HARTLEPOOL United might be heading for League Two, but at least they are no longer heading for the most unwanted of club records. Pools have only been relegated three times in their 105-year history and staved off the drop for at least another
MINERS’ leader David Hopper hopes Sunderland AFC will lend support to a new anti-fascist campaign in the North-East. Mr Hopper is general secretary of the Durham Miners Association (DMA), which oversees the rights of thousands of ex-pitmen in the
FURIOUS North-East MPs have vowed to fight a plan to strip up to £100m of vital aid from the region - and hand it to wealthier Scotland. One will demand that ministers explain, as soon as Parliament returns after its Easter break, exactly how much
POLICE chiefs are recommending new guidelines to try to prevent a repeat of the North-East New Year’s Day quadruple death shooting tragedy. The killings of three members of Michael Atherton’s family, before he turned the gun on himself, in Horden
THE big purple bus stopped off in the North-East at the weekend as a once-tagged ‘fringe’ political party continues to try to move into the mainstream. Regional members of UKIP, the UK Independence Party, joined its national leader Nigel Farage
A THIEVING son pawned jewellery from the family safe when left “house sitting” while his parents were on holiday in Egypt. Heroin addict Andrew John Painter used a crow bar to prise open the safe to remove an estimated £10,000-worth of jewellery
POLICE have urged the public to come forward with information which could help find a missing man who disappeared last month in Stockton. The appeal comes after intensive searches of the River Tees by specialist police teams over the last two days
A NEW card has turned in the life of a former police woman and prison probation worker. Angela Walls has put some of her many skills gathered in a varied working life into her new venture, offering advice to improve the fitness and mental well-being
POLICE are still appealing for witnesses after two drivers were killed and an elderly man seriously injured in a three-car accident near Middlesbrough. Police are appealing for information following the crash, which took place on the A1043 Nunthorpe
A YOUNGSTER will appear in court tomorrow (Monday, April 8) following a robbery in Middlesbrough. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court tomorrow charged with aggravated burglary, assault
FOURTEEN members of a Hartlepool club today (SUN APRIL 7) staged a 12-hour snooker marathon in memory of a fellow clubman. The group from the Athenaeum Club in Church Street staged the sponsored event from 7am-7pm in aid of the town’s hospice.
FOREIGN Secretary William Hague has urged Indonesia to spare drug smuggler Lindsay Sandiford the firing squad. Judges in Bali are expected to rule later this month on an appeal against the death penalty by the British grandmother, who is originally
IMPLEMENTING a host of changes to the way a County Durham prison for young offenders is run proved “difficult and stressful” for staff and inmates. However, Gabrielle Lee, governor of Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, at Barnard Castle, has
EAGER young children and their families were among the more unusual visitors to a county cricket club’s season curtain-raising weekend. As Durham CCC staged their annual pre-season challenge match with Durham University, there were several counter
TOP PUB: A Hartlepool pub has been named one of the best real ale establishments in the region. Rat Race Ale House, at Hartlepool Station, is in the UK’s best 150 Local Real Ale Pubs listings, published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), and
AN MEP is demanding an investigation by Ofcom into the closure of TFM Radio’s offices in Teesside. Yorkshire MEP Timothy Kirkhope, leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, was involved in drafting the original white paper on independent
Final Score: Newcastle 1 Fulham 0 Papiss Cisse eased Newcastle's relegation fears with an injury-time winner against Fulham on a day when it appeared as if luck had deserted the United striker. Alan Pardew's side - and Cisse especially - had
Final Score: Chelsea 2 Sunderland 1 Paolo Di Canio's debut match as Sunderland boss ended in defeat as Chelsea returned to the top four of the Barclays Premier League with a third successive win at Stamford Bridge. The build up to Di Canio's
A FORMER police officer and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in rare sunny conditions after the otherwise wintry start to 2013. Retired Durham Police superintendent Arthur Hopps and his wife Nancy, who met at a sporting venue
BRITAIN’S most senior female judge has warned many in her profession have lived “sheltered lives” which disadvantaged them in ruling on many modern issues. Supreme Court Judge, Baroness Hale of Richmond, made her comments in a recent speech.
