NEWCASTLE UNITED have terminated Spanish striker Xisco's contract by mutual consent. Xisco joined the Magpies in September 2008 from Deportivo La Coruna in a deal worth £5.7m, but the striker has barely featured during his four-and-half-year spell
KEVIN THOMSON'S injury-hit Middlesbrough career has come to an end after the remaining 18 months of his contract was mutually ended. The Edinburgh-born midfielder started just five matches this season, coming off the bench in four, after falling
A COUNCILLOR has criticised the decision not to provide funding for the redevelopment of the former Darlington Arts Centre, saying that the Arts Council’s judgement “beggars belief”. Nick Wallis, who holds the leisure portfolio at Darlington Borough
DARLINGTON Borough Council is facing legal action over its decision to close its Kids and Co nursery service. Both Unison, which is acting on behalf of the 37 Kids and Co staff who face losing their jobs, and a parent are seeking a Judicial Review
A coming of age tale and a Sci-fi classic are the next Darlington Film Club screenings at The Forum in Darlington .The 2007 comedy drama, Son of Rambow, will be shown on February 4, followed on February 11 by the cult classic Alien. Both films start
FOOTBALL's January transfer window closes tonight and the scramble for new signings has been another reminder of the incredible amounts of money that change hands at the highest level of the game. It is a world apart from normality for the vast
A SENIOR salesman who was caught drink driving after an argument with his partner has been banned from the roads for 18-months. Richard Henderson, 40, of Ainsley Grove, Darlington, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today
A JUDGE has begun summing up in the case of a man who denies a series of historic sex charges. Paul Needham, 62, of Hartington Way, Darlington, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of rape, eight counts of indecent assault and eight counts of indecency
AN impromptu chorus from a mass of wellheeled Free-Bus- Pass-Flashers bewailing the trials of adolescent love is decidedly eerie. This is a big budget bumson- seats job from Bill Kenwright and it provides a nostalgic fantasy of life in the 1960s
A MOTHER who has written North Yorkshire's answer to the best-selling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, has had her book published. Sandra Holtby says she dreamt the storyline to her first book, Treat Her Like a Virgin, which she describes as
The Secret Life Of Dogs (ITV1, 9pm) The Big Reunion (ITV2, 9pm) MILLIONS of people in Britain share their homes with a dog, often confiding their secrets in them, and treating them like one of the family. But how much do we really know about
A TEENAGER with a gambling problem helped himself to thousands of pounds from the savings of an elderly family friend, a court heard. Matthew Lee Chapman was trusted to make withdrawals from the Post Office account of the 92-year-old man, who had
FUN DAY: A Chinese New Year family fun day is being held at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle from 11am to 4pm on Tuesday, February 19. Youngsters will get the chance to meet real, friendly animals from Jay’s Animal Encounters, including a snake to
IT was both a privilege and an eye-opener last Friday to host an event which showcased live music and local talent. A privilege because it raised £3,000 in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of family friend Harvey Gaydon, who died after
A NEW £8m plant that converts some of the region's food waste into electricity is almost complete. The Emerald Biogas anaerobic digestion (AD) facility on Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate is the first of its type in the North-East. Following
A NORTH-EAST creative studio, which counts Disney, Tomy and Lego among its key clients, has changed its ownership team with help from local dealmakers. Newcastle-based Paul Windle Creative Studio was founded in 1989 by artist and designer Paul
SUNDERLAND College has welcomed Anne Isherwood as its new principal. Her appointment comes as the college is in the throes of a £24m refurbishment at its campuses in Bede, Hylton and Washington. She was previously principal and chief executive at Bishop
SQUARE REVAMP: Visitors and locals are being asked for their views of plans for a major revamp of one of York’s most popular city centre areas, King’s Square. They include creating more space for pedestrians and street performers and new outdoor café
WORK on a £1.1m package of safety measures to the Great North Road will get underway this month. The package has been designed to tackle the risk of collisions on the A1 in North Yorkshire ahead of the major £314m scheme to upgrade the route to
A NORTH-EAST expert in tackling sexual violence has been drafted in by the Foreign Office to share he knowledge on the problem. Wendy Shepherd is one of 70 specialists who will be working on The Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) was
THE BODY of a woman has been found on the bank of a river in the Yorkshire Dales. Emergency services were called yesterday (Thursday, Jan 31) afternoon to a spot close to Starbotton, near Kettlewell, on the B6160, two miles from the Bluebell Inn
BEST SERVICE: The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge has received the Best Customer Service Award from Best Western Hotels. Emma Lee, general manager of the hotel, was presented with an engraved Chrystal Rose bowl by Best Western Hotels UK at the hotel
VILLAGERS can bid for a share of £55,000 to install renewable energy technology. The Renewable Heat Premium Payment Communities (RHPP) scheme has awarded £55,000 to Sherburn Hill Community Association (SHCA), in Sherburn Hill, near Durham City.
