STEVEN Mitford was elected onto Whessoe Parish Council on Thursday night after emerging victorious in a three-horse race. Councillors on parish authorities are usually co-opted when a vacancy comes up, but a by-election was called after a petition was
Time flies. It's ten years this summer since my friend and colleague Ian Weir died, aged 38, soon after I became editor of The Northern Echo. In tomorrow's edition of The Northern Echo, there is a piece by Health Editor Barry Nelson,
Trevor Close has been over from Australia for the past five weeks or so, but sadly, his trip comes to an end next Wednesday when he returns home. Family and friends have organised a leaving ‘do’ for Trev, to be held tomorrow night (Friday 17th
SPANIARD Manuel Angel Jiminez holds a one shot lead after the opening round of The Open Championship. Jiminez carded a six-under-par round of 64 to open up a one shot lead over former champions Tom Watson and Ben Curtis. The 45-year-old, who has never
COLIN TODD has trialists Paul Arnison and Mark Donninger in his squad to face his old club at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena this evening. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has named his strongest possible starting line-up with the likes of
STEVE BRUCE has named a 21-man squad to face Darlington with Dean Whitehead's name a surprise omission. The former Sunderland skipper is close to sealing a move to Stoke City and has not travelled for tonight's game at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena
A HEAD teacher who has led his school through a number of changes during 16 years at the helm will retire today. Jim O'Neill, principal of Carmel College, in Darlington, was honoured on Thursday during end of term mass ahead of his final school day on
A VOLUNTEER-RUN disco for disabled adults is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The Monday Club at Woodhouse Close Church in Bishop Auckland has helped adults with additional needs enjoy a vibrant social life since its inception in 1979. Jane Armstrong
SUNDERLAND have released ticket information for the club’s opening day fixture at Bolton Wanderers. Season ticket holders can apply for tickets via the new online system at www.safc.com/tickets or by completing an application form, available from the
A photographer who teaches art in Colombia has been showing striking snaps of her experiences in the country. Sarah Genner, of Willington, in County Durham, says her exhibition, El Colombian Dream, shows a true picture of the colourful world of capital
The weather has, until now, been excellent and full advantage has been made of it at Durham Moor, with all internal tournaments having been completed. In the ladies singles Nicola March proved too strong for Susan Pyner in the final and in the mens
Hartlepool United have had a second bid accepted for Cork City duo Colin Healy and Denis Behan. After a bid of 100,000euros was rejected last week, Pools have gone back with a second offer, which was this afternoon accepted. The pair will now head for
DARYL MURPHY'S move to Hull City has broken down after the striker failed to agree personal terms. The Tigers agreed an initial fee of £1.5m rising to £3m with the Wearsiders for the player earlier this week and spoke to the 26-year-old today
BUSINESSES in Bishop Auckland are launching their own business advice forum with a free information event. Consett businesswoman Sadie the Bra Lady is offering advice on beating the recession when she speaks at the first meeting next Wednesday. (july
CLEVELAND Police will tomorrow launch its biggest operation of the year to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Operation Tornado is a joint initiative by the Cleveland force and community safety partner agencies to address problems affecting neighbourhoods
RESIDENTS will be able to meet their local firefighters at a special BBQ this weekend. Coulby Newham Fire Station, Brickley Way, Middlesbrough, will be opening their doors to the local community on Saturday, from 11am to 3pm.. The aim of the day is
REDCAR and Cleveland Council's libraries will be hosting a range of fantasy-themed events during the summer holidays. Highlights include a week of Harry Potter activities and competitions from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 25. There will also be
CASH-strapped people in Middlesbrough could be thrown a lifeline now a Money Advice service has secured £500,000. As part of a five-year project to improve access to legal advice and help, Middlesbrough Council is expanding the financial service to offer
Wendy Acres asks about the Pierremont ice house she has heard was in the Brinkburn Dene near her house in Craig Street. Vera Chapman in her book Rural Darlington says of Pierremont: "A large fish pond was in a curve of the Cocker Beck. Next to it lay
Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu after an up-surge in cases, the Government announced today. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said there had been 26 deaths in England and three in Scotland. And the Government
AN MP has paid a visit to a climbing centre as part of a celebration of Government-funded youth activities. Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods visited the Durham Climbing Centre, in Meadowfield, and tried her hand at the boulder wall and met some
A NEW director has been appointed to head a leading Methodist study centre. Barbados-born Rev Dr Calvin Samuel is to take over the running of the Wesley Study Centre, part of St John’s College, Durham University from September 2010. The father-of-two
THE medals earned by a former commanding officer of the 1st battalion the Green Howards have been donated to the regimental museum by his widow. Audrey Styles, the wife of the late Colonel Harry Styles OBE, visited the museum in Richmond with her daughter
Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing has completed his £12m move to Aston Villa. Despite suffering from a broken bone in his foot, the England man has signed a four-year deal to end his long association with his hometown club. Downing passed a medical
THERE can be no doubt that Durham have the look of champions. Helped by a spell of 8-7-1-1 from Steve Harmison, they had title rivals Nottinghamshire rocking on 54 for five in reply to 356. There were two wickets each for Liam Plunkett and Callum Thorp
VETERAN Tom Watson continues to lead the Open Championship as the opening day begins to near completion at Turnberry, but Englishman Paul Casey is hot on his heels after a blistering start. Twenty-two years after he won the Open at Turnberry following
BUSINESSES are being warned to be on the guard against conmen claiming to be selling advertising space in police publications. Over the past few weeks, police in the Harrogate area have been contacted by local firm who have received calls from people
FORECASTERS have issued a severe weather warning as heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted to hit the region tomorrow. More than 50mm of rain is expected to fall on the North-East and North Yorkshire. Experts have warned of localised flooding, with
TWO major junctions off the A19 have been closed following a chemical spillage from a tanker in Stockton. The Portrack Roundabout and all the roads leading to Wynyard Roundabout have been blocked. The chemical is thought to be a corrosive substance
I had a really enjoyable night on Tuesday, presenting the Student of the Year awards at the Education Village in Darlington. One of the brilliant award-winners was a young lad called Josh Wakeford, who wants to be a journalist. I had a good chat with
An ambitious £4.9m redevelopment for the Tees Barrage international white water course has been given the go-ahead. The scheme, funded through a partnership including, ONE north East, Stockton Council, Tees Active, Middlesbrough Council and Sport England
AN annual race which is now in its eighth year attracted a record entry for this years event. The 2009 Darlington 10k Pitstop Races attracted more than 150 runners with Terry Wall winning the main race. Last week's event at Croft Circuit
COURT action could be taken against the owner of a Northallerton site branded an ‘eyesore’ by local people. Members of the Northallerton Area Forum will be told next week that a decision on the York Trailers site will be taken by the end of
A NORTH MP has welcomed revised Government guidelines for police officers dealing with shoplifters. On-the-spot fines will now be limited to first-time offenders who are not drug users, justice secretary Jack Straw confirmed today. Earlier
ENVIRONMENTAL enforcement officers dressed as dogs to make people who allow their pets to poop in public aware that in future they will be fined. Durham County Council officers went ‘walkees’ in Stanley, County Durham, to warn dog owners that from next
GRAEME STORM failed to make the most of the calm conditions at Turnberry and golf writer PAUL FRASER was there to witness where it went wrong on day one at The Open. HOLE 1 354 yards, Par 4 His long iron from the tee at 7.03am found the light rough
CRIME in the North-East was down last year - but drug offences were up, new figures show. An annual report released today by the Home Office reveals that there were 205,402 reported crimes in 2008/09 - eight per cent fewer than the previous 12 months
DURHAM failed by one run to gain a fourth batting point, which they had looked uncertain about pursuing as they also wanted to build as big a total as possible for Steve Harmison to bowl at. In trying to score that run Liam Plunkett fell to the final
