MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren is ready to redouble his search for a striker as the transfer window looms. McClaren concedes that Boro's dearth of goals has been their major failing this season and he is poised to rectify matters. Boro, who have scored
TALENTED young musicians will showcase their talents with a festive performance. Durham Young Musicians stage their annual Christmas concert at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery, on Sunday, December 7, at 2pm. All those appearing are instrumentalists
Football legend Brian Clough has never been backward in coming forward. Cloughie's sharp tongue has been the hallmark of the former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager. But the lad from Middlesbrough's Grove Hill was left speechless on his home
'I'M not very intelligent, but this programe is insulting the little bit I've got left," raged my wife over a certain part of ITV1's weekend coverage. Surprisingly, she wasn't on about THAT World Cup winning drop goal - although England's instant army
As he celebrates a quarter of a century as York Theatre Royal's pantomime Dame, Berwick Kaler talks to Steve Pratt about his love affair with the traditional Christmas show. Like a condemned man, Berwick Kaler is having one last cigarette. Giving up smoking
BARRY CONLON has been tipped to fire Darlington to safety by manager David Hodgson. But the Quakers boss insists he needs to find the big Irishman a partner before he can hit top form. Conlon is set to make his third League start in a row against Scunthorpe
Normally known for his sports broadcasts, Ian Payne is spreading his wings to sprearhead a new, men only talk show, he tells Steve Pratt. AFTER a week with rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson, sports presenter Ian Payne is more than ready to get a few things off
WHILE Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio parade the Webb Ellis Trophy round Kingston Park today, Newcastle Falcons will find themselves up against four World Cup players. As the only member of the England squad who played in every match in Australia
STOCKTON Borough Council's cabinet has backed the proposed Durham Tees-Valley name for Teesside Airport at its meeting this week. Members felt the economic argument for the name change was strong enough to override concerns over the name, and deputy leader
DETECTIVES are looking into allegations made about the collapse of the firm hired to run a new £14m theatre. The former directors of the Entertainment Team (Durham) are understood to have lodged a complaint about Durham City Council's handling of the
Football star turned actor Vinnie Jones was charged yesterday over an alleged air rage incident. The 38-year-old was travelling in the first class cabin of a Virgin Atlantic plane from Heathrow to Tokyo when the incident is alleged to have taken place
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren is ready to redouble his search for a striker as the transfer window looms. McClaren concedes that Boro's dearth of goals has been their major failing this season and he is poised to rectify matters. Boro, who have scored
PRISON officers who risked their lives pulling a prisoner from a burning cell have been praised by a judge. The officers at Deerbolt Young Offenders Institute, Barnard Castle, rescued Anthony Thomas Webb, 19, after he set fire to a mattress in his cell
ALAN SHEARER last night led the protests as Newcastle United prepared to face the gruelling prospect of a second game inside two days. United take on Wolves at Molineux this afternoon in a match which kicks off at 12.30 for coverage on Sky Sports. Sir
MERCHANTS FRIEND offers daring punters the prospect of an enticing each-way bet at Newbury, provided the rain arrives in time to soften the ground for the gut-busting 3-mile £110,000 Hennessy Cognac Gold Gup. Charlie Mann's mudlark has made great strides
Wolviston face a stern test when they visit second-top Cleadon SC in the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup this afternoon. "Jack Clark Park is not a happy hunting ground for us. It seems to hold a jinx because no matter how well we play, we never seem to get
Yorkshire appear poised to call in David Byas as cricket supremo in an attempt to restore the club's fortunes and bring back the glory days of 2001 when they won the County Championship under his captaincy for the first time in 33 years. Although Yorkshire
SOME of the most celebrated contemporary artists have revealed their thoughts on art in a book being launched in the North-East next month. Art and the Spiritual is a collection of essays by leading artists, with responses by theologians. It includes
Loud cheers rang out among ITV executives when Jonny Wilkinson drop-kicked England to World Cup victory. Their joy was not prompted by national pride alone. They had another good reason to celebrate. The final was part of an international rugby package
