A SON attacked his parents after taking exception to being awoken and left with what he considered insufficient money for his lunch, a court heard. Martin Thomas Hornby, 29, was jailed for a year after a judge said he was, effectively, “out of
AFTER Zach Kibirige's rise to stardom was cruelly halted by injury the talented Newcastle Falcons winger hopes to back in action before the end of the season.A year ago the Yarm School product scored such a sensational try for England Under 20s that it
ARSONISTS have struck at a house in Sunderland.The incident happened between 5.20am and 5.40am, on Friday, March 6, at a property on The Retreat.A lit item is believed to have been thrown at the address causing a small fire to the roof. Noone was injured
LOCAL artists are displaying their work at a charity exhibition this weekend.The art show at Heighington Village Hall, near Darlington, was launched this evening (Friday, March 6) with a preview night.The event, organised by Vicki and Mike Lumb, is being
LABOUR leader Ed Miliband denied accusations he supported "bullies" or was a "coward" after an attack by disgruntled party members on a visit to the North-East today (Friday).Mr Miliband gave a speech and took questions from the public
THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION will announce the results of a disciplinary hearing into Jonny Evans’ conduct during his spitting battle with Papiss Cisse today. Cisse has already been issued with a seven-match ban after pleading guilty to spitting at
A BEER brewed in Crook proved just the ticket for drinkers after it was delivered by Routemaster Bus. Staff from the Fat Brewer delivered barrels of Rouge beer to seven pubs in and around the town. The beer is brewed to a recipe created by
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help scientists take stock of the country’s wild plants.A National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) has been launched which will enable scientists to take annual stock of the UK’s wild plants and their habitats for the first
RESIDENTS living in a remote dale face a hike in the cost of high speed broadband after a wireless provider announced it will end its service. The Digital Teesdale project, which has supplied broadband to farmers, businesses and homes in Teesdale
A TEENAGER who became an author last year has written a sequel about her miniature Shetland pony with dwarfism. Inspired by her new pet pony’s antics, Hannah Russell, then 17, from Leyburn, wrote The Magical Adventure of Little Alf – the Discovery of
A CHARITY is urging people to wear odd socks this month to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.The Education Centre for Children with Down syndrome (Eccds), in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is encouraging nurseries, schools, colleges and businesses throughout
AFTER 18 months the Transporter Bridge is reopening following the renovation of the 103-year-old bridge’s gondola.The unveiling on Monday, March 9 will be celebrated with four weeks of free crossings for drivers and foot-passengers.It will now be open
COMMUTERS have been urged to report crime and anti-social behaviour on the rail network using a discreet text messaging service. The British Transport Police (BTP) has operated a text message crime reporting service for two years to allow people to report
YOUNGSTERS gained an insight into the construction and engineering industry when they visited an £82m train building factory in their hometown today (Friday, March 6).Pupils from Greenfield Community College in Newton Aycliffe were among those given an
THE world's first vegan parmo has been made in a Stockton cafe.The Teesside dish of chicken breast in a bechamel cheese sauce might be considered a tough call to make for people who won't eat meat or cheese.But cooks at the newly opened Labrynth Holistic
THERE is something particularly unsavoury about the sight of two footballers spitting at each other. An ill-advised challenge might result in a broken leg, while a tirade of swear words in the face of a referee sets a dreadful example for children
A FAMILY is working its way through a wishlist of adventures after vowing to fulfil the dreams for their terminally ill son. Despite being born prematurely, Zach Parnaby appeared perfectly healthy until last November when he stopped moving around
THE sound of brass is coming to the region as the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival gets underway.It features 27 bands from across the country playing at North Shore on Sunderland University’s riverside campus.It is the 12th year the festival has come
WHILE belief and results may be up and down, terrace support at Hartlepool United has barely wavered. Today’s Victoria Park encounter with Burton will have a crowd of in excess of 3,000 in attendance and, while other teams struggle for crowds,
