Archive

  • Falcons recruit Harris

    NEWCASTLE Falcons yesterday signed New Zealand-born open side flanker Cory Harris, who qualifies for Wales this month under a three-year residency ruling. He spent last season with Celtic Warriors, who are now disbanded, and has recently been back with

  • Opening time for brewery museum

    THE noble art of brewing beer has been perfected in one corner of the North-East since the days of Queen Elizabeth I. That is just one of many fascinating facts at a heritage centre at the modern day Camerons Brewery, home of the famous Strongarm ale.

  • Hodgson wants to hit back

    DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson sees tonight's League Two clash at Notts County as a chance to rectify their defensive frailties and re-affirm their reputation as the division's shut-out experts. Prior to Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Bury, Quakers had

  • Couple's pledge to African school

    THE extraordinary efforts of a retired police officer and his wife are transforming the education of 350 children in one of the world's poorest countries. A chance visit to a run-down school in Africa's mountain kingdom of Lesotho made former traffic

  • Antique reminder of post office role

    A CENTURY-old photograph has been uncovered of a post office now being forced to close. It shows Hannah Redfearn with daughter Marion in the doorway of Greenbank post office, in Darlington, shortly after she took it over in 1904. Mrs Redfearn, and husband

  • Pool's Greek stopper Dimi has words of warning for Boro

    IT was not too long ago that Egaleo were playing in Greek football's equivalent of the Nationwide Conference; in two days the club from a suburb of Athens will play host to Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup. Like Middlesbrough, Egaleo have embarked on their

  • A city on the edge

    SALONICA, CITY OF GHOSTS: Christians, Muslims And Jews, 1430-1950 by Mark Mazower (HarperCollins, £25): CITIES have long served as melting pots of humanity - especially when they straddle the divides of different cultures. One of the more fascinating

  • TV review

    The Woman With Seven Personalities: Extraordinary People (five) Tunnel Of Love (ITV1) THEY'RE all me, that's why I'm screwed up," declared Helen - and, having seen her and her multiple personalities, you'd have to agree with this deeply troubled woman

  • From twitchy to twitcher

    A fear of birds may not be the best background for a novice birdwatcher, but Carol Cooke was determined not to let that stop her. WHAT does the word "entrapment" mean to you? For me, it conjures up pictures of spies with long raincoats working for the

  • Redundancy fears for factory workers

    REDUNDANCY fears are hanging over a Durham factory after a dip in orders. Unions are meeting with managers at Mono Containers, which employs more than 150 people at Dragonville Industrial Estate, this week to discuss concerns over the company's order

  • Stage couple lend support to police recruitment scheme

    POLICE yesterday enlisted the help of famous faces from the stage to launch a recruitment drive for Special Constables. Husband and wife John Alderton and Pauline Collins took time from their schedule in crime action play Going Straight, which is being

  • Football ban on teenage menace

    A teenager has been banned from playing football by a North-East court after driving people mad with his ball skills. Durham magistrates made 15-year-old Dean Bell subject to a strict anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) that prohibits him from being in

  • Dettori to clean up in Bath

    BARRING injury Frankie Dettori is now certain to clinch the flat jockey's championship following Kieren Fallon's decision to take a couple days off due to ill health. Dettori has been going great guns over the past few weeks and his journey to Bath should

  • Putting exams to the test

    Under the most radical shake-up of 14-19 education in 50 years, A-levels and GCSEs will be scrapped and replaced by a diploma. Lindsay Jennings looks at what the changes mean. STUDENTS may no longer spend entire summers in the exam hall if sweeping changes

  • Ray hails hot-shot Hasselbaink

    AFTER spending years with the world's best striker at Arsenal, people are forced to take notice when Ray Parlour pays tribute to Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink's sensational form at Middlesbrough. Not since the days of Fabrizio Ravaneilli have Boro had it so

  • Town may lose its free parking

    A ONE-WAY system and an end to free parking are two of the controversial suggestions in a report on traffic management in Leyburn. North Yorkshire County Council has announced plans to make changes to roads, car parks, footpaths and public transport facilities

