the town to start collecting toys for an annual rally. Darlington Motorcycle Action Group will hold its annual toy run to collect Christmas presents for the towns children on December 16. The run starts at the Britannia
Album Review: THE BLACKOUT "WE ARE THE DYNAMITE" Rated ***** The Welsh six-piece "THE BLACKOUT" have been doing considerably well this year, with the help of their friends, Lostprophets. Who have been adding them to some of their tours. The Blackout
DURHAM'S Steve Harmison made a promising start to his rehabilitation period in South Africa, with two top-order wickets for Highveld Lions today. Fast bowler Harmison has been asked to prove his form and fitness after a season disrupted by hernia surgery
POLICE are hunting a gang of youths following two stone-throwing attacks on buses, which police warn could have had fatal results. In the first attack, a paving slab smashed through a bus window, narrowly missing a passenger. An hour later a second
A CRICKET club has been damaged by fire for the second time in three months. Firefighters were called to Seaham Harbour Cricket Club, on New Drive, in Seaham, County Durham, shortly before 5am on Thursday. Two crews from Seaham and one from Peterlee
THE revived Fiat 500 - due back on sale in the UK next year - has beaten bigger and pricier models to take a prestigious car award. Shrugging off challenges from the likes of Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and BMW, the Fiat 500 was voted Car Magazine's Car of
What makes a 22-year-old graduate with a bright future donate his savings to charity, leave home and family behind, and hit the road for Alaska in search of adventure? Writer-director Sean Penn's fine new film doesn't provide an answer, possibly
A MAN accused of kidnapping and falsely imprisoning a couple from the North-East after he allegedly murdered his sister's partner today denied the charges in court. Daniel Breaks, 47, is charged with the murder of Simon Sutton, whose body was found wrapped
We've had Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, now comes the second half of the aborted Grindhouse double bill - Robert Rodriguez's blood and guts horror monster movie Planet Terror. This takes itself less seriously than Mr T's effort and positively
WITH its high profile cast and a controversial subject topic - the war in Afghanistan - hopes are high that Lions For Lambs will add up to a powerful cinematic experience. Alas, not. Robert Redford's first film for seven years as a director never
The best folk of The North- East are on the road. Columnist Jez Lowe looks at the background to A Song For Geordie BACK in 1998, I was asked by a friendly producer at the BBC called David Corser to put together a six-part series for Radio Two's
WITH Lewis Hamilton taking motorsport in Britain to a new level, the Northern Echo wants to highlight all those in the North-East who are aspiring to reach his heights. If you are taking part in motorsport, be it rallying, motorcycling, speedway or
WHAT'S ON Tonight the Mick Shoulder Quintet at the Travellers Rest, Cockerton, 01325-469756, tomorrow Ben Crosland's Threeway at Darlington Arts Centre, 01325- 468555, and Tina May with Tony Coe at Saltburn Community Centre, 01287- 622422. Tuesday
A HUSBAND and wife have appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of a father-of-two outside a pub. Barry and Michelle Gaye Silliker were committed to return to crown court after appearing in Darlington Magistrates Court today. The couple, who
WITH Lewis Hamilton taking motorsport in Britain to a new level, the Northern Echo wants to highlight all those in the North-East who are aspiring to reach his heights. If you are taking part in motorsport, be it rallying, motorcycling, speedway or any
TWO nervous passengers on a London-bound flight turned out to be thieves who had just stolen goods from an airport duty free shop. Suspicious cabin crew on the British Midland plane getting ready for take-off called police and removed their luggage.
