In a final in which both players agreed was one of the best matches they had ever played, former England and Commonwealth champion Alan Cook, 35, beat his Chesterfield colleague Bradley Billington 6-11 11-4 9-11 16-14 15-13 to successfully defend his
IT'S time to invent a new word: Ozification. It could be defined as the attempt to copy all things Australian in the search for sporting success. British sport is littered with Aussie coaches and someone from Down Under has just been appointed chief executive
Sol Campbell can expect a white hot reception when he returns to Tottenham for the first time in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday. The England defender made the shock Bosman switch across north London in the summer much to the fury of the Spurs faithful.
NEW figures have revealed a large gap between ambulance response times in rural and urban areas of County Durham. Ambulance crews are reaching eight out of ten call-outs to potentially life-threatening incidents in Darlington within eight minutes. But
The most sophisticated lifeboat in the country entered service in the region today. The new arrival took its place in Redcar, east Cleveland, a stone's throw from the world's oldest lifeboat. The Sir James Knott celebrates its 200th anniversary next year
PARENTS fear a complicated admissions policy might result in children failing to get places at their local comprehensive school. School governors have criticised the admissions procedure for children starting secondary school in County Durham, saying
A POSTER designed by a young offender on a crime reparation scheme has won a youth offending team (YOT) a national award. The Youth Justice Board has awarded Gateshead YOT's Crime Reparation Scheme its national PR Award for good practice and innovation
TWO Ripon women's rugby stars are just a step away from playing for their country. Caroline Bell, 21, of Newsham, near Thirsk and Sam Spence, 24, of Skipton, have clinched places in the England senior academy. The academy only takes in 39 players a year
A nurse who claimed she was bullied to the point of suicide by a ward sister who nicknamed her "Mad Mary" has lost her claim for damages. Mary Lanigan, 51, said she was mocked, harassed, and constantly humiliated in a 12-month campaign of "bizarre" bullying
ROMEO and Juliet, Japanese-style. is set to take centre stage at a Darlington college tonight. For the past three days, 18 performing arts students from Queen Elizabeth sixth form college and 12 year nine pupils from Haughton school have been learning
ELDERLY patients are waiting up to four months to be discharged from hospital wards - even though they are not ill, The Northern Echo can reveal. Despite extra Government money to tackle so-called "bed-blocking", cash-starved social services bosses have
THE £75m development of Darlington's West Park will take a further step forward today with the exchange of contracts for a new 85-bed mental health unit. County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust and developer Bussey and Armstrong Projects
The lower Tees was pushing through following midweek rain but weights were respectable during round 4 of the North East Winter League staged around Yarm and Bowesfield. Cleveland Angling Centre's Chris Hawkes finished top rod returning a mixed bag of
HOSPITALS across North Yorkshire are on course to ensure none of their patients wait more than 12 months for treatment, health managers have claimed. Four of the county's five acute hospitals had nobody waiting for longer than 12 months by the end of
Footballing legend Jack Charlton has been left in the dark over the closure of an arts complex where he was due to appear, his agent said. The former World Cup winner and Irish manager was due to be on stage at Stockton's Arc next Wednesday, and was expected
LAWYERS who represent the victims of mass murderer Harold Shipman are to act for campaigners seeking a public inquiry into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale. Victims of the gynaecologist, formerly at Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, have
A SENIOR councillor is calling on the Government to meet its responsibilities to properly fund education. Councillor Ian Jeffrey, lead member for life-long learning with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, was reacting to news that the Government plans
WHITBY Town have not won a league game at home all season. Undeterred, this weekend the players are hoping to pull off the biggest shocker the resort has seen since Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in a hotel overlooking Whitby harbour. And they hope to do it
THE parents of a test tube baby who want to find out more about the child's genetic father have won the first round of a test case, brought in the child's name, at the High Court. The parents of the five-year-old from York, identified only as Child L,
AN anti-drugs partnership is celebrating a major cash boost that will fund a dedicated Drugs Squad. Crime reduction officers in East Cleveland have joined forces with Langbaurgh Drugs Action Team, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Communities Against
A PROFESSIONAL footballer has spoken of his shock at the discovery of the body of a pensioner found dead in his home. Bradford City goalkeeper Aidan Davison owns the home in Close House, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham where his tenant, 77-year-old
COUNCILLORS will be holding surgeries in the following Redcar and Cleveland wards: Today: Coatham, the 9 0'clock Club, 42 West Dyke Road, Redcar; Guisborough, Stumps Cross Community Centre and Maltby Court Community Centre; Newcomen, the 9 O'clock Club
AN ELDERLY woman was left badly shaken and with a minor head injury after her car shot across a road and crashed into a neighbour's home. The driver of the vehicle was trying to park the car when it smashed through the garden wall of a home in Queen Street