A FACEBOOK page asking Newton Aycliffe residents to share photos, memories and observations of their home town has attracted hundreds of fans within days of its creation. When proud Newtonian Phil Bosten launched What’s so good about Newton Aycliffe
FORMER Sunderland football club chairman Sir Bob Murray has returned to his Consett roots to see first-hand the impact of a youth project in his home town. Sir Bob, founder and chairman of trustees for the Foundation of Light, the Black Cats charity
AN appeal has been launched to track down the owner of an injured puppy found in an alleyway. The dog was found to the rear of Jackson Street in Brotton, near Saltburn on Sunday afternoon. The RSPCA said the tiny bitch, thought to be aged around
A NORTH-East peer today urged people to shrug off doom-and-gloom about the economy - and recognise that the region is firmly on the up. Lord Bates, the former Conservative MP for Langbaurgh, Teesside, delivered an upbeat message as he led a debate
New afternoon tea and prize bingo sessions are being held at Age UK County Durham’s Resource Centre in Betjeman Close East Stanley on Wednesdays at 1.30pm. The £1.50 entrance charge includes tea, coffee and cakes with bingo tickets priced individually
A HOSPICE is helping young adults and people from ethnic minorities find work. St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham City, is offering apprenticeships and work placements, working with the Job Centre and other organisations to help unemployed people
POLICE in Darlington have seized illegal and counterfeit tobacco in a raid. The illicit tobacco was seized from a shop in Darlington town centre today (Thursday, January 31) in a joint raid by Darlington Borough Council’s trading standards team
TWO alleged burglars accused of targeting the home of an elderly woman were remanded in custody at Durham Crown Court today (Thursday January 31). Christian Allaker, 54, and 40-year-old Edward Short, made a brief appearance in a preliminary hearing
A HOTEL was evacuated - after a designer perfume bottle, shaped like a bundle of TNT, was mistaken for a bomb. Staff at the Hilton Hotel in Tower Street, York, called police at 9.20am after the “suspicious package” was found in the ladies’ lavatory
PLANS to convert an old people's home into 11 apartments has won approval. Durham County Council's north area planning committee approved today, (Thursday, January 31) the scheme for the former Oakwood Residential Home in South Crescent, Fence
A MAN who was carrying a meat cleaver when he burgled a flat while the terrified occupant was in bed has been jailed for one year, nine months. David Gibson, 34, was said to be under the influence of drink and drugs when he entered the flats in
A MAN who fell out with an acquaintance stabbed him a number of times after the pair brawled in a pre-arranged fight. Teesside Crown Court heard how there was “bad feeling” between James Munro and the complainant, Brandon Coward, as a result of
TEESSIDE grandmother Lindsay Sandiford lost a High Court battle today over a UK Government refusal to fund her appeal against a death sentence imposed by an Indonesian court after she was found guilty of drug smuggling. Two judges in London refused
A TEAM of young volunteers with The Prince's Trust will run a tombola at Squires cafe, in the Newgate Centre, Bishop Auckland, on Thursday February 7. Funds raised will be used to buy equipment for a project to improve the garden at supported accomodation
A SUPERMARKET chain has suspended its contract with a North Yorkshire manufacturer implicated in the horse meat scandal – prompting speculation over possible job losses. Supermarket chain Aldi has announced it has suspended its contract with Dalepak
A NORTH-EAST MP is confident that his proposal to ban smoking in cars when a child is present would eventually become law. Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham, planned to present his Private Members Bill to the House of Commons tomorrow (Friday,
A WOULD-BE robber demanded money from his victim before striking him as he tried to flee. Gareth James Yeoman, who was armed with a flat-headed screw driver at the time of the incident, was jailed for a total of three years and six months.
