RUGBY fever is sweeping the region as the North-East prepares to host the first of three World Cup games this weekend. Scotland take on the mighty Springboks at St James’ Park in Newcastle at 4.45pm on Saturday afternoon, ahead of England’s crucial
TRIBUTES flooded in today to the inspirational Mary Butterwick, founder of the Butterwick Hospice movement in the North-East, following her death on Wednesday. The 91-year-old, of Stockton, will be honoured in her home town with plans for the town
THE tributes which have poured in from around the world since the death of Mary Butterwick underline the esteem in which she was held. Until 1979, when her beloved husband John died of a brain tumour, Mary was an ordinary, loving North-East wife
A POLICE box reminiscent of Doctor Who's trusty spaceship has landed in a North-East town ahead of a much-awaited charity fundraiser.Sedgefield-born actor and writer Mark Gatiss will appear at Darlington Civic Theatre on Saturday (October 3).The former
DURHAM County Council will close Eggleston Abbey Bridge, in Barnard Castle, to traffic from 8am, on October 11. The closure will include a 136-metre length of the C146, including a 25-metre section of C165 Abbey Road, between the fixed traffic light heads
WALKER CUP stars Jimmy Mullen and Paul Dunne enjoyed dream professional debuts to claim a share of the lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday. Mullen joined the paid ranks after contributing four points to September's record
CHEERLEADERS are dressing up in bright and exuberant colours to raise money for charity. The cheerleading troupe from Sunderland University are participating in the ‘Crazy Leg’ Challenge’ which challenges local people to fundraise for the Stand Up To
A DISABLED schoolgirl’s life has been transformed by the generous gift of a stair lift.Ten-year-old Jasmine Ather-Elder suffers from cerebral palsy and is unable to walk.This summer, readers of The Northern Echo helped raise £1,500 to buy the youngster
QUALIFIED British Cycling leaders will be hosting a series of guided bike rides in the coming weeks for people inspired by the Tour de France.The three-week programme of free rides take in coasts and urban paths to woodland trails in the East Cleveland
ONE person has been arrested in connection with the theft of a matchstick model of Darlington's Covered Market. The model was swiped from inside the market where it had been on display for several months after being brought out of the building’
A FAMILY man who delighted fellow history enthusiasts with his informative books about North-East mining communities has died at the age of 77.Miner turned engineer Bernard McCormick, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, wrote 13 history books during
A INNOVATIVE new £20m building at the heart of a brand new campus centre has been unveiled at Teesside University. The new teaching centre, The Curve, is to be found at the new, environmentally friendly, green space on the newly pedestrianised
A COUPLE who were married when the Beatles were at the height of their fame are celebrating their golden anniversary tomorrow (October 2).Michael and Wendy Wigley, of Mickle Grove. Leeholme, Bishop Auckland, tied the knot at Saint Joseph’s Church, Coundon
A MAN has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after his car left the road on the northbound carriageway of the A19 in east Durham. Emergency services were alerted to the accident near Castle Eden, at about 2.15pm today (Thursday, October
PLANS for a 17-storey building next to St James’ Park have been submitted after Magpies’ boss Mike Ashley decided to develop the land himself.Original proposals for a hotel, retail and housing complex in the shadow of the Newcastle United were dropped
A CATTLE farmer may have to close his farm after the RSPB gave him notice to quit land he has worked for more than two decades.Jeff Horn has farmed the former ICI land close to Seal Sands in Teesside for 23 years, with just 20 acres of his own and hundreds
A MAN queuing at a fast food takeaway on New Year’s morning was attacked after being accused of earlier touching a woman inappropriately, a court heard. Naomi Ruddick made the allegation when she spotted the man who she claimed had groped her at
MORE blistered than blistering, the Last Legs Challenge completed a 12-miler from Willington to Durham via the Stone Bridge Inn, a couple of the university colleges and a nice path through Houghall Woods.The Stone Bridge had been having a Marie Curie
SPORTING memorabilia is going on show in the North-East ahead of the Rugby World Cup fixtures coming to the region this weekend.Durham University’s Palace Green library is showcasing the semi final and final match balls from England’s winning campaign
A DAD’S got to do what a dad’s got to do – no matter what it takes. When his kids say they need him, he has to spring into action, which is why I spent last Sunday driving to London and back in the same day. My baby girl is grown-up now, living
AGE by no means wearying him, John King marked his 70th birthday by doing what he does every Saturday – pulling on his football boots and playing in the Over 40s League. “I have good games and I have bad ones, but you have those when you’re 22.
