Hundreds of mourners who gathered for the funeral of military policeman Ben Hyde - killed by a mob in Iraq - heard the young soldier's moving last words to his parents. Lance Cpl Hyde had written a 'last letter' before the conflict began to be handed
Carmel College of Darlington capped a great year, in which they captured a haul of silverware in several different sports, by winning the cricket County Cup for the first time in their history. The year seven pupils brought the County trophy back to the
A BRIEF video film shot by student Rebecca Renton helped to stop work on the site of a fiercely opposed refuse collection station yesterday. Her footage showed bats, a protected species, flying in and out of woods that had been due to be felled. Workers
A FULL-SCALE air sea rescue was sparked because a teenager did not want to get his designer shoes wet. A dozen rescuers launched lifeboats and a Sea King rescue helicopter was scrambled after six youths, aged between 14 and 15, were spotted clinging to
AN emergency call-out doctor, who left two seriously ill patients to die after bungling their treatment, has been told she can now practice freely. Dr Jane Veronica Gustafsson, 51, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct last year but was
Magic Box looks to have a good chance in landing the Sportlands Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one furlong for the second year in succession at Sedgefield this afternoon. Kate Milligan's gelding turned in his best effort to date
A WOMAN who was struck by a car as she walked along a motorway was in a stable condition in the University Hospital of North Durham last night. The 21-year-old, from Ferryhill, County Durham, suffered serious head and leg injuries in the collision, involving
THE Appeal Court has upheld a jury's verdict that a police officer passed confidential police information to her doorman boyfriend. Clare Woodall, of Keble Park, North Bishopthorpe, North Yorkshire, appealed against her conviction for misconduct in public
The George Mann Cup: Wolsingham Mill Race will have a chance to retain the 1928 cup, which they won last year, when they play Eastgate Cross Keys in the final of the competition sponsored by Weardale Steel and played at Wolsingham School and Community
A SPARK from a bonfire is thought to have caused a major blaze which gutted an antiques workshop in the centre of Richmond. The roof of the three-storey building behind York House collapsed and only the stone walls remain. But, despite the wreckage behind
BLACKBURN ROVERS manager Graeme Souness has stepped up his interest in Claudio Reyna by watching the Sunderland midfielder in action for the United States. Reyna, valued at around £2m, was seen by Souness and his chief scout Terry Darracott on Saturday
MARTIAL arts champion Wesley Fagan has been showing off his first British title belt. The 21-year-old joiner, from Dipton, near Stanley, County Durham, won the British European Kickboxing Commission Super Middleweight belt. He defeated Sunderland-born
MORE than 120 skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX bikers turned out for the final of a week-long competition. The Airtime Summer Sk8 Jam, organised by Sedgefield Borough Council, was a big success and is set to become an annual event. The competition
A DRIVER escaped serious injury after his car ploughed into the front of a pub. The 29-year-old man, believed to be from the Bishop Auckland area, suffered only minor injuries in the accident early yesterday. The Fir Tree Inn's landlord, Lawrie Stewart
A GLOBAL engineering and construction firm has won a contract to design a pilot plant to extract copper in Bulgaria. Aker Kvaerner will use environmentally-friendly technology to remove the remaining metal from tailings - ore which has had copper stripped
A MAN was recovering in hospital last night after being stabbed by a woman with a large-bladed kitchen knife. The 42-year-old victim, who has not been named, was found bleeding from knife wounds in his back and shoulder, following the attack in Stanley
A JEWELLERY company is to open its doors to parents and children interested in making their own designs. Not the Norm, in Clark's Yard, Darlington, is running a series of workshops, including jewellery making and bead weaving, during this month and next
A CHILDMINDER is preparing to lose her hair to help raise funds for a young cerebral palsy sufferer. Dawn Johnson, 40, of Katherine Street, Darlington, is to endure a sponsored head shave to help send two-year-old Lewis Addy to Slovakia for intensive
