A SPLASH of colour came to school this week when Miss Becky Griffin, aged 21, who lives in Darlington, spent several days with youngsters at Sacred Heart primary school in Northallerton, teaching art and painting murals. She left behind some striking
BARRISTER Vera Baird has been elected as Redcar's new MP, while Ashok Kumar retained his Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland seat in the General Election. Ms Baird, greeted by loud cheers, entered the Redcar Bowl on Thursday night preparing to step
FOLLOWING the success of the Big Live Gig last month, a CD entitled Early Days has been launched by Teesdale community resources, which is based in Barnard Castle. The CD features the best recordings from a selection of 16 bands and artists from the dale
THE North-East economy was dealt another savage blow last night as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced it was planning to axe 400 workers in the region. The jobs are to go at the pharmaceutical company's Barnard Castle plant in County Durham over the next
THE Guardian movie critic once praised a film from Amber Films, noting it had been made by "a bunch of nobodies from Newcastle". Most film-makers would have been insulted but the people at Amber took it as a compliment. Anonymity is their middle name.
WORK on a new medical centre that will bring together two practices was due to start today. The chairman of Tees Health Authority, Tony Waites, was on hand to perform a ceremony to mark the start of work on the new Guisborough Medical Centre. When completed
YOUNGSTERS have been given lessons in washing their hands. Children at Normanby Primary School, near Middlesbrough, were presented with a five-step guide underlining the importance of clean hands in food handling. The classroom guidance was given as part
A BID has been launched to raise money for equipment that could save the sight of diabetics. The Save Our Sight campaign aims to raise £60,000 for a digital retina camera that will provide the latest treatment for diabetic patients at Darlington Memorial
DANCE teacher Claire Worton stepped in at the right time - and won star billing for her students. Claire, principal of the Constellations School of Dance, New Marske, followed up a magazine article she had read about Mardi Gras Promotions, which promotes
FURIOUS residents condemned the chairman of Darlington planning committee for scuppering their campaign to prevent a new road into a woodland reserve. They blamed Coun Frank Robson for using his casting vote to break a 5-5 deadlock in deciding an application
OUR first-born hits 11 next week and he has a new passion in his life - money. He started getting £2-a-week pocket money when he hit double figures last year, while the others still get £1. He's turning into a right little capitalist, always on the lookout
A CAMPAIGNER for miners' compensation has criticised the Government for continuing to drag its feet over the issue. Since 1997, the Government has paid out only a fraction of the full compensation owed to 110,000 claimants. New Industry and Energy Minister
PUBMASTER has posted its offer for Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries (W&DB). Pubmistress, which owns Pubmaster, is offering shareholders in W&DB 480p per ordinary share, valuing the company at £453.4m. The publication of the offer document follows
SHOPPERS have continued to splash out at department store chain House of Fraser, which recorded an 8.1 per cent leap in sales in the past four-and-a-half months. The group, which owns the Binns stores in Darlington and Middlesbrough, said for the first
MERGER partners Halifax and Bank of Scotland have set a target date of September 10 for the creation of new bank HBOS. The timetable for the completion of the alliance will see both companies stage extraordinary general meetings at the end of next month
Bedale & West of Yore PC. - July 29-Aug 2: Main camp at Queen Ethelburga's College. Open to pony club members ten years and over. Details on 01677 427216. Darlington & District RC. - July 8: Winter league dressage. July 15: Young event horse.
