THERESA MAY’S announcement today – World Mental Health Day – of a new Minister for Suicide Prevention is a welcome step. About 4,500 people take their lives every year in England and suicide remains the leading cause of death among men under the
A MAN has been jailed for three years after carrying out a distraction burglary at the home of a woman in her 70s. Darren Wilkinson, 35, of Sidings Place, Houghton-le-Spring, was sentenced to three years and four months in jail at Durham Crown
A ROAD has been shut due to a fuel spillage. Peth Bank, in Lanchester, County Durham, was closed around 5pm following the incident. Consett police have asked motorists to avoid the area while it is cleaned up.
THE father of a toddler who vanished without trace 37 years ago has told how he found out on Twitter that bones unearthed earlier this year belonged to a horse and not his missing child. Former soldier Richie Lee, of Hartlepool, was based at Paderborn
SAM COLLINS, the former Hartlepool United captain, has been appointed manager of York City. After an eight-game caretaker spell, in which they lost only once, Collins is the permanent replacement for Martin Gray who was sacked in August. Collins
A MAN who sought indecent online material featuring children for three years has escaped an immediate prison sentence, so he can receive help to overcome his predilection in the community. But, David Alan Carr was warned any breach of the court
MIDDLESBROUGH have had two of their Championship games rearranged to accommodate live coverage on Sky Sports. The trip to Brentford on Saturday, November 24 has been selected for television, with the game at Griffin Park now kicking off at 5.30pm
A WOMAN was left with facial injuries after a teenager threw a full can of pop in her face. She was walking her dog through the wooded area, which runs adjacent to Tennyson Gardens, Dipton, at around 6.20pm when the attack took place. She was
A WOMAN was left with facial injuries after a full can of pop was thrown at her by a teenager. She was out walking her dog through the wooded area, which runs adjacent to Tennyson Gardens, Dipton, on Thursday, October 2 at about 6.20pm when the
WHAT a coup for Redcar & Cleveland, getting the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire (Echo, Oct 6). But, with the cat in the bag, we find leader, Sue Jeffrey, and cabinet member for tourism, Carl Quartermain, competing with each other for the credit. Yet
I CAN’T stop thinking Theresa May had the wrong song in her mad dance entrance at the Tory Party conference. Surely Sandie Shaw and Puppet on a String would have been better. Her hands moved as if she was a puppet. Her speech about Labour supporters
THE collar number of North Yorkshire Police officer Mick Atkinson, who was found dead at the weekend has been retired from use as a mark of respect. Tributes to PC Atkinson have flooded in since the officer was found dead at the weekend, with friends
THERESA MAY has rejected the growing demand for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal. She claims we have already voted on the deal and it is undemocratic to hold a second vote. She herself did that when she called the last general election
YOUR correspondent John Cumberland is a little harsh on his criticism of Theresa May (HAS Oct 6). I have no political favourites, Conservatives or Labour (and definitely not Vince Cable), as I tend to survive which ever party is in government.