A DARLINGTON special needs school is to receive £180,000 over the next three years after being named one of the best in the country. Beaumont Hill Special School is one of three special needs schools in England and Wales, and the first in Darlington,
A MAN who represented England at karate pleaded guilty yesterday to causing an affray at a house after a drinking spree. Daniel Morgan, 21, of Darlington, who was in the England karate team on trips to Japan and Luxembourg, was ordered to do community
AN 11-year-old boy with a string of court appearances has become one of the youngest people to be banned from driving - even though he cannot legally get behind the wheel of a car for another six years. The Tyneside boy, who is less than 4ft tall, is
FAMILIES of four men who were thrown 80ft to their deaths from a motorway bridge called for tough laws to deal with companies last night after an inquest jury decided the men were unlawfully killed. Two North-East men were among the workers who plunged
Sunderland Cherokees lifted the Peterborough U12 tournament at the Planet Ice Arena, Peterborough, at the weekend. They defeated Chelmsford Mini-Chieftains 5-2 in an absorbing final. They twice went ahead before being pegged back by a resilient Chelmsford
X-RAY technology firm Bede is pressing ahead with plans to build up a £3.65m war chest to finance future projects. The company hopes to capitalise on moves into chemicals and pharmaceutical markets on the back of a major shares placing. An extraordinary
As the inquiry into the death of Government scientist Dr David Kelly gets underway, the careers of more than one politician and BBC executive are on the line. Nick Morrison looks at the possible fall-out of the Hutton Inquiry. AS he was welcomed to the
Planning permission has been granted for a three metre-high wooden fence at the rear of The Coach House, Marton-cum-Grafton, Boroughbridge. But Harrogate Borough Council planners said developers should keep a right of way open until a diversion had been
On Wednesday, July 9, nine Quakers competed at the Darlington Harriers Pitstop 10K. On an extremely warm evening, Barry Stephenson flew round the three-lap flat course to finish a clear first in a time of 33:03. Alasdair Tatham was next home for the club
Shoppers were stunned to be asked questions by a disembodied human head. The illusion at Hillstreet in Middlesbrough kicked off a programme of summer events at the centre with prizes on offer for customers. The shopping centre will be featuring magic-based
STEELMAKER Corus has cut off a vital lifeline which could have saved thousands of jobs on Teesside, an expert has revealed. The Anglo-Dutch producer is selling a coil plate mill, mothballed in 2001, to a Chinese company. The sale is part of a wider move
Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers: A bumper turnout 32 Harriers were among the 184 finishers in the latest Harrogate League Road Race on Wednesday over a two-lap course around the streets of Thirsk. Once again the temperatures were very high but Ian Fisher
Yorkshire Women's League: Newly-promoted Harlow are continuing to make their mark in Division One. The side chalked up its second win of the season, beating Bradford side Heaton 7-2. Harlow finished top in Division Two last season with just two defeats
A CANCER charity is holding a sponsored dash across the Irish Sea to raise money for nursing care. Marie Curie Cancer Care's Dublin Dash will set off from points across the North-East on September 19. The aim of the event is to complete the trip within
Plater/welder, Bedale. £6.50ph, 7.30am to 5pm, Mon-Thur, 4.30pm finish Fri. Required for steel fabrication workshop, minimum two years' experience essential. Ref: NOE 19554. Cleaning staff, Northallerton. £5.33ph, 5-8pm, Mon-Thurs, 4.30-7.30pm Fri. Required
Lawyer Marilyn Stowe uncovered the evidence that freed Sally Clark, wrongly jailed for the murder of her two sons. Her latest project aims to help people through the pain of divorce. She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears. IN January this year, Sally
IT'S JUST over ten years ago, April 1993, since last we were in the Saltgrass at Sunderland. "Unless there is a dramatic improvement, relegation is certain," that afternoon's Sunderland Echo had suggested. Nothing new there then. Nothing new, either,
People will be able to preserve and celebrate their heritage through exhibitions - thanks to a £130,000 grant. The Heritage Lottery Fund cash will help community groups in County Durham organise and run displays based on their own collections. The aim