SENIOR councillors will look at how preparations for the introduction of wheelie bins to Darlington are going, ahead of a roll out in June. Members of Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet will consider a report prepared by the council’s scrutiny
A DARLINGTON market has been crowned the nation’s favourite. Darlington Sunday People’s Market has beaten off competition from across the country to be named Britain’s favourite market at the annual National Association of British Market Authorities
A LONG-SERVING care home worker has retired after more than 30 years in the business. Lana Howell worked in care homes in the south of the country before moving to Springfield Care Home, in Wylam Avenue, Darlington, six years ago. The 61-year-old
An audience at The Sage Gateshead was transported back in time to 1920s Paris, with those normally in front row seats invited to take their places at cafe tables for a diverse mix of chamber music from Northern Sinfonia players. Guest pianist John
CHILDREN have been reading their favourite stories to canine friends this week, in a scheme to boost reading confidence as part of National Storytelling Week. Children at Wavell Community Junior School, Catterick Garrison, spent the day reading
THE first group of rundown schools to benefit from a Government rebuild scheme has been announced after a contractor was appointed. Six schools in the region will be part of phase one of the ‘priority’ investment- three in County Durham, and one
As the clock ticks towards the start of a new season, the search begins for a captain who can lead the way to glory LOW Lands may hardly be supposed subterranean; High Lands is loftier yet. United, Lands is a two-village community on the leading
LENT CLASSES: A series of discussion groups for Lent will be held at Grange Road Baptist Church, next to Sainsbury’s in Darlington, on the theme ‘Living the life God promised’. The classes will start on Thursday, February 14, at 2.30pm or 7.30pm, and
I BELIEVE it is right for us to use public transport as much as possible. However, it will be a long time before HS2 becomes a reality and the cost of a ticket for rail travel is already becoming prohibitive. So much so, in fact, that it is
RECENTLY, there have been several letters in The Northern Echo debating the relative merits of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. I wondered if any readers can tell me who this local group is? I came across this photograph a few weeks ago.
REGARDING the EU debate, do our main party leaders really want to just be a regional principality of a United States of Europe, rather than leader of an independent country? It doesn’t say much for their political ambitions if they are happy to
JIMMY TAYLOR wrote about his family circumstance as a child growing up in the 1940s (HAS, Jan 28). I shared his experience. What would now be considered abject poverty seemed nothing of the sort at the time, since nobody on the street had washing
FURTHER to D Brearley’s fine letter regarding the behaviour of some footballers (HAS, Jan 28), I am tempted to lay some of the blame on the law-makers and enforcers of the game. We often see players taking throw-ins or free kicks from incorrect
MY husband and I thoroughly enjoyed a performance by the Darlington Orchestra and the Locomotion singers at the Dolphin Centre recently. We only found out about them when we went to Darlington Arts Centre last year and realised what a gem we had
I NOTE The Northern Echo belatedly commented on union money that ought to have been a local taxpayer concern for some considerable time (Comment, Jan 28), but somehow missed the elephant in the room. There is a clear pattern emerging, pointing
HIGH winds of up to 70mph caused traffic chaos today (Thursday, January 31), blowing over lorries, uprooting trees and ripping down tiles and signs. Strong westerly winds hit the North-East and North Yorkshire, with an amber warning in place for
AN appeal against a council’s refusal to give planning permission for a residential gypsy caravan site has been made to the planning inspectorate. An application by Reuben Rogers for retrospective planning permission to use land in Aycliffe Lane
A CLASSIC nineteenth century novel is being re-invented as tongue-in-cheek rhyming verse – dubbed by the writer as a possible “grave-turner.” North Yorkshire writer Bernard Crewdson started the work two years ago but hopes to complete it this year
COUNCILLORS have approved a budget for the coming year which is nearly four per cent less than the one agreed last year. Shildon Town Council has approved a budget of £657,280 for 2013-14 which is a reduction of £26,400 or 3.9 per cent on last
POLICE would like to speak to the driver of car forced to break to avoid hitting a male who ran out in front of the vehicle shortly after 6pm yesterday (Wednesday, January 30) on Stephenson Way in Newton Aycliffe. It is believed the man and a woman
