NEWCASTLE UNITED’S players are “optimistic” that Rafa Benitez will stay on at St James’ Park this summer as he prepares for this week’s contract talks with owner Mike Ashley. Benitez and Ashley are due to have discussions over his future after
A PEDESTRIAN was taken to hospital in a critical condition after she was hit by a delivery truck. The 60-year-old woman was seriously injured after the collision at 12.45pm today in Northumberland Square, North Shields and was rushed to hospital
Sunderland's Josh Kelly will make his US debut against Philadelphia's Ray Robinson on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's heavyweight world title fight. The 25-year-old will defend his WBA International welterweight crown before Joshua faces Andy
HIS coffin was draped in a Union flag and fellow veterans stood to attention as he was carried into the chapel to a short blast from the buglers. Dickie Atkinson, the Jarrow-born former bricklayer, who grew up in Felling, Gateshead, lived most of
A MAN was left fighting for his life in hospital after he was attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning. Emergency services were called at about 2.50am after a 43-year-old man was assaulted following a disturbance in Edward Burdis Street, Sunderland
Richard Johnson will be back in action at Sedgefield on Tuesday following his fall at Warwick. The champion jumps jockey took a couple of days off to recover from his tumble from Some Boy McCoy at the final flight of a two-mile maiden hurdle when
HOW barmy is this? And how scandalous, too? The Government is being forced to pour millions of pounds of taxpayers' money down the drain in order to take part in the forthcoming EU parliamentary elections – the last thing in the world it wanted to
THIS year’s UK Eurovision hopeful who hails from Hartlepool has made an entrance in front of the world’s press on an all-glitz and glamour orange carpet ahead of the big competition this weekend. Michael, 21, who has harboured dreams of performing
A SELF-TAUGHT artist who has previously used her creative talent to help solve the disappearance of a British toddler who went missing almost 28 years ago has surprised a North-East artist with a special portrait. Nat Moss, from Middlesbrough, surprised
A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy who has spent the last six years battling kidney and liver disease with his organs deteriorating is recovering well at home after he received a new liver last month. Marley Gill, who lives in Middlesbrough, may be a bit bored
A MAYOR who used his casting vote to give himself another term of office has called an extraordinary meeting of the town council. Richmond’s mayor Councillor Jonathan Preece has declined to reveal the reason he had called the meeting at the town
DAME Vera Baird has been appointed the Government’s new Victims’ Commissioner, taking over the role from Baroness Newlove in mid-June 2019. It means Dame Vera will have to step down as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northumbria, a role
A LANDMARK feat of engineering fully restored for future generations to enjoy has met its 170th anniversary supported by four decades of dedicated volunteer work. The Victorian Tees Cottage Pumping Station, in Darlington, began supplying clean drinking
NICKE KABAMBA has signed a permanent deal at Hartlepool United. The striker signed on loan in January from Havant and Waterlooville and impressed, scoring five times in his first four games for the club. He bagged seven goals in 17 outings
Alim Ozturk has been cleared to play for Sunderland in Thursday’s League One Play-Off Semi-Final second leg at Portsmouth. The centre-half was controversially red carded by referee Andy Woolmer in the second-half of Saturday night’s 1-0 win at
A CAR dealership firm has partnered with Renault UK to advise Tees Valley business leaders on the future of electric vehicles. National firm Evans Halshaw have invited business leaders from across Middlesbrough to take part in an event it is holding
ENTREPRENEURS are being invited to an event to learn about starting and growing their own space-tech business. The fully-funded two-day event is designed for entrepreneurs developing space applications - using satellite data to solve business and
GREEN Howards veterans continued a tradition stretching back to the end of the First World War by joining together for 'Green Sunday' in Richmond. Residents lined the streets to watch the parade which saw scores of veterans march to the War Memorial
A COUNCIL spending nearly half its budget on social care has received a mixed reaction after lessening the impact of a proposed increase in charges for lifeline transport services for elderly and disabled people. North Yorkshire County Council’
A NORTH-East hospital has been named as an international flagship site for specialist heart procedures negating the need for major open heart surgery. Procedures to replace narrow heart valves being carries out at the James Cook University Hospital
STEVE Cram will step down as Chancellor of the University of Sunderland in July, after 11 years in the role, it has been announced. During his time as chancellor, Mr Cram will have officiated at more than 100 graduation ceremonies and personally
POLICE have praised rugby supporters after 100,000 fans came to Newcastle for two huge finals and just one person was arrested. St James' Park played host to the European Challenge Cup and Heineken Champions Cup finals on Friday and Saturday -
AN outdoor spectacle has welcomed its newest cast members following the addition of ‘Viking’ chicks. The baby Icelandic Chickens – which were originally bred by Vikings – will take part in Kynren, an outdoor show celebrating 2,000 years of English
