TWO police officers who confronted and disarmed a man waving a samurai sword at them – and later a handgun – have been named the North-East winners of the national Police Bravery Awards. PC Keith Palmer – who died when protecting members of the
IRELAND'S Dan Martin savoured his second career Tour de France victory as the Mur-de-Bretagne delivered a shake-up to the general classification battle. UAE Team Emirates' Martin did his own hopes of featuring in the fight for yellow no harm as
SPONSORED CONTENT AS Durham County Council approves plans to bring the UK’s largest light festival back to Durham in 2019 and 2021, PETER BARRON reflects on how a diverse cultural offer is playing an increasingly important part in the county’s
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are close to completing a deal for out-of-favour Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback. Colback, who has one year of his current contract remaining, has been told he does not have a future at St James’ Park, and was excluded
WILDLIFE television presenter Michaela Strachan swapping the screen for the stage this summer as she stars in Walking With Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular across the UK. The 52-year-old, known for her stints on Springwatch, Countryfile and The
BRADLEY Lowery’s aunt has spoken of how tough the first anniversary of the young football mascot’s death has been for her and the family - and how proud all were of the fundraising efforts for his foundation. Jade Lowery spoke as her former colleagues
IMRAN TAHIR is embracing life with Durham Jets after playing a pivotal role in their opening victory of the Vitality Blast against Leicestershire Foxes last week. The Jets play their opening T20 home game tomorrow as they host Yorkshire Vikings
A MAN who committed, “a campaign of rape” against a vulnerable woman, leaving her deeply psychologically scarred, is beginning a prison sentence totalling 28 years and eight months. Kamran Afshar, who is considered a “dangerous offender”, posing
A BOY was airlifted to hospital after being knocked over by a minibus yesterday afternoon. Emergency services were called to reports that a youngster had been involved in a collision at Rushyford, near Ferryhill, at around 4.20pm yesterday.
KENEDY is delighted to be back at his “second home”, and is hoping a full pre-season with his Newcastle United team-mates enables him to be even more effective than he was last term. Kenedy’s second spell at St James’ Park was confirmed yesterday
FLYING SCOTSMAN is drawing the crowds to Shildon's Locomotion museum, which is visiting until August 1. Here we tell the story of one of the world's most famous steam engines... February 1922 No 1472 was the third of Sir Nigel Gresley’s A1
A PANTOMIME horse race took an unexpected turn, as did one of the competitors. The St Teresa’s Hospice Charity Race Day held at Catterick Racecourse on Wednesday featured an event in aid of the Darlington-based charity, with North-East firms dressing
A CELEBRATION of the region's ingenious spirit is set to take over a town centre tomorrow. The Festival of Ingenuity will see scientific exhibitions, street entertainment and live music come to Darlington. Organised by Darlington Partnership
A SCHEME to ensure children don't go hungry during the school summer holidays has been extended.Hartlepool Borough Council has allocated £25,000 for the Filling The Holiday gap scheme, which is designed to replace the term-time free school meals received
EXPERTS in palliative care are to share their knowledge to help provide the best for terminally-ill residents and their families.As part of an annual funding agreement with Darlington NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, specialist staff at St Teresa’s Hospice
THE emotions come in a swirling maelstrom. Typical bloody England. If only Harry Kane’s shot had gone in. If only Jesse Lingard had curled the ball half a foot lower. If only John Stones had directed his header into the corner of the net rather
FURTHER to Chris Lloyd’s article about the Brexit resignations headlined ‘Under fire’ (Echo, July 10), I’m not sure how many times PM Theresa May has been under fire and still manages to douse herself down and cling onto the reigns of power. The reality
B&M opening a new store in the town, I wonder how long it will last? Having no car park will be a burden for shoppers carrying their goods. Not like other stores with free parking and easy access. N Tate, Darlington
A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for using the internet to abuse children all over the world - without leaving his home. Michael Coulter, 65, has been jailed for eight years after he admitted using dating sites and chat forums to gain the trust of
SUPERMARKET chain Morrisons is trialling vending machines for the return of single-use plastic bottles to reduce their impact on the environment.The two reverse vending machines will be in the retailer's stores in Skipton, North Yorkshire, and Lindsayfield
