Investigations into the deaths of a further 12 patients of retired family doctor Howard Martin are to continue, police announced yesterday. Durham Police have prepared files on 12 patients - understood to include a father and son - where morphine may
COUNCIL tax bills in the North-East would plummet if the Government made the tax fairer by adding extra bands, a report to ministers revealed yesterday. But the reform, which was floated by Tony Blair 18 months ago, has been shelved because the Prime
BABY Lennox Nicholson's fight for life took an important step forward last night. Two days ago, he underwent a liver transplant operation to save his life. Officials at St James University Hospital, in Leeds, said they were expecting to move the baby
A DARLINGTON flower club has got into the festive spirit at its latest meeting with a beautiful display of different flower arrangements. There was also lots of food and entertainment at the December meeting of the Darlington Flower Club. Entrants had
THREE siblings from Newton Aycliffe have won 12 medals between them at a national tae kwon do competition. Hannah Hatfield, 14, and twins Rosie and Julian Hatfield, ten, who attend Greenfield Comprehensive and Stephenson Way Primary respectively, won
YOUNGSTERS are celebrating after winning a Christmas competition at a newsagent. Pupils from Cockton Hill Infant School, in Bishop Auckland, designed Christmas cards that are now on display at Chribec News in Cockton Hill Road. They were judged by a customer
A BURGLAR who leapt from a moving car was jailed yesterday for three years and three months. Steven Revell had taken the keys to a £4,500 Rover from a property in South Burnside, Houghton-le-Spring, which he broke into early on August 5. Newcastle Crown
A FORMER Green Howards soldier is to become the Army's highest ranking officer. General Sir Richard Dannatt will become Chief of the General Staff in August next year. He takes over the post from General Sir Mike Jackson. General Sir Richard Dannatt,
KELVIN DAVIS, back between the posts for Sunderland, has described how emerging from the most difficult time of his career has made him stronger and even more determined to help Sunderland climb out of an ever-increasing rut. The Black Cats' goalkeeper
YOUNGSTERS have shown off their skills to Teesside's professional basketball team. More than 350 primary school children from Middlesbrough and Hartlepool gathered at Eston Sports Centre to take part in a basketball fun day, organised by Hoop Dreams,
POLICE in County Durham are warning drivers that thieves could strike while they are defrosting their cars. Officers say some vehicles are being stolen while they are being de-iced with the engine running. They also say thieves are breaking into cars
A COMMUNITY resource centre has been officially reopened following a £300,000 refurbishment. The centre, in St James' Hall, Boroughbridge, now has a refreshment area, new IT facilities with free Internet access and new meeting rooms. It also stocks £12,000
FORGET the Sir Michael Stoutes and Martin Pipes of this world if you want to make a buck and instead try investing on all of David Barker's horses blind. The shrewd Scorton, near Catterick Bridge, handler boasts a money-spinning £85.26 profit to a £1
PLANS to build two log cabins in open countryside have been rejected. Members of Harrogate Borough Council planning committee backed a planning officer's recommendation to refuse the scheme on land east of Sunnyside Farm, outside Farnham. Objections included
HUGE local support means a campaign for a statue to Canadian war hero Andrew Mynarski in his home city will go ahead. Campaigners hoping to erect a statue of Pilot Officer Mynarski in Winnipeg, Canada, met on Wednesday evening to formalise their fundraising
TWO schoolgirls have received gift vouchers after winning a poster competition. Jennifer Finley and Amber Glendinning, both ten and from South Stanley, won the Stanley Youth Centre contest as part of the Healthy Youth Work Standard. The £5 prizes were
COUNCILLORS in Nidderdale have won a battle to secure conversion of an unused barn into a home, despite planning chiefs saying it would harm an area of natural beauty. Planning officers had recommended refusal of the conversion of an old stone barn on
A TEAM of health workers who care for young prisoners has won an award. The health care team at Northallerton Young Offenders Institute (YOI) won the facilities category at the recent Yorkshire and Humber Prison Area Team awards. The team was praised