RENAULT are facing a charge of possessing confidential information belonging to McLaren. Representatives of the Renault team are facing a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on Thursday, December 6. A statement on the FIA website
WHAT'S ON The Northern Sinfonia, under the baton of Yannick Nezet-Seguin, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm, Wednesday. The programme includes works by de Falla, Debuss, Rameau and Bizet. 0191-443 4661 REVIEWS Tippett: Steven Osborne (Hyperion, 2-CDs
NEWCASTLE International Airport has today announced the appointment of its new chief executive. The airport has been lokking for a new chief since the resignation of John Parkin in controversial circumstances earlier this year. New chief executive Dave
The Eagles: Long Road Out Of Eden (ERC) HAVING played in bands for most of my life I've always been interested in the group sound. The Eagles are certainly one band who have surpassed all the boundaries and have shattered sales records since their
AN education chief described the launch of a rebuilt school as providing a new era for a town's youngsters. Redcar MP Vera Baird yesterday launched Bydales School Specialist Technology College, at Marske, which was completely rebuilt to the latest
THE chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority has described plans to switch the area's ambulance control centre to Tyneside as deeply worrying. Councillor Dave McLuckie yesterday called for the North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust to make a
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help with the running of a bird club in Hartlepool. The Summerhill Bird Club has about 60 members, but is keen to hear from people who are willing to give up a few hours of their time and get involved behind the
MORE than 1,500 students have attended a road safety roadshow in a bid to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on roads. Cleveland Fire Brigade is running the educational event as part National Road Safety Week. Last year, 19 people lost their
AN arson-hit school could be restored by the new year, after local people rallied to its aid. The 145 children and staff from St Mary's RC Primary School, in Grangetown, have been attending classes in a church hall since the fire forced them out
FURTHER public meetings will be held at schools across North Durham over the coming days, all starting at 7pm: ñ Tonight C Stanley School of Technology; ñ Monday C Tanfield School Specialist College of Science and Engineering; ñ Tuesday C Greencroft
ACADEMIES have a mixed record on improving exam results and have attracted some criticism in other areas. Among the most high-profile of the North-East academies is Emmanuel City Technology College, in Gateshead. It is sponsored by the Emmanuel
TEACHERS, unions and parents expressed unease over proposals to create an academy in Consett at the first of a series of public meetings dealing with the issue. About 100 people attended a meeting on Tuesday, at Moorside Community Technology College
The biggest shakeup of secondary education for a generation is being considered in County Durham. The Northern Echo reports on the debate over whether to open three academies in the county - and close as many as seven schools in the process A LARGE-SCALE
SCHOOLGIRLS will use a sporting challenge to raise money for two local churches. Years five and six pupils at Queen Mary's School, near Topcliffe, Thirsk, will take part in the dribble-and-shoot event tomorrow on the school's new allweather sports
ENVIRONMENTALIST Dr David Bellamy has honoured a project to improve a river habitat for brown trout and grayling. The scheme, in a stretch of the River Rye, in the North York Moors, was commended in the Wild Trout Trust and Orvis Conservation
THE choirs of Ripon Cathedral will give their annual concert in honour of the patron saint of music, Cecilia, at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 17. The choirs, which have recorded several CDs and have appeared on national radio and television while
A CHURCH trying to raise funds to have its roof repaired has been dealt another blow by English Heritage. St Thomas' Church, in Brompton, near Northallerton, is a grade I-listed building. Its foundations were laid about 1,000 years ago, but it
A VISITOR attraction is planning a weekend of celebrations based on traditional English and Polish customs. The event, at Ryedale Folk Museum, in Hutton-le-Hole, will include live music and dancing from English and Polish groups based across the
A SMALL school has been praised by two teams of inspectors. Fountains CofE School, in Grantley, near Ripon, recently had inspections by Ofsted and the Church. The Ofsted report said the school made learning exciting with an outstanding curriculum
YOUNG scientists at a school have been learning about launching rockets. Pupils at St Martin's School, near York, are taking part in a chemistry week this week. It is run by the Royal Society of Chemistry and this year takes the theme of travel
A THIRSK Rotarian will attend the reopening of a tsunami-hit Sri Lankan school he helped to raise £260,000 to rebuild. Thirsk Rotary Club member Tony Jordan is travelling to Batticaloa, in the east of the Asian country. He will attend the reopening
NATIONAL Health Service dentistry will return to a remote town this month. Hawes, in Upper Wensleydale, has been without NHS provision since April last year, when its dentists went private under new contracts. Angry patients who cannot afford
We have Iberian wines this week. The first is from the Costers del Segre D.O. of Spain. It has a complex nose of plums stewed fruits and tobacco. On the palate there's coconut and toast with a little pepper. It's 13% per cent alcohol with a long finish