A TEESDALE village is set to come alive on Sunday with its annual music festival.Residents in Staindrop are being invited to enjoy a lively finish to the village's carnival weekend with the popular FoSfEST.Organised by the Friends of Staindrop Primary
TV favourite and Dancing on Ice star Ray Quinn is to play Don – the role made famous by Cliff Richard - in the new UK tour of Summer Holiday which pulls into Darlington in September. What’s On reports A NEW stage production of the musical Summer
MULTI-award-winning comedian Sara Pascoe is bringing her smash hit Edinburgh Fringe and sell-out West End show LadsLadsLads to the region this autumn. She tells What’s On why it’s described as a ‘thinking person’s stag-do? ‘ What is LadsLadsLads
NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed the signing of Chelsea winger Kenedey on a season-long loan deal. The Brazilian winger enjoyed a successful loan spell at St James' Park last season, and returns for the whole of next season. However, Newcastle
David Attenborough’s award-winning series Blue Planet II changed global attitudes towards the environment and climate change... now get ready for its ‘live’ visual and musical overture FOLLOWING the incredible success of the BAFTA award-winning
Richmond’s Georgian Theatre has launched wide-reaching autumn programme. What’s On checks it out CUTTING edge drama, top comedy acts and music for every taste make up the new Autumn Season at The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond. Audiences
THE odds of a lightning strike on the same spot, 14 years apart, are astronomical so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the long-awaited sequel to Disney Pixar's masterpiece falls tantalisingly short of the genius of its predecessor. Incredibles
JORDAN Pickford wasn’t the only one making important saves last night, with a sprightly 67-year-old springing into action to stop a dog from drowning. Two members of the public alerted Hartlepool RNLI volunteer Fred Robinson to the struggling pup
THREE-time world champion Peter Sagan warned his sprint rivals there was more to come after he powered to victory on stage five of the Tour de France.The Bora-Hansgrohe rider was too strong for Sonny Colbrelli of Bahrain-Merida and Quick-Step's Philippe
Rick Astley is about to release his new album Beautiful Life, the follow-up to the platinum-selling record that returned him to the top of the charts. Andrew Arthur speaks to the singer-songwriter AFTER topping the charts in 25 countries with one
LIKE so many soap killers before him, Lachlan (Emmerdale, ITV) is discovering that one murder frequently leads to another. This week, he starts to suspect Liv is behind the texts and decides to silence her (and Robert, for good measure) by fiddling
TICKETS for Sunderland’s brand new summer music event are selling fast, as fans eager to enjoy a weekend of nostalgia continue to snap them up. The Kubix Festival is heading to Herrington County Park over the weekend of Friday and Saturday August
NEWCASTLE MIKEL MERINO will formally complete his move to Spanish side Real Sociedad in the next couple of days – but Rafael Benitez is confident the Magpies have a ready-made replacement in the shape of Ki Sung-yeung. Real Sociedad have signed
THE best of today's TV Keeping Faith (BBC1, 9pm) It may be new to a lot of viewers, but the drama series Keeping Faith has already broken records. When it aired on BBC Wales earlier this year, it became the most-watched non-network drama
A TEESSIDE-based university spin out company has agreed a deal with one of the world’s largest speciality chemical and coatings companies to develop greener, cleaner and safer surfactants for use in detergents and soaps.Multi-national chemical and coatings
I STARTED my business 30 years ago, with my first business partner, John McNally, from a room at the back of a fast food outlet in Northumberland Street, Darlington, writes Graham Robb, former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. The firm has
THE mother of Bradley Lowery has welcomed news that a drug used to treat the young football mascot will be made available on the NHS.Gemma Lowery said she was "overjoyed" dinutuximab beta has been recommended for use by the National Institute
YOU all know something that I don’t. You’re on the other side of 90 minutes of football which could make or break a nation. I don’t know what the result will be. I'm filing this column early, to breeze out into the muggy night and get to a
NORMALLY, in a pre-season friendly, players are not too happy about being on the receiving end of a hefty challenge. For Sunderland defender Reece James, however, a whack on the ankle in Tuesday’s game at Darlington was just what the doctor ordered.James
ENGLAND fans were left devastated as the nation missed out on a place in the World Cup final. The dream was crushed for supporters in Moscow and at home as Gareth Southgate's men lost 2-1 to Croatia in the semi-final after extra time. Millions