MORE than 600 people have signed a petition calling for a community centre and playing fields to be saved from possible development. Residents of Belmont, Carrville and Gilesgate Moor are demanding Durham County Council does not build a proposed academy
GRAEME STORM cut a frustrated figure at Turnberry this lunch-time after failing to make the most of the perfect Open Championship conditions. Storm failed to recover from making bogeys at the third, fifth and ninth and walked off the Ailsa course disappointed
CHERIE Blair has been forced to cancel several engagements after falling ill with suspected swine flu. Mrs Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, is understood to have been told she has the virus earlier this week. Doctors
A VIRTUAL computer model of the port at Whitby is to be created - to pave the way for a new harbour pilots training programme.. South Tyneside College has won a contract with Scarborough Borough Council to create a new 3D computer simulation of Whitby
Tomorrow was going to be a really good day... I'd been invited to sample the superb new golf course at Rockliffe Hall, at Hurworth-on-Tees, near Darlington, in the morning, followed by a nice lunch. Then, later in the day, I was invited
A newly formed breakfast club is being piloted this week at Moorside Community Technology College in Consett. ‘Freshly Squeezed’ was initially opened for girls only, but they have now decided to invite the boys to come along in the hope that it will
MOTORISTS are facing major disruption on the A1(M) following a crash involving five vehicles this morning. A police spokesman said road closures were in effect following the accident on the northbound carriageway, between the Bradbury and Bowburn interchanges
A BREAKFAST club is being piloted for children in north Durham. Freshly Squeezed was initially opened for girls at Moorside Community Technology College in Consett. But now they have now decided to invite the boys to come along in the hope that it will
Jim Broadbent and Rupert Grint discuss acting out the last days of Hogwarts with Steve Pratt. FRANCHISE newcomer Jim Broadbent had a happy reunion on the set of the latest Harry Potter movie. He and Tom Felton, who plays Harry’s long-time adversary
A MAN has been eliminated from inquiries after police searching for missing chef Claudia Lawrence released images of a bus passenger man they wanted to talk to. Officers said the man was seen boarding a service in York early on the morning of March
La Roux, fronted by 21-year-old Elly Jackson, is enjoying chart success and have announced an autumn tour taking in Newcastle University. ANOTHER month, another new female artist. Fresh on the heels of Little Boots and Lady GaGa – with Florence
POLICE cordoned off a road in Bishop Auckland this morning after reports a house had been petrol bombed. Railway Street was closed off as forensic investigators gathered evidence and a man has been apprehended in connection with the incident. The alleged
Steve Pratt talks to Emma Watson, best known as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, about the perils of premieres. SOONER or later it happens to every movie star – a bad hair day, a zit or a wardrobe malfunction. And you can bet your
A DROP-IN event, aimed at offering residents of a market town advice on reducing crime, is being held tomorrow. Residents of Bedale and its surrounding villages can chat to crimefighters at the street safe surgery, which is being held in the mobile
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Jim Broadbent, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Julie Walters, David Thewlis, Helen McRory, Robbie Coltrane, Timothy Spall, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, Jessie Cave
Kate Whiting talks to Anna Friel about being a mum both on and off screen as she enjoys the A-list life. IN the 17 years since Anne Friel achieved stardom in Brookside, she’s tried her hand at movies and US TV stardom. While her role in Pushing
WHAT’S ON: Tonight Issie Barratt and Steve Waterman with Voice of the North, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 01388-602610 CD REVIEWS: Derek Nash/Snapshot (Jazzizit Records JITCD0951) Derek Nash impressed everyone when he appeared with Dave Newton at
HE recorded 280 songs for Musicor and once made an album in three hours “a practise that violated the Musicians Unions’ rules… it’d be at the pressing plant the next day”. The words of superstar George Jones whose output was phenomenal and gave
Master Shortie: Dead End THE performer is merely the latest in a long line of London artists who are hoping to hang on to Dizzee Rascal’s coattails and portray themselves as the sound of the capital’s underground. That’s ironic, given that
