Archive

  • Donation will fund new unit

    CLEVELAND Fire Brigade is to order new equipment thanks to a donation from the Environment Agency. The agency has presented the brigade with £59,000, which is needed to replace its ageing Environment Protection Unit. It means the brigade can order a new

  • Terrorist planned nuclear attack

    A terrorist planning to detonate a nuclear device in the USA has been arrested by FBI agents. The attack was foiled when he was arrested on arrival at Chicago's O'Hare airport. US agents arrested an American whom they claim is an al-Qaida operative and

  • Steeplejack killed by fireball

    THE grieving family of a North-East man, killed doing the job he loved, have spoken of their shock at his death. Steeplejack Craig Whelan, 23, died when a fireball engulfed the 150-metre chimney he was demolishing at a factory in Bolton, Greater Manchester

  • Anti-speeding policy leads way forward

    POLICE in County Durham claim their soft anti-speeding tactics have been vindicated after the Government announced plans to copy them. Four years ago, Durham Constabulary rejected fixed speed cameras in favour of targeting hot spots with cameras mounted

  • DNA bid to track Caroline killer

    POLICE hunting the murderer of backpacker Caroline Stuttle are planning a massive series of DNA tests in a bid to track down the killer. Thousands of young to middle-aged men in the Austra-lian city of Bundaberg will be asked to voluntarily give samples

  • Victims of 'postcode cancer care' lottery

    ALARMING new evidence has been revealed of the impact the North-South divide has on health in the region. Cancer survival rates in the North-East are among the worst in the country, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics. Patients

  • Green message something to shout about

    A TOWN crier is calling on people to leave their cars at home as part of a clean air campaign. Nancy Buckle, of Knaresborough, will shout out her green message to visitors tomorrow as part of national Don't Choke Britain Day. Ms Buckle is one of 100 town

  • A hard day's knight for Alan

    During the week he is a college lecturer, but at weekends he becomes Alan of York, jousting hero. Nick Morrison meets a world champion who spends his spare time in chainmail. DONNING his steel helmet, its red and green plumes waving in the breeze, Alan

  • 'Why Gormley's my metal guru'

    The highly acclaimed Angel of the North has brought metal sculpture to a national audience. Sarah Foster speaks to a local artist who aspires to be the next Antony Gormley. AT the tender age of 23, Peter Collinson is living his dream. He set up MetArt

  • The girls are back in town

    Hen parties used to be fairly quiet occasions but more and more of them are becoming alcohol-fuelled debaucheries. Womens' Editor Christen Pears reports on a growing phenomenon. JULIE straightens her skirt and adjusts the plastic L-plates hanging around

  • Bus crash victims still in serious condition

    Four women were still in a serious condition after a mountain road coach crash at the weekend. Thirteen women were still being treated in hospital yesterday after a Women's Institute day trip from Stakeford, near Ashington in Northumberland, ended in

  • Jobs plan will spell end for church

    A MASSIVE retail development will mean the end of an era for a church in Middlesbrough. Up to 450 jobs could be created if the joint application for new shops and offices gets the go-ahead from Middlesbrough Council. But with work expected to start on

  • Finance map reveals language of money

    Barclays has drawn up the first money map of Britain, revealing the most popular colloquialisms for money in the UK. The Fluent in Finance report has been prompted by reactions to the latest television commercial for the bank featuring Hollywood star

  • Parents protest over buses lacking seatbelts

    PARENTS are threatening to keep their children away from school unless seatbelts are provided on their bus. A new contractor was brought in for yesterday's first day back at school to cover the bus route from Aycliffe Village to Woodham Comprehensive

  • Tim Wellock's Durham Diary

    FOR the first few years of Durham's first-class life there used to be four of us following the team around on behalf of the North-East media. Now it's down to me and a radio man. The other newspapers are increasingly dependent on the Press Association

  • Portugal back on track

    Portugal found a new hero at their hour of need as their striker Pauleta ended Poland's World Cup with a superb hat-trick. After their miserable defeat by the USA, Portugal needed a new star to shine out from the clouds that have shrouded their under-performing

  • No end in sight for cheap flights

    Demand for no-frills flights across Europe show no signs of abating as low-cost airline Ryanair posted a surge in full-year profits. The Dublin-based group, which has operations at Teesside International Airport, has spent the last year ramping up its

