SIX years on and Darlington manager David Hodgson has still not forgiven Peterborough United. Not even on Saturday, after seeing his side come back from a goal behind to beat Mark Wright's Posh, could Hodgson savour any feeling of revenge for what happened
IT could be argued that William Gibson made a dreadful mistake more than 25 years ago when he began an affair with a 15-year-old pupil who attended the North-East school where he taught. Should he be harangued for the rest of his life for that one error
IT must be a case of the five-year itch. Just days after Sven Goran Eriksson celebrated the fifth anniversary of his reign as England manager, a leading Sunday newspaper published revelations outlining how keen he is to walk away from his post in the
A COMMUNITY has spoken of its shock as police launched a murder inquiry into the death of a 45-year-old man. Police confirmed that the man was found dead at a house in Park Street South, Castletown, Sunderland, early on Saturday morning. Detectives were
MID-JANUARY and Victoria Park is not a happy place to watch football. Hartlepool United have won just three times in the League in front of their own fans, drawn six and lost five. From a possible 42 points, Martin Scott's side has taken only 15, scoring
Wearside League: Birtley Town, second from top, had to work hard for a 1-0 victory at home to Boldon CA. Tony Thirkell opened up an opportunity for Stephen Rochester and he made no mistake after just ten minutes and held on to take their place in the
Kyle Lafferty is keen to extend his stay at Darlington after scoring two goals in as many games since his switch from Burnley. As one half of Quakers' new front pairing - fellow loanee Paul Hopkins is the other - Lafferty has begun his month on loan in
ALMOST 100 years after his remarkable athletics career became the subject of a real life Boys' Own story, the tale of Willie Applegarth is to have a happy ending. The column claims some small part. Willie was the Guisborough lad who anchored Britain's
A TEENAGER who was diagnosed with liver disease is celebrating the first anniversary of a life-saving transplant. Dominic O'Keefe, 16, from Girton Walk, Darlington, underwent the operation in January last year. He said: "A fantastic milestone for everyone
UP until the 77th minute on Saturday, David Hodgson was worried what fans might have thought about Darlington's new strikeforce, writes Lee Hall. But concerns were dispelled as both Paul Hopkins and Kyle Lafferty celebrated their home debuts with the
A SICKENED Mick McCarthy last night insisted his Sunderland's players had finally come to terms with life in the Premiership. But, after watching his side outplay champions Chelsea before slipping to their 17th defeat of the season, the embattled Black
MINISTERS are expected to be stripped of their power to decide whether sex offenders should be allowed to teach in Britain's classrooms. A review ordered by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly will report later this week and is likely to recommend that decisions
READERS from across the region have given The Northern Echo's new compact size an overwhelming thumbs up. Readers, new and old, gave their reaction after the newspaper's new Saturday format was unveiled. At Darlington railway station, friends Rob Carroll
Making a movie about a novel said to be unfilmable didn't deter actor Steve Coogan, he tells Steve Pratt, even though it was like pushing a supermarket trolly with a wonky wheel. Steve Coogan is recalling that being suspended in a giant latex womb was
THE weight of expectation at Newcastle United is becoming a heavy burden on the shoulders of Graeme Souness, who admitted he is currently enduring his most difficult spell in football management. Saturday's defeat at Fulham saw Newcastle drop into the
A CHARITY is throwing a party to celebrate the centenary of the church hall that hosts its activities. St Hilda's Church Hall, in Parkgate, Darlington, was built in June 1906 at a cost of £680. A hundred years on, a day care group is planning to exhibit
A COMMUNITY has spoken of its shock as police launched a murder inquiry into the death of a 45-year-old man. Police confirmed that the man was found dead at a house in Park Street South, Castletown, Sunderland, early on Saturday morning. Detectives were
HEALTH bosses have unveiled a £1.1m scheme to help keep elderly people out of hospital. The money has been spent on a 15-bed intermediate care service - providing residents with round-the-clock help in a care home, rather than taking up beds in hospital
Staff at a County Durham school have undergone first aid training. Teachers, caterers, sports coaches and office staff at Barnard Castle School underwent a day-long training session with the British Red Cross on basic first aid and life support. British
A TOWN walking group has received a £200 boost. Ferryhill Town Council has awarded the money to the Ferryhill Group of Walkers from Sedgefield Borough Council's Walking The Way to Health Initiative. The walking group encourages residents to walk more