PARENTS are returning to school, thanks to a project designed to improve basic education. Six parents from the Pennywell and Ford areas of Sunderland are back in the classroom as volunteers for the area's Quality Time project. Launched in September last
A CAMPAIGN to make sure fish swim once again in a North-East river takes a step forward today. The Environment Agency wants to restore levels of salmon and migratory trout in the River Esk, near Whitby, to their former levels. Between now and December
A MASSIVE spill of cream caused chaos on a major North-East road. One lane of a two-mile stretch of the A171 Teesside to Whitby dual carriageway could be closed until after the weekend - because the clean-up operation left it treacherously slippery. Problems
IT'S time to invent a new word: Ozification. It could be defined as the attempt to copy all things Australian in the search for sporting success. British sport is littered with Aussie coaches and someone from Down Under has just been appointed chief executive
MADE your Christmas cake yet? Filled the freezer with date and walnut loaves, cherry cakes, ginger cakes or lemon drizzle sponges? Thought not. Nothing tastes as good as home-made baking, but sadly, fewer of us have the time or inclination to do it. For
The interview with Deepak Verma was brought forward by an hour because he had to go for a meeting with top British film-maker Nik Powell, the man who made The Crying Game and Little Voice. Clearly the actor, who played market stallholder Sanjay in BBC's
JAPANESE car company Nissan is continuing to prepare its Wearside operation for production of the next generation Primera. The Sunderland plant has extended its press shop to make way for the installation of a £1.5m, 2,100-tonne press for the new model
A RADICAL overhaul of services for people with learning disabilities is being proposed for east Cleveland. Residents are to have their say on proposals said to be the biggest change to the service in 30 years. Meetings have been organised by the Redcar
Letters from The Northern Echo REPUBLICANISM TO suggest the Queen be sent back to Germany (HAS, Nov 7) is nonsense. Historically the Queen is a mix of many nationalities. She descends from William the Conqueror (from Normandy) - a descendant of Ragnold
Julie Robinson from Stokesley was on top form at Stainsby Grange, Thornaby, scoring a double with Howcroft Psammite. The pair won the Great Leighs Newcomers ahead of Discovery finalist Zindagis Red Alert, ridden by Angela Lowrie, and the Members Cup ahead
A NORTH-EAST theatre company with a reputation for new writing is receiving a £30,000 boost from a BBC scheme to help writers in the region. Live Theatre, based on Newcastle's Quayside, will receive the money over the next two years to find and help writers
"I STAND before you a very, very angry lady!" veteran agony aunt Claire Rayner declared at a pensioners' rally. The indomitable 70-year-old was guest of honour at the Cleveland Pensioners' Forum's first anniversary rally at Redcar Bowl last Thursday.
MUSEUM staff at Kirkleatham Hall, in Redcar, are hosting weekend craft sessions for all the family, making Christmas decorations. The free two-hour weekend sessions take place from 2pm until 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday and start this weekend with
A RASH of destructive fires in the days surrounding November 5 has prompted calls for a strategy to head off trouble in the run-up to Bonfire Night in future years. The scene at Bankfields, near Eston, was described as being 'like Beirut' to members of
PARENTS fear a complicated schools admissions policy may result in children living nearest to their local comprehensive missing out on places. Like many schools across the country, Wolsingham School and Community College, in Wear Valley, has had to abolish
CHRISTMAS stockings in the North-East will be bulging with goodies this year if spending projections are to be believed. According to debit card company Switch, shoppers in the North will set cash tills ringing to the tune of £919 per person over Christmas
A WATER worker was crushed to death when a crane he was operating smashed through the front of an oncoming bus. The tragedy happened at traffic lights controlled road works on narrow Brotton High Street. David Mason was operating a jib and grab mounted
Newly promoted Newton Aycliffe put up a spirited performance in this Durham and Northumberland Division Three local derby but in the end the greater nobilityand stamina of Bishop's forwards, the pace and aggressive running of their backs and the accuracy
TENSIONS and management problems involving the Dean of Ripon Cathedral, the Very Rev John Methuen, are said to be responsible for the resignation of a top official. A second official is set to follow. Mr Nigel Clay, who left last week after less than
Almost the entire male population of two neighbouring villages is to be asked to undergo DNA testing as police step up their hunt for a killer. Detectives investigating the murder of bachelor David Williamson are widening their search, almost eight months
THE first winners of a new badminton singles league in Darlington received their trophies on Monday. The Dolphin Centre league, which began in February, is designed to encourage people aged 16 and over to play the sport. In a very close competition, John
A NORTH-EAST prostitute who lured a man to her house then robbed him failed to get her two-year sentence cut at London's Court of Appeal yesterday. Leanne Harrison, 21, tempted the man, whom she met in Middlesbrough town centre, to her house where an
A PIONEERING scheme to create a homework train in the Esk Valley sets off next week. About 200 youngsters living in farms and villages in the area rely on a train link to get them to school in Whitby. But the pupils often face a long day, setting off