SUNDERLAND have conceded defeat in their attempts to prise top transfer target Jon Stead away from Huddersfield Town. But Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy is convinced his crop of strikers will soon bounce back to form - hopefully against Burnley this afternoon
DETECTIVES are looking into allegations made about the collapse of the firm hired to run a new £14m theatre. The former directors of the Entertainment Team (Durham) are understood to have lodged a complaint about Durham City Council's handling of the
DAMIEN Duff will tomorrow catch a glimpse of whether he made the right decision to join Chelsea's Roman revolution. Money talked for the £17m Republic of Ireland winger in the summer as he opted for a move to Roman Abramovich's Chelsea despite reported
Stafford Rangers don't hold any fears for Spennymoor manager Tony Lee ahead of this afternoon's FA Trophy second round tie, writes Ray Simpson. Moors, who were the last North-East side to reach the Trophy semi-finals 25 years ago, head to the Dr Martens
BARRY CONLON has been tipped to fire Darlington to safety by manager David Hodgson. But the Quakers boss insists he needs to find the big Irishman a partner before he can hit top form. Conlon is set to make his third League start in a row after recovering
WHILE Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio parade the Webb Ellis Trophy round Kingston Park today, Newcastle Falcons will find themselves up against four World Cup players. As the only member of the England squad who played in every match in Australia
A VENGEFUL ex-boyfriend ran up a large mobile phone tab and left his ex-girlfriend with the bill, a court heard yesterday. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stole from her employers to pay off the £600 bill and narrowly escaped jail
LAST Friday, there was plenty of time to muse on the meanings of the dun cow. President George Bush, you will remember, was dining on fish and chips with Tony Blair at the Dun Cow pub in Sedgefield. It's a crammed pub, low beams and tight tables, where
Quantity surveyor Michael Luck may lack musical skills himself, but he's confident that his new classical orchestra will hit the right note, he tells Steve Pratt. AN accident that prevents him from working was the spur for quantity surveyor Michael Luck
EFFORTS are being made to clean-up a corner of Teesside. Scores of local schoolchildren are helping to plant trees on the cleared site of the Portrack Incinerator, demolished because it failed to comply with European legislation. Before being disbanded
CLIMBING enthusiasts have scaled the equivalent of the world's third highest mountain to raise money for a water charity. The region's top mountaineer, Alan Hinkes, joined a team of about 30 climbers at the Rock Antics Climbing Wall, in Newton Aycliffe
WORK by local artists is being displayed at the new offices of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust. When the trust moved into its headquarters at Merrington House, on the Electrolux site, in Spennymoor, it was realised that artwork was needed for the plain
THE development of improved sports facilities at schools in Darlington could move forward next week. Darlington Borough Council's cabinet will be asked on Tuesday to approve the release of £47,644 from a £1m pot of money to develop facilities. The funding
THE largest and most ambitious environmental regeneration programme ever seen in west Durham was launched yesterday. Over the next five years the £5.2m Mineral Valleys Project will set up a network of initiatives to transform natural, cultural and historic
A MEMORIAL football match staged in tribute to a keen player raised £630 for charity. The event, in Consett, was organised by Jonathan Crawley in memory of his brother, Franky, who died on August 2 last year after suffering a heart attack at the age of
A MOBILE phone company may seek a compromise with residents over the siting of a telecommunications pole. Hutchison 3G UK Ltd is considering its options for the 15-metre structure, which it wanted to mount at the north side of the A690 Durham to Sunderland
BUDDING young actors are giving a modern treatment to an old classic. The theatre school at Durham's Gala Theatre has been staging Wiz, the rock version of The Wizard of Oz, with the final performances taking place today. More than 70 youngsters, aged
HUNGRY horses are landing an animal sanctuary with a huge food bill, prompting an urgent call for help. The four-legged residents at Ramshaw Rescue, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, munch their way through £150 worth of hay every week on top of home-grown
PROTESTORS are planning a show of force at a council committee meeting over plans to sell off public land in Richmond. The Westfields site is thought to date back to medieval times and is popular with dog walkers and ramblers, but its future is uncertain
TELEVISION weatherman Paul Mooney shed some light on the forecasters' art to an eager young audience. The BBC North-East Met man was the guest of youngsters at Langley Park Primary School, in County Durham. Headteacher Dorothy Brennan said the visit of
