AN environment protection agency is urging people to look after the North-East's green spaces to improve the region's long-term economy and well-being. A report published by Natural England yesterday entitled The State of the Natural Environment in the
Most people in the village would have seen Will Roberts story about the club, in todays Northern Echo. For those ‘blog’ readers who are out of the area, or abroad, here it is in full. We could take over club, say members... MEMBERS of a troubled
Last fortnight's meeting was a visit to York for a Ghost Hunt. Last weeks meeting was a visit around Hurworth Hunt. Thank you very much to all at Hurworth Hunt for a great evening. Sunday 7th June was County Rally at Pately Bridge, well done
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a series of thefts from cars parked at a theme park in the region. A total of 15 cars have been broken into at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, in the past three weeks. North Yorkshire police
A REGULAR customer left a cash and carry warehouse with £737 worth of cigarettes in a "well planned" theft. But it was only five days later that a stock check at Batley's, on Drum Industrial Estate, near Chester-le-Street, revealed deficiencies in takings
RESIDENTS in Yarm are being urged to have their say about proposed changes to parking in the town for the first time in more than 30 years. Traders and shoppers have voiced their concerns in recent months about the current laws affecting motorists, claiming
HELP is at hand for a community hospital which will soon set out plans for a major extension. Friends Of Weardale Community Hospital will be launched this week to raise cash for the much-needed facility in Stanhope, which specialises in palliative care
PLANS to closed a secondary school on Teesside could be a tragedy for Catholic education in the region Councils across Teesside have been forced to think about the feasibility of maintaining and improving a number of Catholic schools, after it was revealed
A CAMPAIGN to raise awareness for support of people who misuse drugs in Hartlepool has been hailed a success. Spearheaded by the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, a series of events took place across the town recently as part of National Tackling Drugs Week
YOUNG people Wear Valley are being offered the chance to join in free life skills classes to help them find work or set up their own home. Anyone aged 16 to 25 can sign up for the one day courses and go home with a piece of furniture they built themselves
A gem of a couple were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary yesterday. Jack and Jean Scott, 85 and 81, of Gladstone Street, Crook, were introduced to each other at a dance at the Elite Hall, in Crook, on VJ-Day, August 15 1945. They planned
YOUNGSTERS from a Guisborough school enjoyed a taste of Australia with cooked kangaroo, crocodile and ostrich. Professional chef Mark Chamberlain demonstrated his skills to pupils at Highcliffe Primary School today Redcar and Cleveland Council's Mayor
POLICE in Hartlepool are encouraging people to keep their bikes secure. Officers have seen a increase in cycle thefts in recent months and there are concerns that this may rise during the Summer. Hundreds of bikes are recovered by police each year but
RUSTLERS slit the throats of deer before making off with their carcasses to sell on for meat. Only one of the herd of seven deer at the Thorpe Farm, on the A66 near Whorlton, County Durham is still alive. A stag had been left in the fenced enclosure
A WEEK-LONG series of events is to take place next month to mark a library’s 50th birthday. Consett Library celebrates its golden anniversary and has lined up a number of talks and exhibitions to mark the milestone. Paintings of the Four Seasons In
BUDDING musicians and established artists are taking to the stage at Bishop Auckland College’s arts and music festival next weekend. Organisers are hoping to attract over 4,000 visitors to the two-day musical extravaganza, which takes place
POLICE are trying to trace a pensioner who went missing from home last night. Bob Shaw, 77, was last seen at the house he shares with his daughter and her family in St John's Walk, Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, just after 7pm yesterday. At 8.20pm last
A POST office outreach service used by residents of two remote villages has been closed without warning following the resignation of the subpostmaster running the services, after an eight-month dispute with Post Office Ltd. The villages of Swainby and
VEHICLES are being sought for a Vintage Tractors Rally in Shildon next month. Agricultural and construction machinery from small stationary engines to large ploughing engines and classic tractors are required for the event, which takes place at Locomotion
POLICE in North Yorkshire have hailed the success of a crackdown on so-called boy racers who have been causing problems on the county’s roads. The one-day initiative, which was part of Operation Anvil, a joint operation between North Yorkshire Police
A CANCER charity has teamed up with a recycling company to launch a scheme to raise money for cancer research and help the environment at the same time. Yorkshire Cancer Research and Northallerton-based Bag2TheFuture are working together to collect unwanted
THE finals of a new comedy act competition which helped to launch the career of last year's winner takes place on Sunday. Six comedians will perform at Seen, in Darlington, on Sunday to be crowned the Hilarity Bites new comedian of the year
SAVOUR this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone because the grid for next year’s race – wherever it takes place – could look very different. If commonsense does not prevail, the major teams will desert the championship and their places on
IF Steve Harmison and Graham Onions are competing for an Ashes place, it isn’t doing Durham any harm. Whereas Harmison’s hostility knocked the stuffing out of Warwickshire yesterday, today it was Onions who found the zest to rekindle fading
DETECTIVES are this afternoon waiting to talk to a woman who suffered serious facial injuries after a fall in her home. The mother-of-two, from Ingleby Arncliffe, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, remains under sedation in hospital.
NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed a pre-season friendly with Scottish Premier League side Dundee United. The Magpies will be the guests when Dundee United kick off their centenary season celebrations at Tannadice Park on Sunday, August 2 (kick-off 3pm)
ONE of last year’s big theatrical hits is returning - complete with a real Victorian locomotive in full steam. Last year’s production of Edith Nesbit’s evergreen classic The Railway Children at the National Railway Museum in York proved to be a runaway
GROSS ticket sales at Darlington Civic Theatre topped £3m for the first time in its century-old history last year. Ticket sales increased by nearly ten per cent on the previous year, according to new figures. Audience figures of 174,658
A POPULAR youth project is urgently seeking a new base - or else it will be homeless in three months. Thirsk Clock is to leave its premises in the town's Market Place when its current lease expires in September. It has been based on the site, rented
A NEW generation of footballing talent will be on display in the region this weekend. The annual Four Nations tournament, featuring under-16 teams representing Clubs for Young People from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, kicks off on Saturday
AN urgent appeal for land is being made by eager gardeners who are unable to create allotments in Thirsk due to a chronic land shortage. Several requests have been made to Thirsk Town Council by keen locals who want to access land to grow on. Despite
THE father of chef Claudia Lawrence has insisted he is absolutely convinced she did not go missing of her own accord. But he spoke of his frustration at the three months of silence since his 35-year-old daughter was last seen. Solicitor Peter Lawrence
A SUSPECTED white supremacist appeared in court today charged with possession of the deadly poison ricin. Former lorry driver and pub DJ Ian Davison was arrested at his home in Myrtle Grove, Burnopfield, County Durham earlier this month by anti-terrorist
NEWCASTLE Falcons have signed former Saracens hooker Alex Walker on a two-year deal. Walker, an English-qualified former Australia Under-21 international, rose through the ranks at Eastwood in Sydney, the former club of Falcons legend Matt Burke. The
A CLASSIC murder mystery is to have a week-long stage run. The Agatha Christie thriller The Hollow is being staged in the tiny City Theatre, in Back Silver Street, Durham City from Sunday, June 28 to Saturday, July 4. The whodunnit is the latest offering
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was airlifted to hospital with suspected head and leg injuries after being hit by a car while walking home from school yesterday. The incident happened close to the junction of Catterick Road and Vicarage Road, in Catterick Garrison
A TEENAGER from Newton Aycliffe has disappeared after going to visit friends in York. Police say they are becoming increasingly concerned for the wellbeing of 14-year-old Jack Hester-Wox. He caught the 7.30am train from Darlington railway station on
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was pushed into a river as he walked home from work. The 41-year-old was walking along Rowntree Wharf, in York, at about 5.25pm yesterday, when he was pushed from behind into the River Foss. PC Johnathan
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a series of thefts from cars parked at a theme park in the region. A total of 15 cars have been broken into at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, in the past three weeks. North
CHILDREN with disabilities and their families will be able to put their thoughts to key officers at a family fun day. Education and health professionals will be at a family fun day to be held at Elm Ridge Methodist Church, Darlington, next month. Parents
TWO students scored an unexpected day off school this week, after winning a competition. Katy Bramham and Anya Hockey, both 13, from Bedale, tried out a laser adventure game, after winning a competition. Young people from primary schools around Bedale
THOUSANDS of homes in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire are to benefit from a scheme to deliver a range of energy efficiency measures. The ‘GoWarm’ initiative will see 10,000 homes in the Bedale, Thirsk, Northallerton and Stokesley areas visited
AS many as 1,000 people have walked out of a £250m North-East biofuel plant this morning in support of workers sacked this morning at a Lincolnshire refinery. Workers at the Ensus plant at Wilton, near Redcar, are staging a protest in backing
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was airlifted to hospital with suspected head and leg injuries after being hit by a car while walking home from school yesterday. The incident happened close to the junction of Catterick Road and Vicarage Road, in Catterick Garrison