A SCHOOLBOY is to compete in national swimming championships on Sunday, February 26. Michael Robinson, a year eight pupil at Longfield School, in Darlington, will be competing at the British Schools' Modern Biathlon Championships at the University of
When your dad has played at the highest level during a glittering career comparisons are always going to be inevitable. Leaving the stadium with the man of the match champagne in his kitbag was not a bad way for Kasper Schmeichel to mark his professional
A TEENAGER from Darlington has trained with a top US paintball squad. Tracy Hollifield, 15, who plays for a Durham paintball team, was invited to train with Sacramento XSV. Tracy joined more than 50 top paintballers in Manchester where the US team put
PUPILS and staff at a Bishop Auckland School pooled their talents to stage a show for the town's hospice. Bishop Barrington School presented £639.23 to Butterwick Hospice, which neighbours the school in Woodhouse Lane. After the show, they raised extra
POLICE have taken the unusual step of releasing a photograph of a man they want to question in connection with a stabbing. The move comes after a month-long investigation by detectives failed to determine the whereabouts of Stephen Richard Brown, originally
A LUNCH club for elderly residents in a Teesdale village has got off to a flying start. More than 20 people attended the first meeting of the Evenwood Day Club yesterday, making it one of the biggest of the ten Teesdale day clubs. The club, which meets
A PINK chocolate fountain greeted people who attended the first gay wedding fair to be held in the North-East. Stalls were set out in The Centre for Life in Newcastle, which hosted the event to help people celebrate same-sex civil partnerships. As with
A PROPOSAL to transfer all major urological surgery in County Durham to Sunderland looks likely to go ahead. Seven public meetings about the proposed changes have taken place in recent months, and a wide range of NHS organisations have had the opportunity
BIDS to get a better deal through Parliament for hundreds of North Yorkshire villages are being backed by the county's MPs. The Conservative's John Greenway, who represents the vast rural area of Ryedale, says MPs in all parties are supporting the Local
A QUIZ night has been organised to raise cash for St Cuthbert's Hospice. The quiz is on Wednesday, January 25, at the Salvation Inn, Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, and people are asked to meet at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Contestants can sign up individually
A MUCH-LOVED village pond is to be illuminated for the first time in its 2,000 year history. Following local consultation, work will begin next month to make improvements to Norton duck pond, including the addition of lighting. The proposals were put
A SHOPKEEPER has told how she fought off knife-wielding raiders with a wooden pole. Helen Semark, 53, leapt into action when two youths attacked Semarks newsagents, in Scarborough Terrace, York. As one of the attackers climbed on to the counter to reach
PLANS have been submitted to redevelop part of the main shopping street of a town. London-based Central Investments has applied for permission for a retail and residential redevelopment in Front Street, Chester-le-Street. The plans would see the demolition
A BID to build homes on a site which has been rejected for a supermarket has been tabled to planners. Between 1992 and 1998, a number of applications were submitted for food retailing developments on the site at Beeches Farm, Magdalen's Road, Ripon. They
A NORTH-EAST student is hoping to copy another computer whizz-kid's idea to pay off his university debts. Alex Tew became a dollar millionaire on Thursday after selling the final part of his innovative website, Million Dollar Homepage. He set up the site
THE IRREPLACEABLE Thierry Henry was almost apologetic as he gave every member of the opposition a conciliatory hand-shake after his hat-trick, plus another four goals from his team-mates, condemned a youthful Middlesbrough side to their worst defeat in
Up to half a million Britons are affected by a little-known disease which makes lives a misery. But despite large numbers of people sufferering from Sjogren's Syndrome there is not a single self-help or support group between Newcastle and Leeds. Now Sjogren's
Kali Bomar, who was born Mark Evans, suffered years of cruel taunts for being different, which her father Jim believes led to her taking her own life. He talks to Sarah Foster. THE body of his daughter was still warm when Jim Evans arrived at her flat
A CRUMBLING army building is to be demolished to make way for seven factory units. Traders and residents were delighted yesterday about the upgrade for the Stainton Grove industrial estate, near Barnard Castle. A number of workshop units have been put