VISITORS who took part in guided tours of Richmond have repaid the hospitality they were shown. Donations made by those who took part in the walks have been presented to two of the town's main tourist attractions. During 2003, the Richmond Volunteer Guides
DARLINGTON Talking Newspaper has received a total of £500 from the town's Freemasons and a couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Derek Barker, master of the Steadfast Mark Lodge, and grand lodge officer Peter Smailes visited the talking
NORTH Yorkshire's rural towns and parishes are being beseiged by regeneration initiatives, according to Lord Feversham of Helmsley. He claims groups such as Action for Market Towns (AMT), the new Market Towns Renaissance (MTR), and Community Investment
PUPILS from a Norton school have spent the past year fundraising for a local charity. The youngsters from Red House School chose Daisy Chain as the school's charity for 2003. Throughout the year, they have carried out a series of events, including a jogathon
STAFF at a Darlington store have said farewell to a colleague who has retired after more than four decades working there. June Trattles began work at the British Home Stores, in Northgate, on October 2, 1961, at the age of 17. Miss Trattles, who will
PLANS to amalgamate a junior and an infant school could be approved next week, despite objections from governors. Darlington Borough Council's cabinet will consider the plans to amalgamate Whinfield Infant and Junior schools on Tuesday. However, despite
FINAL approval for a nature reserve on a Darlington estate is expected to be granted by councillors next week. Members of Darlington Borough Council's cabinet will be asked to approve the release of more than £89,000 for the Maidendale project on Firthmoor
LIBRARY staff are celebrating receiving an award for making their building more accessible to disabled people. The Darlington Access for All award was launched to coincide with the European Year of Disabled People. The honour was presented to the town's
DEMAND for steel slabs on the international market is growing at a rate of three per cent a year, according to Corus. The steel producer pointed to increased demand and fewer suppliers to fulfil that demand as positive news for the future of steelmaking
EDUCATION bosses in the region are looking to bid for hundreds of millions of pounds to bring North-East secondary schools into the 21st Century. A deadline of December 19 has been set for local education authorities throughout the country to bid for
WATER SUPPLIES: READING your front page report (Echo, Nov 25) on the alarming chemical cocktail in our blood, I was not surprised to find the North-East one of the higher areas. I understand fluoridation is incorporated into Newcastle's water supply and
ANIMAL welfare campaigners hope to give a stray dog a home for Christmas. Roly, a two-year-old cross-breed, was taken to the Deerness Kennels, in Langley Moor, in March after being found wandering the streets of Durham. The Durham branch of the RSPCA
RESIDENTS from across east Durham seized the opportunity to examine health service provision in their area. With a health review under way, Easington Primary Care Trust called a public meeting to give local people the chance to judge how the proposals
A HEALTHIER diet and a new name are on the menu at an east Durham community cafe. A competition was staged among Wheatley Hill residents and users of the cafe in an attempt to rename it. Resident Lyndsey Nesbitt came up with Comminicafe and won a basket
I AM never one to get into a rut of boredom and will have a go, at least once, at anything new. I see it as all part of life's challenge and don't mind if I fluff things up, or can't do it, because I can say that I have at least had a go. This week's
A BOY of 12 has been expelled from school after he allegedly pointed a ball-bearing (BB) gun at teachers. Brian Atherton was expelled after he got the BB gun out of his school bag and pointed it at teachers. Now his parents have hit out at the decision
JUST as there are football supporters who claim a particularly enriching atmosphere at floodlit matches, so there is something special about being in church after dark. Memories of Christmas Eve, perhaps. There are differences, of course, though the singing
A NORTH-EAST cook has come third in a national competition to find the Curry Chef of the Year, but there have been protests at the outcome. Mohammed Sultan, of the Massala restaurant, in Middlesbrough, lost out. His boss, Shamal Biswas, said rules were
IN her inimitable style, Christine Hamilton paid a compliment to a group of fundraising North-East women yesterday. She told the women attending an NSPCC charity lunch, at Seaham Hall in east Durham: "It's wonderful to be back in the North-East amongst
A GRANDFATHER was found dead in a cemetery after taking his dog for a walk. John Gibson's body was discovered with stab wounds in the Dean Road Cemetery, in Scarborough, shortly after 8.30pm on Thursday, only minutes after his wife reported him missing
