A NEW effort is being made to re-instate one of the country's most threatened habitats - by axing trees rather than planting them. Around 6,000 conifers have been felled as part of a major push to create more heathland in North Yorkshire. Over the last
A TEENAGER who set up a website showing young boys being raped has been sent to a young offenders' institute. Stuart Bell, 19, of Newburn Road, Stanley, County Durham, has been given a sentence of two years and nine months. Durham Crown Court heard
A JUDGE has given a drug addicted father-of-two six months to clean up his act and avoid prison. Kevin Brady appeared in court yesterday and admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply. Brady was caught when an alert police officer spotted him
DERBYSHIRE Peak District detectives Fry and Cooper are set an almost impossible task when two bodies are discovered on the isolated and aptly named Pity Wood Farm. They are under pressure from the start with little forensic evidence, a new superintendent
NEFERTITI is probably more famous than her husband, the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaton, and in the hands of Michelle Moran she becomes an almost Princess Diana-like figure. A commoner, whose beauty, charm and ambition took her to the very throne of Egypt,
A VERY well-balanced look at modern art in all its aspects its origins, its meaning, its impact and its popularity. David Hopkins gets straight down to the nitty gritty when examining the works of the likes of Jason Pollock, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst
AN exciting and eclectic collection of new stories from such masters of art as John Harvey, Lee Child, Alexander McCall Smith and Colin Dexter. "Morse" almost comes back to life in Dexters contribution; Child demonstrates some devilish trickery while
APART from weddings, christenings and funerals, most British people are indifferent to religion, and empty churches testify to this. But increasing ethnic populations and the spread of multi-culturalism and political correctness has brought the role
THE biggest landowners in the country, the biggest money-grabbers in the country and some of the most blood-thirsty monarchs to be found anywhere. England has had the lot and Ian Croftons sweeping history of over 1,000 year of murder, invasion, usurping
THIS is much more challenging and will leave many art lovers baffled by some of the ideas thrown up in this study of the great range of ideas and images of the natural world to be found in Western art since the Renaissance. You will find your Turner,
THE wonders of the early medieval period, from castles to town walls, from cathedrals to cloisters, are celebrated gloriously in this book. All the normal suspects are to be found, including Cologne Cathedral and York Minster. Roger Stalley oozes enthusiasm
There was much hype surrounding the Random Hand, JB Conspiracy gig; I had anticipated it for two months and I finally saw it last night, 15th January 2008. Having been a huge fan of Random Hand for a while now, the prospect of them coming to Darlington
Michael Bublé has it all: the voice, the looks and the talent, and in my opinion, if you heard the single Lost' and loved it, you should definitely get his latest album. What can I say? It's out of this world - not only can the man sing, but I'm now
A POPULAR Thomas the Tank Engine event has been derailed after the Fat Controller was told he wasn't sufficiently qualified. Despite playing the role on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for more than 20 years, Derek Robinson has been ordered attend
A MAN found with heroin-tainted money he claimed came from the sale of a car for a professional football player has today been jailed. Christopher Moloney was found with more than £4,300 when he was stopped by police driving a suspicious vehicle in December
A PENSIONER has escaped jail after a court heard he hit his ex-wife over the head an iron bar. Oliver Clarkson, 72, form Finchale Terrace, Jarrow, was given two-year-old conditional discharge instead. Durham Crown Court heard he struck his estranged
PENSIONERS are being warned by police to be on their guard after conmen stole a 76-year-old woman's purse. Posing as workmen, two men talked their way into their victim's home in the Dyke House area of Hartlepool, at around 5.50pm on Thursday. While
AN articulated lorry overturned at the Burtree interchange junction near Darlington on the A1M this afternoon. The accident, at 2.25pm, blocked the inside lane on the southbound carriageway. Police say nobody was hurt. At 3.20pm a lorry overturned down
A MAN died after his car crashed into a stone arch outside a stately home. The accident happened at the Carmire Gate at the main entrance to the Castle Howard estate, North Yorkshire, at 11am this morning. It involved a white BMW car being driven towards
POLICE this afternoon urged drivers to be cautious after a further two lorries overturned on the A1M. At 2.25pm the trailer of an articulated lorry overturned at the Burtree interchange junction near Darlington - blocking the inside lane on the southbound
KEVIN KEEGAN has confirmed that Alan Shearer will not be brought back to Newcastle United as his assistant manager. The two Magpies legends chatted for four hours on Thursday night about the prospect of Shearer joining the coaching staff at St James'
KIEREN Fallon has been banned from racing for 18 months by France Galop after testing positive for a banned substance after a race at Deauville in August 2007, according to reports.
