WHEN Mick McCarthy spent the summer assessing just exactly what his Sunderland side needed to stay in the Premier League, a striker that could deliver 15 goals must have topped his list of priorities. With that in mind he spent £2.9m of his transfer kitty
OUT with the old and in with the new. And after Hartlepool United ended 2005 with a defeat, who knows which way 2006 will go. The past 12 months might go down as the most memorable in history, but the chances of this year following suit appear slim after
WHILE it is deemed lucky to mark the turn of the year with a first foot, Newcastle ended 2005 cursing a broken one. In many ways, the anomaly was apt. During 12 months of considerable under-achievement, fortune has been in short supply on Tyneside. So
Newcastle United striker Michael Owen will have an operation on the broken bone in his right foot. The England international picked up the injury against Tottenham in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane. However, he insists he will be ready for the
A KILLER police officer who was jailed after stabbing his wife 96 times could make an early bid for freedom. Graham Ivor Jones stabbed his wife, Maria, with a kitchen knife in the couple's home in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter
HOUSEHOLDERS who recycle their waste have made a big difference to a children's charity. For every tonne of waste collected from the kerbside boxes in Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Easington and Sedgefield, operators Premier Waste Management donates
Newcastle United striker Michael Owen will have an operation on the broken bone in his right foot. The England international picked up the injury against Tottenham in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane. However, he insists he will be ready for the
A 17-year-old girl died days after Christmas, an inquest heard. Medical experts are at a loss to explain the death of Kasia Margaret Ber, of Horden, near Peterlee, east Durham, after she was taken to hospital. An inquest in Durham City heard that the
STEVE Harper will put his hopes of a loan move on hold this afternoon as he finally gets his chance to show Graeme Souness what he is capable of. As if Michael Owen's broken metatarsal was not bad enough, Newcastle will also be deprived of the services
Undoubtedly the greatest footballing comeback of 2005 was Liverpool's Champions League victory in May, and Darlington waited until their last game of the year for their own phoenix from the flames. A mid-season League Two fixture may not contrast favourably
A TREASURE hunter died yesterday when an embankment collapsed and buried him as he was digging for old bottles. Rescue crews spent several hours recovering the victim from the earth embankment, which fell in as he was on his knees digging a tunnel. The
WHEN it comes to New Year Resolutions, we can be so half-hearted. Get fit. Quit smoking. Lose weight. Stop scratching. It all sounds very worthy, but what difference would it really make? Even if we were to accomplish everything on our list, would we
Consett manager Kenny Lindoe has ordered his players to maintain their effort after a record-breaking start to the season. Consett, who face nearest rivals Seaham Red Star today, have set a Northern League record with 17 straight wins from the start of
A COUNCIL is planning to improve safety in a town centre by installing two closed-circuit television cameras. An application has been submitted to Sedgefield Borough Council for the installation of two systems in Spennymoor. The cameras would both be
A PILOT scheme to increase the composting of garden waste has been hailed a success. Easington District Council introduced a trial green waste collection scheme for 15,000 properties last spring. Householders were able to re-use old blue paperboy bins
A THOUSAND properties in the district of Easington are feeling the heat thanks to a free home insulation initiative to help the elderly keep warm. Hundreds of households have had free loft and cavity wall insulation and low energy light bulbs installed
A TRAINING company is helping to unlock the potential of its trainees by challenging them to design and create their own plastic products. Polymer trainees at South West Durham Training, based in Newton Aycliffe, have responded by producing thousands
A COUNCIL'S schedule of youth activities during the festive period continues this week. Sedgefield Borough Council's four leisure centres have held activities and coaching sessions to keep young people fit and active throughout the winter break. On Friday
DURHAM City Council has gone totally smoke free and won a Gold National Clear Air Award. The smoke-free provisions, which came into force yesterday, will not stop at the doors of the Town Hall, in Market Place, Durham, or the doors of any of the council-owned
people are being given more say on local council services - by calculating their own budget. Residents of the Ryedale District Council area can now get more involved in the decision-making process by completing a virtual budget calculation on the Internet
AMATEUR arts groups in the county are being urged to take part in a study that could lead to more support. The county council, district councils and the City of York Council have joined forces to commission the Voluntary Art Feasibility Study to find