WHAT’S ON: Sage Gateshead, A Night at the Oscars, Northern Sinfonia and Carl Davis, 7.30pm, tomorrow. Box Office: 0191-433-4661. REVIEWS: Shostakovich Symphony No 4 (BIS-SACD-1553) Mark Wigglesworth’s conducting the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic
He keeps his clothes on, but singer Nikk Mager tells Steve Pratt about enjoying the challenge of Here Come the Boys! NIKK Mager is resigned to being known as the man who made Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole cry. The West Yorkshire-born singer’
Jan Ravens tells Viv Hardwick that she’d rather be funny than dramatic as her debut tour heads for Darlington Arts Centre. COMEDIAN Jan Ravens has created a debut solo tour around her amusing impersonations of everyone from MP Anne Widdecombe
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL 1 (2) Gran Torino 2 (-) Marley And Me 3 (-) The International 4 (1) Slumdog Millionaire 5 (-) The Young Victoria 6 (3) Revolutionary Road 7 (5) Seven Pounds 8 (10) The Wrestler 9 (6) Valkyrie 10 (-) Bronson
STACEY Branning’s behaviour is going downhill faster than an out-of-control bobsleigh in EastEnders (BBC1). She’s obsessed with the identity of her former lover Mad Max’s new lover. Who’s kissing him now?, she wonders. To her horror, she discovers
THE wave of Sixties nostalgia shows no sign of tiring and riding high is this twee-sounding effort from Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, inspired by a popular compilation album. So, somewhere in Essex in 1961, we’re bopping to the songs which
Pregnancy – My Big Decision (BBC3, 9pm); Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey (BBC2, 8pm) THIS is one of TV’s surprise hits. Who’d have predicted that a series about three elderly policeman would’ve survived five seasons with the audiences topping nine
ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been passed fit for the second npower Ashes Test against Australia at Lords, the ECB have confirmed. The news comes a day after Flintoff accepted defeat in his battle with injuries and announcing his
I SIT here sweating with disappointment verging on anger pouring from my brow. Yes, this despatch should really be about Pierremont - and there's lot more to say on that score. But I've just cycled in to work. I do differentish routes
EVER since my mum bought me my first tennis racket, and I hit a ball for hours against the wash-house wall, I’ve been transfixed by Wimbledon. I haven’t missed a final since 1972 when my first tennis idol, Ilie Nastase, lost in five epic sets
THE sportswear chain controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley today reported a profits dive of 91 per cent despite seeing UK revenues top £1bn. Sports Direct International, which trades as Sports World and Field & Trek, said currency effects
The time the Iron Lady came to Spennymoor on Wobbly Thursday and Winston Churchill dropped in on Barnard Castle are both recalled in premier league publications. THE day that the Iron Lady failed to get her way, or her whisky, is recalled in
WHILE Councillor Brian Avery gives himself and Durham County Council a huge pat on the back for their splendid work (HAS, July 9), can he explain, against all public opinion, why, this wonderful unitary authority awarded a contract costing £24,000
POLITICIANS are not renowned for comments which lighten up the public’s perception of any given situation. Sadly, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has only reinforced my opinion that this trait is endemic in some politicians. He says: “Our soldiers
ONE of the saddest things about the closure of pubs is the loss of their names. They are names that go back a long way, often centuries, and they each tell a story. Sometimes the story is clear enough. Thus pubs called The Red Lion are named after
WHAT is happening to our hospital, the Friarage in Northallerton (Echo, July 14)? The children’s services are running down, the baby unit is having problems and the accident and emergency services are being restricted. It looks to me, as an outsider
THE Banks Group is to produce a new public park near its Shotton opencast mine near Cramlington (Echo, July 2). A 112ft-tall sculpture called Northumberlandia, the Goddess of the North, is to be the centrepiece of the park, providing a beautiful
I HAVE walked all the dogs me and my parents have had for years along the Haswell to Hart walkway in County Durham. About four years ago, it was made part of the national cycle network. Most of the time my dog is very obedient on and off the lead
NOW that some improvements are being done in Northgate to the row of property where it is known that Edward Pease, the “Father of the Railways” lived, it is opportune to determine exactly where his house was. He lived there from 1798 to 1850.