A MAN involved in an eight hour long stand-off with police is facing jail after he pleaded guilty to a number of offences.Richard Anthony Barnes, of The Causeway, Darlington, admitted affray, damaging property and three counts of assault by beating following
NEARLY 50 workers have lost their jobs after a rescue bid collapsed for an industrial furniture maker. The Northern Echo can reveal an approach for NESS Contract Furniture Limited broke down this afternoon (Friday, March 6). The move means
AN AWARD-winning play that received rave reviews in London and New York is to come to Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal.Call Mr Robeson will be performed at the theatre on Saturday, March 28 at 7.30pm as part of a UK spring tour, depicting the life of
A NINETY year-old bowls player from Thornaby, who overcame a heart attack and cancer, has been named by a shopping centre as its first Old Persons’ Ambassador.Nonagenarian Fred Pickering will represent the views of pensioners to executives at the town
A WOULD-be MP has called for a new restriction on the spread of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Rebecca Coulson, the Conservative Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the City of Durham at May’s General Election, wants Durham County
YOUNGSTERS have been rewarded for their Magna Carta-inspired creation which won an arts festival competition.Children at Cockton Hill Junior School, in Bishop Auckland, won first prize in a schools exhibition during Febfest, a three week arts festival
KIND-HEARTED travel agents who have co-ordinated charity appeals for more than a decade are collecting again to ensure a Happy Easter for all.Independent travel agents Lindy Kell and Natalie Bell are collecting Easter eggs in the run up to April 5 and
The biggest event on the jumps racing calendar takes place next week, with the Cheltenham Festival providing its usual mix of thrills and spills. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson casts his eyes over all four days of action and attempts to come up with
SHOPPERS have raised hundreds of pounds for a children’s hospital ward.The money was raised before Christmas through the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre’s Santa’s Grotto attraction. Visitors to the Durham City complex were invited to make a donation to
A FORMER soldier and his faithful dog plan to take on a 280-mile cycling challenge to raise money for five charities.Peter Wright, 52, will begin the gruelling five-day journey at the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and finish at the Gloucester Regimental
A NORTH-East professor has launched a new book on peace in the Middle East.Mary C Grey, from Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, launched The Spirit of Peace: Pentecost and Affliction in the Middle East, in Salisbury today (Friday, March 6).The book addresses
THE UK Independence Party has selected a young father as its parliamentary candidate for the Sedgefield constituency in County Durham.John Leathley, from Stockton-on-Tees, says he will fight to improve the NHS by securing investment for front line services
MOTORISTS are being warned of two planned full closures of the A1 in North Yorkshire later this month. The closures, for the installation of bridge beams, are part of the continuing improvements on the A1 between Leeming and Barton, between Scotch
A SCHOOL today (Friday, March 6) celebrated the beginning of work on a long-awaited new building with a turf-cutting ceremony. Hetton School in Hetton-le-Hole was one of 261 schools announced by the Government in May 2012 as being in need of a re-build.The
SHOPPERS in busy market town centre were shocked to see armed police swoop on two men squabbling over a bottle of cider today (Friday, March 6) – one of whom was carrying an imitation firearm. The drama unfolded near the Bridge pub off the Chester-le-Street
POLICE were called to a demonstration at the site of a new power plant in Redcar this morning (Friday March 6).Members of the Unite and GMB unions were protesting at the gates of the Wilton International site near Redcar.Unions have accused the consortium
BRADLEY SAUNDERS returns to the ring in Hull tomorrow night, but the County Durham fighter is already looking ahead to what could be a career-defining contest in Newcastle next month. Saunders takes on Frenchman Stephane Benito at Hull Ice Arena
Two girls aged 13 and 14 wept as they appeared before a Crown Court judge charged with murdering a 39-year-old woman. The teenagers are accused of killing Angela Wrightson, whose body was discovered at her home in Stephen Street, Hartlepool, in
HOUSEHOLDERS on a flagship estate have formed an online residents group after becoming frustrated with developers, who have agreed to meet them to discuss their concerns.Residents of DurhamGate at Thinford, on the outskirts of Spennymoor, have voiced
