DARLINGTON’S focus has been on fitness and lifting morale during the past fortnight in which time they have been preparing for Saturday’s game at FC United of Manchester. There have been no games for Quakers since losing 1-0 at home to Stockport
A MAN was jailed for six years following a knife attack in his ex-partner's home. Christopher Fothergill stabbed a man and left him needing hospital treatment in an altercation that took place in Darlington last August. Background: Man
A CARE home boss is the latest business leader to agree to a charity ‘sleepout’ organised to help the homeless. Justin Hutchens, chief at Darlington-based care company HC-One, will swap his home comforts for a sleeping bag as part of the upcoming
A COUNTY Durham aircraft firm's planning application for a new hanger for microlight planes has been approved. The application by Wheatley Hill-based business, East Durham Microlights, was passed by Durham County Council’s area planning committee
A 28-year-old man suffered facial injuries when he was assaulted. The incident happened inside a property in the Flint Walk area of Hartlepool. It occurred on Friday, August 31 in the early hours of the morning. As a result of the assault
LEAVING the Parc des Princes, in the wake of Newcastle Falcons’ 48-8 defeat to Stade Francais in the quarter-finals of 2005’ Heineken Cup, Rob Andrew reflected on what the future might hold. “We have to learn the lessons from today,” said the then
POLICE are launching a campaign urging homeowners to protect their property from thieves this winter. Durham Constabulary’s Winter Nights initiative hopes to stop a rise in burglaries due to the dark nights. The onset of dark nights can lead
BARNARD Castle based theatre group, The Castle Players, is creating an opportunity for a new director to work with the company this autumn. In previous years the new director scheme has seen productions of the First World War drama, Journey’s End
ENGINEERS have paved the way for more than 3,000 new jobs and a near half a billion pound boost to County Durham’s economy. More great business news here With £13 million in Local Enterprise Partnership funding, Durham County Council
LEWIS WING is hoping his ‘dream year’ will continue after he penned a new deal committing him to Middlesbrough until 2022. Wing’s new contract underlines the extent of his progress since he left Northern League side Shildon 16 months ago, and suggests
WEDNESDAY was the warmest October day since 2011, but it didn’t feel like it in south Durham as I drove on the A68 which, just north of Darlington, was so shrouded in fog that the headlights turned themselves on. But at Heighington, the sun burst
AS this week marked Mental Health Awareness Day, blogger Becky Connolly from Richmond, North Yorkshire, opens up about anxiety For as long as I’ve been a mother I’ve had anxiety. To me, motherhood and anxiety are one and I don’t see a horizon on
REMAINS of a Roman settlement have been found during work to improve the A66. Highways England’s £5 million Eden Valley project made the discovery at Kirkby Thore in Cumbria. As well as foundations of the original Roman road, traces of Roman
A MAN accused of stealing thousands of pounds worth of clothing from a shop in Barnard Castle has appeared at court. Kenneth Yorke of Walker Drive, Bishop Auckland, appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe this morning charged with burglary
A VAN was seized and several more were issued with prohibition notices as part of action against scrap metal collectors. Officers from Gateshead Council joined Northumbria Police and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency to carry out Operation Itinerant
A MAN was taken to hospital for a check-up following a crash between a car and van which caused severe delays on the A1(M) southbound at Chester-le-Street in County Durham on Thursday morning. DELAYS: Traffic is backed up on the A1(M) after
A MUSIC show hosted by The Hairy Bikers is being held for charity later this month. Rock n Raise with Si King and Dave Myers is a one-off gig at Wylam Brewery, Exhibition Park, Newcastle, on Thursday October 25. Si King’s band Little Moscow,
A MAN who launched a spray paint attack on homeless man Michael Cash has been sentenced to an 18 month community order. Other news: 'Someone could have been killed' - judge slams danger driver Aaron Jones, of Balmoral Road, Middlesbrough
WHATEVER the outcome, it is safe to assume that England will not have been involved in many stranger internationals than the one they are going to play in the Croatian city of Rijeka tomorrow. With UEFA having ordered Croatia to play two home matches
COUNCILLORS have deferred a decision on a college’s plan to upgrade its facilities for science subjects. New College Durham’s proposed expansion of its technology block was recommended for approval by a Durham County Council planning meeting on