TWO drivers have been injured following a car crash in Upper Teesdale. The drivers collided on the B16278 between Folly Top and Eggleston at about 2.30pm. Police, ambulance and fire all attended the scene. A Police spokeswoman confirmed
HOW can anyone seriously contemplate destroying a rainforest the size of the UK when trees are the precious lungs of our planet and one of our strongest defences against climate change? But that’s what the largest palm oil traders on the planet
MICHAEL DODS will be targeting more Group One honours next year after confirming that his star sprinter, Mabs Cross, will remain in training for at least another season. Dods celebrated one of the biggest successes of his training career last weekend
A TOUCHING tribute has been paid to a mother-of-five who was found dead at the weekend. Man charged with murder after woman's body found in house A family statement issued through Cleveland Police described 33-year-old Natalie Saunders
POWER has now been restored after a JCB digger on a building site cut through a power cable, leaving 176 homes without power earlier in the village of Hurworth, near Darlington. Residents reported hearing a 'loud bang' at about 10.05am before the
I WAS interested by the article about guns brought back from Germany after the First World War. (Echo Memories, Sept 22). In the Dales Centre at Stanhope, there is a painting on the walls, showing the men of the village dragging the cannon along
A MAN who racially aggravated a taxi driver has narrowly avoided jail. Todd Jennings, 23, racially assaulted the taxi driver inside the vehicle in Stockton earlier this year. The driver got out of the taxi and called for help at a nearby building
WILLOWBURN hospice in Lanchester is officially opening its new £1.5m six bed wing later this month. The hospice on Maiden Law Bank, near Lanchester, is launching the Helen McCardle wing, on on Saturday, October 27. A new cafe and with the auxiliary
PLANS to build a new house in High Etherley have been submitted to Durham County Council. Steve Charlton has submitted plans for the single four-bedroom home which he plans to build on land between 37 and 38 South Road. The land is currently used for
WORK is underway on the regeneration of a play area in Ferryhill Station. Ferryhill Town Council secured funds from Lafarge-Tarmac, the 4Together Partnership, the neighbourhood budgets of Durham County Councillors Brian Avery and Peter Atkinson
A STOLEN Australian cockatoo has been reunited with its owners at a pet store in Stockton. Rosie the Cockatoo was stolen on Sunday evening and had seemingly vanished without a trace. But she was recognised by a woman who had bought the bird
WITNESSES are being sought after a market town business was broken into overnight. Fox & Field, in Barnard Castle town centre, was broken into and a quantity of stock taken on Tuesday night. Barnard Castle Police are now appealing for any members
TRIBUTES have been paid to a great-grandfather who died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Durham. John Eric Woodhead, from Chester-le-Street, died when his Suzuki 600cc motorbike collided with a roadside barrier on the A167 near the Honest
RICHARD FAHEY heads into York’s final meeting of the year on Friday knowing he is on the brink of rewriting the record books. Fahey is set to claim the Charles Clinkard Top Trainer of the Year award, having recorded 16 victories on the Knavesmire
PROPOSALS to replace Sunderland Civic Centre with a smaller base on Vaux as part of the wider masterplan for the site will be examined by the City Council's Cabinet next week. Councillors will hear how the current building has a limited lifespan
TODAY is World Mental Health Day. If you feel like you or someone you know may need assistance with a mental health issue, help is at hand. Where can I get help? Mental health services are available for free on the NHS, while there are a number
GERAINT Thomas' Tour de France trophy has been stolen after being displayed at the Cycle Show in Birmingham, Team Sky have said. Sky have been displaying all three Grand Tour trophies - which were won by Thomas and Chris Froome between September
DID you see the beautiful sunrise on Tuesday morning? This picture was taken by John Suggett of The Northern Echo Camera Club at Croft, near Darlington. We would love to see your photos if you have them. You can add to this article or
WARNING: Graphic picture in gallery above POLICE and the RSPCA are appealing for help from people to trace a horse suffering an horrific injury to its neck. Last month police received a report of concern from a member of the public about a
THERE'S always that niggling doubt when a band from your youth gets back together so many years after calling it a day. Would they sound as good as they did back then? Would the stage show live up to expectations? Would the whole thing
EMERGENCY services are dealing with a serious crash on the A1 northbound at Swalwell, Gateshead. Highways North East has tweeted that onlane remains closed for the recovery of the vehicles. More to follow.