Investigations into the deaths of a further 12 patients of retired family doctor Howard Martin are to continue, police announced yesterday. Durham Police have prepared files on 12 patients - understood to include a father and son - where morphine may
INNOVATIVE employees have been honoured for their efforts to improve services to housing tenants. Stores officer Stephen Dixon, who works for East Durham Homes, and Easington District Council benefits assistant Sara Canavan were finalists at the Idea
PATIENTS with long-term illnesses can now turn to the Internet for support following the launch of a health website. The site is aimed at people living in Sedgefield borough with conditions such as arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes, heart conditions
TRAVEL plan mascot Sam went back to school yesterday to present awards to five children who have stepped out on a walking bus scheme. Rachael Coulthard, James Reek, Lauren Brice and sisters Meike and Anna Burkhardt all travel to Neville's Cross Primary
FATHER Christmas visited a primary school yesterday - but beneath the whiskers was a familiar face. Durham County Council Countryside Ranger Saul Fajerman is a regular and popular visitor to Kelloe Primary School and was asked to play Santa as the school
CROWDS are expected to gather in a town centre tonight as the festive celebrations get under way. Residents from Willington will join local dignitaries for a carol service on the town green at 5pm. The Reverend Tom Wilkinson will switch on the Christmas
PEOPLE concerned about north Durham's dental services are being urged to attend a public meeting next month. The Durham and Chester-le-Street Patients and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum is organising the event so the area's health chiefs can outline the
David Hodgson has heard only good things about Tresor Kandol and firmly believes the striker will turn out to be a success at Darlington. Kandol has not made the best of impressions since joining Quakers on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge last month
A SET of artistic gateways has been unveiled at the entrance to a Middlesbrough park. The metalwork gates, designed by artist Graeme Hopper, form part of the new entrance to the Berwick Hills Local Nature Reserve. Middlesbrough Wildspace project, which
TWO men were robbed and beaten in separate incidents on their way home from a night out and police fear they may be linked. The first attack happened at about 2.15am yesterday when a 26-year-old man who had been at a nightclub on Newcastle Quayside was
SHOPPERS have been told they must return unwanted festive gifts by Christmas Eve. There will be no time to see disappointed faces on Christmas Day for people who buy from one branch of Littlewoods, which has told shoppers that presents have to be returned
A SUPERMARKET supervisor is to stand trial accused of stealing more than £8,000. Nicola Mabel Hudson, 26, appeared before magistrates in Harrogate yesterday on three theft charges, involving a total of £8,330 said to have been taken from cash machines
VOLUNTEERS from across the county are to be awarded medals in recognition of their service to their communities. A total of 47 North Yorkshire residents will receive a Year of the Volunteer medal. Among the recipients is Fiona Walker, from York, a volunteer
A WOMAN needed hospital treatment after she was sexually assaulted on Teesside. The victim, who is in her 30s, was grabbed from behind while walking along Broadway West, in Dormanstown, Redcar, on Wednesday, at about 5.20pm. She was dragged into an alleyway
TURKEY, plum pudding, mince pies... these are the traditional tastes of Christmas. Trouble is, not every one likes them. They were, after all, designed as a treat for people who ate lightly, sparingly and boringly through the year. We're spoilt. We don't
GREEN fuels company D1 Oils has dropped its takeover bid for fellow Teesside biodiesel company Biofuels Corporation, saying it was unable to value all its assets. D1 made the initial approach to Biofuels last month after it suspended trading of its shares
THE dangers of drink driving were demonstrated yesterday to remind people to be careful over the festive season. The Motor Risk Group and Darlington Borough Council held an Anti-Drink Drive Rally in the town's Market Place to promote safe driving and
WHILE the rest of Middlesbrough has been following the feats of local duo 'Journey South' closely, it is safe to assume the town's footballers have not been inspired by the pair's Saturday night singing. As Boro's UEFA Cup group-stage campaign came to