  • Driver's car is stolen as he helped road accident victim

    A DRIVER trying to save a pensioner seriously injured in a road accident had his car stolen. The 65-year-old woman was involved in an accident on a quiet road near Sherburn Village, in County Durham. As the driver and a passenger tried to help, someone

  • Kate saddles up for a new career with horses

    WHEN redundancy struck, a lifelong animal lover did not have far to look to find a new career. Kate Cassidy has swapped a daily commute to an indoor job in a pharmaceutical plant for running an equestrian and pet business on her doorstep. Backed by Government

  • Man jailed for machete death threat

    A MAN who threatened a woman on her doorstep with a machete has been jailed for nine months. Brian Smith, 40, waved the blade and claimed he would kill Ann Savage, Teesside Crown Court heard. The pair had been involved in an altercation earlier in the

  • Falcons recruit Harris

    NEWCASTLE Falcons yesterday signed New Zealand-born open side flanker Cory Harris, who qualifies for Wales this month under a three-year residency ruling. He spent last season with Celtic Warriors, who are now disbanded, and has recently been back with

  • The Great Debate - My View: It's only way to save the UK

    I AM absolutely in favour of regional government. The Liberals first had the idea about devolution in the 1880s and we have been arguing for it ever since. I feel that without regional government, the UK will crack apart. We are already a disunited kingdom

  • Row over tree pruning

    PEOPLE have protested after a council stopped them from trimming trees they say make their homes dark and dingy. The Fir Lodge management company notified Hambleton District Council in July of its intention to lop the branches of seven beech trees overhanging

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: This is our only chance

    THE Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed what shrewd observers took for granted - if the North-East rejects the idea of having an elected assembly, then the devolution experiment across other regions of England will be stopped in its tracks. With rejection

  • Prescott: 'This is your only chance'

    THERE will be no second opportunity for the North-East if it votes no to an elected regional assembly, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott warned yesterday. In combative mood following the publication of The Northern Echo's exclusive Mori poll which revealed

  • Porcelain collection to go on display at museum

    ONE of the finest private collections of English porcelain opens to the public at a North-East museum this month. The Lady Ludlow Collection, which is believed to be worth £1.5m, has been given to the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, as

  • Merits of the Morritt

    The column spent a memorable evening at the The Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge, although changes should be rung with the till. ONCE upon a time, a till was something which went "kerchang" when its buttons were properly depressed, flung open a mercenary money

  • NBS wins online banking contract

    NEWCASTLE Building Society (NBS) has beaten off stiff competition to win a contract to provide Internet banking services to a leading high street bank. The building society will administer the Bradford and Bingley's new Internet savings account, in a

  • 19/10/04

    REGIONAL ASSEMBLY: WHEN ministers start extolling the virtues of regional government, I immediately smell a rat. I suspect that the real reason behind this enthusiasm is the concept of divide and rule. If England is divided into regions, each squabbling

  • Man went on run over drug offences

    A MAN who went on the run after he was found in possession of £14,000 worth of ecstasy tablets has been spared jail. Ivan Johnson, 25, was arrested by police on September 10, 2001, following a raid on a house in Whessoe Walk, Stockton. Police recovered

  • Campaigners take quarry battle online

    CAMPAIGNERS who claim a historic site will be damaged if more quarrying is allowed have launched an online forum. Members of Heritage Action say Tarmac Northern's plans to extend Nosterfield Quarry, close to Thornborough Henges, near Bedale, North Yorkshire

  • No pressure on McCarthy to deliver - except from himself

    MICK McCARTHY takes his Sunderland side to Watford this evening insisting he does not feel under any pressure to deliver promotion this season. The Sunderland boss says although he would gladly accept a place in the top flight next term he maintains it

  • Schools unite for drama fest

    A SCHOOL drama festival is being held in one of the region's theatres all this week. Thirteen schools from across North Yorkshire are taking part in the event at Richmond's Georgian Theatre. The festival, which started last night, has been organised by

