THE average person in the region could eat almost 7,000 chocolate bars, 2,200 slices of chocolate cake and more than 10,000 chocolate biscuits in their lifetime, a survey suggests. Research led by the British Heart Foundation reveals that over
THE universities of Durham, Newcastle and York are bracing for 14 days of strike action, with the first walk-out taking place on Thursday. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are walking out in two disputes - one over pensions, and
TEES Valley businesses are helping to increase the profile of the region abroad. Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has been visiting companies which are working globally, including Hartlepool Marine Supplies and Orangebox Training, which has secured
CARS were submerged, properties flooded and dozens of roads closed as the region battled natures latest deluge. As Storm Dennis receded it left another trail of devastation following last week's battering by Storm Ciara. More than 5,000 sandbags
AN organisation dedicated to empowering people to do more in the community has donated books tackling ocean plastic to schools. Darlington Lions Club, a local branch of the Lions Club organisation, are reaching primary school children in the town
POLICE expert burglar officers have urged people to remain vigilant after successfully putting five more offenders behind bars. A team of specialist detectives reviewing every burglary across Wearside and South Tyneside have seen five men jailed
A GREEN-FINGERED woman will open up her garden to raise funds for a migraine charity. A longtime passionate gardener, Valda Walker from Yarm hosts a annual fundraising event in her garden to raise money for The Migraine Trust. The cause is one close
A RESIDENT has slammed a housing group after she spent several hours on Saturday night "sweeping" away rain water from a passageway in her home. Julie Henry, who lives in a ground floor flat in Easterside near Middlesbrough, said heavy rain from
FROM the moment his long accountancy career ended in redundancy four years ago, Paul Howell’s rise has been truly meteoric, like a political shooting star blazing across the blue night sky. It was only in 2017 that he won his first election as a
MEMBERS of a local authority faced with deciding how to cut a further £24.8m from key services have been urged to accept a rise in their basic allowance. An independent panel’s review of the payments made to the 72 North Yorkshire County councillors
New figures have revealed that 47 businesses across the North East have won contracts to help build a new nuclear power station in Hinkley Point C in Somerset. It is one of the largest construction projects in Europe and the first nuclear power
CREW on an oil rig have raised £500 for a lifeboat charity by playing pub games out at sea. Around 450 miles from Middlesbrough, Teesside man Ted Law gathered crew on the rig where he was stationed to play darts, table tennis and other pub games
CHANGES to a council’s customer services has seen savings of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The digital projects team at Durham County Council has successfully led the way in transforming the way in which customers interact with the authority,
A HOTEL guest ran amok on a drunken rampage, causing damage to fixtures and fittings, threatening staff and upsetting other customers, a court heard. Such was Liam Boyle’s aggression that the night porter and duty manager locked themselves into
BULLDOG lovers united on Sunday to walk for a good cause. Volunteers and supporters of The Edward Foundation (EF), a charity which helps to rescue and rehabilitate abandoned or mistreated bulldogs, attended the bulldog bonanza in South Park in Darlington
A MAN in his 40s has died following a single vehicle crash on Saturday. Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident, which happened on the A67 near Eaglescliffe at about 1.25pm. The crash involved a blue Vauxhall Astra, which crashed
THE RSPCA has renewed its appeal for information after 16 more snakes abandoned at fire station. The 16 snakes were found stuffed inside pillowcases inside a bin in Sunderland. There were 15 corn snakes discovered inside one pillowcase and
A PILOT scheme aiming to get to the root of illegal parking outside schools will see children tasked with educating their parents. While local authorities across the country have spent decades trying tackle the mounting issue of parents routinely
A VISITOR attraction better know for its sheep and array of farmyard animals is adding a Jurassic dinosaur to its collection for this half-term. Dora the Dinosaur has arrived at Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, and will remain until Sunday. During
A LOCAL council is providing a good service to the eduction of adult learners and apprentices in Gateshead according to the latest Ofsted report. The report detailed that the learners benefit from skills tutors who are committed to improving the
A NEW £3.15m supercomputer used by universities and industry researchers will be housed at Durham. The new Northern Intensive Computing Environment (NICE) supercomputer, based at Durham University, will provide a shared and equally-funded facility
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular parish councillor. Councillor Judith Atkinson, who represented the Elvet and Gilesgate on the City of Durham Parish Council passed away at home on January 31 following a short illness. Condolences were expressed
THREE people who assaulted a man in his own home are beginning lengthy jail sentences. Richard Dickson, Melissa McGarry and Shaun Walton were all sentenced for Grievous Bodily Harm at Durham Crown Court on Friday, following an incident in Peterlee
