STUDENTS are being offered the chance to join a life-changing expedition to the highest mountain on earth. The attempt to reach the base camp of Mount Everest late next year is the most ambitious project ever developed by Northallerton College. Those
A late goal by James Brown, his 13th of the season, ensured Hartlepool United avoided an unwelcome statistic as they ended their season with a 2-2 draw at Walsall. Trailing 2-1 with time ticking away, Pools were heading for their 23rd League One loss
A HOUSING survey has enabled residents to access £200,000 of funding to bring their homes up to the national standard. Private houses in Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, were found to be below the standard threshold for decent homes.
Darlington will play Rochdale in the play-offs after gate-crashing Peterborough United's promotion party. Posh's biggest league crowd of the season, 10,400, was in attendance to celebrate elevation to League One, but Quakers dampened Peterborough spirits
SUBSTANCE misuse workers are hoping teenagers can help them discover how to tackle binge drinking. The group from the northern regional social inclusion charity Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities (DISC) have launched a pioneering project to
HISTORIC pasture land where medieval peasants would once have grazed their animals, has been safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. The pasture land at West Fields on the edge of Richmond, North Yorkshire, has been bought by conservation group
Chris Riggott returned from exile to play a major part in Middlesbrough's successful fight for Barclays Premier League safety. The defender, who was recalled from his loan spell at Stoke yesterday, went straight into Gareth Southgate's team and rewarded
TWENTY pigs and two horses died following a fire at a small-holding in the early hours of this morning. The blaze broke out at a livestock shed at Whinside, Good Street Estate, Tanfield, near Stanley, County Durham. Firefighters were called at 2.20am
** BREAKING NEWS ** NEWCASTLE Falcons chairman Dave Thompson has promised to deliver "two Super 14 players" to compensate for the shock departure of England duo Mathew Tait and Toby Flood. Tait will join Sale Sharks on a three-year contract at the
SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn and South Shields MP David Miliband will team up to launch an anti-racism campaign across Sunderland next week. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will speak at the event, organised by Sunderland's
THOUSANDS of people are flocking to the Dales Festival of Food and Drink. The three-day event started today at Leyburn, North Yorkshire. It began in 2002 as a one-off festival to help farmers recover from the foot-and-mouth outbreak, but was so well
A BOY of eight was seriously injured when he fell from the rear step of flat back truck. The youngster had been riding with a friend, also eight, on the wagon after it pulled away from Peddars Way in South Shields. He fell from the vehicle in nearby
Teesside Baksetball in association with Game Time Basketball Parties & DCS Paving At the start of the final league game of the 2007/08 TBL Division One Season, TU Lions were in pole position on 18pts. The final game took place between Hartlepool sides
FIVE people have been arrested after more than £1m worth of drugs were seized in raids by police. The 12 kilograms of amphetamines were recovered from two homes in the Braid Crescent area of Billingham, last night. Acting on community intelligence,
A MOTHER of five who scooped £25,000 on the postcode lottery believes her win was sent from heaven. Christine Wilkinson, 50, thinks her windfall was a gift from her late mother, Mary, who died two years ago. Days before hitting the jackpot, she
CHILDREN got a taste of life on the high seas during a pirate day. Year two pupils at Myton Park Primary School, Ingleby Barwick, broadened their knowledge through a visit to the Captain Cook Museum, exploring the Maori culture and singing sea
LABOUR has lost overall control of Hartlepool Borough Council after dropping a seat. It now has 23 seats, with other parties holding the other 25 council seats. Despite the swing, Labour leader Jonathan Brash said it had been a "great night" for
Trampas, in Durham City A MALE grooming parlour offering a range of pampering treatments in Durham City is proving a hit with its customers. Trampas, The Men's Room, in Owengate House, Saddler Street, has joined the expansion of male grooming
A FORMER pit town at last has its own council, after a four-year battle. The first elections for Stanley Town Council took place on Thursday for seven wards within the district of Derwentside. Voting left the political balance split, with nine
A TEDDY bear is helping youngsters in a primary school learn the importance of attending classes. Attendance Ted is an initiative by Browney Primary School and Durham County Council's education welfare service to promote attendance. Education
A TEENAGER was jailed yesterday following a burglary spree in his home town. Alan Lawrence was responsible for seven break-ins at properties around Seaham, in the space of a few weeks. Durham Crown Court was told he was brought to book thanks