  • Jobs created as Mills builds new showroom

    About 40 jobs are expected to be created in Durham as the owner of the Mills Garages chain builds two new showrooms. European Motor Holdings (EMH) said it planned to sell BMWs and Minis at the two sites, which are part of continued expansion in the North-East

  • Dancers bring the spirit of africa to primary school

    PUPILS got a taste of African culture yesterday as a week of activities got under way at a Darlington school. The ACE dance company paid a visit to Reid Street Primary School in the town to launch a multi-cultural week. Youngsters are swapping their traditional

  • Tributes are paid to farmer's wife

    A FARMER'S wife, who was described as always willing to give a helping hand to other people, has died at the age of 79. Jessie Bainbridge's sudden death came as a shock to her family, as she appeared to be in good health at her home in Eggleston, near

  • Chance for patients to speak out

    HEALTH services came under the microscope yesterday as patients were asked to help shape the future of care provision in the area. Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) asked the public for views on the performances of hospitals it operates, and on the

  • Post office staff celebrating awards

    POST office staff are celebrating success in an awards scheme. The Gilling West branch, near Richmond, was runner- up in the regional rural category of the Post Office awards to find the best town and country post offices. Shortlisted branches were assessed

  • Armed robbers hunted

    DETECTIVES are hunting armed robbers after two raids in the region. Two men, armed with a baseball bat and a knife, robbed Thresher's off-licence, in Claremont Road, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, at 9.50pm on Saturday. They threatened store workers and

  • Pupils get chance to grill politicians

    A TOWN'S leading politicians were put firmly on the spot by schoolchildren yesterday. The Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart Drummond, took his six-member cabinet to St Hild's C of E School where they answered questions. More than 50 pupils from Hartlepool's

  • Incentive for bus and train users

    RESIDENTS and visitors who use public transport in the Yorkshire Dales can now get discounts with nearly 50 businesses in the national park. Shops, cafes, bed and breakfasts and museums are all offering savings for bus and train users. The Dales Bus Discount

  • Finalists for awards scheme announced

    THE finalists in a new competition designed to celebrate food and drink have been revealed. Eighteen businesses will compete in the six categories of the Flavours of Hambleton awards scheme. They have three weeks to wait before finding out who has taken

  • Refurbishment for tourist centre

    A rural Tourist Information Centre is now able to provide top quality facilities, thanks to a £60,000 refurbishment. The refurbishment at Barnard Castle Tourist Information Centre will help staff provide a high level of service using cutting-edge technology

  • Student signs up and gets unexpected bonus

    A TEENAGER who applied for help with the cost of attending college received an unexpected bonus. Loftus student Sarah Connelly was presented with £1,000 of computer equipment after signing up for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). The 16-year-old

  • Spotlight on out-of-hours medical cover

    A PUBLIC meeting to discuss out-of-hours medical cover in the Dales will be held tonight. Richmondshire District Council was asked to review the GP out-of-hours service after upper Wensleydale was included in the North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors (NYED

  • For the love of the game . . . .

    He made his Premiership debut at 17, played in Europe with Leeds United, gained England youth international honours and an FA Youth Cup winner's medal and seemed on target for still greater things. Now Rob Bowman, still just 28, is playing for Coxhoe

  • Fantasy book author's signing dates

    THE author of a fantasy book collection will be signing copies of the second installment in the region this month. James David launched the Aqua Crysta series earlier this year, with the first part - Next To No Time - proving a big success. The second

  • Proposals to speed up payments outlined

    GOVERNMENT officials have revealed how they plan to speed up compensation payments to thousands of ex-miners. Under new proposals, former pitmen with near-normal lung capacity will be offered £1,600. This rises to £2,700 for claimants with limited lung

  • Schools take part in online maths lesson

    THE biggest online maths class ever has been held at the Stockton City Learning Centre (CLC). As part of Excellence in Cities Week, the centre hosted an online maths class using Elluminate Live!, which involved 210 children and teachers in 15 different

  • Two 104-year-old women die within days of each other

    TWO of the region's oldest people have died within two days of each other. Rose Prior, who lived in a residential home in Middlesbrough, and Mary Dowse, from Middleton One Row, near Darlington, were both 104 years old. Miss Prior, a former teacher, died