PETERLEE Leisure Centre has reopened following a major improvement programme that has included the relocation of the town’s library. The £2 million scheme has seen the refurbishment of the pool changing rooms, a new-look reception space and the
AN independent/Liberal Democrat partnership is set to take control in Redcar and Cleveland Council. The local elections on May 2, produced something of a political earthquake across Teesside as voters roundly rejected Labour’s dominance. In
A ‘POSITIVE accident reporting culture’ is said to have contributed to statistics showing a growth in the number of North Yorkshire firefighters injured at work. Home Office figures show that 36 crew members in the brigade were injured during training
TONY PULIS’ future as Middlesbrough manager will be determined by the end of the week. The former West Brom boss will have talks with Boro chairman Steve Gibson at some stage over the next few days. Gibson must come up with a way for Middlesbrough
THE wife of a missing 46-year-old has pleaded for his return following his sudden disappearance on Wednesday, May 8. Peter Brown from Whitby was last seen in Scarborough, North Yorkshire on Wednesday afternoon. Police said a further sighting
TWO students from the Chikara Dojo of Kyokushin Karate , based in Spennymoor, competed again martial artists from across the UK in the Kyokushin Welsh Championships held in Barry, South Wales, recently. Black belt Lindsay Young, who hails from Canada
SEVERAL vehicles have been entered overnight in the Flambard Drive area of Bishop Auckland. Police are encouraging motorists and homeowners to make sure their cars and doors are locked. They believe suspects have been trying car door handles
I MUST admit to shedding a tear on reading the amazing story of Chris Lloyd’s mother-in-law and her amazing life and escape from Hitler and Stalin’s hordes to the tranquillity of Hurworth (Echo, May 10). She sounds like an amazing woman and her
YET another Victory in Europe Day anniversary passes with hardly a mention in the news media. On May 8, 1945 the surrender of Nazi Germany was even more momentous than the Armistice of 1918. It is understandable that there are no brash parades
I DISAGREE totally with Peter Hanafin’s letter (HAS, May 9). I urge the Echo to continue giving as much space as possible to articles by the Tees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen. I always find them uplifting in his efforts to promote the area. I
THE law around organ donation in England is changing. From spring 2020 all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die, unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups
A MAN was punched in the face outside a pub in Crook leaving him with a broken nose. The incident happened at about 1am on Monday, May 6, in Hope Street, outside the Kings Head pub. The victim - a man in his twenties – was punched in the face
SUNSHINE and big crowds greeted a record field of 4,500 in the 2019 Siglion Sunderland City Runs events at the weekend. The expanded festival of running included the first-ever Sunderland City 5K on the evening of Saturday, followed by the ever-popular
RANA was my snowy-haired mother-in-law. She happily lived out the last years of her life, into her 91st year, in her “nest” in Hurworth almost incognito, blending into her street of bungalows, quietly keeping herself – and her cat – to herself behind
SPENNYMOOR Town Band and Shildon Salvation Army Band will provide appropriate music at the memorial service dedicated to Lord Foster, the former Bishop Auckland MP, which is being held on Friday. The bands will begin the service by playing Gresford
THERE are those who might argue that being a lifelong fan of Darlington Football Club is enough to turn anyone to drink. But for Paul Colman, a member of the Darlington FC Supporters’ Group, alcohol and the town’s Quaker traditions are proving
FIREFIGHTERS spent several hours tackling a major rubber fire which left a pall of smoke hanging over a dale community. A spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire were alerted to a large fire at at
FLORAL tributes have been laid in the car park where a teenage girl was found unconscious and later died after taking suspected ecstasy. Police were were called to a report that a 15-year-old girl had collapsed in Applegarth car park in Northallerton
A TEENAGE girl has died after being found unconscious after taking Ecstasy, police have confirmed. Officers were called to a report that a 15-year-old girl had collapsed in Applegarth Car Park in Northallerton at around 9.30pm last night. Police
HORSE riders are invited to saddle up to help raise funds for Saltburn & District Bridleways Group. The group’s annual pleasure ride takes place on Sunday, June 2 and features a climb up Eston Nab. This year there is the option of two rides,
LABOUR has vowed to push on and run Stockton Council as a minority administration – but talks before key votes will be needed. It was a terrible day at the polls for the party in the Tees Valley but Stockton borough was arguably the best of a bad
Oyez, oyez, oyez, – three North Yorkshire town criers were part of a VIP celebration in honour of one of their own at a nursing home this week. The three town criers from Helmsley, Scarborough and Filey joined a party to celebrate with former Scarborough
MIDDLESBROUGH’S new mayor Andy Preston has vowed to appoint a new slimmed down leadership team “on merit” and “regardless” of councillors’ politics. All those elected have been invited to submit CVs to the new mayor to jockey for the top six positions
