A killer whose victim died more than 18 months after he was assaulted was jailed for three years today thanks to dramatic changes in the law. Father of two Keith Stephenson, 21, was spared jail in October 2002 when he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily
A MAN who repeatedly stabbed a neighbour in an early hours doorstep confrontation has been jailed for five years. Stephen Renwick, 40, called at the home of a 38-year-old neighbour in Dorset Crescent, Moorside, Consett, County Durham, early on September
A new report revealed last night, has criticised council bosses over the issues surrounding the building of Darlington Football Club's new home. Chief reporter Stuart Mackintosh looks at the Local Government Ombudsman's findings. ON August 16, 2003, thousands
LAST Saturday was St George's Day, latterly much trumpeted, though more than a quarter of Englishmen still can't name their patron and only one in five knows when the great day falls. For an "English" saint, in truth, old George is remarkably cosmopolitan
Parents in isolated communities fear cuts in a transport subsidy could deny their children nursery education. Grants from the Countryside Agency and the Single Regeneration Budget have helped provide a 16-seater minibus taking Upper Weardale youngsters
DARLINGTON Mowden Park have told Durham officials they are not prepared to play the county cup final on June 1 if they win tonight's semi-final at Westoe. Nor do they want to play it as a pre-season match in August, as suggested by Darlington, who are
Police say County Durham is still one of the safest places in the country after releasing crime figures showing another drop in recorded offences. Total crime in the county from April last year to the end of March was 47,115, more than 1,300 less than
Charles Kennedy last night sought to cash in on the defection of ex-Labour MP Brian Sedgemore, claiming it could help the Liberal Democrats to their best General Election performance since the party was founded. He described the decision of the veteran
PRIMARY school children are educating people about how to keep their streets clean and asking council chiefs to play a part. Litter bins have been placed outside Hartside Primary School, Crook, after year four pupils asked Wear Valley District Council
COUNCIL officials have been found guilty of making a series of errors over a £20m football stadium. A Local Government Ombudsman report, seen by The Northern Echo, says Darlington Borough Council should have sought a High Court injunction to prevent the
AN iconic moment from Middlesbrough FC's history has been recreated to mark the tenth anniversary of the final game at Ayresome Park. Former Boro striker John Hendrie returned to the exact spot from where, in April 1995, he scored the last goal at Ayresome
The second phase of a £315,000 project to develop a large green area in Darlington is due to start next week. The stretch of land running the length of Holgate Moor is being transformed into a facility to benefit both young and old residents. The first
THE future of one of the world's oldest motorsport events - the Scott Trial in Swaledale - is in doubt because of a crackdown on off-road events. Government regulations have been introduced to reduce the number of off-road motorsport events. The Scott
A £1m scheme to encourage ethnic minorities to visit and help run the region's national parks has been launched. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national park authorities are both taking part in the Mosaic Partnership. Under the scheme, community
Give her a round of applause! Seven-year-old Martha Gibson officially has the world's loudest clap. Her record breaking feat of clapping at 73 decibels has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records. Martha's ability to clap very loudly was a family
A HOME for the future helped a team of engineers win £500. Students from St John's RC School, in Bishop Auckland, won the Enterprise in Construction Challenge, a competition that encourages young people to think about a career in the building trade. The
GRAEME Souness believes it is 'unfair' to suggest Newcastle fans were led down the garden path regarding the club's attempts to sign Wayne Rooney last summer, but added he was far more positive about his end of season transfer targets. Supporters were
RURAL voters in the Bishop Auckland constituency are to be given the chance to question their parliamentary candidates before the General Election. Churches Together in Barnard Castle and Startforth is holding an 'Any Election Questions' event at the
ENTHUSIASTS will turn out in force this week to see a stained glass window they helped to design being installed in their village hall. Twenty local residents attended workshops to learn how to create pictures using coloured glass for the hall at Barningham
