Archive

  • Homes plan expected to get approval

    A dispute about a controversial housing development may be resolved next week when the planning application goes before councillors. Planning officers say they are hopeful that the proposals by George Wimpey North-East, for 36 homes off Crosby Road, Northallerton

  • Dentist shortage leads to visit

    THE government minister responsible for dentists is coming to the region to address a city's shortage. Rosie Winterton, Minister of State at the Department of Health, agreed to visit York after the city's Labour MP Hugh Bayley called for government action

  • A day in the Army's life

    THOUSANDS of teachers and pupils were at an army base last Tuesday for the first day of the UK's largest ever-outdoor army careers exhibition. The three-day Army Exhibition for Schools (North) at Marne Barracks, Catterick Village, is designed to give

  • Clarke in County's

    NOTTS County will step up their bid for Darlington defender Matt Clarke this week after the Magpies cleared the decks, by selling Paul Heffernan to Bristol City. County were forced to put their interest in Clarke on the back-burner until they settled

  • Moving images of still lives

    Richard Grassick's new photographic exhibition chronicles and compares life in the former pit communities of East Durham and the shipyards of Bremerhaven in Germany. He talks to Christen Pears. WHEN Richard Grassick moved to the North-East from his native

  • Iraqis 'set free' - but no end to the killing

    TONY BLAIR and George Bush last night hailed the birth of a "sovereign and free" Iraq - but the decision to hand over power saw no end to the bloodshed. As the US-led coalition unexpectedly gave power to the new government in Baghdad two days early, it

  • Death crash driver who was on mobile phone told to expect jail

    A DRIVER who was talking on a mobile phone when he crashed his delivery van into a pensioner's vehicle has been warned he is facing jail. Alan Milbanke, 32, admitted causing the death of grandfather Derek Davies after he lost control of his Mercedes Sprinter

  • Parents of cancer victim encourage fundraising

    The parents of a brave teenager who died from cancer are urging more cyclists to help them make a fundraising event in his honour the biggest so far. Chris Lucas, from Wallsend, died in July 2000, aged 18, after contracting a rare form of cancer, called

  • Memorial to men killed in Iraq ambush

    A MEMORIAL stone for six military policemen killed a year ago in Iraq was dedicated in a ceremony last week. The stone bears the names of the men who died in an ambush on a police station in alMajir al-Kabir, 120 miles north of Basra, where they had been

  • Fantastic four take Durham Union honours

    WHITBURN Golf Club have paid tribute to the fantastic four who clinched a record seventh Durham Union Team Handicap title. The Wearside outfit, who last claimed the honour four years ago, finished one shot clear of Durham City in the competition held

  • Emphasis on fun at factory sports day

    A clown workshop and a tarot card reader are attractions promised at the GlaxoSmithKline annual sports and gala day this weekend. It takes place on Saturday, from 12.30pm at the Manor House Field, next to the factory, in Barnard Castle. Entertainment

  • A home from home for New Zealand's Cairns

    CHRIS Cairns will be celebrating a homecoming of sorts when he steps out at Riverside this afternoon. He may not be the returning hero in the mould of a Steve Harmison or Paul Collingwood, but there'll always be a little bit of County Durham in the New

  • Opt-out move to boost organ donations rejected by MPs

    Controversial proposals to make organ donation automatic unless people opted out were defeated by MPs last night MPs voted overwhelmingly against the move which would have reversed the current system of opting in for the donation of human organs. The

  • Eating Owt: Cat-astrophe of kitsch

    The Bridge Inn at Whorlton may boast great food, but its decor provokes the column to cattiness. HAVING long since seen the writing on the wall - as opposed to the blackboard, which helps explain a school report that was forever unsatisfactory - we were

  • All systems go for thousands expected on the Great North Walk

    IT'S all systems go for planners of this year's Great North Walk after a team of ramblers yesterday gave the route a test run. Organisers and volunteers checked the eight-mile route in County Durham to ensure it would suit the thousands of walkers expected

