Wolviston, sixth from bottom in the Wearside League, this week welcomed the return of Richard Watson who will be assistant to manager Mark Clennett. After just four wins in 16, the team is also boosted by the return of Stephen Kilpatrick, Richie Walker
FEETHAMS was a fortress when Darlington reached the Third Division play-off final in 2000 and now, six years on, manager David Hodgson is once again counting on home rule. It wasn't until April that an away side left County Durham with all three points
IT might be the greatest cup competition in the world, but the FA Cup is also the least forgiving. Reputations count for little once the big boys are asked to take on lower-league opposition and, throughout its history, the tournament has shown little
TRIBUTES have been paid to a councillor who died following an illness. Councillor Jim Hollern represented the Millfield Ward of Sunderland City Council as leader of the Liberal Democrats. He served on the standards committee, the planning and highways
THE North-East last night entered a new era in train travel after rail chiefs gave the go ahead to brand new services from the region to London. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said it was "minded to approve" Grand Central Railway's plans to operate
Shildon can take a big stride towards first division safety if they avoid defeat at third-bottom Ashington today. While the match might have lost some of its edge following the sacking of Ashington's former Shildon boss Ray Gowan last weekend, Shildon
FORGET the riches of being a Premiership footballer, life has been far different for Danny Collins in his first season in the English top-flight. The lack of a win bonus this term has certainly contributed to that. Sunderland's victory at West Brom last
IN A stage-managed show of commitment, Steve McClaren publicly put pen to paper on a new four-year contract as Middlesbrough boss before reiterating a burning desire to one day manage England. McClaren is one of the Englishmen - along with Sam Allardyce
No Refuge will relish the step up to three miles and can be on the mark for Howard Johnson and Graham Wylie in the Grade 2 Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle over three miles at Cheltenham. The progressive six-year-old looks a ready-made replacement in the staying
ONE of life's hardest decisions is facing the fact that you may no longer be able to manage living in your home. Finding a place to live out the rest of your days is also a difficult choice - a choice that Ethel Bright, 94, and Fred Bolam, 89, made several
Sir Ian Blair, the country's most senior police chief, apologised "unreservedly" yesterday for his controversial comments about the Soham murders, but he stood by his remarks over institutional racism in the media. After some furious criticism, Sir Ian
A COUNCILLOR has called for tough regulation of a proposed taxi rank in a busy Darlington town centre street. Plans have been submitted by the borough council to introduce a rank on Grange Road, outside the Imperial Centre, where there are currently several
COUNCILLORS have hailed the early stages of the town's £6.5m Pedestrian Heart scheme as a success. Although there had been some "scaremongering" about the possible detrimental effects it could have, that was proving not to be the case, they said. A full
TWO full-time attendants are to look after public toilets in Darlington following an £80,000 refurbishment. The toilet block under the indoor market has undergone a major renovation with investment from Darlington Borough Council. As well as enhancing
TRIBUTES have been paid to a councillor who died following an illness. Councillor Jim Hollern represented the Millfield Ward of Sunderland City Council as leader of the Liberal Democrats. He served on the standards committee, the planning and highways
DETAILED plans of Durham City's new swimming pool are to be revealed next week. A meeting of the city council's cabinet is to take place on Monday at which the team drawing up plans for the £12m pool will unveil their design for the facility. The meeting
COUNCILLORS have urged the people of Darlington to back the campaign to save the town's highly successful Primary Care Trust (PCT) Proposals have been tabled that could see Darlington's PCT swallowed up into a larger regional body. The plans have received
TEACHERS are to visit Russia later this year to pass on their classroom expertise. Teachers, including those who have retired from the classroom, are being invited to spend a week in Kostroma, working at the city's Teachers' Training Institute, and a
A 16-YEAR-OLD motocross rider has picked up third place in a national competition. Michael Haddick, of Darlington, was among 50 youngsters competing in the 125cc Schoolboy Championships. Michael picked up his trophy this week after jumping his way to
PARENTS have launched an appeal to raise money for specialist science equipment for a newly-opened school. Youngsters from Evergreen Primary, Bishop Auckland, a purpose-built school for children with special needs, have settled into their new surroundings
A CRIME-fighting closed-circuit television system has been praised in a security awards competition. Derwentside's camera network has been acclaimed for its outstanding use of technology in a G4S Security Services national awards scheme. The 82-camera