COUNCIL bosses have sought to scotch criticism that their festive push to attract more town centre shoppers is literally too late in the day. Council urged to offer more free parking Darlington Borough Council leisure chief Councillor
WHEN I last saw her, it was as a schoolgirl, more than 20 years ago now. She was fierce, strong and vibrant, never without an entourage and never a teacher’s favourite. She was trouble, expelled repeatedly, the hard lass, the one you wouldn’t want
A WOMAN accused of stealing a four-figure sum from her employer has walked free from court after the prosecution offered “no evidence” on the scheduled day of trial. Louise Ward, 37, was alleged to have taken £3,882 during a period when she was
THREE people were injured in a crash on Wednesday evening. A Hyundai i10 and a Peugeot 207 collided on Marske Road, near to Quarry Lane roundabout in Saltburn, on Wednesday 10th October at 8:20pm. The 70-year-old female driver of the Hyundai
TWO 10-year-old boys have been questioned by police after a ride-on tractor was thrown from a bridge on to a man who suffered a serious head injury. Background: 'It could have killed me' - victim speaks out after being hit by ride-on digger
A WOMAN was robbed of her bike while cycling. The 38-year-old was cycling along the black path from Cleveland Retail Park towards Bramble Farm, Middlesbrough, when someone approached her from behind, pulled her off her bike and then took the bike
CLASSIC CLAPTON the World's No1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band featuring front-man Mike Hall will be making a welcome return to "home ground" this week after a gap of three years. On the same day as the tribute act's Richmond show - tomorrow night -
WHO AM I? 1. An actor, I was born in New York City in 1946. I got my first film role in The Cool World in 1963. I played Huggy Bear in TV's Starsky and Hutch. 2. A broadcaster, I was born in Cairo in 1921. I was parodied in a well-known Monty
A FORMER coalfield community is preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of a village colliery. It will be half a century next spring since the demise of the pit in Craghead, near Stanley, which employed more than 1,600 people.
A RETIRED miner has told how he worked alongside one of the Pitman Painters filling the last tubs of coal to be mined from Craghead Colliery. Ken Hutton, who is now 68, started work underground after leaving school aged 15, and met Tom Lamb, shortly
SUNDERLAND will receive around €4m if Didier Ndong finds a new club after thrashing out an agreement that has formally ended the midfielder’s employment with the Black Cats. A series of discussions with the Gabon international’s representatives
A CHEMICAL manufacturer is celebrating 30 years of business with a new corporate identity. Cod Beck Blenders, the Thirsk-based toll and contract manufacturer, has undergone a complete re-branding to give it a fresh, modern image and it has also
YOUNG people from County Durham and Germany will be delivering messages of peace at a festival of remembrance which marks the centenary of the end of the First World War. They will be joined by Harry Oliver, a 99-year-old Durham Light Infantry
AN internal investigation has been mounted by a North-East company that produces passports and banknotes after a number of members of staff were reportedly escorted off the premises. The Northern Echo understands three members of staff were removed
A WEB design agency is planning to expand and take on more staff as it prepares to hit the £1m sales barrier for the first time. Darlington-based Webahead Internet was launched by digital entrepreneur Dale Jeffries with just five staff six years
A JCB 526, registration NK05 FLM, has been stolen from a farm in the Ingleton area of Teesdale overnight on Monday. If you saw anything suspicious, or have any information contact police by calling 101 and quote crime number CRI00155083. A police spokeswoman
SPONSORED CONTENT Connection Retail Ltd, the parent company of Flooring Superstore, Direct Wood Flooring and Grass Direct, has recently invested £20,000 expanding the ranges at its Birtley-based store. The gamble seems to be paying off as month
SOME of my happiest memories of being a dad are of the kids dressing up and expecting me to join in. There was the time our eldest, Christopher, had a pirate party and I had to be an eye-patched Long John Silver, tied to the garage door, and pelted
A TV personality and two pantomime favourites have got into costume to launch another season of Christmas entertainment in Darlington. Louie Spence, Liam Mellor and Zoe Birkett all got into character for the official launch of Darlington Hippodrome's
