MUSIC has never been a strong point in our house. I didn't get further than The Grand Old Duke of York on the recorder, and my wife gave up learning the piano after killing Onward Christian Soldiers in school assembly, so there was never much hope for
A postman stole credit cards and cash from people on his mail round, a court heard today. Anthony Pearce, 42, of Pendleton Road, Darlington, intercepted two cards plus PIN numbers sent in separate envelopes, and used them to obtain more than £2,000. He
A MAN has been arrested at Gatwick Airport carrying a live hand grenade in his luggage, anti-terrorism police have revealed. The 37-year-old Venezuelan arrived on a British Airways flight from South America and the grenade was found when his luggage was
A Durham man has been questioned by police investigating international computer hacking. Andrew Harvey, 21, of Scardale Way, Belmont, was taken from his homes by Durham police in a series of dawn raids last Wednesday morning. Jordan Bradley, 19, of Darlington
SHAMED coroner Jeremy Cave was seriously ill in hospital under guard last night after suffering a heart attack - days after he was jailed for swindling £155,000 from the estates of dead clients. The solicitor - who will also face a Law Society disciplinary
There's tragedy and then there's design shows... IN May 1952, BOAC Hermes flight 251 was lost, low on fuel, 1,300 miles off-course, and flying over one of the most inhospitable places on earth. The Meet The Ancestors special, Desert Rescue, wasn't, as
A stock of 5,000 free trees and shrubs on offer to Darlington residents were snapped up in just a few days. Darlington Borough Council offered the plants to residents who wanted to enhance the look of their street or garden. But an unprecedented demand
AN elderly couple spoke of their devastation last night after burglars stole family heirlooms worth thousands from their home. The raid took place in Vindomora Road, Ebchester, near Consett, County Durham, between 10.50am and 12.15pm on Sunday, while
IT is 60 years since the prototype of the Gloster Meteor first took to the skies. The aeroplane made aviation history when it flew on March 5, 1943, at Cranwell, in Lincolnshire, and then became the only Allied jet aircraft on active service during the
Tony Blair and Alan Milburn's constituencies are still facing a shortage of GPs, figures released by the Government show. The Department of Health reveal Darlington and Sedgefield are among the areas of the country facing a crisis in doctors - or are
A MAN and two teenagers are due to appear in court today facing allegations that they conned their way into the home of a blind widow. The trio were arrested following an incident on Tuesday, in which an 87-year-old woman had £300 stolen from her home
THE next Bishop of Durham was appointed this week and immediately took Tony Blair to task for his stand over war with Iraq. Canon Tom Wright said it was tragic that the only two avowedly Christian leaders in the West were the ones trying to persuade everyone
A FORMER prison clerk has been awarded £11,500 after she suffered months of torment at the hands of a fellow worker. Rebecca Byrne, a typist, said she was harassed by John Wilson, a former health and safety officer at Durham Prison. She said she was living
OUR Prime Minister is becoming an increasingly isolated figure. In Europe he is the only political leader willing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush. He alone is prepared to join the US in military action with or without the backing of
A HAUL of what police believe may be stolen bikes has been recovered by police. The bicycles were found during a police search of a property in Lime Street, Stanley, County Durham, on Monday, February 3. They have traced the owners of a £3,000 scooter
HIGH-profile auction house Tennants of Leyburn is expanding and adding specialist departments after buying a similar business in the Midlands. Leicestershire company Heathcote Ball has come under Tennants' wing following the death of director John Ball
CAR thieves have struck in a North-East town centre for the fifth time in three weeks. Crooks stole a Peugeot 406 from Sherburn Terrace, Consett, County Durham, between 9.30am and 10am on Monday. A Suzuki GZ Marauder was stolen from North View, in nearby
The body of a teenage girl was found in a field on the day her parents celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. Officers arrested an 18-year-old close to the scene on the outskirts of Cramlington, Northumberland, just a few hundred yards from 14-year-old
HEART patients will be better informed about their trips to a specialist clinic with a new information leaflet. The pamphlet will be given to people before they attend the heart treatment clinic at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The leaflet is one
A LAW firm has paid £1.75m to move to chambers in one of Newcastle Quayside's most historic buildings. Trinity Chambers, with 56 barristers and staff, has outgrown its four offices off Broad Chare, on the Quayside. The legal company has bought The Custom