A MOUNTAIN rescue team is looking for recruits. Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue team is looking for members to join the team, which covers the whole of County Durham, including Cross Fell. The team, who are all volunteers, average 45 call-outs
ROYAL Mail bosses have paid tribute to a postman who died after being involved in a collision with a vehicle while getting out of his van to deliver mail. The 47-year-old, who has not been named, was on his rounds near to the Board Inn, in Durham Road
A CRIME reduction project that sent crime rates tumbling in Hartlepool has been praised at a national awards ceremony. The New Deal for Communities (NDC) covers more than 4,000 households between Belle Vue and Hart Lane. The commendation, at the NDC and
A WILDLIFE charity has benefitted from the support of the Freemasons of County Durham following the hand-over of a cheque for £1,000. The Freemasons responded to an appeal by the Durham Wildlife Trust for funding, and the cheque was given by Steve Ramshaw
AN ethics watchdog is being urged to reconsider its decision not to take action against three Teesside councillors. Two Middlesbrough councillors, Bob Brady and Paul Thompson, voted for a regeneration scheme in the centre of Middlesbrough, involving the
A YOUNG mother is starting a custodial sentence after carrying out her threat to attack another teenager, who had been speaking to her boyfriend at the time. Karly Sanderson, 18, returned home and came back armed with a wooden axe handle, which she used
PARENTS of young people killed by meningitis are backing a drive to prevent more lives being lost. More than 100 schools across Teesside are to be sent an information pack, urging teachers and parents to be aware of the symptoms of the deadly disease
PEOPLE in Derwentside are to be asked for their views on where to create two new sports facilities. Derwentside District Council wants four new kickabout areas for young people to use for football and other outdoor activities. The idea is to provide something
FIVE schools in Middlesbrough are in a class of their own when it comes to teaching, standards inspectors have found. All five have come through a first wave of a new type of Ofsted inspections with flying colours. Schools judged "outstanding" were Whinney
FARMER Simon Hare hopes he can count on lots of female support in a new business venture. The 31-year-old bachelor, who aims to develop a sideline in yoghurt-making, is enlisting the help of some intuitive feminine taste buds. He believes yoghurt is eaten
A COMMUNITY has spoken of its shock as police launched a murder inquiry into the death of a 45-year-old man. Police confirmed that the man was found dead at a house in Park Street South, Castletown, Sunderland, early on Saturday morning. Detectives were
MICHAEL Owen's long-term future at Newcastle United has been thrown into doubt with Sven Goran Eriksson's weekend revelations. The England coach was the victim of an undercover News of the World reporter, who questioned the striker's £16m move from Real
IT might have been unfortunate, but there was a definite sense of the inevitable about Arjen Robben's dismissal for over-celebration yesterday. When it comes to this season at the Stadium of Light, hard luck stories abound. Robben will feel he was wronged
DREAMS of a respite care centre for autistic children were becoming reality for Lesley Hanson when she died at the age of 35. Building work had started and her impassioned vision touched the emotions of complete strangers. The Daisy Chain charity was
MINISTERS are expected to be stripped of their power to decide whether sex offenders should be allowed to teach in Britain's classrooms. A review ordered by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly will report later this week and is likely to recommend that decisions
TAXI MARSHALS: RE marshals at the taxi rank in Bishop Auckland (Echo, Dec 17). I regularly visit Bishop Auckland and was pleased steps are being taken to provide a safe and clean taxi rank. I was in Bishop over the Christmas holidays only to see that
BULLISH Darlington player-coach Craig Lee declared 'it's still all to play for' as he set his sights on reeling in the top two in National Division Three. The Blackwell Meadows side are fifth in the table after Saturday's 36-5 victory over basement dwellers
JOEL Porter is being pencilled in for a return to action this week. Pool's Australian striker, last season's player of the year, has not kicked a ball this season after knee trouble. He limped off in the play-off final last May and has had two knee operations
MICHAEL Owen's long-term future at Newcastle United has been thrown into doubt with Sven Goran Eriksson's weekend revelations. The England coach was the victim of an undercover News of the World reporter, who questioned the striker's £16m move from Real
As part of The Northern Echo's Lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region. Today Church of the Ascension, Penrith Road, Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough 2.30pm-6.45pm Red
