Spennymoor manager Tony Lee is desperate to avoid any more injuries when they go to Gainsborough in their final league game. Moors are guaranteed a spot in next week's play-offs and, regardless of their result today, will be away from home. Lee said:
Just because you're a big name TV star, it doesn't mean your new series will get a guaranteed showing... THE latest ITV1 drama starring ex-EastEnders star Ross Kemp has its press launch next week. Hopefully - although nothing is certain in the world of
THE headteacher of a newly-opened Christian secondary school has resigned only weeks after pupils were caught looking at Internet pornography sites. Parents were sent letters telling them Karen Robson, headteacher of All Saints CE secondary school, in
UNICYCLISTS from across Britain came to the region yesterday for their annual conference. The three-day event began last night with more than 250 unicyclists holding a unicycle celeidh dance. Other events to be held at the convention at St Michael's RC
CAMPAIGNERS last night called on the Government to replace the "discredited" General Medical Council as the body which regulates UK doctors, after further revelations over gynaecologist Richard Neale. It follows a highly embarrassing U-turn by the GMC
NEARLY 4,000 Darlington children will receive a free piece of fruit every day from next week. The youngsters, at 27 schools, will join more than a million pupils already taking part in the National School Fruit Scheme, set up to promote healthy eating
AN outstanding country garden is opening to the public tomorrow (Sunday) to help a North-East charity. Ravensford Farm Garden, in the County Durham village of Hamsterley, is 20 years old and the spring blossom this year is already said to be outstanding
HARD-UP workingmen's clubs could be thrown a financial lifeline by the sale of the Federation Brewery. More than 300 clubs in the region will be in line to benefit by up to £80,000 each from an estimated £8m windfall if they back the move. Members will
AN alcoholic was crushed to death after he fell asleep inside a skip and was emptied into a refuse wagon, an inquest heard yesterday. The body of father-of-four David Griffiths, 39, was later discovered among rubbish at a tip. A post-mortem examination
A FIFTH win on the bounce and Hartlepool United will secure a play-off spot this afternoon. Pool go to Rushden and Diamonds with a five-point advantage over nearest challengers Port Vale. Securing a play-off place while pushing Rushden into the relegation
He may have come to fame as an elf, but Orlando Bloom looks likely to become a genuine movie star. He tells Steve Pratt about working with Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, and why he wants to mix the blockbusters with low-budget films. THE moment Orlando Bloom's
A CRUSADER armed with the cross of St George rode through city streets to demand a national holiday for the English yesterday. To celebrate St George's Day, horseman Simon Doxfield, 18, donned a tabard and chainmail vest to lead a procession of proud
Mark Johnston and Ripon's clerk of the course, James Hutchinson, have teamed up to try and ensure the unbeaten star filly Attraction enjoys a perfect preparation for next Sunday's Ultimatebet.com 1,000 Guineas, writes Colin Woods. Johnston had hoped to
A STOLEN Land Rover, which ploughed through a fence into a military cemetery, knocking down at least ten headstones, has been found abandoned. The green M-registered vehicle was taken from outside a house in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, in the
THE Government was left embarrassed last night in its bid to force solicitors to hand over compensation cash to miners and their families. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) published a list of 100 law firms that it said failed to respond to questions
GREAT heights and age are no obstacle to Fred Deakin, who will be plunging from 14,000 feet to mark his 80th birthday - all in the name of charity. Mr Deakin is preparing for his third sponsored tandem jump at Shotton Airfield, east Durham, since the
PLAYWRIGHT Bryony Lavery has no doubt about one of the joys of writing for the NT Shell Connections - the chance to write a new play with a large cast. That's something usually denied writers in these times of cash-conscious theatres. She's one of the
A FIFTH win on the bounce and Hartlepool United will secure a play-off spot this afternoon. Pool go to Rushden and Diamonds with a five-point advantage over nearest challengers Port Vale. Securing a play-off place while pushing Rushden into the relegation
He may have come to fame as an elf, but Orlando Bloom looks likely to become a genuine movie star. He tells Steve Pratt about working with Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, and why he wants to mix the blockbusters with low-budget films. THE moment Orlando Bloom's
