Archive

  • Blyth Spartans 1 Darlington 2

    Blyth Spartans 1 Darlington 2 COLIN Todd will run the rule over another couple of trialists during the forthcoming friendlies with Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, but the Darlington boss admits the club’s budget could rule out any

  • Would you pay £90,000 for a bit of rock?

    There's a fascinating story in tomorrow's paper about a meteorite which was found near the White Horse of Kilburn in North Yorkshire. The Hambleton Meteorite was discovered by meteorite hunter Rob Elliott, who is keeping the exact location of the find

  • Putting football in perspective

    This is a time of year when the world of professional football is at its craziest, with obscene amounts of money being exchanged for the best players. It is only a few weeks since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid for

  • BREAKING NEWS: Sunderland land South American defender

    PAULO Da Silva has become Steve Bruce's second signing of the summer at Sunderland. The Paraguayan centre-back, who is captain of his country, has signed a three-year deal after turning down Tottenham. The 29-year-old has had previous spells

  • Club Update…

    I was away on holiday last week, so I missed the meeting at the club. For any of you that haven’t read today’s paper, here’s Helen Smithson’s report. Several members have come forward to join the club’s committee, and have started drawing up fundraising

  • Synod members pray for missing Claudia

    CHURCH leaders have expressed their sadness at the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence. Members of the General Synod have been meeting at York University, where 35-year-old Miss Lawrence works as a chef at Goodricke College. Martin Dales

  • Sad farewells at school speech day

    A SCHOOL has bid a sad farewell to two teaching stalwarts who have helped develop young minds for two decades. Barnard Castle Preparatory School has seen the retirement of both its headmaster Ted Haslam and director of studies Chris Lane, who saw

  • YMCA team tackle Great North Run

    BARNARD Castle YMCA is entering a team in the Great North Run for the first time on September 20. Eleven runners who include staff, trustees and supporters are using the race to raise money for the charity. Sponsor them on www.justgiving.com/YMCABarnardCastle

  • Telly talk for council tenants

    COUNCIL house tenants will soon be speaking to their landlords over a high-tech link called Tellytalk. The new, free system covers the former Wear Valley district and links Crook Civic Centre with Dale & Valley Homes staff six miles away in South Church

  • Great Yorkshire Show visitors urged to leave cars at home

    VISITORS to the Great Yorkshire Show have been urged to leave their cars at home when they travel to the event in a bid to reduce congestion and queues. The 151-year-old show, which starts tomorrow, attracts more than 120,000 people over three days each

  • Drug house closed

    A CRACK house closure has been ordered for 1 Ketton Road, in Stockton, as it was being used by drug dealers. The property was boarded up on Friday. Five people, three women and two men, were arrested with possession of a class A drug with intent to

  • Fire warning issued over unattended cooking

    FIRE chiefs are warning residents not to leave cooking unattended following a spate of fires in Hartlepool. Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Hartlepool district manager, Dave Turton believes it is only a matter of time before a member of the public or a firefighter

  • Claudia neighbour hits out after police 'ransack' his home

    A NEIGHBOUR of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence has hit out at police who searched his house as part of their investigation, claiming they left it ‘ransacked’. Blake Beresforde, who lives two doors away from Claudia, has also said he feels

  • Giving a tree a hug

    CHILDREN have been measuring trees in hugs, during a woodland visit. Youngsters from St Hild’s College CE (Aided) School, in Durham, adopted the unconventional tree girth measuring technique during a trip to Low Burnhall farm, on the outskirts of the

  • Thousands flock to country and game fair

    THOUSANDS of people flocked to a popular Teesdale country and game fair over the weekend. The two-day event, at Raby Castle in Staindrop, featured an array of rurally themed attractions and animal pursuits. It was the first time the event had been

  • West Auckland set for carnival celebrations

    THE West Auckland carnival takes place on Saturday. The event, which is held yearly on the Village Green, will be officially opened by councillors Andy Turner and Rob Yorke at 1pm, followed by a carnival queen parade and fancy dress judging

  • Yorkshire v Durham (4th day, tea)

    DURHAM rubbed Yorkshire’s noses deep into the Headingley dust today and by tea they were the only side with a chance of winning. After being set a target of 287 in 55 overs, Yorkshire slipped from 47 without loss to 63 for three with Ian Blackwell

  • Olympic hero visits school to teach about healthy living

    AN OLYMPIC silver medalist visited a pupils at a school in North Yorkshire as a reward for winning a competition about healthy eating. Leon Taylor, a silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 10m synchronised diving, visited Terrington