It was to have been presenter Caroline Flack's first show for Channel 4 and one of the most controversial reality TV shows of the year. But Channel 4 has decided not to air The Surjury following Ms Flack's death at the weekend. The Surjury's
A BUSINESS has announced plans to create 10 new jobs in the next few jobs after a record year of growth. Darlington-based Stone Technical Services (STS) is undergoing a management restructure to allow for its expansion in 2020, with plans to grow
A FORMER police officer has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving whilst twice the drink-drive limit. Paul Webster made the admission at Teesside Crown Court this morning after previously pleading not guilty to the charge at magistrates’ court last
SEVERAL restaurants were forced to shut after a group of 50 youths descended on businesses in Hartlepool on Sunday. KFC, McDonald's, Subway and Costa in Marina Way were all affected after one member of staff said up to 50 youths congregated in
FROM the moment his long accountancy career ended in redundancy four years ago, Paul Howell’s rise has been truly meteoric, like a political shooting star blazing across the blue night sky. It was only in 2017 that he won his first election as
A DARLINGTON man who was about to appear in a TV show presented by Caroline Flack has paid tribute to a "caring and down to earth" personality. Les Langley of Low Coniscliffe near Darlington, was due to appear in Channel 4's The Surjury after filming
IT’S back to the Stadium of Light again for Sunderland again and if things go according to plan within the next few weeks then an automatic promotion place should be on the cards. Given the dramas, the twists and the turns encountered on Wearside
Durham University students who want to use new technology incentives to help protect endangered species are hoping to secure a $1m prize to turn their idea into reality. The students developed their idea for a challenge at Durham University Business
FOR the penultimate recital in Darlington Piano Society’s season, the young British pianist Simon Callaghan takes centre stage. His programme of works by Schubert, Poulenc and Schumann takes place in Central Hall at the Dolphin Centre at 3pm on
A MAN has been found dead at a home in Stockton. Emergency service were called to Ketton Close just after 10.15am today and there is still a heavy police presence in the area. A police spokesperson said: "On arrival, a man was discovered
FAILING to cooperate with fly-tipping investigations has cost five people a total of £2,600. Durham County Council took enforcement action against the three men and two women after they failed to assist neighbourhood wardens investigating the illegal
THE cost to cremate a loved one is currently higher in Darlington than in any other North-East council area. Bereaved families, who spend around £4,155 on funeral costs in the region, on average are spending just under £800 on cremation fees.
MEMBERS of the Northern Echo Camera Club have been out and about in the last week to capture Storm Ciara and the snow moon as it loomed large in the night sky. Our camera club gives amateur photographers a unique opportunity to have their images
AS Storm Ciara blew through, the waters rose at Hurworth Place and filled up the A167 on its approach to Croft bridge. It wasn’t the Tees that did the damage. It remained within its banks – just. Instead it was the backed up Skerne, unable to break
2:33pm Ruth Addicott captured this video of vehicles making their way through a flooded Yarm high street on Sunday
RESTAURANTS were forced to shut early on Sunday due to the 'appalling behaviour' of a number youths. On Sunday, police were called to reports of antisocial behaviour in a number of premises on Hartlepool Marina. A spokesperson for Hartlepool
POLICE looking into a spate of burglaries have arrested one suspect and are investigating others - thanks to information from the public. Officers have been investigating a spate of burglaries and other crimes in the Peterlee, Horden and Blackhall
HAVING suffered defeat on his comeback match for Middlesbrough, captain George Friend has urged his team-mates not to worry about those below them as Jonathan Woodgate’s side strive to stay clear of relegation trouble. Friend was back in the Boro
A MAN was "caught red-handed" when he broke into a shop, forcing it to close temporarily due to asbestos concerns, has been jailed. Ali Essanoor climbed onto the roof of the Sainsbury's shop in Clifton Road, Darlington, before breaking in and stealing
A CARE home resident is looking back at his distinguished career in TV sports broadcasting ahead of this summer’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Duncan MacEwan, 95, who retired as the BBC’s operations and engineering controller in 1984, oversaw
ONE of North Yorkshire’s youngest Scout groups looks set to help shape waste management in a village after they wrote to a council to highlight how a mountain of waste was being dumped outside their school, homes and where they play. Members of
FOOD lovers are in for a tasty treat as Darlington’s Restaurant Week returns from Monday, Feburary 24, until Sunday, March 1. A range of offers, including two courses for £10 or less as well as other discount, are available across town centre restaurants
A WOOL expert is preparing to spin her magic in Darlington to help people create their own woollen garments. Darlington Market is partnering with local artist Becky Sunter from the Weaving Rooms to facilitate a new Wool Fair in the North East.