KEVIN KYLE admits the pressure on Sunderland's misfiring strikers to end the club's goal drought is beginning to mount. Manager Mick McCarthy has continued to stand by his front two despite a dreadful run in front of goal. Top-scorer Kyle has failed to
The shopkeeper they called Mr Cockerton was recalled at the dedication of a stained glass window in his memory. JUST as there are football supporters who claim a particularly enriching atmosphere at floodlit matches, so there is something special about
A HOUSE once owned by the man who inspired James Herriot is on the verge of being sold for more than £2m. Southwoods Hall, in Thirlby, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has been on the market for three weeks. Estate agents said yesterday that an offer of
A GROUP of prison officers notched up an athletic achievement and raised £5,000 for disabled people. The officers, from Frankland Prison, were all sponsored to take part in this year's Great North Run. At a ceremony yesterday, Governor of HMP Frankland's
Shildon manager Ray Gowan has told his players that he wants better performances from them for the rest of the season, beginning today against Esh Winning. Gowan has been on holiday for the last fortnight, so hasn't seen his side play since they lost
NEWCASTLE boss Sir Bobby Robson is pondering a New Year move for Leeds striker Alan Smith, writes Clive Hetherington. Robson, who has made no secret of his admiration for the England international, knows that crisis club Leeds - around £80m in debt and
BIG Conversation - even the name of Labour's new wheeze makes you faint with dismay. It sounds childishly empty, and you know that nothing will come of it. In a couple of months time, it will be parked up alongside all the other obsolete ideas that were
I AM never one to get into a rut of boredom and will have a go, at least once, at anything new. I see it as all part of life's challenge and don't mind if I fluff things up, or can't do it, because I can say that I have at least had a go. This week's
A FORMER Stagecoach manager has set up a private bus company that will create 35 jobs. Businessman Richard Cranmer created Darlington and District Services Limited (DDSL) and has won the contract to run 15 bus routes in and around Darlington. Mr Cranmer
THE man accused of using a baseball bat to bludgeon his uncle to death told lies to police because he felt the net was tightening around him, a court has heard. At Newcastle Crown Court, Simon Tannahill has been accused of telling lies and "fairy stories
A CHARITY calendar featuring photographs taken by our readers has gone on sale. The 2004 CD-sized calendar contains 12 images from the Great North Photography Competition, run by The Northern Echo and the Darlington and Stockton Times. It costs £5, with
A £52m investment package for the coal industry has been announced by the Government, creating 300 jobs and helping secure work for 4,000 miners. Aid will be given to 12 projects at mines in Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire and
Q After reading your answer about underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance (CA), I rang the Carer's Service in Preston. They said you were wrong and that you cannot get CA on top of a State Pension. So what is the point of claiming CA? A You cannot
THE North has a new voice Down Under to champion the benefits to Antipodean companies looking to invest in the UK. Regional development agencies One NorthEast, Yorkshire Forward and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) have assigned a firm to promote
ALAN SHEARER last night led the protests as Newcastle United prepared to face the gruelling prospect of a second game inside two days. United take on Wolves at Molineux this afternoon in a match which kicks off at 12.30 for coverage on Sky Sports. Sir
A VENGEFUL ex-boyfriend ran up a large mobile phone tab and left his ex-girlfriend with the bill, a court heard yesterday. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stole from her employers to pay off the £600 bill and narrowly escaped jail
football legend Brian Clough has never been backward in coming forward. Cloughie's sharp tongue has been the hallmark of the former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager. But the lad from Middlesbrough's Grove Hill was left speechless on his home
NEW recruit Danny Byrne is set for his Football League bow this afternoon after moving to Hartlepool United. Byrne will start on the right wing against Swindon at Victoria Park, as Pool aim to put last week's slump at Plymouth to bed. Assistant manager
A FORMER Stagecoach manager has set up a private bus company that will create 35 jobs. Businessman Richard Cranmer created Darlington and District Services Limited (DDSL) and has won the contract to run 15 bus routes in and around Darlington. Mr Cranmer
A MAN who was found in possession of 8,000 indecent images of young children has been jailed for six months. Huan-Hsin Yu, 33, had a library of pictures collated over five years on his computer, some of which had been copied onto CDs and floppy discs.