  • Nurses celebrate 60 years of training at the Friarage

    A CELEBRATION was held to mark 60 years of nurse training at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton. More than 120 Friarage trained nurses came from as far afield as Australia to remember their days as junior nurses at the special lunch, organised by

  • Brian May backs Northallerton musical

    A GROUP of schoolchildren got an unexpected boost during preparations for their end-of-term show - an email of support from one of the musicians that inspired it. Children at the Applegarth Primary School, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, have been

  • Unlawful killing verdict on car chase tragedy

    AN INQUEST jury has this afternoon returned a verdict of unlawful killing on Billy Forrest, the father of two who died when his car was hit by a stolen 4x4 being chased by police on the A1(M) in County Durham. Barry Taylor was being pursued

  • Locks of reasons to back charity

    A TEENAGER is to have his hair cut for the first time in three years, to raise money for charity. Since his last cut in March 2006, Alex Biggs’ hair has grown to 18 inches in length. A wash and dry takes the 13-year-old up to four hours to complete.

  • Seriously ill children will not be admitted to Friarage

    MEASURES to deal with patients needing accident and emergency treatment during a hospital staffing crisis have now been put in place. Children's and some maternity services will close at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton from Friday to October 26

  • Tributes to tragic biker

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a grandfather who was killed in a motorcycle accident earlier this month. John Crampsey, from Ayton, in Washington, on Wearside, died after his white Suzuki motorcycle was in collision with a pick-up truck on the A59, between

  • Work starts on new garden

    GREEN-FINGERED residents are preparing to get their hands dirty this summer, as work begins on a new garden development. Local company Green Onion Landscaping has teamed up with housing tenants and staff to celebrate the first removal of turf

  • Controversial 24 hour serving bid by Thirsk pub

    A PUB in a rural village is looking to extend its opening hours to serve customers 24 hours a day but it has attracted criticism. The Carlton Bore, at Carlton Husthwaite, near Thirsk, has entered the application with Hambleton District Council. Licensee

  • £800,000 in grants for Durham & Darlington

    I am Chief Executive of County Durham Foundation, the community foundation serving Durham & Darlington. We were set up in 1995 and since then have given out over £15 million to community groups in the local area on behalf of our donors.

  • Appeal over attack outside social club

    A MAN suffered a suspected fractured eye socket when he was involved in a fight outside a social club at the weekend. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident outside Newton Aycliffe Workingmen's Club, in Sheraton Road, Newton Aycliffe, County

  • Advice issued for hospital closures

    MEASURES to deal with patients needing accident and emergency treatment during a hospital staffing crisis have now been out in place. Children’s and some maternity services will close at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton from Friday (JULY

  • Suspected stolen good recovered

    POLICE are hoping to reunite power tools and other suspected stolen goods with their rightful owners. The tools, along with socket sets and fishing equipment were recovered in the Durham City area on Thursday. Beat officer PC Graham Ling said it is

  • Fence thieves are warned

    THIEVES are putting children's lives at risk by stealing fencing from the side of a busy road. Highways officials believe the metal mesh panels may be being stolen from the side of one of the region's busiest dual carriageways to make animal pens and

  • Get fit for charity

    A TEESSIDE leisure centre is hosting a two-hour fitness event in aid of a local charity. The open-to-all event will take place at the Rainbow Leisure Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, on July 17, to raise funds for the Teesside Hospice.

  • Beauty of the beast

    Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be a fan, Paris Hilton still is and Ashley Cole has a mini-one. Hummers are huge in both senses of the word. But are they any good on Yorkshire mud? Joe Willis finds out. AS a rule, farmers do baler twine and wellies,

  • IT’S a mucky job mostly, working on a mooing cows

    Young Farmers are not necessarily known for their sartorial prowess, but a crop of coutureclad rural lads will be leaving their wellies at home this week and heading for the catwalk. IT’S a mucky job mostly, working on a farm. Long

  • Brain injury event

    A SUPPORT group for people who have suffered brain injuries is to hold an activities day on Wednesday, July 15. The Durham and Chester-le-Street branch of Headway, which provides help for the rehabilitation and reintegration of people with brain injury

  • Last orders

    The Street (BBC1, 9pm); The Great London Jump: Robbie Maddison (five, 7.30pm); Only Connect (BBC4, 8.30pm). AWISE man once said that there isn’t a film, TV show, stage production or nativity play that couldn’t be improved by a Bob Hoskins cameo

  • Don't forget Arlott

    IT was nice to read such an interesting piece about Neville Cardus, the most famous cricket writer of all, in Harry Mead’s review of Robin Daniels’ book, Cardus: Celebrant of Beauty (Echo Books, July 7). Cardus was good, but he didn’t have things