A programme of activities aimed at keeping young people occupied during the school summer holidays has been planned. Summer Jam 2005 is an initiative by Darlington Borough Council and activities will include football, basketball and dance. Call (01325
THE positive surge in business confidence in February didn't last. This could be due to the announcement of job losses both regionally and nationally, including the closure 126 Littlewoods Index stores, which could affect branches in Darlington's Cornmill
THE Tees Valley World Drummers were beating to a new rhythm yesterday when they took delivery of some African drums. Drumz, as the group will be known, received the £2,600 worth of fairly-traded kit thanks to funding from the Middlesbrough Neighbourhood
EDUCATION officials say that plans to provide nursery places at a primary school would improve services. Durham County Council wants to close Dean Road Nursery School in Ferryhill, and set up a new nursery at nearby Dean Bank Primary School. The new unit
A COUNCIL has agreed to pay damages to a dog-owner whose pet was trapped in a barbed wire fence. The dog had to be freed by the fire brigade after it became trapped in barbed wire next to the Cemetery Lane allotments, in Barnard Castle. Its owner submitted
A SENIOR clergyman accused of misconduct has agreed to resign after the charges against him were dropped. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Methuen, was due to face 21 charges of conduct unbecoming the office and work of a clerk in holy orders
VISITORS to sports centres and swimming pools will have the chance to win £10,000 worth of prizes this weekend. Tees Active Ltd, which is celebrating its first anniversary this Saturday, operates Billingham Forum, Splash in Stockton, Thornaby Pavilion
A PLAY written by William Shakespeare and another about the Bard will be performed at a theatre next month. The playwright's classic tale of mistaken identity, The Comedy of Errors, will be performed at the Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, by travelling
ARTWORK by rock legend Ronnie Wood goes on show at a stately home today. The Rolling Stones guitarist is also a much-acclaimed artist and has continued to paint and draw throughout his music career. Some of his work is at Nunnington Hall, near Helmsley
TALENTED young musicians tuned up for a challenge yesterday - performing as an orchestra within hours of meeting. About 140 pupils from 11 primary schools visited Durham School yesterday for the event. The children spending the morning working with staff
MOVES to create a rubbish tip near a nature reserve should be dropped, says an environmental group. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has tabled strong objections over plans to establish a public amenity waste tip for household and garden refuse
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build an abattoir, cooking room and incinerator at a farm specialising in rare meats may be approved next week. Paul and Kate Langthorne, from Crawford Grange, Brompton, near Northallerton, say the new building is vital for their
A CHARITY has been doing its bit for the environment, with the help of a team of volunteers. Northdale Horticulture, of Northallerton, provides a meaningful occupation for people with learning disabilities. With the help of a grant from the British Trust
THREE new-born lambs have taken up residence at a perfectly-named place -The Ewe Centre. The centre -full name Esh Winning Eco-Learning Centre -is at Esh Winning Primary School and aims to encourage schools to hold more lessons outdoors. The lambs, which
STAFF at a Teesside housing agency have celebrated their first birthday by raising money for a local hospice. Not-for-profit company Housing Hartlepool raised almost £400 for Hartlepool and District Hospice through the sale of tombola tickets at an event
POLICE are looking for a teenager who snatched a woman's handbag. The robbery happened at about 9.30pm on Monday, in Geneva Road, Darlington. The woman, who is in her 50s, fought with the thief, but he managed to steal her bag, which contained about £4
THE new chief executive of Darlington Borough Council took up her position on Monday. Ada Burns, 45, the former neighbourhood renewal director in the London borough of Greenwich, was formally welcomed at a full council meeting. She has spent the past
A VILLAGE bobby is inviting residents to a surgery tonight. PC Jamie Rielly will be at Tudhoe Community Centre, behind Front Street, between 7pm and 9pm. Villagers are invited to call in and raise relevant policing issues with PC Rielly, who has been
TEENAGER Sophie Edmondson, right, has won a hotly-contested competition. The 14-year-old, a pupil at Hurworth School, near Darlington, has won a contract with Model Search UK, after winning the Darlington Model Girl 2005. The competition was held at the
THREE library workers from Darlington will swap their books for bikes when they hit the open road this weekend to cycle across the country for a local charity. Michael Wilkinson, 25, Chris Holmes, 19, and Jonathan Goldberg, 30, who all work at the Crown
