THOUSANDS of people enjoyed a one of the biggest firework displays in the region last night, (Monday November 5). The spectacular firework display, which has been staged each year by Durham Constabulary and the County Durham and Darlington
Twelve years ago, The Northern Echo launched a campaign called "A Chance To Live" aimed at cutting the waiting times for heart bypass surgery in Britain. It followed the death at 38 of our colleague and father-of-two, Ian Weir, who died of a second
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a collision in which a boy was seriously injured today (Monday November 5). The 12-year-old victim was crossing Park Road in South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, just before 8.15am when he was struck by a
Every now and then you come across a photograph that just has to be published on the blog! Although I wasn’t at the Middle House Halloween celebrations on Saturday night, I did see Jill Waldock’s photo of Mick Maroney and Marie Carline. I always
A MURDER victim found dead in her flat, which looked like "a bomb had hit it" had had her throat hacked and slashed, a court heard. Julie Davison was discovered on the floor of her ransacked flat surrounded in blood by her sister and brother-in-law
A MAJOR cannabis farm was shut down by police when an estate agent uncovered almost 300 plants during a routine property inspection, a court heard. Officers found an address in Baydale Road, Darlington, had been turned into a farm, in May, which
A school is hosting a party of teachers from four countries as part of a project aimed at fostering understanding of the diversity of European cultures. South Stanley Infants School in Stanley, County Durham, today (Monday November 5) welcomed
A MOTORIST who died after his car crashed into a parked ambulance has been named. Jonathan Burke, 21, of Chester-le-Street, was driving a Renault Clio which collided into into a stationary ambulance, while paramedics attended to the victims of
THE best friend of a man crushed by a falling anchor told an inquest of how he tried to administer first aid and keep his friend’s spirits up as he lay dying. The inquest heard that father-of-two Kevin Watson, of Redcar, was working at Middlesbrough
THE INCEPTION of a new police professional body set up to support officers will be discussed by its creator at Teesside University tomorrow (TUES NOV 6). Former Police Chief Peter Neyroud’s proposals for a professional body that would oversee police
PERFORMANCES of The Elves and the Shoemakers will take place at Hartlepool’s Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, November 10 at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Tickets cost £4, £3 for concessions or £12 for a family ticket. To book call 01429-890000. CLEVELAND Police
WOMAN HURT: A woman was taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash in Ryedale at about 6.20am yesterday (MON). The collision, involving a car and a van, happened on the A170 west of Kirkbymoorside at about 6.20am. The female car driver had to be freed
COUNCILLORS were today told that Jimmy Savile’s body should be exhumed and cremated after complaints from a family who have a child buried alongside him. The call came as members voted unanimously to immediately strike his name from Scarborough
A MAN has been released on bail after a collision which resulted in a taxi crashing into a pub in a North-East town centre. The 47-year-old was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving following the collision in Yarm Road, Darlington, at about
A MOTORIST was airlifted to hospital with head injuries after his car left the road and ended on its roof in a ditch. The 18-year-old man, from the Eaglescliffe area, Teesside, was injured when his Ford Fiesta left the A1 in County Durham today
SOCIAL services chiefs have pledged to co-operate with any investigations into how a four-month-old baby girl was snatched from their care. The child was taken from a social services office in Greencroft, Stanley, County Durham, last Monday, following
ACCESS MEETING: Durham City Access for All Group will meet in Broom Lane Community Hall, Belmont, Durham, on Wednesday, November 14, at 3pm. Items for discussion include Durham County Council policy in advertising boards. New members are welcome.
ECONOMIC rejuvination will be gioven a boost by Government plans to "scythe through reams of planning red tape", Eric Pickles said today (November 5). The Communities Secretary claimed tackling England's bureaucratic planning laws was key to preserving
A NORTH-EAST charity has launched an appeal to find people interested in adopting a child. The appeal by Barnardo's North East coincides with national adoption week. The charity says it wants to hear from anyone – no matter what race, religion
A COLLEGE is looking for new horses to join its stables. The Equine Studies department at East Durham College’s Houghall campus, near Durham City, has extensive grounds, labs, stables, a tack room, all-weather riding arena and a working farm.