Middlesbrough climbed back to the top of the Championship with a routine midweek victory over struggling Millwall and Aitor Karanka’s troops are now bet365’s 11/4 favourites to finish top of the table. A return to the Premier League for Boro is a reassuringly
MATHEW TAIT insists his Leicester Tigers team-mates will not be underestimating the threat posed by Newcastle Falcons as he prepares to make what could be his final playing appearance at Kingston Park. Tait, who will be part of the Leicester line-up
GEOLOGIST Professor Iain Stewart, best known as a presenter of science programmes on the BBC, is to host a lecture in Darlington. Mr Stewart's talk, Planet Oil - A Modern Addiction, will look back at the social and political consequences of society
A MAN has been arrested after an alleged assault in a Yorkshire Dales village.Police were called to reports of an altercation in Redmire, near Leyburn, at 3.55pm on Tuesday, March 3.A man in his 60s had suffered facial injuries and was taken to Darlington
A MAN is being treated in hospital for blood loss after being stabbed in the buttock.Cleveland Police officers are searching for the attacker who made off from the scene after the incident which happened on Errol Street in Middlesbrough at 10.20am this
Opera North’s production of The Marriage Figaro was rollicking fun, with a capacity audience at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal laughing out loud at times. Swift-flowing action, brilliant comic timing and superb singing combined to ensure director Jo
NOTTINGHAM FOREST boss Dougie Freedman has been impressed with the quality of Middlesbrough’s signings under Aitor Karanka, and regards the Teessiders’ squad as one of the strongest in the league. Boro head to the City Ground today to take on a
MAYOR of London Boris Johnson dropped in at a school in Yarm this morning and sampled a Teesside delicacy - a parmo! Educated at Eton and Baliol College, Oxford, he visited Conyers SChool to take part in a question time with students. Mr Johnson
CHILDREN and young people who have to balance caring for someone at home with their education are now to be given much-needed extra help. North Yorkshire County Council supports approximately 400 young carers in North Yorkshire every year. In 2014 it
BRENDAN Cole was joined by a flawless cast of dancers and musicians as he stepped back on to the York Barbican stage for his new show A Night To Remember. It truly was an evening of thrills, frills and incredible skill, which travels later this month
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S recruitment team have been warned to forget about a summer move for long-term target Alexandre Lacazette. The Magpies have tracked Lacazette for more than two years, and have held a number of discussions with Lyon officials about
TAXI driver was robbed at knifepoint in his car in the early hours.It happened just after midnight this morning (Friday, March 6) in a rear lane off Canterbury Street in Byker, Newcastle..The offenders demanded money, pulled on the driver’s seatbelt and
A MAJOR inter-active exhibition demonstrating the power of stem cells is under way in the North-East.Newcastle’s Centre for Life is hosting a unique “hands-on” showcase for all demonstrating the power of our body’s master cells.The “Super Cells: The Power
A SERVICE to help people who have suffered serious illness to remain safer, healthier and more independent has been launched.North Yorkshire County Council has stared the new service to help people remain within their community after a period of ill-health
AN INFORMAL discussion group for women has become so popular, it is starting up a new group in North Yorkshire.The National Women’s Register (NWR) has existed in Northallerton for the past 40 years and gone from strength to strength. It has now established
THE owners of a beer cafe selling one of the largest ranges of real ale in the country have hit out at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) after they voted not to include them in their Good Beer Guide. The Hemelvaart Bier Cafe in Bedale was set up
SMOKERS are being urged to become quitters in the lead up to national No Smoking Day.Smoking cessation advisors across North Yorkshire are gearing up to support smokers who want to take the first steps towards kicking the habit for good in the run up
TWO suspected computer hackers have been arrested in the North-East as part of a major nationwide crackdown on cybercrime. The pair were among 57 people arrested during 25 separate raids across England, Scotland and Wales for offences ranging from
THE Chester-le-Street branch of the Newcastle Building Society will raise money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice this year.Staff at the Front Street office have chosen to back the Durham-based hospice, which provides support for people throughout the area with
