MICHAEL Jackson was unconscious, not breathing and not responding to anything when the 911 emergency call was made, the recording showed today. The caller said he needed an ambulance "as soon as possible" and said only the personal doctor had
MORE than 1,000 North-East workers who have spent six days on unofficial strike in protest at the sacking of 650 people at the Lindsey refinery are to return to work after a resolution was reached. Workers at the Ensus biofuel plant at Wilton
POLICE are renewing their appeal for witnesses to a serious assault which left a Middlesbrough man fighting for his life. Offiicers say they are disappointed with the response to an appeal for information about the incident, which took place in the early
I received an e-mail from Mark Kipling earlier this week outlining a fantastic idea to help put the club on the map. Mark lives in Barnard Castle now, but is a genuine Cockfield lad who is proud of his roots. The easiest way to explain his idea
STUART Pearce finally ended England's semi-final spot-kick hoodoo but his under-21s had to survive a thrilling comeback from European Championship hosts Sweden. Pearce lost at the last-four stage twice as a player and as a coach two years ago - but it
Warming up for forthcoming shows at Glastonbury and Hyde Park, famous foursome Blur arrived on stage in the usual fashion; Graham Coxon with his signature black framed spectacles, Damon Albarn sporting a black polo, Alex James in a classic white t and
MUSICIANS from across the region are going head to head in a two-day battle of the bands competition that starts today. (FRIDAY) The free event takes the form of a free music and arts festival at Bishop Auckland College’s new campus on the town’s Woodhouse
PLANS that could see 62 wind turbines developed on seven different sites within a six mile radius could be called in by the Government. MP, Phil Wilson, is calling for the intervention because he believes it represents excessive development in his Sedgefield
RYTHYM and blues band Dr Feelgood top the bill at a college music festival tomorrow night. They flew into to the North-East yesterday from a concert in Paris to appear at Bishop Auckland College, where they are due on stage at 9pm. The two-day festival
CHILDREN attending the St Helen Auckland Gala tomorrow will be among the first to try out new play facilities on Middlewood Green. Improvements to the play area cost £60,000 and were funded from section 106 contributions. Additions include a timber
STARS from the worlds of sport, television and politics are teaming up to campaign against racism at family festivals around the region. Charlie Hardwick, who plays Val in Emmerdale, is opening a Show Racism the Red Card event with Sedgefield MP Phil
A DAREDEVIL dad is set to abseil off a North-East hotel - to raise funds for the volunteers who saved his son's life. Steven Jefferson, 34, from Craghead, near Stanley, is taking part in the stunt to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance
THE overwhelming response I had while driving the Insignia was ‘wow, is that a Vauxhall?’ Several people did a double-take when noticing the griffin emblem on the bonnet after first swooning over its sweeping lines. It was an understandable reaction
VOLVO believes it can break new ground with the XC60 – both on and off the road. Although the link to the XC90 is obvious, it’s a lot smaller than that bruiser and is aimed squarely at Land Rover’s Freelander. The arresting bodywork
Former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Scott Flinders has signed for Hartlepool United. The 23-year-old, standing at 6ft 4in, is a former Barnsley team-mate of another new signing, right-back Neil Austin. Flinders has also represented England at Under-20
A TEAM of five talented speakers have reached the finals of a national debating competition. Students from Durham Johnston School, in Durham City, will compete with teams from seven other UK schools at the Royal Society of Medicine in London between
STAFF at a law firm have raised almost £900 for charity. Workers from offices of Gordon Brown Associates in Chester-le-Street, Sunderland, Newcastle, Houghton-le-Spring and Low Fell, last week took part in the Midnight Walk to raise money for St Cuthbert
A three car crash on the A1, just south of the Dishforth Interchange, near Boroughbridge, left tailbacks of more than 11 miles on the southbound carriageway and delays of up to 90 minutes, at about 1.30pm today. The male driver of a Renault
POLICE are hunting a knifeman who terrified staff at a convenience store before fleeing with cash. The raider struck at the McColls convenience store on King Edward’s Drive, Harrogate, at about 10.20pm on Thursday. A hooded man entered
Ryedale MP John Greenway is recovering in London after surgery to remove a tumour on his left thigh at the specialist cancer hospital, the Royal Marsden. A spokeswoman for Mr Greenway said the surgery had been successful, with the tumour completely removed
A MARKET town in North Yorkshire has appointed its own ambassador. Sarah Lally-Marley has been appointed to the role which is designed help Malton’s economic future. "My aim is to present Malton at its best and actively help to regenerate and build
FESTIVAL season is underway - and the countdown has begun to North Yorkshire’s own mini-Glastonbury and annual youth art festival. CultureShock is now in its eight year and is expected to attract thousands of young people between July 2 and