IN announcing the setting up of a judicial inquiry, it was apparent Downing Street was hoping for a narrow examination of the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly. If those were the hopes, they were dashed by yesterday's statement from
Magic Box looks to have a good chance in landing the Sportlands Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one furlong for the second year in succession at Sedgefield this afternoon. Kate Milligan's gelding turned in his best effort to date
Central Ladies League: Vane Tempest moved two and a half points clear at the top of the table after they reversed the result from the opening match of the season and became the first team this season to inflict defeat on the visiting Durham City. The
North Bitchburn CC put an eight-man Wearmouth CC team to the sword on Saturday, July 12 scoring a club record total of 333 runs for three wickets. Chief run getter was 47-year-old Graham Dalton, who hit 115 runs, almost a year to the day when he hit his
Evenwood Town have launched an appeal to buy some new floodlights, and save their Northern League place. The club, which had its best season for several years last time round when they finished mid-table in the league and reached the Craven Cup final,
Durham League: Leeholme are threatening a repeat of their Championship win of last season after they closed the gap at the top of the First Division to only one point following their whitewash of the visiting Wingate. Leeholme demolished the visitors
THE Spennymoor Sunday League has yet again rewarded its members by paying all Durham FA affiliation fees for the forthcoming season. And the forward-thinking league has also taken the unique approach of paying all Public Liability cover for the 24 teams
Machines Time Forgot (C4) HOW they built vast 14-storey cathedrals in medieval Europe is not a question, I would suggest, that has vexed much of the population in recent years. We're more concerned whether Peter Barlow will marry his Shell or Scott will
A MAN who caused life-threatening injuries to a disabled victim who accused him of plotting to burgle his home has had his jail sentence cut. Peter Dakin, 27, of Thorpe Street, Easington Colliery, County Durham, was jailed for seven years at Durham Crown
IT'S JUST over ten years ago, April 1993, since last we were in the Saltgrass at Sunderland. "Unless there is a dramatic improvement, relegation is certain," that afternoon's Sunderland Echo had suggested. Nothing new there then. Nothing new, either,
FORTY years ago Margaret Dodd was one of the first people to attend her new library. Now, more than 3,000 visits later, she has been hailed its number one customer. The bookworm, from Brandon, joined the library on the first day it opened, in July 1963
ARRIVA Trains Northern has issued a fresh warning about the dangers of playing on railway tracks, with the summer holidays under way. The train operator has again teamed up with British Transport Police (BTP) in an effort to try to prevent any serious
EXTRA police patrols are being sent into a town's housing estates to catch rowdy youngsters. Police fear that the start of the six-week school holidays could herald a rise in anti-social behaviour. Additional Cleveland Police foot patrols are being sent
A VILLAGE show which almost folded two years ago because of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis will reach a milestone next month. Sedgefield celebrates its 150th show on Saturday, August 9, at the Robert Brown Showfield, in West Park. Volunteers have been
ART students have been creating large models of everyday objects as part of their GCSE coursework. The 34-strong group at Risedale Community College, Catterick Garrison, studied the work of artist Claus Oldenburg, who specialised in pop-art. An American
MOTORISTS face several months of disruption on a dual carriageway as work begins installing a roundabout. The £1.5m project is designed to improve safety at the busy A167 junction with the B6312 road outside the Red Lion, at Plawsworth, between Durham
Tow Law Area League: Tow Law Station and Sunniside Comedian fought out a tight top of the table battle with the visiting Comic winning in the decider but the result did nothing for either team as both Esh Stag's Head and Billy Row Club produced wins which
AN 11-year-old with a string of court appearances has become one of the youngest people ever to be banned from driving - even though he cannot legally get behind the wheel of a car for another six years. The Tyneside boy, who is less than 4ft tall, is