A 24-HOUR charity kart race will take place on Teesside this year to raise funds for charity. Teesside Autodrome, the world's longest circuit, is organising the first women only race for Cancer Research UK, on the weekend of May 27. More than 60 teams
FARMERS have lost their latest bid for permission to operate a waste composting plant. County council planners have rejected proposals by M Metcalfe and Sons, based at Silver Hill Farm, near Tunstall, to resume composting at the farm. Composting of green
CYCLIST Josh Miers is on track to sporting glory after being selected for an elite training squad. The 15-year-old Northallerton College student has been chosen for the British Cycling Talent Team - only a year after he started competing. He will now
AN operation to clean up the streets of crime, litter and graffiti was launched in Stockton yesterday. A convoy of vehicles left Norton Fire Station at 10am, on the first stage of a drive targeting hotspot areas across the town. As part of Operation Clean
A NORTH Yorkshire NHS dental surgery is planning to go private. Other surgeries in the county are expected to follow the lead set by Leyburn Dental Practice, in Wensleydale. If the practice opts out of NHS treatment, patients will have the choice to become
A YOUNG thief was given a taste of his own medicine when he broke into a car and stole a camera - only to have his bike stolen seconds later. The thief, believed to be as young as ten, was seen smashing the window of a Vauxhall Agila, parked in Gribdale
A GRANT is being handed to a North Yorkshire canoe club to encourage more disabled people to take up the sport. Hambleton Paddlers are hoping to help more disabled people to try canoeing and kayaking, thanks to the grant from Natwest Community Fund. Treasurer
THE public transport difficulties faced by people with learning disabilities have been highlighted to council chiefs. A petition with about 200 names was handed to the mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, by the charity Middlesbrough 1st, which campaigns
AN exhibition at a university is giving people the chance to see the world through the eyes of an artist -as well as carry out some eavesdropping. The Breaches and Leaks exhibition, at the Vardy Gallery, at Sunderland University, showcases the work of
A LITTER clean-up project has been extended into a second week. Graffiti and litter-cleaning teams and street wardens from Easington District Council, joined by estate officers from East Durham Homes, took to the streets last week to tackle litter and
Shildon can take a big stride towards first division safety if they avoid defeat at third-bottom Ashington today. While the match might have lost some of its edge following the sacking of Ashington's former Shildon boss Ray Gowan last weekend, Shildon
THE dangers of fire have been a burning issue at a County Durham school as staff and children get vital safety advice. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service's community safety team members, Ian Cockburn and Steve Smith, visited Barnard
HARTLEPOOL United fans may have to wait a little longer to see Joel Porter and Adam Boyd back in tandem. But, while last season's leading scorers home in on their returns, Pool's current strikers are determined to make life easy when they are back. Both
AN amateur football club is hoping to gallop up the league table after holding a race night next month. Bishop Auckland FC will hold the event on Friday, at the New Masons pub, in Byerley Road, Shildon. The evening starts at 7.30pm and entry is free,
A DRINK-driver led a police patrol car on a lengthy chase round a town's back streets, a court heard. Michael James Bowman, 41, twice stopped and reversed into the patrol vehicle during the late night pursuit, in Shildon, County Durham, last August. Durham
BUSINESS leaders in two North Yorkshire towns have been urged to back a cash bid to boost their economies. Paul Beanland of the Towns' Initiative, said that, unless firms supported the Business Improvement District (Bid) initiative, they could face "bleak
A PROPOSED residential development project, which could breathe new life into a run-down part of County Durham, looks set to be approved. But the expected approval of the scheme at Cold Hesledon will go against professional officers' advice at Easington
AV Festival 06, the UK's newest, and largest, international festival of film, digital arts and music, electronic art, games and new media, will explore the interaction between digital and biological life. It will take place in Middlesbrough, Newcastle
A MURDER inquiry was launched yesterday after a North-East mother-of-two was found beaten to death. Police believe 43-year-old Sharon McShane suffered a prolonged attack at the hands of her killer in a flat on Darlington's Red Hall estate. The murder
IN A stage-managed show of commitment, Steve McClaren publicly put pen to paper on a new four-year contract as Middlesbrough boss before reiterating a burning desire to one day manage England. McClaren is one of the Englishmen - along with Sam Allardyce
TROUBLED x-ray technology group Bede is to be restructured after losses nearly doubled last year to £4.7m The company, which employs nearly 100 people at its headquarters in Durham, would not comment on job losses, but said it was looking to reduce its
