SO where do Hartlepool United go from here? If Saturday is anything to go by, the bottom of League One for starters, followed by League Two to follow next season. There's no doubt the season that promised so much hit the nadir as Blackpool, in the bottom
The Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Ebrahim Sheibani, has recently been quoted stating that his country is moving billions of dollars of its money out of the European Union to limit the impact of any economic sanctions that may be brought following
THE threat of Government penalties on second home owners in the UK has led to the formation of a campaign group to fight for their rights. Retired businessman Paul Rouse has launched the Association of Second Home Owners to provide a voice for the thousands
FIREFIGHTERS in the North-East have massively rejected plans for a single fire control centre to handle all 999 emergency calls. In a poll conducted by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), 86 per cent of firefighters said the Government should halt the project
CONFIDENCE is growing in the region's criminal justice system, according to new figures. A report by the National Criminal Justice Board also reveals that the number of ineffective trials - hearings that are aborted or put back - continues to fall. Figures
A Briton whose wife and baby daughter were victims of a bizarre killing could also be in danger, it emerged yesterday. Police in the US believe that former York University student Neil Entwistle may be "running scared" of whoever killed his American wife
GIVEN the seven days or so that have gone by in the life of Middlesbrough Football Club, it is appropriate that studies have found the fourth week in January to be the most depressing week of the year. A home defeat to Wigan and sensational remarks made
INTEREST in Earth and space rocketed this week at a Darlington school when students were given the opportunity to handle a piece of space history. Rare samples of moon rock and lunar dust arrived at Polam Hall Junior School, in Darlington for a flying
FORMER pupils from Yarm School have recently returned to collect their gold Duke of Edinburgh Award badges. The 18 pupils have worked on a variety of challenges in order to complete the award, which they started at the school. Susie Power spent her time
A GIRLS' football team is celebrating after becoming county champions. Coxhoe Girls Under-11s beat stiff competition at the Soccerena in Durham to take the County Durham title. Winners from across the region met to decide who would represent the county
CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish a row of buildings as part of a £16m scheme to reinvent a market town have been given the final go-ahead. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed a compulsory purchase order on three buildings in Stanley's
IMPROVED health is not the only benefit facing walkers in Wear Valley - there are prizes to be had too. Following the launch of the Wear Walking for Health 10,000 steps-a-day challenge last autumn, people who have completed their personal record cards
THE partner of North-East mother-of-two Sharon McShane was last night charged with her murder. Kevin Robert Ashdown, 44, of Bramall Lane, Red Hall estate, Darlington, is due to appear before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe today. He was arrested on Thursday
Missed That jumped into contention for the Cheltenham Festival with a near-faultless display in the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The Champion Bumper winner loomed large under David Casey on the turn for home and
AN ambulance service has rolled out a flagship first responder scheme on a Durham housing estate. Community first responder Martin Gillie has been trained to use an automatic defibrillator, which can provide vital treatment in the minutes before an ambulance
A MAJOR effort is being launched to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed on the roads of North Yorkshire. Concerted efforts by both police and the county's road safety officers has helped to bikers' death toll in recent years. Now the Government
A WEEK-long celebration of Harrogate takes centre stage at the town's theatre shortly as a thank you to audiences from departing artistic director Hannah Chissick. After three years at the Oxford Street playhouse, she is leaving to pursue freelance challenges
AMID much recent media speculation about the death of the sitcom comes The IT Crowd. Filmed in front of a studio audience in a traditional three-walled set and sporting an array of uncynical, winningly daft gags, it's a world away from the current trend
Carlos Logan bounded out of the dressing room fresh from playing a major role in Darlington's latest win and declared Quakers could yet win automatic promotion this season. Had Logan said that at the beginning of last month, the claim would have been
NO sooner had Darlington earned their biggest win of the season, than David Hodgson was swapping his tracksuit for a tuxedo as he headed up the A1 to attend a sportsman's dinner in Newcastle. The North-East is not a happy place for managers at the moment
SCOTT Parker became the latest Newcastle United player to back his under pressure manager, and insisted Graeme Souness is the right man to turn around the club's flagging fortunes. Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Lee Clarke and Albert Luque have all recently