  • Drivers warned to take care of stereos

    CAR owners are being warned by police to take extra care of their car stereos after a spate of thefts in Ferryhill. One night last week, thieves broke into three cars within yards of each other and stole stereo systems from them. The thieves targeted

  • Police seek information in busker's death

    Murder squad detectives were today trying to piece together the final movements of a drugs user, who died several days after being brutally assaulted. The body of Antony John Grayson, a well-known busker in York city centre, was found in his flat last

  • Darren uses pedal power to hit target

    A SUPER-FIT cyclist has raised more than £100 for hospital radio by pedalling 82 miles on a stationary bike. Darren Weston took part in a sponsored bike ride at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington to raise money for Radio Skerne at Darlington Memorial Hospital

  • Friends club together to dedicate jubilee seats for popular park

    TWO new seats have been dedicated in a Darlington park to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The money to buy the seats was raised by the Friends of Stanhope Park, through membership subscriptions, sales of Christmas cards and events such as a Christmas

  • Search and rescue team in fundraising drive for vehicle

    A SEARCH and rescue team, which is already under financial pressure, has launched a fundraising drive to buy a new vehicle. Donations to Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team, with takings from collections boxes, dropped to £5,270 in the last financial

  • News in brief: Lavender visit on offer

    Help The Aged has organised a day trip to Lavender Farm at Terrington, North Yorkshire tomorrow. It leaves Newton Aycliffe at 9am, with pick-ups at Aycliffe Village, Heighington and Cockerton. For more details or to book a place, ring (01325) 313924.

  • Soldier Steven's royal command

    A NORTH-EAST soldier is looking forward to a royal date after being invited to the Queen's Garden Party. Steven Jobburns, 20, of Consett, County Durham, is in the Royal Signal Corps, based in Wiltshire. He joined up after he left Blackfyne School, Consett

  • Store puts its weight behind campaign

    A DARLINGTON store has launched its Get Involved campaign to help local sports and games groups. Colleagues at Asda on Whinbush Way are asking customers to nominate good causes in the community which would benefit from practical help. Asda is asking for

  • 180-year-old greenhouse blooms again

    BUSINESS is blooming for one of Britain's rarest greenhouses after it was reopened to the public for the first time in more than a century. Major Dennis Burton and his wife Anne, owners of the Grade II listed structure at Felton Park, Northumberland,

  • Singing the praises of pit village tradition

    PUPILS have helped revive an old Methodist custom at a museum's colliery village. Youngsters from Red Rose Primary School, at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, took part in the annual Sunday school anniversary in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, at Beamish

  • Lindsey's ballet success

    TEENAGER Lindsey Roddam is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the competitive world of dance. The 15-year-old has just passed her elementary ballet exam - and she did it with the highest mark a pupil can score. Lindsey, who lives in Romanby,

  • Bowlers turn on style

    Kimblesworth beat the weather and Langley Park to return to the top of the table. Masood Mirza and David Showler combined to restrict the visitors to less than 150, a target which Kimblesworth met, losing just three wickets in 33.5 overs. After the first

  • Prince to be kept busy on North visit

    THE Duke of York is in for a busy time when he visits North Yorkshire later this month. As well as visiting the Great Yorkshire Show, in Harrogate, and opening a new annexe for St Leonard's Hospice, in York, Prince Andrew, above, will travel to Easingwold

  • Bed pushers slip into gear for annual fundraising spectacle

    FORGET the Derby - for anyone near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, at the weekend there was an altogether different sporting tradition to watch. The horses at Epsom provided no competition as a spectacle compared to the town's madcap annual bed race -

  • Murton looking strong

    By bowling out their opponents for just 60 and 80 in the double weekend programme, Murton took a firm grip on the leadership. Following a delayed start they hurried to 180 for the loss of just one wicket in yesterday's game with Boldon as Richard Lowes

  • Castle defences destroyed by Timmens

    Paul Timmens bowled leaders Bishop Auckland to a convincing victory against Barnard Castle at Kingsway. He bowled ten maidens in a spell of 18.3 overs and captured six wickets for the princely sum of 19 runs as the visitors struggled through almost 44

  • Health shake-up travel worries

    PATIENTS and visitors from outlying areas could face long and expensive journeys to hospital under a proposed health shake-up. Councillors are worried about the impact that plans for County Durham's hospitals will have on people without cars. Health chiefs