A family have set up memorial fund to remember their daughter, who lost her fight against cancer when she was 16. Adele's Memorial Trust has been set up in memory of Adele Puckrin, who died in November of a brain tumour after a two-and-a-half year battle
WITH only three games to go before the end of the season, a star-studded line-up of signed football memorabilia is being raffled to raise funds for Darlington Football Club. Officials say they hope the money will help the Quakers beyond the end of the
SHOPPERS and football fans are being warned to expect traffic delays in Newcastle city centre tomorrow. A parade by the Territorial Army, to commemorate St George's Day, will march from the city's Civic Centre, in Barrass Road, to St Nicholas Cathedral
DRUGS group GlaxoSmithKline has won approval in the US for an asthma treatment for children as young as four. The decision means more than 3.8 million children with chronic breathing difficulties can be treated with Advair, which was first launched in
SIR BOBBY ROBSON'S former right-hand man Mick Wadsworth, who quit Newcastle for Southampton three years ago, has taken charge of Portuguese side Beira Mar, writes Clive Hetherington. Wadsworth, who coached the Democratic Republic of Congo at the African
A RESTAURANT owner is urging diners to turn detective and help trace the history of his building. La Riviera Italian restaurant, in Pipewellgate House, Newcastle Quayside, was once the home of the river police on the Tyne. The owner, Parvis Alizadeh,
A WOMAN who only started serious training four months ago is about to compete for the title of Britain's Strongest Woman. In the evenings, Gemma Taylor, 20, of Bagby, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, is a singer, performing in pubs across the country. But
A COLLEGE opened a 3,500sq ft extension this week. The City of Sunderland College has added the extension to its Hylton Centre library. It will will offer students an additional 500 computers with Internet connection, 12 hours a day. The college expects
POSTAL SERVICES: I DISAGREE with A Bergg (HAS, Apr 19), the Post Office does not require credible competition, but rather the public needs a realistic outlook on the cost of stamps and delivery of the service in general. The service has to rely on road
SURFERS and holidaymakers may soon be able to enjoy a wide range of facilities at a £570,000 seafront building. Residents feared the large foreshore building, in Saltburn, east Cleveland, would never be used after the project was hindered by structural
A MAN and a woman have been questioned by police investigating the distribution of a potentially lethal batch of heroin in the region. More than 20 addicts have been treated in hospitals in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool for respiratory failure
ENGLISH Heritage has backed a campaign to stop the extension of quarrying beside an important Neolithic site. Tarmac Northern has announced its intention to submit a planning application to extend the existing Nosterfield Quarry eastwards towards Ladybridge
Durham City manager Billy Cruddas has told his players that he wants "no let up" in their game at Penrith today. City missed out on the title to Dunston in midweek, but have the league cup final on May 3 to look forward to, against Dunston. "I don't want
IT is the right of any Englishman at a football match to fall asleep if he wishes, particularly if he is watching Arsenal. The philosophical words of Socrates? Of Plato? Descartes? Kant? David Beckham? No. Judge Michael Taylor said these wonderful words
THE North-East bade a fond farewell yesterday to one of its heroes - football legend George Hardwick. The 84-year-old, who died on Monday following a long illness, was a real-life Roy of the Rover's figure for generations of Middlesbrough fans. Boro fanzine
GARY Breen has warned his Sunderland teammates that their efforts will count for nothing if the Black Cats fail to win promotion to the Premiership this season. Mick McCarthy's side have made giant strides since tumbling out of the top-flight 12 months
ALAN Plater can't imagine what he'd do if he wasn't writing. "I love doing it," he says. "It's like asking why does Steve Davis play snooker. There's no life for him if he doesn't play snooker." The Jarrow-born writer isn't short of work. With projects
NEWCASTLE boss Sir Bobby Robson has admitted he is prepared to live dangerously and tolerate Laurent Robert's frailties to utilise the Frenchman's match-winning potential. Robson looked on in horror as the winger scandalously squandered possession inside
THE Government has to be as tough as it possibly can to protect its people from terrorism - but it must also be fair. Yet yesterday in this country there was much right-wing indignation - and we include Home Secretary David Blunkett under that umbrella
