The North East | Archive | 2003 | March

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Stories for 12 March 2003

Bishop Auckland,Barnard Castle,Darlington,Durham,East Durham,East Cleveland,Hawes,Newton Aycliffe,No Sport

Sir Bobby left with regrets

Sir Bobby Robson was last night praying for a Champions League miracle after his Newcastle side twice threw away the lead to draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro.  more...

McCarthy named new Black Cats boss

Mick McCarthy has been unveiled as the new manager of Sunderland.  more...

Experience counts for McCarthy

MICK McCARTHY knows from bitter experience how the departure of a manager can destabilise a club and send it spiralling towards relegation.  more...

Wilko issues warning to McCarthy

HOWARD WILKINSON last night warned Mick McCarthy that he faces a daunting task in trying to reverse Sunderland's ailing fortunes as the club prepared to unveil the former Republic of Ireland coach as their third manager of a turbulent season today.  more...

LMA chief quick to slam Wearside supremo Murray

SUNDERLAND were last night slammed by the managers' union for sacking Howard Wilkinson and told: You need four years to build a team - not 20 games.  more...

Whelan determined to secure future away from Riverside

UNWANTED Noel Whelan has revealed his determination to seal a permanent move away from Middlesbrough.  more...

Pipe pins hopes on a double

MARTIN PIPE has a big-race double in his sights with It Takes Time (2.35) and Tiutchev (3.15) on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, but stable jockey Tony McCoy may not be able to ride after yesterday aggravating an old injury in successive falls from Le Roi Miguel and Copeland.  more...

Magpies hang onto a European dream

NEWCASTLE United's Champions League dream is still alive - but only just - after an unforgettable game at the San Siro last night.  more...

Mighty Quinn hails Mick as Sunderland saviour

NIALL QUINN hailed Mick McCarthy as the perfect replacement for Howard Wilkinson last night and backed his former Republic of Ireland coach to revive Sunderland's fading survival hopes.  more...

Watson's long road to fitness

CROWD favourite Gordon Watson takes another step on the long road back to full fitness this afternoon.  more...

Fitting result for sponsor

SEDGEFIELD racecourse owes a debt of gratitude to regular sponsor John Wade, so it was a fitting result when Devil's Run claimed the feature event at the track yesterday, the £7,000 Tote Exacta Handicap Chase, writes Colin Woods.  more...

Fans vote with their feet adding to Quakers' woes

Cambridge United inflicted more misery on Darlington with a 2-1 win at Feethams last night.  more...

Consett,Stanley,Chester Le Street News

'Buyer' used fake notes

POLICE are hunting a man who paid for a DVD player using forged £20 notes.  more...

Volunteer drivers call

Drivers are needed to transport elderly or disabled people to surgeries.  more...

Phone mast fight set to continue

RESIDENTS are preparing for a second fight against a bid to put up a mobile phone mast, which originally provoked hundreds of protest letters.  more...

News in brief: Money taken in raid on house

A THIEF stole a large quantity of cash and a Nokia mobile phone after entering a property in Maple Terrace, Stanley, at about 7.30pm on Saturday.   more...

Darlington,Newton Aycliffe,Sedgefield,Barnard Castle News

Countryside Agency grant aid on offer to help improve rural communities

VILLAGES in Teesdale are being offered Countryside Agency grants of up to £25,000 for community projects.  more...

Bus company fined for aiding benefits fraud

A SOUTH Durham bus company has been found guilty of helping one of its drivers fraudulently claim benefits.  more...

Big rent rise for after-school club

AN after-schools club is facing a rent increase of 380 per cent after arsonists destroyed the school where it was based.  more...

Reservoir rescue pair win award

TWO men who risked their lives to rescue an elderly couple whose car plunged into a lake are to be honoured for their bravery.  more...

Magistrates court cases

The following cases were heard by Darlington magistrates yesterday.  more...