AN award-winning theatre festival returns to a North-East town this weekend with acts from around the country taking part. Jabberwocky Market, which is being held at several venues around Darlington, runs until Sunday. Venues include the Liddiard
MEMBERS of a nudist tennis club are objecting to plans for a high-rise block of flats to be built with views over their courts. The club, in Warlingham, Surrey, has appealed to the local council to ensure that any windows overlooking the courts
A POLICE officer who disarmed a man carrying a carving knife after a town centre stabbing attack has been nominated for a bravery accolade.North Yorkshire PC Richard Baranovsky been alone in a patrol car before receiving an alert that a 27-year-old man
POLICE are warning motorists to improve vehicle security after cars were discovered unlocked or with valuables on show during a week of patrols across County Durham.More than 200 vehicles were left either insecure or with items of value on display when
A REWARD of £1,000 has been offered to find those responsible for damaging a telephone exchange network leaving homes and businesses disconnected.Crimestoppers and partner Openreach (a BT Group Business) are appealing for information about the incident
AN MP has called on the Government to launch an inquiry over the sudden closure of a mental health hospital after inspectors deemed it unsafe.York Central MP Rachel Maskell has called on Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt to launch an independent inquiry
A TOWN with a history dating back 4,000 years has been named among the best high streets in the country after using 21st Century methods to promote it.Helmsley, the only market town located within the boundary of the North York Moors National Park, is
A SUPER fundraiser hopes to rebuild four schools in an earthquake hit district of Nepal to keep children in education and away from ruthless people traffickers.Hugh Stephenson is helping the charity Childreach International replace schools in the Sindhupalchok
DAVID Cameron will be asked to take urgent action on the future of Redcar steelworks following emergency talks on Teesside today. EXCLUSIVE: Eleventh-hour bid to keep fires burning at Redcar steelworks Meetings between business minister Anna
FUNDRAISERS used pedal power to cross the country and raise money for a sports charity.Four cyclists from Spennymoor completed the 147 mile Whitehaven to Sunderland coast to coast route to boost the coffers of Spennymoor Sporting Academy. Lloyds Bank
A MENTAL health charity has unveiled a lasting tribute to its late manager as it embarks on an exciting new era.The Hub of Wishes in Newton Aycliffe, formerly known as Mind, held a special ceremony today (Thursday, October 1) to mark its disaffiliation
A POIGNANT project has been launched in Darlington to remember the town’s fallen heroes of World War One.Like many towns, Darlington suffered devastating losses during the First World War and of the thousands of young men who enlisted, more than 1,100
A MORRIS dancing group is appealing for new members amid fears the group might have to hang up their bells.The Rumold Morris group, of Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, have performed at several events such as Mayday and the August Bank Holiday at the
CLASS A drugs worth thousands of pounds have been seized following a series of police raids.Twenty officers were involved in early morning strikes at three houses in Consett and Hamsterley Colliery, in the north-west part of County Durham.Two men aged
JAMES Bond fans are in with a chance of bidding on a unique collection of memorabilia and collectables when they come up for auction next month.With around 700 lots going under the hammer at toy specialists Vectis, bidders will be able to fight it out
WORK has begun on a six-figure restoration of a 400-year-old church porch.Conservators are repairing the Jacobean North Porch at St Brandon’s Church, in Brancepeth, County Durham.The £105,000 project was boosted by a £10,000 donation from the National
TWO people from Willington have appeared in court after allegedly attacking another man.Claire Louth, 40, of Ash Drive, and Steven Barber, 45, of Birch Drive, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court charged with wounding with intent and threatening
A JUDGE told a thief he would throw the book at him if he failed to turn up for a probation appointment.Thomas Marshall, 23, of Hawthorne Drive, Redcar, had been due to be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after admitting two charges of handling stolen
A COUNCIL has been accused of stymieing democracy after a recommendation to stop councillors adding new items to meeting agendas without prior permission was approved. Richmondshire District Council’s audit, governance and standards committee voted
By Jonathan Barber MIDDLESBROUGH head coach Aitor Karanka has given Yanic Wildschut permission to join Wigan Athletic on loan for the next three months. Karanka, speaking just hours before the deal went through, claimed the out-of-favour winger