  • Budget airline has big plans for North-East

    EUROPE'S third largest budget airline is hoping to base aircraft at Newcastle International Airport. Flybe. already operates a regular service to Belfast City and yesterday announced it was opening up routes to Southampton and Exeter from October. The

  • Soldier fined after fight

    A SOLDIER went on the run after police broke up an early morning fight because he could not face being "shouted at" if he returned to his unit, a court was told yesterday. James Watson, a sapper in the Royal Engineers for five years, who saw service in

  • Project expands museum that honours 'Mouse' craftsman

    BUILDINGS that date back hundreds of years have been given a new lease of life to celebrate one of the region's most famous craftsmen. An old blacksmiths' shop and two 16th Century cottages have been transformed into an extension to the visitor centre

  • Massive redevelopment for Hartlepool's harbour

    A multi-million pound flagship redevelopment plan has been unveiled for a North-East town. Tees Valley Regeneration and PD Ports, Logistics and Shipping have jointly submitted plans to Hartlepool Borough Council for a £500m transformation of the town's

  • Lots of worldwide interest as carriage collection goes on sale

    THE remainder of a famous carriage collection goes on sale tomorrow and the auction is expected to attract bidders from all over the world. People have already travelled from as far afield as Sri Lanka to view George Shaw's horse-drawn carriage collection

  • TV review

    Ruby Does The Business (BBC1) IF OTT humour and madcap laughter ever fail for Ruby Wax, she could always move into the world of business. This series has the American redhead meeting the names behind some of the biggest businesses in the country to find

  • Pyeroy to break £10m barrier

    THE Pyeroy Group has won contracts worth nearly £4m on three construction projects due to begin soon. The success in winning three £1m-plus tenders means that the Gateshead group's construction business will break through the £10m barrier for the first

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Service engineer, exceeds NMW, 40-45hpw between 7.30am-7pm inc weekends. Must have experience, be aged 2l-plus and have full driving licence. Van and mobile phone provided. Ref: DAE 40274. Counter assistant. Meets NMW, 16hrs over seven days inc weekends

  • Families pay tribute to motorway crash victims

    TRIBUTES have been paid to two salesmen from the North-East who died in a car accident near Manchester. Kevin Mallows, 20, of Potter Place, in Stanley, County Durham, and Neil Armstrong, 20, of Staithes Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, died on a slip-road

  • Cat-astrophe of kitsch

    The Bridge Inn at Whorlton may boast great food, but its decor provokes the column to cattiness. HAVING long since seen the writing on the wall - as opposed to the blackboard, which helps explain a school report that was forever unsatisfactory - we were

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Clerical assistant - £12,000-£15,000pa, 40hpw 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. Must have experience of life insurance, investments and pensions, good IT skills and a knowledge of industry compliance and processing systems. Ref: DUR 40719. Driver - Must have a clean Class

  • Mad Frankie happy in North-East company

    If it's true that only the good die young, what are we to make of Mad Frankie Fraser, a legend in his own life sentence? The East End enforcer is 81 now, what might be called a very old lag. He's about 5ft 4ins, looks a bit like Harold Steptoe scrubbed

  • The Noble art of comedy

    He's one of the most sought-after comedians on the stand-up circuit, but Ross Noble doesn't have an act as such - he just says what comes into his head, he tells Nick Morrison. ROSS Noble has been somewhat spooked by the phone. "I just walked upstairs

  • Blackspot crossroads to be blocked up for safety trial

    AN accident blackspot is to be improved following calls for action from police and a concerned coroner. Work started yesterday on a £100,000 scheme to close the notorious Black Swan crossroads on the A19, near Hutton Rudby. The action comes after repeated

  • Soldier fined after fight

    A SOLDIER went on the run after police broke up an early morning fight because he could not face being "shouted at" if he returned to his unit, a court was told yesterday. James Watson, a sapper in the Royal Engineers for five years, who saw service in