High-speed broadband communications for Ripon will go live on April 23. More than 350 people have said they would use the services in a scheme that matches BT's investment to firm customer interest. Once the upgrade of the Ripon exchange has been completed
A HOUSEBUILDER is convinced there must be something in the mortar because the patter of tiny feet is becoming an all-too-familiar sound for employees at its headquarters. In the past six months, three of the 30 staff at Bowey Homes' head office in Team
MORE research into Richmondshire District Council's proposed move to Colburn was sanctioned on Tuesday night. The authority has outgrown its offices in Richmond, already condemned as inadequate in an independent report on its accommodation. However, the
COUNCILLORS clicked online for the first time yesterday to help them in their roles as community representatives. Five Scarborough borough councillors are getting to grips with the latest computer technology before having their laptop computers and printers
Students in Hartlepool are helping to bring the magic of the theatre to a new exhibition. They have been recreating the stage areas of a Greek Ampitheatre, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and a lavish Victorian theatre ready for the CentreStage exhibition
RESERVE North-East soldiers are to join regular Army units in the build-up to war with Iraq. The men, all members of the Territorial Army 150 Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, based in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, will join 102 Logistics Brigade
CHEAPER bus travel is soon to be on offer to more people in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire. From April 1, men over the age of 60 are able to join the district council's bus pass scheme. In the past eligibility for the scheme had been linked
ONE of Britain's best-known mediums is to visit the region. Stephen Holbrook, who predicted the rise to stardom of former cruise ship singer Jane MacDonald, will visit Durham Assembly Rooms on Thursday, March 13, and Northallerton Forum, North Yorkshire
A YOUNG mother invented a new identity for herself after she was repeatedly caught shoplifting to feed her heroin addiction, a court heard. Kerry Parfitt, 24, spent two periods in police cells posing as Kelly Reeder. But when "Kelly Reeder" failed to
A RAIL operator is urging parents to make sure their children understand the dangers of playing near railway lines. With the half-term holiday fast approaching, Arriva Trains Northern and British Transport Police are stepping up their campaign to keep
Health Secretary Alan Milburn is to give patients facing long waits for operations the choice of alternative hospitals. An extra 100,000 patients are set to benefit from the NHS Patient Choice scheme to cover more parts of the country and more surgical
CHILDREN can take part in free skating or swimming sessions in Guisborough during next week's half-term holiday. Equipment for skateboarders and inline-skaters at King George V playing fields will be available from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Monday to Thursday
THE North-East will be strongly represented at a domestic violence conference in London today. Three charitable projects in the region are giving presentations and the main speaker is from the University of Sunderland. The conference, Domestic Violence
PUB-goers across North Yorkshire are being given the chance to surf the Internet while enjoying their pint. Fifteen hostelries have signed up for the Locals Online project, an innovative scheme to develop a network of rural learning centres across the
RECENT work of artist Gillie Cawthorne is going down a storm at her former college. The former Durham University student is exhibiting her latest watercolours at Trevelyan College, where she is 'an old girl.' Although she graduated in geology, Gillie
FIVE generations of occupational therapists joined forces yesterday to say goodbye to their longest-serving colleague. Kate Wilson, senior occupational therapist at the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, has spent more than 42 years in the profession
BUSINESS owners in Darlington have been warned that they could face a £2,500 fine for failing to comply with a litter crackdown. The hard-hitting approach is part of Darlington Borough Council's efforts to clean up the town centre and residential areas
THE Rotary Club of Darlington has raised thousands of pounds to help blind and partially-sighted people. A series of fundraising nights was held by the club to raise £2,200 for the Talking Newspaper for the Blind, which is produced at The Northern Echo
PRINCE'S Trust volunteers went on a county-wide quest yesterday to brighten the lives of hospital patients. A team based in Bishop Auckland left their base in the Lightfoot Institute for a fancy dress treasure hunt they hoped would help them reach their
