WITH a raft of new signings imminent lined up to replace the players who left at the end of the season, Darlington are in the midst of a substantial summer of change, but one player unaffected by the comings and goings will be Stephen Thompson.
EUROPE has destroyed the careers, and blighted the last years, of every Conservative Prime Minister of the last three decades: Margaret Thatcher, John Major, David Cameron and now Theresa May. Who would be foolhardy enough to take on the poisoned
MIDDLESBROUGH have signed Grimsby Town youngster Rumarn Burrell, and immediately added the 18-year-old striker to their academy squad. #Boro have signed Rumarn Burrell from @officialgtfc and will go straight into the Academy ✍️ #UTB — Middlesbrough
GATESHEAD have been kicked out of the National League. After a troubled and disastrous period under the control of Ranjan Varghese, it seemed the future of the club was about to become more settled with supporters taking control. But league
CHILDREN’S safeguarding bosses are continuing to refuse to respond to parents’ concerns over an alleged serious incident at a school where two pupils were found guilty of plotting a Columbine-style shooting. A year after Thomas Wyllie and Alex Bolland
VISITORS are expected to flock to a farm attraction this weekend to watch a sheep shearer showing off his skills. Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, will host demonstrations by master shearer Gary Tyers throughout the Bank Holiday. They will start
A NEW exhibition by acclaimed photographer Wang Fuchun will showcase a snapshot into the diversity of life on China’s railways, told through a collection of 43 candid, black-and-white portraits of his fellow passengers. Opening on May 24, at the
Head coach James Franklin has warned Durham’s batsmen that their places are under threat following the club’s six-wicket defeat to Gloucestershire. Durham suffered their fourth loss on the bounce in the Specsavers County Championship this term,
STOCKTON’S “hung council” will be led by Labour with a Conservative mayor on the back of election shifts. No one party holds overall control at the authority – and despite election losses Labour remains the largest group with 24 of the 56 seats
A NEWCASTLE United season ticket holder has received a five-year football banning order after being convicted of racially abusing Liverpool players during a Premier League match at St. James’ Park. On May 4, Michael Collins, From Richmond, North
NEWCASTLE UNITED will play just four matches in their pre-season programme ahead of the new Premier League campaign. The Magpies have already confirmed their participation in the Premier League Asia Trophy, which takes place in the middle of July
A NORTH-EAST Conservative MP has thrown his weight behind Boris Johnson to be the next Prime Minister following Theresa May's departure. Simon Clarke, Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland MP and outspoken critic of the Prime Minister, said Mrs
A JUDGE has ordered a psychiatric assessment of a teenager who repeatedly breached a court order forbidding him from contacting or approaching his mother. Kieran Manning was said to have left his mother, “feeling like a prisoner in her own home”
A MAN who assaulted an eight-month-old baby has been jailed for two years Jonathan Paul Pearson, 35, of no fixed abode but formerly from North Tyneside, pleaded guilty to assault, ill-treatment and neglect of a child at Newcastle Crown CourT after
STUDENT environmental activists swapped the classroom for the park when they walked out lectures to protest against climate change. Members of the Young Friends of the Earth Darlington and students from Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
A CANNABIS farm has been uncovered at a house in Kimblesworth, near Sacriston. Officers from Chester-le-Street's neighbourhood policing team discovered the plants at a property in Cedar Avenue today after carrying out a search warrant. A man
THERESA MAY at last bowed to the inevitable today and handed in her resignation. She finally accepted that she was the biggest obstacle to Britain making any progress towards Brexit, having wasted six weeks of the extension agreed with the EU in late
NEWCASTLE UNITED will make a renewed approach for Tammy Abraham if Aston Villa fail to make it to the Premier League in Monday’s Championship play-off final. Abraham has spent the season on loan at Villa Park, and will be one of Villa’s key players
NEWLY-elected Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston has stood down from his role as chairman of Teesside Philanthropic Foundation with a 'heavy heart'. But he said he was 'incredibly proud' to have created a charity that has raised £3m for worthy causes
STEVE GIBSON will spend the weekend pondering his managerial options after a week of sounding out candidates, and is set to hone in on his preferred choice to succeed Tony Pulis in the next seven days. The Middlesbrough chairman is adopting a hands-on
CHANGES have been made at Durham County Council with two new faces appointed to the cabinet. At the council’s annual meeting on Wednesday, council leader, Simon Henig, announced the new roles. For the first time, the council’s cabinet now has
A TOWN has rallied together to tackle road safety. Officers from Newton Aycliffe neighbourhood team worked with schools to try and reduce road deaths. The initiative followed research which found 2,000 deaths or serious injuries happen on roads
POLICE have urged residents in Bowburn to remain vigilant following an increase in burglaries in Bowburn. PC Anna Pittam, from Durham City CID, said: “Please be assured that officers from CID, response and the local neighbourhood team are working
Darlington have slipped to fifth bottom in the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League of late, and will be looking for a win at Feethams. Seaton Carew are the visitors and the Quakers bring in batsman James Sutton to add strength to their
FOOTBALL fans have been banned from stadiums after eleven supporters were involved in disorder following Sunderland's match at Coventry. West Midlands Police, in partnership with Northumbria Police, launched an investigation into violence in the
Lee Bowyer leads Charlton into Sunday's Sky Bet League One play-off final against Sunderland having built them in the image of the finest side he ever played in. The now 42-year-old produced the finest football of his career in a talented Leeds
I WATCHED Wednesday night’s Panorama programme about Whorlton Hall and I've got to say it is the most upsetting programme I have ever seen. The abuse and physical and mental assaults that those poor patients endured is totally beyond belief.