  • Moving images of still lives

    Richard Grassick's new photographic exhibition chronicles and compares life in the former pit communities of East Durham and the shipyards of Bremerhaven in Germany. He talks to Christen Pears. WHEN Richard Grassick moved to the North-East from his native

  • Shell on defensive at annual meeting

    SHELL was last night forced to defend itself against allegations of a cover up and a lack of transparency concerning its oil reserves crisis. The company has downgraded its oil and gas stocks four times since January in a debacle that led to the departure

  • Officer hits out at 'arrogance' of people who drink and drive

    A POLICE chief has criticised the "staggering arrogance" of a hard core of drink-drivers who put people's lives at risk. Cleveland's Assistant Chief Constable Adam Briggs said: "Despite repeated campaigns about the dangers of taking drink and drugs, there

  • Fanning the flames of success

    JOCKEY Joe Fanning rarely leaves Hamilton empty-handed and today should be no exception given his excellent prospects aboard Dunlea Dancer (2.20) plus Secret History (3.20). First up of the fancied duo for Joe is Dunlea Dancer, who contests the opening

  • Air Ambulance raises funds

    More than 150 clay pigeon shooters braved seven hours in driving rain on a windswept North Pennines moor to raise a remarkable £12,000 for charity. The money will be presented to the support fund for the North-East Air Ambulance later this week. Around

  • Prize draw brings security boost

    A FAMILY has won a shed thanks to a prize draw aimed at improving garden security in Darlington. Amanda Jack and Keith Davison, from Red Hall, took delivery of the shed, supplied by Gardeners' Barn, with security provided by Brian's Locksmith. They plan

  • Dance pupils celebrate exam success

    PUPILS from the Joanne Lowe School of Dance, in Darlington, are celebrating passing International Dance Teachers Association examinations. Results were: One Dance - Lucy Beckwith, Shannon Bowe, Jazmin Fogg, Lauren Jeffery (commended). Bronze - Kaleigh

  • Opticians raises cash to train guide dogs

    AN opticians in Darlington is taking part in a fundraising campaign to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Specsavers Opticians will donate 10p to the charity for every eye test undertaken next month. Nigel Best, store director,

  • Author opens school unit

    A WORLD expert in learning support has opened a unit at Durham High School for Girls. Keda Cowling, author of the groundbreaking "Toe by Toe" scheme of learning, opened the Hadrian Room at the school. The unit, which will be used as a centre for pupils

  • 'Homes are where my heart is'

    Alison Thain has just been awarded an OBE for her services to the social housing sector. The Chairman of the Tees Valley Housing Group talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears. YOUR home affects your life in the most profound way. If you're living in a

  • Nod of approval for postal voting

    A POSTAL voting scheme piloted during this year's European elections has been declared a success by a North Yorkshire council. Richmondshire District Council said the number of people voting in the elections rose to 45 per cent. This represents a 15 per

  • Children have week of fun

    CHILDREN have taken part in events organised for National Childminding Week. The theme of the week's activities was Growing Up With Stories, which was celebrated throughout Redcar and Cleveland by childminders and the children they care for. Events included

  • Sensory unit presents work to university

    A SENSORY support team has presented its work on a three-year project to produce information for deaf people and the hard-of-hearing at a conference. The team, a venture by Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils, is based at The Grange, Eston

  • Male nurse jailed after downloading porn

    A male nurse who downloaded pornographic pictures of young boys onto his home computer has been jailed for five months. Police found 198 images on Stephen Green's machine including two of a sex act being performed on a youngster who was tied up, Durham

  • Hospital uses art to help healing

    THE subtler side of healing is being nurtured in a project to incorporate art into the very fabric of Northallerton's Friarage Hospital. A healing arts scheme and a £100,000 fundraising drive will be launched tomorrow, with the start of the hospital's

  • Meningitis false alarm

    FEARS of a meningitis case at a York primary school have proved unfounded after it was found that the pupil was suffering from a viral infection. St Oswald's Primary School, in Fulford, sent letters to parents warning of a possible case and what symptoms