Failed to strike lucky in the Headline Game on TFM radio this morning. The story was about a bloke in Southampton who built a replica of an oil rig out of four million matches. Our headline was "Oil be blowed". It's got the oil and the match connections
WOULDN’T it be preferable if the worrying phrase “swine flu” was merely called “pig flu”, reducing panic at a stroke. How many deaths are known to be attributed to pig (swine) flu, as compared to deaths from ordinary flu? Let’s have some perspective
AN air of anticipation matches the true verve and vivid sounds of the brass bands. A day away from the treadmill and the uncertainty that surrounds the social and economic landscape of the North-East. The 125th Durham Miners’ Gala continued to
WE all get junk mail, inviting us to sign up for a “free gift” – only to find we then get sent other useless, costly items that we do get charged for. I was reminded of such scams when I looked at the small print of the Home Office’s invitation
FA inspectors visited Sunderland and NewcastleGateshead this week to size up their claims to be part of England’s 2018 World Cup bid. Deborah Johnson assesses the potential impact on the North-East if one, or both, of the region’s bids is successful
THREE months ago, the Prime Minister gave the North-East an injection of optimism when he acknowledged that regular flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport to London are “incredibly important”. It was a strong signal that the Government understands
Forgotten Voice made quite an impression when breezing to victory at Royal Ascot and can take the next step up the ladder in Doncaster’s Clumber Park Hotel & Spa Conditions Stakes. The four-year-old has had plenty of problems during his short life
TWO years ago, Padraig Harrington’s son, Ciaran, was asking his daddy whether he could put ladybirds in the Claret Jug. Earlier this summer, the same Ciaran went missing after running into some long grass, and when his father asked where he
AS the threat of showers receded and the sun shone on Trent Bridge yesterday Durham captains past and present made title rivals Nottinghamshire pay for their amazing decision to field first. Given the threat that Steve Harmison might be available
YORKSHIRE threw away the opportunity to win their first match in six weeks during last night’s Pro40 League Division One match against Worcestershire at New Road. The Tykes looked well on course to chase down 191 when openers Jacques Rudolph
AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting hopes his side can benefit from the Ashes series turning into an Andrew Flintoff roadshow. All-rounder Flintoff’s revelation that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of this current campaign could disrupt
NEWCASTLE UNITED say there is no truth in claims Joe Kinnear will be back as the club’s manager after reports claimed Mike Ashley had asked the 62-year-old to return five months after he stepped down because of heart problems. The club issued
PETER CROUCH arrives on Wearside today with Steve Bruce hoping to persuade the England striker to choose Sunderland over Fulham. After both clubs agreed to pay Portsmouth £12m for his services, Crouch will be shown around the Stadium of Light
COLIN TODD is expected to play trialists Darren Williams and Paul Arnison against Sunderland tonight. The experienced duo have both been training with the Quakers this week in the hope of landing permanent moves to The Northern Echo Darlington
STEWART DOWNING will become the highest profile product of Middlesbrough’s Academy to quit the club after he agreed terms with Aston Villa on a £12m switch. Villa manager Martin O’Neill, who tried to sign the England international last summer
SANDY LYLE’S spat with Colin Montgomerie has dominated the build-up to this year’s championship, and the row continued to rumble on yesterday. Lyle has effectively accused Montgomerie of cheating when he appeared to take an incorrect drop from
GRAEME STORM’S fourth visit to Turnberry is a far cry from his first. Fifteen years ago he slept in a tent on a nearby campsite with two school friends. Today he will be among the fourth group to tee off at this year’s Open championship. On his
RORY McILROY will lead the British charge when the 138th Open Championship tees off at Turnberry today, and the in-form Northern Irishman is ready to end a ten-year wait for a domestic champion. Scotsman Paul Lawrie became Britain’s last Open