A DECORATOR told a court yesterday he falsely confessed to stealing jewellery worth £57,000 from a couple's bedroom to get out of a police cell. Anthony Cormack said he was starting to panic after detectives took him from the cell a third time so he confessed
THE organisers of a fair for family and local history enthusiasts are hoping for a big turnout. The sixth Yesterday Belongs to You event will be held by Durham County Council at County Hall, Durham, on Saturday, April 5. The council is expecting a bigger
PRIMARY school pupils were able to celebrate their achievements with a royal visitor yesterday. The Princess Royal visited Hartlepool to acknowledge the high achievement levels of the town's primary schools. Hartlepool is the first local education authority
A THOUSAND chocolate hearts will be given to women customers on Friday to mark the start of a week of events at the Cleveland Centre, in Middlesbrough. Other activities planned for include a Philippine dance workshop, organised by local company Music
PUPILS in the Darlington area could be taught the importance of keeping their bones healthy. Darlington Primary Care Trust is hoping to encourage youngsters to eat healthily and take exercise to lessen the risk of osteoporosis in later life. The brittle-bone
FIVE business leaders are to spearhead the region's £200m attempt to become a world beater in scientific research and development. They will head up five centres of excellence in various fields, aiming to transform the economic fortunes of the North-East
THE manager of a struggling women's football team has had to turn to his native Midlands for cash after a plea to the region's businesses failed to provide a sponsor. Bill Godward, founder of Chester-le-Street Town Ladies FC, wants to turn the club into
A service that ensures clients can attract attention to their business via the Internet has led to a Teesdale company planning to double its staff in the next six months. Britnett, which employs six people at its Barnard Castle site, is offering a no-stress
It is a condition which leaves sufferers detached from the world, unable to understand the things the rest of us take for granted. But new research could help autistic children get back in touch with society, courtesy of The Simpsons. Nick Morrison reports
A FORMER Teesside GP has been appointed Durham University's first Dean of Medicine. Professor Amritpal (Pali) Hungin will take up the full-time appointment on March 1 at the Queen's Campus in Stockton, where the university runs a medical programme with
Strenuous walk: An 11-mile Waskerley, Honeyhope and Hishope walk will be led by Michael Jones, at 10am on Wednesday from the Rowley Station picnic area. Monster bees: Why do bees buzz? is being staged by Monster Productions, at 1.30pm on Tuesday, February
THE family of retired engineer Jim Green, who was brutally murdered in his Thai home over the weekend, have spent their first day with his wife's family. In the wake of the terrible news of her son's death, pensioner Mary Green and her five other children
THE biggest names in women's sport will be flexing their considerable muscles in the North-East as they attempt to become Britain's Strongest Woman. Eight women from across the UK will be towing cars and lifting barrels and rocks in a series of tough
A pensioner died of natural causes, an inquest ruled yesterday. Robert Robinson, 74, of Margaret Terrace, Coronation, near Bishop Auckland, died in Bishop Auckland General Hospital on January 7. Dr Clive Bloxham, consultant pathologist at the hospital
PARENTS have been given top marks for helping to give children's reading skills at a small primary school a boost. Parents responded to a call to encourage reception class youngsters to take up reading at St Thomas More RC, in Belmont, Durham. Teacher
A RESTAURANT boss whose North-East businesses failed with debts of more than £203,000 has been disqualified from acting as a company director for three years. Dean Anthony Wilson, 28, of Hazelwood Avenue, Jesmond, appeared at Newcastle County Court, over
THE latest temporary radio station took to the air at the weekend and is already proving a hit with listeners in the North-East. Broadcasting from a car recovery yard until Saturday, March 8, Durham's DLR, on 107 FM, is providing a mix of music, news
FILM and television star Colin MacLachlan is appearing in a play by an acclaimed North-East theatre company. Fool's Day, by Bold as Brass, focuses on character Peter Donaldson, played by Colin, as he shares his amazing life story with his neighbour Sheena
CHESTER-le-Street Theatre Group is performing the UK amateur premier of Michael Parker's comedy Lone Star Love Potion in the community centre on Newcastle Bank, Chester-le-Street from Tuesday, February 11 to Saturday, February 15, at 7.15pm. The play
A 57-year-old man is recovering in hospital after a collision with a bus. The accident happened in Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, at 2pm on Monday. The single-decker bus was travelling North. The injured man was taken to Newcastle General Hospital with