  • Directory gives information for elderly people

    A DIRECTORY outlining services for elderly people will be launched this week. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT), Durham County Age Concern, Durham County, City and Chester-le-Street councils and a group of elderly people have teamed

  • Students' transatlantic history lesson

    A NORTH Yorkshire station is being studied as part of a project being carried out by a group of students from the US. The three students from the University of South Carolina have undertaken a project on Richmond Station Building as part of their postgraduate

  • Fanning the flames of success

    JOCKEY Joe Fanning rarely leaves Hamilton empty-handed and today should be no exception given his excellent prospects aboard Dunlea Dancer (2.20) plus Secret History (3.20). First up of the fancied duo for Joe is Dunlea Dancer, who contests the opening

  • Youngsters step out to aid orphans

    A GROUP of youngsters raised more than £500 for orphans and other needy children yesterday, by walking around the grounds of their nursery. The 37 youngsters, aged three and four, put on cardboard crowns and walked half a mile around the Green Lane nursery

  • Sword dancers' success

    A GROUP of dancers from a North Yorkshire school have taken a part in an international sword dancing contest. The Valknut Rapper team, pupils of Allertonshire School, Northallerton, performed seven dances in the International Sword Spectacular, in Whitby

  • Team plans to excavate area again

    PEOPLE in Hartlepool have another chance to join an archaeological dig exploring the history of their area. The four-week excavation by Tees Archaeology will start on Monday at the edge of the Friarage Field sports field, on Hartlepool's Headland. It

  • Farmers get help to fight crime

    FARMERS are joining forces with police in a crackdown on rural thieves that could help cut down on crime. The new Farm Watch scheme, covering the Derwentside area of north-west Durham, uses a combination of technology and traditional methods. It will

  • Directory gives information for elderly people

    A DIRECTORY outlining services for elderly people will be launched this week. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT), Durham County Age Concern, Durham County, City and Chester-le-Street councils and a group of elderly people have teamed

  • Festival offers feast of music at priory

    AUDIENCES will be able to savour a feast of music at a North-East beauty spot at the weekend. The Brinkburn Music Festival will serve up classical music and entertainment - from the Gabrieli Consort and Players to Northern Sinfonia - at Brinkburn Priory

  • Track athlete Lee wins sports award

    A TEENAGE athlete who suffers from cerebral palsy has seen off strong competition to win an award in a regional sporting contest. Lee Hunter, 17, from Redcar, won the Male Young Achiever Award at this year's North-East English Federation of Disability

  • Parents and pupils share creative ideas

    PARENTS and pupils joined forces to produce a host of colourful craftwork. A year ago Shotton Hall Junior School launched a family learning project to give parents a chance to have direct participation in their children's schooling. At first, only a handful

  • Comment from The Northern Echo: A small step for democracy

    THE handover of power to the new government in Baghdad is not a momentous occasion. In essence, the situation in Iraq is unchanged. Tens of thousands of American and British troops remain stationed there, and will stay there for the foreseeable future

  • Investigation after teen thrown off train

    An investigation is underway after a 14-year-old girl was left alone in a distressed state at a North-East station after being thrown off a train on the way to visit her father. Elizabeth Brown was travelling from Sheffield to Newcastle on Sunday at around

  • The Noble art of comedy

    He's one of the most sought-after comedians on the stand-up circuit, but Ross Noble doesn't have an act as such - he just says what comes into his head, he tells Nick Morrison. ROSS Noble has been somewhat spooked by the phone. "I just walked upstairs

  • Free museum day at reunion of veterans

    VETERAN gunners will be able to attend an air museum for free at an annual reunion. On behalf of the Former Air Gunners Association, the Yorkshire Air Museum has announced that, because national sponsorship had recently been secured, all veteran air gunners