The next meeting of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust takes place in the board room, The Murray Building, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on August 5, at 10.30am. It is open to the public and everyone is welcome. The trust provides acute
TWO girls stole a man's mobile phone from a pub table after distracting him by begging for money. Police in Darlington are looking for the two girls, who are believed to be Eastern European refugees aged between eight and 12. Russell Longstaff, a maintenance
DURHAM will be seeking their first away win under floodlights tonight when they visit Hove to play Sussex Sharks. Although the hosts are riding high in second place of the County Championship division one, they are languishing next to the bottom of division
FAMILIES are being invited see the new additions to Newham Grange Leisure Farm at Coulby Newham. Woodlands Lady, one of the farm's Middle White pigs, gave birth to eight piglets on July 16. Silverwings, a pedigree British Saddleback pig is now up and
The next meeting of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust takes place in the board room, The Murray Building, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on August 5, at 10.30am. It is open to the public and everyone is welcome. The trust provides acute
YORKSHIRE Water has appointed its youngest-ever director. Richard Flint, 35, above, will take over the company's Water Business Unit from Charles (Chuck) Firlotte on August 1. Mr Firlotte has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Aquarion
Community groups interested in carrying out wildlife projects in the Chester-le-Street district are invited to a meeting at 6pm today, in Chester-le-Street Civic Centre. There will be information about joining a federation of groups, set up to provide
Children can still sign up for places on cycling proficiency workshops in Chester-le-Street. Police are running the free courses for children aged nine and upwards in the car park of the town's Civic Centre on Sundays. Afternoon courses take place on
THE impact of crime on people's lives has been measured to provide a league table of the safest places to live in North Yorkshire. Hambleton has topped the table as the safest area, according to the York Index of Public Safety, devised by economists at
TEENAGE heroin addict Thomas Bateman was given a third chance to kick his habit by a court yesterday and warned that if he failed he risked a life of escalating prison sentences. Harrogate magistrates bailed Bateman, 19, last month, after he admitted
Borough councillors at Hartlepool have received a planning application from Hartlepool Youth Limited to convert a shop building in the town's York Road into a youth club and Internet cafe.
A scheme has been launched by Hartlepool Borough Council in a bid to get the best out of its 4,500 workforce. The authority has teamed up with Hartlepool College of Further Education and the Joint Trade Unions Committee to launch the Together Project.
AN 11-year-old with a string of court appearances has become one of the youngest people ever to be banned from driving - even though he cannot legally get behind the wheel of a car for another six years. The Tyneside boy, who is less than 4ft tall, is
POST Offices in County Durham and Tyne and Wear could close as part of plans to safeguard nearby urban branches. Following a consultation exercise, it has agreed to close branches in Mount Pleasant, Spennymoor, and in Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside,
BURLY labourer George Jones has been named as the nation's Mum of the Year. The sudden death of his wife, Jeanette, last summer meant Mr Jones took on the roles of mother and father to their two children. The former sailor has devoted his life to Lauren
HARTLEPOOL: Richard Hope and Paul Robinson are hoping to convince Hartlepool United boss Neale Cooper to offer them permanent deals this week, writes Paul Fraser. The pair, who were on trial at the Second Division new-boys before the pre-season trip to
DISABLED great-grandfather Bert Moss overcame his fear of heights to give a major boost to an airborne lifesaving service. The 90-year-old daredevil, who has no legs, took to the skies and leapt out of the aircraft for a tandem parachute jump - his second
BUILDING contractors who dumped 450 tons of bricks and rubble in a field instead of taking it to an authorised tip were fined £1,000 yesterday. Acorn Developments (North-East) Ltd, of Pease Way, Newton Aycliffe, were also ordered to pay costs of nearly
Durham Coast League - Under-18s: Despite a good innings of 35 not out by Gary Snowball, Houghton still lost by five wickets to Hylton. Houghton posted 115-4 and in reply Hylton made 119-5 which included 57 by Andrew Martin and 28 from Liam Foster. Phillips