IT might have been unfortunate, but there was a definite sense of the inevitable about Arjen Robben's dismissal for over-celebration yesterday. When it comes to this season at the Stadium of Light, hard luck stories abound. Robben will feel he was wronged
CHRIS RIGGOTT'S new role as Middlesbrough captain was not supposed to start like this. Facing the media, after Saturday's humiliating defeat, the honest talking centre-back cut a forlorn figure in the Highbury tunnel. At 25, and pulling the skipper's
SIX years on and Darlington manager David Hodgson has still not forgiven Peterborough United. Not even on Saturday, after seeing his side come back from a goal behind to beat Mark Wright's Posh, could Hodgson savour any feeling of revenge for what happened
Welshman Mark Williams proved too good for three-times winner Paul Hunter in their second round clash at the SAGA Insurance Masters. Left-hander Williams triumphed 6-3 at the Wembley Conference Centre to beat an out-of-sorts Hunter, his opponent still
For over a year now, whenever I've been on a trip abroad, the bookshops in the airports have been filled with books by one author above all others: Dan Brown. With the film version of The Da Vinci Code due to hit our screens later this year, the inevitable
UniBond League: Bishop Auckland manager Brian Healy admitted that he was "embarrassed" after his side were beaten 4-0 at home by Shepshed on Saturday in the UniBond League. Bishops have now lost their last 11 matches to leave them well adrift of safety
A TRAIN operator is pioneering a music project designed to keep children off the railways. Aspiring musicians can download their material on to a website, which is supported by top recording artists and music company EMI. Northern Rail's venture promises
A SUPPLY teacher who reportedly told children that he could plant a bomb on their bus will not face criminal charges. Mazin Albarq was quizzed by Durham Police after a parent complained about the comments made to pupils in a class at St Bede's RC School
ONE of the biggest orchestral concerts to be held in Darlington for many years is being planned for Saturday, January 28. Darlington Orchestra, under conductor David Plews, will join forces with the Cobweb Orchestra, under conductor Andy Jackson, for
THE jobs of a council housing repairs workforce will be safe for at least the first year after homes transfer to a new management company. Wear Valley District councillors agreed to retain its maintenance team when an Arm's Length Management Organisation
MORE than 1,000 young people took part in a gruelling cross country run in Derwentside over the weekend. Various age groups set off on runs of different lengths from Meadowfield Sports Centre as part of the Durham County Schools Athletics Association
A NEW service for County Durham's disabled residents is appealing for volunteers. An advocacy service being launched by Spiral Skills helps involve disabled people in decisions affecting their lives. Volunteers help people make their views known, access
Arngrove Northern League: Consett's winning start to the season was ended on Saturday in the 2-2 draw at home to Washington - by one of their old players. Consett looked on course to make it 20 games without dropping a league point leading 2-1 going into
VILLAGERS who called for the closure of two footpaths used as a rat run by troublemakers have been offered a glimmer of hope by the local council. People living at the south end of West Cornforth, near Ferryhill, say their lives have been made hell in
A TEENAGER has trained with a top American paintball squad. Tracy Hollifield, 15, who plays for the Durham City Dragons, was invited to train with Sacramento XSV. Tracy, from Darlington, joined more than 50 paintball players in Manchester where the American
A NEW service for County Durham's disabled residents is appealing for volunteers. An advocacy service being launched by Spiral Skills helps involve disabled people in decisions affecting their lives. Volunteers known as Citizen Advocates help each person
THE jobs of a council housing repairs workforce will be safe for at least the first year after homes transfer to a new management company. Wear Valley District councillors agreed to retain its maintenance team when an Arm's Length Management Organisation
TWO village schools with falling rolls can only maintain their excellence if they amalgamate, education chiefs claim. Durham County Council's cabinet has given its backing for Tanfield Lea's infant and junior schools to join forces as one primary school
Arngrove Northern League: Consett's winning start to the season was ended on Saturday in the 2-2 draw at home to Washington - by one of their old players. Consett looked on course to make it 20 games without dropping a league point leading 2-1 going into