Residents' group chairwoman retires

A CHAMPION of Darlington's Skerne Park estate has retired from her post as chairwoman of a community group.  more...

Student seeking to set up history group

A TEENAGE history student is urging like-minded people with a passion for the past to help him set up a group.  more...

Footpaths project

A £50,000 scheme to improve Spennymoor's footpaths and bus stops and to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home starts next week.  more...

Church backing fair trade campaign event

A FERRYHILL church will be serving up some tasty treats as part of Fair Trade Fortnight.  more...

Call to pensioners over benefits

PENSIONERS in Teesdale are being urged to contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau to make sure they are claiming ther full benefits entitlement.  more...

Company clean-up pledge

NORTHUMBRIAN Water has pledged to improve after complaints from a Darlington resident.  more...

Heroin addict is jailed for attack on woman in street

A ROBBER who attacked a woman because he was desperate to obtain heroin was jailed for three years yesterday.  more...

Anxious wait for hospice centre ruling

CHARITY officials will find out tomorrow if enough money has been raised to open a full-time care unit at St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington.  more...

Villages get bus link to hospital

A BUS service linking people in Teesdale communities with Darlington Memorial Hospital will be launched by Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn this week.  more...

Search and rescue team receive royal awards

MEMBERS of a search and rescue team have received royal accolades for helping the region's emergency services.  more...

Talent on parade

A MUSIC label promoting talent in Darlington is staging two concerts this month.  more...

Thieves targeting rubbish sacks

THIEVES are targeting refuse bags to steal discarded financial papers in order to plunder people's bank accounts, police have warned.  more...

News in brief: Cheap homes plea for village

Parish councillors have urged a developer to build low-cost housing on an industrial state in Middleton St George, near Darlington.   more...

Top praise for school work

A DARLINGTON school has been praised by Prime Minister Tony Blair for excellence in special needs education.  more...

Taxi drivers furious over licence fees increase

TAXI drivers reacted angrily last night after councillors voted to increase licence fees.  more...

Durham,East Durham News

News in brief: Money taken in raid on house

A THIEF stole a large quantity of cash and a Nokia mobile phone after entering a property in Maple Terrace, Stanley, at about 7.30pm on Saturday.   more...

Week of activities helps celebrate city library's first anniversary

A FLAGSHIP library celebrates its first anniversary this week with a series of events.  more...

Estate group hopes to improve women's lives

A GROUP to broaden women's horizons was launched yesterday.   more...

Pub chain's plan to open early approved

A PUB chain has been given permission by magistrates to open from 10am.  more...

Landlady is serving up spirits

A PUB will swap spirits from the bottle for those of the supernatural world at its next fundraising event.  more...

School receives glowing report

A SCHOOL will not be making any improvements this year, after inspectors judged that it could not do any better.  more...

East Cleveland News

News in brief: Council boss recruits deputy

Former Hartlepool Borough Council chief executive Brian Dinsdale, who left his post last month to take over the same role at Middlesbrough Borough Council, has recruited his former number two, Jan Richmond, to join him at Middlesbrough.   more...

Campaign group calls for conservation area ruling

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to preserve a corner of Cleveland which borders the North York Moors.  more...

Safe places for young to meet

TEENAGE hang-out areas could be established across east Cleveland to provide youngsters with a safe place to meet friends.  more...

Guides provide information on the move

WELCOME guides will soon be on patrol in one of the region's coastal towns.  more...

Northallerton,Richmond,Hawes News

Rob shows youngsters how to get fighting fit

A KARATE champion is visiting schools in the region to promote exercise to youngsters.  more...

Over-60s urged to register

MEN over 60, who become eligible for half-price bus travel across Richmondshire next month, are being urged to register with the council.   more...

Recognition for car park

A £4M car park has collected an award for its lighting, surveillance cameras, restricted access and escape routes.  more...

Cadets palace-bound

THREE teenagers have an appointment to meet the Princess Royal next week.  more...