  • Hospital arts plan launched

    THE subtler side of healing is being nurtured in a major project to incorporate art into the fabric of the Friarage Hospital at Northallerton. A healing arts scheme and a £100,000 fundraising drive are being launched tomorrow, with the start of the hospital's

  • 29/06/04

    EUROPE: TONY Blair wants to wage war on EU 'myths' (Echo, June 21). Here begins the first lesson in twisting, spinning, attempted brain washing and hiding the truth, to gull people into believing the EU constitution is a sweet medicine that must be swallowed

  • North councils 'encouraging urban sprawl'

    GREEN fields are being lost to housing in the North-East and North Yorkshire because local councils are flouting rules by building homes too far apart. Seventeen of the 21 authorities with responsibility for housing are encouraging "urban sprawl" by failing

  • Water bills increase was 'necessary'

    INCREASED charges for Northumbrian Water customers this year were "regrettable but necessary", according to a consumers' group. WaterVoice Northumbria, which provides an independent voice for water and sewerage customers has released its annual report

  • Pupils pass on food safety message

    PUPILS have been touring primary schools in the area promoting food hygiene. Durham High Schools for Girls pupils produced a pantomime to get their message across. Two groups of 12 girls performed the play to 23 primary schools during Food Safety Week

  • Work begins on learning centre site

    YOUNGER and older generations of a community have joined forces to start work on building a neighbourhood learning centre. Ethan Chatt, aged 18 months, and John Dickinson cut the first piece of turf in the construction of a facility at Moorside Community

  • Man attacked lover in fit of jealousy

    A MAN nearly strangled his lover after she ended their relationship. John Padget, 23, grabbed Rachel Vickers round the throat in a fit of anger after the pair met at a beauty spot. Padget had become unreasonably jealous, suspecting she was seeing someone

  • Diabetes help

    THE South Cleveland branch of support group Diabetes UK holds regular meetings at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. To attend, call (01287) 678150. The branch is also looking for raffle prizes for events throughout the summer. To help, call

  • Store accolade no mean feat

    STAFF at a Stockton shoe store are celebrating winning an award for their sales performance. Shoe Express, in Wellington Square Shopping Centre, was given Store of the Month award for sales performance, beating 33 stores in the region. Rob Gildersleeve

  • Housing market slows

    Fresh evidence that higher interest rates are taking their toll on the property market emerged today with figures showing slower growth in house prices. The monthly rate of house price inflation slipped in June to 0.9% from last month's seasonally adjusted

  • St Peter's Gate development goes from strength to strength

    BY the end of next month, the woman appointed to manage a £7m science park development in the North-East is expecting to have ten companies operating on the site. Julia MacFarlane only arrived at St Peter's Gate - part of Sunderland Science Park - less

  • Ambition fulfilled for Durham's Collingwood

    PAUL Collingwood will fulfill a lifetime ambition when he walks out to bat for England today - as long as the weather doesn't intervene again. The Durham all-rounder was part of the England side that took on India at the Riverside in July 2002 but, after

  • Indoor fall still hurting Holmes

    Kelly Holmes has revealed she is still battling the memories of the fall which put paid to her bid to become World Indoor Champion at 1500m. Holmes, who swept to victory in the same event at Sunday's Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Gateshead, fell

  • Moxon waits on Peng scan

    Durham must await the results of a scan on Nicky Peng's left shoulder before they know whether he will miss more than a handful of one-day games. Peng dislocated the shoulder when making a diving stop against Somerset at Taunton on Sunday and is definitely

  • Top show is promising a feast of activities

    ONE of the premier events in the agricultural calendar promises to be as packed and exciting as ever. As well as having some of the country's best livestock on show, the 2004 Great Yorkshire Show, at Harrogate, promises activities such as show-jumping

  • Emphasis on fun at factory sports day

    A clown workshop and a tarot card reader are attractions promised at the GlaxoSmithKline annual sports and gala day this weekend. It takes place on Saturday, from 12.30pm at the Manor House Field, next to the factory, in Barnard Castle. Entertainment

