HOUSEHOLDERS have been put on the alert and police are carrying out reassurance patrols after bogus water officials tricked their way into the homes of elderly people. Three incidents were reported to police on Thursday, one in Carlton Miniott
Town halls could be hired out as courts to raise money for councils and increase the speed of justice, local authorities said today. The proposals, which have been submitted to ministers, would ensure minimal disruption for victims, witnesses and police
STEVE BRUCE has resisted handing record buy Asamoah Gyan a first start at the Stadium of Light against Arsenal. Gyan has been named on the bench, meaning Darren Bent is likely to operate as a lone striker against the Gunners. In the absence of suspended
Campaigners today said traditional village life is ''dying out'' after it was revealed that almost 900 country pubs were forced to close last year. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said 893 pubs were forced to call last orders for good in
Middlesbrough welcome back defender David Wheater for this afternoon's clash with Reading at the Riverside. Wheater missed Tuesday night's win over Burnley with a shoulder injury but has recovered in time to take on Brian McDermott's side. Tuesnight's
HATEM Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote will make their first Newcastle United starts in this afternoon's away game at Everton. The pair have been promoted to the starting line-up in the wake of last weekend's 2-0 home defeat to Blackpool. Tiote replaces Alan
The Pope today apologised for the ''unspeakable crimes'' committed by Catholic priests who sexually abused children. In the most strongly worded public apology of his state visit so far, the Pontiff spoke of the ''shame and humiliation'' brought by the
Leon Knight's Darlington debut will have to wait as he is still awaiting the paperwork to be completed on his signing. He agreed to join this week and travelled with the squad to Bath City with manager Mark Cooper planning on naming him on
There was plenty of excitement on the banks of the Tyne yesterday (Saturday)for the Bupa Junior and Mini Great North Run. The event takes place before the 30th Great North Run today, the world's biggest half marathon. The Mini Great
A TEENAGER died after he fell 50ft off a crag. An inquest heard yesterday, how Calum Ross Williams and three of his friends travelled from Darlington to Buttermere, in the Lake District, in June. The boys had planned their route, but
A MAN has died from his injuries after being hit by a car on the outskirts of Whitby, North Yorkshire. Police said that the incident happened at 11.55pm last night on the A171, near to the roundabout with the A169 road. A spokesman for North Yorkshire
WITH no thanks to Dr Beeching, who closed the station in 1965, the Railroad to Wembley recommenced at Steeton and Silsden. They opened it again 25 years later. Silsden’s in West Yorkshire, a small town of 7,999 inhabitants where Craven Herald
There’s no shortage of entertainment for children on a traditional family holiday on the Isle of Wight. OF the many things you learn on a holiday to the Isle of Wight, not putting nappies in the picnic bag is quite an important one.
THE Travelodge winter sale has begun, with 300,000 rooms in 452 Travelodge hotels priced from £9 to £25. Sale room stays must take place between November 1 and January 31 next year. To book a sale room, go to travelodge.co.uk With Christmas approaching
SARAH Silverman may be better known in the UK for a very rude spoof song featuring Matt Damon (and he even appeared in the video), but she’s probably the best female comic the US has produced since Joan Rivers. She treads a similar taboo-busting
NICHOLAS Carr’s third book takes a genuinely fascinating and insightful look at the impact the internet is having on the way we think, going back in time to chart how new technologies, such as the printing press, have influenced the way we process
TERRY Pratchett’s final young adult novel starring teen witch Tiffany Aching is intended as a bridge to his main Discworld series and it’s not without its darker moments as the trainee witch ends up dealing with the aftermath of child abuse and
Former reality TV contestant Michelle Heaton is taking pole position for a return to acting, she tells Viv Hardwick. A LOT has happened in Gateshead-born performer Michelle Heaton’s life in the past three years, since she made her panto debut
RODNEY BEWES tells the story about how, at the first performance of his one-man show based on the novel Three Men In A Boat, he went to the pub opposite at the interval and ushered the audience back to the theatre. “You’ve had 20 minutes and I
AS you or I or the chap on the No 1 bus might understand it, today’s column isn’t really about a church service at all. It’s about a church performing a service, and doing it both impressively and innovatively, nonetheless. Absent with leave,
THE news from Jonathan Evans, Head of MI5 regarding the threat from Somalia (Echo, Sept 17) is absolutely devastating to those misguided souls who believe that in the long run we can win the war against Islamic extremism by having boots on the
I AM very disappointed, as I am sure many of your readers are, that the Government is pressing ahead with the terminally misguided policy of killing badgers in England. I cannot call it a “cull” as the majority of those animals killed are likely
I WATCHED trade union leader Bob Crow at the TUC conference this week with dismay and a horrible sense of deja vu... evoking the dark days of labour disputes in the Seventies, Crow’s angry message displayed all the political motivation and class
ON Wednesday, feeling my way along the foot of the Cleveland Hills which rose gloriously green in the September sun, I travelled to Kirkby-in-Cleveland to talk to the Stokesley Friendship Group. It’s not an area I know well, so I navigated with