Wild At Heart (ITV1) Lewis (ITV1) IMAGINE the scene. ITV executives are meeting to find a series to fill the all-important 8pm slot on a Sunday evening. "Right," says one, "Heartbeat and Where The Heart Is are extremely successful in that slot. They bring
A DISABLED man last night described his home as a "prison cell" after a broken lift trapped him inside for three weeks. Terry Waldon has been stranded in his second floor flat since the lift failed on January 13. And despite calls to owners Coast and
A NORTH-EAST team which uses acupuncture to ease distressing symptoms has been named runner-up in a national award. Each year, the Prince of Wales Foundation of Integrated Medicine scours the country to find the best complementary health team. This year
THE partner of North-East mother-of-two Sharon McShane was last night charged with her murder. Kevin Robert Ashdown, 44, of Bramall Lane, Red Hall estate, Darlington, is due to appear before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe today. He was arrested on Thursday
By day, Katie Williams teaches people how to drive. But in her spare time, she likes nothing more than to charge at men on horseback, lance levelled at them. Lindsay Jennings meets Lady Katie. "I'M just looking for the other part of his costume, I haven't
THE parents of an eight-month baby girl are waiting for a phone call that could save her life. Michelle Greene and Gavin Ross, both aged 20, from Darlington, are praying that a liver donor can be found for daughter Tegan. They have also been encouraged
WHILE controversy continues to rage over proposals to incorporate a successful school in his own constituency into a privately-funded academy, Tony Blair faces a mounting crisis over his national policy on school reforms. We have no doubt that the Prime
ROB Andrew, once tipped for high office at Twickenham, launched a stinging attack on the RFU after Saturday's Guinness Premiership debacle at Kingston Park. It took a moment of magic from Mathew Tait midway through the second half to lift the game out
THE threat of Government penalties on second home owners in the UK has led to the formation of a campaign group to fight for their rights. Retired businessman Paul Rouse has launched the Association of Second Home Owners to provide a voice for the thousands
A SOLICITOR has been struck off for borrowing tens of thousands of pounds from the estates of deceased clients. A Law Society disciplinary tribunal found Adrian Gerard Donkin, a solicitor for 30 years, acted dishonestly by misusing money from customers
A BRUTALLY frank Kevin Kyle has admitted Saturday's return from an 18-month injury lay-off was a disaster from start to finish. The Scotland international had feared he might never play football again after a failed hip operation left him in agony over
Striker Akpo Sodje has denied he is about to leave Darlington and has reiterated his desire to win promotion with the club. With manager David Hodgson working hard to bring in new players before the transfer window closes at midnight tomorrow, there has
A CHIRPY canary has proved he's no bird brain by beating more than 400 humans in a charity quiz - on cricket. Cheeky Charlie left organisers stumped when they rang to say he had won the £50 prize money after correctly answering an impressive nine out
ANOTHER Darlington off- licence store has been robbed at knifepoint - two weeks after three others were raided. Four shops and a takeaway have now been attacked by men carrying knives, since January 14. The latest incident took place at Olympic Mini Stores
ANTI-SMOKING campaigners are urging people to back a campaign for public places in Darlington to become smoke free. MPs are expected to vote next month on a ban in pubs and restaurants. Exemptions have been proposed which would see smoking continue in
TWO orchestras combined their talents to lay on one of the biggest concerts to be held in Darlington for many years. Darlington Orchestra, conducted by David Plews, joined the Cobweb Orchestra, under conductor Andy Jackson, for the Mayor's Charity Concert
A MULTI-MILLION pound regeneration initiative has been shortlisted for a national award. The plan is designed to redevelop the Parkfield and Mill Lane areas of Stockton - which could see up to £40m invested in housing and the community. Focusing on housing
AN environmental project to encourage sustainable travel and tourism in the Yorkshire Dales has won a European award. It was judged best at "promoting ecologically-sound travel and tourism" by the Austrian government, which has just taken up presidency
Derek Shaw, who has sent out a steady flow of winners this year, can boost his tally by taking both divisions of the No 5p Rule 4s At Betdirect Fillies Handicap over six furlongs at Wolverhampton this afternoon. The best bet of the day looks to be Shaw's
BUSINESSES hoping for a summer tourism boom will gather to promote their attractions. Wear Valley District Council is hosting a Tourism Information Distribution Day, at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland. The event offers the chance for tourism-related
PLANS for the £2m relocation of a primary school could be given the go-ahead finally after a blueprint was drawn up for land next to the present site. An application for St Cuthbert's RCVA Primary School, in Crook, was withdrawn more than a year ago after
