A MAN had to be recovered by firefighters after becoming trapped under a metal vessel, thought to weigh several tonnes. The incident happened around 6.45pm last night at an unnamed premises in the Church Road area of the Portrack Lane Industrial
A STAFFORDSHIRE bull terrier had to be freed from a pipe by firemen tonight. The incident at 6pm happened at Church Street, Byers Green, near Spennymoor. Around 45 minutes later the dog was released using various pieces of equipment. Do you know whose
It never ceases to amaze me what people do in their spare time. David Reynolds, 51, from Southampton, has spent the past 15 years making a replica of the Brent Bravo oil rig out of four million matches. Why? It's a good question. Anyway, that's the
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” is the title of new research published by the Australian National University. It is reported that the study identifies factors that lead to couples separating and based on the couples tracked these include : Wizened
A GYMNASTICS club is out to prove age is no barrier by launching beginner classes for adults. Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will hold adult gymnastics sessions on Saturdays, from 2.30pm to 4pm. Voluntary group Jayenelle
A COUNCILLOR has criticised a local authority for failing to inform residents about road works. Mamie Simmons, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Newton Hall, Durham, said she was disappointed Durham County Council had not delivered leaflets to homes
A teenager with cystic fibrosis was awarded for his commitment to training at a south Durham college last week. Friends and family gathered at Bishop Auckland College’s sports hall to applaud the work of students and staff at an awards ceremony. Painting
THE Transport Secretary yesterday told the owner of Durham Tees Valley Airport to stop whingeing about 'green' taxes, adding: 'You're doomed if you don't pay your fair share'. Lord Adonis poured scorn on claims by Peel Airports Group that rising
A VICTIM was threatened and robbed of £50 after befriending another man on a night out in Hartlepool. Police are appealing for witnesses following the crime on Sunday, June 5. The two men returned to the victim’s home in Central Buildings
EXPELLED pupils are on course to be taught in a first class school, plans the building have revealed. Members of the public are being asked for their views on proposals for Ashdale Pupil Referral Unit, proposed as part of Middlesbrough’s £100m Building
UNIVERSITY chiefs have denied a dire warning that scores of jobs are under threat in cuts that would affect thousands of students. The University and College Union (UCU) said higher education is in the midst of a crisis as the recession affects
A NATIONALISED rail company will operate trains on the East Coast Main Line for at least a year, the Government has admitted. Transport Secretary Lord Adonis told MPs that a national operator stood ready to take over from National Express.
TWO men who stole second hand goods destined for charity shops planned to sell them at a car boot sale, a court heard. James Gardner and Allen Powell took plastic bags from the doorsteps of people who had filled them with unwanted clothing, handbags
WORK on a new play area in Chilton will start on Monday. The £135,000 transformation of the site will take approximately five weeks to complete. Chilton Town Council is warning residents there could be some noise and disruption while
WILL Smith and his predecessor as Durham captain, Dale Benkenstein, were not going to look a gift horse in the mouth today. Coming together after Durham had slipped from 44 without loss to 63 for three, they knew they had to cash in on Nottinghamshire
IT was sweet 16 for a school headgirl last night when she celebrated her birthday by being crowned prom queen. Hayley Moohan was among four teenagers crowned at Hurworth School’s end-of-year leavers’ prom. • View Photo Gallery
THE appeal to restore one of the world's most iconic locomotives has now steamed past a major milestone. The National Railway Museum launched a £250,000 appeal earlier this year to put the Flying Scotsman back on the tracks. And now
FORMER Beach Boy Brian Wilson had enraptured fans dancing in the aisles. In fact, the only person who seemed not to be having an absolute blast was the great man himself. Wilson – lead songwiter, arranger and singer with the Sixties supergroup
Who Do Think You Are? (BBC1, 9pm) Dragons’ Den (BBC2, 9pm) Ugly Betty (C4, 10pm) IT’S often best to take a deep breath before diving into the murky depths of your family’s dim and distant past. After all, even the mostdecent of citizens
THE appeal to restore one of the world’s most iconic locomotives has now steamed past a major milestone. The National Railway Museum launched a £250,000 appeal earlier this year to put the Flying Scotsman back on the tracks. And now donations to the
Every town has its story. Morganville is run by the undead! Being a fan of supernatural novels and TV shows such as ITV2’s, well ‘Supernatural’, I had to take this one from the bookshelf. Claire Danvers is at the bottom of the popularity scale
YOUNG performers are being invited to attend a summer holiday arts project to create a theatre production in just one week. Studio Un-scene will teach children aged from eight to 16 in dance, drama, singing, music technology, film, photography, costume
Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted he and his team were "a little bit surprised" by the announcement Andrew Flintoff will retire from Test cricket following this summer's Ashes series. The 31-year-old Lancashire all-rounder confirmed
A SCHOOLGIRL can march to the beat of her favourite songs after winning a portable music player. Becky Scott, a pupil at Sunnydale Community College, scooped a state of the art iPod touch at an Army careers event. Presented by Serjeants
A COMMUNITY centre credited with reducing disorder on a housing estate has received a cash windfall to keep up its good work. Ferryhill Town Council has donated £800 to the Ladder Centre on the Lakes estate, in Ferryhill. Town mayor Eileen Martin
A MULTI-million pound scheme that should reduce the risk of flooding to hundreds of homes and businesses will finally get underway this summer. But the cost of the Ripon project has risen to £14.4m from the £11.7m that was first predicted by the Environment
MODIFICATIONS to Darlington's cafe culture are expected to be made by councillors this week. A full meeting of Darlington Borough Council will discuss slight changes to the policies of the town's pavement cafes. A report to be put before the council
A PRIMARY school has won a top arts award for a third consecutive time. Croft Primary School has been credited with an Artsmark gold award for the work it does across a range of arts. The award lasts for three years. It is the third time the school
THERE can hardly be more contrasting occasions in racing from Royal Ascot to a quiet Wednesday afternoon at Lingfield but it could be a change for the better for Tudor Key. Under a month ago, Amanda Perrett’s representative was a 100- 1 shot for the
US OPEN champion Lucas Glover admits he has a long way to go to challenge Tiger Woods on a regular basis but becoming a major winner has changed his mindset. The unheralded 29-year-old beat a host of stellar names to the title at Bethpage last
IAN POULTER’S first experience of Turnberry almost saw him escorted off the premises, but he hopes his last could see him lifting the Claret Jug as Open champion. "I’ve never seen the course before. I turned up at ten o’- clock on Sunday night
READING this morning's article on Pierremont prompted John Ellerton of Cockerton to ring. The deeds of his house in Willow Road show that the first owner of it in 1928 was a Walter Fell Pease who paid £950 for it. Is there any connection between Walter
TIGER WOODS and Padraig Harrington have shared the last four Open titles between them – but that is where the similarities appear to end going into this week’s championship at Turnberry. Harrington is still trying new things in his swing and
Matthew Hoggard could be set for a return to Yorkshire’s one-day side when they begin their Pro40 League campaign under lights against Worcestershire at New Road tonight. The 32 year-old former England seamer has been out in the wilderness as
DURHAM will have skipper Will Smith back for the crucial game at his old Trent Bridge stamping ground, starting today. Smith missed the draw at Headingley because of a family illness but returns at the expense of Kyle Coetzer, who went straight
MARTIN Johnson has justified his decision to select Jonny Wilkinson for England’s elite squad by claiming the injury-plagued ex-Newcastle fly-half can return from his latest setback better than ever before. Wilkinson, 30, was included as one
MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Danny Coyne has warned team-mate Brad Jones he has not come to the Riverside to be content with a place on the bench. Coyne completed a free transfer from Tranmere Rovers at the start of last week, and is hoping to make
A WOMAN who claims she was pinned down by a sex attacker told a jury yesterday: “I thought he was going to rape me.” The alleged victim of Carl Henry revealed how she pleaded with him to get off her after he had ripped off her underwear and exposed
A MANUFACTURING and training company based in the North-East has broken into the lucrative Middle Eastern energy market with a series of major new contracts. Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS) has secured three new deals in Kazakhstan, Georgia
A CONFERENCE centre being built in the region will open by the end of this year, creating jobs and pumping its profits into the community. The Xcel Conference Centre on Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is due to open in
A UNION has issued a stark warning about more children falling into poverty should a Corus steel plant shut. The Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant, at Redcar, in east Cleveland, could be mothballed if a buyer for its steel is not found, threatening
THIEVES who are repeatedly stealing fencing from a busy roadside are being warned that they are putting lives at risk. Metal mesh fence panels between the A19 sliproad at Seaton and an open space used by young children have been removed three times
THE founder of one of the region’s most successful engineering companies has been honoured by his home-town university. John Wood, who set up Tolent in 1983, has been awarded an honorary doctorate of business administration by Sunderland University
A COMPANY that came to the rescue of a flood-hit North- East town is looking to break the £1m turnover barrier. Disaster recovery specialist Rainbow International saw last year’s turnover soar to £600,000 after being “inundated” with work to help