WHAT A CRACKER RESIDENTS of Trimdon Station/ Deaf Hill enjoyed the first organised fireworks display held at the recreation ground last Sunday. The spectacular display was enjoyed by a large crowd of young and old alike. Staged by the parish council
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy has followed in his father's footsteps by earning his first black belt in Taekwondo. Matthew Wray earned his First Poom junior black belt award at an examination at Teesdale Sports Centre, in Barnard Castle, last month. Matthew's
A HEALTHCARE provider, which has 40 hospitals and care homes across the country, has celebrated 20 years since it began from its North-East base. Darlington-based Castlebeck started with one residential home at Whorlton Hall near Barnard Castle
COUNCILLORS have agreed that a derelict health centre, which has been targeted by vandals, should be demolished following a fire at the site. The former health centre, in Chapel Street, Willington, closed in June last year, after moving premises
PERFORMERS are being invited to take part in a talent show later this month. Newton Aycliffe-based Showcase Productions will host the event at Spennymoor Town Hall on Wednesday, November 28, at 7pm. Acts already signed up for the night include
CHILDREN have been learning about the role science plays in everyday jobs in a series of workshops at a Barnard Castle School. More than 100 pupils from five primary schools took part in the Science of Our Lives event at Teesdale School yesterday
A PRIMARY school has been praised for its family atmosphere by education inspectors. Ofsted visitors said St William's RC Primary School, in Trimdon Village, is a good school where pupils' behaviour and enjoyment were highlighted as strengths
PLANS to build one of the UK's greenest warehouse developments look likely to be given approval. Council planning officers have recommended permission is granted for the 100-acre distribution centre on the outskirts of Aycliffe Industrial Estate
Chile's reputation is built on consistent quality and well-priced reds. The whites are improving yearly, there are some really nice chardonnays and sauvignon blancs under £6. This is good example from Oddbins at £5.49. It's pale gold in colour and although
DANCERS on Darlington's Red Hall estate could face their final curtain if a sponsor isn't found to support their next show. Songs from films will provide the backdrop to an event at the Darlington Arts Centre, on December 6, when children will
ELTON CONCERT RE D Reed's letter about the forthcoming Elton John concert (HAS, Page 11, Nov 5). Firstly, I'd like to remind him that residents can't charge motorists for parking on the road outside their homes, as they don't own it. I live central
TWENTY miles per hour restrictions could be introduced in residential streets in Darlington in an effort to improve road safety. Darlington Borough Council's cabinet is to meet to consider plans to introduce the "slow zones" at Bank Top, Lascelles
THE names of the stars taking place in this years I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! have been revealed. Hollyoaks beauty Gemma Atkinson, former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and Prince Andrews ex-girlfriend Koo Stark are among those tipped
HUNDREDS of friends and family of successful students attended a school's annual prizegiving ceremony last night. Hurworth School held its Upper School Evening to Celebrate Achievement. The guest speaker was Murray Rose, Darlington Borough Council's
A PLANTING day takes place on Saturday, in North Lodge Park, between 1pm and 2.30pm near to the North Road entrance. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in. Participants should wear suitable clothing as there is digging to be done and every
The wine this week is from one of my favourite sources, Mendoza Argentina. Malbec is one of those grape varieties that have become a signature variety for a South American country like carmenére in Chile and tannat in Uruguay. This wine has a fairly
A HEALTHCARE provider, which has 40 hospitals and care homes across the country, has celebrated 20 years since it began from its North-East base. Darlington-based Castlebeck started with one residential home at Whorlton Hall near Barnard Castle
A GERMAN vicar is on a three-month secondment as part of a link between her church and a North-East diocese. Pastorin Gabriele Voigt, from Lutheran North Elbian Church, in Stellingen, Hamburg, has been invited to Darlington. The joint Lutheran
PLANS to build one of the UK's greenest warehouse developments look likely to be given approval. Council planning officers have recommended permission is granted for the 100-acre distribution centre on the outskirts of Aycliffe Industrial Estate
WORK has started on the development of a business centre in County Durham. Twenty business units are being built by B and K Developments on Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Durham. The project, which was made possible after the company bought land
BANK of England policymakers began a two-day meeting on interest rates yesterday amid mounting pressure for a cut in the cost of borrowing. The Bank's nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) started discussions against a backdrop of figures
GOLD resources company China Goldmines reached an important point yesterday. The Newcastle-based firm said all eight producing gold mines in the Shenjiaya Prospect were transferred under its control. All mining permits and licences are now in
AVERAGE petrol prices set a new milestone yesterday as UK motorists counted the cost of crude oil's surge towards 100 US dollars a barrel. The average price based on the figures showed drivers are having to pay 100.08p a litre for unleaded petrol