Loftus police are clamping down on firearms offences after two teenagers were caught shooting at birds in Skinningrove Woods. The boys, aged 15 and 16, had their rifles confiscated and will appear before court to face charges. Police will visit schools
A 57-year-old man is recovering in hospital after a collision with a bus. The accident happened in Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, at 2pm on Monday. The single-decker bus was travelling North. The injured man was taken to Newcastle General Hospital with
A COUPLE who were brought together by the Second World War have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. David Smith, 80, was serving in the Army and his wife Alice, 79, was a member of the Navy, Army and Airforce Institute (Naffi), when they met
PERHAPS Kieron Dyer was helped by Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to give his starting XI only 45 minutes on the pitch. After all, the Newcastle United midfielder's best performance in an England shirt before yesterday came when he lasted only until half-time
DURHAM-born Eric Clapton soundalike and lookalike Mike Hall is planning a one-off concert based on the star's Unplugged album. Mike and his band Classic Clapton will be performing an acoustic show - their first in Newcastle since December 2001 - at the
DURHAM-born Eric Clapton soundalike and lookalike Mike Hall is planning a one-off concert based on the star's Unplugged album. Mike and his band Classic Clapton will be performing an acoustic show - their first in Newcastle since December 2001 - at the
The Advertiser's Stanley Burns Pit Memorial Appeal exhibiton opens this Friday. Every penny raised from the exhibition and separate music and slide show will go directly towards the cost of building a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in an
The Advertiser's Stanley Burns Pit Memorial Appeal exhibiton opens this Friday. Every penny raised from the exhibition and separate music and slide show will go directly towards the cost of building a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in an
WINGER Matthew Piper is ready to offer Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson a fresh option for Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with Watford at the Stadium of Light. Piper made his comeback as a second-half substitute in last Saturday's 4-1 defeat at
Pro-hunting campaigners unveiled a huge banner from Britain's largest sculpture today, as an early Valentine's message to their sport. Around 100 members of the Real CA, radical pro-hunt supporters linked to the Countryside Alliance, were gathering since
A COUPLE who have brought the news to their community are making the headlines themselves as they celebrate 60 years of marriage. Jack and Olga Hedley are well-known in Eldon Lane where they have served behind the counter of Hedley's store, which they
DRUGS manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline was last night confident it could overcome fears surrounding patent challenges and worries about new drug development. The pharmaceutical firm posted £6.52bn profits, six per cent up on last year, but failed to completely
TEST cricket should still be played in Chester-le-Street for the first time this summer regardless of England's decision to pull out of their World Cup tie in Zimbabwe. Durham County Cricket Club chairman Bill Midgley said he still hopes England will
A DARLINGTON park is poised for renovation thanks to a National Lottery windfall. North Lodge Park, near Gladstone Street, will have £265,000 spent on improvements. Although visitors to the park will be asked for their views on what the money should be
TRADERS risk losing their alcohol licences if they ignore regulations banning the sale of alcohol to minors. The warning was made after licensing justices heard that drunken youth disorder is one of the biggest sources of complaints to police across north
TWO Teessiders are in the England Under 21 side to face France at Newbury tomorrow. Newcastle Falcons Academy lock Geoff Parling, a product of Ian Ramsey School, Stockton, and the Stockton club will by joined by centre Chris Hyndman. Now with Northampton
A MAN who beat cancer will emulate a daredevil superhero to raise cash in memory of his mother, who lost her battle with the disease. Jonathan Cole, 27, from Hastings Hill, Sunderland, donned the eye-catching red and blue Spiderman outfit yesterday to
A CHARITY is giving women the opportunity to try out driving trucks and fire engines. Marie Curie Cancer Care will hold its annual Ladies' Driving Challenge at Albermarle Barracks, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and
THEY have provided some of the most memorable images in advertising history, but are about to be stubbed out for good. From midnight tonight tobacco ads on billboards and in newspapers and magazines will disappear as new Government legislation is introduced
A BID to tackle anti-social behaviour has resulted in a 60 per cent drop in the number of incidents reported in a Chester-le-Street ward. The joint scheme between police and Chester-le-Street District Council to target nuisance behaviour has yielded dramatic