Chester-le-Street's Tara Johnson, holder of two national age group titles, defends her junior women's 3k national outdoor long distance title at the Holme Pierrepont National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham, tomorrow, writes ERIC WILKINSON. The junior
COMING from an ironmaster's wife, the message was extraordinary: "When we are told that in a given year the Iron Trade was so many millions of tons more successful than the year before, we rejoice. "But it is as well to inquire how many of the thousands
A POEM written by the mother of a murdered teenager was today laid on the spot where he died. The verses, along with a large bouquet of flowers, were left by police officers on behalf of Michelle Bircham, who was too distraught to visit Lanchester Street
A POPULAR hospice has outlined plans to build a £1.5m new premises. Managers at Willow Burn Hospice, currently in the grounds of Maiden Law Hospital at Maiden Law, near Lanchester, have accepted they have to move after a top level NHS discussion paper
Can you sniff your way to slimness? Well, stranger things have happened. Come to that, can you also sniff your way to alertness, relaxation or a better sex life. Got to be worth trying, hasn't it? AromaCards are stylish little plastic wallets about the
MOTORISTS who ignore new parking restrictions in the centre of Durham in the next two weeks will not be prosecuted. However, Durham County Council says that after that period of grace, offenders will have to pay fixed penalties of up to £50. The third
IT was a year which started so optimistically for the North-East economy. Nissan's decision to build the next Micra at Sunderland safeguarded hundreds of jobs and underlined the world-class credentials of the region's workforce. But for every step forward
POLICE are investigating allegations of voting irregularities at a key marginal seat in the General Election. Tory candidate Karl Poulsen, who was beaten by more than 8,000 votes in Tynemouth, called in police, claiming that ballot box rules were broken
THREE charities are hoping to benefit from council donations to help them help more people in Hartlepool. The Central Residents' Association is based at the purpose-built Phoenix Centre in the town and has raised more than £901,039 to equip the building
A SCHOOL described by inspectors as "excellent" plans to go from strength to strength. St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School in Dunston, Gateshead, was judged to be the 40th most improved school in the country last year. Inspectors who visited earlier
THE Northern Echo women's editor, Arifa Akbar, has scooped a national award. Arifa won the features prize at the BT UK Regional Media Awards in London. She outshone seven other writers who had made it through BT regional heats from across the UK. Judges
Letters from The Northern Echo PAY RISE HAVING read and heard much about the pay increase that Tony Blair has awarded to himself because he believes he is entitled to it, do you think this is what our forefathers fought for? Do you think that young men
TWO North-East university lecturers have been honoured with national teaching awards. Caroline Walker-Gleaves, from Sunderland University, and Professor Ben Knights, from Teesside University, will each receive £50,000 to fund special projects after winning
SCHOOLS throughout North Yorkshire have seen a welcome development in the last couple of years. Substantial amounts of money have been allocated to be spend specifically on capital projects, which can be devolved over a three-year period if a large project
PLASTICS company Peratech has won a top prize in this year's Spirit of Innovation Awards. At a ceremony at Brandling House, Newcastle Racecourse, last night, the Darlington business was presented with the best small company award by Malcolm Craig, managing
ANYONE dipping sheep will need to have a licence from Wednesday. All contractors must be licensed and farmers who are under Form D restrictions must also obtain written permission from the Newcastle emergency disease control centre before they dip. They
Durham County Junior Society Matchplay Championship - The re-arranged championship was comfortably won by Martin Lee who beat Wayne Hewitt of Bishop Auckland 7 & 6 at Castle Eden Golf Club. The semi-finals had been played at Castle Eden on Saturday
TWENTY Guides from 1st Yarm enjoyed a karting challenge to mark an awards achievement. This event was held to celebrate the achievement of Beth Flanagan, 14, Catherine Walker, Helen Crabtree and Michelle Parker, all 15, who are the last guides in Tees
THE honours have been piling up for Bedale Athletic's prolific young striker Adam Bramley. After racking up a magnificent 44 goals last season, he was presented with the leading goalscorer trophy and was voted the player of the season at the Camerons
THE publication of the British Horse Society's eighth edition of Bed and Breakfast for Horses has been postponed until September because of the foot-and-mouth crisis. This means there is still time to apply for an entry. If you can offer overnight accommodation
THE Northern Echo's Durham district editorial team is on the move. The office at 18 Claypath will close today and will reopen further up the street, at Ruth First House, on Monday. The reporting team for The Northern Echo and Durham Advertiser has been
Stillington's Pakistan overseas player Mohammed Hafeez and Easingwold's second XI captain Adrian Leckenby are the first winners of the new Hunters Estate Agent Month Awards and will receive their awards at the first of four presentation evenings on Tuesday
CYCLING fans are being urged to get on their bikes for a fund- raising event. The Cleveland and Middlesbrough branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund is joining with Redcar Town Centre Management for a Seaside Pedal Special on Sunday, July 22. Anyone who
A SKATEBOARD park could finally be on the cards after a series of meetings between the council and youngsters from Richmond. Skeeby schoolboy Alasdair Alexander, 13, has been leading a fresh campaign for somewhere to enjoy wheeled crazes which are now
A MEETING has been organised to discuss plans to scrap free concessionary school bus travel in Darlington. Parents opposed to the proposal will meet at St Augustine's Parish Centre, Darlington, at 7.30pm next Wednesday. Organisers hope it will result
TWO THOUSAND jobs and 20pc of auction marts could be lost if a proposed 20-day standstill period for livestock is introduced. The Livestock Auctioneers' Association says the government proposal would be dangerously damaging to the whole livestock industry