THE FAMILY of a missing woman have thanked the public for their support as the search for her continues. Barbara Colling, 68, from Helmsley, went missing on Monday after setting out on a walk and was last seen in the area of the B1257 at Abbotts
NEWCASTLE United have signed teenage defender Kevin Mbabu from Swiss side Servette. The 17-year-old, who is predominantly a central defender, has put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal after a successful trial and will go into the club's
POLICE are hunting a vandal who threw a brick through a house window before riding off on his bike. The man threw a piece of concrete at the living room window, this didn’t cause any damage, however he then returned and threw a second house brick
THE problem with the much-touted ‘Green Deal’ – launched this week, to lag lofts, fill cavity walls and cut energy waste – is that it doesn’t look like much of a deal. I hope I’m wrong, but it is impossible to see the Government’s flagship scheme
THE Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is a Government department with a mission statement promising “to make markets work well for consumers”. It adds: “We achieve this by promoting and protecting consumer interests throughout the UK, while ensuring
In this day and age, the vast majority of teenagers, if not primary age children, already own some kind of mobile device, whether it be a smart phone or an iPad, or some other tablet. Our philosophy at Polam Hall School is that we want to empower pupils
A CAMPAIGNER who lived as a virtual recluse for 30 years after going blind before setting up a charity has received his MBE. George Glass, 82, learned he was going to be awarded the British Empire Medal last summer for his work establishing BlindVoiceUK
FLOWER CLUB: Shildon and District Flower Club will host demonstrator Mildred Stafford at its next meeting. She will give her talk called Throw Caution to the Wind at Shildon Civic Centre from 7.30pm on Monday (February 4). Entry is free to society
MOTORISTS who ignored road closed signs had to be rescued from their vehicles after becoming trapped in deep water in North Yorkshire. One incident happened shortly after 6.30pm on Wednesday, January 30, at Butterwick, near Brawby, and involved
WEST End star Ruthie Henshall will discuss her career and perform some of her best known songs in an intimate North-East concert. Ms Henshall is staging her first regional tour and will reach Durham City’s Gala Theatre on Saturday, February 16,
Hannah Bryan meets the staff and volunteers behind Bike Stop, a social enterprise designed to improve cycling opportunities in the region EVEN if you don’t know your brakes from your brackets, it’s hard not to get a little excited about cycling
A DEAL has been signed which will see regeneration work start on a Grade II listed town hall after years of legal wrangling. Thornaby Town Council and Green Lane Capital have joined forces to redevelop the building into a mixture of town hall and
A GROUP set up to commemorate the glory days of amateur football in County Durham is celebrating a milestone anniversary. The Durham Amateur Football Trust (DAFT) has come a long way since its launch 10 years ago by two sports enthusiasts who struck
THE new campaign has been launched to highlight the region's manufacturing and engineering expertise. The Made in Middlesbrough campaign which was prompted by the business community, will showcase products made in the town that are being exported
ONE of the region’s five star hotels has unveiled the results of a £200,000 refurbishment scheme. Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, near Darlington, has transformed the 19th Century Old Hall by extending its restaurant, The Orangery, and kitchens to
A DARLINGTON market has been crowned the nation’s favourite. Darlington Sunday People’s Market has beaten off competition from across the country to be named Britain’s favourite market at the annual National Association of British Market Authorities
SCORES of children will take to the streets of Darlington dressed in onesies to raise money for a toddler fighting cancer. Darlington schoolfriends Natasha Geach, 13 and Lucy Wade, 14, wanted to help the fundraising campaign to send three-year-old
SUNDERLAND have confirmed the £5m signing of Danny Graham from Swansea on a three-and-a-half-year deal. Click here for live transfer deadline day news His initial task will be to persuade those supporters who jeered his introduction
POLICE officers have been left "red-faced" after having their fuel cards declined following a technical hitch with the suppliers. Some Cleveland Police officers have been forced to get attendants to phone up the fuel company to verify their cards