  • Afghanistan

    YET again hundreds, if not thousands, of people line the streets to watch the return of more dead soldiers from Afghanistan. Would it not be better if they took to the streets to protest against this futile, useless, unwinnable war. This

  • Geopark access

    HAVING recently moved to Stanhope, County Durham – part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is also designated as one of only 33 geoparks in Europe – I am enjoying exploring the area. Unfortunately, my husband and I

  • Headline Game

    A bad start in this week's Headline Game on TFM radio. The story was about two women fighting over the affections of a Space Shuttle pilot. It all turned very nasty. Our headline - "Lust in space" - should have been good enough for a

  • Bankers

    BENEFIT claimants (among the poorest people in the country) earn a few bob on the quiet to make ends meet and, when caught, get the book thrown at them. Senior bankers, having brought the economy down, still get paid millions and now they’re

  • Alan Milburn

    REGARDING recent letters about Darlington MP Alan Milburn. Besides his numerous jobs, he is one of the highest claimants for expenses among the North-East’s MPs – more than £620,000 in the four years from 2004-05 to 2007-08 as well as his salary

  • Bypass dangers

    I CAN only agree with GN Bull (HAS, July 6) about cars being driven with headlights on in the middle of the day as I have noticed this, too. But what I would like to know is this: why do certain drivers put themselves and others in danger when

  • Tuition fees

    THE Government is up to its ears in debt and already the Tories are talking about cuts in expenditure. The Government, on the other hand, says nothing about cuts at the moment, but it has its ways and means. We now learn that under Government

  • Pensions

    PRIVATE sector occupational pensions have been exposed to market conditions for some time, and while the hits do not ever hurt the top people, it has been noticeable that public sector workers seem to be exempt. In my last years of employment

  • Wind turbine turns school green

    A TEESSIDE school has gone green thanks to a new wind turbine. The 200w turbine was won by pupil David Saddington, 16, for Blakeston School. It has been erected in the eco garden, which produces fruit and vegetables and has a herb wheel

  • Redcar's future

    I AM a frequent visitor to Redcar and have to agree wholeheartedly with your letter from C Constance, a visitor to the town from Bishop Auckland (HAS, July 7). Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council plans to spend £30m on transforming the seafront

  • Policing public spending

    IT took us a while to get round to having Freedom of Information laws in this country. Britain got them in 2000 – 244 years after pace-setters Sweden. But it’s certainly been a case of better late than never. Not only has it led to us finding out

  • Dead good

    The young wizard and his tutor, Dumbledore, share emotional scenes in the new Harry Potter film. Offscreen, Steve Pratt finds that the actors who play them, Daniel Radcliffe and Michael Gambon, enjoy a much more relaxed relationship. THEY

  • Dukes North-East ECB premier league

    DURHAM’S teenage county starlet Scott Borthwick spiked Chester-le-Street’s hopes of staying on top of the table with an unbeaten century for Tynemouth, who have been struggling this season. The Cestrians took over as table toppers a week ago but

  • The need to ‘crack on’

    IT is inevitable – and it is right – that the involvement of British troops in Afghanistan is questioned and reexamined whenever another soldier is killed in action. And when 15 of our brave men are lost in the space of ten days, the calls for

  • Marton’s season promises plenty as they regain top spot

    Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League AMBITIOUS Marton are on course to carry off all four major honours in only their fourth season as a Premier League club after a golden fortnight in which they have put one cup in the trophy cabinet

  • Extra police on city street

    EXTRA police are being drafted in to patrol a centre of a city’s nightlife over the summer to tackle "yob culture". Over the coming weeks, more patrols will be mounted in North Road, which is one of the busiest streets in Durham City after dark. Police

  • Flannery makes his mark

    HURDLER Niall Flannery added the Aviva English Track and Field School Championship to his growing list of honours this weekend and immediately vowed to conquer Europe. The 18-year-old made light work of his rivals in Sheffield to claim the 400m

  • Long jumper Tomlinson has his work cut out

    THIS weekend, Chris Tomlinson was competing in the Aviva UK Championships, hoping to secure a place in next month’s World Championships in Rome. Last week, however, the Middlesbrough- born long jumper had a much tougher task – he had to teach

  • Cats ready to break transfer record for Crouch

    SUNDERLAND are confident of pulling off a record-breaking move for Peter Crouch after landing their first signing of the summer. Fraizer Campbell, the Manchester United striker, has signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light to complete