ABOUT 5,000 people travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro system without a ticket each day and most are not caught. Despite operator Nexus cracking down on fare-dodgers, 1.8m out of the 36 million to 36.5 million journeys on the system annually are made without
A FAMILY has spoken of their sorrow after their former champion swimmer son died on Christmas Eve. Barry McKenna, 22, was found dead at the home of his friend, Lee Holmes, in Hebburn, South Tyneside. Mr McKenna had left the house at 11pm and returned
RESIDENTS across Sedgefield borough are being urged to share their views on how its green and open spaces should be used and improved. Sedgefield Borough Council needs public input to create a detailed plan which could see the transformation of land from
A HEALTH trust has received an award for providing a good working environment. North Tees Primary Care Trust (PCT) has satisfied the third and final stage of a Government initiative to improve the workplace. Improving Working Lives (IWL), set up by the
PLANS to demolish 187 houses on a deprived estate will go before planning officials next week. An application has been submitted to Stockton Borough Council of a scheme to build 114 properties in the Parkfield area. Terraced homes, dating back to the
A BUSINESS centre that opened less than a year ago has celebrated the festive season in style by winning four awards. The £2.35m Springboard Business Centre, in Stokesley, has been honoured by architects, planning officers, surveyors and the business
AN author has voiced her support for efforts to help a town preserve its market heritage. Allene Norris's book, The Market, which focused on the famous covered market in Darlington town centre, was a bestseller in the 1980s. The book was so successful
AGROUP has been set up that hopes to follow in the region's proud heritage of being home to some of the world's most widely-used inventions. The North-East Inventors' Club aims to bring together local, like-minded people to meet, talk and learn about
Gavin Havery finds out about a group of people who are getting together to follow in the footsteps of some of the region's top inventors. A GROUP has been set up that hopes to follow in the region's proud heritage of being home to some of the world's
AN author has voiced her support for efforts to help a town preserve its market heritage. Allene Norris's book, The Market, which focused on the famous covered market in Darlington town centre, was a bestseller in the 1980s. The book was so successful
FOOD SHARON Griffiths' piece on the children of today not knowing where the food on their plates comes from reminded me of a famous story dating back to the time of the Second World War evacuees (Echo, Dec 21). When a young girl was asked on radio what
AFTER a week of controversy surrounding the festive fixture list, at least there was a return to common sense on New Year's Eve, or was there? Middlesbrough and Sunderland both had home matches, ensuring they were ready for the arrival of 2006 at midnight
WORK has begun on a £6.5m project to transform Pavilion Square, one of Scarborough's biggest eyesores. Scaffolding has gone up on the site and the developers hope to have the first stage of the project completed by Easter 2007. The scheme to bring the
British soldiers fighting in the Korean War woke up on Christmas Day 1952 to find cards hanging from the barbed wire by their trenches. But it was not all good will. Joe Willis reports. IT proved one of the biggest Christmas Day surprises for North-East
A TREASURE-HUNTER died yesterday when an embankment collapsed and buried him as he was digging for old bottles. Rescue crews spent several hours recovering the victim from the earth embankment, which fell in as he was on his knees digging a tunnel. The
WHILE it is deemed lucky to mark the turn of the year with a first foot, Newcastle ended 2005 cursing a broken one. In many ways, the anomaly was apt. During 12 months of considerable under-achievement, fortune has been in short supply on Tyneside. So
FOOD SHARON Griffiths' piece on the children of today not knowing where the food on their plates comes from reminded me of a famous story dating back to the time of the Second World War evacuees (Echo, Dec 21). When a young girl was asked on radio what
THE determination and belief in the Sunderland camp that they can somehow defy the odds and escape an immediate return to the Championship remains intact, according to defender Steve Caldwell. The Black Cats begin the second half of their Premier League
A MAN has thanked a rookie police officer who used newly-acquired first aid skills to help save his life. John Hart severed the main artery in his right arm during an accident at his home. The 36-year-old joiner put his arm through a pane of glass as
MONEY really does talk for the big-spending husband and wife partnership of Graham and Andrea Wylie, who were on the mark with three winners from four runners at Catterick yesterday. Together with trainer Howard Johnson and jockey Graham Lee, the Wylies
Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Mystery Of The Blue Train (ITV1) NEVER mind the wrong type of leaves on the line causing trouble on the railway. It's far more problematic having a certain Belgian detective as a travelling companion. I'd never climb aboard
IT proved one of the biggest Christmas Day surprises for North-East soldier Geoff Billings. For the Korean War veteran discovered that communist soldiers had crept through the darkness to hang cards and gifts on the barbed wire that protected the British