A COAL mining firm has announced it is looking into digging an opencast mine on the outskirts of Durham – and villagers are already gearing up to fight the proposals. Hargreaves Surface Mining is preparing proposals to mine coal from open countryside
THE Canadian pop star proves his critics wrong with this acoustic version of his best-selling album, Believe. Co-produced by Bieber and guitarist Dan Kanter, the record features eight stripped-down takes of four of his biggest radio hits plus three
IT’S BEEN a two-year wait for a new album from Manchester four-piece The Courteeners – and it’s been worth it. As expected, each song on third album Anna lends itself to rocking live venues, which is good news as they are about to start an 18-date
FOR his sixth album, US singer Josh Groban has teamed up with Warner Bros Records chairman Rob Cavallo, as well as producers Walter Afanasieff and Lester Mendez. The 31-year-old self-described “tenor in training”, who appeared opposite Emma Stone in
A MOTHER-of-two has been jailed after stealing a mobile phone from a probation officer and repeatedly shoplifting to fund her drug habit. Katie Carruthers of Tom Raine Court, Darlington, had 22 previous convictions and was serving three community
EELS is essentially one guy, Mark Everett, or ‘E’ as he likes to be known. E is nothing if not prolific, with Wonderful, Glorious being the US singersongwriter’s 10th studio album. But no matter how many records he has produced, it’s starting to feel
INTROSPECTIVELY contemplating the flaws of men (Acts Of Man), welcoming the end of life (Dead Now) and solemnly serenading hopeless pessimism (Nitrous Gas), Scottish doom merchants Frightened Rabbit offer up their fourth slice of delicious misery-cake
Superstars of slapstick, father and son team Clive Webb and Danny Adams, are bringing lots of laughs and goo to Middlesbrough, as Steve Pratt reports Never mind international circus arts and street entertainment company Cirque du Soleil. Middlesbrough
A SCHOOL is hoping to sell off some of its playing fields to raise £500,000 for a full size, all-weather football pitch. Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe believes the floodlit, third generation (3G) pitch will vastly increase its capacity for
Venue previews its strongest season yet, including comedy, classical music and children’s theatre TEESSIDE’S own Patrick Monahan is back on stage at Middlesbrough Town Hall in the first season of 2013 which organisers believe is one of the strongest
AN exhaustive planning process into a bid to mine the world’s biggest deposit of a valuable potash mineral is now officially underway. After two years of talks, the North York Moors National Park Authority has received a planning application from
A SERIES of wide ranging cuts are on the way for North Yorkshire as the county authority seeks to freeze its council tax for the third year in a row. The county council will meet next week to discuss a package of measures as members work to balance
THE A1 (M) southbound has just reopened after a lorry was blown over in the winds. The carriageway was closed for about an hour-and-a-half just south of junction 63, Chester-le-Street and Blind Lane. The driver was not injured.
Peter Barron goes in pursuit of happy memories and nourishment at one of County Durham’s most picturesque hotels WE HAVE very happy memories of Redworth Hall Hotel. It was a favourite haunt when the children were small: a 15- minute drive from
A NORTH Yorkshire caravan park has been named as one of the top in the country. The AA has announced the winners of its Campsite of the Year Awards for Britain and Ireland and presented the Vale of Pickering Caravan Park at Allerston with an award
A gloriously eclectic band, rather difficult to categorise but with a recurring Blue Note sound. Covers of Nardis, In a Sentimental Mood and Thelonius (sic) mix with blues, funk and occasional electronics with Hobart’s tenor inspiration ranging from
This is the second CD by the impressive San Diego-based pianist and composer. With crisp accompaniment throughout by Justin Grinnell and Julian Carter there are telling guest appearances by saxophonist Tripp Sprague, mandolinist Eva Scow and others
Another outstanding album from jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon who has rearranged several familiar jazz classics such as Tiger Rag, Panama and St. Louis Blues for a talented group of musicians including Jon Erik-Kelso, Adrian Cunningham and multi-instrumentalist
OLD Yellow Moon is a collaborative new CD release (out on March 4) from EmmyLou Harris and Rodney Crowell on Nonesuch Records. As individual artists, they have stood the test of time, notching up around 80 years of entertaining between them.
Alexander Goehr is a central figure of the post-war Manchester School of composers with Birtwistle and Maxwell Davies. Conducted by Oliver Knussen, this programme of Goehr’s works, including When Adam Fell, is unavailable elsewhere on recordings.