THE company behind a battery-powered delivery van has won its first orders. Smith Electric Vehicles, in Stanley, County Durham, has sold the Faraday to logistics companies, public sector organisations, an airport operator and several dairies. Faraday,
Defence Secretary John Reid has defended the privatisation of military research group QinetiQ. There had been suggestions that taxpayers were sold short when US company Carlyle Group bought a 31 per cent share in 2002. With the remainder of the company
A PRICELESS collection of rare books and ancient manuscripts, which were under threat due to a leaky roof, have been saved. Horrified library staff had discovered mould growing on some of the precious books in the unique collection of 20,000 volumes housed
CHRIS Tomlinson has been forced to pull out of this afternoon's Norwich Union International in Glasgow after an early repeat of the injury jinx that wrecked his World Championship hopes last season. The Middlesbrough-born long jumper had been hoping to
A COMPANY that supplies Sky television equipment is being wound up. A downturn in turnover, increased competition and problems with Trading Standards have been blamed for the closure of Network Services (Cleveland), in Hartlepool. Thirteen companies,
Joaquin Phoenix was a surprise choice to play legendary musician Johnny Cash - mainly because he's not much of a singer. He talks to Steve Pratt about how he was moved by the film that, tragically, Cash didn't live to see. ACTOR Joaquin Phoenix had a
NEWCASTLE Falcons are determined not to be bullied by Saracens in today's Guinness Premiership match at Kingston Park. The threat of relegation has forced the Falcons to toughen up in the forwards since they lost 27-18 away to Saracens in November. Rob
POOR Bartle was a sheep rustler who fleeced one farmer too many. Chased down from the hills, seriously injured as he fled, he was summarily executed by the good folk of West Witton, in Wensleydale. Though it happened around 500 years ago, the Burning
THE most extraordinary fact of the week comes from the Royal Horticultural Society. It says that 47 per cent of front gardens in the North-East are at least three-quarters paved over. This makes the region's front gardens the most paved over in the entire
RESIDENTS have called for action over a treacherous stretch of road after a taxi passenger died in an accident early yesterday morning. The appeal came after the taxi left the road and hit a brick bus shelter on the western edge of Dipton, County Durham
GIVEN that he has spent most of his career defying convention, it should be no surprise that Liam Plunkett struggles to remember anything of his Test debut. Enrolled at Durham's Academy as a number three batsman, the 20-year-old rapidly developed into
A MURDER inquiry was launched yesterday after a Darlington mother-of-two was found beaten to death. Police believe 43-year-old Sharon McShane suffered a prolonged attack at the hands of her killer in a flat on the town's Red Hall estate. The murder came
OPTIMISTIC manager Steve McClaren hopes pledging his future to Middlesbrough could help in the club's search for a couple of new faces before the closure of the transfer window. After initially being told there would be no cash available to bring in new
MENTION here last week of Henry Hilton taking a daily bath in the Percy Beck led to news of a rather eccentric clergyman who did the same in a pool in the River Tees in the upper dale in the 1920s, much to the delight of local lads who often spied on
AS he prepares to lay his job on the line at Cheltenham later today, an ebullient Graeme Souness has insisted he retains the support of an overwhelming majority of Newcastle fans. After a week of intense speculation regarding his managerial future, Souness
Tikram, who shaped with a good deal of promise on his reapppearance at Sandown last time, is fancied to go very close in the Victor Chandler Handicap Chase over two miles at Cheltenham this afternoon. Gary Moore's nine-year-old divided Dempsey and Tysou
A COUPLE sold drugs to children as young as 11 from their home, a court was told. Police secretly filmed 25 children buying drugs over a five-day period, from Andrew and Claire Bateman in Redcar, east Cleveland. Undercover officers intercepted a 14-year-old
CHESTER-LE-STREET based Lindsay Dunn - voted coach of the year by the British Milers' Club - believes his club's women's team will bring back medals from today's Northern Cross Country Championships in Blackburn. Dunn, whose star runner Nick McCormick
A COUNCIL has outlined its vision over care for elderly people in the wake of criticism over plans to close all its care homes. Labour-run Durham County Council has announced it is considering shutting all its residential care homes. It closed 13 homes
A FATHER, jealous of his baby son, pressed his face against the bars of a burning gas fire before he beat him to death, a court heard. Jurors were shown pictures of the terrible injuries inflicted on baby Aaron O'Neil, who lived just 92 days. But in that
THE takeover of Teesport operator PD Ports by Australian investment fund Babcock and Brown (BBI) was completed yesterday. BBI bid £337m for the company, beating a £320m takeover bid from rival Australian consortium Endeavour Ports. Shareholders are expected