A COLLEGE has denied it is bribing potential students in hard-hit areas to take courses. East Durham and Houghall Community College is planning to pay £10 a week to students from low income families, from September. The weekly payment replaces the college's
DOZENS of Church of England secondary schools could be built in the region as part of the Government's drive to improve standards in education. A report out yesterday recommended that the Church spearheads a £25m campaign to help fund an increase in primary
DRIVERS ferrying carcases to the foot-and-mouth disease incinerator at Catterick Garrison have been urged not to park up in a lorry park at nearby Colburn. Claims that trailers loaded with carcases have parked on the site as drivers waited for a slot
ROAD closure campaigners in Nunthorpe this week expressed bitter disappointment as a long-running battle was wound up. But there could still be a backlash over Redcar and Cleveland council's decision to close Gypsy Lane on safety grounds. Even though
Tim Henman today charged into the semi-finals of the Stella Artois Championships at Queen's. The British No2 was forced to dig deep before muscling past Paradorn Srichaphan 7-6 6-3. Henman, the fourth seed, now faces a tough clash against tricky South
A GROUP of teenagers have won a national award for their work to improve facilities for young people in their village. Six youngsters from Brandon, near Durham City, decided to set up their own youth club last year. Last month, they beat off competition
A PICKPOCKET who stole credit and cash cards from a shopper in Bishop Auckland yesterday used one to take money from the victim's account. Police warned people to be extra vigilant after the theft, which happened between 10am and 10.45am in a shop near
CANNY youngsters spent £7,500 building their own kit car as part of a school project - and ended up with a dream machine worth £10,000. The five boys, from Yarm School, east Cleveland, have spent three years working on the Blackjack Avion, a two-seater
Durham and District League - Nevilles Cross, the Second Division leaders, boast the only 100 percent record in the league after they beat the visiting Wingate by six points. Newton Hall lost their 100 percent record when they went down at home to Murton
SWINTON Park, the ancestral home of the Cunliffe-Lister family and now a luxury hotel, has been awarded four stars by the Automobile Association. The 20-bedroom hotel, which only opened in April, received four stars for the quality of its rooms and service
CAN you sniff your way to slimness? Well, stranger things have happened. Come to that, can you also sniff your way to alertness, relaxation or a better sex life. Got to be worth trying, hasn't it? AromaCards are stylish little plastic wallets about the
A POEM written by the mother of a murdered teenager was today laid on the spot where he died. The verses, along with a large bouquet of flowers, were left by police officers on behalf of Michelle Bircham, who was too distraught to visit Lanchester Street
WENSLEYDALE could be ideally suited to bounce back from the impact of foot-and-mouth. National livestock industry leaders at Hawes on Tuesday felt the community strength and spirit, tied in with the inspiring Wensleydale creamery, Hawes auction mart and
DEMAND for holiday and second homes in North Yorkshire remains strong - despite foot-and-mouth disease. And although the agricultural property market understandably remains quiet, one local agency believes there could be an influx of land on the market
"IT'S a fiver" say the advertisements. "Legal tender and available now." Quite true. But this £5 coin is also big, heavy, clumsy and almost impossible to get rid of. One tendered in Darlington arts centre last week went back and forth across the bar three
AN East Cleveland councillor has become the first woman to chair the Cleveland Fire Authority. Coun Brenda Forster, who represents Kirkleatham, succeeds Coun Ray Waller as the new chairman. She was elected to the Fire Authority last year, and is now in
THE economic development team at South Tyneside Council have taken to the road to promote the borough's latest business directory. A record number of firms is included in the relaunched directory, with more high-tech ventures choosing to establish themselves
THE Eastbourne Eagles American flag football team are set to soar even higher thanks to a cash award. The Darlington team have received £4,960 from Awards for All, bringing the total amount received from the grants scheme to £60,000. The team's award
FOUR of the Region's top professional golf instructors went back to school on Wednesday to learn how to bring the game to youngsters across the region. Marcus Webb, (Bedlingtonshire GC), Gary Shipley, (Whitley Bay GC), Patricia Smiley, (Wilton GC) and
A SWALEDALE company could soon have a worldwide impact on the environment. Ecoscope Applied Ecologists of Muker has won a DTI-sponsored smart award for a study into the feasibility of creating a "virtual eco-consultant". The award was secured with assistance
HUNDREDS more children are to get greater protection on the way to and from school in the wake of a Northern Echo campaign. Two more local authorities in the North-East have revealed they are pressing ahead with plans to switch to seatbelt-only vehicles
A DOZEN County Durham teenagers who have been excluded from schools will premier a major multi-media theatre production at Newcastle Playhouse. The play, Base Jump, will focus on youngsters in search of danger and excitement who 'base jump' - a new sport
ALTHOUGH the weather forecast is gloomy about the prospect of a dry day at York, the possibility of more rain will be music to the ears of Julie Camacho, the trainer of Dancing Bay (3.15). Sadly, financial constraints, plus the pressures of bringing up
A FORMER Crook man has been rewarded for his contribution to the development of a South Pacific country. Bill Race, who lived in Billy Row, has received a recognition award commemorating 25 years of independence for Papua New Guinea. Mr Race, a former
Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe is set to make a sensational bid for the Tory leadership. Right-winger Ms Widdecombe - dubbed Doris Karloff - is expected to confirm she'll launch her campaign on Monday. The Tory heavyweight is poised to battle it
THOUSANDS of tourists stepped back in time yesterday as they witnessed the spectacular arrival of a magnificent throwback to more elegant age. Guns blazing, the impressive Grand Turk imperially made its way into Whitby harbour to a rapturous welcome from
