HUNDREDS of youngsters battled to be the best at a swimming gala at the weekend. Swimming clubs from throughout the region descended on Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on Saturday and yesterday for the open event hosted
A CHARITY football match is expected to raise up to £400 for a family's legal battle after the death of their son in Greece. Three Greek doctors were sentenced to three years in jail in September over the death of Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street
DURHAM CITY baker Terry Wall warmed up for this weekend's North-East Cross Country Championships with a runaway victory in the Norman Woodcock Memorial Road Race at Gosforth Park, Newcastle. The 33-year-old Morpeth Harrier left his rivals after a mile
RAIDERS stole thousands of pounds of stock after breaking through a roof into a gift shop. Jewellery, watches, pens, a laptop computer and a drill were among the items stolen from Michou, in Post House Wynd, Darlington town centre, on Saturday night.
Detectives hunting the killer of 73-year-old paedophile Robbie Hartley say they are facing a shocking attitude from the local community. They say a weekend sweep of the area where the pensioner lived brought fresh hints that local people know who murdered
A BATTERED wife who stabbed her husband to death with a kitchen knife after she was threatened with a hot iron has been freed from jail. Mother-of-three Donna Tinker, 32, was granted an early release from a seven-year prison sentence for manslaughter
BARNARD Castle's Christmas Festival got off to a flying start as the Christmas tree lights were switched on by the mayor. The opening event was compered by radio DJ Steve White, and dozens of people turned out to sing carols, accompanied by the Barnard
YOUNG and old joined together for a play exploring the attitudes of different generations. Pupils from Carmel Technology College, in Darlington, and members of Growing Older Living in Darlington (Gold) presented the play on Saturday. Lesley Compson, Gold
PROPOSALS for a new hospital building have been submitted, aimed at cutting waiting times for heart patients in south Durham and radically improving treatment. Plans for the unit, at Darlington Memorial Hospital, will reduce the time it takes for patients
WEATHERMAN Paul Hudson was in the region on Saturday to meet husky racers. The BBC Look North weatherman was getting a preview of the event attended by hundreds of spectators in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, in North Yorkshire, on Saturday and Sunday.
THE first annual report of an organisation which helps ensure public rights of way has been published. It sets out work done by the Yorkshire Dales Local Access Forum, which advises the national park authority on the rights of access to open countryside
A MULTI-MILLION pound train fleet destined for one of the North-East's busiest routes has come in for fierce criticism before it has even entered service. Passenger groups have attacked the £250m Desiro fleet saying the trains are not long enough and
UP-AND-COMING rock performer Pete Shoulder said he was delighted with the response to his new band's first mini-tour. The 20-year-old guitarist and singer-songwriter and his trio The Others played six support slots for veteran rockers Thunder at venues
PLANS to build special needs homes for people with learning difficulties have run into problems with planning officers. James Thompson has applied to erect two, or three, eight-bedroomed homes on land opposite Lambton House, New Lambton, Bournmoor, Houghton-le-Spring
A PROGRAMME aimed at giving young people a good start in life is about to bring a £3.2m investment to four communities. The Government-funded Sure Start Monument programme will today open two centres, at St Aidan's parish centre, in New Herrington, and
A games club based on a book and blockbuster film trilogy has been launched on Teesside. Stockton Borough Council's Children and Youth Services Department has created a Lord of the Rings club which started on Saturday at Stockton Central Library. The
FIVE new nature reserves aimed at getting more people out into the countryside were officially launched in Derwentside at the weekend. The occasion was marked with a hedge laying project at South Stanley Woods, a 25.8 hectare site on the Durham Pennine
A LIFT firm is appealing for the return of a host of commemorative medals stolen in a raid 30 years ago. Pickerings Europe, of Stockton, is "desperate'' for the return of the medals which thieves stole during an office break-in. The medals were made to
AN almshouses in the region has been unable to find a sponsor to donate a Christmas tree to stand in the centre of its 17th Century courtyard. A local businessman used to donate a tree each year to the almshouses at Kirk-leatham, near Redcar, east Cleveland
A WIDE-RANGING report into fatal car accidents has recommended a clampdown on roadside memorials for crash victims. The report has been produced as part of a review of North Yorkshire County Council's efforts to reduce deaths and serious injuries from