  • Olympian claims Bupa Great North 10k victory

    OLYMPIAN Kate Reed marked her first outing since last summer’s Beijing Games by winning the inaugural Bupa Great North 10km title in Sunderland. Reed, who competed in the 10000 metres in China carrying an Achilles injury which later required

  • Tomlinson prepares for Berlin in style

    MIDDLESBROUGH long jumper Chris Tomlinson continued his Berlin World Championship preparations in fine style by landing gold at the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham at the weekend. With fierce rival Greg Rutherford missing

  • Fredriksen heads for Vic

    JON ANDRE Fredriksen last night ended his career in Norway – and today heads for Hartlepool United. The left winger played 62 minutes on his farewell appearance for Sarpsborg in their 2-2 draw with Sogndal. Pools are reported to have paid just

  • New boy looks to impress

    MARK Yeates was impressed by the number of full internationals at Middlesbrough’s training ground last week, and the ambitious Irishman hopes to have joined the club’s list of cap winners by the end of next season. Having completed a £500,000

  • Kaymer hails win as special

    GERMAN Martin Kaymer won the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond yesterday to complete a brilliant eight-day double worth more than £1m. After beating Lee Westwood in a play-off for the French Open the 24-year-old came from behind on the final

  • Ashes call for quickies

    DURHAM could be without both Graham Onions and Steve Harmison for their topof- the-table clash with Nottinghamshire starting at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. Following England’s embarrassing performance at Cardiff, they could turn to Harmison to

  • Convery pleads for chance

    MARK CONVERY feels he is a better player now than when he left Darlington four years ago and wants manager Colin Todd to give him the opportunity to prove it. Convery, who has spent the last week on trial with the Quakers, is expected to figure

  • Webber finally ends Australia’s bleak grand prix run

    AT LEAST one Australian emerged triumphant yesterday as Mark Webber finally savoured the sweet taste of Formula One success. Today’s meal with close friend, Australia captain Ricky Ponting, will not be as celebratory as planned after the cricketers

  • Thrilling contest evenly balanced

    IT was cricket for the connoisseur at Headingley yesterday, and there are plenty of those up North. Led by the redoubtable Dale Benkenstein, Durham were at their most attritional and boundaries were as rare as Fred Trueman long hops. But the

  • How the drama unfolded

    1116: Kevin Pietersen (eight) misjudges an outswinger from Ben Hilfenhaus and sees his off-stump knocked out of the ground within 20 minutes of the start of play. England 31 for three. 1144: Captain Andrew Strauss (17) gets a thin top edge to

  • American Evening

    An American themed evening was held last Friday. The main feature was Wii 10-pin bowling using the village hall's big screen and overhead projector to simulate a full size bowling alley. Combined with burgers, bangers (well hot dogs

  • Unlikely lads secure shock opening Test draw

    LAST-WICKET pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar delivered a defiant unbroken partnership to secure a thrilling draw for England in the opening Ashes Test. Dominated by Australia for the majority of the match in Cardiff, England delivered

  • Ponting unhappy with the stalling tactics of England

    ENGLAND salvaged a dramatic draw in Cardiff as the first npower Ashes Test was embroiled in controversy during a tense finale. There had already been clashes between players on the fifth day when Australia captain Ricky Ponting was incensed

  • Five victories in a row

    THE 50th running of the John Smith’s Cup was run in front of a packed crowd at York on Saturday, and bargain buy Sirvino came home in front an easy winner, ahead of joint favourite Kingdom Of Fife. Sirvino was bought by Maunby trainer David

  • Bargain buy Sirvino proves worth at York

    SIRVINO completed his rags-to-riches story by taking his unbeaten record this season to five in the 50th John Smith’s Cup at York. Thirsk trainer David Barron paid just £3,000 for the horse as a yearling at Newmarket and the gelding has now won

  • Heroics give England a boost

    JAMES Anderson believes England will take confidence out of their final-day rearguard as they secured an unlikely draw against Australia in the opening npower Test at Cardiff yesterday. Last pair Anderson and Monty Panesar defied Australia’s

  • Ex-Black Cat plans to make Magpies swoop

    HAVING sold their shares in Sunderland earlier this year, Irish businessmen Charlie Chawke and Louis Fitzgerald are putting together a bid to buy Newcastle United. Chawke and Fitzgerald, who own a string of pubs and bars in the Dublin area, were

  • Briers to launch restoration project

    ACTOR Richard Briers will launch a £3.5m theatre restoration project today. The actor, famed for his role as Tom Good in The Good Life, who is also the patron of Newcastle Theatre Royal, will unveil the start of restoration of the Grade I-listed