WAR ON IRAQ: IT is with some dismay we are seeing the utmost condemnation of the UN, just because the Iraq problem persists. The success of the UN in any crisis depends on us, you and me, all member states - our understanding of this vast world organisation
A WASTE disposal company is facing a huge fine after leaving rotting human blood and body parts in lorries at sites in the North-East. Eurocare Environmental Services, based in Newcastle, which has contracts to dispose waste from most of the hospitals
A WOMAN who slipped and fell on a wet floor in a supermarket has been told the store is not liable for her injury. Marilyn Wray, 49, who lives in Darlington, was shopping at Asda, in Whinbush Way, Darlington, in September when she slipped and fell in
COUNCIL bosses yesterday apologised for sending a court summons to a 92-year-old woman who died last year. In a letter to Mary Hill, they said she was being summoned to York Magistrates' Court for failing to pay £24.94 council tax for the period up to
THE next Bishop of Durham was appointed this week and immediately took Tony Blair to task for his stand over war with Iraq. Canon Tom Wright said it was tragic that the only two avowedly Christian leaders in the West were the ones trying to persuade everyone
A collection of church paintings will still be sold by the Church of England despite a dramatic change in its fortunes. Poor performances of the church's main investment fund were blamed for the Church Commissioners' decision to sell 13 portraits by Spanish
A HEARTBROKEN pensioner is offering a reward after thieves broke into an allotment and stole his pets. William Howcroft, 69, fears he will never see two African grey parrots stolen from an aviary on his allotment. Thieves ransacked three aviaries in the
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has decided against extending John Eustace's loan from Coventry, writes Clive Hetherington. The midfielder returned to Highfield Road yesterday after his month-long spell with Boro ran out. Eustace was restricted to
A HAUL of what police believe may be stolen bikes has been recovered by police. The bicycles were found during a police search of a property in Lime Street, Stanley, County Durham, on Monday, February 3. They have traced the owners of a £3,000 scooter
A 57-year-old man is recovering in hospital after a collision with a bus. The accident happened in Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, at 2pm on Monday. The single-decker bus was travelling North. The injured man was taken to Newcastle General Hospital with
THE owners of a pub who allowed foul-smelling water to leak into the basement of a shop were ordered to pay their neighbours £35,000 compensation yesterday. The Talbot, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, was identified as the source of the sewage, which had
VALE of York MP Anne McIntosh is leading the fight to keep a North Yorkshire turkey factory open. Brandons Poultry plant, at Dalton, Thirsk, faces the threat of closure because of overcapacity in the turkey market. Daltons is in a consultation process
CAMPAIGNERS have reassured residents they are doing all they can to make sure a theatre stays in a Teesside town. At a meeting of the Billingham Partnership Board on Monday, the committee provisionally agreed to demolish Billingham Forum and build on
ONE of Shakespeare's most famous characters faced his foes in the wrestling ring last night. Wrestling Shakespeare, by North-East theatre company Site Specified, was on stage in the Bede Theatre, Ryhope Road, as part of the University of Sunderland's
The body of a teenage girl was found in a field on the day her parents celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. Officers arrested an 18-year-old close to the scene on the outskirts of Cramlington, Northumberland, just a few hundred yards from 14-year-old
TONY BLAIR'S Sedgefield constituency will find itself in the national spotlight again at election time in May. Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre will host Jonathan Dimbleby's popular Radio 4 programme Any Questions only 24 hours after the local government
The Bruvvers, Joe Brown's backing band, are performing at Trimdon Labour Club tomorrow and Saturday. The musicians have also played with Lonnie Donegan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Van Morrison and Leo Sayer. Special guests on Friday night are Skerne, which features
A SCHOOL'S provision for environmental education, the arts and pupils' personal development were highlighted in a report by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). Cassop Primary School, the first wind-powered school in England
A VISITOR farm will remain in the Dales on a permanent basis after seven years "on probation". Hazel Brow Farm, at Low Row, in Swaledale, was given temporary permission by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority in 1995, with a review due in 2001.