CHLOE Straker, niece of international event rider Karen Dixon, took the novice working hunter championship at the BSPS Area 3A show held at Northallerton. She took the 143cm winter qualifier riding Black September, with reserve going to Sam Farrar-Fry
PROJECT and cost management consultants Faithful & Gould are playing a starring role in the transformation of a site used in an Oscar-winning movie. The Stockton company is involved in the development of Hatfield Business Park, in Hertfordshire, part
SLIMMING champion and expert cook Marion Hoyle has managed to combine her two great passions without any fear of contradiction. She's opened a low-calorie bistro next door to a gym. Her latest venture, Unique Lite Bite Bistro in Front Street, Chester-le-Street
HAWES United gained a vital win in their bid for the championship when they entertained nearest rivals Middleham Town and came out 3-1 victors in this top of the table clash. Hawes took the lead on the hour with a wind-assisted shot from 60 yards by Wayne
A PENSIONER who believes having a computer provides a window on the world, has just won a new outlook on life. The 82-year-old has been presented with a new £1,000 computer with internet access, through BT's community connections scheme, for her therapy
A NEW exhibition on Chester-le-Street in the late 19th Century will paint a picture of a cosmopolitan town bustling with life. Based on the 1891 census, the display reveals a town enjoying a boom time of clubs and societies, and an influx of visitors,
FULHAM midfielder Lee Clark will be looking to help continue Newcastle's miserable record in the capital when he takes on his former club on Saturday. The Magpies travel to London tomorrow hoping to end a disastrous run which has seen them fail to win
A THEATRE group and popular North-East radio presenter Gregg Upwards helped give teenagers ideas about choosing the right career. Cragrats Theatre Group gave a 45-minute performance about issues and problems involved in choosing a career at St John's
COUNTY Durham taxi drivers are going back to school to polish up their skills and get a qualification. About 60 cabbies have booked up for a free course that looks at aspects of the job such as helping disabled passengers, customer care and health and
STUDENTS are to show their leadership and teamwork skills in a video recording that will be seen in schools all over the country. Twenty pupils from Sunnydale Comprehensive School, Shildon, took part in outdoor challenges with the Durham Army Cadet Force
AS two warring factions go, there are few that can match them for sheer vitriol, contempt and bloody mindedness. On the one side are the smug, self-satisfied, stay-at-home mothers who say those who work are depriving their children of care; on the other
THINGS are looking up for young Jasmine Eke, who has become the star of a campaign to promote civil baby naming ceremonies. Nine-month-old Jasmine, of Northallerton, is dwarfed by an eight-foot high photograph of herself in North Yorkshire County Council's
THE girlfriend of a teenager who died during a school lesson fought back tears yesterday as she spoke of her double tragedy. Helen Barnie, 14, of Huntington, York, was just coming to terms with the death of her father a few weeks ago, when she was told
DURHAM County Council is reducing the age of its £7.5m vehicle fleet to cut maintenance costs. The authority has 431 lorries, wagons and vans, including road gritters and mobile libraries, most of which it owns outright. The average age of the fleet is
Spennymoor Boxing Academy's annual show served as a great warm-up before the club's trip to the US later this month. A group of Spennymoor's fighters and coaches are flying to Chicago where they will take on the Chicago Golden Gloves club and it is hoped
As expected, the match between current leaders Spraire RA and last years champions Coundon Forresters turned out to be a cracking game of football between two very good sides. Danny Richmond gave Spraire the lead mid way through the first half with an
CHELTENHAM has always been a happy hunting ground for Paddy's Return, a leading contender for this afternoon's feature event, the £30,000 Sporting Index Cross Country Chase. Paddy's Return began his love affair with the headquarters of jump racing by
THE future of Ripon auction mart, which has been serving the area's farming community for more than 140 years, is in the balance and could soon be sold to developers for housing. The site off North Road is seen by potential developers as a prime site
FOLLOWING a rigorous Government inspection, a training company specialising in hairdressing, has shot to the top of a national league. Durham Training Academy (DTA) was assessed by representatives from the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) and achieved
Decorated with headlines like "Roll on" and puns about pasting the opposition, the column told in the dim and distant about George Carpenter, wallpaper king and water polo champion. He'd four times appeared for England, been in the Great Britain masters
CAMPAIGNERS against a telecommunications mast in the Farndale Valley braved the cold and rain on Tuesday to hold a public protest meeting. The protesters have spent the past two years objecting on health grounds to a 15m tower and microwave dish communications
AN arson-hit primary school is open for business again. Sacriston Primary School, in Witton Road, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, was closed for lessons last week after a fire was started in a classroom used by eight-year-olds. It caused serious damage
THE high profile sinking of the Arc, the debt-ridden arts centre in Stockton, raises concerns about Cleveland's cultural life. Critics claimed it staged unsuitable events in the wrong area of Stockton - some even said Stockton was the wrong town. While