Mark Spalding, 45, of Kestrel Close, Ayton, Washington, appeared before Sunderland magistrates today (Monday November 5) charged with murder. Mr Spalding is accused of stabbing 20-year-old Andrew Lucas to death at the weekend. Mr Lucas was
SEARCHES for missing pensioner Graham Roskell have again drawn a blank, despite a helicopter joining the hunt. The 65-year-old disappeared from Harrogate District Hospital, where he was receiving treatment, at around 7.30am on Saturday. Despite
A NORTH-EAST firm that prepares the ground for major construction projects is looking for new staff to help lay the foundations for future growth. Dunelm Geotechnical and Environmental Limited, based in Meadowfield, near Durham City, provides ground
A FILM charting the the rise of record shops will be screened in a North Yorkshire vinyl store this weekend. Last Shop Standing, based on a book by the same name written by Graham Jones, will be shown at Betterdaze & Juke Box Shop, in Zetland
A STRUCTURAL engineering firm has expanded its team and moved into new premises to support future growth. Darlington-based AMP Consultants' move from premises in Morton Road to its new 1,000- sq ft office in Morton Palms Business Park coincides
Teesdale's new Neighbourhood Police Sergeant has taken up his post at Barnard Castle police station. Sgt Simon Rogers started his police career in 1997 at Newton Aycliffe. He served at Shildon, Spennymoor and Darlington and was promoted to Sergeant
A VICAR has been handing out Bibles at a primary school. Rev Barnaby Huish, Rector of St Margaret’s, Crossgate, and St John’s, Neville’s Cross, both in Durham City, presented a Jubilee Bible to every child at St Margaret’s CE Primary School.
CELEBRATIONS on Bonfire night will go off with a bang for one Richmondshire family, as it coincides with the 100th birthday of a great-great-great-grandmother. Gladys Bramham, born Wappett, was born on November 5, 1912 in the small village Little
A TINY proportion of young people in Darlington are responsible for the majority of youth crime in the town, figures have shown. A report prepared by the Darlington Youth Offender Service (YOS)showed that less than two per cent of children aged
A FIVE-month-old Miniature Dachshund named Sausage has been named the cutest canine in a hospice contest. Sausage, owned by Andrew Beetham and Sally-Beth Marshall, has won Durham City’s St Cuthbert’s Hospice’s Durham Cutest Dog competition, held
THE visitor trade is booming – and one iconic attraction has certainly got it all wrapped up. Clifford’s Tower is one of York’s most photographed and visited sites, standing proudly in the city centre and dating back to Norman times. But yesterday
AIRPORT bosses have announced plans to appeal against a High Court ruling clearing an international law firm of negligence. Newcastle International Airport Ltd will contest a judge's decision that Eversheds was not to blame after former chief executive
A TRIO of hospice supporters have climbed Africa’s highest mountain, raising more than £20,000 for the cause. Graham Duncan, David Hardy and Richard Langdon took five days to climb the 19,500ft of Mount Kilimanjaro and their efforts have generated
AWARD WINNERS: The achievements of the region’s women in business have been recognised at an awards ceremony. The 13th Annual North-East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards was held at the weekend, with Kari Owers, chief executive of PR agency OPR
A PROJECT to ensure the Lindisfarne Gospels’ temporary return to the North-East has a lasting legacy has received a funding boost. Durham University’s Lindisfarne Gospels Durham 2013 and Beyond project has won initial support from the Heritage
TWO County Durham DJs are celebrating after securing a world-renowned music producer for a series of live music events. Darius Syrossian, a London-based house music master, will feature in the opening line up of Sum-Thing Fresh – a string of gigs
The Teesside Coroner is appealing for family members to come forward after the death of 70-year-old Michael David Scott Dunstone of Dormans Crescent in Dormanstown, Redcar. Mr Dunstone passed away on Wednesday, October 31. There were no suspicious
VOLUNTEERS at a Darlington church have reached a fundraising milestone in their support for an African school project. Members of Cockerton Methodist Church have now helped raise more than £7,500 for the Grace project, in Ghana. Church members
PLANS to increase trade between the UK and the United Arab Emirates to £12bn by 2015 are on schedule, businesses told ministers from both countries today. The UK-UAE Business Council met in Dubai for the third time, bringing together business leaders
POLICE have urged people to ensure their garages and outbuildings are properly secured after an increase in burglaries. Homeowners in Darlington have been advised to make sure garage doors of all types have properly fitted locks that are suitable
