A SOLDIER who was killed by a blast in Afghanistan was today hailed by comrades as 'the complete package'. Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was killed in an explosion as he tried to clear a path in an area south
ONE of Steve Bruce's transfer targets has been shot in the head. The Sunderland boss had been tracking Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas for some time. Cabanas remains in a serious condition after undergoing surgery yesterday for the gunshot
JUST about the only thing that's certain in this life (other than death) is that one day your computer's hard drive will fail. Given the tough life they lead, it's a constant source of amazement to me that hard disks don't fall over with monotonous
THE Police and Communities Together (Pact) meetings in Teesdale have set their priorities for the coming weeks. Barnard Castle Town Pact The current priorities are: To combat snow and ice being thrown at homes, specifically in the Startforth
A NORTH Yorkshire brewer is celebrating after taking a major award. Nightmare Ale by Hambleton Ales of Melmerby, near Thirsk, won a gold medal in the Northern Beer Competition organised by the Society of Independent Brewers. Now, out of the 200 beers
A NORTH-EAST soldier told tonight how he narrowly escaped death after being shot during a fierce gun battle with Taliban. Sergeant Craig Johnson, from Middlesbrough, narrowly was shot by an insurgent in the Babaji district of Helmand province
THREE people have been arrested after a motorcyclist died following a collision with a car. Commuters faced hours of traffic chaos following the crash on A184 Felling bypass in Gateshead at 6.23am this morning. A police spokesman said a red Nissan Micra
IMPROVEMENTS are being carried out to the highways drainage in a Richmondshire village to ease problems caused by flooding. Temporary traffic signals and a 30mph speed limit will be in place at the junction of the A6108 and Sedbury Lane End, north
SHEILA THOMPSON (nee DURHAM) would like to trace her chief bridesmaid before her ruby wedding anniversary celebration. Mrs Thompson was married on February 28, 1970, when Angela Clement was her chief bridesmaid. She was last known to be living in Soho
We signed up to the High Force Residential, without knowing the friends, experiences and life lessons that we would learn. We set off on Monday 26th, with over-packed bags and overly-large suitcases oblivious to the mud, water and freezing temperatures
Darlington's League Two game at home to Aldershot Town has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 23, (7.45pm). The game was originally meant to be played ten days ago but became the fifth consecutive fixture to be postponed. Steve Staunton's side now face
Re-view of the residential On the 26th October 2009 the people who go to review and a few extras all went to High Force for 4 days. We were all wondering what it was going to be like and we all thought that we wouldn’t mix with the other people that
Burglars broke in to an unoccupied house in Staindrop, near Barnard Castle and stole a period fireplace. Police believe the burglary took place at some point between last Tuesday and yesterday (Jan 25). "The offenders would have been at the location
A DEPRESSED Post Office clerk has admitted killing his father as he lay dying in a hospital bed. Ralph Stephenson, 46, yesterday pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his father, also called Ralph Stephenson, in the University Hospital of North
THE swine flu vaccination programme in North Yorkshire has now been extended. All children over six months and under five years old across the county are now being offered protection against the virus. Most parents with children in this age group will
‘Grave of the Sacrifice’ is the long awaited first album by underground Japanese rock four-some Nega. The album was released in mid 2009. ‘Grave of the Sacrifice’ starts with track ‘Hold a Funeral’ a haunting 2 and a half minute instrumental which
Hurworth's most famous son was a bad-tempered, beer-drinking eccentric. He was also a genius. Chris Lloyd explains how everything adds up Beware of the man who will not engage in idle conversation; he is planning to steal your walking stick
DARLINGTON rally ace Guy Wilks marked his 29th birthday with a helping of points on the Rallye Monte Carlo. On his first asphalt rally in a Fabia S2000, the Škoda UK Motorsport works driver achieved the team’s goal by finishing in a strong 6th position
Disappointing news from the Audit Commission which has unbelievably concluded that local authorities are not wasting or misusing money on their own publications. The watchdog's chief executive, Steve Bundred, said few councils that publish
A FRAMED England football shirt signed by David Beckham was among a haul of football memorabilia and jewellery stolen during a burglary. Police are appealing for help in tracing the items stolen from a house in Durham City which were worth thousands