  • Views sought on plans for town traffic management

    A ONE-WAY system and an end to free parking are two of the controversial suggestions in a report on traffic management in a market town. North Yorkshire County Council has announced plans to make changes to roads, car parks, footpaths and public transport

  • In the pink for charity

    SCHOOL pupils in Billingham will be going pink this week to raise money for charity. Having raised £2,000 for Cafod and £1,200 for Down's Syndrome North-East in 2003-2004, the St Michael's School charity committee decided it would raise cash for Breast

  • New role created to tackle obesity

    A PHYSICAL activity co-ordinator is to be appointed to combat the rise in obesity among young people. Hambleton and Richmondshire District Councils have joined forces with the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to fund the post. The

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Hair stylist. £5.50ph, 16hpw. Must be fully qualified. Ref: DUR 41000. Cleaner. £5ph, 16hpw. Experience not necessary. Ref: DUR 42207. Marketing/sales assistant. £12,000-£15,000pa, 37hpw. Must be qualified to A level standard or graduate level. Ref: DUR

  • Countryside fair to feature battle of brains and brawn

    SOME of the region's finest will square up for a battle of brains and brawn later this month. They will be taking part in the Tug-of-War Association's Yorkshire Championships - only one of the elements of the 2004 Countryside Live Food and Farming Fair

  • Girl's tears stemmed as missing dogs found

    A LITTLE girl's tears turned into a broad smile when her two puppies which had gone missing overnight were found safe and well. Earlier this year, Yazmin Gibson helped to deliver the two mini Schnauzers, Brandy and Shiraz, at her home in Maltby, Teesside

  • Port operator saves road miles

    PORT operator PD Teesport said that more than 700,000 lorry miles have been taken off the road since the introduction of its rail transport service. Speaking on the anniversary of the introduction, the firm said the service allowed customers to move containers

  • Teacher providing a flavour of Latvia

    A STUDENT teacher is bringing a flavour of the Baltic states to youngsters at a village school. Zeta Zvirbule is spending the next six months at Tanfield Lea Junior School, in Tanfield Lea, near Stanley. The 25-year-old exchange student, who comes from

  • The love that shrieks its name

    MOST people won't give a damn about the Church of England's latest report on gay bishops. The various ways in which the church attempts to tear itself apart have long ceased to provoke anything but amusement at what is generally considered to be a side

  • Ombudsman to probe housing plan complaints

    GOVERNMENT officers are to investigate claims that a council has acted improperly over a controversial housing development. Officials from the Local Government Ombudsman have answered the calls of residents in Stanley, who believe they were not properly

  • Swapping school desk for seat of power

    TEENAGER Sarah Whittaker swapped her school desk for a seat of power yesterday. The 15-year-old, a pupil at Greenfield School Community and Arts College, in Newton Aycliffe, near Darlington, spent the day with Durham County Council leader Ken Manton.

  • Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a powerful punch

    Amanda Coulson is fast making a name for herself in the world of female boxing. She tells Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings about her Olympic dream. IT is just after 11.10pm. The crowd which has gathered into the cramped gym on the edge of Belfast is baying

  • Schoolboy errors must stop - boss

    AS Neale Cooper introduces another youth team product to Hartlepool United's first-team, the manager is demanding his side stop defending like schoolboys. Steve Turnbull made an impressive appearance as substitute in Saturday's win over Chesterfield at

  • Computer recycling firm creates boosts jobs in region

    MORE than 100 jobs are being created in the region at a plant which recycles cast-off computers. Middlesbrough based Recycling IT (Europe) Limited plans to centre all its UK operations on Teesside. Formed just over two years, the firm provides a redundant

  • Knife attacks may be linked

    POLICE said yesterday they have not ruled out a possible link between two knife attacks in the early hours of Sunday. The first of the two incidents in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, happened at 2am in Skipton Road, near its junction with Sykes Grove. A