THE star of an award-winning national advertising campaign will open a new supermarket in County Durham this week. Jean Jones, who starred as the gin-loving tea lady in the popular Aldi advert, will open a new branch of the store on Greenwell Road
THE family of a motorist killed when a lorry ploughed into his broken down car have spoken of their loss. Gordon Blair, described by his family as "a doting father", died on December 28 when a 44-tonne truck crashed into his car on the A1(M) in
AN ACCLAIMED cornet player will lead a series of workshops in the region later this month (November 17). Ian Porthouse, head of brass band studies at Birmingham Conservatoire, musical director of Tredegar Town Band and a former principal cornet
A PRINTING firm which has trebled its turnover in a year has made a £40,000 investment in new technology. Addo Printing, based at Silverlink Business Park, near Darlington, has invested in cutting edge equipment to enhance its operations and recruited
A SALON owner is offering free children’s haircuts for charity. Kelly Moore, owner of the VIP Lounge, on Front Street, Sherburn Village, near Durham, is offering free children’s haircuts in return for a donation to St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Merryoaks
THE new Military Wives Choir album has hit the shops and among the first to snap up copies were – choir members themselves. The Catterick Wives Choir – known locally as the Catterick Wags – feature on five of the 14 tracks of the new album, Stronger
THE vital role the Yorkshire Air Ambulance plays in providing life-saving cover to outdoor pursuits has been recognised by local motorsport enthusiasts. More than £740 raised by the Pickhill Motor Club’s inaugural annual dinner was handed over
A MURDER victim found dead in her flat, which looked like 'a bomb had hit it', had had her throat slashed, a court heard. Julie Davison was discovered on the floor of her ransacked flat surrounded in blood by her sister and brother-in-law, Dawn
CROSSGATE MEETING: Crossgate Community Partnership will meet tomorrow night (November 6) at North Road Methodist Church, North Road, Durham, at 7.45pm. Items on the agenda include policing issues, various planning applications and the County Durham
CHARITY CHOICE: Customers at the Asda Living store at the Arnison Centre, in Durham City, have voted to donate £100 to the Great North Air Ambulance. Customers at the store were given a token to choose between three good causes in the latest Chosen
A KIND-HEARTED businesswoman whose own experience of a hospice has prompted her to set up a florists to provide flowers for people who die alone. After seeing the work done by St Teresa's Hospice when her late husband used the charity, Beth Bainbridge
A GROUP of famous Cornish shanty singers surprised pupils at a North-East school with an impromptu performance today – keeping a promise they had made to the headteacher. The Fishermen’s Friends, of Port Isaac, who were in region as part of a countrywide
WORK to improve a city play area has been completed. Specialists SMP have installed more than £84,000-worth of new play equipment at Cheveley Park play area, off The Links, Belmont, Durham. The upgraded play park was officially opened today
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy was airlifted to hospital this morning (Monday, November 5) after he was struck by a car. A police spokesman said the accident happened when the boy was hit by a VW Fox car in front of the general store in Park Road, South Moor
NORTH-EAST researchers are aiming to reduce vitamin D deficiency in people over 70 during the winter months caused by lack of sunlight. The Arthritis Research UK-funded team at Newcastle University is looking at the impact of three different doses
A FREE workshop to help North-East job seekers make the most of their CVs will be held by a recruitment expert later this month. Businesswoman Julia Cater, who has a decade of experience as a recruitment management consultant, will hold the workshop
A DARLINGTON business is appealing for donations to help provide a charity with some Christmas spirit. Staff at Co-operative Travel, in Morrisons, in North Road, are launching their annual Santa Suitcase collection for people to donate items to
YOUNGSTERS waiting in a hospital’s accident and emergency department now have something colourful to keep themselves entertained. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Wensleydale part of the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton has been transformed into
IN HONOUR: Sedgefield Village Veterans, of County Durham, will hold a service at 10.45am on Thursday (November 8), on the green, Sedgefield, to coincide with the repatriation of the UK's latest Afghanistan casualties.