IT was an encounter which might have been unthinkable just nine months ago - on one side of the fence were a vixen on heat and a dog fox, on the other more than 60 foxhounds, along with huntsman Joe Townsend. The foxes looked at the hounds, the hounds
A CHRISTMAS festival costing £40,000 has been given the green light - the first of many that will twinkle in Barnard Castle this Yuletide. Final approval for the funding was granted this week after a period of nail-biting uncertainty saw months of planning
HOPES are running high that a new ditch dug into a farmer's field in Hurworth will prevent further flood misery for a handful of residents. But questions remain as to whether the work will have any effect on flooding further along the village. Heavy rain
IF you would like your wedding considered for publication send a photograph (not a photocopy) soon after the wedding with the names and addresses of the bride and groom and date and place of the ceremony to Weddings, The Clarion, PO Box 14, Priestgate
APRIMARY school in Hartlepool has been described as "thriving" by government inspectors. Ofsted visited Eldon Grove Primary earlier this year as part of its programme of school inspection. The report said: "This is a good school where pupils thrive. It
RESIDENTS of a vandal-plagued community could be forced to seek help from a private security squad. After the latest wrecking spree in Marske, when even firemen were stoned as they tackled a shop which had been set alight, they felt the time had come
AN OUTRAGED parish council has branded Darlington's planning process a mockery which fails to pay any attention to its views. The discovery that it was being consulted over the demolition of buildings in its conservation area - approved the previous week
THE work of three young designers is lighting up the streets of Darlington for Christmas. The youngsters were winners of a competition which was run by Orange and The Northern Echo to design the festive lights for Darlington this year. Lee Featherstone
FANS of brass band music who also want to support a worthy cause can enjoy a top-class performance later this month. The award-winning Durham Constabulary Band is to play a special, one-off concert at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, on
RISING costs have forced dentists at Bedale to abandon a plan to convert an empty town centre property into a surgery. The town council had generally welcomed moves by the Sussex Street practice to take over 29 Market Place, a former shoe shop and bakery
SANTA left his reindeer and sleigh behind when he helped Durham City to launch its Christmas festivities last night. The most famous Laplander of them all arrived in the city's Market Place in style - in a horse-drawn carriage. He teamed up with Mayor
DUFFIELD Timber, of Melmerby, near Ripon, has secured its largest order to date. The company has been specified as principal suppliers of oak to the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood, Edinburgh. The first phase of the order, worth more than
GUISBOROUGH golfer Sheila Atherton is celebrating her biggest achievement in her 15 years in the sport after taking second place in the final of the national club champions competition at the Vale of Glamorgan. Playing off a handicap of 13, she came through
PARENTS have shown overwhelming support for a new £15m city academy. Parents of youngsters at Freebrough Community College, an amalgamation of East Cleveland's three secondary schools - Warsett at Brotton, Rosecroft at Loftus and de Brus at Skelton -
The fixture between DSRMSC and East End was clearly a boys versus men affair with the men triumphing 15-1. East End had ten different marksmen including goalkeeper Scott Wood who converted a penalty. Shaun Collins on his return from suspension scored
A well known North-East tennis personality, Derek Snowdon, who has died age 71, was president of York Lawn Tennis Club and president of Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association in 1990. Mr Snowdon, who was born in Sunderland, came to York with British Rail in
A WACKY supermarket boss will be all colours of the rainbow for Children in Need today. Barry Thompson, store manager at Asda, South Bank, near Middlesbrough, is having his hair dyed purple, green and pink. Barry is also having his face painted. While
A WARTIME mystery is puzzling pupils and staff at a Stockton school. Grangefield school is seeking information about someone named in an old Bible which was found during a summer holiday clear-out. The school wants to know if the name John Douglas Smith
THE stage is set for "The Oscars" of grassroots sport in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards night will be held at the Tall Trees Hotel, Yarm, on Thursday. From a bumper crop of nominations the judges have chosen
AS the festive season approaches many people might dream of finding a piece of jewellery under the Christmas tree. While most will be happy to settle for something bought in the high street, a visit to a London-trained craftsman, now based in Weardale
MORE than one million used stamps have been collected in East Cleveland to help the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Guide dog puppy Tally and her puppy walker Margaret Mableson collected the stamps from the area's main drop-off point, Sotheran's
Sir. - I note that in your feature on the hill fort near the White Horse of Kilburn (D&S, Nov 9)some inaccurate information about the horse was given by Mr Graham Lee. Regarding wartime camouflage, the horse was covered with netting for most of 1939
YOUNGSTERS from a secondary school in Darlington have had the chance to influence the future of education. The 14 pupils, from Hummersknott School and Language College, travelled to London to meet Minister of State for School Standards Stephen Timms,