DARLINGTON continued to put their fans through emotional turmoil on Saturday as initial disappointment turned to elation and finally nerve-shredding tension. There was enormous relief after eight minutes of injury time as they hung on for a 19-12 home
TWO men posing as council officials stole £200 from a 97-year-old woman after entering her home. The pensioner was confronted by the pair at her home in Beech Crescent, Heighington, near Darlington, on Saturday. One man distracted the woman while the
A LIFT firm is appealing for the return of a host of commemorative medals stolen in a raid 30 years ago. Pickerings Europe, of Stockton, is "desperate'' for the return of the medals which thieves stole during an office break-in. The medals were made to
Travellers will have to pay more if they plan to let the train take the strain in the New Year, it was announced today. The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) announced a series of ticket price rises yesterday. In the North-East the cost
A CAST of comedians have been banned from part of a theatre for being too funny. Comedian Duncan Norvelle takes to the stage as Wishee Washee in the Billingham Forum's version of the pantomime. He will be joined by actors Johnny Leeze, who was Ned Glover
CHILDREN took their toys to church yesterday for a service and parade. The festive fun in Darlington marked the start of Elm Ridge Methodist Church's programme of Christmas events. Next Monday, there will be carols at the church, in Carmel Road South,
Lawrence Of Arabia: The Battle For The Arab World (BBC2); Pop Queens - The Rivals (C4); THE biographer who declared that T E Lawrence was "a significant player who influenced history" was putting it mildly. The legacy of this desert warrior's achievements
THERE is little surprise that the Prime Minister is, in the words of the Peter Pan of Pop, looking "tired and gaunt". Sir Cliff Richard is not the only one to have noticed it. Mr Blair's physical appearance is remarked upon as much as his policies - in
TRAIN passengers on inter-city services along the East Coast Main Line can get free high-speed Internet access during their journeys for the next two weeks. It is being run on a free trial basis by rail operator GNER, which has conducted trials on the
Pat Eddery signed off after an illustrious career as a jockey with three rides in Mauritius yesterday, but there was no fairytale ending. The 11-times champion jockey came nearest to winning when he finished second on his opening ride on Milad, but his
Striker Barry Conlon last night revealed his hopes of building on Saturday's win over former club York City, writes Lee Hall. The ex-City star was on target in the 3-0 win at the Reynolds Arena - Quakers' first victory since beating Boston by the same
Lawrence Of Arabia: The Battle For The Arab World (BBC2) Pop Queens - The Rivals (C4) THE biographer who declared that T E Lawrence was "a significant player who influenced history" was putting it mildly. The legacy of this desert warrior's achievements
JONNY Wilkinson is guaranteed an armchair ride in his Newcastle Falcons comeback next Sunday after his brother Mark helped soften up the Spanish opposition. It is generally felt that there were motives other than his playing ability for signing Wilkinson
PIONEERING research led by a North-East academic has unearthed a new source of data for weather forecasters. For the past three years, a team of international experts working at the University of Sunderland have been examining ships' logs - from 1750
I HATE conveyor belt romances like Four Weddings and Notting Hill, and Hugh Grant's bumbling ways have not endeared me to the generic success of 'Oh So British' films which are over-sentimentalised for an all-American audience. But there is something
A FUNDRAISER has been made an honorary member of the Merchant Navy. Norman Evans MBE, 59, suffers from multiple sclerosis but gives up hours each week to fundraise by busking in Redcar High Street. In return for the money he has raised for numerous good
BARNARD Castle's Christmas Festival got off to a flying start as the Christmas tree lights were switched on by the mayor. The opening event was compered by radio DJ Steve White, and dozens of people turned out to sing carols, accompanied by the Barnard
MILLIE Stewart's career in nursing almost stopped before it started after a hospital matron caught her and three friends riding on the back of a laundry van. As she marked her retirement, the 55-year-old district nursing sister, from Darlington, recalled
BOOZE was banned at an unusual students' Christmas party. Organisers of the alcohol-free knees up at the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, dispensed soft drinks with sober warnings about the hazards of having one too many. The dry party rounded off
BIRD experts are trying to find out whether huge owls have become established in the wild in Britain after escaping from zoos. Eagle owls, which have a 6ft wing span and are capable of carrying off prey the size of young deer, have never bred naturally
Bottom-of-the-table Ferryhill Athletic have not enjoyed the best of seasons but they celebrated on Saturday when they went nap, defeating Washington Nissan UK in the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup. Their confidence grew after taking an 11th-minute lead through