A HARD-hitting film which graphically highlights the consequences of speeding has been launch-ed in an effort to cut the number of road deaths in the region. The 18-minute DVD features fatal and traumatic crashes in the hope they will prick the consciences
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Pulisher: Activision Formats: PS2, Xbox, 360, GameCube Price: £39.99 Family friendly? Yes. FANS of the Tony Hawks' series were beside themselves when they heard this new edition would be set in a free roaming city freed
AN RAF base threatened with closure could become a military communications centre, it emerged last night. A recent Ministry of Defence decision not to deploy the new Joint Combat Aircraft at RAF Leeming, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, increased
NEWCASTLE UNITED captain Alan Shearer has demanded a repeat performance when they visit West Ham tomorrow - or risk undoing the good work of beating Arsenal. The Magpies head to east London knowing three points will lift them level on points with the
THE Government yesterday conceded there were failings with the multi-billion pound mining health compensation schemes. Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said ministers "would undoubtedly want to think long and hard about whether there are better alternatives
TAXPAYERS are facing a bill of thousands after a theme park won a battle with a local council over an "unreasonable" planning decision. Flamingo Land, near Malton, North Yorkshire, was given permission to build the 55-metre Cliffhanger ride by Ryedale
A TEENAGER whose death inspired a campaign to raise thousands of pounds for The Samaritans took his own life after splitting with his long-term girlfriend, an inquest heard yesterday. Daniel O'Hare was found hanged at his home in Stainmore Drive, Great
WORKERS whose jobs are on the line at a chromium plant are threatening strike action unless their redundancy packages are improved, unions warned yesterday. Elementis Chromium is shedding more than half of its 230-strong workforce at its plant in Eaglescliffe
THE stairs of a North-East car park were being treated as a potential crime scene today after a woman was discovered in a distressed state. She was very upset when she was found by an unknown person in the early hours of the morning. Police were called
NORTH-East recruitment specialist Wolviston has acquired a smaller rival which will push turnover up to £27m this year. Stockton-based Wolviston last year won a contract with oil group Shell to be one of only four agencies to provide staff to onshore
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, Pulisher: Activision, Formats: PS2, Xbox, 360, GameCube, Price: 39.99: Family friendly? Yes. FANS of the Tony Hawks' series were beside themselves when they heard this new edition would be set in a free roaming city freed
THE coroner who has been asked by Durham Police to investigate the deaths of 12 patients of former family doctor Howard Martin said today he may examine further cases. Dr Martin 71, was acquitted of killing Frank Moss, 59, Stanley Weldon and Harry Gittins
After almost eight years in the marines, Steven Preece quit following a court martial. But adapting to life as a civilian proved a struggle, until he discovered something else to believe in. Nick Morrison reports. BY his own admission, Steven Preece was
NEWCASTLE UNITED captain Alan Shearer has demanded a repeat performance when they visit West Ham tomorrow - or risk undoing the good work of beating Arsenal. The Magpies head to east London knowing three points will lift them level on points with the
A MAJOR rebellion over controversial plans to merge forces in England and Wales was launched by police authorities last night. The Association of Police Authorities (APA) accused Home Secretary Charles Clarke of trying to ''bribe'' forces into submission
HEALTH SERVICE: HARDLY a day passes without TV or newspapers (not so The Northern Echo) complaining about something or other to do with our health service. Sometimes I think there is a conspiracy to undermine the NHS - the latest complaint being about
DARLINGTON Mowden Park have secured the release of the Newcastle Development XV's current captain Eni Gisende for tomorrow's derby at Blackwell Meadows. The Development XV are breaking new ground on Monday in trying to strengthen the Falcons' Cumbrian
A CHEESEMAKER who lost a six-year legal battle to label her cheese "feta" has unveiled its new name - "beta". Judy Bell, of Shepherds Purse Cheeses, branded European bureaucrats idiots after they ruled that only cheese from Greece can be called feta.