MADE your Christmas cake yet? Filled the freezer with date and walnut loaves, cherry cakes, ginger cakes or lemon drizzle sponges? Thought not. Nothing tastes as good as home-made baking, but sadly, fewer of us have the time or inclination to do it. For
A PIONEERING scheme could herald lower heating bills for moorland homes. People living in the North York Moors could see their bills cut dramatically if a new project to use underground heat takes off. The area is the first in England and Wales to have
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren last night insisted 'don't underestimate Manchester United'. And the former United assistant boss is convinced that his former club will be challenging for the Premiership title again come May. Sir Alex Ferguson's
THEY'RE more used to entertaining an audience over breakfast - but two radio presenters will be turning their attention to the dinner table in aid of Children in Need today . BBC Radio York's early morning duo Elly Fiorentini and Phil Bodmer will be waiting
THE daughters of a pensioner who was brutally assaulted by an intruder in his home have spoken of their horror and anger over the attack. Widower Edwin Hopper, 70, was repeatedly struck in the face and about the head during the attack in his York home
A NORTH-EAST man hanged himself only days after receiving a £14,000 demand from the Child Support Agency (CSA), an inquest heard yesterday. Officials last night declined to comment on the death of Teesside joiner Barry John Kenyon who was found dead at
A SENIOR councillor is calling on the Government to meet its responsibilities to properly fund education. Councillor Ian Jeffrey, lead member for life-long learning with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, was reacting to news that the Government plans
FOUR kittens found abandoned on the edge of the A1M are in need of homes. Darlington dog warden John Martin was called out to the motorway at the top of North Road on Wednesday afternoon after a motorist spotted the kittens. They were stuck between the
EMPLOYERS across Darlington are being urged to encourage their staff not to drink and drive over the festive period. Major companies in the area have received a letter from Darlington Borough Council asking bosses to do all they can to stop their workers
Sir, - The close working relationship we have established as a primary care group with Richmondshire and Hambleton district councils and North Yorkshire County Council, both members and officers, is a collaborative working relationship we should strive
BCTG. - Nov 19 & Dec 17: Dressage clinic with Patsy Bartram. Open to non-members. Dec 17: Christmas meal. For details phone Connie on 01325 332685. BSPS Area 3. - Nov 25: Winter show at Yafforth. Dec 15: Winter show at Toad Hall. For details contact
THE League AGM was held at Bowburn when Cockton Hill and Dean and Chapter were accepted as new members and the resignation of Stockton Elm Tree also accepted. The League team players were presented with their badges for winning the prestigious Wilf Marsh
SHOPPERS in Redcar are to be allowed more time to park their cars for free in the run up to Christmas. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Teesland, developers of the £26m Regent Walk shopping centre in the town, are preparing for their pre-Christmas
THE curtain fell on the Flat turf season at Doncaster on Saturday when it was a case of so near, yet so far for Kevin Darley and Keith Dalgleish. The defending champion and the young apprentice had several rides, but Kieren Fallon was the only one of
Hungry Jacks Under 12s entertained Teesside Athletic from the Teesside League in the North Riding Cup and came out worthy winners 4-3. It didn't take HJ's long to take control of the first half and created many opportunities, but only went in at half
PELTON Fleece Inn failed to take full advantage of Stanley Sunday League leaders South Moor Sports being on cup duty even though they did close the gap between them to four points. The Fleece knew that victory over mid-table Stanley RAFA and then full
PLANS to continue restoring an 18th century Aiskew watermill and its surroundings look like grinding to a halt because a route vital to raising money has finally been blocked. Mr David Clark and his wife, Carol, want to create jobs and attract more visitors
A PUB that has provided 160 different beers in the course of a year has been picked as the best real ale pub in the North-East. The vast array of beers and ales from as far afield as Orkney and Devon have put The Ship Inn in Middlestone Village, County
HOMELESS boxers have hit out at a local authority saying it has let them down in the search for new premises. With 84 national finalists and 82 English Internationals under its belt to date, Shildon Boxing Club is well-respected throughout the country
Oh no! It's the day I've waited 16 years for and I've missed it. Parents' Night, that is. Smaller Son's Parents' Night last month would have been The Very Last Ever. And we were away. It's not that I'm sorry to have missed it as such - no way - it's just
THE number of women suffering from ovarian cancer has increased by nearly 20 per cent over the last two decades in England and Wales, and almost a quarter in Scotland, cancer experts warned yesterday. But five-year survival rates across the UK have remained
MYSTERY man Brian Healy popped up with a vital goal as Quakers stopped the rot with a 1-0 win over Oxford United at Feethams last Saturday. The 32-year-old, signed on a short-term contract the day before, made an instant impact after coming on to replace
TECHNICAL problems have delayed completion of work shoring up a road used as a popular bypass of Durham city centre. Cocken Road, overlooking Finchale Priory and the River Wear, may not now reopen until nearly Christmas, several weeks behind schedule.