PLANS for a multi-million pound extension to Scarborough Business Park go before councillors this week, with a recommendation they are approved. Caddick Developments Ltd wants to develop 83 acres of land, south of the existing park near Eastfield, to
NISSAN'S latest model will begin rolling off the firm's North-East production lines today. About 800 jobs will be safeguarded by the production of the Nissan Note at Sunderland. A further 200 posts have been created by the launch of the five-door compact
A GROUNDBREAKING initiative has been launched to promote better understanding between a town's diverse communities and faiths. Christians, Jews, Muslims Buddhists and Sikhs have forged links in Middlesbrough, representing more than 80 churches, mosques
THE dangers of the North-East's heavy drinking culture will be highlighted at a conference next month. Doctors will warn people who regularly drink to excess that they are storing up health problems for the future. The conference, held at Sunderland football
A COMPROMISE has been reached that could safeguard the future of a North Yorkshire museum. Bosses from Richmondshire District Council and Richmondshire Museum fell out last year after the council announced plans to sell 33 Frenchgate, in Richmond. The
THE second phase of a campaign to cut bicycle crime is being rolled out. The first phase of the Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership initiative has led to a major drop in the number of bike thefts. In the summer, there were more than 25 cycles
MID-JANUARY and Victoria Park is not a happy place to watch football. Hartlepool United have won just three times in the League in front of their own fans, drawn six and lost five. From a possible 42 points, Martin Scott's side has taken only 15, scoring
A WILDLIFE charity is to benefit from the support of the Freemasons of County Durham following the hand-over of a cheque for £1,000. The Freemasons responded to an appeal by the Durham Wildlife Trust for funding, and the cheque was presented by Steve
NISSAN'S latest model will begin rolling off the firm's North-East production lines today. About 800 jobs will be safeguarded by the production of the Nissan Note at Sunderland. A further 200 posts have been created by the launch of the five-door compact
A GROUP of visually- impaired children had a date with the stars when they went behind the scenes at the Darlington pantomime. The children and their parents met the cast of Beauty and the Beast before the matinee show at the Civic Theatre on Saturday
A NORTH-EAST police force has appointed two new assistant chief constables. Northumbria Police Authority has promoted Carolyn Peacock and Gregory Vant following interviews at Gateshead Civic Centre. Ms Peacock was previously a superintendent and area
A man has been charged in connection with an investigation into suspected cross-country drug runs between Liverpool and Teesside. Officers from Cleveland Police's organised crime unit arrested the 26-year-old Anfield man on Merseyside. Last night, he
FARMER Simon Hare hopes he can count on lots of female support in a new business venture. The 31-year-old bachelor, who aims to develop a sideline in yoghurt-making, is enlisting the help of some intuitive feminine taste buds. He believes yoghurt is eaten
A SUPERMARKET may have to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation to North-East workers if a landmark employment tribunal rules it discriminated against trade union members. Asda is accused of breaching a law that prevents employers offering
MORE than £1.2m has been set aside to boost the region's flood defences. The fund has been approved by members of the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee (NRFDC). The money will come from a levy on councils. Committee chairman Frank Major said
PATRICK HASLAM'S decision to send Dan's Heir (12.50) on the long trek from Middleham to Fakenham should not go without reward in the opening Marie Curie Novices' Hurdle. Dan's Heir, who'd already been paying his pay his way nicely on the Flat, scored
A PINK chocolate fountain greeted people who attended the first gay wedding fair to be held in the North-East. Stalls were set out in The Centre for Life in Newcastle, which hosted the event to help people celebrate same-sex civil partnerships. As with
A teacher at the centre of the row over sex offenders in school defended himself today and said he was not a paedophile. William Gibson, 59, was suspended from work at Portchester Boys' School in Bournemouth on Saturday after local authorities became
THE weight of expectation at Newcastle United is becoming a heavy burden on the shoulders of Graeme Souness, who admitted he is currently enduring his most difficult spell in football management. Saturday's defeat at Fulham saw Newcastle drop into the
BRILLIANT Tynesider Nick McCormick survived an early tumble to retain his short-race title in the Great North Cross Country meeting in Edinburgh. And the exciting 24-year-old Morpeth Harrier, who will run over 1500m in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games
