ARSON investigators are searching a fire-ravaged nightclub to find the source of the blaze. Dozens of firefighters attended the fire at the Platinum bar on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, this afternoon. Police closed the busy road for over an hour while
AN injured rider was flown to hospital after complaining of severe back pain after tumbling from her horse. The 40-year-old woman was injured as she rode in fields above Upleatham, near Redcar, this afternoon. The Cleveland Search and Rescue Team (CSRT
SENIOR officers and councillors came under fire from their own work force during a public consultation exercise into the authority's budget proposals. Criticism was aimed at Darlington Borough Council officials on a series of matters including
AFTER being handed the all-clear after suspected appendicitis, Jonathan Franks has been asked to play in a three-pronged Middlesbrough attack tonight. The young forward missed Saturday's draw with Swansea after being taken into hospital but he has been
PETER Hartley, free from suspension, was swiftly reinstalled into the Hartlepool United side to face Gillingam. In a must-win encounter, Chris Turner stuck with the same 4-5-1 set-up which brought improved displays in the last two games, at Charlton
Just hours after signing for the club new Darlington keeper Shane Redmond is plunged into the line-up for this evening's home game with Northampton Town. The Republic of Ireland under-21s international joined today on loan from Nottingham Forest
ONE of the concerns I've expressed over the past year about council publications is that they too often fail to give the full picture. When information is selected to be as positive as possible to the controlling political party, it strays
A SUNDERLAND football fan has today been charged with racially abusing England striker Darren Bent's mother. John Andrew Davison, 26, of Chester-le-Street, is accused of abusing Shirley Bent after her son's team played Wigan Athletic in November last
THE former Canon Treasurer of St Paul’s Cathedral has become the region’s newest bishop. The Reverend Canon Martin Clive Warner, 51, was consecrated as the new Bishop of Whitby, in succession to the Right Revd Robert Ladds. He was presented to the Archbishop
CONCERTGOERS will be able to join in the act during a golden anniversary celebration. Darlington and District Organists' and Choirmasters' Association will hold a celebration to Cecil Armstrong Gibbs on February 6. The event has been organised to mark
LOCALS are celebrating after a council backed down over plans to reduce the time cars could park in its bays. North Yorkshire County Council sought to half the length of time motorists could leave vehicles in Kirkgate and Millgate, Thirsk, to one hour
TWO Irish airlines have announced new flights which will reconnect a North-East airport with the Emerald Isle. Aer Arann and Aer Lingus will run a franchise agreement which will include a route between Durham Tees Valley and Dublin. Five weekly services
JOBLESS young people are victims of manufacturing decline - not lazy 'Vicky Pollard' characters - a North-East professor told MPs, after an investigation. Rob Macdonald, Professor of Sociology at the University of Teesside, said his research
NEWCASTLE United have signed winger Wayne Routledge from QPR for an undisclosed fee which is believed to be around £1m. Routledge signed a three-and-a-half year deal at St James' Park this morning, and will go straight into the squad for tomorrow's home
Darlington have today ended their search for a goalkeeper having brought in Shane Redmond from Nottingham Forest. The Irish-born 20-year-old will be in contention to make his debut this evening at home Northampton Town if the paperwork is completed in
Grass roots sport is one of my passions. Its benefits in terms of both health and combating anti-social behaviour are incalculable. Tonight, I'm off to Durham City for a meeting of Sports Aid Northern which gives grants to young people
I've been having some interesting correspondence about Darlington Football Club with Paul Bielby, a former professional footballer who runs a private football academy. Paul's growing increasingly concerned about the plight of the Quakers and thinks there's
AT a recent talk, Sandra Hood of Darlington came up and gave me this gorgeous late 1930s wedding photograph. She can identify her parents on it, possibly before they were married: Margaret Jean Scott on the right end of the front row, and Alan Abdale
THE forgotten diaries of a long-dead soldier have shed new light on a little-known expedition that later became known as "Mr Churchill’s Secret War." Stanley Harrison was a private with the Green Howards when they were sent to Russia in late 1918 and
PLANS to make nearly £200,000 of savings by creating a trust to run a council’s leisure facilities have been put on hold. Hambleton District Council proposed creating the Hambleton Leisure Trust around five years ago and has been working towards
HOW good are your passwords? When you register for a service or website how much thought do you put into choosing your log in word or phrase? A new report, which examined 32 million passwords used to access the RockYou website, has uncovered
