Archive

  • Sunderland have faith in their young prospects

    SUNDERLAND edged a step closer to a Wembley appearance by sealing a place in the last-32 of the Checkatrade Trophy last night, and assistant manager James Fowler thinks the experience should prove just perfect for a number of the club’s young guns.

  • Morecambe 0 Sunderland 1

    NOT only are Sunderland flying in League One and through to the second round of the FA Cup, they can now start to think about a surge towards Wembley in another competition. The Checkatrade Trophy might not whet the appetite of every Black Cats

  • Bishops move into second with 5-2 win at Ryhope

    Bishop Auckland climbed back into second place in the ENL when they won 5-2 at Ryhope CW last night. Ryhope took the lead in the opening minute when Vinny Ellis fired past Nick Liversedge, but Bishops levelled on 6 minutes when Callum Patton found

  • Heron sculpture lit up to mark Durham Lumiere 2019 launch

    AN illuminated homage to one of England’s most magnificent birds has been unveiled on the banks of the River Wear. The silver heron was lit up last night at Freeman’s Reach, in Durham City, to mark one year until the return of its festival of light

  • Drunken nuisance given criminal behaviour order

    A WOMAN who 'persistently' wasted police time has been given a five year criminal behaviour order. North Yorkshire Police secured the order against Susan Cooper, of Ash Tree Road, Bedale, as she has a long history of contacting North Yorkshire

  • Alice Cooper tribute act makes surprise appearance at hospice

    AN Alice Cooper tribute act made an unlikely appearance at a North-East hospice. Members of the 11-strong band, Alice Cooper’s Nightmare, visited St Benedict’s Hospice, in Sunderland, ahead of a weekend fundraising show, replicating a performance

  • Key bus routes to hospital face axe

    KEY bus services which take patients to hospital will be withdrawn within two weeks, fuelling fears for elderly and vulnerable patients. North Yorkshire County Council has revealed commercial bus operators are to cancel the X80 and X89 services 

  • Police forces unite to tackle rural crime

    A DAY of action aimed at targeting criminals who commit rural crime has been hailed a success. Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police joined police forces from across England and Wales as part of Operation Checkpoint, a countrywide campaign

  • Comment: Creating a level playing field with social media

    CHANCES are, you’ve already seen Iceland’s Christmas advert by now. Despite being banned from television because it breaches political advertising rules, the advert, which highlights the damaging impact of palm oil production on rainforests and

  • Mowden stage Armed Forces Day game

    DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK will stage their annual Armed Forces Day game this Saturday when they host Plymouth at The Northern Echo Arena. Mowden will donate £1 from every adult ticket sold for the game to Armed Forces and veterans charities including

  • Croft Circuit confirm their 2019 calendar

    CROFT CIRCUIT have confirmed an action-packed 2019 calendar that will feature 17 different events. The North Yorkshire venue has announced its full programme for the next 12 months, with the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and Toyo

  • Alan Frost is in seventh heaven after yet another ace

    AT what point does hitting a hole-in-one start to lose its shine? Probably after the seventh, and when three of those have come along inside a remarkable 12 months. That is the achievement Alan Frost, from Stockton, is still smiling about, even

  • The Full Monty comes to Darlington Hippodrome

    TICKETS are now on sale for a show that is sure to be an uplifting night of entertainment. The Full Monty is one of the most acclaimed British films ever and this stage play has become one of the most phenomenal theatrical productions ever.

  • Remembrance luncheon success

    A SECOND World War veteran was the guest of honour at a village Remembrance lunch. Last Sunday, Heighington Village was greeted just after dawn to the sound of bagpipes as resident Steve Jackson played at the stroke of 6am outside the church war

  • Television expert signed up for Dark Skies Festival 2019

    A WELL-known astrophysicist and media commentator on space matters will take part in next February’s Dark Skies Festival in North Yorkshire. Tim O’Brien, who is professor of astrophysics at the University of Manchester and associate director of

  • Pedestrian needed major surgery after being hit by pedal bike

    A PEDESTRIAN hit by a cyclist had to undergo surgery after suffering serious abdominal injuries. A 42-year-old male pedestrian was hit by the bike at around 6.20pm on Sunday, November 4, Stockton High Street opposite Debenhams. The cyclist, believed

  • Man wanted by police following robbery at Spar store

    A MAN is wanted by police following a robbery in Wolsingham. The incident took place on October 30 at around 2.45pm at the Spar store in the market place. The suspect, who is described as being in his 20s, wearing glasses and a grey hoodie,

  • New Darlington town centre footbridge lifted into place

    A NEW town centre pedestrian bridge has been lifted into place after bad weather hampered plans to install it last month. Parkgate bridge will link the Central Park development with Darlington Railway Station and is being funded jointly by the

  • Harry Mead: Time for our trees to branch out

    AT LAST! A sign of sanity – or, to put it less accusingly, good sense – over Britain's trees. Suppose there is a planting programme. What do you usually read? The trees will be native species. Our approval – vigorous thumbs up – is taken for granted