  • Competition draws young artists

    ARTY youngsters demonstrated their talents at the weekend to help a national charity. The Durham Wildlife Trust staged a local heat of the Pavement Artists Competition at its centre at Rainton Meadows, Chilton Moor, near Houghton-le-Spring, on Saturday

  • News in brief: Professors to be honoured

    TWO former vice-chancellors of Durham University are to receive honorary degrees when its new £10m research facility opens at Stockton next week. Emeritus professors Sir Frederick Holliday and Evelyn Ebsworth will receive the honours when the Wolfson

  • Police quiz crash plunge bus driver

    POLICE yesterday began questioning the driver and passengers on a coach which overturned on a steep mountain road, injuring 15 people. The Drive For Freedom Travel coach had been travelling from Stakeford, near Ashington, Northumberland, to Ambleside,

  • Fears for missing Rachel

    POLICE say they are keeping an open mind on the possibility of a serial killer preying on North-East prostitutes. Cleveland Police are searching for Rachel Wilson, 19, the third prostitute to go missing from the streets of Middlesbrough in the past four

  • News in brief: Lavender visit on offer

    Help The Aged has organised a day trip to Lavender Farm at Terrington, North Yorkshire tomorrow. It leaves Newton Aycliffe at 9am, with pick-ups at Aycliffe Village, Heighington and Cockerton. For more details or to book a place, ring (01325) 313924.

  • Call for road to be made safe for walkers

    A COUNCILLOR is calling for improvements to be made on a country road which he feels is an accident waiting to happen. Councillor Ben Ord, who represents Spennymoor ward on Sedgefield Borough Council, wants to see improvements made to Whitworth Lane,

  • Aycliffe Angel dies aged 100

    MARTHA YATES, one of the oldest surviving Aycliffe Angels, has died before her 101st birthday. Born Martha Bowman, in Haswell, County Durham, in August 1901, she had five brothers and four sisters and moved to Trimdon when a girl. Aged about 18 she worked

  • Remembering the heroes of Middleton St George

    AIR Force veterans gathered for a grand reunion and emotional memorial service to pay tribute to colleagues lost in action. Old comrades who were based at Middleton St George, near Darlington, during the Second World War, returned to celebrate the 60th

  • Hear all sides: NATIONAL PARK

    I recently attended a meeting of the Craven Branch of the National Farmers Union (NFU). In times gone by your readers may have thought that this was the action of Daniel entering the lion's den! Happily things have changed, and today I sense that there

  • Patients and relatives could face long haul

    PATIENTS and visitors from outlying areas could face long and expensive journeys to hospital under a proposed health shake-up. Councillors are worried about the impact that plans for County Durham's hospitals will have on people without cars. Health chiefs

  • Teenagers force boys to strip in drug hunt

    TWO teenagers looking in a park for lost drugs forced six younger boys to strip after wrongly suspecting they had picked them up, it is claimed. They forced the boys, aged seven to 11, to shed their clothing, and threatened to kidnap them and break their

  • Creditors seek to recover theatre debts

    Creditors of the firm which ran Durham's Gala Theatre before going into liquidation last month will meet to recover their debts tomorrow. A meeting of the 150 creditors owed money by the Entertainment Team (Durham) will take place at Durham's Ramside

  • Farm watch initiative makes bid for honour

    A SCHEME has been set up to protect farms which have been plagued by criminals, including poachers and drug dealers. Farmers are working with police in Darlington in a project which has already dramatically reduced the number of incidents. Darlington

  • O'Brien on a high following impressive Derby success

    Aidan O'Brien cemented his position as the leading trainer of his generation with an historic one-two in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom. His High Chaparral battled to victory under Johnny Murtagh to give him a fifth success in the last seven British Classics

  • Alan's made it a case of little and large at Tower

    THE work of a dedicated North-East model-maker has been put on display in Blackpool Tower's ballroom. Alan Bartle, from Broom Park, in Durham, has created a replica of the famous Wurlitzer organ in the tower and recently presented it to staff at the ballroom

  • Amber and Co. enlisted for Roman fort celebrations

    BIRDS of prey will be on display at a Roman attraction to mark its second birthday at the weekend. Visitors to Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, Tyneside, on Saturday and Sunday, will come face to face with eight birds of prey. They will include Amber,