HISTORY TALK: Norman Welsh will speak on Radical Jack, the 1st Earl of Durham, at the next meeting of Aycliffe Village Local History Society at Aycliffe Village Hall at 7pm on Wednesday (November 7). Tickets are £1 for members and £2 for non-members
ANTONY Sweeney has seen the good times at Hartlepool United. The opposite side of the coin is not a nice one. Pools gave an embarrassing display on Saturday as they were thumped 6-1 in the FA Cup at Chesterfield. And, after the travelling support
PROPOSALS for a long-awaited medical centre have been approved by planning chiefs. The £2m project in Thornley Road, Wheatley Hill will provide GP coverage for Wheatley Hill, Thornley and Kelloe. It will include treatment rooms, a retail unit
FESTIVE FAIR: Haughton Green Methodist Chapel will hold its annual autumn and Christmas fair on Saturday, November 10 from 10am to noon. Stalls will include cakes, garden furniture and produce, toiletries, jewellery, toys and books and many more. Entry
MARK Hughes insists it is just a matter of time before QPR’s season turns around, despite watching them rack up a tenth Premier League match without victory. The game at Loftus Road between Rangers and Reading pitted the only two teams in the league
PERFECT pints and warm welcomes have potted a Darlington snooker club a regional award. Darlington Snooker Club, on Corporation Road, has beaten off competition from across the region to be named the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) North-East club
PLAYED 18, won 17. The statistics suggest that it’s all been rather easy for Darlington, that they’re steamrollering their way through the Ebac Northern League without breaking sweat. Saturday was a demonstration, however, that it’s not quite as
CHELSEA would need to say they have made a mistake in accusing Mark Clattenburg of using ‘‘inappropriate language’’ towards John Obi Mikel if the referee is to ‘‘come out untarnished’’, according to former official Graham Poll. The European champions
ROBERTO Mancini is facing up to one of the biggest headaches of his Manchester City career ahead of the club’s do-or-die Champions League clash with Ajax. Mancini has already admitted City need ‘‘a miracle’’ to salvage their Group D campaign after
WEST AUCKLAND manager Peter Dixon is considering his future after they lost 2-1 at bottom club Newton Aycliffe. West are sixth, well adrift of the title chase after being involved right up to the final week last season. “I feel as if I’m not
RICHMOND TOWN moved top of the table when three goals in the last 11 minutes gave them a a 5-2 win over Gateshead Leam Rangers. The visitors went two up inside half an hour through Joe Adams and an Anthony Brewis penalty. On half-time, Tom
FIT-AGAIN striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has revealed Middlesbrough’s unbeaten run has given the squad belief promotion from the Championship can be achieved this season. Boro strengthened their position in the table after Saturday’s 4-1 win at Charlton
JUST over a week ago, Middlesbrough were embarking on one of the toughest weeks they will face this season. Three games in eight days, which included a Capital One Cup derby and taking on a team fancied to bounce straight back up to the Premier
PARKINSON MEETING: The next meeting of the South West Durham Parkinson group is to be held on Monday, November 12, between 2pm and 4pm at the Masonic Hall, Dundas Street, Spennymoor. CHARITY DANCE: A charity dance in aid of the Great North Air
POLICE BAND: Coundon Women’s Institute is to host Durham Police Band on Wednesday, November 7, at 7.30pm. The meeting is at the Welfare Hall, Leeholme, with tickets £4 including supper. Details from 01388-442925.