AN eight-week course exploring the region’s 17th Century history starts next week. The adults education course Newcastle In The Seventeenth Century will look at the influence which the city had on the North East. While Newcastle and its merchants profited
COMEDIAN Brendan Healy will be the among the entertainers at a gentlemen’s dinner to raise money for a hospice. The black tie event takes place at Ramside Hall Hotel, in Durham City, on Friday, May 7 in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice. Around 250 local
A MAN has denied killing a friend who went into a coma and died two years after the attack. Kieron McNally, 32, of Eden Avenue, Leadgate, near Consett in County Durham, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Geoffrey McEwen, 39, in December 2006 when he
A REQUEST is being made for ideas of work for young offenders to undertake while on probation for crimes. The North Yorkshire Youth Justice Service has youngsters aged between ten and 17-years who do the work as punishment. Over the last year 137 young
A ZERO tolerance and fines are the latest weapons set to be used in the fight against litter and dog fouling in Thirsk. Anyone spotted dropping rubbish or not cleaning up after their pet could be issued with an on the spot fine. The move comes as members
The British have a natural and well-documented fascination with the weather and a long history of meteorological endeavour in a science famous for its unpredictability. The Chinese also exhibit an uncanny obsession with atmospheric phenomenon and it
TWO employees suspected of working illegally at a Chinese restaurant have been arrested by officers from the UK Border Agency as part of a nationwide crackdown. Officers visited New Century Takeaway, in Fulwell Road, Peterlee, County Durham, where
A POCKET-SIZED guidebook to Durham has been launched to encourage tourists to stay longer and spend more money in the region. The Durham Pocket Guide 2010, produced by tourism agency Visit County Durham, was launched last week at Beamish Museum
FOUR men have been arrested by North Yorkshire Police probing an application for lottery funding by one of the world’s fastest growing sports, Rock-It-Ball. Police said the men had been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, in connection with an
RESIDENTS complaints to trading standards about short weight fuel levels from cowboy traders have soared over the winter. North Yorkshire County Council’s trading standards officers have many local reports of seemingly bargain buys turning
ARTISTS from a town media group are to hold a six-week exhibition. Members of Darlington Media Group (DMG) will each select four of their own prints to display in the Decisive Moment Gallery. The exhibition will be open to the public for six weeks from
NNational League Basketball in association with Game Time & Ravenwood Roofing. Call 01429 291793 with your roofing problems Bury Blue Devils 87-83 Middlesbrough Lions Middlesbrough Lions almost toppled 2nd placed Bury Blue Devils with an exciting
THE inevitable question has been raised after speculation that the next Darlington Debate is likely to be an election special: Should the BNP be allowed to take part? I chaired the first Darlington Debate last week, with the future of the
A MOTHER-OF-TWO who set up her own business last year hopes to enter the Dragons' Den to expand it across the region. Vicky Lloyd is en route to opening new franchises of, NE Day Crafts, less than a year after she founded the children's craft
THE mean streets of Redcar are being cleaned up by a new team of rangers. The 12 new jobs are part of a pilot scheme to provide additional services as well as street scene cleansing and a polish up, helping Redcar and Cleveland Council's Clean and Green
A LARK IN THE PARK “Whatever’s the matter,” said cock robin When he heard the sparrow sobbin’. “There’s not much the matter with him,” said the lark, “He just wishes there was less noise in the park. “He’s right,” said the crow, “we get no peace
Playing the forgiving spouse has been a steep learning curve for ER star Julianna Margulies, she tells Viv Hardwick. GOLDEN Globe winner Julianna Margulies never thought she would understand what it was like to be a publicly humiliated spouse
Philippa Weighell assumes the heavy mantle of the geisha and discovers Oriental elegance. THERE are so many misconceptions about geisha, says Jill Clay, artist, businesswoman, and lover of all things Japanese. “Many believe that they are prostitutes
AS double-bill and Americana female singer-songwriter acts go, this was one I had been looking forward to with much interest. I had not seen Anais Mitchell before and Erin McKeown, despite much acclaim, has disappointed on a couple of occasions
IF flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal? George Appleby, Clifton, York.