  • Oil prices could hit $60 barrel - experts

    Fears were growing last night that oil prices could reach $60 a barrel after the cost of crude in New York hit another milestone. The latest rise to $55.33 yesterday afternoon came amid continued concerns over winter fuel supplies. Economists said the

  • Hodgson wants to hit back

    DARLINGTON boss David Hodgson sees tonight's League Two clash at Notts County as a chance to rectify their defensive frailties and re-affirm their reputation as the division's shut-out experts. Prior to Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Bury, Quakers had

  • Anger after hospital turns away casualty

    A father is angry after staff at a military hospital refused his daughter treatment because she was not registered there. Paul Barlow, of Falkland Road, Catterick Garrison, said a receptionist at the Duchess of Kent military hospital in Catterick Garrison

  • Youngsters race for charity

    YOUNG racers have put in the laps to raise money for charity. Children expect to raise about £150 when all their sponsorship is collected after they circuited the YMCA nursery in Richmond on toy tractors and cars. The money will be given to the NSPCC

  • Computer recycling firm creates boosts jobs in region

    MORE than 100 jobs are being created in the region at a plant which recycles cast-off computers. Middlesbrough based Recycling IT (Europe) Limited plans to centre all its UK operations on Teesside. Formed just over two years, the firm provides a redundant

  • New rail franchise set to serve the North

    The country's largest railway network finally had a new operator today - along with billions of pounds in public subsidy. Rail chiefs said that preferred bidder Serco-NedRailways would be taking over the new Northern Rail franchise on December 12 - around

  • Man dies in ravine after running from car crash

    A MAN may have frozen to death after a stolen car he had been travelling in crashed. Danny McLeod missed his footing as he ran from the scene of the crash through woods and plunged to the bottom of a hidden ravine. Wearing only a T-shirt and jeans, the

  • Porcelain collection to go on display at museum

    ONE of the finest private collections of English porcelain opens to the public at a North-East museum this month. The Lady Ludlow Collection, which is believed to be worth £1.5m, has been given to the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, as

  • Spotlight on Thin Lizzy tribute band

    THE sounds that rocked a generation will be recreated by a tribute band this month. Limehouse Lizzy will be playing a set from Thin Lizzy's seminal Live and Dangerous album, to mark the 25th anniversary of its launch. The 1979 double album includes chart

  • Dramatic portrayal of miners' strike

    A PLAY portraying the miners' strike takes to the stage for the first time in the North-East next week. Pickets and Pigs was written by former North-East police officer Arthur McKenzie, who, since the 1980s, has contributed to television dramas, including

  • Souness affect taking place

    ALAN SHEARER claims Newcastle United are already feeling the effect of having Graeme Souness in charge - even though the manager has been unable to make major changes to the squad. The Magpies extended their unbeaten run under Souness to seven games,

  • Eating Owt: Merits of the Morritt

    The column spent a memorable evening at the The Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge, although changes should be rung with the till. ONCE upon a time, a till was something which went "kerchang" when its buttons were properly depressed, flung open a mercenary money

  • For the love of the game . . . .

    He made his Premiership debut at 17, played in Europe with Leeds United, gained England youth international honours and an FA Youth Cup winner's medal and seemed on target for still greater things. Now Rob Bowman, still just 28, is playing for Coxhoe

  • Dettori to clean up in Bath

    BARRING injury Frankie Dettori is now certain to clinch the flat jockey's championship following Kieren Fallon's decision to take a couple days off due to ill health. Dettori has been going great guns over the past few weeks and his journey to Bath should

  • US ships hearing brought to a close

    A US court hearing into whether more former US navy ships are allowed to leave to be broken up in the North-East has ended. But Judge Rosemary Collyer gave no clue about when she would make her final ruling on the nine ships in Virginia. She has previously

  • Renewable energy could create thousands of jobs

    Up to 36,000 jobs could be created by the growing offshore wind power industry. More than half the jobs will be in the North-East, according to a report. The study was launched on Teesside on Tuesday by Greenpeace and the Department for Trade and Industry

  • 'Sore feet' legal claim thrown out

    A FIT young woman has sued the organisers of a Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme expedition after a lengthy walk made her feet sore. Medical student Ula Heywood, 21, blamed her supervisor for allowing her to continue with the 50-mile trek. Miss Heywood