NEWCASTLE THUNDER embark on a new era in the club’s history tomorrow as they take on Cumbrian side Wath Brow Hornets in the third round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, writes Joseph Pearson. The North-East’s only professional rugby league team
THREE businessmen have raised more than £15,000 for charity by scaling Africa’s highest mountain.Graham Sheldon, Steve Coulthard and Marc Borley, from Bishop Auckland, climbed to the summit of Kilimanjaro in just five days last month in aid of the Coco
A PLANT that will make electricity with dung from a farm’s cattle herd has won planning permission.Durham county councillors backed the scheme after hearing that fears about noise and bad smells were unfounded.The anaerobic digester will be built on land
A COUNCIL is asking members of the public for their views on how it should make the most of new technology.With smartphones and tablets becoming increasingly used to access its website, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants to know what people think
THE migrant population of the North-East increased by an estimated 26,000 in three years, according to research by the University of Oxford.At 20 per cent, the region saw the highest percentage increase in migration in the country between 2011 and 2014
POLICE are launching a campaign in Darlington tomorrow (Saturday, March 7) warning against residents becoming a “dead drunk”. Between 2011 and 2013, eight pedestrians who died in traffic accidents in the Durham Constabulary area had their judgement
TEN young people from Stockton borough are now in a better position to find a job after attending a bootcamp with a difference.Stockton Borough Council worked with established youth recruitment agency, Rising Star, to carry out an apprenticeship recruitment
THE use of a bequest to the people of Stockton to buy historic artefacts has been questioned by former museum collections worker. The Spence Fund was used by Stockton Borough Council last month to purchase a set of apothecary scales thought to
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says that his team has no distractions now as they push for a play off place at Droylsden on Saturday. Moors have dropped to sixth in the table, outside the play off places, because they dropped points at Prescot
Shildon manager Gary Forrest wants his team to be on top of the table by next weekend. The Railwaymen have two home games coming up in the next four days, against Consett on Saturday and Ashington on Wednesday, and if they win both, could be in
SPRING Fling has revealed the names of the leading artists and makers taking part in the new exhibition at Newcastle’s Biscuit Factory Gallery.The five topped a poll carried out among the 18,000 visitors who saw work by 95 artists at last year’s Spring
KIND-HEARTED apprentices have visited the charity they have taken to their hearts and minds as they embark on a campaign of volunteering.EE employees have already donated 15 tablets to St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington so staff and patients can enjoy
A CONCERT band has paid tribute to its longest serving member. Hurworth Concert Band helped bass clarinetist Mike Frankton celebrate his 90th birthday at a special rehearsal last night (Wednesday, March 4). Mr Frankton has been with the band
AN ACTION group has formed to stop executive homes being built on Darlington parkland steeped in historical, natural and cultural significance.The former Blackwell Grange golf course, along Blackwell Lane, has been earmarked for development by Darlington
Lee Kyle joins South Shields LaffalangSOUTH Tyneside comedian Lee Kyle will be adding his comedy stamp to a hugely popular sketch show when he compares the Laffalang next month at the Westovian Theatre in South Shields. The Easter Laffalang will be the
THE country that gave North-East football Philippe Albert and Simon Mignolet is now one of the major recipients of exports from the region. New figures show Belgium welcomed more than £1bn of North-East goods in the last 12 months, representing
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York THEATRE Mill is not a company that rests on its laurels. It's rich and variety back catalogue proves that – Oscar Wilde comedy in York Mansion House, Sherlock Holmes mystery in
SIMON Donald is the co-founder of Viz. Alongside his brother and a school friend, Simon turned their playground antics into a massive, and it should be said, controversial, comic success. Simon’s autobiography, Him Off the Viz is due for a
FIAT gets down with the kids with a limited edition 500L inspired by a legendary rapper On the road: I’VE seen plenty of Dr Dre videos and I don’t recall ever seeing him behind the wheel of a Fiat 500L, so at first glance a collaboration between