TRAINER design company MES Footwork is creating what is believed to be the world’s first range of trainers made from recycled clothing. And already, only weeks after launching the Threads to Tread service, MES Footwork founder Matt Scott is in
Cosmetic surgery should not be taken lightly. Ask the family of Denise Hendry. IN London last week, I spotted posters on the underground encouraging people to “Get ready for summer with cosmetic surgery”. Since when did a major operation suddenly
From spiders to runaway criminals, this week’s column has definitely got legs. Incey wincey spider climbed the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain Incey wincey spider
SOME in the media, including Peter Mullen (Echo, July 7), are ignorant and prejudiced about Michael Jackson. Allow me to try to re-educate Mr Mullen: 1. Jackson’s genius was recognised by his peers from an early age. 2. He broke through
A WEEK in bed with suspected swine flu is a sure fire way to find out how very caring people can be! I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the number of very kind readers who’ve contacted me by letter, email, text and telephone to wish me well
RAY MALLON has highlighted one of the ruses that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has used to extract revenue from unsuspecting drivers (Echo, June 12), I would like to mention another one. A normal old-style paper driving licence
TONY KELLY’S comments (HAS July 6) are not only stupid but dangerous. To condone torture shows he is totally brain dead. If you torture 50 men about the same crime they would all admit to it and fabricate a place where they had dumped a body that
I PARKED in Yorke Square, Richmond, at 11.30pm on June 19. I could not read the information notice next to the ticket machine as it was dark and the machine is not lit. Rather than parking in front of a drive, garage, or on double or single yellow
THE grim news about the deaths of eight British soldiers in a single day in Afghanistan is a terrible tragedy for the families and friends who have lost a loved one. We are told that part of the mission in Afghanistan is to bring governance and
THE ARGUS Singers have marked the retirement of their conductor David Harris with a special concert. David Harris, 57, led the choir for the last time at a well-attended event at the Chester-le-Street Methodist Church at the weekend. Among
THE Rotary Club calendar showing naked middle-aged men may be an innovative fundraiser, but have you considered the negative effect on the social capital of Darlington (HAS, July 3)? Everyone who knows any of the posers will spend the next few
SINCE the first Ashes Test turned out to be a cliffhanger*, with Durham’s Paul Collingwood the chief cling-on hero, let’s linger awhile with cricket. I venture a second innings – hopefully not a follow-on – to my recent review of a book celebrating
THERE was a time when the conflict in Afghanistan was the forgotten war. With al Qaida apparently on the run after the initial routing of the Taliban in 2001, and with all eyes on Iraq following the allied invasion of 2003, precious little
As the bodies of eight more dead soldiers are flown home from Afghanistan, Nigel Burton asks what has gone wrong with the war on terror in Helmand? IN April 2006, as British troops were deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the then Defence
THESE are the two brothers who died after a car they were travelling in plunged 30ft down a ravine. Andrew and Nicolas Davies died following the collision on Hartley Lane, Whitley Bay on Thursday, July 9. A statement released by the family said: "We
It's a strange, strange world sometimes. I've been sitting at my desk, reading the accounts in this morning's papers of the heartbreaking homecoming of the eight British soldiers killed within 24 hours of each other in Afghanistan. As well as a front
CHILDREN and parents will be encouraged to get their hands dirty this summer as part of a rural play project. Five villages will be getting visits from the Hambleton and Richmondshire play team through the school summer holidays – Scotton,
PUPILS from Bedale High School took part in an eight-mile sponsored walk to raise money for school funds. The entire school - almost 600 pupils - took part in the event yesterday, with many pupils arriving in fancy dress. After a breakfast of barbecued
STEWARDS with more than 200 years of show duty between them were presented with awards. They included husband and wife Beryl and Rob Andrews, with 27 years’ stewarding in the hive and honey section, and Christopher Curtis, of Bedale, North Yorkshire
A PIECE of history has returned to the show after decades-old medals from the event were discovered. Eight medals from the show’s forestry classes were found in a polythene bag at a former Yorkshire Water depot. The medals, which date from the
A HOUSEBUILDING company has teamed up with a primary school to highlight the benefits of walking to school. Yuill Homes’ Denewood development in Seaham, is next to Murton Community Primary School in Seaham, where school children walk past daily. So
DURHAM has formally launched its bid to be named the first UK City of Culture. Bosses at Durham County Council moved quickly to trumpet the strengths of the countywide-bid after the Government formally launched the scheme yesterday. Council chief
FUN DAY: The village of Tholthorpe, near Easingwold, holds its annual fun day this weekend. The village green will the centre of events, with a fancy dress parade, football game and plate smashing, as well as tombola, cakes and afternoon teas. The