Waiting times are set to reduce for patients throughout County Durham and Darlington who need orthopaedic treatment. Across the country, orthopaedics (the specialty that treats problems with joints and bones) has the longest waiting times for
CHILDREN at an east Durham school will celebrated the official opening of their building today. Pupils, staff and governors at Seascape Primary School, on Ellison Road, Peterlee, held a special event with Durham County Councillor Audrey Laing performing
TWO teenagers involved in the death of a family man after a confrontation in the street near his North-East home were this afternoon jailed – one for life and the other for two-and-a-half years. Declan Appleby, 18, was given an indeterminate sentence
AMATEUR photographers are being invited to enter a countywide photography competiton aimed at helping to raise public awareness of the achievements of people with learning disabilities. The competition is being organised by North Yorkshire County Council
THE man who led the campaign to save the iconic Flying Scotsman locomotive for the nation is to retire later this year. Andrew Scott, director of the National Railway Museum in York, also spearheaded the project team behind its Shildon offshoot, Locomotion
THREE killers have been given lengthy sentences for sadistically murdering a teenager in a re-enactment of a scene from a spoof horror film. Simon Everitt, originally from Escomb, County Durham, was tied to a tree, doused in petrol then burned
TWO vets have taken part in a zip wire challenge from the Tyne Bridge in aid of a school for children with cerebral palsy. Emanuel Ionutescu, 33, and Viorel Doran, 32, of the Consett Veterinary Centre in Consett, County Durham, raised £288 each for
FAMILY and friends of missing chef Claudia Lawrence marked a sombre milestone yesterday. It is now 100 days since the 35-year-old vanished without trace and despite a huge police investigation her whereabouts remain a mystery. But her family are refusing
A ROAD safety campaign will this weekend warn motorists in the region to take responsibility for their own well-being. The 95 Alive partnership will target nine popular meeting places for bikers in North Yorkshire on Sunday. Volunteers will
THOUSANDS of fans are expected to turn out tonight for the first in a two-night series of live open-air concerts. Chart-toppers McFly, whose hits include It’s All About You and Five Colours in Her Hair, will perform at Dalby Forest, near Pickering
Quakers' striker Pawel Abbott has today joined his former boss Dave Penney at Oldham Athletic. The 27-year-old who had two injury-hit seasons at Darlington completed his transfer to the League One side this morning. He scored 17 league goals in 42 games
A GROUNDBREAKING youth music project celebrated its second birthday this week. The Newblood initiative in Darlington puts on regular live shows for local bands, aimed at an audience of under 18s. The project aims to give teenagers something to do on
A SUMMER fair is getting the VIP treatment tomorrow when it is opened by two former soap stars. Leslie Grantham, who played Dirty Den in EastEnders, and Helen Weir, who used to be in Emmerdale, are starring in Write Me A Murder at Darlington Civic Theatre
BUILDERS must revise plans for a controversial development after an environment watchdog raised flooding concerns. Yuill Homes have been told to use up-to-date figures to calculate Croft House's flood risk from the River Tees after the Environment Agency
Judging by a flurry of emails, it seems we've alarmed some readers this morning with a photograph on Page 19. It's a picture of a man holding a lamprey, which is a rare, blood-sucking, eel-like fish which has been found in the River Wear at
THIS teenager's bike was stolen outside Darlington College two weeks ago. The student owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has reported the theft to police but particularly wanted to trace his bike because it is very rare. It was stolen from outside
WAITING times for minor repairs to council houses in East Durham have been cut in half. East Durham Homes (EDH) has reduced its target for responding to requests for non-urgent repairs from 28 days to 15 days. Non-urgent programmed repairs, meanwhile
THE REGENERATION of an east Durham town has moved another step forward with the approval of plans to demolish a range of disused buildings and replace them with a new primary car centre. Members of Durham County Council’s area planning committee have
STAFF from a building society’s branches in two market towns will don their combat gear for a ten-mile charity hike next month. Armed forces charity Help for Heroes will benefit from the stunt by workers at the Yorkshire Building Society’s outlets in
PRINCESS ANNE will visit a charity shop in a market town during a two-day visit to the region next week. In her role as the charity’s president, the princess will meet volunteers at the Save the Children shop, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, next
HIGHWAYS bosses have abandoned unpopular plans to divert hundreds of vehicles a day from the A1 through the middle of Leeming Bar during the ongoing construction works. Contractors working on behalf of The Highways Agency, which is delivering the scheme
DIAL M for Murder and Wait Until Dark are among the thrillers also written by Frederick Knott and this, Ian Dickens’ penultimate production in the Civic’s summer repertory season, is as intriguing as either, with an amusing twist at the end.