  • Photographer recognised for frog pond snap

    A PHOTOGRAPHER who snapped a curious frog in a Bishop Auckland garden has received special recognition for it. Professional photographer, Chris Percival, caught the frog on camera while taking some snaps for the Bishop Auckland and Coundon In Bloom

  • Runners - parkrun could be coming to a place near you

    A GROUP of friends wants to start a parkrun in Spennymoor. Parkruns are free, weekly, timed 5km events organised by volunteers. They take place every Saturday morning at 9am in thousands of locations around the world and the group wants to

  • Masked men with knives rob Chinese restaurant

    TWO men armed with blades and one wearing a vampire mask threatened staff as they robbed the Fortune Cookie Chinese Restaurant in Great Ayton. It happened at about 7.50pm on Monday, November 12 when two men, both armed with 6” bladed weapons, entered

  • Biker badly hurt in lamppost crash helped by off-duty police

    TWO off-duty police officers helped treat a seriously injured motorcyclist at the roadside after he hit a lamppost. The rider suffered extensive injuries in the crash when happened at Rushyford Roundabout, near Chilton, County Durham, on Sunday

  • Tim Healy to help North East homeless charity

    NEWCASTLE icon Tim Healy is to become a patron of the North East Homeless charity as they aim to increase the number of people they can help. The organisation was set up by Wallsend-born Brian Burridge, after in August 2014 he placed a post on

  • Thailand success for a united Hartlepool team

    A RUGBY team, flying the flag for Hartlepool, the North-East and Prostate Cancer UK will return home today clutching more silverware. Hartlepool United, a team made up of players from four town and district clubs, finished an excellent third place

  • Popular exhibition is now open to artists

    APPLICATIONS are now open for one of Richmond’s most anticipated open art exhibitions of 2019. The Station is seeking artists to exhibit in this year’s Spot on the Wall. The exhibition runs from January 19 to February 20 and gives visitors an

  • Man charged with attempted murder

    A 51-year-old man arrested in connection with a stabbing on Friday night has been charged with attempted murder. The incident happened in Burgess Street, Stockton. "He is to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Tuesday)," said a

  • Charity boxes stolen in Wilko burglary

    THIEVES stole charity collection boxes from a Wilko store during a break-in on Sunday night. Wilko in Thornaby town centre was targeted in a burglary just after 9.30pm and a number of charity boxes were stolen. The retailer would not say which

  • School's choirs join forces to record Christmas album

    STUDENTS at a school with a growing reputation for its choral performances have released a debut Christmas album. Around 100 talented singers from Ripon Grammar School’s five choirs joined together to record the ‘O Holy Night’ CD. The album was

  • Woman threatened with weapon by armed robbers

    ARMED robbers threatened a shop worker with a weapon before stealing cash from a till. Three men - one of them masked - entered Habib News on Ayresome Green Lane, Middlesbrough, at 4.30pm on Sunday and threatened a woman in a shop. They stole

  • Police praise public after burglary appeal

    POLICE have praised the public after a burglary appeal. A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said a 17-year-old boy is now assisting the force with their enquiries following the incident in Ramshaw near West Auckland, on October 7. Two high

  • Former owner of Joe Rigatoni's returns with new restaurant

    A RESTAURATEUR with more than three decades of experience in the industry is returning to his roots to launch a new venture back where it all began. Paolo Arceri operated the well-known Joe Rigatoni’s restaurant chain, which had a prime position

  • Robust check-ups could prevent epilepsy deaths

    Epilepsy campaigners are advising that hundreds of deaths due to epilepsy could be prevented every year if check-ups were more robust, and greater emphasis placed on attending such reviews. At the same time, they feel that the management of epilepsy

  • Five years ago: Masterplan unveiled

    FIVE years ago, this week, Durham Tees Valley Airport unveiled plans to build 400 homes in a bid to protect key air links. Airport bosses announced that the sale of land for housing would fund the redevelopment of the terminal building and pay for

  • Rural phone signal blackspots could be improved

    MOBILE phone operators are being invited to improve service across several signal blackspots across North Yorkshire. Tenders are being invited to erect masts in areas that currently have no 4G coverage, including at Healey near Masham, North Coverdale

  • Christmas events in the North York Moors

    CHRISTMAS events in the North York Moors National Park are aiming to make it easy for people to support local businesses and artists. The Christmas Craft Fair and the Christmas Shopping Weekend will bring together the very best of local arts, crafts

  • Crackdown on uninsured drivers

    POLICE in Cleveland and Durham will join other forces throughout the UK from today in a targeted campaign to remove uninsured drivers from the roads. Operation Drive Insured, which takes place for one week, will see officers out in force to stop

  • Gardening projects can apply for funding

    VOLUNTEER groups working on horticultural projects can still apply for up to £500. Funding can be claimed for a variety of projects, with previous groups using money to improve church yards, woodlands, local parks and allotments through planting