FAMILY-RUN Cooplands Bakery has opened its first ever Tyneside-based store. The baker, which has 137 stores nationwide, today opened the doors of its new Blaydon shop, creating eight jobs. The fourth generation family run business was established
Massimo Cellino's period of disqualification as owner of Leeds has been extended to May 3 by the Football League.The Italian businessman was barred by the Football League's board from being owner and a director of the Sky Bet Championship club in December
BRITAIN's first major festival dedicated to Mod and Ska music is set to be staged over four days in an 85-acre woodland garden. Up to 5,000 fans of the music genres are expected to descend on Thorp Perrow Arboretum, near Bedale, from August 28,
A FORMER radio station director who claimed her boss told her he wanted to employ women with “blonde hair and big boobs – like her” has lost her claim for unfair dismissal. Judge John Hunter ruled that Dawn Carney had also not suffered sexual discrimination
POLICE were called to a demonstration at the site of a new power plant in Redcar on Friday morning. Members of the Unite and GMB unions were protesting at the gates of the Wilton International site near Redcar. Unions have accused the consortium
FOUR locations in the North-East and North Yorkshire have been named in the top 50 Best Urban Places to Live by The Sunday Times. The accolades for Durham City, Gosforth, in Newcastle, the Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside and York come in part two
Gary Brown is winning his fight to be fit for Darlington’s trip to Clitheroe tomorrow, though manager Martin Gray would have no hesitation in giving Liam Hatch another run-out in defence if required.Hatch came off the bench late in the first half of last
EARLIER this week, I headed to Wetherby Racecourse to attend a preview night ahead of next week’s Cheltenham Festival. A panel that featured Channel Four expert Jim McGrath, assistant trainer Sean Quinn and The Northern Echo’s own pundit, Niall
NEWCASTLE UNITED are set to be without leading scorer Papiss Cisse for seven matches after the £9m striker last night effectively admitted his part in the St James’ Park spitting row. Cisse has apologised for Wednesday’s alleged incident with Manchester
GUS POYET could escape a touchline ban despite being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his actions during Sunderland’s draw at Hull City on Tuesday night.The Black Cats and Poyet are still to decide on how to answer the charge
AITOR KARANKA admits this is a “massive” period in Middlesbrough’s season even if he wants to ensure his players do not think about the bigger promotion picture every time they head out on to the pitch. Boro start the weekend sitting a point clear at
DEVELOPERS are trying to exploit the rejection of a controversial growth plan to build houses in legally protected countryside, it has emerged.Just two weeks since Planning Inspector Harold Stephens savaged Durham County Council’s 20-year economic blueprint
RONNIE MOORE sat in the stands and winced, watching on as Hartlepool United collapsed to an away defeat.He wasn’t even manager when he witnessed it with interest first time around and, three months down the line, some things haven’t changed.Moore saw
A POPULAR motoring and military nostalgia event has announced its new name and a new date for 2015.The Croft Nostalgia Festival, previously known as the Croft Nostalgia Weekend, held annually at Croft Circuit, near Darlington, will take place on August
THE family of a toddler born with vital organs outside her body have written a heartfelt letter to her late granddad, who died while she was undergoing open heart surgery in the same hospital. Ammia Storey, who turns two later this month (Saturday
COUNCILS are inadequately funding home care services for the elderly, a new report claims.The report by the UK Home Care Association (UKHCA), which represents home care providers, pointed out significant variations in the hourly rate paid.It said only
Gardeners' World (BBC2, 8.30pm)WITH spring just around the corner, the green-fingered team returns for the beginning of another gardening year. Monty Don is at Longmeadow tackling urgent pruning, as well as revealing some of the projects he has in store
LABOUR will recruit 1,300 extra nurses for “dangerously understaffed” North-East hospitals if it wins the election, the party pledges today.And it will offer local young care workers – struggling with “zero hour contracts, poor training and non-payment
SPECIALIST building firm CA Group has launched its first major recruitment drive since the downturn after it won several new contracts. The County Durham company, which has built massive warehouses for blue chip clients including Sainsbury's, Vantec