PROPOSALS to reinstate a school play area will be put before a council meeting next month. North Road Primary School is to undergo a £6.5m redevelopment project on its current site, in Pendleton Road South, Darlington. Darlington Borough Council's
A SCHOOL in Darlington has shown its support to an independent reading charity while helping to develop the English skills of its pupils. Hummersknott School and Language College organised a competition for year seven students who had to submit
A CAMPAIGN group is celebrating after winning the first battle in its war to protect a village's conservation area. Planners at Darlington Borough Council have refused permission for a plan to develop executive houses in the back garden of 63
A FREE family fun day will take place in a Darlington park tomorrow. The event, sponsored by the Newton Aycliffebased company, John Wade Group, will be held in South Park from noon to 4pm. There will be a range of activities on offer,
MARK RAMPRAKASH is closing in on his 99th first-class hundred at Hove where a draw looks to be the most likely outcome of Surrey's LV County Championship Division One tussle against defending champions Sussex. The 38-year-old former England
MORNE MORKEL marked his debut by taking his first wicket for Yorkshire but, after a bright start, the home side toiled in the field for little reward on day three. Nottinghamshire were able to build up a sizeable first innings lead thanks to
ANTE-POST markets are an integral part of racing and it's hard to ignore that throughout the winter, New Approach (3.25) has been a red-hot favourite for the 2,000 Guineas. Jim Bolger's colt is carrying the cash of the high-rollers in the betting
CHESTER-LE-STREET A.C.'s Alyson Dixon marked her international debut in the Marseilles 10K road race by helping England win the women's team race. The former double British Universities 10,000m track champion finished in sixth place in a time of
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN overwhelmed seven-time champion Stephen Hendry 17-6 to reach his third 888.com World Championship final with a session to spare. O'Sullivan produced breathtaking snooker, at one stage winning 12 frames on the trot, to set up
Durham Wasps reform for one game only tomorrow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of a club that continues to hold a special place in the region's affections. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson looks at the history of one of the North-East's most successful
NOT many golfers hug their caddie halfway through an event, but for former Ryder Cup star Ignacio Garrido it was perfectly understandable. Probably the best I've ever played - this is a dream,'' said Garrido after following up a first round 66
NEWCASTLE'S Chris Burns is looking to turn the performance table on its head this weekend at Oulton Park and continue his relentless charge towards the Superbike Cup. The 29-year-old former MotoGP rider, who has teamed up with former World Endurance
BRITISH basketball's leading player, Lynard Stewart, would love to land another deal with Newcastle Eagles next season whether or not they claim an historic fourth successive play-off crown in Birmingham this weekend. However, Stewart, the newlycrowned
CLUBS in the Darlington Building Society North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League head into the Bank Holiday progamme with a number still sweating on the first appearance of their overseas professional. Work permits, visas, and money-laden
DARLINGTON attend a promotion party today but will be playing the part of reluctant guests as Peterborough, not the Quakers, celebrate elevation to League One. Over 12,000 Posh fans are expected to bask in the glory of promotion, meaning play-off
FOOTBALL League chairman Brian Mawhinney has dismissed Leeds supremo Ken Bates' calls for him to quit his post. Bates hit out at Mawhinney despite an arbitration panel ruling in favour of the Football League on Thursday following the League
AFTER a stop-start beginning to his Hartlepool United career, Sam Collins is targeting some consistency next season. This season, Pools have never managed to remain unbeaten for more than three games, while away from home they've lost 15 times
SIR Alex Ferguson yesterday insisted Manchester United are back in the driving seat to ruin Chelsea's title dreams despite last weekend's bitter defeat to their rivals. Ferguson also brushed aside Chelsea boss Avram Grant's criticism of Alan
MANCHESTER United will stand just 90 minutes away from retaining the Premier League title if they overcome West Ham United at Old Trafford this afternoon. Victory over the Hammers, followed by three points at Wigan Athletic in eight days time,
AVRAM GRANT has lost just two of his 30 Premier League matches in charge. The goals shipped to Liverpool on Wednesday night were the first conceded at Stamford Bridge under the Israeli in Chelsea's drive to the Champions League final. He remains
AVRAM Grant will attempt to keep his players focused on the job in hand on against Newcastle on Monday afternoon after the euphoria of their Champions League success. Grant led Chelsea to the final of the European competition for the first time
NACHO NOVO insists Rangers should be given a helping hand for flying the flag for Scottish football in Europe this season. The striker fired the Ibrox side into the UEFA Cup final when he kept his composure to convert the decisive penalty in