A product of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s remarkable burst of creativity in the 1960s, the 8th Symphony uses texts drawn from Julian Tuwim’s epic poem Polish Flowers, reflecting on his country’s troubled past and ominous future. Antoni Wit conducts the
Violinist Tianwa Yang, accompanied by the Sinfonia Finlandia Jyvaskyla, performs in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, strikingly placed next to the much less familiar Concerto in D minor. Yang, playing with a lightness of touch, is backed by
SOME old favourites and some new names will be in the region’s folk venues in the week ahead. Tonight we’re really spoiled for choice, with George Welch at Blaydon’s Tynefolk, Scots balladeer Tich Frier at Skelton’s Duke William for a special Burns
THE family of missing North Yorkshire woman, Barbara Colling, have thanked the public for their help and ask for their continued support in the ongoing search for her. Mrs Colling, from Helmsley, has not been seen since the morning of Monday, in
AN application to change planning permission for a wind farm on the outskirts of Darlington that has sparked opposition from local people is to be heard by councillors next week. Developers Banks Renewables were granted planning permission for
AN enforcement officer angered by the way travellers are treated has vowed to fight on after councillors rejected his controversial plan to rent or sell a beauty spot to a homeless Gypsy family. Grandfather David Lovell said he would appeal against
AN assault victim has lost his fight for life, ten days after being attacked in a York street. Keith Wright, 50, died in Leeds General Infirmary at 9am today, January 31, after being on a life support machine. He had been left with critical
THE family of a steam railway volunteer who was crushed to death between carriages is seeking substantial damages from the railway, their lawyer said today. Retired police officer Robert Lund, 65, died almost instantly from extreme chest and abdominal
Anyone who works with children and who would like to pick up some free invaluable and practical outdoor skills is invited to sign up for a new course. Middlesbrough Environment City’s Forest Schools Basic Practical Skills will offer insights into nature
A NORTHERN Echo reader is snap happy after winning a photography contest. Phil Horan’s shot of Infinity Bridge, which spans the River Tees at Stockton, will be one of five winning pictures to adorn the carriages of a new train. The 41-year-old
A JUNIOR football team is being helped to survive the challenge of the British winter by a local window company. Chatsworth Windows, which sponsors Bedale U12s in the Wensleydale Premiership, has now kitted the team out with waterproof training
The Jazztones will perform at the next meeting of the Darlington Jazz Club, at The Forum, in Borough Road, on Sunday, February 3, at 5pm. Entry is £3, or £1 for young musicians. DIGNITY MEETING: The Gold group, Growing Older Living in Darlington
POLICE investigating the murder of a football memorabilia seller have traced a mystery caller who rang them but hung up. Northumbria Police detectives issued an appeal for him to come forward after he rang last Saturday (January 26) but got cold
A SCHEME which has helped nearly 4,000 people in England find rented homes in the last two years is coming to Hambleton. The district council has secured £40,000 in Government funding to join the Private Rented Sector Access Scheme. It means
A CLUB to help obese and overweight seven to 13-year-olds get healthy and have fun doing it will be launched at Hambleton Leisure Centre, Northallerton, during the February 18 to 22 half-term holiday, from 9am until 5pm. An induction session for the
AN NHS pilot campaign has been launched to urge older women who have felt bloated for more than three weeks to see a doctor immediately. Women aged over 50 across North Yorkshire will be the focus of the Be Clear On Cancer initiative, which awareness
POLICE have issued an urgent appeal for help after prescription drugs were stolen from a parked car. Morphine, diamorphine and codeine were taken when the car was broken into on Manor Park, Harrogate, overnight between January 29 and 30. The
POLICE are urging householders to be on their guard after a single community suffered five burglaries in just two days. On January 28 and 29 five properties were entered in Thirsk and thieves stole purses, cash and a money box. The burglaries
FERRYHILL Town Council has agreed to freeze the rate of its council tax next year. At a special meeting of the town council on January 14, members heard that the budget for next year showed a decrease of 5.1 per cent. Members therefore considered
TRIBUTES have been paid to a football club director who died after he collapsed during a match. Paramedics were called to a Durham Challenge Cup tie between Seaham Red Star and Shildon AFC after John Hay, 69, collapsed in the stands. Mr Hay
VISUAL reminders of the growth of region’s industrial past have gone under the hammer at a North-East auction house. Two albums of photographs documenting the construction of Teesside’s Nylon Works in 1950 were sold at Anderson and Garland along
WHEN the January transfer window closes tonight, Swansea City striker Danny Graham and former Newcastle United midfielder Kieron Dyer are set to become the biggest new arrivals in the North-East on deadline day. Graham was given permission to head