Opposition to by-pass

A PLANNING application has been submitted for a by-pass on the Yorkshire coast.  more...

Residents to fight gas exploration plans

RESIDENTS of a moorland village are objecting to plans to carry out gas exploration near their homes.  more...

Mayor calls for clean-up help

THE mayor of Richmond is appealing for help to clear litter from a beauty-spot overlooking the River Swale.  more...

Report reveals defiance of planning orders

PEOPLE have lodged almost 500 complaints about alleged defiance of planning controls in the Harrogate district during the past year.  more...

News in brief: Boost for schools

SEVERAL primary and junior schools in Scarborough are to benefit from a £250,000 scheme to improve education standards.  more...

Tour bosses plan visit to region

TOUR operators from around the UK will be visiting the Yorkshire Coast and North York Moors for an insight into the tourism industry.  more...

Leader in call for an end to tax increases

THE leader of one of the country's smallest district councils has called for a shake-up in the way local government is funded.   more...

Model railway event lined up

MODEL railway enthusiasts will be heading for Sowerby later this month.  more...

Teesside News

Grand donation by new arrival

ONE of Teesside's newest businesses has donated £1,000 to the Teesmouth Field Centre.  more...

Captain Cook's an Aussie favourite

VISITOR numbers at one of the region's fast-growing attractions have jumped by more than a half in the past two years.  more...

Man injured in 'cowardly' attack

A 31-year-old man is recovering after being attacked in Thornaby.  more...

Warning after bogus caller steals £700

A BOGUS caller stole more than £700 from a pensioner after getting into her home by claiming he needed to check the gas supply.  more...

Boost for air quality checks

THE air quality monitoring station at Breckon Hill Road, Middlesbrough, has undergone a £45,000 refit including the installation of analysers and data logging equipment.  more...

Sixth form students become dinnerladies for school show

LOWER sixth form drama students are preparing to serve up a helping of comedy next month when they perform Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies.  more...

Appeal for witnesses

POLICE are investigating a fight involving a group of women outside a Middlesbrough pub in the early hours of Monday morning.  more...

Council fleet in green drive

A COUNCIL keen to promote a greener future has launched a bid to minimise the environmental impact of its own vehicle fleet.  more...

Long service for gas man

AN engineer is celebrating after completing 40 years service in the gas industry.  more...

School praised in report

A GOVERNMENT report has praised a Grangetown school in its first inspection since it was formed by the merger of an infant and junior school.  more...

News in brief: Council boss recruits deputy

Former Hartlepool Borough Council chief executive Brian Dinsdale, who left his post last month to take over the same role at Middlesbrough Borough Council, has recruited his former number two, Jan Richmond, to join him at Middlesbrough.   more...

Plan for revival of park to be discussed

A PLAN is to be drawn up to improve one of Hartlepool's oldest parks.  more...

The North East Business

Forum wants better shops

A BUSINESS and community group is trying to improve shopping in a North Yorkshire market town.  more...

Respite as index noses into positive territory

LONDON's benchmark FTSE 100 Index finished ahead for the first time in six sessions after being dogged by uncertainty and fears that the Iraq crisis will develop into full-blown war.  more...

Computer makers improve output

BRITAIN's hard-pressed factories have received a surprise boost after registering an improvement in output in January thanks to a rise in computer manufacturing.  more...

Eco-friendly trade mission to Korea

ENVIRONMENTAL companies in the region are being urged to take part in the latest trade mission to Korea.  more...

Driving for quality

THE automotive division of NSK Bearings has become one of the first businesses to win a global quality standard.  more...

Mowlem's 16% profits boost

BUILDING and support services group Mowlem has hailed a structural overhaul of its own for a 16 per cent increase in annual profits.  more...

Interiors store expands

A DARLINGTON interiors business is expanding with the opening of a shop in Yarm, near Stockton.  more...

