Leader

MEETING FANS: Dave Prowse at the opening of the Wow Factor store in the Cornmill Shopping Centre, Darlington, in 2008

Dave Prowse tribute: Star Wars actor, Green Cross Code Man... and much much more
He played one of the most recognised characters in movie history, but it’s a more prosaic role which fills him with the most pride. Andrew White speaks to Dave Prowse.

Gavin Engelbrecht as a police officer in South Africa

I handed in my gun and became a journalist after witnessing horrors of apartheid

High Row, Darlington

'High hopes for High Row,' says Graham Robb, former Conservative Party candidate

TRIUMPH: Ray Wilson, holding the trophy, celebrates with George Cohen, Bobby Moore and Jack Charlton Picture: PA

Ray Wilson: Defender who overcame error to help England win '66 World Cup

Matt Westcott with his father Dennis who has prostate cancer. Picture: Matt Westcott

In with a cold out with cancer - how my dad was diagnosed after trip to doctors

US President Donald Trump is advocating arming teachers. Picture: PA

Talking Point: After Trump's comments, will giving teachers guns stop school shootings?

REVIEW: Theresa May has announced a sweeping review of post-18 education as she admits to serious concerns about the system Picture: CHRIS ISON/PA

Why is the Government reviewing higher education funding? Key questions answered

HONOUR: The British Museum would be

Why bringing the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain may not be that simple

UNDER FIRE: A carving of Jack Crawford

Honouring the hero of Camperdown, Sunderland's Jack Crawford

Rodney Bewes who died on November 21, 2017

What did happen to the Likely Lads? - A look back at our interview with the late Rodney Bewes

American musician, singer and songwriter Tom Petty, who has died aged 60, performing with the Heartbreakers on the Big Top stage at the Isle of Wight Festival. Picture: PA

Tom Petty: The US star who sold 80 million records

Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after delivering a speech in Florence, Italy. Picture: PA

Theresa May on Brexit: The key points and reaction

'VITAL': Workers thin trees in the Braeburn apple orchard at Stocks Farm in Worcestershire ahead of the start of the harvest. Apple trees are thinned to imorove the size and quality of remaining fruit ready for harvest

Post-Brexit immigration policy revealed in leaked document sets industry alarm bells ringing

FESTIVALS: A scheme to allow music festival revellers to test their drugs before they take them is being rolled out on a larger scale Picture: YUI MOK/PA

"It makes me sad seeing that they get into such a state," says director of music festival drug-testing scheme

LEAVING: The UK decided in a referendum a year ago to leave the EU. Picture: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/PA WIRE

Brexit - a year on: North-East politicians, academics, and business leaders have their say

LEGEND: Folk singer Vin Garbutt on the cliffs near Saltburn

Folk writer Jez Lowe pays tribute to Teesside Troubadour Vin Garbutt

Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, pictured in February 1930, denied the government had a state surveillance programme of suspected Communists, evidence of which has come to light through work by Durham University historian Dr Jennifer Luff

Hunt for the Commies: Durham University researcher sheds light on the secret Government programme that saw thousands of workers come under surveillance

People suffering from hayfever are urged to avoid allergens, and are often recommended for drug treatment

Could prescription medication be putting you at risk of a drug driving conviction?

The Queen delivers the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament, in the House of Lords in May 2016. Picture: PA

The key issues surrounding the Queen's Speech

Prime Minister Theresa May looks on at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead, after she held her seat. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday June 9, 2017. See PA story ELECTION Main. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

A race which everyone lost

JOURNEY: Fay Khatri, owner of Tamara's Beautique

How Fay Khatri turned her back on forced marriages to set up her own beauty salon

HISTORY: Dominic Horsman, Green Party candidate for North West Durham, who hopes to become Britain's first transgender MP

North West Durham candidate hopes to become Britain's first transgender MP

FAMILY: Sian Cameron took over the Poppy Appeal in memory of her late father Ian

A labour of love for Poppy Appeal organiser Sian

SUPPORT: A couple wave a flag representing the EU member states as UKIP supporters gather outside The Cosmopolitan pub in Hartlepool. Picture: STUART BOULTON

Election Issues: Brexit voters 'feel disenfranchised'

HOSPITAL: There are concerns that Darlington Memorial Hospital could lose some of its key services

Election Issues: NHS 'a big topic' being discussed by Darlington voters ahead of General Election

DEBATE: Will pensions be a decisive factor in the General Election on June 8? Picture: PA

Election Issues: Pensions - to triple lock or to double lock?

TUITION: Tuition fees are a hot topic in the upcoming election. Picture: CHRIS ISON / PA WIRE

Are tuition fees a vote winner?