TRANSPORT systems that lose money, such as the Tyne and Wear Metro, are throwing the building of further light rail systems into jeopardy, spending watchdogs have warned. A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) raised the alarm over the failure to
A THREE-DAY festival over the coming Bank Holiday weekend is due to be bigger and better. The Leyburn Festival of Food and Drink in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, which last year attracted 18,000 people, now boasts a clutch of celebrities among its patrons
BUS and rail group Arriva told shareholders that it had made substantial progress towards becoming a leading operator in Europe. The company, based in Sunderland, said the positive start to the trading year announced last month had continued. It said
St Peter's Church is hosting a walk from Redcar to South Gare and back to raise money for Christian Aid. It will take place on Monday, May 3, starting from the church at 10.30am. Everyone is invited to join. A coffee morning will be held on the same day
MOST people might fancy a bath or a shower after they've done a spot of gardening - but not Ian Codling. Mr Codling does things the other way round and has turned a corner of his garden into a bathroom with a view. Only a rustic fence surrounds a pink
A CELEBRATION of Indian music will be in east Durham next month. The event, marking the national Indian Day Rabindra Jayanti and Baishakhi, will be staged at the East Durham and Houghall College, in Burnhope Way, Peterlee, at 6.15pm on May 8. The event
PEOPLE who appreciate the countryside can treat themselves to a taste of spring in County Durham over the May Bank Holiday. For very early risers, Durham County Council has organised a Dawn Chorus Walk on Saturday, May 1, led by wildlife officer Ian Armstrong
A CELEBRATION of Indian music will be held in east Durham next month. The colourful event, marking the national Indian Day Rabindra Jayanti and Baishakhi, will be staged at the east Durham and Houghall College, in Burnhope Way, Peterlee, at 6.15pm on
A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD boy who took his mother's car and then crashed it appeared in court yesterday. The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and without insurance on February 27 at Darlington Youth
TEENAGERS from Stockton met young people from France, Germany, the Czech Republic and the Spanish town of Cheste, near Valencia. The Ian Ramsey CofE School pupils enjoyed a civic reception in the town hall, paella for 130 in the local park, sports and
ORGANISERS of a week-long clean-up operation on a troubled east Cleveland estate are looking forward to adopting the scheme in other areas. Cleveland Police, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Coast and Country Housing and other
A MAN was left unconscious in the street after being beaten by a group of teenagers he saw breaking into a car. A police spokesman said the 44-year-old victim saw a group of youths breaking into a car in Kings Road, near the Pet Hospital, in Sunderland
URGENT safety improvements need to be made to transport services in a Teesside borough, according to a report. The full report of Stockton Borough Council's environment and regeneration select committee will be published on Thursday. It will recommend
Following a three-year stint with Blackhall, West Indian all-rounder Imran Jan makes his debut for Guisborough who begin their defence of the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division championship at Hartlepool. David Towse has
Steve Pratt finds out why Jarrow-born writer Alan Plater is reviving his screen story about 1940s blonde bandswomen. ALAN Plater can't imagine what he'd do if he wasn't writing. "I love doing it," he says. "It's like asking why does Steve Davis play snooker
CHURCH leaders are hoping to provide a youth centre to tackle anti-social behaviour. Elm Ridge Methodist Church has submitted plans to the borough council for the change-of-use of vacant premises in the Mowden shopping parade, Darlington. The Reverend
A YOUNG mother acquired a cocaine habit while suffering post natal depression, a court heard yesterday. But 20-year-old Sarah Wood started to sell the class A drug to try to pay for her own supply during the few weeks of her addiction, Durham Crown Court
WORK by health officials to tackle drug and alcohol misuse has been praised. At a recent meeting, Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) heard about the trust's work with the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), which has been awarded Beacon Status. Councillor
AN MP returned to a school with close family ties as part of a global campaign to make education available to every child. Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg dropped in to Sherburn Hill Primary School, where he used to be chairman of the governors and which