A BADMINTON club is launching a ten-week coaching course in Darlington. The Haughton club will be holding the free sessions in a bid to promote badminton in the local community and attract new players. Tuition will be available from several qualified
TICKETS for a free festival in the North-East are being sold on an Internet auction site for up to £200 - and could be fake. Touts are using computer technology to rake in huge amounts for passes to the Radio 1 Big Weekend at Herrington Park, near Sunderland
A CRISIS could be looming for pubs and clubs across Cleveland following a clampdown on unregistered door staff, which could lead to licences being revoked. More than 20 people are facing court action for breaching strict new rules regulating the industry
A SCHOOL yesterday unveiled a memorial to one of its former teachers, who died of cancer. St Patrick's RC School in Fairfield, Stockton, opened The Wakefield Walk in memory of Joanne Wakefield, a nursery nurse who died in September 2003, aged 29. Yesterday
A NORTH-EAST girl is helping England qualify for the women's football European Championships. Stephanie Houghton, 17, of Hetton-le-Hole, flew to Italy for qualifying matches after she was picked for the under-19s squad. Stephanie, who is studying at Durham
MARKET town motorists are being warned they must adhere to new traffic regulations or risk being fined. The warning comes from police following the major redevelopment in Chester-le-Street, particularly in Front Street, in the past six months. The road
With just two games remaining, Darlington are close to achieving a play-off place and, after a season of inconsistency, Curtis Fleming admits points are more important than performances. A 2-0 win over Rushden on Saturday kept Darlington firmly in the
AN ELECTION candidate has denied claims that she failed to pay rent to her former landlord. Glen Franklin has taken Liberal Democrat election hopeful Jody Dunn to court over money he says she owes him for a flat she rented during last September's Hartlepool
A LEADING child abuse expert has admitted there was no basis to include claims in a report that children had been drugged as part of alleged sex abuse. Consultant paediatrician Camille De San Lazaro was appearing yesterday at a hearing of the General
The Truth About Hells Angels (five): A MEAN and moody leather-clad Marlon Brando typified the Hollywood image of Hells Angels. Meet "a hot blood and his jazzed-up hoodlums" was the invitation in the trailer for the biker movie The Wild One in the early
WHILE the North-East waits to hear about support for its plans to invest £30m to create 7,000 jobs, the Southern-based British Ports yesterday pledged to invest £400m in its UK ports over the next ten years. The London-based operator, which runs Grimsby
A MAN who worked hard for his community for 40 years said yesterday he could not have done it without his wife. Arnold Makepeace said his wife Gwen, who has died aged 80, was a huge help in the duties he carried out at Cockfield, near Barnard Castle,
STEVE McClaren has cheekily suggested that Newcastle's supporters should be cheering for Middlesbrough in this evening's Tyne-Tees derby, if they want their side to be involved in next season's UEFA Cup. Last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United
MORE than a dozen Iraqis face prosecution after they were identified as being involved in the deaths of six Royal Military Policemen. The six Red Caps were killed after they were trapped by a mob in a police station in the town of al-Majar al-Kabar, north
SCOUTS and their leaders raised more than £300 at a church for a St George's Day service. Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorer Scouts, all aged six to 18, took part in the service led by Father Robert McTeer, at the church of St Helen, near Bishop Auckland
THE family of a boy who died on a railway line in Darlington have criticised the borough council for failing to provide enough for youngsters to do on Friday and Saturday nights. Stuart Adams, 15, and Lee Mullis, 14, were killed at the Five Arches Bridge
The recent attack on Abigail Witchalls, stabbed in the neck while walking her son in a buggy, has caused reactions of outrage and sympathy across the country. As politicians attempted to focus our attention with talk about immigration and tax, it was
THE positive surge in business confidence in February didn't last. This could be due to the announcement of job losses both regionally and nationally, including the closure 126 Littlewoods Index stores, which could affect branches in Darlington's Cornmill
UP to 22,000 manufacturing jobs could be lost across the UK before June, the CBI warned last night. Thousands of fresh job losses are expected following a sharp fall in orders in recent months, a survey predicted. The CBI said 22,000 jobs were likely