What kind of a presence does Stadler have in the UK? Today, Stadler employs 170 people in Merseyside, and by the early 2020s, we will deliver a total of 127 trains within the UK. Stadler trains have been running in this market since 2013, when six
Tonight's TV offerings Magic Numbers: Hannah Fry's Mysterious World of Maths (BBC4, 9pm) FOR many pupils, maths can be a rather dull subject. But of course with the right teacher, even the most baffling subject can suddenly become as clear
This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week. Nicola Gaskin, who lost a baby and had two miscarriages outlines five ways to cope after a baby dies EVERY year, thousands of people in the UK are affected by the death of a baby or experience pregnancy loss
A ‘MINDLESS' vandal took a Scout minibus off the road by kicking off its wing-mirror earlier this week. CCTV footage captured in the early hours of Monday morning shows a man pausing before running at the 7th Darlington Sea Scouts’ bus and delivering
A MULTI-million pound publicly-funded hotel has made its second major appointment. Lorna Hobson, originally from Yarm, is the new sales manager at the Hampton by Hilton hotel in Stockton. She has now relocated to Hartburn with her family after
A MOTORCYCLIST killed in a crash that shut the A1(M) may have suffered a medical episode. The accident happened shortly after 11am on the southbound carriageway between junction 59 and junction 58 near Darlington on Tuesday. Police closed the
A DARLINGTON pizzeria has been named the best in England. Following an undercover visit to the cosy Stable Hearth pizza restaurant and a nationwide public vote, judges for the prestigious English Italian Awards agreed that it was the best in the
Comedy night COMEDIANS will help to raise money for good causes during Chuckles for Charity on Thursday, October 11. Jason Cook and Chris Washington will be joined by acts including magician Brian Lesko at the Harrowgate Club and Institute during
THE Dewhurst Stakes looks like being a vintage renewal at Newmarket on Saturday with the unbeaten Too Darn Hot Even money favourite at BetVictor to give John Gosden and Frankie Dettori more Group 1 glory. The Middle Park winner Ten Sovereigns is
The northbound of the A19 was closed following a crash involving up to five vehicles on Wednesday morning. Live traffic updates Traffic was diverted onto the A1018. Occupants of the cars are believed to have suffered minor injuries
SPONSORED CONTENT GHOSTS, and ghouls, and things that go bump in the night are just a small part of the spooktacular goings-on in a castle in Wensleydale this Hallowe’en. The historic 14th-century Bolton Castle is (g)hosting its first Hallowe
COMMUNITY transport providers across North Yorkshire have joined together to appeal for people to join their teams of volunteers. Community transport is a growing part of the county’s transport network, whether it’s a journey people make every day
A MICHAEL Jackson tribute act has announced he is heading to Darlington as part of a 40-date tour in 2019, the year which marks the tenth Ben Bowman is embarking on a UK tour celebrating the life and work of the world-renowned entertainer.
GEORGE FRIEND has described how Middlesbrough’s focus during the international break will centre on returning to action in style – unlike the last time. More Middlesbrough news here When Boro last emerged from the September fortnight
OCTOBER 10 1813: Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi was born in Le Roncole. 1877: Motoring pioneer William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield, was born in Worcester. 1881: The Savoy Theatre, the first public building to be lit by electricity, opened
THE curse of Strictly Come Dancing struck again this week when contestant Seann Walsh and dance partner Katya Jones – he with a girlfriend and her married – ended up on the front of a national newspaper for sharing a drunken kiss. Walsh has since
LESS than two years after arriving in the UK with no English and little more than a dream, one Syrian refugee is preparing to launch his own business. As soon as he set foot in England, Mouhyedin Alkhalil swore to himself that he would work as
COUNCIL leaders have expressed frustration over the lack of progress towards devolution in Yorkshire, saying the region is being overlooked in favour of places with elected mayors. As the Government continues to consider the One Yorkshire scheme
A HEATING engineer from the North-East is preparing for his latest epic adventure – at the coldest place on the planet. Months after climbing Everest, Steve Graham has announced that he’ll be climbing another the world’s most challenging mountains
A DANGEROUS driver who led police on a high speed chase failed to persuade a jury he had not been at the wheel. Other news: Man turns up to court in Frankenstein mask Andrew Welsh, 29, of Poplar Lea, Brandon, was convicted of dangerous
