Comment

ECHO COMMENT

(left to right) Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey during a visit to Shell UK's St Fergus Gas Terminal in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, following the announcement of the UK

Government is right for many reasons to allow Jackdaw gas drilling to go ahead

Bishop Auckland Hospital, which is at the centre of concerns raised by John Armstrong over proposed changes to frailty services

Bishop Auckland Hospital, which is at the centre of concerns raised by John Armstrong over proposed changes to frailty services

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

Bishop Auckland Hospital needs more services, not another ward moved away

PCC Joy Allen explains, in her own words, why she continues to urge Ministers to follow in the footsteps of Northern Ireland and introduce graduated driver licensing to England

PCC Joy Allen explains, in her own words, why she continues to urge Ministers to follow in the footsteps of Northern Ireland and introduce graduated driver licensing to England

Durham PCC Joy Allen urges ministers to follow Northern Ireland driving reforms

It's not just business crying out for help in Budget: charities are also struggling

Bishop Auckland College Group CEO and Principal Shaun Hope, who says adult learning can transform lives

Bishop Auckland College Group CEO and Principal Shaun Hope, who says adult learning can transform lives

'Why can't the next success story be you?' How adult learning can change lives

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, whose party's performance in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election is discussed by C Walker

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, whose party's performance in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election is discussed by C Walker

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

Labour should heed the warning from voters after dramatic surge in Green support

Geoff Hill BEM at Durham Castle with wife, Heather, son, Geoff, and daughters Alex and Vanessa

Geoff Hill BEM at Durham Castle with wife, Heather, son, Geoff, and daughters Alex and Vanessa

How a First World War watch led to a British Empire Medal for County Durham man

A long-standing member of Bearpark and District Working Men’s Club has voiced fears for its future as he urges people to return. The image is for illustrative purposes

A long-standing member of Bearpark and District Working Men’s Club has voiced fears for its future as he urges people to return. The image is for illustrative purposes

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

‘The end is nigh’ for much-loved County Durham club unless people return

Sunderland fans in the main square in Leiria ahead of Thursday's game

Sunderland fans in the main square in Leiria ahead of Thursday's game

SCOTT WILSON COLUMN

I was in Leiria with Sunderland - and it turned out to be the perfect European trip

Andrew Husband, Reform UK leader of Durham County Council

Andrew Husband, Reform UK leader of Durham County Council

'We are battling Labour on plans to house illegal immigrants in County Durham homes'

Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley mayor whose authority is to be inspected

Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley mayor whose authority is to be inspected

Local government

Welcoming a second review of the combined authority: it must clear the air

Fireworks light up the night sky. A County Durham writer has backed calls for tighter controls on the sale and use of higher-risk fireworks

Fireworks light up the night sky. A County Durham writer has backed calls for tighter controls on the sale and use of higher-risk fireworks

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

County Durham writer backs stricter fireworks controls to protect communities and pets

Undated family handout photo issued by South Yorkshire Police of William Chapman, who was mauled to death when he entered the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, in Doncaster, on Saturday, had suffered from “significant mental illness over a

Undated family handout photo issued by South Yorkshire Police of William Chapman, who was mauled to death when he entered the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, in Doncaster, on Saturday, had suffered from “significant mental illness over a

Trump's AI tiger video shows callous lack of judgement

A stock image of an elderly couple holding hands. A writer has raised concerns over the cost of care for older people

A stock image of an elderly couple holding hands. A writer has raised concerns over the cost of care for older people

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

Couple in their 90s face huge care bill after lifetime of 'paying their dues'

Is Hope Moor windfarm too far and too massive for one of the last wildernesses?

The shutters come down on Blair’s greengrocers in Darlington Market for the final time

The shutters come down on Blair’s greengrocers in Darlington Market for the final time

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

Blair's closure deserves dignity, not political point-scoring over Darlington Market

University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City

University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City

Only a public inquiry can give women the answers they deserve over breast care

A US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber

A US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

US bombers should leave Britain for good and take nuclear weapons with them

Crowds at a Durham Miners Gala Picture: PETE SWAN

Crowds at a Durham Miners Gala Picture: PETE SWAN

The County Durham miner who fought for workers' rights and whose voice lives on today

PCC Joy Allen explains, in her own words, why she is determined to tackle the menace of illegal off-road bikes which are causing harm and nuisance to communities and the countryside.