A MOTHER who was airlifted to hospital with facial injuries today remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital. The woman was found lying at the bottom of a flight of stairs by her 11-year-old son, in her home in Ingleby Arncliffe,
A MOTHER who was airlifted to hospital with serious facial injuries today remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital. The woman was found lying at the bottom of a flight of stairs by her 11-year-old son, in her home in Ingleby Arncliffe, near
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested after more than 2,000 cannabis plants worth £1m were seized by police. This morning's raid uncovered one of the largest cannabis farms yet found in Sunderland. During the raid cannabis plants worth around £1 million
Law And Order: Criminal Intent (five, 10pm); Mastermind (BBC2, 7pm) ANEW face checks into Hotel Babylon as the series returns, although he’s an old face, as far as viewers of EastEnders are concerned. Nigel Harman become something of a pin-up boy
THE father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence will today hold a press conference three months after his daughter's disappearance. Miss Lawrence, 35, has not been seen since March 18 and failed to turn up for a 6am shift at the University of York, where
WOULD she or wouldn’t she? When she hadn’t appeared by the interval, it seemed likely she wouldn’t. But when Susan Boyle did emerge, to give what can only be described as a show-stopping performance, it was more than worth waiting for. The
MONEY used to be simple. The less you had, the simpler it was. Not any more. Now even those of us on modest incomes, with little or no savings, need to be financially savvy. A generation ago, you could manage everyday life without a bank account
Natural beauty products have really taken off in recent years. Jenny Laue meets a North-East businesswoman who moved half-way round the world to realise her ideas for totally natural skincare. BEING head-hunted at the age of 51, three months after
USERS of a community centre in Stanley are celebrating after it received a grant of £10,000. St Stephen's Centre on Hollyhill Gardens received the cash from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust's Bridging the Gap scheme. It means the centre can continue
The North East Big Drink Debate was launched to encourage us to have a more balanced attitude towards alcohol. Health Editor Barry Nelson meets an expert who knows the worst that drink can do. MOST of us like a drink and some of us occasionally
SHORTLY after a bruised and battered Gordon Brown promised “a new era of democratic renewal” he announced an inquiry into the war in Iraq will take place – behind closed doors. I accept there will be issues which are militarily sensitive and
I PASSIONATELY want to see British politics dominated less by the two main political parties, so I was thoroughly disgusted by the arrogance shown by Conservative leader David Cameron recently when he scoffed at the idea of any kind of change
I REFER to the proposed siting of ten 121-metre wind turbines close to Great Stainton, near Darlington. Wind power is one source of clean energy yet this project for ten turbines, along with a further two planned developments for 21 turbines,
AS the role played by UK combat forces in Iraq closes, I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to all the employers in the North-East who have supported, and continue to support, members of our Reserve Forces. Over the past six years, more than
HOW is it possible Lord Mandelson is in the Government? He is unelected – a member of the House of Lords which is supposed to scrutinise Commons legislation. He is also an ex-member of the EU Commission and is not allowed to criticise the EU if
I AM a history student at university in the US working on a research project about British country houses during the Second World War and am interested in learning about the experiences of people who lived, worked and were stationed in them during
RECENTLY, I listened to Labour MPs and councillors debating why the party lost the people’s vote. “It was identity cards, Trident, school fees, etc” and they asked how they could connect with people in a more gainful way. Not one mentioned the
A THREE-DAY flower festival is to be held next month. Gardens To Delight is to be held at Waddington Street United Reformed Church, in Durham City, from July 4 to 6 with arrangements created by church members. Admission is £1 by programme and the church