  • NBS wins online banking contract

    NEWCASTLE Building Society (NBS) has beaten off stiff competition to win a contract to provide Internet banking services to a leading high street bank. The building society will administer the Bradford and Bingley's new Internet savings account, in a

  • Culture is just the ticket

    A SURVEY has revealed that people in the North-East visit museums more often than people anywhere else in the country. The most comprehensive survey of museum satisfaction rates and visitor numbers, covering five years, was published this month by the

  • Tonkunstler Symphony Orchestra, Middlesbrough Town Hall

    MIDDLESBROUGH Town Hall began its classical concert series with a performance by the Vienna Tonkunstler Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the youthful Kristjan Jarvi, son of famous Neeme Jarvi. The programme opened with a dynamic account of HK Gruber's

  • ...while bullish Prescott lets nothing ruffle his feathers

    HE has been known to lose his rag in the past, but nothing seemed to ruffle the feathers of John Prescott yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister arrived in Darlington just after 10am, having already digested the unpalatable results of The Northern Echo's

  • 71-year-old adventurer Elizabeth wins title

    A 71-YEAR-OLD widow who has climbed some of the world's highest mountains and survived a jungle expedition has been named the most adventurous person aged over 50 in the North-East. Elizabeth Mann, from Darlington, has won the title from Saga Holidays

  • Collins spurred on by captain's return

    NEILL COLLINS boards the team bus for Watford this morning knowing it could be his last start for the foreseeable future. Collins may have been Sunderland's star player in the competitive 1-0 victory over Millwall at the Stadium of Light on Saturday,

  • 'Stinger' car crashes into driver

    A CAR collided with a vehicle carrying a 19-month-old baby after police tried to stop it with a bed of spikes and the driver lost control. Six people were injured when the Ford Fiesta hit the device - known as a Stinger - and ploughed into the side of

  • GP who filmed sex attacks has jail sentence increased

    A DOCTOR who filmed female patients while he sexually assaulted them has had his "unduly lenient" sentence increased. Judges at the Criminal Appeal Court in London yesterday added an extra year to the jail term of Darlington GP Dr Syed Husain. The 30-

  • Prescott: 'This is your only chance'

    THERE will be no second opportunity for the North-East if it votes no to an elected regional assembly, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott warned yesterday. In combative mood following the publication of The Northern Echo's exclusive Mori poll which revealed

  • Joe's gallery dream realised

    photographer Joe Cornish has realised a personal dream with the launch of a gallery dedicated to his landscape work. To mark the opening, he unveiled the second in a series of limited editions, a dramatic picture of the Millennium Bridge over the Tyne

  • Officials sticking to task of stopping rogue sellers

    DOORSTEP sellers are being told in no uncertain terms that they are not welcome as the campaign to stamp them out goes to a new level. A concerted effort is being launched to get stickers placed in every home across North Yorkshire as part of National

  • Somewhere different to haunt this Halloween

    A FARM reputed to be haunted opens its gates to youngsters with nerves of steel next week. Broom House Farm, in Witton Gilbert, near Durham, is holding tours of its haunted barn from Wednesday to Sunday, October 27 to 31, between 2pm and 6pm. The Halloween

  • Captain Cook's Endeavour to sail Down Under for ever

    THE Australian-built replica of Captain Cook's HM Bark Endeavour is to set sail for its native shores next month - and will never visit this country again. The global roaming days of the hugely popular vessel are over and she is now destined to become

  • Mencap sports group funding

    A TEESSIDE sports group is celebrating after being awarded National Lottery funding. Hartlepool Mencap's sports group has been given £5,000 from the Awards For All Lottery Fund to help it develop its footballing activities. The Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart

  • Police crackdown on irresponsible bikers

    POLICE are cracking down on tearaways on motor bikes bringing misery and danger on to a community's streets. Acting on information from residents, Cleveland Police officers - including two off-road bike specialists - swooped on known problem areas across