AN ELDERLY man who was struck by a car in a North-East town centre has died. Emergency services were called to Scott Street, in Stanley, County Durham, just before 11am on Wednesday. Pedestrian killed after being struck by car named as
Rogue tradersTRADING Standards have issued a warning to Darlington residents to be aware of door-to-door salesman who appear to be operating in the town. The callers, who claim to be ex-offenders working as part of a rehabilitation scheme, are offering
FOND memories were shared as a community came together to celebrate a nursery's 25th anniversary on Saturday.More than 100 former pupils, staff, parents, grandparents and even a headteacher turned out to mark the occasion at Evenwood CofE Primary
RAFAEL BENITEZ is adamant that Newcastle United want to keep Jamaal Lascelles – no matter what West Ham United bid for the centre-half in the remainder of the transfer window.Newcastle rejected West Ham’s initial offer for Lascelles on Tuesday, with the
IT is great to see the Majestic Theatre finally coming under a new ownership and management team who seem determined to bring some stability and creativity to compliment Darlington’s existing arts and theatre. The Hippodrome will continue to get the headline
ROADS across North Yorkshire could receive a boost of more than £6m in a bid to repair surfaces plagued with potholes. North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive will be asked to approve an extra £3m for highway maintenance across the county to
A CELEBRATION of the decade that gave the world rock and roll is being held this weekend.Beamish Museum’s Festival of 50s gets underway today and runs until Sunday with live music, costumes to try on and period-inspired food and drink.The open air visitor
A DURHAM University student has been banned from driving after drunkenly crashing into parked cars following a night out with friends. Laura Carmichael, 22, from North Duffield, near Selby, was breathalysed after the crash on Renny's Lane, Durham
A SCHEME to build a congestion-busting road to boost economic growth around key existing and future employment sites has received a £500,000 injection.The funding from Darlington Borough Council will contribute towards the building of a link road between
A BURGLAR hit a homeowner in the face after being apprehended breaking into a garden shed with a screwdriver in a bid to raise money to pay his rent. Simon Kernan, 39, of Anns Terrace, Darlington, was visiting his sister in Barnard Castle when
A COMMUNITY celebration will be held to mark a train station's 175th anniversary.Organisers of Bishop Auckland Railway Station's annual station community event promise this year's will be bigger than ever as it marks the landmark date.The
A CAR salesman who “clocked” three vans he was offering for sale narrowly escaped a prison sentence after a court heard he now appears to be trading legitimately. Abraham Varey, 22, of St Phillips Park, Coundon Grange, Bishop Auckland, a director
FOUR musically-minded youngsters have taken it upon themselves to follow in the footsteps of Bob Geldof and record their own charity single. Luke Porter and Callum Sanderson, both 12, were joined in the studio by fellow Yarm School students, Danny
A SPECIAL flypast featuring a Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane has been organised to mark the 30th anniversary of St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be passing overhead at around 2.20pm on Sunday, July
A ROUND-UP of local news Banner march MEMBERS of the public are invited to follow Trimdon Brass Band and the Trimdon Colliery banner in the pre-Durham Gala march tomorrow. The parade will set off from The Square, in Trimdon Station, next to
SURVIVOR stories from the worst atrocity committed on European soil since the Second World War feature in an exhibition to mark its 23rd anniversary.Remembering Srebrenica, at Durham’s Clayport Library, highlights the horrors of the 1995 genocide, which
CONCERNS for the human rights of children have been highlighted as a council set in chain a move to introduce extraordinary powers to crackdown on escalating anti-social behaviour in a town centre. A meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet
STARS of television’s Police Interceptors show, kitted out in florescent sweatbands, tackled a charity Zumbathon in memory of a teenage boy. PCs Ian Squire and Mike ‘Spike’ Fisher took part in the dance-based fitness event which raised over £2,000
IT is all hands on deck for a Sedgefield youth theatre group’s next production.Sedgefield Players Youth Section (SPYS) are in rehearsals ahead of staging three performances of Treasure Island later this month.A swashbuckling adventure, the Robert Louis
A ROYAL visitor helped The Great Yorkshire Show celebrate its 160th anniversary this week as the event welcomed The Princess Royal on Wednesday. Princess Anne, a keen horsewoman and advocate of country life, arrived at the Harrogate showground