A SCHEME to build a housing estate in one of North Yorkshire’s most deprived areas looks set to be approved, despite concerns it could harm the future of a key community asset. Colburn Town Council has urged Richmondshire planners to reject developer
A MAN who battled homelessness for ten years has landed a job with a housing charity. Paul Bradford, 40, has earned a part-time workshop role with a joinery venture that trains and employs residents of the Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling
A COMPUTER management firm has hailed their recent expansion as a major step forward. Resilient Business Systems, based at Business Central in Darlington, has upgraded from the business centre’s co-working lounge by taking on a fixed office space
A CEREMONY to officially open a refurbished war memorial is taking place this weekend. Dipton War Memorial group was formed two years ago, after the death of 28-year-old Sapper Daryn Roy in Afghanistan in 2010. The hedge has been trimmed back
TWO neighbouring communities will come together to pay tribute to the men and boys who left their villages for war, never to return. People in Kirk Merrington and Leasingthorne will mark the centenary of the end of the First World War with a weekend
AN organisation which works to support youth groups and clubs in the area has held its annual awards evening. The Durham Association Boys and Girls Club (DABGC) held the event at Ramside Hall Hotel, on the outskirts of Durham, to celebrate the achievements
WITH just over a week to go until this year’s EMCON engineering and manufacturing expo, dozens of businesses have already booked to exhibit. Following the success of last year’s event, which was the last under the previous Durham Oktoberfest moniker
THE demand from vulnerable people for aid through the King’s Foodbank in Darlington is always high. It was, therefore, with surprise and delight that manager Caroline Todd watched an articulated lorry pull up in the carpark laden with food and
STUDENTS at Newcastle College will be able to get free sanitary products discreetly if they cannot afford them, thanks to a new campaign against “period poverty” being launched today. The local branch of the University and College Union (UCU) said
FAST food delivery company Deliveroo is looking for more riders to serve a city and surrounding area following a rapid growth over the past year. Figures released by the now international delivery service reveal an increase in 105-per cent in lunch
A CHARITY that takes dogs into older people's homes to offer friendship and company has a new patron. The Duchess of Northumberland, known for redeveloping The Alnwick Garden and as Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland since 2009, said she was thrilled
A DRIVER high on drugs chooses to overtake at 87mph two cars on a blind bend. He crashes into a motorbike being ridden correctly the other way, killing its rider, a 27-year-old hospital doctor. Of course he is imprisoned, but for how long? Technically
A WOMAN died in a head-on crash between a car and a van and a driver has been arrested. It happened on the A59 at Moor Monkton, near York, at around 3.13am on Tuesday morning and involved a white VW Crafter van heading in the direction of York
Nuisance teens POLICE are investigating reports of teenagers causing a nuisance in Stokesley. Officers are appealing for parents to make sure they know where their children are on an evening after a group of up to eight youths were banging on residents
A PARTNERSHIP of public, private and voluntary sector bodies has provided £40m in 5,000 grants across County Durham, councillors will be told. Working to end mental health discrimination and organising events to mark one hundred years since the
A TAXI driver who threatened to "chop his daughter’s legs up and boil her head in a pan" has had his licence to operate revoked. The driver, who worked in a North Yorkshire town, appeared before Hambleton District Council’s licensing and appeals
A POLICE and crime commissioner’s move to take control of a fire service looks set to be challenged in the Houses of Parliament. The expansion of North Yorkshire commissioner Julia Mulligan’s role, which was confirmed by Home Secretary Sajid Javed
THE secret grief and sorrow of the women of the First World War is being shared in a new exhibition exploring the life of the woman who consoled them. Dear Mrs Pennyman: Reflections on Grief brings together the emotional letters and untold heartbreak
A FILM which aims to raise awareness about domestic abuse is being shown in community venues. Make Do and Mend was made by Changing Relations, a County Durham arts education and training company. Originally a play, which toured the North-East
A GROUP of villagers who are trying to open a community centre are holding an event to share their progress. Sherburn Hill Hub wants to get a new centre for the village, which has been left with few community facilities since the closure of the