SYDNEY PAGET can finally get his head in front over fences in the Haygain Hay Steamers Clean Healthy Forage Beginners’ Chase at Towcester, writes TATTENHAM. Donald McCain’s runner was a reasonable performer over hurdles but suffered a crashing
GARY BALLANCE heads to Australia this week – a country which could play a significant role in his career over the next two years. The highly-rated Yorkshire batsman, is touring Down Under with the England Lions squad, and could play one-day matches
STUART BROAD refuses to waste energy fretting over his own form and fitness when he has a primary job to do as England’s returning Twenty20 captain. Broad could be forgiven for nagging doubts about his individual wellbeing, having ended 2012 with
REBECCA ADLINGTON will make a “major announcement” at a press conference next Tuesday. There has been speculation the 23-year-old double Olympic gold medallist from Beijing would retire from the sport in the wake of the London Games. Adlington
POLICE have released an image of a bicycle stolen from the Eastbourne area of Darlington. The Carrera Vengeance 18ins black framed pedal cycle, with bright green wording, a black saddle and white rims, was stolen on Wednesday, January 30. The
FRANK SCHLECK has been handed a one-year ban by the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency (ALAD) after testing positive for a banned substance during last year’s Tour de France, ruling him out of the event this year. ALAD confirmed the 32-year-old RadioShack
BRITISH BASKETBALL said it was “confident and optimistic” after presenting its case to UK Sport in an appeal against funding cuts. UK Sport in December announced that basketball would receive no money during the Olympic cycle ahead of the 2016
YOUNG sports stars have been recognised for their efforts at an awards ceremony celebrating the best of Darlington’s grassroots sports schemes. The grand finale of the annual Darlington Sports Winners’ Scheme, held at Darlington College, was attended
IT’S all change at a village primary school, with a new headteacher, after-school clubs and overseas links. Bearpark Primary School, in Bearpark, near Durham City, is extending its extra-curricular activities, with clubs for high five netball,
FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone has blamed political infighting as one of the reasons behind a lack of a venue to date for this year’s German Grand Prix. Under the rotational system it shares with Hockenheim, this year the race should be
TOM WOOD is geared up for another Twickenham battle royal as England go from being the hunters to the hunted in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland. Wood was man of the match when England’s back row outplayed the much-vaunted New Zealand
EAGLESCIFFE professional Graeme Bell faces the most important round of his professional career to date when he tees off in the final round of the PGA European Seniors qualifying school over the pestana golf resorts Vale da Pinta course Portugal today
A MINERAL mining company has submitted a planning application to mine what are thought to be the largest deposits of potash in the world in a UK national park. Sirius Minerals want to build the mine on a site near Whitby, within the North York
Final Score: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 2 ARSENAL fought back from two goals down to draw with Liverpool in a thrilling Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium last night. Both sides knew defeat could prove fatal to their hopes of closing back
A SCHEME to bring empty properties back into use is proving to be a big success in one town with 40 homes being bought up for renovation. Hartlepool Borough Council is working in partnership with Housing Hartlepool and the Homes and Communities
OLIVER Thornton knows the film version of Rocky Horror Show well. As a schoolboy he watched an illegal video copy of the outrageous musical about transexual aliens, innocent college kids and the need to do the Time Warp again. “I don’t know how
MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Jason Steele admits all the talk of January slump is ‘doing his head in’. Despite three straight league defeats, Tony Mowbray’s side are only three points behind second-placed Leicester City in the npower Championship.
Jesus Christ Superstar Ben Forster has swapped his flowing robes for suspenders to appear as Brad in the musical Rocky Horror Show. He tells Steve Pratt why it was time for something completely different AFTER playing Jesus, Sunderland Superstar
AUSTRALIAN musician Tom Morgan is like a latter-day Bob Dylan. The former member of Evan Dando’s The Lemonheads has a gravelly voice reminiscent of a mature Dylan, with his lyrics dealing with similar themes – broken love affairs and ruminations about
INITIALLY given away as a present on Christmas Day to fans who attended Pulp’s Sheffield Arena show on December 8, the Britpop group, fronted by Jarvis Cocker, decided to release After You as a single after the high level of interest. Their first new
THE latest single from the Scottish songstress’s best-selling debut Our Version Of Events is beautifully melodic and lyrically poignant. This self-affirming metaphor-laden masterpiece is about how Sande felt when she was trying to get signed.