SHOW: The Springwatch 2017 team Pictured: Martin Hughes-Games, Michaela Strachan, Chris Packham, Gillian Burke Picture: PA Photo/BBC/Glenn Dearing

Springwatch viewers urged to take a second look at the countryside

CAMPAIGN: The NHS has a “FAST” campaign to raise awareness about strokes, and action to take to help patients

Make May purple for stroke – Stroke Awareness Month

SUAVE: With a copy of the Darlington Evening Despatch while filming North Sea Hijack

Nobody did it better: Sir Roger Moore the quintessential suave action hero

GRIEF: Flowers left at the scene of the Ariana Grande concert, in Manchester, where a bomber blew himself up. Picture: PA

Coping with trauma - advice for parents following Manchester pop concert terror attack

SIGHTING: Are pine martens making their homes in the region? Picture: EDWARD DELANEY

Are pine martens making their homes in the region?

LINK: Common painkillers used by millions of people in the UK are linked to an increased risk of heart failure, experts have said. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Are painkillers safe?

SUCCESS: The admin team at Darlington Folk Club, Bobb and Gill Wootten, Jenny Hughes, and Helen Armstrong

Darlington Folk Club goes from strength to strength

LEARNING: Svensons World Famous Flea Market entertains crowds at a Victorian fun day at Head of Steam Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Head of Steam: Darlington Railway Museum looks to the future, not just the past

SALES: New figures show sales of paper books are on the rise. Picture: PA

A bright future for the printed book

TESTS: GPs consider a range of factors before prescribing a statin

80,000 lives a year are saved by statins, so why are many people reluctant to take them?

NEW BOOK: Writer and former Northern Echo journalist Beezy Marsh

The mayhem of motherhood and dreams of Mr Make Believe

CELEBRATION: Great North Air Ambulance team and some of those who it has helped celebrate its 15th anniversary- Alison, Marc and Andrew Reed, Neil Wilson, Will Clark, chief executive Grahame Pickering, Aiden, Rachel and Scarlett Hall, pilot Phil Lambert,

Anniversary for our Angels of the North

MILK: Dairy cows enjoy the sunshine

Can taking dairy out of your diet damage your health?

Mike Padgham is also managing director of St Cecilia's Care Services in Scarborough

Don't forget social care in the 'Brexit General Election'

The gold medal success of Britain's women' at the Olympics has encouraged more youngsters to take up the sport, but playing hockey at university can be prohibitively expensive

Penalty hit: Is the cost of university sport too high?

MISSED: David Skuce

Last stop for the model railwayman - a look back at the life of David Skuce

CAMPAIGN: After nearly ten years of campaigning for answers from the Catholic Church, The Northern Echo finally revealed the truth about why popular priest Father Michael Higginbottom was suddenly removed from his parish in Darlington

Fighting Fake News: Exposing the truth and supporting our local communities

STEEL BLOW: 3,000 people lost their jobs when the SSI plant in Redcar shut down Picture: TOM BANKS

Three items on the to do list for the new Tees Valley Mayor

CONCERT: Sir Rod Stewart who is brining his From Gasoline Alley To Another Country hits tour to Durham. Picture: PRESS ASSOCIATION

Exclusive Rod Stewart recalls '60s Redcar gig with legendary Blues singer as he chats to the Echo ahead of Durham concert

AUTHOR: Bestselling author LJ Ross could base a future murder mystery in Durham. Picture: GAVIN ENGELBRECHT

An inspiring journey for bestselling author LJ Ross

NOT STANDING: Tom Blenkinsop MP who has decided to not stand in June's General Election. Right, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

It would have been a lie to stand for Labour and back Corbyn, says Tom Blenkinsop

Supporters of far-right leader and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen, celebrate after exit poll results of the first round of the presidential election are announced at election day headquarters in Henin-Beaumont,

Macron vs Le Pen - a look at the French election front-runners

AUTOMATE: People are being urge to upskill and use the tools at their disposal to combat the increasing trend of new technologies replacing jobs

Man versus machine: What can humans do to future proof ourselves against increasing automation?

A Generic Photo of a man struggling with his depression. See PA Feature HEALTH Depression. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature HEALTH Depression.

Every mind matters

Young entrepreneur is riding high with equestrian sportswear brand

Robyn Drummond, left, and Cathy Trent in the Quaker burial ground behind the Meeting House

Back from the brink - a 300 year old piece of Quaker history saved by Darlington folk

IN THE BEGINNING: Nick Berry as PC Nick Rowan in Heartbeat

Heartbeat turned out to be a winner