HISTORY, art, music, family fun and panoramic views will feature in a day of celebration to herald the opening of the region's newest landmark. Auckland Tower, the latest attraction from The Auckland Project, in Bishop Auckland, will launch on
A FARMING roadshow visited a town centre encouraging people to support British wool trade. In celebration of British Wool Week, The Woolly Roadshow showcased two rare Wensleydale sheep in Darlington town centre. Tour founder, David Griffiths
A DECISION over a proposed relocation of a community office to a sheltered housing building has been put on hold amid concerns vulnerable residents could be exposed to antisocial behaviour. Richmondshire District Council's corporate board agreed
ADAM MATTHEWS claims the current season is ‘payback time’ for Sunderland’s long-suffering fans, and admits it is imperative the club builds on its strong start to secure a return to the Championship at the first time of asking. Like the rest of
A DURHAM University student has been held in solitary confinement in the UAE after he was accused of spying and detained five months ago following a research trip, it has been claimed. Matthew Hedges, a PhD student at Durham University, was reportedly
CHILDREN and young people with autism enjoyed a special theatre performance at The Hullabaloo. Bamboozle Theatre Company, who create shows for children, young people and their families with disabilities, presented Storm at the venue to school children
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of affray following an incident in a Darlington street. Durham Police were called at about 2.20pm on Wednesday to an address in Brunton Street in Darlington. Two men were taken to hospital and enquiries
Music society DARLINGTON Music Society was forced to postpone their Dolphin Centre concert at ten hours notice on Saturday. They had expected to start their winter season of concerts with a recital by the Jubilee String Quartet, returning for its
A PIONEERING scheme to boost neighbourhood policing in North Yorkshire has received national recognition. New Neighbourhood Policing guidelines, published this week by the College of Policing, highlight North Yorkshire Police’s commitment to developing
LANDMARKS in Richmondshire and Hambleton have turned pink and blue this week to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week. Both Richmondshire and Hambleton councils are honouring the work of baby loss charities by changing the lighting on the Friary Tower
A SCHOOL has been commended for its work promoting mental health and wellbeing in the community. Red Hall Primary school, in Darlington, has continued its success following a recent Ofsted inspection where it retained its 'good' status. The school
A SPECIALLY-DESIGNED sensory garden has been unveiled at a service supporting men with an autism spectrum condition. The garden, which was created by staff and volunteers at Thornfield Grange in Bishop Auckland, was officially opened by one of
A POPSTAR is turning his talents to the screen playing a role in one of Britain’s best-known soaps. Channel 4 producers confirmed Rick Astley would appear in an episode of Hollyoaks next week. They said the Lancashire singer would be playing
TEN years ago, this week, Pink held on to the top spot for the second week in a row. 1. Pink: So What 2. Kings of Leon: Sex on Fire 3. Sugababes: Girls 4. Rihanna: Disturbia 5. Kaiser Chiefs: Never Miss a Beat The top five songs 20
FAMED for an endless repertoire of the voices of the world’s top singers – Shirley Bassey is moved to say “Joe can do me better than I can do myself” – Joe Longthorne MBE is coming to town. A special greatest hits performance is promised as the
PEOPLE in the North-East have a fantastic opportunity to reap the benefits that will come from Brexit. Because in March next year, the UK will begin trade talks with countries outside the EU for the first time in more than 40 years. By striking
A MAN jailed last month for attempting to take the law into his own hands, has now had his sentence cut by almost two months. Durham Crown Court heard Michael James Britton sought retribution with someone he believed had been harassing a relative
RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on a new information board which highlights the flood risk and ecology of Middlesbrough becks. The new board is being installed ahead of vital flood work which will take place to reduce the risk of flooding
A WOMAN who has been diagnosed with cancer four times in five years has shared her story to help raise money. Emma Burrow, from Darlington, was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma when she was 25. Commonly found in people in their early
A YOUNG woman who overcame the odds to start her own business after being struck down by a debilitating condition has won an award. Roberta Howell, 22, Wingate, County Durham, received the the NatWest Enterprise award at the North-East Prince’s