  • Find a flu friend, says NHS

    PEOPLE are being urged to find a “swine flu friend” as part of their preparations should they fall victim to the current pandemic. With the number of cases increasing rapidly, the NHS has moved to treatment phase from containment phase as part

  • Retiring to help his sick granddaughter

    A POSTMAN has retired after 36 years to help look after his granddaughter, who is suffering from leukaemia. Trevor Russell has stepped down as postman in Hurworth, near Darlington, to assist his son and daughter-inlaw, Andrew and Kirsten Russell

  • Lifeguards rescue two drinkers

    TWO men were saved from drowning off a North-East beach over the weekend. They were spotted in difficulty after jumping off Roker Pier, in Sunderland, at about 4pm on Saturday. RNLI Lifeguards helped one man from the water using a rescue board

  • City diary

    FIGURES on inflation and unemployment will give the latest snapshot of the UK economy, while updates are also due this week from retailer Sports Direct and pubs group JD Wetherspoon. The parent group of Sports World reports finals on Thursday

  • Little Chef seeks more openings in the North

    ON-THE-UP restaurant chain Little Chef is hoping to open more restaurants in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The company’s chief executive, Ian Pegler, said he would like to have more than the seven restaurants presently in the region,

  • Shooting victim fears for life after bungled police inquiry

    THE victim of a shooting fears for his life after a bungled police investigation led to the case being thrown out of court. Father-of-two Joe Clarke had 150 shotgun pellets embedded in his back after he was attacked on his doorstep. Five people

  • Fighting talk from threatened club

    MEMBERS of a social club under threat of closure are attempting to raise thousands of pounds to reduce its debts. The crisis-hit Cockfield Workingmen’s Club, near Bishop Auckland, must pay about £44,000 to the Inland Revenue by the end of September

  • Creamery worker rises to the top

    A FORMER trainee has been appointed to a top management position at the dairy where she began her career more than 30 years ago. Judy Brennand has been made technical manager at The Wensleydale Creamery, in North Yorkshire. She has responsibility

  • New name for care company

    A SOCIAL care company started in the North-East in the Fifties has rebranded. SureCare has become Heritage Healthcare, following a takeover by Glenn Pickersgill, from Darlington, last year. The business sends almost 100 carers a day into hundreds

  • Returning to the line of fire

    A PENSIONER who was given the last rites when he fell ill during the Second World War will return to the battlefield where he fought for four months. Bill Blewitt, of Bulmer Square, Darlington, is one of 43 veterans in the North-East to receive

  • Return service a rail success

    DOZENS of car and rail enthusiasts visited the Weardale Railway over the weekend to see the return of steam to the line. The 33-tonne steam locomotive No 40 hauled trains between Stanhope and Wolsingham for the first time since being repaired

  • Wind farm approvals ‘too slow’

    COUNCIL planning departments should share the blame for the region failing to meet renewable energy targets, it is claimed today. The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), the trade and professional group for the UK wind and marine renewable

  • Sixteen fundraisers share bicycle ride for charity

    CHARITY fundraisers took to the streets of the North-East at the weekend on a 16-seater bicycle. Four teams of 16 fundraisers took on the challenge to boost funds at Teesside Hospice. The bike ride took approximately one hour to complete, with

  • Father’s tribute to tragic biker

    THE father of a motorcyclist who died in an accident over the weekend has paid an emotional tribute, saying “the world was a poorer place without her”. Mother-of-one Alison Maughan, 47, from Chilton, County Durham, was involved in the accident

  • Suicide banker feared losing job after prank

    A BANKER who leapt to his death from an eighth-storey rooftop restaurant feared he would lose his job after playing a prank at work, it has been reported. Oxford graduate Anjool Malde, whose parents, Naina and Bharat, live in Yarm, near Stockton

  • A show of solidarity at gala

    A QUARTER of a century after the end of the miners’ strike, those dark days and the feeling of brotherhood they engendered were remembered at the 125th Durham Miners’ Gala. Tens of thousands of people basked in glorious sunshine as brass band

  • Medals for Territorial Army soldiers after Afghan tour

    TERRITORIAL Army (TA) soldiers collecting medals for their service in Afghanistan have paid tribute to their fallen colleagues. As a platoon of TA soldiers from the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment were presented with operational service medals

  • PM’s rallying call after darkest day

    PRIME Minister Gordon Brown last night tried to rally faltering public support for the war in Afghanistan after the Army suffered its worst death toll in a single day since the campaign began. Eight soldiers in Britain’s offensive against the