ONE of the country's longest serving ambulance men has retired after 45 years of life-saving. Roger Stevens spent 15 years in the Royal Air Force's fire and crash rescue service before joining the ambulance service for more than 30 years. When he left
A DRUNKEN passenger caus-ed panic on a packed holiday jet when he dropped a smouldering cigarette, a court heard. The incident happened as the flight made its way from Lanzarote to Newcastle Airport on December 5 last year, with 210 passengers and eight
POLICE are investigating claims that a woman was subjected to a serious sexual assault at the weekend. The woman told detectives she was attacked in the Clarence Drive area of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, between midnight and 1am on Saturday. Police said
A TEENAGER who terrorised shop staff and customers has been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO). Dwayne Ashley Grimes, 16, rode his bike through shops, blocked keyholes and was abusive to staff and customers. He also threw eggs and
A BRAVE woman will be putting on her running shoes for charity tomorrow - days after returning home from hospital having had her second mastectomy. Jean Williams, 55, has made a remarkable recovery after having her second breast removed nine days ago
A YOUNG mother showed she packed a powerful punch when she turned the tables on a mugger. The unnamed 23-year-old woman, said to be only 5ft, was pushing a buggy containing her seven-month-old baby daughter on a footpath through a wooded area in Horden
Bedale - July Medal: Roger Parry, having played at Thirsk and Northallerton golf club representing Bedale B team in the Harrogate Union's first division championship, went round in a gross 72 and then rushed back to his home club and played another 18
The Under-9s played in the Community Challenge Trophy tournament run by Mount Pleasant FC on Sunday. In the group stages they played their first game against Mount Pleasant Whites winning 1-0 with Zac Tervit scoring. The next game they defeated Bedale
A PICTURE of the family kill-ed in a helicopter crash was released by police yesterday. Mark Price, his wife, Jean, and their 14-month-old son, Samuel, were pronounced dead at the scene where the Hughes 500 aircraft they were flying in plunged to the
POLICE are investigating an audacious fraud at a car boot sale raising money for a school last Saturday. The event, held in Bedale Hall Park, Bedale, North Yorkshire, to raise funds for Bedale High School, was marred when two tricksters took money from
ONE man died and another was critically ill last night after their car burst into flames after being involved in a head-on collision. The driver, who died at the scene, apparently lost control on a left-hand bend on the B6278 Barnard Castle to Eggleston
Juniors and seniors competed at the Newton Aycliffe road races. In hot temperatures Nathan Nicholson produced another superb performance finishing third male in 13.7 overall in 13.30, as did Sarah Douthwaite for fourth female 13 in 22nd position in 16.18
OVER 1,000 football fanatics turned out to witness a scintillating day's action at Trimdon Community College last weekend. Forty-eight teams from across the region displayed their ball skills and the annual seven-a-side event - sponsored by training young
FAMILIES of four men who were thrown 80ft to their deaths from a motorway bridge called for tough laws to deal with companies last night after an inquest jury decided the men were unlawfully killed. Two North-East men were among the workers who plunged
Spennymoor manager Alex Mathie is delighted with his two latest captures. After signing Gary Hobson a fortnight ago, Mathie has now recruited the well-experienced Nick Richardson and youngster Anthony Shandran. Richardson knows his way around the Football
A PARTNERSHIP between education and industry hopes to deliver a workforce fit for the North-East's new knowledge-driven economy. Rapid product development expert Fitstogether has joined forces with Hartlepool College to develop a new generation of engineers
Kirby Sigston and Maltby continued to share the leadership and both won at the weekend. Kirby Sigston had 126 runs to spare at Chopgate where they posted the healthy total of 248 for a loss of just six wickets. The runs flowed from Raynor (48), Thompson
All Saints' and Salutation Church, Blackwell, Darlington, needs handbell ringers. No experience or musical knowledge is needed. Anyone interested can attend a session at the church on October 2, at 7.30pm.