VOLUNTEERS are needed at a charity shop raising money for the fight against cancer. Cancer Research UK says it needs people to help out at its shop in Silver Street, Durham City in a variety of roles. Cancer Research UK Shop Manager, Colette McCormick
A VILLAGE’S gas supply is getting a £150,000 upgrade. Work started on the gas mains in High Shincliffe, near Durham, on Monday, January 25. It is expected to last 15 weeks. United Utilities staff are replacing 1.5km of old metal gas mains with modern
A GOVERNMENT minister is to meet new mothers at an event next week. Maria Eagle MP, minister for justice and deputy minister for women, will join local MP Hilary Armstrong at the event in St Patrick’s Church Hall, Consett on Thursday, February 4. There
A COUNCIL capped by the Government for trying to raise its council tax level too high is looking for a 2.5 per cent rise this year. Hambleton District Council is proposing the modest increase which will keep it amongst the lowest taxing authorities
A FREE advice service is launching a weekly outreach session in a former pit village . Chester-le-Street District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will hold the session on Tuesdays in Sacriston Library, Plawsworth Road, Sacriston, from February 2. The
A GROUP of foreign exchange students have left a lasting impression on Darlington’s mayor. Five Russian pupils from a school in the Nevskiy area St Petersburg, Russia, met mayor Jim Ruck and presented a bronze statute of a bridge in their district
NISSAN'S North-East plant has retained its record as the UK's largest car producer for the 12th year on the trot - despite a slump in sales worldwide. Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today show that the
CONCERNED parents have been reassured a popular service will remain in place - despite council plans to dramatically slash its budget. Trustees for the charity which runs Darlington’s toy library have said the service will stay open, even though Darlington
A STUDENT hoping to help disadvantaged South American children during her gap year has achieved a fundraising milestone. Anna Seymour, from Darlington, has raised half of the £4,850 total she needs to teach English to children in Chile’s capital Santiago
PUPILS at a Darlington school have been given an insight into what life is like for some of the world’s poorest children. Hurworth School Maths and Computing College attempted to create similar conditions to sweat shops in developing countries
ANDY Murray is through to the Australian Open semi-finals after Rafa Nadal retired hurt in their quarter final game. Murray was leading two sets to love and three games to love in the third set at the time.
A POLICE force is seeking to privatise several of its key functions in a cost-cutting move to save jobs and protect front line policing. Councillor Dave McLuckie, the Chairman of Cleveland Police Authority said its members had agreed today
A MOTORCYCLIST who died following a collision with a car was today named as Gary John Cobb, a 40-year-old Gateshead man. He was confirmed dead at Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital an hour after being admitted following the accident on the A184 Felling
WORK started yesterday on the redevelopment of a church hall which is designed to put it at the heart of community life. More than £400,000 will be spent on the interior refurbishment of St Paul’s Church Hall, in Spennymoor. The original £1million redevelopment
AN evening of classical music is being staged by the chairman of Durham County Council. Councillor Brian Myers is inviting the public to join him for the event, in the council chamber, at County Hall, Durham, on Friday March 12. It will feature Soraya
As a daughter and her dad prepare to take on a marathon effort in the name of a brave cancer sufferer, Eric Jackson tells their moving story. WHEN Ellis Eddy was told that perhaps, at the age of 12, she was too young to join a charity bike ride
Make-do and mendicant, there’s talk of two-wheeled beggars, impressionable cushions and an excellent lunch. MR Norman Tebbitt, as then the old boy was, didn’t really advise the jobless to get on their bikes and look for work at all. Rather
IT was great to see North Carolina singer-songwriter Malcolm Holcombe not only back in the area but also with a new album, For The Mission Baby, and a great amount of new material to share. A unique and genuine performer, Holcombe combines
I WAS delighted to present one of The Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards last year. The awards not only recognise the courage and determination people have in the face of such a devastating condition, but that of carers and volunteers
Shameless (C4, 10pm); EastEnders’ Greatest Cliffhangers (BBC3, 8pm) SHE’S best known as dowdy Mrs Doyle, the “Will you have a cup of tea?” housekeeper and companion to Father Ted and his sidekicks. Now she’s had a makeover, taken up with one
RE your letter from an unnamed Arriva driver (HAS, Jan 16) defending colleagues against “moronic” comments. Last November, 24 children, aged seven to nine – plus four adults – were waiting at the bus stop at Morson Avenue, Crook, for service 1