THE milkshaking of Nigel Farage shows just how stupid some are. Love him or hate him, Mr Farage was following his beliefs walking around Newcastle when he had a milkshake thrown over what I'm sure was a very expensive handmade Saville Row suit.
HUNDREDS of Roman Catholic pilgrims passed through Durham Tees Valley Airport this morning to join the Bishop of Middlesbrough at the French shrine of Lourdes. Two specially-chartered 189-seat Boeing 737s took off from the airport while others are
WHAT to me seems undeniable in the remain/leave debate is that a too vigorous defence of the leave decision matched by heartfelt, sometimes insulting arguments for remain have forced an entrenchment which does justice to neither side. We, the remainers
CAN anyone deliver Brexit, or perhaps more importantly is it possible for any politician or party to bring about control in a very chaotic and potentially volatile environment? Whatever the reason was for remaining or leaving, it now seems impossible
WE are informed that it is Noise Action Awareness Week according to Hambleton District Council, (Echo, May 21). In the past year, 343 complaints about noise have been investigated by officers from the council, apparently. The council leader
STAFF, volunteers and patients at a North-East hospice have serenaded pop superstar Gary Barlow with a special message: “We want you back for good.” It’s 21 years since the Take That singer was guest of honour at the Butterwick Hospice in Stockton
CAN I say how pleased and excited I am with the appointment of Alun Armstrong as Darlington FC manager. He is highly ambitious and has an excellent proven record at this level. I now hope the people of Darlington and the local area will come out
IT is three weeks today since the shockwave that was the local election results tore through the political scene of the North-East, leaving Labour in disarray, and hung councils across the region. In this very column just ten days ago, we voiced
IT is an image that has haunted Sunderland supporters for more than two decades – Clive Mendonca, firing pretend guns into the sky, after scoring from the penalty spot in the 1998 First Division play-off final. The former Charlton Athletic striker
HUNDREDS of North-East steel making jobs can be saved, it has been claimed, as politicians called for the option to nationalise British Steel to "remain on the table". Earlier this week, it was announced that Britain's second-largest steel producer
SPONSORED CONTENT A FANTASTIC competition has been launched in schools across County Durham to encourage young people to see the county as a vibrant and exciting place for them to live and work in the future. As part of the ‘My Future is Durham
POLICE investigating a firearms incident in Newcastle last week have confirmed they seized a weapon yesterday. At about 8.20pm on Wednesday, May 15 a group of men knocked on the door of an address on Moorhead in Cowgate. When the 37-year-old
STEELMAKING, along with other giants like the railways and chemicals, is one of the foundations our region was built on. It is a part of our history, but not something we should give up on now. Three years after the devastating closure of SSI,
A POWER cut which affected more than 1,400 properties in County Durham this morning has been fixed. The loss of electricity supply to homes and businesses in the Cornforth, Tursdale and Coxhoe area was reported at around 9.50am. AN NEDL spokesperson
THERESA MAY has announced that her reign as Prime Minister will come to an end on Friday, June 7. Speaking outside Downing Street this morning, Mrs May said she had 'done her best' to deliver a Brexit deal. A tearful Prime Minister said
HOPES that Darlington’s new council administration would see politicians from all parties working together for the benefit of the community have been dashed from the outset, the incoming leader of the authority has claimed. Just minutes after being
MICHAEL RAYNES has signed a permanent deal at Hartlepool United. The centre-half moved on loan until the end of the season from Crewe in January, but his deal was ended when he suffered an Achilles injury just three games in. Now recovered,
SPONSORED CONTENT IN the two short years that local landlords, Simon and Rachel Leadbetter, have had the licence on The Mowden Pub, Darlington, things have changed significantly. The couple, who have lived in Darlington for more than 20 years
FIREFIGHTERS have been dealing with an extensive woodland fire near the A181, at Old Keepers Wood between Wheatley Hill and Wingate overnight. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service had six appliances and a number of support appliances
A SHEEP race - each representing a different act from Radio One's Big Weekend - was held at a Middlesbaaa farm this morning to kick off the event. Breakfast DJ Greg James streamed the event live on 'Ewe' Tube and roped in football commentator Guy
A SERIAL shoplifter, with an “appalling” record for motoring misdemeanours, has answered for a series of such offences last year. John Battman, who has 38 convictions for 91 past offences, received a roll-up sentence of 28 months for three crimes
HAVING had a taste of Wembley already this season, Max Power is desperate to get that winning feeling on a Sunday afternoon that he thinks will be far greater than the last time he graced the stage. The Black Cats midfielder was a second half substitute
THE North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has retained its place as one of the top employers for awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees for a fourth consecutive year. The Trust, which employs more than 2,500 people, including
INCREASED charges for home-to-school transport are to be introduced for students in post-16 education. North Yorkshire County Council spends more on transporting children and young people to and from school than any other county in England, due