UNLICENSED taxi drivers were seen dropping off children on school runs, a court heard yesterday. The drivers both worked for Kevin's Taxis, in Sunnybrow, near Willington. The company's proprietor, Kevin Bake, was found guilty of three charges of employing
Gardeners have been honoured for their achievements in the Ferryhill in Bloom and Allotment Competition. This was the third year of the competition and standards are continuing to improve. Jamie Corrigan, executive officer of Ferryhill Town Council, said
A VILLAGE show which almost folded two years ago because of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis will reach a milestone next month. Sedgefield celebrates its 150th show on Saturday, August 9, at the Robert Brown Showfield, in West Park. Volunteers have been
A SUMMER playscheme got off to a swinging start yesterday with a game of rounders. Children aged five to 13 joined in the fun as part of a packed programme of activities on the Red Hall estate in Darlington. On Friday, youngsters from the estate will
Community groups interested in carrying out wildlife projects in the Chester-le-Street district are invited to a meeting at 6pm today, in Chester-le-Street Civic Centre. There will be information about joining a federation of groups, set up to provide
A COMMUNITY is in mourning after a helicopter crash claimed the lives of a couple and their baby boy. Jim and Judith Lehany, of Catterick Garrison, were told the news that their daughter Jean Price, 33, her husband Mark, 39, and their 14-month-old son
MIDDLESBROUGH yesterday saw yet another transfer target escape their sights as Scott Parker penned a new five-year deal with Charlton. Boro manager Steve McClaren had added the cultured England Under-21 midfielder to his summer shopping list. But Parker
A SHOCKING advertising campaign has brought glory to a small design house ahead of global names such as Saatchi and Saatchi. Different, a creative marketing agency based in Newcastle, won awards for best art direction, best use of photography and best
Uplifting moments Machines Time Forgot (C4) HOW they built vast 14-storey cathedrals in medieval Europe is not a question, I would suggest, that has vexed much of the population in recent years. We're more concerned whether Peter Barlow will marry his
AN INTERNATIONAL engineering services firm has strengthened its hold on the oil, gas and process markets by buying one of its rivals. Amec has bought Wrights Engineering (UK), which provides repair and refurbishment services for bulk storage tanks for
Community groups interested in carrying out wildlife projects in the Chester-le-Street district are invited to a meeting at 6pm today, in Chester-le-Street Civic Centre. There will be information about joining a federation of groups, set up to provide
A FARMING couple are celebrating having their homemade sausages sizzle on to the supermarket shelves. Less than five years since Debbie and Andrew Keeble had their sausages tried and tested on family and friends around the kitchen table they are having
The jury trying the case of a woman accused of smothering her grandmother to death today retired to consider its verdict. Julie Kenyon, 46, is accused of murdering 89-year-old Irene Waters at the home they shared in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1996. Newcastle
A GLOBAL engineering and construction firm has won a contract to design a pilot plant to extract copper in Bulgaria. Aker Kvaerner will use environmentally-friendly technology to remove the remaining metal from tailings - ore which has had copper stripped
A North-East adventurer has returned home after a series of mishaps on a drive across Africa. John Lawler narrowly missed a bomb attack in Casablanca, had to cross minefields on the Morocco/Mauritania border, just avoided being caught up in a military
FOOTBALL: After last night's game with UniBond Premier League, Whitby Town, Darlington RA have three more home pre-season matches. The RA face two Northern League sides in Horden on Wednesday, July 23 (6.30pm) followed by Benfield Saints on Saturday,
THE Richmondshire District's Sports Council Junior Awards ceremony was held at Wensleydale School in Leyburn. The Noel Heaton Memorial Award for Service to Sport - presented for the first time in memory of the former sports council committee member -
Bench boner. £225pw plus bonus, 6.30am to 3.30pm, Mon-Fri. Must hold basic food hygiene certificate. Experience essential. Must be punctual and reliable timekeeper. Own transport an asset. Ref: DUR 37171. Cleaner. £5.32ph, 3.15-5.45pm, Mon; 3.15-5.15pm
AN influx of Irish visitors is expected in the North-East following a marketing campaign. Newcastle Gateshead Initiative has been promoting the area to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Flybe and easyJet airlines have also been running free