DES More wrote a rather puzzling letter (HAS, Jan 19). Claiming that Margaret Thatcher had inherited an appalling legacy he suggests that she made the right, but unpopular decisions. However, earlier he had suggested that John Major had to deal
SCHOOLS Secretary Ed Balls has recently stated that allowing tax breaks for married couples is “social engineering” and is against it. Research has proven that children benefit in all areas from being raised in a secure environment, which marriage
WE recently visited my aunt who is a resident at Shafto House, Newton Aycliffe – one of the seven County Durham care homes under threat of closure – and were most impressed with the standards there. Having previously visited many care homes up
Mrs Mandela, BBC4, 9pm BBC4’s new drama, Mrs Mandela, sheds light on the marriage of one of the most fascinating couples of the 20th Century, but, for once, the freedom-fighter who was imprisoned for 27 years in Robben Island Prison is not the
There is a members meeting at Cockfield Club on Thursday 28th Jan 7-30pm.
IF anything comes out of the Chilcot inquiry into the war in Iraq it must be that accurate intelligence should determine policy and not the other way round – and even more so when it puts other people’s lives at risk. Terence M Fineran, Darlington
IT is my opinion that Margaret Thatcher once said “There is no such as thing society” because she’s always lived among Southerners. They don’t have the quality of community that we have up North, I’m sure. She didn’t know any different, that’s
SINCE reading your letter, headed “Some are under real fire” (HAS, Dec 4), from Tom Benson, an ex-Staff Sergeant, Royal Signals, I have been trying to make contact with him. As honorary secretary of the Darlington branch of the Royal Signals Association
WE are constantly encouraged to make more use of public transport. However, on Thursday, January 14, my son, who is at Darlington College, purchased a single journey adult rail ticket costing £4.40 for a journey back to Northallerton. He was then
NEW figures show crime has fallen across Britain in the past year. Overall, crime has fallen an amazing 39 per cent in Seaham, County Durham, compared with the same period last year – despite predictions over recent months of a recession-linked
I WOULD like to thank the staff of Children and Young People’s Services of Durham County Council on their dealing with school closures during the recent bad weather. I rang a couple of times to ask if my son’s school was closed and always received
THE name sounded familiar when the tragic news reached us from Afghanistan. Corporal Lee Brownson, of Bishop Auckland, had been killed in a bomb blast while serving with the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles. An electronic search of his name brought up
MANY people are cautious about “Sarah’s Law” which has been trialled in Stockton, among other places, and now looks likely to be extended across the country. It is very different from “Megan’s Law” in the US, which, in some states, allows publication
NEWCASTLE are hopeful today’s race meeting gets the go-ahead, despite calling an inspection at 7.30, writes NIALL HANNITY. The six-race card is due to get underway at 1.15 and clerk of the course James Armstrong explained: “There are no problems
She has worked in fashion and advertising, but the new chief executive of a successful theatre likes nothing more than the excitement of a live show. Steve Pratt talks to Liz Wilson about the challenges ahead in these harsh economic times. LIZ WILSON
CHARIOT Charger slipped up at Taunton last month but can make amends in the Call Star Sports On 08000 521 321 Beginners’ Chase at Fontwell. A classy novice hurdler for Emma Lavelle last season, the six-year-old made a good start over fences
NORTHAMPTON will return to Limerick charged with preserving English rugby’s selfrespect in the Heineken Cup. Saints, European champions ten years ago after they beat Munster at Twickenham, face a Thomond Park rematch against the Irish giants
NEW world number six Martin Kaymer hopes his second Abu Dhabi Golf Championship title will be the catalyst to a highly-anticipated Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor this year. After winning his maiden title in Abu Dhabi in 2008, the 24-year-old
WHATEVER Tom Rock has had his Blaydon boys doing during their sixweek lay-off it worked wonders as they beat Redruth 42-10, writes TIM WELLOCK. The visitors remain one place above Blaydon in National One, but after threatening promotion last season
AFTER failing to win any of their previous six league games, this was a welcome victory for Middlesbrough. But any notion of a return to top form would be pie in the sky. The article in the match programme entitled Pie In The Park was far more
TEESSIDER Ben Spencer continued his unbeaten winter run by adding the under-13 Northern Cross Country title to his North-East crown at Blackburn. The Middlesbrough-Mandale Harrier was the North-East’s only gold medallist, beating Greater Manchester