RECENT scenes in Iran, where people have so little faith in the legitimacy of elections that they have taken to the streets in protest, are a timely reminder of how lucky we are. There are many flaws in our democracy: we have an unelected Prime
Jane Ritchie made headlines after using her multi-millionpound inheritance to build a centre for vocational learning. This week her remarkable act won her The Northumbrian Association’s Hotspur Award. Chris Fay reports. MANY people dream of inheriting
OF all the North-East’s MPs, Ashok Kumar is one of the most assiduous and thoughtful. He cares very deeply about his constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, is very well thought of within that constituency, and The Northern Echo
YOU think they would have learned, but the current spat over public finances shows our political leaders remain unrepentant and, well, just about unteachable. Just who do they think they are kidding? We want a grown-up debate about how the recession
YEATS ensured his place in the pantheon of racing greats as he became the first horse to register four glorious victories in the Ascot Gold Cup. Since its inauguration in 1807, only Yeats and Sagaro in the 1970s had managed to visit the winner
NAOMI Cavaday has set her sights on the US Open after falling at the final hurdle of Wimbledon qualifying. The 20-year-old was beaten in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 at the third round stage at the Bank of England Sports Club in Roehampton by Russian
THE CORONATION STAKES at Royal Ascot is undoubtedly one of the races of the meeting with three separate Guineas winners locking horns, but the the one I like has a much lower profile. Ghanaati sets the standard as far as English form is concerned
RICKY HATTON’S former assistant trainer, Bobby Rimmer, predicts world domination for Olympic boxer Tony Jeffries, provided the Sunderland favourite is in no mood to rush. Promoter Frank Maloney was back on Wearside yesterday to publicise Jeffries
MALCOLM CROSBY’S departure from Middlesbrough’s pay-roll will be just the first of many to leave the Riverside this summer, according to chief executive Keith Lamb. It was confirmed on Wednesday that Crosby, Gareth Southgate’s assistant manager
PAKISTAN match-winner Shahid Afridi put in a fine all-round performance to send World Twenty20 favourites crashing out at the semi-final stage after asking captain Younus Khan to put him centre stage at Trent Bridge. Afridi hit a swashbuckling
PAUL Casey urged patience at a rain-drenched Bethpage Black as US Open play was abandoned for the day just three hours and 15 minutes into the first round. Tournament officials from the United States Golf Association had hoped to eventually resume
THE enigma that is Steve Harmison went from the ridiculous to the sublime yesterday as for the second successive innings he impressed an England selector with a five-wicket haul. In front of Ashley Giles, he reinforced the impression that he
A TRIO of stunning individual displays helped Yorkshire recover from a morning session that had seen their top order implode at New Road. The Tykes somehow managed to head toward a first innings lead after an epic revival in the afternoon. Andrew
LUXURY accessories firm Mulberry yesterday reported a dramatic turnaround in early summer sales in a sign consumers are becoming more willing to splash out on classic items. Mulberry, famous for its high-end handbags costing up to £1,900, said
A COMPANY which ensures the safety of Wimbledon tennis spectators has extended its system in time for this year’s championships. Current Thinking has extended its VoCall system, developed and manufactured in the North-East, to the refurbished
THE FTSE 100 Index edged back into positive territory yesterday despite weakerthan- expected official sales figures putting pressure on retailers. Next, Argos owner Home Retail Group and B&Q firm Kingfisher all lost ground after a surprise
CONTINUED strong demand for chocolate in the recession helped Dairy Milk owner Cadbury report improved trading for April and May. Cadbury yesterday said it remained on track for fullyear sales growth at the lower end of its four to six per cent
A TRAINING company is moving to £1.2m premises and taking on six members of staff after a major contract win. CableCom Training is building a training centre, in Stockton’s Preston Farm Industrial Estate, that is three times the size of its Thornaby
A ROYAL flavour is added to an annual vintage vehicle rally this weekend. The Earl of Strathmore, the Queen’s first cousin once removed, is a surprise entrant in the Beamish Run, on Sunday. He will take part in the 39th test of reliability and
TRANSPORT group Go-Ahead said yesterday it was performing as expected after maintaining revenue growth at its three rail franchises, and maintained its full-year predictions. In an update for the year to June 27, Newcastle-based Go- Ahead said