  • Rain halts Phoenix

    Yorkshire Phoenix's chances of getting back to winning ways in the Norwich Union League were dashed at Trent Bridge yesterday when rain prevented any play against lowly Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Richard Blakey lost the toss for Yorkshire, who were asked

  • Garden staff watch the birdies

    A SINGLE mother with five youngsters has won the hearts of gardening enthusiasts - despite squatting in a garden centre. Customers and staff at Dobbies Garden World, inBirtley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, were delighted when a blackbird's eggs

  • VIPS invited to cadets' celebration

    IT'S chocks away for an air cadet squadron's birthday bash. RAF top brass and the Speaker of Middlesbrough Council have been invited to the celebrations of 1869 (Middlesbrough) Squadron, Air Training Corps. The 60th anniversary reunion evening has been

  • News in brief: Roadshow rolls in

    DOG lovers can get their pets micro-chipped when a charity's roadshow visits South Tyneside. The National Canine Defence League's mobile micro-chipping and information unit will be in the borough from today to Thursday, and from next Monday to Thursday

  • Volunteers sought to expand special bus service

    A VILLAGE bus link that enables youngsters to take part in after-school activities is looking for volunteers to help it expand. Drivers and escorts are needed by the SPS (Shadforth, Pittington, West Rainton and Sherburn) Parishes Transport project to

  • Adoption insight night looms

    PEOPLE can find out more about adopting children at an event being held by Gates-head Borough Council. The council won the coveted Beacon Status earlier this year for its success in doubling the number of children it has helped to find permanent new homes

  • Activities week for carers takes off

    CARERS in the Gateshead area are being invited to take part in a week of activities. The events are aimed at all carers - those looking after a disabled child, an adult with physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems or someone who is old

  • Balloons re-launch charity

    DOZENS of yellow balloons were released last week to herald the shake-up of a charity that helps 17,000 victims of crime every year in County Durham. Victim Support offers support to witnesses and victims of crime by helping them to regain their confidence

  • Bank secures regional property deals

    Swedish Bank Handelsbanken has completed property deals in the North-East worth £2.6m. The bank, which moved into the region two months ago, has advanced funding to allow property developers City and Northern to extend its portfolio. In the first deal

  • England shirts lead to pub ban

    A group of pals were barred from a pub after the victory over Argentina - because they were wearing England shirts. Nick Askey, 33, had arranged to see his friends after returning from a five- month tour of Europe. But the party was ruined when they were

  • Elderly people encouraged to use facilities at homes

    ELDERLY people are being encouraged to take advantage of the facilities in sheltered housing complexes, even if they do not live there. The Darlington Active Independent and Staying Young (Daisy) campaign, supported by The Northern Echo, is hoping to

  • Public's views invited over garden plans

    A HERITAGE Lottery grant for £5m could provide Harrogate's famous Valley Gardens with a facelift. A public meeting has been called for Wednesday, June 19 at the Valley Gardens' Sun Pavilion to explain proposals which it is hoped will attract the payout

  • Livestock to return as show gears up

    CATTLE, sheep, pigs and goats are making a welcome return to this year's Great Yorkshire Show. After last year's cancellation of the show because of foot-and-mouth disease, this year's event will feature plenty of livestock. There will be 475 cattle,

  • Anti-speeding policy leads way forward

    POLICE in County Durham claim their soft anti-speeding tactics have been vindicated after the Government announced plans to copy them. Four years ago, Durham Constabulary rejected fixed speed cameras in favour of targeting hot spots with cameras mounted

  • Weardale World Cup flag mystery unfurls

    THE identity of the football fan who has been flying the flag for a quiet corner of the North-East at the World Cup was revealed last night. Kevin McGuire's parents, Bill and Wendy, could not quite believe their eyes when a St George's cross - bearing

  • Council workers are balloted on strike action over wage claim

    COUNCIL workers throughout the region will today begin receiving ballot papers for a vote on strike action. Unison, the public sector union, together with other trade unions, is balloting its 47,000 members in councils across the North-East because of

  • Weekend TV: Chortling along with two cheeky caps

    Remotely Funny (BBC1); Ant And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV) ; Is Harry On The Boat? (Sky One); Fields Of Gold (BBC1) The search for a new Saturday night entertainment show hit is on, but Remotely Funny isn't it. This hidden camera show has celebrities