A WOMAN was kicked from a train onto a station platform after challenging a man who was throwing coins at her. It happened on a train which was travelling between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street on Saturday, April 6. The woman was kicked in
TENSIONS are rising between residents and a council over a major cycling event in September. Concerns have been voiced to Durham County Council about its decision to co-host Vélo North with CSM Entertainments Ltd. The event will see up to 15,000
A CAMPAIGN to raise £1m to improve the care of cancer patients has been boosted by a County Durham software company. The appeal aims to create a centre of excellence in cancer care for the people of County Durham. The year-long fundraising drive
SO near, and yet still so far to go. It is advantage Sunderland after the first leg of the play-off semi-final, but after a tense and ultimately tetchy night on Wearside, nothing has been decided ahead of Thursday’s return date. When Sunderland
GPS in the North-East had to carry out an extra 174,000 appointments in the first three months of the year – as pressure on the NHS rises. Family doctors in the region saw a surge in demand in 2019, completing 1.92 million appointments in January
RISKS and potential rewards behind the purchase of a Teesside shopping centre have been revealed. Stockton Council agreed a deal to snap up Wellington Square Shopping Centre for £7m last week after councillors agreed to purchase the High Street
ARCHIVISTS will show family historians how to get the best results from their online research in expert genealogy talks starting today. Durham County Record Office offers a series of regular Branching Out courses aimed at those who are already familiar
DIVISIVE plans for a huge housing estate in County Durham have been given the go-ahead. Durham County Council’s area planning committee discussed outline proposals for 74 homes near Langley Park. The site, to the west of Davis Crescent, includes
A MASKED axeman left a police officer terrified as he rained down blows on his patrol car, smashing through the windscreen feet from his face, a court was told. Martin McLernon, “who could not take no for an answer” from a former girlfriend, had
A PERFORMING arts academy which teaches dance, drama and singing to young people will be starting two new classes for young creatives. Darlington Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) said they are hoping to spark some creativity in children in the
TWO England football legends are supporting a £1m appeal to improve the care of cancer patients in County Durham. Former England and Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan OBE will be joined by Peter Reid, ex-England midfielder and Sunderland boss
A LARGE timber fire has caused extensive damages to a warehouse on a Newton Aycliffe industrial estate. Residents were urged to keep all doors and windows shut at one point as a huge plume of smoke hung over Appletree Joinery in Linde Way, on the
A LEADING anthropologist will be giving a talk on 'Digging into Britain's Past' when she visits the region next month. Professor Alice Roberts will be bringing her show to The Garden Rooms at Tennants in Leyburn as part of a nationwide tour. Teenage
A DEVOTED athlete whose regular runs have raised thousands of pounds for charity has been awarded County Durham’s highest honour. Durham County Council Chairman, Councillor John Lethbridge, presented a Chairman’s Medal to Paul Smith, of Sherburn
A YOUNG soprano hoping to pursue a career in classical music has been invited to perform with a singing celebrity. Charlotte Potter, from Guisborough, has been singing from a young age and is currently a sixth form student at Chetham’s School of
PATIENTS at a North-East hospital are being helped to regain their fitness thanks to charity donations. The physiotherapy department at the University Hospital of North Durham spent £15,000 of charitable funds on renovating and upgrading its patient
A FATHER and son team are set to run one of the hardest marathons in the world to raise funds for disabled children. Charity founder Chris Read and his son Ben Read will travel to China today in the hopes of finishing the Great Wall Marathon.
THE outgoing Mayor of Ferryhill has shared the proceeds of her term in office between two good causes. One of Councillor Dave Farry's final duties was to present his chosen charities– Ferryhill WI and Little Treasures Autism Group–with the monies
NORTH Yorkshire residents are encouraged to start composting food and garden waste by taking up an offer of discounted compost converter bins. The initiative is designed to help people in the county reduce their carbon footprint by turning kitchen
SPORTS students have been offered a new goal which could open career opportunities around the globe. FA Youth Coach educator Lewis Dickman was on hand to launch the coaching qualification, which will be delivered by the Martin Gray Football Academy
AN award-winning festival of theatre that has delivered a range of entertainment to people over the last seven years is looking to the future for new ideas after it hosted its final show. Darlington’s Jabberwocky Market held its final show in its
HUNDREDS of motorists have been caught dangerous driving after being spotted by an unmarked HGV patrolling the region in the past year. For the last 12 months Operation Tramline has been targeting drivers on some of the country's fastest roads,
A UNIQUE fitness class set to uplifting swing music has been launched. Meadowfield Leisure Centre, near Durham, is inviting people to get moving to the sensational swing songs of the 1920s, all the way up to the 1950s, with its new SwingFit class