A BREWERY has been ordered to pay fines and costs of nearly £5,000 for overloading a market town's waste treatment system. T&R Theakston Ltd, which has brewed beers for nearly two centuries and has operated from a site at Red Lane, Wellgarth, Masham,
ALAN Shearer will not be returning to former club Newcastle as Kevin Keegan's number two. However, the 37-year-old could yet have a role to play in the new regime at St James Park after holding lengthy talks with Keegan last night, with another meeting
THREE lorry drivers escaped without injury when their vehicles overturned in high winds. The northbound carriageway of the A1 was closed between Catterick and Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire, while emergency services recovered one of two wagons which
THEY have endured months of stress and trauma but now it's all smiles for the Lockey family. After their young daughter Tilly caught meningitis last January, parents Sarah and Adam can look to the future with the birth of their third child Lucy-Anna
THE Department for Culture, Media and Sport - not to mention political correctness - announced in November that Peter Rowley had been appointed chair of Sport England's North-East regional board. The news was closely followed by a second media
THIS production is directed by the legendary Yuri Grigorovich, formerly of the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet, and stars Kristina Terentiev, winner of last yearfs International Dance Competition in Vienna. Brought to the UK by impresario Ellen Kent
Natural World (BBC2, 8pm); Comedy Live Presents Russell Brand (C4, 10pm) FUNNY, aren't they, the rules on watching animals get killed. Two cockerels in a cage? Inhumane. A fox nipped by a dog? Disgusting, apparently. A deer torn apart by a tiger
Making your own jewellery could not only satisfy your creative urges, but also make a unique present IT'S a jewellery shop with a difference. As well as buying a piece of jewellery at Silverdale in Bedale, you can also make your own. In a single
The warm winter and summer floods in 2007 meant it was a confusing year, not just for us, but the flora and fauna as well IRECEIVED approximately 12 to 15 text messages on Monday morning and afternoon telling me that I should leave work immediately
Young people with cancer do much better if they are treated with others in the same age group. Health Editor Barry Nelson visits the region's only teenage cancer unit CANCER specialist Kevin Windebank's eyes light up when he talks about the impact
YET another price increase which the consumer has to pay for. A 15 per cent rise for gas and electricity services from British Gas. When is it going to end? What about the lower paid workers and many elderly people? How are they going to manage
I WONDER if anyone else has had problems caused by the change to cheaper insulin? My married daughter's insulin was changed to the cheaper kind and slowly she has gained weight. She spoke to her doctor about it and he said it was because of the
AFTER all the hype about Kevin Keegan dies down, he will be judged on results. Keegan was a fine player aided by John Toshack, but he was unpredictable and prone to emotional outbursts as a manager. The big question is: will he have Alan Shearer
RE your story about ice cream man Ian Pritchard's complaint about the doubling of street trading licence fees from £100 to £200 in Darlington (Echo, some editions, Jan 22) I would like to know how the borough council can justify a 100 per cent
DARK forces are plotting the downfall of Gordon Brown, says Hugh Pender (HAS, Jan 21). The 2005 Labour manifesto states: "We will put the new EU Constitutional Treaty to the British people in a referendum." Every major political party then committed
NOW that Darlington FC have well and truly established themselves as genuine promotion contenders this season, surely it is time for the people of Darlington and district to get themselves up to the Arena and support their local team in force
FOR years I worked in selling and, as a manager, it was important in building a successful team that I recruited the right people. I built a successful team with the lowest staff turnover in the company. Where high earnings are concerned, sharp
REGULAR readers will know I take a dim view of hero-worship and hype. But, like a sizeable section of the region's residents, I'm throwing caution to the wind this week. Because you would surely have to be a full-time curmudgeon not to wish Kevin
THERE are now two police investigations dragging down Gordon Brown's attempts to draw a line under the past. The probe into the dodgy donations involving North-East businessman David Abrahams was already well under way before yesterday's announcement
A PRIMARY school has created a living sculpture - thanks to an environmental competition. Aycliffe Village Primary School has used £500 won in a competition run by 3M to create the sculpture from willow planted in the school grounds. Green woodworker
TRIBUTES have been paid to a councillor whose knowledge and dedication earned him the respect of all his colleagues, even political adversaries. Councillor Jim Wayman died aged 75 last Saturday, two days after he and wife, Mavis, celebrated their