FOUR young film makers have been shortlisted for a national award. The team of pupils from St George's Primary School, Middleton St George, will be given a tour of BBC Television Centre if their video is chosen as the best in the country. The school would
EDUCATIONAL CLEANSING: RE 'Educational Cleansing' comments made by Mr John Williams, (Echo, Dec 10). I would like to express my disgust at the comments attributed to the leader of Darlington Borough Council quoted in the Echo. He should be ashamed of
POLICE in County Durham are warning drivers that thieves can strike when they are scraping ice off their windscreens. Officers say some vehicles are being stolen while they are being defrosted with the engine running and the driver is outside trying to
THE headteachers of five out of the seven secondary schools in Darlington have met to discuss the future of education in the town. The headteachers of Hummersknott School and Language College, Carmel RC Technology College, Branksome School, Haughton Community
A DARLINGTON school has made history by winning every trophy in an annual cross-country competition. It is the first time in the 50 year history of the Darlington Secondary Schools Cross Country this feat has been achieved. Carmel College won the Year
MORE people with mental health needs will be able to earn computer qualifications thanks to lottery funding. Darlington Mind has won £98,112 grant from the Big Lottery Fund to finance its training for another three years. The money will help to double
A TEENAGE singing sensation narrowly missed out on first place in an under-18s talent contest. Kelly McWaters, of Chilton, was named top vocalist as she came second in the national final of Stars of Tomorrow at Scarborough's Cayton Bay. The 14-year-old
HEALTH officials have announced they have secured the future of a Darlington doctor's surgery. The Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) has also pledged to improve services in an area with high medical needs. There were fears the Parkgate surgery could
A MAN who beat up and threatened an elderly newsagent has been jailed and barred from his shop for two years. Raymond John Wilson, who at 21 already had a record of 82 criminal offences, attacked Hans Kukreja following a row at his Darlington shop. Tom
The first steps have been taken in the £10m redevelopment of a Teesdale community hospital. Yesterday, Iris Hillery, the chairman of the Friends of the Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, formally started work on the building by digging the first
Staff at South West Durham Training are keeping it in the family. Four employees will be joined by close family members, who are improving their career prospects through some of the courses on offer. Wendy Chippendale is a training officer and her brother
TWO men accused of fly-posting in Stockton have been prosecuted as part of the council's drive against anti-social behaviour. The men, who have not been named, were posting an advert for a nightclub on a wall in Prince Regent Street. One of the men chose
A COUNCIL is leading the way with the latest technology designed to protect vulnerable children. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is the first authority in the Tees Valley to install a system to identify the needs of young people. The software provides
FORGET the Sir Michael Stoutes and Martin Pipes of this world if you want to make a buck and instead try investing on all of David Barker's horses blind. The shrewd Scorton, near Catterick Bridge, handler boasts a money-spinning £85.26 profit to a £1
A £4.3M extra-care housing scheme designed to help older people lead independent lives has been opened. Town Close, in Stokesley, has 40 one and two-bedroomed apartments and a restaurant. One wing of the building has six apartments designed for use by
LOCAL authorities on Teesside have set themselves the target of becoming the first in the country to end the use of landfill for disposing of waste. Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton councils are already leading the way, with
POLITICIANS in Derwentside have raised concerns about proposals to hand powers to run transport, housing and economic development to a regional body. A report by a local government think tank said only a powerful "city region", based in Newcastle-Gateshead
TWO sports centres have announced their opening times over the Christmas holidays. Hetton Sports Complex will be open from 10am to 4pm on Christmas Eve, but will be closed for three days from Christmas Day. It will then open from Wednesday, December 28
A COMMUNITY nurse has retired after 40 years of service. Ros Salmon, from Thirsk Health Clinic, qualified as a staff nurse after studying at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, in 1965. She worked in the operating theatre, before moving on to study midwifery
KELVIN DAVIS, back between the posts for Sunderland, has described how emerging from the most difficult time of his career has made him stronger and even more determined to help Sunderland climb out of an ever-increasing rut. The Black Cats' goalkeeper
AN MP has demanded an investigation into why automated helplines fail to understand people speaking with North-East accents. Fraser Kemp wants to know why many computerised voice recognition systems are apparently designed to recognise only those speaking