MINNESOTA, where you find me this week, as my tour of America and Canada continues, has a major claim to fame as far as folk music is concerned. It is of course the birth-place of Bob Dylan, one of the most controversial and divisive figures in music
PRIMARY school children helped to build a new sensory garden at an opticians. It is hoped the garden at Simon Berry Opticians, in Gilesgate, will be a relaxing space for those with special educational needs and disabilities who are waiting to get
THE prevailing westerly winds have continued to put a damper on the chances of finding small northern and eastern rarities but some other larger more robust species, mainly seabirds, have brightened up the scene. White-billed divers used to be an
THE latest work from an internationally-renowned artist and photographer will be premiered at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) in two consecutive solo shows. Dan Holdsworth has dedicated the last five years to creating two major bodies
Dancer and former Casualty star Richard Winsor talks to us about starring in a new stage production of Saturday Night Fever 40 years since its famous UK cinema release, Saturday Night Fever is a reimagined and revitalised music and dance spectacular
A dazzling duo of operas is heading for the North-East stage. What's On finds out more OPERA North is celebrating 40 years since it became established as the opera company for the North of England by bringing a compelling and visually dramatic new
AN exhibition of striking self-portraits exploring gender and identity is the inspiration behind an upcoming photography workshop. Professional photographer Kev Howard will lead the workshop at the Gala Theatre in Durham on Monday, October 15, from
APPARENTLY many hit songs be they country ,pop, folk, blues or any genre of music have been written and inspired in four or five minutes, there are those however that have taken weeks to complete having had writers block after an initial idea. If you
Live Theatre are hosting the world premiere of Clear White Light, a gothic play inspired by late Lindisfarne frontman Alan Hull CLEAR White Light, a modern Gothic story set at St Nicholas’ hospital in Gosforth, written by Olivier Award nominated
NATIONAL Treasures Si King and Dave Myers, aka The Hairy Bikers have announced a huge nationwide tour for 2019 taking in over 36 dates between February and April, including dates at York Barbican, Newcastle City Hall and Sunderland Empire. With their
EVER since she found out that Hayley was pregnant, Jean has done her best to support her - this week in EastEnders (BBC1), she even tries to convince the mum-to-be that there's no need to fret about all that heavy drinking she's been doing. But
McQueen**** (Cert 15, 111 mins, available from October 22 on DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99) BORN and raised in the London borough of Stratford, Lee Alexander McQueen was a tortured genius of working-class origins who challenged the fashion establishment
The performance poet who writes alternatively about terrible times behind bars MORE lyrical readers may be familiar with the work of William Topaz McGonagall, (1825-1902), author of an abominable poem on the Tay Bridge Disaster and widely regarded
Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall is set to release the second part of a trilogy of albums. She talks to Andrew Arthur about her inspiration KT TUNSTALL is a musician who is, quite literally, going places. Due to a scheduling issue, our interview takes
What’s on Thursday, Oct 11: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band, The Oxbridge, Stockton (8.30pm) Friday, Oct 12: Noel Dennis Quartet, Gala Theatre, Durham (1pm) Saturday, Oct 13: Andy Lawrenson Trio, Claypath Deli, Durham (6pm), Vermont Big
WALKERS, cyclists and anybody interested in access to the North Yorkshire countryside is being invited to apply to a forum. The North Yorkshire Local Access Forum brings together representatives from land managers, users and other relevant areas
TEN symbolic silhouettes are on display around the county as part of the “There But Not There” commemorative campaign. The campaign was launched to mark 100-years since the end of the First World War. North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) applied
Dementia fund STAFF from a Richmond shop have handed over £100 to the Alzheimer’s Society. The money was raised from the Richmondshire Dementia Action Alliance Group’s Memory Walk in September. The Boots store staff took part in the 2km walk around
A SCHEME that has already helped more than 400 Richmondshire community groups is funding a further 60 projects this year. A total of £43,600 has been allocated - but there is still £6,400 available in the North Richmondshire district area.