HUNTSMAN Mr Joe Townsend is hounding people to sponsor him in a 10km road race to raise money for Farmers in Crisis. The 51-year-old, who has been huntsman for the Hurworth Hunt at West Rounton for the past 12 months, jumped at the chance to help after
Shildon Running & AC - Last week was a busy time for Ian Davey who raced over 800m in a British Milers Club event on Wednesday week at Jarrow. The BMC races are targeted to achieve fast times and Ian certainly did that, knocking over a second off
OPERATING theatres and the surgical ward at a hospital run by monks are to close as the religious order concentrates on services for people with special needs. The St John of God hospital at Scorton, near Richmond, will cease providing acute services
Wear Valley Ladies League - Despite having their match at Crook Royal Sun postponed, Crook Mill House look certain to land the Championship as they lead Crook Three Blue Bells with two matches left, while the Bells only have one. The Bells are certain
NEIGHBOURS have been praised after they rescued a woman trapped in her blazing home on Sunday morning. Firefighters then rescued a man from the house at South View Terrace at Annfield Plain, near Stanley,. The couple involved are also grateful to their
A PIZZA shop looks likely to fail in its attempt to open longer, despite support from 900 people. Amal Al-Faham, owner of the Bacio Pizzeria, in Guisborough Road, Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough, has asked permission to extend its opening hours from 4pm
A COUNCIL officer is leaving his post to take up a hot seat in Kosovo. Alan Packer, deputy director of education with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, is quitting his job to help in the rebuilding of local government in Kosovo. He flies out to the
A FINAL decision on ambitious plans for a joint police and fire station to be built in Bedale is expected this week. Emergency services chiefs have submitted proposals to Hambleton District Council. The existing fire station and tower in the Wycar area
Crook League - Crook Olde Horse Shoe went down to their first defeat of the season when they visited Crook Belle Vue and lost by two points. Paul Morgan was the club's hero when he took two points from Gavin Witton, who had only dropped one frame throughout
A CHANCE meeting between two of the country's top triathletes has led to them joining forces as they attempt to make their mark in the gruelling sport. Mike Trees, who has been racing professionally in Japan for the last ten years, and relative newcomer
WATCHING little Amelia Taylor play, all blonde curls and chatting about her fifth birthday next week, it's hard to imagine the struggle for life she has endured. But on June 20, 1996, she came into this world 16 weeks prematurely and weighing just 1lb
SHOPKEEPERS in Darlington fear the town's much heralded CCTV system is failing them. Derek Risbey, who runs Risbey's Photographic in Skinnergate, suffered a smash and grab raid at his shop early yesterday. It has happened several times before, but despite
THE North-East economy was dealt another savage blow last night as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced it was planning to axe 400 workers in the region. The jobs are to go at the pharmaceutical company's Barnard Castle plant in County Durham over the next
A WOMAN who survived a 300ft fall down a mountain said she is lucky to be alive. Beryl Hunt, 59, from Redcar, is reported to be 'comfortable and improving' in Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary where she was taken with a broken leg and ribs. Mrs Hunt slipped
Although five of the six games in the First Division started, they all ended prematurely and most play took place at Medomsley where Simonside were 131 for the loss of just two wickets when the weather finally intervened. After losing the early wicket
DAVID took on Goliath in an East Cleveland by-election - and won. East Cleveland Independent candidate David Fitzpatrick defeated Labour candidate Susan McLeod, Valerie Miller for the Liberal Democrats and Marjorie Veal for the Conservatives. There are
Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside League Under-15s - Greg Halliday was in marvellous form for Lanchester in the game against Tantobie, hitting 14 boundaries in an unbeaten 87 which together with 40 from Kevin Dixon, who recorded five fours, enabled
A 14-YEAR-old suspected car thief was in police custody last night after a high-speed chase. Police said two teenagers drove off in a stolen Ford Escort and sped through the deserted streets of Langley Park, Esh Village and Quebec, all near Durham City
EDUCATION chiefs in Darlington have announced plans to close Beaumont Hill special school and move it to two new sites. The plan involves building a new primary school next to Springfield and a secondary school close to Haughton community school. Also
THE Territorial Army is hosting a concert to raise money for a school for children with cerebral palsy. The TA unit in Heaton, Newcastle, undertakes projects to help the community and has arranged a concert in aid of The Percy Hedley Foundation. It will
A FLAGSHIP music centre has been turned down for a £3m Lottery grant which would have helped them develop musical talent across the region. Northern Recording, a studio based at Consett, wanted the money from lottery agents the Arts Council to build a
Spennymoor Boxing Academy held their annual presentation evening on Saturday with Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon as guest of honour. Awards were handed out to the club's most impressive performers over the last year with secretary Paul Hodgson hosting
OUR first-born hits 11 next week and he has a new passion in his life - money. He started getting £2-a-week pocket money when he hit double figures last year, while the others still get £1. He's turning into a right little capitalist, always on the lookout
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - A Halifax man, Johnny Reid by name, of diminutive stature, is endeavouring, at a local inn, the task of eating two pigeons to dinner and one to tea each day for a week. From this newspaper 50 years ago. - There are
THE Guardian movie critic once praised a film from Amber Films, noting it had been made by "a bunch of nobodies from Newcastle". Most film-makers would have been insulted but the people at Amber took it as a compliment. Anonymity is their middle name.