NEARLY two million electors in the North-East will not have to leave their homes to go to the polls next year - but their hopes of casting their vote by text message or email have been dashed. The region is just one of two in the country where all-postal
A LEGAL battle will begin today to decide the future of the four dilapidated former navy ships that have been sent to the UK from the US for dismantling. Friends of the Earth (FoE) will apply to the High Court for a judicial review of the Environment
AN MP has praised a Teesdale business for its initiative and support for the community. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, opened the new £750,000 premises of the Honeyman Group, on Barnard Castle's Harmire Enterprise Park. The Honeyman Group provides specialist
Patrick Haslam, who has had four winners from his last six runners on the Flat and over hurdles, can carry on the good work at Southwell today with Maunby Raver, who has sound prospects in the Bet Direct On 0800 329393 Nursery over seven furlongs. The
Kennek Ryhope CA striker Jonny Wightman set a new club record as well as a season's best with a magnificent seven goals in his side's 8-0 home win over Easington in the Second Division on Saturday - just before the lights failed. Wightman, who returned
YOU cannot keep a good panto down - not even when thieves steal the script at the 11th hour, as Sleeping Beauty shows. It musters a strong cast, is packed with funny lines and situations and boasts sparkling sets and costumes along with the usual South
AMBULANCE services in the region are today launching a hard-hitting campaign to cut the number of non-emergency 999 calls. Eight ambulance services, including Tees, East and North Yorkshire (Tenyas) and North-East (Neas), have joined together to push
DRUGS squad officers seized £100,000 in used bank notes and £125,000 worth of heroin in a series of dawn raids in the North-East on Saturday. They executed warrants at three houses in Stockton where they found the money, while 1.25kg of the class A drug
STEVE McCLAREN insists Middlesbrough's George Boateng should not have given up hope of playing a part for Holland in next summer's European Championships. Boateng has been overlooked by Dutch boss Dick Advocaat in recent internationals and has only two
The number of people suffering from eating disorders is rising steadily. In the first of a series of articles on women and body image, Women's Editor Christen Pears reports on the illness that affects more than 160,000 people. CATHERINE Temple hands me
NEWCASTLE boss Sir Bobby Robson believes he has been vindicated in his hardline approach to errant wingers Laurent Robert and Nolberto Solano. A rejuvenated Robert was the Magpies' man of the match in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at St. James' Park
FATHER Christmas was rescued from the roof of a Darlington supermarket at the weekend after his reindeer flew off without him. A fire engine arrived at Asda, in Whinbush Way, on Saturday morning to help the stranded Santa. The stunt was part of a day
PUPILS from Reid Street Primary School, in Darlington, are counting on the success of a fundraising drive to provide them with a number games library. The youngsters have been working since May to develop and make games that they can then take home on
RESIDENTS who claim a park has been turned into a no-go zone by drunken youths are calling for the installation of security cameras. People in Whinfield, Darlington, say Springfield Park is overrun on an evening with youngsters from all over the town,
THE world's most famous football club competition threw up a historic North-East derby yesterday when Sunderland were drawn against Hartlepool in the third round of the FA Cup. Even though Sunderland were formed in 1879 and Hartlepool in 1908, it is only
VOLUNTEER lifeboatmen have been praised after rescuing two men who were thrown out of their speedboat while fishing at the weekend. One of the men was still in hospital in a critical condition last night, while the other was treated at the scene for hypothermia
VILLAGERS flocked to the new premises of a nursery, playgroup and out-of-school club on Saturday for its official opening. Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh opened the portable cabin in the grounds of Knayton School, near Thirsk. The building is home to the
BOSSES at a botanical garden have played down reports that they want to fell 200 trees to create a new car park. The Royal Horticultural Society's Harlow Carr gardens in Harrogate have submitted a planning application containing a number of options to
A CHRISTMAS festival attracted large numbers of visitors from throughout the country to Durham City at the weekend. Singers, musicians and street entertainers provided the distractions as shoppers took the opportunity to buy presents from a variety of
CLUBBERS were targeted at the weekend by police investigating the killing of a convicted paedophile. Cleveland Police officers have complained about the lack of response from the Redcar community over the death of Arnold Hartley, 73, of Queen Street.