NURSES from across north Durham have met to unveil a strategy to improve nursing services across their area. The event, at the Mountjoy Research Centre in Durham, was organised by the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT). The strategy
A COUNCIL is examining ways that more people can have a say in the planning process. Derwentside District Council has drawn up a draft statement looking at how the area will change over the next few years, including how planning applications are considered
A TEN-MONTH-OLD puppy was abandoned by his owners just days before Christmas. Fortunately, the animal found shelter with County Durham greyhound rescuer Angela Taylor, and is now looking for a loving family home. Known as Joe, the dog is a Whippet/Saluki
A COUNCIL has won national recognition for having one of the best planning web pages. In the third annual Government survey, commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the plaudit was won by Chester-le-Street District Council. With this
A COUNCIL is one step closer to gaining national recognition. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has completed the final leg of its journey for Beacon status, which recognises and rewards innovative and exemplary teaching and learning practice. It is
A COOKBOOK has been published with recipes from local residents on how to eat healthily. Grace Isaac Obed has led the way in healthy eating by compiling the guide - made up of recipes from fellow residents in the Parkfield and Mill Lane community. Included
KIDNAP THREAT : Re the disgraceful intentions of a radical militant section within the Fathers for Justice pressure group indicating they were preparing an audacious attempt to kidnap Tony Blair's son Leo. While my sympathies are with the Blair family
Dozens of neighbours have rallied round to help a farming family who lost all their possessions in a fire which destroyed their remote home. Robert and Wendy Scott, both 38, were left with only the clothes they stood up in after the blaze gutted their
A CLUB for junior archaeologists is appealing for new members. Richmondshire Young Archaeologists' Club will hold its first meeting of 2006 at Richmondshire Museum, in Richmond, on Saturday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Members will be looking at archaeological
THE FA Cup has a habit of throwing up surprises and, at Griffin Park on Saturday, the oldest cup competition in the world duly produced another. Premiership Sunderland, who came to close to beating champions Chelsea earlier this month, were humbled at
HARTLEPOOL United's players and management were involved in a dressing room bust-up at Victoria Park on Saturday. Following the 3-0 reverse by Blackpool, raised voices were heard coming from the home dressing room as players and staff tried to restore
NO sooner had Darlington earned their biggest win of the season, than David Hodgson was swapping his tracksuit for a tuxedo as he headed up the A1 to attend a sportsman's dinner in Newcastle. The North-East is not a happy place for managers at the moment
JIMMY-Floyd Hasselbaink could become a Fulham player within the next 48 hours as the closure of the transfer window approaches. The Middlesbrough striker's opening goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Coventry City may yet prove to be his final strike for
GRAEME STORM was last night plotting his assault on the money-spinning Dubai Desert Classic after finishing ahead of Ernie Els and Vijay Singh in the Qatar Masters. Storm, perfectly placed going into the weekend's play after two steady rounds, claimed
POLICE and the RSPCA have launched a joint investigation after a fox was allegedly torn apart by hounds at the edge of a busy main road at the weekend. A member of the public reported to police that a fox was being killed by hounds near to the A684 on
"NOW is the winter of our discontent," reflected Richard III in the opening lines of Shakespeare's historical play. These words could easily reflect the current feeling of Newcastle manager Graeme Souness regarding his uneasy tenure on the St James' Park
I'M just looking for the other part of his costume, I haven't used it since last summer," says Katie Williams, moving buckets and brushes aside in her tack room. The "costume" is for Harry, a 15.2hh dark bay gelding. Within seconds Katie emerges carrying
A RECENTLY-RELEASED prisoner carried out a robbery at a betting shop because he wanted to return to jail, a court was told. Martin Kilpatrick, 43, achieved his aim when he was locked up for at least three years and six months. Durham Crown Court heard
DARLINGTON produced what player-coach Craig Lee described as their best 40 minutes of rugby during his time with the club, but were unable to sustain it at home to National Three North leaders Nuneaton. A 10-3 half-time lead became a 16-10 defeat against
MOTORISTS were forced to swerve and take evasive action when a rogue driver drove the wrong way down 18 miles of dual carriageway. Cleveland Police headquarters were first alerted about the erratic manner in which a Black Proton car was being driven,
AN environmental project to encourage sustainable travel and tourism in the Yorkshire Dales has won a European award. It was judged best at "promoting ecologically-sound travel and tourism" by the Austrian government, which has just taken up presidency