Kevin Kyle and Michael Bridges are both hoping to be fit for Sunderland's promotion party against Stoke. The strikers, who have only managed 11 first-team starts between them this season, are nursing knocks that threaten to rule them out of the rest of
In writing a manual on how to bring up her daughter while on her deathbed, Helen Harcombe reminds us of the enduring job of being a parent. BEING a parent never stops - even when you're dead. Book shops have shelves and shelves of expert instructions
A THUG who killed a man with one punch when he attacked him outside a North-East pub late at night had his jail term cut by a year yesterday. Football coach Steven White, of Dundas Street, Stockton, pleaded guilty in August last year at Teesside Crown
FORMER ICI and Ford chairman Lord Alex Trotman has died at the age of 71. Lord Trotman, who was a director of ICI during its restructuring period from 1997, and then chairman in 2002 and 2003, spent most of his career at Ford motors. ICI chairman Peter
A SENIOR clergyman accused of misconduct has agreed to resign after the charges against him were dropped. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Methuen, was due to face 21 charges of conduct unbecoming the office and work of a clerk in holy orders
A TOURIST attraction with a wartime connection is recreating Victory in Europe (VE) Day six decades on by reviving a traditional British celebration. Harperley Prisoner of War Camp, near Crook, is planning to hold a VE Day street party on May 8. The camp's
In writing a manual on how to bring up her daughter while on her deathbed, Helen Harcombe reminds us of the enduring job of being a parent. BEING a parent never stops - even when you're dead. Book shops have shelves and shelves of expert instructions
A frail pensioner may have spent up to 24 hours cowering in a utility room after finding an intruder ransacking her home, police said today. The 86-year-old woman, who is not being named, was discovered dehydrated, bruised and on the floor of the brick
SOFT-GROUND specialist Winged d'Argent (4.10) will be in his element when lining up for the Group 3 £50,000 Sagaro Stakes at Lingfield this afternoon. Mark Johnston's record with staying horses is second-to-none, and although Winged d'Argent has some
CAMPAIGNERS hoping to bring 7,000 jobs to the region want top politicians - including Prime Minister Tony Blair - to declare their support for the plan. The Northern Echo's Support Our Port campaign is helping PD Ports to put pressure on the Government
WHILE the North-East waits to hear about support for its plans to invest £30m to create 7,000 jobs, the Southern-based British Ports yesterday pledged to invest £400m in its UK ports over the next ten years. The London-based operator, which runs Grimsby
COUNCIL officials have been found guilty of making a series of errors over a £20m football stadium. A Local Government Ombudsman report, seen by The Northern Echo, says Darlington Borough Council should have sought a High Court injunction to prevent the
CAMPAIGNERS hoping to bring 7,000 jobs to the region want top politicians - including Prime Minister Tony Blair - to declare their support for the plan. The Northern Echo's Support Our Port campaign is helping PD Ports to put pressure on the Government
ARTWORK by rock legend Ronnie Wood goes on show at a stately home today. The Rolling Stones guitarist is also a much-acclaimed artist and has continued to paint and draw throughout his music career. Some of his work is at Nunnington Hall, near Helmsley
SUNDERLAND has its own little corner of Hell thanks to students at the university, whose devilish designs feature in ITV's Hell's Kitchen. Ten second-year students studying BA (Hons) Glass created the table lights, which are ensuring diners can see what
STAFF were threatened with a gun after a disturbance in a pub. Trouble flared between four men who had been drinking in the Royal Oak, in Grange Road, Jarrow. One man drew a gun and demanded cash from bar staff before the four left with small amount of
POLICE have seized six motorbikes from teenagers as part of a clampdown on anti-social behaviour. As part of the Street Safe Scheme, Operation Dulcify took Durham Motorbike Constabulary Section off-road at the weekend to stop youngsters causing misery
RECRUITS who completed a fire brigade course that encourages young people to become model citizens have been honoured. Fifteen teenagers, who completed the 12-week course organised by County Durham and Darlington Fire Brigade, carried out a drill in front
MORE than £30,000 will be spent on refurbishing a Teesdale playground. However, Barnard Castle town councillors have warned that they will not invest any more money if the refurbished Green Lane play area is vandalised. SureStart has agreed to allocate