I WATCHED the TV programme about Barack Obama’s first year as President of the US in despair. In despair because I saw the Republicans, to their shame, uttering barely disguised racist comments about Mr Obama and they are hellbound on destroying
MUCH of humanist Philip Nathan’s argument in his letter, headed “Values (HAS, Jan 20), is rather naive. Those “secular” justice-seeking equality laws he cites are controversial, being anything but just in their present form, not distinguishing
IT seems the General Election will be fought with a concentration on domestic policies of the day – taxation, public spending and who is best able to recharge the economy. But it is war that will have a clear influence on how the electorate actually
ON behalf of RAF Leeming, and in particular 2 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, including 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, I write to express my heartfelt thanks to the Mayor and townspeople of Bedale for the warm and generous welcome they extended to
THE National Association of Muslim Police (Namp) has criticised the Government’s anti-terrorism strategy – calling it “an affront to British values”. Namp also claims that the Government’s strategy has led to an upsurge in “Islamophobia”. The Prevent
Is love lovelier the second time around? Or is it a replay of the same things that led to divorce in the first place. Steve Pratt offers advice to Brad Pitt about sticking with partner Angelina Jolie or returning to his ex, Jennifer Aniston. LOVE
THE torture of two young boys in Edlington, South Yorkshire, has shocked the nation – but to what extent should the details of the case be made public? Tory leader David Cameron has called for the Serious Case Review (SCR) to be published in full
THE UK's longest and deepest recession finally came to an end in the last three months of 2009, official figures showed today. A 0.1 per cent expansion in the economy between October and December ended six straight quarters of shrinking output
THE Chinese authorities ordered their banks to stop lending for the second half of this month, after witnessing huge lending to companies at the start of the year. This was enough to put some firecrackers into the share prices of mining stocks
KRAFT’S proposed takeover of Cadbury seemed odds-on last night after the last possible rival bidder pulled out of the race. Italian confectioner Ferrero ruled itself out of a Cadbury takeover yesterday after last week’s recommended £11.9bn bid
Approximately two-thirds of properties sold in 2009 across the hotel, pub, restaurant, care and retail sectors were acquired by experienced operators, according to property agent Christie + Co’s buyer analysis. The study, which covers the
AN MP was shown how the natural environment can make an important contribution to urban regeneration, creating attractive places in which to work. Hartlepool MP Iain Wright was shown projects in the town by Natural England’s regional director
A NORTH-EAST firm will deliver alternative electricity generation technology for a workshop at the heart of a multi-million pound scheme to transform a historic dock into a working marina. Durham County Council has awarded the Seaham North Dock
BUSINESSES in the North-East are being given an opportunity to use electric vehicles. Four vehicles provided by Cenex, the UK’s Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technology, will be offered to businesses running fleet operations
NEARLY four weeks into 2010, many of us will be counting the New Year resolutions we have already broken and whether we want to give up smoking, lose weight or just take more exercise, most of us are weak-willed and give in to those things that
EVOLUTION Business Centre is a new, managed office facility on County Business Park in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Offering 29 serviced office suites, ranging in size from 25sq m to 75sq m, they are aimed at new and young businesses. With
TWO cricketers from the North-East have swapped stumps for a shop. Former Durham County cricketers Darren Blenkiron and Gary Pratt have reopened the refurbished Peter Lorimer Sports shop, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland. The store, which was
A BEER produced by a small independent brewery is one of nine through to a national final. Nightmare Ale, created by Hambleton Ales, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, recently won a gold medal in the Northern Beer competition, organised by the Society
SMALL businesses are being offered help in bidding for a share of the £220bn of public sector contracts awarded each year through the launch of a free online training course. The Winning the Contract online procurement initiative was launched
THE end of this month sees a significant anniversary in the world of business with the 40th World Economic Forum being held in the Swiss resort of Davos, working under the banner of Improving the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign and Rebuild
The potential mothballing of the Corus Teesside Cast Products plant, near Redcar, has dominated the headlines since the announcement last month. But, with a complicated set of circumstances, Business Editor Owen McAteer analyses where it stands today