A TRUSTED Army office worker who created fictitious soldiers and had their salaries paid into her bank account walked free from court. Wendy Smith pocketed thousands of pounds from the 18-month scam at Vimy Barracks on Catterick Garrison, North
A FEMALE motorist has died in hospital today (Sunday April 7) after a two-car collision on the A1(M). The accident, involving a Fiat Panda and Kia Sorrento, took place as they passed under the Carrville interchange, near Durham, on the northbound
DIESEL enthusiasts in the region had a chance to see a piece of the UK’s railway heritage return to service on Saturday (April 6) morning. Alycidon is one of only six survivors from the distinctive Deltic class of engines that were a regular sight
A US broadcaster has been introducing Yorkshire food to a world-wide audience. Multi-Emmy award-winning television presenter Karen Schaler visited some of North Yorkshire’s top restaurants and food producers for her show Travel Therapy. It
THE sale of a North-East flying hero’s notes, charted on one of the most famous bombing missions of the Second World War, has been delayed pending an RAF inquiry. Flight navigator Vivian Nicholson, from County Durham, kept the log on one of the
GRAND National-winning jockey Ryan Mania has been airlifted to hospital with neck and back injuries after a bad fall at a North-East racecourse. The Scotsman, who steered Auroras Encore to a famous 66-1 success at Aintree, was linking up once again
A NEW showroom has opened in a North Yorkshire market town. Rooms by Design was yesterday (Saturday, April 6) officially opened in Northallerton following several years of planning and preparation. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted
A SCHOOL cleaner-turned-author signed copies of his first novel in a North-East town at the weekend. Robert Johnson, a cleaner at Barnard Castle School, was at Waterstones, in Darlington, on Saturday (April 6). The 27-year-old was making his
ALAN PARDEW has brought Yoan Gouffran back in to the Newcastle United starting line-up to face Fulham at St James' Park today in the hope of giving their Premier League fight for survival a boost. With just three points separating the Magpies from
A FARMING boss is hoping to combat searing temperatures and fatigue to run six marathons in six days across the Sahara desert. North-East director of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Barney Kay, has today (Sunday, April 7) set off on the first
A NORTH-East hospital has been hit by a second wave of the winter vomiting bug after a colder-than-average spring. James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough had to close three wards due to an outbreak last month and is reminding visitors
THE wife of sacked Cleveland police chief Sean Price will face a disciplinary hearing next month. Detective Chief Inspector Heather Eastwood, who married Mr Price last year, is accused of failing to inform her superiors when she was arrested for
A MAN has been charged with attempted murder after an attack which left a pensioner with serious injuries. The 81-year-old victim suffered head and chest injuries in the incident in a home in Upper Poppleton, in the outskirts of York, at 9pm on
THE plight of a seriously ill County Durham girl inspired a group of fundraisers to organise a sponsored walk in aid of the charity which provides the youngster's family with much-needed support. Nicole Agar, from Ferryhill, was diagnosed with
AN old hand in kickboxing is hanging up his gloves to help younger enthusiasts gain a foothold in the sport. Wes Fagan became a world champion in 18 years in the full contact version of the sport, but he has decided to call it a day to concentrate
HUNDREDS more people will be able to look for work thanks to a new computer skills centre. The centre, aimed at giving people easy access to the internet, training with computers and guidance on funding and benefits, has been launched by housing
A MAN’s downward spiral through drug abuse led to him agreeing to store cocaine for his supplier, a court heard. Police raided Michael Barker’s former home in Peterlee, County Durham, in March last year, and found 28-grams of cocaine in a bedroom
A PENSIONER died yesterday (Saturday, April 6) after being hit by a bus in Middlesbrough. The accident happened on Ladgate Lane, close to the junction with Ormesby Road, in Middlesbrough, just after 11am. The 67-year-old man from Middlesbrough
A GROUP of walkers from a Darlington charity have completed an ‘almost impossible’ cross-country trek of more than 100 miles. The walkers, aged between 56 and 71, are members of the town’s branch of Age UK. Led by volunteer walk leader Derek
RESIDENTS are being asked whether they want their leafy suburb to split from Middlesbrough and return to North Yorkshire. They have been sent letters asking their views on whether Nunthorpe should switch to Hambleton district. The response
THE northbound carriageway of the A1(M) is closed in County Durham after a serious three vehicle accident. The crash took place close to junction 62 at Carrville, Durham, early this morning. More details to follow shortly.
POLICE have released a description of a pedestrian killed when he was hit by a bus in a bid to identify him. The incident took place shortly after 11am yesterday on Ladgate Lane in Middlesbrough, near to the junction with Ormesby Road. The
Spennymoor’s star forward Gavin Cogdon could miss the FA Vase final because of suspension after being dismissed in a frustrating 1-1 local derby draw at Bishop Auckland on Saturday. Referee Warren Broadbent dismissed Cogdon for stamping on Bishops
A MOUNTAIN biker suffered severe injuries after falling off bike in Hamsterley Forest. The 41-year-old was airlifted by the Great North Air Ambulance to the RVI, in Newcastle, with injuries to his back and pelvis. Earlier in the day, air ambulance
THREE men have been arrested on suspicion of burglary after a £150,000 haul of valuables were stolen from a historic civic building. A 1930s Nobel Peace Prize gold medal, a lock of hair from 18th Century naval hero Admiral Lord Collingwood and
FUNNYMAN Chris Ramsay – star of the BBC comedy Hebburn – is to try out new material on an audience in County Durham. He will present what he describes as a “work in progress” version of his new show Chris Ramsay: The Most Dangerous Man on Saturday
TRAINS were delayed after a person was struck by a train in Seaham. Emergency services were called at about 5.30pm today (Sunday, April 7). The condition of the person involved remains unknown. Train services between Sunderland and Hartlepool
A WOMAN who was made redundant when her employers went bust has opened her own shop. Trudi Stamp launched Trudi’s Bakers in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, on Saturday (April 6) with the help of the Lord Lieutenant for County Durham, Sue Snowdon
SAIL TRAINING: Teesdale Sailing Club is hosting a training weekend at Grassholme Reservoir, near Mickleton, on April 13 and 14. Training will be to RYA Level 1. Anyone interested should contact 01748-850095 or log on to www.teesdalesc.org.uk. The club
A CYCLIST died following an early-morning accident this weekend. The cyclist was involved in a collision with a vehicle on the A6072 between Shildon and Bishop Auckland at about 5.25am on Saturday. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene
THE rear windscreen of a parked car was smashed when a bottle was thrown at the vehicle. The red Nissan Micra was parked in Anson Walk, Coundon, County Durham, when the incident happened some time between midnight on Saturday and 7am Sunday.
A COUNTY Durham man has set off on a gruelling six-month fundraising challenge to cycle the length of Africa. Jack White is undertaking the Cairo to Cape Town marathon to raise money for Farm Africa, a British charity which provides smallholders
SPEED CHECKS: Only two of more than 330 motorists were caught driving over the speed limit in two Speedwatch operations on Saturday. At Station Road, West Auckland, 182 vehicles were monitored, while in nearby Darlington Road, West Auckland, the speed