PUPILS reaping the rewards of their gardening work welcomed a famous green-fingered visitor to see their handiwork. Top TV botanist David Bellamy was the guest of honour at the opening of a new school garden at St Anne’s Primary School in Bishop
TRIBUTES have been paid to a renowned moth and butterfly expert who devoted much of his time to helping children enjoy wildlife. Michael Mann, who also took a keen interest in bats, insects and spiders, died in hospital on Saturday, June 27,
AN eight-year-old girl was left traumatised after an indecent assault by an elderly man while she was walking her dog. Detectives believe other dog walkers in the area could hold the key to identifying her assailant. The incident took place in
HIVES AND HONEY County honey and wax Class 26, Two 1lb jars of medium honey: 1 D Shannon, Doncaster; 2 A Woodward, Doncaster; 3 A Jefferson, Whitby. Championships and special prizes Best honey exhibit: D Shannon, Doncaster; Reserve, A&R Brocklehurst
Female kids Class 817, Anglo-nubian: 1&2 V Hardy, Kirkby in Ashfield; 3 L Maughan, Bp Auckland. Class 818, Saanen: 1 C Newton, Spennymoor; 2 P Newton, Yarm. Class 819, Toggenburg: 1 L Weedy, Northallerton. Class 820, British saanen: 1 E Woodmass
Other modern pedigree breed Class 301, Boar, born 2009: 1 J Walton, Backford; 2 C Horsley, York. Breed champion and reserve: J Walton, Backford. Other traditional pedigree breed Breed champion: C Cook, Scarborough; Reserve, C Turner, Pudsey.
Ayrshire Class 161, Cow, in milk, born after 2004, not in milk with first calf: 1 Dowager Marchioness of Normanby, Whitby; 2 G&B Stevenson & sons, Saltburn. Class 165, Pair of animals by same sire or out of same dam: 1 Dowager Marchioness of Normanby
Aberdeen Angus Class 19, Heifer, born 2008-9: 1 T Rennie, Angus; 2 J Gilmour & Co Ltd, Macmerry; 3 T&P Johnson, York. Junior champion: J&V Brooks, Great Smeaton; Reserve, B Ronan, Appleby. Champion male: J&V Brooks, Great Smeaton; Reserve, R Quayle
Other pedigree native breed Class 500A, Ram, shearling or over: 1 J&A Bulmer, Malton; 2 E Stokeld, Middlesbrough; 3 L Mead, Leighton Buzzard. Class 503A, Shearling gimmer. 1 E Stokeld, Middlesbrough; 2 Watson & Grain, Kettering
Clydesdale Class 38, Colt or stallion, yearling or over: 1 P Bedford, York; 2 J Young, Ayr. Class 39, Mare, three years or over: 1 Walker & Brown, Ayr; 2 J Adamson, Stirling; 3 H Emerson, West Aukland. Class 40, Gelding, three years or over: 1
Fancy (adult) Class 1, Dutch, black/blue: 1 S Swales, Yarm; 2 S Sproson, Wetherby. Class 9, Tan, black: 1 D Medlock, Nottingham; 2 Albany Stud, York. Class 13, English, black/blue: 1 Kettlewood & Sharp, Wakefield; 2 S Dixon, Consett; 3 J Swales
RURAL businesses have growing confidence in their economic future, according to a survey released at the show. Sir Henry Aubrey Fletcher, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said: “The rural economy is, on the whole,
SUNSHINE, blue skies and a record number of livestock entries have helped make this year’s Great Yorkshire Show one of the best yet. People of all ages and backgrounds turned out yesterday to enjoy the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the
UNIONS criticised the head of Corus’ parent company last night after he refused to rule out further job cuts. Corus has cut 5,500 jobs across its operation this year as it battles to overcome a fall in orders during the recession, including 428
THE go-ahead for one of the world’s largest wood-burning renewable energy plants yesterday formed the North-East centrepiece of a wide-ranging Government announcement aimed at prompting a low carbon economic “revolution”. Plans for the £500m biomass
A DECISION on whether a huge offshore wind farm comes to the North-East will be announced by the end of the year, The Northern Echo has learnt. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) confirmed that the site at Dogger Bank – about
MILK producers must receive a realistic price if the British dairy industry is to survive, a union leader has warned. Gwyn Jones, chairman of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) dairy board, said all involved in the sector must work together to
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl has described her trauma after being attacked by a gang of teenage girls. The victim, who did not want to be identified, was left bruised after being punched and slapped in a sustained attack as she walked home with a friend