  • Jobs plan will spell end for church

    A MASSIVE retail development will mean the end of an era for a church in Middlesbrough. Up to 450 jobs could be created if the joint application for new shops and offices gets the go-ahead from Middlesbrough Council. But with work expected to start on

  • News in brief: New rules for markets

    A new set of rules governing markets in Hambleton has been drawn up. The district council agreed the market trading conditions after consultations with stallholders in Thirsk, Northallerton and Bedale. The document updates the 1999 regulations and includes

  • BAE Systems in running to buy TRW

    Defence and aerospace specialist BAE Systems has emerged as a contender to buy US firm TRW. The company, rocked by the fallout from September 11, has confirmed that it has entered into talks to buy the US aerospace and automotive group, which employs

  • Missing student safe and well

    A student who has been missing from home for nearly a month has been found safe and well. William Ross Edmondson, went missing from his home in Eaglescliffe, Teesside on May 16. Concerns were growing for the Sheffield University student, but on Friday

  • Orange well connected

    ORANGE has come out on top in a regional survey on successfully completed phone calls. In Northern England, 98.7 per cent of calls on its network connected and were completed successfully. This compares with 97.9 per cent for O2, 96.4 per cent for T-Mobile

  • Tourist numbers up after epidemic

    TOURISM is on the up again after foot-and-mouth disease - but only just, new figures reveal. The overseas tourist market is making a slow recovery, although domestically the picture is a lot better. The UK received 2.22 million visitors in April, compared

  • Play sessions planned

    A DARLINGTON disabled group is planning play sessions throughout the summer holidays for about 200 disabled children. Darlington Association on Disability is looking for volunteers to support children doing play activities and on outings. Travelling expenses

  • Grassroots: Crook

    Partnership Meeting: At the Crook Community Part-nership Meeting on Thursday, secretary David Neil reported that residents in Foundry Fields, Crook, were concerned about access to the area. The partnership will take the matter up with Durham County Council

  • Storm settles for 27th

    GRAEME Storm was just unable to sneak into the top 20 at the Compass Group English Open yesterday. The Hartlepool golfer, who made the cut with a two-round total of 140, four under par, had an indifferent final round at the Forest of Arden. Storm carded

  • Doctors take sporting role

    DOCTORS at Bishop Auckland General Hospital are gearing up for their annual charity cricket match. The popular match between the doctors and a Bishop Auckland Cricket Club social XI is now in its 17th year. This year's game will be held on the Bishop

  • Access made easier at Roman camp

    A ROMAN military camp is being given a new lease of life by making it more accessible. Improved access facilities and an audio trail have been created at Cawthorn Camp, an important archaeological site, near Pickering. They include easy-to-use gates and

  • But soap stars are pitching in

    STARS of the soap Emmerdale went out to bat for a North-East children's hospice yesterday. The ITV show's cricket team played an XI from Northern Electric's training department in aid of the Butterwick Children's Hospice, Stockton. Despite rain, the game

  • Legal battle to save care homes

    A LEGAL challenge is being prepared to try to halt a council's plans to close 17 of its 25 residential care homes. Concerned relatives of elderly people living in Stoneleigh residential home, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, are unhappy at Durham County

  • Comment: A tarnished triumph

    WE salute Lennox Lewis. His emphatic victory yesterday confirms him as the best heavyweight boxer of his generation, one of the best heavyweights of all time. We understand his motivation for wanting to fight Mike Tyson. As long as Tyson stalked in the

  • Miniature world an enormous hit

    NORTH-EAST modellers opened their miniature world to the public at the weekend. Visitors flocked to the Temple Park Centre, in South Shields, South Tyneside, on Saturday and Sunday for the 16th Northern Model Show. On display were more than 1,000 models

  • Forgive me, here is booty of my sin

    GUILT-RIDDEN parishioners packed a cathedral's "sin bins" with a stash of booty after a sermon on stealing. The ill-gotten gains surrendered by worshippers in York after a talk on the Ten Commandments, included £2,500 in cash, CDs, an Action Man doll,

  • After the death of old king coal

    A PHOTGRAPHIC documentary of the aftermath of coal mining has made its national debut. Coalfield Stories opened at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, at Aykley Heads, Durham City, on Saturday. It features the work of ten photographers who have examined

  • Friends club together to dedicate jubilee seats for popular park

    TWO new seats have been dedicated in a Darlington park to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The money to buy the seats was raised by the Friends of Stanhope Park, through membership subscriptions, sales of Christmas cards and events such as a Christmas