FINALISTS in North Yorkshire County Council’s annual Community Awards have been announced. This year’s awards attracted 66 nominations for 64 groups and individuals. From these, 17 were shortlisted and visited by judges over the last couple
AN exhibition created by Ripon Museums exploring the causes of homelessness in North Yorkshire is currently touring venues in Harrogate. The exhibition, called Homeless Not Faceless, features the stories and photographs of ten people who have given
WRITERS can win the chance to see their words in print and a cash prize by entering a free, short story competition. The competition has been organised by The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, at South Shields. Authors can submit
A DARLINGTON school has reaped the reward for a lot of hard work in pulling together evidence to show that it is an exceptional centre for helping children with special education needs. Hurworth School has been awarded the Special Educational Needs
THE North-East will take centre stage at the UK’s largest property event this month as Invest North East England, the region’s inward investment group, showcases the area’s property development opportunities to more than 3,000 delegates including key
FUTURE trading relationships across the world as the UK leaves the European Union will be discussed at an event in the North-East today. Businesses and people across the region are being given the opportunity to have their say on how the UK should
A HOTEL and hospitality group has formally pledged its support for the armed forces community. Durham-based Ramside Estates, which owns hotels and bars across the region, made a formal commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant at a special ceremony
A CHARITY swimathon to raise money for good causes has been launched. Mayor of Durham Councillor John Lethbridge met with members of Durham’s Rotary Club at Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre recently to launch the annual event. Now in its 11th year
A CLERGYMAN has been charged with historic sex offences, The Northern Echo has learned. Former Archdeacon of Auckland, George Granville Gibson, is facing two charges of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14 and three counts of indecent
A CAMPAIGN to fight the closure of a hospital ward is gathering momentum. 'Absolute disgrace': Your views on potential closure of Bishop Auckland Hospital Ward 6 A petition set up to prevent the closure of Ward 6 at Bishop Auckland
EDUCATION services for children with special needs in County Durham will be around £5m over budget this year because of spiralling demand. Durham County Council is asking the Government for permission to use some of the funding allocated for mainstream
A TEENAGER has been by her peers to become the new young police, crime and victims’ commissioner for County Durham and Darlington. Sixteen-year-old Ellen Terry, from Belmont, Durham, is taking up the role, which will see her working with Durham
FISHER STEVENS stars in a new production that celebrates the life and music of Neil Diamond, coming to Darlington Hippodorme on Saturday 1 December. “What a beautiful noise. Comin' up from the street. Got a beautiful sound. It’s got a beautiful
YORKSHIRE has always done Abbeys well. However of the many that pepper the landscape I do believe that Rievaulx Abbey is my favourite. When the late Autumn light strikes the abbey remains there is not a better site to behold. This is a short
OCTOBER 11 1399: The Order of the Bath was constituted. 1521: Pope Leo X conferred the title of Defender of the Faith on Henry VIII. Twelve years later Henry broke with Rome to marry Anne Boleyn. 1844: Baked beans magnate HJ Heinz was born