A GROUP of year nine pupils were even more animated than usual when an artist visited their school yesterday. Artist and film-maker Sheryl Jenkins worked with youngsters at Bishop Barrington School Sports With Mathematics College, in Bishop Auckland
A BID is being made for a £1.6m grant to make a start on improvements to Barnard Castle. A request for the cash will be sent soon to regional development agency One NorthEast - and, if granted, a project will be launched to upgrade many of the
WORK will start next month on a £1.1m project to build a longawaited sports centre. Final funding for the scheme for the Galtres Centre, in Easingwold, was secured this week. The work will complete a 20- year development plan drawn up in 1987
SCOUTS turned out in force to plant another 200 trees around a new community play and sports area. The trees fulfil a planning condition for the proposed Scout and community sports hall at Hillside Rural Activities Park, near Knayton. They were
CHEESES made at North Yorkshire dairies have been presented to Chelsea Pensioners in a ceremony which dates back more than 300 years. Wensleydale Dairy Products, based at Hawes, and Shepherd's Purse Cheeses, from Thirsk, gave samples of their
NORTHALLERTON Town Council has agreed to increase its share of the council tax by 35 per cent. That means the precept for 2008-9 will be just half a per cent less than its past four years precepts combined. But while residents may be dismayed
AMATEUR dramatists are preparing for their latest pantomime this month. Derwentside Pantomime Group is performing Cinderella. Cinderella, played by Amy Camsell, is mistreated by all around her, including her stepmother, played by Jim Auden,
A PRIMARY school in north Durham is to be closed despite passionate pleas from the community. Councillors confirmed yesterday that Hamsteels Primary School, in Esh Winning, will not reopen after the summer holidays. Instead, the school's 61 pupils
A FAMILY last night spoke of their devastation after two of their pet horses and a donkey were killed in a suspected arson attack which swept through their stables early yesterday. The blaze, which started in a nearby pigeon cree, also destroyed
RAMBLER GROUP: Yarm Ramblers would like to welcome new members. They meet on Sundays, alternating a half-day walk with a full-day walk, although dogs are not allowed. For details, call 01642-760128 or 01642-787043. JOLLY BABIES: Jolly Babies provides
A £50,000 FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched to help pay for a youngster to have reconstructive surgery. Tommy Leech, who was born without outer ears or ear canals, has already undergone surgery to attach a boneanchored hearing aid, but his
CHILDREN at a school on Teesside were given a taste of the Orient yesterday. Myton Park Primary School might be on Blair Avenue, Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, but it could have been in Osaka. Youngsters celebrated Japanese culture with activities
AN experiment is to be mounted in Middlesbrough in an attempt to lower obesity levels. The Get a Better Life research project - led by the University of Teesside - aims to get at least 1,000 residents from the town and surrounding area to change
A VOLUNTEER soldier has received a military award for looking after the welfare of troops before and after their tours in Iraq. Each year, the Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal is presented to only 13 people across the three Armed Services, for
A FORMER television show talent contestant has taken one of the lead roles in a pantomime. This year's Springfield Resource Centre's annual pantomime, which helps to raise money for the centre, was Snow White. It was performed last week by people
TRIBUTES have been paid to a councillor whose knowledge and dedication earned him the respect of all his colleagues, even political adversaries. Councillor Jim Wayman died aged 75 last Saturday, two days after he and wife, Mavis, celebrated their
AFTER reading recent articles about parking issues raised by Councillor Peter Freitag, I must point out that I would expect the first actions of any disabled drivers' action group would be to support the local authority and encourage it to clamp
SCOTTISH & Newcastle has agreed a £7.8 billion takeover offer from rivals Heineken and Carlsberg. The European suitors, who have been pursuing Edinburgh-based S&N since October, plan to carve up the business when the deal is completed. The move is set
A COMMUNITY centre which was left struggling after a funding crisis less than a decade ago has turned its fortunes around to become a thriving hub of the village. Hurworth Grange Community Centre, which was left striving to balance the books
MICHAEL DODSf decision to switch Best Prospect (1.55) from the Flat to jumps should result in a silky-smooth success at Doncaster this afternoon. Best Prospect, a very useful ten-furlong handicapper on the level, made a most encouraging debut