I HAVE followed with interest the numerous letters on these pages recently regarding the unfolding refugee crisis. The UK has a long, proud history of helping refugees. We know too well the human cost of closing our doors and hearts to refugees
THE ‘fix’ that has revived the County Durham Plan is a sad day for democracy and the rule of law, as it is now obvious that a pretence is being foisted on the public by Durham County Council and the Government. Think of two boxing promoters and
HOW does Izzy Armstrong get down the stairs? That's not the start to some horribly un-PC joke but the question I ask myself every time I see the character on Coronation Street. Izzy's a wheelchair user who lives with the same debilitating condition
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham was instrumental in the campaign to ban smoking in cars. As the new law comes into force he explains what made him act “I WOULD ban smoking in cars where children are present. I would do that for the protection
THE people of Britain are slovenly, dirty and idle. I walk daily for exercise and am heartily sick of the rubbish thrown on our footpaths. The following is a list of items that I have passed on my walks: bottles, empty cans, food wrappers,
A COUNCIL-RUN school holiday club for children rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted inspectors has announced a host of activities for half term.The Hartlepool holiday club called Oscars has unveiled a week of activities during the October half term school holiday
A SPECIAL screening of more than a century of archive film footage of a North-East city is now sold out.Friday’s (October 2) Sunderland on Film event features reflections from ex-foreign news correspondent Kate Adie on her return to her home city, and
A PREMIER race at Redcar Racecourse this Saturday (October 3) is to be renamed Save Our Steel in support of workers devastated at the closure of the Redcar steelworks. The town's Labour MP, Anna Turley, will present the trophy to the winner.
A NEW £6.5m housing development is to hold two open days at the weekend.The Elms in Chester-e-Street is an assisted living scheme made up of 52 apartments and six bungalows designed specifically for people aged 55 and over who require support with their
A CONTROVERSIAL opencast would be the ruination of beautiful countryside, causing environmental devastation and landscape destruction, villagers have told a public inquiry.A major three-week inquiry into Hargreaves Surface Mining’s bid to mine 514,000
YOUNGSTERS at a primary school in north Durham are celebrating the opening of a new community room. The new facility has been created at Roseberry Primary and Nursery School, in Chester-le-Street. It is available for local groups and organisations
TELEPHONE book printers RR Donnelley, based in rural North Yorkshire, will close at the end of the year with a loss of about 200 jobs. Unite, the country’s largest union, is due to have talks with the management at the Flaxby plant in a bid to
IAN WATSON has spoken of his frustration at reluctantly having to leave Darlington, saying he would have chosen to stay for another “three or four years”, but losing his place in the team has forced him to look elsewhere. The left-back has already
A CHILLING double bill of Classic Ghost Stories will run at a North-East theatre this month (October).From October 14 to 17 Darlington Civic Theatre will show Middle Ground Theatre Company’s successful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ The Signalman, coupled
A MAN accused of sexually assaulting a female has appeared at court.Ian Alderson, of Dunelm Court, Barnard Castle, pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault and two charges of attempted sexual assault in the town on February 7.The 62-year-old
A MOTORCYCLIST who crashed during a police pursuit has died of his injuries. The biker was taken to hospital after being injured in the crash in the Tyne Tunnel in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Police confirmed this morning (Thursday, October
THE Grade II-listed Crathorne Hall Hotel's £4m refurbishment has been unveiled exactly a year since it was devastated by fire. The east wing of the Edwardian building, the former family home of Lord Crathorne which is near Yarm, was destroyed by
A FUNDRAISING concert is to feature an acclaimed cellist and a well-known choir from the region.The Dalesmen Singers annual gala night takes place on Saturday, October 17 in Danby Methodist Chapel on the North York Moors. Their special guest for the evening
ORGANISERS have hailed the success of the 2015 Festival of Thrift and say plans are already afoot for next year. The award-winning Festival, which won the Arts and Culture category of the Observer Ethical Awards 2015, took place at Darlington’s
BOSSES behind a £250m energy Teesside plant have refused to bow to union demands over a pay wrangle.Sita Sembcorp UK (SSUK) has snubbed calls for a wage audit, amid union claims foreign construction workers are being underpaid at its factory in Wilton