I AM becoming increasingly frustrated and annoyed at the way shop staff treat customers. I’m all for courtesy and assistance where necessary but it seems there is a “sausage factory” somewhere churning out clones who work in shops. Standing at
FORMER BNP election candidate Michael Stewart says that “building a mosque where Muslim terrorists killed nearly 3,000 innocent people could be like dancing on their graves.” (HAS, Sept 14) Some may see it that way, but, fortunately, many do not
THE two letters under the heading “boom and bust” are patently arrant nonsense (HAS, Sept 17). In the “good times” the capitalists make hay, coining it in by the billions at the same time telling workers not to be as greedy as them. In other
SINCE 1975 all Britain’s trade arrangements have been organised by the EU’s (French) Trade Commissioner – very often in ways that are contrary to Britain’s interests. David Cameron wants to open up free trade with Pakistan to help mitigate the
THE Pope’s visit will be condemned by many as an intrusion. As head of the Catholic church the Pope has to take responsibility for how it has dealt with the sex abuse controversy and continues to deal with those bishops and priests whose crimes
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell secured a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg. McDowell, the US Open champion, birdied four of his first five holes to continue his rich vein of form
ROBSON GREEN sings Jeepers Robson Green is singing in his new TV film. But he’s not aiming for chart glory in Joe Maddison’s War, but joining the Home Guard. He tells Steve Pratt about writer Alan Plater’s final piece of work and what his son thinks
IN these troubled economic times, with unprecedented public sector cuts about to have an impact on us all, there are plenty of reasons to feel down in the mouth. But there is an event taking place this weekend which lifts us up above the gloom
MARA Yamauchi is hoping to strike a blow for British running’s older generation when she competes in the Bupa Great North Run tomorrow. Oxford-born Yamauchi turned 37 last month, but the British number two has produced the best form of her life
THE club cricket season ends with a bang today, with three teams in with a realistic chance of winning the NYSD Division One championship, two clubs meeting in a unique play-off to determine who will win promotion to the Durham Senior League
AFTER winning at Middlesbrough last week, Darlington Mowden Park have also beaten Boro to the signing of Charlie Simpson-Daniel. The England Sevens player is the youngest of the three brothers from a Yarm family which used to have strong links
AUSTRALIA’S Melbourne Cup is often described as ‘the race that stops a nation’, but tomorrow that mantle will pass to the 30th running of the Bupa Great North Run. Bizarrely, though, the nation in question will be Ethiopia. For the first time
ASK any northern-based Flat trainer which race he or she would like to win the most and over 90 per cent of them will say the Ayr Gold Cup within the blink of an eye. This year’s renewal is a cracker. It features the first two home from last
NEWCASTLE Falcons have embarked on the longest trip in the Aviva Premiership to take on Exeter Chiefs this weekend, but that is nothing compared with the journey that has taken their opponents into English rugby’s top-flight. Having spent almost
LIVERPOOL legend Kenny Dalglish is convinced the club are not that far away from returning to the pinnacle of English football but accepts they are in a crucial period in their history. The Reds won their last league title in 1990 under the
THE man who told Gordon Strachan exactly what he thought of Middlesbrough’s dire secondhalf performance at QPR last week also tried to stop the players from eating their post-match pizzas. The Insider can reveal that Glenn Armitstead, from
DARLINGTON are at Bath City today bidding to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. And Mark Cooper says putting together a run of victories is what is required if Quakers are to rise towards the top of the Blue Square Premier
SAM Allardyce has claimed neither he nor Mark Hughes were given enough time at bigger clubs – and insisted he would win the title every year if he were manager of Real Madrid or Manchester United. Allardyce and Hughes cross swords today as
PROLIFIC or problematic? Leon Knight has been described as both in recent years as the reputation of Darlington’s new striker suffered while his career drifted off course. So off course, in fact, that within the last 18 months he has endured
SCOTT Flinders is facing a minimum of three months on the sidelines after being injured in training. Hartlepool United will today give Jake Kean his debut after he arrived on loan from Blackburn last week, before Flinders suffered thumb ligament
Hughton will do a runner if Newcastle finish in top half KNEE trouble has prevented Chris Hughton from taking part in tomorrow’s 30th Great North Run, but he has promised to race next year if Newcastle United finish in the top ten. Despite
DAVID Moyes has called for referees to be more willing to follow his example and admit when they are in the wrong. The Everton boss was handed an £8,000 fine on Thursday after accepting a Football Association charge of improper conduct for his
IT might not have seemed like it at the time, but Kevin Nolan feels he had the perfect closeseason preparation for a return to the big-time during the summer – by going camping in Somerset. Nolan and his family partied with Dizzee Rascal, Florence
GORDON Strachan is calling on his Middlesbrough side to play with the same energy that helped them beat Burnley when they take on Reading at the Riverside today. Boro came from one-down on Tuesday to record only their second league win of the
Do you think Lee Cattermole should keep the captaincy at Sunderland? MALCOLM MACDONALD NO he shouldn’t keep it. Purely and simply because a captain is supposed to lead by example and he’s doing anything but. Plus the fact a captain doesn’t drop