A FOURTH controversial US ghost ship arrived on Teesside yesterday - but was unable to dock because of the weather. Poor daylight forced the Compass Island to be towed several miles offshore, where it will stay until it can be brought in on a good tide
SUNDERLAND Harriers hope to tighten their grip on the DP Furniture North-East Harrier League senior men's team trophy when they host the second fixture of the season at Farringdon. But the defending champions, who have dominated the competition since
ITV's gamble to buy the rights to the Rubgy World Cup paid off, with a record 15 million watching the Saturday morning final. But Dirty Den proved that soap is still more popular than sport. Loud cheers rang out among ITV executives when Jonny Wilkinson
LYING at the northernmost end of Loch Linnhe, with Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, towering majestically above it, Fort William is undoubtedly a beautiful place. Although a fair distance from the North-East (it took us around eight hours to get
PSYCHIC Gary Fowler claims his latest prediction will prove the existence of a sixth sense which can look into the future. Details have been placed inside a sealed envelope, which was yesterday locked in a safe in The Northern Echo's Darlington offices
YORSKHIRE'S home matches against Durham will form the centrepiece of the Scarborough Festival next season. The teams clash in the County Championship on September 1-4, with the National League match the following day. Durham's fixtures start 13 days earlier
ACTION-MAN Gaizka Mendieta has been hailed as Middlesbrough's finest foreign import. That is the verdict of one of Boro's most experienced players who has seen so many pass through the Riverside doors. Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho, Italian white
NEW recruit Danny Byrne is set for his Football League bow this afternoon after moving to Hartlepool United. Byrne will start on the right wing against Swindon at Victoria Park, as Pool aim to put last week's slump at Plymouth to bed. Assistant manager
STUDENTS and staff at Woodham Community Technology College, Newton Aycliffe, have celebrated examination successes at a presentation evening. Headteacher Steven Harness paid tribute to the entire GCSE year group, saying: "The year group of 2003 have a
ORANGE footballs are being used in the fight to save a colony of rare birds. Conservationists and Northern Electric Distribution have come up with an extraordinary way to stop black grouse, one of the country's rarest birds, from flying into overhead
EDUCATION bosses in the region are looking to bid for hundreds of millions of pounds to bring North-East secondary schools into the 21st Century. A deadline of December 19 has been set for local education authorities throughout the country to bid for
plans to renovate a cemetery have been unveiled - and include an education centre on the site of the graveyard. Creating a study centre for schools, among an estimated 4,000 headstones, is part of a package of proposals planned for Middlesbrough's 52-
INTERSKY FALCON (1.40) should not be opposed in his bid to win Newcastle's Pertemps-sponsored Fighting Fifth Hurdle for the second year in succession. Part-owned by Alan Shearer, Intersky Falcon has the £45,000 event in his sights en route to another
AN effort to resolve problems caused by the school run has been taken to the very top. North Yorkshire's travel awareness officer Geoff Gardner was invited to a Downing Street think-tank, to discuss the issue. The Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair
EDUCATION bosses in the region are looking to bid for hundreds of millions of pounds to bring North-East secondary schools into the 21st Century. A deadline of December 19 has been set for local education authorities throughout the country to bid for
CLUB revellers and college students are being targeted by a Be Safe campaign in the run-up to Christmas. World Aids Day on Monday is the focus for events in Bishop Auckland and Darlington, encouraging young people to take care of their sexual health.
CHRISTMAS shoppers have been warned to be on their guard against thieves. So far this year, Middlesbrough has seen a 40 per cent reduction in thefts from cars compared to last year. Sergeant Glynn Bass, the town's crime prevention officer, said: "We want
THE region's two air ambulances have been boosted by a £5,000 donation. North Yorkshire County Council has given the Great North Air Ambulance and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance £2,500 each from the Harrogate area committee. The committee was told about
A BID to curb a big stink affecting a North Yorkshire community will be made next week. The smell, from a waste processing site at Park Barn Farm, Topcliffe near Thirsk, has led to widespread pro-tests. Now its operator, JS Mosley and Son, has applied
OUTLINE plans for a shake-up of hospital services on Teesside are to be scrutinised by an independent panel of experts. Health and social service bosses on Teesside are in the midst of a review of NHS services, which is likely to lead to dramatic changes
SCORES of youths are gathering in a Darlington park at night and causing a nuisance, drinking alcohol, taking drugs and being rowdy. A meeting of Whinfield Residents' Association was told that people were alarmed by the large numbers of youngsters from
A DRIVER involved in a crash which killed two people had his case adjourned. Stephen Dack, of Walker, Newcastle, admits aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified. Dack, who is deaf and without speech, required someone to sign for him during
THE Combined Cadet Force at a Teesside school has undergone its biennial inspection. The inspecting officer was head of the 50,000 strong Air Cadet movement, Air Commodore Jon Chitty, who visited Yarm School to conduct the inspection from his base at
SUNDERLAND have conceded defeat in their attempts to prise top transfer target Jon Stead away from Huddersfield Town. But Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy is convinced his crop of strikers will soon bounce back to form - hopefully against Burnley this afternoon