SUGGS used to be the cheeky boy in the pork pie hat and Mod suit who, throughout much of the 80s, looked like he was having a lot of fun while having a lot of hits. But if you thought the lead singer of Madness must have sobered up by now you'd be wrong
WHEN they meet again in the Premiership on the final day of the season, Sir Bobby Robson and Gerard Houllier know they could be contesting a winner-takes-all place in the Champions League. Liverpool manager Houllier, of course, has been there before.
DETECTIVES last night appealed for witnesses to an armed robbery at a North-East bank. The raid happened at Lloyds TSB, in Station Road, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, at 4.45pm on Friday. Three or four men, all masked and wearing dark clothing, fled with
FIRE crews are warning people not to leave candles unattended after a fire started in a house while the occupant slept. The man escaped the house uninjured after the candle flame set fire to the television on which it was standing. Middlesbrough firefighters
A FUGITIVE who went to ground in Ireland after he was accused of child abuse may be back in the North-East. Police have confirmed there has been possible sighting of Michael Stephen Rowley on Teesside. He is accused of indecently assaulting a young girl
A CHOCOLATE maker has been cooking up festive treats for people with a seriously sweet tooth. Chris East, who runs The Chocolate Factory at Thornton-le-Dale and Hutton-le-Hole with his brother Gareth, has created a chocolate Christmas pudding. Chris,
AT the sixth attempt, Hartlepool United's television jinx is over; at the 11th attempt they have reached the third round of the FA Cup. And their reward could hardly be a better one, a trip to Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Saturday, January 3. Yesterday's
SANTA Claus swapped his sleigh for a Harley Davidson motorbike on Saturday when he made an early visit to the region's youngsters. About 100 people were in Yarm High Street to welcome an entourage of bikers and police who escorted Santa as he rode as
A display of ship models celebrating almost 150 years of shipbuilding on Tyneside is taking shape. The exhibition is in one of four new galleries to be launched at Newcastle's Discovery Museum early next year. Discovery Museum is counting down to the
FEW at Middlesbrough could complain if skipper Gareth Southgate started to demand massive improvements from the club's shot-shy strikers. After all he can take great pride in the fact that Boro's resolute backline have now gone nine hours and 45 minutes
WAR ON TERROR WILLIAM Ball (HAS, Dec 1) suggests that the West withdrew support for Saddam once his true nature was known. From 1983 onwards, Iraq deployed around 100,000 poison gas munitions against the Iranians. The British and American governments
WAR ON TERROR: WILLIAM Ball (HAS, Dec 1) suggests that the West withdrew support for Saddam once his true nature was known. From 1983 onwards, Iraq deployed around 100,000 poison gas munitions against the Iranians. The British and American governments
A COUNCIL has promised to review the case of a pregnant wheelchair-bound woman who is desperate to leave her one-bedroom flat. Claire Dixon, 31, who has cerebral palsy and is five months pregnant, lives with her husband in a flat owned by Cheshire Homes
THREE life-saving youngsters are to be honoured for their brave actions this week. Shay Corrie, from Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, and Rachael and Emma Mawdsley, from Ripon, North Yorkshire, have won Woman's Own Children of Courage awards. The young heroes
KARATE squads from up to 20 countries battled it out in the European Shotakan Karate Championships at the weekend. The event, at the Crowtree Leisure Centre, in Sunderland, attracted competitors from as far away as the Ukraine. On Saturday, 55 juniors
For the second time in 24 hours, Irish eyes were smiling in China after Padraig Harrington opened the 2004 European Tour season with a dramatic victory at the Omega Hong Kong Open. It followed the success of 19-year-old Rosanna Davison, daughter of pop
DETECTIVES are hunting a sex attacker who grabbed a woman on a path and indecently assaulted her. The 25-year-old victim was approached by a man who appeared to be drunk as she walked near the railway line between Arnold Road and Haughton Road, in Darlington