Northgate plc has expanded its commercial vehicle hire business into Scunthorpe. Anchor Self Drive, part of the Darlington-based plc's operations, has opened a second site in Scunthorpe, called M&G Self Drive. Northgate plc operates a nationwide network
MOTORISTS in the region are being warned not to dump credit card receipts in forecourt bins, following a spate of fraud incidents. The problem started in the east Cleveland area at the beginning of the year and Detective Sergeant Paul Richardson, of Redcar
STAR players from the Darlington Building Society North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League received awards at the league's annual presentation evening at the Billingham Synthonia club. Graham Shaw of premier division champions Guisborough was the
Primary schoolchildren in Consett learnt about the hard life on the streets yesterday. The children, from The Grove Primary School and St Patrick's RC Primary School, spent the afternoon picking litter from the streets in aid of the Children in Need appeal
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - It is a matter of regret that there is no improvement in the attendance record at Northallerton National School. The average attendance is 423, which shows that there are 141 children absent every day. The managers
A THEATRE and arts centre has launched a friends scheme to thank patrons who are making it one of the region's premier venues. The Customs House, in Mill Dam, South Shields, has two art galleries, a theatre, cinema and a coffee bar. In the past year the
YOUTHS who have been making life a misery for residents on a town's estate are to be targeted by police. Officers have pledged to tackle intimidation, vandalism and other incidents on the Cutpurse estate in Richmond. The pledge came after a town council
THE Newton Aycliffe branch of a national charity which helps families in debt has been named the best in the country for two months in a row. Each month, managers at the Bradford headquarters of Christians Against Poverty (CAP) assess each centre and
SHOPPERS in Redcar are to be allowed more time to park their cars for free in the run up to Christmas. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Teesland, developers of the £26m Regent Walk shopping centre in the town, are preparing for their pre-Christmas
DARLINGTON Borough Council has refused to increase the amount it pays to parish councils. Heighington Parish Council requested an increase in funding for projects. But at a meeting between the parish councils and the borough council next week, the request
CHILDREN at a Newton Aycliffe school drew on memories from war veterans to produce an award-winning history project. The history group at Stephenson Way Primary School won first place in a national competition on Second World War studies, run by the Spirit
DURHAM County Council is reducing the age of its £7.5m vehicle fleet to cut maintenance costs. The authority has 431 lorries, wagons and vans, including road gritters and mobile libraries, most of which it owns outright. The average age of the fleet is
John Hanley had some explaining to do when he woke up with a hangover - and the deeds to his local pub. The 42-year-old butcher had to tell his wife, Lorraine, the following morning that he had popped out for a pint and ended up buying the bar. John went
WORK on one of the region's biggest investments in education in recent years begins next week. Sir Paul Nicholson, Lord Lieutenant of Durham, will lay the first stone of a five-acre campus complex for Derwentside College, in Consett. It is hoped the £6.5m
A GLIMMER of hope could be on the horizon for a stricken North-East shipyard. The Cammell Laird ship repair yard on the banks of the River Tees was mothballed earlier this year when the company went into receivership with the loss of 110 jobs. In the
A JEWELLERY shop manager was stabbed as he grappled with a masked teenaged raider. The 45-year-old man and two staff members tackled the robber, who was wielding a ten-inch blade. The manager suffered two wounds to the back of his head and one to his
AS two warring factions go, there are few that can match them for sheer vitriol, contempt and bloody mindedness. On the one side are the smug, self-satisfied, stay-at-home mothers who say those who work are depriving their children of care; on the other
Decorated with headlines like "Roll on" and puns about pasting the opposition, the column told in the dim and distant about George Carpenter, wallpaper king and water polo champion. He'd four times appeared for England, been in the Great Britain masters
ONE of the region's police forces has received the rare accolade of being told it need make no improvements following an inspection. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary spent a week running the rule over Durham Constabulary in June, but made no
REDCAR and Cleveland College is holding an open event next week. The college will be open from 3.30pm until 8pm on Thursday, for people considering vocational or academic qualifications. It has 1,500 full time students, mostly aged between 16 and 19,