A BIDDING war for Sunderland car dealer Reg Vardy took an unexpected twist last night when Lookers rejected an approach by rival-bidder Pendragon for a three-way merger. Pendragon surprised the City yesterday morning by revealing it was interested in
Q I am 65 but cannot afford to retire as my State Pension is only £140 a week. My wife is 64, with a State Pension of £20 a week. Should she be getting more? A Your wife's State Pension will be based upon her National Insurance contributions record. Now
ONE of life's hardest decisions is facing the fact that you may no longer be able to manage living in your home. Finding a place to live out the rest of your days is also a difficult choice - a choice that Ethel Bright, 94, and Fred Bolam, 89, made several
Bishop Auckland will give new striker Richie Storr his debut as they try to give themselves a glimmer of survival hope against Stocksbridge in the UniBond First Division this afternoon at the Brewery Field. Manager Brian Healy has managed to sign Storr
METROPOLITAN police chief Sir Ian Blair clearly did not mean to offend the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman when he said that "almost nobody" understood why the Soham murders became such a big news story. But it was still a very stupid thing
A RESCUE package has been agreed that will allow a crisis-hit railway to finally re-open. Weardale Railway was saved from liquidation after administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers announced a Company Voluntary Arrangement had been approved, following a
A MAN who groomed two young girls before sexually assaulting them has been jailed for 12 years. Philip Morallee carried out the sex attacks over a ten-year period and bribed the youngsters with money so he could assault them. Teesside Crown Court heard
A STREET lighting manufacturer last night announced the closure of its North-East factory with the loss of about 100 jobs. Transmission & Lighting (T&L), part of the Balmer Lindley Group, said it was moving production from Newton Aycliffe, County
WHEN Oliver the bull mastiff puppy went blind, his callous owners dumped him on the streets. The seven-month-old dog's days looked numbered until he was rescued by Karen Anderson, of Horden, County Durham. But as she already has seven other dogs at her
FOR the vast majority of the Newcastle squad, this lunchtime's trip to Whaddon Road will represent something of a culture shock. A dressing room that can best be described as basic, a raucous home support within touching distance of the playing surface
HOPES have been dashed of preserving a £3m stand at a doomed former football stadium so it can be rebuilt at another sports facility. Feethams, the former home of Darlington Football Club, is to be demolished before Easter after falling into disrepair
A COUNCIL has outlined its vision over care for elderly people in the wake of criticism over plans to close all its care homes. Labour-run Durham County Council has announced it is considering shutting all its residential care homes. It closed 13 homes
AS he prepares to lay his job on the line at Cheltenham later today, an ebullient Graeme Souness has insisted he retains the support of an overwhelming majority of Newcastle fans. After a week of intense speculation regarding his managerial future, Souness
THE dangers of fire safety have been a burning issue at a County Durham school Staff and children at Barnard Castle School are being given a host of vital safety advice. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service's community safety team members
DISGRUNTLED market traders are to meet their MP in a bid to reduce rents. Traders at Darlington's outdoor market are claiming that work on the town's multi-million pound Pedestrian Heart scheme is costing them vital business. They hope to persuade MP
CALLS have again been made for the Prime Minister and a leading councillor to visit Hurworth to gauge the strength of opposition to plans to close their school. Controversial plans to create a £25m academy in Darlington, by merging Hurworth and Eastbourne
CHILDREN have been eating breakfast at their school thanks to the first club of its kind in Darlington. Greggs the bakers has opened its first breakfast club in the town at Dodmire Infants and Junior School. The scheme was opened after chairwoman of governors
A WALK-IN centre has celebrated its first anniversary after helping more than 31,300 patients in Darlington. Nurse-led clinics at Doctor Piper House, Darlington Primary Care Trust's King Street headquarters, have been catering to the varied health needs
THE Archbishop of York will tour a salt mine and lighthouse during a trip around the region next week. The Most Reverend Dr John Sentamu will visit Guisborough Deanery, in east Cleveland, on Tuesday. He will spend the morning meeting and worshipping with
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a housing estate and industrial park in a rural village could be given the go-ahead next week. An application by Yuill Homes to build 106 houses on a former sawmills site, in Wolsingham, goes before Wear Valley District Council's
THE future of a ten-storey fire-ravaged office block in Teesside is still in doubt. Council officials say the site is too close to a chemical works to be used for housing, although they agree that the building should be demolished as soon as possible.