DEFENDING champion Rafael Nadal set up a blockbuster quarter-final against Andy Murray after they both overcame big-serving opponents at the Australian Open. Fifth seed Murray produced a near-flawless display to blunt the booming serve of 6ft
Stoke City 3 Arsenal 1 ARSENE WENGER insisted he had little choice but to field a weakened side as Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup. The Gunners went down 3- 1 at the Britannia Stadium in a fourth round tie, and boss Wenger conceded
THE THREE leading sides all won on Saturday but whereas Ryhope CW and Scarborough Town enjoyed five-goal romps, just one goal proved sufficient for Cleator Moor Celtic. Leaders Ryhope were held by Houghton Town until the 47th minute but once
GUY Wilks achieved his goal by finishing in a points-scoring sixth place in the Monte Carlo Rally. The Darlington driver scored three points to make an encouraging start to his 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge in the Skoda UK Motorsport
Scunthorpe United 2 Manchester City 4 MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini insisted last night he wants record signing Robinho to stay at Eastlands – but only if the Brazilian is happy. Robinho told a Brazilian radio station that he has been
DURHAM CITY manager Lee Collings labelled Saturday’s 10-0 defeat at Boston as “embarrassing”. It was City’s second by a double figure margin this season, but Collings said: “When we lost 11-0 at Kings Lynn, I didn’t feel too bad about it, because
SHILDON have an 18th successive away tie in the FA Carlsberg Vase after clinching a fifth round place at Stotfold – and Norton have also joined them in the last 16. Shildon haven’t played at home in the competition since August 2005, but that
CAN somebody please answer a straight-forward question: how come Hartlepool United, in a 19th century bog-standard sports ground, still play matches consistently throughout the winter, no matter what the weather without hardly ever the hint of
YOUR Worst North-East Team of the Week (Echo, January 18) was unfair in that neither Darlington and Newcastle had played over the weekend. Therefore, their players had no chance of qualifying for a place in this prestigious team. I have long
GORDON STRACHAN has reaffirmed his desire to add new faces to his Middlesbrough squad. The lack of strength in depth in Strachan’s squad was painstakingly obvious on Saturday when he had to name four teenagers on his bench, with Academy players
NEW-BOY Joe Gamble believes a tightening up of Hartlepool United is essential if they are to end their current rot. Saturday’s loss at Bristol Rovers was their third in a week, and Gamble’s third loss in three games since moving from Cork City
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Leeds United 2 LEEDS striker Jermaine Beckford stole the headlines for earning an FA Cup replay against Tottenham but Robert Snodgrass also caught the eye and is now anticipating a Champions League atmosphere at Elland Road
LORIK Cana admits that Sunderland’s players are short of confidence at the moment, but the Black Cats skipper claims Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Portsmouth still represented a marked improvement from the previous weekend’s seven-goal mauling
DARLINGTON should take consolation from their improved second half showing said defender Alan White following Saturday’s defeat at Crewe. Quakers lost 3-0 with all the goals coming in a torrid opening 45 minutes in which Steve Staunton’s side
I can honestly say that getting older has never bothered me; after all, ‘you’re only as old as you feel’ and people keep telling me fifty is the new forty. Imagine my surprise then when I got in from work the other day and my wife Diane told me there
Crewe Alexandra 3 Darlington 0 WAS normal service resumed, or was it the inevitable consequence of throwing so many new players together and hardly playing for a month? A full evaluation of Darlington’s team should not be made for another few
Middlesbrough 1 Swansea City 1 WILLO FLOOD might have steered clear of using the golf course at Rockliffe Hall, but he chose the perfect time to shank his first goal for Middlesbrough and prevent a second consecutive defeat. He has had
Portsmouth 2 Sunderland 1 AFTER last weekend’s seven-goal humiliation at Chelsea, Steve Bruce promised his Sunderland players would produce “one hell of a performance” at Portsmouth. By full-time at Fratton Park, the Black Cats had been as
Bristol Rovers 2 Hartlepool United 0 THE more things change, the more they stay the same so the proverb goes; and it’s certainly applicable to Hartlepool United. Back in May they went to Bristol Rovers on the last day of the season and
KEVIN NOLAN branded the refereeing decisions that cost Newcastle a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup as “an injustice” and attacked the official for ruining another high octane encounter between the Championship rivals. Of more immediate
THE region had some of the country’s highest incidents of major fraud last year. A report by KPMG highlights the growing problem of financial fraud across the UK and concludes it was one of the most significant crimes of the past decade.