THE demand for accommodation in residential and nursing homes will not go away, but will steadily increase. As a nation, we are living longer, yet new regulations and funding problems mean homes in both the public and private sectors are closing at an
MUSEUM staff at Kirkleatham Hall are hosting weekend craft sessions for all the family making Christmas decorations. The free two-hour weekend sessions, which take place from 2pm until 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, start this weekend with sessions decorating
WHEN I temporarily halted this column because of foot-and-mouth, I must admit I didn't expect to be away quite this long! Birdwatching, like many outdoor activities, was severely affected by the restrictions on access and I have received far fewer bird
SO Richmond is to lose its farm and garden centre before Christmas, this use of the former station building not fitting in with the council's designation of "leisure use". Well, that confirms what all we keen gardeners have always known. Gardening is
MEMBERS of a community action group are taking to the road in an effort to drum up more local support this weekend. The Easingwold area's community plan steering group will visit three villages on Saturday to explain its proposals for the next decade.
A TRANSPORT scheme to help isolated and infirm people could soon be set up in a community near Darlington. Hurworth Parish Council has agreed in principle to the creation of a transport scheme for the village. It would provide those residents who need
I HAVE received a note from the RAC Motoring Services to remind me that only five trees planted in a year can offset the emissions which come from the average annual mileage of a family car. The foliage of the trees absorbs the carbon dioxide discharges
A DARLINGTON sports club has won a national award for a project which encouraged children to take up table tennis. Darlington Table Tennis Club organised a county-wide series of competitions earlier this year, using a grant from the Government's Sportsmatch
In week seven of the Cleveland Billiards and Snooker League Redcar Workies 'A' lost their first point of the season to Marske Workies 'A'. Phil Carr was up first for the home team playing Andrew Williams. Williams controlled a very cagey opening game
TASK forces should be set up ready to deal with any future animal disease outbreaks - and they should also be charged with identifying local burial sites, preferably on individual farms or small groups of holdings, for the disposal of slaughtered livestock
TEN youngsters who designed and built a sensory garden will stand by proudly when it is officially opened next week. The children, from Pennywell Youth Project's young volunteers programme, Sunderland, designed and put together the garden at the Pennywell
The interview with Deepak Verma was brought forward by an hour because he had to go for a meeting with top British film-maker Nik Powell, the man who made The Crying Game and Little Voice. Clearly the actor, who played market stallholder Sanjay in BBC's
Durham League - Three high scoring fixtures ensured that this weeks round of Durham League first division games was entertainment of the highest order. The best of those game proved that after a very indifferent campaign last year, Teesside Huskies are
A RICHMOND town councillor went up in the world this week when she helped put up the town's Christmas lights. Coun Linda Curran was hoisted up to the market hall roof on Wednesday afternoon as electricians continued to install 4,000 lights. Friary gardens
The former Liverpool and England soccer captain Emlyn Hughes visited the home town of a football icon last night. Mr Hughes was in South Bank, Middlesbrough, the birthplace of Middlesbrough legend Wilf Mannion, who played 26 times for England and was
Stanley United manager Vince Kirkup reckons that better times are on the horizion after last week's first win of the season. The Hill Top outfit had gone 15 games without tasting success but Kirkup never lost confidence that the tide would turn. And he
NORTH Yorkshire County Council is to be asked to hold a public inquiry into the alleged mishandling of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Heartbreaking and horrifying stories of the way the crisis was handled by Defra officials were told to Vale of York MP, Miss
Ripon's revival in Division One continued in the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash League with a 2-1 away victory over Harlow. The win kept nomadic Ripon in second place with Bedale still leading the way. Matthew Wood and Steve Thackwray took the
HEXHAM farmers' market has been named the best in England and Wales, in a competition organised by the National Farmers' Union, against stiff competition from markets countrywide. The judges were impressed by the market's broad range of home-grown produce
MUSICAL angels is the theme of this year's York Early Music foundation celebrations in December. The Christmas festival, now in its fourth year, will run from Thursday to Sunday, December 13-16, and includes a whole series of entertainment for visitors