A COLLABORATION with a North- East building firm to help homeless people back into work was recognised at awards for community-minded companies last night. Stephen Bell, chief executive of Tyneside Cyrenians, was recognised at Business in the
BUSINESSES can monitor their own carbon emissions and ensure they remain in line with impending legislation through a system being devised in the North-East. Carbonbiz has created a web-hosted software system which brings together the latest
STEVE BRUCE does not expect to make any new additions to the Sunderland squad he has inherited for a few more weeks yet. Bruce faces competition from five Premier League clubs in the chase for Irish defender Richard Dunne but Manchester City
NEWCASTLE UNITED are hoping to generate £10m from the sale of defender Sebastien Bassong who admitted he has opened negotiations with two Premier League clubs. But if Mike Ashley is still in charge of the club on June 30, the owner will be
A DECISION on whether to throw a lifeline to struggling regional airports such as Durham Tees Valley has been put off until the autumn. Ministers pledged that the conclusions of a Government inquiry – taking in the economic impact of losing an
LOCAL residents have chosen the projects they want offenders to complete to repay the community for their crimes. The most popular scheme in Middlesbrough was a site in Netherfields, where work included repainting fences and bollards. In the
TWO drug addicts who committed more than 100 crimes between them have appeared in court for burgling a house. The thieves were caught by a police officer attending an unrelated call at a neighbouring home in Louisa Street, Darlington. Gareth James
A HERITAGE railway will become the North-East’s newest live music venue this weekend. Tanfield Railway, near Stanley, County Durham, will showcase the region’s musical talent and heritage. Five local artists and groups will perform on Sunday.
ICONIC steam engine Sir Nigel Gresley is back in action, hauling passengers across one of the most picturesque landscapes in Britain. Following minor repairs, the A4 Pacific No 60007 is steaming along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway throughout
ONE of the region’s ambulance services met tough new standards to reach emergency callouts in eight minutes last year, despite a surge in the number of calls. The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) responded to 75.7 per cent of emergency and
MEMBERS of a military reenactment society will retrace one of a North-East regiment’s most disastrous expeditions to help soldiers injured in modern conflicts. Thousands of British servicemen, including those from the Durham Light Infantry (DLI
LEADING Conservative MP William Hague has backed campaigners opposed to plans for a wind farm, saying it would blight the landscape. Broadview Energy wants to build five 125m turbines between Seamer and Hilton, near Stockton. Richmond MP William
CREDITORS who hold the future of Darlington Football Club in their hands have been informed why a crucial meeting was postponed. Administrators acting on behalf of the Quakers have written to all the club’s creditors at the request of The Football
MEMBERS of a troubled workingmen’s club say they are prepared to form a committee to take control from its current management. Members of Cockfield Workingmen’s Club, in County Durham, say they are frustrated at the lack of communication from
After months of debate, all of the country’s MPs’ expenses claims were finally published online for the first time yesterday. The Northern Echo took a look at what our region’s MPs have been claiming for – and it made for interesting reading.
MPs from all sides and political commentators last night agreed that blacking out details of MPs’ expenses had gone too far. A lively edition of the BBC’s Question Time took place in the sports and conference centre at Nissan’s factory on Wearside
THE House of Commons stood accused last night of spending more than £2m on a bungled cover-up after publishing details of MPs expenses with huge swathes blacked out. Critics insisted that the severely edited disclosure showed that the worst abuses
ONE of the region’s MPs is allowing a friend to live rentfree in a flat bought with taxpayers’ help while he claims expenses on a second London home, The Northern Echo can reveal. Ashok Kumar, the MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland
FORMULA One has been thrown into chaos after the Formula One Teams Association (Fota) confirmed it is to set up a rival series from next season. Eight of F1's major teams - including McLaren, Ferrari and Brawn GP - have decided to cut loose,