Gaunless Valley Heritage guide Pat Butynska is leading an eight-mile walk along the Haggerleases branchline in Gaulness Valley, which is expected to take six hours. A mini bus will pick up walkers at 10am at the Gaunless Valley Visitor Centre, The Slack
DALES residents say that a proposed £600,000 children's centre supporting families would be a waste of money and could affect existing services. The Weardale Children's Centre, based at the Barrington School, in Stanhope, would be one of the first of
A ROW of cherry trees planted across Harrogate Stray to replace 28 cut down only months ago by vandals have been pulled out of the ground in a fresh attack. Fifteen of the trees were attacked early on Saturday morning. Tougher stakes and the use of maturing
A multi-million pound retail park development is set to breathe a new commercial lease of life into a run down corner of Durham City. The completion of the ambitious project will realise the fulfilment of a vision of two prominent North East businessmen
EXTRA trains are to operate on Tanfield Railway over the Bank Holiday weekend. Two trains will operate from 11am on Sunday and Monday at the attraction, which is off the Stanley to Sunniside road. The railway can be contacted on 0191-388 7545.
THE headteacher of a doomed primary school has spoken of his devastation at its forthcoming closure. Tony Kemp, headteacher at Rise Carr School, Darlington, for four years, said he was deeply disappointed. The school's fate was sealed at a School Organisation
Youngsters in a Teesside school took part in a two-hour music marathon yesterday to raise money for charity. Children aged from three to 11 at Teesside Preparatory and High School took part in the two-hour event to raise money for the Great North Air
THIS evening's Tyne-Tees derby brings together two clubs who have experienced similar seasons. But, as Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson explains, there is one crucial difference - one of them still has something to play for. ON Tyne-Tees derby day, it's
OFFICIALS behind a three-year strategy to crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in Darlington are confident their tough targets can be achieved. The Community Safety Partnership is working with Darlington Borough Council and the town's police officers
TWO Hartlepool residents have been honoured for their services to the community. Former councillor and mayor Peggy Watson was made an alderman, and Chris Simmons, who founded the Hartlepool Youth Choir, was made a freeman. The pair were honoured at a
Church concert: The next fundraising event organised by Yarm Lions is a concert featuring the Trimdon and District Male Voice Choir, at Yarm Methodist Church on Friday, at 7.15pm. All proceeds are in aid of Daisy Chain and other Lions' charities. Tickets
MORE than a dozen Iraqis face prosecution after they were identified as being involved in the deaths of six Royal Military Policemen. The six Red Caps were killed after they were trapped by a mob in a police station in the town of al-Majar al-Kabar, north
VILLAGERS will perform the ancient ceremony of checking the parish boundaries this weekend. Esh Parish Council, which covers Langley Park, Quebec and Esh, revived the tradition of beating the bounds about 11 years ago. On Sunday, a group of walkers will
STUDENTS are to take on police in a charity football match this week. The game between Durham University Students' Union and Durham Police will take place at the Racecourse Sports Ground, in the city, at 2pm on Saturday. The game, which will raise money
A CHARITY has been given £10,000 to support people suffering from dementia as well as their families and carers. The Alzheimer's Society Derwentside got the money from Lloyds TSB Foundation to employ an information and education worker. The successful
COUNTY Durham has a new chief in the fight to stop smoking in workplaces. Dianne Woodall has been appointed by primary care trusts (PCTs) in the county and in Darlington to lead efforts to cut down on smoking She will encourage the owners of premises
PIONEERING technology is transmitting invaluable help straight into pupils' homes across north Durham. More than 300 free computers have been given to families in South Moor, Craghead and South Stanley as part of Derwentside District Council's Aspirations
A TAXI driver yesterday denied raping a mother-of-one after driving her home. The woman had been out drinking with friends in Darlington town centre when she got into a taxi to go home in the early hours of October 21. Teesside Crown Court heard she had
GREY MATTERS: I AM retired and living in Finland, and ask: Why are so few election candidates seniors? Grey voters form such a huge chunk of the electorate. A senior candidate is most in tune with the concerns of pensioners. I think at least 40 per cent
THE final total for York's Boxing Day Asian tsunami appeal has now risen to almost £85,000. Council leader Steve Galloway said: "The fact the response was sustained over nearly four months is a great credit to everyone.