A NATIONAL training academy, which will be created to help address a shortage of skills in the process industry, has been given Governmental approval. The National Skills Academy Process Industries will operate from the North-East, which is
BRITISH Energy yesterday said it could not yet provide a date for the return to service of its nuclear site on Teesside which closed two weeks ago. The site, in Hartlepool, has been out of action since the discovery of wire corrosion in a boiler
SEAT'S numero uno racing driver, Jason Plato, and I don't see eye-to-eye. We had a little spat about the merits, or otherwise, of his driving during a British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) meeting at Croft Circuit, near Darlington some time ago and
HEALTH club business Bannatyne Fitness is investing £500,000 to develop its flagship Darlington base by building a luxury spa. The investment will see the creation of a Sensory spa, mind and body zone and Pilates suite in a three-storey extension
PIETER BRUEGHEL'S presence at Musselburgh (2.00) should help Jamie Spencer's final push to become champion jockey on the Flat. The battle-royal between Spencer and Seb Sanders is set to go right down to the wire in 48 hours time at Doncaster, but
JOE Calzaghe has continued his war of words with potential opponent Bernard Hopkins, questioning whether he has the balls'' to fight him. The Welshman called out Hopkins immediately after he unified the super-middleweight division by beating Mikkel
DUNCAN Fletcher warned Monty Panesar his honeymoon is over'' as the England spinner prepares for the first leg of a vital winter Test programme. Panesar's enthusiastic style and erratic fielding quickly endeared him to the England fans after he
A SPORTS club has launched a new game for its members and new users. Darlington Kurling Club has announced a series of new sessions in the run up to Christmas at the Dolphin Centre in either Kurling or Boccia. The club was formed last year to enable
AUSTRALIAN star Matt Burke is in talks with Newcastle about a new contract at Kingston Park. The Wallabies' 1999 World Cup-winning full-back will not play again this season after rupturing his anterior cruciate knee ligament. But Falcons are keen
SHARES in crisis-hit mortgage lender Northern Rock slumped 12 per cent today amid reports that worried savers have withdrawn more than £10bn from the bank. Documents sent to would-be buyers of the stricken firm say customers have taken out £10.5bn since
PAULA Radcliffe is included for the first time in UK Athletics' World Class Podium list which enables the majority of athletes to receive National Lottery funding and other important services. Whether Radcliffe is eligible to receive the top-tier
INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge appeared to rule out Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou being awarded a retrospective gold medal for the 100 metres in Sydney seven years ago by insisting they have to be convinced she was clean
JOE Calzaghe, so I am reliably informed by those in the know, is an exceptional boxer. A record of 44 professional victories makes him one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, while a tally of 21 successful world title defences makes
DARLINGTON manager Dave Penney says low home crowds are detrimental to his team but is confident fan numbers will increase if his promotion-chasing side continues its stay at the top end of League Two. Quakers are fifth and are yet to lose at
FORD has announced the arrival of a new special edition of the high performance Focus ST. Called the Focus ST500, and priced from £20,495, it will be available to just 500 UK customers. The Ford Focus ST500 is based on the top-of-the-range Focus ST3
HARTLEPOOL United manager Danny Wilson labelled his side's performance at Huddersfield on Tuesday night as their poorest of the campaign so far. Pools started brightly against the Terriers but failed to build on an early opportunity presented
Manchester United 4 Dynamo Kiev 0 MANCHESTER United's calm stroll through Champions League Group F continued at Old Trafford to further fuel a growing belief this could be the season they emulate the European Cup heroes of 1968 and 1999. Sir
River Cottage: Gone Fishing (C4, 8pm) The Street (BBC1, 9pm), Nation On Film (BBC4, 10pm) THERE comes a point in Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall's new series when it looks like he might be on the menu as he goes swimming with basking sharks, which
SEVEN people will appear in court this morning charged with offences related to the cultivation of cannabis. It follows a series of raids at houses in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Liverpool and Wigan yesterday morning as part of Operation Scorpion
BOYS, in my experience, can be incredibly lazy. I have two sons who, when it comes to schoolwork, are so laid back at times they are practically horizontal. Homework is forgotten, or left on the bus. Everything is left to the last minute. "I'll
Chris Lloyd looks at the remarkable life of the scholarship boy from Bishop Auckland who became one of the fathers of British modernism, his art inspired by the industrial landscape of the North-East HE is possibly County Durham's greatest artist
DURING his outburst in defending Middlesbrough after it was voted the worst place to live in the UK by Channel 4's Location, Location, Location programme, Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling said "and they think everyone in the North lives in Coronation
BBC local radio is due for some cutbacks. Their broadcasters are hardly paid like footballers. So, perhaps Jonathan Ross should chip in with a few million to save local radio. "Chuck" Mason, Darlington.