After months of speculation linking him with a move to a number of the country's leading sides, Jonny Wilkinson this week signed a new two-year contract at Kingston Park. England's World Cup winner tells Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson why he refused
JO-WILFRIED Tsonga described his run to the Australian Open final as ridiculous'' after destroying second seed Rafael Nadal in the last four. Nadal, the three-time defending French Open champion, was outclassed by the 22-year-old from Le Mans
STOCKTON travel to Sunderland tomorrow with several enforced changes after pushing Percy Park close last week. Experienced hooker Glyn Delmar is drafted in as Dan Muirhead and Gareth Foulkes are unavailable and it is hoped that prop Simon Brown
NEWCASTLE skipper Phil Dowson has been left out of the team for tomorrow's Guinness Premiership trip to Leicester Tigers. After making his comeback from injury in the recent European ties, Dowson has to settle for a place on the bench along
FOOTBALLERS always stand up to be counted and sit down to talk. Whether they stand or sit when taking a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror while rolling up their sleeves is not specified. Alan Shearer, who is wellversed in this kind of
EDWIN van der Sar has given an insight into how tough life is for goalkeepers in England. At 37, Manchester United's Dutchman has the bruises to prove it after years perfecting his craft. Van der Sar said: In England you get bullied at corners
LIVERPOOL'S American owners have again delayed an announcement of a successful refinancing deal but an agreement should be made public today or on Monday. Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are on the verge of sealing a £350m package and
JONATHAN Woodgate's Middlesbrough career looked to be at an end late last night as the Teesside club gave the centrehalf permission to speak to Tottenham Hotspur. The two clubs are yet to agree a fee for the England international, but Boro chairman
WITH club record signing Pawel Abbott sidelined through injury, Darlington manager Dave Penney will step up his search for a new striker next week. Abbott is in light training following a knee operation, although Penney does expect to see the
GEORGE Burley is suddenly dreaming of the World Cup but admits he had not expected the call inviting him to become Scotland's new manager. The former Southampton, Ipswich, Derby and Hearts boss considered himself a dark horse and confessed he
JAMIE McCunnie has already seen at close hand what Alan Thompson can do and now the Hartlepool United defender is happy to have him as a teammate. McCunnie and Thompson were in the Pools side which won its first game in seven on Tuesday night
A CAPTURED German revolver with a remarkable history has been discovered languishing in a museum's archives. The weapon was taken from a German officer on the Western Front by a man who went on to become one of Britain's foremost writers and a
TWO of the North-East's leading organisations have joined forces to improve support services available to businesses and boost the region's economy. The North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and Business Link North East (BLNE) have signed a Memorandum
A LEADING Korean research company has opened a European base at Newcastle University to develop its stem cell programme. Biotechnology firm RNL Bio was established in South Korea in 1961 and specialises in stem cell research, as well as regenerative
STEEL group Severfield-Rowen saw its share price plummet yesterday after it warned of softer markets and lower than expected growth this year. Confirmation that its order book had reached a record £440m was not enough to ease nervous investors
SHOWER manufacturer Roman has increased its overseas sales by 160 per cent in the past year following a big export drive. The company, based at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said overseas sales last month were stronger than any other division
BUSINESSES and lobbying groups across the region yesterday gave a cautious welcome the Government's decision to revise its controversial capital gains tax (CGT) reforms. Chancellor Alistair Darling bowed to criticism from the business community
A NATIONAL skills academy which will help underpin the region's process industries for years to come was unveiled in London yesterday. The National Skills Academy for the Process Industries (NSAPI) will be based at the University of Teesside
TWO of the biggest names in the oil industry have signed a "crucial" deal to provide equipment for a £2bn groundbreaking crude oil plant on Teesside. Sonhoe Development Company, which is behind the plant, has now reached agreement with GE Oil
A DEVOTED couple who could not bear to live without each other took their own lives in a suicide pact after reading a guide on how to kill themselves. James and Hilda Bedell drank whisky before tying plastic bags around their heads with elastic
SPRIGHTLY shoppers are needed to take part in a North-East trolley dash with a difference. A renowned artist is hoping to form a 30-strong dance troupe, made up of people over 50, to perform a "trolley ballet" in a marketplace. Video artist