  • Research 'the key to GT's success'

    EXHAUST maker GT Precision Products has won a £6m contract to supply its patented systems to Volvo/Renault trucks in France. The Peterlee, County Durham company, part of the GT Group, said extensive investment in research and development was the key to

  • Henman progresses on a Magic Monday

    After the raucous passion of 'People's Sunday' Tim Henman gave us a magical, if slightly manic Monday at Wimbledon. The British number one took his place in the quarter-finals for the eighth time in nine years with a display of clinical ruthlessness blended

  • Emphasis on fun at factory sports day

    AUDIENCES will be able to savour a feast of music at a North-East beauty spot at the weekend. The Brinkburn Music Festival will serve up classical music and entertainment - from the Gabrieli Consort and Players to Northern Sinfonia - at Brinkburn Priory

  • Lorry drivers take on Three Peaks challenge

    Two lorry drivers are gearing up for a gruelling charity challenge next weekend. Nigel Roe, 38, of Langley Moor, near Durham City and Andrew Stock, 26, of Spennymoor, County Durham, are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge. The pair, both chemical tanker

  • Warped mind of a mean money-grabber

    Ruby Does The Business (BBC1): IF OTT humour and madcap laughter ever fail for Ruby Wax, she could always move into the world of business. This series has the American redhead meeting the names behind some of the biggest businesses in the country to find

  • Police plan pub raids to cut under-age drinking

    Police will raid pubs and off-licences selling booze to youngsters in a blitz on under-age drinking to be launched next week. And they are threatening to use new powers to force drinkers out of parks and open spaces which are "hotspots" for alcohol-fuelled

  • Expansion forces Broseley move

    HOUSEBUILDER Broseley Homes is moving its operations to a larger office complex - 200 metres along the road. The company said its expansion had forced the move, but it did not want to leave Sunderland Enterprise Park, in North Hylton. The move from Defender

  • Claim leads to new career

    DEALING with an insurance claim led to a new career for a sales professional in the waste management industry. Karl Utley, from Weardale, has been awarded the area franchise for the North-East by national insurance claims specialist Concept Building Solutions

  • Exhibition will include possessions of a killer

    A TEAPOT and stool belonging to one of the country's most prolific killers form part of a fascinating and sometimes macabre exhibition to be staged at a North-East museum at the weekend. The items, once owned by Mary Ann Cotton, of West Auckland, County

  • Administrators sell Cyberes subsidiary

    A SUBSIDIARY of failed travel company Cyberes has been sold to The Travel Company Limited. Cyberes, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, went into administration last week, causing chaos for thousands of travellers booked on flights over the coming months.

  • North sets sights on long Durham innings

    MARCUS North is keen to play for Durham again next season, and his double century at Cardiff transformed his chances of staying on from remote to possible. Like the first day, the final instalment of the match against Glamorgan was washed out, leaving

  • Shell on defensive at annual meeting

    SHELL was last night forced to defend itself against allegations of a cover up and a lack of transparency concerning its oil reserves crisis. The company has downgraded its oil and gas stocks four times since January in a debacle that led to the departure

  • Job Search: Vacancies

    Warehouse production operative - Masham, £4.83 to £6.45ph, 37.5hrs pw 6am to 2pm or 2-10pm Mon-Fri, must have warehouse experience and be computer literate, forklift truck licence desirable, transport may be available from Darlington town centre, Richmond

  • Man attacked lover in fit of jealousy

    A MAN nearly strangled his lover after she ended their relationship. John Padget, 23, grabbed Rachel Vickers round the throat in a fit of anger after the pair met at a beauty spot. Padget had become unreasonably jealous, suspecting she was seeing someone

  • New website for vicars' husbands

    The prayers of vicars' husbands across the region hope to be answered with the launch of a quirky new website. The site - cucumbersandwiches.org - supports men who find themselves in a role formerly filled by stereotypically patient wives, dressed in