WITH the amount pledged to Darlington’s popular Boost the Budget scheme rising by the day, new manager Alun Armstrong has labelled Quakers’ supporters the club’s “biggest asset”. It is an initiative of the Darlington FC Supporters Group, the club
THE North-East has had its say in the European elections as Britain headed to the polls yesterday. The Conservative and Labour parties are predicted to suffer severe losses, with the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party likely to hoover up votes
GO North East has launched new express buses on the Sunderland to Durham route. The buses on the X20 route give passengers a fast and direct service between the cities under a new X-lines brand, which is around 25 per cent faster than the normal
A CRAFT supplier and a diesel engine specialist from the region are among some of the country's fastest growing global businesses. Published this weekend, the fifth annual Sunday Times WorldFirst SME Export Track 100 ranks Britain’s small and medium-sized
COUNTY Durham’s annual Pride event is set to take place again this weekend. Organisers are hoping this year's parade through Durham city will be the biggest yet, and will for the first time include a banner from Durham Cathedral. Read more Durham
A CHARITY is seeking local historians to help celebrate the remarkable life of one of Darlington’s best known philanthropists. Lady Starmer died 40 years this year, and the Abbeyfield Society wants to put together a special exhibition in the town
CARE home staff shared their work and passion with the public during an open day event. HC-One’s Lothian House care home, on Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor, hosted a Champions Day for the community on Friday, May 3. Staff and partner agencies gave
CONSTRUCTION students have been putting their best foot forward, stepping up to design and build a welly store and changing area for a local school. The purpose-built facility offers the pupils of Collierley Primary School, Dipton, bespoke welly
A TRADITIONAL parade will take place this bank holiday after volunteers signed up at the eleventh hour to ensure it goes ahead. Barnard Castle Meet's annual parade, which takes place on the late May bank holiday Monday, was under threat because
A BURGLAR who tried to hide his identity when he targeted his elderly victim has been jailed. Christopher Beaney, 40, has been jailed for three years for burglary at an address in Blyth on Boxing Day last year. A court was told how Beaney had
A CONMAN who “grossly overcharged” a 64-year-old woman for odd jobs about her house has been told he must pay her back. Scott Wilcock told the lone householder that various work needed to be carried out at her home in Seaham, including replacing
MOTORISTS in Middlesbrough have been praised after only one was spoken to by police during a safety cycling initiative. Throughout the two-week 2 Wheel campaign there will be operations running across Cleveland and Durham involving an unmarked
THE 75th anniversary of the D Day landings will be commemorated in Spennymoor next month. The event on Thursday, June 6 will begin with a short parade from St Paul's Centre at 6.45pm to St Paul's Church, on Whitworth Terrace, for a 7pm service.
BUSINESSES in County Durham have until the end of next week to enter the prestigious Rural Business Awards. The awards, backed by Amazon, is the only UK-wide programme dedicated to showcasing the success of rural businesses Entries, which close
COUNCIL leaders, MPs and the representatives from the administrators at British Steel are convening today for emergency talks on the hundreds of jobs under threat at the company's sites in east Cleveland. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has organised
A TEAM of young mathematicians has led the way in a North-East maths challenge that tests students’ problem-solving skills and stimulates interest in maths. Seven talented mathematicians, in Years 7 to 10 from Richmond School, took part in different
HUNDREDS of dancers took to Darlington’s Market Square to strut their stuff in orange t-shirts for the This Is Me mass dance. The annual event was opened by North-East panto star Liam Mellor and Mayor of Darlington Councillor Veronica Copeland,
THE Friends of the Friarage spent last weekend selling raffle tickets at Tennants of Leyburn and Sam Turners in Northallerton. The first prize, a brand new Peugeot 206 supplied by Simon Bailes, was at both sites. Tickets have been available at the
A GROUP which is working to make the district more dementia friendly has been re-named. Richmondshire District Council is supporting a week-long initiative from May 20 to 26, and will see Richmondshire Dementia Action Alliance re-launched as Dementia
A FUNDRAISING campaign for a little boy with an aggressive form of cancer is nearing its target – but Freddie's fight is not over yet and he was last night in intensive care. Freddie Thompson, three, from Ampleforth, near Thirsk, has started his
THE possibility of more charges being brought against a banned driver who knocked down a teenager crossing a road must await the outcome of further medical tests on the boy. Judge Christopher Prince last month adjourned sentencing defendant Gareth
YOUNGSTERS are being offered free play sessions in an effort to develop their learning skills. Up to 50 children in the Trimdon Grange area are set to take part in new activities thanks to funding from believe housing. The sessions are aimed
QUEEN Victoria will be brought back to life to celebrate the 200th anniversary of her birth. Jean Robson, 80, is set to portray the famous royal in Kynren – a theatre production of England's history. The actress will play the queen on an outdoor