I HAVE just been given a very helpful facts and figures leaflet from Darlington Borough Council. I noticed that we have a population of 81,000 - or rather 99,000 less 18,000 below working age (15 years) - of whom approximately 5,000 are working
WAS anyone else dumbfounded at the spectacle presented by Scott Easton on ITV local news last Friday? Given that, by his callous, over the drink-drive limit irresponsibility, he had virtually wiped out an entire family, he might reasonably have
WE can still recall the media upheaval in this country in the weeks before the EU Summit meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 18 and 19, during which all 27 member states were expected to approve the final wording of the EU Reform Treaty. Prime
ANYBODY viewing the very moving BBC Panorama programme on Monday could not fail to be impressed by the sheer guts, courage and sacrifice of our troops in Afghanistan. I really do despair that this commitment is not shared by what seems to be 95
THE Scots, and the independence minded SNP Government, should take a hard look at a recent European Union report which suggests that only Croatia may possibly meet requirements to join the EU within the decade. Others, such as Macedonia, Albania
IN Gordon Brown's dreams, this week's Queen's Speech would have followed a thumping general election victory, confirming his mandate' in No 10. But, if the Prime Minister had triumphed in the poll pencilled in for last week and then cancelled, none
ALAS, in this day and age overzealous health and safety inspectors have put a stop to usual children's activities of the past. Excessive insurance premiums and punitive liabilities to adults involved will ensure that the likes of Nelson, Clive
Are we running out of oil? The simple answer is yes'. As a controversial new film about our fuel crisis predicts imminent global meltdown, Ruth Campbell discovers what will happen when the last drop of black gold is spent PREPARE to be scared. Very scared
THE unveiling of designs for the 2012 Olympic Stadium brings Britain's dream of staging the world's biggest sporting event closer to reality. At £496m, it doesn't come cheap and much has been said about the spiralling costs of bringing the Olympics
Hero of the British Empire, Rudyard Kipling, was haunted by his fatal decision to persuade the Irish Guards to take his sight-challenged son Jack to the First World War battlefields. Actor David Haig turned this tragic event into a stage play which is
Forty years on, a new batch of recruits are bringing Dad's Army back to life. Viv Hardwick talks to Jimmy Perry about the story behind one of the great sitcoms of TV IF Jimmy Perry had presented the script for Dad's Army to the BBC in 2007 does he
Rose McGowan is delighted she manged to combine her TV role in Charmed with the scantily-clad go-go dancer, Cherry, in Planet Terror. Steve Pratt reports PLAYING a go-go dancer in Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror was part of a punishing schedule for
He can't really ride his motorbike yet, but Joe McFadden tells Steve Pratt that he's settling in as the new Sunday night Heartbeat bobby in Aidensfield SCOTTISH actor Joe McFadden's debut in one of TV's most popular long-running series is more Sweeney
1 (-) Ocean's Thirteen 2 (1) Die Hard 4.0 3 (2) Hostel - Part Two 4 (3) Captivity 5 (4) Spider-Man 3 6 (5) Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer 7 (6) Black Christmas 8 (7) Edmond 9 (8) 300 10 (9) Zodiac Chart supplied by www.blockbuster.co.uk
THE bell sounds for the start of classes at Weatherfield finest educational establishment in Coronation Street (ITV1). That's followed by the sound of students playing happily in the playground during the lunch break. And that, if I'm not mistaken
SEVEN groups have been invited to plan how to spend at least £4.5m on regenerating rural areas in the North-East. One NorthEast, the regional development agency, has asked for detailed plans on how the European Union money should be spent over
TALENTED dancers have received national recognition for their efforts. Members of the Planet Dance school, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, won six British Championships at an event held in Blackpool's Winter Gardens last month. Dancers attend
PEOPLE are being warned to take care today, as the region could be hit by severe gales. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for between 7am and 6pm. It says that parts of the region could endure gusts of more than 80mph. And Durham
A SOLDIER will recall online how he cleaned tanks on Beachy Head ahead of a mysterious inspection. Len Howell, 95, from Darlington, recounts his wartime experiences in Veterans' Stories - a Northern Echo project for Remembrance Day. Mr Howell
MORE than 600 people packed into a church to pay tribute to a promising North-East footballer killed in a car crash. Tears flowed in the Emmanuelle Church, in Saltburn, yesterday during the funeral of 20-year-old Hartlepool United midfielder
A FORMER soldier is to share in a landmark compensation payout after she was injured serving in Iraq. In the first case of its kind in the UK, Corporal Jane McLauchlan, 35, will get a share of £320,000 from the US Government after she, two other
A POPULAR children's author has launched a year of celebrations marking the centenary of a university's school of education and lifelong learning. Allan Ahlberg launched a series of events at Sunderland University with a talk to students and