THE RSPCA is appealing for information after five rabbits and two guinea pigs were abandoned in a street. Animals Collection Officers were called to Thames Road, in Peterlee, County Durham, last weekend, after a resident found a number of cardboard
UPMARKET supermarket chain Waitrose is to close the Durham City store it opened just over two years ago because it is making a loss. But the company plans to continue its expansion northwards by opening a 10,000 sq ft supermarket in Newcastle's
MODEL children struck a pose yesterday when they were presented with their Top of the Tots trophies. The three winners were chosen by readers of The Northern Echo from nearly 400 hopefuls by a phone vote. The three to five years category was
A FAMILY say they are devastated after a mother was jailed for not sending her two teenage children to school. Angela Robinson, 37, of Wylam Street, Middlesbrough, was sent to Low Newton Prison, near Durham, for 28 days by Teesside magistrates
PETER HAIN'S resignation from the Cabinet left Gordon Brown facing a second damaging police investigation into alleged Labour "sleaze scandals" last night. He was also forced to reshuffle his Government - only seven months after becoming Prime
ONE of Europe's leading orchestra opens its spring season this weekend. The Northern Sinfonia will play at Darlington Dolphin Centre, on Sunday, at 7.15pm. The orchestra is acknowledged as one of Europe's most exciting chamber orchestras and
HOSPITALS in the region provide the best maternity care in England, according to a new report. The Healthcare Commission's Review of Maternity Services 2007 rated seven out of the eight North-East hospital trusts as "best performing", with the
A PIONEERING awards scheme for North-East councils will announce its first shortlist tomorrow. The shiNE awards, which are the first of their kind to be staged in the region, will recognise the achievements, performance and improvement of the region's
A TEACHING assistant stole thousands of pounds of school dinner money to help put her daughter through university. Patricia Shevels, 61, was divorced, struggling to pay her bills and she could not get a grant, a court was told yesterday. She stole £3,500
GOVERNMENT officials have sparked anger by describing victims of an asbestos-related condition as having "no more than freckles".Civil servants told a trade union representing sufferers of pleural plaques: "What are you worried about? It's no more than
A STOLEN laptop which contained information on elderly and vulnerable people was taken from a car belonging to a senior council officer, The Northern Echo has learnt. Middlesbrough Council had previously revealed few details about the theft, which happened
A MAN who tried to buy a 12-year-old girl for sex is now facing up to 14 years in jail.John Robson, 35, from Thorpe Crescent, Horden, County Durham, pestered a prostitute he met regularly to find him a child.Charged with attempting to arrange the commission
DEVASTATED pupils have paid emotional tributes to a teacher found dead while he was the subject of a police investigation.The body of Michael Hall, 34, was found in the bathroom of his home, in Beatrice House, Royal Court, on the outskirts of Sunderland
TWO North-East medics believe they have discovered a way to reverse the effects of dementia in a breakthrough that could offer new hope for thousands of sufferers.The discovery could also save the NHS millions of pounds in caring for patients who can
COUNCILS in the region are set to buck the national trend over council tax rises next year.A survey by the Local Government Association (LGA), based on more than 100 draft budgets published by councils, revealed that council tax bills across England are
THE man accused of murdering Jenny Nicholl was seen walking home by his mother-in-law after the alleged crime took place, a jury was told.Evelyn Bagley told Teesside Crown Court yesterday that she saw son-in-law David Hodgson heading into Richmond on
SUNDERLAND'S dealings in the last January transfer window helped deliver promotion to the Premier League. Twelve months on Nyron Nosworthy hopes the new acquisitions help to preserve their place among the elite.Manager Roy Keane has added Phil Bardsley
GARETH Southgate is confident of unveiling Afonso Alves as Middlesbrough's record signing next week after chairman Steve Gibson opened formal transfer negotiations with Heerenveen.But with Newcastle preparing to lodge a £7m offer for unsettled centre-half
NEWCASTLE UNITED have been informed that Pascal Chimbonda is available at the right price following face-to-face talks with Tottenham manager Juande Ramos this week.Just hours after Chimbonda had helped Spurs reach the Carling Cup final with a 5-1 victory
A FAMILY has spoken of its devastation after two pet horses and a donkey were killed in a suspected arson attack which swept through stables this morning. The blaze which started in a nearby pigeon cree, also destroyed up to 38 pigeons containing birds
POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a man missing from home since this morning. Michael Hunter, 53, from the Westmoreland Street area of Darlington, has not been seen since 9.45am. He was wearing a blue jumper, blue trousers