MEMBERS of the region's Entrepreneur's Forum have heard how they can gear up for high-level growth. Business innovation strategist Paul Sutherland revealed the latest thinking on long-term business success to a group of 50 ambitious North East entrepreneurs
CLEVELAND Fire Authority chiefs pointed to years of government funding cuts as they approved increasing council tax for the coming year. Members unanimously gave the go-ahead to increase the amount paid to Cleveland Fire Authority via council tax
MOVES are afoot to get a stretch of riverside linked up to the power supply to open up a town to the Tees. RiverShack moved its fleet of rowing boats to Yarm Wharf last year from Preston Park in response to trouble in Preston Park. Now Yarm
OFFERS galore have been lined up by Middlesbrough businesses taking part in a nationwide drive to boost town centre trade. Fiver Fest celebrates the UK’s fantastic independent shops and businesses – and Middlesbrough has more than its fair share
STUDENTS at Teesside University have been given a valuable insight into the world of the judiciary following a visit from a High Court judge. The Honourable Mr Justice Jacobs visited the university to speak to law and policing students while he
A SPURNED man burst into his former partner’s home and attacked a male visitor with a curved saw, a court was told. Kyle Hepple thrust the pole saw three times in the direction of the other man, who was in the kitchen of the house in Ferryhill
A DIABETIC woman has become one of the first in the region to receive a new form of treatment to help with the condition. Karen Curtis, 40, from Durham, who works as an office administrator, is using a new pump technology system. The mother-of-two
AN EU fund is available to North-East companies who want to explore 3D printing. The fund, part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is available to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop innovative new products and processes suitable
TOWN ambassadors are making plans to launch a website with hopes that it will put their town on the map. Developments are underway on the website which will work to promote tourism in Bishop Auckland. Town ambassadors aim to launch the website
A NEW clubhouse could be built for a growing village cricket team. Hunwick Cricket Club, which is located just off Hepworth Lane, is currently home to a small clubhouse but plans have been drawn up for an upgrade. The proposal, submitted to
TWO teachers have created a new organisation which allows young people with special educational needs to enjoy a night out. SENtral Nights is launching in Darlington in April. Louise Spence and Rebecca Lister came up with the idea. Rebecca
AN inmate at a young offenders’ institution (YOI) has admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to a prison officer. Arron Lee Jones repeatedly swung a metal bar in the direction of the officer as he was being escorted from a shower area
THOUSANDS of trees will be planted across County Durham’s towns and villages to create greener and healthier urban areas. As part of Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF), Durham County Council has secured almost £500,000 to plant
THREE young PCSOs are embarking on a new chapter in their career as police officers. Abbie Wallace, Rosie Findlay, both 21, and Kim Anderson, 24, said they are excited to begin their new roles after applying for them last January. After passing
STUDENTS have stepped back in time to learn about the history of Medicine in a new and exciting revision day in Leeds. As part of their History GCSE programme, the Richmond School and Sixth Form students participated in hands-on workshops at the
A MAN who punched and slapped his partner has been warned he faces prison if he repeats his attacks. Steven McConnell was also accused of locking his victim in the house when he went out and carrying out personal, physical checks on her to ensure
A SCHOOL is creating its own wildflower meadow – enabling children to develop practical skills and learn about the natural world. Aycliffe Village Primary School received about 75 wildflower plants from science-based technology company 3M, working
THREE mobile phone lines used by suspected drug dealers to target their 'customers' in Harrogate have been taken out of action. On February 12, North Yorkshire Police successfully applied to Newcastle Crown Court to obtain three Drug Dealing Telecommunications
MORE than a dozen Dales children have been inspired by the dark skies. The youngsters, aged between five and 13, have recently attended two art workshops at Hudson House in Reeth, organised by one of the directors, Nick Cauldwell. The 5th Annual
TWO young sisters have cut off their long locks to raise cash for a charity after wanting to support both their dad and grandad who have been receiving cancer treatment. When doting grandad Bernie McCue was diagnosed with cancer four years ago,
STUDENTS are feeling the love for books after their school librarian masterminded a Valentine’s Day launch of ‘Blind Date with a Book’, an exciting and fun initiative to develop their interest in reading. The scheme is an interactive and enjoyable