A FAMILY who claim a 12-year-old girl was stalked by a man on the Internet have criticised police for their handling of the case. The Northern Echo revealed last month how Cleveland Police had received a complaint from the girl's grandparents after she
now comes what might be the really tough part for Ben Curtis - trying to convince others that Sandwich was not a freak result. When you have won the Open championship ranked 396th in the world questions will inevitably be asked. And the most unexpected
Government ministers and BBC bosses will be questioned in public about their treatment of Dr David Kelly. The law lord appointed to investigate the civil servant's death announced yesterday he would not hold his inquiry behind closed doors. Lord Hutton
Spennymoor A maintained their lead at the top of the First Division at ten points when they whitewashed their hosts at Fishburn A, creating a new experience for the home team as they face a relegation fight for the first time, as they share the bottom
Actor Heath Ledger, star of The Four Feathers, proved he was no coward when he undertook some secret stuntwork in the desert. Steve Pratt reports. AUSTRALIAN actor Heath Ledger knew there was no way the makers of his latest film The Four Feathers would
Crook Belle Vue won the top of the table match in the darts section against the visiting Cockton Hill to go three points clear. Ferryhill beat the visiting Willington by a similar score to stay in second place, four points ahead of Cockton Hill, who have
Loftus still command a sizable lead in division one and they won for the tenth time in 11 outings defeating Normanby Parklands by nine wickets. Although Mead opened the Parklands innings scoring 30 and Scrafton added 20 the innings only produced a total
50 years ago: Spectators at Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, watch in horror as professional Norman Owen, playing in his own benefit match, lofts a huge six on to the football pitch where it strikes a child. The child turned out to be his two-year-old son John
I HAD a night in on my own and it was too hot to do much except collapse in front of the telly with a couple of cold beers. A film - or as we're now obliged to say, a "movie" - was what I was looking for. We can get more than 600 channels on our set.
A dinner lady who has served up more than a million meals to hungry youngsters has hung up her apron. Mary Rogan has retired after 26 years of service to St Mary's RC Primary school, Blackhill, Consett. Staff and pupils presented her with gifts including
A DURHAM charity that helps the blind and partially-sighted has been given a cash boost. The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, one of the country's largest grant-giving trusts, has donated £9,644 to Communication at Home Using Accessible Technology
PROPOSALS to amalgamate two schools in Stockton will be discussed by councillors later this week. Members of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet will meet on Thursday when they will be asked to recommend consultation be held on the plans to amalgamate
A MAN who shot a child in the face was told yesterday that he may face jail. Edward Eeles, 19, was given the warning by Teesside magistrates after objecting to his sentence of 40 hours community work. He told the bench he could not carry out the penalty
A school has beaten stiff competition to win the final of the Tees Valley Maths Challenge. Acklam Grange in Middlesbrough came top out of five schools, from each borough of the Tees Valley, in a contest that involved theoretical as well as practical tasks
A FULL-SCALE air sea rescue was sparked because a teenager did not want to get his designer shoes wet. A dozen rescuers launched lifeboats and a Sea King rescue helicopter was scrambled after six youths, aged between 14 and 15, were spotted clinging to
POLICE are warning elderly people in the Hambleton district to be on their guard against strangers on their doorsteps. Householders have been advised to be alert to anyone calling at their homes, particularly asking to use the toilet or offering cleaning
Two of the biggest 'match caught' Tees barbel elevated Darlington's Barry Stephenson into top sport during the Thornaby AA July Cup on the Croft to Hurworth reaches on Sunday. Barry on peg 63, the run in to the salmon pool extracted the brilliant specimens
A 73-year-old woman was mugged as she walked to a friend's house. The pensioner, who was walking with her daughter in Peterlee, had her handbag snatched at about 7pm on Sunday. The pair had been walking along Acre Rigg Road, when a man heading towards
A COUNCIL is proposing to take £500,000 of funds allocated for children and young people and spend it on other schemes. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council cabinet will decide next week whether to approve officers' recommendations to take the cash -
VISITORS to the council chamber at Consett Civic Centre could have been forgiven for thinking they had interrupted a Blues Brothers convention. Members of Derwentside District Council donned sunglasses for a full meeting of the local authority, to raise