A DEPUTY mayor has been suspended by the Labour Party after becoming embroiled in a race row. Gateshead councillor Jim Batty, who is the subject of an internal party investigation, denies all allegations. The inquiry is believed to concern alleged racist
Q My husband is 60 and only earns £40 a week plus Reduced Earnings Allowance of £48.04. I claim £44.35 a week Carer's Allowance for looking after our disabled son. We do not have to pay council tax. Is there anything we can claim? AYes. Pension Credit
A COUNCIL which ordered flower-lovers off a village green is now considering banning gardeners from other areas. Officers have sent letters to people in Norton, near Stockton, telling them they must remove flowers near their homes on the edge of the 1,000
IN the distant and all-too-brief glory days of the New Romantics, when the shirts were frilly and the hair was big, no-one stood prouder than Duran Duran. Head and shoulder pads above their peers, it was Simon Le Bon and co who had the sharper suits,
GIANT heads dominate an art exhibition which opens in the region today. The 6ft-high portraits by nationally-renowned artist Nahem Shoa are on show at Hartlepool Art Gallery. Other works are on the theme of multi-culturism. Mr Shoa said he drew on images
A SUSPECT in the kidnap of a North-East businessman has been cleared after a six-week investigation. Police questioned the 42-year-old man and released him on bail while they carried out further inquiries into Tony Pattison's hostage ordeal in early March
SHOLA AMEOBI is back where he started tomorrow when he lines up for Newcastle against Chelsea at St. James' Park. The England Under-21 striker, who defied a thigh injury to face Marseille in Thursday's goalless UEFA Cup semi-final first leg on Tyneside
HARD-UP workingmen's clubs could be thrown a financial lifeline by the sale of the Federation Brewery. More than 300 clubs in the region will be in line to benefit by up to £80,000 each from an estimated £8m windfall if they back the move. Members will
THE ordinary DIY guy just can't transform a room in two days complete with new flooring and flat-pack furniture. Despite the smug self-assurance of Changing Rooms (BBC1, Monday), as it started an incredible 15th series, the real level of amateur incompetence
A POLICE officer feared he was going to be killed when a man, high on a mix of drink and lighter fuel, repeatedly tried to stab him with a kitchen knife. PC Paul Jackson only escaped serious injury thanks to his protective vest and helmet which shielded
MICK McCarthy last night insisted that there is no need to panic despite Sunderland's sudden attack of the shakes. The Black Cats travel to Wigan for a lunchdown showdown today looking to put an end to their worst run of the season. Successive defeats
TUCKED away in a North-East cemetery is a corner of Britain that will be forever Japan. Weathered but still readable, a headstone marks the last resting place of Bysak Fukao. He died in the Tees in 1873 but now - probably for the first time in 131 years
NEVER one to shun a challenge, David Hodgson could not have picked a bigger test than the one he was walking into at Darlington Football Club last November. Few, given his acrimonious exit under former chairman George Reynolds in 2000, envied Hodgson's
A MAN who kept sex images of children and babies on his computer has been jailed for eight months. Andrew Monument was ordered to be put on the sex offenders' register for ten years after pleading guilty to 16 specimen charges of making indecent images
TUCKED away in a North-East cemetery is a corner of Britain that will be forever Japan. Weathered but still readable, a headstone marks the last resting place of Bysak Fukao. He died in the Tees in 1873 but now - probably for the first time in 131 years
WHEN Steve Gibson took control of Middlesbrough just over a decade ago he had a vision. The local millionaire wanted to firmly establish the Teesside outfit among England's elite and ensure a trophy-less past was finally brought to an end. In February
NORTHERN champions Morpeth Harriers' hopes of a first National 12-Stage road relay title have been hit by the absence of their three top runners. They travel to Sutton Coldfield today without brothers Mark and Ian Hudspith and reigning North-East cross
A POLICE officer feared he was going to be killed when a man, high on a mix of drink and lighter fuel, repeatedly tried to stab him with a kitchen knife. PC Paul Jackson only escaped serious injury thanks to his protective vest and helmet which shielded
AN exhibition showing how part of the North-East won a £10m battle to reclaim its coastline from industrial pollution opens today. A trio of regional artists have captured the essence of the County Durham coastline during the recent period of massive
NEVER one to shun a challenge, David Hodgson could not have picked a bigger test than the one he was walking into at Darlington Football Club last November. Few, given his acrimonious exit under former chairman George Reynolds in 2000, envied Hodgson's