A CAMPAIGNING Middlesbrough councillor has slammed a decision to reward highly-paid top officers with a bumper pay rise. Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon rubber-stamped the increases of about 15 per cent for the four executive directors of the council,
PEOPLE concerned about north Durham's dental services are being urged to attend a public meeting next month. The Durham and Chester-le-Street Patients and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum is organising the event so the area's health chiefs can outline the
A FORMER pupil has returned to school - to say thank you. Richard Gratwick, who is now leader of the Oxford University Orchestra, returned to Yarm School to present a cheque to charity. At the end of last September, virtuoso Richard gave a fundraising
A MOTHER appeared in court yesterday after more than 70 silent phone calls were made to her estranged husband in one weekend. Angela Maddy, 42, pleaded guilty to harassment of her husband, Anthony, by making nuisance calls to him on November 26 and 27
A COMMUNITY cyber cafe, thought to be the first of its kind on Teesside, is being created in two redundant school classrooms. The Mannion Suite - named after local football legend Wilf Mannion - is being created by regeneration organisation South Bank
DEAN McDonald will make his final Hartlepool United appearance tomorrow after Ipswich boss Joe Royle insisted the striker must return to Portman Road. Following an impressive four-week spell at Victoria Park, boss Martin Scott had hoped to keep the striker
Health Editor Barry Nelson talks to a teenager who would love to be living it up with her friends this Christmas, but whose debilitating illness means the celebrations we all take for granted are merely exhausting. IN the hectic last few days before Christmas
Songbirds (C4) Prehistoric Sea Cow: Great Ocean Adventure (five) THE camera panned along women standing outside their prison cells. They spoke in turn: "Three years, five years, five years, five years, five years nine months..." And so it went on as they
THE perception that too much consideration is given to criminals and not enough is afforded to their victims is a common one. And cases such as that of murdered financier John Monckton add to that national sense of an imbalance in the justice system.
Christmas lunch can be tough on the tum, so here are some ways of slimming down the stodge. TURKEY, plum pudding, mince pies... these are the traditional tastes of Christmas. Trouble is, not every one likes them. They were, after all, designed as a treat
WHILE the rest of Middlesbrough has been following the feats of local duo 'Journey South' closely, it is safe to assume the town's footballers have not been inspired by the pair's Saturday night singing. As Boro's UEFA Cup group-stage campaign came to
TEACHERS at a top-performing school have warned a council that it will destroy their school if it presses ahead with controversial plans. Staff at Hurworth School, which is in danger of being closed by Darlington Borough Council, have told local authority
AN engineering company has secured a £95,000 Government grant to help it to expand. Tharsus Engineering enjoyed 30 per cent growth this year, but hopes to expand more in 2006. The grant, from regional development agency One NorthEast, has enabled bosses
NORTH-East recruitment specialist Wolviston has acquired a smaller rival which will push turnover up to £27m this year. Stockton-based Wolviston last year won a contract with oil group Shell to be one of only four agencies to provide staff to onshore
SHARES in Europe's biggest coal-fired power station began trading yesterday - a month after takeover talks with three potential suitors fell through. Drax, which is based in North Yorkshire and provides enough power to meet seven per cent of the UK's
AN architects firm in Darlington has unveiled plans for a £5m court martial building at Europe's largest Army garrison. The project will see Browne Smith Baker (BSB) create a modern court house at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, with advanced
STAFF at a factory have beaten others from around the world to win an award for dealing with environmental health and safety. A glass sculpture and £3,000 were presented to workers at the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) pharmaceutical plant at Barnard Castle, County
A MOTHER-of-two who was trailed by a private detective when she developed a disability at work has been awarded almost £60,000 by a tribunal. Ann Priestley said last night that her employer had destroyed her life and left her with no confidence after
THE owner of troubled shipbuilder Swan Hunter yesterday said he needs to know by the end of next year whether or not his yards will secure some of the work on the Navy aircraft carrier project. The shipyard failed to land a major share of the multi-billion
NEGATIVE perceptions of children's hospices are preventing parents from using vital services, it has been revealed. New research shows most people associate hospices with the words death and sadness. A campaign was launched yesterday by supermarket chain
A WRITER to Hear All Sides wonders what I have to say about Shoaib Akhtar now that the bowler I re-christened the Rawalpindi Rickshaw is proving too good for the England batsmen. My opinion of him hasn't changed, the problem being that you never know
It is said that a camel is a horse designed by committee, and there's something of a camel about the Government's solution to investigating the July 7 London bombings. The Government had a number of options open to it, ranging from doing nothing to a