GEORGE BOATENG wants reassurances over his long-term value to the Middlesbrough cause ahead of a summer that could herald the end of a six-year stay on Teesside. The Dutch midfielder's focus today will be on claiming the three points against
RAFAEL Benitez has given the green light to a summer of change at Anfield. The Liverpool boss, who has tabled a £10m bid for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, has made it clear that there will be new arrivals and key departures from his squad. Tomorrow's
SYLVAIN Distin believes inconsistent Portsmouth need to rediscover some form against Middlesbrough today or face an upset in the FA Cup final. Since beating West Brom in last month's semi-final, Harry Redknapp's side have won just one of their
HAVING been involved in the relegation battle for the first 36 games of the season, Roy Keane is adamant his Sunderland players will not be handing Bolton an unfair advantage now their Premier League status has been secured. The Black Cats travel
ROY Keane will offer Dwight Yorke a new contract next week after describing the 36-year-old midfielder as one of the "best signings" of his 20 months as Sunderland manager. And with Yorke on the verge of securing his UEFA A Licence coaching qualification
SEVEN days after the heartbreak of losing to Sunderland, Gareth Southgate insists the Middlesbrough dressing room possesses the steel and character to respond by claiming the results that will keep them in the Premier League. One win from their
FORMER Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery faces a detention hearing in US District Court on Monday after being indicted on heroin distribution charges. Montgomery, 33, was arrested on Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia on an indictment from the US
Durham v Derby (Friends Provident Trophy) CRICKET was plunged further into the realms of farce last night as Durham lost their Friends Provident Trophy match at Derby by one run. Had the match started at a sensible time there would have been no
A short break at a luxury hotel is becoming increasingly popular. Jenny Needham and Peta King sample three of the best in the region IT'S a bitterly cold, blustery day in March, the sort that reminds you that winter still has a sting in its tail.
She missed out on Maria by a whisker, but Helena Blackman is enjoying a star role in South Pacific HELENA Blackman dubbed herself Miracle Maria' thanks to her long pursuit of BBC1's chance to star in The Sound Of Music in the West End, which ended
WORKING with actress wife Joanna Page proved too much of a laughing matter for latest Holby Blue recruit James Thornton. The trouble was they were supposed to be doing a serious scene. It happened when he and Page, star of award-winning comedy
Darts has been rising in popularity, from a sport for old men to something watched by millions on TV. Owen Amos went to the Premier League Darts in Newcastle to find out why 4,000 fans turn up to watch and what the players think of their new-found fame
RE senior citizen George Appleby's letter about his wife's frustrations in trying to find suitable clothes (HAS, Apr 23). I am a short, "portly" (waist/hips) 70-year-old lady. I am trying, in vain, to buy straight-legged, full-length, elastic-waisted
I WAS interested to read columnist Peter Mullen's comments on the "medicalisation of morality" (Echo, Apr 29). I wonder if he has noted, as I have, the parallel phenomenon of the "dogmatisation of prejudice"? This appears to involve the adoption
I WRITE in response to John Robinson's letter, headed "Tickets Dilemma" (HAS, Apr 30). Your correspondent unfortunately lost his train ticket prior to travel and was disappointed that a replacement could not be issued. However, there is no question
UNDER-FUNDING is currently being blamed for health service failures. We therefore need to review spending in this area and could begin with those major absorbents of public resources, the so-called health service watchdogs, such as the former community
POLLS consistently show 68 per cent of English people want an English Parliament and 59 per cent of English people want Scotland to leave the UK. The will of the English people for self-rule within the United Kingdom is flagrantly ignored because
MOST people now know that Britain is no longer governed by our own Parliament. A good example is the level of VAT. The Taxpayers' Alliance has pointed out that the Government will be extorting £535m in VAT on building repairs caused by last summer's
I TAKE exception to CT Riley's remarks about teachers' attitudes to bullying (HAS, Apr 29). In all my career, I and most of my colleagues did our best to prevent bullying. However, our powers to do anything have been gradually removed. Before
RE the £1.9m overspend on the Eastern Transport Corridor road project in Darlington (Echo, Apr 24). What an admission for the borough council's chief executive, Ada Burns, to make when she said: "There were no surprises in the report. In many
AD ELICIOUSLY foreign-sounding word has swum onto our tongues this week with one of our councils refusing to release a contentious report because it was in "purdah" prior to the local elections. Earlier, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was accused