New stylist at the salon

A stylist has been recruited for a Darlington hairdressing business.  more...

Bikers offered lessons in road safety

A FORMER motorbike racing champion is setting up a training centre in Darlington.  more...

Work on club for over-25s begins

WORK has begun to transform the former RAFA Club in Darlington town centre into an exclusive private members club for the over 25s.  more...

Judge's decision could cast shadow over plant's future

Steelmaker Corus could be about to enter its worst 72 hours of business as it fights the Dutch legal system in an effort to safeguard its future. Business Editor Mike Parker looks at the problems the firm faces.  more...

The North East Features

Swimming with the sharks

With a United Nations Security Council vote on the Iraq crisis imminent, Nick Morrison looks at the divisions which threaten to tear apart the international community.  more...

12/03/03

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: SO which is it to be for Martin Callanan (HAS, Mar 10)? Is he for or against democracy?  more...

Last Night's TV: A load of old rubbish

A Life Of Grime (BBC1); Hollywood Greats (BBC1)  more...

Gadfly: Does Ringtons Tea make you pee?

THE Oldie, the magazine for the not yet Punch drunk, carries a piece this month by Edna Wallace on her 1930s childhood in a North-East pit village.  more...

Echo Memories: Miss Fenby and her marching girls

A FORTIETH anniversary reunion is being organised this summer for the September 1959 intake at Eastbourne Secondary Modern Girls School in Darlington.  more...

Comment - Compromise: our only hope

IN these dark days before the seemingly inevitable outbreak of war, hope becomes increasingly hard to find.  more...

The values of our civilised world

THE capture of al Qaida No 2 Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the man accused of masterminding the September 11 atrocity, was hailed by the Bush administration as likely to yield "a treasure trove'' of information about the terrorist network.  more...

Sharon Griffiths: What if dad wants to stay at home instead?

WHAT we want, of course, is choice. And that means men too.  more...

The North East Leisure

Miss Fenby and her marching girls

A FORTIETH anniversary reunion is being organised this summer for the September 1959 intake at Eastbourne Secondary Modern Girls School in Darlington.  more...

Take a stroll where the ghost hounds roamed

SPOOKY. No other word will do. Harewood Grove is one of Darlington's spookiest corners.  more...

The North East News

Selection process resumes after hitch

THE selection process to find the final Labour Party candidate for elections in Tony Blair's constituency is to start all over again.  more...

Wife arrested after dog walker's death

THE wife of a dog walker who was found with fatal head injuries in a country lane was yesterday arrested on suspicion of murdering him.  more...

Pistol seized during drugs raid

A loaded semi-automatic pistol and ammunition have been seized by police during a drugs raid.  more...

Conductor to put down his baton

THE conductor of a North-East choir is retiring after their next concert to concentrate on other projects.  more...

Focus on plight of elderly women

WOMEN pensioners in former industrial areas of the North-East are living in poverty compared to those in other parts of the country, one of the region's MPs has said.  more...

Soldier wins cancer battle - thanks to his little sister

A TWELVE-year-old girl has been dubbed a hero after coming to the rescue of her soldier brother in the hardest battle he has had to fight - against leukaemia.   more...

Ovarian cancer ignorance revealed

WOMEN in the North-East are ignorant of the dangers of ovarian cancer, according to research from WellBeing, the health charity for women and babies.  more...

Teenager denies breaching order

A TEENAGER has denied breaching a landmark court order.  more...

Murder inquiry seeks man in N-E

POLICE have issued a picture of a man they wish to trace in connection with a murder in the West Midlands.  more...

Anger as EU law ignores the bus run

SAFETY campaigners last night condemned new child seatbelt laws which ignore school buses.  more...

Hear'Say star is back in limelight

FORMER Hear'Say star Suzanne Shaw will return to the limelight in a show being staged in the region.  more...

Driver's lucky escape as slab hits sunroof

Motorist Clare Coulthard is lucky to be alive after youths threw a concrete slab through the sunroof of her car.  more...