  • 20 years on - closure that ripped heart out of a town

    THE gates closed for the final time and grown men wept - it was the end of a town's love affair with the railways that had spanned more than 150 years. Shildon Wagon Works was the Jewel in the Crown of British Rail. As one of the largest railway wagon-building

  • Chicken firm pair accused of cruelty

    TWO men are accused of the cruel treatment of thousands of birds at a North-East chicken factory, magistrates heard yesterday. Thousands of dead and dying birds were discovered at The Chicken Farm, in Cockfield, County Durham, during a raid last November

  • Sharon Griffiths Meets... Ann Darlington

    Not even the devastation caused by foot-and-mouth could destroy people's love of Hall Hill Farm. Proprietor Ann Darlington tells Sharon Griffiths why it's so special. TWENTY or so infant schoolchildren are sitting on straw bales enthralled by the antics

  • Radio station wins approval

    A NEW independent radio station will be launched in North Yorkshire next year. Ofcom, the national regulatory body for broadcasters, says there is a real viability for a new radio station, based in Northallerton and covering the immediate surrounding

  • Revenue takes six floors at Cale Cross

    THE Inland Revenue has taken rooms with views of the River Tyne. The department will occupying six floors of Cale Cross House, Newcastle, a quarter of the available office space in the refurbished 18-storey building. The 20,000sq ft of office space that

  • Gardens celebrate 200 years of growing trends

    SEVEN gardens reflecting 200 years of gardening have been created to mark the bicentenary of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The ambitious project, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, comes after the RHS took over Harlow Carr Gardens, in the spa town

  • Lucky escape in 80ft cliff plunge

    A TEENAGER who survived an 80ft fall was last night recovering at home after only one night in hospital. Antony Williams, 16, plunged down cliffs at Easington Colliery beach, in County Durham. It is believed he had spotted some friends at the top, near

  • Iraqis 'set free' - but no end to the killing

    TONY BLAIR and George Bush last night hailed the birth of a "sovereign and free" Iraq - but the decision to hand over power saw no end to the bloodshed. As the US-led coalition unexpectedly gave power to the new government in Baghdad two days early, it

  • Masterful display puts Hobbs into history books

    Guisborough's Dennis Hobbs continued his historic association with the prestigious Ken Redfern Trophy when he became the first rider in history to win it four times in succession with a masterful display at Croft on Sunday. The 22-year-old Hobbs Racing

  • Prescott ignored advice on referendums

    JOHN PRESCOTT ignored his independent advisors when he pressed ahead with plans for all-postal voting in the regional assemblies referendums, it emerged last night. The Deputy Prime Minister laid orders before Parliament last week, paving the way for

  • Teams win sporting challenge

    RISING athletics stars have been celebrating their success at two major competitions. Teams from Northallerton College won through to the regional finals of the English Schools Track and Field Cup competition. They were up against teams from eight schools

  • Pensioner dies after collision

    A pensioner has died after being involved in a collision with a young boy on a bike. Eddie Nixon was riding his Suzuki moped along Norton Road, from the direction of Norton towards Stockton when the incident happened at around 3.30pm on Monday. It is

  • Centre hopes Internet will sell last office

    THE Innovation Centre in Tees Valley hopes to be able to put up a "House Full" notice with the help of a website. Only one office remains available at the centre, established by UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE), on the Kirkleatham Business Park. The UKSE team

  • Multi-purpose driving test centre proposed for town

    DARLINGTON has been identified as a possible location for a multi-purpose driving test centre. The Driving Standards Agency plans to set up about 60 centres throughout the country over the next four years. They will be used when the agency introduces

  • Wardens aid litter crackdown

    PUPILS who drop litter could find themselves in trouble with uniformed council wardens who have launched a campaign to crack down on the problem in Darlington. The campaign to stop littering around the town's Eastbourne Comprehensive School has resulted