  • Village plan is submitted

    DETAILED plans for part of one of Darlington's biggest housing schemes will go before the council by the end of the year. Bussey and Armstrong won approval for the West Park community village this time last year. When complete, it will include 700 homes

  • Campaigner's railway lecture

    A lecture on the Wensleydale Railway will be given by campaigner Ruth Annison in Richmond Town Hall on Friday, October 29, from 7.30pm. Mrs Annison has been involved in the drive to bring the railway back to the dale since 1990. Admission is £2, including

  • When 'me' is multiplied

    The Woman With Seven Personalities: Extraordinary People (five); Tunnel Of Love (ITV1): "THEY'RE all me, that's why I'm screwed up," declared Helen - and, having seen her and her multiple personalities, you'd have to agree with this deeply troubled woman

  • Teenagers jailed after robbing 'soft targets'

    TWO teenagers involved in street robberies were last night both beginning custodial sentences. Shane Peacock and David Young, both 18, picked on "soft targets" who they approached on bikes in separate incidents in Darlington. Durham Crown Court heard

  • Long-awaited hospice is declared a success by audit

    HEALTH chiefs have hailed a unit of hospice beds in Darlington as a success, six months after it was opened to the public. A half-yearly audit of the in-patient unit at St Teresa's Hospice has been carried out. The unit, staffed by district nurses from

  • Students go to polls to elect youth council

    MORE than 10,000 young people in 40 schools are going to the polls this week to elect their peers to a youth council. The election for Derwentside Young People's Forum takes place tomorrow. The inaugural ballot, held in 2002, saw more than 9,000 students

  • Pupils get to see council in action

    YOUNG people in Darlington are getting a taste of government as part of local democracy week. Primary school pupils will be attending a special lifelong learning scrutiny committee at Darlington Town Hall today. Councillor Cyndi Hughes, the committee's

  • Boy of 16 is placed on sex register

    A TEENAGE boy was yesterday placed on the sex offenders register and sentenced to four concurrent detention and training orders. The 16-year-old, from Shildon, admitted having sexual intercourse with a minor in June this year but said the girl had fully

  • 'Dinner laddie' up for award

    THE head of catering at Darlington Memorial Hospital is in the running for a top award. Ron McKenzie is a finalist in the best dinner lady category in the BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards. He faces Ian Woodhouse, of Stoke, and Anne Brody, of Newcastle's

  • Burglars fled as alarm sounded

    A GANG of burglars went to a lot of trouble to break into a council depot - but fled with just two items when an alarm sounded. The intruders climbed over an outer fence before using a scaffolding pole to lever a heavy gate off its hinges to get into

  • Tributes are paid to farmer's wife

    A FARMER'S wife, who was described as always willing to give a helping hand to other people, has died at the age of 79. Jessie Bainbridge's sudden death came as a shock to her family, as she appeared to be in good health at her home in Eggleston, near

  • Residents urged to recycle

    A drive to get the people of Darlington recycling was launched yesterday. Borough council officers were in the town's Market Square to offer advice to residents as part of the Big Recycle campaign. Teams will also visit 21,000 homes in the borough this

  • Information law fears of police chiefs

    EXTREMISTS in the British National Party (BNP) will exploit new open government laws to unmask "moles" who provide crucial intelligence, police chiefs fear. Senior officers are worried that the far-right party - which is active in Sunderland and elsewhere

  • Care home gets holiday help service

    GLOBE-TROTTING residents of a village care home have been given their own holiday support service. The scheme has been introduced at Middleton Hall, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, to help elderly people take trips across the world. As part of

  • 24-bed unit is planned at hospital

    PLANS to develop a 24-bed unit at a Darlington borough hospital will go before councillors next month. Affinity Healthcare Limited wants to demolish an empty building at Middleton St George Hospital and build a new unit for women. Dave McBeath, of agent

  • Campaigners urging people to buy local and buy best

    A NEW initiative to market food produced in the Durham dales is being launched this week. Producers and retailers have joined together for the new initiative, which aims to put Teesdale and Weardale on the map for good food, drink and crafts. The Taste