MICKAEL Tavares claims Tuesday night’s last-gasp win over Burnley has given the squad a massive lift and believes it is only a matter of time before Middlesbrough climb up the Championship table. When Tavares arrived on Teesside, Boro had won
CESC Fabregas has warned free-scoring Arsenal cannot afford to make costly mistakes at the back if the Gunners are to become genuine challengers for the Barclays Premier League title. Arsene Wenger’s side swept past Champions League new boys
WHEN Sunderland take on Arsenal this afternoon, a future England stalwart might well be appearing at the heart of midfield. Despite his recent debut against Hungary, however, his name is not necessarily Jack Wilshere. While Wilshere has been
HAVING realised one of his major ambitions when he scored his first international goal at the start of the month, Darren Bent is hoping to achieve another of his leading targets before the end of the season by joining an elite band of players to
TWO recent North-East race winners, Ian Hudspith and Terry Wall, both wearing the colours of Morpeth Harriers, are expected to be among the region’s top finishers in tomorrow’s Great North Run. Great Britain international Hudspith, joining the
The 30th BUPA Great North Run takes place tomorrow, with some of the world’s finest long distance athletes starting alongside thousands of fun runners intent on raising money for charity in the North-East’s biggest annual sporting event. Paul Fraser
MARCUS Trescothick and his Somerset side have had less than 24 hours to digest their second major blow of the season but the former England opener is sure they will be ready for their final chance of silverware at Lord’s today. The 2010 season
UMAR Gul produced a matchwinning spell with the old ball as Pakistan beat England by 23 runs to keep the NatWest Series alive last night. Gul’s career-best six for 42 featured four wickets for six runs in 18 balls from the pavilion end at the
A YOUNGSTER from the North-East will be treading the boards in the West End in the role of Billy Elliot’s best friend Michael. Connor Lawson, of Shotton, east Durham, will join the London cast of Billy Elliot The Musical at the capital’s
A MEMBER of the last Newcastle United team to win a major trophy has lost his battle against cancer. Jackie Sinclair, a winger who played 52 games for the Toon and helped the club to its 1969 Fairs Cup victory, died earlier this month aged
A DRUNK who spat at a police officer after he was arrested for threatening Asian taxi staff with what appeared to be a knife was jailed yesterday. PC Kaljit Sander, who was born in England and is based in Middlesbrough, later said he had never
CHIEF executives at major North-East firms have called on other companies to become involved in a programme they are spearheading to get homeless people back into work. Software company Sage and fast-expanding bakery firm Greggs are involved in
A MOTORIST died after his car left the A1 and hit a tree. The road was closed for three hours yesterday after the accident, which involved a blue Jaguar and a blue Skoda. Emergency services were sent to the scene, about half a mile south
BOTANIST Professor David Bellamy yesterday opened a nature reserve in ancient woodland. Durham Wildlife Trust has bought Milkwell Burn Wood, near Blackhall Mill, in the Derwent Valley. It is home to rare wildlife and endangered wildflowers,
THREE people were yesterday jailed for a concerted attack on a man with learning difficulties who thought he was among friends. The victim, a 44-year-old Darlington man, was persistently beaten and had tape put over his mouth to stop his shouts
A MAN stole his mother’s jewellery while she was ill in hospital and his father lay dying from lung cancer, a court heard. Ian Wilson took almost £3,000 worth of gold items from his parents’ home which he had been entrusted to look after while
THE future of 417 jobs was in question last night after Government plans to move its offices were scrapped. The Department for Education (DoE) was unable to give guarantees about its Darlington base, Mowden Hall, after confirming it is no longer
A FORMER housemaster at an approved school yesterday came face-to-face with a second ex-pupil who is accusing him of sexual abuse five decades ago. The second alleged victim of Roderick Ryall told a jury that he was treated to trips out in his
TROOPS marching a marathon a day across the region made a pit stop in Teesside. Territorial Army soldiers from 72 Engineer Regiment are walking 500 miles over 23 days. The soldiers, who started from the Baltic, in Gateshead. on August 28, marched
SUPPORTERS of a campaign to bring train building back to the region are wanted for a photograph being taken today. Campaigners will gather at Amazon Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, at 11.45am to show their backing for a campaign to persuade
A TEACHER caught with cocaine supposedly to share with friends on a stag trip must forfeit £2,245 as proceeds of crime. The order was made by a judge at Durham Crown Court yesterday, three months after Ian Ashby was given a 51-week prison sentence
A COUNCIL worker who stole more than £3,000 of taxpayers’ money has walked free from court after a judge heard she was stressed at the time. Caroline Johnson was said to have been under pressure at work and with her pregnancy, as well as having
AN initiative to nurture a new generation of sports stars has been launched by a paralympic gold medallist. Dame Tanni Grey- Thompson unveiled Tees Valley Future Champions, a scheme giving talented youngsters free or subsidised access to
THOUSANDS of dogs and their owners turned out for the opening day of the region’s premier canine event. Darlington Dog Show is celebrating its 42nd anniversary, and this year’s event began yesterday at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire
A MOTORIST whose car was written-off in a horror collision with a runaway horse received another shock when he was sent a £700 council bill for the dead animal’s removal. Council bosses said Kieren Hamilton had to pay for the clean-up because