WHEN the announcement that the safety car is to be deployed is received by the F1 drivers it will be a mixture of frustration and relief depending whether you are in the leading group or further down the field. The leaders may well have a comfortable
A WARNING has been issued to residents to be on their guard against cold callers selling dusters and other cleaning products.North Yorkshire County Council’s trading standards officers said the number of incidents of cold callers selling sub-standard
STUDENTS have been showing their brilliance thanks to a project designed to promote higher education.Year 12 students from Richmond School and Sixth Form College joined the Brilliant Club, an initiative aimed at encouraging them to consider university
CRIME-fighting technology designed to help people protect their personal property has arrived in Ryedale.“Dot peen” property marking involves using a tungsten carbide-tipped pin to indent an object with dots to create a visible, permanent unique number
Bone diseasePEOPLE are being offered the chance to find out more about bone disease osteoporosis in Northallerton. An information event, hosted by the local support group of the National Osteoporosis Society, will be held at 6pm at Rivendale on Bankhead
DO you remember a few years back when news that Spam was being phased out sparked a public outcry which ended up saving the tinned meat’s bacon? It was an example of when members of the public had fallen for one of the oldest marketing tricks in
YOUNGSTERS from across the Girlguiding community came together for a day of fun at the weekend.More than 100 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from Barnard Castle, Startforth, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Staindrop, Gainford and Cockfield took part in Hubabaloo
A NEW website is offering assistance to voluntary groups, community organisations and sports clubs seeking new sources of funding.Durham 4 Community includes information on a range of local, regional and national funding schemes available in County Durham.Interested
A TEENAGE burglar targeted the home of his girlfriend’s family, but later claimed he had no memory of committing the crime, a court heard. Kia William Taylor broke into the house in Horden, County Durham, via a window, before taking the keys to
POLICE have reported that 15-year-old Alzebeta Daniella Kapurova has been found safe and well. Alzebeta Daniella Kapurova had last been seen at Durham City bus station, on Sunday, July 1. She was located in the Sunderland area yesterday.
A PONY that got itself into a sticky situation has been rescued with help from the RSPCA and fire service. The Exmoor pony was submerged in a ditch in the middle of a bog at Askham Bog Nature Reserve, near York, with water up to her shoulders and
TRAIN lovers flocked to the National Railway Museum to celebrate the arrival of the world’s most famous engine. Enthusiasts came from all over the country to the Shildon museum in County Durham, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the Flying Scotsman
HIT musical film The Greatest Showman has provided the inspiration for a dance school's newest colourful production, which opens tonight.The Joanne Banks Dancers, based in Spennymoor, County Durham, return to their second home– the recently renovated
A MAN from County Durham has appeared in court charged with killing a woman in a crash. Richard Elmore pleaded not guilty at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday to one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury
DARLINGTON town centre should be “shrunk” in the coming years to enable it to serve residents best, a meeting of leading councillors has heard. Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet was told there was cross-party support for a move to cut the town
A VETERINARY charity is appealing for animal lovers to lend a paw.Volunteers are needed at the PDSA shop at 120 Front Street in Chester-le-Street shop to help raise vital funds for sick and injured pets. Shop manager Adele Corke said: “We’re looking for
A FATHER threatened to pour salt on his neighbour's prized front lawn after complaints about his young son kicking his football on the newly-laid grass. And Damon Clark, 32, of Holwick Close, Consett, ended up in court after the incident yesterday
FROM physical fitness to self belief and employability skills, young people are being offered the chance to learn from military instructors.That's after three new Motivational Preparation College for Training colleges opened in North-East.The three
OVER a pint in the Half Moon in Barton, south of Darlington, John Todd hands over a packet of old photographs. Most are of Bishop Auckland FC in the 1950s; one’s a bit different.Bishops’ legends Seamus O’Connell and Bob Hardisty are sure enough either
A HEADTEACHER is calling on youths to end their spate of vandalism at his school before someone is seriously injured. Over the past few weeks Abbey Infant School in Darlington has been targeted on several occasions with the children's play area