The Gift of Stones, Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond I HAVE enjoyed everything that North Country Theatre has produced – until now. Nobby Dimon’s adaptation of Jim Crace’s Novel, The Gift of Stones, is rambling and nonsensical. It’s slow to the
LEE GASKELL believes a place in Darlington’s forward line should suit him perfectly after swapping a relegation fight for a place in the promotion race. He joined on Wednesday from Ramsbottom United, the 30-year-old leaving behind a club bottom
TWO teenagers who were arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault have been released without charge in connection with the Shane Tunney murder investigation. The 17-year-olds had be on police bail following their arrest. Mr Tunney died in
PEOPLE of Darlington are being asked to join efforts to help raise money for desperate refugee families coming to the area.A 17-mile walk organised by the Darlington Constituency Labour Party (CLP) will take place on Saturday (October 3), to raise sponsor
EACH month The Northern Echo highlights one of the many dogs looking for a home at the Dogs Trust Darlington, in Sadberge, near Darlington.Cyril is a two year old German Shepherd who sadly arrived at the Dogs Trust Darlington rehoming centre earlier this
A new law banning people from smoking in cars with children present was passed in February this year. Here are five facts you need to know about the new legislation. What is the new law and what's the penalty for breaking it? From October 1
TWO teenagers have been found unconscious with serious head injuries following an incident near to an industrial estate. The 16 and 19-year-old males were believed to have been riding a red motorbike at the time of the incident but when police
RONNIE Moore is trying to add to his Hartlepool United squad for the weekend. The Pools boss was shocked by the woeful nature of Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers and is out to make changes. Michael Woods will return from suspension
SNOOKER   CENTRAL DURHAM Association The first week of matches in this new Association, which accepts teams from any premises with a full size snooker table, opened with a maximum win for Newton Aycliffe over the visiting
POOL   TEESDALE SUMMER League Sponsored by Ace Taxis Butterknowle Diamond Inn took the Championship Trophy after they beat Cockfield Queen’s Head B in the final play-off at Barnard Castle Club.
DOMINOES   CROOK & District League First Division results (Captains’ in brackets); King’s A 6 Crown A 1 (1); Mill House B 6 (1) Travellers Rest B 1; Australian 5 King’s Head B 2 (1). Mill House A had a bye.
DOMINOES   CROOK & District League First Division results (Captains’ in brackets); King’s A 6 Crown A 1 (1); Mill House B 6 (1) Travellers Rest B 1; Australian 5 King’s Head B 2 (1). Mill House A had a bye.
DARTS   COUNTY SUPER League Spennymoor Top at moved up to share the top spot with Easington Colliery Club after whitewashing their hosts at Ferryhill Hub with singles wins from Stephen Hayers 23.86, Brendan Mullen 22.03
STAGNATING exports and weaker consumer spending have forced the UK manufacturing sector down to a three-month low, a report has revealed.The sector was lacklustre in September, with fewer orders causing firms to cut jobs for the first time since April
A CAREERS forum with information and inspiration on careers particularly in the farming and rural sector is being run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at the Harrogate showground on Tuesday, October 6.Trainee auctioneer at Leyburn Auction Mart Jimmy
HERITAGE railway enthusiasts are offering a behind the scenes look at how they stay on track in a bid to attract new helpers.Wensleydale railway, one of the longest heritage lines in the country, with 22 miles of track, dating back to the 1840’s, is staging
A GROUP of knitters have got their needles clicking to help women recovering from breast cancer.Members of the Knit and Natter group that meets on Fridays in the bistro at Barker's Northallerton shop are supporting the department store's Bosom Buddies
Viv Hardwick discovers why Hetty Feather rather than Tracy Beaker is Jacqueline Wilson’s favourite character TOP children's author Jacqueline Wilson is looking forward to a three-pronged attack on Newcastle next week. Her favourite character Hetty
Ian Kelsey tells Viv Hardwick how Burt Lancaster’s The Birdman of Alcatraz helped him find his starring role in another prison-based drama THE Shawshank Redemption went from box office disappointment in 1994 to become the favourite film of a generation
Albert Lee and Cindy Cashdollar, Sage Gateshead GUITAR legend, long-time lead guitarist with the Everly Brothers, plus Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band, Eric Clapton and well used session man Albert Lee was again back in the area.He was partnered by his American
Ruth Campbell talks to North Yorkshire butcher’s son Jamie Swarbrick about Oscar’s Hotel, his first foray into filmmaking with the stars A BUTCHER’S son from North Yorkshire, who started out making short films with budgets of a couple of pounds
