THE A1 was closed tonight heading north after a serious accident involving six vehicles. The accident took place at Little Fencote, on the Leeming Bar stretch of the road. Police, fire and ambulance services are on the scene and road is expected to
Autumn is a fantastic time to go walking. The trees show an array of golden hues, reds and oranges, with lime green and rust sprinkled in their leaves, blown by the wind to scatter in swirls and rest in a flurry on the ground. Now is the time to
MARK Cooper makes one change from the side that beat Mossley for today's game with AFC Wimbledon. Liam Hatch comes back in after missing the FA Cup win and will partner Danny Hone at the heart of the Quakers' defence. Kevin Austin is the player to make
ANTONY Sweeney returns to the Hartlepool United side for their trip to Dagenham and Redbridge. Pools are without Evan Horwood through injury and Paul Murray moves from central midfield to left-back, with Sweeney returning after injury. Ritchie
TONY MOWBRAY has resisted the temptation to ring the changes for his first match in charge of Middlesbrough.Mowbray has tinkered with the team that lost 1-0 at Norwich City by making three alterations to personnel, but there are no huge surprises. Nicky
A funky friend called Dave is predicted to be one of the top five toys this Christmas. WITH Christmas still a couple of months away, Dave the Funky Monkey has already won many honours and awards on the back of his UK debut, including a prediction
A ROAD had to be closed this morning after a car collided with a bus. The incident happened at about 9am at Newbottle Street in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, between Blind Lane and Hillside Way Roundabout. A Northumbria police spokeswoman said
A new company offering good quality, original clothes for children has become so popular parents are asking for the pieces to be made in their size. Ruth Addicott talks to its founder, textile designer Kate Carrick. WHEN textile designer Kate Carrick
Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures is now in its fourth season and is one of the most popular CBBC programmes. Its star, ELISABETH SLADEN, 62, has been playing the intrepid journalist on and off since 1974. She discusses working with
COULD Colin Firth collect a best actor Oscar two years running? That’s the question being asked now that his new film, The King’s Speech, has been unveiled. His performance as the stuttering King George VI is certainly going to win him awards and
We’ve all played driving games on the PlayStation, but as motorsport writer MATT WESTCOTT discovers when he accompanies Skoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks, rally driving is not quite as straightforward as it looks. LIKE an angry bull about
It’s a long way from Teesside to Bulgaria – and an even longer journey to launch a movie. FILM-MAKERS Jonathan Frank and Nick Rowntree and were having their photograph taken outside the Arc in the centre of Stockton on Thursday when someone they
IN both Joe Wellthorpe’s criticism of the miners (HAS, Oct 21) and Joseph Marley’s defence of them (HAS, Oct 25) the key issues are missed. You can argue that both the miners and Margaret Thatcher’s Tory party of the day were responsible for
IF Geoffrey Bulmer is to believed about how Gordon Brown got it right to seek international approval by treasuries on how to stem the downturn in trade and restore growth (HAS, Oct 23), why isn’t Mr Brown on his legs in the House of Commons pointing
PETER Mullen was off target in his latest column (Echo, Oct 26). He complained that the Government was guilty of a “massive campaign of spin” regarding the coming spending cuts and that the official “lurid statistics” were nothing more than
WHAT a glaring example of how out-of-touch our politicians are was shown by recent remarks from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, pictured. So someone one from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales (42 people for every job vacancy) should
DESPITE hostility to regions, Labour foisted them upon England. Local Government Secretary(for England only) Eric Pickles has approved the merger of some London metropolitan boroughs to form a super-council. Presumably, more super-councils in
‘FRIENDS! Brethren! Countrymen! That worst of plagues, the detested tea…is now arrived in the harbor; the hour of destruction, or manly opposition to the machinations of tyranny, stares you in the face.” On Tuesday, America goes to the
EVERY voter would benefit from putting General Election candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) by the Alternative Vote (AV) instead of the current X “first-past-the-post” system. With X voting, most votes do not count and most MPs
JOHN Gilmore’s letter about Afghanistan (HAS, Oct 26) made my blood boil. He seems to have missed or dismissed the reason for the war in Afghanistan. He, along with a lot of other people, think our troops should be brought home and that they shouldn