CAMPAIGNERS fighting against a £4.5m mushroom factory expansion have collected 160 names on a petition opposing the scheme. Greyfriars UK, based in Wath, near Ripon, wants to extend its facility despite locals’ concerns. The company, which has international
THE writers at Coronation Street are never short of a steamy storyline or two. With summer now upon us, it’s only fitting that things are hotting up on the famous cobbles. A secret romance between Kevin Webster and his best mate’s wife, Molly
MATHEW and Julie from Billingham have just noticed that they have some rather large tadpoles, with well-developed back legs in their garden pond. They were surprised as they have a few goldfish in the pond and assumed that the spawn they had in
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis, Consumer Journalist of the Year 2009, explains the pros and cons of paying off your mortgage ahead of other debts. "SHOULD I pay off my mortgage if I have any spare cash?” is a question that’s always jammed my email
To mark Deafblind Awareness Week, Health Editor Barry Nelson meets mother-of-two Helen Lessels, one of 250,000 deafblind people in the UK. AS a graduate, career woman, wife and mother of two young girls, Helen Lessels has already achieved a
THE Government is continuing to try to push through the Commons a vote to part-privatise the Royal Mail. I would ask readers to request their MPs to vote against this. The things we have learned from privatisation are that we end up paying more
HERE we go again; you won’t let me play, so I won’t let you play. Sound familiar? Yes, they are at it again. Iran chases two of our diplomats out of the country, so we do the same. How childish. Does anyone think this does any good? Although I
IF ever there was a waste of time and money it is this inquiry into the war in Iraq. It all started with George Bush being told that US oil supplies and reserves were too low for comfort. Dissident Iraqis got the ear of US Vice-President
SO, now we have a new Speaker, a man apparently committed to reform of the House of Commons and the eradication of sleaze. Unfortunately, he himself is heavily tainted in financial irregularity, having “flipped” his main and constituency homes
JOHN Riseley is a little impatient when he expects consultation to have started by now on electoral reform (HAS, June 20). He must be aware that there are far more pressing matters at present. Electoral reform was an issue Tony Blair tried to
SO, Bill Morehead believes UK citizens should be pleased to be contributors to the European Union (HAS, June 22). Let us remember we contribute £4.6bn each year and that’s going up to £7bn. For 12 years, EU auditors have refused to sign off the
I’VE often said that if our political lords and masters behaved themselves as well as lesser folk – as they probably think of you and me – we would all be a lot happier. Being hit by daily headlines about greed and sleaze makes you punch-drunk. So
Pop legend Michael Jackson died last night after suffering what is believed to have been a heart attack, bringing to an end a controversial life spent in the glare of the world’s media. FROM a fresh-faced young showman with the Jackson Five
Newcastle review By Tattenham TRAINER Michael Dods bagged a memorable double for the yard’s most successful owner at Newcastle yesterday. Dods, who trains at Denton, near Darlington, scored with promising two-year-old Kaptain Kirkup in the second
Today’s prospects By Tattenham GODOLPHIN’S Silk Trail appears to have been found the perfect opportunity to break her duck in the Phoenix Security Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Newcastle. The three-year-old was a big eyecatcher when staying
Understandably, the Headline Game on TFM radio was cancelled this morning. News of Michael Jackson's death took over Graham Mack's breakfast show and that was the right decision. The score was standing at 3-3 so I had a chance of winning
YORKSHIRE’S batting coach Kevin Sharp insists his side will need no lifting for tonight’s Twenty20 Cup match against Leicestershire at Grace Road. The White Rose, fresh from a 41-run mauling at Durham on Wednesday, must win to keep alive their
GARETH SOUTHGATE is keeping his fingers crossed that Mark Yeates passes a medical after Boro agreed a fee of around £500,000 to bring the highly-regarded winger from Colchester United. Yeates was on the verge of leaving the U’s last summer, only
STUART Pearce has left nothing to chance in his bid to get England past the psychological barrier of a semi-final and closer to ending an abysmal record in tournaments. Pearce has experience of bowing out at the last-four stage on penalties twice