A COUNCIL must show a "united front" after a turbulent week which has seen the Standards Board for England involved on two occasions. As reported yesterday in The Northern Echo, Raymond Alderson, the chairman of Richmondshire District Council
A BUILDER who dug up a drive following a row over cash and the quality of his work told a court he now regretted his actions. Paver Peter Shaun Harrison, who owns Elite Impressions, admitted to magistrates on Teesside yesterday, that he turned
JOCKEY Kieren Fallon told detectives that Newcastle and England footballer Michael Owen contacted him every day for his opinion on races, the Old Bailey heard yesterday. Fallon denied he was part of a plot to allow horses to lose so a syndicate
BANGKOK and Barnard Castle do not have much in common, but a bit of Thailand could come to Teesdale if a plan to introduce rickshaws to the town goes ahead. The Teesdale Community Resources (TCR) activity charity wants to pilot a scheme for threewheeled
UNCERTAINTY over two major air bases in the region has heightened after the Defence Secretary failed to give guarantees about their future. MP Anne McIntosh, who represents the Vale of York, has been seeking assurances about RAF Leeming and the
A TEENAGER with a toy gun was surrounded by armed police who though he was carrying an assault rifle. As a police helicopter hovered overhead, the 18-year-old, who had been playing with younger boys, was ordered to lie spreadeagled on the ground
THE leader of an inquiry into the asbestos scandal at a council has been appointed. The investigation to establish why officers at Wear Valley District Council ignored an asbestos warning in 2001 will be led by an independent chairman. Staff
YOU cant avoid the expression Faustus and Loosus in relation to a fine comic drama which combines Christopher Marlowes original script with a cunning contemporary take on modern art. Once youve survived the verbose and highbrow monologue of medieval
Manchester United's calm stroll through Champions League Group F continued at Old Trafford to further fuel a growing belief this could be the season they emulate the European Cup heroes of 1968 and 1999. Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged the modern-day
A LEARNER driver who could not afford her lessons claimed that driving instructor Stephen Cooney told her he would write-off the debt if she had sex with him. She told a jury yesterday that 51-year-old Mr Cooney made the offer as they returned to Teesside
A BEREAVED family have backed a campaign to reduce speed limits to 20mph near schools and homes.Nine-year-old Ryan Marshall died when he was knocked off his bike as he cycled home in Bearpark, Durham, to watch England in the World Cup last year.He was
HE may have only one full appearance for Sunderland behind him, but Ian Harte has been at the Stadium of Light long enough to sympathise with manager Roy Keane's mounting frustration. Keane was again forced on to the defensive at Manchester City on Monday
THERE have been plenty of defining moments since Niall Quinn took over as Sunderland chairman last summer, but a victory in the season's opening Wear-Tyne derby would rank alongside anything the Irishman has witnessed from the boardroom at the Stadium
A PERVERTED driving instructor is facing prison after being convicted of a string of sex attacks on pupils.Stephen Cooney could also be kicked out of his industry for groping and sexually assaulting three learner drivers in four years.The 51-year-old
THE boss of a driving school linked to Stephen Cooney fears the pervert may ruin his business.Glen Smith, 36, who owns Ascot Driving School, in Redcar, east Cleveland, is furious after a national newspaper linked it to the 51-year-old driving instructor.Cooney
A TRAM system for Tees Valley moved a step closer yesterday when ministers signalled local authorities would get permission to form a council coalition. Five councils - Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton - are on
NICKY Butt has warned his Newcastle team-mates they will be facing 'a team of Roy Keanes' when they travel to the Stadium of Light for the season's opening Wear-Tyne derby on Saturday. Butt will be a frustrated spectator after he picked up his fifth booking
It is the biggest date on the region's footballing calendar, so the Wear-Tyne derby undoubtedly means more to a native North-Easterner. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson met Newcastle's Steve Harper to discover what the Easington-born keeeper makes of
A SCHOOL cleaner who fixed up a man to have oral sex with a 14-year-old girl plans to leave her home town where she has become a hate figure, a court was told. Kimberley Stephenson was yesterday given a suspended prison sentence having previously been
Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz staked his claim for Sunday's trip to Bolton after delivering on his promise to return from surgery ahead of schedule.The 24-year-old Austria international played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday night's 2-1 reserve
THE number of physical assaults against NHS staff has fallen for the second year running, according to official figures. But statistics show that a North-East NHS has the highest number of reported assaults on staff in England. While hundreds of attacks