A SONG by a North-East band has been used in the soundtrack for Celebrity Big Brother contestant Alex Reid’s new gangster film. The cross-dressing cage fighter – who shot to fame after dating Jordan following her split from Peter Andre – filmed
EMPLOYERS in the North-East are being urged to help pull the region out of recession by working with young people. Young Enterprise North- East (YENE) has launched its 2020 Vision campaign to secure a commitment from businesses over the next
THE Institute of Chartered Acccountants for England and Wales Northern region is holding a conference at Redworth Hall Hotel, County Durham, from Friday to Sunday, February 26 to 28.
A PIPER has marked Burns Night and Robert Burns’ 251st birthday by playing to customers outside a high street store. Former Black Watch piper Colin Thomson played outside Lewis and Cooper, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, on Saturday. The
FOUR rural businesses who have picked up regional awards are looking forward to a competition’s grand final. An organic farm from County Durham and three businesses in Northumberland have picked up North- East titles in the Countryside Alliance
West Bromwich Albion 4 Newcastle United 2 REFEREE James Linnington hails from the Isle of Wight whose tranquil shores have a history of attracting eccentrics and misfits. Survival guru Bear Grylls has lived on the island while it’s been the home
A NORTH-EAST car sales company that counts leading businessmen and footballers among its clients is opening another showroom. Trevor Seal set up Jamber Trade Solutions (JTS) in May 2008, from his home in Appleton Wiske, North Yorkshire, sourcing
PEOPLE confronted with redundancy who are having to reconsider their career options will benefit from an event for entrepreneurs. At the Chance to Change workshop leading business figures will share their experiences and inspire people who
CAMPAIGNERS have called for North-East MPs to turn up for a House of Commons debate that could lead to children being banned from using sunbeds. Parliament will meet on Friday for the second reading of a Private Member’s Bill that could lead to
A BREAST cancer survivor and run veteran is urging other North-East women to help fight the disease by signing up for the Race for Life. Mother-of-two Tracey Walker is appealing to women to register for Cancer Research’s Race for Life to increase
AMBITIOUS plans to upgrade a popular tourist attraction will be reviewed because of a £1m budget shortfall. Beamish Museum, in County Durham, hopes to carry out seven projects costing £3m, but has been unable to secure funding. Director Richard
LABOUR’S new prospective parliamentary candidate for northwest Durham has described her selection as “an honour and a privilege”. Pat Glass was chosen from an all-female shortlist during a North-West Durham Constituency Labour Party hustings
A GIRL who bravely fought cancer twice in her short life has finally lost her battle with the disease. Mourners are being asked to wear pink to the funeral of Chloe Louise Clark, 12, from Shildon, County Durham, who died on January 18 less
A TRAIN company could launch a legal challenge against Government plans to revamp services on the East Coast Main Line. Independently-run Grand Central has warned that the changes could hamper its plans to expand by offering more routes from
A NEW student rowing regatta held in the region at the weekend has been hailed a success. Rowers from universities in the North-East, Durham University colleges and institutions in Scotland took part in the inaugural Durham University Winter
A POLICE force has been praised by the Home Office for recording the second lowest crime rate in England. North Yorkshire Police reduced crime in its area to 46,496 offences between October 2008 and September last year. The report states
ART lovers can bid for paintings as part of a silent charity auction. The Station, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, is hosting the Wall to Wall event throughout next month, with a display of donated art. People can view the pieces, some
RNLI lifeboat crews in the region had their busiest year ever last year, saving hundreds of people. The volunteer teams of the North division, which also includes Cumbria, Lancashire and Lincolnshire, rescued 961 people and launched its boats
A MOUNTAIN rescue team book has been launched with the help of a television presenter. Matt Baker, who appears on Countryfile, signed copies of 40 Years and Counting – a history of the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team.
POLICE in the region are gearing up to stop hundreds of football hooligans from travelling to this summer’s World Cup in South Africa. More than 300 people from the North-East and North Yorkshire are banned from travelling abroad to watch games
LAWYERS for killers Clare and Simon Nicholls are planning to appeal against their combined 57 years behind bars. Legal teams for the murderers plan to challenge the sentences given to the brother and sister. Clare Nicholls, 28, was jailed for
CHART topping star Pink is to kick-off the UK leg of her European tour at the Stadium of Light this summer, Sunderland AFC confirmed today. Pink, who has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, is due to open her Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour
TORY plans to beef up the powers of the region's directly-elected mayors should include allowing them to hike business taxes, a study says today. David Cameron is also urged to permit the mayors to balance their budgets over a four-year cycle