DURHAM will not have to face Andrew Flintoff in tonight’s crucial Twenty20 Cup tie at home to Lancashire as he joins Graham Onions and Paul Collingwood at England’s pre-Ashes training camp today. His absence might benefit the visitors, however
THE chief topic of conversation in the press room this week – even the international section – is what can be done about the state of British tennis. All will be forgotten once Wimbledon is over of course, but I’d advocate two changes that could
SIMON Shaw is ready for the launch of mission improbable after completing a 12-year journey into the British and Irish Lions Test team. Shaw, believed to be the oldest Lions Test debutant at 35, will beef up a front five which contains just two
HARTLEPOOL’S Jemma Lowe was left disappointed at the Scottish National Championships despite claiming gold in the 100m butterfly. Lowe claimed top spot on the podium in a time of 58.41 seconds, which was over a second quicker than Nova Centurion
TO a chorus of ‘c’mon Aussie’ Lleyton Hewitt proved little could trump large at Wimbledon. It’s seven years since Hewitt triumphed at the All England Club but he arrived this week both unseeded and unfancied. In contrast second round opponent
KEVIN Pietersen expects to enter this summer’s Ashes series fully fit after making encouraging progress in his battle with an Achilles injury. Pietersen has been troubled by the problem that initially surfaced in the Caribbean this winter and
THE Northern Echo's late team did a great job in dealing with the breaking news about Michael Jackson's death last night. The paper looks great this morning. The Northern Echo, The Sun, Daily Mirror and Daily Mail were all able to "splash" the story
A MARINE engineering firm has signed its first contracts with Chinese-based companies after a trade visit to the Far East. Billingham-based corrosion engineering company Global Anodes UK will supply corrosion- prevention equipment to several
GLOBAL manufacturers are meeting in the region to discuss how industries must adjust in the recession. Delegates from 37 countries are attending the annual Faim (Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing) conference from Sunday, July
THREE North-East councils could be ordered to pay out millions of pounds after a tribunal ruled they had discriminated against male workers. At Middlesbrough Council, there are up to 120 claims, with the final bill being estimated in the region
A YOUNG woman has admitted attempting to carry out a robbery at a convenience store armed with a replica semi-automatic weapon. Rachel Rosemary Baines made the admissions on her first appearance in the case at Durham Crown Court yesterday, only
A WORK of art celebrating the mining heritage and ongoing regeneration of a North-East city has been been unveiled. The semi-transparent steel sculpture of two human heads – one looking inwards and one looking out – has been built around a
A GOURMET North Yorkshire food business has received orders for thousands of its luxury cakes and puddings from national retailers. Lewis and Cooper, which has its kitchens in Northallerton, has received orders from kitchenware specialist Lakeland
THE suppliers of Britain’s oldest spa water have secured a contract with two major golf tournaments. Harrogate Spa Water has signed a deal to become the official water supplier to the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links
A NORTH-EAST engineering company has won a sevenyear contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide pressure washers to Army and Navy operations around the world. Ruck Engineering has already worked with the MoD, most recently on a five-year
THE FTSE 100 Index was dragged into negative territory yesterday as insurance and mining stocks weighed heavy on the market. An early rise on Wall Street in another day of gains after the Federal Reserve’s upbeat outlook on the economy failed
PAY deals have fallen to their lowest level on record, averaging 1.3 per cent, following a “collapse” in wage rises in private firms, research has revealed. An analysis of 232 settlements in the three months to May revealed that increases for
THE former boss of TV Apprentice candidate Philip Taylor is looking for trainees of his own. Estate agent George Robinson is looking for four apprentices to teach about the housing market. Mr Taylor, 29, from West Cornforth, County Durham, achieved