TOWN council planners are being urged to reject a couple's bid to build a single-storey house on the site of a 20-acre smallholding . Mr and Mrs Steve Bradbury want to build the house - for use six months each year - on a site 300 metres from Minskip
YOUNGSTERS have created a ceramic mural to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their school. Every child at Kirkby Fleetham Primary School, near Northallerton, helped to create the mural, which will be installed in the school. The mural was made with the
HOMES are expected to rise from the site of a former council housing estate which was demolished after falling into disrepair. It is hoped that the 80 houses, by Dunelm Castle Homes Limited, will breathe new life into St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland
THE Grade II* listed County Hall building in North Yorkshire will be 100 years old on Tuesday. The building, home to North Yorkshire County Council, was built in 1906 for £33,000. It was commissioned to replace the 13 county council offices scattered
A TEENAGE rugby team from north Durham has reached the regional final of a competition to play at Twickenham. The year ten squad from St Bede's RC Comprehensive, in Lanchester, beat Leeds Grammar School 18-16 to make it to the final. Jonathan Hames scored
A HEALTH body in north Durham has announced the reappointment of four non-executive directors to serve for the next two years. Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) brings together GPs, nurses and other stakeholders, such as councils, and gives them a
THREE strategies to tackle ill health and promote well-being in Sedgefield borough will be launched next week. Action plans to boost physical activity, healthy eating, and smoke-free environments across the borough have been produced by the Local Strategic
A CHRISTIAN group is urging anyone struggling to cope with post-Christmas debt to get in touch. National charity Christians Against Poverty and the Emmanuel Church operate a debt- counselling centre in Framwellgate Moor, Durham City. The centre, established
A BIDDING war for Sunderland car dealer Reg Vardy took an unexpected twist last night when Lookers rejected an approach by rival-bidder Pendragon for a three-way merger. Pendragon surprised the City yesterday morning by revealing it was interested in
TEACHERS are to visit Russia later this year to pass on their classroom expertise. Teachers, including those who have retired from the classroom, are being invited to spend a week in Kostroma, working at the city's Teachers' Training Institute and a week
A VILLAGE is brighter and safer thanks to a recently completed street lighting scheme. Organised by the Communities First project, the scheme has seen the revamp of a lighting system in Wingate Road, leading in to Trimdon Station and Deaf Hill. The refurbishment
COUNCIL chiefs are boxing clever as they step up recycling initiatives. About 40,000 boxes are being delivered to homes in Middlesbrough for people to put their bottles and cans in every other week. The scheme will work alongside the blue bags, which
A FORMER post office has been given a new lease of life - as a drop-in centre. Information is still the currency at the site in West Lane, Middlesbrough, but instead of dealing in letters and stamps, customers now will be given updates on a multi-million
LITTLE bookworms have been getting their hands on reading packs through a popular town-wide scheme. It is hoped the previously successful Bookstart programme will again generate more reading from an early age. Hartlepool youngsters and their parents took
SOME of the brightest people working in mental health in the region have come together to launch a research partnership. The group will mean Newcastle and Durham universities linking up with four mental health trusts. The aim is to raise the standard
It is often said that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, so it is little wonder that the sexes operate in different ways throughout their lives - including at school. But, for too long, boys' exam results were allowed to trail behind those of
THERE is no danger of Mick McCarthy adopting 'Mad Dog' Martin Allen's approach to football management as he attempts to steer Sunderland past Brentford and into the fifth round of the FA Cup. But there could have been a frost-bitten Julio Arca dipping
THERE is no danger of Mick McCarthy adopting 'Mad Dog' Martin Allen's approach to football management as he attempts to steer Sunderland past Brentford and into the fifth round of the FA Cup. But there could have been a frost-bitten Julio Arca dipping
WATCH THE BIRDIE: I WOULD like to appeal to readers of The Northern Echo to help the RSPB find out more about how garden birds are faring in the North-East by spending one hour watching garden birds this weekend. The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch is now