Wearing baggy Y-fronts under a mini-kilt isn't going to enhance Patrick Dempsey's image. But as Steve Pratt discovers, Grey's Anatomy's Dr McDreamy isn't complaining about the exposure THESE underpants could seriously dent Dr McDreamy's reputation
AS the first local election results came in last night and the full extent of the Labour vote collapse became clear, all the old cliches were trotted out. Ministers described the situation as "disappointing", they pointed the finger at the credit
CHILDREN donned homemade costumes to dance around a Maypole yesterday. Youngsters from Tow Law Millennium Primary School and John Duckett RC Primary School in Tow Law, County Durham, joined in the traditional folk dance around a Maypole. Parents
THE rhythm of life in Africa was experienced by parents and their children at a school concert yesterday. Pupils from five primary schools in Middlesbrough have been studying the culture, heritage and habitat of the continent. Project co-ordinator
A COUNCILLOR who is taking part in the Race for Life with her daughter has spoken about her own breast cancer scare. Gill Cartwright, who is a district nurse, said the experience had helped her appreciate first hand what some of her patients go
AN airfield in the region is to play a key role in an attempt to set a new world speed record - with a steam-powered car. The British steam car team will warm up at Elvington Airfield, near York, in July, before making its world record bid at
A MEAT company has been bought from administration by its former management. Meat Express Limited, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has been sold to MB Meat Express Limited for an undisclosed sum. The new firm has been formed by the former
LORD DIGBY JONES, Minister for Trade and Investment, praised North-East companies for their innovation and dynamism during a visit to the region. Lord Jones was visiting companies in Gateshead and Newcastle at the invitation of UK Trade and
AN office development that could create more than 400 jobs has attracted strong interest from local employers. More than a quarter of the office space at the £7.5m Lumley Court development on the Drum Industrial Estate, in Chester-le- Street,
MOMENTUM continues to gather behind a campaign to honour the world's first black professional footballer, Arthur Wharton, who hailed from the region. Darlington FC has backed the campaign to honour its former goalkeeper, following in the footsteps
THE family of a North-East journalist murdered in an unprovoked attack have reacted angrily to news that his killer's sentence has been reduced. Timothy Smith, from Darlington, was waiting at a bus stop in Nottingham, in May last year, when he
NEWLYWEDS made sure their big day was one to remember, as they became the fourth generation of the groom's family to tie the knot in the same church. Lucy Maddren and Neil Pittaway, from Brompton-on- Swale, in North Yorkshire, were married
GAMBLERS fancying a flutter but unable to find a bookmaker may want to head for Hartlepool. The town has the highest concentration of betting shops in the country - one for every 3,604 residents. In contrast, accountants are thin on the ground
A NURSE who tried to scupper the sex abuse trial of her husband by interfering with a witness has been spared jail, but faces the sack. Mother-of-three Maria Mallari left court in tears after she was given a suspended jail sentence after a judge
AS Labour melted down around it, even the bedrock that is County Durham struggled to withstand the heat. In Northumbria, Labour wilted. North Tyneside buckled and went Tory for the first time since its creation in 1973. Hartlepool slipped away
THE only true blue in Tory sensation Becky Brunskill's life yesterday was the huge celebration bouquet sent by her proud mother to mark her election win. After a long night at a tense election count, the 20-year-old politics student woke up not
DURHAM County Council leader Albert Nugent is to face an immediate challenge for the leadership of the new unitary authority. As the Labour Party took stock of yesterday's election results and digested the bitter pill that its majority had been
A SEARCH for a missing father-oftwo has been called off after a body was found yesterday afternoon. Anthony Simpson, 47, told his wife Barbara he was going for a walk at about 7pm on Wednesday. He left his family home in Langley Park, County Durham
A JUDGE and police have praised the bravery of an 11-year-old girl who tackled her jealous father to stop him stabbing her mother to death. Rebecca Mayhew disarmed her father John after he had plunged a hunting knife into the chest and stomach
SUPERMARKET chain Tesco will take on the £50m import centre that will create at least 800 jobs on Teesside it was confirmed yesterday. The new 1.2 million sq ft building, Tesco's first purpose-built import centre, will be located on 66 acres of
NEARLY 300 workers are facing an uncertain future after a major North-East baker went into administration. Changes in people's tastes was partly blamed for the problems to hit County Durham firm Tindale and Stanton (T&S), which employs 297 people
GORDON BROWN was warned last night that he was steering Labour towards a catastrophic General Election defeat after its May Day mauling in town halls across the country. Shocked Labour MPs, including several in the region, demanded that the Prime