  • Allowances to help Cut Ridge tower over rivals

    John Quinn has his horses in good form and his Cut Ridge is an interesting runner in the Cedar Classified Stakes at Pontefract this evening. The three-year-old, who gets all the allowances, qualifies for this race after a promising effort over six furlongs

  • Orange well-connected

    ORANGE has come out on top in a regional survey on successfully completed phone calls. In Northern England, 98.7 per cent of calls on its network connected and were completed successfully. This compares with 97.9 per cent for O2, 96.4 per cent for T-Mobile

  • Wor Jackie dishes out stern advice to couch potato sports fans

    AS England's sporting heroes do the nation proud, one of our earlier World Cup winners chose the opening of a new sports club to tell the region's youngsters to get off their backsides to emulate them. Former Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Ireland manager

  • Weather wreaks havoc

    Only three grounds were declared fit for play and Hetton Lyons took full advantage by overwhelming lowly Durham City. Meanwhile, South Hetton struggled against South Shields but managed to hold out for a draw which pushed them down into third place. Burnmoor

  • Benwell Hill go top after thumping win

    The see-saw battle at the top of the table shows no signs of relenting and Benwell Hill are the new leaders following their crushing defeat of Stockton. The home batsmen simply had no answer to the twin attack of David Rutherford and Lee Crozier and although

  • Lintz continue to fulfil potential

    Lintz returned to the top of the table with a victory over championship rivals Sacriston and Annfield Plain's unexpected defeat at Ryton. Michael Edmunds was the principle architect of Sacriston's collapse when he was introduced as fourth-change into

  • Paddling pool youngsters 'turned blue'

    COUNCIL officials are investigating after youngsters became covered in paint at Whitby's West Cliff paddling pool. Their hands and feet turned blue when they went to play in the newly-painted pool. The inquiry is being carried out by Scarborough Brough

  • Harping back . . .

    THE clock was turned back by centuries when a medieval minstrel provided the music at York's ancient fortress over the weekend. Costumed musician Richard York, above, travelled from his Northampton home to provide two days of old-style entertainment at

  • Home for the elderly may be given backing

    PLANS for a private old people's home in a former pit village seem likely to win approval today. Chester-le-Street District Council's planning and licensing committee will be urged to grant permission for Gainford Care's scheme at Perkinsville, near Pelton

  • Nursery nurses make their mark

    TWO nursery nurses have turned artists to transform their premises with murals. Despite having no formal art training, Kyra McKenry and Sharon Gray set about sprucing up the new £500,000 luxury Ashfield Nursery and Early Learning Centre, in Low Fell,

  • Plank revenge . . .

    Does your boss leave you all at sea? If so, why not make him, or her, walk the plank into Hartlepool Marina. The Hartlepool and District Hospice is seeking volunteers, or victims, to walk the plank for charity. Organisers want people to challenge a boss

  • Pupils go back early for online launch

    YOUNGSTERS gave up a day of their half-term holiday to attend the launch of a technology centre. Pupils at Burnhope Primary School, Langley Avenue, Burnhope, were joined by Government Chief Whip and North West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong for the launch

  • Horse riders to show gratitude over new bridleway

    A NEW bridleway next to the Sunderland Metro extension is proving a hit with horse riders. They like the facility at Wardley, Gateshead, so much that they have nominated Gateshead Borough Council and Railtrack for a British Horse Society (BHS) national

  • Fun in the park for youngsters

    FORMER Middlesbrough FC hero Bernie Slaven joined civic leaders to open a new visitor centre and roller park in the town's Albert Park at the weekend. With a designated Teenzone for 12 to 16-year-olds, it is hoped the improvements will be popular with

  • A cut above the rest

    MEMBERS of a barbershop chorus struck the right note to celebrate their 25th anniversary at the weekend. They joined other musicians and singers to take part in the Upper Weardale Music Festival, which was held in the parish church at St John's Chapel

  • Bikers' thanks for warm welcome

    THOUSANDS of motorcyclists from across Europe are expected to descend on a town in the region later this month. The Farmyard Party is at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, on June 22 and has the full support of the local town council. To show the

  • Students' degree show

    GREEK legends and lost city of Atlantis inhabitants will vie for attention with the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at a student show. The exhibition is the brainchild of students at the Cleveland College of Art and Design. Creative types from the Hartlepool campus