WINTER WARMTH: The Shildon Community Safety Group is to hold a Winter Warmth event. Experts from groups like Age Concern and livin will offer advice to locals on home security. Free safety tests will also be carried out on small electrical items. It
COMEDY CLUB: Comedians Jim Smallman, Sam Gore and Ray Bradshaw are to appear on stage at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. They appear in the Comedy Club on Friday, November 16, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 in advance and £10 on the door. Details from 01388-
CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Friends of Sedgefield Community Hospital will hold a Christmas fair at West Cornforth Community Centre on Saturday November 10, 2pm. Spennymoor Town Youth Band will play festive music, there will be a magician and face painter for
RESIDENTS and visitors have been surveyed to find out what they would done to see to make Barnard Castle a more attractive place. Volunteers with the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership group took to the streets toady (Nov 3) to question townsfolk
VOLUNTEERS have helped plant nearly 2,000 bulbs in the heart of Barnard Castle as part of a series of events to improve the town. The Heart of Teesdale group and helpers planted 1,500 daffodil and 300 snowdrop bulbs at Scar Top outside the town
A GOLDEN couple who met at a local dance are celebrating 50-years of marriage with a family party. Michael and Eileen Bradley, of Taylor Road, St Helen’s Auckland, near Bishop Auckland marked half a century of marriage on Saturday (Nov 3). Mr Bradley
AMATEUR boxers are celebrating after they scooped £5,000 to invest in new equipment for the venture. Byers Green Amateur Boxing Club, near to Spennymoor, has been given £5,000 by Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund. The club received the money
A COFFEE shop is serving in style following a refreshing makeover. New signs, windows and doors have been fitted at Coffee Bank, in Chester-le-Street, following a £12,500 shot-in-the-arm. The contribution from Durham County Council’s Targeted
MEDIUMSHIP DEMONSTRATION: Irene Wilson will give a demonstration of mediumship at Willington Spiritualist Church on Tuesday (NOV 6) at 7pm. CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: A Christmas flower arranging course will take place every Tuesday from November 13 to
YOUNGSTERS have built helped local wildlife by building bird boxes and planting spring bulbs. Sedgefield Beavers teamed up with Durham County Council’s civic pride and countryside ranger teams to carry out work at Ceddesfield Hall, Sedgefield.
A YOUTH group of railway fans is to hold a recruitment event in a bid to attract new members. The Bishop Auckland based Stockton and Darlington Railway Youth Team is holding its recruitment event at Locomotion: The National Rail Museum in Shildon
A HISTORY society is offering help to residents identify long forgotten friends and relatives in old black and white photographs. Cornforth Library and Cornforth History Society members are inviting people to submit photos to it. The photos
THE days when upwardly mobile players from Darlington and Teesside headed for Otley and Harrogate in search of better rugby are over. Very soon all rugby roads in the area will lead to an abandoned football stadium. Empty it may be, but ahead of
FORMER Sunderland Harrier Patrick Martin denied Morpeth Harriers a medalwinning position with a door- die anchor-leg performance in the English Cross Country Relays at Mansfield. The Northumbrian club looked set for a grandstand finish in the senior
AN ANCIENT order of freemen has set a modern-day membership record, topping 200 for the first time in living memory. Leaders of City of Durham Freemen welcomed 11 new members into their eight surviving craft guilds in a ceremony at Durham Town
MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has told his team they must be more clinical, despite claiming the leadership of the Barclays Premier League. United moved to the top with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford but Ferguson
GLOUCESTER fly-half Freddie Burns and centre Billy Twelvetrees have been added to the England squad ahead of the QBE autumn international series. Burns has been called up to replace Harlequins centre Jordan Turner-Hall, who is suffering from an
SCHOOLCHILDREN in Darlington have planted a time capsule to provide future generations with a history lesson of the town. The youngsters from Carmel Gardens helped staff from Darlington Borough Council dig holes and plant two trees before leaving
STAGE PLAY: The Shildon CentreStage (CORR) group is to perform Pinocchio at Shildon Civic Hall on Friday and Saturday (Nov 9-10) at 7.30pm and on Sunday (Nov 11) at 2pm. Tickets are £4 for adults, £2.50 for children over five and £1 for children under
NEWCASTLE FALCONS moved eight points clear at the top of the Championship when they overcame their toughest test to win 29-20 at Bedford. The Midlanders slipped to third and have no hope of closing the gap after having to rely entirely on full
A PLANNING application has been submitted to build two wind turbines on land owned by a golf club. Leicestershire-based renewable energy company Regeneco has submitted a formal application to Durham County Council for permission to open the wind
CHELSEA manager Roberto Di Matteo has yet to decide whether to bring John Terry back into his side for Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk. Terry served the last game of his domestic four-match ban for racially abusing QPR
GEOLOGY enthusiasts gained a greater understanding of what lies beneath the North York Moors following a visit to one of York Potash’s temporary drilling sites. The site visit allowed the group from the Open University Geological Society to see
KIMI Raikkonen proved he actually does know what he is doing after finally ending Lotus’ long wait for a F1 win. There was a moment in the chaotic and breathtaking Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that summed up Raikkonen to a tee, and will be aired on many
STUART Broad’s heel injury adds to England’s mounting concerns as they continue preparations for the Test series in India. Vice-captain Broad is to have a scan after having to leave the field temporarily because of pain in his left foot on day
A FAMILY firm which has survived two recessions has been taken over by a third generation as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Building contracting and development company, RA Howard and Sons, was established in 1962 by Ron Howard in Brotton,
JUMBLE SALE: Shildon Salvation Army is to hold a jumble sale and coffee morning at its base on Cross Street, Shildon, on Tuesday, November 13, at 10am with free entry.