A CHURCH is celebrating a turn-around in fortunes following its success in bringing the community together to support it. When the Rev Bruce Harrison took over as rector of St Margaret's, in Brotton, east Cleveland, 18 months ago, it had a serious vandalism
An art student whose entire final year work was destroyed when the car in which it was kept was stolen and burnt out has salvaged her degree by exhibiting the Ford Fiesta's shell. Marian Downes cut up the car and has displayed fragments of her original
A TRADE union leader claims Corus' decision to appease shareholders by cutting jobs on Teesside has backfired. Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) travelled from London to meet union members at the company's
A DATE has been fixed for the public inquiry into plans for a bail hostel. The Planning Inspectorate said the inquiry into the 25-bed hostel, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, starts on July 10 in the town's Civic Centre. It called the inquiry after
A TEESSIDE MP has welcomed moves to make it harder for firms to lay off staff without first consulting them. Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, welcomed the news that the Government has committed the UK to implementing European
BRITISH Riding Clubs has announced the cancellation of the 2001 national championships. Having already cancelled the horse trials championships and their finals, it has now decided the show jumping, dressage and other popular competitions will have to
A rally co-driver yesterday relived the final seconds of a high-speed crash which claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy. Brian Delph was navigating car number 67, which skidded into a crowd of spectators during the Cheviot Rally, in Otterburn, Northumberland
SUNNY weather in May sent people out shopping for food and drink to enjoy barbecues, official figures have shown. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a jump in both the volume and the value of high street sales during the month
RIPON has hit the jackpot once again, with another £1m grant on its way to help rejuvenate empty properties above the city's shops. Decades of malaise finally came to an end last year when the community won £4m to invest in projects aimed at kick-starting
SCHOOLCHILDREN across North Yorkshire have been learning more about engineering and technology with the help of local companies. Their teachers have been spending time with various firms to discover more about the engineering behind everyday lives. Among
HIGH pressure dominated a month for the first time for over a year. Anticyclones have, of course, made appearances in the meantime, but never hung around for more than a few days. Their stay was timely, as in May we can appreciate the fine weather they
A woman customer who accused a decorator of repeatedly raping her, confessed in court yesterday they had carried on an affair for years. Teesside Crown Court heard how the 28-year-old said that she phoned married John Kerry, 40, up to 11 times before
THE death occurred on Wednesday of Norman Passfield, a well-known east Durham news reporter. Mr Passfield came to Blackhall in 1946, soon after he was demobbed from the RAF. He had served as an Air Crew Navigator and saw active service in Europe in the
Police who raided a Dales house found cannabis production in full swing, a court heard yesterday. There were plants growing in three rooms of the house in Swinton Terrace, Masham, Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates. No one was in at
THOUSANDS of tonnes of household waste is to be recycled or turned into compost instead of being buried. A £1m pilot scheme in County Durham will see a solid waste aerobic digester set up to handle up to 5,000 tonnes of rubbish every year. It could lead
THERE was just time for Michael Gough to reach his highest championship score for Durham at Gloucester yesterday before rain arrived at 3.50. Unlike Dr Foster, who went to Gloucester in a shower of rain, Durham found themselves caught up in a downpour
A 140-YEAR-OLD reminder of Teesside's maritime traditions and the risks faced by ships' crews has been uncovered. The remains of an old wreck, believed to be from one of a number of vessels lost during a storm in February 1861, have been found to be holding
AN out-of-hours scheme to help Sunderland pupils achieve more has won additional cash. The National Lottery New Opportunities Fund has given £145,176 to the city council's Out of School Hours programme. It will be spent on summer school provision across
A FARMER who has spent £1,000 re-routing a road to allow holidaymakers on to his caravan park is facing uncertainty about when he will be allowed to re-open. Mr Alan Dent saw his stock at Leekworth Farm in Middleton in Teesdale culled in early April as
THE bulldozers have moved in to clean up a derelict racing track which has been an eyesore since a blaze gutted the stadium two years ago. Members of Sedgefield Borough Council voted for its contractors to clear the greyhound stadium, at Spennymoor, after
CHAMPION cobbler Ken Simpson has a spring in his step after stitching up a fourth win in a national competition. Years in the shoe repair industry have paid off for the 43-year-old, from Shildon, County Durham, who has taken a top award in a contest which