BRITISH Summer Time ends early tomorrow and the clocks go back an hour. But what if it didn’t? Middlesbrough and Redcar Friends of the Earth group and lots of organisations are supporting the campaign to get the clocks moved forward by one
DEFENDING Start Fitness North-East Harrier League champions Sunderland start today’s second fixture on home ground at Farrington, having dropped further down the table to sixth after a results mistake. The Wearsiders, who have won the coveted
As Halloween looms, Steve Pratt learns from a Durham University academic that the word on vampires is these bloodsuckers can be traced back to harmless butterflies. HALLOWEEN. A time for playing trick or treat and dressing up as your favourite monster
IT was always going to the case that the reality of the Government’s public sector squeeze would only really hit home when councils began to reveal details of the cuts they are being forced to make. Darlington Borough Council led the way yesterday
HUGH Morris has backed Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss to guide England to their first Ashes win on Australian soil in almost a quarter of a century. The England squad flew out of Heathrow bound for Perth yesterday looking to retain the urn
BLAYDON will be counting the cost as they board the 7.30 London train this morning for their match against National One leaders Barking. With funding for clubs at this level due for a further cut next season, they would receive more from the
ALAN TAIT has warned his Newcastle Falcons players to learn quickly if they are to steer clear of relegation in the Aviva Premiership. The coach takes his squad to second-placed Northampton Saints today knowing that the hosts need to win to
NACARAT can start his new season on a high by claiming the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Tom George’s gallant grey has not tasted success since his brilliant Racing Post Chase triumph last February, but looks to have been found an
WETHERBY’S top race, the Bet365Charlie Hall Chase takes centre stage at the track at 3.25 today, with eight solid runners heading to post. Deep Purple, winner of the race last year, and Ollie Magern, who twice tasted success in the Grade 2 contest
ROCKLIFFE PARK might have been in the news this week for the events in the last fortnight which have seen Gordon Strachan replaced by Tony Mowbray at Middlesbrough. Now it is the turn of the training ground’s exceptional hotel, with the ambitious
Tony Mowbray this week returned to the club he calls home, when he took over as Middlesbrough manager. Following his unveiling on Tuesday, Chief Football Writer Paul Fraser met up with the man considered a legend on Teesside, a manager who knows how
ARSENE Wenger maintains his latest generation of Arsenal youngsters have all the ingredients to emulate his team of ‘‘Invincibles’’. The Gunners moved into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with a 4-0 victory at Newcastle, where Wenger fielded
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed the vote to decide who will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is to take place as scheduled on December 2. The decision was taken at this week’s executive committee meeting in Zurich, despite two members
JONNY Wilkinson has been ruled out of England’s autumn international campaign with a shoulder injury. The Toulon fly-half has been formally replaced in Martin Johnson’s 32-man elite squad by Sale’s Charlie Hodgson. Wilkinson does not require
WE ASKED the Legends: Do you think Sunderland and Newcastle would be happy to avoid defeat rather than win the derby? MICKY HORSWILL: Of course yes, especially Sunderland, I would think, because they are the away team. A point for us
DESPITE sitting 18th in League One and seeing points slip through his fingers in recent weeks, Mick Wadsworth’s belief in his Hartlepool United side remains unshaken. Pools have squandered seven points from a winning position this season and
MATTHEW Bates revealed he is excited to be part of the new era at Middlesbrough and hopes the arrival of Tony Mowbray will bring a great atmosphere back to the Riverside. Bottom club Bristol City travel to Teesside for Mowbray’s first game
Tony Mowbray hopes he can persuade David Wheater to sign a new contract with the club – or risk losing him for nothing. Mowbray’s reign at the Riverside is only a few days old but already he faces the prospect of losing the Redcarborn defender
HOUSEMATE Kevin Nolan has revealed the special preparation that Andy Carroll has had for dealing with Sunderland’s two uncompromising centre-backs in tomorrow’s 143rd Tyne-Wear derby - the early morning school run. Carroll was last night given
CHRIS HUGHTON last night thanked derby counterpart Steve Bruce for his support after emerging from a difficult week as Newcastle United manager with his job intact. In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday night’s Carling Cup exit at the