A HYDRAULICS firm is taking on staff after expanding. DR Hydraulics and Engineering, in Washington, Wearside, is to take on a welder, three machinists and a part-time administrator. The company was set up in 2005 by managing director Mark Dunville
SCORES of workers at Birthdays stores across the North-East are expected to lose their jobs, despite a deal to save part of the firm. Parent company Clinton Cards yesterday announced it had bought back 196 of the 332 Birthdays stores it placed
CONVICTED killer Dennis Scott yesterday won his latest court battle, after being cleared of threatening to damage a neighbour’s car. Following the not guilty verdict, delivered by a jury at Durham Crown Court, the former gangland figure said he
PLANS that could lead to 62 wind turbines on seven sites within a six-mile radius could be investigated by the Government, if a local MP gets his way. Phil Wilson is calling for the intervention because he believes the plans represent excessive
MUCH of the region is in the grip of a childcare crisis, it was claimed yesterday – with new Government rules likely to make it worse. Eight local authorities have suffered a worrying slump in the number of registered childminders since the start
WHEN Daniel Reeves found himself homeless at the age of 16, he could have easily gone down the wrong path in life. But his passion for football kept him focused and a year later, he is celebrating being the only football player from the North-East
A SADISTIC paedophile who repeatedly abused a young girl was yesterday jailed for life by a judge, who told him: “The facts of this case fall into the category of the most serious.” Stuart Cairnes attacked the girl at his home in Middlesbrough
SUNDERLAND will consider raising the roof after the club launched their bid for host city status, should the Football Association be successful in their efforts to land the World Cup in 2018. Sunderland is one of 15 cities, including Newcastle
ON Wednesday evening, Andy Murray opened a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his recent success at Queen’s Club, and wishing him luck for the Wimbledon Championships. Twenty-four hours later, and he produced a straight-sets win over
IT was nothing more than a formality that the creditors of Darlington Football Club would accept administrators’ proposals to move the club into a new era through a Company Voluntary Arrangement. We have every sympathy for those creditors who have
NEW Darlington Football Club manager Colin Todd is ready to unveil his playing squad after the Quakers took another step towards exiting administration. The club’s creditors yesterday accepted the administrators’ proposals and it is expected
DAVID CAMERON stole another march in the expenses scandal yesterday by announcing that Conservative MPs are repaying £250,000 of “disproportionate” claims. The Tory leader said the move was in stark contrast to Labour and the Liberal Democrats
A TELESCOPE of giant sunflowers looking into a bright blue sky was unveiled as the first image of the region’s latest piece of public art yesterday. Futurescope, at Darlington’s Lingfield Point business park, is a two-year outdoor exhibition
POLICE are appealing for calm among teenagers in a North-East town after a fight broke out between scores of members from rival gangs. Two boys were badly beaten after being ambushed by up to 30 youths in a park in the West End of Darlington on
BRAVE youngsters who have battled disabilities were recognised as little stars yesterday. Disabled children from across the region were honoured at The Children’s Foundation Stars Awards, held for the first time at the Riverside Ground, the
MAIL workers will be balloted today about industrial action over a transfer of work in the region. Ballot papers will be sent to 300 Communication Workers Union members at Darlington Mail Centre over the move to Tyneside. Branch secretary Brett
HOPES were high last night that workers who staged unofficial strike action at a North-East biofuel plant may this morning return to work after news that a resolution over the Lindsey oil refinery crisis was likely to be agreed. More than 1,000
A WONDERDOG who instinctively knows when his owner is about to pass out has been certified the country’s first type two diabetes “hypo alert” dog. Tinker, the border collie, has saved the life of his owner, Paul Jackson, several times, including
STEELMAKING on Teesside was dealt another hammer blow yesterday after it was revealed that more than 400 jobs are to be lost at four Corus plants. And there was more bad news last night as the group’s parent company, Tata Steel, warned it was