A LINEN company is going back in time to honour its longest-serving customer. Seymours of Darlington, which began supplying household goods on a stall in the town in 1953, is searching for the person still using the oldest item purchased from the
POLICE are appealing for information after thieves broke into a shed and stole a generator and a silver trailer. The theft took place at Mainsforth Rise allotments, Ferryhill Station. It is thought a quad bike with damage to one side was used in
LIBRARY FUN: Story time sessions for pre-school children are held at Crown Street Library, in Darlington, every Monday, from 2.15pm. The sessions are free and there is no need to book. FESTIVE FAIR: Darlington Lions Club’s Christmas fair will be
James Allen bowed his head and appeared to cover his ears as pathologist read out part of his conclusion on level of injuries. — @graemeecho 05 November 2012 Mr Dunford will have died rapidly from his injuries
AS Sunderland’s toothless start to the season continued with a narrow defeat to Aston Villa, captain Lee Cattermole insisted the best group of players he has worked with remains united. He is confident things will take a turn for the better.
IN the early 1950s, I went to the Saturday morning matinees at our local Odeon cinema. The films were always preceded by a rousing song that began: “We come along on Saturday mornings, greeting everyone with a smile.” I certainly did, because
IT comes as no surprise to hear that his family is the most important thing in Javed Majid’s life. The property developer who made his name in the North-East as the impresario behind the Tall Trees Hotel, in Yarm, has seven children. “The greatest
IS councillor Neil Foster speaking as a Durham County Council cabinet member, rather than for the people of Spennymoor, when he says that he is in favour of the Electrolux site being redeveloped for 425 houses and a retail unit (Echo, Oct 31)?
I WOULD certainly agree with Pete Winstanley’s statement that innocent civilians should not be fair game for drone strikes (HAS, Nov 1). However, with reference to drone strike casualties in North Pakistan, Pete said: “Several reputable organisations
DAVE QUINN highlighted some issues surrounding the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections (HAS, Nov 1). A random look at candidates on the Choose My PCC website shows that, from Sacriston to Southampton, those seeking election fall into
AT long last the Labour-dominated Bishop Auckland Town Council has awoken from severe hibernation, belatedly realising what is happening, and what will continue to happen, to the town centre (Echo, Oct 30). With the number of boarded-up premises
LORD Heseltine’s report on boosting growth outside London (Echo, Oct 31) is timely because without growth in our economy, living standards will fall. If we take health as an example, the cost of providing it is more expensive because our expectations
ANOTHER X Factor weekend and another set of rave reviews from the judges for our boy, James Arthur. This week, the Saltburn singer performed a sort of hip hop version of No Doubt’s Don’t Speak. Gary Barlow described it as a brilliant performance
C’MON put your hands together for our politicians because they have just stitched us all up again. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought we were in a period of wage freezes, huge debt and crippling local authority austerity measures. So how
DAUNTING is one of the words used by assistant director Eleanor Clare Taylor in her programme notes for York Youth Theatre’s foray into the fantastic and philosophical world of Philip Pullman. She describes the moment when she and director Kate
BENEFITS paid to disabled people are not going up in line with inflation. Workers’ wages are not going up in line with inflation. Why should the country’s contributions to the European Union go up in line with inflation? They should not. The majority
TOP Gear’s Richard Hammond is everywhere at the moment, fronting a myriad of different shows. But what is really strange is how he manages to keep up the twin occupations of nature presenter (with Planet Earth Live, Invisible Worlds and now Richard
IT’S a big day for MasterChef. While The Professionals launches on BBC2, the youngsters’ culinary efforts are also put under the spotlight in Junior MasterChef. While the crux of the competition stays the same, there are some changes, including
MORE by accident than design, the North-East has ended up with two airports – Newcastle serving the north and Durham Tees Valley (DTV) serving the south. During the good times this arrangement worked well. DTV was always the junior partner but
FOR those who struggle to recognise one end of a spatula from the other, or can’t even knock up a salad without burning it, the Beeb’s signature telly culinary effort has kept viewers entertained for years. Now, instead of laughing along with those