A DATE has been fixed for the public inquiry into plans for a bail hostel. The Planning Inspectorate said the inquiry into the 25-bed hostel, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, starts on July 10 in the town's Civic Centre. It called the inquiry after
Sir, - We would like to correct the impression given in your front page report, "Appalling path lab sparks test fears" (D&S, June 8) concerning the pathology laboratory at the Friarage hospital, Northallerton. Contrary to a statement made in that
RESIDENTS of Hartlepool's Headland have been helping to shape the future of the Borough Buildings. A £1.5m scheme is being drawn up to renovate the building, to make sure the best possible use is made of it and to get local people involved in its running
Ainternational four-nations football tournament takes place in the region next month with youth teams from all four home countries. England, Scotand, Wales and Northern Ireland will all grace the field at Durham City's New Ferens Park. The squads are
HILL farmers are awaiting test results to see if foot-and-mouth has spread to the moorland flocks in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Following the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth at Westerdale in the national park the Department for the Environment
Hunters Estate Agent York and District Senior League - Whitkirk's Tom Glover celebrated his 18th birthday by hitting a match winning 34 not out after his side had slumped to 70-6 when chasing Acomb's 122 all out. Glover had also taken three wickets before
South West Durham Association - Albert Hill fell four points behind the leaders, Hopetown when they went down by two points at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club. Paul Merner put in a 31 break for the cricketers with Paul Harland making a 33 break for Albert
A DAY of top class showing took place at the British Show Pony Society Area 1A show at Stainsby Grange, Thornaby under the organisation of Joanna Pybus and her hard-working team. Jerome Harforth from Great Ayton produced some superbly turned out ponies
A VILLAGE is celebrating a double success after taking on the might of the amateur football world in a competition. Both the Under-13 and the Under-12 New Marske junior football teams lifted the cup in two North of England tournaments featuring teams
THIS newspaper said a fortnight ago the Conservative party should not dump Mr William Hague as its leader if the General Election turned out to be as disastrous for him as was expected. It did turn out as bad as the polls predicted and Mr Hague pre-empted
GRAHAM Sewell has been appointed as Sedgefield Borough Council's first town centre manager. He will have responsibility for attracting shoppers to Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor town centres, both of which have major new developments planned. Mr Sewell
A COMMUNITY group which has brought a host of golden daffodils to a city's bypass has won praise for its war on litter louts. Members of Ripon Rotary Club dug in to support a litter awareness week and cleared up so much rubbish that they have been awarded
IT WOULD have been enough to warm the heart of the man whose famous victory over a foreign foe it was designed to celebrate. The young men and women participating in the Henley of the North, the Durham Regatta, on Sunday were following in a tradition
Redcar WMC came away from the International Carlsberg Pub Cup in Sweden feeling very disappointed having missed out on a place in the final. Playing against teams from USA, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark, Redcar started the tournament in good form with two
THE street cleansing team at Harrogate council was so impressed with the support from Ripon Rotary club during litter awareness week that it has presented the club with a specially-commissioned trophy. More than 160 bags of rubbish were cleared from the
MUSIC lovers in Derwentside have slammed a decision to cancel an annual festival that last year attracted 10,000 people. Derwentside District Council made the decision to cancel Allensford Festival following advice from Maff officials who said the foot-and-mouth
Veterinary leaders today demanded a public inquiry into the Government's handling of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said the Government must learn the lessons of the outbreak, which has led to the slaughter of more
A NEW supermarket is to feature a tribute to the men who took part in the Jarrow March. The Morrison's store at the Viking Centre in the South Tyneside town will have a bronze sculpture depicting the 1936 crusade to London by the town's jobless men. The
POSSIBLE lifting of animal movement restrictions in Wensleydale by the end of June has been condemned by a self-help group set up to assist farmers and businesses to weather the crisis. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee will decide the fate of the Lazenby play area after a site visit on Monday. Planning officers have recommended they approve the Lazenby Sports Project's proposals to create a floodlit multi-sport
THE 30th Beamish Reliability Run kicks off on Sunday with another chance to view rare and interesting motorbikes and cars. This year's route - changed to take account of foot-and-mouth regulations - now takes place over a half day and only uses main roads
DERBY Day and the big listed Vodaphone Dash saw owner David Brotherton take the sprint race for the third time in four years. His colours were carried on Bishops Court, which he bred himself, for the second time as the winner had taken the same race in