Morning Readers! How are we all on this wet and extremely windy day. We hardly seem to get over one weather event before the next is taking place. The joys of Global Warming! I'm pleased to say I maintained this week. My leg has been swelling too so
The Saturdays are on a mission to break into the US music market, as Diana Pilkington reports However often we hear talk of another ‘British invasion’, the US music industry remains a notoriously tough nut to crack. But The Saturdays, with their
HALF term is only two weeks away, and one venue is planning plenty of fun activities for children. Skating@Life is an outdoor rink with real ice and part of NewcastleGateshead’s flourishing Winter Festival. It runs until February 24. At the
Gavin Butler, vocalist with Welsh fun-loving rockers, The Blackout, who played Newcastle’s 02 Academy earlier this month, tells Matt Westcott about their positive philosophy on life. Their latest album, Start the Party, is out now WHAT makes you
ALBERT Square resident Zainab has a new water feature in EastEnders (BBC1). No, I don’t mean she’s installed a new toilet. She wants to brighten up Walford with an installation – a large and, to be honest, horriblelooking fountain. But what’s this
A FALLEN tree has caused traffic chaos for commuters heading to Durham City this morning. The 100ft tree came down shortly before 7am, completely blocking the A177 route into the city, near East Durham College’s Houghall Campus. The driver
A LEADING North-East social housing provider has launched a campaign to warn people about the dangers of pay day loans. Coast and Country, which manages a large property portfolio throughout the Tees Valley, hopes the campaign will counter widespread
Former Middlesbrough midfielder Barry Robson signs for Sheffield United #echotransfers — @MasonEcho 31 January 2013 Love the images of multi-millionaire footballers turning up for first day at new job in jeans and
A CHARITY is organising an evening of entertainment to raise money for a cause close to its heart. Consett YMCA’s Act On Theatre Group is co-ordinating a variety show at the town’s Empire Theatre in aid of blood cancer charity Bright Red. The
SUNDERLAND hope to make their third addition of the January transfer window later today and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet believes a recent run of good form makes it easier for the new-boys to settle. The Black Cats are expecting to confirm the arrival
PRIOR to Tuesday night, Steven Taylor had made 216 senior appearances for Newcastle United. Some had been in the Champions League, a handful ended in victory over the Magpies' fiercest rivals, Sunderland. All had immense significance for a player raised
A CAR has been hit by a train at a level crossing on a heritage railway line previously criticised over safety issues. The train, operated by Wensleydale Railway, struck the vehicle at an automatic crossing on the A684 near Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire
A TEESSIDE games company has announced it will produce its own video games. Double Eleven, based in Middlesbrough, will market and distribute its own and independently made games to national and international markets. The company, which employs
A NORTH-EAST logistics firm has created more than 30 new jobs after opening a £2.6m rail terminal. AV Dawson, in Middlesbrough, will expand its freight delivery business after building the Tees Riverside Intermodal Park (TRIP) to connect to the
A NORTH-EAST health and safety training company has created 10 new jobs. World Class Safety, based in Stockton, offered workers – some with experience of the asbestos removal industry - free training and refresher courses which helped them get
THREE Teesside engineering companies will launch a network event to help small businesses and strengthen the region's sector supply chain. Francis Brown Ltd, Industrial and Marine Hydraulics Ltd and Axiom Engineering Associates Ltd will work with
AN independent financial advisory company has welcomed a new partner to the business. Select Financial Solutions (SFS), based in Sedgefield, has appointed Geoff Coulson, who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Mr Coulson previously
A GLOBAL chemicals company which owns businesses based in the North-East has seen a drop in sales. Johnson Matthey, which runs technology firm Tracerco, in Billingham, near Stockton, revealed sales had fallen by two per cent to £635m in the third
A SPECIALIST renewable energy firm has completed one of the biggest solar power projects in the North of England. Think Renewable Energy, based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has fitted 790 solar panels in a 190kW scheme for Fridlington Farms in
SMALL rural businesses in the North-East will benefit from a £1m Government grant aimed at strengthening the economy. Companies with less than ten workers will be able to apply for funding between £10,000 and £150,000 from the small business growth
A MEMBER of the House of Lords has returned to a Weardale school to get a grilling about her life in politics. Baroness Hilary Armstrong of Hill Top spent an afternoon speaking to 50 students at Wolsingham School and Community College about working
POLICE in a Weardale town have made tackling dog fouling one of their main priorities for the coming weeks. Members of the Weardale Neighborhood Policing team will target the problem in the Demense Mill and Willows areas of Wolsingham after a meeting
FIFTIES DANCE: A 1950s style tea dance will be held in Bishop Auckland Town Hall between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday (February 2) organised by the Beamish Museum. Visitors to the free event will be able to try on 1950s costumes and there will also
A COUNTY Durham college is one of the best in the country for helping its students succeed, new figures have revealed. Student success rates at Bishop Auckland College are in the top 25 per cent in the country according to the statistics published
THERE are 804 fewer police officers across the region than there were at the time of the last General Election, new figures reveal. The Home Office figures show that since the Coalition Government came into power in 2010, the North-East has lost
A FIVE-MONTH-OLD baby was never going to survive the bleeding to his brain and eyes, a court heard. Consultant paediatric neurologist Dr Venkateswaran Ramesh (CORR), a consultant paediatric pathologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), in
JOB hunters are being invited to visit a bus where they can make radio show style CVs and create a webpage about themselves to show potential employers. The big blue bus will visit five County Durham towns over the next ten weeks to teach unemployed