SMALL plots of village land which could be used for building were highlighted this week. A total of 19 sites in Great Broughton, Great Ayton, Hutton Rudby, Seamer and Stokesley were identified in a Hambleton council study to the Stokesley local plan committee
WILL Render, above, reckons he has got the opposition licked when it comes to the size of his tongue. It sticks out some 10cm from the corner of his mouth and Will believes it is the longest in the world. Shopkeeper Will, 37, contacted The Guinness Book
HUTTON Rudby people are to have their say on a controversial £77,000 lighting scheme. A special meeting is to be held to hear opinions about the possibility of placing 60 Victorian-style street lights around the village. The parish council discussed the
LIVESTOCK farmers have thrown their weight behind northern auction marts as they struggle to recover after foot-and-mouth disease. The NFU Northumberland and Durham livestock committee unanimously backed a resolution to urge the government to allow marts
THE head of a Government quango last night came out fighting in a row over appointments to two North-East health trusts. Dr Roger Moore, chief executive of the NHS Appointments Commission, stepped in to defend colleague Dr John Marshall, who has been
MIDDLESBROUGH'S plight shows little sign of easing with player-coach Jon Wrigley forced to play out of position in tomorrow's North Division One match at Driffield. He will be at fly half with Rob Green taking over at scrum half as Boro seek to improve
THE swimming pool at Loftus Leisure Centre has been temporarily closed for essential repairs. The pool was closed on Tuesday and is not expected to re-open until the New Year. The centre's dry areas - including gym, squash, sauna, steam room, spa and
Whitby Town boss Harry Dunn is playing down his side's chances of overcoming Third Division leaders Plymouth tomorrow. The seaside town is being carried away with Cup fever and fans are hoping that the team can at least emulate the thrilling draw they
A VILLAGE butcher swept the board in a sausage-making competition this week. Mr Arthur Fawcett, of A V Fawcett and Sons of Ingleby Greenhow, took unprecedented first and second places in both pork and beef categories of the competition. The annual event
SCHOOL skivers should take a lesson from Melanie McGregor - turning up for school does have its rewards. It is five years since the 16-year-old missed a day of school and she has been rewarded with a trip to Sunderland Football Club's Stadium of Light
Darlington defender Adam Reed could save boss Tommy Taylor from dipping into the transfer market. Reed enjoyed a solid performance on his first outing of the season against Oxford last weekend and has made Taylor think again about making a loan move for
Consett manager Colin Carr was full of praise for young midfielder Andrew Thompson after their 4-3 win at Peterlee last Saturday. Thompson scored all four, as the underdogs beat Peterlee and reached the last 64 of the FA Vase, where they will now play
As part of this years BBC Children in Need fund raising campaign, Darlington College at Catterick has created a special website called hitpudsey.co.uk. It aims to achieve 100,000 hits on this site in a 24-hour period from midnight on Thursday 15 November
BEAUTIFUL scenes from North Yorkshire and the North-East grace the pages of the D&S Times calendar for 2002. The full-colour calendar features well-loved scenes and some more unusual views, captured by the camera of the newspaper's chief photographer
RICHMOND Equestrian Centre is celebrating a national coup which will bring hundreds of riders to North Yorkshire next year. It has been selected for the national finals of the British Horse Society's Cross Country Championships - formerly the BHS Hunter
PAINTER Andrew Broderick is delighted that mud sticks - because he uses the stuff to create works of art. The 24-year-old fine arts graduate, from Kilkenny, South-East Ireland, studied at Cleveland College of Arts. He also uses charcoal, acrylic paint
AN ANCIENT mansion with a history that goes back to at least the Norman conquest has yielded one of its treasures. Builders have discovered an old kitchen range hidden behind a wall at Beamish Hall adjacent to Beamish Museum, near Stanley. The age and
STEVE McClaren was finally beginning to trim his Middlesbrough playing staff last night. The Boro boss allowed full-back Curtis Fleming to join Birmingham City on a month's loan, and Brian Deane was close to agreeing a deal with Leicester. Deane was on
Sir, - I am saddened, dismayed and angry at the news that the Richmond Farm and Garden Centre is to close. The underlying reason appears to be that the area is designated for leisure use. For 20 years, my leisure has been substantially helped with the
A SHOULDER injury has put a Darlington teacher out of the finals of a nationwide award scheme. Ms Diana Lawson, community lecturer at Darlington college of technology, was in so much pain from a damaged ligament that she decided she could not face a four-hour