PCC Joy Allen explains, in her own words, why she is determined to tackle the menace of illegal off-road bikes which are causing harm and nuisance to communities and the countryside.

PCC Joy Allen vows to tackle illegal off-road bike menace

Get out in the fresh air to beat the October slump

Get out in the fresh air to beat the October slump

Feeling the October slump? Simple ways to boost your energy as darker days arrive

The team for the last day of the J.J. Blair & Sons stall in Darlington market. Left to right Christine Hanlon, Alwyn Blair, Tracy Richards, Hayley Mann and Dave Gaskin

The team for the last day of the J.J. Blair & Sons stall in Darlington market. Left to right Christine Hanlon, Alwyn Blair, Tracy Richards, Hayley Mann and Dave Gaskin

The end of a fruitful era as Darlington's best-known market stall closes for good

Wind turbines generating renewable energy (file image)

Wind turbines generating renewable energy (file image)

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

‘Basic research’ would reveal real reason behind Britain’s high energy prices

A host of former Middlesbrough players line up for the club's Legacy Game at the Riverside

A host of former Middlesbrough players line up for the club's Legacy Game at the Riverside

SCOTT WILSON COLUMN

Middlesbrough FC

Boro's Legacy Game was brilliant - but this is what a real legacy would look like

Petrol prices have prompted one Northern Echo reader to look back at the cost of filling up in the 1960s

Petrol prices have prompted one Northern Echo reader to look back at the cost of filling up in the 1960s

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the editor

‘Phew!’ What filling up the petrol tank made me remember about the swinging sixties

The last day at JJ Blair & Sons in the emptying covered market in Darlington

The last day at JJ Blair & Sons in the emptying covered market in Darlington

Sad day for Darlington as 151-year-old JJ Blair & Sons stall closes

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visit the site of a Russian missile strike which hit a residential area in Pryluky, northern Ukraine, where 22 people, including five children, were killed on October 6.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visit the site of a Russian missile strike which hit a residential area in Pryluky, northern Ukraine, where 22 people, including five children, were killed on October 6.

The horrors in Ukraine seem to be fading from our front pages

A North Sea oil rig. The writer argues that the UK should make greater use of domestic oil and gas resources

A North Sea oil rig. The writer argues that the UK should make greater use of domestic oil and gas resources

READER'S LETTER

Letters to the Editor

Why are we importing fuel when North Sea oil and gas is still there, asks writer

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch with her husband, Hamish Badenoch, leaving the stage after delivering her keynote speech during the Conservative Party conference at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday October

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch with her husband, Hamish Badenoch, leaving the stage after delivering her keynote speech during the Conservative Party conference at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday October

Kemi Badenoch rejects Reform deal as Conservatives return to traditional ground

UK and European Union flags. The writer argues Britain should pursue economic change outside the EU rather than revisit Brexit

UK and European Union flags. The writer argues Britain should pursue economic change outside the EU rather than revisit Brexit

READER'S LETTER

Britain needs a new direction - but returning to the EU is not the answer

Angela Lloyd, who was killed in her home in Bakewell Place, Newton Aycliffe

Angela Lloyd, who was killed in her home in Bakewell Place, Newton Aycliffe

An inquest needs to find whether Angela, and the rest of us, were properly protected

Businesses on Northallerton High Street, pictured as another Budget approaches

Businesses on Northallerton High Street, pictured as another Budget approaches

READER'S LETTER

Government must look closer to home before inflicting more pain on businesses

A general view of the cricket ground at Feethams in Darlington

A general view of the cricket ground at Feethams in Darlington

READER'S LETTER

Darlington man calls for answers over assets linked to historic cricket ground

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has set out what his party would aim to deliver during its first 100 days in government

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has set out what his party would aim to deliver during its first 100 days in government

Nigel Farage - What my Reform government would do in its first 100 days

The first Nissan Bluebird rolls off the Sunderland production line

The first Nissan Bluebird rolls off the Sunderland production line

Nissan invests £170m in Sunderland plant as Bluebird marks 40 years of production

Andy Burnham, whose approach to tackling Channel crossings is questioned

Andy Burnham, whose approach to tackling Channel crossings is questioned

READER'S LETTER

Scrapping migrant deal shows Government has ‘no real strategy’

PCC Joy Allen explains, in her own words, why it is so important to report a crime and how it will assist in the understanding of what is happening and where action is needed.