A farmer believes his ''maize maze'' in the shape of a giant spider's web could be one of the biggest in the world. Tom Pearcy says his 30-acre ''website'', on the outskirts of York, was inspired by a spider's handiwork he spotted on a dewy morning. The
RESIDENTS' anger about the lack of information on the construction of a cycle path outside their homes has forced the council to review and change its procedures. More than 20 people living in Stockton Road, Thirsk, signed a petition expressing their
A SHOPLIFTER wanted by police in two counties was finally behind bars last night after police refused to believe the details he had given them. Andrew Craig Bamber, 30, who had been on the run since November last year, pleaded guilty to nine offences
IRAQ DOSSIER: I HOPE that members of the House of Commons Foreign Select Committee find it difficult to sleep each night after their brutal, bullying interrogation of Dr David Kelly. Watching this on television, I was appalled at the way this obviously
A 61-year-old councillor has been questioned by civic leaders about the sending of explicit poems to Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon. Jackie Elder has been asked to stop sending the unsolicited correspondence to the former detective. Ms Elder has reportedly
A SPRINTER from Redcar has struck gold three times at the under-17 Disability Sport England Championships in Blackpool. Sixteen-year-old Lee Hunter, of Kirkleatham Lane, took gold in the 100m and 200m in the competition last summer. This year, he returned
A ONE-stop advice shop has opened for teenagers. Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell launched the new look Connexions Middlesbrough One Stop Shop. The centre, in the town's Church Road, offers advice, information, personal advisors and creature comforts including
TWO pupils at a North-East school needed hospital treatment after they were sprayed in the eyes with a chemical when an A-level experiment went wrong, a court heard. The governing body of St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle was fined £2,000 and ordered
A game in which both batsmen refused to face further hostilities and walked off the pitch was the talk of North-East cricket last night. It happened on Saturday in the Durham County League derby between Etherley and Evenwood. Lee Gowland, and Chris Renshaw
Machines Time Forgot (C4) HOW they built vast 14-storey cathedrals in medieval Europe is not a question, I would suggest, that has vexed much of the population in recent years. We're more concerned whether Peter Barlow will marry his Shell or Scott will
END of term had a special significance for two teachers from a Catterick school. Ann Aisbitt and Yvonne Sanderson said goodbye to Wavell Infants' School in Catterick Garrison for the last time on Friday. Both are retiring after almost 50 years service
A full-house was treated to a great night of boxing at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, last Friday, as three home favourites entertained a thrilled crowd. Darlington duo, Argie Ward, Francis Jones, appeared in their home town for the first time and both
A game in which both batsmen refused to face further hostilities and walked off the pitch was the talk of North-East cricket last night. It happened on Saturday in the Durham County League derby between Etherley and Evenwood. Lee Gowland, and Chris Renshaw
Joanna Banks pulls pints and lifts weights. Landlady of the Three Coopers in Bedale, North Yorkshire, she is also British power lifting champion in her class and was recently third in Europe - just two years after taking up the sport competitively. If
Middleton St George maintained their position at the top of the table defeating Barningham by four wickets. The hosts though produced a good score making 175 for nine in just 40 overs as the runs flowed from Scott Walker, who hit one six and five boundaries
TWO Chinese takeaway bosses who failed to declare a counter assistant's full earnings were both given a conditional discharge by magistrates yesterday. Investigators for the Department for Work and Pensions kept regular watch on the Chop Suey House, in
I am officially old - or at least too old to be shopping in the High Street stores that have been my second home for the last 15 years. Looking in really trendy shops these days is like being transported to Lilliput. Everything is tiny, made for life-size
With Chris Silverwood set to return after injury and Darren Gough back in the Test squad, Yorkshire should be able to play their most successful trio of fast bowlers in the Championship match against Hampshire at Scarborough tomorrow. Silverwood was Yorkshire's
THE future is certainly looking brighter for ten mobile phone technicians after their syndicate scooped £300,777 on the National Lottery. They matched five numbers plus the bonus ball in the Lotto draw on Wednesday, July 9. Among the lucky winners were