THE Coal Authority, the successors to the National Coal Board, has publicly backed The Northern Echo's Stanley Burns Pit Memorial Appeal. The news comes on the eve of a fund- raising exhibition opening at the Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley. Every penny
ELDERLY people in the region are missing out on grants to help heat their homes. Pensions Minister Ian McCartney yesterday reminded North-East pensioners to claim their Winter Fuel Payment before the end of March. Under the scheme, pensioners can get
A CENTURIES-OLD bellringing tradition at a North Yorkshire church has been secured after an appeal for ringers was answered. Just a few weeks ago, the outlook seemed bleak for St Andrew's Church, at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, where the bells have been
A VILLAGE split by a bitter row over the destiny of its allotments has been told all 370 households will have to share the parish council's hefty legal bill. The precept set to cover Barton Parish Council's annual costs would normally be no more than
A REGIONAL sculptor has given new meaning to splashing out on a bunch of roses for a loved one this St Valentine's Day. The unique roses stand 6ft tall, have flower heads the size of footballs and are the sturdiest on the market - with a guarantee never
BOBBIES on the beat in Sunderland are saddling up in a bid to meet more residents. Northumbria police officers are using mountain bikes to patrol the streets in the north of the city to get to know the community. The City North Community Police Team has
PEOPLE living in Hartlepool's New Deal for Communities (NDC) area can find out about the latest regeneration projects at a meeting next week. The NDC Community Forum will meet in Belle Vue Community Sports and Youth Centre at 6pm on Monday, when it will
A PROJECT is being launched in Chester-le-Street to encourage otters to settle on the River Wear, following reported sightings of the animals. Two otter holts are to be built on the banks of the River Wear at the Riverside Park, to provide a resting and
INCENTIVES are being offered to encourage more traders to join Chester-le-Street's open air-market. Chester-le-Street District Council has put together a support package for people wanting to run their own market stall. The deal offers an initial rent
PREPARATIONS are underway for the second annual show of the Darlington and District Orchid Society. Top nurseries, including Mansell and Hatcher, of Rawdon, near Leeds, and Ray Creek Orchids, of Scunthorpe, will be at the show at the White Horse Hotel
CAR crime in Darlington town centre has fallen to a record low level - to the delight of community safety chiefs. Figures released this week show that there was only one offence committed in town centre car parks throughout January. Officials at Darlington
THE organisers of a fair for family and local history enthusiasts are hoping for a big turnout. The sixth Yesterday Belongs to You event will be held by Durham County Council at County Hall, Durham, on Saturday, April 5. The council is expecting a bigger
PRIMARY school pupils were able to celebrate their achievements with a royal visitor yesterday. The Princess Royal visited Hartlepool to acknowledge the high achievement levels of the town's primary schools. Hartlepool is the first local education authority
PUPILS in the Darlington area could be taught the importance of keeping their bones healthy. Darlington Primary Care Trust is hoping to encourage youngsters to eat healthily and take exercise to lessen the risk of osteoporosis in later life. The brittle-bone
CAMPAIGNERS against plans to build a recycling and waste transfer station near their homes were ordered to leave a council meeting yesterday, after verbally attacking members. People from Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, heckled Teesdale District
A THANKSGIVING service celebrating the life and work of Judge Gerald Coles is to be held at York Minster on February 22, at 11am. Judge Coles, who died in September last year leaving a widow and three sons, was educated at Colton School, Redcar, Brasenose
EVERY day is market day at a medieval town house next week, with all kinds of Viking goods on display. During the half-term week, Barley Hall Coffee Yard, in York, is hosting a Viking market, offering visitors a chance to get their hands on some beautiful