  • Medieval style 'Bake Off' to bring back Northern tradition

    NORTH-East bakers are invited to fire up their ovens for a medieval-style “bake off” in a bid to bring back a Northern tradition. Academics at Durham University are looking for recipes for soul cakes – small cakes or buns which were made around

  • Durham gymnast wins silver at world championships

    A TALENTED young gymnast who trains County Durham has won a silver medal in the Tumbling World Championships in Russia. Shanice Davidson, who trains at Durham City Gymnastics Club, claimed second spot in the final on Friday, scoring 69.500 points

  • 15 years ago: Mercedes staff break world record

    THIS week, 15 years ago, staff at Rycroft Mercedes Benz, in Stockton raised money for charity jamming themselves into one of the world's smallest cars. The team of 17, were not exactly sitting comfortably in the Smart car but their feat raised £1,000

  • Comment: Labour's mixed message on Brexit

    YESTERDAY’S Northern Echo featured a letter from a group of six North-East Labour MPs calling for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal that is eventually agreed between the Government and the European Union. In the same edition of the newspaper, Labour

  • Plucky pupils taken on zombie experience for CITV show

    FIVE brave pupils in a Darlington school took on a horde of zombies when an experiment went horribly wrong, turning normal, everyday people into flesh-eating monsters. The students from Hurworth School were plunged into their worst nightmare when

  • Community gets together for litter pick

    LITTER picking, street cleaning, weed clearing and graffiti and fly-tipping removal were at the centre of community clean-up day in Thornaby. The day was focused on more than a dozen streets around the Westbury Street and Mansfield Avenue area.

  • Charity superstore holds volunteer taster day

    A CHARITY superstore which raises funds to support families affected by autism is looking for volunteers to help out. The Daisy Chain superstore, just off Portrack Lane in Stockton, receives almost 1,000 bags of donations every week and about 30

  • Rockliffe Hall seeks permission to offer woodland weddings

    A LUXURY hotel is seeking permission to expand its wedding offerings. Rockliffe Hall, in Hurworth, near Darlington, is seeking permission from Darlington Borough Council to provide woodland weddings for the first time, allowing the happy couple

  • Spa trains staff in pampering cancer patients

    THERAPISTS from Bannatyne Spa in Darlington have received specialist training to offer a special programme of treatments for clients undergoing cancer treatment. The Power of Touch, a cancer-focused training organisation for the spa industry, has

  • Man admits series of offences committed on same day

    A MAN has admitted going on a mini crime spree in a County Durham village less than a fortnight after leaving court with a suspended prison sentence. Appearing at Durham Crown Court for a plea hearing, via video link from the city’s adjoining prison

  • National park cuts 'do not spell doom and gloom'

    THE body charged with managing one of the country’s first national parks is undertaking more work to conserve and promote its special qualities than ever before, despite pressing budget pressures, it has been claimed. Chairman of the North York

  • Durham honcho moves into its final testing phase

    DURHAM-based insurance disruptor honcho, due to launch in early 2019, has unveiled an access programme as a key stage is passed on their way to launch. With the honcho reverse-auction marketplace app now completed, the insurtech innovator has now

  • Man denies three dangerous driving charges

    A MAN appeared in court accused of three separate instances of dangerous driving, in two of which an accident took place. Hayden David Bowers is alleged to have been at the wheel of a Saab car which was driven dangerously on The Grove, in Coxhoe

  • Deal to seal new naval alliance

    A NEW Naval alliance has been formally marked at a special ceremony. Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd presented a certificate to members of the crew of RFA Wave Knight in the Civic Suite to confirm their affiliation. RFA Wave Knight belongs to the

  • University launches archive of world-famous philosopher

    A NORTH-East library has acquired the archive of world-famous philosopher Mary Midgley, who died in October at the age of 99. The leading philosopher, who lived in Newcastle for many years, was awarded an honorary doctor of letters at Durham University

  • Pyjama treatment helps patients

    STAFF donned their pyjamas to go to work at a North Yorkshire Hospital as part of moves to improve care for patients. Occupational Therapy staff at Harrogate District Hospital were playing their part in an international scheme to end PJ paralysis

  • Children in Esh Winning plant trees for the Commonweath

    CHILDREN have been planting trees as part of an initiative to conserve forests across the Commonwealth. The saplings were planted at Esh Winning Primary School through the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project, which involves a network of forest conservation

  • Chance to remember loved ones in hospice light show in Durham

    A HOSPICE is encouraging people to remember their loved ones by helping to make a light display in their memory. St Cuthbert’s Hospice hopes to create a temporary light display which will be shown in several locations around Durham, before a final

  • Ten years ago: Staged kidnap plot revealed

    TEN years ago, this week, it was revealed missing schoolgirl, Shannon Matthews, was drugged and restrained as part of a staged kidnap plot. A jury was told that nine-year-old Shannon was kept locked in a flat for 24 days by Michael Donovan - the

  • How many knee injections should I keep having?

    Q How many joint injections is it safe to have? I know I’ve got arthritis in my knees, but I really don’t want an operation. Jack, 75 A There isn’t a set number as a rule. The decision to do more than one is based upon whether you got any