MARK COOPER is confident his Darlington side can cause an upset today, despite the fact opponents AFC Wimbledon are unbeaten at home this season. The Dons are two points clear at the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table and with six wins
STEVE BRUCE might have grown up in a Newcastle United supporting family, but thinks it is sad the North- East’s biggest derby has become fuelled by hatred off the pitch. The Tyne-Wear encounter has become one of the most hostile around Europe
STEVE BRUCE has warmed up for the return of tomorrow’s Tyne-Wear derby by revealing the inspiration behind his appointment as Sunderland manager was former Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson. Bruce, born and raised on the banks of the Tyne
A PLAN to unite every village, town and city in the world called Richmond through a community website has found backing from local businessmen. The Richmonds of the World initiative would link 50 or more locations from 11 countries under one
POP superstars Take That added a second North-East date to their UK tour yesterday, as desperate fans endured hours of frustration trying to secure tickets. Ticketing websites were overrun with die-hard followers of the reunited chart-topping
A CHARITABLE foundation has distributed £17m of grants in the 15 years it has been established. The annual meeting of County Durham Community Foundation, which manages charitable giving on behalf of people and companies, presented an outstanding
A JOBLESS teenager stole a dead woman’s jewellery before having a crisis of conscience and returning it, a court heard. Ryan Michael Woodley was seen by his mother breaking into her neighbour’s home at Granville Terrace, Binchester, County
THE British National Party (BNP) is being taken to court by its creditors including a North- East printing firm which is owed thousands. The far-right party’s central office owes the Newton Press, in County Durham, about £16,500 for printing
He was the most powerful man in County Durham until he was jailed for his part in a notorious corruption scandal. Joe Willis looks back at the life of Andrew Cunningham. IT is ironic that news of Andrew Cunningham’s death aged 100 has only just
NORTHERN Rock’s chief executive Gary Hoffman could resign from the state-owned financial institution next week, after being linked with the top job at a new bank. Mr Hoffman is understood to be a leading contender to run NBNK Investments, which
A LETTINGS agency is poised to buy its second rival firm in as many months. The Castledene Group has increased the number of properties on its books to nearly 1,000 after taking over lettings agency Interlet, based in Seaham, County Durham,
A NORTH-EAST hotel has spent more than half-a-million pounds on ensuring its championship golf course looks its best. Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, has spent about £500,000 on the latest green-keeping machinery to keep the 7,879-yards course
A TRANSGENDER bus driver has donned her best pink outfit to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Kaye Warren, 51, from Darlington, lost her mother to breast cancer three years ago and decided to do something something a little different
FOOTBALL-mad Geordies and Mackems are being warned to behave as the clock counts down to the 142nd Tyne-Wear derby tomorrow lunchtime. Newcastle United host Sunderland at St James’ Park in a 1.30pm kick-off, with fans of both sides desperate
A TEENAGER’S mother has warned of the dangers of fireworks after an unlit one exploded in his hand. Josh Bruce suffered serious injuries to his left hand after he picked up a wet firework at his home in Stockton on Wednesday morning. The 16
A FESTIVAL of Remembrance at a North-East theatre is to be dedicated to a man from the region who died fighting abroad. Sapper Daryn Roy, 28, from Dipton, County Durham, was killed by a roadside bomb in March, while serving in Afghanistan. It
THE family of a football coach who was found dead at the club where he served have paid tribute to him. Peter Cooper’s body was discovered on Wednesday by his colleagues at Billingham Town FC, who had just returned from a court hearing to discuss
A GREEN-FINGERED gardener was shocked to discover a foot-long carrot while digging up vegetables. The carrot was found by Stuart Boulton on his allotment in Smithfield Road, Darlington. Mr Boulton, who works as a photographer for The Northern
A sorry day for Darlington raises the spectre of the economic pain to be felt across the region as local authorities respond to the Government's austerity measures. ARTS & CULTURE NOTHING illustrates the council’s grim financial position
THE grim reality of Government spending cuts was laid bare last night when a North-East council became the first to reveal its plans. Darlington Borough Council warned that 400 jobs could go and one of the region’s best-loved theatres faces
More than 20,000 UK homes were affected by a phone exchange fault tonight. BT said customers in northern England and part of Scotland were experiencing disruption to their broadband service following a power cut. Engineers were working to resolve the