Raise cash in the Great Escape

A HOSPICE wants to hear from people who like to travel.  more...

UK's biggest wind turbines to be built in N-E

GIANT wind turbines the size of London's Big Ben clock tower are coming to the North-East.  more...

Corus workers fear more bad news

THOUSANDS of workers in the North-East are facing an uncertain future after steelmaker Corus announced it may have to close one of its UK plants.  more...

Walk-out as worker is sacked

STAFF at a North-East factory staged a mass walk-out yesterday in protest over the installation of cameras and a worker's dismissal.  more...

Bush could go it alone on Iraq

THE United States could go to war without Britain, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last night.  more...

Grant aids green energy scheme

WHATEVER the weather, visitors enjoying the attractions at one of the region's railway museums next year will be running on energy provided by the elements.  more...

'Lease it or level it' ultimatum on cement site

A group of Dales businessmen have delivered an ultimatum to French cement group Lafarge: "Lease us the Blue Circle site or pull it down".  more...

Bannatyne HQ to stay in Darlington

Fitness entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne told of his delight today after completing the deal which will keep his headquarters in Darlington.  more...

Five in court over money laundering

FIVE people accused of money laundering have appeared in court.  more...

Hunt for cabbie after sex assault

A WOMAN has been left traumatised after she was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver in her home.  more...

Lunatic wallpaper - and a quality option

Perhaps like me, you have the occasional need to check a newspaper's date just to confirm that a story is not an April the First spoof.  more...

Air trade holding, despite war fears

PASSENGERS in the North are defying fears over the looming war on Iraq by continuing to fly from the region's airports.  more...

North-South divide could be chasm by 2020, Commons inquiry hears

THE wealth of the North-East could be half that of the rest of Britain's by 2020 if current trends continue, an influential think tank has said.  more...

Does Ringtons Tea make you pee?

THE Oldie, the magazine for the not yet Punch drunk, carries a piece this month by Edna Wallace on her 1930s childhood in a North-East pit village.  more...

What if dad wants to stay at home instead?

WHAT we want, of course, is choice. And that means men too.  more...

Protest ban for veteran activists

TWO veteran peace campaigners have been banned by a court from taking part in a protest against war on Iraq and the presence of a US "spy" base in North Yorkshire.  more...

University raid nets £100,000 drugs haul

A UNIVERSITY employee has been arrested after a sawn-off shotgun and £100,000 worth of cocaine and heroin were discovered on campus.  more...

Anti-war protest hailed success despite arrest

A MAN had to be restrained by three police officers last night as he disrupted an otherwise peaceful anti-war protest.   more...

Blind woman charged for work not done

A BLIND woman was burgled by two bogus builders - who also charged her for work they had not done.  more...

Guides provide information on the move

WELCOME guides will soon be on patrol in one of the region's coastal towns.  more...

Youths warned to stay away from park

YOUTHS have been warned to stay away from a play area on a village field until refurbishment work is complete.  more...

Education Secretary praises achievements of community during visit

EDUCATION Secretary Charles Clarke visited the region to re-open a school which was destroyed by arsonists two years ago.  more...

Need someone to wash up? Better ask a Yorkshireman

YORKSHIRE men are increasingly chained to the kitchen sink, while their North-East counterparts are in no danger of losing their hardman image, according to a survey.   more...

Jailed gym boss must pay for his crime

A FORMER North-East gym owner jailed for drug dealing has been ordered to pay back the proceeds of his crime - after claiming he only had the clothes he stood up in.  more...

Poet Julia picked as winner of £60,000 writing competition

PLAYWRIGHT, poet and novelist Julia Darling has won the Northern Rock Foundation Writer's Award - Britain's biggest literary prize.  more...

Search for would-be abductor

A MAN tried to snatch a six-year-old child from a teenage girl as they walked the streets of Eston in Middlesbrough, police said yesterday.  more...