RAPIDLY drying ground has significantly boosted Haut Cercy's prospects in the last big jumps' race of the season, the £150,000 Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown. Despite an unprecedented seven-strong challenge from Martin Pipe's mighty stable for the near three-and-three-quarter-mile
CAMPAIGNERS last night called on the Government to replace the "discredited" General Medical Council as the body which regulates UK doctors, after further revelations over gynaecologist Richard Neale. It follows a highly embarrassing U-turn by the GMC
THE North-East bade a fond farewell yesterday to one of its heroes - football legend George Hardwick. The 84-year-old, who died on Monday following a long illness, was a real-life Roy of the Rover's figure for generations of Middlesbrough fans. Boro fanzine
VISITORS to a haunted medieval hall will be invited to track down its ghost over the forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend. Crook Hall, in Durham City, is reputedly visited by the White Lady, said to have been the niece of Cuthbert Billingham who inherited
DAN Harper is hoping to bow out on a high note when he ends his two-year stint with Blaydon in the Durham Cup final against Darlington at Durham City today (2pm). The powerful prop is flying home to New Zealand tomorrow after playing a big part in establishing
STEVE McClaren has urged his under-achieving strikeforce to take a leaf out of Juan Pablo Angel's book as the in-form Colombian returns from a knee injury at the Riverside this afternoon. Aston Villa striker Angel was being written off as an expensive
A RISE in interest rates next month looks less certain following the release of economic growth figures that were be weaker than expected. Experts said the Bank of England's May decision on borrowing - already complicated by low annual inflation of only
Australian Ian Harvey led Yorkshire's batting feast against Essex at Headingley which virtually guaranteed they will scoop up maximum points from their opening Championship match. With Michael Lumb and Darren Lehmann also in top form, Yorkshire sprinted
THE Northern Echo has agreed to be the official media partner for a leading business and technology partnering event for a second year. Following the success of InterTech 2003, the newspaper has joined forces with a number of organisations in the region
RAIL chiefs are joining forces with one of the country's leading attractions to give an insight into the modern railway. From May 29 to June 6, the National Railway Museum, in York, is celebrating the bicentenary of the railways with its large-scale Railfest
MORRISONS has opened the first of its converted Safeways stores following the company's successful £3bn takeover. Former Safeway shoppers at Ripon, North Yorkshire, and Southport, Lancashire, have seen their stores rebranded as Morrisons as part of a
AUDIENCES will be treated to tap dancing and trampoling during a production of Gilbert and Sullivan musical The Gondoliers. The Darlington Operatic Society performace will be at the town's Civic Theatre from April 28 until May 8. Director and choreographer
DURHAM will do well to avoid a fifth successive championship defeat today when they resume on 30 for three in their second innings, still 143 behind Nottinghamshire. With 11 overs to bat last night, they made a calamitous start as both openers were bowled
GARY Breen has warned his Sunderland teammates that their efforts will count for nothing if the Black Cats fail to win promotion to the Premiership this season. Mick McCarthy's side have made giant strides since tumbling out of the top-flight 12 months
AN exhibition showing how part of the North-East won a £10m battle to reclaim its coastline from industrial pollution opens today. A trio of regional artists have captured the essence of the County Durham coastline during the recent period of massive
A CELEBRATION of Indian music will be held in east Durham next month. The colourful event, marking the national Indian Day Rabindra Jayanti and Baishakhi, will be staged at the east Durham and Houghall College, in Burnhope Way, Peterlee, at 6.15pm on
THE newest recruits to join The Guards left their North Yorkshire training camp with the best wishes of a former leader of the Conservative Party. William Hague took the salute at Number 21 Platoon's passing out parade at Helles Barracks at Catterick
AUDIENCES will be treated to tap dancing and trampoling during a production of Gilbert and Sullivan musical The Gondoliers. The Darlington Operatic Society performace will be at the town's Civic Theatre from April 28 until May 8. Director and choreographer
INTERNATIONAL experts are visiting North Yorkshire next week to celebrate the achievements of two market towns. The market town regeneration specialists are visiting Richmond and Whitby as part of a fortnight of activities organised by the Countryside