PCC Joy Allen explains, in her own words, why it is so important to report a crime and how it will assist in the understanding of what is happening and where action is needed.

How reporting crime helps police protect communities in Durham - PCC Joy Allen

Why it is never a bad time to reset your health goals

Why it is never a bad time to reset your health goals

Why wait until January? Small October changes could boost your health by Christmas

Official guests after the unveiling ceremony

Official guests after the unveiling ceremony

85-year wait ends as forgotten RAF squadrons finally honoured at wartime base

A field of oilseed rape, which can be used in the production of bio-diesel.

A field of oilseed rape, which can be used in the production of bio-diesel.

READER'S LETTER

Could the humble wallflower help cut diesel costs and boost the British economy?

Yaya Toure scores Manchester City's equaliser against Sunderland in the 2014 Capital One Cup final at Wembley

Yaya Toure scores Manchester City's equaliser against Sunderland in the 2014 Capital One Cup final at Wembley

SCOTT WILSON COLUMN

What happens next if Sunderland were 'cheated' out of 2014 League Cup by Man City

The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton

The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton

READER'S LETTER

Hospital parking system leaves patient facing £70 charge despite paying to park

The Dolphin Centre in Darlington

The Dolphin Centre in Darlington

READER'S LETTER

Local government

Darlington Dolphin Centre's mixed sex changing facilities branded 'irresponsible'

Man City must face the harshest sanctions as quickly as possible

Prime Minister Andy Burnham with his wife Marie France Van Heel prior to delivering his keynote speech to the Labour Party Conference at the ACC Liverpool. Picture date: Tuesday September 29, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Prime Minister Andy Burnham with his wife Marie France Van Heel prior to delivering his keynote speech to the Labour Party Conference at the ACC Liverpool. Picture date: Tuesday September 29, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Burnham's passionate debut and enticing view of the future – but what about today?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (left) with Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey on the main stage during the Labour Party Conference at the ACC Liverpool. Picture date: Monday September 28, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (left) with Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey on the main stage during the Labour Party Conference at the ACC Liverpool. Picture date: Monday September 28, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA

Diesel hits 199.18p as Burnham’s upbeat first year faces reality

PCC Joy Allen has explained in her own words, why she continues to invest in Safer Countryside initiatives

PCC Joy Allen has explained in her own words, why she continues to invest in Safer Countryside initiatives

Why I am investing in a safer County Durham countryside - PCC Joy Allen

Sarah Small with some of the members of the Red Hall Dance Company

Sarah Small with some of the members of the Red Hall Dance Company

Local government

The dancing mum at the heart of a £20m campaign to change lives in Darlington

Thomas Tuchel watches on during England training at St George's Park

Thomas Tuchel watches on during England training at St George's Park

SCOTT WILSON COLUMN

What Thomas Tuchel has to do different if England are to learn from Argentina defeat

Backing the £20m campaign to be put pride back into our precious places

'We aren't in chaos - Reform in Durham is stronger and more focused than ever'

Nadeen Lister outside Prospect House in Durham. 24.09.2026. Photograph:Stuart Boulton/SBC

Nadeen Lister outside Prospect House in Durham. 24.09.2026. Photograph:Stuart Boulton/SBC

It is wrong for women to have wait years for outcome of breast cancer scandal

Lovejoy has had an enduring appeal lasting for many decades after its conclusion, Jennifer Welch argues

Lovejoy has had an enduring appeal lasting for many decades after its conclusion, Jennifer Welch argues

The enduring appeal of Lovejoy, TV's favourite antiques dealer

Sharing the sadness, and the real concerns, about the loss of a "good" manufacturer