A SCHEME to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour will be launched next week. The £600,000 Plains Farm Neighbourhood Support Project will operate across Sunderland's Plains Farm and Humbledon estates and will bring neighbourhood wardens to the
A PRIVATE hospital run by monks is to close its operating theatres and surgical ward in a move that could see scores of jobs go. Management at St John of God Hospital in Scorton, between Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire, has confirmed the
A FARMING family in Thirsk could become television celebrities now a production company has chosen them to be the subject of a documentary. Sparky Television, based in Northallerton and makers of Real Life Productions, spent a week at Stoneybrough Farm
DETECTIVES are waiting to question a man in hospital about the suspicious death of a foundry worker at a North-East beauty spot. Michael Burrup, 36, had been walking home from the Packhorse Pub in Stanhope in the early hours of Saturday morning when he
Bishop Auckland Bridge Club - New members and visitors are being encouraged to join the club where there are currently over 60 members. There are a number of forms in which bridge can be played from 'rubber' bridge, where players gamble for high stakes
AM I expecting too much when I assume a celebrity urging me to buy a product must think it's pretty good themselves? Martina Hingis, the world's top-ranked woman tennis player, is suing her former Italian sportswear sponsors for £28m, claiming tennis
AM I expecting too much when I assume a celebrity urging me to buy a product must think it's pretty good themselves? Martina Hingis, the world's top-ranked woman tennis player, is suing her former Italian sportswear sponsors for £28m, claiming tennis
TREATMENT for diabetics in Wear Valley is set to improve greatly, after a campaign to raise money for an eye laser overshot its target. This week is National Diabetes Week and work has just begun on securing a second piece of eye equipment for Bishop
HUNDREDS more children are to get greater protection on the way to and from school in the wake of a Northern Echo campaign. Two more local authorities in the North-East have revealed they are pressing ahead with plans to switch to seatbelt-only vehicles
AN outstanding all-round business performance has won Alexanders Saab the Saab national dealer of the year award. The family-owned dealership, in Thornaby, Teesside, has been on the same site for the past 52 years, representing the Saab marque for the
On a Durham Regatta weekend of two distinct halves - torrential rain and hail on Saturday and blue skies and sunshine on Sunday - members of Tees Rowing Club scored five wins, their greatest number of successes at this event for many years. This, the
SWIMMING starlet Hannah Creelman is on a double mission at the North Yorkshire pool where her love of the sport began. The Northallerton teenager is spending the next two weeks on work experience at Thirsk swimming pool, where she will be passing on tips
YARM School's rowers won their first ever medal in a national competition when one of the crews took a bronze medal at the National Schools Regatta held last week at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham. Three Yarm crews won through to finals,
IT was once said that if you walked down any street or lane in Barnard Castle that you would bump into someone who worked at the Glaxo pharmaceutical site in the town, or at least someone who knew somebody else who worked there. That, sadly, is no longer
THE chief vet handling foot-and-mouth in the North-East has spoken of the importance of blood sampling for lifting Form D restrictions. Once an individual farm has been found to be infected, all other farms within a 3km radius are automatically placed
SCHOOL CHILDREN are the latest to be invited on tours of a mayor's parlour. Councillor Patricia Walker, the Mayor of Middlesbrough, has been entertaining primary school pupils this week. Each party has been served refreshments in the mayoral suite, before
COUNCILLORS will next week be urged to approve the largest single site development in the history of Darlington. An outline planning application for a 115-acre site at Faverdale will be discussed at a special meeting on Monday. The ten-year development
COUNCILLORS will next week be urged to approve the largest single site development in the history of Darlington. An outline planning application for a 115-acre site at Faverdale will be discussed at a special meeting on Monday. The ten-year development
SELECTORS get the results they deserve. I had no sympathy with the England cricket team when they were refusing to pick Andrew Caddick, nor do I shed tears over their their current one-day struggles. The selectors' treatment of Durham's Paul Collingwood
SELECTORS get the results they deserve. I had no sympathy with the England cricket team when they were refusing to pick Andrew Caddick, nor do I shed tears over their their current one-day struggles. The selectors' treatment of Durham's Paul Collingwood
Northern League chairman Mike Amos revealed at the League's annual meeting that he may ask the management committee to call an extraordinary general meeting regarding the restructuring of the pyramid. The Football Association is currently considering