A RESTAURANT in County Durham is expanding with the addition of hotel rooms. The County, in Aycliffe Village, has built up a reputation for the quality of its food and beer, and is now building on that by opening seven luxury guest rooms. Stuart
YESTERDAY, we incorrectly reported that farmers are to be offered financial advice at a seminar next week. In fact, the Latimer Hinks Solicitors and Barclays Bank Plc jointly-organised breakfast presentation, looking at finance for farmers,
ABOUT 2,500 school children from 70 schools in the region have visited the Nissan Sunderland plant over the past week to learn about the importance of engineering to Nissan. The children, who were able to take part in demonstrations, learnt
A POTENTIAL owner was last night being sought for the business and assets of the Adams childrenswear retail chain, after it went into administration for the second time in just over a year. Administrator MCR said significant interest had already
A NORTH-EAST company that specialises in the repair and servicing of games consoles has almost doubled its workforce with the recruitment of four apprentices. Since it was set up two years ago, Console Doctor has seen a significant increase
DIGITAL agency Orange Bus has been recognised as the best of its kind in the region. The Newcastle agency was recognised as the North-East Digital Agency of the Year by industry magazine The Drum. In the New Year’s Honours section produced annually
RETAILERS could suffer during poor weather if their websites are not up to scratch, a North-East online shopping directory has warned. During the recent cold snap, which saw snow and ice bring many areas of the country to a standstill, retailers
THE North-East’s centre for contemporary printmaking – Northern Print – has appointed Alan Wann as chairman. Newcastle-born Mr Wann, who has served on the Northern Print board since 2005, takes over from Ces Maddison. A civil engineer by profession
AN organisation to support small businesses has become the sole business sponsor of this year’s Tall Ships Race in Hartlepool. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has become the diamond sponsor of the event, which will see up to a million
A FIRM of solicitors is celebrating the success of its leading property lawyer in gaining a masters degree. Joanne Oldfield has been residential conveyancing solicitor with Coles Solicitors, based in Northallerton, for the past four years, serving
IN the present downturn the question of whether or not a tenant can bring their business tenancy to an end early by operating a break clause in their lease has assumed crucial importance. Many tenants are downscaling their business and want to reduce
A NORTH-EAST engineering company has played a major role in a charity project involving pop stars Jedward, actress Uma Thurman and U2 guitarist The Edge. Lamplas, based in Consett, County Durham, made 52 8ft fibreglass angels for the Irish Angels
STAFF at law firm Sintons have raised money to buy equipment to help make life easier for a fiveyear- old disabled girl. The firm raised £2,500 through a series of fundraising events to buy a bed for Chloe Gilbert, who suffers from cerebral palsy
MORE than 99 per cent of people could find their wishes descend into financial dispute by not appointing power of attorney, a North-East law firm has warned. Emmersons Solicitors, which has offices in Sunderland and Newcastle, is advising people
MORE than £1m in additional funding is being committed to help the region become an international leader in the creative media sector. It is hoped that the money will help to create more than 200 jobs and 18 businesses in the North-East. Northern
THE possibility of an all- Williams semi-final at the Australian Open looked likely after both sisters won their fourth-round matches at the Rod Laver Arena yesterday. Defending champion Serena ended local hopeful Sam Stosur’s campaign 6-4 6
ADIL RASHID wants to play as much cricket as possible in a bid to build up his confidence. The Yorkshire leg-spinner is pre-season training with county colleagues less than a week after arriving back from a frustrating tour of South Africa with
HOWARD JOHNSON was quickly on the phone to Paul Carberry when his stable jockey Denis O’Regan broke a collarbone at Leopardstown on Sunday and having persuaded the Irish ace to come to Newcastle, he provided him with a treble. Carberry opened
SHADOWS LENGTHEN finished 2009 in ferocious form and is one to stay on the right side of as he makes his first start of the year at Southwell. The four-year-old proved something of a revelation in November and early December, winning five races
FORMER police officer and England rugby international Dean Richards, he of the infamous and illnamed Bloodgate affair, spoke at Barnard Castle School on Saturday evening. The fee was doubtless substantial. Written questions were additionally
RAFAEL NADAL believes it is only a matter of time before Andy Murray wins a grand slam title. The 23-year-old Spaniard knows what it takes to win a major having already claimed six in his impressive young career. Murray, who is one year Nadal