RESIDENTS facing eviction under a controversial demolition scheme are planning to stand in front of the bulldozers to protect their homes. The Home Owners' Association, in Thornaby, was set up when a scheme to tear down 578 houses on the Mandale estate
A COUNCIL has rejected claims by an MP that it is not doing enough to ensure a swimming pool is built in Redcar. Persimmon Homes, which is to redevelop the 35-acre Coatham Enclosure in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, hopes to include
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD songwriter has been enlisted to write a council jingle about her favourite frog. Marina Josephina Gears jumped to it when she woke up one morning with a song in her head about Freda the Frog - Stockton Borough Council's recycling mascot
AN MP has praised a Teesdale business for its initiative and support for the community. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, opened the new £750,000 premises of the Honeyman Group, on Barnard Castle's Harmire Enterprise Park. The Honeyman Group provides specialist
A PENSIONER was visited by MP Ashok Kumar as part of a national winter heating campaign. Isabelle Rammell applied successfully for a Government-funded energy efficiency grant through the Warm Front scheme, which has funded the installation of gas central
A DAY nursery has become the first in Teesdale to gain the Investors in People award. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster presented the award to staff and children at Green Lane Nursery, in Barnard Castle. The nursery opened in 2001 with ten children, and
GENEROUS gym members raised raise cash for a local animal charity. Staff and customers of Lifestyle Fitness, at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, raised £161 for North East Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue. Margaret Gardener, who has run the charity for eight years
PROPOSALS for a new hospital building have been submitted, aimed at cutting waiting times for heart patients in south Durham and radically improving treatment. Plans for the unit, at Darlington Memorial Hospital, will reduce the time it takes for patients
A NEW cycle track will help keep youngsters safe on the roads. The £21,000 bikeway at Glendene School, in Easington Colliery, is 150 metres long. To provide a sense of realism, it has two roundabouts, road markings and signs. About 20 children from Glendene
AN MP has praised a Teesdale business for its initiative and support for the community. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, opened the new £750,000 premises of the Honeyman Group, on Barnard Castle's Harmire Enterprise Park. The Honeyman Group provides specialist
YOUNGSTERS at Northallerton celebrated the Muslim festival of Eid. A special day was held at the Jigsaw pre-school, during which local Muslims and parents of the children visited to give talks about the festival, which is one of the most important dates
A museum is showing a century of toys as part of its Christmas exhibition. Kirkleatham Museum, in Redcar, is exhibiting items from its own collection and up-to-date play equipment. There are low-flying model aircraft, dolls, cars, marbles, conkers, books
A decision to close Britain's last military hospital and transfer psychiatric patients to an exclusive private health group came under fire last night. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Duchess of Kent Military Psychiatric Hospital, in Catterick
David Hodgson has been in the game long enough to know that one match doesn't necessarily turn a season around. But in witnessing the manner in which his side ended a run of 12 games without a win at the weekend, Hodgson must surely have a slight inkling
SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy last night insisted that the Black Cats would be leading the First Division promotion race if they possessed a regular goalscorer. McCarthy, who has been frustrated in a move for Birmingham's Republic of Ireland striker
A LIFT firm is appealing for the return of a host of commemorative medals stolen in a raid 30 years ago. Pickerings Europe, of Stockton, is "desperate'' for the return of the medals which thieves stole during an office break-in. The medals were made to