THE future of a North-East ship repair firm has been secured after it was bought for an undisclosed sum. A&P, based in Hebburn, South Tyneside, and also Middlesbrough, has been taken over by the Cardiff-based Bailey Group. Its manager, Paul Bailey
LONDON’S blue chip share index raced 2.6 per cent ahead yesterday as stocks benefited from upbeat corporate news and recovery hopes on both sides of the Atlantic. An early session surge on the US Dow Jones Industrial Average also helped the
JOBS could be at risk after a garage door firm went into administration. The Cardale Group owns Cardale Properties, Cardale Doors, Wessex Garage Doors and Bowburn Limited, which employs 78 people in Bowburn, County Durham. The group, which manufactures
A NORTH-EAST party firm is seeing business boom as people look to keep spirits high during the economic downturn. Xtreme Entertainment UK (XE UK) has seen corporate event bookings double in the first half of the year compared to the same period
AN appeal to restore one of the world’s most iconic locomotives has steamed past a major milestone. The National Railway Museum, in York, launched a £250,000 appeal earlier this year to put the Flying Scotsman, pictured right, back on the tracks
A WEATHER radar station that will provide more accurate forecasts and an earlier warning against flooding has gone live. The £1m station in High Moorsley, near Durham City, constantly sends and receives signals and “reads” rainfall data in 25,000
MODELS wearing little more than body paint yesterday helped a North-East racehorse owner launch a fashion fundraiser – aimed at helping sportsrelated charities. Fashion For A Good Cause will hold its first fundraising day at Newcastle Racecourse
MUSIC fit for a president set toes tapping yesterday as primary school children joined in one of the region’s biggest musical events. Chicago-based band the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – favourites of US president Barack Obama – played and led music
THE North-East will be hardest hit by the inevitable public spending cuts that will follow the recession, a leading Tory has claimed. On the day that official figures revealed the North-East to be losing jobs faster than all but one other UK
GORDON BROWN insisted yesterday that British troops in Afghanistan were getting the equipment they needed, and denied the recent increase in deaths had been caused by a shortage of helicopters. Earlier, the head of the Army, General Sir Richard
ONE of the greatest servants of North-East sport was at Buckingham Palace yesterday to receive an honour from the Queen. Peter Warburton, director of sport at Durham University, was awarded an OBE for services to sport and higher education.
CHILDREN investigated the mystery of an abandoned suitcase as part of a school project. Youngsters from Sacriston Junior School, in Sacriston, County Durham, became investigative journalists after finding the suitcase on a beach in Tynemouth
MORE than half the schools in County Durham have reported at least one suspected case of swine flu, according to council officials. Education chiefs have not had to order any further closures across the North-East and North Yorkshire, but have
A COUPLE who fear an 11-year-old boy they adopted will kill them unless he receives special residential treatment are still waiting for help – three weeks after their plea hit the headlines. After the story appeared in The Northern Echo, it was
A FANCY dress party was held to celebrate the release of the latest Harry Potter film. The Empire Theatre, in Consett, County Durham, held the pre-movie party featuring fancy dress, non-alcoholic cocktails and spooky lucky dips. Children then
BUSINESS leaders hit out at the Government last night in the growing row over costly green taxes which they claim will close regional airports. Just weeks after Gordon Brown said regional flights were vital to the North-East’s economy, Transport
SOCIAL Services in the North-East have been forced to take on extra case workers after being inundated with calls about possible child abuse in the wake of the Baby P tragedy. The news comes as a damning report identified worrying gaps in NHS
EXPERTS from the US have been called in to help save the last remaining stones which built Durham Castle. The castle was built more than 900 years ago as a fortress against invading Scots, but has failed to keep out the English weather and its