  • Campaign to slow cars on danger street

    A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop cars speeding in a Darlington street. People living in Westmoreland Street fear a child will be knocked down and killed unless measures are taken to slow speeding drivers. Councillor Bill Holmes, who is acting on behalf

  • School signs football manager to open sporting academy

    A FOOTBALL manager opened a primary school's new sports academy yesterday. Neale Cooper, from Hartlepool United FC, was at the town's West View Primary School, where he performed the opening ceremony. The school has a long sporting history and was recently

  • £30,000 grant brings play area to park

    CHILDREN are enjoying a new play facility at their local park following a £30,000 grant. The play area in West Park, next to the boating lake in Newton Aycliffe, was unveiled to parents and children last Friday by the town's mayor, Councillor Maud Gray

  • Fundraising 'convicts' go on the run to Turkey

    A team of "convicts" escaped to Turkey to raise funds for the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland. Teams taking part in The Great Escape for Butterwick left from HM Prison, Holme House, Stockton, at 5pm on Friday, June 18, and had 24 hours to see how

  • Service to take over charging

    A BRANCH of the Crown Prosecution Service has embarked on an initiative of charging suspects, it has been announced. The chief Crown prosecutor for Northumbria Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Nicola Reasbeck, said it was the biggest single change in

  • Scheme to resolve precinct's problems is put into action

    AN authority is drawing up a plan to solve the deadlock over a rundown shopping precinct. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has commissioned development advice after supermarket Aldi decided not to open a supermarket in Eston precinct. The Aldi proposals

  • Running his way into the hearts of children

    SCHOOLCHILDREN donned their trainers to join an Army sergeant on a fundraising marathon. Pete Fyfe, a staff sergeant at the Army Foundation College, in Harrogate, ran 41 miles in six hours to raise funds for New Park Primary School, in the town. He has

  • Students show off electronic projects

    TEN schools that have been working on electronics projects will exhibit their work in Cleveland Shopping Centre today. The project is designed to get children involved in the latest technologies. The programme is organised by Billingham company AES Limited

  • Students show off electronic projects

    TEN schools that have been working on electronics projects will exhibit their work in Cleveland Shopping Centre today. The project is designed to get children involved in the latest technologies. The programme is organised by Billingham company AES Limited

  • Skateboarders at war memorial are targeted

    SKATEBOARDERS who congregate at Hartlepool's war memorial are facing a clampdown following the introduction of a bylaw. Enforcement action, which involves the police issuing an initial reprimand, two warnings and then reporting offenders to Hartlepool

  • Road casualty figures rise

    ACCIDENT figures on a notorious stretch of the twisting A61, between Ripon and Harrogate, have increased slightly despite a series of safety measures, say North Yorkshire highway chiefs. There have been 144 casualties in the past five years on the road

  • Suffering the little children

    Iain Duncan Smith said yesterday that Westminster politicians of all parties should get out of the House of Commons more often and go into the inner city areas where there is so much violence, crime and social disorder. This is where children have been

  • Caldwell: McCarthy key to my Tyne-Wear switch

    SUNDERLAND centre-half Stephen Caldwell has revealed that manager Mick McCarthy was the main reason behind his summer move to the Stadium of Light. Caldwell became McCarthy's fifth summer signing after finally completing his protracted move from North-East

  • Fitness initiative is launched

    THE quest for health and fitness started yesterday for dozens of people who aim to clock up a ton this year. Wear Valley District Council's Ton-Up Challenge was launched for the third consecutive year at Peases West Athletics Ground, in Crook. People

  • Pupils told of danger down on the farm

    PUPILS learned about the dangers lurking on farms at a safety event in Hamsterley Forest yesterday. Members of the Health and Safety Executive will be in the forest all week to outline to children some of the main accidents that occur on farms. These

  • Council picks preferred landlord

    A COUNCIL preparing to transfer its homes to a new landlord has identified the housing association it wants to work with. Endeavour Housing Association has been recommended as the partner in Teesdale District Council's housing stock transfer. A selection