Loftus police are clamping down on firearms offences after two teenagers were caught shooting at birds in Skinningrove Woods. The boys, aged 15 and 16, had their rifles confiscated and will appear before court to face charges. Police will visit schools
SUPPORT for Tyneside's bid to be European Capital of Culture 2008 has been pouring in from across the world. The Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative (NGI) launched the Back the Buzz campaign last month, and appealed for the whole of the region to support its
THREE-YEAR-OLD Lee Robins has helped a sports centre reach an important milestone. The youngster, from Hartlepool, has become the 1,000th member of the town's Brierton Community Sports Centre. To mark the event, the centre has given Lee free membership
FOR Brian Howe, the project to restore a historic steam locomotive in Darlington has a special significance. As a young man 50 years ago, Mr Howe, 68, was the fireman on the Q6 loco. Today, he is one of the team from the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation
SANDOWN specialist Kings Mistral (2.35) has found the ideal opportunity to win his fourth staying chase at the course today. Although the five linear railway fences on the far side are normally a stern test for even the most seasoned steeplechaser, it
MORE than 3,500 years ago, a small group of Bronze Age sailors set out in their primitive wooden vessel on a journey that would prove to be the boat's last. It was carrying roughly squared blocks of stone, probably for the construction of a causeway by
THE Rotary Club of Darlington has raised thousands of pounds to help blind and partially-sighted people. A series of fund-raising nights was held by the club to raise £2,200 for the Talking Newspaper for the Blind, which is based in The Northern Echo
A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 14-year-old girl who was found dead on the day of her parent's 25th wedding anniversary. Thomas Davis, 18, appeared before magistrates after the body of Sarah Robson was found in a field just
WITH caretaker boss Mick Tait preparing to rally his troops for the possiblity of a relegation scrap, Darlington winger Neil Wainwright has warned his teammates they must allay any fears "sooner rather later". Concerns are growing that Quakers could find
MANAGERS are believed to be flying to the North-East next week from Japan for crisis talks on the future of an electronic components factory. New fears about the future of the SMK plant, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, have surfaced this week. Rumours
NEIGHBOURS this week spoke of how they tried to save a pensioner from his blazing home. Residents rescued James Bernard Parks, 76, from his ground floor flat in Cleveland Avenue, Chester-le-Street, after spotting smoke pouring from the building at around
SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON'S troubled England reign plunged to a new low last night as he saw a near full-strength side humbled by a country where the national sports are played with an oval ball. After embarrassing defeats to Australia in cricket, rugby league
PEOPLE in Thornton-le-Beans, North Yorkshire, are understandably upset that their village chapel of ease could be converted into a home. They have even formed a Friends of the Chapel committee to fight the planning application. "Our shop and post office
MUSIC has never been a strong point in our house. I didn't get further than The Grand Old Duke of York on the recorder, and my wife gave up learning the piano after killing Onward Christian Soldiers in school assembly, so there was never much hope for
Everyone has their cross to bear, whether it's supporting a football side through thick and thin or walking across hot coals. AS if acknowledging her new gaffer's avowed allegiance to Newcastle United, Canon Lyn Jamieson turned up at Tuesday's press conference
TRANSPORT police in Stockton are launching a major operation after reports of children as young as 11 wreaking havoc on the town's railway tracks. The police operation will crack down on youngsters vandalising, trespassing and damaging property on rail
A CHARITY is giving women the opportunity to try out driving trucks and fire engines. Marie Curie Cancer Care will hold its annual Ladies' Driving Challenge at Albermarle Barracks, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and