Industrial scene is project's backdrop

CHEMICAL works and blast furnaces have provided the inspiration for an interactive digital city.  more...

Town restarts civic trust

PEOPLE who care about preserving historic buildings and the environment are being urged to attend a meeting.  more...

Television team in hunt for lost village

TELEVISION archaeologists will be seen uncovering part of a lost medieval village on Sunday.  more...

Echo appeal helps bring loco to town

TOURISM chiefs were celebrating last night after succeeding in a campaign to raise the profile of the birthplace of the railways.  more...

First Sikh joins force's biggest intake

A NORTH police force welcomed its first Sikh recruit yesterday as part of its largest intake of officers to date.  more...

Views sought on open country maps

A PUBLIC consultation starts this week on the creation of a map that will show new sections of open country in the region.  more...

News in brief: Drug smuggler sent to prison

A MAN who passed on cannabis resin mouth-to-mouth while kissing a prisoner during a visit to Durham Jail's female wing was yesterday jailed for three months.   more...

Butcher wins more awards for sausages

A BUTCHER is celebrating after picking up more awards for his sizzling sausages.  more...

Clairvoyant's tour dates

A renowned clairvoyant who writes a regular column for The Northern Echo's website will be appearing at venues throughout the region.  more...

Young writers' work staged

THE opening performances of the world's largest youth theatre celebration are being staged in the region.  more...

Captain Cook's an Aussie favourite

VISITOR numbers at one of the region's fast-growing attractions have jumped by more than a half in the past two years.  more...

Selby crash driver gets date for fresh appeal

SELBY death crash driver Gary Hart could be free within weeks, it was revealed yesterday.  more...

Battle for £2m is won but row over interest rumbles on

DURHAM County Council was accused last night of wasting up to £1m in public money after losing a six-year legal battle.  more...

Herbal aid for smokers backed

CHINESE herbal medicine patches could help millions of UK smokers to quit, says a North-East scientist.  more...

Volunteer drivers call

Drivers are needed to transport elderly or disabled people to surgeries.  more...

Tyneside News

News in brief: Money taken in raid on house

A THIEF stole a large quantity of cash and a Nokia mobile phone after entering a property in Maple Terrace, Stanley, at about 7.30pm on Saturday.   more...

Driver's lucky escape as slab hits sunroof

Motorist Clare Coulthard is lucky to be alive after youths threw a concrete slab through the sunroof of her car.  more...

Wear Valley,Bishop Auckland News

Countryside Agency grant aid on offer to help improve rural communities

VILLAGES in Teesdale are being offered Countryside Agency grants of up to £25,000 for community projects.  more...

Bus company fined for aiding benefits fraud

A SOUTH Durham bus company has been found guilty of helping one of its drivers fraudulently claim benefits.  more...

Big rent rise for after-school club

AN after-schools club is facing a rent increase of 380 per cent after arsonists destroyed the school where it was based.  more...

Footpaths project

A £50,000 scheme to improve Spennymoor's footpaths and bus stops and to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home starts next week.  more...

Church backing fair trade campaign event

A FERRYHILL church will be serving up some tasty treats as part of Fair Trade Fortnight.  more...

Call to pensioners over benefits

PENSIONERS in Teesdale are being urged to contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau to make sure they are claiming ther full benefits entitlement.  more...

Partnership goes on tour

A PARTNERSHIP to improve life for Weardale residents is promoting its work with a series of informal roadshows in the area.  more...

School cleans up in competition

Pupils from Sunnydale School, Shildon have been presented with £200 for being the most improved school in the Sedgefield borough.  more...

Search and rescue team receive royal awards

MEMBERS of a search and rescue team have received royal accolades for helping the region's emergency services.  more...

Thieves targeting rubbish sacks

THIEVES are targeting refuse bags to steal discarded financial papers in order to plunder people's bank accounts, police have warned.  more...

  
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