It’s all change at a County Durham village pub – and all to the good, says Jenny Needham THE Bridge Inn in the pretty Teesdale village of Whorlton was totally transformed earlier this year. New name – though many local consider Fernaville's Rest
Certificate: 12A Running Time: 141 mins Star Rating: 4/5 IN space, everyone can hear you scream and whenever Ridley Scott is nestled in the director's chair, you can be certain his actors will be issuing bloodcurdling shrieks. The life
Certificate: 15 Running time: 113 mins Star rating: 4/5 THE Scottish play bares its teeth and draws blood in Australian director Justin Kurzel's muscular and unflinching adaptation that accentuates the carnage as the doomed title character
LINDA is not impressed with Elaine's new fella, Jason in EastEnders (BBC1). Although Mick and Linda agree to let him stay at The Vic, they have second thoughts when they find him and Babe undressed together. Later, Babe tells Elaine what happened,
MEAT substitute company Quorn Foods will continue to be based in North Yorkshire after being sold to a Philippines firm for £550m Exponent Private Equity and Intermediate Capital Group have agreed the sale of Quorn Foods to Monde Nissin. The sale
A DARLINGTON man who crashed his girlfriend's car into a house telling her he was going to kill them both has been jailed. Peter O'Neill, 22, was sentenced for the crash at the same time as appearing alongside two other men for more than a dozen
THE mood on Teesside has been gloomy in recent weeks after mounting speculation was finally confirmed that the local steel industry is to shed 1,700 jobs. But today we are in a position to reveal a chink of light amid the darkness. The Northern
A NORTH-EAST company will this morning make an eleventh hour bid to rescue Redcar steelworks from collapse, The Northern Echo can reveal. Redcar steel rescue talks with business minister Anna Soubry 'very positive' A plan will be put before
FOR the second year in a row, when the heat was on and the threat to his European Tour privileges was high, Graeme Storm delivered. It might not be the ideal way to do things, but nevertheless in dramatic circumstances he achieved the result he
DUNCAN Bannatyne said he was “devastated” and felt “betrayed” when he discovered that a former member of staff had been misappropriating funds from his business empire for a number of years. Speaking to The Northern Echo for the first time since
NEW research reveals that even with a window open, children in cars with smokers are exposed to dangerous chemicals more than a hundred times higher than recommended levels. 5 things you need to know about the new smoking law The research was
A RESCUE plan for Teesside steelworks will be put before the government today in a last ditch bid to save the troubled SSI plant and hundreds of jobs, The Northern Echo can reveal. A North-East company has stepped forward with a bold proposal that would
Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1, 9pm)BRADFORD born and bred Anita Rani is really lifting her profile on TV by adding this appearance on the popular family history show to joining Countryfile as a presenter and having a twirl on the current Strictly Come
BILLY JONES admits he has been “embarrassed” by some of Sunderland’s defensive mistakes this season, with the club’s performances forcing him to turn off his television in an attempt to prevent his weekends becoming even worse. The Black Cats go
NEWCASTLE UNITED will make a renewed attempt to sign Schalke centre-half Joel Matip in January as the club begin to turn their attention to the second phase of a three-part plan to overhaul the squad. With Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley determined
A CORONER today raised serious concerns over the layout of two stretches of the A66 in County Durham where three people died in a week. Inquests were held in Crook into the deaths of elderly couple Kenneth and Maida (CORR) McCurdy and motorcyclist
FINANCIAL difficulties have forced the closure of a popular Darlington bar, just a few months after it opened for business. The Green Room opened in Darlington in April, with its owners announcing ambitious plans to attract big-name bands.
AN MP says it is “unacceptable” an inmate was able to abscond from an open prison and spend the night in a luxury hotel with his con woman wife. Douglas Ward, 26, from Darlington, who is serving more than five years for firearms offences, evaded
A FORMER call centre worker who set up a brothel yards from the local police station made half a million pounds in just three years, a court has heard. Mark Cass handed out timesheets to the Thai callgirls so they could keep track of their busy
THE first outbreak of a fungus-like disease in Yorkshire, which causes extensive damage and death to a wide range of trees and other plants, has been been confirmed. Scientists said the infestation of phytophthora ramorum, also known as Sudden
EIGHT soldiers are preparing to pay tribute to a comrade killed in a military training exercise by taking part in the Budapest Marathon. A squad from the Light Dragoons, based in Catterick Garrison, will run the event, to raise funds for the Great