A RADICAL shake-up of the NHS designed to offer greater patient choice comes into force in England today. Patients waiting for non-emergency operations will now be able to choose from at least four local NHS or private hospitals or clinics. But health
WHEN Mark Schwarzer memorably got down low to save a last-minute Robbie Fowler penalty at the City of Manchester Stadium in May, it was hailed as the starting point for Middlesbrough to move onwards and upwards. The first four months of 2005 had not gone
POLICE hunting a dangerous paedophile who snatched a six-year-old girl have issued a description of the man and details of where he may have taken her. Officers are looking for the abductor, who took the child from her bath, drove her away in a car, then
MARTIN Scott was one of the first managers to take advantage of the transfer window, with the loan signing of James Walker. The Charlton striker arrives at Victoria Park for a month and is in the squad for today's home game with Swindon. Walker has yet
DESPITE scoring his first goal for the club on New Year's Eve, Tresor Kandol gave away few clues surrounding his future at Darlington. The 24-year-old is due to return to Dagenham & Redbridge after today's League Two visit of Torquay United. Dagenham
Astrologist Cassandra Nye peers into her crystal ball and explains what life holds for is in the year ahead. ARIES (21 Mar-20 Apr) A great deal has changed, both in your life and your mind. Having felt tied down in the last year - sometimes in a good
A nine-year-old boy has been praised after saving the life of his best friend in a swimming pool. Jack Moran was described as a hero by his friend, ten-year-old Keith Ross, who got into trouble after floating into the deep end at Whitley Bay's Leisure
Alistair Campbell has battled Parkinson's Disease for 16 years, but has used his experience to help fellow sufferers in Darlington. In 2005, he was named the town's volunteer of the year. Olivia Richwold meets him. For someone with Parkinson's Disease
A housing company is carrying out a survey of the views of its 23,000 tenants and leaseholders. The Gateshead Housing Company is asking residents what they think of its services and performance after its first two years of operation and what people expect
A PENSIONER who left school without any qualifications is celebrating the publication of his second book - after taking up writing in his 60s. Retired chemical worker Ernie Crust's second book, At The Drop of The Flag, charts the history of motorsports
THREE friends have pooled their talents and opened a luxury beauty spa. Treatments usually associated with an elite lifestyle can now be found in Yarm High Street at A Vita. The centre offers a combination of the latest and more traditional beauty treatments
SOME shops in Bishop Auckland will be open today in what is the final day of the town's Christmas opening hours. A number of stores in Newgate Street will be open for business, before the high street returns to normal tomorrow. There will also be free
A COUNSELLOR is launching a weight loss and management programme for people in Newton Aycliffe who want to improve their health by losing more than three stone. Susan Hampton is introducing the LighterLife programme to Newton Aycliffe at her practice
RESIDENTS who fail to dispose of their bulky waste responsibly could face fines of up to £5,000. Stockton Borough Council is warning residents of new regulations placing responsibility on householders to ensure they use a reputable and registered waste
COUNCILLORS have demanded a site visit before deciding what to do about a planned small housing scheme in the centre of a market town. They delayed a verdict on a planning application for two detached houses on land behind the Golden Bit fish shop in
WHEN members of a newly-formed rock band were looking for a name they settled for Ignorance - but proved they were anything but when it came to music. The group beat the competition to win a battle of the bands contest at Chicago Rock, in Chester-le-Street
A TOWN supermarket is celebrating a bumper year for fundraising after collecting a total of £37,000 for charity. Asda Spennymoor has raised the cash for a host of local, national and international good causes. The store's efforts started in January with
If your New Year resolutions usually fall quickly by the wayside, you may think there's no point in changing. But maybe there is still hope. Nick Morrison looks at one approach which aims to make sure you have your best year yet. WHEN it comes to New
MORE older people need to be encouraged to get involved in the social economy of the county, a study has recommended. The Regional Forum on Ageing says its research has found that older people as volunteers are worth more than £24m to the Yorkshire and
CAUTIOUS captain Gareth Southgate says Middlesbrough should be trying to put their own house in order rather than what Michael Owen's absence means to Newcastle United. The Magpies' hopes of a top six finish this season have been dented by the prospect
LEAFLETS produced by GPs did not always provide what the doctor ordered for patients, a National Health survey has revealed. The Patient and Public Health Forum has been scrutinising leaflets produced by general practices in North Yorkshire. About two