  • Students' degree show

    GREEK legends and lost city of Atlantis inhabitants will vie for attention with the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at a student show. The exhibition is the brainchild of students at the Cleveland College of Art and Design. Creative types from the Hartlepool campus

  • Why I trust Jonny the flirt, by his fiancee

    THE fiancee of Big Brother's Jonny Regan has said she is unconcerned about the firefighter's flirting. Girlfriend Joanne Llewellyn, 30, is engaged to the joker entertaining the nation in the Channel 4 reality TV show. Jonny, 29, from Trimdon Grange, County

  • Taming Tyson 'makes Lewis the greatest'

    Lennox Lewis was last night being hailed as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all-time after his world title win against Mike Tyson. The 36-year-old demolished the once-ferocious Tyson to retain his world WBC, IBF and IBO titles in Memphis, Tennessee

  • Air crew veterans get 'taxi' ride with difference

    VETERAN air crew were treated to a day out with former colleagues thanks to the generosity of a local pilot. Julian Minns, of Cleveland Flying Club, based at Teesside Airport, flew ex-navigators David Shuttleworth and Jack Hindmoor, and Lancaster Bomber

  • Drivers warned to take care of stereos

    CAR owners are being warned by police to take extra care of their car stereos after a spate of thefts in Ferryhill. One night last week thieves broke into three cars within yards of each other and stole stereo systems from them. The thieves targeted CD

  • Night search for rare bird

    The Forest Commission is inviting bird-lovers on a nocturnal trek through Wykeham Forest, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, next Saturday, in search of the elusive nightjar. After a century in decline, the bird is making a comeback and the North York

  • News in brief: Appeal after road death

    NORTHUMBRIA Police are appealing for witnesses to a road accident that claimed the life of an 83-year-old pensioner on Friday afternoon. The man died after he was hit by a Renault van in Victoria Road West, Hebburn, South Tyneside. Witnesses should call

  • Thirsty MPs drink 2,500 pints of North beer a month

    THIRSTY Westminister MPs are supping 30,000 pints a year after orders from the House of Commons doubled. The Federation Brewery, the suppliers to Parliament, has seen orders double since October last year, meaning politicians are knocking back 2,500 pints

  • Rolling over Romania trip cash

    CANOEIST Oliver Simpson is raising money to enable him to help gipsy children in Romania by performing canoe rolls in a swimming pool. So far, the 15-year-old, of Thorpe Basset, Malton, North Yorkshire, has raised £450 after completing 70 rolls at his

  • Fundraising boost for tribute appeal

    ORGANISERS of an appeal to create a lasting memorial to one of North Yorkshire's leading political figures have been given reason to celebrate. The Joan Maynard Appeal has finally been awarded charitable status - a move that is expected to boost the fundraising

  • Doctors head for Falklands

    THREE doctors from the region are to spend six months working in the Falkland Islands. GPs George Campbell, John McAuley and Paul Ward, all of the Whitby Group Practice, in North Yorkshire, will be working at a hospital in Port Stanley. The aim is to

  • Balloons re-launch charity

    DOZENS of yellow balloons were released last week to herald the shake-up of a charity that helps 17,000 victims of crime every year in County Durham. Victim Support offers support to witnesses and victims of crime by helping them to regain their confidence

  • Residents may sue over house price fall

    A COUPLE are threatening to sue their local council after claiming it is responsible for a dramatic drop in the value of their house. Frank and Sylvia Bowe say the price of their house has almost halved in recent years and hold Wear Valley District Council

  • Warning as sexual diseases increase

    AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase in the region, a senior doctor has warned. Dr Richard Pattman, who runs the genito-urinary clinic at Newcastle General Hospital, said hospitals throughout the North-East were "being overwhelmed

  • Panto pop idol

    Aaron Bayley, the Tyneside Pop Idol contestant, will be in panto this Christmas. He will play Prince Aaron of Danilo, in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which will run at the Sunderland Empire from December 13 to January 12. Danielle Nicholls, of Children's

  • Radio plea for barbecue food safety

    ENVIRONMENTAL health workers have joined forces with a radio station to launch a barbecue safety campaign. To coincide with National Food Safety Week, which starts today, Sunderland City Council's environmental heal-th officers and Century FM Radio are