LAST Saturday was St George's Day, latterly much trumpeted, though more than a quarter of Englishmen still can't name their patron and only one in five knows when the great day falls. For an "English" saint, in truth, old George is remarkably cosmopolitan
NEWCASTLE midfielder Charles N'Zogbia has labelled his former club 'a disgrace' for threatening to scupper his dream move to Tyneside. N'Zogbia is expected to make his third successive start when Middlesbrough arrive at St James' Park for tonight's Tyne-Tees
A MAN accused of murdering a teenage girl as she lay asleep on a sofa made his first crown court appearance yesterday. Kimberley Bage, 16, was repeatedly stabbed to death. Her mother, Paula Hanley, 31, discovered her body on the living room floor in Troutpool
MARATHON man Peter Rowley may still be nursing blisters, but he has enough energy left to celebrate after raising more than £25,000 for charity. The chief executive of Darlington Building Society completed the Flora London Marathon earlier this month
A PLAY written by William Shakespeare and another about the Bard will be performed at a theatre next month. The playwright's classic tale of mistaken identity, The Comedy of Errors, will be performed at the Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, by travelling
LOCAL good causes in the Ryedale area are to benefit from a charity musical evening. The event, on May 13, will feature performances from Ryedale Youth Theatre and the Swinton and District Excelsior Band and will raise funds for St Catherine's Hospice
An 83-year-old woman is set to patrol demolition earmarked streets to keep arsonists at bay. Cleveland Police, community police support officers and neighbourhood support workers, employed by the Guinness Trust, are carrying out daily inspections of 150
It's nearly two years since six Royal Military Policemen were killed by a mob in Iraq but it's only now that a prosecution appears to be a realistic possibility. In the first of two articles, Nick Morrison talks to the father of one of the six about his
A BARGAIN electrical shop is being investigated by trading standards officers after customer complaints, The Northern Echo can reveal. Customers at the discount store, in Northgate, Darlington, have voiced concerns after not being given what they believed
FROM Friday, there will only be one police non-emergency number available to the people of County Durham and Darlington. During the past three weeks, local office phone numbers have been phased out. Anyone dialling the discontinued lines will hear a recorded
A MAN was freed by firefighters yesterday after his tractor overturned and trapped his foot. The man, believed to be in his late 40s, was thrown out of the vehicle when it toppled over on muddy ground. It landed on his foot, crushing his ankle. He was
Community leaders are supporting a council's controversial plans to build a new £4.5m headquarters in their town. The mayor of Colburn said he would 'welcome with open arms' Richmondshire District Council's new offices. The move away from Richmond also
HINDSIGHT is a wonderful thing. And whether it was right to allow a 25,000-seater football stadium to be built on the outskirts of Darlington will be the subject of intense debate for years to come. The majority take the view that it was a flawed decision
THE safety of the MMR triple vaccine and the latest thinking on Variant CJD (vCJD) will be the subject of a meeting today. Experts on infectious diseases will speak at Durham University's Wolfson Institute, in Stockton. Professor Andrew Hall, of the London
With just two games remaining, Darlington are close to achieving a play-off place and, after a season of inconsistency, Curtis Fleming admits points are more important than performances. A 2-0 win over Rushden on Saturday kept Darlington firmly in the
Fitness instructor Sue Howard, of Lingdale, east Cleveland, has taken over the Take Heart Support Group, Loftus, after the retirement of Elaine Hartley, who has supervised sessions since 1995.
Cabbies have accused Durham City Council of being "pig headed'' in the row over the colour of the city's fleet of taxis. Hackney cab operators successfully challenged in the magistrates court the city council's insistence that all their vehicles should