DARLINGTON begin the second half of their season this evening with their first home game for more than seven weeks, and manager Steve Staunton is demanding that his side carry on where they left off on Saturday. The weekend defeat at Crewe saw
CHRIS HUGHTON is confident of making progress on one new signing within the next 48 hours, but the Newcastle United boss insists he will not be forced into panic deals. After suffering a number of set-backs since the transfer window opened
WAYNE ROONEY is happy to be attracting interest from other clubs but insists he has no intention of leaving Manchester United. The England centre-forward has been in scintillating form this season, notching 19 Premier League goals to lead the
WHEN it comes venting their frustration, few crowds do it better than Hartlepool United. With tempers frayed and the faithful quick to direct their ire at the team, Chris Turner has issued a passionate rallying call ahead of tonight’s game. Pools
GORDON STRACHAN was last night on the verge of recruiting a fourth player from Celtic after he agreed a loan deal for Scotland international defender Stephen McManus. Boro were hopeful an arrangement, that will allow the Bhoys club captain to
RAFAEL BENITEZ has attempted to draw a line under his war of words with Steve Bruce in the hope it could pave the way for Liverpool to strike a deal for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones. The Reds’ boss confirmed yesterday that clear-the-air talks
AN artist from the North-East is due before a court in Istanbul tomorrow accused of insulting the dignity of the Turkish prime minister. Michael Dickinson, 59, from Durham, faces up to two years in jail in Turkey for creating a collage showing
RESIDENTS are vowing to fight plans for what they say could be a large-scale retirement village. Judy and Nigel Bell, of the Shepherd’s Purse cheese company at Newsham, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, previously submitted plans for the site at
A CARE home worker faces a ban from the profession after she admitted ill-treating a vulnerable resident she was meant to be looking after. Aurora Petre could be added to a list of people considered unsuitable for work in the field by the recently-formed
A POLITICAL heavyweight will help launch a Conservative election campaign to try to win back a seat for the first time in nearly 20 years. William Hague will attend a hustings and question and answer session in Darlington next month as the party
FOUR men connected to a fast-growing sport invented in the region have been arrested on suspicion of money-laundering. Rock-It-Ball was developed in North Yorkshire and, since its launch in 2005, has been taken up across Britain and has even gone
FOR parents such as Andrea Thompson, the opening of a new teenage cancer unit in the region in a few weeks’ time will be a bitter-sweet moment. Mrs Thompson and her family helped raise £250,000 towards the new teenage cancer trust unit at the
THE “super-tax” on bankers’ bonuses will help put nearly 6,000 jobless young people across the region into work or training, Gordon Brown said yesterday. The Prime Minister unveiled a Young Person’s Guarantee to provide a job, training, a place
A CHARITY for elderly people has voiced its concern about plans to close a stroke unit at a North-East hospital. Age Concern Darlington has met Labour parliamentary prospective candidate (PPC) Jenny Chapman about the proposals for the acute stroke
THE quick thinking of a security guard and a police officer saved the life of young girl who was having a fit in a town centre store. When Boots’ security officer Tony Nicholson arrived on the scene the toddler was struggling to breathe.
A POLICE officer who has worked his way up through the ranks has been confirmed as the new assistant chief constable of his county’s police force. Durham Police Authority yesterday confirmed that Michael Banks would fill the role he has held
COUNCILLORS are being urged to reconsider plans to close four nursing homes. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is proposing to replace the homes with two extra care housing facilities, which enable people to live in their own homes longer
A MARTIAL arts club that found fame on a television talent show will star on the small screen again this week. Chi Taekwondo’s demonstration team, which meets at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, in County Durham, will appear on Blue Peter tomorrow
THE family of a seriously ill toddler have been told she will die unless she has a double transplant. Sienna Smith needs a new liver and a section of intestine if she is to overcome a rare condition that left her with organs on the outside
A MAN who punched his boss after an argument at work has walked free from court after a judge heard he had lost his job and had no money. Michael Mallam hit Michael Andrew’s hard hat after a row about a fire in a decontamination unit at the Able
A CONVICTED rapist carried out a sex assault on another woman following his release from prison, it was claimed yesterday. But a court heard that club entertainer Michael Adam Khannan remained at large for the alleged second attack for more