PROCEEDS from the sale of supermarket shopping bags have helped equip a kurling group with over £200 worth of sports gear. Sainsbury’s supermarket on Victoria Road, Darlington, awarded £250 to the Barton New Age Kurling Group to put towards buying
YOUNGSTERS in Darlington enjoyed a trip into the land of Beatrix Potter during a storytime event. The 20 children visited Crown Street Library and were treated the tale of Peter Rabbit, before painting their faces as the fictional character and
A GROUP of motorcyclists have received the blessing of Scottish folk duo The Proclaimers and look likely to launch one of the year’s most unlikely attempts at making the pop charts. The Boundary 500 Motorcycle group has enlisted the help of North-East
A COUPLE has won a planning appeal to keep a metal flue they added onto the side of an historic barn in Bishopton. The threat of enforcement action by Darlington Borough Council on Robert and Emma Wall was lifted after a planning inspector gave
FREE family fitness sessions are launching in Darlington on Saturday, November 17. The weekly classes will be held at First Step to Fitness on Victoria Road and will be led by trained fitness instructors. They are suitable for men, women and
PLANS have been drawn up for a multi-million pound rehabilitation centre that will treat injured jockeys across the North. The clinic would provide physiotherapy and medical treatment for jockeys, who commonly suffer head injuries or broken bones
BROADCASTER and author John Grundy gave a keynote speech on the history of a town on Saturday. Tees Archaeology’s annual day school, held at the Arc centre, in Stockton, explored the history of the town from medieval times to the 19th Century,
A CHARITY is seeking help as it aims to deliver its one millionth shoebox of goodies to a needy family as part of Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan’s Purse has delivered 94 million shoeboxes to needy children in more than 100 countries during
A MILITARY fundraising show is heading to a North-East racecourse to help support the work of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The Salute Our Heroes show is heading to Sedgefield Racecourse, in County Durham, for an evening of music on Saturday, November
A TEAM of dedicated volunteers has helped thousands of tourists make the most of their visit to Barnard Castle in the past 12 months. The 20-strong band of helpers – led by co-ordinator Katie Taylor - have offered tips and advice at the town's
PARALYMPIAN Baroness Tanni Grey- Thompson officially opened a revamped part of a historic North- East landmark over the weekend. The gold medal winner was at Durham Cathedral for the launch of the Undercroft Foyer and a new shop, which brings visitor
NORTH-EAST embroiderers have struck gold with an exhibition inspired by the region’s mining industry. Their Mining a Golden Seam collection was a hit with visitors when it was displayed at Alexandra Palace, in London, in October and it is now on
A PAEDOPHILE who groomed an under-age girl for sex is behind bars as he starts a two-year prison sentence. Robert Rose told the teenager he was worried about her feeling uncomfortable when he intimately touched her. He stopped when she said
A POSTMAN who has devoted the last 16 years of his life to running a cycling charity has been presented with the British Empire Medal. Brian Milner, from Chester-le-Street, was awarded the honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced in June
A YOUNG woman has told of her experiences of working as a missionary in Africa. Becca Milligan, 21, who works at the Bondgate Methodist Church as a chef, held a talk at the Northgate United Reformed Church about her trip to Uganda in August.
Final Score: Liverpool 1 Newcastle United 1 SO the wait for a league win at Liverpool goes on. It will be 19 years and counting by the time Newcastle next visit Anfield, and while a point on the ground is not to be sniffed at given that yesterday
STUDENTS are hoping for smooth sailing this week with their production of a classic show. Durham University Light Opera Group (Dulog) is performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore at Durham Town Hall every night this week, except Thursday,
Final Score: Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1 BUILDING partnerships home and away was the message from Invest in Africa portrayed on the giant electronic boards around the touchline at the Stadium of Light as Aston Villa piled further frustration on
MUSIC sung by Durham Cathedral Choir has been released on general sale. The CD, recorded by Priory Records, includes the first recording of composer James MacMillan’s Missa Dunelmi, or Durham Mass, which was given its world premiere last year.