A COUNCIL has agreed to spend £18,000 examining the future of a pool complex it had considered closing. Starbeck Baths were in the firing line at the beginning of the year when Harrogate Borough Council was debating ways it could cut costs to keep a rise
ANGRY residents are objecting to a new bus service which they say would mean 24,000 trips every year along their road. An action group on a north Harrogate housing estate is lobbying for wider support for its opposition to the bus service by distributing
A CAMPAIGN is under way to offer gay and bi-sexual men in the North-East free immunisations and health screenings. Newcastle Primary Care Trust GUM Clinic has joined forces with the Gay and bi-sexual men's organisation, Mesmac, to offer a satellite clinic
GOVERNMENT safety inspectors may look into an accident in which a man's arm was crushed on Thursday. As reported in The Northern Echo yesterday, the unnamed 24-year-old, from South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was airlifted to Middlesbrough's James Cook
THREE men who took part in an early morning attack on two brothers in a busy town centre have been spared jail. Christopher Streenan, 20, Andrew Williams, 18, and Paul Gilding, 18, punched the men and kicked them in the head as they lay on the ground
YOUNGSTERS at a County Durham school are to help start work on a £250,000 nursery unit on Monday. The children, from Lumley Medway Infant School, near Chester-le-Street, will join Durham County Council cabinet member, Brian Walker, and contractors from
MEMBERS of a small rural community are invited to swap notes on the history of their village at weekly meetings. A fledgling local history society has attracted interest from 15 villagers in Cassop, which is midway between Durham and Peterlee. The settlement
AN INDOOR market which supports dozens of businesses has been saved from closure. Bosses at the Clifford Centre Family Indoor Market, in Stanley town centre, last night confirmed that the troubled enterprise had turned the corner after it went into administration
TWO teams from Bishop Barrington School, in Bishop Auckland, are teeing off in the British Heart Foundation Junior Golf Championship at Crook Golf Club next week. Lewis Donahue, 14, Daniel Simpson, 17, and Michael Spence, Ian Gosney, James Hardy and Chris
A PENSIONER has started a petition for the reinstatement of public toilets in Newton Aycliffe town centre. George White, 83, is incensed that Great Aycliffe Town Council has closed the Dalton Way toilets, the only public conveniences in the town. He said
SCHOOLS from across Teesdale fielded more than 100 children for the 11th primary schools cross country event. Barnard Castle Preparatory School welcomed athletes from ten schools when it held its annual 2km race. The host school defended the team title
UNION bosses are calling on a council to suspend its controversial tests for taxi drivers pending a court hearing. The Amicus union is backing three Hackney carriage drivers who are taking Darlington Borough Council to court over the compulsory advanced
A JUDGE told a youth to take stock of his life after he appeared in court for breaching an order made after he was convicted of robbery. The 16-year-old, from Darlington, who cannot be named, was with three friends when he punched a girl in the stomach
AUDIENCES will be treated to tap dancing and trampoling during a production of Gilbert and Sullivan musical The Gondoliers. The Darlington Operatic Society performace will be at the town's Civic Theatre from April 28 until May 8. Director and choreographer
PRIMARY school children are looking to bridge the generation gap with the aid of a £10,000 grant. Children from three primary schools in Shildon are teaming up with Sunnydale Comprehensive in the town to help elderly people come to grips with new technology
HUGE steel elephants will be the focus of an art and landscape project in County Durham. Sculpture in the Park is to return to the grounds of Durham County Council, at Aykley Heads, Durham City from May 1. The elephants are part of six sculptures on the
HOSPITALS are to receive an extra £100,000 from the Government for dealing with patients quickly. The University Hospitals of Hartlepool and North Tees, in Stockton, will be given the extra money. The hospitals belong to an NHS trust where at least 94
CONTROVERSIAL plans to re-route a national cycleway through the heart of a residential estate have been deferred. Charity Sustrans wants to move a stretch of the Coast to Coast (C2C) route in Leadgate, near Consett, in order to sell land around the existing
THE Mayor of Middlesbrough has thrown his weight behind a campaign to alert older people to the scourge of bogus callers. The town has been the scene of several bogus caller attacks on older people in recent months. British Gas Help the Aged Partnership