BY THE time these notes appear in print, I shall have spent a week in the Tuscany area of Italy and as you read this, I will have returned home wondering who won the election along with all the worries of pondering the range and variety of problems the
THIEVES with a blooming cheek are being offered an amnesty. They are being given the option to return - and even, replant - two landmark flowering shrubs stolen from tubs at a flower power resort. If the olive branch goes ignored they face prosecution
POLICE have launched an operation to combat the growing problem of badly-behaved youths. Operation Lottie aims to tackle underage drinking, petty vandalism and rowdy behaviour. High-visibility police patrols will target hot spots in conjunction with Sedgefield
MOTOR enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice roving around an open-air heritage museum this weekend. A cavalcade of Rovers takes pride of place at Beamish Museum site, near Stanley, County Durham. Backed by The Northern Echo and Land Rover dealer Dutton
Sir, - Freedom of the press is one of our most precious ad well-guarded privileges and as such, should be used with truth and honesty. On Tuesday, June 12, this privilege was abused by most of the national press, whose eye-catching headlines were at best
FORTY-NINE jobs will be lost when BOCM Pauls closes Eldmire Mill at Dalton, near Thirsk, in three weeks' time. The animal feed manufacturer bought the poultry mill from Hillsdown Holdings just three weeks ago, but says the decision to close it comes as
Sir, - I strongly second Ms Kyme's wish (D&S June 8th) that there should be a full, public and published investigation into every aspect of the current foot-and-mouth epidemic as soon as it is over. In fact farmers and all concerned should insist
HERO Thomas Whittaker never thought he would survive the War. Down in a dank hole with a Nazi bomb to defuse the Yorkshireman could at times hear his life ticking away. As one of the first 12 members of Britain's first ever bomb disposal squad, Sapper
UP TO 400 jobs are to go at the GlaxoSmithKline plant at Barnard Castle over the next three years, it was announced yesterday afternoon. Management said it was a direct result of the merger between Glaxo and SmithKline and the world-wide review of operations
A MOTHER has called for "Unsafe" warnings at a problem beach after her son was stricken by a virus. After wading into the sea at Marske to retrieve his dog, Christopher McLeod, aged 15, of Pennyman's Walk, Marske, complained of feeling unwell. His condition
Blackfyne Juniors Under-12s this season won the Gateshead Youth League, managing to finish the season with only one league defeat. The team are indebted to everyone for all the help and support, and sponsor Derwentside Cottage Garden furniture for their
POLICE have warned residents to keep away from a development site. The former Eppleton Colliery site at Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, which had been used for recreation, is being developed and millions of tonnes of material are being removed. The site is
Former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison yesterday reassured Darlington fans that he will be coming to Feethams. Anxiety has been growing among the fans that the 31-year-old might not be coming to Feethams, especially after his agent cast doubt on
A CHILDREN'S charity has teamed up with a hospice to offer improved services to ill children and their families. The Rainbow Trust, which has been operating in the North-East for five years, has developed a close working relationship with St Oswald's
THE Bishop of Durham has officially launched the Durham High School for Girls' Building for a New Century Appeal at the school. The Right Reverend Michael Turnbull attended the launch, along with six vice-presidents, governors, parents of present and
LOCAL riders were out in force, and some proved to be in top form, when round four of the Auto 66 Clubman's Challenge took place at Elvington Park near York last weekend. Leading the way with a hat-trick of wins each were Northallerton's Darren Grimston
As one may expect, when Paul Adamson suffered a heart-attack it came as a great shock to all concerned, including his teammates in the Darlington RA football team, writes CRAIG STODDART. So when they won the Darlington Charity Cup just weeks after the
MOORLAND villagers are living in fear of the foot-and-mouth virus leap-frogging from valley to valley. In the wake of two outbreaks around Westerdale, there are now real concerns that the landscape could be changed forever if moor flocks of sheep disappear
WIMPEY Homes is not prepared to build any affordable houses at a proposed development of 38 properties in Great Ayton or provide recreation space on the site. The firm is also refusing to pay an estimated £35,000 towards alternative recreation facilities
MORE than 5,500 animals have been slaughtered after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth at Arncliffe Farms, Ingleby Cross, on Saturday. A total of more than 4,000 animals on the estate belonging to Lord and Lady Bell of Arncliffe Hall were slaughtered as well
IT was hailed as one of the greatest sporting moments of North-East history. And it seems that Sunderland AFC's famous victory over Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final - the last time any North-East club won any trophy - has had more than a little effect