SAILOR Sir Robin Knox- Johnston was at the show yesterday to unveil a seafaring attraction. Sir Robin, who in 1968 became the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, was viewing the Hull and Humber clipper yacht, which will race around
A JURY has cleared a police officer of unlawful wounding after he was accused of repeatedly punching a suspect in the face during an arrest. But it was revealed last night by police bosses that PC Simon Atkins could still face disciplinary measures
STEWART Downing is on the verge of joining Aston Villa after Middlesbrough accepted a £12m offer for the England international. Downing, who is currently recuperating after a foot operation in the summer, is expected to travel to the Midlands
THOUSANDS of people lined the streets yesterday to pay their respects to eight British soldiers killed during the Army’s bloodiest 24 hours in Afghanistan. As the bodies were flown home, the families of the fallen men, three of whom were teenagers
A £500m biomass power station on Teesside has been approved by the Government. The Redcar plant, operated by MGT power, will supply around 600,000 homes in the North-East with electricity. The plant will create 600 jobs during the three
COLIN TODD has challenged Darlington’s youngsters to earn themselves a big-money move away from The Northern Echo Darlington Arena next season. Todd has promoted four former youth-team players to his senior squad – Danny Groves, Danny Riley,
HABIB BEYE and Jose Enrique have become the latest players to criticise the ongoing confusion at Newcastle United, but with takeover talks stalling because of the size of the club’s overdraft, it increasingly looks as though Mike Ashley will still
KENWYNE JONES expects to be leading the line for Sunderland next season – even if Peter Crouch completes a £15m move from Portsmouth. Pompey have turned down two Sunderland’s offers, but just as Bruce is considering making a third bid for Wigan
ON Sunday, the Friends of Bedale High School held a summer fair, which included an ‘old boys’ versus students and staff cricket match. The winning students and staff team, captained by headteacher Graham Turner, received a silver salver, sponsored by
FORMER England captain Michael Vaughan has urged Kevin Pietersen to embrace his attacking instincts for the remainder of the Ashes. Vaughan, who captained the side to Ashes success in 2005 before eventually retiring as a player earlier this
AUSTRALIA paceman Peter Siddle has no intentions of calming himself down when the 2009 Ashes series heads to Lord’s, the traditional home of cricket. The 24-year-old Victorian, in his first Ashes series, took only two wickets in the drawn opening
ENGLAND have admitted they are concerned about Andrew Flintoff’s long-term future as an international allrounder as he battles to recover from a recurrence of knee problems to prove his fitness for the second Ashes Test. The 31-year-old all-rounder
ENGLAND coach Andy Flower feels Australia captain Ricky Ponting "made a meal" of perceived stalling tactics during the final afternoon of the first Ashes Test. Ponting was left less than impressed by England’s decision to send on 12th
THE BODY of a man reported missing from home was found at a beauty spot near the North-East coast last night. Police said the body was identified as that of Adrian Welsh, a 37-year-old self-employed plasterer, who was last seen at the house he shares
THE TEENAGE girl rescued from a reservoir after becoming entangled in dinghy rigging has died in hospital, police confirmed today. Victoria Wilkinson was in a critical condition in hospital following the tragedy which took the life of her father, 52-
THE East Coast Main Line must stay in public hands for up to 15 years to prevent a repeat of the National Express fiasco, MPs demanded yesterday. And Directly Operated Railways – the publicly-run company being set up to manage the key route
A PARAMEDIC who diverted an ambulance to a depot instead of taking a dying man to hospital has resigned, it was announced yesterday. Ali Asghar, 69, a father-of-four from Stockton, died of a suspected heart attack shortly after arriving at the
REPRESENTATIVES of Sunderland’s World Cup 2018 bid team hope the formation of a North-East “super bid” will help their chances of making it onto the final list of English venues. A delegation including councillors, football club officials and
THE mother of a severely disabled teenager who died after contracting chickenpox has paid tribute to her daughter. Rachael Dodd, 16, from Shildon, County Durham, caught chickenpox earlier this month, and was admitted to Darlington Memorial
PARENTS were last night urged not to panic as a North- East village primary school was forced to close after an outbreak of swine flu. Education officials gave permission to close High Coniscliffe Primary School, near Darlington, early for the
MOTORISTS in the North-East are the most likely to drink-drive, figures show. According to the 2009 RAC Report on Motoring, one third of motorists in the region have driven while over the legal alcohol limit. The figure is the highest
THIS week's Echo Memories is about Pierremont, the wonderful mansion and grounds to the north of Darlington. I was asked to write about it by residents who live in Tower Road where the Pierremont clocktower still stands. Perhaps the most