Played 18, won 17. The statistics suggest that's all been rather easy for Darlington, that they're steamrollering their way through the Ebac Northern League without breaking sweat. Saturday was a demonstration, however, that it's not quite as simple
ALAN Pardew last night defended Fabricio Coloccini after the Newcastle captain received a straight red card for a rash challenge on Luis Suarez in his side's 1-1 draw at Liverpool. Suarez's second-half strike cancelled out Yohan Cabaye's first-half
FIT-AGAIN striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has revealed Middlesbrough's unbeaten run has given the squad belief promotion from the Championship can be achieved this season. Boro strengthened their position in the table after Saturday's 4-1 win at Charlton
JUST over a week ago, Middlesbrough were embarking on one of the toughest weeks they will face this season. Three games in eight days, which included a Capital One Cup derby and taking on a team fancied to bounce straight back up to the Premier League
Final Score: Durham Wildcats 69 Manchester Giants 64 Durham Wildcats capped off a sensational comeback with a win against the Manchester Giants at the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre yesterday. Dave Elderkin's side ran out nail-biting 69-64
Final Score: Chesterfield 6 Hartlepool United 1 IT'S a good job Hartlepool United weren't given a really hard FA Cup draw, tough opposition like the Met Police or Arlesey. Instead of facing a non-league team they were at Chesterfield. But
THOUSANDS of children are continuing to be arrested by police forces, despite figures having fallen by a third in the past three years. Research by campaign group the Howard League for Penal Reform showed North Yorkshire Police arrested 6,452 children
A RADICAL vision for a new North-East international airport has been unveiled, just as the Government considers the future of the UK’s aviation policy. The ambitious proposal would see the region’s existing airports - Newcastle and Durham Tees
CASH-STRAPPED councils in the region have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on gadgets for their employees and politicians, The Northern Echo can reveal. Data released under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act show local authorities in the
Morning Readers! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been so cold this last week. It’s been frosty on a morning and the darker nights are certainly not helping. How is you’re weight loss going? Mine was off track for a few weeks due to holidays
THE theft of television sets from an electronics company warehouse, days before last Christmas, was “an inside job”, a court heard. Police arrived at Aclet Electronics, on Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe, as the break-in was in progress
A HOSPICE has launched its annual Light up a Life appeal, which encourages people to remember a lost loved one by making a donation in their memory. St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham, stages the appeal each November and December, culminating in
PUPILS and staff went back in time to celebrate the 80th anniversary of their primary school. The youngsters from Coundon Primary School were invited to dress up in a chosen era today (November 5) and spent the day learning about history. Parents
A QUICK-thinking father lowered his young children to safety from a first-floor bedroom as a blaze spread through their home. Firefighters said Bryan Dougall and his family would have died had thei remained in their house a further ten minutes.
A DOCTOR who was instrumental in changing the way children with diabetes are treated in the North-East has retired. Dr Bill Lamb raised about £250,000 whilst working as a consultant paediatrician at Bishop Auckland Hospital, in County Durham, after
A TEENAGER who told his mother he was staying with a friend was actually breaking into a Bedford camper van, a court was told. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted interfering with the vehicle, which was parked in Coundon
A PRANK which got out of hand ended with two boys admitting a charge of robbery when they appeared before court. The offence centred on an incident at Bishop Auckland bus station in July when the two youths – aged just 14 and 12 at the time – attempted
WINDOW SMASHED: Vandals smashed a window in the Spar Shop, Gainford, at about 9.30pm on Saturday. Police say there were a number of groups of youths in the area at the time and anyone with information should contact officers at Barnard Castle on 101
A BOY has raised more than £400 to thank the helicopter crew that saved his father’s life after a horror car crash. The Great North Air Ambulance saved James Chorlton’s life after he suffered serious head injuries in the car crash earlier this