  • Limo ride for star pupils

    PUPILS at a Stockton primary school will be given star treatment as they are driven home in a limousine. The eight youngsters, Fawziyah Ayub, Rose Wheetman, Israr Ahmed, Jade Bellerby, Bilal Iqbal, Esmie Johnstone, Joe Gatenby and Melissa Lambert, all

  • Three-month blitz on yob culture in former pit village

    A THREE-month blitz on the "yob culture" which blights the lives of 6,000 residents in a former pit village was launched yesterday. The crackdown in Brandon, which is the first of its kind in County Durham, is headed by a partnership embracing the police

  • Roadworks details on way

    LEAFLETS from Redcar and Cleveland Council are being distributed to 3,800 homes in Marske explaining the schedule for the £150,000 roadworks which begin this weekend. McAlpine will carry out work on the Redcar Road roundabout from 5.30pm on Saturday until

  • Car parking services shop in operation

    A NEW one-stop shop for all parking services in Stockton has opened its doors. The parking shop, located in Gloucester House, Church Road, offers local car parks information, sells parking season tickets, accepts payments of fines for off-road parking

  • Man given second chance

    MAGISTRATES gave a 23-year-old man a second chance by allowing him to continue with a rehabilitation order, despite breaching it twice. Andrew Leslie Palfrey, of Wood Street, Spennymoor, admitted breaching the two-year order, which he was given last May

  • Economic crime hit firms for £40bn, says survey

    BUSINESSES in the UK lost more than £40bn last year - equivalent to about £100m a day - because of economic crime. The study by accountants and advisors RSM Robson Rhodes identified embezzlement, cheque fraud and money laundering as the main areas of

  • Driver gets six-month ban

    A MAN was banned from driving for six months after he admitted a series of motoring offences when he appeared before magistrates yesterday. Gareth Michael Graham, 24, of Red Houses, High Etherley, pleaded guilty to driving a Ford Fiesta with no insurance

  • Toddlers brave the elements to raise money for children's ward

    TORRENTIAL rain couldn't dampen the spirits of youngsters from a Crook nursery who stepped out to raise money for sick children. Tiny tots who go to Kidzone joined in a sponsored toddle twice round the field at Crook Primary School. The event was the

  • Spotlight on Thin Lizzy tribute band

    THE sounds that rocked a generation will be recreated by a tribute band this month. Limehouse Lizzy will be playing a set from Thin Lizzy's seminal Live and Dangerous album, to mark the 25th anniversary of its launch. The 1979 double album includes chart

  • Drinking session led to attack in park

    A TEENAGER attacked his former best friend following a fall-out after a heavy drinking session, a court heard. Michael Hall, 19, joined the victim and a group of friends who were drinking cans in a park in Blackhall, east Durham, in July. Robin Terry,

  • Pond cleaned up after death of fish population

    THE death of an entire village pond's fish life has led to a cleaning-up exercise which began yesterday. Wolviston Parish Council decided to call in the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust after too much vegetation and accumulated silt led to the death of the

  • Crash victim is named

    A BISHOP Auckland woman who died after being trapped in a car on Sunday night was named yesterday by police. Eileen Hancock, aged 63, of Vart Road, was a passenger in a Renault Espace which left the A688 near West Auckland shortly before 7.15pm and crashed

  • Wolf in sheep's clothing

    Michelle Paver has hit the bestsellers list with her first children's novel, Wolf Brother, about a boy living in a Stone Age forest. She talks to Sarah Foster. RESEARCH is one thing, but imagine travelling to such a far-flung place as Greenland, bedding

  • Think Inks! to provide refill cartridges

    THE founder of Tynemouth-based computer business PC4U has launched a company providing refill ink cartridges. PC4U owner Steve Clancy has joined forces with three investors to create the firm, Think Inks!, which will create an initial three jobs. The

  • Telecom group has £100,000 orders in line

    COMMUNICATIONS specialist Russell Telecom has reported £100,000 worth of orders, following the firm's expansion in to premises in Gateshead last month. The company said it had secured 23 contracts since the £1m move to the Watermark development in Gateshead